By:    VP

Relevant Levels:   All

Date and Time of Event:  -

Information Details: 

Dear everyone, 

We have been on the 'Joy of Learning' journey for the past years.  Last week, one particular news seem to be a good fit to refresh our appreciation of this. It is in a different context, but many a times, that's when the best saw sharpening takes place.

Changing Contexts:

From Helsinki to Singapore: Finnish pair cycle across 21 countries in 245 days

Many of us would have read about how a pair of cycling enthusiasts cycled from Helsinki to Singapore, with their finishing point the Finnish Embassy here in SG.  Theirs was a journey borne out of a passion of discovery, and a journey of more discoveries along the way. There is much to learn and be inspired, and perhaps it presents us with a different context to re-appreciate our understanding of The Joy of Learning.

In the link below is an account of their journey, and their learning in their words. At our end, what parallels or personal takeaways about the joy of learning and discovery could we draw from them?

https://www.asiaone.com/lifestyle/helsinki-singapore-finnish-pair-cycle-across-21-countries-245-days

This is the personal sharing by them on their Instagram page:

Valtteri Heinilä

Looking for my next big challenge

3d  Edited

We did it! We just cycled from Helsinki to Singapore!

• 21 countries

• 15400km

• 245 days

Why in the world would we cycle to Singapore?

We wanted to go on an adventure. Alvari had cycled from Helsinki to France and liked it. We looked at a map and Singapore seemed like a nice peninsula at the very end of continental Asia. 

We wanted to break daily routines, to do some house cleaning of our minds, to slow time down, to rid ourselves of living for the future, to challenge ourselves both phyiscally and mentally. And we did just that!

Words fall short to capture the emotions of yesterday, so here are some effable learnings from life on the saddle:

1. The best days are the ones that seem worst in the moment. This goes for this trip and my previous jobs. The days where shit hits the fan are the ones in which you learn the most and that you will later cherish. 

2.  Don't consume experiences and hope for things to play out in a hopeful way, but create your own adventures with the resources you have available and make things happen.  

3. Expect nothing. Focus on the process, not the outcome. 

4. Finland is quite a special country where things really work well and the quality of life is extremely high. I easily fall into routines and comfort, so remember to continue to challenge yourself and don't fall into the traps of comfort and pleasure.  

5. Stay active. The most physical days seem to provide the most insight and feelings of tranquility. 

6. It doesn't really help what you want to do in the future, just give 100% to what you are doing now and it will open doors for you later on. Less planning, more living.  

Thanks for all the support!

Cheers,

Vallu

Follow our more deeper reflections on ig: https://lnkd.in/gNqBp9tM

And at our professional and personal level, as we finish 'ciong-ing' our end of our Term 1 assessment marking and muse the next course to take with our students, we could:

• Think about how to (re)activate, refresh and inspire our boys' own joy of learning and discovery, and how to provide them with the opportunities, resources, encouragement and direction.

• Have our own quarter-point refresh, to bring fresh frames of thinking and ideas, as we enjoy that new experience, in our various interest areas or trying out something different, and trigger our own (re)discovery and insights through these different contexts! 

Came across these 2 things, for the hiking/cycling and arts enthusiasts out there:

Hiking-walking-cycling Trails in SG - https://www.alltrails.com/singapore

Van Gogh Immersive Experience in SG - an ArtScience experience! https://vangoghexpo.com/singapore/

Cheers everyone!

By: CCE - Student Leadership (Mr Elias Chiang)

Relevant Levels: P1-P6

Date and Time of Event: T1W9-T1W10

Information Details: 

Dear colleagues, 

Please have a short face to face chat with your student leaders (class committee, prefects and CCA leaders) by the end of T1W10, Friday, with regards to their leadership performance in their respective roles. You may use the FTGP periods to do so.

Do share with them their areas for growth as well as their strengths to motivate them to do better in term 2.

Please also check the boxes whether each student leader is "Approaching Expectations", "Meeting Expectations" or "Exceeding Expectations" together with a short description on their strengths and areas for growth.

Your inputs will help us to monitor every Stephenian along his leadership journey throughout his time in school and possibly used to see if each student is able to cross between the different tiers of the leadership framework.

Tier 2 class committee student leaders (Class leaders, line leaders, Peer Support Leaders and VIA Ambassadors) whom have been "Approaching Expectations" for both term 1 and 2 can be opted to be replaced by another student (more deserving) from term 3 onwards. 

Class Committee Google Sheet:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1llfuu1pUyrMnvrvfjXZwFQ-kruYdLf0xMTqCTsWFAGU/edit#gid=0 

Thank you for all your help and support.

By: CCE - Student Leadership (Mr Elias Chiang)

Relevant Levels: P1-P6

Date and Time of Event: Morning Announcements

Information Details: 

Dear colleagues, 

We will be looking to share positive stories of any students who you have observed to have practiced and demonstrated any of the 7 habits in school (lessons / CCA / recess / dismissal etc.) or outside school (NSG / VIA etc.) once a week during morning announcements.

This is to provide positive affirmation and recognition to students who have applied the 7 habits and to inspire others to do the same.

You may upload your stories on this Google slides and the student leadership team will "vet" and share them at least once a week starting from T2W1 or earlier.

Habits in Action (Google Slides):

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1DTTgMb87xbmiMzzyQUxs-zzpo4J80-PP2AcaYN0psio/edit#slide=id.g1c4387571f5_0_0 

Thank you.

By:     SDT Team

Relevant Levels:    P1 to P6

Date and Time of Event:   20 & 21 March 2023, Monday & Tuesday

Information Details: 

Dear colleagues,

Please find the link attached to have an overview of the school structure and 2 days plan of the various levels during the Whole School Experiential Learning on 20 & 21 March 2023, Monday & Tuesday.  

Do note that on Term 1 Week 10, Monday, during the FTGP period, the level Year head, together with the various owners/ teachers-in-charge of the specific programme, will brief each individual level (form teachers and students) on the expectations, programme objectives, day plans and logistical arrangement via zoom.  

drive.google.com/file/d/1QbGCT1MgVUUt2bBRnKd7VVvtvh9DZ8Sl/view?usp=sharing 

Thank you