Parents are an important part of our GESS community, working closely with the leadership team, faculty and staff for our students. In September, the Parent Committee was elected – introducing re-elected Chairman Maxim Timchenko and the key members for this new academic year!
Please introduce yourself to the GESS Community.
My name is Maxim Timchenko. With Eastern-European roots, my family spent over 20 years living in Istanbul, Turkey – where both my children were born. I have studied in the UK (A-Levels, BSc in Business Management from Kings College London and MSc in Shipping, Trade and Finance from Bayes Business School) and I am a Fellow of Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers, London.
I started working in Singapore nine years ago as a director of a shipping company. My son in 7th grade and my daughter in 3rd grade, having joined GESS three years ago.
In my free time, I enjoy reading, listening to podcasts, cycling, playing tennis and board games with my family. But our favourite family pastime is still relishing my wife’s dessert creations – she is a Le Cordon Bleu honours graduated Pastry Chef.
I thank my fellow parents for re-electing me and I am very much looking forward to my second year as Chairman of the Parents’ Committee.
How was your experience as a Chairman of the Parents’ Committee last year? What has the Parents’ Committee achieved?
My first year as Chairman was challenging. It was at the height of the pandemic, and no parents were allowed on campus or to meet in large groups. So, we focused on making sure that students’ lives during those challenging times were as comfortable as possible, and that the chains of communication between the school and parents were sustained effectively despite limited in-person interaction.
An important item on our agenda last year was a joint review with the school, pertaining to traffic conditions around the school and introducing new safety measures to prevent students from crossing the road dangerously. We determined the best and safest designated locations for our children to be picked up and dropped off.
We also successfully created Parents’ WhatsApp groups for every class, as early as end June, an improvement from what was norm in past years.
Parents were able to connect with one another smoothly, organise early playdates so children can meet and make new friends, and discuss any issues relating to the start of school. We have received positive and valuable feedback especially from newly joined parents.
Another initiative was reviewing the Buddies system with the Buddies Committee and creating Section Buddies. This allows new families to have a smooth transition into GESS life and Singapore.
We also did something fun for the kids – running an ice-cream campaign. We sourced, organised, and distributed ice-creams for all GESS students and staff. I believe students will remember this, and parents may have heard about this activity from their kids.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all outgoing members of the Parents’ Committee – Outi Gruener, Shilpa Venkatesh, Holger Bock, Claire Haberer, Natascha Erhart and Noelle Dougherty – for the demanding work, amazing dedication and incredible support that they have shown during the last school year!
What do you like most about GESS?
I really admire the unique structure of GESS. It is one of the very few not-for-profit schools in Singapore. Running on a zero-profit principle (of course still providing for strategic reserves), everything earned is poured back into the school for students, who are the reason for the school’s existence and the epicentre of all we do.
What is equally impressive which you will not find in almost any other school is that the parents community work very closely with the school management. We are very involved in many aspects such as the Board of Governors, parents who are also teachers or staff, volunteering in the Parents’ Committee, Council of Parents’ Representatives, Buddies Committee, Events Team and last, but by no means least, being members of the School Association.
Please introduce the other members of the Parent Committee.
Treasurer – Mr Pablo Lopez-Cuervo
Our new Treasurer is Mr Pablo Lopez-Cuervo from Spain. His family moved to Singapore in July 2022 after five years in Berlin. He also lived previously in Portugal, Spain and UK. They have two children at GESS German Section: Jacobo in 11th grade and Angeles in 9th grade. Pablo is a lawyer working from home and looking after his own business, besides dedicating time to volunteering. He likes travelling, skiing and making dinners and parties for family and friends at home.
Pablo’s main responsibilities in the Parents’ Committee include supervising all financial matters of the Council’s operations, such as production of budgets, financial reports and overseeing cashflows as well as lending his opinion on all PC matters. He is also the Parent Rep of German Section 11th grade as well as part of the Events Team at GESS.
Preschool Parent Representative – Ms Nicole Kraft
Ms Nicole Kraft is originally from Clearwater, Florida in US. Prior to Singapore, she and her husband Shaun lived in Hong Kong for five years. They moved to Singapore just before COVID and are enjoying life in here since restrictions eased.
Nicole has one daughter in her third year of preschool at GESS, with another joining in January 2023. She is a lawyer by profession, working at financial institutions and a law firm until recently. Nicole is passionate about cooking, fitness, fashion and food!
German Primary Parent Representative – Ms Kati Kubitza
Ms Kati Kubitza is our new Parent Representative for German Section’s primary school.
Nine years ago, her husband and her came to Singapore, from Essen in Germany, right in the heart of the “Ruhrpott”. People who are born and raised there are known to be honest, hands-on and grounded – definitely her character!
A professional master hairdresser for almost 20 years, and a trainer at a very prestigious salon in Essen, it has become her nature to be a good listener and a quick and practical problem solver.
She has two older daughters enjoying every day of their primary school at our German Section, and her youngest one is waiting for her turn to join her sisters at GESS soon.
In her free time, she likes being outdoors with her family, hiking, watching birds and exploring Singapore’s nature and wildlife. On rainy days, she reads to her kids. The family also enjoys movie nights and playing board games.
European Primary Parent Representative – Ms Krishna Neti
Our Parent Representative for European Section, Primary School is Ms. Krishna Neti. Moving to Singapore from India, she has been here for over 10 years. She is an MBA graduate with rich working experience in human resources. She also holds a master’s degree in Indian classical music and has her own music academy. She loves to be around children and is currently pursuing a school counselling course. She enjoys cooking vegetarian food and teaching music to children.
German Secondary Parent Representative – Mr Andreas Klein
Mr Andreas Klein is our new German Section, Secondary School Parent Representative. With his wife and two daughters, after living in Santiago de Chile for six years, they moved to Singapore this July. The children currently attend middle school at GESS’ German Section.
The family previously took residence at Düsseldorf, Riga/Latvia and Hamburg. The leap from the foot of the Andes over 16,000 kilometres to the equator in Asia represents a challenge in many aspects and new territory for them. GESS’ international orientation and German curriculum make an ideal bridge to Germany. As parents, the Kleins look forward to the family having this additional connection to their German roots, which might have been diluted with their being so mobile for years.
Andreas signed up for the Parents’ Committee as he believes that with the life and school experience he has gained in Germany and abroad, he can contribute to the development of the school’s learning environment as a valuable member of the school community. He prides himself on being hands-on and is opened to suggestions and putting ideas into practice.
European Secondary Parent Representative (Deputy Chairperson of the Parents’ Committee) Ms Anja Jensen
The European Section, Secondary School Parent Representative – also Head of Buddies Committee and Deputy Chairperson of the Parents’ Committee – is Ms Anja Jensen. She is from Denmark and has been at GESS and in Singapore for six years. Her younger son is currently in European Section, Grade 9 and her elder son graduated from GESS in 2020.
She recalls her family being well taken care of by GESS and other parents and students in her children’s classes when they arrived in Singapore, helping them to get settled. She decided that she would like to reciprocate and help other parents integrate by volunteering in the Buddies Committee in 2017 – till today, she is very active in that committee. This is also her sixth year as a parent rep in her youngest son’s class, and in her opinion a good time to volunteer in the Parents’ Committee.
She loves to explore Singapore and travel in the region with her family and friends. She is a history nerd and enjoys learning about her country of residence. She reads a lot and spends a good amount of time on Pilates and learning Spanish.
How can parents who are interested to volunteer be part of the Buddies Committee and Event Team mentioned earlier?
Buddies Committee forms an integral part of the Council of Parent Representatives. Headed by Ms Anja Jensen and, the role of this Committee is to organise welcome events for new students and families, assist with their transition to GESS and Singapore, and being buddies to parents in GESS. For details, email buddies@gess.sg
The Events Team (also part of the Council of Parents’ Representatives) is headed by Mr Holger Bock and Ms Claire Haberer – Parents’ Committee members from last year). Thanks to them and their team of volunteers, the whole school community gathers at the annual Christmas Bazaar and Summer Fair – the two largest school events of the year. This year’s Christmas Bazaar will be taking place on Saturday 26 November – do mark your calendars as you’re not going to want to miss it! Email the Events Team at eventsteam@gess.sg.
Why do you think parents’ involvement in school is so important and what support do you need from parents?
The short answer to these questions is “every little helps”. Not everyone knows that all of us parents involved in the various groups are voluntary and unpaid! We are just a group of enthusiastic parents who commit (a lot of) personal time and strength for the betterment of the school and for our children. So, we do get paid – in the currency of our children’s smiles and appreciation by the GESS community.
There are numerous ways in which you can help and get involved.
First, volunteer to be a Class Parent Representative, a Deputy or a Buddy (if your class doesn’t have one yet). Even if you can’t, support the people who volunteer for these roles. Share your contact details with them and be responsive to their requests. They are the hearts and souls of the parents’ community and deserve every help that they can possibly get and more.
If you have special skills or experiences which may be useful or educational for children (or parents), volunteer to share with your class or even the school. Reach out to your class Parent Representatives or the Parents’ Committee at Parents.Committee@gess.sg.
Be kind and understanding, help point out constructively areas that can be improved, and give acknowledgement to areas done well.
You can use this link click here to volunteer or submit your comments/ideas/queries to the Parents’ Committee.
What are your plans for this school year 2022/2023?
This year we expect (and hope) to be very different from the last few years. With easing of COVID restrictions, Parents’ Committee will be supporting Events Team and the school in breathing new life back into the staples of GESS Community – the Christmas Bazaar and Summer Fair.
We will continue working with the school on finding the most effective ways of communication between the school and the parents, dealing with any bottleneck and replicating successful practices.
Parents’ Committee will evaluate the performance of the newly established Class Parents WhatsApp system for improvement and continued use into the future.
Regular reviews will continue for existing Buddies system and Council of Parents’ Representatives bylaws, so that we constantly and consistently serve the required purposes. And of course, we continue to welcome any ideas or suggestions from all parents – click here to do so.
