Yio Chu Kang Secondary School joined Chong Boon Secondary School, Bishan Park Secondary School and Peirce Secondary School as Pathlight's 4th Satellite Partner School.

The Satellite Partnership model provides opportunities for purposeful integration with Mainstream schools. These opportunities come in the form of physical, social and academic integration for students and professional integration for teachers.

The model allows our students to apply classroom learning of social skills in the real world. At the same time, it also contributes to building awareness among mainstream communities.

The 4 Satellite Partner Schools collectively accommodates Pathlight School’s 223 secondary students, an increase from 190 last year.

Pathlight School now operates 2 campuses (Campus 1 and Campus 2) and 4 Satellite Partner Schools.

Pathlight School celebrated this important milestone with over 300 stakeholders, including key partners, donors, past and present students and their families, staff and other supporters.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong officiated the event, which was also attended by Ms Sim Ann, Minister of State for Education and Ms Ho Ching, Advisor to Pathlight School and its parent body, Autism Resource Centre (Singapore).

Staff celebration was a sumptuous breakfast followed by an outing to Universal Studios Singapore. Each staff member received a special 10th anniversary magazine holder.

Students and their parents were treated to a performance by staff and students. Each student received a 10th anniversary commemorative pencil case.

As part of our transition support programme to prepare our graduating students for post-Pathlight options, familiarisation visits to Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs) were organised for the Upper Secondary students.

The students in Normal Technical and Normal Academic streams visited ITE College Central while those in the Normal Academic and Express streams visited Nanyang Polytechnic.

These visits exposed our students to the IHL environment and the different types of courses offered and their respective admission criteria. Our students gained insights while they toured the campuses and attended a lecture. They also had the opportunity to see the different projects done by the students in the IHLs.

Ms Kam Ning, a renowned and award-winning violinist, visited Pathlight School and treated our upper Primary and Secondary 4 students to a special performance.

She also shared with our students her amazing journey and the importance of perseverance and hard work in the quest for success.

Pathlight School successfully completed its first school-wide Quality Assurance Framework (QAF) audit by external reviewers from Ministry of Education (MOE).

The QAF is an instrument implemented by MOE to enable Special Education schools to embark on a systematic school improvement process.

The external audit capped an extensive 3 years of self-evaluation on major school processes.

Pathlight School did well in the following areas:

1. Positive school culture and staff well-being
2. School-wide alignment on Mission and Values
3. Positive parent and community collaboration
4. Joyful and happy students

Megan Lee Qi Jun won third prize in the national YouthWrite competition organised by Singapore Press Holdings (SPH)

Open to all secondary school students, Megan’s entry on ‘How youths could make a difference to the nation’, was among the top 50 shortlisted from about 1,000 entries

Darius Neo Zhi Yu was awarded Silver for the National Mathematical Olympiad of Singapore (NMOS).

NMOS is an NUS High School initiative in partnership with MOE’s Gifted Education Branch and Singapore Mathematical Society.

Brandon Xander Ching of Primary 1 Lantana had the rare opportunity to participate in the National Geographic Channel Young Explorer Camp in Borneo.

He was one of 10 students in Singapore schools who was selected to attend the camp held from 15 – 18 March during the school holidays.

Brandon was able to conquer his phobia of plants and flowers and immersed himself in nature together with the National Geographic Channel team.

He thoroughly enjoyed himself and benefitted a lot from the entire camp experience!

When I first entered Pathlight, I felt the difference on my first day of school. My very first form teacher introduced herself to me and to the class. I made my first friends on the same day. The small classroom setting helped me to get to know my classmates personally and befriend them more easily. Furthermore, there was no more bullying or ostracism.

The flames of my rebelliousness were quelled and over the years, I settled into becoming a gentle and composed lady. It was a process of metamorphosis. I felt like I was freed from an oppressive cocoon where I had been trapped for years, to finally emerge and unfurl my wings to realise my potential. Indeed, Pathlight is a place where lives are transformed.

Pathlight teachers put in their entire heart when helping me. They took time to understand me. They believed in me. They were persistent and never gave up on me. Of course, I haven't forgotten the therapists, too. They too, played an important part in my life in counselling and guiding me.

Finally, as I prepared myself for my 'O' Levels last year, I saw that all the teachers had put in their greatest effort to secure our best for the final challenge. They helped to explain the concepts we still failed to understand and guided us when we were perplexed. On top of that, they took time to have personal consultation with us. I felt strangely calm throughout the year, unlike most 'O' Level students. And at last, when I received my results this year, my joy was unparalleled. I had scored exceptionally well for nearly all of subjects, beyond what I could ever imagine.

Once again, thank you so much for being very supportive of my decision and guiding me in Pathlight. Pathlight has nurtured me and given me great opportunities for me to learn more. Pathlight has, in fact, made me ready to join mainstream and I am very thankful to you, the teachers and my friends for helping me be all that I can be today.

Although I am no longer in Pathlight, it has been a very important part of my life and it will always be. I hope to visit Pathlight again later in the year but at the moment, I am very busy and have to revise for my Common Tests.

That is all for now and I would like to thank you once again for being a very important part of my life and making me be a better person.

I received Lucus’ English mock paper and was glad that he did well. He's happy about it because unlike many kids, he seldom talks about school or friends, but this time round he told me grinning that teacher told him that he topped the class this round.

You have no idea how much this means to us. It may not be the actual test but the confidence that Lucus tasted with sweetness is something that no money can buy.

I would like to thank you both as you have really touched us with your close attention to our special kid. Especially this morning when I came to drop Tedric in the school, Ms. Mohana was waiting at the gate. Talking to Tedric and showing him right path then and that was truly awesome. Really a big thank you for the concern and taking care of our son.

It is truly touching to experience your unconditional service for the good of these special kids. Thank you once again for the all the hard work. Really appreciate it.