A capsule for ACSians of all times
By AUDREY LIM
AUGUST 6, 2004 was indeed
a day of momentous joy as all the five institutions of the Anglo-Chinese
School (ACS) family and The Methodist Church in Singapore (MCS)
gathered at ACS (Barker Road) for the laying of a time capsule.
The Guest-of-Honour was the Acting Education Minister, Mr Tharman
Shanmugaratnam, who spoke of the day's ceremony as an event that
marks for many future generations of ACSians an unwavering belief
in what the ACS schools stand for and a desire to carry on the
ACS tradition.
He also applauded the nurturing environment of the ACS schools
which, in the Methodist school tradition, provides students with
the space and freedom to find their talents, and to develop great
friendships and camaraderie.
Mr Tan Wah Thong, Chairman of the ACS Board of Governors, said
that in this day and age of fast changes in Singapore, "it
is important that we must never lose our history and our roots,
and we must remember where and how ACS was first started".
"The first time capsule laid in 1949 provided us with some
interesting glimpses of the life of the school at Barker Road
and of Singapore. We have put into this new time capsule more
records of the ACS family of schools. ACS has achieved much in
recent years. Together the ACS schools will leave behind for the
future generations a heritage and spirit of ACS captured in the
records.
"We are also a Methodist institution. Both The Methodist
Church in Singapore and the Barker Road Methodist Church are our
close spiritual partners. In this capsule there will also be items
of these two institutions so that future generations will know
our Methodist heritage and connections," he added.
A collection of items of significance to the history
of ACS, which were to be buried, were put on display and inspected
by all the guests. Thereafter, they were carefully laid in a
steel container by the various representatives from the ACS family
and the MCS.
A four-man team, made up of Old Boys who are current teachers
of the school, then laid the container into the ground at the
base of the Clock Tower.
This time capsule will stand for the next 50 years, to be uncovered
only in 2054.
This ceremony encapsulates the spirit of the ACS family - rich
in tradition, history and enduring in its values.
Audrey Lim is a teacher at Anglo-Chinese School (Barker Road).
Books, magazine, photographs and other items being put into a steel container. From left are Mr Ng Eng Chin, Principal of ACS (Barker Road); Mrs Daisy Ong, Principal of ACS (Primary); Mr Peter Tan Chong Sze, Principal of ACS (Junior); the Education Minister, Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam; the Rev Malcolm Tan, Pastor-in-Charge of Barker Road Methodist Church; Bishop Dr Solomon; and Mr Sandy Eu, Chairman of the ACS (BR) Fund-Raising Committee and a member of the ACS Board of Governors.
The Education Minister, Mr Shanmugaratnam (centre), with representatives
from the ACS family and The Methodist Church in Singapore about
to inspect the items to be inserted in the time capsule. Others,
from left, are Mr Tay Puan Siong, a member of the ACS Board of
Governors; the Rev Malcolm Tan, Pastor-in-Charge, Barker Road
Methodist Church; Mr Ng Eng Chin, Principal, ACS (BR); Dr Ong
Teck Chin, Principal, ACS (Independent); Mrs Daisy Ong, Principal,
ACS (Primary); Bishop Dr Solomon; Mr Tan Wah Thong, Chairman
of ACS Board of Governors; Dr Lee Li Eng, Chairman of ACS (Independent)
Board of Management; Mrs Goh Chi Lan, Executive Director of ACS
(International) to be set up next year; and Mr Peter Tan Chong
Sze, Principal, ACS (Junior).
The steel container being lowered into the ground at the base
of the
Clock Tower.