Are good leaders born, or can you learn how to become a good leader?

CIS student leadership retreat discloses the answer.

Good leaders are made not born. If you have the desire and willpower, you can become an effective leader. Good leaders develop through a never-ending process of self-study, education, training, and experience. (Jago, 1982)

This was the overarching message recently communicated by the Canadian International School (CIS) to their High School student council members at a two-day leadership retreat. The event, held over a weekend, provided students with a unique opportunity to learn about the many facets of leadership, to develop and sharpen their leadership skills, and create strategic plans to guide student council actions and their sub-committees.

“Student leadership experiences form an integral part of student life at CIS, however, it is important our students are also taught how to become leaders as well as learn the qualities associated with the discipline”, explained CIS High School Principal, Glen Radojkovich. In addition to focusing on different leadership styles, students were also introduced to the importance of planning and communication. “Regardless of whether you’re talking about business, politics or sports, the best leaders in the world are first-rate planners and communicators. They are the threads that tie all the other key leadership functions together”, added Mr. Radojkovich.  

The format for the retreat involved examining real life case studies, listening to presentations and participating in role-play activities. It finished with a scavenger hunt in the Orchard area where students were given a list of tasks, items to find, and a predetermined team to work with. Each team successfully managed their time, redistributed tasks based on individual strengths, and acted as well coordinated groups – a perfect example of good leadership in action!

This retreat is just one example of the many leadership activities organised by CIS. Through their focus on creating a culture that encourages leadership and inspires action, students across the different grades have the chance to benefit from numerous leadership opportunities including Model United Nations conferences and an outstanding excursion week and outreach programme.

ASK THE DENTIST: Q&A: The Importance of Early Dental Check-up for Children

Q: I am a mother of 2. I have a 6-year-old boy and a 3-year-old daughter. I have only brought my son to see our family dentist once when he was 1.5 years old. He has never had problems with his teeth, but recently I noticed some black stains on his front teeth. They are also quite shaky and he complained that he does not dare to chew on the shaky part of the tooth. My daughter has never gone to the dentist before. At what age and how often should I bring my children to see a dentist? I am working full-time and do not have time to bring them to see a dentist regularly. Is there a difference between a pediatric dentist and a family dentist?

A: We understand that life gets busy, especially for working mummies. However, we would encourage you to bring your children to the dentist for their dental check-up as soon as possible. A child’s first dental visit should occur as soon as his or her first tooth erupts, or at the very latest by one year old. The first dental check-up identifies any potential issues with respect to the dental growth and development of your child. The dentist will also advise you on nutrition intake and home dental care (for example, proper tooth brushing techniques) for your children. Subsequent visits should happen every 6 months.

From the symptoms you have shared about your son, his loose teeth could be due to the eruption of his adult teeth. A visit to the dentist for an examination will definitely help assuage any issues that your son may have and prevent them from worsening.

Black stains on baby teeth could be due chromogenic (colour-producing) stains. This may be caused by chewable or liquid-iron supplements, or even multiple vitamins with added iron. It may also be caused by chromogenic bacteria. These stains polish off easily. Some populations naturally form a black line on the teeth at the gums lines of all the teeth. Where it comes from we do not know, but as the type of bacteria changes as the child grows up, these stains will also reduce with the eruption of the permanent teeth.

The difference between a family dentist and a pediatric dentist is that a pediatric dentist spends an additional two to three years in specialty training following dental school and limits his/her practice to treating children only. Pediatric dentists are primary and specialty oral care providers for infants and children through adolescence, possibly including those with special health needs. The challenges of scheduling for your children’s dental visits will pay off in the long run and ensure that they do not have underlying early childhood caries.

Dr Daylene Leong is Dental Specialist in Periodontics with Specialist Dental Group®, Singapore. She received her training in the specialty area of Periodontology from the University of Michigan, USA. Dr Leong is a Diplomate of the American Board of Periodontology. She has a special interest in periodontal regeneration and aesthetics, gingival plastic surgery and dental implants. For more information, visit www.specialistdentalgroup.com.

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Specialist Dental Group® is a corporate sponsor of the Canadian Association of Singapore (CAS). CAS members enjoy a special rate for dental services. For details, send an enquiry via www.specialistdentalgroup.com or call 6733 7883.

Achieving a healthy waistline - Why spot reduction doesn’t always work

By Jessica Gan

Have you ever done 100 sit ups and wondered why your tummy isn’t losing the inches?

Spot reduction does not work for most people trying to lose weight. Muscle hypertrophy may give the illusion that 
spot reduction works. 

However,  if you want to lose the adipose tissue around the tummy, just focusing on that spot may not be effective.

Some suggestions to achieve a healthy waistline is by doing overall body exercise regimes such as:

• High intensity interval training 
• Pilates high intensity interval training 
• Some weight training

Finally,  as opposed to the much hyped up “Eat clean”... .. why not try “Eat happy” :-) you may find yourself less deprived hence less binging afterwards. (Oops, I have just revealed my secret!)

For more fitness secrets, watch this space for pilates high intensity interval training (phiit) nuggets in 
the next MLT!

Verde Island: Heart of the Coral Triangle

Text and Photo by Terry Booth

A team of marine conservationists declared in 2006 that the Philippines is the ‘Center of Marine Biodiversity in the world’ and the Verde Island Passages as the ‘Center of the Center of Marine Shorefish Biodiversity’, containing more than 76% of the world’s coral species.

The eponymous Verde Island, located slap bang in the center of the strait between Batangas and Mindoro, is one of the best diving places in the Philippines, due to its pristine clear waters, stunning underwater topography and abundant marine life.

The only sign that there is a world class dive site just meters below the surface are two small pinnacles piercing the surface of the water. These pinnacles drop down deep and with the undulating terrain melding canyons, fissures, boulders and sheer walls, amazingly varied seascapes are offered, and along with the varying conditions, can be dived again and again, without the fear of getting bored.

We chose to drop in at the top of the pinnacles, at around 5m, with a negative entry to negate against the surface currants and in case the currents below were playing up. The wall afforded some shelter enabling us to relax and to gasp at the crystal clear waters and the abundance of fish. As we followed the wall down, we were greeted by thousands of red tooth triggerfish, anthias and butterfly fish. Whip corals and gorgonian fans scattered the wall providing shelter for a myriad of macro inhabitants such as shrimp, crabs and pygmy seahorses.

Verde Island also holds a huge amount of colourful nudibranches that rivals anywhere in the archipelago with thousands of species having been recorded, including the magnificent Spanish Dancer.

Reaching the edge of the pinnacle, there is a ledge at 18m. Here is where you will find the larger inhabitants of Verde Island. The wall ends and the current soars. We hold onto the rocks as we are buffeted from the swells; a line of clothes drying in this ferocious wind. Firmly holding on to the ledge, we become engulfed in schools of barracuda and a tornado of trevally hanging graciously in the current.

We dived four times at Verde, alternating the exposed wall side with the island side. There lies a sloping reef, rich in volcanic activity, with sulphurous bubbles bubbling from the sea floor. A more sedatory drift allows the divers to go slowly with the current. As you get closer to the end of the wall, the current starts racing, and you have to make sure that at the right time you nip back behind the wall. Otherwise you are in the blue, and it’s time for your ascent!