Thursday 28 February 2013

Take Care

Dear children,

Lately quite a number of you seem to be coming down with a cold or a cough. Please take care of your health and drink lots of water. Get sufficient rest as well. Always cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze, so as not to spread the germs.

Hang in there! You have one more day to go before resting over the weekend.

Yours sincerely,
Miss Chan

Tuesday 26 February 2013

No Broadbase tomorrow

Dear all,

Please note that due to the CA1, there will not be Broadbase programme tomorrow.

For pupils who did not bring their money for ICAS today, tomorrow is the last day that you can do so. You are highly encouraged to try out for the competition, as it will be a good exposure for you to see varied types of questions and stretch your mind. You will also receive a certificate if you do well. Infocomm club members, the ICAS for Computer Skills will also be a good gauge of how much you've learnt in your CCA.

Continue to work hard for your CA papers!

Regards,
Miss Chan

Monday 25 February 2013

Some reminders

Dear all,

Mathematics CA1
Please bring along your protractor, set squares and calculators for your paper tomorrow. Do get sufficient rest tonight so as to have an alert mind tomorrow.

ICAS Competition
Please bring along your cash or cheque for the ICAS Competition tomorrow (26 Feb) or on Wednesday (27 Feb) and submit it during recess in the canteen. If you are paying by cash, please ensure that you have EXACT change.

Attire during CA1 period
Please come in your school uniform this week for your term test as all PE lessons will be suspended.

All the best for your term test! Stay focused!

Yours truly,
Miss Chan

Saturday 23 February 2013

Enrichment next week

Dear all,

Please note that there will be a slight change to Enrichment timings next week due to a swap between English/Science and Mathematics Enrichment.

Monday: Mathematics Enrichment
1.30pm to 3.30pm

Tuesday: English/Science Enrichment
1.30pm to 3.30pm

Please note the change on Tuesday, pupils will be dismissed 30 minutes later compared to usual.

This arrangement is only for next week, as the original Math Enrichment timing falls on the same day as the Math CA1 paper, and I would like to do more revision with the class.

Regards,
Miss Chan

Friday 22 February 2013

Self-Discipline


What is self-discipline?
  • Self-discipline is self-control and self-restraint.
  • Self-discipline is self-reliance and independence.
Students who exercise self-discipline:
  • Complete their assignments
  • Stay on task
  • Wait to be called on
  • Work toward personal and community goals
  • Try again and again
  • Ignore peer pressure
  • Choose productive rather than destructive activities
  • Control their tempers
Source: Personal Development for Smart People (http://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/2005/06/self-discipline/)

==

It is always tempting to talk or to walk about during transition of classes, but you should know what is the right thing to do, without having me to remind you.

Rather than to join your friends or even be the one to talk to them, you should be reminding them to wait paitently for the next lesson. You may choose to read, or do your homework.

I will be watching your class and I expect to see improvement and better discipline than this.

Regards,
Miss Chan

Mathematics CA1

Dear class,



After the recent mock test, I hope you should all be quite familiar by now what to expect. Prepare yourselves, especially those of you who struggled with time management.

==
IMPORTANT:
- Bring your Mathematical Set (Set-squares & protractor) 
- NO freehand drawing for ALL geometry questions. 

Paper 1
Booklet A - 15 MCQs (Shade in OAS)
Booklet B - 15 Short answer questions

Note for Paper 1: No calculators allowed. No need to write final word statements.

Paper 2
Note for Paper 2: Calculators allowed, but please show your number statements for ALL questions and final word statements for Qn5 onwards.

==

Some tips for you: 


FOCUS. Focus. And more Focus. Avoid losing marks over careless mistakes.

MOVE ON. Do not dwell too long on questions you cannot solve, especially in Paper 1 when you have limited time (Such as MCQ Qn 15). Attempt those you are able to do, and come back to solve the questions you have doubts with. Try to pace yourself, you should be doing Booklet B after the first 25 minutes.

CHECK your work when you are done. By checking, I mean you re-calculate your working, check that you have taken the correct data from the questions, check that your units are there and consistent. Checking is NOT flipping through the pages to see that there is something written on every page.

PERSEVERE. I know Paper 2 is a long paper, and you get tired towards the end. Do not give up. The questions at the end of the paper are not necessary the hardest to solve. Draw models to help you visualise.

==

During the recess break before your Paper 2, I would highly advise you against  running or playing too vigorously, as you will feel too tired to focus well during the long paper. This is especially the case for the boys who like to run around in the field and come back to class all sweaty and red after recess.

Do look through your Math file and revise, especially questions that you did wrongly. Cover the corrections and attempt the question again. Are you able to solve it now on your own?


Work hard this weekend and all the best for your papers next week!

Yours truly,
Miss Chan

Thursday 21 February 2013

Happy Birthday Roydon!


Dear Roydon, Happy Birthday to you! 

May this year bring with it all the success and fulfillment your heart desires.

Love,
Miss Chan

Wednesday 20 February 2013

Looking for a pattern

Dear children,

For those of you who need help with the last MCQ question in the revision paper, here is the hint for you which I've also left on the whiteboard just now.

You will find this question challenging as it is different from the usual questions which have the numbers in running order. Instead it goes zig zag.

So, if you were to write out 2 rows together, you will have:

A B C D E F F E D C   B  A  A  B   C  D  E   F  F ...
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 ...

Remember the PTS we've learnt recently on pattern recognition, try to find the repeating group, and you will be able to solve the question.

Try it again! The question isn't so hard after all right? ^^

Regards,
Miss Chan

Monday 18 February 2013

Happy Birthday Gavin!


Dear Gavin, Happy Birthday to you!

May this day be as special as you are.

Love,
Miss Chan

Sunday 17 February 2013

Happy Birthday Erinn!

Dear Erinn, Happy Birthday to you!

May this day bring to you all things that make you smile. 

Love,
Miss Chan

Friday 15 February 2013

Total Defence Day - Will you stand with me?

Dear all,


Today we commemorate Total Defence Day. During SS lesson, many of you asked me so many what if questions.  

"What if we cannot get to a bomb shelter from school?"
"What if the radio station is bombed?"
"What if we cannot hear the siren?"
"What if the siren sounds due to a fault?"  

..etc. Indeed, so many possible what if situations. Which further enhances my message to all of you:  we must always BE PREPARED. So no matter what is the situation, we are able to react in the best manner.

==  

As some of you requested, here are the sites I shared during lesson today. You may read more in depth for you to further your knowledge.  

Here is a link with many videos created by students with the theme of total defence:
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9yGdxIGSNsv5SJCMEpcQcruEcP9DFcSq

The different PWS sirens and the meaning:
http://www.scdf.gov.sg/content/scdf_internet/en/others/public-warning-system.html  

A look into an air raid shelter:
http://sparklette.net/travel/singapore/tiong-bahru-air-raid-shelter/  

More about total defence in Singapore:
http://www.totaldefence.sg/imindef/mindef_websites/topics/totaldefence/home.html  

Yours truly,
Miss Chan

Happy Birthday Ashley!


Dear Ashley, Happy Birthday to you!  

You're not getting older, you're getting better.

Love,
Miss Chan

Wednesday 13 February 2013

Continual Assessment 1

Dear parents,

Today, you will receive a letter from the school informing you about the dates for the children's CA1. Please note that this year, their CA1 results will contribute 10% to their overall grade at the end of the year.

==

Topics to be tested for Mathematics (26 Feb, Tuesday)

Chapter 1 - 3
- Whole Numbers (1)
- Whole Numbers (2)
- Fractions (1)

Process Thinking Skills
- Rate
- Guess & check / Assumption
- Simple/Complex Comparison using Model Drawing
- Comparison using Stack-up Models
- Equal spacing/intervals between a distance
- Pattern Recognition

Next week, the class will be given a full mock test paper during lesson time. This will be a good gauge of your child's readiness level and time management skills for examinations.

Regards,
Miss Chan

Congratulations!

Dear all,

Today the school celebrated Chinese New Year with performances put up by our own pupils.


Back in the classroom, it was an array of bright red colours and traditional costumes.


I am proud to announce that all our hard work paid off! The class came in first in two categories - namely the HIPS Hurray Competition and also the Class Display Competition. ^^

Well done my Champions of 5 Self-Discipline 6! I am truly proud of you!


Cheers,
Miss Chan

Friday 8 February 2013

Happy Chinese New Year!

Dear all,

Sorry for the lack of updates this week, I have been quite busy with work and preparing for Chinese New Year! How are your preparations? Do you help your parents with the spring cleaning at home?

Do remember what I've mentioned in class today, this long break is a good chance for you to spend quality time with your relatives and family, to bond and to connect. This is why there is no homework for you! (May I remind you that your enrichment homework given on Tuesday should be finished by tonight?)

When visiting, remember to receive your ang baos with both hands, and wish the elders some auspicious greetings and thank them! Do not open your ang baos in front of the elders too. It is not the amount that matters, but the thought and the blessings behind their gift. Always be appreciative and do not take things for granted!

Let's also wish Xue Qing and Carson a safe and fruitful trip to Thailand representing our school for Wei Qi! Do help to fill them in with what they miss in school when they return the week after next! Remember our Rule #1: Help one another!

Everyone, enjoy your long break! 

Yours Sincerely,
Miss Chan

Thursday 7 February 2013

Early dismissal on Friday

Dear all,

Just a gentle reminder that school will end at 9.55 a.m. tomorrow, Friday, 8 Feb. Do make the necessary arrangement for your transport home. Please note that there will be no recess tomorrow. Your lesson after recess (1 period of English) will be moved up to 9.25 a.m. to 9.55 a.m. Only the drinks stall at the canteen will be opened.
Regards,
Miss Chan

Sunday 3 February 2013

A peek into our classroom..

Dear parents,


Welcome to your child's classroom!



Here are some photos to share with you the children's hard work in decorating the classroom for Chinese New Year and also their learning environment. (Please click on the images to enlarge)


I shall end off with the children's work - Poems written by the budding writers of 5SD6 and their cells models!


Have a lovely Sunday!

Yours truly,
Miss Chan

Saturday 2 February 2013

OktoLive!

Dear all,



Yesterday I accompanied a P6 pupil from our school to Mediacorp for a live recording on their programme OktoLive! 

It was really an interesting experience for the both of us. (First time in a recording studio!) She shared her experience about this game Cyberonia, which teaches children cyber wellness tips through game play.

The programme also talked about how you should protect yourself from strangers online. Remember that you should not meet any strangers that you befriend online without the company of an adult, and never to disclose any personal information like address or mobile numbers to strangers online. You will never know who is at the other end of the computer!

Do catch the repeat telecast this Sunday at 1pm if you happened to be at home watching the television!

Regards,
Miss Chan

Friday 1 February 2013

Winning is not everything, but the effort to win is.

Dear children,

I am heartened to see the whole class put in effort into the decorating our classroom given a very short time span compared to other classes. Please do not feel that it is unfair, as we have to be understanding of the situation and we did a great job anyway!

Remember what I told you, always focus on the positive.  That will make you a happier person!

Some of you expressed concern that we are unlikely to win the CNY competition, however to me, all of you are winners! I see so much creativity in your work, your designs, your ideas! I saw how everyone brought so many things till I have to ask you to bring home the leftovers. This is the whole point - the class bonding!

Some of you may disagree with how your classmate chose to decorate, or what our class motto and calendar should be like, but with 42 individuals (43 including myself!); we really have to learn to compromise and at the end of the day, everyone's unique ideas really add up!


Learning points from this experience:
- Accepting differing opinions and ideas
- It is not all about winning, it is the effort and process that counts

I shall do up the whiteboard tomorrow and share some photos of your hard work with all of you soon! =)  Have a lovely weekend everyone!

Yours Sincerely,
Miss Chan