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ONE STEP CLOSER TO OUR CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE AT NEW SITE:
NGEE ANN KONGSI'S $2M DONATION!
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About the Event
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Autism Resource Centre (Singapore) and Pathlight School are pleased to announce a cheque presentation of $2 million by Ngee Ann Kongsi at a ceremony held on Wednesday April 2, 2008. Ngee Ann Kongsi has generously donated SGD$2m towards the construction of a pre-vocational training centre at the new Pathlight School Building. The new school building together with ARC(S)'s headquarters will be located at Ang Mo Kio Avenue 10, next to the mainstream Townsville Primary School. |
This cheque presentation marks the final stage of ARC(S)'s fundraising efforts for development of the new Pathlight School. It relieves the anxiety of not meeting the fundraising target. It allows the staff and volunteers to focus on our core business – to provide a quality education for our students.
| The event was officiated by the newly appointed Ms Grace Fu, Senior Minister of State for Education and National Development. Guests were treated to performances put up by our students. Student Elliot Chia specially penned a poem called ‘My Insights about Secondary School’ and confidently recited his poem to the guests. The Performing Arts Team performed their newly choreographed Ribbon Dance and student Syafiq Akhtar Bin Mohammad Sha'har sang a love ballad to rousing applause. The event was an excellent opportunity for confidence building and also a platform for Pathlight School to showcase the potential and strengths of its students. |
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS FOR MEDIA PRESS AT NGEE ANN KONGSI CHEQUE PRESENTATION
SPOKESPERSONS:
Ms Denise Phua, President of Autism Resource Centre (S) and School Supervisor, Pathlight School Board
Ms Linda Kho, Principal, Pathlight School
Ms Loy Sheau Mei, Vice Principal, Pathlight School
Dr Lam Chee Meng, Autism Consultant, Pathlight School, ARC
Why is this Cheque presentation significant to Autism Resource Centre(S)/Pathlight School?
This cheque presentation marks the final stage of ARC's fundraising efforts for development of the new Pathlight School. It relieves the anxiety of not meeting the fundraising target. It allows the staff and volunteers to focus on our core business – to provide a quality education for our students.
What will the new facilities provide?
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The dream is to build a regional Centre of Excellence for Autism to model and share approaches to effectively support people with autism through their lives.
The new facilities will house both the Pathlight School and the Autism Resource Centre. We expect to serve about 600 children from early intervention (aged 2 to 3 years) to Secondary School. We also expect to offer close to 2000 autism training places for family caregivers, teachers and other professionals.
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Pathlight School alone is today serving more than 400 students in primary, secondary and pre-vocational training. There are no more spaces to build some more container classrooms. The students do PE on the road; and use the corridoors for running. 'We are bursting at the seams.'
Specifically, the new facilities will offer the following services:
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New Services |
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- Pathlight Primary (PSLE), Secondary (GCE) and Pre-Vocational Training
- ARC Early Intervention Unit serving children aged 2 to 3
- ARC Training and Consulting Centre which trains caregivers, teachers and other professionals from Singapore and the region
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- An IT School (at least 4 computer labs) which can train students with autism from not just Pathlight but also other mainstream and special schools since they are generally interested and good in computers
- A Daily Living Skills Unit which offers life skills training in the form of workshops and camps for students and family caregivers
- Vocational Training Worksites such as the Office; Café/Food and Beverage Production; Art and Design Studio; Music Studio; Landscape and Maintenance Unit
- An accreditated Early Intervention Programme
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What is the total cost of the facilities?
There are 4 buildings housing all the services. Total cost is $33m, out of which $7.5 million are from fundraising. Government (MOE:$26m and MCYS: $400k) funds the standard items for early intervention, primary, secondary and pre-vocational facilities.
Why is Ngee Ann Kongsi giving the $2m donation?
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Ngee Ann Kongsi is a significant contributor towards the enrichment of Singapore society in education, arts and community services. Prominent schools, tertiary institutions as well as bursaries and scholarships bear the Ngee Ann name. |
This the first time Ngee Ann Kongsi is donating to a special school which provides mainstream education. With the $2m donation ,it wishes to give children with special needs an opportunity to maximize their potential through vocational training.
What is the donation going to be used for?
The school will use this donation to construct a 3-storey pre-vocational training centre at the new site. Besides academics, Pathlight School believes in equipping students with useful vocational and life skills to enhance their employability and independent living skills. These skills are best developed whilst the students are younger and not when it is time to exit their school career.
When will the new facilities be ready?
The new autism-friendly facilities are targeted to be ready by March 2009. The entire ARC(S) and Pathlight School will move in May/June 2009 during the mid term school holidays to minimize disruption to learning .
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