Wordsworth Draft 3 Edited Final - Xinmin Secondary School · 2015-02-27 · Shuan Cheng 102 Nicholas Ng 102 Ting Kang 103 Lim Yi Hong 103 Teo Kaegene 105 Toh Wen Jie 105 Winners 1

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hair down for a couple of hours and devote ourselves to the story, of an imaginary world where there are no worries. At the same time, it enriches our vocabulary and sharpened our writing skills. What about reading newspapers? Reading newspapers should be a good habit for everyone. It allows us to know more about what is happening in our own country as well as the world. The news in the newspaper gives us a chance to be more conscious of what is happening around us and also helps us in our oral examinations and to be more up-to-date and mature during discussion.

Will Rogers once said:” A man only learns in two ways, one is by reading, and the other by associating with smarter people”. So what are you waiting for? Grab a book from the library and start reading now!

In today’s society, what many

teenagers neglect, is one of the most important things in their lives. Reading. Reading is a very important and essential form of learning, and one form of learning is through reading books. Books allow you to educate yourself in more ways than you can imagine as they house the knowledge gathered by people from both the past and the present. Were you to say that reading is just like learning from the people of the past and the present, you are not wrong. Reading a fiction book is very fascinating and fruitful as well. It allows you to enter a different world, be a different person and lead different life. For example, the Harry Potter books allow readers to enter a world of magic, meet extraordinary friends and experience life as a wizard. Now, how great is that? Especially in the stressful lifestyles of teenagers, reading allows us to let our

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Interview with our outstanding librarian

2013

& our librarian who improved her L1R5 by

17!

Let us step through the pages into the animated

world of The Hobbit

XINMIN SECONDARY SCHOOL

Written by Teng Wei Wen and Jane Seng

WHO’S READING WHAT

We asked Ng Shi Ya, the Head of the Student Council about her love for reading and the books she reads. Here are her thoughts:

Do you enjoy reading? Why?I truly enjoy reading. When you pick up a book, you do not know exactly where it is going to bring you to. And if you pick up a book you like, its irresistible charm will make you hungry toward it. Different genres and text types also give you different inspirations and perspectives as well as a great sense of satisfaction!

Can you share with us the book you are currently reading?I am currently reading a Chinese book ‘闲着的眼（被忽略的小事情）’; it has a lot

of short stories. The book provides a different outlook of life, wisdom and principles. It is quite interesting what you can get out from the book at the end of the day.

Is there any genre of book or any author you would like to recommend to the readers?I personally prefer novels, from genres like mystery and speculative fiction. Mitch Albom and Jane Austen are among the authors I like.

Do you have a favourite book or author?I do not really have a favourite book or author, but one book that I personally like is Tuesdays With Morrie.

Why do you like this book?Tuesdays with Morrie, is a short and inspirational story, about a life’s purpose and beliefs. The book brings you through his journey and at the same time it is easy to comprehend and makes one reflect and ponder.

Can you share with us some tips on picking books?Pick a book that interests you, probably by picking the genre of book from the kinds of movies you like. Start by reading short stories and try different genres each time. You might soon just find out which genre you like. Or you can ask your friends who share the same genres as you; you will probably enjoy the same books as them too.

What is your favourite/most inspirational quote?There are a lot of quotes that I like and I get inspired and motivated by them. One of them is from one of my favourite movies, Facing the Giants (released in 2006). “If you accept defeat that is what you get.” and another one that I would like to share is “If you can’t change your ‘fate’, change your attitude.” by Amy Tan.

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INTERVIEW WITH HEAD OF STUDENT COUNCILING SHI YA

WHAT’S UP IN THE LIBRARY

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Sec One CCA Orientation

On 5 January 2013, Xinmin Secondary held the Secondary One CCA Orientation. Library@Xinmin also played a part and promoted our CCA to the Secondary Ones. Our

very own talented speakers were busy explaining about Library@Xinmin and our activities!

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ARTICLE ON CCA ORIENTATION



Secondary One Library InductionOur librarians also conducted our annual

library induction to inform the Secondary Ones about the rules and regulations of the

library and how they should go about borrowing and returning books.

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LIBRARY EVENTS-LIBRARY INDUCTION



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ARTICLE ON LIBRARY CAMP

Our library camp was held on 15-16 March, on the same day as our cross-country run. Despite the tiredness after the cross country, our librarians still participated

enthusiastically in the games. One of the games that our librarians were especially fond of was the Amazing race where we were classified into various groups and had to run around the school to complete certain tasks in order to obtain the clues for the next station. It was fun running around in the school and at the same time, it also helped to

bond librarians together. Another highlight of our camp was the transition games, where our camp committee mimicked some of the popular television programmes such as the ‘Deal or No Deal’, ’Minute to Win it’ and etc. For example, one of the little games in

‘Minute to Win it’ was to flip a coin or pencil placed at the corner of the table into a cup. It was really challenging but it was fun and it got all of us to think of a strategy to

accomplish it. Even the quiet ones were also enthusiastic about it and also got involved in flipping the coin or pencil. This really serves the whole purpose of the camp, which is to

involve all the librarians to bond as one. We were also glad that many of our ex-librarians also came back for the camp and many even stayed over with us. This is very heart-

warming as it shows that even though they have graduated, they are still very dedicated to the library and still have a strong bond and affiliation to Library. Overall, even though our library camp was a short one, I am sure that all the librarians enjoyed it and also live

up to the spirit of our tagline of camp this year.

All for One, One for All. Our motto for Camp 2013.

Written by Jane Seng

SCRABBLE COMPETITION


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SECONDARY ONE SCRABBLE COMPETITION

On 11 April 2013, Library@XinMin organised an interclass scrabbe competition for the Secondary One students. We would like to thank the following students for participating and congratulations to the winners!

Name Class

Lee Wai Kai 101

Ong Li Jin 101

Shuan Cheng 102

Nicholas Ng 102

Ting Kang 103

Lim Yi Hong 103

Teo Kaegene 105

Toh Wen Jie 105

Winners

1. Toh Wen Jie 105

2. Lee Wai Kei 101

Congratulations to the winners!

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TOP BORROWERS

top readers

Jonathan Kwok Jun Hong 202

Chiang Li Zhong 306

top readers

Zhang Yu Quan 104

Jacey Tay Shi Ying 306

February

Top readers

Venus Lim Chian Jin 105

Kim Young Ji 409

JanuaryThe following are the top readers and top borrower classes for the following

top borrower classes

Lower Secondary 104

Upper Secondary 401


Lower Secondary 104 and 105

Upper Secondary 306


Lower Secondary 105

Upper Secondary 401

March

STRAIGHT A’S LIBRARIAN


This year, we are to proud to announce that many of our graduate librarians have done us proud in their O-levels. We hereby want to congratulate them and also share their experiences.

What were your strategies in doing well?I paid very close attention to the lessons that my teachers delivered. Whenever I had any doubts, I would try my best to clear them before the end of the lessons by approaching my teachers or peers. Moreover, I made notes once each chapter had been taught, especially for content-based subjects, such as History and Geography.

How did you manage your time juggling with your CCA and studies?I tried as much as possible to finish the Library tasks during CCA time itself. Besides that, I allocated a few hours to be

What are the study skills?- Do not procrastinate.- Manage your time well- Prioritise your tasks according to importance and deadline- Start memorising facts early and do it repeatedly- Ask for help from teachers/peers when the need arises- Prepare for test early by doing assessment books or practices given by teachers

What are the study skills that you have applied during exams? During exams, it is important to stay focused and not be distracted by the surroundings. For subjects like Mathematics, skip the questions that you are unsure of but leave your intermediate workings there as there might be marks awarded for them. When answering questions, try not to give excess information that might deviate from what the question is asking.

Tan Yan Hui

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TOP LIBRARIAN

spent on doing Library tasks and the remaining time left was for the various subjects that I had to cope with. Focusing on the task that I had on hand allowed me to complete it more quickly too.

STRAIGHT A’S LIBRARIAN


What are the things to take note of during the first day of the exams?-Have sufficient sleep the night before.-Drink enough water so that you won’t feel thirsty during long papers, such as Mathematics-Be precise when answering.-Bring along your jacket, stationery and necessary documents.

How do you think being in Library has honed your leadership skills and improve you as a person? Being a leader in Library, I have learnt to be a more responsible person, taking charge of whichever task assigned to me and learning from my mistakes. I have learnt to express myself more confidently and express my viewpoints more clearly too. Additionally, by speaking to juniors and other CCA members, I have become a more understanding person since I need to know what they want to do in Library.

What is the secret of your success? Stick to the goals that you have set for yourself and thereafter, strive hard to do your very best to achieve them. If you have given your 100%, then there is nothing to regret in the end. Do not be disheartened by failures or setbacks, as you learn what went wrong.

What was your journey to achieve success?Setting your goals → Strategising/ Planning the various steps to achieve them → Believing in yourself → Pushing yourself hard to achieve your goals.

Any tips for this batch of Librarians?- Minimise time spent on leisure activities - Work hard and do not easily give up on yourself.- Lastly, a quote for all, “It’s not whether you get knocked - down; it’s whether you get up again”~ Vince Lombardi

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TOP LIBRARIAN

WELL DONE, LIBRARIANS!


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LIBRARIAN

What were your strategies in doing well?I had my own timetable and made sure to revise the designated topics by the end of each day. I also paid attention in class so that I wouldn't spend time at home trying to understand the same thing again.

How did you manage your time juggling with your CCA and studies?I arranged and managed my time well, making sure that I had enough time for my homework and revision as I contributed to my CCA.

What were your study skills?I came up with a study timetable, and planned which subjects and

What are the things to take note during the actual day of exams?Relax, and believe in yourself, and do not panic as it will only mess up your thoughts.

How do you think being in Library have honed your leadership skills and helped you improve you as a person?Library gave me the chance to be the Head of Welfare, which gave me opportunities to display my leadership skills. Furthermore, there were occassions like the trekking experiences where I could sharpen up my leadership skills in leading large groups of people. I think I am now better in leading others, communicating and working with others.

What is the secret of your success?The secret is just to listen attentively in class and ask questions if you have any doubts so that you will be able to understand the lesson better. This also saves you the trouble of going home and trying to figure it out and understand it again on your own.

Any tips for this batch of Librarians?For the sec 4 and 5 librarians this year, all the best for the final examinations at the end of the year! Remember to have fun while preparing for the examinations and make the best out of your last year in Xinmin! As for the other librarians, I wish that you all will enjoy what you do!

Louise Quek

topics to study each day so that I would be able to revise the whole syllabus before exams start.

WELL DONE LIBRARIANS!


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MOST IMPROVED

What were your strategies in doing well?I wouldn’t say that I did particularly well but I felt that keeping a determined and steadfast mindset throughout the journey was important because it’s not an easy one. Apart from that, paying close attention during lessons and taking down notes aided my memory for the previous lessons which not only helped me to save time (from trying to catch up) but allowed me to have a better understanding of the topics.

How did you manage your time juggling your CCA and studies?I tried to juggle CCA and studies by cutting down on irrelevant

What are the study skills?- Practise, practise, practise! TYS, worksheets, workbooks. This really helps to test your understanding and gives you more exposure to the types of questions.- If in doubt, ask. Approach your teachers for help when you don’t understand the topics and flag out questions for consultations. My misconceptions and uncertainties started piling and it really showed later on.- Find your study spot. Know whether you study better alone or in groups and find that study spot where you are most productive (such as the school canteen).

What are the study skills that you have applied during exams?I have learnt through my own, and other people’s experience to read the questions properly. Most of the time, important pieces of information are given to help you in answering the questions correctly. Another useful skill is to make an answer scheme so that when you answer questions, you won’t overwrite and get the marks.

Any tips for this batch of Librarians? Always give your best and never give up, I believe in all of you.

Toh Wenfeng

activities which were time-consuming. An example of such would be Facebook. I decided to temporarily deactivate my account until after the exams were over. I also took small pockets of time, such as recess, to do small errands. Time is precious, don’t waste it.

At the same time, we want to congratulate Ivy Lim, our former librarian who graduated in 2010 on her

outstanding A-levels result of 4 distinctions! She has really done us proud and we wish her all the best in all

her endeavours.

FEATURE ARTICLE


The Lord of the Rings(LOTR). A tale filled with mythical heroes and legendary battles. A story where Middle Earth was once threatened by evil and the supernatural world hinged on the fate of

a ring. It is a magnificent series that has captivated the young and old worldwide.

And if the book wasn’t enough, a movie The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey was produced in December 2012. Today we ask the question: how did the series change from print to film?

Change 1: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is a movie that lasts 3 hours. However, the book was 300 pages long. Some examples include where Gandalf went when he

disappeared, and why the wizards were helping the dwarves on their quests in the first place?

Change 2: The movie seemed to take certain parts of the book and combine them to form a new sequence of events, which would have a greater impact on the reader. For example, Smaug the dragon only appears towards the end of the book. However, he is depicted in a flashback right at the start of the movie, showing him taking over the

dwarves’ ancestral homeland.

Change 3: There were huge exaggerations and expansions of the plot in the movie, some of which weren’t even in the book. One example is the heavy tension between Bilbo and

Thorin in the movie.

There are many more changes in the movie. Find out more for yourself. Then, decide for yourself which version you prefer. Did the movie help to flesh out the subtle plots in the book?

Written by Ng Chia Wee

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THE HOBBIT

BOOK REVIEWS


13 Gifts by Wendy MassA rash decision involving the attempted theft of a school mascot sets into motion a series of life-altering events for 13-year-old Tara. Years of relocation have caused Tara to avoid friendships. Banished to her aunt’s house for the summer, Tara soon finds herself embroiled in another mishap. In payment for her misdeeds, Tara must complete a scavenger hunt before her 13th birthday but soon discovers she requires the help and friendship of others too.

Max by James Patterson,

Millions of fish are dying off the coast of Hawaii and someone--or something--is destroying hundreds of ships. Max and her team are exploring the depths of the ocean, but their every move is being carefully tracked by Mr Chu--a criminal mastermind with his own plans for the flock. Danger continues to threaten Max and her friends. Can they protect themselves from Mr. Chu and save the ocean from utter destruction?

Underworld by Meg CabotSeventeen-year-old Pierce Oliviera isn’t dead. But she’s been taken by the lord of the Underworld, the twilight world between heaven and hell, where the spirits of the deceased wait before embarking upon their final journey. John claims it’s for her own safety, to protect her from the Furies who yearn for vengeance against him. But John may have reasons of his own for wanting to keep Pierce close… And soon Pierce learns that while she might be safe from the wrath of the Furies in the Underworld, the people she loves back on earth are not.

The pig that wants to be eaten by Julian BagginiPig That Wants to Be Eaten is an entertaining and startling book that offers one hundred philosophical puzzles that stimulate our thoughts on a host of moral, social, and personal dilemmas presenting abstract philosophical issues in concrete terms. The puzzles suggest possible solutions while encouraging readers to draw their own conclusions. Lively, clever, and thought-provoking, The Pig That Wants to Be Eaten is sure to satisfy any intellectual appetite.

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NEW ARRIVALS

BOOK REVIEWS


The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling

When Barry Fairbrother dies, the town of Pagford is left in shock. Pagford is, seemingly, an English idyll, but what lies behind the pretty facade is a town at war. Rich at war with poor, teenagers at war with their parents, wives at war with their husband...Pagford is not what it first seems. And the empty seat left by Barry on the parish council soon becomes the catalyst for the bigger war the town has seen. Who will truimph?

The Time Keeper by Mitch AlbomIn Mitch Albom's newest work of fiction, the inventor of the world's first clock is punished for trying to measure God's greatest gift. He is banished to a cave for centuries and forced to listen to the voices of all who come after him seeking more days or more years. Eventually, with his soul nearly broken, Father Time is granted his freedom, along with a mission: a chance to redeem himself by teaching two earthly people, a teenage girl who is about to give up on life, and a wealthy old businessman who wants to live forever the true meaning of time.

Express to Impress by Darren Tay

Express to Impress is a book for all levels of public speaking competency: beginner, intermediate, advanced, and gungho contestants. The book teaches the key techniques to achieve public speaking success across a broad spectrum of speech genres: prepared, impromptu, evaluation, specialty, and humorous speeches. It also highlights the secrets to improve one’s language skills and non-verbal communication skills exponentially.

The 39 Clues: Storm Warning by Linda Sue ParkIn this thrilling ninth instalment, Amy and Dan hit the high seas as they follow the trail of some infamous ancestors to track down a long lost treasure. However, the real prize isn’t hidden in a chest. It's the discovery of the Madrigals' most dangerous secret and, even more shockingly, the true identity of the mysterious man in black.

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NEW ARRIVALS

CROSSWORD PUZZLE


Done by: Chee Xin Yi

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WIN ATTREACTIVE PRIZES

See how well you know The Hobbit....

who

Type to enter textAcross Down

4 Bilbo used a _____ to slice 1 What is the name of the important andthrough the spider webs and began to haughty dwarf who did not mention service to sing. Bilbo at all? 6 There were _______ dwarves who went 2 What the goblins surround the dwarves on the adventure with during the adventure in the Misty Mountains?8 What brought them out of the Misty Mountains the next morning? 3 Who leapt out to halt the dwarves after the battle of the spiders?10 Beorn was a __________, and he was believed to be a bear that descended from 5 The ring when worn by Bilbo made him the bears of the mountain that lived there ___________.before the giants came. 7 What is Bilbo’s last name? 9 The Lord of Eagles eventually became the ________ of All Birds.

FUN TIME


A boss tells an applicant, "I'll give you $8 an hour, starting today, and in three months, I'll raise it to $10 an hour. So, when would you like to start?"

"In three months."

What did the dog say when it sat on sandpaper? Ruff!

Little Johnny is always being teased by the other neighbourhood boys for being stupid. Their favourite joke is to offer Johnny a choice between a nickel and a dime. Little Johnny always takes the nickel.

One day, after Johnny takes the nickel, a neighbour man takes him aside and says, "Johnny, those boys are making fun of you. Don't you know that a dime is worth more than a nickel, even though the nickel's bigger?"

Johnny grins and says, "Well, if I took the dime, they'd stop doing it, and so far I've made $20!"

Dermatologist: Good news my dear. After looking through your test results I'm happy to report you will no longer be plagued by pimples.

Girl: Wow! That's great! Why?

Dermatologist: There's no more space.

Why do cows wear bells? Because their horns don't work.

Wordsworth Editorial Team

Teacher Advisors:Mdm Rebecca AbeyMrs Wong Pui Leng

Student Committee:Jane Seng (405)Yee You Xian (401)

Ng Chia Wee ( 406)Teng Wei Wen (301)

Chee Xin Yi (302) Chee Xin Yun (305)

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CACKLE WITH WORDSWORTH

Documents

Wordsworth Draft 3 Edited Final - Xinmin Secondary School · 2015-02-27 · Shuan Cheng 102 Nicholas Ng 102 Ting Kang 103 Lim Yi Hong 103 Teo Kaegene 105 Toh Wen Jie 105 Winners 1