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During the June holidays, selected interested students participated in our annual Creative Writing Camp, with experiences and workshops led by teachers and professionals from the writing industry. In Term 3, ELL Festival took place with various activities to engage students' curiosity about the English Language and literary pursuits. 

Do check out their works here at our online publication, ContemplAtIons 2024! 

In addition, you may also enjoy reading the thoughtful and creative essays by students who achieved Gold and Silver awards at the Queens Commonwealth Essay Competition, also hosted on the website! 

We are delighted to share that our students participated in the 'Tea, Tiffin, and Poetry' 2024 event at CHIJ St. Nicholas Girls' School. This event was dedicated to celebrating the art of poetry, offering students a unique opportunity to engage with local poets and fellow poetry enthusiasts and embodying our school’s commitment to nurturing the arts and fostering a love for literature within our community. 

During the event, our students immersed themselves in the rich world of poetry through reading, writing, and listening to original works. The afternoon was brimming with creativity and inspiration, enabling students to deepen their understanding and appreciation of poetic expression. We are proud of the insights and creative growth our students gained from this memorable experience.

We are also thrilled to announce that our students, Chang Ling-Chi @ Olivia Zelda Setiono and Vidal Janella Amy Pfrilz De Vera from 3 Excellence, received recognition for their outstanding poetry, clinching awards for ‘The Most Thought-Provoking Poem’ and ‘The Best Writer’s Craft,’ respectively.

• CAP 2023/2024
  2023/2024 CAPpers
  Student-writers in our Creative Writing Programme passionately pursued their craft, meticulously developing portfolios of original works that reflect a deep sensitivity to the world around them for the Creative Arts Programme (CAP). This prestigious programme, jointly organized by the Gifted Education Branch, MOE, and Yale-NUS College, offers a unique platform for young and talented writers.
  We are proud to announce that in 2023, two of our students, Stella Tong Chi Ling from 3 Steadfastness and Rulona Miguel Badilla from 3 Excellence, were selected to represent AISS at the CAP Seminar, held from 29th May to 1st June. Continuing this achievement, in 2024, Chang Ling-Chi @ Olivia Zelda Setiono and Joey Lee Jie Yi, both from 3 Excellence, were also accepted into CAP, representing AISS at the seminar from 27th to 31st May.

  As CAP participants, they engaged in a diverse array of creative writing workshops, plenary lectures, performance workshops, and enrichment sessions, all of which pushed their creative boundaries to new heights. We would like to congratulate them in achieving new and exciting milestones in their creative writing endeavors.

  2023/2024 CAP Mentees
  We are pleased to announce that our 2022 CAPpers, Bellelyn Ong and Klenn Teo Yuan Jun Kai, successfully submitted their portfolios for the 2023 Mentorship Attachment. As 2023 CAP poetry mentees, they demonstrated a spirit of excellence, pushing themselves to refine their creative writing skills under the guidance of a local writer. Their dedication led to the creation of exceptional poetry pieces, which were selected for publication in the 2023 CAP Anthology, Eye on the World: Making It New.

  Additionally, Bellelyn received special recognition from the CAP Organising Committee and was invited to recite her published poem, ‘Pulau Ubin & Painting Lessons (Title of Film) @ National Gallery’, at the CAP Seminar Closing Ceremony on 1 June at NAFA. Her performance aimed to inspire seminar participants from various schools as they embarked on their journeys as budding writers. Bellelyn was further honored with an invitation to recite her poem at the 2023 Poetry Festival at NLB on 5th August, where her work was praised for its craftsmanship and alignment with the festival’s theme, ‘Sojourners.’ We applaud her outstanding achievements in creative writing.

  Building on this success, Rulona Miguel Badilla from 3 Excellence was also successful in his application for the 2024 Mentorship Attachment. Under the mentorship of a local writer, he crafted remarkable poetry pieces that were selected for publication in the 2024 CAP Anthology, Eye on the World: The Half Familiar. Following in the footsteps of his seniors, Miguel was chosen to perform a reading of his poem, ‘Self-portrait of an Art Gallery’, at the CAP Seminar 2024 Closing Ceremony, carrying forward the legacy of inspiring students across schools on their creative writing journeys.

• Creative Writing Workshop 2023
  Picture this: The words you have penned on paper dances to the beat of spoken word poetry, and memorable worlds of wonderful fiction are formed with little words, quick sentences, and a few characters.

  This is what students from our AISS Creative Writing Program experienced during this year’s Creative Writing Camp, conducted during the last week of the June’s holidays. Through a series of workshops led by our teachers as well as established contemporary Singapore writers, Marc Nair and Neil Humphreys, students gained great insights into the myriad possibilities of writing. 

  By the end of the camp, they learnt how to bring their written words to life as they performed or presented their works in front of an audience. It was a joy to see them impressing their peers with their brave attempts at acrostic poetries, visual poetries or prose embellished with detailed descriptions enhanced by carefully chosen literary devices.

  Quickly and adeptly, participants also learnt to create gripping short fiction–a genre which involves creating impactful narratives composed of minimal characters governed by one or two central themes and concerns–with the personalised guidance and feedback from Neil Humphreys, who has published numerous works. 

  After these experiences, these budding writers are encouraged to edit and improve on their created work, with the guidance and feedback of the teachers. Their works will subsequently be featured in AISS’s public school online publication, Contemplations. 

  2023 Creative Writing Workshop
  Writing as a performing art? With singing and serenading to boot?

  This is what students who participated in AISS Creative Writing Workshop 2023 experienced during the first week of the June holidays. They had a great cathartic release from the online versions conducted over the previous pandemic years. While acquiring writing strategies over online sessions was plausible, nothing could beat meeting face-to-face. 

  Two workshops by established contemporary Singapore writers, Marc Nair and Jennifer Anne Champion, were also conducted, giving participants greater insights into the myriad possibilities of writing.

  Students enjoyed impressing their peers with their brave attempts at acrostic poems, visual poetries or prose embellished with detailed descriptions enhanced by carefully chosen literary devices. There was also a sensory walk to the nearby Sembawang Hot Spring Park to stimulate participants’ imaginations.

  Check out some of these creative works published and featured on Contemplations!

‘Rotate both of your shoulder blades backwards and then forward.’

‘Shake your arms vigorously as if dozens of invisible jellyfish are clinging on to them.’ 

What in the world is this workshop? 

Only when the instructor, like an accomplished choir master, put participants through the paces of varying their intonations and conquering tongue twisters, then some semblance of a public speaking workshop emerges.

What a fun and engaging workshop which garners high ratings year in and year out! Participants will be deployed to helm school concerts and events to provide them with opportunities to put into practice what they have learnt.

This annual international writing competition provides both budding and sophisticated writers the much needed opportunities - the former to explore whether they have what it takes to be a writer and the latter, a means to pitch their writing skills and creativity against their peers from other parts of the world. It is no wonder that this competition captures the imagination of many AI students who participated, enhancing their interest and more importantly, leveling up their writing skills.

• Assembly Programmes
  During our weekly assembly, our Reading Ambassadors actively promote our schools’ reading initiatives, rousing their peers to avidly participate in reading ventures and borrow books. On 9^th February 2023, our Reading Ambassadors, Olivia Zelda Setiano from 2E1 and Javien Quek Wen Le from 3 Integrity gave a riveting presentation on our library’s thematic event, ‘Valentine’s Day’, encouraging students to go on blind dates with books and explore our ‘Busk Me Away Station’ where students can express their love for creative expression and music through live performances at the library. 
  
  In another example, during the 30th August Assembly Programme, our Reading Programme collaborated with the school’s ALP Programme and NLB to address the contemporary issue of Food Sustainability. Reading Ambassador Fernandez Ronne Gabrielle Abrenica from 2E3 highlighted recommended reads by NLB, which were also available on Sora, our school’s digital library. Alongside the ALP ambassadors, they showcased exemplary vlogs created by students Fong Siyi, Jolin, and Nadyne Nur Rahilah Binte Hiskandar Numeiry from 4N2. These vlogs were inspired by The IN Straits Times article, “Going Plastic-Free For One Day,” from The Environment Issue, underscoring the positive impact our school’s reading subscription to The IN Straits Times has on our students.

• Outreach
  AISS Reading Ambassadors Ignite the Joy of Reading in the Community with NLB
  On the 13th of July 2024, our Reading Ambassadors from Ahmad Ibrahim Secondary School had the incredible opportunity to collaborate with the National Library Board (NLB) in an outreach event at Yishun Public Library. Titled Tales Come Alive: A Puppetry Reading Adventure, the event was designed to captivate the imaginations of young readers and foster a love for storytelling in the community.

  Our Reading Ambassadors took center stage, delivering a delightful and engaging puppetry reading session that brought stories to life. With vibrant characters, expressive voices, and creative puppetry, they transported the audience into the magical worlds of their chosen tales. This interactive and entertaining approach not only captured the attention of the children but also inspired a renewed interest in reading among the audience members.

  The event was a resounding success, with attendees leaving with smiles on their faces and a spark of curiosity ignited in their hearts. The collaboration with NLB provided our students with a unique platform to develop their public speaking and performance skills while contributing meaningfully to the community.

  We are incredibly proud of our Reading Ambassadors for their dedication, creativity, and passion for promoting literacy. This outreach event is a testament to the power of storytelling and the importance of nurturing a lifelong love for reading.

  We look forward to many more opportunities to engage with the community and spread the joy of reading far and wide!
  

• Thematic Events
  A new month at our library beckons a new thematic event, calling students to celebrate significant occasions with the school and their peers as one AI community. Our students were thrilled to participate in a myriad of ever-changing activities throughout the year, be it serenading the crowds at the ‘Busk Me Away’ station for Valentine’s Day or making paper pageant dolls for International Friendship Day. Not only that, but our library also collaborated with NPCC to hold an interactive Crime Scene Investigation where students sleuth and solve a crime mystery and stand a chance at winning attractive prizes. 

  Alongside these activities, students also explore our enticing book displays such as our mystery reads with alluring teasers tempting them to pick them up as their next read. With a slew of events, invigorating our library with a new lease of life each month, we are committed to ignite, in our students, the passion for reading and exploration!