Achievements in Science Competitions 2018

As part of our school efforts to develop our strengths in teaching and learning of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math), the Science Department has strived to imbue a passion for science and innovation in our students.  Students who show a keen interest and aptitude for Science are given the opportunity to participate in external competitions where they are involved in real-world problem solving through scientific investigations under the mentorship of their Science teachers. Our students have done us proud by their recent achievements in various national-level Science competitions in Semester two.

Singapore Youth Science Fair – Two Distinction Awards

On 25th July, two teams of North Stars participated in the Singapore Youth Science Fair (SYSF) and both clinched the highest honour of Distinction Award in the Lower Secondary Category.   The science fair is an annual scientific research competition co-organized by the Science Teachers Association of Singapore and Science Centre Singapore to promote scientific study through investigation, encourage creativity and innovation through problem-solving and heighten awareness of scientific research and technology development.  The two teams worked on their project over the span of three months. The first team investigated the efficacy of certain home-based extraction methods of common herbs as antimicrobial agents, while the second group investigated the effectiveness of a modified Eco-cooler in lowering the temperature of ambient air. This culminated in the teams writing a report and designing a poster to summarize their findings and producing a 5-minute video presentation to present their results.

East Zone A*STAR Science Fair – Merit Award

On 17th July, a team of Sec 3 students participated in the above competition organised by Victoria Junior College in collaboration with the Agency for Science, Technology and Research to promote scientific research and the sharing of ideas amongst secondary school students.  Despite facing stiff competition from schools participating in the Open Category, including schools that are well-established in Science Research such as NUS High School of Mathematics and Science, Raffles Institution and Hwa Chong Institution, our team achieved a Merit Award for their investigation on the biodegradation of different plastic polymers by mealworms.  It was an eye-opening experience for our students to see the advanced research methods and techniques on display at the Science Fair and to have the opportunity to visit the state-of-the-art Science Laboratory facilities at the NJC Science Research Centre to loan the use of the laboratory’s sophisticated analytical equipment to analyse the results of their scientific investigation.

17th Elementz Science Research Competition (Lower Secondary) – Bronze Award

On 23rd July, two teams of Sec 2 students took part in the above competition organised by Anderson Secondary School which aims to provide students with a platform to showcase their aptitude in Science inquiry and problem solving. A total of 81 teams from various primary and secondary schools took part in the competition where they had to conceptualize an investigative-type project with the theme of “Changing the World, One Idea at a Time”. They then had to perform experiments, produce a report for submission and present their projects to a panel of three judges. Our teams submitted two projects titled “Investigating the efficacy of home-based extraction methods for common herbs as anti-microbial agents” and “Investigating the use of the thermoelectric effect to generate electricity”.  One of the teams clinched a Bronze award.

Singapore Junior Physics Olympiad (SJPO) – Honourable Mention

The annual SJPO 2018 is a physics competition organized by the Institute of Physics, Singapore for secondary school students.  It aims to encourage the study and appreciation of physics beyond the school curriculum, by providing an opportunity for students to solve novel questions that require critical and inventive thinking.  Despite it being our first time taking part in this national-level competition, Maung Sue Htaik Aung (4E5) achieved the Honorable Mention at this year’s competition!

Sustainable Lifestyle Challenge – Second Place And Merit Award

Nine teams of students took part in the Sustainable Lifestyle Challenge, jointly organised by the Institute of Technical Education, National Environment Agency, South-East CDC and supported by Ascendas-Singbridge Gives Foundation. Two of the teams achieved the Second Place in the Secondary Category and a Merit Award respectively. The competition aims to create awareness on climate issues and engage the students in consciously reducing waste generated through a changed lifestyle, based on the theme of “Creating a Sustainable Lifestyle in our Living Environment”.  The students worked on their projects over 3 months, mentored by teachers from the Science Department, Project Work Committee and Environment Club. They developed innovative solutions to reduce food, energy, water and other waste, conducted surveys and produced a written report and video on their prototypes. One team was selected to present their projects to a panel of judges in the finals held on 7th September.

Ngee Ann Polytechnic Science and Technology Challenge – Take Flight & Soar! 2018 – Most Innovative

On 4th Sep, a team of Aeronautics Club members with the help of a parent volunteer took part in the “Take Flight and Soar” category of the NYP Science and Technology Challenge. As part of the competition, the team had to build a rubber-band powered aircraft prototype to compete for the longest flight time in a circular flying path.  Despite facing stiff competition from 15 other participating schools, our team clinched the Most Innovative Award!

 Working with a given set of materials and a time limit of 4 hours, our North Stars proved that they were able to work collaboratively under pressure to produce a unique prototype, as ours was the best aesthetically-designed plane, and the only one with the canard wing design, which is an aeronautical arrangement where a small forewing is placed in front of the main wings, typically seen on fighter planes, that contributes to upward lift and reduces overall drag.  Our team were also able to think out of the box and attached the propeller provided to the back of the plane in reverse orientation so that it produced a push force rather than the conventional pull force that is exerted when it is located at the front of the plane.

National Chinese Mobile App Development by Student for Student Competition 2018–Two Excellence Award

Two teams of our students participated in the 2018 National Chinese Mobile App Development by Student for Student Competition 2018 （全国学生华文手机应用程序制作比赛）and won two Excellence Awards. The competition was organised by the Singapore Centre for Chinese Language and sponsored by Lee Kuan Yew Fund for Bilingualism, and was the first Chinese Language App programming competition for students across the country from all secondary schools, ITE and Junior Colleges. More than 400 students in 94 teams participated in this competition where they were required to develop apps for pre-school children and lower primary students.

Despite facing stiff competitions from schools with strong computing background like HCI, NUS High School of Mathematics and Science and SAP schools like Dunman High School, both our Lower and Upper Secondary teams have done our school proud by clinching two spots in the Top 20.  The teams started planning and designing the app from November 2017 and submitted the final mock-up app in April this year.  As our students have no prior experience in coding using the app Thunkable, all of them had to learn coding from scratch and explored how to code and design the games with the assistance of the professionals. Both of their apps will be further developed by the professionals into a full app downloadable from Apple Store and Google Play.  The apps could be downloadable from the link: https://appcompetition.tk.sg/download/

In addition, our North Stars were also invited to showcase their apps at the 5th International Conference on Teaching and Learning of Chinese as a Second Language organised by SCCL in September 2018. Some of the renowned scholars and educators from Singapore and overseas who were introduced to our apps include Prof Tse Shek Kam, Faculty of Education, Project Director, Centre for Advancement of Chinese Language Education and Research, The University of Hong Kong and Master Teachers Mdm Min Yu and Ms Sim Lucy from SCCL.

LLP – Partnership with Sengkang Central CC 2018

As part of our Learning for Life Programme on Community & Youth Leadership, our school had a close partnership with Sengkang Central Community Centre and supported a number of community projects and events such as Canned Food collection drive for needy residents, Large Visual Art Installation – A Ray of Sunshine project, Ramadan Porridge Distribution and PAYM National Day Observance Ceremony.

Sengkang Central Canned Food Collection Drive 2018
In May, 80 Sec 2 and 3 members of our 5 Uniformed Groups (NCC, NPCC, Boys’ Brigade, Girl Guides & Red Cross) went round 68 HDB blocks in the neighbourhood together with grassroots leaders to collect items like canned food, dry food (biscuits, instant noodles etc.) and packet tea / coffee. The initiative aimed to forge a more inclusive community as food items collected were distributed to needy families within the constituency. After collecting the food items door-to-door, our students helped unload and sort the food items for distribution.

Large Visual Art Installation – A Ray of Sunshine project
Over 3 weekends from May to June, 11 of our Upper Sec Art students took part in the above initiative by Sengkang Central Community Arts & Culture Club, which aims to allow our community to inject life and colours into the
community through a weaving installation using plastics in different colours or fabric cloth straps. Our artistic North
Stars went through a training workshop, sourced for recyclable materials from their peers and put in hard work before completing their mammoth task

Ramadhan Porridge Distribution
On 2nd and 3rd June, 15 of our Sec 4/5 Malay Language students took part in the Sengkang Central CC Ramadhan PorridgeDistribution and helped dishing out porridge, goodie bags and well wishes to members of the public of all races. Their participation had benefitted residents from all walks of life, especially lower-income families.

PAYM National Day Observance Ceremony 2018 @ Sengkang Community Centre

On 5 Aug, selected Uniformed Group CCA members formed the marching contingent for SKCC’s annual National Day Observance Ceremony. Our students put up a disciplined and scintillating performance to add on to the joyous mood and joined members of the public in wishing our Nation a Happy Birthday!

LLP – Sec 3 Service Learning Projects 2018

As part of our “Learning for Life Programme” (LLP) on Community and Youth Leadership, all Sec 3 students had to plan and execute a class–initiated VIA service learning project in partnership with Ling Kwang Home, Brighthill Evergreen Home and Sunlove Home.

To empower the students to take ownership and carry out their projects to meet the needs of the homes, all the students attended a Service Learning Workshop to equip them with the necessary knowledge, competencies and leadership skills. Students carried out personal reflections after each training session to better understand the importance of being a socially responsible member of the community.  

 The projects were successfully carried out and brought warmth and smiles to each and every of the residents at the homes. Our students engaged the residents with activities and games such as bingo, “a minute to win it” and collaborative art and craft projects. Some classes came up with sing-along sessions and dance performances while others chose to accompany the residents on an outing to places like Gardens by the Bay. At the end of their projects, student representatives from each class shared with their peers and juniors (Sec 3 and 2 students), on their experience and learning points.

CVSS Green Compass Programme

Our Green Compass Programme is a level wide programme for all Sec 1 and 2 students to learn about environmental conservation and play an active part in our nation’s drive towards creating a greener environment for everyone.

In partnership with the National Environment Agency (NEA), Sec 1 students learn about the various ways that our country handles waste management such as the Semakau Landfill & the 3Rs and the importance of food waste management as well.  The highlight of the programme is our annual recyclables collection drive in collaboration with Sembcorp. This year, our Sec 1s covered 37 HDB blocks in the neighbourhood. Prior to the collection, they distributed leaflets and talked to residents about the purpose of this collection drive and encouraged them to adopt green values and habits in their daily lives.

The Sec 2s learn about upcycling and pressing environmental issues.  This year, they attended a series of upcycling workshops and environmental talks by Terra Organisation, NEA, Singapore Environment Council and social enterprise, Agy Textile. Each class went through the design thinking process and created useful items made out of old or unused materials for school or homeuse.  Some of the upcycling projects included tote bag making, wallets made with juice cartons, upholstery tissue holder and bottle holder made with old T-shirts etc. The classes presented their ideas and artefacts at our Green Ideas Carnival to spread the message of sustainable living to the rest of the students. Selected students had the opportunity to shared about the importance of upcycling and how we can save the environment with a group of primary school students of Joy Connection Student Care Centre (under Bethesda Care Services).

A handful of Sec 2 students also had the opportunity to take part in the annual G!innovation Challenge which is an initiative by NEA to raise students’ awareness of environmental problems and promote environmental stewardship among students. Students were encouraged to come up with innovative solutions to achieve high standards of public health and environmental sustainability.  This fosters collaboration with peers and partners in the 3P sectors to co-develop solutions and bring about impact in the community. Through the Pre-G!innovation workshop, the students learnt about design thinking skills and came up with solutions to their identified problems. Their projects were displayed at the G!innovation carnival where they had the opportunity to present their ideas to Mr Desmond Choo, the Major of North East District and spread the message of environmental sustainability to the community.