Dearest Students of our Lasallian Schools (Government-Aided - St. Patrick's School, St. Anthony's Primary School, De La Salle School, SJI Junior and St. Stephen's School),

The Circuit-breaker (CB) period, which we are now well into since 7 April 2020, is now into its third week. The Prime Minister, Mr. Lee Hsien Loong, announced earlier this week on 20 April that it would need to be extended by another four weeks from 4 May to 1 June 2020. As a result, your school holidays will be from 4 May till 1 June. This will mean that your current learning from home period will go on for only another week or so. We hope that you will keep up your efforts in following your lessons and helping your respective teachers to carry out their work of teaching you and helping you in your learning while at home.

What can you do to help your teachers? You will need to do what is right and what you know will be good, not only for yourself, but also for your teachers and your family members at home. There may be many things that you might find difficult to do, or that you are unwillingly to do, even though you know that it is your responsibility to do them correctly and fully. If you do come across such feelings, you will know that such work are meant to be for your benefit and profit.

As the June school holidays are brought forward into the month of May instead, you will, in all likelihood, be spending the whole day at home from 4 May till 1 June 2020. During this period, there are some other alternative things that you could do instead to help you learn new skills. I have the following suggestions that you may wish to consider:

1. Help with laundry (do you know how to operate a washing machine or wash clothes with your hands?)

You will learn about weight, chemistry and nature;

2. If you are allowed to, you can learn to cook safely and wash up thereafter

you will learn about safety, temperature, chemistry, biology, and mathematics;

3. Clean up and re-organize your own sleeping area and make your bed each morning

you will learn about hygiene, cleanliness, self-management and being organized for yourself;

4. Look into your refrigerator at home and see how you can clean it out and help to ensure that the food you keep in it is fresh and edible

you will learn about checking, observing, and packing food for hygiene and avoidance of fungus, salmonella and mould which can be detrimental to your family's health.

5. Sweeping and cleaning the floor of your home everyday

you will learn to keep your living environment clean, dust-free and avoid allergens.

6. Read widely - in between all these chores mentioned above, you should still take time to sit down, rest and read for about 20 minutes or more each day.

It could be the newspapers, good magazines, good books if you have some, or even the food packages that may be around the house - you will learn to read, understand and focus on how information is organised for different purposes. If you haven't learned to read yet, get someone to help you.

7. Learn to pray

There are many religious books from which you can learn to pray from. You can also get your family to come together to pray. The Catholics and other Christians have the Bible. The other religions also have their own written works. Learning to pray well will help you in many things later on in life.

Each of you has a special talent. It could be speaking, singing, dancing, drawing, writing, computing, praying, craft-work, speed-reading, fitness-training (even while in the house), indoor and outdoor gardening, house-work, cooking, cleaning, and anything else that you may be really good at. Use your talents for your family and even for your friends and teachers when you return to school in June. At home, your family would be your audience and assessors and trainers. don't be shy to express yourselves, because you will surprise not only them, but yourself as well.

Friday 24 April 2020 also marks the start of Ramadan for our Muslim brothers and sisters. It is the month of fasting until Hari Raya Puasa on 24 May 2020. We wish all our Muslim teachers and classmates a very meaningful month of fasting during this period.

Most of all in this period up till 1 June 2020, all of you have to take care of yourselves in body, mind and spirit and to be patient, kind and thoughtful. Your teachers will be there to assist and support you in the best ways that they can. Ask them when you are in need, seek their advice when you are unsure, and knock at their computer addresses if you need them to be at yours.

Be good, be strong, be courageous, and continue to pray and work well.

Thank you for being our Lasallians - Patricians, Anthonians, De La Sallians, Josephians and Stephanians all of you. Be happy!

From the Brothers of the Christian Schools,

Signum Fidei.

Yours in the service of St. John Baptist de La Salle,

MARK CHIN

Chairman,

CBS Board of Management

23 April 2020

2nd Letter From Mr Mark Chin Chairman CBS Board.pdf