Virtual Open House – Zhenghua Secondary School

Principal's Message

School Tour

Programmes

CCAs

School Events

Further Information

FAQ

Principal's Message

Click on the link https://qrgo.page.link/CPnoQ or scan the QR code below to register for the online dialogue session with the Principal.

School Tour

Programmes

Applied Learning Programme

Learning for Life Programme

Character Citizenship Education

Applied Learning Programme (back to top)

How often do you shop online? What are the stuff do you usually buy?

When you make online purchases, do you expect home delivery service?

Your answer is a resounding “Yes”, right?

What is the most popular mode of transportation for deliveries? Motorbikes or Private Mobility Device (PMD)? With increasing demand for delivery service due to booming online businesses, do you foresee problems for the logistics companies to meet the demands?

Our Applied Learning Programme will provide you with the opportunities to explore the possibilities of using other transportation modes to meet the rising delivery demands. This includes using the Maqueen robots and flying drones to carry out the delivery tasks through team activities. You will also learn to use Scratch Coding to command mobile robots (mBot) to perform tasks such as dancing and wrestling.

Learning for Life Programme (back to top)

Zhenghua Secondary School’s Learning for Life Programme is Outdoor Education for Character and Leadership Development. Our LLP aims to provide students with varied outdoor experiences and equip them with the competencies and attitudes to enjoy the outdoors. During their time in the school, students have the opportunity to experience the following:

• Learn First Aid skills
• Learn Orienteering skills
• Attain the Kayaking 1 Star Award
• Learn belaying, rock-climbing and scale high elements in PE
• Plan and implement their own class expedition
• Do outdoor cooking
• Pitch tents and build shelters

Character & Citizenship Education (back to top)

Student Leadership (back to top)

Student Leadership in Zhenghua Secondary uses the Leadership Challenge Model (LCM) and the five practices of LCM to guide and nurture our students into future-ready leaders and to face the challenges of this ever changing world. The five practices are:

Model the Way
Enable Others to Act
Encourage the Heart
Challenge the Process
Inspire a Shared Vision

Student Leadership creates opportunities for all students in Zhenghua Secondary to be a leadership in various aspects and levels. From the very fundamental of self-leadership (taking care and responsibility for oneself), to peer-leadership (class leaders and CCA leaders) and at the pinnacle of thought-leadership (student councils and EXCO), Student Leadership aims and hopes that all students will carry these varying learning experiences beyond their secondary school life. Students’ Council also provides training such as external training in event planning, mentoring and exposing students to organising various school-wide events such as Teachers’ Day and the annual Secondary One Orientation Camp. There is also opportunities provided for Students’ Leaders to work with community through VIA and external speakers’ sharing.

Student Leadership is an ongoing journey that extends beyond the academic aspect and we hope that all Zhenghua students will: Being a Leader, for others, for oneself, for now and for future.

English (back to top)

Journey through your four or five years of secondary school with the English and Literature Department! We offer hours of fun, learning experiences in and out of the classroom as we delve into reading, oracy, writing, drama, poetry and more! You will get to experience a different aspect of the English Language and Literature every year through the different signature programmes we offer: Public Speaking, Drama, and Debates. Students at Zhenghua will enjoy the annual EL and Lit Week - a meaningful week of enriching activities that allow students to explore the language beyond the classroom. Students participate in flash fiction writing, blackout poetry, movie screenings, talks by local writers and poets. Also, get a chance to participate in competitions such as the Plain English Speaking Awards (PESA) and the Orator’s Trophy, the Inter-School Philosophy Dialogue, and the Unity Young Writers’ Festival. All this and more awaits you in Zhenghua – watch the video to see more!

Mother Tongue (back to top)

In MTL department, students will be enriched by our Signature Programmes with task-based, ICT infused learning programmes specially designed for students for every level. Some of these include Pang Sua Pond project work and Vbolg, drama appreciation and writing workshops. We expose students to cultural activities through festive celebrations and cultural workshops such as the celebrations of Chinese New Year and Hari Raya,, Mother Tongue Fortnight to ignite their interest and love for their culture. In 2020, our secondary 1 students have the opportunity to learn the language and culture of other ethnic groups in SIngapore via our Conversational Chinese and Malay (CCM) enrichment workshops.

To prepare students with the challenges of a globalised world, our secondary 3 students will have overseas immersion trips to places like Beijing and ASEAN countries. Students are given the opportunity to stretch their potential through our Stretch Programmes where they are exposed to and try their hand at journalism, Chinese history etc. An exciting journey awaits here at ZSS MTL department!

Science (back to top)

Science projects and learning journeys are planned to equip lower secondary students with knowledge and skills which will enable them to deeply appreciate and understand the world around them. Examples include a Science Research project, Communicating Science Poster Designs, and learning journeys to SEA Aquarium, Botanic Gardens and the Singapore Zoo.

Game-based Learning, Task-based Learning and Team-based Learning are some pedagogies adopted to meaningfully engage the students, develop their collaborative learning skills, communication skills and skills for self-directed learning, as well as make learning fun!

Mathematics (back to top)

iDiscuss is one of our department’s signature programmes where the Secondary 3 students get to discuss real world problems with groupmates consisting of members across two classes. They explore different video meeting apps that allow them to communicate and solve authentic mathematical tasks. This allows them to have a feel of the real world which is made even more relevant in times of uncertainties like the Covid-19 situation. Similarly, Inter-class Mathematics Competition is another signature programme where all students adopt the Polya Problem Solving framework to solve challenging problems in Mathematics. It is a spin-off from the bi-weekly problem-based learning tasks where students get to apply the Mathematical concepts that they have learnt to solve real world problems. They would also need to reflect on the given solutions. Students who are interested to stretch their minds are encouraged to participate in the Singapore Mathematics Project Festival (SMPF) where they carry out and present innovative work in mathematics. Peer-tutoring is another signature programme for the lower secondary level which involves students from the higher levels (Sec 3 & Sec 2) tutoring the lower secondary students. Lastly, the use of apps help students to learn through the infusion of technology. For instance, as students wind the digital clock, they can visually see the number of times that the hour and minute hands are perpendicular to each other over a 24-hour period. Students can then focus on extending the problem or generalise their solution.

Humanities (back to top)

In Zhenghua Secondary School, the students learn through our Humanities signature programme which is E3 (Explore, Engage, Experience!). Our students are given the opportunity to use Minecraft to learn about Singapore’s history. Through the use of Minecraft, students explored virtual environments that have been lost in time and create ancient relics found in the past, such as the Singapore Stone. The study of Humanities also takes place beyond the confines of the classroom where students embark on Overseas Cultural Immersion Trips, Learning Journeys, Historical and Geographical Investigations. In 2019, our students went to Taipei to explore the city’s rich historical and geographical landscape. The URA, Macritchie Reservoir, the Singapore River, Changi Jewel and the Singapore Sports Hub are some of the local attractions that our students have visited to learn more about History and Geography.

Craft & Technology (back to top)

Learning Is Fun & Engaging (L.I.F.E) @ZSSC&T

Craft & Technology is a compulsory module for the lower secondary students. It comprises of 3 subjects. In Design & Technology (D&T), students get to experience creating prototypes using the Design Process. For Food and Consumer Education (FCE), students learn to appreciate and apply culinary skills and consumerism to benefit the family and community. In Art, students will be able to express their talents by producing interesting art pieces and sculptures as well as harness the use of ICT in their creations. The big idea is to develop critical thinking and innovation in their design ideas, sound meal planning, and creative art pieces.

Craft & Technology offers opportunities for students to develop 21st Century Competencies (21CC). Approaches are student-centred, using applied learning based on the use of authentic real-life scenarios that are relevant in today’s context. A range of both Formative and Summative assessments are used to help students become self-directed learners as it creates awareness of their progress and provides feedback on their level of mastery of content, knowledge and skills.

So, dive in and enjoy the hands-on learning journey with us!

Normal Curriculum (back to top)

The Normal Curriculum committee in Zhenghua Secondary School designs and oversees a whole range of fun and exciting programmes aimed to meet the needs of our Normal stream students.

Our Normal Technical stream students go through the Achievers’ Programme each year, focusing on honing skills and knowledge from various subjects while learning in a fun and interactive manner. Some of these modules include Photojournalism that integrates English Language and photography skills, Sports Science that covers scientific concepts and Restaurant Management that exposes our students to skills and knowledge ranging from food hygiene to table service. At the end of each semester, a showcase – fully planned for and organised by our Secondary 4T students – is conducted and our students share their fruit of labour with the rest of our school.

Our Normal Academic stream students get to go through Elective Modules that help them gain exposure to different industries, which in turn helps them discover their interest and possibly, future career options. Some of the Elective Modules conducted include Interior Design, Forensics, and Video Production.

Eco@ZSS (back to top)

Aesthetics (back to top)

Our Aesthetics programme is a key platform on which every student is provided substantial exposure to the various art forms so as to develop a continued interest for the arts. The curriculum gives the students opportunities to creatively express their thoughts and ideas through performances using instruments such as the ukulele, cajon and keyboard. Lessons also focus on applicable music knowledge such as IT Music Production. Enrichment programmes such as learning journeys to major concert venues like Esplanade and Victoria Concert Hall provide students an insight into a career in the arts. Students attend local and International performances to expand their horizons of artistic appreciation.

CCAs

Performing Arts	Uniformed Groups	Sports	Clubs and Societies
Drum Ensemble	Scouts	ODAC	AV Club
Choir	Red Cross	Netball	Art Club
Dance	NCC (Air)	Volleyball	Library Club
Handbells	NPCC	Basketball	Infocomm Club
Drama		Sports Club
Band		Soccer

Choir (back to top)

The award-winning Zhenghua Secondary School Choir, under the music directorship of Ms Tan Jing Yi, performs a variety of music from historical periods to the latest pop hits, and offers audiences a wide range of choral music of the finest quality. The choir has been invited almost on a regular basis to perform for community events, such as the Community National Day Celebrations in Zhenghua Park. Selected Choristers have also performed overseas, displaying their scholarly and emotional approach to choral music. Major events for all choristers include participating in Singapore Youth Festival Arts Presentations, Singapore International Chorale Festival, Associate Board of Royal Schools of Music (UK) Examinations, Aesthetics Learning Journeys, invitations for exchange performances from other school choirs, and various showcases in school.

Dance (back to top)

Zhenghua Dance Club, also known as The Freshmakerz, adopts a unique approach of offering dual dance genre to our aspiring dancers. Instead of focusing on a single dance type, our dancers undergo training in both Malay Contemporary Dance as well as Hip-Hop Dance. While different in many ways, yet complementary of each other, this duality reflects the ongoing balance our youths face in holding on to rich traditional values in the face of modernity.

Besides joining competitions such as Super 24 and putting up public showcases for events such as Singapore Youth Festival, Muara Festival and school productions, our dancers also engage in enriching activities such as culture exchanges with local and overseas schools as well as values-in-action activities with local organisations.

Through our structured and varied programs, we hope our dancers grow to become confident and respected performers under the strong guidance of our celebrated instructors, Mr Osman Hamid and Mr Alif Aircho.

Handbells (back to top)

A unique Co-Curricular Activity (CCA) offered in Zhenghua Secondary School, the Handbells Ensemble consists of dedicated members who love music and enjoy ringing the handbells and handchimes. In 2019, the Handbells Ensemble attained the Certificate of Accomplishment at the Singapore Youth Festival Arts Presentation. In 2020, the Handbells Ensemble had a good start as the students had the opportunity to perform two festive songs for the school’s Chinese New Year concert in January. Under the guidance of the Handbells instructor, Mr Myren Mak, the students practised hard and were willing to try out new ways to surprise their audience at the end of the performance. Even though the usual practices were disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic, the Handbells Ensemble took it in stride and adapted to ringing handchimes at home in the weekly Zoom sessions.

Drama (back to top)

Zhenghua’s Drama Club, also known as Zhespians, is made up of a group of lively student actors, actresses and scriptwriters. The club performs frequently during school concerts. One highlight Zhespians was when the club performed an original musical written by students and teachers of Drama Club entitled ‘Tapestry’ in 2018.

In 2019, the club ventured into new creative territories by conceptualising their very own play centred on Special Needs for Singapore Youth Festival (SYF). Recently, in 2020, our Zhespians took part in Human Values Drama Festival 2020 (HVDF), a drama and script-writing competition focused on human values such as compassion, resilience and unity. Among 19 schools, the club earned a special mention and a consolation prize for their self-written comedy titled ‘Tik-Tov Virus’.

Aside from HVDF, students developed their confidence by taking part in ACJC’s Speech Arts Competition and Festival 2020 creating comedic video monologues. Under the guidance of their dedicated instructors Nicole Hofbauer and Regina Chua, our Zhespians have developed a love for performance, story-telling and all things dramatic.

Drum Ensemble (back to top)

Under the guidance of our instructor Mr Mohamed Yaiz, ZSS Drummers has performed at notable events such as the Chingay Parade and the 10th Anniversary Celebrations of the Arts House. The Drums Ensemble is a percussion group exposes students to percussive instruments of different ethnics. The rich music programme sees the students performing in school events, Racial Harmony events in the Heartlands, Singapore Youth Festival and more.

Band (back to top)

Under the direction of our Music Director and Resident Conductor Mr Er Wee San, Zhenghua Secondary School Symphonic Band (ZSS Band) performs a wide selection of music, from classic band repertoire to the funky arrangements of latest pop hits.

Together with assistant conductor Mr Patrick Neo, the band attainted a Certificate of Accomplishment at the 2019 Singapore Youth Festival Arts Presentation.

Even though we are currently unable to resume physical practices due to Covic-19 pandemic, we continue to have band practices on online platforms, learn music theory and appreciation using various interesting Apps. During this period, the band also managed to record a performance of a composition, “Together As One” by our very own music and band teacher, Mr Jacobe Lim.

The ZSS Band vision is for our bandsmen to have instrument mastery and a deep understanding of music theory. As such, students will undergo rigourous and comprehensive music training, and have a lot of fun making music with many like minded peers.

Scouts (back to top)

Fun and adventure await at Zhenghua Fox Scouts! As a CCA that focuses on outdoor adventure and leadership, there are many opportunities for the Scouts to go on overseas adventure trips and learn camp craft such as cooking with an open fire.The Zhenghua Fox Scouts have won the Frank Cooper Sands Gold Award for 17 consecutive years and have been awarded the Chief Commissioner's Challenger Award for being the Best Patrol three times in a row. It is the first time that a Scout unit has attained such a feat in Singapore. Such achievements help to foster lasting friendships in the unit, as seen in the strong alumni presence in weekly meetings.

Red Cross (back to top)

It is easy to assume Red Cross Youth (RCY) cadets only learn bandaging and CPR among other first aid skills during training sessions. While it is fundamentally important to be proficient and confident in rendering first aid to casualties, we also learn many other skills in our curriculum. Cadets get the chance to learn more about Disaster Management, Service Learning and the Youth Ambassador Blood programme, and they may choose to pursue proficiency badges according to their interests. Besides getting to know friends from their own school units, RCY also provides cadets the opportunity to meet and interact with those from other units through HQ-organised programmes and events, such as the National Day Parade and the Red Cross Youth Challenge. There’s never a dull day at RCY, where you are part of a bigger, worldwide movement. Watch our video and find out more about what it means to be a Red Cross cadet in Zhenghua!

NCC (Air) (back to top)

Zhenghua Secondary School NCC (Air) unit prides itself in developing our cadets holistically and giving our cadets opportunities to lead and conduct various activities. As an NCC air unit, cadets go through an aeromodelling programme where they learn the basics of aerodynamics and other aerial-related activities such as remote-controlled (RC) flight simulator, construction of chuck gliders and flying of quadcopter drones.

On top of the aeromodelling programme, cadets will also learn basic drills and commands, and undergo regular physical trainings and games. To broaden the horizon of our cadets, HQ NCC also has opportunities for selected cadets to go overseas such as the International Cadet Exchange Programme (ICEP) and Exercise Puncak – Mt Ophir hike.

We are also proud to have our own annual Cadet Leaders’ Night Hike as part of our programme to hone and develop leaders within the unit.

NPCC (back to top)

The National Police Cadet Corp (NPPC) is never just about drills and shooting. The Biannual Camp Craft Competition is one of the much awaited event that the cadets look forward every two years. It usually takes place in February of the year but the cadets will start their training during the December holidays.

Our Annual NPCC Oversea Adventure Trip has always been the highlight for our unit. Last year, we have decided to include both the secondary 2 and secondary 3 cadets so that the secondary 2s could shadow their secondary 3s leaders before they take over the unit in 2020.

Bintan was the adventurous venue of choice because of the water activities and the outdoor obstacles courses lined up for the cadets. They cadets had so much fun with many heart-pumping activities with total safety so that they had the best experience in NPCC. The pulse-racing flying fox had the cadets landed in water at the base helped them to conquer their fear while assessing their agility in outdoor activities. Preparing their own pizza lunch was another high point for this trip. They got to choose their own toppings and cook it in the charcoal stone oven for the very first time. They brought back so many memories from this trip and having to prepare their own lunch was definitely one of them.

2020 was definitely a year to remember as there were many firsts that the cadets were part of but they all took them in their stride. E-CCA was certainly a challenge and when physical CCA resumed, safe distancing was observed and masks were worn at all time. Even promotional test and camp crafts test were done through Google classroom and the cadets rose to the challenge triumphantly.

Having gone through the year with difficulty and tribulations, the cadets had showed resilience through adversity and became stronger both physically and mentally. They have shown steadfastness and tenacity to face the year ahead with great aplomb and resolution.

ODAC (back to top)

Zhenghua Secondary Outdoor Adventure Club (ODAC) offers students a chance to be engaged in various outdoor physical activities and provide an outlet for students to train up physically as well as mentally in terms of resilience. ODAC provides students opportunities for exciting activities such as rock climbing, hiking, orienteering races, kayaking, camping skills as well outdoor cooking. ODAC members also have the chance to obtain certification for rock climbing. ODAC also had opportunities to go overseas adventure trips such as Bintan and Johor to experience wildlife and nature.

Netball (back to top)

The goals and objectives of the Netball team is to develop in our players the passion for the sport, and most importantly, to instil in our players the importance of our school values such as Compassion, Integrity, Responsibility, Resilience and Respect in our players. The team also aims to develop self-discipline, team spirit and good sportsmanship in our players.

Besides our regular training every Monday and Thurs, our players are also involved in various school projects including the Charity Drive during our National Day Celebration, the annual School Open House, umpiring for inter-class Captain’s Ball tournament during Teacher’s Day and many others. Helping out in these events help to further strengthened them as a team as they work together. These events have also provided them with opportunities to learn many soft skills like organization, management and inter-personal skills.

While CCA has been suspended due to the Covid-19 situation, our players continue to sharpen their ball handling skills and improving their fitness through eCCA. Our players also display team spirit by sharing fitness videos to encourage each other to continue to stay fit during this period.

Volleyball (back to top)

Zhenghua Volleyball aims to develop students’ passion for the sport and provides students with the opportunity to learn volleyball skills from certified coaches. Our students learn specialized techinques like serving, spiking, blocking and receiving the ball. Trainings are targetted at developing team work such that the students train in groups to develop teamwork. We believe that fostering and strengthening team spirit iis key to growing as a team. As a result, students also forge friendships among themselves and care for their teammates during and outside of CCA.

Basketball (back to top)

The Zhenghua Basketball Club currently has 38 members. The club conducts training twice a week with the C Boys’ training taking place every Monday and the B Boys’ training every Wednesday. We have a strong team of both divisions who trains hard to compete with other schools in the West Zone. We also conduct regular friendly matches with other schools to improve our skills.

In Basketball, we value discipline and teamwork. Trainings focuses not only on foundational skills but also on strategies to strengthen the team in competitive play. The emphasis in the Basketball Club is placed squarely on being reliable team players working towards a common goal. The tough drills and exercises not only make them better players but also build trust and camaraderie.

Sports Club (back to top)

Sports Club exposes the students to an array of sports, apart from the other current sports CCA such as Volleyball, Netball and etc. The sports that we focus on are floorball, tchoukball and touch rugby. In addition, students are also exposed to strength training whereby gym sessions are conducted to improve their stamina. Weekly sessions allow students to choose the sports they wish to explore, with the provision of the necessary equipment.

This CCA welcomes students who have a sporting background outside of school, to share their expertise and train the other students in the CCA as well. Trainings are held on Thursdays, 2.30pm to 5pm.

Soccer (back to top)

Our vision is that the values of discipline, teamwork, hard work and responsibility will be imbued in the heart of every Zhenghua footballer.

Staying fit is of paramount importance to every footballer. Hence, we conduct fitness challenges throughout the year to keep ourselves fit.

This year, our ‘B’ Division Boys played against tough opponents and demonstrated incredible fighting spirit to complete the games together as a team. We also went away with an important and morale boosting victory that will definitely serve as a huge stepping stone for our future, and also strengthen our belief that hard work during training will pay off.

AV Club (back to top)

The AVA club provides audio-visual support for morning assemblies, school events and concerts. We aim to excel in event and stage management and expose our members to many aspects of event management. In the recent years, the AVA club has grown exponentially in size with our increasing number of members.

Our members provide more than just audio-visual support. A lot of effort is put in by our students and teachers to maintain the equipment. When the show is over, work is not over for our members.

We aim:

To build team spirit among members.

To build the capacity in event and stage management.

To instil Safety, Accountability and Professionalism.

“We are at the heart of every event and will continue to do so”. That is our AVA club’s promise.

Art Club (back to top)

Zhenghua Art Club believes that every artist is first an amateur. Every year, our members are exposed to different art forms ranging from ceramics to watercolour illustrations. Ceramics is the signature programme of the Art Club. This year, Secondary 4 members collaborated to form a meaningful ceramic sculpture titled, “Coral Bleaching in the Digital Age”. This was displayed at Singapore Youth Festival 2020 - Artist and Technology: The Online Art Exhibition.

Moreover, we encourage our members to develop their artistic interests and leverage on IT to do digital art. There is an increasing trend of students doing digital art as drawing applications are easily accessible on their mobile devices. Members are not confined to traditional art forms and they could submit digital art for school or external projects and competitions. Members participated in SYF Stronger Together Project whereby their digital and non-digital illustrations were showcased as part of an online interactive artwork. They expressed their messages of hope and resilience to encourage others in celebration of our nation’s 55th birthday.

On the same note, Art Club believes in contributing to good causes for our community and nation. Our members participated in the Live On Design Competition organised by the National Organ Transplant Unit, Ministry of Health, to promote awareness of organ transplant for two years. This year, Jocelyn Quek, 2E2, emerged as the third prize winner with her digital artwork based on the theme - “A New beginning”. Last year, we had clinched 4 awards as well.

Last but not least, Art Club advocates recycling and protecting our Mother Earth. Whenever we are entrusted with the decoration for events, we would incorporate recyclables in our beautiful creations. During ZEST - ZSS Night Arts Festival 2019, a beautiful light installation was formed by 18 cubes that were constructed from 50 plastic drink bottles each with fairy lights. This year, old cardboards were cut into cloud forms and painted with acrylic paint for chinese new year celebration stage decoration. Not only do the students get to learn new skills and knowledge but also showcase their talents and creative ideas at various platforms.

Library Club (back to top)

Zhenghua Library is known as one of the most active school libraries in the West. Our constant renewal of the library collection and exciting library activities have also won us recognition from the National Library of Singapore and MOE. Our students can easily find books that they enjoy reading. We are also one of the few school libraries that run a library club. Besides basic library skills, we spend much time and effort to train our librarians to work in teams, plan activities and do lots of creative work. They are also taught how to utilize ICT tools such as power point. Our upper secondary committee members are even trained to do book purchases online. We believe in giving our librarians a well-rounded CCA experience in order to prepare them for the future.

Infocomm Club (back to top)

Zhenghua Secondary School’s Infocomm Club engages students in the form of video production skills - from brainstorming & planning to filming and post-production work. Our members have gained expertise through the different roles that they play in the whole video-making process, be it producer, director, interviewer and sometimes in front of the camera as an actor! Our students also learnt to work collaboratively as a team and grow to be responsible members. They put what they have learnt to the test by taking part in competitions such as Canon FilmFive Festival where they were placed in Top 8 in 2019 as well as creating in-house productions for the school and have also gained valuable exposure.

We believe in nurturing students to become adaptable, open-minded and inclusive in whatever video production that they are in.

We look ahead forward to even more dynamism and opportunities for students to shine in the club and beyond!

Further Information

1.	Location
	91 Senja Road Singapore 677741
2.	How to get here
	Nearest LRT is Jelapang LRT Station Bus services are 976, 920, 922.
3.	School Brochure (click on the brochure to view)
	Click here for the PDF version if you are unable to view the interactive brochure.
4.	Our School Stories (click on the brochure to view)
	Click here to read our stories extracted from the West Zone publication: WE STories 2020.
5.	Explore the School through an Instagram Filter
	What ZSS Place Are You? If you’re curious about the unique facilities and spaces in the school, get a preview through our interactive Instagram filter on the school’s Instagram page @zssofficial! On our profile, simply click on the tab that looks like an emoji with sparkles. There, you’ll see our filter! Try it, tag us, and maybe you’ll even be featured on our Instagram stories!
6.	Full Subject-Based Banding
	Zhenghua Secondary School is one of the 28 pilot schools for Full Subject-Based Banding (Full SBB). Background Zhenghua Secondary School has since 2017 been offering subject-based banding in English, Mother-Tongue Languages, Math and Science for eligible Normal (Academic) and Normal (Technical) students. To provide an even more customised secondary education experience for students, we will be rolling out Full SBB to all Sec 1 students from 2021. Full SBB will provide students with opportunities to study even more subjects at a level better suited to their strengths and interests. As part of this pilot, our school will: a. Provide Secondary 2 Normal (Academic) and Normal (Technical) students with the opportunity to offer Humanities subjects at a more demanding level; and b. Organise Secondary 1 form classes in new ways. Offering of Humanities subjects at a more demanding level from Secondary 2 Secondary 1 Normal (Academic) students promoted to Secondary 2 Normal (Academic) can take Humanities at the Express level in Secondary 2 if he or she has met the criteria of 75% or higher in the specific Humanities subject (Geography, History, Literature in English). Secondary 1 Normal (Technical) students can take Geography at the Normal (Academic) Level if he or she has achieved 75% or higher for English Language at N(T) level, or the equivalent at N(A) level at the End of Year Examinations; and a Pass with Distinction grade for both Social Studies N(T) Performance Tasks in Semester 1 and 2. With this increased flexibility in customising our students’ learning experience, we better recognise their strengths and nurture their intrinsic motivation to learn. Organising Secondary 1 form classes in new ways From 2021, we will organise Sec 1 classes to include students from the three different courses in each class. They will all take a set of subjects at a common level together for lower secondary Art, Character & Citizenship Education, Design & Technology, Food & Consumer Education, Music, and Physical Education. For all other subjects, they will be grouped in classes according to the level at which they offer each subject, i.e. Express, N(A) or N(T). This common learning experience creates a valuable setting for students to mingle, build meaningful friendships, and appreciate different perspectives.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions by Parents at Open House / Sec 1 Registration

What is Zhenghua Secondary’s cut-off points?

Aggregate range of 2019 Primary 6 students posted to 2020 Secondary 1

Stream	Lower	Upper	Median
Express	210	237	215
Normal Academic	169	198	177
Normal Technical	129	158	142

My child wants to enter this school but was not offered a place. How can I appeal for a place?

You can register your appeal by approaching our staff in the General Office, and your child will be put on our waiting list. In the event there is a vacancy and your child meets our school’s cut-off point, we will contact you as soon as we can.

Can I appeal if my child does not meet the cut-off point?

You can still register your appeal by approaching our staff in the General Office. However, we are unlikely to take in students below the cut-off point as school admissions are based on merit. In the MOE Secondary One (S1) Posting Exercise, posting decisions are based on objective and transparent measures of academic merit, i.e. PSLE scores. Appeals that take place after the S1 Posting Exercise must be aligned to these principles, in order to be fair to the other admitted students. Students who would like to gain admission to a secondary school on the basis of other talents and achievements, e.g. those in sports or arts, already have the option of an alternative admissions pathway in the form of the Direct School Admissions Exercise.

What is the criteria for my child to transfer to Express from NA, or to NA from NT?

The student has to score a minimum of 70% in the combined score in every subject at the end of the year in order to qualify for lateral transfer. However, while it is possible for the best students in NA and NT to transfer to Express and NA respectively, the school will only allow for such a transfer if the form and subject teachers are confident that the student can cope in the higher stream and will eventually do well. As a school, we would rather the student excel in his or her current stream, rather than find himself or herself struggling to keep up in the higher stream.

Without mid-year exams, how would I know if my child is coping academically? How would my child be prepared for the end-of-year exams?

Based on students’ performance in the various weighted assessments throughout the year, teachers will be able to have a good gauge of their progress. In addition, we also conduct other forms of informal assessments like assignments, online quizzes; these will allow teachers to check on students’ understanding and learning.

What is the school’s stand on outside tuition?

We do not recommend our students to go for tuition except for exceptional cases, e.g. international student struggling with English. The students should instead approach their teachers for help. We also put in place several remedial measures for all our students to succeed.

Are handphones allowed in the school? What can the school do to prevent excessive handphone usage? Why does the school not ban handphone use in school?

Handphones are not allowed to be used during curriculum time unless allowed by the teacher for teaching and learning purposes. Handphones will be confiscated by teachers when misused. Students are only allowed to use their handphones before school, during recess and after school.

Are there any plans to change the colour of the uniform?

No. Our uniform has become a unique part of the Zhenghua identity. We are well known in the Bukit Panjang neighbourhood by the colour of our school uniform. Established by our very first principal, we want our students to stand out and be recognised, and to be ambassadors of the school, hence we will retain this unique uniform colour.

In view of enhancing student well-being during the hot months, we have also introduced an optional polo t-shirt for students who would like to put on an even cooler uniform during curriculum hours. The polo t-shirt can be worn in place of the formal shirt or blouse.

Can I buy only the polo tee shirt then?

We still recommend that each student purchases at least one formal shirt for boys or one formal blouse for girls. This formal attire will come in useful for formal occasions like award ceremonies, and when the student represents the school at national events or competitions.

Who can opt for Higher MTL and where are the lessons held?

Students who offer Mother Tongue Language (MTL) (i.e. Chinese/ Malay/ Tamil) or Higher Mother Tongue Language (HTML) (i.e. Higher Chinese/ Higher Malay/ Higher Tamil) at the PSLE and

- are ranked among the top 10% of the PSLE; OR
- are in the top 11% - 30% band who meet the language criteria (i.e. an A* grade in the MTL or at least a Merit in the HMTL), may opt to study HMTL at secondary schools. They may offer English Language and HMTL in the GCE ‘O’ Level Examination at the end of Secondary Four.

Students eligible for HMTL will be invited to apply for these programmes immediately after the release of the PSLE results.

HML courses will be held in Bukit Panjang Government High, outside curriculum time and HCL courses will held in our school.

My child does not meet the above criteria to offer HMTL, can my child still opt for HMTL in Secondary School?

The school has the flexibility to allow students who do not meet the above criteria to offer HMTL, if they are assessed to have exceptional ability in MTL and are able to do HMTL without affecting their performance in other subjects.

Based on students’ performance in the various weighted assessments throughout the year, teachers will be able to have a good gauge of their progress. Students who obtain a grade of A2 and above in MTL in Semester 1 with an overall average of 60 will be offered HCL in semester 2 in secondary one in our school.

At the end of year examination in secondary two, students who have shown keen interest and have exceptional ability in MTL will be invited to take a diagnostic test to gauge their ability to cope with the higher level subject. They will then be offered HMTL in secondary three.

My child is taking Tamil language. When and where are the classes held?

Students who are offered Tamil will study at the Tamil Language Centre, Teck Whye Secondary School outside curriculum time. The 2021 schedule is as follows:

Monday	Lesson Time	Thursday	Lesson Time
3 Exp	3.00 − 6.00 pm (4.30 − 4.45 pm break)	1 Exp and 1 NA	3.00 − 6.00 pm (4.30 − 4.45pm break)
3 NA		2 Exp / 2 NA	3.00 − 6.00 pm (4.30 − 4.45pm break)
4 Exp / 5 NA		1 NT / 2 NT	3.00 − 4.45pm ( no break)
4NA		3 NT / 4 NT	3.00 − 4.45pm ( no break)

How does the school support students with special learning needs?

We have a full-time Allied Educator for Learning Needs and Behavioural Support. He is able to work with students with mild learning needs to help them better cope with the mainstream curriculum.

(For questions on specific learning needs, you may contact our AED (LBS) Mr Elmi)

My child takes part in a competitive sport on a regular basis (e.g. gymnastics, swimming) but this sport is not offered in this school. Can it be counted as my child’s CCA?

In order for the child to achieve an excellent grade in CCA, the child must take part in a CCA that is offered by the school, and have attended at least 75% of that CCA’s activities during his or her time in the school. The child’s involvement in outside activities such as competitive sports can help the child achieve higher attainment points in the CCA grading system known as LEAPS. The school can also help to de-conflict the child’s CCA in school with his or her outside commitments if need be.

(For questions on specific CCAs, do contact any of the CCA teachers-in-charge or our HOD/PE&CCA Ms Sherlyn Goh.)

FAQ on Full Subject-Based Banding (FSBB)

What is Full Subject-Based Banding about?

With Full SBB, we are moving towards one secondary education, with many subject bands, to better meet our students’ learning needs, without labels. This is part of the broader shift in our education system to recognise the strengths and interests of our children, to help them build their confidence and develop an intrinsic motivation to learn for life in them.

Zhenghua Secondary School has been offering subject-based banding in English, Mother-Tongue Language, Mathematics and Science since 2017 where eligible students can take these subjects at a higher level. From 2020, our school has been selected by MOE to be one of the 28 secondary schools to start piloting aspects of Full Subject-Based Banding (Full SBB).

NA and NT students entering Sec 1 will be offered selected humanities subjects in Sec 2 if they meet the following criteria:

- Students in the N(A) stream can take Geography, History and/or English Literature at the Express level in Secondary 2 if they have met the criteria of 75% or higher in the specific Humanities subject. For example, to be eligible to offer Express level Geography, he or she must have obtained at least a combined score of 75% in N(A) Geography.
- Students in the N(T) stream can take Geography at the Normal (Academic) level in Secondary 2 if they have met the criteria of 75% or higher in English Language, and a pass with distinction for both Performance Tasks in N(T) Social Studies.

[For NA / NT students only] What is the criteria for my child to take SBB subjects from Sec 1?

Sec 1 students posted to the N (A) and N (T) courses may be offered EL/Math/Science/MTL at a higher level, based on their PSLE subject grades. Students have a choice to opt out of the offer.

PSLE Eligibility criteria for offering higher level subjects:

Course	PSLE Standard Grade	PSLE Foundation Grade	Option to offer subject at
N(A)	A*, A	-	Express
N(T)	A*, A	-	Express/ N(A)
N(T)	B, C	1	N(A)

[For NA / NT students Only] What if my child is a late-bloomer who did not qualify for SBB due to his/her PSLE results?

Sec 1 students who perform well in their weighted assessments or end-of-year examinations may be offered EL/Math/Science/MTL at a higher level.

How will next year’s Sec 1 classes be organised?

From 2021, we will be organising Sec 1 form classes in new ways to include students from the Express, N(A) and N(T) courses in each class.

- They will all take a set of subjects at a common level together for lower secondary Art, Character & Citizenship Education, Design & Technology, Food & Consumer Education, Music, and Physical Education.
- For all other subjects, they will be grouped in classes according to the level at which they offer each subject, i.e. Exp, N(A) or N(T).

This common learning experience creates a valuable setting for students to mingle, build meaningful friendships, and appreciate different perspectives.

FAQ on Personalised Digital Learning Programme (PDLP)

What is PDLP about?

MOE announced in March 2020 that we will strengthen students’ digital literacy through the launch of a National Digital Literacy Programme (NDLP) for our schools. This better enables our students, at different stages of their education journey, to acquire the digital skills required to navigate the digital age. As part of the NDLP, all Secondary School students will be equipped with a Personal Learning Device (PLD). By equipping students with their own PLD, we can:

- Enhance Teaching and Learning: PLDs harness technology for greater effectiveness in teaching and learning, enabled by teachers’ use of e-Pedagogy to provide active learning experiences for students.
- Support Self-Directed and Collaborative Learning: PLDs enable students to learn online according to their needs and interests, and to collaborate with each other, anytime and anywhere.
- Support the Development of Digital Literacies: PLDs provide an immersive environment for students to develop the dispositions, knowledge and skills to thrive in the digital environment.

How will this be implemented in Zhenghua Secondary School?

In line with our school vision of preparing every student to be principled and future-ready leaders, all Sec 1 – 3s will be equipped with a PLD in 2021. Eventually, all students will have their own PLD from 2022. Our school has chosen Chromebooks as our preferred PLD.

Why Chromebooks?

Using ICT in teaching and learning is not new to our school and our students. We have been tapping on the Google platform for many years in our drive to prepare our students to be collaborative and self-directed learners. As such, it is only natural to continue on this platform. In addition, Chromebooks as compared to laptops tend to be lighter, and with batteries that can last longer. They are also more affordable than tablets as the Chromebooks we have chosen include the keyboard, stylus, mouse, touchscreen and dual cameras, unlike tablets which can become quite costly once we include the additional accessories.

How much does my child have to pay for the device?

MOE will use bulk tenders to keep the PLDs affordable. MOE has also provided a one-off Edusave top-up of $200 in April 2020 to all eligible Singaporean students in primary and secondary schools, to help them purchase the devices selected by the school. This is on top of the annual Edusave contribution of $290 for secondary students. Students who do not have sufficient funds in their Edusave will need to bear some out-of-pocket expenses for the device, but this will not be a big amount as the Chromebooks with the enhanced 3 year warranty will cost less than $550. For students on financial assistance, we will provide further subsidies so that their out-of-pocket expenses is zero. This is to ensure that no student is denied the opportunity to benefit from the programme.

Specific costs and details will be communicated to all parents in January 2021.

Can my child not purchase the device?

Every student is required to have a device for teaching and learning purposes and is encouraged to purchase one through our school via MOE’s bulk tender. Students are encouraged to use the device model prescribed by the school, as the uniformity of systems and software would ensure a smooth learning experience for everyone. The device purchased through the school will come with the necessary warranty and insurance as well.

Students who do not wish to purchase a device because they already have their own devices will have to check with the school to ascertain whether the specifications of their existing devices meet our school’s requirements. These existing devices must also be installed with a Device Management Application (DMA) software to manage the student’s access and usage.

How will the device be used by my child?

The devices will be used to complement classroom teaching by promoting active learning and greater personalisation of our students’ schooling experience. Students can make use of digital tools such as calendaring and note-taking applications to enhance their personal productivity. They will also have more opportunities to connect, discuss and collaborate with their peers through online digital platforms. The device will also be used beyond the classroom for home-based and self-directed learning, so that students can benefit from a seamless learning experience in school and outside of school.

How will the school help my child to manage the use of the device?

All PLDs will have a Device Management Application (DMA) installed. The DMA is a suite of software installed in the device to enable the school and parents to manage and monitor device usage by students. The DMA would restrict the type of applications and websites accessible by students and limit the students’ screen time. For example, inappropriate websites with adult or extremist content, as well as gaming and gambling websites or applications, will all be restricted. We will also disable the device from a certain time at night so that students do not spend excessive amounts of time on their devices at home.

The DMA would allow the school to remotely download appropriate teaching and learning applications, as well as security patches, into every student’s device. In addition, the DMA comes with classroom management capabilities to assist teachers in actively monitoring and controlling the students’ screens during lesson time, for better student management and effective teaching.

In addition, through CCE lessons, students will be taught how to embrace the convenience of technology while maintaining a balanced lifestyle between online and offline activities, and to be a safe and responsible user of technology.

How will the school help my child to manage possible cyber risks and cyber addiction?

As part of our school’s Cyber Wellness education, students learn how to take responsibility for their online well-being, and how to be positive role models to others in creating safe and kind online communities. The revised CCE 2021 will also feature cyber wellness education more strongly, with updated authentic scenarios used, to better equip students to navigate online spaces safely and help develop a more supportive cyber environment.