Teacher's Day Celebration 2008

The Teacher's Day Celebrations 2008 went with a big bang! The teachers and students waited in anticipation for things to come. All the elaborate costumes and make-up only served to heighten the excitement of the whole event. Mrs. Wong opened the concert with a her speech with special message from MOE and also a sombre memoriam for our beloved teacher who passed on Ms Cynthia Lew. She ended the segment with the song specially dedicated to the teachers. Following that a special song " I believe I can fly" for teachers from Mrs. Yvonne Chin and Mdm Rohani Matnawi.

For weeks the PSG members busied themselves with audition, reahearsals, practices and making costumes and teachers' gifts by hand. The invitation card and gifts for teachers were lovingly handmade by the PSG members. The invitation card looking like a boarding ticket to a flight includes a program sheet and a boarding ticket to EPPS Airlines for a trip "Around the World".

The theme " Around the World" was picked up so that we could showcase performances from around the globe. It was difficult to decide which countries to represent but in the end, it all comes down to coming out with performances that gives the maximum oomph and within budget! Thereafter, performances such as the New Zealand Haka, Hawaiian and the Bhangra dance came about.

This year we saw the highest number of student participation in the concert as there were more than 70 performers performing for the show! It was riot in the dressing room as PSG members busy themselves with dressing, make up, last minute practise with the children. Mdm Rahimah and Jenny Mak woke up at early to prepare some light refreshments for the performers while the performers prepare themselves for the concert.

Considering the number of students involved, we had to have 8 members to help with the make up alone! The Haka boys required a good half an hour to paint the tatoos on the face and body per boy! We had 10 Haka boys! Special mention for Jasmin Yip, Rahimah Asmore and Zubaidah Othman for their effort in coaching, making the costumes, sourcing for materials and even feeding the Haka boys!

The students put up an excellent peformance, it was hard to say which is the best performance as they all gave it their all. We had an interesting item where we have the P3 CCM Malay students in traditional Malay costume sand a Mandarin song for their teachers. Led by Mdm Susan Koh who is their CCM teacher.

The audience applaused enthusiastically as one peformance let to another, each one was as interesting as the next. The martial arts performances i.e. Wushu and Okinawan Karate were immaculate and graceful. The ORFF instruments performance by the P4 Courage students gave a delightful start to the concert with its melodic percussions sounds. The Hawaiian girls were adorable and so alluring. The Haka boys were more cute than scary! Finally, the Bhangra dance was heart stomping and got everyone clapping along. The tempo went even higher when the teachers, Mrs. Kristen Kwee, Mdm Siti Aishah and the infallable Mr. Sim came up and did their own version of bhangra. It was a real hoot! Everyone had so much fun.

Unfortunately every good things must come to an end, after weeks of putting the show together, it was really wonderful that the audience enjoyed the show thoroughly and the student performers had a great time doing it and that's all that really matters. Memories that will last a very long time for everyone. This is also the day of affirmation that the teaching profession will always be the most respected one as it empowers the teachers to influence, lead and inspire and help nation to shape its future.

HAPPY TEACHER'S DAY!

A blast from the past at Elias Park Primary School

This is door to the window of the past...


Welcome to our Kampong Elias



An old well just outside the kampong house


Help for the illiterate, this learned man will help you write letters and signs in the old days.

Shophouses with laundry hanging from the windows......

A friendly peranakan lady outside her house selling nonya kueh...

Pretty Malay maidens in a row.
The warrior twins


He's our guide who will tell you stories about the lavatory of yesteryears...

Wash area- place where womenfolks do their laundry and bath the kids.


" Would you like to buy a garland, madam? " asked Sungitha, our pretty Indian maiden
The original spice girls.

Mr. Sim getting his shoes shined at a side street of the marketplace.

Indian housewares

Chinese teapot and teacups, tingkat, old style stove and steamboat.
Chinese rice barrel and tea set.

Below : Food stall

Indian sundry shop

EPPS PSG Post Racial Harmony Day Lunch- 25th July 2008

Racial Harmony Day, 21st July 2008

Picture taken with our School Principal, Mrs. Wong Siew Shan and VIP , Minister for Education, Dr Ng Eng Hen

Racial Harmony Day this year is a very special one for EPPS. Not only it is the day EPPS celebrates Racial Harmony Day, it is also the day that our Minister for Education Dr. Ng Eng Hen came to the school to visit and also launched EPPS as the NE Hub in the East Zone.

It is a great honour to our school to be awarded this appointment as a recognition for its effort in national education. As EPPS is the only school in Singapore with Singapore Heritage at the Elias (SHAPE), it is also recognised as school that focuses on holistic education and development.

EPPS PSG members worked together to think of the most appropriate concept to celebrate this event in conjunction with the school's direction, built the stalls, cooked and sold the food. It was wonderful way for us to bond as friends and fellow parent volunteers.

It was a joy to the happy faces when they get to try and taste different food sold at the PSG stalls. There were long queues snaking for the satay and all the other goodies! While they tucked in the good food from different races in Singapore, they also participated and enjoyed other activities such as cooking demonstrations and henna tattoo.

Best of all, we were able to raise $766 for the school for the Outdoor Adventure Centre. Even though we were all so exhausted by the end of the day, the fact that we had contributed to make the event even more successful, it was worth the effort.

Mother's Day Fair 28th to 30th April 2008

Mother's Day Fair was a great success! Thanks to all the support we have been getting from all EPPS parents.

The fair was opened full days from 28th to 30th April from 9.30am to 4.00pm. Our PSG members took turns to help out during that period. Over 25 parents were on duty at different times during that period.

On the first day, we had alot of students coming in to check out the items on display. By the second day, we almost sold out everything! On the third day, the students come in and bought out almost everything on sight.

The children love the teddy bears, the Auntie Susan's cookies, the flowers, the trinket boxes, the clay cakes.. there's just so many to choose from. It was an exciting 3 days and the participating PSG members who were on duty had as much fun helping the children decide what to buy as well as helping them personalise the children's gifts for their beloved moms.

Preparation for Mother's Day Fair 23rd Mar to 24th April 2008

As early as 23rd March, PSG members has been meeting on a weekly basis working together pitching in their artistic skills to make beautiful gifts for our EPPS mums.

These gifts such as trinket boxes, flowers, clay cakes and gift boxes were all painstakingly created to be sold at the Mother's Day Fair on the 28th to 30th April to raise funds for the PSG and needy children.

The papercrafts which were specially designed by our own Helen Chee has intricate detailing and were unique in design. " You can't get this anywhere else .... it is specially made our our mums, that's why it is so special " said Helen Chee.

The claycakes created by our talented Karen Ann were made of clay, the clay dough is kneaded to soften it, coloured and then embellished with beads, pearls and flower creations to create the most beautiful, miniature life like cakes. We had to remind the students many times over that it is not edible as it looks good enough to eat!

The PSG members quite happily come in on a weekly basis to help out as it is such a pleasurable way to spend Thursday mornings with good friends for a good cause. We are so fortunate to have so many compassionate and committed members who's always willing to give our school some of their precious time for the common good.