Have you ever looked at the night sky and wondered how the stars are arranged into constellations? Or, seen a picture like THIS:

and wondered how THAT happened?

If so, RI Astronomy Club is the CCA for you! At RI Astronomy, you not only get the chance to learn more about astronomy and astrophysics, you also get fantastic stargazing opportunities. And the best part: you get to meet like-minded people who share the same fascination with the night sky. Anyone willing to gaze at the treasure-filled night sky and risk a neck ache the next morning is eagerly welcomed as a member of the RI Astronomy family.

Astronomy (not to be confused with astrology) is the branch of science that deals with celestial objects, space, and the physical universe as a whole. It explains things on vastly different scales: from the formations of nebulae spanning light years to the miniscule elementary particle reactions occurring within stars.

At RI Astronomy Club’s weekly Friday sessions, members give lectures to fellow members on an astronomy related topic, such as star formation and the solar system. After the lecture, if the skies are clear, the club goes for a star gazing session at the parade square. We break out the telescopes and point them towards fascinating celestial objects – from the planets in our solar system to distant star clusters and nebulae. The sessions are usually from 6.00 pm to 8.00 pm, but can last longer if there is star gazing.

A star gazing session

While the lectures cover more basic content, accessible to those without basic knowledge of astronomy, we offer intense competition training for those more familiar with astronomy and astrophysics concepts. Competitions RI Astronomy members can participate in are NUS/NTU Astrochallenge, Singapore Astronomy Olympiad and, for those who qualify, the International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics. RI Astronomy has performed consistently well in these events, clinching overall first place for Astrochallenge 2013 and earning several medals in both Olympiads.

Members also get the chance to go on overnight star gazing trips. Every year, RI Astronomy members make a trip to Pulau Semakau with The Astronomical Society of Singapore. Away from the light pollution of the Singapore mainland, members get to see and recognise full constellations, star clusters and nebulae. Another trip was made to Bintan, where members had the opportunity to attend interesting astrophysics lectures by day, and by night, marvel at a night sky virtually untainted by light pollution. Under the stars, members got a chance to chat, share stories and admire the universe. And at dawn, watch the sunrise together.

The Moon from Pulau Semakau
(taken by RI Astronomy member Jing Guozhen)

The Milky Way from Bintan
(taken by Jing Guozhen)

RI Astronomy is made up of members who have varying levels of knowledge of astronomy. But what ultimately unites us as a club is a strong passion for things far greater than ourselves and a desire to understand the universe around us. As long as you have that, you won’t feel out of place here at RI Astronomy Club.

“Sometimes when my friends ask me if I love Astronomy, I will reply yes. But what I really mean is that I love the bonds and the friends that I have met through Astronomy. To me learning all the fun and interesting knowledge, even winning competitions, are all penultimate.” – Benjamin Lim, RI Astronomy Chairperson

By Magdalene Teo 14A01B

Shooting – serious or slack?

There is often a dispute over whether shooting is actually a sport – after all, trainings and competitions take place in an air-conditioned venue (one of the many perks), and of course, the physical exertion is minimal.

Yet we beg to differ.

Shooting as a sport is much more than that, and we hope that through this brief article, you’ll get a clearer picture of just what it involves.

A frequently asked question is: “So what exactly do you do during training?” While the simple answer is that we spend most of the 2-3 hours per training shooting, it isn’t quite as boring as it sounds. There are different exercises and each has a different purpose – for example, to work on basic skills we shoot “groupings” of 20 shots on a single card, and mark our progress by how close together the shots are. Yet refining these skills is a whole other story, with shooters tracking shots numbering up to 10 on each card to work on specific technical skills, or just simple adjustments to counteract natural tendencies. We believe that this, ultimately, is what shooting is – a game of precision and accuracy.

A typical training session in the range

It is true that spending hours doing the same movement can be tedious and tiring, but this is where the mental discipline of the sport comes in. While it isn’t the most physically exhausting, striving towards technical perfection – the key skill to have -  can only be mastered through countless trainings. It isn’t only mental, though – once training ends, not a single shooter doesn’t experience some form of physical fatigue and muscle aches.

Shooters train an average of 2 to 3 times weekly during non-peak seasons, but this increases as Nationals approach, sometimes amounting to almost daily trainings. We will often have our best poker faces on, our minds focused on controlling their emotions, and perfecting each motion.

Competitions are no different, with stress and anxiety levels running extremely high. And in a sport that strives towards attaining personal perfection, this responsibility to surpass yourself can be even more burdening. But this only reinforces another basic skill of shooting and renders it ever more essential – the ability to keep a cool head and master your nerves . We learn this through listening to the advice of our two experienced coaches, as well as participation in the many competitions such as invitationals and open categories.

It is this fundamental mental discipline that we carry with us even after we have ceased to be in the CCA; the ability to focus, rise above our anxiety, and constantly aim to improve ourselves. And as our coaches repeatedly tell us, this is what matters in the greater scheme of things beyond JC.

RJ Shooting 2013

But don’t worry, shooting isn’t as intimidating as it might sound. Like any other sport, it is unforgiving without commitment and dedication, but this is exactly what keeps us strong as a CCA – we trust that each and every single member will try their hardest, because the end goal will always be that we do our best as a team. And while we do train seriously, our breaks in between shooting are often full of laughter, usually at the expense of our long-suffering coaches and ever-patient teachers.

Also, because we’re a small CCA, we enjoy close bonds between the members, especially since intensive trainings for competitions tend to result in almost daily meetings with our teammates. And given how specific the struggles of training are to the sport, members grow closer as we encourage each other through the ups and downs of training, and school life as well. Planning and organising various events during the school year, including IHC Shooting, brings the batch closer together beyond just training itself.

Admittedly, Shooting in RJ is a CCA that prefers those with prior experience, and the skill requirement is not one that many have. But we hope that through reading this, you’ve gained a better understanding of how we function and operate both as a sport and a CCA. Do come down to one of the many events that shooting will be organizing, where you can try out the sport for yourself!

If this is the first thing that you notice when you enter KFC at J8, this is the CCA for you

If you’re hungry and fancy a slice of pi, then RI Mathematics Club should add some spice to your dreary life. If you were walking in Bishan Park and notice the natural logs and trees with roots, then you ought to join our fun club. If you can dance to some algo-rhythm, that’s a good sine that you should join the club.

With such a wide variety of CCAs to choose from in RI, you might find yourself at a node with far too many possible paths to take. However, by choosing to read this article out of a group of others, you have compounded your interest in RI Mathematics Club, and hence, here we are to distribute some of the properties of this CCA, hoping to increase the odds of you union-ing with this wonderful club.

Simply put, we are for those who think decimals have a point, or even for those who might still be nonplussed about addition. You don’t need to be a brilliant mathematician to join our club. You just need a good sense of humour and maybe a little positivity. Even if you find calculus to be a little too derivative, or even if you aren’t that partial to fractions, it’s perfectly all right! In other words, there really are no prerequisites or selection process to joining this CCA.

RI Mathematics Club sessions are held periodically, once a week, allowing members to average out their workload and other commitments easily. Contradicting the popular belief, the club does not spend sessions just training for competitive Math. Indeed, being a student-planned CCA, RI Mathematics Club diverges from your run-of-the-mill CCA by commonly having a wide range of interactive activities, from Math games to members’ presentations on interesting Math topics. In the words of member Shijian (14S06Q): “RI Mathematics Club is an explosion of fun and enrichment!”

One of our fun sessions this year: a jeopardy-round styled oral quiz!

Of course, complementing these fun activities, we have serious training sessions too, especially before competitions. In these sessions, we aim to equip you with the essential techniques and mathematical rigour required in competitive Math, raising your Math ability to a higher power.

Serious trainings sessions

With the inclusion of these techniques in your array of skills, your possibilities to represent RI in Math competitions are unbounded! Our major competition, the Singapore Mathematical Olympiad (SMO), is held on a yearly interval in June. However, tangential to this, there are many other competition opportunities such as the Shanghai TI Cup Math Contest, the American Mathematics Contest (AMC), and the Australian Mathematics Competition (AMC). Being an intellectual CCA, going for such competitions add to the cognitive domain of your Raffles Diploma, not to mention the distinct track record of RI Mathematics Club when it comes to such competitions.

Some of our members going for an overseas Math competition

RI Mathematics Club is also an element of the Raffles Science Alliance (RSA), which comprises the 6 science CCAs in RI. We thus also have a function to help organize the annual RSA events, comprising RSA week, RSA inter-house competition, as well as “Eureka!”, a science competition for secondary school students.

A briefing for “Eureka!”, which was held at Science Centre Singapore this year

While the above outlines the physical/material subset of what RI Mathematics Club does, the experience of this CCA is a lot more integrated. Joining RI Mathematics Club means joining a family. We don’t just have CCA together: we have meals, go out, and share experiences that surpass the limit of CCA hours. We even have an annual camp with the Math Clubs of RI(Y1-4) and RGS, the Raffles Mathematics Circle Combined Camp (RMCCC), to forge closer friendships. As chairperson Michelle (14S03P) puts it, “RI Mathematics Club is so close knit, it is more of a family than a CCA”. If you ever find yourself at odds with others, the people from Mathematics Club can always even things out for you.

A group photo from RMCCC last year, comprising members from all 3 Math Clubs

Factoring in these information that we present, we urge you to reflect on your true passions and converge to a rational decision. And it’s okay to think about it for a while, cos we’ll leave it as an exercise to the reader.

An exercise to the reader

Hint: To help you converge, RI Mathematics Club presents “Mathernoon”, a fun- and math-filled day (or afternoon) specially for you to get a glimpse of how we are like. J1s and upper secondary students (as of 2014) are all welcome.

Interested? Please sign up here at tinyurl.com/mathernoon!

[The author wishes to apologise for the numerous lame puns in the article, but if you enjoyed reading these puns as much as I did writing them, seriously, RI Mathematics Club is for you :D]

Cover photograph courtesy of the Communications Department

by Felis silvestris catus (editor’s note – yes, this means the domestic cat in fancy Latin words)

Hello there. Do you have a habit of dissecting your meals? Do you like to explore biodiversity beyond the boundaries of your textbooks? Do you daydream of cultivating your very own flower hybrid?

Brassocatanthe Hope Of A Better Age: First orchid hybridised by the Raffles Society of Biological Sciences
(Photo credit: Communications Dept)

Well if you do, then maybe our CCA may just be the thing for you. As a member, you will get a chance to explore wildlife (yes, wildlife still exists in Singapore) and delve into some of Singapore’s nature parks and reserves to understand our precious ecology through experiential learning. Our field trips are not only enriching, but also provide students with a chance to escape from the city’s hustle and bustle and take a break from all the school work (yes, even those Biology tutorials). We also have conduct trips to Chek Jawa, St John’s, etc., which gives students the rare opportunity to explore such places.

There will also be sharing sessions for professionals in biology-related fields (Medicine, Ecology, Veterinary Medicine etc.) to come down and interact with our members. Members will obtain the unique opportunity to obtain subject-based and career-based knowledge that will help to give them a direction in Biology in their future aspirations.

Through our dissection sessions, dissecting an animal no longer means cutting up body parts (for some), members will acquire dissecting skills and better appreciate animals and their systems. Unlike most other CCAs, we meet up on Thursdays, from 4.30 to 6.30pm. This means that should you have other interests that you are keen to pursue, you aren’t restricted by it.

If you like cats, orchids or dissecting animals, then BioSoc may just be the place for you!

For another perspective, do visit http://rafflespress.com/2013/01/16/cca-preview-biosoc.

Raffles Street Dance is a young CCA, officially established only 4 years ago, in 2010. However, it had been growing as a Student Interest Group since many years ago, and Street Dance has come a long way since then. Street Dance performs for various events such as Take 5, National Day, and more. The CCA also organised its very own concert titled ABCD – Anybody Can Dance in 2012 and 2013.

Street is a place where we aim to forge meaningful friendships with people with common interests, allowing us also to fuel our love and passion for dance.

Street Dance places the growth of its CCA members as a top priority, both physically and mentally. We care strongly about all Streeters’ welfare, and make it a point to create an environment where all Street Dancers will be able to call Street their home away from home. Our bonding activities and outings planned throughout the year serve that purpose, placing special emphasis on character development and learning. There is a camp every year for the new J1s, filled with dance-packed and bonding activities, to induct them into the CCA properly as well!

In Street, our members have the opportunity to learn from an experienced instructor, Ms Stefanie Leong, so that they will be able to improve their dance technique in a fun yet safe way, improve their fitness and mental endurance, and also get to explore different styles of dance. We hope that through their experience in the CCA, Street Dancers will learn to lean on one another for support and encouragement, and be able to grow as a team player and balance out each others’ strengths and weaknesses as we develop our own unique style of dancing.

We also hope to be a CCA that contributes not just to the school, but to the wider community as well. Street Dance has, in the past few years, taken up CIP projects such as helping children prepare for their talent show performance at Chen Su Lan Methodist Children’s Home, and raising funds through a performance for children with facial deformities under Operation Smile.

The CCA’s regular practices are on Monday and Wednesday afternoons, though the practice sessions do increase as performances draw near. Our practices include physical training, dance basics drills, and the learning and practising of dance choreography.

If you want to be a part of the Raffles Street Dance family, do sign up for our trials! You will be required to learn a simple dance routine as well as freestyle. Even if you don’t have dance background, fret not! What we look for is basic coordination, your willingness to learn and most importantly, your passion for dance! Here in Street, we believe that ANYBODY CAN DANCE, so don’t be afraid to take the first step to sign up for auditions! We hope to see you there!

By Muhammad Garda Ramadhito

So elusive and so mysterious. Yes, it’s the Raffles Symphonic Band (RSB), Raffles Institution’s (Year 5-6) own symphonic band. Being one of RI’s musical ensembles, we are a bunch of passionate musicians who like to play a multitude of pieces, ranging from Beethoven’s works to funky Japanese Graffitis. To us, RSB is a safe haven for those who wish to continue their musical journey in band or learn to play a brand new instrument.

RSB’14

Established in 1982 as Raffles Junior College Symphonic Band, RSB has regularly participated in prestigious competitions such as Singapore Youth Festival and Singapore International Band Festival, coming away frequently with top awards. However, this year RSB took the off beaten track: passing the opportunity to perform in the 2013 SYF Arts Presentation. The unorthodox move was intended for our young musicians to delve deeper into a wider range of band music. Nevertheless, opportunities for musical showcase still abound for RSB.

A symphonic band would not exist if not for its concerts. RSB performs for not just one, but two remarkable concerts annually. Our main showcase is the A Tempo concert. Held in the month of May, A Tempo continues to draw crowds, be it musical aficionados in Singapore’s band community or just fellow Rafflesians wishing to support their friends in the band. The repertoire for A Tempo never fail to impress. This year we performed Extreme Beethoven by Johan De Meij to many band members’ exasperation due to the sheer difficulty of the piece. Despite the challenge, RSB executed the piece brilliantly, citing Mr. Meij’s own words that he was “very pleased” with our performance of his piece. Another showcase of RSB would be the Bandemonium concert which debuted just last year. The repertoire for Bandemonium is usually light and accessible, featuring popular tunes such as Christmas classics. Unsurprisingly, Bandemonium takes place in the month of December, just three weeks before Christmas. While these two concerts might already excite you, that’s not all…

A Tempo XXII at the School of the Arts (SOTA)

Two words: Los Angeles. Yes, RSB for the first time participated in the Los Angeles International Music Festival in June 2013. We could agree that the experience of traveling to Cali, playing perky pieces in Disneyland and meeting many more ensembles in the music festival was a bit overwhelming at first, but it was definitely one of the best moments in our band life! Memories to be treasured, friends that last for a lifetime; they were made on this remarkable trip.

RSB with Frank Ticheli at the Walt Disney Concert Hall, Los Angeles, USA

But wait… Aren’t we missing an important thing here? Rehearsals! RSB’s milestones wouldn’t have been possible without our worthwhile practices. In secondary school, band is one of the most dreaded CCAs due to its long practice hours and of course, the wrath of the conductor. Rest assured, RSB’s schedule is neither hectic nor lax; we have practices twice a week, with additional rehearsals closer to major events. Our conductor, Mr. Lim Yean Hwee never fails to entertain us with his witty jokes while inspiring us to engage with the music we are playing (He happens to be my secondary school band conductor too). Our rehearsals are simply a much needed respite from the stressful JC lives, especially when it is located far away from the Year 5-6 section (RSB’s rehearsal venue is at the Yusof Ishak Block of the Year 1-4 section of RI).

RSB’s vivacious French Horn Section

Now you know why RSB is so elusive and so mysterious. Not only our rehearsal venue is isolated from the Year 5-6 campus, our performances are like diamonds; rare and prized. At the end of the day, RSB welcomes anyone who is willing to commit to playing great music with like-minded musicians, whether he is an experienced one or not. While RSB cannot promise you an easy breezy JC life, RSB can definitely promise you a meaningful musical journey in your two years of JC education. 

Ever wondered how to hook/spin a bowling ball? Admire bowlers who have customized bowling balls that fit their fingers perfectly? Or just love looking at the pretty colours of bowling balls? If these thoughts ever crossed your mind, why not consider joining Tenpin Bowling!

Bowling is a special sport as it relies heavily on mental strength as opposed to just being physically fit. Positive thoughts can greatly increase your chances of success, and vice versa. Two equally skilled bowlers could be standing on the lanes, but one has already won the match because of having a trained, better mental strength and being able to overcome any setbacks. The mental toll bowling takes on a person during competition can be rather heavy, given that a game can stretch to an hour during competition but each bowler only bowls 10 frames. Nonetheless, the key to consistency is maintaining a clear and open mind throughout one’s game and believing that the result is never determined till the very last shot is completed.

Simple yet often neglected character traits are built through bowling. As you might already know, bowling balls can be rather heavy. The daily routine where bowlers unpack their equipment to train and pack them up again can be tiring and mundane. However, bowling balls are only one of the many equipment each individual bowler owns.  Herein lies the responsibility of bowlers to take care of their own equipment and ensure they do not leave anything behind after each training and competition. Our dear friend integrity is also very familiar with the bowlers. Whenever we miss a spare during competitions but it is recorded as a spare on the screen, we never hesitate to raise our arm and request for a change in score from the lane marshals.

In the bowling arena, they say that a successful bowler requires 10% luck, 30% skills but most importantly, 60% practice. Yes, luck may seem like a funny thing but it actually plays a significant role in deciding a winner. Skills can refer to the inborn talent some bowlers might already have but ultimately, practice truly leads to perfect. Do not be deceived by ‘innate talent’ because skills can be honed. Some simple bowling lingo include ball swing, release, footwork and follow through! With only 3 (or 4 before competition period) 2 hours trainings per week, every training counts! Our bowling trainings are fun in the sense that we bowl while balancing rubber rings on our head, carrying another bowling ball with our non-bowling arm or doing speed bowling. These drills are simple yet carry a hidden motive behind them. They help to lay a strong foundation for us to build up higher level skills and usually, it’s the foundation of a bowler that determines how far he can go in his bowling career.

As much as bowling seems to prize the individual, the team’s success (or failure) is never the result of only the Top 4 bowlers (whose rankings are added together to determine the Overall Inter-Schools Champion). Clichéd as this sounds, each individual plays a momentous role in keeping morale high throughout the training year and during competitions themselves. What appears to be mere Hi-5s after a good shot, or nonchalant reminders to stay focused during trainings, actually culminate and form the bedrock of our team spirit. Here in Raffles Bowling, we highly value team bonding. Not just for achieving that gold, but the belief that everyone will have a better time working hard with people they love. To foster this, we have an entire host of events for bowlers to kick back and have fun! They include the January Induction Programme, March/June Holiday Chalet, and an Overseas Trip (to Taiwan) that we just went on in Dec 2013!

Remember, love the pins and they’ll fall for you. There’s so much that can be done with two fingers and a thumb. Sounds quirky enough for you? Join us then, for we warmly welcome you (:

by Raffles Chorale

 Fun fact: when a choir sings, their hearts beat as one. Literally!

On a similar note, being a member of Raffles Chorale certainly entails a lot more than simply singing in tune with sixty other choristers. Contrary to popular belief, a high level of technical expertise is not a pre-requisite, but rather an open mind, a passionate heart and a humble willingness to learn. As the chairperson of the batch of 2013, Samuel Tham, aptly puts it:

“Chorale has really been a place where music is made, regardless of whether one comes in with little or much musical background. My hope for Chorale is that it continues to excel, and in creating music, everyone will grow as singers, team players and friends.”

Vocal Exploits 2013

Founded in 1982, Raffles Chorale has since established itself as one of the most distinguished youth choirs in Singapore, having recently won a Certificate of Distinction in the Singapore Youth Festival Central Judging of 2013, and having been a member of the prestigious Ministry of Education’s Choral Excellence Programme since 1988. The choir prides itself in representing Singapore on the international stage as well, having performed and won competitions in countries such as the Czech Republic, Belgium, and Poland.

Working hard for Vocal Delights 2013!

Besides competing locally and internationally, Chorale takes joy in performing for community projects and organising our annual student-run concert series Vocal Delights in December, coupled with other events held earlier in the year. Naturally, achieving the consistent and excellent standards we pride ourselves in demands for relatively rigorous practices – they are held with our conductor, Mr Toh Ban Sheng, on Wednesdays and Fridays, from 1430 – 1830 and 1700 – 2000 respectively, with sectionals on Fridays to be scheduled within the individual sections.

Of course, blending is important in more ways than one. While practices can intensify especially in the lead-up to competitions and concerts, we equally emphasise the unquestionable importance of bonding, highlighted in our annual activity day, along with numerous planned outings! Such events bring the choir together, not only as fellow choristers, but also as a supportive, quirky and loveable family.

Within the main choir, Raffles Chorale is also home to two internal a cappella groups, P.U.N.C.H. and Fringe, which dabble in songs of various genres, ranging from choral pieces all the way to pop tunes. These a cappella groups allow one to witness the power of the human voice.

2014 will yet be an even more fulfilling year as highlights include a performance at the Limelight concert at Esplanade, before embarking on the exciting biennial overseas tour in June. This time, we will travel to Prague for the International Festival Musica Sacra at Kozel Castle, and Vienna, for a journey that promises to be a memorable landmark in Chorale’s history, and in every member’s heart. The year will then wrap up as per tradition with Vocal Delights, to be organised by the incoming batch of 2015 – you guys!

Fun times!

Besides the pursuit of outstanding choral standards, what remains with members who come and go are the bonds forged, the personal growth observed, and those irreplaceable glimpses of raw choral perfection that can only be appreciated with fellow choristers – moments that bring us together, that we will never forget; moments that offer awesome yet humbling insight into the art of choral performance; moments when we taste the sweet, satisfying fruit of our labour, in the form of music that can only be described as magical.

If you live for moments like these, Raffles Chorale is the place for you.

We leave you with a video of one of our pieces. Enjoy!

Please direct any remaining queries to Vivek (vivekkw@yahoo.com.sg), Oliver (hamsternator.oliver@gmail.com) or Wan Yii (wanyii.lee@gmail.com) and we’ll be happy to answer them!

By Tan Jun Xiang 14S06C and Allison Choong 14S05B

Perhaps the biggest headline that featured on our website last year was the departure of our long-serving principal, Mrs. Lim Lai Cheng. Yet even as we look back on the sweeping changes of the past 5 years, we also welcome the arrival of Mr. Chan Poh Meng – an ex-principal of Victoria Junior College who has taken over the task of helming our school.

Mr Chan (left) leaving the Grange Road campus via its Kay Poh gate

Mr. Chan is by no means a stranger to our school, having graduated from this very institution in 1975. Since then, he has worked his way to becoming a talented educator whose credentials speak for themselves. Being an old boy, it almost seems as if we should know him pretty well, but we don’t. His personality, character, and future ambitions for the school all remain a mystery to us, save for the odd rumour floating in from our friends in VJC.

As journalists, natural curiosity drove us to find out more about the man with a plan for RI. This is the result: a candid interview where we discuss his personality, opinions and future plans for the school.

What sort of principal would you describe yourself as?

RI will be the third school I’m leading — Outram Secondary School was my first, and the second was VJC. I would describe myself with the abbreviation ‘ABC’: approachable, bubbly and communicative! I’m a very people-oriented principal—to me people matter the most, because passionate individuals driven by the right purpose can do a lot for the world. Of course, sometimes I do realise that when I am too people-centric, I may sometimes give the impression that anything goes and that rules are not important. But that’s very not true—I’m also quite rule-centred, because rules which are established by a community provide the structure for people to understand each other better and establish a working culture.

How does it feel to take on the task of helming the school for the next few years?

‘Challenging’ would actually be the first thing that comes to mind. I feel that I shouldn’t take for granted the progress we’ve made. As a returning alumnus, I don’t want to fall into the trap of imposing what RI was like in the past onto the present. Yet I’m also sure that the alumni expect me, as a Rafflesian, to retain the true spirit of the school. That’s why it is challenging—not the long hours at work or the size of the school, but trying to capture the true Rafflesian spirit. Leading the school is a two-way process—as much as I can provide input, I need the help of students, their parents, staff and old boys and girls to work together in creating a new future for the school.

From the perspective of an old boy, how has RI changed since you left? What was your experience of school life and school culture, and would you like to ‘recreate’ this experience?

I graduated in 1975, but I did come back to RI from 1976 to about 1980 as a boy scout. I even went to Thailand with the scouts as an alumnus. I also did one term of cadet teaching in 1982 for six months. So that was the RI that I last knew. After that I came back to RI only for meetings, but I did not get involved in the school anymore, as I was so busy in my own career as a teacher and everything else. So, in my impression of RI, I am almost like an outsider.

Mr Chan as a Boy Scout

What I enjoyed most as a RI boy was a six-year school where I was given a chance to grow up with peers who were a few years my senior, and as I grew up and became a senior myself, I was able to be a senior to some of my juniors in return. I was a troop leader for the boy scouts in Pre-U 1, and I thoroughly feel that that was a very important experience for me, because I was a peer leader in the most natural of contexts.

Back then, we still had teachers in charge, but the ones actually running the boy scouts were the troop leaders, the Pre-U 1s, because the Pre-U 2s were busy studying for their A-Level exams. This happened in most of the CCAs, and even the girls who came in at the Pre-University level also became natural leaders. Seniors would mentor their juniors, and the juniors in return would learn from their seniors’ role-modelling, and that was very impactful.

RI has become so big now—it takes me 20 minutes to walk from one end of the campus to the other. The sheer size of the school has likely changed the quality and nature of the interactions between seniors and juniors. And the almost romantic notion that I had about seniors helping juniors may have disappeared, or may just not be the same. If I am right, I want to do something about it.

Broadly speaking, what direction would you like to take RI in the next five years?

People outside of RI may sometimes harbour a lot of misunderstandings about our school. I experienced the consequences of such misunderstandings when I was a 13-year-old RI boy. In the last five years though, this issue has become increasingly prevalent, because of all the accolades that RI has won and also this national consciousness that we want to make sure that nobody is left behind. So, first, I want to make sure that the community around RI reads us correctly.

I live around here, and I think of myself as a very ‘Bishan community’ person. I take public transport; I don’t drive, I don’t have a car. I’m telling you this because I feel quite strongly that RI’s presence is not felt in our immediate community. RI’s presence in Singapore is felt, sometimes in the wrong way. I’d like to make sure that the Bishan-Toa Payoh community knows RI more.

I think we should reach out to the residents here and let them know what RI stands for. Charity begins from the home. When Rafflesians doing community service are featured in the media, that’s great, because it lets the general public know what we’re doing to give back to society. But it would be even better if we could impact our community to the extent that they stand up for us and tell the world about us—I think that would be so much more impactful.

In addition, I would also like to bring RI to a place where we are more exploratory and more open about things. For example, I’m a movie buff, and I’ve been following people with non-academic pursuits—all the chefs, musicians, and movie makers—and I feel that there’s a big, wide world out there outside of your conventional, regular careers like law and medicine. Nothing wrong with being regular; we do need good doctors as well! But what I’m really saying is that I would like for us, over the next five years, to be open and explore ‘alternatives’.

Mr Chan’s Pre-U Class, I Arts C

In the midst of concerns like CCA closure and dwindling interest in non-competitive CCAs, how will you work to support the school’s CCAs?

Let me first state that I strongly believe in the value of CCAs. However, when we evaluate whether a CCA should continue or be closed down, we have to go back to the objectives—why was it set up, and did it fulfil what it set out to do? We also have to talk to the members and ask them why they want to continue, and explain to them to why certain current conditions have to be met before we can carry on with the activity.

Otherwise, their official status (which may include funding, manpower and resources, and even infrastructure) may be changed into an SIG (Special Interest Group), where some of these things are less important, and you can still pursue your interests. It may even become something that’s not an SIG—where you actually make membership more open, where maybe even non-Rafflesians can take part..

I want to give a message to Rafflesians—I’m not here to close things down, but I’m here to look at the rationale, and what’s best for us. CCAs are extremely important, especially for holistic development, and I’ve believed this since I was 13 years old. However, I want to emphasise this again—I’m not here to lead my own life; I’m here to make sure that students’ lives are well cared for. I also want to ensure that at the end of the day it’s not all about closing down CCAs, but that it will be a properly-reviewed process, and I’m happy to hold dialogues with students. That’s what I can promise.

It can be sometimes said that some RI students have become narrow-minded in the pursuit of excellence. What can we do to change this?

It would be silly to say that one or two simple assembly talks can change this. We have to address this through non-curricular means—a broad range that could include participation in activities like science research, Mathematics competitions, Raffles Players or uniform groups, just to name a few examples. They all contain elements of competition, whether as an individual or in a group, and there inevitably will be moments where we fail. These are the best opportunities to build up our resilience, and we can be taught to better cope with failure.

Another good way would be to work through the student leaders, like the CCA leaders, prefects and councillors. I’ve recently spoken to all the student leaders of the different CCAs to ask me, each, a question. I’ve already received over a hundred of questions and grouped them into various categories, and I would like to answer all these questions directly, so that I know what the students are concerned about.

I believe this is another very effective avenue that I can use to help change this mindset. It is not enough to just talk about it—the teachable moment will come afterwards, in a competition, when we fail or succeed. For me to individually reach out to the thousands of students in RI would hardly be feasible—I think that student leaders would be a more effective outlet. I understand that Mrs Lim used to have meetings with the student leaders, and I think such platforms would be a good platform for me to start.

Mr Chan: Up Close and Personal

Q: If not yourself, who would you be? A: I might be an actor.

Q: Cat person or dog person? A: None.

Q: Quote that you live your life by? A: Be happy.

Q: Favourite book? A: Persuasion by Jane Austen.

Q: Favourite movie? A: My most current one is Ilo Ilo – I just watched it.

Q: Science or Humanities? A: Humanities.

Q: Favourite memory of your student days? A: Boys Scouts.

Q: Favourite food and drink? A: Chicken and Oolong Tea.

Q: Natural talent you’d like to be gifted with? A: What if I think I’m gifted already? Having a very sharp or analytical mind.

Q: Where would you like to live? A: Anywhere that’s cold and nice – I call myself a polar bear.

Q: Your chief characteristic? A: Friendly.

Q: Idea of happiness? A: Be yourself – and don’t apologise for it.

Q: Idea of misery? A: Being totally misunderstood by everyone around you.

For the complete, unabridged version of this interview (along with the full transcript of our interview with Mr. Chan), do pick up a copy of the Rafflesian Times #2 when it is published.

CLDCS, the Chinese Language Drama and Cultural Society, is a performing arts CCA which includes both drama and songwriting sections.

Many people know us from our annual concert in early May. This year, the concert was a huge success too, attracting more than 400 people. However, due to our Chinese-oriented environment, our CCA may not be as popular as many others.

One major factor which may have influenced our popularity is that many are worried that their lack of fluency in Chinese may pose as a problem for them  during the regular training sessions. However, this is just a misconception as our external instructors often use English or mix English with Chinese to promote better understanding and participation from the club members. Furthermore, some of our club members who are not fluent in Chinese also enjoy their time here to a great extent!

This year, we hope to bring the club to a whole new level. YOUR participation  is the key to our success. We will take in those who are passionate about music and acting, who are excited to transform the club and take the lead, and those who want to shine under the spotlight and share their passion with many others. It doesn’t matter whether you have past experiences. As long as you fit our requirements, we will take YOU in.

There are two sections in our CCA: Drama and Songwriting. In the drama section, we act, play games, write scripts and comment on each other’s performances. Our external instructor, Mr.Chou , is a very famous figure in the local drama scene. He has been with us for more than 5 years and helped us tremendously. In the songwriting section, we have two external instructors who are friendly and experienced, and are more than happy to share their experiences and teach you how to write touching and melodious songs!

Weekly training sessions will be on Tuesdays(songwriting) and Wednesdays(Drama) after school. You can choose to sign up for both sections or just one section. There will be more trainings near our annual concert, which will be held in early May.

This year will definitely be an exciting journey for CLDCS. As a member of the club, YOU definitely have many opportunities to showcase your talents both in and out of the school. IHC remix, drama house, CIP opportunity in the ART HOUSE…..And most importantly, the annual concert! We will also record and sell a CD with all our music pieces to raise funds for charities.

Also, our club values individual talents. In the club, we help each other to learn and grow together. Apart from many leadership opportunities, you can also look forward to a fulfilling year of new friendship, pursuing your passion and showcasing your talents.

We hope you will join us in realizing our dreams together!

By Sia Tze Yang 14S03C and Tan Tze En 14S03P

You scrape the metal beneath your shoes as you position your feet properly on the fencing piste. You adjust your grip on your weapon and hold it up at your opponent. Finally, you look up to face your opponent, and stare into his eyes through the grids of both your masks.

“En garde…”

You hear the first 2 words from the referee’s mouth, meaning “on your guard” in French. Immediately, you feel an uneasy sensation in your lower back – that’s adrenaline pumping throughout your blood. Your heart palpitates uncontrollably, and you feel an immense surge of energy. Your body, your weapon – everything suddenly feels so light as your muscles prepare to spring into action. This is what fencers may call “the high”. You crave this hormonal surge, this energy and power, this “super-saiyan”-like feeling every time you fence. It’s a pleasurable experience – one that makes you addicted to sparring with an opponent. It’s something all fencers look forward to at every training. It’s what makes fencing so fun, enriching and enjoyable. Fencing is more than just entertainment; it’s our drug, but one you will not regret trying.

“Pret?”

That’s French for “ready?”, as the referee ensures that the fencers are ready to fence. You think back to all your training sessions – the time and effort you devoted to this cause every Tuesday and Thursday from 4.30 to 7.00 pm. You recall the hours you’ve spent on exercises, drills, footwork, bladework… They’ve certainly paid off, enabling you to attain this level of competitive proficiency. It’s time to put your skills into practice. All the techniques and tactics imparted by your coach resurface in your mind, as you prepare to execute them against your opponent. You get ready to strike.

“Allez!”

That means “go!” You and your opponent burst forward at each other, struggling for the chance to score. You feint an attack, successfully misleading your opponent before striking him on his exposed side. That feeling of satisfaction overwhelms you as you feel the contact of your blade against your opponent. That secured your last, critical point, and you win the bout. You let out a cry of victory amidst cheers from your team mates who watched anxiously by your side.

These are what you experience as a fencer during the Inter-schools Fencing Championships in April.

Fencers gear up for this significant competition throughout their journey in Raffles Fencing. Besides Inter-schools, all fencers enjoy the opportunity to gain valuable competitive experience by representing the school in numerous other fencing competitions. They include the Novices Championships, U-17, U-20 and Open competitions, as well as Fencing Invitationals by other schools, including our own Raffles Invites we organise every December.

How would it be like to pick up cool new skills and clash swords with an opponent? How would it be like to enjoy that “high” all fencers crave? How would it be like to experience the thrill and satisfaction of scoring a point against your opponent? It won’t be easy, but if you’re keen to find out, don’t hesitate to pick Fencing as your CCA. It will surely be the highlight of your 2 years here in RI!

By Wu Jia Min 14S03S

When we think about film-making, many of us instantly picture glamorous actors in their red velvet gowns, of perhaps bearded, eccentric directors sitting in their little chairs on set, barking out orders as they munch on cheese burgers, or perhaps the bright lights and shiny Oscars of Hollywood. Yet, as Cecilia Wang (14SO6C) puts it, “film is much more than just a multi-billion dollar industry.” It is beauty captured behind a camera lens; it is a photograph that speaks, a poem that sings, a story that lives and breathes. Film marries the romance and beauty of words, poetry and story telling with the technical perfection and precision of camera angles, lighting, and frame by frame editing. Film is an art, a science, and a little bit of magic.

This begs the question, what EXACTLY does the Raffles Film Society Do? Besides creating original short films for our annual premiere at the Singapore Arts House and for the school’s Arts Fest, we also pride ourselves in producing top quality videos for various student and leadership bodies in the school. Film Society members are also given unique opportunities to take part in competitions on a national, regional and international scale (fully subsidised!) for which any outstanding achievements will be recognized in the Raffles Diploma Arts & Aesthetics domain. That’s not all! With the launch of our very own official YouTube channel in early 2014, fans of JKFilms, wahbanana, TheGRIMFILM, and other famous YouTube film-makers, will have their own shot at internet stardom.

Of course, it’s hard to imagine that a couple of JC students with limited budget (though that’s about to change :D), non-professional equipment, and short, pathetic snatches of time between juggling hectic school schedules will be able to create anything that even remotely resembles a film. I have to admit that I, too, had my doubts when I first joined the CCA. But over the course of the year, I’ve come to realize that what makes a film good aren’t expensive lenses, high-tech editing software or highly paid professional actors. With heart, guts, and a passionate, never-say-die crew, films can be made with iPhone torchlights (light kit), Voice Memo apps (boom mike), roller chairs (dolly) and pizza (actor’s ‘salary’). Like all the other indie moviemakers out there, the Raffles Film Society is fuelled by the creativity, resourcefulness, initiative and camaraderie of its cast and crew.

Making films from scratch, without money, actors or equipment isn’t easy. But trust me- it’s the most fun you’ll get amidst a hectic study schedule in JC. Bouncing ridiculous plot ideas off each other; drawing hideous storyboards together; take one, take two, take three, blooper after blooper; pummeling the idiot who sniggered while the cameras were still rolling; sharing earphones and listening to soundtracks in search of that perfect non-copyrighted song for the film; huddled around one computer, slogging through the final edits of a film together, each ‘cut’ a slash to the heart, taking that final bow as the final credits of the film starts rolling in the darkened theatre of the Singapore Arts House– there’s something intensely rewarding about all these little moments that make up the unique, unforgettable experience of creating a film.

One unique aspect of the CCA is it’s amazing flexibility and mind-boggling possibilities- members can create films about whatever they choose, whenever they choose, however they choose, wherever they choose, and with whomever they choose. Aside from a weekly Friday training session with acclaimed Singaporean director Kevin Sng, there isn’t a fixed or rigid CCA schedule that must be followed. This gives members the freedom and space to make their films at their own pace and style. More than any other CCA, the Film Society allows members to develop their creativity, fortitude, dynamism and personal flair.

As Ingmar Bergman puts it, “Film goes directly to our emotions, deep down into the dark rooms of our souls.” No other artistic medium touches human hearts the way film does. If you’re interested in telling good stories, making great films and forging even greater friendships, Film Society is the CCA for you! :) If you have any queries, feel free to message Hao Ran, the chair of Raffles Film Society, at 81025158.

By Raffles Gymnastics

When you think of the word ‘gymnastics’, what comes to mind would probably be a beautifully executed routine that you’d seen being performed at the Olympics, a showcase of skill, flexibility and strength. That’s right, that’s what the best gymnasts are able to achieve, and that’s what we aim to execute at the end of the day. But in reality…things aren’t quite as glamorous.

Welcome to the gymnasium, where you’ll be more likely to hear screams rather than applause, more likely to see accidents occur rather than picture-perfect moments, but also most definitely where you’ll be able to see a bunch of gymnasts trying their best to perfect their routines amidst a warm and lighthearted atmosphere. Quite honestly, we’re nowhere near the standard of the Olympics gymnasts and we’re not going to give you an idealised picture of what you’ll get out of training with us because you could take one step into the gymnasium and know we’ve been lying.

But we can tell you this, the kind of training environment we’ve cultivated is one that is supportive and encouraging – we have none of that competitiveness and deep-harboured bitterness you may see in other more selective CCAs – instead, we have seniors coming back now and then to help us out, and rest assured your own teammates will always be there to back you up. We also have two amazing coaches who will not only watch over you during trainings, but will also be sure to take great interest in your lives outside the gym to ensure you don’t go too far astray ;-) (-cough- Facebook –cough- Instagram)

If you’re trying out this sport for the very first time and you’re worried about not having any prior background, don’t worry, we welcome you all the same! It may be slightly difficult in the beginning, but be it trampoline or rhythmic gymnastics, so long as you’re daring and open-minded to trying new things, once you’ve got the basics down pat, you’ll be flipping and twirling like the rest of us. All it takes is a bit of courage, and lots of practice, which you will surely get enough of, with 2 training sessions per week, each 3 hours long.

If you’re still unsure, feel free to come down to the gymnasium during our training times to get a feel of what it’ll be like, but really, let us assure you that it’ll be a whole lot of fun; after all, with the warmth that comes with training within a tight-knit team and the thrill that accompanies acquiring a new skill, what more could you ask for?

by Gaius Ong 14A01B

How does one encapsulate all the joy and frustration, the stress and celebration of a year in Council, all in a simple, informative article? Admittedly, it would be unrealistic of me if I expected to paint a complete picture of what exactly Council is, and all that we do. After all, owing to the varying natures of our job scopes, each councilor’s one-year journey often differs greatly from another’s. Yet, for myself, herein lies the beauty of the Students’ Council: the convergence of uniquely different individuals with differing experiences, each one working together towards the common goal of service to the student population.

“That as elected representatives, we shall always consider the welfare of the students and the Institution…” (Photo Credits: Ashlynna Ng, 13A01B)

“Engage and care for all students so as to foster a sense of belonging to Raffles.” Our council’s main and primary purpose is to serve the student population, and it’s extremely important to remember that when considering whether or not to join Council. Humility is the key: recognising that there are needs to be served in the school, and giving of oneself, by utilising the skills and gifts you possess to serve and address these needs. “Lead by serving, serve by leading” – as oft-repeated and clichéd as this might sound, this really is the essence of what it means to be a councillor.

“As a councillor, you must always be aware of your overarching goal and mandate in everything that you do for council. For me personally, this was to serve with humility and sacrifice.” – Jia Yao, CCAD

Let’s get down to the basics first. Councillors go through a period of elections, which include nominations, interviews, and campaigning, before they are voted in by the school population. They can either nominate themselves or be nominated by their peers. After elections, the council elects go through the hallowed Council Camp, before being recognised as full-fledged councillors at the Students’ Council Investiture. Throughout the period leading up to the Investiture, each council elect will have a “buddy” from the senior batch, who will act as a mentor and familiarise elects with the general running of Council.

The Executive Committee is chosen after a second round of internal elections, and comprises the President, 2 Vice-Presidents, 2 Secretaries (Resources and Finance), Welfare, CCAD, and Communications (Commz’ D) Department Heads, and the 5 House Captains. The PresSecs (Presidents and Secretaries) form the ninth department, and they oversee the Council as a whole. Each councillor belongs to a department, or a House Directorate, and through the organisation of several events and initiatives, provides and cares for a specific area of student life in RI. Additionally, each councillor also belongs to one of 6 functions: National Day, Teachers’ Day, Graduation Night (for the Year 6s), Open House, Orientation, and Council Camp. For the 33rd Council, the Pre-University Seminar (a seventh function) was added; however, the incoming 34^th batch will not be able to participate in this function. The functions will be led by 2 function ICs elected during the Internal Elections. Besides department work, councillors will also be expected to balance their function work and contribute equally to both. (More articles explaining each function and department will be coming up, so watch Raffles Press for more!)

Wolf Pack, One Call! – MR House D (Photo Credits: Jasmine Tan, 14S03C)

“Support one another and nurture strong and lasting relationships so as to work together as one.” Council’s also a place where we build new relationships – not just professional working relationships, but long-lasting friendships where we care for and support each other. It’s crucial for each councillor to not only focus on completing the task at hand, but to always be mindful of the fact that you’re working with unique individuals, all possessing talents and skills that you might not necessarily have. Unique individuals who provide not only logistical and technical support, but more importantly emotional and moral sustenance. You’ll get to observe and understand the working styles and preferences of the people around you, and come to love and respect your fellow councillors. Each council’s culture differs from batch to batch, but what stays constant are the friendships built and the emotional bonds forged. As Alynna (CCAD) puts it, “As cheesy as it may sound, we are like one big family. We have each other’s backs all the time and we enjoy the success of events together and (even) get scolded for mistakes together!”

The learning experience that comes together with one whole year of assiduous planning and of decisive execution, of continuous negotiation and of cautious deliberation, is invaluable. Through the planning and organising of events and initiatives of vastly different scales, one acquires unique skills and knowledge that prove useful in other aspects of one’s life. Furthermore, by interacting with such a diverse group of people and working together, you also pick up people skills and certain values along the way. It’s intriguing (at least for myself) to observe others’ preferences in a working context: some might have a predilection for artistic creation; others might tackle the administrative work head-on. Be it painting colourful banners, contacting (and negotiating with) suppliers, or understanding when and how to compromise during discussions, you’ll learn a tremendous amount through your one-year term.

Mega Mugging Madness (MMM) – an annual initiative by Welfare (Photo Credits: Raffles Parents’ Association)

Of course, being a councillor comes with several challenges as well. Apart from monthly General Meetings, we don’t have regular sessions like other CCAs. However, that doesn’t mean that the commitment level is relatively low – quite the contrary, actually. Department and function meetings are called at their own discretion, not to mention sub-comm meetings within each particular department/function. For EXCO members and Function ICs, this also means more meetings and discussions with teachers and school authorities. Peak periods for councillors such as Inter-House Competitions (IHCs) might mean a greater workload, and a tighter schedule, among other concerns.

“Time management is crucial. Take up council only if you’re sure of being able to balance your commitments well, so that you’ll be able to fully commit to the council work you take up.” – Jacqueline, Moor-Tarbet House Department

The key to all this? Effective time management and sensible prioritisation, coupled with the mental strength to push on. It’s vital that a councillor knows how to manage his/her time effectively, all the while not compromising on both schoolwork and council work. Juggling the commitments of academic work, Council, 2nd CCAs, other external activities, and relationships with your friends may be an ostensibly insurmountable challenge, but prioritising these commitments well and being disciplined enough to give the best you can in everything you do will serve you well throughout your Council term. Most importantly, however, is recognition of the fact that your fellow councillors are always there for you, and they’ll be more than willing to help you. I’ve come to trust and love my fellow 33rds for tiding me through storms and hardship, even when I faltered and stumbled.

Our Family of 33rds! (Photo Credits: Ernest Chin, 14S06H)

“There are various peak periods as everyone is holding different roles and responsibilities in their functions and departments. It is indeed quite stressful during these times and you may lose sleep and be unable to finish your tutorials but your fellow councillors will bring you through the hardship and in the end it will be all worth it!” – Zhi Peng, Bayley-Waddle House Department

In all, the culture of each Council (and consequently the experience of each councillor) largely depends on the individuals that make it up. It is true that the commitment level is pretty high, and sometimes the road can be stressful. Fundamentally, however, the Council is only as strong as its councillors are: if you’re willing to give of yourself for the betterment of student life, and if you’re looking for people who will stand by you and support you as you embark on your one-year journey with them, then the Students’ Council of Raffles Institution gladly and warmly welcomes you to our family to stay – it’ll be an experience to remember.

“I think the culture of council is what you want it to be. Definitely, there’s hard work involved, but honestly for me, it’s a lot of fun. I guess the culture you experience would be based on the choices you make. If you choose to not be so involved and what not then council work is just going to be a drag. But if you choose to give it your all and slog it out with the rest then you’re going to leave council feeling fulfilled and with many good friends by your side whom you’ve experienced thick and thin with.” – Ruthanne, Welfare

The interesting thing about the human memory is that it functions more like a camera than a film reel – capturing the fleeting moments of our lives more like disjointed snapshots than a continuous video recording. Little wonder, then, that our memories of primary (and secondary) school were defined not by some grand childhood narrative, but rather the small moments that somehow stuck with us all these years. If you are looking forward to becoming part of the Raffles Year 5-6 family, we certainly hope that the 2014 Raffles Year 5-6 Open House can provide a sneak preview of the many events that make life in RI so memorable. Quite fittingly, the theme for this year’s open house is Raffles Snapshot – Capturing moments one at a time.

RI would be little more than an empty campus if not for the incredible community of students, staff, parents and alumni who breathe life into the school. It is this vibrant and diverse community of Rafflesians which we’ve tried to represent in Open House 2014, in an expression of gratitude for all that they’ve done. Alongside this, we also want to showcase the numerous developmental milestones that define the Raffles Experiences in a way like no other! If you are interested in knowing more about RI (Year 5-6) and are considering joining us, this will be the perfect opportunity to experience student life in Raffles at its very best. On the day itself, be sure to head down to the main event areas that will be thronging with activity: the Gryphon Square, Indoor Sports Hall (ISH) , Multi-Purpose Hall (MPH) and the Performing Arts Centre (PAC).

To help you make your way around the expansive campus (sometimes we get lost too!), do keep a look out for this map for  a suggested outline for the complete Open House experience:

1. Start the day by arriving at the Innovation Centre (Block H) for registration and collection of welcome packs.

2. Check out the school tour booth manned by friendly befrienders next to the registration booth. Embark on a school tour with a befriender and explore the campus and our landscaped greenery..

3. Don’t get forget to reach the PAC by 1230 for the Principal’s Address by Mr. Chan Poh Meng!

4. Catch the exciting performances in the Gryphon Square Tentage.

5. Get more information about the A Level subjects you will be studying at Innovation Centre. Teachers will be present at each subject booth and they will be more than happy to answer any questions you may have.

6. Check out the CCAs offered in RI at the MPH (clubs and societies and performing arts) and ISH (Sports and Games)

Highlights of the day include the Principal’s address, Academic exhibitions, CCA booths, enrichment displays, school tour and breath-taking performances and showcases by our Performing Arts groups and Sports CCAs.

Here’s a little peek as to what’s lined up for you:

• AWESOME PERFORMANCES:  We have arranged a medley of performances and showcases in the Gryphon Square Tentage and MPH. Watch out for hot models strutting down the Runway in their latest collection. Don’t miss the sleek moves by Raffles Street Dance. Raffles Rock will also be putting up an exciting performance with all your favourite rock songs.
• Principal’s Address: We welcome you to join the Rafflesian family! Our new Principal, Mr Chan Poh Meng, will be warmly addressing you. His address will be in the PAC at 1230.
• House Item and School Cheers: Home is where the Houses are. Upon joining the school, each Rafflesian will be allocated to a House – not too dissimilar from Hogwarts, just that allocation is probably done by IBM computer rather than Sorting Hat! As Orientation is traditionally conducted along House lines, your fellow Housemates will also be your first new friends in RI. Check out our favourite school cheers, and experience the Rafflesian Spirit for yourself.
• Exhibition Matches: Interested in joining a Sports CCA but don’t really know how it will be like? No worries! There will be exhibition matches by some of the sports CCAs at the ISH.
• GOODIES: There will be Milo Van at the Gryphon Square Tentage from 1000 onwards! Also don’t forget to collect your welcome packs at the registration booth! Of course, supply is limited so do come down early if you want to pick up your freebies.

For more information and updates, like the Facebook Page and follow RI Yr5-6 Open House 2014 on Twitter and Instagram.

See you at RI (Year 5-6) Open House tomorrow!

Exotic. Fun. Unique. Unforgettable.

All these and more add up to form the one and only RI (Year 5-6) iDance.

RI iDance is a tightly-knit CCA that aims to inculcate love for dancing in its members and always ensure that every member play a vital role in the team. Having achieved distinction for the Singapore Youth Festival (SYF) this year, we continue to pursue excellence in all our performances, so that the CCA is able to reach greater heights.

No dance background? Not Indian? Fret not; these are all not issues you should worry about, if you are considering to join us. Today, we are here to explore some misconceptions you may have when considering to join Indian Dance, and what the realities actually are!

Many of you may have the misconception that RJ iDance is only targeted solely at Indians and only they are allowed to join the CCA. However, what the reality actually is that students from all races, languages, and backgrounds are welcome to join us. Our only prerequisite in joining iDance is to have, interest, passion, courage to try something new, and willingness to work hard and excel. If you are not Indian, don’t be worried that you can’t fit in. Not only do you have non-Indian seniors, the entire CCA is also always friendly, and in high spirits.

Not only that, some people have a false impression that iDance members are only taught classical Indian dance and dance around trees like what they see in television. However, we do explore various genres of Indian dance such as Bollywood dance and other forms of Indian dance as well. Moreover, we also incorporate other exciting styles of dance into our performances like ballet, belly dancing and African tribal dance, which is sure to get everyone excited, pumped up, and grooving along! As our member Arintha Adelina shares that “Learning the hand gestures was really interesting as it is unique to Indian dance. I also got to learn more about the different cultures. I have never regretted joining iDance as not only is it a learning experience but a fun one too”

There is also a mistaken belief that RJ iDance only comes together to perform during SYF and following that they do not do any performances. However, that is not true! We do have many opportunities to perform and showcase our talents in school like during National day and DanceFest as well as for external performances such as the performance we did during Tabla! Anniversary. With a very flexible training schedule, we practice on Wednesdays with more intensive practice sessions closer to our performances. Our members are provided with an opportunity to learn from our exceptional instructor, Mrs. Sreedevy Sivarajasingam, an acclaimed and accomplished choreographer and judge on a popular Vasantham Central dance reality show called Dhool. She is approachable and always willing to support and encourage us to do our best, and importantly, have fun.

We are here not because of our race, not because of our dance background. We are here because of our passion for dance. We are here as a family.

Join iDance and be a part of our family now!

Wait.

Please don’t just skip over our section. We assure you that the next five minutes you spend reading our article will surely be worthwhile. It’s true that most of you wouldn’t even consider joining a martial art like judo as a sport, and we get that! All of us who are now in the judo team once stood in your shoes being highly doubtful of ourselves ever doing well in the sport. We completely understand that judo isn’t a sport that’s within the comfort zones of most students, but don’t be so scared of failure that you dare not try anything new, especially while you’re young and able! Else your school life be filled with ‘what ifs’ and ‘should haves’.

So, what do you picture when you hear the word ‘judo’? Burly savages in baggy white bathrobes throwing themselves at each other? Now, try to imagine yourself in the baggy bathrobe wrestling with an opponent. Embarrassing? Admittedly, at first, maybe. But as you progress to higher levels in terms of competency and as your belt colour changes from white to black, the “ugly bathrobe” will hardly be an embarrassment any longer.

Originating from Japan, judo is a martial art that aims to teach its students to subdue physically larger opponents by using minimal force. When judo players spar, they grab onto the bathrobes of their opponents and aim to best each other using a judo throw. Besides throwing techniques that are applied standing up, judo also comprises pins, chokes and locks that are applied while grappling on the ground. As you can see, judo is a practical martial art and a good form of self defence.

Now we know what you’re thinking, judo seems like a dangerous and painful sport. However, unlike conventional martial arts, there is no punching or kicking in judo, so don’t you worry about major injuries. We’re not going to lie, although there is no striking, there is still some risk of injury involved (just like any other sport). However, rest assured, for one of the first things that you will learn in judo is to break your fall. By reducing the impact of a fall, judo players can prevent pain and injury easily. So despite the loud thud from the fall, a throw is hardly as painful as it looks.

We’re not asking for those who are athletic and buff. You can be unfit and physically weak, because all we’re looking for is some commitment and dedication. Trainings are 3 times a week in the RI Gymnasium. Ultimately, all of our training training boils down to the National Schools Judo Championships, held annually in March/April, where we have consistently been a powerhouse, winning many golds and silvers and also producing many youth team players. If you are willing to put in the hard work, you might even one day pin the Singapore flag on your gi to represent the nation in international competitions overseas.

Finally, if you’ve pretty much skimmed through most of our preview, this is where you should start really paying attention. Although training hard and winning are important, what we all take away most of all from joining this sport far transcends any physical reward.

This may sound cliche, but learning about dedication, discipline and getting up after falling countless times are the intangibles that will last you for a long time to come. And you won’t be alone in this journey, for your teammates will be there every step of the way.

We hope that you’ve gotten a glimpse of what Raffles Judo is about and even though the bulk of you still wouldn’t choose judo as a cca, there’s no harm in visiting our booth during the open house. And who knows, you might just end up falling for us!

Our greatest glory consists not in never failing, but in rising every time we fall.

Raffles judo in Osaka, Japan

“Time spent arguing is, oddly enough, almost never wasted.” Christopher Hitchens’ words are a reminder of why the Raffles Debaters exist: not merely to win trophies and medals, nor to prepare you for the infamous Oral Presentation at the end of your first year, but to provide a platform for individuals to share different viewpoints and discuss issues that our world faces today in greater depth. In doing so, we aim to inspire a genuine concern about these issues, and to kindle a lasting passion for the art of debating.

Raffles Debaters 2013!

 Who are we? Founded in March 1886, we are the oldest CCA in Raffles Institution, with 128 years of rich history. The first motion the Raffles Debaters ever debated was about whether rickshaws should be abolished, a pertinent matter in the day – though rickshaws are rarely seen, much less debated about, now! This keen awareness of current social, economic, political, and cultural issues continues till today, and whether you attend each training as a speaker or observer, you’ll definitely come away with a broadened knowledge and a deeper understanding of whichever topic has been debated.

So why should you join us? Being a Raffles Debater presents you with a whole host of other opportunities outside the Raffles Programme curriculum. You’ll have opportunities to participate in nerve-wrecking but exciting inter-school competitions, like the annual MOE-ACJC Intercollegiate Debating Championship, and “open” tournaments which everyone can take part in, such as the SMU Hammers Debating Championship.

Raffles Debaters receiving their first-place trophies at the Dunman High School Debate Invitational 2013

 You’ll also get to be on the organizing end of large-scale debating tournaments, like the Raffles Debate Academy Under-14 Debating Championship. This year, we also organized the second edition of the Prometheus Cup – a seven-day international debating tournament! (A video montage of the highlights can be found here.)

Club members after this year’s RDA U-14s tournament – tired but immensely satisfied!

 Last but not least, you’ll have the opportunity to be part of an inclusive and welcoming debating family. Around March every year, we hold our annual CCA camp, where members get to know each other better and bond with one another over fun activities. We also have dinner together every Tuesday evening during training, and we try to go for lunch outings whenever we can!

When asked why he chose to join the Raffles Debaters in JC, EXCO member Samuel Teo replied: “Personally, I feel that there truly is something magical about debating. Every round in a competition, every training session and every speech you make is a brand new experience, no less enjoyable than the previous one, which keeps you always coming back for more and looking forward to every debating opportunity.”

Trainings are conducted twice a week by our experienced coaches. Most sessions involve full debates on various motions, where each team is given time to prepare their arguments before the speakers deliver their speeches. Motions can range from more ‘serious’ topics like social, economic, and political issues, to more lighthearted areas like pop culture and entertainment, so you can be sure that the same motion will almost never be debated twice during trainings! Time is also set aside for self-directed presentations, where members can read up on a pertinent or controversial issue in the news, or an area they are passionate about, and share their knowledge with the rest of the club. Last year, our members gave informative lectures on the Eurozone crisis, the Edward Snowden case, the US political system, and – closer to home – Singapore’s Population White Paper. These presentations will improve your general knowledge, which is definitely useful in debates, and they have also been empirically proven to be Generally very useful for a certain Paper. Need we say more? :)

Debating may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but if you give it a shot, you might just find that it’s the right CCA for you! If you have always been passionate about argumentation; if you’d like to try something new and perhaps (who knows?) discover the debating talent you never knew you had; or if you are the sort to relish the simple challenge and thrill of standing up and telling someone that they’re wrong – join the Raffles Debaters, and you’ll be welcomed with open arms.

By Jedidiah Andrew 14S03K, Dong Yunfan 14S06B, Ong Dingjie 14S03D, Oh Qi Yuan 14S06O

“Of Chess it has been said that life is not long enough for it, but that is the fault of life, not Chess” – William Ewart Napier

Indeed, chess is a lifelong passion, and rightfully so. The pleasure, excitement, and satisfaction gained from winning chess games have intoxicated many, and they altogether promise an experience beyond words. When you join the Chinese Chess Club, we promise you not boring weekly gatherings for a little more than a year but the mere beginning of a pursuit that will last a lifetime.

Because here we believe: Once a Chess Player, always a Chess Player.

We guarantee that if you see the mind-blowing beauty of chess hidden and intertwined with its complexities and intricacies, you will play it for a long time to come.

Here at the Chinese Chess Club, we offer you the chance to taste and experience this for yourself. There is absolutely no prerequisite in terms of skill level, all we are looking for are people who have the interest and a willing heart to learn. We warmly welcome all beginners; we are more than willing to share with you the rules and basics of chess, and of course some of the more advanced tactics later on.

R&R after an intense competition

We do have a coach during weekly trainings, and our trainings take place every Tuesday from 4pm-7pm. Trainings comprise a wide variety of activities, including coaching sessions by our coach, followed by chess puzzle solving and sparring games, as well as analysis either by our coach or by fellow players. Occasionally, we would also spar with our coach. Although trainings officially end by 7pm, many of us stay way past that time to play and chat.

As a CCA, we take part in numerous competitions throughout the year. There are individual and team Chinese chess competitions, where the former would comprise competitions such as the annual Char Yong Student Xiangqi Championships. Team competitions are an especially good way to strengthen bonds between our players, as we have to prepare and work together to win each match – every board, and therefore every player, counts. I wish I could capture snippets of moments of euphoria we have experienced during competitions, but unfortunately we have enjoyed these moments too much to capture them.

3rd placing at CJC Cup this year :)

With regard to team competitions, the Chinese Chess Club also organizes the annual Raffles Cup Chinese Chess Competition each year in June. This year, we hosted the 38th Raffles Cup. The competition features a team event as well. Need I say that we organize the inter house Chinese Chess competition too?

Of course, when you join the Chinese Chess Club we promise you more than a CCA. We promise you countless hours of excitement and fun in training sessions and numerous chess competitions throughout the year, late night gatherings, the occasional party, basketball games, long chats on the MRT ride back home, a good bunch of buddies, and most importantly, chess sets and clocks in the cupboard.

Will you join our family?

I know your journey here will definitely be made unforgettable by the three of us: me, you, and the Chinese Chess board.

Auspicium Melioris Aevi.

Floorball is a relatively young CCA in Raffles, founded in 2006. Thanks to the efforts of the alumnus, Raffles Floorball is regarded as the top few in the island, with the guys team coming in top 4 more often than not, and the girls team with a strong showing year after year.

Raffles Floorball trains under the tutelage of Ms Jill Quek, one of the top female players in the world, well known not just in local floorball circles but also around the world, in traditional floorball strongholds such as Finland and Sweden. Our teachers in charge are Mr Chris Selveraj, an active player of the sport as well, and Mr Winston Cheong.

For the 2013-14 season, the boys are led by captain Zhang Zhen Ming, as well as vice-captains Tay Yang and Andrew Joshua Koh.

The girls are led by captain Ang Shi Hui and vice captains Edith Loo and Lea Tan. Raffles Floorball promises to be a fun CCA for all involved, and will not just develop you as a floorballer, but also as a person. As our coach puts it, “If you can do well on the court, I don’t see why you cannot do well for your studies as well.” if you have any queries, feel free to contact the captains at zzm0406@hotmail.com (boys) or angshihui96@yahoo.com (girls).