National Day
National Day & Partners’ Day
The school’s annual combined celebration, comprising National Day, Partners’ Day and Student Leaders’ Investiture, was held on 8 August 2023, with the theme, ‘Onward as One’.
In the pre-parade segment, our Secondary 3 and 4 students were joined by staff and students from Madrasah Al-Arabiah Al-Islamiah for a class bonding activity, as part of our effort to expose our students to different cultures. Our guests also performed during the celebrations.
The celebrations went into full swing and the entire school was excited to commemorate National Day. The event was planned and executed by the Exco, comprising of students from the Uniformed Groups, Performing Arts and Sports groups.
Act 1, titled ‘Standing on the Shoulders of Giants’, was the tree planting ceremony that was streamed live to the school. Additionally, the Long Service Award and Partners’ Day Award ceremonies were conducted during this act. These served to remind the students that their holistic development would not have been possible without everyone’s support.
During Act 3, ‘Pledging Our Commitment to Our Future’, the outgoing Secondary 4 Student Leaders handed over the newly minted CCA Colours to their incoming Secondary 3 juniors. This ceremony signifies the ongoing development of leadership skills and the renewal of leadership roles.
The celebrations culminated in Act 2, ‘Celebrating the Singapore Spirit’, where the school witnessed the highly anticipated Parade and Ceremony. This was followed by a combined performance helmed by the Chinese and English Drama Clubs. Some of the highlights in Act 4, ‘Forging Ahead with the Singapore Spirit’ included performances from the Choir, Band, Dance, Freestyle Drill Squad and Precision Drill Squad. The various performances served as a reminder to students that Singapore’s independence and survival must never be taken for granted.
Reflections
“As the Parade Commander (PC), I enjoyed the whole experience, from getting to know the drill standards to refining little mistakes. I am really grateful for working together with the PSM and CSM, which enabled us to attain the high drill standards showcased on the final day. Through working with the contingent, I have forged many new friendships that I will dearly cherish. NDP has taught me to be disciplined, to stay on task and persevere through all the hardships, as the end result would be worthwhile.” - Joel Tay Yong En, 3H
“As the Parade Sergeant Major (PSM), I feel extremely grateful to be given this opportunity to not only lead the NDP participants in working towards a common goal, but to also improve everyone’s drill standards. Through much rigorous training and teamwork with the PC and CSM, we were able to improve on various weaknesses, and also enhance the NDP participants’ strengths, allowing us to deliver a fantastic performance that we are truly proud of. I am indeed very appreciative of this wonderful opportunity as it has not only allowed me to establish new friendships with many different people, but it has also challenged me greatly as a leader, allowing me to learn what truly is the essence of being a leader - being vision-centered, resilient in the face of adversity, and strong-willed. I truly am thankful for the experiences and lessons gained from NDP.” - Cheng Shi Hui Chloe, 3E
“I'm extremely grateful to have had the opportunity to be the Colours Sergeant Major (CSM) for NDP 2023. This role has taught me how to be a better leader. Working alongside Joel and Chloe, I was able to develop my communication skills, planning each training and working together to sharpen the Parade's drills. Although it was challenging to learn new drills to guide the Colours Party, I genuinely enjoyed it! From the "Yammmm Seng" moments during water parades to shouting "圣中!" at the end of each rehearsal, I cherish all the memories I've made and the new people I've met. I'd like to thank Mr Leong, Ms Koh, Mr Clement and Mr Yeo for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Thanks to them, I was able to serve my fellow batchmates and juniors with pride and joy!” - Melody Teo Min Hui, 3F
