Hwa Chong International School

Hwa Chong International School
(Chinese: 华中国际学校)
Location
663 Bukit Timah Road, Singapore 269783
Singapore
Information
Type Private international school/co-educational/Secondary 1 to IB 2
Established 2005
Principal Mr Koh Chin Nguang
Enrollment 600
Campus type Limited access with security
Colour(s) Red, white,khaki
Affiliation Hwa Chong family of schools: Hwa Chong Institution, Hwa Chong Institution Boarding School
Abbreviation HCIS
Religion Secular
Website www.hcis.edu.sg

Hwa Chong International School (Chinese: 华中国际学校; pinyin: Huá Zhōng Guójì Xuéxiào), a co-educational secondary international school in Singapore, is an affiliated school of Hwa Chong Institution catering to both local and foreign students.

Overview

HCIS was founded in 2005.[1] A private independent school, it is an extension of the Hwa Chong cluster of schools and colleges. Local regulations require international schools to keep at least half their places for Singaporeans and permanent residents.[2]

It was reported in 2010 that the school planned to increase its enrollment from 480 to 600.[2]

Many HCIS students stay in the Hwa Chong International Boarding School (compulsory for foreigners), next to HCIS.

Academics

HCIS offers a six-year programme, Secondary 1 to IB 2 (Grade 7 to Grade 12), finishing with the International Baccalaureate (IB).[1] The school switched to the IB Diploma programme in 2009. Previously, it offered a six-year course for International 'A Level' in a wide range of subjects. In addition, the average score of the IB results for HCIS are steadily increasing as seen from previous years due to the intake of more experienced teachers.

HCIS also takes the IGCSE examination (year 4) and its lowest MSG (lower the better) is 1.65 for the batch of 2011.

The final batch of 'A Level' students graduated in 2010 along with the first batch of graduating IB students.

The IB results in February 2011, HCIS achieved a pass rate of 100%, making it one of the top IB performers worldwide.[3]

Activities

In November 2007, Hwa Chong International School hosted an International Youth Forum on Global Warming, attended by students from several countries.[4]

In 2009, a group of Pre-University 2 students participated in the HPC Quest, an educational outreach program by A*STAR'S (Agency for Science, Technology and Research) Institute of High Performance Computing. The team brainstormed on the topic 'Digging for Cavities', working closely along with their teacher and a researcher from IHPC. HCIS was announced as the challenge champions.

HCIS was one of the three IB schools in Singapore chosen to host the International Baccalaureate Asia Pacific Regional Workshop in March 2009.[5]

In June 2010, 15 students represented HCIS in the 20th Model United Nations (SMUN) hosted by the National University of Singapore (NUS). Among the 20 schools, both local and foreign, which participated in SMUN, HCIS was given the SMUN Best Delegation award, an achievement earned by the top three schools based on their team performance in the writing of position papers and their actual performance during the SMUN, which involves debates and redrafting of resolutions.

HCIS screened the 2010 World Cup finals in the school's multi-purpose hall.

HCIS also organizes a yearly talent competition called the Innofest where students in HCIS get an opportunity to showcase their amazing talents.

In August 2013, HCIS organized an International Business Challenge where it brought together students from all over the world to compete in the field of business (e.g. marketing and knowledge in regards to brands and their meaning)

Campus

The present HCIS campus was completed in 2005. It stands between the canteen of the high school section of Hwa Chong Institution and the Boarding School, and contains two blocks. One has 36 classrooms, while the other contains the administration office and staff rooms, six science laboratories, a multi-purpose hall, a lecture theatre, the gallery, a computer room, a media resource centre, a street soccer court, an ecogarden and a two-floor library, which opened in 2009. The campus provides wireless internet in key locations. Classrooms are air-conditioned. HCIS continues to use some of the facilities of Hwa Chong Institution, such as the canteen, track and field, gym, swimming pool and tennis court.

HCIS has completed its on-campus housing for its students. In addition to this expansion, HCIS has completed its multi-sports complex, street soccer court and tennis courts.

Fees and scholarships

Fees at HCIS were reported in 2009 to be considerably less than at "exclusive" private schools in Singapore.[6] The annual fees for 2011 are SGD 18,000 in Secondary 1 to Secondary 4 and SGD 20,400 in Pre-university 1 and 2.[7]

HCIS has a scholarship fund to help students from humble backgrounds who could not otherwise afford an international school education. Peter Lim, a former remisier, donated SGD 2 million to it in March 2011.[8]

Admission

Students who wish to enrol in the school via Direct School Admission (DSA) have to take an entrance exam which involves two papers, Mathematics and Science, and this is preceded by an interview with a teacher. Students enrolling using their PSLE results will need only to take an interview with a teacher.

Ethos, uniform and discipline

All subjects are taught in English, except for Chinese. All interactions with teachers must be in English.[9] The school claims to provide a holistic education by means of "rigorous academic lessons, structured co-curricular activities and customised school programmes".[10]

The school uniform is a casual jacket with the HCIS logo, a Polo T-shirt, and white trainers, with visible white ankle socks. Girls wear either khaki skirt or Bermudas. Boys up to and including Secondary 3 (Years 7, 8 and 9) wear khaki shorts. Only in Secondary 4 (Year 10) and above may they wear long trousers.[11]

The school states that it employs "a full range of consequences, both positive and negative", to guide student behaviour.[12] Good work is rewarded with commendations, award of certificates of merit and achievement, early promotion to a higher grade, positive reports from teachers to parents, and selection for overseas visits.[13]

For behaviour there is a merit and demerit point system. Poor conduct may result in a student being placed on report, with daily feedback to parents and the Principal; denial of privileges such as free time during break periods; and "time out" periods. Demerit points require attendance at a weekly "formal reflection" session. Male students who persistently misbehave receive corporal punishment in the form of a caning. Students who accumulate 10 or more demerit points, and make no effort to improve, face strokes of the cane (boys) or suspension (girls). The same penalties are also applied in the case of serious offences such as vandalism, bullying or defiance.[10]

Notes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Changes at other families of schools". The Straits Times (Singapore). 10 February 2010.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Kok, Melissa; Sim, Melissa (14 May 2010). "International arms of top schools to expand". The Straits Times (Singapore).
  3. ↑ Soh, Alvina (4 February 2011). "S'pore students among top IB performers worldwide". Channel NewsAsia (Singapore).
  4. ↑ Tannason, Steven (29 November 2009). "The road to Copenhagen is ours to walk". The Jakarta Post.
  5. ↑ "IB Asia Pacific regional workshop agenda" (PDF). International Baccalaureate. March 2009.
  6. ↑ Chowdhury, Neel (15 March 2009). "Laid Off in Singapore: Ex-Pats Have to Downsize". Time (New York).
  7. ↑ "Fee Structure". Hwa Chong International School. 2011.
  8. ↑ Ng, Jane (25 March 2011). "Peter Lim gives $2m for Hwa Chong scholarship". The Straits Times (Singapore).
  9. ↑ School Policies. Hwa Chong International School. p. 8.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 School Policies. p. 13.
  11. ↑ School Policies. p. 6.
  12. ↑ School Policies. p. 5.
  13. ↑ School Policies. p. 9.

External links