Chaplaincy Team Communio

St. Anthony's Cannossian Secondary School in Bedok played host to the first "Communio" session of the year on the 26th of February. Entitled "Practices in Catholic Schools/ Chaplaincy Team", it sought to give greater insight to the concept of Chapliancy teams in Singapore Catholic schools.
It was a lively three hour session and was delivered by Ms. Daisy Tan from the host school, Ms Soh Lai Leng & Sr Assunta Cheng, FMM from Holy Innocents' High School and Friar Michael D’Cruz OFM from St Joseph's Institution. A total of 58 educators coming from a cross section of Catholic schools attended the dialogue session which ended with a synthesis by Fr Norbert Menezes, SJ.

Enhancing CMECS - CHIJ St Nicholas

In the second of the series, Enhancing CMECS, 16 teachers attended a workshop on the 23rd of February.
The CMECS or Civics and Moral Education for Catholic Schools, was hosted by CHIJ St. Nicholas. The programme for the day included talks, group discussion, role play and a question and answer session. The purpose was to explain the lesson plans that the secondary school is trialling out.  It was facilitated by ACCS executive director Wendy Louis and project director (Secondary) Jeanette Atabelo. 
The feedback received was encouraging as participants felt the lesson plans were detailed and helpful.

Who is the Learner

CHIJ Katong Convent played host to a workshop led by Fr. David Garcia OP today. A total of 15 teachers from Assumption English School, St Patricks, St Joseph's Institution Independent and CHIJ Katong Convent attended the two hour workshop.
The session examined the person of the learner who is at the heart of the teaching - learning process. It was aimed at the Civics and Moral Education teachers as well as those involved in RE, religious education.

Call to Discipleship

On the 9th of February, sixty four students and eight teachers from nine Catholic schools gathered at CAEC for the "Call to Discipleship" Lenten journey preparation. The students will in turn go back to their schools armed with the skills they picked up at today's session.
It encompassed the following:
1. Appreciating their role as a Catholic student leader.
2. Learning about their role as facilitators and the skills required in handling small groups
3. Familiarisation with the Lenten booklet.
In addition, the participants were provided with a copy of the 52 page Lenten booklet, a purple cloth to signify Lent and a cardamom seed representing the strong influence that the student leaders can have amongst their fellow students.

Why Teach in a Catholic School

As part of Catholic Awareness week which ends today at the National Institute of Education, ACCS held a talk for the undergraduates on "Why Teach in a Catholic School".
The speakers were Mdm Quek Seok Noi, principal of Holy Innocent's Primary, Mr Andrew Tan, principal of Montfort Secondary and Mrs Christine Anne Kong principal of Catholic Junior College. Summing up was Ms Wendy Louis, executive director of ACCS.
A total of 27 people attended and after a short individual talk by each principal a question and answer session followed.
Essentially the merits of teaching in a Catholic School were discussed (whether being a Catholic or not), the expectations of principals and how to go about applying for a position in a Catholic school.

What is a Catholic School?

On the 2nd and 3rd of February a total of 20 Operation and Administration Managers of Catholic schools, gathered at the FMM House of Prayer and Formation at Holland Road. The occasion was an induction and half-day retreat on the theme of "What is a Catholic School?"
It aimed to explain the basic tenets of a Catholic School and to expound on the ethos that a Catholic school educates the whole person.
Conducted by Bro. Dominic Yeo SG, the 4 hour sessions were tailored for operation and administration managers separately.
Participants commented, "It creates awareness of working in a Catholic school as compared to a normal school" and "Sharing with our brothers and sisters, it helped me to understand the basic tenets of a Catholic School".

Civics and Moral Education Workshop

On Tuesday the 2nd of Feb, St Gabriel's Secondary School played host to a workshop on Enhancing CMECS, Civics and Moral Education for Catholic Schools. A total of 26 teachers from the school attended the two hour session.
It aimed to provide an overview of the programme which is to be initially taught in stages to Secondary One students at the school.
The workshop consisted of talks by ACCS executive director, Ms. Wendy Louis and project director (secondary), Ms Jeanette Atabelo. It also involoved role play by the participants and served as a platform for feedback from the teachers as well.

Taizé – An Ecumenical Evening of Prayer

Taizé, the renowned, meditative prayer style, was brought to life in a three hour prayer session with the Prior of Taizé, Brother Alois. On the evening of 29th January Catholics and people of various Christian denominations prayed in a packed Cathedral of the Good Shepherd.
The Taizé community is a “parable of community” that wants its life to be a sign of reconciliation between divided Christians and between separated peoples. They aim to give greater visibility to the communion which, in Christ, already exists between all who are baptised.
The three hour meditative prayer session was punctuated by a welcome from the Archbishop and a meditation from Brother Alois and a prayer around the cross.
The event was organised as part of the Taizé “Pilgrimage of Trust on Earth” event in Manila. ACCS sees this as a way of encouraging prayer amongst older students and teachers.