VCIP Pre-departure Briefing for Parents

It was 7pm on 16 Otober 2015.

Almost all parents were able to be here in our NVSS AVA room for a pre-departure briefing. Mr Leong took the lead with the help from our fellow teachers as well as our representatives from IPC - the tour group which will bring us to Vietnam.

Questions from parents were addressed. Students were excited to see possible 'homes'.

It was a very long day, alright. But it was fun!

prep prep prep

Prior to our departure, we had so many days of preparations. Meetings and meetings and more meetings!

Set either in MR1 or Computer Lab 1, the teachers were there, taking turns to guide us, supervise and facilitate our preparations. Too many were in our heads - maybe that was because - we were all very creative. Unfortunately, time was not on our side. Exams, PEP etc... were our major obstacles! Hahahaha!

Anyway... enjoy!

Reminders Before Departure

Dear Students,

Have all of you packed your luggage? If you have, please do a last check. If you have not, don't leave it to the last minute.

Here are some reminders before we meet on Sunday

1. Change money before you leave Singapore (about S$200)

2. Pack your portfolio into the luggage

3. Bring a bag to pack for your homestay

4. Boys - remember your NVSS pants!

5. To all - make sure you have ties

6. Just to note, you may wear sports shoes instead of school shoes; so that you don's bring so many         pairs in the luggage

7. Each one to have at least a souvenir for homestay - As a pair, one souvenir can be given on first           day, the other one to give on last day

8. Bring some sing dollars, EZlink card (in case you want to buy things at the airport or take public         transport home when you come back)

8. Remember to get your parents to sign on the streaming form, take a photo of it and send it to     your teacher i/c

9. Important - Bring along the streaming form on Sunday for submission


On Sunday 25 October
- Message your teacher i/c at 5.45am and get ready to go to the airport
- Be at the airport by 7.15am, T2 Row 4
- Wear yellow CIP t-shirt, jeans (be appropriately attired - girls with long hair please tie up, boys           whose hair is long, please cut by Saturday)

Let's have an enjoyable and fruitful trip : )
See you all on Sunday

Regards
Mr Leong

You Are in the Team for A Purpose

Dear students,

I am very happy to say that you are bonding as a group. Keep those camaraderie going. 

However, the biggest concern now is your welcome performance. I appreciate all your efforts in wanting to do something different, we also need to be mindful of the short runway we have to perfect the performance. I hope that each and everyone of you knows how important your role is in the team. So I hope all of you put in your best efforts.

A few things you need to prepare/remember:

1. Biodata due on 16/10 - Show your teacher i/c on 16/10 during the meeting.
2. Please borrow a tie from your friend - you will need to put on tie on the first day of school
3. As for the boys - borrow/buy a pair of NVSS long school pants
4. Parents briefing on 16/10 Friday at the AVA room at 7.00pm
5. Submission of passports to Ms Janice Lim on 19/10. (you may want to give earlier on 16/10)

All of you can also start to bring items you want to donate. Please adhere strictly to these items only:
1) Clothes - washed, clean and not torn
2) Stuff toys - in clean and good condition
3) Books/Stationeries - picture books only no novels please
4) Toys - clean, workable condition

Rule of thumb, when you are not sure can give or not: Just put yourself in their shoe, will you feel offended if you receive the donated items?

Lastly, good news. Your CIP t-shirts are ready. Will probably be collecting on Friday. Will let you know via Dian and Weixiang if can collect.

regards,
Mr Leong

23 September: Meeting #2 at MR1

Attendance - All present except for Aufa (valid reason).

I'd like to thank all students who made an effort to be present at the meeting as soon as possible after your oral as well as your intervention.

For today's meeting, the students submitted 2 copies of their photocopied passport. Those who have yet to do so, please do it asap.

Two previous CIP students came in and shared with them their experiences regarding the homestay, what they have learned to the group.

 Zun Hong and Shahiran sharing with the group their experience in Vietnam.

To ensure that the trip is meaningful to them, the groups drew lots to work on 5 topics related to Vietnam prior to the trip:

1. Geography of Vietnam & HCMC (Group 4)

2. History of Vietnam & HCMC (Group 1)

3. Different religion & Etiquette in Vietnamese homes, Cuisine (Group 2)

4. Cu Chi Tunnel, Agent Orange (Group 3)

5. Vietnamese greetings and Festivals (Group 5)

After the drawing of lots, Mr Sazali led the group into the preparation of the performance items:
 

In line with our school's philosophy that every pupil can achieve his/her potential, the teachers decided to reshuffle the groups to ensure that very member in the group can contribute to the team.

 

The reshuffled group taking photo but nothing changes -
the students were able to bond and gel just the same : )

Next meeting will be on 12 Oct (after your EYE).

Focus on your EYE first. 

After that, please prepare the research work for presentation.

Welcome to the 2015/16 Vietnam Cultural Immersion Programme (CIP) blog : )

Hi all, welcome to the 2015/16 Vietnam Cultural Immersion Programme (CIP) blog.

This blog will serve as a communication tool between the selected students and accompanying teachers prior to the trip.

It also updates other members of the NVSS family members as well as parents on the team's preparation for the trip. We hope to get your support for this programme.

The students were briefed on the objectives and expectations of the programme. They were also introduced to teachers who will be their chaperons, guardian angels, mentor etc. during the trip.

The accompanying teachers are:

Mr Chen,

Mr Leong,

Mr Sazali,

Mdm Faezah,

Ms Chong,

Ms Janice Lim

and

Ms Audrey Chua

The students had their first session on 21 September 2015, Monday.

  Mr Sazali briefing the group on performance item. Some of the boys discussion on possible items to perform.

Some of the things Mr Leong discussed with the group during the first session.

 

1. Please check your passport validity; make sure it has at least 6 months of validity.

   Photocopy 2 copies of your passport and submit to Ms Janice Lim latest by Wednesday.

   Those who need to renew your passport, please do so immediately. (It will take about 2 weeks to process)

Those who have not submitted your consent forms, please submit latest by Wednesday 23 Sept.

2. I strongly urge you to go back and 'sell' this programme to your parents so that when your friends come in          July 2016, you can host them, especially those who indicated that you can't host during the interview.

3. I require all of you to visit last year's CIP blog: nvss2014vietnam@blogspot.sg. At the same time, let us be        proactive in keeping ourselves updated by referring to this current blog.

4. I'd like to thank Dian and Wei Xiang for volunteering to be the big group i/cs : )

   The rest of you will cooperate and work closely with them

5. 3 pieces of work were assigned. All of you need to prepare these 3 pieces prior to the trip:

 

Individually

The students were told to create a Personal Information Card (PIC) or Portfolio as a meeting gift for their Vietnamese friends in October

The PIC should consists of:

1. Personal information (bio-data, family, school, class, CCAs, best  

  friends, etc)

2. Significant events in your life so far e.g. First overseas trip

3. Interesting things about yourself e.g. Hobbies, what you usually do

4. Talents (if any) e.g. You can play the violin very well

As a Small Group

Work as a group on research topics related to Vietnam. (More details will be given in next meeting)

As a Big Group

Prepare 2 simple yet dignified performance items for first day and last day of school programme.
It can be as simple as a song but everyone must participate.

6. The students were divided into 5 groups of 6: 

 Teacher i/c : Mdm Faezah (not in picture: MTL Oral)

 Teacher i/c : Ms Janice Lim

 Teacher i/c : Ms Audrey Chua

 Teacher i/c : Ms Daphne Chong

                                                       Teacher i/c : Mr Sazali

7. We will also use the Whatsapp group created to comms with one another. It is use solely for communication      and not to pass negative remarks/comments on one another

8. The Vietnam Pose. Please take note of your position : )

The first session was a good one. Response from the students were good and many of them were very enthusiastic about the trip. Keep up the energy level! 

Next meeting is on
Wednesday 23 September 2015
at MR1
3pm

and on behalf of all the teachers in the team:

Regards

Mr Leong