of Tanglin Trust School
22
Mathematics in the Infant School Junior House Sport Sixteen Girls and a Guy...
MCI (P) 106/07/2015
Vol 22 02/2016
Welcome How lovely it is to see the staff spotlight falling upon one of our lovely Housekeeping Assistants, Asinah. Every term when I present long service awards, there are staff who have been with the school for 30, 35 or even 40 years! Our school ethos is the result of its many parts and our ongoing success and happiness can certainly be traced to the contribution of very dedicated and loyal staff over many years. Nurturing a recognition of these vital contributions by all members of staff in our students is an important part of their learning. I think Asinah’s smile on page 10 says it all! This year we launched the TTS Annual Fund in support of our Foundation. The I love the cover of this edition… ‘What am
TTS Foundation has a profound impact on
I?’, ‘What will I be?’, ‘I am pretending to be…!’
many of our children and provides a whole
What fun! Growing up is about imagining,
range of exciting opportunities outside
dreaming, practising being something or
of the curriculum (see page 12 to read
somebody. It’s about growing and learning
about the new Representative Award). The
with a safety net. My primary school
Annual Fund campaign is more that raising
days are far behind me now, but I can
funds. I realised during the process that it
remember clearly fastening the top button
is also a time to share and celebrate what
of my coat around my neck as a cloak and
the school does and what our aspirations
dashing around being a super hero in
are. My special thanks go to the team who
the playground. As children grow up they
supported the fund, the parent advocates
continue to try things and be someone
and of course, all of those who generously
depending on the circumstances. Often
gave funds. The Annual Fund will run
their character is different at school than
every year in Term 1 and will continue to
at home and the role they play changes
ensure that we can provide opportunities
depending on the context. Many of the
and challenges that enrich our children’s
truly valuable lessons in life are not subject
learning and growth.
based and they can be difficult to schedule given the vastly different rates of growth
I hope you enjoy this stroll through our
and maturity in each individual. Therefore,
school and the many and varied things we
it is very important to provide experiences
get up to!
and challenges as children grow that are
Editor Louise Colbridge Design Jay Valentine
accessible at the right time. I fear that the sensibility of ‘grown up behaviour’
Contributors Students, Staff and PTA
inflicts a fatal blow to these experiences, rendering adults unable to continue these important experiences. Perhaps that’s why we teachers seize upon any opportunity to
Peter Derby-Crook
dress up and be someone else!
Chief Executive Officer
Photography The Communications Team & other contributors ‘The Voice’ herein refers to ‘The Voice of Tanglin Trust School’ All students’ year groups referenced in this issue are accurate at time of print.
Contents
6
Feature
News from our Three Schools
Alumni
T90 – Looking Back Over a Celebratory Year
Positive Attitude, Perseverance and Passion
4 Our World
The TTS Foundation Introduces the Representative Award
Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS)
20
Infant School
Mathematics in the Infant School
Food Services Update
Junior School Junior House Sport
10
Senior School
An Interview with Allan Forbes
16 14
Showcase
Art/ Dance/ Drama/ Music
22
Student Services
A Day in the Life of Asinah – Lead Housekeeping Assistant
9
12 Sixth Form
Spotlight
Creative Writing
32
A Selection of Junior and Senior Writing
34
18 Sports & Activities PTA Sporting Round Up
Sixteen Girls and a Guy...
27 Book Reviews
Infant, Junior, Senior and Parent Reviews
31 The Last Word
36
3D TV - Bringing Complex Models to Life in the Classroom
39
Tanglin Talk
News from our Three Schools Lucky Junior and Senior students had the amazing opportunity to train with players from Liverpool and Manchester Utd when the Masters team visited Tanglin to carry out football clinics with the students.
A new Creation Station has opened in the Infant Library. Supported by the PTA, the learning space is full of fun, creative resources that support children’s development in science, technology, engineering, the arts and mathematics. The Creation Station is open to children after school until 4.30pm. We kindly ask that all children are supervised by a parent or guardian when visiting the library after school. Library Opening Hours:
Tanglin is proud to have received the Lotus Award which is the highest award in the Singapore Environment Council’s ‘School Green Awards Programme’. Achieving the award was a real team effort as the application included evidence of highlighting environmental issues in the curriculum across the school; innovative actions of our various ‘Eco teams’ and everyday actions by our operations team, procurement and food services teams to ensure that we are as environmentally friendly as possible. 4
Infant School: 7.30am - 4.30pm Junior School: 7.30am - 4.30pm Senior School: 7.30am - 7.00pm
Celebrating 40 Years
Congratulations to Miss Sandy Kang, Infant Teaching and Learning Assistant who is celebrating 40 years at Tanglin. Miss Kang said she receives lots of visits from Alumni who she taught at Tanglin, often visiting with their own Infant School aged children!
Welcome to Nicola Bowyer Tanglin parent Nicola Bowyer has joined the Masterchef kitchen as a Senior Teaching and Learning Assistant. Nicola has been a parent at Tanglin for 3 years and brings with her a love of cooking and an enthusiasm to help children to find their way around the kitchen. Nicola organises the Studio Kitchen, orders and prepares for the Masterchef CCA and helps teachers with their cookery classes.
Congratulations to Shana Thurley
in Year 8 who recently represented Singapore in the Federation Equestre Internationale World Dressage Championships. Singapore won the regional championship and Shana also came first in the Junior Elementary category.
Emma Paris recently joined Tanglin as the new Director of Marketing and Communications. Emma has been in Singapore for 13 years and joins us from the British High Commission. Emma is passionate about communications and is excited about working at Tanglin, a school with such a rich history and world class reputation, and will be looking at how we most effectively communicate that.
Tech Tips Check out these Infant School approved apps (which are free) to help your child become more coding competent! • ScratchJr - children (ages 5-7) learn important new skills as they programme their own interactive stories and games • Bee Bot - Move the Bee-Bot around the screen in a sequence of steps using forwards, backwards, left, and right and 90 degree turns • Daisy the Dinosaur - Learn the basics of computer programming with an easy drag and drop interface that kids of all ages can use to animate Daisy to dance across the screen. Follow us! tanglintrustschool @tanglintrust
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Feature
T90 – Looking Back Over a Celebratory Year by Isobel Barclay, T90 Project Director
2015 has been a fantastic opportunity for Tanglin, as a school and as a community, to recognise and celebrate 90 incredible years. In departments and year groups across the school, from Nursery to Sixth Form, students have explored our unique heritage, in the context of Singapore and South East Asia, while also learning about Singapore’s 50th anniversary. Whilst reflecting on our rich history we also look to an exciting and inspiring future as part of the new and growing One North community with its focus on science, technology and creative media industries. Highlights of the year have included visits by inspirational speakers such as Robert Swan, a whole school celebration of ‘The World’s Largest Lesson’ in support of the UN’s Global Goals, a Science Week looking at ‘FutureScience’ themes over the next 90 years and a behind the scenes look at how movies are made from leading film companies, Lucas Films and Disney, who are both part of the burgeoning and dynamic One-North community. To celebrate our collaboration with Lucas Films and Disney, students dressed up with a movie theme for our ‘Magic of the Movies’ day. Here’s to the next 90 years!
6
“I loved sharing our games with the Seniors and learning new games from the Year 8’s and Year 11’s.” Joshua Brooks (Y5.3), T90 Party Day
“Our group built a map of the past, present and future of trade and housing in Singapore. We created mini poster information sheets too.” Beth Griffiths (Y10.7), Humanities Singapore Change Exhibition T90 – Inspiration and Community The themes of Inspiration and Community ran through all our T90 activities, both in the curriculum and in our celebrations, as we aim to inspire our students to make a difference in our community and in our world in the future. Inspiration Many things inspire; talent, people, ideas, technology, experiences, challenges. In T90 we welcomed authors, artists, poets, adventurers, scientists and philosophers from across the world and locally in Singapore – opening students’ eyes to a world of opportunities. We also reflected on our heritage in Singapore and the inspirational people in our community – including our Tanglin Heroes! The T90 idea took on a life of its own… ‘inspiring’ lots of events and activities!
7
Community In 2015 we’ve been committed to deepening our relationships with our ‘community’ in Singapore. We have built stronger links with our neighbours at One North (through enterprise projects, learning about film and technology, Science Week and work
“I liked the cupcakes at the party. I helped make them!” Neve Van Herk (Y1.8), T90 Party Day
experience) and the wider community, including links with other schools. Through Music, Sport, Drama, Computing and service projects we have developed effective partnerships with the wider community, including international and local schools. We also strengthened our own community by celebrating with staff, students, parents and Alumni and explored our heritage and history in Singapore and the Cameron Highlands.
“This trip was a fantastic chance to represent Tanglin as a community and reflect upon the 90 years it has yet to come.” Laura Thompson (Y13.3), T90 Trek to Cameron Highlands
8
Alumni
Positive Attitude, Perseverance and Passion by Nellie Rogers, Alumni Manager
Alumni Dominique Schell (class of 2014) is an incredibly inspirational young lady. She joined Tanglin in Year 10 and graduated in 2014 with 43 out of a possible 45 IB points to pursue a degree in Biomedicine at The University of Melbourne. Dominique is not one to court popularity or solicit sympathy from anyone, hence few people are aware of what she has been through over the last nine years. Recently she has decided to come forward with her personal story in her role as a youth ambassador for KickSarcoma. Shortly before Christmas, she visited Tanglin to share her journey with our Sixth Form students. At the age of 10, whilst living in Switzerland, Dominique was diagnosed with sarcoma cancer and had a tumour removed during eight months of chemotherapy. She benefited from an early diagnosis and beat the odds against a dismal 50% survival rate. Regrettably, many children are diagnosed too late as symptoms are often dismissed as growing pains or sports injuries. After On 9 December our Senior School Christmas charity fun run at Kent Ridge was run in support of Crutch4Sarcoma. Dominique was there with a huge smile on her face as her former school turned up to support her in such huge numbers!
missing a year of regular school Dominique was excited to start at Tanglin in 2008: a new school where people wouldn’t know her as ‘the girl who had cancer’. Unfortunately since then, Dominique has had to persevere through 20 surgeries which all stemmed back to the first surgery where they removed 10cm of her tibia bone along with the tumour. Bone graphs have proven very tricky and three times over she’s experienced excruciating pain as her bone crumbled once again. Dominique believes adopting a positive attitude and not letting her happiness be limited by her health have been critical in dealing with the
Tanglin Humanities Teacher Steven Huckle set himself a challenge to run 10K for 100 consecutive days to raise money for Crutch4Sarcoma. “Despite being the wrong side of 30 and not a natural runner by any stretch of the imagination I am hugely motivated to complete this task, and raise as much awareness as possible!” Steven said. You can check out his challenge on Twitter @steven_huckle.
constant setbacks. “Now believe it or not, I loved school. Throughout all the setbacks, my year group, my teachers and the nurses were as supportive as it gets. … I discovered
started to become known. One of her fellow students was so inspired that he trained and completed an entire marathon on crutches! Together they set up Crutch4Sarcoma, raised over 10,000 Australian dollars and a lot of awareness. Today Dominique has been cancer free for almost 10 years, yet due to another setback (a bacteria has eaten away her carefully regrown bone) she was unable to complete her first year of university. Nevertheless, as every cloud has a silver lining, this provided her with more time to promote the Crutch4Sarcoma campaign. Through this entire journey Dominique has found her passion; working tirelessly as an ambassador for the Crutch4Sarcoma campaign in the hope that her work can have long lasting benefits for fellow sarcoma sufferers.
I had a whole community behind me.” Said Dominique. In February 2015 Dominique started at Melbourne University. With an obvious limp, a supporting frame and back on crutches it wasn’t long before her story
9
Spotlight
A Day in the Life of Asinah – Lead Housekeeping Assistant by Louise Colbridge, Internal Communications Manager
“The Nursery team are so grateful for everything that Asinah and her team do to keep our classrooms clean and maintain a healthy environment for the children. Asinah is a pleasure to have in the classroom and always has a smile on her face. Thank you Asinah!” Victoria Thomas, Head of Nursery 10
What is your role at Tanglin?
you seen since you started here?
I’m based in the Nursery unit and I help to
Next February I will have been at
keep the Infant School clean. I have a team
Tanglin for 10 years and I’ve been Lead
of staff who I look after. I put together their
Housekeeping Assistant for 8 years. There
schedules and take stocks of toiletries and
have been lots of changes since I’ve been
cleaning products. I also have to check
at the school. The buildings have changed
standards and ensure that everything is
and the people have changed. The school
clean throughout the units. I have high
has grown so much. The children are still
standards!
the same though!
What time does your day start? Talk us through your routine.
When I joined Tanglin I started in the
I start at 7.30am. When I arrive at school
different. I love working with the younger
I check to see which staff are in and what their schedules are for the day. I then
Junior School but the Infant School is very children.
to ensure everything is clean before the
What do you enjoy about your job? What is your favourite part of the day?
children arrive.
The Infant School children make my day,
check across the units (Nursery to Year 2)
I love my children. They are always polite How long have you been working at Tanglin? What changes (if any) have
and say thank you when they see me cleaning up.
“Thank you Aunty for cleaning up after my snack.” Alicia Geste (N5) I know all of the Infant songs both in Chinese and English – I sing all of the songs at home. I’m doing my job but it is so nice to be able to listen to what the children are doing. I love mystery reader and seeing the children’s faces when they realise it is their Mum who has come to read to them! The children are very cute! They often chat to me and ask me what I am doing. After their snack I have to tidy up as they make a mess. So I am in and out of the classroom all morning. What are the challenges (if any)? I worry about the children being sick and I want them to be healthy so I make an extra effort to ensure that all of the classrooms are clean. The hardest part of the job is having to deal with incidents where a child has been ill. We have to immediately ensure that everything is cleaned and disinfect the unit. Do you work with staff from other departments?
“Thank you Aunty Asinah!” Arjun Dubey (N5)
We have a good working relationship with the teachers and Teaching and Learning Assistants, everyone is very nice. I feel really appreciated. Once a year Victoria (Head of Nursery) invites us for lunch, I love Nursery so much! They order pizza and they set the table so nicely for us and we don’t have to do anything! I feel appreciated and I love my job. The COO and CEO are very nice also. Have you made lots of friends since you’ve been at Tanglin?
Do you have children of your own? I have five children aged 21, 19, 10 and twins who are 2 years old. I started at Tanglin just after I had my third child and
My friends are all over the school and we
I gave birth to the twins when I was still a
see each other on the school bus each day
cleaner. My older children are very good
and at the Dinner and Dance.
and help me to look after the children, drop them to school and pick them up. I
Which holidays do you celebrate?
don’t have a helper. I don’t have such high
I celebrate Hari Raya – I would love for
standards at home but my husband does!
the school to celebrate Hari Raya and see everyone dressed up in the traditional
Do you enjoy working at Tanglin?
costume!
I’m very happy working in this environment.
11
Our World
The TTS Foundation Introduces the Representative Award by John Ridley, Director of Learning
One of the advantages of being a student in an international school is the number of opportunities to travel to other countries to represent the school. These opportunities come from a number of different curriculum areas and from co-curricular activities (CCAs), including: Sport, Art, Drama, Music, debating, Mathematics, Science, student leadership conferences, Model United Nations and the World Scholar’s Cup. Attending overseas events like this have enormous benefits for the students involved, in terms of broadening their horizons and encouraging personal growth. Participation in regional conferences and events also benefits the whole Tanglin community; the participants act as ambassadors for the school, enhancing our reputation abroad. Ideas are often brought back from other schools which large numbers of our students can benefit from. However, as the
FOBISIA (Federation of British International Schools in Asia) Student Leadership Conference, 18-19 September, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
We wish to express our heartfelt thanks
far away (Shanghai, Brisbane, New York,
by Ella Hutton (Y13.6), Head Girl and
this opportunity, which we hope to repay as
for example) or if they are chosen for a
Nathan Stone (Y13.7), Head Boy
we go about our roles with renewed energy
number of opportunities has increased, we are becoming more aware of the cost to families – particularly if students are selected for an event which is very
through a Representative Award and to our wonderful school and FOBISIA for giving us
and a fresh perspective.
number of different sports teams and so have multiple regional trips in one year.
to TTS Foundation who supported our trip
When we were first approached to represent the school community at this
For this reason, we are delighted that the
conference, we jumped at the chance.
TTS Foundation has been able to support
Like all good Tanglin students, we are
the introduction of ‘Representative Awards’
relentlessly self-improving, and we were
which cover a portion of the cost for
eager to widen our experience and
certain sports, arts and leadership trips.
knowledge so as to become more rounded
Until now, relatively few awards have been
leaders, better equipped to serve the
given out. However, money raised from
whole community as student leaders.
the Annual Fund campaign will allow us to offer more awards through the course
Whilst at the conference, we were incredibly
of 2015-16 and we hope that the scheme
fortunate to receive lectures from such
will continue to grow, so that as many
experienced and distinguished speakers.
19U Girls Touch, 7-11 October, Brisbane, Australia
students as possible who are offered these
We also picked up valuable advice from
by Megan Williams (Y13.6)
life changing opportunities are able to take
other student leaders, and we look forward
advantage of them. Read on for examples
to spending the next few months putting
With the support of a TTS Foundation
of trips for which students have received
into practice concepts which they found
Representative Award, 16 students were
Representative Awards.
successful at their own schools.
about to travel to Brisbane to experience
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playing against teams of an extremely high calibre, improving both our confidence and our abilities. Whilst there were undoubtedly moments where our lack of training (the unrelenting haze had left us with little training options) was evident, we still managed to come away with 5 wins and only 2 losses. This left us in firm third position in our pool, only a point away from second, behind two enormously skilled teams. It wasn’t just about Touch, either. Staying in a youth hostel in Brisbane opened us up to making new friends both with other teams from the tournament and with others who had come from all over the world to be there. Above all, the Brisbane tour brought us closer as a team and gave us all experiences we will never forget. With the help of the TTS Foundation, Mr Martin, Captain Gracie and our amazing coach Miss Paterson, we have come away from Brisbane with new targets, new skills and new perspectives that will undoubtedly stand us in good stead for the season ahead. FOBISIA Gymnastics Championship, 10-11 October, Bangkok, Thailand by Dean Scott, Head of Junior Sport There were 54 Titans (the new name for Tanglin’s gymnastics team) travelling to Bangkok to compete in this year’s FOBISIA Gymnastics Championship. With the standard of gymnastics at TTS continuing to rise at an impressive rate, thanks to our exceptional Gym with Me coaches, the feeling was that the Titans
World Scholar’s Cup, 10-18 November, Yale University, New Haven, USA
we had to build our knowledge on many
by Kohana Ah Teck (9.5), Tara Menon (10.3),
scientific. Of course, none of this would
Samantha Nelson (10.6)
have been possible without the excellent
different topics - be it cultural, political or
help and guidance that we received from World Scholar’s Cup is an academic
all our coaches, as well as the great spirit
competition that brings people together
of sharing and fun we had amongst team
from all over the world. Each year,
members. We also want to thank the TTS
thousands of students take part as they
Foundation for making this trip possible
compete in the three rounds: Regionals,
thanks to Representative Awards that we
Globals, and finally the Tournament of
have all received.
Champions - in which the top 5% of teams battle for the top spot at the prestigious
The learning opportunity was absolutely
Yale University, USA. This year, 13 students
mind blowing; we all left Yale with
from Tanglin earned the opportunity to
broadened horizons and a suitcase full of
travel to New Haven, Connecticut in order
golden memories (and medals) to cherish.
to participate in the 2015 final round.
It was truly an eye opening adventure. Being with so many adolescents who were
In groups of three, we competed across
all so passionate about learning was a
four events: debating, writing, bowl
stimulating experience and one we shall
(group quiz) and the individual challenge.
never forget. Our Tanglin Team returned
This journey to the finals was one that
from the Tournament of Champions
required commitment, hard work and
enthused and ready to enrol in next year’s
preparation. Prior to the tournament
competition!
should perform well and achieve some good results. However, nobody could have predicted just how well the team would do. All expectations were exceeded. The children managed a combined total of 94 medals! Every child came away with either a team or individual medal and for some…both! A special mention for coaches Will, Derek, Laura and Rosanna for their continuous effort and dedication to the Tanglin Titans and to the TTS Foundation for allocating Representatives Awards to children to support the cost of the trip.
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Infant School
Mathematics in the Infant School by Sophie Adams, Head of Maths and Jane Andrews, Assistant Head of Maths, Infant School
Mathematics is a word that provokes a range of emotions as most people will have some memory of being taught the subject. Fortunately, the way mathematics is taught at Tanglin is very different to how many of us remember it at school. The UK Primary curriculum states that: Mathematics is a creative and highly interconnected discipline that has been developed over centuries, providing the solution to some of history’s most intriguing problems. It is essential to everyday life, critical to science, technology and engineering, and necessary for financial literacy and most forms of employment. A high-quality mathematics education therefore provides a foundation for understanding the world, the ability to reason mathematically, an appreciation of the beauty and power of mathematics, and a sense of enjoyment and curiosity about the subject.
So what’s changed? How has mathematics been transformed from something that puts fear into some adults into something that most 4 year olds are passionate about? Mathematics in the Early Years
When adults are asked, ‘Who loves maths?’
When our youngest children enter
there is generally a gentle rumble of
Tanglin, they are greeted by a range of
disapproval and people tend to slouch
activities and opportunities which grow
lower into their chairs in fear of being asked
from their interests. From coins in a
a question. When we ask children in the
pirate’s treasure box to the number of
Infant School the same question, hands
candles on their birthday cake, children
instantly whiz up and they are desperate to
are captivated by counting! Teachers
share their knowledge and enthusiasm for
then observe how the children play and
the subject.
intervene at appropriate moments to link the activity to their individual next steps.
“I enjoyed using Numicon to find out about tens and units, because suddenly, I thought, ‘I get it now!’ and it made maths much easier.” William Barrable (Y2.2) 14
This way the teachers are able to ‘fill the gaps’ whilst the children are having fun! Observations and photos are taken and added to the children’s Interactive Learning Diary (ILD), which parents can follow and contribute to through the TTS Portal. All the activities are very practical, using a range of resources and environments; the wonderful playground provides a wealth of opportunities for treasure hunts!
“Maths helps you in life because if you didn’t know how to add up the cost of things in a shop, you wouldn’t know what the total was.” Aubrey BrookeCowden (Y2.2)
Mathematics at Home As mathematics is all around us, skills learnt in school can be easily developed at home. From buying your child a watch or cooking with them, through to making them responsible for pocket money, parents can continue to make mathematics real and fun. In the same way we aim for children to become fluent readers, their mathematical fluency is equally as important. Counting Mathematics in Key Stage 1
regularly, reading number stories, finding
shapes in the environment and generally The enthusiasm for mathematics continues talking about mathematics all make a big when the children enter Year 1 and 2. difference. Through a range of carefully planned
activities, children are able to apply skills learnt in many different situations. This may be through an adult-led task or childinitiated activities. For example children in Year 2 filmed their own ‘Teaching Video’ to show to others how to multiply by 10. In Year 1, children looked at the cost of a flight to the country that they were learning about. They were amazed at the price difference between certain airlines! Through real life experiences children are able to see mathematics as not simply a subject taught in school, but as a skill that they are going to use throughout the rest of their lives.
“Maths is using numbers to help us. I love adding up and taking away.” Sophie Doyle (Y1.7) “When we do maths it makes me excited!” Zara Taylor (Y2.2) “Maths is awesome!” Ashwin Chaturvedi (R6) As educators, we aim to enable children to learn and develop skills that they will apply in a future that does not yet exist. When our Infant children enter the big wide world in fifteen or so years’ time, we hope that they will have built upon their firm mathematical foundation and are well equipped to apply their skills. They will be the people who solve some of life’s most intriguing problems, are financially literate, develop the technology of the future and are successful in everyday life.
15
Junior School
Junior House Sport by Chris Rawlings, Head of Junior PE
The House system is a traditional feature of many British schools and at Tanglin, children in the Junior School are divided into four Houses called Beruang, Elang, Harimau and Singa. Houses compete with each other in lots of different ways and House sporting events are one of the highlights of the school year. House sport offers children of all abilities the opportunity to take part in a competitive sport event but in a fun and friendly way. It also allows children to mix with children from other classes. For all of the events the emphasis is to be part of the House team and to enjoy taking part in a sport. Sportsmanship and supporting team mates are important traits to develop from an early age and are valuable in all aspects of life. The range of events at Tanglin ensures that there is something for everyone whether it’s part of a football team, running, jumping, throwing or swimming. Curriculum lessons build the children’s skills and knowledge
In Term 1 the children are assessed in swimming, with times taken for the three main strokes. Heads of Houses then put the children into House teams of Marlins and Swordfish. The children swim in events ranging from 25m and 50m freestyle and breast stroke to tyre and boogie board relays. Children can attempt to break
in preparation for the House events
school house records and point totals are
throughout the year.
added up to find the winning House.
“The House tournaments are very fun. My favourite is the swimming gala because I love swimming and racing for my House, Harimau. The boogie board relay was brilliant fun.” Jack Ward (Y4.7) 16
“The House tournaments are fun and it’s great to be able to mix with other children in Year 6. Learning to work together in teams is really important. I like that we are put into teams of similar ability so that the competition is fair and much more enjoyable. My favourite is the Murphy Cup football tournament. I’ve been playing football with my friend Eva for some time and I love playing in the same team as her.” Tara Frith (Y6.5) In Term 2 all of the children take part in the Murphy Cup football tournament. Children are assessed in lessons and placed into teams of similar ability; these are United, Wonderers and City. Every winning team from the groups are awarded ‘House PAWS’ and year group totals are added up to find the Murphy Cup winners. Also in Term 2, Year 5 and 6 children take part in a boy’s basketball and girl’s netball tournament. Again the children are placed into teams of similar ability and they play a round robin tournament against the other Houses. The House with the most points are declared the overall winners for the tournament.
“The House swimming gala was really cool. I liked the boogie board relay most and loved racing against my friends. Being part of my House team was a great feeling and I really like swimming.” Kate Thomas (Y3.1)
Term 3 sees the final House tournament of the year with the highly anticipated Sports Days. The children develop their athletic skills in lessons and are assessed to be placed in ability groups for a 600m run and for sprinting. The sprint groups are named after the Olympic ideals of Citius, Fortius and Altius (faster, stronger and higher). The children compete in running, throwing and jumping events where they can earn medals, pins and house PAWS for each event. Record breakers are celebrated with a special medal and added to the role of
“I really enjoy taking part in all of the House sport competitions because they are fun and we get to play with lots of different children, not just my class. I love showing my skills, particularly in the Murphy Cup football tournament, which is my favourite.” Leo Scanlan (Y5.8)
honour which has been kept since 1985.
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Senior School
An Interview with Allan Forbes by Louise Coldbridge, Internal Communications Manager
Allan Forbes, Head of Senior School, shares his first impressions of Tanglin and his hopes for the future of the Senior School. What was your impression of Tanglin before you joined the school and did that impression change once you were here? I had heard from many colleagues, past and present, and other educational links that Tanglin is outstanding in everything that it sets out to do; produces wonderful and responsible students, achieves brilliant results, has dedicated teachers, empowers middle managers and innovates senior leaders, as well as providing amazing opportunities in Sport, Music, Drama, Art and a huge range of other activities that the students can get involved in. I remember someone saying that Tanglin does not specialise; it’s excellent at everything! And indeed everything I have heard has been confirmed, and more, to the point that I believe Tanglin goes beyond being outstanding stated in the inspection reports and is a school that ‘stands out’ for its student learning experience, caring approach and willingness to listen and develop further. In your opinion, what makes a successful school and how do you measure success? A successful school is one with heart that cares for the well-being and happiness of every single student, appreciates the efforts and commitment of every single employee and listens to the views and aspirations of every single parent. I measure success in how the students inform me about feeling supported, how much teachers enthuse them and how well the Tanglin learning
18
journey provides options to fulfil their
My main priority in Term 1 was to get to
dreams. Results, of course are important,
know as many students, colleagues and
but I rejoice in meeting Tanglin students
parents as possible. If you follow me on
around the campus who are excited
twitter (allanforbes_tts), you will know that
about their learning and can tell me with
I aim to get out and about a great deal
confidence how well they are achieving
and talk to as many people as I can. I am
and feeling. I aim for happy colleagues
learning through my conversations and
who feel supported in their duties and are
surveys that Tanglin is indeed an excellent
empowered to secure their aspirations too.
school but it can’t afford to be complacent.
I also aspire to give parents the confidence
There are still areas to address and over
they deserve in a school that they invest so
the next two terms, I aim to feedback to the
much trust in.
community on my findings including what we do well and what we can do even better.
What have been your first priorities in post? What will be your focus for the next two terms?
I am working towards five or six agreed key goals that we all ‘own’ and then we can work together on these identified areas,
and through detailed planning, arrive at
I celebrate success of every kind. I seek
Robert Swan, NYAA to Pulau Ubin, knowing
an even better place for our Senior School
points of view about important things
where I am going in the Senior School and
over the next five years.
like uniform and their learning in lessons.
not getting lost! I always list my highlights
Students appreciate that I take an interest
each week in my In Touch article but I have
in each and every one of them and I want to
been told by the Communications team
be just one of a thousand reasons why they
to shorten them! Now that’s not easy with
love Tanglin and are proud of their school.
so many things going on and so much to
Have you made any changes? If so, what and why? I feel I needed to work through the first term, and indeed the first year, observing but also asking why we do things in a certain way. Can we improve, streamline,
enthuse about. I wonder if Comms will edit How do you keep in touch with what your students are doing, thinking, reading, watching etc?
simplify or be clearer? I want the Senior School to be open and welcoming. I feel
Easy, I have yet to leave school even after
I am still at the stage of encouraging as
more than 50 years! I am excited by the
many people as possible to talk to me,
latest Bond movie, I am there when the
helping me to prioritise and then moving
students do their ‘thing’ or are ‘in their
forward with me towards solutions. It has
element’, I want to hear their views on
been a very enjoyable start but I feel there
anything that is important to them. My
are still places to explore before deciding
door is open and more and more students
on the priorities for change.
are coming to talk to me about their
this section out! Let’s see! What advice would you give to parents whose child is moving into the Senior School and how do they adjust to having less day to day involvement in their child’s school life?
years after leaving Tanglin. I want students
So many highlights this term: Oliver, MUN,
To be honest, I want parents to feel more involved in their child’s school life and I want to explore ways that parents can feel more engaged rather than passive. I hope parents feel welcomed by my open approach and I hope more parents will take the opportunity to introduce themselves to me, stop by for a conversation, even a coffee, and stand by me with confidence as they come to realise that I am totally committed to the future of Tanglin Senior School. I remain thrilled, excited and so proud to be here and I aim to do all I can to be successful in my role as Head of the
to have the learning skills to strive beyond
SCC Rugby, music at the Piazza, meeting
Senior School.
achievements, ideas or concerns and I In your opinion, what qualities does a Senior School student need to have to be successful? Senior students need to abide by a solid set of core values. I want to be delighted and
thrive on this. Have you introduced yourself to me yet? Why not? Give it a go! What have been the highlights for you so far? What are you looking forward to in the coming months?
excited to meet them and talk to them ten
simply knowing things. I want them to think for themselves, manage their time effectively, communicate clearly, research and find things out independently and to be comfortable, confident and happy socially. How would you describe your students? In one word, amazing but in more words, Tanglin students are intelligent, responsible, informed, supportive, caring, challenging, open-minded, tolerant, patient, keen to contribute and give back, willing to take responsibility, able to lead with confidence, always thank those around them for what others do for them and treat all with compassion, respect and equality. How would the students describe you? What do your students think of you? And how do you know? My daughters often give me feedback and they tell me that the students find me friendly, approachable, funny, caring and always there to support what they are doing. I make time to talk and listen.
19
Sixth Form
Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS) by Kim Wong (Y13.12), Holly Pearson (Y13.9) and Nicole Nygate (Y13.11)
During Years 12 and 13, all students take part in CAS – Creativity, Activity, Service. The CAS programme requires them to carry out real and purposeful activities which have significant outcomes. Students are responsible for planning their activity and should reflect, review and report on the personal learning which they experienced. Over the summer break, these Sixth Form students embarked on exciting CAS activities, some of which took place outside of Singapore. Volunteering at Riding for the Disabled by Kim Wong (Y13.12) For me, CAS at Tanglin has been one of the highlights of my year. I chose to go to the Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA) Singapore, and work with the fantastic children and animals there. Choosing a CAS service that you love and that you are willing to invest time in is one of the most powerful and important decisions you make. Doing something you love really allows you to invest yourself wholly into a great cause and not only help others, but build your own character over time as well. Over the summer, I extended my volunteering hours from once a week to three times a week, working with three individuals with different disabilities, and different horses. To me, RDA provides a great environment for challenging yourself. Coming in every week, and continuously working with the same children was an eye-opener towards the daily struggle that we so easily take for granted. Things as simple as walking are huge feats for these children. But RDA provides them with a platform with which they can really start gaining confidence in themselves and the knowledge that they are important members of society. It gives you a sense of pride, knowing that you contributed to putting an extra smile on a child’s face and improved their quality of life outside the sessions at RDA. Many children with disabilities struggle to see the wonderfully dynamic individuals that they are, and helping them to really embrace who
20
they are has definitely been the most rewarding experience.
and every chance I get to change a child’s life for the better.
really is achievable. I look forward to every
The biggest thing that I have taken away from this experience, is that little things you do can really change the life of others. Sometimes, we’re too busy to really take a step back and notice the everyday things that we take for granted. On the grand scale of things, many aspects of our everyday life are insignificant, but I feel that my time at RDA will stay with me for a long time, and it has truly changed the person
single volunteering session I have there
that I am today.
I had worked with horses in the past, but over time I had lost my connection and confidence around them. Spending time at RDA, building relationships with these animals, gaining trust, and even doing small amounts of training with them has enabled me to really prove to myself that once I’ve set my heart on something, it
Activity: Gran Paradiso Climb 2015 by Holly Pearson (Y13.9) In July my Dad and I summited Gran Paradiso, my first mountain climb above 3,000m and my first time using crampons and ice axes and walking on a glacier. We began the climb from the Gran Paradiso National Park at an altitude of 1,834m. At the FrĂŠdĂŠric Chabod Refuge, where we stayed the night, we could see the north face of the Gran Paradiso standing beautifully tall in front of us. After two carb-heavy meals, I went to bed early because I wanted to have lots of energy for summiting early next morning. We left the Chabod hut at about 3.00am, the first team to attack the mountain. When I was looking through the telescope at the climb to the foot of the Glacier Laveciau, it did not appear difficult, but we increased altitude very quickly, and I soon realised how hard it actually was. We got to the glacier at about 5.00am, put our crampons on and energised for the 3 hour climb up to summit level at 4,000m. I am very proud of this accomplishment.
Service: Cambodia House Building Trip - July 2015 by Nicole Nygate (Y13.11) My trip to Cambodia was a unique opportunity to help those who are less fortunate. We spent two days house building, an activity set up by a foundation called Tabitha. Tabitha is a charity which helps millions of Cambodians rebuild their lives by providing them with improved houses to live in. Many Cambodians are still trying to recover from the atrocities of Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge despite the fact that it is many years since the country was devastated. There were 14 of us on the trip all aged 15-17. Together we were able to build 20 houses! This project was an in depth and meaningful experience for me because it gave me a real insight into Cambodia and its people. We worked with the local Cambodian people who taught us the skills we needed which allowed us to really integrate into the community. It was very challenging to overcome the language barrier, but we had many laughs trying to understand each other. This trip allowed all of us to develop our cooperation and team building skills, and also how to wield a hammer! Thank you to the TTS Foundation for supporting the trip with a Deirdre Lew Service Award.
21
Showcase:
ART/ DANCE/ DRAMA/ MUSIC
New Infant Art Studio by Helen Sampson, Head of Infant Art and Design
During the summer holidays the Art and Design resources in the Infant Art store were completely packed up and the room upgraded. This re-organisation has enabled the store to be transformed into not only an organised resource area for all Infant teaching staff, but also a super teaching space for 1216 pupils.
“I like doing Art because it’s creative and you can make lots of wonderful things. The Art studio has all the materials we need and I like Ms Sakina helping us too.” Jasmine Boyle (Y2.4)
We have been using our Infant Art Studio for one term and have enjoyed it immensely. It is an amazingly creative area to work in with beautiful natural light overlooking trees and greenery with a lovely open and spacious feel. Since coming back to school we have slowly been using the space primarily for Key Stage 1 pupils (Years 1 and 2). However, Nurture groups from Reception come and use the space where we cater for messy projects and the children enjoy becoming immersed in paint for sensory
As part of the Children’s university offered
purposes.
to Year 2 children, we host an Art Club
Children in Year 1 were lucky to be able to
choose their own projects and this term
work with Korky Paul in Term 1. He took
one child chose to make a huge Alexander
master classes in drawing, for groups
Calder inspired mobile.
every Friday afternoon. Here the children
of children throughout the week. This culminated in an amazing underwater
The Art Studio comes with a full time
themed mural area in Year 1.
dedicated Art Technician, Ms Sakina. As well as Ms Sakina and I working with children,
“I loved it when we worked in a group to make the Jigsaw for our concert.” Juliet Fourie and Nikheel Dutta (Y2.4)
class teachers also have the opportunity to take groups of children into the purposebuilt Art Studio to further develop the pupils’ skills in this subject. Here, art projects can be left to dry and resources easily managed and prepared. Classes in Year 1 have been sketching bicycles and children from Year 2
22
“I like using the Art studio because everything you need is in there. I love Art!” Erin Brown (Y2.5) prepared the backdrop to their Christmas performance. We are looking forward to the coming weeks with many new collaborative projects including artists in residence. Please do pop in to have a look around if you are passing, we love to share our art work with visitors.
Showcase:
ART/ DANCE/ DRAMA/ MUSIC
Mulan
Year 6, November 2015
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Showcase:
ART/ DANCE/ DRAMA/ MUSIC
Oliver!
Junior and Senior Students, September 2015
24
Showcase:
ART/ DANCE/ DRAMA/ MUSIC
The Magical Christmas Jigsaw Year 2, December 2015
25
Showcase:
ART/ DANCE/ DRAMA/ MUSIC
The Magic Flute
Scottish Opera and Tanglin Students, December 2015
26
Sports & Activities
Sporting Round Up by Junior and Senior Staff and Students
SEASAC U19 Girls and Boys Golf 25-29 November, KLASS, Malaysia This year’s course was narrow, tricky and was made more challenging with the wet conditions. With a close score and great effort from teams all round, it was a 5th finish for the Girls and 6th for the Boys.
Merlion Sprint Festival by David Hailey, Director of Aquatics This year the Merlion’s partnered with the fantastic new OCBC Aquatics centre to provide not only long course training sessions leading up to larger events but to showcase our own Merlion Sprint Festival. Previously the pool had only been used for government and FINA events so Tanglin were privileged to be able to use the competition pool. Over nine months of
Singapore Swimming Association technical officials which meant any times achieved at the event were SSA / FINA approved. It was for these reasons that accompanying the 500 international school swimmers were 30 Singapore national team swimmers utilising the opportunity as preparation for their 2015/16 international fixtures calendar. An unparalleled experience for school swimmers and international elite swimmers to swim side by side.
Australia operate the majority of their open
With over 125 Tanglin swimmers from all ages and squads competing, this was a fantastic day with hundreds of personal best times achieved and medals collected. As the first event of its kind in Singapore, the Sprint Festival was a great success. As well as receiving international swimming media attention, it also cemented the partnership with OCBC for a further two more years. We are now planning the 2016/7 Sprint Festival and this year we would like to open the door to sponsorship of either the event or towards aspects of the event. Please contact David Hailey,
meets. The event was also officiated by the
Director of Aquatics for more information.
planning went into the one day event which opened the doors of the $1.33bn facility to almost all the larger international schools in Singapore. Prior to the Sprint Festival, it was an experience enjoyed only by those of national standard and the world’s elite. The Sprint Festival offered the only open meet opportunity in Singapore to swim sprint events in all strokes and IM as heats and age group finals, which is extremely valuable as this is how the UK, USA and
“With only one leaver from the current team, the potential development for Golf at Tanglin will be great to see over the next few years. There was a strong sense of team spirit and everyone had a great time getting to know others from not only TTS but from schools across SEA.” Michaela Young (Y13.10) and Sebastian Tung (12.3)
27
SEASAC Cross Country 27-28 November, Hong Kong Well done to the team of 11 students who all placed very well over the two courses.
Feeding Frenzy 11-13 December 2015, Bangkok Patana School by David Hailey, Director of Aquatics The Merlion swim team at Feeding Frenzy this year consisted of 43 swimmers from Year 5-Year 12, competing in over 425 swims throughout the three day fixture. We had 13 swimmers competing in the 400m freestyle / individual medley on the first morning, some of which were attempting the event for the first time. In almost every swim the Merlions clocked a personal best time which was an amazing start to the weekend and an inspiring session for some of the younger swimmers. The team rose early Saturday morning for a tough day of 100m and 200m events. With each swim more personal bests fell, some by exceptionally large amounts. The fact that the grandstand was empty because the team were swimming or on pool deck supporting their friends is a testament to our students and illustrates how close they are, across all year groups. Sunday moves at an impressive pace with all the sprint (50m) events and relays involving every member of the team swimming at regular intervals. Personal best times continued to fall and the relay teams performed fantastically with nearly all relays finishing in the top 5. Congratulations to all swimmers on a thoroughly enjoyable weekend and for their outstanding efforts. A special well done to Katie Henderson and Matthew Romero for finishing an impressive third in their respective age groups!
“An unforgettable running experience for all those involved.” Oliver Reeves (Y13.2)
“The games in SEASAC were tough, with most other teams having the majority of their players both older and more experienced.” Matthew Gledhill (Y12.1) SEASAC U19 Girls and Boys Volleyball 29 October – 1 November, UWC East The Girls U19 team performed brilliantly during the tournament, managing to come 2nd in the round robin and 3rd overall. The Boys U19 team was quite a young, new team with many players not having a lot of experience of volleyball. Unfortunately, the team didn’t win any of their games but the progression shown throughout SEASAC was very encouraging and the Boys Volleyball team has a promising future.
“I believe that the Girls U19 Volleyball team has a brilliant chance of taking the Gold at the next SEASAC.” Kara Robertson (Y13.5) 28
ACSIS Season 1 Results The Athletics Conference of Singapore International Schools (ACSIS) is a Singapore based sporting conference from 8&U to 19&U age ranges, allowing Tanglin students to compete from Year 3 to Year 13. Information about specific sports can be found by logging onto the TTS Portal and clicking on Activities and Sports/ Competitive Sport/Competitive Tournaments.
Senior Team
Division
Final standings
1
3rd
2
4th
2
3rd
3
5th
12U Badminton Girls
2
3rd
14U Badminton Boys
1
5th
2
7th
3
5th
1
5th
2
6th
12U Netball 12U Badminton Boys
14U Badminton Girls
3
5th
14U Boys Cricket
1
Friendlies
16U Boys Football
1
Friendlies
2
Friendlies
1
Friendlies
2
Friendlies
Junior Team Cross Country
Division
Final standings
19U Boys Football
Team Results 9U Boys
1st
19U Girls Football
1
Friendlies
10U Girls
1st
19U Boys Volleyball
2
5th
11U Girls
2nd
19U Girls Volleyball
1
6th
9U Girls
3rd
2
6th
10U Boys
3rd
3
Friendlies
10U Boys
3rd
12U Boys Rugby
1
Friendlies
14U Boys Rugby
1
Friendlies
Overall Team Girls
2nd
12U Girls Touch
1
No Games - All cancelled
Boys
3rd
14U Girls Touch
1
Friendlies
9U Girls Football
1
8th
2
Friendlies
9U Boys Football
1
7th
3
Friendlies
2
8th
1
5th
2
11U Girls Basketball 11U Boys Basketball
MS Cross Country
16U Boys Team - 2nd
3rd
HS Cross Country
Didnt make it to the top 3
1
6th
HS Swimming
2
6th
16U Girls Team - 3rd Boys
3rd
Girls
4th
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Phuket Football U11 and U13 SEASAC U19 Girls and Boys Football
6-7 November, British International School
by Year 13 students Matthew Rossiter, Ranvir Ubhi,
Phuket, Thailand
Elena Fairley, Amber Sykes, 30 October - 1 November, NIST Bangkok
Unfortunately, this year the tournament was cancelled and none
This year’s SEASAC tournament was the first year Tanglin
weather. After losing so many training sessions due to the haze,
brought home a double Gold, winning both the Boys and Girls division. The semi finals saw both teams on form, as they cruised onto the finals. However, in the finals the Boys and Girls were both competing against opposition they had previously lost to. With a dramatic last day of the
of the teams got to play their semi-finals or finals due to poor this was a real shame. However, all TTS teams made it through to the quarterfinals. The U11/U13 Girls progressed even further to the semi-finals but unfortunately the U11 Boys did not get to play their quarter finals. The U13 Boys sadly lost in their quarters with rain in the second half.
tournament, both teams won with a score of 3-2 in extra time. Despite the number of Senior School players that will be leaving school next year, we have high hopes that Tanglin will be bringing back more SEASAC Gold medals in the future.
“The wonderful run continues, and this year was particularly special with both teams coming away as Division 1 Champions. Both finals won in dramatic fashion first with James Gibson for the Boys and then Olivia Almond for the Girls, wrapping up a TTS double. Well done to all 24 players involved.” James Robinson, PE Teacher, Senior School
“Everyone at Tanglin is proud of our achievements and next year we will progress even further and determined to hold onto our reputation at the tournament.” Laura Troth (Y8.6)
“Overall the TTS Teams were outstanding. One of the most memorable things about the trip was that no matter their age, everyone bonded during dinners, bus rides and at the tournament.” Siena Scott (Alumni) 30
PTA
Sixteen Girls and a Guy... by Ally Kiggell and Jo Moss, PTA Committee Members
Giving back to the community; whether you’re a parent, a teacher or a child, we’re here for you. Many will remember our glamorous T90 Roaring 20’s Ball, our little homage to the decade that heralded the school’s founding, and last year’s jewel in the PTA crown. This year will be no different as we fully engage that legacy of celebrating and giving back to the community. Despite being a very new (and green!) committee, we launched into the school year on orientation day by offering advice on uniform and other essential pieces of school kit. Then came our inaugural poolside sausage sizzle to welcome all the new parents and children to the TTS community in a casual but informative setting, and we also hosted an afternoon tea to help new teachers feel at home in their new surroundings. Aware that smaller, intimate settings help parents too, we continued with our welcome for all Nursery parents, and facilitated Head of Year meetings between class reps and teachers.
The haze tried its smoggy best to cramp
the school to ensure that your views are
our style in October but we simply would
heard, discussed and where possible,
not have it! Despite the MOE’s schools
implemented.
closure the PTA carried on unperturbed and we welcomed new Senior School Head,
The lights on Orchard Road are never
Allan Forbes, as our new quiz emcee at our
quite enough, which is why each year
legendary quiz night with a curry!
we ring in the festive season with our wonderful Christmas Fair! This year was no
Class reps are pivotal members of the
exception as the aromas of roast turkey
Tanglin community. To recognise their
and pork, mulled wine and minced pies
contributions and dedication we celebrated
wafted through the halls. Father Christmas,
with them at an elegant breakfast at Eden
entertainment, the exclusive $10 shop just
Hall, with wonderful sponsors like Dental
for children to shop for their parents, arts
Essence and Little Ones Photography
and crafts, great vendors, charity stalls
helping us to present a stellar event. At the
and raffles were once again the order of
same time we asked class reps for their
the day, and the fair has cemented its
views on what they’d like us to deliver. Look
reputation as the best Christmas fair in the
out for updates in Terms 2 and 3 to see
international community.
how we respond to their feedback! Early in 2016 we will be launching Working away quietly in the background,
revamped PTA pages on the TTS Portal with
we have continued to host the valuable
an exciting, new directory of vendors and
Parent Year Group (PYG) forum, acting
service providers. Stay tuned for news of
with PYG reps as a conduit from you to
new community events!
31
Student Services
Food Services Update by Anne Bibbings, Food Services Manager
The food offering at Tanglin has come a long way in the last18 months. As the link between the school and Sodexo (Tanglin’s food provider), my priority since joining Tanglin has been to improve the quality and variety of food by listening to parent and student feedback. I’m pleased to say that we have implemented a number of changes and developed good working relationships with both parents and students. Following an appeal for parents to join a Junior School Food Committee, a small group consisting of parents, myself and representatives from the Junior School (David Ingram, Head of Junior School & Philippa Hatton, Assistant Head) have met approximately once every 6 weeks to talk about the food offering for Juniors at Tanglin. The Committee gave parents a forum to air their suggestions and feedback and meant we were able to explore different ideas with parents before introducing the changes to the students. It has been a really positive experience and we have been able to introduce the following in the Junior School: • Revamped snack menu with more healthy options available for students, both in the Junior and Senior School for example jacket potatoes, noodle pots, pasta pots • A premium meal offer once a week soon to move to twice a week offering a better quality meat option, for example antibiotic free meat, wild Norwegian salmon, grass fed beef and lamb. We have also guaranteed that whenever chicken is on the regular menu it will be
32
100% breast meat • Salad bar with tomatoes, lettuce, cucumber and grated carrot for Junior students to help themselves to for free during their lunchtime • Healthy cake range in the bakery using
• Cous cous has now been added to the salad bar in response to feedback from Senior students • A hot dessert is now available for Senior students every lunch time. This includes delicious classics such as apple crumble
ingredients such as cauliflower, zucchini
with custard and chocolate sponge
and beetroot
pudding!
• Packed lunches are now also available with a vegetarian option on a daily basis • Allergy-free meals and clear labelling of all meal ingredients during the meal ordering process on Campus Online.
• Egg mayonnaise and tuna mayonnaise are now available on the Sublicious counters as additional fillings • We have introduced a ‘Juice of the Month’ different to the standard offer to encourage the students to try new
Within the Senior School I meet with the
drinks and introduced coconut water as
student food reps once every 6-8 weeks to
an additional drink option
discuss what changes they would like and
• Queue times in the Senior School
where possible I implement the changes they
have been cut by opening a second
have requested. They will also be involved
Sublicious station in the Senior café. In
in suggestions for the food offer in the new
the Senior MPA, on days when we serve
Gateway building. Some of the changes we
naan bread, we have worked hard to
have implemented so far include:
move production times to ensure there
is plenty of naan bread available • We also now ensure that all meals options are available right up until the end of lunchtime so no student misses their lunch if they arrive late to the canteen. The new Gateway Building will provide a much-needed new canteen for the Senior School and the new space will accommodate 400 students. We have worked closely with the architects to design a space with a variety of seating options so students can choose to sit in large communal groups on big benches or enjoy lunch in smaller groups with booth seating for privacy. There will also be outside seating available on the balcony area and the large steps leading up to the building have been designed to allow students to use as a meeting place or lunchtime spot. In addition to more seating, the new Senior canteen will continue to offer Halal options, Sublicious and a Grab and Go concept which will give students the option of quick, healthy meals such as wraps, juice, salads and sandwiches. Parents will also be able to enjoy a new cafÊ concept in the Gateway building complete with a soft play area for younger children which will be gated to allow parents to relax whilst their children play. We have worked closely with the Infant School to design a space which is functional and relaxing for parents and stimulating for younger children. We hope that this will be a welcoming space for our community.
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Creative Writing
Junior School Creative Writing based on Neil Gaiman’s book ‘Instructions’.
The hero set out to find a maiden to marry. After walking far from his village, he gazed distressingly and thought about his family. Nevertheless, Alexander The Great wiped his tears, snatched his sword and carried on his journey. Days turned into weeks and weeks turned into months. Suddenly his eyes fell on the most breath-taking thing he had ever seen! By now, something else had caught his eye. There was a radiant princess with blonde, glossy hair, waving in the breeze. “I have to win her heart, no matter what,” muttered Alexander, his eyes looking dreamy. But how? There was a ginormous river. Between it, stood the castle, and in the castle was the princess. At that moment, a tiny boat with a life vest floated towards him. He clambered on and lifted the oars. Finally, he reached he castle. After trotting along for ten hours, he arrived at the pointy peak of the tower. But there was a sign on the door. In fancy handwriting it was written, “Thee who is brave shall marry me.” He ignored it and went through. There stood the princess, smiling prettily. He gasped.
Swiftly, Jack sprinted through the woods and stopped. He couldn’t keep running. Slowly, he peered around the dense forest. Whilst looking, Jack saw it was uninhabited throughout the whole wood. Majestically, trees shivered around him, all Jack could see was luscious leaves. Jack nervously started to creep around searching for shelter. Courageously, he stood beside a terrifying tree and saw that the tree had a face! Jack jogged in a direction where there was no trees because he was scared. A day later, he could make out a mysterious outline of something on the horizon. Startled, Jack started to stroll weirdly towards it. Then he jogged. Then ran. Eventually he got there in a day. Jack, who was surprised that he found a grim castle, was petrified of the sight that he saw.
Immediately, he stared. Towering above him was a hideous, disastrous castle… Jack nervously whined, “Why did I come this way?” Petrified, Jack shuffled towards the “I knew you would come to me,” whispered the princess in castle! a dainty little voice. “I’ve been waiting.” They immediately married. I think they’ll live happily ever after. Do you? When he got to the entrance, in front of him a devilish giant stood protectively guarding a door. Jack stumbled Nishka Chokhani (Y3.3) on the rocky cobbled path and made his way! Slowly, Jack went through the monstrous hideous legs and frighteningly opened the door. William Simkins (Y3.6)
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The swinging light hesitantly began to slow down, the black chord holding it to the ceiling jumping less. Eventually it came to a halt, the pallid light settling to illuminate only the worn down beaten armchair below. A sturdy piece of furniture, it sat there ripped with the stuffing falling out, still managing to stay proud.
As he strode through the emerald forest, Jeremiah began to feel less and less determined. Suppose there was a castle. Suppose it was all a trick. What would he do then? Doubt enveloped him, a suffocating blanket of danger to send him back to where he started. Trees lent in towards each other, whispering, mocking him. Autumn leaves laughed at him, swirling and spiralling in a sudden gust of wind. There it was, spindly oak turrets, a mahogany hall, this had to be the fortress of Narsephical. Excited, Jeremiah raced towards the rather small and unimposing gate. He easily sealed it and lowered himself down into the shadowy streets below.
Behind the chair lay a solitary gun, dropped hastily, the magazine on the ground. A body lay slumped at the back of the chair, its eyes rolled back and a constant river of blood flowing down its face. Raspy breaths could be heard escaping the body’s mouth. Its wrinkled skin was golden and a gnarled hand was fumbling, attempting to stop the flow of blood. Sasha Pond (Y9.6)
It was like a whole different world in the fort. Huge oak trees interlocked their branches to form a protective arch, shielding the city from the outside world. A creaky sign hung from the branch of a gnarled old birch tree. ‘The sword and the stick inn.’ As ragged as a torn rope, a lone tent stood stone still in the town square, silently calling for company, though no answer would ever come. Something had happened here, quite recently. Something tragic. Whatever it was, Jeremiah needed to find out more. Crack! Something moved behind him. Jeremiah spun round. A wild pig stood staring back at him, defiant, a brick wall, still as the end of time. Annoyed but careful, Jeremiah decided to leave it be. He turned around and left the boar to do as it pleased. A small shoe, probably only toddlers, lay abandoned on the paved path. It was dust free. It looked as though it was only a few days old. What kind of terrifying, occurrence could drive a whole town from a safe, well protected citadel in a matter of days? Callum Porritt (Y6.1)
Background artwork by Jas Singh (Y13.4)
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Book Reviews
INFANT/ JUNIOR/ SENIOR/ PARENT
TOP
5
Books For Infants
1. The Book With No Pictures by BJ Novak 2. Do Not Open This Book by Michaela Muntean 3. Mermaid by Cerrie Burnell 4. Aliens Love Underpants by Claire Freedman & Ben Cort 5. Minecraft Essential Handbook by Jordan Maron, Paul Soares, and Stephanie Milton Winnie The Witch Series by Korky Paul
The Fish Who Could Wish by Korky Paul My favourite book is called “The Fish Who Could Wish” by Korky Paul. I love this book because it’s about a fish who wishes lots of things. I love the pictures and the funny story and enjoy reading this book at home. - Nicola Cook (Y1.5) Star Wars Series I love “Star Wars” books and they are my favourite type of book to borrow from the library. I have 12 Star Wars books at home and enjoy listening to these stories when Mum and Dad read them to me. I
I like reading lots of books and enjoy
can even read some of these books on my
reading every day. My favourite books are
own! I have seen the Star Wars movies but
the “Winnie The Witch” stories because
enjoying reading the books as well.
they are about a witch and her cat named
- Thomas Doyle (Y1.5)
Wilbur. I love the pictures because they are so colourful. Our class met Korky Paul when he came to visit our school and we had lots of fun. - Amaan Aidrus (Y1.2)
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The Case Of The Disappearing Detective by Anthony Read This heart-pounding mystery adventure is a great read. In this book Sherlock Holmes gets kidnapped by a Fenian gang from Boston who are planning to assassinate the Queen during her diamond jubilee year. Read more to know how the Baker Boys help to save the day! - Ari Bottomer (Y4.8)
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Books For Juniors
1. The Haunted Castle by Geronimo Stilton 2. Marshall Armstrong Is New To Our School by David Mackintosh 3. The Frank Show by David Mackintosh 4. Lion Vs Rabbit by Alex Latimer 5. Oliver And The Seawigs
The Maze Of Bones by Rick Riordan
by Philip Reeve
This is an adrenaline-pumping book. When Aunt Grace dies, Amy and Dan are given two choices: to receive $1million or to receive a clue which will ultimately let them learn their family secret. Puzzles and adventure await Amy and Dan when they choose to accept the clue. Join them as they set on a globe-trotting adventure which will bring them to every corner of the Earth. Be prepared as their journey will be fraught with peril! - Nick Robinson (Y5.5)
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Gangsta Granny by David Walliams A roll on the floor, laugh out loud kind of book. When Ben’s parents told him that he will be staying with his Granny, he thought he would be bored to tears. To his delight, he jets off on an adventure with his Granny - a known international jewel thief - as they plot to steal the Crown jewels! - Isobel Wood (Y6.6)
Book Reviews
INFANT/ JUNIOR/ SENIOR/ PARENT
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Books For Seniors
Key Stage 3 (Years 7 to 9) 1. Divergent by Veronica Roth 2. War Horse by Michael Morpurgo 3. Missing Me by Sophie McKenzie 4. I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore 5. The Scorch Trials by James Dashner
Looking for Alaska by John Green One book that I have recently read and enjoyed is ‘Looking for Alaska’ by John Green, carrying it around with me until I finished it. When I first heard about the new novel, I dismissed it as a classic boy-meetsgirl love story, something that I tend to steer clear of for the most part. On the contrary, John Green explores a tale of love that is somewhat twisted, with a plot that doesn’t hide the harsh reality that many books avoid. The plot focuses on the enigmatic character of Alaska, who captivates everyone she
Key Stages 4 & 5 (Years 10 to 13) 1. Watership Down by Richard Adams 2. Home Is A Place Called Nowhere by Leon Rosselson 3. Secrets In The Fire by Henning Mankell
meets, including the new boy in town. The larger than life Alaska becomes the pivotal driving force in the other characters’ journeys of self-discovery, underscoring the increasingly profound themes that the author strives to convey. Overall, John Green’s distinctive style of writing makes for a compelling read, offering a brutal portrayal of young love that makes attachment to the characters all too easy.
4.Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro 5. Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys
Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee Since Harper Lee’s timeless classic, ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’, is one of my all time favourite novels, I was quick to read ‘Go Set a Watchman’. It now reigns atop US bestsellers list just like TKAM did. Although the book did not capture my heart in the same way as its predecessor or reach the same literary heights, I would still recommend it as worth reading to any Mockingbird fan, purely to see your favourite characters in a new light and to watch twenty-six year old Scout return to Maycomb from her new home in New York. Needless to say, when I first read Go Set a Watchman, I was disappointed by the sudden change in Atticus’s racial attitudes, a gentleman who once demonstrated such progressive and liberal mannerisms in TKAM. However in my opinion, the trick to enjoying this rendition of Scout’s adult life and the evolution of Southern society during that time, is not reading it as a sequel, but instead, like a first draft of TKAM. The more I reflect on the plot with an open-mind, considering its ideologies, the more accepting I am of the developments in the characters. Without giving too much away, Uncle Jack explains to Scout that “every man’s island, Jean Louise, every man’s watchman, is his conscience”; the title indicates that the most fundamental thing is to stick by your moral judgments and what you view to be either right or wrong, regardless of what the people around you are doing. Scout does this whilst still accepting the people she loves. - Mariella Hutton (Y13.6)
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Book Review
INFANT/ JUNIOR/ SENIOR/ PARENT
My Daddy is a Pretzel by Baron Baptiste One afternoon whilst we were playing at home, my son Harrison jumped onto the yoga mat and announced he was going to do ‘a crab’. He then proceeded to show me a series of yoga poses which he’d learnt in Reception. I had no idea that he’d been practising yoga in class time (and meditation too) and so I jumped at the opportunity to try and encourage a ‘mindful moment’ and I borrowed ‘My Daddy’s a Pretzel’ from the Infant Library. I love this book. In a society where we are so busy doing playdates, zoo trips, waterparks and play centres it felt good to embark on an activity which just required the two of us together, with nothing else but a yoga mat. The author begins by explaining how important it is, as adults, that we illustrate good habits for our children to follow and in particular how we should model habits that lead to a ‘vital, healthy and happy life’. As parents, we all know this, but often it takes someone else to remind us that we need to train our hearts, minds and bodies and to help our children do the same. The book is colourful, simple and very easy to follow. The story shows children in a class sharing their parents’ occupations. Each child links the occupation to a yoga pose and the pose is clearly explained and accompanied by lovely illustrations. My son loved this book too and it provided a welcome opportunity for us to do something completely different. The fact that the poses are linked to a ‘story’ made it more engaging for him and we had lots of discussion about which ones we should attempt. The poses are fairly easy and the ones that were harder were a good lesson in ‘practice makes perfect’ and provided lots of laughter. Whilst we don’t have time to fit yoga into our daily routines, I will try to do this with both of my children on a more regular basis. The book is a great introduction to yoga for children (and adults) and I would definitely recommend it to any parent who is looking to incorporate mindfulness into their own, or their family’s, routine. - Louise Colbridge, Reception Parent
The Parenting Collection of books is split between all school libraries and is rotated each term to offer variety to library visitors. If you are interested in borrowing these or any of our other parenting resources, or becoming a Tanglin Library member, please contact any of the library staff. If you would like to write a book review for the next edition of The Voice, please email communications@tts.edu.sg.
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The Last Word
3D TV - Bringing Complex Models to Life in the Classroom by John Ridley, Director of Learning
There is a large, beating heart seemingly floating in the middle of the classroom. The students nearby feel like they can reach out and touch it. The teacher slowly rotates the model so that it can be seen from above and below. “OK, now we’ll take a look inside” she says as she peels off the outer layers and moves into the chambers so that the students get a good view of the valves opening and closing as the heart beats. “And now, let’s see where the blood is being pumped to.” With a change in scale, a large artery fills the space in front of the class and together they follow a red blood cell as it begins its journey around the body… Teachers have always used models to help students visualise complex systems but physical models are always a compromise compared to reality. Models of human body organs are a good example, but the same is true of models used in Geography and Mathematics. The scale has to be chosen to show ‘the most important thing’ and if the model ‘comes apart’ it does so a bit like a jigsaw puzzle with artificial cuts and we quickly get to a point where detailed internal structure can’t be shown. At Tanglin we are really excited by the possibilities of 3D TV to make such models come to life. At the moment we have two 3D TVs in school - one in the Junior School Science Lab and one in the Senior School Science department - and their first uses have had rave reviews from students. We are still very much exploring the use of the technology and the impact that it can have on learning, but surely this is a preview of the classrooms of the future, where objects can be conjured up and explored in a virtual reality.
“Learning Science with this technology is fun. It is better because you can get up close and personal.” Aimee Elms (Y6.3) “It is quite cool how we can see the whole solarsystemrightbeforeoureyes.”Prishni Gupta (Y6.3)
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