1 Bukit Teresa Road, Singapore 099757 Tel: 6273 0096, Fax: 6273 1710, Email: [email protected]http://www.chijkellock.moe.edu.sg From the Principal’s Desk… Issue 1 20 February 2019 2016 Kellock Connects! A Christ-centred learning community where every child will develop her unique giftedness to lead and make a difference. In this issue… 1. Updates & Announcements 2. Student Matters English Dept. Mathematics Dept. Science Dept. Application for Exemption from Mother Tongue Language Assessment Matters 3. Happenings @Kellock Open House & Orientation Beginning of Year Gratitude Mass Camps for Life 4. Upcoming Events Careers Day 5. Parent Support Group (PSG) Dear Parents, FAITH, HOPE AND LOVE In 1854, it was FAITH that brought four determined nuns from France, to follow God’s call to serve in the East amongst the poor and the disadvantaged in society. In spite of the challenges they faced in adapting to challenging physical conditions and a culture quite alien to them, they were able to start a school within two weeks. The Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus School (Victoria Street aka Town Convent) was born, and in the subsequent years, a total of 11 CHIJ schools! CHIJ Kellock was born in the same spirit 55 years ago – with determination, perseverance and a good dose of the IJ spirit – which is one of faith, hope and love. For the last 55 years of our existence, it is the same FAITH that keeps alive the work done by the IJ Kellock Community in continuing the legacy passed down by those who have gone before us. An anniversary inevitably invites us to look back, it also invites us to move into the future with HOPE and a renewed calling to stay relevant in the ever-changing educational landscape while remaining grounded to the rock-solid foundation of values embedded in our school’s DNA. CHIJ Kellock has been synonymous with quality education for young girls and a highly regarded approach to service towards the disadvantaged. Since its founding in 1964, its raison d’etre has remained constant. This mission, translated, makes for a meaningful learning experience for the girls who come through the portals of the convent. The K (Kellock)-Experience places the learner at the heart of all that is done in school, puts learning back into the hands of the learner, with the teachers, the school environment and partners like the parents, as the keys to helping the children unlock their own learning. It is an experience that steers clear from a singular pre-occupation with academic achievement to one that emphasizes holistic values-based education, while remaining faithful to the goals of a Catholic education on which the foundations of the school are laid.
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Kellock Connects! · 2019. 3. 1. · 1 Bukit Teresa Road, Singapore 099757 Tel: 6273 0096, Fax: 6273 1710, ... There is nothing quite like reading together as a family; be it flipping
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1.3 Dismissal Procedures at 1.30 p.m. and 4.00 p.m.
Students taking the School Bus Home
Students are to report at the school hall and assemble according to the bus numbers after their
dismissal at 1.30 p.m. and at 4.00 p.m. Bus drivers will accompany students to their respective
buses.
Students who are Picked Up by Car Students are to wait for their parents at the car pick-up point at Gate 3P. We would like to
advise parents not to wait along Bukit Purmei Road as the road is narrow and any obstruction
will lead to a traffic congestion. Parents could also park their cars at the HDB carpark behind
the school and walk down to pick their daughters at the Gate 3P Parents’ Waiting Area.
Students taking Public Transport/ Walking Home/ Picked Up by Parents or Caregivers Students taking public bus or walking home are to exit via Gate 1P or 3P. Parents/Caregivers
who are picking their daughter/ward may wait at the Parents’ Waiting Areas at Gate 1P or 3P.
We urge all parents or caregivers to exercise patience and we seek your co-operation and
support to abide by the regulations so that our girls’ safety will not be compromised.
1.4 Safety and Security Matters
Parents and caregivers will NOT be allowed in the school compound as long as the school is in
session to ensure the security of our students in school.
If you need to visit the school, do register at the Security Post and report to the General Office
to obtain a visitor’s pass. If you need to see the teachers or school leaders, do make an
appointment first.
1.5 Finance Matters: Consolidated Notification / Collection of Payment for School Programmes and Resources The School Bill is a statement informing you of your daughter’s enrichment programmes and school charges for various items. It is part of Ministry of Education’s initiative to improve efficiency of administering and collecting funds from students.
The School Bill is sent out, twice a year, at the beginning of each semester.
If your child/ward is a Singaporean and has established an Edusave Enrichment Programme
Standing Order, the co-payment amount will be deducted from her Edusave account subject to
the balance available. We strongly encourage your child to opt in.
For other school charges, payment will be made either by GIRO, cash, cheque or at the AXS
machine
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For Singapore Permanent Residents & International Students, payment for all items can be
made either by Giro, cash, cheque or at the AXS machine
More details will be shared in the upcoming school bill letter to parents.
2. Student Matters
2.1 English Language Department
“O this learning, what a thing it is!” – William Shakespeare
We begin 2019 with a new start in a new school environment, with bountiful opportunities to
introduce our Kellock girls to the wider world of English learning and to get them excited about
the journey they are about to embark. The primary focus for the English Department this year is
to encourage students to develop a love of reading. A study conducted by the American Academy
of Pediatrics found that reading to children of any age wakens a number of regions in the left part
of the brain; the areas in the brain that becomes active involving understanding the meaning of
words and concepts tied to memory.
As a department, we will strive to help students develop positive personal reading habits that will
extend beyond the classroom. Teaming up with the National Library Board (NLB), we will be
bringing in a wide array of books during Books to Go sessions, storytelling sessions for our lower
primary girls and the usual Book Buzz, a book promotion session on popular new titles that help
expand our students’ reading diet beyond the types of books they are usually drawn to. This year,
we have a real treat for our girls. Local authors Low Ying Ping of Mount Emily series and Xie Shi
Min of Dragonhearted have been invited for a meet-and-greet session where they will discuss
how reading inspired them to write award-winning stories. On top of that, the English department
is fortunate to have Sally Rippin, an international author who has over 70 books published
including the popular Billie B Brown series, to excite our girls to develop convincing characters in
their stories.
On the home front, the English department would like to encourage parents to read daily with
their daughters. There is nothing quite like reading together as a family; be it flipping through a
picture book or sitting in the same room immersed in a piece of literature. Books can take our
students to so many places, teach them incredible values and dazzle them with the beauty of the
English language. Grab a book now and dive into the wealth it has to offer!
2.2 Mathematics Department
The Mathematics Department’s focus for the year is to nurture an intrinsic motivation towards
learning Mathematics and to ignite the passion of exploration and discovery. We believe in
nurturing the joy of learning so that every student in Kellock can discover her interests, grow her
passions, and love what she is doing. It is the intent of the Mathematics Department that students
acquire the mathematical knowledge and skills with the necessary rigour while having fun learning.
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Two new programmes are rolled out to the Primary One and Primary Two students this year as
part of the white space programme, Have Fun with Sudoku and Playing with Tangrams. The
game-based programme provides an excellent vehicle to train the mind and to develop the
capacity to think logically, abstractly, critically and creatively.
Have Fun with Sudoku
Sudoku is a game of logic, where one has to think strategically and solve problems creatively
while spotting patterns. This “brain game” helps stimulate one’s cognitive ability. By practising
logical thinking as the puzzle is being solved, it helps students to improve number skills. It injects
fun, and gives a sense of accomplishment when the puzzle is solved. The joy of learning comes
from experiences of success.
Playing with Tangrams
Tangrams is a traditional Chinese puzzle made up of a square divided into seven pieces (one
parallelogram, one square and five triangles) that can be arranged to match particular designs.
Playing tangrams helps to develop perceptual reasoning (nonverbal thinking skills), visual-
spatial awareness, creativity and many mathematical concepts such as congruency, symmetry,
area, perimeter, and geometry. Students get to explore playing tangrams hands-on, which
makes learning fun and meaningful. Tangrams promotes open-ended explorations too. Thus
teaching mathematics through tangrams encourages students to interact with mathematical
concepts in a novel way, which deepens learning.
2.3 Science Department
Science is everywhere! It pervades our personal and professional lives. It is taught and examined
in school curricula the world over, and so it is here too, in Kellock, where generations of girls have
been introduced to Science as a subject at Primary 3.
We see Science as a way of understanding the world, a perspective, and a pattern of thinking
that begins in the very early years. With this in mind, we have decided that beginning 2019, we
will be introducing Science to the littlest ones, the Primary ones and twos, through the TinkerBelle
Programme, to catch them young. This programme is conducted under the new White Space
Curriculum and is delivered through bite-sized lessons to introduce students to STEM design
projects and elements of the Growth Mindset. For girls in the mid-upper primary levels, we are
collaborating with the Singapore Committee for UN Women to bring in the Girls2Pioneers
Programme as part of the Women in STEM campaign. This day camp comprises engaging
challenges that aim to cultivate 21st century skills to inspire a community of learners.
In short, we are hoping to raise a generation of Thinkers who Tinker right here in Kellock! But, we
also know that we can’t do it alone, for Science begins at home too. We hope to partner parents
who, in the process of providing science-friendly homes, also encourage deep questioning, critical
thinking, and provide opportunities for experimentation, creation of models and access to a wide
range of print and non-print media. We look forward to working closely with parents to realise this
vision of a Kellock girl who loves learning enough to see the value of science to society.
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2.4 Application for Exemption from offering Mother Tongue Language (MTL)
Under our bilingual policy, all students are required to offer a Mother Tongue Language (MTL) in
addition to English. Students of Chinese, Malay and Indian ethnicity will offer their respective
MTLs. Eurasian students, students of mixed parentage and international students whose mother
tongue is not one of the three official MTLs can choose to offer any of the three official MTLs.
Parents are required to submit an application to MOE to seek approval.
Indian students who are non-Tamil speakers may apply to offer a Non-Tamil Indian Language
(NTIL), i.e., Bengali, Gujarati, Hindi, Punjabi and Urdu. NTIL students are required to attend
lessons with the NTIL community groups and sit for examinations set by the Board for the
Teaching and Testing of South Asian Languages.
Students may apply for exemption from offering MTL only under exceptional circumstances, e.g.
mid-stream entry or special educational needs. These applications are to be submitted with
supporting documents and are subjected to MOE’s approval. MTL exemptions applications and
appeals for Primary 6 students must be submitted before 30 April 2019. Should you have any
queries, please check with our Head of Department MTL, Mdm Wong Foong Li, or Subject Head
of MTL, Mdm Tunisha.
2.5 Assessment Matters
Assessment is an integral part of the teaching and learning process. It is a process of gathering
information about students’ learning and development. It provides teachers, students and parents
with useful feedback about the students’ development so that they can make better progress in
their learning.
The choice of assessment must fit-for-purpose in terms of the learning outcomes to be assessed
and how the information is to be used. Hence the school conducts Assessment Task (AT) and
Semestral Assessment (SA) to gather information on different facets of our students’ learning and
development. AT includes assessments on performance tasks such as oracy skills, mathematics
and science practical tests. Assessment tasks also includes Project Work (PW) which assesses
on 21st century skills and competencies.
As of this year, all assessment tasks for Primary 1 and 2 are not weighted. The school will provide
parents with qualitative descriptors to inform of students’ progress in the different subjects
learning outcomes.
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ASSESSMENT WEIGHTING
Primary 3 and 5
Term 1 Term 2 Term 3 Term 4
0% 30%
0% 70%
ATs (not weighted)
SA1 Papers (English Language,
Mathematics, Science & Mother Tongue
Language)
SA2 Papers (English Language,
Mathematics, Science & Mother Tongue
Language)
P3 & 5 Science: SA2 Written Paper (60%)
Practical Exam (10%) Conducted in Term 3
*AT includes Project Work (not weighted)
Primary 4
Term 1 Term 2 Term 3 Term 4
0% 40%
0% 60%
ATs (not weighted)
SA1 Papers (English Language,
Mathematics, Science & Mother Tongue
Language)
SA2 Papers (English Language,
Mathematics, Science & Mother Tongue Language)
For Primary 4 Science - SA2 Written Paper (50%) - Practical Exam (10%) Conducted in Term 3
*AT includes Project Work (not weighted)
Primary 6
Primary 6
Term 1 Term 2 Term 3
0% Class Test (not weighted)
Not reflected in Report Book
100% Reflected in the report
book as raw scores
100% Reflected in the report book as
raw scores
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3. Happenings @Kellock – Term 1 3.1 Open House & Orientation Programme
Open House
While the rest of the schools in Singapore commenced classes on the 2 January, it was not so
for the students in CHIJ Kellock. The Primary 1 to 3 students of 2019, together with their parents,
were taken on a school tour to familiarise them to the Bukit Teresa campus. Kellock teachers took
on the role of a ‘tour guide’ and showed the parents and students the upgraded school campus.
Many who turned up for the visit were bowled over by the beautiful facilities and the little details
that the school made an effort to see to. It was a successful open house and the students were
treated to a little helium balloon to welcome them back to school for the new year.
Orientation Programme
Another highlight of our Week 0 programme was the
customised Orientation Programme planned by a
committee of teachers. The Orientation Programme
aimed to foster greater teacher-student relationship
through activities such as class and level team-bonding
games.
In order to orientate the students to the new facilities in
the school, the committee also conducted an amazing
race that took our students to the many parts of our
school.
Apart from exploring the nooks and cranny of
the school, the students also gained an
understanding of the work done by pioneer
leaders such as Mother Mathilde, Sr
Theophane and Sr Deidre. Our girls definitely
had a better appreciation of our history.
The Orientation Programme also included a
segment for house meeting. Students gathered in
their respective houses and had their first meet up
with their house teachers. The session included a
presentation on the saint that the house is named
after. The highlight for this segment was certainly
the practising of their house cheers which fosters
team spirit. Library
Barre Garden
Kellock Indoor Sports Hall
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Overall, the students certainly enjoyed the two days of Orientation Programme. Moving forward,
the school will continue this initiative of having an Orientation Programme at the start of every
year.
3.2 Beginning of Year Gratitude Mass
Gratitude ‘…for all things give thanks’ (1 Thess 5:18); ‘….for all things come of thee’ (1 Chronicles
29:14)
The school community of CHIJ Kellock has indeed many things to be grateful for. After two years
at the holding site of Queensway, the school officially moved back to the newly refurbished Bukit
Teresa campus at end of 2018. It was a joyous occasion for staff and students to be finally back
on home ground.
On Friday, 11 January 2019, we celebrated our return to the Bukit Teresa campus with a
Eucharistic service. The Beginning of Year Gratitude Mass was truly befitting as the school
community came together to give thanks to God, our heavenly Father, for the wonderful blessings
which He had showered upon us and to seek His abundant blessings for the year.
The Eucharistic celebration was celebrated by Fr John Bosco, parish priest of Church of St Teresa.
The mass was attended by Sr Maria, IJ provincial, Ms Lam, IJ Supervisor, members of the IJ
Board, team of architects and designers, former school leaders, PSG EXCO and parents from
the school’s chaplaincy team. The school choir with their conductor, Mr Qiu, led the school
community and guests in the singing of hymns. It was a beautiful Eucharistic celebration whereby
every student and staff sang in one voice, songs of praise to God.
3.3 Camps for Life @ Kellock
Camps for Life, a customised programme developed by the school, aims to help our students
build self-confidence and self-esteem. It is not only a good opportunity for the students to
interact and bond with one another, it is also a wonderful platform to instil life skills such as
organisational and social skills. The training and development received at the camps will teach
the students to work together, make choices, take responsibility, develop leadership skills and
build independence and resilience. The camps also comprise of activities that will equip the
students with social emotional skills that will enable them to become self-directed learners who
are able to manage their emotions better and contribute as effective team-players
Teambonding Game Parent Volunteers helping out
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Camps for Life for the different levels are as follows:
Levels Themes Nature Dates
Pr. 1 P1 Orientation Week Conducted during curriculum time
7 - 11 Jan
Pr. 2 P2 Friendship Day Conducted during curriculum time
15 Mar
Pr. 3 P3 Bonding Camp: Ignite X Day Camp (7.45 a.m. to 8.00 p.m.)
15 Mar
Pr. 4 P4 Night @The Museum Bonding Camp
2 D 1 N (overnight camp)
26 – 27 Feb (half a level) 28 Feb – 1 Mar (half a level)
Pr. 5 P5 Teambuilding Adventure Camp
3 D 2 N (overnight camp)
7 – 9 Jan
Pr. 6 P6 Malacca Trip 2 D 1 N (Overseas Trip)
24 – 25 Oct (half a level) 31 Oct – 1 Nov (half a level)
Primary 5 Teambuilding and Outdoor Adventure Camp 2019
As part of Kellock’s belief in providing a
holistic education, the P5 students embarked
on an amazing outdoor learning experience
at their teambuilding camp which took place
from 7 to 9 January 2019, at the MOE
Labrador Outdoor Adventure Learning
Centre (LOALC).
During
the camp,
the
students
were
challenged to confront and overcome their fears through a
series of activities such as abseiling, rock-climbing, challenge
rope course, zipline and the artificial caving system. They also
had the opportunity to learn how to work well together as a
team and display the school values when they tried their hands
at laser tag, popcorn-making and low element activities. All
these experiences imbued in the students, resilience,
ruggedness, tenacity as they confidently tackled challenges
together. Through the common experiences that they went
through, the students forged camaraderie while learning to
appreciate diversity in the new class that they were placed in this year. Rock-climbing
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The camp ended on a high note with a campfire on the second night of their stay at the campsite.
Many of the students expressed that they had become more courageous and resilient after their
camping experiences and they look forward to more outdoor learning activities.
4. Upcoming Events
4.1 Careers Day 2019
As part of Education and Career Guidance (ECG), the school will be having Careers Day on 22nd
February, Friday. There will be sharing by professionals to introduce students to the wide array
of occupations, including new jobs created in this ever-changing world-of-work.
Through Careers Day, we aim for students to:
• develop their interests, abilities and career aspirations
• inculcate an appreciation for all occupations and how they contribute to society
• correct misconceptions about occupations and create the awareness of the
relationship between school and work, that school is preparatory ground for work as
the skills and habits required to succeed in school are applicable to the workplace.
To create an authentic and meaningful experience for the lower primary students, Primary 1 and
2 students are encouraged to come dressed in an outfit that shows their choice of occupation on
Careers Day (Friday, 22 February 2019). Students will be allowed to be in that attire for the whole
day.
Primary 5 and 6 students will be exposed to the online career portal after Careers day, to learn
more about the different careers. They will be guided in the process of target setting and learning
to chart their progress as they work towards their goals.
If you have any clarifications or would like to volunteer to share more about your profession with
our students for Careers Day 2019, please feel free to contact Mrs Joy Zhang-Low (HOD