Dawn of a New Chapter — C1 POP Night 2025

Written by: Soh Yu Tong (25S79)

Edited by; Leah Tan Rui En (24S7E), Huang Hainuo Iris (24S6Q)

As the sun dipped below the horizon, a palpable excitement filled the air, and the campus came alive with energy. Music thumped through the Inner Plaza, where the C1s of each faculty—draped in their vibrant red, blue, green, or yellow shirts—gathered for their final dance block practice.

Meanwhile, the hallways of Blocks A and E were packed with eager parents, who had arrived for Parents' Day earlier and now stood shoulder to shoulder to catch a glimpse of the performance. This was the scene on 19 February 2025—the much-awaited day of this year’s Post-Orientation Party (POP), where months of practice and anticipation culminated in a dazzling showcase of talent and school spirit.

One by one, the Faculties - Ares, Artemis, Apollo, and Athena, made their grand entrance into the Inner Plaza, each accompanied by its own background music and their Faculty flags. Each class proudly carried its self-designed class flags as a symbol of their teamwork and unity, as they fluttered in the cool night wind. After every Faculty was seated, the results of all the orientation competitions were announced, from the war games and spectator games a few days prior, to the amazing race just the day before, with cheers erupting from each Faculty as they were declared. 

Athena kicking us off with a bang!

Look at Artemis’s swag 😎

Ares giving aura

Ending off with Sunny Apollo

Finally, it was time for the faculties to showcase their dancing skills. Athena started the performances off with a bang, with their dance being dynamic and fast-paced, intricate footwork and seamless formations. Then, it was Artemis’ turn to take the dance floor, as they exuded a bold and effortlessly cool aura with sleek and confident choreography. This was followed by Ares, whose sharp movements and powerful formations reflected their Faculty’s fierce spirit. The dance performances ended with the brightest sunshine, as Apollo put on an energetic show, their confident and charismatic routine fit for the finale. 

To end off the festivities, all of the Faculties got together for one last SODACHE session during orientation. From linking shoulders while swaying and jumping to the iconic beloved songs that reflected the vibrancy of our school spirit - 当你孤单你会想起谁 and 钟声依旧, dancing their hearts out for [Beechwood] and [I Got My Mind Set On You], to ending off the night with a unified cheer of Rock You. The C1s truly embodied our “4 Facs 1 Hwach” spirit. 

As the music faded and cheers died down, it was clear that POP was beyond just a celebration, but also a testament to the unity, spirit and energy that defined the C1 Orientation experience - the beginning of an unforgettable journey in Hwa Chong, filled with laughter and fond memories.