Issue 1 2013

Principal’s Message 1

Exchange Programmes 2 - Student Leadership - Korean

GEC ‘O’ Levels Results 3

CCA Orientation Day 4

Secondary 1 Campfire 4

Let’s Get to Know One Another 5

Let’s Go for a Picnic! 5

Level 2 and 3 Camps 6

A Night of Glitz and Glamour 8

An Interview with Mrs Raja 9

不一样的学习之旅 10

Batam Medical Trip 10

English and Chinese 11Language Department Good Practices

PEC Dinner 12

Who Says Playing Dress-Up is for Kids? 12

Chinese New Year Celebration 2013 13

NEA Clean and Green Carnival 13

First impressions and aspirations, 14

Acrostic poems

New Staff 16

Celebrations and Achievements 17

Publishing Team:Editors:Ms Debbie Wong, Mrs Ravi, Mdm Fazliana Pairin, Miss Hor Kah Wai,Mr Ben Lee, Ms Karen Tan

Reporters: Students of 1 Praise and 1 Faith

Photography: Mr Sebastian Lim, Photography Club

It was not a plan, I stumbled upon

it as opportunities were given...

An Interview with Mrs Raja

Content2

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9

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“A cord of three strands is not easily broken” Ecclesiastes 4:12

Building bridges, strengthening relationships‘Building Bridges, Strengthening Relationships’, the theme for the year at KCPSS, reflects the school’s desire to strengthen the many relationships we enjoy. Based on the premise that student learning and development is optimized through strong school-home-community partnerships, the

school is focusing on strengthening staff collegiality, friendship among students and partnerships with parents and stakeholders. The ancient proverb, quoted above is a reminder that man was made to live in community and work as a team. At KCPSS, we treasure the positive relationships endowed on us and continue to work on further strengthening these relationships in our efforts to nurture the KCPSS family. It is as a part of this intentional effort to focus on an active inclusion of all key partners in the school’s growth in 2013 that we strive to build ties that edify and affirm. Ties that will last.

This term, our resolution to grow stronger as a family took the form of the various programmes – from the exciting All-Level Camps, the Secondary 4 “I CAN” programme, and the Secondary One Restructured programme which included a Science trail at MacRitchie Reservoir Park and a picnic at Bishan Park. Teachers were encouraged by the presence of parents of our secondary one students at these outdoor activities.

We also continue to build ‘strong bridges’ with our sister

schools, Suncheon Maesan Middle School (South Korea) and Petra High (Surabaya, Indonesia). Our students graciously played host to these partner schools in January and February respectively and brought the relationship to a new height through the warm hospitality extended to our guests.

The bridge as a connection to new knowledge ‘Education is all a matter of building bridges,’ Ralph Ellison. Our desire to be an ‘exciting school of choice’ continues to grow as we welcome new staff to our KCPSS family and continue to think of ways to meaningfully engage KCPians. As various departments plan exciting learning journeys, projects and lessons which involve rigour in assessment and collaborative learning, teachers, too, continue to grow through participation in professional learning communities. These communities are platforms for our teachers to learn and grow as a teaching fraternity. Knowledge and ways of thinking are used to build bridges. These bridges of knowledge that we build become frames for students to appreciate the world around us.

The bridge is a transition to the next phase in life2013 has begun with the promise of new opportunities for KCPians. Even as we strive for new heights in the cognitive domain, KCPians are experiencing breakthroughs in the sports arena and working hard towards a stellar performance in the upcoming Singapore Youth Festival. The school will continue to provide KCPians with a holistic and exciting school life to best equip them to realise their potential as leaders and community contributors. As KCPians grow from strength to strength, we will never cease to remember the faithfulness of God who has always provided for us. As the school celebrates its 89th anniversary this year, we take stock of the rich and fulfilling journey that God has blessed us with and know that KCPSS is well-positioned for new breakthroughs in its next lap!

1ISSUE 1 MAR 2013

From the 19th to the 24th of October 2012, a group of 19 student Councillors, NE Ambassadors and Physical Education Leaders went over to Surabaya, Indonesia with 3 accompanying teachers, Mr Reggie Lim, Mdm Teo Joo Keng and Ms Nor’aliah on a Student Leadership exchange programme with Petra School.

Popularly known as ‘The City of Knowledge’ for having the largest number of educational institutions in Indonesia, Surabaya has a wealth of treasures that we couldn’t wait to uncover . The trip was an enriching and fulfilling 6 days where we were exposed to the rich culture and tradition of the people there.

In Petra School, we participated in lessons such as Batik painting, Stone Art and also learned Surabaya’s

folk dance as well as to cook their traditional desserts. We were also given the opportunity to learn and play traditional musical instruments- the kulintang, gamelan and angklung as well as perform the musical pieces during our farewell concert! Aside from lessons in Petra School, our buddies and us bonded further during our free-and-easy time at Ciputra Waterpark and a cruise along Artama Harbour. We also had a taste of what Surabaya had to offer during our cultural tour around the country, visiting landmarks and historical places.

It was indeed an eye-opening and memorable experience. We can’t wait to host our buddies when they come over to KCPSS in 2013 and return the warm and hospitable treatment that we received throughout our stay there.

By Annur Munirah of 4 Truth

ISSUE 1 MAR 20132

It was finally the day every graduating student of 2012 had been awaiting. They were about to receive the fruit of their labour after all the hard work, toil and sweat in preparation for the O’ levels.

Graduating students of 2013 had the utmost privilege to look upon the entire ceremony to have a feel of what it will be like in exactly a year’s time. The students were seated according to their classes in two rows, busy flipping through the pamphlets and booklets of JC and polytechnic information. From the retractable seats, we could make out different facial expressions from different students. Some were conspicuously anxious, needless to say, while some were perfectly calm, as if brimming with confidence, knowing that they would do well.

Finally came the time for the results to be announced, and murmurs from the assembly of students subsided. It was truly motivating to hear that the cohort made improvements from last year’s results. There were 36 students who had achieved 5 distinctions or more and they were called on stage to be recognized by their peers. There was enthusiastic clapping and cheers of delight, some of the outstanding performers even hugged their teacher in appreciation for their wonderful teaching. After the release of the results, we went to interview some of our seniors:

Sonya Ng, Secondary 4 Peace 2012, said, “I didn’t expect to be in the top. I was trying not to cry while I was going on stage.” As for

where she wanted to go after this, she said that she will be either choosing Anglo-Chinese Junior College or Saint Andrew’s Junior College.

The next student gave us the laugh for sure. R. Ganharuban from Secondary 4 Joy 2012, claimed that he had only started studying a mere 2 months before the start of the ‘O’ Levels. “Well, to get ready for the exams, I went to watch a movie and lots of sitcoms. My mum is going to scold me, but I’m happy because I scored 5 distinctions.” We would not suggest anyone to follow his special method of studying, even though it sounded hilarious! Just like Sonya, he too will be going to a JC.

The last one we talked to was Leong Jia Qin from Secondary 4 Peace 2012. “I was scared and nervous before getting back the results.” We asked her what motivated her and how she prepared for the exams. “Study hard, get a lot of practice, and most definitely, pray! My motivations were my mother and my sister.”

After today, we’re sure that many would be inspired to put in their utmost effort and strive to achieve their best in this journey that we have set foot on. We urge every graduating student to never give up and seek comfort and guidance from their friends, teachers and family. May you all achieve excellent results and get into the school of your choice!

By Sophie Rosen-Lawliette and Chantel Chua of 4 Joy

3ISSUE 1 MAR 2013

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The Secondary One CCA Orientation took place on 11 January 2013. It was an afternoon event run by our teachers and students of the different CCA groups.

Sec 1 students were treated to an interactive and informative experience through booth displays and live demonstrations. Various CCA booths were set up at the Rifle

Range Field, Canteen, Parade Square and the Concourse. These booths include ‘Sports and Games’, ‘Uniformed Groups’, ‘Performing Arts’ as well as ‘Clubs and Societies’. We walked

in groups with our friends, signing up for trials in various CCAs that had caught our attention.

The Aesthetics groups kicked off the event with their captivating performances. Other seniors were walking around, promoting their CCAs and asking us to sign up for their CCA trials. Some of

the Girl Guides were walking around, holding a tray of plastic cups filled with lemonade, some had a tin of chocolate-mint cookies while the rest were handing out postcards. The girls from the Netball team

were showing off their skills to the Secondary One girls, hoping that some of them would be interested in their CCA and sign up for the trials. The members of the NCDCC also gave us a once-in-a-lifetime chance

to put out a real fire with the help of a fireman! The Girls’ Brigade booth also played pulsating music, which attracted many students. Our seniors in the NPCC group were distributing their CCA magazines. We were spoilt

for choice. At the end of the day, we realized that KCPSS has its unique brand of CCAs, each with its own strengths. We are indeed grateful that we are given a myriad of choices to hone our skills and develop our interests.

By Joelle Tan, Penelope Hannah Lee, Marissa Peh, Gavin Neo and Lau Jun Hao of 1 Faith

ISSUE 1 MAR 20134

On 18 January, the Secondary One students went to Bishan Park for a picnic. We walked to our destinations in our respective classes through the park connector behind the school. On the way there, some of our schoolmates played the ‘bombing’ game which we had learnt during the Secondary One Orientation.

When we reached Bishan Park , most of us were overjoyed and some of us started jumping around as it was rare to be out at a park during an official school day. Soon after, our form teachers gathered us and organised some games for us. One game that was much enjoyed by my class was the game where pairs of students tied their legs and hands together and walked to the spot where there was a mat full of jellies “waiting” for us! In that game, we learnt how to be united so that we can achieve a common goal.

After the games, we rushed towards the picnic mats where many types of food such as hotdog buns, sushi, pizza and drinks were laid out by our wonderful form teachers. As we were famished, we found the food simply scrumptious. When we were done,for the day, we started clearing up the picnic area and made our way back to school. On the way back, we shouted class cheers! It was indeed an unforgettable day for all of us.

By K N Roshan, Cheryl Quek, Reshma, Remus Lee, Mohammad Ubaidillah and Muhammad Nur Syazani of 1 Praise

During the Secondary One 3-day orientation, the PELs, which stands for Physical Education Leaders, organised some games that we took part in. Two of the games they organised were Tug-of-War and an obstacle course.

Even though most of the students found the games physically exhausting, they also thought it was an interesting and unforgettable experience. The purpose of the games was to let everyone bond through the games and keep fit at the same time. The games benefitted us in many ways as well as taught us values that we could use in our daily lives. One of these values taught was the importance of working in teams. From the games, we learnt to work with one another regardless of race, gender, religion or even whether we liked the other person or not! This segment really taught us to get out of our comfort zone as our groups worked towards the common goal of winning the game.

The student councillors who were assigned to different classes mentioned that they loved the enthusiasm displayed by the students during the games. The students also mentioned that the different PEL games made them grow closer while learning to cooperate with their school mates. The PELs definitely put in a lot of effort and hard work into preparing all the games and indeed, their hard work has paid o f f !

We definitely look forward to working and studying together with our classmates after this 3-day orientation!

These were some comments from the Sec 1s:

Azel Ang (1 Love) – The obstacle course was interesting and it helped me bond with my classmates and taught me to trust others.Deng Xueqi (1 Faith) – The tug of war was enjoyable and I learnt how to work together with my classmates and not to give up no matter what. Sze Hui (1 Faith) – It was an enriching experience and I had an enjoyable time. It was through this 3-day orientation that I got to know my classmates better.

By Deng Xueqi, Heong Ci En, Chew Kuo Sheng and Tan Sze Hui of 1 Faith

5ISSUE 1 MAR 2013

Students painting the floor of a local primary school at Kota Tinggi

Campfire’s burning, campfire’s burning. Draw nearer, draw nearer.

Kuo Chuan Gangnam style

Victory!

Fun in the sun

Lending a helpful hand

Kuo Chuan premier league in action

ISSUE 1 MAR 20136

Listen up!

Building a customised raft

Teamwork is key.

Hope the raft floats.

Indiana Jones in the making.

7ISSUE 1 MAR 2013

On the 19th of November 2012, graduands of KCPSS gathered at Traders Hotel for their Graduation Night to celebrate

their friendship and the years they have spent together in KCPSS. They were all well-dressed on this special night, and many came with fanciful masks to fit the theme of Masquerade.

The Councillors had gotten together months before this night to make plans for the entertainment segment and the hosting of the event. It was no simple feat, as we felt the pressure to put up a good show for our seniors. A

sumptuous feast was served and alongside the dinner, we carried out an Instagram contest and a game “Don’t Forget the Lyrics”. The highlight of the event was the crowning of the Prom King and Queen of KCPSS 2012. They were none other

than Ravindran from 4 Peace and Lynette Tong from 5 Grace. The night ended with the graduands dancing the night away to our very own DJ’s choice of songs.

I felt honoured to serve the seniors in this way as they have contributed to the school in various ways. I am glad they enjoyed the night with their friends. I also felt that it was a good experience to plan the event even though it

was difficult. Seeing all the well-dressed seniors enjoying the prom with their friends gave me a sense of satisfaction. The time and effort I had put in with the rest of the committee was all worthwhile.

By Sheila & Chi Zhing, Student Council

Presenting His and

Her Royal Highness.

ISSUE 1 MAR 20138

By Lee Shu Ling, Ferlynn Tan, Kurum S/O Letchumanan, Tristan Chia, Daphne Goh, Charmaine Tsi of 1 Faith

9ISSUE 1 MAR 2013

From 23 – 27 November 2012, 10 girls from the Girls’ Brigade participated in the Overseas Batam Medical Trip in collaboration with Saint Andrew’s Cathedral. On the second day of the trip, the girls had the opportunity to join a group of medical volunteers where they were divided into two main groups to assist in the distribution of medicine to prisoners in a local prison, as well as participate in story-telling and balloon sculpting activities at a slum area. Next, the girls went to a slum area at Bengkong and Elsadai School at Batu aji Genta respectively. They conducted several interesting activities and games with the children and they were all enthralled by the performances put up by the girls, which consisted of puppet show, story-telling, games and a song and dance presentation. At the end of each day, the girls, officers and teachers engaged in a fruitful time of praise and worship, self-reflection and a meaningful time of sharing of each other’s experiences. It was indeed an enriching trip as the girls learnt more about love from a bystander’s point of view, especially through serving in the children’s ministry with the Batam Medical Outreach team. They have also learnt to show great appreciation to the love and care shown by their loved ones.

“I would like to thank God for giving me this opportunity to serve His people and look beyond what I rarely see in Singapore. At the same time, He showed me how fortunate I am to be living in a country with good living conditions and to be surrounded by loving people around me.”

Low Huimin 3 Faith

“After the trip I realized I complain a lot about Singapore even though we are much more fortunate.”

Clarabelle Tan 2 Peace

“I am more thankful of how everyone in Singapore is given equal opportunity in life. In Batam, the poor are really poor and the rich are really rich. I am thankful that we do not have such great disparities that in Singapore, which I am grateful for.”

Faysha 4 Love

“I learnt not to take things like shoes, stationery and healthcare for granted as many of the people I met at Batam could not afford these basic items.”Deborah Lee 4 Love

ISSUE 1 MAR 201310

During the National Institute of Education Literature Conference held in January 2013, Ms Tessie Tan presented a paper, Teaching Shakespeare Through Film Comparison, based on her experiences in teaching Literature. During her sharing session, she proposed the use of film comparison to teach literature, particularly the teaching of Shakespeare. For many of her students, she argued, the works of Shakespeare is a mountain that they find difficult to surmount. To them, plays written almost half a millennium ago cannot possibly be relevant to them in the 21st century. The language itself appears so daunting to them that most students do not even try to comprehend, much less to analyse, a Shakespearean play. How then, she asked her audience, can teachers make Shakespeare both accessible and relevant for their students? In her presentation, she discussed tried-and-tested pedagogies that she had developed around the teaching of plays such as Romeo and Juliet, and Hamlet. She believes that through the comparison of various film adaptations and the written text, an approach that is essentially multimodal. Students get to see and hear a visual interpretation of the text and make meaning of the written text. Students can better understand and appreciate the dynamics of reading and interpretation. This approach does not only work for Shakespearean plays, with their grand library of both direct and indirect adaptations, but also for any literary text that has been adapted into a film.

With regard to 2nd language acquisition, the productive skills of speaking and writing are more difficult to develop than the receptive skills of listening and reading. This is especially true in the context of Singapore where the changing learning environment presents a great challenge to the teaching and learning of Chinese Language. The Mother Tongue department carried out a survey with KCPSS students and the findings showed that essay writing was the area where students face the greatest difficulty in.

In light of this, the Lesson Study team of Chinese language teachers decided to focus on helping students improve in this area by teaching the students the skill of mind-mapping. Mind-mapping provides students with a tool to support their vocabulary growth, aids in cultivating their reasoning skills and guides them in structuring their writing. This will eventually bring about an improvement in their writing ability as well as build their confidence in using the language. with the hope of developing them into “active learners and proficient users” of Chinese.

11ISSUE 1 MAR 2013

On Friday, 18 January 2013, the Presbyterian Education Council (PEC) Teachers’ Dedication Service and Dinner was held in our very own school hall.

This year’s theme is titled “Dealers of Hope.” In preparation for this event, our principal and vice-principals, together with their team of teachers worked with the primary school to bring the event to a success.

We played host to the other schools under the PEC wing - Kuo Chuan Presbyterian Primary, Grace Orchard School, Presbyterian High and Pei Hwa Presbyterian Primary School. Every year, this dinner is held to not only give thanks to God for his faithfulness and goodness to us, but also to encourage teachers in their journey with their charges, commending teachers and staff who have been in this service for many decades as well as welcoming new teachers who have joined this meaningful service. Mr Mukthar Marican, our teacher from the Humanities Department has actually served this school for 42 years! How about that! Ms Low Wai Kwan, Ms Alsagoff and MrsChang were also commended for their long service to the school.

The bagpipers from the Boys Brigade kickstarted the party dinner on a high note with their fanfare to welcome our Guest-of-Honor Ms Seah Jiak Choo, Adviser to the Ministry of Education (MOE) and the previous Director General of Education. She graced our event and even gave the teachers an exhortation, encouraging teachers to press on! Our very own Natasha Lee from Secondary 4 Love also presented her very own artwork, ‘Lighthouse’, as a gift of appreciation to Ms Seah!

Performances from our very own Guzheng Ensemble, Stickids (perscussion arm of the Guzheng Ensemble) as well as the dancers from the primary school entertained the teachers and it was an amazing set up!

In the Bible, it says, “You crown the year with Your goodness…”(Psalms 65:11). Indeed, we thank God for all the wonderful and amazing plans He has for our school and we look forward to this year as we wait and see God’s hand in moulding and strengthening our students through our teachers, the dealers of hope.

By Ms Karen Tan

Held on 23 November 2012, KCPSS Staff Thanksgiving Dinner was a blast! At first glance, it looked like Universal Studios’ Character Parade had made their way to Serangoon Country Club. There were divas, chefs, lawyers and professors congregating under the same roof. Held at the luxurious Kensington Ballroom, the night began with our teachers donning attires of professions that they would like to be in, if they had not been teachers. Everyone celebrated the night in good cheer, commemorating those who have contributed to the school, and also enjoying the company of each other before the start of the December holidays. Our wacky hosts, Mr Angus Sham and Ms Cheryl Yeo, entertained the audience with their slew of games and fun activities. The night also honoured 2 of our staff who were bestowed the prestigious Lee Soo Ann Award - Ms Jasline Pan and Ms Quek Imm Ki. At the end of it all, the English Department walked away with the Best Dressed Department, with the Head-of-Department, Ms Debbie Wong, also taking away the Best Dressed Female of the Night for dressing up as Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Mr Alex Chu’s getup as a professional basketball player earned him the Best Dressed Male of the Night. The night ended in remembrance of God’s grace and our gratitude for his mercy for a productive and memorable 2012.

By Mrs Lam Hui Xiu

ISSUE 1 MAR 201312

Chinese New Year (CNY) is the most important of all traditional Chinese festivals in Singapore. Our school staged a concert on 8 February to celebrate CNY.

The concert opened with an enchanting Guzheng performance followed by a Chinese song performed humorously by students and teachers. At the end of this song, Miss Alsagoff threw sweets to the audience and the students caught the sweets enthusiastically.

There were multicultural performances put up to celebrate the occasion together. There were Malay songs and Indian dance cum song performances too.

The final performance was the singing of Chinese New Year songs by teachers and the event culminated in the giving of mandarin oranges oranges which symbolise great blessing and prosperity for the new year, to all teachers by student councillors. Overall, it was a memorable celebration.

By Debbie Hoon, Edlyn Chew, Bryan Heng, Bryan Kwek and Brndkal Edward. of 1 Praise

On the 3rd and 4th of November 2012, the Community Problem Solving group of students comprising

Teresa and Irene (Sec 3 Faith), Jia Wei and Cheryl (Sec 3 Joy), Rui Qi and Faysha (Sec 3 Love), Zhe Hua

and Kejendren (Sec 3 Peace) and 4 other Secondary 2 Green Champs, participated in the Clean &

Green Carnival 2013 organized by the National Environment Agency (NEA) at the Gardens By The Bay.

This carnival aims to promote and educate the public on keeping the environment clean and green.

At the carnival, we presented our idea on the Self-Watering Flowering Pot system to members of the

public at a hands-on workshop session. This project was conceived in 2011 and it helps to combat

the spread of dengue fever by preventing the breeding of the Aedes mosquitoes in homes especially

when used together with the Citronella plant.

The positive feedback received from members of the public was a great reassurance to us that our idea

was feasible in the prevention of the breeding of the Aedes mosquitoes. We felt honoured to be given

the chance to share our idea with the members of the community.

Teresa Widjaja, one of the team leaders, shared her learning experience, “From this event, we learnt

that empathy and patience are essential for us to communicate effectively with the public in order to

bring our message and instructions across to them. As different people have different needs, we learnt

to adapt and change our communicative style to fit the needs of these people.”

This workshop helped us to improve our social skills, resilience and team-bonding. More importantly,

it proved that students can also think of extraordinary ideas to contribute to the society and improve

the lives of the people we truly care about. By Teresa (Sec 4 Faith), Cheryl (Sec 4 Joy) and Jia Wei (Sec 4 Joy)

13ISSUE 1 MAR 2013

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The beginning of a new chapter – secondary school life begins! When we first stepped into this school, we felt nervous yet excited. We felt anxious because we did not know what to expect in this new environment . Yet, we also felt a sense of exhilaration because we could get to see some of our primary school friends.

When it was time to go to the hall, all the Secondary One students did not know where to go, as it was our first day in school. A teacher then told us to go to the hall and we followed her instructions. From the concourse, we climbed up the spiral staircase. As we stepped into the hall, there

was a very loud welcome cheer from our seniors and the teachers. We felt very welcomed.

We were also mpressed by the caring teachers and efficient student councilors. When we faced problems, we could talk to the councillors or teachers. The councillors and teachers even organised an orientation and CCA exhibition for us. We thought they were kind and thoughtful to do so.

The school has made us believe in ourselves and has set high expectations for us. We will strive our best to leave a lasting legacy.

By Izaac Chew, Koay Ching Yuan, Grace Goh, Keefe Chew and Chua Yip Hong of 1 Praise

ISSUE 1 MAR 201314

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Programming and designing our own robots, testing out

prototypes – wow! This is exciting! As aspiring members

of Robotics club, we were impressed by the activities and

demands of this club.

In Robotics, you will need a lot of creativity. We were

thrilled to know that we had an array of competitions to

participate in such as ‘Bullseye’ and ‘IDEA’ for students to

showcase their talents and compete with other schools.

Tham Jit from 2 Faith shared his first impression of this

CCA, “I found it fun and wanted to know how to use

limited amounts of blocks and a sensor to make a robot!

The seniors were kind and patient. They helped us by

explaining jargons or concepts which were foreign to us.”

It was a great experience learning how a robot is made -

from programming to designing, and from separate pieces

of lego bricks to a whole robot. The boys from the Robotics

Club seemed uber-friendly. One day, we aspire to create

our own robot that can do amazing things and make our

school proud.By Tham Kai, Jesslyn Wong, Nurul Amirah

and Arjun of 1 Faith

By Gautham Kumar, Kok Li Xian, Stephanie Ng, Danial Zalfiyan and Eugene Foo of 1 Praise

15ISSUE 1 MAR 2013

Mr Timothy Tan Mr Pandiyan Govindaraju

Miss Tessie Tan

Mr Kwek Boon Liang

Miss Sng Mui Yong Mrs Chen-Tan Soon Shan

Mr Joseph ChenMdm Lee Gaik Tuan

new Vice-Principal

What were your feelings when you knew you were posted to KCPSS?I was excited when I knew I was posted to KCPSS as it is a mission school. I was pleased to note that this school has a good reputation and history.

What were your thoughts of KCPSS then?The school is a vibrant place and I am sure that I will adapt well to its mission school environment.

After you came to KCPSS, what was your first impression?The students are friendly. The teachers are warm with a strong sense of community.

What advice, if any, do you have for students in KCPSS?“Students must always stay resilient at all times. They must always stay focused -especially in their studies.”

Complete this statement “If you were not a teacher at KCPSS..”I would be an aspiring starlet at some theatre group. That is just one of my dreams. I am truly happy to be in KCPSS as it is closer to my place. Furthermore, I know that KCPSS is a good school.

What are your thoughts of KCPians?The students here are very bright and the discipline is good. It is also nice to teach in a mission school.

What is one thing that struck you about our school?I feel that the relationships among teachers, middle managers and school leaders are very close. There is strong staff collegiality.

What advice, if any, do you have for students in KCPSS?I wish for all KCPians to aim high and study hard.

What were your feelings when you knew you were posted to KCPSS?I was in KCPSS in 2009 for about 2 months as a contract teacher. I had a wonderful experience and enjoyed the company of the staff and a rather sprightly bunch of students. It’s good to come back to KCPSS.

What advice, if any, do you have for students in KCPSS?Listen to teachers and study hard.

What are your thoughts of KCPSS?I am happy to be here. Thank God for sending me to a mission school.

What advice do you have for KCPians?Self-discipline and self-motivation are the keys to success. God bless!

What interests do you pursue outside of the classroom?I enjoy travelling. As I am a history enthusiast, I love to go to places that are rich in history. In 2010 when I went to Berlin, Germany, I was excited to see the places and get first- hand knowledge about things that I have only read about in the textbooks.I hope to tour Europe again.

What personal strengths do you find especially helpful in your teaching?I never give up on my students and strongly believe that every student has the potential to achieve his/her best. Due to this belief, I set high standards for my students and am very task-oriented. I firmly believe I will be able to bring out the best in our KCPians.

What advice do you have for KCPians?KCPians, be more confident in yourself and dare to dream big. I have seen many people who are of the same background as KCPians and they have done very well in life. They have developed themselves in areas like leadership and character and taken on big projects while they are in school. KCPSS is a place where you can do a lot of things, make mistakes and learn as much as possible without having to face major consequences in life. So KCPians, dare to dream big, and grow as much as possible so that you are better prepared when you step into the society.

What is your first impression of the school?I was very impressed to learn that some teachers have been here for over 40 years. I felt that it was also a good tradition for ex-students to sponsor some special rooms in the school. On the whole , I look forward to teaching Kcpians.

By Nur Ilham, Nur Adli, Wong Xuemin, Sanjeetha Selvaraj,

Ryan Goh and Wayne Teo of 1 Praise

ISSUE 1 MAR 201316

The NCDCC Unit Overall Performance Award (UOPA), an evaluation of the overall performance of the school units’ system, processes and active involvement of both cadets and of-ficers, is conducted annually by HQ NCDCC. Kuo Chuan’s NCDCC unit has achieved a Gold for the UOPA for assessment year 2012. Our heartiest congratulations to the NCDCC!

The NPCC has also achieved commendable results when they attained the Silver Award for the Unit Proficiency Award 2012. The unit’s hard work and determination has final-ly paid off. Congratulations!

Our Girl Guides has done us proud again when they attained the Sil-ver Award for the Puan Noor Aishah Award 2012. Well done!

On 23 January 2013, three students from 4 Faith took part in the 35th C.B. Paul Science Quiz 2013 organised by Anglo Chinese Junior College. Students were tested on different fields such as Chemistry, Biology, Physics and Astronomy.

Tan Jing Rong managed to clinch the merit award for this competition. The students felt that they have gained more insight into the field of sciences through the com-petition. It also allowed them to pit their knowledge with students from other schools. Well done!

NCDCC

NPCC

Girl Guides

Science Competition

17ISSUE 1 MAR 2013

Kuo Chuan Presbyterian Secondary School10 Bishan Street 13 Singapore 579795