WS Westories 2022

WEST SPRING
SECONDARY SCHOOL

www.westspringsec.moe.edu.sg

Character Excellence through Leadership

Leading with some TLC!

Chin Jung Ee, currently in Hwa Chong
Institution

Form Teachers and Class Exco attending a workshop together

TLC is not just Tender Loving Care. At West Spring Secondary,
our student leaders are guided by the TLC philosophy that
not only governs their behaviours and actions, but also the
way they approach their learning in school.

They Take Charge of various programmes in school, initiating and become confident and self-assured persons, ready
programmes for the betterment of their peers and seeking to take on the world.
ways to always make the school environment conducive.

They Lead by Example, role modelling positive behaviours Many of our student leaders have gone on to excel in various
and learning dispositions through their leadership roles. Being pursuits after graduation, and this despite taking on varied
self-directed, they take on the responsibility of mentoring roles and responsibilities in their active school lives to serve
their peers to be Ladies and Gentlemen of Character and the school and their peers. They have definitely grown to be
Learning. shining examples of a West Spring Ladies and Gentlemen
of Character and Learning.
They Communicate Effectively, ensuring nothing is lost in
translation, and that their programmes are followed through Never did I know that I would eventually turn out as the top
with clarity of vision and execution. student of my academic standard for two years nor think
that I would become privileged enough to lead in a larger
We have a tiered programme to develop our West Spring capacity in my CCA and the Student Council.
ladies and gentlemen to be caring, responsible, respectful
and resilient leaders. Students take up leadership positions Chin Jung Ee, Student Councillor
in the student council, their CCAs and their classes. With TLC, and student of 4A 2019
the student leaders work with the teachers in leading the
school to excellence and are more receptive to feedback

WE STories

West Spring Secondary School
www.westspringsec.moe.edu.sg

Academic Excellence through Applied Learning Programme These skills learnt enhance the students’ knowledge in the
subjects they delve in and inculcates a Joy of Learning
Real-life skills for world- that would hopefully encourage them to pursue these
long after they graduate.
ready students
Aside from these, in 2022, we launched our inaugural
“Lights. Camera. Action!” These are the typical words student journalism project, The Spring Post, a student-
you’d hear when production is ongoing for any film- produced online publication. The team is made up of
making process. And this is also what our Higher Chinese student writers, graphic / web designers and marketers.
Language students in Secondary One and Two go through It is an ongoing publication under our ALP programme
for their Journalism and News Reporting Programme. To and is meant not only to hone students’ skills in the above
inculcate a deep interest in Chinese language, students roles, but to also give them ECG exposure to experiences
pick up skills in newspaper writing and editing, sourcing for like working in a newsroom.
news material, interviewing and producing the newspaper
or news programme. Click here to learn more about our
Applied Learning Programme 1.
Aside from this, our cohort programmes for Secondary
One English Language focuses on Advocacy and Speaking, Click here to learn more about our
creating infographics to demonstrate their learning and Applied Learning Programme 2.
presenting their cause. The causes they advocate are
usually contemporary issues that they would like to impact. The programme was very
The Secondary Two Geography students concentrate on fun; I learnt how to edit videos
the relationship between people and place - specifically and learnt that teamwork is
the Bukit Panjang community. They then create a video to very important.
showcase their research and perspectives. This creates
an appreciation of the community. At Secondary Three, Jacey Liang, 1G 2021
the students conduct Social Studies investigations into
various issues on Singapore. They present their voices
through varied media products and this helps to inculcate
a deeper appreciation of the challenges Singapore and
its people face.

Joy of Learning in our Quest for Learning Excellence A lesson on Batik painting? How about creating your
own Chinese opera mask? The wide variety of activities
Language and Traditions planned by the Mother Tongue Department for the MTL
Come Alive! Fortnight Programme provide authentic opportunities for
the students to use their Mother Tongue and encourage
cultural discovery while instilling the Joy of Learning.

Learning the Chinese Language becomes more exciting
with game-based activities such as the Chinese
Challenges Quiz and the escape room. Malay Language
students produce their own how-to video to show the
different methods to tie a samping, a traditional Malay
accessory to complement the baju kurung. Secondary 4
and 5 students took up the role of museum curators to
create a bilingual description for a selected traditional
Malay accessory.

The annual Malay Unit ULabningufoargSeeacnodnCdaulrtyur1asltIumdmenetrssion Besides these, the annual Secondary 1 Language and
Programme at Pulau Cultural Immersion Programme aims to instil the love
for Malay language and culture through traditional and
I learn something new about the Malay culture by fun activities in an authentic kampung setting. Students
experiencing different activities during the Mother Tongue get a chance to experience kampung life in Pulau Ubin.
Language Fortnight Programme. The twinning programme for the Secondary 3 Higher
Chinese students aims to develop a global perspective, a
Ilya Auni, 2F (2021) foundational understanding and exposure to the region.
It provides opportunities for students to learn about the
I was excited to go to Pulau Ubin to learn about the way economy, culture and development in Taiwan and its
of life in a kampung as well as the traditional Malay food relationship with Singapore. They learn more about
and art. sustainability issues, both in and beyond Singapore.
These activities hope to imbue in our students the
confidence and love for their own language and culture
so they can be living ambassadors.

Akmal Mirza, 2E (2021)

WE STories

West Spring Secondary School
www.westspringsec.moe.edu.sg

Character Excellence through Learning for Life Programme (LLP)

Get Gritty!

Developing Grit - towards Growth Mindset GRIT - The drive, stamina and fortitude West Spring exposes the Secondary
to push through any challenges or One students to Outdoor Adventure
obstacles until success is achieved! Camp and Secondary Three students
Grit and Persistence cannot be to the MOE-Outward Bound Singapore
learned overnight, rather, it is a seed (OBS) Challenge Programme.
that continually grows stronger and
better through the rich nutrients West Spring offers a wide variety
that come from life events normally of CCAs for students to cater to a
regarded as failures. myriad of interests and abilities, while
sustaining excellence in their playing
This explains why our West Spring fields in Sports, Performing Arts and
Learning for Life Programme (LLP) is Uniformed Groups. It is through these
sustained by 2 main components, achievements that the students find
our Level Outdoor Adventures and their passion and determination to
Co-Curricular Activities (CCA). To succeed and develop skills that will
develop ruggedness, resilience and last them through their endeavours
build cohesion amongst our youth, in the future.

Sports Performing Arts Uniformed Groups

Shooting Sportsmanship Singapore Youth Festival Unit Overall Proficiency Award
Award Arts Presentations (2021) (2019)

B DIVISION BOYS PISTOL Lim Pei Yao Certificates of Distinction GOLD
INDIVIDUAL 4A (2021) Marching Band National Police Cadet Corps
1st Position
Goh Teng Lok, International Dance (NPCC)
B DIVISION GIRLS PISTOL Audric Certificates of National Civil Defence Cadet
INDIVIDUAL
1st Position 4D (2021) Accomplishments Corps (NCDCC)
Guzheng Puan Noor Aishah Award
B DIVISION BOYS PISTOL Guitar
TEAM Girl Guides
Drama Club
3rd Position

A Caring Community

A Place for You and Me

A caring school culture is one in which all members of the Peer Support Leaders Training by Teacher-Counsellor.
school community feel safe and cared for, have a sense
of belonging and feel connected to the school. Such a and 5, the programme aims to help students who are
culture is built on a foundation of quality relationships and struggling in their studies through effective mentoring.
supportive school environment. Students experience a Depending on the needs of the Greenshoots, the Mentors
caring school culture primarily through positive teacher- provide subject-specific consultation, share study tips
student relationship (TSR) and positive student-student and strategies, and give encouragement and support.
relationship (SSR).
Currently being a PSL, I have helped out with several class
Peer Support Leaders (PSLs) projects that have been assigned to PSLs and I have been
The Peer Support Leaders (PSLs) in West Spring hence bonding with my classmates to get to know their situations
play an important role in creating a caring and positive better.
peer culture in the school, strengthening the SSR. PSLs
are selected in Secondary One and are trained by the Tan Yi Cong, Sec 3D (2021)
Teacher-Counsellors and the Full-Time School Counsellor.
They are mentored and guided by their Form Teachers.
Over the last few years, students and PSLs alike have
increased in overall Mental Health awareness, and in
alertness towards distress and bullying. As such, students
learn to seek help from one another and from teachers.

Greenshoot Programme
The objective of the Greenshoot Programme is to provide
additional support and guidance to our academic at
risk students by providing them with a Key Personnel
of their choice. Specially designed for Secondary 4s

WE STories

West Spring Secondary School
www.westspringsec.moe.edu.sg

Did You Know?

Co-Curricular Activities

Marching Band - The Sport of the Arts

West Spring is privileged to be one of the 5 schools in Singapore that has a
marching band. Encompassing performing arts, sports and uniformed groups,
the West Spring Marching Band combines music and choreography to form
a grand musical show production portraying marching, dance and drama.
Students also build strength, endurance and coordination through their training.

Besides training members with skills, the marching band also emphasises
character development and relevant social values such as group discipline
and esprit de corps through workshops, band exchanges and community
events. Most importantly, it instills a sense of national identity to boost the
national spirit with military music.

Click here to learn more about our
Co-Curricular Activities.

Marching Band SYF 2021

Music Enrichment Programme

“Without music, life would B♭ (be flat)!”

In West Spring, we deploy a student-centric approach towards making music
expressive, fun and exciting.

Dance helps to build one’s confidence and confidence is the funny little thing
that can transform our life! To realise the tremendous benefits of dance,
we introduce Hip Hop dancing for Secondary Ones to invoke their sense of
self-expression and creativity.

We also energise students and make them move to the beat through the
playing of Cajon for Secondary Two. To our students, being inspired through
such experiences might be one of the most incredible feelings ever!

Click here to learn more about our
Music Enrichment Programme.

Full Subject-Based Banding Pilot - Mixed Course Form Classes

Piloting the way to shared growth and successes!

West Spring started off 2021 with the Secondary One students going
through Full Subject Based Banding (FSBB) and Mixed Course Form Class
(MCFC), an MOE-initiative that our school is piloting. They underwent
a 3-day Adventure Camp in January together to build camaraderie
and resilience with their new classmates. The Form Teachers have also
been specially handpicked to encourage stronger class bonding and
cohesion. During subject lessons, teachers use differentiated instruction
to engage students and ensure every child performs to their potential.
Students get to learn from students of similar and different calibres for
the different subjects and build up their adaptability and resilience,
and also a kinder and more conducive learning environment.

WE STories