Montfort Secondary School

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School History

Montfort Secondary School started as a single class of students in rural Serangoon in 1916. Father Laurent, parish priest of Serangoon, laid the foundation for a two-storey school building between the parish church and his presbytery. His successor, Father H. Duvelle, started a Chinese class on the ground floor and an English class on the upper floor.

In 1920, a dynamic priest, Father E. Becheras, arrived to take over as parish priest of Serangoon. He immediately set about gathering students for the school. It was no easy task as people in the area, who were mostly farmers and fishermen, did not see the need for education. Undaunted, Father Becheras went house to house persuading parents to send their sons to the school, and succeeded in doing so. From 1922 to 1936, Mr P.A. D’Costa, the school’s first headmaster, helped Father Becheras run the school.

In 1936, Bishop A. Devals, the Bishop of Singapore and Malaya, invited the Brothers of St Gabriel to run the Parish School. Brother Gerard Majella and Brother Louis Gonzaga were among the first Brothers to arrive in Singapore to implement the Gabrielite approach to education.

The Second World War interrupted the functioning of the school, but Brother Louis Gonzaga returned to restart classes immediately after the war. Numerous building extensions were made subsequently. In 1959, Holy Innocents’ English School was renamed Montfort School to honour St Louis Marie Grignion de Montfort, whose efforts to educate youths were continued by the Brothers of St Gabriel. In the 1960s, Montfort School was noted for offering a quality holistic education in Upper Serangoon. By 1972, the enrolment at Montfort was 2,635 students with classes from Primary One to Pre-University Two. The primary section was separated from the main school in 1974 and became a school in its own right known as Montfort Junior School.

In 1984, the Old Montfortian Association, led by its President, Mr Lim Boon Heng, spearheaded efforts to rebuild Montfort, so that it would be comparable to the new government schools. In January 1992, Montfort started functioning at its new premises as two separate secondary and primary schools. At the end of 2009, Montfort Secondary School underwent PRIME upgrading. In January 2012, Montfort Secondary School returned to its Hougang location.

The school’s Applied Learning Programme (ALP) in information systems technology and design aims to provide students with foundational skills in this frontier learning domain. Montfort’s Learning for Life Programme (LLP) is centred on leadership development through sports (badminton, softball and football) and outdoor education, where the boys hone their leadership skills through various classes, co-curricular and school activities, embarking on meaningful community and school projects. The school’s ALP and LLP are evident of the school’s commitment to the holistic development of its students. In 2016, Montfort celebrated its 100th anniversary.

Principals:

Holy Innocents’ English School

Fr H. Duvelle (1916–1919)
Fr E. Becheras (1920–1933)
Fr Moses Koh (1934–1936)
Br Gerard Majella (1936–1937)
Br Louis Gonzaga (1938–1955)
Br Noel Berthomieu (1955–1957)

Montfort School

Br Louis Gonzaga (1958–1962)
Br Thomas de Aquinas (1962–1964)
Br Albert Proulx (1964–1974)

Montfort Secondary School

Br Albert Proulx (1974–1976)
Mr Jacob Chng (acting) (1977–1978)
Br Anthony Loh (1978–1980)
Mr James Tseng (1980–1987)
Mr Thomas Ho (1987–1994)
Mr Neo Tick Watt (1995–2000)
Mr Simon Lourds (2000–2008)
Mr Andrew Tan (2008–2014)
Mr Mark Minjoot (2014–2019)
Mr Kelvin Lim Hock Seong (2019–present)

Key Milestones

1916	Establishment of Montfort School as a single class in a parish school called Holy Innocents’ English School.
1936	Brothers of St Gabriel took over the running of Holy Innocents’ English School from the parish.
1948	Extension of the school was opened by the Sultan of Johor.
1959	Completion of another extension. Holy Innocents’ English School was renamed Montfort School as a tribute to St Louis Marie de Montfort.
1961	Start of its first pre-university class including four female students – the first time girls were admitted to the school.
1974	Separation of primary and secondary sections to form Montfort Junior School and Montfort Secondary School.
1975	Graduation of its last batch of pre-university students.
1979	Formation of Students’ Council to represent the voice of students.
1989	Groundbreaking ceremony officiated by Archbishop Gregory Yong at the site of the new Montfort Junior and Montfort Secondary Schools at Hougang Avenue 8.
1992	Montfort Junior and Montfort Secondary Schools began operations at their new premises.
2012	Return of Montfort Secondary School to its Hougang location after their PRIME upgrading in 2010-2011.
2016	Celebration of centennial, with the launch of Applied Learning Programme in information systems technology and design, and Learning for Life Programme in student leadership development through sports and outdoor education.

School Motto

Age Quod Agis

(Latin for ‘Do well in whatever you do’)

School Crest

The school crest was created when the Brothers of St Gabriel took over the management of the school in 1936. In 2014, the current crest was adopted, in line with the rest of the schools around the world which are under the Brothers.

The coat of arms has the letters ‘AM’ in the top-left quadrant, which stand for ‘Ave Maria’ (Latin for ‘Hail Mary’), and a lily, which symbolises the purity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, to whom the founder of the Order of St Gabriel, St Louis Marie de Montfort, was devoted.

God was the sole motivating force in the life of St Louis Marie de Montfort. This is symbolised by the cross with the letters ‘DS’ in the bottom-right quadrant, which stand for ‘Dieu Seul’ (French for ‘God Alone’).

The image of a star in the bottom-left quadrant symbolises the guidance of the Blessed Virgin Mary on life’s journey. Perseverance in the face of the storms of life is symbolised by the image of a sailboat in the top-right quadrant. ‘Our Lady, Star of the Sea’ is another title given to the Blessed Virgin Mary, who is the guiding star.

The crest also has the words ‘Montfort Brothers of St Gabriel’ and ‘Labor Omnia Vincit’ (Latin for ‘Labour conquers all things’) on it.

School Song

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.

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.