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| Hwa Chong Institution (Chinese: 华侨中学) |
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Zi Qiang Bu Xi (自强不息)
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| Location | |
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| 661, Bukit Timah Road, Singapore 269734 Singapore |
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| Coordinates | 1°19′36″N 103°48′13″E / 1.326540°N 103.803491°ECoordinates: 1°19′36″N 103°48′13″E / 1.326540°N 103.803491°E |
| Information | |
| Type | Independent Secondary School & Junior College Boys (Secondary 1 – 4), Coed (JC 1 – JC 2) |
| Established | 1 January 2005 from the merger of The Chinese High School (est. 21 March 1919) & Hwa Chong Junior College (est. 1974) |
| Principal | Ang Wee Hiong |
| Students | Approx. 4000 (High School & College) |
| Campus size | 72 acres (291,373.662 m²) |
| Campus | Open Concept |
| Colour(s) | Red, Yellow |
| Affiliation | Hwa Chong Family of Schools: Hwa Chong International School, Hwa Chong Institution Boarding School |
| Guiding Principle | 饮水思源 |
| Mission | 'With our blend of tradition and innovation, we nurture leaders in research, industry and government, who have the integrity, wisdom, passion and vision, to succeed in the global environment and serve our nation.' |
| Philosophy | Win-Win 己立立人 己达达人 Live with passion, Lead with Compassion |
| Website | www.hwachong.edu.sg |
Hwa Chong Institution (simplified Chinese: 华侨中学; traditional Chinese: 華僑中學; pinyin: Húaqíao Zhōngxúe) is an independent school in Singapore offering education from Secondary (Junior High) to Pre-University (Senior High) level.
Previously two separate but affiliated schools, The Chinese High School and Hwa Chong Junior College, the Institution was the result of a merger which took place on 1 January 2005. However, the secondary section remains boys-only, while the pre-university (junior college) section is co-educational.
The main campus covers 72 acres (291,373.662 m²) shared between Hwa Chong International School, Hwa Chong Institution College and the High School section.
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History
High School Section
The high school section, previously known as The Chinese High School, was founded by philanthropist Tan Kah Kee in March 1919, being the first high school at that time in South-east Asia to cater to different Chinese dialect groups.
The Chinese High School
As early as May 1913, Tan Kah Kee proposed the setting-up of a secondary school for Chinese boys in Singapore. His proposal fell on deaf ears. However, he was supported by the Tung Teh Reading club and a dance troupe, claiming to have raised $20,000 as a building fund. The Singapore Nanyang Overseas Chinese Middle School was then opened in March 1919 at Niven Road, with an enrolment of 78 pupils. Six years and $600,000 later, the school moved to its Bukit Timah campus, with an area of 79 acres.
After the founding of the school, the school offered comprehensive secondary-level Chinese education. It remained funded and supported by Tan Kah Kee until shortly before World War II. The school was closed temporarily in February 1933 because of the resignation of all the teachers. In February 1934 it was reopened with a new principal and staff. In 1934, Lee Kong Chian, whose father-in-law was Tan Kah Kee, became the chairman of the school's board, a post he held until 1957. During his tenure the school attempted to close several times due to financial difficulties, but did not do so because of the backing of both Lee Kong Chian and Tan Kah Kee.
During the Battle of Singapore, the school clock tower with its height and vantage point first served as headquarters for the Allied defenders and then as headquarters for the Imperial Japanese Army. It also served as a temporary concentration camp to hold people for examination during the Sook Ching massacre.
After the war, with education resumed, the school continued its Chinese-dominated education, and in the 1950s and 1960s during periods of civil unrest many students, teachers and alumni took part or led anti-colonial riots.
The arrival of Tooh Fee San, the principal from 1979 to 1999, was a major turning point for the school. Steps were taken to improve the school's facilities. In 1987, The Chinese High School became an independent school. As such, it introduced many changes unprecedented in Singapore, such as the abolition of mid-year examinations in favour of camping trips for the entire school, and the introduction of enrichment programmes such as Projects' Day.
In the early 1990s the school underwent an extensive renovation, which saw the building of a new hall, now called Kah Kee Hall (嘉庚堂), a gymnasium, a renovated tower block and also new classrooms.
In the late 1990s, The Chinese High School embarked on a consortium scheme (a "school within a school" concept). iSpark was set up in 2000 for GEP students and exceptional students from the other consortia. In 2002 Quest and Radix merged to form Ortus.
On 19 March 1999 the school's clock tower was gazetted as a national monument, to mark the significance of the institution as the first Chinese-medium secondary school to be built in Southeast Asia catering to the Overseas Chinese. During the school's 80th anniversary celebrations, renowned artist and old-boy Tan Swie Hian presented the school with a giant sculpture of a heavenly horse (天下之马). The school's heritage centre was formally opened by alumnus and former President of Singapore, Ong Teng Cheong.
College Section
The college section, previously known as Hwa Chong Junior College, was established in 1974 at the Bukit Timah Road campus of The Chinese High School as a separate pre-university school, but under the same management board.
Hwa Chong Junior College was given independent status in 2004.
Hwa Chong Junior College
Hwa Chong Junior College was founded in 1974. On 8 May 1987 the school was forced to move out of its premises in Bukit Timah due to structural problems with the building. It held lessons temporarily at Ngee Ann Polytechnic from May to December 1987. It shifted to Bukit Batok Street 34 (Current Swiss Cottage Secondary and St Anthony's Primary School site) until the college premises were rebuilt in 1992.
Campus
Three new facilities have been built: the Kong Chian Administration Centre, the Science and Technology Research Centre (SRC) and the Student Activities and Leadership Training (SALT) Centre.
The SALT Centre houses a moot parliament (mock actual parliamentary setting to facilitate student debates and oral articulation). Some CCAs and uniformed groups conduct their activities there.
The new Science and Technology Research Centre houses new research facilities and specialist laboratories. They include a virtual reality cove (a theatre that facilitates the learning and teaching of virtual-reality-related technology), and laboratories for chemical processing, fibre optics and biotechnology (with microbiological rooms). It also houses media art and 3-D animation studios, and an Art Elective centre that focuses on media art, digital videography, animation, digital audio, and traditional arts disciplines such as sculpture and drawing.
Curriculum
The school offers a 6-year Integrated Programme from Secondary 1 to JC 2. Students skip the GCE 'O' Levels typically taken by secondary four students in Singapore. They take the GCE 'A' Levels at the end of the six years, typically taken by junior college students in their second year.
Affiliations
Hwa Chong Institution is also affiliated with Hwa Chong International School and Hwa Chong Institution Boarding School. Both affiliated schools stand on the same campus as the main school.
School culture
Uniform and attire
HCI is one of only a handful of schools in Singapore where boys must not wear long trousers until secondary 4 (the year in which students typically turn 16).
- High School Section (boys' school)
- Sec 1-3 - White short sleeved cotton shirt with four brass buttons (2 on the shoulders and 1 on each breast pocket); Khaki short trousers
- Sec 4 - Beige short sleeved shirt; Beige long trousers
- College Section (co-ed school)
- Male students - Beige short sleeved shirt; Beige long pants
- Female students - Beige short sleeved blouse; Beige skirt
When wearing the official school uniform, students are required to wear the collar pin, in the form of the school logo, on their left collar. The PE attire, worn by both students from high school and college during PE lessons or other school activities, consists of a white T-shirt (yellow and red sides) with the school's name printed on the front (in English) and back (in Traditional Chinese), and black shorts. College students have their own faculty T-shirts worn during faculty activities. Some CCA groups also have their own custom attire, such as a common T-shirt with a special logo printed on it, worn by members during activities.
School songs
English version
The English version of Hwa Chong Institution's school song is originally the college anthem for Hwa Chong Junior College. The lyrics is as follows:
As part of our glorious land, sharing her spreading fame, Hwa Chong will firmly stand, always to maintain her name. Multi-racial we study together, for knowledge we wish to attain. Many races we shall gather, each day to achieve its aim. We shall strive with verve, for health in body and mind. We'll learn to lead and yet to serve in character ruggedly fine. May Hwa Chong shine forever, her name big and strong, One and all, let's stand by her, that she may live on and on.
Chinese version
The Chinese version of Hwa Chong Institution's school song is originally the school anthem for The Chinese High School. The lyrics is as follows:
海天寥廓 云树苍笼 中有我华中 礼门义路 时雨春风 吾侪托帡幪 猗与华中 南方之强 我中华之光 雄立狮岛 式是炎荒 万世其无疆 人生茫茫 学海洋洋 吾侪当自强 朝乾夕惕 日就月将 莫负好时光 猗与华中 南方之强 我中华之光 雄立狮岛 式是炎荒 万世其无疆 迨予庶士 笃实辉光 斐然已成章 膂力方刚 经营四方 前途浩且长 猗与华中 南方之强 我中华之光 雄立狮岛 式是炎荒 万世其无疆
The Chinese school song is in classical Chinese and was written by Shao Qing Yuan (邵庆元). It is set to the tune of Annie Lisle, though the tempo of the school song is much faster.
Conduct songs
- Let’s Be – this song is sung during the weekly assemblies in the high school section.
- Hua Zhong Xing (华中行) – in Chinese, this song is sung during the weekly assemblies in the high school section.
Weekly assemblies
Weekly assemblies are held in the high school. The Principal's Dialogue Session is a key highlight of the assembly. Student panelists will select a certain topic of interest for discussion with the school cohort and the principal. Topics for discussion range from school issues to current affairs.
Consortiums
The High School section consists of 4 consortiums - Aphelion[1], Ortus[2], ProEd[3] and iSpark[4]. The consortiums work closely with one another and each has its own council of students.
Aphelion
The target of Aphelion is, "building bridges, realising dreams". It organises major events like SMOPS (Singapore Mathematical Olympiad For Primary Schools) and the subsequent round, APMOPS (Asia Pacific Mathematical Olympiad For Primary Schools).
Ortus
In 2002, Ortus was formed from the merger of former consortiums Radix and Quest. Ortus Council involves and organizes many school based events such as Founders' Day, Racial Harmony Day and many more council initiatives.
ProEd
Students in ProEd are called ProEdians. Staff is split into teams to maximise efficiency and to maximise student's holistic development, e.g. students exchanges team, curriculum innovations team, leadership team etc.
iSpark
Students from the iSpark consortium are known as iSparkians. In 2000, the iSpark consortium was formed, with 4 GEP classes (the 7th including the CHS-GEP class, 3O) stretching across 2 levels. The student council of iSpark is known as the iCouncil.
Faculties
The college section consist of 4 faculties: Apollo[5], Ares[6], Athena[7] and Artemis[8]. Each faculty is named after a Greek deity.
In 2006, the Social and Relations committee of the college's 32nd Students' Council launched the inaugural Faculty Shield. The Faculty Shield is a competition among the 4 faculties in which the faculty with the highest number of points at the end of the year wins the challenge Shield. Points are gained from events that allow each faculty to show their strong faculty spirit, such as the Chinese New Year Faculty Dance competition, the Combined Schools Sports Meet and also the Cheering competition on the final day of CSM.
Inter-faculty competitions, such as Dramafeste and Hwa Chong Idol and other inter-CT CCA competitions also allow each faculty to earn points towards winning the faculty shield. The champion faculties for 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009 are Apollo, Artemis, Apollo and Apollo respectively.
On top of the Faculty Shield, faculty life in Hwa Chong is further spiced up by the various faculty events, the most prominent one being the Faculty Outings organised by the Faculty Committees.
Councils
Students' Council
Evolving from the former Chinese High Students Union, the current Students' Council is divided into 2 councils, the College Council and the High School Council.
High School Council
The High School Council (HSC) organises several events for the school. It is made up of 20 Secondary 4 students, together with the Executive Committee (ExCo) of the four consortium councils. The council is divided into 5 different committees, namely Public Relations, Quartermasters (Logistics) (Gao ChuanYu and Jeff Tan), Welfare, Projects and Administration. The HSC also manages a consortium council for each consortium.
Consortium Councils
The 4 Consortium Councils; Aphelion, ProEd, Ortus and iCouncil, are representatives of the student body and also co-operate with the High School Council in organising welfare initiatives for the students.
Each council includes Sec 1 Councillors-in-training (CIT), who are selected in Councillors-in-training camp, or CIT camp. They will usually help out during major events such as the SMOPS and PTGs. After a year of training and expertise, these CITs are then promoted to full-fledged councillors and become ambassadors of the school at Year 2 and 3, also organising events such as End of Term Activities (EOTA) and other welfare initiatives for their respective consortium. Some may also get chosen to organize important school-wide events such as Secondary One Orientation, and international conventions like the Student Leaders Convention.
When Year 3 councillors progress to Year 4, they can choose to run for High School Council elections or focus on other aspects of leadership such as the Class Management Committee (CMC) or ExCo positions in their various CCAs.
College Council
The College Council organises 7 major events for the school, namely Orientation (O1), Chinese New Year (CNY), Council Elections, Teachers' Day (TD), Mid-Autumn Festival (MAF), Open House (OH) and the Seniors' Promenade. Besides these 7 major working events, other ad-hoc activities are also organised. These include: SCREAM (Halloween celebrations), Friendship Day celebrations, and H3 (Happy Half hour).
The College Council consists of 4 committees, namely the Co-Curricular Activities Committee (ECACO), the Publications Committee (PUBCO), the Social and Relations committee (SnR) and the Welfare Committee (WELCO).
Class Management Committee (CMC)
Every class has its own Class Management Committee (CMC), headed by the Chairman, Monitor, Secretary, Treasurer, Welfare Secretary and the Facility Secretary. They seek to ensure that the class is disciplined. The Secretary handles the administrative work. The Treasurer helps to collect funds and fees from all the various events and occasions such as payment for books, etc. The Welfare Secretary seeks to ensure that the class is happy and free of problems. The Facility Secretary is responsible for keeping the classroom in good condition.
The iSpark Class Management Guild (iCMG) is a leadership organization in iSpark Consortium. Unlike the other consortium CMCs, iCMG is one whole organization that groups all iSpark CMCs into one family. Under this scheme iCMCs are able to receive more leadership exposure through various activities like combined camps with iCouncil, organizing consortium-based activities etc.
Information technology facilities
There are three main platforms which allow teachers and students to do everyday tasks online, namely, the Electronic Message Board (EMB), the Integrated Virtual Learning Environment (IVLE) and the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). The school has five computer labs to which students are granted access daily.
Student Message Board
The Electronic Message Board, or Summary Message Board (SMB), acts as an announcement board. Its implementation has reduced the amount of time spent on morning announcements and the amount of paperwork.
Integrated Virtual Learning Environment
The IVLE is a place where assignments and/or learning materials can be accessed. Homework assignments are also uploaded here. Progress statistics are also encompassed within the IVLE. Only teachers and students can access this password-protected portal.
Virtual Learning Environment
The Virtual Learning Environment was developed by teachers and students to facilitate online learning through Flash animation and online articles. Only teachers and students can access this password-protected portal.
Special programmes
In 2005, Hwa Chong embarked on a special programme scheme, whereby integrated programme students would be allowed to select a preferred special programme at the end of Sec 2, which he would then take for the next two years. Their eligibility for these programmes is also determined by their year-end results.
The aim of these programmes is to allow students to pursue any interest in which he has a passion for. The various special programmes are as follows:
Science and Mathematics Talent Programme
Formerly known as the Science and Mathematics Research Programme (SMRP), was implemented in 2005 to strengthen and facilitate students’ learning through project work. Students under this programme have opportunities to be attached to various research institutions in Singapore and participate in local or international symposia and conferences. The programme has since been streamlined and renamed as Science and Mathematics Talent Programme (SMTP).
Bicultural Studies Programme
The Bicultural Studies Programme (BSP) is an MOE-initiated programme open to Nanyang Girls' High School, River Valley High School, HCI and Dunman High, where students get to be exposed to cultures from both the Western and Eastern perspective. This programme includes a total of six months' immersion in China in year 3 and 4.
Exposure to western culture is scheduled for years 5 and 6.
Humanities Programme
The Hwa Chong Humanities Programme has so far produced more President's Scholars (Singapore's most prestigious award for academic excellence) than any other education institution.[citation needed]
Students are able to take all three humanities subjects, History, Geography and Literature. Students who are not in the programme may take only one of the three alongside social studies (also known as the Integrated Humanities Core). Students who are part of the programme may also take the most number of subjects for a S3/S4 student.
As of 2008, all Humanities Programme students are required to undertake a Humanities Research Paper (HRP) project, which counts as one academic unit. The HRP is a long-term commitment, similar to a masters' thesis, where students are required to research a topic from either of the three humanities disciplines and then present an academic paper of no less than 5,000 words on their chosen topic. They will be mentored throughout the length of the research period (Jan-Sept) by a teacher-mentor, who will then give them a grade based on the quality of the written paper.
Bicultural Studies and Humanities Programme
This is a new programme set up in 2007 which combines the Bicultural Studies Programme (BSP) and the Humanities Programme (HP) in Hwa Chong. Students in this programme will go through the normal curriculum of the HP students, but they will also study Advanced China Studies in Chinese (CSC) like the BSP. They will have a six-month immersion in China and also be able to take all three humanities subjects. This programme was set up to prepare students to enter a global society which sees China ascending in dominance. There are currently 11 students in this programme.
Centre for Scholastic Excellence
Centre for Scholastic Excellence (CSE) is a new academic system implemented in the year 2008 after Hwa Chong Institution was chosen as a testbed school for the "Future School" system. This consortium is aimed at students interested in the various Special Programmes in Hwa Chong Institution (High School Section), namely the Humanities Programme, Bi-cultural Studies Programme, Entrepreneurship Programme and the Science Mathematics Talent Programme. It is a challenging programme designed to provide outstanding students with the opportunity to become leaders in Research, Industry and Government.
Discipline
Boys who break the school rules are liable to receive corporal punishment. Strokes of the cane are delivered to the seat of the offending student's shorts or trousers as he bends over a desk or chair. In serious cases, caning may be administered in a ceremony held in front of other students.
Student-organised events
Student Leaders Convention (SLC)
The Student Leaders Convention (SLC) is an annual leadership convention and is a flagship event organised by Hwa Chong Institution, organised by students, for students. A convention is held each year, with a few elite schools participating. So far, 15 conventions have been held.
Singapore Mathematical Olympiad for Primary Schools
The Singapore Mathematical Olympiad for Primary Schools (SMOPS) is an annual event organised by the Aphelion Consortium of the High School section. It draws 2,000 to 3,000 participants annually. The top scorers for SMOPS will then be invited to the Asia Pacific Mathematical Olympiad for Primary Schools (AMOPS), where competitors from different countries gather to compete.
Extracurricular activities
Hwa Chong Institution's Co-Curricular Activity (CCA) programme embraces a variety of sports, uniformed groups, musical groups, clubs and societies to cater to students' interests. The term EP3 (Enhanced Pupil Performance Programme) has been coined to represent CCA in the high school section to reflect the enlarged scope of the CCA system.
See also
- The Chinese High School
- Hwa Chong Junior College
- List of notable staff and alumni from Hwa Chong Institution
References
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Hwa Chong Institution |
- Hwa Chong Institution school website
- School Information Service - Hwa Chong Institution
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