Leading International Baccalaureate World School Offering a Uniquely Global and Asian Perspective
School Mission
Building Capability and Developing Character in Students to Become Independent, Innovative and InternationalMinded Learners of Tomorrow
School Motto
Continual Pursuit of Excellence
School Values
Independence – The Drive to Learning Innovation – The Heart of Excellence Internationalism – The Pursuit of Humanity
Educational Philosophy
Education for All, According to Each 有教无类 , 因材施教
School Culture
Collaborative Culture of Continuous Improvement with Sustainable Performance
Desired Outcomes
Independent in Learning – Balanced, Reflective, Knowledgeable Thinker Innovative in Value-Adding – Open-Minded, Inquiring Risk-Taker International-Minded in Connecting – Principled, Caring Communicator
THE IB LEARNER PROFILE
The aim of all IB programmes is to develop internationally minded people who, recognizing their common humanity and shared guardianship of the planet, help to create a better and more peaceful world.
IB learners strive to be:
Inquirers
They develop their natural curiosity. They acquire the skills necessary to conduct inquiry and research and show independence in learning. They actively enjoy learning and this love of learning will be sustained throughout their lives.
Communicators
They understand and express ideas and information confidently and creatively in more than one language and in a variety of modes of communication. They work effectively and willingly in collaboration with others.
Caring
They show empathy, compassion and respect towards the needs and feelings of others. They have a personal commitment to service, and act to make a positive difference to the lives of others and to the environment.
Knowledgeable
They explore concepts, ideas and issues that have local and global significance. In so doing, they acquire in-depth knowledge and develop understanding across a broad and balanced range of disciplines.
Principled
They act with integrity and honesty, with a strong sense of fairness, justice and respect for the dignity of the individual, groups and communities. They take responsibility for their own actions and the consequences that accompany them.
Risk-Takers
They approach unfamiliar situations and uncertainty with courage and forethought, and have the independence of spirit to explore new roles, ideas and strategies. They are brave and articulate in defending their beliefs.
Reflective
They give thoughtful consideration to their own learning and experience. They are able to assess and understand their strengths and limitations in order to support their learning and personal development.
Thinkers
They exercise initiative in applying thinking skills critically and creatively to recognize and approach complex problems, and make reasoned, ethical decisions.
Open-Minded
They understand and appreciate their own cultures and personal histories, and are open to the perspectives, values and traditions of other individuals and communities. They are accustomed to seeking and evaluating a range of points of view, and are willing to grow from the experience.
Balanced
They understand the importance of intellectual, physical and emotional balance to achieve personal well-being for themselves and others.
Chairman’s Message
Nineteen years ago, Hwa Chong International School (HCIS) was founded with a clear mission – to provide a quality international education that places a strong emphasis on Asian culture and values. Over the years, HCIS has grown from strength to strength, and today, we stand proud as part of the highly regarded Hwa Chong family of schools. Our afliation is a refection of shared ideals and a commitment to excellence in education. Striving to uphold the traditions of our esteemed family, we continually innovate to meet the evolving needs of our local and foreign students. It is with great pride and enthusiasm that I share with you the culmination of our eforts, particularly the successful completion of the Annex Expansion Project – a testament to our collective vision for the future of HCIS.
our students to explore the performing arts in a professional setting. Furthermore, the new library stands as a beacon of knowledge, ofering a quiet sanctuary for study and research, while equipped with the latest digital resources to support our students’ academic endeavours.
The School has been deeply invested in expanding and enhancing our facilities to meet the evolving needs of the future. I am grateful to the school management and Board members for their tireless eforts, contributing their time, energy, and expertise to bring our vision to fruition. Facilities like those in our new Annex Building do not come easy – they are the result of careful planning, substantial investment, and a shared commitment to excellence.
We are thrilled to unveil our state-of-the-art facilities, designed with the future in mind. Our newly established Makerspace has become a hub of creativity, where students can immerse themselves in hands-on projects that blend technology, engineering and art. The Blackbox Theatre provides a versatile space for performances, presentations and creative expression, allowing
As we celebrate these new facilities, I urge every member of our school community to take care of them and make the most of the opportunities they present. These spaces are here to help students build not only their academic skills but also develop their creativity and critical thinking ability, which will serve to defne their experience here at HCIS.
Moving forward, let us embrace the spirit of “Forge.” Let us look forward to challenging ourselves to push boundaries and to collaborate in new and exciting ways. I am confdent that with the state-of-the-art facilities now at our disposal, we can work towards becoming the best versions of ourselves. The plans we laid out are now becoming a reality – let us continue to build on this foundation with determination, creativity, and a relentless pursuit of knowledge.
In closing, I would like to extend my sincere appreciation to all stakeholders, including the Board members, School Management Committee, school leaders, staf members as well as students and parents for their continued dedication to our school community. Let us look forward to another year of growth, achievement, and shared success.
Refecting on the past year’s achievements, it is evident that our dedication to embracing technology, along with a series of impactful events that underscore our commitment to broadening students’ horizons and fostering partnerships, has been instrumental in advancing our educational mission here at Hwa Chong International School (HCIS).
The integration of the learning management systems, Brightspace for the Year 1 to 4 students and Managebac for our IB1 and IB2 students, has revolutionized the way we approach learning, ensuring that our students are equipped with the digital tools necessary for success in the 21st century. These platforms have not only enhanced classroom experiences but also provided students with the fexibility and resources to thrive in an increasingly interconnected world.
Our inaugural Technology Symposium brought together bright minds to explore cuttingedge developments in technology, ofering
our students invaluable insights into the future of innovation. The Law Conference provided a platform for our students to engage with legal professionals, fostering a deeper understanding of the complexities of the legal world. Similarly, our frst HCIS Leadership Conference welcomed students from other local schools and our afliate school, Guangzhou SCA, to exchange ideas that will undoubtedly enrich the school community.
These events are a refection of our philosophy that education extends beyond the classroom. Students have the opportunities to engage with the world, to question, to collaborate, and to create relationships that will last a lifetime. They are also a reminder that at HCIS, we are not just preparing our students to excel academically, but also to lead independently, innovate, and make a diference in the world.
As we look forward, I extend my deepest gratitude to all who have contributed to our collective success — our dedicated Board members and School Management Committee, our passionate school leaders and staf, and our supportive parents. Your unwavering commitment has been the cornerstone of our achievements.
Together, let us anticipate another year of forging new frontiers, as we continue to innovate and collaborate.
2024 has been an exciting and engaging year for all in HCIS. At the start of the school year, we celebrated the remarkable achievements of our International Baccalaureate (IB) students. The hard work, dedication, and perseverance of our graduating class of 2023 truly paid off. With the IB world returning to pre-pandemic academic assessment levels, our students delivered an impressive average score of 37.9 points. 57% of the cohort scored 38 points or higher, and 39.2% achieved a score of 40 points and above. These results reflect the exceptional quality of education and commitment to excellence at HCIS.
The academic achievements are a testament to the incredible effort put forth by both students and teachers. It is heartening to see our students not only meet but exceed the high standards set. Each graduate should thus take pride in their accomplishments, as they are now equipped with the skills, knowledge, and global perspective needed to thrive in their future endeavours. This success is not only a personal triumph but also the outcome of collective effort of our very dedicated team of teaching staff and parents who have been partners in their education pursuits.
As we strive to grow from strength to strength, HCIS continually seeks out new learning opportunities beyond the formal school curriculum, for our students to explore real-world knowledge and skills. Our inaugural Leadership Conference and Technology Symposium, signature programmes such as the Law Conference, HMUN, UBS Young Generation Workshop and Year 4 Work Experience Programme provide a platform for students to engage with and learn from industrial experts and practitioners. These programs often involve challenging tasks and projects that require students to think critically, analyse information, and devise solutions. They apply theoretical knowledge to authentic situations and develop practical skills. By interacting with experts in their respective fields allows students to build valuable connections and gain insights into potential career paths. These unique learning experiences undoubtedly equip our students with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in a rapidly changing world.
Our ongoing commitment to providing a conducive learning environment includes investments in enhancing infrastructure and building new facilities. We are dedicated to creating spaces that inspire creativity, collaboration, and academic
and inviting spaces encourage students to engage in extracurricular activities, socialize with their peers, and explore their interests.
With a core focus on integrating well-being into school curriculum and learning, we foster a thriving school community where we look out for and support one another. Our holistic approach to education recognises that students’ emotional, social, and physical well-being are just as important as their academic achievement. We strive to create a positive and supportive learning environment where students feel safe, valued, and empowered to reach their full potential.
Through various initiatives, we promote mental health awareness, stress management techniques, and healthy lifestyle choices. By prioritising well-being, we believe that we can help our students develop the resilience, empathy, and critical thinking skills they need to succeed in life.
In an increasingly interconnected world,
it is essential for our students to develop a global mindset. Through international exchanges, collaborative projects, and virtual interactions, our students have had opportunities to immerse themselves in diverse cultures, learn from different perspectives, and develop a deeper understanding of global issues. These experiences foster empathy, extend intercultural competency, and nurture a sense of global citizenship in students.
We firmly believe that a healthy and supportive school community is essential for fostering a love of learning and a lifelong commitment to personal growth. This applies for all students and staff. By creating a positive and inclusive environment where everyone feels valued, respected, and supported, we can cultivate a sense of belonging, trust, and collaboration. This, in turn, encourages students to take risks, explore their passions, and develop a lifelong curiosity about the world around them.
As we look forward to scale greater height and celebrate the School’s 20th anniversary next year, a significant milestone for a young school, there is much that we are thankful for. Our progress and achievements stem from the unwavering dedication and hard work of our students and the entire school community. We are grateful for the support, encouragement and trust of the Board and School Management Committee, parents and alumni. With confidence and optimism, we will continue to strive for excellence ( 自强不息 ) and value-add for our students to realise their fullest potential.
Ms Linda Lee Principal
OUR COMMUNITY
ADVISOR
MR KHO
YUE SERN VINCENT
许喻胜
VICE-CHAIRMAN
MR ANG MING HONG
洪铭逢
SECRETARY
MR CHERN
CHEE SONG JAMES
陈其颂 MEMBER
MR LIM DER SHING
林德兴 MEMBER
DR SIA NAM CHIE
谢南极
CHAIRMAN
MR LIM CHEE KONG
林志光
VICE-CHAIRMAN
MR KWOK
WEI WOON JOSEPH
郭伟文
TREASURER
MR CHUA KEE THIAM
蔡其添 MEMBER
MR NG WEI YONG WILLIAM
黄伟荣 MEMBER
MR KHO CHOON KENG
MEMBER
MEMBER
MR SIM CHOON SIONG
SCHOOL
CHAIRMAN
MR LIM
CHEE KONG
林志光
VICE-CHAIRMAN
MR SIM CHOON SIONG
沈俊雄
SECRETARY
MR CHIA
EK KOON THOMAS
谢益坤
ASST SECRETARY
MR KWOK WEI WOON JOSEPH
TREASURER
AR. ANG SHIUH SAM 洪旭
MEMBER
MR KOH
KAY BOON KEVIN
许继文
MEMBER
MR LIM
DER SHING
林德兴
MEMBER
MR CHEN JUNCHENG EDWARD 陈军诚
MEMBER
MR KHO TSE KAI DILLON 高士凯
MEMBER
MR LEE
CHONG MING ALAN
李宗珉
MEMBER
MR LIM
SING SIONG CHARLES BBM, PBM
林欣雄
MEMBER
MR LEE KIAN SOON
李建顺 MEMBER
MR WANG YINGYANG JACK
MR KEK HO ANN 郭和安 ASST TREASURER
CHAIRMAN
TREASURER
MEMBER
MR SILITONGA
MICHAEL WILSON
MEMBER
MR LEE WEI TING
MR POH DIN KIAT
(L - R)
Front Row: RAYMOND MAK (ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL, STUDENT DEVELOPMENT & SCHOOL EXPERIENCE), LINDA LEE (PRINCIPAL), TAN LISSION (DIRECTOR, CORPORATE SERVICES), MICHELLE KOH (ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL, INTEGRATED PROGRAMME & ACADEMIC COUNSELLING)
Back Row: KOH LEE CHENG (DEPUTY DIRECTOR, HUMAN RESOURCE), KOH LI KENG (ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL, STUDENT LEARNING AND SCHOOL ASSESSMENT), CHIANG KY (ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL, IB PROGRAMME & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT), MIKE LAM (DEPUTY DIRECTOR, ADMINISTRATIVE OPERATIONS)
Senior Management
English Faculty
Front Row (L - R); Back Row (L - R)
01: GERILYNNE LEE, KATHARINE HO, AUDREY KONG, SOH WAI TENG
02: TAN SU LINN, ISSIC BALBIR SINGH, JUNAIDAH BTE MOHD JUSIN, DR RAPHAELLA DELORES GOMEZ
03: JOANNE TAN (HEAD OF ENGLISH, INTEGRATED PROGRAMME), BRUCE SIOW (HEAD OF ENGLISH, IB PROGRAMME)
04: LIN ROCHELLE, DANIEL CHIN, NANTHINI AMATHALINGAM, GILLIAN TAN
05: LI WEIXIN, VANDANA SRIVASTAVA, JOYCE LIM, HACK ALISON KYEO (ASSISTANT HEAD OF MIDDLE YEARS)
(L - R)
01: GAO CHAN, NG TECK SENG, WEI MING VICKY
02: HUANG BIFEN, XIAO RAN, YAP SIOA CHINS
03: CHEN WANYI, LAI KHONG HOO, HENG WEI YI
04: HENG HUI JOO, WU CHUNYAN, GOH WEI KHENG
Chinese Faculty
ABSENTEE: CLAIRE WENG HE
05: HUANG JIAN (HEAD OF CHINESE, INTEGRATED PROGRAMME & ASSISTANT HEAD OF BOARDING), CHAI MARY(HEAD OF CHINESE, IB PROGRAMME)
Core Components Faculty
: DANIEL TAN, ALICIA GOH (TOK COORDINATOR),
: WANG YUNFEI, JAYASHREE SITARAMAN (HEAD OF
(L - R)
01 : WANG JIUNN (HEAD OF SCIENCE, INTEGRATED PROGRAMME), TAN CHEU YIAN (HEAD OF SCIENCE, IB PROGRAMME)
02 : HARPRIT SINGH SIDHU, REMEDIOS LAWRENCE ANDREW, DR EUNICE PHUA
03 : VICTOR TEY, JAYASHREE SITARAMAN (HEAD OF SENIOR YEARS), PUSPARANEE MOHAN (HEAD OF ACADEMIC COUNSELLING)
04 : GRACE CHONG, JOE NORZLAN, CINDY ONG
05 : CHRISTOPHER NGOH, PRISCILLA YAP, NITHIYA ANBUSELVAM
06 : LAWRENCE LAU, GARUDANAGIRI DODDAPPA NATARAJA, GABRIELLE SOLOMON SEE
07 : GOH HUI CHING, MARK WEE, MICHAEL LIM
ABSENTEES : ANGELIN WONG (ASSISTANT HEAD OF SENIOR YEARS), NEO SU HWEI, RACHEL CHONG
Science Faculty
Humanities Faculty
(L - R)
01: CHUA LOUIS, DR NEELANJALI OHJA (SUBJECT HEAD OF BUSINESS MANAGEMENT), JYOTI RAJARAM
02: DENNIS ANG (SUBJECT HEAD OF ECONOMICS, INTEGRATED PROGRAMME), WONG CING ZING (EE COORDINATOR), ONG YI JUN
03: YU BONITA, CHITHIRA D/O RAMASAMY (ASSISTANT HEAD OF MIDDLE YEARS), LOW HANNAH
04: NARKAR MITA ABHAY, ALAGU S. BABU
05: BERNARD SYN (HEAD OF HUMANITIES, IB PROGRAMME), MICHELLE FOONG (HEAD OF HUMANITIES, INTEGRATED PROGRAMME)
ABSENTEE: ELAINE YEO, SANDRA LEE, LIU LEI, MATTHEW TONG, YEOH LI LEE
01 : LAI MING YOKE (ASSISTANT HEAD OF SENIOR YEARS), DR ARCHANA VIJAYKUMAR KUSURKAR (HEAD OF IB COORDINATION), CHIN YEOW CHONG (HEAD OF MIDDLE YEARS)
03: YONG JIN KIAT (HEAD OF EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING), CHUA CHONG PING (HEAD OF CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT, MIDDLE YEARS) 04: LEON LEE, JOHN RICHARD ERIC (HEAD OF CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT, SENIOR YEARS)
Finance and Procurement
Student Well-being
Secretariat
Human Resource
MA LARA PATRICIA ARELLANO DAVID (TEACHER-LIBRARIAN), TEO LILY (LIBRARIAN)
ROSALIND SIM, DINH THI TUYET NHUNG, NICOLE LI
ESTHER ZHANG (HEAD OF ADMISSIONS AND STUDENT SERVICES)
Admissions and Student Services
CARMEN WONG KAR MUN, LEONG ZHICHENG, CHUA TIAN WOON
Information Technology
Laboratory Technicians
(L - R)
02: NASSER AMPARNA CABASAAN, MOHAMED NABIL BIN MOHAMED RAZALI, FARID NOOR HIDAYAT BIN ANUAR
03: JOY ENRIQUEZ, LYE PEY PEY ABSENTEES : KATHIRVEL PRITHIVIKKA
ROW 2: (L-R) MORRISON TAN YIN SHEN, MIKAEL SZE KANG JIE, SEAH YING FENG MATTHEW, LIM YU CHEN, CALEB SEAH KAI CHET, HUI HSIEN YU, LIU JUNCHI, CHEN XUANLIN
ROW 1: (L-R) ADAM GOH WEI HONG, HO KUAN TING, LAW KAI CHI IAN, AIDAN NG HOI YAN, MS GERILYNNE LEE (FORM TEACHER) , FENG TIANQI, AMBER QUEK RUI QI, TEO KAI LING CHLOE, CARRIE LAU
ABSENT: MR DANIEL CHIN (FORM TEACHER), CHAN KAI TONG
Y1 BALANCED
ROW 3: (L-R) TEO JUN WEI EDWARD, JAMES ARIANTO WONG, JULIEN SEAH, MEGAN TEY WAN YI, SU YU YAN KYLIE, ELLIE ZHI QIAO LAM, ANZEL MA HUI YI
ROW 2: (L-R) GUAN HERO, YE ZIMO, HO RUI SHENG LEROI, LU BOWEN, XUE YUCHEN, KANG YUYI, CHEN YING XIN LATOYA, ZHANG ZITONG
ROW 1: (L-R) ELLIOT JAMES LEE ZHI CHENG, SHU HU YI, ZHANG DAOMIAN, JAYDEN CHIN YIN ZUN, MR LEON LEE (FORM TEACHER), MS YAP SIOA CHINS (FORM TEACHER) , TAN JING XUAN KIARA, LIM EN YU CHLOE, AVA GRACE KUNAL MIN HUI, BEE SIN YEE, ALISON
ROW 2: (L-R) EVAN ASHER ONG, COLIN TEO HOE YUNG, MA KA KEI AARON, LI MING CHAK, ONG RAE-CHENG ISAAC, LOH GUAN YU, LIU HAROLD, LIU JIAHE, LU ENTONG
ROW 1: (L-R) ZHONG WANGZHONGMING, KAISER LAM, KAIDEN GAO GUANG CHEN, CAYMAN YANG, MS OW SU SHING (FORM TEACHER), MDM HUANG BIFEN (FORM TEACHER) , WONG CHIN YING ALEXIS, CAITLYN ALICIA KWEK, , ELISE CHEW YUTONG, LEBELLE LOH
Y1 KNOWLEDGEABLE
ROW 3: (L-R) DESIREE VINCY NG LE XUAN, YOSHIE HONDA, NAYA BATIA SINGER, ZHANG XINYUE, ALYA OZGUL, HAN ZHI YU VALERIE, MIYATA YUNA, KHEH LE MAE
ROW 2: (L-R) GWEE ZI YU, BOSCO, JIANG YIHENG, LOH TAI ANG, HOOY CHEE YUAN, TAN RUI YANG MARCUS, KIM GIWON, KIM JUHYEON, KER ZHI-YANG, KIM MINSUNG
ROW 1: (L-R) ZANE LOW (LIU ENZHE), CHUA QUANXU KYLER, TAN QING RUI REX, RAPHAEL NG JOO EN, MS JEANETTE SIM (FORM TEACHER), MS NICOLE GOH (FORM TEACHER) , ELIZABETH YONG MING-XUAN, JAMIE POON JIA LI, OLIVIA WANG KAITING, AMANDA NG JIA MIN
ROW 3: (L-R) XIA QI, MARKUS LIAW MIN KE, LIM MING YAO ALEXANDER, CHUA KAI KEAT, NICKI WONG EN ZHI, AMELIA YUXUAN KOURAKO, KAYLA CHEONG KAI QI
ROW 2: (L-R) WANG YI-JEN, CANG QIXUN, NADYA SHIYIN SKALBERG, ALYSA MAH LI LIN, WANG ZIYAN, ZHANG XINYU, AIDEN WINSTON HSIEH, XU TENGWEI, XU ZIHAN
ROW 1: (L-R) ISAAC WU KIAT QUAH, KAYDEN ONG KHAI YEE, ZHOU YUE, LUCAS WEE KHAI MING, MS ROCHELLE LIN (FORM TEACHER), MS NANTHINI AMATHALIGAM (FORM TEACHER) , VU TUE LAM, LOVE CHAN YAN XI, ESTHER LAI, ZHANG YILIN
ABSENTEE: YU YAQI
Y1 OPEN-MINDED
ROW 3: (L-R) GOH YEN RUI MCKEN, SAMUEL TAN JIA KAI, SEAN LAM YONG JUN, WONG YIN GWAN MATTHEW, LI YICHEN, CHANG YI FENG, ANDERS LEE JIN LI
ROW 2: (L-R) TANG YICHEN, JONAS CHEAH SHENG ZE, PUTTHAPORNMONGKOL KAVINKRIT, WU YUHAN, LEE SUJEONG, SUN EVAN YUCHEN, LIN WEI CHEN, JIANG TENGRAN
ROW 1: (L-R) HU MINGXUE, NICOLE FONG XIU TING, LIM YI YI, RACHEL ELIZABETH KURIAN, MS NEO SU HWEI (FORM TEACHER), MS XIAO RAN (FORM TEACHER) , CHIN SO YOON, ALICIA TEO NUO TONG, LU YICHE, JIN NANXI
Y2 BALANCED
Y2 CARING
ROW 3: (L-R) LEE ZHE WEI TOBY, MAURICE LUDOVIC TONG YAO ZU, SOON RAY, ISAAC YONG YUEN HAN, ONG MINGKAI ANDRE, CALEB LIM KAI LE
ROW 2: (L-R) KEWKACHA CHALEO, JU YU, QIU SHOU, JOSIAH ELIEZER LIAO, CHAN EE XUAN, CHOI MINSEONG, ZHANG HAOXUAN
ROW 1: (L-R) NATALIE JANA TAN, HE NUOXI, MARCIA YAN XIN YU, SU ZHI MIN CAMMY, MR ULLAS CHANDRAN (FORM TEACHER), MS HENG WEI YI (FORM TEACHER) , CHEN ENZAI, TALIA TAN LI XUAN, WU MEITONG, MA SI YING YULIA
ABSENTEE: KIMBERLY NANETTE TAN YING-C
Y2 INQUIRERS
ROW 3: (L-R) TEERASOONTORNWONG NATWALAI, JANELLA CARA CHELLIAH, WANG ZHAOJUN, SHIN HYEJEONG, NG YU JUN AERIN, TANG YIXUAN RYAN, XIE JERRY
ROW 2: (L-R) JI CHENYU, ANANKUMAR SASHIKUMAR, WANG JIALIN, TAY CHENG GEORGE, LIM ZHI TONG DANIEL, SON CHAESEUNG, KIM BEOMSEO
ROW 1: (L-R) ZHANG YUYI, KER XIN LEI JUSTIN, ZACHARY WONG YI XIONG, SHEE ZHENG JIE ALEXANDER, MS CHOW BICK YAN (FORM TEACHER) , SUN MINJIA, LEANNE ALLEGRA HO EN XUAN, EMMA PUAH JING XUAN, TAN JINGHAO
ROW 3: (L-R) KONG YI CHENG, TOH JUN YONG, ZHANG YOUQI, EMMANUEL TAN YULONG, GOH WEN QI SEAN
ROW 2: (L-R) BAE SOOBEEN, YANG SIYI, YU JINGXUAN, HAN HEEWEON, SONG HAEYOON, XU YUXI, CHIN MEI JING DONATELLA, ZHANG YUXUAN, JAYDEN WONG YU SHWEN
ROW 1: (L-R) LIN SHANJUN, DYLAN LOW YANG EN, CHEW GUO SHENG COLE, SHEE YING JIE EMMANUEL, MRS GABRIELLE SEE (FORM TEACHER) , MS CHEN WANYI (FORM TEACHER) , LEA YAP ENXI, ASHLEY ANG YU FEI, CHUNG CHUN YEE, ELIZABETH KAM
Y2 KNOWLEDGEABLE
ROW 3: (L-R) LIU YUHAN, CHAN RUIQI VICTORIA RACHEL, TEO SIM JU, ONA TEE WON-SHO, LI NUOCHENG
ROW 2: (L-R) MS WU CHUNYAN (FORM TEACHER) , PENG BO, GOH KIA POH, XU YUHAN, CHU XUAN, LI JINGCHENG, TU YUANHAO, LIU DINGBANG, MS JANIS LEE (FORM TEACHER)
ROW 1: (L-R) LIM AN YING, LIAN SZE WEY, ISHIKA VERMA, KIM JAE IN, TRAN NATALIE PUTRI, JARED LEE YUE QI, KAELAN LEONG YI ZHE, CHAU ARGUS MONASH, ZHU JINTIAN
ABSENTEE: LINUS GOH EN MING
Y2 OPEN-MINDED
Y2 PRINCIPLED
ROW 3: (L-R) CHOK WEI JIE, LIN CHING-CHE, ARTHUR LACHLAN HSIEH, WONG ZI XIAN KEAGAN, DARRIEN HO XUE ZHENG, JIANG SITENG, ONG YI ZHE JOSHUA
ROW 2: (L-R) MS SOH WAI TENG (FORM TEACHER) , RAEANNE KWEK, KYLEE LAM, ONG YI XIN, ELISE TEO KAI LING, CHONG YI ROU, LIM SHAN MIN AMANDA, MARISSA POOK, ALARIE MA HUI EN, MR RICHARD LOH (FORM TEACHER)
ROW 1: (L-R) LUCINDA FOO AN XUAN, JEWEL MORI, CHIANG SIU KEI, LAUREN LEONG EU SHYEN, NG YU NING TAIRA, ZHAO JIUJUN, NG KIAN WEE, THEODORE WEI JUN RONG, LIM KAE EN, JAREN TAN CHENG HOW
Y3 BALANCED
ROW 3: (L-R) ALICIA TAN WEI SHAN, XIONG ISABELLA, AW SHI QI EMMA, JULIA LIANA DAEHLER, DYLAN LYE WEE CHONG, KIANG LI YANG JAYDEN
ROW 2: (L-R) QIN YUXIN, AUDREY MICHELLE WIHARJA, LECK SI QI RACHEL, SUN YU-XUAN, XU YIRAN, TOMI MYKEL CHAN, JONATHAN TAN CHENG LOON, LIM HONG RUI, WU POHUANG JONATHAN
ROW 1: (L-R) EMMA OW MIN, NG YU TING KATIE, KEK PEI RONG KYRIE, CHEN KEMING, MS BONITA YU (FORM TEACHER), MS JOYCE LIM (FORM TEACHER) , JANICE SIM JIA YI, EMMA LOKE JIA XIN, NADINE LAUREN ANG ZHIXUAN, QIU ZICEN
ROW 3: (L-R) RYAN PHUA YEW LIANG, LEE KAI RENG CAYDEN, LUCAS CHUA WYN HUA, MATTHEW QUEK WEI ZHI, LIAW SETH YU, RICARDO CHAN BIN HE, ANDREW ETHAN CHAN, XIE MENGJUN
ROW 2: (L-R) HOU TIANYI, ZHENG YIYA, LEE JIA EN ALINA, YU SHUYI, WU YAOXIN, RYAN SHAN-LIM MACKENNA, RAYNER CHAN, JULIUS CHENG JIA LE, ZHAO HAISU, WANG HAOZHE, CAI RONGSHENG
ROW 1: (L-R) SUN DUOXI, JI TIANAI, ELYNA WAN RUI XUE, FU JINYI, MS CATHERINE TAN (FORM TEACHER), MR CHRISTOPHER NGOH (FORM TEACHER) , GAO NINGMAN, LIU YUYANG, ZHANG WEN, CHERYL JIM WAN XUAN
ABSENTEE: YEO HWEE REN
Y3 CARING
ROW 3: (L-R) DENG MINGXUAN, YEN RUI ZE DYLAN, LEE ZHI LONG TERRY, DYLAN ANG KAI WEN, GOH GARSON, KIIRON LIM CONG YUE, KENJI YAP QI JIA
ROW 2: (L-R) LIANG RUIXIAN, ZHANG XUANHAO, GONG XICHEN, YEO CAEYEN, WANG CHING-RUI CAITLIN, JIANG YU, JAYDEN SZE KANG YAO, JACOB TAN PIN REI, WANG ZIREN, WANG YUZHE
ROW 1: (L-R) ZENG ZIXIN, DING YOU, CHARIS LIM SHI HAN, LYNETTE NG RUEY EE, MS CLAIRE WENG HE (FORM TEACHER), MR VICTOR TEY (FORM TEACHER) , VALERIE GOH YUAN ZHI, LIM ENQI RACHEL, LI MEILIN, ZHENG JIAMING
ABSENTEE: HUANG DOUDOU, SARAH MARIE TING SI RUI, ZHANG WENLAN
Y3 INQUIRERS
Y3 KNOWLEDGEABLE
ROW 3: (L-R) AYDEN SOH YU SHENG, THURA AUNG, SIA JI HONG ALEXANDER, WANG ZITANG, NICOLAS YEO SHENGDIAN, RYDEN GIAN ZHEJUN, HONG RUI YU XAVIER, CHIA WALTER SI YU, LIM KAI XUE MARCIO, KAN RUI HONG ANDREW
ROW 2: (L-R) MS GILLIAN TAN (FORM TEACHER) , KOU YOSHIHIKO, CHAN SZE WANG, EZEKIEL HOOI EN ZHAO, ZHENG YUTONG, HOU JIAQI, BO ZIYUAN, CHENG TIN YU LINCOLN, YU JUNXIANG, TANG TIANCHENG, MS PRISCILLA YAP (FORM TEACHER)
ROW 1: (L-R) WANG SHIDI, SHA QIANHUI, FAITH LAM ZHI EN, WONG SHERMAINE, FENG LIQI, CHOO YEE SHIN, LIAW YU XUAN CELESTE, LU YIXUAN, JIANG MURONG
Y3 OPEN-MINDED
ROW 3: (L-R) LIAM GOH JUN YUAN, REN XUSHENG, KAUNG KHANT TUN, ELIJAH FOO RUI XI, MUN OEI JIT ZAVIER, THIERRY ALEXANDER TEO, TAY RONG HAN TIMOTHY, LI ZHENGHAN, UTSUMI KOTARO
ROW 2: (L-R) KANG HOJIN, YIN LICHEN, DYLAN TAN YEE KIAT, CHEN JINSHA, LIU XIAOYA, HAN XU, TIFFANY CHU WEI YEE, SUN JUNLIN, INOH TAKAHO, TAN KEAN SIANG, LIN KORNRAMIT
ROW 1: (L-R) HU JIAHAN, HUAN ZIGE, ELIZABETH CHEW JIN YING, MEGAN ELIZABETH LIN, MS GOH HUI CHING (FORM TEACHER) , MR LIU LEI (FORM TEACHER) , CHANTEL LIM YEE RONG, DAYNA KOCHPATCHARIN, CLIONA MARY YEO WEN HUI, YU YUE
ROW 2: (L-R) KITANO KOH, GAO ZHENXUAN, JANG SIWON, DOMINIC LEE JIE RUI, ROUBOS ATHANASIOS FILIPPOS, CLEF HOW, ROERN CHAN
ROW 1: (L-R) WANG YUETONG, HUANG YUNJIA, TAY YUANXIN KARISSA, MS NITHIYA (FORM TEACHER), MR MICHAEL LIM (FORM TEACHER) , PAN YAN XI, HE TIANAI, QIAN YILIN
ABSENTEE: PANG CARIS
Y3 PRINCIPLED
ROW 3: (L-R) ZHU QIXUAN, JIN ZER YEE CHARLES, MATTHEW LIAM YEH KAY HSIEN, LIU YITONG ERIC, TAN MIN WEN, XU XIAO XIAN CHRISTOPHER, DYLAN CHONG KAI LER, TAN ZHEN-YANG AIDAN RHYS
ROW 2: (L-R) SOPHIA LEE JIA YING, CHANG HUI MEI, MOEY YIK YUN, YANG ZIXUAN, LEE CELINE, CHARIS LAI EN NING, LEE YU CHARLOTTE, ILYSE SOH YINGJIA, JIN YOUCHEN
ROW 1: (L-R) CELINE PHOEBE CHUA, GOH HUI XIN, ALYSSIA DJUHAR, ISABELLA TAY LOK YEE, MR LAI KHONG HOO (FORM TEACHER), MR DANIEL TAN (FORM TEACHER) , ILYSSA NYE LE YI, SARAH LEANNE CHIN YAN YUN, MATTEA OOI WEN HUI, EMMA-CLAIRE ANG
ABSENTEE: CLARA YAH YING (XIA YING)
Y3 REFLECTIVE
Y4 BALANCED
ROW 3: (L-R) WANG ZHINING, MAXSTON LEONG WAYCHENG, KIM HANSEO, SAMUEL WU ZHE KAI
ROW 2: (L-R) HE PEIYANG, CHEN XIN, DYLAN FOO SEK MENG, KANG RAYEON, WANG QI YAO, PENG YUWEN, DENG YUFAN, ISABELLE LIEW LOK YAN
ROW 1: (L-R) CHIN XI COLLEEN, KWAK YESEUL, YASMIN BINTE YAZID, GOH SI YING, MS CINDY TAN (FORM TEACHER) , WEI DINGLIN, KOH JIN XUAN ANNETTE, CHLOE HENG, QUAH CAI LING CAITLIN
ABSENTEE: CHARLENE QUEK, CHIA ZSE HUI CARLINA, MA SI YUN NARISA, SARAH TAN SHU MIN, SOPHIE-ESTELLE CHAO YINGHUI
Y4 CARING
ROW 3: (L-R) CHANG CHENWEI, SEET KY LOONG BRYAN, KAIZER WANG KAYJUN, HOU SITING, XIN YU, HEO DONGJUN, MICHAEL SIM HONG YI, SONG YOU, XING TIANCHEN
ROW 2: (L-R) LIM TZE KUN EZEKIEL, JIN ZHIBO, GRACE LIN TZE EN, WANG SIYU, SU RONGJIA, CHEN YIXUAN, NOH HYUNSEO, GU JIANAN
ROW 1: (L-R) YIN ZIYUE, MICHELLE ABIGAIL TANUWIDJAJA, HE BEIER, KOW XUEMIN, MS SANDRA LEE (FORM TEACHER) , ALEXIS TAN, CHIN SIYOON, CHEW SHAN HEE, GILLIAN THE
ABSENTEE: ALISON KUO KIT YING, HESTER GOH YUN EN
ROW 3: (L-R) LU FAN, LIM YU ZHI, HO HAN YON, SIM GUAN QI LERWIN, SHI RAN, JORDAN ZHENG HAO TIAN, ADITYA MEHTA, LEONG TZE HUN
ROW 2: (L-R) ZHU JUNCHENG, DARRELL HO XUE YU, RYDAN SALEM HARHARAH, PAN YIHE, GU YUXI, KANG MINCHAN, TAO ZHUOYANG, KE DAVID
ROW 1: (L-R) YAO RUI, YUAN JINGWEN, WU LIURUOJIA, WU JIAYUE, MS GRACE CHONG (FORM TEACHER) , CHEN JIA HUI SOFIA RATCHANEE, YANG XIAOHAN, QIU QIYAN, DU YUEHAN
ABSENTEE: ALANDRIA WINATA, PECK YU MING LUCAS, WONG HING FEY AMANDA
ROW 2: (L-R) JAMES MANUEL LIAO, TAN YI XIANG, SUN JIYANG, YAN YUN, JHAMRUTA MUVVA, CAI SHIZHAO, LIU SUNYUAN, SONG HAESUNG, RIM KIHYUN, GAN ELROY
ROW 1: (L-R) RENEE TAN ZHI YU, YANG XINLIN, LIU YIKE, YU QIUYU, MS LAI SZE SING (FORM TEACHER) , YULIA CHENG JINNAN, ZHENG ZIHAN, YOU JIANING, TAN MUZHOU
ABSENTEE: AMANDA HIDEYO
Y4 OPEN-MINDED
ROW 3: (L-R) DESTAIS RAPHAEL JAEHEE, LEE HYUNJOON, HWANG HAJIN, EWE ZI YANG
ROW 1: (L-R) GU WEIRU, LECK SI JIA CHLOE, LAM HAN EN NELLY, VALENCIA HUJAYA, MS WONG YI HUI (FORM TEACHER) , HUANG ZIRU, D’ROZARIO SANA, VICTORIA MIN-JING WESTNEDGE, CHARLIZE LIM TSE YI
ABSENTEE: ARI TAN YU HAN, CAI XINZHUO, LEE RACHEL, VIANNA SHEN-ROU LINKE
Y4 PRINCIPLED
ROW 3: (L-R) TEE ZHI RUI JOSEPH, ISAAC CHUAN LE LAM, NI MING-CHIEN, DAO NHAT MINH, YONG YEE KIAT JOSHUA, HAN HTOO ZAW, MATTHEW LIANG YUE MING, TEH BO JING
ROW 2: (L-R) MAENG SEUNGJUN, SOO WEI HAN, KER MIN-WAN, ISABELLA TAN YINING, HUANG JIAYI, WANG YI, TAY JIE RUI REUBEN STANLEY, KAUNG KHANT KYAW
ROW 1: (L-R) LEE SOOMIN, TEO ZHI XIAN PERLE, FU HSU-CHING, LEE YEE NING JOELYN, MR LOUIS CHUA (FORM TEACHER) , TANG WEI CHEE RACHEL, HO TRIXIE, JANIELLE BUNTONO LU KAI QI, RENEE NGAI
ABSENTEE: LEE SOOJI, REYNA ONG WEN LIN
ROW 2: (L-R) JASON MANUEL LIAO, ZHAO WEIFENG, CHIA JIA JUN CHARLES, BRIAN QUEK XUAN ZHAN, WANG YINAN, SUN YUHAN, YUNG HOI HIM, LI CHENGXUAN
ROW 1: (L-R) CHONG KE EN SUMMER, ERIN YEO, NG YU HUI ALYSSA, MR MOHD HIRMAN (FORM TEACHER) , AUSTIN DANG JEONG JUN, WONG YIN SENG MICHAEL, SU JUN ZHE LOUIS
ABSENTEE: CHENG BO YAN
Y4 REFLECTIVE
ROW 3: (L-R) WANG BO, NICHOLAS HOOY JUN SIANG, ZHU ZHIXI, CHOK WEI QIAN, CHONG WEI JUN, DENG CHUCHI
ROW 2: (L-R) WU ZHIYU, ZHANG YUJIAN, ZHU ZIYUAN VINCENT, XUE WUDI, AN TONGTONG, LUO ZHIXUAN, RUTIRAVUTH POLLAPHAT, MENG HONGXU
ROW 1: (L-R) FONG TYNN MAEA, TAN QIYUE, KHOO LIANG YING, LIM WEN XUAN HAZEL, MR PATRICK PRAKASH SAGARAM (FORM TEACHER) , KAITLYN CHIA YONG EN, TOH GEK TENG, LIN HUI XUAN, ZHU PEIWEN
ABSENTEE: AGATHA HIKARU, ZHAN LIN
IB1 BALANCED
IB1 CARING
ROW 3: (L-R) ASHER LOW MAO LE, PHILIP FERDY, ETHAN LUKE TAN SHI HAN, GOH RUI JUN CHASE, BENJAMIN KEVIN KWOK, CHENG KAIYUAN
ROW 1: (L-R) CHEN XIN-YU, TAY QING, RACHAEL, WANG CHUHAN, ENRICA ISABELLE CHOEY SZE’EN, MR MATTHEW TONG (FORM TEACHER) , KAYLENE CHIA MING YU, DU FANGJIE, LUANNE LEE SZE YING, SHANAE TAN SZE HWEI
ABSENTEE: CHEN YURUOYAN, DEBBIE HANNAH WAN JUIN YI
IB1 INQUIRERS
ROW 3: (L-R) AW KAI CHUAN ASHTON, CHAI ZHEN, DEAN TEO ZHI-ERN, JOVAN CHIA YANJIE, XIA TIAN, YANG PENGCHUN, MA HUAQUAN, ONG YU REN JAYDEN, NI HUACHENG
ROW 2: (L-R) SHAO MUYAO, FOO JUN HAN, OWEN LAW CHENG JUN, NG DI YIN ARIEL, MA SUNYIYI, ZHU YINGCHI, LI TIANYI, DUAN FENGQI
ROW 1: (L-R) GU JIAYUE, LAU YU AN, CHEN LYUMING, DAI JIAYUE, MS CHAN SHI YUN (FORM TEACHER) , HUANG XIWEN, KATTIKARAN RACHEL TOJO, FANG YINYUE, ZHAO KEMING
ROW 3: (L-R) LEE KAI XIN, CHEW YEE HENG (ZHOU YIHENG), WEI HAORAN, TANG BOON TAI, JAYDEN DANI CHEN YI HENG, ELLIOTT JAMES WONG, NATARAJA DEORAM, WANG YI-YEN
ROW 2: (L-R) WOO MINHAN JEREMY, DONG CHENXIAO, FAITH NG EN CHIH, DAI SHIJIN, LIN XINCEN, JERALYN HENG YI TING, GUO ZHANYU, OW JING YANG
ROW 1: (L-R) WU FENGYU, SHI QIANYI, LIU YUNGUO, ISABEL CHIN YUEN KAY, MS MITA ABHAY NARKAR (FORM TEACHER) , HU QINYUN, KHOO HAN LIN KATE, SHI YUMENG, DUAN YANRAN
IB1 KNOWLEDGEABLE
ROW 3: (L-R) ZHOU DONG, KO HYEONJIN, PHAN YI EN RYAN, TAN SHENG ZHE NASH, HUANG YIYU, PHONE AUNG KHANT
ROW 2: (L-R) XIAO RUIYAN, SAI KYAW ZAW HTET HEIN, WONG HE KAI DARIUS, YANG YUXUAN, SHAO ZIHAN, LEE SEOJUN, SUN YIMING, AZARIAH ISAAC LUMASAG SINGH
ROW 1: (L-R) KIM HAYOON, HU JIAYU, BRIANNA EVANGELINE AUGUSTINA NJO, DALYN LIUS, MS AUDREY KONG (FORM TEACHER) , CHRISTIE SHIAU JIAYI, CHOW YING QIAN, YAO XINQI, ALEXA PAI GUNAWAN
ABSENTEE: CHAI CHYI ANN SAGE, SAE-LI KUNTHIDA
IB1 OPEN-MINDED
IB1 PRINCIPLED
ROW 3: (L-R) TAN RAY JIEN, CHOI JUHEON, JOSHUA FOO SHI HAN, DAMIEN ANG KAI EN, JAYDEN TAY QING HONG, SONG ZILUO
ROW 2: (L-R) GABRIEL GOH KAI YUAN, LYU SHUWEI, ADRIANNA SEAH PEIJIA, LI SHIYAN, CAO YUEWEN, LOH KANG HONG, DYLAN KOH KUAN SONG, YANG JIYUAN
ROW 1: (L-R) CHOU CHAN MOLIKA, JOANNE MELDA BUDIMAN, JOYCELINE NARCEYLIA, LIU FANGYU, MS ALAGU SHANMUGA BABU (FORM TEACHER) , ZHANG YINGYAN, ASHLEY TAN, IVANA IRAWADY, KATELYN LEE WEN SHAN
IB1 REFLECTIVE
ROW 3: (L-R) HEO DONGEUN, CHUNG MINSOO, YANG HANXIANG, LING TONG, EVAN ELIJAH GOH WEI JUN, RYAN MIGUEL KISHOR, LIM YING ZHI JADEN, MATTHEW KUAH
ROW 2: (L-R) LIU ZIRUI, SUN YU CHIU, GISELLE LIM YI QI, TEO JIA EN BERNICE, SEO JEONGAN, ZHEN RUXINYI, JORDAN LUKE NEO JIALE, ZHU JINGJIA
ROW 1: (L-R) YANG LIE, BENITTA EVANGELINE AUGUSTRIANA NJO, GOH HUI QIN, ZHANG YUHAN, MR ONG YI JUN (FORM TEACHER) , CHENG YUTONG, HO SIN LIN EMMA, KAITLYN MELISSA TAN SHI MIN, KIANG XINYAN ALICIA
ROW 3: (L-R) ETHAN LOO YI ZHANG, YAN AN, JORDAN MAXWELL LIN, MANTRA UMESHCHANDRA, LIM XI IAN, KUM KOK LIANG JOSEPH, LIN ZIRUISHAH
ROW 2: (L-R) KIM JEONGHYUN, LEE KYUNGJOON, MISCHA NEO JING YI, YEO XIN YING KASSIA, ZOFIE TAN, ZHAI YUYANG, MARCUS GOZALI, OH JUNHEE
ROW 1: (L-R) LIN ANQI, ASHA KISHAN, SELINA SEE, NICOLE ANGELA TAN, MR SHI LIANGBIN (FORM TEACHER ), PHOEBE LAI TZE XIN, LIN ZIHAN, ZHENG YIXIN, WANG SIHAN
IB1 THINKERS
GRADUATING CLASSES
IB2 BALANCED
ROW 3:
(L-R) SOH JUN RAY, LIM GUAN SHENG ISAAC, HAN REII YII, BAN YESOL, YEO JAY XUAN SHAWN, ARTHUR ONG HONG JIE, JIA ZICHAO
ROW 2:
(L-R) SIDDHARTHA MEHTA, TAY XI BOB, GAO XING, FANG HAOMING, LOU ZHIHAN, JAEDON NG JUNRUI, LU MENGZHEN, WAN HONGYU
ROW 1:
(L-R) LIN ANQI, LEE SOEUI, KONG SHI YING ASHLYN, CHEN YUNNING, MR WANG YUNFEI (FORM TEACHER) , FAN JINGXUAN, KAYLA JANE WONG, SUN HAORUI, QIN YING
As you step into the next chapter of your journey, embrace each challenge courageously. Carry your pride, commitment, and resilience with you towards a brighter future. Remember, you are the author of your own life story. Wishing you all the best ahead!
– Mr Wang Yunfei
IB2 CARING
ROW 3: (L-R) NATHANAEL REINER LUDJIO, KOO YI HANG ADEN, TEDMAN TAN YU HENG, LAU ZON ONN, KITH SULA
As your years of study at HCIS draw to a close, may you achieve all the goals that you have worked hard for. But remember that your results do not define you, and you should always strive to be a better version of yourself.
- Mr Lawrence Remedios
ROW 2: (L-R) YANG ZHIYUAN, CHAN ZHAO XUN GORDON, LI YUEHAN, JOELIANE WOO TRONSKAR, ZHANG ZIAI, WANG JIAHONG, CHRISTOPHER CHIN WEN YU, MIAO SIYUAN
ROW 1: (L-R) YUAN JIACHEN, THONG HSIN YANN, BU CHUHENG, AIYANA CHUA YI JIE, MR LAWRENCE REMEDIOS (FORM TEACHER) , CHEW WEN HUI CAITLIN VICTORIA, STEPHANIE MIN-LI WESTNEDGE, WANG JUNYAN, DING YINTING
ABSENTEE: TAN HONGSHENG
IB2 INQUIRERS
(L-R) YU XIAOXI, FOO JIA LE, FOO CHUAN XIN AMBER, NATASHA AGAM ONG, MS KATHARINE HO (FORM TEACHER) , LI BAOYI, ZHANG YAQING, CHAN GA HEI GABI, HOU SANDARA KYREI TEE
As you move on to adulthood, I hope you use your education to do good, and do it well. Follow your interests, and your next steps will be clear to you.
- Ms Katharine Ho
IB2 KNOWLEDGEABLE
ROW 3: (L-R) WU YIWEN, TRISTAN CHEONG KUAN FONG, WANG HETING, LIU XUNLIANG, JONAS LOW SIONG JEAT, LING HIKARU, SU ZHAOQI
As you launch out into the harsh world of reality, remember the hard work you have put in to succeed in examinations. Always have gratitude in your heart, gratitude for the gift of life, gratitude to your parents, your friends and your teachers. Congratulations and best wishes.
- Mr Issic Balbir Singh
ROW 2: (L-R) REN HE, DING XING, CHANG I-WEI, HAN KEXIN, CHUA JO ANN, LIN SHIQI, CHEN RONGTAO, WANG QINYU, WANG HAN
ROW 1: (L-R) ONG YI YUN SHANNON, CLARIS QUEK, HU WANTING, SHARMAINE OO XINHUI, MR ISSIC BALBIR SINGH (FORM TEACHER) , GOH HUICHI, JIANG MOSHAN, JAINE TENG WEN XUAN, NADIA ALEXANDRA HIOENATA
ABSENTEE: LIU PINGYU
IB2 OPEN-MINDED
CHYI, ISABELLE TAN LI YING, GOMEZ (FORM TEACHER) , TURNER FRANCES YUN NI, TAN SHU XIAN BRITTANY, ZHANG YANG, TAN YING FEI CELESTE
ABSENTEE: PER GIONA
Dear darlings!
Remember this mantra: Always apply wisdom with knowledge. Cheers!
- Dr. Raphaella Delores Gomez
Life is Full of Chemistry
Dilute your melodramas
Evaporate your worries
Filter your mistakes
Boil your ego
IB2 PRINCIPLED
ROW 3: (L-R) LIAM ALASTIER ISAAC, HE YOUJIE, LEE YONGJUN, WISUTTHIAREERAK SATAKUN, LEI HAOCHEN, KHOO SHEEN RYUTA
ROW 2:
(L-R) MS CINDY ONG (FORM TEACHER) , LIN HONG, KWEK ZHI JIAN, SUN YIXIN, KELLY CHIA KAY LI, SIOW YU KANG JARED, YE YUNXIAN, WEI BOTONG
You will obtain the ‘Crystals of Success’.
- Your MCO
ROW 1: (L-R) KIM NAYOUL, WEI JIAQI, XU TIANGE, LEE SZE HUI JESSICA, CAROL RACHEL LUI, WEE KE XUAN KATE, LIU QIANRONG, SUI YUCHEN, MEGAN THERESE GOH XUAN YING
ABSENTEE: KIERAN KOH (XU KAIJUN)
IB2 REFLECTIVE
(L-R) YAP CHIAN JOO, RACHEL LIEW JING RUI (LIAO JINGRUI), CAO XIANG, YANG HERAN, MS TAN SU LINN (FORM TEACHER) , YUAN RUNER, CHUANG PEI-RONG @ ANNIKA CHUANG, ZHAO JIALIN, UTHAISEN CHANYANUCH
ABSENTEE: CAI HELI
Dear students, I’ve enjoyed journeying alongside many of you these past two years and I’m proud to see your growth and progress. Wishing you all the very best, and a life filled with purpose and joy.
- Ms. Tan Su Linn
IB2 THINKERS
ROW 3: (L-R) YANG HO LUN, ZHU ZIYAO, CHUA REN JIE LUKE, CHOI MING TAK DANNY, ANDREW JARED YEU, KIM JOONGYA
In this short year, I’ve watched you grow into amazing individuals. From some of you as I’ve known since Year 1, to all of you now, ready to soar. Let your dreams take flight, and the sky will never limit you.
With pride, - Dr Eunice Phua
ROW 2: (L-R) ETHAN LEE YI CHEN, LEE SIEW KIT, LI ZHUOXI, DU YIQING, WANG YIMING, HE ZHAOYING, ZHANG HAO, WANG YINGQI
ROW 1: (L-R) WU RUOTONG, YAP EN RU, XIA SHIYU, LIU XURONG, DR EUNICE PHUA (FORM TEACHER) , TESSA LIM SZE EN, TAN SZE WEI, ZHANG JIAYAN, YANG PEIAN
STUDENT LEADERSHIP
Student Leaders Overseas Trip in Perth
Student Leadership Conference
THE INAUGURAL HCIS THE INAUGURAL HCIS THE INAUGURAL HCIS
RESHAPING
The Inaugural HCIS Leadership Conference was held from 10-12 July. Before the conference, from 8-9 July, we played hosts to peers from Guangzhou SCA and brought them to different places of interest in Singapore
From 10-12 July we hosted the school’s inaugural Student Leadership Conference focusing on mental wellness and cyber wellness. During the conference, student leaders learned many useful information from keynote address, focus group discussions and mindfulness activities.
We ended the conference with a Hollywood themed Social Night. Student leaders enjoyed themselves tremendously during this event.
Day 1
Exploring SG
HCIS x SCA
Focus Group Discussions
Mindfulness Activities
Sentosa
Lau Pa Sat
Guan Qian House
JIA GENG 2024
2024 EXCO Team
House Olympics
“Let’s
Go
Voice of HCIS
Zi Qi a ng Zi Qi a ng 2024 2024
House Olympics
自强不息 自强不息
House Initiative
2024 MONDAY, 11TH NOVEMBER
14TH BOARDING COUNCIL
From HCIS Residence
The 14th Boarding Council consists of three teams: Enrichment, Recreation, and Public Relations. Our goal is to foster a stronger boarding community and promote a greater sense of belonging.
BC LEADERSHIP TRAINING
The Leadership Training was an unforgettable and enriching experience for all Boarding Council members, leaving a lasting impact on us. The program featured team bonding activities and meaningful discussions. The dynamic exercises tested our collaboration and communication skills, fostering a strong sense of unity within the group. Members also gained valuable insights into effective leadership and teamwork.
THE THREE TEAMS
The Enrichment Team organizes meaningful activities that combine enjoyment with skills development. The Recreational Team promotes a balance between relaxation and physical activity through a variety of events. The Public Relations Team keeps everyone informed by managing social media s, capturing memorable moments during events, and providing updates during monthly meetings. Together, these teams contribute to creating a vibrant and supportive boarding environment.
Open House
Investiture
BC Group Photo
BC Leadership Training
BOARDING ACTIVITIES
Organized by
—
The 14th Boarding Council
DYNAMIC RANGE OF ACTIVITIES
This year, the 14th Boarding Council organized a diverse range of activities to enrich the boarding experience and strengthen the sense of unity among residents. We hope these events have contributed to building a vibrant and supportive boarding community throughout the year.
Cluster
Celebration
Archery Tag
Cluster Bash
EVENTS
CHINESE NEW YEAR CELEBRATIONS
Preserving Chinese
CHINESE CULTURAL WORKSHOPS
Cultural Heritage
SCHOOL ORIENTATION CAMP
Building
Resilience
HCIS MODEL
NATIONS
YEAR 3 ENGLISH DEBATE
Global
Mindedness
FOUNDERS' DAY CEREMONY
Honouring
TEACHERS' DAY CELEBRATION
Traditions
Global Diversity Day celebrates the richness of different cultures in HCIS. It fosters understanding and inclusivity among students, promoting unity and embracing our shared humanity
Celebrating
Diversity
HCIS OPEN HOUSE
THE VOICE OF HCIS
CONTEMPORARY DANCE SHOWCASE
ASPIRARE
“Igniting passion, embracing innovation, empowering trailblazers of tomorrow”
Aspirare is a post-exam activity initiated by students for students. Like last year, this activity hit the right notes with both staf and students. The vibes were festive at the fea market as both students and staf displayed entrepreneurial skills by setting up stalls to sell items ranging from self-made pottery, plants and pre-loved items. Years Three and Four students attended frechats featuring professionals from the creative, legal and business communities and were inspired by their stories. The highlight of this year’s Aspirare is the Escape Room activity where the student leaders with advice from industry experts conceived of an immersive and entertaining experience for the student body to learn more about cyberbullying. Funds for the Escape Room were given by Impart.sg, a public institution that works with youths in Singapore. We hope to bring Aspirare back in 2025 featuring more activities that will enable our students to aspire for a better future.
Teachers in charge: Ms Audrey Kong Mr Matthew Tong
FAREWELL TO ALMA MATER
Valedictoian Spech
As the cohort of 2024 looks back at our time in HCIS, we want to acknowledge the unique and powerful experiences that have shaped us. We will carry in our hearts the camaraderie of friendship which has inspired us to reach for the stars. We will remember and be grateful for the caring and supportive teachers, each with their own style, who have left a lasting mark on us. Most importantly, we thank our parents, for remaining steadfast by our side, and hanging in there with us through it all.
We will recall the many “frsts” for our cohort, such as, the Year 1 resilience camp to Johor where we almost literally slept with fies. We will be proud to acknowledge that we pioneered meaningful initiatives such as the Green Council, Care Ambassador, Student Production Department and Community Service Club, just to name a few. We also endured the fouryear school renovation project which has fnally been completed with new facilities and amenities for generations of students to come.
Now, as we leave our high school years behind, we shall refect on and embrace the setbacks and victories, big and small, that have strengthened us to walk through the toughest moments. I am confdent that we will go on to pursue our passions tenaciously, face challenges and uncertainties head-on, and we will soar, just as birds soar through unpredictable winds, in pursuit of our dreams.
Graduands Refections
There is no impossible dream. May our journeys in life be flled with blessings for ourselves and for others.
HCIS has provided me with an enriching learning experience. My teachers who have guided me to become a better version of myself. My friends for their never-ending support.
I’m grateful for incredibly supportive teachers and friends who walked with me in my IB journey. I’ve learned not to take myself too seriously and I’m proud of my achievement.
Throughout my ups and downs, my beloved parents, teachers and friends were always by my side showing me their unconditional support. I look forward to the endless opportunities awaiting me.
As we head to the next chapter of our lives, I’m confdent the experiences and lessons we have gained in HCIS will serve as a strong foundation for our future endeavours.
Valedictorian Ethan Lee Yi Chen
IB2T
Salutatorian Kim Joongya
IB2B
IB2B
IB2I
IB2P
Siddhartha Mehta Sun Haorui
Chan Ga Hei Gabi Wei Botong
The past two years were flled with joy, tears and hard work. It feels unreal now that it’s coming to an end. Congratulations—we made it!!
My six years of education in HCIS has helped me to understand myself better and shaped my aspirations.
I shall remember my time here with fond memories.
Thanks to my parents for their belief in me, teachers who brought me this far, and friends who made school fun. In the future, I want to live a happy and healthy life.
Becoming a student here was the best decision I have made. I hope to channel all the kindness shown to me by teachers and friends to positively impact others.
My time in HCIS was coloured with precious memories, lessons learnt and friendships forged. I am grateful to the school and teachers for patiently guiding me through the IB journey.
I’m grateful to have teachers who guide, inspire, and serve as role models. They have encouraged me with their humility and optimism. “以热爱开启此行， 愿此行终抵群星”
My teachers and friends have sparked my passion for learning. In the future, I aim to keep growing, face challenges head-on and bring positive change wherever I go.
To my dear friends who are beacons of light in my darkest hours. For my esteemed teachers, your guidance is invaluable. For my cherished family, you are my fortress.
I was never alone in my IB journey. Parents, teachers and friends were my pillars of support. I will carry their care and wisdom to embrace the challenges ahead.
I want to extend my heartfelt appreciation to my parents, teachers, and friends. I will truly treasure our shared experiences.
My three years in HCIS were flled with growth, challenges, and unforgettable memories. Thanks to parents, teachers and friends for believing in me.
Thanks HCIS, for giving me the chance to shine. As this chapter of my life closes, I look forward to the next one with hope and optimism.
My parents, friends, teachers were a source of strength for me in the past six years. There were tough times but we pulled through and now, we’re at the fnishing line.
To everyone who had been a part of my IB journey, I can never be grateful enough. I’ve learned to embrace setbacks, using them to make me a better person.
HCIS has supported me all the way and helped me grow as a student and a leader. I’m looking forward to exploring the intricacies of human behaviour using data.
IB2I Hong Yi
IB2M
IB2I
IB2I
IB2M
Wongtreenatrkoon Jirapas Shi Audrey Amelia Zhang Jiawei Wu Jiachen
IB2R
Annika Chuang Pei-Rong IB2P IB2P IB2M IB2P
Carol Rachel Lui Kieran Koh Zhang Yang Lei Haochen
IB2B Chen Yunning IB2R
IB2R
IB2I
IB2T
Cao Xiang Eom Ikhyun
Foo Chuan Xin Amber Choi Ming Tak Danny
Graduation Ceremony
The Clas of IB2B
IB2I
Young Journalists’ Club
“Okay, class, I will be returning your mid-year examination papers. Please check them thoroughly.” Mrs Jones announced.
BOB
“Please, please, please, please, do well…”
“Bob, please come up to collect your paper.”
I walked up to the front of the class with my heart beating like drums. Sigh…yet again, no improvement. I took small glances at my paper in despair while thinking to myself, “I study so hard, why is it that I still never improve?”
“63/100”. That number haunts me every test…it's always in the 60s or the 70s. It’s actually not that bad of a score, but what is so frustrating is that I have shown no improvement over the years. I try so hard, but it just doesn’t pay off. Mom and Dad send me for so many extra classes, give me their fullest support, and even spend time te me, but I still don’t understand why I am stuck with the same results every test.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the top student in our class, Rose, holding her paper. “96”, it read. She had once again topped our class and the entire level. Envy filled my head. I had followed all the study techniques she’d told me she used. But why couldn’t I be like her? It’s just not fair.
School ended shortly after and my mother came to pick me up. She was not that disappointed in me, saying that I had tried my best.
I am trying my best, yet, why can’t I score as high as Rose?
ROSE
30 minutes later
“96”, I whispered to myself with an ear-to-ear smile plastered on my face as the bell rang, signalling the end of school.
Such an arduous walk after a long day of school. Drenched in sweat, I opened the door of my house. As usual, my father was lying on the sofa, completely knocked out. It was obvious that he had been drinking again. Bottles of alcohol were on the floor and the whole house was a complete mess.
A tear rolled down my eye.
As I trudged to my room, I caught a glimpse of a family photo from when I was younger. It showed my parents and me smiling happily after moving into our new house–the house which we still live in, and which has now become a total wreck.
I missed how things were before. I missed when Father hadn’t started drinking. I missed when mother was around. I missed when we were one happy family. The photo always reminded me of Bob’s family. My closest friend and the person who sits next to me in class. He has such a supportive family and gets decent grades. “I wish my life was like his…” I muttered, sour with envy.
Loss is always difficult, and coping with it is even harder. I trudged back to my room. I will study harder. I have to… to build a better life for myself and my family.
Envy
Darrell Ho Xue Yu 4I
“Happy Birthday… to… you…” raspily sang John, sitting beside the birthday boy. The relentless rain cluttered out the
in the gutters dominated in the night. Who would have thought a murder was underway? This wasn’t just another name on a list, he had become another cog in
“Just another target” he uttered, the words hollowly echoing in the damp air. Numerous thoughts raced in his head. The man had committed far worse crimes was the truth or a lie, he couldn’t determine. Bob just reenacted Boss’s orders; to question Boss was to shoot oneself in the foot.
Impulsively, Bob breathed in deeply and wiped off the dripping sweat. He saw his reflection in the scope, it was a pair of haunted eyes staring back at a complete stranger. For the first time, Bob felt lost and lonely in his world. Memories buried under suffocating layers of violence resurfaced and crashed together like waves.
“...I know now! I wish for everyone to be happy!” The boy exclaimed excitedly. Eyes sparkling with lights in the starless night, he looked towards his father, as if waiting for a response.
John smiled but didn’t say anything for a while. He then took a deep breath: “Well everyone is happy, I’m sure of that. Why don’t we get you a bike?”
“If Pa says so…”
“What’s the matter? You don’t look as happy. How about a sketchbook? You can try drawing.”
“Oh! That would be cool!” the boy shouted with a smile playing on his lips.
“The boy probably gave a wish. They always do that, don’t they? After blowing the candle,” Bob thought. Another memory emerged from the depths. A younger Bob, in the kitchen, dipping his finger into the bowl of chocolate, laughing crazily without a care in the world and poking towards his father.
“Hey! Don’t do that! Let’s wash our hands first, shall we? Let’s not dirty the chocolate, if not it’ll taste bad. Okay?”
Young Journalists’ Club
The memory shattered with small bits replaying like a broken record. Against the cold, harsh reality, the metal rifle bit into his skin relentlessly. He didn’t know what the family was saying; all he could do was predict from their movements. But that was enough for him. He could almost hear the deafening crack of the rifle and see the crimson blood stain on the man’s black shirt, an almost surreal o
Bob was far away and yet he could hear the smile of the child across the road whispering into his eardrums. The warmth of the family threatened to drown him out. A rare sob escaped his throat, drowned away by the drumming rain. Was this the life he’d signed up for? He couldn’t do it. Never again. But what would be his purpose if he escaped?
At that moment, a blinding powered by a jolt of adrenaline, Bob took the rifle and sprinted, his boots rhythmically pounding onto the pavement. The inorganic, tall buildings surrounded him from all sides; the city lights blurred into lines of red neon.
The joy that had emanated from the boy haunted him with every step. The slick streets grimly re etched with lines of violence. Bob felt free within the alienated shadows of the city. Between white and black, he chose to be gray.
… Bob, a youthful 63, mischievously shuffled into the cafe. “Where could Peter be?” Bob mumbled, scanning the open cafe through a hint of haze. Mild sunlight streamed through the mismatched stained windows, which illuminated the worn out wooden tables.
Crash!
“Ah– whoops-a-daisy!” Bob murmured. He bumped into someone, but was so lost in thought, or perhaps hallucination, that he couldn’t register in time who it was.
The air buzzed with the hiss of the espresso machine and the murmuring flowing ideas.
“Oh! There he is.” Bob declared, pointing to a lean young man, currently engrossed in a book.
Peter, also a youthful 24, gently greeted Bob with a patien
“Hey, Bob!”
Bob sat onto the worn-out sofa that sank him in.
“Hey Peter, haven’t seen you for a long time, or was it just two days ago? Life’s butterflies sure have too many memories to catch” Bob glanced into the distance and chuckled. “Youngsters, these days… They don’t even bother to apologize… Back then, when I was young, I wouldn’t dare.”
Peter raised his brow, “Weren’t you, like, the reno
Bob chuckled, a flicker of unease crossed his face. He puffed out his chest, “Well, that was then. If that guy– what was his name again? Jake? Jonathan?– didn’t appear, I would probably still be running astray in those ravines and perched on that rooftop.”
Out of youthful curiosity, Peter pressed on, “Ooh, tell me more about that Jake–Jonathan person, who could’ve made you, out of all people, turn away?”
Bob hummed and tapped his temple. He hesitated for a moment, as if to gather his countless thoughts into
“It was ages ago, but I think I was stationed in Birmingham then. Or Bristol? Those cities all start with a B. When you
Suddenly, Bob’s eyes snapped back, “In a run-down, grimy area, I suppose. That rainy night, the storm was beatin’ me to the ground, rained like cats and dogs, I tell you. Soaked me to the bone. The target was the head of those criminal organizations. They were gathering at a place and I couldn’t be in a more perfect spot, I’m tellin’ ya. Perfect opportunity! That’s what it was!” Bob slammed onto the table that clattered a cacophony of shrills.
eady to shoot, but then, this flash of light! Brighter than the glaring sun, lightning just suddenly crashed nearby. Knocked me right off! Never seen anything like it. I missed it completely, probably by a mile.”
n away, fast like the wind. I didn’t want to get caught by those burly men, ya know? Those goons wouldn’t know what hit them! So I ran away, got into my Beetle and vanished like a magician. Then, I went to the old bunker where the Boss was waiting for me. He took a single glance at me and turned away. Well, he didn’t seem mad or anything so I thought it was fine.”
“I don’t think he did? Boss just gave orders to his men and they took me into another car, probably those Cadillacs,
“We went back to my shabby place. I crashed into bed and slept away. But suddenly, I heard a knock on the door. nnit, who is it now?’. I went to open the door and no one was there. Could’ve sworn there was definitely a knock there. Probably those kid vagabonds roaming around… Well, I don’t really remember– I was dreamin’ at that time. The lightning made it worse… I kept having strange thoughts and strange dreams. Recurring dreams. That eventually faded away, of
Peter, intrigued, was trying to put the pieces back together, “What happened to the Jake–Jonathan guy then?
“Jake? Jonathan? Jake who? I never mentioned any Jake. There was no Jonathan in my story! I’m certain there was no Jake in my story. Maybe you’re thinking of someone else, fella. Youngsters these days…” A shadow flashed across Bob’s face. “When I was your age, I was a policeman traveling across Berlin catching those criminals!”
“I was also a sniper. I think it was before I became a police officer. Or was it after? Point is, young lad, I’ve had my fair share of experience, whether good or bad. I’ve realized we need to be free! Free from such burdens! This is why I always preach freedom now. The young me couldn’t understand it. I am free! That’s what it is – a new beginning
Peter stared at Bob, speechless, mouth agape. To him, the once-proud agent described was a far cry from the current frail, old man – a stark contrast to the past. Peter couldn’t help but wonder and question the truth: how as true? Was it even the same person? As Bob continued to mutter incoherently about freedom, the two young men sat by themselves, one lost in thought, one lost in monochrome memories, and both searching for
Young Journalists’ Club
“One must imagine Sisyphus happy” Alexander Lim (1M)
This quote went around the Internet, and was immortalised into meme culture.
But why would he be happy? Who even is Sisyphus? Why is his story so profound?
Let me share with you the story of Sisyphus.
Sisyphus, the inaugural monarch of Ephyra—now Corinth—was a complex figure. Despite propelling his nation forward with maritime advancements and economic prosperity, his reign was tainted by malevolent d Greedy and cunning, he killed guests and travellers in his palace for his own monetary gain. He shockingly exhibited no remorse for these acts, which he found disturbingly pleasurable. The killing of guests and travellers solidified his iron grip over his kingdom, keeping him in power. And if all this wasn't enough, he married his own
However, Sisyphus was punished only when he ‘snitched’ on Zeus after Zeus kidnapped the river nymph, Aegina. Sisyphus, who caught Zeus in the act, revealed the whereabouts of Aegina to her father, the river god Asopus. In exchange, a spring would flow in the Corinthian acropolis, a settlement in the upper part of an ancient Greek city.
Zeus, feeling betrayed, ordered the god of death, Thanatos, to chain Sisyphus up in Tartarus, the Greek version of Hell. However, Sisyphus, in his wily manner, managed to cheat death. Feigning curiosity, he asked Thanatos to demonstrate how the chains bounding him worked. After that, he trapped Thanatos in his very own chains. When Thanatos was bound in his own chains after showcasing them, Sisyphus took the opportunity and escaped Tartarus to go back to the mortal world
As Thanatos was immobilised, nobody on Earth died. This caused an uproar, particularly for Ares, the god of war. Battles had lost their allure, so he felt, as none of his opponents would die.
Desperate for entertainment, Ares freed Thanatos, allowing mortals to finally die once more.
Sisyphus, upon hearing the news that Thanatos was freed, knew that his time was up. Before his death, he requested that his wife throw his corpse into the spring earlier made by Asopus. Eventually, his soul washed up on the River Styx, the portal to the underworld.
There, Sisyphus met Persephone, queen of the underworld. He complained to Persephone that his wife had neglected to give him a proper burial and demanded to be given a proper burial before he died. Persephone granted him life on the condition that he would return to the underworld once he had been properly buried.
However, once Sisyphus reached the mortal realm, he refused to go back to the underworld. Zeus, livid that Sisyphus had cheated death twice, decided that this was the final straw and got Hermes, the messenger of the gods to drag Sisyphus back to Tartarus.
Sisyphus had always thought he was smarter than the gods, but the gods had the last laugh.
As punishment for deceiving the gods twice, Sisyphus was condemned by Hades to perpetually push a colossal boulder up a steep incline in Tartarus until it reached the peak. This punishment was uniquely tailored to Sisyphus due to his hubristic conviction that his intellect outmatched all the gods.
Hades, in a display of his own cunning, enchanted the boulder to slip when it was inches away from reaching the summit, thus consigning Sisyphus to an eternity marked by fruitless toil and ceaseless vexation. The term Sisyphean, inspired by this punishment, is used to describe futile or pointless activities.
In Greek mythology, there have been far more brutal punishments, yet the myth of Sisyphus is the most haunting. Why?
It is disturbingly familiar to us.
Now, I shall answer my first question.
Why would Sisyphus be happy?
Well, we will have to look at the situation of Sisyphus in a different light. Let's now see Sisyphus the way Albert Camus, the originator of the quote, did. Albert Camus thinks of the ceaseless toil of Sisyphus as a metaphor for our modern lives. We toil in schools, factories, and offices, working every day at the same tasks, and this repetition is what makes the modern human barely recognizable to his ancestors, who would laugh at our absurdity. However, this tragedy is only realised in rare moments of consciousness and is otherwise invisible to the rest of us.
Now, put yourself in Sisyphus's shoes. What would you think when the stone, which you have been relentlessly heaving upwards for days or even weeks, falls back down? During that pause, a tragic moment occurs. Sisyphus becomes "conscious” of the absurdity of his punishment. However, he finds happiness in the accomplishment of the task he undertakes, acknowledges the futility of his punishment, and is content. Sisyphus then climbs down the mountain to restart the cycle.
The idea of absurdity, as Camus states, is the conflict between the desire for meaning and the inherent meaninglessness of the universe. Camus himself grappled with the idea of mortality often, as he had tuberculosis and witnessed World Wars I and II firsthand. The sudden irrational violence of war and his random diagnosis of tuberculosis all led to Camus’s belief that the universe and life itself were all a bunch of random events. Camus argues that just as Sisyphus’s task does not have any ultimate purpose, the same could be said for the human experience. However, the realisation of absurdity does not mean that life is not worth living. Instead, Camus suggests that we "revolt." As I personally do not agree with Camus’s suggestions on how the absurd man should live, I will bring forth my own humble interpretation of how the absurd man should live while sticking to Camus’s principle of revolt.
The absurd man must embrace struggle and relish it once he has conquered a new peak each day. Just as Sisyphus is happy each day when he gets his rock slightly higher than the previous one, we should celebrate our small victories each day. For example, in preparation for our exams, each time we finally understand a concept, we should give ourselves a pat on the back, as we are one step closer to academic success. When Sisyphus nearly reaches the peak of the mountain, the boulder tumbles down. Though we don’t literally start from zero once we’ve achieved our aim, we will start something new, and that can be a new zero for us. In essence, the struggle in itself is its own happiness, and in Sisyphus’s case, each cycle of pushing the boulder up can be enjoyable; in doing so, we humans should also persevere in adversity and even be happy doing mundane, worthless things. In life, not everything needs to have a meaning, as long as we find enjoyment in it. Each atom of that stone, each mineral flake of this mountain full of night, alone forms a world. Instead of giving in to the cruel situation that we face in this universe, we must challenge our maker, finding joy in a world supposed to mock us in its sheer absurdity. Choosing to live happily is the deepest expression of genuine freedom. Happiness, in this case is the contented acceptance that life is devoid of meaning. We should learn to love and appreciate those around us, as they are the only ones that give us meaning in this mundane world. Unlike Sisyphus, we have people around us who cherish and support us, and that should be enough to give this world meaning.
Young Journalists’ Club
a love letter to: La La Land
Luanne Lee (IB1C)
“I guess I’ll see you in the movies.”
(all images are screenshots taken directly from the film.)
I could go on about La La Land for hours, yet no words in the English lexicon could adequately describe the rollercoaster of emotions this film takes me on with every rewatch. It’s beautifully complex and extravagant, but like all forms of art do, uniquely mirrors reality.
Romanticism or Reality?
In the opening musical number “Another Day of Sun”, a grand, coordinated and colourful dance on a Los Angeles highway culminates in a rather anti-climatic ending. Not to get too technical (I don’t take film), but this juxtaposition between romanticised Hollywood ideals and reality is the very basis of La La Land. Simply put, harsh reality can slap you in the face. For the main characters, it acts as a foil to their glamourised perceptions of what a life of stardom in Los Angeles entails.
ISo, where does Mia and Sebastian’s relationship lie in this blurred boundary? Perhaps it’s the premise of the relationship itself – the sequence of events leading up to the climax, and the conflict of the relationship, is almost dreamlike. As the pair embark on the “Honeymoon stage” of their relationship (as many call it), we’re taken on that whirlwind romance along with them. We’re made to believe these characters were made from each other, were meant to be and that this special relationship is heaven-sent. It’s evident that the characters themselves believe this too.
That, I feel, is the very ethos of La La Land. A 2016 film directed by Damien Chazelle and starring the ever-recognisable Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling, it takes you on a kaleidoscopic journey through Hollywood along with its two main characters, Mia and Sebastian. As they struggle to pursue their dreams, they fall in love, and this is visually represented in one of the most beautiful ways possible. (I highly recommend watching the film to fully understand what I mean!) Despite presenting itself as whimsical on the surface, a harsh aspirations become the only thing preventing them from being together. This film is the epitome of “right person, wrong time” — a cruel premise, but ever-present in love stories (or almost love stories) in every crevice of our world. It’s a film that drives you to contemplate if true love and dreams could ever compromise, or if sacrifices have t be made. No relationship displays this better than Mia and Sebastian’s, and no film does this better than La La Land.
(This article includes SPOILERS for La La Land. If you are planning to watch it, I highly suggest you do so before coming back to this article. It recently got removed from Netflix, but as of the time of writing, a little bird told me the full movie can be found on YouTube… use that in
“Maybe I’m one of those people who has always wanted to do it, but it’s like a pipe dream… for me. You know, you said it. You change your dreams and then you grow up.”
They dance together in an empty observatory (relationship goals btw). They laugh, they cry, and they share their dreams. Mia and Sebastian have finally found the person they want to spend the rest of their lives with. No matter how many trials they have to go through, disagreements they have or obstacles they need to overcome, they are there for each other, because love overpowers all.
By now, you’re probably thinking: Just like many tacky Hollywood romances before them, they’ll most likely get married, move into a nice suburban neighbourhood and raise a family after everything…right?
They will definitely stay together at the end of the film, right…?
What’s in an ending?
Mia and Sebastian do not end up together after the events of La La Land. That is the most straightforward and painless way to put it, I feel. The pair’s dreams take them in different directions and those routes simply do not intersect. On the contrary, they deviate completely. Mia goes to Paris and comes back as a movie star while Sebastian eventually opens his jazz club, but this occurs in each other’s absence. The last moment they’d share for years is incredibly poetic (yet true to their dynamic) taking place at the observatory where everything began. Perhaps the most famous lines in the film are uttered.
“I’m always gonna love you.”
“I’m always gonna love you too.”
Cliche, but poignant. Perhaps this was a feeble attempt to quell an innocent viewer’s anxiety about the relationship’s future. At this point, many first-time watchers are still convinced that by some divine intervention, the two will join hands once again. “This is not a tragedy, after all…” they’d claim, but that couldn’t be farther from the truth.
Director Damien Chazelle takes us on a very different route that’s far from simple and painless. The last eleven minutes of the film depict an uncanny encounter six years later, where Mia and her eventual husband coincidentally visit Sebastian’s jazz club. The odds were one in a million, but they locked eyes once again, and we proceeded to witness a heartbreaking flashback of what “could have been”. A completely hypothetical, sevenminute snippet of an alternate scenario, where Mia and Sebastian achieved their dreams while still ending up together. Of course, this reality is an impossible one, but the fact this takes place at the very end of the film when viewers are completely aware it’s impossible makes it all the more painful. It's notable how physically and emotionally intimate Mia and Sebastian are in this alternate reality. Compared to the intimacy Mia shares with her actual husband, it makes a world of difference. As Sebastian plays the final notes of his song, we snap back to reality, where Mia is seated with her new husband again. They share one final, forlorn glance as Mia exits the jazz club, and the film ends.
Horrible ending. Sometimes I like to stop watching the film before the flashback ends, so I can continue living my life in bliss. Sadly, La La Land’s writers hate letting us live a blissful life. But that’s not the point of the ending… This is the cruel dichotomy between romanticism and reality – the very message La La Land attempts to convey. As powerful love is, sometimes the right person may be the only thing between you and your dreams. When that day comes, what will you choose?
So, was it all worth it?
If you asked me whether Mia and Sebastian made the right choice to chase their dreams at the expense of a whole future together, I wouldn’t know how to answer you. The film does not demand an answer from you either, and that’s the beauty of it – It’s less of a story with a tight conclusion and more of a rhetoric. What I can say with certainty, however, is that their whirlwind romance was 100% worth it. (Even with that atrocious ending!) Mia and Sebastian would have never reached their pinnacles without each other, and it’s just sad they can’t relish the view together. To me, La La Land was never about the birth and death of a relationship, but rather the emotional journey of it. That journey, including all its turmoil, is worth it.
We’re so lucky to live in a life where we can truly and thoroughly feel. We can tumble so deeply into love, get our hearts broken, cry about it, and then laugh at how stupidly we handled it with our friends. We can do all of this in a single lifetime, and as someone who used to shut out her emotions, I often marvel in amazement that even a single person can make us feel so deeply. Letting a person sweep you off your feet and make you feel on a level more profound than ever before is an achievement in itself — one that shouldn’t be diminished.
So, never hesitate to love relentlessly. Love until your heart aches, love even if things didn’t work out, love to the point where even fate itself has to grapple with you to take away your love. When fate finally seizes that love from your grasp and the curtain falls, still never stop loving the contributions they’ve made to your life. Inevitably, but perhaps unbeknownst to some, everyone a person’s ever loved has impacted them somehow. For that alone, always wish them well, whenever they cross your mind.
Dear reader, I wish you well too. I wish you one of the best things our meagre lives have to offer — to continue feeling deeply and vigorously. You already are, and that’s something worth celebrating.
“City of Stars, are you shining just for me?”
Young Journalists’ Club
How to Move On 101
By Kate Khoo (IB1K)
I’m going to start this article with a disclaimer that I am no expert on this subject; in fact, I’m far from it. Bring up something of significance to me that happened years ago and I can tell you with full confidence that I still think about it. So please, take each and every one of these words with a pinch of salt, because this is just my personal take on an extremely multifaceted subject.
If you ask any one of my friends, they’d tell you that I’m not one who moves on easily. I hyperfixate on the tiniest details of things that meant something to me. If there was a step by step guide on how to move on, I’d be the first person to utilise it. However, even though I’m unable to provide you with said step by step on how to move on as the article title suggests (clickbait sorry), I can offer you my take on moving forward, along with bits and pieces of things and knowledge that I’ve learnt and gained from my mere 17 years of experience. How would you describe healing and moving on? Amongst many things, the healing process is delicate, fragile, intricate, vulnerable, volatile and much more. Basically, it isn’t something that will go by quickly and easily.
Firstly, healing is never linear. I know this is a commonly repeated phrase that’s thrown around largely, but that’s only because it’s tried, tested and true. You can feel absolutely fine for months before one miniscule reminder of someone or something completely drags you under the water. But it will get better, just as it has before. Just as things went downhill again, they will go uphill again.
Secondly, time heals all wounds. Situations and circumstances will feel less heavy over time. I used to think that it can’t be guaranteed that things will get better, simply due to the fact that nothing can really be completely guaranteed. But if you don’t believe that things will get better, they won’t. With that mindset, you’ll forever be trapped in your enclosure of self-pity and wallowing. In order for things to get better, you have to believe that they can and will get better. Maybe not now, maybe not anytime soon, but eventually, the tedious and tormentous wait for things to get better will come to an end. The change will be so gradual that you won’t even notice it. However, after enough time passes, when you look back on the days where you felt like things would never get better, you’ll realise that they did, in fact, get better.
To me, moving on is all about acceptance and moving forward with your life. Forgetting and letting go completely are two things that are quite literally impossible for me to do. Acceptance comes with time. Slowly, you start to learn to accept things for the way they are, and accept that there’s nothing you can do to change the situation. Moving on doesn’t necessarily mean forgetting all about a certain someone or something. For example, I still regularly think about people who meant a great deal to me and are no longer present in my life. I don’t think I will ever forget any of them; they’ll forever stay with me in my mind. When I first lost these people, thinking about them constantly was like pouring salt on an open wound. However, over time, you start to come to terms with the way things are, and all the perpetual thoughts, memories, reminders, and anything along those lines, start to mellow out, and so does the hurt that comes along with them. I’ve learnt to accept that these people will always mean something to me, and that I will always think about them. As time passes, these thoughts come in the form of things like seeing something they would appreciate and thinking of them, or stumbling across something that they had given to me back when they were still a part of my life. Thoughts like these gradually become a part of your day to day life (for me, at least, I’m not too sure if it's a daily occurrence for others) and they blend in with everything else in your mind. You don’t forget about these people, but the thought of them no longer carries any bitter connotations.
Go out, meet new people, take up new hobbies and spend time with the people who mean something to you who are still in your life. Loss often overwhelms people and becomes the only thing they focus on. Just because you lost one important person, don’t forget about the other people who mean as much to you and are still here with you. Remind yourself that this too shall pass, and that you will meet new faces that will bring you just as much joy. Nothing is permanent in our lives. At some point, we all have to overcome this dreaded hurdle of loss, so here’s my two cents on how to move on.
my (aunt’s) house
Asha
Kishan (IB1T)
waffles smeared with butter and glazed with maple syrup mattresses on the floor with blankets everywhere begging my mum to let me stay over another day those were the mornings in my aunt’s house
picking me up from school to go to mcdonalds running around in the backyard catching grasshoppers to throw into the inflatable pool sitting in the backyard eating rolls and chicken wings while my uncle and my dad manned the grill those were the evenings in my aunt’s house
putting on a special performance for our parents while begging to sleep over my mum reluctantly allowing us with a small smile on her face to stay over just for one night rushed showers and mismatched pyjamas jumping on the bed and having dance parties while waiting for our cup of milo before bed those were the nights at my aunt’s house
Treachery Naya Singer (1K)
The whispered words spoken countless times spin in her head
Travelling in the night is deadly
For that is where untold horrors lurk,
Yet she now whispers a new anthem
She whispers under her breath,
That the darkness shall provide, A blanket of invisibility,
Hiding her amongst the treachery, She repeats this new anthem over and over again, I scoff,
Humans will truly do anything to avoid the truth
Her footsteps echo against the mossy stones,
As wisps of fog dance around the ebony sky
I guess she’s seen me now, or at least sensed my presence, Her footsteps slow,
She takes her time now, moving slowly at ease, I pause, Odd.
For a second I truly believed she’d seen me
Yet there’s not a single trace of fear on her face
She seems happy, delighted even,
Hello James
A guttural earthy voice comes from somewhere behind me
I spin around,
as I grew up, my priorities always shifted and my purpose in life constantly changed. but my reason for living always stayed the same, it would be found in my aunt’s house.
the moonlight illuminates its gaunt face, It’s as if a woodworker is carving that no longer humans face, Its eyes grow
And its smile deepens, Its mouth is still moving
JAMES
JAMES
JAMES She calls I flinch
The memories flood back to me, James it rasps, slower this time with nothing but pure certainty Its head tilts and its impossibly huge smile widens even more You remember me now don’t you James? I do.
The girl, standing in front of me moments before is now behind me, Her lips move but multiple voices exit her heart-shaped lips
A heartfelt thank you to all the contributors to this publication for your hard work and creativity. Your efforts in capturing our memories and creating this lasting keepsake are truly appreciated. May we cherish this yearbook as a testament to our time together.
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Ms Gillian Tan, Mary Chai, Ms Rochelle Lin, Gerilynne Lee, Mr Issic Balbir Singh, Audrey Kong
