Jointly reported by:
Phang Kor Yee Jr1S(5)
Khoo Xin Yi Jr3Z(6)
Lim Zhe Yih Sr3ScE

     Time flows like a rushing river, yet we stay atop the steady raft we’ve built over the past 113 years, bound by the experiences and memories we share. On the 10th of September, Kuen Cheng High School held its 113th Anniversary cum Teacher’s Day Celebration with each class playing a prerecorded video, which was also livestreamed on Facebook. The theme for the celebration was 《日·延》, signifying the unity and perseverance Kuen Cheng members possess while weathering through the dark and stormy pandemic.

     The celebration started at 7:30am with a group dance featuring members of the Rhythmic Gymnastics Club, Basketball Club and various teachers. Individual videos were collaged to form a video with the song “We’re All In This Together”. The two emcees then officially announced the starting of the celebration followed by speeches from School Board Chairman Tan Sri William Cheng and Principal Dr Chua Lee Lee. Soon after, a virtual cake cutting ceremony was held, symbolizing the 113th birthday of Kuen Cheng High School.

Virtual Cake Cutting Ceremony

ACG Short Animation

     Following more wishes from the Board Members, an animation made by the Animation, Comic and Games Research Society (ACG) was played, portraying Kuen Cheng High School as a human protagonist who goes through her own past. From the start of Kuen Cheng Girl’s School to persisting as an independent Chinese school and accepting boys after decades of administration, Kuen Cheng High School has gone through more than a century of hardships, becoming the pride and glory that is known to us today.

     Next up, students Low Ying Zi and Hiew Ying Xuen sang a harmonious duet of the “Hundredth Year Anniversary Anthem” 《百年颂》 and “Threads of Friendship” 《丝丝情谊》. In between verses, students Carmen Ngo, Scott Koh and Natalie Chan also showcased their gratitude towards teachers via poem recitals in Chinese, Malay and English. The mix of melodious music and heart-touching literature made an excellent performance, reminding teachers of their students’ ever-growing appreciation.

Duet by Low Ying Zi and Niew Ying Xuen

     Moving on, the Drama Club collaborated with Ms Theng Kai Joe in a drama performance titled “If I Were A Teacher”, expressing the hardships teachers face. The protagonist, Henry, is a lazy and rude student who originally thinks his teacher, Ms. Theng, has an easy life being a teacher. However, he is given a day to experience what it is like to be in her shoes, finding out that it is much harder than it looks. In the end, Henry apologises to Ms Theng and vows to study well, even thanking her.

     After that, an interview was conducted with around 30 teachers. Upon replying to the question, ‘How many years have you been teaching in Kuen Cheng, and what has been your motivation to stay?’ The years varied from teacher to teacher, while the majority of answers were related to the friendly and welcoming attitudes of their students and colleagues.

     Regarding the question, ‘What is your favorite thing or happiest memory while working in Kuen Cheng?’, teachers once again answered with students and colleagues. The most memorable were of students showing love and respect to not only the teacher but also the subject. Some teachers even said that the food was the biggest selling point for working here. The last question was ‘What unexpected things have you experienced after becoming a teacher?’ To answer this, many brought up changes in their lifestyle and personality; earning the ability to learn from each other and positive interactions with students were also frequently mentioned. To wrap the interview up, the teachers wished Kuen Cheng High School a bright and booming future.

     Following this, the emcees announced a gift prepared by the School for all the teachers: a foldable desk. Then, the celebration continued with the Long Service Award Ceremony. The awards were given to teachers who have served Kuen Cheng for 10 years and above, some even up to 40 years. Students and colleagues who knew the teachers had filmed short videos to congratulate and thank them for their efforts. The emcees then announced the award winners for the Acrostic Poem Competition, Photo Editing Competition and parody competition of “Who Wants to be a Millionaire”, all of which were held beforehand.

Long Service Award Ceremony Wishes

     Before the event ended, President of the Organizing Committee, Lee Shuk Wei along with the Vice Presidents, Nurdavina Eleanor Ezra, Chen Eyen and Wong Heng Hei, all gave speeches to bless the school. After the speeches, videos and short messages by the school alumni were shown, mostly to advise students, telling them to cherish their secondary school life as it is a unique period of time in our lives which cannot be repeated in the future.

     The celebration ended around 9:00am, and the easter egg mentioned by the emcees at the beginning of the event was finally revealed to each class. The easter egg consisted of a custom WhatsApp sticker pack with relatable images made by the committee members of the event.

WhatsApp Sticker Pack

     Though the official celebration had ended, some classes still had their own ways of thanking their teachers. A great number of them made e-cards and collaborated to write notes about how grateful they were for their teachers. Although such traditions may not come as much of a surprise, teachers were still delighted to receive such thoughtful gifts, proving just how much students and teachers alike appreciate each other.

     Happy 113th Anniversary, Kuen Cheng High School! Here’s to another year of gratitude and prosperity! May Kuen Cheng continue to bridge the lives of students forevermore.