Holistic ACS education should direct students back to God: Bishop

Minister Tharman receiving the painting from Mr Tan. Next to Mr Tharman is the artist, David Ng Ji An, of Anglo-Chinese Junior College.

TEXT: CATHERINE WONG
PICTURE: DANIEL LIE
OF BARKER ROAD
METHODIST CHURCH

"OUR Hearts, our Hopes, our Aims are One" - this was the spirit that filled the entire Singapore Indoor Stadium on March 1, 2005.


It was a joyous and momentous occasion as the six units of the ACS schools, comprising some 8,500 students from Anglo-Chinese School (Primary), ACS (Junior), ACS (Barker Road), ACS (Independent), Anglo-Chinese Junior College and ACS (International) gathered as one big family to commemorate the 119th ACS Founder's Day.


The celebration commenced with the Rev Dr Norman Wong leading the Processional with gusto as the ACS Board of Governors, principals, vice-principals, church leaders, teachers, students, parents and other partners of the ACS community affirmed in unison their thanksgiving to God, to the beautiful strands of the majestic hymn, "To God be the Glory".


Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam, the Minister for Education, was the Guest-of-Honour. He was greeted with a hearty and uniquely ACSian welcome by the rugby teams of the ACS schools.


Mr Tharman expressed his great pleasure at being able to be a part of the celebrations. He commended ACS for having "a rich and enduring tradition", from the time it was founded in 1886 in a shophouse at Amoy Street with an enrolment of 13 students to its present standing of six schools.


The popularity of the ACS schools and the ACS tradition have endured and have been strengthened through the years because ACS has always remained faithful to its mission and ethos of providing a holistic education.


He affirmed the outstanding performance and achievements of the various ACS schools and expressed his confidence that ACS would continue to make its mark in Singapore and internationally, with the unstinting support of the ACSian family of alumni, teachers, students, parents and the Methodist Church.


In his message, Bishop Dr Robert Solomon led all at the stadium to ponder upon God's grace over the years and challenged all present to continue to direct their lives, like the Apostle Paul, to pursue that which is "true, right, and of lasting beauty".


"To know what these are and to know how to live in pursuit of them would be the greatest education one can have. We seek to provide such an education at ACS," he said as he shared from Philippians 4: 8-9.


The Bishop of The Methodist Church in Singapore urged the ACS community to continue to shape the lives of young people through delivering an education that would last a lifetime. Above all, the holistic education that ACS has always been known for should direct the young people under its charge back to God. "That would be the greatest blessing of an ACS education," he added.


On this special day, top students from each of the schools were also given due recognition for their sterling performances. The Awards Presentation was made all the more significant as principals of the various schools took turns to present a citation to honour their respective students.


Earlier, Mr Tan Wah Thong, Chairman of the ACS Board of Governors, presented a painting to Mr Tharman. Entitled "Stillness", the piece was painted by David Ng Ji An, a JC2 student from ACJC. The setting is a cafe with a student's belongings strewn all over the table. This is to depict a hectic day and the busy life of a student.


One highlight of the day's programme was a dramatisation, which involved participation from the audience. Entitled "One Life - Live it Well", the mini-drama sought to re-enact the recent tsunami disaster with the help of massive multi-coloured balloons and drum-rolls. Creatively and vibrantly presented, the overall theme portrayed through this drama reminded everyone of the fragility of life and the need to cherish and live it to the fullest.

Catherine Wong is a teacher at Anglo-Chinese School (Barker Road).