CJC NEWSLETTER ISSUE TWO • JULY 2019
Passions Ignited, Hearts United
Principal's Dear CJCians,
Message
Over the course of last term, our JC1s and JC2s have performed very well at the Singapore Youth Festival (SYF) and National School Games. A number of our Sports CCAs performed well and achieved new levels of excellence in individual and team events, with the following sports CCAs emerging top four at the respective ‘A’ Division games: Fencing, Judo, Swimming (Boys), Air Rifle (Girls), Canoeing (Girls), and Floorball (Girls). All five of our performing arts CCAs including Drama (from 2018 SYF), Symphonic Band, Choir, Dance and Guzheng were awarded the SYF Certificate of Distinction. Many student leaders sacrificed their time and effort to guide their teams to excel in teamwork and performance. All CJCians who participated in the National School Games and SYF faced obstacles and disappointments, but also forged deeper bonds with team mates and nurtured resilience. Whether your CCA achieved an accolade at the competition or not, I am proud of how much you have grown or learnt about yourself through this challenging journey. Many teams have banded together to face challenges and savour the victories of this year’s sporting and performing arts season. You will read in this issue how various sports and performing arts CCAs went against the odds to achieve their well-deserved results
at the various competitions. Our clubs and societies continue to serve both within and beyond our CJC community, and are also featured in this issue. This issue also includes some memorable
programmes and events that help define the unique CJ experience, such as the REACH Cambridge trip for ELL and Literature students in March and Ambassador Mrs Mary Seet-Cheng’s dialogue with the JC1s. These serve as a good reminder of how passion has no boundaries – it permeates not just our CCAs, but also our mind and the classroom. Semester 2 marks the time when our JC1s bear the legacy and flame of leadership that their JC2 seniors have entrusted to them. JC1s, continue to acquire knowledge, lead and serve in your CCAs, Houses, and committees. The time for you to discover and hone your strengths as leaders of the College has come with the baton of leadership. Learn how to be supportive team players and followers. The teachers and I look forward to the leaders you will grow to become through this journey, just like many of your seniors before you. JC2s, as you reflect and gear up for the examinations, do know that your CJC family is here to support you. The whole class of 2019 can and will persevere through the A-Level Examinations. You survived the rigour of balancing CCA and schoolwork over the past 15 months of college life, so I know you have what it takes for the A-Levels. Pace each other and help each other deepen understanding of concepts to increase the chances of excelling in the national examinations. Remember: take passion and determination anywhere you go and you’ll go far. In Veritate et Caritate. Mrs Phyllis Lim Principal
Editors Aster Goh I-Mei Suzie Yanti Jumadi Wendy Priscillia Wong Gabriel Lee Kong Meng Mackenzie Rae Schoon Daphne Tan Li Wen
2
President Ram Singh Langeana Vice-President Russel Morino
Contributors Avanthiga MJ Bryan Wee Charmaine Chen Chomel Chan Chua Ying Shuen Cynthia Tan Farah Firzanah Gincy Lim
Hemanth Chander Heng Szee Shuen Keith Chan Lim Wee Hong Nadya Pang Ng Hui Xin Ram Singh Langeana Russel Morino Zou LeYang
Photographers Andrew Cheow Damien Tan Hu Zhangdyi Isaiah Kwik Joie Lam Lu Wenjie Mr Rodolfo Callejo Wayne Wong
Issue 1 wrongly stated that for the Class of 2018, Shaun Song and Tiffany Tan are from 2T06. Instead, they are from 2T04 and 2T02 respectively.
Rockafella XV:
A Euphonic Night
Text by Ram Singh Langeana (1T06)
The atmosphere was charged up as the audience was eagerly anticipating a much-awaited concert. When the lights went down and the countdown to Rockafella XV had begun, the JC1s and JC2s started screaming in anticipation, with a hint of impatience to get the party started. The first band, Introspection, performed with great zeal, which was transferred to the audience by the end of their performance. Following this was Burning Bridges, who matched the level of energy shown by Introspection, in their performance of Paramore’s ‘Still Into You’. Studio Havoc was next, and they received a standing ovation from the crowd, who loved their renditions of Train’s ‘Angel with a Shotgun’ and Aerosmith’s ‘I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing’. Last year’s champions, Mental Makeup was next in the lineup. The crowd cheered their hearts out for the band, who
put on a roof-raising performance. Their performance of ‘Shut Up and Dance’ by Walk the Moon got the crowd on their feet, but it was their rendition of ‘The Ballad of Mona Lisa’ which really got the crowd going with hundreds of students singing along to the alternative hit. The final student band, Yours Truly, performed Adele’s emotional ‘Set Fire to the Rain’ with gusto. However, the concert was not over. Still to come was the alumni band, who had experience in rocking the auditorium. They put their experience to good use, rousing the crowd with their performances of Gotye’s ‘Somebody That I Used to Know’, ‘Don’t Stop Believing’ by Journey and a rock concert classic in Queen’s anthem, ‘We Will Rock You’. The teachers’ band gave the crowd more to cheer about, performing Bon Jovi’s ‘It’s My Life’ and a crowd favourite, ‘I Want It That Way’ by the Backstreet Boys. It then came time for the moment everyone had been waiting for. Anticipation pierced the air as our Vice Principal, Mr Tan Jek
Stretching the
Mind
Suan, was invited on stage to announce the winners of Rockafella XV. In the end, Mental Makeup emerged victorious for the second year running, treating everyone to an encore performance of ‘Yellow’ by Coldplay. The lead singer of the band, Escanuela Allysa (2T03), was pleasantly surprised. “It’s so surreal. I’ll be completely honest, there was a big part of us that was resigned to the belief that we wouldn’t be placed this year. But it didn’t mean that we were going to give up and put up a subpar performance. We didn’t join Rockafella again to win more bragging rights but because we genuinely love performing.” The CJ spirit was still palpable in the air, even after all was said and done. Both the performers and the audience members would never forget Rockafella XV, enjoying the chance to share the experience with their friends and deepening the bonds between them. Here’s hoping to a performance as satisfying and brilliant as Rockafella XV in 2020.
Held from 9-18 March 2019, the Reach Cambridge English Studies Trip was a fulfilling and enriching one. Twenty students from the College’s English Language and Linguistics (ELL) programme had the precious opportunity to participate in seminars led by academics from Cambridge University on topics such as psycholinguistics and the unique features of dialects in the United Kingdom and America. They also had the privilege of conducting research on accents in the town of Cambridge. Similarly, the Literature seminars stretched the students’ critical thinking and understanding of the subject as they were engaged with the literary canon, Shakespeare and his works, and Modernism. In addition, the seminars prepared the students to critically engage with a play, Richard II, which they watched in London. Some of the most significant takeaways included the ability to make connections between disciplines and seeing the relevance of what they study come alive. In the words of Natalie Ong (2T05), “sitting in a classroom with teachers from all over the world and listening to them speak made me realise that Literature and Linguistics have been a medium to bring people from vastly different cultures and walks of life together.”
3
Paving the Way to that 'A':
The Project Work Blueprint
Text by Russel Morino (1T06), Gincy Lim (1T06), Heng Szee Shuen (1T31) and Nadya Pang (2T05)
Like a ride on a rollercoaster, Project Work is filled with the same nailbiting moments that make for an incredible journey that one will be able to look back on fondly. The story of success for CJ147 is premised on dedication and hard work - and one that culminated in a Distinction. Group members Valarie Tan (Leader), Kaung Khant Nyar, Ahmad Faruuq and Michelle Pang, all from 2T29, saw school days that were packed with meetings that went on for several hours. “We made a solid plan to get our work done on time, which I believe helped us get As,� shares Khant Nyar. The investment of long hours and their unwavering team spirit were instrumental factors that led to the conception of a myriad of ideas for their project. One of the ideas that they actualised was the staging of a skit as an
4
introduction to their Oral Presentation (OP). The team also ensured that each and every member was well-prepared and committed to fine-tuning their responses for the Q&A section. Their journey to success was not not entirely smooth-sailing. The team experienced misunderstandings which affected productivity during the June holidays. In addition, their failure to adhere to the framework set by their PW supervising tutor eventually caught up with them, which led to longer hours spent in discussion and writing to make up for lost time. The team also faced the challenge of having to generate new
solutions close to the submission deadline after realising that their initial solutions lacked feasibility. These challenges tested the resolve of the team but their collective vision proved to be the common factor that pushed them to the end. Throughout the PW journey, CJ147 shared that they have learnt the value of teamwork, communication, leadership and putting in consistent effort. The journey and experience of group work has certainly left an indelible mark and memory on them.
Against
All Odds
Text by Zou LeYang (1T05) and Charmaine Chen (1T22) In Veritate et Caritate. This is CJC’s motto, which in Latin means in truth and in love. Family love is deep rooted into CJC’s culture and this provides a strong level of support for every CJCian. This hits close to home for Kim Yu Ling (1T16). She had a brace on her right knee for 5 months prior to her recent surgery as she was suffering from procurvatum deformity with ACL deficiency in the genu valgus. Her condition gave her great difficulty simply walking from one classroom to another. She was also regrettably left out from many of the activities during orientation. In addition, when classes officially started, Yu Ling faced difficulties from simply keeping to the timetable.
In her time of need, it was her Orientation Group (OG) mates that first reached out to her, setting the precedence for the warmth and support of CJC. They went out of their way to ensure that Yu Ling would be comfortable, such as helping her get chairs to sit on during assembly, fetching her crutches and slowing down their walking pace to match hers, so that she could move about with greater ease and feel included. Her classmates, though initially awkward, soon caught on, and helped to carry her books and bag to various venues.
amongst one another. The care and concern that we receive from one another need not be asked for as it comes naturally.”
Yu Ling was originally worried about coming to school with her injury, but after learning during the open house of CJC’s warm and caring family culture, along with her experience of receiving help from both teachers and students after joining the College, she commented that, “CJ really has this warmth and care in the school. I feel that CJCians have this sense of a closeknit friendship and shared understanding
Not all superheroes wear capes and every ordinary act of kindness brightens someone’s day. The friendship that Sara and Yu Ling share should be a model for all of us to extend a helping hand to someone in need. We should all learn from the resilience Yu Ling demonstrated and incorporate them into our daily lives. Every act of kindness is extraordinary and every ordinary person can help others. No matter how insignificant it may seem, it could make someone smile.
One who had a large part to play in Yu Ling’s experience of the support system at CJC is her best friend and OG mate, Sara Lim (1T08). Sara noticed Yu Ling’s struggles early on, and initiated to help her. Sara commented that she felt “natural and glad” to have helped Yu Ling during her difficult time. Sara’s actions embodies that caring culture, where nobody gets left behind.
Kim Yu Ling (1T16) with her friends
5
Family@CJ Verbalise your appreciation of the effort that your parents are putting in for snack night and/or all the other college activities where you see them.” Chairperson of Family@CJ, Ms Constance Ow
Life as a junior college student is not easy, to say the least. Yet maybe it is the bonds forged and the many hours spent together that make CJ a second home for many. Adding to the equation is the quiet work that Family@CJ has been doing to support the students and the College. Rebranded as Family@CJ this year, the College’s Parent Support Group seeks to use their time and resources to care beyond their own homes, so that the children of other parents and all CJCians can also experience the same parental love when students stay for the Night Study Programme. The parents’ core work is to provide hot snacks and drinks during Night Study breaks, and in order to do so, much time and resources are required in the coordination and preparation. Yet they do not seem to mind. Chairperson Ms Constance Ow is emphatic about this: “We are here to serve and to help all the students. We are here for the children. We are the extended arm of the school in caring for all of these children.”
Vice Chairperson Ms Sim Yee Kay portioning snacks for students during Night Study
Creating a warm family environment is one of Family@CJ’s main objectives because where their children and CJ students are concerned, they are - in Ms Ow’s words - “devoted...in [their] hearts.” No wonder the reference to family in this new identity. In fact, the newly designed Family@CJ logo quite literally expresses its goal of being a big family working hand-in-hand with the students and the College to bring the warmth of the family into their work. Ms Sim Yee Kay, Vice-Chairperson of Family@CJ, encourages parents who are interested to volunteer their time to extend love to the students, and experience the joy of serving. After all, “these are the few opportunities left that you can serve the children this closely”. Ms Ow expresses similar sentiments in highlighting that the two years of Junior College are precious for parents to bond with their children closely, and that joining Family@CJ can give them a better sense of their children’s lives in the College. It is a blessing to have parents who care for us in many different ways. Likewise, it is a blessing to have Family@CJ support our students in ways that parents do for their own children. Our parents do so for little to no reward for themselves. How nice it would be for us to learn from and express our appreciation for them!
6
PSG member Mr Adrian Chong with his daughter Andrea Chong (2T05)
SG
Perspectives Ambassador Mrs Mary Seet-Cheng and our student moderators
On 7 May 2019, CJC was honoured to host a visit by Mrs Mary Seet-Cheng, Singapore’s Ambassador to the Republic of Panama and Cuba, and resident in Singapore. She is also a Senior Specialist Adviser in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Special Adviser to the Maritime Port Authority. During this year’s SG Perspectives, which is an annual ministerial dialogue held on college grounds for National Education, she addressed our JC1 cohort and student leaders on the principles that guide Singapore’s foreign policy and Singapore’s relations with other states on a regional and global level.
CPF
Many students took the opportunity to tap on Ambassador Seet-Cheng’s wealth of knowledge on foreign and maritime affairs and sought her views on issues related to Singapore’s diplomatic relations with other countries. Ambassador Seet-Cheng’s rich diplomatic experience provided our students valuable insights on the guiding principles of Singapore’s foreign policy, lessons on leadership and the role of women in diplomacy.
Roadshow Text by Keith Chan and Lim Wee Hong (2T18)
Held in CJC on 29 and 30 May 2019, the Central Provident Fund (CPF) Roadshow used fun and interactive games to promote personal financial literacy. These games helped students reflect on the aim, constraints, marginal benefit and marginal cost of putting aside more money for the future, and the intended and unintended consequences of saving money on different stakeholders in society. Students applied what they learnt in Economics about decision-making to personal finance, which helped many to see the relevance of such knowledge in their own lives.
Using interactive games presented on a Kinect gaming console, the members of the CPF board explained and helped each student have a deeper understanding of key concepts such as spending within one’s means, compound interest, and the importance of saving early to have sufficient personal savings so that they can live the life they want.
Students lining up to play the interactive games
It was interesting to note many students actually felt that they were not ready to manage their finances, with some mentioning that CPF would do a better job at it. It was indeed an eye-opening session on personal finance and it made Economics come alive. Learning about personal finance in a fun way
7
Breaking Through the
Waters Text by Russel Morino (1T06) and Farah Firzanah (1T30)
With ten medals bagged at the ‘A’ Divisions of this year’s National School Games, the CJC Swimming Team has monumentally improved in their results from the three medals won last year. The boys raced their hearts out to come in fourth overall. The results were a tremendous affirmation to the blood, sweat and tears of everyone in the team, as they smashed their personal records and achieved their goals.
Dayna Cheong (2T26) clinching 2nd place for 200m breaststroke
Swim Team Dream Team 2019
Excellence does not come without struggle, and the team’s journey proved arduous over the months of preparation. Charlton Ng (1T12) related the strain of juggling studies and training, a shared difficulty experienced by his teammates: “I am usually left with little to no time after trainings to complete my school work. Hence, I make full use of my time by completing my work before trainings and use the weekends to catch up on my studies.” Each swimmer brings his strengths and shortcomings to the pool, and the closeknit team rally behind each other. The swimmers took heed of advice from both their coach and one another in order to better their performances. Some even went the extra mile by organising external trainings in their own time. This journey was particularly special for Hnin Myat Eindray Oo (2T08) - having switched CCAs early this year due to a medical condition, she was the new kid on the block. A week to the deadline
8
for the submission of names for the competition, she learnt that she would be representing the College. With limited training time and experience, Hnin found herself in a pit of worry. Turning to her coach for more effective methods, searching for tips online and having the support of her family members helped Hnin build the mental strength she needed to perform in the water. Her frustration in failing to compete in the ‘A’ Divisions for Judo motivated her to focus on Swimming, and to achieve her goals of qualifying for the 100m freestyle event and obtaining a good timing for both relay events. The CJC swimmers truly displayed the power of mind over matter, swimming against the current of tough trainings and the pressure of personal expectations. Having a healthy team morale and support system brought the team far and made their journey a memorable one.
Elated Floorball Girls Team
Performing under
Pressure
Floorball is a high-intensity sport which demands skill and stamina, imposing mental and physical pressure on players. Have you ever wondered how the Floorball players learn to cope with the rigour of the sport?
Despite the gruelling training, the Floorball players still manage to cope with the stress by staying bonded and keeping the spirit of training sessions light-hearted. Learning from the example that the JC2 Boys set during the competition season, JC1 Boys’ Floorball Captain, Ashraff Ishak (1T04) shares that now he is always on the lookout for teammates who may be struggling with the demanding training, and gave them the support that is needed to help them cope better. The Girls’ Floorball team also adopted ways to help cheer each other on during their strenuous training, making an effort to keep their sessions fun-filled by joking around with each other while waiting for their turn during drills.
through to the finals. The Boys’ Floorball Team, while unable to clinch a victory, displayed remarkable sportsmanship and perseverance. Throughout the stressful competition season, the mix of JC1 and JC2 players received immense support from their peers, seniors and teachers, who made time to cheer the teams on in person at
the various games. “Under the guidance of the seniors who encouraged us, prayed with us and cheered us on, we were able to keep a positive mindset even if the scores were not in our favour,” shared JC1 Girls’ Floorball Captain Natalie Chan (1T20). The CJ spirit burns brightly in our community, and reminds us that we are truly of one heart, and one family.
Floorball player fending off the opponent
Facing off
True to the CJ spirit, the Girls’ and Boys’ teams pushed their limits during the National School Games this year. The Girls’ team fought incredibly hard and blazed
9
Pride
and
Glory
Text by Avanthiga MJ (1T13) and Charmaine Chen (1T22) The ‘A’ Division season of the National School Games is indeed not an easy one, being the defining sports competition of the year. This journey was challenging for both the JC1s and JC2s for different reasons – the JC1s had to adjust to a new environment in Junior College while the JC2s needed to balance training and studies. However, the students rose to the challenge and did the College proud. Some of these sportsmen struggled to prove themselves. Paul Chong (1T17) and Tan Jin Long (1T22) from Rugby were both new to the sport and had no competing experience prior to the ‘A’ Divisions. Paul shared that he was initially overcome with the pressure of excelling: “I felt that I needed to keep up with my teammates who already had years of experience and had already honed their skills.” G Rishi (1T13) came to CJC as an experienced badminton player who represented his secondary school in many competitions. This allowed Rishi to play alongside CCA mates who had different skill sets compared to him in the sport. However, Rishi found that in spite of his experience, he suffered defeat that made him re-assess his performance. While it disheartened him, it did not deter him from persevering through the rigorous training and pushing himself beyond his mental and physical limits.
Lim Meng Zhen (1T33) and Calista Heng (1T27)
Ethan Wong (1T22)
10
While they encountered difficulties, these athletes took with them the importance of grit and teamwork from the ‘A’ Divisions. Chua Ann Teng (1T05) and Claire Ng (1T10) from Shooting opined that having a different perspective and mindset made it easier for them to solve the various problems they faced during their training. Chloe Ng (2T26) from Volleyball, and Lim Meng Zhen (1T33) and Calista Heng (1T27) from Volleyball and Netball respectively shared that team spirit was essential in their ‘A’ Division journey, and cultivated a strong fighting spirit for themselves. This fuelled Chloe’s desire to do her best in every training and demonstrate resilience. Together with their Netball teammates, Meng Zhen and Calista created an uplifting learning environment where the team gave constructive feedback and helped each other when they made mistakes. This sense of openness brought them closer as one CJC Netball team. They continuously reminded one another to look beyond their competitors, and focus on the effort they had put in as a team.
Tan Jin Long (1T22)
Indeed, our College has strong family support to help CJCians surpass their expectations and achieve greater heights. The coaches, teachers, seniors and most importantly the student athletes themselves gave their all and pushed the whole team to rise to greater heights.
Chua Ann Teng (1T05)
Chloe Ng (2T26)
G Rishi (1T13)
11
Passionate
Performers
Text by Ng Hui Xin (1T02) and Heng Szee Shuen (1T31)
Glaring stage lights, deafening silence and a heavy air of anticipation. These are what a performer faces every time they step on stage. Despite the nervewracking experience of being in the spotlight, members from CJC’s performing arts CCAs have never failed to deliver an outstanding performance, with all of them returning from the Singapore Youth Festival (Arts Presentation) with the much coveted Certificate of Distinction.
However, victory never comes easy, with rehearsals for SYF being a constant uphill battle. “It’s similar to the preparation process of Sports CCAs, going through long hours of practice,” shares Clara Ang (1T31), a member of Choir. It is undeniably hard for these singers, especially with the curriculum at junior college level. “I must admit that I found it hard to stay alert after a long day in school,” commented James Lee (1T02). Nevertheless, a great performer is someone able to push through adversity. Quevada Hannah Rocafort (2T08), expressed that it was a struggle to balance academics and practice, but she managed to keep going with her strong belief that the show must always go on. Like Hannah, Carissa Caitlin Juliana (2T07) shares that her passion for music and performance are factors that drive her, stating that it was genuine interest and curiosity in the art that allowed her to persevere through tough trainings. CJC’s Symphonic Band however, has another take on the key to success. President of the Symphonic Band, Malcolm
Tan (2T33), believes the path to victory is through careful planning. The Symphonic Band would write their objectives on a whiteboard, to have a clear goal for each practice session. Despite differing methodologies, like Choir, Malcolm feels that music cannot do without passion, arguing that although some may think talent is needed to succeed, “talent only reduces the time it takes to improve, it is passion that allows us to develop into a truly formidable band.” Guitar Ensemble too did well for SYF this year. Expressing pride about their performance, Chia Swen (1T24) reflected, ”I felt that everyone has put in effort to make sure that it would end well”. She also added that it was hard juggling her time between her CCA and her studies, especially with the gruelling practice sessions in preparation for SYF, all while Continual Assessment 1 was slowly approaching. She overcame it with proper time management, meticulously allocating her time each day to each commitment.
Smiles and excitement from the Choir
12
Guitar Ensemble taking a bow after a captivating performance
After months of hard work, the Guzheng Ensemble is ready for the SYF
In the case of English Drama, Christine Ammani (1T24) and her fellow CCA mates faced a rather unique challenge during last year’s SYF performance. As the play was set during the Vietnam War, their acting skills were really put to the test as they learnt to relate to victims of war. Nonetheless, Christine soldiered on due to her strong love for acting. She feels that regardless of how much talent one might have for acting, it cannot compare to the drive of someone willing to constantly improve themselves due to their passion. With Guzheng, President Lee Yun Xuan (2T04) commended her ensemble for putting in their best efforts and defying the odds. To fuel their determination, the ensemble would create warm fuzzies and
place them in envelopes to encourage each other to persevere. Yun Xuan reflects that the SYF made her realise the importance of resilience, with the setbacks that they faced teaching her how to always pick herself back up again. She concluded that joy and passion was the secret to success as, “Being able to relax and have fun playing something that I like is what gives me the drive to do well in it.” Janani Arrii (2T03), Dance President, shared the challenges that their members faced when dancing with benches for their performance. She explained that dancing on the bench was a frightening experience, as they were often worried about falling over it. However, the constant reassuring
presence of her teammates allowed her to overcome her fears. Through this, she realised the importance of teamwork, as the feelings of happiness one gets from working hard together with their peers, is one of the best forms of motivation for a dancer. All in all, it was an impressive zeal and determination which helped these CCAs achieve their well deserved Certificate of Distinction at the SYF. The time and effort that they put into ensuring excellence is truly admirable, and to end off, Christine has advice for aspiring performers, “To be a good performer, one should always go into a performance with the love you hold for the art in mind”.
Early and in anticipation at the venue for SYF Dance
Symphonic Band celebrates the fruit of their labour
13
An Evening to
Celebrate
Text by Ng Hui Xin (1T02) and Zou LeYang (1T05) They come in various shapes and sizes, with enchanting shades and colours - kaleidoscopes are truly things of wonder. Indeed, it was a befitting theme for this year’s CJ Celebrates. Living up to the title of ‘A Kaleidoscope of Talents’, the performers truly took our breath away with an exceptional showcase of their artistic flair. However, for some JC1 members of the Choir, the prospect of performing in front of hundreds of peers was a daunting one. While they may not have had prior stage experience, the JC1s rose to the occasion and sang with vigour and heart. Wong Zhi Hao (1T02) shares that despite being anxious about performing in front of a large audience, he managed to overcome his shyness in the spirit of showmanship. “After witnessing how tirelessly the CJ Celebrates Committee worked for the event, I decided that I had to put on a good show,” says Zhi Hao.
14
For the JC2 members of the Dance Society, this was their final performance before stepping down. It was clear that they practised hard in order to push themselves past their limits and enjoy the experience to the fullest. As someone who was initially inspired to join Dance after watching the “flavour and style” of famous dancers, Dance President Janani Arrii (2T03) soon found herself falling in love with the stage. That day, she ended her CJC Dance journey with the outstanding and hilarious showcase ‘Spoiler Alert!’. All in all, the performers for CJ Celebrates shone in the spotlight and displayed their passion through energetic and vivid performances. With such a wide array of talents on display, this year’s CJ Celebrates is truly one to remember.
Our first aiders staying prepared so they can be ready to help
Behind the
Scenes
Text by Gincy Lim (1T06) and Avanthiga MJ (1T13)
Have you ever considered the amount of effort that goes into the proceedings of large-scale events in the College, such as CJ Celebrates or maybe even our morning assembly every day? Well, behind each successful event lies two important groups of people: the Film, Sound and Video club and the First Aid club. The FSV are in charge of sound and photographer duties, as well as making videos and creating posters for significant college events. Commonly perceived as mundane and simple tasks, those unfamiliar with such work may be surprised to know that it is a task that requires technical competency, and an ability to deliver operational goals despite the spontaneous nature of some happenings during these events. To better prepare for this, they had rehearsals beforehand for college events so as to ensure that they were familiar with the settings and not make any mistakes on the actual day. As for their day-to-day duties, FSV members on duty come early to school faithfully to manage the sound system for all the microphones and the playing of the national and school anthems, as well as troubleshoot technical difficulties that may surface. According to Lim Ziway
Members from the Film, Sound and Video discussing the photographs they took
(1T13), she feels that their “stress level is extremely high because we want to do our best to avoid any mistakes.” The main issue they encounter is the ability to think on the spot. Sometimes, technical difficulties do happen and it is of utmost importance that they are able to think quickly on their feet, identify and resolve these issues.
quickly offer help to those who are not feeling well. Lee Cheok Yew (1T20) recounts an unforgettable experience where she and her team had to treat a schoolmate who was hyperventilating. During such circumstances, it is very important for them to be both patient and attentive to carry out their duties effectively.
While the FSV takes care of the technicalities of an event, the First Aid club takes care of those who are feeling under the weather. Our First Aid club members go for a twoday course to get their certification, which qualifies them to be first aiders. CJC’s first aiders have theory and practical sessions, which teach them the symptoms of different injuries and the corresponding treatments that should be used through simulations of actual incidents. During events, they always keep an eye out for everyone and
Both the FSV and First Aid clubs require students to develop the skill of making decisions despite being under a lot of pressure, and it is through these faithful things done behind the scenes that they have helped college operations and events successful. For that, they deserve our heartfelt thanks and recognition.
15
A
Heart
Distribution of the rations
for the People
Text by Chomel Chan (1T08), Hemanth Chander (1T14) and Bryan Wee (1T20)
In carrying out meticulously planned projects to serve the community, St Vincent De Paul (SVDP) has shown us all what having a heart for the people means. As a club and society CCA that centres on impacting society in a meaningful and tangible way, it is without a doubt that the members emerge from each endeavour with something meaningful to take away. Like our college motto, the CCA nurtures their members ‘In Truth and Love’, so that they can become thinkers and leaders who uphold integrity and have a desire to serve the world around us. Liriel Tan (2T06), a member of SVDP, believes that participating in the Breadbasket project has increased her awareness with regards to serving the needs of the less fortunate around her. “Watching the migrant workers look so happy despite a long, hard day of work is really eye-opening as I realise that it really does not take a lot of effort to make a difference,” said Liriel. Through the project, Liriel shares that she has become more patient and understanding, and is able to look beyond societal misconceptions and stereotypes of migrant workers through observing a day in their lives. Likewise, Chloe Neo (1T02) has also seen a change in her perspectives after joining the Interact Club. “I feel that there is some kind of bond between the beneficiaries and me, and I look forward to CCA sessions,” she
SVDP students with the migrant guests at the end of the night
16
shares. Despite being only in her first year in the CCA, she has grown tremendously in terms of her empathy and respect for others. This has helped her to get along better with her beneficiaries as well as maintain strong relationships with her peers. When asked how she thinks her students have grown, Ms Charlene Lin, the Teacherin-Charge of SVDP, replied, “I’ve seen batches of SVDP members grow in terms of initiative to reach out and propose new ideas, give out of their own pockets willingly, give of their extra time willingly, and even be more willing to speak up and lead.” Through the CCA, the members have grown in confidence as they serve the community with an open heart, and mature through their experiences.
Wendell Lim (2T28) striking a conversation with his group
Paying it
Forward Text by Cynthia Tan (1T01), Gincy Lim (1T06) and Chua Ying Shuen (1T25)
Being good stewards of Mother Earth is very important, and in CJC, our Environmental Science Society (ESS) is dedicated to spreading awareness about that. Some pay it forward by continuing the cause after graduation. ESS has encouraged students to take action in saving the environment, and has made students more aware of the environment through the recent Earth Day Programme. Since its objective was to promote upcycling, ESS set up a highly informative notice board at the canteen that highlighted some of the key ways students could upcycle. This objective was reinforced by the milk carton collection competition, also organised by the ESS, to bring students’ learning into action. During the Earth Day Programme, interesting facts about the College’s consumption of electricity was also displayed so that students were made more aware of how their energy-saving habits in college can have a great impact on the environment. A very comforting fact is that there are many CJCians who care about the environment, so much so that they use the time, abilities and resources they have to help impact the community - even after graduating. One such person is Natasha Lye (2T27, Class of 2018). At a time where her CCA were coming to an end in her CJ journey, Natasha used the time she then had to help plant the straw-free movement in the College by setting up an Instagram account called @strawfreecj. A ground-up initiative by youths passionate about
ESS’ upcycling board to improve environmental awareness among the student body
the environment, the movement aims to reduce plastic usage in Singapore by showing people how it can be done in our daily lives through daily choices we make. Natasha used the account to show small but significant acts that people can do to reduce waste, especially single-use plastic through tips like bringing and using our own metal straws, and bringing containers out to store food take-aways. Today, Quench, Fruity Paradise and the Good News Cafe give customers the choice to use or refrain from plastic straws, drastically reducing the number of straws thrown away by the College. These seemingly small actions may not solve the waste problem in Singapore, but it does alleviate it and creates ripple effects in public consciousness. Natasha reminisces, “Honestly, I never expected strawfreecj to make much of a difference. When it first started out, I felt like it was a lost cause. However, on hindsight now, I am grateful to see that this was the start to talk about the matters that matter.” We are so blessed to have CJCians who take concrete actions to show their care for the environment and want to pay it forward. As Natasha aptly puts it - let us “just give Mother Earth another chance at thriving, rather than just surviving”.
Natasha Lye (2T27, Class of 2018)
Honestly, I never expected strawfreecj to make much of a difference...However, on hindsight now, I am grateful to see that this was the start to talk about the matters that matter. ESS’ learning journey to the Botanic Gardens
17
Hearts
United
CJCians strive for excellence in the pursuit of a better version of ourselves each term, each year. This gives us much reason and passion for living, and deepens our friendships greatly as we go through thick and thin together in order to reach that end. There was much sweat, some tears and even a little blood, but the CJ family carried one another through these testing times. Our hearts are united and the CJ family will always stay strong.
Andrew Cheow (1T16)
Hu Zhangdyi (1T14)
Damien Tan (2T35)
Wayne Wong (2T10)
18
Andrew Cheow (1T16)
Isaiah Kwik (2T15)
Lu Wenjie (2T09)(1)
Damien Tan (2T35)
Joie Lam (2T23)
19
129 Whitley Road, Singapore 297822 Telephone: +65 6252 4038 Fax: +65 6253 7267 Email: catholic_jc@moe.edu.sg Website: www.cjc.moe.edu.sg Facebook: @CatholicJC Instagram: @catholic.jc