Celebrating Founders' Day in Schools

For every school, Founders' Day is a day toWith that, it marked another year in the school's
honour their achievements and successes. As thecalendar with many more years to come.
name suggests, it marks the day the school was2. Ngee Ann Primary School
founded as well as shows appreciation towards its2010 marks a monumental milestone for Ngee
founding members. Celebrations are usually doneAnn Primary School. Come 30th March, the school
in grand style with concerts, dinners andwould be holding its 70th Anniversary celebrations.
performances for past and present students ofOperations began in 1940 when the late Mr Lee
the school. We take a look at the rich history ofWee Nam, the late Mr Yeo Chan Boon, the late
2 primary schools in Singapore and how theyMr Lim Kim Seng and a few other members
commemorate this day with much pomp andestablished a girls' school in a bungalow owned by
ceremony.a Kongsi member at River Valley Road, opposite
1. Yangzheng Primary Schoolwhat is now the AA building. In 1967, it opened up
Yangzheng Primary School, one of the oldestits enrolment to include male students.
schools in Singapore turned 100 in 2005. TheNgee Ann Primary School's current site in Marine
school started as Yeung Ching School in 1906 as aParade underwent a massive reconstruction in
private school for Cantonese children. When it1998 when its then site was deemed inadequate
was first founded, its medium of instruction wasto meet the demands of increasing student
Chinese. English was only introduced in mid 1930s.population and the challenges of the new
During the Japanese Occupation, the school had tomillennium. The building was demolished and the
stop temporarily. It later resumed operations butschool only moved back to its current premise in
had to include Japanese as one of the core2000.
subjects. After the Japanese Occupation, theFor its 70th Founders' Day, Ngee Ann Primary
school opened for full operations and books theySchool would focus its celebrations around the
were hidden previously were brought out oncecore values of charity and generosity. A 2-day
again.fundraising cultural extravaganza on 26th and 27th
Since then, YZPS has proved his mettle. As aMarch, will kick start celebrations. The carnival
tribute to its ability to withstand all the challenges,would be officiated by Senior Minister Mr Goh
the school held a year long celebration thatChok Tong and all proceeds would be donated to
included the School Advisory Committee (SAC)the Movement of Intellectual Disabled Society
organising their Third Trip to Guangzhou.(MINDS).
A Xiang Xing Hai Centenary Concert at SingaporeIn tandem with the school's annual tradition, a
Conference Hall for Xian Xing Hai (former pupil ofgrand banquet would be held the school
Yangzheng Primary School)- a World Renowncompound. The school expects hundreds of ex
composer of the Yellow River Cantata was alsostudent and staff to return as part of the
organised to venerate his contributions.celebrations.