Kellock Connects! 26 March 2015 Issue 2 - MOE · Mr Lee Kuan Yew 2. SG50 Celebrations @ Kellock 3. Voice of our Heads of Departments 3.1 English Dept. 3.2 MTL Dept. 3.3 Mathematics

1 Bukit Teresa Road, Singapore 099757 Tel: 6273 0096, Fax: 6273 1710, Email: [email protected]

http://www.chijkellock.moe.edu.sg

From the Vice-Principal’s Desk…

As we enter into Term 2, let us recollect the exciting and eventful first term of

2015! It was an action-packed term as we witnessed various exciting

programmes and events. Many of such programmes are the result of close

collaboration between our departments and the Parent Support Group (PSG).

In our endeavour to deliver a holistic education where every child is important

to us and where we hope to develop every child’s unique gifts, we need the

entire community to work with us. It has been said that it takes ‘a village to

raise a child’ and this is especially true as we see our PSG collaborating with

the school in many of the events and programmes this year.

We began the new year with our annual PSG Welcome Breakfast and was

pleasantly surprised by the huge turnout of over a 100 parents who attended

the meeting and signed up to volunteer in various events. We are especially

thankful that some have generously contributed to our Student Welfare Fund,

Sponsor-A-Child, to help the less privileged girls in our midst. It was heart-

warming to see many of our parents giving themselves to serve in the different

sub-committees lined up by the PSG. We partnered with the PSG who spear-

headed Tutti-Frutti Tuesdays, serving fruits at recess to complement the

school’s effort in educating our students to eat healthily. Partnership with

parents extended to the organising of Careers Day with the CCE Department

where all our girls had the opportunity to hear from professionals from the

corporate world and different industries. They showed our students what it

takes to be an author, lawyer, pilot, choreographer, sailor, flight stewardess,

journalist, Olympic hurdler, scientist, game scientist, sports trainer and

designer. Each of the 12 professionals shared their expertise, and the skills

and demands required in the different fields of work, and also urged our

students to cultivate the right attitude and passion to stay on the job.

The development of character and citizenship in our children is influenced by

what happens in school, in the family and in the wider community. The

learning of values, skills and competencies will be more effective and

enriching for our children if what is taught in school is reinforced by what is

practised at home and what is endorsed by the community. Home-school

collaboration becomes therefore, a needful component in raising a healthy,

well-adjusted child. To foster greater home-school collaboration, CHIJ Kellock

attempts to engage parents through various platforms such as, briefings for

parents, beginning-of-year meet-ups with the Form Teachers, mid-year parent-

teacher conference, parental involvement in class-based activities and the

conduct of various workshops and events for parental involvement.

Issue 2

26 March 2015 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. Remembering

Mr Lee Kuan Yew

2. SG50 Celebrations

@ Kellock

3. Voice of our Heads

of Departments

3.1 English Dept.

3.2 MTL Dept.

3.3 Mathematics

Dept

3.4 Science Dept.

4. Updates/

Announcements

4.1 Staff

Appointments

4.2 Safety &

Security

4.3 International

Friendship Day

4.4 Founder’s Day

4.5 Parents’

Symposium

4.6 Assessment

Matters

4.7 Calendar

5. Parents Support

Group Matters

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To this end, we are launching our inaugural Parents’ Symposium, themed Engaging and

Empowering Parents to provide parents with an insight to the academic curriculum and how it

is taught in school. At the symposium, parents will have the option to choose from 12 of the

breakout sessions which will cover the different academic subjects as well as parenting skills.

A keynote speaker has also been invited to touch on ‘Good Cyber-Wellness Values’ with an

emphasis on Resilience, a much needed value that is especially important during the growing

up years when our children face challenges, pressure and rejection from peers.

When schools, families, and community groups work together to support learning, children

tend to do better in school, stay in school longer, and like school more. Let us work together to

bring out the best in our children and to continue to nurture in them values that will prepare

them for a lifelong journey.

Yours sincerely,

Yap Tsui Lan (Mrs)

Vice-Principal 2

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The staff and students at CHIJ Kellock are deeply saddened by the passing of

Mr Lee on Monday, 23 March 2015. As the leader among the core group of founding fathers of

Independent Singapore, Mr Lee has been pivotal in shaping the course of our nation’s

history. He had dedicated his life to the building of a prosperous and cohesive country where

Singaporeans can pursue the ideals of democracy, justice, peace, progress and equality. The

passing of Mr Lee is a deep loss to all of us.

As a mark of respect to Mr Lee, the State flag and school flag will be flown at half-mast from 23

March 2015 to 29 March 2015. The observance ceremony on 24 March 2015 including a minute

of silence after the pledge allowed all staff and students to reflect on, and pay respect to, the

immense contributions of Mr Lee in our nation-building. Resource packages, customised for the

lower and upper primary levels, were provided by the Ministry of Education to engage students

in reflection on the passing of Mr Lee.

CHIJ Kellock will be involved in the state ceremony on Thursday morning, 26 March. As every

school will be involved in paying of respect during the Lying-in-State at Parliament House, only

the principal, Ms Magdalene Chin, together with 4 staff and 15 students, will attend the

ceremony. To allow more members of public to also pay homage to Mr Lee, Heartland Tribute

Sites are also established in some of the neighbourhood estates. For students who could not

be included in the school-organised paying of respect at Parliament House, they are strongly

encouraged to find out the Heartland Tribute Site nearest to their homes and pay their respect

there.

Tributes written by staff and students of CHIJ Kellock will be posted onto the school website. If

you would like to write a tribute in remembrance of Mr Lee, you may do so at

http://www.rememberingleekuanyew.sg/.

1.

A tribute from Kellock to Mr Lee Kuan Yew…

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2. SG50 Celebrations @ Kellock

CHIJ Kellock celebrates Singapore’s 50th anniversary of her independence with the theme Honouring the Past, Celebrating the Present & Co-creating the Future. To help our students develop an awareness, understanding and appreciation of The Singapore Story, we have lined up an array of exciting activities and events commemorating the different eras in Singapore’s history. These will be spread over the four school terms as follows:-

Terms Theme Era

1 Honouring the Past 1960-1970s

2 Honouring the Past 1980-1990s

3 Celebrating the Present 2000-2015

4 Co- Creating the Future 2015 and Beyond

Kick-starting the SG50 celebrations in Term 1, was the Chinese New Year concert. The theme

was Our Heritage, Our Pride which focused on getting our students to appreciate their roots.

Various activities were planned to increase students’ awareness of the different languages and

dialects used in the 1960s and 1970s in Singapore. Keeping in line with the theme of Honouring

the Past, senior citizens from Radin Mas Residential Community and the grandparents of our

Primary 1 and 2 students were invited to our Chinese New Year celebration. The gratitude

shown to the pioneers who had sacrificed much in the building of Singapore was indeed very

heart-warming. Both the young generation and the pioneers gamely took part in many activities

specially planned during the celebration. Involving the pioneer generation in our programmes

and activities will be a running theme throughout the year.

Singapore Time Machine

To help our students better appreciate and understand the journey Singapore took to become

what it is today, our very own Singapore Time Machine, a monthly morning assembly segment

will feature significant milestones in the history of Singapore. Students will also learn more

about the living conditions, education system and Singapore’s pioneers through the fun and

interactive assembly sharing by our very own ‘legendary’ school characters Dola and Lola.

These activities will propel our students to actively participate in celebrating Singapore’s 50th

birthday and cultivate a sense of belonging and love for our nation.

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3. Voice of our Heads of Departments

3.1 English Language Department by HOD/English, Mrs Jean Toh

At CHIJ Kellock, the English Language (EL) Department aims to provide effective and engaged

learning and teaching in Standard English to our students. Our key emphasis is to create a

vibrant environment that promotes and encourages proper expression in Standard English for

our students. As such, the department’s programmes and initiatives have been planned to

achieve the department’s vision:

English Week 2015: Good English – Any time, Any place, Anywhere! (2 Mar-9 Mar)

The EL Department commemorated the launch of the school’s annual event, English Week, in

Term 1. EL Week aims to provide platforms and opportunities for students to develop a love for

the language through a variety of interesting and meaningful activities planned for the week. As

a lead-up, two students, Ananya Sharma of Primary 5 Ixora and Deborah Ng of Primary 5 Lily,

played the roles of superheroes to educate their peers on the importance of speaking good

English in order to be understood by others. Following the lead-up, the school was honoured to

have Ms Tan Ter Cheah, author of the book titled ONE – a true story of grit and courage, to

speak with the students about her love for English and how she used her flair in writing to share

her personal story so as to inspire and motivate people around her. On top of that, to

encourage and motivate students to think, write, read and speak clearly and effectively, there

were also exciting level-wide activities from Primary 1 to Primary 6 tailored to suit the different

age groups. We had Kellock’s very own signature programme known as Speak Proper English

At Kellock (SPEAK) Award Competitions, an interesting story-telling session by Master Story-

teller – Ms Kamini Ramachandran, a session with author – Ms Jessica Alejandro and a writing

workshop conducted by authors – Ms Monica Lim and Miss Lesley Ann-Tan.

In CHIJ Kellock, we are committed to recognise, nurture and develop the potential of each

student. As such, the EL Department is implementing the Stretch and Support Programme after

school hours to cater to the different needs of the students.

EL Stretch Programme @ Kellock

Targeted at stretching students with an excellent grasp of the language, the Stretch Programme

comprises specially tailored curriculum which is extended beyond the basic syllabus in depth

and breadth. It is designed to stimulate individual growth and help students realise their full

potential by providing an array of opportunities to deepen student’s repertoire of skills and

knowledge with regards to the English Language.

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EL Support Programme @ Kellock

The Support Programme at Kellock is aimed at students who face challenges in the English

Language. It is designed to support students’ mastery of specific language skills and

fundamental knowledge through a specially designed curriculum. With a smaller class size,

specific remediation can be done. By providing these students with a strong foundation, they

will be better able to gradually grasp basic language concepts and progress towards being a

more competent user of the English Language.

REAP & READ @ Kellock

Reading is an important key to unlock our students’ ability to be confident and effective

communicators. It exposes our students to knowledge and experiences, widening their

perspectives and enabling them to communicate confidently. Through reading, students gain an

understanding of the beauty and power of words, giving them an edge in communicating and

writing effectively.

To encourage our students to read, READ & REAP @ Kellock comprises a series of outreach

efforts to expose students to the different genres of books and to enthuse them to read widely.

These efforts include Read-Swop-Share, Books-to-Go and Book Buzz. This year, the English

Department has successfully implemented Super Storytastic!, a fortnightly storytelling session

for students during silent reading in the morning. Facilitated by parent volunteers, students will

be treated to age-appropriate stories where a rich discussion may follow after the reading of the

story.

To further promote reading, the department will be introducing the Book Crossing programme

in this term. Book Crossing is defined as ‘the practice of leaving a book in a public place to be

picked up and read by others, who then do likewise’. In order to make the whole school a

library, corners will be set up in the school hall for students to share their books with others or to

pick up a book of their interest to read before returning it for others to enjoy. To keep this

sustainable, students will be strongly encouraged to bring a storybook to school to share with

their friends on 21 April, in conjunction with International Book Crossing Day.

SG50 Commemoration

To celebrate Singapore’s 50th birthday, the English Department will be spearheading a

publication of fifty stories contributed by our budding writers. This is in collaboration with the

Mother Tongue Department and the Character and Citizenship Department. With Singapore’s

history as the setting for their stories, students will learn to appreciate Singapore’s heritage and

use their imagination to create beautiful stories set in different eras. To achieve this, selected

writers will work closely with authors in residence as they learn strategies in creative writing and

apply the skills taught in their final stories which will be published in a book. An electronic

version of it will also be made available for download towards the end of the year.

Do visit the school’s website, www,chijkellock.moe.edu.sg, to learn more about the English

programmes in the school.

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3.2 Mother Tongue Language Department

by HOD/MTL, Mdm Wong Foong Li & SH/TL & ML, Mdm Tunisha

Mother Tongue Fortnight 2015 (5 Feb - 18 Feb)

This is the fourth consecutive year that the MTL Department has organised Mother Tongue

Fortnight for students in CHIJ Kellock. The theme for this year’s fortnight was Our Heritage, Our

Pride. This was part of the school’s celebrations for SG50, where our students learned about

their roots by increasing their awareness of the different languages and dialects used in the

1960s and 1970s in Singapore. Another objective of the fortnight was for students to appreciate

the contributions made by the pioneers of that era. The Mother Tongue Fortnight ended on a

high note with the Chinese New Year (CNY) concert on 18 February.

To celebrate Singapore’s 50 years of independence, the CNY celebration was used as a

platform to pay tribute to our pioneer generation. Therefore, besides the senior citizens from

Radin Mas Residential Community, the grandparents of our P1 and P2 students were invited to

join in the festive celebration. The pioneers greatly enjoyed the concert and the grandparents

participated enthusiastically in the craft making sessions with their granddaughters. This activity

which provided an opportunity for the grandparents to bond with their granddaughters was very

well-received.

P4 Mother Tongue Language (MTL) and Cultural Camp 2015 (13 July)

Besides the Mother Tongue Fortnight, the MTL Department will also be organising an annual

Language and Cultural Camp for our P4 students. The objectives of this camp are to provide an

immersive environment for students to learn and use MTL and to appreciate the different MTL

cultures through hands-on activities.

Educational Exchange Programme to China (24 May – 29 May)

The Chinese Department will be organising a 6-day China Educational Exchange Programme to

Xiamen, Chaozhou and Yonding in May 2015. This programme integrates the learning

outcomes of the CL Department’s school-based curriculum of “We are Campus Reporters”

(WeCaRe) programme and “We are Bilingual” (WeB) programme. The main objectives of this

exchange programme are:

to extend the WeB programme beyond borders so as to provide opportunities for the

students to reinforce and apply the knowledge they have learnt from the WeB

programme and the WeCaRe workshop;

to immerse the students in the rich culture and history of China so that they are able to

appreciate how the different cultures have influenced the language;

to enhance students’ learning of the Chinese Language through the learning tasks

assigned to them during the trip.

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CHIJ Combined Schools Malay and Tamil Languages Cultural Camp (16 March)

Our P6 students participated in the Tamil Language IJ Cultural Camp while both our P3 and P6

students attended the Malay Language IJ Cultural Camp. These camps are organised annually

by our IJ cluster to increase cultural awareness in our students. The focus for this year’s camps

is to enhance students’ knowledge of the historical and cultural heritage of the Tamil and Malay

Languages. Our students had the opportunity to interact with students and teachers of the

other CHIJ schools using their Mother Tongue languages through the various activities. The

camp was held on 16 March from 8.30 a.m. to 11.30 a.m. at CHIJ (Katong) Primary School.

Educational Tours to JB/Malacca and Sarawak (25 May-26 May)

P5 students who are learning Tamil will be involved in an Educational Tour to JB/Malacca in this

term. The objectives of the trip are to create opportunities for them to learn the language beyond

the classroom and at the same time, understand the Indian culture and traditions. P5 students

learning Malay will take part in a similar educational trip to Sarawak in Term 4. More

information will be furnished nearer to the dates.

Hari Raya Puasa & Deepavali Concerts and Activities The Malay Department will be collaborating with the Creative Arts Department to conduct

activities for Hari Raya Puasa. One interesting activity which will be conducted during recess is

the ketupat weaving. In keeping with the school’s firm belief of home-school partnership, the

grandparents and parents of the students learning the Malay Language will help during the

ketupat weaving activity.

Similarly, the Tamil Department will organise recess activities and a concert for the Deepavali

celebrations. Activities such as saree tying and Rangoli / Kolam drawing have been planned for

the recess activities. These activities will be facilitated by volunteer grandparents and parents

similar to the Malay Department’s. There will also be a Deepavali concert for the whole school.

3.3 Mathematics Department by HOD/Mathematics, Mrs Arif Hong

Mathematics underpins many aspects of our everyday activities. The learning of Mathematics

provides an excellent vehicle to train the mind and to develop the capacity to think logically,

abstractly, critically and creatively. These are important 21st century competencies that we must

imbue in our students (CPDD, MOE, Mathematics Syllabus Primary, 2013, pg 3). In Kellock, we

engage our students in a variety of Mathematics learning experiences to develop positive

attitude and love for the subject. At the same time, Kellock focuses on the development of

problem solving skills in our students to ensure that they achieve a level of mastery that will

serve them well in their lives and to meet the challenges of the 21st century. The mission of the

Mathematics Department is:

To develop the love of mathematics learning and mathematical problem

solving abilities in our girls

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Problem Solving Package (PSP)

The programme, Problem Solving Package (PSP), aims to equip our students with various

thinking skills and heuristics to help them develop their problem solving skills in Mathematics.

Each skill or heuristic is taught under a key concept or strategy. This programme aims to

develop appropriate problem-solving skills in our students at the different levels from Primary 1

to Primary 6.

Some of the thinking skills and problem solving heuristics are:

Thinking Skills Identifying patterns and relationships

Comparing

Sequencing

Analysing part and whole

Induction

Deduction

Spatial Visualisation

Heuristics To give a representation e.g. draw a diagram, make a list

To make a calculated guess e.g. guess and check, look for patterns, make suppositions

To go through the process e.g. work backwards, before-after

To change the problem e.g. restate the problem, simplify the problem

In equipping the students with problem solving skills in Mathematics, the department has

adopted the Polya Model for Problem Solving. Using the acronym, UPER, we hope to scaffold

students’ thinking process in their approach to problem solving.

Step 1 (A) : Understand the

Problem

What are you asked to find/solve?

What facts do you have?

What do you know that is not stated in the problem?

Step 2 (B) : Plan What strategies do you know?

Try a strategy that seems workable

Step 3 (C) : Execute the Plan Write out the steps

Think of the big steps first, and then do the little steps

Step 4 (D) : Review Re-read the question

Did you answer the questions asked?

Does your answer make sense? How do you know?

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3.4 Science Department by HOD/Science, Ms Lui Ling

There is always something new to learn about science and the environment! There is no better

time than now, in Singapore’s 50th year, to reflect on our natural heritage. The Science

Department, in conjunction with SG50 celebrations, will be rolling out a series of level-based

activities to celebrate the nation’s 50th birthday through the course of the year.

In alignment with the key tenets of the school’s vision to Learn, Lead and Make a Difference, it

is the mission of the Science Department in CHIJ Kellock to inspire a passion for science in our

students through engaging programmes and inquiry-based activities. With your support as our

partners in education, as well as the community, we aim to develop scientifically literate

students who can make informed decisions based on scientific evidence - students who not

only love science, but who also enjoy the learning process in Science!

To this end, the Science Department continues to engage students through enrichment

programmes such as the Young Scientist @ Kellock Programme, where activities in the Young

Scientist Card series have been integrated into the school-based Science curriculum to make

learning real, rich, relevant and rewarding. This year, students are further guided in the

completion of the cards through the implementation of take-home weekend assignments

through which parents can bond with their daughters while completing science assignments that

require further exploration of their surroundings or more in-depth study of science topics.

Going beyond the confines of the syllabus, the Young Scientist @ Kellock Programme this year,

will be extended to include a Scientist in Focus series. Through mini articles, students will be

introduced to scientists who have made significant contributions through their scientific

discoveries. It is intended that these articles extend classroom discussions to include the value

of science and values in Science. School values as demonstrated by these featured scientists

will provide the reflective learner with much food for thought. In this term, in support of the

Student Management Department’s Women in Leadership series, Scientist in Focus will feature

prominent women in Singapore who have contributed to Singapore’s society in the areas of

science, the environment and research.

As part of the Science Department’s SG50 celebrations, a theatre group engaged by NParks,

has been invited to stage the play Secrets of the Swamp in Kellock. Based on the book of the

same title written by author and journalist Neil Humphrey, the story follows the adventures of

siblings, Alfie, Luke and Pacey, as they go in search of horseshoe crabs in a mangrove swamp.

Besides encouraging children to develop a relationship with their natural environment, the play

aims to raise awareness of Singapore’s biodiversity by featuring native species of flora and

fauna. Full of twists and turns, it also reminds children to do their part in keeping our garden city

a beautiful place to live in.

The staging of Secrets of the Swamp heralds the start of a series of SG50 activities to be

conducted at the various levels, including the following highlights:

Primary 3: National Butterfly Campaign

Primary 4: Nocturnal Animals of Singapore Workshop (P4 Camp)

Primary 5: DNA Model Making – The Kellock DNA

Primary 6: Animate to Advocate – Kellock Video Awards

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Our littlest scientists in P3, who are working on the Young Zoologist and Botanist cards,

embarked on an Imaginary Animal Project under the DIVERSITY theme in the Science syllabus.

Students did not merely dream of, but actually created a 3D model to bring to life an imaginary

animal using both Science knowledge as well as art and craft skills. This challenge will

culminate in an exhibition to be held in the library in late March. Our P3s will also get the

chance to get up close and personal with the American Bull frog species in the upcoming Social

Studies / Science learning journey to the Jurong Frog Farm in Term 2, where students will be

expected to apply science, as well as ICT skills, to create a comic strip (Comic Life) to illustrate

the different stages in the life cycle of the frog.

Working in teams, our P4 students put their engineering skills to good use in an attempt to

breathe life to their models of the Human Digestive System. As part of their study of the human

body under the SYSTEMS theme, students had to select appropriate materials, relating property

of materials to the intended function of the organ. The objective is to build and create realistic

3D models that simulate the functions of the Digestive System in humans. Lower primary (P1

and P2) students will get a glimpse of what learning Science as a curriculum subject is like

when they get invited to view an up-coming exhibition of students’ works to learn more about the

Human Body Systems.

Still on the theme of SYSTEMS, our P5 students will be going on a Science Learning Journey to

the Science Centre’s DNA Lab where they get to be a forensic scientist for a day! Students will

be engaged in activities that lead them to unravel the mysteries of life, and in the process, give

them a deeper understanding of life Science topics (Cells, Genetics and Heredity) and bioethical

issues. This event will end off with SG50 – the Kellock DNA.

Moving on to the theme of INTERACTIONS, our P6 students will foray deep into the heart of the

Sungei Buloh mangroves to discover the diversity of local flora and fauna species found in this

local natural heritage. The inter-relationships between the environment and the organisms

living there will fascinate our young explorers, who will take home with them the key messages

of nature conservation and preservation in a world coping with climate changes. Back in the

classrooms, students will reflect on and log their outdoor experiences, applying their research

and learning in a Science animation project on environmental stewardship.

By engaging students in the above manner, we hope that our girls, your daughters, will see the

value of science in their everyday lives and relate daily events to their understanding of Science.

It is our hope that the enthusiasm and curiosity for Science developed through the Primary

school years will continue throughout their lives as students grow in knowledge of themselves

and the scientific world around them.

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4. Updates / Announcements

4.1 Staff Appointments

We are pleased to announce the following new appointments to our School Executive

Committee (EXCO) Team:

• Mrs Janet Tan ­ Upper Primary Year Head • Miss Chan Wen Hui ­ SH PE & CCA

4.2 Safety and Security Matters

Temperature-taking and Haze Management We started the year with a temperature-taking exercise on 7 January. All Primary 1 students

were issued a thermometer. After the temperature-taking exercise, students were encouraged

to always keep their thermometers in their school bags, ready to use, when the need arises.

We also conducted a briefing on haze management in Term 1 to ensure that students are

prepared if there is a need to evacuate. The school has also arranged to provide our students

with packed meals at $1.50 to be consumed in the allocated areas should the air quality

deteriorate to the point where dining in the school canteen is not recommended.

In-Place Protection As the safety and health of our students and staff are of priority to us, the school conducted an

In-Place Protection exercise in conjunction with Total Defence Day. This exercise is aimed at

safeguarding the lives of students and staff in the event of the release of toxic gas into the

atmosphere and it involves everyone staying indoors and shutting off windows and doors to

reduce potential exposure to the hazard.

Automated External Defibrillator (AED)

The automated external defibrillator (AED) is a medical device that analyses the heart’s rhythm

and delivers an electrical shock (defibrillation), if necessary, which helps the heart re-establish

an effective rhythm. Thus, in the event of anyone experiencing a heart failure, the AED helps to

increase the person’s chance of survival. Three AEDs have been installed in the school and all

staff has undergone training in the use of the AED and CPR awareness.

Playground Updates

A thorough safety review of the school playground was completed in Term 1, with the help of a

Senior Specialist from MOE. Students have also been briefed both at assemblies and during

PE lessons on the appropriate use of the playground equipment. As with Term 1 guidelines on

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the use of the playground, the school playground continues to be accessible to students during

recess, under the supervision of our school teachers.

School Gate Opening Hours / School Passes

As safety and security are very important issues in school, we appeal to parents and guardians

to help us to promote a safe and secure learning environment for our students. We seek your

kind understanding in obtaining a Visitor’s Pass in exchange for your Identification Card if you

need to enter the school.

For parents who are using the side or back gates, the information below will help facilitate your

drop-off and pick-up of your daughters/wards.

Side Gate A (Bukit Teresa Road) Opening Hours During School Days

Morning Afternoon

Monday ­ Wednesday 6.30 a.m. - 7.30 a.m. 1.30 p.m. - 2.10 p.m. 3.00 p.m. - 5.30 p.m.

Thursday ­ Friday 6.30 a.m. - 7.30 a.m. 1.00 p.m. - 1.40 p.m. 3.00 p.m. - 5.30 p.m.

Back Gate C (next to the Church) Opening Hours During School Days

Morning Afternoon

Monday ­ Wednesday 6.30 a.m. - 7.30 a.m. 1.40 p.m. - 2.10 p.m. 3.00 p.m. - 4.20 p.m.

Thursday ­ Friday 6.30 a.m. - 7.30 a.m. 1.10 p.m. - 1.40 p.m. 3.00 p.m. - 4.20 p.m.

Traffic Updates

We would like to thank all parents for cooperating with the school in facilitating the smooth

arrival and dismissal of your child. With the LTA’s implementation of No Right Turn to Kampong

Bahru Road, we are happy to announce that traffic at Bukit Purmei has been smoother and less

congested. We continue to appeal to you to be patient and to slow down when approaching the

school as there are many parents and children walking to school from Bukit Purmei, Kampong

Bahru Road and Bukit Teresa Road.

To further enhance road safety, we would also like to inform you that LTA carried out the

following works during the March school holidays:

a) Widening of the turning radius from Kampong Bahru Road towards Bukit Purmei Road to

make it safer for cars turning in.

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b) Building additional walking path from Kampong Bahru Road to Bukit Teresa Road

(AYE Side) to make it safer for both parents and students walking to school.

4.3 International Friendship Day – Deepening International Friendships

(10 Apr)

Celebrating International Friendship Day (IFD) provides us with a great opportunity to help our

students learn and appreciate other cultures in cosmopolitan Singapore and nurture in our

students the spirit of friendship and collaboration among different people. The theme for this

year is Deepening International Friendships. As we get more globally connected, it is important

to develop an appreciation of and celebrate the diversity of the different nationalities, cultures

and religions amidst us. It is important to maintain good relations with our neighbouring

countries and celebrate the vibrancy of the different nationalities who live next to us.

A series of exciting activities have been lined up for students to deepen their understanding of

the relations that we share with other countries:

1. A series of pre-assembly talks will be conducted during IFD week to help students

understand the importance of having a harmonious relationship with our neighbouring

countries and to develop an appreciation for the different nationalities and cultures.

2. The Finger Players, one of Singapore’s leading theatre companies, will be presenting a

special assembly programme, My Friend, A Japanese Soldier, on 7 April, Tuesday.

Revolving around an unlikely friendship between a Japanese soldier and a local boy, this

performance is a powerful, educational drama about survival and courage.

3. The main event will be an international fiesta where students get an opportunity to learn

more about the culture and food of other countries. To enhance the learning experience,

students will have extended recesses on IFD. All students are also encouraged to

come dressed in traditional costumes of countries around the world on IFD, 10 April.

4.4 Founder’s Day (28 May)

On Founder’s Day, we remember the founder of all the IJ schools, Blessed Nicholas Barrè. The

Founder’s Day celebration will begin with a Eucharistic celebration at the Church of St

Teresa at 7.45 a.m. In conjunction with the celebration of SG50, the focus of the 2015

Founder’s Day celebration will be on the contributions made by the pioneer educators of CHIJ

Kellock with a tribute and a short play in the school hall. We will be taking this opportunity to

show our respect and appreciation to the contributions made by our pioneer educators to CHIJ

Kellock.

In addition, the Primary 5 students will participate in a heritage trail where they would learn more

about Blessed Nicholas Barrè and his contribution towards the founding of the CHIJ Schools

around the world and in Singapore. The heritage trail will take place on this day and the venue

will be within the school compound. This trail will allow students to better understand our

founder and the IJ mission. Lessons will resume in the second half of the day for the rest of the

levels after the celebrations.

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4.5 Parents' Symposium 2015 – Engaging and Empowering Parents (18 Apr)

We are pleased to organise the Parents' Symposium 2015 for all CHIJ Kellock parents. The

theme for this year’s symposium is Engaging and Empowering Parents. We hope that through

the enriching workshops, sharing sessions and activities planned in this programme, parents will

be engaged and empowered to guide their daughters in the learning of the various subjects, as

well as receiving parenting tips on family and parenting issues.

As a mark of respect during this period of national mourning on the demise of our Founding

Prime Minister, Mr Lee Kuan Yew, this event has been postponed. The details are as follows:-

Date: 18 April (Saturday)

Venue: CHIJ Kellock, School Hall (Level 2)

Time: 8.00 a.m. – 12.30 p.m. (Light refreshments will be provided.)

We would like to thank the parents who have registered for the workshops for their support. As parking lots are limited in our school compound, please park at the nearby public car park on

the day of the symposium. Your kind understanding on this matter is greatly appreciated.

4.6 Assessment Matters

This term, Primary 3 to Primary 6 students will be having Semestral Assessment 1.

This assessment carries a weighting of 40% for Primary 3 to Primary 5 students, while for

Primary 6, it is 100%.

The following table shows the schedule for Semestral Assessment 1.

Day Date Subject Level

Monday &

Wednesday

20 April &

22 April

English Language Orals & Mother Tongue Language Orals

P6 (after school hours)

Monday &

Thursday

27 April &

30 April

English Language Orals & Mother Tongue Language Orals

P5 (after school hours)

Tuesday 28 April English Language Orals & Mother Tongue Language Orals

P3

Wednesday 29 April English Language Orals & Mother Tongue Language Orals

P4

Monday 4 May Higher Mother Tongue Language Paper 1 P5 & P6

Wednesday 6 May English Language Paper 1 P3 – P6

Thursday 7 May Mother Tongue Language Paper 1 P3 – P6

Friday 8 May Higher Mother Tongue Language Paper 2 P 5 & P6

Monday - Thursday

11 May – 14 May

Written Papers – English Language, Mother

Tongue Language, Mathematics and Science

P3 – P6

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We would like to remind parents to ensure that your child is present on the examination days. If

your child is unable to sit for any of the above papers, a medical certificate is required for her

absence.

The table below indicates the various codes which will be printed in the Result Slips of students

who are absent for any paper/components during the examination.

Code Reasons for Absence Follow-Up Action by School

AB Absent without a valid reason Score of ‘0’ is entered for the

component(s)/paper(s) missed.

MC Absent with Medical Certificate Component(s)/Paper(s) missed will

not be used for the computation of

the overall results.

VR Absent with valid reasons (Official supporting

document must be submitted. Please note that letter of excuse from Parent/Guardian is NOT

acceptable.)

More information on the duration of each paper, the topics and components to be tested for

Semestral Assessment 1 will be given to you in a separate circular.

4.7 Calendar

We have received positive feedback from parents on the newly-introduced K-Bites, a monthly

update on the School Calendar. Thank you for your support and encouragement. Below is a

snapshot of key events in Term 2, for you to take note of. The April 2015 K-bites will be

distributed by 31 March 2015.

Date Event/Programme

31 March Prefects’ Investiture

06 April NAPFA – 5-items (P6)

13 April NAPFA – 5-items (P4)

17 April NAPFA – 1.6 km run (P6)

18 April Parents’ Symposium (8.00 a.m. – 12.30 p.m.)

24 April NAPFA – 1.6 km run (P4)

22 May E-Learning cum Administrative Day

27 May Parent-Teacher Conference & SA1 Results Day

28 May Founder’s Day

29 May Founder’s Day School Holiday

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5. Parents Support Group Matters

From The Chairperson

Kellock PSG had an astounding Term One, filled with

activities of celebration, making new friends and launching

new initiatives. The Exco, our newly formed Sub-

Committees and adhoc parent volunteers worked very hard

but the responses from the children and teachers made it

all worthwhile. A big thank you to all volunteers who have

taken the step forward and made a difference!

05.01.15 PSG Welcome Breakfast

The training room was filled to the brim with over 100 new P1 parents and P2-P6 parents,

wanting to learn more about our PSG

activities and events. Parents were briefed on

how they can play a more proactive role in

school and learnt in greater detail the different

areas they could contribute to. Kellock PSG

rolled out 3 new initiatives this year: Tutti

Frutti Tuesdays, Reading Mums & Dads and

Dads For Life. Each committee set up booths

around the room and the signup rate was very

encouraging. We thank all who came and

showed us your support; it truly boosts our

motivational levels as well.

28.01.15 – 12.02.15 CNY Cookie Sale ~ Fund-raising for PSG Fund

The PSG Fund supports the activities and events organised by Kellock PSG for the school, its

students and its community. This fund allows the continuity of these activities that promote

parental involvement and bonding with their children, enriching our young and helping those in

need. We raised $1,209 from this year’s sale of CNY cookies and we hope you enjoyed the

delicious cookies made by Cambridge Deli.

03.02.15 Tutti Frutti Tuesdays ~ Launch Day

In line with the school’s healthy living initiative, Tutti Frutti Tuesdays was started in a bid to

encourage more students to have fruits to complete a well-balanced meal. To make our launch

more attractive and to spread our message across to the girls, our very creative mum, Betty,

created 4 fruit costumes out of everyday items – don’t they look awesome! Special thanks to our

CHIJ Kellock PSG

“When we give cheerfully and

accept gratefully, everyone is

BLESSED”

Welcoming New Parents,

Unfolding Great Ideas

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mascot parents: MK as Wang Wang, Katherine as Mei Mei, Juliana as Gua Gua and June as

Tao Tao! Not forgetting our group of Tutti Frutti parents, led by Lynn and Germaine, who

specially got certified by NEA in order to cut and serve fruits in a safe and hygienic manner.

Since the launch, we have sold over 1,800 packets of fruits priced at 20 cents only!

We hope to be able to continue this

meaningful and healthy initiative. If you

are a NEA certified parent or wish to be

NEA certified and want to support the Tutti

Frutti Sub-Committee, please contact

Committee Head – Christine Lee at

[email protected]. With enough

support, we can expand this to Tutti Frutti

Thursdays too!

04.02.15 – 13.02.15 Valentines’ Day Sales ~ Fund-raising for the

Sponsor-A-Child Fund

Love was in the air as a group of 15-20 parent volunteers led by Sub-

Committee Heads, Karen & Puja, handcrafted more than 20 varieties of

lovely gift items ranging from super hero lollipops, pencils with words of

appreciation and washi-taped glass jars. An estimated 900 items were on

sale and everything was sold out! A total of $1,600.35 was raised for the Sponsor-A-Child

Fund. Thank you for your generosity!

13.02.15 Total Defence Day ~ Strength of Our Nation

As Kellock PSG’s support towards this NE

Commemorative Day, Committee Head, Celine,

and her group of Tutti Frutti parents prepared an

estimated 1,000 pieces of sweet potatoes for our

girls to sample. Celine also prepared a poster

explaining the different foods sold during TDD,

their nutritional values and why these foods were

eaten during the Japanese Occupation when

water and food were scarce.

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17.02.15 Careers Day ~ Exploring Horizons

An SIA pilot, research scientist, sports management

entrepreneur, journalist, children wear designer…

these were some of the occupations presented by

our parent volunteers for Careers Day. Kellock was

also honoured by the attendance of an ex-Olympic

hurdler, Dipna

Lim Prasad,

who shared her

experiences to

our upper primary girls. The school also invited a special

guest, celebrity and author, Edmund Chen, to talk about

his profession as an author. The girls were delighted to

meet him in person but I think the teachers may have been

more excited than the kids this time!

24.02.15 Reading Mums & Dads ~ Launch Day

Reading Mums & Dads is a joint effort by the

English Department, Mother Tongue Department

and Kellock PSG with the aim to promote reading.

The programme is currently conducted for English

and Chinese reading in 2 formats and are both held

before morning assembly:

1) Super Storytastic! – A fortnightly English story-telling segment for different levels on a rotational basis.

2) Buddy Reading – A weekly English and Chinese reading session targeted to level up weaker readers by pairing up with a student buddy and mentor.

The programme has so far been well-received by our girls and we hope to continue this effort. If

you would like to be a part of the Reading Mums & Dads Sub-Committee, do contact Maura

Fogarty at [email protected]. We are in need of more parents to assist with the Chinese

Buddy Reading programme, so do let us know if you can support in this area.

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Coming Up in Term 2…

Phew! That was quite a number of events that happened for Term One, wasn’t it? The

preparation time, planning and execution required a concerted effort and loving hearts of our

parent volunteers.

Be a part of our Sub-Committee and the PSG community!

The PSG activities will taper down in this term but we will be lining quite a few activities in the

2nd half of this year. Hence, the PSG Exco will be recruiting more Sub-Committee volunteers for

Terms 3 & 4 in May and we need all the help we can get! Look out for our broadcast via email

for a recruitment drive in May. Alternatively, you can email Sabina Wee at

[email protected] or [email protected] to put your name down or for more enquiries.

Visit Us @ Parents’ Symposium 2015

Do visit our booth at the Parents’ Symposium on 18 April 2015 where we will showcase events

that we have organised and share some details on upcoming events. Come by and have a chat

with our parent volunteers and the EXCO. Do take the opportunity to sign-up for upcoming

events as well.

Help Needed: International Friendship Day – 10 April

We need 15-20 parent volunteers for IFD on 10 April to assist with setup and

manning of booths during recess. There will be 7 booths representing 7

countries. Do let Committee Head, Celine, know if you can volunteer. Her email

is [email protected]. Closing date to volunteer: 31 March 2015.

Kellock PSG Webpage

We are currently at the last phase of updating the page’s content and will upload more photos

and announcements on the various PSG events. Our page is on the school’s website at

Parents' Portal > Parents Support Group. We appreciate your patience.

We remain contactable at [email protected].

~~~ Volunteering Is A Work of Heart ~~~