Nan Hua High School

Nan Hua Secondary School is a school steeped in traditions and throughout its 88 years it has thrived under Singapore's changing education needs.

Name	Nan Hua Secondary School
Abbreviation	NHSS
School Code	3047
Chinese Name	南华中学
Pinyin	Nánhuá Zhōngxué
Colours	White, Blue
Address	41 Clementi Ave 1 Singapore 129956
Country	Singapore
Town	Clementi
Established	1917
Community	Urban
Type	Autonomous Secondary (from 2006 onwards)
Religion	Secular
Students	Both boys and girls
Levels	Secondary 1–4 (13 to 16 year olds)
Website	Link

History

Nan Hwa Girls' School was founded on June 14 1914 by Mr Xiong Shangfu, an overseas Chinese. It was to provide an opportunity for young girls to receive an education. It had a very humble beginning at Coleman Street. It originally had 100 Chinese girls but it grew so rapidly that its school campus cannot accommodate them. So a new school building at Bencoolen Street was ready by 1921.

However on 1924, the school closed temporarily due to financial problems. After a series of public appeals debts are settled and the school thereafter re-opened.

By 1928 there was a Basic Teachers' Training Program in place. It resulted in a more serious space constraints. The school hence moved again, this time to a new school building in Adis Road, in 1941. It became the Main School, for normal training classes for teachers and some primary classes. The old building along Bencoolen Street is solely for primary classes.

World War II swept Singapore a year after and the school closed during this period. The Japanese Army had used the Adis Road campus as their headquarters.

In October 1945 the school re-opened when the Allied Forces returned here. The School Management Committee immediately raised funds to rebuild the school campuses and enrol students. Secondary classes were then put in place due to overwhelming response and the enrolment steeped at 700. The school's names changed to Nan Hwa Girls' High School in 1956 and the Adis Road campus became a secondary school after it terminated the entrance of primary school pupils in 1964. The campus in Bencoolen Street is also transformed into Nan Hua Primary School later on.

This was the turbulent period of Chinese education when the school decided to moved to the campus in 330 Clementi Ave 1 on 12 December 1982. It had already opened English-medium classes then. On 1984 boys were also admitted, this resulted in a boom in the school campus and a change of school name to Nan Hua Secondary School.

But there were troubles to come through. Then, the school was required to pay $4 million for its move. The School Management Committee had been unable to pay for the cost and on April 1 1986 the school was handled over to the Singapore Government. It then ceased to be an aided school.

Despite this, the school still progressed and became the 10th SAP school under the 1999 Chinese Language Review.

On 20 December 2003 it moved again to opposite its old campus at 41 Clementi Avenue 1 and was opened on 17 July 2005 by Mr Lee Hsien Loong, Prime Minister of Singapore.

Achievements

• Autonomous Status from 2006
• Singapore Quality Class (2005-2008)
• MOE TAF Programme Gold Award
• Lotus Award (2005 Singapore Green Audit)
• Singapore Green Plan 2012 Award
• National Arts Education Award (2 Silver - 2003, 2004)
• CHERISH Award (Platinum Award, 2005)
• Sustained Achievement awards in: Physical Fitness and Uniformed Group

School Values

The school values are "Loyalty, Filial Piety, Humanity, Love, Courtesy, Righteousness, Integrity, Sense of Shame," a translation of the Chinese , 忠 孝, 仁, 爱, 礼, 义, 廉, 耻 (pinyin: zhōng, xiào, rén, aì, lǐ, yì, lían, chǐ, ).

School Philosophy

Mission

To nurture confident, creative and cultured students with a passion for learning

Vision

To be a SAP school of distinction that celebrates thinking, learning and each child's potential and talent.

Strategic Direction

• Academic Excellence
• Character Development
• Student Talent and Leadership
• Developing Staff Capacity
• Collaboration with Stakeholders

School Song

Years it takes to build a nation
Strive we to this end with valour always
Nurtured we from childhood through our youth
Finest essence spread we all our days
Loving, loyal, filial, upright, courteous be
Patient tolerant and humble we shall be
Work together each dutifully
Forward to the future eagerly

Special in Nan Hua

Nan Hua is only divided into levels and classes. No houses, no consortiums, just classes!

Higher management staff

The current principal is Mr Foo Suan Fong, a noted Chinese language expert in his field. He was appointed as vice-principal on July 2003 and took over Mr Loh Leong Beng in December 2003.

The current vice-principal is Mr Lam Mun Yin, taking the post in 1996.

Student Programmes

CCAs

• Sports: Badminton, Basketball, Netball, Softball, Table Tennis, Outdoor Adventure Club
• Uniformed Groups: Boys' Brigade, Girl Guides, Girls' Brigade, NCC (Land), NPCC, St John's Ambulance Brigade
• Performing Arts: Symphonic Band, Choir, Dance, Guzheng Ensemble, Harp Ensemble, Chinese Orchestra
• Clubs and Societies: Art and Design Club, Chinese Chess Club, Chinese Calligraphy Club, Chinese Cultural Society, Innovation Club, IT and Media Club, Media and Debate Club, Drama Club
• Others: Students' Council, Green Representatives, Nan Hua Care Force

Other Programmes

• Research Mentorship Scheme
• Collaboration with Institutions of Higher Learning & Industrial Partners, E.G. Fuji Xerox
• NAFA Visual Arts Modules
• Overseas Exchange Programme, e.g. Ho Shun High School and Changshou Foreign Language School
• Integrated IT & Project Work Programme
• Industrial Attachment
• NYAA Programme
• YEAH Programme

Environment

Nan Hua Secondary is set in a expansive but majestic environment. It lies on 3 hectares of hillland and this land is only used for 2 years.

Already, it had built an auditorium, a large aesthetics block and a large parade square. A student's activities centre has been built. An eco-garden is set to be open on September 2005.

Famous People From Nan Hua

• Mdm Ho Woon Ho, principal of Nanyang Junior College
• Mdm Fong Yuet Kuai. She is a legendary figure in both Nan Hua Primary School and Nan Hua Secondary. She spent 55 years in these 2 schools and she retired only on the year 2003.
• Hong Junyang, a contestant in Project Superstar, a TV programme in Channel U, Singapore
• Serene Chew, an ex-dropout who later will become New York's top model
• Poh Shu Zhen, the current national Chinese calligraphy champion
• Leow Yan Ling, Netball player
• All 3/7 people of class 2005

External links

• The school's official website