| Westwood Secondary School | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
| Jurong West, | |
| Information | |
| Type | Government |
| Motto | Rooted to Soar |
| Established | 2000 |
| Session | Single |
| School code | 3620 |
| Principal | Miss Betty Chow |
| Enrollment | Approx. 1,000 |
| Colour(s) | Green,Brown |
| Website | www.westwoodsec.moe.edu.sg |
Westwood Secondary School (Abbreviation:WWSS;Chinese:维林中校;Malay:Sekolah Menengah Westwood) is a government secondary school in 11 Jurong West Street 25, Singapore 648350 which started off in 2000 at a classroom block in Hua Yi Secondary School and by some teachers of that school before moving to its present premises in 2001.[1]
The school has a good reputation in the neighbourhood for its strict attitute towards education and curriculum. Over 80% of its Secondary One students made this school one of their top 3 choice schools during the Secondary One Posting Exercise. In 2011, according to an interview with the school by Lianhe Zaobao, the cut-off aggregate to its express stream was 217. During the 2010 GCE O level Examinations, about two-third of its candidates scored L1R5 points lower than 21 and were able to enter the A level course. [1]
It is one of the few schools that allows hand phones and electronic gadgets to be brought into the school compound, though usage within it is prohibited and confiscation applies should students be caught using them in it. Even so, the confiscated items can be retrieved back 24 hours after confiscation, much shorter than the traditional 10 weeks(or after long school holiday periods, whichever is longer) in other schools. This policy of allowing hand phones to be brought to school was introduced in 2011 when Mrs Sandra Gwee became the 3rd principal of the school.
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Despite its short history, Westwood has established itself as a school of choice in Jurong West. The school embraces holistic education for its students to soar towards excellence, not just academically but also in character development.
As drivers of excellence, the teachers at Westwood are constantly up-skilling themselves and expanding their knowledge by building a Professional Learning Community. The aim is to enhance the quality of teaching and learning in Westwood.
Westwood offers choice and flexibility to cater to students of different abilities and talents. In addition to exiting subjects such as Economics and Physical Education at 'O' Levels, there is also a range of in-house enrichments, elective modules and advanced elective modules offered.
The school is committed to deliver quality outcomes in all domains of development - physical, cognitive, moral, social, emotional and aesthetic. In each of these domains, a myriad of school and level programmes have been organized to develop the desired knowledge, skills, values and competences of those students.
Westwood's palette of Co-curricular Activities further contributes to Westwoodians' holistic development through promotion of life skills learning and leadership training.
Rooted in Character and Skills to Soar for the Nation.
The Westwood Community builds confident communicators and critical thinkers who are anchored in sound values and connected locally and globally.
The tree featured in the Westwood crest is the pandanus furcatus, an unique tree occasionally found in Singapore. The roots of this tree are very unusual, serving not only the purpose of drawing nutrients from the ground but also of supporting the trunk. The graphic strokes represent the five core qualities the school instills in its students.
Pandanus Furcatus is a strong tree that requires little maintenance to thrive, indicative of the resilience and adaptability of Westwood students. The gradation of color within the trunk and roots, from light to dark green, signifies the progress of Westwood students as their minds mature.
1.Confident Person
2.Self-directed Learner
3.Active Contributor
4.Concerned Citizen
Westwood places strong emphasis on continual learning for both teachers and students. The school has developed a structured approach in the professional development of the staff and students. It has moved towards building a Professional Learning Community (PLC) by setting up staff into professional learning teams to look into various curricular and pedagogical aspects of teaching and learning.
Teachers have the opportunity to share the outcomes of their areas of research through various platforms at the school, cluster, national and international level. In 2010, three PLC teams had the opportunity to present their findings in Brunei, Malaysia and another two will be going to Japan at the end of 2011.
Westwood has a high percentage of teachers who have completed or are pursuing further studies.[1]
The Business studies department offers Economics, Principles of Accounts and Elements of Business Skills to upper secondary students. Business students are offered various opportunities to engage in authentic learning experiences to develop an innovative and entrepreneurial spirit.
The science department uses a two-pronged approach in its quest to improve the teaching and learning of science for Westwoodians. This includes engagement in learning and encouragement through value-added programmes such as additional classes on certain subjects for students during the school holidays.
Physical Education at 'O' level was introduced in 2011 after graining approval from the Ministry of Education in 2010. The course includes both theoretical and practical aspects of Physical Education. The objective is to develop pupils' passion for sports and inculcative values of sportsmanship. It also promotes healthy lifestyle, enriches the sporting culture and sports talent in the school. However, not every student can take this subject as they have to attain at least a 'silver' at NAPFA test in secondary two and be well-liked by the teachers.
It offers Westwoodians different activities on the mornings(7.45am to 8.30am) of Wednesday and Thursday each week to develop different domains towards holistic education for all and also to gain CCA points through the 'Modular Sports' category.
A whole school work-out session in which each level takes on different physical exercises - road run(outside school), vertical run(in the school building), kick-boxing and push ball(at the school field) to build both physical capacity and mental tenacity. It is managed by the Physical Education department.
Through this, students stay attuned to local and global happenings, thinking on one's feet and express their own views, while engaging in class discussions and presentations on current and global issues dealing with themes ranging from education to technology to politics, to develop their critical thinking skills and the capacity to express their views and opinions coherently. It is also a vehicle to promote National Education and as such it is managed by the National Education department.
The level programmes encompass level-wide participation in activities that cater to various aspects of a student's development in aesthetics, physical fitness and leadership. A list of programmes offered can be found at the school's website.