Canossian School

"Working at CSH is indeed a challenging, yet fulfilling experience. Prior to teaching, I must admit that I was very ignorant to hearing impairment. I also thought that hearing aids are devices for the elderly when they couldn’t hear well. Cochlear Implant were totally alien to me!

When I started teaching two years ago, I was totally stunned by the children! They were bubbly, chatty and playful. I could have conversation with them, joke with them, laugh with them. I was bewildered: aren’t they hearing impaired? Gradually, I learnt that most of the pupils here are fitted with hearing aids. Some of them went through Cochlear Implant to aid their hearing. That’s when I realized my ignorance…

The pupils receive their education as per the mainstream curriculum. At the end of it, they will sit for the PSLE like their peers in the mainstream school. In addition, they are equally involved in sports such as swimming, football and badminton.

I like the community here. The teachers know most of the pupils well and all the pupils are polite to the teachers. I like the pupil’s innocence and appreciate their sincerity. There are times when I was deeply touched by the pupils. The older pupils are often seen helping the younger ones. They make me feel like we are working as a big family. And they make me want to give them the best!

I strongly feel that these pupils deserve the same as their hearing peers. They should be enjoying what their hearing peers are having: studying, playing football, internet gaming, watching movies, etc. There should be nothing to limit what they can do! It is my utmost wish that all of them will strive far in their future, because there is no disability that can hinder the genuine heart!"

- by Miss Chua King Loo

" I joined the school in Jan 2003. It’s just about a year since but I already feel quite at home – with the pupils as well as the staff.

The pupils are tiring yet inspiring – each with their own story to tell, each with their own success in their own right.

The staff are helpful and supportive – humorous and at the same time sharpening our minds and skills.

I did not know what I was getting myself into when I applied for the job. It was the sign language that intrigued me at first. But that was way back about 15 or 20 years ago. The hearing-impaired pupils now do not need to sign. They can hear and speak – with hearing aids. Imagine my pleasant surprise when I first heard them speak – it was the painstaking result of the Natural Auditory Oral Approach (NAO). The testimonies of the many hearing impaired individuals all over the world convinced me that I want to make a difference in the lives of these pupils. Not so much to lessen their difficulties but to build in them a character adequate to meet the challenges when it comes.

What further impressed me was the Eduplex structure. The pupils and their families here are provided with the best support with a team of audiologists, technical staff and parent guiders. Occasionally, a psychologist comes in to assist us. There is a primary school within the Eduplex to serve our integrated pupils and a children’s home to provide after school care.

And last but not least ….. we believe in the total development of the child ….. not only intellectually (to the best of their abilities) but just as important, the heart, the compassion in each of us that will want to reach out to others.
Let us each brighten the corner where we live. "

- by Mdm. Mary Lim

As I walked into Canossian School for the Hearing Impaired at Jalan Merbok in 1989 it was a pleasant, peaceful and calm experience complimentary to the scenic surrounding which the school was known for. However even as I was armed with years of teaching experiences, I had a big question mark in my head. "Am I competent enough to teach the impaired kids?" I knew nothing about "Total Communication". Along the way, with great help from my class pupils I managed to learn sign language, which was so important in our daily activities.

Teaching with Total Communication was never easy especially when the pupils were speeding their signs across in reply and needless to say the speech of that era was never an ideal for a novice like me. It took time to become an effective teacher.

From 1990, the school adopted the Natural Auditory Oral programme for teaching. Teachers like myself had to readapt to the new mode of teaching. It was not easy initially as I was so ingrained to signing. Unconsciouslyhand-signs appeared while teaching and vice-versa from the pupils in reply, although it became a taboo to sign.

1999 was a "big" change for the school, literally. We moved into a big and spacious building. There was an increase in the enrolment of pupils. The staff strength increased with the inclusion of a full-fledged audio department. For me the most impressive feature was the soundproof classrooms, accompanied by noiseless air-conditioners. It was an ideal environment for teaching the hearing impaired pupils, as noise waas a great deterrent in carrying out our lessons.

To date, the school has evolved in many ways. The school's name has changed to Canossian School. Since 2003, Cochlear implant is a norm, especially for the very young. All pupils use FM to facilitate hearing. The school is totally immersed in the successful programme where many pupils are able to converse orally and many are integrated into Canossa Convent Primary School and neighbourhood secondary schools.

For the future, my wish for the school will be 1) Still adhere to the objectives of our foundress, Saint Magdalene. 2) The school will be available to pupils with other disabilities. 3) the continuity of the NAO programme and 4) dedication of the staff.

- by Mr. Frankie Kiew

Eager for a change, I joined the school in 1990 after having taught in mainstream schools for 22 years. I had never come into contact with hearing impaired people and did not know what to expect in my new school. It was an immense change for me. Teaching of hearing impaired children was a totally new field. The Classrooms were tiny and the class size small. This is an advantage as it allows me to build a close rapport with my pupils and work with every individual child in the class.

That first year was difficult. I started off with absolutely no knowledge of sign language and was at the mercy of my class of 8 whom I had to depend on to teach me sign language. After a sign language course and some hard work at the sign language book, things began to look brighter. I slowly began to discover the beautiful side of my pupils - they are adorable, caring and affectionate. I had never felt so close to my pupils and it is this special relationship with them that has made my stay in the school so fulfilling.

At that juncture, the school was in transition from Total Communication to the Natural Auditory programme. Spoken language would take the place of signing. At its infant stage, the NAO programme had no success stories to lend support. Like may others, I was skeptical. While acknowledging that it was good to get our children talking, we were not sure about the programme's effectiveness. Getting hearing impaired children to talk was no mean feat.

Moving into our present location at Sallim Road was a turning point for the school. The NAO programme had gone into full swing as all the signing children had left the school after completing their primary education. The hard work of all those involved in helping our pupils talk was bearing fruit. It is so satisfying to hear them chatter like normal hearing pupils. By then, the whole staff was convinced that the programme works. Being part of the Canossian Eduplex was a great blessing for the school. Our children at Canossian School can now attend pre-school at Magdalene's Kindergarten, be integrated in Canossa Convent Primary School, and have after-school care at the Canossaville Home, all within the premises of the Eduplex. It is so wonderful to be part of this community.

In my thirteen years in the school, I have seen it going from strength to strength. As the world outside is changing fast, our pupils must also be equipped to adapt quickly to new challenges. I have no doubt that they would under the able leadership of the principal and sisters, and the good guidance of our consultant.

- by Mrs. Lim Oei Leng