Issue 31 l June/July 2014
Suit Up Night
Alumni bonded over a Movie!
www.rp.edu.sg/grad
CONTENTS
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It’s Graduation Time!
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Suit Up Night
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School of Hospitality
Meet-The-Scholars Tea Reception 2014
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Different batches of Alumni
bonded over a movie!
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Graduation 2014 Snapshots
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Season 13/14 Cheerleading
National Champions
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Health Tips
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Money Sense – Having Children
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Alumni@RP Email 5 Way to stay connected
16 Calendar of Events Quiz
Publisher Office of Student and Graduate Affairs Republic Polytechnic 9 Woodlands Avenue 9, Singapore 738964
dREam. An RP Alumni Magazine. Everything starts from a dream. dREam is a quarterly publication to keep graduates informed about the happenings in RP, continued education, career opportunities, networking sessions and more, in the hope of achieving their aspirations. No part of the publication may be reproduced in any form or by any means without the written permission of the publisher. The views and opinions expressed or implied in dREam are those of the authors or contributors and do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher.
Editorial Editor Nurhadi Khan Designer PurpleCircle Design Pte Ltd Editoral Alumni Muhammad Shahrain, Garrett Yap, Maya Murni, Keiji Matsumura, Sheikh Ashraf, Shawn Kong, Faustine, Angela Tan General Enquiries Email dream@rp.edu.sg Enquiries www.rp.edu.sg/grad Facebook www.fb.com/alumniRP
Editor’s Note
Hello graduates! Time flies and half of 2014 has passed! Hope you are doing well and enjoying 2014. Over at RP, we have been having a blast of a time with Open House, the Orientation Programme 2014, the Graduation Ceremony and the Alumni Private Movie Screening of the Age of Extinction 2D.
Congratulations to the 2014 graduating cohort!
We hope that you have enjoyed reading the Yearbook 2014, which was produced by the Office of Student and Graduate Affairs (OSG) and RPAC.
A big ‘thank you’ to those who had signed up for Club Republic when collecting the yearbook. For those who have yet to join Club Republic, what are you waiting for? You will get to enjoy the many perks and privileges that the club has to offer. We also hope that you had fun taking photos with your friends and loved ones at the instant photography booth we provided during the yearbook collection. Missed out on watching your friends taking their photos? Don’t worry, you can view all the photos at www.fb.com/AlumniRP. To keep up-to-date with the latest happenings on alumni matters, feel free to visit RP Graduates’ Portal at www.rp.edu.sg/grad and “Like us” at RP’s Alumni Fan Page www.fb.com/ AlumniRP. Do email help-graduate@ rp.edu.sg with your personal updates, queries, or comments and suggestions on our services. As always, the Graduate Services Team welcomes enthusiastic graduates to join us in the editorial team. Please contact us if you are interested in sharing stories! That’s all for now, from us at Graduate Services.
Keep your profile current! Just drop us an email at helpgraduate@rp.edu.sg with your NRIC/ FIN, and most up-to-date personal particulars; we promise not to send you Nigerian bank transfer requests, lame forwarded jokes or chain letters.
Do your prefer to receive your dream in hardcopy Simply login to Graduates’ Portal at www.rp.edu.sg/grad to indicate your preference under your personal profile now! (applicable for local addresses only)
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It’s
Graduation Time!
Muhammad Shahrizan Bin Muhammad Shaiful
Diploma in Information Technology Class of 2014
graduation chnic (RP) held the annual May 2014, Republic Polyte day for ous ting classes. It was a joy ceremonies for the gradua st. I was gue the graduates, staff and everyone present including sts gue joyous occasion among fortunate to be a part of this on ate tific e and receiving the cer donning the graduation rob inning beg new our studies here and a stage signifying the end of onwards. k on the dies in RP, some of us too While we were doing our stu found our n eve friends and may have roles of students, learners, emony cer tion everyone at the gradua significant other. I am sure RP, the in ile wh and downs of our lives had gone through the ups ich we wh from the success and regrets tears and joys we felt and te dua gra a be am deeply honoured to learnt. On this occasion, I my h wit tion e celebrated my gradua of RP. I was very glad to hav CCAs, sely with in both classes and clo peers whom I had worked . ess of fulfillment and happin faces filled with emotions the fond ceable opportunity and all Thank you RP for this irrepla memories.
Thank you RP!
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Su t Up Night
Keiji Matsumura Class of 2014
On 23 May 2014, Diploma in Interactive Digital Media (DIDM) held a “Suit Up Night” for the recently graduated cohort. This Graduation Night was planned by student for the students, making it a memorable experience not only for the graduates, but also for the organizing committee. Comprising of Ms Aisha Zain (Lecturer, School of Infocomm) as the Advisor and myself, Keiji Matsumura (one of DIDM graduates this year) as the overall in-charge in the execution of plans, the event was nothing less than awesome and an unforgettable way of putting a perfect end to a good three years of camaraderie and learning journey in Republic Polytechnic (RP), School of infocomm (SOI). On top of the usual performances line-up for the night, in recognition of the graduates’ efforts, several awards such as Best DAV (Digital audio video) student, Best PRINT student and Best GAMING (Development) student, were given out during the Graduation Night. There were also a few other fun awards that were given out, which was as expected from the creative wing amongst the diplomas offered in School of Infocomm. We were also thrilled to have our alumni, Mr Alex Chia and Mr Roy Chong, to join in this joyous occasion, to share their experiences on life after graduating from RP.
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y
ospitalit H f o l o o h Sc
e h T t e Me a e T s r a l Scho n o i t p e c e R 2014 Sheikh Ashraf Bin Mohd Yunos
as we and excitement ed with laughter fill ing en We t. ev l en tfu H managem It was an even itable RP and SO sp ho er ge ev led e th ow th skills and kn caught up wi sed on how the us sc di h d uc an m ry ws are still ve exchanged vie Polytechnic days ic bl pu Re r ou g acquired durin itality industry. icable in the hosp relevant and appl otivated, be intrinsically m encouraged us to t en s. These m ge on en vir all en nership of ch The learning ow g kin ta d an s, answer am players. more effective te constantly seeking e ar o wh als du o were loped indivi y to remind all wh helped and deve perfect opportunit e th s We had wa t. ien ion sil pt The tea rece mature and re e or m be to n have grow h sheer there of how they our seniors throug ccess stories of su ar humbling. he d to an y g nit the opportu always inspirin s wa ich wh rk th our d hard wo to interact with bo determination an cellent platform ex an s ernship wa int r ion ou pt ways from The tea rece as to share take-a ll we as s ior jun seniors and . local or overseas experiences be it make new ion enabled us to pt ce re e th ly, nt rough the event, Most importa w friendships. Th ne ed rg fo d an family will always connections ed that the SOH ind m re ly nt ta ns nd or give a we were co lend a helping ha to t; or pp su of r be our pilla ents. ime for their stud listening ear anyt
Diploma in Restaurant and Culinary Operations Class of 2014
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Different batches of Alumni bonded over a movie! Shawn Kong
Communications and Publicity Coordinator, Republic Polytechnic Alumni Committee Class of 2011
Club Republic held a Private Movie Screening on Saturday, 28th June in the evening for its members. The event, which was held at Plaza Singapura, brought together graduates from different batches to bond and catch up over a movie. While waiting for the movie to start, our alumni could be seen hanging around, reminiscing about their polytechnic days. “I think is great to have such an event as a platform for RP alumni to meet up. In the hall, people could be seen chatting and greeting one another across the hall as majority of us came with our friends for a simple catch up as well”, shared Allynn Teo, a 2010 graduate. Teo Wei Yang, who graduated recently in 2014, shared similar sentiments, “The movie screening was an impressive idea as we got to meet up with many of our friends and even seniors!” he added.
Before proceeding into the movie theatre, the attendees queued up in front of the reception to collect tickets to the private screening of Transformers: Age of Extinction 2D. In the movie theatre, it was completely packed as the movie screening attracted a full house turnout. Shanmugam, President of Republic Polytechnic Alumni Committee, gave an opening address to the attendees before the movie started. He articulated that “Our inaugural event, the private movie screening was successfully brought various batches of graduates together and with that, the committee is now in full swing to roll out more activities in the months ahead. We are looking to host another movie screening with double the seating capacity in November 2014”. During the movie, buckets of laughter filled the theatre as the crowd was thoroughly entertained by the comical relief slickly injected into the tense scenes. The movie screening successfully came to a close at around 11:25pm and everyone merrily exited from the movie theatre. Lastly, the Republic Polytechnic Alumni Committee would like to thank everyone who made the event possible.
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Graduation 2014
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Season 13/14
Cheerleading National Champions Faustine Lai (SAS) & Angela Tan (SOH)
2014 is yet another year that will be remembered for Republic Poly’s Cheerleading IG, Rexaz. This year’s National Cheerleading Championships was held at D’Marquee Downtown East on the 29th of March 2014. Both Cheerleading Association Singapore National Cheerleading Championships (CASNCC) and the Asia Cheerleading Invitational Championships (ACIC) were held concurrently. Rexaz Cheerleading sent a total of 5 teams: Team White, Team Green, All-Girls Group A, All-Girls Group B and All-Girls Group C, of which Team Green only took part in ACIC and All-Girls Group C only in CASNCC while the remaining competed in both CASNCC and ACIC. In the All-Girls Group Division, Rexaz All-Girls Group B emerged as champion for CASNCC and second runner up for ACIC while Rexaz AllGirls Group A emerged as second runner up for CASNCC. It was a tough fight among all other teams but Team White managed to emerge champion in the CASNCC Level 6 Senior High Premier Division and second runner up in the ACIC Level 6 Premier Division while Team Green came in as first runner up in the Level 5 Elite Division for ACIC. The journey towards preparing for Nationals was one that was filled with many challenges along the way but despite the ups and downs faced through this journey, the team stuck together even stronger and pulled through every obstacle together. Rexaz Cheerleading IG would also like to give a special shout out to a couple of Alumnus who came back to help compete in the Level 5 Elite Division and those who came back to help with the make-up and logistics. All in all, this recent season would not have been possible without such strong support from our alumni and supporters, and not forgetting our Coaches as well. With that, Rexaz is confident that the upcoming season and many more seasons ahead will be successful ones and we will work even harder, fight tougher and cheer louder to maintain our champion titles!
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What can you do if you fall and fracture your front tooth the day before your wedding?
CAD CAM Dentistry can be your solution. You can get a natural and aesthetic restoration of your broken tooth within a few hours’ time. CAD CAM (Computer-aided Design and Computer -aided Manufacturing) is essentially the latest technology used in the fabrication of ceramic restorations. After broken areas of the tooth are corrected by the dentist, an image (scan) is taken of the prepared tooth and the surrounding teeth. A digital impression is thus created and sent to a computer where proprietary software creates a virtual replacement part for the missing areas of the tooth. The software sends this virtual data to a milling machine where the replacement part is made from a solid block of ceramic or composite resin. The final restoration is then fitted into the patient’s mouth and cemented in place. CAD CAM dentistry is ONLY available at Q & M Dental Centres. For more information, please write to QandM@ QandM.com.sg or visit www.QandMDental.com.sg
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MONEY SENSE
having Children In last few issue, we shared some tips and advice on how to manage your money when you start working, while you are serving the nation (National Service) and when you get married.
, Now, let s talk about having Children!
Thinking of having your first child but concerned about the costs of raising children? Do not let financial considerations stop you from enjoying one of the greatest joys life has to offer - starting a family and parenthood! Managing the costs of having a child With a new addition to the family, you and your spouse may need to adjust your budget and also your financial plans. Consider taking out health insurance for your child as well as life insurance to provide for your family in the event something unexpected happens
Paying for your children’s education Most, if not all, parents want to provide tertiary education for their children. But the cost of this can be hefty – it includes not just the school or tuition fees but also their living expenses. It can be daunting if you do not prepare or plan ahead.
Some suggestions to help you get started: •
Work out how much your children’s tuition fees and living costs will be, taking into account current prices and the projected inflation rate. If you are hoping to provide an overseas education for them, you will have to consider the impact of currency exchange rates as well as the projected inflation rate in the country of destination too.
• Take stock of the funds you have currently set aside for their tertiary education as well as the projected values of your investments by the time they enter school. •
If there is a shortfall between the projected funds you will have available and the expected costs of your child’s education, take steps to meet this shortfall. You might need to put aside more in savings or investments to achieve this. By starting earlier, your savings will benefit from the power of compounding and have more time to grow. If you are investing, i.e. buying financial products for investment, a longer time frame allows you more time to ride out any short-term fluctuations in investment values.
•
Do consider the range of financial products and investments available in the market. Many products such as endowment policies claim to help you save for your child’s education. But all investments carry risk (for example, they may not achieve the desired returns or may lose you money), so always remember to buy only the products you fully understand and have a level of risk you are comfortable with.
•
Monitor your investment portfolio regularly: review the current and projected values and see if their growth is on track to meet your requirements. Adjust accordingly and don’t forget to diversify your investments. If you are nearing the time you need the money, you may want to move your investments into more conservative assets to preserve their value.
Loan options There are loan options to fund your child’s tertiary education. For example, there is the Tuition Fee Loan Scheme for approved institutions, where the loan is interest-free during the period of study. There is also the CPF Education Scheme which allows you to borrow from your CPF Ordinary Account to pay for your child’s local tertiary education at the approved institutions, subject to the withdrawal cap. Your child will be required to repay the amount withdrawn, plus accrued interest which you would otherwise have earned on your CPF savings. Read more on the CPF Board website. Tertiary institutions may also provide subsidies, grants and scholarships for students. There are a range of government scholarships available too. It takes time and effort to plan ahead for your new family’s finances, but it’s well worth it if it ensures a family’s well-being in the long run.
The above information is prepared in collaboration with the Ministry of Social and Family Development and Monetary Authority of Singapore.
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brought to you by Graduate Services, Republic Polytechnic alumni@rp email - Your complimentary, lifelong email account that immediately identifies you as a member of the Republic Polytechnic community!
Step 1:
Go to URL www.rp.edu. sg/grad
Evoke your sense of pride and belonging to Republic Polytechnic by using an alumni@rp email account. Alumni@rp uses the email address format userid@alumni. myrp.edu.sg and helps you stay connected with your friends long after you have graduated. It is your gateway to maintain strong bonds with other alumni and also serves as a lifelong connection between you and your alma mater. • Large storage size for email (10GB for Outlook Live) • Password-protected 25GB online storage through Windows Live SkyDrive • Office Live Workspace - room for more than 1000 files
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5 ways
to stay ed connect mater! lma
with your a
2.
Use your Club Republic Card to get birthday gifts for your loved ones This card identifies you as an alumnus and offers you exclusive benefits and discounts. Apply for your Club Republic Card at www.rp.edu.sg/grad
4.
Give a shout-out to your alma mater Stay connected with your alma mater through the official RP alumni Facebook fanpage at www.facebook.com/alumniRP
1.
Let your alma mater organise your gathering Have your professional, social and personal needs met through our diverse range of alumni programmes.
3. 5.
Read dREam Magazine Be updated on campus activities through this complimentary quarterly publication. Also available online at www.rp.edu.sg/grad Make a donation – bank in your karma credit Your gift will make a difference to the wellbeing of financially-needy students. It frees them from financial worries and allows them to concentrate on pursuing academic excellence at RP. Logon to www.rp.edu.sg/grad
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Calendar of Events 10 July
Republic Polytechnic Alumni Club Meeting Venue: Republic Polytechnic Campus
July 2014
18 July
Aug 2014
*NTU, Centre for Excellence in Learning and Teaching Helping Students to Develop a Culture of Academic Integrity Venue: Nanyang Technological University Campus
25 July
*ACE@RP Programme Pedagogy Series: Problem-Based Learning and Other Inquiry-Based, Learner-Centred Approaches Venue: Republic Polytechnic Campus
28 July
Hari Raya Puasa
31 July
*NTU, Centre for Excellence in Learning and Teaching Facilitating Collaborative Learning Venue: Nanyang Technological University Campus
5 Aug – 2 Sep
22 Aug
7 Aug
25 Aug – 8 Oct
*ACE@RP Programme RP ZOUK Dance Music DJ-ing and Production Course Venue: Republic Polytechnic Campus RP’s National Day Observance 2014 Venue: Republic Polytechnic Campus
*ACE@RP Programme Basic Sports Science (BSS) Course Venue: Republic Polytechnic Campus
9 Aug
28 – 29 Aug
National Day
14 Aug
Republic Polytechnic Alumni Club Meeting Venue: Republic Polytechnic Campus
15 & 16 Aug
*ACE@RP Programme Public Address Systems Fundamental Workshop Venue: Republic Polytechnic Campus
*ACE@RP Programme Organisational Learning Series: Effective Facilitation in the Workplace Venue: Republic Polytechnic Campus
IGNITE! Music Festival 2014 Venue: Republic Polytechnic Campus, Lawn * For more information on ACE@RP and NTU-edUtorium programmes, please visit www.rp.edu.sg/grad. Club Republic members would get to enjoy the ACE@RP and NTU-edUtorium programmes at a discounted rate. For more information on other RP events, please email us at help-graduate@rp.edu.sg
Get Rewarded for reading To participate, simply email your answer to dREam@RP.edu.sg with your name, NRIC, and Club Republic membership number. Closing date for the contest is 30 August 2014. All winners will be notified by email.
Winners get cash vouchers
Quiz for July issue
Which year did the RPAC President graduated in? MARCH Contest Winners Ee Aireen Ng Si Wei Jeffrey
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