Newsletter - Cerebral Palsy Alliance Singapore

Newsletter
Cerebral Palsy Alliance Singapore School
2016
/
T E R M
Principal’s Message
Key Tenets of the
School
School Vision
A Community of Happy
Learners in Living,
Learning, Working
School Mission
To equip our students
with a holistic education
to Live Meaningfully
Learn Continuously
Work Productively
School Values
 Confidence
 Respect
 Resilience
School Beliefs
 Everyone is Special
 Everyone can Learn
 Everyone can Serve
School Thrusts
 Quality Learning
Experiences to
Nurture the Whole
Child
 Competent and
Committed Staff
 Effective Partnerships
 Administrative and
Operational
Excellence
Dear Parents,
Welcome back after a long break of four weeks. In this second issue of the School
Newsletter 2016, I would like to share with you the daily efforts that the school makes to
celebrate little successes achieved by our students as well as to inculcate our school core
values in them.
As we gather in the school hall at the start of each day, apart from raising our
national flag and reciting our pledge, we kick-start our school day with an activity that sets
the mood for the rest of the day. On Mondays, a teacher will share ‘The Quote for the Week’
with the whole school. These quotes are explained with examples with emphasis on our
school’s 3 Core Values which are Respect, Resilience and Confidence. At times, teachers
will include their students in the sharing of these quotes and this helps to build the students’
level of confidence as they gather the courage to speak in front of their peers. These quotes
of the week are reiterated on every Fridays as the week draws to a close.
Tuesdays are an exciting time for the whole school as we energize the second day
of the week with games or a workout. Students arrange themselves into teams for shuttle
relays and compete against other classes. On some Tuesdays, all staff and students dance
to a beat in an aerobic workout. Classes have also come forth to lead the school in workouts
which they had identified to be fun and easy for the students to participate in.
Once a week, on Wednesdays, students wait eagerly for the announcement of
recipients for the Affirmation Awards. There are 12 categories for these awards where
teachers can nominate their students for any good deeds or achievements, both big and
small, made in class. It could be a student who was helpful to his/her classmates or another
who has shown improvement in attention to tasks.
Short Story Time is scheduled for Thursdays. Teachers have been sharing short
stories with the students to encourage them to read. As each story unfolds, students would
volunteer to answer questions or click on the animations to activate certain actions in the
stories. For the students from the Functional Senior classes, their story time would be to
read about current affairs extracted from the newspapers or internet. Teachers would follow
up with a discussion about morals or personal safety with the students from the senior
classes.
Each day is a day to seize and we have also taught our students to greet each
other through well wishes like “Have a great day” or “Have a great weekend”. Many a times,
values are caught and not taught. Some students have picked up this habit and are seen
wishing staff and friends alike.
With the new term beginning, we look forward to greater engagement between
parents and school in all school activities. Please drop us an email if you have any feedback
or suggestions to share.
CPAS School wishes everyone – “Have a wonderful term ahead and good health
to you and everyone at home!”
Yours sincerely,
Mrs Koh-Lim Ai Lay
School Principal
CPAS School 2016 Term 2 Newsletter
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2
ST 1: Quality Learning Experiences to Nurture the Whole Child
7th National Special School Swimming
Championship 2016
On 31 March 2016, Thomas Ng (Eagle 8B) and Siti
Hawa (Eagle 7A) from the Swimming CCA
represented our school in the 7th National Special
Schools Swimming Championships 2016. The
competition was organized by Singapore Disability
Sports Council (SDSC) and was held at the Singapore
Sports School. We are pleased to announce that both
of our swimmers were able to clinch the Gold medal
in the 25m and 50m freestyle, in the Physical
Impairment (PI) category. Overall, it was an enriching
and motivating experience for our students, and we are
very proud of their hard work and determination. Good
job Thomas and Siti!
Written by: Teachers Kim Beng and Debbie
National School Games Swimming Championship
2016
On 20 April 2016, Thomas Ng (Eagle 8B) represented our
school in the National School Games Swimming
Championship 2016. This is the first year that special
education (SPED) schools have been invited to join the
competition as an effort to increase inclusion and
participation amongst students with physical and/or
cognitive disabilities. The competition was held in the
OCBC Aquatic Center. Thomas completed the 50m
freestyle and was awarded with a participation medal.
Overall, it was an enriching experience that challenged his
courage and determination. Well done Thomas!
Well done!
Written by: Teacher Debbie
Sharing the joy with the school
CPAS School 2016 Term 2 Newsletter
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ST 1: Quality Learning Experiences to Nurture the Whole Child
7th NATIONAL SPECIAL SCHOOLS TRACK AND FIELD
CHAMIPIONSHIPS 2016
RESULTS OF THE 7th
NATIONAL SPECIAL
SCHOOLS TRACK AND
FIELD CHAMPIONSHIP
2016
Thursday, 24 March 2016 brought together the best athletes from various
SPED schools, who participated in the 7th National Special Schools Track
and Field Championship organized by Singapore Disability Sports Council
(SDSC).
Girls Shot Put Shot Put
1kg Wheelchair Seated
Throw (SP)
1st Nur Aisha Bte Juma'at
It was a celebration of achievement, commitment and determination for
the CPAS School Track and Field CCA students. Though the
championship was held just after the March school holidays, our Track and
Field students strived to do their best for the events and went on to win
several trophies!
Boys 60 Meter Dash CP
Standing
1st Vic Ngo Jin Zheng
Girls 60 Meter Dash CP
Standing
1st Wong Wen Yi
2nd Nur Alysha Bte Omar
Wijendra
60 Meter Dash CP
Wheelchair
1st Nur Aisha Bte Juma'at
For the first time this year, SDSC introduced a field event ‘Shot Put
Wheelchair Seated Throw’. Seizing this opportunity, we sent in our Track
and Field athlete, Nur Aisha Bte Jumaat, to participate. She also
participated in the wheelchair dash event. Nur Aisha emerged winner for
both categories!
CPAS School Girls Power!!
Zhi Xiang getting ready for
his race!
Our athletes took pride in doing their best for the competition. Two of
them, Tan Zhi Xiang and Muhd Ryyan Zufayri displayed good
sportsmanship when they competed against more abled-bodied athletes
from Chaoyang and Grace Orchard School. Though it was an up-hill task,
and they did not clinch any medals for the event, it did not dampen their
enthusiasm or spirit as they continued to cheer for their peers and other
competitors.
All of our Track and Field CCA athlete demonstrated good character and
perseverance, and we want to congratulate each and every one of them for
their excellent performance!!!

Nur Aisha – winner for both
shot put and wheelchair race
Written by: Teacher Noredah
CPAS School-International Friendship Day 2016
CPAS school celebrated ‘International Friendship Day’ on 8 April 2016.
Both session students watched a Power-Point Presentation on friendship,
and a video montage of CPASS students sending friendship messages to
their friends in school. The theme for this year was “Deepening
International Friendships, Fostering Friendships”. Our students
prepared 45 handprint flower magnets as gifts to students from Meridian
Primary School. Our special arts CCA also presented an art piece as a
token of appreciation to Meridian Primary School for
joining us in our celebration. In order to form friendships
and build bonds between two schools, students from
Meridian Primary School’s Art Club planned and carried
out Art activities with our students. Students from both
schools worked alongside one another in small groups so
as to encourage bonding amongst the students.
Small group work, having
fun with our friends!
Written by: Teacher Shermaine
Warm welcome to our friends from Meridian Primary School!
CPAS School 2016 Term 2 Newsletter
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ST 1: Quality Learning Experiences to Nurture the Whole Child
Serigala Games Day
Proceeding to the first
station after flag off
Matching the cub and scout
proficiency badges
On a nice and warm Saturday morning at Pasir Ris park, a few of our senior
boy scouts, Sufi, Jireh, Adrian, met up with fellow scouts from other SPED
schools and had fun together. The 3 senior boy scouts formed a team with
the scouts from MINDS Lee Kong Chian Gardens School. A total of 6
groups competed the Serigala Games Day, in friendly games styled after
the ‘Amazing Race’. The boys’ skills were put to good use as they tried
their hands on tying a reef knot, pitching a tent and putting the Scout’s
Promise in the right sequence. Team spirit was evident in our group as they
overcame challenges and obstacles together. In the end, it was not about
winning, it was about playing the game. It was all about celebrating each
other’s achievements, whatever the magnitude, and cheering one another
during the most challenging parts of the race. The scouts enjoyed
themselves thoroughly and looked forward to the next meetup again!
Written by: Teachers Ai Ling and Sabrina
Trying to
tie a knot
with the
help of
rover
scout
volunteer
Working as a team
Working together on the scout promise
Affirmation Certificate Awards – The Power of a Positive Word
Wednesdays, during school assembly, is a day every CPASS student look forward to because
it is a day where teachers affirm their students with certificate awards for works of good deed
or achievements.
Teachers choose from an array of 12 certificates to acknowledge their students 1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
Certificates of Achievement
Certificate for Good Behaviour
Certificate for Good Listening
Certificate for Good Sharing
Certificate for Helping Others
Certificate for Hard Worker Award
Certificate for Turn Taking Award
Certificate for Team Player Award
Certificate for Super Reader Award
Certificate for Great Counting Award
Certificate for Great Spelling Award
Certificate for Most Improved Award
Each category’s certificate award uses the power of positive words to encourage and
consciously acknowledge students’ positive behaviours and achievements. These awards are
presented to students from both programmes - Functional and High Support.
Students march up proudly to receive the certificates from the School Principal during the
school assembly, as the rest of their peers look on with admiration and awe. It is a perfect
platform to encourage confidence and resilience to strive to improve themselves. It is also a
most concrete way to make students feel that their achievement, even how small it can be,
will be recognized and valued.
Written by: Teacher Suzana
CPAS School 2016 Term 2 Newsletter
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ST 2: Competent and Committed Staff
New Staff
We welcome the following new staff to CPAS School:
1. Mr Simon Low Kok Meng, School Administrative Manager
2. Mr Jeffrey Lee Choon Geak, Facilities Executive
3. Ms Poh Hwee Keng, Administrative Executive
4. Ms Selina Dong Limin, Finance Executive
5.
Mr Simon Lee Kok
Meng
Mr Jeffrey Lee Choon
Geak
Ms Poh Hwee Keng
Ms Selina Dong
Limin
Hack-a-Toy Workshop
30 staff attended a Hack-a-Toy workshop conducted by a group of engineers from
Engineering Good on 11 March 2016 in our school. At the end of the workshop, about 15
battery-operated toys were modified and added to the teaching and learning resource at
CPAS Toy Library.
Besides learning how to modify a battery-operated toy to a switch-adapted toy in the 3
hours of fun-filled guided hands-on session, our fellow staff also had so much fun playing
with these newly adapted toys. It would be wonderful to see the joy from the students'
faces when they are playing with these switch-operated toys. This has truly been an
enriching course which all of us have enjoyed.
Written by: Teachers Lanny and Alvin
CPAS School 2016 Term 2 Newsletter
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ST 2: Competent and Committed Staff
CPASS STAFF TEAM BUILDING WORKSHOP
On 14 March 2016, the School Principal with the help of 6 teachers organised a CPAS
School Staff Team Building Workshop for all teaching and non-teaching staff. The aim of
this workshop was to create a platform for all staff to interact and bond so that the school
can build a stronger school culture. Besides having fun through games, staff also had to
problem solve together as a team. Such informal interactions were uncommon on a normal
school day and many staff welcomed this opportunity.
From the feedback received, 91.8% of the staff felt that the objective of improving staff
bonding was achieved. One staff commented “It is important that we communicate with
each other and not assume that everybody is on the same page”. We also need to learn to
trust each other so we can work better together. We need each other to build this school
together.” It was indeed a fun and meaningful workshop and we look forward to more of
such opportunities for staff to play and bond together.
Written by: Mrs Koh-Lim Ai Lay, Principal
Ice Breaker Game: Guess who is
behind the screen!
How do we form a square when
we are blindfolded.... help!!
Let’s strike a pose for our wonderful team!
CPAS School 2016 Term 2 Newsletter
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ST 3: Effective Partnerships
Mother’s Day Celebration
Dedicated and enthusiastic mothers from the Parent Support Group (PSG) organized their
first Mother’s Day celebration on May 12th 2016. Held at CPAS training room, the
mothers began their day early to set up the room for the rest of the mothers who
participated. It was truly heart-warming to see them bonding and motivating each other
during the preparation and the celebration.
Guest speaker Ms Hannie Hay commenced the celebration with presentation on effective
communication. The celebration continued with the mothers savoring on trays of
appetizing and finger-licking local snacks such as kueh pie tee and popiah.
The day ended with surprise door gifts for all the mothers who were present.
We honor you, dear Mothers!
Written by: Teacher Noredah
CPAS School 2016 Term 2 Newsletter
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ST 4: Admin & Operational Excellence
Contact Tracing
To ensure that we are able to contact all parents / guardians / caregivers for exigencies, and to
help the school in communicating effectively, please inform your child’s teacher of any change
in the following:
 Contact details (mobile / email address / home telephone number)
 Home address
Important Dates in Term 3
(27 June 2016 to 2 September 2016)
Sunday, 3 July 2016*
Youth Day
Wednesday, 6 July 2016
Hari Raya Puasa
Tuesday, 9 August 2016
National Day
Wednesday, 10 August 2016
Day after National Day
Friday, 2 September 2016
Teachers’ Day
Saturday, 3 September 2016 to
Sunday, 11 September 2016
School Holidays
* Monday, 4 July will be a school holiday.
CEREBRAL PALSY ALLIANCE SINGAPORE SCHOOL
Cerebral Palsy Centre
65 Pasir Ris Drive 1
Singapore 519529
Email: [email protected]
Tel: (65) 6585 5634 / 6585 5640
Fax: (65) 6585 5635
CPAS School 2016 Term 2 Newsletter
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