Commonwealth Secondary School

03/09/2026

Yesterday, our school was honoured to welcome Mr Alvin Tan 陈圣辉, Minister of State for Ministry of National Development and Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on our campus.

The visit began with an Eco-Stewardship Tour, showcasing how our school seeks to be a “School in Nature” — where nature is part of students’ everyday learning rather than something experienced only on a field trip.

Across our Stream, Indoor Farm, Plant Nursery, Rainforest, Ecological Corridor and Wetland, our students shared how our campus serves as a microcosm of Singapore, offering authentic opportunities to connect students to national aspirations such as the City in Nature vision, OneMillionTrees movement, and 30 by 30 goal.

During the visit, MOS also planted a native Syzygium zeylanicum with our Eco Club students, who also planted a Bamboo Orchid alongside — adding to our ongoing efforts to strengthen ecological connectivity between the Rainforest and Wetland in our school.

The highlight of the visit was the dialogue between MOS and our students from STEM Elective and Eco Club on the complex tensions between development and conservation.

“Where should Singapore draw the line between development and conservation? What alternatives have been considered before natural areas are developed?”

Drawing on recent debate over Maju Forest and Gillman Barracks, as well as the proposed plans for the Western Island, students grappled with the reality that there are no easy answers when Singapore must balance housing, economic growth, infrastructure and energy security, with biodiversity and our commitment to a City in Nature.

They were encouraged to examine the trade-offs behind difficult national decisions — and to consider how youths can engage critically with complex issues on the future of Singapore.

A heartfelt thank you to MOS Alvin Tan for taking the time to engage our students, listen to their perspectives and respond thoughtfully to their hard questions.

And a special thank you to our New Media Club for capturing and covering the event.

Because being a School in Nature is not just about growing more greenery. It is about nurturing a generation of stewards who will take action for a better future.

02/09/2026

Congratulations to our Secondary 2 students from the Science Talent Development Programme, who proudly represented Commonwealth Secondary School at the A*STAR–Victoria Junior College Science Fair Sharing!

We celebrate another special milestone as our students received their certificates and medals from our Principal, Mr Jeremy Ang, in recognition of their achievements. 🏅

Here’s what our students had to say about their experience:

“The VJC Science Fair has brought me into a far deeper world of science that can use varying solutions to tackle current world problems, and I am very interested in diving deeper! It was a great learning experience that also pushed me to go further in my journey of science and also find ways to help better the world as an individual whenever possible.” - Casey

“The VJC Science Fair has been a very fulfilling experience for me as it allowed me to go further and dive into the researching world. This experience also taught me many ways on how to use science to help us in our everyday lives.” - Ryan

“The VJC Science Fair allowed me to come into contact with things I've never thought of. The teachers' support throughout our research was crucial, without them the research wouldn't be carried out so smoothly.” - Xiang Yu

A special congratulations to Felice Lu and Megan Low (2-Ohm), who were selected by the judges to present their project, Investigating the Effect of RB Parameters on the Growth of Spinach, during the symposium sharing session.

We also celebrate Ryan Tan, Gurshan Keshto and Cai Xiangyu (2-Ohm), who clinched the SILVER Award for their project, Investigating the Effect of Light Intensity on the Growth of Pea Shoots in Mirror and Non-Mirror Environments.

Well done also to Jarius Chua (2-Ohm), Casey Lee and Pang Yi Jie (2-Armstrong) for presenting their investigation, Investigating the Effect of Organic and Inorganic Fertilizers on the Growth of Red Round Radish Microgreens, and bravely facing the judges.

We are proud of you, young scientists!

01/09/2026

Yesterday, our alumni from the class of 2021 came back to share their NS experiences. From feeling hesitant about enlisting to fully embracing their two years of service, their stories inspired our students to approach NS with a positive mindset. We also learnt that everyone plays a part in national defence, from the men who serve to the families, employers, and community supporting them.

Thank you, Samuel, Zhong Ting, and Tong Li, for coming back to share with your juniors, and Danial for visiting! To all our alumni: wherever life takes you, we’d love to hear how you're doing. You are always welcome back to contribute and reconnect with the school!

01/09/2026

We are proud to celebrate the achievements of our students at the 8th National Secondary School Microfiction Writing Competition, jointly organised by the Singapore Foochow Association, Singapore Association of Writers, and the Committee to Promote Chinese Language Learning. Participants could submit a maximum of three microfiction pieces for the competition.

Chen Yuhan from class 3 Ohm showcased exceptional creativity and literary talent, winning: 🥇 Gold Award for 红气球 (Red Balloon) 🥈 Silver Award for 她的名字 (Her Name) 🥉 Bronze Award for 唇印 (Lip Print)

Cheng Minglang from class 3 Armstrong was awarded: 🏅 Excellence Award for 最后一粒种子 (The Last Seed)

Their achievements are a testament to the power of imagination, perseverance, and a love for language. Through their writing, they have demonstrated that our Mother Tongue Languages are not only a bridge to our cultural heritage, but also a powerful medium for creativity, self-expression, and meaningful communication.

27/08/2026

We made it to Top 9!!!

Visit our CWSS Open House on 14 Nov, Saturday, 0800-1400 hrs!!

Check out the facilities at these Singapore schools, from an 8-lane running track to a mock hotel, that'll make you wish you studied there.

26/08/2026

At the end of July, many of our Champions took the stage to share what they had learnt from the Learning Journeys specially organised for them in Semester 1.

During our Assembly sessions, our Champions shared their experiences from a wide range of exciting venues, including:
📍 Gardens by the Bay – Jerlyn (3M), Esther (3H)
📍 NUS Demo Lab – Cherishia (3C)
📍 Science Centre – Travis (3P), Rishon Kavin S/O Raja Mogan (3A), Aidan Shafee Teo Ren Jie (3H), Ezra Muhaimin Muhaimin Bin Ezal (3H)
📍 Pulau Ubin – Zhen Xuan (3P), Katie (3O)
📍 Chinatown & Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre (SCCC) – Valerie (2A), Yi Jie (2A), Yu Bo (2H)
📍 Kampong Lorong Buangkok – Ameer (3P), Muhamad Ihsan (3H)
📍 Casuarina Curry – Ananthana (3H), Mahesh Prthika (3M)
📍 Wholesnail – Zaqy (3A)
📍 Math Problem Solving Workshop @ Science Centre – Rishon Kavin S/O Raja Mogan (3A), Aidan Shafee Teo Ren Jie (3H), Ezra Muhaimin Muhaimin Bin Ezal (3H)
📍 Oceanarium – Thng Jia Xin (3A), Adryan Zulfiki (3H)
📍 The BFG at Esplanade – Anish Aarsha (3N), Lap Ying Xin (3C)

For many, speaking in front of an audience was no easy feat. There were butterflies, nervous smiles and shaky voices—but they embraced the challenge with courage and determination.

Through this experience, they grew into Confident Communicators, sharing their reflections with poise and authenticity when the moment called for it.

We are incredibly proud of every Champion for stepping out of their comfort zone and showing us that growth happens when we dare to try.

26/08/2026

At Commonwealth Secondary School, our Book Club is more than just reading books—it is a community of readers who inspire one another through a shared love of stories.

This year has been filled with exciting opportunities for our members. During the March holidays, students gathered for an in-person Book Club session where they discussed their favourite reads, shared recommendations and connected with fellow book lovers. (Photos 1-2)

As part of our efforts to refresh our library collection, Book Club members also helped with the decommissioning of old library books, giving many pre-loved books a second life through a book giveaway for the school community. Photos 3-5 feature some of the Book Club students (Zachary, Cherishia, Hemanya) who helped with the process and brought home a few choice books!

During the June holidays, our Book Club Executive Committee embarked on a learning journey to Kinokuniya, where they explored new releases and curated book recommendations that may one day find a place on our school library shelves. This gave students a meaningful opportunity to take ownership of our reading culture while discovering diverse voices and genres. (Photos 6-9)

The conversations didn't stop there! Throughout the year, our members kept the excitement alive through our online Book Club community, where they regularly shared their current reads, conducted book-related contests, exchanged book recommendations and even passed books to one another—proving that a great story is always better when shared. (Photos 10-12, featuring posters made by Gowri, You Zhen, Kayla and Hemanya)

Here's to another year of discovering new worlds, meaningful conversations and building a vibrant community of readers. Happy reading!

21/08/2026

We were delighted to welcome Dr Zach Pang, our mentor for the MOE Scientist-in-School Programme, to Commonwealth Secondary School!

Dr Pang has been partnering with CWSS since 2022, inspiring our STEM Elective students through his work in science, biotechnology and innovation.

As a Group Leader at Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) Bioprocessing Technology Institute (BTI), Dr Pang leads research in the digitalisation of biomanufacturing, using mathematical modelling, data and computational approaches to make bioprocess development faster, smarter and more efficient. He is also a Senior Scientist at ASTAR’s Bioinformatics Institute and holds adjunct appointments at NUS and NTU.

Beyond his research, Dr Pang is also the co-founder and Chief Scientific Advisor of AuctuCel, a Singapore-based biotech company applying AI and computational tools to advance cell culture media development.

What makes Dr Pang’s journey particularly inspiring is how he brings together science, technology, entrepreneurship and education.

Through the Scientist-in-School Programme, our students gain valuable insights into how scientific knowledge can be translated into real-world innovation and impact.

We are grateful for Dr Pang’s continued partnership with CWSS and his commitment to inspiring the next generation of scientists, innovators and problem-solvers!

19/08/2026

We are proud to celebrate the outstanding achievements of our Commonwealth Champions across a wide range of Chinese language competitions, showcasing their creativity, confidence, teamwork and dedication.

🎬 National Chinese Short Film Competition 2026
🏅 Keegan Ng Yan Xiang (4 Armstrong) — Best Poster Design Award
The team also included Tai Cen Qian Adelle (3 Curie), Chen Yuhan (3 Ohm), Alyssa Reia Tang Yi Xin (3 Hawking), Hu Xiaoyue (3 Polo), Keegan Ng Yan Xiang (4 Armstrong) and Lee En Xu Aaron (3 Ohm).

📻 “Script It Right” Chinese Radio Drama Script Writing Competition
🏅 Chen Yuhan (3 Ohm), Tai Cen Qian Adelle (3 Curie) & Yeo Zi Yi (3 Curie) — Merit Award
🏅 Tay Yu Tong (2 Curie), Felice Lu Yu Han (2 Ohm), Pua Jin Hao (2 Polo), Wang Qing Hong (2 Polo) & Yew Rui Neng Ranen (2 Nightingale) — Nomination Award

🎙️ National Text Recital Competition
🥇 Jadon Tan Pin Yuan (3 Nightingale) — Gold Award

🗣️ National Secondary School Chinese Debate Competition
Our debate team successfully advanced to the second round, with Chen Yu Han, Lee En Xu Aaron, Lu Enjia and Katie Lim Min Xuan (all 3 Ohm), Chua George (3 Polo) and Xia Zihan (4 Polo) representing Commonwealth.
🏅 Xia Zihan — Best Debater Award

A huge congratulations to all our award recipients and participants! Your hard work, determination and passion for the Chinese language are a wonderful reflection of the CWSS spirit. 🌟

Through these experiences, our students have grown as Confident Learners, expressing themselves with courage and embracing every opportunity to learn, and as Imaginative Trailblazers, bringing creativity, originality and fresh ideas to their work.

18/08/2026

In collaboration with the Land Transport Authority (LTA) and Nishimatsu-Okumura Joint Venture, our Lower Secondary students had the exciting opportunity to learn more about the Cross Island Line (CRL), the LTA CR210 Project and the incredible Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs) that will help build Singapore’s underground MRT network.

After learning about how TBMs work and the important role they play in constructing the tunnels, our students got to put their knowledge into action by participating in the naming of two TBMs!

But why name a TBM?
Each TBM is given a name to create a unique identity, make communication and teamwork easier, and build a sense of excitement and connection to the project. The names also pay tribute to remarkable women who have made meaningful contributions to Singaporean society. The names the students selected are:

Teresa Hsu Chih
A beloved humanitarian and philanthropist who devoted her life to serving the elderly, disadvantaged and vulnerable, inspiring generations through her compassion and selfless service.

Daisy Vaithilingam
A pioneering educator and advocate for women's advancement whose leadership helped expand educational opportunities and strengthen community development in Singapore.

A special congratulations to the 5 students who participated in the naming of the TBM and were selected as winners of a $20 school bookshop voucher each!

What an exciting way for our students to learn about the infrastructure shaping Singapore and to leave their own little mark on the Cross Island Line story!