CIS hosts first-ever Yale MUN Singapore conference in SEA

Preparing their students for life outside classrooms, Canadian International School (CIS) is always on the lookout to provide opportunities that expose them to real-world issues and equip them with tools to tackle such challenges.

Embodying this spirit, CIS recently hosted a Model United Nations (MUN) conference, in collaboration with Yale University. After months of planning and collaborating with Yale directors and students, CIS presented the first-ever Yale Model United Nations conference in South East Asia: Yale MUN Singapore.

MUN is a simulation of United Nations committees and conferences where students learn, discuss, and debate about historical or real-time problems from around the world. These topics range from political disputes to climate action and health crises. Students role-play as delegates representing different countries, where they draft and debate directives, resolutions, or papers, aiming to solve the problems addressed.

There were 400 registered delegates from more than 20 schools who participated in the Yale MUN Singapore conference. Delegates flew in from Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, The Philippines,Taiwan,and Canada.

According to secondary principal Dan Smith, this first-ever Yale MUN Singapore was “really exciting” as CIS students get to work with Yale students, and had amazing takeaways, such as “increasing the quality of conversation and debate through the experience that they bring.”

Teacher-in-charge Séverine Fumoux added that the event provided CIS students with a great opportunity for students to experience “something of a different scale” and the ability to “network” with the accomplished members of the conference.

Students from both CIS and Yale sangpraises of the event, talking about the valuable insights and connections they’ve gained from this exceptional experience.

“I’m super thankful to CIS for allowing us to come to Singapore. This is our first conference here and it really exceeded our expectations when it came to membership and the quality of the conferences,” Yale student Noah Killeen shared.

Hear more about CIS’s teaching approaches and curriculum at their upcoming Open House. Register your interest here.

Ask the Dentist: Do oral piercings put your oral health at risk?

Numerous individuals opt for oral piercings as a means of self-expression, and the popularity of these has risen in recent years. That being said, not many individuals seek advice from a dentist before proceeding with them.

Oral piercings are any piercings located within or attached to the mouth, such as those on the tongue, lips, and cheeks. Oral piercings can affect your dental health, with potential complications after the piercing. They include:

• Infection around the piercing: an infected tongue piercing poses a potentially life-threatening risk as it may cause tongue swelling, obstructing the airway.
• Tooth crack, chip, or tooth decay: rubbing your tongue piercing against your teeth can injure your gums and lead to cracked teeth. It may also damage fillings.
• Cavities: the piercing may accumulate plaque as it traps food particles and debris.
• Nerve damage: you may sometimes experience numbness due to nerve impairment. This damage may be permanent, impacting your sense of taste and mouth mobility.
• Prolonged bleeding: a punctured blood vessel during the piercing process may also lead to significant blood loss.
• Allergic reaction: the metal used in the piercing may trigger an allergic reaction at the site of the piercing.

Post-piercing care becomes crucial to maintain oral health. Prioritise diligent oral hygiene, paying close attention to both your jewellery and the piercing site. Explore these aftercare tips:

• Brush twice a day for two minutes each with fluoride toothpaste
• Floss once a day
• Avoid using your teeth or tongue to 'play' with your jewellery
• Use an alcohol-free mouth rinse during and after the healing process

If you notice any signs of a cracked tooth or tooth decay after getting an oral piercing, it's crucial to seek professional help from a dental specialist or dentist.

Dr Tan Kian Meng is a Dental Specialist in Prosthodontics with Specialist Dental Group®. He is also a Clinical Lecturer at the National University of Singapore and Diplomate with the American Board of Prosthodontics. He was formerly a Consultant at Singapore’s Khoo Teck Puat Hospital and Fellow of Maxillofacial Prosthetics and Oncologic Dentistry Fellowship at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Dr Tan has special interest in prosthetic and implant restorative dentistry.