MOCH 2: The April Issue

Apr il 2020

Hwa Chong's Own Mag SCHool . Team. Family.

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3 Edit or ial A Short Message, Presented to you by the 46th MOCHies

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Cant een

TheAst r ot ur f (Day)

TheAst r ot ur f (Night )

Introducing... Food!

Be Active

Spot the Stars!

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School Ser v ices

Hidden School Spot s

Cent r espr ead

Just For You

They Exist

Spot Yourselves!

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open house

ChineseNew Year

Or ient at ion

One Heart, One Hwa Chong

The Year of the Rat

Game... Start!

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Tabl eof cont ent s

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El ect ions

Facul t y Pages

Consul t

Venture

4 Facs, 1 Hwach

Real-life Experiences

Edit or ial Inside the April Issue

In this issue of Hwa Chong?s Own Magazine, we invite you to go on an exciting exploration through our amazing school campus. Join us on an introspective journey of the magical places where memories have been forged and where bonds have been built.

Ever wondered about where Hwa Chong?s hidden school spots are? Discover unassuming locations in obscure corners of the school and see what others have to share about their experiences at these places. Wondering what to do during intervals between lessons? Fret not, for we have a whole gamut of recommendations for you!

Do also take time out to show your appreciation for our canteen vendors, estate team and our beloved teachers, who are working tirelessly behind the scenes to boost our chances of success (especially, of course, the Publicity Committee Teachers, Ms Law and Mr Li, without whom this publication would not have been made possible :D).

Last but not least, a HUGE shoutout to the faculty committees for their tremendous efforts in designing the Faculty Pages, as well as Studio Ardent for continued assistance in taking the beautiful photographs that grace this issue! :)

Cheers, Zong Jun, Tristan and An Rae 46th MOCH Coordinators

Bonus: Scan the QR code for the college campus map to help guide you through this issue of MOCH!

The Team Teacher-Advisors: Ms Nicole Law; Mr Li Jiexun Chairperson: Marcus Tjew Kai Feng Secretary-Treasurer: Chua Wen Xin, Kyrene NSE Attache: Liu Jiahui MOCH Coordinators: Lee Zonglin, Tristan; Ong Zong Jun; Teo An Rae Art Directors: Narelle Hor Yan Yee; Neo Yi Teng; Lu Kia Cheng Social Media Directors: Darren Sung Jun De; Raelee Toh Hsuan Hui; Tay Yu Loong, Derek Web Directors: Alethea Ong Lin Hui; Yong Guan Jie 3

Cant een 1: COLDDRINKS, Fr uit s & snacks Offering a wide variety of drinks and snacks, this stall is most suitable if you?re looking for a quick bite early in the morning or in between classes! Hungry after a gruelling lesson? Pick up a tasty bun or waffle, and pair it with a cool packet of Milo., or try the fruit cup, filled to the brim with an exotic array of colours that is sure to excite the taste buds! Best of all, the food?s a grab-and-go. Never be late again when you are in a pickle!

2: Musl imAl a- car t e& Noodl e A rare sight to behold in school canteens, the Muslim A La-carte stall holds a plethora of food experiences that await your discovery!

Whether you?re adventuring for a spicy kick or craving for the comfort of warm rice, this stall has got your back!

Combining a myriad of flavours from spicy to sweet for a truly unique flavour profile, must-tries include the savoury curry vegetable and the mouth tingling spicy chicken wings. So what are you waiting for? - make sure to head down and have a go at the stall?s flavours that pack a punch!

3: chicken r ice A staple in school canteens and iconic to Singapore?s food culture, you truly can never go wrong with Chicken Rice! Dig into the tender and juicy chicken, complemented with soft and aromatic rice. The accompanying chicken soup is also comfort for the soul.

What?s more, the stall features 2 more varieties (Thai and Lemon) if you are fancying a modern twist on the classic dish. On specific days, its menu is also expanded to include Char Shiew, Roasted Pork, Braised Meats and more!

4: Yong Tau Foo Who doesn?t love a bowl of warm, wholesome goodness? Yong Tau Foo is a traditional Hakka dish that can either be eaten dry or coupled with a bowl of piping soup on the side. The College stall takes an innovative spin on the dish, featuring a variety of serving options including Soup, Dry, Laksa or Mala.

If you are feeling adventurous, why not unleash your creativity by curating your own bowl of noodles with hand-picked ingredients? (from their selection) Do leave some buffer time however, as everything is cooked to order!

5: Chinese Economical Rice This cai fan (chinese economical rice) stall in our school is popularly known as Mom?s Cooking. After speaking to the stallholder (affectionately known as Aunty or 'Mom' by the students) and feeling the warmth and love that goes into preparing every meal, you would definitely be able to see why!

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If you are feeling lucky, do drop by this stall as there may sometimes be one-off dishes that may surprise you (in fact, there even was Mala chicken once!). Oh, and a tip: you can ask for more rice without any additional cost!

6: west er n cuisine Though commonly seen at food courts and hawker centres outside of school, this stall offers a uniquely Singaporean twist on western affair; featuring fusions such as Chicken Tikka Fusilli, Bacon Carbonara and Mentaiko Spaghetti, which makes for a truly multiracial experience.

Their most popular dish however, is the humble and unassuming Chicken Chop, served alongside a pasta of your choice, and with optional side-dishes to boot! All of these come at a really affordable price, especially when compared with outside stalls, so do head down and give this stall a try!

7: j apanese donbur i With a multitude of Japanese dishes for you to choose from, Japanese Donburi never disappoints! The curry is always deliciously sweet and rich, and paired with fluffy rice makes a good meal after a tiring day of lessons!

Or try out their Oyako-don, featuring both the chicken and the egg in one, tasty dish; satisfaction guaranteed! Do keep an eye out for their special fried Ebi that only sells on certain days.

8: ban mian The Ban Mian stall offers a wide variety of noodles, and you can even mix and match your meal with different noodles, ingredients and sauces! (You can also add chilli sauce, vinegar, spring onions or shallots

when collecting your food!)

Though the long queues may detract you at first sight, do rest assured, because your meals get cooked surprisingly quickly and you will be able to fill your stomach in no time!

9: Asian ALa- Car t e There is just something comforting in every stir-fried dish, especially when the dish comes out piping hot with the aromatic scent of wok-hei.

Wok-hei is the cornerstone of stir-frying, the complicated charred aroma combined with a unique

savoury aftertaste in the mouth, which can only be obtained at levels of intense heat. No time to satisfy your Zi Char cravings? - Look no further than our school?s canteen for a hearty meal that would satisfy both your cravings and your wallet.

10: Hot / Col d Dr inks & Pau

Did You Know?

Liu Sha Bao Myth Served fresh from the steamer, the auntie hands you the piping hot Liu Sha Bao in a paper packet.

What lies beneath that seemingly unassuming, innocent white bun awaits you. An explosion of molten salted egg yolk greets you, highlighting the epitome of good luck.

Legend once said, if your Liu Sha Bao is ?Liu?(the egg yolk comes oozing out), you would be blessed with good luck :) yayy. Looking forward to purchasing your next Liu Sha Bao and witness the glorious oozing of salted egg yolk before your eyes?

Commonly known as paus, baos, baozi or mantou, steamed buns satisfy any kind of palate with the numerous kinds of filling that range from char siew (barbecued pork in sweet sauce) to tuna for the most adventurous.

In addition, the stall also features breakfast favouries such as teh bing, kopi-o, milo and soft-boiled eggs with toast!

If you ever need that early morning boost, do head down for a great start to your day!

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By Day At the break of dawn, the first rays of light fall upon the Astroturf. The active ones begin their day with a routine - morning exercise at the atop the grass patch. Throughout the school day, every now and then, we see groups of students running across this green field during their PE lessons, engaging in various sports. In the afternoon, the same field is filled with excitement as students enter the field for their CCAs. When the sky turns grey and it begins to drizzle and pour, fear no more, for here in Hwa Chong, we offer a myriad of sports facilities and the Astroturf is just one of the many.

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Located not very far from the Astroturf also lies our very own Netball Courts, Indoor Sports Hall and Gymnasium!

Indeed, throughout the day the Astroturf is constantly bustling with activities. But as the sun begins to set, what happens then? (ps. When you do drop by the Astroturf, a gentle reminder to clean off the rubber beads before leaving so we don?t see bits of black rubber lying around school!)

ast r ot ur f

By night

The stars take their places in the dark sky. How often have we turned our heads to the night sky and admired the little stars which dot the night sky? Connect these stars to spot some rather special constellations. Did you get them right?

Bonus: Scan the QR Code to get your forecast told!

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School Ser v ices Your Wel far eis Our Af fair Two services below (Thrift Shop and Cutlery Bank) are brought to you by HC Green Council :) IG Account : @hc_green

Thrift Shop From HC school uniforms to handy stationery and other unexpected surprises (such as board games, clothing and folders), Green Council?s Thrift Shop offers a wide array of items that you will never find elsewhere!

Given their exceptional quality, their prices are definitely a steal! Scan the QR tinyurl.com/thriftshopcat Code or use the link to find out more!

Opening Hours: 1500 - 1700 (Mon, Wed, Thu)

Cutlery Bank Trying to cut down on your usage of plastic utensils but find it a hassle to bring your own reusuable cutlery?

Worry not! With only a $5 deposit, you will be able to rent what you need from Green Council?s Cutlery Bank!

tinyurl.com/cutlerybank

Banner Painting Area Surprise; Your bottles may be BPA Free, but our school is not! Located in the dingy corner next to the Mother Tongue Department, the Banner Painting Area (BPA) can be easily overlooked if you do not scrutinise the area carefully. As its name suggests, this is where you can unleash your inner Picasso and design the artwork of your dreams :D (also provides great utility to your CCA or event). However, do remember to keep your volume down so as not to disturb our neighbours who are just a stone?s throw away!

To book the BPA, do notify your teacher-in-charge in advance and request for assistance in booking this venue for your activity. Usage Hours: 0800 - 1900 (Mon-Fri) 8

Do your part to save our planet now! Scan the QR Code or use the link to find out more!

Welfare Room Good Morning! This is the unassuming place that greets you when you enter the campus, both day in, and day out. Run by the Students?Council, the Welfare Room is open daily to cater to an extensive range of your needs, from borrowing blazers for an official school event, to loaning sports equipment for a chill game with your friends!

In addition, the Welfare Room also sells a wide assortment of delectable snacks that is sure to satisfy your ravenous appetite! So the next time you are starving, think no further - just head straight to the Welfare Room! :) Opening Hours: 1500 - 1800 (Mon - Thu), 1630 - 1800 (Fri)

Visit HCUnite.com to find out more about the welfare services that the Students' Council provides!

Link: https://www.hcunite.com

Common Room If you are looking for a tranquil place to take a break from your hectic day, then drop by at the common room! Slip into a deep slumber on the cozy sofas, or choose to play a quiet game of chess on the long tables. Alternatively, studying or just flipping through your lecture notes is also a viable option! However, do be considerate and control your noise levels to avoid disturbing your peers!

For the girls, there is also an exclusive female-only common room which definitely feels like a quiet paradise in school for you to unwind and truly relax.

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Hidden School Spot s Utility: Comfort:

?Zen is not attained by mirror-wiping mediation, but by self-forgetfulness in the existential present of life here and now.?

Tranquility:

Zen Garden ^ Lady-like tulips are dancing in the wind. Lilting robins, chirping sparrows and chattering magpies ? but NO, the Zen Garden is not your typical garden!

Seated at a corner opposite the Tennis Courts, the Zen Garden is easily overlooked. However, this humbly inconspicuous place makes for a good place to - as its name suggests - zone out and relax. The next time you walk past this place, pause your footsteps. Take a breather, inhale the fresh air, and simply let your thoughts flow like a peaceful river into the vast ocean.

As to why it is called a garden, well, who knows?

LT5 > How many lecture theatres have you been to? LT1, LT2, LT3, LT4 ? That seems to be it, no? Well, if you didn?t know, we have a LT5 in our school!

Situated on the fourth floor and sandwiched between the left and right wings, the LT5 is at such a central (yet ironically concealed) location. So the next time when you need a big venue and all the LTs have been booked, why not consider LT5?

So, back to our original question! Does this mean that there are only 5 LTs in our school? Hmm, this is a mystery that only you can solve! So pick up your map, binoculars, and bring along your friends to explore!

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Utility: Comfort: Tranquility:

Utility: Comfort: Tranquility:

^Area BehindTaekwondo Heya! Flying punches come out from the Taekwondo team, hard at training to prepare for the nationals. The Taek Area would certainly be familiar to many students, having walked past it on the way to the MRT station. But there is more that the eye can?t see..

Nested cozily further inside the block, this area remains out of sight to the general population and hence keeps away any prying eyes. Prepare your surprise birthday celebrations here, and feel assured that no cat will be let out of the bag!

<TreeTrunk Utility:

Want to take a break from your hectic school lives and be one with nature? There apparently exists a tree that has lasted over 100 years, gently watching over as the commotions of students unfold before it?

Comfort:

Stuck on your tutorial or research project? Why not pay it a visit and it may reward you with an ?Eureka? moment, just as it did for Isaac Newton!

Tranquility:

Parked at the area behind Block A, the area features 7 stools, a table and a gigantic shade, also perfect for your afternoon tea and or simply to settle down and unwind.

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The Cent

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X to Start...

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Open House2020

Open House (OH), that took place on 14th January this year, is another event that is planned by the Students?Council to welcome potential students into Hwa Chong to get a glimpse of how life is like in Hwa Chong! So are you wondering what committees make up OH? Well, continue reading this page to find out!

Admin

Programmes

The ones behind the scenes, planning for the entire event, is our beloved ADCo (AKA our bosses)! Made up of the Chairperson, Raelee, and the Secretary Treasurer, Wei En, they were the ones who took charge of all 7 committees and made this very successful event possible.

This was no easy feat, having gone through many difficulties to make sure that everything would go smoothly on the day itself and that every student that entered Hwa Chong would leave with a lasting impression.

The great masterminds behind most of what you saw went down during OH, the 5 man team, led by the witty Kay Siong and meticulous Dylan, was able to not only plan for the event, liaising with every relevant party (for which there were A LOT) but also come up with brand new initiatives in order to interest the students who enter the school. Did you see the school life exhibition held at the right wings? Did you also take part in the Treasure Hunt? These are all just some of the initiatives that were pushed for by this team of capable individuals!

Publicity Being one of the biggest committees in OH, PubCo is made up of 12 dedicated members, led by Laura and Yi Xuan, who had overcome many obstacles and put in their all into designing literally everything for OH. Starting from the logo, and moving on to other areas including the OH shirt and goodie bag, the video for Open house (posted on the HCunite youtube account; Go like and subscribe!), the multitude of posts and stories posted in HCunite (Go follow!!) and even the name tags worn by specific groups of people, such as the tour guides.

Waterfall Do you remember the very cool waterfall situated at the Central Plaza? Well, it was constructed by our femaledominated WaterfallCo, led

by Lynn ? ! Bringing back a structure that has not been built in 5 years, this committee has proven to be a resillient bunch, conducting 14

multiple trials and coming up with numerous designs in order to be able to build the waterfall that you saw on the day itself!

Fun Fact: We have our very own pumps, affectionately named ? ? (xiao hua) and? ? (xiao ming).

Meet t heTeam

Sky Did you notice the faint shadow of a heart on the floor in the middle of the central plaza and wondered where it came from? Did you look up and notice the coloured heart hung in the sky? Wasn?t it quite the sight?

Well, props to our 12 member team, SkyCo, led by Kyrene (also known as Skyrene by her members) for making it possible! Making use of cellophane paper, the committee constructed a mosaic heart made up of 6 different colours that demonstrated the theme of ?One Heart?.

Backdrop Made up of members from both WaterfallCo and SkyCo and led by Lynn, the BackdropCo worked on building the backdrop that could be seen under the bridge, right behind where the performances were held. Did you know the backdrop was made up of 3 banners, all 5 metres tall and 4 metres wide? Did you know? There was an astonishing total of 164 hearts painted onto the banners? That?s a lot of hearts!

Tours Led by Isaac, the ?Into The Unknown?singer of the batch, ToursCo is made up of 5 guys who are some of the most fun-loving and talkative people you will ever meet, making them the perfect people to talk to about their experiences that they had so far in this school. Coming up with a brand new system, they were able to successfully conduct the school tours on OH day!

Fun Fact: They sometimes like to call themselves FlexiCo for being allocated to every other committee but their own during work sessions.

Sponsors The smallest committee ever, only being made up of 3 members and led by Tristan, SponsCo took charge of finding sponsors for the event. Did you know that they had packed a total of 1,400 goodie bags? That's such a large number!

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CNY2020 Centrepiece

River

This year, the centrepiece design was rather unconventional; unlike previous years where the centrepiece has panels made of cloth, this year a hollow one was made instead and with panels made of cardboard, which were carved and painted in strikingly sassy yellow. Focused on creating a simple but creative and elegant centrepiece, the fixture also contained an intricately beautiful mural, handcrafted through many hours at the Banner Painting Area ^.^ Originally inspired by the annual River Hongbao event held at Marina Bay, a new water-related element was introduced to this year?s celebrations! In fact, one of the original ideas was to create a "river" flowing through the entire Central Plaza! Eventually, a "wishing well" concept was decided upon, where the structure would loosely resemble a gold ingot, and the visitors would be invited to make a wish and toss a coin in :)

Programmes

Stalls This year?s CNY Programmes undertook a creative endeavour in introducing many new elements into the performance, including a combined lion-and-dragon dance performance, as well as inviting the College Executive Committee to write Chinese Calligraphy to usher in the new year. Furthermore, the entire concert has been strung together by a story plot of how the school has come under invasion by the legendary Nian monster, and that each CCA had come to leverage upon their unique skills and talents to help us chase the menace away :> Stalls were made compulsory this year so that all the C2s had a chance to participate, enhancing class bonding and forging a shared experience. Chinese New Year was also not just about the festivities but rather helping those who are less fortunate as well so initiatives were spearheaded for classes to have their earning donated to a charitable cause as well :^) 16 8

A Recap General Decorations

Sky

Giant red ?Dui Lians?, 13 meters long and 1m wide, were used to decorate the Central Plaza, with the content ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? /? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? designed by our Calligraphy Club!

If one were to look up to the sky during our celebration this year, one would see 6 red drapes and 4 strings of multi-coloured lanterns.

Majestically hung from the left and right wings to the centrepiece, the red drapes are symbols of prosperity and good luck. Meanwhile, the colour scheme of the lanterns were chosen to represent the ?? ? ? (sun, moon) aspect of the ?? ? ? ? ? concept we intended to bring out through the combined design with the centrepiece.

Additionally, red cube lanterns served as mini versions of the centrepiece to complement the main one in the middle of the design :p

What?s more, this year a special red packet decoration-making activity was carried out for our new C1s during IP activities this year. They designed and made delicate handicraft decorations such as paper lanterns and fish with red packets. The decorations were hung around the school, from the wings all the way until MRT turnstiles :D

Publicity

3 cloth banners were connected and scaffolded to form a giant 11*4 metres structure that became the background for all the performances of the day. It featured multiple contributing artists including members of Art Club, and a stunning 37-colour display that masks its hidden meaning (see if you can understand it below!).

In addition, a Social Media Challenge was also woven into the programme flow, bringing joy to many of the lucky winners who participated in the Instagram activity (please follow @hcunite) :3 19 7

Or ient at ion 2020 Introduction On 5th February, we welcomed our new juniors into the lovely Hwa Chong campus, marking the beginning of an exciting journey ahead. The theme for this year's Orientation was 'Game Start!', where our juniors entered the world of Hwa Chong and experienced 11 thrilling days of fun-filled activities, forging beautiful memories and long-lasting friendships. Let us have a look back on the exhilarating moments that the players had!

OG/ CT Games What is Orientation without our favourite games? From Cloth Volleyball and Dizzy Water Man to Rock Scissors Paper, the entire campus was filled with excitement and energy as the players faced off against each other in a series of exhilarating challenges.

Faculty Introduction On Valentine?s Day, it was love at first sight as the players were entranced with their faculties upon meeting their faculty committees for the first time. Showcasing the 2020 POP dances and introducing each member to the players, it was a poignant moment for all of the faculty committees as they extended their warmest welcome to the newest kids on the block.

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Dear Diar y Illuminate Heritage Trial The Students' National Education Council (SNEC), together with the Green Council and CIP Council, organised a once-in-a-lifetime heritage trial for our players! They were able to learn more about the history and heritage of the school, while also having much fun doing challenges such as TikTok dances or SoDaChe challenges along the way. Indeed, it was a great bonding time for all of the Orientation Groups (OGs) as well.

SoDaChe It?s the most wonderful time of the year!

No, that?s not Christmas carols you are hearing, but instead the melodious voices and energetic cheering livening up the school campus! Our well-loved SoDaChe is an integral part in Orientation every single year, and this year is no different. In fact, with our newly choreographed batch dance, you can?t miss our juniors dancing together at all corners of the school. Indeed, SoDaChe will always remain an important aspect of our Hwa Chong tradition.

Finale On the final day of Orientation, we had our first ever live stream performance to end off Orientation with a bang!

With the faculty committees flaunting their fiery dance moves and the Students' Council finishing it off with the all-time favourite Batch Dance of 2020, it was a memory to cherish as the C1s danced along at their respective locations and ended the finale with SoDaChe songs and cheers around the Central Plaza.

Conclusion Despite facing the Covid-19 situation this year, we are extremely grateful that the Orientation activities were able to proceed smoothly and successfully! On behalf of the Orientation Committee, we will like to thank all of the players for being part of this experience with us, and we wish you all the best for the exciting journey ahead of you! The game has just begun!

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El ect ions 2020 We, the Students' Council, do firmly pledge to carry out our responsibilities to the best of our ability, for the interest of the school and the welfare of the students. ????????????????? ???????????

How long has it been since we've uttered those fateful words? It felt like just weeks ago where we were excited but more relieved that our campaigns bore its fruits of labour, yet time has it own funny way of playing out. We were brought together by a shared sense of service, a thought that students too could contribute meaningfully to the school and its vibrancy, and above all benefit its community. We came in with high spirits and a sense of adventure, curious of what the future held for us, ready to Rise Together, and Soar as One...

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Our Jour ney Looking back, the journey certainly wasn't easy. We faced multiple challenges that pushed us to the brink, yet time after time we managed to overcome them, and grow in the process. It has allowed us to rediscover ourselves, gaining new skills, experiences and the courage to always rise up in the face of setbacks. Through this process, we have also made many new friends who have gone through thick and thin together with us, and who will surely be companions for life.

This, has truly made joining Council, worth it. To the 47th: We wish you all the best from the bottom of our hearts; in your journey, be bold, be willing, but never be afraid, for the only impossible tasks are the ones you do not undertake.

With all the love in the world, 46th Hwa Chong Students' Council

Find out more! https://www.hcunite.com/47hcscelections 21

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Consul t

Ever had a burning question that desperately needed to be settled? Fret not!

Follow the steps below to achieve radiant success! ps. The Consult Area is located at Block B, Level 3 (inside the staff room).

Can you find the hidden stairwell that acts as a shortcut to the area?

Credits: Lu Kia Cheng, 19S63 24