Singapore Amazing Flying Machine Competition 2010

DSO National Laboratories and the Science Centre are organising a competition 'Singapore Amazing Flying Machine Competition 2010'.

Primary School students (Primary 3 onwards) are encouraged to take part in Category A (Paper Plane).

The aim is to fold paper planes to achieve the longest flight endurance, perform loops and achieve precision flight.

Judging criteria:

• Endurance – For the team whose flying machine has the longest flying endurance on the competition field.
• Precision – For the team whose flying machine has the most precise (accurate) landing based on the mission.
• Acrobatics – For the team whose flying machine has accumulated the highest scores based on the mission.
• Creativity – For the team that shows the most innovative and original design in their flying machine.
• Aesthetic – For the team that shows the best looking flying machine.
• Best Presentation Award – For the team that best exhibit creativity, fluency, confidence and flair in the presentation of their team's work.

Children are encouraged to form teams of 2 or 3 to take part in the competition.

There is a registration fee of $50. However, an early bird discount of 20% will be given to those who register for the competition before 12th September.

Prizes are highly attractive! It's a Play Station Portable (PSP) x 3 Cash Prize of $300 per team!

The details are found in the link above. Do have a look. You can find a video showcasing 'The Paper Airplane Guy' under the tab 'Competition Categories'. It boasts to show you amazing paper planes that will make you say “WOW!”

Go ahead. Take a look!

Clarifying an issue: Files

A parent has given me the feedback that files should not be brought home considering their weight.

I would like to clarify that the files are meant for revision.

Considering the needs of the majority of the students, I feel that I need to return the files to the students so that they may revise for the CAs and SAs. However, I need the students to bring the files back to school on a daily basis while they are holding onto the files, as I would be using worksheets and practice papers for revision purposes and students are required to file the worksheets and papers periodically. From my experience, students who do not bring their files to school tend to lose their worksheets after school if I return them their worksheets.

If there's any parent who feels that files are not needed for any reason, especially when CA or SA is approaching, do write me a note stating that you would like the files to be kept in school. I've nothing against this wish and will be happy to assist you in lightening the weight of your child's schoolbag.

No more temperature-taking!

Good news, children and parents alike!

As of today, we will cease (stop) taking temperature.

No more twice-a-week temperature-taking!

MOE has issued a circular saying that the spread of H1N1 is well-contained or controlled in schools and the number of students getting infected with H1N1 in schools is relatively small.

So you may leave your thermometers at home now! :)

SA2 Dates

A parent has enquired about the dates for SA2 exams, so here goes:

7 - 8 Oct 09 - English Oral Exam
9, 12 - 13 Oct 09 - Mother Tongue Oral Exam
14 Oct 09 - English Paper 1
15 Oct 09 - Mother Tongue Paper 1
26 Oct 09 - English Paper 2
27 Oct 09 - Maths
28 Oct 09 - Mother Tongue Paper 2
29 Oct 09 - Science
2 Nov - Health Ed and Social Studies

This week's homework

Homework for the long weekend:

1) Science Tests Book pp 99 - 117
2) Comprehension Booklet Worksheets 5 - 9 (1 worksheet per day)

My Favourite Game 4

Nope. Show N Tell has not died a natural death. We're still at it albeit not on an as-frequent basis as this term is packed with holidays and events. We make sure we are at the right pace to finish up the syllabus and revision before we add in the frills.

We had Sabrina for Show N Tell yesterday.

Many children were curious to know how the game, 'Smart Driver', was played and were forthcoming with their questions.

A Seahorse

Just for fun, I showed the children a dead seahorse I picked up when I was walking down the street one day.

It's interesting how quickly the children were able to identify the creature ie. "A real seahorse???""A dead seahorse???" followed with the "Wow!!!" compared to a few adults I've showed it to. Most of them didn't recognise the creature as a seahorse immediately, some asked what it was, and if they did recognise, they doubted that it was real.

I thought it shows just how simple and pure-hearted, and thus clear-minded, children are. They tell it like it is and take it as it is - a very precious quality in human beings which is often lost when we grow up.

Be yourselves and keep it that way, children.

Rest in peace, Seahorse.