Baking Muffins for Willing Hearts Beneficiaries

With the guidance of Mdm Zarinah , School counselor , and Mdm Mariam the Kitchen Assistant in FSC department , the SLC members assembled at the two kitchens and baked about a hundred over muffins. The entire process was accomplished after the students were briefed on the food safety guidelines that need to be adhered to and kitchen safety procedures as well. SLC students who were themselves studying FSC guided the rest on the kitchen etiquette that they need to adhere to and ensured the cleanliness of the entire baking preparations and packing the muffins after the baking procedure. Students worked in respective teams like preparing the mixtures for baking , greasing the baking trays , checking on the baking , assisting to draw out the baked trays and insert the fresh ones all the way to packing with encouraging message tags  and cleaning up the kitchen to its spick and span condition.

The students as a whole had a rare VIA opportunity to bake muffins. They took pride in the VIA task and did it well with all their positivity and goodwill for the beneficiaries . We also received feedback that the muffins tasted well and that the residents appreciate and thank the students for taking the time to attach encouraging messages for them as well in the packaging.

Students showed pride in the quality of the muffins baked and packaged by them. We thank them for their kind thoughts for the beneficiaries. The messages were very touching! - The Willing Hearts

DANCE EXTRAVAGANZA

Dance Extravaganza is a dance event held at Bukit Panjang Plaza on 6 and 7 July 2019 from 12pm to 6pm. We were one of the schools that were shortlisted by MOE Arts Education Branch to perform for the community.

Our dancers performed a contemporary dance item from their SYF piece called A Sky Full of Shades. Our school dancers also joined the audience in performing a mass dance to celebrate the SYF Theme Songs composed by the students as part of the finale item.

Singapore Youth Festival 2019 Celebrations In the Community is an Outreach Community Programme. Bartley Modern Dancers were glad to be able to reach out to the community to celebrate this event with people from all walks of life. This event allowed the dancers to mingle with their fellow dancers from other schools and learn from one another.

Designing Recycled Medals with Encouraging Notes for NKF Dialysis Patients  

Members were given one medal each to design their message using their creativity. They could also use recyclable items like trinkets to design their messages on the medals to ensure they look attractive and help to bring positivity to the patients. Members shared the decorative resources and sketched and drafted their messages before they started to make their actual designs.

NKF Coordinator presented the designed medals by our members to the beneficiaries. Service Learning Club (SLC) also invited NCC Air CCA to come on board this special VIA project and another 50 medals were designed by them as well and presented to the patients.

The creativity used in the designing of the medals with simple but encouraging notes to the patients were much appreciated and lauded by the NKF coordinators of the project. - Teacher-in-charge of SLC

I felt that this activity is both engaging and fun and it allowed us to learn more about the struggles that the NKF patients have to go through. I feel honoured to be able to participate in this event.” - Lisa, Member of SLC

Covid Care Pack for Needy Tembusu Senior Residents   

Service Learning Club (SLC) students helped to design the care pack messages for the sling bags that were prepared for the beneficiaries. In lieu of National Day celebrations, the residents were each given a red sling bag with Singapore flag and messages from the SLC members. The bags contained, mini hand sanitisers, wet tissues and light biscuits and cereal sachets. It was a humble gesture by SLC to show care and concern for the external community during a national crisis. The sling bags were delivered to small number of beneficiaries at Tembusu Senior Citizens Centre  ( due to safety management measures in limitation of participants) and some of the seniors there were invited to interact with teachers, Ms Yani (VIA Committee Head) and Mr Lee Guo Sheng who was there for the photography and video recording of the interaction with the residents.

SLC’s drive to always build an inclusive community and continue the school’s tradition of valuing our partners’ happiness and well-being, was much well-received by the beneficiaries.

We miss the children who used to cheer us up face to face. We are all waiting to see them soon. Thank you to all of them for remembering us and preparing these special bags for us! - Residents

 Skip for a Good Cause

Skip for a Good Cause VIA activity was organized for the Secondary Two students, riding on Skips-For-Good-Food event by the Student Councillors, whereby for every 1000 skips, 1 food hamper was donated to the needy families in the South East District.  The aim was for students to show care for the community. Students and teachers in every class organised themselves into groups to participate in the various skipping activities to accumulate as many skips as possible.  The activity required everyone’s participation in a class, which was then accumulated and the class with the most number of skips received a prize. 

At the end of the activity, students appreciated the efforts made to help the less fortunate in Singapore and they were happy to be able to contribute to the community through this fun activity.

Besides individual class participation, students and teachers skipped either individually or in groups to further accumulate as many skips as possible in order to raise more funds for food for the needy.

Initially I skipped for the sake of skipping, but I realized during the talk that we were actually indirectly helping the needy as our hard work will earn hampers for them. So I decided to do my part. I struggled as I was not exactly fit. I got breathless very easily. Skipping was challenging but encouragement from friends and teachers kept me going. It was a great opportunity to make a huge impact in someone’s life with a simple act of skipping. - Kathleen Ang, 2E3 (2017)\

The students understood that their effort will help the kidney dialysis patients. They tried their best in raising funds by encouraging the public to donate. They walked around the designated places for up to four hours to collect the donations from the public. Students mentioned that the people they approached on the streets were very appreciative of their efforts and contributed to the donations. They also gave encouraging comments on their efforts in helping the needy kidney dialysis patients.  

Beach Clean-Up at East Coast Park 2017 

Beach cleaning activity is one of the level-wide VIA  activities in the school.  The aim of the activity to create a sense of public spiritedness in the students to encourage them to care for the environment beyond their immediate vicinity.  

 On 3 March 2017, secondary 1 students were tasked to clean up the beach along East Coast Park.  Before the activity, they were briefed on the objectives of the activity.  Students then worked in groups to plan and execute the activity under the supervision of their Form Teachers. 

At the end of the activity, besides developing stronger bonds with their classmates, the students also realised the importance of keeping the environment clean and they appreciated the efforts that have been taken to keep our public parks clean.

When asked to share her experience, Charlotte from 1E3, said that she felt good being able to help clean the beach.  The activity has made her realise that even the smallest amount of litter can cause so much harm to marine wildlife.  She felt that she could contribute to make the environment a better place to live in by reminding her friends and family not to litter and encourage them to recycle recyclable materials.

3M Step Up to Moves Challenge 

Since 2017, Bartley Student Council has been leading the school to participate in the 3M Moves (previously known as 3M Step Up Challenge). The objective of this event is to inculcate community spirit amongst residents by encouraging them to exercise and earn products for less-privileged families. 

In July 2017, Student Councillors kickstarted on their key project by participating in the Step-Up Challenge Event Launch at the Singapore Sports Hub. Using what they have experienced from the event launch, the Councillors subsequently organised a school-wide Step-Up Challenge.  For every 500 steps climbed, one 3M product was donated to the needy families in the Southeast district. Students volunteered to climb steps during their break time and during PE lessons. In total, we accumulated 1,043,299 steps, which translated to 2086 3M products for the needy families.

Subsequently, 3M Step-Up Challenge has rebranded and moved from climbing stairs to stepping up to clock exercise hours to earn products for the needy families and seniors. Every 30 minutes of exercise would earn one 3M product. The Student Councillors continued to think of different ways to encourage fellow Bartleyans to participate. Targets set was met. 

Due to the Covid pandemic, the mode of this event took a turn in 2021. Students took part in this event by exercising on their own and submitting the duration of their physical activity together with evidence to the Bartley Secondary School Student Council Instagram Page.

“My Student Council journey has been a very meaningful one. The most impactful event to me was the 3M Step Up Challenge. I tried my best to complete as many steps as possible to help the needy. I was also very determined to persuade my friends to do the same.” - Yojin, Student Council 2020 

“The '3M Step Up Challenge'  now known as '3M Moves', ultimately encourages everybody to remain fit through various forms of exercise while helping the needy at the same time. How does exercising help the needy? For every 20 minutes of exercise clocked by the participant, one 3M stationery product will be donated to the needy. The Challenge stretched from Monday to Thursday, varying from stairs climbing to hula hooping, and to rope skipping. While I was assisting with taking down and clocking how long the student participants exercised, I also exercised alongside with them. I have strong beliefs in helping out the needy and others to my best ability. I have also realised that there are many students who want to help as long as it is within their ability. This challenge definitely proved to be feasible and meaningful to many of these students. I learned to be more empathetic and to put myself in other peoples' shoes. It was a great experience and I hope to participate in more of such activities. Continuing to do my part even after leaving Bartley, I have become a volunteer at Willing Hearts. When I am there, I pack food for delivery. My experiences working with the community has shaped me to think beyond self and to continue contributing in little ways.” - Audrey Toh, Student Council 2019 

“I really enjoyed doing the Step Up challenge as I was able to work out with my friends and at the same time, help those who in need. When I was on duty, I was in charge of encouraging my schoolmates to take part in the Step Up challenge activities from climbing the steps to doing skipping rope. Even on days I was not on duty, I continued to participate in the Step Up challenge and motivated my friends to join as well. This challenge has allowed me to realise that even though we are students, we are still able to help those in need and give back to the community in our own little ways. I have learnt to be more compassionate towards others through this experience and I would most definitely take part in it again if given the chance” - Grace Lee, Student Council 2019 

“From the 3M Moves project, I learnt different ways of helping the community. We encouraged our fellow Bartleyans to exercise. Recently, Bartleyans were told to record their exercises through the app strava and send via a google form.  We were glad that we were still able to donate more than 200 items to the less fortunate.” 

- Aaliyah Emma Xaivier, Student Council 2022

Annual Car Wash

The annual car wash takes place in aid of school’s Needy Pupil Funds. Service Learning Club (SLC) members are also taught on the importance of being environmental friendly  and adopt an energy saving culture on preventing water wastage which is a precious resource for Singapore, while contributing to this cause for the good of the school’s needy pupils.

Students were deployed into groups and briefed on the basic car wash techniques by SLC teachers who are motorists themselves and are guided on the simple car wash procedures they need to adhere to during their VIA. Students were also taught energy saving tips by being tactful with water usage during this procedure. Recycled 1-litre water bottles were used as soap dispensers during the car wash  and old newspapers were used to wipe the glass windows of the cars. Students learnt to be environment-friendly while busy at work!

The students were very proud of their contributions to the school community as they could actualise their goal to raise as much funds as possible for the school’s Needy Pupil Fund.  This was also possible with the warm encouraging and generous support from both the teaching and non-teaching staff of the school! 

I really enjoyed the time I spent with my friends, and I felt enlightened that the funds we collected were going to the school’s needy people fund. - Jermaine

A moment of pride honestly as I got to do my little part to reach out to the needy fellow Bartleyans! - Siva Ranjana

It was fun working with our small groups ! We helped check for each other if the cars were washed properly and at the same time prayed hard that we could raise as much as possible to help our school’s Needy Pupils! - Lynette