Service Learning Trip In Yunnan

Service Learning In Yunnan, China 13/03/07 to 17/03/07

CIP Team : Mrs Chew, Principal, Mrs Tan SP, Vice Principal, Mr Desmond, OM, Mdm Selvi & Mdm Tay, Teachers and 23 primary 5 pupils.

CIP activities

Set up library corner for 奎南primary school
Donated 600 copies of English books
Purchased 3 bookshelves
3 sets of children chairs & tables
donated 234 stationary, sports equipment (basket ball)
Students performance “ The More We Get Together” in English, Malay, Mandarin and Tamil
School tour, games and photo taking

Situation in奎南primary school

-serious shortage of water supply, pupils can only bath once a week
-lack of toothbrush, toothpaste
-backward in kitchen & sanitary facilities


After experience the lacking of basic necessities, rudimentary lifestyle and the hardship in 奎南 primary school, our pupils learned to treasure what they have, understand how fortunate they are and learned not to take things for granted.

Our school has pledged to raised funds to help purchase mattress and other necessities for the students in 奎南 primary school. We will be making another CIP trip in September 2007. We strongly appeal to parents to support us in this noble cause so as to benefit the pupils in 奎南 primary school in Yunnan, China.

(translated by janet, 31/3/07)

Service Learning In Yunnan

Service Learning in Yunnan 13/03/2007--17/03/2007
参加者
校长、副校长、OM(Mr Desmond Liew)、两位老师(Mdm Kalaiselvi & Mdm Tay G L)及23位P5学生，共30人
行程
Day 1 九乡及石林
Day 2 水晶厂、西山、品茶
Day 3 少数民族村、批发市场
Day 4 奎南小学
Day 5 草莓基地、鲜花市场、民居
住宿舒适、三餐丰盛、豪华旅行车代步
活动内容
为富民县大营镇的奎南小学设立“群立图书室”
捐献600多本英文书
购买3个储书柜
3套小桌子及椅子
捐献234件文具、运动器材（篮球）
捐献装饰图书室的小玩偶及装饰品
学生交流：呈现两个表演项目
1英语动作快板
2以英语、马来语、华语及淡米尔语演唱《当我们同在一　
　起》
参观校舍、玩游戏、拍照

奎南小学实况：
1严重缺水，学生一周只能洗澡一次。
2牙刷、牙膏欠缺
3炊具、卫生间都很落后
4两个中学生共睡一张床位
5床褥又脏又烂
6课室很小、没电灯、水泥地板。
7学生的座位是长板凳。
分享心得：
奎南小学的学生代表致谢时说：“……当我们在翻阅图书时，可以感受到原来在海外有一群关心我们的朋友，曾经读过这一页书，我们会有一种特别亲切的感觉，我们一定会努力用功读书，考取好成绩来报答你们……”群立的师生只是略尽绵力，就与奎南的小学生建立起深厚的情谊，这是这次海外社区服务的最大收获。

当我们乘坐旅游车离开后不久，发现奎南小学的一名男生、两名女生，不顾飞扬的尘土，脸上带着笑容，不时用手揉擦眼睛，飞奔在车后，向我们挥手道别……他们的那份热情，太令人感动了！

我校学生看到奎南小学物质缺乏，学会了珍惜自己所拥有的一切，深深地体会到自己是“身在福中不知福”的滋味。

游览民族村时，我校学生对少数民族中的傣族、白族和彝族的古老房子、生活习俗、色彩鲜艳的民族服装、头套……都有进一步的认识，还拍照做笔录。

云南昆明一日有四季，温差很大，晨昏寒冷，中午炎热，空气干燥，好多学生会流鼻血，嘴唇干裂，手脚皮肤发痒。

云南昆明地大物博，路旁尽是壮丽的高山、奇形怪状的石头、辽阔的土地、翠绿的农田、弯曲的河流、古老的建筑……这美丽的自然景观对来自弹丸小国的新加坡学生可真是大开眼界！但是崎岖颠簸的山路，使到有些学生感觉不适而呕吐。

我校学生不习惯昆明一般的卫生间，例如厕所臭味醺天、没门锁……
吃不惯当地的食物，不喜欢吃青菜和多骨多刺的鱼……不习惯当地人随地吐痰和抽烟的味道……

我校学生学会泡茶、喝茶的艺术，都觉得当地的东西价格便宜，无不满载而归。

(Done by Mdm Tay G L 30/03/2007)

"Bind Us Togtehr" Photo Gallery

"Bind Us Together" PSG BBQ Party

Date : 28/2/2007
Time : 7pm-9pm

This lovely title was suggested by Mdm Sheila Chan who had just completed the parent facilitator course. Her rationale was this event was not only for parent and child bonding , it was also for all parent volunteers bonding together on a beautiful night, feasting and enjoying each other conversation. Well said, Sheila!

The early comers received a facinful pen as a early bird gift. Thanks to the funding from MCYS as this was a SFE event. Mr Jumat, our HOD, English Department gave a welcome speech and also promoted the Racial Harmony Day (20th July). Mdm Shirley, Vice Chairman of PSG Execo who just flew back from her working trip was present to welcome the group as well as to introduce the 2007 PSG Exco Team. Myself, of course to introduce the 2007 PSG/SFE school team and to promote the PSG program for 2007. We presented bouquet of flowers as token of appreciation to Mdm Anne Pang (who has stepped down from PSG execo) but still serving wholeheartedly as ever in the PSG, to Ms Ivy Chan, our outgoing SFE cordinator from New Life Service (SFE Service Provider(SP) from 2005-2006) for their support & contributions for the past years and to welcome our incoming SFE cordinator, Ms Cassandra Chee from Hero Training Consultancy(SP with effective from April 2007).

Sheila played a short clip "Together" based on a true story Hoyt team. It was a very touching story between father & son. And gosh, our very compansionate Sheila was teary eyes as she continued to do her sharing while sobbing.

A lightstick was given to all participants and together we sang "If we hold on together" by Diana Ross. With the lightstick, the team was led to tour round the PSG room at the ground floor, which is a container donated by New Life Community Service in 2006. The kids sure have fun holding the light sticks walking around the school compound in the dark. We than proceeded to the Canteen for our BBQ dinner.

I realized that we had forgotten to collect the SFE survey forms, a very important document to be submitted to MCYS ! However, being parents volunteers, the group was helpful and responsible. A simple announcement did the trick. The parents volunteers also made sure that the tables are claen before leaving the place so that the school attendants need not stay back too late to do the cleaning. Well, parents volunteers, you are truly role model of our school motto, Gracious, Responsible & Public Spirited. It was a very packed night but a good start for the PSG team for the year 2007.

Looking forward to work with all of you!

Prize Giving Day 2007 Part 3

Mrs Chew sharing with the PSG execo members on her recent Yunan trip. The school will be making another trip in September to help raise fund for the school in Yunan.

Prize Giving Day 2007 Part 2

Annual Prize Giving Day @ GRPS
23rd March 2007, 7pm-9pm
Guest of Honour : Mrs Daisy Yip, Principal of Gongshang Primary School
Mrs Yip is the first principal of Greenridge Primary School.











Picture 1 : Members of 2007 PSG Execo at the dinner reception with invited guests.
Picture 2 : PSG members catching up with Mrs Yip on the good old days.

Prize Giving Day 2007 Part 1

Mdm Sheila Chan, Trained Parent Facilitator

Social & RecreationIC, 2007 PSG Execo

Picture on far right

Mdm Selvarani & Mdm Sheila Chan receiving token of appreciation from Mrs Chew for completing the Parents Facilitator Course.

Picture starting from far left front, Mrs Chew(Principal),Mdm Selvarani, Mdm Sheila Chan, Mdm Shao Fong, Mdm Asiah. Second row Mdm Jamilah, Mdm Nesa and Mdm Massita.

PSA@GRPS

Parent Support Attachement

8th and 9th March 2007
Teacher-aide: A Classroom Experience

A total of 24 succesful parents applied for our teacher aide during our meet the P1 parents session on 28/2/2007. The experience provide parents an opportunity to be involved as a teacher-aide in order to experience the vigour of a lower primary class. The teacher aide was assigned to assist in conducting small group reading, teaching, art & craft lesson, helping to put up display in the classroom, and helping the pupils in their 'Use Your Hand" campaign. They have a short break for refreshment during recess time, chat with our Mrs Chew, Mrs Tan, Mrs Chua (currently part time full time counsellor and formally our school senior teacher)and myself.

It was a pleasure meeting them and we have a great time exchanging ideas on their learning needs in parenting and different ideas to involved parents in our school events. In particular, Mdm Juanita suggested having a basic internet training workshop so parents can be more computer savvy to monitor their kids. Parents volunteers to help to look after children when they are attending a parent workshop. Additionally, another parent volunteer to share her expertise in the dental field with the children.

Parents agreed that they have better understanding of the teacher's responsibility in the lower primary classroom and quoting from Mdm Juanita " It's a fun experience with the teachers and parents and I hope to volunteer as teacher aide monthly!"

Thank You Parents For A Great Partnership!

Parent Facilitator Graduation Ceremony 2007

Congratualations! Rani, Sheila, Anne and Pauline for completing Parent Facilitator Course Module 1 & Module 2.

“Parenting with Confidence” workshops are designed to equip and encourage parents of children in age groups 0-5, 6-12 and 13-19 years. Comprising six 2-hour sessions of interactive learning through videos, discussion in a small-group setting, it provides practical insights and creative ideas for successful parenting. A key distinctive of this programme is that it will inspire parents to see the possibilities and understand the unique opportunities in their children in each unique age group.

Participants of the facilitator workshop have a passion for parenting and a desire to share experiences with others. Participants of this facilitator training will be accredited to present PwC workshops in community centres, schools and other venues.

The ceremony was held in the Auditorium at Civil Service College on 17th march 2007, 9am to 12.30pm. The atmosphere was warm as you could see the parents volunteers beaming with joy as their school principals, vice principals and teachers looked on with pride. The program was entertaining and engaging with various performance items put up by the lecturers of the modules , interesting skit and sharing testimony by the course particpants, the parent volunteers themselves.

I had a great time sharing with Anne and Sheila on the wonderful moments & lessons they had in their course and also picked up useful parenting tips from the sharing of some parents volunteers. We also came out with some great ideas for PSG matters from the event, namely
1.Parent Clinic (Parent Mentor to station in PSG rm for a specific hr and timing)
2.Arrangement for Sheila team including Anne to meet up with our new SFE coordinator to discuss about social/recreational events.
3. to ask Malcom to write /compile a history of PSG, including his track & field days with Michelle Foo.

I also decided to promote the parent faciliator course to all P1 parents as I find that not only the course is beneficial but it strengthen the bonding among the parents volunteers which is most invaluable.

Well, Mrs Chew and Mrs Tan couldn't attend the ceremony because they were in Yunan, a school immersionl trip with the pupils.

At the end of the ceremony, one of the school princiapl was absent and actually ordered bouquet of flowers to be presented to the parent volunteers. Hmmm this is really a sweet gesture, why didn't we think of that? We must do something to address this...

p/s We will be presenting our recognition of effort of these parents volunteers on our coming Prize Giving Day on 23/3/2007.

Restoring Romance to Your Marriage

Restoring Romance (Exclusively for couple)
3rd February 2007
Zhenghua Community Centre

Participants have a lively session conducted by Mr Simon Sim, a family life coach and a dance session conducted by a dance instructor.

Managing Your Finance Workshop

Managing Your Finances Workshop

Teaching your child to save

The above workshop was conducted on 10 February 2207 Saturday , 10am-12pm in our school by Mr Christian Chua, a certified professional trainer and author of financial literacy books.