Bukit View Secondary School

Bukit View Secondary New Logo[1]

Bukit View Secondary School (BTVSS) (simplified Chinese: 百德中学; traditional Chinese: 百德中學; pinyin: Băidé Zhōngxué) is a government secondary school in Bukit Batok, Singapore.

Founded in 1986, the school is recognised for instilling creativity, passion and resilience in all her students to be people with moral integrity and are responsible to self and society.

History

The building of the school began on September 30, 1984 and was completed on December 29, 1985. She started classes with 450 students in the Secondary One and Two levels, and a teaching body of 15 on January 3, 1986, headed by the school's first principal, Mr Ow Chiong Hoo. In the same year, the school saw the first Investiture of the BtVSS Student Council, the formation of the School Military Band and the Library. The school was fully functional with the completion of the outdoor fitness stations and the landscaped garden. In 1987, Bukit View held their first Track-and-Field Meet, and also was the convenor of the West Zone Secondary Schools Badminton Tournament. The school facility also installed an electric kiln installed for students to explore their artistic talents through pottery.[2] On July 15, 1988 Bukit View was officially opened by Mr Chai Chong Yii, MP for Bukit Batok.[3] A school lecture hall was built and officially opened by the newly appointed MP for Bukit Batok Dr Ong Chit Chung on 6 November 1989.[4] In 1997 Bukit View also participated in the 2-day Pesta Sukan National 10's Rugby Tournament for the first time.[5]

On November 13, 1999 Bukit View, along with 7 other schools in Singapore and the National Institute of Education adopted the two-hectare Mandai Forest near Upper Seletar Reservoir Park to help restore the forest patch that was devastated an invasion of the Smilax-variable creeper plant on its grounds, over the years. The adoption project also planned to use the forest habitat restoration to facilitate hands-on learning of forest ecology and biodiversity and equip students and teachers with field-based learning strategies. It was also an opportunity for students from different schools to collaborate on a project that is both about learning and saving the natural environment.[6]

A student team led by Madam Maziyan Abdullah, participated in the 2008 World Media Masters on 28 March 2008, organised by IT Leisure and Education and supported by Creative Community Singapore, an initiative of the Ministry of Information, Communication and the Arts (MICA). The team, along with those from 15 other schools participating in the programme, had been provided with professional training on producing computer games since August 2007, enabling them to experience real-life computer game production work and a chance for selected winning team to market their game product commercially international.[7]

Host of important events

Bukit View played host to a number of educational activities for their educational zone. In 1987, she organized the first Annual West Zone Inter-Primary Schools Languages, Maths & Science competitions.[2] She was also the host for the finals of the inaugural Primary Inter-School Chinese Debate between Pei Chun Public School and Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus (CHIJ) on 23 June 1990. The Debate, organized by Mr Ow, saw the Convent emerging as winners for the first of the bi-annual competition.[8]

Between the years 1989 and 1991, the school hall was the venue of choice for important speeches delivered by VIPs from various social levels. They were organized by the Bukit Batok Community Centre Current Affairs Club, and chaired by MP, Dr Ong. Members of the public heard Dr S. Vasoo, MP for Tiong Bahru, delivering his thoughts on having a social network to help the needy, in his speech titled Perspectives on the lower-income group on 23 October 1990.[9] On 23 August 1991 a speech on China's foreign policy was delivered by Mr Zhang Qing, the then-Chinese Ambassador to Singapore to the public.[10] Singapore Ambassador to the US Professor Chan Heng Chee co-chaired a public forum titled The Challenges of Democracy on 12 November 1991.[11]

Redevelopment of campus

The Ministry of Education launched PRIME on 11 May 1999 to upgrade or rebuild about 290 schools built over the last 20 to 30 years, and as part of the Ministry's "Thinking Schools, Learning Nation" vision ensuring all schools have a conducive physical environment to enhance teaching and learning. Schools constructed before 1997 are upgraded with the construction of extension blocks and alteration of existing school buildings, or rebuilding that involves the construction of new buildings either on existing site or on available vacant sites. The project was implemented over a period of seven years from 1999 to 2005, in three phases with an estimated cost of S$4.46 billion.[12]

Bukit View's upgrading programme took place in June 2005, in Phase 6 of Prime project.[13] This upgrading consisted of the building of the New Block housing the new library, professional sharing room and computer labs. The Old Block and School Hall/Canteen were being refurbished. The Technical Block was expanded to include Chemistry, Biology and Physics Labs, F&N department and the Design & Technology (D&T) Department by December 2006. The upgrading of the main school area was completed by May 2008, and seeing through the completion of the school field and a new indoor sports hall.

Principals

Name of Principal Years served
Mr Ow Chiong Hoo 1986–1997
Mrs Mary Owyong 1997–1998
Mr James Ong Chye Hin 1998–2004
Mrs Tan Lay Hong 2005–2010
Mr Vasuthevan K Ramamurthy 2011–2018
Mr Kevin Ang Keng Jin 2018–Present

Vice Principals

Name of Vice-Principal Years served
Mr Loh Chu Yin 1997–2009
Mdm Jessie Koh 2004–2005
Mrs Grace Ong-Phua Yin Lin 2009-2011
Mrs Yvonne Ong-Teo Mei Lin 2011-2015
Mr Lau Yean Hui Stephen 2012–2014
Mr Gabriel Wong 2015–2017
Mrs Shirley Lee 2016–Present
Mr Kyris Ang 2018–Present

Identity & culture

Abbreviation

The abbreviation BTVSS was created for the school to prevent constant confusion between the school and Bedok View Secondary School since they share the abbreviation of BVSS in official records.

School Crest

The school emblem takes the shape of a yellow circle with four equilateral triangles inlaid in the centre of the circle. The first green triangle forms the initial 'B' of Bukit and the remaining one in blue represents the initial 'V' of View.

Uniform

Late 2007, the school held a uniform design competition among the students. The winning entry was a brown theme; the shirt is white with the school's logo and name sewn on with brown shorts or pants for boys, for girls, they have the option between culotte and pinafore. The pinafore differs from the standard, having a more vest-like appearance.

Academic information

Being a government secondary school, Bukit View Secondary School offers three academic streams, namely the four-year Express course, as well as the Normal Course, comprising Normal (Academic) and Normal (Technical) academic tracks.

GCE O Level Express Course

The Express Course is a nationwide four-year programme that leads up to the Singapore-Cambridge GCE Ordinary Level examination.[14]

Academic subjects

The examinable academic subjects for Singapore-Cambridge GCE Ordinary Level offered by Bukit View Secondary School for upper secondary level (via. streaming in secondary 2 level), as of 2017, are listed below.[15]

Notes:

  1. Subjects indicated with ' * ' are mandatory subjects.
  2. All students in Singapore are required to undertake a Mother Tongue Language as an examinable subject, as indicated by ' ^ '.
  3. "SPA" in Pure Science subjects refers to the incorporation of School-based Science Practical Assessment, which 20% of the subject result in the national examination are determined by school-based practical examinations, supervised by the Singapore Examinations and Assessment Board. The SPA Assessment has been replaced by one Practical Assessment in the 2018 O Levels.[16]
Sciences Language & Hunanities Arts & Aesthetics
  • Additional Mathematics*
  • Mathematics*
  • Physics (SPA)
  • Chemistry (SPA)*
  • Biology (SPA)
  • Science (Combined)
  • English Language*
  • English Literature
  • Mother Tongue Language* ^
  • Higher Mother Tongue Language
  • Geography
  • History
  • Combined Humanities (Social Studies & another Humanities subject at elective level)*
  • Art
  • Design & Technology
  • Food & Nutrition
  • Music

Normal Course

The Normal Course is a nationwide 4-year programme leading to the Singapore-Cambridge GCE Normal Level examination, which runs either the Normal (Academic) curriculum or Normal (Technical) curriculum, abbreviated as N(A) and N(T) respectively.[17]

Normal (Academic) Course

In the Normal (Academic) course, students offer 5-8 subjects in the Singapore-Cambridge GCE Normal Level examination.Compulsory subjects include:[18]

  • English Language
  • Mother Tongue Language
  • Mathematics
  • Combined Humanities

A 5th year leading to the Singapore-Cambridge GCE Ordinary Level examination is available to N(A) students who perform well in their Singapore-Cambridge GCE Normal Level examination. Students can move from one course to another based on their performance and the assessment of the school principal and teachers.[17]

Normal (Technical) Course

The Normal (Technical) course prepares students for a technical-vocational education at the Institute of Technical Education.[18] Students will offer 5-7 subjects in the Singapore-Cambridge GCE Normal Level examination.[18] The curriculum is tailored towards strengthening students’ proficiency in English and Mathematics.[18] Students take English Language, Mathematics, Basic Mother Tongue and Computer Applications as compulsory subjects.[18]

Achievements

In 1989, the school won Best Award and prize money of $3,000 in the 1989 National Mural Competition, an event held in conjunction with the Community Week '89 themed at social cohesion and racial harmony.[19][20]

Former student Harmi Kamis, received 5 nominations in the Malay music industry awards, "Anugerah Planet Muzik", in 2004 including 1 regional nomination which includes artiste and bands from Malaysia and Indonesia.[21]

Micromouse entry from Bukit View Secondary School, along with entries from Catholic Junior College and St Joseph's Institution were named overall winners for their shortest timings and intelligent maze-escaping strategies, in the fourth Singapore Inter-school Micromouse Competition held at the Ngee Ann Polytechnic on April 9, 1994.[22]

Aspiring actress Poon Er Ruziana Hadi also starred in the role as Sylvia in the 2nd season of the Malay TV drama series Soldadu (Soldier) in 1999.[23]

Former Bukit View student Lee Jianguang (Joeel Lee), topped the New Beetle Art Competition held in April 2000, with his unique Volkswagen Beetle design titled TropBeetle, featuring lush tropical colours and swirling floral patterns overlaid by black animal outlines.[24]

Bukit View also made it as one of the ten finalists in the 2nd National Schools Newspaper Competition organised by The Straits Times.[25] Her team also came in 2nd place in the Gears Of War (GOW) tournament at the Interschool eGaming Challenge organized and held at Funan DigitaLife Mall in March 2007.[26]

Mrs Tan Lay Hong was also awarded the Public Administration Medal (Bronze) at the National Day Awards in 2007.[27]

Jason Tan, from Bukit View class of 2000, became a chef of Le Saint Julien. He emerged as the selected winner of the Bocuse D’or Asia 2008 Singapore Selection held on 15 March 2008 at ITE College West (Clementi)[28] As chef de cuisine (head of kitchen) of Julien Bompard, eventually took a bronze medal in the Bocuse d'Or Asia held in Pudong, Shanghai in China in 29–31 May 2008. He went on to become Singapore's hope against 23 other international culinary talents in the finals of the Bocuse d'Or Concours Mondial de la Cuisine 2009 Culinary contest - equivalent to the World Cup of football - in Lyon, France.[29] Jason was also a featured chef in the TV programme, 食尚探路 (Food Detective).[30] The young culinary talent achieved numerous accolades since then.[31]

Teo Beng Ngo, Ivan Tan and Lee Hian Tee from the class of 1989, came in 2nd place in the 2nd World Peace Ethics Contest (World-PEC), organized by the Dhammakaya Foundation and held at the Singapore Kalyanamitta Centre on January 20, 2007[32]

Leow Jun Cong from the class of 2011 was one of seven students in Singapore to score As in all six examinable subjects for the GCE Normal (Technical) Examination.[33] Jun Cong was also awarded the Lee Kuan Yew for Outstanding Normal Course Award.[34]

Dr Jonathan Loh Yuin-Han, from the class of 1993, and principal scientist at A-Star's IMCB, became the first Singaporean scientist to be elected as a member of the prestigious World Technology Network (WTN)[35] In 2009, Dr Loh was presented with the A-Star Young Scientist Award, for his outstanding pioneering achievement with deriving multiple cell types from embryonic stem (ES) cells.[36] The young aspiring scientist was first highlighted in Straits Times, for his indomitable spirit to rise to success with his humble polytechnic diploma.[37]

Yasmin Sim Su Hui, 15, from class of 2016, became the first Bukit Viewan to win the HSBC/NYAA (National Youth Achievement Award) Youth Environmental Award. She is also the youngest recipient to win this prestigious award in Singapore.[38]

Young Designers' Award

Bukit View Secondary School culture encourages art and design with her students. This culture resulted with a total of 19 awards with their innovate designs, in the 12 years' of Young Designers Award.[39] In years 1997 - 2000 alone, she has produced seven winners consecutively in the Award competition.[40]

Bukit View won their first Young Designer Awards in 1989, with the Snap-up Toilet Seat by Leon Koh, and the Unishade designs by Laurence Wong and Jason Ho.[41] In 1990, Li Jianguang (Joeel Lee)'s unique design titled Two-in-One Kettle, showed a two-compartment kettle which enabled water and coffee or tea to be boiled, with a slot allowing disposable filters to be fitted in on one side while water boils in the other. This design came with a 240-volt heater in the middle, to speed up the heating. This unique design was mentioned in the feature article published in The New Paper.[42]

On September 22, 1993, 16-year-old Ow Hee Jiann won a 2nd prize in the Intermediate category of the Young Designers Award for his innovative wheelchair design.[43] In 2000, 14-year-old Choo Shiling won the top prize in the Junior Category of the Young Designers Award, with her design Nature Seat. Her winning entry beat the other 228 entries in that category.[40]

References

  1. ↑ "School Emblem". bukitviewsec.moe.edu.sg. Retrieved 2018-03-13.
  2. 1 2 Chiong Hoo, Ow (1989). "Principal's report". Bukit View Secondary School Annual 1989.
  3. ↑ Chiong Hoo, Ow (1988). "Opening message". Bukit View Secondary School Official Opening 15 July 1988. Kefford Press Pte Ltd: 5.
  4. ↑ "Cherish and defend Singapore, MP urges". Straits Times. 1989-11-07. p. 20.
  5. ↑ 7.00pm TCS English News (Television). Singapore: Television Corporation of Singapore. 1997-08-16.
  6. ↑ "NIE adopts Mandai Forest" (PDF). NTU News. No. 35 (January–March): 4. 2000. Retrieved 2008-10-01.
  7. ↑ Teo, Cheryl (2008-02-26). "School's their new playground". The New Paper.
  8. ↑ Wee, Chau (1990-06-25). "CL2 girls win Chinese debate Loser but still the best". The New Paper.
  9. ↑ "Grassroot bodies urged to take lead to help the needy". Straits Times. 1990-10-25. p. 25.
  10. ↑ Joh Ting, Koh (1991-08-26). "China will pursue foreign policy based on five points, says envoy". Straits Times. p. 21.
  11. ↑ "Forum on democracy". Business Times. 1991-11-05. p. 2.
  12. ↑ "Programme For Rebuilding And Improving Existing Schools (PRIME)" (Press release). Ministry of Education. 1999-05-11.
  13. ↑ "Information: PRIME Phase 6" (Press release). Ministry of Education. 2004-05-14.
  14. ↑ "Express Course Curriculum". www.moe.gov.sg. Retrieved 2017-09-14.
  15. ↑ "School Information Service". Ministry of Education, Singapore. Ministry of Education, Singapore. Retrieved 11 June 2016.
  16. ↑ "GCE O-Level Syllabuses Examined in 2018". Singapore Examinations and Assessment Board (SEAB). Retrieved 2017-04-16.
  17. 1 2 "Secondary School Courses". www.moe.gov.sg. Retrieved 2017-09-14.
  18. 1 2 3 4 5 "Normal Course Curriculum". www.moe.gov.sg. Retrieved 2017-09-14.
  19. ↑ "Schools' winning mural entries go up the wall". Singapore: Straits Times. 1989-09-29.
  20. ↑ "11 murals make it to the finals". Straits Times. 1989-09-05. p. 20.
  21. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-06-17. Retrieved 2010-11-20.
  22. ↑ "Schools' micro-mouse race attracts a record 80 entries". Singapore: Straits Times. 1994-04-10. p. 23.
  23. ↑ Sapawi, Tuminah (1999-07-21). "Attention! There are 7 pretty recruits". Singapore: Straits Times Life!. p. 20.
  24. ↑ "Tropical bug wins the top prize". Straits Times. 2000-04-22.
  25. ↑ "10 finalists in ST school newspaper competition". Singapore: Straits Times. 2006-10-16.
  26. ↑ Lim, Yee Hung (2007-03-27). "Holidays well spent; Gaming teams from Montfort Secondary School and Ngee Ann Poly took part in the Interschool eGaming Challenge during the March school break - and won". Singapore: Straits Times.
  27. ↑ "The Public Administration Medal" (PDF). National Day Awards 2007. The Prime Minister's Office: 19. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-08-24. Retrieved 2008-10-01.
  28. ↑ "ITE lends venue for prestigious Bocuse D'or Asia 2008 culinary competition". Institute of Technical Education (ITE) College West. April 2008. Archived from the original on 14 January 2010. Retrieved 19 March 2011.
  29. ↑ Chee, Frankie (2008-08-08). "Jason Tan 26, chef de cuisine (head of kitchen) at fine-dining restaurant Julien Bompard". 30 Under 30. Straits Times Life!. Singapore.
  30. ↑ Wang Jianfu (王建復), Zhou Chongqing (周崇庆) (2008-10-10). ShíShàng Tànlù 食尚探路 (Television production). Singapore: Mediacorp. Event occurs at 20:20.
  31. ↑ "Jason Tan (1997-2000)". Bukit View Secondary School. Archived from the original on 17 August 2011. Retrieved 19 March 2011.
  32. ↑ "2nd World Peace Ethics contest (World-PEC) Examinations results". Archived from the original on 2008-04-20. Retrieved 2008-10-17.
  33. ↑ "Information Sheet On The 2011 Singapore-Cambridge GCE Normal (Technical) Level Examination" (PDF). Ministry of Education, Singapore. Retrieved 2011-12-23.
  34. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-10-25. Retrieved 2012-08-17.
  35. ↑ Zengkun, Feng (6 Nov 2012). "Scientist is first S'pore citizen to join elite network". Straits Times.
  36. ↑ "Winner citation : Dr Loh Yuin Han Jonathan". Retrieved 16 Feb 2013.
  37. ↑ Davie, Sandra (12 Apr 2010). "From poly to NUS to Harvard Medical School". Straits Times. Retrieved 16 Feb 2013.
  38. ↑ Yangchen, Lin (8 Apr 2016). "Six students, one common passion: Conservation". Straits Times. Retrieved 9 Apr 2016.
  39. ↑ "Bukit View is tops by design". Singapore: Straits Times Friday Weekly. 2000-04-03. p. 51.
  40. 1 2 Davie, Sandra (2000-02-25). "Bukit View produces design stars". Singapore: Straits Times. p. 54.
  41. ↑ Wei Joo, Ng (7 October 1989). "Young Designers Awards competition: futuristic chess set wins the top prize". Singapore: Straits Times. p. 25.
  42. ↑ Senan, Lena (1990-08-30). "This baby-walker is unusual". The New Paper.
  43. ↑ Rashiwala, Kalpana (1993-09-23). "Young Designers contest attracts record 920 entries". Singapore: Straits Times. p. 36.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.