PROGRAMMES

Projects Competition

Project work aims to develop global, independent lifelong learners by enhancing the research culture amongst both pupils and teachers. It facilitates learning beyond the classroom and provides a meaningful platform for students to apply and synthesize the knowledge gained from their thinking, research and IT skills lessons to solve real-life problems.

Over the years, the quality and quantity of the projects have taken a quantum leap, developing from subject and curriculum-based student's work to projects involving authentic research supported by an active mentorship program. The final products are submitted for the school wide Projects Competition involving several rounds of oral presentations as well as a web-based report. Besides providing a platform for healthy competition, Projects Competition also provides the opportunity for pupils to keep in touch with external mentors or judges and this exposure to tertiary level academicians broadens the perspectives of our students considerably. The processes that all pupils have to undergo are invaluable to honing their skills as budding researchers.

Projects Competition has raised the confidence of our students to communicate their project clearly and effectively and to present and handle questions in front of a mass audience. It has also promoted in-depth research skills and knowledge, and enhanced students' skills in using IT for research work and as a presentation tool. The collaborative work has helped to improve team dynamics and to equip our pupils with the right attitudes and social skills for future work life. Because of the inter-disciplinary nature of many projects, there is application and transfer of knowledge and skills across disciplines and the recognition of the relevance and inter-relatedness of what is learnt.

Projects Competition 2013 website

Projects Competition 2012 website

Projects Competition 2011 website

English Language/General

The goal of the English Language Programme at HCI is to develop independent thinkers who can see the connection between language study and its application to life. A holistic educational approach ensures that students are given the freedom to intellectually grasp these relationships and apply them to authentic tasks. The core modules cover all the key components of language and literary skills that students must master to function effectively in the social dimension spelled out in the school mission. In addition, there are special non-compulsory electives to challenge the more able students. Where the core elements embody the rigour and breadth of the skills, knowledge and concepts that students need to know, the electives are intended to offer students the opportunity to go in-depth into specific areas of the English Language and Literature curricula.

Adopting a multi-pronged approach, the Hwa Chong General Paper curriculum comprises a broad variety of stimulating modules designed to develop all-round individuals.  A theme-based reading and writing programme offered at the College level, the topics covered include the mass media, environment, science and technology, culture and tradition, religion, crime and punishment and citizenship in Singapore.

Knowledge & Inquiry (KI) is a multi-disciplinary H2 A-Level subject that explores the different fields of knowledge and applies various modes of inquiry to a range of issues and ideas.  The subject aims to develop students' ability to critically evaluate arguments and engage in independent research.  Students can offer KI as a contrasting subject.  As the 4th H2 subject, KI will be offered by students who are academically able to cope with 4 H2 subjects on top of other H1 subjects.  KI is also taken in lieu of General Paper.  In Hwa Chong, we are looking for bright students who are linguistically competent and have an inquiring mind.  KI students are expected to read widely and they must be highly proficient in written English as well as independent learners.

For more information, please visit the following websites:

English Department Wiki (High School)
English Department Wiki (College)

Chinese Language

Please view the following websites for more information:

Chinese Faculty Homepage (High School)
Chinese Faculty Homepage (College)

Humanities Programme

As the first institution chosen by the Ministry of Education for the Humanities Scholarship Programme Hwa Chong has established and maintained its position as a leading centre for successful applications to top universities around the world.

Since the Programme’s inception in 1981 more than 300 alumni have graduated from Oxford and Cambridge alone, and in recent years an impressive record of admissions has been built up with the Ivy League institutions of the USA as well.

Undoubtedly, the source of this success lies with the Programme’s tutors who are not only unrivalled in their specialist subject skills but also in the university placement and scholarship advice that they have to offer.

Visit their website for more information:

Humanities Programme (High School)

Mathematics

Please view the following wikis for more information:

Mathematics Department Wiki (High School)

Mathematics Department Wiki (College)

Science

The Hwa Chong Integrated Programme for Science is implemented across 6 years.  Our integrated framework provides a dynamic learning environment for students with an aptitude and interest in Mathematics and Science.  Special emphasis is placed on the mastery of fundamental knowledge and experimental skills.  Our plan is to further integrate the Mathematics and Science disciplines to foster an appreciation of how they work together and form a whole.

In a tripartite collaboration with A*STAR and NTU, Hwa Chong also offers research electives based on the H3 module to encourage new and independent modes of learning and exploration.  Each JC student is matched with a mentor depending on interest, and engages in collaborative research with leading scientists and researchers working on real-world scientific problems.

The aim of our Science programme is to broaden students' interests in Science by providing a stimulating environment that will enrich their basic Science training.  Besides exposure to major advances in the life sciences and new technologies, students will be trained to think critically and independently.

Please view the following websites for more information:

Science Department Wiki (High School)
Science Department Wiki (College)

Infocomm Studies

Visit their wikis for more information:

Infocomm Studies Unit (High School)

Infocomm Studies Department (College)

Physical Education

The PE & CCA Department aims to prepare our young adults for the challenges ahead by cultivating lifelong recreational involvement, aesthetic appreciation, civics mindedness and leadership qualities in our students through the PE and CCA programs.

Our programs serve to:

1. Enhance students' learning process and performance;
2. Strive for excellent performances at the National Inter-Schools Sports Championships, Singapore Youth Festival Competitions, as well as other CCA awards and competitions;
3. Promote healthy life styles among students;
4. Inculcate the Olympic values of Friendship, Respect, and Excellence in all students.

Programs for 2010

a)                  PE Programs

Students will be furnished with the knowledge and skills in fitness management, sports and games, and health management. These are achieved via activities like dance, badminton, basketball, floorball, golf, handball, netball, soccer, softball, squash, swimming, table tennis, tennis, ultimate frisbee, volleyball, and outdoor education etc. Students would be able to apply the skills they learnt when participating in various intra-school sports events. Students would also be able to plan and engage in healthier lifestyle through the Health Education Programs.

b)                  Leadership and enrichment courses

During the March holidays, the PE Department and Outdoor Activities Club (OAC) will organize a Youth Leadership Training Camp (YLTC). This is to provide opportunities for participants to display and enhance their leadership skills though experiential learning.

When the C1 CCA student leaders assume their roles in the 2nd half of the year, the PE & CCA Department, together with the Student Development Department, will organize various CCA Student Leaders' Programmes and Workshops for all CCA key appointment holders.

c)                  Intra school tournaments

The PE & CCA Department organizes the Annual Cross-Country Meet, Track and Field Meet, Sports Education Program, and the Festival of Sports (FOS). A variety of games like basketball, floorball, netball, soccer, ultimate frisbee, and volleyball etc will be played during the FOS. Through the organization of all these sports events, we aim to promote healthy lifestyle activities among staff and students. We also wish that the Hwa Chong family spirit can be enhanced through students' and staff's participation in these events.

d)                  Youth Olympic Games 2010

Hwa Chong is actively involved in many of the programs leading up to the Youth Olympic Game (YOG) 2010. As parts of the Olympic Education Programme, classes are involved in the Olympic Project Presentation, where students research on Olympic-related topics to be presented to the school. The annual cross-country meets, annual track and field meet, as well as the annual Arts Festival are all Olympic-themed.

For the Friends@YOG 2010 program, Hwa Chong is honoured to be identified to conduct twinning activities with Schools from the People's Republic of China and Venezuela. Our local partner schools are Singapore Chinese Girls School and Henry Park Primary School. The HCI PE & CCA Department is involved in the following YOG events either as organizers, participants, or volunteers:

• The Youth Sports Conference
• International Conference on Physical Education and Sports Science
• Legacy for YOG
• Friends @ YOG Olympic Walk
• The Friendship Fabric design
• National Inter-Schools Sports Quiz
• National Inter-Primary Schools Sports Project Presentation
• Journey of the Youth Olympic Flame
• 2nd International Youth Leaders' Forum
• YOG Volunteer Management
• The Youth Olympic Village
• YOG Opening Ceremony
• SYF Instrumental Ensembles Presentation II
• Student athletes in the YOG

Literature in English

With our seamless 6-year Integrated Programme, the Literature course in Hwa Chong covers 3 major phases: the Sec 1 & 2 Exploration phase; Sec 3 & 4 Development phase, and the JC1 & 2 Consolidation phase.  In each phase, students are exposed to a wide variety of texts, genre exposition, and diverse methodologies.

Adopting a differentiated approach to learning that goes beyond the classroom, the course provides students with opportunities to experience Literature through activities like symposiums, debates, mock conferences, field studies, project work, independent study and drama.  Such activities not only expand students' horizons, but also help them look at issues from a broader perspective, apply knowledge, and contest the arbitrary divisions that separate subjects.

View their website for more information:

Literature Department Wiki (High School)
Literature Department Wiki (College)

Malay Language Department

Malay Special Programme

The Malay Special Programme has two classes:
Malay Special Programme (L)
Malay Special Programme (F)
 

1. MSP focuses its training in communication abilities, with emphasis on listening skills, conversation skills, reading skill and writing skills. This syllabus comprises the following components:
   • listening and conversing ability
   • reading and writing techniques
   • proper usage of language

Conversational Malay
 

• The course aims to develop the participants’ ability to speak and understand simple conversational Malay. They will learn the basic sentence structure and the basic vocabulary for everyday situations.
• At the same time, Conversational Malay helps students to understand the culture and the religion of the Malay society. This is an important element in creating social harmony.
   
• By the end of the programme, students should be able to:
  • Listen to and understand simple spoken Malay language
  • Ask and answer questions, speak and express themselves clearly to others, using simple language and in an acceptable level of Malay language.
  • Show an awareness and appreciation of Malay culture.
     

For more information on the Malay Language Department, visit the Malay Language Department Wiki.

A unique feature of the Hwa Chong Integrated Programme, Hwa Chong Sabbatical Programme allows students from Sec. 1 to Sec. 4 to go on sabbatical courses for one week, from Term 1 to Term 3. The school organizes Sabbaticals with the aim of creating space for students to develop passion for what they do. During Sabbaticals, formal lessons are replaced by enrichment programmes.

There are various areas of programmes for students to select from each term, namely, Arts & Aesthetics, Chinese Studies, Humanities, English & Literature, Leadership, Technology, Science and Math, Camps and Student Exchange. All students are engaged in activities outside the classroom during term time to further broaden their educational experience. This allows them to explore their diverse interests and have fun all at once.

Students will bid for their sabbatical courses every term, using the i-ComP.

At Hwa Chong, students are encouraged to take responsibility for their own learning. This is reflected in our comprehensive assessment modes designed to promote independent and inter-dependent learning. Hwa Chong students would thus be better equipped to become leaders and lifelong learners.

The Sec 1-4 curricula include our unique Oral Communication (OC) and Independent Studies (IS) components. For Oral Communication, students are assessed on their familiarity with current affairs in English and Chinese (60%) and oral participation (40%). For Independent Studies, students are assessed on the quality of their project work which encourages active inquiry and intellectual rigour. It also directs students towards independent learning and purposeful reading and reasoning. These alternative/authentic modes of assessment are complemented by formative and summative written assessments, which prepare students for the requirements of the GCE Advanced Level Examinations in Year 6.

We believe this assessment protocol measures more accurately students’ general ability, depth and range of thinking, communication skills and level of passion for a particular discipline.

From 2013, the modes of assessment have been revised as follows :

ORAL PARTICIPATION RUBRICS

SECONDARY 1 TO 4 
ORAL PARTICIPATION RUBRICS
SCIENCE & MATHEMATICS
 

SECONDARY 1 TO 4 
ORAL PARTICIPATION RUBRICS
LANGUAGES AND HUMANITIES

Oral Participation (OP) Marks Computation

Computation of Termly OP Marks (40 marks):

OP Marks of Higher Chinese (10) + OP Marks of best 3 subjects (3X10) = 40

Computation of Final OP Marks:

Final OP Marks = Average of OP marks obtained each term