17th – 20th Apr, 2009 : Open House / Parents’ Seminar / Teachers’ Training

Ms. Martha Monahan, our Consulting Principal, visited the school from 17th – 20th April, 2009. She observed the three classrooms on 17th Apr and made recommendations to the respective teachers for better classroom management and enhanced usage of materials to improve the children’s learning.

On 18th April, 2009 the teachers spent the morning learning ways to improve the classroom and school environment. In the afternoon, we welcomed parents and their friends to our school’s open house. Martha conducted a Parent Seminar on “Montessori 101” and introduced some Montessori materials used in our school so that parents understand how their children learn. From the next issue onwards, Halifax Bulletin will feature one Montessori material available in our school in each issue, highlighting it’s objectives, features, functions, usage and some extension activities which parents can do at home. We hope this will create a seamless child-home-school integration.

Dr. Lim Kwang Hsien, a Paediatrician at Kinder Clinic, Mt. Alvernia Hospital also presented a Health Seminar on Common Childhood Infections which was very informative yet interesting. Parents who attended the seminars enjoyed and learnt from both sessions.

The school was closed on 20th April, 2009 but the teachers were hard at work. We spent the whole day with Martha, re-visiting ways to use the materials and in the process also discovered new ways of using the materials to enhance teaching. Time was also spent on team-building through discussions. All teachers felt rejuvenated and revitalised after the training. Teachers are now putting what they have leant to good use.

8th April 2009 : Myopia Check for Kindergarten Class

Officials from the Health Promotion Board was in our school on 8th Apr, 2009 (Wed) to conduct free eye-screening for our Kindergarten class children for early detection of Myopia and other eye-related diseases.

Prevention is better than cure – our children first sat through a 20-mins presentation to learn good practices to take care of their eyes such as :

• Maintain one arm-length from computer screen when using the computer.
• Not to sit too near to the TV when watching Television
• Take frequent breaks from computer and reading sessions to look at greenery
• Sit upright to read, make sure there is sufficient light to read and read books at near eye level
• Play outdoor regularly instead of indulging in computer games and television

They then took turns to have their eye-sight tested. Results of the test were printed which the children have brought home to parents. Any recommendations or future intervention required have been listed in the test result.