Inspirational Teacher - Mdm Shirley Bong

Mdm Shirley Bong Fui Lian, Montfort Junior School
[RECIPIENT OF THE PRESIDENT’S AWARD FOR TEACHERS 2006]

Mdm Shirley Bong Fui Lian, 34, is the Subject Head for PE and Aesthetics in Montfort Junior School.

She holds the view that she is an ordinary person but by being a teacher she has become extra-ordinary as she can touch and make a difference to students’ lives. Hence, she works with the conviction that every child, regardless of his academic capabilities, can and should be helped to unleash his potential. In her 12 years as a teacher, she has planned and implemented numerous student-centred programmes to help her students learn in an engaged and enriching learning environment.

Mdm Bong believes that sports can spark off learning and has shown by example, how sports can help children learn in a fun way. She has initiated MJ Zest, a whole school approach sports-related programme, to promote healthy living among students and to provide more opportunities for students who are less academically-inclined to assume leadership roles.

Mdm Bong’s colleagues speak well of her contributions towards raising the self-esteem of the disadvantaged students. She is indeed an inspiring role model to younger teachers. Her personal philosophy that a teacher has a pivotal role to play in making a difference to each and every child’s life has had an impact on her students and in her school.

[Quoted from http://www.moe.gov.sg/press/2006/pr20060901.htm]

Kopi-C Chillout Session

KOPI-C: Keep On Persevering & Inspiring Community

Dear teachers, are you apprehensive about going to school everyday? Are you tired out my classroom management rather than finding joy in teaching? Are you running out of creative juices for lesson plans? ..... Don't drown your sorrows alone! Come check out KOPI-C!

Teaching is no longer a lonesome routine with KOPI-C, where teachers can gather, share ideas and encourage each other as they journey together in their teaching career.

Inviting all teachers out there!!! Come along for a chill out session with fellow teachers on 17th November 2006!

Limited seats available. $5 per person. Cool drinks and cool food. A time of fun, laughter and inspiration. Networking among fellow teachers (gathering of FUN teachers).

Not to be missed! Register by 9th Nov 2006 via email! Drop and email to Guanghan at kinchio@yahoo.com

How KOPI-C started.....

Two good friends, Daryl and Guanghan, were chatting over lunch at a kopi tiam one day. Daryl is a maths teacher
while Guanghan is a PE trainee teacher at NIE. They were sharing about their concerns for the teachers of today, fearing that teachers might be so burn out by workloads that they lose the passion of teaching and inspiring the students. That's where the idea was born... to create a community amongst teachers and educators where they could share resources, creative ideas and inspire one another! But what should this community be called?

Both Daryl and Guanghan eyes fixed on the cup of "Kopi-c" in front of them and smiled to each other.....