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CONNECTSConnecting Parents with School

From the Principal’s Desk

Acknowledgements:Advisor : Mrs Liu-Loh Wee Cheng

Editor : Miss Nur Shameem Abdul GafoorContributors : Mdm Kanchana Suppiah, Ms Clarissa Yap

Photographs : Mr Lim Boon Hai, Mr Hadirman and Mr James TeoLayout & Design : Incisive Design N Print

Dear Parents/Guardians,

Townsville GEMs shineWe have come to the end of another fulfi lling year at Townsville. In Townsville, every student is like a gem… gems that shine upon our careful polishing. Students will learn that their success rests on a combina� on of hard

work, perseverance, ingenuity, teamwork and camaraderie. These are also the life lessons we want our students to graduate and con� nue to live by.

… with lots of polishing and uncondi� onal love Thanks to your unwavering support and the dedicated ‘polishing’ by our teachers, our Townsville GEMs are shining more brightly than ever. This year, our Chinese Dance, Malay Dance, Indian Dance, Choir and Angklung and Kolintang Ensemble outdid themselves at the MOE Singapore Youth Fes� val (SYF) performances. What touched me most was the whole-hearted support and words of encouragement from you parents for your children, their teachers and instructors. We know how some children can become devastated or overwhelmed by their own or others’ expectati ons of them…hence all the more important that we, as parents, balance the weight of our expectati ons on our children’s shoulders. Thank you for being there always to show your love and support for your child.

Going Green@TownsvilleFor the third year running, Townsville has been conferred the Lotus Sustained Achievement Award 2016 by the

Singapore Environmental Council. This year, our P1 and P2 students had a chance to Grow a Bu� erfl y whilst the P3 students learned more about fl ora and fauna at our Eco-garden. Through programmes on Earth Day and a Green Camp for our student leaders, we helped raise the students’ awareness of environmental issues. Kudos to our Science Department for their environmental ini� a� ves across all levels.

Farewell & Adieu It is with mixed feelings that I bid farewell to Townsville. Come 15 Dec 2016, we will welcome a new Principal, Mr Tan Boon Hong Victor to Townsville, as I assume an appointment at the ministry’s Gi� ed Educa� on Branch. I know that you will give him the uns� n� ng support with which you have blessed me.

Thinking back on my four years in Townsville, I will always remember with fondness the warmth and enthusiasm of the Townsville Family: the big-hearted smiles of the students; the dedica� on and energy of the teachers and staff ; and of course the sincere feedback from many of you parents. Thank you for your support, friendships and though� ul words and gestures throughout these four years. Townsville will always have a special place in my heart.

Let us con� nue to be a beacon of light so that our children may soar and achieve their best.

Best wishes,Mrs Liu-Loh Wee ChengPrincipal

Fun Mathematics learning with KooBits

In today’s world where many of our students are digital na� ves, our teachers make it a point to harness the power of technology to facilitate our students’ learning. This year, our Mathema� cs Department piloted the KooBits Mathema� cs Portal – a self-directed learning portal where students can prac� se mathema� cal problem sums and access the concepts behind at their own pace. Students with a fl air for Mathema� cs learning can challenge themselves with Olympiad-style ques� ons! From the enthusias� c response of the students in the pilot, we will be making this portal available to all levels and classes in 2017.

Our P4 students concluded Term 3 in high spirits as they a� ended the P4 Teambuilding Camp from 30 to 31 August 2016. This 2-day 1-night camp was held at SAFRA Yishun Country Club to foster bonding amongst the cohort through outdoor adventure ac� vi� es, as well as to nurture our students to be more independent and confi dent.

As they climbed rock-walls and overcame high-element obstacle courses together, the children learned the importance of working well together and how they could mo� vate one another through words of encouragement. It was evident from the interac� ons that both teachers and students enjoyed the camp ac� vi� es tremendously.

P4 Teambuilding Camp

Our students att ended a workshop where they were guided on the use of the KooBits ProblemSums Mathemati cs Portal

With perseverance, they managed to conquer the rope element acti vity

Learning to abseil from the sport climbing wall

Our students in acti on at the canopy challenge

A safety briefi ng before embarking on their rock climbing

Cultural Immersion Trip to Hong Kong

Honouring Our Teachers Teachers’ Day this year was a day of tribute and thanksgiving for our teachers. On 1 September, our Parents Support Group, Townsville Parents United (TPU), led many groups of student volunteers to express their hear� elt gra� tude to the teachers through their concert performances. The teachers were entertained by a beau� ful piano recital, rendi� ons of pop music, ni� y dance footwork and Kolintang performance by our young charges.

Last but not least, the teachers (and students) were le� teary-eyed by a moving video tribute that was produced in-house by the TPU. Kudos to the students and parent volunteers who put in so much eff ort to organize an entertaining and touching concert for our teachers.

During the September school break, our P4 and P5 student leaders participated in a cultural immersion and education exchange programme to Hong Kong. Through this programme, our student leaders had the opportunity to interact and share their experiences with students from a Hong Kong school, Baptist Lui Ming Choi Primary School.

Our talented Kolintang performers playing a Korean musical piece

All our performers on stage at the end of the concertAn entertaining performance of a popular song “Flashlight”Our lovely emcees for the day

The classroom interacti ons with the local primary school students saw our students engaging in fruitf ul discussions and forging new friendships

No trip is complete without taking in the local sights and culture

The students also toured local attractions such as the Hong Kong Science Museum, Ocean Park and rode a tram up to the famous Victoria Peak. They also visited a night market at Temple Street Market to view the local delights.

Another highlight was a visit to the Garden of Stars which features commemorative plaques and statues of famous Hong Kong actors, which proved to be a hit with our students.

Hands-on fun with the many exhibits at the Hong Kong Science Museum

Children’s Day Celebrations

Townsville Gems

On 6 October, Townsville teachers and staff transformed themselves into musicians, dancers, crooners, Poke-mon monsters and fairy-tale characters to celebrate Children’s Day. The celebra� on commenced with the singing of “Semoga Bahagia” led by Mr Zhane Tang accompanied by Miss Felicia Ong on the piano.

Our Primary 1 and 2 teachers enacted a fractured fairy tale based on the classic story of Rumpels� ltskin which cleverly incorporated characters from Pokemon Go much to our students’ amusement.

Not to be outdone, our Primary 3 and 4 teachers planned a live version of the Pokemon GO game and invited students on-stage to play it. Students had a chance to throw a Pokemon ball to catch the “Pokemons” that appeared on screen.

Na� onal Chinese Language & Cultural Compe� � on Annual Mathlympics For All Singapore

Primary Schools 2016

Na� onal Mathema� cal Olympiad of Singapore (NMO) by NUS High

School

Our talented teachers during the skit

Our Mother Tongue teachers with their creati ve sing-along A student aiming his Pokeball Our talented Mr Jega showing off some kung

fu moves on stageThe Lazy Song being performed by our

P5 and P6 teachers

Contact us at townsvilleps@moe.edu.sg or +(65) 6457 4345 h� p://www.townsvilleps.moe.edu.sg

Our Primary 5 and 6 teachers raised the tempo by dancing to Bruno Mars’ The Lazy Song and the catchy pop tune, Pen-Pineapple-Apple-Pen Song. Our school leaders joined in the fun by teaming up with our Admin Team who showcased their mar� al arts moves to the tune of Kung Fu Figh� ng. The Mother Tongue teachers led a sing-along session with our students with a cross-cultural dikir barat performance.

Octoburst! Drawing Compe� � on & Colouring Fun @ the Esplanade

Merit Award: Cai Ding (P5)

Merit Award: Vinay Sainath (P3)

Merit Award: Liu Shuyi (P6)

Merit Award: Han Jiayi (P6)

Merit Award: Li Zhenxi (P6)

HMPS-UNAS Visual Arts Compe� � on

Consolati on Prize: Sim Le Jia (P4 - top art piece and pictured on the left )

and Jocelyn Chng (P4-bott om art piece)

KooBits Maths Challenge 2016 - Top Brain of School

Sliver Medal - (left to right): Vinay Sainath (P3), Chaw Zhi Xuan (P1), Loh Ee Kai (P4), Teo Kai Qi Klara (P2) and Kaiser Koh Juin Hong (P5)

Bronze Award: Andrey Wiedarta (P4)

Bronze Award - (left to right): Kaiser Koh Juin Hong, Neo Chuan Yu, Neo Jia Qi, Thaddeus Tan Wen Jie (P5) and Kiatf uang Fung Piyaporn (P3)

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