emm... guess its realli nice to read abt how your formerl secondary school is doing even though you are no longer studying in it... hehe...

• THREE schools have won the new School Excellence Award, the top award in a step-ladder honour roll developed by the Education Ministry (MOE).Raffles Institution, Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) and River Valley High bagged the award for excellence spanning academic results, the arts, sports and management.
• So the school achievement tables would first line up the three secondary schools that have won the ministry's pinnacle award, the School Excellence Award - Anglo-Chinese School (Independent), Raffles Institution and River Valley High.
• The academic ranking of the schools could be reflected just next to the school's name. River Valley High, which had a Band 1 academic ranking, could have that position reflected in brackets next to the school's name.
• River Valley High takes its place among the best school by being one of just three to win School Excellence Award.
• RIVER Valley High has broken into the ranks of Singapore's elite schools, by becoming one of only three to win a new award given by the Education Ministry this year. Together with Raffles Institution (RI) and Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) (ACS(I) ), the 48-year-old school has bagged the School Excellence Award, the highest honour for schools here.
  The Special Assistance Plan school is no slouch when it comes to academic excellence, making it to the top 10 in the traditional annual ranking of schools. But when grades are the only yardstick, River Valley High gets eclipsed by the more established brand-name schools like RI.
  However, with the traditional ranking of schools based on grades being done away with, and more emphasis being placed on recognising schools' efforts in providing a holistic education, River Valley High and others like it will be making their mark, say principals.
  River Valley High, which moved to its present West Coast Road location facing Pandan Reservoir in 1986, is traditionally strong in mathematics, science and Chinese.
  It was chosen as a centre of learning for science and technology among a cluster of schools in the west in 2001. The centre promotes the study of life sciences through enrichment classes.
  But the school also strives to cultivate a love of the arts in its 1,680 students, said principal Ek Soo Ben.
  All Secondary 1 students attend speech, communication and drama classes, and they get to showcase their talents in an end-of-year arts festival.
  Such efforts have paid off. Two in five students are in a performing arts group, a niche the school has nurtured.
  No fewer than five performing arts groups - Chinese orchestra, dance, concert band, English literary drama and debating society and Chorale (choir) - struck gold at this year's Singapore Youth Festival.
  Teacher Jessica Chak, who is in charge of the concert band, said the school has won the gold award at the festival since 1997 because many in the 160-strong band go through their pieces outside of the thrice-weekly practice sessions.
  She said: 'They are very task-oriented and very passionate about bringing honour to the school.'
  The autonomous school has chalked up three sustained achievement awards, in performing arts, uniformed groups and physical fitness.
  It has also produced four President's Scholars so far, including one of this year's two recipients, Sherwayn Tan.
  For the students, it is not just about excelling, but also being given the opportunity to assume responsibilities at the school.
  For example, a graduation dinner for the Secondary 4s will be held for the first time this year after the school accepted students' suggestions.
  Students also appreciate the school's wide range of enrichment programmes.
  Secondary 4 student Vivien Cheng, 16, said spending time in Thailand's Saraburi Province two years ago on an exchange programme was a valuable growing experience.
  Others worked on research projects alongside scientists from the National University of Singapore or the Institute of Micro Electronics.
  These efforts helped the school win three Best Practice Awards for organisational effectiveness, all-round development of students, and teaching and learning programmes.
  It is also one of four pioneer schools to have been awarded a Singapore Quality Class award by Spring Singapore for quality and leadership.

muahaha... it realli feels good to see your secondary school's name mentioned over and over and over again all over the news paper!!! haha... well.... if it was for my current school... haha.. im not the least bothered abt it! haha... guess many felt that way too lah... basically... majority of those around mi feels that their secondary school has provided for them much more then this current school we are in now! haha...