Sec 1 Onboarding

SEC 1 REGISTRATION DAY & FIRST WEEK OF SCHOOL

1.         ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS ON SECONDARY ONE REGISTRATION

Compulsory Registration

Please refer to the class lists available for your child/ward’s allocated class. You are to register your child/ward’s enrolment into the school on Monday, 23 December 2019, even if you have intention to transfer your child/ward out of the school.

2.         FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL (Thursday, 2 January 2020)

Reporting time:            7.30 am

Venue:                         School Hall

Attire:                            School uniform, with proper haircut

3.         SECONDARY ONE ORIENTATION PROGRAMME AND CAMPFIRE NIGHT

All secondary one students need to attend the “Secondary One Orientation Programme” as part of the school’s efforts to help them make a smooth and pleasant transition from their primary to secondary school. The Orientation Programme will be from Thursday, 2 January 2020 to Wednesday, 8 January 2020 (excluding Saturday and Sunday).

As part of the Orientation Programme, your son will take part in the Secondary One Campfire Night and an overnight stay in school on Tuesday, 7 January 2020.

Parents are strongly encouraged to give their consent for their child/ward to participate in the Sec 1 Orientation Programme by logging on to https://tinyurl.com/y9a2aryw or scan the QR code below.

Please complete the Reply form online by Monday, 23 December 2019.

4.         SECONDARY ONE INVESTITURE & MEET-AND-GREET

You are cordially invited to attend the Secondary One Investiture and Meet-and-Greet with Class Mentors:

Date                  : Friday, 10 January 2020

Time                  : 5.00pm to 7.00pm

Venue              : School Hall

5.         SALE OF TEXTBOOKS, STATIONERY & ALTERNATIVE UNIFORM

Textbooks, stationery and alternative uniform (ironed on with name tag) can be purchased from the school bookshop during the dates of sale indicated below.

6.         SALE OF PE ATTIRE, SCHOOL UNIFORM, APRON, SCHOOL SOCKS & SHOES

PE attire, school uniform, name tag, apron, school socks and shoes can be purchased from the school:

Alternatively, you may also purchase them directly from our uniform supplier, Shirley Season Wear.

In addition, the school uniform, name tag, PE attire and apron would be made available at school bookshop, starting from 15 January of each academic year during the school terms.        

7.         SCHOOL UNIFORM

All students need to wear the school tie every Monday. The tie will be issued to the students during the Secondary One Investiture on Friday, 10 January 2020.

Students are to be in full school uniform from Monday to Wednesday, and they may choose to wear the alternative uniform on Thursday and Friday.

8.         NAME TAGS

Students need to fill up the Name Tag Order Form and return the completed form to the uniform supplier during the purchase of school uniform. Six name tags cost $5.10 (inclusive of GST). They have to be sewn approximately 2 cm above the pocket on the white shirt.

9.         CURRICULUM AND SCHOOL HOURS

The school operates on a five-day work week. Your son’s timetable will be available on the first day of school.

School starts at 7.40 am. Students are advised to be in school by 7.30 am, 10 minutes before school start time. School dismissal time varies according to their time table. Dismissal time for Friday is at 12.40 pm.

The school will also operate on Saturdays for the conduct of some CCAs and important school functions. 

10.      ABSENCE FROM SCHOOL

Should your child/ward fall ill and is unable to come to school, please inform his Class Mentor or call the General Office (Tel: 6510 7070). This will help us in monitoring our students’ attendance. Kindly submit a medical certificate (MC) to the Class Mentor upon his return to school.

11.      SCHOOL SMART CARD (SSC)

Student would be issued with a new Secondary School Smart Card (SSC) through their Class Mentors in March 2020. While waiting for the Secondary SSC, students can continue to use their Primary SSC for concessionary travel till end April 2020.  

12.      COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN SCHOOL AND PARENTS/GUARDIANS

Important school information and announcement will also be put up on the school website (http://www.montfortsec.moe.edu.sg/). If there are necessary and urgent updates, the school administration will communicate with parents / guardians via Parents Gateway.

Please download and install MOE Parents Gateway app from App Store or Google Play onto your mobile smartphone.  This will be the primary platform for communication with parents and guardians.

13.      INSURANCE

All students are covered under the Group Personal Accident (GPA) Insurance plan.

Secondary One Orientation Programme 2020

1.         We would like to extend a warm welcome to your son / ward as he begins his next phase of education in our school.  To ensure that your son / ward experiences a smooth transition from primary to secondary school life, the teachers and student leaders have organised a series of activities to induct him into the Montfortian family through the “Secondary One Orientation Programme”.

2.         The induction activities serve to familiarise your son / ward with the school’s physical as well as psycho-social environment, which are critical in helping him make the necessary adjustments quickly and increase his chances of excellent performance in school. The programme also serves as a platform for your son / ward to interact with his teachers and peers so that they get to know one another better.

3.         The details of the Secondary One Orientation Programme are as follows:

4.         As part of the Secondary One Orientation Programme objective is to provide teambuilding opportunities, the school has organized the Dragon Boat Experience on 6 January 2020 (Monday) at Kallang Water Sports Centre. The cost of the activity is $18.00.

5.         There will be an overnight stay in school on 7 January 2020 (Tuesday).

6.         We would like to invite parents and guardians to attend the Secondary One Investiture and Meet-and-Greet with Class Mentors, an event to formally welcome your son / ward into the Montfortian family. The details of the investiture are as follows:

7.         Please feel free to contact the following personnel should you have any queries with regard to the Orientation Programme or the Secondary One Investiture:

8.         We look forward to establishing a long-term partnership with you to co-develop your son / ward to be a Man for Others at Montfort Secondary School.

Overview of Secondary One Orientation Programme

*Formal lessons will start from 9 January 2020 (Thursday) onwards.

*CCA Open House will start at 2.30 pm on 10 January 2020 (Friday).

PART 2.  IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR PARENTS/ GUARDIANS

 1.         BUS SERVICES / ALTERNATIVE ROUTES TO SCHOOL GATE

Bus Services: 74, 88, 101, 147, 161

Nearest MRT Station: Hougang (NEL)

In view of the safety of our students in the school premises, we urge parents and guardians to drive into the school and drop the child/ward directly at the school gate.

School Gate Opening and Closing Hours

All parents, relatives and domestic helpers should wait for students at the security counter to fetch their child/ward home at dismissal time. They should not go to the classrooms directly.

 The opening hours of the school gate are:

2.         REPORT BOOKS

The secondary school report book is a reference for your child/ward’s academic performance. It can be purchased at the school bookshop and is to be handed in to the Class Mentor on the first day of school.

3.      COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN SCHOOL AND PARENTS/GUARDIANS

Important school information and announcement will also be put up on the school website (http://www.montfortsec.moe.edu.sg/). If there are necessary and urgent updates, the school administration will send out mass SMSes to parents/guardians.                 

Please download and install MOE Parents Gateway app from App Store or Google Play onto your mobile smartphone.  This will be the primary platform for communication with parents and guardians.  

School letters would be issued if there is a need to explain the rationale for main school activities or policies. However, when information is simple and direct, students are expected to keep parents informed.

Parent-Teacher Meeting (PTM) Sessions will also be held to provide feedback on the development and progress of your child/ward.

To verify if your child/ward has attended the remedial lesson or CCA, you can contact either the teacher-in-charge or request for the teacher to sign or write some remarks in your child/ward’s Praise and Grace Journal.

4.      PRAISE & GRACE JOURNAL

The Praise & Grace Journal is a reference for school routines and procedures. It is also used as a study journal for your child/ward and a communication tool between parents and teacher.

5.      PHOTOGRAPHS

The school will arrange for photographs of all Secondary One student to be taken. Photographs are required for the Report Book, Student Particulars Form, Student Profiling, Class Committee Chart and Class Seating Arrangement.

6.      STUDENT WELFARE 

The school provides school counselling, financial assistance, medical screening and dental treatment services. Please approach your Class Mentor if you would like us to help. Alternatively, you can also contact our school counsellor directly for counselling matters.

7.      SCHOOL FEES & MISCELLANEOUS FEES (GIRO STANDING FORM)

Payment of school fees can be made at AXS kiosks, Internet (www.axs.com.sg) or the General Office before morning assembly, during recess or after school.  Please complete a GIRO standing form (available from General Office) for the deduction of the school and miscellaneous fees if your child/ward is not on the GIRO scheme in the primary school.

8.      MOTHER TONGUE LANGUAGES

Students who are exempted from Mother Tongue need not re-apply for exemption. However, a copy of the official letter of exemption from MOE needs to be submitted to the Class Mentor latest by the first week of school.

Students taking French, German or Japanese as Mother Tongue in primary schools would have to re-apply to continue taking the foreign language in MOE Language Centre. A copy of the language school registration form can be obtained from the HOD/Mother Tongue Languages.

Secondary One Express students who are interested to take up Higher Chinese will sit for a qualifying test in January 2020. More information would be provided by the Mother Tongue teachers when school starts.

PART 3.  FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR NEEDY SINGAPOREAN STUDENTS

 1.         MOE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE SCHEME (FAS):

 This scheme aims to help needy families reduce their burden in meeting essential school expenses and to ensure that no child will be denied an education due to a lack of financial support. Please proceed to the General Office if there are enquiries.

2.         SCHOOL / COMMUNITY-BASED FAS:

Montfort Secondary School takes the approach that “no student will be denied an education because of financial constraints”.

Students who need additional financial assistance or who do not meet the income limits for MOE FAS but require financial assistance can continue to seek school-based or community-based assistance such as funds from the School Management Committee.

The school will also help to refer them to external charitable agencies or Community Development Councils for assistance.

Financial assistance forms can be obtained from the General Office and will have to be submitted by the second week of January 2020.

 PART 4.     SCHOOL DISCIPLINE

For further details on School Discipline, please kindly refer to the Praise & Grace Journal.

READY FOR SCHOOL

1.         Attendance & Punctuality

 Attendance and punctuality at daily flag-raising ceremony is a basic expectation. Students who are not present at the flag-raising ceremony by 7.40 am will be considered as late or absent.

 2.         Absenteeism and Truancy

 Absence from school, CCA and enrichment/ remedial programme and school event with excuse shall include personal illness, death in the immediate family, emergencies at home, or where permission has been granted by the school authorities, or medical officer.

For illness, parents/guardians are to inform Class Mentors on the day of school absence. Students need to submit medical certificates (MCs) to Class Mentors on the day of reporting back to school. Please state parents’/guardian’s telephone number at the back of the MC for verification purposes if necessary.

Truancy from any school, class or CCA activity is a serious disciplinary matter. 

3.         School Uniform and Personal Grooming

The school will conduct routine checks on uniform and grooming (i.e. hairstyles, nails and uniform). All students are expected to conform to school regulations on uniform and grooming standards, and no modifications to the uniform is allowed. (See below for acceptable hairstyle & uniform)

Hairstyle and Finger Nails

(a)      Hair should be short, neat, tidy and properly combed to present a smart appearance.
(b)      No outlandish and unkempt hairstyles. (No layering, inner-cut, perm, dyed, highlighted or tinted hair)
(c)      Face is to be clean-shaven with no moustache or beard.
(d)      Finger nails must be kept short and clean.

Appearance

(a)      All students are to maintain a general appearance of neatness and positive image at all times. 
(b)      Students should not use tinted lenses (contact lenses or glasses). 
(c)      Students should not wear jewellery, talisman or any form of adornment/accessories (bracelets, rings, necklaces, chains, friendship bands, wristbands, studs, ear-rings/straws/sticks or personal accessories).
(d)      Tattoos are strictly not allowed.

4.            Prayer time & Angelus

(a)   Stop all movement along the corridors and in class (including reading of newspapers, distributing books or writing).
(b)   Observe respectful silence at prayer time and angelus.