Stephanie tan

“Every school is a good school; no student is stupid! He/she just needs a good educator to bring the best out of him/her!”

I have learnt and cultivated this “motto” while walking through the journey with my first born, who is currently pursuing her Normal Academic studies with Juying Secondary in class 2A2. I am glad to have partnered with the school leaders and school educators during my first year with Juying Secondary School.

The day came when we needed to pen down our choices of Secondary Schools for Stephanie. It was not an easy task, especially since the child will be spending the next five years of her teenage life in the chosen school. As we were scanning through all the different school handouts, Juying Times caught our eyes.

Juying Times gave us an insight into the school deliverables and perspectives of the parents and students. After reading it, it boosted our confidence in the school. Thus, we decided to put Juying Secondary School as the first school to visit.

We were impressed with the Open House activities. The Principal’s message was clear and all the booths were well managed by the students and teachers. The student leaders who brought us around were confident and attentive to our questions and needs. After the Open House, Stephanie opted for Juying Secondary School as her first choice and we respected her decision.

During Stephanie’s first year at Juying Secondary School, we saw the transformation in her. As a leader of her class’ Value-in-Action (VIA) project, she displayed more confidence and resilience. Being a member of the Show Choir, which showcases their dancing and choir skills, helped Stephanie to acquire the importance of teamwork. Various camp activities that have been organised by the school have also boosted her resilience and independence.

To alleviate the anxiety of dealing with teenagers, the school has organized various parenting workshops and activities. Without fail, every session that we have attended, the school leaders and counsellors were present. Parenting talks have helped to engage us and we are able to understand the changes and challenges our teenagers face and better equip ourselves to walk through this journey with them. We also had the opportunity to interact with other parents and share our struggles in dealing with our teenagers during their “rebellious” years.

Parent-Teacher Conferences have also empowered the teenagers to share their journeys, their achievements and of course their setbacks. Juying Secondary School cultivates a culture of open discussions between teachers and parents and I am glad to have crossed roads with many teachers. Ms Lau Jia Yun, Stephanie’s Secondary 1 Chinese Teacher cum Show Choir teacher, has gone the extra mile to assist Stephanie in her Chinese subject. Having known Stephanie’s weakness in the subject, Ms Lau conducted the holiday classes in a fun way so as to boost her interest and confidence in the subject.

A team of dedicated school leaders and teachers have also made Juying Secondary School stand out as an exceptional school in the Western Hemisphere of Singapore. Choosing a school that meets the attributes and emotional needs of a teenager is critical. It is vital to have a conducive environment that will spur their self-esteem, creating a self-motivated and responsible adult of tomorrow.

We are glad that Stephanie has made the right choice and we are very supportive of her decision!

Mrs Josephine Tan

Parent