14: Years later, met an old student

It was in the new millennium, Jan 2009 to be specific, that I met an old student of Thomson Govt Chinese Middle School, one with a name that I can never forget. First, he was in my Pre-U 2 class, a well-behaved, respectful and very intellligent student. Now who can forget such a student, especially when his name was Lee Hai! After his retirement from the Peoples' Association, he became a Tour Director. And that was how I met him again - on a tour coach giving instructions to the Tour Guide.

13: SEAMEO Scholarship

In 1976, after many years in Thomson Secondary School as Senior Subject Teacher of English as a Second Language, I applied for and was awarded a SEAMEO (SouthEast Asian Ministers of Education Organization) Scholarship to study for a Diploma in Teaching English as a Second Language at RELC (Regional English Language Centre as it was then called).

12: We were Chess Champions

Something that I, as their Chessmaster, was especially proud of was the accomplishment of the School's chess team. The boys did us proud by winning the Championship Trophy in the Inaugural International Chess Tournament for Non-English Stream Secondary Schools organized by the Singapore Chess Federation in 1966.

11: Annual Staff Dinner

The school annual dinner for the staff was something that the Principal Mr Chen See How recognized as a fitting reward for the hard work accomplished by the staff. He would arrange for us to dine at his favourite Teochew restaurant in ChinaTown ie: Lau Hang Kang Restaurant.

10: Excursion

Apart from school work, the teachers co-operated in taking the students out for excursion to widen their view of the environment outside school. The following photo shows Chinese Arts teacher Ng Yew Kiat and me at Clifford Pier to arrange for a harbour tour for the students.

9: My Classes in Thomson Secondary School

The Vocational School that became part of Thomson Sec School was called Block B while the 3-storeyed building of Thomson Govt Chinese Middle School was referred to as Block A.
With the merger, I also had classes in the English stream to teach in Block B.
The following is a photo of my students there:<p>

8: My Second Thomson School

My second Thomson School was actually a merger between Thomson Government Chinese Middle School and Thomson Vocational School to become Thomson Secondary School. The new school badge reflects the change in name.

7: More 1964 Classes

6: Staff Photos

5: Here are some more of my classes in 1964

4: During a Lesson

I usually supervised my students in their composition skills by walking around the class and giving individual guidance.

3: My Students @ Thomson Govt Chinese Middle School

This was my first class: Sec 4F (1963) - a good and lively class of learners:

Here's another eager and vivacious lot of students (1964):

2: The Staff of Thomson Govt Chinese Middle School

That's me again below in the Staff Photo. Yes, you've guessed it: I'm the guy with the dark specs!

And here again some years later among my students in the school hall:

1: My First Thomson School

My first Thomson School was called Thomson Government Chinese Middle School at 500 Thomson Road. I was posted there in 1963 to teach English in a Chinese-medium secondary school.
Here's me wearing sunglasses carrying out my duty in the school field on Sports Day :

And that's me below taking part in a Teachers' Team relay in 1964: