C O M M U N I C A R E2016 issue 1 | tanjong katong secondary school

CONTENTS

02 SCHOOL EXCELLENCE

07 STUDENT VOICE

10 STAFF MATTERS

11 SYNERGISTIC PARTNERSHIPS

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11

07

10

commūnicāre– (Latin) Verb. ‘to share; communicate; unite’Education is a community effort. Communicare fosters a closer relationship between the school and its stakeholders and partners as we work together to nurture our students to their full potential.

This year is special for all TKsians past and present, as we celebrate our school’s Diamond Jubilee in 2016. For sixty years now, the TKSS motto: Diligentia, Ingenium, Dexteritas, has inspired generations of TKsians in pioneering pathways and actively shaping the community they live and work in. Indeed, at TK, students are our pride. TKsians love their school, and TK loves them back. From the moment they join TK, each student is immersed in the distinctive TK Experience—an enriched, rigorous and balanced curriculum that makes a qualitative difference in nurturing young people who believe in their ability to succeed, are guided by sound values, and have the instinct to make a positive contribution towards the well-being of others.

To celebrate TK’s Diamond Jubilee, our school has organised a series of events, including the TK60 Memories Project, TK60 Kind Deeds, and a series of TK60 Challenges built into the school programme for the year. In this issue of Communicare, we highlight some of the events which have taken place in the first semester. We also celebrate how members of Team TK continuously come together to give their best in the various competitions and events they have represented the school in. When TKsians shine, one can be assured that they have been helped, guided, and encouraged by caring and committed TK teachers. It would not have been possible for TK to grow from strength to strength in providing a conducive environment for the development of teenagers, without the unstinting support of our SAC, our parents, alumni and partners. So as we celebrate TK60, we celebrate the entire extended TK family. At TK, it has always been and may it always be “One for all and all for one”.

Mdm Haslinda Zamani

PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE

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The 2015 GCE “O” Level Examination Results were released on Monday, 11 January.22.4% of students obtained at least 7 distinctions and 54.8% of students obtained at least 5 distinctions.There was an increase in the percentage of distinction grades in English Language, Literature in English, Combined Humanities (with History Elective), Chemistry, Design and Technology and Physical Education.Our current Secondary 4 students who sat for their Mother Tongue while they were in Secondary 3 last year, obtained good results too. There was an increase in the percentage of distinctions for Chinese from 53% to 66% and for Malay from 55% to 61%.The Team TK spirit prevailed for the students and teachers. The strong support of parents also enabled our students to be more confident in doing their best in the GCE “O” Level Examination.“The thoughtful words and gestures - the assurance of parents, and SAC members’ support and encouragement to staff and students - have meant a lot to the school, and have always made a difference.” --- Mdm Haslinda Zamani

“The size of your success is measured by the strength of your desire, the size of your dream, and how you handle disappointment along the way.” --- Robert Kiyosaki

The students in the Secondary 2 team were:Calista Tanuwidjaja (Leader) (2B), Josh Edward Delante Ricafort (2B) and Tan Jun Ming (2B)The competition was based on the theme, Faster, Higher and Stronger (Olympic Motto: Citius, Altius, Fortius).The requirements for the three challenges were as follows:

On Thursday, 17 March, 6 students from our school competed in the Annual Innovation and Design Engineering (Singapore Round) (IDE) Challenge held at Anglican High School.The students were grouped into teams of three and tasked to tackle 3 concurrent challenges within a 5-hour stipulated time frame and with a limited amount of materials.After a day of intense competition, one Secondary 3 team from TK was awarded the IDE Challenge (Engineering Award) trophy, medals and shopping vouchers. A Secondary 2 team received certificates of participation.The students in the Secondary 3 team were:Sherry Han Weng Yenn (Leader) (3D), Ira Umesh Ursekar (3C) andMatthew Chin Yuen Hao (3C)

“You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.” --- Maya Angelou

Teams had to build a rubber band powered car. The fastest car to travel a runway distance of 3m won.

Teams had to build a bridge structure to traverse a gap of 30cm. The bridge that was able to suspend the heaviest load won.

FASTER

Teams had to build a model that could protect a payload of eggs from breaking after being dropped from a height of 3 storeys. The structure that could keep the most number of eggs intact won.

HIGHER STRONGER

INNOVATION, DESIGN AND ENGINEERING (IDE) CHALLENGE 2016

INTERNATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL ARTS FESTIVAL 2016

2015 GCE “O” LEVEL EXAMINATION RESULTS

Nur Huda Mohd Hassan’s (4G, 2015) artwork entitled, Butterflies in her stomach, has been selected as one of the five works from Singapore to be showcased at the International High School Arts Festival 2016 in Japan, an annual event celebrating the creative talent of Senior High School students (aged 15 – 18) from all over the world. This year, the event will be held from 22 June to 3 July at the National Art Centre, Tokyo.

Each year, approximately 400 artworks are selected from over 11,000 student entries from across the globe and exhibited at the National Art Centre in Tokyo, one of Japan’s most highly regarded galleries. This festival is organised by the International High School Arts Festival Organising Committee, and supported by the International Foundation for Arts and Culture (IFAC).

SCHOOL EXCELLENCE

The TK Debate Team participated in the Singapore Secondary Schools Debating Championships 2016 and emerged as Division III Quarter-Finalists.Rishika Daswani Sushil (4D) (Team Captain) distinguished herself from more than 100 students to clinch a place in the Top 10 Best Speakers’ Rank List where she was overall placed 7th.Dana Yeo Jie Yi (3A) (Team Vice-Captain) battled more than 50 students to emerge as the Best Floor Speaker in the entire debate competition for both Divisions II and III.This was indeed an achievement for the TK Debate Team! The Team was the only school to win the Best Floor Speaker trophy three times since the award was launched, and consecutively for two years since 2015.

“Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.” “Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.”

--- Ralph Waldo Emerson03

The TK Band participated in the biennial Singapore Youth Festival 2016 Arts Presentation for Display Band (Secondary) and was awarded a Certificate of Distinction. This award adds to the list of accolades - 6 Mace-of-Honour, 7 Display Band of the Year, 5 Best Drum Major, 16 Gold, 3 Gold with Honours - the Band has won since its inception in 1967.This year’s SYF show, entitled “Diamond Jubilee”, commemorates TK’s 60th anniversary. The show concept was inspired by the school crest which has an image of Leonardo Da Vinci, one of the most versatile geniuses of modern times. His drawing of the Vitruvian Man was a highlight of the show as it mirrors how the ingenuity of Da Vinci has made an impact in our quest for constant innovation in our SYF presentations. This has also been a guiding principle in the conceptualisation of the show.

The preparation for and presentation of the show at the Arts Presentation taught the TK Band members to embrace the importance of pursuing one’s dreams. This symbolism of ‘flight’ as seen in the bird and the flying machine (featured in the school crest) has also instilled in the members, past and present, the desire to go beyond the ordinary to aspire to achieve goals which no one has dared to dream of before.

TK Chess Club took part in the 68th National Schools Individual Chess Championships 2016 on 23 and 24 March.Jeremy Tan (4A) and Jaryl Seah (1E) won the East Zone Merit awards in the ‘B’ Division and ‘C’ Division respectively. They also participated in the 13th Queenstown CC Age Group Chess Championship 2016 on 3 April and won in the following categories:

Secondary Section (Girls)Michelle Warsah Liu (4C) - 9th

Secondary Section (Boys) Under 14 CategoryLim Ryan Ryutaro (2E) - 3rd

Secondary Section (Boys) Under 13 CategoryFong Kang Wei, Elvis (1A) - 8th Jaryl Seah (1E) - 6th

TK Choir students travelled to Penang, Malaysia, to participate in the International Choral Festival “Voyage of Songs” from 26 to 29 November, 2015.Although not all the members were able to participate in the event, the group showed remarkable confidence and determination to do its best in the competition, clinching a Gold C in the mixed Voices Choir (Junior Youth) and also emerged as the “Category Winner” in the Junior Youth Category. For its outstanding performance, TK Choir was also awarded the “Most Promising Choir” in the competition.The Choir members learnt some valuable lessons - the importance of co-operation, respecting one another, the value of improving their talents and fostering an open and curious mind.

“Working hard for something we don’t care about is called stress. Working hard for something we love is called passion.” --- Simon Sinek

Held biennially, the inter-unit Campcraft Competition involves NPCC units island-wide competing to complete and pitch three key structures - a tent, flagstaff and a gadget using poles, spars, twines and sheets - within a given time limit. For years, Campcraft has been a niche for TK NPCC. This year, out of the 264 teams that participated, both our Boys’ Team and Girls’ Team did us extremely proud by coming in 2nd and 3rd respectively. Our heartiest congratulations to TKNP!

SCHOOL EXCELLENCEBAND

CHESS CLUB

TK CHOIR

NPCC

DEBATE

At TK, Girl Guides are involved in various activities including proficiency badge work preparations, Basic First Aid Training, Annual World Thinking Day Celebrations and Service Learning (TK Project Serve, Run & Raisin Fun Fair, Visit to homes for the elderly).These activities provide opportunities for the guides to embrace ingenuity and cherish charity while inculcating loyalty to our school and nation.This year, TK Girl Guides has made significant progress and accomplished the following:• Puan Noor Aishah (PNA) Award 2015 (Silver)• World Thinking Day 2016 (International Costume Competition – Silver)• TKGS Campfire 2016 (Winner of ‘Don’t forget the lyrics’ competition)• Commemoration of World Earth Day at the TK60 Commemorative Run

“A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.” --- John C. Maxwell

Justin Tay (4D) was awarded the NCC Outstanding Cadet Award for the year 2015. This prestigious award is given to only 15 cadets selected from more than 100 NCC Land units. Justin was accorded this award for his dedication and commitment to the NCC. He is an extraordinary leader and a role model for cadets in the Land unit.

On 5 March, 14 TKSS NCC Land cadets took part in the annual Precision Drill Squad (PDS) East District competition. The boys worked tirelessly for this competition. Their hard work paid off when they came in 3rd, out of 20 other schools in the East District that competed in the competition. They also qualified for the Finals where they competed with 23 other schools from the different districts. Despite not being placed in the top 12, the team learnt much from this entire journey, spurring them to work harder for next year’s competition.

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SCHOOL EXCELLENCE

On Saturday, 12 March, a team of 11 cadets from TK Red Cross Youth (TKRCY), led by Team Leader Kimberly Sim (4B), competed in the Red Cross Youth’s annual National First Aid Competition (NFAC) at Ang Mo Kio Hub. Out of the 42 schools that participated in the event, only 13 schools were awarded Gold and Silver awards and TKRCY is proud to have also clinched a Silver Award!Valuable lessons were learnt while participating in these competitions, such as how to show compassion and to be willing to help others. On Friday, 18 March, the 11 graduating cadets had their final Passing Out Ceremony (POC) in the presence of 50 TKRCY Alumni who attended their reunion alumni dinner at TK. In addition to the POC, the alumni and students had a great time catching up with one another over dinner. They played games to win prizes, took photos at a customised photo-booth and took a trip down memory lane as they viewed a specially created video clip of all the past events. The school would like to thank TKRCY for their many years of invaluable service in providing first aid during the various school events like the TK Road Run and Sports Day. May the spirit of helping others continue to live on in all TKsians!

RED CROSS

GIRL GUIDES

Despite being set up only five years ago, TK Shooting has come a long way.This year, Amanda Grace Ho (4C) improved on her previous year’s performance by coming in 3rd in the ‘B’ Division Girls’ Individual Pistol Shoot. Although she was trailing the pack in the first half of the competition, she kept going and finally earned her medal. She certainly showed much composure and poise in the final stretch.Her team-mate, Amanda Mak (4B), finished in 8th position out of 24 competitors, who were shortlisted from an initial pool of 64 shooters. As a team, TK Shooting finished 6th out of 16 competing teams, a commendable showing for a CCA on the road to spreading its wings.

SHOOTING

NCC LAND

1. Youth Golf Program (YGP) 1st League Handicap Division (Boys) 5th Asher Tan Kheng Xun (1A) PC Division (Boys) 4th Steven Wei Kai Tham (2G) 2. YGP 2nd LeagueHandicap Division (Boys) 4th Asher Tan Kheng Xun (1A) 7th Ethan Lim Tze Cherng (3D)PC Division (Boys) 1st Kenneth Tan (2A)PC Division (Girls) 3rd Charlotte Lim (3D)PC Division (Team Event) 2nd Kenneth Tan (2A) and Charlotte Lim (3D)

3. YGP Final League Handicap Division (Boys) 4th Asher Tan Kheng Xun (1A) PC Division (Boys) 2nd Steven Wei Kai Tham (2G) PC Division (Girls) 1st Charlotte Lim (3D) PC Division (Team Event) 2nd Steven Tham (2G) and Kenneth Tan (2A) 4. National Inter-School Golf Championship Participation Asher Tan (1A) 5. YGP Overall Team Championship (PC Division) 1st Runners-up Tanjong Katong Secondary School

This year, TK Track & Field athletes performed very well at the 57th National Inter-School Track and Field Championships 2016. Several of our students achieved their personal best times, and more athletes qualified for the Semi-Finals than in the preceding years. The ‘B’ Division Boys 4x400m relay team also ran well to finish 3rd in their Heats and with an overall position of 16th out of 32 teams. Congratulations to the following athletes who qualified for the Semi-Finals:Zefanya Aurora (1A) – ‘C’ Division Girls 100m (24th out of 88)Malik Rohan (1A) – ‘C’ Division Boys 400m (14th out of 61)Muhammad Danial (3F) – ‘B’ Division Boys 400m (14th out of 94)

Congratulations to the following relay teams that qualified for the Semi-Finals:‘C’ Division Girls 4x100m – Zefanya (1A), Nur Jehan (1D), Natasha Lim (2C), Kanon Kang (2G), Dariah (1B), Lau Tin Chi (2C)‘C’ Division Boys 4x100m – Malik Rohan (1A), Bryan Hong (2B), Justin Shou (2C), Netanel Klein (1B), Ng Yuan Zhang (1A), Tan Ping-E Ethan (2B)‘B’ Division Boys 4x100m – Wong Tsz Fung (3A), Ahmad Yusuf (3E), Muhammad Danial (3F), Mohamad Haziq (4C), Poh Ruong Shayn Mitchell (3B), Alif Umar (4E)

On 20 February, TK NCC Sea competed in the 8th NCC Freestyle Drill Competition for schools from the Sea District. The 12 cadets trained hard for the competition and came in 2nd. This garnered them a place in the Finals where they competed against 23 other schools from the different districts.

On the same day, TK NCC Sea competed in the 7th NCC Precision Drill Competition against schools from the Sea and Air District. The 13 cadets garnered a place in the Finals where they competed against 22 other schools from the different districts. They faced tough competition but their complex choreography which incorporated difficult tosses and spins won them the 10th position. The team has gained invaluable experience and lessons on teamwork and commitment from this long journey.

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“Have a goal. Work towards it. Because there is not a thing more fulfilling than reaping the fruits of labour.” --- Amanda Shivrattan

On 28 February, TK Seladang Scouts participated in the inaugural Sea Scout Kayak Race 2016. The race was organised by the Sea Scout Programme Council to bring all Scouts, Ventures and Rovers with an affinity for sea activities together to have fun. This event also helped to build strong communication and teamwork among the Scouts as they competed for the National Frank Cooper Sands Award. The Scouts were required to compete in four different events that challenged their mental and physical strengths.Justin Bin Qi Shun (4F), Lim Jun (4F), Rocky Sutarius (4G) and Huang Jiachang Brian (4C) represented TK Seladang Scouts in the competition and emerged as Overall Champion of the Sea Scout Kayak Race 2016.

TK Golfers did the school proud in 2015 by garnering a series of awards in the various competitions.

SCHOOL EXCELLENCE

NCC SEA

SCOUTS

TK ATHLETICS

GOLF

The TK Netballers displayed confidence, resilience, and unity when both the ‘B’ and ‘C’ Division teams emerged as the 1st Runners-up of the East Zone Championships.

The ‘C’ Girls emerged 3rd Runners-up at the Netball National Championships.

Through the gruelling yet memorable journey as a team, the girls understood the value of having confidence in themselves, of fighting until the very end and learnt how to encourage and motivate one another on and off the court.

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Congratulations to the following Uniformed Groups for having attained the highest achievements in their respective areas!

TK Seladang Scouts - Frank Cooper Sands Award 2015NCC Land - Gold for the Best Unit Competition 2015NCC Sea - Gold for the Best Unit Competition 2015NPCC - Gold for Unit Overall Proficiency Award 2015

TK ‘B’ Division Floorball team emerged 3rd in the 2016 National Inter-School Floorball Championship. It was a flying start to the season as the team won all five of its matches in the Preliminary Round and qualified for the Quarter-Finals.

The girls continued to fight hard in all 5 matches of Round 2 and represented the school with distinction once again. They won four out of the five matches and finished 2nd in the group. They qualified for the Semi-Finals and went on to fight hard against Orchid Park Secondary School. They eventually emerged as 2nd Runners-up in Singapore.

‘C’ Division Black Belt Poomsae (Silver)Ang Andrea 1CYip Li Lin Christina 1GLim Li Teng Amanda 2G

‘C’ Division Black Belt Kyorugi (Silver)Ang Andrea 1C(Under 38kg)

‘C’ Division Black Belt Kyorugi (Gold)Malik Rohan 1A(Under 46kg)

‘B’ Division Black Belt Kyorugi (Bronze)Carl Song Jye Le 3B(Under 64kg)Cheah Hao Yuan 4C(Under 44kg)

‘B’ Division Black Belt Kyorugi (Gold)Neo Wei Yang 3F(Under 52kg)

“Practise like you’ve never won. Perform like you’ve never lost.” --- Karen WilliamsOur students showed courage, power and skill in the competition and performed commendably. Congratulations to the following students who won medals in their respective categories!

SCHOOL EXCELLENCE

TK Football ended the 2016 East Zone Inter-school Competition with a double dose of joy as both Divisions secured vital wins and trophies.

The ‘B’ Division team made up for their semi-final disappointment with a dominant 2-1 win over worthy rivals, St Patrick’s School, to clinch 3rd place in the Zone.

Meanwhile, the ‘C’ Division team did even better in the Final by beating odds-on favourites Coral Secondary School 3-2 to emerge as the Zonal Champions.

Both teams will now move on to the Nationals, in Semester 2, with the wind in their sails and will do their utmost to do TK proud again.

NETBALL

FLOORBALL

FOOTBALL

TAEKWONDO

NCC SEA

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TK conducts cohort camps annually for Secondary 1, 2 and 3 students. This year’s camp was held from 1 to 4 March.

Sec 1 Cohort Camp and Learning JourneyThe Secondary 1 students went through various team-bonding activities and an Amazing Race around the Central Business Distict area. They learnt more about themselves as well as their classmates and the importance of working together towards a common goal.

This year, as part of the “Passion for Learning” learning journey, Secondary 1 students went to Gardens by the Bay where they visited the Flower Dome and the SG50 exhibition. This was to help them better understand the use of design for long-term conservation and sustainability. Through the tour and the activities conducted, they were challenged to consider ways to help in environmental conservation. At the SG50 exhibition, the students learnt more about Singapore’s achievements, as well as the challenges and opportunities Singapore has faced and continues to face, so as to nurture a sense of belonging to the nation.

Sec 2 Cohort Camp – Outdoor EducationIt was a test of their sheer mettle and confidence as the Secondary 2 students engaged in confidence-building activities at the Singapore Armed Forces Reservist Association (SAFRA) as part of their Outdoor Education experience. Students had the opportunity to overcome their fear of heights through the high-element activities which included abseiling and rock wall climbing amongst others. They persevered through the various obstacles as they encouraged one another, living up to the words from the school song, ‘However hard, we’ll strive to reach the goal.’

The Secondary 2 students learnt about endurance through a full day of kayaking around parts of Singapore where balance, composure, coordination and resilience were paramount in achieving their targets. They also had an orienteering course held at the Sembawang Park where they worked in teams and used their maps to navigate and locate specific checkpoints. They stayed at the Terror Sea Scouts Campsite and demonstrated their skills in pitching tents and doing outdoor cooking. One of the highlights of the camp included a night walk where students had to walk in pairs through a deserted area to build their confidence and overcome fear. Through this camp experience, the Secondary 2 students had the opportunity to know more about themselves and to demonstrate school values such as belief in their ability to succeed.

Sec 3 Cohort Camp - Values-in-Action (VIA)For the Secondary 3 Cohort Camp, the cohort was divided into two groups to run VIA programmes in Singapore and Indonesia (Batam and Bintan).

Students who remained in Singapore completed seven VIA projects over four days. In doing so, they broadened their perspectives on challenges faced by different segments of the local community and were exposed to issues the local community faces. In order to achieve this objective, the students formed seven different groups to plan for the various projects. The projects were:

1. Fundraising and food donation drive to buy daily necessities for needy families 2. Buying, packing and distributing of food hampers to families in the Kampong-Chai Chee and Toa Payoh areas3. Interacting with children of low income families (Brighton Connection Student Care) 4. Interacting through activities with people with disabilities (Bizlink Day Activities Centre)5. Participating in a “Tray Return” Campaign 6. Organising a Door-to-Door Dengue Prevention Campaign7. Carrying out a road show for Dengue Prevention at Marine Parade Centre

The students learnt many valuable lessons including empathy, teamwork and leadership skills.

Students who went to Batam and Bintan went to four different locations to carry out various projects to help children and orphans.

In Bintan, the students painted murals to brighten up the living quarters of the orphans and the surrounding areas of the orphanages. They also interacted with the children. They saw first-hand how little the children had and how, despite the fact that they had no parents, they remained resilient and hopeful. Tears were shed and hearts moved as students realised just how fortunate they were to have loving parents.

In Batam, the students also painted murals in addition to conducting English Language lessons for the orphans. An ingenious group of students even constructed a basketball goalpost out of repurposed materials, including a bed frame and a used car tyre.

In addition to learning about the importance of giving back and gratitude, students also gained leadership and organisational skills, as they had to plan what to do in accordance with the needs of the orphanages prior to the trip.

STUDENT VOICECOHORT CAMP

TK Football participated in two Values-in-Action projects during the March holidays, as part of the CCA’s vision to develop the students both in sports and character.As part of the Good Goal Initiative which was launched in 2011, Goh Joo Hin Pte Ltd, our corporate sponsor, pledged $100 worth of New Moon rice for every goal scored during the team’s ‘B’ and ‘C’ Division Inter-school matches.In 2015, the boys scored a total of 56 goals, so a total of $5,600 worth of rice was distributed to the less fortunate from St Hilda’s Community Services living in the Mountbatten area on the first Saturday of the March holidays.Secondly, as part of TK’s 60th Anniversary, TK Football distributed free cups of isotonic drinks to members of the public at East Coast Park as part of a student-initiated VIA project called ‘TK Hydrates’.

Runners, joggers and even families out for a stroll were pleasantly surprised and grateful for a refreshing drink on a hot morning. In return, they wrote birthday greetings and well wishes to TK on the bottom of the cups.Through the two VIA projects, the boys learnt how to serve and meet the real needs of others. The boys were also touched by the smiles and gestures of gratitude from the people they had served.“I’m thankful for the opportunity to participate in such meaningful projects as I have helped others in real, practical ways. I was rewarded with bright smiles and genuine thanks.” --- Liam Breen, 3C

As part of the school’s ongoing efforts to emphasise the importance of giving back to society, TK Netballers helped to raise funds for the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) through the sale of homemade cookies and SPCA merchandise to their fellow schoolmates. Through their efforts of gathering orders and baking the cookies, as well as promoting the various SPCA merchandise, they raised about $650 for a good cause.The girls learnt many valuable lessons such as the importance of charity, and the fact that animals should be treated with respect and not abandoned or abused.

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FOOTBALL VIA

NETBALL VIA

To celebrate TK’s 60th Anniversary, the entire school participated wholeheartedly in the TK60 Commemorative Run. Students and staff enthusiastically took up the challenge to run 4km around the Singapore Sports Hub and displayed the spirit and grit of Team TK as they persevered, and cheered one another on, to complete the race. Some of the parents of our students also joined in this commemorative run and were a great inspiration to our students. Our Guests-of-Honour were the 1st Parent Support Group (PSG) Chairperson, Mr Teh Thien Yew, and current PSG Chairperson, Mdm Kalpana. Without a doubt, everyone had a great time!

The Impact Players – a group of selected Secondary Three student leaders from various CCAs and the Student Council, together with Secondary Four mentors and teachers – embarked on a Service Learning Trip to Batam, Indonesia, from 18 to 23 November 2015. This team of 30 was split into three sub-groups: Spirit, Heart and Action. These names were chosen to represent the three core principles that guided their behaviour throughout the journey. Before the start of the trip, the students approached their friends and families for donations of essential items, books and stationery, and raised funds for the purchase of water filters. Over the course of five days at Batam, the students helped to better the living conditions of the underprivileged children by painting walls with colourful, vibrant murals. They also conducted engaging, interactive English Language lessons for the children and shared Singapore’s culture with them through traditional games and snacks. Furthermore, they participated in a Feeding Programme, where they helped distribute food and drink to the less fortunate, and had a whale of a time playing soccer and other ball games with the teenagers there. “This trip helped many of us realise how blessed we are to be living in Singapore and how grateful we are to the people around us. We also learnt to work together with team members who may have different personalities and be open-minded.” --- Jochebed Nicole Tan, 4DIn January, the Secondary 4 Impact Players initiated a Values-In-Action project in support of Empowering Lives Asia. This is an organisation which aims to improve the lives of children in poverty-stricken areas in Asia. The students aimed to collect toiletries for the children living in the harsh and unhygienic conditions of dumpsites in Manila, Philippines. The students called for cash donations, as well as toothbrushes, toothpaste and bars of soap to be donated. In the short span of a week, a sum of more than $800 was raised and numerous toiletries were contributed. With the money collected, more than 2500 toiletries were handed over at a donation booth in Kallang Wave Mall. “For me, this project was an eye-opener as I saw for myself the great poverty that existed in a neighbouring country. I also came to realise how we take simple necessities for granted and how much good we can all do if we simply choose to. The project would not have been such a success had it not been for the compassion and generosity of TK’s staff and students, as well as the dedication of the team, all of which I am truly thankful for.” --- Cassandra Michel, 4A

STUDENT VOICETK60 COMMEMORATIVE RUN

IMPACT PLAYERS

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Every year in TK, we celebrate Mother Tongue Language Week to emphasise the importance of being bilingual in a multicultural society, and to raise the students’ awareness of their cultural heritage and the importance of being rooted in tradition and culture. This year, the event was held from 1 to 12 February.Secondary One Chinese Language students learnt how to make dumplings, or ‘Jiaozi’. Secondary Two students had a hands-on experience painting traditional Chinese masks, in conjunction with the celebrations of the Year of the Monkey.Secondary Three students had the chance to play traditional games, such as Chinese Chess, ‘Chapteh’, Five Stones and ‘Diabolo’. Secondary 4 students came up close and personal with a Singaporean acapella band, MICappella, which has gained fame recently for its covers of popular Mandarin pop songs. Secondary One Malay Language students learnt the history behind various traditional Malay kuehs such as the ‘Nagasari’ and ‘Pulut Panggang’. Secondary Two students did not miss out on the fun either as they learnt about traditional Malay games and tested their skills by competing with friends. They also had the opportunity to immerse themselves in the beauty of modern Malay poetry under the guidance of author Rasiah Halil. Secondary Three students took on the role of fashion designers as they learnt about the range of Malay traditional fashion while creating their own fusion designs and brought their sketches to life by putting together costumes in their very own ‘Projek Runway’. Finally, Secondary Four students explored the significance of the Malay traditional dish, ‘Nasi Ambeng’, with its many side dishes and myriad flavours.It was definitely an exciting fortnight for the students as the MTL Week coincided with the Chinese New Year (CNY) celebrations on 5 February. On that day, the first hour was dedicated to the wrapping of CNY hampers filled with non-perishables donated by the students. This was our way of showing care and concern to the senior citizens in the Kampong Arang area during the festive season. The hampers were then presented to them during the concert segment.In addition, to celebrate TK’s 60th birthday, every class was encouraged to write 60 well-wishes for our school. It was certainly very heart-warming to see many students wishing TK many good years ahead. Some even wrote about looking forward to the school’s 100th birthday celebration! We also had our annual mass ‘Lo Hei’ event at the assembly plaza for a morning of auspicious and joyous tossing of ‘Yu Sheng’, thanks to the generous sponsorship of one of the SAC members, Mr Teo Hong Lim. Our School Advisory Committee members, Parents Support Group, as well as senior citizens from St Hilda’s Community Care joined us in the celebration. The day ended with the CNY concert where we were treated to the delightful performances by our CCA groups, EMAS students, a TK Band quintet, a Lion Dance troupe, as well as senior citizens who performed sportingly for the first time in the school.

MTL WEEK AND CNY CELEBRATIONS

This year’s English Language Week took place from 11 to 15 April and the students participated in various activities that promoted both English Language and Literature. The Secondary 1 students were treated to a Poetry Slam performance where local poets shared poems they had written about their growing years. They then had their own Poetry Slam inter-class competition where they showcased their talent for performing poems that they had chosen.The Secondary 2 students had their first contact with Shakespeare through an oral performance of a segment of the famous Shakespearean play, “The Merchant of Venice”, which is also the Literature text they would be studying in Semester 2. Poems which touched on the themes found in “The Merchant of Venice” like justice, love and revenge, were introduced as well.The Secondary 3 students had inter-class debates and enjoyed pitting their wits against one another. Various motions were debated, including topics like compulsory charity work for students and banning smoking in public spaces.The Secondary 4 students enjoyed a Movie Evening, where they watched the zombie apocalypse film, “World War Z”, which exposed students to ideas such as the resilience of humanity, the impact of globalisation and the spread of disease.

STUDENT VOICE

“You are always a student, never a master. You have to keep moving forward.” --- Conrad HallThe TK Student Council works with the school to encourage every student to become self-directed in learning and have a passion in everything he or she undertakes. The council also strives to provide opportunities for students to exercise commitment, responsibility and develop their leadership qualities.For 2016, the Student Council proposed a Cohort Flag and Cohort Name for the Secondary One students to create a cohort identity and inspire school pride. The council initiated an E-Learning Day for students to learn at their own pace and revise their work. It also proposed the setting up of a TK Instagram account where students can post the latest updates and announcements of Team TK in action at competitions and school events. Where practicable, the school implemented the ideas initiated by the council. For example, in response to students’ suggestions, the Student Lounge was enhanced with more furniture and a foosball table, which had been donated by the class of 2015. The Pizza Party Award, an inter-class recognition award, continues in full force. This has helped to ensure that students take collective responsibility for maintaining a conducive classroom and learning environment.

STUDENT COUNCIL

EL WEEK

The objectives of Professional Development Connect 2016 are to deepen teachers’ knowledge of assessment for learning (AfL) and use of MTV routines, as well as to create cultures of thinking. Using the seven strategies of AfL by Jan Chappuis as a frame for the PD sessions, the STEM team added ‘sparkle’ to teacher learning through the use of exciting approaches such as role play.Two sessions on the strategies of setting clear learning targets, using samples of strong and weak work, as well as writing effective feedback were conducted. To enhance the effectiveness of teacher learning, each PD session also engaged teachers in departmental discussions on how to apply these strategies. The PD sessions for Semester 1 culminated in a reflection session, during which the various departments discussed how feedback provided to students can be sharpened and ways to encourage student ownership of feedback.

“I like a teacher who gives you something to take home to think about besides homework.” --- Lily Tomlin as “Edith Ann”AppointmentsCongratulations to the following staff on their appointment to key personnel roles:Mr Chua Chun Hua Roy | Subject Head/Science Ms Low Kia Sze | Senior Teacher/Chinese Language

AwardsThe Caring Teacher Award, is organised by the Institute of Education, Singapore, in partnership with ExxonMobil Asia Pte. Ltd. and with the support of the Ministry of Education. The awardees had been nominated by their students during the 2015 Teachers’ Day Awards. This award pays tribute to teachers who show care and concern for the holistic development of their students and go the extra mile to ensure their charges grow up to be confident and independent learners.

We congratulate the following recipients of the Caring Teacher Award:Ms Liz Sriyanty, Ms Ng Li Juan, Ms Jolene Pang, Mr Kang Hway Choon and Mrs Elsie Tan

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The staff bonding activities for this semester consisted of two new and fun activities - line dancing and a sports mini-telematch.

The line dancing brought out hidden talents of the TK staff as they moved and grooved to dance music. The staff were also grouped into the four Houses, and the exhilarating dance-off saw every House doing their best to choreograph and coordinate their dance moves!

The other staff bonding activity was a sports mini-telematch where the staff, who were again competing in their Houses, had to complete a series of challenges including skipping, catching badminton shuttlecocks and passing hula hoops. Despite the intense competition, everyone displayed the Team TK spirit by cheering on their colleagues who were from other Houses.

The staff showed great sportsmanship for both activities, demonstrating our spirit of “one for all, all for one!”

This year, TK’s Humanities Department organised TK’s very first Humanities Week from 4 to 8 April to make the Humanities come alive for the students.

Secondary One students engaged in a quiz called “60 Fun Facts about TK” as part of the TK60 celebrations. They had much fun uncovering the history of TK, which included stories about some of the teachers who were an integral part of TK history.

Secondary Two students completed an Amazing Race-style quiz where they had to go to different stations located around the school and try to solve Geography and History puzzles. Some of the puzzles they had to solve included piecing together a jigsaw puzzle on landmarks and famous Singaporeans, and answering an online National Geographic Quiz which tested them on general geographical knowledge.

Meanwhile, Secondary Three Geography Elective students watched a video on the effects of Global Warming and discussed the implications this video had on them. Many interesting viewpoints were raised and the students gained deeper insight into the impact of this phenomenon. As for the Secondary Three History Elective students, they went on a fact-finding hunt for 60 interesting facts about TK based on the following categories – CCA, Staff, School Leaders, Alumni, Achievements and History.

The students definitely had an enriching time gaining new insights about Geography and History and also learning about many interesting facts about TK.

STAFF MATTERS

HUMANITIES WEEK

STAFF BONDING

PD CONNECT IN TKSS

STAFF APPOINTMENTS AND AWARDS

Editorial Team: Mr Samuel T. Robinson, Mr Kevin Hing, Ms Sarah Lim, Ms Alexandra Pang, Mr Hareesh M B and Mr Roy Soh.11

“My father gave me the greatest gift anyone could give another person, he believed in me.” --- Jim Valvano

Dads For Life @TK organised yet another exciting father-child bonding session at Forest Adventure. Fourteen pairs of father and child, braved the high rope elements around Bedok Reservoir, walking on swinging rods, trapezes, horizontal ladders and tight ropes before ending with a zip line that brought participants across the park over the reservoir.

It was an eventful morning, with each pair of father and child both encouraging and advising each other on how best to tackle the high rope elements and overcome the various challenges. Everyone loved the time spent there and went home with not only certificates of participation but also strengthened bonds.

Alumnus from the Class of 70s celebrated Chinese New Year with a ‘Lo Hei’ on Wednesday, 17 February. The occasion was graced by our Principal, Mdm Haslinda Zamani, Vice-Principal, Mr Koh Tong Seah, and long-time serving teacher, Mr Samuel T. Robinson. The dinner was held at First Culinary Restaurant @ ITE, College Central.

Close to fifty members attended the dinner. One member even flew in from Australia to be present at the function. The turnout was great despite many members still being involved in the festive season at home with their families and loved ones.

The organising committees of the CNY dinner and fundraising, led by Mr Lee Seiw Meng and Mr Gordon Goh Hock Hai respectively, were very touched by the overwhelming support from the members for their attendance and generous contribution to support TK students in need. There was a great sense of camaraderie, built over the years, within the group as they participated in tossing the ‘Yu Sheng’ and toasting heartily for good luck, prosperity and good health in the New Year.

They also reminisced the good old times as they viewed the collection of photographs of themselves during their school days from the magazines that were displayed at the function. Mdm Haslinda was given a delightful running commentary by the members as she viewed the photographs and flipped through the school magazines that the alumni present had brought with them.

One of the members, Mr James Loh, added that having a generous soul meant showing loyalty and gratitude to the school. This was the main reason for the spontaneous response from the members to donate generously to help needy students of the school.

Mdm Haslinda expressed her sincere appreciation to the Class of 70s for their strong support and loyalty to the school. She said that this was clearly evident from the way they sang the school song with so much pride and joy.

We wish the Class of 70s every success and more joyous reunions in the years to come.

SYNERGISTIC PARTNERSHIPS

‘LO HEI’ 2016 - THE CLASS OF 70s

DADS FOR LIFE @ TK - FOREST ADVENTURE

We congratulate Professor Kirpal Singh on his appointment as Vice-President of the Brain Trust Charity. A distinguished alumnus of TK, Professor Kirpal Singh was a student in TK from 1963 to 1966. At school, he was known for his debating abilities. He has also served the school for many years as part of the School Advisory Committee.

Professor Kirpal Singh is the Director of the President Wee Kim Wee Centre at the Singapore Management University, where he also teaches.

DISTINGUISHED ALUMNUS