St Joseph’s Institution International

Enter to learn ~ leave to serve

GRADE 7 PROGRAMME

Welcome to

We are proud to share with you some essential information about our school, and in particular the experiencethat Grade 7 students have when joining us at SJI International. We have grown to become one of the leadingInternational schools in Singapore. The unique educational experience that we provide makes SJI International avery special place to learn and to live as a young person.

i) Academic Learning - A broad, balanced and progressiveeducational programme based on the English NationalCurriculum (Grades 7 and 8); IGCSE Curriculum (Grades 9 and10); and the IB Diploma programme (Grades 11 and 12)

ii) Service Learning - Students support a range of charitiesand organisations, going beyond their self-interest and servingthe needs of others. The Service programmepromotes an appreciation of the world aroundus, and develops skills and understanding thatare driven by experience. Full studentparticipation reflects the character and spirit ofour school, and creates significant opportunitiesfor personal development.

iii) Co-curricular Learning - All studentsparticipate in an extensive co-curricularprogramme covering a diverse range of cultural,artistic, academic or sport and leisure activities.The Co-curricular Programme ‘allows learning to

happen’ and requires students to make a sustainedcommitment, developing their motivation and leadership tosucceed, and having great fun in the process.

iv) Outdoor Education – Students in each Grade participatein challenging residential experiences where self discipline andteam work are tested. Students are expected to step out of

their ‘comfort zone’, to develop their own resilienceas a learner, and support others around them.Students gain confidence in their own abilities,discover innovative ways to overcome obstacles andturn challenges into positive life experiences.

This holistic education programme encouragesopportunities to learn through experience and forstudents to develop resilience, determination andresolve. Students recognise the importance ofworking independently and collaboratively and areactive citizens in their school and community.

We are a Lasallian international school that is aliving expression of the vision of St John Baptist deLa Salle, inspirational 17th centuryeducational innovator, patron saint ofteachers, and founder of the DeLa Salle Brothers. We are aproud partner with over1000 schools serving nearlyone million students in 80countries in theworldwide Lasalliannetwork. As a Catholicschool in the Lasalliantradition, we are

committed to the Principles of Quality Education,Respect for All Persons, Concern for the Poor and

the Promotion of Justice, in an InclusiveCommunity that celebrates Faith in

the Presence of God.

At SJI International, theSMILES Values give life to

this vision through alearning experiencebased on Spirituality,Mutual Respect,Internationalism,Leadership,Experiences, andService.

Our mission is:

‘to enable students to learn how to learn and learn how to live,empowering them to become people of integrity and people for others’.

SJI International

Learning at SJI International has

4 core elements

The Foundation IGCSE Programme is an academically rigorous two year course designed toprovide a pathway from primary education through to the challenges of IGCSEs in Grades 9and 10 and ultimately to the IB Diploma Programme.

This programme provides a rich mixture of academic content and the ability for students todevelop crucial learning attributes, such as inquiry, communication and risk-taking. In orderfor students to make informed subject choices, as they progress through the school, theyexperience a broad and balanced curriculum in the following subjects:

Grade 7 lesson allocation per subject

*Additional cost **Subject to interest

Subject Lessons per week

English 5

Maths 6

Science 6

Chinese, Malay, Tamil, Hindi*, Indonesian, Spanish and French** 6

Art 2

Drama 1

Geography 3

History 3

Music 2

Physical Education 4

Religious Education (RE) / Personal and Social Education (PSE) 2

Academic Learning

“SJI International is aschool that is tailoredto everyone’s needs.I really feel a partof the Lasalliancommunity and look

forward to schoolevery day.”Ryan Grade 7

“Each lesson isinteresting in its own way; we end uplearning a lot even ifwe don’t realise it. What I love is that allthe teachers teach us

HOW to think notWHAT to think.” Jade Grade 7

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Does my child need to take mothertongue in High School?Any student who is a Singapore Citizenor Permanent Resident must take theirmother tongue language unless he/shehas obtained an exemption from theMinistry of Education of Singapore. Non-Singaporeans are free to choose from thelanguage options available.

How can we best support our childwith their work in Chinese, whenwe do not speak any Chinese athome?Parents with no Chinese experienceshould encourage their child to seek toexploit all opportunities for speaking,reading and writing the language inschool. The class teacher will offersupport and extra help as required, bothwithin and outside lesson time. Also,extra-curricular activities such as,‘Conversational Mandarin’ exist for thisvery purpose. We strongly encouragestudents to read Chinese newspapers asnewspapers offer essential support inlanguage learning. Students will beencouraged to subscribe to various typesof local Chinese newspapers suitable fortheir levels.

Are students streamed?The majority of lessons in Grade 7 & 8 aretaught in tutor group classes. It is only inMathematics (from Grade 8) andadditional language (from Grade 7)where the students will be set into classesof equivalent ability and performance. Thisis to ensure that the students receiveappropriate support and challenge fromthe class teacher. These sets will beperiodically reviewed to ensure the correctongoing placement.

What is the nature of assessment inGrade 7? Assessment is a continuous process,integral to teaching and learning, and tothe curriculum. It should help to plan anddeliver effective learning to pupils. Themethods of assessment that we employinform teachers, pupils and parents aboutprogress made and help further learningtargets to be set. These assessment pieceswill not simply be topic tests, though theyare obviously important, but alsopresentations, research projects, practicalexperiments and other methods whichare also focused on skill and personaldevelopment. There are no formal end ofyear examinations for Grades 7 and 8with individual subjects adopting acomprehensive system of assessmentthroughout the year.

How much homework is expectedof my son/daughter?In Grade 7 students will receive ahomework schedule for each week,across all the subjects, which correspondsto a daily commitment of about 1 ½hours. The purpose of homework is toreinforce, extend and challenge thestudents based on the work studied inclass and not simply to replicate it.

How are students supported intheir learning?SJI International has dedicated provisionfor students who may have specificlearning needs. Our LearningDevelopment Department hasexperienced staff who work closely withstudents to ensure that any barriers tolearning are addressed appropriately.Teaching staff are supported to ensurethat relevant strategies are implementedin the classroom, and that each child’slearning is truly personalised.

What curriculum is offered toCatholic students joining SJIInternational?Within RE all students will have theopportunity to investigate the majorfaiths in terms of their rituals, texts, andbelief systems. Also they will beintroduced to the work of St JohnBaptist de La Salle and the LasallianPrinciples that underpin the schoolethos. All Catholic students in Grade 7will need to participate in one of TheCatholic League Activities: namelyChapel Ministry, Legion of Mary or YCS(Young Christian Students); the last twoare run through the CatholicArchdiocese Centre. This is to ensurethat the Catholic students are inculcatedwith the correct values in terms of theirCatholic faith and spirituality duringtheir crucial faith formation years.

FAQs

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Do students have to do aCCA Activity?All students are expected to do at leastone activity and our concern onoccasions is that students do toomany! Pupils love to participate, andare extremely well motivated. All IBstudents have to complete at least 150hours Creativity, Action and Service topass the Diploma, so getting into goodhabits in Grade 7 is alwaysencouraged. Grade 7 Catholic studentsare expected to attend a CatholicLeague CCA.

What happens if my child does notlike the Activity and wants tochange?We encourage all students to fullycommit to an activity. Students shouldnot change for reasons such as findingout that that their friends are in anotheractivity. However, if they really do not likethe activity and parents are happy forthem to change, they can switchactivities by completing a Change ofActivity Form. This form can be obtainedfrom our CCA Coordinator, Moodle orthe Student Drive.

Our wide variety of lunchtime and after-school activities is one of the many strengths of theschool. The programme supports our SMILES values and in later years helps studentsdevelop the skills needed to succeed in the IB Programme, where regular active participationin creative and active pursuits is a requirement. All students in the school are expected toattend at least one school activity per week, and most engage in far more.

We have over 60 activities on offer to students (22 Sporting, 12 Musical and27 Non-Sporting activities). These activities include a number of sports in

which the school competes against other International and localschools including Football, Badminton, Rugby, Netball, Basketball,Tennis and Swimming, as well as other sports where the focus ismainly on the development of skills such as Rock Climbing, Aikido,Scuba Diving and Trampolining.

Our excellent Music Department runs eight ensembles to interestall, from the Orchestra and Choir to Samba Drumming, Gamelan,Brass Ensemble and the Music Technology Club – to name a few.

Our Non-Sporting Activities programme is also strong. This includesour Debating Team, Maths and English tutoring, Conversational

Mandarin and our English as an Additional Language Club. We alsohave many activities for students to develop new skills and interests, such

as Scouts, Chess, Art and Drama Clubs.

Co-curricular Learning

“The CCAprogramme at SJIInternational reallyallows us to becomewell rounded andeducated individuals.”

Alex Grade 9

“CCAs give us a chance to experiencesomething that we donot usually experienceduring lessons. We have opportunities to

improve oncertain skills orlearn new ones.” Anna Grade 7

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Are expeditions mandatory? Yes - all students are required to go.Occasionally we have a student who isunable to attend due to illness (eg abroken leg, not a cold). It can be a newchallenge for students and parents alikebut expeditions are life changingexperiences that set up students for thechallenges of High School.

How do you ensure thatexpeditions always consider thesafety of my child?Safety is our primary concern.Expeditions are organised by our

experienced Outdoor Education Specialistwho liaises with reputable vendors toplan and implement each uniqueexperience. Certified instructors arespecialists in their discipline, often withSingaporean certification. They have awealth of experience and will seethousands of students a year from smallspecialised expeditions to whole schoolcamps with several hundred students.Safety is a priority and we always planaccess to a doctor or nurse on site.Comprehensive accident insurance is inplace.

What will my son/daughter bedoing on the G7 expedition? Expeditions are designed to get studentsworking together, communicatingeffectively and building a sense ofcommunity. The challenge of learningnew skills and sharing commonexperiences, all help to foster a sense ofinterdependence, independence anddetermination. Experiential learning isalso a lot of fun and a great opportunityfor many laughs and cheers. On theGrade 7 Camp to Loola in Bintan,students will be exposed to therudimentary skills of kayaking, climbing,cooking and raft building.

The Grade expeditions that run from Grade 7 to 9 are a major part of experiential learningat SJI International. All Grade 7 students are requiredto participate as part of the SJI Internationalholistic education programme.

Grade 7 students visit Loola Resort onBintan for a five-day residentialexpedition organised by experienced,certified and trusted vendors. Thisexperience introduces them to manydifferent land and sea-based activities.The emphasis is to develop a sense ofcommunity, fostering confidence andenthusiasm amongst students for theirnew experiences at High School. There isalso a strong Service element on the Grade

7 expedition where students and tutorsvisit underprivileged children in

orphanages or kindergartensand begin to plan a year-long

Service commitment. TheGrade 7 expedition is anessential part of the school’s

curriculum and ethos, incorporatingall aspects of our SMILES values.

As students progress through the school, there aremany other opportunities for experiential learningoutdoors. These include activities such as field tripsand visits within Singapore and overseas, and theNational Youth Achievement Award (NYAA) etc.Such opportunities provide learning experiences that

cannot be replicated inthe classroom andprepare students for lifefar beyond school.

Outdoor Education

“The outdoorexpeditions are funand are a good wayof making newfriends whilst learning

our core values.” Glenn Grade 7

“Loola was an excitingand enrichingexperience - bondingwith our Tutor Groupand helping the less

privileged made it allthe more worthwhile.” Hannah Grade 7

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Service to others is central to our holistic programme here at SJIInternational. We consider Service as a core learning element, and it isone of six values of the SMILES programme that underpin everyaspect of the Lasallian ethos at SJI International.

Service in Grade 7 is woven into our weekly timetable and is also partof the experiential learning programme. Scheduled into the annualweek-long residential experience to Loola Resort on Bintan in early

February, every tutor group visits and establishes links with aCommunity Involvement Programme organisation, includingorphanages or kindergartens that are recognised as having needof logistical, financial and spiritual support. The Grade 7 Servicelearning element requires that each tutor group delivers a capitalproject financed through on-going fundraising events throughoutthe school year, and an optional return to their link organisation

undertaken by volunteer representatives from each tutor group toshare learning projects, enjoy team-building experiences and

participate in bonding activities with children from a different culturalbackground but of the same age.

By creating these life changing Service opportunities, the Grade 7 students have the chanceof making a lasting and meaningful difference to other children’slives and enriching their own learning during this influentialperiod of their education. The Creativity Action Service(CAS) programme in the senior years is fundamental todeveloping key aspects of the IB Learner Profile.

Service“The Service wedid this year wasextremelymeaningful as wewere given thechance to give backto the community

and care for theless fortunate ina really fun way.”Nadya Grade 7

“Loola allowedus to help thoseless fortunatethan ourselves,

developing ourvirtues whilst facingnew challenges.” AnonGrade 8

Is service compulsory in Grade 7?Yes. Every Grade 7 child will follow astructured Social Service element which isintegrated into the Pastoral TutorProgramme throughout the year.

Can my children undertake their ownSocial Service Programme?This would not be discouraged, and servicework completed outside of school isrecognised and celebrated at school,however this would be in addition to theService programmes for each Grade. Themotivation behind most service initiatives orcharitable events comes from our students– this reflects their true Lasallian spirit.

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Students often learn best when they are given opportunities to develop their qualities as alearner - in particular their leadership qualities. The student body at SJI International hasstrong participation in school matters. Our School Council resolves school issuescollaboratively with Pastoral Leaders, and instigates numerous whole school initiatives andprojects with outstanding success.

There are many other ways for students to develop ‘leadership for learning’, in bothcurriculum areas and the broader life of the school. Our best advocates and ambassadorsare always the students themselves.

Student Leadership

A message from thePresident of the SeniorSchool Student Council

The learning environment at SJIInternational is truly unique in many ways.The relationship between teachers andstudents was one which was very new tome when I first came to the school in2011. Exchanges between students andteachers often go two ways, and questionasking is encouraged, resulting in learningwhich caters to each individual student,and also makes for a much more engaginglesson. This relationship allows teachers totruly get to know their students and helpthem with any problems they may haveboth inside and outside the classroom.Besides this, the education received at SJIInternational is one which goes beyond theclassroom, with the teaching staff stayingtrue to the school’s teaching philosophyand focusing on transferable skills ratherthan simply memorising mountains ofinformation, allowing students to 'learnhow to learn'.

The holistic education received at SJIInternational also manifests itself in themultitude of co-curricular activities on offer.From the SMILES awards to NYAA to FCAS

and finally CAS, students at SJIInternational are encouraged, andrequired, to complete a certain number ofhours of such activities, which arecategorised into: Creativity, Action andService. Creativity includes activities such asJazz Band, Art Club, Debating andProgramming, and applies to activitiesthrough which students can learn newcreative skills which may just be hobbies,but could easily benefit them in the longrun. Action activities encompass all thesporting CCAs from running club toswimming, from yoga to badminton – allactivities that keep students active andhealthy. Last but by no means least, Serviceplays a leading role in the lives of students.Students find themselves giving back tosociety by visiting homes for the elderly,planting gardens in hospitals, tutoring theirfellow students; the opportunities areendless!

Student leadership roles here at SJIInternational are generally easy to comeby, and are always rewarding. Studentsare often empowered to run their ownevents in the school. In fact some of thebiggest events at school, ranging fromHair for Hope to A Day Without Shoes, tomusic events such as Rock Night, were allinitiated, and are run annually by studentsand students alone! Events are not limitedto the school either, with some studentsgoing beyond the school to run publicevents, an example of which is FirstAids.FirstAids is a music concert, with all profitsgoing to assist patients with HIV/AIDS,which has been run twice so far, raising atotal of over $50,000.

Opportunities such as these arise so oftenin the school, and through them I havegrown so much as a student, and as amember of society as a whole. I have hadno regrets about coming to this school,and neither will you. So long as you keepan open mind, reach for your dreams, SJIInternational will show you how anybodycan turn a dream into a reality.

Isaac Tan, G11

Form Rep

Grade RepSenior Council

Student Advancement

Board

StudentAmbassadors

PSX

Scouts

NYAA

House Captains

Representative teams

(eg. in sports,academics

and the arts)

Student Council

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LeadershipResponsibilities

The pastoral care system at SJI International supports students’ spiritual, physical and socialwellbeing in accordance with the Lasallian ethos of the school. The Grade Heads and Tutorsadminister the system under the leadership of the Principal and the Vice Principal (Pastoral).Every student is assigned to a Tutor Group led by a Tutor. The Tutor sees the tutees for 20

minutes at the start of every school day either at Assembly or in the TutorRoom. The Tutor takes an attendance register and communicates with

parents, subject teachers and tutees about the students’ progress. Timeis spent getting to know tutees individually and in small groups

through conversations about academic work, activities, serviceprojects, friendship issues and other aspects of school life. The Tutoralso organises Tutor Group activities such as outings anddiscussions relating to personal, social and health education andcurrent affairs. In this way, the Tutor and his/her tutees will forge astrong bond. The Tutor will become one of the important adults inthe tutees’ lives and facilitate their development through school life.

Tutors are led by Grade Headswho are integral to the pastoralcare programme, and work closelywith teams of Tutors. They ensurethat the Lasallian Principles and

SMILES values underpin eachlearning experience at SJI

International, and that every student isgiven the fullestsupport in everyaspect of schoollife.

Pastoral Support

“My Tutor isextremely nice andmakes our TutorGroup session reallyinteresting. I feel

like I learn a lotfrom her eachday.” Carena Grade 7

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Do we have a Behaviour Policy?We have a very clear Behaviour forLearning policy where we encouragestudents to demonstrate behaviourmodelled on respect, responsibility,and resilience in their learning.Specifically –

• Respect – for ourselves, each otherand our learning environment.

• Responsibility – for our learning andbehaviour as a valued member ofthe school community.

• Resilience in learning – forindependently developingknowledge, skills, and critical andcreative thought for a life of activecitizenship.

The excellent behaviour and attitudedemonstrated by students at SJIInternational is an outcome of thepositive culture and ethos that wecreate. Student achievement isrecognised and celebrated in a varietyof ways, and reinforces positiverelationships and successful learning.The school ‘Code of Behaviour’,endorsed by the Student Council, is amodel of the behaviour we expect atSJI International. A range of behaviourmanagement strategies are used topromote positive behaviour, establishclear routines for learning, and dealassertively and proportionately withthe rare occurrences of inappropriatebehaviour.

Is there ‘bullying’ at the school?A unique feature of our student ethos atSJI International is the commonacceptance of each other, regardless ofthe social or cultural differences thatenrich our international community.However, there are rare occurrences of‘bullyish’ behaviour that are resolvedquickly and effectively by teachers andHeads of Grade. There are clearconsequences to all actions, whetherpositive or negative, and the pastoralteam implement a restorative andgraduated approach to resolving allconflicts. Parents/guardians are alwaysthe first to be informed of any issues thatmay arise, and these are addressedcollaboratively.

Is there a School Counsellor?2016 will see SJI International add ateam of Counsellors to our pastoralsupport provision. Students or parentsmay contact the counsellor directly. Inaddition, subject teachers or tutors mayrefer a student to the counsellor for help.

How do parents/guardianscommunicate with the school?We encourage all parent/guardians toimmediately contact the school if theyhave any concerns about their child. Ifthe issue is related to a particular subjectthen the teacher or Head ofFaculty/Department should be contacted,and for general issues the Tutor is therecommended point of contact. We

encourage parents/guardians tocontact staff directly by email, bytelephone, or by appointment. TheStudent Planner is also a useful andconsistent medium of contact betweenhome and school.

How can parents/guardians getinvolved in the life of the school?We have a very active Parent SupportGroup (PSG) with representatives ineach Grade. Our PSG reps have regulardialogue with the Principal concerningthe development of the school, andorganise a significant number ofcelebratory and social events andinitiatives.

What are the School Uniformrules and regulations?Students uphold the good name of theschool and wear our uniform withpride. The girls uniform consists of awhite blouse (or the option in theSenior School to wear a white poloshirt) and a Green skirt or skort, whilstthe boys wear a white shirt (or theoption in the Senior School to wear awhite polo shirt), and Green trousers.All students wear plain black leather orleatherette shoes. On Mondays webegin the week wearing formal dresswhere students wear a school tie andformal white shirt.

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I hope this document and the contact that youhave had with the school, provides a goodunderstanding of the education we provide.Active child-centred Learning is at the heart ofeverything we do, and we recognise theoutstanding achievements that our studentshave each day in the four areas of Academic,Service, Co-curricular and Outdoor Education.

We truly believe that the young people whoattend SJI International leave our school havingsuccessfully ‘learnt how to learn and learnt howto live’, and we are very proud of them.

Mr Bradley Roberts (Principal)

St Joseph’s Institution International490 Thomson RoadSingapore 298191(+65) 6353 9383www.sji-international.com.sg

Admissions: admissions.hs@sji-international.com.sg

A SCHOOL OF THE DE LA SALLE BROTHERS