Alumni mag nov 2013 (2)

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2 Highland RoadSt Gabriel’s Primary School (1969 – 1992)

1969 1988

1988

SGPS entrance in 1969, with Mr John Teo & Mr Peter Goh

View of Immaculate Heart of Mary Church and School Field from SGPS

Afternoon school assembly

All decked out with flags and decorations for our Silver Jubilee

The gates of SGPS in Highland Road closes for the last time in 1988

2 Highland Road Today: Catholic Archdiocesan Education Centre

1969

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220 Lorong ChuanSt Gabriel’s Primary School

SGPS at 220, Lorong Chuan in 1989

1989

2013

Field of Dreams

SGPS after PRIME in 2013

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SGSS Today

24 Serangoon Avenue 2St Gabriel’s Secondary School

SGSS

Christening the school field with a kick-about

SGSS after PRIME

1993

2003 2013

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The Jovial Kachang Man

Assembly and recess

Assembly in 1958 25th Anniversary Gala Concert in 1978

Recess 1959

End of Term Concert 1963

SGSS Chinese New Year Celebrations

SGPS Aces Day 2001

SGSS Speech Day 2010

1958

1959

1963 2001

1978

20101963

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Gabrielite Spirituality

SGSS Mass

Bro Adolphus hands over a statue of our Lady to Mr Paul Lee

Sister Victorine and Ms Gomez leading the Crusaders in prayer

SGPS Chapel service

1999

Holy Week 1999 with Bro Dennis

First Friday Mass at IHM Church

1983

2012

1960

2012

1978

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Classroom lessons

Learning Journey at SGSS using mobile devices at Fort Canning

1960

1963

Juniorates hard at work in 1960

Group study and cooperative learning

Art and Craft lesson

1990

Science Monitor Training at SGPS

2013Mr Koh Huai Pang in the Science Lab

2013

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Then: Character Development, Student Leadership And Citizenship

1969

1970

Mr Peter Goh and the Red Cross

Hoisting our flag high at the parade 1969 NDP

This is how you spike a volleyball

1969

Old boys soccer team in 1972

1960

1972

1976

March with pride at our SGPS opening in 1969

Rifle practice at SGSS school field

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Swing that bat in 19741974

1992

Sprinting to victory at the National stadium in 1983

Table Tennis

1990

Weeding the flower beds outside our classes in 1990

1983

1990

1983

Teachers as Swimming Instructors in our inaugural Swim Program, 1983

Charithon 1992

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Now: Character Development, Student Leadership and Citizenship Today

SGPS Leaders Investiture

Exhibition soccer games in Thailand

SGSS Speech Day, Gold Standard for Scouts, NCC, NCC (Air), NPCC and Red Cross

Soccer: National B Division 4th

WushuJudo and Karate

31Hail our Sports Club!

Trying for a hole-in-one

Golf Champions

SGSS Badminton

Floorball: National Floorball

Runners-Up

Softball

Health Recreation Club

SGPS shuttlers

SGSS Speech Day, Gold Standard for Scouts, NCC, NCC (Air), NPCC and Red Cross

Soccer: National B Division 4th

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SGSS Sports Carnival

SGPS open house

Skipathon

Shooting champions

Racing to the finish line at our annual Cross-Country Run

Games and Sports Day

Now: Character Development, Student Leadership and Citizenship Today

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SGPS Brass Band at our outdoor

performance

SGPS Aesthetics

SGSS Concert Band (SYF Distinction Award)

SGSS Guitar Ensemble (SYF Accomplishment Award)

Chorale (SYF Distinction Award)

SGPS Media Club and Media Resource

Library

Infocomm Club and Library

SGSS Aesthetics Recreation Club

SGPS Creative Expression Club

SGPS Robotics and Science Club

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Our Gabrielite Prayer

Father, ever loving, You who have heard the cry of your people, make us attentive to the cries of all Your children, our brothers and sisters.

Jesus, our brother, You came into this world not to judge but to save, help us to follow Your example of compassion and charity.

Holy Spirit, breath of love and unity, give us the courage to commit ourselves to justice and peace.

Mary, Mother of the human family, enable us to join hands with all those working to liberate children, women, and all the victims of injustice and dehumanizing conditions of extreme poverty.

Montfort and Deshayes, our founders and our inspiration, give us your courage and your strength to commit ourselves, to meet the great challenges of our time, to build a society where love and faithfulness will meet; justice and peace will embrace. Help us thus become authentic leaders for a greater brotherhood.

Visit to Metta Home: To Communicate and Give Comfort

I-Carnival Fundraising

Visit the Sick: SGPS Home Visit

SGPS Virtues WeekSt Gabriel’s Foundation Flag Day

“Those whom the world rejects must

move you the most!” – St Louis De Montfort.

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I remember, I rememberBy Bro Jean Denis

I will never forget St Gabriel’s Secondary, its staff and its pupils! You are all recorded in the deepest recesses of my heart.

St Gabriel’s wrapped my life like my skin wrapped my body. My years at St Gabriel’s were a picnic! My former students may not say the same thing as I was quite strict with them, But I LOVED THEM A LOT TOO.

My relationship with the staff from morning till afternoon was a sunny ‘Hi!’ followed by a big smile reflecting my great happiness to work with them. They were all so lovely, so caring, so generous to me. It’s no wonder that I was so fond of them!

St Gabriel’s boys have always been ‘walking surprises’! Most of the time, they were adorable but they could be cheeky or really naughty. However, when we were relying heavily on them, they never failed to be their best. When we had special appeals to make for donations, they would put their left hands on their hearts and their right ones in their pockets to help out.

Any tragic incident during my stay? I would say one, when the inspector tried to dump me from school because of my poor English – with a French accent on top of that! But Principal Brother Noel asked me to teach Science and Maths instead and that turned out to be a blessing to me as I had taught these subjects for 15 years in Canada before coming here.

You know what? Everything turns out to the advantage of those who love God! I want to leave you with this thought. May I suggest that you live by this message – you will be happy for the rest of your life.

With much love for you all,

Brother Jean Denis

Let us live and thus prove, Saint Gabriel’s boys

Bro Denis

Mr Lim Kok Kee: The PioneerAn interview by Jonathan Chen, SGPS, 2011

“I wanted to be a teacher in St Gabriel’s because I wanted to carry on the tradition”, Mr Lim Kok Kee, a former student and now retired teacher said.

He was among the first batch of students in 1953, when the school was founded. There were just eight classes for the Primary School and two classes for the Secondary School with only eight teachers.

Just like any other current student, Mr Lim Kok Kee was quite playful in school. When he was in Secondary 1 and 2, he and his classmates would throw a basketball down from the classroom to the basketball court as they wanted to play right after the school bell rang. As this was rather dangerous, the Brothers would scold them for the rash act.

When he first returned to school to teach, he was just an ordinary teacher who taught aesthetics. But he gained fame when he became a volleyball coach of two fantastic teams. One of his volleyball pupils was Mr Glenn Batchelor, who would later return to St Gabriel’s to teach.

Mr Lim also fondly reminisces about the “supervisor warning system” that the teachers in St Gabriel’s had at one time. The successful system worked like this: The first teacher who knew that the supervisor had arrived would send a student to alert the other teachers. But there was one instance when it did not work. By the time the pupil had alerted the teachers, the supervisor was already sitting inside a classroom! The supervisor then “commended” the teachers on having such a good system.

Today, Mr Lim is retired from teaching. He is an inspiration to many Gabrielites for his loyalty and dedication.

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Mr Henry Phang: A True Friend of the SchoolAn interview by David Lui, Michael Chen and Gabriel Lee, SGPS, 2011

Mr Henry Phang has many fond memories of his days at St Gabriel’s. He recalls, “There was never a dull moment at school. The bonds between the Brothers of St Gabriel, teachers and classmates were all close-knitted and friendly.” He loved going to school and always looked forward to returning to school after the holidays.

He joined St Gabriel’s as a 14-year old secondary student in 1959. He was a scout and prefect, as well as a member of the Young Christian Society and also the Literacy, Debating and Drama Society. He even represented the school in the National Oratorical Contest in 1960. One of his most memorable day was a trip organised by the Brothers to visit St Joseph’s English School, a Gabrielite school in Johore Bahru, Malaysia. A retreat was held there followed by a swim at Lido Beach. Not many people had the opportunity to travel and this was his first trip outside Singapore.

The spirit of St Gabriel’s is still very much with him today. He has supported and helped St Gabriel’s loyally in so many ways for the past 40 years and his contribution to the schools is deeply appreciated. He has been on the school’s Board of Management for more than 25 years right up to the inception of the St Gabriel’s Foundation in 2001. He then became a Governor of the Board till today. He also plays an active role as the Chairman of the School Management Committee and President of the Old Boy’s Association.

On his aspirations for the Gabrielite schools, he has this to say, “I hope more Gabrielites will return and be active to serve their school. Everyone can contribute a little of his time to volunteer in any of the committees, and help organise activities so that members can build the Old Boys Association into a more vibrant Alumni Association every Gabrielite can be proud of!”

Mr Lionel Louis: St Gabriel’s will always have a special place in my heart

My days spent in St Gabriel’s Secondary School will always have a special space in my heart. It was here where I discovered my hidden talents. My teachers and principals provided me with a variety of opportunities to further develop my talents. I also build confidence in public speaking because of the various emceeing, opportunities I had. Though it has been years since I graduated in 2000, the life lessons I have learnt from school are still remembered and practised till today. – Lionel Louis

Mr Hariss Harun: It is an understatement to say thank you

I graduated from St Gabriel’s in 2007. My time at St Gabriel’s was a memorable one. The experiences it brought me were priceless, from representing my school team to achieving grades that were respectable. St Gabriel’s has taught me many life-skills like self-discipline and perseverance. It’s an understatement to say thank you to all those who made my journey at St Gabriel’s a fruitful and pleasant one.– Hariss Harun

Let us live and thus prove, Saint Gabriel’s boys

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Let us live and thus prove, Saint Gabriel’s boys

A Tribute to Bro. EmmanuelBy Lloyd Yeo

Brother Emmanuel, our beloved Supervisor of Gabrielite Schools, celebrates his 62nd Anniversary of religious vows in 2013 but it is a joy tinged with sadness because we also see him step aside from the post of Supervisor of the schools of the Brothers of St. Gabriel for health reasons as of 1 July 2013.

Bro. Emmanuel was born on 28 October 1933 in Montreal, Canada. He came from a family of 10 children and grew up in a Gabrielite institution.

Bro. Emmanuel’s calling to be a religious is inspirational and a great story to be told. During an outing to a Gabrielite training centre at St. Bruno as a child, a Gabrielite brother told him, “Have a good look. This is the place where people who wish to give their lives to God as brothers can come. And I think God may have an invitation for you”.

Those words inspired Bro. Emmanuel to develop a love and desire to serve others as St Louis Marie de Montfort did. Other Brothers like Bro. Dede , his teacher, nurtured his vocation.

Bro. Emmanuel came to Singapore in 1954 and dedicated himself to his adopted country as a Singapore citizen. His many years of experience continues to touch many lives. Always jovial, inspiring and a role-model for many, he started teaching at Holy Innocents’ English School and he was also Principal of Boys’ Town English School/ Assumption English School (1960, 1963 – 1966), St Gabriel’s School (1960 – 1963,1969 – 1974) and Director of Boys’ Town for more than 30 years.

Bro. Emmanuel will always be our friend in Christ and we hold his farewell address close to our hearts: “I will still be around for as long as God will keep me alive and healthy enough; Singapore is my home. Do not be surprised if I come in from time to time to visit you and to give you words of encouragement. My new mission is to support all of you in schools with more prayers and love. God bless you and see you soon.”

God Bless You, Brother Emmanuel! Thank you for the very special and unique way you pray, care and inspire us! Ad Multos Annos!

Bro Emmanuel (1954)

Welcome address by Br Emmanuel as New Principal, 1969

Bro Emmanuel (2013)

Bro Emmanuel, our Golf Champ in 2013

Bro Emmanuel as a Soccer Player

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School Management Committee

Mr Henry PhangChairman

Brother Dominic Yeo KohSupervisor of Schools

Mr Yeo Ann TaiVice-Chairman

Mr Andrew NgTreasurer

Mrs Esther LooMember

Mr Charles LeeMember

Mr Francis WongMember

Dr Chen Sze HuaMember

Mr Edmund LeeMember

Mrs Catherine ChiangPrincipal, SGPS

Mr Stephen ChinPrincipal, SGSS

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The Gabrielites (OBA) Executive Committee

Mr Henry PhangPresident,

Class of 1962

Bro Dominic Yeo KohSupervisor of Schools

Mr Yeo Ann TaiVice-President, Class of 1962

Mr Paul EdwardsVice-President, Class of 1968

Mr Gerald OngSecretary,

Class of 2003

Mr Bernard Chiang Asst Secretary, Class of 1968

Mr Daniel TanTreasurer,

Class of 1968

Mr Tony GohHonorary Auditor,

Class of 1968

Mr Francis LeeHonorary Auditor,

Class of 1972

Mr Lionel FooCommittee Member,

Class of 1968

Mr John ChiaCommittee Member,

Ex-Teacher

Mr Gordon LimCommittee Member,

Class of 1982

Raymond LeongCommittee Member,

Class of 1978

Mr Lloyd YeoCommittee Member,

Class of 1986

Mr Soh Kai GuanCommittee Member,

Vice-Principal of SGPS, Class of 1983

Mr Anith KumarVice-Principal

Ms Jackie Cheng Vice-Principal

Mrs Catherine ChiangAdvisor, Principal, SGPS

Mr Stephen ChinAdvisor, Principal, SGSS

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Celebrating60Years

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WITH COMPLIMENTSANDY AND DORIS LIM

CELEBRATING ST GABRIEL’S SCHOOL 60TH ANNIVERSARY

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St. Gabriel’s Primary School220 Lorong Chuan, Singapore 556742.

Tel: 6280 3628

www.stgabrielspri.moe.edu.sg

St. Gabriel’s Secondary School24 Serangoon Avenue 1, Singapore 556140.

Tel: 6288 9470

www.stgabrielssec.moe.edu.sg