Semester 2, 2008:

AISS Ensemble

The aim of AISS Ensemble 1 is to give opportunities to beginning music students to participate and perform in an ensemble.

AWWA - Special Needs Child Care Volunteer

SMILES is an after school facility for disabled students run by a non profit organisation in Singapore. AISS students are actively engaged in the care of these students, as well as assisting with activities such as games, crafts and homework help where possible.

Through our association with Asian Women Welfare Association (AWWA) AISS students gain an understanding of children with intellectual and physical disabilities and their needs.

Board Games & Mahjong

With computer technology taking over childrens leisure time, the use of Board games has really diminished in the home and in school. The aim of this activity is to revitalise Board game enthusiasm with students. Over the semester they will be introduced to a variety of different Board games that have a  thinking, competitive and fun element to them. We will be learning to play games such as Monopoly, Scrabble, Trouble, Pictionary and many more!

Another of these interesting and challenging board games is Mahjong. Mahjong is a wonderful way of being introduced to a Chinese cultural activity. Beginners lessons are available and students will learn both the hands played and the background to the game.

Book Club

In Book Club we work closely with the library staff to find out more about books, authors, websites, plus the structures of a library. The group meet to discuss books students have read, make new displays for the library featuring our favourite authors or books, help with the shelving and care of library books, and create book reviews for other patrons of the library.

Chess

The game of chess teaches many higher level thinking skills including analysis, synthesis and forward planning. We will call upon our more experienced players to teach newcomers the pieces involved in chess, their patterns of movement and their strategic value. Through ' learning by doing', students will come to understand that chess is a game that is won by committing fewer errors than your opponent!

Chinese Chess

This CCA is designed to introduce students to a favourite Chinese pastime. For new students it aims to provide an understanding of the game and for students who have already experienced this game, it is an opportunity to sharpen their skills and strategies.

Chinese Dance

Students taking part in the Chinese Dance CCA will learn basic Chinese dance movements and differenct types of Chinese folk dances, for example, the Chinese fan dance, the umbrella dance and some Chinese childrens dances.

Computer Animation

Students will be instructed on how to use animation software and the elements involved in producing a short piece of animation footage. Emphasis is on collaborate learning as students work across year groups to peer mentor and teach one another.

Concordis

Concordis will encorporate Senior Strings and include other advanced and gifted music students in a flexible ensemble playing challenging repertoire and work on special projects such as the school production.

Concert Band

Concert Band will be directed by Mr Hughes and Mr Elliot. It will consist of primary and high school students who have had at least one year of tuition on their instrument. An exciting range of repertoire, including Jazz and Rock charts will be studies and performed at school occasions.

Dance

This is a new CCA for Semester 2. The style of dance is still to be decided however it will revolve around modern choreography.

Homecrafts - Cooking

This CCA is designed to introduce students to simple culinary skills through the preparation of basic sweets and snacks such as pizzas and biscuits. At the end of each session, they also learn how to wash up!

Homecrafts - Papercrafts

In this CCA we will be making handmade cards, tags, making embellishments to add interest to cards and scrapbook pages. We will sew on paper, talk about colour schemes and use different techniques such as tearing, photo matting, using templates, paper piercing, cropping, using eyelets and many others.

Scrapbooking is the practice of combining photos, memborabilia and stories in an album that helps you preserve precious moments in your life.

Homecrafts - Quilting

Homecrafts develops students' interest and skills in craft. With great patience and attention to detail students are also taught how to quilt and hand sew. Students will be working on a quilt project that will be raffled and proceeds donated to a student chosen charity.

Homecrafts - Sewing and Knitting

Homecrafts develops students' interest and skills in craft. With great patience and attention to detail students are also taught how to knit, embroider and complete other handicraft activities. Students may choose to complete a set project or bring something that they are working on at home.

Friends of Interact

Interact is designed to develop students leadership skills through the increasing awareness and involvement in a variety of community service projects. Students will be able to select and develop their own community projects supporting both local and global organisations. Interact is a perfect place for students to participate directly in Community and Service program.

Junior Strings

The Junior Strings are a group of about 15 string players of varied abilities. We aim to perform at least once a term, either in assemblies or special events such as Foundation Day, Year 6 Graduation, Recital Nights, Presentation Day and Carols by Torchlight.

Apart from having lots of fun playing together with other people, we also aim to improve the following skills;

* Following a conductor
* Improve note reading ability
* Learning to listen to other parts and knowing when to play softly
* Keeping an accurate tempo
* Playing with accurate intonation
* Learning to lead a section when necessary

From time to time there will be a need for extra rehearsals for some of these special events, however the students will usually be given a note with the relevant details in this regard.

Library Monitors Group

Do you like helping teachers and students? The Library Monitors CCA is for years 4 and 5 students who would like to experience working in a library. Your job will involve helping younger students, buddy reading, locating books, shelving and assisting at the front desk. The CCA runs every primary lunch time and monitors can choose which day they would like to help out.

Mandarin Extension

This CCA is for students who have been studying Mandarin. It is not suitable for beginners.

Maths Problems and Puzzles

Maths is exciting and fun. The aim of the activities is to encourage students to explore their mathematical abilities in a supporting and caring environment. Problems, puzzles and challenges will be posed each week as students work collaboratively and individually to solve the issues.

Papier Mache

Pod Casting

Have you dreamed about being a talkshow host or a radio star, having your voice beamed across the airwaves? Well now you can learn the skills required and put this to practice with the Podcasting CCA.

A podcast is a collection of computer audio files created to produce an audio broadcast over the internet. By using Mp3 players, students in this CCA will develop a radio show, they will plan it, edit it and link it to an internet site so that it may be listened to via the world wide web. There will be interviews, songs, special guest appearances, sports results, world news, updates on what is happening at AISS and much, much more.

If you have any questions about this CCA please come and see Mr. Symes in C43, check out http://podcast.com/ or just go ahead and enrol for the Monday lunch time sessions.

Primary Choir

The Primary choir is open to all students in Years 3-6. Each year we welcome the arrival of those children moving up from the Stage 1 choir, although experience in Stage 1 choir is preferred, it is not essential. The choir aims to provide an opportunity for children to share their love of singing through a variety of games and activities whilst building a range of a repertoire for performance.

The Primary choir performs at a variety of school and community events. These include annual events such as the Australia Day Celebrations at the Australian High Commission, ANZAC Day at Kranji War Memorial, Foundation and Presentation Days and Carols by Torchlight. On other occasions we have been invited to perform at opening events and for visiting dignities such as the Prime Minister and Governor General of Australia.

Primary Production - "The Primary School Musical"

Following on from five successful years of AISS Primary Musicals, the Primary Production is a CCA that encourages students as they perform as a cohesive cast in a large scale production. The students will learn a wide range of skills necessary for performing or being part of a stage crew.

This CCA encourages the creative capacities of students through dramatic performance and musical performance. This CCA is open to Years 5 and 6 only.

Primary Student Representative Council

The Primary SRC makes a valuable contribution to the way our Primary School functions as a community. We meet twice a week to ensure that school events are organised and that weekly assemblies can showcase the work being undertaken across Stages 2 and 3 as well as communicate school events to the entire Primary School. The Primary SRC offers a range of opportunities designed to provide leadership and participation for its members.

Public Speaking

The Public Speaking CCA aims to develop students’ skills and confidence in public speaking through a range of activities.

Save the Planet Action Heroes

Global warming, melting polar caps, animal and species extinction, and rapidly declining habitats are a very alarming reality of our times. Changing our habits to help address and fix these serious problems is an action we all must now accept and embrace. ‘Action Heroes’ is a CCA that intends to teach students the immediate actions they can take to ‘save our planet’.  By using the school site as a case study, ‘Action Heroes’ will put strategies into place that will intend  to change the school’s  ‘bad’ habits into ‘green’ habits.”

School Magazine

Students will be involved in the publishing process of aspects of the school yearbook. They will have the opportunity to develop their editing and graphic design skills.

Science Club

Through the experience of working in a science laboratory students are exposed to a stimulating environment. Experiements, methodology and cause/effect relationships will be explored. Students will learn to use equipment safely and work together to investigate various chemical reactions!

Shine - You're a Star

This CCA, run by Registered Educational Psychologist, Susan Rowntree is a self empowerment program for children aged eight to 12 years.

It aims to promote and develop a higher self esteem in ten one and half hour positive group sessions.

Your child will:

• identify with a positive self image
• understand and manage all feelings
• develop a sense of responsibility
• realize the power of the mind
• focus through relaxation and visualisation.

Touch Typing

Touch Typing is for students who wish to improve their typing skills to a level where they can type without looking at the keys. Students work at their own pace through an Australian program, Kewala Typequick. After a certain level, their hands are covered to ensure they acquire the knowledge and skills correctly. As frustrating as it may seem for some students to work without seeing their fingers on the keys it does prevent bad habits which are then much harder to extinguish! The progress the students make is amazing and they are always pleased with themselves when they realise how far they've come.

Tournament of Minds (TOM) - Finalists Only

Tournament of Minds is a fascinating and challenging activity in which students use their creative and lateral thinking to solve unusual problems. Talent or skill in drama, presentation, problem solving, art and creative work are valuable for this activity. AISS competes against other schools to attempt problems in areas such as Social Science, Maths/Science or Social Science.