~CDSSians Unite!~: January 2009

Dear CDSS Alumni

Refresh yourself with the following points appended below:-

You may bring along a print out copy of this to help which helps to elaborate. Please dont be shy nor modest about and of your contributions as they are assessing/validating us from the CDSS Alumni’s contributions.

We are following the structure appended below to support the school’s thrusts. We encourage you to speak up passionately:)

See you all on Thursday 15th January 2009 at 9.20 am. The interview starts at 9.30 am and should end by 10 am.

We will put up a signboard informing you of the exact venue in school on that day.

Thanks!:)
Mr Lee Han Kiat
CDSS

Chestnut Drive Secondary School

Vision

Individuals of distinction contributing to society

Mission

Provide a holistic education in a stimulating environment to develop and nurture a passion for learning and sharing, courage to embrace challenges and a spirit to serve

Values

IDE2AS- Integrity, Determination, Empathy, Enterprising, Aspiration, Success-Driven

ST 1: Academic Excellence

ST 2: Character Development

ST 3: Organizational Effectiveness

ST represents Strategic Thrust---The broad school direction

Please note listed below are just some examples only:-

To support ST1: Academic Excellence

1. We had 1999 Alumni Lu Qimin to share with the existing students on his study skills and success strategies on 21st July 2008, at assembly (Morning Reflections), after he obtained a first class honours in NTU EEE in June 2008.

2001 Alumni Serene Tan also came to share with the school students her achievements, to motivate the existing students during assembly time when she was awarded Lee Wee Nam Gold Medal from Ngee Ann Polytechnic upon graduation for the most outstanding graduate 2005.

This gave the existing students hope and also some advice on their future career and academic paths. She continues to maintain contacts with some of these students that she met via MSN.

2. We have many successful Alumnis came forward during the annual Dec Sec 1 posting exercise talk with Sec 1 new students and their parents about the Alumni’s fond memories of the school.

3. We tapped on the Alumni’s rich diversed background such as 1979 Alumni Mr Vincent Woon, who provided the school teachers with F1 work experience, during the September 2008 break so that the teachers were able to relate applications of learning to real world experience.

1970 Alumni Mr Chiang Sing Jeong, provided both teaching and EAS staff a learning journey to his Sentosa Butterfly Park & Insect Kingdom, 4D cinema experience on 13th November 2008.
The wonderful learning experiences was made possible, with compliementary and courtesy to the school from Mr Woon and Mr Chiang.

4. Mr Chiang Sing Jeong also sponsored the school not once, but twice, in staging the outdoor performances at reputable Concert Halls venues, such as Victoria Concert Hall and Raffles Hotel Auditorium, for the school’s Concert Band and Drama Club.

Without Mr Chiang Sing Jeong’s subsidies, the performers would not have the opportunity to perform in such reputable concert halls venues. This has greatly motivated them to give off their best performances.

Tickets prices were made afforable. Members enjoyed great audio/effects and lighting acoustics. This raised the students’ interests and awareness in aesthetics appreciation, which enabled the school to provide a holistic education for our students.

5. Our 1979 Alumni, Miss Florence Lak, helped us to set up the CDSS Alumni Blog. The blog made its debut in 2007 in keeping up with the CDSS Alumni posts, articles, noteworthy information of current school events.

6. We tapped on our 2000 Alumnis, Mr Li Xiaohui and Mr Kharilanwar, on their artistic talents to design artworks as well as mural paintings. We are currently integrating arts into teaching and learning.

7. We submitted four sets of our CDSS Alumni Good Stories for MOE COMPASS 10th Anniversary Celebration Dinner cum Contributions from Schools in 2008 to praise our Alumni for their deep sense of gratitude that invigorates them to give of their time and resources.

8. Our 2001 Alumni, Mr Oh Keng Ann, is starting a free Science Peer Tutoring programme in 2009, for our academically weaker students.

To support ST2: Character development

1. 1970 Alumni Mr Chiang Sing Jeong, hosted our Sec 3 students, at his Sentosa Butterfly Park & Insect Kingdom for their work attachments during the November/December holidays in 2008.

2. Many of our Alumni CCA leaders come back on a regular basis to assist with the training of uniform group students. The school implemented the ‘Friends of the School’ award with effect as of 2008.

The awards were given out during the 2008 Annual Speech Day, in recognition of the Alumni’s contributions to the school. 2001 Alumni Mr Koo Kee Kiat, is one of the recipients of the award.

3. Our 1979 Alumni, Mr Vincent Woon, gave a talk to our Sec 1 new students and their parents on the importance of CCA in shaping his character and career later on in life on 3rd January 2009, during the Sec 1 CCA Orientation Day.

4. Our 1982 Alumni, Mr Au Chor Chun, is our regular sponsor of Mandarin oranges, for the School’s Chinese New Year Celebrations, over the years. He is doing it voluntarily and generously, as he wants to give his contribution to his alma mater. This is another example of Alumni, who has a deep sense of gratitude that invigorates him to give of his time and resources.

5. 1973 Alumni Madam Lee Keow Ngoh and her son, 1999 Alumni Mr Lu Qimin are very active in Alumni activities. In fact, they are the ones who initiated the CDSS Alumni Association in 2005. They strongly believe that the Alumni should play a more active role towards building a caring and a vibrant community of Alumni, from diverse backgrounds, with varied expertise and experiences, supporting the school in fulfilling its vision.

Madam Lee, generously donated towards school events such as sponsoring Teachers’ Day Dinner, setting a good role model for the existing students by showing utmost respect for the teachers. She helped out in 2005 School Official Opening Dinner by rallying her 1973 classmates to purchase many tables for the Official Opening Dinner, without which the school would not have sufficient funds to host such a grand event for the existing students as well. She is also a regular (Guest of Honour) at the school annual Sports’ Meet cheering the school athletes. She also attends students’ graduation ceremony in hotels, organized Karaoke singing event for the CDSS Alumni and footing all the bills, attends annual Speech Day, Alumni Day.

Together with her son, Qimin, they organized retiring Principal, Miss Chan Mee Leen’s farewell dinner in Dec 2006, etc.

6. Mr Lu Qimin has done CDSS proud by winning numerous accolades in his post secondary education:

• Lu Qimin, recipient of Lee Kuan Yew STEP Award 2005Keppel Group Scholarship 2005
• Ngee Ann Kongsi Scholarship 2002
• Youth Activist Award 2005
• NTU, EEE Dean List (2006-07)
• The Singapore Power Award (Sliver Medalist)
• Student Excellence Award 2002/2003
• Gold Certificate of Achievement in CCA
• Fuji/GE Prize, IEE Singapore Centre Prize and 14 book prizes
• Awarded First Class Honours in B. Eng. (NTU) 2008

He never fails to mention his Alma Mater whenever he is being interviewed for success story. The students of the school are very proud of him and considered him as their shining role model.
Mr Lu Qimin helps out regularly in school functions such as the annual Sec 1 posting exercise by persuading the parents whose children were being posted to this school, to have confidence in CDSS, as their children can achieve success, like him too. He and Alumni Serene Tan, are regular Masters of Ceremony. Mr Lu also, persuades and encourages many of the CDSS Alumnis, to come back and serve the school by positing Alumni activities on Internet website.

To support ST3: Organizational Effectiveness

1. We had our inaugural CDSS Alumni Day on 24 May 2008. More than 100 Alumni turned up for the function with the following theme: Beating All Odds.

Objectives - To promote interactions among alumni and build a strong bonding with the Alma Mater

Programme:-
Principal’s Welcoming Address
Guest Speakers: CDSS Alumni Mr Chiang Sing Jeong
Managing Director, Sentosa Butterfly Park & Insect Kingdom

CDSS Alumni Mr Vincent Woon
Contracts Manager, KBR Company

Updating of Alumni Activities by Senior Teacher i/c Mr Lee Han Kiat

Tea reception and interactions.

As the Alumnis gave us commendable feedback, we will make Alumni Day an annual event. We thank Mr Vincent Woon and our 1993 Alumni Hong Shanli, for taking the initiative to organise the event for 2009.

2. Our 2001 Alumni Mr Mah Yee Wei, helped the school to sell 2008 CDSS Musical tickets in school during recess time on many occasions. Many Alumnis came back to buy tickets in support of the school.

3. Our 1979 Alumni, Miss Florence Lak, helped us to set up the CDSS Alumni blog in 2007 to keep the CDSS Alumni posted of current school events. She maintains it on a regular basis.

4. The updating of Alumni contacts were done by our 2001 Alumni Mr Mah Yee Wei. He updates them in an Excel file which makes it easy for retrieval.

5. We loan out our school soccer field free of charge to our 1996 Alumni for them to play soccer on Saturday mornings.

6. The school makes it a point to invite CDSS Alumni back to important school events such as the Annual Speech & Prize Presentation Day.

7. The school warmly welcomes & allows, free of charge, the 1979 batch of Alumni, together with their ex-Principal & teachers to hold gathering in school canteen on Sat 27 Oct 2007 afternoon.