Finn M. organises ‘Wear It Purple Day’ at Canadian International School (CIS)

Finn M., joined the international movement of ‘Wear it Purple Day’ to raise awareness for the LGBTQ community at CIS.

Finn M., grade 10 student representative and leader of the Gender and Sexualities Alliance (GSA) at CIS. Finn, together with other students joined the international movement of ‘Wear it Purple Day’. Find out more about this day, as well as how Finn hopes this event will raise awareness for the LGBTQ community at CIS.

Q: What is Wear It Purple day?

Finn: Originally founded in Australia, Wear It Purple day aims to raise awareness for and celebrate the LGBTQ+ community bringing everyone together. I feel that this day is particularly important for queer youth as it provides a safe and empowering environment for us to unite, collaborate and feel proud of our identities.

Q: What is the key message behind/purpose of this day?

Finn: This is a day for all to have fun and celebrate who they are no matter their gender identity or sexuality. We decided to organise this event at CIS to raise money for Oogachaga, a foundation that provides counselling for queer youth as well as many other programmes to help Singapore’s LGBTQ community. I think counselling is an important opportunity for youth because it helps us to understand the emotions we experience and how we can cope with difficult situations.

Q: Can you tell me more about the different activities you have planned and the purpose behind each activity?

Finn: During SMART period, students will be able to participate in a range of different activities designed to bring people together to collaborate and celebrate as we join the international movement of ‘Wear it Purple Day’. These include face painting and bracelet making to show off pride, as well as a photobooth to pose with friends and come together to enjoy karaoke and dancing. Our activities are designed to bring fun and spirit to the school. We will have music playing from many queer artists as well as different games in the art pod.

Q: What do you hope Wear It Purple day will achieve for the CIS community?

Finn: I really hope this day generates awareness for the LGBTQ community so that even one person will stop and think before they make an ignorant comment. I want the queer community here to be proud of their identity and have a place where they can be themselves. So often our identities are something to be hidden or ashamed of and I want us to be ourselves and celebrate together as a community without having to hide.

Q: If given the opportunity, what other events or initiatives would you like to bring to CIS?

Finn: At the moment I lead the GSA (gender and sexualities alliance) – a student club that meets every week to talk, educate and hang out in a place that is queer friendly. We are planning many ways to have more queer inclusion at the school from painting a mural to having pride flags displayed in the classroom. I believe that there are so many things we could do at school to not just accept the queer community but embrace and be proud of us.

Learn more about CIS and see classes in action at their open houses.

Ask the Dentist: What do I do if my dental implants fail?

Dental implant treatment is generally a safe and successful procedure designed to last your lifetime with proper care. It consists of three parts, namely:

1. A titanium implant body inserted into the bone

2. An attachment called an abutment

3. A crown that is attached to the abutment and aligned with your remaining teeth

Reasons for dental implant failure

Though a failing dental implant is unusual, some conditions or complications may affect the healing process. They include gum disease, teeth grinding, and other risk factors such as smoking, medications consumed, and osteoporosis. Other medical conditions, such as cancer treatment and/or radiation, may also affect the bones’ healing ability.

Signs and symptoms

Signs of a failing implant include it being wobbly when chewing or talking, pain, swelling or infection. If there are any signs of failure, your dental specialist or dentist will take an x-ray to examine the implant and its surrounding bones.

Treatment

Your dental specialist or dentist can easily remove the failed dental implant under local anesthesia. If bone loss is present, a bone graft may be required to improve the site for replacing the implant. This process may take a few months as the area has to heal before inserting a new implant. When in recovery, your dental specialist or dentist will discuss ways to reduce risks that may have caused the implant to fail. Following the recovery instructions and care for your implants is crucial.

Always inform your dental specialist or dentist of any health or medical history changes. Maintaining good oral hygiene and routine dental check-ups is also the key to successful dental implants.

If you notice any abnormality with your dental implants, seek your dental specialist or dentist immediately for a consultation.

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.

www.specialistdentalgroup.com | 6734 9393

Canadian International School (CIS) Alumni Story, Class of 2018

 

2020 was an exciting year for Joshua K, he was accepted into the super competitive Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts acting programme. As one of the UK’sleading drama universities, Mountview offers 200 places annually, but receives over 3,500 applications each year.

Joshua got his first acting opportunity in CIS’s 2016 play, “The Crucible”. As his debut on-stage performance, the dress rehearsal was nerve-wracking.

Stage fright got the best of him. “I basically froze on stage when I was supposed to say my monologue. Luckily, my cast members were able to help me out and we were able to continue the story.”

This experience helped him build the confidence he needed for subsequent performances. He grew to love performing and joined every school production he could in pursuit of an acting career.

In 2020, Mountview announced live auditions in Singapore. Unfortunately, the event was cancelled due to COVID restrictions and Joshua had to submit a recording instead.

“It didn’t help that I had such a small bedroom to record in,” he said. “But I decided to try anyway and challenge myself to go beyond what I normally would. I’m really grateful that I did!”

At Mountview, he earned several theatre credits. These included his recent roles in Leo Butler’s “Boy”, an immersive play about the different people a teenager meets on the streets of London. Joshua played a total of 7 characters, including an agitated patient, a cyclist, and a homeless man. This was, no doubt, a real test on his acting abilities.

Now, he is looking forward to graduating with a Bachelor of Performance in Acting in the summer.

As he continues his journey towards the silver screen (or broadway), Joshua encourages other aspiring thespians to take risks, be it on stage or during rehearsals. 

Want to learn more about CIS? Join an Open House this March.

Ask the Dentist: Why should I replace my missing teeth?

A: While losing a tooth seems nothing too serious or harmful, it is actually more than just that. Our teeth give us a beautiful smile and help us chew and break down our food. Without replacing a missing tooth, it can impact your quality of life, affecting speech, appearance, self-esteem and restriction in diet to softer and more highly processed foods which are more easily chewed, affecting nutrition. Having a gap for too long may also result in higher risks of bone deterioration and shrinkage and risks misaligned teeth.

Our teeth support each other. Having a gap may cause your teeth to drift uncontrollably, resulting in crowding or the opening up of further gaps to occur over time. This can cause food packing between the teeth which increases gum disease and risk for caries. Teeth opposing a gap, will over-erupt i.e., elongate into the space disrupting the occlusal plane or line of the teeth.

With the advanced technology we have these days, there are many ways to restore a missing tooth that should last for years. Some common treatment options include dental implants, bridges and dentures. You can prevent tooth loss by practicing good oral hygiene habits and have regular dental check-ups every 6 months to ensure your teeth and gums are healthy.

Here are some simple steps you can take at home to maintain good oral hygiene:

• Brush your teeth two times a day

• Floss daily

• Use antiseptic mouthwash (alcohol-free) regularly

If you notice any sensitivity or pain, see something not quite right with your teeth or are simply due for a routine check-up, schedule an appointment with your dentist or dental specialist today.