Tuesday, July 2, 2019

International Friendship Day 2019

- Article contributed by Janice F Lawther

TKSS marked International Friendship Day (IFD) on 12 April 2019 with a day of activities supported by the Parent Support Group (PSG). In keeping with this year’s theme of Connected Communities, PSG put their heads together to plan several meaningful traditional crafts and games for students to immerse themselves in and experience the diverse cultures of our ASEAN neighbours.


The school canteen was transformed into a colourful and carnival-like arena where make-shift booths were set-up overnight by zealous parents. Music filled the air and added to the vibrant atmosphere.
Parents arrived in full-force, all decked up in a riot of colourful, traditional wear and ready to be part of the day’s celebration. One could sense immediately the affinity of PSG’s multi-cultural community.

Students came by during their study break and joined in the energetic game of Tin-Can walking; our modified version of the popular traditional past-time of coconut-shell walking in Thailand. 

Nearby, parents were seen engaged in various craft activities. Some worked with students in a weaving activity - creating crochet-style baskets made out of colourful T-shirt yarn. Students had donated their old T-shirts which were cut up into strips and the resulting yarn was woven and made into useful items like bags, rugs, floor mats and seat pads. Students got to experience first-hand what recycling and upcycling are about – transforming unwanted items into new, practical and usable products. In two hours after much collaborated effort and hard work, two baskets were lovingly created and presented to the school.

Students also crowded around another booth to try their hand at making personalized cloth buttons and badges and bringing home their creations. Parents worked feverishly to help put together batik, silk and brocade cloth for students to have a feel of the common materials used around the region.
Other students were quick to learn from parents demonstrating the art of weaving fish made out of old magazine paper. Weaving fish into simple mobile structures is a common practice among our  neighbouring Indonesian and Thai communities. In the spirit of IFD, students went a step further by adding on their own Friendship dedications to the fish. They filled up and decorated an IFD board with brightly-coloured buttons, fish and dedications.  

Lastly and not-to-be-missed, students and parents alike had much fun and excitement coming together at the costumes-and-props booth where they dressed up in a variety of traditional costumes and took many Instagrammable-worthy photos!

It was a day to be remembered where both old and new friendships were forged. And at PSG, also a renewed understanding and appreciation of each other’s cultures.







TKSS PSG Breakfast 2019

- Article contributed by Patsy Ng


The legacy of the TK Parents Support Group (PSG) can continue year after year only with enthusiastic and supportive parents of Secondary One students joining as new PSG members, replacing PSG members of graduating Secondary 4 students.

This year, we had a record number of parents of Secondary One students joining as new PSG members. On 6 Apr Sat, the PSG organised a meet and greet networking event to officially welcome our new PSG members and to share the role of the PSG and how the PSG can support and partner with the school to support the learning journey of our students. The event also served as a networking platform for PSG members to mingle and get acquainted with one another, and share parenting experiences. 



After an affable welcome by the principal, Mrs Dolly Ong, our PSG Chairman Ong Sim Ho presented the role of PSG to new members and how they can contribute and add value to the school and students. Patsy Ng, one of the three Vice-Chairman of PSG, also shared some details about the upcoming school events supported by the PSG. The event was supported by the presence of many PSG Main Committee members, who mingled with new members and shared their experiences unselfishly over a delicious peranakan brunch.

The event marks the beginning of our 2019 PSG events. Thank you to all the PSG members who took time to attend the meaningful event and most  of all, for engaging with one another with so much enthusiasm. This event had formed new friendships among many TK Parents . 





 TK PSG and TK Parents - you really rock!



TKSS Chinese New Year 2019

- Article contributed by Revital Shalev