ANNUAL REPORT 2010 / 2011 - MINDS

The transition programme for graduating students expanded with
many more work attachments at businesses and corporations.
Towner Gardens School was able to place students in Shangri-La
Hotel’s F & B section to do napkin folding besides the on-going
attachment in the housekeeping department. Woodlands Gardens
School successfully attached 2 graduating students with a KFC
branch and this provided a good opportunity for employment
possibilities for them upon graduation. Fernvale Gardens School
continued to engage the students in job experiences within the
Fernvale Community and feedbacks from these employers were
very positive.
As an initiative to enhance communication skills for all students,
training on the use of a Basic Key Word Signs was conducted for
staff by Eva Loh, speech therapist of Lee Kong Chian Gardens
School. It is hoped that with this extra support, our students will
be able to express themselves better.
School Quality Assurance Framework (QAF) for School
Evaluation
MOE/NCSS introduced and piloted the QAF tool for evaluation of
the quality of school’s operational and professional processes and
performance outcomes. Each school submitted a self-evaluation
report in January 2011, in readiness for the QAF when it will be
implemented in 2012.
MINDS 23rd Sports Meet
Students participated in MINDS Sports Meet held on 24 April 2010
at Yishun Sports Stadium. There were 13 events including one that
involved the students/clients and their family members. Mr Oon
Jin Teik, CEO of the Singapore Sports Council graced the event as
the Guest-of-Honour.
Recycling Outreach Programme by National Environment
Agency
Fernvale Gardens School was awarded the Recycling Outreach
Programme – Sustained Achievement Award (Silver) on 19 Feb
2011. Staff and students had been engaged in recycling efforts
since 2008.
Staff Development
To build staff capabilities, 14 staff from the four schools went on a
Learning Journey to Adelaide during the June holidays. The objective
was to learn more about the Australian special education practices
and post school provisions. Upon their return, the group made two
major recommendations with respect to the transition programme
for preparing students for adult life namely, streaming of students
age 13 to programmes suited to individual capabilities, and building
of individual student portfolios. These two recommendations were
accepted and implemented in January 2011.
Erni Noorhaidah of Woodlands Gardens School went on a two
weeks learning visit cum educational attachment in Sydney to
acquire knowledge on most school provisions for persons with
special needs. She now heads a team to look into enhancing the
transition training programme of her school.
Senior staff were encouraged to organize learning journeys for
their colleagues as part of their leadership training. The schools
also initiated peer classroom observations to enhance teachers’
instructional skills besides sending staff on courses and seminars
by SSTI and other training providers.
Parental Involvement
School-based workshops were conducted for parents on tips for
working with their children at home. These workshops were well
attended, indicating that parents were very keen to contribute
to their children’s learning. Parents also attended workshops on
various topics conducted by the allied health professionals across
MINDS on Saturdays.
About 70% of parents participated in the Teacher/Parent
conferencing held twice a year to discuss their child’s progress
and education plans. Parents were very responsive to feedback
requested or given by teachers on their child’s learning and needs.
Parents also volunteered their time and assistance in many
school functions and activities in the course of the year. They also
participated in school events such as the MINDS Symposium and
the MINDS 23rd Sports Meet
MINDS ANNUAL REPORT 2010 / 2011 15