As we have reached the end of 2021, I am sure we would question what accomplishments have really been achieved during this year. It may seem that the continued effect and impact of Covid-19 reached beyond all that we would have hoped for. Another year has come that suggests we have been changed by the impact of this pandemic, and, we have.

What we have experienced has stretched the boundaries of many of our own life experiences, yet learning continues. I will share my delight in the academic attainment of our learners at TISPC soon, however, I want to emphasize probably something that some would argue has been the greatest learning experiences that we have all had to walk through.

Throughout Term 3 I met specifically with many Year 10 and Year 11 learners at TIS Puchong to chat with them about what they have been going through this year and to discuss how we could best help them as I was concerned with the ongoing impact that these current circumstances may have on their progress. What I discovered was no surprise, however, there was something I didn’t expect. I decided to meet with these groups to share with them what I learned from previous meetings.

I firstly met with Year 10 students and shared with them that we needed them to do something beyond the normal expectation. It has been hard for so many learners and their families to juggle all the concerns of health, family finances, and learning, and all with a different learning environment. If students were in school, there would be a natural learning culture, while learners are studying at home the learning culture becomes dependent more on the learners than the school. So I asked them to step up. Step up more than they have ever done before, to become even more aware of their learning journey than they ever have. To mature to levels beyond what they would normally be at. A tough challenge perhaps.

This brings me to Year 11. This proves how amazing our learners at TIS Puchong are, they have the next most difficult job, they have probably come and gone through the journey of learning maturity more than anyone. Time has passed them by and when I met with them, amazing, I am so proud of all our learners at TIS Puchong, but never more so than our current Year 11s, they have gone through one of the hardest IGCSE journeys I have ever seen, I am in awe of how they have come through past 2 years, a fantastic well done to you all.

I cannot discuss Year 11 without highlighting that every year I have been at TISPC, our academic achievement in IGCSEs extends expectations. Results we saw this year from last year's examinations equalled the best achieved across the whole school we have ever achieved, even though the pandemic, WOW!, amazing stuff. It will be a tough challenge for our current Year 11s, they have needed to step up even further due to their learning journey restrictions, however, I believe in them, they are just an amazing group that I have the greatest respect for.

So finally, above all we have learned across all our TIS Puchong experiences, we have developed our ability to adapt, become emotionally stronger, develop even greater levels of empathy for others, and finally the recognition that we all have an increased inner strength that we should all be proud of. Well done to everyone. We have taken all that this pandemic has thrown at us, and we have come out stronger than ever. Bring on 2022, we have a lot to say and do that will make it a great year.