NPG

What a whirlwind, fun and exciting first fortnight! New friends, new homes, lots of excited and jet-lagged learners, new faculty and a very welcoming and patient student services desk, I must say. Good times.

So a massive and warm welcome goes out to all our new families to our unique and vibrant Nexus community. We hope that you make the most out of your years in Singapore and at Nexus. Here are some upcoming events to make you feel a little more comfortable on your new adventure, and if you’re not new to Singapore, these events represent an opportunity to get involved in the community and mingle with friends old and new.

New Parent’s Coffee Morning: 22 August 2019, 8:30am, NPG Lounge

A Q&A hosted by the NPG Committee. Valuable for new to Singapore families but all are welcome for a coffee, pastry and casual networking. Great session for all those that have just stepped off the plane but open for all to chat and reveal their hidden tips and tricks.

Nexus Parent Group Inaugural Flea Market: 31 August 2019, The School Bus Bay

A new school year has commenced - and what better way to start it than with a clean-up of your cupboards - or searching for what you need to complete your new home? And at the same time have fun with your friends and family, immersing yourself in the Nexus community and meeting new parents!

Come see the Bus Bay transformed into the NPG Flea Market on Saturday, 31 August from 3pm until 6pm!

There is space for 40 stalls which will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. Please contact NPG Vice President Helle Willumsen on 91004706. Stalls are $10, with proceeds going to arranging more fun and special interest events and activities for our community.

What you sell, you keep!

At closing time, you can take you wares with you or we will assist you by donating remainders to the Salvation Army or another similar institution.

Please note: Only peddle items that are in a working and clean condition, no large furniture please, (pictures, paintings and prints are fine). Strictly no medicine, no food or beverages and no dangerous or inappropriate items.

The NPG will be running a cash BBQ, popcorn and candy floss stalls and of course have some fun games for the kids!

NPG Annual General Meeting: 2 September 2019, NPG Lounge

Constitutionally, the NPG is required to hold its AGM within the first month of the school year. So please join the NPG executive, committee and members for a coffee and to hear what we have achieved during the 2018-2019 school year, our vision for the year that we make the “big move” and to become a part of the school community whether you have a lot of time to offer or just a little. Open to all NPG Members (all parents and guardians).

Halloween Disco: 1 November 2019, Pod D void deck and Auditorium

Here is our chance to legitimately scare all primary school learners and then tell them it’s all for fun and part of the tradition.

Our Halloween Disco will be hosted on 1 November, we are still putting together all the details, but Vice President Tanu Shukla will be looking for a sub-committee of volunteers to assist in the organisation of this event.

It will involve ghoulish dressing up, and secondary school thespians as accomplices in freaking out the primary kids – or maybe vice versa! Plus, we are looking for a budding DJ to run the set list at the disco.

Eunos Bus

The complimentary eastern suburbs bus has turned out to be a huge success. Reports from inside the coach suggest that it is turning out to be a bit of a party bus as it meanders up the PIE. Morning trips seem to be levelling out at around 27 minutes and afternoon return trips at around 32 minutes. The bus leaves on time with its bright-eyed, cross-country payload of energy at 7:30am, from the large and quiet carpark (10 minutes grace period) in front of Eunos MRT (entrance on Sims Avenue) and returns to that same carpark, departing from the School bus bay at 3:30pm, 4:30pm and 5:30pm.

Uniforms

The NPG urges parents to be patient regarding delays associated with the new uniforms. It’s not an ideal situation but it is beyond our control, so why worry? Our kids seem pretty ok wandering the school in myriad permutations of clothing for the meantime and issues are slowly being ironed-out (I’ve been waiting ages to deploy that pun). The School and the uniform vendor are doing their very best to mitigate issues and delays. Our latest understanding is that online purchases will be available on the School website under “e-shop” from early next week.

Executive Reshuffle

Some NPG office bearers have been playing musical chairs. We welcome last year’s Primary School Liaison, Gina Maier, as our Treasurer (the General Committee therefore also welcomes new PSL, Susan Lyons); and last year’s Treasurer, Helle Willumsen has taken the reins as one of our Vice Presidents. The full committee (we wear blue NPG badges so we can be happily identified and pulled over for questioning) comprises:

Vice Presidents Tanu Shukla and Helle Willumsen, Secretary Suzie Bacon, Treasurer Gina Maier, and committee members Reinet Doig (who was also a VP for much of last academic year and handles the lion’s share of our comms, design and social media), Ali Baker, Lisa Beasley (Swim Liaison), Susan Lyons (Primary School Liaison), Monica de Waal, Simon Falcao, Penelope Foo, and Manisha Rayarel (Senior School Liaison), and me as President.

I’m pleased to say that a good number of last year’s class reps have agreed to continue on and commit their time this year. We remain on a quest for a class rep for 6G and year reps for the Secondary School. If you’re interested please contact Paul Beach and Susan Lyons (for Primary) or Peter Hart and Manisha Rayarel (for Secondary)

Thanks for reading this very detailed first edition!!

Warmest wishes,

Simon Hyett

President, Nexus Parent Group

About the Nexus Parent Group:

One of our School’s unique pillars is what many parents and staff describe as a special community spirit.

The NPG serves two purposes within our community. Firstly, to provide parents with a platform through which to start conversations and provide feedback to the School – to be “a voice of the School community”. Secondly, to offer a range of great social, cultural and special interest events. We welcome all volunteers to join our vibrant and diverse committee, with the main aim of maintaining an inclusive NPG where all ideas are considered valuable.

Our Facebook NPG group is a place for all our parents (and other members that are close friends of Nexus) to interact and create a closer community. Please feel free to post questions, reminders or any related comments but do refrain from lodging sales posts, we do have the second-hand buy-and-sell group for these posts or advertising your business. Please email us at any time npg@nexus.edu.sg https://www.facebook.com/groups/nexusparentgroup/