15 Dec 2008 - Leadership Changes

1. Welcome Mr Andrew Tan to Montfort

As of 15 Dec, Mr Andrew Tan is the new Principal of Montfort Secondary School. We congratulate and welcome him to Monfort and we look forward to his leadership & wisdom.

2. Thank you Mr Simen

A farewell was conducted for Mr Simen by the School Executive Committee (SEC) and attended by staff and his Grace, Archbishop Nicholas Chia. The highlight was Bro. Emmanuel's tribute to Mr Simen when he said that "Mr Simen embodied the charism of St Louis Grignion De Montfort". Mr Simen was principal of Montfort Sec School for 8 years from 2000 to 2008 revolutionized the school in many ways.















3. Graduating Students Dinner 14 Nov 2008

The 4E/5N and 4NT students had their graduating students dinner on 14 Nov. It was a fun-filled event with loads of games and even a Mr Montfort Competition! In a very well-run and well-organized event, the dinner showed the good sport and true spirit of true Montfortians!

Mr Simen

Today Mr Simen announced that he would be leaving Montfort after 8 years as principal. He said that Mr Andrew Tan would be taking over as of next year. During the eight years, Montfort changed it's starting time to 8:30 to curb the late-coming problem. The alternative uniform was introduced, the Valor@Montfort opened and mass workout began; amongst many other firsts. Mr Simen greatly encouraged the students to do well in whatever they did and greatly supported the sports teams and other CCAs. He is posted to Henderson Secondary School.





Brian Theng, 2E4

Montfort in the News

(Click to Enlarge)
Straits Times 25 September 2008

Montfort Wrestling

Cael Sanderson
On the 22nd of September, four sec 2 classes were treated to a meeting with Cael Sanderson and three others who are part of a newly formed organization for wrestling in Singapore. Cael Sanderson is a 4-time consecutive NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) champion and a undefeated college record of 159 - 0. Among many other accomplishments, Cael Sanderson is an Olympic Gold Medalist of 2004 in the 84kg category.

Being a Giant
Mr Sanderson told the Montfortians that to succeed in anything, one must have that focus required. This also includes prioritizing, staying committed and working hard. He spoke about wrestling, and how many things can be learned from the sport. Wrestling teaches, he said, responsibility and accountability because it's one-on-one and not a team effort. Courage and confidence and also be learned from the sport. In 2006, he became the Head Coach of Iowa State University taking over Bobby Douglas.

Life Lessons
When answering questions posed by some of the Montfortians, he said to never be satisfied with what we have already achieved. If we are, things (eg. going to school) would get to boring. Therefore, we should keep going and trying to beat ourselves. When asked how many times he lost, Mr Sanderson said that he lost several times but he learned more from losing than winning. He also stated that it is important to participate and that "you'll never regret trying."

Mr Sanderson also spoke about wrestling in general and about dreaming big, because anyone can accomplish his dreams. "When you see a person on a mountain, you know he did not fall there." What this means is that to reach any goal, one must take it day-by-day, step-by-step, just like climbing a mountain where the trail gets steeper and harder and the climber must keep working harder to reach the summit.

Being whatever you want to be
Mr Edmund Lim said that wrestling is a sport that teaches positive values. As part of post-examination activities, some sec 2 classes will try out wrestling and any potential players could be short-listed. Who knows, one of our Montfortians could be part of the wrestling team of the 2010 Youth Olympic Games. Mr Mike Denoma said that Montfort could be Singapore's top wrestling school as we could start wrestling next year.



Brian Theng, 2E4

Mid-Autumn Festival

The school’s Mid-Autumn Festival was held on the 12th of September 2008. The students, some with their parents, trickled into school and by 7.30 everyone was seated and eager for the night’s activities to begin. Only thing missing was the teachers. Unknown to them, the teachers were waiting for the signal to proceed out to the quadrangle, carrying their eye-catching lanterns.

Huge cheers were heard when the students saw their teachers and after everyone settled, the emcees, together with Mr Edmund Lim and several other teachers, officially declared the event opened. The first performance of the night was by the Montfort Wushu Team. They displayed their highly precise and quick movements, both with and without weapons. Some of them even swung their weapons only inches away from the audience. After a short game involving bean bags and colored wood pieces, the first competition involved three pairs of student-teacher to peel a pomelo and hand out pieces to the audience.

The next performance was a Chinese dancer, who danced something about the moon and the mid-autumn festival. Then the about four groups of students who had a mini Chapteh competition, which was judged by three chosen teachers. The teams had to display teamwork and not let only one person do all the work. Next was the CLDDS performance, which involved the actors saying Chinese tongue twisters, and it got quite difficult as they had to saw it to a beat. As the night’s event was about to draw to a close, a game of Gasing was played, with two teachers first explaining how the game worked. For the last event and competition of the night, three pairs of student-teacher made a mooncake. The teachers were Mr Foran, Mr Chrys Ho and Mr Lim Kim Huat. First, they were taught by Mdm Su. Then, they had to do it on their own.

After the performances and competitions were held, everyone was invited to the canteen for light refreshments like fruits, mooncakes and kueh. The parents who came were able to talk to the teachers and students got to do the same. Everyone enjoyed the event and went home with the same smiles.







Done By:
Brian Theng
with Colin Hernandez and Lucas Yap

The Jam - Sept 16 2008

1. EL Jam

The 'Jam' is an informal gathering of musicians to play improvised or unrehearsed music. It's a Jazz noun meaning "short, free improvised passage performed by the whole band" and dates back from 1929, and yielded the idea of a jam session (1933); Most probably, it comes form the word 'jam' (n.), because it was "something sweet, something excellent."




The EL Department had a Jam competition where students took turns picking a topic from a bag. They then had to speak one minute on the given topic. Some topics included 'Hobbies' and 'The best thing about being a teenager'. Interestingly, someone just had to mention 'KNOWING GIRLS' as one of the best thing about being a teenager. I wonder how come 'zits' never figured prominently in the 'jam'.

2. Another Vice-Principal

Mr Simen announced to the school that there was a new Vice-Principal attached to the school. He is Mr Andrew Tan, former Vice-Principal of Meridian Junior College. Mr Tan gave out Sepak Takraw Prizes for the Inter-House Takraw competition.

It was interesting to note that although Sepak Takraw is a game of Malay origins, there were many teams with a good racial mix. Some Chinese students even won the Most Valuable Player award for their teams.

3. The Origins of Sepak Takraw (from http://www.bangkok.com/sport-sepak-takraw/origins-&-history.html)



Sepak and Takraw roughly refer to the kicking, smashing motion the players use to knock the ball around and across the net.

Where sepak takraw originated from remains a matter of intense debate in Southeast Asia, as several countries proudly claim it as their own. Whilst this may never be satisfactorily determined, there is some agreement that the game was introduced to Southeast Asia through commercial contact with China, where an ancient form of the game originated.

It is believed that many variations of the game evolved from an ancient Chinese military exercise, where soldiers would try to keep a feathered shuttlecock airborne by kicking it back and forth between two people. As the sport developed, the animal hide and chicken feathers were eventually replaced by balls made of woven strips of rattan. The first versions of sepak takraw were not so much of a competition, but rather cooperative displays of skill designed to exercise the body, improve dexterity and loosen the limbs after long periods of sitting, standing or working.

The modern version of sepak takraw is fiercely competitive and began taking shape in Thailand almost 200 years ago. In 1829, the Siam Sports Association drafted the first rules for the game. Four years later, the association introduced the volleyball-style net and held the first public contest. Within just a few years, sepak takraw was introduced to the Physical Training curriculum in schools.

In Bangkok, the murals at Wat Phra Kaew (the Temple of the Emerald Buddha) depict the Hindu god Hanuman playing sepak takraw in a ring with a troop of fellow monkeys. Other historical accounts also mention the game earlier during the reign of King Naresuan of Ayutthaya. The game became such a cherished local custom that an exhibition of volleyball-style sepak takraw was staged to celebrate the kingdom's first constitution in 1933, the year after Thailand abolished absolute monarchy.

Nowadays, sepak takraw is played on a modified badminton doubles court, with the net standing five feet above the ground. Each team consists of three players; left inside, right inside and back server.

Almost every nation that played this game knew it by a different name. In Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei, it's called 'sepak raga', whereas in Thailand it's commonly known as 'takraw'. The same game goes by the name of 'sipa' in the Philippines, 'da cau' in Vietnam, 'rago' in Indonesia, and 'kator' in Laos. Since sepak takraw was played and enjoyed in several countries, there were a lot of inconsistencies in terms of how the game was played and judged.

In 1960, representatives from Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Lao and Thailand met in Kuala Lumpur to standardise rules and regulations for the game. And after a long and heated debate, consensus was reached that the sport would henceforth be officially called sepak takraw

They also formed the Asian Sepak Takraw Federation (ASTAF), and translated the rules into English, setting the stage for the first international competition, held in Malaysia in 1965, at the Southeast Asian Peninsular Games, or SEAP Games, the predecessor to today's Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games). This chain of events set the stage for the international development of sepak takraw. However, it was the replacement of the natural rattan ball, which tended to splinter and warp, with the more standardised synthetic plastic ball that really kicked the game's popularity into high gear.

In 1990, sepak takraw was included at the Asian Games in Beijing. Women also got in on the action with the first women's championships in Thailand hosted in 1997. Today, more than 20 countries have national sepak takraw associations with representatives on the board of the global governing body, the International Sepak Takraw Federation (ISTAF).

News from Montfort College, Chiangmai

Welcome Back to School

Hope your first few weeks of school have gone smoothly. I can't tell you how great it feels to know that everyone is back in school as I have been teaching since the middle of July and am soon to be on break. It is still monsoon season here and the rains have been like no other than I have experienced before. It is a lot of fun to sit and watch out over the river during a storm.

Teaching bilingual science to the boys can be a challenge when I am teaching without my Thai teacher. Fifty-four students in a class is hard to handle. Luckily it is only on rare occasions that I am left alone with them. They don't mess around with a Thai teacher in the room. My favorite times are working in the computer lab classes a week and teaching conversational English to other teacher is also fun.

One of my favorite adventures so far was our trip to the border school. It is one of the queen's special projects for the hill tribe living on the border of Burma. (Myanmar) This is where my son Toby will be a volunteer and spend a few months up there. We traveled for about two hours by van and turned onto a dirt road for another half hour up into the mountains. The school is in a valley surrounded by mountains and vibrant green forests. About thirty students attend the school and are of all ages from about five to eighteen. The children were all dressed up and ready to greet us when we arrived.

Our Montfort boys brought each student a large bag of rice. The people of the village are very poor. The people of the village have been taught to grow cash crops like corn in the place of what they used to grow in the past. It was a great trip and I would like to volunteer a week up there myself. I am learning how to cross the street without getting hit and this is no easy task. I usually walk to school each morning which takes me around fifteen minutes.

Most times people will stop and offer me a ride when they see the uniform or the Montfort shirt. This can be embarrassing if they stop on a motorcycle and you are wearing a skirt. The women here ride sidesaddle in skirts and dresses on these small bikes and they hold on to nothing. They must have exceptional balance. I had to tell the man I preferred to walk because I knew that if I tried toride that way, we would have ended up in an accident and that would not have been pretty.

http://carolhinsdale.blogspot.com/2008_08_01_archive.html

Excerpts from a Blog from an Alumni

HAPPY TEACHERS DAY!

This morning, I went back to Montfort Secondary School to visit my teachers! I bought 9 chocolate bars with nuts to the school. I saw my form teacher Mdm Nora. I said hi to her and passed her one of the chocolate bar!

Later i saw Mrs Helen Tan!!!! My favourite POA teacher in my secondary school days! I ask what happened to her because I heard about her surgery and she says she is fine already. So Glad! I passed one of the choco bars to her as well, chatted with her abit and she is doing great! =) Cheers! She is still so cheerful as before! Take good care alright!

I saw my English teacher, Mrs Lee Poh Lin, and she's great! She is a very nice teacher as well!

I saw my Combined Science teachers Mrs Jamie Tan and Mr Leonard Ng and kind of miss my Chinese teachers from China. They have left the school and I hope they are doing great! I was surprised to see Mr Bao Hong Liang outside a classroom! I remember vividly that he was one of my brother's favourite Chinese teacher. I went forward to greet him and asked him if he remembered my brother. I was surprised that he remembered my brother after so many years.

I had not seen him for years and inquired about this.

'How come so many years never see you'

He said he recently returned to teach this year. He even said I looked my my brother. Haha! Wow! It has been so many years and he still remembers my brother. That's cool!

I miss Montfort school although I do have some bitter memories. The teachers are the only ones I miss so much! I also miss my principal, Mr Simen Lourds!!!!!! He is really a great man!!!!! Long live Mr Simen Lourds!!!!! 3 CHEERS FOR HIM!!!!!

- S... K...

Aug 29 - Teacher's Day

There were three special events which marked Aug 29

a. Teacher's Day
b. ACES Day (All Children Exercise Simultaneously Day)
c. Prize Presentation for students

The day began with the usual mass exercise in our school but it was poignant to note that simultaneously, in all other schools in Singapore, there were also exercises done there. The campaign underscores the importance of health and fitness in a holistic education.

We then proceeded to the hall for a quiet reflection on the role that teachers play in our lives.

Mr Simen then addressed the school and our prize presentations were underway. Prize winners received certificates for doing well in their subjects. It serves as a motivator to strive on.

The Secondary 4N and 4NT students who would be sitting for their English Language, Chinese and Social Studies examinations during the one week break were also given pins to motivate them to live up to the school motto of 'Age Quod Agis'. School leaders, subject teachers and form teachers pinned a 'Sprinting Giant' pin on their collars, telling them that when the 'chips were down' and when all else looked bleak or stressful, look at the pin and feel like it's an angel on your shoulders, easing your burden and knowing that we are all behind them.

The Teacher's Day then began with a whole host of exciting and interesting activities:

a. A Break Dance performance by a group whom we spotted dancing in school.

b. A song by Benedict Yeo from 3A2

c. A game which received roars of laughter which called for you to identify your teacher based on photographs of our teachers' back, hair, eyes, hands, eyes, children's photographs.

d. A very funny and humorous skit about teacher and students exchanging souls for a day.

e. A solemn pledge taken by teachers to educate students to be holistic individuals.

Photos:

Matthew Seong

If they happen to ask you about Montfort School...

Why are you doing this?

At a very special Contact Time intended only for teachers, Mr Simen spoke about the importance of being clear on what we are doing:

"In all that you do...in whatever programs you are taking charge of and involved in, do you know what you're doing?", he asked. He emphasized the importance of always asking yourself, "Why are you doing things".

At Montfort School, the reason why we do things is very simple:

A. The School Mission and Vision

All our programs are geared towards sharing and achieving the school vision and mission.

(i) School Mission (Why We Exist). Montfort is a Catholic School. We nurture students to be compassionate and discerning individuals through a holistic education.

(ii) School Vision (At the end of the day, we can only hope our students will be like this...) He will be a discerning and compassionate individual who is a scholar, a sportsman, a gentleman, a leader and above all, a man for others.

Mr Simen, then expounded and re-iterated for the 5819th time what a scholar, sportsman, gentleman and leader is.

The Scholar: The Scholar is not cramming your head for examinations and then just doing well in it and acing his exams for its own sake. It is someone who is focussed, disciplined and inquisitive. He comes to school regularly and does the work assigned regularly. He does his best and his all in his studies. He does not let any family or financial situation or obstacle disadvantage him because he always does his best.

The Sportsman: The Sportsman is not merely the sportsman who represents the school as a player. He participates in PE and CCAs actively. The Montfortian sportsman is the person with determination, perseverance, and a never-say-die attitude. He also exhibits sportsmanship / gamesmanship.

The Gentleman: The Gentleman is compassionate and discerning. He constantly knows what is right. They know the appropriate behavior in different settings and work well with others.

The Leader: The leader sets examples for others. He is responsible because he is a discerning individual who is able to distinguish right from wrong. He is confident and takes the lead in any challenges posed to him.

B. The Desired Outcomes of Education

"Its not how much you do (or how many programs you have), its whether everything to do is geared towards the desired outcomes of education". Mr Simen quoted the former Director-General of Education and expounded on its meaning.

The Desired Outcome of Education is to develop the individual and the citizen. Values as the foundation of the person.

At the end of Secondary School, students should:

a. Have Moral Integrity

b. Have Care and Concern for Others

c. Work in teams and value every contribution

d. Be Enterprising and Innovative

e. Have a broad-based foundation for further education

f. Believe in their ability

g. Appreciate the aesthetics

h. Know and Believe in Singapore

C. School Values

The school values are:

a. Faith

b. Compassion

c. Integrity

d. Humility

e. Respect and Teamwork

f. Passion

g. Perseverance

How can we be sure that when a student the school he has these values and has reached the school vision of being a Man for Others? Well, he is trained this way. We hope and we pray, leaving all in God's providence, that with the many processes we have put in place and by never wavering from the school vision and mission, we have trained and programmed our student in this manner for lifelong learning as a process. Education is about giving people hope and that confidence

D. TEACHERS ARE THE KEY (for teachers only)

The 3 SEM core values underlying people management are: (i) Leading with Purpose; (ii) Students First; (iii) Teachers the Key.

The key is the teachers. "You and I run this school" Mr Simen said, "We run things and manage this for our students". He emphasized that it was important for all staff to feel relaxed, empowered, confidant and to carry themselves well and to be happy about our school.

It is also important to be clear about:

(i) The approach that you take

(ii) The deployment - what levels. Whether student laders, by levels, what levels/ depts.

(iii) Assessment and Review - at the committees; at strategic planning sessions, department meeting and whether important data is presented to us. How do you know?

Before Mr Simen ended, he iterated,

"CLARITY AND SHARED VISION FOR EVERYTHING IS IMPORTANT. IT BUILDS SCHOOL CULTURE" (AND WE HAVE HAD 92 YEARS OF THIS SINCE 1916)

It should give us the motivation, confidence and swagger to speak as a team with one voice.

Heritage Quest V - The Northeast Line. 10 Aug 2008

Heritage Quest V was held on 10 August 2008 at Hougang Mall. The theme was 'The Northeast Line'. It was the 5th exhibition held to get our students to conduct exhibitions for the purpose of public education. This time, the focus was on takin their projects beyond the Upper Serangoon district into interesting sites along the Northeast Line. They also blogged on their research and participated in an amazing race to get to know these palces better.

The Guest of Honour for our event was NMP and ASEAN Outstanding Youth of the Year 2008, Ms Eunice Olsen. She was accompanied by several of our students who were her cousins. She also surprised everyone with her candid nature and friendliness. Many of her uncles and cousins were educated in Montfort.

The day began with the Kompang boys welcoming her and a silk gift given to her. The Wushu performance was fantastic! Especially even on such a small stage. Several old boys even returned to peform. The chorale, fresh from their performance from the National Day Parade the day before (they returned only at midnight) also sang three songs. The TLDDS also performed an Indian dance. It was a very successful event with many members of the community, stopping during their morning marketing, to view the exhibitions and the event.

National Day - Youth Racial Harmony Day

1. Youth and Racial Harmony Day, 25 April postponed

Youth and Racial Harmony Day was postponed because our canteen vendor Mr Daniel Hoe passed away during the week. He had been with us for 10 years and we keep him in our prayers. Prayers were said in the morning for him and a condolence book laid out for the week. He leaves behind his wife and two son.s We keep him in our prayers

2. ASEAN Day, 7 August 2008

Montfort School celebrated ASEAN Day on 7 August. Mr Lloyd Yeo read out the message from the Director-General of Schools. He began by asking students 'where are you from?' and emphasized the importance of feeling and being Asian because it gives all of us a common sense of identity and sense of belonging.

3. National Day / Racial Harmony Day 8 August 2008

The National Day and Youth and Racial Harmony Day was celebrated on on 8 August 2008. There was a joint observance ceremony held in the School Field. It was delightful to see Montfort School as one full school. Students then proceeded to the hall for a hall assembly. It featured an Indian Dance, Video clips on 'Common Space' and a wonderful performance by teachers singing Kit Chan's recent National Day song. In the true spirit of racial harmony, Ms Rashidah, Mrs Prema, Mr Christopher Foran, Mr Edwin Lee and many other teachers sang the song in mandarin.

There was also the Annual Youth and Racial Harmony fair held. Class 4E2 were champs again in raising the most amount of funds. The Parent Support Group even had a store and came in a close second. A total of $8,155 was raised for the School Pocket Fund for our needy students.

Montfort Chorale will perform as part of the National Day Combined Schools Choir during the N-Day parade on 9 August 2008.

Montfort Softball

1. Montfort Softball Team beat ACS 5-3 and held on a last minute surge to enter the Semi-Finals of the National Softball Tournament

2. Montfort Softball Team calls themselves 'Giants' and slew the Chinese High team 4-0 to enter into the Finals of the National Softball Tournament.

3. Montfort Softball Team lost out to Raffles Institution 5-8 in a hard fought game held at TPJC. Montfort softball team are the second best team in Singapore!

Montfort had won several SRC Championships but never come in second in the Nationals. Their last Top 4 Standing was in 2003 and 2004. We wish our Montfort Softball team all their best in their future performance and hope the sporting culture at Montfort continues to grow.

The spirit rages on

At Tampines JC, our Montfortian Giants played against Raffles Institution for the title of National Softball Champions. Despite their hardest efforts, the giants were unable to win their first National title. Nevertheless, the Montfortian spirit will not falter. The silver medals they got are definitely worth ten times more than gold, because they played with all the heart and gave it all. Though they were disappointed by the loss, which was only by a small margin, they will definitely return to the finals next year, even more eager to win the title. As Winston Churchill said, "Success is going from failure to failure without a loss of enthusiasm.", the school is extremely proud of the team making it this far and this close. Reaching the final took about 8 years in the making, winning it will take far less than that, we the kind of 'never say never' can-do spirit which the team possess. I'm sure the team will return to give another 100% plus the 200% they gave today.






Brian Theng, 2E4

Student Council President Elections

Student Council President Elections
On the First of August, the whole school gathered at the hall for the Q&A session with the two student council president candidates, Boey Teng Ann(3E1) and Daniel Lee(3E1). The student population was able to pose questions and clarify any doubts during the session.

No Promise
With Mr Victor Ong as moderator, queries where quickly raised and it almost became like a mini-debate session. One asked why there were the candidates made no promises for them. Their response: not all promises can be kept as the president is not the ultimate authority in school, whichi is the principal. Therefore making promises that may not be kept would only anger the student. Promises that are possible may take a long time to fufill. But one promise they can keep is to promise that they do the right thing, and not what is popular or easy.

Councillors
Several questions were asked about the student councillors and their bad points. The simple response was that the councillors are people, and noone is perfect and make mistakes. Questions about the council were not really related as the Q&A session was for the school.

Raising the bar
One student posed the question of raising the standard of the students and not only the councillors. The candidates agreed that a change in the council is needed first, as they are of smaller size. Then, with the councillors as better role models, the students would most likely follow their example. That way, the whole school's image could be changed.



The reason why the the candidates posed questions back to the school population as some of the questions asked were not thought through first.

Daniel Lee wishes to get the student population to suggest what they want to see/have in school and will impliment student character development, together with the school's current programme, to fufill his vision of 'everyone is a man of reason'.

Boey Teng Ann hopes to use his knowledge, experience and ability to take action and get results to win the election.



Overall, they feel that as it is just the 2nd time the whole school is electing the president, the school is not 'seasoned' enough for a true and real election. What they can also promise is the fact that no matter what the outcome of the election is, they will work together for the benefit of the school. The results of the election would be releasd on the 4th of August, Monday




Written by:
Brian Theng, 2E4

Boiled Frog Theory

Mr Simen reminded the school about the importance to gather quickly at assembly session and that there were a minority who were either:

a. Too unconcerned about starting the day well and doing the small things well.
b. Those who just simply didn't care.

He then demonstrated how students should get ready quickly for the assembly with Mr Faizan and told a real interesting parable of the boiled frog

The boiling frog story states that a frog can be boiled alive if the water is heated slowly enough — it is said that if a frog is placed in boiling water, it will jump out, but if it is placed in cold water that is slowly heated, it will never jump out.
The story is generally told in a figurative context, with the upshot being that people should make themselves aware of gradual change and aware of its surroundings. They should gravitate towards school as an organization otherwise in the future they would be a jeopardy to others and to themselves.

Passing on of our School Canteen Operator, Mr Daniel Hoe

On 22 July, a special assembly and announcement was made in the hall by Mr Simen about the passing on of our school canteen operator,Mr Daniel Hoe. He was popularly known to us as Uncle Daniel.

On the 21st of July, Monday 7pm++ He passed away in Hospital because of cardiac arrest. Here are some excerpts we were able to gather from our student blogs:

"I left school around 4.45pm and I can't believe he passed away. He was a healthy and active man. As a person,he was ever so cheerful,and never failed to greet us with a smile when we purchase drinks from him. He was a person with a generous heart,and a charitable spirit. This year, as with so many of our years, he had even donated to us coconuts to be sold by my class at the Youth and Racial Harmony day Funfair"

"I remember he was very helpful,and offered much assitance when i went with a few classmates to get the drinks and coconuts from him..He even lend us a big bucket to put the drinks..Not forgetting the ice that we use during the Funfair was kindly donated by him."

"I remember his selfless acts,staying back till 5 plus everyday to sell drinks to us because we have late lessons.He never complained when he had to walk all the way from the vending machine back to his stall,just to sell us a bottle of drink,or just a cup of drink...He would just cheerfully ask us "Yes,Ah boy?What do you want?"
He would also ocasionally chat with the students..I remember he helped us a lot during our choir camp,regarding the food and stuff."

"I guess The student body on the whole respect him a lot.During recess,if there were to be quarrels or scuffles in the canteen,he would always be the first one to step in to break up the feuding ones because he is there all the time.I admire his bravery."

" Uncle daniel was a Nice man,with a generous and charitable heart.His bravery and charitable spirit shall always be remembered.To His Family,My deepest condolencesm"

- Daren Ng

Being the Punctual Gentleman

Mr Simen emphasized the need to be punctual and to be in sync with what being a gentleman is about. He emphasized that it was important to 'wake up the giant' and not to be the dwarf because it was observed that some students did not move with urgency and promptness to the assembly courtyard when the signature tune was played.

Sporting Achievements Update

Goh Shao Jie of 4A1 did the school proud by clinching 1 Gold and 1 Silver medals at the recently completed National Inter-School Canoeing Championships (C1-1000m and C1-500m category). This is definitely a well-deserved reward after gruelling hours of training!


The 'C' Division Rugby team has completed the qualifying stages in the National Inter-School Rugby Tournament and came in overall second in their group. They are now in the Cup Category Quarter-Finals, being grouped together with RI, Pioneer and ACS (Barker). Let's wish them well for their first game this Thursday.

The 'C' Division Softball team has also completed the qualifying stages in the National Inter-School Softball Tournament and came in tops in their group. They are now in the quarter-finals stage, with strong possibility of getting into the semi-finals. We wish them all the best too!

Olympic Day Run

A group of rugby and softball players went for the Olympic Day Run last Saturday morning, 12 July at West Coast Park. It was an enjoyable non-competitive 3km run. They enjoyed themselves, mingling with 3500 runners from schools and organisations such as Singapore Sports Council, Macdonald's, Montfort Junior School and North Vista Secondary School.

2 July - NCC Day

Montfort School celebrated NCC Day on 2 July. All decked out in green, the NCC formation snapped to attention and loudly affirmed their loyalty to the nation by singing the national anthem with gusto. They took a pledge to the nation and to their corps with the kind of bravado and courage that Olde George Patton would have been proud of. They so amazed the school with their spirit that many of our fellow Montfortians could only watch and gawk with awe-inspiring admiration.

3 July - Visit By Jakarta School, SMK 105




All decked out in their colourful and groovy batik-style uniforms, 40 students from SMA (Sekolah Menengah Pertama) 105 from Jakarta visited Montfort Secondary School.

They were hosted by Mr Edmund Lim and Mr Faizan. Student counsellors and our Indonesian badminton students brought them around the school.

Their program included morning lessson with us and also a joint morning workout with us. It was a real good 'sweat-out' with out Indonesian counterparts. Even the girls joined in and put many of our Montfort students to shame with their fitness and discipline! The picture above shows them at our assembly in the school field.

Charity Begins at Home - Treat for the Needy and Most Improved

Friday (28 June 2008)

The Concert Treat

2 students from each class were given a TREAT! Tickets were given free to the most improved student to watch a concert put up by the Hosanna Music Ministry entitled Planet Love. Two of our former Montfort boys, Stefan and Andrew played drums and bass on the band. The concert was held at Jubilee Hall, at the prestiged Raffles Hotel.

Proceeds to ticket sales goes towards the opening of a new chapel and education center for Montfort youths in Sabah. The new institution is the Montfort Youth Training Center in Sabah.

Some of the most touching parts of the concert was when one of the singers spoke about their personal life and choices. One had lost her aunt, her dad and found out that she had cancer. Yet, she willed that she would live on as joyfully as she could because "her act of love" for her mom and brother, being responsible for them, demonstrated that love can influence and inspire others to make the same choice with someone else. The more you choose to love others, the more you are creating opportunities for others to do the same.

Visitors commented that our boys were well-behaved. They greeted Brother Dominic at the door and were in their best weekend outfits. For some, it was their first concert and evenining spent at a posh hotel like the Raffles. (The $5 price tag to the drinks were a shock to many at the intermission)

Charity Begins at Home - Our Work in Sabah

In the same spirit, the Brothers of St Gabriels have been reaching out and changing the lives of the less privileged youth in Sabah, East Malasia, since 1999. The spirit of St Louis Marie de Montfort is liave at the Montfort YOuth Training Centre set up in Donggongon, Penampang, to cater for youth who have not had the chance to continue their educaiton. They receive a craft/ voaction like metal fabrication, motor mechanics, carpentry and are challenged to grow in a holistica programme under the guidance of brothers.

In very simple and touching fashion, Jude Anthony, a 17 year old previous substance abuser Montfort student at the center said, "Before I came to Montfort (Youth Training Center). I don't like to study and as working away from home as a shop assistant. I did whatever I like. I took drugs, alcohol and smoked. NOBODY COULD STOP ME. Until, one day, I was caught and jailed for a night. I was tested positive for drugs. The policeman let me go but told me that if he caught me again, he will put me in jail forever. My parents were very angry. I was very angry and didn't know what to do. A Sister at St James' Church in Tenghilan told me about Montfort and advised me to apply. I waited a month and was vey happy to get in!For the first month, I could not speak English and felt very lost. Now I can speak English and feel good about myself. Montfort programmes are different from others and have taught me to have a good attitude. A thousand thanks to the Brothers, Sisters, Staff and my family for not giving up on me"

Lorenzo Juli, a graduate from the center also shared his life, "Montfort asks of me to teach and correct my friends and whoever outside there to come back to live better lives and wake-up from being blind to what is happening to the family and in this world. Even though I hated what my father was doing to our family, i myself went down the same path. Montfort taught me the good values and to live my life with confidence. If not for MOntfort, I cannot see any future in teh way I was living my life. Drinking and smoking did not solve any of my problems but added to them more and more. i still love my parents. I wished they had guided me more and I wished that our family circumstances were not so bad. I now want to help my younger brothers and sisters. uring my semester breaks, I visited my father and I believe that through my prayers and seeing the changes in me, he is beginning to change too. He is not drinking so much now. He told me he was sorry he failed me when we were young. We can talk openly now. Today, I thank everyone at the Center who helped me in so many ways in shaping my life to meet the challenges of the world. Without you all, I believe that I would remain just another one of the boys in my kampung who does not know how to be focussed on building a good future".

A reformed and inspired believer, Clementine Bede Gungkit, 1919 shared, "my father tried to put me in jail because of my problems and I did not listen to him. My mother was very angry with my father and she snt me to study in Montfort. I had never found a better place to study, not even in my former school. But I am blessed because God gave me this opporturnity to study in Montfort where i learn about discipline, honesty and God. I am more disciplined, honest and my attitude changed. I would like to say a big "THANK OU" to Brother Francis, Sisters, staff, instructors and my family members, especially my parents, without them I would not be what I am today".

JUBILEE HALL

Designed in late Victorian style by theatre specialist, Charles Cosler of New York, Jubilee Hall features 388 luxurious seat velvet curtains, a balcony and an expansive stage.

A magnificent oil painting on canvas (oleo) depicting an old Singapore town scene forms the frontdrop of the stage. Complementing the grand oleo on the outside walls of Jubilee Hall are classic fresco murals of landscapes of old Asia by renowned artist, Carlo Marchiori.

The gracious setting of the Jubilee Hall is the ideal venue for corporate events such as trade launches, seminars, lectures and award ceremonies. When night falls, the Hall presents a variety of plays, musicals, recitals, dances and films.

Adjacent to Jubilee Hall, the foyer area serves as a venue for exhibitions, morning coffee breaks, afternoon teas or cocktail receptions.

Visit by Indonesian College

Indonesian College Students and their Cikgus and Principals, visited Montfort Secondary School. They were from Government Senior High School 7 in Surabaya, Indonesia. Their morning featured a walk-about and dialogue session with Mr Simen and the Vice-Principals. The students and teachers were inquisitive, asking many interesting and insightful questions. They also sampled our canteen food and were very glad to be able to interact witho our Lower Secondary students during recess time. They were also delightfully surprised to meet and speak to our Indonesian Lower Sec badminton stars - Ricky and Chandra.

Emeritus Archbishop Gregory Yong Passes On

June 30 2008, Monday - Emeritus Archbishop Gregory Yong Passes On

The school spent a moment of silence as we prayed and remembered Emeritus Archbishop Gregory Yong who passed away on Saturday.

Gregory Yong Sooi Ngean (May 20, 1925 – June 28, 2008) was the Roman Catholic Archbishop Emeritus of Singapore.

Born in Taiping, Malaya on May 20, 1925, he was educated at St. George's Institution and St. Michael's Institution in Ipoh, Malaya. In January 1941, he entered the Minor Seminary and in 1944 graduated to the Major Seminary. He was ordained in 1951 and posted to the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Singapore. Hence his close association with our school.

In 1953, he left for studies in Rome where he was conferred a Doctorate in Canon Law, the very first local priest to achieve the distinction. Back in Singapore in 1956, he was sent as assistant Parish Priest to the Church of the Sacred Heart. In the following year, he joined the teaching stuff of the Minor Seminary. After a short stint as assistant Parish Priest at the Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, he was appointed to a teaching position in the Major Seminary, again, the very first local priest to be thus honoured.

On July 1, 1968, he was consecrated Bishop, and took over the Diocese Of Penang from Bishop Francis Chan who had died on October 27, 1967. Bishop Francis Chan was also closely connected with Montfort School when he was parish priest of the church of the nativity and came to several of our school funfairs.

(Brother Louis Gonzaga and Bishop Francish Chan)

On February 3, 1977, Archbisop Gregory Yong was appointed to succeed Archbishop Michel Olçomendy as the first of the local clergy to lead the Church in Singapore. On April 2, 1977, he was officially installed as the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Singapore. He was the second Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Singapore, which was formed in 1972 when the Archdiocese of Malacca-Singapore split and held the office until retiring on October 14, 2000. Archbishop Gregory Yong also officiated over the ground-breaking ceremony of Montfort Secondary School's groundbreaking ceremony at its new premise in 1991. He died on June 28, 2008 at St Joseph's Home, Singapore of a heart failure

Archbishop Emeritus Gregory Yong will lie in state at the Good Sheperd Cathedral on Monday and Tuesday. There will be nightly masses at 8pm. The funeral mass on Wednesday, July 2, is at 1:30pm. Catholic students are encouraged to attend the wake and pray and reflect on the good works of His Grace.

Archdiocesan Commission for Catholic Schools (ACCS) Meeting at Montfort School

The ACCS conducted their meeting at Montfort School on Friday 28 July 2008. Leaders from the various Catholic schools were at the meeting, including our own Management Chairman, Mr Chua Cher Choon.

Some of the Catholic missionary groups who run schools in Singapore are:


a. The Brothers of St Gabriels (1936) / St Louis Grignion De Montfort - Assumption English School (1953), Assumption Vocation Institute (1938), Montfort Junior School (1917), Montfort Secondary School 1917), St Gabriels Primary School (1953), St Gabriels Secondary School (1953)



b. The Canossian Sisters / Canossian Daughters of Charity (1894)/ St Magdelene of Canossa - St Anthony's Canossian Primary School (1894), St Anthony's Canossian Secondary School (1894), Canossa Convent Primary (1941)



c. The Marist Brothers / Little Brothers of Mary (1949)/ St Marcellin Champagnat - Maris Stella High School (1958)



d. Franciscan Missionaries of Singapore (1954) / St Mary of the Passion/ St Francis of Assissi - Hai Sing Catholic School (1959)



e. Sisters of the Good Shepherd/ Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd (1940) St Euphrasia Pelletier - Marymount Convent School (1957)



f. Sisters of the Holy Infant Jesus / Les Dames De Saint-Maur (1854) / St Nicholas Barre - CHIJ Primary & Secondary (Toa Payoh) (1854), CHIJ (Katong) Convent (Primary and Secondary) (1930), CHIJ St Nicholas Girls' School (1933), CHIJ St Theresa's Convent (1929), CHIJ St Joseph's Convent (1938), CHIJ OUr Lady Queen of Peace Primary (1955); CHIJ Our Lady of the Nativity Primary (1957); CHIJ Our Lady of Good Counsel (1960/ Cooling CLose COnvent); CHIJ Kellock Primary (1964)



g. Lasalle Brothers / De La alle Christian Brothers (1852) / St John Baptiste La Salle - St Joseph Institution (1852); De La Salle School St Joseph's Institution International (2007); St Patrick's School (1933); St Stephen's School (1957); St Anthony's Primary School (1879)

h. Parish Schools / Church of the Nativity - Holy Innocent's High School (1920); Holy Innocents' Primary School (1920)



i. Parish School / Church of St Peter and Paul - Catholic HIgh School (1935)

j. Catholic Junior College (1975)