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Tao Nan School (TNS for short), is a co-educational primary school in Singapore. One of the 5 Hokkien Clan Association schools, along with Ai Tong Primary School, Chongfu Primary School, Kong Hwa Primary School and Nan Chiau Girls' School, it is among the 30 Popular Primary Schools listed by the Ministry of Education. [1] (http://www.moe.gov.sg/esp/foreign/FSInfoLeaflet.pdf)
Tao Nan School is also one of the 9 primary schools in Singapore offering the Gifted Education Programme (Singapore).
School song
We belong to Tao Nan School
And we always obey the school rules
The torch of nation-building we shoulder
Wisdom of sages past we deliver
In harmony, we work and play
For Tao Nan will show us the way
To Tao Nan, Tao Nan, we will go
Where the torch of knowledge burns aglow
To Tao Nan, Tao Nan, we will go
Where the torch of knowledge burns aglow
Motto
The school motto reads "诚毅", Chinese for "Sincerity & Preseverance".
Core values
Tao Nan's core values are: Integrity, Respect, Sincerity, Love and Preseverance.
Mission
To nurture innovative pupils of exemplary character with a love for learning.
Vision
Where all Love to Learn and Learn to Love.
Metaphor
Palette of Colours: - The child is the artist who acquires the whole range of values, skills and knowledge which are the colours on the palette to create his future masterpiece. While the palette is the school, which not only offers a wide spectrum of colours, but also the space and opportunities to experiment and make mistakes with the consistent support and guidance given by the brushes which represent the teachers. The child learns to love the colours that are not his favourite as he mixes and blends them to complete his masterpiece.
School crest
The school crest consists of a leaping lion and an open book on a blue shield. The lion represents the Lion City, or Singapore. Its leaping position symbolizes bravery and continous progress and advancement in the face of difficulties. The open book represents the unquenchable thirst for knowledge. At the base of the crest is the school's motto: "Sincerity and Preseverance". The entire crest signifies the acquisition of abundant knowledge and the training of a strong and healthy body.
History
The Hokkien Clan Association started Tao Nan School on 18 November 1906. It was one of the six modern Chinese schools in Singapore with a curriculum influenced by the educational reforms in China at the end of the 19th century.
Classes were first held at the residence of Tan Kim Ching in North Bridge Road. With the generous support from the Hokkien community, a purpose-built school was constructed. Benefactors include Tan Boon Liat, Lee Cheng Yen, Low Kim Pong, Tan Kah Kee, and Oei Tiong Ham, the sugar magnate from Semarang, Central Java, whose donation largely financed the purchase of land in Armenian Street.
The move to Armenian Street coincided with the 1911 overthrow of the Qing dynasty. Tao Nan became the first Chinese school to change the medium of instruction from dialect to Mandarin. Among the teachers was the philanthropist Lee Kong Chian (1894 - 1967). Pioneer artist Pan Shou was the headmaster from 1932 to 1940.
In 1982, Tao Nan School moved to a new campus in Marine Parade, where it still resides today. It was named a SAP school in 1990 and a Gifted Education Programme Centre in 1996. With 98 years of history (as of 2004) it is one of Singapore's oldest primary schools.
Culture
Uniform
Boys wear white shirts and blue shorts. Girls, on the other hand, wear blue pinafores. Both uniforms have the school crest emblazoned over the left breast. While school shoes and school socks can be purchased, any white-based shoes or socks are also allowed. Prefects wear ties which are attached around their necks via Velcro as it is assumed that they are too young to be able to tie their ties otherwise.
Houses
There are 4 houses in Tao Nan, each named after a marine animal (possibly due to the school's location at Marine Parade). The 4 houses are Marlin (Orange), Dolphin (Blue), Shark (Green) and Killer Whale (Red). These houses are mainly for organising the annual Swimming Carnival, and serve no other purpose.
CCAs
As with all Singaporean schools, Tao Nan has its own Co-Curricular Activity Programme. There are a total of 27 CCAs in Tao Nan, ranging from Sports & Games, Uniformed Groups, Cultural Groups and Clubs.
School name
Like many other schools, Tao Nan suffers from many crude jokes about the abbreviation of its name. The most popular variation so far is that of "Tomorrow No School".
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