Flame Issue 3 2019

CJC NEWSLETTER ISSUE THREE • OCTOBER 2019

: e z a l b A Hearts

e h t g n Lighti Forward Way

Principal's

Message

Dear CJCians, With this final issue of the Flame for 2019, we bid a fond goodbye to our JC2s. Thank you for sharing two precious years with the CJ family. To our JC2s, treasure the friendships you have forged with your college mates and reflect with fondness and nostalgia on the various rich learning experiences that you have encountered during your time in CJ. These experiences will stand you in good stead as you continue leading and serving as Thinkers with a Mission and Leaders with a Heart beyond CJ.

Editors Wendy Priscillia Wong Gabriel Lee Kong Meng Mackenzie Rae Schoon Daphne Tan Li Wen Contributors JC2 Cohort Staff and non-teaching staff

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Photographers Bernadino Lintang Celeste Yeong Cherlyn Ng Damien Tan Kaif Lim Lu Wenjie Marcus Pang Marielle Adolfo Melanie Lim

I hope that our JC2s will leave CJC with many valuable lessons you learnt here, and a zest to discover what the world has to offer. Think back fondly on all those who have made your journey in CJC a meaningful one – your peers, teachers, coaches, school leaders, and the nonteaching staff. I encourage you to serve and care for the wider community in the same way you have been cared for in the CJ community.

Everyone has a version of the CJ story to tell, and as you prepare to graduate from CJC, reflect on your story – the relationships you have formed, how much you have changed for the better – and stay resilient to achieve success at the ‘A’ Level Examinations.

In the years to come, I look forward to welcoming you back to CJ to assist with

our various college programmes and to exert a positive influence on your juniors.

Live a life of purpose, and uphold the values of truth and love, as reflected in our motto “In Veritate et Caritate” in whichever career you pursue.

For the JC1s, continue to remain steadfast in your learning as you prepare for the end of year examinations; and gear up to participate in the upcoming enriched learning activities such as overseas academic and service learning trips and work attachments.

May God’s blessings be always with you, Mrs Phyllis Lim Principal

And this is my 01 Syncletica Choo (2T01) At the start of my CJ journey, I felt thrown into the chaos of fitting into a new setting, and that caused me to be preoccupied with myself, but my OSLP journey taught me to never lose sight of everyone around me, to broaden my horizons and to see the bigger picture of things. Being away from home ground and our comfort zones, our team had to rely on one another more than ever.

Watching each other’s backs, taking care of each other’s well-being and safety came naturally to everyone.

This unconditional care I received from people I only knew for two months made me see the good in people more than I ever had. Like a domino effect, I started to see a caring community within the College, where bonds between fellow CJCians are unfathomably strong.

02 Darrick Leong (2T03) Literary Evening is my #whyCJ moment, and has made me feel that 2T03 and CJC are my family. During the ongoing rehearsals, I saw all of my classmates helping to perfect the staging of our own production.

I saw my friends coaching each other on various roles such as acting, dancing, props, lights and wardrobe. I remember once that after a tiring rehearsal, we all sat down together and had pizza for lunch, all of us enjoying each other’s company with bright smiles on our faces. We bonded through our efforts to make this play possible despite the exhausting process of countless rehearsals after school and during the school holidays.

#whyCJ

03 Liong Chee Hung (2T11) During the Leadership Training Camp last year, my leg cramped up in the middle of an activity and I had to sit out. One of the teachersin-charge of another group went to the canteen and got me a can of 100 Plus as she explained to me that it was going to help relieve the muscle cramp. My teammates also asked if I was okay. The care and concern from those around me really made me made me realise that this was my #whyCJ.

04 Daniel Chan (2T13) My class has helped me a lot with getting through JC life and is my true #whyCJ moment. Not only did they motivate me to never give up, they also pushed me to be the best version of myself. They played a large influence in shaping my experience in CJC and I couldn’t have wished for a better class than this.

05 Andrea Nelson (2T15) The CJ floorball team is my #whyCJ because they have truly shown me what it is like to be a great team.

We have gone through thick and thin together, and grown so much through the 1.5 years. When I was injured numerous times, it was my team’s unwavering support that made me want to recover as quickly as possible, so that I could play with them on court and achieve our goal of being Singapore’s top 4 at the ‘A’ Divisions. I will never forget the joy we all felt when we attained this, knowing that all our efforts had not been in vain. I am grateful for the joy and countless memories that this team has given me.

06 Kelvin Lim (2T25) During the final stages of Project Work, my class was under intense stress as we practised for the Oral Presentation. Even though we were focusing on our own projects, my class still supported each other, actively listening to other groups during their practice and advising one another on how to improve.

Our close bonds during stressful times made me feel that CJ is the best family.

07 Ian Loh and Mizusa Seah (2T26) Once, one of my classmates twisted her ankle in school. Those of us who did not have lessons stayed with her until her parents came, telling jokes to take the pain off her mind. It was script-checking week, and she came back to school after her hospital check-up. After school, our class decided to shop for accessories for our Michael House outfit for the Cross Country.

Despite her being unable to walk quickly, our class did not want her to feel left out and asked her along.

It was a great deal of fun going from shop to shop, suggesting silly but funny ideas to incorporate into our outfits. This event made us feel happy to have found great friends, and proud to be part of a compassionate CJ community.

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I Just Want to Say

Thank You

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Throughout my time in CJC, there have always been people who have been here to help me out in one way or another, from friends who would come together to help each other without even being asked, or teachers who willingly offer up their time to help and listen to certain struggles that one may be facing. Sometimes it’s about helping other people, but even that has also impacted me. I have learnt what it means to be selfless and caring, to live in truth and in love.

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Thank you to the unsung heroes of CJ as well: Uncle Edwin, Mr Gordon See, and all the P&S and administrative staff for helping run CJ behind the scenes!

PJ Anthony (2T09)

Firstly, we are thankful to the teaching and non-teaching staff, and life-long friends who have given us constant guidance and pushed us to give our best. Secondly, the Student Development talks have shaped us to be better citizens. These talks have also given us a peek into the workforce. Thank you for the countless opportunities to showcase our talents through events like Rockafella and the Teachers’ Day concert, and for the honing of our leadership skills through OBS and OSLP.

Shruthi Thiyagarajan (2T13)

Chiam Wei Chen (2T04)

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2T18

Once, I accidentally spilled my entire uneaten bowl of noodle soup so I cleaned up the mess and decided to buy a second bowl. The stall uncle saw what happened and gave me a discount, though he could have earned that extra sum of money. That small action left me feeling thankful for our canteen uncles and aunties.

Bong Jia Yang (2T14)

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Thank you to our teachers for always pushing us to strive for better results even though at times, we did not believe in ourselves.

I’m thankful for the friends I met in CJ who have never failed to fight side by side with me through all the challenges we faced. JC life is tough but you have made my JC life easier.

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Chang Hsin Chi (2T22)

To all our friends in CJ: “Good friends are like stars, you don’t always see them but you know they are always there.”

Thank you for making our life in CJ fun and energising. You are one of the reasons why we have survived JC till now. You made a difference and every moment spent together with you is always meaningful.

Tan Kai Xin and Angel Lee (2T26)

I just want to say thank you to the PSG. They shower us with endless care and ensure our well-being during our exam periods by providing us with food to keep us going during the Night Study Programme. Thank you to the teachers, who remain energetic even though they can be very tired from the long day at school. Our teachers never let us see ourselves as failures but instead speak to us with words that keep us going. We are really grateful for them!

Shama Juwairiyyah (2T35)

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Best Places

to Work or Play Study Area upstairs of the Piazza

Grandstand It’s a conducive place to hang out and chill with friends.

When we feel stressed and just need to talk, the Grandstand is a good place to go because there is a great view of nature, which lends a sense of serenity, helping us feel more relaxed.

2T04

One of my go-to study areas is the tables upstairs of the piazza, on the second and third floor.

It is very peaceful and quiet, away from the bustling noise of students in the College. It has very good ventilation and views and is great for group study and solo work.

Linus Lim (2T09)

Foyer, next to the Piano The corner next to the piano is definitely one of the best places to chill out. There is a large comfy sofa to rest on while listening to your friends play soothing piano music.

Also, the row of seats near the magazine rack is definitely one place where you can get some rest. The seats are plush and cosy, and it’s a perfect place to read.

Amelin Ang, Caleb Neo and Chong Jiejun (2T29)

Library

Classroom

All the resources you need for studying is there. There are reference materials, past year examination papers, computers, exemplary work for Project Work (Written Report), and General Paper essays. The library staff are very helpful and are quick to assist any student in need. I can’t count the number of times I needed a certain reference material, only for the librarian to retrieve it for me within minutes. Also, the tables and chairs are large and comfortable; there’s air conditioning, good lighting and silence, which really makes it a conducive place to study.

Without a doubt, the best place in the College to work either in groups or singly is the classroom.

I love the classroom environment so much that I would go to school earlier to do some quick revision, and stay back after school to finish up on homework. The classroom is a great place to study as it has the essentials: tables, chairs, and a fan.

Paired with a quiet and conducive environment, studying in the classroom allows for better focus as you will not be distracted by food or by other people coming in after school hours.

The library is also very versatile. Typical libraries require all users to be silent at all times, but the CJ Library computer room allows for small group conversations, making group studies a viable option while still having all of the facilities and resources for quiet, independent work.

Huang Shuyang (2T12)

Manfred Lim (2T15)

College Field

Canteen

Great place to play frisbee on a cloudy day!

Best area to relax if you want to have loud conversations with your friends!

Gabriel Lee (2T07)

2T35

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Learning to Lead

Themed ‘Lead with Passion and Purpose, Create the Future’, this year’s Leadership Conference marked the end of office for our JC2 student leaders and sought to inspire them for service beyond CJC. The conference saw the gathering of CJC leaders, both past and present, which comprised 25 distinguished guests from a variety of fields, including guests from our Board, our Parent Support Group Family@CJ and alumni.

Food for thought during the Conference

The atmosphere was jovial, the sharing was heartfelt and the panel discussion extremely fruitful. Points raised during the Question & Answer segment led to a rich dialogue discussion and eliciting of useful advice from the panel. After the conference, there was dinner which ended on a high note when our alumni guests sang the College Anthem with much gusto.

Networking with distinguished guests who are well-respected as leaders in their fields impressed upon our JC2 student leaders the importance of using their experiences thus far as a springboard to become more passionate and purposeful leaders in realworld contexts. With such an apt close to the journey of our JC2 student leaders, we are eager to see how they will continue to lead, serve and inspire.

Distinguished leaders of the future

There were five key messages from the 2019 Leadership Conference : Leadership is about understanding the importance of humility, and trust in leading a team.

Leadership means taking decisive actions. When things get tough, the leader has to be the one who steps up to say, “I will do it”.

Leadership is driven by passion and compassion.

Leadership also means committing to your cause, regardless of the journey.

Ultimately, leadership is about being in touch with reality too reflecting on your experiences, knowing what you didn’t do well, and also what works on the ground.

Gathering to mark the end of this chapter in leadership

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Survival Strategies Using the time well A really useful strategy I used was to come to school early to make use of zeriods for work and tutorial preparation. While it was initially challenging to get myself to commit to doing work so early in the morning, once it became a habit, I realised how helpful it actually was to get my mind active early in the day. It also made me more alert during the first few lessons of the day.

- Alexis Wong (2T03) To cope with schoolwork and personal life balance, try your best to finish your homework in school, during your break or while waiting for the teacher between lessons, so that you can have more free time after school.

- Kimberly Chong (2T14)

Practise questions Practise the questions in order to be familiar with what you are required to do in the examination. Notes alone are insufficient in exposing you to the different possible questions that can be tested.

- Raynor Fong (2T25) Do your revision packages! Because your tutorials only cover a fraction of the possible questions tested in the A-Levels. Do your revision package to explore and experience more questions, so that you are able to handle many question types during the exam.

- Dallen Lee (2T29)

Take care of yourself! It is the best advice I can give you. Make sure you get enough sleep, enough exercise, and of course, enough rest and fun, because all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. Take regular breaks off your studies! I personally follow a regime of 30-minute study followed by 10 minutes of rest, and I hit the gym regularly between study sessions.

See what fits for you!

- Owen Ng (2T35)

Ask questions Don’t hesitate to ask questions.

Asking questions can clarify your doubts instantly and it helps you to better understand what you are studying.

- 2T26 Clear doubts as early as possible so they don’t snowball.

Stretch your mental stamina If you are feeling sleepy, stand up and move to a corner where you aren’t blocking your classmates.

It’s not a punishment, it only shows your willingness to learn. And don’t rely on coffee.

- 2T21

- Jasmine Gowidjaja (2T34)

Revision Sleeping enough Getting enough sleep is extremely important and I try my best to get 7 to 8 hours a day. During the weekends, I go for occasional jogs or play football with my friends to get my mind away from school work. I believe that it is important to keep a good balance between studying and having a break to chill with friends.

- M Suran (2T11)

Positive mindset It can be quite demoralising to get a grade that you do not desire. Do not feel discouraged. Continue working and you will get there.

Review what you have learnt in class on the same day as that lesson. After school, just read through what you have gone through in school. It helps reinforce and retain information.

(And when that happens, you study less in general.)

- Daniel Chan (2T13)

Support from friends and family Have a close group of supportive friends that you can rely on when times get rough and always maintain good relations with your family. These all form your support system.

- Zhao Yi (2T20)

- Lee Sumi (2T15) Do not be afraid to fail.

- 2T18

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The Things They

Said

“Respect for a person is not determined by a person’s grades, it is by his contributions.”

Mr Amos Yang “The journey matters just as much as the finish.”

Charlotte Low (2T05) “It’s not just about finding x, it is also about finding out ‘y’.”

Mr Kuang Kim Chun

“It means that whatever you do, focus only on yourself and don’t get intimidated by others.”

“There are no limits to what you can accomplish, except the limits you’ve placed on your own thinking.”

“It always seems impossible until it’s done.”

Lim Li En (2T20)

2T29

Kalifah Adam Tan (2T11)

“You can’t change the past but what you can change is now.”

Mr Eugene Yeow

“It’s ok to make mistakes when answering questions, so don’t be afraid to answer them.”

Mr Cipto Hu

“When you’re down, Sedap will give you a smile.”

Sam Marrett (2T34) Class: Mr Tan, how hard is the paper?

Mr Tan Guan Seng: It’s a typical A4 80-gram paper.

2T17

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“You can’t go back and change the beginning but you can start where you are and change the ending.”

Mdm V Indra

“If you had to choose between being right and being kind, choose to be kind.”

Ms Aster Goh

The Things They Spending so many hours in school really has made the CJ community my second family, and my schoolmates are always there to offer me a smile or make me laugh whenever I feel down or stressed. Being able to vent and share my problems with them truly releases some of the burden off my back and offers me a fresh perspective as well. Additionally, they can relate to my problems regarding school life and it’s comforting to talk them through and realise that we are really all in this together and that together, we will make it through.

Aisha Shakila (2T03)

Our teachers carried the burden of taking care of our emotional well-being even though it is beyond their call of duty. They not only teach us our academic subjects, but they teach us what it means to be good people. They are our teachers, confidants and so much more, always being there for us without a second thought whenever we need them. They definitely gave us lots of encouragement and tips in order to do better for the following examinations as well as check in on our understanding of concepts to make sure that we are not just memorising the notes. They are more than teachers to us. Through the emotional support they provide, they help us grow into better people.

Carried

Lee Sumi (2T15)

There was a point of time when I was struggling with my studies and my leadership role in class. During that period, I was so stressed that I had no motivation and I was on the verge of dropping out of JC. Thankfully, with the support of a few of my classmates, I managed to pick myself up. Some of them stayed back after school to study with me while others would help me along the way by answering my queries and teach me. When I dozed off during lessons, they would always wake me up so that I wouldn’t miss out on what is taught. Apart from helping me with my studies, they lightened the burden of my leadership role by lending me a helping hand whenever possible. These few classmates were always by my side every step of the way and no words can ever express how grateful I am to have them.

The preparation for the A’s is not always smooth sailing, but the CJ community has helped to ease the stress tremendously, even through the smallest things they do. For instance, I enjoy visiting the Something Fishy stall in the canteen not only because of the good food, but also because the auntie never fails to put a smile on my face through her friendly and cheerful disposition.

Seah Faith (2T22)

Iain Tay and Loh Wei Ling (2T09)

There is something that happened to me in CJ that I would never forget. It was a Friday so we ended school early. I was in the library’s computer room alone, trying to finish up the second draft of my group’s Written Report for submission despite feeling tired and upset after a bad day. I decided to take a short nap but a while after, someone patted her hand on my shoulder to wake me up.

She asked, “Are you okay?” It was a friend who happened to see me. Her simple but caring action totally washed away the burden I was carrying.

School was never a place I looked forward to. Days were long and work was endless…

This made me think that JC is a miserable place and simply a chore. However, as time flew by, I soon realised that I had overlooked the fact that I am blessed with the wackiest, most insane and energetic classmates, who will cheer each other on no matter what. Even though we might not be the strongest academically (and probably one of the most notorious classes for our frequent antics), I am glad to call my class my second family. You guys have pulled me up in my darkest times and made school life so colourful. The simple ‘How are you?’ or ‘What’s wrong?’ can just make my day so much better and put me in high spirits.

Tan Chyn (2T17)

When I was feeling down on top of facing academic stress, my classmates talked to me to better understand the problems I faced and comforted me. They also gave me some advice on how to reduce academic stress and shared their experiences facing it themselves. It helped that my classmates are supportive of each other and are always willing to listen to and help a classmate in need.

Kelvin Lim (2T25)

Nguyen Viet Hoang (2T35)

My home tutor often checks up on me when I feel down and genuinely cares for my well-being and attitude in school.

I see them rooting for me even at my worst and that really motivates me to push through.

Bian Siyuan (2T21)

In CJ, we really have a solid school culture and we will always help each other. Once, I was really tired and about to give up. A kind stranger placed a postit on my bag which read, “You can do it!

I believe in you!”. It melted my heart. I realised everyone here cared for each other and their act of kindness can really make a difference.

Ng Xian Long (2T28)

One of the small but precious things that the CJ community has done is to reassure me that I’m doing fine when I’m feeling discouraged, and to motivate me.

Sometimes they also go beyond that to advise me on what I should do to solve the problem I was facing. Them just being there was enough to help turn a frown upside down.

Skylar Lee (2T33)

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Class Photos 2T04

2T01 2T05

2T02

2T03 10

2T06

2T07

2T08

2T12

2T09

2T13

2T10

2T14 2T11

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2T15

2T19

2T16

2T20

2T17

2T21 12

2T18

2T22

2T26

2T23

2T27

2T24

2T28 2T25

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2T33

2T29

2T30 2T34

2T31

2T35

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2T32

To

Love

is to...

Love to me is a combination of commitment and sacrifice. It’s about putting the needs of others above your own, even when it’s difficult. I say this because it’s easy to love others when times are good. But when times are bad, and when there’s no ‘warm, fuzzy feeling’, that’s probably when our love is tested the most. And whether or not we can make the right choice in those times is what matters.

Mr Amos Yang Project Work Tutor

...do so unconditionally, and to be free of constraints. A Bible verse comes to mind immediately: that love is patient, love is kind.

Ms Julie Samy Administrative Executive

...create a warm family environment in the workplace, and to feel joyful working with the students every day.

In all my years working in different schools, it is the students that bring me happiness.

Mr Mohamad Amin Bin Ribot Technical Support O icer

… be patient; students will thrive with time. To love is to cherish; life’s delight lies in giving. To love is to protect; relationships are precious. We are all works in progress.

Ms Fiona Wong GP/Literature Tutor

...forgive. It is to consider the other’s point of view when you have a disagreement with them. I think that everyone has his or her perspective towards an issue, and it is important to understand where they are coming from. Do not harbour resentment in your heart.

...cherish and give wholeheartedly without expecting anything in return. Love doesn’t have to be romantic - it could be love for a parent or a pet. I have a dog, and he’s really old now. He is blind in one eye, arthritic, limping... and I love him dearly. He’s a part of my family. I suppose that sort of love applies to any relationship, to be there for someone without condition or expectation.

Mdm Irene Loh Mix & Match canteen stall auntie

Ms Prabhmeet Kaur Biology Tutor

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Artistic

Contributions A New Place Being in a new place scares me It threatens my security But I have to face it If not how can I grow up The first week of JC Full of activities, making new friends I think, why am I so afraid Of something so good But it all vanishes in an instant When we’re assigned to different classes I have to start all over again This thought crushes me

‘Igniting the fire in our bellies - Sedap’s Ayam Penyet’, by Nadya Pang (2T05)

‘Joe Who’, by Bryon Wong (2T17)

It’s hard, but slowly it gets better As my classmates become my friends And closer ones at that As we brave the tough road ahead that is JC Lessons and exams Project Work and Mother Tongue The road gets harder and harder But still we press on Now I stand at the end of my time here I look back on the two years Two years isn’t long, But they’ve given me memories to last a lifetime Being in a new place scares me It threatens my security But I have to face it Or I’ll miss out on life’s great treasures Timothy Lee (2T31)

‘Waterfall Love’

by Hannah Neo (2T35)

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fertile / infertile we couldn’t have foreseen this yet it’s been a pleasant gift to bear nine months of expectation ends with thunderous applause by all you’ll bear the weight of two but you’ll get the joy of tenfold a brick oven, keeping warm the bread that feeds you forever

level of legally prescribed anxiety the fruits of two years. for it shall not be thrown away, those who sown their seeds literature classes, but not just that rank points, but it’s far beyond our little, limp hearts, lathered by yeast rises from your dough Rajwa Afra Aulia (2T01)

Our motto After two years we are now more able And our future is now more stable The motto that has caught our attention Should now become our motivation: In Veritate et Caritate 2T15

Gerard Ng (2T06)

Huang Shuyang (2T12)

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Our

#whyCJ

Whatever our backgrounds, each of us creates and carries our own precious experiences with us - experiences that culminate in Truth and Love into a coming-of-age narrative at CJC. As we bid farewell to this phase in our lives, we leave this place not only as people who have been loved by the CJC family, but also as people who have loved those around us. This is our #whyCJ, and we will cherish this and continue walking in Veritate et Caritate.

Celeste Yeong (2T04)

Kaif Lim (2T32)

Damien Tan (2T35)

Marielle Adolfo (1T05)

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Bernadino Lintang (1T16)

Marcus Pang (2T01)

Melanie Lim (2T18)

Cherlyn Ng (2T04)

Lu Wenjie (2T09)

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129 Whitley Road, Singapore 297822 Telephone: +65 6252 4038 Fax: +65 6253 7267 Email: catholic_jc@moe.edu.sg Website: www.cjc.moe.edu.sg Facebook: @CatholicJC Instagram: @catholic.jc