At Hwa Chong, Sabbatical Week gives students opportunities not only to explore new interests, but also to take the lead in sharing their passions with others. Through student-led programmes, students learn to plan, teach, adapt and work as a team while creating meaningful experiences for their peers. In this reflection, Yih Jieh shares how he and his fellow International Chess Club members, Liew Tze Hsien (4i1), Yeap Jun Wei Ethan (3O3) and Joash Chan Jing Fong (3O3), organis

At Hwa Chong, Sabbatical Week gives students opportunities to learn beyond the classroom through experiences that broaden their perspectives and nurture personal growth. The 心想狮城 sabbatical invited students to rediscover Singapore through visits to different local places of interest, while reflecting on well-being, friendship, and their connection to the country they call home. Written by: Aaden Ng Cheng Xun (4i3, 2026) One of the biggest takeaways from this sabbatical was

At Hwa Chong, Sabbatical Week gives students the opportunity to explore interests beyond the regular curriculum, including creative fields they may not have tried before. The Junior Mangaka sabbatical introduced students to the fundamentals of manga drawing, from character features and proportions to expressions, body structure and panel storytelling. In this reflection, Nathaniel shares how an unexpected sabbatical choice became a meaningful experience in creativity, confide

At Hwa Chong, Sabbatical Week gives students the chance not only to explore new interests, but also to take ownership of learning by designing and running programmes for their peers. In this reflection, Ethan shares how organising Apex 2 Apex, a student-led simulation racing sabbatical where participants experience motorsports through realistic racing simulators, taught him and his team valuable lessons in planning, adaptability, teamwork and leadership. Written by: Ethan Le

At Hwa Chong, Sabbatical Week gives students opportunities to pursue learning in ways that go beyond regular classroom lessons. For Humanities Programme students, the annual Page-to-Stage Drama Sabbatical offers a chance to experience literature not only as text to be studied, but also as performance to be interpreted, shaped and brought to life. In this reflection, Ayden shares how the sabbatical deepened his appreciation of theatre, literature and the human stories that con

At Hwa Chong, Sabbatical Week gives students opportunities to learn practical skills beyond the regular curriculum, while also allowing some students to take on leadership roles as student trainers. In this reflection, Wu Yulin shares how serving as a student trainer for the Financial Literacy Sabbatical deepened his own understanding of money management while teaching him how to adapt, engage others, and lead with patience. Written by: Wu Yulin (4A2, 2026) During my time as

At Hwa Chong, Sabbatical Week gives students the chance to step into unfamiliar experiences and discover new interests beyond the classroom. Some programmes also offer students a deeper appreciation of cultural traditions by allowing them to learn through practice, performance and teamwork. In this reflection, Matthias shares how the Lion Dance Sabbatical changed his initial scepticism into appreciation, as he learnt about the history, skills and coordination behind lion and

At Hwa Chong, Sabbatical Week encourages students to encounter learning in new and meaningful settings. The AMUSE sabbatical brought students into museum spaces, where they explored how artefacts and exhibitions can make national stories more vivid and personal. In this reflection, Hanwen shares how the experience changed the way he viewed museums and helped him better understand the responsibility that comes with learning in such spaces. Written by: Zhang Hanwen (3P2, 2026)

At Hwa Chong, Sabbatical Week gives students the opportunity to explore learning beyond the regular classroom, including programmes that nurture both curiosity and well-being. The Wild/Well-Being sabbatical invited students to discover how nature, play, reflection and shared experiences can support mental and emotional wellness. Through visits to green spaces, team challenges, mindfulness activities and creative projects, students learnt that well-being is not found in one pl

At Hwa Chong, Sabbatical Week gives students the chance to explore new interests and step into experiences they may not have chosen at first. In this reflection, Jiye shares how the Fencing Sabbatical turned an unexpected second choice into an engaging week of technical learning, friendly competition, and new appreciation for the sport. Written by: Zhao Jiye (3P3, 2026) For the Term 2 Sabbaticals, I was assigned to fencing even though it had been my second choice. At first, I

At Hwa Chong, Sabbatical Week also provides opportunities for students to take ownership of learning by designing and leading programmes for their peers. In this reflection, Yuzhong shares how organising the cybersecurity sabbatical “0xdeadbeef” deepened his technical knowledge, challenged him as a trainer, and allowed him to give back to the school community through a subject he is passionate about. Written by: Fu Yuzhong (4A3, 2026) From 18 to 22 May, I was given the opport

At Hwa Chong, Sabbatical Week gives students the chance to explore learning beyond the usual classroom setting, often in unexpected and memorable ways. Through hands-on programmes across diverse areas, students discover new interests, develop confidence, and sometimes even reconnect with talents they had set aside. In this reflection, Tyler shares how the Body Percussion Sabbatical turned from an uncertain start into an unforgettable experience of rhythm, friendship, and redi

Written by: Tan Kai Wen Declan (4A2, 2026) Sabbatical Week is one of the defining features of the Hwa Chong experience. Held twice a year, it gives students the opportunity to step away from the usual hectic and stressful academic routine and immerse ourselves in enriching experiences. From exploring unfamiliar topics to making new friends, this week encourages us to step out of our comfort zones and fully embrace learning. This time, I had the privilege of attending the Game

At Hwa Chong, Sabbatical Week offers students the opportunity to step beyond their regular timetable and explore a wide range of interest-based programmes. From sports and the arts to technology, culture and service learning, these programmes allow students to discover new passions, develop practical skills, and learn beyond the classroom. In this reflection, Joon Hao shares how the Pickleball Sabbatical helped him grow not only as a player, but also as a teammate. Written by

Written by: Zeng Yuhang Eugene (4O3, 2026) At Hwa Chong, Sabbatical Weeks in Terms 1 and 2 offer a welcome shift from the usual pace of school life, providing students with platforms to immerse themselves in hands-on, interest-driven experiences both in and beyond campus. This year, I was honoured to initiate the Project Collar: Fun with Pets! Sabbatical course, alongside four other core team members of Project Collar 8.0. The course was conducted during the Term 2 Sabbatical

The Orator’s Edge sabbatical gave students the opportunity to explore the art of public speaking through speeches, quick-thinking activities, presentation practice, and reflection. In this article, Lincoln and Shane share how the course helped them rethink what it means to speak with confidence, authenticity, and connection. Speaking is About Connection Written by: Lincoln Ang Yuk Kai (3O2, 2026) Many people think public speaking is just about standing straight, using a loud

孙梓航 (中一聚英一班 1i1, 2026) 在参加这五天的空手道训练营之前，我其实非常担心。因为是第一次接触空手道，我害怕训练会很辛苦，也担心教练会十分严厉。没想到，五天下来，我才发现自己完全想多了。这个训练营不但一点也不枯燥，反而让我觉得既有趣、又放松，还特别酷！ 首先，训练过程真的非常有趣，一点也不无聊。我们的教练十分亲切，就像邻家大哥哥一样，总是笑容满面，很容易相处。他不会一开始就要求我们完成高难度动作，而是把训练设计成各种好玩的小游戏，让我们在轻松的气氛中学习。 其中有一次，教练让我们两人一组，进行类似猜拳的反应训练。一个人负责进攻，另一个人负责防守。防守的人必须集中精神，判断对方什么时候会突然出拳；一旦对方出手，就要立刻挡下攻击，并迅速反击。大家常常因为判断失误，或者动作慢了半拍，而变得手忙脚乱。看到彼此慌张又滑稽的样子，全场顿时笑成一片，气氛特别欢乐。每天的训练都在笑声中结束，让人觉得时间过得飞快，不知不觉就到了放学时间。 最让我开心的是，这个训练营真的让我彻底放松了下来。刚升上中一时，我还不太适应新的学习环境，再加上各种测验和功课

Written by: Jairus Ong Qi Le (2A1, 2026) This year, I joined the 棋海迷踪：中国象棋（晋级）拓展课程 (Chinese Chess) sabbatical. In this sabbatical, we first learnt the movements of each chess piece before progressing to more challenging concepts such as opening moves and mid-game tactics. In the final few days, we were also introduced to checkmate strategies, using different pieces to trap the other player’s “king” piece. In addition, we learnt new gameplay methods, such as “uncovering chess”

Written by: Han Peng (1P3, 2026) I was uncertain whether I had made the right choice. Tap! Nothing could be changed now. I had already clicked the submit button and locked Handball in as my first choice. In the days leading up to the release of our sabbatical results, I was excited to find out what I would get. I was hoping for Handball. It was by far one of my favourite sports to play during P.E., along with Basketball. I loved its competitiveness and fast-paced nature, some