d’ hour
2020 ISSUE 1
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Editorials Hey Dunmanians! As we usher in the new decade of 2020 by welcoming the new batch of Year 1s as well as Year 5 Joint Admissions Exercise students, our CCA has decided to probe more into what the future holds for our new Dunmanian family. This issue not only celebrates how our diversity has helped shape our unique identity and allowed us to come this far, it also focuses on how we, as one Dunmanian family, can constructively impact the school and the society. We at Publications would like to thank our teachers, Mdm Hong Lan, Ms Kheng and Mr Mark Ho for lending crucial guidance and support throughout the course of writing and publishing this magazine. As for our fellow Dunmanians, we hope that you will enjoy this issue of D’Hour and you will better appreciate the diversity of our school. Do find the online version of our magazine on Issuu if you are interested in reading more of our magazines. - Rachel Lee 6C45
大家好： 出版社经过了漫长的筹备，新一期杂志破茧而出！这一 期杂志主题––– FUSION。文章围绕德明拥有的多元文 化、德明情怀、悠久校史等话题展开，我们也采访了一 些学生，让他们分享多姿多彩的德明校园生活。希望这 一期杂志能够让同学们产生共鸣，且对德明有更深一步 的了解。 在此，我们也衷心地感谢出版社的负责老师们：Mdm Hong Lan 洪澜老师和 Ms Kheng Hwee Teng, Mr Mark Ho 有你们的支持和教导，杂志才得以顺利出版！ - 丘旺妮 Qu Wang Ni 6C12
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Our Beauty in Diversity Different Flowers Make a Bouquet 开拓-收获 Langkah-langkah Pertama
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Our Home Away from Home 温暖的第二个家 Beyond 4 Blue Walls Naam Irvuar Namakku Iruvar
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oUR pROMISING fUTURE Stepping Stones 路
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oUR tHOUGHTFUL impacts
Change - One Step at a Time When Our Ideas for Change Took Flight
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“Dunman High got diversity one meh? Aren’t we all just Chinese?” might be the first thought that comes to mind when you think about diversity in Dunman High. Though there is some truth in this statement, being surrounded by a majority race should not equate to a lack of diversity. Diversity should not be limited to race because it is a reality created by groups from a spectrum of demographic and philosophical differences.
Jaz Low 5C21
Quek Rui Chin 5C21
Choy Kheng Yan 6C36
Boh Duang Fu 6C11
STEP 2018/2019 The Continuation
EXPERIENCES
Kaleidoscope 2018: HeARTbeat
Contrary to popular opinion, it can be seen that there is diversity in Dunman High as the school provides a safe and nurturing environment where we can explore our differences. From hosting international students for exchange programmes, to discussing diversity in Singapore during Active Citizenry Education (ACE) lessons, the school helps us develop respect for different experiences. In celebrations such as International Friendship Day or the Kaleidoscope Arts Festival, Dunmanians understand diversity as moving beyond simple tolerance to embracing the customs of other ethnicities and nationalities. Notably, the Yutaka Japanese Cultural Club (YJCC) has also done a great job in exposing Dunmanians to Nihon traditions. However, diversity is a conscious practice which requires us to relate to environments different from our own. The school helps realise this by organising various Overseas Programmes. The Singapore-Thailand Enhanced Partnership (STEP) is a homestay programme that allows students to appreciate a different culture and way of life. Similarly, students from the Bicultural Studies Programme (BSP) are
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given the chance to visit China and America and experience the rich cultural atmosphere of these countries. By building alliances across differences, we can work together to eradicate discrimination and diversify the school community. In an interview with us, Naveen Suresh from 6C36 mentioned that he liked the “open and inclusive environment� Dunman High provided to every student in terms of opportunities and participation. He also appreciated how teachers would translate non-English phrases into English for his understanding. This further emphasises how Dunmanians have made a conscious effort to be inclusive.
FOOD Of course, how do we talk about diversity without talking about food? Food is a great vehicle for bringing people together. Sampling different cuisines allows us to have a taste of other cultures and kick off conversations we may not have otherwise. Our school canteen itself offers many different cuisines, ranging from Malay to Thai food. It is
International Friendship Day 2017
easy for students to enjoy a hearty meal of Japanese curry rice or some savoury Mee Rebus. It is through this that we learn to embrace the distinct tastes of these dishes and appreciate the stories behind them. To top it off, the school introduces students to unique foods during special cultural events. The Mid-Autumn Festival is a classic example where our school celebrations allow us to try delicious mooncakes paired with a cup of Chinese tea. Everyone has a part to play.
PEOPLE The school can help us diversify our experiences but ultimately, it is up to us to widen our own horizons, and making friends with people of different cul-
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Y4 BSP Trip 2019
tures is probably the best way to do so. “But all my friends in school are Chinese,” you might protest, which is sadly the case for our relatively homogenous student population. That being said, there is a lot more diversity in other environments around us. So why not find these friends outside of school? It can be daunting befriending people so different from ourselves, because we fear that we might misspeak or fumble. Yet, these very missteps are actually great learning opportunities. Try not to worry excessively about offending others; as long as you make it clear that you’ve made an honest mistake, most people will shrug it off. Join friends of different ethnicities in their cultural festivals, whether it is breaking fast with a Muslim neighbour or joining in the Thaipusam festivities. There are always lots of opportunities to immerse yourself in other cultures, so no more excuses!
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Of course, diversity isn’t all about expanding your social circle, but also about being mindful about our own actions. As suggested by Suresh, we can also incorporate the rest of Singapore’s national
languages into taglines, signboards, and posters. An area of improvement Suresh pointed out was how our school song and pledge are (occasionally) recited in Chinese even though the pledge states, “regardless of race, language and religion”, which he found to be “quite ironic” and “different from other schools”. Being very new to the JAE programme, our school may need to make a few adjustments to better include all JAE students, but it is up to us to make that change and be more welcoming to new members of our family. At the end of the day, it is extremely important to support diversity, because by fostering a climate where equity and mutual respect are intrinsic, we can create a vibrant school community.
开拓——收获 黄一涵
潘天缘
Huang Yihan 5C37
Pan Tianyuan 6C12
德明是一所活动丰富，选择多样化的学校。她有很 多浸濡活动和交流项目，而且多数已持续数十年之久。 这极大地丰富了德明学子的校园生活，也为他们提供了 接触多元文化的宝贵机会。得益于此，德明学子更懂得 尊重每一种文化，和谐之花也因此在校园内绽放。
）浸濡课程 1. 双文化课程（教育部 ing me (MOE) Overseas Learn Bicultural Studies Program Journey 为期两 学生都会前往美国进行 每年年底，中四双文化 年底假 此，每一学年的年中和 如 仅 不 ， 旅 之 习 学 的 周 前往中 双文化课程的学生都会 期，中三、中四、高一 动不 活 浸濡学习活动。浸濡 国各地进行为期两周的 旦大学 大学，如北京大学、复 名 著 地 当 访 参 会 机 有 仅 会并深 迹与景点参观，亲身体 等，还能到当地名胜古 。 入了解中西文化的韵味
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2. 南京 & 苏州文化浸 濡之旅 Year 4 Odyssey Educatio nal & Cultural Immersion Programme to Nanjing and Suzhou 每年中四学生都会去中 国进行长达五 天的毕业旅行，目的是 让学子加深对 华族文化的了解。精彩 纷呈的活动包 括彰显中国匠人精神的 活字印刷术体 验课和展示中国传统文 化之美的绣香 囊、“点蓝白”印染课程 。这些活动让 他们既学到知识，也交 到朋友，深受 学生欢迎。
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3. 泰国交流项目 Singapore-Thailand Enhanced Partnership (STEP) 每年四月份，来自泰国 Rayongwittayakom 学校的十几名学生都会作为交换 生来到德明，度过为期一周的浸濡， 体验作为德明学子的生活。通过在课 上和课下的交流，大家可以从各自的 文化中互汲所长。同样的，德明的学 子也会前往泰国交流，为期一周，感 受当地氛围。因此，我们不仅增广了 见闻，而且收获了友情。
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CCA）的交流项目
（ 4. 课外辅助活动
出国交 辅助活动有年度 德明的一些课外 出，华乐 队曾去吉隆坡演 流，比如交响乐 通过音 槟城进行交流。 去 曾 队 球 毛 羽 团和 明人在提 国界的媒介，德 乐和运动这一无 体会到其 时，也可以亲身 高自身水平的同 当地风情。 他国家的文化和
5. 来到德明的各国交流生（日本） 每年德明都会接待来自世界各地的朋友，其中日本团的 交流比较多，日本 Yokosuka Sogo High School 和 Aichi Prefectural Tsushima Senior High School 每年会来德明参访。虽 然相处时间只有短短一两天，但是德明人清楚地看到了 日本小伙伴身上的闪光点，也开始欣赏他们的文化，从 而增加了校园内文化的多样性。我校日本文化研究社进 一步加深了学生对日本文化的认知，因此能够更好地带 领社员进行活动。
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Langkah-langkah Pertama By Goh Si Hui
Sikap hormat-menghormati dan pemahaman diantara satu-sama lain adalah asas keharmonian dalam masyarakat berbilang kaum Singapura. Selain dari itu, institusi-institusi memainkan peranan yang penting demi memastikan kesejahteraan negara akan tercapai. Kini, sekolah kami, Sekolah Tinggi Dunman telah diberi peluang untuk menyertai JAE. Dengan pengambilan pelajar-pelajar dari latar belakang kaum berbeza, sekolah kami diberkati dengan satu kepelbagaian budaya dan bahasa. Terdapat banyak faedah yang dapat diraih oleh sekolah-sekolah yang terdiri dari berbilang agama, budaya dan bangsa. Pelajar boleh meneroka kepelbagaian di kawasan kampus mereka sendiri dan menambahkan pengetahuan mereka tentang empat kaum-kaum etnik utama di Singapura. Pendedahan kepada pelbagai budaya membenarkan pelajar masa untuk memahami, menghargai dan dengan itu menghormati semua budaya. Tambahan pula, sekolah-sekolah berbilang kaum memberi pelajar-pelajar peluang untuk berinteraksi dengan teman dari kaum lain dan sekaligus menjalin persahabatan yang rapat. mengIntegrasikan semua kaum di Singapura amat penting dalam menyatupadukan rakyat kami bersama. Seperti pepatah Melayu, “bersatu kita teguh bercerai kita roboh�.
Seperti pepatah Melayu, "bersatu kita teguh bercerai kita roboh". Keharmonian kaum bermula dari mewujudkan satu suasana positif di sekolah yang dapat memupuk pemahaman dan penghargaan budaya. Pelajar boleh menpelajari lebih tentang sesuatu budaya dan sekaligus mendedahkan pada pelajar lain tentang apa yang dipelajari. Sebagai contoh, di sekolah kami telah menubuh Kelab Melayu (Malay Cultural Club). Kewujudan MCC sendiri ialah bukti bagi keterbukaan terhadap budaya lain, sesiapa yang mempunyai minat dalam Bahasa dan adat Melayu boleh menyertainya. Kelab ini boleh menimbulkan kesedaran tradisi dan amalan budaya tempatan. Mereka juga mendedahkan kepada pelajar dengan satu wadah untuk meneroka keindahan di sebalik budaya tempatan kami. Tambahan pula, sekolah kita menyambut Perayaan seperti Tahun Baru Cina serta Mid Autumn Festival pada setiap tahun, dan dengan usaha bersama pelajar, perayaan-perayaan dari kaum lain juga pasti boleh dirayai, misalnya, Hari Raya Puasa dan Diwali. Kelab-kelab kebudayaan ini boleh mengadakan pameran, dialog atau persembahan semasa perhimpunan sekolah
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sempena pesta-pesta tempatan. Tambahan pula, pelajar boleh merebut peluang datang bersama dengan rakan dan rakan sekelas membantu menguruskan perayaan-perayaan ini bersama dengan kelab-kelab kebudayaan tertentu mendirikan gerai-gerai permainan karnival bertujuan untuk memperluaskan pengetahuan budaya pelajar. Acara ini tentu menambah suasana positif kepada alam persekolahan mereka. Sebagai rakyat Singapura, kami semua sebenarnya suka untuk mendapat juadah tempatan lazat. Oleh itu, Kelab Masak di sekolah kami boleh mungkin mempertimbangkan untuk mendirikan gerai makanan semasa musim-musim perayaan dan memberi pelajar-pelajar rasa hidangan setiap budaya, kerana masakan mencerminkan budaya. Tambahan pula, pelajar-pelajar kelab masakan kami juga boleh menganjurkan kelas terbuka untuk pelajar untuk belajar memasak hidangan ini. Bila pelajar menceburi diri mereka dalam suasana perayaan dan menyertai dengan gembira, mereka akan benar-benar belajar menghargai keindahan di sebalik semua budaya dan tradisi-tradisi mereka. Lagipun, pelajar-pelajar juga boleh terdedah kepada pelbagai budaya melalui filem dan muzik, iaitu sejenis seni yang popular di kalangan anak muda. Sebuah papan buletin boleh disediakan untuk membenarkan semua pelajar-pelajar berkongsi lagu yang baik, filem atau penerbitan televisyen dengan rakan-rakan sekolah rakan mereka. Seni mengatasi sempadan budaya
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dan hiburan seperti Youtube, Spotify and Netflix, pelbagai bahasa boleh didapati dengan mudah. Biarkan saya menamakan beberapa contoh pengeluaran Melayu popular -- satu lagu menarik berjudul, ‘Sabar’ oleh Ismail Izzzani yang mempunyai penonton mencecah lebih daripada dua puluh empat juta pandangan di Youtube dan sebuah filem bertajuk ‘Pulang’, yang memberitahu sebuah cerita menyayat hati tentang cinta dan pengorbanan. Dengan pendedahan kepada muzik dan penerbitan filem ini, pelajar-pelajar boleh belajar lebih banyak tentang tradisi dan kehidupan budaya lain, dan juga belajar beberapa frasa perbualan yang berguna semasa interaksi dengan teman sebaya pelbagai bangsa! Akhir sekali, pelajar boleh melawat acara-acara pesta seperti River Hongbao, Ramadan Geylang Serai bazar dan Krismas On A Great Street , di mana makanan, persembahan dan permainan membuat mereka sempurna untuk keluarga dan rakan! Terdapat begitu banyak cara di mana pelajar-pelajar boleh meneroka kepelbagaian di sekolah kami dan komuniti, tetapi akhirnya usaha mesti datang dari individu. Untuk menjadi satu rakyat Singapura yang bersatu, kami harus memeluk perbezaan, tanggungjawab bergantung kepada kami mengambil langkah pertama.
应昀倩， 谢宛廷， 夏川蛟 Ying Yunqian, Tse Yun Ting, Xia Chuanjiao
6C31, 6C45, 5C37
温暖的第二个家 校园 ––– 伴随我们青春成长的地方，记载了我们的喜怒哀乐，酸甜苦 辣。每一段记忆都是一个故事，见证了我们在这个“家”里的成长......
德明大家庭
德明于我的意义
成为德明人
除了与亲人在家里共度的时光 外，相信让大家拥有最多回忆 的地方便是学校。无可否认， 学校早已成为大家心中的第二 个家。学校承载着无数美好又 难忘的回忆。德明同学间的团 结友爱，无疑是我们繁重学业 背后最温暖的慰籍。6C45班 的谢宛廷就曾被同学不经意的 温暖深深打动。她提到：“考 试前，承担不住大压力的我最 终决定退出课外活动。一得知 这个消息，我的朋友非常担心 我，特意发消息给我询问我的 情况，并进一步地了解我离开 的原因和苦衷。” 拥有一群特 地花时间陪你谈说天地的朋 友，何尝不是一种幸运呢？
常言道，学校除了教授知识， 最重要的是教会学生了解人生 的意义。学生的生活中也处处 离不开学校的影子。“大学之 道，在明明德”，校名的来源 告诉学生，只有品德端正，博 学多识，才能走得更远。学校 的校训“诚信勇忠”更是带领大 家走出迷途中的茫然，堂堂正 正地做人。5C37班的夏川蛟 说：“当我拾起路边的钱包， 等待失主时，是诚信的校训时 时教导着我，只有诚实守信， 才能堂堂正正做人；当我制止 路边的人欺负小动物，是勇敢 的校训时时告诉我，只有勇 敢，才能见证正义；当我阅读 看到世界文化间的冲突，是忠 诚的理念告诫着我，只有忠于 自己心中的秤，才能平衡世界 的天窗。” 让学生在文化中熏 陶，在实践中成长，这就是德 明的与众不同之 处。
每年德明都会迎来新学生，我 们以热情与真诚迎接他们，帮 助他们更好地融入这个充满温 馨与希望的大家庭，共同克服 困难，一起成长。在高中加入 德明6C31班的张馨予觉得乐 于助人的学长和热心向她介绍 德明学业、生活的同学们是帮 助她融入学校的关键。除此之 外，她还说道: “ 参加‘德明日’ 这样的大型活动，让我更加了 解学校的文化与历史，也创建 了我和同学们进一步交流的平 台。 ” 正因为有了学生会，以 及同学们积极配合，才能使新 伙伴在学校的生活更加丰富多 彩，为校园增添更多的欢乐。 这是我们的学校，亦是我们的 家！是教我们知识的课堂，也 是教导我们人生的殿堂！
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BEYOND 4 BLUE WALLS What makes a home, “home”? Is it the familiar blue walls, the people we seek solace in, or the memories made within? How do we welcome new members to our family? What is it that makes us unwilling to leave at the end of the day?
A WARM HOUSE
For many of us, the canteen is an important place. It isn’t just where we get our favourite Teriyaki Don from the Japanese stall, or where we buy our drinks from the ever-amiable uncles after a long day, but also where we take breaks, study and unwind. It isn’t uncommon to hear sudden outbursts of Happy Birthday songs or witness students revelling in their friends’ birthday celebrations. Groups of students eating and studying together is a sight just as common, with students helping one another out with killer Mathematics questions, or simply enjoying the company of their friends. In this way, through both lively and peaceful times, we’ve come to realise that our familial Dunmanian culture is one so precious. The classroom, another integral part of our school lives, is a place where we learn and create memories. This can come from various orientation activities held in class, or from students’ favourite Kahoot games that teachers use to facilitate learning. Not to mention the decoration competitions that come with the annual Chinese New Year
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clara chua 6C45
Heng kai en 5C32 Hnin Ei wut yee 5C11
celebrations. This is the time when classmates come together to achieve victory against other classes by putting their heads together to come up with original designs, and spend more time in class to put up the decorations. As such, students build strong bonds within their classes and it is no wonder that students find that the school environment gives them a type of warmth.
OUR FAMILY MEMBERS
More often than not, we find ourselves forming memorable friendships through our shared experiences, be it in classrooms, CCAs or others parts of the school. For Tian Run of 6C37, entering DHS Chinese Orchestra as a JAE student was the most memorable moment for him. As a member of the bowed strings section, he felt that the warmth, enthusiasm, and kindness from
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his section mates were things he didn’t expect but was very thankful for. However, this feeling is not limited to those from his CCA as the generous guidance he received from his teachers and fellow students made it easier for him to forge friendships and fit into our DHS family. Beyond that, our daily encounters have bridged the gaps with our teachers and EAS staff who have helped us through our journeys, in one way or another. Within the spaces of our tight knit community, it is definitely safe to say that our family members have built a familiar, warm home for us to learn and grow in.
CHERISHABLE MEMORIES OUR SHARED EXPERIENCES
Thankfully, our years in DHS have given us numerous platforms and opportunities to experience an array of learning journeys, VIA involvements, concerts, competitions and school wide events. Through our blood, sweat and tears, we have managed to bring our CCAs to greater heights, organise large scale events and make our VIA plans a reality with our combined efforts and unrelenting team spirits. Notably, concerts and competitions are the events that allow us to forge invaluable memories within our CCAs and our classes. The process of preparing for concerts and competitions is arduous and often time-consuming, yet the pain we go through is alleviated by our CCA friends. As we joke about how we would finally be able to put the pain behind us when the big day comes, we build each other up as Seniors guide Juniors along, and slowly but surely, amongst ourselves we find a family, an indispensable support system. Besides our CCA friends, we can also rely on our classmates to
support us during concerts and competitions, whether it is demonstrating our Dunmanian spirit in competitions through the zealous cheers, or showing our love through the littlest of gestures and words of encouragement.
BRINGING NEW MEMBERS INTO OUR FAMILY With a new batch of students coming into DHS this year, be it Y1 or Y5 JAE students, we should not forget to extend our warmth to them. By all means, we should encourage and welcome new students to participate in school events so that they can make the most of their time at DHS. Above all it is with enthusiasm, sincerity, and kindness from fellow members in DHS that Xin Yin from 3C has found her Y1/2 class the best one she’s had so far, and Tian Run from 6C37 can say that he does not regret choosing to come to DHS in 2019. So let us go forth, and build safe spaces and precious memories together, because after all, home is found within us, and home is where the heart is.
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Naam Iruvar Namakku Iruvar
(Two for Another Two)
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By G. Blessy Sharon
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Stepping Stones
Charmaine Leow 5C21
WHEN WE THINK OF DUNMAN HIGH, our views may differ - from the friends and family in this place we call home, to the unique learning and development we experience. Just like a tapestry cloth sewn with various fabric and imprinted designs, our school experience consists of a vast, unique collection of events that have made watershed impacts on our lives. Particularly in this day and age, where technology has become the norm, we have come a long way in terms of convenience and adopted methods of teaching and learning for both our teachers and students. The tools we use, such as our visualisers, or our accessible learning materials found online, are the result of a constantly evolving society designed to meet our fast-paced needs. But the inclusion of these materials isn’t the only improvement in our school lives – our relationship with technology has drastically improved as well, whether it is our skills in operating our machines, or our attitude towards technology and how it improves our learning. In the years we learn and grow, what matters most is how we effectively use these tools to our advantage, and how we can react
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Wong Yee Ching 5C11
Poon Jia Rong 5C42
Avigail Frances Chan Xinyi 6C44
and adapt to our ever-changing ways of life the more tech-savvy we become, the more we expose ourselves to a different world: one that opens up opportunities for us to not only learn, but also to be conscious of our environment and various global issues. When we see the future in technology, that is when we can make full use of our stepping stones to carve a brighter future in learning, and in helping our world.
A Future in Technology
The learning experience in DHS a few decades ago was a stark contrast to the one we have today. Limited to overhead projectors, without computers, our alumni did not have the luxury of online materials and games to add on to the traditional classroom learning. However, when we peek into the lives of our students today, we find that technology is deeply ingrained into our daily activities, such as the way students like us prefer taking notes by tapping away on our smartphones or laptops, or the air-conditioners in classrooms and lecture theatres that provide a more conducive environment. Apart from our personal learning styles, adopted methods of learning in the classroom may also make a huge difference in the way we remember or learn our content on the go. Online platforms cause us to rely less on our traditional classroom lessons and textbooks – a massive improvement from previous learning experiences.
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In an interview with us, one of our alumni expressed how Google’s G Suite Organisation has also been a useful tool in our learning - in one suite of tools, it offers solutions for email, word processing, spreadsheets, presentation decks and much more. Not only has it promoted collaboration in our school for essential subjects such as Project Work, the large body of knowledge accessible at our fingertips has also brought us enhanced productivity and has broadened our minds to the world around us. In addition, the more interactive nature of classroom games may have helped you in remembering concepts that you may have had difficulty remembering previously. How often do you find yourself retaining knowledge after an interactive game of Kahoot, even better than you did for a lecture that you conscientiously paid attention to? After consensus from our current students and alumni, it is safe to say that interactive games can illustrate lessons and emphasise important concepts. Everyone has their own way of learning, but the additional joy and fun from exploring new ways to learn may be more impactful in allowing us to genuinely enjoy ourselves, even with the stress and pressure of having to do well in our academics. Besides the conducive and efficient learning in the classroom, technology has also granted us the power to make concrete positive changes towards our natural environment, and serve as a daily reminder that we, even as students, have the inherent responsibility to save our environment. For starters, the circulation of online materials instead of hardcopy notes allows students to contribute in their own bite-size ways. Be it using e-copy notes in place of hardcopy ones or emailing essays instead of writing them, these acts have profound impacts, pushing students to strive towards protecting our environment.
In addition, the improvements and upgrades in our school such as the implementation of larger whiteboards encourage reduced usage of paper, and countless innovative machines in our school compound such as the food compost machine and the metal can crusher also provide direct platforms for us to integrate technology into environmental efforts. The easy accessibility of technology in school means that environmental efforts such as recycling are no longer cumbersome chores. This is an essential step in an age in which our dying environment has been in the headlines - through school efforts in raising awareness of urgent issues, we can pique the interests of our future generation of leaders and aid the effort to combat pollution. When we think about technology now, we think about the growing relevance it has to us and the future that it eventually brings. From enriching our learning, to making us more active citizens, it has ensured that our school experience will never be the same without it. Technology not only allows us to improve ourselves, it also lends a helping hand to the world around us. With technology aiding, inspiring and motivating us, we will be able to care, to serve, and to lead, better than ever before.
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路
曹译萱
陈辰
Cao Yi Xuan
Chen Chen
6C32
6C35
“什么是路？就是从没路的地方践踏出来的，从只有荆 棘的地方开辟出来的。”—— 鲁迅 谈起德明的前世今生，就不得 不先追本溯源。德明——身为 在战后为了华人学子们所建的 学校，其历史的确没有莱佛士 书院、华侨中学这些百年学府 来的悠久，但年轻不代表没有 资质。六十多年来，学校培养 了无数享誉国内外的优人秀 才。随着2020的到来，让我们 一齐回顾历史，展望未来。
育部下令关闭了新加坡南洋华 侨中学以及中正中学总校兼分 校。为安置受学潮影响的华校 生，联邦政府陆续设立了多所 由政府直接管辖的政府华文中 学，其中便有加冷西政府中文 中学，即德明政府中学前身。 德明，在当时混乱的社会中诞 生，劈开重重荆棘，踏上了一 条未知的治学之道。
授课。一所小学，100名新加 坡南洋华侨中学转校生，10名 教师，为数不多的几张桌子和 椅子，便是当时德明拥有的全 部，其粗糙简陋是当今德明学 子们难以 想象的。1957年，学 校搬到德明路的新校舍，重新 命名为”德明政府华文中学”， (英文为 Dunman Government
Chinese Middle School)。
《 大 学 》 中“大学之道，在明 1956年10月14日，在华文中学 新成立的加冷西政府华文中学 明德，在亲民，在止于至善”。 暴动之后，当时的联邦政府教 借用了蒙巴顿路一所小学校舍 根据这个含义，又配合德明路
1956
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地址，学校有了新的校名。德 试。2019年，德明开始参加联 展 示 优 越 的 领 导 才 能 。 我 们 明从此一直秉持着育人先育德 合招生计划，接受JAE学生。 也应当拥有回馈社会的意愿， 的教育理念，开辟更宽阔的道 秉持学校使命“关怀、服务、 路。 德 明 的 校 舍 早 已 搬 到 了 丹 戎 领导”的精神。无论我们走到 禺，并且一直在翻修，如今德 哪里，成为什么样的人，德明 1979年，德明被选为新加坡九 明已经成为新加坡规模最大的 给予我们的教诲都会永远影响 所特选中学之一，并改名为德 政 府 学 校 。 学 校 设 施 应 有 尽 我们的一生。它鞭策着我们， 明政府中学 (Dunman High 有：礼堂、宿舍、餐厅、室内 领导着我们，支持着我们去开 School) ，成为一所把英语和 运动场、电脑室等等。这样的 创自己人生的道路。德明的治 华语都列为第一语言、双语并 条件对1956年的前辈们而言， 学之道，引领着学子们一往直 前；而学子们开辟的道路，也 重的学校。此事可谓是德明自 是多么的难以想象！ 一直在丰富并完善着德明的治 开办以来尤其重要的一座里程 展望未来，身为德明学子的我 学之道。 碑。它影响了数代德明学子的 成长历程，给予莘莘学子们无 们都应知道母校的愿景为何： 数激发学习潜能，展现语言才 堂正君子，社稷栋梁；学贯中 能 ， 创 造 卓 越 成 就 的 宝 贵 机 西，兼容并蓄；心系祖国 ，放 会；同时也为今后德明能成为 眼世界。我们有幸沉浸在双语 一所拥有深厚华族传统和价值 和双文化的环境，因此我们也 观的优质学府奠定了基础。德 应在东西文化的交流中做到游 明的治学之道越走越宽，越走 刃有余。我们应铭记“诚信勇 越远，而走在这条路上的人们 忠”，立足于正确的价值观， 越来越多。 自2005年开设直通车课程以 来，德明进一步发扬因材施教 的理念，为学生量身设计校本 课程，学生无需参加 “O”水准 考试便可直接参加“A”水准考
正如鲁迅先生所言，世上 本没有路，走的人多了， 也便成了路。
1979 现在
未来 21
CHANGE
Sie Hao Yang 5C44
Steffie Tan 5C48
Ho Yu Ning 6C22
One step at a time
From the outside, passers-by view Dunman High School as a huge campus with red and blue buildings, and with a strong sense of Chinese culture that is deeply ingrained in the hundreds of students that study in this school. However, beyond the many buildings and facilities are the people who make up our school, and the different stories of these people doing their best to make their school and their society a better one to live in. In this article, let us take you on a tour of our Dunman High School campus, where we will introduce you to the many stories of our fellow Dunmanians who strive to change our world for the better every day. Upon entering the main gates, the first thing that meets the eye is a circular patch of grass, with a
statue of Confucius standing in the middle. This is our school’s iconic 正心园 (Zheng Xin Yuan), where festive celebrations are held annually. To help foster a more inclusive community, and to get to know different groups of people on a deeper and more personal level, the school invites our partners and friends from all walks of life to these celebrations. One example is the Chinese New Year celebration, which the elderly in our community are invited to. The celebration features a traditional lion dance performance that both the students and the elderly can enjoy. Our fellow Dunmanians can then interact with the elderly and get to know them better, making them feel welcome and appreciated in our community. “Although it’s super-hot at the Zheng Xin Yuan, it is very
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interesting and meaningful to perform for the school and the elderly during Chinese New Year,� said Joe Zhou, a member of the Lion Dance CCA. Another one of these celebrations is the Mid-Autumn Festival celebrations. This is another important cultural event held in the evening, in which Dunmanians organise performances and games, and traditional foods are catered for everyone to enjoy. For this event, the elderly, students with special needs, and the migrant workers in our community are invited to celebrate with the students and staff. As Dunmanians spend more time with these groups of people, they learn more about as well as learn from these people, so that they are able to appreciate the role of these guests in creating a vibrant community. As such, these celebrations are a platform for the students and staff of Dunman High to give back to the community, and ignite positive change by building a more inclusive and harmonious society. To the left of the Zheng Xin Yuan, you will see the canteen, where you can find a wide range of local cuisines. Over the years, our students and staff have come up with many initiatives that have a positive impact on the environment. For instance, the drink stalls no longer provide plastic straws except upon request, and have also started to sell metal straws to promote this movement. This initiative was brought to life by our very own Dunmanians, who want to make a difference and bring about positive change to our environment. Eight million tons of plastic flow into the ocean every year, and straws comprise 0.025 percent of that. Although this might seem like a small initiative, Dunmanians believe that every small change will make a difference. Not only that, we also have large recycling bins at the entrance of the canteen. Waste materials such as old worksheets and plastic bottles can be recycled. These recycling bins bring about greater convenience for our students to make a difference and cultivate good habits that would greatly benefit them in the future. Furthermore, conveniently located behind the canteen is our food compost machine. This machine turns food waste into nutrient-rich soil amendment that can be used in gardens. Food waste can be detrimental if not treated properly, as it could attract pests such as rats and cockroaches. So why not turn it into something useful? If we all put in some effort, we can help make a positive impact on the environment of our school, and on a larger scale to our society.
Should you walk further down the Zheng Xin Yuan and take a left turn, you will find yourself in the classroom blocks. This is where Dunmanians attend lessons and acquire new knowledge every day. However, besides just talks and lectures, Dunmanians are given a chance to voice their opinions and take a stand on the issues that our society faces today. Dunmanians are frequently tasked to carry out discussions and Socratic Seminars about pressing issues that plague our world today. During these discussions, they tackle global issues like gender inequality and casual racism, as well as issues unique to Singapore such as our national identity and ageing population. Dunmanians also have to represent various stakeholders in the issue, which makes them think from different perspectives and have a more well-rounded view of our society. They take this time to evaluate the severity and impacts of such problems, and find different ways to address these issues. Through preparing for these discussions, Dunmanians grow more aware of our society and community and they are more compelled to take action and do their part to tackle these problems. Dunmanians will also understand that they should take ownership of their society, and that it is up to them to induce change for the better. Our school is home to many bright students and staff, who are more than eager to make a difference not just in school, but in our society as well. As a Dunmanian family, we should all work together to help bring about positive change into our lives. If we embrace the change one step at a time, and as leaders, bring these changes to life, we could make our society and the world a better place no matter how small our actions may be. Let’s all strive to make our society and the world a better place.
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When Our Ideas for Change Took Flight
Lecia Cheok, Wan Shi Yun, Ainsley 5C32, 5C11, 6
“What change can I make?” The “teenager working on her anger management problem”, who was going to school just like any regular child, promptly rose to fame for her passionate efforts to rally support from political leaders – and thousands of teenagers across the globe – in the fight against climate change. Greta Thunberg has become the icon, the force and the voice who is unafraid to spearhead changes for the cause she believes in. Named “Person of the Year” by Time magazine in 2019, her extraordinary story touches the masses and inspires multitudes – especially ordinary teenagers. Like her, many are rooted in their beliefs and causes; armies of courageous teenagers are voicing their thoughts and ideas fervently. While her fiery determination for change and contribution to addressing the climate crisis is laudable, it can also leave many wondering if they are capable of contributing to the society they live in, let alone grabbing the world’s attention like her.
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Edward Lorenz, American mathematician and meteorologist, posed a question at the 139th meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science: does the flap of a butterfly’s wings in Brazil set off a tornado in Texas? Today, the butterfly effect is a familiar term in the scientific field, partly because his suggestion appears surprising and provocative at first blush. Similar to Lorenz’s bold pursuit in introducing a revolutionary perspective to the scientific community, the Butterfly Effect illustrates the idea that we are capable of championing changes that possess the power to impact the world around us.
A Small Action, a Lesson Learnt
Every morning, as we walk past the Geylang River en route to school, it is impossible to miss countless pieces of trash lining the filthy river stream. Every morning, we see The title of her book, “No One Is Too Small To Make A the same red plastic bags littering the rivDifference”, seems to answer that question in the hearts of er, the same plastic bottles floating on the the silent, the doubtful and the aspiring around the world. stream, the same discarded newspapers
sley Woo 11, 6C46
Upon setting foot into Dunman High School’s foyer, we are reminded of our school’s mission, “To Care, to Serve, and to Lead” - ultimately, to grow into members of society who are ardently contributing to the world we live in. From participating in simple Values-in-Action activities to playing a core role in Youth For Causes initiatives, Dunmanians have undoubtedly left consequential marks in impacting our classes, school and communities.
littering a bridge that many use on a daily basis, yet no one makes a change. Every morning, excuses like “I’m going to be late for school” or “Someone else will do it” become barriers we fabricate to prevent us from making a change. At the end of the day, when we walk home from school, the trash remains there, unchanged. Through VIA projects like the Geylang River Cleanup, the youngest members of our Dunmanian Family are able to contribute to our community by making our environment a cleaner and greener place.
BYO Change As a slew of environmental problems continue to plague our planet, the war against plastics is one of the most familiar concerns which have roused many in our society to action. While stall owners outside school have stopped providing straws and cup covers for students, a school-wide initiative was launched last year to engage students and staff to contribute to alleviating this crisis by bringing their own reusable crockery when purchasing meals in the canteen.
A Culmination of Everyone’s Effort It’s the time of the year when your email inbox is filled with YFC groups appealing to you to join them in their efforts to raise funds for or awareness about a range of
causes. In 2019, a total of 15 CITI-YMCA YFC teams from our school were successful in their endeavours and were selected to contribute towards organisations in Singapore.
Change starts with you. Mother Teresa, the globally honoured symbol for kindness and compassion, once said: “I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across waters to create many ripples.” If something as small as the flutter of a butterfly’s wings can ultimately cause a typhoon halfway around the world, if even the actions of something as fragile and insignificant as a winged insect has the ability to create such impactful changes; imagine the endless possibilities that could happen when we are willing to stand up for what we believe in. In this article, we delved into the stories of various students around us who have had the determination and courage to take action to make our world a slightly better place to live in. Now, it’s your turn to flap your wings and let your ideas for change take flight.
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our Team
Editors in Chief Rachel Lee Qu Wang Ni Senior Writers Choy Kheng Yan Boh Duang Fu Clara Chua Avigail Frances Chan Ho Yu Ning Ainsley Woo Pan Tianyuan Ying Yunqian Tse Yun Ting Chen Chen Cao Yi Xuan Basil Lee
Art Editor Ling Ying Xuan Senior Designers Toh Wen Qi Chen Chen Xu Chenxiao Wen Kai Ling Seah Yi Lin Emma Lim Candace Tan Stacia Tan Mira Lu Renee Lee Chen Wei Ling
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writers Jaz Low Quek Rui Chin Hnin Ei Wut Yee Heng Kai En Wong Yee Ching Poon Jia Rong Charmaine Leow Sie Hao Yang Steffie Tan Lecia Cheok Wan Shi Yun Huang Yihan Xia Chuanjiao Poon Jia Rong
Designers Heng Kai En Celestine Lu Lecia Cheok
Advisors Ms Kheng Hwee Teng Mr Mark Ho Mdm Hong Lan
External Writers Goh Si Hui G. Blessy Sharon
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Proudly brought to you by: Dunman High School Publications (Senior High) 德明政府中学出版社 （高中部） With special thanks to Ms Kheng Hwee Teng , Mr Mark Ho and Mdm Hong Lan
All copyright of images used belong to their respective owners
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