MGS ParentLink Guide 2023

A GUIDE FOR LEVEL AND CLASS REPRESENTATIVES

2023

MISSION STATEMENT

ParentLink seeks to engage parents in partnership with MGS to enrich the school life of MGS girls.

At MGS, we believe that it takes a whole community to raise a child.

We welcome you to the ParentLink community where we work hand in hand as one MGS family to enrich your daughter’s MGS schooling experience that prepares them for a lifelong journey of learning and serving.

In the changing landscape that is characterised by accelerated technological advances and an evolving social fabric, we need to develop in our girls a zest for continuous learning and serving, and empower them towards leading a life of purpose with grace, strength and compassion. It is therefore important for all of us to work together to encourage a growth mindset in each MGS girl, as she persists and gives her best in her journey towards developing her best self for community, nation and the world, anchored upon the enduring values of Godliness, Excellence and Love.

As a positive school community seeking to nurture our MGS girls To Master, To Grow and To Serve, our role is to guide, coach and walk with them through life lessons and setbacks to prepare them for the future ahead. As significant adults in our girls’ lives, we are powerful role models for our young ladies. We are grateful for your partnership in creating a vibrant MGS in resonance with our staff, one where there is joyful and purposeful learning and discovery for our girls, and where they can be inspired to stretch their potential in service of others beyond themselves. Your dedication to the growth and well-being of our girls is deeply appreciated as is your continued support and encouragement to our staff in enabling them to do their best work for our girls.

As MGLearns and MGServes, may you enjoy this fulfilling and meaningful journey to nurture our girls into being and becoming Godly women of Excellence with a heart of Love.

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as though you were working for the Lord and not for people. Remember that the Lord will give you as a reward what he has kept for his people. For Christ is the real Master you serve.” [Colossians 3:23-24, GNT]

Mrs Valarie Wilson Principal

1 THE ROLE OF PARENTLINK

ParentLink aims to play a part in our daughters’ learning environment in the following areas:

1.1 Working alongside the School to enrich the school life of MGS girls and creating memorable experiences for the girls as they learn and serve.

1.2 Engaging parents in their daughters’ school lives and providing a network and platform to share MGS parenting culture and ideas.

1.3 Extending support to teachers mainly through Class Representatives in the Primary School.

1.4 Building a positive culture of honour as we interact with the school community by being role models through our words and actions.

APPOINTMENT OF REPRESENTATIVES

2.1 All parents are members of ParentLink as they volunteer throughout their daughters’ years at MGS. In the Primary School, there are formally appointed Class Representative and Level Representative parents.

2.2 Class Representatives and Level Representatives form an important network through which ParentLink functions. Two representatives per class and per level are recommended numbers; however this is left to the discretion of the School.

2.3 The Committee comprises 13 to 15 parents from Primary and Secondary School of which at least 2 are old girls, 2 are fathers, and 1 is from the Alumnae Committee and serves as the ParentLink liaison with the Alumnae.

2.4 All representatives are appointed based on the following criteria: organisational skills, specific expertise (e.g. PR and Communications), positive values, ability to be part of a larger team that can work alongside the School to enrich the school life of MGS girls. Only parents of current MGS girls can serve as Committee Members, Level Representatives or Class Representatives and all appointments are made by the School.

3 ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

3.1 Responsibilities of Committee Members

3.1.1 To work with the School on needs and focus which could translate to both programmes and activities for the year

3.1.2 To be the communication link between Level Representatives and the School on ParentLink matters.

3.2 Responsibilities of Level Representatives

3.2.1 To be the liaison between Class Representatives and the Committee on ParentLink matters and represent the respective levels for meetings with ParentLink and the School.

3.2.2 To work with their Class Representatives in participating and contributing to the various ParentLink events.

3.2.3 To mobilize Class Representatives to get parent helpers for various ParentLink events and school activities.

3.3 Responsibilities of Class Representatives

3.3.1 To maintain a positive culture among parents, especially on the class WhatsApp chats as these are official platforms established for parents. Encourage constructive conversations between parents and alert the Level Representatives and liaison members of the Committee should there be inappropriate behaviour of issues of concern.

3.3.2 To assist the class teacher in garnering parent support for both school events and class activities. This could include chaperoning for class outings, etc. (Please note: For matters pertaining to individual students, Class Representatives are not expected to be the liaison between teachers and class parents - parents are encouraged to email their teachers directly).

3.3.3 To be the contact person between Level Representatives and class parents on ParentLink matters.

3.3.4 To work with Level Representatives and ParentLink-appointed event managers for ParentLink events.

4

SOME OTHER AREAS OF PARENT PARTICIPATION

4.1 Library

Teacher-in-charge: Mrs Jamie Chaw (jamie_chaw@mgs.sch.edu.sg)

4.2 Circle of Care

Teacher-in-charge: Mrs May Yeo (may_yeo@mgs.sch.edu.sg)

4.3 Reading Rocks

Teacher-in-charge: Mrs Jamie Chaw (jamie_chaw@mgs.sch.edu.sg)

4.4 Math Builder

Teacher-in-charge: Mrs May Yeo (may_yeo@mgs.sch.edu.sg)

4.5 Christian Ministry

Christian Ministry Staff-in-charge:

● Ms Corrine Chee (corrine_chee@mgs.sch.edu.sg)

● Ms Jenny Koh (jenny_koh@mgs.sch.edu.sg)

5 GUIDELINES ON COMMUNICATION

5.1 Parents’ contact details are confidential. Teachers are not at liberty to release any details without prior permission from parents. For class related matters, do work with your teachers if you need to communicate any information to parents who are not within your class chat.

5.2 For ParentLink events, if Representatives are not able to contact every parent in the class, it is sufficient to work within the Representatives’ personal network, and with those parents who volunteer through response forms.

5.3 Level and Class Representatives may be given the contact details of all parents who volunteer to assist ParentLink in school activities and events. Please note that these are not to be circulated. It is advised that Level and Class Representatives use ‘bcc’ in emailing especially to large groups of parents.

5.4 To facilitate clear communication regarding ParentLink events, Level Representatives are advised to ‘cc’ their correspondence with Class Representatives and to ParentLink-appointed event managers. Class Representatives are in turn advised to ‘cc’ all communication with their class parents to their respective Level Representatives.

5.5 All posters and flyers require the School’s prior approval.

5.6 The ParentLink drop box is in the General Office for any submission or registration forms for events.

5.7 The ParentLink website (https://www.mgs.moe.edu.sg/parents/parentlink) is linked to the MGS website under “Parents” on the Home Page. (https://www.mgs.moe.edu.sg/)

5.8 For communications via mobile texting e.g. WhatsApp, please observe the following:

5.8.1 Keep to the relevancy of subject If the message is not for the whole group but just to an individual in the group, please go offline with that individual. Alternatively, create sub groups including only relevant persons.

5.8.2 Conflict resolution. Any issues of conflict should be taken offline and dealt with separately amongst the relevant parties. The whole group need not be privy to such conflicts.

5.8.3 Etiquette. Messages should only be sent between 7:30am to 10:30pm on a school day. Avoid weekends where possible.

5.8.4 Privacy issues Please be mindful of parents’ decisions if they do not wish to be part of the class chat. It is not compulsory to join the class chat. Please periodically check your class list to ensure only your class parents are in your respective class chat.

6 FUNDING POLICIES FOR PARENTLINK EVENTS

6.1 All contributions from parents (both monetary and in kind) are donations. Certain events are funded by charging a nominal fee to all participants.

6.2 Any requests for money by Level or Class Representatives for individual class or level activities are not permitted.

2023 PARENTLINK COMMITTEE

POSITION

Ex-Officio Advisors

Chairperson

Vice Chairpersons

Alumnae Liaison

Parent Liaisons

Members

NAME

Mrs Valarie Wilson

Mrs Diana Goh

Mrs Koh Chern Ee

Dana Magnus

Grace Chew

Andrea Friedman

Lynn Lee

Andrea Friedman

Ernest Teo

Doreen Teo

Bow Yuen

Janelyn Yeo

Joanne Chee

Keira Singh

Lionel Lim

Melody Lim

Ng Lin-Li

Tycen Bundgaard

PRIMARY 1 SCHOOL LEVEL AND CLASS REPRESENTATIVES

Level Representatives

Yeo

Chong

Class Representatives

Weng

Loh

Chen

Lee

Koay P1.3

Chen

Khoo

Jin Ying

Tan

Huinan

Tong

Kana

Pandey

Teo

2023 PRIMARY 2 SCHOOL LEVEL AND CLASS REPRESENTATIVES Primary

Yap

Low

Hoon

Seah

Wei

Gogna

Aswani

Tay

Kwek

Ting

2023 PRIMARY 3 SCHOOL LEVEL AND CLASS REPRESENTATIVES

Primary 3 Name

Level Representatives

P3.5

P3.6

Class Representatives

Eileen Chua

Su Ann Tay

P3.1 Cheryl Pang

P3.1 Michelle Ng

P3.1 Mark Lim

P3.2

Eunice Yeo

P3.2 Gene Yap

P3.3 Rachel Lim

P3.3

P3.4

Reuben Hendriks

Jacqueline Liau

Francine Chia P3.4

P3.4

Evelyn Koh

Jackie Ham

Carolyn Chua

Sarah See

Felynn Chan

Laura Hoi

2023 PRIMARY 4 SCHOOL LEVEL AND CLASS REPRESENTATIVES

Primary 4 Name

Level Representatives

P4.5 Stella Clare Wee

P4.1

Class Representatives

Huang Ying

P4.1

P4.1

P4.2

P4.2

Jeannette Goh

Monica Yee

Sharon Sam

Rebecca Woo

P4.3 Jane Lye

P4.3

P4.4

P4.4

Shan Koh Bundgaard

Audrey Tan

Julia Chan

P4.5

Debra Wong

Velma Chan P4.5

Joanne Quek

Angel Yeap

Mah Ei Leen

2023 PRIMARY 5 SCHOOL LEVEL AND CLASS REPRESENTATIVES

Primary 5 Name

Level Representatives P5.3 Chen Su Li

P5.5 Lynn Tan

Class Representatives

P5.1 Suzanne Jung

P5.1 Sheena Ng

P5.2 Regina Zuzarte

P5.2 Michelle Lee

P5.2 Olympia Chiang

P5.3 Annie Chua

P5.3 Cheryl Tean

P5.4 Andrea Ho

P5.4 Nicole Tan-Gledhill

P5.5 Rajaletchimi P5.5 Doreen Tay P5.6 Enid Tan-Kong P5.6 Kathy Teo

2023 PRIMARY 6 SCHOOL LEVEL AND CLASS REPRESENTATIVES

Primary 6 Name

Level Representatives

P6.6

P6.3

Class Representatives

Onn Hui Ling

Tang Meng Choo

P6.1

Tan Ee Shien

P6.1 May Lui

P6.2

Eunice Ng

P6.2 Amanda Teo

P6.3

P6.3

Audrey Tan

Sharon Ham

P6.4 Elaine Teo P6.4 Jennifer Riady P6.5

Edelweis Tan

Shirlene Ong

Ratna Mishra

Belinda Yeo

PROPOSED CALENDAR OF PARENTLINK EVENTS FOR 2023

DATE EVENT

Tuesday, 3 January 8.45 - 9.20am

Tuesday, 17 January 5 - 6.30pm

Friday, 3 February 8.30 - 10am

Saturday, 11 February 8.30 - 10am

Saturday, 13 May

Saturday, 1 July 9am - 2pm

Monday, 18 September 8 - 9.30am

Saturday, 14 October

P1 Connect

Coffee Chat @ MGS (for all S1/Y1 parents)

Welcome Breakfast (for Primary School Level and Class Representatives)

P1 Picnic

Mother-Daughter Bonding

MGS Carnival

Thank You Breakfast for Parent Volunteers

Father-Daughter Bonding

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