Rivers Id Ian (Oct 2011) Finalised
Rivers Id Ian (Oct 2011) Finalised
Rivers Id Ian (Oct 2011) Finalised
Learning by inquiry during a Science Practical lesson - students explaining their task to the Minister.
naidisreviR
www.riversidesec.moe.edu.sg
Minister observing a Chinese lesson. Riversides school management team in conversation with the Minister.
The
Riversidian
OUR UG ACHIEVEMENTS
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our girls BrigaDe achieVement JourneY from Bronze to silVer to golD awarDs in 4 Years
Started in 2007 with only 15 girls, our 79th Girls Brigade Company faced a declining enrolment with only 4 new recruits in 2009. Through the wide variety of activities that includes camps, competitions, service learning trips to Cambodia and Malaysia, archery, fencing and kayaking courses, to pipes and drums, we managed to attract girls to this CCA and enriched their lives. Though small in number, our dedicated GB girls are ever determined to make a positive difference and do their Best and More. GBs tremendous progress is also evident in our Company Awards achievements from Bronze in 2009 to Silver in 2010 and Gold in 2011. We are delighted for GB President, SSgt Ng Yang Tin (class 4/5, 2011) for getting the highest national award, the Pioneer Brigader Brooch. We are also proud of our former GB girl, H Sharanya Pillai (4/4, 2010) for achieving 9A1s in the GCE`O level examination and receiving the Prime Ministers Book Prize Award in 2011. We are grateful for the strong leadership by Ms Lee Cheng Yen and all former and current teachers. Our heartfelt thanks also go to Mrs Lim-Hee Onn Nah (GB Chaplain), Pastor Lim Chee Boon (New Life Bible-Presbyterian Church as sponsoring church), Mr William (BB Captain), Ms Doris Foo and Ms Mavis Goh (volunteers and instructors) and graduated seniors for their service and labour of love. May this CCA continue to provide a holistic education for our GB girls and bring out the best in every member.
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A warm welcom e to our GOH, Mr W oon Kok Meng, SAC Chair man.
Mr Woon Kok Me
ch.
Our GOH presenting Riverside SAC Scholarship to H Sharanya Pillai (class 4/4, 2010) and 2010 PSLE top-scorer, Lee Wen Kai (class 1/5, 2011).
Dr Daniel Chia, SAC Vice-Chairman, presenting award to Ang Jun Jie (class 4/2, 2010), our top N-level student.
The Speech Day comperes, Haiqal (4/9) and Chea Yee (4/5), hosting the event with solemn graciousness.
Outstanding Student Leadership Award: Rayna Lee Xin Ying (class 4/4, 2010)
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The Modern Dancers making graceful leaps as deers to mark the importance of protecting wildlife.
The SYF Gold Indian Dancers performance with the traditional kavadis.
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RS INTERNATIONALISATION
The Principal of Waikowhai Intermediate School, Mr Howard Perry and the Principal of Auckland Normal Intermediate School, Ms Jill Larson.
Our students with their Hong Kong (Caritas Fanling Chan Chun Ha Secondary School) and Guangzhou (Pui Ching Middle School) friends during the school visits. An in-depth computer less on at Pui Ching Secondary School cond ucted in English & Mandarin. at a handsMaking Wife Biscuits h Bakery. on session at Wing Wa
At Shenzhen Cultural Villa ge where the st udents danc ed with perform ers.
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RS INTERNATIONALISATION
Picking Cherries.
From 10 to 15 June 2011, 32 students from both Chinese and Modern Dance groups, together with Mrs Sng Siew Hong, Mdm Rekha, Ms Soo Chee Ling and Mr Chong Shu Chi embarked on a Dance Training cum Cultural Immersion Trip to Beijing. The objective of this trip was to provide an opportunity for our dancers to appreciate how dance training is conducted in China and to further develop their dance competencies through the training sessions. The highlight of the trip was the Chinese and Modern dance technique classes conducted by the dance professors from Beijing Dance Academy. The trip would not be complete without the excursions to places of interest such as Great Wall, Tiananmen Square, Imperial Palace Museum, Olympic Village and Beijing Capital Museum. Students even had the chance to pick cherries themselves during one of the activities planned for them.
At Tiananmen Squar e.
Modern
Dance
training
At Olympic Villa
ge.
Vietnam triP
A group of 22 students accompanied by Ms Cheoh Pin, Ms Bridgette Wong, Mrs Tio-Fung Eng Chu and Mdm Suriyati visited Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, during the September holidays. Some places of interest visited were the Cu Chi tunnels, Can Gio Mangrove Forest Park, War Museum and The Reunification Palace. There was also a school exchange programme towards the end of the trip. The War Museum visit was particularly memorable as gruesome photographs, a simulated tiger cage prison and jars of deformed fetuses were displayed. These tiger cage prisons were used by the South Vietnamese government to house political prisoners. It made visitors understand the cruelty that took place during the Vietnam war. On the other hand, the Reunification Palace, formerly South Vietnams Presidential Palace, allowed students to see the actual reception room, vintage radio and office equipment used by the South Vietnamese before Ho Chi Minhs revolutionary forces took over. Visiting the Nguyen Van Be School was an eye-opening experience as it was the first time that these students visited a foreign school. They get to interact with the local students and understand how a typical school day is like for them. This has indeed been an enriching and educational trip for both the students and teachers. All students left Ho Chi Minh City with fond memories and a new-found love for the place.
Students learning how the Vietnamese recycled bomb shells and bullets to make their own weapons.
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RS INTERNATIONALISATION
use the
Students Reflections:
I was inspired by Cambodias resilience as they successfully recovered from the tragedy of what happened in the past. Chua Hong Ze, 3/6 I learnt that we should not take things for granted. We may be living in Singapore peacefully and happilybut we have to guard what we have in case something happens. Ken Leon, 2/9
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STUDENT LEADERSHIP
Students thinking of innovative ways to prevent an egg from breaking when released.
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hosting of hong kong stuDents from Yuen long lutheran seconDarY school
A group of 28 students and 3 teachers from Hong Kong, Yuen Long Lutheran Secondary School visited our school on 6 July 2011 with the objective of Learn Global. Twenty-two of our Characters and Citizenship Education (CCE) Champs were chosen to host our Hong Kong friends upon their arrival. After the school assembly and a short introduction to Riverside Secondary School, the Hong Kong students proceeded with cultural exchange activities. The Hong Kong students and teachers enjoyed taking photos with various ethnic costumes and through this activity, they achieved a better understanding of Singapores unique multi-racial cultures. Besides cultural exchanges, the Hong Kong students also experienced the learning environment in Singapore schools with their paired buddies for two periods. Meanwhile, the teachers observed classroom lessons to learn about our school teaching pedagogies.
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e-learning
Students are naturally digital natives. They are very in tune with the use of technology. Therefore it is not uncommon that schools carry out learning through the use of ICT. Riverside Secondary School organises E-Learning for students annually and this year it has been carried out in January and May. Students carry out their E-learning at home through the use of the schools Learning Management System (LMS), Cybersphere. Students engaging in self directed learning through Cybersphere. This year, the schools LMS has been upgraded with bigger bandwidth and more features. Students followed a timetable at home to complete their E-learning for respective subjects. Some students use the schools Computer Lab for E-learning as they do not have Internet access at home. Although they may not see their teacher face to face, most students expressed enthusiasm through this form of learning.
Pet rocket
About 80 students took part in this years PET rocket Science enrichment activity. This activity allowed students to build and launch rockets made from PET bottles. We made use of recycled materials like PET bottles to learn Physics concepts in a fun and engaging manner.
Through the activity, we learnt that the volume of water, position of flaps and pressure pumped into bottle can affect how far the rocket can launch. We truly enjoy the learning experience. Tian Yu Harn, 3/5
creating art with chemistrY hanDs-on workshoP at the singaPore science centre
In conjunction with National Chemistry Week held between 28 May to 5 June 2011, the Singapore Science Centre held a series of workshops for students to participate in. A Chemistry Fair was held at the premises of the Science Centre. There were various booths featuring numerous experiments that we do not get to see in our chemistry labs. We were amazed at how liquid nitrogen can cause a balloon to shrink right before our eyes. At another booth, we experienced how a solidliquid mixture behaves when pressure is applied. At the workshop, we learnt about the processes of electroplating and alloying. We were astonished that with just pieces of zinc, copper and sodium hydroxide, we can make brass that appears golden in colour within minutes. It was definitely a fun and eye-opening experience for all. Kee Ming Feng & Eliza Tem Hui Shi, 2/7
Attending a workshop on the use of Electrochemistry.
by liquid were amazed All students onstration. for dem nitrogen used
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NATIONAL EDUCATION
ticipants.
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NATIONAL EDUCATION
Excited to start
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SCHOOL ACTIVITIES
The concert included videos and dedications from our school partners and alumni, games and prizegiving ceremonies. The concert ended with a highlight which was a performance put up by the new teachers who joined Riverside this year. I take this opportunity to wish all teachers a Happy Teachers Day and thank you for being our guiding lights. Mabel Kho, 3/5
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STAFF DEVELOPMENT
north zone learning sYmPosium for senior teachers anD leaD teachers
The North zone Learning Symposium for Senior Teachers and Lead Teachers marked a significant milestone on the part of the North zone schools efforts to strengthen professional development and nurture a culture of professional excellence amongst their teachers. With the theme, Imagine the Singapore Educators: Understand Who We Are, Imagine Who We Can Be, Create Who We Will Be, the symposium aimed to provide a platform for teachers to share ideas and build their capacities as curriculum leaders. On 16 May 2011, three of our Senior Teachers, Mdm Haslinda, Ms Tang Wai Yin and Ms Fu Wei, presented their Action Research projected entitled Problem-based Learning: Effects of Scaffolds in Secondary School Science at the symposium. The symposium was indeed an enriching and meaningful learning experience for all participants.
Mdm Haslinda, Ms Fu Wei and Ms Tang Wai Yin with their poster presentation of their Action Research project.
ents guiding Riverside stud in the use of participants e ICT tool. the onlin
BY(i)tes workshoP
On 23 June 2011, key personnel of Riverside Secondary School was invited to attend the BY(i)TES (Benchmarking Your ICT Practices for Excellence in Schools) workshop organized by our HOD ICT, Ag SH ICT and VP (Academic). The objectives of the workshop aim to help participants in achieving a clearer understanding of the revised BY(i)TES version and at the same time, helping participants to identify, reflect and adapt the strategies of implementation. Participants were briefed on the focus of the revised BY(i)TES and were also invited to discuss, share and reflect on their current understanding and practices for ICT infusion in the curriculum. Four of our schools ICT mentors were also invited to share about their learning and understanding of SDL (Self Directed Learning) and CoL (Collaborative Learning) through their lesson plans. They are currently involved in the ICT Mentor programme organized by Education Technology Division (ETD) and they also shared with the participants what they have learnt in the workshop.
Dr Eugene Shum, Director of Medical , Affairs and Innovation ing his keynote giv address.
of Riverside.
On 24 June 2011, staff of Riverside Secondary School visited Khoo Teck Puat Hosptial to learn about their innovative practices. We were briefed about the hospitals unique mission and vision before embarking on a very fulfilling journey around the hospital grounds. Everyone was greatly encouraged because we learnt new practices to benefit the students and school.
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STAFF NEWS
From left to right Mr Lin Shaojie, Ms Cai Gengyun, Mdm Toh Siew Hoon, Ms Junainah Amran, Ms Wong Yi Jun, Ms Dorothy Ong.
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