NE Commemorative Days
These commemorative days are linked to important points in Singapore’s history. In AIPS, we customise our learning activities and follow up with programmes to create holistic learning experiences and enriches students’ experiences in National Education.
Total Defence Day 2024
Total Defence Day is commemorated in Singapore on February 15 yearly. 2024 marks 40 years of Total Defence (TD40) in Singapore. In addition to TD40, the CCE Department collaborated with ICT and SLD departments on Safer Internet Day, which ties in with our 6th pillar – Digital Defence. The commemoration this year was a unique experience for teachers and students; there was a food and energy disruption on 15 February. The energy disruption lasted for 30 minutes in which all the equipment in the classrooms were switched off. The food disruption was in the form of having no meat sold in the canteen during recess. There were fringe activities conducted during recess with the help of the PSG and CCE and Cyberwellness Ambassadors. There was an interactive TDD skit by FUNPLAY WORKSHOP on 20 February. It touched on the importance of the six pillars of defence, the importance of working together as a community and how important it is to be digitally aware of the dangers of being “cyber”.
2024 International Friendship Day
Internatiional Friendship Day is celebrated in schools on the third Friday of Term Two. This is a day dedicated to the understanding of Singapore’s relations with its neighbours and aims to nurture in students the spirit of friendship and collaboration among different people. The theme for this year is “Singapore in Asia”. Ahmad Ibrahim students had the opportunity to learn various musical instruments performed by Rhythm Masala Music Studio. Students were exposed with all the international drums from all over the world such as Brazilian, Latin, Western, African, Middle Eastern and Multi Ethnic Drums. They also got the chance to play the instruments. During recess, students participated in various fringe activities where they learned more about food and musical instruments from ASEAN countries. These informations were exhibited on the information board and after reading, they answer quiz questions using iPad. Many students enjoyed colouring activities relating to international Friendship Day. Word search activity test them in identifying the 10 ASEAN countries. After all the learning, they will do reflections and lastly token were also given.
2024 Racial Harmony Day
Racial Harmony Day (RHD) which is commemorated on 21 July, marks the race riots that broke out in Singapore on this day in 1964, reminding students that social division weakens society. It is a day for students to reflect on and celebrate the nation’s success as a harmonious society, built on cultural diversity. The theme for RHD 2024 is “Our Multicultural Mosaic.” This theme reflects how each community, while having the space to express its own identity as part of Singapore society, also intertwines with others to depict the unique cultural diversity that characterises Singapore life. Singapore’s approach towards multiculturalism and social cohesion, uses the experiences of every individual matter which add to our diversity. This year the Character and Citizenship Education (CCE) department hosted a range of activities for the AIPS family! We kicked off the commermoration on 16 July by having a vendor run skit titled ‘Hope, A Lost Phone’ during Assembly. On the same day, the department also shared about what to expect for the recess fringe activities on 19 July. In addition, the students were engaged during CM time with activities in the Kindsville Booklet. The main highlight of the RHD commermoration was definitely during the recess fringe activities. It brought the NE ambassadors, Parent Support Group (PSG) and the teachers from the CCE Department and the PSG. There were a total of five booths and one information panel. The information panel sought to enlighten readers on the brief information behind RHD, information on the different ethnic clothes and fun facts on taboos in the different ethnic communities! The five booths were a matching game on martial arts, word search on different cultural items, colouring activity on different ethnic motifs, quiz on the information presented on the information panel, a reflection wall and a display of the traditional clothes.
2024 National Day
Singapore’s National Day on 9 August celebrates Singapore’s independence from Malaysia and its emergence as a sovereign nation. The theme for the National Day celebration for 2024 as Singapore turns 59 years old is “Together As One United People”. It highlights the collective strength of our people and underscores the importance of every citizen rallying together to share our future and uplift those around us. For this year, the CCE Department collaborated with the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Department to present a array of activities for the AIPS family! We commenced the celebration with a FTGP Cyberwellness lesson on 5 August which was led by the CMs. For the recess fringe activities on 6 and 7 August, we had two booths led by the CCE Department. The two CCE run booths had a crossword puzzle on the National Day Songs over the years, online wishes for Singapore’s total defence and a digital quiz on Singapore. The atmosphere in the canteen was further heightened by Cypian holding a Singapore flag and taking pictures with the students and teachers. AIPS celebrated National Day on 8 August. The students were greeted with the National Day singalong during Zoom before 7.30am. Then, the day started off with class based activities in the Kindsville booklet. The solemn Observance Ceremony, Recollections and Principal’s National Day speech were next. This was followed by a National Day Video Montage titled “Together as One School”. Our aesthetics CCAs showcased their prowess and kept the audience well engaged. The celebration ended off with a big bang at 10.30am with the Nationa Mass Workout. To further encapsulate the student’s learning, there was a CM led National Day lesson on 12 August.
Total Defence Day 2023
Total Defence Day (TTD) is commemorated on 15 February every year. This is to mark the fall of Singapore to the Japanese in 1942. This year, AIPS commemorated TTD on Wednesday 15th February 2023 with recess fringe activities which were supported by the PSG. TDD-related Assembly programme was carried out on Monday, 13th February 2023. This year theme is “Together We Keep Singapore Strong”. Through the arrays of activities, pupils learnt:
- The 6 pillars of Total Defence – Military Defence, Civil Dfence, Econoic defence, Social Dfence, Digital Defence and Psychological Defence.
- how to play a part in each aspect Pupils had the opportunity to learn more about the job scope in the military sector from our 2 male teachers. They also gained insights on the importance of food security through a skit focusing on panic buying. The fringe activities provided a chance for students to learn first aid bandaging, wartime food and test their knowledge about total defence.
On the whole, pupils had an enriching experience learning about Total Defence.
International Friendship Day 2023
We celebrated International Friendship Day on 6 April 2023 and the theme for 2023 was ‘Singapore in Asia.’
Many interesting activities were organised to highlight the importance of international friends for Singapore’s growth and the role it plays in the ASEAN region. Our NE Ambassadors, Ranjith Harris (4 Resilience) and Nalakini Tanlijaya (5 Diligence) hosted the Pre-Assembly programme that marked the start of two weeks of interesting activities. Fringe activities comprises of a mini exhibition on a few countries, display of artefacts, international costumes and paper doll costume matching. These activities really engaged the students.
The Assembly Programme by Storybook Theatre entitled, “The Lion & the Mouse and the Hare & the Tortoise” gave a new twist to the importance of friendship. FTGP activities, CCE reflection journals and Kindsville activities for the various levels brought home the theme, ‘Singapore in Asia’.
