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CONNECTIONS

Issue

No. 22019

In this issue:

Key Happenings in Semester 2 2019

A Publication of Temasek Primary School 501 Bedok South Avenue 3 Singapore 469300

www.temasekpri.moe.edu.sg

Our Vision We aspire to be the

Vibrant Learning Campus where students learn,

lead, serve and grow to become future-ready

citizens rooted in values.

Key Happenings in Semester 2 Cultural Immersion Trip to China - 22 June to 27 June 2019

As part of the Character Development and Enrichment programme to prepare our students for the challenges of a globalised world, the school organised a 6-day 5-night Cultural Immersion Trip to Suzhou and Shanghai during the June holidays. The objectives of the trip were to provide our students with the opportunity to be exposed to a different culture and to provide the opportunity for them to embrace a global mindset.

Cultural Immersion Trip(China)

Racial Harmony Day cumHari Raya Aidilfitri 2019

Prefects Investiture 2019 Environmental Day Children's Day 2019 Chinese Cultural Camp

In this issue:

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A group comprising six teachers and 30 Primary 5 students went on a cultural immersion trip to China from 22 June to 27 June 2019. The teachers and students visited cultural and historical sites in Suzhou and Shanghai. The students also experienced lessons and activities in Suzhou Hi -Tech Zone Experimental Primary School (苏州高新区实验学校). The experiences in Suzhou and Shanghai provided the opportunity for our students to learn to be independent and adaptable as they interacted with their counterparts from China. They learnt more about the local culture through first-hand experiences and took away with them pleasant memories of China. What was also memorable for them were the new friendships forged with their peers from China. It was indeed a wonderful and enriching experience for the students and teachers alike.

Cultural Immersion Trip to China - 22 June to 27 June 2019

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Racial Harmony Day cum Hari Raya Aidilfitri Celebration 2019

Racial Harmony Day (RHD), commemorated annually on 21 July in Singapore, represents a day where schools reflect on and celebrate Singapore's success as a racially harmonious nation and society built on a rich diversity of culture and heritage. This year, the whole nation celebrated RHD with the official theme ‘The Singapore Connection’. Through this theme, we encourage our students and teachers to reflect on the shared experiences and values that have connected us as Singaporeans. We hope that our younger generation can remain open and inclusive even as our society becomes increasingly complex and diverse.

Singapore’s rich cultural and racial diversity was the focus of Temasek Primary School’s celebration this year. On 19 July, our students came to school dressed in their traditional costumes. After the sharing of the RHD message during the school assembly, our students were treated to an engaging assembly programme specially put together for the combined celebration of RHD and Hari Raya Aidilfitri. Our students watched a skit that portrayed how people of different races gather and interact harmoniously with one another. Through the skit, our students also gained a better understanding of the significance of Hari Raya Aidilfitri and that of other festivals celebrated by the other races in Singapore. The school also had the pleasure of enjoying a wonderful performance put up by our twinning school from Brunei.

During their recesses, our students learnt about the culture of the different races through activities such as Indian Garland Making, Chinese Paper Cutting and Malay Ketupat Weaving. They also played traditional games of the past such as Congkat, Five Stones and one in which they had to use chopsticks to pick up marbles. The games were facilitated by teachers, National Education (NE) ambassadors and parent volunteers. In addition, a photo booth was set up for the students to take photographs while dressed in their traditional costumes.

In class, our teachers conducted lessons on racial harmony and our students reflected on what they could do to build good relationships with their classmates from different races.

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Our students wearing different colourful ethnic costumes to school to commemorate RHD

Our Bruneian friends engaged in playing the traditional games and participating in the Indian Garland Making activity

Our Bruneian friends donning traditional costumes too

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Prefects Investiture 2019

“It was a meaningful experience for the prefects. It was memorable as our parents were there to witness our proud moment.”

(Vera, P6D)

“I appreciate the opportunity to lead the school. I felt very proud when Mrs Ho put on the badge for me.”

(Aidin, P5D)

On Friday, 26 July 2019, the school came together to celebrate and recognise our newly-appointed Junior Prefects, Prefects and Primary 5 Executive Committee for their appointments as student leaders for the period of July 2019 – June 2020. All the prefects had gone through a rigorous selection and training process. They are representatives of our student body and they embody our school values, habits and virtues. The Prefects’ Investiture aims to recognise and affirm our Student Leaders for their service and contribution to the school, honour our Primary 6 Student Leaders for having achieved a milestone in their leadership journey and welcome our Primary 5 Student Leaders who will progress to be the senior Student Leaders in the school.

This year is the first time that our Primary 3 and 4 junior prefects joined the Primary 5 and 6 prefects in the ceremony. It was also the first time that the school invited parents of our Primary 5 and 6 Prefects to attend this meaningful ceremony and celebrate this proud and joyous occasion with their children. Our Primary 6 prefects also created a song, with the guidance of Ms Jocelyn Goh, to show their appreciation to the school for its efforts in nurturing and developing leaders.

We look forward to the contributions from our prefects in the year to come and many more Temasekians to take on leadership roles.

Reflection from students:

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Prefects Investiture 2019 Prefects Investiture 2019

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Environmental Day

The Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources (MEWR) has designated 2019 as the Year Towards Zero Waste. In line with this vision, Temasek Primary School’s students embarked on a series of activities to reduce the amount of waste we produce.

Firstly, our students were taught how to recycle waste in a proper manner, for example, how to wash the Tetra Pak packaging that they intend to dispose of and place them into the correct bins. They were also encouraged to practise recycling after every snack break.

Secondly, to help our students better understand the waste problem that Singapore is facing, the students were provided with a virtual reality experience – a virtual tour around a mountain made up of rubbish.

Lastly, our students were given the opportunity to take on proactive roles in spreading the zero-waste message by co-creating an educational eBook called ‘Project Zero’. The students involved in this project took 360-degree footages and aerial images using drones. These footages and images were later featured in the eBook to promote interactive learning.

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Children's Day 2019

Temasek Primary School celebrated Children’s Day on 3 October 2019. The day started with the Primary 1 to 6 students gathering in the School Hall for the singing of the Children’s Day song, Semoga Bahagia. This was followed by the Children’s Day message delivered by our principal, Mrs Alison Ho. The students were then treated to an exciting Bubble Show and a surprise item – an entertaining skit put up by the teachers from Student Development Council, Administrative staff and the school leaders. Judging from the laughter from the audience, the students definitely enjoyed themselves!

The Primary 1 to 6 students were also given extended recesses on this day. They could choose to play a variety of games like archery and trampoline in the field and in the School Hall.

To top it off, every student also received a packet of popcorn and a frozen dessert, sponsored by our school’s School Advisory Committee (SAC) members.

In our bid to inculcate in our students the values of compassion and charity, our teachers spoke to the students about Sharity Elephant. Our students showed their generosity by pledging their donations after the Sharity envelopes were issued. It was indeed a fun and meaningful day for all Temasekians.

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Chinese Cultural Camp

During the September holidays, a group of 80 students from Primary 2 attended the Chinese Cultural Camp. The aim of the camp was to introduce the Chinese culture to the students through music, art and games. Besides painting lanterns, students were taught how to play Chinese Chess. The students also had a go at playing the ‘xun’, which is a globular vessel flute from China and also one of the oldest musical instruments in China. The Primary 2 students learnt a lot through these informative and hands-on camp. Camps like this are important in deepening the young’s knowledge of their cultures.

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ECG (Education and Career Guidance) Seminar

Education and Career Week was organized in November and gave all of our students an opportunity to dream big and chart their future.

The school invited parents of our Primary 1 to Primary 5 students to speak to our students about their working experiences. Our students learnt about what it entails to be a soldier, a scientist, a pilot, a dentist, a martial arts instructor, an accountant and even a lawyer. Most importantly, they learnt that every occupation serves an important role in society.

Our Primary 6 students also participated in a three-day Education and Career Guidance (ECG) Seminar specially planned for them. The seminar kicked off with a meaningful address titled, ‘Dream Big, Build Deep and Start Young’!, delivered by our principal, Mrs Alison Ho. Mrs Ho’s inspiring address certainly left our Primary 6 students intrigued and eager to learn more about the interesting programmes and industry visits that had been planned for them.

Temasek Primary is grateful to be able to invite speakers from different secondary schools and organisations to speak about their niche programmes to our students.

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One of the highlights of the ECG Seminar was the series of talks delivered by representatives from various Secondary schools, Junior Colleges and organisations. Our Primary 6 students learnt more about the rich learning experiences and niche programmes offered by the Secondary schools and Junior Colleges, and they were also treated to dance performances and hands-on drones demonstrations specially organised for them. Temasek Primary was also also very privileged to be able to invite distinguished speakers from various industries to speak to our students about what it is like to be an engineer, a pilot, a lawyer and an architect, just to name a few!

The ECG Seminar culminated in a series of meaningful industry visits to organisations such as Milo, MacDonald’s, the Maritime Museum, Seng Kang Hospital, Awfully Chocolate and Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD).

Some reflections from our students:

“The secondary schools' talks were interesting and meaningful. The speakers shared about the different programmes and fun activities that we can look forward to.”

“I appreciated how the speakers shared with us that even if we might not succeed in our primary school education, it does not determine how well we will do later in life.”

“The road to success is not straight. We should live with a positive mind.”

“The guest speakers were very enthusiastic in the way they explained to us about what they did and what their job is all about. They shared with us their lifelong journey since young, and how they had garnered success over the years.”