As we look ahead to 2015 with invigorated spirits, the ACS OBA looks back at a year filled with activity.

In celebration of our 100th year in 2014, the OBA launched a Special Centenary Membership Fee. From July to September 2014, life memberships were available for Old Boys at a reduced rate of S$100.

We received over 2,000 new applications and I would personally like to thank the new members for their patience and understanding with my committee and the secretariat with regards to the processing of the applications. The sheer numbers were outstanding, but the behind-the-scenes effort even more so. Together with my fellow committee members, I assure you that we are doing our utmost to respond to everyone’s queries and apologize that the process has taken longer than we expected due to the unprecedented response.

It is my pleasure to share the activities of 2014 with the members of the ACS family and wish you all a blessed year ahead.

To kick off the start of 2014, 130 attended our first social event at 1 Altitude. This event was quickly followed by the traditional Past vs Present games and the annual Founder’s Day Dinner.

On Saturday, July 12th, the ACS OBA celebrated its 100th Anniversary at the Barker Road campus. It was a celebration of God’s blessings on ACS and the OBA, and an opportunity to gather and reflect on what ACS means to all of us, and what we can do for ACS.

The evening began with a Thanksgiving Service which brought back fond memories of ACS chapel services. Hymns like “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” and “Oh God Our Help In Ages Past” were sung and it was exceptionally moving to sing the ACS Anthem alongside retired teachers, past and present ACS principals, former OBA Management Committee members, and Old Boys and Girls.The dinner that followed was themed along the regions in our ACS Anthem, and entertainment was provided by alumni members.

ACS OBA hosted the 3rd ONE ACS Career Forum at ACS (Independent) on August 2nd for over 1,200 students, parents, alumni and staff of Anglo-Chinese Junior College, ACS (Barker Road), ACS (Independent), ACS (International) and the Methodist Girls’ School. It was truly inspirational to see how this event has grown; from 700 participants in 2012, over 1,000 in 2013, and close to 1,200 this year. Just like the forums held before, the objective remained the same; to introduce different perspectives of a variety of professions in a candid and informal format so that the students were exposed to the diverse ways in which people make choices.

Following on from the success of past ACS-MGS mixers, over 100 alumni from the ACS family of schools and MGS gathered at the Hard Rock Café on August 18th for an evening of mingling, long-lost friendships rekindled and fond school memories were reminisced.

On 1st September, 2014, the Annual ACS OBA Retired Teachers’ Tribute Dinner was held at the ACS (Barker Road) Sports Complex. The OBA organizes this event annually in recognition of the hard work put in by our former teachers of the various ACS schools. This year, approximately 80 retired principals, vice principals, teachers and Old Boys turned up to celebrate the occasion.

On behalf of my committee, I would like to take this opportunity to thank all our alumni who have contributed to our events and helped us in every which way – we appreciate your involvement as this serves to strengthen the ties that bind us to our alma mater. What distinguishes ACSians is the strength and the breadth of our network.

I look forward to seeing as many of you at our upcoming Founder’s Day Dinner on Sunday, March 1st at the Orchard Hotel Ballroom.

And as always, The Best Is Yet To Be.

Cheo Chai Hong
President
ACS Old Boys’ Association