On the evening of 2nd June (5pm - 7pm) ISS will be hosting an exhibition of our students' art work. This will include the chance to bid on pieces of art. All money raised will be going to help the Singapore Red Cross provide relief for those affected by the Nepalese Earthquake.
Book Swop June 4th
Moving house this summer? Don't throw away your children's books yet! On June 2nd and 3rd you will be able to send any children's books in reasonable condition in to your child's classroom. For each book your child will receive a book swap ticket. On Thursday the 4th June each class will visit the MPR, where they can swap their ticket for a different book. Great for holiday reading!
Thanks and Best wishes
Today will be the last day at ISS for Ms Huda our grade 2 TA. Ms Huda is taking up a full time teaching position in Singapore and we would like to thank her for all her work at ISS and wish her all the best in the future.
Vesak Day
The School will be closed on Vesak Day on Monday may I take this opportunity to wish peace and happiness to all members of our community who will be celebrating this important Buddhist festival.
Vesak Day in Singapore is a holy day celebrated by Buddhists. It represents the birth, the Nirvana (enlightenment) and the Parinirvana (death) of Gautama Buddha and is the most significant day of the Buddhist calendar. Vesak Day falls on the 15th day of the fourth month of the Chinese Lunar Calendar.
On Vesak Day, temples are decorated with flags and flowers. Devoted Buddhists and many observers of the faith congregate at their temple before dawn, saffron-clad monks chant the sutras, the Buddhist flag is raised and the people sing hymns to celebrate the Buddha, the Dharma (his teachings) and the Sangha (his disciples).Worshippers bring offerings of flowers, candles and incense to lay at the feet of the statues. These offerings demonstrate that the believers accept that life, like the offerings, is subject to decay and destruction.Buddhists believe that performing good deeds on Vesak Day will multiply merit and it is often a day when Buddhist youth organise mass blood donations at hospitals and other Buddhists perform acts of generosity that can include caring for birds and animals, taking goods to the poor and needy, and making gifts to charity. These acts of generosity are also known as Dana.
The celebration concludes with a candlelit procession through the streets. Mahayana Buddhist temples in Singapore, like the Phor Kark, practise the “three-step, one-bow” ritual on Vesak Day. Devotees take steps on both knees, bowing at every third step as they pray for world peace, personal blessings and repentance. The exhausting two-hour procession actually begins 24 hours before, when many reserve a place in the procession.
Upcoming Events
Monday 1st June: Vesak Day - School Closed
Tuesday 2nd June: Art Exhibition
Wednesday 3rd June: K1 Art House Trip
Thursday 4th June: Book Swop