Singapore Chinese Girls' School
| Singapore Chinese Girls' School (SCGS) | |
|---|---|
 Sincerity, Courage, Generosity, Service | |
| Location | |
| 190 Dunearn Road | |
| Information | |
| Type | Independent |
| Established | 1899 |
| Founders |
Sir Song Ong Siang Dr Lim Boon Keng |
| Session | Single |
| School code |
7014 (Secondary) 5026 (Primary) |
| Principal | Low Ay Nar (Mrs.) |
| Enrolment | Approx. 2,400 |
| Colour(s) | Jade & Gold |
| Website | www.scgs.edu.sg |
Singapore Chinese Girls' School (Abbreviation: SCGS) is an independent, all-girls school in Singapore. It is consistently ranked as one of the top secondary schools in Singapore in the now-defunct official school rankings released by the Ministry of Education. It is one of the oldest schools in the nation, having been founded in 1899. It is a full school with both primary and secondary divisions, admitting girls between the ages of 6 and 16. The secondary division was among the first schools in Singapore to be accorded the status of an independent school in 1989.
In 2011, SCGS was presented the School Excellence Award, a pinnacle award under the MOE Masterplan of Awards, which recognizes schools for excellence in both education methods and results. In addition, SCGS received the Best Practice Award for all three categories (Student All-Round Development, Teaching and Learning and Staff Well-being) and the Outstanding Development Award for National Education. These achievements affirm the school’s holistic education for the pupils and the capacity and commitment of the staff.[1]
History
SCGS was founded as an all-girls Peranakan school in July 1899 by a group of Straits Chinese men including Dr Lim Boon Keng and Sir Song Ong Siang, at premises in Hill Street, with an English headmistress and seven girls on the register.[2]
In 1923, the school left its premises at Hill Street (the site later became the Central Fire Station) and moved to Emerald Hill. The premise on Emerald Hill cost $60,000. It was a two-storey block with 12 classrooms, an assembly hall, a staff room, and principal’s office. In 1997, the premise on Emerald Hill was declared a significant historical site by the National Heritage Board, three years after SCGS had moved to a bigger campus on Dunearn Road.
From 1905 to 1936, the school admitted a handful of male students, but afterwards reverted to being an all-girls school. In 1946, after the Japanese Invasion in the Second World War, girls of all races were accepted into the school. By 1950, the school had 700 girls. By 1952, the number had risen to close to 900.
In 1971, the students sat for the first Singapore-Cambridge General Certificate of Education or GCE ‘O’ Levels. Everyone passed, giving SCGS a 100% record. In 1989, SCGS celebrated her 90th birthday and also became an independent school, with more latitude to expand the curriculum. On 4 July 1994, after 70 years at Emerald Hill, the school moved to a newly built campus at Dunearn Road.
Crest
The colours of the school crest are jade and gold.
This reflects her time-honoured tradition, because jade and gold in Hokkien (Kim Gek) and in Mandarin (JinYu) connotes a young Chinese girl brought up and educated in the best manner. In today’s educational, social and cultural context, such traditional values remain as steadfast and meaningful as ever.
The school motto is Sincerity, Courage, Generosity and Service.
The Yin and yang aspects of the traditional Chinese symbol of balance are in jade and gold respectively. This symbol, which represents the universe, light, darkness, life and death, lies at the heart of the many branches of classical Chinese sciences, philosophy and medicine.[3]
| Glad That I Live Am I (School song) Lyrics by Lizette Woodworth Reese (from 'A Little Song of Life')
|
Accolades
| Performing Arts | 2011 |
|---|---|
| Band | Gold |
| Choir | Gold (Honours) |
| Dance International | Gold |
| Dance Chinese | Gold (Honours) |
| Chinese Drama | Silver |
| Drama | Bronze |
| String Ensemble | Bronze |
| Handbells | Silver |
| Sports | 2011 |
|---|---|
| Basketball | Zonal B Div: 1st |
| Zonal C Div: 1st | |
| Nat’l B Div: 4th | |
| Nat’l C Div: 3rd | |
| Badminton | Zonal B Div: 2nd |
| Zonal C Div: 2nd | |
| Nat’l B & C Div: Quarter-finalist (top 8) | |
| Tennis | Nat’l B Div: 3rd |
| Squash | Nat’l B Div: 2nd |
| Nat’l C Div: 2nd | |
| Competitive Swimming | Nat’l C Div: 4th |
| Synchronised Swimming | Nat’l B Div – 1st |
| Nat’l C Div: 2nd | |
| Gymnastics (Artistic) | Nat’l Team B Div: 2nd |
| Nat’l Ind All Round B Div: Rachel Giam 2nd | |
| Nat’l Ind All Round C Div: Nicolette Lim 4th | |
| 3rd ASEAN School Games (Balance Beam): Rachel Giam 1st | |
| Netball | Nat'l B Div: Top 16 (2013) & Zonal C Div: Quarter-finalist (top 8) |
| Uniform Groups | 2010 |
|---|---|
| Guides (Puan Noor Aishah) | Coy 1 & 2: Gold |
| NCC (Best Unit Competition) | Gold |
| Red Cross (Excellent Unit Award) | Gold |
| Red Cross (Community Service Award) | Gold |
| Red Cross (Sustained Achievement Award) | Gold |
| Others | 2011 |
|---|---|
| Cross-Country | Nat’l Ind B Div: Victoria Tan 6th |
| Nat’l Ind C Div: Rachel Lum 16th | |
| Robotics | FLL – Robotics Section 1st |
| Golf | Nat’l Handicap PC Golf Championships Individual: 3rd |
| Science Chronicles Writing Competition | 1st - Clarisa Madilao |
| 3rd- Cheang Kit Lea | |
| Special Mentions - Tham Sher-Lyn & Faith Christine Lai |
| Performing Arts | 2013-2014 |
|---|---|
| Band | Distinction SYF 2013 |
| Esplanade Limelight Concert 2013 | |
| Rapsodia Giubilante Concert 2014 | |
| Choir | Distinction SYF 2013 |
| 4th Anton Bruckner Choral Festival Category Winner (Gold VI Level) 2013 | |
| Choral Belles Concert 2013 | |
| The Biggest Brightest Concert 2014 | |
| Dance International | Distinction SYF 2013 |
| Treasures Concert 2013 | |
| Treasures Concert 2014 | |
| Dance Chinese | Distinction |
| Treasures Concert 2013 | |
| Treasures Concert 2014 | |
| Chinese Drama | Accomplishment SYF 2013 |
| Musical Concert 2014 | |
| Drama | Accomplishment SYF 2013 |
| Kaha Concert 2013 | |
| String Ensemble | Accomplishment SYF 2013 |
| Cadenza Concert 2014 | |
| Handbells | Distinction SYF 2013 |
| Choral Belles Concert | |
| Resplendance Concert 2014 |
Notable alumni
Politics & Government
- Halimah Yacob: First Female Speaker of Parliament; Member of Parliament, Jurong GRC; Deputy Secretary-General, National Trades Union Congress[4]
- Thio Li Ann: Law professor, National University of Singapore; Former Nominated Member of Parliament[5]
- Janice Koh: Nominated Member of Parliament; Actress[6]
- Yong Ying-I: Former Permanent Secretary
Corporate
- Elizabeth Sam: Prominent banker
- Jennie Chua: CEO, The Ascott Group; Chairman, Community Chest Committee, National Council of Social Services;[7] Former General Manager, Raffles Hotel[8]
- Yeo Lian Sim: Senior Executive Vice President, Singapore Exchange
Medicine
- Assc Prof Mary Rauff: Obstetrician and Gynaecologist
- Dr Ruth Kam: Prominent cardiologist
- Dr Sophia Ang: Senior Consultant, National University Hospital; Assc Professor, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore
- Dr Susan Lim: Prominent surgeon and medical researcher
Social
- Ang Bee Lian: Former CEO, National Council of Social Service
- Euleen Goh: Chairman, Singapore International Foundation[9]
- Yvette Cheak: Former Chief Commissioner, Girl Guides Singapore
Entertainment and The Arts
- Farisha Ishak: Champion, The Final 1, Season 1, 2013
- Jazreel Low: Actress/model; Entrepreneur
- Rui En: Actress/singer, Mediacorp
- May Lin Le Goff: Fashion photographer
- Mia Tan: Model; Beauty queen
References
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Singapore Chinese Girls' School. |