A s we reach the end of what has been an exceptionally busy term, I am proud to reflect on and celebrate the many achievements and experiences that have brought our school community together.
This term has been rich in community spirit. From our Chinese New Year celebrations and the Iftar gathering, to the energy of Quiz Night and reflections shared on International Womenʼs Day, it has been wonderful to see students, parents and staff come together in meaningful ways These events reflect the vibrant nature of our school
In the Junior School, we have particularly valued opportunities to strengthen our partnership with parents Our EAL, Mandarin and Writing workshops were ver y well received, and it was a pleasure to welcome our Parent Representatives into school to meet with our catering team, Victus, and share lunch together
Our students have, as always, impressed us with their enthusiasm and achievements We are incredibly proud of our Grade 5 mathematicians who achieved fantastic results, coming second overall at the FOBISIA Primar y Maths Challenge in Shanghai, as well as our talented chess players who competed successfully at both the National Schools Individual Chess Championships and the FOBISIA Championships in Bangkok
Creativity and performance have also been at the forefront this term The Grade 5 Showcase was a standout event, with students demonstrating excellent writing, research and presentation skills. Meanwhile, our Grade 1 and 2 String Concerts were a delight, showcasing the dedication and progress students have made over the past two terms on their violins and cellos.
Sport has also played a significant role in an action-packed term. Our First School Sports Day was a huge success, with children participating with enthusiasm, energy and team spirit. It was a joy to see such wholehearted involvement. In addition, students across the Junior School have represented the school in a wide range of fixtures, demonstrating focus, determination and excellent sportsmanship.
Beyond the classroom, students have benefited from a range of enriching experiences. Educational trips across Singapore and specialist workshops, including the Grade 2 art workshop, have enhanced learning in exciting ways. Our Early Years students enjoyed welcoming their families into school for the Lunar Learning Trail, sharing their learning with pride and confidence
World Book Day was another highlight, with students and staff embracing the joy of reading through imaginative costumes and activities Adding to the excitement this term has been the introduction of our School A ssistance Dog, Kona, who has already become a much-loved member of our community, bringing calm and happiness wherever she goes
It has truly been an action-packed term, filled with achievement, collaboration and joy Thank you to our students, staff and parents for your continued energy, commitment and support
Warm Regards,
Louise
T H E P R I N C I P A L S
Sarah Richardson Senior School Principal
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Dear Parents, Warm Regards,
A L e g a c y o f C u r i o s i t y
Senior School
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B e r n i c e M c C a b e , t h e f o r m e r H e a d m i s t r e s s o f N L C S U K , w h o s e p r o f o u n d c o n t r i b u t i o n t o t h e s c h o o l ’ s e t h o s a n d i n t e l l e c t u a l l i f e c o n t i n u e s t o r e s o n a t e s h e v e r y s a d l y p a s s e d a w a y i n 2 0 1 9 a f t e r a b a t t l e w i t h c a n c e r
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t o d a y . H e r v i s i o n p l a c e d i n t e l l e c t u a l s e r i o u s n e s s a n d c u r i o s i t y a t t h e h e a r t o f s c h o o l l i f e . A c a d e m i c e x c e l l e n c e , i n t h i s t r a d i t i o n , i s n o t a n a r r o w p u r s u i t o f r e s u l t s b u t a d i s c i p l i n e d e n g a g e m e n t w i t h i d e a s , b o t h d e m a n d i n g a n d
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a c a d e m i c l i f e b u t a n e x p r e s s i o n o f i t . B y c o n n e c t i n g s t u d e n t s w i t h t e a c h e r s a n d v i s i t i n g s p e a k e r s e n g a g e d i n t h e i r f i e l d s , t h e l e c t u r e s o f f e r a n e n c o u n t e r w i t h
s c h o l a r s h i p i n w h i c h i d e a s a r e p r o v i s i o n a l a n d u n d e r s t a n d i n g i s i n c o m p l e t e
T h e s e l e c t u r e s d o n o t a i m f o r e a s y a n s w e r s A s u c c e s s f u l l e c t u r e m a y l e a v e
s t u d e n t s u n s e t t l e d , g r a p p l i n g w i t h u n f a m i l i a r c o n c e p t s o r r e c o g n i s i n g t h e l i m i t s o f t h e i r u n d e r s t a n d i n g T h i s d i s c o m f o r t i s a s t r e n g t h , s i g n a l l i n g t h a t k n o w l e d g e i s b e i n g a c t i v e l y i n t e r r o g a t e d
A l e c t u r e i s o n l y t h e b e g i n n i n g I t s v a l u e l i e s i n t h e q u e s t i o n s i t s p a r k s a n d t h e
e x p l o r a t i o n i t i n s p i r e s , r e i n f o r c i n g t h e b e l i e f t h a t e d u c a t i o n i s o n g o i n g a n d s e l fd i r e c t e d T o l e a v e w i t h c e r t a i n t y i s c o m f o r t a b l e t o l e a v e w i t h q u e s t i o n s i s t r a n s f o r m a t i v e
Scan her e f or mor e!
Junior School
A s A s s i s t a n t P r i n c i p a l f o r C u r r i c u l u m i n t h e L o w e r S c h o o l , o n e o f t h e h i g h l i g h t s o f m y y e a r i s s e e i n g o u r s t u d e n t s
c a p t i v a t e d b y o u r C l a n c h y L e c t u r e s i n t h e J u n i o r S c h o o l T h e C l a n c h y L e c t u r e s a r e n a m e d i n h o n o u r o f a f o r m e r
H e a d m i s t r e s s o f N L C S U K , M r s J o a n C l a n c h y , w h o s e v i s i o n a r y l e a d e r s h i p a n d c o m m i t m e n t t o a c a d e m i c e x c e l l e n c e , i n t e l l e c t u a l c u r i o s i t y a n d t h e e m p o w e r m e n t o f y o u n g p e o p l e c o n t i n u e t o s h a p e t h e v a l u e s a n d
e d u c a t i o n a l e t h o s o f o u r s c h o o l s t o d a y
W e r u n a r o u n d 1 5 C l a n c h y L e c t u r e s e a c h y e a r , u s u a l l y l i n k e d t o a t h e m e d w e e k o r d a y , s u c h a s H i s t o r y D
a
The impact on our students is clear They come away from g connections to their classwork, and often continuing convers s support our academic aims by stretching thinking, broadening ho d confidence; seeing older students, parents and teachers spea l children, some as young as 5 years old, imagine themselves as fu
The Clanchy Lecture series has become an important part of our Junior School culture: a space where curiosity is celebrated, expertise is shared, and our students glimpse the many ways their learning can truly “transform their future.”
Louise Wyeth
A ssistant Principal (Junior School)
S C H O L A R S & A C H I E V E R S
L a s t s e a s o n , M e r c u r i X R a c i n g f a c e d c h a l l e n g e s t h a t c o u l d h a v e h e l d t h e m b a c k I n 2 0 2 5 , t h e y t u r n e d r e f l e c t i o n i n t o a c t i o n a n d e m e r g e d w i t h a c h a m p i o n s h i p w i n .
“ A t t h e s t a r t o f 2 0 2 5 , w e l o o k e d h o n e s t l y a t w h a t w e n t w r o n g l a s t y e a r , ” s a y s T e a m M a n a g e r S a m u e l S a i ( G 1 0 ) . “ W e r e a l i s e d s u c c e s s i s n ’ t j u s t a b o u t a f a s t c a r . I t ’ s a b o u t o r g a n i s a t i o n , t e a m w o r k , a n d r e f i n i n g e v e r y d e t a i l . ”
T w o n e w m e m b e r s b r o u g h t f r e s h e n e r g y , w h i l e t h e w h o l e t e a m s t r e n g t h e n e d c o m m u n i c a t i o n a n d c o l l a b o r a t i o n
B u d g e t i n g i m p r o v e d t o o : a 4 0 % i n c r e a s e i n f u n d s e n a b l e d h i g h e r - q u a l i t y m a t e r i a l s a n d p r o f e s s i o n a l s u p p o r t , i n c l u d i n g W h i t e b o x , t h e p r o d u c t i o n h o u s e b e h i n d t h e i r a w a r d - w i n n i n g v i d e o p r e s e n t a t i o n .
T h e c a r i t s e l f b e c a m e a t e s t a m e n t t o p r e c i s i o n a n d r e s i l i e n c e . U s i n g A N S Y S s i m u l a t i o n s a n d i t e r a t i v e t e s t i n g , t h e
t e a m r e f i n e d e v e r y c o m p o n e n t . S e v e r a l d e s i g n a t t e m p t s f a i l e d t o m e e t r e g u l a t i o n s o r p e r f o r m a n c e g o a l s , b u t t h e s e
“ f a i l u r e s ” b e c a m e l e s s o n s t h a t u l t i m a t e l y p r o d u c e d a f a
F o l l o w t h e i r j o u r n e y h e r e :
T h e i r e f f o r t s p a i d o f f a t t h e 2 0 2 5 S i n g a p o r e N a t i o n a l F i n a l s . M e r c u r i X R a c i n g c l i n c h e d N a t i o n a l C h a m p i o n , w o n
K n o c ko u t R a c i n g C h a m p i o n , a n d e a r n e d B e st V i d e o P r e s e n ta t i o n .
Ye t t h e g r e a t e st g r o w t h w a s n’ t o n l y t e c h n i c a l “A st r o n g t e a m i s n’ t d e f i n e d b y j o b t i t l e s , ” r e f l e c t s R e s e a r c h E n g i n e e r
Ya r u n Z h a n g ( G 1 0 ) “ I t ’s d e f i n e d b y t r u st , co l l a b o ra t i o n , a n d b e i n g t h e r e f o r e a c h o t h e r ”
Fr o m s m a r t e r o r g a n i s a t i o n a n d st r o n g e r f u n d i n g t o d a ta - d r i v e n e n g i n e e r i n g a n d u n i f i e d t e a m c u l t u r e , M e r c u r i X
R a c i n g p r o v e s t h a t s e t b a c k s , w h e n m e t w i t h r e f l e c t i o n a n d d i s c i p l i n e , a r e t h e f o u n d a t i o n o f s u cce s s . N o w, t h e y s e t t h e i r s i g h t s o n t h e 2 0 2 6 ST E M R a c i n g W o r l d F i n a l s , r e a d y t o ta ke l e s s o n s l e a r n e d f r o m s e t b a c k s a n d t u r n t h e m i n t o
g l o b a l t r i u m p h s
namic Worlds
mic universe
e sneak peek of next book:
If they could entice readers to read their book based on two pages it would be:
n character of their published book, The Thing, for two of our oup of friends who find themselves facing an unexpected and ing adventure soon becomes a tale of courage, friendship, and rough vivid illustrations, while Avneya crafts the narrative with g y y g p at NLCS helped them to shape the book, particularly English lessons and the school’s emphasis on creativity. The duo have also launched a “Comic Club” society that runs during lunchtime for like-minded individuals who are interested in learning more. To find out what all the buzz is about, borrow their book from the school libraries!
Student Leader ship Confer ence
The inaugural North London Collegiate School (Singapore) SACP Student Leadership Conference was a huge success, bringing together over 100 aspiring student leaders from across seven international schools for a dynamic and purposeful day of growth This year ’s conference was led by Grade 10 students, Denise and Dalia with ke ynote speakers Shebani Baweja and Lisa Partridge. Designed to challenge, inspire and empower, the conference blends ke ynote insights, interactive workshops and student-led sessions that explore what effective leadership looks like in today’s world.
Throughout the day, students examined resilience, wellbeing, communication and ethical decision-making, while connecting with like -minded peers from other schools Practical, activity-based sessions ensured students were not just listening, but also collaborating, debating and reflecting on their own leadership styles
With opportunities to share experiences, tackle real-world challenges and build meaningful networks, this conference left students with the confidence, clarity and courage to lead with impact , both within their schools and be yond
N L C S ( S i n g a p o r e ) w a s i n c r e d i b l y
p r i v i l e g e d t o w e l c o m e s t u d e n t s f r o m o u r
s i s t e r s c h o o l s i n K o b e , L o n d o n , D u b a i ,
a n d J e j u f o r o u r i n a u g u r a l N L C S
I n t e r n a t i o n a l M o d e l U n i t e d N a t i o n s ,
c e n t r e d o n t h e t h e m e ʻ B r i d g e s A c r o s s
B o r d e r s ʼ .
NLCSI MUN
O v e r t h r e e d y n a m i c d a y s , d e l e g a t e s c a m e t o g e t h e r t o e x p l o r e d i p l o m a c y i n a c t i o n , e n g a g i n g t h o u g h t f u l l y
w i t h g l o b a
l i s s u e s w h i l e b u i l d i n g m e a n i n g f u l c o n n e c t i o n s a c r o s s o u r i n t e r n a t i o n a l c o m m u n i t y .
T h e e v e n t o p e n e d w i t h a n e n e r g e t i c p e r f o r m a n c e f r o m o u r B i g B a n d , f o l l o w e d b y a n a d d r e s s f r o m M a r k F l e t c h e r , F i r s t
S e c r e t a r y t o t h e B r i t i s h H i g h C o m m i s s i o n , w h o s h a r e d i n s i g h t s i n t o h i s w o r k a n d o f f e r e d p r a c t i c a l a d v i c e o n w h a t i t m e a n s t o b e a n e f f e c t i v e d i p l o m a t . F r o m t h e r e , s t u d e n t s i m m e r s e d t h e m s e l v e s i n c o m m i t t e e s e s s i o n s s p a n n i n g
S u s t a i n a b i l i t y , H u m a n R i g h t s , a n d h i s t o r i c a l c o n t e x t s s u c h a s t h e B e r l i n A i r l i f t o f 1 9 4 8 A c r o s s t w o d a y s o f r i g o r o u s d e b a t e , d e l e g a t e s r e p r e s e n t e d t h e i r a s s i g n e d c o u n t r i e s , n e g o t i a t i n g p e r s p e c t i v e s a n d w o r k i n g c o l l a b o r a t i v e l y t o r e a c h r e s o l u t i o n s o n p r e s s i n g c h a l l e n g e s i n c l u d i n g e n v i r o n m e n t a l c o n c e r n s , w a t e r s c a r c i t y , a n d t r a n s n a t i o n a l c y b e r c r i m e .
GET TO KNOW DEPOT AID
Empowering Students to Make a Difference
D e p o t A i d a t N L C S ( S i n g a p o r e ) i s a n i n - s c h o o l c o l l e c t i v e t h a t p l a y s a p i v o t a l r o l e i n s h a p i n g a n d c o o r d i n a t i n g
s t u d e n t - l e d s e r v i c e a c r o s s t h e s e n i o r s c h o o l . I t i s c o m p o s e d o f t h e c h a i r s o f o u r v a r i o u s s e r v i c e s o c i e t i e s , a n d i s c h a i r e d b y t h e S e r v i c e A m b a s s a d o r , J e a n - E d o u a r d D a h y , w i t h o v e r s i g h t f r o m t h e S e r v i c e C o o r d i n a t o r , M r .
A l S a q q a , a n d t h e V i c e P r i n c i p a l ( A c a d e m i c ) , M r . B u r d e t t . T h e c o m m i t t e e m e e t s f o r t n i g h t l y t o p l a n a n d i m p l e m e n t m e a n i n g f u l s e r v i c e i n i t i a t i v e s t h a t m a k e a r e a l d i f f e r e n c e i n t h e s c h o o l c o m m u n i t y a n d b e y o n d
A t D e p o t A i d m e e t i n g s , r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s f r o m e a c h s e r v i c e s o c i e t y b r i n g f o r w a r d p r o p o s a l s f o r n e w p r o j e c t s a n d i d e a s .
T o g e t h e r , m e m b e r s d i s c u s s , r e f i n e , a n d o r g a n i s e t h e s e i n i t i a t i v e s , p o o l i n g t h e i r c o l l e c t i v e e n e r g y a n d e x p e r t i s e t o
b r i n g t h e m t o l i f e T h i s c o l l a b o r a t i v e p r o c e s s n o t o n l y s t r e n g t h e n s l e a d e r s h i p s k i l l s b u t a l s o f o s t e r s a s h a r e d c o m m i t m e n t t o s e r v i n g o t h e r s T h e c o m m i t t e e a l s o p l a y s a k e y r o l e i n t h e s c h o o l ʼ s p h i l a n t h r o p i c d e c i s i o n s : i t d e m o c r a t i c a l l y v o t e s o n w h i c h c h a r i t i e s w i l l b e n e f i t f r o m t h e p r o c e e d s o f w h o l e - s c h o o l f u n d r a i s i n g e v e n t s s u c h a s t h e
A n n u a l G a l a , C h r i s t m a s F a y r e , a n d S u m m e r F e s t i v a l .
I n a d d i t i o n t o c o o r d i n a t i n g s o c i e t y a c t i v i t i e s , D e p o t A i d s u p p o r t s i n d i v i d u a l s t u d e n t s w h o w a n t t o l a u n c h t h e i r o w n s e r v i c e p r o j e c t s R e c o g n i s i n g t h a t n o t a l l s t u d e n t s a r e p a r t o f a n e s t a b l i s h e d s o c i e t y , t h e c o m m i t t e e p r o v i d e s g u i d a n c e i n t h e p l a n n i n g p r o c e s s h e l p i n g w i t h m a t e r i a l s l i s t s , s o u r c i n g a n d p u r c h a s i n g i t e m s , a n d s e c u r i n g o f f i c i a l d a t e s i n t h e s c h o o l c a l e n d a r T h i s s u p p o r t e m p o w e r s s t u d e n t s t o t a k e i n i t i a t i v e a n d e n s u r e s t h a t p a s s i o n a t e y o u n g p e o p l e h a v e t h e r e s o u r c e s a n d e n c o u r a g e m e n t t h e y n e e d t o t u r n t h e i r s e r v i c e i d e a s i n t o r e a l i t y .
T h r o u g h i t s i n c l u s i v e s t r u c t u r e a n d c o l l a b o r a t i v e e t h o s , D e p o t A i d e m b o d i e s N L C S ( S i n g a p o r e ) ʼ s b e l i e f i n a c t i v e c i t i z e n s h i p , s t u d e n t l e a d e r s h i p , a n d t h e i d e a t h a t s e r v i c e s h o u l d b e a c c e s s i b l e t o a l l I t e n c o u r a g e s s t u d e n t s n o t o n l y t o s e r v e , b u t t o l e a d , i n n o v a t e a n d a c t w i t h c o m p a s s i o n a n d p u r p o s e
W H O I S L E A D I N G
T H E T E A M ?
The Service Ambassador Jean-Edouard Dahy (Chair of Depot Aid): He works in conjunction with the Service Coordinator Mr AlSaqqa and Mr Burdett to help guide students with service initiatives, from initial planning to a full-scale event Jean-Edouard also helps Depot Aid, service societies and students to advertise and announce their initiatives during assemblies and in the whole-school bulletins.
Mr. AlSaqqa (Supervisor of Depot Aid): Mr. AlSaqqa works with the more technical aspects of student initiatives. He helps students with the logistics of their initiative, coordinating with the different departments within our school to ensure students have access to the materials, resources and facilities they may need for their initiatives
Depot Aid in the Community
t r i b u t e t o t h e p o w e r a n d b e a u t y o f t h e w r i t t e n w o r d .
R e a d i n g a n d w r i t i n g r e m a i n e d a t t h e h e a r t o f e v e r y t h i n g w e d o , s h a p i n g l e a r n i n g a c r o s s
t h e c u r r i c u l u m , d e e p e n i n g o u r u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f t h e w o r l d , a n d h e l p i n g s t u d e n t s f i n d
t h e i r p l a c e w i t h i n i t W h i l e t h i s f o c u s i s e m b e d d e d t h r o u g h o u t t h e y e a r, B o o k W e e k
p r o v i d e d a s p e c i a l o p p o r t u n i t y t o c e l e b ra t e i t m o r e f u l l y, w i t h a p a r t i c u l a r s p o t l i g h t o n
v o i c e s a n d s t o r i e s f r o m S o u t h e a s t A s i a .
T h i s y e a r, w e w e r e d e l i g h t e d t o w e l c o m e a ra n g e o f i n s p i r i n g a u t h o r s a n d s t o r y t e l l e r s
I n t h e F i r s t S c h o o l , s t o r y t e l l e r S h e i l a W e e l e d e n g a g i n g w o r k s h o p s o n t ra d i t i o n a l t a l e s
St u d e n t s i n G ra d e s 2 a n d 3 m e t N a m i t a M o o l a n i M e h ra , w h o r e t u r n e d t o s h a r e h e r n e w
b o o k V e e n a R e d R o t i , w h i l e G ra d e s 4 a n d 5 c o n n e c t e d w i t h W e n g W a i C h a n , a u t h o r o f T h e
L i za r d ’s Ta l e , w h i c h G ra d e 5 h a d b e e n s t u d y i n g .
I n t h e S e n i o r S c h o o l , s t u d e n t s r e v i s i t e d t h e b o o k s t h a t f i r s t i n s p i r e d t h e i r l o v e o f r e a d i n g ,
a l o n g s i d e t h o s e t h a t h a v e c o n t i n u e d t o r e s o n a t e t h r o u g h t h e i r t e e n a g e y e a r s a n d b e y o n d
A c r o s s t h e s c h o o l , t h e w e e k w a s b r o u g h t t o l i f e t h r o u g h m y s t e r y r e a d e r s , s h a r e d r e a d i n g
b e t w e e n J u n i o r a n d S e n i o r c l a s s e s , q u i z z e s , c o m p e t i t i o n s , C l a n c h y a n d M c C a b e l e c t u r e s ,
t h e m u c h - l o v e d C l o s e t f u l o f B o o k s B o o k Fa i r, a n d t h e e v e r- p o p u l a r d r e s s - u p d a y
A t i t s h e a r t , B o o k W e e k c e l e b ra t e d a l o v e o f r e a d i n g , e x p a n d e d h o r i z o n s t h r o u g h w o r d s ,
a n d e n c o u ra g e d e v e r y s t u d e n t t o t a k e a c h a n c e a t s t e p p i n g b e y o n d t h e f a m i l i a r a n d
d i s c o v e r i n g t h e j o y o f b e i n g t ra n s p o r t e d t o a n o t h e r t i m e , p l a c e , o r p e r s p e c t i v e
L A N G U A G E S W E E K
Celebrating Languages Beyond Borders
L a n g u a g e s W e e k c o i n c i d e s w i t h t h e U N D a y f o r
I n t e r n a t i o n a l M o t h e r T o n g u e , w h e n w e c e l e b r a t e a l l
l a n g u a g e s w i t h i n o u r c o m m u n i t y . T h e a i m i s t o h e l p
s t u d e n t s u n d e r s t a n d t h a t l e a r n i n g a n e w l a n g u a g e , a s
w e l l a s v a l u i n g a n d m a i n t a i n i n g o n e ʼ s o w n m o t h e r
t o n g u e , f o s t e r s i n t e r n a t i o n a l - m i n d e d n e s s a n d o p e n n e s s
t o o u r e v e r - c o n n e c t e d w o r l d .
A m o t h e r t o n g u e c a n a l s o b e d e f i n e d a s t h e “ h o m e
l a n g u a g e ” a s i t r e f e r s t o t h e l a n g u a g e t h e f a m i l y s p e a k s
a t h o m e I t c a n a l s o b e k n o w n a s a “ f i r s t l a n g u a g e ” a s i t
u s u a l l y i s t h e l a n g u a g e t h e c h i l d f i r s t h e a r s a n d l e a r n s
f r o m b i r t h .
S o m e c h i l d r e n w h o h a v e l i v e d a b r o a d f o r m a n y y e a r s
m a y u n d e r s t a n d t h e i r m o t h e r t o n g u e a n d e v e n b e a b l e
t o s p e a k i t i n f a m i l i a r c o n t e x t s , y e t f i n d i t c h a l l e n g i n g t o
f u l l y c o m m u n i c a t e t h r o u g h r e a d i n g a n d w r i t i n g . O v e r
t i m e , i t i s c o m m o n f o r c h i l d r e n t o b e g i n r e s p o n d i n g t o
t h e i r p a r e n t s i n E n g l i s h , p a r t i c u l a r l y w h e n t h e y l a c k t h e
v o c a b u l a r y o r c o n f i d e n c e t o e x p r e s s m o r e c o m p l e x
t h o u g h t s a n d e m o t i o n s i n t h e i r h o m e l a n g u a g e T h i s
g r a d u a l s h i f t c a n h a p p e n q u i t e n a t u r a l l y , e s p e c i a l l y i n
e n v i r o n m e n t s w h e r e E n g l i s h b e c o m e s t h e d o m i n a n t
l a n g u a g e o f l e a r n i n g , f r i e n d s h i p s , a n d d a i l y l i f e
H o w e v e r , f o r m a n y f a m i l i e s , t h e r e r e m a i n s a l a n g u a g e
t h a t c o n n e c t s t h e m t o a h o m e b e y o n d t h e i r h o s t
c o u n t r y i n t h i s c a s e , S i n g a p o r e . T h i s l a n g u a g e c a r r i e s
m o r e t h a n j u s t w o r d s ; i t h o l d s c u l t u r a l n u a n c e s , s h a r e d
m e m o r i e s , t r a d i t i o n s , a n d a s e n s e o f h e r i t a g e t h a t
c a n n o t e a s i l y b e t r a n s l a t e d M a i n t a i n i n g t h i s
c o n n e c t i o n i s i m p o r t a n t , a s i t s u p p o r t s c h i l d r e n i n
d e v e l o p i n g a d e e p e r s e n s e o f b e l o n g i n g a n d i d e n t i t y . I t
a l l o w s t h e m t o u n d e r s t a n d w h e r e t h e y c o m e f r o m , t o
c o m m u n i c a t e m o r e m e a n i n g f u l l y w i t h e x t e n d e d f a m i l y
m e m b e r s , a n d t o a p p r e c i a t e t h e r i c h n e s s o f t h e i r o w n
b a c k g r o u n d
E n c o u r a g i n g c h i l d r e n t o c o n t i n u e u s i n g a n d d e v e l o p i n g
t h e i r m o t h e r t o n g u e , w h e t h e r t h r o u g h c o n v e r s a t i o n , r e a d i n g , s t o r y t e l l i n g , o r c u l t u r a l e x p e r i e n c e s , h e l p s t o p r e s e r v e t h i s c o n n e c t i o n I n d o i n g s o , w e n o t o n l y
s u p p o r t t h e i r l a n g u a g e d e v e l o p m e n t , b u t a l s o n u r t u r e a
s t r o n g e r s e n s e o f s e l f a n d a l a s t i n g l i n k t o t h e i r r o o t s .
I t i s i m p o r t a n t t o c o n t i n u e l e a r n i n g a b o u t o n e ' s m o t h e r
t o n g u e a s i t i s n o t o n l y a m e a n s o f c o m m u n i c a t i o n , b u t
a l s o h e l p s b e t t e r u n d e r s t a n d o n e ' s o w n c u l t u r e a n d
e s t a b l i s h o n e ' s o w n i n d i v i d u a l i d e n t i t y a n d s e l f w o r t h .
I learnt some words in new languages such as French and Korean since I watched the lip -sync competition, and overall the week was super fun!
-Kavya, Grade 8
T h r o u g h o u t t h e w e e k , s t u d e n t s e n g a g e w i t h c u l t u r e a n d
l i n g u i s t i c p a t t e r n s , t a k e p a r t i n d e b a t e s , a n d e x p e r i e n c e
t h e t r a d i t i o n s a n d c e l e b r a t i o n s o f o t h e r s . W e c e l e b r a t e
l a n g u a g e s w h e t h e r t h r o u g h s t u d e n t s m o t h e r t o n g u e s o r
t h r o u g h l a n g u a g e s t h e y h a v e a c q u i r e d a t s c h o o l , s u c h
a s S p a n i s h . S t u d e n t s s h a r e t h e i r l i n g u i s t i c a n d c u l t u r a l
h e r i t a g e t h r o u g h a v a r i e t y o f a c t i v i t i e s .
I learned that letting myself sound bad in Mandarin was the only way in: the laughs broke the ice, the corrections built a conversation, and by the end I wasn't just understood, I'd made a friend
-Ryan, Grade 6 L
This year's Senior School Production, Julius Caesar, was a roaring success, with over sixty students involved on and off-stage, in the cast, and behind the scenes. The stage has never looked so grand, with a wonderful lighting design by Mr Trevor Teo, and the whole cast rose to the occasion with some magnificent ensemble work, and some incredible principal performances by the leads The directors, Mr Trevill and Mr Lund, are hugely proud of ever yone who got involved, from assassinating Caesars to making spears and shields Congratulations to them, and on to the next one!
I would absolutely encourage students to get involved in future productions because of how much of a rewarding experience it is. Not only does it allow you to develop as a person (both within and out of school) but it also allows you to get to know people from the whole school and make friends for life.
This production made me realise that I am capable of pushing beyond my comfort zone and taking on demanding roles. I strongly believe drama is an important part of school life as it helps students build confidence, communication skills and resilience.
A n a ya ( G 1 1 )
This production has allowed me to grow as a person, and improve my skills in acting. Although it was time consuming, it was most definitely worth it. It is a memory that I will cherish forever.
S e h e r ( G 7 )
S
M u s i c a t N o r t h L o n d o n C o l l e g i a t e S c h o o l ( S i n g a p o r e )
c o n t i n u e s t o p l a y a v i b r a n t a n d i n t e g r a l r o l e i n s c h o o l
l i f e , r e f l e c t i n g t h e s c h o o l ʼ s c o m m i t m e n t t o a r i c h , w e l l -
r o u n d e d e d u c a t i o n A c r o s s a l l y e a r g r o u p s , s t u d e n t s a r e
e n c o u r a g e d t o e x p l o r e m u s i c n o t o n l y a s a s u b j e c t o f
a c a d e m i c s t u d y b u t a l s o a s a p o w e r f u l m e a n s o f c r e a t i v e
e x p r e s s i o n a n d c o l l a b o r a t i o n
McLauchlan Librar y Recitals
O u r C h i n e s e M u s i c G r o u p d e l i v e r e d a s t u n n i n g r e c i t a l
a t t h e S e n i o r S c h o o l L i b r a r y ! H i g h l i g h t s i n c l u d e d D i t t y
o f H e n a n , T a r T a r D a n c e , D a n c e o f t h e G o l d e n S n a k e ,
S i l v e r C l o u d C h a s i n g t h e M o o n , a n d L i u y a n g R i v e r
E a c h p i e c e w a s p l a y e d b r i l l i a n t l y , w i t h e n e r g y ,
p r e c i s i o n , a n d r e a l m u s i c a l i t y , s h o w i n g t h e s t u d e n t s ʼ
d e d i c a t i o n a n d h a r d w o r k .
A t r u l y m e m o r a b l e l u n c h t i m e o f C h i n e s e m u s i c !
W i t h i n t h e c u r r i c u l u m , s t u d e n t s d e v e l o p t h e i r s k i l l s a s p e r f o r m e r s , c o m p o s e r s a n d c r i t i c a l l i s t e n e r s , w i t h o p p o r t u n i t i e s t o p u r s u e M u s i c a t b o t h I G C S E a n d I B D i p l o m a l e v e l . A l o n g s i d e t h i s , a t h r i v i n g i n s t r u m e n t a l a n d v o c a l p r o g r a m m e e n a b l e s s t u d e n t s t o t a k e u p i n d i v i d u a l l e s s o n s , w o r k t o w a r d s i n t e r n a t i o n a l l y r e c o g n i s e d e x a m i n a t i o n s , a n d d e e p e n t h e i r m u s i c a l e x p e r t i s e
B e y o n d t h e c l a s s r o o m , t h e c o - c u r r i c u l a r m u s i c p r o g r a m m e o f f e r s a w i d e r a n g e o f e n s e m b l e s , f r o m c h o i r s a n d o r c h e s t r a s t o
s m a l l e r c h a m b e r a n d s t u d e n t - l e d g r o u p s . R e g u l a r c o n c e r t s , r e c i t a l s a n d p e r f o r m a n c e s p r o v i d e s t u d e n t s w i t h v a l u a b l e o p p o r t u n i t i
A n e x c e p t i o n a l e v e n i n g o f m u s i c - m a k i n g a t t h e E s p l a n a d e
R e c i t a l R o o m s h o w c a s e d t h e o u t s t a n d i n g t a l e n t a n d
c o m m i t m e n t o f o u r s t u d e n t s a t N L C S ( S i n g a p o r e )
F r o m t h e o p e n i n g m o m e n t s , t h e P e r c u s s i o n E n s e m b l e
e s t a b l i s h e d a s e n s e o f e n e r g y a n d o c c a s i o n , s e t t i n g t h e t o n e
f o r a t h o u g h t f u l l y c u r a t e d a n d a m b i t i o u s p r o g r a m m e T h e
C h i n e s e M u s i c E n s e m b l e f o l l o w e d w i t h p e r f o r m a n c e s t h a t
b r o u g h t t r a d i t i o n a l r e p e r t o i r e t o l i f e w i t h b o t h a u t h e n t i c i t y
a n d s e n s i t i v i t y , w h i l e t h e C h a m b e r C h o i r d e m o n s t r a t e d
p o i s e a n d c o n t r o l i n t h e i r r e f i n e d a n d e x p r e s s i v e s i n g i n g
A p a r t i c u l a r h i g h l i g h t o f t h e e v e n i n g w a s t h e p e r f o r m a n c e o f
M e n d e l s s o h n ʼ s P i a n o T r i o i n D m i n o r ( M o v e m e n t I ) b y o u r y o u n g e s t p i a n o t r i o . T h e i r i n t e r p r e t a t i o n d i s p l a y e d
i m p r e s s i v e m a t u r i t y , m u s i c a l a w a r e n e s s , a n d e n s e m b l e
c o h e s i o n . T h e A d v a n c e d S t r i n g s e n s e m b l e d e l i v e r e d
e n g a g i n g p e r f o r m a n c e s o f M a m b o f r o m W e s t S i d e S t o r y a n d
V i v a l d i ʼ s S p r i n g , c o m b i n i n g r h y t h m i c v i t a l i t y w i t h s t y l i s t i c
c l a r i t y .
T h e p r o g r a m m e w a s f u r t h e r e n r i c h e d b y a c c o m p l i s h e d
v o c a l s o l o s f r o m o u r U p p e r S i x t h s t u d e n t s a n d a b e a u t i f u l l y
s h a p e d p e r f o r m a n c e f r o m t h e C e l l o E n s e m b l e . T h e C h a m b e r
O r c h e s t r a b r o u g h t t h e e v e n i n g t o a c l o s e w i t h a c o n f i d e n t a n d a s s u r e d a c c o u n t o f t h e C o r i o l a n O v e r t u r e , f o l l o w e d b y a
s p i r i t e d a n d c r o w d - p l e a s i n g P i r a t e s o f t h e C a r i b b e a n
W e a r e i m m e n s e l y p r o u d o f a l l t h e s t u d e n t s i n v o l v e d T h e i r d e d i c a t i o n , d i s c i p l i n e , a n d m u s i c a l i n t e g r i t y w e r e e v i d e n t
t h r o u g h o u t , a n d t h e y r o s e t o t h e d e m a n d s o f t h e p r o g r a m m e w i t h a s s u r a n c e a n d d i s t i n c t i o n
E d w a r d J e f f e r i e s
H e a d o f M u s i c , S e n i o r S c h o o l
Esplanade
Recital
AN EVENING TO REMEMBER
J U N I O R S C H O O L M U S I C
AT THE HEART OF OUR SCHOOL COMMUNITY
Young Musicians in Action: Grade 1 and 2
String Showcase
T h e G r a d e 1 a n d 2 S t r i n g S h o w c a s e w a s a w o n d e r f u l
c e l e b r a t i o n o f t h e p r o g r e s s o u r y o u n g m u s i c i a n s h a v e m a d e
t h i s y e a r
I n G r a d e 1 , s t u d e n t s a r e n o w c o n f i d e n t l y p l a y i n g t h e v i o l i n
u s i n g t h e i r b o w s w i t h d e v e l o p i n g c o n t r o l a n d g o o d
t e c h n i q u e T h e y a r e a b l e t o p e r f o r m o n t h e o p e n s t r i n g s ,
c r e a t i n g a r a n g e o f d i f f e r e n t s o u n d s t h r o u g h s i m p l e p i e c e s
a n d w a r m - u p s . I t i s f a n t a s t i c t o s e e h o w q u i c k l y t h e y h a v e
g r o w n i n c o n f i d e n c e , c o o r d i n a t i o n , a n d m u s i c a l
u n d e r s t a n d i n g i n s u c h a s h o r t t i m e
I n G r a d e 2 , s t u d e n t s h a v e t h e e x c i t i n g o p p o r t u n i t y t o
c o n t i n u e o n t h e v i o l i n o r t r a n s i t i o n t o t h e c e l l o , a d d i n g
d e p t h a n d r i c h n e s s t o t h e e n s e m b l e T h i s y e a r , t h e i r f o c u s
h a s b e e n o n h a r m o n y , u n d e r s t a n d i n g h o w d i f f e r e n t p a r t s
w o r k t o g e t h e r t o m a k e m u s i c m o r e i n t e r e s t i n g a n d
e x p r e s s i v e T h e r e i s n o b e t t e r w a y t o e x p l o r e t h i s t h a n b y
p l a y i n g t o g e t h e r , b u i l d i n g t e x t u r e s a c r o s s t h e g r o u p T h e
c e l l o p r o v i d e s t h e b a s s l i n e , w h i l e t h e v i o l i n s p e r f o r m b o t h
m e l o d y a n d h a r m o n y p a r t s . T e c h n i c a l l y , G r a d e 2 s t u d e n t s a r e n o w u s i n g t h e i r f i r s t a n d s e c o n d f i n g e r s o n t h e
f i n g e r b o a r d t o c h a n g e p i t c h w i t h i n c r e a s i n g a c c u r a c y T h e
n e x t s t e p i s i n t r o d u c i n g t h e t h i r d f i n g e r , w h i c h w i l l f u r t h e r
e x p a n d t h e i r m u s i c a l p o s s i b i l i t i e s a n d r e p e r t o i r e .
W e a r e s o v e r y p r o u d o f a l l o u r y o u n g p e r f o r m e r s , y o u r e a l l y
d i d b r i l l i a n t l y . W e l l d o n e !
R o d e r i c k H o w i e
H e a d o f M u s i c , J u n i o r S c h o o l
A CANVAS OF IDEAS, A SPECTRUM OF VOICES
VISUAL ARTS
I t a l s o e n t a i l s a g r e a t e r f o c u s o n d e v e l o p i n g c e r t a i n c o r e
s
i l l s
d r a w i n g ( G 7 a n d 1 0 ) , d e v e l o p m e n t o f c o n c e p t u a l w o r k
t h r o u g h s c u l p t u r e a n d g r a p h i c s ( G 9 a n d 1 0 ) a n d m o r e
t
i n o r d e r f o r s t u d e n t s t o b e t t e r u n d e r s t a n d , a n a l y s e , a n d
e x p l a i n t h e i r w o r k
a r e e x t r e m e l y p r o u d o f a l l t h e w o r k
Grade 4 and 5 students have been busy bringing movement to life, creating a real buzz of energy in the classroom. Each project was rooted in the design cycle: investigate, design, create and evaluate. Students explored their chosen mechanism, developed ideas through working drawings, then moved into making and reflecting on their outcomes. Fairground rides needed to include a wheel and axle system, while automata relied oncamsandfollowerstocreatemovement
Working in pairs, students developed their own themes. For the fairground rides, this included naming their ride and making thoughtful choices about colour and decoration, while for the automata they considered the type of movementneededandshapedtheircamstoachievethedesiredeffect.
IsraMasud G42
JaydenHuang&JinhoChu G44
LaurenAung&OliviaWang G43
MatthewPartridge,AyaanChaudhry &SebastianPeck G45
InesChoi&MireiShinohara G4.1
MashalUsama&KotoSuzuki G44
SereneChen&IsabelHicar LolaNevins&IsraMasud G4.2
As they brought their ideas to life, students grew in confidence using tools such as hacksaws, palm punchers and glue guns, while learning to measure, cut and assemble materials accurately It was great to see students collaborating, problem-solving and adaptingtheirdesigns.
The finished pieces show real individuality and a strong sense of pride, with each outcomereflectingbothcreativethinkinganddevelopingtechnicalskill
AngusHustler&AxlNg G46
WinnieWen&BellaWang G46
HOUSE SPIRIT:
Banjutan is a house built around energy, commitment and a strong sense of togetherness. It has developed a reputation for hard work and quiet determination, with students who consistently give their best across academic, sporting and creative pursuits. There is a strong collegiate spirit within the house, with Banjutanians supporting one another and taking pride in collective success rather than individual recognition.
Named after the Banjutan tree, native to Southeast A sia, the house reflects ideas of steady growth, durability and deep-rooted community From its early years under the leadership of Mr Abbate, Banjutan quickly became known for its consistency, often finishing just short of the top spot in house competitions Those early near-misses helped shape a culture of persistence and belief in themselves
Under the more recent leadership of Mr Lyons, that belief turned into momentum, culminating in a decisive house victor y last year The scale of that win, and the outstanding house performance that accompanied it, captured what Banjutan is about: full commitment, shared effort and the confidence to step up when it matters most
Cengal House stands for strength, strategy, and unstoppable spirit Inspired by the Cengal tree, one of the toughest and most enduring hardwoods, Cengal represents resilience, determination, and the power to thrive under pressure Like the tree it is named after, Cengal House stands tall, grounded, and unbreakable
Our motto, “Cunning and wise, we rise to the prize,” captures the heart of what it means to be part of Cengal We believe success comes from smart thinking, sharp instincts, and sound judgement. Being “cunning” means approaching challenges with creativity and strategy, while being “wise” means acting with integrity, learning from experience, and making choices that lift the whole team.
Cengal House is driven by unity and confidence. Whether in academics, sports, or co-curricular pursuits, Cengal members push themselves and each other to go further. We compete fiercely, support loudly, and celebrate ever y effort. Ever y challenge is met head-on, ever y setback is a lesson, and ever y victor y is shared.
Together, we rise stronger, smarter, and prouder.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN?
At the heart of our school community stands Meranti, a house named after the majestic Shorea tree, commonly known as the meranti tree. Native to Southeast A sia, the meranti is renowned for its strength, resilience, and enduring presence in the rainforest. Just like the tree, our Meranti House represents growth, stability, and the power of deep roots. It symbolises students who are grounded in strong values, yet always reaching upward striving for excellence in all that they do.
The meranti tree is also known for its versatility and reliability. Its wood has long been valued for building and craftsmanship, reminding us that true strength lies not only in standing tall but in supporting others. A s members of Meranti House, we are encouraged to be dependable, collaborative, and committed to contributing positively to our school community
Our house colour, blue, further reflects the spirit of Meranti Blue is widely associated with qualities such as trust, loyalty, wisdom, and confidence It represents calmness and clarity of thought essential traits for both academic and personal success Blue also symbolises unity and stability, reminding us that we are strongest when we stand together Together, the symbolism of the meranti tree and the colour blue creates a powerful identity Meranti House is more than just a name or a colour, it is a shared commitment to resilience, integrity, and collective achievement A s we continue to grow, compete, and celebrate together, we carr y forward the spirit of Meranti: strong in character, steady in purpose, and always reaching for greater heights
Standing proudly in our community is Keruing House, named after the mighty Dipterocarpus the Keruing tree. Much like its namesake, which is celebrated for its immense height and the resilient resin that protects it, our house is built on a foundation of unwavering strength and endurance. We are a thriving collective of nearly 200 students, each rooted in the belief that while we are individuals, we are strongest when we grow together as one canopy.
The diversity within Keruing is our greatest asset. Our house is a vibrant tapestr y of skills and passions, home to a wide range of talents that reflect our versatile nature. From the precision of our mathematicians and the creativity of our bakers to the highenergy artistr y of our K-pop dancers, we celebrate the unique "timber" each student brings to the forest. This eclectic mix is held together by a supportive and inclusive culture; in Keruing, ever y voice is heard, and ever y talent has the space to flourish.
At the core of our identity is a great team spirit and a storied resilience. Just as the Keruing tree withstands the elements and continues to reach for the sun, our students face challenges with a steady, "can-do" attitude. We donʼt just compete; we uplift one another, ensuring that no one stands alone To be in Keruing is to be part of a legacy that is strong in character and steady in purpose a house that remains grounded in kindness while always reaching for new heights of collective achievement
SPORTING SPIRIT
First School Sports Day
In Term 2, our youngest athletes came together for our First School Sports Day, proudly representing their Houses as they demonstrated their skills with energy and enthusiasm Competing in front of a full and supportive crowd of parents, they were encouraged by the vibrant atmosphere, making the day a truly memorable celebration of effort, participation, and House spirit Go Cengal, Go Keruing, Go Banjutan, and Go Meranti!
The Bulldogs Competitive Swim Squads have enjoyed an exceptionally busy and successful calendar this year From local friendlies to the high-stakes ACSIS and FOBISIA Championships, our swimmers have consistently demonstrated dedication, skill, and sportsmanship
With the Junior School ACSIS Championships still on the horizon, we are proud to share the fabulous results achieved across our other major competitions:
Middle School ACSIS Championships
The Middle School squad delivered a powerhouse performance, bringing home a total of 9 medals:
Gold: 4
Silver: 3
Bronze: 2
• Record Breakers: We are thrilled to announce two new ACSIS Records set in both the boys 50m and 100m Breaststroke.
FOBISIA Swimming Championships (Phuket)
Competing against the premier programs in Southeast Asia, the Bulldogs secured a prestigious 5th Place Overall. Our athletes stepped onto the podium in 17 different events, collecting:
Gold: 4
Silver: 5
Bronze: 5
In our most recent outing at the National Stadium, the Bulldogs achieved a historic milestone. We saw our biggest representation ever, with 7 swimmers qualifying to compete at the highest level in the country against Singapore’s elite school and club athletes
Congratulations to all our competitors for their hard work and for representing the Bulldogs with such distinction. We look forward to carrying this momentum into the upcoming Junior School championships!
A T H L E T E S O F
Ever y term, we celebrate students whose dedication, skill, and sportsmanship stand out both on and off the playing field This term, we are proud to recognise these students whose determination, teamwork, and passion for their sport of choice have inspired peers and set a high standard for excellence
Amelie Vo Junior School, Grade 4
Q: How did you feel when you found out you were chosen as Athlete of the Term?
When I learned I was chosen as NLCS Athlete of the Term, I felt very surprised and excited I love competing and representing my school, so it means a lot to me to be selected. Iʼm very grateful to my coaches for encouraging me to try new sports, and to my teammates for always supporting and motivating me
Q: What has been your favourite moment in sport this term?
My highlight this term was attending the FOBISIA international swim competition in Phuket in January At first, I felt nervous being the youngest participant, but Coach Simpson and my teammates made me feel very welcome.
The three-day experience was exhausting, but I loved every second of it: racing, cheering for our team, and being part of such a special experience. I was super thankful that my family was in attendance too Now I canʼt wait until the FOBISIA Games in M
Q: Looking back on this term, what do you think helped you perform consistently in your sport?
Consistency came from discipline and focusing on small improvements In swimming and golf, technique and patience matter a lot. By concentrating on effort during every practice and trusting gradual progress, I was able to stay steady throughout the term.
Q: What goals are you setting for yourself for next term or season?
Next term, I hope to continue improving my technique and achieve new personal bests in swimming while developing consistency in golf. I also want to keep supporting my teammates and representing my school with dedication and sportsmanship.
T H E T E R M
T H E T E R M
Ben Gibbons Senior School, Grade 8
Q:What does this recognition represent in the wider context of your sporting journey?
This recognition is very motivating for me, especially as I would like to make sport my career, either as a player or as a coach My ultimate dream would be to play cricket professionally, and to represent Singapore one day. I know it will not be an easy journey, but recently I made the first step by being selected for the U15 Singapore national development squad.
Q: As a senior athlete, how do you see your role influencing younger students in the sporting community?
I captained the NLCS U14 cricket team and enjoyed guiding and encouraging the younger players, some of whom had not played much hard ball cricket before Motivating each other was really key, as good team spirits can help change a game I'm also looking forward to getting involved with junior coaching at the Singapore Cricket Club in the future.
OUR STARS IN ACTION!
TEACHER SPOTLIGHT
O b a d a A l S a q q a
Second In-Charge of Mathematics & Service Coordinator
M a k i n g a s i g n i f i c a n t c h a n g e , I t ra n s i t i o n e d m y p r o f e s s i o n a l f o c u s t o e d u c a t i o n , s p e c i f i c a l l y t e a c h i n g m a t h e m a t i c s
B e f o r e co m i n g t o N LCS ( S i n g a p o r e ) , I h e l d t h e p o s i t i o n o f H e a d o f M a t h e m a t i c s a n d C o m p u ta t i o n a l T h i n k i n g
D e p a r t m e n t a t K i n g 's A c a d e m y i n J o r d a n , a b o a r d i n g s c h o o l b u i l t b y t h e K i n g o f J o r d a n , w i t h D e e r f i e l d A c a d e m y i n
t h e U S a s i t s s i st e r.
W
M y p a s s i o n f o r t e a c h i n g h a s a l w a y s b e e n st r o n g , b e g i n n i n g w i t h t h e e n j o y m e n t o f t u t o r i n g f r i e n d s a n d r e l a t i v e s i n m a t h e m a t i c s , co m p u t e r s c i e n ce , a n d e n g i n e e r i n g s u b j e c t s t h r o u g h o u t m y s c h o o l a n d co l l e g e y e a r s W h i l e ce r ta i n o b sta c l e s i n i t i a l l y c l o u d e d t h e p a t h t o a t e a c h i n g c a r e e r, a n y d o u b t va n i s h e d t h e m o m e n t I l e d m y f i r st d e m o n st ra t i o n c l a s s I t w a s t h e n I r e a l i z e d , w i t h o u t a d o u b t , t h a t t e a c h i n g i s m y t r u e c a l l i n g
W h a t d o y o u h o p e y o u r st u d e n t s ta k e a w a y f r o m y o u r c l a s s e s ?
M a t h i s a l a n g u a g e , a n d co n s i st e n t p ra c t i ce w i l l l e a d t o g r e a t e r f l u e n c y.
W
I t ʼs f r o m m y fa v o u r i t e b o o k b y D r S e u s s O h ! T h e P l a c e s Yo u ʼ l l G o I p a r t i c u l a r l y a p p r e c i a t e t h i s l i n e : “ Yo u h a v e b ra i n s
i n y o u r h e a d , y o u h a v e f e e t i n y o u r s h o e s , y o u c a n st e e r y o u r s e l f i n a n y d i r e c t i o n y o u c h o o s e “
W h a t i s t h e b i g g e st l e s s o n t e a c h i n g h a s ta u g h t y o u ?
T h a t y o u c a n p l a n t h e p e r f e c t l e s s o n , a n d s o m e t i m e s w h a t a st u d e n t r e a l l y n e e d s i s f i v e m i n u t e s o f q u i e t k i n d n e s s .
Y o u m a y h a v e s e e n t h e s e f a m i l i a r f a c e s a t o u r f r o n t d e s k r e c e p t i o n b u t d o y o u k n o w t h e m ?
A b o u t a y e a r a g o , I sta r t e d a n e x c i t i n g n e w c h a p t e r i n
m y f i r st s c h o o l r o l e . W i t h a p a s s i o n f o r e x p l o r i n g
d i f f e r e n t c u l t u r e s , I h a v e t ra v e l l e d t h e w o r l d , e n j o y i n g
e v e r y t h i n g f r o m b u st l i n g c i t i e s t o p e a ce f u l n a t u r e
s p o t s . I a m s o m e o n e w h o l o v e s a d v e n t u r e s , I h a v e
e v e n g o n e s k y d i v i n g t w i ce ! I n s p i r e d b y t h e s a y i n g
f r o m t h e Q u ra n , “ F o r i n d e e d , w i t h h a r d s h i p [ w i l l b e ]
e a s e , ” I l i ke t o ta c k l e c h a l l e n g e s w i t h a p o s i t i v e
a tt i t u d e a n d a l o t o f r e s i l i e n ce . I a m r e a l l y l o o k i n g
f o r w a r d t o m a k i n g a d i f f e r e n ce i n t h e l i v e s a r o u n d m e ,
w i t h m y e x p e r i e n ce s a n d c a n - d o s p i r i t .
Lyn Kamarudin
Parent Relations Executive
Languages: English, Malay
I e n j o y e x p l o r i n g t h e r o a d s l e s s t r a v e l l e d , w h e t h e r i t ʼ s
a n e w c i t y , h i k i n g s c e n i c t r a i l s , d i v i n g i n t o a n o v e l o r
a g r e a t s h o p p i n g s p r e e G r o w i n g u p s u r r o u n d e d w i t h
d i v e r s i f i e d c u l t u r e s , I a m p r o u d t o b e a S i n g a p o r e a n
( w i t h t h e “ k n o w l e d g e ” o f S i n g l i s h ! )
Eileen Khoo
Parent Relations Executive
Languages: English, Mandarin
A S i n g a p o r e n a t i v e , I j o i n e d N LCS ( S i n g a p o r e ) i n
D e ce m b e r 2 0 2 4 I e n j o y b u i l d i n g st r o n g r e l a t i o n s h i p s
w i t h p a r e n t s , st u d e n t s , a n d co l l e a g u e s , a n d b e l i e v e
t h a t c l e a r co m m u n i c a t i o n a n d e m p a t h y co n t r i b u t e s i n
c r e a t i n g a p o s i t i v e a n d w e l co m i n g s c h o o l
e n v i r o n m e n t I a m p a
D o l l a r S e c r e t !
Jessie Kaur
Parent Relations Executive
Languages: English, Malay, Hindi, Punjabi
Meet our School Dog, Kona
Our School Dog, Kona is an apricot and white Cavapoochon: a cross between Cavalier King Charles Spinel, Poodle and Bichon Frise. Trained as a School Assistance Dog since she was eight weeks old, Kona is very much a working dog while at school and is already becoming an integral part of our community.
A Day in the Life of Kona
Inside Mrs McCabe-Arnold’s Office
Welcoming students, staff & parents
Supporting small groups
Visiting Assemblies
Whether greeting students with a wagging tail or offering quiet companionship during moments of reflection, Kona has a unique ability to put people at ease Interactions with Kona can help reduce stress, build confidence and encourage positive social behaviours, particularly for younger students or those who may need a little extra support Kona is also integrated into aspects of school life, from informal meet-and-greets to supporting reading or relaxation sessions, creating meaningful opportunities for students to connect, communicate and feel supported
In many ways, Kona embodies the school’s commitment to nurturing not just academic excellence, but also kindness, empathy and emotional wellbeing, making her a truly cherished member of the NLCS (Singapore) community
Why a School Dog?
Research consistently highlights the positive impact therapy dogs can have on children’s development and wellbeing
COGNITIVE
Stimulates memory and problemsolving
Encourages focus and engagement
SOCIAL
Encourages responsibility
Strengthens peer relations
EMOTIONAL PHYSICAL
Teaches compassion and respect
Lifts mood and improves self-esteem
Reduces blood pressure
Provides tactile stimulation
ENVIRONMENTAL
Fosters a strong sense of belonging
Strengthens community atmosphere
Extends wellbeing beyond the classroom
But most importantly... Kona gives the best cuddles!
CLUBS & COMMUNITY
Cur r y, Questions, and Lots of Community
Our Curry and Quiz Night was back for its third consecutive year, bringing staff and parents together for fun, friendly competition, delicious food, laughter-filled community connections, and unexpected challenges who knew you could build a structure so high out of spaghetti and marshmallows!
Connections W ith a View Ahead of Musical Magic
Families of performers gathered for a drinks reception overlooking Marina Bay, enjoying breathtaking views and refined refreshments, while connecting and sharing excitement ahead of our much-admired Esplanade Music Recital.
To begin the evening on such a high note at a lovely location, and then experience the brilliance of the Esplanade Music Recital, made the night truly unforgettable.
Walk, Talk, Connect
The NLCSConnect Walking Club has been exploring Singapore’s scenic highlights, from Rifle Range Nature Park and Bukit Timah Nature Reserve to East Coast Park–Joo Chiat and MacRitchie Treetops.
Members enjoyed invigorating walks throughout Term 2, with our Principals also joining getting their steps in while connecting with parents along the way.
The NLCSConnect Creative Club continues to support our community through engaging parent and child activities This term, during Chinese New Year Cultural Week, families created beautiful pipe cleaner bouquets, showcasing their creativity with fantastic results.
The new term opened with renewed energy and excitement as our school community embraced the spirit of the Lunar New Year and our annual Chinese New Year Community Celebration.
This year’s Chinese New Year Community Celebration showcased the incredible depth of talent within our student and parent community. Across the event, an astounding 14 performances highlighted the richness and beauty of Chinese traditions and culture. Families were treated to a vibrant array of dance, music ensembles, singing, and theatre, each performance reflecting dedication, creativity, and a genuine love for cultural expression.
A key element behind the success of the celebration is the unwavering support of our NLCS (Singapore) Chinese Parents Committee Each year, this remarkable group of parents demonstrates incredible organisation, passion, and dedication, ensuring every aspect of the festivities comes together seamlessly From designing and arranging the beautiful decorations to coordinating logistics and engaging volunteers, the Committee’s efforts bring the entire celebration to life
Beyond the performances and festivities, community events like these play a vital role in the life of an international school such as NLCS (Singapore) They provide families with opportunities to explore, learn, and appreciate the multi-dimensional community in which we live, encouraging a deeper understanding of diverse cultures and perspectives These celebrations are designed with the intention of enabling our students to flourish in any environment beyond the classroom, fostering adaptability, empathy, and global awareness We actively encourage families from all backgrounds to participate in our cultural events, sharing in the richness of our community and helping to create an inclusive environment where every student can thrive
As we look ahead, we wish our school a successful, joyous, and prosperous Year of the Horse.
Community Iftar
Breaking Fast, Building Community: Celebrating Iftar Together at NLCS (Singapore)
This March, during the blessed month of Ramadan, our campus welcomed families from across our community for our annual Community Iftar a gathering that continues to embody respect, generosity, and the shared spirit of togetherness. This year, our parent committee brought fresh ideas to the table, introducing date tasting, DIY Tasbeeh, and traditional live music to accompany the Iftar, creating an evening that was both meaningful and memorable.
A great deal of the Iftar’s warmth and flavour came from families at home, who thoughtfully prepared dishes to cater for all taste buds Children’s smiles and laughter filled the room as they decorated crescent moon cookies or coloured festive designs, adding a joyful, hands-on element to the evening Mr AlSaqqa’s stall, where names were beautifully translated into Arabic, was especially popular, with outcomes that delighted both young and old and became treasured keepsakes from the night
A special thank you to Isra (G4) for taking to the stage and opening our event with a few heartfelt words about what Ramadan means Her reflection reminded us all of the spirit of the month generosity, gratitude, and connection and set a meaningful tone for the evening ahead.
As with every year, our Community Iftar reaffirmed that when we gather with respect, openness, and love, the light of our community shines brighter than ever.
FOUNDER’S DAY
27th March 2026
On the last day of Term 2, North London Collegiate School (Singapore) came together to honour a remarkable legacy on Founder's Day. This annual celebration commemorates the visionary Frances Mary Buss, founder of NLCS UK, and her pioneering contributions to education.
This year’s Founder's Day held special significance, as it marked the fifth anniversary of our vibrant Depot Road campus, now home to over 1,400 students. The spirit of the day was one of joy, reflection, and togetherness, creating moments that will be cherished by our school community.
A highlight of the celebration was the heartwarming Daffodil Procession. Our Grade 5 and 6 students paired with our youngest learners from First School, walking hand in hand to symbolise the nurturing and supportive environment that our school embodies
This year also saw a new tradition take root, as parents were welcomed onto campus for the first-ever Founder's Day Community Coffee Morning Over a delicious morning tea, parents and members of the Senior Team, alongside our student leaders and ONLs, had the opportunity to connect, and celebrate together The event fostered a strong sense of belonging and highlighted the integral role families play in our school community
As we look back on this year’s Founder's Day, we celebrate not only Frances Mary Buss’s enduring legacy in education but also the thriving, dynamic community that makes NLCS (Singapore) unique. With each generation of students, staff, and families, the traditions and values of NLCS continue to flourish hand in hand, just as they did on this special day.
As Term 2 draws to a close, we thank you for your continued partnership. For those who celebrate, we wish you a very Happy Easter, and to all, a peaceful and restorative break.
Term 3: Event Calendar
Be sure to save the date for these upcoming activities and keep an eye on the Buss Brief every Friday at 4pm for the latest updates, details, and announcements.
APRIL
Family Games Night: 18 April
NLCS (Singapore) Young Musician Heats: 25 - 26 April
MAY
Annual Gala Dinner: 9 May
Grade 12 Graduation: 26 May
JUNE
GANU Sale: 3 June
Lower School Swim Gala: 3 June
NLCS (Singapore) Young Musician Concerto Final: 7 June
Junior School & Senior School Sports Awards: 10 June
Arts Festival: 15 - 19 June
Summer Festival: 19 June
Grade 5 Celebration: 22 June
Performing Arts Award Ceremony: 23 June
Early Years Picnic: 23 June
L o o k i n g a h e a d , e x c i t e m e n t i s b u i l d i n g f o r t h e N L C S ( S i n g a p o r e ) Y o u n g M u s i c i a n 2 0 2 6 , t a k i n g p l a c e o n 2 5 t h a n d 2 6 t h A p r i l . T h e s e l i v e h e a t s , a h e a d o f t h e J u n e F i n a l s , w i l l f e a t u r e 6 0 o u t s t a n d i n g m u s i c i a n s s e l e c t e d f r o m o v e r 2 0 0 a p p l i c a n t s a c r o s s A s i a , r e f l e c t i n g a n e x c e p t i o n a l l y h i g h s t a n d a r d o f p e r f o r m a n c e . A c r o s s f o u r r o u n d s J u n i o r , I n t e r m e d i a t e , S e n i o r , a n d A d v a n c e d a u d i e n c e s c a n e x p e c t a d y n a m i c a n d i n s p i r i n g s h o w c a s e o f y o u n g m u s i c a l t a l e n t . W e a r e h o n o u r e d t o w e l c o m e a n o u t s t a n d i n g p a n e l o f a d j u d i c a t o r s : C h o H a n g O h , N i c h o l a s O n g , Y o o n g H a n C h a n , a n d J o s h u a T a n .
T h i s p r o m i s e s t o b e a r e m a r k a b l e c e l e b r a t i o n o f e x c e l l e n c e , a m b i t i o n , a n d a r t i s t r y T i c k e t s a r e a v a i l a b l e v i a E v e n t b r i t e 54
