Dialogue Session with Mdm. Shao

On 19 January 2010, a group of Higher Chinese Language Secondary 3 and 4 students had a dialogue session with Madam Shao Rong, the Vice Principal of Wuxi Dong Lin Middle School from China. Madam Shao was on a school visit here. She left on the 28 January.

During the dialogue session, Madam Shao shared some of her observations with the students, particularly drawing the differences between the education system of Singapore and China. She was especially impressed with the good discipline displayed by EVGians. She noted that the EVGians have always demonstrated passionate commitment in their academic learning and Co-Curricular activities.


Being an enthusiastic learner, Madam Shao also shared with the students her learning journey in mastering the English Language. In the globalisation age of today, she remarked on the importance of being effectively bilingual and encouraged the students to seek every opportunity to learn and master their Mother Tongue.


Written by Charline Choo Zhixi
3 Integrity

Exclusive Interview with Mdm Shao: “A Strict Master will Educate Great Apprentices”

Early this January, Evergreen Secondary School had the honour of having Vice-principal, Mdm Shao Rong from Wuxi Middle School on a three weeks’ visit. Hann Shen and Amira had the privilege to have a brief but enlightening interview with Mdm Shao.

What was your first impression of EVG?

I am very impressed with Evergreen Secondary School. What caught my attention would be mainly the facilities, teachers and students as well as the Co-curricular Activities (CCA).

Your school is indeed very clean and beautiful. I feel that the layout of the school is very well-designed and it has many supporting facilities such as the Library and Computer Laboratories.


Secondly, students are well behaved during lessons. They are keen learners and are very capable. I can see that they are motivated and eager to learn. Other than that, I think that the teachers are wonderful. They are strict but kind. That is very important as there is a saying “A strict master will educate great apprentices.” They are also experienced teachers who have good teaching strategies like Cooperative Learning.

In terms of CCA activities, I think that they are very fantastic. There is such a wide variety that all students can select one to meet their interests.

Our school is a National Education centre. On your visit here, have you learnt more about Singapore’s history from the different corners in our school?

Yes, I have and I feel that “the walls in this school talk”. By just taking a walk around the school, I learnt much historical facts that I have not known before I came to Singapore.


Are there any similarities between your school in Wuxi Middle School and Evergreen Secondary School?

My school is more academic-oriented as a whole. In terms of CCA, only the lower secondary has two years of CCA. On the other hand, your school emphasises on holistic education. Every child has an opportunity to take up a CCA and the choice of CCA is really varied. I really feel that your school has a better holistic education. I believe that the students here have a meaningful and fulfilling life as a student in Evergreen Secondary School.

Interview by Creative Circle

Hann Shen of 4 Aspire and Syaheera Amira of 3 Integrity

Humans do survive on hopes and aspirations. Students included.

I welcome readers onto the face of this blog with the open arms of 2010, welcome to Evergreen Secondary School! Or at least the digital side, that is. May I also extend my warm greetings towards all the other members of Creative Circle? This is William Heng Wei Chuan, recently recruited into the CCA, it is an honour to work with all of you. I know some members who are involved in Creative Circle, Marianne and Hann Shen, for instance. To my knowledge, they are great people, and I hope my time spent in the CCA will be a fruitful and enjoyable one. Of course, it will be.

Year 2010 is upon us, fellow readers, it would be such a waste if we do not properly utilise such precious time, wouldn't you agree? Did anyone take the time to plan your future and set your New Year's Resolutions yet...?


Resolutions are a lost man's solutions
Even when the last minute of 2009 draws to a close, many will still be thinking, perhaps regretting, face turning solemn at the tragic thought of the numerous unaccomplished goals we had set out to achieve that year. Or may hap, will you be rejoicing at a good year well-spent? No matter your stand, it is always advisable to look forward. Ponder not over the raindrops that fell during the lonesome night, but at the warm sun that emerges at dawn.

Since it's still early on in the year, it might be good to think about what you can do before the wave of melancholy returns again when 31st December 2010 arrives. Have you set your resolutions for this year? Perhaps if you don't feel close enough to me to tell me of those wishes yet, it's alright, just think about them to yourself. But just in case anyone already has a marvelous first impression of me and wants to tell me more of your resolutions, you're welcomed to ask for an email address or share your resolutions on the tagboard.

Anyway, onwards.

Since this is the school's newsletter after all, how about we start the ball rolling by trying to guess what the school's goals are? It may be overkill to use the word 'guess', with the amount of emphasis the school has placed on the recently released 'O' Level results, I might as well say, "read out what the school's goals are". Yes, a school is a place where students learn. A school is, after all, made up of its students, teachers, and many other features. In other words, a school is there for us students. Needless to say, the aspirations of a school would be to produce all-rounded students who are efficient and conscientious workers. My point is, one resolution which should definitely exist on our list, is to strive towards excellence and make our educational institute proud.




The interests of the school aside, like I said, a school is made up of students, and it would not make sense if the personal interests of the students were not taken care of. As mentioned earlier, I asked about what your resolutions are. If you have not at least thought of them even after my first cue, here's your second. Get your brains grinding, or do you need more conviction?

                                            All rights belong to the original creator of this comic.


It would not be fair if I am over here saying that people should have resolutions of their own while I do not even breathe a word about my own New Year's Resolutions, would it? Hence, if you need inspirations to get yourself started and wish to read my resolutions, go on, I invite you to read ahead. However, if you don't wish to read the resolutions of a writer whom you may not have even heard of, that's alright, every one man is entitled to his own opinion... But just read on anyway.

Since I'm in one of the graduating classes this year, I will be prioritising academics at the very top of the stack. This will be be the first ingredient into my cauldron, but you can be sure that a sweet-smelling broth isn't made by just throwing in gigantic lumps of sugar.

As people like to say, "All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy." From my point of view as a student, you can rest assure that I will absolutely not condemn having fun, be it the 'O' Levels, 'N' Levels, or 'A' Levels that is looming. As for me, I really hope that I can improve on my basketball skills, I have not really got the reverse layup right yet...disappointing. Like so, this will stay on my list of New Year's Resolutions, seeing that enjoying life is an integral part of, well, life.

What's next? First, please let me say some of my heartfelt thoughts on the relationships between people of which we Singaporeans have adapted to. Thrown into a modern metropolis with living costs shooting through the roof, one cannot deny the stress we must all face in today's fast-paced society. A few examples are glaringly obvious enough, with the lack of land, Singapore's housing costs gradually takes up more and more of the people's paycheck. Inclusive of these would also be transport, utilities, health-care and others. But since I'm not conducting a Social Studies or Economics class here, let's just leave the list at that.

Right. With the working population bearing the full brunt of the economic impact, stress levels will receive a guaranteed rise, and relationships will sour. It is during such times when the bonds between people are tested to its snapping point, and more often than not, the result is not positive. When humans, like everyone of us, feels immensely pressurised, we tend to focus all our attention towards the pressing matter at hand and then conveniently forget about other more minor, but just as significant aspects of living. Material gains will gain dominance over family ties, incentives and competitive motivation may have some to forsake friendship. The end product is often viewed upon as success, but it is when the saying "You have everything but nothing." starts to apply aptly on you that you realised object-oriented success isn't what you really want.

Talking so much makes me seem like I'm digressing, but not to worry, I'm not. I was just building up to my ultimate message, my final resolution of the New Year would be to strengthen the ties between me and my family, friends, teachers, and why not include the whole community as well? Healthy relationships between people are the basis for all sources of happiness. Bear this in mind with all your heart, no amount of tears would help if there is no one to bring the smile back to your face. No number of New Year Resolutions would shine its guiding light on you if you do not first handle your core issues well.

"Shared joy is a double joy; shared sorrow is half a sorrow. " ~Swedish Proverb 


Written by: William Heng Wei Chuan 
                    of Class 4Achieve

A Brand New Year in a Brand New Decade

Hello EVGians!

Welcome back to school! I hope you are having fun while catching up with your peers in this brand new year as well as settling in just nicely in your new classrooms with this year's Form Teachers and subject teachers.

The Sec. One students have completed their Orientation and we will post pictures here very soon.

Here's exciting news about our 10th Year Anniversary Concert. Tickets are already on sale at $12 and you will get a complimentary limited edition door gift and an exclusive programme booklet. So, do hurry and grab your tickets before they run out.

On top of that, we are also anticipating good news from the GCE 'O' Level results. Good luck to all 2009 Sec. 4 graduates and may you achieve what you have aspired!

So, please do continue logging in and supporting evg-vibes. Have a great year EVGians.

Cheers

Ms. Mazlinda