Speaking about Sentosa Primary School, here’s another school that we might soon forget: Monks Hill Secondary School, which would be the number one candidate for shoot a haunted school horror movie in Singapore purely on the basis of its name. The school, located at Monks Hill Road in Newton now houses the ACS Junior School.
Monks Hill Secondary School closed down not too long ago – in 2006, but in its heydey it used to be strong in a number of sports like cross-country running. You might still catch a glimpse of Monks Hill cross-country running glory if you walk around MacRitchie Reservoir. As it turns out, fellow Foyer yg and my father taught at Monks Hill Secondary School – and around the same time, too.
I used to hang out at Monks Hill with my father when I was younger – he was the head of NPCC then, so whenever they had camps, he had to spend the night with them to supervise. Of course, while the cadets slept out in tents in the field, my dad and I slept in the air-conditioned NPCC room! My most vivid memory about the school was actually the smell – the wooden frames in the old, prewar building carried a distinctive smell, and was the strongest in the second-floor art room, which if I remember correctly was at one of the ends of the second floor.
yg’s post got me thinking: What is the etymology of Monks Hill? I don’t recall any hill in the area (or sizeable geographic feature that could resemble a hill), and I could find any more information on the Singapore Infopedia. Does anybody know why Monks Hill is called Monks Hill? Was is named after some monks, or after a person named “Monks”?
5 Responses
noel, there was a temple on a hillock just before the old monk’s hill building. don’t know if there had been a monk. the temple does not exist anymore. it was just after the shell petrol station. in its place is a 2 or 3-storey residential building.
the other day i drove past the old monk’s hill building and saw that it has been converted into a hotel with a bistro and a bar.
Posted on August 17th, 2009 at 8:25 pm
While I didn’t study at Monk’s Hill, I also spent some time near there because the old MOE Language Centre was at the old school beside MHSS. We used to go to the Shell station for our breaks.
Posted on August 17th, 2009 at 10:12 pm
Hi, i was graduated from Monk’s Hill Sec in 2001.
You may log in to this website:
http://www.monkshillsec.moe.edu.sg/history.html
Posted on September 22nd, 2009 at 1:07 pm
I study in MHSS from 1968-1971. I was in malay stream… The office in the 2nd floor.. and the library was 3rd floor. The Principal was Mr. Jacob Yoong. I remember Miss Helen was the dicipline teacher. she was very strict. A teacher.. if I am not wrong her name is Miss Zulaikah… I like to see her. she was beautiful and ****. But another teacher I hate so much was Mr. Shariff. I miss the school time in MHSS. I wish if time can be turn back… I will study hard to achieve better grade. hmm but now I am 50+, how fast time fly… MHSS I miss U..
Posted on November 11th, 2010 at 9:10 pm
Hi..I studied in MHSS from 1969 to 1972(Malay Stream). Looking for old photos of my class of ’72, 4M3, under Mr Haidad Ali..
Posted on April 11th, 2011 at 9:56 pm
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