TPS PSG EXCO 2013 - Belief, Hope & Aspiration

We would like to take this opportunity to introduce our EXCO members who will be serving the students, PSG and school with great pleasure this year.  

OUR BELIEF
We strongly believe that for our children to have a positive experience in school, strong collaboration and partnership between home and school is integral to this process. But, we cannot do it alone. We need our greatest partners - and that would be YOU! 

OUR HOPE
Let's work together hand in hand, with us, the teachers and the school, so that our children will have the most memorable moments in school and an enjoyable learning experience. If you have skills or talents that you'd like to share with the students or teachers, we'd like to hear from you. It can be anything from photography, baking skills, art, dance, talks, music....anything at all. We'd be welcoming you with open arms! :) You may want to assist in some of the weekly programmes that will be run soon or perhaps, are interested to render your services in the countless events that we'll be planning for the students - do drop us a note. We are excitedly looking forward to having you on board with us! 

So, let's get to know the people who'll be toiling behind the scenes - with blood, sweat and tears. :) 

It's our pleasure to introduce the EXCO members of PSG TPS 2013 and the integral roles they'll be undertaking this year: 

Chairperson : 
Juliana Johari

Vice-chairperson : 
Billy Ng

Student Programmes : 
Shaoli Bose
Lisa Ong
Juliana Johari

School Events: 
Peggy Chan
Rachel Eng
Lisa Ong

Publicity & Marketing : 
Nafisah Md Ma'mun
Billy Ng


Membership & Communication : 
Nafisah Md Ma'mun
Juliana Johari
Rachel Eng

Dads for Life Programmes : 
David Koh
Billy Ng

OUR ASPIRATION

We aspire to forge positive partnership with the school,
serve the students with love & dedication,
and have great friendship & meaningful interaction with 
the parents of TPS family. 

And if you see us around the school or even outside the school premises, do approach us and introduce yourself to us. We are a bunch of friendly people. :) We'd love to meet you and get to know you too.

"To Serve and Support with Love"

Nafisah Md Ma'mun
EXCO Member

Welcome 2013! - A Chairperson's Retrospection

Dear Parents,

We are now entering the second week of another school year and I’d just like to extend a warm WELCOME BACK to all of you!

There were plenty of new faces as our primary one students started school. Some looked nervous while others were excited to make new friends. This also marks the start of a new chapter for our primary one parents who were anxious to see their kids settling in (and some who weren’t quite ready yet to let go!). It was also quite heartening to see our primary two parents in school to ease their kids’ first day jitters.

Our darling P1 kids being matched with their
P4 & P5 buddies. 

Our P1 kids looking confident on
their first day of school. :)

This year, once again, PSG members have been asked to help the teachers out in the P1 classrooms. This programme first started in 2011 where 1-2 PSG members assisted P1 form teachers in class in order to ensure that our new batch of 6 year olds settled comfortably in their new classrooms. And for the first time this year, we even had father volunteers in the group! 

In the morning, some fathers were stationed at the gates to welcome other fathers who walked their children to school, ready with goodies in hand. 

We, PSGs, were given the ever-important task of orientating these new P1 children to toilets nearest to their classrooms, the Art room, Music room and library. During recess, its organized chaos - with anxious parents standing around the canteen area to see what food is being sold in the school canteen. Smiles from the canteen holders greeted these kids.

The buddy system seems to work well for the school. In the first week, each P1 child has been matched with a P4 or P5 buddy during recess  whereby the ‘big brothers’ and ‘big sisters’ were made busy showing them around the school and helping them fit in to the new school environment. Kudos, P4 and P5 students! We are proud of you!!

Getting closer with 'big brother'. 

Showing the P1 buddy how to fit
in the busy recess crowd.

Keeping their buddies company. 

This year marks my third year of volunteering on the first day of school. As I moved around the school carrying out my duty, I couldn’t help but noticing the faces on some of the new P1 parents. They were mirror images of mine, as a first-time parent then, when my elder son, Daniel, entered primary school back in 2009. I experienced a mixture of emotions - nervous, anxious, worried, concerned, excitement.

Nervous - will my child fit in.

Anxious to see how he handled first day in a school with more than 1,000 children. Worried - will he be able to buy his food for the first time during recess.

Concerned for his well-being with another 29 children in his class – afterall, it’s a big school – will he be able to find his way round the school compound.  

Excited for a new chapter in his school life.

Things may be a little rough at first but everything will work out in the end. It may take a week or two for both kids and parents to get used to the new environment. Like I always tell these new parents, our kids are in good hands.

And once again, on behalf of TPS PSG members, I would like welcome you to the TPS Family!!

Juliana

Chairperson of PSG TPS 2013

Father-&-Son Baking Session - A Dad's Retrospective

On 21st May 2011, a TPS/PSG daddy, Mr Chris Buono, attended a baking session cum bonding moment with his 2 sons, Daniel & Aaron Jacob.

Below is his reflection of that memorable day. :)

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Hi,

I just wanted to thank you for the opportunity to attend the baking session on Sat, May 21st. 

Being a father of two very active and extremely curious boys and how things have changed so much when I was a kid, taking an active interest in what is important to them as well as involving them in what is important to me is a great way to keep a close and tight relationship. 

Realizing that as they get older they will want to spend more time with their friends then their parents, instilling in them the core values of a good and honest person now is so important considering that peer pressure when they get to their teen years can be agonizing to any child. 

The ability to have an open and honest conversation about anything from school, girls, teachers, and life in general will prepare them to be able to handle those tough challenges because they will know that they always have a place to come to if they get into a situation that they are having trouble dealing with.

Thanks,

Chris

Chris with his 2 active and adorable boys, Daniel (right) and Aaron Jacob (left)

The young chef with his baking tools



The finished 'product' awaiting its turn in the oven. :)



The supportive parents busily preparing for the baking session with their children

PSG Day Out - 12 March 2011

Class picnics, relay games, playground challenges….

For many of us, mommies and daddies, the above are mostly sweet memories of at least a good 20 years ago..

But Tampines Primary PSG  changes that.

We just had a Fantastic Pot-Luck Picnic at Pasir Ris Park last Saturday.

It was to welcome new PSG members as well as time to unwind for all mommies, daddies and children after the term tests.

It started with a perfectly sunny day, after few rainy ones.

Picnics mats laid, and then the variety of “pots” came on to display (well, the pretty display didn’t last that long J ).

There were sandwiches, oranges, grapes, brownies, chic peas curry, Old Chang Kee snacks, chicken pies, chips, drinks, candies, jellies…..

Chick peas curry - snack for the day

Yummy Brownies!

And then there was a mini relay challenge between two teams (careful act of keeping a ping pong ball in the spoon as you walk to your team mate) with a good mix of daddies, mommies and children plus one six-month old baby!

A very sporting Daddy with a 6-month-old baby in tow - introducing the game of ping pong relay to the baby. :)

Parents & kids Combo - playing the good 'ol game of Ping Pong relay.

While the kids ran off to another round of free play all around the park, mommies and daddies attempted the spider-web challenge. A first for many of us!

Parents & children having their Spider Web Fun! 

Mummies reminiscing their childhood days. :)

The day ended with chats on the picnic mats and in between bites..

But it kicked-off the start of a good one week school holiday.

Enjoying good food & good company.

Say cheese, everyone! Hope to see more PSG daddies & mummies joining us next  time. :D

The above looked like a composition essay a student may write.

But at Tampines PSG, we are the very real characters in such a story..

I anticipated our next challenge (ladies exclusive) is gonna be a 5 Kilometre distance  * wink wink * J

If you wanna re-live your teenage years, its right before your eyes, at Tampines Primary PSG!

One Youth-Induced Mommy,

Rachel Eng

FIRST WEEK OF P1 - VIDEO BY MOE

On the first day of school this year, a video crew commissioned by MOE came to Tampines Primary School. Their aim : to showcase the fun learning experience of being in a new environment for the first time.

Video Crew filming outside the school gate

And the product : a glimpse of life of the P1 students as reflected in their exuberant faces and energetic actions. Gone were the days when first day of school was filled with anxiety, fear and stress.

One of the P1 students, Aaron Jacob Buono, being interviewed.

Another P1 student, Adam Naufal, sharing his thoughts.

We are especially proud of the TPS kids who were featured in this video - speaking from their hearts about things that they enjoyed in school. Kudos also to the PSG Daddies and Mommies who worked tirelessly on First Day of school assisting and supporting the school in many areas.

The film crew catching a glimpse of the students' life on 1st day of school. 

Students who were engrossed with the learning activities at the Science Experiential Corner, kindly assisted by our supportive PSG member, Mommy Adelina. 

In support of Dad for Life programme, daddies were encouraged to bring the kids to school on that day. Who else should be welcoming them but the TPS PSG Daddies! These Daddies warmly welcomed the fathers who came to school with their child that morning with goodie bags.

PSG Daddies welcoming other fathers at the school gate, with goodies in hand. 

On top of that, other PSG team members were equally busy assisting teachers in the classrooms, in the canteens during recess, organising fun activities such as Science Experiental Learning Corner, Maths Hot Hour and Storyland for the kids.

Mummy Rachel guiding the students in leaf-rubbing activity at the Science Experiential Corner. 

Mummy Peggy busily engaging TPS students at the Math Hot Hour programme.

How were the kids' reactions? Well, watch the video to find out more! :)

PSG INVESTITURE 2011

Today marks an eventful moment for 70 PSG members. To mark the event, new and existing members were invited on stage with their children to receive a Certificate of Appointment from the Principal of TPS, Ms Veronica Tay. We could see the proud faces of the children as they held their parents' hands and led them up the stage. Equally radiant were the parents themselves who made the time out of their busy schedule to attend today's investiture. We greatly appreciate your presence and we would like to warmly welcome you as part of our PSG family. :)

We greatly missed another 80 members of our PSG family. Although they were unable to join us today due to commitment of work and personal nature, we know that they were with us in spirit. We would like to welcome you, too! We hope to be able to meet you someday in one of the many PSG events that we will be organising this year. 

And, one such event that we have lined up for the PSG family is the PSG Day Out which will be held on 12 March 2011 at Pasir Ris Park. It will be a day of fun, food and laughter. Let's mingle and get to know the big PSG family. Do visit us at our FB group page, look for 'PSG Day Out' and click 'attending' if you wish to join us there. We will give you more updates later. In the meantime, make a choice to come down with your spouses and children on that day. We are looking forward to see you there! 

For those of you who have missed out on today's event, we would like to take this opportunity to introduce our EXCO members once again. And if you see us around the school or even outside the school premises, do approach us and introduce yourself to us. We are a bunch of friendly people. :) We'd love to meet you and get to know you too. 

Here we are : 

From L-R : Shaoli (Secretary), Peggy (Vice-Chairperson), Juliana (Chairperson)

Directors of Dad-for-Life Programme

Wei Ping & Billy

Directors of HOT Events (School / Staff)

Marian & Siti Khadijah

Directors of 'Beyond Book' Programme (Students)

Nafisah & Rachel

3 of our EXCO members whose pictures are not here are: 

Donna - Director of Logistics & Recruitment

Rupika - Director of Family Programme (SFE)

Kim - Director of Family Programme (SFE) 

We will upload their photos here too so that you can get acquainted with them. :)

If you are interested to view the group photos taken on stage, please visit our FB group - PSG Tampines Primary School. The photos have been uploaded there. 

Till we meet next time - 'To Serve and Support with Love'

PSG Weekly Programmes 2011

PSG assists the school in running some programmes on a weekly basis. We are currently recruiting members who would like to volunteer their time to assist us in supporting the students. If you are interested in rendering your services in any of these programmes, you may contact us at the following email address : tps00psg@gmail.com.

The following are programmes jointly run by PSG members and the various departments in the school:

Tuesdays (Odd Weeks), 9.30am - 11.00am
Programme : EduFun (EL Department)
Helping pupils in the instructions for the games if need arises. Monitoring loan/return of language-related board games in the MRL.

Tuesdays (Even Weeks), 10.00am - 11.00am
Programme : Storyland (EL Department)
Telling stories to P1 - P4 pupils in the MRL (Media Resource Library) during recess. 

Wednesdays, 7.20am - 8.00am
Programme : Reading Mum/Dad (EL Department)
Guiding P1 and P2 pupils in reading (LSP and those identified as weak in reading by EL teachers).

Wednesdays, 7.15am - 7.45am
Programme : Reading Mum/Dad for CL, ML, TL (MT Department)
Assisting and guiding slow readers in reading for P1 - P3. Guiding pupils in proper pronunciation and intonation of reading.

Wednesdays, 9.30am - 11.00am
Programme : Physical Science Learning Zone (Science Department)
Conducting Physical Science activities during recess time for pupils.

Thursdays, 9.30am - 11.00am
Programme : Maths Hot Hour (Maths Department)
Manning of game stalls during recess. Allowing pupils to learn Maths while having fun. 

Fridays, 9.30am - 11.00am

Programme : InnoShop (ICT Department)

Assisting in the running of shops. Providing support in producing crafts. 

We look forward to having you on board with us. Do let us know if you're interested and able to render your services in any of the above programmes. Do email us. We certainly want to hear from you.

If you're unable to assist us in the weekly programmes, we also do have special events and other programmes which are conducted on a one-off basis. We will be putting up details of these events on this blog soon. We look forward to seeing you in any of PSG events. Welcome on board the PSG ship! :)

Retrospection - Part 1

This blog is about giving voices to the important person behind every child - the parent. In this first part of Retrospection, we will read about a parent's honest thoughts and insight into what being in a support group means to her.

It is never easy to bare your heart and soul in public. We understand you and we hear you. Therefore, we would like to invite you to share with us your thoughts and feelings about how being in PSG has benefitted your child.

Thank you, Mummy Rachel, for penning your thoughts and feelings here! :)

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PSG  -- Parents Support Group

This initially sounded to me like another volunteer group, for parents wanting to butter up to the school, and for the school to dump yucky chores for parents..

But ever since I decided to want to be much more involved with my sons’ lives, many different aspects came into light.

Besides their health, recreation and nutrition, their educational life takes up a huge proportion each day. I looked at their time tables, school work, CCA activities and all other stuff communicated through letters, still, many things seemed incomprehensible in the broad sense. And my boys are equally frustrated with my queries.

Then comes PSG.

After following to school trips do I then understand the challenges teachers face.

Reading to a group of students who needs extra boost to their English recognition and pronunciation do I then realize how some of them may not have the help they needed at home.

Setting up fun and game booths during festivities do I then realize how something out-of-the-norm made the children so excited like being treated to a birthday party during recess.

Putting up performances for celebrations never fail to surprise the pupils, teachers as well as our own children.

Attending coffee talks made me less lonely, as a parent with some hard to crack issues with raising children.

                                      

Yes indeed.

Parent Support Group is a true form of support.

Supporting the teachers with extra hands and relieving them of some simple yet arduous tasks.

Supporting the school’s environment with our constant feedback and contribution.

Supporting our children with a hands-on understanding of what they are going through each day.

Supporting fellow parents with ideas and sharing of thoughts when we gather.

PSG is certainly not selfish.

Be part of it, and I understood the tremendous joy and satisfaction that comes with the selfless time and effort that I put in.

Volunteerism in its true sense, doesn’t take a lot from me.

In fact, I gained much more.

Rachel Eng

PSG TPS EXCO 2011

It's our pleasure to introduce the EXCO members of PSG TPS 2011. 


Chairperson : 
Juliana Johari


Vice-chairperson : 
Peggy Chan


Secretary : 
Shaoli Bose


EXCO Members : 
Billy Ng
Donna Tay
Kim Scarabello
Loh Wei Ping
Marian Lazaroo
Nafisah MM Suheimi
Rachel Eng
Rupika Bhargava
Siti Khadijah


"To Serve and Support with Love"

Welcome to the Tampines Primary School Parent Support Group Website

Hello Parents! As you know this year the support for Tampines Primary School has been stellar and not only does the school appreciate your support but remember that we are doing this for our kids!

We have decided to put up this site to assist the PSG as well as the school in communicating upcoming activities, information, issues and concerns to you. We would also like this blog to be a platform in which you can communicate back to us!


We hope that this proves as a valuable tool in helping us collaborate better so that our kids can get the best education possible as well as making TPS a wonderful place for them to come to school!


Enjoy!


Juliana
Chairperson of PSG TPS 2011