7 April 2017 Comm Ref: 2017/073
Dear Sec 1 Parents/Guardians
We have successfully completed the various level programmes in Week 2 of this new term and had the opportunity to touch base with parents/ guardians on 3 April during the Parent-Teacher Conference. We trust the feedback you have received on your child/ ward’s progress in Term 1 would help you to support and guide him/her this term to make good progress especially for the mid-year examinations in April/ May. We would also like to thank you for your honest feedback on our school programmes for improvement.
We would like to share key information which will enable our Damaians to manage the rest of Term 2 with greater confidence. Please note that the Term 2 schedule had been communicated in January 2017 through the School Calendar.
Academic Excellence
1. Mid-Year Examinations 2017
The Mid-Year Examinations will be held from Thursday 27 April to Friday 12 May 2017. The Mid-Year Examinations are designed to assess your child’s/ward’s academic progress and surface gaps in learning for timely follow up actions. Each examination also aims to inculcate good exam skills in students.
Please refer to the Parents' Letter dated2 March 2017withComm Ref no. 2017/046 for the school’s expectations, Rules and Regulations and Exam Timetable for your information and necessary action. In view of this, please note that all CCAs will stand-down from Monday 17 April to 15 May 2017 to better support your child/ward's preparation for the examinations. CCAs will resume after the mid-year examinations on 16 May.
2. Mother Tongue Languages (MTL) Oral Examination for 1nt students
The MTL Oral Examination for all Sec 1NT students will be conducted on Thursday 20 April in the afternoon for Chinese Language and during curriculum time for Malay Language. The marks for this will be incorporated into the mid-year examination results. All students are expected to be present for this examination. Any absence must be covered with a medical certificate from a medical doctor. Failure to submit a medical certificate will result in the student being awarded a zero mark. No re-examination will be conducted if a student misses this examination.
3. After School Academic Programme
The after school remedial programme will continue in Term 2. Subject teachers will provide additional support and guidance to identified students based on academic results and thus is compulsory for these students. The sessions are customised to meet the needs of these students to cope better with the rigour and demand of the respective subjects. Subject teachers will inform students if they have been identified. In addition to this, all students are encouraged to be proactive and approach their teachers for academic consultations after school as and when necessary to clarify doubts and address concerns.
Schedule for After School Academic Programme
Semester 1 / Mondays / Tuesdays / Thursdays / FridaysFirst 45 min block / ML / Humanities / EL / CL/HCL
Second 45 min block / Math / Science
The start time for the above differs across levels and streams but a 30-min protected lunch time is given before commencement of afternoon programme.
CHARACTER EXCELLENCE
4. CCA Achievements
We are pleased to share with you our CCA Achievements to date. Our students and staff have worked very hard and we are proud of these achievements.
Uniformed Groups (UG)
Girl Guides (GG) / Puan Noor Aishah Award - GoldBoys' Brigade (BB) / J M Fraser Award - Bronze
National Police Cadet Corps (NPCC) / Unit Overall Proficiency Award – Silver
National Cadet Corps (NCC) / Best Unit Competition – Silver
St John’s Ambulance Brigade (SJAB) / Corp Achievement Award - Silver
Sports
Canoeing / § Singapore Canoe Marathon 2017 – 1 Golds, 2 Silvers, 1 Bronze§ National Junior Canoe Sprint Championship 2017 – 2 Golds, 3 Silvers, 1 Bronze
Handball / § 11th Inter-School B Division Tchoukball Championship 2017 - Plate Winner (Girls); 3rd (Boys)
Netball / § Inter-Schools B Division Netball Championship (East Zone) 2017 – Top 8
Rugby / § National B Division Championship 2017 (Bowl) – Champions
§ Under 14 Schools Sevens 2017 (Plate) – Champions
Softball / § National Inter-Schools B Division Softball Championship 2017 – Top 8
The Canoeing, Dragonboat and Handball teams are also looking forward to competitions in Term 2. These include the National Inter-School Canoeing Championship, Temasek Regatta, National Inter-School Dragonboat and Handball Championships.
Performing Arts
The Performing Arts groups will be participating in the Singapore Youth Festival Arts Presentation in April (refer to schedule). We would like to wish all our students who have spent much time and energy preparing for this all the very best! We are confident they will do us proud as in past years.
No. / CCA / SYF Date / Time / Venue1 / Symphonic Band / 5 April; 11.00 am / University Cultural Centre
2 / Guzheng Ensemble / 11 April; 9.15 am / University Cultural Centre
3 / Choir / 19 April; 1.30 pm / SOTA
4 / Ethnic Dance / 19 April; 4.00 pm / Kallang Theatre
5 / Modern Dance / 24 April; 2.30 pm / Kallang Theatre
5. Student Council and Class Leaders Investiture
The school will be holding our annual combined Student Council and Class Leaders’ Investiture on Wednesday 12 April 2017 at 1.30 pm in the school hall. Parents of the newly invested Student Councillors and Class Leaders are invited to attend the investiture ceremony to witness this proud moment in your child/ward’s leadership journey. An invitation for this will be sent out through your child/ward in due course and we look forward to your presence at the investiture ceremony.
6. CCA Leaders Investiture
The CCA Leaders Investiture will be held on Wednesday 17 May 2017at 1.30 pm in the school hall. This was initiated in 2016 to recognise the significant role played by CCA leaders and affirm their commitment and contributions in leading and supporting their peers in their respective CCAs.
7. Cross-Country cum NAPFA 2.4km Test (all students)
The annual Cross-Country Run cum NAPFA 2.4 km test will be held on Friday 21 April 2017 at Bedok Town Park from 8.00 am. All students are required to report to school by 7.40 am and will be dismissed from school at 12.30 pm.
General Matters
8. 23rd Speech and Prize Presentation Day
The school will be celebrating its 23rd Speech and Prize Presentation Day on Saturday 8 April 2017. The Guest of Honour for this event is Mr Andrew Sim (the 1st President of Damai’s Student Council). We look forward to this event to not only celebrate the achievements of all our prize winners but to also celebrate the achievements of all our students in the academic and non-academic domains.
9. Damai Concert@ The Esplanade – Enchante.New Beginnings
There will be concert preparations after the mid-year examination, with several combined rehearsal dates set aside. We are pleased to inform you that your child/ ward will support this concert through involvement as performers, backstage, ushers, Values-in-Action promoters or supportive audience. We look forward to your presence at this concert on Wednesday 7 June, 2.00 pm to 5.00 pm at Esplanade Theatre.
10. Mid- Year Parent-Teacher Conference (PTC)
There will be a PTC for parents/guardians of identified students on Friday 26 May 2017 from 8.00 am to 1.00 pm. The PTC is an important platform to discuss your child/ward’s progress in school in Semester 1 so that the school and you can work in collaboration to effectively support the students’ progress in Semester 2. Your will receive your child/ward’s mid-year examination results during the PTC. Students need not report to school on that day but must accompany their parents/guardians for the PTC in full-school uniform. The PTC will end at 1.00 pm to support the national initiative, "Eat with Your Family Day".
11. e-Newsletter & other positive media platforms
The e-Newsletter will be available on our school’s webpage in due course. We hope that you will learn more about the school and the various activities and programmes we have organised for the students. We would like to invite you to browse through our e-newsletter and do give us feedback on how we can further enhance this electronic channel to reach out to parents/guardians.
You may also wish to keep abreast of school happenings via our Facebook page “iRememberDamai” and our Instagram “Damaisec.ig”.
Best Wishes
Chow Weisi
Principal
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