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DistinguisheD DefencePartner awarD

On 27 July 2011, our

Principal received the

Distinguished Deence

Partner Award rom the

Minister o State or

Deence and Education,

Mr Lawrence Wong.

This award is given

to organisations with strong support, commitment and

contributions towards Total Deence and National Service

or our country, Singapore.

Riversidian

A newsletter by Riverside Secondary School

3 Woodlands Street 81 Singapore 738524 • Tel: 6269 9631 • Fax: 6368 3677OCT 2011

ISSUE 2

www.riversidesec.moe.edu.sgTheRiversidian

Prime minister’s Book Prize

Riverside Secondary School is proud

to announce that H Sharanya Pillai

(class 4/4, 2010) was presented with

the prestigious Prime Minister’s Book

Prie Award rom Mr Heng Swee

Keat, Minister or Education, at the

2011 Special Awards Presentation

Ceremony on 19 August 2011.

The Prime Minister’s Book Prie was rst presented in 1974

and this award was given to outstanding bilingual students

on the basis o their outstanding bilingual perormance as

well as in recognition o students’ achievements in both the

academic and non-academic spheres.

Visit BY minister for eDucationOur Minister or Education, Mr Heng Swee Keat, visited

Riverside on 21 September 2011. In his visit, Mr Heng spent

time interacting with students rom all streams and engaging

in meaningul dialogue session with our teachers. The insights

shared by the Minister will contribute signicantly to Riverside’s

continued journey towards educational excellence.

Riverside’s school management team in conversation with the

Minister.

Learning by inquiry during a

Science Practical lesson - students

explaining their task to the Minister.

Minister observing a Chinese lesson.

Minister interacting with the students in the Science Laboratory.



Boys’ Brigade: JM Fraser Award orExcellence – Silver Award

achieVements of our uniformeD grouPs in 2010

NPCC: Unit Overall Profciency Award – Gold Award

St. John Ambulance Brigade: Corp Achievement Award – Gold Award

NCC (Sea): Best Unit Competition– Gold Award

OUR UG ACHIEVEMENTSOCTOBER 2011 / ISSUE 2



malaY traDitional games comPetition 2011

our girls’ BrigaDe achieVement JourneY fromBronze to silVer to golD awarDs in 4 YearsStarted in 2007 with only 15 girls, our 79th Girls’ Brigade

Company aced a declining enrolment with only 4 new

recruits in 2009. Through the wide variety o activities

that includes camps, competitions, service learning tripsto Cambodia and Malaysia, archery, encing and kayaking

courses, to pipes and drums, we managed to attract

girls to this CCA and enriched their lives. Though small

in number, our dedicated GB girls are ever determined to

make a positive dierence and do their “Best and More ’.

GB’s tremendous progress is also evident in our Company

Awards achievements rom Brone in 2009 to Silver in

2010 and Gold in 2011.

We are delighted or GB President, SSgt Ng Yang Tin (class

4/5, 2011) or getting the highest national award, the Pioneer

Brigader Brooch. We are also proud o our ormer GB girl,H Sharanya Pillai (4/4, 2010) or achieving 9A1s in the

GCE`O’ level examination and receiving the Prime

Minister’s Book Prie Award in 2011. We are grateul or

the strong leadership by Ms Lee Cheng Yen and all ormer

and current teachers. Our heartelt thanks also go to Mrs

Lim-Hee Onn Nah (GB Chaplain), Pastor Lim Chee Boon

(New Lie Bible-Presbyterian Church as sponsoring church),

Mr William (BB Captain), Ms

Doris Foo and Ms Mavis Goh

(volunteers and instructors)

and graduated seniors or theirservice and labour o love.

May this CCA continue to

provide a holistic education or

our GB girls and bring out the

best in every member. SSGT Ng Yang Tin

Girls’ Brigade Company Award – Gold Award

On 1 June 2011, our students participate in the Malay Traditional Games

Competition. They participated in our traditional games: Guli (marbles), Tarik

Upih (pulling the palm sheath), Kleret Roda (wheel spinning) and Capteh.

They brought home the Best Individual Award in two categories as well as

Best Team Award in two categories. But the victory was heightened when

they were announced as the overall champion in the competition.

Tarik Upih – pulling the palm sheath. Look at what we’ve won!

T he w i nni ng t eam!

Kleret Roda – wheel spinning.

OUR SCHOOL ACHIEVEMENTS OCTOBER 2011 / ISSUE 2



The 24th Speech and Prie Giving Day was

successully held on 16 April 2011. It was a

joyous event celebrating Riverside’s success

at producing another GCE ‘O’ Level Top Indian

Student, H Sharanya Pillai, as well as other

students who perormed outstandingly in the

national examinations.

Our Guest-o-Honour (GOH) and School

Advisory Committee (SAC) Chairman,

Mr Woon Kok Meng, lauded the sta and

stakeholders’ eorts to create a quality school

experience or all students and contribute to

their social and emotional development.

The school’s aesthetic groups also put up

spectacular visual and aural perormancesbetting their strong achievements at the

2011 Singapore Youth Festival competitions.

The Speech Day also saw three sta, Mdm

Geraldine Chang, Mdm Haslinda Shaawi and

Mrs Nancy Then Joke Eng receiving the MOE

Service in Education Award.

24th sPeech anD Prize giVing DaY

A w a r m w e l c o m e t o o u r G O H , M r W o o n K o k M e n g , S AC C h a i r m a n .

Mr W oon K ok Meng gi v i ng hi s s peec h.

The Speech Day compere’s, Haiqal (4/9) and Chea Yee

(4/5), hosting the event with solemn graciousness.

Our GOH presenting Riverside SAC Scholarship to H Sharanya Pillai

(class 4/4, 2010) and 2010 PSLE top-scorer, Lee Wen Kai (class 1/5, 2011).

Outstanding Riversidian

Award: Ang Rui Xia (class

4/5, 2010)

Outstanding Student

Leadership Award: Rayna Lee

Xin Ying (class 4/4, 2010)

Dr Daniel Chia, SAC Vice-Chairman, presenting award to

Ang Jun Jie (class 4/2, 2010), our top N-level student.

24TH SPEECH AND PRIzE GIVING DAYOCTOBER 2011 / ISSUE 2



The Choir enthralled the audience with a selection o international

songs.

The Modern Dancers making graceul leaps as deers to mark the

importance o protecting wildlie. The SYF Gold with Honours Malay Dance perormance.

The Symphonic Band provided a rich rendition o the school song.

The SYF Gold Indian Dancers perormance with the traditional

kavadis. The Chinese Dancers displaying their graceul moves.

24TH SPEECH AND PRIzE GIVING DAY OCTOBER 2011 / ISSUE 2



Our fr st

meal cook ed

by our New

Z ealand

count er par t

in t he

k it chen.

On 28 May 2011, 22 students departed excitedly rom

Singapore Changi Airport’s Terminal 3 or the 7-Day

Hong Kong, Southern China (Shenhen and Guanghou)

Educational and Cultural Immersion trip. Led by Ms

Jasmine Lim, Ms Mendy Kok and Mr Anson Tan, the

students visited Caritas Fanling Chan Chun Ha Secondary

School in Hong Kong, Guanghou Pui Ching Middle School

and various amous historical landmarks in the Chinese

special economic ones. Besides visiting several amous

historical landmarks in Hong Kong, the students spent an

unorgettable morning with students o Caritas Fanling

Chan Chun Ha Secondary School, interacting and observing

their daily routine. The enjoyable session ended with an

authentic vegetarian meal with the principal, sta and

students o Chan Chu Ha Secondary School.

In Shenhen, the students learnt more about Chinese

culture and traditions at the Shenhen Cultural Village

and OCT Tea Valley beore proceeding to Guanghou

to visit Pui Ching Middle School. The students had an

eye-opening computer lesson with the Chinese students

where they realised that their counterparts learnt

computer programming language. On the other hand,

they were very warmly received by the Chinese students

who enjoyed the opportunity to practise speaking in

English. It was dicult to bid arewell but we eventually

did so as to proceed with the historical sightseeing

journey to Sun Yat Sen’s Memorial, Chen Clan Ancestral

Shrine, Qin Ping Market and Beijing Road.

Overall, it was an unorgettable and ullling experiences or

the teachers and students who realised that so many socio-

cultural similarities and disparities existed between Chinese

people o dierent parts o the world. The students also

appreciated many aspects o Singapore ater the trip and

made many new riends along the way.

Kia Ora! In the Maori language, this

translates to ‘hi’ to the New zealanders.

On 9 June 2011, 17 students along with

Mdm Haslinda, Mdm Ow Ju-Lin and Mr

Jamie Chong, said, “Kia Ora” as they

touched down in Auckland, New zealand.

Our twinning schools in New zealand,

Auckland Normal Intermediate and

Waikowhai Intermediate School, warmly

welcomed us with an elaborate and

traditional Maori welcome ceremony.

Indeed, it was an eye-opener or the

students and teachers as they had the

opportunity to experience and discover

various New zealand customs such as

the Hongi, Haka as well as the Hangi.

The highlight o the visit or thestudents was a our-night homestay

at their New zealand buddies’ homes.

Our students had the opportunity to

experience a slice o New zealand lie

as their buddies together with their

amilies, engaged our students in a

variety o activities and brought them

to attractions unique to Auckland.

Our students let Auckland with ond

memories o the people and the places

they visited. They have learnt more

about the New zealand culture and

people and also made new riends.

They look orward to their buddies’visit to Singapore so that they too can

return the hospitality bestowed to

them!

hong kong-shenzhen anD guangzhou triP

new zealanD exchange Programme

Our students together with their New

Zealand buddies.

The Principal o Waikowhai Intermediate

School, Mr Howard Perry and the Principal

o Auckland Normal Intermediate School,

Ms Jill Larson. At the Rotorua Museum.

Enjoying the ootbath at the hot spring.

Our students with their Hong Kong (Caritas Fanling Chan Chun

Ha Secondary School) and Guangzhou (Pui Ching Middle School) riends during the school visits.

M ak i ng W i f e B i s c ui t s at a hand s -

on s es s i on at W i ng W ah B ak er y .

A v eget ar ian lunch w it h

Hong K ong st udent s.

At S h e n z h e n C u l t u r a l V i l l a g e w h e r e t h e s t u d e n t s d a n c e d w i t h p e r f o r m e r s .

An i n - d e p t h c o m p u t e r l e s s o n a t P u i C h i n g S e c o n d a r y S c h o o l c o n d u c t e d i n E n g l i s h & M a n d a r i n .

RS INTERNATIONALISATIONOCTOBER 2011 / ISSUE 2



From 10 to 15 June 2011, 32 students rom both Chinese

and Modern Dance groups, together with Mrs Sng Siew

Hong, Mdm Rekha, Ms Soo Chee Ling and Mr Chong Shu

Chi embarked on a Dance Training cum Cultural Immersion

Trip to Beijing. The objective o this trip was to provide

an opportunity or our dancers to appreciate how dance

training is conducted in China and to urther develop their

dance competencies through the training sessions.

The highlight o the trip was the Chinese and

Modern dance technique classes conducted

by the dance proessors rom Beijing DanceAcademy. The trip would not be complete

without the excursions to places o interest

such as Great Wall, Tiananmen Square,

Imperial Palace Museum, Olympic Village and

Beijing Capital Museum. Students even had the

chance to pick cherries themselves during one

o the activities planned or them.

A group o 22 students accompanied by Ms Cheoh Pin,

Ms Bridgette Wong, Mrs Tio-Fung Eng Chu and MdmSuriyati visited Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, during the

September holidays. Some places o interest visited were

the Cu Chi tunnels, Can Gio Mangrove Forest Park, War

Museum and The Reunication Palace. There was also a

school exchange programme towards the end o the trip.

The War Museum visit was particularly memorable as

gruesome photographs, a simulated ‘tiger cage’ prison

and jars o deormed etuses were displayed. These

‘tiger cage’ prisons were used by the South Vietnamese

government to house political prisoners. It made visitors

understand the cruelty that took place during the Vietnam

war. On the other hand, the Reunication Palace, ormerly

South Vietnam’s Presidential Palace, allowed students to

see the actual reception room, vintage radio and oce

equipment used by the South Vietnamese beore Ho Chi

Minh’s revolutionary orces took over.

Visiting the Nguyen Van Be School was an eye-opening

experience as it was the rst time that these students

visited a oreign school. They get to interact with the

local students and understand how a typical school day

is like or them. This has indeed been an enriching andeducational trip or both the students and teachers. All

students let Ho Chi Minh City with ond memories and a

new-ound love or the place.

Students o Nguyen Van Be Secondary and Riverside Secondary.

Students cleaning up at the orphanage.

Students learning how the

Vietnamese recycled bomb shells and bullets to make

their own weapons.

Teaching Vietnamese students how to play kuti-kuti

– a traditional game.

Dance training cum cultural immersion BeiJing triP

Vietnam triP

Bird’s Nest National Stadium. Warm-up beore dance training. Picking Cherries.

At T i ananmen S quar e.

At O l y m p i c V i l l a g e .Modern Dance tra

ining.

RS INTERNATIONALISATION OCTOBER 2011 / ISSUE 2



On 6 June 2011, 16 cadets rom National Police Cadet Corps

(NPCC), accompanied by three teachers, Ms Fu Wei, Ms

Ong Siew Hwee and Mr Lawrance Chua embarked on an

educational trip to Hong Kong. We boarded a morning fight

and arrived at Hong Kong International Airport at noon. The

tour guide who welcomed us was approachable and we wereexcited to nd out what was in store or us on this oreign land.

We visited Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade, Avenue o Stars and

the magnicent Symphony o Lights beore heading back to

the hotel. The other places o interest we visited during this

trip include Hong Kong Museum o History, Hong Kong Police

Museum, Hong Kong Coastal Deence Museum and Ngong

Ping Sewage Treatment works. We also went to Stanley

Market, Temple Street and Ladies Street or shopping. It

was an eye-opener to experience how bargaining is done

at the street markets. We got to know and taste dierentvarieties o tea during a Chinese Tea Appreciation ceremony.

The most memorable activity or the trip is the hike up

Victoria Peak. We covered parts o the Aberdeen Hike

Adventure Walk and took a tram up the Peak. The trek was

quite exhausting as we had to hike along very steep slopes.

With continuous encouragement rom one another, we

managed to reach our destination!

Personally, I eel honoured to have the opportunity to visit

Hong Kong. I got to know both my ellow cadets and seniors

better rom the trip and we had the opportunity to try dierent

types o activities together. Most importantly, we learnt to

put aside our dierences and bonded well as a team.

Nur Asyura, 2/9

During the June holidays, a total o 22 students rom the Boys’

Brigade and Girls’ Brigade embarked on an educational cum

community involvement trip to Siem Reap, Cambodia. The

students were educated in the horric events that transpired

during the Pol Pot regime that resulted in the massacre o millions

o innocent Cambodians. They were deeply saddened during the

visit o the Toul Sleng Genocide Museum and the Cheoung EK

killing elds – both as records o Cambodia’s tragic history.

The students also participated in community work in Siem Reap,

engaging orphans rom various orphanages in un and education.

The students planned activities and games or the street children

and even passed on basic skills and knowledge in terms o

hygiene and language to the children.

The students let with great reluctance at the end o the six days.

The trip had inspired many o them and developed in them a

sense o empathy and new-ound appreciation or the lives they

lead in their own country.

national Police caDet corPs (nPcc) – hong kong triP

BoYs’ BrigaDe / girls’ BrigaDe camBoDia triP

Students’ Refections:

“I was inspired by Cambodia’s resilience as they successully recovered

rom the tragedy o what happened in the past.”

– Chua Hong Ze, 3/6

“I learnt that we should not take things or granted. We may be living inSingapore peaceully and happily…but we have to guard what we have in

case something happens.”

– Ken Leon, 2/9

Interacting with children at

an orphanage.

J o y i n c o mp l e t i n g the hik e !

Friendships orged with new riends in Cambodia.

Engaging orphans in Art and

Crat activities.

Cambodian childrenplaying with the paper

boats they made.

Students at Toul Sleng

Genocide Museum, in one

o the torture chambers.

Visiting the “foating school”

where poor children study.

Lo o k i n g a t t h e s e q u e n c e o f t h e s e w a g e p l a n t o p e r a t i o

n .

Lear ning how t o use t he

compass.

OCTOBER 2011 / ISSUE 2 RS INTERNATIONALISATION



Riverside student leaders have once again did the school proud by

garnering three Outstanding All-Round Student (OARS) Awards

given by the Northwest Community Development Council

(CDC). The award ceremony was held at Republic Polytechnic’s

auditorium on 25 May 2011. Ma Chea Yee and Priscilla Ng Bei Si,

both rom class 4/5 won the OARS award at CDC Level while Sri

Rahayu Budi o class 5/1 clinched the OARS award at the School

Level. They shared this proud moments with their amilies and

the rest o the award winners rom various schools in the north.

stuDent leaDers’ outreach week 2011

PrimarY school Prefects training

Refections by Student Leaders:

Our student leaders approached teachers, school’s sta and

the student population to oer services and helping hands

during the annual Student Leaders’ Outreach Week held rom

11 to 15 July 2011. They practised the true spirit o servant

leadership and demonstrated that humility is a key aspect

o good leadership. Our student leaders also served as role

models or other students in showing that it is important as

a leader to be proactive in helping people.

From the Outreach Week, I have learnt

that helping others brings about a kind o

unexplained satisaction. Through this, I

have also learnt that being a leader is also

about being caring and concerned towards

others. Rendering help comes rom the

bottom o our hearts and we should not help others just or the sake o it.

– Mabel Kho 3/5

outstanDing all-rounD stuDent (oars) awarD

The Primary School Preects Training was held on 2 June 2011. This was

organied annually by the Student Council to teach them leadership skills.

A total o 60 primary school preects rom various primary schools in

Woodlands participated. Overall, the event was a success and an enriching

experience or everyone.

Siti Nuraisha Bte Sari, 3/8

Secretary o 10 th Student Council

Students thinking o innovative ways to

prevent an egg rom breaking when released.Our student leaders with the primary school preects.

Students working hand-in-hand.

I learnt that we have to always extend our

help to people even i it is or the slightest

thing. This Outreach Week has encouraged

me to continue with being proactive in

lending a helping hand. I observed many

student leaders extending their help and

it’s truly heart-warming to see such modest

acts!

– Haidah 3/8

From this Outreach Week, I have learnt

that our society will be a better place i we

have more helpul people. Helping selfessly

made me gain much humility. It was heart-

warming to see the rest o the student

leaders doing the same thing.

– Lesha 3/5

STUDENT LEADERSHIP OCTOBER 2011 / ISSUE 2



A group o 28 students and 3 teachers rom Hong

Kong, Yuen Long Lutheran Secondary School visited

our school on 6 July 2011 with the objective o

“Learn Global” . Twenty-two o our Characters and

Citienship Education (CCE) Champs were chosen tohost our Hong Kong riends upon their arrival.

Ater the school assembly and a short introduction to

Riverside Secondary School, the Hong Kong students

proceeded with cultural exchange activities. The

Hong Kong students and teachers enjoyed taking

photos with various ethnic costumes and through

this activity, they achieved a better understanding o

Singapore’s unique multi-racial cultures.

Besides cultural exchanges, the Hong Kong

students also experienced the learning

environment in Singapore schools with their

paired buddies or two periods. Meanwhile, the

teachers observed classroom lessons to learn

about our school teaching pedagogies.

Our students rom Chinese, Indian,

Malay and Modern Dance groups and

the Choir perormed or Singapore

Heritage Festival 2011 in July at various

shopping centres in Singapore, such as

Ang Mo Kio Hub, North Point, Novena

Square and Jurong West Library.

Our dancers also showcased their

talents at the ollowing events such

as the 3rd ASEAN Schools Games-

cum-Singapore Youth Festival 2011,

Singapore Youth Festival 2011

Closing Event, 46th

National DayCelebration Dinner, and Chinatown

Mid-Autumn Festival 2011.

Riverside’s annual Mother Tongue Brew was held on 15 September 2011.

With the purpose o cultural knowledge and awareness o the

various races among our students, our Lower Secondary students

participated in our cultural activities - Bean Art, Clay Modelling,

Seal Carving and Congkak. The highlight this year was the level

competition with the Sec 1 competing in Bean Art, and the Sec 2

in Clay Modelling.

The elements o traditional culture and competition sparked o the

interest o Riversidians, engaging them in a way that they have never

experienced beore. Through these un-lled activities, our students

had a deeper understanding o their Mother Tongue culture.

Creativity at work-Clay

Modelling.

Seals made by our students.

external Performances BY aesthetic cca grouPs

hosting of hong kong stuDents from Yuen longlutheran seconDarY school

A taste o Singapore ood.

Learning o dierent pedagogies

used to engage students.

Hong Kong visitors wearing our ethnic costumes.

mother tongue Brew

Learning the Congkak.

Designing our very own

Bean Art.

OCTOBER 2011 / ISSUE 2 ENRICHMENT & FIELD TRIPS



e-learning

Pet rocket

Students engaging in sel directed learning through Cybersphere.

Students are naturally digital natives. They are very in

tune with the use o technology. Thereore it is not

uncommon that schools carry out learning through

the use o ICT. Riverside Secondary School organises

E-Learning or students annually and this year it has

been carried out in January and May. Students carry outtheir E-learning at home through the use o the school’s

Learning Management System (LMS), Cybersphere.

This year, the school’s LMS has been upgraded with

bigger bandwidth and more eatures. Students ollowed a timetable at home to complete their E-learning or respective

subjects. Some students use the school’s Computer Lab or E-learning as they do not have Internet access at home.

Although they may not see their teacher ace to ace, most students expressed enthusiasm through this orm o learning.

About 80 students

took part in this year’s

PET rocket Science

enrichment activity.

This activity allowed

students to build and

launch rockets made

rom PET bottles.

We made use o

recycled materials like

PET bottles to learn

Physics concepts in

a un and engaging

manner.

Students enjoying themselves

while launching the rockets.

Students displaying their new rockets!

Students launching their rocket with the help o their

instructor.

“Through the activity, we learnt that the volume o water, position o

faps and pressure pumped into bottle can aect how ar the rocket can

launch. We truly enjoy the learning experience.”

Tian Yu Harn, 3/5

creating art with chemistrY hanDs-on workshoP at the singaPore science centreIn conjunction with National Chemistry Week held

between 28 May to 5 June 2011, the Singapore

Science Centre held a series o workshops or

students to participate in.

A Chemistry Fair was held at the premises o the

Science Centre. There were various booths eaturing

numerous experiments that we do not get to see in

our chemistry labs. We were amaed at how liquid

nitrogen can cause a balloon to shrink right beore our

eyes. At another booth, we experienced how a solid-

liquid mixture behaves when pressure is applied.

At the workshop, we learnt about the processes

o electroplating and alloying. We were

astonished that with just pieces o inc, copper

and sodium hydroxide, we can make brass that

appears golden in colour within minutes.

It was denitely a un and eye-opening experience or all.

Kee Ming Feng & Eliza Tem Hui Shi, 2/7 Attending a workshop on the use o Electrochemistry.

All st udent s w er e amaz ed by liqu

id

nit r ogen used or demonst r at ion.

A s o l i d - l i q u i d m i x t u r e f o r s t u d e n t s t o o b s e r v e .

ENRICHMENT & FIELD TRIPS OCTOBER 2011 / ISSUE 2



The inaugural Community Engagement Seminar, organised

jointly with Innova Junior College and Woodlands Community

Centre, was held on 16 July 2011 at Woodlands Community

Centre. The seminar aimed to raise awareness amongst our

youths on how they can be more involved in volunteerism

through use o new media and to promote racial and religiousharmony. The theme or this year’s seminar was ‘Youth and

Volunteerism’. Presentations and table top discussions were

held during the seminar to draw out refections rom the

student leaders. Together with the Question and Answer

segment, the participants will also be able to learn more about

the opportunities to volunteer in the community.

Group presentationby student leaders.

On 8 August 2011,Riverside was in a sea

o red as the students

came dressed in colours

o our National fag. The

morning celebration started with

the National Day Observance Ceremony,

ollowed by classroom activities and a National Day

concert. Prior to the event, all classes were involved in

the NDP Classroom Notice board decoration and the

Character and Citienship Education (CCE) Champs were

involved in the production o a video which showcased

their vision or the Singapore spirit. The video was

played during the concert itsel which won applause and

laughter rom the audience.

new meDia communitY ProJect

Teachers and members o Woodlands community at the seminar.

M s E l l en Lee i nt er ac t i ng w i t h t he s t ud ent par

t i c i pant s .

S t u d e n t s s i g n i n g u p f o r C o m m u n i t y E n g a g e m e n t a c t i v i t i e s .

national DaY celeBration

National Day Observance Ceremony.

CCE Champs conducting the

NDP quiz in class.

The perormers leading the school in

community singing.

Birthday Wishes

or Singapore.

Students enjoying the NDP concert.

NATIONAL EDUCATIONOCTOBER 2011 / ISSUE 2



Riverside celebrates this year’s Racial Harmony Day

on 20 July 2011. The theme or this year’s celebration

is “Home: Joint Hopes, Shared Memories” . The

Photo Blurb competition kickstarted a series o

celebrations which took place on the actual day

itsel. Students were encouraged to submit photoswhich displayed multi-culturation.

On the actual day o celebration, Drama Club brought

together laughter to the audience which was ollowed

by an amaing display o dance perormances.

Finally, all classes went back to the classrooms or

their celebrations by taking pictures with their ellow

classmates in their colourul ethnic costumes.

Riverside’s annual R3 Day is held on 9 July this year. It wasa day where the sta and students worked together to raise

unds or the needy students. The day started at 8 am where

the students dispersed to their assigned blocks to collect

newspapers. They worked together as a team, displaying the

RSp2Irit (school values), with a common goal in mind: which

is to collect as much newspaper as possible to raise und or

the school’s Needy Fund. Good job, Riversidians!

racial harmonY DaY

reDuce, reuse, recYcle (r 3) DaY

E x c i t ed t o s t ar t t he d ay ’ s ev ent .

Seniors helping the juniors.

Parent-support group working along with our

students.Working together as a class.

Students perorming a racial harmony dance during the RHD concert.

A skit by our Drama students.Our sta and Riversidians in ethnic costumes.

NATIONAL EDUCATION OCTOBER 2011 / ISSUE 2



As part o the capacity building and proessional development

eort in the North zone Theatre o Dreams, six Head o

Departments (HODs) rom primary/secondary schools

and one junior college in the North zone were attached to

Riverside Secondary School or 3 days in August 2011.

The HODs had a meaningul attachment program asthey learn how our key programmes are conceptualised,

implemented and reviewed in alignment with the school’s

strategic thrusts using a whole school approach and with

the involvement o school leaders, sta and student leaders

and even stakeholders.

This attachment program also allowed the HODs to

broaden their perspectives and deepen their understandingon school leadership and educational challenges.

riVersiDe achieVeshealthY eating in schoolsProgramme (2010-2011)

hosting of hoDs from schools in the north zone

Presentation by HOD/CD, HOD/NT and HOD/PD on our RS Pupil Development Programme.

Mrs Sng as the Mentor Principal.

Our RS canteen vendors promoting healthy eating.

This achievement is a testimony o our continual eort in

providing our school community with healthier ood and

beverage choices. The canteen vendors were assessed

on ten guidelines by nutritionists commissioned by HealthPromotion Board.

Kudos to everyone who have contributed to this achievement!

aces DaY anD teachers’ DaY celeBration

A d anc e i n c el ebr at i on of T eac he

r s ’ D ay .T e a c h e r s ’ D a y c o n c e r t – s o l o i s t p e r f o r m a n c e b y Lo o M e e Y e e ( 3 / 2 )

On 1 September 2011 morning, students

participated in the annual ACES workout

led by the Sports Leaders. The workout

included an inter-class RS dance competition

whereby students and teachers danced to

the beat o the music.

The event is then ollowed by the Teachers’

Day celebration organised by the Level 4

student leaders and the student councillors.

The theme or the concert is ‘Guiding Lights’ as

teachers are like our guiding lights, ever guiding

us in our pursuit or knowledge and riendship.

The concert included videos and dedications rom our school partners and alumni, games and prie-

giving ceremonies. The concert ended with a highlight which was a perormance put up by the new teachers who

joined Riverside this year.

I take this opportunity to wish all teachers a Happy Teachers’ Day and thank you or being our guiding lights.

Mabel Kho, 3/5

SCHOOL ACTIVITIESOCTOBER 2011 / ISSUE 2



The North zone Learning Symposium or Senior Teachers and Lead Teachers marked

a signicant milestone on the part o the North zone schools’ eorts to strengthen

proessional development and nurture a culture o proessional excellence amongst their

teachers. With the theme, “Imagine the Singapore Educators: Understand Who We Are,

Imagine Who We Can Be, Create Who We Will Be,” the symposium aimed to provide

a platorm or teachers to share ideas and build their capacities as curriculum leaders.

On 16 May 2011, three o our Senior Teachers, Mdm Haslinda, Ms Tang Wai Yin and Ms

Fu Wei, presented their Action Research projected entitled “Problem-based Learning:

Eects o Scaolds in Secondary School Science ” at the symposium.

The symposium was indeed an enriching and meaningul learning experience or all

participants.

Mdm Haslinda, Ms Fu Wei and

Ms Tang Wai Yin with their poster

presentation o their Action

Research project.

This year, the North zone ICT Committee has organised “ICT

Connection. Live ” which was held on 1 July 2011 or school teachers

and key personnel aiming to strengthen their understanding o SDL

(Sel-Directed Learning) and CoL (Collaborative Learning) through the

use o ICT. Riverside Secondary School is honoured to be selected as

one o the twenty two classroom experiences. Mr Cheong Tuck Wai,

HOD ICT, shared with the participants on “Collaborative Brainstorming

using ICT or Mind Mapping or Research in Design and Technology ”.

Participants were presented on the ICT lessons carried out by the D&T

unit, ocusing on inusing SDL and CoL through the use o ICT tools.

Participants were given a chance to understand the considerations

behind the lesson planning or eective inusion o SDL and CoL.

They also took the opportunity to interact with the presenters and

some o our selected Riverside students who were there to guide

participants in the use o the ICT tools or the D&T lessons.

On 23 June 2011, key personnel o Riverside Secondary

School was invited to attend the BY(i)TES (Benchmarking

Your ICT Practices or Excellence in Schools) workshop

organied by our HOD ICT, Ag SH ICT and VP (Academic).

The objectives o the workshop aim to help participants

in achieving a clearer understanding o the revised

BY(i)TES version and at the same time, helping participants

to identiy, refect and adapt the strategies o implementation.

Participants were brieed on the ocus o the revised

BY(i)TES and were also invited to discuss, share and refect

on their current understanding and practices or ICT inusion

in the curriculum.

Four o our schools ICT mentors were also invited to share

about their learning and understanding o SDL (Sel Directed

Learning) and CoL (Collaborative Learning) through theirlesson plans. They are currently involved in the ICT Mentor

programme organied by Education Technology Division

(ETD) and they also shared with the participants what they

have learnt in the workshop.

On 24 June 2011, sta o Riverside Secondary School visited

Khoo Teck Puat Hosptial to learn about their innovative

practices. We were brieed about the hospital’s unique

mission and vision beore embarking on a very ullling

journey around the hospital grounds. Everyone was greatly

encouraged because we learnt new practices to benet the

students and school.

north zone learning sYmPosium for senior teachers anD leaD teachers

north zone ict connection.liVe

BY(i)tes workshoP staff learning JourneY tokhoo teck Puat hosPital

Participants learning more about the use o ICT tools.

D r E ugene S hum,

D i r ec t or of M ed i c al

Af f ai r s and I nnov at i on,

gi v i ng hi s k ey not e

ad d r es s .

U s e o f M i n d M a p p i n g b y H O D I C T .

Riv er side st udent s guidin

g

par t icipant s in t he use o

t he online IC T t ool.

D r E u g e n e S h u m w i t h s t a f f o f R i v e r s i d e .

STAFF DEVELOPMENT OCTOBER 2011 / ISSUE 2



Mrs Sng Siew Hong (Principal)

received her 3rd National Day Award

this year. She was the recipient o the

Public Administration Medal (Brone)in 2005 and the Commendation Medal

in 1998. The Long Service Medal is

or duty-holder with irreproachable

character and have completed at least

25 years o service.

On 4 July 2011, our non-teaching sta went on

a Learning Journey organised by the N5 Cluster

to Chinatown, Kampong Glam and the EurasianAssociation. It was a good opportunity to understand

and appreciate the culture and history o the dierent

ethnic groups in Singapore.

2011 national DaY awarDs

welcome to the new familY

The Commendation Medal Long Service Medal

Congratulations to Mr Chen Fook

Pang, Vice-Principal (Academic).

The Commendation Medal is

awarded to ocer who hasdistinguished himsel through

commendable perormance

and conduct, or with signicant

eciency, competence and

devotion in his duty.

From let to right Mr Lin Shaojie, Ms Cai Gengyun, Mdm Toh Siew Hoon, Ms Junainah Amran, Ms Wong Yi Jun, Ms Dorothy Ong.

eas learning JourneY

The Riverside amily gathered together in our

very own library to celebrate Teachers’ Day.

This year’s theme is “LiP !” and it was a very

colourul and cosy celebration. Entertained by

table games and a un loving School Welare

Committee (SWC), Riverside teachers also

enjoyed a wonderul spread on the buet table.

Everyone let the lunch venue with smiles and

happy memories o a lunch spent together to

commemorate the beauty o teaching.

teachers’ DaY lunch

Our ‘un-loving’ School Welare Committee.Teachers dressed-up or the occasion.

Our EAS at Kampong Glam.

STAFF NEWSOCTOBER 2011 / ISSUE 2

Rivers Id Ian (Oct 2011)Finalised

Documents

Transcript of Rivers Id Ian (Oct 2011)Finalised