2021 Bendemeer Secondary School Annual

SCHOOL LEADERS’ Message

MrChen Fook PangPrincipal

InBendemeer Secondary, we believe that every student can shine and achieve his or her potential, anchored on our strong mission to build character, nurture learners and serve the community. The collective efforts of our teachers and students have borne fruits of labour which have made us distinctive and sustained the Bendemeer Heartbeat.

We have continued to achieve success in many domains and we have given students countless opportunities to grow in their respective areas of strength. This is firmly rooted in our belief that our students’ interests would ultimately drive their passion in their chosen field later in life. Our school’s two distinctive programmes, the Applied Learning Programme (ALP) and Learning for Life Programme (LLP), strive to develop 21st century competencies, skills and mindsets in our students, broadening their learning and allowing them to pursue their interests and passion. This belief has also provided broad guidance to our school’s Education and Career Guidance (ECG) programme, which has prepared our graduating students well in their Early Admission Exercise (EAE) application. The fact that a significant proportion of our graduating students have been successful in securing a place in Polytechnic or ITE even before sitting for their national examination bears testament to our students capitalising on their interests and passion to pursue their post-secondary education.

On the curricular front, we have continued to deliver value-added results. Our students have maintained a high level of progression to post-secondary education institutions. A large percentage of our Sec 4 Express and Sec 5 Normal (Academic) students have gained entry to Polytechnic or Junior College. Likewise, our Sec 4 Normal (Academic) and Sec 4 Normal (Technical) students have achieved a high level of GCE N-level passes last year.

On the co-curricular front, we have continued to excel in the uniformed groups, sports and performing arts. Our uniformed groups have maintained high levels of achievement through

hard work and resilience. Our Choir and Dance students wowed audiences during the Chingay Festival in February 2018, while our Concert Band was invited for the second time to perform for the public and the school community at the prestigious Limelight Concert at Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay. Moreover, our sports CCAs continue to provide avenues for our students to develop their passion and hone their skills.

The greatest strength of the school is our team of caring, committed and dedicated teachers. With a shared philosophy that “all students are unique individuals with talents”, the staff continue to guide our students to discover their strengths and achieve to the best of their potential. This established culture of care in the school endears students to their teachers, and spurs them to live by our school motto “From Each His Best”.

We aspire to continue to work hand-in-hand with our community partners to provide additional learning platforms and opportunities to develop our students’ 21st century competencies. Through the invaluable partnerships cultivated over the years with the School Advisory Committee, Parent Support Group, institutes of higher learning, People’s Association grassroots organisations, Kolam Ayer Community Club, Central Singapore CDC, SINDA and the industry partners, we are well-placed to meet the challenges ahead of us. Together with our community partners, Bendemeer Secondary School will continue to work towards nurturing students who are future-ready and rooted in values – Bendemeerians who will be Active Learners, Responsible Citizens.

Theincreasingly volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous world has necessitated fundamental shifts in the way we live, work, study and play. Amidst these changes, education systems around the world grapple with the challenge of preparing students for a world in which tumultuous social, economic and technological transformations are occurring at an increasing pace.

In Singapore, these changes have also been felt sharply. The global pandemic of COVID-19 has provided greater impetus to the nation-wide movement of Learning for Life. In a world where content knowledge learned in school will need to be constantly refreshed, the ability to learn, re-learn and enjoy doing so takes on much greater significance.

In Bendemeer Secondary School, we prepare our students to be ready, relevant and resilient. Our school’s strong culture of care underpins the student development efforts across all levels. Rooted firmly in our belief of nurturing the whole child, we strive to develop our students holistically into Active Learners, Responsible Citizens who will be able to contribute to Singapore in their own meaningful ways.

Together with our teachers, parents, community partners and stakeholders, we will continue to work hand-in-hand to provide rich learning experiences and opportunities for our students to grow and develop in their knowledge, skills, competencies and values.

From each and every one of us here in the Bendemeer family, we look forward to a journey of helping our students discover and fulfil their dreams, and to live out the school motto From Each His Best

Awarm

welcome to Bendemeer Secondary School. This is my first year joining the school and I am humbled by the great work that the school has done for our students for the past 43 years. I am thankful for the opportunity to be part of the family and contribute to the legacy.

COVID-19 has completely disrupted and changed the way we live our lives. Its impact on all sectors and industries will be felt for decades to come. We must prepare our children to be ready for this future. Our school’s vision of “Active Learners, Responsible Citizens” is more compelling than ever before - Beyond mastery of knowledge, we will equip our students with skills and competencies that will enable them to navigate their future and thrive.

More importantly, beyond individual achievements, we will help our students develop a strong moral compass so that they can do well by doing good to others. Our CCE Curriculum will be refreshed in 2021 to make the learning experiences more authentic, relevant and purposeful.

We are confident in our endeavours as we have a team of passionate teachers who shares the same philosophy as the school. They seek to build positive relationships with our students and create a caring environment that promotes positive student well-being.

2021 will bring new possibilities and experiences. I am committed to journey with each and everyone in the Bendemeer family to nurture every Bendemeerian to realise his/her potential. We will move forward as one and live out our school motto – “From Each His Best” every single day.

We are very grateful to parents and community partners for your unwavering support, care and commitment to our students.

I wish everyone an uplifting year ahead!

Farewell Mr Poon

Mr Lawrence PoonVice-Principal

Even after having spent five years in Bendemeer Secondary School, I cannot help but continue to be astounded by the sheer breadth and depth of work that the teachers and staff carry out on a daily basis to support our students. I have witnessed the dedication of officers who worked so hard, especially in the midst of the ongoing pandemic, and I know that this will continue to connect all of us in the Bendemeer family to our sense of purpose in doing what we do. Over the course of my journey with all the teachers and staff in Bendemeer Secondary School, I have seen time and again what it truly means to make a difference.

The past couple of years had also not been easy for our students. COVID restrictions had impacted their educational experience in school. There were moments where students had to adapt quickly to new challenges but those moments also presented them with the greatest growth potential. In these turbulent times, our students grew in resilience. They learnt that it is ok to be not ok, how to support one another and that resilience comes first from recognising and embracing our own vulnerabilities. With a growth mindset, our students will learn more and more about themselves and continue to fourish.

As our paths diverge from this point, I am confident that each and every one of us will continue to be a light to others in our own ways. May our learning never end – From Each His Best!

When Mr Lawrence Poon first joined us in Bendemeer Secondary School back in 2017, he won everyone over quickly with his unassuming disposition and charming voice. Since then, he has helped to fortify various school processes over the years, guiding us in important matters such as school safety and finance. In addition, many academic processes such as our ALOHA sessions and home-based learning are also essential pieces of work that he has led us in.

Mr Poon also connects actively with staff, students and parents on a regular basis. He makes it a point to devote substantial time and effort to provide assistance to anyone who seeks help, often

demonstrating much patience and earnestness. In recent times, due to the pandemic, Mr Poon’s leadership has greatly impacted the school, as he, together with the other school leaders, has continued to ensure that there are minimal disruptions to our daily routines and processes so that we can still function to the best of our abilities.

Mr Poon has indeed been a symbol of quiet strength and dignity, often surprising us with his witty remarks and jovial demeanour. While we will miss him greatly, we wish him all the best in his future endeavours and are confident that he will continue to touch the lives of many with his warmth and sincerity.

School Events

First Day OF SCHOOL

Aftera year of grappling with the Covid-19 pandemic, the school population returned to the school with hesitant anticipation, with the Sec 2s, 3s and 4s eager to reunite with their peers and new Sec 1s looking forward to what is in store for them in this new environment. Even though the first day of school this year was more muted compared to previous years, the spirits of the students were hardly dampened. In class, the activities conducted focused mainly on students’ physical and emotional well-being, with peer support leaders being introduced to be a greater source of support to the student body.

Orientation

Thisyear, the school welcomed a bumper crop of Secondary 1 students. Although the orientation activities were largely carried out in the classrooms, teachers and student councillors put in much effort to expose apprehensive Sec 1s to the lively and caring Bendemeerian culture.

Meal times possessed an element of surprise as teachers and students obtained the rare glimpse of one another’s full faces.

The students also tried their hands at various sports and performing arts during the CCA trials, which allowed many of the Sec 1s to discover new interests and strengths.

Chinese New Year

CELEBRATIONS

TheChinese New Year celebrations this year took place within the individual classrooms. The school population was treated, via Zoom, to an array of stunning performances by the Performing Arts CCA groups, namely, Dance, Choir, Wushu and Band. Students also obtained a glimpse of how Chinese calligraphy and Chinese painting is done. The highlight of the day was when our very own Bendemeer God of Fortune, accompanied by celebratory sounds, went on his rounds to bless the various classes, much to the delight of Bendemeerians.

Speech Day & Prize-giving Presentation

Bendemeer

Secondary School’s Speech Day and Prizegiving Presentation was held on 16th April 2021. We celebrated the achievements of staff and students and witnessed the Student Council Central Executive Committee of 2020-2021 hand the reins to the Student Council Central Executive Committee of 2021-2022 during the Student Leadership Investiture.

National Day

Thisyear’s National Day theme, Together, Our Singapore Spirit, evokes our common Singapore identity and Singaporeans coming together as one united people. It calls on Singaporeans to draw new strength from our ‘cando’ spirit, amidst challenging circumstances from COVID-19 and potential disruptions in the new decade. We look to reinvigorate the Singapore Spiritencouraging Singaporeans to embrace a ‘dare-to-try’ attitude and reinvent to overturn our natural and geographical constraints.

Elective Modules

InBendemeer, Elective Modules (EM) are offered to all Normal Academic (NA) and Normal Technical (NT) students. The EMs are structured such that they “educate” by allowing the students to apply what they have learnt, “encourage” by allowing the students to have a choice to choose what they want to attend and “empower” by allowing students to “learn by doing” through learning experiences. The EMs help students to extend their academic learning, expose them to Science and Technology related courses and widen their knowledge of the various career paths in various industries to prepare them for postsecondary education.

This year the Sec 2s enjoyed 4 days of fun filled and enriched learning going through the Young Baker, Maker as Entrepreneur, Maker in Product Design or Digital Animation modules. Through

the hands-on experience and interaction with the experts from the various industry, the Sec 2 normal course students got to extend their learning beyond the classroom and connect their academic knowledge with skills in real life situations.

The Sec 4 students were also given a chance to have an enriching experience either with doing car maintenance in the Automotive module, fying a drone in the Engineering in Drones Technology module, setting up a dinner table in the Hospitality in F&B and Hotel Industry module or trying out their nursing skills in the Pharmaceutical and Health Care module.

The EMs are used as a precursor and provide insights into the different pathways the students can embark on in post-secondary institutions.

Teachers'Day CELEBRATIONS

This year’s Teachers’ Day Celebrations, although still held in the individual classrooms, did not hamper students’ creativity and efforts in showing appreciation for their teachers’ year(s)-long sacrifices. The teachers were also treated to a High-Tea set from Grand Park City Hall Hotel.

The After School Engagement (ASE) Programme aims to:

• Provide a safe space for students to participate in meaningful self-directed learning and activities after curriculum hours

• Enhance students’ positive school experience by strengthening teacher- student relationship and peer relationship

• Provide opportunities for students to acquire new skills and knowledge

Theschool has adopted a proactive approach to engage a target group of students in the ASE programme after school hours. An external youth worker with a team of 3 teachers and the school counsellor assist in coordinating the activities conducted during the programme which runs from Monday to Thursday between 2.30pm and 5.30pm.

The activities for the ASE programme can be categorised into 4 broad areas, aimed mainly at equipping the students with leadership and social skills.

They are:

1) Appreciation for others, 2) Sports & Games, 3) Visual Arts and 4) Self-exploration

Some of the activities that have been conducted are:

• Appreciating non-teaching staff in the school by making ThankYou cards

• Teachers’ Day appreciation - the students did a recording of their singing performance and dedicated it to their teachers during the Teachers’ Day celebrations

• Making waffes and sandwiches for teachers

• Tennis

• Badminton

• Tchoukball

• Nature Walk

• Bowling

• Painting

• Terrarium workshop

• Study skills

• Presentation skills

• Photo booth for Friendship Day

• Origami

The Purple Parade

Thisyear, Bendemeer Secondary School displayed support for The Purple Parade movement - a unifying national platform to promote awareness and celebrate abilities of Persons with Disabilities. The core of The Purple Parade movement is to ensure that Persons with Disabilities are included in the main chapter of Singapore’s growth and have equal access to education, employment, transport and social networks.

The spirit of the movement seeks for Persons with Disabilities to be fully included, valued and celebrated in our country.

INFOCOMMCLUB

Teachers-in-charge

Mdm Winnie Tang (I/C) and Mrs Ng Qian Hui

Student Leaders

Chairperson: Charles Tan Jun Le (3R8)

Vice-Chairperson: K R Heemraj (3R8)

Admin: Goh Jun Meng Xavier (3R8) and Choo Zheng Jie Jericho (3R8)

This year, our Infocomm Club members took part in the Singapore Energy Grand Challenge (Youth). In its second year, this year’s theme was “How would your carbon-free school or neighbourhood in Singapore look like in 2050?”

Using the Minecraft: Education Edition

(M:EE) software, students were asked to create their ideal Energy World and showcase their Energy Story aspirations for Singapore, with a focus on sustainability and lowcarbon solutions. Our Infocomm students drew inspiration from various energy-saving technologies already implemented in our school as well as what they have observed in buildings around Singapore.

Reflections

I feel creative and inspired from my CCA training. I like building on Minecraft and enjoy the process of building with my friends. This is because we can solve difficult problems, as well as coming up with different ideas to solve problems. When we entered the competition, we were pleasantly surprised to emerge as semi-finalists.

Ong Chee Khee (2R3)

We got inspiration modelling after US-styled schools and enjoyed the process building block by block in the competition. I enjoyed the team work with my friends and was pleasantly surprised to emerge as semi-finalists. I was glad our hard work paid off.

Tan Xing Yu (2R3)

5 teams were sent for this challenge and one of our teams was selected for the semi-finals.

Here are the links to our teams’ ideal carbon-free school.

Team 1 : https://youtu.be/_R8QUcgeh4s Team 2 : https://youtu.be/BMQegnTKrwA Team 3 : https://youtu.be/hWpz9GqmS5E Team 4 : https://youtu.be/ZkXAqM_QuOY Team 5 : https://youtu.be/w38LWfRriFI

Sound and lighting crew

Backroom

Learning journey

CHOIR

Teachers-in-charge

Mrs Poon Chong Cheah (I/C), Mrs Elaine Wong and Mdm Wang Huilin Instructor

Ms Grace Oey Student Leaders Chairperson: Valerie Nadya (4R1) Vice-Chairperson: Gulinton Lim Zhifu (4R5)

For the past half year of 2021, the Bendemeer School Choir had participated in three events –Chinese New Year Concert, Speech Day and the Singapore Youth Festival Arts Presentation (SYF). In view of the Covid-19 situation, practice sessions had been reduced to once a week.

Performances this year have been very different from the past years. The School Choir held virtual performances during the school’s Chinese New Year concert and on Speech Day. The Choir members had to individually record singing their parts before coming together virtually to

record their performance for the school. It was a whole new learning experience for everyone.

For the Singapore Youth Festival Arts Presentation, the School Choir also had to record their singing in small groups before all the individual audio clips were fused together into a single audio file for the SYF central judging. It was an enriching experience and we look forward to presenting an interesting repertoire in future performances!

Reflections

I have always loved to sing but I did not have the confidence to do so in front of others. The choir had helped me to hone not only my singing ability but also my confidence and leadership abilities. At first, the training was tiring and difficult, however I always looked forward to attending CCA as I get to do what I love to do and train together with my friends. In choir, I made numerous unforgettable memories and experiences that I would always be grateful for.

I am truly glad that I decided to join the choir.

Valerie Nadya (Chairperson)

During my 4 years of being in the school choir, I learnt a lot of new things, made a lot of friends and created wonderful memories with other choir members. We’ve been through a lot together and I will never forget those days where we worked extremely hard for the Singapore Youth Festival Arts Presentation and other school performances. We put in many hours of hard work for every performance and every choir member was always present for their training even though exams were nearing. Even though we couldn’t start CCA at the start of the year to practise for SYF, everyone still gave their best effort and worked really hard when we were able to resume training. During every training session, everyone was disciplined and would hone the techniques and skills taught until we were ready to record for SYF. After these 4 years, choir has changed me as a person. I became more confident and gained the courage to lead my own section as a section leader and assist the Chairperson in leading the choir. I am very glad that I have joined choir as I think that it has changed my life for the better.

Gulinton Lim (Vice-Chairperson)

Training for the Singapore Youth Festival

Choir practice

CONCERTBAND

Teachers-in-charge

Mdm Noorlizah Osman (I/C), Mr Edwin Ang, Ms Lim Ying Shung and Ms Denise Fung Instructors

Mr Joseph Teo and Mr Alvin Quek Student Leaders

Band Major: Jesse Ng Ren Jie (4R3) and Lim En Jie Janavia (4R2)

Drum Major: Kirthik Vnesh Naidu s/o Alwar Naidu (4R1)

2021 has indeed been a unique year for the Concert Band, amidst the global pandemic. We started the year with the Secondary One orientation, through a class-by-class presentation rather than the typical trying out of instruments. We were pleasantly surprised by the number of enthusiastic Secondary Ones joining Band CCA this year.

However, our usual Band practices were disrupted by the Covid-19 restrictions and hence the focus in the first half of the year laid heavily on our senior Band members, who were focused on the biennial 2021 Singapore Youth Festival Arts Presentation. Training intensified as the

competition drew nearer in April. Despite the uncertainties of the new measures and restrictions in place for the performance, our students pulled through with their heartfelt rendition of Acclamations by Ed Huckeby, eventually clinching the Certificate of Accomplishment. The school is very proud of their efforts and achievements.

After the SYF season, we sincerely bade farewell to our graduating Band members who were stepping down to focus on the national examinations. Following the loosening of Covid-19 restrictions, the lower secondary students resumed band practice again in the middle of Term 2. The Secondary Ones, in particular, were ecstatic to finally learn how to play their allocated instruments. Under the guidance of our instructors and more experienced players, we are positive that Concert Band can fourish through the adversities and continue to excel in the coming years.

Reflections

The most memorable event that I have participated in is the Singapore Youth Festival Arts Presentation in 2021. Even though we did not achieve the Certificate of Distinction, we

really tried our best and for this year’s SYF, we did not really get any help from our seniors due to the pandemic and strict rules about intermingling. But we were lucky enough to have our tutors, instructor and teachers supporting us. I would like to say to the current and future Band members that they should always support one another, always work together as one and have respect for each other.

Lim En Jie, Janavia (Band Major)

The most memorable time in Band was the 2019 SYF. It was an honour representing my school at the competition and I truly enjoyed the experience shared with my juniors, friends and seniors. All our hard work paid off - the best part was when we achieved the Certificate of Distinction. Being appointed as Band Major helped me to develop my leadership and communication skills through managing the band. I have become more responsible and mature over the last 4 years with Band. I am very thankful to be able to work with all my amazing bandmates, who made band practices fun and enjoyable.

Jesse Ng Ren Jie (Band Major)

At the Singapore Youth Festival Arts Presentation 2021

Bendemeer Concert Band at the Singapore Youth Festival Arts Presentation 2021

INTERNATIONALDANCE

Teachers-in-charge

Ms Noor Aisyah (I/C), Ms Kelly Lee (2I/C) and Mr Lawrence Teng Instructor

Mr Khye Loh

Student Leaders President: Tan Zhi Ning (4R6) Vice-President: Gurpal Singh Saini (4R5)

We faced 2021 with anticipation and enthusiasm even though we knew that Covid-19 was still prevalent in our society. News that training would resume delighted one and all. The dancer inside of us was itching to break free. No wonder they say that dance is a form of expression.

We started the year off with the Secondary One Orientation where the students would have a chance to show off some moves during the audition process. Our instructor, Mr Khye, single-handedly carried out the auditions to spot potential talents. This was no easy task but he managed to clinch us some hidden gems.

After the auditions, the dance club moved full steam ahead. We had no time to rest as the Singapore Youth Festival (SYF) Arts Presentation was up ahead. This would be no easy feat with all the Safety Management Measures (SMM) that we had to ensure were in place. This was the time that our perseverance was really

tested as we had to juggle between our numerous practices, school work and our family duties. There were times when we broke down but we pulled ourselves back up as a club by refecting on our motto ‘Dance to express, not to impress’. This was our opportunity to freely express ourselves and make our school proud. We succeeded as we were awarded the Certificate of Accomplishment in the SYF Central Judging for Dance (International).

After SYF was over, we welcomed in the Secondary One students where Mr Khye taught them the proper techniques of doing warm-ups so that they would not get hurt and also a choreography to test their memory. Sad to say, these physical sessions were cut short due to the implementation of Home-Based Learning (HBL). However, to keep their passion in dance burning, we carried on with CCA Zoom sessions. The students found it interesting and even asked when the next one would be held.

These past few months have really been challenging however we are looking forward to burning up the dance foor once the situation improves.

Reflections

These four years have been like a roller coaster to me. During this time, I have learnt to become a much stronger and a more confident person. I will never forget this amazing journey with such fabulous people. These past few years have been tough due to the ongoing pandemic, coping with both CCA and schoolwork. However, I am

proud that as a team, we have managed to pull through and emerged stronger dancers. I am proud of being a part of TSA and I want to thank everyone who has given me a helping hand along the way.

Tan Zhi Ning (President)

My time in the Dance club has been fantastic as I have made many friends and have finally fulfilled my dream of learning how to dance. I remember vividly when I was in Secondary One, I was so inspired by the dancers from the club that I made Dance CCA my Number 1 choice. What moves me is that the dancers are all so nice and caring towards one another. The stronger dancers even help the weaker ones without complaints. This is the main reason why I have improved tremendously over the years and I am very thankful to those who have helped me in my growth.

Gurpal Singh Saini (Vice-President)

My journey in Dance has been memorable and enjoyable. I was able to overcome challenges and gain confidence with the help of the people around me in the Dance Club. I have not only gained much skills and techniques in dance but am also able to build long-lasting friendships with my members. Through this journey that I have had with the dance club, I have realised the importance of teamwork, determination and perseverance. All these coupled with the positive environment from the club has enabled me to achieve success.

Nur Rafidah Binte Mohamed Rafi (4R4)

Singapore Youth Festival Arts

Presentation performance

Singapore Youth Festival street dance item

Teachers’

DRAMAENGLISH

Teachers-in-charge

Mrs Lo May Ling (I/C), Ms Ivy Lim (2 I/C) and Mdm Karamjit Kaur

Advisor

Mr Glenn Tan

Instructor

Ms Aricia Ng

Student Leaders

President: Neo Ting Hui Sherrise (4R1)

Vice-President: Phua Sheng Yang Justin (4R2)

We started the year with the usual introductory orientation sessions for the Secondary Ones. A robust number of Secondary Ones signed up for the CCA. The highlight for this year was the Singapore Youth Festival Art Presentation. Due to the ongoing covid-19 pandemic, we kept the number of participants small. Our entry – Vertical Lines - focused on the dilemma youths face. Can they empower themselves to overcome their own unique situations?

We were very pleased to be awarded a Certificate of Commendation for our effort. Those who did not take part in SYF were involved in their own mini-production. This gave them the opportunity to show

off their skills as well. Our bumper crop of Secondary Ones joined us in Term 2. Guided by Ms Ivy, they were initiated into the world of Poetry Slam. We look forward to another year of exciting activities in 2021 as we spark their creativity in upcoming stage productions.

Reflections

As the President of Drama Club, this year definitely helped me develop my leadership skills. I took up the role of stage manager for SYF. It allowed me to step out of my usual social circle and bond with my juniors more. I enjoyed the new challenge.

Neo Ting Hui Sherrise (President)

SYF Competition Day

DRAMATAMIL

Teachers-in-charge

Mr Govindasamy Santhanraj I/C and Mrs Vasudha Atri Deputy I/C Advisor

Mr Murugan

Student Leaders

Chairperson: Khadeejah Beevi Binti Gulam Kadher (4R2)

Vice-Chairpersons: Kugan s/o Kumaresan (4R1) and Sudharsan Madhumita (4R2)

Cluster School Programme

The Drama Tamil student leaders were given a platform to display their talents and to develop leadership qualities. In ‘Muthukoodal 2019 and 2020’ the language and culture camp for cluster schools, our student leaders were in charge of certain segments. They have done well and gained a wider level of experience.

Reflections

I am very happy after joining this cca as it provided me with many opportunities to showcase my talent, taught me to believe in myself and strive to achieve many things. Having gained values like perseverance, resilience and confidence, these helped me to overcome challenges when I face difficulties managing my studies. I was able to bond and interact with my juniors and seniors and have a whale of a time with them during CCA. I learnt to believe and have confidence in myself when executing a plan or when giving presentations. I was delighted to get the Tamil Drama Chairperson shield during Speech Day when I was secondary 3. It was rewarding receiving the award because I know I worked hard for it!

Khadeejah Beevi Binti Gulam Kadher 4R2 (Chairperson)

Drama Tamil taught me more about my culture and the meaning behind each activity. The activities planned during the camp were really

engaging and were a very useful way to learn about the culture and to be precise about details. For me, this CCA taught me to be more open and confident when I stepped up to participate in the Singapore Youth Festival Indian Dance. Dancing as the centre front showed me what I was capable of.

Kugan S/O Kumaresan 4R1 (Vice-Chairperson)

When I was in Sec 1, one of my seniors convinced me to visit the Tamil Drama booth. I instantly fell in love with the warm and welcoming camaraderie among the members and chose Tamil Drama as my CCA. My strong interest in both the Tamil language and my CCA pushed me to clinch a certificate for a composition writing competition. My favourite experience was when I was rehearsing for my SYF in 2019. This opportunity gave me the chance to interact with my seniors. Although we didn’t achieve distinction that year, we found the overall experience pleasant and motivating.

Sudharsan Madhumita 4R2 (Vice-Chairperson)

SYF Competition Day

Pongal Celebrations

Making Stage Props

Indian Dance SYF

BADMINTON

Teachers-in-charge

Mr Manoj Kumar Dave (I/C) and Mr Wong Chee Seng

Student Leaders Captain: Huang Si Jun (5R1)

Badminton gives students opportunities to adopt an active lifestyle and develop fexibility. At the same time it instills focus and good hand-eye coordination. This year’s CCA sessions started with that aim in mind, yet keeping it fun and challenging for the members.

Training sessions are held every Tuesday. This year also saw a very large cohort from the Upper Secondary levels. They played enthusiastically, keeping all the courts in the Indoor Sports Hall fully occupied and even playing on the sidelines. Many had to wait for their turn to play.

All our members thoroughly enjoyed the sessions and used it to release some stress from their studies. The CCA members agreed the foundational skills should be continued yearly.

Reflections

Badminton is a fun CCA, it gives me a lot of the practice I need for the external competitions I take part in. It has been a fun and beneficial 3 years in badminton. Many teachers say I look very disciplined when I play Badminton, which seeps into my studies.

Huang Si Jun (Captain)

Hand-eye coordination

CROSSCOUNTRY

Teachers-in-charge

Mrs Charmaine Tan (I/C), Mr Daryl Toy, Mr Ong Sze Kiat and Mr Esmond Loh Coach

Mr Joe Goh

Student Leaders Captain: Chua Yong Jin (3R2) Vice-Captain: Yeo Daxson (3R2)

Since the Circuit Breaker was declared last year, the school’s Cross Country team has been facing unprecedented challenges. The team was not able to participate in conventional Cross Country and Track and Field competitions and even the regular team training sessions were also disrupted. Indeed, the strength and resilience of the team had never been tested and stretched to such extent before until now.

However, in April 2021, the team was given the opportunity to participate in the Virtual Inter-School Challenge 2021. Despite having a huge disadvantage of running on turf grass which provides little friction, the team put in their best and performed beyond expectations. Many of those who took part managed to attain their personal best timing, Koh

Jin En (4R1) came in 14th place for the B Girls Category while for the B Boys’ Category, both Rizyan Idzhar (3R8) and P Sakteeshwaren (4R3) emerged 69th place with the same exact timing.

Spurred by the abovementioned performance, the team continues to persevere in training to prepare for competitions in 2022, in pursuit of greater heights of excellence.

Reflections

My experience in being part of Bendemeer Secondary School Cross Country CCA has been undeniably enriching and wonderful. I am extremely grateful for the values that have been instilled in me, such as responsibility and resilience. I learned to be responsible for my personal growth and improvement, as well as stepping out of my comfort zone, and persisting till the end, regardless of difficulties and challenges. These values have been ultimately useful to me not only in the sport of running but also in my studies. The training sessions are indeed exhausting, however, with the support from our coach, teachers and teammates, things become meaningful and worth looking forward to. During the Virtual Inter-school Challenge that took place earlier this year, I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to take part in my first race. It was definitely an unforgettable event as I have certainly learned lessons and gained experiences from it. In conclusion, I will

continue to work hard and put in consistent effort in all aspects.

Angel Yang (2R2)

Cross Country has helped me gain many values that are not only important for me to do my best in the CCA, but it also helps me in my lifelong learning. We learn about discipline, accountability, resilience, having the mindset to do what is right, being responsible for our own diets and health, pushing on even if others may be mentally pulling us down, and finally, putting in our maximum effort in each training. All that I learned prepared me well to perform my best during the Virtual Inter-school Challenge 2021 in April. I am grateful for the cheers I got from my team, teachers and coach, as they spurred me on further to pull through and finish the race.

Chua Yong Jin (3R2)

My most valuable takeaway from this journey was the power of passion. Passion determines the amount of effort one is willing to put into anything one does. It pushes me to strive for excellence in both Cross Country and my studies, and helps my teammates and I to pull through mentally challenging training sessions, during which we even thought we would never make it out alive at times! Most importantly, it is the core of our CCA which binds us together to make us one big family.

P Sakteeshwaran (4R3)

Training in school

Full steam ahead

Full team photo

FOOTBALL

Teachers-in-charge

Mr Lee Chen Siang, Mr Kenneth Goh, Ms Shamini Subramaniam and Ms Hu Wen-Tian Wendy Coach

Mr Bah Mamadou

Student Leaders Captain: Sareef Rai (3R2)

Vice-Captains: Evander Chiam Zern (3R2) and Brijesh Rana (3R5)

Fun & Exciting Training Sessions

Wewatched, awed, as the ball sailed across in the air, and heard our passionate young Bendemeerian footballers screech in excitement at the perfect pass, hoping to score a goal. Alas! Our skillful goalkeeper, Braydon, catches the ball by the skin of his teeth, as his teammates heave a sigh of relief!

Our students look forward to friendly matches as they put to practice what they have learnt after an hour of intense practice. Lower Secondary footballers focus on the basics of football such as passing, shooting, and heading. At

the Upper Secondary level, there are deliberate attempts to infuse more tactical awareness into the training sessions with more emphasis on situational plays. Coaches try to create a fun yet competitive environment in training sessions through many small-sided games. The players keep track of their number of assists and goals in these small-sided games and they always try to outdo one another at every session!

During training, we learn dribbling, ball mastery and how to control the space. We especially enjoy the friendly matches that help us to bond as a team!

Khafidz, Secondary One Character Building through Sports Character building is emphasised in every aspect of our Football CCA where our teachers and coaches emphasise the importance of values such as integrity, respect, responsibility and care for others. All our passionate young footballers have the drive to succeed and constantly put in the effort to learn and improve. We place special emphasis on values like striving for excellence and having the resilience to bounce back from challenges and to train even harder.

One Bendemeer Family

Our teachers are very caring towards the players and will always seek to help them develop holistically as a footballer. Our coaches are very passionate about the game and are very motivated to help the footballers improve. It helps that they are also well qualified not just in terms of their qualifications but in coaching experience as well. Our teachers and coaches have helped to create a family culture in the team where everyone does their part to help the team move forward as One Bendemeer.

Mr Lee Chen Siang, Teacher-in-charge

Experienced Coaches in Specialised Fields

As a goalkeeper I feel lucky to have a specialised goalkeeping coach brought in to train goalkeepers. We play matches similar to a competitive game. The coaches assess the performance of each player and help us improve on our weaknesses after the match. We constantly train to build stamina and agility, improve our techniques and work on our game strategy to prepare for a possible tournament season next year.

Braydon Ng, Goalkeeper

Players in motion

Football is a team sport and the camaraderie the footballers share will have a lasting and positive impact on their lives.

Putting their skills to the test

Standing Ready to Defend

Warm-ups

SEPAKTAKRAW

Teachers-in-charge

Mr Juraime Bin Atan Student Leaders

Bendemeer Secondary Sepak Takraw provides our students with a keen interest in the sport a platform to not only enhance their playing skills but also to have a CCA that is both interesting and challenging. Over the years, camaraderie, teamwork and sportsmanship is instilled, especially when representing the school at competitive levels. As they experience sports at a competitive level, the school hopes to prepare them psychologically for future sporting endeavours as they move on to higher educational institutions.

During training, the team not only focuses on the athletic aspects critical to the sport but also on character building and leadership. School values such as resilience, respect and integrity are instilled in every player throughout the training sessions. Our athletes look forward to these training sessions and often turn up even before training starts. Training may be exhausting and gruelling but the boys always enjoy themselves and persevere throughout the training sessions. The teachers and coach have built a very strong rapport with these boys and often motivate and encourage them not only in terms of having good sportsmanship but also in characterbuilding and studies.

Reflections

I am happy that despite the pandemic, I managed to play Sepak takraw to represent the school as this will be my last year with the school. We were not able to train much due to the occasional school closure, however we gave our best during each training session and during the competition. As the team captain, I can say

that we have forged stronger ties and hope our friendships will last beyond our secondary school years.

Ayob Bin Mohd Jaaffar , Team Captain ‘B’ Division (Captain)

I love playing Sepak takraw. It teaches me skills and the importance of teamwork. It also teaches me to be more self-disciplined and be a motivator to my teammates especially during a game. Communication is an important aspect as we need to work together to win. Since playing Sepak takraw, I have become a better player and a more important, a better student.

Mohamed Zu’eirmanshah Bin Mohamed Nesani (4R5)

I like Sepak takraw because there are many ‘cool’ tricks that you can learn to be a better player. The teachers and coach are friendly. If you need help to improve your skills, the coach will be there to advise and provide guidance for you. I can say that my skills have improved over the years with his guidance and constant practice.

Muhammad Rahul bin Mohamed Raffi (4R8)

Mr Han Hong Kwong (I/C), Mr Zulkifi Bin Khamis and Ms Tang Li Hua Coach

‘B’ Division Captain:

Ayob Bin Mohd Jaaffar (4R8)

‘C’ Division Captain: Muhammad Azmirul Bin Nour Muhd Alley (2R9)

Ready to Strike

TAEKWONDO

Teachers-in-charge

Coach

Mrs Rosalind Chow Student Leaders Captains Lim Keyi (4R6)

Vice-Captains: Leong Wei Ming (4R1) and Chermaine Pang (4R6)

Due to the COVID-19 situation, the recruitment for secondary one students was done online. We had to produce a video to promote the CCA. Members and the coach came up with a few performances that were being video-recorded. It honed the skills of the tech-savvy students who contributed to the whole process of video-recording, the editing and the inclusion of text and music. It was indeed a well-produced video, showcasing the skills that the members have acquired. We managed to recruit 14 secondary one students to join the CCA. Training continued through semester one but due to a restriction on the number of students who can attend training, members had to be rostered and thus members had a reduced number of training hours.

Every year, our members train hard for two Taekwondo competitions, the National School Games and the Whampoa Community Club Taekwondo Competition. Through participation in competitions,

our students gain valuable lessons of discipline, sportsmanship and teamwork, which develop them holistically. Therefore, we were very glad when it was announced that the National School Games would be carried out this year, albeit with strict Safe Management Measures. It was only for members from Division B and only for the Poomsae events. Our members were video-recorded on assigned time slots and judging was done based on the videos. It was a totally new experience for those who took part. Our hard work paid off as we clinched two Gold, one Silver and 5 Bronze medals.

Reflections

Through these four years in Taekwondo CCA, I have seen the club grow stronger in the areas of achievement and see a stronger bond among members. Joining Taekwondo CCA has made me stronger mentally and physically as I train hard for competitions and I learnt not to give up easily when things do not go my way.

During our training, we have to practise our kicks and Poomsae pattern routine well so as to synchronize our movement with fellow team mates. These training sessions provided opportunities to bond, as a club, along with our Coach who is friendly and helps us whenever we need guidance. Through my participation in Taekwondo CCA, I have learnt many important life values and I have made many good friends.

Lim Keyi (Captain)

In my four years of Taekwondo training, besides learning self-defence, I have learnt values like

teamwork, perseverance, and responsibility. As a Vice-Captain, I was tasked to co-ordinate the designing and the production of the CCA T-shirts, to collect forms and prepare for the secondary one orientation programme. Covid-19 has affected us in many ways. We couldn’t train much because of the restrictions hence we were so excited when we learned that we could participate in the National Schools Games. Everyone persevered and worked very hard. The team bonded very well and supported each other. Since this was my last competition, I gave my best at every training and motivated my teammates so that we were all able to go through this competition and finish Taekwondo CCA on a high note. All in all, my time spent in Taekwondo CCA has been worthwhile and I am grateful for this learning opportunity.

Chermaine Pang (Vice-Captain)

My experience in Taekwondo has been one of the most enjoyable experiences of my Secondary School life. I am proud to make Taekwondo my first choice. Taekwondo is not merely a form of martial arts, but rather, an opportunity for me to gain leadership skills and to acquire values of discipline and resilience. My skills as a CCA leader would be challenged whenever there was an upcoming competition. Besides overcoming my own difficulties in memorising the Poomsae pattern routine, I have to teach my juniors and motivate them to persevere and be determined to win the competition. All in all, Taekwondo is a CCA that has challenged me, both physically and mentally.

Evelyn Angelina The (Incoming President)

Mrs Chin Chen Han (I/C), Mr Wilson Lai and Ms Shen May Ling

Overhead Kick

Training Punches

Sparring

TCHOUKBALL

Teachers-in-charge

Mr Seah Seng Chye (I/C), Mrs Sharon Chin (2I/C) and Mr Theodore Tan Coach

Mr Jeff Ang

Student Leaders

Boys Captain: Chong Wen Cong Brion (4R3)

Boys Vice-Captain: Saravanan S/O Elammaran (4R8)

Girls Captain: Lim An Qi (4R3)

Girls Vice-Captain: Chen Yonghui (4R2)

The Covid-19 pandemic and constant disruptions have both immensely impacted our training since mid2020. However, the Tchoukball team has adapted and continually found ways to

ensure that all our players grow in technical skill, physical ability, and mental strength.

Taking a “Back to Basics” approach, we have taken this time of disruption as a good chance to train up our fundamentals and fitness. When the time to resume full training and competitions comes back around, we will be ready to go out there and fight for the school!

Reflections

I learnt from the competitions and training that no matter how tough the competition or training is, you have to put in effort and try your very best and not give up. I also learnt that winning is not everything to aim for in a match - doing our best and being proud of ourselves after the game is what we should aim for.

Lim An Qi (4R3)

I learnt the importance of punctuality, because if one member is missing the whole team

cannot train well as a team. I also realised the importance of teamwork because Tchoukball is a team game that requires everyone to contribute.

Isabella Shem (3R3)

It all started with curiosity and the hunger to know more about this sport that little people know of. As it progresses, you realize that the variety of styles and techniques are indefinite. Passion plays a huge role in the sport. Personally I struggled with lots of distractions in secondary school to the point where I felt really lost. With no interest in studies and no drive, I was reluctant to even try and was ready to give up. Training helped me to clear my mind and focus on the long term goal. Eventually I managed to better understand myself and the problems I was facing. I started putting in more effort and always compared it to my training - Am I trying my best?

Gerald Soh (Class of 2020)

Defending the BallWhat a Save!

2018 Tchoukball Team and Supporters

GIRLGUIDES

Teachers-in-charge

Ms Dawn Lim Sing Liean (I/C), Ms Lu Yueh Ju, Ms Nasyitah Abu Bakar and Ms Caroline Murty

Student Leaders Company Leader: Yee Zi Hui (3R3)

Assistant Company Leaders: Areefa Begum (3R7) and Nur Azyza Bin Mohamad Azman (3R6)

Emerging from the pandemic of 2020, Bendemeer Guides were eager and hopeful that 2021 would be a year back to normalcy. Making the most of Safety Management Measures (SMM), our guides sought to conduct activities in person to gel the new Secondary One guides who joined us at the beginning of the year. Besides our usual programme of roll call, drills, physical training, and familiarising ourselves with the history of guiding, we tried to fun team-bonding incorporate games. Our Company hosted the Baden Powell (BPA) written test for the South Division schools. Two of our guides, Areefa and Shannon attended the first virtual WAGGGS Leadership Mindset Course in April.

In April, Secondary One and Two Bendemeer guides participated in an origami session using ‘ang pow’ packets to make fish and lanterns to decorate the Guides room and noticeboard. To make it more interesting, the guides had to vote which end products were deserving to be displayed. The girls found the session enjoyable and engaging. In order to further inject more fun activities into our programme, the girls cooked instant noodles in mess tins using solid fuel in an outdoor cooking activity which was well received. Getting the fire going required much patience and girls learnt to share and care for one another. Our Secondary One guides were led through a session of learning the Guide Law as part of their enrolment requirements. Guides worked on the Dental badge by researching on dental hygiene and well-being. Three

of our guides enrolled in the Mental Health Advocacy Course – an important component for our current landscape.

The highlight of the year was the South Division Day as our school hosted the virtual event on Zoom in May. We organised an origami competition for the Brownies whereby participants had to learn to fold origami hearts, dogs and after which they had to present these in a visual composition with an accompanying write-up. The team of guides responsible for conducting the origami folding pre-recorded the process and presented it during the session. Concurrently, our girls took part in various competitions such as the Warli drawing and the virtual escape room competition organised by other schools. Considering this was our first time conducting a virtual session, it was successfully completed thanks to everyone’s cooperation.

Reflections

My first Girl Guides camp was very memorable. That was my first camp ever. I was so scared to go to the camp because I had never been in a uniformed group before. However not only was the camp fun, it was also life-changing. The camp was the first time I got to learn so many life skills like how to cook simple dishes with what we have and build a shoe rack with just sticks and ropes.

The most important thing about the camp was that it motivated me to be a Girl Guide. During the camp, our seniors had to teach us about the Girl Guides history and the day and night taps. The way some of my seniors taught us inspired me to be a Guide. When our seniors explained to us about the guide’s uniform, it further inspired me to be a guide. In the afternoons all of us would play and sing songs. During those times I really felt a sense of belonging to the unit.

This year I am in Secondary 3. I was appointed the Assistant Company Leader for my CCA. To think that when I first came to Girl Guides, I wanted to quit and now I am the Assistant Company Leader. In my three years in Girl Guides I have learned so many things about myself and gained a lot of self-confidence. I have learned how to

GG Orientation Day

be independent and learned that when we love what we do, we can achieve more than we think we can achieve. So far Girl Guides has really played a major role in my secondary school life.

Areefa Begum (Assistant Company Leader)

As Company Leader of Girl Guides, the other leaders and I have conducted many meaningful and entertaining activities for our fellow guides every week, hoping that they will learn and benefit from the skills learnt. Apart from the joyous sessions that we have conducted, I have also taken part in many courses and events throughout my 4 years in Girl Guides. One interesting course I’ve participated in was the Gardens By the Bay Ambassador Course. My experience at Gardens by the Bay was definitely one to remember as I was given a limited amount of time to learn about different facts about the various types of flowers, and give tours to the public. Through the tours, I managed to boost my confidence and step out of my comfort zone to converse with the public. Other than that, this once in a lifetime opportunity allowed me to try things I’ve never done before. Girl Guides has provided me with many enjoyable times and the memories made will be hard to forget.

Yeo Anne (Graduating Company Leader)

If you know me personally, you would find that I am quite a shy person. I would never go out of my house and mostly stayed at home. So when the teachers-in-charge of Girl Guides selected me as the Company Leader, you could imagine how much I wanted to crawl into a hole and never come out of it, forever. However, I did realise that this was a precious opportunity presented to me. Of course, this comes with heavy responsibilities but I wanted to break out of my shell and experience new things.

I know that I’m not the best at leading, but I am fortunate to have two Assistant Company Leaders to lend me invaluable assistance and I enjoy working together with them. I am slowly but surely combating my reluctance to step out but my leadership position definitely helps me to reach out to more people.

Yee Zi Hui (Company Leader)

Welcoming incoming leaders

NATIONALCADETCORPS

Teacher Officers

CPT Tay Guangyu (Commanding Officer), CPT Lawrence Ng (2IC) and LTA Dennis Wong

Student Leaders

Unit Sergeant Major:

3SG Loo Guo Hui (3R1)

Assistant Sergeant Major: 3SG Yeo Quan Wei (3R3)

The National Cadet Corps is a military cadet corps youth organisation supported by the Singapore Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Education. Its aim is to mould cadets into one with a resilient mind, fit body and committed heart. Our key programmes include orienteering, urban operations training, live firing using SAR21 rife and overseas hikes at Mt Ophir.

Bendemeer Secondary School’s NCC unit was awarded Gold in the Best Unit Competition 2018 and Distinction at the annual Unit Recognition 2019. The annual Unit Recognition 2020 was waived due to Covid-19.

2021 marks the 120th Anniversary of the National Cadet Corps. In line with the anniversary celebrations, our unit took part

in a number of commemorative activities. Through the NCC120 Virtual Race, our cadets got to take ownership of their own fitness and strived to build a culture for fitness. Cadets also got to explore their creativity and express themselves while strengthening their identity as a corps when they took part in the NCC120 TikTok Challenge. By doing the monthly fitness routine challenges, our cadets learnt to be confident individuals who will embrace discipline and perseverance when the going gets tough.

All in all, it has been an eventful year for the Bendemeer NCC (Land) unit. We will continue to challenge and develop our cadets as we build a NCC that is Nurturing, Committed and Cool.

Reflections

This year has been quite eventful as I was nominated to be the USM. As I had never gotten any leadership roles in my previous CCAs, I was at first quite petrified of leading the CCA to failure. Through the help of supportive Cadets, Master Sergeants and Instructors, I was able to gain confidence in being able to lead the CCA. Though I held a leadership role, it is not always smooth sailing. Cadets might be reluctant to follow orders or may need help. I always try to help whenever it is needed and try

to resolve conflict. Even though being a USM may be tiring, I still enjoy being a leader.

3SG Loo Guo Hui (Unit Sergeant Major)

My experience with NCC this year has been an amazing journey. My fellow Sec 3s and I took over the CCA from the Sec 4s and the first training we had after we took over did not go as smoothly as I had hoped but since then I think that everything has been improving. I hope as the ASM that I can help and support the USM in leading our CCA as well as help out my fellow cadets.

3SG Yeo Quan Wei (Assistant Sergeant Major)

I am Veenath from 3R2. I am in NCC as an Assistant Platoon Sergeant. I am proud to be in NCC. Due to the decrease in the number of Covid-19 cases, NCC training sessions have become physical that will benefit all the NCC Cadets. The biggest challenge came when the Sec 4s which were about to pass out of NCC due to their National Examinations. Sec 3s took over the NCC unit. Each of us were given positions of USM (Uniformed Sergeant Major), ASM, PS, APS, Section Commanders and Logistic Heads (Storeman). When it was the first time to take over, we faced several difficulties like confusion and fear, but we were able to organise interesting activities for the NCC cadets to enjoy, especially the new recruits.

Veenath Kumar s/o Anbarasan (3R2)

NCC hike

Best buddies

NATIONALPOLICECADETCORPS

Teachers-in-charge

A/ASP (NPCC) Ms Sabrina Wee, ASP (NPCC) Ms Jasmine Kaur Dhaliwal, ASP (NPCC) Mr Michael Lee and ASP (NPCC) Mr Oh Tze Ming

Student Leaders

SPF-NPCC Award Recipients 2021: SSGT (NPCC) M Mohamed Yasir (4R3) SI (NPCC) Liu Xiang (4R5)

CPL(NPCC) Kamal Syed Yousuf (3R3)

SSGT (NPCC) Subbiah s/o Lakshmanan (5R1)

SSGT (NPCC) M Mohamed Yasir (4R3)

The National Police Cadet Corps (NPCC) was formed in 1959 and has become one of the popular youth uniformed organisations in Singapore.

The mission of the National Police Cadet Corps is to develop our members to be active citizens and community leaders, by working in partnership with Singapore Police Force to fight crime and keep Singapore safe.

NPCC cadets undergo various training in their 4-year stint, which include physical fitness training, foot-drills, camp-craft skills, camps, police knowledge courses and visits. Through challenging situations, our cadets hone their leadership qualities and are groomed to become leaders with strong character and positive social, moral and civic values.

Cadets’ achievements are recognised through attaining skill proficiency badges and rank promotion. Outstanding cadets are nominated for the pinnacle SPF-NPCC Badge and promotion to the rank of Station Inspector.

The National Police Cadet Corps is a fulfilling and enriching co-curricular activity, one in which cadets learn and grow significantly in personal competencies and leadership.

Reflections

Being in NPCC for three years has taught me a lot of values and has nurtured me into a better person and a better leader. It has shown me the importance of leadership, teamwork, communication and responsibility. The most memorable experience has to be being in charge of the Secondary Two cadets. It was challenging to come up with lessons that the cadets would understand. It was a rocky road but I had my squadmates who were very helpful and it was an overall happy experience. Through tough times I have bonded with my squadmates, I had to step out of my comfort zone and this made me into a stronger person.

CPL (NPCC) Kamal Syed Yousuf (3R3)

During the four years in NPCC, I’ve learnt lots of things, skills and have also met new friends. When I first joined NPCC in Sec 1, I was really shy and did not really want to volunteer for anything. As time passed, I got used to the environment. My seniors always had high expectations of us and I tried my very best to meet their expectations.

One of the memorable experiences I had was the Sec 2 Adventure training Camp at Pulau Ubin. It was challenging to build a tent as a group and we failed countless times while trying to do so. But we had to complete the tent, otherwise we would have no place to sleep at night. Another memorable moment during the camp was the campfire, where we sang campfire songs at the top of our lungs and laughed our heads off at other groups’ performances. The camp bonded everyone together and I learnt the value of resilience.

Taking over training as a Sec 4 cadet leader was a daunting task. It was a huge responsibility having to train the juniors in their drills, set expectations for them and learn how to build rapport with the juniors, thus earning their trust in me as a leader. But taking over a squad forced me to grow and pushed my boundaries. I overcame my shyness in front of a squad and learnt how to manage conflicts with my peers.

Along the way, I received a lot of invaluable advice from teachers and Cadet Inspectors. I am glad that I joined NPCC as I think that it is really a life-changing experience for me.

SI (NPCC) Liu Xiang (4R5)

Through NPCC, I have learnt to be more disciplined in assigned tasks and became more confident in taking over my juniors. Communication is a very important skill especially when we have to resolve conflicts.

As a Cadet Leader when I was in Sec 4, I had to break out of my comfort zone, and became more vocal and forthcoming during discussions with my squadmates and in leading my juniors. When I returned to NPCC as a Secondary 5 cadet, it gave me the opportunity to mentor the Sec 4 cadet leaders. The Sec 4 cadet leaders would often come to me for advice and I was able to build strong rapport with them even though I have not trained them personally in previous years. NPCC is an important aspect of my secondary school life. Apart from building strong friendships with my squadmates and juniors, I have evolved into a much more resilient, responsible and confident person.

SSGT (NPCC) Subbiah S/O Lakshmanan (5R1)

Being in NPCC for 4 years has instilled values in me, nurtured me to be a better person and most importantly, a leader. It has taught me many crucial life skills which I did not know about before joining NPCC. It has also improved my communication skills as cadets will be asked to work with other CCA’s and organise events. Through this journey, friendships were fostered and I met people from all walks of life. Despite tough training every week, I could see myself growing and gaining confidence in whatever I did. NPCC has given me the opportunity to be a leader and has become an essential part of my secondary school journey. I have had many enjoyable and unforgettable memories in this journey and sometimes I wish to go back to Secondary 1 to relive these moments.

SSGT (NPCC) M Mohamed Yasir (4R3)

Passing out parade

Pinning on badges for juniors

REDCROSSYOUTH

Youth Officers

Ms R. Ramadevi (Advisor),

Ms Ling Kai Xin Shauna (I/C), Mr Ng Jan Ile, Ms Toh Yen Nee and Ms Vimala Selvarasu Volunteer Instructor

Ms Wang Yu Qing Student Leaders

Chairpersons: Neo Hui En Rachael (4R3)

Vice-Chairpersons: Ethan Lee Jie (4R1) and Hazel Tay Yu Xin (4R2)

As we bid farewell to our graduating cohort during the World Red Cross Day ceremony, we celebrated the successes and contributions of the seniors who took pains to plan an enriching curriculum and fun activities for their juniors. It was also especially meaningful to see the graduating seniors welcome the new Sec 1 cadets by pinning enrolment badges on their new uniforms as they embark on their Red Cross journey.

Despite the pandemic, our cadets looked forward to participating in meaningful projects and masterclasses. This year our lower secondary cadets participated in a VIA project called Project #AOK Campaign which is a social media campaign aimed

at encouraging our cadets to display acts of kindness to others in trying times, such as COVID-19. They completed the acts of kindness through an activity game similar to Bingo.

Our Upper Secondary cadets also participated in a Dengue Awareness campaign which is a Digital Awareness Campaign aimed to spread dengue awareness and also allow cadets to understand the importance of dengue prevention in our community. The students had plenty of fun designing board games.

Even though the pandemic disrupted the physical masterclasses, our cadets still learnt a lot through the masterclasses conducted online. Through the Youth Ambassador Blood Programme, cadets learnt how to dispel the myths of blood donation and made a pitch to encourage their friends and family to donate blood to save lives as Singapore is currently facing a severe shortage of blood donors. Through the First Aid masterclasses, our cadets brushed up on their theoretical knowledge on how to provide basic first aid in times of emergency.

We continue to look forward to another year of exciting activities where cadets pick up useful knowledge of first aid,

blood donation advocacy, community service and disaster risk management. We hope our cadets live up to the Red Cross motto of serving humanity and saving lives as they grow to become humanitarian leaders of tomorrow.

Reflections

I have learnt a lot over the years in Red Cross Youth, from life-saving skills to soft skills such as problem-solving, communication and leadership skills. These skills have aided me in being a more caring and confident leader. Having the role as Chairperson entrusted to me has pushed me out of my comfort zone to lead the unit. I am pleased that I chose Red Cross Youth CCA because it has helped me grow into the person I am today.

Neo Hui En Rachael (Chairperson)

Red Cross Youth CCA has given me new experiences and opportunities that are unforgettable which has allowed me to grow and moulded me to become a better person. Throughout my leadership journey, I have faced many challenges and I am thankful for my batchmates who have supported me with their encouraging words and helped me overcome these difficulties.

Hazel Tay Yu Xin (Vice-Chairperson)

Volunteer instructor demonstrating CPR

CPR demonstration

Orientation day recruiting new cadets

Blood donation drive

Reacting in an emergency

STUDENTCOUNCIL

Teachers-in-charge

D’Cruz Mark Sanjay (I/C) and Glenn Yeong Zhen Pang (2I/C)

Student Leaders

President: Neha Raja Raman (3R1)

Vice-Presidents: Samsul Sasmeen (3R1) and Priyankar Balasubramani (3R1)

Executive Committee: Breia Lim Yu Jia (3R4), Junette Ong (3R2), Liz-Alva Ong (3R1) and So Wai Tat (3R3)

2021 has indeed been a challenging year for the Student Council but we still managed to carry out selfdirected activities amid these challenging times.

Our recruitment was done differently this year. The Sec 4s went into the sec 1 classes to conduct the annual recruitment talk and interviews were conducted via Zoom. Conducting the interviews virtually was a new and exciting experience for them and they fully embraced the challenge.

Meanwhile, the Sec 2 and 3 SCs have also been busy planning their Learning for Life Programme (LLP) projects in order to raise awareness among our fellow Bendemeerians on issues such as cyberbullying, stress management and animal abuse.

We look forward to another year of leading and being role models to all Bendemeerians.

Reflections

My time in the Student Council has taught me many skills. From drafting emails to planning school events, it’s been a wonderful experience. I will always be grateful for what the Student Council has taught me.

Neha Raja Raman (President)

I’m grateful for the exciting experiences and memories from my time as a student councillor. I am especially proud that we managed to conduct the Secondary 1 Orientation despite the Covid measures.

Priyanka Balasubramani (Vice-President)

Being in the Student Council has shown me that I’m much more capable than I thought I was. It has helped me embrace my leadership potential and it has made me a more confident person.

Samsul Sasmeen (Vice-President)

Players in motion

Teachers’ Day Radio Booth

Learning for Life (LLP) Programme

Sec One Recruitment Talk

STUDENTS’REFLECTIONS

Mr Kenneth Goh has helped me increase my passion to learn the Chinese Language in the past few months. I no longer despise the subject and sometimes even look forward to his CL lessons. Mr Goh knows that my Chinese is really bad so he uses English to help me understand the questions better. Even though my marks for the subject have not improved much, I believe that with such a great teacher, I just have to put in more effort so I can achieve my desired grades in the future.

– Dylan Siow, 1C1

Mr Lawrence Teng encourages me when I have failed my subject, and he also teaches me how to do well for Art. He also tells me to stay back after school so that I can improve the quality of my work. Then, when I stay back and have not eaten anything, he also volunteers to buy food for me so that I would not go hungry and that I can concentrate better. He also encourages me to come to school early because I used to always be late to school. Thus, I appreciate his efforts and the time he has spent giving me care and concern. Mr Teng is really very patient, and always provides guidance.

– Lu Qingfu, 1C1

Mrs Anusiyah Thiru comes to class enthusiastically and greets us with a smile. She is strict when she needs to be, and makes sure that we can follow her lessons well. She tries her best to make our lessons enjoyable and not bore us. She also teaches us Literature as well and is willing to put in time and effort to help us. No matter how bad her day may be, she always walks into class with a smile. She is caring and loving towards our class no matter how much nonsense and stress we give her.

– Nur Humaira binte Gudubadsha Malik John, 1C1

Mr Michael Lee cares for our safety in the workshop when we are using the machines. He teaches us patiently step by step, and ensures that we understand all the concepts. When I was working on my project, I had many difficulties and was facing many challenges. He taught me to be resilient and how to find solutions. For NPCC, he makes us feel motivated to attend the CCA sessions by preparing fun games and activities.

– Kadhar Bava Ayesha Parveen, 1C2

Ms Shauna Ling teaches me English Language and is also my Form Teacher and my CCA teacher. She is a very caring teacher who often enquires about our day and how we feel. She makes sure that I understand her lessons and is very easy to get along with, someone I can approach without any hesitation. Ms Ling shows a lot of care and concern for us as a class and has inspired me within this short period of time. I really look up to her a lot!

– Amira, 1C2

Ms Angela Chan is my Chinese Language teacher and is very easy to get along with as she is really friendly. She is someone I can approach whenever I have any doubt or query. I can tell her any problem and she would be able to give me good advice. Ms Chan does not treat us differently despite our marks for her subject. I like how she is very encouraging and kind to all of us, and would like to expression my deep appreciation for her.

– Jayla Aw Yun Chyi, 1C3

Mrs Sharon Chin has helped me through tough times. She never lets us lag behind in class. She gives us extra lessons so that we can catch up on more difficult chapters and topics. I would really like to express my happiness and gratitude to Mrs Chin for being such a great teacher.

– Maana,1C3

Ms Ivy Lim is always there for me and my class, 1C3. She is always looking out for us and compliments our class every morning, believing that it would make our day – and it really does! She is super reliable, as if we have any issue, we know we can always tell her as she would always try her best to help us in any way possible. Ms Ivy, in my eyes, is really indescribable.

– Levina, 1C3

Ms Denise Fung is someone who is very friendly and easygoing. I enjoy being in her class as I am comfortable approaching her whenever I have doubts. Ms Fung is very patient and gentle when she is explaining questions that I am not clear about. Whenever I have something that I am struggling with, whether it is in my studies or my relationships with my friends or classmates, I know that I can share it with her as I can rely on her.

– Lohitha, 1C4

Mrs Yap Bee Hong is a very strict and nice teacher. She would do her best to try and help all her students, and is a very well-respected teacher in the school. I appreciate all the work she has put in for us and the life-skills she has taught us. I would like to support her even if she isn’t eligible for the award this year!

– Cui Xinran, 1C4

Ms Lu Yueh Ju cares for me in her own ways, sometimes even by scolding me for some of the mistakes I have made. Since the beginning of the year, I have felt that she is a helpful teacher who always wants to spot our mistakes without fail, so that we can learn properly. Ms Lu shows a high level of concern and I am grateful to have a teacher like her.

– Laurence Gavin Potter, 1C5

Ms Wendy Hu always checks in on me whenever I feel troubled. She teaches me History and ensures that we can understand her lessons properly. She always asks the class whenever we are down, and we can inform her whenever we are feeling upset or require help. She is a kind and understanding teacher, and manages her class well.

– Nur’Syurafina binte Sulaiman, 1C5

Ms Aisyah has been a very caring, considerate, helpful and understanding teacher ever since the start of the year. Whenever we need help, we would go to her. When we are emotionally upset, she would speak to us privately, call, and check in on us. Ms Aisyah is really a joy to be with, as she shows a lot of understanding towards our views and feelings.

– Rena Ho Jia Yi, 1C5

STUDENTS’REFLECTIONS

Ms Lim Ying Shung has always been a huge inspiration for me during the past few months in Bendemeer Secondary School. Although she already teaches with a lot of effort, some of us are still very weak. She uses her own time after school to teach us and puts in even more time and effort so that we can improve. When we are sad that we can’t get the marks we want, Ms Lim tries hard to cheer us up and let us to continue learning the subject happily.

– Liew Junyan, 1C6

Ms Mavis Lee makes her lessons really interesting and fun. She tries to ensure that her lessons are enjoyable and engaging, and is also very open to suggestions. Her teaching is really good too! Ms Lee is very patient with her students and would willingly spend her time to stay back after school to make sure we understand what she is teaching. She does not scold her students unless she has already given multiple warnings and reminders, and usually just explains why they should pay attention in class, instead of nagging at us. I have learnt to be as patient as Ms Lee due to her being such a good role model.

– Xanice, 1C6

Ms Jasmine Kaur has always been a supportive teacher for students who are worried or stressed. She is a hardworking teacher and tries her best to keep students happy and engaged. Ms Kaur ensures that her students love the subject and work, so that they won’t get bored or disinterested. She is really able to make her students enjoy her lessons!

– Santhakumar Guna Akshaya, 1C6

Mr Dennis Wong is very passionate and enthusiastic when teaching us. He always tries his best in giving us work to study for our exams. He also motivates his students to do homework and class work that has been given. Mr Wong does not give up on students who have failed the subject and helps them to do better. He is quite cheerful when it comes to helping the class with difficult problems.

– Javier Chan Wei Hao, 1C6

Mr Tan Bak Cheng is a very kind and understanding teacher. He is very cooperative when he is with us and tries his best to get us a spot in the ISH or running track as he understands that we love PE and likes having fun outdoors. He is a caring teacher and always reminds us to stay one metre apart from one another due to the current situation.

– Roy Lim, 1C6

Mrs Charmaine Tan cares for me even when I thought of quitting Cross Country as my CCA, as I once thought that it was too tiring and strenuous. I shared my problems with her and she lent me a listening ear, giving me good and helpful advice. Mrs Tan’s kind words really helped me a lot and made me become more confident in myself.

– Chee Teng Wai, 1C7

Ms Wendy Hu makes the effort to understand me. Whenever I lose my temper, some other teachers might lecture me for shouting, but she would check to see if I am okay. She always talks patiently to me. When I am sick, Ms Hu would ask if I am feeling well. When I feel hurt by others, I would feel safe to share my feelings with her.

– Nur Asmaa Binte Syed Abdulgafoor, 1C8

Ms Dawn Lim always comes up with fun activities, such as making slime, treasure hunts and designing notebooks. She is the best CCA teacher because she is caring and fun, even if she can be a little strict at times. Ms Lim always cares for all her CCA members and always gives us breaks. Sometimes, she might scold us when we don’t show appreciation or pay attention to our seniors, but that is only because she wants us to learn the value of respecting others.

– Nur Alyssa Binte Alias, 1C8

Mrs Elaine Wong has put in so much effort in helping me with Mathematics. Each time I do not understand a topic, she would ask me to stay back with her after school and she teaches me in a way that I can understand better. During these sessions, she would always show us love and care by giving us our favourite biscuits. She always cracks jokes to lighten our mood. She always talks to us like a friend, making it easier for us to communicate with her. She cares for us so much that we can even share our problems openly with her.

– Saleema, 2R1

Mrs Poon Chong Cheah actively helps all her students and treats us fairly. Just this year, there was a new student who joined the Choir. She was not able to meet the expectations of the CCA conductor, but Mrs Poon came to look for me and told me that we needed to work together to help this particular student practise her singing more so that she would be able to catch up and improve. This was really a significant moment for me, as I got to see how caring Mrs Poon could be.

– Tan Zi Lin, 2R1

Mr Mark Sanjay demonstrates an exceptional amount of effort in making sure each and every student in the class to grasp the required concept. He provides us with sufficient practices in order to ensure that we are able to do well in our exams, and encourages us not to give up and to continue trying out best, despite past setbacks. Mr Sanjay teaches us how to manage and allocate our time and makes sure to show us interesting videos related to Geography and the world around us!

– Shairafaye, 2R2

Mrs Anusiyah Thiru takes pride in teaching the class and shows an immeasurable amount of care in ensuring that each and every student understands the content thoroughly. She makes sure that everyone in the class is able to keep up with the pace of the lesson and relentlessly encourages us to clarify whatever doubt or question we might have. Whenever someone in class is feeling unwell - mentally, emotionally or physically – Mrs Thiru puts in the extra effort to attend to the student’s needs. She constantly motivates everyone as a class to improve on our writing, and never gives up on anyone.

– Shairafaye Romaguera Revindran, 2R2

Mr Roger Lim always tries to make his lessons interesting and fun. I got more interested in Science because of Mr Lim but unfortunately he’s not teaching us now. However, he would still check in on us to check if we are okay or if we are struggling in Science. He is always ready to help and always remains calm. I rarely see him being angry raising his voice.

– Mohamed Rukkunudeen Thasneem, 2R2 Mrs Lim Pei Lin is very passionate and caring when teaching us. She always tries to help her students weaker in Math. At the end of the day, she makes sure everyone understands what she is teaching. Moreover, she summarises the difficult steps into simpler ones that are easier to understand. When I was in Sec 1, I totally did not do that well in the subject, but this

year, she has changed my perception of it so much. In addition, during lessons, Mrs Lim shares her personal experiences and cracks jokes with us, making her lessons more engaging.

– Muralidharan Yazhini, 2R2

Mr Eric Choo always makes our Math lessons interesting by using a variety of online platforms like SLS and Google Classroom. He does not only teach us during school hours but is also always available anytime as he allows us to contact him as well. During exam periods, he motivates us and helps us to be calm. All the efforts he has taken are countless, and I would really like to express my gratitude to him.

– Hrithic Kesh, 2R3

Ms Shamini helps me understand what I have done wrong and helps me change for the better. I have committed some mistakes, such as talking in class and disrespecting some teachers. Ms Shamini has actually talked to me very kindly and takes pains to explain to me why I should change. Since I don’t really learn anything from being sent to detention, I appreciate how Ms Shamini spends time and effort to explain my mistakes to me, instead of sending me straight to detention like how some other teachers might do. In class, Ms Shamini also tells us some jokes and tries her best to make us comfortable in her History lessons. For students who cannot understand what is being taught, she breaks it down and explains it to us more clearly.

– Khushal D, 2R4

Mr Zulkifli inspires me to do better in life. Every lesson, we would start the class by greeting him and reciting a quote for the day. We then spend time expanding our thinking and relating it to real-life contexts. This has helped me understand more about things I am unaware of. Mr Zulkifi frequently sends us articles via our class’s WhatsApp group chat to expand our knowledge. Lessons may get boring at times but he cracks jokes to keep us

entertained. He shares his personal life experiences with us and I feel that I have gained a lot of knowledge in different aspects. Mr Zulkifi really deserves this award as he has been encouraging his students to keep going on in life to succeed.

– Jeona Dalina, 2R4

Mrs See Geok Yian has been an excellent guide for me, one who knew how to illuminate a soul with her light. Back when she was my Form Teacher, I knew that if I had any problem, she would be one of the few teachers I could go to. I hope and wish that once again, Mrs See would be able to teach my class, as I move ahead in my secondary school life.

– Khan Faiza, 2R5

Mr Chin Jie is a laid back yet stern teacher whom we can relate to. He puts in effort to show us how to play by the rules and supervises us properly. He shows us care and concern and shares personal stories to infuence us to pick up important values in life.

– Sarah, 2R5

Mrs Chin Chen Han makes us stay back after school to go through the lessons that some students might have missed, just to ensure that we understand better what has been taught in class. She explains the lessons clearly to us and makes them fun and enjoyable. She also gives us extra tasks and assignments so that we can practice more.

– Wong Jun Sheng, 2R5

Ms Charlott Lee is a devoted educator who is willing to understand one’s feelings and help others to hone their skills so that they can learn better. She always tries to find alternatives to make her sessions fun and enjoyable. Ms Lee has always been a sociable and caring educator, and has been my light and support during my worst times.

– Catherin Gibson, 2R6

Mrs Sharon Wee is very caring and patient. Once when I messed up my dishes, she didn’t scold me but instead encouraged me to prepare another dish. She is very encouraging and when any one of us makes a mistake, she would be very patient and teach us the correct way.

– Jenneke Lau, 2R6

Mdm Noorlizah goes the extra mile to help us. During HBL, I had difficulty doing my work on SLS as I was unable to access it. Mdm Noorlizah was always online and replied me as quickly as she could to help me out. During Art lessons, she would always give recommendations and

STUDENTS’REFLECTIONS

suggestions when we are working on our art pieces, and I find that it really helps a lot. When I feel sick or unwell, Mdm Noorlizah would come and comfort me.

– Xin Yun, 2R6

My Tay Guangyu has been teaching 2R6 for two years and although he seldom displays his feelings, I am sure that he has lots of stress being a subject teacher of our class, and as a teacher-in-charge of my CCA, NCC (Land). Mr Tay has helped me do better for Mathematics this year when I stay back for the Math Sunshine Programme.

– Chan Shao Xuan, 2R6

Mr Edwin Ang would always ask me whether I’m okay whenever he sees me being quiet or upset. He inspires me to be a better person and always makes me have the motivation to study somehow. He is very patient with us, and when he knows we do not understand some topics, he would ensure that he keeps teaching us until we get it before moving on to the next topic. Mr Ang always makes his lessons fun by doing experiments in class and sharing jokes with us. I feel that my results have improved so much in Sec 2 because he has motivated me to work harder. He is really the best teacher I know.

– Lee Yu Jing, 2R7

Ms Madeleine Ong always provides good advice and gives me motivation to come to school. She has been helping me from the very first day I met her. She has been asking me not to give up on my studies. Even though I almost did give up at times, Ms Ong has always counseled me and made me change my mind, so that I would work harder.

– Nur’Ashura, 2R7

Mr Seah Seng Chye has always encouraged not only me, but the whole class, to study hard, pass our tests and exams, and to never give up on ourselves. He keeps on pushing us to do our best and gives us many pointers on how to pass our tests and exams. Most importantly, Mr Seah has never scolded us even if we don’t listen properly to him.

– Keith Tan Bo Lin, 2R8

Ms Nasyitah is one of the most caring teachers I have known. She is kind and funny too, and the way she teaches the class makes her lessons easy to understand. She is really an amazing teacher who motivates and encourages me to do well. I hope that she can be my teacher every year as she is so great!

– Simran, 2R9

Mr Ng Jan Ile is very passionate when he is teaching. When the class seems to be bored or tired, he would crack a joke to lighten the mood. He is very caring to his students as he tries to give minimal homework, understanding how stressed some of us might be. Mr Jan always makes sure his students understand his lessons and gives weekly quizzes to ensure no one is falling behind for POA.

– Ly Chanvirakboth, 3R1

Mrs Eileen Ho is very engaging during Chemistry lessons. Whenever students require help, she strives to help and clears her students’ doubts immediately. Not only that, she is very encouraging and motivates us to do better. She never fails to make me love Chemistry even more. She pays attention to every single one of her students and really cares for us. When I need help with a certain question, I can always ask her for help. I am able to share more with her than just Chemistry, so I really respect and treasure her a lot as sometimes she seems to be more like a friend.

– Nicolle Ong, 3R1

Mrs Lo May Ling has been teaching me for the past three years. She has always emphasised that a student’s learning is more important than grades. She has taught me how to have a healthy competition with myself to improve my grades and has always been telling my class not to

compare ourselves with others as everyone has one’s own strengths and weaknesses. Mrs Lo always goes the extra mile to make our lessons as enjoyable as possible by giving us online quizzes in game form and recording voiceovers for us. I would really like to thank Mrs Lo for being such a thoughtful and determined teacher.

– Priyanka, 3R1

Mr G Murugan always succeeds in pushing my classmates and I to work towards our fullest potential. He finds different ways to make us understand his lessons better. He has also taught us many valuable life lessons that I know I will carry with me for a very long time.

– Akshara, 3R1

Ms Lim Siew Liam has always been there for my class. Whenever we have any doubts, she would enthusiastically explain to us again the concepts we are unclear about, and provides even more information on them. She placed our well-being first after finding out that many of us had been rushing to complete our coursework, and gave us more time to complete our Biology TYS. I thought that was really considerate of her, showing us that she is not only concerned about our work but our well-being as well. Ms Lim is very passionate when teaching us and never fails to inspire me to do my best.

– Hazel, 3R2

Mrs Cynthia Ho has been teaching me Science for three years in a row since I was in Sec 1, and she has always helped me to get my A1 for the subject because of the way she teaches. She is a strict teacher, and that is a good way to help us learn because she can control the class well. However, she is also very nice and is able to provide further explanations to those who require more one-to-one attention. Mrs Ho really deserves this award for her kindness and always being so knowledgeable.

– Eunice Siah Hsu Anne, 3R2

Mr Dave Manoj has helped me catch up on all the lessons I had missed, ever since I joined Bendemeer Secondary School on 6 July. As my Form Teacher, he has asked me about my well-being, constantly reassuring me that I would do well and that I did not need to be stressed out. He makes sure that I cope well in school and has helped me a lot with the coursework for Design & Technology. Mr Dave is indeed one of the best teachers I have met in the school so far.

– Ye Yint Tha Aung, 3R2

Ms Loke Pui San shows care to the class when she is trying her best to get her students to improve. She takes a step forward to point out what’s wrong with our work. Ms Loke doesn’t wait until the last minute to wait for us to go to her. She is always willing to stay back just for us and she not only helps us improve our Mathematics, but also works closely with other subject teachers to ensure that we get sufficient revision time for our exams.

– So Wai Tat, 3R3

Mrs Ng Qian Hui makes her lessons engaging and exciting and tends to make jokes in class. She guides us a lot in our work and tries to help us whenever she can. Even though she may appear strict at times, she is actually very nice and caring. Mrs Ng also gets serious when required and takes discipline very seriously. She is also a very nice person to talk to and communicate with.

– Chong U Hong, 3R3

Mr Eugene Khoo shows care and concern towards us. He always makes sure that everyone is able to understand what he is going through in class. As it was our first time learning POA, we did struggle to cope with it at first, so he would always come forward to make sure that we understand our work. I like his teaching methods because they are very clear and easy to understand.

– Khatun Nazia, 3R3

Mrs Loh Choy Fong is very caring and patient with us all the time. She always goes the extra mile to teach us and makes sure that we do well by making us stay back after school on Fridays to conduct extra lessons.

During holidays, we also have Zoom sessions online so that we could catch up with the syllabus. Mrs Loh would always be very positive and patient when teaching us, and always ensures that we understand concepts before she moves on.

– Su Yankai, 3R4

Mr Glenn Tan is extremely kind, caring, understanding and approachable. He always gives us ample time to complete our homework. For students who are shy to ask questions openly in class, he would willingly come up to us and provide assistance and guidance very patiently. This ensures that none of us are excluded from the process of learning. Mr Tan understands that some introverted students require more personal attention and thus, he never fails to go the extra mile for us. He plans lessons that allow us to give our opinions and questions online, and spends a lot of time giving us individual feedback that would help us understand how to do better in English.

– Akshadha, 3R4

Mr Zuhri treats me with respect and care, always asking me how I am doing in school, at home and outside. Even though sometimes I am annoyed because of detention matters, I know he cares because he always tells me to stay out of trouble. Mr Zuhri makes me feel as if he is my friend whenever he talks to me and he makes me not to give up on school. I really appreciate him as my Discipline Master as he has really helped me to grow since I was in Sec 1.

– Zico, 3R5

Ms Ruth Tang has always been really kind and practical. She would always give us sufficient time to do our work and is always willing to be there for us. She checks to see if we are okay, and also talks to us like we are friends. Ms Tang also puts in a lot of effort in her slides and tries to make her lessons as fun as possible. For her constant efforts and kindness she definitely deserves this award!

– Selvaletchumi D/O Rajasagran, 3R5

Mdm Wang Hui Lin is a very responsible teacher who takes good care of her class. She keeps track of what we are doing. Mdm Wang has really helped me a lot in my Chinese Language, and always encourages me to do well in my exams.

– Shannon Lim, 3R6

Mr Ong Sze Kiat is very passionate and enthusiastic when teaching us. He always tries his best to help his students who are weaker in whatever subject he teaches. He would also motivate and support us, never giving up on academically weaker students. He spurs our enthusiasm to learn.

– Ajay Yong Zhi Jie, 3R7

Mdm Jamie Chua has been really understanding since she became my Form Teacher this year. She is one of the few teachers in the school who are able to make me feel so calm. Mdm Chua often tries to understand and comfort me whenever she can. I feel like she is always there to help me in any way possible.

– Mazlynda Binte Mohmad, 3R8

Ms Vimala always ensures that my classmates and I are doing okay during our Food Studies lessons. As some of us are not fast learners, she is always there for us and provides clearer explanations so that all of us can understand better. In her form class, she is always outgoing and is easy to get along with. Whenever she sees her students who are unwell or if something doesn’t seem right with anyone, she would always be there to talk to them or say positive things. Ms Vimala always encourages us to put in our best effort in our studies.

– Natasha Nur Hijjiah, 3R8

Ms Denise Fung is always caring and willing to push us to do better in English, no matter how annoying our class can be at times. She isn’t just an amazing teacher, as she can relate to us as a friend as well. She cares a lot about our stress levels and mental health, and tries her best to check up on us. She loves my English class as if we are her own children, and I am very grateful for that.

– Juana Kabir, 3R8

Mr Ng Wee Nghee always comes into class with a very cheerful attitude. He is always concerned about all his students and would ask us to rest if we are feeling unwell. Furthermore, even if there is a student who might be disrespectful in class, Mr Ng would still be nice and ensures that all students understand what he is teaching. He might be strict at times, but he is definitely still a person I look up to a lot.

– Nurul Khairini Binte Abdull Aziz, 3R8

Ms Nicole Choong is a very nice and kind counsellor. She gives good advice and is very understanding, easily one of the teachers I can depend on the most whenever I have a problem. She has helped me a lot and gives me motivation ever since I was in Sec 1. I am thankful to have such nice and gentle lady helping me out. She is like a buddy I can rant at in school, and is my listening ear. She really deserves this award.

– Nur Zallifah Syafiqah Binte Zulkifli, 3R8

Ms Jasmine Kaur works really hard to ensure that we are all ready for our examinations. She came up with Biology notes to help us understand important concepts. Her lessons are always interesting as she always engages us and answers all our questions patiently. She does not only care about our academic work, but she also cares about our well-being. When I was in Sec 3, I was really stressed up and couldn’t really cope with my studies. She would text me to ensure that I am doing okay. I have broken down multiple times in front of her and she has never failed to comfort me while giving me advice.

– Audrey Goh Jiaja, 4R1

Mdm Jamie Chua is extremely caring. Despite me not handing in homework on time, she gives me extra time and even set time aside to teach me after school. Mdm Chua gives us a lot of motivation to keep going, even through these trying times. I know she sets aside time for her students, helping them to keep up with the other students. She also makes it clear that everyone works at his or her own pace, and makes sure that we do not push ourselves too hard to keep up with students who are faster.

– Ethan Lee Jie, 4R1

Ms Ruth Tang is a very passionate and enthusiastic teacher. I always look forward to my F&N lessons as they are very engaging. Ms Tang is very supportive and willing to help students who are weak in certain topics. She would teach us in a detailed manner, and creates Kahoot quizzes to make her lessons more fun and engaging. Moreover, whenever we have F&N ISP sessions or extra lessons, she always cares for our health and worries that we have not taken our lunch. Hence, she frequently provides food and snacks for us to stay energetic and healthy. I really hope Ms Tang will be selected for the SAC Caring Teacher Award for her kindness, big heart and graciousness.

– Khadeejah Beevi, 4R2

Mrs Agnes Tan provides precise feedback on how to answer questions more efficiently to be able to score better. She carries out timed practices for us to be more familiarised with exam questions. Thanks to her tips and clear explanations, I have been able to improve my scores for Geography and that really motivates me to do better. She treats everyone equally and never gives up on students who are weaker in the subject.

– Uthaichai Tosita, 4R2

Mdm Lee Poh Ching genuinely cares for her students, not only for the good of their grades but also for their well-being.

When students approach her for help, she clarifies our doubts quickly and ensures that we understand what she is teaching. Mdm Lee constantly encourages us to do well, not only for the subjects she teaches but also for all our subjects. She shows a high level of care for my class’s post-secondary routes as well. She never gives up on us no matter how badly we may perform.

– Sarah Nichole Fernandez, 4R2

Mr Edwin Ang has shown a lot of care for me since I have known hi. Back in 2018, he was my CCA teacher and would already be checking in on me to make sure that everything was fine if I happened not to show up for practices. When he became my Biology teacher in 2020, I was not doing well in Science due to some personal issues. He would ask me if I required assistance and when I finally showed improvement, he took note of it and praised me for my efforts. His actions have made me feel grateful towards him.

– Ang Chen Ming Kurt, 4R3

Mr Han Hong Kwong is a very caring and understanding teacher. He is very serious in whatever he does and is always respectful of others. Mr Han always likes to talk about ‘character’. He has educated me since Secondary 3, and I have definitely become a better person under his care. He takes pride in what he does and never gives up. He is currently managing my class which has 37 students as our only Form Teacher. His lessons are what I look forward to in school, as they are always fun and interactive. I hope he gets this award as he really deserves it.

– M Mohamed Yasir, 4R3

Ms Caroline Murty is my English Language teacher and she is very easygoing and fun. She is someone I can approach without any hesitation. As my English is weak, she is always there for me whenever I am in need

of her assistance. For example, recently, my O level Oral exam was approaching and I did not do well for my past two oral exams. I was really disappointed in myself but Ms Murty helped me overcome this fear I had of the oral exam. She is always there whenever I have any doubt and I honestly feel that my English has improved because of her help.

– Mina Shattarai, 4R3

Mdm Soh Bee Keow is very helpful and always ensures that we understand the subject. She would willingly stay back to help those who are facing difficulties. Not only that, she also helps students who are not coping in their studies or those who are unwell. She is also understanding and encouraging towards those who have not completed their work as well.

– Rachel, 4R3

Ms Kelly Lee has always motivated us to continue working hard and tries her best to help every student in need. She will ensure that she provides as much help as possible, to the point that she would stay back after school to assist us in our work. Once, she gave me advice to keep me motivated throughout my studies. I feel that she deserves this award because of how she treats her students well with much patience, care and concern.

– Nur Rafidah Binte Mohamed Rafi, 4R4

Mrs Elaine Wong has always guided me whenever I struggle with making decisions. She is also very helpful especially when I am having trouble with Math. She also makes jokes from time to time, to cheer the class up and we definitely feel a bond with her. Mrs Wong is also a great form teacher, as she never fails to guide her students. She has even bought us food when she heard that some of us had no money, something which is very touching to me. She really deserves all the respect and care we have for her.

– Angela Tan, 4R5

Mdm Karamjit Kaur has always helped me in remembering all the topics in a simple way, by using mind-maps and notes, so that we could use them to prepare for our exams. She also knows that I always does well in Social Studies, so she continues to encourage me to keep it up. Mdm Kaur is really the sweetest teacher I have ever met and I am really appreciative of her presence in class.

– Kirthikvelan s/o Mohanavelu, 4R5

Mr Dave Manoj always finds ways to make his theory lessons more interesting. For example, he set up a point system so that we will be more motivated and engaged in his lessons. I used to miss out a lot on D&T until one day, Mr Dave talked to me and tried to get me to come more often as he did not want me to fail my coursework. He would also always help me out by giving me ideas and telling me which areas of the coursework I would need to work on more.

– Intan Nadhrah Nafisah, 4R6

Mr Glenn Yeong has always been there for us, both as a friend and as a good teacher. I have known him for three years and he always checks in on his students. Mr Yeong always appears very genuine to us as he often tries to put himself in our shoes. When we are stressed about our academic work and deadlines, he gives us assurances and reduces the amount of homework. When I had a confict with a friend, he bothered to speak to us to help us resolve it.

– Mohamed Raahil, 4R6

Mr Han Hong Kwong has demonstrated values such as resilience and kindness. For my coursework, he has been guiding me all along, motivating his students to do well for our elective module. He takes time to think of ways to help us improve our work and to do better. He makes us feel engaged in a subject that I used to find boring. Mr Han has always been there for his students whenever we need him, and he is a kind person with a good heart and a burning passion to help his students do well, even when he is short of manpower at the D&T workshop.

– Ryan Soeigiarto, 5R1

Ms Tan Jia Hui has helped me with my homework and motivated me to do well in my studies. When I was in Sec 2, I didn’t like doing my homework and did not want to come to school, but Ms Tan has helped me overcome these issues.

– Gerald Tan, 5R1

Ms Sabrina Wee has always been there for me. When I was feeling really down and confused about what course to take and about my studies, she was there to motivate me and give me advice. Whenever I have problems with my friendships, she would always be there to help me as well. She makes me appreciate myself and lets me know that I am not alone. She tells me that I am unique and that I am the only Mei Xin in this world, motivating me a lot.

– Lim Mei Xin, 4R6

Mr Siew Yew Kong always helps me the best way he can. I have had some tough times dealing with Mathematics, but he’s always around to help me when I have questions. He also tries to praise me whenever I do better for the subject. Mr Siew is such a great teacher and always tells us to never give up. Not only that, he also gives us formula sheets to help us with Mathematics.

– Maatoori, 4R8

Ms Goh Hong Lan has constantly encouraged me to do better and is very patient with me when I do not know how to work on a particular topic. Even though she may be unwell sometimes, she still comes to class and teaches us to the best of her ability. She has always asked me to stay back to practice more and even though I complain about that sometimes, I can feel the love and care she has for me. She really is one of the best teachers to me.

– Raihan Shukor, 5R1

Mr Santhanraj has been caring towards me and helped me in the subject that I have failed in. He has made things clearer and easier for me to cope with. Whenever we go to class, he would always ask how we are and if we are feeling well. He can be very friendly towards us. Even though Tamil was my worst subject, Mr Raj has made me believe that I can succeed in getting good grades for it.

– Ragurm s/o Rameshkumar, 5R1

Acknowledgements

The 2021 E-School Magazine is proudly brought to you by the School Publications Committee comprising Mrs Anusiyah Thiru, Mrs Ng Qian Hui and Mrs Charmaine Tan. We would like to thank our committee advisor, Mr Glenn Tan, for his support and assistance.

The committee would like to thank our school leaders Mr Chen Fook Pang, Mr Lawrence Poon and Mr Chrys Ho for their guidance and support.

We would also like to show our deepest appreciation for Mr Ng Wee Nghee and the team of student photographers without whom this publication would have been impossible to produce. Thank you for providing the committee with photos capturing all of the significant moments in the year!

We would like to further extend our immense appreciation and gratitude especially to Mr Ng for always being ever-ready to provide the committee with whatever photographs that we need during the compilation process. We are deeply grateful for his patience and obliging nature.

Acknowledgement for art work within this magazine:

Chen Yu Qi (3R2 of 2021)

Ngamwong Warit (3R3 of 2021)

Wang Wenting (2R2 of 2021)

Chen Jiale (2R3 of 2021)

Mr Glenn TanChengH

E n gl )hsi

MrsAnusiyah

Mun Charmaine

MrsNgQian Hui