Montfort Secondary School

Coordinates: 1°22′25.16″N 103°53′19.63″E / 1.3736556°N 103.8887861°E / 1.3736556; 103.8887861

Montfort Secondary School 蒙福中学
Labor Omnia Vincit (Labour Conquers All Things)
Location
Serangoon,
Information
Type	Government-aided
Established	1916
Session	Single
School code	7011
Principal	Mr Andrew Tan
Colour(s)	Blue, white
Website	http://montfort.morvensolutions.com/

Montfort Secondary School is a Catholic school in Singapore, founded in 1916. Originally named Holy Innocents' English School, it was renamed to its current one in 1959 in honour of the Founder of the Gabrielite Brothers, St Louis Marie Grignion De Montfort. Boys in the school call themselves "Montfortians" and sons of Montfort.

The school motto, Labor Omnia Vincit means "Labor Conquers All."

Montfort celebrated its 90th anniversary in 2006 with a 90 km run to its former location and a thanksgiving mass conducted by the Archbishop of Singapore, Nicholas Chia, who is an old boy of Holy Innocents' English School (later renamed to Montfort School). The mass was held at the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary - which is the church that is at the old location of the school. A dinner held at the school.

The school has a high Catholic population and it has produced numerous Catholic priests, including archbishop of Singapore, Nicholas Chia.

The school has received a Badminton Niche Award and so Primary 6 students can now apply into the school directly through Direct School Admission.

School song

The school song music is by Mr. Chua Song Khoon and lyrics by Mr. Teo Kah Leng. Verse 1: All ye sons of Montfort School, ever grateful be and true. To your Alma Mater dear, for her loving care of you. Keep your filial piety, burning bright your whole life through. Ever jealous of her name, ever mindful of her claim. Chorus: Hark! Her bugle sounds aloud, rise her sons, and play your part, With a song upon your lips, and a courage in your heart. See! Her banner in the breeze, freely flutters high and smart! Feel in you a surging pride, when your Mater's colours ride. Verse 2: All ye sons of Montfort School, onward, steadfastly advance. Higher, nearer to your star, never casting back a glance. Forge ahead, relentlessly, trusting naught to happy chance. Onward, onward valiantly, onward press with destiny. Verse 3: All ye sons of Montfort School, takes whatever comes your way. Every blessing with a smile, every woe without dismay. All undaunted by the odds, you may counter in life’s fray. Boldly march in spirit high, nobly live, and nobly die.

School crest

The top-left quadrant has the letters A.M. with the lily flower that is an abbreviation for “Ave Maria.” This was the greeting of the Angel Gabriel to Mary, the mother of Jesus. This is also the beginning of the “Hail Mary” prayer. According to St. Louis Marie de Montfort, Wisdom can be attained through living a life of gentleness and authenticity, modelled after Mary the mother of God.

The bottom-right quadrant has the letters D+S with a cross. D.S. is the abbreviation for Dieu Seul, which is God Alone in French. God Alone is the all-motivating force in the life of St. Louis Marie de Montfort. To him God is the centre of his life and in everything he does God is foremost for him. For St. Louis Marie de Montfort, all knowledge comes to nothing if one does not know God. Thus to know all things but not to know God is to know nothing at all.

On the top-right quadrant there is the sailboat at sea. It symbolizes that in life there will be struggle and mortification that we shall experience. Much like the ship at sea, we will come out the better if we are able to weather through the storms of life. No problem is too great to overcome and it is in perseverance and resilience that one shall be able to face all difficulties in life.

On the bottom-left quadrant there is the Star and the man in the boat. This symbolizes the Star of the sea, where seamen navigate to their destination in the vast ocean. If we are focused on the essential values of life, we shall reach our ultimate destiny in life. The Star of the sea shall be the guiding light that lights up the way in our life.

The Crest is adorned with green olive branches, which is derived from Ancient Greece, to symbolize peace and prosperity. It is thus the duty of each one to promote peace in the world, a peace that will last. Coupled with peace is that of prosperity which connotes not only the generation of wealth but also the integral development of human society.

The Crest carries the Latin motto “Labor Omnia Vincit” which stands for “Labour conquers all things.” Hard work embodied in diligence and perseverance leads one to achieve greater things in life. It can thus be said that in whatever you do, do your best.

History

Montfort School was set up as Holy Innocents’ English School in 1916 by the parish priest, Father H. Duvelle next to Nativity church at Upper Serangoon Road. At the request of the Inspector of Schools, he organized an English class on the top floor of the two-storey building between the church and the school canteen. The teacher was Mr Lee Ah Kow. The class lasted for three years.

In March 1920, Father E. Becheras, the parish priest restarted the school with a class of 30 pupils under the charge of Mr Monterio. In the following year another class was added.

From 1922 - 1936 Mr P A D’Costa was teacher and administrator.

A block of five classrooms along Upper Serangooon Road was completed in 1927. In 1929 three additional classrooms along Holy Innocents Lane were added. Inn 1932 another floor was added to the second block.

In 1936n the management of the school was placed in the hands of the Brothers of St Gabriel, Rev. Bro. Gerard Majella came from Bangkok to become the first Brother Director of the school.

Brother Adolphus and Brother John de Breboeuf came in December 1936. This was also the year the school produced its first School Certificate class.

Next came Bro. Gerard Majella, who was succeeded in 1938 by Bro. Louis Gonzaga.

The Japanese occupation of Singapore interrupted the work of the school. Immediately after the war, Bro. Louis Gonzaga reopened the school. He extended the block along Upper Serangoon Road by adding another floor. The new extension was opened by His Highness the Sultan of Johore.

In 1949, Bro. Louis Gonzaga started the afternoon school - the Holy Innocents’ Afternoon School - under the charge of Bro. Basil.

In 1955 Rev. Bro. Noel. became the Director of the Holy Innocents’. He set up a committee on 3 April 1955 to raise funds to further extend the school. Within three years the extension was completed.

In 1959 Holy Innocents’ English School was renamed Montfort School in honour of the Founder, St Louis Marie Grignion de Montfort, of the Gabrielite Brothers.

In the late 1980s, a decision was made to relocate Montfort Junior and Secondary Schools so as to make them comparable to the newer Government Schools. A Building Fund Committee was formed to raise the funds to finance the building project, the cost of which amounted to $24 million. Capital grant from the Government was 18.5 million, therefore the schools had to raise $5.5 million.

Piling began in August 1989 at the new site at Hougang Avenue 8, immediately after a ground breaking ceremony on 12 August 1989 which was officiated by His Grace, Mgr Gregory Yong D.D. The main building works of the two schools started in March 1990 and took about 21 months to complete.

On 2 January 1992, the two schools, Montfort Junior and Montfort Secondary, started functioning at their new premises.

In 1997, the school underwent its first R and R (repairs and redecoration).

Facilities

The school hall has seating galleries on the third level and is also air-conditioned; sponsored by one of the old boys of the school. No Air-conditioned classrooms occupy the fourth level and half of the third level classrooms.

A competition-standard sports hall will be added on to the school. Complete with seating galleries, the three-tiered sports hall will house badminton courts, basketball courts and tennis courts.

The school has a cafeteria set up near the general office of the school.

Information

• Classes start at 8.00am.
• Mobile phones (cellphones) are allowed in the school.
• The school have two types of uniform, the official school uniform and an alternative uniform.
• The school's badminton team has done well and has won the badminton championships for the past five years, making Montfort Secondary School to be the top badminton niche school in Singapore.

Notable alumni

• Lim Boon Heng - Minister in the Prime Minister's Office
• Dr Lee Boon Yang - Minister for Communications, Information and the Arts
• Archbishop Nicholas Chia - Archbishop of Singapore