TALES

What’s your Tanglin story?

I joined Tanglin in 2011 having moved to Singapore in 2007. I decided to leave the corporate life a few years before my eldest daughter was born in Scotland. Despite enjoying my earlier career as a Global Account Director in the Telecommunications sector, I wanted to take a break from working full time to concentrate on my daughters’ early years. We were fortunate that with both my daughters enrolled at Tanglin, it made my decision on returning to the workplace with Tanglin an easy one.

How did you transition into becoming an outdoor educator?

My first role in Tanglin was project work and I was tasked with reviewing the Trips office and creating standard operating processes to enable the department to run more efficiently and ensure this was communicated effectively into the three schools. It was a great introduction to the world of Outdoor Education!

What were your proudest moments at Tanglin?

Without doubt, it’s all about the children and how they rise to the challenges we make available to them through the wonderful world of Outdoor Education. Recognising that all children have different levels of capability, I love watching how they overcome some of their inhabitations and fears and thrive on the adrenalin of a challenge. From the simple act of planting seeds in our Forest School, to hopefully one day again being able to prepare to white-water raft down the Ganges, it’s truly fulfilling to help our young people grow beyond what they could have dreamed possible to achieve.

In your opinion, what do you think makes a Person of Tanglin?

For me, this is closely linked back to the origins of Tanglin and Miss Griff. She built an academic institution based on moral integrity, decency, and a basic drive to nurture forward thinkers. She encouraged young people to make a positive contribution to society and above all a willingness to embrace change in a positive and progressive way. These are the qualities of our Tanglin people which we see in practice every day!

FUN FACTS ABOUT DAFFY & DONALD

• They are almost one year old!

• Daffy and Donald are Khaki Campbell hybrids, a common domestic duck species in Asia.

• The ducks eat a daily breakfast of cooked rice, clean water and kangkong. Daffy is laying eggs (approximately one per day) regularly, so she needs extra protein in the form of poultry feed pellets.

• The ducks are an amazing natural compositing system as they turn leftover scraps of food that we feed them into valuable fertiliser. Every week, we bring them

What’s your next step after Tanglin?

Not 100% sure but it will certainly be a relaxing step! I’m heading back to Scotland to spend time with family and start long overdue renovations on our house on the Island of Islay. I am also looking forward to spending more time as a volunteer within British Girlguiding.

What is one fun fact that people don’t know about you?

I used to be a DJ on Radio Airthrey, which combined my love of music with my love of talking! We transmitted from Airthrey castle across the Stirling University campus. We had an internal phone network on campus for students to call in with requests, enter competitions and share their news on air - it was fantastic fun!

Tell us about the ducks at the Forest School!

Donald and Daffy are our beloved wellbeing ducks, who will be turning one in April. They are gentle and friendly ducks who love to forage and are very partial to kang kong and watermelon! They love to quack at any visitors to their enclosure and the children regularly update me on the number of eggs which Daffy has laid. We are looking to incorporate a new area for them to paddle in this term and hopefully the students will continue to help us care for them. Having looked after them since they were ducklings, I am nervous about leaving them and am considering asking our film students to set up a live link for me to ensure I can continue singing their good night song to them from Scotlandit’s “Twinkle Twinkle” in case you are wondering! ■

Sounds fun, Gillian! We will definitely miss you at Tanglin. In the meantime, here are some parting messages from the people you worked with at Tanglin. We wish you all the best in all your future endeavours!

Parting Messages

“Gill is a typical tough, no-nonsense Scot… but underneath, she has a heart of gold.”

- Dave Radcliffe, Director of Sport

bags of leaves and plant waste that our contractors collect from the school campus. The ducks then stir these up and use as their bedding. This breaks down the plant waste into useful plant matter that can be recycled and turned into compost!

• We are always in need of friendly volunteers who are willing to come and help feed the ducks during the weekends and school holidays so please let Martin Foakes (Head of Outdoor Education) or Gillian know if you are interested!

“Gill is one of those people who makes things happen and all done with enthusiasm, grace, and a smile! In the past few years, Friends of Tanglin have reached out to Gill, in her capacity as Girl Guides Leader, to support some of our large community events. Each time we have asked for assistance, she has willingly volunteered herself and the young ladies she leads to commit their time and service to help run different elements of the events! Whether it’s running Christmas Fair Carnival Stalls, Raffle or on Gate Duty at our Movie Nights, she has always responded with a can-do approach. Losing key community members like Gill and Parent Class Rep Katy Rodgers can have a massive impact on activities like Girlguiding so please sign up as a volunteer online via www.bgosingapore.com!

- Jenny Aylen, on behalf of the Friends of Tanglin Team

“You have been always inspiring and motivating. Working under your leadership has been a tremendous learning experience for me. I wish you endless happiness and success. Goodbye till we meet again to a great mentor ever!”

- Sara Cardin, Outdoor Education Coordinator

“Our

One of our strategic themes at Tanglin Trust School is to develop flourishing individuals by nurturing and inspiring every individual, ensuring they feel happy, valued, and successful in achieving their intellectual, spiritual, cultural, social, and physical goals.

The COVID-19 pandemic contributed significantly to the reduction of resilience in people, and many of our young people experienced prolonged periods of isolation, disrupted routines, and uncertainty about the future. The lack of face-to-face interaction with peers and teachers has also impacted some students’ social and emotional development, decreasing resilience.

As a community, we have the power to create an environment that empowers our young people to overcome obstacles and challenges. This is a crucial quality for young people, as they face numerous challenges in their school and personal lives, ranging from academic and peer pressure to physical and emotional changes. Resilience is not a trait that people are born with, but rather a set of skills that can be developed through intentional efforts. Tanglin Trust School plays a critical role in helping young people develop resilience, as they are an integral part of a child’s daily life and have a lasting impact on their development.

NURTURING RESILIENCE THROUGH CURRICULUM…

Our curriculum is designed to develop resilience in its young people by providing opportunities for problemsolving and decision-making that empower students to become critical thinkers and proactive problem solvers. This is achieved through handson learning experiences and active engagement in discussions and debates. By learning to approach problems in a structured and effective manner, students will be better equipped to handle stress and adversity in the future.

OUTDOOR EDUCATION…

Outdoor Education trips are back! These excursions are an incredibly valuable way to help children build resilience and prepare them for all life’s challenges. With activities like camping, hiking, and team-building challenges, young people experience new tasks and adventures that can help build their self-confidence and resilience. These activities push students to step outside their comfort zones and exceed their perceived limits, developing a growth mindset and persevering through adversity.

CO-CURRICULUM…

Encouraging your child to participate in the varied co-curricular programme at Tanglin Trust School also helps to build effective working relationships with teachers and gives opportunities for children to work together with peers, communicate effectively, develop initiative, provide leadership experiences, and solve problems in new situations. All of which are necessary for personal growth and success. The new set of eight houses which stretch across the 3 – 18 age range has given the school a new set of groups that allow for the integration of students across year groups. They also present a prism through which intra-school competitions can be held in ‘low-stakes’ environments that promote winning with humility and losing with grace. In this regard, they are an excellent forum for the building and testing of resilience in students in an environment without the normal pressures faced by students; from the selection to represent your house to the finals of a competition, there are opportunities for resilience to be built in a safe and supportive environment.

LIFESKILLS…

The LifeSkills curriculum develops resilience by teaching coping skills and stress management techniques. This is achieved through mindfulness, meditation, and yoga classes, as well as teaching self-care skills and providing resources for students to access when they are feeling overwhelmed. By teaching young people how to manage stress, we can help them develop the resilience they need to handle challenging situations.

And Assuming Responsibilities

Parents and carers can help develop resilience in their children by assigning age-appropriate responsibilities. These provide children valuable life skills such as accountability, independence, and problem-solving. By allowing children to take on challenging yet achievable tasks, parents can help their children develop a growth mindset and the ability to persevere through challenges. However, determining which tasks are appropriate for each age group can take time and effort. ■

THE FOLLOWING AGE-APPROPRIATE GUIDELINES BELOW CAN BE ADAPTED TO SUIT YOUR CHILD

Tasks for for children ages 8 to 9

Any of the above, plus:

• Load/unload the dishwasher.

• Put away groceries.

• Vacuum / mop the floor.

• Help make dinner.

• Make their own snacks.

• Clean the table after meals.

Tasks for children ages 2 to 3

• Put toys away.

• Fill the pet’s food dish.

• Put clothes in the laundry basket.

• Wipe up spills and dust.

• Pile books and magazines neatly.

Tasks for for children ages 4 to 5

Any of the above, plus:

• Make their bed.

• Empty wastebaskets.

• Bring in the mail or newspaper.

• Water plants or pull weeds, if you have a garden!

• Use a hand-held vacuum to pick up crumbs.

• Unload utensils from the dishwasher.

• Wash plastic dishes at the sink.

• Pour their own bowl of cereal.

Tasks for for children ages 6 to 7

Any of the above, plus:

• Sort the laundry.

• Sweep the floors.

• Set and clear the table.

• Help make and packed lunch.

• Keep bedroom tidy.

• Put away their own laundry.

• Make their own breakfast.

• Peel the vegetables.

• Prepare simple foods, such as toast, for the whole family.

• Take the family pet for a walk.

Tasks for for children ages 10 to 12

Any of the above, plus:

• Clean bathroom.

• Wash windows.

• Wash their bike/family car.

• Cook a simple meal with supervision.

• Iron clothes.

• Baby-sit younger siblings (with an adult in the home).

• Clean the kitchen.

• Change their bed sheets.

Tasks for for children ages 12 and above

Any of the above, plus:

• Cook meals for the whole family.

• Baby-sit younger siblings.

• Earn spending money by babysitting or other jobs.

• Budgeting their own spending.

Created over 30 years ago, the Virtues Project has worldwide acclaim and is used in a variety of settings. Our School Counsellors have been offering a Virtues Parenting Course to Tanglin parents since 2009 but what benefits does it have? We find out more from Claire Holmes, Head of School Counselling at Tanglin.