'The Genesis'~Where it all began by Chelliah Trevor Devendran

chelliah_trevor_devendran1_1 — 2023-09-05 15:00:05 UTC

i. Embarking on this time-travel journey of sorts, describe the gamut of emotions and thoughts that went through your mind? What are 1-2 takeaways from this surreal experience?

ii. Does now knowing the genesis of Kuo Chuan Presbyterian School, change your perspective of how you view Kuo Chuan?

iii. Having experienced this heritage trail, would you recommend that all staff and students should have a similar experience whether virtual or experiential? Perhaps, this could be part and parcel of the Sec 1 orientation experience. Your thoughts?

iv. For our centennial, one of the ideas at the incubation stage is to have a road relay from "our origins" to our current site, culminating in a sports fiesta of sorts. What are your thoughts on this? Any other notions or "sparks" on how we can use "our origins" as a starting point for our festivities?

Group 6:

chelliah_trevor_devendran1_1 — 2023-09-05 15:24:45 UTC

chelliah_trevor_devendran1_1 — 2023-09-05 15:34:06 UTC

i. (Point 1) As you exercise your powers of imagination and get transported back in time, think about the sort of excitement garnered as the school building started taking shape back then. Similarly, how can we excite our staff and students when new developments/improvements are made to our school environment today?

ii. (Point 2) Scanning through the photos, you get a sense of the immense joy the students experienced at school back then. Do we see a similar sense of joy in our students today? What has changed? What has remained? How can we invoke a similar sense of joy in learning at KCPSS?

iii. (Point 3) As you hear the stories of the humble beginnings of Katong Presbyterian Church and how it developed over time, what values can we see being manifested? How can we instill in our students similar values? Would sharing of such stories help? (Hint: You may want to find out about how they acquired the land for the church).

Group 1:

chelliah_trevor_devendran1_1 — 2023-09-05 15:34:31 UTC

Group 6:

chelliah_trevor_devendran1_1 — 2023-09-05 15:37:07 UTC

chelliah_trevor_devendran1_1 — 2023-09-05 15:37:31 UTC

i. (Point 4) How can we collaborate with our Primary School colleagues to initiate similar endeavours such as the one done on 21 July 1979?

ii. (Point 5) As you marvel in awe at the site where it all began, 1 Joo Chiat Terrace, pen down your feelings and thoughts. How can we use feelings of nostalgia to arouse a sense of pride, history & heritage amongst our staff and students?

Group 1:

chelliah_trevor_devendran1_1 — 2023-09-05 15:37:37 UTC

Group 2:

chelliah_trevor_devendran1_1 — 2023-09-05 15:37:48 UTC

Group 3:

chelliah_trevor_devendran1_1 — 2023-09-05 15:37:57 UTC

Group 4:

chelliah_trevor_devendran1_1 — 2023-09-05 15:38:07 UTC

Group 6:

chelliah_trevor_devendran1_1 — 2023-09-05 15:38:23 UTC

chelliah_trevor_devendran1_1 — 2023-09-05 15:49:38 UTC

i. What are 1-2 new insights that you have gleaned about your colleagues over breakfast?

ii. What other platforms can we utilize to foster stronger bonds between SEC members whom we have lesser contact with in the course of our work?

Group 4:

chelliah_trevor_devendran1_1 — 2023-09-05 15:50:21 UTC

Group 5:

chelliah_trevor_devendran1_1 — 2023-09-05 15:50:30 UTC

Group 6:

chelliah_trevor_devendran1_1 — 2023-09-05 15:50:37 UTC

Group 5

2023-09-06 01:21:34 UTC

We felt grateful and inspired by our early founders who put in effort and money to set up the schools. It needs a whole community with different objectives eg setting up a school, preaching the gospel.. to form a school and reach out to the community. A reflection of the values of the larger community in this area

This activity will be a good experience for our students with some suggestions
- scale down to 100 students (road safety concerns)
- involve some ex students who were former KGS and PBS students as guides. Or get them to film a video if they are unable to be physically present as guided
- plan some activities at each stop such as solve a crossword puzzle or write a poem

Gp 3 Take it away

2023-09-06 01:35:11 UTC

It is exciting to walk the ground to see and imagine the time in 1920s on how the sch started

The collective group helps to sense make the images on how sch was like in the past, it is so nostalgic and meaningful to go as a group.

(ii) Change in perspective (if any)
- appreciative of current site which is centrally located and much bigger
- we are blessed with so much of resources and so we must have good stewardship to use it to bless others

(iii) Good for Sec 1 orientation and to learn and know our roots, but must be small gp.

Also good for staff induction

(iv) Road Relay
- good idea
- sparks : pitstops should have staff/students enacting as pioneer principals of yester year to share abt their history during their tenure, in this way, we can appreciate how the sch evolve and grow.

Group 5

2023-09-06 01:44:36 UTC

Point 1
- We could excite students by giving them some choices eg the color of certain things of the school.
- Every class can take ownership by writing inspirational quotes which can be displayed on the furnishings

Point 2
- Throughout the ages, students still have the same human needs, wants, aspirations
- Need time for unstructured play for them to spend time socializing, opportunities to socialize and tap on technology for learning.

Point 3
- There was no need for the Katong Presbyterian Church to have too complicated activities. Their aim was simple, to have a school venue to spread the gospel to the community

Gp 3

2023-09-06 01:53:29 UTC

(i) Point 1- To excite new devpt,
- we must show the before and after,
- must make the devpt creative, vibrant and aesthetically appeal

(ii) Point 2 - Sense of joy
- with the slow pace in past, the students are v happy in each picture, perhaps more joy and pride than now
- how can we make our current students be more proud of our sch?

What can we do?
- we must make it visible at all corner that we are 100 years (in collateral, in speeches, in physical space)
- it is a key area we need to work on: it must start with Sec 1, focusing their understanding of sch history right from the start.
- enhance and leverage on Team KCP as an sch identity : make it visible in all aspect of sch life (eg sch cheer)

(iii) Point 3- what values are magnifested?
- Christian values are enduring
- our humbling start blessed by the land donation is an enduring value and reminder to us that we need to value “doing good” aka be a blessing to others (this is worthy to be highlighted)

(i) Point 4 -Collaboration with pri sch
- Centennial is a good oppty to kickstart the collaboration.
- Identify 1-2 targeted combined schs event that involve both students and staff

Group 5

2023-09-06 01:55:16 UTC

- Involve Primary School students as part of the cast for the musical.
- Combined sports event using the same house system
- 50 KCPSS 50 KCPPS students in road relay

How do we utilize nostalgia to evoke a sense of pride?
- Invite previous canteen owners eg stall 1, stall 2 to set up special stall for the event
- invite ex students and teachers to mingle and chat with existing students

Group 2

2023-09-06 01:55:49 UTC

- appreciative of the history of our beginning and the experience make it concrete.
- is easy to experience it
- carrying on on passing the baton despite challenges

2023-09-06 01:56:44 UTC

(i) Point 4 -Collaboration with pri sch
- Centennial is a good oppty to kickstart the collaboration.
- Identify 1-2 targeted combined schs event that involve both students and staff

(ii) Point 5 - Make history/heritage visible
- make history visible at areas with high traffic flow rather than confined to one area (eg have photos of older days classroom just outside the wall of current classroom - facilitate walking down memory lane)

Group 1

cheung_ho_wai1 — 2023-09-06 02:02:04 UTC

Gives a sense of hope with more knowledge of rich legacy. Might be a meaningful activity for new staff.

For students, the experience may not sink in. Names and years float by. Perhaps in another mode, e.g. photo gallery?

For centennial, definitely a good starting point.

Gp 3 - Siew Hoon, Say Pin, Ravi, VP Esther

2023-09-06 02:02:25 UTC

1. Siew Hoon - must eat breakfast v early, else cannot think, potential young grandma (cannot believe)

2. Ravi - v good at listening comprehension skills, most audio was explained by her in details (the rest of us can’t hear that well …😂🤣🤣🤣) - a blessing to have her

3. Say Pin - V good at organising beautiful snapshot ( he captured all the 3 ladies 🌷🌻🍍)

4. VP Esther - Effective in getting work done ( can finish food and all qns at the same time😃 aka no indigestion 🍰🧁🍿😋)

Platforms to foster SEC bonding
1. Can we have less qns and more coffee talk?
2. Unstructured white space and watch the birds and plants/trees - slower pace (w/o qns and work, pls)

Group 2

2023-09-06 02:04:16 UTC

- virtual experience can be a narrative and actual route more effort - recommended for all
- class committee to go through the actual route
- station masters or alternative media for the narrative
- QR quote at different points
- a day in the life of a kcp in 1924 - narrative
- Road relay - passing a baton
- interview the alumni of each decade
-

Group 5

2023-09-06 02:06:14 UTC

1) Each member of the team contributes to the team’s success according to our strengths

2) Time set aside to bond socially. Eg SEC meetings where we have time to eat lunch outside for non work related social bonding.

Group 2

2023-09-06 02:06:44 UTC

- making it inclusive for all, that they have a voice. Excite all kcpians that they are part of a sch

Group 1

cheung_ho_wai1 — 2023-09-06 02:07:50 UTC

Stories linking past and current students

2023-09-06 02:18:44 UTC

Test

2023-09-06 02:19:38 UTC

Test

A similar podcast and activity programme for our teachers first would be helpful before the Centennial. This would help when all are on the same starting point and knowing its history would help in the celebration as an entire school.

goh_boon_loon1_1 — 2023-09-06 02:30:43 UTC

Group 4

goh_boon_loon1_1 — 2023-09-06 02:34:09 UTC

This could also be weaved into the CCE lesson for our students to build up school pride. Beyond centennial, such a programme can be introduced every 4 years as a sports event, akin to an amazing race. This could be an enjoyable activity that allows students to know and appreciate their school history.

goh_boon_loon1_1 — 2023-09-06 02:38:25 UTC

A House system that primary and secondary schools can share may help to connect and link our school history together. An amazing race concept either within the house system or between the houses have many potential collaborations.

goh_boon_loon1_1 — 2023-09-06 02:42:14 UTC

Having a meal together in a relaxed setting (e.g. unrushed, with ample time to chat and catch up) is a bonus and welcoming bonding experience.

goh_boon_loon1_1 — 2023-09-06 02:45:32 UTC

Knowing a fellow SEC member or a colleague beyond work needs some form of trust and a keen listening ear. It was a worthy morning spent =)

I love KCPSS

2026-04-10 16:30:12 UTC

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