1931 SKANEWSMCI (P) 178/03/2017 October 2017 to January 2018

• Khalsa Kindergarten • • SKA Grand Opening FROM THE President’s Desk

1931 I want to first express my gratitude to our members for bearing with PATRONS Kartar Singh Thakral us over the duration of the makeover of the building. I hope you are TRUSTEES Chairman happy with the outcome, and that you will consider the SKA a choice Gurdip Singh Usma venue to host not only family celebrations such as birthdays, weddings Vice Chairman COL (Retd) Gurcharan Singh and anniversaries but also talks and forums for your organisations. We Secretary Ajit Singh hope the enhanced building provides the facilities and ambience Members LTC (Retd) Jaswant Singh Gill to attract both young and old, families and friends from not only the Jagjit Singh Sekhon Balbeer Singh Mangat Sikh community but the Singapore communities which use the SKA Param Ajeet Singh Bal for their events. IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT LTC (Retd) Charanjit Singh 71st MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE The SKA Grand Opening Gala Dinner was held on 30 December 2017 President Mohinder Singh and was graced by Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam. Vice-President Gurrinder Singh Johal The opening was attended by the Sikh community leaders, members, Vice-President Gopal Singh donors and partners. DPM said “The effort from SKA and all Sikh General Secretary community leaders gathered here to continuously engage and Sukhbir Singh Assistant Secretary embrace the wider Singapore community in many of your activities (Admin & Security) Shakti Amrick is commendable.” As we celebrate the formal opening of the SKA’s Assistant Secretary (Membership) Dilshad Kaur new building, I wish to sincerely thank all donors and well-wishers, General Treasurer Darshan Singh management committee members, SKA members and staff for your Assistant General Treasurer unstinting dedication and commitment to this endeavour. Tarlok Singh Chairman Sports Sarjit Singh I am happy to note that the Khalsa Kindergarten has commenced Chairperson Cultural and Social Committee the new term with 324 pupils. Jaswant Kaur Chairman Education Kuldip Singh Sandhu The Ladies Wing celebrated Lohri on 7th January 2018 at SKA Level 2. Chairman Publication & Communications It was very well attended. Kuldip Singh Chairman Building & Facilities Gurcharan Singh The Management Committee intends to launch a Sports Bursary Chairperson House Surindar Singh Scheme with effect from this year. The Bursary Committee is working Chairman Young Khalsa - on the details and we will keep members posted. Committee Members Sarjit Singh Finally, this year’s Vesakhi Mela 2018 is themed “One Community, Gurdev Singh Gurvinder Sidhu Embracing Diversity”. It will be held over two days on 14 April 2018 and Bal Sheryl Kaur Sidhu Co-opted Members 15 April 2018. Ms Grace Fu, the Minister for Culture, Community and Prof. Berinderjeet Kaur Balbeer Singh Mangat Youth will be the Guest of Honour.

SINGAPORE KHALSA ASSOCIATION The SKA Management Committee wishes all members and well- Office Opening Hours 10am - 6pm Monday to Saturday wishers a fabulous year ahead! Tel: 6298 1230 / 6298 6206 Fax: 6292 4782 email : [email protected] Website: www.singaporekhalsa.org.sg SKA Grand Opening Dinner

SKA Opening Ceremony That’s when a group of Sikh pioneers stepped forward to realise a bolder vision for the community. The official opening ceremony of the SKA building They secured this plot of land at Tessensohn Road, was held on 30 December 2017, after a major raised funds from well-wishers within and beyond overhaul amounting to S$12 million. the Sikh community, and in 1970, established a Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam permanent club at this site. graced the occasion as the Guest-of-Honour and The story of SKA is one of how the community inaugurated the ceremony. A total of 260 SKA and successive generations of Sikh leaders have members and well-wishers attended the dinner. sustained that spirit of Charhdi Kala through the To formally mark the opening ceremony, DPM years. The Sikh Community has gone beyond Tharman inked his signature on a marble plaque. serving its own”. This plaque will be mounted at Level 1 of the All attendees were treated to an evening of songs building. and dances by SSEF and SWAT , amongst In his address, DPM Tharman recalled that “An others. Singer-pianist Zubir Ilyas, a Lahori, who interim SKA clubhouse was established at Jalan teaches music at various schools in Singapore Bahagia in 1962. But four years later in 1966, the entertained the audience with Punjabi and Hindi clubhouse had to make way for development. songs of yesteryears. SKA New Building Donors Heads of Sikh Institutions

Mr. Gurmukh Singh Thakral & Mr. Harjinder Singh Brahmpura receiving mementos from DPM

Mr. Kuldip elaborating on the Dinner at SKA’s New Ballroom at Level 5 SKA History to DPM Khalsa Kindergarten

Party cum Concert 2017 The Khalsa Kindergarten celebrated its 9th Party cum concert on 29th September 2017 at SKA. Parents were overly excited to watch their little ones perform. To ensure that they got a good view of the event, we had to have two shows for the day. The Session 1 (Nursery and K1) had their show in the morning and the Session 2 (Nursery and K1) had theirs in the afternoon.

Every child participated and put up an exciting and heart throbbing show. It was very heartening and satisfying moment

Farewell Party On Friday, 17 November, all classes had a class party. For the K2 it was a farewell party as these children will be in primary school in 2018. A variety of food and drinks was brought by children to share in class. They had a fun-filled day. Teacher’s workshop Four teachers - Karamdeep Kaur, Bindhu Kesavan, Nithya Sundari and Nur Faezah from Khalsa Kindergarten went for a Music Pedagogy for Early Childhood Music Education Workshop organised by the Music Factory. This course is designed for Pre-school teachers with little or no music experience and who are keen to upgrade their knowledge and skills in planning and designing quality music lessons. The workshop is funded by WDA.

Orientation Orientation for year 2018 was held on 27 December 2017. The parents were briefed on our Rules and Regulations, and name badges were given out to the children. This is the first time that Orientation was held in December. z

Ladies Wing Lohri

The first event organised by Ladies Wing in 2018 was Lohri. It was held on Sunday 7th January at the Singapore Khalsa Association (SKA). More than 30 families who had recent marriages in the family or had been blessed with children or grandchildren contributed towards the event. The Ladies Wing committee warmly welcomed almost 700 ladies of multi- tier generations who came together for the occasion. The event was full of joy. Ladies played the Dholki, sang folk songs and did the traditional dance of Giddha. Ladies who had contributed towards the Lohri engaged in the activities with their daughters, daughter- in-laws and grandchildren.

The spontaneous and group performances by Jaswinder and her ladies, Raunak from Sikh Centre and Moshi Moshi kept everyone entertained. A first was also the dance around Ladies Wing the bonfire by Raunak that saw many ladies joining in. Sesame seeds were thrown into the bonfire accompanied by the chanting of wishes! A sumptuous tea was served at the beginning and the festivities closed off with dinner. The event was telecast by the Indian Beat (MediaCorp) on Friday 2 February 2018.

Upcoming Event - Chair Yoga On February 22, the first cycle of chair yoga will begin, marking its 11th year. It will be held every Thursday for the following 12 weeks at Khalsa Dharmak Sabha. Vesakhi dinner (a joint event by Istri Sat Sang CST and Ladies Wing SKA) will be held on 24th March 2018 at SKA Level 2 from 7-10 pm. New Life Membership Card

The New Life Membership will be introduced in batches commencing 1st Mar 2018. The card will have new features like the QR code. We are also working with partners to have special deals for members. Members would need to update their personal particulars and provide two recent passports size photographs (with a light background) in order to receive your new membership card . The form to update your personal particulars is enclosed. Alternatively, you can download the form from the website www.singaporekhalsa.org.sg. Members may email to [email protected] or post the form/photo to: Singapore Khalsa Association, No 2 Tessensohn Road, Singapore 217646

Upcoming & Ongoing Activities

JANUARY MAY SEPTEMBER 7, Sunday 12, Saturday 29, Saturday - Lohri - Ladies Wing Mother’s - Khalsa Kindergarten Day Celebration Graduation Ceremony FEBRUARY JUNE 22, Thursday *Ladies Wing Social & 20 to 24 - Ladies Wing Chair Integration Nite Wednesday to Sunday Yoga@KDS - 67th Gurdwara Cup @Kedah MARCH OCTOBER 20, Saturday 24, Saturday JULY - Ladies Wing IWD cum - Khalsa Kindergarten 5, Thursday Vesakhi Dinner Party CUM Concert - Ladies Wing Chair Yoga@KDS APRIL NOVEMBER 8, Sunday 14, Saturday - Vesakhi Pool - 72nd AGM 16, Friday - Diwali Night 14/15, Saturday/Sunday AUGUST - Vesakhi Mela *Ladies Wing Charity *Teeyan 20, Friday Event - Vesakhi Golf 28, Wednesday - Causeway Cup *Date to be confirmed