CHIJ St. Nicholas Girls' School
Encyclopedia
CHIJ Saint Nicholas Girls' School (referred to as "SNGS", "SNG" or "St Nick's") is an all-girls' Catholic
primary
and secondary school
in Ang Mo Kio
, Singapore
. The school is one of 11 Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus
(CHIJ) schools in Singapore. SNGS has led the group of IJ schools with excellent results in sporting and academic achievements. The school was founded in 1933 by Father Nicholas Barre, originally as a Chinese school. Today, SNGS is one of the premier educational institutes in Singapore, ranking third in the list of top secondary girls' schools, and among the top 10 secondary schools in Singapore. SNGS has produced the top student for the GCE O' levels for 3 years in a row ( 2008, 2009, 2010)
There is affiliation for the students of the primary division during their Primary School Leaving Examination
. Students need to score less points to be accepted into the secondary sector of SNGS. The points vary every year.
In 1946, the enrolment expanded and unable to accommodate all students, the school relocated to the Town Convent, at Victoria Street. The school remained there from 1949 to 1971.
for permission to relocate to larger premises. In 1979, seven years after she had first appealed, there was still no response forthcoming. She decided to call on Mr Goh Keng Swee, the then Minister for Education, to promote her cause, and permission was granted.
At that time, the Ministry of Education had just introduced the Special Assistance Plan
(SAP) schools, and St Nicholas was one of the nine schools selected. The plan caters to academically-strong students with an aptitude for languages, and only students scoring 250 and above (out of a total of 300) for their PSLE aggregate are allowed admission. Students in the plan are taught English and their mother tongue at a much higher level than their peers.
In 1979, a pre-primary section was opened. By 1980, the Victoria Street premises could no longer hold the whole school and some classes had to move out. They were temporarily held at the former Tao Nan School building at Armenian Street and the former Raffles Girls' Primary School at Queen Street.
With his help, CHIJ was allocated to Toa Payoh, the first CHIJ school. Later on, a new school was built at Ang Mo Kio (St Nicholas) This school was designated Chong Boon Secondary School, but for now it would be part of St Nicholas Girls' School. Primary 6 to Secondary 4 classes were run at this location. Facilities, such as libraries, language rooms and science laboratories, had to be set up from scratch at all three locations, and staff had to shuttle between the three sites.
Finally, in 1983, the school was told to leave their premises at Victoria Street, and they were moved to a temporary building at Ang Mo Kio Avenue 8. But it seems that their prayers for a permanent school site have been answered. A choice site for the school has been found at Ang Mo Kio Avenue 2, Street 13, and on 2 January 1985, St. Nicholas had a place to call its own again.
) announced that under the programme PRIME
Phase 9, eight more schools will be upgraded from 2008 to 2010. St Nicholas is one of the selected for this upgrading.
In a latest circular issued by SNGS dated 23 June 2008, MOE has decided to defer PRIME upgrading projects which tenders have yet to be called till after 2009. This is part of the government efforts to moderate public sector construction projects due to the high domestic construction demand in 2008 and 2009.
The Primary Section of St Nicholas will be temporarily relocated to former Kebun Baru Primary site at 6 Ang Mo Kio Ave 2 from Jan 2010 to Dec 2011. The Secondary Section of St Nicholas will be temporarily relocated to former First Toa Payoh Primary/Secondary site at 430 Toa Payoh Lorong 1 from Jan 2010 to June 2012.
After the upgrading, St Nicholas will have more classrooms and be fitted with new or upgraded facilities including media resource libraries, IT learning resource rooms and pastoral care rooms. In additional, there will be a new indoor sports hall to provide greater flexibility in conducting co-curricular activities and PE lessons at any time of the school day without having to worry about the weather.
Hair has to be cut above the shoulders at all times, and hair lengths longer than that have to be pulled back in a neat ponytail.
Shoes have to be all white.
Nametags have to be worn above the school crest at all times. Students without their nametags have to purchase a temporary name tag from the school bookshop where they can write their name and class.
School monitors and prefects are required to wear their student leader badges above their nametags, and a student leader's tie around their collars.
Students are required to purchase "school socks", namely those with "SNG" printed clearly on it. Students must ensure that "SNG" is clearly visible (over their shoes) at all times and must not lie beneath the ankle.
:
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
primary
Primary education
A primary school is an institution in which children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as primary or elementary education. Primary school is the preferred term in the United Kingdom and many Commonwealth Nations, and in most publications of the United Nations Educational,...
and secondary school
Secondary education
Secondary education is the stage of education following primary education. Secondary education includes the final stage of compulsory education and in many countries it is entirely compulsory. The next stage of education is usually college or university...
in Ang Mo Kio
Ang Mo Kio
Ang Mo Kio（宏茂桥） is a heartland new town located in north central Singapore, and is generally within the North-East Region. It contains many of the common features of the island nation's neighbourhoods, e.g. hawker centres, wet markets and HDB housing blocks. Singapore's Prime Minister, Lee Hsien...
, Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
. The school is one of 11 Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus
Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus
The Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus schools are a group of eleven all-girls Catholic schools in Singapore. The first CHIJ school in Singapore was established at Victoria Street in 1854, by nuns of the Sisters of the Holy Infant Jesus. Today, the group includes six primary schools, four secondary...
(CHIJ) schools in Singapore. SNGS has led the group of IJ schools with excellent results in sporting and academic achievements. The school was founded in 1933 by Father Nicholas Barre, originally as a Chinese school. Today, SNGS is one of the premier educational institutes in Singapore, ranking third in the list of top secondary girls' schools, and among the top 10 secondary schools in Singapore. SNGS has produced the top student for the GCE O' levels for 3 years in a row ( 2008, 2009, 2010)
There is affiliation for the students of the primary division during their Primary School Leaving Examination
Primary School Leaving Examination
The Primary School Leaving Examination is a national examination taken by all students in Singapore near the end of primary six in primary school, which is also their last year in Primary school before they leave for secondary school. It is administered by the Ministry of Education...
. Students need to score less points to be accepted into the secondary sector of SNGS. The points vary every year.
History
The school's first location was in Hotel Van Dyke between 1933 to 1949. It was run by missionaries for daughters of wealthy Chinese merchants.In 1946, the enrolment expanded and unable to accommodate all students, the school relocated to the Town Convent, at Victoria Street. The school remained there from 1949 to 1971.
Victoria Street and others 1972-83
In 1971, the school population has again increased to 1500. Mrs Hwang-Lee (the then-principal) appealed to the Ministry of EducationMinistry of Education (Singapore)
The Ministry Of Education is a ministry of the Government of Singapore that directs the formulation and implementation of policies related to education in Singapore.-Statutory boards:...
for permission to relocate to larger premises. In 1979, seven years after she had first appealed, there was still no response forthcoming. She decided to call on Mr Goh Keng Swee, the then Minister for Education, to promote her cause, and permission was granted.
At that time, the Ministry of Education had just introduced the Special Assistance Plan
Special Assistance Plan
The Special Assistance Plan is a programme in Singapore which caters to academically strong students who excel in both their mother tongue as well as English. It is only available in selected secondary schools. In a SAP school, several subjects may be taught in the mother tongue, alongside other...
(SAP) schools, and St Nicholas was one of the nine schools selected. The plan caters to academically-strong students with an aptitude for languages, and only students scoring 250 and above (out of a total of 300) for their PSLE aggregate are allowed admission. Students in the plan are taught English and their mother tongue at a much higher level than their peers.
In 1979, a pre-primary section was opened. By 1980, the Victoria Street premises could no longer hold the whole school and some classes had to move out. They were temporarily held at the former Tao Nan School building at Armenian Street and the former Raffles Girls' Primary School at Queen Street.
Ang Mo Kio: 1985 to present
In 1982, the former Tao Nan School premises were no longer available to St Nicholas and they had to move out. The school's remaining two locations at the former Raffles Girls' Primary School and the original CHIJ building on Victoria Street did not have enough space for the entire school and a replacement had to be found urgently. Again, Mrs Hwang-Lee went straight to the top; this time to Mr Ho Kah Leong, then Parliamentary Secretary at the Ministry of Education.With his help, CHIJ was allocated to Toa Payoh, the first CHIJ school. Later on, a new school was built at Ang Mo Kio (St Nicholas) This school was designated Chong Boon Secondary School, but for now it would be part of St Nicholas Girls' School. Primary 6 to Secondary 4 classes were run at this location. Facilities, such as libraries, language rooms and science laboratories, had to be set up from scratch at all three locations, and staff had to shuttle between the three sites.
Finally, in 1983, the school was told to leave their premises at Victoria Street, and they were moved to a temporary building at Ang Mo Kio Avenue 8. But it seems that their prayers for a permanent school site have been answered. A choice site for the school has been found at Ang Mo Kio Avenue 2, Street 13, and on 2 January 1985, St. Nicholas had a place to call its own again.
Temporary Relocation: 2010 to 2011
On the 14 February 2007, the Ministry of Education (MOEMinistry of Education (Singapore)
The Ministry Of Education is a ministry of the Government of Singapore that directs the formulation and implementation of policies related to education in Singapore.-Statutory boards:...
) announced that under the programme PRIME
Programme For Rebuilding and IMproving Existing schools
Programme for Rebuilding and IMproving Existing schools is a programme initiated by the Ministry of Education in 1999 to upgrade and rebuild school buildings in Singapore.-Flexible School Infrastructure :...
Phase 9, eight more schools will be upgraded from 2008 to 2010. St Nicholas is one of the selected for this upgrading.
In a latest circular issued by SNGS dated 23 June 2008, MOE has decided to defer PRIME upgrading projects which tenders have yet to be called till after 2009. This is part of the government efforts to moderate public sector construction projects due to the high domestic construction demand in 2008 and 2009.
The Primary Section of St Nicholas will be temporarily relocated to former Kebun Baru Primary site at 6 Ang Mo Kio Ave 2 from Jan 2010 to Dec 2011. The Secondary Section of St Nicholas will be temporarily relocated to former First Toa Payoh Primary/Secondary site at 430 Toa Payoh Lorong 1 from Jan 2010 to June 2012.
After the upgrading, St Nicholas will have more classrooms and be fitted with new or upgraded facilities including media resource libraries, IT learning resource rooms and pastoral care rooms. In additional, there will be a new indoor sports hall to provide greater flexibility in conducting co-curricular activities and PE lessons at any time of the school day without having to worry about the weather.
School Attire
The school uniform consists of a blue pinafore worn with the school blouse with the option of shorts underneath. On days that students have their PE lessons, the school blouse is replaced with sports attire.Hair has to be cut above the shoulders at all times, and hair lengths longer than that have to be pulled back in a neat ponytail.
Shoes have to be all white.
Nametags have to be worn above the school crest at all times. Students without their nametags have to purchase a temporary name tag from the school bookshop where they can write their name and class.
School monitors and prefects are required to wear their student leader badges above their nametags, and a student leader's tie around their collars.
Students are required to purchase "school socks", namely those with "SNG" printed clearly on it. Students must ensure that "SNG" is clearly visible (over their shoes) at all times and must not lie beneath the ankle.
School song
Among the 11 IJ schools, the school song is the only one that is in ChineseChinese language
The Chinese language is a language or language family consisting of varieties which are mutually intelligible to varying degrees. Originally the indigenous languages spoken by the Han Chinese in China, it forms one of the branches of Sino-Tibetan family of languages...
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