About Xinmin Secondary School Alumni Association

About Xinmin Secondary School Alumni Association

A Brief History of the Alumni Association.

1993

By the end of 1991, Goh Tong Pak, a graduate of the fourth cohort (1966) of our alma mater’s high school section, was appointed by the Ministry of Education as the sixth principal of the school. Upon hearing the news, over twenty former classmates

hosted a dinner reception for him in Xiang Man Lou Restaurant. This gathering became the spark that led to the founding of the Alumni Association. After serving as principal for twenty months, Goh Tong Pak called upon these former classmates and

alumni in August 1993 to discuss the formal establishment of the Alumni Association. He recognized that to revitalize the school, which was then at its lowest point, strong support from the alumni was essential.

A month later, the founding pro-tem committee was officially formed, with Ang Yak Wah as chairman, and Tan Chor Wah and Chua Kee Teang as vice-chairmen. The

committee immediately began preparations, including drafting the constitution and reaching out to alumni from various cohorts to join the association. On December 10, 1993, the Alumni Association submitted its registration application to the Registry of Societies, and approval was granted the following January. The official founding date of the association was retroactively set as November 1, 1993. Thus, forty-eight years after the school’s establishment, the Alumni Association finally came into being.

A month later, the founding pro-tem committee was officially formed, with Ang Yak Wah as chairman, and Tan Chor Wah and Chua Kee Teang as vice-chairmen. The

1994-1999

The official inauguration ceremony and the first general meeting were held on March 6, 1994, during which the first council was elected. At the time, 154 alumni had joined as members. After its formation, the council promptly began its work, explaining the

association’s mission and basic operational procedures to members, including distributing copies of the constitution in both English and Chinese. Various activity groups were soon established, and recruitment efforts commenced. Many of these

groups, formed during the early days of the association, remain active today. Currently, the Alumni Association has nine activity groups and one project-based editorial and publication team.

A significant milestone for the association was the completion of a spacious and comfortable clubhouse with a karaoke room in 1997. This facility strengthened members’ sense of belonging and cohesion, playing a crucial role in the association’s growth. Principal Goh Tong Pak’s contributions to this achievement were invaluable. (Interested readers may refer to the 1998 commemorative publication, Xinmin Secondary School Alumni Association Special Edition – Introduction to the Alumni Association Karaoke Room.)

groups, formed during the early days of the association, remain active today. Currently, the Alumni Association has nine activity groups and one project-based editorial and publication team.

After its establishment, the Alumni Association began organizing festive celebrations such as Chinese New Year mass celebrations and Mid-Autumn Festival parties. An annual reunion dinner in November was also introduced to reunite alumni from different cohorts. Additionally, the association regularly hosted talks where alumni with specialized knowledge could share insights with fellow members. Of course, as stipulated in the constitution, the association also holds an annual general meeting.

2000 - today

One of Principal Goh Tong Pak’s goals in founding the Alumni Association was to garner support for the school’s development, and the association actively aligned with this vision. In 2000, when the school was approved by the Ministry of Education

to transition into an autonomous school, the Alumni Association played a pivotal role in the application process. It was also instrumental in the establishment of the five-story modern "Creative Arts Centre" and contributed significantly to other facilities at the school, including installing air conditioning in the multi-purpose hall and adding an indoor sports facility atop the existing hall. Furthermore, the late member Peter Tan Thuan Teck donated $100,000 years ago to establish a book prizes for students who scored A1 in eight or more subjects in the GCE O-Level examinations. The Alumni Association also sponsors the school’s annual Holistic Achievement Award.