infinitas
ISSUE 4 Published July 2017 © Advancement and Communications Office St Joseph’s Institution International 490 Thomson Road Singapore 298191 6353 9383 www.sji-international.com.sg
SJI International Alumni https://www.linkedin.com/ school/13328877/alumni
infinitas The official magazine of the SJI International Alumni Association
CONTENTS
Messages
Reflections
Events
Message from Home
Like Riding a Bicycle
2016 Alumni Reunion
A message from everyone’s favourite: Aunty Glenis
Sandesh Sambhi, Class of 2009
p. 3
p. 6
An evening that celebrated old (and new) friendships and golden memories gone by p. 20
Message from Home
Paving the Way to Success
Mr Bennett looks back on the first years of SJI International p. 4
Rachel Tang, Class of 2011 p. 12
Leave to Serve Victoria Lim, Class of 2016 p. 18
Coming Full Circle The 10th Anniversary Dinner held on 12 May at The RitzCarlton Millenia Singapore p. 30
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PRESIDENT’S NOTE
It wasn’t so long ago when a bunch of rather lonesome buildings sat atop a small hill, on the corner of 490 Thomson Road, overlooking a vast and jungle-like landscape. The buildings were old, only a couple of stories high, laid out in a way you’d only find in ancient building plans. It had corridors which might have given you the chills as you walked through. The football pitch was almost an overgrowth of grasses, so much so that you had to wade through to get across. All around, the buildings, condominiums and government tower blocks shot out of the ground and stood sentry over the place. It was quite an anachronism. Within these buildings, was a handful of people. You could have fit all of them into one, maybe two rooms. I’m pretty sure some of you were part of that handful, so you would know this to be true. That was how SJII was ten years ago. It isn’t quite so today. Much has happened since then. The vast, jungle-like landscape is no more. Walking down the corridors no longer give you chills. Running down the football pitch feels like running down a football pitch. And you’d be mad to squeeze everyone into one building, let alone two. And you, you’re now all over the world: chasing dreams; leaving your mark wherever you set foot; getting used to the ins and outs of working life. Wherever you are and whatever you’re doing, we’d love to hear from you (I apologise that this line sounds like it came from Bryan Adams).
Please don’t for a second feel otherwise. As we commemorate our 10th year of founding, we’ve not only collected stories about 10th anniversary celebrations, we’ve also collected a few stories from you, tracing the paths and roads you have taken or blazed or burned (I mean this in the most positive sense), whether or not they reflect the meandering paths you took through the school’s corridors and life since then. Sandesh Kaur (Class of 2009) writes to us from the corridors of the hospital; Nguyet Nguyen (Class of 2010 - affectionately known as Na) writes to us from the frontiers of research and reflects on how TOK allowed her to realise an otherwise dormant flair for research. These are just some of the stories, there are more within – I hope you find familiar faces with unfamiliar stories. You’ll have a fantastic read. So read on, and come back home soon! As always, the ACO and I are contactable about all your alumni needs. I wish you nothing but the very best and brightest till the next Infinitas! Ora et Labora,
Ian
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MESSAGE FROM HOME Time flies and in a wink of an eye, an entire decade has passed. As we celebrate our 10th anniversary this year, I believe each one of you have your own story to tell and your own journey to share, especially on how SJI International has impacted your life in many different ways. Looking back, it’s been an amazing journey seeing how our school has grown from a school with just over 100 students to our current 1000-strong population. Students may come and go, but they are undeniably the most precious part of my memories of the school. It gives me great comfort to see them graduate to become responsible citizens who are ready to give back to our society. Looking forward, I hope SJI International will continue to be one of the leading international schools that provides good education for the last, the lost and the least. To all alumni of SJI International, as each one of you take a different path and experience a different life journey, I hope the education you had in SJI International gave you a solid foundation to achieve greater and better things in life, and prepared you for whatever challenges you may face as you go out there into the great big world. Please come back and visit whenever you are back in Singapore!
Aunty Glenis
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MESSAGE FROM HOME Over the past six months, we looked back with pleasure at the events of ten years ago when SJI International was taking its first baby steps. Pioneer board members, Brothers, teachers, parents and students recorded their early memories and reflected upon how the school was a product of individual talents within a context of the most unusual and stimulating creative freedom. Collectively inspired by the Lasallian ethos, they wrote on a blank page and started a new story. In contrast, the usual experience of ageing schools is to become financially more secure but excessively absorbed in established practices. Previously innovative teachers and administrators may tiresomely extol from retirement the dubious virtues of the past; alumni, blinkered by nostalgia for their own school days, too often advocate old practices rather than further imaginative developments. At this point, creativity is used less confidently and usually restricted to the adoption of safe, standard practices from other institutions. Yet, the modern SJI International is anything but that. In fact, some like Susi and Mr Z are
still working as imaginatively as ever. I have also listened to, and read, the reflections of our alumni and observed the creative directions that they have taken in their own lives. The great majority of pioneers like myself can only hope that SJII will maintain this spirit of imaginative freedom within the Lasallian tradition where each generation goes on to create their own stories and legacies, just as how it had ten years ago. Similarities with the past will be flattering to the pioneers only if the surviving processes have weathered rigorous cycles of creative renewal. Ultimately, the role of the past is to inspire principled creativity in the present. I know that the alumnus will willingly give their time through fireside chats and Skype talks to stimulate the latest generations and I am very heartened. Rest assured, we pioneers will always be here to help!
Mr Bennett
LIKE RIDING A BICYCLE I sat huddled on a quiet bench, considering the sickle-cell properties of the average junior doctor. We contort ourselves into funny shapes to get where we need to go. We flex. We squeeze. Sometimes we break. A new posting was starting. When the going gets tough, the inner dialogue gets Darwinian.
Sandesh Sambhi Class of 2009
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The chirp of a bicycle bell startled me into alertness. Before I could register what I was seeing, a neat line of long-term inpatients had gone sailing past, ringing their bells shouting, “Hello!”. A beaming nurse was heading the line. These are patients commonly thought to be unable to feed or dress themselves. It is usually with much administrative hemming and hawing before they are allowed on outings of any kind. Yet here they are, freewheeling down the pavement. My consultant had seen them cycling once. “It’s really something,” he’d said. “I thought they had forgotten how.” Among ourselves, we talk a lot about physicians operating in the public healthcare setting and the helplessness that comes with it. We don’t talk about patients in long-term care and imposed debility - “they shouldn’t”; “they can’t”; “they’ve forgotten how”. We don’t talk about the nurses, who riot quietly and protect their charges’ dignity (and sanity). The nurses who put on 70’s dialect music in the corner of the geriatric ward and dance with the
aunties. The nurses who buy treats for a neglected patient with their own money, get assaulted by the same patient, and show up the next day with kind words and a black eye. The nurses with enough faith to bring unpredictable, uncoordinated patients on utterly uneventful bike rides. I remember hearing the secret of success described as such: showing up physically and emotionally ready to do what is required of you. You show up, and you keep showing up. Sometimes you do what is not required of you. Sometimes what is not required of you should be required of everyone. I sat blinking on the roadside bench as my colleague pedalled into the sunset, rebuilding the humanity of the patients, the ward and the hospital through principles both gentle and anarchic. Kindness is not wasted. Those who dance are thought to be insane by those who cannot hear the music, the obvious solution being to turn on some music. And nobody forgets how to ride a bicycle.
Photos by Ricardo Seah
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FIRST STEPS My first steps of independence began with SJI International. That was when, after my O Levels, I took a leap of faith and decided to join a brand new school with an education (then) beyond the mainstream.
When your entire class is less than 50 students strong, the knowledge that you are literally building a school culture from scratch is exhilarating. It was exciting to launch the photography society, represent the school in national debate competitions and sing in the choir while juggling the academic pressures of the IB. This gave me the confidence to strike out when I eventually began my degree at University College London (UCL) and spearheaded a photojournalism society modelled after Humans of New York called “Humans of UCL”. Yet, I know that I got lucky with my student life, and I had mostly only taken – and enjoyed – from those around me. Towards the end of university, I realised that I wanted to give back. Now, I have continued my love of storytelling as a journalist (and what greater responsibility than telling peoples’ stories to a national audience?). As someone
who has always loved the natural world, I am now also training to be a nature guide. I appreciate SJI International, for it gave me the space to grow. It was a key part of a journey so fulfilling that I now want to return some of that happiness and knowledge to the people around me.
Jose Hong
Class of 2009
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Pursuing TOK was one of the highlights of my time at SJI International, an intellectually demanding experience that has somehow managed to integrate itself into my life. When I first saw this question, it reminded me of how I have been approaching crossroads and understanding things even before my first day at SJI International. To date, this question continues to influence how I think about the world and navigate through life, well into my mid-twenties. Geez, I feel old. ‘How do you know?’ speaks of uncertainty and caution. When I received the scholarship at 15 to study in SJI International, my mother feared that I was too young to leave home. She believed that even if we passed up this chance, another will come with my diligence and academic acumen. Maybe it was due to my father’s prompt of ‘How do you know?’ that they eventually decided to let me leave Vietnam for Singapore.
HOW DO YOU KNOW? For most IB graduates, this question brings flashbacks of Theory of Knowledge (TOK). It was either an exciting journey into questioning what has always been taken for granted as knowledge, or a downright painful nightmare attempting to answer something that no one person truly has the answer to.
During my FIB year, I discovered my aptitude for the natural sciences. I used to take for granted my ability to excel in the sciences in Vietnam until a certain ‘How do you know?’ made me rethink my initial decision to not pursue a career in the Sciences. It took me careful observation and conscientious effort over three and a half years – including having felt firsthand, the frustrations of a scientistwannabe while embarking on the Extended Essay in Chemistry – to answer this. Fast forward ten years, I now work at a cancer research institute after an Honours degree in Biochemistry. Indeed, the opportunity to be at SJI International was instrumental in placing me on the path I am on today. ‘How do you know?’ evokes curiosity. I gravitated towards the Sciences not just because it leads to the discovery of how the physical world works, but also for how the rigorous method gives me the ability to evaluate what I see. In the race for research grants and the “publish or perish” world of scientific pursuit, this question keeps me focused on robust implementation of experiments and careful interpretation of data. The balance between articulating the importance of results and avoiding exaggeration of the impact of the research
again involves ‘How do you know this is valid?’ While scientific knowledge can be adaptable in the face of contrary evidence, it is this apparent incompleteness that can sometimes stir public mistrust. I grew to ponder more on how science impacts society, and realised that working in research laboratories was not entirely what I wanted to do. ‘How do you know?’ started teaching me more beyond the realm of science. ‘How do you know?’ invites reflection, challenges prejudice and teaches humility. These are personal values that I developed in my time at SJII. I started questioning beliefs that I have been taught while growing up, and gradually learned to let my convictions guide and give meaning to what I do. My attempt at becoming a quadrilingual is my wish to better understand unfamiliar cultures, the background to stories
Nguyet Nguyen Class of 2010
that would have otherwise been incomprehensible. It took a while for me to fully fathom the value of service that SJII teaches, but I see that my volunteer work became centred on how I have improved the experience of the people I was helping. ‘How do you know you have done the right thing?’ guided me during times that call for difficult decisions, when I decided to leave the comfort of Vancouver to join my newly-immigrated family in Moncton and become an active participant in family matters. It helped me navigate the many challenges that I had to face too soon. It nurtured the resilience that keeps me focused on my dream of a career that integrates science and service of others. I am certain this question will continue to make me reflect every encounter I would have as a physician – a journey that I will formally take the first step of, in August 2017. Like a protein looking for its ideal conformation amidst millions of possibilities in Levinthal’s paradox, I have arrived at where I am today in a reasonable time despite the various paths that asking ‘How do you know?’ could have opened up. SJII was a crucial turning point. I came to SJII as an academically strong student, but I left a better learner. Thank you, Mr Bennett, for letting me wear the honour of SJII ‘pioneer batch’. Thank you, Auntie Jo, for being my home away from home. Thank you, teachers and friends, whose brilliance, patience and encouragement have inspired and supported my growth ever since I met you. To all who have read to this point, let us all remain curious and humble, always asking ourselves, ‘How do I know this is the best I can do?’
PAVING THE WAY TO SUCCESS An open letter to my alma mater on its 10th anniversary
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Dear Saint Joseph’s Institution International, Thank you. You showed me that the world is full of possibilities. I am where I am, and who I am because you encouraged me to go forth and explore, to be fearless and unapologetic of myself. Oftentimes I forget just how many opportunities you have given me, until someone asks me about my life experiences. When I turned 21, I had travelled to 21 different countries, a good chunk of them during my time at SJII. Through you, I was able to trek the Annapurna trail in Nepal, climb to the summit of a volcano in Indonesia, experience the different cultures in Asia and so much more. The phrase “pushed me out of my comfort zone” is overused but it has never been more apt. You believed in my creativity. So much so, that now my work has been published on various media platforms. From covering concerts in Michigan, to receiving a grant to produce a short documentary in Chicago, it all started in the art studio at SJII. Not only was IB Art my sanctuary, but the mentorship of teachers and continual support taught me to value my skills, despite not wanting to pursue art as a profession. One of my proudest moments was having my artwork showcased in a commercial gallery before graduating from SJII. The importance you placed on the arts allowed me to believe in my own talents which transcended university life. It wasn’t just your culture, but also your teachers, who set exceptional standards, who affirmed that focusing on my writing would lead me to my successes. Your curriculum gave me a life skill I will always treasure. The flexibility I was given meant more responsibility and that was how I learned to be exceptionally organised. I went into my first college advising meeting with all my classes I wanted to take planned out for the next four years, including study abroad programs and internships. Needless to say, they were more than surprised. Not to say
Rachel Tang Class of 2011
that everyone needs to know what they want to do in life right away, but staying organised made finding my passions easy. Looking back, it was draining coming home every day from SJII after a day of classes, and multiple extra curricular activities. For me, it was rehearsing for my role as Nancy in the musical Oliver or prepping for a Model United Nations conference, but this prepared me for the even larger workload and schedule I took on in university. We are each given 24 hours a day and life is often seen as the balancing act between work and play. However, we tend to forget that progress in life comes from time allocated for self development, which is an added effort we have to strive for. You advocated instilling empathy in us. It wasn’t just about volunteering hours at an old folks’ home. It was more about making us accountable for our actions and creating the desire to want to make a difference. During my last year at Michigan State University, I raised a puppy for Leader Dogs for the Blind, a non-profit organisation that gives guide dogs to the visually impaired. I can’t currently do anything to improve the laws surrounding disabilities but the puppy I raised, Drake, helps his new partner Marc every day. You’ve seen me through love and loss. Isabelle, who graduated with me in 2011 was taken away from us too early. Beloved by all, it was equally hard for me to cope when one of my sorority sisters at Michigan State University passed away suddenly in 2014. Sweet, bright and driven individuals who both remind me of the other, are always in remembrance - a token to not take anything for granted. With that said, I’ve made lifelong friends at SJII, in particular, my best friend. Although we went to universities in different states in America, our friendship that started ten years ago when you first opened your doors is unwavering; I’m the maid of honour at her wedding next year.
Lastly, thank you for teaching me to believe in myself. I don’t believe in taking no for an answer, or being afraid of asking for something I want. I’ve learned over the years that no one besides you can make you do anything, including attaining success.
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It has been two years since I graduated from SJI International. When I look back at my old self, I am stunned by my personal growth. Before I came to SJI International, I could neither speak nor write in English. Needless to say, I had little to no idea how vast the world really is. In a span of over three years, SJI International helped me become who I am today. I really struggled to do anything in English before coming to Singapore. But I tried really hard during my years in SJI International to improve myself every day. It was tough, definitely one of the most challenging things in my life, but it was also the most memorable time for me. Learning how to cope with this hardship was one of the many factors that eventually allowed me to reach this childhood dream of mine to continue my studies in Japan. I wasn’t born into a wealthy family, so it would have been impossible for me to study abroad without a scholarship or financial assistance. Yet, all these changed when SJI International took a chance on me. It was this glimmer of hope that was ignited in me when I received the scholarship that has enabled me to fulfil my dream today. Through my experiences in my time here, I learnt not only to work hard to reach my goal, but also to enjoy every bit of it. Today, I am studying in Nagoya University, Japan. Although the course is fully conducted in English, it certainly didn’t stop me from learning Japanese. It has been almost 2 years since I started, and I can now converse normally in Japanese. In between my
Agustinus Class of 2010
studies and part-time job, I try my best to study more Japanese so that I can truly appreciate my surroundings. After reaching this small dream of studying in Japan, I am now chasing a bigger dream.
“I can accept failure, everyone fails at something. But I can’t accept not trying.” Michael Jordan
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PROGRESS To everyone out there: How much progress have you made so far towards your goal? What do you want to do in the future? Surely the answer to this does not have to be something extraordinary. Baby steps. Start from something small and progress further as you take each baby step. Don’t be afraid to fail, and you shall find your way.
Photo by Ricardo Seah
THE CHARM OF NEW BEGINNINGS The start of everything presents itself with a slight hue of awkwardness. The unpredictability of a new beginning, and its novelty, remains an inevitable part of life. Welcome this, for there is a reason behind everything. They are undeniably endless, these beginnings. You come to an end but you begin a new journey; you reach your destination to start anew. SJII may have now become another chapter in my life, but it was the beginning of a journey once. Barely trained in the twists and the turns of life, I moved to a place so different from my own like black is from white. I recall the very first few timid introductions, the awkward “Nice to meet yous,” “My name is Viky,” “I am from Spain”, with the memorized, mediocre knowledge of English that I possessed. Adjusting to the fast-paced mechanics of my new life in this foreign country was frustrating to say the least. I initially succumbed to the hardship as I let myself get swayed by this frustration and rebelled against the idea of hard work; the sole path towards truly achieving what you can achieve. I asked myself, Why should I? There’ll always be someone ahead.
Viky Banchs Class of 2014
Having someone tell you that you are better, that you are smarter than you think you are is a curiously painful feeling. That feeling of knowing that it is you, and only you, who forged the myriad limitations to the great things that could have been, but isn’t. In truth, I may not have accomplished what I could have with my time at SJII, but there is no reason in denying what was a remarkable experience, paramount to the construction of who I am becoming. English and Mandarin, for example, now pertain to the collection of personal belongings that make me who I am. So, here I am again. A new chapter, a new beginning. USA, Venezuela, Spain, Singapore, Canada. A second, a third, a fourth chance. Proud to be who I am with the beginning of a new chapter. UBC. Think of new beginnings as new opportunities that find their way through the relentless power of time. Don’t try to find yourself but rather create the person you want to be. There’s time. If you didn’t achieve what you wanted to achieve, if you didn’t score what you wanted to score, remember that you will always have the chance to start once more. It may be tomorrow, it may be in near, far years to come. Don’t give up. I didn’t.
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It has been nearly two years since I graduated from SJI International in 2015. Looking back, I can proudly say that it was a time of true fulfillment and enjoyment. This school gave me the time, space and resources to explore and further my interests in a plethora of activities on top of academic pursuits. This led me to discover my passion for the Sciences – propelling me to pursue Dentistry in the United Kingdom. When I tell someone I study Dentistry, his/ her immediate response would be, “Did you want to be a dentist because you like looking at teeth?” I would then smile and explain to them that the reason why I do what I do is that I feel that Dentistry is so much more than polishing and restoring a filling on a patient. My course is unique because it enables me to restore a patient’s confidence so that he can smile properly in pictures again. It is special because I can reconstruct my patient’s jaws so that he can finally chew his favourite foods without any worry. It is fulfilling because I can educate a child about the importance of brushing his teeth, and prove to him that dentists and children truly, can become good friends. I love every minute of my course, and it just feels right for me to do it! Life in Scotland has been nothing but an
Laura Tan Class of 2014
exhilarating and thrilling journey. I face new challenges in dental school every day, coupled with the responsibility of ‘adulting’ in a foreign country. First year of university hasn’t been the easiest but I was truly so blessed to be presented with so many opportunities such as being part of a dentistry Wikipedia editing team, playing women’s water polo for the university, and organising events for the Singapore society back in Dundee, just to name a few! SJI International truly gave me the confidence to leave my sheltered enclave of privilege in Singapore and step out into the real world to truly – act, think and behave like a real adult. Of course, I have brought all the memories I’ve made in this school to Scotland and definitely would not trade these memories for anything in the world. From time to time, I still fondly recall Mr. Hogg’s explanation about the mind– boggling cardiac-cycle graphs in Biology, not to mention Mr. McFarlane’s organic chemistry practical lessons. Ah, good times – In fact, they tie in perfectly with my current pharmacology and physiology lessons here in university! I can say with confidence that SJII is truly home, and I am so grateful for the friendships forged and unforgettable memories made here.
POLAR BEAR How much does a polar bear weigh? Enough to break the ice, hi I’m Laura!
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LEAVE TO SERVE The two years I spent at SJI International passed in a blink of an eye, but I remember it like it all happened yesterday.
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I took an unconventional path coming to this school. Yet, I see now that going to SJI International changed me and forced me to grow in so many different ways. Aside from being intellectually stretched by the IB programme, SJII exposed me to so many amazing opportunities that I might not have been granted elsewhere, from research attachments to A*STAR, to scholarships for university, even the chance to plan an unchaperoned overseas service trip. I looked forward to coming to school because of the constant support from my peers and teachers; this support is precisely what spurred me to become bolder in pursuing my passions, from the arts, to dance, to the environment.
As I left the school last year, I looked forward to effecting my own kind of change this world. To this day, I continue to volunteer with environmental NGOs, and am still working with the school’s ECO club to make the running of our school more environmentally sustainable. I will be going to read Environmental Studies in Yale University in June on a PSC scholarship, in hopes of making a positive difference for our Earth. I aspire to continue to embody SJII’s motto: “Enter to Learn, Leave to Serve”. Coming to SJII has allowed me to find my footing and purpose in life. Even long after I leave, this school remains close to my heart. So, from the bottom of my heart, thank you.
Victoria Lim Class of 2016
2016 ALUMNI REUNION It was an evening that celebrated old (and new) friendships and golden memories gone by. The 2016 Alumni Reunion, which took place in the IB Lounge on Saturday, 23 July, saw nearly 100 former students and staff reconnect as they chatted the evening away with good food and great company. Once again, the President of the SJI International Alumni Association, Ian Chai (Class of 2009), made his keynote address and talked about the importance of keeping the alumni community close. He warmed the room with witty anecdotes of his school days, cracking the room up with memories which he still keeps close to his heart. The stage was then handed over to Brother Larry, who led the room with an Opening Prayer. There was no shortage of banter and stories afterwards, with attendees spanning the Class of 2009 all the way to 2015 intermingling with one another as they took turns recalling their days on campus and bringing one another up to speed on their careers and adventures since they last spoke. It was an evening filled with nostalgia for the past as well as promises for a more cohesive future. There was lively discussion on how opportunities could be created for more frequent alumni gatherings, as well as the possibility of events allowing for greater interaction with current students. Seeing the past, present, and future come together at the Alumni Reunion was a powerful affirmation that friendships forged at SJI International are truly for a lifetime. Thank you to all alumni and teachers who came back to join us for this event – we had a recordbreaking attendance and definitely look forward to seeing you again next year!
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SCHOOL FOUNDERS CELEBRATION The evening of 20 January signified a major milestone for the SJI International community, as we celebrate our first decade with the 10th Anniversary School Founders Celebration – the first of our many 10th anniversary events. Brother Larry welcomed everyone with an address, followed by a video which highlighted the history of the school as narrated by members of the Leadership Council, alumni, and long-service staff. Philip Yeo, our Guest of Honour, together with Brother Larry, Mr Mah Bow Tan, Patron of SJI International, and Mr Roy Quek, Chairman of the Board of Governors, led a ceremonial cutting of a custom-made SJI International birthday cake, while people sang the birthday song.
SJI International opened its doors just ten years ago. The first High School classes were held in what is now the Raphael block of the Elementary School. With 104 students and 14 teaching staff, Br Michael Broughton as Brother President and Mr Andrew Bennett as the Founding Principal, our school was born. The Elementary School would open one year later, under the leadership of Mrs Louise Grant, when the High School moved into its current buildings.
25 We were honoured that Louise, Andrew, and Br Michael were able to join us for the night, together with six staff members who had also been with us since day one – Susi Teo, Glenis Chng, Sherry Ng, Sam Lim, Chia Puay Leng, and Matthew Zagrodnik. That night, they were honoured with long service medallions, in recognition of their commitment and dedication to the school. Mr Quek thanked the many dedicated men and women who in one way or another have contributed to the establishment of SJI International. He particularly acknowledged the many members of the Leadership Council who were there with us that night, as well as the founding teaching and admin staff, and some alumni from our first-ever batch of students who graduated in 2009. He then encouraged everyone to continue supporting the school and its mission to cater to “the Last, the Lost and the Least”. Along with performances from both Elementary and High School, the night culminated with the singing of ‘We Are Lasallian’ – a wonderful ending that bonded several generations of Josephians, spanning all the way back to the Class of 1957.
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10TH BIRTHDAY BASH Candy Floss, Popcorn, Food Truck, Face Painting and Balloons – what more could you ask for from a party? Our 10th Birthday Bash on 31 March ticked all those boxes and more as our Sports Hall was converted into a bright, colourful room where our community was treated to musical performances, excellent food, fun photo booths and some dancing. Young and old, we were all united in our happiness. Thank you all, who made this possible!
UK ALUMNI REUNION 2017 Following our first alumni event in 2016, another strong contingent of SJII Alumni from the batches of 2009 all the way to 2014 gathered in London on 22 April. We were also heartened to have with us Ms Laura Curtis. It was a lovely celebration; the relaxed environment offered many an opportunity to reminisce of days at SJII, to catch up on lives since, and to friends both old and new. Particular thanks must go to Alexandra Lim, Ruru Hoong, and Nam, from Class of 2014 for their help with the organisation of the event. We look forward to future events, and hopefully in different parts of the country as well.
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Brian Theng Class of 2014
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COMING FULL CIRCLE: 10TH ANNIVERSARY DINNER
The 10th Anniversary Dinner brought the SJI International community together for a momentous night of celebration. It was held at The Ritz-Carlton Millenia on 12 May. Attendees included ex-Josephians who are on the Leadership Council and Board of Governors, students, teachers, parents from both High School and Elementary School, and friends who have donated to the school.
minor, Op. 69 No. 2. From the High School, the African Marimba Ensemble, Orchestra and Bella Voce Senior Choir took the stage and blew its audience away with their sheer talent and overflowing energy.
The Guest-of-Honour was the President of the Republic of Singapore, Dr. Tony Tan, a patron of the school. A grand total of $3,575,728 was raised and pledged from this fund-raising dinner. These donations will be channelled towards the school’s Building Fund as it prepares for its relocation in 2022 once the current lease expires. Upon arrival, guests were ushered in with soothing Jazz pieces played by the High School Jazz Band, led by Mr Chua and Mr Fantom. The cocktail area was decorated to resemble that of a “Gallery of Accomplishments” over the last 10 years by Ms Oxley, with the help of Mrs Roberts and Ms Lange. Yearbooks and past school publications were also on display for guests to reminisce over the school’s history. The programme of the night kicked off with a highly-energetic showcase of “Play-nting” (Painting and Drumming) by Khairul Anwar from Grade 12, during which he painted a statue of John Baptist De La Salle with the use of drum sticks. Shortly after, the Gamelan Ensemble majestically played Tabuh Sekar Lilit as the Welcome Fanfare for President Tony Tan as he made his entrance. Other highlights of the entertainment included musical performances from both the Elementary and High School students. From the Elementary School, Samantha Lee from Grade 6 sang Over the Rainbow and Stanley Qin from Grade 4 wowed the audience with Chopin: Waltz in B
Yet, in spite of the wide selection of entertainment, the highlight of the night was the 10th Anniversary Song performance by a massive 120-strong combined Elementary and High School Choir and Orchestra. Lyrics for this special song were written by students and their families, with music scoring done by Head of Music, Mrs Thorpe. Heartfelt speeches were also delivered by various stakeholders who have either played a huge part in the founding of the school or have in some way or another, been greatly impacted by the school. Mr Michael Sng, one of the school’s founders; Sophuth Phon, our first and only Cambodian scholar; and Ian Chai, a scholar from our founding batch of 2009, shared deeply personal and touching accounts of their journey with SJI International. Upon the formal close of the event, the High School Orchestra came back onstage and the dance floor was opened. The orchestra played their popular rendition of a medley from the movie Grease as the remaining guests danced the rest of the night away. Huge thanks goes out to all staff helpers, student performers and ushers, teachers and parent volunteers without whom the 10th Anniversary Dinner would not have been the success it was. And especially to Ms Fiona Rankine and Brother Larry, Chairpersons of the Organising Committee, for their dedication and hard work in putting together such a massive event, but more importantly ensuring that it was a pleasantly memorable and unforgettable night for one and all.
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Photo by Ricardo Seah
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