126 Years of Blessings!
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 The
first day of March is always a day of pride and
excitement for ACSians young and old as the ACS
family celebrates the school’s 126th Founder’s
Day. We have come a long way since 1886 and the
celebrations this year were once again packed
with parades, thanksgiving services, inspiring
speeches, award presentations, entertaining
performances and sporting activities.
126th
ACS Founder's Day Dinner
The traditional ACS Founder’s Day Dinner held at Orchard Hotel was well attended by more than 900 members from the ACS family. The evening was filled with entertainment with
Rev (Dr) Norman Wong doing a splendid job as MC.
Besides updating the audience on
the Methodist Missions project
in Chiang Mai, he also presented
a review of the newly-launched
ACS Foundation. |
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Performance by the primary
school choir
from
STB-ACS (International) Jakarta. |
A
vibrant Indian-fusion jazz dance
by
ACJC’s ACSian Theatre |
This
exuberant Bhangra dance item by
ACSian
Theatre brought high energy to
the celebrations
and
set feet stomping to the beat! |
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ACJC
“Cultivate people of character” was Bishop Dr Robert Solomon’s call at ACJC’s Founder’s Day Thanksgiving Service. He reminded the audience that our schools need to produce ‘people who will exhibit integrity and character in the big things in life as well as in the small duties, people who will be good not only when seen, but also when unseen, and people who will be more interested in their character than their reputation’.
The Akbar Khan Award was launched by
Mrs
Kelvyna Chan at the service. Donated by Mr Akbar Khan (ACJC Class of 2003),
the award is for the JC1 student who
shows excellent character and all-round
achievement through the academic and
CCAs. Mrs Chan remarked that ACJC is
indeed blessed that our alumni have
frequently and generously given back to
the college. |
ACS
(International)
Over at ACS (International), Mr Chen Show Mao, distinguished ACSian and Member of Parliament for Aljunied GRC urged students to think and do more than the norms taught in school as norms do change with time and the changing world.
Compared to his time in ACS, Mr Chen reckoned that ACS (International) provides a better environment to challenge and educate its students as it is in every sense 'international'. "Here, you are in close contact with classmates who have different views, customs, ways of speaking, thinking and living that help you think about your own. They help you think about the norms that you follow. We often learn best from people who are different from us", Mr Chen declared. |
Mr Tan Wah Thong, Chairman of ACS
(International) Management Committee and
Mr Chen Show Mao, ACS
Old Boy & Member of Parliament for
Aljunied GRC. |
The Guest-of-Honour, Dr Toh Han Chong
and Mr Winston Hodge |
ACS
(Independent)
The AC Spirit permeated throughout the
ACS (Independent) auditorium when the Guest-of-Honour,
Dr. Toh Han Chong shared his ACS experience in his inspiring address to the students.
In his speech, the Principal,
Mr Winston Hodge, emphasised
the importance of gratitude towards
those who had contributed to the success
of the school and the students. The
sterling achievements of the ‘O’ Level
and IBDP students were then honoured in
a simple but
meaningful ceremony.
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ACS
(Barker Road)
The celebrations at
ACS (Barker Road) was with much pomp and
circumstance. Seven teachers were presented with long service awards and students were recognised
for their outstanding academic
performances.
After the service, the school Parents Support Group treated all the staff to a sumptuous lunch in a popular Hokkien Restaurant. It was an excellent opportunity for the teaching and support staff to unwind and enjoy each other's company. |
The Guest-of-Honour, Dr Chia Shi Lu
gracing the occasion. |
Former Principal, Mrs Daisy Ong (third
from right)
catching up with old friends and
colleagues. |
ACS
(Primary)
It was a reunion that brought back fond memories for former Principal,
Mrs Daisy Ong, at ACS (Primary)’s celebrations.
At the awards
presentation, top 2009 PSLE
student,
Liow Pyng Wei Christopher, received both the Lee Hah Ing Scholarship and the ACS OBA Meritorious Award,
while Ms Diana Tay was voted the ACS (OBA) Outstanding Teacher Award In Loving Memory of Sandy Eu,
and Mr Edwin Tan received the ACS (Primary) PSG Outstanding Teacher Award.
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ACS
(Junior)
The highlight at ACS
(Junior) was the performance by the
choir from STB-ACS (International)
Jakarta. The angelic voices of the girls
filled the school hall and remained a
talking point long after the service was
over. At the service, the
Guest-of-Honour, Dr Peter Goh Yu-Tang, Senior Consultant and Clinical Director of Department of Radiology at Mount Elizabeth Hospital,
presented awards to
outstanding students
for their academic results in 2011. |
The STB-ACS (International) Jakarta
Choir |
 ACS
Oldham Hall
It was yet another exciting time for the 700 boarders and staff from 11 participating hostels at ACS Oldham Hall’s annual Founder’s Day (Inter-Hostel) Challenge with the “Staff Challenge” stealing the show. Besides Futsal (for boys) and Captain’s Ball (for girls), this year’s highlight saw boarding staff from the hostels competing with each other and this turned out to be most fun and entertaining for the boarders to watch.
For each participating hostel, ACS Oldham Hall would donate $1,000 to a designated charity to help needy students pay for their school expenses and textbooks. This year, a total of $11,000 was donated and cheques of $5,500 each were presented to the Methodist Welfare Society and the Methodist Centre for Youth & Children by the Guest-of-Honour,
Mr Chiang Chie Foo, Permanent Secretary for Defence. The day ended with a hearty and sumptuous dinner at the Dining Hall.
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Volleyball Returns to
Past vs Present Games!
 The highlight of this year’s Past vs Present Games held on 26 February was the re-introduction of volleyball – thanks to
Pang Seng Hock who was able to garner many past volleyball luminaries, including former national players like
Chee Pek Khan and
Ong Seng Jin. Together with
Tang Wee Loke and many others, Pek Khan and Seng Jin formed the ACS teams which in 1965
and 1966 were National Schools Champions - the first time any English medium school was able to come up tops in the game which was dominated by the Chinese stream schools.
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Unfortunately, this year’s games were severely disrupted by a heavy downpour which effectively wiped out the tennis programme and caused the rugby, water polo and football matches to be curtailed. This, in essence, caused this year’s games to be treated more like a series of friendly matches which in any case, quite captures the mood and the atmosphere that have always prevailed at our Past vs Present Games in previous years.
Badminton held at ACS (Independent)’s indoor court was unaffected and a good turnout of old and present
boys was reflective of the good work done by
Yew Seng and Samuel respectively. Squash, unfortunately, was less heavily supported by the old boys and something will need to be done to revive the interest that used to exist for squash. Football on the other hand, saw even more old boys than ever turning up, which may lead to an even earlier start next year. A good problem, nonetheless. Rugby still maintained its popularity and this year, the same
format of various teams competing in touch rugby was continued. If not for the rain, it would have turned out to be a real carnival.
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It is hoped that with more old boys stepping forward to form teams to take on the schools, we might be able to see more games being contested in future to further encourage participation, camaraderie and re-forging of bonds and friendships through sports between past and present. The ACSOBA would like to record its deep appreciation to ACS (Independent) and ACJC for hosting this year’s festival. |
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 Come
rain or shine, ACSians in Melbourne
will
celebrate Founder's Day! |
Although this year’s formal celebrations did not materialise due to a number of constraints, a group of ACSians and former ACS (Independent) teachers would not let the occasion pass without a get-together. So eleven of them and their spouses got together for a pot-luck dinner to celebrate the occasion on 18 February.
From 6.30pm that evening, the small crowd came streaming in to the home of one of the former ACS (Independent) teachers, each ACSian and ACSian-at-heart, bearing a dish, a pot or a plate to lay at the table for the meal. That eventually turned out to be quite a delectable spread of tit-bits for the entree and beef rendang, char kway teow, sambal fish, fried prawns with cashew nuts, chicken curry, mixed vegetable, rice, salad and jelly for dessert.
At dinner, it was catch-up time with news of our alma mater, gossip on both local and overseas events and overall a very relaxing time of fellowship together.
It was heartwarming to note that ACSians will not let anything come in the way of camaraderie – that whether a large gathering or a small one, we still made it a point to meet and remember ACS Forever! |
Ladies first. |
Now time for
the guys! |
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