ST. MARGARET'S CONNECT - smesa

SMESA Annual General Meeting (AGM)
Date Saturday, 27 March 2010
Time 2.30 pm to 5.00 pm
Venue IT Conference Room
St Margaret’s Secondary School
Farrer Road
Dear Members
ST. MARGARET’S CONNECT
A Publication of St Margaret’s Ex-students’ Association
Issue 21 : Jan – Mar 2010
We do hope you will make an effort to attend our AGM to show support and appreciation for the hard work
and sacrifices the board members have made to keep the flag of the Association flying for the benefit of every
ex-student.
If you have the time and a sense of appreciation and love for the place where you have spent an important
part of your youth, then please do give some thought about playing a more active role in the
Association. Take it as a pay-back time to society. Come forward to help the Association help the youths
prepare for the challenges ahead of them. Apart from giving our full support to both the Primary and
Secondary schools, we play a very active role in the Youth Wing and we also provide some funds to help the
needy students.
Many of our current Board members have been giving their invaluable time and service in running the
Association for many years. It is time that YOU should come forward and provide them with the luxury of
taking a back seat. There is no way that they will totally relinquish their ties with the Association - their
dedication and loyalty are very deeply embedded. They will continue to be active volunteers and will happily
provide support to those of you who are willing to take over the reins.
We do not need 100% of your time, just give whatever time you can spare or share whatever expertise you
have with us .Please do give this request your serious consideration. We can be contacted via email:
enquiries@smesa.org.sg or telephone 65343058 (Pixie).
Do make an effort to come. It will be a great opportunity to meet up with old school mates and have a chit
chat over some scrumptious refreshments.
Cheers
Editor Mary Soo
Other Events
5 March 2010
11 March 2010
Date Events Remarks
SMPS Sports Day
7.30 am to 11 am
Toa Payoh Stadium
SMSS Mini Youth Olympic Games
7.30 am to 12 noon
St Margaret‟s Secondary School
Farrer Road
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24 April 2010
24 April 2010
(tentative date)
Date Events Remarks
16 November 2010
16 November 2010
SMPS Family Day (Funfair)
9 am to 5pm
St Margaret‟s Primary School
99 Wilkie Road
Garage Sale
9 am to 5 pm
Cairnhill Community Club
St Margaret‟s Day Dinner
St Margaret‟s Secondary School
Farrer Road
St Margaret‟s Day Church Service
St Andrew‟s Cathedral
SMPS PSLE 2009 Results
Top student: Feng QIqi who scored 270 points.
Percentage of students who passed: 98.6% as against National of 97.1%.
SMSS Examinations Results
GCE “N” Level 2009 Results:
Top student: Nana Lee who scored 6A1s
100% qualified for Secondary 5 (Normal Academic).
GCE “O” Level 2009 Results:
Top student: Nerissa Tay Hui Ling who scored 8A1s.
100% of Sec. 4 Express qualified for JC/Pre-U/Polytechnics.
97% of Sec. 5 Normal qualified for JC/Pre-U/Polytechnics.
Tickets available from SMPS, PTA or SMESA.
If you have used items (but in good condition) or
brand new items that you do not wish to keep,
please donate them to us to sell.
Proceeds of sale will be used to fund SMESA‟s
activities.
Call Choon Wai at Tel: 96781961.
Details will be announced later
Details will be announced later
Express stream cut-off point from non-affiliated schools: 238 points. SMSS has started 1 new class of
Secondary 1Normal Technical this year. 15 students from SMPS and 12 non-affiliated students enrolled for
this new class.
New Members
Welcome aboard the following new members. We look forward to seeing you at our AGM and
activities during the year:
Life Members
Choy Wai Fong Bridget (SMPS 1962 SMSS 1966)
Tan Wee Ling (SMPS 1974 SMSS 1978)
Joan Heng Aik Hiah (SMPS 1974 SMSS 1978)
Ong Mong Loo (SMSS 1978)
Mary Chen Li Ru (SMSS 1967)
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Condolences …
We were very sorry to learn of the demise of the late Madam Quek Sok Chang, beloved mother-in-law of the
Most Rev. Dr. John Chew of St. Andrew‟s Cathedral.
Madam Quek passed on at the age of 99 on 30 October 2009. She was then the oldest surviving ex-student
of St. Margaret‟s School, which was then known as CEZMS (Church of England Zenana Missionary).
Mdm Quek had contributed an article (page 28) for our 165 th Anniversary Book, To Serve and Love Always –
Voices of St Margaret’s. This anniversary book is still available at $25 from SMSS Bookshop, SMPS (contact
Mrs Nathan at tel: 63394247) or SMESA (Pixie at tel: 65343058).
Lions Home for the Elders
Mrs Wong Sooi Loon
HOME VISIT
In January 2009, our Youth Wing organized a “Bring a Pet Day” for the residents of the Lions Home (full
report was in our March newsletter). It was such a great success and we actually wanted to organize another
visit to bring more fun, joy, love and laughter to these elders. Unfortunately, due to the H1N1 epidemic, we
were unable to do so.
Flag Day 2009
In August, The Lions Home invited us to participate in their “Flag
Day 2009”. As the H1N1 epidemic was still prevalent, we
decided against sending our students onto the streets and
instead helped to raise funds through donation cards. Five
hundred cards were distributed to SMSS and SMPS, PSG, PTA
and SMESA. A total sum of $12,413 was collected through the
concerted efforts of the St Margaret‟s Family. For our efforts, we
were very honoured to receive the “Best Partner Award” from
the Minister of State from the Prime Minister‟s Office, Mr. Heng
Chee How, during the “Times of Your Life Recognition Night
2009” on 5 November. THREE CHEERS TO THE ST
MARGARET‟S FAMILY!!
Teachers’ Day Dinner on 1 September 2009
Ms Lee Soo Kwan
Mrs Wong holding the "Best Partner Award" from
the Ministry for raising the fund.
Teachers‟ Day Dinner this year was held at the Orchard Hotel. There were some 200 of us who got together
to help celebrate, this special day dedicated to all teachers and staff. It was a time to thank both teachers and
staff for their hard work in educating and developing our students to be responsible individuals and citizens.
Teachers at work
It was a night of the “Rolling 60‟s”. Soon everyone was in a
party mood singing along with Elvis Presley in „Can‟t Help
Falling in Love With You‟, Skeeter Davis in „The End of The
World‟, Cliff Richard in „Bachelor Boy‟ The Beatles in „From
Me to You‟, etc, etc.
Games featuring songs of the 60‟s presented no problems
to all participants and the emcee for the evening had to find
a way to decide on the winning table. The winning team
was persuaded to entertain the party with their own
rendition of songs from the 60‟s. Everyone could not resist
joining in the singing as we all loved our songs from that
period!
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Mrs Wong with The Best Dressed Lady of the 60‟s
2009 SMESA Bursary Awards on 21 October 2009
Ms Lee Soo Kwan
Soo Kwan presented the cheque to Mrs Marion Tan
Highlight of the evening was The Best Dressed Lady of the
60‟s and it was no easy decision for the judges to find the
best dressed! Almost everyone turned up in „retro‟ dresses,
several with broad hair bands in myriads of colours and
large round ear-rings. Still there were some who had wigs
and others the 60‟s make-up!
The event organized by PTA with PSG and SMESA as coorganisors
and support from the Primary and Secondary
Schools and SMC, carried on with the traditional Lucky
Draw. Many left the dinner laughing and joking with Lucky
Draw prizes in their hands.
Thank you all. You have helped made the evening
entertaining and full of fun!
Members will recall the SMESA Bursary Fund was set up
some eight years ago with the support of PTA. The Fund
was set up to help needy students of St Margaret‟s School
with their PLSE and „O‟ and „N‟ Level examination fees and
other co-curricular development programmes as may be
decided by the Board of SMESA.
Since its inception, we have helped students who have
applied for assistance through the School every year. This
year, we received applications from 23 students from SMSS
for financial assistance for their examination fees. The
Board has approved all 23 applications.
On the morning of 21 October during morning assembly at SMSS, I had the privilege to represent SMESA to
present to Mrs Marion Tan, Principal of SMSS, our cheque for $3,802.00 to help these students. It is truly a
joy and a blessing that we are in a position to assist these students with the kind and generous support of our
members and friends to the SMESA Bursary Fund over the years.
Tea Appreciation Talk on 31October 2009
Ms Pixie Ho
It was a gathering of the St Margaret‟s Family at the Learning Lab of SMSS on that beautiful Saturday
afternoon. Not only members of SMESA attended the tea talk but also staff and teachers of both the Primary
and Secondary Schools, and members of the PSG, making a total number of 59 attendees. It was a time of
sharing, fellowship, reminiscing of the good old days and also to learn the finer points of tea appreciation.
We also had a short presentation of the Certificates to our Honorary Members at this function. We have
conferred this Honorary Membership to 6 ex-principals and vice-principals of SMPS and SMSS. However,
only Mrs Tan Lee Lee, Ms May Chew and Mr Ponnusamy were able to attend the presentation.
We were privileged to have Mr K T Chua from Taylors Tea of Harrogate to share his expertise in tea
appreciation and teaching us how to twine the tea with cakes and cookies at this function. Participants were
given various types of Taylors Tea to sip accompanied by cakes and cookies supplied by Mr Chua.
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Mr K T Chua from Taylors Tea of Harrogate
Below is an excerpt of Mr Chua‟s talk on tea appreciation:-
“Tea is more widely referred to as the infusion of dried
leaves rather than the dried leaves itself.Fresh tea leaves
are picked every 7-10 days during the growing season. The
top 1-2 inches made up of the leaves, leaf buds, and
internodes are referred to as tea flushes. Whilst tea plants
can grow into a tree, they are pruned to waist high to
facilitate picking.It is not widely known that all the different
types of tea actually come from the one and only Camellia
Sinensis.
There are three major varietals: the small-leafed China tea (C. sinensis sinensis), the large-leafed India tea
(C. sinensis assamica) and the in-between, Cambod tea. It is the duration of fermentation and processing
methods that produces the different types of tea.Only the leaf buds, still covered with fine silky hairs are
picked for White tea. This makes it a cut above the rest in terms of quality and price. All fresh pickings are left
to wilt for up to 24 hours. Except for White tea and Green tea, the wilted leaves are subsequently left to
ferment. The shorter the duration of fermentation, the more antioxidants are retained. Heat is applied at
predetermined times to stop this fermentation. The tea leaves are rolled and dehydrated by firing.
Participants enjoying themselves
Tea, usually black tea can be presented in a kaleidoscope of
flavours and scent. They are flavoured with other plant parts.
Earl Grey is flavoured with bergamot; Jasmine tea is scented
with jasmine flowers. Flower, fruit, herbal, medicinal and yes,
even the renowned South African red Rooibos are not tea in
the real sense of the word. Derived from parts of other plants,
they are more accurately called tisane. Labels aside, each
boasts of its own kaleidoscope of health benefits.
Dried tea leaves are graded by size. They are leaf, broken
leaf, fannings, and dust. Smaller leaf particles give a
stronger, quicker brew, ideal for teabags.
Tea may have originated in the Orient; it may have been the exclusive beverage of the aristocrats but today, it
is second only to water as an international beverage. Because of its cooling, slightly bitter and astringent
flavor, it has become a rage.
If you skip the cream and sugar, tea can indeed be a healthy beverage. High in polyphenols, catechins and
flavonoids content especially in White Tea, it ranks amongst fruits and vegetables. Its high antioxidant content
is said to be able to reduce the risk of having certain types of cancer. It is widely held that tea promotes a
healthy immune system, lowers blood pressure and cholesterol levels. The Chinese have long been sipping
Oolong tea, and the belief is that tea not only helps to maintain healthy skin but it also accelerates the burning
of fats. L- Theanine amino acid present in tea soothes the nerves whilst caffeine and theophylline induces
alertness.
Dorice, Florence, Vivien and Sandra enjoying their tea
Tea drinking gives an aura of peace, respect and harmony.
Tea drinking is a time of social intercourse. Old men
reminisce over the years that have flown by; young men
muse about their career paths. Young ladies sip as they talk
about the latest fad whilst the older natter about the goingson
in their lives. Indeed folks come together to make friends;
and not foes; to make conversation, not confrontation. “Let‟s
have a cup of tea and we know we have a friend.”
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St Margaret’s 167 th Anniversary Dinner on 16 November 2009
Dr Lee Hoon Hwee
16 th of November 2009 marked St Margaret‟s Day. A day to remember St Margaret who was recognized for
her life of personal holiness and charitable works.
This was also the 167 th Anniversary of the School and the Anniversary Dinner was held at St Margaret‟s
Primary School.
It was a cool, breezy Monday evening as old friends and familiar faces were seen catching up with one
another at the concourse before dinner. It was an atmosphere of familial warmth.The hall was filled with
many tables. Mrs Wong Sooi Loon, President, SMESA welcomed the many generations of past and present
students and staff. Amongst the guests were also friends and well-wishers of the school.
This was followed by the opening address given by Mrs Irene Chua, Vice-Chairman, School Management
Committee.
SMESA Table at the dinner
Supporters of our function
Performance by the SMPS International Dance
A scrumptious 9 course Chinese dinner was served
featuring an unusual and delectable chicken tonic with
organic palm shoot.
The audience was enthralled by a very interesting and
entertaining program showcasing the many and varied
talents of the SMSS Concert Band, SMPS International
Dance Group and the SMSS Strings Ensemble..
Dinner ended at 10pm. Many ex-students lingered on
chatting; some taking a walk through the school grounds
reminiscing the good old days.
Footnote
SMESA would like to thank the Thai Pan Restaurant
(Changi Branch) for donating a $250 dining voucher. The
voucher was won by the Chapel of Christ the King for
having gathered the largest number of attendees to the
function. Pastor Steven Seah received the voucher on
behalf of the church. Thank you Pastor Seah and your
congregation for supporting us all these years.
Performance by the SMSS Concert Band
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SMSS Prom Night 2009 on 19 November
Ms Lee Mian Jun
SMESA at the SMSS Prom Nite 2009
The Prom Queen and the runners-up
SMESA‟s Youth Wing tried their hands on their first largescale
project by organizing the graduating prom night 2009
for the sec fours and fives of St. Margaret‟s Secondary
School.
The organizing team, under the invaluable guidance of Ms
Lee Soo Kwan and Dr Lee Hoon Hwee, planned everything
from the hotel‟s services to the programme and music, with
help from the prefects of the school. The Prom Night turned
out rather successful, and we must admit, even in the midst
of all our worries that something will go wrong, even though
we had to shuffle down our dinner between breaks, we all
did have fun.
The Prom Queen contest, the highlight of the night, had the
girls screaming and cheering for their peers, as the
contestants cat-walked up and down the stage, answered
speculative questions and got their spontaneity tested
through the advertisement of a random product.
Our emcees, Sheena (Chairman of the Youth Wing) and
Jin, all the more hyped up the atmosphere by their excellent
hosting skills in playing the crazy table games which sifted
out the girls with the highest heels and longest earrings
(15cm!). At the end of the night, the Prom Queen and the
runners-up paraded down the red carpet that stretched all
the way from the stage to the doors of the Grand Orchard
Hotel Ballroom.
The winners were:
Prom Queen - Thivyaa Ravi Chandran
1 st Runner-up - Nur Alissa bte Noorazha
2 nd Runner-up - Mabel Lau Jia Yi
I can‟t help but say that it was indeed a night of both fun and
glamour for both the girls and us.
St Margret’s Primary School Prize Giving Day 20 November 2009
Mrs Wong Sooi Loon
Our ex-student, Mrs Chua-Lim Yen Ching, Principle of Northlight School, was the Guest of Honour at the St
Margret‟s Primary School Prize Giving Day held on Friday 20 Nov 2009 at 8.00 a.m.
As the St Margaret‟s Day Service was being held at the St Andrew‟s Cathedral at 11.00 a.m. on the same
day, SMESA had to present the graduating prefects with the “School Service Award‟ two days earlier due to
the time constraint.
This year 3 students, Daphne Lim Hui Min, Natalie Low Fang Hui and Sherwyn Ng Shi Qi received the
SMESA-St Margret‟s Prize for having achieved very high aggregates in the PSLE and also for having opted to
continue their education with St Margret‟s Secondary School. They each received a Trophy and a $50 POSB
voucher.
SMESA also presented a Trophy and a $50 POSB voucher to Tiffany Tan Ge Ru for having been nominated
The All- Round Achiever 2008 Award.
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YOUTH WING COMMITTEE MEMBERS 2009/2010
Chairperson Sheena d/o Mohan Lal
1 st Vice-Chairman Lee Mian Jun
2 nd Vice-Chairman Samantha Chua
Secretary Jessica Yu
1 st Asst Secretary Eve Hoon
2 nd Asst Secretary Rie Ong
Treasurer Esther Zhu Xiao Tong
Asst Treasurer Valerie Tan
PRO (Communication) Seow Wen Yi (Emails),
Jacqueline Lee and Lynette Zhu (Blog)
PRO (Membership) Felicia Teo and Barakathunisa (Nisa)
Committee Member(s) Koh Jia Ning
Youth Wing Advisors Lee Hoon Hwee and Lee Soo Kwan
SMESA BOARD MEMBERS 2009/2010
President: Wong Sooi Loon
1 st Vice-President: Pixie Ho Pix Yew
2 nd Vice-President: Lee Hoon Hwee
Honorary Secretary: Sandra Yee Wai Leng
Asst Honorary Secretary: Hui Choon Wai
Honorary Treasurer: Florence Neo
Asst Honorary Treasurer: Neesha d/o Mohan Lal
Committee Members: Co-opted Members:
Dorice Joan Cheong Joy Gillain Quek
Lee Soo Kwan Monica Lim
Mary Soo Belinda Bay
Vivien Ang Kim Neo Mary Chang
Jacquelina Ho Gurvinderjit Kaur d/o Surjit Singh
Auditors: Webmaster:
Chung Keng Oi Jacquelina Ho
Mona Quek
Editorial Board
Editor :Mary Soo
Members : Pixie Ho
Jacquelina Ho
Advisor : Wong Sooi Loon
St Margaret‟s Ex-Students‟ Association, 111 Farrer Road, Singapore 259240
website : www.smesa.org.sg e-mail : enquiries@smesa.org.sg Fax: (65) 6534 5127
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