Outram Secondary School
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| Motto | Labor Omnia Vincit |
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| Established | 1906 |
| Type | Government, Mixed, Single-Session |
| Principal | Choy Wai Yin |
| MOE Code | 3215 |
| Colours | Red, Yellow, Blue |
| Locale | Outram, Singapore |
| Enrollment | approx. 800 |
| Website | Link |
| Ministry of Education | |
 Republic of Singapore |
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Outram Secondary School, abbreviated as OSS (Chinese: 欧南中学, Pinyin: Oū Nán Zhōng Xué) is a government school in Singapore. Founded in 1906 as Outram Road School, then Outram School by gazette notification, Outram Secondary School is one of the oldest schools in Singapore. It is reputed for being the only school offering a commercial education in the 60s and 70s. It is also the first government school in Singapore to own a swimming pool. The current principal of Outram Secondary School is Madam Choy Wai Yin.
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[edit] History
[edit] Prior to 1874
Before 1874, in response to a need to provide the opportunity of learning English through the medium of the mother tongue of the various races, two schools were built in Singapore, one at Cross Street and other at Kampong Glam.
[edit] Establishment of school
As the numbers in the school at Cross Street grew, there was a plan to establish a training school to meet demands. But for some unknown reasons, this plan did not materialise. A new school, Outram Road School, built at Outram Road, was formally opened by the Governor of Singapore, Sir John Anderson on 26th February 1906. By Gazette notification in 1939 the word "Road" was deleted and the school was known as Outram School.
[edit] Early history from 1906
Outram School functioned as a Primary School. Acting as a feeder school, Pearl's Hill Standard One proceeded to Standard Two at Outram. Likewise, Outram was the feeder school to Raffles Institution. The working arrangement between Pearl's Hill School and Outram School continued up to January 1953 whereas the working agreement between Outram and Raffles Institution ceased with the fall of Singapore in February 1942. After the war, Outram boys competed with other Government Primary School pupils in securing places in Government Secondary Schools.
[edit] Lost records (1906 to 1942)
Under the orders of the Education Department, Mr SG Mohamed Ghows, who was Outram's Principal in 1941, sent all Outram School's records to the Pasir Panjang English School for safe keeping. Subsequently, this school suffered a direct hit during the World War II and with it went all Outram's past records, from 1906 to 1942.
[edit] Conversion into a secondary school in 1954
On 1st January 1954, Outram ceased to be a purely Primary School and was converted to a four year Secondary Commercial School with a four year secondary school course leading to the School Certificate of Commercial Education of the London Chamber of Commerce. With the conversion, the school motto was changed from "ON TO SUCCESS" to "LABOR OMNIA VINCIT" – Labour Conquers All. The School's crest was also changed.
[edit] Significant events from 1954 to present
1957 - The first group of candidates took the London Chamber of Commerce School Certificate of Commercial Education Examination which became the Secondary School Leaving Examination.
1958 - Girls were admitted to the school for the first time.
1961 - The school was renamed Outram Secondary School.
1964 - The first group of Secondary 4 students took the Examination for the Cambridge Overseas School Certificate and the school leavers no longer took the London Chamber of Commerce Examination.
1965 - The Old Outramians' Association was formed.
1968 - The school moved to its premises at York Hill, off Chin Swee Road. The school site at Outram Road was demolished in November/December 1968 to make way for Urban Renewal and Development. The Outram Secondary School Advisory Committee was formed.
1969 - The school was converted to a multi-purpose Secondary School offering academic education with commercial bias at Upper Secondary level. However, in recent years, this emphasis has changed to the Sciences and the Humanities. The Higher School Certificate in Commercial Education was introduced for the first time in Singapore. Outram was the only school in Singapore with Commercial Education up to H.S.C. Level till 1973.
1976 - The Foundation Stone of the Swimming Pool Complex was laid by the late Mr Hon Sui Sen, Minister for Finance and Member of Parliament for Havelock.
1977 - The Swimming Pool Complex was completed and officially opened by Mr Hon Sui Sen on 15th October, 1977.
1979 - A three year Pre-University course was introduced. A new School Advisory Committee comprising entirely of old boys and ex-teachers was formed.
1983 - The Ministry of Education piloted the School Executive Committees in some schools, one of which was Outram.
1988 - The pilot Outram School Executive Committee was taken off by the Ministry of Education.
1994 - Outram moved to its site at 10, Winstedt Road in June to make way for the redevelopment of a new premises at York Hill.
1996 - Outram celebrated its 90th anniversary.
1998 - Outram moved back to the present site in June.
1999 - Opening Ceremony of the new premises at York Hill on 28 August.
2006 - Outram Secondary School celebrates its 100th Anniversary.
[edit] Symbols
[edit] Core Values
The core values of Outram Secondary School are:
* Sense of Belonging * Perseverance * Integrity * Responsibility * Industriousness * Teamwork
[edit] The School Song
The Outram School Song, Labour Conquers All, was composed in 1966 by members of the school staff. Lyrics of the school song were composed by Mr Vincent Khoo and music by his sister, Miss Teresa Khoo.
[edit] Pre-war School Song
School Song
In the days gone by
We were at Pearl's Hill
Where we worked and played
With hearty goodwill
Now that we have gone
To greater heights
That we are proud
That Outram is our school
Three cheers for Outram School.
[edit] The School Badge
The new school badge was introduced in 1958. Initiated by C.A. Peterson, the design of the school badge was registered with the College of Arms, UK. Shaped Like a shield, it had a book and two clasps on the top, the coat of the arms of the city of Singapore on the left and three broad bands of red, blue and yellow, the colour of the school on the right. The original colours of the School were red and blue, but since the celebration of the golden Anniversary, yellow had been incorporated.
The Book - Academic learning, the principle aim of the school; to instruct, to impart knowledge, to teach and to learn.
The Lion - Our association with Singapore, the Lion City.
The Castle - A tower of learning; a place where all can study (work); a self-contained unit; a place where unity, cooperation and teamwork produce a community (tower) of strength.
The LION and the CASTLE together symbolize Outram as one of the centre of learning in Singapore.
[edit] Awards and Achievements
Below is a list of the awards and achievements Outram Secondary School had won in recent years.
* People Developer Singapore (PDS) Award (2005-2008) * PALM Schools' Green Audit Award * Cherish Award 2005 (Silver) * Rock Climbing - Inter-School Boys and Mixed Relay Events 1st (2004) * South Zone Interschool Netball B Division - 3rd (2004) * Swimming - Relay Finals bor both B&C Division (Boys) (2005) * Snooker - Wiraka Schools Snooker Championship - 1st (2005), Semi-Finalists (2006) * Dance - SYF -Silver (2005) Chinese Orchestra - SYF - Bronze (2005) * NCC - Best Unit Competition - Bronze (2004) * Girls' Brigade - GB Company Award - Silver (2005) * NYAA - 69 Bronze, 47 Silver, 1 Gold (2004)
[edit] School Advisory Committee
The School Advisory Committee (SAC) of Outram Secondary School not only promotes closer relationship between the community and the school, it also takes an active interest in student and staff welfare and encourages students' extracurricular activities aimed at all round development.
Members of the committee have organised various fund-raising events such as Swimathons and Funfairs to raise funds for school activities and improvement projects.
The committee is responsible in building the Swimming Pool and Squash Complex. The SAC encourages student participation in water sports. An evidence of this strong support is when SAC sponsored our water-polo team on an overseas trip for being first in an inter-school competition. The committee gives the Outstanding Student Award to the best all-rounder on Annual Speech Day Celebrations to inspire students to strive towards excellence. It also sponsors annual staff dinners in which the Chairman generously presents souvenirs to long-serving teachers and non-teaching staff in appreciation of their loyalty and service.
[edit] Parent-Teacher Association
The Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) of Outram Secondary School helps to promote co-operation and understanding between parents and the Principal and teachers for the welfare of the pupils. It provides opportunities for discussion and explanation of matters relating to the education of the pupils and encourages social interaction between parents and teachers. In Outram, the PTA has been deeply involved in promoting pupil welfare. Annually, it gives a scholarship award to the top 'O' level student and bursaries to needy pupils. It encourages pupils to read by presenting shields to champion reading classes. It also inspires excellence in sports by donating a challenge trophy for the champion house for the annual cross country championship.
Every year, the PTA hosts the Secondary One Orientation to familiarise new pupils and parents with the school and its facilities. It organises gatherings for teachers and parents to discuss pupils' progress. It also organises talks for parents as well.
[edit] Old Outramian's Association
The Old Outramians' Association (OOA) serves as a link between past students and the school. It enables past students to gather and interact, preserving and renewing old friendships, and provides an opportunity for past students to give something back to the school which has nurtured them.
Old boys are role models and a source of inspiration to present pupils to strive towards success. Above all, they help to instill in pupils the sense of loyalty and pride for the school.
Like the SAC and PTA, the Old Outramians' Association encourages excellence in ECA and academic performance by giving awards to outstanding students on Speech Day Celebrations. It has helped to raise funds for the school by organising charity dinners, a golf championship and a film premiere. The OOA has also offered the use of the OOA Room, a facility fully funded by the OOA, to the school as a Pupil Activity Centre - a "home away from home" or after-care centre for the latchkey pupils.
[edit] Notable alumni
This image is a candidate for speedy deletion. It may be deleted after Monday, 24 December 2007.
- Wong Kan Seng, current Minister of Home Affairs and Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore.
- Gurmit Singh, a singaporean actor, host and comedian in Singapore. Gurmit Singh is best known for starring in a Singaporean sitcom, Phua Chu Kang Pte. Ltd as Phua Chu Kang
- Irene Ang, a Singaporean actress and comedian.
- Dawn Yip, a singer turned entrepreneurer who is one of the founders of Jean Yip Group, one of the largest hairdressing chains in Singapore.
- Wee Kim Wee, former president of Singapore.
- Chua Kim Yeow, ran for first elected Presidency elections
[edit] Current situation
Mdm Choy Wai Yin is the current principal (the 43rd principal in 100 years) of Outram Secondary School. Outram Secondary School Chinese Orchestra had organized their first ever public performance at Victoria Concert Hall on 28 September 2006. It had been the school's first public performance in 20 years. The school is going to have new electives relating to commerce and business next year, with also an Advance Elective Module course conducted with collaboration with Singapore Polytechnic.
Outram Secondary School has built three Mother Tongue Culture Rooms (Chinese, Malay, and Indian) on the sixth floor to let students develop an interest and appreciation of the traditional cultures.
From January 2008, Outram Secondary School will partner with Singapore Polytechnic's School of Business to offer a new applied subject called "Introduction to Enterprise Development". This would enable students to pursue their interests in Enterprise Development.
[edit] External links
[edit] References
1.Kelvin Y.L. Tan. Labour Conquers All: 100 Years of Outram Secondary School (2006). Singapore. ISBN 981-05-5775-2. 2.School Advisory Committee, Parent-Teacher Association, Old Outramian's Association extracted from http://www.outramsec.moe.edu.sg 3.Centennial Speech Day (from Channel News Asia)
