English Language
The English Language Team aspires for excellence in English Language through excellence in communication. Our teachers work towards equipping our pupils with the lifelong skills that would help them to excel in Reading, Writing and Oral Communication. Our Lower Primary Curriculum focuses on preparing our pupils to be competent readers. Teachers engage the pupils in differentiated classroom activities that focus on exposure to a comprehensive and structured graded and guided reading programme. The Middle Primary Curriculum focuses on developing competent writers. Pupils are exposed to class dictated stories, group stories and individual stories at the beginning of Primary Three and are slowly introduced to process writing skills where they acquire the skills of drafting and re-drafting their writing. The Upper Primary Curriculum focuses on allowing our pupils to express themselves through guided classroom processes such as presentations, group projects and basic drama principles. Pupils are encouraged to explore beyond the textbook with their acquired skills in reading and writing and are given the opportunity to express themselves at different platforms within the classroom. The Department Highlights include:
(a) the Houghton Mifflin Reading Programme for P1 and P2
(b) Reading Programme (USSR, Reading Aloud Sessions, Reading Awards Scheme, Reading Mums Programme, Class Library System)
(c) Writing Programme (P4/P5/P6 Writing Packages, Class Dictated Stories, Group Stories, Individual Writing, Process Writing, Journals, Pupil Publications for every level)
(d) Oral Communication Programme (P4/P5/P6 Oral Communication Package, IPW Presentations, Poetry Recitation Sessions, Podcasting, Story Telling Sessions, Sing Aloud Sessions)
(e) P3/P4/P5 Literature Appreciation Programme for High Ability Pupils
(f) P5/P6 Structured Reading Comprehension Instruction
(g) Parents’ Education Conference on “Reading Strategies”
(h) Computer Aided Assessment Project Collaboration with NIE
(i) LSP Research Project Collaboration with MOE
(j) National Competitions such as Plain English Speaking Award (PESA) and National Scrabble Competition
Mathematics
The Mathematics Department’s vision is for pupils to Engage in Meaningful Mathematics. The department has put into action various measures to provide a rich environment for pupils to explore the language of Mathematics and develop a love for Mathematics through their primary school years. Our Lower Primary Curriculum in Mathematics focuses on helping pupils develop a love for Mathematics through play and games. Pupils are exposed to manipulatives and learn Mathematical concepts through interacting actively with them. The Middle Primary Curriculum in Mathematics focuses on exploring Mathematical concepts in the environment through participation in trails and outdoor lessons. Pupils are able to link the practical applications of Mathematical concepts to the environment. The Upper Primary Curriculum in Mathematics provides a consolidation of all skills learnt. The pupils are exposed to the rigorous challenges of external competitions such as the Mathematics Olympiads and Mathematics Talent Quest, conducted at National Level. It is hoped that pupils would develop their passion for Mathematics and drive themselves towards success through self-motivation and guidance.
Programme Highlights
(a) Multiplication Raps for Primary 1 and 2
(b) Mathematics Journal Writing
(c) Mathematics practical tests for Primary 1 and 2
(d) Parents’ Education Conference on “Joyful Mathematics”
(e) Learning Support in Mathematics for Primary 1 to 3 pupils
(f) Parent Support Group Collaboration on conducting remediation for selected pupils
Science
The Science Department aims to develop creative thinkers who possess enquiring and curious minds. At the same time, we want to instill in our pupils a love for nature. The middle and upper primary pupils are involved in Interdisciplinary Project Work that introduces them to both the Life Sciences and Physical Sciences. They learn process skills such as observation, comparison, classification, communication, analysing and decision-making. Our Edison and Green clubs also play important roles in promoting Science to our pupils. Pupils create their own toys and learn about the fundamental gear systems, construct their own mini radios and bottle gardens and even work with the South West CDC in the 100 000 Native Trees @ South West project.
Programme Highlights:
(a) Lower Primary Enrichment Programmes for P1 and P2 pupils
(b) Outdoor lessons for P3 and P4 pupils
(c) Integrated Project Works
(d) Sony Creative Toy competition
Chinese Language
In Shuqun, we focus on providing greater opportunities for the pupils to learn through listening and speaking the Chinese language. Pupils get to master the basics of public speaking and oral presentation skills, learn the daily expressions and vocabularies beyond the classroom context, participate in story telling sessions and are immersed in various cultural activities.
Malay Language
The Malay Language Department aims to achieve quality results through quality teaching and learning and instill the love and appreciation for the Malay Language in pupils by providing the opportunity for them to engage in joyful learning and hopes to enable pupils to use the language skills with confidence.
The Malay language team has various programmes to promote and increase the standard of Malay language among the pupils. Programmes such as IT, class library, inter-class competitions and word splash are conducted to enhance the learning of the Malay language. Malay language teachers are also introduced to different teaching strategies such as mind mapping, group work, clock buddies and gallery walk to make learning fun and enjoyable.
Programme Highlights:
(a) Malay publications put up by pupils
(b) Buddy readers programme by upper primary pupils for the lower primary pupils
(c) External Competitions
(d) Innovative teaching strategies such as mind mapping, clock buddies, gallery walk and inter-class competitions
Tamil Language
The Tamil Language Department aims to achieve quality results through quality teaching and learning and has various programmes to promote and increase the standard of Tamil among the pupils. Programmes such as IT, class library, inter-class competitions and word splash are conducted to enhance the learning of the language.
Programme Highlights:
(a) Collaboration with Bhavans Global Indian International School for online forum discussion
Health Education
School health promotion is a priority in our health education programme. We adopt an approach that places emphasis on physical, mental and environmental health.
Objectives:
To provide or equip our pupils with:
1) the knowledge and understanding of health concepts;
2) opportunities to develop good health habits and attitudes and
3) decision-making skills to make the right choices about their behaviour so as to attain good health
Our Programmes:
Our pupils are taught personal health skills during health education lessons. These are reinforced through supportive activities organised by the school. For example, doctors and nurses from the school health services carry out vision and hearing screening in our school on a yearly basis. The school carries out tooth brushing exercise for primary 1 and primary 2 pupils weekly.
Our health education programme not only focuses on the acquisition of knowledge and understanding of health concepts but also developing in our children positive attitudes and practices towards a healthy lifestyle.
NESS
The National Education (NE) Committee aims to cultivate a sense of national pride among our pupils. Besides instilling a sense of emotional belonging and commitment to the community and nation, our pupils will learn more about Singapore and the roles they need to play as individuals to ensure our nation’s survival. The team also conducts learning journeys to heritage centres to promote racial and religious harmony and to instill great confidence in Singapore’s future.
Besides emphasising the importance of the six NE Messages, our committee commemorates the following key NE-related events:
As Singapore is a multi-racial country, we also strive to create bonding experiences for our pupils through a series of meaningful programmes.
Our teachers are continually renewing their strong conviction to inculcate the NE values among our pupils; they attend the NE Seminar and watch NewsTeach programmes, which highlight up-to-date NE issues, during Sectional Meetings.
Information and Communication Technology
In line with the ICT team's vision - A connected and ed-venturous learning community - we aim to equip our pupils with the appropriate IT skills to enable them to keep up with the fast pace of technology in today's context. An IT curriculum has been introduced and integrated into the core subjects where all pupils learn at least two IT skills at every level.
ICT Curriculum:
Primary 1 and 2: Max Write and Max Show
Primary 3: MS Word and E-mails with attachment
Primary 4: MS PowerPoint (Basic) and E-mails with attachment
Primary 5: MS PowerPoint (Intermediate) and MS Excel
Primary 6: MS PowerPoint (Intermediate) and MS Excel
Pupils are encouraged to use one of the above skills to complete a project based assignment for assessment purposes - integrated project work in Term 2 and E-portfolio in Term 3 via the online learning management system and e-portfolio platform.
Our school is also one of the LEAD IT schools. Aligning with our niche area of outdoor education and learning, our focus is to engage our pupils in outdoor and experiential learning. Technology is integrated into the experiential learning trails to complement the different modes of learning. Pupils learn to use PDAs, tablet PCs, data loggers and mobile wireless network. Selected pupils also explore games in education (Granado Espada in our GE Lab) and podcasting through the facilities in our Channel E Studio. We also have a school ambassador programme through which we forge partnerships with international schools and provide our pupils with a rich learning experience.
Pupil Development
The Pupil Development Committee and Social-Emotional Learning Team aim to promote positive attitudes and good behaviour in our pupils through consistent monitoring, counselling, interactions with pupils and feedback to parents.
We desire to develop in every Shuqunite an attitude of self-discipline, the ability to understand self and others and his/her leadership qualities.
To help achieve these outcomes, the department has put in place programmes such as Lifeskills for Effective Living lessons, the Merit Star Award Scheme, recognition of student leadership roles and the setting up of the Student Council.
We also look into the well being of our pupils. We have a pool of trained teacher counsellors to befriend pupils with emotional and behaviourial needs. The school provides financial assistance for needy pupils. Workshops for the various stakeholders are also conducted to bring about awareness to issues such as childhood development, communication skills and building self-esteem.
Performing Arts
In Shuqun, we believe that every student is a star!
Right from Primary 1, we provide a range of arts enrichment programmes for all our students, to expose them to the various genres of the arts.
A pool of artists from MI Arts has been engaged to teach our lower primary children creative movement which allows the children to express themselves in an unconstrained and creative manner through the use of their bodies. From here, the students have become more confident and have shown greater respect for their peers. The engaging choral lessons for our Primary 2 pupils allow them to learn the basic singing techniques and to project their voices correctly. We have also introduced a speech and drama programme where our Primary 3 pupils learn various techniques of acting.
At the same time, all our Primary 4 and 5 students are learning to play the “Merlion” in place of the recorder. This instrument was invented by our chief band instructor, Mr Simon Ng. The students are able to blow beautiful tunes with this new instrument and at the same time appreciate our Singapore icon.
We want to provide a platform to allow each Shuqunite to shine. Many pupils were given the opportunity to showcase their talent and passion for music, acting and dance during our musical performance at the Victoria Theatre in March this year. Working very closely with our partners in the community, our performing arts groups took part in many lunchtime concerts, arts festival performances, arts exchanges, collaborations and competitions.
In Shuqun Primary School, we will continue to provide the stage for our students to shine in their talents and to nurture a star in every Shuqunite!
