13 October 2017

Dear Parents, Staff and Students of ACS (Barker Road), Change of Principal at ACS (Barker Road) I write to inform you that there will be a change of Principal here at ACS(BR) from 15 December 2017. This is in line with the Ministry of Education’s policy to rotate Principals. I thank God for the honour and privilege of having been the Principal at ACS (Barker Road) for the past 10 years, and before that 8 years at ACS (Junior). It is my pleasure to introduce Mr Loo Ming Yaw to you. Mr Loo Ming Yaw is currently the Principal of Mayflower Secondary School. He is an old boy who studied in ACS (Secondary) and then ACJC. He subsequently returned to teach at ACJC before becoming the Vice-Principal from 2006 to 2008. He served a total of 10 years at ACJC. Mr Loo then went on to pursue his Masters in Education Policy and Management in 2009. He then became Vice-Principal at Kuo Chuan Presbyterian School (Secondary) before going to the Leadership in Education Programme. After that, at the end of 2012, he was appointed Principal of Mayflower Secondary School. Mr Loo and his family worship at Aldersgate Methodist Church where he serves as LCEC Chairperson. A committed Christian and dedicated educational leader whom I have had the privilege of knowing for many years, I know that he will fulfil our school’s motto of “The Best Is Yet To Be!” and bring our school to greater heights. I am sure that you will give Mr Loo the fine support you have given to me all these years, for some of you, from the time your son was in ACS (Junior). I would now like to take this opportunity to thank various groups of people for your support over this time. Firstly, I would like to thank MOE and the ACS Board of Governors for having such faith and support in me. As mentioned earlier, the rotation of Principals is a long-standing practice that MOE has emplaced to benefit schools and education in Singapore. This is the 3rd time in my Principalship at ACS (Barker Road) that MOE has communicated with the ACS BOG about moving me to another school. I am truly grateful and appreciative for the opportunity to continue to work with teachers and students to enhance their educational development. On 15 December 2017, I will be helming Queensway Secondary School. Both Mr Tan Wah Thong, former Chairman of ACS BOG and Mr Richard Seow, current Chairman of ACS BOG, together with the members of the Board have been most kind to my family and me over the years, and it has been a great honour and privilege to serve my alma mater. Next, I want to thank my colleagues in ACS (Barker Road) for their support in making things happen for our young men in ACS (Barker Road). Without their support, many of the programmes and initiatives that have become signature programmes in the school would not

have happened. They were prepared to work hard, sacrifice personal time and resources because they believe in the shared vision and mission we have, to nurture “Generations of educated men who are God-fearing and growing in Grace” by Touching Hearts, Empowering Minds and Enriching Souls. My special thanks to Mrs Aw Meng Yin and Mr Jeffrey Tan, the former, who has been VP with me through the bulk of my Principalship here, and also Mrs Judy Yeow, Mr Manmohan Singh and Mr John Wu, who were former VPs. It has been a great pleasure working together as a leadership team and I am thankful for their unstinting support through the years. I am also very grateful for all the Heads of Department and Subject Heads over the years. These are very passionate and dedicated teachers who agree to take on additional responsibilities of leading their departments and teams. We spend many hours putting in place strategic plans, monitoring and reviewing the practices because we want the very best for each of our young men. I appreciate their forthrightness and integrity in word and action, together with their creativity and inventiveness that have resulted in the many good programmes we have. Many spend countless hours counselling and engaging their teachers and students. Truly ACS (Barker Road) is blessed with such a dedicated group of Middle Managers. The backbone of the school is our teachers and administrative staff. As Principal with my management team, we can plan many things, but without the many dedicated and hardworking teaching and non-teaching staff, little, if not nothing, will happen. The hours spent planning lessons, engaging with challenging students or those with issues at home, mentoring and developing the talents of our young men have resulted in the ACS (Barker Road) Gentlemen! It has truly been my privilege to not only be your Principal but your colleague because we are prepared to work together hand-in-hand. The teachers and administrative staff of ACS (Barker Road) are willing to work behind the scenes to make things happen for our young men. ACS (Barker Road) has been successful because of each of you and your dedicated service and passion. I have been privileged to work with so many parents and I can never thank you enough. For those of you who stand with us in our times of challenge, for the support you give in time and effort to support our students and staff, and most of all your friendships, I thank you. Many of you have become more than parents of students in the school but also friends whom we can count on for encouragement and support. I ask that you continue to give Ming Yaw and the team the same, if not greater support, in the time ahead. If you do meet me after my time here, please remember my visual challenge and come to say “Hi!” so I do not miss the opportunity to thank you and rekindle the friendship. To the young men, past and present, it has been my honour and privilege to be your Principal. I have been humbled by so many of you by the great care and love you show. Many of you have come to offer a prayer for me and it has been such a privilege to have my students do this for me. I will certainly miss your playfulness and I am glad that you generally do not go overboard. You apologise if you do and it is heartening to see you growing towards being the gentlemen that we look forward to you being. The majority of you are tremendously proud of being an ACS (Barker Road) student and as many graduants would say, ACS (Barker Road) is your home away from home. Continue to make me and your teachers proud of you. Live true to the values of respect, integrity, commitment and excellence that we have been striving to instil in you. All of you have God-given talents and gifts. I urge you to use what God has given you to the fullest so that you give glory to His Name! Again, do not be afraid to stop me in the streets to say “Hi!” but you will probably need to remind me with your name as many of you will grow taller, bigger and more handsome! Without the support of my wife and children, I would not have been able to do the work that I have. Stacey, my loving wife, has been a pillar of support. My children, Samantha and Shawn, aside from giving me opportunities of stories to talk about parenting, have been the great joy and lights in my life that I pray every parent has to enjoy. I have always emphasized the

importance of family, and together we go through the challenges and joys that life throws at us. As long as we stay united, love and care for each other, we can weather each storm so that we can celebrate the abundance of God’s goodness. Finally, God has been my Help and Refuge. I am so thankful to God for giving me the privilege and honour of leading the schools that I have, and for the opportunity to continue doing in Queensway Secondary. It has been my joy to be able to serve God and the people He has placed in my life. I look forward to the opportunities that will avail themselves in my next posting. I look forward to your prayers that I will continue to be a blessing to the students and their parents and staff of the school. It leaves me to thank you all once again for your support over the years and I look forward to hearing the many great things that will happen in ACS (Barker Road) under the leadership of Mr Loo Ming Yaw. To God be the glory, The Best Is Yet To Be!

Yours sincerely, Peter Tan Chong Tze Principal