Home >
Events & Activities >
Our 60th Anniversary Celebrations
Our 60th Anniversary Celebrations
TKGS celebrated 60 years of its existence with back-to-back events. The first event was a glittering gala dinner on 29th June at the Raffles Town Club for all its stakeholders. The Guest of Honour was alumna, Mdm Halimah Yacob, Speaker of Parliament while another illustrious alumna Mrs Tan Ching Yee, Permanent Secretary of Health was asked to launch a new initiative − the TKGS Youth Chapter − at the dinner.
In her speech, current Principal Mrs Mary Seah (second from right in photo above) paid tribute to the TKGS principals who had preceded her (from left in photo above: Mrs Phyllis Lim, Mrs Kelvyna Chan, Mrs Huang Chai Lean, Ms Leong Yop Pooi and Mrs Loke-Yeo Teck Yong.) Mrs Seah also outlined the key directions which the school is moving towards in the new globalised world our students are growing up in. Below we reproduce extracts from her speech:
“With every anniversary is an opportunity to honour our past, take stock of who we are and envision what we could be. At this 60th anniversary, we had called all of you back to be reconnected to the school. I am particularly honoured that we have in our midst Mdm Halimah Yacob, from the class of 1973 and our special guest, Mrs Tan Ching Yee, from the class of 1980. To all of you who have made time to attend today’s dinner, I thank you for your presence and hope that you will have a wonderful time tonight. For me personally, I am heartened and humbled by the presence of the past Principals of the school. As you all know, TKGS was set up in 1953 as the first all-girls secondary school in postwar Singapore. Mrs Maude Scott the founding Principal had set in place her vision for TKGS. This is encapsulated in the lyrics of the school song which she wrote, lyrics that spoke about ‘noble service’, ‘helping one another’ as well as ‘bringing credit to our country and glory to her name’.
This vision was carried on by TKGS’ subsequent Principals Miss See Tin See and Mrs Tan Seng Hock. Miss Paramita Bandara took it further by giving autonomy to students in a way that many would say was ‘ahead of her time’. I had the privilege of meeting up with her for tea last year, shortly after I took over as Principal. It is a pity that Miss Bandara is no longer with us. I am sure memories of her will live on amongst those who had the privilege to be found in TKGS in her time.
What will stand when we are 100 years old? How will the TKGS narrative unfold? For me and my staff, the past year has been a time of envisioning. As a country, Singapore is on the cusp of change. Singaporeans are contributing their views in an attempt to co-create a desired future. A few key perspectives have emerged as a result. Many would like Singapore to be a society with a more diverse definition of success. Many would also like Singapore to be a more compassionate society where the disadvantaged are cared for and where a strong sense of volunteerism prevails. Others want Singapore to be a society where social cohesion and national identity continue to be strengthened despite changing demographics.
In response, TKGS would like to put forth 3 key strategic initiatives, in order to prepare our students for the future. The first is TKGS+, a Programme for Leadership, Understanding and Service. TKGS+ aims to develop deep understanding in subject disciplines and encourages leadership and stewardship of students’ talents.
With the use of the Teaching for Understanding framework, TKGS focusses on the learner in an enhanced baseline curriculum that emphasizes disciplinary understanding over short-term gains. Students apply their understanding in authentic experiences within and beyond the classroom. Thus, a pioneer group of students with a deep interest in Science will spend 9 days in a National Park in Dalat, Vietnam, working alongside scientists in understanding the biodiversity of the park, collecting data, analysing it and presenting their findings in colloquiums. They will experience first-hand what scientists do and what unique values and attitudes guide their work.
Students who have developed an interest in languages and the Humanities will embark on a Global Perspectives Programme where they develop geo-political knowledge and truly put their bilingual abilities to good use. We will form networks with schools and agencies in China and the US. This will help our students develop a geo-political understanding of Singapore in the context of enhanced cooperation (and also economic competition) between two superpowers. We will approach this from peer-to-peer, business-to-business and also government-to-government levels of cooperation.
Beyond enriching our students’ learning, it is just as important that they learn to be good stewards of their talents. In TKGS+, we expect students to take the values and attitudes they learn in the various disciplines and apply these to benefit communities and the environment.
In summary, TKGS+ marries academic excellence with service, and in the process develops TKGians to be ‘accomplished young women of character and grace’.
The 2nd initiative is linked to the Ministry’s renewed focus on values-driven education. Values-in-Action @TKGS is a 4-year programme that stirs hearts, opens eyes, and equips students to champion community causes and give back to society. Values-in-Action @TKGS is scaffolded as follows:
Sec 1 -- Stirring Hearts, Opening Eyes
The focus is on exposure to community issues through sharpening their senses to see, feel, inquire and reflect. Students go out to experience water issues, the plight of the elderly, disabled and ill, as well as the plight and dreams of migrant workers.
Sec 2 -- Equipping and Engaging Minds
Students learn the 6-step community problem-solving approach and are equipped with research skills to develop possible solutions to some of these issues they have studied.
Sec 3 -- Deepening and Championing
Students deepen their learning by leveraging on local and international partners as well as governmental and non-governmental
organizations. They work in teams that cut across classes and with teacher-mentors who share the same passion. Breaking out of conventional work teams, students learn the important 21st C skill of networking and identifying points of leverage that would best help in addressing these community issues.
Sec 4 -- Giving back and Mentoring
With their experience, these students may choose to mentor younger TKGians and attempt to leave a legacy in the school by giving of their time and expertise.
Leadership through service is ingrained in our school song and will now shape our leadership philosophy. At the highest level, TKGians will be recognized for their significant contributions in this area. The Values-in-Action award celebrates these attempts at serving the community, in resourceful ways, and through sincere effort. I would like to thank Ms Norma Sit, parent of an ex-TKGian, SAC member and social entrepreneur for sponsoring this award.
The third initiative has to do with preserving and growing the ethos of the school. TKGS Truly! is a 4-year curriculum which is focussed on helping TKGians understand their heritage and also involves the setting up of a Youth Chapter within the TKGS Alumni. This curriculum ensures that TKGians go through a myriad of experiences that build their sense of identity and strengthen the TKGian ethos during and beyond their time here with us in the school.
Supporting this therefore is a TKGS Truly portal that will enable memories, artefacts and oral history to be preserved and used as teaching resources for future generations of TKGians. To our present TKGians, it is just as important for you to document your journey in the school and preserve your experiences which will one day become an integral part of TKGian history. To all teachers and students, past and present, I ask you to help build up the TKGS community in your personal and unique ways….”
Highlights during the dinner included beautiful video montages of all stakeholders as well as songs, dances and performances by current and former TKGians (see photos above). There were also moving tributes to current and former TKGS teachers. Our school has seen two generations of students go through its ranks and this was manifested by the mother-and-daughter pairs who contributed their talents. These included MediaCorp newscaster Ms Hasnita Majid who jointly compered the event with her daughter, Farahin, (see photo below) while student Kirti Menon sang a duet with her mother, Dr Kamala Menon, as a tribute to all parents (see photos below).
In her speech, current Principal Mrs Mary Seah (second from right in photo above) paid tribute to the TKGS principals who had preceded her (from left in photo above: Mrs Phyllis Lim, Mrs Kelvyna Chan, Mrs Huang Chai Lean, Ms Leong Yop Pooi and Mrs Loke-Yeo Teck Yong.) Mrs Seah also outlined the key directions which the school is moving towards in the new globalised world our students are growing up in. Below we reproduce extracts from her speech:
“With every anniversary is an opportunity to honour our past, take stock of who we are and envision what we could be. At this 60th anniversary, we had called all of you back to be reconnected to the school. I am particularly honoured that we have in our midst Mdm Halimah Yacob, from the class of 1973 and our special guest, Mrs Tan Ching Yee, from the class of 1980. To all of you who have made time to attend today’s dinner, I thank you for your presence and hope that you will have a wonderful time tonight. For me personally, I am heartened and humbled by the presence of the past Principals of the school. As you all know, TKGS was set up in 1953 as the first all-girls secondary school in postwar Singapore. Mrs Maude Scott the founding Principal had set in place her vision for TKGS. This is encapsulated in the lyrics of the school song which she wrote, lyrics that spoke about ‘noble service’, ‘helping one another’ as well as ‘bringing credit to our country and glory to her name’.
This vision was carried on by TKGS’ subsequent Principals Miss See Tin See and Mrs Tan Seng Hock. Miss Paramita Bandara took it further by giving autonomy to students in a way that many would say was ‘ahead of her time’. I had the privilege of meeting up with her for tea last year, shortly after I took over as Principal. It is a pity that Miss Bandara is no longer with us. I am sure memories of her will live on amongst those who had the privilege to be found in TKGS in her time.
What will stand when we are 100 years old? How will the TKGS narrative unfold? For me and my staff, the past year has been a time of envisioning. As a country, Singapore is on the cusp of change. Singaporeans are contributing their views in an attempt to co-create a desired future. A few key perspectives have emerged as a result. Many would like Singapore to be a society with a more diverse definition of success. Many would also like Singapore to be a more compassionate society where the disadvantaged are cared for and where a strong sense of volunteerism prevails. Others want Singapore to be a society where social cohesion and national identity continue to be strengthened despite changing demographics.
In response, TKGS would like to put forth 3 key strategic initiatives, in order to prepare our students for the future. The first is TKGS+, a Programme for Leadership, Understanding and Service. TKGS+ aims to develop deep understanding in subject disciplines and encourages leadership and stewardship of students’ talents.
With the use of the Teaching for Understanding framework, TKGS focusses on the learner in an enhanced baseline curriculum that emphasizes disciplinary understanding over short-term gains. Students apply their understanding in authentic experiences within and beyond the classroom. Thus, a pioneer group of students with a deep interest in Science will spend 9 days in a National Park in Dalat, Vietnam, working alongside scientists in understanding the biodiversity of the park, collecting data, analysing it and presenting their findings in colloquiums. They will experience first-hand what scientists do and what unique values and attitudes guide their work.
Students who have developed an interest in languages and the Humanities will embark on a Global Perspectives Programme where they develop geo-political knowledge and truly put their bilingual abilities to good use. We will form networks with schools and agencies in China and the US. This will help our students develop a geo-political understanding of Singapore in the context of enhanced cooperation (and also economic competition) between two superpowers. We will approach this from peer-to-peer, business-to-business and also government-to-government levels of cooperation.
Beyond enriching our students’ learning, it is just as important that they learn to be good stewards of their talents. In TKGS+, we expect students to take the values and attitudes they learn in the various disciplines and apply these to benefit communities and the environment.
In summary, TKGS+ marries academic excellence with service, and in the process develops TKGians to be ‘accomplished young women of character and grace’.
The 2nd initiative is linked to the Ministry’s renewed focus on values-driven education. Values-in-Action @TKGS is a 4-year programme that stirs hearts, opens eyes, and equips students to champion community causes and give back to society. Values-in-Action @TKGS is scaffolded as follows:
Sec 1 -- Stirring Hearts, Opening Eyes
The focus is on exposure to community issues through sharpening their senses to see, feel, inquire and reflect. Students go out to experience water issues, the plight of the elderly, disabled and ill, as well as the plight and dreams of migrant workers.
Sec 2 -- Equipping and Engaging Minds
Students learn the 6-step community problem-solving approach and are equipped with research skills to develop possible solutions to some of these issues they have studied.
Sec 3 -- Deepening and Championing
Students deepen their learning by leveraging on local and international partners as well as governmental and non-governmental
organizations. They work in teams that cut across classes and with teacher-mentors who share the same passion. Breaking out of conventional work teams, students learn the important 21st C skill of networking and identifying points of leverage that would best help in addressing these community issues.
Sec 4 -- Giving back and Mentoring
With their experience, these students may choose to mentor younger TKGians and attempt to leave a legacy in the school by giving of their time and expertise.
Leadership through service is ingrained in our school song and will now shape our leadership philosophy. At the highest level, TKGians will be recognized for their significant contributions in this area. The Values-in-Action award celebrates these attempts at serving the community, in resourceful ways, and through sincere effort. I would like to thank Ms Norma Sit, parent of an ex-TKGian, SAC member and social entrepreneur for sponsoring this award.
The third initiative has to do with preserving and growing the ethos of the school. TKGS Truly! is a 4-year curriculum which is focussed on helping TKGians understand their heritage and also involves the setting up of a Youth Chapter within the TKGS Alumni. This curriculum ensures that TKGians go through a myriad of experiences that build their sense of identity and strengthen the TKGian ethos during and beyond their time here with us in the school.
Supporting this therefore is a TKGS Truly portal that will enable memories, artefacts and oral history to be preserved and used as teaching resources for future generations of TKGians. To our present TKGians, it is just as important for you to document your journey in the school and preserve your experiences which will one day become an integral part of TKGian history. To all teachers and students, past and present, I ask you to help build up the TKGS community in your personal and unique ways….”
Highlights during the dinner included beautiful video montages of all stakeholders as well as songs, dances and performances by current and former TKGians (see photos above). There were also moving tributes to current and former TKGS teachers. Our school has seen two generations of students go through its ranks and this was manifested by the mother-and-daughter pairs who contributed their talents. These included MediaCorp newscaster Ms Hasnita Majid who jointly compered the event with her daughter, Farahin, (see photo below) while student Kirti Menon sang a duet with her mother, Dr Kamala Menon, as a tribute to all parents (see photos below).