O Level Track

METHODIST GIRLS’ SCHOOL 2016 Level Parents’ Briefing

Sec 1

Understanding Self

Level Theme

Galatians 5:22-23

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering,

kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is

no law.

Level Verse

Secondary 1 ACADEMIC MATTERS

O-LEVEL TRACK

CURRICULUM STRUCTURE FOR 2016

•  Lessons  are  in  60  min  or  90  min  blocks    •  2  half-­‐hourly  break  'mes  every  day  except  Wed.    •  The  @metable  will  be  structured  in  a  2-­‐week  (odd  &  even)  cycle.    

Semester  1:  Jan  –  Apr  2016  (14  weeks)  Semester  2:  May  –  Sep  2016  (14  weeks)  Semestral  modules  -­‐  Lower  Sec  Sciences  -­‐  SBA  PTK,  Home  Econs,  Gen  Music        

TIME TABLING 2016

Day Flag raising

Dismissal

time

Planned afternoon lessons

Scheduled remedial Slot 1: 2.30 – 3.30 pm Slot 2: 3.30 – 4.30 pm

Other activities

Mon 7.30 am

2.30 pm

7:30 – 8 am TPC

CCA starts 3 pm

Tue 7.30am 2.30 pm

1:30-2:30 pm Assembly (odd week)

Sec 1&2: Lang/MT & Maths

CCA starts 4.30 pm

Wed * 1

break

8.30 am

2.30 pm

8:30-9:10 am Chapel

9:10-9:30 am TPC

CCA starts 3 pm

Thu 7.30am 2.30 pm

Sec 1&2: Sci & Hum

CCA starts 4.30 pm

Fri 7.30am 2.30 pm

1:30 – 2:30 pm GEL

3 - 4.00 pm S1 MEP Sec 1I and 1O

CCA starts 3 pm

Broad-based, content and skills leading up to the rigour and demands of the O-levels,

A-levels & IB Diploma and beyond.

Transition from Primary curriculum

SEC O-LEVEL & IP CURRICULUM

SEC 1 & YEAR 1 CURRICULUM EXAMINABLE SUBJECTS

O-track enriched Sec 1D, 1H, 1M, 1T

O-track SBA Sec 1E, 1I, 1O

Integrated Programme Year 1G, 1S

Language Arts Language Arts Language Arts Mother Tongue Mother Tongue Mother Tongue

Mathematics Mathematics Mathematics

Biological Sciences Biological Sciences Biological Sciences

Physical Sciences Physical Sciences Physical Sciences

Geography Geography Geography

History History History

Third Lang# Third Lang# Third Lang#

# Third Language lessons in MOE LC. Transport arrangements can be made.

SEC 1 & YEAR 1 CURRICULUM NON-EXAMINABLE SUBJECTS

O-track enriched Sec 1D, 1H, 1M, 1T

O-track SBA Sec 1E, 1I, 1O

Integrated Programme Year 1G, 1S

Home Econs/MEP# Home Econs/MEP# Home Econs/MEP# IPW IPW IS

General Music General Music General Music

Art Art Art module

Computer Studies Computer Studies IT Module

STEM Philosophy module PTK

STEM Global Studies

STEM

PE PE PE

CCE CCE CCE

# MEP lessons on Friday afternoons 3.00 – 4:30 pm

Mother Tongue is mandatory under

Singapore’s bilingual policy.

Exemptions from MT must be approved by MOE.

Fresh applications for exemptions need to be made for GCE ‘O’ levels.

SECONDARY 1 CURRICULUM MOTHER TONGUE

Students take the GCE O-level Mother Tongue paper at the end of Sec 3/Year 3 IP. If student scores B3 or better, she’ll take the Higher Mother Tongue paper at end of Sec 4/Year 4 IP.

SECONDARY 1 CURRICULUM HIGHER MOTHER TONGUE

For O-track: Bonus points at JC admissions: 2 points if student passes both English and HMT. Students with good HMT scores can take up Chinese Studies as a H2 subject or join JCs offering the Chinese Language Elective Scholarship.

SECONDARY 1 CURRICULUM HIGHER MOTHER TONGUE

Offering Higher Mother Tongue to Students

CONVERSATIONAL MALAY PROGRAMME

Another Language Learning Opportunities for all levels Conversational Language competency and cultural awareness

Curriculum focus on listening, speaking and recognising simple words/characters 5-weeks Elementary module weekly 2-hr afternoon lessons in school, starting from 4 February to 3 March, every Thursday 3.00 pm – 5.00 pm

Registration forms are available from HOD Mother Tongue, Mr Kay Ren Tat.

Interdisciplinary Project Work IPW 21C, Reading Programme

Leadership Training Programme DISC & Learning Keys workshop

Mount Carmel School collaboration ROCS 1

MEP – Piano Master Class, Indonesian Gamelan workshop Arts Appreciation

Singapore Mathematical Olympiads, Science competitions

Creative Arts Programme by GEB May Oh Debate Challenge

CURRICULUM ENRICHMENT

New STEM Enrichments for 2016 STEM module for Sec 1 Science Code4Life for Sec 2s STEM enrichments Sec 1: STEM Day by UN Women (ROCs1) Sec 2: workshops & talks (post EOY, sign up basis) Sec 3: STEM Day (post MYE) Sec 4: STEM Day (post MYE) STEM Career talks for parents & students

CURRICULUM ENRICHMENT

AFTERNOON CO-CURRICULAR SCHEDULE

MEP lessons & 3rd Language classes take priority over all other afternoon activities except

when there are compulsory school events or participation in approved competitions

Note on 3rd Language: 1. Be committed for the whole year. Marks will captured from

semester 1 and are included in overall percentage for the year 1. Withdrawal process is via the language centre 2. Transport arrangement to centre. Please inform Mr Kay

RT whether you need transport to the Language centre by Monday, 18 Jan 2016.

Each subject will set approx. 1 – 1.5 hr of homework per week

Average time spent on homework in a week

= 6 - 10 hours

Students need to exercise good time management and discipline

HOMEWORK POLICY

SECONDARY 1 ASSESSMENTS

O-track

Mid-Year Progress Report

Coursework Progress Report

Year-end Summative Report

Assessment type

Mid-Year Examination

Assignments & class tests for Term 1 – 3

End-of-Year Examination

Weighting for LA, MT, Maths 30% 20% 50%

Weighting for Geog, Hist 25% 40% 35%

Weighting for Sciences

50% (Bio & Phy exam) 25%

25% (Chem exam)

Valid Reasons for absence 1. Unwell and covered with Medical Certificate valid for test day (copies of mc to be given to FT & to respective subject teachers) 2. Test falls on the same day of an approved competition (interschool, international). The teacher i/c of competition will inform the staff BUT students should also take responsibility to alert their respective teachers.

ABSENCE FROM TESTS & EXAMS

Promotion to Secondary 2 is based on Overall performance at CAs and Year-End Examinations. ▪ Attain 50% overall marks ▪ Attain 50% English marks

Placement into Secondary 2 classes is based on ▪  Subject combinations ▪  Overall percentage ▪ SBA criteria (the overall percentage, the marks of common subjects (i.e. English, Mathematics, Sciences, Humanities), the consideration that girls who are from Sec 1 SBA classes have taken a heavier academic loading this year.

SECONDARY 1 PROMOTIONS

O-track

MGS-INTEGRATED PROGRAMME

Year 3 intake in 2018 for additional 20 students

For who? •  Sec 2 MGS students

•  Sec 2 Non-MGS students

Application process will open end of May. Forms and Information will be on the school website.

Info session: mid May 2017 (Yr 3 IP Briefing)

MGS-INTEGRATED PROGRAMME

Criteria for selection

1. Selection tests results 2. School results for Sec 1 & Sec 2 3. Other achievements 4. Performance at interview 5. Viewpoint essay Results of application will be released after the End-of-Year Examination.

School Hours Flag-raising begins at 7.30 am, but girls should be in school earlier and thumb in their attendance/place their bags in the classroom before reporting to the Quadrangle by 7.25 am Sec School (only) On Wednesdays, girls should be in their respective Chapel venues by 8.25 am for flag-raising. Chapel will begin promptly at 8.30 am.

SCHOOL HOURS

Email To ensure that email addresses are updated with the school. SNAAPP To download this platform for urgent/timely notifications from the school to parents.

SCHOOL COMMUNICATION

Girls have been reminded to always be polite and good

stewards in using the facilities in school:

•  to always greet teachers and staff of the school

•  to clean up after themselves in the canteen

•  to keep their school clean by not littering

•  to use the toilet properly

NURTURING GOOD VALUES

●  Balancing school homework vs

tuition work

●  Allowing personal study time

●  Role of parents in supporting and

supervising

MANAGING TIME & SETTING PRIORITIES

▪  School celebrations

(CNY, Founder’s Day, National Day, etc)

▪  Scheduled Lessons (e.g. Sec 4 lessons during

June Break, Revision Period/ProjectCARE)

BEING PRESENT FOR KEY SCHOOL CELEBRATIONS AND EVENTS

Only Valid Reason (VR) waiver is granted given for tests and examinations missed if representation is on a National level. (ie representing Singapore) Club representation will not be considered as VR cases.

STUDENTS GOING OVERSEAS

TO REPRESENT CLUBS

Be involved and volunteer when there is a need. Your daughter does enjoy seeing you involved in the school for the good of all MGS girls, even the Sec girls (even if they don’t say so)

EVERY PARENT A SUPPORTIVE PARTNER

Letters Emails and phone calls

Announcements through MGS website http://www.mgs.sch.edu.sg

Newsletters School sms

Progress reports after CAs & Exams

Parents Level Briefing

Parent-Teacher Meeting with class, subject & CCA teachers

(16 April 2016, Saturday)

ParentLink

COMMUNICATION PLATFORMS WITH PARENTS/GUARDIANS

Letters Emails and phone calls

Announcements through MGS website http://www.mgs.sch.edu.sg

Newsletters

Progress reports after CA s and EOY Exam

Morning announcements Broadcast

Public Address system Noticeboards & posters

Level briefings, Chapel, Assembly …

COMMUNICATION PLATFORMS WITH STUDENTS

In order to make our sessions with parents more meaningful, we seek your valuable feedback.

Please follow the QR code below to give us your feedback. http://tinyurl.com/sec1feedback

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