Recent Events
Year 12 History Trip
Year 12 History Trip to the Sun Yatsen Memorial Hall
This week our Y12 History learners visited the Sun Yatsen Memorial Hall. In History lessons we have been studying the contributions made by Dr Sun to the 1911 Chinese Revolution. Learners were able to see artefacts from this time period such as letters sent from Sun to his colleagues and supporters. The museum also helped learners to understand the historical significance of Singapore and how much of the planning and fundraising was carried out here. We had a very insightful tour guide who shared with us a lot of stories of Dr Sun’s time here.
Years 10/11 Geography Trip
Year 10 and 11 Geographer learners headed across Singapore to visit the island of Pulau Ubin. The focus of the trip was to help learners gain field study skills in order to prepare them for their exams in May. Learners experienced the natural beauty of the island and monitor lizards, toucans, snakes and wild boar were all spotted. Students explored the island on a warm balmy day whilst evaluating the impact tourists have had on the local environment. A fun trip enjoyed by all.
Go Mad For Nepal Day
On Friday 6 October the school was awash with colour as learners and teachers came together to raise money for the Chora Chori project in Nepal. Organised by Year 10 learners, the non-uniform day was supplemented by colourful and creative mad hair designs. Sponging the teacher proved a great success at lunchtime whilst the car washing teams ensured that everything was shiny at the front of the school.
Maite and Jessa Verhoef will visit Nepal in the October break and we look forward to hearing their report about how the monies will be used to support children and families in need.
Y9-Y4 Buddy Reading in Science
Year 9 Learners created storybooks about Genetic Engineering to reflect and further their learning about the genetic manipulation of animals and plants and the impact of this technology as it applies to economic, social, and environmental issues. They created and published their own storybook or non-fiction book geared towards younger readers. These storybooks were shared with Year 4 Learners in a Buddy reading event at the library and in the D2 pod. The books were enthusiastically received by our Year 4 Learners and helped the Year 9's understand the importance of communicating about new technologies that emerge in Science.
This is a video of the Year 4 learners describing their experiences:
Sylvia Klinzing
Biology Teacher
klinzing.s@nexus.edu.sg
DNA Modelling with 3D pens
Year 9 Learners recently used 3D pens to model the chemical composition of DNA in their Science lessons. As they created the model, they were learning about complementary base pairing, the sugar phosphate backbone, the hydrogen bonds that hold the two strands together, and the double helix structure, as Watson and Crick discovered through modelling in 1953.
Sylvia Klinzing
Biology Teacher
klinzing.s@nexus.edu.sg
National Youth Achievement Award
Last Thursday, a group of learners in Years 10 and 11 practised their navigational skills as part of their training for the National Youth Achievement Award. Accompanied by three teachers, they orientated maps and found their way in both urban and non-urban areas in the Upper Peirce Reservoir area near Bukit Panjang. An additional challenge arose as some of the paths were closed and learners had to think on their feet, finding alternative routes within the Nature Park. This gave them plenty of opportunity to put their skills into practice! They took part in a number of first aid scenarios and talked through what they would do in different situations.
Following the holiday, participants will prepare for an Adventurous Journey around Pulau Ubin, which will involve an overnight camp. For further details about the National Youth Achievement Award, or if your son or daughter would like to be involved in the next cycle, please email us at NYAA@nexus.edu.sg
Mr Andy Jefferson
Subject Leader, European Languages
Mooncake Making for Mid-Autumn
In celebrating the traditional Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival, Year 7, 8, 9, 10 and 12 learners made their own snowskin mooncakes and learned the significance of this festival and the importance of family reunions.
Student Council
We have a fantastic team of learners involved in our Secondary Student Council this year and we look forward to more updates about the initiatives they are undertaking as the year progresses. They want to let you know about their exciting dedicated online learner magazine that will be produced each term with all sorts of articles about events, learning in class, charity updates, interviews and competitions.
After a democratic vote last week the name of the new online magazine is: The Nexus Spotlight
The council reps are busily creating a new google site into which the magazine will appear together with their weekly Learner Bulletin. Stay tuned for the first exciting edition!
Charity Focus
The Council reps are also working alongside the Foodheart organisation to prepare hampers and gifts for Christmas. The learners will be presenting in assemblies next term about the ways in which we can continue to make meaningful links which we hope to foster and build as Nexus grows.
The Student Council
Some learning photographs...
