Anglo-Chinese School (Independent)

Infobox Singapore School
name = Anglo-Chinese School (Independent)
英华学校 (自主) Yīng Huá Xué Xiào (Zì Zhǔ)


motto = The Best Is Yet To Be
established = March 1 1886
type = Independent
session = Single Morning Session
principal = Dr Ong Teck Chin
city/town = Dover
school code = 7001
colours = Red, Blue, Gold
homepage = [http://www.acs.sch.edu.sg/acs_indep Link]
enrollment = approx. 2000

Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) is one of the top schools in Singapore. It is a direct historical descendant of a school originally established in 1886 by Bishop William F Oldham at 70 Amoy Street, Singapore, one of a group of educational institutions collectively known as the Anglo-Chinese School. In recognition of its Independent status, the school, which was known as Anglo-Chinese Secondary School (ACSS), became known as ACS (Independent) in 1988. It shifted to its current Dover Road campus in 1992. Further extension work began in 2005 and the total school campus now consists of 11 hectares of land, various classrooms and laboratories, a boarding school and multiple sporting facilities. The school extension cost S$58 million of which a large proportion was subsidised by the Ministry of Education. The remaining amount, (roughly 12 million) was funded through many fundraisers such as Project 118 and Project 120.

ACS (Independent) was consistently ranked as one of the top secondary schools in Singapore in the now-defunct official school rankings released by the Ministry of Education. ACS (Independent) remains recognised for academic, cultural, and sporting excellence, and was awarded the pinnacle award of MOE's Masterplan of Awards, the School Excellence Award (SEA) together with the School Distinguished Award (SDA).

Currently, the school offers two main Education Routes - the Express Stream and the Integrated Programme. The Express Stream is a four-year course cumulating to the GCE 'Ordinary' Level Examinations while the Integrated Programme is a six-year course leading to the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme. It was recognised as an IB World School in 2005 and its first batch of students did spectacularly well. 9 students out of the 20 who obtained a perfect score of 45 points came from this school. The effect of this was so huge that it was covered on the cover page of the The Straits Times the local newspaper in Singapore.

The current principal and CEO is Dr Ong Teck Chin, who began his administration in 1994; the principal prior to this was Associate Professor Lawrence Chia.

History

ACSS was offered 'independent' status by Singapore's Ministry of Education in 1987. This was accepted by the ACS Board of Governors that year. Between 1987 and 1989, plans were drawn up for the establishment of a new campus for ACS at Dover Road. Several fund-raisers were organised. 1 March 1989 marked the groundbreaking ceremony at the new site at Dover Road. This was held in conjunction with the annual Founder’s Day celebrations. In January 1992, the move to the new campus was completed. The site was officially opened by Dr Richard Hu, Minister of Finance of Singapore, on 1 March 1993, the 107th anniversary of the school’s founding by Bishop Oldham. [ [http://www.acs.sch.edu.sg/acs_indep/pages/ACS_History ACS History] , www.acs.sch.edu.sg, accessed 27 August 2007.] This year, the school celebrated its 20 years of independence by having a 2 day long celebration on the 29th of February 2008 and the 1st or March 2008. The event was graced by Dr Tony Tan. The school also released a set of limited edition stamps for local use and a 20th anniversary book.

Education routes

ACS (Independent) has long offered the GCE 'Ordinary' Level Examinations for its students, and excelled in this respect, being ranked amongst the top 10 institutions in Singapore for a number of years since 1995. In recognition of their academic excellence, ACS (Independent) was invited by the Ministry of Education to run an Integrated Programme, which is targeted at the top students. As the top students are expected to attend university, the Ministry of Education deduced that it would benefit them to bypass the GCE 'O' Level Examinations, and sit directly for a pre-university examination. In 2004, ACS (Independent) began its Integrated Programme, in view of preparing its students to sit for the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP). Intakes for the Integrated Programme are at Years 1, 3 and 5.

IP students take different subjects from the Express stream students, helping them to adjust to the rigours of the IBDP. Amongst the subjects specially catered for the Integrated Programme include Introduction to Human Societies (IHS): a multi-disciplinary humanities subject; Language Arts, an English Literature subject; and Philosophy of Disciplines (POD): a Philosophy subject. In addition, they also have to complete a total of 100 Hours of Creativity, Action, Service, and Leadership (CASL) and submit an Individualised Study Option (ISO) which prepares them for the IBDP's Creativity, Action, Service (CAS) and Extended Essay (EE).

In January 2008, it was reported by The Straits Times that ACS(I) students taking the IB exams for the first time had produced results that were among the best in the world: nine students had obtained the perfect score of 45, making up almost half of the 20 candidates worldwide to do so.Ng, Jane, "ACS(I) among world's best in IB exams", "The Straits Times", 8 January 2008.] It was also reported that ACS(I)'s performance puts it among the top three schools in the world.

Principals

The current Principal is Dr Ong Teck Chin and has served as Principal in ACS (Independent) since 1994. He is also known as the Chief Executive Officer of ACS (Independent). As of next year, he would have been the longest serving principal of the Anglo-Chinese School, outserving T.W.Hinch.

Houses

* Cheong Koon Seng (CKS)
* Goh Hood Keng (GHK)
* Oldham (OLD)
* Tan Kah Kee (TKK)
* Thoburn (THO)
* Lee Seng Gee (LSG)
* Shaw Vee Ming (SVM)
* Tan Chin Tuan (TCT)

Boarding School

The ACS (Independent) Boarding School is located on 119 Dover Road, Singapore 139650. It houses around 400 students, mostly overseas scholars from the People's Republic of China, Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, and India. It is also known that the principal often invites students who under-perform academically to stay in boarding school during important years such as Year 4. This is because many of the teachers residing in the boarding school provide academic assistance to students staying there during a daily 2 hour prep time where students are to concentrate on doing academic work.

There are currently nine halls in the Boarding School, named after famous figures that contributed to the school in the past:

*Hall 1: T.R. Doraisamy
*Hall 2: Lee Kong Chian
*Hall 3: Tay Eng Soon
*Hall 4: Thio Chan Bee
*Hall 5: Runme Shaw
*Hall 6: H.M. Hoisington
*Hall 7: T.W. Hinch
*Hall 8: William F. Oldham
*Hall 9: J.S. Nagle

There are also plans to build two additional halls in 2008 (pending approval from MOE), including a hall housing ACS (Independent) female students.

The Shaw Library and Resource Centre

The school library is named after its financial benefactor, Runme Shaw. It is an extensive school library containing over 25,000 books of which many include Reference materials and IB Syllabus based Course Books. The library was recently extended in 2007, making it one of the largest school libraries in Singapore. After the extension, the library now boasts many facilities. Previous facilities include the heritage walk. A unique permanent exhibition fixture that educate others on the history of ACS. Other facilities that benefit the students include small 'Work Rooms' named after many famous authors such as Dickens and Shakespeare. These rooms, which come fully equipped with whiteboards and projectors, can be used by both students and teachers to conduct supplementary lessons, revision classes, or group works and other curricular discussion. The Shaw Library also boasts 45 Personal Computers that are networked to the school server as well as the library printers. The school's [http://sites.cst.acs.sch.edu.sg/libraryservices/ Library Services Team] runs and maintains the school library alongside professional librarians.

Co-curricular activities

Like all secondary schools in Singapore, it is compulsory for every student to take up a CCA. In ACS (Independent), each student is to participate in 2 CCAs, a Uniformed Youth Organisation and either Sports, Clubs and Societies or Cultural Activities. The various activities available under each category are listed below.

*Clubs and societies
**Art Club
**Astronomy Club
**Chess Club
**Chinese Chess Club
**Christian Fellowship
**CyberAC
**Debate Club
**Environmental Focused Group
**Health and Fitness Club
**Interact Club
**Photographic Society
**Math Competition Team
** [http://www.mpac.co.nr Media Productions AC]
**Multi Purpose Co-op Society
**Outdoor Activities Club
**Science Research Challenge
**Tourism Club

*Cultural activities
**Chinese Performing Arts
**Choir
**Dance Venia
**Drama Club
**Guitar Orchestra
**Philharmonic Orchestra

*Sports
**Aikido
**Badminton
**Bowling
**Basketball
**Canoeing
**Cricket
**Cross-country
**Fencing
**Golf
**Hockey
**Netball
**Rugby
**Sailing
**Shooting
**Soccer
**Softball
**Squash
**Swimming
**Table-tennis
**Tennis
**Track & Field
**Water-Polo
**Wushu

*Services
**ACSPress
** [http://compserv.org COMPSERV | CST]
**Media Resource Team
**Prefectorial Board
**Student Council
**Library Services Team

*UYOs
**National Cadet Corps (Air)
**National Cadet Corps (Land)
**National Cadet Corps (Sea)
**National Civil Defence Cadet Corps (NCDCC)
**National Police Cadet Corps (Land)
**National Police Cadet Corps (Sea)
**Boys’ Brigade
**Scouts
**St John’s Ambulance Brigade
**Symphonic Band

Achievements

ports and games

ACS (Independent) is renowned for its sporting excellence through the years, having produced many national champions and national sportsmen. It has traditionally been strong in, among others, swimming, sailing, water-polo and rugby. Even in the current day, it is still a sporting powerhouse that has won the "Top Boys School in Sports and Games" award ten times between 1998 and 2008. The record number of gold medals in a single season was achieved in 2002, where it won 13 gold medals and 11 silver medals. The school has held many winning streaks such as the "B" Division Rugby Title from 1997-2003 and the "C" Division Rugby Title from 1997-Present. In 2008, ACS (Independent) won a grand slam in Rugby, winning all three "A" Division, "B" Division and "C" Division titles.

National inter-schools championships (1989 onwards; 2007 onwards for "A" division)

*Air Pistol [http://app.sis.moe.gov.sg/schinfo/SIS_SearchDtls.asp?strCode=7001 School Information Service] , accessed 27 August 2007.]
**"C" Division
**"B" Division: 2006

*Air Rifle
**"C" Division: 2003
**"B" Division

*Badminton
**"C" Division: 1996, 1997
**"B" Division: 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1998

*Bowling
**"C" Division: 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2004, 2008
**"B" Division: 1995, 1996, 1998, 2004, 2005, 2006

*Canoeing
**"C" Division: 2000, 2004
**"B" Division: 2000, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008
**"A" Division: 2008

*Cricket [ [http://sites.cst.acs.sch.edu.sg/cricket/ ACS (Independent) - Cricket] , accessed 27 August 2007.]
**"C" Division: 1996, 2000, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008
**"B" Division: 2003, 2006, 2007, 2008

*Golf
**"C" Division: 2008
**"B" Division

*Rugby (15-a-side) [ [http://sites.cst.acs.sch.edu.sg/rugby/ ACS (Independent) - Rugby] , accessed 27 August 2007.] [http://redsports.sg/record-of-past-champions/ Record of Past Champions] , redsports.sg, accessed 27 August 2007.]
**"C" Division: 1993, 1995, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
**"B" Division: 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2007, 2008
**"A" Division: 2008

*Sailing
**"C" Division: 1999, 2000, 2001,2004, 2006
**"B" Division: 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2004, 2006, 2008
**"B" Division: 2008

*Softball [ [http://sites.cst.acs.sch.edu.sg/softball/achievements.php ACS (Independent) - Softball] , accessed 27 August 2007.]
**"C" Division
**"B" Division: 2006, 2007

*Squash [ [http://sites.cst.acs.sch.edu.sg/squash/achievements.php ACS (Independent) - Squash] , accessed 27 August 2007.]
**"C" Division: 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
**"B" Division: 2003, 2006, 2007
**"A" Division: 2007, 2008

*Swimming [ [http://sites.cst.acs.sch.edu.sg/swimming/achievements.php ACS (Independent) - Swimming] , accessed 27 August 2007.]
**"C" Division: 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2003, 2004, 2007
**"B" Division: 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2004, 2005, 2006

*Tennis
**"C" Division: 1991, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2004, 2005
**"B" Division: 1993, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2007
**"A" Division: 2008

*Water-Polo
**"C" Division: 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2005, 2008
**"B" Division: 1992, 1993, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2005, 2006

*X-Country
**"C" Division
**"B" Division: 2004

Odyssey of the Mind

ACS (Independent) boasts a long affiliation with the international Odyssey of the Mind competitions, with its school teams representing the nation as early as 1998 at the World Finals in Disneyworld, Florida. OM's early years in Singapore in 1999, 2000 and 2001 also saw ACS(I) dominating the nation's scene, consistently sending teams to the Finals at the University of Tennessee and University of Maryland respectively. Dr Ong Teck Chin, the school's principal, is also the tournament director for OM in Singapore. [http://www.odysseyofthemind.com.sg]

In 2006, ACS (Independent) sent 3 teams to compete in the World Finals in Iowa State University, USA. All 3 teams sent excelled, with ACS (Independent) winning its first-ever under-20 World Champions title. It also won the Under-20 Silver Medal and Under-15 Bronze Medal. The World Champions team comprised of year 5 students, the first batch of ACS (Independent) students taking the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme.

In 2007, ACS (Independent) sent 4 teams to the World Finals in Michigan State University, USA. For the first time, two teams were crowned World Champions in the Under-15 and Under-20 categories. The other two teams did well too clinching the 4th place in another Under-15 division as well as 5th place in another Under-20 division.

Recent results
2002: "University of Colorado, USA"
*Under-15 World Champions

2004: "University of Maryland, USA"
*Under-15 World Silver
*Under-15 World Bronze
*Under-20 World Bronze

2005: "University of Colorado, USA"
*Record 5 National Champions
*Under-15 World Champions
*Under-20 World Silver

2006: "University of Iowa, USA"
*Under-15 World Bronze
*Under-20 World Silver
*Under-20 World Champions

2007: "Michigan State University, USA"
*Under-15 World Champions
*Under-20 World Champions

2008: "University of Maryland, USA"
*Under-15 World Champions
*Under-20 World Champions

Cultural activities

ACS (Independent)'s Philharmonic Orchestra has obtained five consecutive Gold Awards in the Singapore Youth Festival competition, and is the only youth string ensemble that has done so. The Orchestra achieved two Gold with Honours awards at the recent 2007 SYF competition, for both its Secondary and College String groups. It has collaborated with the Singapore Armed Forces Central Band in March 2007, and also became the featured orchestra in the 2007 HSBC Young Talents' Concert.

The Symphonic Band also won a Gold with Honours award in the 2005 and 2007 SYF competition. It was also ranked as one of the top three bands in both the 2005 and [http://www.moe.gov.sg/ccab/musicdance/doc/syf%202007%20results/SYF2007CONCERT%20BANDSECCJResults.pdf 2007 SYF competition] . The band recently took part in the 17th Australian International Music Festival in Sydney, Australia, and attained a Gold Award.

The Guitar Orchestra, established in 2003, has won 3 consecutive Gold medals in the SYF competitions, with a Gold award for its Secondary Orchestra and a Gold with Honours award for its College Orchestra in the 2007 SYF competition. The Guitar Orchestra now has a total of 3 Gold medals and 1 Gold with Honours medal from 3 consecutive SYF Central Judging competitions.

In 2002, the school staged a musical, 'Godspell'. The students were directed by a Singaporean actor and director, Glen Goei. The music was handled by the Iskandar Ismail and Elaine Wan Chan, both Singaporean composers, while the choreography was handled by professional choreographers under supervision of Richard Tan.

In 2006, a combined orchestra featuring members of the Symphonic Band, Philharmonic Orchestra, Choir and Guitar Orchestra took part in an original musical, 'Haven'. The script was written by Vijitha Ranjee, the music was composed by Elaine Wan and directed by Ferdinand Quek, all of whom are teachers at the school. It received three performances on 4 August and 5 August2006.

General awards

ACS (Independent) has achieved the following awards for the year of 2006:
* Best Practice Award for Organisational Effectiveness
* Best Practice Award for Staff Well-Being
* Best Practice Award for Student All-Round Development
* Best Practice Award for Teaching and Learning
* Achievement Award for Academic Value-Added
* Sustained Achievement Award for Physical and Aesthetics
* Sustained Achievement Award for Sports
* Sustained Achievement Award for Uniformed Groups
* CHERISH Platinum Awards
* Singapore Quality Award
* School Distinction Award
* School Excellence Award

ee also

*Anglo-Chinese School
*Anglo-Chinese School (Barker Road)
*Anglo-Chinese School (International)
*Anglo-Chinese Junior College
*Anglo-Chinese School (Junior)
*Anglo-Chinese School (Primary)
*Methodist Girls' School (Secondary)

External links

* [http://www.acs.sch.edu.sg/acs_indep/ ACS (Independent) webpage]

Notes

1. ^ http://www.moe.gov.sg/press/2004/pr2004sea_sda.htm", School Excellence Award (SEA), Ministry of Education, Singapore, 2006

References