Dear Parents

Please join me in the last newsletter of the year. Thank you for being on this journey with us. It has been quite a ride, without doubt. To summarize what I said in my yearbook statement, we started the year with so much promise of what was to be, only for it to be hijacked by this intruder on a global scale.

At each step of the way, the TIS Puchong community pulled together, and we have come through every obstacle and challenge safely. I know all of us have had challenges of different sizes but as far as I know, the TIS Puchong community has been safe this year in terms of health. This cannot be underestimated.

The school’s modus operandi from the onset was to ensure safety and at each phase, this was paramount. In phase 1, the onset of the virus, the school quickly put into place new SOPs alien to anything we had done before. In the second phase, the long MCO starting in March, the school community quickly adapted to online learning with many of you often sitting side by side with our students. We entered phase 3 which gladly brought us back to school, but this time with the challenge of social distancing, and yet we managed to do that with all students back and in addition to carry out the task of setting up for Year 11 external exams. Lastly, the present phase, where unfortunately we have had to go back to a lockdown situation required by the Government, and here there was a seamless transition to online learning which happened virtually overnight.

We as a school could not have done it without the willingness and support from you, and your constant comments of encouragement to myself and the staff have been greatly appreciated. It has buoyed us in difficult times and has given us direction and focus. I know that for many of you it has been a very hard year financially and we as a school and a group have tried to do what we can to help.

In the next month and a half, I will be keeping you updated on announcements made by the Government and how it will affect us. As I said, I am hoping and praying that we can start 2021 with the school face-to-face, but this remains to be seen. At the moment we are seeking clarification on the format but I suspect this will be a moving feast.

A special mention here to our wonderful graduates in Year 11 who have had such a peculiar and trying year, and yet have managed to keep their counsel and focus and have finished all exams. Also, the Year 6 graduates, who have had their own mini-transition from Primary to Secondary school. I thank both groups and all students for their dedication, courage and perseverance.

I would also like to thank the opportunity to thank my teachers and fine staff in all the different roles at TIS Puchong who have worked very hard to make the best of the cards dealt to us this year. I am very proud of them. We are on a trajectory to become even better every year and that is my aim, to make this school consistently outstanding.

It leaves me to say thank you to all of you, parents and students, for your ongoing support. As previously mentioned, it has been very deeply appreciated. I have spoken to many of you during the year and it has been a pleasure to serve you. Also, for those who are leaving our shores, thank you for being with us and I wish you the very, very best in whatever you do or wherever you go next.

Rest assured that in the next year ahead, I and the school will continue to do our very best whether it be online learning or face-to-face. Have a good break with your loved ones and I look forward to seeing you back with batteries recharged next year.