CHIJ Secondary (Toa Payoh) is a government-aided autonomous Catholic girls' secondary school in
Toa Payoh
Toa Payoh (, ta, தோ பாயோ) is a planning area and matured residential town located in the northern part of the Central Region of Singapore. Toa Payoh planning area borders Bishan and Serangoon to the north, the Central Water Catc ...
,
Singapore
Singapore (), officially the Republic of Singapore, is a sovereign island country and city-state in maritime Southeast Asia. It lies about one degree of latitude () north of the equator, off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, borde ...
. Founded in 1854, the school is the oldest of the 11
Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus
The Sisters of the Infant Jesus, also known as the Dames of Saint Maur, are a religious institute of the Catholic Church originating from Paris, France and dedicated to teaching.
History
Origins
In 1659 Barré, who was a respected scholar wi ...
(CHIJ) schools in Singapore. The school is currently recognised as a Centre of Excellence for Language and the Arts.
History
Before 1900
The school was established around 1854, as the Convent for the Holy Infant Jesus, and as of 1862, housed a school as well as an orphanage. In 1881, the school was declared an aided school.
Victoria Street compound
In 1929, the school opened a hostel for young women. In January 1942, the school was closed and remained so until 1945. In 1951, a new S$390,000 classroom block was constructed and three years later, the school celebrated its centenary.
Move to Toa Payoh
In 1972, it was announced that the government was taking over the Victoria Street site of the school, and as compensation, a new site in
Toa Payoh
Toa Payoh (, ta, தோ பாயோ) is a planning area and matured residential town located in the northern part of the Central Region of Singapore. Toa Payoh planning area borders Bishan and Serangoon to the north, the Central Water Catc ...
would be given to it. The school moved to its new location in Toa Payoh in December 1983, and as a result, its name was changed to Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus(Toa Payoh).
The school became autonomous in 1994 and from 2003 to 2006, the school was moved to a holding site along Thomson Road as the Toa Payoh premises were renovated under the
PRIME
A prime number (or a prime) is a natural number greater than 1 that is not a product of two smaller natural numbers. A natural number greater than 1 that is not prime is called a composite number. For example, 5 is prime because the only ways ...
scheme.
Identity & culture
Motto
"Simple Dans Ma Vertu, Forte Dans Mon Devoir" a French motto which means "Simple in my Virtue, Strong (for a female speaker) in my Duty", loosely anglicized as "Simple in Virtue, Steadfast in Duty".
Uniform
Students wear a white blouse with a Peter-Pan collar beneath a knee-length, blue pinafore with a blue belt at the waist. Underneath the prescribed uniform, bras bearing only the colours of white, light-grey, or beige may be worn. Shorts are also worn under the pinafore for added modesty. Councillors, previously known as prefects, wear a pin above the school badge. Council badges are green for junior councillors, white for councillors and 'noblesse oblige' for councillors in the executive committee. Committee members of co-curricular activities (CCA) wear a silver badge with the words 'CCA Committee' on it. The heads of the CCA wear a gold badge with the words 'CCA Leader'.
During official engagements, students representing the school (councillors on most occasions) wear the formal uniform consisting of a long-sleeved white blouse, a white pencil skirt, a navy blue blazer with the school crest on the left chest, along with a navy blue tie and a pair of black court shoes.
Affiliation
CHIJ Secondary (Toa Payoh) is affiliated to
CHIJ Primary (Toa Payoh)
This is a list of primary schools in Singapore. Children typically start their primary education in the year they turn seven. Primary education lasts six years, and is compulsory for all Singapore citizens.
Primary schools in Singapore are clas ...
, and
Catholic Junior College
Catholic Junior College (CJC) () is a junior college in Singapore, offering a two-year course for pre-university students leading to the Singapore-Cambridge GCE Advanced Level examination. Founded in 1975, Catholic Junior College was the third j ...
. CHIJ Secondary (Toa Payoh) is considered unofficially to be the 'sister' school of
Saint Joseph's Institution
St. Joseph's Institution (SJI) is an independent Catholic educational institution in Singapore. Founded in 1852 by the De La Salle Brothers, it is the first Catholic school and the third oldest school in the country.
SJI has been offering a dual- ...
(SJI).
Academic Information
Being a government secondary school, CHIJ Secondary School offers three academic streams, namely the four-year Express course, as well as the Normal Course, comprising Normal (Academic) and Normal (Technical) academic tracks.
O Level Express Course
The Express Course is a nationwide four-year programme that leads up to the
Singapore-Cambridge GCE Ordinary Level
The Singapore-Cambridge General Certificate of Education Ordinary Level (or Singapore-Cambridge GCE O-Level) is a GCE Ordinary Level examination held annually in Singapore and is jointly conducted by the Ministry of Education (MOE), Singapore Exam ...
examination.
Academic subjects
The examinable academic subjects for
Singapore-Cambridge GCE Ordinary Level
The Singapore-Cambridge General Certificate of Education Ordinary Level (or Singapore-Cambridge GCE O-Level) is a GCE Ordinary Level examination held annually in Singapore and is jointly conducted by the Ministry of Education (MOE), Singapore Exam ...
offered by CHIJ Secondary School for upper secondary level (via. streaming in secondary 2 level), as of 2017, are listed below.
''Notes:''
# ''Subjects indicated with ' * ' are mandatory subjects.''
# ''All students in Singapore are required to undertake a Mother Tongue Language as an examinable subject, as indicated by ' ^ '.''
# ''"SPA" in Pure Science subjects refers to the incorporation of
School-based Science Practical Assessment, which 20% of the subject result in the national examination are determined by school-based practical examinations, supervised by the
Singapore Examinations and Assessment Board
The Singapore Examinations and Assessment Board (SEAB) is a statutory board under the Ministry of Education of the Government of Singapore.
SEAB was established on 1 April 2004 as a statutory board to develop and conduct national examinations i ...
. The SPA Assessment has been replaced by one Practical Assessment in the 2018 O Levels.
''
Normal Course
The Normal Course is a nationwide 4-year programme leading to the
Singapore-Cambridge GCE Normal Level
The Singapore-Cambridge General Certificate of Education Normal Level (or Singapore-Cambridge GCE N-Level) examination is a national examination held annually in Singapore. It is taken after four years in the Normal (Academic) or Normal (Technica ...
examination, which runs either the Normal (Academic) curriculum or Normal (Technical) curriculum, abbreviated as N(A) and N(T) respectively.
Normal (Academic) Course
In the Normal (Academic) course, students offer 5-8 subjects in the
Singapore-Cambridge GCE Normal Level
The Singapore-Cambridge General Certificate of Education Normal Level (or Singapore-Cambridge GCE N-Level) examination is a national examination held annually in Singapore. It is taken after four years in the Normal (Academic) or Normal (Technica ...
examination. Compulsory subjects include:
* English Language
* Mother Tongue Language
* Mathematics
* Combined Humanities
A 5th year leading to the
Singapore-Cambridge GCE Ordinary Level
The Singapore-Cambridge General Certificate of Education Ordinary Level (or Singapore-Cambridge GCE O-Level) is a GCE Ordinary Level examination held annually in Singapore and is jointly conducted by the Ministry of Education (MOE), Singapore Exam ...
examination is available to N(A) students who perform well in their
Singapore-Cambridge GCE Normal Level
The Singapore-Cambridge General Certificate of Education Normal Level (or Singapore-Cambridge GCE N-Level) examination is a national examination held annually in Singapore. It is taken after four years in the Normal (Academic) or Normal (Technica ...
examination. Students can move from one course to another based on their performance and the assessment of the school principal and teachers.
Normal (Technical) Course
The Normal (Technical) course prepares students for a technical-vocational education at the
Institute of Technical Education
The Institute of Technical Education (ITE) is a post-secondary education institution and statutory board under the purview of the Ministry of Education in Singapore.
Established by the Ministry of Education, it was formerly known as Vocational ...
.
Students will offer 5-7 subjects in the
Singapore-Cambridge GCE Normal Level
The Singapore-Cambridge General Certificate of Education Normal Level (or Singapore-Cambridge GCE N-Level) examination is a national examination held annually in Singapore. It is taken after four years in the Normal (Academic) or Normal (Technica ...
examination.
The curriculum is tailored towards strengthening students’ proficiency in English and Mathematics.
Students take English Language, Mathematics, Basic Mother Tongue and Computer Applications as compulsory subjects.
CHIJ Centre of Excellence for Language and the Arts
CHIJ Secondary was awarded the South Zone Centre of Excellence ( CoE) for Language and the Arts in Aug 2007.
Notable alumni
*
Chan Heng Chee
Chan Heng Chee (; born 19 April 1942) is a Singaporean academic and diplomat who has been serving as Ambassador-at-Large at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs since 2012, Chairwoman of the National Arts Council and Member of the Presidential C ...
: Ambassador to the
United States of America
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territo ...
*
Helena Wong Kar Mun
Helena Wong Kar Mun (born 11 April 1988; simplified Chinese:黄嘉汶; pinyin: ''Huáng Jiāwèn'') is a Singapore weightlifter. Wong competes in the female 53 kg weight class. She debuted at the 2010 Commonwealth Games which was held in ...
: National weightlifter
*
Jacintha Abisheganaden
Jacintha Abisheganaden (born 3 October 1957), known professionally as Jacintha, is a Singaporean singer, actress, and theater practitioner who studied at the National University of Singapore and received a degree in arts, majoring in English li ...
: Singer and actress
*
Joan Pereira
Joan Cheng Sim Pereira (born 1967) is a Singaporean politician and businesswoman. A member of the governing People's Action Party (PAP), she has been the Member of Parliament (MP) representing the Henderson–Dawson division of Tanjong Pagar GRC ...
: Member of Parliament
*
Violet Sleigh
Violet Maria Bombell (née Sleigh) (born 1935), became Miss Malaya when she was crowned "Miss Max Factor of Malaya" in 1953. She also won the second place in the Miss Malaya 1954 pageant in Singapore.
Early life
Family
Violet Maria Sleigh ...
: Miss Malaya (1953)
External links
Official websiteOfficial SharePoint websiteCHIJ alumni
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:CHIJ Secondary (Toa Payoh)
Secondary schools in Singapore
Catholic schools in Singapore
Autonomous schools in Singapore
Girls' schools in Singapore
Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus schools
Toa Payoh
Educational institutions established in 1854
Schools in Central Region, Singapore
1854 establishments in the British Empire