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River Valley High School, Singapore

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River Valley High School (RVHS) is a co-educational government autonomous secondary school in Boon Lay, Singapore. Founded in 1956 and originally located in River Valley, it is one of the Special Assistance Plan schools designated by the Ministry of Education in recognition of its heritage and excellence in education.[1][2] Since 2006, the school has been running a six-year Integrated Programme that allows students to skip the Singapore-Cambridge GCE Ordinary Level examinations and proceed to sit for the Singapore-Cambridge GCE Advanced Level examinations at the end of Year 6.

River Valley High School
立化中学
Sekolah Tinggi River Valley
Address
Map
6 Boon Lay Avenue

Boon Lay
,
649961
Coordinates1°20′35″N 103°42′34″E / 1.343172°N 103.709490°E / 1.343172; 103.709490
Information
TypeGovernment-aided
Autonomous
Special Assistance Plan (SAP)
Integrated Programme (IP)
Motto立德立功 化愚化顽
(We shall uphold virtues and contribute to society. Through personal growth, we shall guide others in the quest for knowledge and wisdom.)
Established1956
SessionSingle session
School code3103
PrincipalChoy Wai Yin
Colour(s) Red   Blue   White 
Team nameTeam RV
Publication"RV Times"
Websitewww.rvhs.moe.edu.sg

History

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RVHS was founded as the Singapore Chinese Middle School in 1956. It was the first Chinese middle school set up by the government and it occupied the premises of Seng Poh Primary School. It was later renamed Queenstown Government Chinese Middle School and subsequently River Valley Government Chinese Middle School when it moved to Strathmore Avenue.[3]

RVHS admitted its first batch of English-stream pupils in 1979 when it was selected as one of the nine pioneering Special Assistance Plan (SAP) schools in that same year. It moved from its River Valley campus to a new campus at West Coast in December 1986. Due to the smaller school campus at the West Coast site, the school became a double-session school. It reverted to a single-session school in 1993 after new blocks were constructed. It was among the first six schools in Singapore to become autonomous in 1994. For its achievements in its CCAs, it was also one of the first schools to receive all three available Sustained Achievement Awards when it was first offered by the Ministry of Education in 2001.[4]

In 2006, RVHS started running a six-year Integrated Programme which allows students to skip the Singapore-Cambridge GCE Ordinary Level examinations, which students in Singapore normally take at the end of Secondary Four, and proceed to sit for the Singapore-Cambridge GCE Advanced Level at the end of the sixth year. The final batch of GCE Ordinary Level students graduated from RVHS in 2007.[5][6] In June 2006,[7] RVHS moved out of its campus at Queensway to a holding site at Malan Road. The Malan Road campus housed the school while they were waiting for the new school building to be ready in 2009.

At a press release held by the Ministry of Education on 21 September 2018, it was revealed that RVHS would be participating in the Joint Admission Exercise as of 2019, and will accept GCE Ordinary Level graduates from other secondary schools for Years 5 and 6 of its Integrated Programme. Under this exercise, the first batch of students from other secondary schools were admitted into RVHS in February 2019.[8]

The school was the scene of a killing of a Secondary 1 student by a fellow Secondary 4 schoolmate in July 2021, which made domestic and international headlines.[9][10]

School identity and culture

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The RV Spirits sculpture, which resembles the Chinese characters of the school name, at the main block.

RVHS is known for its inclusive and conservative culture, a common trait shared among Special Assistance Plan schools with Chinese backgrounds.[2]

School song

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RVHS retains its school song in Chinese. The song, with close links to the school motto, represents the heritage of the school and the aspirations of the founders' hopes in educating the next generation. Students are reminded to bring glory to the school through excellence in both academics and behaviour. The school song is written in literary Chinese, giving it a poetic touch. The lyrics are written in verses of four characters, a parallel to Chinese idioms, with the exception of the last two verses.[11][12]

Crest

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RVHS's crest is made of the school initials "RV", with the letter "R" in red colour and "V" in blue colour. The colour of red symbolises radiance, progress and vitality, the colour of blue symbolises steadfastness, graciousness and serenity, while white symbolises purity and receptiveness to innovation.[13]

Uniform

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Formal attire

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Junior High (i.e. Years 1 to 3) Senior High (i.e. Years 4 to 6)
Boys Boys wear a short-sleeved, white shirt (with metal buttons) and white shorts. The shirt is to be tucked out. Boys wear a white, short-sleeved, collared dress shirt and white trousers. The shirt is to be tucked in and a belt is optional.
Girls Girls wear a short-sleeved white dress (with metal buttons). The waist is tightened with a white cloth belt. Girls wear a white, short-sleeved, collared blouse and a blue knee-length skirt. The blouse is to be tucked in.
Remarks Both uniforms have white epaulettes, secured with metal buttons. Both also bear the school's initials "RV" (with the "R" in red and "V" in blue) on the left breast for girls and left breast pocket for boys. Metal buttons are inscribed with the characters "立化" (pinyin: lìhuà). A collar pin bearing the school crest is worn on the left collar for both uniforms. Additional collar pins may be worn to indicate the student's involvement in certain school activities. Student councillors wear a dark blue necktie. For some ceremonial occasions, a red blazer and blue necktie are worn over the uniform with a pair of dress shoes.

[13]

Physical Education attire

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Both genders wear a T-shirt and dark blue shorts comprising synthetic materials for PE. The T-shirt is predominantly white, with red and blue accents. Older T-shirts had a zipper and displayed the characters "立化" (pinyin: lìhuà) on the left breast. Newer T-shirts have greater red colouration, lack a zipper, and instead bear the school's crest on the left breast. The T-shirt is to be tucked in. The PE attire is not to be worn to any ceremonial occasion or to non-physical activities (e.g. flag-raising).[13]

Other attire

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For all students, the PE T-shirt may be worn with the formal attire's trousers, shorts or skirt as appropriate. On certain days, the formal attire's trousers, shorts or shirt may be worn with other T-shirts (e.g. shirts from one's CCA or orientation course).

Song writing heritage

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RVHS is known for its popularity in composing and singing campus songs and xinyao, a genre of Singaporean Chinese songs originating in the 1980s. RVHS also has its collection of songs written by its former and present students.[14] This associates RVHS with institutions that have strong cultural backgrounds and influence in Singapore's music scene, such as Hwa Chong Institution and Jurong Junior College.[15] RVHS graduates are also seen taking an active role in the continuation of Singapore's song-writing heritage.[16]

Campus

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Bird-eye view of River Valley High School Campus

RVHS's campus is the newest among all Special Assistance Plan and Integrated Programme schools. It was officially declared open in 2010 and cost over S$70 million in construction.[17] Located off Boon Lay Avenue at the former sites of ITE Jurong and Boon Lay Garden Primary School, the 7.64-hectare campus comprises facilities that supports the educational needs for the six-year Integrated Programme, and strongly encapsulate a strong cultured environment.[17]

River Valley High Student Hostel

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The RVHS Student Hostel is located adjacent to the school campus, consisting of two 12-storey buildings and one 15-storey building (Halls 1, 2 & 3 respectively). It provides accommodation for up to 500 boarders and 25 teacher mentors.[18] The building features a dining hall and is supported with internet access.[19] However, this hostel closed in late 2016.[20] As of 2019, the hostel is now privately operated by 85soho, a hostel operator.[21]

Academic information

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RVHS, being a Special Assistance Plan school, is strongly influenced by Chinese culture. Chinese language, culture and history are often emphasised in the school. It is compulsory for students from Years 1 to 4 to take Higher Chinese as a subject. Chinese culture lessons are also mandatory in lower secondary and students can opt for Chinese Literature in upper secondary. It also offers the Bicultural Studies Programme (Chinese) also offered in other schools such as Dunman High School, Hwa Chong Institution and Nanyang Girls' High School. The programme aims to nurture independent and passionate individuals who uphold strong moral character, effectively bilingual in English and Chinese, and have a global perspective that allows them to face challenges in the changing world.[22][23][24] River Valley High School's BSP includes camps, enrichment electives which complements the ministry's programme.[25]

Starting in 2006, RVHS has been offering the six-year Integrated Programme, allowing its students to take the Singapore-Cambridge GCE Advanced Level examinations at the end of the sixth year.

Notable alumni

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    River Valley High School RV Spirit Sculpture.
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    Classroom block of River Valley High School.
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    Auditorium (明辉堂) of River Valley High School.
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    River Valley High School Hostel building, taken in 2014.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "从师友经历 述说传统华校的转型与变迁". 联合早报网. 11 July 2017. Archived from the original on 15 July 2020. Retrieved 27 August 2017.
  2. ^ a b "River Valley High celebrates diamond jubilee". Channel NewsAsia. Archived from the original on 28 August 2017. Retrieved 27 August 2017.
  3. ^ "School History - River Valley High School". rivervalleyhigh.moe.edu.sg. Archived from the original on 28 January 2021. Retrieved 10 November 2016.
  4. ^ "River Valley Government Chinese High School at Jalan Kuala, between 1958 and 1967 - BookSG - National Library Board, Singapore". eresources.nlb.gov.sg. Archived from the original on 31 August 2019. Retrieved 10 November 2016.
  5. ^ "RIVER VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL TO OFFER THE INTEGRATED PROGRAMME IN 2006". www.moe.gov.sg. Archived from the original on 2 October 2016. Retrieved 28 September 2016.
  6. ^ "Integrated Programmes (IP)". www.moe.gov.sg. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 28 September 2016.
  7. ^ "School History". rivervalleyhigh.moe.edu.sg. Archived from the original on 28 January 2021. Retrieved 22 January 2021.
  8. ^ "Dunman High, River Valley High to accept O-Level students from other schools". 21 September 2018. Archived from the original on 21 September 2018. Retrieved 9 January 2019. Two more schools will participate in the Joint Admissions Exercise (JAE) from next year - Dunman High School and River Valley High School. This means that both schools will accept GCE O-Level students from other secondary schools, the Ministry of Education (MOE) announced in a press release on Friday (21 Sep).
  9. ^ Lam, Lydia (20 July 2021). "Teenager charged with murdering fellow student at River Valley High School". CNA. Archived from the original on 26 July 2021. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
  10. ^ "Singapore shocked by killing of boy, 13, at school". BBC. 20 July 2021. Archived from the original on 2 June 2022. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
  11. ^ "River Valley High School 立化中学 (Formerly River Valley Government Chinese Middle School 立化政府华文中学)". sgschoolmemories.blogspot.sg. 24 July 2013. Archived from the original on 10 February 2018. Retrieved 10 November 2016.
  12. ^ "从新加坡的校名、校训、校歌看海外华人的价值观". 简书. 2 February 2014. Archived from the original on 10 November 2016. Retrieved 11 November 2016.
  13. ^ a b c "SCHOOL RULES AND REGULATIONS" (PDF). River Valley High School, Singapore. 20 February 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 August 2017. Retrieved 27 August 2017.
  14. ^ "庆祝母校60周年 立化校友创作一首歌". 联合早报网. 13 January 2016. Archived from the original on 3 December 2019. Retrieved 27 August 2017.
  15. ^ "立化校友开讲 许环良激励学弟妹 勇于追求音乐梦想". 联合早报网. 13 April 2016. Archived from the original on 5 December 2019. Retrieved 27 August 2017.
  16. ^ "《新空下》新谣比赛2017". 《新空下》新谣比赛2017. Archived from the original on 25 February 2020. Retrieved 27 August 2017.
  17. ^ a b "A World-Class Educational Institution". rvhs2.swiiit.com. Archived from the original on 2 July 2018. Retrieved 27 August 2017.
  18. ^ "Facilities". rvhs2.swiiit.com. Archived from the original on 2 July 2018. Retrieved 27 August 2017.
  19. ^ "FAQs". rvhs2.swiiit.com. Archived from the original on 2 July 2018. Retrieved 27 August 2017.
  20. ^ "AJC hostel to close by 2019: MOE". 5 October 2017. Archived from the original on 8 November 2017. Retrieved 8 January 2019. At the end of last year, the hostels of Catholic Junior College (CJC) and River Valley High School already closed its doors.
  21. ^ "31 Boon Lay Drive - 85soho". Archived from the original on 16 September 2019. Retrieved 14 September 2019.
  22. ^ "The RVIP Graduate". Archived from the original on 22 August 2007. Retrieved 21 June 2007.
  23. ^ "RVIP Curriculum Framework". Archived from the original on 15 June 2007. Retrieved 21 June 2007.
  24. ^ "RIVER VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL TO OFFER BICULTURAL STUDIES PROGRAMME (CHINESE)". www.nas.gov.sg. Archived from the original on 27 August 2017. Retrieved 27 August 2017.
  25. ^ "立化中学双文化营 郭践红吴剑峰谈戏剧与新谣". 联合早报网. 28 June 2017. Archived from the original on 27 August 2017. Retrieved 27 August 2017.
  26. ^ a b Lee, U-Wen (27 April 2007). "New hostel and home for River Valley High". Channel News Asia. Archived from the original on 12 September 2007. Retrieved 4 September 2012.
  27. ^ "Investor Relations: Our Leadership". qandm-dental.listedcompany.com. Retrieved 8 January 2024.
  28. ^ "Member - Q & M College". qandm.edu.sg. Retrieved 8 January 2024.
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