‘The school feels like a second home’
Mr Phua Wee Seng’s daughter was a shy and reserved child when she was much younger. When she entered Primary 1 at Kong Hwa School in 2012, Mr Phua decided to sign up for the school’s PSG, aptly named the “Very Supportive Parents”. He thought that by volunteering in her school, she would see him around more often and that would help to give her a little confidence boost.
Six years later, Mr Phua’s youngest son also enrolled in Kong Hwa. While both children have since graduated from the school, Mr Phua continues to serve as Honorary Advisor of the PSG, on the school and PSG Exco’s request.
“I wanted to be an active and involved parent,” he says. “Primary school was important for me because it was my children’s first time in a mainstream school, and it was a big transition from preschool to a much larger community. I wanted to be part of those formative years.”
By being part of the PSG and organising frequent events and activities in school, Mr Phua was able to appreciate his children’s school experiences and have more enriching conversations with them.
Aside from being able to deepen his relationship with his children, Mr Phua was also able to forge meaningful friendships with other PSG parents and even the school staff. “We grow together as a group, sharing topics from parenting tips to the challenges we face with our children,” he shares. “The school and the PSG have built strong partnerships over the years, and nurtured a school community that truly supports one another.”
These bonds motivate him to continue volunteering in the school today. “Going back to Kong Hwa feels like a second home to me. As long as the school needs help, I will be happy to do whatever I can to help them,” he adds.
Giving back to the school community ‘because it gave us so much’
Like Mr Phua, Mdm Winy Quek joined the PSGs in both her children’s schools because she wanted to be more actively involved in their education journey.
It was a turning point for her when her son, who was then in primary school, came home one day and asked why she had not been present for a school event, where all his other friends’ parents were present. “I realised then how much my presence meant to my children,” she says.
Mdm Quek eventually served in the PSGs of all her children’s schools, all the way from primary school to JC. Today, she continues to serve as Chairperson in Victoria Junior College’s (VJC) PSG, 16 years after her daughter first entered the school as a Secondary 3 student.
As part of the PSG, Mdm Quek has planned various events like Racial Harmony Day, Mother’s Day sales, and parenting seminars.
She shares that one of her fondest memories was hearing a student express his gratitude to her when the PSG provided hot meals during the school’s Night Study programme. “I’ll never forget his words, ‘Thank you Aunty, for feeding me.’ It’s moments like these that reaffirm the importance of the PSG’s work in supporting our students, and inspire us to continue making a difference in their lives.”
Aside from the impact on students, Mdm Quek also sees the positive impact that the PSG plays on parents. “The most rewarding thing I’ve experienced as a parent volunteer is being able to shift the mindset of other parents towards their children,” she says. “During sharing sessions among parents, we help some of them realise that results aren’t everything. It is incredibly fulfilling to see parents gain a broader perspective and appreciate the holistic development of their children, not just academically.”
“Continuing my involvement in the PSG allows me to contribute to supporting a community that has given so much to my family and me,” she reflects.
