Holy Innocents' High School
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| Holy Innocents' High School 圣婴中学 |
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谦诚和爱 Sincerity and Charity
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| Address | |
| Singapore Hougang |
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| Information | |
| Type | Govt-aided |
| Established | 1892 |
| Session | Single |
| School code | 7108 |
| Principal | Mr Yap Wai Meng |
| Enrolment | approx. 1,310 |
| Colour(s) | White and Blue |
| Website | Link |
Holy Innocents' High School (Abbreviation: HIHS; Simplified Chinese:圣婴中学, Traditional Chinese: 聖嬰中學, pinyin: Shèngyīng Zhōngxué) is one of the earliest Catholic schools in Singapore. Founded in 1892 as a boys' school, the Chinese mission school has grown and expanded over the years and continues to provide secondary school education leading up to a Singaporean GCE 'O' Level certification, in both Express and Normal (Academic) streams. The Normal (Technical) stream students will only take the GCE 'N' levels. The school holds a Thanksgiving Mass to give thanks for the academic year towards the end of the year, as well as a Commencement Mass at the start of the academic year to seek for God's blessings over the school.
The co-educational high school has received major facelifts in 1994 and 2004 in order to upgrade its old colonial style buildings and facilities.
Today, Holy Innocents' High School stands on an elevated ground in Hougang Central, surrounded by HDB flats and the shopping centre named Hougang Mall.
Contents
Motto
谦。诚。和。爱 The school motto is sincerity and charity, while the school's values are humility, integrity, respect and love.
Culture
Good Samaritans
Students in Holy Innocents' High have the good reputation of being Good Samaritans in the community. In 2014, a group of students was reportedly lauded by members of the public removing debris from the middle of a busy road. [1] The news story was carried on national broadsheet, The Straits Times. In 2012, a Secondary 4 girl shaved her waist-length hair and raised $1000 for cancer-stricken children. [2] The school believes in Servant Leadership and this culture permeates all groups in the school, including students, staff and management. The caring environment of HIHS is also said to be one of the key reasons contributing to its stellar performance in national examinations.
Students
The Chinese language is widely spoken in the school. Almost all the students are Chinese, with some Indians and Malays.
The majority of the students come from Holy Innocents' Primary School, situated about 500 m away. Most students continue their studies in polytechnics or junior colleges such as:
- Anderson Junior College
- Catholic Junior College (affiliated)
- Hwa Chong Institution
- Nanyang Junior College
- National Junior College
- Serangoon Junior College
- Temasek Junior College
- Victoria Junior College
- Nanyang Polytechnic
- Ngee Ann Polytechnic
- Temasek Polytechnic
Holy Innocents' High School is also attended by international students from China, Philippines, Indonesia and Thailand.
Uniform
In 1997 upper secondary boys were allowed the option of wearing long trousers. Lower secondary school boys continued to wear shorts. For both females and males alike, students wear a white top and light blue bottom. The school has introduced a new uniform but the colours of white and blue remain unchanged.
Class names
Previously, all Express streamed classes were named after the alphabet: A, B, C and D. Numbers 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 were used for Normal Academic and Normal Technical streamed classes.
In 2003, the class naming changed, as below:
| Express | Normal Academic | Normal Technical | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Before 2002 | 2003 to 2006 | 2007–present | Before 2002 | 2003 to 2006 | 2007–present | Before 2002 | 2003 to 2014 | 2014–present |
| A | Humility | Humility | 1 | Faith | Faith | 4 | Hope | Hope |
| B | Sincerity | Sincerity | 2 | Joy | Love | 5 | Unity | |
| C | Charity | Courage | 3 | Peace | Peace | |||
| D | Diligence | Integrity | ||||||
| E | Integrity | Respect | ||||||
Alumni
Affectionately know as 'old boys', the alumni play an important role in supporting school initiatives, as well as students who are deserving of financial aids. As HIHS used to be a boys' school all the way until 1985, most of the alumni are 'old boys'. The alumni association then changed its name Holy Innocents' Old Students' Association (HIOSA) to reflect the change of HIHS being a co-ed school. Anyone who has attended Holy Innocents' High School, Holy Innocents' Primary School and Holy Innocents' Girls' School is eligible to join HIOSA.
Outward Bound course (Secondary 3 camp)
All secondary 3 students attended the OBS Camp in Pulau Ubin, which was most commonly held around the end of January every year until 2013. In 2014 & 2015, the secondary 3 camp was held in school, with most of the activities being done around the island of Singapore. The theme was 'Project Majulah!' and it was planned by the people from the Adam Khoo Learning Technologies Group. The Secondary 3 camp was held in school this year.
School songs
School song
圣婴中学，黉宇高嵩,
屹立狮岛，美丽如虹,
环境清幽，校址宽宏,
树人树木，俱收事功.
济济多士，共坐春风,
荣主救灵，功德无穷,
砥砺品学，婴德是宗,
谦诚和爱，景仰大同.
宣传文化，中西并攻,
阐扬学术，文质兼丰,
培植翘秀，失勤失忠,
蔚为国器，南邦之雄.
School Creed
Verse 1:
I am special because God created me,
And he has blessed me with unique talents.
I'll be responsible and strive for excellence so that,
I can contribute most meaningfully, to my school and society.
Chorus:
I will uphold integrity,
and be sincere and charitable.
In what I do,
I will not hurt others and myself.
So as to create a more loving,
and peaceful community* for all,for all!
Verse 2:
I am special because God created me,
And he has blessed me with great potential.
I'll strive to be an independent lifelong learner,
Humble in spirit, to accept new challenges.[Back to chorus]
Verse 3:
Standing with all, in the HIHS family.
We will be one where the love of God reigns.
Academic programme
Advanced Elective Modules
Holy Innocents’ High School offers Advanced Elective Modules (AEMs) from 2007. The school collaborates Nanyang Polytechnic (NYP) to offer elective modules to expand the learning experience of pupils and provide exposure to the practice-oriented learning approaches adopted in the polytechnics.
AEMs may be used for polytechnic admission under the Joint Polytechnic Special Admissions Exercise (JPSAE) and the Direct Polytechnic Admission (DPA) exercise. They may also be used for credit exemption in subjects that are relevant to the pupil’s subsequent course of study in the Polytechnic.
Elective Modules
The school offers students in the NA and NT streams the opportunity to take up Elective Modules over their upper secondary years. These Elective Modules are hands-on and creative subjects offered in collaboration with the ITE or other vendors, to expose students to subjects beyond their academic subjects.
Nurture A Student Programme
The school offers this programme to identified upper secondary students who are deemed to be at risk of failing their exams. Students are taught self-directed learning skills, provided with a coach to journey with them in developing these skills, and have peer coaches who will help them in specific subjects.
Subjects offered at GCE O Level
Beside compulsory subjects, English, Chinese, Elementary Mathematics and Social Studies, the school also offers:
- Additional Mathematics
- Art
- Design and Technology
- Food And Nutrition
- Higher Chinese
- Higher Malay
- Combined Science (Physics/Biology and Chemistry)
- Pure Biology
- Pure Chemistry
- Pure Physics
- Pure Geography
- Elective Geography
- Pure Literature
- Elective Literature
- Elective History
- Pure History
- Principles of Accounts
- Music
Affiliated Schools
Holy Innocents' Primary School and Catholic Junior College
Holy Innocents' High School is a partner of Temasek Polytechnic and Nanyang Polytechnic, offering Advanced Elective Modules to the relevant courses of these polytechnics.
Facilities
In 2004, the school moved to it temporary premises in Punggol during the rebuilding of Hougang campus. The school moved back in early 2006.
The upgraded campus at Hougang Central has an air-conditioned hall, a chapel, an alumni room, two theatres, and a 500 square meters roof garden. On June 2, 2006, the upgraded campus was opened and blessed by Archbishop Nicholas Chia, head of the Catholic Church, Archdiocese of Singapore.
Activities
Holy Innocents' High School has a co-curricular programme, with some groups gaining recognition on national level competition.
Awards
2015
- Modern Dance: Gold
- Military Band: Silver
- Choir: Gold
- Chinese Orchestra: Gold
- Drama: Gold
- NCC: Silver
- NPCC: Gold
- Scouts: Gold
- SJAB: Gold
2013
- Modern Dance: Silver
- Military Band: Silver
- Choir: Gold
- Chinese Orchestra: Silver
- Drama: Silver
2009
- Scout: Gold (consecutively for the past 4 years)
- St. John Ambulance: -Silver (consecutively for the past 7 years)
- St. John Ambulance: -6 chief commissioner award receivers
- St. John Ambulance: -zone first aid and home nursing competition (ambulance cadet TOC: 2nd position)
- St. John Ambulance: -zone first aid and home nursing competition (nursing cadet footdrill: 3rd position)
- St. John Ambulance: -zone first aid and home nursing competition (nursing adult footdrill: 2nd position
- Modern Dance: Gold
- Military Band: Silver
- Choir: Silver
- Chinese Orchestra: Bronze
- Drama: Bronze
2008
- Scout: Gold
- Scout: 6th National Patrol Camp (Gold Award)
- Scout: Serangoon District Field Day (Scout: Lower Sec Soccer) (Champion)
- Scout: Serangoon District Field Day (Venture: Basketball)(1st Runner-up)
- St. John Ambulance: -Silver (consecutively for the past 6 years)
- St. John Ambulance: -Soccer Girls (Champion)/ Soccer boys golden boots award: Samuel Quah Cheng Kai
- St. John Ambulance: -Zone first aid and home nursing competition (Nursing cadet foot drill: 3rd position)
- St. John Ambulance: - 10 chief commissioner award receivers.
- St. John Ambulance: - Foot drill Competition 2008: Champions
2007
- Scout: Gold
- Scout: National Scoutcraft and Pioneering Competition - Gateway (Gold Award)
- Scout: National Scoutcraft and Pioneering Competition - Logging (2nd Runner-up)
- St. John Ambulance: -Silver (consecutively for the past 5 years)
- St. John Ambulance: -Zone first aid and home nursing competition (Ambulance cadet foot drill: Champions)
- Choir: Gold
- English Drama: Gold
- Military Band: Bronze
- Dance: Bronze
- Chinese Orchestra: Bronze
2006
- Scout: Gold
- People Developer Standard
- Sustained Achievement Award: Uniformed Group
- Development Award: TAF Award (Silver)
- Achievement Award: Academic Value-added (Normal)
- NPCC: Silver
- St. John's Ambulance: Silver
- Military Band: Merit (Assessment of Marching Bands)
2005
- Scout: Silver
- Sustained Achievement Award: Uniformed Group
- Development Award: TAF Award (Silver)
- Choir: Gold
- Military Band: Silver
- NPCC: Silver
- Scout: Silver
- St. John's Ambulance: Silver
- Chinese Orchestra: Bronze
- Dance: Bronze
- Drama: Bronze
- Shooting awards
History
- 1892 Holy Innocents' High School was one of the first Chinese Mission Schools to be founded in Singapore and was named Tao Nan School. Bible studies and classical Chinese were taught.
- 1920 Fr Becheras was the Supervisor of the school. The name of the school was changed from Tao Nan to Holy Innocents' Boy School. It means pure, wholesome and innocent.
- 1942 During the Japanese occupation the school name changed to Syonan School
- 1957 A two-storey building consisting of 12 classrooms was built at 7 1/4 miles, Upper Serangoon Road (The present site). Fr Berthold, then Supervisor, appointed Fr Shih as Principal.
- 1958 Secondary classes were started and the name of the school was modified to Holy Innocents' High School. Archbishop Michel Olçomendy, blessed the school and declared it open on 5 January.
- 1960 to 1964 An additional eight classrooms and two laboratories were built.
- 1965 The school started her first Pre-University classes (Science Stream)
- 1968 A new three-storey building was added
- 1969 Fr Shih was transferred to Taiwan. Rev Fr Peter Lu assumed office as Principal.
- 1983 On 9 September, Mr Ho Kah Leong, Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Education, officiated the opening of the Auditorium and four classrooms. Rev Fr Peter Lu retired at the end of the year.
- 1984 The Vice-Principal, Mr Lee Tho Nee, was appointed Principal
- 1985 On 25 March, Holy Innocents' High School's primary school section moved to new premises at Lorong Low Koon and was named Holy Innocents' Primary School. The secondary section functioned as a single-session school
- 1987 A School Building Committee was formed headed by then Chairman of the School Management Board, Rev Fr Mathias Tung, to expand the school to a standard-sized secondary school. Approval was given with an 80% capital grant.
- 1992 The school's lower secondary classes occupied the ex-Hai Sing High School (now Hai Sing Catholic School) premises while the upper secondary classes reminded at the present site. Construction and refurbishment work started in May.
- 1994 The official commissioning of the upgraded facilities by Gregory Yong, Archbishop of Singapore, took place on 30 July The completed project added three new teaching blocks and an administrative block to the original building. The total built in area was 9000 sq m.
- 1996 Mrs Mary Bay, the Vice-Principal, was appointed Principal in July.
- 2001 Mrs Pauline Wong was appointed Principal in December
- Moved to holding school at 51 Edgedale Plains in June, while upgrading of the original site was completed.
- 2005 moved back to original site in December
- 2006 The new school building was officially opened and blessed by Archbishop Nicholas Chia on 2 June 2006
- 2007 Ms Soh Lai Leng was appointed Principal in December
- 2008 Celebrated the 50th Anniversary of HIHS with a musical titled 'I Want to Be A Star!' in June and a Mall and Dinner in November with Archbishop Nicholas Chia as celebrant and Guest-Of-Honour. Added the Performing Arts Studio.
- 2009 Added the Design Cove, a creative learning studio for the teaching of Design & Technology.
- 2011 Named all buildings in the school after patron saints and named the 'Chapel of the Holy Innocents' and 'Blessing Alley'. Launched the inaugural Mid-Autumn Festival Celebration.
- 2012 Celebrated our 120th Anniversary with a musical titled 'I am Special' - the HI-story Musical in April and a Mass and Dinner in November with Fr Frederick Quek as celebrant and Guest-Of-Honour. Set up the HIHS on Air (broadcast station) and launched the Journalism and Broadcasting Programme.
- 2013 Attained Niche Status for our Journalism and Broadcasting Programme and offered Direct School Admission. Celebrated with HIOSA on the establishment of Ren De Foundation in support of the Holy Innocents' students. Mr Yap Wai Meng was appointed principal in December.
- 2014 The school set up a distinctive programme in the area of student leadership and service learning, as its Learning for Life Programme. This programme taps on the foundations laid over the years in developing in our students leadership skills and a heart for others.
Principals
- 1920 : Rev Fr Becheras
- 1957 - 1969: Rev Fr Shih
- 1970 - 1984: Rev Fr Peter Lu
- 1984 - 1996: Mr Lee Tho Nee
- 1996 - 2001: Mrs Mary Bay
- 2001 - 2007 : Mrs Pauline Wong
- 2008 - 2013: Ms Soh Lai Leng
- 2014 - present: Mr Yap Wai Meng
Notable alumni
- Chew Chor Meng: Actor, Mediacorp
- Danny Teo: Founder and executive chairman, Gain City
- Edwin Goh: Actor, Mediacorp
- Lee Li Lian: former Member of Parliament, Punggol East SMC
- Lee Wei Song: Prominent music composer
- Pierre Png: Actor, Mediacorp
Transport
The nearest bus stops are opposite and outside the former Hougang Plaza, which is next to the school. Bus services include SBS Transit 74, 112, 113, 119, 136 and 147. Hougang Central Bus Interchange, Hougang MRT Station and Hougang Mall are within 5 minutes walking distance.
