Party games at Fernvale Gardens

On 29 September, Fernvale Primary School pupil Zhong Xue had her first encounter with special education pupils when her school's Indian Dance troupe was invited to perform at this year's Children's Day Concert at Fernvale Gardens School. "The two boys who danced to the Korean song 'Nobody, Nobody' were very good, and I enjoyed watching all the performances from their school," relates the Pri 4 pupil. "I now know that they are like other children - good in some things, and not so good in other things."

Pupils from both schools participated enthusiastically in the party games at Fernvale Gardens School.

Zhong Xue's Pri 4 schoolmate Nasrullah B Muhd Hassan was brimming with enthusiasm when his teacher picked him and a few other classmates to join in the celebrations next door, even though it would take up the whole afternoon, after his own full school day. After all, the two-and-a-half hour programme was an audiovisual treat featuring performers from the Indian Dance and Wushu troupes as well as a soloist playing Chinese music on a two-stringed erhu.

"I had a lot of fun! During break time, I helped my 'buddy' to open his muffin packaging," exclaims Nasrullah. "He's quite chatty, and asked me to play 'catching' with him. I had to say no because we had to go to the classroom for games after the break."

This year's celebrations were a little different as "we decided to deepen the interaction, and go beyond just a concert," explains Mrs Chia. "We involved our teachers too, and six of our CME Committee members went over to conduct the games. The pupils played 'Passing the Parcel' and 'Perfect Number 7', and everyone had a good time."

"It was an enriching experience and eye-opener for me," shares CME Committee member Miss Tay Bee Li, who facilitated the games. "I had to speak really slowly, and be very deliberate in my instructions. I think it takes a very special breed of teachers to teach special education pupils, and I have the greatest admiration for them."

All game for Fernvalympics

Everyone joins in the games.

The next day, thirty-two Pri 6 pupils from Fernvale Primary School played 'big brother' and 'big sister' to their younger counterparts from Fernvale Gardens School. The five- to seven-year olds were visiting to take part in a 'Fernvalympics' of exciting telematches that pitted their skills against Pri 1 and Pri 2 pupils from their host school.

"We walked with them to the field so that they won't get lost," relates 'big sister' Joleen Ng. "During the telematch, we helped to place the shuttlecocks onto their racquets before they raced from one end of the field to the other." The spectators, comprising Pri 1 and Pri 2 Fernvale Primary School pupils, were visibly excited by the competition, and contributed to the carnival atmosphere by cheering and clapping loudly to encourage their guests.

It was Joleen's first experience as a buddy, and she raved about it at home. "My parents told me they were proud of me for being so helpful," she says.

Break time was the best time for interaction as pupils enjoyed the goodies from their Children Day's pack.

Tan Xue Lin has had earlier interactions with pupils from Fernvale Gardens School during past events, but the Pri 6 pupil was still very enthusiastic about being a buddy again. "I helped a little girl during the telematch, and when that ended, I brought my buddy around the school to watch the competitions among the other levels. I treat her as one of us, and we enjoyed ourselves very much."

Apart from joint classes and festivities, Mrs Chia expects to see a "greater involvement in service learning" between the two schools in the coming year. The new elements could include the sharing of learning resources, exchange programmes and opportunities for staff attachment. "Their teachers have very creative teaching materials, which cater to pupils with special needs," she said of her colleagues next door. "We can learn from them in this area as we also have such pupils in our school."