Hopes 2006 for CH

Now that the 'O' Level Results have been released, and we are all getting a grip on our emotions, it's time to really sober up for the next batches, the class of 2006, and the class of 2007.

I know that the class of 2005 feel really sad about their results, and many feel that they have let the alma mater down. Yet, I must say to the class of 2005 that you have worked, and not to lose faith or heart. On a personal level, do not be too disappointed about the results or the JCs issue. Remember that you have to work hard towards good A Levels results, and you do have control over these next 2 years of your academic life. Our very best wishes and hopes will always be with you, and CH will always be your alma mater. On the next level, together, we will work to bring the alma mater up again. You will help to motivate and inspire your juniors, and we will be in it together, teachers, students and you recently graduated old boys, to bring back good results for this year's sec 4s.

I guess all of us would really want our current sec 4s, and our juniors, to do well in their O levels, both for themselves and for our alma mater. Personally, having seen 6 batches of sec 4s with broad smiles and thrilled expressions during each year's release of O Level results, I was really at a complete loss as to how to respond or what to say when I see some of our students breaking down at their less satisfactory L1R5. I don't think I can take another sight like that. More importantly, there's frankly only 1 O Levels, 1 chance, for each sec 4 batch. You either get it or miss it.

As I see it, it's really time for plain speaking and facing of the facts.
The current sec 4 batch, for your own sake, must really be even more FOCUSED and DILIGENT in your studies from now on. Good results have to be worked for, and if you procrastinate, you will NOT have enough time. Take control of your revision and preparation schedule from now on. O Level prep starts NOW.
Along the way, yes, do have time to relax and recharge. However, make sure that you don't lose sight of your end goal for 2006. YOUR SOLE PURPOSE OF EXISTENCE FOR 2006 IS THE 'O' LEVELS & GOOD RESULTS. It's stressful at times, but hey, you have had a good 3 years, and it's now time to SOBER up and WORK.

I am actually more concerned, to quite a large extent too, about the current level of school spirit and school loyalty. I do think that regardless of what stress level or issues our CH students have, our sense of school spirit and loyalty should not dim. For many previous batches, they would stand up and tell off any outsider who dared deride or insult their school or teachers. That was the pride they had. Afterall, upon graduation, it will always be your school, your alma mater, and you do want to leave behind a good legacy, and you want your alma mater to continue standing tall.

So, even as we are somewhat down and sad at the latest results, we can and must take heart. The previous batches had done it before, had done it well, and we can surely do it again. And, this is no time for a split in ranks amongst the student body, and amongst the sec 4s. This is no time to wallow in self-pity. This is no time to engage in petty squabbles. This is the time to seriously come together as a level, as a school, to do some good for yourselves and the alma mater. For the sec 4s, it is frankly time to stop being like when you were in sec 3s, and wanting to have fun and self-vanity. I am most troubled when I observe some of our sec 4s still not coming into their responsibilities as sec 4s. The sec 4s are the leading members of the school, and it is now time to lead in a thoughtful and mature manner, to set a good direction and example for your juniors, so that you know the school will continue to flourish and be in the good hands of your juniors when you graduate at the end of the year.

When we first got the results and knew the school's L1R5 on Friday, I was indeed emotionally affected; I had to control myself. We all were affected. Afterall, all these years, we worked hard to build up the school, and to develop the students. And that week seemed to be a culminating breaking point of all we have worked for these years - our students' sense of decorum, propriety, dignity and school loyalty seemingly disappearing, and then the final shock at the school's average L1R5.

Yet, I am certain that some good will come out of this. Afterall, as Mrs Chaillan told me last year when the band did less than our own expectations at the World Music Contest last year, setbacks make us more compassionate, humane and stronger. Indeed, this current week of setbacks for our alma mater can help us refocus and reflect on our priorities this year, and to remind all of us as to what are the truly important and lasting aspects in our lives.

And these are the 2 aspects of hopes and aspirations that I personally have, and that many of us teachers have, for the sec 4s and school this year. First, that we will focus and come together to bring good results to each sec 4 student and the school, the alma mater. Second, and more importantly, that we see a sense of compassion, dignity, honour and responsibility in our students, with humility and sincerity, and a greater sense of school spirit and leadership by our sec 4 students.

It's now time for normalcy and to forge ahead.

CHS - Compassion, Honour, Service

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afterthoughts ... further recollections ...

I remember when we first came back to CH to teach in 1999. We had students less academically inclined, and more outgoing and very rowdy at that time. I don't think any of our current students are like that; our current students who wish to be rowdy etc would simply be 'wannabes', pale copies in comparison. Yet, if any of those earlier batches were to hear of or come across any outsider deriding or insulting the school, or being rude about the school or teachers, they would definitely stand up to these outsiders and tell them off. That's the pride they had and exhibited towards the school. Not that they were not at times rebellious or rowdy, they were, but they had the great sense of school spirit and pride; many of them, incidentally, were from our primary section too.

We have come a long way, and the batches before you have toiled to build CH to what it is now. Over the years, we have come a long way in academic achievements and programmes. From being ranked 28 in 1999, to 24 (2000), to 22 (2001), 14 (2002), 18 (2003), 11 (2004), 7 (2005)(if i remember the ranking correctly), it had been a long tedious climb, much effort and hard work by the teachers and students all these years. We used to stay back till 10pm and sometimes 11pm, just to conduct individual EL oral practices, and to conduct additional sessions of remedials or study. Students wanted to stay back and study late. We just piled the sec 4s with stack after stack of notes and exercises and stories, all intensified in the final term. Along the way, we strove to bring a sense of dignity and honour into the students; we never accepted low standards or expectations, and yes when required, we all could really yell at the recalcitrant offender. Many of us could really yell or lecture - Mr Terence Goh, Mr Goh Kee Yong, myself, Mr Wang Jiunn, Ms Teo Wenli, Ms Leong Seyean, Mr Alvin Tan, Mr Danny Tan, Ms Lim Chiew Her, Ms Zalina and many others. We could also be very terrorising in a cold controlled manner, which we learnt from the more senior teachers; it can be extremely effective. At the end of the day, I guess our exacting standards and demands all amount to one end-point - that the boys will become upright, respectable men of dignity and honour, ever ready to take on challenges and new grounds. Indeed, when we first started using the term 'gentlemen' to address our students when we first came in 1999, we really meant it in every sense of the word.

Let's bring back the CH spirit!