A long-time Methodist, she became Principal on Jan 2.
Remembered for her
forthrightness and caring spirit.
TAN SHOOK FUND A FORMER FAIRSIAN
MRS TAN SHOOK FUND has taken over as Principal of Fairfield Methodist Primary School from Ms Dorothy Ho, who retired in December last year.
Mrs Tan, who assumed the position on Jan 2, is no stranger to the Methodist family. She received her primary and secondary education in the then Fairfield Methodist Girls’ School, and also worshipped at Fairfield Methodist Church for many years.
In the 1980s, she returned to her alma mater in the secondary school as a trained teacher after her studies at the National University of Singapore. In the early 1990s, she received a scholarship to pursue a post-graduate course in choral music in England, and later returned to serve in the Ministry of Education as a choral specialist until she was posted to St Hilda’s Primary School as a vice-principal in 1999.
She is married to Mr Terence Tan and they have a son, Darryl. The family worships at Wesley Methodist Church and serves in the music ministry.
A Tribute To Former FMPS Principal
Dorothy Ho retires
“Pour out your heart like water
before the face of the Lord
Lift your hands toward Him for the
life of your young children.” — Lamentations 2:19
By CELIA LAU
MISS Dorothy Ho has retired as the Principal of Fairfield Methodist Primary School.
She left Fairfield Methodist Girls’ School in 1958 after her GCE “O” levels, and went on to receive training to be a school teacher. She taught at Belvedere Primary in 1961, then Yangzhen, before she was approached to join Fairfield Primary in 1986 as a vice-principal. She assumed the position of principal in 1989.
As the Principal of her alma mater, Miss Ho is remembered for her forthrightness, caring spirit, honesty, faithfulness and humility. Her staff noted her integrity, commitment to staff and her good stewardship to the Lord.
” Do not step on the grass” and “Clean up the mess you made” were two refrains usually heard, laden with values of obedience and responsibility. It is known that a Fairfield pupil may not always be top academically, but the character-building of the child must not be compromised.
The strong emphasis on Christian moral values is certainly the legacy that Miss Ho left behind. She believes that what the school sows will reap rewards. She saw to the daily devotions where she shared with the pupils her life experiences and the reality of God in her life.
In 1999, she learned of the necessity to embark on PRIME, well aware of her impending retirement. She recognised the importance of providing the pupils with the upgraded facilities to support the challenges in education. With her at the helm, the supportive parents and generous donors ensured that the project was a success.
To the parents of the pupils, she was a prayer warrior. She knew the needs of her pupils well enough to have a weekly personalised list of prayer requests for the “praying mothers” of the school. She believes God’s Word is “living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword” (Hebrews 4:12) and the only way to love her pupils was to commit every one of them to God.
Being a perfect principal does not matter. Being a praying principal does.
We bid Miss Ho a happy and God-blessed retirement.
Celia Lau is a teacher at Fairfield Methodist Primary School.