Y Monday, January 12, 2009 5:43 PM
COMMEMORATING THE NE EVENTS
In St. Hilda’s Primary School, the young Hildans are continuously engaged in various NE experiences together, so that they can discover for themselves what it means to be Singaporeans. The school provides all Hildans the space to develop their own ideas, and find their own ways to contribute to the community. They must be encouraged to play their own part in writing the Singapore story of the future. Through the commemoration of the 4 core NE events which have been identified as defining moments in Singapore's history, the school aims to entrench these events and the images they evoke in the consciousness of each successive generation.
TOTAL DEFENCE DAY
SHPS commemorate Total Defence Day (TD) on 15 February annually to mark Singapore's fall to the Japanese in 1942. Total Defence Day serves to remind our pupils that Singapore is defensible and is worth defending, and we ourselves must defend Singapore. Pupils should know what the five aspects of Total Defence are and how they can play a part in each aspect. They should be aware that even at their age, their participation in Total Defence is important. The message is that everyone can (and should) play a part in defending the country.
INTERNATIONAL FRIENDSHIP DAY
International Friendship Day (IFD) is commemorated on the third working Friday of Term 2. International Friendship Day is a day dedicated to the understanding of Singapore's relations with neighbouring countries and beyond. It aims to sensitise our children towards the geo-political realities inherent in Singapore, as well as nurture in our pupils the spirit of friendship and collaboration among different people. International Friendship Day is a good opportunity to help our young Hildans learn about and appreciate other cultures. In general the school wants to nurture in our pupils the spirit of friendship and collaboration among different peoples.
RACIAL HARMONY DAY
Hildans celebrate Racial Harmony Day (RHD) on 21st July. On this day in 1964, Singapore saw racial riots. Racial Harmony Day serves to remind our pupils that social division costs us dearly and that race and religion are potential fault-lines in Singapore society. It is a day for schools including St. Hilda’s to reflect on, and celebrate our success as a harmonious nation and society built on a rich diversity of cultures and heritages. From this event, pupils should learn to make friends with people of other races and religions and not make fun of people who are different. Students should also learn that in Singapore, people are treated equally regardless of their race and religion and they should also do the same. Students should appreciate the different cultures that make up Singapore
NATIONAL DAY
National Day marks our Separation from Malaysia, and our emergence as an independent country in the community of nations. Since 1998, a National Day Ceremony was introduced in schools. This Ceremony aims to bring to the pupils a greater sense of the historical importance and solemnity of National Day. St. Hilda’s conducts a 15-minute National Day Ceremony which is more formal than the festivities that the school usually organized followed by a concert event that engages our pupils through their hearts, hands and heads.
