Dunman Secondary School
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Motto | Pengetahuan Suloh Hidup (Dare To Achieve Your Dreams) |
|---|---|
| Established | 1963 |
| Type | Autonomous Secondary, Single session |
| Principal | Mrs Edelweis Neo |
| MOE Code | 3207 |
| Colours | Beige and Brown |
| Locale | Tampines, Singapore |
| Enrollment | |
| Website | Link |
| Ministry of Education | |
 Republic of Singapore |
|
Not to be confused with Dunman High School
Dunman Secondary School (Abbreviation: DSS) is an autonomous co-educational secondary school in Singapore. The school was founded in 1963, and is located in Tampines in the eastern part of Singapore.
Contents |
[edit] Principals
Since the school establishment in 1963, there have been 12 principals in office.
- Mr Au Keng Chu 1963-1968
- Mr Tiong Dak Yu 1968-1971
- Mr Chiu Hock Seng 1971-1975
- Mr Poon Meng Seng 1975-1982
- Mrs Janette Ho 1982-1985
- Mr Johnny Lau Hwa Pak 1985-1989
- Mrs Tay Sor Har 1989-1993
- Mr Tng Kim Guan 1993-1996
- Mrs Chua Siew Eng 1996-1997
- Mr Gan Chin Huat 1997-1999
- Mrs Mah Kwee Hua(acting)1999-2001
- Mrs Edelweis Neo 2001 onwards
[edit] School history
When Dunman Secondary School was founded in 1963, Singapore was still part of the Federation of Malaya.
[edit] 60s
Back in the early days, the school was known as Dunman Integrated Secondary School. The school was named after Thomas Dunman, the first Commissioner of Police in Singapore from 1856-1871. Apparently it was the very first integrated school in Singapore - an experiment to develop a common educational experience for children of different races and languages. Dunman Secondary Integrated School was situated at Haig Road and shared a large field with Dunman High School and Dunman Primary School.
Its first principal was Mr Au Keng Chu. He was the person who created the school badge and school motto.
Pupils were enrolled into the school even as the building was under construction. Nine English-stream secondary one classes were conducted at Matter West Vocational Institute while three Malay-stream seconday one classes were at Tun Seri Lanang school. Mr Felix Chew and Mr Abdul Kadir headed the respective schools. The completed school consisted of three buildings. The main building had four floors of airy classrooms and staff rooms. To facilitate efficient plumbing, the toilets were all placed in one end of the building. The science laboratories were in a different but shorter building opposite the main building. Next to the laboratories was a strip of garden where the science teachers grew plants used in the botany class. The school hall was one floor above the canteen or "tuck-shop" (as it was called then).
The school song, composed by Mr John de Souza, was first sung in 1968. It expresses the purpose and mission of the school.
The most dangerous time for the school was one year after it came into existence. On 21 July 1964, a racial riot broke out in Singapore but the school was spared any problem because classes were not in session. However, six weeks later, fresh riots broke out at Joo Chiat area. This epicenter of communal unrest was just about two kilometers from the school. In the words of Mr. Au Keng Chew, "On 3 September, we had wind of communal unrest occurring in the Joo Chiat area between Chinese and Malay gangs, and as soon as parents phoned in to inquire about their children’s safety, I decided to close the school. I ordered the gates to be manned by teachers and the watchman..." Parents started to appear at the school gates. As a security precaution, they were not allowed into the school compound. They had to identify themselves and also be "properly identified by their sons or daughters", before they could take them home. For students whose parents did not come to get them, Mr. Au organized the teachers and staffs to ferry them home. Irregardless of their race, they were all driven home safely.
The neighbors who lived around the school were to be commented for their kindness and help. When the news of the riots broke, all the canteen operators fled. Thus during the ordeal, there were no foods or drinks for the staffs and students. It was the neighbors of all races who brought biscuits, drinks and other foods.
"When school re-opened," wrote Mr. Au, "the pupils returned to school surprisingly unaffected by the scary reports of the past few days of fights in their locality. I believed that the conduct of the teachers of the different language streams working solidly together to see to the safety and the welfare of the pupils regardless of their race could have impressed them and their parents that all could be well if we could put aside our differences. The conduct of my staff was exemplary."
[edit] 70s
Dunman Secondary students and staff were in a class of their own. Less than ten years after its inception, in 1970, Dunman put up a Youth Day performance.
A pioneering staff of the school, Mrs Ng-Tan Eng remembers that staff and students did everything on their own – from the choreography to the costumes – and put up a very impressive display. In fact, so impressive were they that the school was invited to put up the same item for that year’s National Day Parade. It was indeed a great and rare honour as Dunman was the only school invited to do so that year. A new block was erected in 1971 to meet the needs of the students. By 1975, Dunman had already celebrated its tenth anniversary. For the first time, staff members who had served more than 10 years were awarded medals by the SAC.
[edit] 80s
In 1982, The school had its first lady principal, she was Mrs Janette Ho. The former Dunmanite’s Association (FDA) was formed in 1985 During the late 80s, The school turned 25 and new initiatives were started: the PCCG programme was piloted; Dunman Focus, a quarterly newsletter, made its debut; and the first Students’ Council was founded and the Prefectorial Board was defunct.
The school also repeated its remarkable achievement of 1970 when the students participated in the Fan Dance Display for the SYF Opening ceremony and the National Day celebrations.
[edit] 90s
The 1990s saw a plethora of new initiatives brought into the education system. On 20th May, Dunman Secondary School began a new phase in its history at Tampines Street 45.
After the relocation to Tampines, as Dunman moved into the nineties, it became increasingly obvious that it was transforming itself into an institute of reputation. The early years had laid the foundations for the success and achievements that unfolded with its entry into a new age.
[edit] 1997
Dunman together with 6 other schools formed EastOne Cluster under Superintendent Mrs Yu Sing Tong.
In December, Mr Gan Chin Huat became the school’s 10th principal. With his appointment, there is a sense of completion as Mr Gan was a former student of Dunman. He was also the first former Dunmanite to be appointed a Principal.
Under his leadership, several innovations in teaching strategies and learning environment were introduced.
[edit] Up to today@Dunman Sec
There was a trial test as for an event that all students cannot come to school for safety/security reasons like terrorism threat or an avian flu pandemic outbreak in Singapore, the school was closed for a day and wanted to try out a system software that allow students to study and do homeworks from their computers@home and the turnout rate satisfy the school target.
In early 2006, Dunman Secondary School revamped the basement with the suggestions from students. The doors leading to the basbement were painted to create the illusion that it leads into a dark and long tunnel. Recently, a jamming room equipped with guitars and drums for the musically-inclined Dunmanites was added. The corridors outside the Design & Technology room were also given a fresh new look. The designs change with every few metres of wall area. The design is now reported to be changing soon.
The school's campus is currently undergoing upgrading under the Programme for Rebuilding and IMproving Existing schools by the Ministry of Education. The school is being expanded, improved and given a whole new look. The school hall is being made twice as big and the new hall will have air-conditioning. The school will also have an indoor sports hall.
In 2005, after the Boxing Day Tsunami, an ex-student approached the school with an idea: to organise a concert in order to raise funds to aid the victims of the unfortunate disaster. Arrangements were made for celebrities and students to perform at the event. The concert managed to raise S$35,000.
In 2008 Dunman Secondary School had donned their new logo
http://dunmansec.egenie.org/home/aboutus/badge.htm
[edit] School Awards received
Dunman Secondary have been reputable for receiving awards that promote environmental care and academic improvement. All awards below are from both government and private sectors.
[edit] Special Awards
School Distinction Award (2007-2011)
[edit] Environmental Awards
Sustained Lotus Achievement Award (2008-2010) Only school to get the Singapore Greenplan 2012 award, Gold Award in NEA's Recycling Competition.
[edit] Awards
Dunman Sec have been receiving many awards since 1990s
- Singapore Quality Class
- People Developer award
- Sustained Achievement Award
- Best Practice Award
- Greenplan 2012 Award
- Innovator Award in Innergy Award 2005
- Sustained Lotus Achievement Award from the Singapore Environment Council.
- National Champions in The C Division Category For Netball in 2007
- IT MAP Challenge 2007 2nd Secondary Schools Category
- Dunman Choir got Gold With Honours for the Singapore Youth Festival 2007 Choir Secondary School Category.
- Dunman Choir got Gold with a score of 92.8 over 100 in the Under-16 category of the International Festival of Advent and Christmas Music 2007 in Bratislava. This means that we achieved second place for the category.
