Orchid Park Secondary School

Orchid Park Secondary School, abbreviated as OPSS (, Pinyin: Lán Jing Zhong Xué, Sekolah Menengah Orchid Park) is a co-educational government secondary school in Yishun, Singapore.

History
Orchid Park began in January 1999 on the premises of Woodlands Ring Secondary School with a staff of 16 and a student population of 360. On 13 September 1999 the school moved to its own premises at 10, Yishun Street 81. The official opening of the school took place on 21 April 2001, led by Tan Boon Wan, Member of Parliament for the Ang Mo Kio GRC. It was decided that a grand arts event be held every three years. Arts Panache I on the theme 'Love and Peace' was held on 3 April 2004, and Arts Panache II, a musical entitled 'Club Soul', took place on 13 and 14 April 2007. On 13 April 2002 the Art Gallery was opened, featuring art pieces by pupils. The school's first venture into business enterprise, the Art Rock Cafe, was officially declared open on 13 April 2002. It is a business run by pupils after school hours. To provide more opportunities for pupils to develop entrepreneurial skills Le Shoppe was opened on 8 April 2005. Another manifestation of business enterprise in the school is The Wardrobe, equipped with period and dance costumes available on-line for loan to other schools.

Song
The school song is Onward and Persevere, by founding principal Low Eng Kee and Dr. Er Yenn Chwen. Onward, onward we go No mountain too high to scale Onward, onward we row No ocean too wide to sail Persevere, persevere No obstacle shall stand in our way Our destination we shall reach one day A happy and united school Where everyone has a part to play Orderly, Respectful, Caring Healthy are our ways Innovative and Diligent we shall always be Our destination we shall reach one day Onward, onward we go No mountain too high to scale Onward, onward we row No ocean too wide to sail Persevere, persevere No obstacle shall stand in our way Our destination we shall reach one day

Discipline
With effect from July 2010, OPSS now allows students to have mobile telephones at school, but only in certain areas of the school, and they must be turned off or set to silent during lesson time.

The school has introduced the Self-Improvement Programme (SIP), which replaced detention classes. In the SIP, students (most of whom have broken the school rules) study or revise for two hours. Boys who choose to skip the SIP receive corporal punishment. This consists of a number of strokes of the cane applied to the seat of the student's trousers as he bends over. Girls who skip SIP do work such as the cleaning of toilets and classrooms. Otherwise, more SIP hours would be added to the student's record.

Co-curricular activity
The school offers 20 co-curricular activities (CCA), divided into Clubs and Societies, Performing Arts, Sports and Uniformed Groups.

Clubs and societies

 * Art Club
 * Environmental Club
 * Library
 * Mediatech

Performing arts

 * Choir
 * Modern Dance
 * The Wardrobe
 * English Drama/Debate
 * Guitar Ensemble
 * Wind Orchestra

Sports

 * Floorball
 * Hockey
 * Softball
 * Table tennis
 * Wushu
 * Basketball

Uniformed groups

 * Boy's Brigade
 * Girls' Brigade
 * National Cadet Corps (NCC)
 * National Police Cadet Corps (NPCC)
 * National Civil Defence Cadet Corps (NCDCC)

Awards and achievements
The awards and achievements Orchid Park Secondary School earned in 2009.

CCA awards and achievements

 * Singapore Youth Festival Central Judging from 2011
 * Choir (Silver)
 * Dance (Silver)
 * Guitar Ensemble (Silver)
 * Wind Orchestra (Silver)
 * Drama Club (Gold with Honours)


 * National Inter-school Wushu Championsion
 * 'B' boys Group (Group Quansu - 4th)


 * Boy's Brigade
 * Character Quest (Silver)
 * Adventure Quest (Silver)
 * JM Fraser (Silver){2008}
 * Founders Award (2006)(2007)(2008)(2009)


 * Girl's Brigade
 * Company Award (Gold){2008}
 * Drill Competition for Pioneer (Silver)


 * NCC (Sea)
 * Sea District Freestyle Drill Competition (Bronze)
 * Best Unit Award (Bronze){2008}

NPCC Unit Overall Proficiency Award
 * NPCC
 * SPF-NPCC Badge Award
 * 2012: Gold
 * 2011: Gold and Outstanding Achievement Award (5 years consecutive UOPA Gold Awards)
 * 2010: Gold
 * 2009: Gold
 * 2008: Gold
 * 2007: Gold
 * 2006: Bronze
 * 2005: Bronze

Other awards and achievements

 * Sustained Achievement Award (Aesthetics and Uniformed Groups)
 * CHERISH Award (Silver)
 * Character Development Award (2006–2008)
 * TAF Award (Silver)

Principals

 * 1999 - 2007 - Mr Low Eng Kee
 * 2008 - 2013 - Mrs Helen Tan-Lee
 * 2014–Present - Mr Shawal bin Hussin