CHIJ Secondary (Toa Payoh)

Infobox Singapore School
name = CHIJ Secondary (Toa Payoh)
圣婴女子中学
Sekolah Menengah CHIJ (Toa Payoh)


motto = Simple in Virtue, Steadfast in Duty
established = 1854
type = Autonomous Secondary
principal = Mrs Regina Lee
session = Single session
colours = Blue, White
enrollment =
city/town = Toa Payoh
school code = 7004
homepage = [http://www.chijsectoapayoh.moe.edu.sg/ www.chijsectoapayoh.moe.edu.sg] CHIJ Secondary (Toa Payoh) is an autonomous all-girls Catholic school in Singapore. Founded in 1854, the school is the oldest of the 11 Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus (CHIJ) schools in Singapore. The school has recently been renovated and moved back to Toa Payoh Lorong 1 in January 2006, after having spent two years and nine months (2003, 2004 and 2005) at a holding site in Thomson Road. Miss Theodora Tan was CHIJ Secondary (Toa Payoh)'s principal until July 2006, before Mrs Regina Lee took over.

Motto

Simple Dans Ma Vertu, Forte Dans Mon DevoirThe English translation: Simple in Virtue, Steadfast in Duty.

“ Simple in Virtue, Steadfast in Duty ”

Virtue is a personal possession; no one can take it away from you against your will. An upright virtue goes out to one’s neighbour with spontaneous warmth. It judges oneself with humble honesty and it goes straight to God with childlike confidence.

“Steadfast in Duty” speaks for itself. Perseverance in what is one’s assigned vocation is not always easy but it yields that inner peace and freedom which no money can buy.

Mission

The Mission of an Infant Jesus Convent is the creation of a Christ-centred school community where all work together for the promotion of truth, justice, freedom and love, with special reference to the need of the pupils who are disadvantaged in any way.

Vision

Every child who leaves CHIJ Secondary:will be equipped to continue her education beyond secondary level will be confident, competent, compassionate and ready to serve society

In her hand will be her "O" Level Certificate
In her heart will be the capacity to love till it hurts
In her limbs will be strength and vigour
In her mind will be sharpness and power of choice
In her soul will be an ongoing thirst for perfection

Uniform

Students wear a knee-length blue pinafore with a belt at the waist, a white blouse with a Peter-Pan collar beneath the pinafore as well as white school socks, white-based sneakers and shorts underneath. Councillors, who were known as prefects previously, wear a pin above the school badge. There are different types of council badges: junior councillor (green), councillor (white) and 'noblesse oblige' for councillors in the executive committee. Committee members of the various co-curricular activities (CCA) wear a gold badge with the words 'CCA Committee' on it. The head and vice-head of the CCA wear a similar badge with the words 'CCA Leader'.During official engagements, students representing the school, usually councillors on most occasions, wear the formal uniform consisting of a long-sleeved white blouse, white skirt, with a navy blue blazer with the school crest on the left breast, along with a navy blue striped tie,a pair of black pumps and pantyhose.

Executive Committee of Student Council

Meldee Ching ( President )

Jocelyn Loong ( Vice-President )

Genevieve Heah

Marissa Karuna

Amanda Pai

Suzanne Tan

Venetia Lai

History

*1854 - The Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus (CHIJ) was established by four Sisters, three French and one Irish, at the corner of Bras Basah Road & Victoria Street, the present CHIJMES. Classes were started for fee paying students and orphans.
*1862 - CHIJ acquired more land as enrolment reached 145, of which 82 were free students.
*1881 - CHIJ was declared a government-aided school.
*1902 - Enrolment reached 300. The Junior Cambridge Examination was started.
*1905 - Secondary education commenced.
*1909 - The well-known Victoria Street Chapel was erected.
*1920 - Introduction of commercial classes, the first of its kind in Singapore and Domestic Science & Needlework into curriculum.
*1921 - "Registration of School Ordinance" came into being. CHIJ was registered on 1 August 1921.
*1931 - Acquisition of a piece of land adjoining Van Dyke Hotel. This was used as a hostel but subsequently became part of CHIJ Secondary.
*1964 - Separation of CHIJ into Primary and Secondary Schools.
*1969 - Introduction of common curriculum to Secondary 1 & 2.
*1975 - Pre-University classes in CHIJ were terminated.
*1983 - The school moved from Victoria Street to Toa Payoh in December.
*1984 - Classes began at the new site in Lorong 1 Toa Payoh in January.
*1985 - Official opening of CHIJ Primary & Secondary on 17 August.
*1986 - The Art Elective Programme (AEP) was introduced in CHIJ.
*1994 - CHIJ Secondary became an autonomous school. 140th Anniversary celebrations were held at the Jubilee Hall in Raffles Hotel.
*1999 - CHIJ celebrated the Beatification of Blessed Nicolas Barre on 27 May 1999. 145th Anniversary celebrations were held at the Nanyang Polytechnic Auditorium.
*2001 - Ms Theodora Tan assumed office as Principal after Sr.Anne Wong retired in December 2000.
*2003 - In March, CHIJ shifted out of the Toa Payoh premises for PRIME, the schools upgrading programme.
*2004 - In November, the school's 150th Anniversary celebrations were held at the Swissotel Stamford, Raffles Ballroom.
*2005 - In December, CHIJ shifted back to its new premises at Toa Payoh.
*2007 - Mrs Regina Lee replaced Ms Theodora Tan as Principal after she left to continue her studies at Brown University.
*2007 - CHIJ (Toa Payoh) was recognised as a Centre Of Excellence for Language and the Arts, offering both the Art Elective Programme and Drama as a GCSE O level subject starting in 2008.
*2007 - The completion of the new school building was celebrated with the IJ Promenade - a musical extravaganza titled 'Faith, Hope and Love: A Musical Journey Through Time', which was a collaboration with WildRice Productions and performed by students from both CHIJ Primary and Secondary.

Co-curricular Activities

The CCA framework in CHIJ provides students with a wide array of 28 CCAs from 4 categories; namely the Sports & Games, Performing Groups, Clubs & Societies and Uniformed Groups.

CHIJ Centre of Excellence for Language and the Arts

CHIJ Secondary was awarded South 3 Cluster Centre of Excellence for Language and the Arts in Aug 2007.

Affliation

CHIJ Secondary (Toa Payoh) is affliated to CHIJ Primary (Toa Payoh), Catholic Junior College.

External Links/References

* [http://schools.moe.edu.sg/chijsectp Official school website]
* [http://www.chijsectoapayoh.moe.edu.sg/default.aspx Official school SharePoint website]
* [http://www.chijalumni.org/ CHIJ Alumni]