17 Oct 2007 - Navel Gazing

Mr Simen spoke about navel gazing and looking back to the year. Navel gazing means introspection, self-absorption, or concentration on a single issue. It means trying to understand, to take stock so that you would be able to plan forward.

He shared with the school his insights on the School Workplan Seminar 2007 held on 2 October and highlighted the new Normal Academic streaming initiatives

2. New Normal Academic Streaming from 2009

Mr Simen told the boys that currently about 80 percent from 4N go on to Sec 5N but a small number make it to polytechnic, even fewer to Junior College.

The current 4N level criteria is pass English Language and 2 other subjects, and to get a less than 10 point average for the 3 subjects.

Yet, the criteria to enter polytechnic is English Language and your best four subjects (with Mathematics as one of the subjects with a less than 21 point average for a popular course; the criteria to enter junior is English Language and best five subjects with a less than 20 point average. This made further refinement necessary.


The new criteria from 2009 is:

a. Must pass English
b. Must pass Maths
c. EL-Maths-Best 3 ≤ 19 (EL-Maths-Best 3 subjects at the ‘N’ level examinations)


Opportunities have been opening up for the 4N students - Last year, 4N students who did well were offered the option of skipping the N level exams and going to 5N without sitting for the N level exams. ITE students are also given opportunities to go to the Polytechnics if they do well.

The current refinements are part of opening up more opportunities for N level students and getting them more prepared for the O levels.

Under the new criteira, students who do well enough in their ‘N’ levels to meet the revised criteria for progression to Sec 5N (EL-Maths-B3 ≤ 19) will also be given the additional option of enrolling in a new curriculum track comprising direct entry into ITE. These courses are called Higher Nitec courses at the ITE. (Usually, only those who enter ITE after their O levels are allowed to take Higher Nitec courses). With this option, the students can start their Higher Nitec studies a year earlier, compared to the current situation where N(A) students have to sit for their ‘O’ level examinations first before being eligible for Higher Nitec courses

Mr Simen added that the bar has not been raised much. Under the old 10 point system, students had to score an aggregate of 3.3 for their subjects (10/3). Under the new system, students have to score an aggregate of 3.8 for their subjects (19/5). It would ensure that they are better prepared for the 5N level exams with a more firm foundations for all their core subjects. It would ensure that they do not struggle at O level exams.

He encouraged N level students to use the new standards as a yardstick to measure their grades -

English Language (to pass) + Mathematics (to pass) + Combined Humanities + Science + One more subject

"Readiness", he said, "is everything"

3. Prayer

Because the examinations were approaching, Mr Simen prayed over the boys and said the following prayer:

"O Jesus, Who has said, "Ask and you shall receive, seek and you shall find, knock and it shall be opened unto you," through the intercession of Mary, thy most holy Mother, I seek, I knock, I ask that my prayer be granted.

O Jesus, Who has said, "All that you ask of the Father in My Name, He will grant you," through the intercession of Mary, thy most holy Mother, I humbly and urgently ask Thy Father in Thy Name that my prayer will be granted.

O Jesus, Who said, "Heaven and earth shall pass away but My word shall not pass," through the intercession of Mary, thy most holy Mother, I feel confident that my prayer will be granted.

Oct 25 - Last Day of School / Apollo XIII

Review of the Year

Mr Simen reviewed the year and spoke about how every great movie has an 'a-ha' or a 'eureka' moment. It is the great message every book which gives you a kick. He drew analogy from the old movie he likes to re-watch 'Apollo 13'. He spoke about how the movie was about astronauts stranded in space with a rocket malfunction. There was no way to bring them back. The astronauts had to use paper, hose, plastic bags, tapes and all kinds of other materials to innovate on the spot to bring the carbon dioxide down and build sufficient power to send the astronauts back to earth. Failure was not an option.

Mr Simen reminded that the whole year was about going beyond expectations. It was the main theme of the year - "To Awaken the Giants Within" and "To Believe". Like Apollo XII, the focus is to go beyond normal expectations and to forget about streaming and what others expect you to do. Focus not on what you were originally designed to do,focus on what you can do, go beyond expectations and to do it well.

The school has done very well with its programs and it has been very enjoyable for him. We had the niche in badminton, sustained achievement in uniformed groups for the upteenth time, sustained achievement in sports, value-added results, montfortian foundation programs and most importantly, the character development award.

Failure and setbacks

Mr Simen told Montfortians that there are two words commonly used to describe those who do not succeed - 'Failure' and Setbacks'. Of the two, 'failure' is more commonly used. He told the boys that the term 'setback' was not used enough.

Setbacks build character because something is done about it and it adds to the drive to succeed. People who suffer setbacks continue to believe unlike those who consider themselves failures.

After thanking the boys and students for the wonderful year, Mr Simen ended his address with his familiar phrase but with a new twist, "I wish you many setbacks. Awaken the potential as giants. Have a great holiday and I love you all very much."

22 Sept 2007 - The Great Gabrielite Foundation Donation Drive

Mr Deeds: All Sec Three students were involved in the Gabrielite Foundation Flag Day to raise funds for the Gabrielite Foundation. There were told that the Gabrielite Foundation was set up to see to the running of the school. It also provided funds for the poor students of the Gabrielite school. And the Gabrielite Foundation NEEDED THEM!

Mr Wu Tian Hwee briefed the boys in the run-up and provided them with the key information and rationale for the donation drive:

a. Between 10 to 15 percent are on Financial Assistance and the school finds its own means to provide pocket money for food during recess and lunch for the financially underprivileged, free uniform and textbooks, courses. This needed funds. In the previous year, between $70,000 and $75,000 were used from the Gabrielite Foundation to see to their needs.

b. In addition to the mission of charity, Montfort School has to raise 5% of its own funds for the running of the school. These do not include non-standard items like the air-conditioning of the classrooms and school hall and other important programs.

c. The extra features like new badminton hall, PRIME, lease of the land also needed funds which amounted to millions.

Students were encouraged to be Mr Deeds at the flag day. Do as many good deeds as you can on that day. Help the elderly, assist the handicapped, smile and brighten up their morning, greet others courteously, make their day. Bow and be as polite as you can. Mr Lloyd Yeo added, "Make them feel guilty and feel bad about how nice you are to them".

Bible Passage: Jesus disciples were sent out by Jesus with the following instructions, "Do not go to any Gentile territory or any Samaritan towns. Instead, you are to go to those lost sheep...Go and preach, "The Kingdom of heaven is near! Heal the sick, bring the dead back to life, heal those who suffer from dreaded skin-diseases and drive out demons. You have received without paying, so give without being paid. Do not carry any gold, siler, or copper money in your pockets; do not carry a beggar's bag for the journey or an extra shirt or shoes or a stick. A worker is given what he needs.

When you come to a town or village, go in and look for someone who is willing to welcome you.....say, 'Peace be with you'. If the people...welcome you, let your greeting of peace remain; but if they do not welcome you, then take back your greeting....And if some home or town will not welcome you or listen to you, then leave that place and shake the dust off your feet." (Matthew: 10:5-14)

About the Gabrielite Mission: THE BROTHERS OF ST. GABRIEL played an active role in shaping Singapore education. The first Brothers came from Thailand in 1937 at the request of Bishop Devas of Singapore- Melaka.

Brothers Louis Gonzaga, Gerard Majella and Francis Tessier took responsibility for Holy Innocents’ English School at Hougang, now known as Montfort School.

The bishop gave land to the Brothers in 1938 but they scarcely had time to settle down when World War II broke out and the Japanese Occupation began. All Canadian Brothers were treated as prisoners of war while Brothers of other nationalities were sent to camps at Bahau, Malaya (West Malaysia today).

It was in the bleakness of Changi prison that Gabrielite Brother Vincent shared his vision of a boys’ home with a fellow prisoner, Australian philanthropist William T. McDermott.

Boys’ Town was born in January 1948 from that sharedexperience. The war was over and the island was in terrible conditions; Boys’ Town offered home and hope for boys who were orphaned, displaced by the war, from poor families, troubled and neglected.

Over the years, the Brothers established and ran seven schools – Montfort Primary and Secondary, St. Gabriel’s Primary and Secondary, Assumption English Secondary, Assumption Vocational Institute and Boys’ Town.“I CAME, I saw and I fell in love with Singapore,” Brother Emmanuel chuckled. During these 52 years the lovable Gabrielite Brother has touched countless lives at Holy Innocent’s English School, St. Gabriel’s and Boys’ Town and through the many Catholic ministries he has been involved in.

“We specialize in giving education and formation to all those who present themselves to us,” he said, to explain the Gabrielite mission. “We don’t aspire to be the top but to reach out to all, especially the rejected ones. We also specialize in training children who have no special attraction to education by providing them basic technical education,” he said.

Despite this philosophy or because of it “we have produced a good number of leaders and Catholics [including] the Archbishop of Singapore, priests, ministers in government who speak very well of the kind of education they received from the Brothers who taught them,” he said.

The kind Gabrielite Brother is unlike most people as he is convinced that there is no such thing as bad boys. And he is saddened that there is still a misconception among some people that students at Boys’ Town are delinquents. “If there are bad boys, it’s only because we have not done the right thing to them,” he said quietly. He looks forward to continuing his mission of “bringing something good into the lives of these boys”.

“As long as God gives you health, I don’t think there’s a place for retirement. That’s why I asked God, ‘Give me health and I will serve you and I will never turn down anyone who needs me to speak,’” Brother Emmanuel said. Then he laughed as he recalled his realization of his “mistake” because now he is unable to turn down anyone who approaches him to hold talks at parishes or schools. But “when you think you have done enough, that’s when you need to begin your ministry,” he continued. “That’s when God needs you. Jesus never resigned. If you resign, then the people whom God planned to send to you will never see you.”


Pictures and note on brothers - http://www.catholic.org.sg/cn/wordpress/?p=605&page=2
and http://www.montfortcentre.org/BrotherOfStGabriel.html

Examination Mass - 28 Sept 2007

Montfort School was honored to have an Old Boy of the school, Rev Father Joseph Tan, Parish Priest of Immaculate Heart Church (Picture above) say mass for our boys. He was an old boy of the school and graduated in 1963. The mass was meaningful and very well-attended. He told our boys to adopt the Gospel Message which called for Courage! He blessed our boys and told them to always do what is right and to work hard.

(Pictures from http://www.catholic.org.sg/IHM/)

The Fire Drill - 26 Sept 2007

The school simulated a fire drill today. The scenario was that a fire had broken out in the School Laboratory and there were several people who were hurt.

The students felt it was fun but for those with responsibilities, it was a scenario to test their reaction time and responsibility. A combing team made up of teachers scurried in search of students who were missing. First aid stations were set up to meet with potential casualties. Firefighting teams also sprang forward to meet with the fire hazard. Media teams and crowd control were set up to deal with potential crowds gathering at the gates of the school. Security guards also cordoned off certain areas.

It was an exercise well-conducted and everyone was congratulated on a job well-done.

The Sprinting Giant - 25 Sept 2007

The Great Race Begins - The Race begins. The 4N Level examinations begin. On the same day, the Sec 1 to 3 have their end of year examinations. The date is Oct 1,2007

Last week, on Wed, 25 Sept 2007, Mr Simen spoke about the history of the 100 meters sprint event beginning with the 1968 Mexico Olympics.

"The men's 100m world record is more than a benchmark. It holds a unique place in sport as its holder can claim not only to be the best at his discipline, but the fastest man on earth.", he said.

In the final in Mexico, Jim Hines took on the considerably clocked 9.95 for Olympic gold. American Calvin Smith finally ran faster than Hines in 1983, although his time of 9.93 was set at the Air Force Academy - 1800m above sea level. Four years later, Carl Lewis would match Smith's time in Rome, proving such performances were possible at sea level The 1988 Seoul Olympics saw Lewis run 9.92. Canadian winner Ben Johnson, ran a barely-conceivable 9.79 but was found to be using anabolic steroids, leading to his his world record and gold medal being stripped and awarded to Lewis.
For the next six years, a great rivalry between Lewis and Leroy Burrell emerged and they exchanged records for the duration. Burrell clocked 9.90 in 1991, only for Lewis to run 9.86 later the same year. That held until 1994 when Burrell shaved one one-hundredth of a second off Lewis' time. Then came Canadian Donovan Bailey, who ran 9.84 in 1996. Maurice Greene then broke Bailey's records with a 9.79 effort in Athens in July 1999.

What do they all have in common? They all had champion mindsets. Jamaican Asafa Powell was bronze medallist at the 2007 World Championships after bowing out to Tyson Gay. However, on 9 Sept 2007, Powell broke the world 100m record by clocking 9.74 secs at the IAAF Grand Prix in Rieti, Italy.

"That's what happens when I start to listen to the coach," said Powell, who later won the Rieti final in 9.78.

The examinations are here and Mr Simen told the boys to:

A. Respond.
B. Have Discipline and Focus
C. Perform

A ceremony was then conducted on 25 Sept 2007 for our graduating 4Ns and 4Es/5Ns. The boys were given a badge of a sprinting Giant. We hope the badge would inspire them to

"Awaken the Giant in them" and inspire them to become the "Sprinting Giant". Mr Simen told the boys, "We are behind you and support you in your endeavours. Remember that you are a Montfortian and respond like a Giant!"