Our school’s vision is “To be a choice school in nurturing world-ready citizens”. A world-ready citizen is one who has a global perspective. S/he must be adaptable and resourceful in any new environment. S/he must be diligent in the journey to fulfilling his/her dreams and persevere in the face of challenges. S/he must also be sensitive to different cultures and practices, being able to respect others, as well as to exercise personal and social responsibility.

All these are important values, or character traits, in a successful person. As a school, we believe that character education is the core of what we do. The Director for the Centre of Fourth and Fifth Rs (Responsibility and Respect), Dr Thomas Lickona, defines character education as a deliberate and proactive effort to develop good character in children - or, more simply, to teach children right from wrong.

We implemented our new character development framework last year and we will continue to focus on the implementation this year. Adapted from Dr Lickona’s 12-point Comprehensive Approach to Character Education, our framework defines 4 school-wide approaches and 8 classroom strategies to develop the Moral Character and Performance Character of our students.

We believe that good character is both “taught” and “caught”. In addition to structured programmes that inculcate in students the school core values and provide them opportunities to exercise social responsibility, we also leverage on teachable moments.

We also believe that learning of values is best done in an environment where good relationship prevails. Through structures like Homeroom period, where form teacher and students interact in an informal setting, student-initiated activities, and classroom painting project, we seek to engage students in school so as to develop their sense of belonging to the school. Coming up in the later part of the year will be a Student Centre for the students, and to be run by the students.

We want Marsiling Secondary School to be a place where our students feel belonged to. And we want the school to be a place where they develop good and strong character.

Loke Chee Pheng

Principal

Click here to read the principal's message for 2007.
Click here to read the principal's message for 2006.