A Stunning Performance, A Special Experience
Thursday, August 19, 2010
July 31 and August 1 marked an important weekend for some 20 students from APSN Chao Yang Special School and MINDS Fernvale Gardens School - they performed alongside their counterparts from mainstream schools at Ngee Ann City for the Singapore Youth Festival (SYF). This is the fifth year that the SYF has included students from special education schools, as part of an initiative to promote better understanding and foster friendship between students with special needs and students in mainstream schools.
"I first proposed to include the students with special needs in the SYF in 2006 because the SYF is a celebration of all youths, and I thought it would be good to include them," says MOE Senior Specialist for CCA (Dance) Ms Yam Boon Fong, who oversaw this performance item, together with her colleague Mr Ng Chen Yee. "By participating in the same event [as the students from mainstream schools], the students with special needs will have a chance to watch all the performances, learn about them and interact with them."
But the benefit isn't just for them. The inclusion programme has been a platform where mainstream students who have not encountered students with special needs before, can learn about the latter as well. "I believe the initiative is welcomed by the schools, and it is a small step towards both sides having a better understanding of each other, " adds Ms Yam. "It's mutually beneficial."
Take a closer look at these SYF performances in the following photo essay.
On 31 July 2010, MINDS Fernvale Gardens School students rallied around before their performance of the dance item Reach for the Stars at Ngee Ann City. The students had performed the same number in an internal school event previously, so they were well-prepared to put on a good show for the SYF.
MINDS Fernvale Gardens School student Yuen Kai Lek (whose hands are pictured here with the pompoms he used in the dance) said he was nervous about the performance, but also excited that friends and family would be present to watch him.
Six students from MINDS Fernvale Gardens School performing a dance item with students from the other participating nine schools, in line with this year's SYF theme "Torch of Friendship". Ms Yam said the students from mainstream schools were extremely understanding and helpful when it came to guiding the students from special schools - "this was unexpected, but incredibly heartwarming to watch."
MINDS Fernvale Gardens School student Nur Atikah (second from left) said her favourite part of Reach for the Stars was when everyone raised their pompoms during the chorus. She said she was glad to be performing alongside her counterparts from mainstream schools during the SYF.
After wrapping up the item, the students from MINDS Fernvale Gardens School were ecstatic, on a post-performance high. And with good reason - the heartwarming, rousing applause that followed their performance.
The next day, 1 August, it was the turn for students from APSN Chao Yang Special School to take to the stage. Whatever pre-performance jitters they might have had, students from special and mainstream schools had the chance to chat and ease their spirits, before their moment in the spotlight.
A student from APSN Chao Yang Special School beamed in excitement as her teacher put on the finishing touches to her costume before the performance.
The students from APSN Chao Yang Special School performed a song and dance item, Beautiful Sunday. "Because we are performing on Sunday, and it will be a beautiful day!" said student Vickneshwaran s/o Ganesha from APSN Chao Yang.
APSN Chao Yang Special School student Nur Fira Adira bte Daud said the hard work putting together the performance paid off when the audience cheered loudly for them. She added that she was excited to be performing in front of a large group of people for the SYF.
An APSN Chao Yang Special School student geared up for a hug from a new friend from a mainstream school for her hard work and stellar performance. Ms Yam said the SYF has been instrumental in bridging the social gap between students from mainstream and special schools, and has helped set bonds of friendship between the two.
Still raring to go after their performance, the students from APSN Chao Yang Special School added their signatures to T-shirts promoting the Singapore Youth Olympic Games.
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