Beyond Classrooms, Beyond Borders –
Twinning of Pasir Ris Crest Secondary School and Nan Hai Experimental Middle School
Apart from academic learning, Pasir Ris Crest Secondary School (PRCS) has always been supportive of many experiential learning activities. We believe that such learning experiences are very beneficial to our students. This year, we are proud to be able to pair up with Nan Hai Experimental Middle School (NHEMS) in the Nan Hai District, Foshan City, Guang Dong Province, China. Such a twinning project promises to provide the students with valuable opportunities to broaden their perspectives, learn about other cultures and interact with fellow students from different backgrounds. The uniqueness of our twinning project lies in that it supersedes a normal sightseeing trip and fully immerses our students in the learning and educational culture of China.
Within a short period of 7 years, Nan Hai Experimental Middle School has established itself well and become a reputable school in the district of Nan Hai. It is dedicated to providing a holistic education for the students, particularly emphasizing the importance of incorporating information technology in classes and creating a conducive English language learning environment for students. NHEMS even received the prestigious title of “First Class School of the Guang Dong City ”. It is definitely an honour to be able to twin with a school with such commitment to education.
On the 10 th of November 2008, the PRCS delegation comprising the Principal, Dr. James Ong, together with Mdm Phyllis Tan (SH CL) and Ms Soon Peck Sian from the school, set foot onto Guang Zhou, China to formalize the twinning agreement between the schools. Together with the delegation was Dr. Chung Tang Fong, who helped to arrange the twinning, for without him the collaboration would not have been possible. Dr. Chung coordinated this school exchange between PRCS and NHEMS, and with his rich family background from the Nan Hai district, it certainly facilitated us in enhancing our knowledge about the district.
The school's delegation touched down at Guang Zhou Bai Yun Airport and was warmly greeted by representatives from the Bureau of Foreign Affairs and Overseas Chinese Affairs. Dr. Ong then proceeded to visit the bureau and had a fruitful dialogue with the Vice Director of the bureau, Ms. Chen Hui. Ms. Chen conducted a brief introduction of the Nan Hai district. She particularly mentioned that such collaborations between the Nan Hai district and Singapore schools are much valued by them and expressed her wish that such relationships would continue to blossom. In return, Dr. Ong also offered an overview of Singapore and Pasir Ris Crest Secondary School and expressed much gratitude for their hospitality.
On the second day, the delegation from Singapore visited NHEMS. The party was led on a tour of the school compound by the Principal, Ms. Chen Jing Min. The delegation was introduced to various facilities in the school including the Arts Exhibition Hall, Television Station and the Honours Room. The delegation was very much impressed with the facilities of the school and their achievements. The delegation was also provided an insight to the students' daily routine when they participated in the school's morning assembly. The simple routine of a morning exercise at the end of the assembly demonstrated the high standards of discipline and enthusiasm among the student population. True to their vision of making all their students literate in English, there was a section during the assembly whereby the whole school, led by an English teacher, recited English phrases which preached a positive attitude towards learning. The exclamation of phrases such as, “Work makes life sweet!”, is indeed a great way to perk up the morning and inject motivation for the rest of the day.
After the tour, all parties proceeded to the conference room. Under the witness of the Chief of the Nan Hai Education Bureau, Mr. Lu Zhihua, Director of the Bureau of Foreign Affairs and Overseas Chinese Affairs, Mr. Huang Yongjian and Dr. Chung Tang Fong, PRCS and NHEMS signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). Both principals echoed their joy in being able to finally formalize this relationship and hoped to learn much from each other. The MOU signing ceremony was also covered by the local press.
On the third day, Dr. Chung and the delegation from PRCS were kindly invited to attend the opening ceremony of the Arts and Sports Festival of Shimen Experimental Primary School. The parade and mass display put up by the school, together with the impressive works of art by the primary school students left a great impression of the Nan Hai district education efforts on the PRCS delegation.
This fruitful and memorable trip to Nan Hai district offered us a preview of what PRCS can look forward to in their twinning project with NHEMS. This twinning project would not have been possible without the great help and assistance received by both schools from Dr. Chung Tang Fong. The support from various officials within the Nan Hai district, namely the Nan Hai District Bureau of Foreign Affairs and Overseas Chinese Affairs and the Nan Hai Education Bureau, also contributed much to the realisation of this twinning programme. Finally, PRCS looks forward to reciprocating the hospitality from their friends in NHEMS in 2009.
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Nan Hai Experimental Middle School |
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Morning Assembly |
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| Video-Daily Morning Exercise |
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| Computer Lab |
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| Nanhai Experimental Middle School Television Station |
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| Achievements |
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| Exhibition Room |
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| Students' works Exhibition |
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| Dialogues Session with the chief of the Nanhai Education Bureau, Mr Lu Zhihua |
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| MOU Signing Ceremony |
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| Signing of the MOU by Ms. Chen Jing Min and Dr. James Ong Witnessed by the Chief of the Nanhai Education Bureau, Mr Lu Zhihua, Director of the Nanhai District Bureau of Foreign Affairs and Overseas Chinese Affairs, Mr Huang Yongjian and Dr Chung Tang Fong |
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| Exchange of Momento |
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