TO MASTER TO GROW TO SERVE

METHODIST GIRLS’ SCHOOL 2016 Level Parents’ Briefing

●Theme: Becoming a Person of Influence

●Verse: Salt and Light (Matthew 5:13-15) You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.

Sec 3 Theme and Verse SEC 3 THEME & VERSE

Main Sec 3 Events Date Event

23 Mar NRIC Registration

4 – 6 Apr Adventure Camp

28 Apr – 5 May Mid-Year Exams

16 May Girls2Pioneers STEM Day Camp

21 – 28 May Reality Outside Classrooms 3

22 – 24 Jun Regular lessons

11 – 12 Jul Regional Youth Conference (1.5 days)

25 Jul 129th Founder’s Day Service and Dinner

30 Aug MGS 23rd Commendation Awards Ceremony

13 – 26 Sep Science Practical Exam 1 (SPA)

28 Sep – 6 Oct End of Year Exams

24 Oct – Early Nov (date tbc) Extra lessons for all Sec 3s

SEC 3 EVENTS CALENDAR

TO MASTER TO GROW TO SERVE

GROW

Growing

as a student as a family member

TO MASTER TO GROW TO SERVE OWN Owning your Choices

TO MASTER TO GROW TO SERVE

HONOUR

Honouring All (in contact)

TO MASTER TO GROW TO SERVE

SeSecondary 3/Year 33 ACADEMIC MATTERS

O-LEVEL TRACK

CURRICULUM STRUCTURE FOR 2016

• Lessons are in 60 min or 90 min blocks

• 2 half-hourly break times every day except Wed.

• The timetable will be structured in a 2-week (odd & even) cycle.

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 2.30 - 3.30pm S3 & S4 HMT CCA starts 3 pm

Tue 7.30 am 2.30 pm 2.45 -6 pm S3 MEP

3 – 6 pm S4 Art

Sec 1&2: Lang & Maths

Sec 3&4: Maths & Lang

CCA starts 4.30

pm

Wed 8.25 am 2.30 pm CCA starts 3 pm

Thu 7.30am 2.30 pm 3 – 6 pm S3 Art

2:45– 4:15 pm S2 MEP

2.45 -5 pm S4 MEP

Sec 1&2: Sci & Hum

Sec 3&4: Hum & Sci

CCA starts 4.30

pm

Fri 7.30am 2.30 pm 3 - 4.30 pmS1 MEP

3 – 6.30 pmS4nonMEP

CCA starts 3 pm

AFTERNOON CO-CURRICULAR SCHEDULE

MEP lessons, Art 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 L3: 1.Be committed for the whole year. Marks will captured from semester 1 and are included in overall percentage for the year 2.Withdrawal process is via the language centre 3.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 = 10-15 hours

Students need to exercise good time management, discipline

HOMEWORK POLICY

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

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 MT, Mr Kay Ren Tat.

New STEM Enrichments for 2016 STEM module for Sec 1 Science Code4Life for Sec 2s

STEM enrichments

Sec 1: STEM Day by UN Women (tog 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

DEMANDS OF UPPER SEC CURRICULUM

O Level syllabus is covered in Sec 3 & 4.

Sec 3 Sec 4

Content: breadth & depth

Quality of thinking & answers

SECONDARY 3 ASSESSMENTS

To be promoted to Secondary 4, a pupil must pass English Language and four other examination subjects.

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 30% 20% 50%

PROMOTION CRITERIA FOR SEC 3

Results Action Alternative action

Failed English but passed in at least 5 other subjects

Advanced to Sec 4

-

Passed English and 3 other subjects

Advanced to Sec 4, AND focus on a max of 7 subjects *

Pupil may opt to repeat Sec 3

Passed English and 2 other subjects

Advanced to Sec 4, AND focus on a max of 6 subjects *

Pupil may opt to repeat Sec 3.

Passed English and 1 other subject OR passed only 1 subject

Repeat Sec 3 Pupil may opt for the Normal (Acad) course in another

school.

APPEAL FOR SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTS AT GCE ‘O’ LEVELS FOR CANDIDATES WITH DISABILITIES

❑ Applications need to be submitted by end of Term 1 with documents

❑ Learning disabilities (e.g. Dyslexia, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Dyspraxia ..)

❑ Permanent physical disabilities (e.g speech &/or hearing impairment, visual impairment, physical impairment,…)

o Special arrangements made for candidates during GCE examinations will be annotated in the certificates:

Extra-time allowance;

Use of word processor facilities and other computer aids;

Modification of examination papers;

Exemption from satisfying the full range of assessment objectives in a subject (e.g. exemption from oral, listening comprehension etc.);

Use of Readers or Amanuenses/Scribes;

Special consideration in assessing the performance of the candidates;

invigilatory assistance, e.g. use of practical assistant in reading instrument with fine readings during practical examination.

APPEAL FOR SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTS AT GCE ‘O’ LEVELS FOR CANDIDATES WITH DISABILITIES

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) (Teacher i/c of competition will inform the staff BUT students should also take responsibility to alert their respective teachers)

ABSENCE FROM TESTS & EXAMS

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/ Project CARE)

BEING PRESENT FOR KEY SCHOOL CELEBRATIONS & 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 Secondary girls (even if they don’t say so).

EVERY PARENT A SUPPORTIVE PARTNER