Chua Chu Kang Secondary School - The Early Years School Camps

1994
In their second year, the pioneer batch of pupils got their first taste of outdoor camping at Jalan Bahtera Camp. It was a 3D-2N camp. All the activities were planned and organized by the teachers, no external vendor. The most exciting part of the camp was the night walk from camp to the Lim Chu Kang Cemeteries. The pupils started off in high spirit and noisily.....but the moment we went into the cemetery, it was total silence from them, all the way back to camp. Ms Sum, the Principal, led the way in this night walk.

 One of the 2 classes of second batch NT pupils 1996

First batch NT pupils in the Workshop

1995
When we planned the Sec 2 camp for the 19 classes, we did not foresee the enormity of the task until the camp superintendent mentioned to us our 'bravery' to have so many campers at one time. He had never seen a school doing that....for 750 pupils at one go!!!!! Madness!!!! We have to use the next door Camp Christine as well.
Surprisingly, we pulled it off without much incidents ( a couple of pupils were sent back for fever). We did the high ropes, the sea activities like raft building, camp fire etc. All the meals were cooked by Mr Zukliflee and his family who slept in the camp as well.

In retrospect, it was really mad of us to conduct a camp for over 750 pupils at one go. Not everyone of us have organized camps before and yet we took it on. I felt that Ms Sum placed her trust on us, the PE department and me, as she seldom appear in the picture during the planning and recce. We just update her on the progress....that's it.
We could have broken up the organization of the camp into phases. However, the thought of having to conduct it twice would mean taxing every one's time and energy. Fortunately, we have Mr Paul Low, who was certified to conduct obstacles courses and sea activities with us. But then...imagine the risks.......what if......It gave me the shivers when I reminiscence about it.

St John's Island Camp
After the Sec 2 camp, the Sec 3 St John's Camp was a breeze. The pioneer batch went to St John's Island for the Sec 3 Camp after the Sec 2 camp. Again, all the activities were successfully conducted by the teachers and some pupils from the uniformed groups. Mr Zul and family cooked the meals. It was really a 'family' affair.

                                                                       The TRUST FALL

                                 BLIND leading the BLIND Confidence walk around St John's Island

  One of the group lead by Mr Paul LowYes, we brought our own food for meals cooked by mr Zulkiflee and family

Up the steep hill to the camp

 

                                     CCKS Staff at 2nd St John's Island Camp in 1996

Some of this pioneer pupils also went for the Mt Ophir Expedition. The trainings were done after school.....trekking up and down Bukit Timah Hill, night walk along the abandoned railway track, walk to MacRitchie, etc.
Though we lost our way halfway up Mt Ophir and thus did not reach the summit, we were rather satisfied with the experience.

Mt Ophir Expedition 1995 - before departure

                                                 Mt Ophir expedition 1995 - At base camp
Sec 1
The school receives another 8 classes of Sec 1 for year 1995, same combination  of 2NT, 2NA and 4Exp classes. 1995 also saw the school became a two-session school to accommodate the increased number of pupils. This would go on until the 'bloom batch' left after 1997.

Opening Ceremony
Prof Low S C, the MP of CCK officially declared the school 'opened' in a spectacular night affair of pupils' performances and dinner. I remembered that we prayed hard for the skies to hold on until the ceremony was over...it was so dark until the last minutes. We would want our weeks of preparations and rehearsal to bear fruit that night. Our prayers were obviously answered......

End 1995
One thing which we did not foresee was the departure of Ms Sum to MoE, a promotion which we were pleased for her. We thought that she would at least see the pioneer batch through the GCE 'O' examinations before leaving...it was not to be so......It was a rather quiet farewell.
Hello...Mrs Teo Khin Hiang