Dental Services is provide by School Dental Service (I think under Health Promotion Board) whose staff rotate the service among several schools in the area.

If the service is not available DHS on a particular day, your child can visit the school where the staff is stationed on that day.

gotysq:

the MOE SMS Said My DD is posted to DHS EXPRESS class, meaning?

Note that since a few years back, MOE has stopped labelling SPECIAL stream for SAP schools.

Yesterday I envisaged I will pass by Shanghai Uniform Office at Ubi. I called to check whether I can buy my DS's Senior High uniform from there. I was told ok. So I went there with my DS. Upon reaching, a staff said all stocks (including those from Bras Basah) have been transferred to school :frustrated:

So, it is better to plan to buy the uniform at school.

Augmum:

gotysq:

Hi oxxo
Wah ex DHS father with DHS DD!

Here, we also have an Ex-Dunmanian daddy with all his kids in DHS...
Louis, where are u ?? come share share ... :evil:

Thanks Augmum. DHS indeed changes over the years, from good to better. More programs, CCAs, inclusion of Senior High, ..... It is also not the \"Chinese Middle School\" that some people may have the (mis)conception. My kids converse with schoolmates in English most of the time (granted, that is the norm in Singapore).
What is unchanged is the values DHS imparts on students. I find that in DHS, teamwork is stressed: You are encouraged to excel, but work harmoniously with your team and take care of your fellow mates.
My kids are very happy in DHS. The eldest will be in Y5 next year and is currently on a overseas immersion program. There are many enrichment/volunteer programs besides academic studies.

ernie_yang:

德明堂 (new hall)
is there a name for the old hall which was used by the table tennis team for practice ?

德明堂 was the old school hall. The new hall was 勇忠堂.

http://i61.tinypic.com/28swj8n.jpg\">
You can join the DHS Alumni Face book at Dunman High School Alumni (Official)

There was no Confucius Statue in the old campus. It was in the new campus probably due to the school's name which came from 儒家's thought of 《《大学》》： 大学之道， 在明明德。With my limited translation, it means: The way of Great knowledge, is to expound virtue character (光明正大的品德）.

I am not sure the StoryY.

starlight1968sg:

And you remembered it was in 1982 ?

I remember the embarrassment I suffered but bear no hatred to the teacher bec I really broke the rules.

Yes, 1982. My classroom was at the ground floor of 正心楼, a short walk to the 7(?) basketball court assembly area. That day I decided to save time. My acquaintances were thinking \"Why is 乖_ _ standing in front of the school?\" But it was a good lesson learnt. \"Do not cut corners even if one is in a hurry\" - literally and figuratively applying to work.
These are the things in DHS that help to build up my values. No grudge, but thanks. Better learn early in life than later.

starlight1968sg:

There is a chinese female chem teacher with glasses. She taught me sec 3 chem. She is also no-nonsense. During my class, there were a few girls who compete in chem results. The teacher's style was return the papers with the top marks first. And so we knew who scored the highest. She has also affected me and I enjoyed chem lessons/topics all except the practical as I have clumsy hands.

I am sure the teachers would not know the impact they have on their students during that time.

I am also grateful to the many outstanding teachers in DHS.

I guess you are one year my junior. May be we crossed the grass at the same time one morning in 1982 (to prove Pythagoras Theorem and save time) Qiu Shen asked us to stand in front of the school during assembly. But no blackmark. Qiu Shen was my Chinese Literature teacher. I like his lessons. His tone and good pronunciation always keep our attention high.

Another outstanding math teacher is 张中兴老师。Very clear, systematic explanation with regular surprise tests. In Sec 1, I saw him teaching other classes, always with high enthusiasm. In Sec 2 I was lucky to have him as teacher.

The female Chem Teacher shall be Mdm Thia. My favorite Chem teacher in Sec 4. Again, very clear teacher, with good summary of notes given.

Tall Lim was my Sec 4 Physic Teacher. A very good teacher who went beyond textbook. To demonstrate Beat Effect, he bought a pair of speakers and an amplifer, emitting same frequency and told us to walk across the classroom to hear the beats. A lots of Physics came to life under him.

Is the big size Chinese Teacher you mentioned 高芝荣老师？ He was my Sec 4 Chinese Teacher. Under him, Chinese language is about expression. I wrote to my heart's content and gain valuable skills. He did not say, but once we can write, comprehension is no long an issue.

I feel most gratitude to DHS for assigning the legendary Mr John Eynon as our English Teacher.
(His story at http://www.dunmanhigh.moe.edu.sg/school ... pril-1981/)
After Sec 3, the 4 triple Science classes were split again to 2 class of strong and two classes of weak English Class. From very Chinese background, many of us were struggling with English, still score below 60 marks in Sec 3. Felt demoralised, but viola! John Eynon appeared in class on the first day. It was a comprehension about a kidnap that he acted out, with expression and movement. My notion of English forever changed from the day onwards. It is not about grammar. It is about expression of thoughts and feeling. His \"hamburger\" method of writing essay became something that a poor student can grasp and practice till fluency. Thank you Mr Eynon!

The teachers indeed have lasting impact on us.

Dear Besty,


DHS A level results have been very good. You can see the results at the DHS website:

http://www.dunmanhigh.moe.edu.sg/event/ ... l-results/

DHS's A Level is certainly one of the top 5 in Singapore.

besty:

My point is, u see, students who went into nygs ri rgs hci, they went in as tops and finished A levels still as tops in general. In a way, their systems are proven. Whether it's academic or the way the schools nurture those good students in their overall development and positive go-go-get-it mindset which in the end land them still as tops.

I am not sure of the basis of your statement above. Even if there are some truth (nothing is absolute), it shall not anyway diminish DHS and other schools (eventhough you do not state that).
In the 6 years, some students improve, some deprove (if you are keen, you can browse other threads about A Level about some cases). This happen in all schools, including those you stated (I heard from people involved that IP students some time tends to be more relaxed, but don't blame them, see my later paragraph). The advantage of nygs ri rgs hci, vjc is that they can take in good O level students who boost their A level results. I have a nephew who was not able to get into IP school, went to SST, end up with 6 pts in L1R5, then join one of the top JC. In this way, I truly think that SST value added him, which is a hallmark of education, not just to take in top students to produce top student. DHS cannot take in such students as DHS does not take part in JAE. However, DHS does value add academically and in many other ways. The top student in my DS Year 2 class went into DHS through appeal (PSLE 251 compared to COP about 256). Her GPA in Year 2 was 3.8. Hence DHS is able to achieve good A Level results.

MOE's intents of IP is clearly not on A Level results. It is to address parent's \"complain\" of stressful education, particularly preparing for O Level. MOE made a very good rationale: Since these top 10% students are likely to end up in University, they shall be freed from O level preparation and process and chancel their time to other enriching activities, e.g. research, exploring other interests, expedition, etc. Is it ok for IP students to be a little more relax in all IP schools? My opinion is yes, if their gain experience in other areas, which ends up in a more holistic education.

Somebody mentioned about Alumini list, when there were no IP, DHS has to join other JC. Two presidents scholars: Soon Chern Wei, from DHS to VJC, He Rui Jie, from DHS to RJC. Both of them could appear on the Alumni list of RI (there is no more RJC) and VJC (or in future VI), but were from DHS.

At the end of the day, I truly believe in MOE's vision and effort in making all school are good school. Academic performance is important, but not everything. An school which emphasise in ultra competitiveness is not doing students all good (I am not saying any of the schools you mention are like that). In working life, beside knowledge, collaborations with bosses, co-workers, subordinates, customers, contractors are very important. Empathy, social awareness, sense of contribution are very important which help a person to be happy and successful. These are things learnt outside the academic area. I am glad to hear your DD taking parts in many activities (hope not too much at the expense of his academic performance). My DS has been taking parts in many activities in his 4 years in DHS, external competitions, volunteering (note he is not forced to do any of these activities, but the opportunities are there, and he enjoy doing so). My DD in Year 1 is also enjoying in DHS as it was her dreamt school and indeed she found it fascinating. She also work very hard on her study, not relaxing.

Hence, if you want your child to be academically very strong, including becoming a President Scholar, DHS is one of the places.
If you want your child to be nurtured in a cordial place where you make life long friends, DHS is also one the places.
If you are thinking of selecting the school for your child, bring them to the school (e.g. during open houses), ask them which one they like. (Alas, children do not compare as meticulously as much as adults do. Their feeling for the school is more important)

If your child is already in the school, make the best of what the school and system can provide him/her. Ask them to work hard and enjoy.

Dear Eatpraysleep,


I graduated from DHS many years back. As a more senior alumnus, I am glad to know that you are doing well now. My children are in DHS now. I would like to share the following observations/comments related to your post:

1.\tMy children tell me that students communicate among themselves mostly in English, not Chinese. Like many of your schoolmates, they are happy in DHS. I cannot imagine English speaking students find themselves out of place in DHS nowadays.

2.\tI agree with you that expectation is very important. In my time, the early year of SAP, there are many very bright ex-English primary students who came to DHS and found a totally unfamiliar Chinese environment. Some of their English educated parents expected that, and put them in DHS to immerse in the Chinese environment without losing their “Englishness” which can be attained at home.

3.\tStudents go to Dunman High knowing they are into one of the Top Secondary schools in Singapore (whatever way this can be interpreted). As in any school, that does not guarantee success 4 or 6 years down the road. I was achievement oriented, strived from being below average to one of the top students 4 years later (in a way, we are similar). The school did not take away your will to strive. In fact it encourages it! I also heard about complacency in other top schools. Unlike DHS, they can take in good O Level students to beef up their A level results. That means, which DHS’s good A Level results (unofficially one of the top 5 in Singapore), DHS is adding good values to its student who were taken in from Year 1.

4.\tOne of your unhappiness is in CCA. I also had my personality clash in CCA (this can happen anywhere. In my case, I wrongly chose a CCA that did not suit me). I was not promoted to the rank that I thought I deserved, and was unhappy about it. When I went to JC (no IP then), I was elected to a leadership role in my new CCA, which surprised many of ex-school mates. In your case, DHS did provide you an opportunity to start and led a new society. This opportunity may not be available everywhere. I think you are capable (see, we are similar again). But you must thank DHS for the new opportunity. Ironically, two years ago, when my CCA celebrated its 50th Anniversary, I went back and found myself the only one present from my batch. The many good things the CCA taught me, the unhappiness, etc, were part of my growing up. With reflection, I learnt to be more tactful when dealing with people, so that I can achieve what I want while minimise unhappiness for myself and others.

5.\tI do not thinking in anytime (before, during, after my time), speaking up is frowned upon in DHS (or anywhere). May be it is the way of speaking up that one has to be careful about. Nobody will stop other people from doing good, especially for the greater whole. Other than this, I am still unclear what are the "western values" that you mention being suppressed in DHS.
6.\tI totally agree with you choosing a school that the students will feel comfortable is important. Some people cannot fit into their school. In extreme case, there was a student who brought her school (another top school, with higher PSLE cut off point) to court. While I am not here to comment, the incident actually happen in a highly sought after school Singapore. So there is no perfect match. At one stage, regardless of all the happiness and unhappiness, I told myself I came into DHS which was my dreamt school, hence I am proud to be there, and would want to contribute to it. “Don’t ask what the school can do for you; Ask what you can do for your school”. Partly for that I strive to work hard for O level, which hopefully help to put the school high on the academic standing. That was also a personal gain.
The school has given us good values and foundation. It does not dictate what it cultivate is the only good way. The rest is up to our endeavour.

Augmum:

Congratulations !!!

Louis, yr eldest son or yr younger DD there ?

Hi Augmum, I just PM you.