Another heartening feature of the school has been its connectedness with the old Yeung Ching school tradition, through several partnerships.  One such partnership is the on-going collaboration between Yeung Ching Scouts Open Group and Yangzheng Cadet Scouts Unit.  I am told that members of the Yeung Ching Scouts Open Group who are all ex-Yangzheng students have been faithfully training and coaching the schools' cadet scouts weekly.  This outstanding partnership has helped Yangzheng Cadet Scout Unit to win the Frank Cooper Sands Gold Award for 8 consecutive years since 1996.  I would like to commend the various groups in the school community for their strong support shown to the school, and hope that such partnerships will continue to grow from strength to strength. 

Celebrating the Present

We live in a knowledge- based economy, with all its opportunities and challenges. Change is frequent and sometimes unsettling. New truths are uncovered each day and social norms tested and revised.  It is important that students have strong values to help them face a future of change with confidence and a sense of rootedness. 

One way of helping our students to inculcate good values and have strong character is to expose them to real-life stories -  stories of men and women who have shown strength of character amidst difficult times and who have made significant contributions to society. It provides an authentic learning environment for character education. I am told that Yangzheng students are currently involved in such a project. In the first phase of the project, 50 students have interviewed 20 prominent former Yangzheng students.   The interviews centred on their life experiences, with particular focus on how the personal values that have helped to make them what they are today.  I am sure these students would have been inspired, and would have picked up useful lessons on hard work, thrift, honesty, uprightness and community spirit. 

I am glad to note that one of these 20 former students is sitting amongst us today.  Mr Lo Hock Ling, Yangzheng's Primary School Advisory Committee Chairman, is a exemplary case of someone who has been giving of his time and energy to the community.  Winner of the Active Senior Citizen Award 2002, his interests range from health care, social services, service to education to community and promotion of the arts.  Mr Lo has served in leadership positions in the professional, VWO and clan association sectors (the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Singapore (ICPAS), Singapore Anti-Tuberculosis Association, Kwong Wai Shiu Nursing Home, and Kong Chow Wui Koon, a Cantonese clan association, amongst others.  I am told that the group of students who interviewed Mr Lo found his stories so interesting and inspiring that they mooted the idea of publishing a book entitled 'Tales of Grandfather Lo" so that all of Yangzheng students and the public can read and learn from his life experiences.     

Yangzheng's challenge now is to build on its 100 year tradition and continue developing programmes that will help to inculcate in every student the 4 core school values of integrity, responsibility, self-discipline and passion for learning. 

In this respect,  I am happy to see Yangzheng push ahead in providing a learning environment that brings about intellectual adventure and discovery.  One example of how Yangzheng has set up what it calls I-SPACE, a discovery learning centre that allows students to participate in self-directed learning.   From my short visit to the I-SPACE just now, I can see the potential of the centre in developing students' problem solving skills as they experiment with new tools to find solutions. It is also one of the many ways the school can nurture leadership skills in the students. 

To nurture such habits of mind and character requires time.  As the Chinese proverb says "It takes ten years to grow a tree, but it takes a hundred years to raise men of character".  Character building cannot be achieved through any quick fix.  It reflects the total experience that the individual goes through, at home in the way he is brought up, in his years of schooling, his participation in the life of the community, and in hat he encounters in the workplace. It happens quietly, in the classroom, on the performing stage or on the playing field.

So I find it very interesting that Yangzheng Primary has defined and embraced for itself a brand of education that likens the school to a garden.  A garden reminds us of life and growth through seasons of sowing, nurturing, caring, pruning and harvesting.  There is a time for every season in school.  I hope to see Yangzheng's garden flourishing and thriving, as it nurtures students with enquiring and questioning minds and strong hearts. 

Conclusion

Tonight is a celebration of past successes, longstanding relationships and partnerships with all stakeholders.  The future of Yangzheng will be an exciting and challenging journey.  I am confident that with the leadership of the Principal, the dedication of the teaching and non-teaching staff, the support and commitment of parents and the community and the enthusiasm of the students, Yangzheng Primary School will continue to grow from strength to strength, and true to its name, raise generations of students who are upright and instilled with a  passion for learning. 

I wish Yangzheng Primary School many more successful years ahead.  Let the story of Yangzheng continue to ring through the years and as what the Chinese proverb says, a story that is worth hearing a hundred times.

Thank you and have an enjoyable evening.