Published on Saturday 18 May 2024
You can perform miracles by touching the hearts of those entrusted to your care - St. John Baptist de La Salle
Staff Bulletin for 2024 T2W10
About our SSS Staff Bulletin: This weekly Staff Bulletin is our "virtual" print version of a weekly Staff Contact Time. All staff are expected to read each issue in full and be aware of all the vital aspects of upcoming programmes and processes. The accompanying files/slides for each news item are for your downloading. and reference.. PLUS: Please do continue checking our CES outlook emails daily, for any direct communication as well as urgent / immediate matters.
Stephenians Living in Faith, Leading in Service and Learning as a Community,
for the Glory of God.
Principal's Update
Dear Colleagues
Last week was a busy week and I want to thank the teams of teachers for working hard on the Honours Day as well as the Founder's Day, many of whom also worked in the Concert for Hope and Art Exhibition. I also want to congratulate Sheikh as he will be formally appointed HOD for Discipline in Term 3. I also want to thank the CCA teachers especially of the teams that went out for NSG in recent weeks. It has been a strong showing across all our CCAs especially in our Badminton, Basketball, Football, Floorball and Track & Field, as well as our Band and Dance.
I am thinking of starting a new leadership development programme for staff who would like to understand if the Leadership track is for you. You will join the KP meetings and leadership programmes, retreats etc, and depending on your current level of commitment, can support the KP work teams for a period of 6 months over Semester 2. If you are keen to explore, please send me an email by the end of the week to indicate your interest.
We are finally coming to week 10 and as we wind down our finaI pieces of work for the Semester and move forward to the June holidays, here's an often told short story to remind us...
A psychologist walked around a room during a lecture.
As she raised a glass of water, everyone expected they'd be asked the "half empty or half full" question. Instead, with a smile on her face, she inquired, "How heavy is this glass of water?" Answers called out ranged from 100g to 300g.
She replied, "The absolute weight doesn't matter. It depends on how long I hold it. If I hold it for a minute, it's not a problem. If I hold it for an hour, I'll have an ache in my arm. If I hold it for a day, my arm will feel numb and paralyzed. In each case, the weight of the glass remains unchanged, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes.
The stresses and worries in life are like that glass of water. Think about them for a while, and nothing happens. Think about them for a bit longer, and they begin to hurt. And if you think about them all day long, you will feel paralyzed, incapable of doing anything.
It's important to remember to let go of your stresses.
... Remember to put the glass down."
Let's continue to be people of faith, service and community, and inspire others through our words, thoughts and especially actions as we ponder the quote for the week:
The deeds you do may be the only sermon some persons will hear today.
~ St Francis of Assisi
Credere et Servire!
Keep Believing and Serving,
Timothy Goh
Featured Specials
Staff Learning Journey
By: SWBC
Relevant Levels: (SENOs, Counsellor, EAS, EOs)
Date and Time of Event: 30 May, 2.30 pm to 5 pm
Information Details:
Dear Colleagues,
We will be going on a Learning Journey on Thursday 30 May. The objectives for the LJ are:
1) deepen our understanding of sustainable practices and their integration in our daily lives
2) foster a culture of environmental awareness in our school
3) provide an opportunity for staff bonding
LJ to treatsure.co
Address : 7 Tanjong Pagar Plaza, 02-109C (081007)
Programme : Welcome, Team Baking/Cooking, Bonding Games
Grouping : https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/13G_FccAT1mQgld76KV5HCyRb8m5ppquq6_y3BmxjrfU/edit?usp=sharing
Please come in comfortable attire and shoes for a good time of bonding. Two-way transport will be provided. Kindly inform Chor Kheng if you are unable to participate in the LJ due to official reasons
Thank you.
LJ.pptxStudent Programmes & Matters
Primary 5 Ethics and Catechism Programme
By: Lasallian Programmes and School Heritage
Relevant Levels: P5
Date and Time of Event: 24 May, Friday, 8am
Information Details:
Dear Colleagues and P5 subject teachers,
The P5 level will be having an Ethics and Catechism Programme on Friday, 24 May. The P5 Ethics Programme will be from 8am - 11am. There will be a vendor coming in to run this programme. Subject teachers, please help to maintain discipline and to assist the vendors when needed. After which, P5 pupils will have their recess and normal timetable will resume as they go back to their form classes.
Ethics boys will need to be in their Ethics classes and venues from 8am - 11am:
5C
5D
5E
5H
5F (Usually Comp Lab 2, please use 5F classroom for this programme)
The P5 Catechism pupils will be going out to Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour for their P5 Catechism Retreat, from 7.45am - 1pm. They will be back in their form classes before dismissal.
Thank you.
Use Your Hands Campaign (UYHC)
By: CCE VIA
Relevant Levels: ALL
Date and Time of Event:
T2 Week 10: 24 May Friday, 12.30pm - 1.30pm
T3 Week 1: 24 June, Monday, before Morning Assembly
Information Details:
Dear Colleagues,
Use Your Hands Campaign will be conducted on the last day of school, 24 May.
The last 2 periods(1230-1330) will be suspended for Cleaning and Reflection Time.
Form Teachers will be with the class. Please alert the Relief Team if you've more than 8 periods that day.
Please take note that the Primary 5 Catechism boys will join their form class after they return back to school from the Catholic Retreat programme.
Do share the set of slides in the google drive before cleaning, with the objective of having the boys learn to end the Semester by leaving their classrooms as clean, or even cleaner, then when they first inhabited it at the beginning of the year.
You can pack the books/files/worksheets you need neatly in the classrooms so that the boys can do a better job cleaning up and avoid throwing away resources that you may still need.
The boys will be informed through announcement to bring Wet Wipes and Rags on 24 May for UYHC and the first day of school in Term 3 to wipe down their table and chair before settling down for morning assembly. You may also get your VIA and Eco-Green Leaders to wipe down open areas like shelves and ledges before morning assembly in Term 3. They may dry the rags at the window or cabinet at the back/side of classroom.
Please take some time to reflect on the way classroom cleaning has been done in the first Semester. If you can think of any improvements you might make to the routine, starting a new Semester might be the perfect time to make a change!
Thank you.
24 May_UYHC_Classroom PPT 2024_Term 2.pptxOperations & Administration
AAR for Founder's Day and Honours Day as well as for SPARK 2024
By: Organizing Committee
Relevant Levels: Nil
Date and Time of Event: 20 May 2024 to 24 May 2024
Information Details:
Dear Colleagues,
Thank you for your help in organising as well as in participating in the Honours Day and Founder's Day Celebration. We will need your inputs for the AAR via https://forms.gle/BEqh2D5y27JJbZJu7 by Friday 24/5/2024.
On a different hope, I hope that you have had a good working experience with SPARK. We will need your inputs for the AAR via https://forms.gle/EJhRWjscAbC4QTcm8 by Friday 24/5/2024. Thank you for your time in providing the inputs.
Have a good weekend and God Bless!
Stephen
Epilogue
Our Lasallian DNA 2
Dear Colleagues,
Having celebrated our Founder's Day and recommit to our Lasallian education last week, as we move ahead into Week 10 and then the June holidays to rejuvenate, here is a revisit of our 2022 Catholic Education Sunday video, celebrating 170 years of Catholic education in Singapore. It is a soothing reflection of what Catholic education embodies, the timeless culture, values and mission of Catholic schools in Singapore.
And as we reach the final week of our Term, we would like to share a poem that Mr Fernandez had composed. Thank you Mr Fernandez for letting us share it with everyone :D
It is a wonderful take on our work here at St. Stephen's, in moulding and transforming our Stephenians:
MEN FOR OTHERS
Every Stephenian uses his curiosity to fuel his train
On the track to destiny and help the human chain
The school’s vision and mission besides academic
Are to shape the character and service being ecstatic
Products of imagination and exploration are the key
Factors for a holistic education to benefit the community
Lasallian values make every life matter for a special purpose
Irrespective of race, colour or creed to be humane magnetic compass
Accolades in studies, Sports, Arts and Aesthetics entwined with spiritual
Gifts bolster every generation to exemplify the kind deeds to go viral
A Friend In Need Is A Friend Indeed is the jargon to be exceptional
“A life without purpose is powerless. If you don’t have a greater purpose to what you’re doing day in day out, you won’t be motivated enough to follow through. Your purpose is the reason you do what you do every day.”
( Ayodeji Awosika )
- Ethelred Fernandez, 4 May 2024
Stephenians
Living in Faith,
, Leading in Service and
Learning as a Community,
for the Glory of God.