alumni mag nov 2013 (2)
DESCRIPTION
This is part 2 of the St Gabriel's Alumni magazine which was published in Nov 2013. It celebrates 60 years of St Gabriel's School, founded in 1953.TRANSCRIPT
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2 Highland RoadSt Gabriel’s Primary School (1969 – 1992)
1969 1988
1988
SGPS entrance in 1969, with Mr John Teo & Mr Peter Goh
View of Immaculate Heart of Mary Church and School Field from SGPS
Afternoon school assembly
All decked out with flags and decorations for our Silver Jubilee
The gates of SGPS in Highland Road closes for the last time in 1988
2 Highland Road Today: Catholic Archdiocesan Education Centre
1969
23
220 Lorong ChuanSt Gabriel’s Primary School
SGPS at 220, Lorong Chuan in 1989
1989
2013
Field of Dreams
SGPS after PRIME in 2013
24
SGSS Today
24 Serangoon Avenue 2St Gabriel’s Secondary School
SGSS
Christening the school field with a kick-about
SGSS after PRIME
1993
2003 2013
25
The Jovial Kachang Man
Assembly and recess
Assembly in 1958 25th Anniversary Gala Concert in 1978
Recess 1959
End of Term Concert 1963
SGSS Chinese New Year Celebrations
SGPS Aces Day 2001
SGSS Speech Day 2010
1958
1959
1963 2001
1978
20101963
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Gabrielite Spirituality
SGSS Mass
Bro Adolphus hands over a statue of our Lady to Mr Paul Lee
Sister Victorine and Ms Gomez leading the Crusaders in prayer
SGPS Chapel service
1999
Holy Week 1999 with Bro Dennis
First Friday Mass at IHM Church
1983
2012
1960
2012
1978
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Classroom lessons
Learning Journey at SGSS using mobile devices at Fort Canning
1960
1963
Juniorates hard at work in 1960
Group study and cooperative learning
Art and Craft lesson
1990
Science Monitor Training at SGPS
2013Mr Koh Huai Pang in the Science Lab
2013
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Then: Character Development, Student Leadership And Citizenship
1969
1970
Mr Peter Goh and the Red Cross
Hoisting our flag high at the parade 1969 NDP
This is how you spike a volleyball
1969
Old boys soccer team in 1972
1960
1972
1976
March with pride at our SGPS opening in 1969
Rifle practice at SGSS school field
29
Swing that bat in 19741974
1992
Sprinting to victory at the National stadium in 1983
Table Tennis
1990
Weeding the flower beds outside our classes in 1990
1983
1990
1983
Teachers as Swimming Instructors in our inaugural Swim Program, 1983
Charithon 1992
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Now: Character Development, Student Leadership and Citizenship Today
SGPS Leaders Investiture
Exhibition soccer games in Thailand
SGSS Speech Day, Gold Standard for Scouts, NCC, NCC (Air), NPCC and Red Cross
Soccer: National B Division 4th
WushuJudo and Karate
31Hail our Sports Club!
Trying for a hole-in-one
Golf Champions
SGSS Badminton
Floorball: National Floorball
Runners-Up
Softball
Health Recreation Club
SGPS shuttlers
SGSS Speech Day, Gold Standard for Scouts, NCC, NCC (Air), NPCC and Red Cross
Soccer: National B Division 4th
32
SGSS Sports Carnival
SGPS open house
Skipathon
Shooting champions
Racing to the finish line at our annual Cross-Country Run
Games and Sports Day
Now: Character Development, Student Leadership and Citizenship Today
33
SGPS Brass Band at our outdoor
performance
SGPS Aesthetics
SGSS Concert Band (SYF Distinction Award)
SGSS Guitar Ensemble (SYF Accomplishment Award)
Chorale (SYF Distinction Award)
SGPS Media Club and Media Resource
Library
Infocomm Club and Library
SGSS Aesthetics Recreation Club
SGPS Creative Expression Club
SGPS Robotics and Science Club
34
Our Gabrielite Prayer
Father, ever loving, You who have heard the cry of your people, make us attentive to the cries of all Your children, our brothers and sisters.
Jesus, our brother, You came into this world not to judge but to save, help us to follow Your example of compassion and charity.
Holy Spirit, breath of love and unity, give us the courage to commit ourselves to justice and peace.
Mary, Mother of the human family, enable us to join hands with all those working to liberate children, women, and all the victims of injustice and dehumanizing conditions of extreme poverty.
Montfort and Deshayes, our founders and our inspiration, give us your courage and your strength to commit ourselves, to meet the great challenges of our time, to build a society where love and faithfulness will meet; justice and peace will embrace. Help us thus become authentic leaders for a greater brotherhood.
Visit to Metta Home: To Communicate and Give Comfort
I-Carnival Fundraising
Visit the Sick: SGPS Home Visit
SGPS Virtues WeekSt Gabriel’s Foundation Flag Day
“Those whom the world rejects must
move you the most!” – St Louis De Montfort.
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I remember, I rememberBy Bro Jean Denis
I will never forget St Gabriel’s Secondary, its staff and its pupils! You are all recorded in the deepest recesses of my heart.
St Gabriel’s wrapped my life like my skin wrapped my body. My years at St Gabriel’s were a picnic! My former students may not say the same thing as I was quite strict with them, But I LOVED THEM A LOT TOO.
My relationship with the staff from morning till afternoon was a sunny ‘Hi!’ followed by a big smile reflecting my great happiness to work with them. They were all so lovely, so caring, so generous to me. It’s no wonder that I was so fond of them!
St Gabriel’s boys have always been ‘walking surprises’! Most of the time, they were adorable but they could be cheeky or really naughty. However, when we were relying heavily on them, they never failed to be their best. When we had special appeals to make for donations, they would put their left hands on their hearts and their right ones in their pockets to help out.
Any tragic incident during my stay? I would say one, when the inspector tried to dump me from school because of my poor English – with a French accent on top of that! But Principal Brother Noel asked me to teach Science and Maths instead and that turned out to be a blessing to me as I had taught these subjects for 15 years in Canada before coming here.
You know what? Everything turns out to the advantage of those who love God! I want to leave you with this thought. May I suggest that you live by this message – you will be happy for the rest of your life.
With much love for you all,
Brother Jean Denis
Let us live and thus prove, Saint Gabriel’s boys
Bro Denis
Mr Lim Kok Kee: The PioneerAn interview by Jonathan Chen, SGPS, 2011
“I wanted to be a teacher in St Gabriel’s because I wanted to carry on the tradition”, Mr Lim Kok Kee, a former student and now retired teacher said.
He was among the first batch of students in 1953, when the school was founded. There were just eight classes for the Primary School and two classes for the Secondary School with only eight teachers.
Just like any other current student, Mr Lim Kok Kee was quite playful in school. When he was in Secondary 1 and 2, he and his classmates would throw a basketball down from the classroom to the basketball court as they wanted to play right after the school bell rang. As this was rather dangerous, the Brothers would scold them for the rash act.
When he first returned to school to teach, he was just an ordinary teacher who taught aesthetics. But he gained fame when he became a volleyball coach of two fantastic teams. One of his volleyball pupils was Mr Glenn Batchelor, who would later return to St Gabriel’s to teach.
Mr Lim also fondly reminisces about the “supervisor warning system” that the teachers in St Gabriel’s had at one time. The successful system worked like this: The first teacher who knew that the supervisor had arrived would send a student to alert the other teachers. But there was one instance when it did not work. By the time the pupil had alerted the teachers, the supervisor was already sitting inside a classroom! The supervisor then “commended” the teachers on having such a good system.
Today, Mr Lim is retired from teaching. He is an inspiration to many Gabrielites for his loyalty and dedication.
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Mr Henry Phang: A True Friend of the SchoolAn interview by David Lui, Michael Chen and Gabriel Lee, SGPS, 2011
Mr Henry Phang has many fond memories of his days at St Gabriel’s. He recalls, “There was never a dull moment at school. The bonds between the Brothers of St Gabriel, teachers and classmates were all close-knitted and friendly.” He loved going to school and always looked forward to returning to school after the holidays.
He joined St Gabriel’s as a 14-year old secondary student in 1959. He was a scout and prefect, as well as a member of the Young Christian Society and also the Literacy, Debating and Drama Society. He even represented the school in the National Oratorical Contest in 1960. One of his most memorable day was a trip organised by the Brothers to visit St Joseph’s English School, a Gabrielite school in Johore Bahru, Malaysia. A retreat was held there followed by a swim at Lido Beach. Not many people had the opportunity to travel and this was his first trip outside Singapore.
The spirit of St Gabriel’s is still very much with him today. He has supported and helped St Gabriel’s loyally in so many ways for the past 40 years and his contribution to the schools is deeply appreciated. He has been on the school’s Board of Management for more than 25 years right up to the inception of the St Gabriel’s Foundation in 2001. He then became a Governor of the Board till today. He also plays an active role as the Chairman of the School Management Committee and President of the Old Boy’s Association.
On his aspirations for the Gabrielite schools, he has this to say, “I hope more Gabrielites will return and be active to serve their school. Everyone can contribute a little of his time to volunteer in any of the committees, and help organise activities so that members can build the Old Boys Association into a more vibrant Alumni Association every Gabrielite can be proud of!”
Mr Lionel Louis: St Gabriel’s will always have a special place in my heart
My days spent in St Gabriel’s Secondary School will always have a special space in my heart. It was here where I discovered my hidden talents. My teachers and principals provided me with a variety of opportunities to further develop my talents. I also build confidence in public speaking because of the various emceeing, opportunities I had. Though it has been years since I graduated in 2000, the life lessons I have learnt from school are still remembered and practised till today. – Lionel Louis
Mr Hariss Harun: It is an understatement to say thank you
I graduated from St Gabriel’s in 2007. My time at St Gabriel’s was a memorable one. The experiences it brought me were priceless, from representing my school team to achieving grades that were respectable. St Gabriel’s has taught me many life-skills like self-discipline and perseverance. It’s an understatement to say thank you to all those who made my journey at St Gabriel’s a fruitful and pleasant one.– Hariss Harun
Let us live and thus prove, Saint Gabriel’s boys
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Let us live and thus prove, Saint Gabriel’s boys
A Tribute to Bro. EmmanuelBy Lloyd Yeo
Brother Emmanuel, our beloved Supervisor of Gabrielite Schools, celebrates his 62nd Anniversary of religious vows in 2013 but it is a joy tinged with sadness because we also see him step aside from the post of Supervisor of the schools of the Brothers of St. Gabriel for health reasons as of 1 July 2013.
Bro. Emmanuel was born on 28 October 1933 in Montreal, Canada. He came from a family of 10 children and grew up in a Gabrielite institution.
Bro. Emmanuel’s calling to be a religious is inspirational and a great story to be told. During an outing to a Gabrielite training centre at St. Bruno as a child, a Gabrielite brother told him, “Have a good look. This is the place where people who wish to give their lives to God as brothers can come. And I think God may have an invitation for you”.
Those words inspired Bro. Emmanuel to develop a love and desire to serve others as St Louis Marie de Montfort did. Other Brothers like Bro. Dede , his teacher, nurtured his vocation.
Bro. Emmanuel came to Singapore in 1954 and dedicated himself to his adopted country as a Singapore citizen. His many years of experience continues to touch many lives. Always jovial, inspiring and a role-model for many, he started teaching at Holy Innocents’ English School and he was also Principal of Boys’ Town English School/ Assumption English School (1960, 1963 – 1966), St Gabriel’s School (1960 – 1963,1969 – 1974) and Director of Boys’ Town for more than 30 years.
Bro. Emmanuel will always be our friend in Christ and we hold his farewell address close to our hearts: “I will still be around for as long as God will keep me alive and healthy enough; Singapore is my home. Do not be surprised if I come in from time to time to visit you and to give you words of encouragement. My new mission is to support all of you in schools with more prayers and love. God bless you and see you soon.”
God Bless You, Brother Emmanuel! Thank you for the very special and unique way you pray, care and inspire us! Ad Multos Annos!
Bro Emmanuel (1954)
Welcome address by Br Emmanuel as New Principal, 1969
Bro Emmanuel (2013)
Bro Emmanuel, our Golf Champ in 2013
Bro Emmanuel as a Soccer Player
38
School Management Committee
Mr Henry PhangChairman
Brother Dominic Yeo KohSupervisor of Schools
Mr Yeo Ann TaiVice-Chairman
Mr Andrew NgTreasurer
Mrs Esther LooMember
Mr Charles LeeMember
Mr Francis WongMember
Dr Chen Sze HuaMember
Mr Edmund LeeMember
Mrs Catherine ChiangPrincipal, SGPS
Mr Stephen ChinPrincipal, SGSS
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The Gabrielites (OBA) Executive Committee
Mr Henry PhangPresident,
Class of 1962
Bro Dominic Yeo KohSupervisor of Schools
Mr Yeo Ann TaiVice-President, Class of 1962
Mr Paul EdwardsVice-President, Class of 1968
Mr Gerald OngSecretary,
Class of 2003
Mr Bernard Chiang Asst Secretary, Class of 1968
Mr Daniel TanTreasurer,
Class of 1968
Mr Tony GohHonorary Auditor,
Class of 1968
Mr Francis LeeHonorary Auditor,
Class of 1972
Mr Lionel FooCommittee Member,
Class of 1968
Mr John ChiaCommittee Member,
Ex-Teacher
Mr Gordon LimCommittee Member,
Class of 1982
Raymond LeongCommittee Member,
Class of 1978
Mr Lloyd YeoCommittee Member,
Class of 1986
Mr Soh Kai GuanCommittee Member,
Vice-Principal of SGPS, Class of 1983
Mr Anith KumarVice-Principal
Ms Jackie Cheng Vice-Principal
Mrs Catherine ChiangAdvisor, Principal, SGPS
Mr Stephen ChinAdvisor, Principal, SGSS
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Celebrating60Years
41
42
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WITH COMPLIMENTSANDY AND DORIS LIM
CELEBRATING ST GABRIEL’S SCHOOL 60TH ANNIVERSARY
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St. Gabriel’s Primary School220 Lorong Chuan, Singapore 556742.
Tel: 6280 3628
www.stgabrielspri.moe.edu.sg
St. Gabriel’s Secondary School24 Serangoon Avenue 1, Singapore 556140.
Tel: 6288 9470
www.stgabrielssec.moe.edu.sg