PL PARCEL #7

PL PARCEL PL PARCEL

Bird Paradise in

Singapore!

What is Bird Paradise?

PreviouslyknownasJurongBird Park,BirdParadiseisawildlifepark inSingaporewithavarietyofbird speciesrangingfromtheAmerican BaldEaglefromNorthAmericato theShoebillfromEasternTropical Africa!Thiswildlifeparkbringsbirds fromallovertheworldto Singapore.

Why was a relocation necessary?

Thisispartoftheplantodevelop Mandaiintoawildlifeprecinct, whichwillincludemultiplenewparks. BirdParadiseisthefirstofthese parkstobeopened.Theorderthe birdsatJurongBirdParkwas relocatedwasduetotwofactors–thereadinessofthenewaviariesin Mandaitotakebirds,andtheareas thatshouldbefreedfirstinJurongso

Writtenby:JanelleAng(2.1), CharaineNeo(2.2),ChloePeh (2.4)

DesignedBy:JeanWong(3.3)

securethemmoreeasilyfortheir move.

How were the birds moved to Mandai?

Thepetcarrierscarryingsmaller birdsweredrapedinoldand unwantedMandaiT-shirts,which keptthebirdscalmbyshrouding themindarkness.Onrainydays, thecoversalsohelptokeepthe birdsdry.However,theprocessof movingthebirdswasnotas straightforwardasitmayseem.The birdshadtobetrainedonetotwo yearspriortothemovesothatthey couldlearnhowtoentertheir cagesandnotfeelstressedabout havingtostayinthecageduring themovefromJurongBirdParkto BirdParadise.

PhotoCredittoMandaiWildlifeGroup,takenfrom Mothership

thatsomebirds insomelarger walk-through aviariescouldbe placedinthese freed-upspaces forkeepersto

Howaretheoldandnewparkany different?

InJurongBirdPark,therewere onlytwowalk-inareaswiththe restofthebirdsbeinginsmaller cageswhilethereareeight differentwalk-inareasbasedon thecountriesandcontinentsin BirdParadise.However,onething waskeptthesame.Theiconic waterfall!Therewasahuge waterfallthatmanyvisitors admiredinJurongBirdPark;now, therearethreewaterfallsinBird Paradise!Didyouknowthatthe waterfallsweredifficulttobuild?

Togetthewaterintheartificial waterfallstolookjustlikereal waterfalls,rockshadtobecut andshapedinaspecificway.

Infrastructure of the Bird Paradise

Funfact:therearemanyfunand thrillingplaygroundsatBird Paradise!Beforeyouevenenterthe park,therearealreadyseveral playgroundsfoundaroundtheentry areathatarefreeforalltouse!

Someofthefeaturesinthe playgroundincludearopeswing, andbalancebeamsintheshapeof treelogs.Otherthanplaygrounds, therearealsoeateriesatBird Paradise.ThisincludesEggSplash, acuteegg-themedcafethat specialisesinegg-relatedfood. Thereisevenanegg-themedwater playgroundforyoungkidsoutside EggSplash!Besidesthis,thereare alsomanyreststopsbetweenthe aviariesforyoutocatchyour breathandescapetheSingapore heatforawhile.

The rest stops in Bird Paradise are separated from the aviaries by two sets of double doors. Inside the rest stops, the layout is designed in an "S" shape to confuse any birds that may enter, preventing them from crossing over into other aviaries.

Conclusion

ThenewenclosuresatBirdParadiseprovidethebirdswithamplespaceto roamandengageinnaturalbehaviors,ensuringtheirwell-being.Moreover, visitorscanenjoyawiderrangeofenclosurestoexplore,offeringadiverse andcaptivatingexperience.Additionally,theparkboastsbrandnew facilities,includingnumerouseateriesandattractionsthatcatertovarious preferencesandinterests.Whetheryouareabird-lover,enjoybird-watching, orsimplywanttohaveamemorabletimewithyourfamily,BirdParadiseisa must-visitdestination.

Credits:

Special thanks to: Mr Edmas Neo

https://mothership.sg/2022/10/bird -paradise-open-q2-2023/ https://mothership.sg/2023/01/juro ng-bird-park-officially-closes-forgood-on-its-52ndanniversary/https://mothership.sg/2 023/05/penguins-move-out-jurongbird-park/

https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=ZWT9fyQlH0A(videoonbirds movingout)

PhotoTakenbySTLimYaohui takenfromStraitsTimes

Hit by a heatwave?

HaveyouseenatextmessageoraFacebookpostabouta40-50degrees "heatwave"boundforSingapore?Althoughtheweatherrecentlyhascertainly beensweltering,theNationalEnvironmentAgency(NEA)hasstepped forwardtodebunkthemessageasfakenews.Itwasmostlikelyarumour spreadthroughsocialmediaandtextchannelstocausecommotionamong Singaporeans.Whileitwasnoshockertomostofusthatthiswasfakenews, therumourhasneverthelessbeenspreadtomanySingaporeans,causing panicanddistressamongsomemisinformedindividuals.

OnApril28,NEAaddressedtherumours,statingthatitisunlikelyfor Singaporetoreachsuchextremetemperatures.Thoughacknowledgingthat Singaporehasbeenexperiencingwarmerdaysinrecentweeks,they explainedthattheinter-monsoonmonthsofAprilandMayaretypicallythe warmestperiodsoftheyear,whichiswhythetemperatureshaveincreased significantly.

Then what's causing this heat?

AccordingtoastatementbytheMeteorologicalServiceof Singapore(MSS)onApril17,theswelteringheatlastedthe majorityofApril,withdailytemperaturessurpassing34°C intheafternoononmostdays,withthelocalwindsbeing lightandunpredictable,carryingwiththemmanyshorttermthunderstorms. Theheatcontinuedthroughout almosttheentiretyofAprilthroughJune,yielding temperaturesofonaverage34-36°C.Youcouldn’tgo outsidewithoutimmediatelybreakingasweat!

GoogleWeather'sreportstatedthatit“feltlike 40°C”ataroundthesametime. The"feelslike''temperature,whichisnottobe confusedwiththeactualtemperature,relieson environmentaldata.Thisincludesair temperature,relativehumidity,andwindspeed, thusexplaininghowweatherconditionsfeeltothe bareskin.DuetoSingapore’shumidityaddingon tothecurrentinter-monsoonseason,theweather seemshotterthanever.Anothersignificant contributortotheheatisclimatechange,whichis causedbyanumberoffactorssuchas deforestationorunsustainableenergyuse.

debunking the rumours

Thereareanumberofreasonswhythemessagewasconsideredfakenews. Oneexampleisthatthemessagestatedthata“friend”whoisalsoadoctor collapsedandwasrushedtoahospitalafterwashingtheirfeetincoldwater tocooltheirbodydownfromthehotweather,claimingthatanindividual’s bodyneedstocooldownfor30minutesafterbeingoutsidein38°C weather.Themessageaddedthatduringthewarmseason,oneshould avoiddrinkingcoldwaterasitwillcausebloodvesselstoburstorcausea stroke.

AccordingtoFamilyPhysicianDoctorKarlaRobinson,thosewho experiencedizzinessduringwarmtemperaturesusuallydealwithheat exhaustionoraheat-relatedillness,whichisunrelatedtotheconsumption orcontactwithcoldwater.Shestatedthatdrinkingcoldwaterorcooling someonedownwithcoldwaterisacommonremedyforfaintingcausedby overheating.Dr.Robinsonemphasizedthattherehavebeenreportsofrare caseswhereindividualspassoutafterconsumingcoldbeverages.However, thisisanunrelatedillnessthatisnotrelatedtoheat;rather,itisanerverelatedconsequencethatcanoccasionallyoccur.NeurologistJosePaciano Reyesrespondedtothesameclaim,statingthatbloodvessels“donot explodeonexposuretocold,”explainingthat“theoppositeactually happens:thephysiologicresponsetocoldexposurecausesskinblood vesselstoconstricttoconserveheat.”

but they wouldn't send me fake news...

Myfriendswouldn'tsendittomeifit'sfalse..thereforeitmustbetrue! However,eventhoughmostofustrustourfriendstogiveaccurate information,theaveragepersonwouldn’tbothertoverifyeverythingthey seeonline.Sure,maybeyourfriendwouldn'tlietoyou,buttheymaystillbe misinformedandwouldn'tknowiftheinformationistrueorfalse.Infact, thequickestwaytospreadmisinformationisthroughforwardingtexts, becauseitisacommonmethodtoreachpeopleeasily.Wealsotake advantageofthisconvenience,nothavingtomoveamusclebysimply conveyinginformationwithintextingchannels.Weoftenthinkthat accurateinformationisavailabletouswithoutushavingtoactivelylookfor theinformationfromreliablesources,butitiscrucialtoexercise discernmentwhenevaluatingthereliabilityofinformationreceivedfrom anysource.

conclusion

Despitetheswelteringheatthesepastfewmonths, temperaturesarenotsurpassing40°Casrumoured,much less50°C!Fortunately,therumouraboutthe'heatwave'has beenpromptlyaddressed,andeffortshavebeenmadeto suppressthespreadofmisinformation.We,too,haveapart toplayinpreventingfurthermisunderstandings,todoour ownresearchandverifyifsuchnewsisaccurate.Itonly takesaclickofabutton!Let’sallmaketheefforttostepup andstopthespreadoffakenews.Staysafe!

SymphonyOfPraise

Writtenby:ChloePeh(2.4),OwYong YuAn(1.3),NaomiZoeNg(1.4)

Introduction

This year, PL-Lites were given the wonderful opportunity to attend and even perform at the biennial event – Symphony of Praise (SOP). The Performing Arts CCAs dedicated extensive efforts to perfect their performances for this event, and their hard work undeniably yielded remarkable results, making SOP a resounding success!

Of course, there is more to SOP than just what we see on stage. In this article, we will delve into the behind-thescenes happenings at SOP 2023 and explore how these contributed to the overall success of the concert.

The Performing Arts CCAs

The breathtaking performances you witn the stage are only a glimpse of the proce fraction of all the hours invested to cre a remarkable show.

Goh(3.4)

The Performing Arts CCAs tirelessly rehearsed to achieve their flawless performances. These dedicated performers refused to let their spirits waver, even after putting in endless hours of practice for SYF that had recently concluded. Naturally, there were trying days when fatigue set in and tempted them to give up, but the strong bonds among the CCA members spurred them on to continue to strive towards their common goal - to deliver the best performance possible! Despite encountering numerous challenges along the way, they persevered and their hard work ultimately paid off.

An unnamed Secondary 4 student says, "There were many days when I felt overwhelmed and considered giving up due to the amount of stress of SOP preparation, along with studying for my timed practices and managing the administrative responsibilities I had as the CCA president. However, I learned to take things slow and keep my stress levels in check. Working backstage was also demanding and chaotic, with the need to organize and move props, musical instruments, and risers in a cramped space, ensuring everything was in the correct order and timing. Despite the technical challenges and behind-the-scenes stress, I still found it fun. This year's SOP was also really special as it was the first SOP for many of us, and I particularly cherished the finale when we all came together to sing 'Our School'. All in all, I am really happy with the end result of my CCA's performance and I'm really grateful that all our hard work has paid off!"

re than what meets the eye

In addition to the performers, it is also crucial to recognise the unsung heroes who made significant contributions to the preparation of SOP. Their efforts deserve equal praise and acknowledgment as the performers!

Firstly, we must acknowledge the student leaders. On the day of SOP, they played a crucial role in assisting and guiding the audience, ensuring a smooth and successful concert experience. Without their presence and dedication, the concert would not have ran as smoothly as it did.

Secondly, let's give recognition to our emcees of the night from the Debate CCA. The three of them showcased their talents and performed to the best of their abilities, even in the face of stressful circumstances. They helped to maintain the flow of the programme, telling jokes to lighten the mood as they enthusiastically introduced each performance.

Thirdly, we cannot forget the teachers who played a vital role in the preparation and execution of SOP. Without their guidance and support, this concert would not have been possible.The teachers were actively involved in every aspect of SOP, from handling the logistics of the event to taking care of the smallest details, such as ensuring that food was provided for the performers, so they wouldn't go hungry. Their dedication and attention to detail contributed significantly to the resounding success of this event.

Fourthly, we must acknowledge the invaluable contributions of the MIT students who were involved in the technical aspects of SOP 2023. Their dedicated work behind the scenes, ranging from camerawork to the sound system, ensured that everything ran smoothly without any hiccups on the actual day of the concert. It is safe to say that without them, SOP 2023 could have very well ended up being a technical disaster.

Lastly, we would like to give a special recognition to Inge Hoon of 3.6, an OLevels Arts Student. She was the designer behind our SOP tickets! Her vibrant and joyful design perfectly captured the essence of the event and added an extra touch of excitement, truly fit for an event like SOP.

The Concert and Conclusion

Overall, thanks to the collective efforts of PL-Lites, staff, and performers, the concert went according to plan and turned out to be a resounding success. The dedication and hard work put in by everyone involved made this year's SOP a truly memorable event. The time and effort invested by the performers in their practice sessions were undoubtedly worthwhile, as it resulted in an exceptional performance that left a lasting impact on the audience. The combined teamwork and commitment of all those involved were instrumental in creating a remarkable concert experience. We hope that you have gained a better understanding of everything that happened at SOP 2023. This truly goes to show that many hands make light work. See you at PL's next event!

Post secondary pathways

Writtenby:ElizabethBan(3.2),TanSheena(3.8)

Designedby:AareeshaGill(1.7),TeoWenQi(1.4)

A Post Secondary Pathway dilemma

DoyourememberyourparentssittingyoudownafterPSLEwithutmost seriousness,todiscusswhatschoolyouwantedtogoto?Asyounearthe endofyourjourneyhereinPL,youtoowillhavetomakeasimilardecision, butwithmanymoreoptionsavailable.Sothequestionremains...Wherewill yougo?Toanswerthis,wewillexplorethedifferentpathsandconsiderthe variousfactorsthatinfluencePL-Lites'choiceofpath.

The thinking behind each choice

Before we continue, it is essential to understand that the school you choose merely serves as a foundation for your career. Your potential career path depends on your interests, and all schools offer a wide variety of courses to help students hone their skills, gain experience, and expand their knowledge.

Everyschooloffersarangeofcourses andprogrammestopavethewayfor futurecareers.Dependingonyour preference,itiswisertochoosea schoolthatofferscoursesalignedwith yourhobbiesorinterests.

T.Shakthifrom3.2mentionedthat shewasconsideringNanyang Polytechnicbecauseitoffersan AnimationandVisualEffectscourse. Shewantstocontinuepursuing animationaswellasfurtherdevelop herskillsinherfutureschool.

Junior College

Inthesameway,JCsoffer subjectsthatexpandknowledge andexperienceinareassuchas EngineeringorMedicine. Thisappealstostudentslike Jaiswateefrom3.3,whois interestedinpursuinga careerasadoctorand wantstostartbuildingher foundationbystudying relevantsubjectsinaJC.

Startingwiththeoptionitseemsmostparentswantustochoose,JuniorCollegeisthemost similartosecondaryschoolasitaimstopreparestudentsforuniversity.Thesubjectsofferedin JCaremoretheoreticalratherthanapplicable,anditissaidtoprovidebetterjobopportunities withhighersalariesinthefuture.JCpreparesstudentstomajorinspecificareasofexpertise, whilestillexploringawiderangeoftopics,makingitidealforthoseunsureoftheirfuture pursuits.Additionally,themajorityofJuniorCollegeschoolfeesaresignificantlycheaperasthey aresubsidisedbyMOE.

However,despitethebenefits,therearefactorsthatmightdrivepeopleawayfromJCand towardsotheroptions.

ManychoosenottogotoJuniorCollegeduetotheheavyworkload.ThetwoyearsspentinJC areknowntobecontent-heavy,requiringlonghoursofintensivestudying,whichmaybe overwhelmingforsomestudents.Additionally,sinceJCisdeemedtobesimilartothecurrent Secondaryschoolsetting,itlacksthesamefreedomandindependenceastheotheroptionsare saidtooffer.IfyouaremoreacademicallyinclinedandenjoyyourcurrentSecondaryschoollife, JCmightbetheoptionforyou!

AnotherpopularchoiceamongthosewhovaluefreedomandindependenceisPolytechnics,whichoffers moreapplicablecoursestopreparestudentsforimmediatejobopportunitiesaftergraduation.Many studentschoosePolyforitspractical,hands-onprojectwork,findingcumulativegradedassignmentsmore manageableandflexiblethanstudyingintensivelyfortermlyassessments.Thoughsomeparentsmight adviseagainstthisduetoconcernsabouttheirchild’sfuturecareer,studentsappreciatethecomfort, freedomandindependencethatcomewiththerelaxedrulesandregulationsinaPolytechnic. However,notallstudentsaresureabouttheircareerchoices.Polytechnicsoffercoursesspecificto certaincareers,andstudentsarerequiredtochooseoneuponacceptanceintotheschool.Ifyouaren’t entirelysureofasuitablecareerandareafraidofmakingadecisionyoumightregretlater,keepingyour optionsopenmaybeawisechoice.

Polytechnic Specific interest

Mostschoolswillprovideopportunitiestopursueyourintereststhroughco-curricularactivitiesand interestgroups.However,certainschools,suchasartsorsportsschools,offerspecializedsubjectsand evendiplomaprogramsintheseareas. Forinstance,ifyouhavespecificinterestsinfineartswhether thatbeacting,musicordesign,perhapsyoucanconsidertheNanyangAcademyofFineArts(NAFA)or LASALLE.Bothoftheseartsinstitutionsofferdiplomaprogrammesforpost-secondarystudents interestedinfinearts.WhilePolytechnicsalsoofferartcourses,whatsetsthesetwoschoolsapartis thattheseartschoolsalsoofferBachelor'sprogrammesfortheirstudents.Ifyouaresetonpursuing finearts,NAFAorLASALLEmaybetheschoolforyou!

Forthoseinclinedtowardssportsandaspiringtobeathletes,youmayconsiderchoosingtheSingapore SportsSchoolorSSPforshort.Inadditiontohavingarangeofsportsfacilities, theyalsoofferIB andPolytechnicdiplomasforstudent-athletes.However,it'simportanttonotethatthismaynotbe suitableforeveryoneduetothedemandingcurriculumoftheschool.Studentsareexpectedtotrainup to10timesaweekandattend5hoursofschoolperday.

Ultimately,whicheverschoolpost-secondaryinstitutionyouchoosewill laythefoundationforyourfuture.Itisidealtochooseaschoolthat alignswithyourinterests.Whenthetimecomestomakethis importantdecision,gatherinformationandchoosewisely. Onceyou've madeyourchoice,it'sbesttocommittoitandmakethemostofthe opportunitiesavailable.Thenextfewyearsspentinyourchosenschool areavaluablewindowbetweenyourschoolingandworkingyears,so workhard,pursueyourinterests,anddon'tbeafraidtoenjoy yourselfalongtheway!

WrittenBy:CharaineNeo(2.2),JanelleAng(2.1)

Designedby:EvaAnLew(2.2),JanelleAng(2.6)

Streetarthasemergedasaprominentformofartistic expressionthatisvisuallycaptivatingandthought-provoking.

Ithasthepowertochallengetraditionalnotionsofartand engagecommunitiesinconversationsaboutimportantsocial andpoliticalissues.Fromvibrantmuralsonwallsandbuildings tocleverly-placedstickersandgraffiti,streetarthasbecomea globalphenomenonthatcontinuestoinspireandcaptivate audiences.Inthisarticle,wewillexplorethehistory, significance,andimpactofstreetart,anddelveintothe differentstylesandtechniquesusedbystreetartistsaround theworld.

canvastoexpresstheirideasandopinions.Inthe1960sand 1970s,graffitiemergedasasubcultureinurbanareas, particularlyinNewYorkCity,bringingstreetarttothe mainstream.Graffitiartistsusedspraypainttocreate intricatedesignsandelaboratelettering,oftenillegally,on publicbuildingsandstructures.However,inthe1980sand 1990s,streetartexpandedbeyondjustgraffitiand encompassedawiderrangeofformssuchasmurals, installations,andsculptures.Today,streetartisaglobal phenomenon,withartistsusingtheirworktoaddresssocial andpoliticalissues,beautifypublicspaces,andfostera senseofcommunityandidentity.

communicationbetweenartistsandthepublic.Themedium hasarichhistorythatcanbetracedbacktoancient civilisations,whereartwascreatedonwallsandcaves.In recenttimes,streetarthasbecomeaglobalphenomenon, transformingurbanlandscapesandstimulatingdialogue aroundimportantsocialandpoliticalissues.Streetartis oftenusedasaformofprotestandsocialcommentary, providingavoiceformarginalisedcommunitiesandsheddin lightonsocietalinjustices.Italsoaddsvibrancyand charactertocities,makingthemmoreengagingand welcomingtoresidentsandvisitorsalike.Throughitsability tocaptivateandinspire,streetarthasbecomeanintegral partofcontemporaryculture,contributingtothediverse artisticlandscapeofthemodernworld.

q g,

whereadesigniscutoutofamaterialsuchascardboardor paper,andspraypaintisappliedoverthestenciltocreatea crispimage.Anotherpopulartechniqueiswheatpasting, wherepostersorimagesareprintedandthengluedtoawall orothersurfaceusingamixtureofwheatflourandwater. Somestreetartistsusefreehandpaintingtechniques,using brushes,rollersorspraypainttocreateintricateanddetailed images.Othersemployinstallationsand3Dobjectstocreate interactiveandthought-provokingpiecesRegardlessofthe techniqueused,streetartcontinuestopushtheboundaries oftraditionalartformsandchallengesocietalnorms.

fact,peopleoftentraveltotheseplacesspecificallyto experiencetheartinperson!DidyouknowthatSingapore alsohasourownstreetart?Becauseoftheculturaland socialvalue,streetartisbeingpromotedindesignated areas.Localartistshavealsobeengivenopportunitiesto showcasetheirartworksinpublicspaces,andstreetart festivalshavebeenheldtopromoteandcelebratethis vibrantartformYoucanfindthesestreetartworksin locationssuchasTiongBahru,KampongGlamandmore!

expressionwitharichhistorythatcanbetracedbackto ancientcivilizations.Itservesasameansof communicationbetweentheartistandthepublic, sparkingdialogueandaddressingsocialissues.So,after readingthisarticle,werecommendthatyoutakethetime tovisitthelocationsinSingaporethatfeaturestreetart createdbyourlocalartists.Experiencethevibrantand captivatingworksfirsthandandappreciatethetalentand creativitythatgoesintothisuniqueformofart!

Sources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Street_art

The Nutri-Grade Mark

Designedby:Pooja(1.8),TeoWenQi(1.4)

Editedby:AdeleWang(3.6)

What is Nutri-Grade?

Haveyourecentlypurchasedapre-packaged drinkfromthesupermarketandnoticeda newcolourfullabelonthebottleorcarton?

On30thDecember2022,theNutri-Grade Markschemewaslaunched,followingits announcementinOctober2019.This labellingsystemassignsgradestodrinks basedontheirsaturatedfatandsugar content.

AccordingtothecurrentNutri-Gradescheme,drinksgraded"C" and"D"arerequiredtodisplaylabels,anddrinksgraded"D"are subjecttoadvertisingrestrictions.Thesemeasuresapplytoall Nutri-Gradebeverages,includingpre-packageddrinks,powders orconcentrates,andbeveragesdispensedfromautomated dispensers.

Furthermore,theMinistryofHealthplanstoenhanceNutri-Grade labellingstandardsandexpandadvertisingrestrictionsbytheendof 2023.Thisexpansionwillincludefreshlyprepareddrinkssuchas bubbleteaandfreshjuices,bringingthemundertheNutri-Grade scheme.

Writtenby:FeliciaLow(3.1), OwYongYuAn(1.3), NaomiZoeNg(1.4)

Whatexactlyisthegradingsystemforthesedrinks?Asyoucan see,drinksaregradedbasedontheirsugarandsaturatedfat contentingramsper100millilitresofdrink.Thisprovides consumerswithareliablegaugetoidentifyhealthieroptions.For example,MeijiNon-fatFreshMilkandAyatakaJapaneseGreen Teafallunderthe'A'category,whilePokkaLessSugar

ChrysanthemumTea,Milo,andevenCokeZerofallunderthe'B' category.SomePokkateas,softdrinks,andregularfreshmilk fromvariousbrandsarecategorisedas'C'or'D'.

Why is Nutri-Grade so important?

Youmaywonderwhythegovernmenthasputin somuchefforttodevelopanewrankingsystem fordrinkswhentheHealthierChoicesymbol alreadyexists.Nutri-Gradewasintroducedin responsetoconcerningdiabetesstatisticsamong Singaporeans.Itsgoalistohelpconsumersmake moreinformedandhealthierchoiceswhen purchasingbeverages.

Byfocusingonmonitoringthesugarandsaturatedfat contentofdrinks,Nutri-Gradeaimstosignificantly reduceourintakeofthesesubstances,asbeverages contributenearlyone-thirdofourdailysugarand saturatedfatintake.

Havingahighsugarintakeislargelyassociatedwith anincreasedriskofobesityanddiabetes,thelatterof whichhasbeenontheriseinSingapore.Diabetes shouldnotbeunderestimated,asitcanleadtoserious healthcomplications,includinghighbloodsugar, heartattack,andstroke.

ThankstotheNutri-Gradescheme,manufacturers havestartedreformulatingtheirbeveragestooffer morelower-sugarandlower-fatoptions,whilealso labellingtheirproductswithNutri-Grademarks. However,itisessentialforconsumerstoremain consciousoftheirhealthwhenmakingpurchases, particularlywithbeverages.

TheNutri-Gradesystemempowersustomakehealthier choicesbyprovidingaconvenientlyplacedandeasy-toreadlettergradeonourdrinks.However,evenwhenopting forhealthierdrinksgraded'A'or'B',it'simportantto rememberthatmoderationiskey.Sugarinso-called"lowsugar"drinkscanstillaccumulateovertime.Therefore,itis uptousasconsumerstoprioritizeourhealthand effectivelyutilizeschemeslikeNutri-Gradetoensureour well-being.Afterall,thehealthiestliquidwecaneasily obtainandconsumewillalwaysbewater."

Credits: MakeHealthyFood&GroceryChoices.(n.d.).https://www.healthhub.sg/programmes/191/nutrition-hub/toolsand-resources

Sugar-sweetenedbeverages-ActiononSugar(nd)https://wwwactiononsugarorg/surveys/2014/sugarsweetenedbeverages/#::text=On%20average%2C%2016%25%20of%20adult's,total%20energy%20intake%20%5B8 %5D

MeasuresforNutri-GradeBeverages(nd)HealthPromotionBoardhttps://hpbgovsg/healthy-living/foodbeverage/nutri-grade

In conclusion...

Written by: Felicia Low (3.1), Tan

Sheena (3.8)

DetachingYourself fromSocialMedia

Designed by: Pooja

Picture this: You are sitting at your desk, a week away from exams, trying to absorb as much information as possible. Suddenly, your phone pings with a notification and the screen flashes bright in the corner of your eye. You pick up the phone, tapping on the notification and quickly losing yourself in scrolling through your feed. Before you realise it, hours have passed and your plans for study have been derailed.

Does this sound familiar to you? On average, Singaporeans spend approximately 2 hours 13 minutes on social media alone. However, in the midst of exam periods, competition prep and trying to complete omework for the day after CCA, this is precious time that we t be unable to afford. Many of us struggle to limit the time we on social media. In light of this, here are some tips to help you reduce social media usage!

OUTOFSIGHT,OUTOFMIND

When you want to take a break from social media during the day, put your phone and any other distracting device away (in a bag or a cupboard) so you ' re not tempted to check it every two minutes. This will allow you to better focus on your work, especially as you get into the groove of studying.

Palanikumar(1.8), Aareesha Gill (1.7)

If you are still tempted to retrieve your phone during a study session, write a reminder for yourself on a sticky note to stay focused and stick it on the screen before you put it away. Besides this, giving your device to a trusted adult could also serve as a disincentive. Having to make the extra effort to reclaim your phone from them provides you with an opportunity to reconsider if what you ’ re doing is truly the best course of action when you need to focus.

Ifyouneedacces communicatewith considermoving orawayfromyour dbyke

Timeblocking

Setting a time limit or a specific goal can help you avoid excessive use of social media. By setting boundaries for yourself, you can limit the time you spend on these platforms. It's important to note that multitasking, such as scrolling through your feed while doing mundane tasks, can actually prolong the time it takes to complete those tasks. Therefore, focusing on one task at a time without the distraction of social media can increase your efficiency.

Inaddition,settinggoalslikerefrainingfrom usingyourphoneatthediningtableor designatingshortbreaksspecificallyforsocial mediausecanboostyourproductivity.Making aconsciousefforttosetasideyourphone afteracertaintimeatnightorbeforea specificpointinthemorningcanreducethe chancesofgettingdistractedorsidetracked frompreparingforbedorstartingyourwork.

Restrict,regulate

AppssuchasScreenTimeoniPhonesareextremelyusefulwhentrying tocutdownthetimeyouspendonyourdevices.Inprimaryschool,our parentsmayhaveplacedsimilarrestrictionsonmanyofus,althoughthe reinsmayhavebeengraduallyloosenedasweareexpectedtomanage ourtimeonourown.Thatsaid,nothingpreventsusfromusingthese applicationsasvaluabletoolstoholdourselvesaccountable.

Besides limiting the time spent on certain websites or applications, these apps can also give us insight into the amount of time we spend on our phones as well as what we do on them. This allows us to be more aware of what we need to cut down on and lets us know how we should change our habits. In this sense, by physically reminding us to take a step away as well as keeping track of the time we spend online for us, we ensure that we do not get carried away using social media apps or websites.

In conclusion, social media might be highly distracting and its usage may be difficult for us to regulate. However, with the right strategies, we can limit the amount of time we spend on these apps and websites, helping us to stay on task and finish what we had set out to do.

Bonded together: ANeWStart

AsnewstudentstoPLMGSS,wehadthe incredibleopportunitytoparticipateinthree differenteventsinthefirsttermofour secondaryschoollife.Theseeventshave greatlyhelpedtheSecondaryOnecohortto betterunderstandourschoolcultureand buildpositiverelationshipswithour classmates.Thewonderfultimewehadatthe iDiscoverCamp,SportsDayandMethodist Walkfarexceededourexpectations!

Onewaywebenefittedfromtheseactivities wasthatithelpedustogettoknowthe schoolbetterastherewereactivitiesthat requiredustogoaroundandfindoutmore abouttheschool.

Thereweremanygreatmemoriesthatweremade duringtheseactivitiesthatwetreasureverymuch!It reallyhelpedustogettoknowthenewschoolwith mostlynewpeoplewhomwehavenotseenbefore.All theseactivitiesnotonlybenefittedus,buteveryone elsetoo!Wehopeactivitieslikethesecontinueforthe futureSecondaryOnesastheyreallyhelpedusgrow closertonotonlyourcohortbutalsotheschool For example,duringtheiDiscovercamp,whenwewere firstintroducedtoourclassmates,thereweremany bondingactivitiesthatletusgettoknoweachother better,likeourhobbiesandotherinterestsetcetera.

Wealsoateourmealstogether,whichhelpedusto interactmorewitheachotherandfamiliarise ourselveswiththecanteen Therewerealsolevel bondinggames,whereweplayednotonlywithour class,butthewholeSecondaryOnelevel.Thishelped ustogrowclosertopeoplefromoutsideourown classesandallowedustoexploretheschoolatthe sametime.Throughallthese,wewerenotrestricted toafewfriendsfrommyclass,butwenowhave friendsfromotherclassesaswell!

Methodistwalk!!

dayoftheMethodistwalk,allofushadtowake upveryearlytobeabletogoasacohorttoAnglo ChineseSchool(Independent).Onthebusrideto theschool,weplayedgameswitheachotherand tookpicturestorememberthatmemorable moment Whenwegottotheschool,wehada briefingbeforestartingthewalk

fairlyslowlyduringthewalksowewereable upwith ourfriendswhilewalking Itwasa rienceasnotonlywereweraisingfundsfor ,wewerealsoabletospendmoretimewith atesandgottoknoweachotherbetter.Our te che l oboughtuscandytosharewitheachother duringourwalk AfterwefinishedourMethodistWalk, theschoolprovideduswithfoodandicecream!The foodwasverydeliciousandtheicecreamwasvery refreshingafterthelongwalkthatmadeusfeel sweaty.TherewasalsoaSustainabilityBazaarwhere manydifferentitemsweresoldataffordableprices andweevengoteachothergifts! Weendedtheevent bytakingpicturestogetherbeforeheadingbackto schoolfordismissal.Inconclusion,thatdefinitelywas asecondaryschoolexperiencethatwewouldnever forget

A feature article byourSec1PLLites!

¬SportsDay¬

ForSportsDay,theactivitieswereengagingand entertaining,trulycapturingourattention.Moreover, wereallyenjoyedhowwecouldgatherasaclassto haveourrecesstogether.Wedrankmiloandate cerealwhilesingingalongtoTaylorSwiftwith everyoneinourSecondaryOnecohortaswellasthe PrimaryFiveandSixjuniorswhojoinedusfromPL Primary.Itwasawonderfulwaytoendthetermand willdefinitelyremaininmymemoriesforever! Allofusreallyenjoyedspendingthis meaningfultimetogetherasweonlystay togetherforfour,orforsome,fiveyearsin PLMGSS.Hence,wethinkthatmakes creatingmemoriesandmakingfriendsvery important.

bInsummary,wemustsaythatourexperienceasnewstudentsinPLMGSShas feenabsolutelyincrediblesofar,thankstothemanyeventsthatwereplanned porourclassandlevel.Theseeventshavehelpedusdevelopcrucialskills,build sositiverelationships,andfeelmoreconnectedtotheschoolcommunity.Weare ogratefulfortheamazingopportunitytoparticipateinthemandcannotwaitto seewhatelseourschoolhasinstoreforus!

Written by: Leana Betsy (1.2), Callie Soh (1.2), Kady Chan (1.2), Alka Prasad (1.2) Elements from: Canva

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