Listless and can’t Handel the grind of school? Then piano ensemble’s the CCA for you.

You may be wondering – why bother putting up with these lame musical puns? Why join a CCA with 25 pianos playing simultaneously? Why surround myself with a group of professional classical musicians engrossed in their own world, spewing musical jargon from their mouths?

If that’s you, you can’t be more wrong as the whole of PE batch’14 was with you in our first, fortunately not-so-accurate, impressions.

We’re just a bunch of people who are dedicated to sharing our love for music with anyone who’ll care to listen.Though we might not be able to stage a 25-something hand masterpiece, rest assured that we certainly do more than the usual solo playing! In their two years here, members are given the opportunity to perform duets and even trios with other like-minded piano enthusiasts. Musicianship is something we strive towards, more so than merely demanding a certain level of technical standards to be met or a quota of classical pieces to be played. After all, what’s the point of practising an instrument tirelessly without being able to fully appreciate the beauty and texture of the music? On this note, we are looking for people with a heart for quality music, a willingness to take their piano prowess to the next level and an openness to new experiences. And we promise a fun and fulfilling time ahead!

What you can expect is an exciting line-up of events and activities for the budding pianists, where all members are given as much exposure as possible. Our annual concert, competitions or smaller-scale recitals are not be missed, with our CCA members consistently clinching the gold award in Vivace, the pianistic equivalent of SYF, since participating in 2005. This ensemble’s creative energy is also reflected in its innovative concert themes, which include “for Euridyce” (2005). “Child’s Play” (2009), “Legende” (2012) and for the upcoming concert, “Carnival of Animals” (2014). Our passion for music and sharing has also found expression in the area of community service, where our CCA undertakes different types of projects with different beneficiaries, depending on the batch. Last year, it saw us giving weekly piano lessons to children of Chen Su Lan Methodist Children’s Home and Beyond Social Services. This year, one highlight would definitely be the collaboration with an anime pop pianist to further expand our repertoire.

And what can you expect from our weekly CCA sessions? Besides the usual coaching sessions, musical sharing, rehearsals and even the much-feared pre-concert Quality Control checks, be prepared for a strong sense of community. Just as much, if not even more time will be devoted to batch planning, discussions or bonding time. Given how this CCA ultimately gives its members a fair amount of freedom to decide what they want to pursue, these meetings are precious in setting direction as well as launching into spontaneous conversations and practices alike with your fellow batchmates.

In the words of Richard M. Nixon, “If you want to make beautiful music, you must play the black and white notes together.” Just as how life consists of ups and downs, so will your journey in RI PE but at the end of the day, you’ll experience the joy of friendships and producing beautiful music alongside people who are unafraid to do what they love best.

Seeking to showcase and develop your talents or simply just keen to further your interest and enjoy the synergy of working with fellow enthusiasts? Then look no further!!!

I noticed that many of my close friends have been searching for a meaningful way to help serve the community as they transitioned into JC life. With various service opportunities available to students, you might wonder what distinguishes Interact from the rest. While there is no one clear answer, Interact does have a focus on direct service. In Interact, we believe that the face-to-face kindness one shares is an invaluable part of affecting the lives of others, and we carry this out in a multitude of ways.

For starters, each Interactor commits to a weekly service session with one of our seven Service Centres (SC). These service opportunities range from providing primary school tuition to children to spending time with old folks to helping organize activities for the intellectually disabled. As Ying Yilun, one of our members puts it, “Weekly service is very meaningful because we get to directly impact the lives of our beneficiaries and create a sustained, long-term relationship with them.”

And don’t assume weekly service becomes mundane after a few months! If you feel like doing something fresh and extra special for your SC, resources are provided for you to do so. We encourage Interactors to take their own initiative in organizing mini-projects with their beneficiaries. In one instance, our members from Jamiyah SC organized a scrap-booking activity for the children to take a break from studying and reflect about their aspirations for the future. Interactors from SINDA SC, on the other hand, gave additional lessons on International History from 1900 (a certain club member loves History) and even dissecting fishes.

Interactors conducting a lesson in our very own Biology Labs

We also organize various big events annually. Dine in the Dark, for example, in an event where we hold a dinner service for the public in pitch darkness, in effort to raise funds and awareness for the Singapore Association of the Visually Handicapped (SAVH). In preparation for this, Interactors visited SAVH themselves to conduct interviews with the clients and understand more about how daily life is like for a visually handicapped person (you can see the publicity video below)

These events do not only give members a chance to gain experiences in organizing large scale events, they are also a means of reaching out and serving the greater community in a meaningful way.

And if you’re wondering why we’re called Interact, it actually stands for International Action! That means that we shouldn’t just serve the local community. This year, interact led the fundraising efforts for typhoon victims in the Philippines. Moreover, we have an International Understanding trip held overseas every year. In 2013, we went to Cambodia for a week to serve at UNACAS, an orphanage in Phnom Penh.

Helping build infrastructure in Cambodia

Another great thing about being an Interactor is that you’re joining a network of people with similar passions towards serving the community. Through the several service opportunities provided exclusively for the club, you get to make closer relationships with not only your schoolmates, but also the youth from various organisations and schools. One of our members, Benedict Lee, says: “As an introvert, being in Interact has made me more open towards other people and even more sympathetic towards the people you serve.”

With about a total of 160 friendly Interactors, your time in JC is bound to be a more meaningful journey. You’ll surely learn a thing or two from people of all walks of life during the projects in-store for the club. So as long as you have the heart for the community and the will to lead in serving, your membership in Interact promises to be more than just mere lines on paper.

The name RI is usually synonymous with competition. Rafflesians are encouraged to fight for the school, and display school pride. While certainly laudable, many-a-times, Rafflesians tend to get distracted from the true reason for why they fight: passion.

You may have seen a few students playing badminton in the air-conditioned MPH to the tune of groovy music, or perhaps seen students carrying badminton racquets and chilling out in the canteen together. You may have been secretly envious of them. Well, there’s no need to, you can join them!

Recreational Badminton hearkens back to the soul of the sport – passion. The light-hearted sessions provide an environment that allows members to pursue their interest in badminton. Once every week, members gather after assembly  for 2 hours of immersion in one of Asia’s favorite sports.

Weekly training sessions are not Recre Badminton’s only fare. Members can look forward to friendlies with Recreational Badminton teams from other schools like AndersonJunior College and Hwa Chong Institution, in which they can join like-minded people in their favorite pastime.

Indeed, the only pre-requisite for joining the team is a strong interest in badminton. “Getting into this CCA is easy,” says Jillian Heng (13SO6B), “all you need to do is show your interest in the sport!” There are no nerve-wracking interviews, or tiresome tryouts. New members don’t even need to have touched a racquet before!

Not needing prior experience allows students from all ranges of skill levels to join and learn together. The absence of strong rivalry allows each individual member to develop his or her skills at a different pace. This dissuades relentless competition, yet fosters the love for the sport, while mainting an atmosphere which encourages camaraderie. Annabel Goh (13SO6B) says, “Because our practices are not as intense as competitive CCAs, the best thing about Recre Badminton is the bonding and sense of belonging that you get.”

One way in which the above is exemplified is in the school’s annual Inter-House Competition (IHC). In 2013, Recreational Badminton members had an opportunity to organize an engaging session of badminton for the rest of the institution that saw the bending of traditional badminton rules, putting a creative twist to the otherwise standard game of badminton. IHC Recreational Badminton saw teams of three play against each other, with two shuttlecocks in play at the same time, in an elimination mate– a form of organized chaos, if you will. Participant Lu Zhao Boyu (13A01D) says that “IHC Recre Badminton was one game which required utmost concentration and cooperation with your fellow team mates. It was an enjoyable process juggling two shuttlecocks and trying to stay focused.”

In essence, Raffles Recreational Badminton is about passion, friendships and lots of fun! “It is what a CCA should be; a time to de-stress and just have fun with friends who share the same love for badminton,” says Raphael Quek (12S03T). Indeed, the formula to an enriching CCA experience can be this simple. If you have the passion, join Recreational Badminton!

“I don’t care if a dude is purple with green breath as long as he can swing.”
– Miles Davis

Playful, yet earnest on the bandstand, Raffles Jazz is a close community of musicians who are passionate about performing this strangely compelling genre known as Jazz. Performing at company events, functions and school concerts, Jazz has always been serious about presenting genuine and captivating music since it was founded 10 years ago as a student initiative group. Today, Jazz thrives on its rich history of accomplished alumni whose explorations in music have enriched the Singaporean jazz scene and reach overseas to acclaimed music colleges abroad. This tradition carried on by juniors continues and evolves to present yet more mesmerizing music every year. Jazzers play with sheer feeling, and it is this emotion that engages the audience and creates a moving performance. We want to push boundaries in music and improve, as musicians and performers.

Jazz sessions are traditionally held on Friday evenings in our beloved Jam Studio. During this time, we often have lessons conducted by our instructors Tan Wei Xiang and Seow Yi Zhe along with jamming sessions and other events. However, a word of warning – do not be fooled by the compulsory 2 hours per week! Practices are often held outside of the Friday sessions, and will increase in intensity according to the occasion. The occasions range from opening acts at school events, to playing for company dinner, to our highly anticipated annual concert. Nevertheless, rest assured that practices take into account the commitments and the schedules of all band members.

Raffles Jazz after Like A Boss, the annual May concert in 2013, featuring seniors and AV Club

Bands in Jazz are flexible, allowing all of our members to interact and play with each other as they wish. As for the Jazzers themselves, all of them are unforgettable characters with a healthy (or unhealthy, depending on how you see it) dose of “hairiness”, the pervasive culture of Jazz that leaves no member unscathed. Symptoms include strange antics, jokes no one else can understand, distorted faces and uncontrollable laughter. Jazzers are very commonly spotted at the steps near the Parade Square in the morning or chilling out in the storeroom after school, and will be very happy to entertain any of your questions pertaining to Jazz. We don’t bite, so don’t be shy!
What does one have to do in order to get into Jazz, you may ask? Though any prospective member has to pass an audition and an interview, do not be daunted by these terms! Raffles Jazz welcomes all who possess musicality, passion for music, and are willing to work hard for what they love. In fact, we value this much more over technical skill. For those without prior experience in the genre, fret not! During the trial period, an introductory workshop will be held, where our instructor and the seniors will guide you through the basics to prepare you for your tasks.

Raffles Jazz at the Arts House for its 2013 alumni collaboration Christmas concert, titled ‘From Place to Place’

If you have a love for music and a passion for trying new things, Raffles Jazz would be very happy to have you if you were to choose us as your second home. We assure you that you will not regret it. “Jazz was one of the best things in JC,” quipped pianist Jessica Tan, and the rest of the Jazzers definitely agree with that sentiment. Joining Jazz not only opens doors for you in terms of musical development, but also gives you a group of friends that will walk with you through your JC life; vice-chair Jennifer Ho strongly believes in this. “Because to me, these people are more than just the club, these people are my family.”

By Aaron Quak (14S03P)

You have a dream. Somewhere inside of you, there lurks a drive to achieve, succeed and most of all, to create. Perhaps your goal is to make it big in life or to improve the way we do things, from making phone calls to volunteering. If so, you may wish to join the Raffles Entrepreneurs’ Network (REN) and cast away the bowlines, for to paraphrase Mark Twain, it may well be what you chose not to do that you regret the most.

HISSOC, or the History and Strategic Affairs Society, is one of the oldest CCAs in RI, having been founded over a century ago at about the same time as when this school emerged on Singapore’s map. Every batch is about 60 students strong, and students participate in Model United Nations (MUNs for short) both locally and internationally. This year, we are sending students to Harvard Model Congress Asia (HMCA), which will be held in the University of Hong Kong from the 9th to the 12th of January. This event draws high school students from all over Asia.

HISSOC at HMCA2014 in Hong Kong. The delegation won 13 awards in total.

This is but a glimpse of the number of opportunities you will get in HISSOC. For the 2014 calendar, students are already involved in competitions such as NTUMUN, organized yearly by the eponymous institution. The CCA’s main objective is to serve as a platform for members to develop their interest in politics, current affairs as well as diplomacy. History as a subject is rather less commonly explored in this CCA due to the nature of the competitions that other institutions offer (with most counterparts in other schools placing their focus on current affairs, with names like Young Diplomats Society – we, however, keep our name as it is part of the heritage this organization is proud of).

That is not to say, however, that the significance of History with a capital H in this CCA is relegated. We organize a History and Current Affairs quiz yearly, inviting teams from secondary schools to take part, and members in general take an active interest in events that have shaped the world in the past. We will likely be collaborating with the Preservation of National Monuments Board (PMB) for Monument Open House 2014! There is no admission criteria for HISSOC – instead, all this CCA demands from its members is a willingness to take the chances that this CCA offers them, and to assist the CCA in turn by contributing to the creation and organization of events.

What events? To answer this rhetorical question, there is one answer – RMUN, or Raffles Model United Nations.

Our flagship event is generally recognized by most secondary schools to be one of the most prestigious MUNs within the local circuit. The CCA manages everything: deciding debate topics, themes, budget, et cetera. It’s a painstaking, entirely student-run process, and all members are taken on board to help make it a success.

HISSOC’s alumni is pretty impressive – Jarrett Huang, HISSOC’s president in 2011, is now a President’s Scholar studying in Cambridge, and many members of similar (and diverse) portfolios have streamed through this CCA.

For those cynical about MUN and the meaning in this CCA in general, my advice is to just take what you do seriously and as an intellectual exercise. You’ll be surprised at the number of soft skills you pick up just by interacting with delegates from other schools or by planning an event as large as RMUN. If you have a passion for diplomacy, history or current affairs, and would like to be actively participating in events revolving around the aforementioned areas of interest organized both locally and internationally, join HISSOC. We promise fulfilling times ahead.

Track and Field. An individual sport with a team spirit. In fact, it’s more like four sports- sprints, jumps, throws, and pole vault. Quite apart from the abundance of good-looking teammates you’ll have, there’s a whole catalogue of reasons for seriously considering Track and Field as your CCA of choice.

1) It’s sport at its purest. There’s something strangely alluring about running really fast, jumping really high, and throwing heavy metal objects really far. If you want the certainty of knowing that you’re becoming a better athlete without worrying about whether you’re breaking Rule 21.7.2 of Section 3 on the Permissible Substitution of Players, then Track is the place for you.

2) It’s sport at its most versatile. Being able to fire a tiny ball into a tinier goal from twenty yards with nothing more than your trusty Floorball stick is fine and dandy, but you won’t get many chances to use that skill elsewhere. Conversely, Track and Field has countless applications, be it in standing broad jump, running away from friends who want to cake you on your birthday, or even playing other sports. After all, pace, explosiveness (jumps and sprints), and sheer strength (throws) all provide a massive edge no matter what game you’re playing. And if you join pole vault, well, getting abs of solid steel won’t hurt your sporting chances either, to say nothing of your chances in other areas.

3) Training is really fun. It seems almost an obligation for a CCA preview to say this, but the common misconception that all we do is run couldn’t be more wrong. Our coaches for all the sections are both fun and very creative, since they’d get bored too if we just did the same thing every day. We’ve got drills, games, hurdles, contests, trainings at bizarre locations like Botanic Gardens and the beach, and a standing challenge of getting Mr Tan’s car if we throw a medicine ball above the roof (applicable to sprinters only, with throwers excluded by reason of Mr Tan not really wanting to lose his car). If that isn’t enough, you’ll soon fall in love with your teammates, with weekly pilgrimages to Jai Thai, periodic ice-skating, chalets, and overly long gossip sessions that carry over from training into dinner and finally onto whatsapp.

4) If you need another reason, we weren’t kidding when we said you’ll have an abundance of good-looking teammates. The best part is, what with large amounts of sunlight, intense toning of legs (track) or training of upper-body (field), and becoming more lean by the day, you’ll soon be looking good too! (Disclaimer: beauty is a subjective quality determined by both socially constructed norms as well as individual conceptions of self. We provide no guarantee that our CCA can alter these perceptions to the extent that you fulfill these norms in what is perceived to be a satisfactory manner.)

5) If you still need another reason, you might as well go join floral arrangement.

If you’re still reading, you must be pretty interested, so here’s some important information:

-Sprints
Consists of 100m-800m events, as well as hurdles events. Training is Monday, Wednesday, Friday/Saturday, 3 times a week with the fourth training optional. Training is at the RI Yr 5-6 track. National Schools Championships are in late March to mid-April.

-Jumps
Consists of Long Jump, High Jump and Triple Jump. Trainings are held on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, 3 times a week at the RI Y5-6 track.

-Throws
Consists of three main events: Javelin, Discus and Shotput. Trainings is Monday, Wednesday, Friday, 3 times a week at the RI Y5-6 track.

-Pole Vault
Trainings is Monday, Thursday, Saturday, 3 times a week at RI Y5-6 Track, although sometimes trainings are held at the gymnasium and swimming pool.

In all honesty and seriousness, Track and Field is a wonderful CCA. If your interests lie elsewhere, we wish you all the best. But if you do join us, congratulations – you’ll learn why the Olympic motto is Faster, Higher, Stronger. Citius, Altius, Fortius.

The guest writer of this article has requested to remain anonymous. 

To some, dealing with the opposite sex is not simply a matter of minding the platform gap. It is a veritable chasm, with most of us hailing from four years of single-sex schools. Junior college brings boys and girls together not only in learning, but also in socialisation. Some things are for sure: you’ll make wonderful friends, male and female alike, and you’ll learn a fair bit about the opposite sex. Girls will learn how smelly boys can be, and boys will –or not– get used to casual period talk. Boys will not always understand female emotional intricacies, and it takes a long time to get used to guy leg hair.

There are a ton of avenues to get to know others in JC: orientation, classes, lecture groups, CCA, through mutual friends, camps… The list is endless! It is a whirlwind of social life within the walls of the Year 5/6 campus, and couples are a natural result. A statistic speculates that there are well over fifty couples in the batch by the end of the first year. There is at least one couple, or someone in a relationship, in almost every class. Budding romances will be all around you; some will shock you, some will disappoint, and others you’ll grin at and cheer on from the sidelines.

Still, there always exists that Singaporean mantra ‘studies come first’. “I’m not allowed to have a boyfriend till I’m in university,” shrugs a Year 6. “Relationships can be a huge distraction with the commitment and all, and coming from Raffles the pressure to perform (for A levels) is especially high.”

Studies, disapproval from parents, and the two-year admissions staggering due to National Service are the three most common cons naysayers have quoted. They are indeed valid concerns, as junior college is primarily a preparation for the mightily important A-level exams. Studies aside, there have been several interesting responses from Year Sixes interviewed who have had crushes and confessions, yet don’t envision themselves attached. One cites a fear of commitment, and another insists boys are like brothers to her.

“They are playful and childish,” she laughs. “In a good way! They are great friends, but I prefer to wait for them to go through NS and mature first before you know, looking for a husband. I’m the conventional type who wants to date only when I can see a lifetime with that person, and I kinda get the feeling that will scare any boys off.” She looked pretty embarrassed, but sportingly added, “Some of the boys my friends are dating are mature though, and seem to really care for (my friend) and value her as a best friend, so I’m happy for them! But nope, just guy friends for me for now.”

Of course, there is always the teenage Romeo-and-Juliet question: is he/she in love with their partner, or in love with the idea of love? When asked why he thought his male peers entered relationships, one boy said, “I guess there are always a variety of reasons, like companionship, and most truly like the girl and want to commit to her. I know of some guys who go into relationships looking to show off, or for sex. They are a minority though, but personally I feel girls make better friends for now.”

Who then, is ready for a relationship? When is the right age or the right time, who is the right person? No one will know this but yourself. However, before any self-assessment one needs to grasp two simple facts.

The first fact, and probably the harshest reality: any couple is either going to break up or end up married. The more poignant second: a relationship is an investment, a commitment, a work in progress.

There are bound to be crushes in JC. Someone glimpses a cute guy at an IHC and the next hour she is texting her ‘spy’ contacts for info. Someone else sees a pretty female acquaintance walking his way, and stares straight ahead refusing to make eye contact. Numbers are exchanged whether by traditional, awkward face-to-face requests (by the way boys, this does impress girls. We asked.) or via Twitter, Facebook or mutual friends.

Not all crushes develop into something more. Many are, at most, a lively source of conversation among friends and something to look forward to in school. And for those guys and girls brave enough to make the first move, not all meet with favourable replies.

“There’s CCA, schoolwork, enrichments, plus I still wish to spend time with my secondary school friends. You actually have to put a lot of time and effort into a relationship to make it work, and some boys, when they ask, don’t really know the girl well or are truly serious about it,” says a Year 6 girl, who turned down a confession early in her J1 year.

“But,” she adds, “I’m honestly happy for my friends (in relationships), especially couples who seem compatible and complement each other! The boys are generally really sweet and caring. So no, I don’t feel much worry for them, especially if they are doing well in school or know full well the heavy commitment.”

Raffles Press interviewed a Year 6 girl, who has been with her boyfriend for over a year. It was hardly a whirlwind courtship, for they were close friends for two years before they went official. They have faced all the traditional obstacles; from high-commitment CCAs and leadership roles to classwork and parents. She shares with us her favourite part about being attached.

“The best part is that there’s this mutual support. Like you know on your worst days when you feel like something’s always going wrong, that special person will always be there for you to make it better. It’s really all about support, and it’s more than having a best friend because on a deeper level, there’s a sense of security.”

However, she also admits that couples are seldom prepared for the effort relationships require to work out, especially with grades and other CCA or social commitments. “It’s about what you value, I guess,” she says. “If you value it all: grades, your relationship, free time, and you aren’t willing to sacrifice, you’re in for a rough ride.”

Relationships in JC can be amazing, and for the general school populace, a great churner of the gossip mill. To our newly-minted Year 5s: there’ll be couples, there’ll be breakups. But there are also many ways of maintaining special friendships with members of the opposite sex through study dates, mutual agreements to put special relationships on hold till exams pass.

Junior college will ultimately be two of the most eventful and fast-paced years of your life. Relationships may crop up on the sidelines, but even the sweetest couples can tell you that there is nothing as important or special as friendship. Most couples start as friends anyway, and let us tell you this: you will have times of fun (and stress), you will spend time maturing with your peers, and you will find friendships that are for life, whether with a spark of romance or not.

We loved being in Year 5, we hope you do too! Raffles Press wishes all incoming students a great two years in RJC :)

In the meantime, have fun dating your books.

By Feng Zhuo (14S03S)
Photos taken from the Orientation Facebook Page

Orientation. That big word associated with hope, anticipation, and perhaps even a bit of fear. It’s coming your way, but you don’t know what to expect. “Will this be the start of something promising?” You wonder. The optimist in you is determined to make the four days the best in your life yet, challenged only by the quiet naysayer that co-habitates within your heart, a soft voice which whispers fears and worries about that oh-so-hyped-up event. “What if I can’t make any friends during Orientation?” “What if it just ends up being the worst event of my life?” True, those are valid concerns (and so emerges the naysayer in the writer), but don’t ignore the trusty old optimist which asserts that it’s still too early to tell, especially when you suddenly realize: “Hey, I actually don’t have a clue about what ANY of the four days entail!” So here’s a little help on that.

Now, let’s go back to the root word.

Orientation. noun.

Variations and related short forms include OG, OGL and even OGlings. Let’s get started clearing down all those clouds of confusion that might have subconsciously scattered over your head as you read through that sentence.

The OG is just about the most important term throughout your entire course of orientation. Those two letters will be like family to you in your ever-expanding vocabulary of short forms in J1, a parallel to what they stand for throughout the duration of your orientation. The OG, or Orientation Group, is a group of twenty people from your house, who are just as excited, clueless and scared as you are on your first day. The First day, a first awkward ‘nice to meet you’, and a first eagerly returned “how do you do”; this group will stand testament to a series of your firsts in this new phase of life. This is also when any pent-up gender awkwardness slowly melts away, because, as in life, you don’t get to choose who to be with. Say goodbye to your girl friends or bros, say hello to that long-dreaded (or long-awaited) gender interaction! Each OG will have approximately ten boys and ten girls, so you better beat off those stereotypes you hold of the opposite gender, because the next thing you know, you will be dancing with someone from that foreign species in a traditional(ly embarrassing) orientation event called the batch dance. But hey, who said it had to be awkward, right? Your confident self proclaims that as a true Rafflesian, you will embody the Fortitude of the FIRE values and be a good sport even when the going gets tough (or really awkward) during the batch dance.

Over the course of orientation, you will need seniors, who put the ‘L’ in ‘OGL’. As Orientation Group Leaders, they will be grouped in threes to fours, heading a single OG, and looking out for who they affectionately term as their OGlings. And there you have it, this is what makes up a basic OG unit, with people from different genders, schools and even levels coming together as one unit, ready to brave the new challenges that orientation, or even J1 life, will throw at them.

“Wait! I still don’t know what the next four days are going to entail!” Before you start panicking again, let’s hear from the Orientation I/Cs themselves regarding the key highlights of Orientation.  According to Ruthanne, “Each day typically has at least one highlight, so Station Games, War Games, External Activity and O’Nite are definitely things to look out for. Our Storyline plot and decorations this year are quite amazing too, so if you ask me, I’d say everything is a highlight!” The other Orientation I/C, Ernest, feels that the Batch Song and Dance are events to look forward to. He also reveals that this year’s theme, Kaleidos, was chosen based on the hopes for the J1s’ new school life to be similar to a Kaleidoscope, where filtered rays of life can pass through to form an array of incandescent colours, symbolizing the start of a vibrant experience.

On the Batch Dance, Orientation Programmes and Logistics I/C, Arjun, fondly recalls from his personal experiences. “It is made to be a bit tricky each year…but that’s the whole fun of the Batch Dance! You and your dance partner get to have so much fun trying – and in my case, failing – to keep up with the moves! I still remember when it came to one dance move where you just had to sway and clap, suddenly the WHOLE batch was in perfect unison and everyone just burst out laughing. Of course, I also remember when my dance partner accidentally punched me in the face. Let me tell you, it is not fun to get punched by a judoka.”

For those who are worried about dancing with two left feet, fret not, there is another more exciting highlight to look out for. OGlings (time to get used to being addressed with this new term!) can look forward to O’Nite, which is the final night of Orientation. Each OG will get to dress up under themes that are decided by the OGs themselves, and there will even be a prize for the best dressed from each House. OGlings can dress up as superheroes, soft toys, or even an invading species from Mars. (Just remember to keep your costumes appropriate for a school environment!) At the mention of O’Nite, Arjun recalls how his own OG dressed up as a wedding procession, complete with bride and groom, best men and bridesmaids, a wedding photographer, musicians, and even flower girls! Needless to say, the OG swept everyone off their feet and proudly won the Best Dressed OG award for their house.

Of course, no OGling will ever leave Orientation forgetting the (one-of-a-kind) experience of War Games. War Games I/C, Zhi Peng, gives his take on the games. “As the name suggests, War Games is the time where many of the OGlings go crazy, as the games involve teamwork and elements that will engage everyone participating in it. With the addition of competition between the houses, it will definitely be intense, exciting and memorable!” Regarding the concerns that have surfaced on RJ Confessions about the possible violence involved, Zhi Peng responds, “As the games are carried out, there is no doubt some OGlings might get carried away and be excessively competitive and violent, but our I/Cs will be there to manage the situation if things get out of hand! It will get a little physical for some of the games but it really adds to the fun. Just take care of yourself and others and all will be well.”

However, amidst all this fun and games, it might be time for the easily-tired to do a little bit of mental preparation. The programme ends at 5pm everyday, except for the last day, which will culminate into an event (O’Nite) that will end at 7pm. OGlings might also want to note that most OGs choose to stay back for OG dinners to enhance the Orientation experience, making the daily schedule end even later, depending on how enthusiastic your OG is. Regarding this, Arjun shares the personal experience of his first OG dinner. “You should also make the most of your OG dinner on the first night. After every day during Orientation, all OGs go out to eat, but I think it’s safe to say that that first meal is the most important by far. Start talking to your OG mates. Get food together, share your likes and dislikes, your CCAs, play games like “Two Truths One Lie” – whatever works! Just be as open as possible and make that night last for as long as possible.” However, the writer would like to caution all incoming J1s to prepare themselves for the “people mountain people sea” at J8 during dinnertime throughout the course of orientation, made up of people none other than their very own batchmates. As such, it would be good to explore other alternatives, such as going to the nearby Thomson area, or even ordering pizza to school.

While Orientation might sound like a very exciting experience for many, some may find it very daunting because of the energy and enthusiasm it requires over the span of four days. This may be a little overwhelming, especially for some of the new JAE students who have just entered Raffles and are new to the school environment and culture. However, Arjun gives his take on that.

“I think the most important advice I can give is very simple – be willing to try new things. That’s the purpose of Orientation after all! The change from Secondary School to JC life is honestly quite drastic, and Orientation serves to open you up to new experiences so you can enjoy JC to the fullest. In fact, many of the activities you’ll be taking part in are planned to take you just a bit out of your comfort zone. Maybe you don’t like making too many new friends. Maybe you don’t like physical games. Maybe you’ve never talked to someone of the opposite gender before – who knows! But if you come with an open mind and an enthusiastic spirit, you’ll be able to make the most out of your Orientation experience.”

Ruthanne also pitches in on how to make the best out of the experience, “The J1s should really try to get to know their OGLs better! Aside from being their leaders during Orientation, OGLs can really prove to be great sources of advice and support. After all, they’ve already gone through the same problems the J1s will be going through! So don’t distance your OGLs and treat them as your friends. They can be your pillars of support even after Orientation.”

However, if one were to ask any J2 senior regarding the sustainability of the bond in their OG, it would be easy to find out that not all OGs manage to stay together amidst all the challenges and new unshared experiences that come as part and parcel of J1 life. While some OGs, like Arjun’s, can proudly claim their title as “one of the most bonded OGs in the batch”, “meeting for breakfast every morning and making it a point to go out during every holiday, even going for school events and plays together”, it would only be fair if the other side of the picture was shown. It is the truth that many OGs do ultimately break apart, with the duration of this process depending on how much effort the OG puts in. An anonymous Year 6 even declares, “I haven’t seen my OG since the end of Orientation!” But regardless of the final outcome, just like how Year 6 Leong Yee Ting wisely puts it, “Just be open and try to treasure what little time you have with your OG mates. Maybe you were thrown together for a reason; maybe not – but that shouldn’t stop you from enjoying the moment while you can, and just let it be thereafter.” In fact, instead of not letting it hinder you, let it be your motivation. Be that person that you’ve always wanted to be; get to know the people you’ve always wanted to know; make full use of the time you are given with your OG, because that fresh, new, experience as a wide-eyed J1 only comes once.

Concluding with a heartfelt statement from Arjun, “Most people don’t remember the specifics of any of these activities during Orientation – in fact, most of us have long forgotten the steps to our Batch Dance – but you will always remember the experience.” Orientation might be The Good, The Bad and The Ugly, but who cares? Nothing changes it from being Your Orientation.

With that, the writer wishes all J1s (or soon-to-be OGlings) an amazing Kaleidos 2014.

Here’s to the start of something new.

–

Follow Orientation 2014 on:

Facebook: facebook.com/kaleidos14

Twitter and Instagram: @kaleidos14

(Click here for the Kaleidos 2014 Publicity Video)

Ever watched an MMA match and wanted to be able to defend yourself and fight like one of the pros? Raffles Jujitsu is an external activity that offers an opportunity for you to do so in a safe environment.

You may have heard of Karate, Judo and Aikido but perhaps not Jujitsu. Jujitsu was the martial art of the Samurai in ancient Japan. Taught in a modern context, Jujitsu is both a grappling and striking martial art, comprising a wide variety of techniques that include punching, kicking, throwing, takedowns, joint locks, chokes and use of small weapons.

While this may sound dangerous and risky, be assured that it is safe as you will be under supervision of trained professionals! It’s like a safer version of MMA training. Not only will you learn skills, you will also get fit and have lots of fun!

While Jujitsu is not a school CCA, there is an active group of Rafflesians practicing the art, making it a comfortable environment to learn. You will also get recognition from MOE as well as the Jujitsu Association of Singapore.

Our trainings are held weekly at Tanglin CC, which can be reached by taking a direct bus from school. There are also 3 public classes held on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at night which you will be more than welcome to attend. Trainings include conditioning, drills as well as learning of new striking, throwing, and grappling techniques.

Go beyond compulsory CCAs and try something new and exciting! It will be an enjoyable and fulfilling experience.

By Allison Choong 14S05B, Arintha Adelina 14S05B, Law May Ning 14S03O, Seraphine Chanentia 14S06N

Q. What would you expect a girlfriend/boyfriend to do for you on Valentine’s Day?
A. Kiss me.

- Female respondent, currently single

How did you spend Friendship Appreciation Day?

Did you know that Valentine’s Day was originally a religious celebration of a Christian saint named Valentinus? The original festival had nothing to do with roses or chocolates – the only semblance of sentimentality was that the said saint carried out secret marriages for soldiers otherwise forbidden to marry.

What then does the arbitrary retailers’ dream day mean today, beyond making most American men $150 poorer? And in particular, what does it mean to the average Rafflesian?

In an attempt to demystify the unspokenly exciting day that might spice up an otherwise dull school life, Raffles Press presents to you an online survey of 120 respondents on boyfriends, girlfriends, expectations and reservations. Of the 120 people we surveyed, about 56% were girls and only around 26% were in relationships.

Expectations

Q. What would you expect a girlfriend/boyfriend to do for you on Valentine’s Day?
A. Buy me chocolates! And spend time together with me.

- Male respondent, currently single

The first of our questions was ‘What would you expect your girlfriend/boyfriend (or hypothetical one) to do for you on Valentine’s Day?’. Girls are commonly stereotyped to expect more gifts and romantic gestures, and some may feel weighed down by perceived expectations from the day. But is this actually true?

Q. What would you expect a girlfriend/boyfriend to do for you on Valentine’s Day?
A. Not get heat stroke at Take 5.

- Female respondent, currently single

At first glance, it might appear that flowers, chocolates, and handmade gifts like cards and letters can commonly be found among the girls’ responses. Some wanted “personalised gifts”, others “self-composed songs”, while one slightly vague response hinted at the desire for “a romantic event”. Some girls seem to be more imaginative than others, providing us with more detailed descriptions of their ideal Valentine’s Day. One female respondent detailed that her ideal date would be to “go on a walk in some quiet nature place, like a reservoir, beach, garden or park and stone with me somewhere quiet and with no one, just looking at the scenery with a cup of tea~”.  However, the generalisation of demanding girlfriends is definitely false, with even some of those in relationships not even expecting gifts. “I just expect him to spend time with me. No gifts needed”, said one. Out of 67 girls, the majority of 31 expected to spend some time with their would-be significant other on the special day, 27 expected some sort of gift if a small one, and the remaining minority didn’t expect anything at all.

Q. What would you expect a girlfriend/boyfriend to do for you on Valentine’s Day?
A. Wish me Happy Valentine’s?

- Female respondent, in a relationship

As for the guys, it would seem that some still hold the mindset that they’re not supposed to be on the receiving end. About ⅓ expected nothing at all, with one respondent even remarking, “I’m the guy. I should be the one doing something special for her.” However, contrary to popular belief, some guys did expect some sort of presents – one commented, “Write me a card at very least.” The majority of male respondents simply wanted to spend time together or hang out. As clichéd as it might sound, it seems that the best present is our loved one’s presence, regardless of gender.

People in a relationship:

“Give me a surprise!” – Male
“Make me feel happy.” – Female

People not in a relationship:

Spend a quiet day with me reading books. – Male
“A handmade card perhaps? I’d love a necklace, or flowers or chocolate are fine too. :) A simple picnic would be amazing.” – Female
“Be there.” – Male
“I wish she existed…” – Male

Attractive Traits in a Partner

What our respondents could agree on, however, was that the most attractive trait was – thoughtfulness! It topped the charts for both girls and guys, with almost 80% of responses. It was followed by sense of humour, which again ranked second unanimously by both genders. Following these two traits though, disparities between guys and girls’ preferences start to occur. Attractiveness apparently plays a more important role in choosing a potential partner for guys as compared to girls. Attractiveness ranked third in the guys’ preferences, while it’s close to the bottom in the girls’ preferences. It does seem, however, that girls still prefer guys to be their knight in shining armour – protectiveness ranked relatively high in for the girls! It could also be assumed that Rafflesians are most interested in well-read and charismatic individuals, considering how both self-confidence and intelligence made it to the top five of the guys’ and girls’ rankings.

Dealing with a Relationship

We also asked the respondents about the one mistake they felt that guys/girls tend to make in a relationship. Majority of the female respondents responded something to the effect of “expecting a fairytale-like relationship” as the most common mistake, subsequently facing disappointment when things go sour, leading to an unhappy relationship.

Contrastingly, the responses we received from the guys were rather surprising. While we often hear that guys like to rush into a relationship, it seems that Rafflesian guys like to take things slow. One male commented, “People often go in too early without really knowing their feelings and end up breaking the other’s heart.”

The one key mistake that both genders wholeheartedly agreed on was the issue of miscommunication. Supposedly, our respondents felt that overthinking and making assumptions about the other’s feelings were key causes of conflicts and break-ups. It seems emphasising the importance of communication doesn’t only apply in workplace, but in relationships as well.

As anyone would be curious to know, we asked our respondents to talk about the one key piece of advice he/she would provide for their potential partners. Responses ranged from serious advice (honesty is the best and talk things out, even if you’re not one to talk or share concerns easily – after all, a relationship should have no secrets) to amusing ones like ‘get me a cat!’ and ‘please exist’.

On this romantic eve of Valentine’s Day, Raffles Press would like to wish all the couples out there a memorable Valentine’s Day. We would like to point out that, as one of the respondents cleverly put, “One shouldn’t celebrate their relationship specially just on one day. Every day that you’re together is a gift to be cherished (:” As for everyone else, we wish you a happy Friendship Appreciation Day! Look on the bright side – you’ll be able to get all those chocolates you’ve been eyeing in the supermarket on sale within the next few days!

By Tyronne Toh 14A01A

Does “Ecological Literacy” sound a little dry to you? Well, you’re horribly mistaken. With a multitude of field trips to places ranging from Bishan Park to the offshore Cyrene Reef (yes, there is a coral reef in Singaporean waters), you’re bound to get your feet wet.

Cyrene Reef, earlier in the year. See what I mean?

With a strong emphasis placed on hands-on activities and experiential learning, Ecological Literacy (or Eco-lit in short) consistently brings us out of the conventional classroom to experience nature in all its glory. Our first trip of 2013 was to Bishan Park, then Macritchie Reservoir, but we soon progressed to places such as St. John’s Island, Ubin and Cyrene Reef, with an additional trip to Tioman in June. And although not all the trips may be to exotic destinations, such as Cyrene Reef –not many people get to visit Cyrene, and even fewer know of its existence, for the matter-, every trip is nonetheless an eye-opener; life and beauty are truly ubiquitous in nature- one simply has to take a closer look to realize this.

Hey, it’s Patrick!

Do consider joining if you enjoy being close to nature and spending quality time with the great outdoors. For nature-lovers, it would be a dream come true; Eco-lit gifts you with numerous opportunities to get intimate with nature. For the curious skeptics, you’d likely learn to love and respect nature for all its fabulous flora and fauna. Each Eco-lit student is required to keep a journal in which sketches of encountered flora and fauna are taken down. Information regarding the animal, plant or location would later be added in. Journaling certainly makes for a great hobby too. Some of us have even taken this journal as a personal project of sorts, putting in entries from extra-curricular outings or encounters.

Of course, there are also in-house activities. Discussions on topics pertaining to the conservation of nature or pressing issues also take place, with students encouraged to voice opinions and ideas to these. Earlier in the year, we even had a guest speaker come down to share her experiences with the group. Also, we also had story-telling sessions where every member brought his or her own children’s picture book and read it to the others. Why? You’ll find out soon enough. More recently, Mr Tan Si Jie, our teacher-mentor, led the group in setting up a mini garden in the cozy backyard area of the RLI office. Herbs such as mint, chili padi, citronella and lemongrass were amongst the lot, and the garden even features its very own butterfly cabinet, which was constructed by Eco-lit students under Mr Tan’s guidance.

Despite the seemingly scientific nature of this enrichment program, there aren’t any subject pre-requisites to joining this program. Personally, I’m taking a full Arts subject combination, and have never felt left behind in this program. You might have to take down the occasional scientific name, but my lack of hard scientific background has never been an obstacle for me.

Ever thought of publishing your own book? Well, Eco-lit gives you that chance, too. Every student is encouraged to write a children’s book pertaining to nature, complete with illustrations. The book-writing process would usually take place from December to next year’s June, culminating in a book launch and possibly a story-telling session to kids- that’s where the story-telling experience comes in handy.

All in all, Eco-lit has been a ride. There are few things in the world that can ever surpass great company in the great outdoors. Hopefully, this article has cleared up some of your doubts with regards to Eco-lit; and do consider signing up for it!

By Jeremy Khoo 14A01B

There are many misconceptions about the study of philosophy. It is not intellectual masturbation, completely irrelevant to the real world (its only mostly irrelevant, a distinction insisted upon by most eminent philosophers) or the devil’s work, though if you believed any of the above Reflects is probably not for you.

The issue of the relevance of philosophy is actually a hotly-contested one. Ludwig Wittgenstein, perhaps the preeminent philosopher of the 20th century, had many things to say about the academic philosophy of his time overreaching itself to arrive at conclusions philosophers had no epistemic right to because they were confused by their own use of language, thus creating philosophical castles in the air. Today, whenever a debate over the importance of philosophy erupts, philosophy is always defended by someone who points to philosophy of science and political theory (in other words, the obviously useful stuff) and who seems willing to jettison quite a lot of present academic philosophy. I am personally dubious about how knowing whether the A or B Theory of Time is true would really change my life. (That doesn’t mean I wouldn’t be intellectually interested in knowing the answer.)

Anyway, if you’re a philosophically-minded person in this context, you might wonder if studying philosophy is a viable option. Well, no philosophy lesson or course is going to be able to answer that question, but Raffles Reflects will give you some idea of what you might be getting into and whether you feel its worth the comfortable life you might have had as a successful white-collar worker. As you know, a career in philosophy involves living in hovels with six other fellow hovel-ees, all of whom have more advanced philosophy degrees than you, and subsisting on a diet of pure thought and the occasional packet of crackers.

Raffles Reflects is more or less intended to allow students to explore the most important philosophical issues at an introductory (i.e. first-year undergraduate) level. It is, of course, just a taste of what one might experience reading philosophy at university, but does involve more in-depth study than the RP Philosophy course. Four main areas of philosophy are covered in the year’s work — ethics, politics, epistemology and the philosophy of mind.

In each area, the course aims to broadly sketch out the most influential ideas of the last few hundred years. For example, in the Ethics module, the three major theories of normative ethics — deontology, consequentialism and virtue ethics — are given focus. At the end of the year, each student writes an extended essay on either a set topic or (if they so choose) a topic of their own devising of 1500 words or more.

Readings for each lesson are given out the week before. In order to follow the lesson, it is more or less necessary to do this work diligently. The work is not usually dumbed down, which is a plus point because you will be engaging with actual philosophy rather than ‘introductory texts’ most of the time. The tutors will then spend the session working through the article and facilitating discussion on the key points.

On the whole, Reflects will probably be a suitable introduction to the basics of academic philosophy for any philosophically-minded person. As opposed to Knowledge and Inquiry (KI), which is about ‘the nature and construction of knowledge’ (maybe the most-repeated phrase in the SEAB syllabus) and engages with specifically epistemic concerns in both philosophical and non-philosophical fields, Reflects focuses more on the central areas of interest to modern academic philosophers. Students already taking KI should not find that the content overlaps, while students interested in philosophy who elected not to take KI may consider this a (nongraded) substitute. Its also worth noting that a background in philosophy can serve as good grounding for any career where critical thinking skills are important. Studying philosophy to improve your critical thinking without any actual interest in philosophical issues is probably not the best of ideas, though.

The selection process is fairly simple: you will have to write a 1000-word response to a question on a basic philosophical issue, most likely a comment on an influential philosophical analogy / thought experiment or an important bit of theory. No philosophical background is presumed and citations are both unnecessary and impossible to submit through the online enrichment registration portal.

For the reference of anyone interested, links to online versions of several articles covered last year are included below.

Rosalind Hursthouse, “Virtue Theory and Abortion”

Thomas Nagel, “What Is It Like To Be A Bat?”

Edmund Gettier, “Is Justified True Belief Knowledge?”

Cover Image from http://23ae.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/bj_pagebat.png.

By Law May Ning 14S03O

As part of our feature on Year Five enrichment programmes, our reporter speaks to Clarie Ng (14S03B) and Jeremiah Choo (14S06D), members of the 2013 Adventure Leadership Programmes (ALPS), who shared their experiences in ALPS in the last year.

Q. So what is ALPS about?

Jeremiah: ALPS stands for the Adventure Leadership Programme, and if I remember correctly the actual byline is  “self discovery through experiential learning” – a line that’s really is quite apt, given that it’s all about learning to push yourself out of your comfort zone.

Clarie: The programme leads up to an end year, two week long hike at the Australian Alpine National Park. We have to plan our own route, bring and carry our own food so it’s really quite an adventure.

Q. What would a member of ALPS do, besides go on the end year trip?

Jeremiah: In our weekly Monday morning sessions, we had leadership training and learnt other skills to mentally prepare ourselves for the trip.

Clarie: We had physical training sessions too – on some Saturdays we went to Bukit Timah to train our fitness by climbing the stairs there!

Q. Does that mean I have to be fit to apply to ALPS?

Clarie: No, that’s not necessarily true – to get into ALPS we will only have an interview. It doesn’t mean we’re going to make sure you’re fit enough to climb stairs or you can’t join us! You may not be fit enough to climb the stairs at first, but that’s the whole point of the programme, to train ourselves – climbing stairs will definitely make you fit to climb the mountain. We’re just looking for people with a positive attitude.

Jeremiah: A lot of people come into the interview just because they want an enrichment programme, or they want some sort of points on their resume. We want people who are genuinely interested in the experience and want to improve themselves and grow as a person.

Q. So how was the trip itself? What was your experience like?

Clarie: The days of preparation were not enough to mentally prepare for the trip – a mountain is much more steep than stairs, and the terrain was quite rough and hard to travel across especially when we were carrying heavy bags with all the supplies. There was even hail! It was an interesting experience to see hail, it hurt a little then we put on waterproof attire but we could still feel the hail against us.

Jeremiah: In the daytime the temperatures were about 10ºC and above! It was quite comfortable, rather like an airconditioned room in Singapore, though there were rather strong winds. But at night, it reached sub zero temperatures and we couldn’t start fires since we were using gas canisters! It was difficult to sleep even with our special thermal sleeping bags, so people who joined ALPS do have to be mentally prepared for an exacting experience.

Q. What was the most memorable experience in the trip for you?

Clarie: For me, the one experience I will remember most are the people I met through the trip and the shared experiences we had – the cooking, waking up, attempting to eat. We had a lot of fun together and I’m glad I went through it.

Jeremiah: What I remember most was trying to cook mac and cheese up on the mountains! It was so funny – what I can say is, cooking mac and cheese on a mountain is definitely a bad idea. At high altitudes, it’s difficult to cook anything, so we ended up with mac and cheese that was half burnt, yet half uncooked! It was a terrible sight,  but definitely memorable.

Q. Do you think it was a worthwhile experience?

Clarie: Yes, it was. Then again, the experience is really different for everyone – a lot depends on who is in your team, and what you do while you’re on that hike. But, if you want a challenge for yourself, perhaps this is the programme for you.

‘The Middle East’.

The first thoughts that came to mind were words like ‘Islam’, ‘chaos’, ‘belly-dancing’. It sounded complex. It sounded exciting. It sounded like the kind of enrichment I would look forward to every Monday morning.

There were a number of particularly memorable activities that took place through the year, one of which was the belly-dancing lesson. The dance teacher did more dancing than talking (which was a plus point) since she danced fantastically; it was safe to say that we were all awed by her gracefulness and poise. Everyone had a chance to attempt some moves, and even a routine of sorts, to cool Arabian music (note the distinction, ‘Arabic’ is a noun referring to the language, while ‘Arabian’ is the adjective).

Arabic lessons were a regular part of the curriculum for the programme, about once or twice every term. These lessons were peppered with stories about the teacher’s adventures in the Middle East, and how the Arabs would be amazed at his ability to speak Arabic. For most of us, these stories livened up the lesson, since it could get dreary repeating Arabic phrases again and again. Yet it was all in good fun and at least exposed us to the language. Elements of culture are often found reflected in the language of the nation or region. How is one supposed to appreciate the culture of the Middle East if we are unable to appreciate the language? Arabic lessons were definitely part of the more appealing and stimulating sessions held throughout the programme.

Not to say that the other sessions were boring or very disappointing – the talks by the various speakers dealt with highly pertinent topics for the Middle East today. I remember distinctly the talk on Political Islam. It was rich in content, providing us with in-depth background information on the Middle East, on how much of the region was ruled by the Caliphate before being dismantled sometime after a few hundred years of Golden Age (then again, I could be wrong about the timespan). The information has proved useful for both General Paper essay questions on politics, as well as the International History syllabus on religious fundamentalism. A lot of content is offered, and speakers try to give a good overview of the topic.

What I personally found unsatisfactory about the talks was how they were broad overviews, and did not focus on specific issues such as the role of religion in the various Arab states, be it in politics or in the society. Where religion was mentioned, they only discussed the role of Islam, ignoring the conflicts that have arose due to the presence of Jewish and Christian communities.

Furthermore, the meaty bits of information were only covered during the question-and-answer session held after the talk. Sometimes, the overviews covered information that we already knew, and it would be easy to tune out, especially if the speaker that day was merely reading off the slides.

In retrospect, I admit I was not the most proactive student. I did my regular reading up each week on the topic for the next, but I never did ask questions even if I had them. It was the same students each week that contributed to the question-and-answer segment at the end of each talk. It probably is the same few students who have an innate thirst for learning, who already have a burning interest for the Middle East. And I believe they came away each week, achieving their aims, having their questions answered, and gaining a few bits of knowledge that might come in useful for their General Paper. I simply was not one of those students. I went for the programme because I expected to be engaged, and not to engage.

Thing is, the Raffles Middle East Programme is not for students who wish to be engaged by the speakers. The talks are generally comprehensive in nature, and similar to the usual academic lectures, the speakers do not care if you pay attention. In the end, you have to take ownership over your own learning. How much you are willing to give, determines how much you take away from the programme.

Ultimately, the Raffles Middle East Programme welcomes students who already have deep interests in the Middle East, and who are willing to find out more on their own, to take charge of their own learning and be proactive about achieving their learning aims. The rewards it offers come only with diligence and a willingness to think critically and challenge the speaker with provocative questions. Be willing to step out of your comfort zone, because the programme is not for the timid or the lazy.

By Lu Jinyao 14A01D

Mention Raffles Bicultural (China) Programme and the first thing that comes to mind is usually either the trauma of Chinese ‘O’ Levels of your rusty Chinese oral skills. However, that is definitely not the best description of Raffles Bicultural (China) Programme.

Raffles Bicultural (China) aims to inculcate into students a sense of awareness and appreciation – not of exotic Chinese vocabularies, but of the world’s second largest economy and its culture. This programme recognizes the increasing importance of bilingualism, be it for the purpose of embracing your cultural roots, or the pragmatic reason of China’s rising economic power. Essentially, Bicultural China exposes students to various aspects of the Chinese society, past and present – the history, culture, politics and modernization, through its weekly sessions held during every Monday’s protected time.

Every year, to conclude the programme, there will be an overseas trip to China’s cities which varies year to year. In 2013, 31 students from the programme went on a 9-day long tour to Beijing and Xi’an, truly embracing one of the world’s richest continuous cultures. We visited historical sites such as the Forbidden City, and the Terrecotta Army of Emperor Qin Shi Huang’s Mausoleum. We also had the opportunity to interact with local students, some forming intricate bonds amidst the insurmountable language barrier. For me, nine otherwise mundane school vacation days were turned into an unforgettably fruitful experience, leaving me with beautiful memories and blossoming friendships.

After all, Bicultural China focuses more of dissemination than excellence. Ultimately, the programme aims to invoke within Rafflesians an embracement and appreciation of a different culture. Thus there is minimum requirement of the mastery of the Chinese language. The selection criteria are simple – a passion for the Chinese culture, a keen attitude and a decent Chinese grade. For the truly passionate, Bicultural China also offers its very own scholarship to outstanding students from the programme. As a scholar, you will undergo training to further sharpen your language skills.

If you are interested in the world’s most populous nation, world’s second largest economy, and the world’s richest continuous culture, do consider joining Bicultural China!

By Jayne Chan 14S03D

I can still remember the first time I stepped into the Seminar Room for an RP3 session, with its bright white lights and neat rows of desks. I remember feeling extremely nervous. I wasn’t sure what to expect. I wasn’t even sure I was in the right room despite reading and re-reading the reminder email at least ten times. However, the past year spent in the (correct) seminar room opened my eyes to a host of local issues and made being in RP3 a truly eye-opening experience.

The Raffles Public Policy Programme (or RP3, for short) is one of the many exciting enrichment programmes offered in Year 5. Sessions involve discussions about hot-button issues in Singapore, whilst delving deeper into the rationale behind policies, as well as the contributing factors leading to such decisions. Guest speakers (I had the pleasure of listening to Dr Cherian George and Dr Teo You Yenn) will be invited to give talks, and when the year-end holidays roll round, all RP3-ers will be given the privilege of interning at a ministry of their choice.

Discussions

The discussions I had the opportunity to engage in mainly revolved around inequality and meritocracy, with a side of LGBT rights, the disabled, and the necessity of tuition. We were usually treated to a brief overview of the day’s topic before gathering into groups for smaller-scale discussions. Following that, each group had to present their opinions. Everyone in RP3 is well-read, so I learnt a great deal from those I had the pleasure of interacting with. We explored the characteristics of various policies in Singapore in-depth, along with their merits and areas for improvement.

There are also quite a number of readings to do before each weekly session. Usually, these readings comprise local newspaper articles, the occasional paper and opinion pieces on similar phenomena or policies overseas (usually the US and the UK).

Year-end Internship

To me, the internship was the most memorable part of being in RP3. From my five-week experience, I gathered that policy work involves a daily barrage of emails, a substantial amount of miscellaneous work, plenty of meetings and to a certain extent, unpredictability. It was a regular desk job, but that didn’t translate to it being ‘boring’ or ‘dull’. Certain tasks involved critical thinking and evaluation skills, as well as a great deal of professionalism. Writing and IT skills were also important (I recommend familiarising yourself with Microsoft Excel). You may or may not utilise the knowledge gained during regular RP3 discussions, but the skills picked up from delving into policies do help in the work given. The discussion topics will also be brought up over lunch conversations with your colleagues.

However, at the end of the day, what I remember and appreciate most was the people that I had the fortune of working with. They entrusted me with interesting projects and went out of their way to make sure I was welcome in the office. I’m sure my fellow RP3-ers can attest to that too. Also, other perks of having a year-end internship include year-end parties and the occasional lunch treat.

The temp pass issued to us

(Just as a side-note, you may be left to your own devices at times, since it is the end of the year and people take leave).

Conclusion

Overall, I can’t say that my RP3 journey was filled with ‘ups-and-downs’, but it was a very fruitful and enriching experience for which I am truly grateful. I learnt how to navigate the office environment, and am now more aware of the public policy scene in Singapore. It is a timely programme too, given that we have to decide what paths we want to embark on in our (future) working years. If you are interested in policy-making, or simply want to find out if the public sector is for you, do consider joining RP3. It’ll be an experience you (hopefully) won’t forget!

So. You’re in a dilemma.

Should you run for Council? How exactly does Council work anyway?

What do councillors even do?

Fret not. The 33rd Students’ Council has put together a series of articles to tell you more about what exactly we do for the school (and YOU!), as well as what to expect when you join us. Here, our Department Heads of the Welfare, CCAD, and Commz Departments, as well as our Council President, share about what each department does, and what we’re looking for in you. Read on to find out more about our 3 departments and our PresSecs (Presidents and Secretaries)!

PresSecs

Your 33^rd PresSecs (otherwise known as Pentatonix) are a group of five dynamic individuals who are very passionate in serving our peers in our capacity as leaders of the Students’ Council. Beyond our separate roles as Presidents and Secretaries, we also work together as a collective to oversee a number of crucial aspects of the Council such as Internal Welfare, and providing opportunities and facilitating reflection of Councilors. Let’s look at the roles of Presidents and the role of Secretaries first.

Elected by the councilors and confirmed by the whole batch, the President and the two Vice-Presidents fulfill both symbolic and very practical responsibilities. The more regular duties of the three include managing morning assemblies, meeting members of the school administration to relay feedback and discuss student-related issues, as well as planning and running the Council’s monthly General Meetings together with the Secretaries.

The two Secretaries, one for Resource and another for Finance, whilst responsible for different administrative aspects, generally work hand-in-hand to ensure the smooth running of the Council. They handle critical processes such as attendance, availability of councilors, and mass dissemination of information; duties that are ostensibly trivial but are actually indispensable to a big organization like Council.

Our family of five! Photo Credits: Kimberly Chia, 14A03A

As a group, the PresSecs work very closely together for initiatives that concern the whole Council and more, most notable examples are, Council Retreat and Council Elections. And as aforementioned, the PresSecs also perform several functions that are not as clearly defined as their regular duties. These include looking out for individual councilors who are struggling in coping with their workload, providing avenues for councilors to bring their own quirky ideas to life, and on a wider scale, keeping the Council united through practical measures like regularly updating everyone on the Council-related events so that all councillors are aware and included in all matters.

Having said all that, ultimately the five of us are primarily concerned with the relationships and experiences councilors get out of the short time that we have. We approach all our responsibilities with the objective of being more inclusive and fostering a greater sense of belonging to Council and the wider school community because what matters to us are the People – the reason why we are here and the reason why we do what we do.

-Edward, Council President

Welfare – For You!

The 33^rd Welfare Department is made up of a bunch of spunky, passionate and lovable Welfaries dedicated to caring for your well-being! In all that we do, Welfare strives to understand and meet the needs of the people we serve – YOU. Not only do we manage and organise activities in the Hodge Lodge, a place for students to relax from a long day in school or simply hang out with friends, we also plan and execute activities that energise and bring excitement and cheer into our mundane school lives. From giving out free food and drinks under our newest initiative Snack Attack, to starting each year with a bang with Homecoming, to organising events like Friendship and Appreciation Days that foster friendship and fun and even simple things like having Song Dedications and a Live Twitter Feed in our school canteen, Welfare tries our very best to keep you entertained, happy and well :D

Welfaries – We work our magic in the school! Photo Credits: Rachel Lim, 14A01A

It’s easy to overlook Welfare and the important role it plays in fostering a culture of care and support in our school but fret not, if you have a heart to serve, to plan and execute initiatives that meet the needs of your fellow students and to build a supportive, caring and fun-filled school environment, Welfare is just the thing for you! Become a 34th Welfarie today and be the change you want to see in our school :D An act of kindness, however small, will go a very long way in making a difference to many (:

-Rachel, Welfare Head

CCAD – One Raffles

The Rafflesian school spirit is something very unique. It is something that almost any Rafflesian anywhere can identify with. It is our love for the school and the pride we have in being Rafflesian that makes us special.

The CCA Department of the 33^rd Students’ Council aims to help build this unique school spirit of ours in Rafflesians through the different CCAs in school. This is because almost all Rafflesians belong to a CCA and so we want to use CCAs to help reach out to as many Rafflesians as possible. We, the 33^rd CCADers are a bunch of crazy, fun-loving, hyper people who are passionate about making a difference in our school and make school a livelier and more enjoyable place for all Rafflesians.

CCAD – Ugly Face Competition! Photo Credits: Alynna Chua, 14S03K

We do so by working together with the CCA leaders to help make the school a livelier and more enjoyable place through events such as Inter-House Competitions like IHC Remix and IHC Sports. We also organize Match Supports for almost all the CCAs going down for competitions where we cheer on and support our fellow Rafflesians who have worked so hard all year round, putting in all the blood, sweat and tears, to do us all proud as a Rafflesian community. The CCA Department also has new initiatives such as Spirit Week and the online Team Raffles social media platforms which help to build our school spirit to all Rafflesians both past and present.

The reason why this school spirit of ours is so unique is because of our community. It’s about the connection we have with our fellow Rafflesians, about our love for one another and the support we provide to each other as a community.

It’s about the unexplainable bond between Rafflesians all over.

And it’s about our school spirit which keeps us together as One Raffles.

-Brandon, CCAD Head

Commz’D – The Bridge

If I have only a few words to describe what the Communications Department (or Commz’D in short) does, it’ll definitely be being the bridge – between the school, the Student’s Council and the student population.

The Year 5 to 6 Raffles is home to more than 2000 students and sometimes, our opinions are easily drowned out in this huge sea of voices. We’re here because we believe everyone deserves to have his or her voice heard, no matter who you are, where you come from.

The 33^rd Commz’D is made of 10 councillors who manage various forms of communication within the school. From publicity, like the weekly “What’s Up This Week”, which allows students to publicize their events to the entire school via email; to feedback, like Dialogue sessions, where we gather concerns of the student body and convey it to the school management. And through these, provide a platform for student voices to be heard.

Commz’D – Bridge for the school, but more importantly, YOU! Photo Credits: Tengku Sharil, 14S05B

It’s certainly not an easy task to look out for the interests and opinions of this huge group of students. But at the end of the day, it’s indeed fulfilling, because you get to be the voice of students, to build and bring about change within the school (like the Hodge Lodge!). So if you love getting to know what others think and feel, and are more than willing to lend a helping hand in gathering and conveying the voices of others, Commz’D may just be your cup of tea.

Oh yeah, if you have any opinions thoughts on the school, do drop us an email at rafflescommzd@gmail.com. We’ll be glad to hear you out!

-Sharil, Commz’ D Head

So there you have it. Hope you’ve enjoyed reading what they have to say, and learnt more about our different delightful departments and what they do! Do watch Raffles Press for our articles on House Directorates and Functions – you wouldn’t want to miss out on them either!

If you would like to apply for Council, simply click this weblink and submit your application form.

Here’s our CCA Preview on Council if you’re interested to get an overarching view of what Council’s about! http://rafflespress.com/2014/01/14/cca-preview-14-students-council/

Written by: Kimberly Chia 14A03A, Kunal Katarya 14S06C, Yeo Jon-Hann 14S06G, Dadi Santosh Amoghraj 14S06M, Simon Ang 14S03S, Thiviya Kumaran 14S06L

Hey there! Hope you enjoyed reading about the departments of the Students’ Council in our last article.

Today, we’ll be introducing to you our 5 House Directorates, or House Ds for short! The 5 Houses in RI (Year 5-6) are: Buckle-Buckley, Bayley-Waddle, Hadley-Hullett, Morrison-Richardson, and Moor-Tarbet.

House in Year 5-6 promises a different experience from what one would have experienced in secondary school. The context in which House operates is markedly different – in Year 5-6, there is greater emphasis on academics, and students are generally busier. With such a busy and at times stressful environment, Year 5-6 House aims to get students to look beyond and realize that there is more to these two years of their school life than academic pursuit and “grade-chasing”. Despite each House Directorate and House having its own unique identity, colour, flag and set of cheers, we all aim to create opportunities for new friendships to be made, and foster that sense of community.

Each House Directorate is made up of 7-8 Councillors, and led by a House Captain, regardless of gender. Every House Directorate is also supported by a House Committee (House Comm) of non-Councillors, who help out in the execution of their activities, although this is on a voluntary basis.

BB BEASTS! – BB House D Photo Credits: Kunal Katarya, 14S06C

All, if not most House events are conducted by the respective House Directorates. Our main commitments include coordinating the Inter House Competitions (IHCs), helping out with the House-related segments of major school events such as National Day or Open House, and to plan for House Hour and OG bonding during Orientation. The House D may also choose to distribute merchandise or organise House parties, and may even have House pages on social media platforms like Facebook or Twitter, to foster House spirit and build up the House community.

ANONE! – BW House D Photo Credits: Matthew Yeo, 14S03G

By and large, House Ds have the freedom to create and suggest ways to build House Spirit. For example, we can choose to change how House Parties are conducted for our House – or not have them at all. With such autonomy also comes responsibility, and a challenge to make our initiatives unique. The identity of each batch is determined by the events and initiatives that the House Ds choose to have, so the choice yours!

HUTALU! – HH House D Photo Credits: Ernest Chin, 14S06H

We also want to be Houses with heart. Hence, we’ve introduced more welfare-oriented initiatives for our Houses. Examples include how HH House D and their House Comm stuck encouraging post-its on all HH lockers during the heavy ‘mugging’ periods of Prelims and PW (Y6 and Y5 respectively), and the A level study packs created to encourage seniors during that trying period.

WOLF PACK, ONE CALL! – MR House D Photo Credits: Jasmine Tan, 14S03C

Leadership opportunities are spread out amongst House Directorate members. Each House Directorate member is made the I/C of an event, or a general long-term task such as publicity. We believe in supporting one another and helping out in any way even if we are not the I/Cs, especially as things can get very tough near big events. The work is hard, but the friendships we forge are truly unforgettable. Be it during the events themselves or the preparatory phases, we make sure that everyone has fun and learns something along the way…even from seemingly boring or tedious tasks!

MT PREDATOR, BRED FOR WAR! – MT House D Photo Credits: Ernest Chin, 14S06H

House Directorates are the face of the House and play a large and pivotal role in the building of house spirit. Being in a House D also involves stepping up to lead your House, mustering the courage to try something new, and being full of that House spirit you want to see in your House. It means putting your House members at the heart of what you do, and valuing the effort and determination of all our members over mere house standings.

So if you want to lead an army of BB BEASTS, shout ANONE at the top of your lungs, make the ground shake with the HUTALU cheer, are part of the WOLF PACK answering that ONE CALL, or are a PREDATOR BRED FOR WAR – joining a House Directorate may be just the thing for you!

5 Houses, One Raffles.

Caption: Our House Captains and their Ladyboss. Photo Credits: Matthew Yeo, 14S03G

So that’s what our Vice-President Kim and our 5 House Ds have to say :) Hopefully their sharing gave you a greater understanding as to what House Ds do! If you’re interested in finding out even more about Council, do talk to your seniors and OGLs who are in Council – they’ll be able to provide you with even greater insight and share their personal experience with you too! Watch out for our final article on Functions, coming up right here on Raffles Press!

If you would like to apply for Council, simply click this weblink and submit your application form.