Paya Lebar Methodist Girls' School (Primary)

Image Gallery

1950s: Founder Mrs Chew Hock Hin (fourth from left), Mrs Robert Eu (fifth from left) and Miss Nancy Coggan (third from right, one of the writers of the school anthem).

Mrs Lucy Kandasamy (Principal, 1966 to 1972) with the girls at the former school premise at Boundary Road.

22 August 1987: Opening of the Primary and Secondary schools at Lorong Ah Soo with Dr Tay Eng Soon, Minister of State of Education then, as Guest-of-Honour.

On 14 October 2016, both PLMGS (Primary) and PLMGS (Secondary) celebrated their 100th Founder’s Day, lining up 9 generations of PL-Lites for the re-opening of the PLMGS Museum.

School History

Paya Lebar Methodist Girls’ School (PLMGS) began on 31 October 1916 as a branch school of Anglo-Chinese School and was known as Paya Lebar English School.  It started functioning as an elementary school in 1917, with a staff of three and a pupil enrolment of 24 boys. In 1918, the school began taking in girls.

In 1935, Mrs Chew Hock Hin became the principal. Mrs Chew is regarded as the founder of the school because she reorganised the school with the help of the American Crusade Fund after the school building was razed to the ground during the Second World War. She enrolled girls into the school, believing that girls have to be educated as well as boys. As a result, the morning school, Paya Lebar Methodist Girls’ School, and the afternoon school, Paya Lebar Methodist Boys’ School, were established.

In 1949, PLMGS became a government-aided school and was still a primary school. Gradually, secondary classes were added until 1954 when it became a full school providing education from Primary One to School Certificate level. In 1961, the school became a full girls’ school.

In 1986, PLMGS relocated to its present site at Lorong Ah Soo. With the relocation, two schools were created – Paya Lebar Methodist Girls’ Primary School and Paya Lebar Methodist Girls’ Secondary School. The school was officially declared open on 22 August 1987. The two schools were later renamed as Paya Lebar Methodist Girls’ School (Primary) and Paya Lebar Methodist Girls’ School (Secondary).

In 2008, Paya Lebar Methodist Girls’ School (Primary) has been identified as the East Zone Centre of Excellence for Creative Arts (Performing Arts). In 2016, PLMGS celebrated its 100th anniversary, marking the tremendous progress of the school while staying true to its mission of nurturing every PL-Lite into a whole person who lives in favour with God and man.

Principals:
- Mr Robert Hanam (1917–1923)
- Ms Smith (1923–1928)
- Rev Daniel Sundram (1930–1935)
- Mrs Chew Hock Hin (1935–1957)
- Mrs Robert Eu (1958–1966)
- Mrs Lucy Kandasamy (1966–1972)
- Mrs Winnie Tan (1972–1986)
- Mrs Lim Kim Chee (1987–1999)
- Mrs Christine Ho (2000–2012)
- Ms Chua Soh Leng (2013–2018)
- Mrs Joyce Ang (2019–present)

Key Milestones

School Motto

Look Up, Lift Up
We look up to God for help and guidance as we aim for greater heights of achievement.
We lift up our eyes to the Lord from whom we receive help to face life’s trials and tribulations.

School Crest

The school crest has a cross above the words ‘Paya Lebar MGS’ signifying that Christ is above all. The lines radiating from the cross suggest that the light of God will shine through the school. The background is yellow, which stands for brightness and light, for the school is to be like a beacon to the community.

School Song

O let our youthful voices ring
With all their joyfulness
In praise and gladness let us sing
Of Paya Lebar MGS (2x)

Here we may seek all wisdom, truth
And ways of kindliness
Through all the years of golden youth
At Paya Lebar MGS (2x)

So when we leave its sheltr'ing walls
We go with fearlessness
Enriched to face life’s greatest call
By Paya Lebar MGS (2x)

Lord bless our school our dear PLMGS
With peace and love and joy and grace
Our PL-Lites we send to lead and bless
From Paya Lebar MGS (2X)

Now let us pray and learn and trust and obey
To serve Him in every way
Glory to God we give and pray
For Paya Lebar MGS (2x)