During the June holidays, 34 students took part in the Singapore Mathematical Olympiad Competition under the Junior section. Our students won a total of 1 Silver, 3 Bronze and 3 Honourable Mention awards.
4 teams have participated in this year Amazing Science X-Challenge 2010 which requires them to create a stand-alone, self-explanatory exhibit that demonstrates a particular scientific concept unique to the physical sciences. One of our teams has emerged as the winners for the Special Mention Prizes of $150 and a medal.
Congratulations to Arthur Lee and Millie Thng from S1-04 for achieving Merit Awards for the Singapore HeritageFest 2010, "Artefactually Speaking" Storywriting Competition!
Singapore VEX Robotics Championship 2010 Our Robotics Club participated in the Singapore VEX Robotics Championship 2010 (3 - 4 June 2010).
The club has obtained Silver for 2 out of 3 categories of the competition, for "Team Alliance" and "Best Programming Skills". The team was also awarded the "Judges Award" trophy for Best Newcomer.
Ministry of Education and Ministry of National Development
Dr Lim Kee Ming, President, Ngee Ann Kongsi
Distinguished Guests
Ladies and Gentlemen
Good Morning
On behalf of the Board of Directors, faculty, staff and students of the School of Science and Technology, Singapore (SST), I would like to thank everyone for your presence here today.
1. First, I would like to express my thanks to our Guest-of-Honour Senior Minister of State Ms Grace Fu for gracing this occasion. This is truly a proud moment for us, as we officially launch the construction phase of Singapore’s newest school. Whether it is leading-edge scientific research or innovative technology for our globalised economy, there is a critical need for talent. With the establishment of SST, we seek to nurture and develop future leaders and technopreneurs, with a strong grounding in creative design and engineering sciences.
2. I am especially grateful to Dr Lim Kee Ming and members of the Ngee Ann Kongsi for joining us today. It is my great pleasure to extend my heartfelt appreciation to Ngee Ann Kongsi for their generous donation of S$8.1 million to SST. We are privileged to have the foundation’s support of $1.62 million annually over five years to help SST students pursue a quality, well-rounded education.
3. With the funding, SST will be able to give out 15 entrance scholarships and over 50 bursaries to our pioneer batch of deserving students. Ngee Ann Kongsi’s donation will also be used to promote student entrepreneurship and fund local and overseas student development programmes. These programmes are designed to prepare our students for the opportunities and challenges of a competitive and globalised economy. We are deeply indebted to Ngee Ann Kongsi for its support and look forward to strengthening this meaningful partnership in education. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank SST’s committed educational partners, Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and Ngee Ann Polytechnic (NP), and our industry partners, the Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (IBN) and the DSO National Laboratories. Their contributions to SST are vital, creating opportunities for our students to explore beyond the classroom, giving them the authentic context to broaden and deepen their learning. Speaking on behalf of NTU, the University is committed to help SST succeed with its new model of science and technology led, innovation enabled education. On the SST side, our students will benefit greatly from mentorships and attachments with researchers who are the best in their field. These collaborations provide a window for SST students and teachers to understand more about the commercialisation of research and technopreneurship. We look forward to strengthening these bonds, to give our students a nurturing environment and the best chances of success.
4. Next, I would like to thank the parents of the pioneer SST students. As key stakeholders in your children’s education, your confidence and trust in our school are crucial. Since the school’s opening in January, you have given the school much-needed support. Your active interest in the school’s development and constructive feedback during School-Parent sessions are invaluable.
5. Last but not least, on the behalf of the school, I wish to express appreciation to the teachers of SST who have worked hard as a team to deliver a high-quality curriculum that emphasises academic excellence and the development of 21st century competencies for a globalised economy. SST’s partners, NTU and NP, have contributed to shaping this curriculum with enrichment programmes and academic expertise.
6. As the brick-and-mortar part of the school takes shape, we reach the next stage of our exciting journey to nurture tomorrow’s scientists, technopreneurs and laureates. With the continued support of our stakeholders, we are confident that the school will achieve its mission of developing world-ready leaders through Innovative Technology and Applied Learning.
7. Thank you.
Dr Lim Kee Ming, Groundbreaking and Ngee Ann Cheque Presentation
Ministry of Education and Ministry of National Development
Dr Su Guaning, Chairman, School of Science and Technology, Singapore
Mr Chua Chor Huat, Principal, School of Science and Technology, Singapore
Ladies and Gentlemen
Good Morning
1. I am very pleased to be here on this auspicious day, on behalf of Ngee Ann Kongsi for the Groundbreaking Ceremony and Cheque Presentation to the School of Science and Technology, Singapore (SST).
2. Founded in 1845, Ngee Ann Kongsi is one of Singapore’s pioneering non- profit charitable organizations. The Kongsi supports art, culture, community and education initiatives that transcend cultural borders. While recognizing the importance that education plays in producing future leaders in our society, the Kongsi has through the years, built strong and enduring partnerships with many educational institutions in Singapore. The Ngee Ann Kongsi name is gradually becoming synonymous with quality education in primary, secondary and tertiary institutions.
3. Thus, we are happy for being given the opportunity to be associated and to be your partner in contributing to educational excellence in shaping our young visionary leaders. Therefore, we are pleased to announce that a donation of S$8.1 million will be given by the Ngee Ann Kongsi to the School of Science and Technology, Singapore, over a period of five years. This special donation signifies a continuation of the close relationship that we have built through the years with Ngee Ann Polytechnic and Mr Chua Chor Huat, former principal of Ngee Ann Secondary School. Ngee Ann Polytechnic has been a long time beneficiary of Ngee Ann Kongsi’s philanthropic contributions and we are pleased to extend this commitment to SST, an institution that is well supported by our government and Ngee Ann Polytechnic.
4. On behalf of Ngee Ann Kongsi, I would like to congratulate SST on being progressive and farsighted in their cutting-edge approach to education. Embracing new methods of learning is indeed the way forward in today’s globalised environment, to prepare students to be the thinkers, innovators and entrepreneurs of tomorrow. We hope our contribution will set an inspiring example for students, so that they too will aspire to give back to society when they become successful.
5. Finally, I would like to wish the school, its staff and students, greater success in the years to come.
I thank you.
Ms Grace Fu, Groundbreaking and Ngee Ann Cheque Presentation Ceremony
SPEECH BY MS GRACE FU, SENIOR MINISTER OF STATE, MINISTRY OF NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND MINISTRY OF EDUCATION, AT THE SCHOOL OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (SST) GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY AND THE NGEE ANN KONGSI CHEQUE PRESENTATION CEREMONY, ON 29 MARCH 2010, AT 9:45AM
Dr Su Guaning, Chairman, School of Science and Technology, Singapore
Dr Lim Kee Ming, President, Ngee Ann Kongsi
Mr Chua Chor Huat, Principal, School of Science and Technology
Ladies and Gentlemen
Good Morning
1.It gives me great pleasure to join you on this joyous occasion, the groundbreaking ceremony of the new campus of the School of Science and Technology, Singapore (SST) and the Ngee Ann Kongsi Cheque Presentation Ceremony.
THE GOVERNMENT’S COMMITMENT TO EDUCATION
2.The Government is committed to investing in education. Over the years, MOE has opened up new education pathways, built a strong team of school leaders and teachers, developed rigorous curricular and assessment systems, as well as invested in new infrastructure to support the delivery of education. The setting up of the School of Science and Technology is one such example of the Government’s commitment to education. We look forward to the school’s new campus, which is designed to inspire creative learning, which will be ready by January 2012.
3.At the recent Committee of Supply Debate, the Ministry highlighted the importance of helping our students develop 21stcentury competencies. With globalisation, we are positioning Singapore for a knowledge-based economy in our next phase of development. Our students will need more than just a good academic foundation. They will also need the key competencies of civic literacy, global awareness and cross-cultural skills, critical and inventive thinking, and information and communication skills. At the core of these skills and knowledge are values, which shape the individual’s beliefs, attitudes and actions. Our education system must be rebalanced towards the building of these soft skills and values. We want our young to be "future ready" for higher education and our globalised economy, while keeping a strong Singapore heartbeat.
4.We need to continue our efforts in providing opportunities for all by opening up new education pathways to harness and tap on the diverse talents of our students. MOE has introduced greater diversity in the education system, such as through the setting up of Specialised Independent Schools. SST is such a school. It provides students with a new pathway to develop their talents.
LEARNING IN A WHOLE NEW WAY AT SST
5.SST goes beyond conventional teaching pedagogies to inspire and teach its students. SST’s slogan of ‘Learning in a Whole New Way’ reveals the school’s three-pronged approach - first, focusing on applied learning, second, providing a rich ICT environment,andthird,encouraginginnovationand entrepreneurship.
6.First, applied learning. SST emphasises real-life application of textbook theories. Students are actively solving real-life problems to develop confidence and motivation in learning. For instance, in biology class, students can be given the challenge of designing a diet for an athlete participating in a Youth Olympic Games event. To complete this task, students would need to calculate the amount of energy an athlete spends in his event and carry out research online to find out the types of food suitable for him. Through the activity, students learn to match food types with the energy requirement for the sports event, and in the process, learn about the importance of healthy eating habits.
7.Second, a rich ICT environment. As a Future School, SST leverages on ICT to better engage students who are digital natives. Under the school’s ICT-Enabled 1-to-1 Learning approach, each student is equipped with a laptop, which offers rich variety of resources and learning platforms. For example, students can collaboratively construct knowledge using Google spreadsheets. At the end of an experiential learning activity, students can also make use of blogs for reflection and consolidation of their learning. Students have also created videos providing tips to one another on how to use certain online tools1. Each class has its own “online classroom”, where students can share their work with each other. Some students have even taken their own initiative to post homework reminders for their fellow classmates.
8.Third, innovation and entrepreneurship. SST is currently working with various industry partners such as the Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, the Nanyang Technological University Technopreneurship Centre, and the DSO National Laboratories to set up attachment opportunities for its upper secondary students. The school is also working towards providing overseas attachment opportunities in the Silicon Valley, which would be a great opportunity for the students. These initiatives will allow students to not only experience the workplace but also attune themselves to the entrepreneurial mindset of risk-taking.
9.SST’s approach to teaching and learning thus seeks to develop in students not only knowledge but also the soft skills and values needed for the 21stcentury. Though a new school, SST’s brand of learning has clearly achieved resonance among our students and parents, as evident from the overwhelming number of applications last year for its 200 places for the pioneer batch.
NGEE ANN KONGSI’S DONATION TO SST
10.I am also happy to be here today to witness the cheque presentation by Ngee Ann Kongsi. Ngee Ann Kongsi has been a strong supporter of education and has donated generously towards various educational pursuits in Singapore. The Kongsi’s donation of S$8.1 million to SST will be disbursed over 5 years with an annual amount of S$1.62 million. I would like to thank Ngee Ann Kongsi for their dedication towards the education of young Singaporeans. And I look forward to your continued support and long-term partnership with SST.
CONCLUSION
11.This ceremony is the culmination of the hard work of the staff and partners of SST. As we gather here to launch a new phase in SST’s journey, I wish SST every success and I am confident that SST will soar to great heights as a well-known, choice institution for science and technology in Singapore and beyond.
From January 2010, students will have a another pathway to choose from, when MOE’s new School of Science and Technology (SST) takes in its first batch of students. The SST will be established as a Specialised Independent School, complementing the NUS High School of Mathematics and Science, the Singapore Sports School and the School of the Arts in adding further diversity to our education landscape.
MOE will collaborate with Ngee Ann Polytechnic (NP) in setting up the school, and tap on its expertise to develop the SST’s programmes. The SST will also partner the Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in providing learning opportunities for its students. The SST will aim to provide capable students with a strong foundation in both academic and applied learning, giving them the option of progressing to either the junior colleges or polytechnics before going on to university.
The SST will offer a four-year programme leading to the Singapore-Cambridge GCE ‘O’ Level examination. It will teach regular academic subjects and offer students a range of options in applied areas related to technology, media and design. The school will implement innovative teaching methods that will help students better appreciate the real-world relevance of what they learn.
The SST will also be the sixth school in the FutureSchools@Singapore programme. It will leverage fully on ICT on a school-wide level to enhance the delivery of its specialised curriculum.
Establishing a School of Science and Technology
MOE has introduced greater diversity in the school system in recent years to cater to the different strengths and interests of our students. The specialised independent schools – the Sports School, the NUS High School of Mathematics and Science, and the School of the Arts – provide students with additional avenues to develop their talents and interests. Schools are also developing their own niches of excellence and introducing new curricular options. For instance, some schools are partnering polytechnics to offer new Advanced Elective Modules (AEMs) and Singapore-Cambridge GCE ‘O’ Level Applied Subjects to their students.
Our experience with AEMs and Applied Subjects has shown that there is demand among our students, including those who are likely to progress to university, for innovative, applied learning options while they are in secondary school. The SST takes this a step further by providing richer opportunities in applied learning, especially in Secondary 3 and 4. The school will however retain a fundamental emphasis on the core academic subjects so that students are well prepared for either the junior colleges or polytechnics, and subsequently for university. The whole school will be geared towards providing an immersive experience aimed at nurturing inventive and innovative individuals who can make their mark in a range of high value industries in the future.
Curriculum and Pedagogies
The SST will offer a four-year programme that prepares students for the Singapore-Cambridge GCE ‘O’ Level examination. In addition to the regular subjects in the O-Level curriculum, the SST will offer a wider range of new ‘O’ Level subjects and enrichment programmes in areas related to technology, media and design. It is expected that most of the students will choose to offer one to two of the new ‘O’ Level Applied Subjects. In addition to the customised syllabus offerings, all students will benefit from immersion in learning related to the real world. As a FutureSchool, the SST will also adopt innovative teaching approaches and the use of learning spaces that fully leverage on ICT to bring about engaged learning for the students.
MOE will collaborate with NP in setting up the school. With its strong expertise in applied learning and established links with industry players, NP will be able to provide expert input on the SST’s design and operations, and add value to the students’ education experience. The SST will also partner NTU and leading companies such as IBM and Creative Technology to provide additional learning opportunities, attachments and enrichment programmes for its students.
Class sizes at the SST will be small, generally in the range of about 20 to 25 students per class. This is to support applied learning approaches, especially for workshop and laboratory-based work which relies on individualised attention, supervision and formative assessment of students’ progress.
Board of Directors and School Personnel
Dr Su Guaning, President of NTU, will be appointed as Chairman of the Board of Directors for the SST. Dr Su’s wealth of experience and expertise will greatly benefit the school in growing its capabilities. The SST Board will also comprise individuals from the industry, academia and government.
Mr Chua Chor Huat, the current Principal of Ngee Ann Secondary School, will be appointed as Principal of the SST from June 2008. Mr Chua taught at Raffles Junior College and was Vice-Principal at Yishun Junior College, before his current appointment at Ngee Ann Secondary. He was originally an MOE undergraduate scholar, and was subsequently awarded an MOE post-graduate scholarship to do his Masters in Curriculum and Instruction at the Lynch School of Education, Boston College, Massachusetts.
The SST will recruit key personnel and teachers from 2008. It will have a mix of mainstream teachers with experience and expertise in teaching regular Singapore-Cambridge GCE ‘O’ Level subjects, as well as those with specialised expertise in applied learning, such as polytechnic lecturers seconded from Ngee Ann Polytechnic, or individuals with industry experience.
Admissions
The SST will select students under the Direct School Admission (DSA) exercise through interviews, portfolio assessment and selection tests. The school will admit up to 200 students for its first Secondary 1 intake in 2010. Interested students can apply for admission through DSA in June 2009.
In addition, from 2012, the school will admit up to 50 students at the Secondary 3 level each year.
For more information on the SST, please visit the school’s website at www.sst.edu.sg
Signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and Ngee Ann Polytechnic (NP)
03-Mar-2009
Students at the upcoming School of Science and Technology, Singapore (SST) can look forward to enrichment programmes developed by the Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and Ngee Ann Polytechnic (NP). SST signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with NTU and NP on 3 March2009, which covers cooperation in the areas of curriculum, facilities and student development, which will complement the school’s plan to offer its students a more creative applied learning environment.
In addition, underscoring SST’s emphasis on entrepreneurship and innovation, the school’s Board of Directors includes distinguished entrepreneurs and members of industry. The Board will be led by Dr Su Guaning, President of NTU.
Key areas of collaboration under the MOU
SST will collaborate with NTU and NP in the following areas:
i. Creating a whole-school applied learning environment
NTU and NP will provide input on SST’s design and operations so as to create an immersive environment that enhances applied learning. For instance, NTU and NP will advise SST on the setting up of specialised laboratories that will enable students to draw connections between concepts taught in classrooms and real-world applications.
NP will also train SST teachers in applied learning pedagogy, and develop and deliver new Applied Subjects for SST in the areas of design and media studies, biotechnology and environmental technology.
ii. Developing entrepreneurship programmes
NTU and NP will develop programmes on entrepreneurship for SST students. As NTU has partnered the US-based Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, which is widely known as the world's largest foundation devoted to entrepreneurship, it is thus well positioned to extend activities centred on innovation and entrepreneurship to SST students,offering them a chance to network with youths from other parts of the world.
iii. Mentoring students and sharing facilities
SST students will be mentored by lecturers from NTU and NP, who will partner SST staff in guiding the students in research and school projects. Students will also have access to state-of-the-art facilities at both institutions.
iv. Extending local and global student programmes
SST students can broaden their learning by enrolling in NTU and NP’s enrichment programmes. These include workshops, residential school camps and advanced modules in the area of science and technology that will be specially designed for them. NP will also extend its overseas programmes, leadership training and a wide range of co-curricular activities to SST students.
SST Board of Directors
The BOD will provide strategic direction and guidance in steering SST to become a premier school of choice for top students with an interest in applied learning.
SST’s Location and Admission
SST will welcome its first batch of students in January 2010 at its holding site at Clementi Avenue 6, the former Clementi North Primary School, which is being refurbished. SST will move into its permanent site at the junction of Clementi Road and Commonwealth Avenue West in January 2012.
Given its specialised curriculum, SST will select all its students under the Direct School Admission (DSA) exercise starting this June2009. The School will admit up to 200 students for its first Secondary1 intake.
Interested students and their parents can visit SST’s Open House at Clementi Avenue 6 on 23 May 09 (Saturday) and 25 May 09 (Monday).
Singapore, November 20, 2009 – The School of Science and Technology, Singapore (SST) announced today that it will adopt a 1-to-1 learning program when the school opens in January 2010. Apple will provide technology and tools to assist in implementation of a digital learning environment.
With the adoption of the 1-to-1 learning program, students and teachers have access to a notebook computer and the Internet. SST students can attend cross-border leadership summits, do projects online with international students, share group projects on class blogs and have access to rich internet content. Some of these are interactive periodic tables of chemical elements, high resolution anatomy flash cards, visual trigonometry calculator and a global news information website.
Mr Chua Chor Huat, Principal at SST, elaborated, “The job market of today and tomorrow increasingly relies on technology to share information which is why the 1-to-1 learning program with its unique applications allows for a more engaged form of learning.”
New learning tools for students SST students will be able to video chat teachers, download lessons online, upload ideas for group projects on wiki sites, and have an ongoing discussion about assignments on the class blog while doing math calculations on calculator widgets.
These tools enable students to express themselves not just in written reports but also in today’s multimedia rich environment that includes photo essays, presentations, podcasts and movies.
Teachers have access to global education exchange SST teachers have access to learnings and best practices from educators around the world and a platform to exchange ideas.
Mr Chua explained, “Teaching staff at SST have undergone a six-month professional development course that covers technical skills and curriculum design to make classroom learning interesting. We also have an on-going engagement with Apple Professional Development consultants to enhance our teaching methodologies in today’s 21st century classroom.”
Lesson applications in English, Physics and Humanities Mr Richard Koh, Subject Head of English Language at SST, explained how an English lesson will be taught. “One of the English lessons will be about learning how to write clear instructions to create a ring tone, which is something they can relate to. Students will thus be engaged in the activity while learning and applying language skills. The lesson activity requires them to observe the teacher demonstrating the procedure with a software program called GarageBand. They will also listen for details and develop their own set of instructions on how to do this,” he said.
“The lesson encompasses the use of the right tense of English, creating a narrative that is clear and precise, and then sequencing the instructions so that it is understandable and workable. The group activity also provides students with opportunities to practise other skills such as teamwork and peer critique. It is learning in a whole new way,” explained Mr Koh.
According to Physics teacher Mr Chan Kin Chuah, students will explore physics concepts such as the effect of forces on objects through online simulation games. By manipulating certain parameters in the game, students figure out how some factors, such as “thrust”, influences a spacecraft landing. With teacher-led discussions and the help of an online worksheet, students will be guided step-by-step to uncover concepts through this interesting way.
In Humanities, an unconventional lesson will get students to use Twitter, a real-time online short messaging service, to organise and express their thoughts on the definition of propaganda. The tweets will be consolidated by the teacher to identify and create linkages to bridge and extend students’ prior knowledge. “Using multimedia tools like Keynote, students can translate their learning into ideas illustrated in digital posters showcased in the class blog. Through the virtual ‘gallery walk’, students will learn to give constructive comments to facilitate peer-to-peer learning,” said Ms Jennifer Tay, Subject Head of Integrated Humanities.
Mr Lam Hin Chew, Head of Sports and Wellness who also teaches Innovation and Enterprise, emphasized the interactive nature of lessons. “In an I&E lesson, for example, to teach students how to create a brand name and tagline from scratch, we’ll first elicit from them a list of brand names that they are familiar with through an online survey. The students will then be asked to describe what they think contribute to these brands’ success.”
He added, “Using an online collaborative presentation tool, students could share images and taglines of popular brands gathered online to make comparisons and surface common characteristics among the brand logos and taglines. With insight garnered from this activity, the students will proceed to create their own brand name and tagline and post their creation in the wiki, where we will encourage peer evaluation and critique.”
Students from SST can expect classroom lessons to be conducted in a digital learning environment. Mr Chua elaborated, “What it means is that our pupils can get actively engaged in what they are learning, and there are more opportunities to show what has been learned. It involves more than putting a laptop into the hands of each student.” Mobile learning on a wireless campus SST has wireless access throughout the school. The program, which aims to enhance teaching and learning in today’s wired and connected world environment, will fit into the school’s direction of applied learning as it encourages every student to utilize high technology tools to explore rigorous academic concepts in real life situations.
The latest of the four specialised independent schools in Singapore, SST offers a distinctive four-year programme that prepares university-bound students for the GCE ‘O’ level examinations via applied learning, steering them to develop practical, innovative and entrepreneurial mindsets.
