A BUILDING TO LAST …
AUGUST 25, 2007 is a milestone in the history of Geylang Methodist School (Secondary) – it celebrated its 83rd Thanksgiving and Prize Presentation Day and held the Dedication Service of its new building and campus.
The Dedication Service was conducted by Bishop Dr Robert Solomon, who was the Guest-of-Honour, in a school blessed in its people, its many benefactors and stakeholders and its brand of education.
The building was presented for dedication by Dr Lionel Lee, Chairman of the GMS (S) Board of Management, and Mr Lim Yan Hock, Principal of GMS (S).
Pupils, teachers and guests rose as one to dedicate the campus to the glory of God: Pupils pledged to come with inquiring minds and honest purposes, while teachers pledged to nurture their pupils to be eager learners and leaders with character and concern for the good of others.
Bishop Dr Solomon’s message, entitled “Building To Last”, reminded the audience of the Chief Builder behind the school’s massive redevelopment project.
Quoting from Psalm 127 and 128:1-2, he exhorted everyone to recognise God’s hand behind the modern facilities. Not only that, a school is just a building of cement and bricks if not for the people, and most importantly, the pupils, whom the school is tasked to nurture.
“Sons are a heritage from the Lord … happy is the man who has his quiver full of them,” the Bishop proclaimed, before adding meaningfully, “And our pupils are like our sons!”
Indeed, in his report at the prize presentation earlier, Mr Lim mentioned that one of the key tenets of the school’s mission was character-building of the pupils through pastoral care and Christian education programmes, done at daily devotional talks by himself, the vice-principal, chaplains and teachers, and chapel programmes imbibing biblical values in the pupils’ lives.
Geylang Methodist School (Secondary) has always been mindful of the key role it plays in moulding the young minds that pass through its corridors.
The sheer number of parents, volunteers, students and friends in the education fraternity who had come back to celebrate that memorable evening with us is a testament of how we all cherish this opportunity to work together, to weave our very own GM narrative – of how a school with very humble beginnings has charted 83 years of its journey, with God at the helm, the staff and parents running the ship, and our students the reason why we are in this journey together.
Richard Chia is Head of Department (English Language) and Sng Swee Lian is the English Language teacher at Geylang Methodist School (Secondary).
