PERFORMING ARTS CUM CULTURAL IMMERSION LEARNING JOURNEY TO CHINA SUZHOU/HANGZHOU/SHANGHAI 2017

40 students from our four Performing Arts CCA groups (Band, Choir Dance and Drama) visited Hangzhou, Suzhou and Shanghai, China from 29 Oct to 5 Nov 2017 to enrich their appreciation and learning experience of performing arts, develop 21st century competencies of global awareness, cross-cultural skills and sensitivities, and sensitive themselves to the place of Singapore in the world and deepen their commitment and rootedness to Singapore.

The students had ample opportunities to watch various world class arts performances which included the Song Dynasty City Musical performance at Song Dynasty City and the famous “Impression of West Lake” outdoor performance in Hangzhou. The students also tried their hands at a traditional Chinese paper fan-making workshop in a Fan Museum in Hangzhou and attended a half-day exchange programme with the Hangzhou Art School where they watched the dance students going through their paces and the drama students putting up their practical test in drama performance.  In Suzhou, the students was treated to a night of traditional Jiangnan cultural performances by experts in Pingtan, Kunqu, Guqing and Dixiao in the idyllic Master-of-Net garden.  In Shanghai, the students had the rare opportunity to watch a fusion drama performance incorporating acrobatic acts by “Dislocate”, an acclaimed Australian drama troupe in the state of the art Shanghai International Dance Theatre.

As part of our school exchange, the students also visited our twinning schools in Suzhou - SIP Xinggang School and Changshu Foreign Language Junior Middle School. Our students watched Dance, Drama and Choir performances put up by their students and in turn performed a song and dance item.  At Xinggang School, our students also learnt about Chinese Calligraphy, principles of flight and osmosis in plant cells in specially arranged lessons. At Changshu School, our students also observed a Geography lesson.

For cultural immersion, the students visited numerous places of historical and cultural significance in Hangzhou, Suzhou and Shanghai such as the West Lake, Grand Canal, Mausoleum of General Yue Fei, Nanxun old watertown, Shanghai Municipal History Museum etc. They were exposed to Chinese History, Literature and the Arts as they learnt about stories of heroism, loyalty and piety. The students also got to visit many interesting places such as Zhongshuge (the most beautiful bookstore in Shanghai), Meiji Dairies Co. Ltd, Yushan Scenic Area where they had wild mushroom noodles for lunch and Shanghai Science & Technology Museum. Indeed, the entire trip was an eye-opening one filled with numerous opportunities to gain new knowledge and forge new friends beyond our shores and our students captured many moments of learning and camaraderie.

LOWER SECONDARY PROJECT WORK ON SUSTAINABLE LIVING 2017

Our school reintroduced the interdisciplinary Project Work for all lower secondary Express and Normal (Academic) students this year.  The Project Work curriculum aims to provide students with the opportunity to synthesise knowledge from various subject areas such as science and humanities and critically and creatively apply it to real life situations.   It also aims to develop in our students 21st Century Competencies and skills such as collaboration, research, communication and independent learning.

The theme for the Project Work is “Sustainable Living” as part of the school’s environment education.  In Semester 1, Sec 1 students worked on topics such as ‘Management of Food Wastage’ and `Effective Use of Recreation Spaces’. They visited the ENVision Gallery to learn about Singapore’s environment story through the interactive exhibits as they looked for innovative ways to advocate the reduction in food wastage in their communities. Some groups analysed how Singapore’s limited recreational spaces could be managed sustainably and cater to the diverse needs of the community. Sec 1 students advocating the reduction in food wastage through posters and games

In Semester 2, Sec 2 students took on the topics of ‘Biodiversity Conservation’ and `Energy Sustainability’ as they looked at future challenges to sustainability. Some groups researched on how to promote environmental sustainability by designing informative biodiversity trails in their neighbourhoods. These students went through a trail in Hort Park to understand how to design a biodiversity trail. Other groups learnt about the use of solar energy in a workshop conducted by Temasek Polytechnic. They went on to design household devices which worked on renewable sources of energy. The projects were then showcased during the Post-Examination period at the Project Work Carnival. Sec 2 students with their prototypes and sharing their projects at PW Carnival

ARTS@KK WOMEN’S AND CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL 2017

Our school was invited by KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital this year to participate in Arts@KKH, a community outreach programme where performing arts groups perform for patients, visitors and staff at KKH. On 25 Oct 2017, 138 members from our four Performing Arts CCA Groups (Band, Choir, Dance & Drama) put up an enthralling display of songs, dance and a skit at KK Hospital. Their lively and energetic performances captivated the audience and warmed the hearts of patients and their caregivers.

Besides contributing to a good cause, Arts@KKH is also a valuable platform for our North Stars to showcase their talents and allow members of the public to have a deeper appreciation of the various performing arts. To mark the partnership between us, KK Hospital presented a certificate and token of appreciation to CVSS at the end of the event. The event was also featured in KKH’s Facebook with 11 photos and the following caption: “It was an exceptional arts fiesta at the Arts@KKH by Compassvale Secondary School, where students from the school’s Band, Choir Group, Drama Club showcased their talents in FOUR dynamic performances!  A big thank you to Compassvale Secondary School and all the young performers for the lively and energetic performances!”