The Mayflower Promise (Issue 4, 2023)

MFSS Publicity Team Presents

THE MAYFLOWER MAYFLOWER PROMISE Issue No. 4, 2023

In This Issue: PROGRAMMES & CELEBRATIONS!

Learning Activities!

Grad/Prom Night!

Craft & Tech Showcase

Inclusivity Fiesta: Purple Parade

Math Amazing Race

MF Open House

Social Studies Seminar Celebration of Learning!

MFGT! 1

Enriching Experiences Batam VIA Trip

PA Cultural Exchange Trip to Ho Chi Minh Pattaya VIA Trip UGs in the Community

CELEBRATION OF LEARNING!

CoL Day was held on 23 October, when students were given an avenue to showcase their learning through the projects they have been diligently working on for the first part of the year. The form teachers selected at least 3 of the most interesting projects to be presented on CoL Day. After the sharing, the classes were encouraged to ask the presenters questions they had.

While the Sec Ones were required to complete a Digital Literacy Module, the other levels of students could either embark on a project of their own choice or pick one of the many school-curated projects developed by our academic departments to offer students a range of options.

The end result was a myriad of projects: a clear indication of the varied interests our students have that go beyond the curriculum. At the end of the session, the presenters were awarded a small gift and a certificate of appreciation for a job well done. click here for more pictures and video clips!

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SEC 3 HUMANITIES SEMINAR

Empowering the student voice

The Social Studies Seminar was held as a post- examination activity for Secondary 3 students. Besides learning about the negative impact of diversity in Singapore, the seminar aimed to build a sense of community between the cohort as they engaged in thoughtful discussions, shared ideas and insights and explored strategies for promoting social cohesion in Singapore.

To prepare the students for their presentations, the principles of inquiry-based learning were embraced, empowering participants to take an active role in their learning. Rather than providing predetermined answers, this method encouraged students to ask questions, investigate, and critically analyze information, fostering a deeper understanding of the complex issues. While they were provided a few case studies to get started, students were required to find their own sources and to make an informed judgement as to who played a bigger role in ensuring peace and harmony in an increasingly diverse Singapore.

After the preparatory work was done, the best teams selected from each class presented their views and to respond to questions/rebuttals raised by the other groups as well as the audience. All teams chosen to present were awarded prizes and amongst the teams, the team from 3J walked away as the Best Team [Overall].

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Creativity Takes Centre Stage: Craft & Tech Showcase

The Craft & Technology Department held their annual WIP (Work-InProgress) exhibition on 18 October 2023. The exhibition celebrated the students’ learning progress and technical competencies.

Students displayed their creative work and fruits of labour proudly to their family and friends through an exhibition. By planning the exhibition, students also gained valuable experience in preparing for the presentation of their projects, refining their communication skills and embracing the spirit of collaboration and innovation.

MATH AMAZING RACE

Mathematics concepts came alive for our Sec Ones in this hourlong, adrenaline pumping race, where students learnt to collaborate in groups to solve 5 Math puzzles.

The questions are designed to test their Sec 1 Math knowledge in a real-world situation, as well as give them a teaser of what is coming in Sec 2.

Students had to apply learned concepts in the authentic scenarios given to them and even acquire new content on the go through videos in order to solve the puzzles. Critical thinking and team work were crucial in this race, which covered concepts like mensuration, probability and logic training among others.

Click here to see more photos!

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PRELUDE TO OPEN HOUSE

Mayflower Secondary School's 2023 Open House saw a huge number of parents and primary school students visiting the school. A prelude to this event was kicked off with a series of primary school visits, where Mayflower’s spirited mascot, Mightee, played a central role in capturing the attention of young minds.

Click here to see Mightee in action!

Our Open House Ambassadors at the various primary schools also interacted confidently with primary six students at the different schools, informing them of the activities and life of a Mayflowerian.

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To ensure our Open House Ambassadors were well-equipped for the actual event on 18th November, they underwent comprehensive training sessions conducted by the Publicity team.

This preparation not only empowered them to articulate their perspectives effectively but also instilled confidence in their roles as school representatives. These Secondary 1 Open House Ambassadors took the lead in sharing their personal experiences with primary school students and their parents. Such an interactive approach provided invaluable insights to life at Mayflower Secondary School.

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MF Open House Highlighting the diversity of offerings at Mayflower Secondary School, the CCA leaders also played a pivotal role in preparing their members for their respective performances. Leading their respective groups, they rehearsed and prepared for a vibrant showcase of the school's cocurricular activities, contributing to a dynamic and engaging atmosphere on 18 November.

Click to see our Open House Memories

Subject teachers were also readily available to offer parents valuable insights into various subjects. Their presence was instrumental in fostering a strong parent-teacher partnership, as they took the time to discuss curriculum details, teaching methodologies, and learning objectives. With a commitment to open communication, these educators ensured that parents gained a comprehensive understanding of what their children would be learning and how best to support their academic journey. By offering subject-specific information, teachers aimed to empower parents in making informed choices for their child's secondary education.

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The success of the 2023 Open House for Mayflower Secondary School can be attributed to the remarkable cooperative energy exhibited by the Mayflowerian family. Students, teachers, school leaders, General Office and OSO staff who seamlessly came together, creating an atmosphere of enthusiasm and unity that resonated throughout the event. Every small effort plays a crucial role. It is the convergence of those seemingly insignificant actions that culminates into achieving our goal. Thank you everyone for your contribution. Your effort and contributions are greatly appreciated and valued.

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MAYFLOWER’S GOT TALENT! On Friday, 15 September, a group of talented students performed for the finals of Mayflower Got Talent during assembly period. The crowd loved the performances that was put up. Congratulations to the winners and the Arts Ambassadors for the job well done!

Various performances were put up by different groups of students, with a resounding applause for the winning pair - Cheok An Ting and Pramisan Rai from 3J. They put on a performance to Psy’s Gangnam Style!

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SEC 4 GRADUATION

29 September was a bittersweet day for the Sec 4 seniors. They celebrated the milestone together, relived memories with their Sec 2 classes and uncovered the time capsule they had set aside two years ago. They shared tears of joy and laughter with their peers and teachers.

We wish you all the best in your future endeavours!

Click here for more class photos!

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SEC 4 PROM NIGHT 15 November 2023

Theme: Lights, Camera, Action!

Prom King - Eyan 4I Prom Queen - Kimi 4I

It was a night of glitz and glamour for the graduating cohort. The students were treated to a series of performances by our very own students. In order to decide on the Best Dressed Male and Females, representatives from each class had to do a catwalk and strike a pose on stage. Rain Zhuo (4E) and Chong Ya Ting (4I) were unanimously awarded Best Dressed in their category. We hope the teachers had a ball of a time too!

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BATAM VIA TRIP MF embarked on an overseas VIA trip to Batam from 7 to 10 November. A group of caring and highly motivated students consisting of Community Champions and civic-minded individuals came together to organise activities to engage orphans in Batam.

The orphanage that MF visited provide homes to children who have no families or have come from broken families. MF also visited Sekolah Misi Bagi Bangsa, a private school that has a high number of disadvantaged students; our students spent 2 days there playing games and conducting mini workshops. From teaching art and craft to Form 2 students. playing sports with Form 9 students, to teaching coding using microbits to Form 7 students, our students experienced a meaningful and rewarding time at the school.

Additionally, our students also learned from the rich cultural heritage through trying their hands at batik painting and making Indonesia kuih - lemet made from tapioca and palm sugar. There was also some exposure to the history through visits to some cultural sites like the famous Barelang Bridge.

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PERFORMING ARTS

Cultural Exchange Trip to Ho Chi Minh City Secondary 3 members from Choir, Drama, Dance, and members from the Literary and Oratorical Club embarked on a cultural exchange trip to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, from 8 to 11 November.

The students prepared a joint performance to present the history and interesting facts of Singapore to the students at Pathway Academy.

At Pathway Academy, our students learned about Vietnamese culture and geography; to understand more about one another’s culture and different learning environment, everyone also played traditional folk games from Singapore and Vietnam and enjoyed fruitful conversations over lunch.

To understand more about Vietnam’s history, we visited the War Remnants Memorial Museum and the Cuchi Tunnels to immerse ourselves in the accounts and stories of Vietnam’s struggles and triumphs in their journey to independence. Some of us even took up the challenge to squeeze into the manhole entrance to the tunnels!

Additionally, we experienced the passion of the puppeteers and enjoyed the Water Puppet Show; the post-show interaction with the puppeteer and hands-on attempts to operate some of the water puppets also created a lot of excitement for our students.

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A visit to local farms and a cooking lesson conducted by a celebrity chef were also highlights of the trip. We learnt about the concept of farm to table and enjoyed the motivational stories of the chef.

As part of our learning, we went on an educational tour at the Yakult factory in the Singapore Vietnam Industrial Park. We saw the impressive machinery and meticulous work, and understood more about the region’s economic relations.

To immerse ourselves in the rich cultural heritage through the art of painting our very own Nón lá (conical hat). Everyone worked hard on painting a masterpiece to take home as a souvenir. Last but not least, we took a short visit to the Ben Thanh Market to see for ourselves the everyday life in Vietnam; stores selling cooked food, local delights, and clothes and dried goods were a great insight to Ho Chi Minh City’s way of life. Our students returned from the trip wiser, with greater sensitivities to different cultures.

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Sec 3 VIA Trip to Pattaya MF sent a dedicated team of Uniformed Group members to Pattaya, Thailand to participate in a school exchange and some outreach programmes. The team visited the Anti Child Trafficking Centre and interacted with the children through games, meals, and an group outing. Although there were language barriers and some children were deaf, our students managed to overcome these issues with body language and warm smiles.

Click to see more!

“The sheep farm visit with the little kids was fun, but there were it’s own challenges as well. We were really put into the shoes of our parents when leading and taking care of the little children.” - Abu Bakar The trip was a rewarding experience that taught our students to be appreciative of what they have and to be understanding, sensitive and empathetic to the plight of the less fortunate children.

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UG RANK PROMOTIONS AND COMPETITIONS Our Mayflower NPCC received the Distinction Award at the National Police Cadet Unit Overall Proficiency Presentation.

Our NPCC Cadet Inspectors (CI) ready to join the other CIs from other schools for their training to be officially inducted for the upcoming year 2024.

Our Mayflower Scouts Group receiving the Chief Commissioner’s Award in 2023.

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STUDENT LEADERSHIP TRAINING Different groups of Student Leaders from different levels came together to Create, Connect, Contribute, for a time of bonding, building trust and confidence, while having lots of fun. We hope bonds were made and they came away with a greater confidence in their leadership and public speaking abilities at the end of our student leadership training.

Teamwork makes the dream work Leading can be fun!

Student Leaders leading the singing of Mayflower school song

Panel discussion for Student Leaders Retreat.

Theme: Technology and Us

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PURPLE PARADE: SEC 3 INCLUSIVITY FIESTA The Purple Parade is a yearly event that promotes awareness and celebrate abilities of Persons with Disabilities in Singapore. The Purple Parade movement ensures that Persons with Disabilities are included in our community. This year, each Secondary 3 class set up a booth as part of the purple parade celebrations!

Some classes set up awareness booths where they shared about the work done by charitable organizations in Singapore.

Others set up exciting game booths which allowed them to raise funds from excited participants for the Autisum Resource Centre. A total of $450 in donations was collected, thanks to our generous and enthusiastic students & staff!

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The Publicity Team thanks you for your Support in 2023!

See you in 2024!

@mayflowersec

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