Henderson Secondary School

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School History

Established in 1974, Henderson Secondary School was located at Friendly Hill on Preston Road. The pioneer batch of 600 Secondary One students and 24 teachers was led by Henderson’s first principal, Mr Gan Kee Soon. To cater to the growing student population, the school moved to Henderson Road in 1976. The school song written by Michael Habib Sim, a Science and English teacher.

In 1994, the school celebrated its 20th anniversary and moved to temporary premises along Queensway Road as the campus on Henderson Road underwent rebuilding. The school marked its return to the renovated building by holding a homecoming walk in 1997, which saw the whole school participate in a symbolic walk from the holding site to the new campus. All four former principals and then principal Mrs Ho Woon Ho joined in the celebrations. The new school building was officially opened on 17 April 1999.

Henderson Secondary School had a strong presence in the community, with Hendersonians being involved in community-based events. Some notable events were Matchbox: Students’ Public Art Exhibition held at Utterly Art Gallery in 2003, and Tanjong Pagar Group Representation Constituency’s Body and Mind Sports Day in 2004. In 2006, it held Tessellation: A Visual Arts Exhibition at Bukit Merah Community Library, and hosted the Silver Talent Fair. In 2008, it organised Tessellation 08: A Visual Art + Design & Technology Exhibition at the National Library Building.

In 2013, Henderson Secondary School was accorded niche status in developing inventive and critical thinkers through design and innovation. In the following year, the school launched its Applied Learning Programme (ALP) and Learning for Life Programme (LLP). Its ALP, ‘Speed, Precision, Engineering and Elegance through Design Thinking (SPEED)’, helped students learn about science, technology, engineering and mathematics through design thinking. Its LLP, ‘Leading with HEARTS (Hendersonians Always Ready to Serve)’, focused on community and youth leadership, providing platforms for students to develop their leadership competencies. The programme aimed to nurture students to exercise self-leadership and serve others in the community.

In 2017, Henderson Secondary School merged with Bukit Merah Secondary School, taking on the latter’s name.

Principals:
- Mr Gan Kee Soon (1974–1979)
- Mr T.P. Naidu (1979–1981)
- Mdm Lau Kam How (1981–1988)
- Mr N. Subramaniam (1988–1996)
- Mrs Ho Woon Ho (1996–2000)
- Mrs Yeo Chin Nam (2000–2008)
- Mr Simen Lourds (2009–2016)

Related School: Bukit Merah Secondary School

Key Milestones


1974	Establishment of Henderson Secondary School.
1976	Move to new school campus at 100 Henderson Road; Official opening of Henderson Secondary School.
1980	New school badge and crest designed by Mr Tan Kim Song, an art teacher.
1991	Formation of HSS Parent-Teacher Association, with 52 members and 10 committee members.
1994	Celebration of 20th anniversary.
1997	Homecoming walk to new school building at 100 Henderson Road after PRIME upgrading.
1998	Adoption of new school aphorism, ‘Today I am proud of Henderson, Tomorrow Henderson will be proud of me’.
1998	Pilot school for Ministry of Education’s ‘Thinking Schools, Learning Organisation’ project.
1999	Introduction of desired outcomes of Hendersonians: honour, hard work, helpfulness and healthfulness; Official opening of new school building.
2016	Homecoming event to mark the closing of the school, attended by 1,500 past and present Hendersonians.
2016	Merger with Bukit Merah Secondary School to become the present Bukit Merah Secondary School.

School Motto

Education for Life

School Crest

The school badge is in the shape of a shield. The open book signifies knowledge. On the left page of the book is a flaming torch representing passion for learning and improvement, and on the right, an upright figure signifying youth and life. Below the shield is the school motto, ‘Education for Life’ – a reminder to Hendersonians that education is not only for academic marks and grades, but also for equipping them with the aptitude to be better people for life.

School Song

♫ Listen

When we hear the name Henderson
We glow all over with pride.
When we sing the Song of Henderson
Our hearts and minds rejoice
Now to Henderson we raise this song
In tribute and in praise.
For we hear your living spirit calling
To excel in every way.
Education for life we receive
Prepares us for life ahead and to serve our Republic.
You teach us to be courteous,
Courageous, loyal, sound in body and mind.
Henderson is like a flaming torch,
We’ll keep it brightly ablaze
So your wisdom and philosophy
Will spread all over the place.