Before I joined SMS(S), I was from Henry Park Primary School. I was very worried that I would not be able to make new friends as I was not affiliated to the secondary school, unlike many of my school mates. However, I felt relieved after attending the orientation. The facilitators were very cheerful and patient with us and I was not afraid to talk to them. They also helped me to make friends. As time went on, I managed to make many new friends and adjusted to the new environment.

I always look forward to my lessons as the teachers are very kind and encouraging. They always find a way to make their lessons fun and entertaining. My friends are also very caring and understanding. I remembered once when I was sick and could not go to school for a few days. I was very anxious that I would not be able to catch up with my schoolwork. Thankfully, a lot of my friends offered to teach me and I was able to be on par with the rest of my schoolmates in terms of what was covered in class. I will always be very grateful to them.

I also enjoy the various activities and events the school organises for us. For example, for our self-initiated learning, there was an activity called "Cheerful Giver". I took the opportunity to make a clay keychain to give to a non-teaching staff member. I also love the school events such as the National Day Celebrations because the whole school would gather together for mass singing.

In summary, I am thankful to be part of the SMS(S) family. Thank you teachers and friends!

My Primary 6 self was fearful of the thought of a big jump from primary to secondary school, losing all my friends and teachers. However, from where I am today, I am more than proud of my decision to join the SMSS family.

This year, although hectic, is one of learning and gaining experiences. Coming to secondary school helped me to learn, to solve problems between friends and taught me to be a better leader. I learnt how to overcome obstacles in a mature manner. Being a class committee member also gave me the confidence in public speaking and improved my teamwork skills. 

One of my favourite experiences would definitely be my CCA. My CCA teaches me determination and perseverance. My seniors are kind and are great role models to me. I enjoy activities my CCA holds as I love bonding with my seniors and CCA members every week.

The lessons my teachers held are interesting and interactive. They make me excited to come to school every day. My form teachers are supportive and caring. Heart-to-heart talks in the morning. were a culture shock for me when I first joined the school. However, I have come to enjoy talking to the teachers and getting advice from them. 

I am thankful for this year and for my SMS(S) which has provided so much for me. I made a lot of memories with my friends as well. This year has been unforgettable and I will cherish the experiences.

Before I joined SMS(S), I felt very nervous and unsure about what my Secondary 1 life would be. Although many people around me said that Secondary 1 would be harder compared to Primary 6, I did not allow that to affect me. However, that was not the main concern. The main issue that I faced was when I first entered my class was I felt like everyone had at least a friend from their previous school. I was a bit quiet on the first day as I realised that my primary school friends were in other classes. This left me with no choice but to make new friends on my own.

However, during the Secondary 1 orientation, I was no longer nervous and unsure about making friends as my seniors and teachers helped me along the way and were always there for me when I needed help. Within the first week of school, I had made many more friends than what I thought I could. 

I enjoyed the CCA Fair even though it was not similar to the previous years due to COVID-19 restrictions. The CCA Fair allowed me to see what each CCA offered. The seniors demonstrated and explained their CCAs so well that I had no problems choosing a CCA.

Finally, something I enjoyed the most was ACES Day. I enjoyed all the fun and enthusiastic cheers and dances that we did. On that day, I realised that SMSS is a place I would always look forward to because our school spirit never stops shining.

Before I joined SMS(S), I felt anxious as I heard many seniors and relatives talk about how secondary school life was going to be more stressful with more homework and tests. 

However, all these worries disappeared when I participated in orientation activities during the first three days of school. Our facilitators were very friendly, kind and patient with us as they introduced us to our new school environment and this helped us to make new friends easily. Our teachers were also forgiving and understanding towards us as they understood that we needed time to adjust to a new schedule.

I was impressed with how serious the school was about taking of temperatures. For example, we all have to take our temperature even though it is already time for dismissal! This also showed me how united the school was in preventing the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

I really enjoyed myself during the school and House cheer sessions. The cheers were fun to do and easy to learn. I feel that such events build the St. Margaret’s school spirit and help to remind us that we are all part of one big family, where no one is left behind.

When I first came to SMS(S), I was excited because I managed to secure a place in my dream school. However, I also felt quite nervous as I was not sure if I was able to make any friends. However, these fears were unfounded. Starting from the first day of school, I have experienced many positive moments.  I made some good friends in my form class, Mother Tongue class and CCA. The staff and teachers here are really helpful, kind and caring towards the students. 

I am impressed by the school’s rich history and strong culture. 

I really enjoy my lessons, as my teachers are always ready to help whenever I have a problem. After adjusting to the new school environment, I feel more relaxed and feel a sense of belonging to St. Margaret’s Secondary School.

Before I joined SMSS, I was from Queenstown Primary school. I felt really nervous and anxious on my first day of secondary school because I did not know what to expect in this new environment. I was really impressed by the size of the school because it was much bigger than my primary school, so much so that I almost got lost! When I first entered my new classroom, everyone in my class seemed to know one another well because most of them were from the same primary school. I felt lonely and kept looking forward to the last lesson.

Nevertheless, I enjoyed the Secondary One Orientation Programme because I had fun playing the games and activities. From there, I was able to make some new friends in my group. I also enjoyed the CCA fair because I was able to see the different kinds of CCAs offered by the school. 

Some positive moments I have had so far are when I was accepted into the CCA I wanted. I also have really good form teachers and always enjoy their lessons. 

Now that I have adjusted to school, I look forward to coming to school to meet my new friends. I am close to them and feel comfortable with them and we always go for recess together or spend time together after school.

I was nervous and excited at the same time when I first joined SMS(S). Some positive experiences I had here so far include making new friends and taking part in activities organised by the orientation facilitators.  

I am very impressed by the school’s history. I was surprised to know that there was a time capsule in the parade square and am interested to find out what is inside it. 

One of the activities I enjoyed during the orientation was archery as it was fun. 

I think the teachers and staff here are kind and nice, especially my form and subject teachers. Now that I have adjusted to the school, I am enjoying myself. I feel comfortable here as I know that my new friends and teachers would be there to comfort me when I am feeling down or need help. 

Words cannot describe how grateful I am to be a part of the SMS(S) community. I can proudly say that I am so glad to have chosen to be here. This school has helped me grow as a person in various ways. I believe that this is because of the remarkable teachers that we have been blessed to have here. Every teacher in St. Margaret’s school (Secondary) tries their best to help their students, in both their academic and personal growth. Our teachers always ensure that we know that we have room for growth, and that we have what it takes to reach our maximum potential. They never fail to pick us up when we go through tough times and always help us to "do well in all that we do".

When I first joined this school in Secondary One, I had low confidence in my potential. However, the peers and teachers in my class supported and encouraged me, leading me to excel in various areas. Through this experience, I realised that our community was filled with staff and students who looked out for one another. During the circuit breaker period to pre-empt escalating COVID-19 infections, our school also coped with the transition of moving to online learning very well. Our teachers used many different innovative and engaging teaching methods to motivate students to continue their learning.

In addition, our school also took care to ensure that we did not neglect the development of our values, providing us with various opportunities to encourage us to serve the community, such as writing cards of gratitude to the elderly in St. Andrew's Nursing Home.

The Character and Citizenship Education (CCE) lessons that I attended at SMSS have also helped me to grow in my character. I found these lessons enthralling and useful in my daily routines. Examples of topics covered during these lessons included how to care for our mental well-being and ways that students could understand themselves better.

Being a part of the Student Council family at SMSS has allowed me to grow in my leadership skills. My council teachers and fellow councillors taught me how to be more of a servant leader. They also helped me to grow in my confidence. Additionally, I became more communicative and empathetic towards others’ feelings.

I am greatly indebted to St. Margaret’s for all the positive changes it has made in my life!

I can hardly believe how far I have come in the past three years at SMSS. I believe that when I graduate from SMS(S), I will look back on this period of my life with great fondness.

One of the main highlights of my experience in SMSS is my Co-curricular Activity (CCA) sessions. I feel that not only am I able to learn a lot from my CCA in terms of soft skills such as teamwork, but I also have a lot of fun bonding with my CCA members. I think that CCA gives juniors and seniors the unique opportunity to interact with one other, which results in friendships being formed across levels. We do not really have such a chance to do so during normal curriculum time, so I treasure the time that CCA has given me to make new friends and have fun, all the while doing something I enjoy.

In addition, my classmates, teachers, and friends hold a special place in my heart. Our teachers try to make lessons interesting for us, and I appreciate that. I will always be grateful to the teachers who have sparked my interest in particular subjects with their teaching and made me interested in learning more about the subject beyond the school syllabus. I will also always be thankful of my time here in SMSS due to the friends that I met here. There is a friendly atmosphere in SMSS, so I do not find it hard to make friends with my classmates. This makes my school experience even more enjoyable. I have friends who are willing to support me through thick and thin, and whom I will always be thankful for. I have a feeling that our friendship will last long after secondary school.

Finally, I would like to thank the DoTS (Development of Talents to Serve) programme, for allowing me to pursue my non-academic interests. The DoTS programme gave me a chance to participate in various activities, including competitions that are related to the chosen DoTS programme. One particularly beneficial experience I can vividly recall myself going through was the Dragonfly Watch, which a group of Science DoTS students, including myself, participated in. It opened my eyes to the world of dragonflies, and I still keep my notes (on dragonflies common to Singapore) to this day. Overall, I appreciate how SMSS encourages students to spend time on non-academic interests through this programme. Otherwise, I would not have had the opportunity to capitalise on my passion for science.

My school is my second home as it is where I spend most of my time besides my home. Above all, it gives me a platform to do better in life and helps to build my character. I feel blessed to study in one of the most prestigious and esteemed schools in Singapore. 

Before I joined SMS(S), I was excited because all my cousins were from SMSS and they had a great time in their secondary school journey. They told me their stories which would further excite me to join SMS(S).

At school, we share all of our pleasures and sorrows, and we constantly rely and look out for one another. SMSS has a positive learning environment, one in which students feel happy and safe and have the self-confidence to express themselves. I also find that the things that St. Margaret’s teaches me is useful for my future career path. I also get to hone my leadership skills. One of the leadership opportunities I took part in was running for Tolley House Captain. Even though I did not get selected, I took it as an experience and an opportunity to improve myself. The orientation facilitated by the Secondary 4 students helped me to bond well with my classmates and get to know the school better. I have made many friends whom I enjoy spending my time with.

Another thing I enjoy about St. Margaret’s is the school cheer. I always have a blast when we get to do the cheers and return home with a sore throat from screaming my lungs out. The teachers in our school are really friendly and take good care of the students. The teachers not only teach us the academic subjects but also life lessons which are really invaluable to me.

When I first came to SMS(S), I was amazed by how the school looked. I was also nervous about how I was going to make friends or get to know my classmates. However, during orientation I had an amazing experience. The facilitators were very engaging and enthusiastic and my encouraging classmates really built up my confidence and trust. When Home-Based Learning came about, I remember our teachers trying their best to help us with all the IT issues and other school related things. To keep us connected, we always have morning check-in zoom meetings with Ms Cao. Our Form Teachers (Ms Cao and Mdm Choo) were really helpful and did not give up on us even when we gave them some trouble. I have looked up to them since Secondary One. During one of our heart-to-heart talks with one of my teachers, I felt comfortable enough to share all my dreams and life stories.

I appreciate the teachers very much. SMS(S) has helped build my character and now I am a proud SMSS student, a Tier 3 leader, a Red Cross CCA Vice-Chairperson, and a good classmate! I really enjoy myself especially during the school events and school/house cheers. When COVID-19 restrictions were lifted, we participated in school events which helped to build the St. Margaret’s school spirit and remind us that we are all part of one big family, where no one is left behind.

When I first entered this school in Secondary One, I was shocked by the difference in culture from my primary school. The warmth and positive attitude displayed by my seniors and teachers made me feel welcome and helped to ease me into secondary school life. Throughout my journey in St. Margaret’s, I have been blessed with countless opportunities to develop my leadership skills, and “grow and glow” for those around me. 

As the Vice-Chairperson of the Modern Dance CCA, I was provided with various opportunities to guide my CCA members, plan schoolwide events like the annual CCA Fair and even choreograph performances for Teachers’ Day. One of the memorable experiences that I had as Vice-Chairperson was learning ways to innovate and improve upon current procedures as the EXCO navigated how to set up effective training sessions during the pandemic. With the guidance of the teachers-in-charge as well as my peers, I am thankful to have emerged stronger and more confident from my Modern Dance experience. 

In Secondary Two, I was also given the opportunity to be part of the Student Council. I was greatly blessed to be in a family that “loves and serves always”. Aside from that, my journey in the Student Council also taught me the importance of empathy and discipline. Moreover, being a part of the Student Leadership Board gave me the chance to plan for the 2022 Secondary One Orientation. Inspired by our own orientation experience, the Student Leadership Board planned and executed the orientation alongside other student leaders. It was truly one of the most memorable experiences of my secondary school journey. 

Aside from the enriching experiences and invaluable opportunities extended to me, I will be evermore grateful to the friends and teachers here. They have encouraged and guided me to be the best version of myself. I will surely miss this wonderful family when I graduate from St. Margaret’s.

Reminiscing back on the 4 years spent in St. Margaret’s, my heart is filled with gratitude and happiness. Fond memories like the sea of polka dots during morning assembly and the heart-warming conversations I enjoyed with my friends during recess times, still remain vivid in my mind. Indeed, I would not have made it this far without all the support and love from everyone around me, be it my teachers or my friends.

I am truly grateful for all the opportunities I was given in St. Margaret's, which sparked my interest in areas I was not exposed to within the classroom. One example would be the Development of Talents to Serve (DoTS) programme the school offered. I had the precious opportunity to take part in several competitions through the programme, and together with the guidance of my teachers, I benefitted tremendously. One memorable competition I took part in was the “Create your own newspaper” competition in 2019 and 2020. The competitions gave me the chance to work together with my teammates to design and write a newspaper article from scratch. Though we faced many challenges of having to use a completely new software to design our newspaper, it was such a fruitful process seeing our design get printed on an actual newspaper eventually. Such experiences have allowed me to gain so much more than just academic knowledge, but more importantly, the intrinsic values of perseverance and open-mindedness.

One of the things I loved most about St. Margaret’s was the people I had met there. The teachers dedicate an unimaginable amount of time to enrich our learning, and they were the ones who believed in us even when we found it hard to. I will always remember the little check-ins and encouragement from my teachers during the stressful national examination period, and it is these small acts of care that make St. Margaret’s a place that I could call my second home. Not forgetting the close bonds I have forged with my friends, they were the ones who stood by my side despite the ups and downs of this journey. “ How lucky am I to have something so special, that makes saying goodbye so hard. “ was a quote that I felt really deeply for at the end of Secondary 4. From time to time, I still scroll through my photo gallery to reminisce on my secondary school days, and they always remind me of how immensely blessed I am with this group of friends and classmates who have been ever so supportive and encouraging.

Being part of the St. Margaret's family has been an eye-opening experience for me. Through participating in various VIA projects at St. Margaret’s, I was given the opportunity to serve the community, allowing me to become a more other-centred person. The leadership opportunities offered by school-initiated programmes have also encouraged me to step out of my comfort zone.

As the Vice-Chairperson of Malay Dance, I had the opportunity to choreograph dances for school events, as well as to guide and motivate my teammates during practices. It was during the pandemic that my creative thinking and resourcefulness were truly put to the test, as my team had to adapt to having practices and bonding activities via online sessions. It was then that my fellow leaders made the collective decision for the team members to record individual practice videos and submit them to us. This not only allowed us to monitor their progress and give them personal feedback; it also enabled us to strengthen our teamwork despite being confined to our individual homes.

Aside from these experiences, there have been many other valuable moments at St. Margaret’s which have instilled values such as devotion and kindness within me, as well as broadened my perspectives on various social issues. If I had to choose, my most memorable experience at St. Margaret's would be the friendships I have forged during my time here. Regardless of the situation, my friends would always be by my side – my source of comfort and motivation to press on. Moreover, throughout my years at St. Margaret’s, I was also surrounded by teachers who constantly supported me through the various challenges I faced.

Our unique school culture has shaped me into the person I am today; and I will surely miss the heart-warming atmosphere in St. Margaret's School (Secondary).

I have been greatly blessed during my time at St. Margaret’s. When I joined the school in Secondary 2, I was worried that I would have problems making friends and fitting in. However, I soon realised that these worries were unfounded as my classmates and teachers welcomed me with open arms.

In Secondary 3, I was given the privilege to hold leadership positions in both my Co-curricular Activity (CCA), Girl Guides, and in Student Council. My role in Student Council allowed me to learn about different leadership styles as well as how to work together as a team and play to everyone's strengths in order to achieve the best possible results.

During my time in Girl Guides, I learnt how to better engage my peers and encourage them to finish set tasks. It was through these lessons that I became better equipped to make each CCA session engaging and enjoyable for the members.

Aside from the invaluable experiences that I had at St. Margaret’s, I am also grateful for my teachers who constantly guided and encouraged me and pushed me to do my best. Indeed, it was my friends and teachers who made my time in St. Margaret’s memorable, and my 3 years here is something I will always cherish and look back fondly on.

If I had to use one word to describe my four years in St. Margaret’s School (Secondary)l, it would definitely be “fruitful”. Throughout my years here, I have been given multiple opportunities to learn and grow. Despite being an introvert, I was given leadership opportunities to broaden my potential, forged many unforgettable friendships, and ultimately, gained a deeper understanding of the value of giving back to society. 

Additionally, school-organised programmes such as Values In Action (VIA) projects and learning journeys helped instill in me the importance of being open to others’ opinions and perspectives. 

Although my Secondary school journey has not been a smooth-sailing one, the multiple setbacks that I encountered in my studies and relationships did not prevent me from persevering and striving to learn. I remember how my amazing teachers and friends kept by my side through those trying times, providing me with encouragement and support to boost my strength and keep me going. 

It was also during my time at St. Margaret’s School (Secondary) that I discovered my passions and interests, and was able to ascertain my strengths and weaknesses in Arts and Science subjects. 

Without a doubt, my experience at St. Margaret’s School (Secondary)  has been an enriching one. Not only did it allow me to discover my own potential, I was also able to gain a greater sense of self-identity and confidence. I will always fondly remember St. Margaret’s as my second home – a place where I was accepted and was encouraged to grow. 

No matter where I go from here, I will definitely miss the St. Margaret’s culture.