NPCC Alumni Management Committee 2008/2010

President : Tan Chee Seng, Andrew
Vice President : Ong Siong Seng
Hon Sec : Winnie Woon Kim Wah
Hon Asst Sec : Gn Chiang Huat
Hon Treasurer : Kester Tan Gengqi
Hon Asst Treasurer : Simon Low Yeow Wee
Chairman Activities : Wendy Ong Hui Ling
Dy Chairman Activities : Ngiam Siew Jit
Chairman Membership : John Yong Thiam Joo
Dy Chairman Membership : See Leng Kiat
Chairman Pubilicity : Chua Siew Lea
Dy Chairman Publicity : J. P. David

Reunion of Dunman High ex-CIs

During the 29 Feb 2008 NPCC Alumni dinner gathering held at the Senior Police Officers' Mess (SPOM), we have these ex-cadet inspectors of Dunman High School NPCC Unit (formerly known as Dunman Government Chinese Middle School before 1979) met up and got this group picture captured:

From left to right: Ngiam Siew Jit/严朝日 (CI 1977), Wong Zer Ho/黄忆河 (CI 1973), LTC (Ret) Goh Teck Wah/吴德华 (CI 1974), Lim Peng Yam/林炳炎 (CI 1978), and Kek Joon Kee/郭润基 (CI 1982).

29 Feb Dinner Gathering photos

Here are some pictures taken during the 29 Feb dinner gathering at the Senior Police Officers' Mess (SPOM).

We are very honoured to have one of our ex-NPCC member, Dr Teo Ho Pin (Mayor of North-West District and Member of Parliament for Bukit Panjang Constituency), joined us in this dinner and also signed up as one of our life alumni member.

Dr Teo and other ex-NPCC members signing up as life NPCC alumni members

catching up with old NPCC friends

Makan Makan...

AGM 2008 on 29 March

who will be in the next Management Committee?

Come on, let's volunteer yourself or nominate someone whom you think could do the job. Or simply cast your vote for the shortlisted candidates.

WE NEED YOU!

This year, we are going to hold our AGM in a slightly different way. There will be a potluck cum BBQ session during the AGM! Wow, it's gonna be fun...

Cost:	FREE (for member only)
Food:	Halal (Potluck cum BBQ)
Attire:	Casual
Venue:	SPOM (Senior Police Officers' Mess) 153 Mount Pleasant Road, Singapore 298341
Date:	29 March 2008, Saturday
Time:	5.00pm
Contact:	Siong Seng at his mobile no.
RSVP by:	16 March 2008

Map of SPOM (Senior Police Officers' Mess):
(near to old Police Academy)

[click here for street directory]

Dinner Gathering on 29 Feb

The NPCC Alumni Management Committee cordially invites all members for a gathering at the Senior Police Officers' Mess (SPOM). Guest who signs up to be a member on the day will also DINE FREE!

Cost:	FREE for member only $28.00 for member's guest
Food:	9-course dinner (no pork, no lard)
Attire:	Casual
Venue:	SPOM (Senior Police Officers' Mess) 153 Mount Pleasant Road, Singapore 298341
Date:	29 Feb 2008, Friday
Time:	7.30pm
Contact:	Siong Seng Siew Lea
RSVP by:	17 Feb 2008

Map of SPOM (Senior Police Officers' Mess):
(near to old Police Academy)

[click here for street directory]

Yeo Jin Fei

Associate Professor Yeo Jinn Fei (a.k.a. Yeo Jin Fei) was an police cadet of Bartley Secondary School in 1969. He was represented Bartley in the Commissioner of Police Farewell Parade on 30th July 1971 held at the Police Academy Parade Ground. As a cadet, he proved himself to be a responsible and outstanding person. He subsequently became a cadet inspector in 1972. In 1978, he graduated from the then University of Singapore in Dentistry and became a Dental Officer in the Singapore Armed Forces in 1978-1981 for his national service, before switching to his academic career in the National University of Singapore.

photo of "CI Yeo" in 1972/73

Associate Professor Yeo Jinn Fei was the Chairman of NPCC Council from 1993 to 2001, a total of 9 years, is a significant leader in the endorsement and the adoption of many NPCC's currently and successfully implemented systems and strategies, including seeing through the massive 25 hectare NPCC Pulau Ubin Campsite completed in 2002.

Assoc. Prof. Yeo is the Head of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Dept in the National University of Singapore. He is also the Senior Consultant and Chief of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Dept of National University Hospital.

He was awarded the “Best Unit Cadet” in 1970, Ang Keong Lan Book Price in both 1975 and 1976, NUS Overseas Graduates Scholarship Award for 1982-83, Singapore Armed Forces Good Service Medal (1988) and Long Service Medal (1997), Premier Award for Free Paper presentation in "Nitric Oxide Symposium 1999" Singapore, and Pingkat Bakti Masyarakat (PBM) - Public Service Medal, Republic of Singapore, 2002.

In appreciation of Assoc. Prof. Yeo's strong support to the formation of NPCC Alumni Association during the years of 1999-2000, he was nominated to be the Honorary Member of NPCC Alumni Association.

Goodbye manager, hello leader

Career Building Tips - When you help your team members to grow by developing their strengths, you earn their respect

I mentioned that communicating with each member's weaknesses to improve performance is destined to fail.

What works extremely well, instead, is to say to the person, "With your strengths, I feel the best way to handle the situation you're involved in would be to?"

Then describe how it can be used in this circumstance.

You will have a very attentive audience. This approach says to the person that you have studied his strengths, listened to the situation in which he is involved and presented him with ideas on how to use his personal strengths successfully.

It is great coaching at its very best.

Using this system with all your team members consistently brings strong synergy.

Each person sees not only personal growth but also the same in others. Production and morale will increase along with energy and enthusiasm.

When you have helped your team members grow and develop, your pay-off is their respect.

At that moment, you are no longer the manager but the leader.

Remarkable improvement
This system brings results very quickly. In my own case, with my boss out looking for my replacement and my office ranking No. 36 out of 36, I applied it.

Within 120 days, my team was back at No. 1.

We did not stop there. As I continued to coach my team members' strengths, the team broke records at office, company and industry levels.

Later, I was promoted to district manager with 10 office managers and assistant managers. After teaching the system to them, we experienced dramatic results.

In the next five and a half years, which included two recession years, the production went through the roof with an 800 per cent increase.

Morale soared and turnover dropped to near zero. That was the "proof of the pudding".

Keep in mind that this same concept can be used to manage change.

You may have built a strong high-performance team but now it has to adapt to a new product or a new way of doing business.

As far as the change is concerned, picture all of your team members on "the other side of the fence".

Then go to the most respected person of the group and help him become comfortable with the change.

Then move on to the second most respected and so on.

You will find that when you have the third most respected person on your side, the rest will follow.

The secret list
1. Begin your own system by writing at the top of a blank piece of paper the name of the most respected team member.

2. Divide the sheet into three columns marked Weaknesses, Strengths and Strategy.

3. As you fill in the Weaknesses column, expect severe writer's cramp. This is normal.

4. The strengths in the next column come slowly at first but by concentrating on the person, you will pick up speed and enthusiasm for the person's potential.

5. The Strategy column becomes your personal coaching plan for this person. The plan is based on being aware of the person's weaknesses but communicating with his strengths.

Do this same thing with each of the team members.

Here is a word of caution. This list of weaknesses and strengths is not to be shown to your team or left on your desk where it might be seen.

Remember that good leadership builds a team that outperforms market conditions no matter what they are, high or low.

Article by Danny Cox © 2007, excerpted from his book, Leadership When The Heat's On. He is a speaker, former air force pilot and the author of several books, including Seize The Day: 7 Steps To Achieving The Extraordinary In An Ordinary World. For details, visit www.dannycox.com

Merry Christmas

Beautiful moment of Siew Lea & Derrick

Today, we celebrated this special moment of Love with our blessings and joys at Sheraton Towers for the wedding of Siew Lea and Derrick

秀丽钦光

"Fall in"

"Baris, Derrick Dan Siew Lea, Masok Baris"

Solemnization ceremony

"Sendang Pedang" (sword drill)



Siew Lea is our alumni management committee member for years... Her next mission is to help Singapore to increase the population...

Developing Your Child's Self-Esteem

Healthy self-esteem is a child's armor against the challenges of the world. Kids who feel good about themselves seem to have an easier time handling conflicts and resisting negative pressures. They tend to smile more readily and enjoy life. These kids are realistic and generally optimistic.

In contrast, for children who have low self-esteem, challenges can become sources of major anxiety and frustration. Children who think poorly of themselves have a hard time finding solutions to problems. If they are plagued by self-critical thoughts, such as "I'm no good" or "I can't do anything right," they may become passive, withdrawn, or depressed. Faced with a new challenge, their immediate response is "I can't." Read on to discover the important role you can play in promoting healthy self-esteem in your child.

What Is Self-Esteem?
Self-esteem is the collection of beliefs or feelings that we have about ourselves, or our "self-perceptions." How we define ourselves influences our motivations, attitudes, and behaviors and affects our emotional adjustment.

Patterns of self-esteem start very early in life. For example, when a baby or toddler reaches a milestone, he or she experiences a sense of accomplishment that bolsters self-esteem. Learning to roll over after dozens of unsuccessful attempts or finally mastering getting the spoon into his or her mouth every time he or she eats are experiences that teach a young child a "can do" attitude. The concept of success following persistence starts early.

As a child tries, fails, tries again, fails again, and then finally succeeds, he or she is developing ideas about his or her own capabilities. At the same time, he or she is creating a self-concept based on interactions with other people. This is why parental involvement is key to helping a child form accurate, healthy self-perceptions.

Self-esteem can also be defined as the combination of feelings of capability with feelings of being loved. A child who is happy with an achievement but does not feel loved may eventually experience low self-esteem. Likewise, a child who feels loved but is hesitant about his or her own abilities can also end up with a low self-esteem. Healthy self-esteem results when the right balance is attained.

Signs of Unhealthy and Healthy Self-Esteem
Self-esteem fluctuates as a child grows. It is frequently changed and fine-tuned, because it is affected by a child's experiences and new perceptions. It helps for parents to be aware of the signs of both healthy and unhealthy self-esteem.

A child who has low self-esteem may not want to try new things. He or she may frequently speak negatively about his or herself, saying such things as, "I'm stupid," "I'll never learn how to do this," or "What's the point? Nobody cares about me anyway." The child may exhibit a low tolerance for frustration, giving up easily or waiting for somebody else to take over. Children with low self-esteem tend to be overly critical of and easily disappointed in themselves. Kids with low self-esteem see temporary setbacks as permanent, intolerable conditions. A sense of pessimism predominates.

A child who has healthy self-esteem tends to enjoy interacting with others. He or she is comfortable in social settings and enjoys group activities as well as independent pursuits. When challenges arise, he or she is able to work toward finding solutions. He or she voices discontent without belittling herself or others. For example, rather than saying, "I'm an idiot," a child with healthy self-esteem says, "I don't understand this." He or she knows his or her strengths and weaknesses, and accepts them. A sense of optimism prevails.

What Parents Can Do to Help
How can a parent help to foster healthy self-esteem in a child? Here are some tips that can make a big difference:

• Watch what you say. Children are very sensitive to parents' words. Remember to praise your child not only for a job well done, but also for effort. But be truthful. For example, if your child doesn't make the soccer team, avoid saying something like, "Well, next time you'll work harder and make it." Instead, say something like, "Well, you didn't make the team, but I'm really proud of the effort you put into it." Reward effort and completion instead of outcome.


• Be a positive role model. If you are excessively harsh on yourself, pessimistic, or unrealistic about your abilities and limitations, your child may eventually mirror you. Nurture your own self-esteem, and your child will have a great role model.


• Identify and redirect your child's inaccurate beliefs. It's important for parents to identify kids' irrational beliefs about themselves, whether they are about perfection, attractiveness, ability, or anything else. Helping your child set more accurate standards and be more realistic in evaluating himself or herself will help your child have a more healthy self-concept. Inaccurate perceptions of self can take root and become reality to a child. For example, a child who does very well in school but struggles with math may say, "I can't do math. I'm a bad student." Not only is this a false generalization, it's also a belief that will set your child up for failure. Encourage your child to see the situation in its true light. A helpful response might be: "You are a good student. You do great in school. Math is just a subject that you need to spend more time on. We'll work on it together."


• Be spontaneous and affectionate with your child. Your love will go a long way to boost your child's self-esteem. Give your child hugs. Tell your child you're proud of him or her. Leave a note in your child's lunch box that reads, "I think you're terrific!" Give praise frequently and honestly, without overdoing it. Kids can tell whether something comes from the heart.


• Give positive, accurate feedback. A comment such as, "You always work yourself up into such a frenzy!" will cause a child to start believing he or she has no control over his or her outbursts. A better statement is, "You were really mad at your brother. But I appreciate that you didn't yell at him or hit him." This acknowledges your child's feelings and rewards the choice that your child made, encouraging your child to make the right choice again next time.


• Create a safe, nurturing home environment. A child who does not feel safe or is being abused at home will suffer immensely from low self-esteem. A child who is exposed to parents who fight and argue repeatedly may become depressed and withdrawn. Always remember to respect your child.


• Make your home a safe haven for your family. Watch for signs of abuse by others, problems in school, trouble with peers, and other potential factors that may affect your child's self-esteem. Deal with these issues sensitively but swiftly.


• Help your child become involved in constructive experiences. Activities that encourage cooperation rather than competition are especially helpful in fostering self-esteem. For example, mentoring programs in which an older child helps a younger one learn to read can do wonders for both children.

Finding Professional Help
If you suspect your child has low self-esteem, you can get professional help. Family and child counselors can work to uncover underlying issues that are preventing your child from feeling good about himself or herself. Therapy can adjust the way a child views himself or herself and the world. This can enable a child to first see himself or herself in a more realistic light, and then to accept who he or she truly is. With a little help, every child can develop healthy self-esteem for a happier, more fulfilling life.

Updated and reviewed by: David Sheslow, PhD and Colleen Taylor Lukens, MA
Date reviewed: June 2005
Originally reviewed by: Steve Dowshen, MD, and Brian Mesinger, PhD

Source of this article:
http://www.kidshealth.com/PageManager.jsp?dn=KidsHealth&lic=1&article_set=21573&cat_id=171&

Related Articles:
Nine Steps to More Effective Parenting
This article recognizes the incredibly challenging and rewarding job that all parents have and presents nine steps to make the parenting experience more fulfilling for both you and your child.

Additional Resources:
American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP)
AACAP offers up-to-date information on child and adolescent development and issues.

photos of the old NPCC days

Here are some photos of the old NPCC days brought by our Alumni member during the 24 Nov 2007 NPCC Alumni Annual Dinner (Year-end BBQ party):





Thank you Mr J. P. David for the sharing which brings us the sweet memory of our old times...