Official Closing of Monk’s Hill Secondary

For my ex-Monkshillian classmates who did not attend the flag lowering ceremony, I hope you can finish reading my blog below although it is a bit lengthy. Do leave a comment if you like. Thanks. : )

Today, 22 November 2006, marks an important date for me in my calendar. It’s because my alma mater, Monk’s Hill Secondary is official closed today after operating for a 48 long years since 1958 and will be merging with Balestier Hill Secondary next year in 2007. The main reason for the closing is due to a drastic drop in the student enrolment and with the location of the school surrounded by condominiums but with no HDB estates around.

A brief history of the school began in 1958 on a plot of land that was once the site of a Chinese monastery. The name ‘Monk’s Hill’ is a reminder of this piece of history. Monk’s Hill became an integrated school in 1961, offering both English- and Malay-medium education to its intake of pupils. In 1976, she established itself as an English-medium school.

I first heard about the news of the school closing down from my ex-secondary classmate’s SMS and from the bulletin posted on the Monk’s Hill Secondary Official Website several weeks ago. I was quite sad about it and was puzzling why it has to be my school that is closing down, since this school carries me with great memories back in my secondary education and I was proud to be 1 of the pioneer students who got to use the new premises operated in 1994 at Winstedt Road when the school shifted.

One interesting fact is that both my pri and sec school has closed down and both the schools’ name has the text “Hill” in it. My primary school is Pearl’s Hill located near to York Hill and now Monk’s Hill Sec going to merge with Balestier Hill Sec. Again there is “Hill” in it. Is this coincidence or what…??

For me, I went back to my secondary school with a few of my male ex-secondary schoolmates today to view the last moment of the school with few snapshots taken and also to witness the final flag lowering ceremony at 6pm to mark the official closure of the school. One thing is that for our class, only the guys went back and none of the girls were back. Perhaps all are busy with their exam, work or overseas commitment bah. The school was still the same old form that I used to see in the past, except that most of the teachers have left and replaced by old ones. However there are still some senior teachers around.

In the school, we were quite happy to get the chance to meet up and chat with some of my teachers who have taught me before such as Mrs Lim (Chi), Mrs Han (D&T), Mrs Ching (Geo), Mrs Kwok, (A Maths) and Mdm Ng (E Maths). Photographs were also taken with them. Other than that, I was surprised that my Chinese and Design and Technology Teachers still remembered my name even though I have graduated from this school 9 years ago. : )

At around 6+ pm, all school staff with the former and current students gathered at the school parade square to witness the Principal, Mr Syed Mohd Ashraf Shah present his final speech for the school and announce the retirement of 3 senior teachers from the school. After his speech, all the people who are present remain in silent when the School and National flag were lowered down respectively as we sang the last school song and the national anthem for the school. It was quite sad for me and buried with deep thoughts in my heart.

After the flag lowering ceremony, we had some buffet snacks at the school canteen and get to view some slideshows showing the past event photographs of the school. Next we proceed on to have a last look at the classroom that we used to spend most of the time studying and interacting. The classroom is still the same old form, except that many electrical power points were installed and the traditional blackboard we used in the past was replaced with the marker whiteboard. Overall the classroom is emptied, as most of the desks and chairs were shifted outside the classroom.

Yah. One more very surprisingly thing we found in the classroom that shocked most of us there. You know what, in the ex-schoolmates classroom, we manage to find a “A Maths” textbook and few assignments above the false ceiling of the classroom after hidden for a long 9 years period!! Very amusing!! Haha. After so many years, I was surprised that no students from our juniors managed to discover the “hidden” textbook above the classroom ceiling. Hehe. :p After that, I left the school when it was announced that the school gate is closing by 9pm.

Lastly I would like to mention that even though the attempt to preserve the school's name was not successful, but I will always remember Monk’s Hill Secondary in my heart with the School’s Motto “The Will To Win” which describe a Monkshillian having strong willpower to work hard for self-improvement in order to achieve success in life.