Latest news with #TPH
Borneo Post
31-05-2025
- General
- Borneo Post
Transforming campus into a fest of learning, creativity
Students taking part in the 'Event Reporting' strand work together in groups to produce their media content. IT was an unforgettable three-day celebration of learning, passion and connection at the Tunku Putra-HELP (TPH) School, where it hosted its third annual Gala Event – a vibrant showcase of students' talents, teamwork and discovery. The programme involved the primary and secondary students and also the kindergarteners, participating in activities spread across five strands: 'Sports and Physical Fitness', 'Artistic and Creativity', 'Academic and Community', 'Adventure and Skills', and 'Event Reporting'. Designed to go far beyond the classroom, each strand offered real-world, passion-driven learning opportunities – from designing original performances and exploring environmental issues to building survival skills and producing media content. Primary pupils gain practical experience in horticulture by planting and nurturing their own seedlings. 'We want to give our students an experience that feels relevant, inspiring and deeply human,' said executive principal Shirley Harrison. 'Gala 2025 is not just about what they learn; it's also about how they learn, and who they become along the way. 'When students are encouraged to discover what excites them, they learn faster, deeper, and with joy.' The kindergarteners learn the traditional art of making 'Tang Yuan' – the traditional Chinese glutinous rice balls – from scratch, with hands-on guidance from the teacher. 'Education with purpose' More than just an annual highlight, the Gala represented the key expression of TPH's vision of developing students through its unique 'Nine Masteries' framework: 'Physical', 'Creative', 'Intellectual', 'Social', 'Emotional', 'Moral', 'Leadership', 'Technological', and 'Career'. Each strand was intentionally crafted to nurture one or more of these masteries, whether through teamwork in sports, leadership in project planning, emotional growth in performance arts, or critical thinking in academic exploration. 'We see these masteries as essential ingredients for lifelong success. 'Our students are not only learning facts, as they're also learning how to lead, create, reflect, and contribute meaningfully to the world,' added Harrison. It was informed that this year's Gala, running from May 21 to 23, involved some 850 students. 'Sports and adventure are the most popular among the students. 'However, artistic and creativity has the largest group with around 300 students. We also have more outdoor and off-site activities this time,' said the assistant principal (pastoral) Ida Tan Mei-Erh. Kayaking is among the activities conducted under the adventure and skills area. She said among the activities conducted under the adventure and skills area included shelter-building, backwood cooking, basic first-aid, life-saving in water, fishing, and kayaking. 'The academic and community group focused on UN SDGs (United Nations Sustainable Development Goals), with older students going on a food tour at the Kuching Waterfront. 'They got to experience meeting and learning from the community,' she added. The academic and community group focuses on the UN SDGs, investigating global issues and other key matters. According to Tan, the TPH's Gala programme, which replaced the traditional Sports Day, began in 2022. 'This was our third Gala. The first was in 2022, then 2024. 'We no longer do normal sports day because not everyone is into sports. 'Gala gives students options to pursue something they like,' she added. Throughout the event, the campus buzzed with collaboration and creativity. The students worked in mixed-age groups, guided by the educators, diving into that blended skill-building with purpose. Whether they were investigating global issues through the UN SDGs, or choreographing group performances, every moment was anchored in real engagement. The students are introduced to basic survival skills as they learn to construct tents using wooden materials and other natural resources. 'Sharing of experience' As part of the Gala's 'Event Reporting' strand, some 60 TPH students took part in a session meant to give them an insight into the world of journalism. Each equipped with computer tablets, the students learned about real-world media literacy skills during the session facilitated by The Borneo Post senior journalist Jude Peter Toyat and senior news editor Ghaz Ghazali. They were introduced to various aspects of journalism including presentation, photography, writing, and content production. 'Event reporting is one of our five focus areas, where students are learning the skills for reporting, whether it's presentation, photo-taking, writing, and all that,' said Tan, adding that the session encouraged students from different year levels to mix. The sharing-session on journalism was among the programmes carried out by TPH that engaged external facilitators to provide new experiences. 'We brought in external K-pop instructors, who are also part of our ECA (Enrichment Curriculum Activities) programme providers, as part of the artistic and creativity track, slated for the pop-up show of the Gala. 'Last Gala, we collaborated with Unimas (Universiti Malaysia Sarawak) and Sarawak Eco Warriors, a very good NGO (non-governmental organisation) that conducts beach clean-ups and 'plogging' (jogging that also involves rubbish-picking along the way) regularly. 'Besides the Gala event, some of our students were also a part of a music festival with our sister schools in Kuala Lumpur and Johor, in February this year,' said Tan. Students actively take part in a series of outdoor activities on the opening day of Gala 2025. 'Special showcase' The highlight of the event was the spectacular Pop-Up Performance on Day 3, a powerful showcase of music, dance, and visual arts under the 'Artistic and Creativity' strand. The performance brought the entire community to its feet in a joyful, standing-ovation moment of celebration. Not to be left out, TPH youngest learners in kindergarten had their own tailored 'Mini-Gala', engaging in playful explorations of literacy, science, music and movement through a blend of fun, age-appropriate activities. Families interested in experiencing TPH's nurturing early learning environment are invited to the 'Kindy Experience Day' this July 12, running from 9am till noon. Open to children aged three to five, the event features a school tour, a trial class, meet-the-teacher sessions, and personalised consultations. For more information, call 016-678 0351. The participants gather for a group photo, taken during the 'Pop-Up Performance' on Day 3 of the Gala. The conclusion of Gala 2025 clearly highlighted the message: 'Education is evolving, and at TPH, the future of learning is already here'. Tunku Putra-HELP School is a partnership of three organisations: the HELP Education Group, Ibraco Berhad, and Cahya Mata Sarawak Berhad. It aims to bring wider opportunities for world-class education at affordable fees to the residents of Sarawak. Offering both national and international curricula, the school provides kindergarten, primary, secondary, and A-Level education. The International programme adopts the British Education Curriculum culminating in the widely-recognised International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) and Cambridge International Examination (CIE) A-Level qualifications, while the national programme offers the Primary School Standard Curriculum (KSSR) and Secondary School Standard Curriculum (KSSM) where students sit for national examinations like Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM). Mathematics and Science are further complemented with Singapore and British syllabi. Combining the best of Western and Eastern education, students develop critical-thinking, creativity, problem-solving, and are equipped with 21st century skills. In December 2020, TPH received the International Primary Curriculum (IPC) accreditation, making it the first and only international school in Borneo, and among the Top 20 schools worldwide to receive this esteemed accreditation. Music, dance and visual arts are showcased under the 'Artistic and Creativity' strand. Recently, the school achieved IPC Re-accreditation for the 2024-2028 period. Notably, TPH is one of only four schools in Malaysia to have attained this esteemed accreditation this year. Strategically located in the NorthBank development at Tabuan Jaya in Kuching, the school's campus include two green courtyards and play areas, a four-storey multi-purpose building, six fully-equipped science labs, design and technology facilities, a performing arts theatre, a dance studio, a library, as well as other facilities such as swimming pool, field, computer and tech labs, music rooms and art studios, sports hall and a fitness suite. Gala event Tunku Putra-HELP
Buzz Feed
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
Taraji P. Henson Talks New Ventures After Hollywood Treatment
Back in 2023, Taraji P. Henson memorably broke down in tears as she opened up about constantly fighting for equal pay in Hollywood. 'I'm just tired of working so hard, being gracious at what I do, [and] getting paid a fraction of the cost,' she said as she opened up about her treatment in Hollywood as a Black woman. 'I'm tired of hearing my sisters say the same thing over and over. You get tired.' Fast forward to today, and Taraji has opened up about the subject again during a recent talk at the Kering Women in Motion event at Cannes. After revealing that she recently took a month off of acting and relocated to Bali, Taraji recalled feeling 'discouraged' by her treatment in Hollywood. 'I was just frustrated and it was making me bitter, and I'm not a bitter person,' she said, per Variety. 'I made a promise to myself that if I ever got there, it's time to walk away. I'm not serving myself or the audience or the characters I play. Thank God I did that. I came back refreshed and with a new perspective.' Taraji went on to note that she'd spent years being 'graceful in getting paid less than.' 'Not anymore though!' she said, adding that when she returned from Bali, she focused on non-acting ventures — like her hair care brand, TPH — instead of 'relying on that check from Hollywood.' Good for you, Taraji! You can catch her in the upcoming Netflix drama film Straw, which comes out on June 6.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Taraji P. Henson Says Hollywood ‘Lied to Me' About Black Movies and TV Not Selling Overseas, Spent Years Being ‘Graceful in Getting Paid Less … Not Anymore Though!'
Taraji P. Henson joined Stacy L. Smith, founder of the Annenberg Inclusion Initiative, at the Cannes Film Festival for a Kering Women in Motion Talk in which the Oscar nominee spoke honestly about course-correcting her priorities in Hollywood. Henson recently took a month off from work and relocated to Bali after feeling 'discouraged' by the film and TV industry machine. 'I was just frustrated and it was making me bitter, and I'm not a bitter person,' Henson said, nodding to continued struggles in Hollywood over the lack of prominent roles, pay and awards recognition for women of color. 'I made a promise to myself if I ever got there then it's time to walk away. I'm not serving myself or the audience or the characters I play. Thank god I did that. I came back refreshed and with a new perspective. More from Variety Spike Lee Says Denzel Washington Deserved Oscar for 'Malcolm X' Over Al Pacino: 'It's Like Basketball, Where the Ref Blows a Call' Palestine Film Institute Calls for Decision-Makers to Amplify Palestinian Filmmakers' Voices at Cannes Docs Showcase Spike Lee Shades Trump at Cannes: 'I Don't Know How Much We Can Talk About American Values Considering Who Is President' 'Sometimes in the industry you make it about the trophies and the awards and that's never why i got into it,' Henson added. 'I came into this to change lives. The arts saved me. I was a little Black girl in the hood in D.C. during the crack epidemic. I'm supposed to be a statistic. I wasn't supposed to make it out but I did.' Smith brought data to the conversation that supported Smith's frustration with Hollywood. Smith noted that while 54% of the top 200 movies of last year prominently featured girls and women, only 13% were women of color and only 1% featured a woman of color 45 years old or older. 'There are few women of color being given the opportunity,' Smith said about her takeaway from the numbers. Henson said it was important for her to 'stop chasing the things I never came into the industry for' like awards and 'refocus.' She also noted that she had spent years being 'graceful in getting paid less than. Not anymore though!' When she returned from her month break in Bali, she dove head first into non-acting business opportunities like her beauty brand TPH 'instead of relying on that check from Hollywood.' 'I urge you all to speak up for yourself,' Henson told the women in attendance at the conversation. 'I have worked my butt off to garner the following I have. My following rides for me. That's an audience I procured through my hard work and the characters I play. I know a studio, when they call on me, they are calling on me because they know all these people are going to come and show up. That's my power. You need me because you need my following. Thank you, social media. Once I figured that out, I just started speaking up for myself.' Henson said one of the defining moments in realizing she had power in Hollywood was when she discovered the industry's claim that Black projects don't sell oversees is just a myth. It happened during the international press tour for Fox's music drama series 'Empire,' which turned Henson into an international star as her character, the outspoken Cookie, became the series' most iconic role. 'When I did the international press for 'Empire,' up until then I was told Black doesn't translate overseas,' she said. 'Really? We went to Paris. Lee Daniels kept me a secret to the audience at a Q&A. The fans started asking the Cookie questions and he said, 'Why don't you ask her.' Before he could finish saying my name, the entire room erupted in applause and was screaming. For me? I got up on the stage and I ugly-faced cried. The myth was busting. You lied to me my entire career. I leave the stage and there are fans outside who know my name. That changed the game.' As Henson re-enters Hollywood with new perspective, she said she is embracing 'the freedom of doing what I want to do and not being controlled by the industry or the machine.' She next stars in the Netflix drama film 'Straw,' streaming June 6. Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week Emmy Predictions: Talk/Scripted Variety Series - The Variety Categories Are Still a Mess; Netflix, Dropout, and 'Hot Ones' Stir Up Buzz Oscars Predictions 2026: 'Sinners' Becomes Early Contender Ahead of Cannes Film Festival
Toronto Star
16-05-2025
- Health
- Toronto Star
Toronto Public Health faces staffing crisis, plummeting public trust and dwindling resources, report finds
Toronto Public Health (TPH) is facing a loss of staff, resources and public trust following COVID, a recent report to the city's board of health finds. The annual report is a summary of challenges the agency is facing — from a staff exodus to a torrent of public health misinformation in the wake of the pandemic — as well as potential solutions to those problems. Gta Eileen de Villa talks COVID, scarves and her guiding spiritual principle as she prepares to leave Toronto Public Health Toronto's outgoing medical officer of health talked to the Star in a wide-ranging interview 'TPH continues to meet its mandate and provide high-quality and evidence informed public health interventions to the people of Toronto,' Dr. Na-Koshie Lamptey, the city's acting medical officer of health, said in an email to the Star. 'Risks can be fluid in nature, as such risk management is an ongoing process for the organization.' ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW A shallow talent pool TPH is experiencing a staff exodus, following employee burnout and fatigue in the aftermath of the pandemic, according to the report. Adding to this are increased demands to address disease outbreaks, the drug toxicity epidemic and emerging issues like extreme heat and declining air quality brought on by climate change. The staffing crisis comes at a time when the agency is experiencing an uptick in retirements and the departures of staff for other opportunities, the report said. It's the third year in a row that limited staff was flagged as a risk factor. The report deemed the issue a 'high risk,' assessing it as being both 'likely to occur' and having a 'substantial impact on time, cost or quality' of the agency's services. 'Toronto Public Health has taken action to address this risk,' the report said, noting the agency was dedicating resources to growing its employee wellness program. Politics Ontario government aims to fast-track cancer drugs in new pilot project The new program will get the latest cancer drugs to patients at least nine months faster. Politics Ontario government aims to fast-track cancer drugs in new pilot project The new program will get the latest cancer drugs to patients at least nine months faster. Dwindling resources The public health agency has exhausted much of its resources battling the COVID-19 pandemic, outbreaks of mpox and meningococcal disease, a worsening drug epidemic and other recent health emergencies, the report found. As a result, it's been left vulnerable to other emerging public health issues. TPH is currently working on its ability to identify and respond to public health issues in a thorough and timely way, the report noted. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW This challenge was deemed a 'medium risk,' having been found 'as likely to occur as not to occur' but having a 'substantial impact on time, cost or quality' of its services. To rectify the issue, the report recommended prioritizing public health incidents based on their population risk and enhancing relations with provincial, national and international jurisdictions for disease surveillance, among other strategies. Loss of trust in public health advice The report acknowledged that trust in public health institutions and their advice has plummeted following a barrage of disinformation, misinformation and general exhaustion in the wake of the pandemic. Dwindling public trust was also deemed a risk in 2024. It was thought of as a 'medium risk,' assessed as being 'likely to occur' and having a 'notable impact on time, cost or quality' of services. 'This increases the need for meaningful population engagement to maintain public trust,' the report noted. It recommended reinforcing TPH's position as a trusted and reliable source of information, partly through improved public messaging on the city's website. Gta Toronto Public Health says it saw 'many deviations' at gynecologist's clinic with potential HIV, hepatitis exposure Toronto Public Health says it observed 'many deviations' that led to it notifying 2,500 patients of a potential exposure to blood-borne viruses. Gta Toronto Public Health says it saw 'many deviations' at gynecologist's clinic with potential HIV, hepatitis exposure Toronto Public Health says it observed 'many deviations' that led to it notifying 2,500 patients of a potential exposure to blood-borne viruses.
Hamilton Spectator
08-05-2025
- Health
- Hamilton Spectator
Toronto Public Health is starting to suspend students over their vaccine records. Here's what to do if you've received a letter
Toronto Public Health has started to issue suspensions to some of the thousands of Toronto high school students whose records aren't up to date on required vaccinations. In a statement, the agency said over 10,000 Grade 11 students born in 2008 aren't caught up on immunizations in accordance with Ontario's Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA). TPH is gradually rolling out these suspension orders, starting with 21 secondary schools, from which an initial group of 173 pupils were suspended Tuesday — a number that has since decreased to 131, according to Dr. Vinita Dubey. Dubey, TPH's associate medical officer of health, told the Star on Wednesday the decline in the suspensions is due to more vaccinations or valid exemptions being reported after the initial suspension orders. As of Wednesday, of a second group of students from another 20 public Toronto high schools, 268 Grade 11 students are being suspended. 'Every day there's going to be more and more students who will be suspended. And hopefully more and more students who will also come off the suspension list,' she said. Suspensions will be sent across Toronto post-secondary schools on a rolling schedule until May. TPH says from the first batch of students at the 21 schools, the records of 957 students — about 70 per cent — weren't up to date at first, which means they received a letter from TPH about the missing vaccinations. A month later, 58 per cent were up to date. The remaining 574 students were sent suspension orders. Ontario is experiencing one of its largest measles outbreaks in decades though most recent vaccine suspensions are related to other diseases . The ISPA requires students to be vaccinated for diphtheria, tetanus, polio, measles, mumps, rubella, meningococcal disease and pertussis (whooping cough). Students must also receive the vaccine for varicella — commonly known as chickenpox — if they're born in 2010 or later. Under this act, immunizations for the nine diseases are mandatory unless a valid exemption is on file, for medical, religious or conscientious reasons. Failure to meet these requirements could lead to a suspension from school for up to 20 days. During the COVID-19 pandemic, routine school-based vaccination programs for Grade 7 students were mostly unavailable, resulting in a number of current Grade 11 students falling behind on vaccinations for hepatitis B, HPV and meningococcal vaccines. Dubey said it's normal for parents and students to take a while to respond to these letters due to factors including language barriers for newcomers and situations when parents don't recognize 'this is something that has to be dealt with right away, or even that there's a suspension associated with this.' The agency doesn't just rely on the letter to inform parents but also sends the suspension list to principals to contact students' parents. Immunization assessments were conducted by TPH starting in the fall, revealing that of the 24,678 students born in 2008, only 26 per cent were initially on record with their vaccinations, prompting the agency to send letters to the families of 18,320 students missing immunizations. By February, 59 per cent of students were up to date — but the remaining 10,000 who didn't meet the ISPA got notices that if they didn't provide updated information to TPH, they would be suspended. Dubey said sometimes the onus is on parents to contact TPH to provide a child's up-to-date immunization record to avoid suspension, even if their child has already received their required vaccines. This is because sometimes TPH doesn't have all records or the child might be missing a booster dose. 'What parents don't recognize is their child may be fully vaccinated and they did the right thing and they got the vaccination,' she said. 'But unfortunately, there's no way for the physician to report the vaccination directly to public health. And so this is where the parent actually has to report the vaccination to us,' she said, adding that they're 'better off' contacting TPH to make sure the record is up to date. TPH says this 'underscores the importance of an electronic immunization registry .' TPH can help clarify to parents what vaccines their children are missing and Dubey says 'as long as we know that the child has started the process of getting vaccinations, we can pause the suspension.' Parents and students can call TPH (416-338-7600) for questions.
