MINDS Towner Gardens School

Location

Area: Bedok
Address: 1B Lengkong Lima, Singapore 417557

Telephone no.

6446 2612

Email

tgs@minds.org.sg

Website

http://www.minds.org.sg/TGS

Special needs catered for

Moderate to severe intellectual disability, autism spectrum disorder

Age range

7 to 18 years old

Curriculum offered

Customised

School mode

Double session

Services offered

School bus transport

School fees

Contact the school directly for more information.

Date

• Thursday, 7 March 2024

Time

• 9.30am to 11.30am

Format

• Physical

Venue

• 1B Lengkong Lima, Singapore 417557

Contact information

• Contact person: Ms Lua Sock Khim/ Ms Esther Teo/ Ms Gloria Thong
  Tel: 6446 2612
  Email: tgs@minds.org.sg

How to register

• Email or register online by Friday, 16 February 2024.

Primary 1 (2025 cohort)

• Application deadline: 31 July 2024.
  

  Applications received after this deadline may be considered for waitlisting until a suitable vacancy is available.

• Start of school: January 2025.

Other levels (2024 cohort)

• Application deadline: No deadline.
  

  Application is ongoing throughout the year until all vacancies are filled.

• Start of school: Start of the next term.
  

  If your child is assessed to be suitable and there is vacancy.

Vocational Experience (VoX) Programme

The VoX programme aims to facilitate 16- to 18-year-old students' smooth transition into supported or open employment through educational and vocational trainings. Trainings encompass the 3 domains in the SPED Education Framework (Learning, Living and Working), and include:

• Communication, Functional Literacy and Mathematics skills
• Independent living skills such as commuting on public transport
• Information and communication technology skills
• Singapore Workforce Skills Qualifications (WSQ) courses such as Basic Food Hygiene and Interact with Guest
• Experiential learning in authentic work settings

Life Experience (LX) Programme

A newly launched customised programme to equip students, from 15 to 18 years old, with life skills and enhanced social emotional competencies through experiential learning. The programme will focus on the following skill areas: 

• Conceptual skills (functional numeracy and communication skills)
• Social Emotional learning (self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship management and responsible decision making)
• Practical life skills (mobility training, school-based work experience)
• Information communications technology

ASD Programme

The programme supports students with autism spectrum disorder by providing the structures and opportunities for them to develop as all-rounders.

Besides having access to a comprehensive school curriculum enhanced with co-curricular and enrichment experiences, the programme focuses on growing students in the areas of:

• Communication
• Social interaction
• Adaptability
• Emotional regulation
• Sensory-motor development

Speech Takes Flight

Speech Takes Flight provides a platform for students to hone their public speaking skills and display stage confidence. A toastmaster competition is held annually for students to compete in different categories. Some students are also further groomed to be co-emcees at school events.

Aesthetics – Music and Movement

Students in the Music and Movement CCA are provided with the opportunities to develop their musical talents and movement skills in a range of dance styles and instrumental techniques. Recent focus of the CCA is on drumming and hip-hop dancing. These activities help pupils to develop positive social skills, discipline and resilience. The school's dance group, The Kool Kidz, and the drumming group, Urban Beats, have been invited to perform in various schools and public events. Such involvements enable the pupils to develop their self-confidence and enrich their experience in the performing arts.

Digital D.R.E.A.M Immersive Mixed Reality Technology@TGS

Using Immersive Mixed Reality Technology that provides a unique and authentic digital learning experience, students are immersed in environments to interact with image projections of different contexts such as underwater world, forest scene in a safe manner. Students also learn through interactive activities, gaining knowledge on various topics ranging from exploring their neighbourhood to choosing healthy food.

Promoting Alternative Thinking Strategies – Character and Citizenship Education (PATHS – CCE)

PATHS, a Social Emotional Learning (SEL) programme, focuses on teaching students to regulate their own emotions through signals and simple rules. Students are taught to identify and express feelings and give compliments. What strengthens students’ SEL is the foundational teaching of CCE values such as respect, responsibility, resilience, care and integrity that are infused throughout lessons in the classroom.

Curriculum overview

Focusing on laying the critical foundation to acquire the skill set for continual success, the school curriculum includes the teaching and learning of these subjects:

• English Language
• Mathematics
• General Science
• Social Studies
• Social Development
• Daily Living Skills
  
  • Self Care & Health
  • Home Living
  • Leisure
  • Community & Mobility

• Art & Craft
• Music 
• Community Living Skills
• Independent Travelling Skills (for Senior level)
• Physical Education 
• Vocational Skills (for Senior level)
• Information Communications Technology

• Art and Craft Club
• Environmental Science Club
• Science and Technology Club
• Music and Dance
• Scouts
• Sports
• Social Recreation Club

Muhammad Danial Affandy Alumni Muhammad Danial Affandy graduated from Towner Gardens School in 2018. During his senior years, he was in the Vocational Experience (VoX) programme and participated in work experiences at the Shangri-la Hotel Singapore and Fish & Co Restaurant. He was also awarded the Statement of Attainment (SOA) for completing the WSQ Basic Food Hygiene and Interact with Guests courses. Through different programmes in school, Danial shared that he learned various skills such as food preparation and housekeeping while staying focused at work as well as good work ethics. At age 16, he also learnt how to travel to school and his workplace independently using public transportation. Danial was Assistant Head Prefect at school and a role model and mentor to his peers. He aspired to work independently after graduation so that he could earn a living and support his family. During his final year, he was selected to enter the School-to-Work (S2W) Transition Programme upon graduation. After his two-month orientation with SG Enable, Danial was awarded the “Top Trainee” for his outstanding performance. Subsequently, he started his internship with Pan Pacific Hotel in the stewarding department. Due to his positive work attitude and work ethics, Danial was employed as a full-time staff in November 2019. He was also featured in the media several times as part of the Hotel’s inclusive hiring practices. During an interview with Danial, he shared that he enjoys working at Pan Pacific Hotel because of the friends he has made there!

Elkan Wong Senior Level Elkan Wong joined Towner Gardens School in 2018. Since then, he has been making good progress steadily in all domains – Living, Learning & Working. Elkan used to have a balance issue. He was afraid to walk down the stairs and was not able to walk with alternate feet on each step of the stairs. With his determination to overcome his fear and the constant encouragement from the physiotherapist and class teachers, he achieved going up and down the stairs confidently within a year! This year, Elkan joined the school’s Vocational Experience programme. Elkan has become more mature and expressive. He has improved in his listening skills and speaks with greater confidence. During class sharing on current affairs, he often shares and asks questions on the topics discussed. One very important milestone achieved by Elkan is his ability to take public transport independently. Although he was disoriented at times while making his way home, that did not deter him from wanting to be independent. Instead, he has become more resilient. With the continual support from his caregiver – his grandmother, Elkan has emerged more confident and determined to make further progress. Elkan has yet to start his first work experience in the community. However, he has been honing his vocational skills in school and at home so as to prepare and equip himself with the skills for future work experiences.

Syed Anis Bin Syed Mohd Alsagoff Junior Level Diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, Syed Anis Bin Syed Mohd Alsagoff, has made tremendous progress in his social emotional and daily living aspects. Anis has learnt to control and manage his emotions better by using words like ‘No’ or ‘I don’t want’ to express his unhappiness or displeasure, for example in situations when he does not like to do something, refusal to work or he feels invaded of his personal space by others. Anis has shown improvement in his social skills such as maintaining eye contact, taking turns, making choices/requests and, understanding gestures and facial expressions of others. He is able to demonstrate appropriate peer to peer or child to adult greetings by shaking hands, saying “hello” or “good morning”. He also uses polite words like “please” and “thank you” to make requests and apologises when he has done something wrong. During turn-taking activities, he has learnt to wait patiently for his turn without getting upset. Furthermore, Anis is independent in using his personal schedule and following the school routines with minimal prompts. We hope that Anis will continue to make improvements and gain success in all areas of his development in the near future.

Tan Zhe Kai Senior Level Tan Zhe Kai joined MINDS - Towner Gardens School in 2011. He was nominated for the Lee Kuan Yew Exemplary Student Award 2021 for his achievements in daily living skills.  Through the years, Zhe Kai has made numerous achievements as he transited from the regular Senior class to the VoX (Vocational Experience) class. He has learnt to commute between school and home independently using the public transport.   Although Zhe Kai has challenges in speech, he has learnt to use an app on his phone to communicate. He loves to share his experiences with teachers. As a school prefect, he readily helps teachers in daily classroom errands, and his younger peers. He was also in charge of raising the flags during assembly in the mornings. Zhe Kai has also contributed 2 art pieces to represent the school in these art competitions: National Day Pledge Card Design SingPost-MINDS Charity Stamp Design Competition 2020 He emerged as one of the winners in the latter.