Holy Innocents' High School

Image Gallery

Rev. Fr. Anthony Shih, a strict and well-loved Principal. He was often seen in the village, riding his Lambretta for house visits (1958).

The school’s entrance when it was located along Upper Serangoon Road. The current entrance is facing Hougang Avenue 10 (1960s).

HIHS was a boys-only school until 1986.

Members from the Holy Innocents’ Old Students Association (HIOSA) and former principals of HIHS having a last picture taken with the old school building. HIHS underwent PRIME in 2003.

School History

Founded in 1892, Holy Innocents’ High School was one of the first Chinese mission schools in Singapore. It was originally named Tao Nan School. Bible studies and classical Chinese were taught to children in the Upper Serangoon village. In 1920, Reverend Father Becheras, the school supervisor, renamed the school Holy Innocents’ Chinese Boys’ School to reflect the aspiration for the boys to be pure, wholesome and innocent. During the Japanese occupation of Singapore from 1942 to 1945, the school was known as Syonan School.

In 1957, a two-storey building with 12 classrooms was built for the school at 7¼-milestone Upper Serangoon Road. Reverend Father Anthony Shih was appointed as the principal, supported by his deputy, Reverend Father Peter Lu. Secondary-level classes officially started in 1958, and the name of the school was modified to Holy Innocents’ High School. His Grace, Archbishop, Right Reverend M. Olcomendy, blessed the school and declared it open on 6 June 1958. Pre-university classes in the science stream were begun in 1965.

As the school’s enrolment grew, the primary school section moved to Lorong Low Koon on 25 March 1985 and functioned as Holy Innocents’ Primary School. The secondary school section became single-session. Between 1992 and 1994, Holy Innocents’ High School underwent construction and refurbishing. The official commissioning of the upgraded facilities by Gregory Yong, Archbishop of Singapore, took place on 30 July 1994.

Principals:
- Mr Tan Thiang Jang (before 1946–1957)
- Rev Fr Anthony Shih (1957–1969)
- Rev Fr Peter Lu (1970–1983)
- Mr Lee Tho Nee (1984–1996)
- Mrs Mary Bay (1996–2001)
- Mrs Pauline Wong (2002–2007)
- Ms Soh Lai Leng (2008–2013)
- Mr Yap Wai Meng (2014–2018)
- Mrs Rebecca Chew (2019–present)

Key Milestones

School Motto

谦诚和爱

Sincerity and Charity

The school motto in Chinese stresses on four areas of student development: intellect, morality, physical wellness and harmony. The four areas branch out and include values such as humility, diligence, integrity, kindness, respect, righteousness, sincerity and charity.

School Crest

The school crest – embodying the colours red, blue and white – is shaped like a shield with the cross at the centre. The shield represents the defence of our faith with Christ at the centre of our lives. The colour red symbolises the blood of Christ. Blue symbolises the ever-soothing presence of our Mother Mary who is always there for us, while white represents sincerity and honesty. The Chinese character, 诚 (integrity), features at the top of the crest, symbolising the need to continually uphold the virtue to be honest with God, others and self.

School Song

圣婴中学
shèng yīng zhōng xué
黉宇高嵩
hóng yǔ gāo sōng
屹立狮岛
yì lì shī dǎo
美丽如虹
měi lì rú hóng

砥砺品学
dǐ lì pǐn xué
婴德是宗
yīng dé shì zōng
谦诚和爱
qiān chéng hé ài
景仰大同
jǐng yǎng dà tóng

环境清幽
huán jìng qīng yōu
校址宽宏
xiào zhǐ kuān hóng
树人树木
shù rén shù mù
俱收事功
jū shōu shì gōng

宣传文化
xuān chuán wén huà
中西并攻
zhōng xī bīng gōng
阐扬学术
chǎn yáng xué shù
文质兼丰
wén zhì jiān fēng

济济多士
jǐ jǐ duō shì
共坐春凤
gōng zuò chūn fēng
荣主救灵
róng zhǔ jiù líng
功德无穷
gōng dé wú qióng

培植翘秀
péi zhí qiáo xiù
矢勤矢忠
shǐ qín shǐ zhōng
蔚为国器
wèi wéi guó qì
南邦之雄
nán bāng zhī xióng