TEMASEK OPEN HOUSE AND APPRECIATION LUNCH

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2008


On Saturday, 1st November, 2008, the Parent Support Group of Temasek Secondary School held an

 appreciation lunch on the school premises to thank all its parent volunteers who had given their precious time and effort to support the activities of the PSG.

The lunch, which started at 11.30am, saw a good turnout of both parent volunteers and teachers. Mrs Ong Hong Peng, our Principal, graced the occasion too. Apart from the buffet spread, there was specially ordered cake kindly sponsored by our PSG coordinators, Mrs Lim Swu Yun and Miss Lim Chan Tuan.

As parents and teachers mingled and exchanged news and views over lunch, I took the opportunity to speak with some of our guests to find out more about their participation in the PSG.

Among them was Ms Siti Rohani, who joined the PSG three years ago but only became active this year. She was involved in many school events, including the Racial Harmony Day, Maths Festival  as well as accompanying students on school excursions. She also highlighted that being active in the PSG provided her with greater opportunities to get to know and communicate with her child’s teachers.

Squeals of hearty laughter from Mr Gani piqued my curiosity, and as PSG Committee member Mrs Jane Koe quickly introduced us, I soon discovered that it was his chance encounter with secondary 4 teacher, Ms Morni, that was reason behind his happy outburst.  Ms Morni was actually his English teacher when he was a student at Bartley Secondary School. I also found out through Jane that Mr Eddy Tan, an English teacher from Temasek, taught Ms Afidah, Mr Gani’s wife, when the latter was studying at Siglap Secondary School. And now Mr Gani’s son Aliffi is a secondary 1 student at Temasek.

I also spoke with Dennis, whose daughter Delia is in secondary 1/5. Behind the shy smile and humble disposition is a very enthusiastic, proactive father who is very concerned about the welfare and development of his daughter, especially in terms of social skills. Dennis particularly pointed out that he found the parenting talks and We Share sessions organized by the PSG very useful, and looks forward to more of such events.

The appreciation lunch was not only a good way to thank parents for their contributions, but was also a great opportunity for one and all to network and communicate. And while each of us may be involved in different ways in the PSG, the common thread that binds us is none other than our desire to contribute and do our share for the Temasek community, and help make it an even better place for our children to grow and blossom. And it is people like Mdm Gan Peng Peng (former PSG Chairperson ) and Jane, who are still actively contributing to the PSG even after their children left or is about to leave the school, that brought a whole new meaning to the word ‘volunteerism’. Indeed, we salute you.

Contributed by PSG member Mdm Goh Ngee Hui