Welcome to EoN...






Welcome to EoN, which stands for Eye On Nation.

EoN is a webMagazine which serves as a platform for the staff and pupils of Zhenghua Secondary School to post articles and/or comments about school activities and/or issues pertaining to National Education, Social Studies, History and even Geography! We hope to raise the level of awareness and encourage active citizenship among our staff and pupils through this initiative.

Join us on this journey. It may be long and tedious, but good company expedites the process and lessens the load. =)

Looking forward to your comments and active participation!

Mrs Sharon Tan

Sunday, December 14, 2008

2008 FLASHBACK

COMPETITION CLOSED. Thank you for your support! 12 Feb 2009

EoN needs your HELP!
In your opinion, what has been the most eventful thing/incident (be it a happy or sad occasion) to happen to Singapore in 2008?











Was it the wonderful National Day Parade as seen in the photos above? SHARE WITH US! Add your comments here.

Closing date: 30 January 2009. The best entry gets a prize! Winners will be announced on EoN in February 2009.

What's up, Neighbour?

A Short Quiz for Yourself:

1) Do you feel a sense of belonging to your neighbourhood/housing estate? Yes/No.

2) Do you feel happy living in your neighbourhood/housing estate? Yes/No.

3) Do you know the names of at least 2 neighbours? Yes/No.

4) Have you greeted (e.g. say hi or bye) at least one neighbour this week? Yes/No.

5) Do you know who the Member of Parliament in charge of your estate is? Yes/No.

If you have 3 or more 'Yes' to the 5 questions above, GOOD for you! You can give yourself a pat on your back! keep up the good work! =)

If you have less than 3 'Yes', perhaps you will need to ask yourself why the many 'No'. Tell us what you think can make you feel a stronger sense of belonging to your neighbourhood. Drop us a comment in this blog!

Look out for the contest that will be launched in January 2009. It has something to do with your neighbourhood... maybe something to do with photographs... maybe something to do with manga drawing... maybe something to do with poetry.

Headline News from Channelnewsasia

HOW WILL THIS AFFECT YOU AND/OR YOUR FAMILY ESPECIALLY YOUR ELDERLY FAMILY MEMBERS?

80,000 needy elderly to benefit with expansion of medical subsidy scheme
By Pearl Forss, Channel NewsAsia Posted: 14 December 2008 1710 hrs

The following is an extract from the above Channelnewsasia article.

"SINGAPORE: Come January 2009, some 80,000 senior citizens stand to benefit once a national medical subsidy scheme for needy elderly is expanded to include chronic diseases like diabetes. That's a four-fold jump from the 19,000 who are currently on the Primary Care Partnership Scheme.

Currently, needy elderly registered with the Primary Care Partnership Scheme can get a subsidy when seeing their neighbourhood doctors for acute conditions like coughs and colds.

But for chronic diseases like diabetes, hypertension and high cholesterol, they'll need to wait their turn in crowded polyclinics to get subsidised care.

But come January, patients with chronic diseases can get an annual subsidy of up to S$360 to see their neighbourhood general practitioners. It is much more convenient than going to the polyclinics, and it also means a more personal relationship with one's doctor.

The Health Ministry said the subsidy will cover about 70 to 90 per cent of their total medication cost, assuming generic drugs are used where possible.

However, for a small group of patients who require many types of drugs, their medicine bills may still cost less in polyclinics than at neighbourhood clinics.

It'll cost the government S$10 million a year but some doctors feel the government should spend more." ... WHY?

Read more to find out. Click on the link below. http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/396249/1/.html

Friday, November 14, 2008

The Two 'R's

RECESSION

Read up about other Singaporeans' views on the recession and other concerns in www.reach.gov.sg. REACH is the Singapore government's feedback arm.

RESILIENCE

What part do you play to help see Singapore through the recession?

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Results: “Your Singapore Through Their Eyes: A Literary Competition”

Congratulations to Davita Koh and Erahilwana of 4E2!
In May, a group of students participated in a literary competition organised by Nanyang Girls' High School. “Your Singapore Through Their Eyes: A Literary Competition” or YSTTE, is a student initiative of Nanyang Girls’ High School, under the auspices of the school’s National Education Committee. This writing competition was open to all students between the ages of 7 to 16. Students were given free rein to pen their literary creations on the theme of “What makes Singapore, Singapore?”

The aims of this competition were to:
- Allow students to polish their literary skills in creative writing
- Provide young students with the opportunity to look at Singapore in another perspective
- Let these young students realise the uniqueness of Singapore and her culture in their own way
- Promote national identity from an early stage
- Allow students to unreservedly put across their views of Singapore
We are pleased to announce that after much consideration by the organising committee and various teachers (National Education, English Language and Oxford graduate teachers), Davita's poem came in second, out of 60-odd entries received. Erahilwana's poem received commendation.
The winning entries will be published on the organiser's website shortly. http://www.ystte.com/html/winning_entries.html. There are future plans to publish the top 30 entries in a book entitled "Your Singapore through Their Eyes".
Davita's prize (Cat C - Secondary School Category):
One shoebag (grey) containing various stationary, e.g. highlighters, laser pointers, notebooks, pens, etc.
One notebook (again, of a non-conventional sort)
One slingbag
Certificate as endorsed by the principal
Once again, congratulations to both of you, Era & Davita!

Monday, August 18, 2008

3RD in the Cluster West 6 Heritage Race!

On 2 August 2008, Zhenghua Secondary School participated in the Cluster West 6 Amazing Race. The race has two components, namely the History Leg and the Culture Leg. With the aid of our home team that was based in Assumption English School, the two other ZSS teams spent the morning solving puzzles and overcoming challenges to emerge THIRD in the race. Congratulations to our ZSS teams and the volunteers who were stationmasters and first aiders!



Watch out for this space! Photographs will be uploaded very soon! =)

Thursday, August 14, 2008

Watch Out for this Space!

Highlights from Zhenghua Sec Sch's National Day is coming out soon!

Commemorating Racial Harmony Day the Zhenghua way

Mr Lim cutting the ribbon to signify the start of Zhenghua Sec's Racial Harmony Day commemoration
The dedicated parents from the PSG behind the sweet success of the food stall

Malay teachers imparting the skill of ketupat-weaving to colleagues and pupils



Nothing like a spread of traditional food to unite Singaporeans

VP2 Mdm Lee - One of the supportive Zhenghua family members in the traditional Indian outfit



In the one week leading to Racial Harmony Day on 21 July 2008, Zhenghua Secondary School pupils had the opportunity to try out traditional games e.g. chapteh during their PE lessons. They were also educated on the causes and consequences of the racial riots of 1950, 1964 and 1969 that threw Singapore into turbulent times during CME (for Lower Sec) and Lifeskill (for Upper Sec) lessons. With the above-mentioned experiences and knowledge, our school was ready to fully appreciate the Racial Harmony Day commemoration that took place on 21 July 2008, with the help of the Parents Support Group!

Wednesday, July 9, 2008

THE SINGAPORE HERITAGEFEST 2008 (12 - 27 JULY)

THE SINGAPORE HERITAGEFEST 2008 (12-27 July), “WHO’S YOUR HERO?”

... brought to you by the Education & Outreach Division, National Heritage Board

The annual Singapore HeritageFest (SHF), a nationwide festival is held in July every year since 2004 to celebrate our multi-cultural heritage and through that, raises the level of understanding and appreciation for our heritage and history.

The year’s festival celebrates and remembers our Singapore Heroes. These are people who have contributed to Singapore both in big and small ways - the many ordinary and unsung heroes, and the heroes in all of us that together make up the unique Singaporean story. Through the fun-filled yet educational festival activities and programmes, the Festival aims to make Singaporeans realise that everyone plays a part in shaping the history and heritage of the future, and that the personal and collective stories of Singaporeans is what makes our multi-cultural heritage rich, interesting and unique.


Festival Highlights
To make the festival come alive, there will be a whole range of activities from exhibitions, performances, talks to concerts. For more details, please check out the festival website http://www.heritagefest.org.sg/ or call our festival hotline at 6736 0503.

Some highlights which are relevant to Social Studies/History are:-
a) Festival Hub@Suntec City: Anchor Exhibition: “Who’s Your Hero?” & Stage performances
Kids’ Zone: “Who’s Your Hero?” (available for school bookings)
The Heroes Patch & Children’s Hero Activities

b) “My Hero” Writing Contest
Mystory Portal where students can write and share stories about their heroes or even take part in a writing contest. For more information, please log on to http://www.mystory.sg/.

c) Kids’ On Board@Compass Point (exhibition, puppet shows, children’s plays, costume dressing contest & stage performances)

Come, Discover and Celebrate Your Heroes This July at the Singapore HeritageFest 2008! Exciting events are waiting for your participation!

Thursday, July 3, 2008

Commemoration of Racial Harmony Day

Dear school,

As a way of commemorating Racial Harmony which falls on 21 July 2008, you can look forward to playing traditional games during your PE lessons from 14 to 18 July 2008!

You are strongly encouraged to come to school dressed in your ethnic costume on Friday 18 July 2008. Better still, wear an ethnic costume that is not from your own ethnic group!

Do borrow an ethnic costume from a friend if you don't have one. Join in the fun! Certificates and token gifts will be given to the best dressed classes in the lower and upper secondary levels.

Also on 18 July 2008, traditional Malay food will be sold just outside the canteen. Special thanks must be given to our school canteen Stall 7 vendor for the provision of the food items for sale and the Parents Support Group for manning the food stall.

Looking forward to your active participation on Friday 18 July. Come prepared for a day of kaleidoscopic colours and gastronomic treats!

With warm wishes,
ZSS NE committee

Monday, June 30, 2008

2008 NE Ambassadors

Congratulations to the following pupils for being Zhenghua Secondary School's NE Ambassador!

1E1: Neo Xue Ying
1E2: Muhammad Shahidin B Razali
1E3: Ong Sai Yun
1E4: Lim Wei Cher
1E5: Syazirah Bte Abdullah
1N1: Reno Erwinshah Bin Julaimi
1N2: Chew Chang Zheng
1T1: Mohamed Salleh Abdul Shukor

2E1: Chan Jun Jie
2E2: Clara Ng
2E3: Rebecca Yeo Yong Xi
2E4: Ong Jing Wen
2E5: Ong Wei Jie
2N1: Nur Amira Bte Zaenal
2N2: Sri Nur Rafiqah Bte Paiman
2N3: Muhammad Najiy B Zawawi
2T1: Kevin Siah Min Wei

3E1: Siti Nurzakiah Bte Hashim
3E2: Musliha Bte Selamat
3E3: Daniel Hu Kai Wen
3E4: Nur Ain Bte Suhaimi
3E5: Nurjannah Bte Zulkifli
3N1: Lim Hui Jia
3N2: Nur Eliyana Bte Mohammed Tahir
3T1: Nurfana Bte Pawzi

4E1: Ben Tiong
4E2: Lau Feng Yuan
4E3: Khoo Chong En
4E4: Lee Yu Xian
4E5: Wong Yoke Heng
4N1: Nur Lydiawati Bte Juraimi
4N2: Muhd Faiz B Rahim
4N3: Yip Jun Wei Aron
4T1: Achmad Susanto B Noor Mohammad

5N1: Matin Faruq B Abdul Haddy
5N2: Azdiyatul Akhmah Bte Aziz
5N3: Jyothi Rajendran

Monday, June 23, 2008

International Friendship Day celebration in Zhenghua

Commemorating
INTERNATIONAL FRIENDSHIP DAY
on 11 April 2008

A procession of peace and friendship…..our pupils taking up their positions

Getting ready to address the school in their full national & ethnic splendour



Not quite Moses parting the Red Sea but nevertheless our pupils are spreading their Messiah of Friendship and Understanding through the Youth Olympic Games


Red and rapturous, Zhenghua pupils listen as the spirit of international friendship touches their hearts


Zhenghua - a microcosm of internationalism and friendship that knows no boundaries
A picture perfect embodiment of friendship, peace and unity
The Youth Olympic Games in Singapore: Circles in unison, hearts in harmony, friendship abound

The principal congratulating the pupils for spreading the spirit of international friendship in Zhenghua

Thursday, June 19, 2008

Read about the "Food and Energy Crisis" Interview-Programme hosted by Melissa Hyak on Channelnews Asia

Food and Energy Crisis

Thursday, 19 June 2008
CNAS 8:30pm CNAI 8:30pm(Singapore time)

Global food prices are skyrocketing along with soaring fuel costs - but are cartels, export curbs, science and subsidies offering a way out?

Is there a solution as the silent tsunami sweeps across the world?

Join Melissa Hyak and her guests as they explore the link between rising food and fuel costs, and their implications.

Panel members:

Dr Asanga Gunawansa
Assistant Professor, Department of Building, School of Design and Environment, National University of Singapore

The Problem
The recent skyrocketing cost of world food prices is stoked by rising fuel prices, unpredictable weather and the ever growing demand for food from countries such as India and China.
According to the World Bank price of rice has more than doubled during the period March - April 2008. Further, the World Bank estimates that food prices have risen by 83 percent in the last three years alone.

Unrest over the food crisis has led to deaths in Cameroon and Haiti, and caused hungry textile workers to clash with police in Bangladesh.

According to Ban Ki-moon, the UN Secretary General, rising food costs threaten to cancel strides made toward the goal of cutting world poverty in half by 2015.

-----------------------

Joergen Oerstroem Moeller
Visiting Senior Research Fellow, Institute of Southeast Asian Studies

Over the last 200 years the world has lived in an era of plenty. There has been enough of food, raw materials, energy with low prices stimulating industrialization and energy intensive societies. Water has not been scarce except in a few places and clean environment was not included in economic calculations. All this turns around right now. We move into an era of scarcity. Food prices will go up with more people and more people having money to pay for better food, the growing economies need more raw materials, demand for energy is on a steep upward curve, water is beginning to be scarce in many areas including some traditional food export regions and clean environment is on the agenda under the name of global warming/climate change. Put on top of this that if we try to solve one of these problems others will aggravate. We can for example move for desalination, but that requires energy. What will it mean for solidarity inside our countries? The only way to manage the threat of environmental degradation is to devise new forms of international governance, how do we do that?
--------------------------

Assistant Professor Davin Chor
School of Economics, Singapore Management University

The current rise in world food and commodity prices has raised fears that the world may be facing an impending food and energy crisis, in which the poor in many developing countries will likely take the largest hit. A confluence of several forces has been driving this upward trend, namely the strong demand from fast-growing developing countries, coupled with tight supply conditions in world markets. Neither of these fundamental forces is likely to let up in the short term, which means that we cannot expect prices to recede anytime soon. For the longer-term outlook, technological advances are likely to hold the key to reversing these recent trends. It is crucial that the OECD countries take the lead now to channel R&D efforts towards improving agricultural productivity and inventing more fuel-efficient technologies, as well as to ensure the swift diffusion of any new best-practices that are developed.

-------------------------

Friday, May 30, 2008

"Singapore: The First Ten Years of Independence" Essay Competition by NLB

Dear pupils,

Keen to participate in a National Library Board (NLB) Competition? Make good use of your time this holiday to pen a composition on the topic, "Singapore: The First Ten Years of Independence". Take note that the deadline for the competition is Friday 20 June 2008.

The maximum number of words is 500 and 800 for lower and upper secondary students, respectively. Submissions must be made online stating details such as name, school, address, birth-date and competition category.

For more information (especially on rules and regulation), please go to this website: http://firstcabinet.nl.sg/.

All the best to you!

Tuesday, April 8, 2008

Hands-on Activity for the NE Ambassadors

Common experiences and shared interests are some things that help residents in a community bond and society to become more cohesive. Your task is as follows:

1) Contribute to the community by conduct an online research on the Bukit Panjang estate. Find out information about the history of road names and, better yet, the history of Zhenghua! =)
2) Write a 50-word blog entry about what you have found from your research about Bukit Panjang estate.
3) Post your comments here by clicking on "comments" or "the pencil" at the bottom right hand corner of this blog entry.

If you have any questions, please feel free to approach any NE Committee Teacher.

Cheers!
Mrs Sharon Tan

ANNOUNCEMENT: NE Workshop on Monday 14 April 2008

Name of Activity: NE Ambassador Training Workshop
Venue: Comlab 3, Zhenghua Sec Sch
Date: Monday, 14 April 2008
Time: 3pm - 5pm
Participants: ALL Sec 1 to 5 NE AMBASSADORS

Light refreshments will be served. Attendance is compulsory. Please come with an open mind and a willing heart to learn and share. =)

See you there!

Mrs Sharon Tan
On behalf of the ZSS National Education (NE) Committee

Monday, March 17, 2008

A visit to the National Civil Defence Cadet Corps Day Openhouse on 8 March 2008













Civil Defence - One of the five aspects of Singapore's Total Defence. Do you know the other four?
Nicholas Koh, 1E5, would recommend others to attend the NCDCC Openhouse in future. He says, "the NCDCC Openhouse is quite fun except that we could not try everything there, it was good."

Zhenghua Sec Sch Rallies Behind Singapore in Islandwide Flag Relay




... for YOG!!! Loving Singapore... Zhenghua Secondary School participates in the Islandwide Flag Relay organised by Hwa Chong Junior College. It was held on Thursday, 21 February 2008. Pupils from various CCAs such as the Drums Ensemble, Girl Guides, NPCC and Scouts came together to rally for Singapore in her bid to host the Youth Olympic Games 2010. Pupils whose classes just ended thronged to the scene to support their school runners - a team comprising the Girl Guides and Scouts. Mr Hanif and Ms Chin gamely ran with the team ALL THE WAY! What a display of unity! Way to go!!
It is confirmed: The Youth Olympic Games 2010 will be held in Singapore! =)




Brought to you by Mrs Tan... =) Stay tuned for updates on our visit to the NCDCC Openhouse!

Saturday, March 15, 2008

Exemplary behaviour from volunteers

The search is still on. Watch how volunteers from residents to students work together to spread the word. Click on the link below:

http://www.straitstimes.com/Video+News/Singapore/STIVodcast_3740.html?playid=3740&type=Singapore

Everyone has a part to play. What's yours? =)

Saturday, March 8, 2008

A Lesson on Complacency

Below is an extract from a Channel News Asia article dated 7 March 2008:

Mr Lee said Mas Selamat is a wily person who could persuade his custodians and Singapore has learnt an important lesson on complacency from the episode.

"I give him full marks for winning the confidence of his custodians – that he's completely docile, completely passive and he's going to remain in captivity. It is... stupid to believe we are infallible. We are not infallible. One mistake and we get a big explosive in your midst. So let's not take this lightly. I think it's a very severe lesson of complacency," said Mr Lee.

Since Mas Selamat's escape, police have received 950 calls and email messages about the case. Anyone with information on the fugitive should call the police at 999 or email them at spf_police_information@spf.gov.sg.

----------------------------
Source: http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/333576/1/.html
----------------------------

How can you help?
Recommended Websites: Youth Bank http://www.heartware.org/

Read more about it at http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/332281/1/.html

Friday, February 29, 2008

The World and Us ... And a game.

Life isn't
as simple as we think.
Our world is large.
We can't cover
all vast expanse
of the land
on feet

Yet it is small
enough
for us to feel
for us to pity
for us to be guilty

Ever so oft
we exclaim
misery
we proclaim
ourselves
victimised

It is the I
It is we
Versus them
Who are they anyway?
Do you see them?
How much is my fault?
My every action
What I do
What I don't
Is it my fault
or yours?

I cannot pity
If pity is condescending
I don't know
where to begin
How
to help
But at least
a good start
I know
that the world is large
I am
Not Alone.

---------------------------------- Mrs Tan, 29/2/2008, 4.30pm

A challenging role-playing game that allows you to play a character who decides the fate of a family living in a poor country: www.costlife.org

29 February 2008 - A leap year.

2008 has only just begun, but Singapore has already taken many leaps to assure her survival and success in the near future. (Why do I choose to say 'near future'? Think about it.)

For one, we have won the bid to host the inaugural Youth Olympic Games in 2010. 2008 is also the year in which the historic Formula One night race will be held. Indeed, the year 2008 is a year of many firsts.

For more information on these events, do check out the links mentioned below:

1) Youth Olympics Games (2010): http://www.singapore2010.sg/day/index.htm,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Youth_Olympic_Games,
2) Formula One Night Race (26-28 Sept 2008): http://www.singaporegp.sg/, http://www.formula1.com/

Congratulations, Singapore! What lies ahead of us is a new challenge to deliver what we have promised to the world. The next lap will see how we - as a nation - work together to overcome any obstacles.

To my fellow Singaporeans, be cohesive and patient even in trying times. To quote a song I heard when I was young, "There was a time when people said that Singapore won't make it, but we did. There was a time when troubles seem too much for us to take, but we did." We can make it. Together, we can make it.

Cheers!
Mrs S. Tan

Friday, February 15, 2008

BUDGET TIME =)

Hi, everyone!

http://www.singaporebudget.gov.sg/ is the official website for Budget 2008.

Try this game! There's more than meets the eye. Here's the link to the "If I Were The Finance Minister" Game. http://www.singaporebudget.gov.sg/choice/fiscal_choices.html

Click on the link below to read about what analysts expect from the Budget. http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/328826/1/.html
'Analysts expect more generous Budget for elderly and poor', by Hasnita A Majid, 14/2/2008

Smiles... =)
Mrs Tan

Saturday, January 19, 2008

REACHing out to us...

To those of you who wish to share ideas and work out solutions with the government, LOOK no further! Set up in October 2006, REACH - which stands for 'reaching everyone for active citizenry@ home' - is an avenue for Singaporeans and Permanent Residents to be engaged and become more participative and involved. Click on this link: http://www.reach.gov.sg/. =)

Highly recommended website by EoN!

A really great website to learn about Singapore. A light but interesting read. Highly recommended.

http://www.yesterday.sg/

Saturday, January 12, 2008

To better understand Chapter 2 on Population

My dear Sec 5 pupils,

To help you better understand the chapter that we are currently studying, please refer to the CPF website which offers up-to-date information on the Singapore government's CPF policies. Here's the link: http://mycpf.cpf.gov.sg/CPF/About-Us/Intro/Intro.htm.

Cheers!

Tuesday, January 1, 2008

my Eye sees
though my mind
seems to drift

my Eye sees
though my ears
are deafened

my Eye sees
though my tongue
speaks different

my Eye sees
what senses
mine defy

my Eye sees
laughter, tears
young and old

my Eye sees
a future
You and I

through this site
let words roll
Speak, my Eyes.

Mrs Sharon Tan, 1/1/2008, 3pm (SG)

Harmonious Living

Harmonious Living

Touching Lives in Vietnam, 5 June 2008

Global Food Crisis (4m 2secs)

How does it affect Singapore? How should we respond to such global challenges?

World Food Crisis (7m 52secs)

How does it affect Singapore? How should we respond to such global challenges?