Maturing Dynamically - to Independence 1978 - 2005
Miss Rosalind Heng who had been teaching at the school since 1968, was appointed Principal upon the retirement of Miss Tan Sock Kern.
She saw to the successful completion of the canteen and multi-purpose hall which was fully utilized for PE, Badminton and Gymnastics.
In 1981, she also undertook the building of an extension to accommodate a central library,
a book store and ECA rooms at the site of the old tiffin shed and annexed to the canteen and multipurpose hall.
Streaming examinations for Primary 3 pupils were introduced by the Ministry of Education in 1979.
Emphasis on achievement in the mother tongue language was highlighted and three tiers of ability in that respect were identified.
In 1989, the Secondary division of SCGS was accorded independent school status, one of two pioneer girls' schools to do so.
This was a recognition of the school's achievements, strong leadership and potential to set its own course to a large extent in education.
The school began negotiations with the government for a new location for the school where a school with facilities commensurate with expectations
could be built.
A new administrative organizational structure was created to leverage the growth of the school.
More administrative staff at managerial level (Bursar, Administrative Officer / Registrar and Facilities Manager) were employed.
These were the precursors of the Administrative Managers and Operation Managers found in schools today.
A site was identified for the new campus at the corner of Whitley and Dunearn Roads and design briefs and plans were drawn up for the school.
Meanwhile the school continued at 37 Emerald Hill Road, practically overflowing due to the demands of the educational programme.
In 1990, the Primary School was converted from parallel schools in two sessions under two Senior Assistants to an integrated school under one
Vice Principal, Mrs Ng Leng Eng, to streamline management.
In the integrated Primary School, from 1991, Primary 1 to 3 classes were no longer streamed and each class had students of mixed abilities.
The upper primaries had only one streamed class and the rest of mixed abilities.
This resulted in higher pupil morale and more effective counselling of weaker students.
Other firsts, among our alumnus took place in 1991 and 1997 respectively.
Ng Pei San, an alumnus, was awarded the prestigious Angus Ross Prize for being the best A-level Literature student in the British Commonwealth countries outside Britain.
Patricia Tan was named Singapore's 16th Rhodes Scholar, a rare feat indeed.
In the first nation-wide ranking of secondary schools based on 1991's GCE O-level results,
SCGS was ranked 6th and continued to perform well in subsequent years.
In 1992, with the selection of consultants and designs approved,
piling works began on 19 August for the new school premises at the junction of Dunearn Road and Whitley Road.
On 4 July 1994, after 70 years at Emerald Hill, the School moved to its new home at 190 Dunearn Road and became a single-session school.
The new facilities gave the school the ability to carry out many new programmes it had previously not been able to.
In 1994, in the first of a newly initiated nation-wide ranking of the best value-added secondary schools,
SCGS was among the top ten schools based on 1994's GCE O-level results.
The School continued to perform well in subsequent years' ranking on value-addedness as well.
The School then went on to top the Ministry of Education's Fitness Index, a feat that was to be repeated in subsequent years.
This achievement must be largely credited in part to the good foundation set in the Primary Division's excellent fitness programme.
By 2004, the Primary School had already won the gold for the eleventh year running for the Trim and Fit programme.
It had received a special award for its consistent excellent performance.
The Ministry of Education's vision of "Thinking Schools and Learning Nation" (TSLN) unveiled in 1997 brought exciting
initiatives to schools. The "ability driven " paradigm adopts a more holistic approach to education,
akin to SCGS's philosophy and practice, seeking to give greater recognition to each child's unique talents and abilities.
National Education became a priority subject and was incorporated into all areas of the school curriculum, both formal and informal.
The school-initiated Heritage Tours which foreshadowed the later Learning Journeys,
were key in helping deliver the key messages in that area.
At SCGS, overseas field trips continue to gather momentum. Sec 1 pupils are introduced to the new Thinking Skills programme,
the Odyssey of the Mind programme is initiated to further spur pupils on to better creative and critical thinking skills,
and we adopted the nearby Malcolm Park Spice Garden in partnership with the National Parks Board.
The first batch of ASEAN scholars from Malaysia joined us in 1998.
THE CENTENARY
1999 was a milestone year for SCGS as the school celebrated its centenary.
It has come a long way and the many exciting activities that year included a full dance concert at the Kallang Theatre,
an original Musical Past Present and Future, a grand dinner with an original multi-media performance by the school's performing arts groups,
an Open House, a Centenary Run and fund raising activities.
The Centennial celebrations gave the school a special opportunity to remember the needy and less fortunate among us.
In the course of the year SCGS raised more than $100,000 for different charities.
The Centenary Dinner was held at the Raffles Ballroom of the Westin Stamford and more than 1000 guests attended the function.
The Guest of Honour was Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, Dr Tony Tan.
National Day is celebrated in equally grand style with an Open House and is graced by Minister for Education, RADm Teo Chee Hean, who also installed the SCGS Time Capsule, which will be re-opened in 2049
Home
About SCGS
Background
Achievements
