United Colours of Tanglin

United Colours

OF TANGLIN

For the first time in Tanglin’s history, our students are united across eight common houses: Cameron, Alexandra, Claymore, Raeburn, Portsdown, Wessex, Winchester and Weyhill. How has it helped the community build deeper connections?

By now, you would have seen the new House logos (The Voice, issue 35). They are more than just visual representations of each House, they represent the values that Tanglin hopes to nurture in its students such as strength, confidence and independence. Being in the same House as their peers also gives students a sense of belonging and participating in group activities often gives them the opportunity to pick up life skills like leadership, collaboration, and innovative thinking. And the best thing of all? Now that students are unified under the same House system across the three schools, everyone gets to interact with one another on a regular basis. This wouldn’t have been possible under normal circumstances and it allows smaller communities to form within a larger community, which makes the overall Tanglin community stronger and more cohesive.

Here’s what each school has been up to:

INFANT SCHOOL

Before the introduction of the new House system, Nursery and Reception children had never been in a House of their own because they were just getting started in school. With the increase of Houses from four to eight, the possibilities suddenly became limitless. To kick things off, Infant children were given a ‘Welcome to Your New House’ gift pack. Each pack contained a specially designed Team Tanglin card, which had a House badge and a mask that was proudly designed by the Year 6 Global Social Leaders Team and sponsored by TTS Foundation. The team told us: “We wanted to make a difference, especially in light of the pandemic and pollution. We thought we should do something that would keep Tanglin students and teachers safe; whilst protecting our planet.”

Chloe Beard, who was the team’s teacher-mentor couldn’t have agreed more. She said: “I recognised the passions that the children in Year 6 had around sustainability and it inspired me to support them with their project. It was a fantastic opportunity to incorporate our New House system, whilst protecting our community. What innovative young children we have here at Tanglin!”

Needless to say, the Infant children were thrilled with their House badge and mask. But what really got their competitive spirit going was the introduction of House Points. Chloe Gilbert, the Infant Head of Houses and PE Specialist, explained: “It’s like the House Point system we see in Harry Potter; points are awarded to children for displaying positive traits such as teamwork or when they perform exceptionally in class. Each class will keep a record of the points they receive and I will total them up on a House leaderboard that’s displayed in front of the nurses’ office. It keeps their spirits high and it’s a fun way of helping the children

learn the values they need to be successful in life.” Aside from the House Points, Infant children also have multiple opportunities to pick up important life skills. Although COVID-19 restrictions meant that they couldn’t meet their fellow House members in person, they could still interact with their peers via virtual activities such as House Assemblies, singalongs and readathons. In fact, Chloe hopes that once restrictions ease, they could plan a sports day where everyone could have fun in the great outdoors. And that’s not all; two House Captains for each House will be elected as part of the Year 2 student leadership team that will help promote the Houses in the Infant School. They will also attend regular meetings to discuss all House related matters with Chloe. She said: “The Infant House Captains have a wonderful opportunity to learn about leadership, kindness and cooperation. They will be able to brainstorm new and exciting House ideas and provide constructive feedback on our existing events and activities. The Infant House Captains will also be involved in helping at House events as well as guiding and supporting fellow teammates, especially our younger children, on their new and exciting House journey. The House Captains will ensure that all House points are calculated and recorded properly and help their class teacher with any House related matters within the classroom. We are also hoping the Infant House Captains get the chance to work cooperatively with the Junior and Senior School House Captains to allow for a more cohesive and family-like House system within the school. I strongly believe that learning all these powerful skills at a young age will be invaluable for their social and emotional development, not to mention their confidence.” » “ ” What innovative young children we have here at Tanglin!”

JUNIOR SCHOOL

Over at Junior School, Junior Head of Houses and Learning Support Teacher, Matt Hastwell said: “engrained within our reward systems, sports, music and the arts, our Houses have always been an integral part of the Junior School. As we say a fond farewell to Harimau, Singa, Beruang and Elang, we welcome the wonderful opportunities that the new House system brings to strengthen ties within our whole school community.”

He also told us that the Junior children have all been incredibly excited to be placed in their new House and already wear their House colours with much pride. “During this challenging period of social restrictions, the reimagined house system has really energised our community and provided a focus for building fresh relationships with others. Our new House Team, which includes class teachers and specialists, are excited about the year ahead and cannot wait to start planning activities and fun ways to engage the students. For example, in the first week of November, the Junior House Captains supported the Infants during their first House Day of the year. Delphine Hastwell (Infant Head of Music and House leader of Portsdown House) had invited them over to help lead some of the infant classes with drumming on the AstroTurf. The Infant children loved seeing their older friends drum and dance on stage to the beats and chants created by the Infant music department for the new Houses. The Junior House Captains are greatly looking forward to forging links across the school, including opportunities to be mentored by Senior House Captains,” Matt explained with a smile.

Aside from the potential to create and build relationships, the Junior School also launched their first House event of the year in the form of a House Power Hour during the first week of November. All the students joined their Housemates in the House base for a fun assembly before tackling some art activities based on their respective House logos. But what they are really looking forward to is their first House Day in December, and all the fun and excitement that it will bring along with the usual sports competitions and expectations surrounding who will win the coveted House Cup!

SENIOR SCHOOL

Like their younger counterparts, the Senior School celebrates House unity through various activities such as House assemblies, drawing competitions, charity events and even reading challenges. The only difference: many of the senior students had grown up with the old House system so the initial reception was mixed when they found out it had now expanded from four to eight Houses across the three schools. Nevertheless the seniors are excited to make even more connections, especially with their juniors from the Infant and Junior Schools.

Year 12 student and Wessex House Captain, Suzanne, said: “I think that the new House system is a great addition to Tanglin, the schools are now much more integrated and the patriotism for the Houses is much stronger!”

Chris Dech, Head of Senior School Houses, was in full agreement: “The seniors have embraced the new changes and many are looking forward to more interactive activities that » 27

will allow them to cross school boundaries and mentor their younger peers. In fact, we have plans to get our Year 12 House Captains to mentor the Year 6 House Captains. Just the kind of collaborative partnerships we hope our students will build and nurture.”

The senior students who were newly appointed as House Captains also have ambitious plans to integrate the three schools through a series of initiatives. Suzanne, for one, hopes to integrate the three schools with a House Mentor system because everyone has been socially distanced from one another due to COVID-19. She explained: “The House mentorship assigns a younger student with an older student who can advise them when they transition between the schools or if they need exam advice. As House Captain, I believe that this will ultimately create a link between different year groups and help our Houses form new connections within themselves and become closer as a community.”

Her fellow captains felt the same. Anusha, Raeburn’s new House Captain, said: “I think the addition of four more Houses will add to the friendly competition between students. As more emphasis is being placed on the Houses, I believe it will integrate the Houses more into everyday school life. Now there is not only a House Captain, but a whole student team for every House which makes it easier to plan and execute activities. The new roles of Deputy Captain, Arts Captains, Sports Captains and Charity Captains have helped immensely and have also encouraged more students to be actively involved in their houses by taking up these leadership positions. Our Raeburn House Team has already become a tight-knit group and we eagerly look forward to our House meetings.” ■ Sounds like our students have thoroughly embraced the new House System in both mind and spirit! We can’t wait to see how each House will grow in the coming years, but one thing’s for sure: the new House system will go a long way in nurturing generations of excellence at Tanglin.

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE NEW HOUSE SYSTEM?

THILAK, (YEAR 13) HOUSE: CLAYMORE

The new House system is a great initiative as it unites our community and eliminates the divide we have between the three schools.

EMMA, (YEAR 13) HOUSE: CAMERON

The new House system gives students an opportunity to interact with other students, both younger and older, because it gives us something we can all resonate with.

SAMANTHA, (YEAR 12) HOUSE: PORTSDOWN

It is a very efficient way of encouraging teamwork and unity between members within their designated Houses.

HOW DO YOU LIKE YOUR HOUSE?

DIA, (YEAR 1) HOUSE: CAMERON

I like it because it’s green, my favourite colour!

EVIE, (YEAR 1) HOUSE: WEYHILL

The House logo has a burning torch like the Olympics. I like the Olympics!

RAHIL, (YEAR 1) HOUSE: WINCHESTER

I like my House logo because it is a big house and I like big houses.