Nan Hua High School

Nan Hua High School 南华中学
忠，孝，仁，爱，礼，仪，廉，耻
Location
41 Clementi Ave 1, Singapore 129956 Nearest MRT Stations: Clementi, Dover Clementi,
Information
Established	1917
Session	Single-Session
School code	3047
Principal	Mrs Tan Jong Lek VP 1= Mr Lee Peck Ping VP (Admin)= Mr Michael Lau Chong Lum
Enrolment	1,700+
Color(s)	Red,Blue,White
Website	www.nanhuahigh.moe.edu.sg/

Nan Hua High School (Chinese: 南华中学) is a secondary school in Clementi, Singapore. The school is operated by the Ministry of Education. It is the tenth Special Assistance Programme (SAP) school in Singapore, in which both English and Chinese are taught as first languages. Nan Hua High School is founded in 1917 and it celebrated its ninetieth anniversary in 2007.

Heritage

Nan Hwa Girls' School (NHGS) was first established by Mr Xiong Shangfu, an overseas Chinese, on 14 June 1917. It was founded with the aim to give the girls in Singapore the opportunity of receiving an education, which was a privilege that few girls had at that time. When it was first founded, it was located in a makeshift school in Coleman Street. It had less than 100 Chinese girls who were studying there. The school's population grew rapidly and a need for a bigger school to accommodate the students arise. In 1921, the school was shifted into a new school building located in Bencoolen Street. However, in 1924, the school was forced to close temporarily due to financial difficulties. After a series of public appeals, generous contributions of funds from the community helped paid off the school's debts and the school re-opened.

By 1928, the Basic Teacher Training Programme had started and the student population of the school was booming, leading to a space constraint. In 1941, a new school building at Adis Road was ready and it became the "Main School", catering for normal training classes for teachers and primary classes. The old building at Bencoolen Street continued to function as its "Branch School", for primary classes only. That same year after the Japanese invaded Singapore, the school complex at Adis Road was turned into the headquarters for the Japanese Imperial Army.

The school re-opened in October 1945 after the return of the Allied forces. The School Management Committee immediately set out to raise funds to rebuild the school and enrol students. Due to the overwhelming financial support of many parents, secondary classes were set up and the school's enrolment rose to 700 pupils. The school's name was also changed to Nan Hwa Girls' High School (NHGHS) in 1956. During this period, the school's curriculum underwent much restructuring and NHGHS emerged as one of the premier girls' schools in Singapore. The Branch School was transformed totally into a primary school, and the Main School became a secondary school after it terminated the intake of primary pupils in 1964.

A third move took place on 12 December 1982 when the school moved from Adis Road to Clementi Avenue 1 upon the recommendation of the Ministry of Education. The school began to admit Secondary One boys and thus became a co-ed in 1994. The school also changed its name to Nan Hua Secondary School to reflect this change. On 1 April 1986, the School Management Committee handed over the administration of the school to MOE, thus ending its long-standing status as an aided school.

Nan Hua Secondary School became the 10th Special Assistance Plan school. Under PRIME, the school was relocated to a new campus located at 41 Clementi Avenue 1 on 20 December 2003. The school subsequently attained the School of Distinction Award and Singapore Quality Class award in 2005. The new school building was officially opened by Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on 17 July 2005. The school was also granted an Autonomous Status in 2006. The name of the school was changed to "Nan Hua High School" from 1 January 2006.

Uniform

The school uniform is a white shirt with two metal buttons at the shoulder, with the Chinese characters of "Nan Hua" on it. Boys wear shirts with two front pockets at the chest fastened with 2 metal buttons that plays the role of 2 buttons, it is also known as a studded shirt at the school's official website. Lower secondary boys wear white shorts and upper secondary boys wear long white pants. Girls of Nan Hua high wear a white blouse also with 2 metal buttons on the shoulder, also known as a studded blouse, with a knee-length box pleated skirt. All students are required to wear the Nan Hua socks, which has the abbreviation of the school: NHHS embroidered on it. Shoes must be 100% white, colorful lines and stripes are forbidden in NHHS. Ties are also to be worn by all students on assembly day (Tuesday) every week and during special events.

School Crest

The white colour of the school crest embodies everything that is pure and wholesome, particularly purity in thought, word and deed. The blue signifies essential qualities of good character, namely sincerity and integrity.

The three corners of the triangle on the school crest represent the three aspects of school education: moral, intellectual and integrity. The widely opened book featured in the crest symbolizes the importance of reading.

School campus

Nan Hua students gathering in the school's multi-purpose hall

Nan Hua High School lies on 292,710 square feet (27,194 m²) of hill land at Clementi Road. The school was constructed at a cost of S$12,281,240. It consists of an auditorium, an aesthetics block and a parade square.

An eco-garden was opened by Mr Howard Shaw, the then-Executive Director of the Singapore Environment Council on 31 August 1942.^{[clarification needed]} A sky garden, located on the 5th floor of the Administration/Aesthetics block, was opened by the Minister for Education, Tharman Shanmugaratnam on 25 April 2007.^[1] The Sky Garden is managed by the Sky Garden Student's Committee and the Sky Garden Teacher's Committee. The garden is used for both formal lessons and student-initiated activities.

Key Personnel

The current principal of Nan Hua High School is Mrs. Tan Jong Lek, who took over the running of the school in December 2009. In addition, the school has two vice-principals. They are currently Mr Lee Peck Ping and Mr. Michael Lau Chong Lam. Mr. Michael Lau Chong Lam is also in charge of the administrative matters in the school. Also, in Nan Hua High School, the girls have to to tir their hair into two tint tails.

Class Committee, Care Force, Student Council

Every class in Nan Hua High School has its own Class Committee, consisting of a chairman, a vice-chairman, a treasurer, a care representative and other subject representatives.

The Care Representative in each class are also members of the "Care Force". The "Care Force" also consists of other willing volunteer. Their responsibility is to show care and concern for their friends and help to build friendship across classes and schools.

The Student Council of Nan Hua High School was formed in 1993. It consists of a group of student leaders spearhead important school events and project and present proposals to improve the school environment. Examples of events organised and led by the students council includes the Secondary One Registartion Exercise and Orientation Programme, the Combined Student Leaders' Investiture, Teachers' Day Celebration, Secondary 4 Graduation Night and Student Planning Day.

Achievements

• MOE School Distinction Award (2005-2008)

• MOE Best Practice Award (Staff Well-being) (2005-2008)

• MOE Sustained Achievement Award (Physical Fitness)(2004-2008)

• MOE Sustained Achievement Award (Uniformed Group) (2004-2008)

• MOE Sustained Achievement Award (Aesthetics) (2008)

• MOE Outstanding Development Awards(National Education) (2005-2008)

• MOE Development Awards (Character Development) (2007-2008)

• Singapore Quality Class (2005-2008)

• SPRING Singapore (People Developer Award) (2007-2008)

• Singapore Productivity Association NIQC

2004: 1 Gold and 3 Silvers

2006: 1 Gold and 1 Bronze

2007: 1 Gold

• COMPASS Outstanding PARTNERS Award (2006-2008)

• Health Promotion Board CHERISH Award (Platinum) (2004-2008)

• National Arts Council (Arts Education Awards)

2004: Silver

2005: Silver

2006: Bronze

2007: Bronze

2008: Bronze

• Singapore Tourism Board (Singapore Education Award- Best Education Event) (2006)

• Singapore Environment Council (Schools’ Green Audit Award- Lotus Award[Sustained Achievement]) (2005-2008)

• Citigroup Ideas In Action Competition

2004: 6 awards

2005: 4 awards

2006: 5 awards

2007: 2 awards

2008: 2 awards

• President's Award For The Environment (2010)

Notable alumni

• Fong Yuet Kwai, a former principal of Nan Hua Primary School. She first studied in Nan Hwa Girls' High, and later taught at and lead Nan Hua Primary. She retired in 2003, after spending 55 years in the Nan Hua family.^[2]
• Carrie Chong Pei Joe, radio presenter at 987FM. She is also an actress and a TV host.
• Ashley Isham, an international fashion designer.

References

1. ^ School Website Article on Opening of Sky Garden
2. ^ Speech by Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Acting Minister for Education, 30 December 2003.

• Nan Hua High School 2011 Student handbook
• Official website of Nan Hua High School

External links

• Official website
• Nan Hua High School Alumni Association