Joy

As mentioned in my earlier entry, I was so happy for my CH(Geog) class as all of them pass CH(Geog) and many got distinctions. This morning I saw the news that Samuel also got a distinction for his humanities. I am really happy for him that he was able to achieve so much though he was disadvantaged. I hope that all my students put their will into achieving their best and I must say he really made me feel proud by making the big jump from a B4 to a A1! source: Lian He Zaobao 14 Jan 2009

Career Compass

Log into career compass for a better understanding of opportunities in jobs. http://app.careercompass.gov.sg/front/Home.aspx

You might also want to look at HSnBeyond which I created in 2008 with the help of HS teachers for post-sec guide.
http://www.hougangsec.moe.edu.sg/pathfinder/index.htm

Reminders

House meeting on this Friday during Assembly.
Highland - Ground floor @D&T blk
Kowan - outside General Office
Lowland - Blk H study area
Richard - Canteen
Simon- Hall

Please remember to bring the edusave withdrawal form, the learning journey consent form (Sec 3) and the $23 for purchases ($210 for foreign students).
Temperature taking on the 4th Feb and checking on 2nd Feb.

Learning Journey for Sec 3 to the Singapore River:
Monday 2 Feb - 3N1 and 3ED
Wed 4 Feb - 3EA, 3EB and 3EC
Thursday 5 Feb - 3N2 and 3N3

Believe

I believe in you just like you believe in me.

I sincerely believe that in the heart of every child, there is the goodness and gem waiting to be unravelled.

I must say that I am quite challenged by a group of students who seemed so uninterested in their work. But like what I had said, I believe that they could if they would put their heart in it. If you believe you can, you can.

One of the boys apologised to me at the bus stop and I was pretty touched - I could see that he knew that I care and I believe in him...I would also like to believe that he is sincerely apologetic and would put his heart into his work... I believe that a small change is a big step for him and me...

Competitions

Join in the competitions below - attractive prizes to be won!

1. Safety starts with me competition
Competition closes on Monday 23 March 2009.
You can participate in the creative story writing, poster design or model making in the student categories. Attractive cash prizes to be won - as much as $200o for the gold award in model making and $1000 for the gold award in the creative story writing and poster design!

Check out the website:
http://app.wshc.gov.sg/cms/WSHC/Awards/SafetyStartsWithMeCompetition/SafetyStartsWithMeCompetitionDetails/tabid/151/Default.aspx

2. What will you defend? online video contest
submit a 3 mins video online on the above theme.

Check out the website, esp for the videos already submitted in the video category
http://www.whatwilludefend.sg/imindef/mindef_websites/topics/totaldefence/microsites/whatwilludefend/video.html

Happy Lunar New Year

Click on the image for the animation.

Sharing of Red Cross Exchange Program

I shared with the Red Cross Youth Officers on 2 Red Cross Exchange Programs which I had organised for HS.- Hong Kong last year and Malacca in 2007 as shown in the video clip below.

Preparation for next week

A reminder of the work to be completed and preparation for next week:

Sec 1EA Geography- Chpt 3 Phyical and Human Environment, Worksheet 3.1 and 3.2 plus Forum. Try to log into the forum now and then you can participate in the forum next week: http://www.asknlearn.com/eduservice/edulearnlogon.asp?code=logoff

Sec 1EB Geography ( To hand in Worksheet 2.1 on Mon) Continue on our fragile planet and Chpt 3 Physical and Human Environment and to finish up Worksheet 2.2, 3.1 and 3.2. plus Forum.

Sec 1N1 Geography - Chpt 3 Physical and Human Environment, Worksheet 3.1 and 3.2 plus Forum.

All Sec 1 will be given their project task next week. This will constitute 25% of the total for SA. Basically you will be ask to apply the mapping skills which you will be learning as well as learn more about your neighbour.

I will be giving some crossword puzzle and word search exercises to 2NT for their social studies class. Let's see who is the fastest in completing both exercises and I will give you a prize!

For Sec 3E and 3N Elective Geography - we have completed the River System, Factors affecting the energy of the river as well as the river processes. You are reminded to read up on the river features and the formation of the features for the lessons next week. Do not forget to complete your worksheet 6.2. You had been given the project task (25% of SA)based on River and channel management. Do not forget to submit group name, members and duties allocation form to me next week. As mentioned, we will be going on a learning journey to the Singapore River. Remember to appoint someone to take pictures which you might want to use for your project. The dates for the learning journey to the Singapore River are:
3ED and 3N1 on 2nd Feb (Mon),
3EA,3EB and 3EC on 4th Feb (Wed)
3N2 and 2N3 on the 5th Feb (Friday)
Do not forget to log into the asknlearn portal and participate in the Forum (CA)

For Sec 3EB and 3N2 Social Studies, we will be completing Chpt 1 as well as some of the basic skills for SBQ and SEQ. Please remember to submit your workbook with pg 7-9 completed if you have not done so. We will be moving on Chpt 2 on good governance next week. Please remember to log into the asknlearn portal as the deadline for posting for the last forum topic is tomorrow! A new topic will be posted on Friday.

For Sec 4N3 Social Studies we should be completing the causes of conflicts this week. I will be giving you a question to try on as homework. Next week we will move on to look at diplomacy and deterrance. Please remember to log into asknlearn portal and participate in the Forum.

For 4ED Social Studies, we should have finished the topic on the conflict between Iraq and Kuwait as well as the role of the UN. Please remember to submit your workbook with pg 1-5 completed. We will be looking at transnational terrrorism next week - do read up on the chapter and this news article published today on how 10 Islamic militants were tried in Indonesia. The men are suspected members of the Southeast Asian terrorist network Jemaah Islamiyah, which is accused of carrying out several suicide bombings against Western targets in Indonesia since 2002, including bombings on the resort island of Bali. http://sg.news.yahoo.com/ap/20090114/tap-as-indonesia-islamic-militants-2nd-l-64ed358.html?printer=1
Do not forget to log into the asknlearn portal and participate in the Forum.

Asknlearn portal

Some students were unsure of where to log in - see the image above. You can click on it to see a bigger version. After logging in, just scroll all the way down and it is the 3rd box from the bottom on the right hand side. Just click on view forum. All Combined Humanities students are required to post their replies to the forum as participation marks will be credited to both Social Studies and Electives. A topic had already been posted. Deadline is on every Thursday as a new topic will be posted every Friday. Please click on this link to access the asknlearn portal. http://www.asknlearn.com/eduservice/edulearnlogon.asp?code=logoff

Release of O level Results

Joy for my 4E1 and 4E2 CH/GE class - the only class taking Geography Elective and all passed (100%)! I was not told the % distinction but I think it should be quite high too, considering some who have only gotten C5 and C6 in Prelim actually sms me to tell me they got distinction. Many of the students sms me and shared with me their joy.

A tint of sadness as I heard that only 30% of the 5As passed English and only 59.7% passed CH/GE. They are the last batch to take the 2190 syllabus. I was really hoping that they would have done better....

Anyway I am in SSS now and it seems that the school has done tremendously well last year and our Principal actually announced that we will be celebrating with an early dismissal at 11 a.m. on Thursday - Hurray!

CCA recruitment day

Recruitment for SSS Red Cross and inter-UG friendship dance today. After that the cadets went to HQ to collect the tins for Red Cross flag day. Click here for more photos:

http://adobe.kodakgallery.com/ShareLanding.action?localeid=en_US&c=16n5tjhb.6brinffv&y=-l4waq7&x=0

CA and SA grading

Students are reminded to log into Edulearn (the asknlearn portal) to participate in the discussion in the forum. This will be part of the assessement for CA under class participation (20% of CA)-
http://www.serangoonsec.moe.edu.sg/index2.htm
or direct http://www.asknlearn.com/eduservice/edulearnlogon.asp

The topic for discussion will be posted on Friday 9 Jan (Sec 3 and 4) For Sec 1 - starting next week.

Other than the textbook and workbook, the students must bring along a A4 size Ex book for notetaking and to paste the handouts given. The students also must bring a A4 Plastic File for their portfolio (25% of SA):
Sec 1 -Green
Sec 2 - Blue
Sec 3 - Red

The assignments/worksheets/class tests for the respective levels were also given - please remember to complete them as it is part of the CA assessment.(40% of CA)

The common test for CA will be from Wk 6. (40% of CA)

The project task for SA will also be issued soon. (25% of SA)

Each class will also be given access to the Humanities portal created by Mr Christopher Tan for additional notes etc- Please get the password from your humanities subject teacher.
http://www.christansk.com/
https://serangoonsechumanities.pbwiki.com/session/login?return_to_page=FrontPage

My new duties in SSS

My new duties @SSS:

Form Teacher of 3N2

Teaching the following classes:
Geography - 1EA, 1EB, 1N1
Geography Elective - 3E (40 students from 3EA - 3ED), 3N (44 students from 3N1-3)
Social Studies - 2NT, 3EB, 3N2, 4ED and 4N3

Being in the NE committee, I will be in-charge of the National Day which seems quite a challenge as it includes the parade, concert, a bazaar and sourcing for souvenirs for the students. I will also be assisting in the NE corner/notice board as well as students matter.

I will continue to help out in Red Cross and as the IT champion for my department. I will also be in charge of the internet updates (webmistress) for the school.

As for the humanities department, I will be i/c for the Sec 1 learning journey to the southern ridges as well as for competitions. It seems that I will also be involved in one of the overseas learning journey as well.

Seems like a long list but I must prepare myself to take up the new challenge!