Boon Lay Secondary School Principal’s Report (April 2018 – April 2019)

Last year, I reported extensively on how we have progress in our trifold approach as a family oriented, CCA-centric and aspiration focused school. This has impacted positively on all our student outcomes – attendance in school and CCA, attention in class, assignments and tasks, and improvements in school and national assessments. Besides our own records, MOE’s Quality of School Experience Survey as well as the school’s GCE N and O level results 2018 also firmly attest to continued improvements in these areas. We also see more awards and accolades in recent times.

GCE O & N 2018 2017 2018 vs 2017

4N-ELMAB3 17.8 18.0 0.2

4E-L1B5 23.9 25.9 2.0

5N-L1B4 22.5 22.5 0.0

The key events and the awards/achievement of our students and the school are in Annex A clearly show that the school is on the high as our students are more focus in school, more ready to work hard and more willing to learn.

Beyond these awards, I want to share a few stories to show that there are real and

deep changes and improvements which are seen and felt across a large section of

people in and out of school.

Compared to the past when we often get complaints from the public, we are now

getting more compliments as well as numerous positive media reports about our

students and the school. On 30 Aug, a letter to Straits Times Forum praised our

Chinese Orchestra students for enthusiastically engaging senior citizens in the

community and teaching them to play the orchestra musical instruments. On 30 Oct,

one of Sec 3 netball girls then, Nur Hidayah, administered first aid to an old lady who

fell at the lobby of block 638C Jurong West Street 64 till the ambulance arrived. A

member of the public and SCDF separately commended her for her kind act with

emails to the school and SCDF presented her with the Community First Responder

Award.

Just last week, during the SYF performances, I witnessed the fabulous performance

by our Malay Dancers who achieved a distinction. What was amazing is to see the

camaraderie and drive for excellence amongst the members and teachers as a CCA

family supported by a large number of parents coming to cheer them on. At the

Chinese Orchestra performance, I took time to speak to the instructor Mr Tong Wei

Jie, who is a 2005 alumnus. He affirmed that the new emphasis on the CCA family

has brought about many positive effects on students – such as a greater sense of

support for each other regardless of streams and levels and the senior students have

risen up to take on more responsibility for the CCA! Compared to his time when he

was a student, he remarked that this new structure is clearly so much better. I

visited all our performing arts groups during their training and preparation for the SYF.

The energy and discipline was high; the readiness to improve and strive for excellence

was palpable. I am confident they will do well and better.

But we are not resting on our laurels. There is more that we have yet to achieve. I

believe our students and staff can and will do better. On the GCE results, I took time

to share the detailed analysis with our children, expressing my hope for better results

and my key concerns. In particular, I pointed out that further improvements in English

Language and Mathematics grades are critical for their progression to post-secondary

education. The efforts on improving these subjects take time especially given the weak

foundations that our students come into Boon Lay Secondary with. I urged everyone

to always start early, in secondary 1 is best, and to put in their efforts to improve all

the time, over their time in school and continue on beyond.

Indeed, the most affirming of it all is when the Minister of Education Mr Ong Ye Kung made mention of Boon Lay Secondary in Parliament this year. Let’s re-capture a part of the parliamentary proceedings as we view the video post on MOE facebook.

https://www.facebook.com/moesingapore/videos/beyond-sbb-at-boon-lay-secondary/264788334447682/

As the school comes to a steady-state, the school leadership team took time at the

end of last year to clarify our understanding of our vision, our beliefs and also define

our key approaches. (#26) Our vision is to be an extended family to bring out the

greatness in every child. Greatness now means being the best version of ourselves

while enabling others be their best. (#27)

We embrace the principles that every child is unique and every child can learn and

achieve. Our approach is to customise to individual needs, empower each one so that

they have the capacity and drive to achieve on their own. The school will continue to

create the opportunities for our students to discover, explore, aspire and achieve. We

have embarked on ensuring everyone succeeds better with greater customisation,

empowerment and opportunities.

Therefore, the theme of the 42nd Aspire & Achieve Day is “Empowering every child for Greatness”. We want to ensure that our children have the keys to a better future through further education beyond the secondary years. We have been digging deeper to ensure that everyone improves and no one is left behind or left out.

Let me share a few new initiatives we have piloted this year with the view of fully

implementing them in the next 2-3 years.

One term has passed since we offered the Modular Academic Curriculum (MAC) to

our sec 3 students. MAC is our online curriculum which runs parallel to classroom

teaching by teachers. MAC was offered to all 141 sec 3 students and 17 applied and

completed various online courses and submitted the required assessment. 7 students

have successfully met the requirements and decided to take on the new subjects in

term 2. Of these 7 students, 5 switched into subjects within the stream, and 2 students

will take subjects at a higher stream. MAC was conceptualised last year with the view

of allowing our current SBB students to continue to be able explore out-of-stream

beyond their current SBB subjects when they reached Sec 3. When fully implemented,

MAC will be ready for full SBB. In fact, MAC can offer much more beyond SBB. MAC

through online learning will benefit all students, and not just the SBB-interested

students. The resources can be used for off-school learning, revision and even

additional learning without taking the examinations. Of the 17 students, one when

asked why he is taking MAC, his answer: “just for fun!” That to me is the joy of learning

at the most optimal level.

For low progress learners and those with special education needs, we have embarked

on 2 initiatives to upskill our teachers to better understand these students and

customise their teaching approaches. Students will then be better engaged in their

learning and so have better opportunity to level up.

In line with our CCA-centric approach, we have started identifying and training our Sec

3 seniors to be Student Outreach Ambassadors. It is well known that students respond

best to their peers and fellow students. Hence, SOAs will for a start reach out to

students with poorer school attendance and manage the After School Engagement

activities. Then, students will be in school instead of going back to an empty home

when everyone is at work or worst roaming the streets and shopping centres.

Through all these, we want to continue to build on our success story. I am deeply grateful to be able to garner the collective energies of our staff and stakeholders to continue this journey together. Again, I must say hand-on-heart that I have been blessed by the amazing grace and fervour of my colleagues and I am absolutely grateful.

I call on the support of my parents, alumni, SAC and Superintendent and Zonal Director to continue to have faith in us. We purposefully want to bring out the greatness in every child. Continue to support us and encourage us so that we can be energised to press on.

I challenge all students, our children, to respond positively to our clarion call to achieve their own greatness for self, family, and nation as chorused in our school song. Arise, Boonlayian, Arise! Finally, I would like to congratulate the award recipients. For students, congratulations and well done but do note that your glory is also the work of many who walk the journey with you. Be grateful especially to your parents at home and your teachers in school. For teachers and the SAC, your passion and support for our cause in education is much appreciated and valued here. Do continue with verve as we purposefully forge ahead. To our alumni, friends and parents who volunteer time to serve our students, please continue to support your alma mater, your beloved family. Let all the worthy award recipients today set the example and inspire us on to greater efforts and better achievements as we realise our greatness by being the best version of ourselves while helping others be the best. Thank you and have a great evening with us in celebration of Aspirations and Achievements!

Tan Chor Pang

Principal

BOON LAY SECONDARY SCHOOL ANNEX A

14 APRIL 2018 – 11 APRIL 2019

1. Major School Events

S/no Date Events

1. 18 & 23 Apr 2018

Art collaboration with the Boon Lay CC Community Arts and Culture Committee in the large format art “Animal Kingdom”. Students and residents worked together to paint the animals with different colour schemes, bringing out the vibrancy of their community. These paintings were displayed at various locations within Boon Lay Constituency.

2. 15 May 2018

Student Council Investiture. SAC member, Dr Gideon, as the Guest-of-Honour officiated the appointment of CCA Leaders and Subject Monitors. Student Leadership is the foundation of CCA-Centricity, where the seniors lead and care for the juniors.

3. 15 May 2018

School Games Day 1. The objectives of Games Day are to achieve mass participation and promote healthy lifestyle through active engagement in sports and games. It is a CCA-centric based event started in 2017 that provided students and CCAMs an opportunity to bond as a CCA family.

4. 25 May 2018

Parent Teacher Interaction 2. School Leader’s Address to Parents of Sec 3 students.

5. 8 Aug 2018 National Day Celebrations. The Guest-of-Honour was SAC Vice-chairman, Mr Lawrence Kim PBM. The celebrations demonstrated a blend of CCA-centricity through the Parade and Singapore Icon showcase by the CCA groups and Aspiration-focused when students showcased their talents and skills learnt in the Student Development Modules during the Concert part of the celebrations.

6. 8 Aug to 11 Aug 2018

CCA-Learning Beyond Boundaries (CCLBB) Programme – KL, West Malaysia. The trip included CCA-related experiences, country and cultural appreciation, foreign language learning/exchange, school immersion and homestay/home-visit. The objectives are to develop in students 21st Century Competencies such as global awareness, cross-cultural skills and communication, collaboration and information skills as well as deepen commitment and rootedness to the extended family of the school and to Singapore as ambassadors.

7. 28 Aug 2018

Minister of Education, Mr Ong Ye Kun, visited Boon Lay Sec to learn more about the school’s Family-focused, CCA-centric and Aspiration-driven approach.

8. 30 Aug 2018

Teachers’ Day Celebrations. Student Leaders had another opportunity to demonstrate their leadership by taking full charge of the planning and execution of the celebrations. Teachers’ Day Lunch hosted by SAC in celebration of Teachers’ contributions.

9. 23 Oct 2018

School Games Day 2. The event was also a developmental opportunity for Student Leaders from the Sports CCA group to exercise their leadership in the execution of the event. Student leadership is a key element in realising CCA-centricity.

10. 25 Oct 2018

Family Outing 2 – Picnic at Choa Chu Kang Park.

11. 26 Oct 2018

Parent Teacher Interaction 3.

12. 15 Nov 2018

Staff Learning Festival (am) Staff Learning Journey (pm)

13. 16 Nov 2018

Staff Forward Planning

14. 16 to 28 Nov 2018

CCA-Learning Beyond Boundaries (CCLBB) Programme - 7 trips to China, India, Japan, Thailand and Hong Kong. The trips were CCA-centric based as students selected to visit each country were by CCA cluster and had a planned CCA-related experience (Service, Sports, Arts, Adventure) in a different geographical and cultural context. The programme also included country and cultural appreciation, foreign language learning/exchange, school immersion and homestay/home-visit.

15. 1 19 Nov 18 Graduation Night held at Chevron.

16. 2 28 – 31 Jan 2019 1 Feb 2019

Level Camps Sec 1 – Camp Discovery Sec 2 – Camp Aspiration Sec 3 – Camp Resilience Sec 4/5 – Camp Excellence Family Movie-Out @ Lot 1 – Mia and the white lion

17. 3 9 Feb 2019 Project Joy – Hamper Distribution to Needy families in Nanyang & Boon Lay Divisions. Mr Patrick Tay, MP for West Coast GRC (Boon Lay Division) and Advisor, Boon Lay Grassroots Organisation, and Mr Yee Chia Hsing, MP for Choa Chu Kang GRC and Advisor, Nanyang Grassroots Organsation joined joined our students, Teachers and School Leaders in distributing 38 hampers to identified needy families in the respective constituencies.

2. Competitions and Achievements 2018

S/N Competition Achievement

Staff / School Awards

1. National Day Awards 2018 Ms Ang Hui Bing, Commendation Medal

Mdm Eng Yoke Mooi, Long Service Medal

Mr Alan Loh Kah Liang, Long Service Medal

2. ASEF 2017 –Merit Award Ms Felicia Tay

Miss Syamira

3. Innergy & Outstanding Innovator Awards 2018 (Silver Award) Creating Possibilities and Realising DREAMS through Student Development Modules@BLS

4. CD Ready School Award 2018

5. School Green Awards 2018 Yellow Flame Award

6. Green Schools @ South West 2018

Gold Award

Student Awards

1. Sports (Football)

NSG U17 Zonal Football Competition Singapore

1st Runner- up

S/N Competition Achievement

Pools-FAS Inter-School Futsal Challenge 2018 – U14

Netball – M1 Schools Challenge League

Quarter Finalist

‘B’ Division Girls – 1st and 2nd Runner-ups

‘C’ Division Girls – 2nd Runner-up

2. Choir - Singapore International Choral Festival

Bronze Award

3. Uniformed Group Unit Overall Proficiency Award 2017

NCC

NPCC

NCDCC

SJAB

GB

BB

Gold Award

Gold Award

Silver Award

Gold Award

Gold Award

Bronze Award

4. NPCC - Jurong Division Youth Video Competition

People’s Choice Award

5. SJB - St John Brigade Zone 9 Inter-corps Footdrill Competition

1st Runner Up

Best Commander Award

6. Clubs & Societies

Environmental Defenders

CyberAce

Silver Award Community in Bloom Competition

Core Value Award First Lego League 2018

7. National Secondary Schools Editorial Competition

Lower Secondary Category First Prize & The Best Title Award

Upper Secondary Category Second Prize

8. National Chinese Fiction Writing Competition

Merit Award

9. National Chinese Challenge Indvidual Merit Award

10. National Poetry Competition 2018

Merit Award

11. Bahas 4PM National Debating Competition (Secondary Level)

Coolest Debator Award

12. National Quiz Competition (Tamil)

Merit Award

13. National Essay Writing Competition 2018 (Tamil)

Merit Award

14. Budding Writers’ Competition (Tamil)

2nd Prize

15. National Animation Competition 2018 (Tamil)

Motivation Award

16. National Library Board & Microsoft National Digital Storytelling Competition 2018

1st Runner-up

17. National Library Board SURE! Prove It Contest 2018

Merit Award

S/N Competition Achievement

18. Yellowren Canvas Art Competition 2018 - Secondary School

Gold Award

19. Republic Polytechnic Digital Business Pushcart Challenge 2018

Most Innovative Team

20. Nanyang Polytechnic Science & Technology Challenge 2018 Wind-Powered Racer Category

Most Innovative Team

21. Ngee Ann Polytechnic Caloric Hunt 2018

1st Runner-up

Most Creative Team

Best Performance Team

Extraordinary Team

22. W3 Cluster Culinary Competition 2018 (Hosted by BLS)

2nd Runner-up

Most creative award

23. APS Baking Competition 2018 Finalist team

24. Australian Mathematics Competition

4 Distinction and 21 Credit Awards

2. Competition and Achievements 2019

S/no Competition Achievement

Staff / School Awards

1 GCE ‘N’ Level ( Nov 2018)

In general, the results were an improvement from 2017 results, especially the 4N course.

2 GCE ‘O’ Level (Jan 2019)

School has done well and is showing steady improvement.

Student Awards

4 Uniformed Group - Unit Overall Proficiency Award 2018

NCC

NCDCC

SJAB

NPCC

BB

Distinction Award

GOLD Award

GOLD Award

GOLD Award

Silver Award

5 National Schools Games 2019 Badminton B Boys

2nd Round of competition

6 Singapore Youth Festival 2019

Malay Dance

Chinese Orchestra

Distinction

Distinction