CIS Receives WWF Eco School Award

CIS Secondary School was delighted to recently receive its first award from World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Singapore for efforts by its student-led club Green Machine to improve the sustainability of the school. 

The silver award they received was the second highest award possible. As a WWF eco school, CIS now joins thousands of schools around the world making a difference by conserving natural resources.

Projects that helped the students receive this award were wide ranging and involved the entire school. They included new recycling and reusing initiatives, developing a rooftop garden and composting programme, encouraging their fellow peers to make meat reduction pledges and creating an eco-committee made up of teachers, students, parents, Sodexo and the school administration. 

“Participating in the WWF School’s Programme was a fantastic experience for our students,” said Michael Broadhead, CIS Chemistry teacher and Green Machine sponsor. “Not only did it provide them with a better understanding of environmental issues through real-life, hands-on experiences, but it also generated greater student empowerment and integration amongst the entire school community.”

Next year the students are hoping to apply for the highest award, the prestigious Green Flag award. Initiatives they will be introducing to achieve this include Green & Healthy Monday to reduce meat consumption, recycling segregation improvement, waste prevention strategies, carbon footprint reduction and expanding food production in the garden. Good luck students! We’re looking forward to reading all about it in MLT! 

For more stories about CIS and their student achievements visit www.cis.edu.sg/mosaic

Ask the Dentist: Scaling & Polishing

Q: Will visiting the dentist too often for scaling & polishing “thin” the teeth?

A: During a regular dental visit for your six monthly checkup, professional cleaning (scaling & polishing) is done to ensure that plaque (sticky, harmful bacteria) and tartar (plaque that has accumulated and hardened over time) is being removed from your teeth. As tartar cannot be removed by regular toothbrushing, a thorough scaling & polishing session will help to prevent excessive plaque buildup and gum disease.

There is a misconception that one’s teeth have “thinned” as the plaque/tartar that once surrounded the tooth has been removed. Gaps that were once filled would be visible.

Patients can also be reassured that throughout the treatment, none of the dental instruments used would erode patient’s teeth enamel or cause it to thin.

A scaler is used to gently remove the necessary and water is then used to wash it away. At our clinic, this dental instrument has a small scaling tip that produces a soft ultrasonic vibration to loosen any hardened tartar. It is more efficient in removing tartar as compared to a normal dental scaler and curette and is also more comfortable for patients.

After scaling is completed, polishing is done to remove any extrinsic stains and restore your teeth to their natural colour.

With that, remember to visit your dentist twice a year (every six months) for good oral health. Scaling & polishing will not “thin” the teeth, but neglect certainly would. 

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Dr Steven Soo is a Dental Specialist in Prosthodontics with Specialist Dental Group ® . He was formerly a Clinical Lecturer at the Eastman Dental Institute and Clinical Teacher at the GKT Dental Institute, both of which are affiliated with the University of London. Dr Soo has a special interest in prosthetic and implant restorative dentistry. www.specialistdentalgroup.com |6734 9393

Singapore, Another New Beginning!

by Laura Colter

July 1, 2016; after what seemed like a long night of fireworks to celebrate Canada’s 149th birthday; leaving behind 27 years of what we knew as home including more than 40 members of our family; and 24 hours of travel time, we arrived in Singapore, feeling lost, alone and reluctant to start all over again. Although our furniture and belongings filled the condominium which we now call home, there was a sense of emptiness and fear as to what this new beginning will bring upon us. We had one long month to learn and explore all the places and things which now makes us feel at ease. The memory of all the times we experienced navigation issues along East Coast Road, brings a faint smile. Although these memories seem afar, we have just been in this country for 445 days and we’ve had our share of amazing experiences, including all the wonderful food, cultural variations and great stories to carry for the rest of our lives and that of our children. Coming from a vast multicultural community in Toronto, Canada and being amidst people of many different nationalities, I must say life in Singapore is quite an experience on its own. This experience was further enhanced by the enrolment of our children at the CIS (Canadian International School). We must admit that the choice of school and the neighbourhood were promising factors and facilitated greatly in the adjustment process. The school community, including staff, parents and fellow classmates were very welcoming and gave us all a sense of belonging. The open doors policy was inviting and gave us a chance as parents to be at ease with our children’s education system. What further personally engaged me was the opportunity to be a Room Parent which I think is a great way to integrate parents into the school community and engage them in school activities and events. This was a means of connecting with the students, teachers and parents further making way for a great social platform. Although, I am not yet too familiar with Singapore, I know it well enough to call it our second home. We now have friends from many different nationalities and countries and I feel that this friendship will continue for years to come. As much as we miss having the four seasons, making snow angels, snow days, raking all the fall leaves looking forward to a new beginning every spring, and enjoy hot summers on the beach, we love Singapore and all that it has to offer. We love biking down East Coast Park on a hot sunny day and are suddenly hit with a downpour, the outdoor pools that lack heavy chlorine odour, not having to bundle up to go out and all the outdoors that we have to enjoy though out the year. This has truly turned out to be an adventure and experience that is unforgettable.

Fit Bit: Getting Serious with the Pilates Full Roll Up

By Jessica Gan

This movement can be easy for some but the fittest ones may also find it challenging.

What is “full roll up”?

It looks like a sit up but it is not. It is one of the classic pilates workout. Start by laying on the mat.

How do you do it?

• Inhale and feel your rib cage expand. Arms reach towards sky.
• Exhale and slowly peel your spine off the mat. Passing through imprint (spine very close flat on mat). Until your spine rolls over and arms touch the toes.
• Inhale.
• Exhale and keep the “c curve” and roll spine through flexion. 

How does it benefit you?

Strengthen your core.

What is a wrong way to do it?

Using momentum and rushing through without making the imprint. Jerking motions should be avoided.

It has been said that 1 roll up equals 6 sit ups.

Enjoy your way to fab abs!.


More tips email: jessica.gan@alumni.utoronto.ca