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Overseas Trips and Cultural Exchange Programmes
Humanities Overseas Immersion Programme, Vietnam
From 12 to 15 November, 21 of our Secondary 3 students visited Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Our students underwent an exchange programme at Nhan Van High School. Our students had the opportunity of collaborating with Vietnamese students and being engaged in a plethora of programmes that deepened their understanding of Vietnamese culture. The activities they engaged in included serving at the Go Vap Orphange, exploration of the Cu Chi Tunnels and indulging in a farming and cooking experience. Moreover, our students had the chance to understand how Singapore and Vietnam’s bilateral ties have led to an economic exchange of ideas and resources. They saw this first-hand through their visit to the Minh Long Ceramic Factory located in the Singapore Vietnam Industrial Park. Through this learning journey, our students had many fruitful takeaways, from forging new friendships, to greater understanding of the Vietnamese way of life and internalising the importance of good bilateral relations between Vietnam and Singapore.
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Japan Cultural Exchange Programme (Mutsuzawa)
From 7 November to 14 November 2018, a group of 13 Secondary 2 and 3 students, accompanied by our Principal, Mr Ling, and 2 teachers, participated in the Japan Cultural Exchange Programme to Tokyo and Osaka. Our students visited Mutsuzawa Junior High School and reunited with their Japanese buddies who visited us at Beatty earlier in August. Our students were given the opportunity to stay in the homes of their Japanese buddies for 2 nights to experience the Japanese way of life which is culturally different from the life in Singapore. Aside from the school visit, the students also visited places such as Tokyo Earthquake Simulator, The National Museum of the Emerging Science & Innovation, Tokyo Cup Noodle Museum, Tokyo Eco Town and several other places. After spending 4 days in Tokyo and Chiba, the team travelled to Kyoto and Osaka via Shinkansen (bullet train). The students visited many cultural sites such as Shitennoji Temple, Asakusa Temple, Osaka Castle, Yasaka Shrine and Gion Street to gain a deeper understanding of the Japanese culture.
Japan Cultural Exchange Programme (Mihara City)
The twinning programme with Mihara City is into its 23rd year. This year, 10 students, accompanied by our teachers participated in the Japan Cultural Exchange Programme from 7 November to 14 November 2018.
The students and teachers visited many places of interest such as the Hiroshima Peace Dome, Hiroshima Castle and the Buttsu-ji Temple. The Mihara City officials also arranged some interesting activities for our students. For instance, they participated in the agricultural experience where the students dug their own sweet potatoes for lunch. They also played the Japanese Taiko Drums and visited the Mihara Municipal Water Department.
Our students reunited with their Japanese buddies who visited Beatty Secondary in August this year and enjoyed the home-stay with their host families over the weekend. The cultural exchange ended with a visit to DaiSan Junior High School, where our students learnt Judo and Japanese Calligraphy with the classes they were attached to. After bidding farewell to the Mihara delegation, the team travelled to Osaka via Shinkansen (bullet train). The students visited the Umeda Sky Building, Yasaka Shrine and Dotonbori for the one-day tour at Osaka, gaining exposure to the historical attractions and enriching their understanding of Japanese culture.
Chinese Language Overseas Cultural Immersion at Chang Zheng Secondary School, Shanghai
From 9 November to 15 November 2018, 19 students led by 4 teachers embarked on an overseas learning journey cum school immersion programme to Shanghai. One of the objectives was to enable students to gain an insight into the education system in Shanghai Chang Zheng Secondary School during the 3-day school visit. Our students visited the Oriental Pearl TV Tower, the Bund, Silk Factory and experienced a hands-on session on making Shanghai Xiao Long Bao and other local delicacies. This year marked the 10th year anniversary of the partnership between Beatty Secondary School and Shanghai Chang Zheng Secondary School. For the 3-day school immersion programme at Shanghai Chang Zheng Secondary School, students attended lessons with their buddies, learnt Chinese Painting, Paper Cutting, Chinese Dance and took part in several sporting activities.
It was an enriching and meaningful programme for all participants. From the students’ feedback, it was evident that they attained a greater understanding of Chinese culture and gained greater fluency and confidence when conversing in Mandarin after this trip.
This year, 37 students from 3T1 and 3T2 together with 9 teachers participated in the Secondary 3NT Service Learning Trip to Cambodia titled, Serve Cambodia. This service learning journey started several months before the actual trip. It was a demanding process as we journeyed from learning and understanding the culture of the country, planning a series of activities for the trip, fundraising for the trip and finally embarking on the journey itself to Cambodia. The students planned sports and games such as soccer, captain’s ball and Jenga for the children at Thmoda Primary School and Sangkhoem Khmer Learning Centre (SKK). The children at the schools enjoyed the games and the interaction with our students.
In addition, the students learnt more about the history and culture of Cambodia by visiting the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and Sisowath Quay. The trip’s highlight was the carnival we planned and implemented in SKK where the children and students had plenty of fun interacting with one another and playing games at the carnival stations. Through these experiences, the students not only learnt skills that they can apply in their daily life but also learned about the daily life of a student in Cambodia. The experience was eye-opening for many students and it made them appreciate how fortunate they are to be living in a country like Singapore.
From 9 November to 13 November 2018, 24 members from Beatty’s Badminton Squad, together with 3 teachers and 1 coach, went to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, for a 5-day 4-night learning journey. The objectives of the learning journey were to develop leadership skills in each member, foster team spirit and to create greater understanding of one of the ASEAN countries - Malaysia. Our students benefitted from the intensive training sessions conducted at New Vision Badminton Academy where they honed their skills in the sport. The school visit to SMK Taman Kosas helped our students to know more about the school culture in a typical secondary school in Malaysia. Lastly, by planning and executing the Values in Action programme at Amazing Grace Care Home, our students developed empathy for the elderly community. On the whole, it was a fun and fruitful learning journey for all teachers and students involved.
During the year-end school holidays, the Malay Dance troupe went on a learning journey to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from 15 – 18 November. The main purpose of the learning journey was to undergo a series of dance workshops at the Faculty of Dance at the National Academy of Arts Culture and Heritage (ASWARA) in Kuala Lumpur. Our student dancers benefitted from the workshops attended as they learnt about a kaleidoscope of Malay dance forms and techniques through interactions with professional practitioners who have been exposed to international Malay dance training standards. The workshops helped to hone their dance skills through hands-on experience and feedback. In addition, the students had the opportunity to enhance their cultural awareness of an ASEAN country, specifically Malaysia. They broadened their knowledge of the city when they visited several places in Kuala Lumpur such as the chocolate museum and the craft complex.
NPCC-Sports Leaders Overseas Learning Journey to Chiang Mai, Thailand
18 NPCC cadets and Sports Leaders embarked on a learning journey to Chiang Mai from 10 – 13 November 2018 to discover the wonders of rural Thailand. In the fourday journey, students had to step out of their comfort zones as they trekked in the misty forest trails in Doi Inthanon National Park. The group drove through the countryside in All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) and even got a chance to get up close and personal with elephants in their park. Besides the adventures experienced in the great outdoors, students also visited a primary school where they experienced and learned more about life in the village. Through the trip, students learned to appreciate life in Singapore, to take care of one another and overall, they grew in confidence from the challenges they faced throughout the journey.
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Editorial Committee
Ms Raistlina Kwek Mdm Jasmine Manimala Ms Jamie Ishwarlal Mrs Widya Barnwell Mr David Loh Ms June Ang Mdm Murugeswathy D/O Ramasamy Mdm Jacqueline Lim Mr Theva Kumar Panaigan Mdm Rukshana Abu Baker Mr Xavier Ong Mdm Sheilla Clement
