Monk's Hill Secondary School Explained

Monk's Hill Secondary School
Native Name:蒙克山中学
Sekolah Menengah Monk's Hill
மாங்க்ஸ் ஹில் உயர்நிலைப்பள்ளி
Motto:The Will To Win
Streetaddress:12 Winstedt Rd, Singapore 227978
(Former Address)
Country:Singapore
Type:Government
Co-educational
Established:1958
Status:Merged with Balestier Hill Secondary School in 2007.
Closed:2006
Session:Single
Principal:N/A
City/Town:Newton
Enrolment:N/A (Closed)

The former Monk's Hill Secondary School (Abbreviation: MHSS;) was a secondary school in Newton, Singapore.

History

Founding

Monk's Hill Secondary School was founded in 1958 on a plot of land that was once the site of a Chinese monastery. The name ‘Monk’s Hill’ is a reminder of this piece of history. 1960 Monk's Hill presented its first batch of candidates for the national School Certificate Examination. In 1961 Monk's Hill was converted into an integrated school, offering both Malay- and English-stream classes.[1]

Monk's Hill Secondary held its first Speech and Prize-Presentation Day in 1967, and witnessed the formation of its School Advisory Committee in 1968. In 1976, Monk's Hill established itself as an English-medium school with effect of the merger of the two national education streams, namely Chinese and English streams.

In 1989, the Alumni Association of Monk's Hill Secondary School was formed. In 1993, Monk's Hill Secondary School relocated to its new premises at 12 Winstedt Road, and adopted a single session timetable. The Parent-Teacher Support Group was formed in 2000.

On 14 May 2004, the Ministry of Education announced that under the programme PRIME Phase 6, Anglo-Chinese School (Junior) will be relocated to the current site of Monk's Hill Secondary School.[2]

Closure

In January 2007, Monk's Hill Secondary School was merged into Balestier Hill Secondary School at Novena due to a drastic drop in enrollment, at fewer than 300 in 2006.[3] Nevertheless, the school attained the Academic Value Award in 2005 in recognition for its academic excellence.

A Flag Lowering Ceremony was held at 6:00 p.m. 22 November 2006 at 12, Winstedt Road, MHSS Parade Square. A few hundred former students turned up to witness the event together with the present staff and students. The school flag was presented to its principal, Mr. Syed Mohamed Ashraf Shah for his entrustment and safekeeping.

The former premises of Monk's Hill Secondary was, in 2009, taken over by the Anglo-Chinese Junior School.

Principal

Name of principalYears served
Mr A.G. Meyer1958 - 1958
Mr Abdul Karim Bin Bagoo1959 - 1964
Mr Jacob Yoong1964 - 1976
Mr Joseph Ng1976 - 1982
Mrs Neo Bick Yin1982 - 1988
Mrs Sita Vimalachandran1988 - 1992
Mr Toh Chye Seng1992 - 1994
Mrs Gan Lai Chui1994 - 1997
Mrs Abdullah Tarmugi1998 - 2002
Mr Syed Mohamed Ashraf Shah2002 - 2007

Achievements

Sports excellence

The former Monk's Hill Secondary School is a dominant icon in school sports in the 1960s and 1970s, especially in the inter-school rugby tournaments. Monk's Hill Secondary School was remembered as a title contender against of Raffles Institution, St Joseph's Institution and Beatty Secondary School for inter-schools rugby championship. Monk's Hill students also regularly participated in cricket, track and field, swimming and cross country races.

Notable alumni

Notes and References

  1. News: SIT Apartments, Old Schools and a Famous Hawker Centre at Monk's Hill. 22 May 2016. Remember Singapore. 25 September 2017. en-US.
  2. http://www.moe.gov.sg/press/2004/pr20040514.htm Information Sheet
  3. Web site: Monk's Hill Secondary School, 1966 : aerial view PictureSG. Singapore. ?? National Library Board. eresources.nlb.gov.sg. 25 September 2017.
  4. Web site: CECA debate: Hot mic catches 'illiterate', 'lousy school' remarks. 15 September 2021. sg.news.yahoo.com. en-SG.
  5. Web site: 1 July 2013. The Peak Interview: The Good Doctor. 15 September 2021. The Peak Singapore - Your Guide to The Finer Things in Life. en-US.