c o m m u n i c a r e - tanjong katong secondary school · the school paid tribute to our founding...
TRANSCRIPT
Editorial Team: Mr Samuel Robinson, Mr Roy Soh, Mr Kevin Hing, Ms Sarah Lim, Ms Alexandra Pang. Designed by: Mr Muhd Anwar
T R I B U T E
C O M M U N I C A R E2015 issue 1 | tanjong katong secondary school
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The school paid tribute to our founding Prime Minister, the late Mr. Lee Kuan Yew, during the week of 23 March.
A special space was created at the school’s Heritage Lab to display a large portrait of the late Mr. Lee Kuan Yew. Students and staff laid flowers all around it. Sympathy cards were also made available for students and staff for writing messages, while a video recording on his life could be viewed at the Heritage Lab.
This tribute reflected our utmost appreciation for a great man who, against fearful odds and with unwavering determination, built up our nation from scratch.
It is a little-known fact that Mr Lee visited TK more than once in the early years of nation building. In the 1960s, the then Prime Minister used the old TK premises to meet with residents of the Mountbatten Constituency. The old TK was chosen as it not only had a large field, but was also the most centralised location in Mountbatten.
The whole school community was very touched by what Mr. Lee Kuan Yew said in his final years as Prime Minister, as quoted by Prime Minister Mr. Lee Hsien Loong in his address to the nation on the morning of his passing.
“I have spent my life, so much of it, building up this country. There’s nothing more I need to do. At the end of the day, what have I got? A successful Singapore. What have I given up? My life.”
Indubitably, the late Mr. Lee left a legacy that will be remembered for generations to come.
TK Pays Tribute to the Founding Prime Minister
Dear Parents and Friends of TK,
As a school, we focus our efforts on developing TK Graduates who are self-directed in learning, passionate in all they undertake, who are confident, resilient and flexible and, guided by sound values, are poised to lead and contribute to school, nation and the global community. The various platforms and programmes provide opportunities for TKsians to develop and practise these attributes—our academic programme that stretches potential for learning and pushes thinking, carefully conceptualised CCE lessons that emphasize reflection, VIA programmes that often take students out of their comfort zones to contribute to others, and a vibrant CCA programme through which students learn about leading, teamwork, grit and determination. Very importantly, our curriculum seeks to provide room for student voice in shaping the TK experience. In this issue of Communicare, we highlight just some of the instances where our students make us proud in taking the initiative to step forward, to give voice in rallying their friends around a good cause, to be positive influencers to others, to show appreciation, and further strengthen our school culture. The development of the TK Graduate in line with our school vision would not be possible without continuous support and partnership of our key stakeholders: parents, the alumni, and the SAC. For example, through partnering the school in NE programmes like the International Friendship Day, parents help to enrich and enhance the diversity of learning experiences for TKsians. Teachers and parents working hand in hand signal clearly to all students the culture of care that we value as a school. We are also grateful to the many alumni who help the school in bringing real world perspectives on careers and professional life to our students as part of the Career Guidance Programme.
This year, as we celebrate Singapore’s Golden Jubilee, we begin a few new traditions as Team TK. We started the class Pizza Party, a student-initiated idea, and had an Inter-House Fifty-Legged Race during our inaugural Sports Carnival in school. I hope you enjoy reading about these events and the many facets of the TK Experience in the following pages. These stories have been put together by a team of passionate teachers in the Publications team, and I thank them for another uplifting volume of Communicare to be shared with all members of Team TK. As Team TK, we are a family, steeped in 59 years of tradition, confident in our bonds as one team, as we continue to forge ahead for excellence. The refrain in our school song, “One for all, and all for one”, captures the spirit of Team TK that seeks and rises to new challenges as one voice and one team.
P R I N C I P A L ’ S M E S S A G E
02
10
06
C O N T E N T SE X C E L L E N C E
S T U D E N T V O I C E
S T A F F M A T T E R S
P A R T N E R S H I P S
T R I B U T E
020609
1110
11
09
02
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.
“Congratulations! You have cleared another milestone,” Mdm Haslinda declared jubilantly after the 2014 GCE ‘O’ Level Examination Results were released on Monday, 12 January.
There was rapturous applause as she read the percentage distinction grades scored for each subject.
Top students, who scored five or more distinctions, joyfully stood up as their names were called by the Principal. Six students obtained nine distinctions, double the number recorded in last year’s results. Furthermore, two students scored nine straight ‘A1’s.
Mdm Haslinda thanked the teachers across all levels for their commitment in helping the students perform well in the examination. They gave the best of their time, effort and care to the students throughout their education in TK.
In recognition of their hard work, the teachers were treated to lunch on 6 February, by the School Advisory Committee, the highlight of which was a ‘Lo Hei’ to celebrate the upcoming Chinese New Year!
S C H O O L E X C E L L E N C E
Mdm Haslinda ZamaniPrincipal
TK Choir took part in the International Choral Examination, organised by the London College of Music Examinations on 26 March. TK was the only secondary school in Singapore to take part in the most challenging category in the examination.
When it was announced that TK Choir had clinched a High Distinction with a score of 92, a rare feat indeed, there was
exuberant celebration all around. Following its outstanding performance, the choir was invited to perform in the High Scorer’s Concert, a collaboration between Singapore and London Choral Associations.
To cap off a memorable start to 2015, the choir also attained the Certificate of Distinction when it took part in the Singapore Youth Festival Arts Presentation for Choir held on 14 April.
TK Choir
2014 ‘O’ Level Examination Results
For the first time in many years, TK Drama Club made history by attaining the Certificate of Distinction in the Singapore Youth Festival Arts Presentation for Drama (English), held on Thursday, 16 April.
TK Drama Club put on a compelling performance of Alfian Sa’at’s “Yesterday My Classmate Died’, which explored the themes of values, relationships and coming to terms with loss.
TK Drama Club
TK’s Chinese Drama Club was awarded the Certificate of Achievement in the Singapore Youth Festival Arts Presentation for Drama (Chinese) on 22 April.
The members put in long hours and great effort to rehearse for the play, which was about the price one has to pay for chasing fame, wealth and power through unethical means.
TK Dance Club clinched the Certificate of Accomplishment in the Singapore Youth Festival Arts Presentation for Dance (International).
The performance, entitled “Sisterhood”, comprised three sections which depicted the separation of two sisters during World War Two. Despite the numerous obstacles and hardships faced, through faith and perseverance, they were eventually reunited.
TK Chinese Drama TK Dance Club
The King of Bhutan, His Majesty Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, visiting TK on 10th February 2015
Dear Parents and Friends of TK,
As a school, we focus our efforts on developing TK Graduates who are self-directed in learning, passionate in all they undertake, who are confident, resilient and flexible and, guided by sound values, are poised to lead and contribute to school, nation and the global community. The various platforms and programmes provide opportunities for TKsians to develop and practise these attributes—our academic programme that stretches potential for learning and pushes thinking, carefully conceptualised CCE lessons that emphasize reflection, VIA programmes that often take students out of their comfort zones to contribute to others, and a vibrant CCA programme through which students learn about leading, teamwork, grit and determination. Very importantly, our curriculum seeks to provide room for student voice in shaping the TK experience. In this issue of Communicare, we highlight just some of the instances where our students make us proud in taking the initiative to step forward, to give voice in rallying their friends around a good cause, to be positive influencers to others, to show appreciation, and further strengthen our school culture. The development of the TK Graduate in line with our school vision would not be possible without continuous support and partnership of our key stakeholders: parents, the alumni, and the SAC. For example, through partnering the school in NE programmes like the International Friendship Day, parents help to enrich and enhance the diversity of learning experiences for TKsians. Teachers and parents working hand in hand signal clearly to all students the culture of care that we value as a school. We are also grateful to the many alumni who help the school in bringing real world perspectives on careers and professional life to our students as part of the Career Guidance Programme.
This year, as we celebrate Singapore’s Golden Jubilee, we begin a few new traditions as Team TK. We started the class Pizza Party, a student-initiated idea, and had an Inter-House Fifty-Legged Race during our inaugural Sports Carnival in school. I hope you enjoy reading about these events and the many facets of the TK Experience in the following pages. These stories have been put together by a team of passionate teachers in the Publications team, and I thank them for another uplifting volume of Communicare to be shared with all members of Team TK. As Team TK, we are a family, steeped in 59 years of tradition, confident in our bonds as one team, as we continue to forge ahead for excellence. The refrain in our school song, “One for all, and all for one”, captures the spirit of Team TK that seeks and rises to new challenges as one voice and one team.
P R I N C I P A L ’ S M E S S A G E
02
10
06
C O N T E N T SE X C E L L E N C E
S T U D E N T V O I C E
S T A F F M A T T E R S
P A R T N E R S H I P S
T R I B U T E
020609
1110
11
09
02
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.
“Congratulations! You have cleared another milestone,” Mdm Haslinda declared jubilantly after the 2014 GCE ‘O’ Level Examination Results were released on Monday, 12 January.
There was rapturous applause as she read the percentage distinction grades scored for each subject.
Top students, who scored five or more distinctions, joyfully stood up as their names were called by the Principal. Six students obtained nine distinctions, double the number recorded in last year’s results. Furthermore, two students scored nine straight ‘A1’s.
Mdm Haslinda thanked the teachers across all levels for their commitment in helping the students perform well in the examination. They gave the best of their time, effort and care to the students throughout their education in TK.
In recognition of their hard work, the teachers were treated to lunch on 6 February, by the School Advisory Committee, the highlight of which was a ‘Lo Hei’ to celebrate the upcoming Chinese New Year!
S C H O O L E X C E L L E N C E
Mdm Haslinda ZamaniPrincipal
TK Choir took part in the International Choral Examination, organised by the London College of Music Examinations on 26 March. TK was the only secondary school in Singapore to take part in the most challenging category in the examination.
When it was announced that TK Choir had clinched a High Distinction with a score of 92, a rare feat indeed, there was
exuberant celebration all around. Following its outstanding performance, the choir was invited to perform in the High Scorer’s Concert, a collaboration between Singapore and London Choral Associations.
To cap off a memorable start to 2015, the choir also attained the Certificate of Distinction when it took part in the Singapore Youth Festival Arts Presentation for Choir held on 14 April.
TK Choir
2014 ‘O’ Level Examination Results
For the first time in many years, TK Drama Club made history by attaining the Certificate of Distinction in the Singapore Youth Festival Arts Presentation for Drama (English), held on Thursday, 16 April.
TK Drama Club put on a compelling performance of Alfian Sa’at’s “Yesterday My Classmate Died’, which explored the themes of values, relationships and coming to terms with loss.
TK Drama Club
TK’s Chinese Drama Club was awarded the Certificate of Achievement in the Singapore Youth Festival Arts Presentation for Drama (Chinese) on 22 April.
The members put in long hours and great effort to rehearse for the play, which was about the price one has to pay for chasing fame, wealth and power through unethical means.
TK Dance Club clinched the Certificate of Accomplishment in the Singapore Youth Festival Arts Presentation for Dance (International).
The performance, entitled “Sisterhood”, comprised three sections which depicted the separation of two sisters during World War Two. Despite the numerous obstacles and hardships faced, through faith and perseverance, they were eventually reunited.
TK Chinese Drama TK Dance Club
The King of Bhutan, His Majesty Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, visiting TK on 10th February 2015
S C H O O L E X C E L L E N C E S C H O O L E X C E L L E N C E
0403
On Friday, 20 March, nine students from TK competed in the Annual Innovation and Design Engineering (IDE) Challenge held at Anderson Secondary School.
TK participated in the inter-school Malay debate series, Bahas 4PM, organised by the Malay Youth Literary Association, for the first time this year. They faced tough competition from St Joseph’s Institution and Victoria School, but they persevered and believed in their ability to succeed. Their hours of hard work and training paid off when they were crowned Overall Champions and Ria Arinah Bte Muhamad Redza (4G) was awarded Best Speaker.
While that was a laudable achievement in itself, the victory ensured that the ‘B’ boys of 2015 achieved something their predecessors have not done for quite some time - finish unbeaten in regulation time for the whole of the East Zone competition.
This feat is testament to this team’s resilience, determination, team spirit and general refusal to admit defeat, even in the most difficult of circumstances. This strength of character will serve the team well in the National Inter-school Football Tournament, where bigger challenges await.
In all, for the East Zone season, the ‘B’ boys scored 27 goals while conceding only 5 in 9 games. Together with the ‘C’ boys, TK Football have scored 49 goals at the moment, which equates to $4900 worth of rice to be given to the needy under the Good Goal Initiative.
On a blisteringly hot Monday afternoon, the ‘B’ Division team convincingly beat Pasir Ris Secondary 3-0 to secure 3rd Place in the 2015 East Zone Inter-school Football Tournament. Muhammad Syakir B Mohd Azahar (4A), Muhammad Khairul Akmal B Ali (4H) and Izz Haziq B Izan (4H) scored the goals which ensured a deserving victory for TK.
Innovation, Design and Engineering (IDE) Challenge
Football
The students, grouped into teams of three, were tasked to tackle three concurrent challenges based on the theme “Faster, Higher and Stronger”. They were given five hours and limited materials to complete their designs. After a day of intense competition, TK’s Secondary Three team was crowned the IDE Challenge Champions and the Secondary Two team was awarded the Innovation Award and the Judges’ Special Mention Award. The winning Secondary Three team comprised leader Lim Zhi Yu Charlene (3F), Abhay Rajesh Bagdawala (3E) and Muhammad Aamir Sajid Shaikh (3F). The Secondary Two team comprised leader Sherry Han Weng Yenn (2C), Lukas Bong Yan Zhi (2C) and Matthew Chin Yuen Hao (2E).
One of the debaters, Muhammad Luqman Abdul Rahman (4C), reflected on the preparation process. “We sacrificed our leisure time to practise with our trainer and team of teachers. Even as the competition got stiffer, our passion and determination to win burnt even stronger. We rose to the occasion time and again, and put in our very best!”
TK debaters put their heart and soul into preparing for the prestigious Singapore Secondary Schools Debate Championship organised by the Julia Gabriel Centre for Learning on Friday, 17 April. The competition was held in the evening at Anglo-Chinese Junior College.
Against great odds, as more than 50 debaters participated in the contest, Karthik Vyas (4D), clinched the coveted “Best Floor Speaker” Award. He stood out because of “his eloquence and style”, according to Mr. Mark Gabriel, Chairman of the competition.
EL Debate Team
TK Band
Congratulations to the following TKsians who participated in the 2015 National Inter-Schools Taekwondo Championships!
C DIVISION FEMALE POOM BELT - UNDER 38 KG : Lim Li Teng Amanda (1G) - SilverC DIVISION MALE POOM BELT - UNDER 54 KG : Carl Song Jye Le (2G) - SilverC DIVISION MALE POOM BELT - UNDER 50 KG : Neo Wei Yang (2G) - Silver
TK Band has won many accolades in the Singapore Youth Festivals over the years and it was again named the “Display Band of the Year” last year. On 17 January, TK Band presented “In Concert”, a biennial event, which was held, at the newly refurbished Victoria Concert Hall.
TK Band performed works by classical and contemporary composers, as well as a rousing rendition of ‘Symphonic Chorale and Dance’ by Gaius Lee, a TK Band alumnus. This work is a musical reflection of what TK Band stands for and has accomplished over the years. Fittingly, this was the world premiere of the piece.
The ‘C’ Division girls from TK Netball made the school proud by clinching the 1st Runner-up position in the East Zone Netball Championships this year, despite facing many tough and spirited opponents along the way. In the closely fought Final against Dunman Secondary, the girls impressed with their grit and determination.
A tough draw during the National Round saw the ‘C’ Division girls’ Netball journey come to an end in spite of their best efforts. Nonetheless, the girls have learnt and improved a great deal, and they will work very hard to do the school proud again next year!
Netball
Taekwando
ML Debate Competition - Bahas 4PM
37th International C. B. Paul Science Quiz Competition 2015
Our heartiest congratulations to Aloysius Eng Wei Jun (4A) who won the Gold medal, Liu Siye (4A), who received the Silver medal and Yu De Ze Terrance (4A) and Guo Wan Yao (4A), who received the Bronze medal!
Aloysius Eng Wei Jun recalled, “The competition stretched me to my limits and allowed me to see Mathematics and the Sciences in a new light.”
This competition was organised by Anglo-Chinese Junior College’s Science and Mathematics Council in collaboration with NTU College of Science and NUS Faculty of Science. The competition was in two parts. The preliminary written round had about 600 participants from 70 schools, including 20 Secondary Four participants from TK. Ten of them qualified for the final written round.
S C H O O L E X C E L L E N C E S C H O O L E X C E L L E N C E
0403
On Friday, 20 March, nine students from TK competed in the Annual Innovation and Design Engineering (IDE) Challenge held at Anderson Secondary School.
TK participated in the inter-school Malay debate series, Bahas 4PM, organised by the Malay Youth Literary Association, for the first time this year. They faced tough competition from St Joseph’s Institution and Victoria School, but they persevered and believed in their ability to succeed. Their hours of hard work and training paid off when they were crowned Overall Champions and Ria Arinah Bte Muhamad Redza (4G) was awarded Best Speaker.
While that was a laudable achievement in itself, the victory ensured that the ‘B’ boys of 2015 achieved something their predecessors have not done for quite some time - finish unbeaten in regulation time for the whole of the East Zone competition.
This feat is testament to this team’s resilience, determination, team spirit and general refusal to admit defeat, even in the most difficult of circumstances. This strength of character will serve the team well in the National Inter-school Football Tournament, where bigger challenges await.
In all, for the East Zone season, the ‘B’ boys scored 27 goals while conceding only 5 in 9 games. Together with the ‘C’ boys, TK Football have scored 49 goals at the moment, which equates to $4900 worth of rice to be given to the needy under the Good Goal Initiative.
On a blisteringly hot Monday afternoon, the ‘B’ Division team convincingly beat Pasir Ris Secondary 3-0 to secure 3rd Place in the 2015 East Zone Inter-school Football Tournament. Muhammad Syakir B Mohd Azahar (4A), Muhammad Khairul Akmal B Ali (4H) and Izz Haziq B Izan (4H) scored the goals which ensured a deserving victory for TK.
Innovation, Design and Engineering (IDE) Challenge
Football
The students, grouped into teams of three, were tasked to tackle three concurrent challenges based on the theme “Faster, Higher and Stronger”. They were given five hours and limited materials to complete their designs. After a day of intense competition, TK’s Secondary Three team was crowned the IDE Challenge Champions and the Secondary Two team was awarded the Innovation Award and the Judges’ Special Mention Award. The winning Secondary Three team comprised leader Lim Zhi Yu Charlene (3F), Abhay Rajesh Bagdawala (3E) and Muhammad Aamir Sajid Shaikh (3F). The Secondary Two team comprised leader Sherry Han Weng Yenn (2C), Lukas Bong Yan Zhi (2C) and Matthew Chin Yuen Hao (2E).
One of the debaters, Muhammad Luqman Abdul Rahman (4C), reflected on the preparation process. “We sacrificed our leisure time to practise with our trainer and team of teachers. Even as the competition got stiffer, our passion and determination to win burnt even stronger. We rose to the occasion time and again, and put in our very best!”
TK debaters put their heart and soul into preparing for the prestigious Singapore Secondary Schools Debate Championship organised by the Julia Gabriel Centre for Learning on Friday, 17 April. The competition was held in the evening at Anglo-Chinese Junior College.
Against great odds, as more than 50 debaters participated in the contest, Karthik Vyas (4D), clinched the coveted “Best Floor Speaker” Award. He stood out because of “his eloquence and style”, according to Mr. Mark Gabriel, Chairman of the competition.
EL Debate Team
TK Band
Congratulations to the following TKsians who participated in the 2015 National Inter-Schools Taekwondo Championships!
C DIVISION FEMALE POOM BELT - UNDER 38 KG : Lim Li Teng Amanda (1G) - SilverC DIVISION MALE POOM BELT - UNDER 54 KG : Carl Song Jye Le (2G) - SilverC DIVISION MALE POOM BELT - UNDER 50 KG : Neo Wei Yang (2G) - Silver
TK Band has won many accolades in the Singapore Youth Festivals over the years and it was again named the “Display Band of the Year” last year. On 17 January, TK Band presented “In Concert”, a biennial event, which was held, at the newly refurbished Victoria Concert Hall.
TK Band performed works by classical and contemporary composers, as well as a rousing rendition of ‘Symphonic Chorale and Dance’ by Gaius Lee, a TK Band alumnus. This work is a musical reflection of what TK Band stands for and has accomplished over the years. Fittingly, this was the world premiere of the piece.
The ‘C’ Division girls from TK Netball made the school proud by clinching the 1st Runner-up position in the East Zone Netball Championships this year, despite facing many tough and spirited opponents along the way. In the closely fought Final against Dunman Secondary, the girls impressed with their grit and determination.
A tough draw during the National Round saw the ‘C’ Division girls’ Netball journey come to an end in spite of their best efforts. Nonetheless, the girls have learnt and improved a great deal, and they will work very hard to do the school proud again next year!
Netball
Taekwando
ML Debate Competition - Bahas 4PM
37th International C. B. Paul Science Quiz Competition 2015
Our heartiest congratulations to Aloysius Eng Wei Jun (4A) who won the Gold medal, Liu Siye (4A), who received the Silver medal and Yu De Ze Terrance (4A) and Guo Wan Yao (4A), who received the Bronze medal!
Aloysius Eng Wei Jun recalled, “The competition stretched me to my limits and allowed me to see Mathematics and the Sciences in a new light.”
This competition was organised by Anglo-Chinese Junior College’s Science and Mathematics Council in collaboration with NTU College of Science and NUS Faculty of Science. The competition was in two parts. The preliminary written round had about 600 participants from 70 schools, including 20 Secondary Four participants from TK. Ten of them qualified for the final written round.
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S C H O O L E X C E L L E N C E
TK National Cadet Corps (Sea) participated in the 6th Precision Drill Squad (PDS) competition, organised yearly by the NCC Headquarters. The team emerged 2nd in the District competition and qualified for the Finals.
Undaunted by defeat, they trained even harder and their efforts paid off when they beat out seasoned competitors to clinch the 2nd position in the finals. This is a commendable feat for the TK NCC (Sea) PDS team, considering the fact that it was only formed 3 years ago.
We would also like to extend our congratulations to the TK NCC (Sea) Freestyle Drill Team, which regained their Champions title at the District level of the 7th Freestyle Exhibition Drill competition.
NCC Sea
The Chess Club participated in two chess competitions and we are proud to share the following results: In the 67th National Schools Individual Chess Championships 2015, Tan Si Yin (4B), Yong Hui Ting (4E) and Tan Wei Zhe Jeremy (3A) were awarded the East Zone Merit Award.
In the 12th Queenstown Community Club Age Group Chess Championship 2015, Yong Hui Ting (4E) secured 5th position in the Secondary Schools Section (Girls) while Lim Ryan Ryutaro (1E) finished in 4th position in the Secondary School Section (Boys).
Chess Club
Twelve TK National Cadet Corps (Land) cadets participated in the East Division Annual Precision Drill Squad (PDS) Competition, which was held on 28 February, 2015.
Training started in last November and the cadets, prepared to go the extra mile, continued their training during part of the December holidays. Led by Staff Sgt. Shaik (4E) and Staff Sgt. Muhammad (4G), the team finished in first place in the East District for the first time in five years.
In the process, the cadets learnt to be more resilient in facing unexpected challenges and were richly rewarded for their dedication by being crowned “King of the East” once again!
NCC Land
One of the school’s signature programmes and definitely a highlight in every TKsian’s life is the annual Cohort Camp, which is an unforgettable, meaningful and impactful experience for all involved.
This year, the Secondary One students had three days of class bonding and learnt the importance of teamwork. They participated in games and went on a day trip to Sentosa where they had to navigate and find their way around the island as a class.
Meanwhile, the Secondary Two students went to Johor Bahru, Malaysia, to immerse themselves in a different culture while building their resilience through challenging activities like trekking through the forest.
Concurrently, the Secondary Three students headed to Batam, Indonesia for Service Learning. Through activities like building shelves, making cement and painting walls, the students learnt a valuable lesson: to be grateful for what they have. They also brought joy to the children there through games and lessons.
The Secondary Four cohort was not left out as the students attended a Career Guidance Seminar and exhibition featuring top Junior Colleges and Polytechnics. They also enjoyed a day of fun with games and savoured a sumptuous buffet!
Reflections by incoming Student Council President Eythan Ong Tzeng Junn (3C) & Vice President Aditya Rai (3A):
The role of the Student Council President comes with the responsibility of representing the student body. He is the students’ voice and plays a key role in making the school experience a more meaningful and enjoyable one for all TKsians.
Fittingly, the process of being elected President was challenging and pushes all the candidates to our limits. We had to meet deadline after deadline, burning the midnight oil and crafting an impactful speech to deliver. This was followed by a gruelling Campaign Week, as all of us had to step outside our comfort zones to meet new people and garner support.
The highlight of the whole Presidential Campaign was delivering the speech itself. Each speech represented each candidate’s heart and soul. We practised day and night and when the moment came, everyone did his or her best to deliver a heartfelt speech. The ideas that were shared addressed various issues raised by students during the Students’ Forum.
On Election Day, the students, as well as the teachers, had to cast their votes for the next President. At the end of the voting, the candidates sat in the Council Room, holding hands while awaiting the results, promising to carry out our roles to the best of our ability to serve the school, regardless of who was eventually elected.
The journey was certainly not easy but we finished it with one another’s help and the support of our friends, teachers and families.
On behalf of all the candidates, we would like to thank everyone for supporting the Student Council and placing your trust in us. We also promise to always go the extra mile for the student body!
TK Ventures Out
Student Council Presidential Elections
Scout National Exploration Challenge 2014
coordinate their efforts.
In the “Scouting the Neighbourhood” phase, participants were required to submit detailed plans of their exploration routes after receiving basic training in the use of maps and compass skills.
In the “Go Explore” phase, participants headed out for an Exploration Hike on 8 November, 2014. The aim of the activity was to complete as many checkpoints as possible within a certain time frame. In this challenging phase of the competition, our scouts triumphed over 32 teams, winning 1 Gold and 1 Silver.
In the “Showcase of Logbook” phase, participants were given time to refine their Exploration Journals. Their entries were then judged for creativity and innovation. In this competition, our teams did well by clinching 2 Silver Awards.
The National Exploration Challenge 2014 competition was held in November and involved 21 schools. Two teams from TK Seladang Scouts represented the school. The competition took nearly two weeks to complete, and our Scouts learnt to work as a team to conceptualize, plan and
S T U D E N T V O I C E & G R O W T H
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S C H O O L E X C E L L E N C E
TK National Cadet Corps (Sea) participated in the 6th Precision Drill Squad (PDS) competition, organised yearly by the NCC Headquarters. The team emerged 2nd in the District competition and qualified for the Finals.
Undaunted by defeat, they trained even harder and their efforts paid off when they beat out seasoned competitors to clinch the 2nd position in the finals. This is a commendable feat for the TK NCC (Sea) PDS team, considering the fact that it was only formed 3 years ago.
We would also like to extend our congratulations to the TK NCC (Sea) Freestyle Drill Team, which regained their Champions title at the District level of the 7th Freestyle Exhibition Drill competition.
NCC Sea
The Chess Club participated in two chess competitions and we are proud to share the following results: In the 67th National Schools Individual Chess Championships 2015, Tan Si Yin (4B), Yong Hui Ting (4E) and Tan Wei Zhe Jeremy (3A) were awarded the East Zone Merit Award.
In the 12th Queenstown Community Club Age Group Chess Championship 2015, Yong Hui Ting (4E) secured 5th position in the Secondary Schools Section (Girls) while Lim Ryan Ryutaro (1E) finished in 4th position in the Secondary School Section (Boys).
Chess Club
Twelve TK National Cadet Corps (Land) cadets participated in the East Division Annual Precision Drill Squad (PDS) Competition, which was held on 28 February, 2015.
Training started in last November and the cadets, prepared to go the extra mile, continued their training during part of the December holidays. Led by Staff Sgt. Shaik (4E) and Staff Sgt. Muhammad (4G), the team finished in first place in the East District for the first time in five years.
In the process, the cadets learnt to be more resilient in facing unexpected challenges and were richly rewarded for their dedication by being crowned “King of the East” once again!
NCC Land
One of the school’s signature programmes and definitely a highlight in every TKsian’s life is the annual Cohort Camp, which is an unforgettable, meaningful and impactful experience for all involved.
This year, the Secondary One students had three days of class bonding and learnt the importance of teamwork. They participated in games and went on a day trip to Sentosa where they had to navigate and find their way around the island as a class.
Meanwhile, the Secondary Two students went to Johor Bahru, Malaysia, to immerse themselves in a different culture while building their resilience through challenging activities like trekking through the forest.
Concurrently, the Secondary Three students headed to Batam, Indonesia for Service Learning. Through activities like building shelves, making cement and painting walls, the students learnt a valuable lesson: to be grateful for what they have. They also brought joy to the children there through games and lessons.
The Secondary Four cohort was not left out as the students attended a Career Guidance Seminar and exhibition featuring top Junior Colleges and Polytechnics. They also enjoyed a day of fun with games and savoured a sumptuous buffet!
Reflections by incoming Student Council President Eythan Ong Tzeng Junn (3C) & Vice President Aditya Rai (3A):
The role of the Student Council President comes with the responsibility of representing the student body. He is the students’ voice and plays a key role in making the school experience a more meaningful and enjoyable one for all TKsians.
Fittingly, the process of being elected President was challenging and pushes all the candidates to our limits. We had to meet deadline after deadline, burning the midnight oil and crafting an impactful speech to deliver. This was followed by a gruelling Campaign Week, as all of us had to step outside our comfort zones to meet new people and garner support.
The highlight of the whole Presidential Campaign was delivering the speech itself. Each speech represented each candidate’s heart and soul. We practised day and night and when the moment came, everyone did his or her best to deliver a heartfelt speech. The ideas that were shared addressed various issues raised by students during the Students’ Forum.
On Election Day, the students, as well as the teachers, had to cast their votes for the next President. At the end of the voting, the candidates sat in the Council Room, holding hands while awaiting the results, promising to carry out our roles to the best of our ability to serve the school, regardless of who was eventually elected.
The journey was certainly not easy but we finished it with one another’s help and the support of our friends, teachers and families.
On behalf of all the candidates, we would like to thank everyone for supporting the Student Council and placing your trust in us. We also promise to always go the extra mile for the student body!
TK Ventures Out
Student Council Presidential Elections
Scout National Exploration Challenge 2014
coordinate their efforts.
In the “Scouting the Neighbourhood” phase, participants were required to submit detailed plans of their exploration routes after receiving basic training in the use of maps and compass skills.
In the “Go Explore” phase, participants headed out for an Exploration Hike on 8 November, 2014. The aim of the activity was to complete as many checkpoints as possible within a certain time frame. In this challenging phase of the competition, our scouts triumphed over 32 teams, winning 1 Gold and 1 Silver.
In the “Showcase of Logbook” phase, participants were given time to refine their Exploration Journals. Their entries were then judged for creativity and innovation. In this competition, our teams did well by clinching 2 Silver Awards.
The National Exploration Challenge 2014 competition was held in November and involved 21 schools. Two teams from TK Seladang Scouts represented the school. The competition took nearly two weeks to complete, and our Scouts learnt to work as a team to conceptualize, plan and
S T U D E N T V O I C E & G R O W T H
During the Mother Tongue week, a series of activities and programmes provided additional opportunities for students to learn their Mother Tongue in different ways and better appreciate their language and culture.
The programmes for Chinese Language students included a Chinese Tea Art session where students got a glimpse of traditional Chinese tea culture, and were engaged in a hands-on activity to brew and taste the tea. The Secondary 2 students had a Creative Writing Workshop to ignite their passion for writing stories in Chinese. Meanwhile, the Secondary 3 students attended a Radio Drama Workshop in collaboration with Y.E.S 93.3 FM, as two DJs from Y.E.S 93.3 FM came to TK and shared about radio drama writing.
For the Malay Language students, it was a fun-filled week of activities too. The Secondary 2 students set up booths on kampung games, which were ingeniously invented by villagers using items which were readily available to them. In addition, the Secondary 1 students set up food stalls that offered Malay kueh and the Secondary 3 students competed in the fashion design competition, where they created dresses combining traditional and modern designs.
Mother Tongue Language Week
A Student Council initiative, the ‘Pizza Party’ is one of the student projects that serves to promote class bonding and a positive class culture. Each class starts the new term with 500 points, and points are deducted or awarded based on the behaviour and performance of the class. These points are awarded based on various aspects like classroom cleanliness, punctuality and noticeboard decorations.
The class with the highest number of points has a ‘pizza party’ during their recess on the last day of the term, when members of the class enjoy their pizza together!
Congratulations to the winners for Term 1 2015 – 1F, 2D, 3B and 4G!
Class Pizza PartyS T U D E N T V O I C E & G R O W T H S T U D E N T V O I C E & G R O W T H
0807
On 11 April, the boys from TK Football distributed 210 packets of rice to the needy and underprivileged residents at Jalan Batu. This activity is a part of the ‘Good Goal Initiative’ where every goal scored by the football team in the zonal and national tournaments benefits the community. Launched in January 2011, our corporate sponsor, Goh Joo Hin Pte Ltd, has generously pledged $100 worth of New Moon rice for every goal scored.
Reporting at 9.00 am at Friends @ St Hilda’s Link, a social service centre, TK Football team eagerly and quickly set to work packing the 5 kg packs of rice, preparing them for distribution. Students worked in pairs to carry about three to four packs of rice per person to deliver the rice to the residents.
TK Football’s Heart Of Goal
On the 25th of April, Nepal was devastated by the worst earthquake in 80 years. The 7.8 magnitude earthquake left as many as 52,000 people critically wounded or dead. With many TKsians having Nepalese schoolmates and friends whose families have been affected by this calamity, the Student Council, National Cadet Corps (Land) and Red Cross Youth came together to organise a donation drive to show our concern for the Nepalese people and contribute to the relief efforts.
With the school leaders’ unanimous support, we set up a donation collection point in the canteen and made known our plans to go from class to class during the following day’s Character and Citizenship Education Period to collect donations.
We were heartened and filled with great pride to see our fellow TKsians, teachers and non-teaching staff opening their hearts and wallets to support our donation drive unreservedly. TKsians contributed generously and enthusiastically, clearly aware that the Nepalese people needed all the help that we could offer. One TK alumnus, upon hearing about the donation drive, even rallied his colleagues and sent in cheques to help in the effort.
We are proud to announce that, in total, a whopping $23,377 was raised and sent to the Singapore Red Cross! We hope that we will be able to make a small difference in this difficult time for Nepal with the sum of money collected. Let us continue to be willing and keen to help the less fortunate and suffering, simply because we are able to!
Eythan Ong (3C)Incoming Student Council President
TK’s Charitable Spirit Burns Bright During Nepal Donation Drive
On 17 April, TK had its first Sports Carnival. Instead of the traditional track and field events, the PE Department decided to do something different this year. To encourage more participation among the students and teachers, the PE teachers organised mini-games like Frisbee Toss and sports like Skipping. Students did not need to be great athletes or have good stamina to win. They only needed to be enthusiastic and passionate when participating in the mini games so as to gain points for their House.
In commemoration of SG50, TK organised a 50-legged race for teachers and students. It was a feat that required extensive teamwork and communication to accomplish. While the competitors were completing the race, the rest of the House members were busy cheering them on.
In addition, the Parent Support Group sold ice-lollies and various snacks to raise funds for the Secondary 4 study night that would commence in Term 4. The ice-lollies were a big hit among the students that hot and humid afternoon.
At the end of the day, everyone enjoyed themselves tremendously. Congratulations to Tagore House for emerging as the Overall Champions of the Sports Carnival!
TK Inaugural Sports Carnival 2015
14 Red Cross Youth members and 5 NPCC cadets from Secondary Two to Secondary Four travelled to Hong Kong from 14 to 19 March for an enriching and enjoyable Cultural Immersion Trip. In Hong Kong, the students visited local attractions such as Victoria Peak and immersed themselves in the vibrant local culture when they went to the bustling Temple Street Night Market. Furthermore, the students enjoyed a memorable trek up the Dragon’s Back Trail.
The highlights of the trip were the visits to two schools (Buddhist Sin Tak College and Heep Yunn School) to learn more about student life in Hong Kong. During these exchanges, representatives from Red Cross Youth shared about life in TK RCY and TK. The students were also brought on a tour of the school campuses and attended lessons alongside the local students. During informal sharing sessions at the end of the visits, students from both sides had warmed up to one another as they enthusiastically took pictures as mementos and exchanged contacts to keep in touch.
In a nutshell, the students felt the Hong Kong Cultural Immersion Trip was a memorable experience that broadened their horizons.
Red Cross Youth and NPCC Hong Kong Cultural Immersion Trip
“It was a very hot day and the work was extremely tiring. However, not once did any one of us give up or complain. It was a
meaningful Saturday morning for all of us. I believe that we truly demonstrated
TK’s core value of Charity that day.”
- B-Div Captain Li Jia Wei (3H) and Vice-Captain Izz Haziq Bin Izan (4H)
During the Mother Tongue week, a series of activities and programmes provided additional opportunities for students to learn their Mother Tongue in different ways and better appreciate their language and culture.
The programmes for Chinese Language students included a Chinese Tea Art session where students got a glimpse of traditional Chinese tea culture, and were engaged in a hands-on activity to brew and taste the tea. The Secondary 2 students had a Creative Writing Workshop to ignite their passion for writing stories in Chinese. Meanwhile, the Secondary 3 students attended a Radio Drama Workshop in collaboration with Y.E.S 93.3 FM, as two DJs from Y.E.S 93.3 FM came to TK and shared about radio drama writing.
For the Malay Language students, it was a fun-filled week of activities too. The Secondary 2 students set up booths on kampung games, which were ingeniously invented by villagers using items which were readily available to them. In addition, the Secondary 1 students set up food stalls that offered Malay kueh and the Secondary 3 students competed in the fashion design competition, where they created dresses combining traditional and modern designs.
Mother Tongue Language Week
A Student Council initiative, the ‘Pizza Party’ is one of the student projects that serves to promote class bonding and a positive class culture. Each class starts the new term with 500 points, and points are deducted or awarded based on the behaviour and performance of the class. These points are awarded based on various aspects like classroom cleanliness, punctuality and noticeboard decorations.
The class with the highest number of points has a ‘pizza party’ during their recess on the last day of the term, when members of the class enjoy their pizza together!
Congratulations to the winners for Term 1 2015 – 1F, 2D, 3B and 4G!
Class Pizza PartyS T U D E N T V O I C E & G R O W T H S T U D E N T V O I C E & G R O W T H
0807
On 11 April, the boys from TK Football distributed 210 packets of rice to the needy and underprivileged residents at Jalan Batu. This activity is a part of the ‘Good Goal Initiative’ where every goal scored by the football team in the zonal and national tournaments benefits the community. Launched in January 2011, our corporate sponsor, Goh Joo Hin Pte Ltd, has generously pledged $100 worth of New Moon rice for every goal scored.
Reporting at 9.00 am at Friends @ St Hilda’s Link, a social service centre, TK Football team eagerly and quickly set to work packing the 5 kg packs of rice, preparing them for distribution. Students worked in pairs to carry about three to four packs of rice per person to deliver the rice to the residents.
TK Football’s Heart Of Goal
On the 25th of April, Nepal was devastated by the worst earthquake in 80 years. The 7.8 magnitude earthquake left as many as 52,000 people critically wounded or dead. With many TKsians having Nepalese schoolmates and friends whose families have been affected by this calamity, the Student Council, National Cadet Corps (Land) and Red Cross Youth came together to organise a donation drive to show our concern for the Nepalese people and contribute to the relief efforts.
With the school leaders’ unanimous support, we set up a donation collection point in the canteen and made known our plans to go from class to class during the following day’s Character and Citizenship Education Period to collect donations.
We were heartened and filled with great pride to see our fellow TKsians, teachers and non-teaching staff opening their hearts and wallets to support our donation drive unreservedly. TKsians contributed generously and enthusiastically, clearly aware that the Nepalese people needed all the help that we could offer. One TK alumnus, upon hearing about the donation drive, even rallied his colleagues and sent in cheques to help in the effort.
We are proud to announce that, in total, a whopping $23,377 was raised and sent to the Singapore Red Cross! We hope that we will be able to make a small difference in this difficult time for Nepal with the sum of money collected. Let us continue to be willing and keen to help the less fortunate and suffering, simply because we are able to!
Eythan Ong (3C)Incoming Student Council President
TK’s Charitable Spirit Burns Bright During Nepal Donation Drive
On 17 April, TK had its first Sports Carnival. Instead of the traditional track and field events, the PE Department decided to do something different this year. To encourage more participation among the students and teachers, the PE teachers organised mini-games like Frisbee Toss and sports like Skipping. Students did not need to be great athletes or have good stamina to win. They only needed to be enthusiastic and passionate when participating in the mini games so as to gain points for their House.
In commemoration of SG50, TK organised a 50-legged race for teachers and students. It was a feat that required extensive teamwork and communication to accomplish. While the competitors were completing the race, the rest of the House members were busy cheering them on.
In addition, the Parent Support Group sold ice-lollies and various snacks to raise funds for the Secondary 4 study night that would commence in Term 4. The ice-lollies were a big hit among the students that hot and humid afternoon.
At the end of the day, everyone enjoyed themselves tremendously. Congratulations to Tagore House for emerging as the Overall Champions of the Sports Carnival!
TK Inaugural Sports Carnival 2015
14 Red Cross Youth members and 5 NPCC cadets from Secondary Two to Secondary Four travelled to Hong Kong from 14 to 19 March for an enriching and enjoyable Cultural Immersion Trip. In Hong Kong, the students visited local attractions such as Victoria Peak and immersed themselves in the vibrant local culture when they went to the bustling Temple Street Night Market. Furthermore, the students enjoyed a memorable trek up the Dragon’s Back Trail.
The highlights of the trip were the visits to two schools (Buddhist Sin Tak College and Heep Yunn School) to learn more about student life in Hong Kong. During these exchanges, representatives from Red Cross Youth shared about life in TK RCY and TK. The students were also brought on a tour of the school campuses and attended lessons alongside the local students. During informal sharing sessions at the end of the visits, students from both sides had warmed up to one another as they enthusiastically took pictures as mementos and exchanged contacts to keep in touch.
In a nutshell, the students felt the Hong Kong Cultural Immersion Trip was a memorable experience that broadened their horizons.
Red Cross Youth and NPCC Hong Kong Cultural Immersion Trip
“It was a very hot day and the work was extremely tiring. However, not once did any one of us give up or complain. It was a
meaningful Saturday morning for all of us. I believe that we truly demonstrated
TK’s core value of Charity that day.”
- B-Div Captain Li Jia Wei (3H) and Vice-Captain Izz Haziq Bin Izan (4H)
Making Thinking VisibleTK formed eight teams of three to five teachers of the same discipline and embarked on “Making Thinking Visible”, an online course by WIDE World (Harvard Graduate School of Education) this year, in an effort to better incorporate thinking into everyday classroom practice. Over
Sharing from the Heart - CCE Connect Time
of vegetarian Yu Sheng for the occasion.The second part of the programme was the concert held in the school hall. As our special guests arrived at the entrance of the hall, they were greeted by a Silat performance. The Chinese music which accompanied the act blended well with the performance. It was a wonderful way to receive our guests.
The Principal then delivered her New Year Message and proceeded to present hampers, which had been prepared and donated by each class and all staff, to the elderly. The ensuing “Dikir Barat” performance received an enthusiastic response from the audience as it combined traditional Malay performance with the singing of CNY songs. It was a special performance to remind us of our multi-racial ties when celebrating Chinese New Year as one people. Finally, we ended with a bang with the always well-received lion dance!
TK celebrated Chinese New Year on Wednesday, 18 February.
For the first part of the celebration, the whole TK family, including the Parent Support Group, the School Advisory Committee and elderly guests from Kampong Arang, participated in a mass Lo Hei which was conducted at the Assembly Plaza. There was fun and laughter as those present used their chopsticks to mix the ingredients in the Yu Sheng. They raised the mixture as high as possible while merrily wishing happiness, prosperity and good health for all. The elderly guests were also treated to a hearty breakfast.
We are very grateful to our TK alumnus, Mr. Teo Hong Lim, who is also a member of the School Advisory Committee and Chairman and CEO of Roxy Pacific Holdings Ltd, for so graciously agreeing to sponsor, as in previous years, 66 plates
CNY Celebrations
As the proverbial cherry to top off the spectacular sundae that was this year’s EL Week, TK was privileged to host Singapore’s very own Poet Laureate, Emeritus Professor Edwin Thumboo, on April 10.
In the cosy library, Professor Thumboo shared with a select group of students and teachers some of his poetry, and spoke extensively on the theme of “National Identity and Nation Building”. He regaled students and teachers alike with insightful observations about Singapore’s growing years, personal anecdotes from his youth and also read a few of his poems aloud in his trademark sonorous voice.
All in all, it was an incredibly fruitful session and both students and teachers benefitted tremendously from Professor Thumboo’s wisdom and wit.
As part of the National Heritage Board Heritage Festival, the TK Heritage Lab Open House was held on 25 April to celebrate Singapore’s rich heritage. Members of the community could visit to learn more about the history of TK and our links to the community throughout the
years. 24 of our National Education Ambassadors took part in the Open House. They guided visitors in examining the display of artefacts and exhibits which showcase our school’s rich and proud history, allowing our guests to gain deeper insights into our school’s journey towards educational excellence and its place in Singapore’s educational landscape.
An Afternoon with Emeritus Professor Edwin Thumboo The annual TK Career Dialogue was held on
15 April. This year, 25 speakers from the various industries – comprising parents, alumni and friends of TK – shared with our Upper Secondary students their experiences in the various fields. This included the job scope, the demands and challenges and the attitude necessary for their vocations. They also shared workplace anecdotes, with some being funny while others were inspiring. Students gained greater understanding not only about a particular profession but also the importance of being passionate, for passion drives one to go the extra mile.
TK Career Dialogue 2015
Heritage Festival
TKsians from the Class of ’66 to ‘71About 40 of the TK Alumni from the Class of ’66 to ’71 got together for a Lo Hei dinner celebration at Diamond Kitchen Restaurant on Wednesday 25 February.
Their love and loyalty for the school prompted them, once again, to donate generously to the Student Development Fund at this gathering. This yearly contribution goes a long way to help our students in need.
S Y N E R G I S T I C P A R T N E R S H I P S
1009
S T A F F M A T T E R S
The Whole School Approach to English Learning (WSA-EL) seeks to create a culture of good language usage within each school. Teachers who interact with the students on a daily basis play a very important role in building a conducive environment for students to acquire and practise good English.
With the aim of helping all teachers in TK become more effective and proficient practitioners in the classroom, the STEM (Skilful Teaching & Enhanced Mentoring) Team has continued to conduct bite-sized workshops and sharing sessions during the Professional Development Staff Connect Time on Wednesday mornings. This year, the focus of the in-house PD sessions is not only to introduce new strategies and techniques to enhance learning in the classroom, but also to encourage reflective evaluation of how the strategies are used after the teachers have had a chance to try out the new pedagogical techniques in class.
Topics for 2015 include Strategic Questioning, Self-Assessment & Peer Feedback, as well as Providing Effective Feedback. These workshops were light-hearted sessions where teachers could share their own experiences while acquiring useful tools and strategies. In addition, the teachers in the STEM Team continue to diligently mentor Beginning Teachers to help them grow as teachers and to ensure that they have someone whom they can share with and learn from.
At TK, the teachers’ competencies are developed through effective and meaningful programmes. As such, in order to make CCE lessons more engaging for students, CCE Connect Time sessions have been implemented fortnightly to allow teachers to meet by level and discuss pedagogies to bring about CCE lessons that are interesting and relevant to students’ lives.
Best of all, CCE Connect Time allows teachers to tailor lessons to meet the needs and different profiles of each class. To engage students more effectively, teachers discuss the activities and questions to guide students to have a deeper understanding of their beliefs and attitudes, and to make well-considered decisions. Further, resources which are aligned to the content of the lesson, such as videos, motivational stories and relevant newspaper articles, are identified as stimuli for students to share their personal stories and experiences.
Growing Together Through Professional Development
The Whole School Approach to English Learning in TKSS
the course of 12 weeks, the teams completed online assignments weekly. These assignments required them to view online readings and videos, plan lessons, reflect on previous lessons and give constructive feedback on other teams’ comments. The various TK teams met up weekly, either in person or online, to consolidate each session’s learning. At the end of the 12 weeks, the teams met up as a whole to consolidate their learning and share how they applied the thinking routines to their individual subjects. The online course allowed the course participants to sharpen and hone their teaching pedagogies.
To encourage teachers to be good models of English Language use, a series of short, fun and educational workshops designed by our team of enthusiastic EL teachers was conducted for the Staff of TK. These workshops covered a variety of language issues relevant to the daily experiences of teachers. Workshops such as “You mean it’s not Her-mees? - Preventing Pronunciation pitfalls in hoity toity situations” and “Romancing Grammar - EL grammar games to make grammar learning fun” were conducted and received glowing feedback from the participants.
Making Thinking VisibleTK formed eight teams of three to five teachers of the same discipline and embarked on “Making Thinking Visible”, an online course by WIDE World (Harvard Graduate School of Education) this year, in an effort to better incorporate thinking into everyday classroom practice. Over
Sharing from the Heart - CCE Connect Time
of vegetarian Yu Sheng for the occasion.The second part of the programme was the concert held in the school hall. As our special guests arrived at the entrance of the hall, they were greeted by a Silat performance. The Chinese music which accompanied the act blended well with the performance. It was a wonderful way to receive our guests.
The Principal then delivered her New Year Message and proceeded to present hampers, which had been prepared and donated by each class and all staff, to the elderly. The ensuing “Dikir Barat” performance received an enthusiastic response from the audience as it combined traditional Malay performance with the singing of CNY songs. It was a special performance to remind us of our multi-racial ties when celebrating Chinese New Year as one people. Finally, we ended with a bang with the always well-received lion dance!
TK celebrated Chinese New Year on Wednesday, 18 February.
For the first part of the celebration, the whole TK family, including the Parent Support Group, the School Advisory Committee and elderly guests from Kampong Arang, participated in a mass Lo Hei which was conducted at the Assembly Plaza. There was fun and laughter as those present used their chopsticks to mix the ingredients in the Yu Sheng. They raised the mixture as high as possible while merrily wishing happiness, prosperity and good health for all. The elderly guests were also treated to a hearty breakfast.
We are very grateful to our TK alumnus, Mr. Teo Hong Lim, who is also a member of the School Advisory Committee and Chairman and CEO of Roxy Pacific Holdings Ltd, for so graciously agreeing to sponsor, as in previous years, 66 plates
CNY Celebrations
As the proverbial cherry to top off the spectacular sundae that was this year’s EL Week, TK was privileged to host Singapore’s very own Poet Laureate, Emeritus Professor Edwin Thumboo, on April 10.
In the cosy library, Professor Thumboo shared with a select group of students and teachers some of his poetry, and spoke extensively on the theme of “National Identity and Nation Building”. He regaled students and teachers alike with insightful observations about Singapore’s growing years, personal anecdotes from his youth and also read a few of his poems aloud in his trademark sonorous voice.
All in all, it was an incredibly fruitful session and both students and teachers benefitted tremendously from Professor Thumboo’s wisdom and wit.
As part of the National Heritage Board Heritage Festival, the TK Heritage Lab Open House was held on 25 April to celebrate Singapore’s rich heritage. Members of the community could visit to learn more about the history of TK and our links to the community throughout the
years. 24 of our National Education Ambassadors took part in the Open House. They guided visitors in examining the display of artefacts and exhibits which showcase our school’s rich and proud history, allowing our guests to gain deeper insights into our school’s journey towards educational excellence and its place in Singapore’s educational landscape.
An Afternoon with Emeritus Professor Edwin Thumboo The annual TK Career Dialogue was held on
15 April. This year, 25 speakers from the various industries – comprising parents, alumni and friends of TK – shared with our Upper Secondary students their experiences in the various fields. This included the job scope, the demands and challenges and the attitude necessary for their vocations. They also shared workplace anecdotes, with some being funny while others were inspiring. Students gained greater understanding not only about a particular profession but also the importance of being passionate, for passion drives one to go the extra mile.
TK Career Dialogue 2015
Heritage Festival
TKsians from the Class of ’66 to ‘71About 40 of the TK Alumni from the Class of ’66 to ’71 got together for a Lo Hei dinner celebration at Diamond Kitchen Restaurant on Wednesday 25 February.
Their love and loyalty for the school prompted them, once again, to donate generously to the Student Development Fund at this gathering. This yearly contribution goes a long way to help our students in need.
S Y N E R G I S T I C P A R T N E R S H I P S
1009
S T A F F M A T T E R S
The Whole School Approach to English Learning (WSA-EL) seeks to create a culture of good language usage within each school. Teachers who interact with the students on a daily basis play a very important role in building a conducive environment for students to acquire and practise good English.
With the aim of helping all teachers in TK become more effective and proficient practitioners in the classroom, the STEM (Skilful Teaching & Enhanced Mentoring) Team has continued to conduct bite-sized workshops and sharing sessions during the Professional Development Staff Connect Time on Wednesday mornings. This year, the focus of the in-house PD sessions is not only to introduce new strategies and techniques to enhance learning in the classroom, but also to encourage reflective evaluation of how the strategies are used after the teachers have had a chance to try out the new pedagogical techniques in class.
Topics for 2015 include Strategic Questioning, Self-Assessment & Peer Feedback, as well as Providing Effective Feedback. These workshops were light-hearted sessions where teachers could share their own experiences while acquiring useful tools and strategies. In addition, the teachers in the STEM Team continue to diligently mentor Beginning Teachers to help them grow as teachers and to ensure that they have someone whom they can share with and learn from.
At TK, the teachers’ competencies are developed through effective and meaningful programmes. As such, in order to make CCE lessons more engaging for students, CCE Connect Time sessions have been implemented fortnightly to allow teachers to meet by level and discuss pedagogies to bring about CCE lessons that are interesting and relevant to students’ lives.
Best of all, CCE Connect Time allows teachers to tailor lessons to meet the needs and different profiles of each class. To engage students more effectively, teachers discuss the activities and questions to guide students to have a deeper understanding of their beliefs and attitudes, and to make well-considered decisions. Further, resources which are aligned to the content of the lesson, such as videos, motivational stories and relevant newspaper articles, are identified as stimuli for students to share their personal stories and experiences.
Growing Together Through Professional Development
The Whole School Approach to English Learning in TKSS
the course of 12 weeks, the teams completed online assignments weekly. These assignments required them to view online readings and videos, plan lessons, reflect on previous lessons and give constructive feedback on other teams’ comments. The various TK teams met up weekly, either in person or online, to consolidate each session’s learning. At the end of the 12 weeks, the teams met up as a whole to consolidate their learning and share how they applied the thinking routines to their individual subjects. The online course allowed the course participants to sharpen and hone their teaching pedagogies.
To encourage teachers to be good models of English Language use, a series of short, fun and educational workshops designed by our team of enthusiastic EL teachers was conducted for the Staff of TK. These workshops covered a variety of language issues relevant to the daily experiences of teachers. Workshops such as “You mean it’s not Her-mees? - Preventing Pronunciation pitfalls in hoity toity situations” and “Romancing Grammar - EL grammar games to make grammar learning fun” were conducted and received glowing feedback from the participants.
Editorial Team: Mr Samuel Robinson, Mr Roy Soh, Mr Kevin Hing, Ms Sarah Lim, Ms Alexandra Pang. Designed by: Mr Muhd Anwar
T R I B U T E
C O M M U N I C A R E2015 issue 1 | tanjong katong secondary school
11
The school paid tribute to our founding Prime Minister, the late Mr. Lee Kuan Yew, during the week of 23 March.
A special space was created at the school’s Heritage Lab to display a large portrait of the late Mr. Lee Kuan Yew. Students and staff laid flowers all around it. Sympathy cards were also made available for students and staff for writing messages, while a video recording on his life could be viewed at the Heritage Lab.
This tribute reflected our utmost appreciation for a great man who, against fearful odds and with unwavering determination, built up our nation from scratch.
It is a little-known fact that Mr Lee visited TK more than once in the early years of nation building. In the 1960s, the then Prime Minister used the old TK premises to meet with residents of the Mountbatten Constituency. The old TK was chosen as it not only had a large field, but was also the most centralised location in Mountbatten.
The whole school community was very touched by what Mr. Lee Kuan Yew said in his final years as Prime Minister, as quoted by Prime Minister Mr. Lee Hsien Loong in his address to the nation on the morning of his passing.
“I have spent my life, so much of it, building up this country. There’s nothing more I need to do. At the end of the day, what have I got? A successful Singapore. What have I given up? My life.”
Indubitably, the late Mr. Lee left a legacy that will be remembered for generations to come.
TK Pays Tribute to the Founding Prime Minister