RANJI Us/Our Newsletters... · Kian Ho and Mr Toh Kok Hui, together with our PSG chairperson, Ms Jacqueline Lee and her committee members, Ms Michelle Khoo and Ms Callie Liew, were

RANJI

We are proud to share that Kranji Secondary has been affirmed as a niche school under the MOE Peaks of Excellence Framework in 2013. This is in recognition of our efforts and demonstrated strength in Nurturing Communities of Reflective and Independent Learners through Thinking Curriculum.

Under the Thinking Curriculum, Secondary 1 students are exposed to Thinking Routines, which are simple protocols for exploring ideas with a view to making students’ thinking visible to themselves and others so that they can improve it. To maximise their effectiveness, Thinking Routines are integrated across the various subjects atlower secondary.

This year, we celebrated Teachers’ & EAS Day 2013 at Joy Garden Restaurant, SAFRA (Jurong), on 5 September 2013. The theme for this year’s celebration was “Polka Dots & Stripes - Agogo!”

Upon arrival at the event venue, the staff were greeted by a specially decorated photo booth where they could dress up using props and take pictures with their colleagues. Our SAC chairperson, Mr Low Peng Kit and his team members, Mr Peter Seah, Mr Patrick Tan, Mr Chua Kian Ho and Mr Toh Kok Hui, together with our PSG chairperson, Ms Jacqueline Lee and her committee members, Ms Michelle Khoo and Ms Callie Liew, were there to grace our event!

Highlights of the event include the Inter-department Karaoke Competition, The Kranji Star Awards for Staff, exciting games and lucky draw!

- Mr Tan Hui Juai

“This year’s celebration was great! The decoration and door gifts fit the theme well! It was also easy for staff to participate in the Inter-department Karaoke Competition because the venue was equipped with a Karaoke system!”

- Ms Adely Chen

“I liked the idea of the photo booth which allowed us to pose for photos! The staff and teachers were game enough to perform during the competition! The event was thoroughly enjoyable!”

- Ms May Ng

“I had a blast pretending to be 16! It was great fun and always nice to spend quality time with good friends!”

- Mdm Rosmiliah

Secondary 2 students undertake Project Work, where they apply the Innovation Protocol cycle to work on an interdisciplinary project that requires planning, teamwork, research and critical thinking. They are also required to present, justify and defend their proposals orally at the final presentation. In order to increase the richness of their thinking, we have infused Thinking Routines into Project Work as a form of spiral progression.

At Secondary 3, students consider the challenges of living in a multi-ethnic society and ways to cope with the challenges, using Thinking Routines to identify and focus on issues or problems.

- Mr Koh Yi-Huak

Newsletter Issue 2, Oct 2013IN TOUCH

NURTURING COMMUNITIES OF REFLECTIVE AND INDEPENDENT LEARNERS THROUGH THINKING CURRICULUM

TEACHERS’ & EAS DAY CELEBRATIONS 2013

1

Kranji IN TOUCH Newsletter 2013

SCHOOL EVENTSAND PROGRAMMES

Student I-Day

Student I-Day 2013 was the day for students to showcase their innovations in Thinking Routines and Project Work. It was held on 27 May 2013. With the theme of “Innovative, Inventive and Infinite Possibilities”, this annual event gave students the opportunity to present their innovative products to the rest of the school community.

Atikah Bte Hassan from 2K5 shared, “Student I-Day was one of the most memorable school events I have participated in, because it was very enriching and meaningful. I was a participant going around classes to learn more about their innovations, particularly the construction of ideal cities. The presentations were well-delivered with realistic ideas, showing evidence of meticulous research. Other than absorbing a great amount of knowledge, I found that the work put into these presentations was impressive. The groups’ enthusiasm was admirable and inspiring. We certainly have talented Kranjians who possess a flair for public speaking.”

Gordon Tan from 2K5 also felt the same way as Atikah. “Student I-Day 2013 was a great success. As I made my way from class to class to view the presentations, the sight of presenters gesturing to their audiences animatedly, proudly showcasing their products, was exciting. Our students clearly have a lot of creativity, and that day was their day to shine. They presented their very own innovations with enthusiasm and pride. I was

每当有人提到“拉沙！

海边！店屋！ ” 人们

都会毫不犹豫地回应

道：“这不就是在说加

东吗？”

加东，是土生华人中产

阶级，以及富商的聚居

地。什么是土生华人

呢？土生华人，即17世

纪从中国及印度迁来此

地的移民与马来群岛的

非回教徒居民所生的后

代。从小在西区长大，

很想到加东走一走的我

们，终于如愿以偿，因

为我校今年计划让学生

用平板电脑进行户外学

习，母语部选择富有多

元文化色彩的加东为学

习点，让学生更了解土

生华人的文化，而我们

很幸运被老师选中去加

东探索！

我们利用学校提供的平板电脑进行活动。我们必须在两小时内完成八项

任务。这可说是我们第一次用平板电脑进行学习任务，喜欢用高科技产

品的我们当然十分兴奋！

刚开始，我们的组不会用平板电脑，第一个任务就已难倒我们了。多亏

有另一组同学的帮忙，我们很快就学会操作平板电脑。

我组的第一个任务是要到一间叫 ‘Rumah Bebe’ 的店。这间古董店

历史悠久，是由土生华人于 1928 年开设，专门保留一些如珠宝饰物、串

珠、瓦器、刺绣及蜡染印花布织品等。而我们需要拍一些有关郑万源的

证据，来证明郑万源在1948年曾是深受人们喜爱的购物城，我们才发现

impressed with their creative and interesting ideas for their ideal cities. It was indeed a fruitful day of learning for the lower secondary students.”

Julia Tan from 2K4 said, “When our group was selected to present our project work to other lower secondary students, we wanted to make sure we do a good job. Prior to the presentation, we perfected our scripts and practised delivering our parts. On the actual day, we told ourselves we would do our best. When it was our turn to present, we did well. Even though we were very nervous, we gave a good presentation to the student audience. Overall, it was a successful presentation.”

原来现在的Rumah Bebe 就是以前的郑万源购物中心啊！

接着，我们来到了东海岸路旁的圣家堂。我们必须拍摄一个三十秒的短

片，挑选一名组员以导游的身份来讲解教堂的历史。原来，圣家堂是由

1902年初生活在丹绒加东的四个欧亚家庭创立。而教堂最独特的是，大厅

有一块由16个面板组成的彩色玻璃，形象地展示了圣家堂和耶稣生活的16

个场景。我组看了平板电脑上的说明后，讨论要背下哪些资料，整理了差

不多十分钟，我们终于写出了新闻稿，可以进行录影了。利用平板电脑录

影，操作十分方便，影像也很快就上载成功，我们也就很快地完成第二项

任务。

只剩下一个半小时了！我们就快步走到下一个任务——珍美真。珍美真是

一间老式咖啡店，已经有了六十年的历史，通常售卖一些传统食物，如土

司面包、蛋挞、糕点、烧饼等，令人垂涎三尺！我们必须用平板电脑为其

中一种食物作出简单的介绍，说明它的来历。我们一边打字，一边望着桌

上的食物，看起来真是美味可口，我们看了都想流口水。在那一站，我们

了解了四种传统美食的原产国和起源，真是获益不浅！

接着，就是该让味蕾享受的时候了！我们来到Glory——专卖娘惹糕点的

店。我们必须凭着吃糕点来猜那糕点使用了什么食材。亲切友善的卖糕点

的大婶，特地给我们作详细的介绍，我们一边听她滔滔不绝地说着，一边

忙着把她所说的话，都打进平板电脑里，也对她敬佩不已。的确，店里售

卖的糕点十分好吃，尤其是九层糕，让我们能够吃出娘惹的味道。有些组

员还买一些糕点回家与家人分享。Glory 的糕点真是令人赞不绝口。

吃了一些糕点后，现在就有力气再步行到其它地方去了！下一个任务是要

去拍东海岸路旁的排屋，而且要是找含有马来、中国、土生华人和欧洲传

统文化的店屋。糟糕！这整条街旁都是店屋，但哪一种店屋才是马来文化

的，哪一种店屋才是欧洲文化的呢？仔细观察才发现店屋上的花纹不同，

就觉得很容易辨认了。例如：欧洲新古典主义风格的壁柱和图案；木雕花

板、封檐板、百叶、屏幕和透雕等马来传统建筑特色；另有中国的传统神

话图案——凤凰，以及土生华人的建筑常见的花卉或几何图案彩色琉璃瓦

等。我们便拍下这些不同的花纹，在五分钟内就把任务完成了。

时光飞逝，只剩下半小时了！我们个个都十分紧张，就往下一个任务——

豪华酒店奔去。我们必须依照酒店的外形，创作一首诗。写诗要有灵感，

加东文化之旅

2

3Kranji IN TOUCH Newsletter 2013


Lawatan ke stesen Mediacorp sangat menarik. Saya mempelajari banyak maklumat tentang tugas seorang juruhebah di radio. Untuk menjadi seorang juruhebah, seseorang itu harus fasih dalam bahasa Melayu. Kita harus sentiasa sihat dan tidak mudah jatuh sakit.

Setibanya kami di Mediacorp, kami dibawa ke sebuah bilik radio. Dengan tidak membuang masa, Encik Tahar (TG) membawa kami ke bilik pemantauan trafik (Traffic Watch). Di bilik itu, kami dapat melihat semua jalan raya di SIngapura. Kamera yang ada di merata Singapura itu sangat bagus.

Selepas itu, kami dibawa ke bilik konti radio Ria 89.7fm dan Warna 94.2fm. Kedua-dua stesen radio ini berbeza. Stesen radio Warna mengetengahkan lebih banyak perkongsian tentang cerita-cerita lama manakala stesen radio Ria lebih tertumpu pada hiburan. Kebanyakan pendengar mendengar stesen radio Ria. Stesen itu lebih menghiburkan kerana putaran lagu-lagu kontemporari sering dimainkan. Kami juga berpeluang untuk berjumpa dengan juruhebah-juruhebah di Ria dan Warna.

Seterusnya, kami dibawa pulang ke bilik radio. Kami dikehendaki membaca satu perenggan berita dan merekodkan suara kami. Saya berasa gementar apabila bercakap kerana berasa malu.

Pada pendapat saya, saya berasa beruntung mendapat peluang ini kerana peluang sebegini tidak mudah didapati. Saya juga berasa gembira kerana saya dapat banyak maklumat tentang pekerjaan ini.

- Ahmad Azizi B Azmi (3R2)

Pengalaman saya pergi ke Mediacorp amat menyeronokkan dan tidak akan saya lupakan.

Perjalanan ke Mediacorp agak jauh. Walau bagaimanapun, saya dan rakan-rakan bersabar dan menunggu arahan selanjutnya yang akan diberikan oleh cikgu kami. Setelah tiba di Mediacorp, kami diberi pelekat untuk ditampalkan pada baju sekolah. Pelekat ini menandakan bahawa kami merupakan pelawat dan telah diberi keizinan untuk memasuki kawasan Mediacorp.

Kami dibahagikan kepada dua kumpulan. Kumpulan saya dibawa ke konti radio Warna. Kami diberi peluang untuk melihat bagaimana juruhebah menjalankan tugasnya. Juruhebah itu sangat fasih berbahasa Melayu dan cara perbualannya sangan mengkagumkan. Selepas itu, kami dibawa ke konti radio Ria yang lebih menghiburkan bagi saya kerana radio Ria memainkan lagu-lagu rancak dan juruhebah yang bertugas dapat bergurau senda dengan para pendengar. Kami diberikan peluang mengambil gambar.

Setelah itu, kami hanya dapat melihat beberapa stesen radio yang lain. Kami diberitahu bahawa Mediacorp mempunyai 13 stesen radio.

Kami menuju ke bilik berita untuk melihat bagaimana berita-berita terkini dikendalikan. Pada masa yang saya, kami menerima beberapa petunjuk tentang cara-cara memperbaik penguasaan bahasa Melayu kami.

Kemudian, kami diberi peluang untuk merakamkan suara kami ketika membaca sebuah artikel berita dan sebuah iklan. Kami diberikan sedikit kudapan setelah semuanya selesai. Kami mengambil gambar dan mengucapkan terima kasih lalu meninggalkan tempat itu.

- Ahmad Azizi B Azmi (3R2)

当时的我们却什么也想不出。最后，我们看到了一些鸟儿在空中飞翔，

然后再加上自己的想象力，把景物和酒店的外形结合在一起。十分钟

内，我们四人通力合作，创作了一首诗。这一站是我们认为最有挑战性

的一站。

最后，我们就到了加东商店外的走廊，要

拍摄五脚基。什么是五脚基呢？原来是店

屋的走廊宽度是五英尺，走五步就是走廊

的宽度。我们就用尺子量走廊的宽度，真

的是五英尺耶！以后来加东，你们也不妨

试一试！

我们终于在两个小时内完成了任务，腿都

走酸了。虽然大家都满头大汗，但都非常

开心，因为我们在这次的文化之旅收获很

多。我们学到了在课内学不到的知识，还

用平板电脑来学习。加东这个地方值得我

们去探索，你还在等什么呢？快！快来认

识一下我国充满娘惹色彩的加东吧！

- LIOW JIE SHENG 廖杰胜 (2K5)- TAI SIN YI, CINDY 戴欣宜 (2K5)

Lawatan keStesen Mediacorp

- Siva Priya (2K2)

- Raveen Prabhu (2K2)


Buddy Up! – Student Sports Safety Programme

Prefectorial BoardFund Raising for Needy Students

4 Kranji IN TOUCH Newsletter 2013

39 Kranjians made up of student leaders, CCA leaders and PE representatives attended a course on School Sports Safety conducted by the Singapore Sports Council (SSC) during the March holidays.

This initiative by SSC aims to promote sports safety in school and students who attended this course would be groomed as Sports Safety Champs. Our students had a fun and engaging time during the course. They were presented

with issues and case studies with regard to sports safety in the school context. On top of that, they also participated actively in a first aid activity, where they learnt basic rescue techniques to handle different scenarios.

At the beginning of Term 3, our Sports Safety Champs put up a presentation and skit for their peers during assembly to educate them about sports safety and the importance of fair play in sports. With minimal teacher’s supervision, our students managed to put up an impressive presentation and performance that was well received by their peers.

Another activity that our Sports Safety Champs took part in was the official launch of “Be Sports Safe. BUDDY Up” event at River Valley High School. Our

It was a breakthrough for the Prefectorial Board to embark on our very first self-initiated project. The aim of this project is to provide a platform for all students to show their gratitude towards people whom they are grateful for. In addition, the project also provides a chance for students to apologise to anyone whom they might have offended in the past year. This project has definitely broadened the horizons of the prefects as they learnt how to run a project from scratch.

“It was an enriching and fun experience. This was my first time taking part in a self-initiated event. I have learnt the need to always plan ahead and the importance of teamwork. I had the opportunity to work with my seniors to plan and execute the project. We have forged stronger bonds. Finally, I realised true meaning of the phrase - One for all, all for one.”

- Lee Xuen (3K4)

“I had a fun and enjoyable time manning the booth for this event. It was for a worthy cause and on top of that, I was given the opportunity to experience the camaraderie of friends working together towards a common goal.”

- Megan Ho (4K4)

“This self-initiated project has allowed me to interact with many of my peers and I also got the chance to hone my leadership skills.”

- Magnus Low (5R1)

students participated in a mass walk followed by indoor sports activities like table-tennis and pickle ball with other members of the community, comprising of active senior citizens drawn from various grassroots committees in the west. Together with Sports Safety Champs from other schools, our students played their role by buddying up with the senior citizens and participated in the activities. Through this activity, they exchanged pointers on sports safety despite the generation gap.

Our students had a fun and enriching experience. The SSC officials were happy with the collaboration and support that our school has given throughout this initiative to raise awareness of sports safety in the school as well as the community.

- Miss Janne Low

“All the Sports Safety Champs were very enthusiastic about the program. We learnt many important things and had the opportunity to practise what we have learnt with the senior citizens. I enjoyed my time and will strongly encourage other students to attend it!”

- Lim Zhan Yang (3K5)

Student Sports Committee Selection Camp 2013The Student Sports Committee (SSC) conducted the Selection Camp from 6 to 7 July 2013. It was originally scheduled during the June holidays but due to the haze, it was postponed to the first weekend of Term 3 instead.

The SSC Selection Camp was planned and conducted by the current Secondary 3 SSC members. Nominated Secondary 2 students who were keen to join SSC were invited to the camp. These Secondary 2 students were nominated by their class mentors, CCA teachers or subject teachers based on their conduct, discipline, display of values and leadership potential.

The aim of the camp was to create a challenging and strenuous ‘boot camp’ scenario which would bring out leadership qualities in the Secondary 2 students. “The most memorable part was definitely the trek from MacRitchie Reservoir back to the school,” says Nadine De Jong of 3K5, who was a group leader. “I was impressed to see the Secondary 2 students not giving up and pushing themselves to go on.”

Besides physical tenacity and self-discipline, being good team players is also important. “Without teamwork, my group and I would not have completed the activities. Without trust, we would not be able to communicate well as we would doubt each other,” says Low Wei Wen of 2K3.

The Secondary 2 students were not the only ones who gained valuable experience during the camp. The Secondary 3 students who were Camp Committee members and group leaders also learnt important lessons in the planning and the conduct of the camp. “Planning a camp is not easy,” says Amanda Goh of 3R1, who was the Secretary of the Camp Committee. “Not only do we have to plan the games, we must ensure the objectives and the safety precautions are looked into. Planning a camp is a team effort.”

- Mr Guay Hansen


Hosting of Korean students(Suseo Middle School) bythe Humanities Department

3A1’s Values-In-Action Trip to Phnom Penh, Cambodia


In July this year, our Kranjians hosted a group of about 30 Korean students, who were accompanied by their Principal and teachers. This was the Humanities Department’s first student exchange programme conducted in conjunction with Korea’s Suseo Middle School. The aim of the programme was to increase global awareness of our Kranjians, and to improve their cross-cultural communication skills.

In this programme, selected Secondary 3 students opened up their homes to their Korean guests, attended lessons with them, and enjoyed enriching field trips with their Korean friends. The Humanities Department also went all out to create a rich cultural experience for our guests. We conducted a thinking skills lesson, gave them school tours, and even prepared a tantalising local fare for our Korean guests to savour! All in all, it was a precious 3 days of bonding with our foreign friends, and gaining knowledge from beyond the classroom. I am sure our Kranjians cannot wait to visit our Korean friends too!

- Miss Grace Sun

“There were many things that made this hosting experience really memorable. I talked a lot with my buddy and it really bonded us. We talked about each other’s countries, our lives, our interests, our favourite things and so much more. Through this homestay programme, I also got to know the hard and tiring process of taking care of someone. I felt as if I was a mother at times. I had to ask her what she wanted to eat, whether she wanted to sleep, or if she was tired or hungry. However, it was a really fun process. I wondered how my mother could take care of me everyday without complaints. I’m really happy because I’ve made more friends through this programme! I’m grateful for this fantastic opportunity to gain such a wonderful experience!”

- Nicola Mei (3K5)

“This hosting experience is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! I’m happy that I got Jun Yeong as a hosting buddy as he really lightened things up! He taught me that even though we are different on the outside, we are very much the same on the inside. Although he was young, he was very knowledgeable. I will never ever forget him in my life!”

- Raveen Piragasam (3K2)

“My friendship with my Korean buddy is very meaningful to me. My buddy has the same character as me, and it was easy to communicate with her. We share common interests and having conversations with her was a piece of cake. When she left, I felt a part of me was lost. I miss the heart-to-talk and the laughter we shared! The hosting program has enabled me to make new friends from other countries and also understand much more about the Korean culture.”

- Phoon Phui Yi (3K3)

28 students from 3A1, together with their Class Mentors, were given the opportunity to take part in a 4D3N trip to Phnom Penh, Cambodia to engage in Service-Learning in an orphanage. The objectives of the trip were to develop students’ appreciation and understanding of the history and culture of Cambodia, enhance cross-cultural awareness through interaction with the Cambodians and nurture caring citizens through participation in an overseas CIP Project in an orphanage.

Throughout the trip, the students had to adapt to life in a foreign country and contribute to better the lives of the orphans in The Lighthouse Orphanage. The students had to get their hands dirty to plant crops for the orphans. In addition, our students painted the swings as well as the fences on site. They also took the opportunity to make friends with the orphans. They played sports such as Captain’s Ball and Soccer together with the orphans. Everyone enjoyed themselves tremendously. Our students also took the initiative to teach the orphans basic English and shared with them little snippets of information on Singapore.

- Ms Rene Wu

“I feel fortunate to have the opportunity to experience life in Cambodia. My class taught the orphans the Kranji Mass Dance and in return, they taught us their traditional Cambodian Dance. It was tough to learn but they were patient with us and we finally mastered it! This trip has taught me to appreciate what we have and not to take things for granted.”

- Sri Anum Wahyuni (3A1)

“Besides helping out at the orphanage, we also got to learn the history of the Killing Fields and the horrific past of Cambodia’s Civil War at the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum. The effects of war are really frightening and we should definitely make peace, not war!” - Sufiah Bte Su’en (3A1)

“Although the orphans were not as fortunate as us, I learnt that they have a very positive attitude towards life. They are enthusiastic about everything and they have taught me to adopt a positive mindset as well.” - Muhammad Faiz (3A1)



On 22 August 2013, a group of 40 students from Secondary 3K4 and 3K5, along with some ECoS members, had the opportunity to celebrate Hari Raya with the senior citizens at SASCO Evergreen Place. Other than presenting a magic show, they performed some dance and song items. The students certainly brought cheer and joy to the residents. Some residents enthusiastically participated in the singing and dancing and had a whale of a time. At the end of the event, a resident proclaimed how happy she was to have us around that day. She even said, “We love Kranji Secondary School!”

Zakiah of class 3K4 found the event to be very meaningful. Jasmine Ser of class 1K5 who was an ECoS member, was very happy to be able to interact with the elderly. A student who performed a Malay Dance item, Nabila Arissa Lim (3R1), found the experience enriching and would like to go there again.

- Mdm Normala Alias

Service-Learning is an important component in the education of students in Kranji Secondary School. Service-Learning refers to the experience of engaging students in community service activities. They learn to plan and organize meaningful events to help provide direct service to meet the needs of the community. Service-Learning also aims to provide students with the opportunity to display their values in the process of helping others. They learn to contribute to the society and foster meaningful partnerships with the various stakeholders in the community.

Our school was involved in the inaugural Yew Tee Day celebrations. We supported the “Rice from the Heart” project, where more than 200 lower secondary students reached out to the community and collected rice from the neighbourhood households in an effort to help needy families.

Our Secondary 2 students also welcomed elderly folks from the SASCO Evergreen Place and Econ Medicare Centre to our school, interacted with them over lunch and put up performances to entertain them. The time spent together, though short, was meaningful as it helps to cheer the elderly folks by providing them with some warmth, companionship and happiness.

Service-Learning will continue to be an integral part of the holistic education that we aim to provide for our students.

- Mr Tan Nian Kai

“I was excited to be involved in the “Rice from the Heart” project on Yew Tee Day. It was a great experience as my group went around the neighbourhood collecting rice for the needy. Through this event, I learnt to be more compassionate to the less fortunate residents and to contribute to the society in a meaningful way. I strongly encourage students to participate in this event in the future, as the world will be a better place if we start caring for one another.”

- Nicole Lee (1K3) “My classmates and I participated in the “Rice from the Heart” project to collect and donate rice to the needy people in the neighbourhood. Together with the grassroots leaders, we managed to collect more than 20 kg of rice. I think that this event was a good way for us to reach out to the community and get to know more people. It also enabled us to show our care and concern for the less fortunate. I had a fun time and would definitely want to take part in it again next year.”

- Effan Putra (1R2) “The experience I had with the elderly folks really moved me. I enjoyed the meaningful time that was spent entertaining and interacting with them. It also made me appreciate the little things that I often take for granted, such as the ability to walk and the abundance of food and companionship. It felt good to be able to make a difference in their lives, and I really hope that I can visit them again to bring more joy to them.”

- Leah Chua (2K2)

Hari Raya Celebrations at SASCO Evergreen Place

Service-Learning by the Lower Secondary Students


Kranji IN TOUCH Newsletter 2013 7

In line with the school’s “Changing Context Learning Journey”, the teachers went to Ngee Ann Polytechnic on 19 July 2013 for a fruitful learning experience. The purpose of the learning journey was to learn about the polytechnic’s admission criteria and scholarships, multiple modes of assessment and best practices.

This learning journey was memorable as we gained precious insight into the student-centric processes straight from the horse’s mouth as the Principal candidly shared the educational pathways and opportunities available for students who choose the polytechnic route. As educators, it would help us to dispense more accurate information to students who seek advice from us on their post-secondary school options.

Miss Lee Wenting shared that she was impressed with the high-tech infrastructure and state-of-the-art equipment at the Film and Media School, which would enable the students to learn in a simulated environment and equip them with the necessary skills needed for the real-world.

Miss May Ng also felt that the learning journey was very beneficial. In addition, the polytechnic talk and campus tour opened her eyes to the facilities that polytechnics in Singapore could offer to students. “I learnt that the set and the camera equipment at the Film and Media School allow students to learn skills applicable to their career. I also understand that polytechnics are able to attract top-notch students as they offer a rich experience to students who desire real-life applications. In my opinion, the secondary school curriculum does not allow students to see direct use of their

knowledge and skills which are relevant to their lives. Therefore, as I go about teaching my students, I hope to offer a window to how their knowledge and skills will be applicable in real life so as to engage them actively during lessons.”

Miss Lim Leck Lee also felt that the learning journey to Ngee Ann Polytechnic gave her a better idea how the institution nurtures their students. They stretch the students’ potential through internship, overseas exposure and industry-based projects. There is also a broad-based curriculum provided for the students. The sharing also gave her more information about how to better advise her students in their selection of courses.

- Ms Koh Ming Hui

The Whole School Approach to Effective Communication (WSA-EC) aims to help schools achieve the desired outcome of effective communication in English for every student. Kranji Secondary School embarked on this programme with support from English Language Institute of Singapore (ELIS). With the help of consultants and English language specialists from ELIS, the teachers in the WSA-EC team have been sharing important tips with other teachers regularly during staff meetings. In the pipeline are a series of training sessions for all teachers to develop a greater understanding and awareness of the role of good English to convey subject content and skills effectively in the classroom. We believe that this would help every teacher and student develop the 21st Century Competency of Effective Communication.

- Miss Serene Lai

Staff Learning Journey toNgee Ann Polytechnic

Whole SchoolApproach to EffectiveCommunication

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D’Aesthetica was held on 8 June 2013 at the Republic Polytechnic Cultural Centre. There were two shows: the matinee show at 3 p.m. and the evening show at 7.30 p.m. The objectives were to provide a platform for students to showcase their aesthetics talents and expose Kranjians to a variety of art forms, thus deepening their appreciation for the arts. The production was choreographed and produced by our very own teachers and students, without engaging any external vendors. As such, we were able to lower the prices of the tickets and subsidise 80% of the price of tickets for students with financial difficulties. Other than the usual Chinese Dance, Modern Dance, Band, Choir and Drama performances, the programme also included a magic show, which was performed by our talented Marcus Tye of 3K5.

- Mr Roland Tan

“D’Aesthetica was a great event that we participated in. The teachers were very helpful and caring. They guided us through all the rehearsals and performances. My classmates and I had a lot of fun and good learning experiences. I thank the school for giving us this opportunity to showcase our talents. I hope that I can participate in this event again.” - Chan Mei Jing (2R1)

“D’Aesthetica was a great success. I felt honoured to have performed at such a great venue (Republic Polytechnic Cultural Centre). I thank the school for giving me an opportunity to try something new and express my feelings through dance. I found the experience extremely beneficial and fun. I truly wish that this event will continue every year so that students will have an opportunity to showcase their talents and at the same time, relieve their stress and tension.”

- Muhammad Haziq (2K1)

D’Aesthetica

Guitar Fest is an event to showcase the guitar skills of selected Secondary 1 students. It was held during recess time on 20 and 21 August 2013. It was hosted by Mr Linus, the co-ordinator of the guitar programme.

With their youthful take on popular songs, the performers attracted a sizeable audience. The audience showed their support for their peers by cheering for them. From ‘Bruno Mars’, ‘Just the Way You Are’ to songs from One Direction, the performers certainly gave their best to entertain the crowd.

- Mr Nazri

‘Kranji Got Talent’ is a talent show that features talented performers such as singers, dancers, magicians and comedians. It gives an opportunity to talented amateurs or unknown performers to showcase their talents. They are judged based on the quality of their performance, creativity, originality, rapport with the audience and stage presence.

- Ms Nur Fazrin

“People may think ‘Kranji Got Talent’ is just a trivial school talent show, but to me it has been a remarkable roller coaster ride. I remember my dance group, N-Squared, being so anxious yet eager to perform. Though all the other contestants were good, amazingly, we made it through to the Finals. It was held on Kranji’s annual Culture Fiesta Night. N-Squared took the cake home that memorable evening. Being labeled as Champions wasn’t the gratifying part. It was the fact that our victory opened up the opportunity for us to participate as guest performers in the River Hongbao 2013 at the Marina Bay floating platform, which made it even more memorable.” - Kyra Patricia Barrameda Tayer (4K2)

“I joined ‘Kranji Got Talent’ to challenge myself and discover my real potential. However, my experience was very different from what I had expected. Working with different people, performing on the stage and going for countless practices exposed me to something I had not done before. It was truly a unique experience.”

- Udayagiri Nikhila Sai (1K3)

“My journey through ‘Kranji Got Talent’ was really tough, but my friends stood by my side and supported me. They advised me to never give up. What I achieved today is due to my hard work. However, I would not have achieved what I have without the help of my friends and family members. Through this experience, I have learnt how to be resilient, which is one of our school’s core values. I had an awesome experience and I picked up tips from the judges on how to improve my voice and express my feelings through songs. I hope there will be more of such opportunities to come.”

- Amanda Mok(1R2)

Guitar Fest ‘Kranji Got Talent’ Competition

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Leaders’ DayLeaders’ Day Ceremony was held on 7 August 2013. It was a reminder that education is not solely a paper chase in pursuit of academic excellence, but is also about the well-rounded development of youth and service to the school community.

We were all praying for a sunny weather to grace this day, and our prayers were answered as the dark clouds above Choa Chu Kang gave way to clear skies.

Students, teachers and guests were led to the parade square for the formal part of the programme which was officiated by our Principal, Miss Tan Hwee Pin and our Vice-Principals, Mdm Siti Rashidah and Mr Lee Han Hwa. The outgoing and incoming student leaders marched across the parade square with confidence and a great sense of achievement and pride.

The ceremony was concluded with sharing by the current Head Prefect, Nur Nasyitah Binte Juraimy and the incoming Head Prefect, Yeo Min Shean. Thunderous applause and the Leaders’ Day pledge led by Min Shean marked the beginning of a new era of student leaders.

- Miss Janne Low

“I know the road ahead will definitely be filled with challenges and obstacles. However, we should always be resilient and know that no matter what, we have people who will stick with us through thick and thin and support and encourage us. I look forward to working alongside my fellow student leaders in making the school a more conducive learning environment for all.”

- Yeo Min Shean (3K5)

“It was an unbelievable day in our favour. The great weather lifted our spirits. All my friends who participated in this ceremony felt proud, like I was. It was a meaningful day as I took up the roles of Overall-In-Charge and Vice President of the Student Sports Committee. I look forward to leading my friends and schoolmates.”

- Lim Zhan Yang (3K5)

“I feel honoured to take over the leadership baton and lead the K Productions (Technical) Team. Taking over the leadership of the club is a role filled with great responsibilities. It will be a new challenge for me to balance my studies and co-curricular activities. However it is a challenge I am determined to overcome. I hope to serve the school whole-heartedly and guide my schoolmates well.”

- Chan Jian Ying (3K3)

On 7 August 2013, the school celebrated our nation’s birthday with the traditional National Day Parade. All the five uniformed groups of Kranji Secondary School had endured hours of training and rehearsals to put up a wonderful parade for the school on that day. Led by the First Parade Commander, SGT Syazwan Bin Jainal of class 3K3 and the Second Parade Commander, SGT Tan Jon Wiley of class 3K2, the National Police Cadet Corps and the National Cadet Corps, who formed the Guard-of-Honour contingents, marched passed our Principal with much gusto. They were followed by the contingents from the Boys’ Brigade, National Cadet Corps, St John Ambulance Brigade and the Girls’ Brigade. These contingents marched into the parade square accompanied by the drum rolls of our Kranji Symphonic Band. It was a good start to the National Day Celebrations and definitely a memorable event for the parade participants.

- Mr Hakeem Eilyaas

“I was exhilarated when I heard that I was chosen to be the Parade Commander for this year’s National Day Parade. I knew that it was a huge responsibility but I remained confident. It was a gruelling test as most of the training sessions for the parade were held during the fasting month. I was left fatigued at the end of the training, but I persevered. When the day finally arrived, I stood tall and proud in front of the whole school. Thankfully, the parade was a success and I was overwhelmed by a great sense of achievement when the parade ended. The parade would not have been a success without the dedication and help of many people. I would like to thank all my teachers and friends who have supported me and all the parade participants for putting up an excellent performance for Kranji National Day Parade 2013.”

- NPCC Sgt Syazwan Bin Jainal (3K3)

“It was a privilege to be part of the Guard-of-Honour contingent at the Kranji National Day Parade 2013. It developed my confidence and strengthened my sense of belonging to the school as well as the nation. I am truly grateful to be given this opportunity.”

- Siti Nurhazirah (3R3)

National Day Celebrations

Annually, Racial Harmony Day is commemorated to celebrate the diversity of cultures in Singapore and to promote a deeper understanding of the different races and religions in Singapore. This year’s theme “Celebrating Singapore” takes pride in the fact that we unite as Singaporeans even in the midst of diversity. Among the highlights of the celebrations are the inter-class ethnic dress competition and a play by the K Productions (Drama) Team. The most memorable part of the celebrations would be the “Kranji Runway” which saw numerous entries from the classes on what they think the Singapore Dress should look like. The entries were impressive and incorporated a lot of elements from the Singaporean culture. The climax of the competition took place at the National Day Celebrations with the finalists strutting down the runway with their original designs!

- Miss Serene Lai

Racial Harmony Day



To provide a platform for greater and more effective integration of ICT in learning, Kranji Secondary School has been organising the Student ICT Sharing Session for secondary school students since 2009.

The main objective was to promote the spirit of experimentation and innovation in students. Students used this platform to present their ICT- based projects or applications.

The sharing session was held on 6 June 2013 in Kranji Secondary School. This year, as many as 400 students attended the session and 20 papers were selected for this sharing.

The event enhanced students’ knowledge and enabled them to acquire skills like collaboration, communication and independent learning. It also prepared them for lifelong learning and the challenges ahead. We hope to organise more of such events to promote a strong ICT-sharing culture among students.

Reflections from participants and presenters:

“I was very impressed by the video on “In-Depth Understanding of Qualitative Analysis in Chemistry”. They made use of technology in their experiments to look for elements in a compound or mixture.”

“The project on effective learning strategies encourages students to test out different ways of learning and discover the methods that best suit them.”

“The business analysis on online shopping trends is quite good as it provides us with valuable information on consumer behaviour. This promotes the spirit of entrepreneurship and innovation.”

Student ICTSharing Session

National ICTSharing Session

National ICTSharing Session 2013

In this day and age where InfoComm Technology (ICT) has pervaded almost every area of our lives, teachers have to accept the reality that traditional methods of teaching are not as effective in engaging this generation of ICT-savvy students. Increasingly, the teacher’s role is to facilitate self-directed and collaborative learning, and technology has become a means to this end.

To promote the use of ICT in schools’ instructional programmes, Kranji Secondary School has been organising the National ICT Sharing Session since 2004.

One of the main objectives was to promote the spirit of experimentation and innovation through effective and pervasive use of ICT in classroom teaching. The theme of this year’s ICT Sharing Session was ‘Transform Learning through ICT to facilitate Self-Directed and/or Collaborative Learning’. This is to enhance learning and develop teaching competencies for the 21st century to achieve desired learning outcomes for students.

The sharing session was held on 2 August 2013 in Kranji Secondary School. This year, as many as 800 teachers attended the session and the number of papers submitted for this sharing were 35 (Primary), 63 (Secondary) and 4 (JC/CI). The number of papers selected for this year were 22 (Primary), 39 (Secondary) and 3 (JC/CI).

The event provided good opportunities for cross-fertilisation of ideas and seeding of innovative strategies in the professional development of teachers. We hope to organise more of such events to promote a strong ICT-sharing culture in schools.

Reflections from participants and presenters:

“Thank you for inviting us over to share! I would also like to add that I am very impressed with your student ushers who were extremely polite and helpful.”

- Ooi Junwei Samuel (National Junior College)

“It was a pleasure sharing at the national platform. Thanks for the opportunity! Overall, the event was well planned and coordinated.”

- Mr Ansar Mohamed Sali (Montfort Secondary School)

The theme for this year is “Celebrate Life!” The Staff Well-being and Health (SWH) Committee has organized a series of activities which revolves around this theme.

First of all, we have a simple birthday celebration every month. Staff whose birthdays fall in that month will be presented with a card penned with well wishes by our Principal and a gift that is handmade by the SWH Committee members. All the staff will also sing a birthday song for them at the end of the presentation.

Secondly, the SWH Committee launched the ‘Kranji Star Awards for Staff’. The objective of these awards is to recognize and show appreciation to some of our colleagues who exhibit the following qualities: the tidiest, the friendliest, the most jovial, the most talented and the most well-groomed. At the beginning of every month, the staff got to nominate their colleagues for the awards via an online form. The results for every month were announced during the first staff meeting of the following month and a medal was awarded to each winner. In August, a list of ‘Stars of the Month’ winners over the months was put up online for all the staff to vote for the overall winners of the awards. The results for the overall winners were announced during the Teachers’ and EAS Day lunch this year and each winner received a terrarium as a prize.

We also organized a variety of activities for the staff, including craft-making, exercise and fun-filled games. For example, we taught the teachers how to make paper roses to celebrate Valentine’s Day. We also taught the teachers some simple exercises that they can do on their own.

The SWH committee seeks to promote holistic well-being for the staff of the school and to send the message to all staff that each of our lives is one that is worth celebrating for!

SWH Activities for Kranji Staff

CHARACTEREDUCATION


National ICTSharing Session 2013

“Knowing Self” forSecondary 1 studentsAs part of the holistic development of students, the CCE department organised two class-based workshops for the Secondary 1 students.

A. DISC Workshop on 27 May 2013

Students gained an understanding of their own personality using the DISC profiling system. Knowing their strengths and limitations as a `Dominant (D)’, an `Influencer (I)’, a `Steady (S)’, or a `Compliant (C)’ empowers them to have better control over the way they relate to others and the choices they make in their lives. The workshop was fun and interactive. Students got to role-play various situations to practise how to relate to others with different profiles.

B. “My Learning Style” Workshop on 23 and 30 July 2013

Using the `VARK’ learning style profiling, students had the chance to understand the best way they learn and how they can apply their styles in the classroom or when they do their own revision to optimise their learning. They also learnt about interesting things like how their brain processes information and strategies to remove ‘blockages’ to store information more effectively.

Our ECG programmes for the upper secondary comprises classroom lessons, talks by Principals and key personnel from Junior Colleges, visits to post-secondary education institutions and course advising conducted by the local polytechnics. These activities facilitate the students’ awareness of their career interests and the various post-secondary education options so that they are in better positions to make informed choices after they graduate from Kranji Secondary School.

A. Course Advising Seminar for Graduating Students

Our Secondary 4 Express and Secondary 5 Normal Academic students were exposed to a Course Advising Seminar conducted by Nanyang Polytechnic (NYP). 35 representatives from the different academic schools in NYP met our students in a focus group session to share their courses with the students. Through

sharing in such small groups, students were able to ask questions and build a better understanding of the courses that they were interested in and the jobs prospects in Singapore. Students shared that the event was an eye-opener as they now have a better understanding of the courses and are more ready to make choices after their `O’ level results.

B. Self-Discovery Workshop for Secondary 3 students

The Secondary 3 students attended the Self-Discovery Workshop conducted by Ngee Ann Polytechnic on 27 August 2013. This 3-hour interactive workshop helped students discover their interests and learning styles. It also helped them match their personalities to possible future career paths. Overall, the students were excited to discover their interests and career choices.

Upper Secondary Education and Career Guidance (ECG) Updates

SWH Activities for Kranji Staff

Ms Koh Ming Hui tied the knot on 19 January 2013

WELCOMINGNEW STAFF

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We would like to seek your valuable suggestions to further improve on our Newsletter. Kindly fill up the feedback form below. Submissions can be made to the General Office. Alternatively, you may visit our website at http://www.kranjisec.moe.edu.sg to drop us an email.

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“I hope to be able to impart values and life skills to my students through fun sports activities during my course of teaching. As an avid rugby fan who eats, sleeps and breathes rugby, I am currently playing for Oldham Rugby Club in the Singapore Rugby Union Men’s League.”

- Mr Chew Yin Xiang

“My teaching philosophy is “Only when one is secure enough to fail will one be free enough to soar.” I appreciate good music, and have a passion for audio mixing. I do some audio mixing for live bands on stage. I also enjoy reading up on a wide variety of topics, ranging from science and sports, to business and finance.”

- Mr Khor Teik Meng

“I am a cheerful person and enjoy interacting with students. I believe that every student is capable of learning and as such, I do not mind spending extra time to coach students in need of additional help.”

- Miss Lim Shu Yuan

“I’m an ex-Kranjian who is happy to join Kranji as teacher. I had a great secondary school experience which allowed me to develop myself as a leader and as a person. Hence, I am inspired to do the same for my students. Explanation plays a key role in teaching and learning. To me, it’s the “Ah-Ha!” moments students have that make teaching worthwhile.”

- Miss May Ng

“I am delighted to join Kranji Secondary School and I am heartened to see that students are active citizens with a heart to serve the school and the larger community. My teaching philosophy is that every child is a gift. Every child is precious and we will do our best to nurture them. I look forward to walking this journey together with staff in enabling our students to taste success be it big or small.”

- Mr Lee Han Hwa

“From my teaching of PE, you might have very accurately guessed that I am a sports fanatic. I enjoy participating in all sports ranging from invasion games, such as football, net barrier games, such as badminton and tennis, and endurance sports, such as jogging and swimming. My teaching philosophy is that students learn better through hands-on practice.”

- Mr Gerald Seet

“I believe that every child can learn. I hope to facilitate their learning and help them grow. I believe that education for students should be an interesting journey and I will do my utmost to engage them in classroom learning.”

- Nur Liyana Ali

“Live responsibly. Live life like you only live once, because you do. In your pursuit of academic excellence, take with you fond memories from your secondary school life. Make life-long friends. Grow and mature together with your friends. Burn brighter than the sun; shine brighter than a diamond. I will support, care for and love you, always.” - Mr Go Jun Hong

Son, Adam Hikmy Ad-Dean born to Ms Sahibah Farha on

24 July 2013

Daughter, Emma Grace Tay Enying born to Ms Wendy Seah on 16 May 2013

RANJI Us/Our Newsletters... · Kian Ho and Mr Toh Kok Hui, together with our PSG chairperson, Ms Jacqueline Lee and her committee members, Ms Michelle Khoo and Ms Callie Liew, were

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