School Motto - Methodist Girls' School

GODLY WOMEN OF EXCELLENCEWITH A HEART OF LOVE @ MGSWELCOME TOBRIEFING FORPARENTS@ MGS (Pr)30 JAN 2009Methodist Girls’School~ Founded in 1887 ~30 JANUARY 2009School VisionGodly women ofExcellence with a heartof LoveSchool MissionTo educate every girl in aChristian environmentin order that she mayMASTER, GROW and SERVEin every phase of her life.School Values that GELSchool MottoTo MasterTo GrowTo ServeGodlinessExcellenceLove1

MGS – A Full SchoolPrimary School –A GovernmentaidedSchoolSecondary School –An IndependentSchoolMethodist Girls’ SchoolA HOLISTIC EDUCATION AT MGSA premier school with top rankings in• Academic Standards• Sports & Physical Fitness• Performing ArtsHighly Regarded In Singaporeand InternationallyKey Personnel – Senior Management TeamPrincipalMrs Shirleen OngVice-Principal (Sec) Mrs Corinne SimVice-PrincipalMrs Diana GohVice-Principal (Pri) Mrs Yap Tsui LanVice-PrincipalMrs Mabel LeeChief Finance Officer Ms Julie ChngChief Operating Officer Ms Sim Yoke HweeORGANISATIONALEXCELLENCE – recognised byMOE and SPRING Singapore2

School Distinction Award (2006)SUSTAINED ACHIEVEMENTAWARDS(Pri)•Physical Fitness (10 th Award)•Sports (3 rd Award)SportsBEST PRACTICE AWARDTeaching and LearningSingapore Quality Class (2006)Where Joy in Learning Takes Place at MGSwww.mgs.sch.edu.sg Term 2 Week 14• Loss of curriculum time in Term 4 – 3weeks• Additional 1 week before Term 3 begins• Regular lessons for P5 and P6• Remediation / Enrichment of P3 & P4• 22 Jun (Mon) to 26 Jun (Fri)3

OTHER MATTERSCanteen• Latest Updates Based on Feedback• Quality of Food and Food PricesMorning TrafficVaried Feedback• Possible Issue of Letter of Warnings toParents (same parents that speed and causepotential danger to our girls)• Working Together with Traffic Police• Exploring Longer Term SolutionsHOLISTIC EDUCATION• Academic Rigour – co-operation needed (espwith regard to your schedule for yourholidays) – need extra time to prepare thegirls• Character and genuine contributions tocommunity – will shape your destinyThe place forCharacter Education in MGS• Watch your thoughts, for they become words.• Watch your words, for they become actions.• Watch your actions, for they become habits.• Watch your habits, for they become character.• Watch your character, for it becomes yourdestiny• Canteen prices will come in ‘3 sizes’:S, M, L• Lower Pri recess – will enjoy thelowest price available. (Adults will notbe eligible)• Parents need to return utensils afteruse (be good role models)• Revision of food prices – will takeplace for most of the stallsBriefing for Parents 2009Primary 5DETAILS OF THE P5 JOURNEYBy Miss Shamini Menon4

Outline of sharingP5 Programmes- Transition from Primary 4 to Primary 5- Examination Format- Remedial and Supplementary Programmes- Enrichment Programmes- Project Work- Character Development Programme* Learning Journeys* IT Enrichment* CIP* Leadership Development Programme– International Competitions & Assessmentsfor SchoolsTransition from Primary 4to Primary 5Transition from P4 to P5Pupils usually find Primary 5 more demanding.Reason:- There is a change in the format of the EnglishLanguage, Mother Tongue and Mathematicsexaminations.As pupils adapt to the demands, grades may dip.English (Semestral Assessment)Primary 4 Marks Primary 5 MarksComposition 20 Writing- Situational Writing- Continuous WritingListeningComprehensionOral Communication- Reading Aloud- Picture DiscussionLanguage Use &Compre16 ListeningComprehension88Oral Communication- Reading Aloud- Picture Discussion- Conversation48 Language Use &Compre (Paper II)154020101010Total 100 Total 20095Mathematics (Semestral Assessment)Mathematics (Semestral Assessment)Primary 4 Primary 5Question Type No. of Qns Marks No. of Qns MarksMultiple-choice 20 40 15 20Short-answer 20 40 20 30Long-answer /Structured5 20 13 50Total 45 100 48 100Duration 1 h 45 min 2 h 30 minPaper Booklet Item Type No. of qns No. ofmarksper qn12ABMultiplechoiceShort-answerWeighting10 1 10%5 2 10%10 1 10%5 2 10%Short-answer 5 2 10%Structured/Long-answer13 3, 4, 5 50%Duration50 min1h 40minTotal 48 - 100% 2h 30min5

Foundation MathematicsMathematicsPaper Booklet Item Type No. ofqns1AMultiplechoiceNo. ofmarksper qnWeighting10 1 10%10 2 20%B Short-answer 10 2 10%Duration1h• Calculator is allowed for Paper 2• Model: Casio fx95SG Plus• A break of about an hour betweenPaper 1 & 22Short-answer 10 2 10%Structured 8 3,4,5 50%1h 15minTotal 48 - 100% 2h 15minMother TongueHigher Mother TonguePrimary 4 Marks Primary 5 MarksComposition 20 Composition 40ListeningComprehensionOral CommunicationReading AloudPicture DiscussionLanguage Use &Comprehension10 ListeningComprehension1010Oral CommunicationReading AloudPicture DiscussionConversation50 Language Use &Comprehension20202010Total 100 Total 20090 HMT pupils use 1 textbook and 1workbook, which are an extension ofthe regular MT books. HMT lessons are conducted onWednesdays, from 2 – 3 pm(5.2 and 5.6) Pupils have to sit for both the MT andHMT examination papers.Higher Mother Tongue• Enrichment lessons will be conducted forHMT students.• These will be held every Friday, 2 to 3 p.m.Higher Mother TonguePaperMarksComposition 40Language Use &Comprehension60Total 1006

Foundation Mother TonguePaper Item Type Number ofQuestionsWeightingScienceCA 1 and SA 1BOOKLET Item typeNumber ofquestionsNumber of marksper questionWeightingReadingComprehension2 – 3 short passages 10 10%Oral -Reading (20%)- Picture Conversation(30%)- Conversation (10%)ListeningComprehension2 60%5- 7 short passages 15 30%Total 22 100%SA 2A MCQ 30 2 60%B Open-ended 14 2, 3, 4 40%Total 46 - 100%A MCQ 25 2 50%BOpenended14 2, 3, 4 40%Practical - 10%Total 46 - 100%Foundation ScienceCA 1 and SA 1BOOKLETItem typeNumber ofquestionsNumber of marksper questionMarksA MCQ 16 2 32BStructuredOpen-Ended6-86-82-32-4Total 46 - 701424Remedial LessonsA Practical Component will be included in SA2Remedial Lessons• Remedial classes are kept to asmall number for effective teaching.• Teachers will revise and re-teach basicskills and concepts pertaining to thesubjects, according to the needs of thepupils.• Conducted for English, Mathematics,Mother Tongue & Science• Carried out weekly (Wed to Fri)• For pupils who are weak in the subjectRemedial LessonsEnglish• Grammar, Vocabulary, Cloze passages,Writing & Comprehension skillsMathematics• Heuristics in Problem Solving – WholeNumbers, Fractions, DecimalsScience• Pr 3, 4 and 5 Science topics• Techniques for answering Science questions7

Primary 5 EnrichmentProgrammesEnglish ProgrammeEnglish – Literature lessons will be carried outduring curriculum time.Rationale:- To enable pupils to acquire an appreciationof the English language.English ProgrammeKira KiraDear Mr HenshawEnglish ProgrammeSBC English – A Wrinkle in TimeISBN 0 - 14 - 037231 - 413: 978-1-4169-1045-9ISBN 0-380-70958-9Mother Tongue Programmes• Chinese Creative & EnrichmentWriting Course- 10 sessions in Terms 1 & 2- Mondays, 1 h 30 min persession- conducted after school- Chinese Calligraphy(12 Jan to 19 Jan)• P5 Immersion Programme for CLStudents in China (Nov - tentative)Mother Tongue ProgrammesTamil LanguageTerm 2- Educational Excursion toTamil Murasu- Spoken Tamil WorkshopTamil Cultural Camp• Viewing a Chinese DramaPerformance8

Mother Tongue ProgrammesMalay Language• Malay Language Creative Writingusing Koobits Software• Learning Journey (P1 to 6 pupils)– Trip to Bukit CanduMaths ProgrammeMathematics - Financial Literacy Programme- Term 3, 4 hours- During curriculum timeObjectives:- Apply mathematical concepts in real-life situations- Understand the importance of financial literacy andplanning.Malay Cultural CampScience ProgrammeScience- Life Sciences Workshop- Genetic Transformation- Term 2, Week 14- 22 June to 24 June, 2-4 p.m.- DNA lesson- Science Centre, school hours- End of Term 1Project WorkProject WorkProject WorkRedesigning the packaging of a product- Work to be completed in groups withincurriculum time- Teacher supervises the work closely- Pupils have to present their project tothe class- Non-examinable9

International Competitions &Assessments for SchoolsPaperComputer SkillsScienceEnglishMathematicsDates21 April12 May21 July4 AugustCharacter DevelopmentProgrammeCharacter Development Programme – Pri 5Leadership/EnterpriseLeadershipDevelopmentProgrammeCitizenshipLearningJourneysCIPPersonal& SocialSexualityEducationICT EnrichmentProgrammeCyber Wellness7-Year Leadership Training Programme for MGSWho What Why How(Modules are Customizable)Pri. 5Peer Leadership(SEL ComponentsCovered: SelfManagementSocial AwarenessRelationshipManagement)Students will developleaders’ commitment andconfidence by equippingthem with essentialleadership andmanagement skills toperform their roles andresponsibilities andteaching them how to buildteam spirit and identityamongst the people theylead.The Class Leader•Leadership Qualities of aM.O.N.I.T.O.R•The 9 Essential Tasks of a Leader•The 5Cs of Effective Delegation• 5 Ways to Win Friends &Influence PeopleEffective CommunicationSkills•The B.L.E.S.S. Principle of GoodCommunication•Building good relationship with theclass•Classroom managementstrategiesCitizenship - Learning Journeys Ford Motor Factory- Term 1, during school hours Kranji War Memorial and Changi Prison Museum- Term 1, during school hours NE Show- Mid July- On a Saturday (2 p.m. to about 9.30 p.m.) Road Safety Park- Term 3, after school hours10

Citizenship - Learning JourneysCitizenship - Community Involvement ProgrammeNE Show 2007NE SHOW 2008 Each student to complete at least 6 h of CIP Buddy System - P5 pupils will buddy P1pupils in week 1 to 3. Partnering Children’s Cancer Foundation- Pupils will stay after school to makewell-wishes cards that will be given outto children who are ill with cancer.(Last week of May – date to be confirmed)Citizenship - Community Involvement ProgrammeCitizenship - Community Involvement ProgrammeBuddy SystemBuddy SystemDesigning well-wishes cardsPersonal & Social – Sexuality EducationPersonal & Social – ICT Enrichment ProgrammeGrowing Years Series, initiated by thePsychological Services Branch, MOE- Awareness programme- Prepares students for puberty andadolescenceICT Enrichment Programme – Comic Life- partnership with IDA- Term 2 Week 8 & 9 : 11 May – 15 Mayand 18 May – 22 May- Pupils will learn how to create comics usingthe software Comic Life. They will also learnthe basic Macintosh Operating System.11

Personal & Social – ICT EnrichmentExamination MattersExamination DatesContinual Assessment 1 (10%) Term 1Weeks 9 & 10 – Written ExamEng : 26 FebMath : 27 FebM.T. : 2 MarchScience : 3 MarchHMT : 4 MarchSemestral Assessment 1 (30%) Term 2Week 7 – OralWeek 7 to 9 – Written ExamThank youSemestral Assessment 2 (60%) Term 4Week 3 – OralWeek 4 & 5 - Written Exam12