PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE Dear CJCians, We began 2021 on an exciting note by welcoming a new cohort of JC1 students into the CJ family. Our JC2s planned an engaging Orientation Programme for our JC1s and helped induct them into the CJ community. I am proud of the sense of family we have here at CJ. In this first issue of the year, we celebrate hope, and the forging of bonds between CJCians. We also look back to a key aspect of the CJC experience -- the end-of-year stretch programmes conducted in November and December 2020. Due to travel restrictions, our annual Global Leadership Programme (GLP) with Vietnam and Cambodia were instead conducted over Zoom, with students interacting with the international peers online through innovative means. In addition, the JC Law Programme (JCLP) and CJ’s Ignite Residential Programme (IRP) were also held online, in accordance with Safe Management Measures (SMM). In spite of these constraints, CJCians gleaned deep points of reflection from these programmes. We pray that they continue to lead and serve in Truth and Love in all that they do. We had our inaugural Cross Factor Games, planned collectively by House Masters, House Committees, and various student leaders, that saw CJCians unwind and wrap up Term 1 through engaging in various games and activities together. Our students displayed grit and teamwork in competing for their Houses and as a class, and it was a successful first for the event.
2
CJC Newsletter
July 2021
Editors Ms Suzie Yanti Jumadi Ms Mackenzie Rae Schoon Ms Aster Goh I-mei Ms Nur Liyana Mohamed Tahir Mr Gabriel Lee Ms Cara Chew-Lommen President Ray-Anne Ng Vice President Vishal Muthukumarasamy Term 2 has been a busy and eventful time, with many CJCians participating in the SYF Arts Presentation and the A Division games, and achieving stellar results. The CJ community has supported each other throughout the competition season through the Ablaze! campaign, and it is heartening to see our family come together and lift one another up. We are proud of the values, sportsmanship and resilience demonstrated by our students. Together, we can overcome these challenges before us. Remember to reflect on what you have learnt, continue to support one another, and stay safe. In Veritate et Caritate, Mrs Phyllis Lim Principal
Contributors Andrea Lim Elyse Ang Rakhshan Ahmad Sharanya Ramesh Elena Choong Angeline Leonardo Yashmita D/O Ananthan Ashley Tan Adiba Tareq Tiffany Paige Norfor Kodi Sim Photographers Film, Sound & Video (FSV) Society
3
THE KAIROS EXPERIENCE By Elena Choong (2T24)
“Welcome to CJ!” - A signature welcoming cheer that brings a nostalgic feeling to every CJCian who has walked through the doors of our college. After many months of hard work by the Student Council Teachers, Orientation Committee (OC) and Orientation Group Leaders (OGLs), the 2021 JC1 Orientation finally began. On 29 January, incoming JC1s embarked on their 4-day journey named, “Kairos”. Kairos – for such a time like this.
OGLs performing the steps to the Mass Dance
4
An experience to welcome the new JC1s to CJ warmly and with an element of fun. Those four days transformed the initial feeling of nervousness from making new friends, into a strong sense of belonging to the CJ family. The JC1s started off their first day in CJ by stepping into assigned classrooms that were soon filled with different faces.
CJC Newsletter
July 2021
Despite the initial unfamiliarity, the warmth of our OGLs reassured our new CJCians to be brave in stepping out of their comfort zones. Many broke the ice almost immediately, and in just a few days morphed from strangers, to becoming like family. Each OG formed an unbreakable bond over many creative activities, such as the Mass Dance where students danced to a mash up of classic Disney songs from our childhood. It did not stop there. JC1 students started their Orientation journey with a slew of exciting activities in the Auditorium to welcome them into CJ
The strong sense of camaraderie extended to each individual faction - Odysseus, Prometheus, Leonidas and Perseus. With Orientation preparations starting almost four months prior, faction heads and OGLs had the chance to work together to build their own faction culture, allowing each and every JC1’s Kairos experience to be unique and special. This common goal brought the OC, factions heads, OGLS and everyone in each faction closer together. Over the Kairos journey, they witnessed the magic happening as the JC1s grew in their collegial spirit. Both the OGLs and the OC team were overwhelmed with a sense of achievement and happiness, as Orientation was no easy feat to manage.
However, with their perseverance and fiery spirit, the OGLs and OC team made it happen. As the 4-day orientation journey came to an end, the JC1s were reluctant to part from their newfound friends who have now formed part of their memories of life in CJC. Many of the JC1s including Vu Duc Duy (1T28) from Orientation Group (OG) 22 reflected how Kairos truly was “inspirational and memorable.” Fakrudin Ali Mohamed Roshan Zuhail (1T14) from OG 1 deeply appreciates the rich and fond memories of his OG experience as he shares that “The bonds formed between OGLs and their OGs truly are irreplaceable.”
Indeed, the memories that JC1s gained from Kairos will stay with them for life. Despite having to adhere to the Safe Management Measures (SMM) in place, the teachers, Orientation Committee, faction heads and OGLs pushed through the challenges to create an orientation experience that was impactful, engaging and enriching. With the JC1s’ CJ journey starting off impeccably, indeed it truly is, for such a time like this.
5
Hopeful COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY By Elyse Ang (2T05) and Ray Anne Ng (2T01)
The CJC Commencement Ceremony. Students in their homerooms are watching intently at the proceedings screened onto the classroom projectors. Though one would never have expected to see the conflation of tradition and technology when it comes to formal observance, it has become a reality for all of us today.
Beginn But with the threat of the pandemic still looming, I understand why there is a need for us to ensure safety by decentralising college events,” shares Yashmita D/O Ananthan, Home Tutorial Councillor (HTC) of 2T01. To minimise contact between the two cohorts, the event was live-streamed. Despite these restrictions, JC1 students were still given a rousing official welcome as they received gifts prepared by their JC2 buddy classes.
Our College Chaplain, Father Gregory Tan, blessing the collar pins
This year’s Commencement Ceremony was quite different from previous years due to the necessity of Safe Management Measures (SMM) mandated by the realities of the Covid-19 pandemic. 6
Many factors were taken into consideration during the planning process to ensure that the programme for this year’s ceremony came into fruition. “I must admit that Commencement Ceremony was more fun previously, simply because of how much more interactive it was.
The Guest of Honour, Mr Simon Tan, alumnus from the Class of 1982, graced the occasion. Mr Tan who practises as a civil and criminal litigation lawyer shared about the importance of knowing what is best for you and what you need to want in life.
In terms of academics, he shared that students should 'learn to connect' with their learning and to give their best and their all. Additionally, he emphasised for the students of CJC to lead with the heart, and that leadership in CJC "prepares you for this". Thirdly, in terms of the community, Mr Tan encouraged students to do what is best for the community 'no matter what your vocation is', to help out of compassion and empathy for others and to form ties with one another.
CJC Newsletter
July 2021
nings
Mr Tan also said a prayer for all faiths. JC1 student Tan Yee Fei (1T04) shared with the Flame that the event really made him feel accepted and welcomed into CJ. JC life can initially be daunting due to the heavy workload and more complex topics but JC2 student Yashmita encourages her juniors to “give (themselves) more time, be patient with (themselves) and be with the right company.” The Guest of Honour for this ceremony is alumnus Mr Simon Tan, who was from the Class of 1982. An active member of the CJC alumni, Mr Tan has been inspired to give back to CJC because he believes that he can bridge the gap between CJC students and the alumni.
Father Gregory Tan passes a lit candle to Makayan Gwen Ashley Gravador (1T21)
Yee Fei expresses his appreciation to the JC2 seniors for the gifts and would like to wish them success in their journey towards the GCE A-Level examinations. He hopes that his journey in CJC will be enriching, and calls for his JC1 peers to band together to rise above any challenge. This event, in spite of limitations, continued to carry the warmth and enthusiasm that CJC has shown to every new batch of CJCians over the years.
On his impressions of this year’s Commencement Ceremony, Mr Tan commented that he found it challenging that he was unable to interact directly with students. Yet, Mr Tan hopes that his speech will inspire CJCians to realise that the opportunity is out there for them to make the most out of their two years in junior college. When asked about his hopes for CJC, Mr Tan aspires for CJC to continue moulding students who are not only exceptionally good in their studies, but also virtuous, kind, empathetic and inspirational.
7
INTRODUCING THE BRAND NEW BEAR MORNINGS! By Vishal Muthukumarasamy (2T08) and Elyse Ang (2T05) In response to feedback that called for greater opportunities for Class Management Committee (CMC) members to lead their class in meaningful activities, and to have open conversations surrounding their emotional well-being, CJ introduced BEAR (Building Emotional and Academic Resilience) mornings -- dedicated time between assembly and the first lesson of every Friday for these purposes.
8
CJC Newsletter
July 2021
Ms Debanita Bhattacharjee, the Teacher-in-Charge of BEAR said that these mornings aim to equip the CMC with facilitation skills. It is also a platform for peer support, and for the development of socioemotional competencies. Each class executes BEAR mornings differently -- 2T08, for instance, opted to have a Kahoot Quiz that allowed them to address serious issues through a fun competition. Although there were some challenges initially, they were able to adapt and shared insights into the matter at hand. Most were able to see how and why their peers could be facing issues such as anxiety and depression that might otherwise go unnoticed. Ms Debanita acknowledges that gaps may be present in BEAR morning sessions as it is still a new initiative, but hopes that students will understand how the planning committee is trying their best to fully understand the needs of students. “We are all learning how to make the class sessions more effective and we will continue to speak to students on the ground to improve on the session resources,” she says. In addition to peer support, the sessions allow every student an opportunity to speak to their Home Tutors about their personal concerns and receive support. It is hoped that these BEAR mornings can allow CJCians to mature as Thinkers with a Mission and Leaders with a Heart.
ICT Representative Chang Eu-Cheng (2T01) leads the class in discussion during a BEAR morning session 9
A Hopeful Beginning: CJC’s first Cross Factor Games By Vishal Muthukumarasamy (2T08) and Ray Anne Ng (2T01) Vincent Bettens (2T08) had qualified for the Cross Grit and was looking forward to raking in house points in the Cross Factor Games. However, an ankle sprain had resulted in the need to use crutches and appeared to stand in the way of his participation in the entire event. Yet, that did not stop him from actively participating in the Cross Move games in CJC’s inaugural Cross Factor Games. By attempting to do criss cross dance moves with crutches in hand he became fondly known as the ‘Dancing Man on Crutches’ in college. This event underpins the aim of inclusivity that the Cross Factor games encourage. Any one could participate in the games, whether you were the most fit person or not. These new games, designed to suit Safe Management Measures (SMM), challenge students in the domains of sports, wits and grits through a series of activities. Behind every successful event is a planning committee hard at work. Unbeknownst to many, the event had been planned from September 2020.
Due to SMM, many activities had to be heavily reworked. With a rough framework provided by the House Masters, our Vice Captains from Sports CCAs and student leaders brainstormed and exchanged ideas via extended sessions and meetings. As soon as the proposal was completed, they assessed it with the teachers and upon approval, would be implemented. With various challenging obstacle courses and competitive sport mini games, participants were able to experience the same intensity of a cross-country run. Since the games were crafted with the idea of inclusive fun,
the introduction of Cross Wit and Cross Move factors made sure no one was left out. Through games such as ‘Sudoku’ and ‘Taboo’, non-participants also get to contribute to house points. Classes also contributed by dancing along with their representative house dancers in Cross Move. Vice Captain of Joseph House, Jonathan Wui (2T14) remarks, “these various sub points allowed for a bigger number of participants from diverse backgrounds, as well as different types of winners.” With a tight timeline, changing SMM, students and teachers were pushed to be spontaneous and adaptive.Moreover, since this event was recently introduced, Ms Dinah Chan, Albert House Master, shares that it spurred students to acquaint themselves with this new concept which was more challenging than planning a standard cross-country run.
10
Students involved in planning such have faced personal challenges in leading a team. With the idea for the games to be inclusive, Jonathan, for instance, found it hard to discover suitable exercises for the college to do since everyone’s fitness level
CJC Newsletter was different. After an arduous process, everyone was able to come together to craft an inclusive and exciting event. Amidst the challenges, there were many learning points. Megan Yen (2T26) discovered that working with different people involved learning to engage with differing opinions and viewpoints which made
July 2021
her realise the importance of receptiveness.
assistance from their peers if they face any troubles.
After facing a lot of stress trying to cope and plan the event by himself, Jonathan learnt to put his faith in others and work together with his team more often.
This proved to be an intricate and creative inaugural event, and ended up being a rewarding experience for all.
Both have advised their juniors to be resilient, and to ask for
A Renewal of Faith By Andrea Lim (2T03) Together in the auditorium, the hearts of CJCians realised an innate spiritual thirst for God. This year’s Holy Thursday had Catholics and non-Catholics come in union to reflect on the start of the Paschal Triduum, with the Last Supper Mass celebrated by our college chaplain, Father Gregory. The observance of Lent and the Paschal Triduum is of significant importance to the Liturgical Calendar, making it an important tradition for CJC. The events were planned by the Catholic Activities Wing of the Student Council and Genesis, a new official second CCA. Judith Tan (2T03), CA Wing President shared that the events on Holy Thursday were more towards an individual reflection, whereas the Eastertide activities, like the Easter Egg Hunt and My Easter Story (a series of testimonials to the faith), focused more on how we as a community can glorify God. Mr Clarence Lee, Catholic Activities (CA) Wing Teacherin-Charge, shares that Lent is a season of repentance and conversion, to “respond to God’s call to live life anew”. Even though Covid-19 may have
affected the full practising of the faith, Mr Lee encourages us to stay close to God in prayer even in this pandemic. “
Palm Leaves displayed at the booth represent the palm leaves used to welcome Jesus into Jerusalem
For God is with us and He is always waiting for us,” he says. Genesis, an official second CCA, was recently set up as a space for the community to experience growing together to love the Lord. Mr Alex Wong, Genesis Teacherin-Charge, hopes that members “be a visible sign of God’s invisible love to those around them.”
Elena Choong (2T24), the President of Genesis shares that although there are challenges, through her ministry, she has “learnt to lift it all up to God”, and to use their evangelical work “to touch the lives of CJCians.” The renewal of faith can happen, she shares, as long as we continue keeping an open heart to God. As Saint Paul said, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me… I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20)
President of Genesis, Elena Choong (2T24) (left) and 2nd Music Ministry IC Richard Tanujaya (2T30) (right)
11
OVERCOMING OBSTACLES, REACHING MILESTONES By: Rakhshan Ahmad (2T18) and Angeline Leonardo (2T31) At the end of an overwhelming and arduous Junior College journey, our alumni stepped back into school on 19 February 2021 to collect their GCE A-Level results - a culmination of two years of strife and sheer grit. We celebrate the good results of our seniors, and their perseverance in the face of an unprecedented pandemic. The path towards the A-Level examinations is not an easy one -- our seniors faced many challenges throughout this journey, not least due to the impact of the Covid-19 outbreak, which saw the country move into Circuit Breaker (CB): face-to-face teaching was replaced with lessons behind laptop screens -- quite a change for our alumni, being so used to having a teacher's guidance in person. Several of them felt much anxiety and nervousness without their tutors' and peers' physical presence to motivate and guide them in the midst of a seminal year. Additionally, they sought healthy ways of leisure throughout the year. With the suspension of physical CCA, college programmes, and other recreational activities
nationwide, our alumni had limited ways of relieving stress within the constraints of the Safe Management Measures (SMM). Despite all these challenges, our alumni understood the importance of doing well for the A-Levels, and navigated their way through the rough and rocky terrain with resilience and determination. As much as individual effort determines how well one performs for the A-Levels, a class with a strong and positive class culture that works together towards a common goal plays a pivotal role in a class’ overall performance. Ms Fiona Wong, Home Tutor (HT) of 2T05 last year, and Literature in English subject tutor, together with Ms Serene Thong, Level Head for General
Our top performing students in the GCE A-Level 2020 examinations
12
Paper, shared their experiences guiding the classes their taught last year with the Flame. Both Ms Wong and Ms Thong emphasised how their classes maintained self-discipline, even during the CB period. Ms Wong’s classes used platforms like ‘Discord’ to study together, and to motivate one another during the tough times, holding each other accountable. Ms Thong mentions how she closely monitored her students’ performance and provided timely feedback to help her classes improve. They, too, worked very closely with her, as they had a strong determination to improve. The substitution of physical lessons with online learning was a unique experience not only for the students, but also for the teachers. Ms Thong said it was backbreaking, and “not an exaggeration” that she was rooted to her chair for hours. Nevertheless, both teachers said it was eye-opening, as it compelled them to innovate and develop a wider repertoire of ways to engage students through online learning.
CJC Newsletter
July 2021
Rising Above The Flame also got up-close with some of our alumni who performed exceptionally well for the GCE A-Levels despite all the struggles they faced during this journey.
Karel Nareswara Devananda (2T05) from the Arts stream, shared how he tried his best to manage the subjects he took, because it required constant practice and refinement. However, he persevered until the very end, and continued to find ways to improve himself. He is thankful to his friends, his peers from Student Council, and as well as his teachers for constantly motivating him to excel. Tan Yi Ping Zoe (2T32)opened up about how she juggled her various commitments and leadership positions. Eventually, she learned to depend on the other people with whom she was assigned to work so that she could spread out the workload, and manage her time properly. Some of the study methods she adopted were to study with a group of motivated friends, so as to push one another. She also mentioned how it was important to constantly revise topics that have been taught, and to not overexert her body when she was tired. Wo Junwei Darryl (2T14) shared that he found it difficult to balance his academics, and
his CCA, Floorball, as he not only played for CJ’s team, but also for national leagues. At the end of his first year in CJC, he made the difficult decision to retain as one of his family members fell ill, and he took it upon himself to take care of his family member. Daryl shared that retaining actually motivated him to work even harder, and he practiced a lot to get to where he needed to be to be successful at the A-Levels. Steffi Lim En Qi (2T19) said that the main challenge she faced was that she felt stretched during the preparation for A-Levels. She overcame this by taking a break to recharge, before continuing her grind. Her secret to success is discipline. She greatly reduced the time she spent on her phone and social media. She also planned each week out very well, and stuck to her plans throughout. Ng Him Hean (2T05) sacrificed a portion of his sleeping time to study (he would sleep at around 1 to 2 am everyday). Upon reflection, it was his strong willpower that kept him going.
He excelled in the A-Levels because he followed a strict routine everyday, and put in a lot of time and effort into his studies. it a point to adapt to a new community. new friends, and a new environment. Since he had moved house and found himself in a new community, he had trouble fitting in initially because it was tough for him to find close friends to go through JC with. He also struggled with a lack of sleep. He overcame this by being more open to meeting new people, and by avoiding procrastination when the time came to concentrate on his studies. The support of his parents and teachers, and his strong desire to achieve his goals were what kept him going, and helped him succeed at the A-Levels. Each and every one of our alumni faced individual challenges on this journey, and showed unwavering determination and perseverance to pull through, and reach the light at the end of the tunnel. Once again, congratulations to our alumni for their outstanding A-Level results! 13
A VIRTUAL ODYSSEY: EXPLORING THE WORLD IN THE CLASSROOM By Vishal Muthukumarasamy (2T08) and Sharanya Ramesh (2T19) Rayan Wong (2T08) remembers experiencing Vietnam’s culture through visiting its historical landmarks, learning about its cuisine and interacting with its citizens. Yet, this time, his Vietnam Immersion trip only took place on his laptop screen. Post JC1, CJC enables interested students to go beyond the boundaries of the classroom through facilitating external programmes that would support their future endeavours. These are namely, the Work Attachment and Stretch Programme (WASP), Overseas Serving Learning Programme (OSLP), JC Law Programme (JCLP) and the Ignite Residential Programme (IRP). These programmes provided CJCians with an opportunity to interact with overseas students as well as industry professionals in Singapore.
14
The annual IRP and JCLP is usually conducted at the grounds of the National University of Singapore (NUS) but due to the pandemic and Safe Management Measures (SMM), these programmes were conducted online via Zoom instead. Through the IRP, students were introduced to NUS professors who shared their expert knowledge generously with the participants. Edric Kusnadi (2T30) who participated in the IRP, remembers that real-life experiences were simulated through activities. He expressed that it was thought-provoking and he was able to augment his creativity.
Tan Yan Han (2T30) shares that she found her calling for Law through the JCLP. Hearing the lawyers share their reallife experiences deepened her fascination. She was very moved by the aspect of bettering people’s lives by helping them with legal matters, which spurred her towards thinking about her future. Both Edric and Yan Han reflected that the programmes served as constructive platforms to develop soft skills that can only be learnt via real-life experiences or networking with others.
Interaction with Cambodian beneficaries through games facilitated by the CJC team
CJC Newsletter
They learnt that one needs to be creative, sincere and confident in their stances to excel in their fields of profession. Beyond the experiences locally, students also crossed the borders virtually. While a physical trip cannot be compared to an online experience in terms of tangibility, it does not make an online experience any less valuable. Rayan believes that it proved to be an apt alternative given the circumstances, and he has learnt much from his time on this virtual excursion.
For instance, one of his facilitators made use of Google Earth to show various landmarks in Vietnam and elaborated on the significance and history behind them. Likewise, Hana Sofea Saktiandi (2T19) mentions that she learned about the life and culture of her Cambodian peers. They created TikTok videos to educate each other about their culture. Sofea developed her social skills and cultural empathy, which she felt were assets that she gained. Evidently, the trips greatly equipped both students with long-term skills that are vital to their personal development.
July 2021
Despite the lack of physical interaction with one another during the programmes, the students' enthusiasm to learn was not dampened. If anything, they were propelled to make more out of their experiences and equipped themselves with life-long skills. Thanks to the efforts of teacher organisers, students and external partners, these programmes progressed successfully despite the COVID-19 pandemic. While it is seemingly less immersive compared to a physical trip, it was still an eye-opening experience for students to learn about the world through technology.
15
An enriching experience of learning and interaction for both CJCians and students of Tran Phu High School in Vietnam
MR PHILIP ALVAR, VICE-PRINCIPAL (ADMINISTRATION) By Sharanya Ramesh (2T19) Upon entering Catholic Junior College and learning about our college culture, Mr Philip Alvar expressed that the College’s mission was what touched his heart the most. It comes as no surprise as Mr Alvar is truly the embodiment of a "Thinker with a Mission, Leader with a Heart".
16
CJC Newsletter
July 2021
“Thinker with a Mission.” Working with the end in mind is a concept that Mr Alvar believes in. To him, the “end-state” is to achieve the best interest of our Singaporean children. Being a father himself has shaped him to be a nurturing figure towards his students. Also resonating with the latter half of the motto, "Leader with a Heart," he believes in ensuring that ‘Head and Heart’ must work together in any act of service. He seeks to understand the emotions of the people he helps in order to serve them well. After more than a decade of service from the Ministry of Education (MOE) HQ’s perspective, Mr Alvar wishes to broaden his personal learning and gain a deeper understanding of the realities in schools. He chose to join CJC in his new appointment as Vice-Principal (Administration). Before joining MOE, Mr Alvar spent a significant portion of his life i.e. close to 30 years in defence of our nation. He joined the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF), Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) since his teenage years and retired as a Colonel. His last tour appointment was Head of Maritime Faculty and Course Director of the Goh Keng Swee Command and Staff College where he trained Senior Leadership of the SAF. He moved on to MOE as the Assistant Director and subsequently the Senior Deputy Director 1 of the Pupil Placement Services Branch. Throughout his time in the Education Service, he gained the eminent opportunity of interacting with people from various backgrounds. His job called for him to be the one who led and assisted schools, parents and other inter-agency stakeholders. Mr Alvar shares, “The 30 years plus another 10 years in the civil service is an experience I don’t think you can find anywhere. It’s about people; be it local, regional and multinational. The key is always managing people regardless in a diplomacy setting or local context; reaching out and communicating to influence in order to get the best success and partnership from our fellow men.” He reflects that his rich experience in civil service is monumental in moulding him into the compassionate and peopleoriented person he is today. His passion for people and their development underpins his current role as Associate Trainer at our Singapore Civil Service College. Mr Alvar recognizes the need to be a useful member of society and the Civil Service, and to serve with empathy, courtesy and respect is quintessential. He hopes that CJCians will continue to magnify these traits within the College community. “When you become a useful member of society, you will resonate back with your journey, with where you come from and surely CJC will be one very important milestone,” he advises. Mr Alvar is a strong advocate of this adage - “The day you stop learning is the day you stop leading.” Leading by example and discipline are key virtues. With these in mind, his passion lies in imparting the knowledge and wisdom he has to his children as well as to students whom he also defines as the “future generation of Singaporeans.” It is this very sentiment that pushes him towards constant self-improvement and personal mastery. Mr Alvar encourages us to go beyond simply learning and to share our newfound knowledge with those around us. During this hectic and blurry journey through adolescence, it is easy to lose sight of the occurrences around us. In these moments, we can remember Mr Alvar’s wise words. We should always bear the end in mind and do our best to be Leaders with a Heart. Together we can work in partnership to achieve the best interest for our children and Singapore. 17
CJC'S INAUGURAL E-OPEN HOUSE CJC held its inaugural virtual Open House this year -- a massive project that saw the CJ community come together to engage prospective students who were keen to find out more about life in CJC. The various departments and CCAs presented their programmes online, and teachers and students alike conducted Zoom sessions with prospective students, and their parents. These live sessions lent a warm, personal touch to the virtual space. The event also saw the creation of a robust microsite to host information about the college’s ethos, and academic and extracurricular programmes. This new format also featured an online campus tour, led by Judith Tan, Joshua Wan, Maria Josephine Orell of 2T03, and Bryce Tay of 2T06, an initiative that was well received by the public, and praised for the students’ enthusiasm and professionalism in guiding viewers around the campus. This project would not have been possible without the creativity, adaptability, and support of each member of the CJ family. It demonstrates that we can create meaningful connections even when we are socially distanced, and that we are stronger together.
18
CJC Newsletter
July 2021
CJC HOUSE WALL By Andrea Lim (2T03) and Angeline Leonardo (2T31) Any CJCian can attest to the fact that CJ’s booming college culture is palpable - it is inclusive and furnishes a holistic JC experience. Any CJCian can attest to the fact that CJ’s booming college culture is palpable - it is inclusive and furnishes a holistic JC experience. The addition of a picturesque house wall illustrates the various houses’ logos and their respective achievements, and reminds every CJCian that they never walk alone throughout the course of their journey. The house wall’s legacy has just begun. In an interview with Priyanka (2T31), one of the sports leaders who was involved in the making of the house wall, she shares that the house wall “adds to the vibrancy of the college with its bright colours” and is “placed in a prominent location where students and staff frequent everyday”, near the canteen. She goes on to add that “the fact that the wall was done up by the students of each House strengthens house pride amongst the student body and fosters collaboration with one another''. It is a reminder for CJCians, she says, of the values of “camaraderie in competition, the duty of uplifting each other, as well as unity”. Lastly, she expressed that the house wall “shows us the history of the College and reminds us of the legacy passed down from previous generations of CJCians that we in turn pass on to our juniors”.
19
THE CJ SURVIVAL GUIDE TO ACEING THE A-LEVELS
“Res ilie nc e is cruc ia l. It ta ke s a lot of gr it an d ha rd w or k to do w el l. He lp ot he rs so th at yo u fi gh t th e ba tt le w it h su pp ort in st ea d of fi gh ti ng it al on e. ”
By Angeline Leonardo (2T31) From CJC’s past year top performers to you! The Flame has compiled key advice and study tips that have proven effective for our alumni in their A-Level journey. Adjusting to college life is not easy, but with sufficient preparation and knowledge, you, too can excel at the year-end examinations.
“I started doin g more pape rs and more practice questions on SLS. I didn’ t just mem orise content, but practiced regu larly .
Tracy Kumala Putra (2T14)
ct ures ive ly du rin g le “L isten at te nt of s fit th e be ne an d m ax im ise oa ch pr ap e lieve in th tu to ria ls. I be set I at th e ta sk s of fin ish in g th er y da y.” fo r m ys elf ev
Steffi Lim En Qi (2T19)
By doin g that, it helpe d me to rem emb er the content better.” “Pay attent ion in class. Once you understand the concepts in class, you will not need to spend too much time going throug h the content later. Make class time very productive. Avoid idle chatti ng, sleepin g, or using your phone during lesson s.”
Sung Yi Wen Ella (2T22)
“All the negative thoughts I had were challenged whenever I relieved stress by doing a hobby, and that gave me the willpower to keep going. I think resting and having leisure time for yourself is very important. That comes through proper time management.”
20
Ong Wei Dillon (2T25)
Billy Muliorahardjo (2T31)
“W he n w e be co m e co m pl ac ent, w e de m an d m ore re su lt s fo r le ss w or k so do not be co me co m pl ac ent.”
Ng Him Hean (2T05)
CJC Newsletter “Try not to force you rse lf to stu dy bec aus e if you ’re not able to find fun or try to find joy in lear ning , the re wou ldn’ t be a point to it at the end of the day .”
Gerald Lim Da Xiang (2T26)
“Mak e pers onal ised note s afte r each chapter, teac h your class mates to bridg e any learn ing gaps and also have a hobb y to reliev e stre ss.”
July 2021
frie nds who I knew “I stu died wit h a few clos e l. We were able to were ver y motiva ted as wel eng ths. If one of us fee d off eac h oth er’s str pus h eac h oth er to was fee ling dow n, we wou ld circ le of infl uen ce continu e and not give up. My knew cou ld help me incl ude d frie nds who m I out.”
Tan Yi Ping Zoe (2T32)
Wo Junwei Darryl (2T14)
“Be independent. Do not rely on the teachers as they cannot tend to every single student. Learn to self-study.”
Teow Eau Xin (2T24)
21
sayang sayang, w h y your nose got so many hole? go d give us two enough alread y. your ear also so many hole, but still don’t listen to ma. how was school sayang? you sad b ecause test never score? sayang, even your diamon d nose stud is from un cle put high heat on coal, high pressure. w hen ma make your favour ite kueh I must let each layer rest. like all the di fferent colour colour , we’re all di fferent sayang. don’t say that, w h y you cry? w ho say you not pret t y? sayang, you know the but terfly you keep in the tupperware? or was it just a cantik moth? I saw on TV the other day, they say but terfly don’t know that their wings very cantik b ecause they cannot see, but everyone else can see, we all can see. the world is your tupperware. you also like but terfly sayang, but not so poor thing, lah. you only poke four hole for the but terfly to breathe- can b e a bit more generous or not? generous like your ma. w hen I’m gone must b e goo d girl okay, don’t start f ight with your parents. i f you angry rememb er w hat I say, do it for me. you know how much I’ll miss you or not sayang?
22
CJC Newsletter
July 2021
Reflection “sayang” is essentially my interpretation of the words of comfort an d advice from a gran dmother to her teenage gran ddaughter w ho appears to b e going through a particularly rough spot in her teenage years. I wrote this pi ece as a one-sided conversation from the perspective of a Malay gran dmother b ecause I wanted to channel that sense of comfort an d familiar it y that we as Singaporeans would b e able to identi f y with. I also wanted to in corporate my gran dmother’s daily speech pat terns in the way she consoled me w hen I was growing up, into this poem , hen ce ex plaining the analogi es an d the long, convoluted senten ce structure. T his poem was inspired b y my gran dmother w ho, despite speak ing to me pr i mar ily in Tamil an d English , would often in corporate certain Malay words an d phrases into her daily speech. As such , the idea generation for “sayang” was built on those words an d phrases, as well as the uniq ue grammatical structure that always accompani ed this for m of speech. Wr iting “sayang” made me realise that this to me was my sense of comfort an d familiar it y, the words I turned to or always antic ipated dur ing trying ti mes. In essen ce, the poem is a reflection of w hat a hopeful b eginning is for me. T hrough this poem , I hope to share this sense of comfort an d aff init y with the reader.
Yashmita D/O Ananthan (2T01)
23
retrograde i hope for b et ter months to redef ine my idea of b et ter than merely get ting b y on my tongue. f iddling with a tok yo postcard. half asleep dan c ing, disco dreaming of your midas touch interlo ck ing f ingers with mine. master ing the art of sensibilit y this year , mayb e rememb er ing to feed the cat more often than her meowing remin ds me, the f ish is dead. in the living room , news broadcasts illumine the stained glass bowl you ordered from that fren ch homeware site housing sugared peaches. a few fr i en ds, family scrabble tiles, laughter br ight –
24
out takes of months spent playing hide an d seek new jo ys in super market aisles. this is january’s b est. the evening flux , not out of the woo ds yet, not q uite in love. your name parallels the q ui et of new year’s day soft-spoken , red-eyed an d lemon soap. on the bus, poetry book propped against your knees you’re listening, i’m reading in traff ic tak ing the long way home.
CJC Newsletter
July 2021
Reflection I relate this poem to the theme of ‘Hopeful B eginnings’ in the sense that it very much en capsulates the sanguine nature of inti macy an d k inship, espec ially sin ce Covid-19 has greatly li mited our so c ial interactions. T he atmosphere I tr i ed to create is one that is upli fting, calm , sensor ial an d very groun ded in its domestic set ting. Within this big picture of international chaos, there’s the comfort of Singapore, w here we are in credibly fortunate to b e able to resume the major it y of our activiti es (eg. school, work, dining out), an d this is an o de to the spec ial people that have kept me going in these un certain ti mes.
Ashley Tan (2T02)
25
Old Friend Did you dan ce on the pavement, As the sk i es wept my departure? Unto their shores, Did the o ceans bleed to death? Did my cry echo b etween your eardrums, Along with the rain that pelted on your win dow panes? Tell me you held my han d , w hen I was gone. Look ing into the night, Tell me you searched for my light B etween venus an d the stars. Tell me you had your head against mine W hen I closed my eyes Un derneath the blanket of the moonlight. Old fr i en d , Do not tear , for my heart Is no longer heav y on my chest. Down upon you, I gaze From here w here it feels like home. No longer lost In this town , I am w hole On ce again. Old fr i en d , Do not tear W hen you wake from your dream An d my voice can no longer reach you again. H ere, I am w hole on ce again.
26
CJC Newsletter
July 2021
Reflection T his poem is about death an d how it is a new b eginning an d an escape from li fe. T hrough this, I wanted to recognise an d acknowledge the pain that comes with death an d the fear that is inevitable, w hile also recognising the peace an d comfort it may br ing. New chapters an d b eginnings are not always happy, an d even i f they are, there is always a certain darkness to them. However , at ti mes they can b e peaceful an d comforting, espec ially w hen the previous chapter , year , month or day has b een chaotic an d full of un certaint y.
Adiba Binte Tareq (2T02)
27
BREAKING: PARADISE – local bug reverses his life cycle In Hawaii , the caterpillars of at least eighteen out of twent y known spec i es of moths from the genus Eupithec ia are carnivorous. It's not the birthing, it's the ren ding; it is the melting of the mountain , bo di es from open woun d ar ising. H ere: my f irst bo d y you tr i ed i mpr isoning even then I knew (you think I’d freeze?) it's not the birthing, it's the ren ding of my strongest flesh; co coon str ipping down to the bones of my knees from open woun d ar ising. In January I will resolve to nothing. No waiting for spr ingti me metamorphoses It’s not a birthing, but a ren ding of every secon d into a year of bleeding. Plateful of unanswered prey; I eat me, vis-à-vis, from open woun d ar ising. It is the predating an d preying of me, deathless in all news stor i es. I will have no birth; I will ren d this open woun d an d r ise again.
28
CJC Newsletter
July 2021
Reflection I wanted to wr ite something that was almost obsessively def iant of defeat, of predeter mined fates, of precon ceived notions; the idea of tak ing pr ide in growing everyday no mat ter b y how much —in a sense a 'hopeful b eginning' isn't just for w hen New Years' comes aroun d or something as though there's some opportune ti me to wait for , but rather b eing active recognising an d seek ing out the lit tle ways we change everyday, an d celebrating that.
T i ffany Paige Norfor (2T22)
29
We celebrate hope that comes with the prospect of new beginnings.In honouring time traditions and in continuing the fostering of bonds within the CJ community, we embraced the new normal by observing safe management practices to protect our community.
30
Indeed, despite the challenges that we continue to face from the Covid-19 pandemic, it is clear that the CJC spirit continues to burn bright as we forge on to achieve our goals and aspirations this year.
CJC Newsletter
July 2021
31
129 Whitley Road Singapore 297822
catholic_ jc@moe.edu.sg
+65 6252 4038
www.cjc.moe.edu.sg
+65 6253 7267
@CatholicJC @catholic.jc