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Parents have always answered the call of duty in supporting
school efforts. Over the years our partnerships with parent
volunteers are aimed at developing young gentlemen in the
Affective, Cognitive, Social and Physical domains and in the
Traits of an ACSian.
Affective • The iHOPEFUL values hold the key to character
development. Parents share on values during Pastoral Care lessons
and Tuesday devotions during assembly. Parent volunteers play an
active role in encouraging our boys to be Community Collaborators.
Cognitive • Besides teachers, parent volunteers actively
take part in programmes like the Mother Tongue and English
Language Fortnight, Reading Warriors, and in Learning Support.
P1 teachers are most appreciative of parents serving as Teacher
Aides in ensuring a smooth transition for boys just starting school.
Social • Our parent volunteers have actively provided support to our
teachers in activities such as the P1 Orientation, International Friendship
Day, Racial Harmony Day and in learning journeys each year.
Physical • In the Physical domain, parents volunteer in CCAs
like Rugby and Football during weekends. They also organise
annual Father-and-Son Camps and Parent-Son Adventure Camps
in June, giving our boys a chance to meet more friends for a
rewarding time outside of school.
Volunteer time is sacrificial and always precious as we
partner with parents in growing our young gentlemen in the
Traits of an ACSian (TACS), to prepare them for the future.
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What made you take up
the call to be the Chairman
of PSG? It was a call to
service. As I watched how
the school was growing and
developing, I saw the need
to mobilise the full resources
of the school, which not only
includes the administrative
and teaching body, but also
the parent body, in order
for ACS(Primary) to extend its
leadership in education. By
doing so, we are hoping we
can work in close alignment
and partnership with each other to achieve this goal. Our
boys spend just six years in ACS (Primary) and it is important
that we do all we can to ensure that they get the best out
of the experience.
Looking back, could you share with us some memorable
moments? There are just too many because the PSG is
active every single school day. There is no single moment
that makes our service memorable. I believe it is the
cumulative small acts that the PSG does each day for
our boys, like supporting the learning support group, or
conducting the Reading Warriors Programme, or giving
those library displays a makeover or the long hours spent
by the events sub-committee in making an event special. It
is not about the culmination of our value-add or our activities
in one peak event. It is the tireless work that so many parent
volunteers put in each day to advance the school. It is this
dedication and commitment of parent volunteers that make
us effective stewards of this great institution. The window of
opportunity to serve at ACS (Primary) as parents is limited. Each
day is a day that counts towards building the character of
our boys and strengthening the fabric of our school.
Any advice to anyone who wants to serve the school as
a parent volunteer? There are many opportunities to serve
and contribute to the school. There is something that will suit
everyone – you may have creative skills, you may have the
heart to teach, or you might enjoy administrative work. We
welcome everyone – all you need is a heart of service; that
is the core and we each should choose to step forward to
help where we can to enhance the ACS (Primary) experience for
our boys. It is not that the school is not doing an excellent
job; ACS (Primary) has been rated top notch in many areas. I think
it is about examining the resources that the school has and
realising that if we can add firepower to the overall effort
in education, perhaps we can then turn a good endeavour
into a “great” endeavour! The Best Is Yet To Be!
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