Paint Dabs Artwork by S1-10 - Annual eMagazine of Spectra Secondary School June 2019

Annual eMagazine of Spectra Secondary School
                                  June 2019

                                         Paint Dabs Artwork by S1-10

NUR KAMILIA BINTE KAMSAN, S3-7

CONTENT
Orientation
Outward Bound Singapore
The Gratitude Project
Lunar New Year Celebration
Pongal Celebration
Farmers’ Market

My Spectra Moments is an annual eMagazine published by Spectra Secondary School
Photos are taken by Mr S B Sivaganesh and students from Media Club, Spectra Secondary School

Information correct at the time of publishing. We have tried our best to avoid inaccuracy.
If you believe an error has been made, please contact the Publication Committee before taking any action.
Any effort will be made to make the matter right.

orientation
  Secondary 1

Orientation 2019 was held
between 2nd and 4th of January
for the Secondary 1 cohort. This
year, external vendors were not
engaged as facilitators and
Student Leaders were trained
and developed to be Orientation
Group Leaders instead. The
student leaders were trained by
the teachers in the Student
Leadership Team during the
December        holidays      and
equipped with the necessary
skills to lead the 3-day
Orientation programme. The
Orientation programme aimed
to build positive relationships
between the students and their
peers as well as their teachers.

Orientation 2019 was also
designed for the Secondary 1
students to form a positive
affiliation to the school. The
Orientation programme for the
students included an Amazing
Race to familiarise themselves
with the school, a morning at the
movies watching Bumble Bee, a
Sports Carnival featuring Water
Soccer, Tag Archery, Laser Tag,
Bubble Soccer, Human Foosball
and other fringe activities
planned and manned by the
Orientation Group Leaders. The
3-day Orientation Programme
concluded with a Campfire that
had the parents of the students
in attendance and the evening
at Spectra was ablaze with
cheers and performances.

orientation
  Secondary 2

This      year’s      Secondary        2
Orientation programme presented
the students with an enriching and
fun-filled experience throughout
the entire programme. The
orientation programme served as
a transition to get students
accustomed to returning to school.
Not only did the students foster
stronger bonds within and across
classes, it also gave them the
opportunity to show the juniors
what it takes to be a Spectran. Over
the three days, the students were
engaged in a variety of activities
such as designing class banners,
watching movies and participating
in sports carnival. The three days of
merriment culminated in a
celebration with campfire under
the star lit sky. It was a good start to
the year.

orientation
  Secondary 3

This year, the Secondary 3
students      spent     their
Orientation Week getting to
know their new classmates
and form teachers as they
are now streamed into their
specific ISC trades. Many of
the activities planned were
aimed to instil a greater
sense of bonding amongst
the students from the
different trades and classes.
They also spent a bulk of
their time preparing for
their camp at Outward
Bound Singapore and The
Gratitude Project.

orientation
  Secondary 4

The Secondary 4 students started
the year with an amazing race at
Sentosa. Students were divided
into small groups. Each group
had to complete specific tasks
which required them to move
around the island with minimal
support from teachers. The
objectives of this race were for
students to practise being
independent       and     exercise
decision-making skills while
completing the tasks. Over the
next 2 days, students attended a
mini-career fair where ITE
lecturers were invited to share
about the interesting courses
available at their respective
colleges. Students learnt about
the alternative pathways they
could choose after their N Levels.
The information presented was
very useful in helping students
set goals for themselves.

outward
Bound
Singapore
About 150 Secondary 3 students went for the Outward Bound
Singapore (OBS) Camp from the 14th to 18th January 2019.
During these 5 days, they were separated from their cohort
and were with the students from Raffles Girls’ School and
Pasir Ris Secondary School.

Their resilience was put to the test
as they had to overcome long
hours of hiking around Pulau
Ubin, sea expedition between the
mainland and Pulau Ubin and
learning how to cycle on the kick
bike over the 5 days.

Respect was also called to play as they
had to learn to be thoughtful in their
encouragement during the various
activities, especially during meal times,
when they had to cook their own meals
with their peers and camp facilitators.

Overall, the Secondary 3 cohort
enjoyed themselves and created many
precious memories of their time spent
at OBS.

The
Gratitude
Project

The Gratitude Project
was held from the
14th to 18th January
2019. The aim was to
instil school values of
respect and resilience
within the students.

26 students from the
Secondary 3 level were
involved in various tasks
which included weaving,
packaging bags as gifts
and writing ‘Thank You’
cards. Students were also
trained by Mr. Hazrin, from
the ICT department in the
conceptualisation       and
production of a video.

This year, special tribute
was given to our school
administrative staff as
our ‘Unsung Heroes’.
They are the backbone of
the school management
system and have been
relentless in their efforts
to support parents,
teachers and students.

With the support of the
Secondary 3 Level and
Hospitality Department staff,
the students managed to host
the administrative staff to a
wonderful ‘Thank You’ lunch
within a short period of time.
Students showed great
enthusiasm       and       the
administrative staff enjoyed
themselves.

Lunar
new
year
celebration

The Chinese New Year (CNY) celebrations this year were held on
4th February 2019. This year, CNY celebrations started off with
our yearly vibrant service learning activities. Each level was
involved in a specialised programme organised and
coordinated by our school's Service Learning and NE
committees, as well as the Mother Tongue Department.

For the Sec 1s and Sec 2s, students and teachers packed
oranges and they distributed the oranges to the residents in
Admiralty to share the festive cheers and to say ‘Hello’ to our
neighbours.

As a tradition, the school hosted about 120 elderly guests from
the various activity centres to celebrate Chinese New Year
together. Our Sec 3s went to the various activity centres to pick
up the elderly in the morning.

The Sec 4 students decorated the school by pasting red packets
to form Chinese blessings 吉祥如意 and 学业进步, wishing
everyone a prosperous Chinese New Year and wishing each
other well for their studies.

Our Principal, Mr. Ari, presented the hamper, which was
prepared by our Sec 4s, to our school cleaners and security
guards at the beginning of the concert to show appreciation for
the hard work that they had put in daily.

The highlight of CNY celebrations was a solo singing
performance by the talented Mr. Mano. This year, the CNY
celebrations involved not only inter-class games but also lucky
draw for the elderly guests. The concert ended on a high note
with exciting stunts performed by Xuan Wei Lion Dance Troupe
together with our very own Spectrans.

After the concert, the elderly guests joined in for ‘Lo Hei’
session with the Sec 3 students.

Pongal
celebration

Pongal is an important
Hindu festival celebrated
as a form of thanksgiving
for the year's harvest by
farmers. The term 'Pongal'
in Tamil means "to boil".

On 16 January 2019, Spectrans
gathered at the parade square
to celebrate Pongal. The
students were thrilled as they
witnessed Mr Ravi pouring rice
grains and milk into a clay pot.
As the boiling rice and milk
mixture flowed out of the pot,
cries of ‘Pongalo Pongal’ rang
all over the parade square.
Besides gaining an insight into
the Hindu culture, Spectrans
learnt the importance of
thanksgiving and gratitude
through this celebration.

farmers'
market

Another bountiful harvest
awaits. Growing now in the
rooftop Edible Learning
Garden are pesticide-free
vegetables and fruits such as
malabar spinach, caixin, nai
bai, chinese cabbage, kale,
kailan, cucumbers, sweet
corn, papayas, jujubes,
kedongdong,            chives,
sugar-cane, hairy-marrows,
bitter-gourds,    pumpkins,
long-beans and brinjals,
herbs and many more.

Our        Sec        1
Garden-based Service
Learning students will
enjoy an authentic
experience      selling
their self-grown farm
produce to real
customers on demand
(while stocks last) who
walk along the aisles
lined with fresh green
vegetables and fruits.
All proceeds go to
students      receiving
financial aid.