PJC Vol 2 - Pioneer Junior College

COLLEGE DAY
P 02
9TH STUDENT
COUNCIL INVESTITURE
P 03
ACHIEVEMENTS 2008
P 08 - 09
BAND @ ISTANA
P 14
Live, Learn, Dream. Simple, yet effective, was the message
brought across to the audience which included the Guest-ofHonour, Mr Gan Kim Yong, Acting Minister for Manpower and
Member of Parliament for Chua Chu Kang Constituency.
These three words encapsulate the goals of the college for its
student population.
Apart from the usual report on the college’s achievements,
the Principal also briefed the audience about the
conceptualisation and implementation of the Pioneer
Development Framework which would provide an integrated
approach to the holistic development of our students. Through
this, the Pioneer Heartbeat would be able to temper ambition,
leadership and drive with compassion and empathy.
College Day 2008
New Education Minister visits the College
On 20 May 2008, the College
played host to the new Minister
of Education, Dr Ng Eng Hen.
The visit was part of Dr Ng’s
familiarisation tour of schools on
his appointment as Education
Minister. He had a dialogue session
with the Key Personnel, learning
about the College’s initiatives
before visiting classes where
lessons were underway.
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Indeed, the audience that day saw evidence of Living and
Learning of Pioneers in the video presentation, as well as in
the speeches of the Principal and the valedictorian, Ms Koh
Seow Ken. The intensity of that desire to Live and Learn, as
reflected in the students’ academic and non-academic
achievements, and their involvement in community work, both
within and outside the country, was tangible. The audience
also heard the Dream of the alumni who shared their
aspirations in a video titled “I Have a Dream”. Certainly, all
those present at the event, felt the Pioneer Heartbeat pulsating
during the simple yet meaningful ceremony held on
17 May 2008.
Amazing Race 2008
9th Student Council Investiture
23rd July was not only a day that marked the beginning of a new journey of self-discovery
and servant leadership for 37 fine young men and women of the newly invested 9th
Student Council, but also one that paid tribute to the 8th Student Council for their outstanding
leadership and contributions to the College.
The Investiture was a success in more ways than one. The twin video montage created by the
8th and 9th Student Councils warmed the hearts of both the audience and councillors. Quiet
tears were shed as councillors recollected the testing yet enriching times together, learning
what it meant to serve as role models of the College, entrusted with humble authority to
lead the student body with joy and pride.
The annual Amazing Race was held on Saturday, 12 April 2008. Aptly themed Pioneer: Need
for Speed, this annual House event, organised by the House Executive Committee, incorporated
the National Education component into the programme. Thus, the URA Building became one
of the stations that participants had to stop by. Participants had the opportunity of viewing
an exhibition on the development of Singapore over the past few decades. Beyond just
learning about Singapore’s heritage and history, they also gained greater awareness of the
work done by the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) by viewing an exhibition on drug abuse.
The race ended with a fun finale - a mass barbeque at the West Coast Park. There,
participants interacted with one another and reminisced the challenges that they overcame
during the day. In all, participants developed perseverance and learnt teamwork through
this meaningful event.
The handing over ceremony was the most poignant moment of the Investiture. The 9th
Student Council’s new office of leadership was heralded by the 8th’s symbolic act of pinning
the Student Council badge on their successors’ collar. Indeed, it was at that moment that two
distinct councils, separated by the temporal nature of each council’s term, were unified by a
common vision – to lead and serve the College to the best of their abilities.
by Tay Xue Li (08S01)
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The Mid-Year Management Committee retreat this year for all HODs
and Key Personnel (KP) was held for the very first time at the newly
opened “Hort Park – The Gardening Hub” at Alexandra Road, on
Thursday 19 June 2008. It was really pleasant to be able to connect
with the outdoors while working at the same time! Keeping with
the venue of the retreat, the theme for the day was “The Pioneer
Potpourri”. As such, everything we did had something to do with
nature, which was quite unusual and different from the usual retreats.
MC retreats into nature for a day of
discerning and planning
Essentially, the retreat had two main objectives, namely, to learn
about “Leadership - Developing and Managing People” and to
have a deeper understanding of the all important “Work Review”
processes. While it may seem that the retreat was all so serious and
sedate, in reality it was not so at all. All HODs and KP had a productive
and meaningful time learning from both our Principal Mrs Tan and
Vice-Principal Mdm Kong. The food was fantastic and everyone had
the opportunity to catch up with their fellow colleagues during the
invigorating morning walk activity, as well as during the sumptuous
tea breaks and lunch. Indeed, everyone would certainly agree that
it was a day well spent.
by Siraj Ansari (SH / CE)
The People Development Commmittee (under the auspices of the Department of Corporate Development) organised
its first Staff Renewal day on Tuesday, 15 April 2008. Themed ‘The River of Life,’ the programme sought to create
a casual, warm and non-judgemental space to help teachers acquire, share & harness their reflective capacities to
better integrate life and work on their teaching journey.
The first half of the morning was helmed by trainer Ms Marion Neubronner who helped teachers to envision alternative
conceptions to vocational renewal and career pathing in the teaching service. The honest and thought-provoking
sharing also focussed on the importance of self-care and the creative use of professional learning experiences to
sustain one’s personal development.
This was given fuller expression in the afternoon session when individual teachers from various departments shared
about the many inspiring experiences which sealed their vocation as teachers. The afternoon concluded with time
for self-reflection as teachers engaged sportingly in mug painting as a means of retracing the significant milestones
and challenges encountered on their teaching path. Among them was Mr Loh Seow Boon, HOD Science who said that
the day helped him to touch base with his aspirations as an educator, “tapping on memory, professional sharing and
art as a way to capture and celebrate our common but significant experiences as teachers who nurture and build the
lives of people around them.”
The afternoon saw the respective departments taking off on their learning journeys to various destinations in Singapore
to learn more of the commercial world. Some of these destinations included the Qian Hu Fish Farm, the Asia Pacific
Breweries and a Feng Shui tour.
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The River of Life - a day of renewal
and reflection for teachers
After an unforgettable trip to Beijing in November 2007, PJC, in
turn, hosted our friends from China this year. When our Chinese
counterparts arrived on 18 February 2008, our Principal, Vice-Principal
and teachers from the Bi-Cultural Committee, welcomed them. They
were given an overview of Singapore’s educational system and PJC
before proceeding for a tour of the college. After the tour, we met
with our buddies.
To experience our education system, our visitors attended lessons
of the various subjects. They were amazed at how well we could
switch between our mother tongue and English and the close
relationship between students and teachers.
A Memorable Experience as
Pioneer Ambassadors
We also got them to join us in our CCA activities. When they learnt
about our student-initiated CCAs, they were astonished at how well
they can develop students’ hidden potential.
On the last day of their visit to the college, we treated them to
some of our local delicacies such as roti prata, rojak, curry puff, and
mee siam. Although many of them were trying spicy food for the
first time, most actually enjoyed it!
Besides having a deeper understanding of the two countries, this
Twinning Programme enabled friendships to be made. Most
importantly, the programme provided us with a valuable opportunity
to be a Pioneer Ambassador, to host and introduce PJC to our
overseas friends.
by Lim Shi Min (07A01)
The annual Chinese Cultural Camp was held on 2 August 2008, and attended by all JC1
students studying General Studies in Chinese and Chinese Literature. Organised by the Mother
Tongue Department, the camp was a rewarding experience, and it involved mainly lectures
given by two distinguished guest speakers, namely, Mr Ang Swee Choon, Teaching Fellow
(Special Training Programme - Mother Tongue) of NIE and Mdm Jiang Ling, HOD of Dunman
High Mother Tongue Department.
Pioneers learnt that writing intelligently does not involve just memorising facts and throwing
them all into an essay. Reading widely is the first step in writing an essay and application of
the knowledge is the second and more difficult step as it would help determine the depth
of the essay. Pioneers also learnt about the recent changes in China that ultimately show
that the welfare of its people is becoming the country’s top priority. The valuable knowledge
imparted by our speakers left a deep impression on those who attended the camp.
Chinese Cultural Camp 2008
by Tan Yu Jia (08S14)
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PJC hosted its 2nd Sports Forum on Saturday, 12 July. Entitled “Preparation for Peak
Performance”, about 260 students from 14 secondary schools together with PJC students
from various sports CCA groups filled LT3 and were treated to engaging and enlightening
topics ranging from nutrition, recovery from injury and mental preparation.
The guest speakers who included Dr Ong Wee Sian, the Head & Consultant Sports Physician
from KK Women’s & Children Hospital, Mr Eric Ho, a physiotherapist from Singapore General
Hospital, and Mr C Kunalan, Singapore’s former National Track & Field athlete and a Sports
Hall of Fame Inductee as well as currently a lecturer at NIE, shared their expertise and their
personal experiences. Mrs Kunalan even took the time to grace the occasion.
The students and guests were treated to refreshments where they were able to mingle with
the speakers and get to know the various PJC Sports CCAs through interaction with our
students as well as through the Sports CCA booths put up for information.
The questions asked during the Q&A segment indicated that students are taking their sports
and exercises seriously. Among the questions asked, was the importance of stretching before
and after exercise. While answering, Mr Kunalan provided an impromptu demonstration of
the right and wrong techniques of stretching. At the end of the forum, each secondary school
student was given a souvenir from the college.
National Day Celebrations @ PJC
by Patrick Hiap (CCA Dept)
This year's National Day Celebrations were packed with a series of never-before-seen activities
comprising the Singapore Heroes Gallery Walk as well as the Voices from our Hearts
Canvas Signing Project.
The Gallery Walk was clearly a success with its creativity. Everyone was treated to a spectacle;
from a life-size Merlion right in the middle of the Concourse to Sir Stamford Raffles leading
an entourage of local heroes. The Concourse was alive with local heroes from the past - at
one corner there was Lim Bo Seng and his formidable Force 136, working on his attempt to
topple the Japanese, and at the other end, Tan Tock Seng and his fellow philanthropists
discussed plans to build a local hospital. Who could forget the commanding voice of Judge
AP Rajah cautioning his cabinet with authority, while S Rajaratnam recited our National Pledge
with pride and dignity.
Students learnt more about our national heroes, as their stories were re-enacted by our very
own JC1 students. This year, we not only celebrated the Singapore Spirit, but also commemorated
our Pioneers who made Singapore what she is today. The next item on the agenda was the
Canvas Signing Project. An enormous canvas was placed in the hall, allowing students to pen
their well wishes, hopes and ideals for the country. This event captured the unity of our
students with the common goal of seeing Singapore grow from strength to strength in the
years to come.
National Day Celebrations ended with a wonderful finale – a mass singing session of our
national songs sung with gusto and pride. As the celebrations came to an end, the hall
resonated with voices of passion from the entire college.
by James Koh (NE Comm/Science Dept)
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Getting insights on topics relating to sports
The Tamil Language Society of Pioneer Junior College organised its 9th annual Aadiperukku, an
inter-college competition, on the evening of Friday, 1st August 2008, in the college hall. Mr S
Manogaran, CEO of SINDA, graced the event as the Guest of Honour.
Aadiperukku, an ancient river festival, was celebrated during the great reign of King Chola’s dynasty
in India. The citizens of the cities and villages then gathered at the River Kaveri during the period
of the month of Aadi to ceremoniously usher in and celebrate the seasonal overflow of this auspicious
river that would then irrigate for a plentiful harvest for the year.
Aadiperukku 2008 followed this ancient tradition by gathering students of various ethnicities from
fourteen colleges and one centralised institute to come together in a unique celebration of the arts,
technology and racial harmony. Aadiperukku aimed to achieve this through the four components
- ‘Thirukkural’ recitation, web-page design, ‘Rangoli’ and the singing competition.
In order to cultivate a sense of cohesiveness among the different ethnic groups, and to promote the
Tamil language and culture to students of other ethnic groups, each team of participants comprised
one student from another ethnic group. Furthermore, one distinctive feature about this event was
that members of the other ethnic groups recited the great epic collection of evergreen poems,
‘Thirukkural’ in Tamil and provided explanations for it.
The first-prize winners of the four categories were Jurong Junior College for the Web-page Design,
Nanyang Junior College for the Thirukkural Recitation, Anglo-Chinese Junior College for the Rangoli
competition, and Anderson Junior College for the Singing competition. After careful deliberation
by the judges, the winner of Aadiperukku Overall Challenge Trophy, was Anderson Junior College.
AADIPERUKKU
by Mr Maahnekham
Chairman, “Aadiperakku 2008”
Teacher in-charge, Tamil Language Society
During the March holidays, all JC 2 Biology students attended a one-day hands-on laboratory
workshop at the Science Centre. When we were told of the news, our initial reaction was that
it would be another mundane science practical. However, little did we expect that it would
be such an enriching experience for us.
The workshop titled “Analysis of Restriction Fragments using Gel Electrophoresis”,
was part of our Biology syllabus. During the workshop, we had the opportunity to perform
real experiments which were taught in our lectures, and theories that were explained in
the notes literally came to life! We had the chance to use micro-pipette to extract microlitres
of solutions and to use the gel electrophoresis technique to separate DNA fragments. Such
hands-on activity was certainly a good way for us to learn and understand the concepts and
procedures better.
By the end of the session, we were having fun handling all the equipment, and deepening
our understanding on biomolecular techniques at the same time.
Workshop brings biology to life
by Lim Zhong Ri (07S02)
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Achievements 2008
Archery
Archery Association of Singapore Inter-School Competition
• Individual Male - Gold
• Individual Female - Silver
• Team - Bronze
Canoeing
• National Canoe Marathon - Junior Women K2 Category - 2nd
• National Women’s Kayak - K2 500m - 2nd
Touch Rugby
• Millennia Institute Touch Rugby Carnival - 1st Runner-up
Netball
• National Inter-School Netball Championship - Top 8
Volleyball
• National Inter-School Volleyball Championship - Top 8 (3rd)
• West Zone Schools Colours Award - Team Award in Volleyball
• West Zone and National Schools Colours Award - 3 Individual Awards
(Lu Zuo Kun, Ng Tian Fong, Ng Zhi Kai)
Rugby
• National Inter-School Rugby Championship - Top 8 (Plate 2nd Runner-Up)
• M1 Schools Series 10s Rugby Tournament - 3rd
• West Zone Schools Colours Award - 3 Individual Awards
(Abel Foo Chuan Zong, Sheikh Arfazli B Arzimi, Wong Jieh)
Archery
Canoeing
Touch Rugby
Netball
Volleyball
Rugby
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Achievements 2008
Cuesports
• Teen Games (9 Balls) - Team 1st
Debates Society
• Semi-finalist in both the MOE Inter-college Debates and the Inter-Collegiate
Debates organised by ACJC
Media Club
• Schools Digital Media Award - Merit Award
• The Fourth International Children's Art Competition - 2nd, 3rd, and
Merit Awards
Chinese Drama Society
• 11th Inter-School Short Play Competition - Gold
Malay Language Society
• White Box Festival - Best Actress Award
• Inter-JC Malay Poetry Recital Competition - 1st Runner-up
Science Department
• Mech Challenge - 1st
Tamil Language Society
• Arangam 2008 Drama Competition (by PA) - Silver
Mother Tongue Department
• 19th National Chinese Calligraphy competition - 1st
Cuesports
Debates
Society
Media Club
Chinese
Drama
Society
Malay Language
Society
Science
Department
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Physics teachers share their ‘Play-n-Learn’
strategy at the Teachers’ Conference
The JC1 physics teachers, comprising Mr Loh Seow Boon, Mr Tan Ing Keat, Mr Loo
Kwok Wai, Mr Lum Chee Meng, Mr James Koh, Mr Darren Tan, Mr Bryan Tan and Mr
Lee Wei Chai, embarked on pioneering an innovative teaching pedagogy early
this year.
It was found that students were more engaged during tutorials and lectures when
the ‘Play-n-Learn’ method was used. This was because the method allowed students
to learn physics through toys, demonstrations and various playing tools. In the process,
students showed a greater motivation to learn the subject.
The presentation at the Teachers’ Conference of the ‘Play-n-Learn’ pedagogical
method marked the first time a team of teachers came together from PJC to present
at the Teachers’ Conference, which took place in June 2008. A three-hour sharing
session was also conducted to showcase the ‘Play-n-Learn’ pedagogy. The session
attracted a large turnout of teachers and many were keen to find out more about
the teaching strategy. It was a wonderful and fruitful presentation as the team of
presenters gained professional insights into the teaching of physics.
by Tan Ing Keat (Science Dept)
To instil a sense of social responsibility as well as the spirit of enterprise in our students, the
college launched “The Pioneer Heartbeat Bazaar”, a Social Entrepreneurship project led
by our students in collaboration with teachers, parents, Alumni and the College Advisory
Committee. The Pioneer Heartbeat Bazaar aimed to give our students the opportunity to lead
a Social Entrepreneurship project by forging purposeful partnerships with our stakeholders.
Our students together with our stakeholders helped three of the MINDS (Movement for the
Intellectually Disabled) Employment Development Centres (EDC) to sell products which were
painstakingly handmade by the MINDS members, on 2 and 3 August 2008 at Vivocity.
The college collaborated with the Social Innovation Park (SIP) to set up 10 stalls at Vivocity.
In total, about 12 parents, 20 Alumni members, and 160 students worked together to achieve
a common mission. In addition to this, they also marketed MINDS’ products for future revenue
for MINDS by distributing pamphlets to create public awareness.
The project provided an opportunity for the students to develop as compassionate leaders
and to meaningfully engage with stakeholders to achieve a common goal. This experience
in reaching out to the community will plant in the students the mindset of helping others as
they embark on their future.
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The Pioneer Heartbeat Bazaar
Einstein’s Cradle: enabling young students to
explore and deepen their knowledge of science
Einstein’s Cradle, a project of the Sirius Scholars Programme, provides members with opportunities
to plan and manage science programmes, and help primary school students in the W2 Cluster to
develop an interest in science through various activities and experiments.
The event was divided into two sections: the Science Enrichment booths and the Science Trail
competition. The Science Enrichment booths contained static displays based on seven main themes
such as electricity, light and simple machines. In order to cater to interests of the primary school
students, PJC students simplified the difficult concepts through various experiments. For instance,
one creative student came up with the idea of the ‘Disappearing coin’ in water to demonstrate the
refraction of light.
As for the Science trail, competitors from the seven primary schools were guided around the school,
stopping at different stations to answer questions and participate in experiments. It was indeed
heartening to see the enthusiasm and curiosity of the primary school students during the competition
as they pursued science with fun and vigour.
Prior to the actual event, PJC students worked tirelessly to overcome possible hiccups which could
have otherwise dampened the spirits of the participants. They were earnest and were receptive to
the feedback given by their teacher advisors. Through this project, they also learnt to appreciate the
importance of teamwork, to overcome differences between team members, and to come to a
consensus when there were differing opinions.
Overall, Einstein’s Cradle was a success and indeed an enriching one, not only for the primary school
students, but for the PJC students as well.
by Shawn Joo Jian Hua (07S26)
Pioneer Explorer, an event organised by students from
the Sirius Scholars’ Development Programme, was held
on 29 May 2008. About 100 children, aged between 7
and 12 years old from the CDAC Yew Tee Student Services
Centre, Fei Yue Choa Chu Kang and Bukit Batok Student
Care Centre, participated in this event. During the event,
the children gained confidence and learnt about the
importance of teamwork as they worked with their
newly acquainted friends in their respective groups to
overcome challenges and complete tasks at the game
stations. The children were also entertained with
activities like balloon sculpting, rocket launching and
balloon-helicopter. With activities, food, prizes and
goodie bags galore, it was definitely an afternoon that
the children enjoyed and cherished.
Scholars reach out to the community
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“Good morning, Ma’am! Good morning, Sir! Please spare us a moment of
your time … for the sake of the hurting Cambodian children” – a greeting
familiar to Metro shoppers during the annual Christmas season. Since 2006,
Pioneer Junior College students have sacrificed their year-end holidays to
support Metro’s magnanimous efforts at making a difference in the lives of
Cambodian children. Spurred on by the college vision, “Always Serving,
Always Learning” as evidenced by the college’s outstanding record of
community service since its inception, Pioneers proved that compassion
knows no boundaries when, under the scorching Cambodian sun, they
refurbished the Kolap 4 orphanage and a hospital for children with mental
disabilities in June 2008.
Compassion beyond boundaries
In addition, they also conducted educational activities for the children. And
their reward?
Seeing a hurting Cambodian child smile!
On the 18th of November 2007, a group of Pioneers, comprising 25 students and 4
teachers, went on a 10-day exchange programme to Beijing, China. The aim
was to gain exposure to the different learning environments in other parts of the
world. However, this trip also provided us with an invaluable opportunity to know
each other better.
Our first stop in the itinerary was the High School attached to Capital Normal
University. Before reaching our destination, we had a first-hand experience of the
morning jam in Beijing! Luckily for us, we reached the school on time, and were
received by the teacher-in-charge, Mr Wang. Well, the trip definitely gave us quite
a cultural shock. Despite the initial shock of having to attend lessons conducted in
the Chinese language, we found it rather interesting and viewed it as an opportunity
to brush up on our Mandarin. Students in the school treated their teachers with
immense respect and everyone greeted their teachers with gusto. In addition, we
were amazed by the high standards of classroom etiquette shown by the students.
We were also fortunate to have attended a number of enrichment classes which
revolved around Chinese traditional music and art, and to work with them on a
project on the differences between the tertiary education systems in both countries.
Besides visiting the high school, we also paid a visit to the famous Tsinghua University.
The aim of the trip was to give us a better idea of the university education system
in China, and to know more about the different faculties and courses available.
What is a trip to Beijing without visiting the famous historical architectural wonders,
such as the Tiananmen Square, the majestic Forbidden City, the Great Wall of China
and the beautiful Summer Palace? Besides these, we also visited Hutong and shopping
malls in Wang Fu Jing, a street that is also famous for its variety of exotic street fare.
At the end of the 10 days, we bade farewell to China, knowing that it was by far a
most enriching experience.
by Lim Shi Min (07A01)
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A memorable Trip to Beijing
Back to Ah Gong Ah Mah’s Days
On 27 May 2008, the Eco club set off for Kluang, Malaysia, for a 2-day camp on an organic rice farm. The trip was themed “Back
to Ah Gong Ah Mah’s Days”, an indication that we were about to relive the old kampung days. It was the Club’s first-ever
camping trip and we were excited.
Setting out in the morning, we arrived at the farm in time for lunch, after which, we pitched our tents. Raft-building came next.
Members brainstormed, working together to build a floatable raft. Sadly, none of us was an expert, so it was no surprise that
the first raft that went into the lake came apart.
We had our first taste of kampung life when we worked for our dinner. We were tasked to net about six fish for the night’s
barbeque. It looked easy enough during the demonstration. However, when we tried with our hands, we fared terribly. Nonetheless,
dinner was a sumptuous feast. After dinner, our night activities began. We made kites and strolled through the fruit orchards
in the moonlight. By the time we returned, it was midnight, and it seemed a fitting way to end the day by sleeping in our tents
under the starry night sky.
Day 2 started off early to the call of a distant rooster. After breakfast, it was time to get our hands dirty by weeding the rice
plants. After the weeding, it was back to the main hall, where we were taught to make natural fertiliser out of foliage which
we gathered from around the farm. All were compacted into baskets and left to decompose for approximately six months before
being used. Next, we toured the greenhouses where they grew cash crops. The farm workers used containers coated with a
sugary liquid to attract flies, keeping them from the crops, thus eliminating the need for pesticides.
All too soon, it was time to leave the farm and head back to Singapore. Looking back, the camp was an eye-opener. I realised
that Singaporeans miss out on the simple things in life. The pace of life in our society is a stark contrast to the pace of life there.
Things moved at a leisurely pace. The camp served as a poignant reminder of simpler times when Man was not at odds with
nature and was satisfied with the simple things in life. It is time we start paying more attention to our environment and cherish
what we have before it vanishes.
by Caroline Wan (08S04)
Once again, the generous and environmental friendly spirit of Pioneers came alive! July 5th saw Mdm Betty Tong (Teacher-in-charge
of the Eco Club) and teacher-volunteer, Mdm Sylvia Teo, lead 33 enthusiastic Pioneers to the Pasir Ris Park for the essential task
of clearing the mangroves of litter. It may be just clearing litter to many, but we knew that we were playing an important
role in the effort to save the environment. On our arrival at Pasir Park, we were met by a representative of the Green Volunteers
Network who showed us where the clean-up was to be done. With great excitement and anticipation, we set out.
Jaws dropped when we saw the extent of the filth; all sorts of litter were found, ranging from pillows to cooking pots, and we
all wondered, why, oh why, weren’t the good ol’ dustbins nearby used? A good two and a half hours later, all the rubbish bags
were filled and it was time to leave. Despite the hard work, it was indeed an enjoyable and memorable experience and we felt
good, having done our part for the environment, and we will definitely volunteer again without any hesitation.
Mangrove Clean-up at Pasir Ris
by Goh Yi Lin & Sherry Wong (08S05)
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Ngee Ann Kongsi Donates $200K
Listening to talks, watching concerts, and even taking your exams in
the hall will soon be a pleasant experience. The hall has been airconditioned and this was made possible through a $200,000 donation
from the Ngee Ann Kongsi Foundation. The donation will allow the
college to continue with improvements to its environment. The college
is deeply grateful to Ngee Ann Kongsi for its generous gesture.
Band entertains at Istana grounds
Symphonic Band makes music in Taiwan
PJC’s Symphonic Band went on a 5-day musical exchange programme to Taiwan, from 28 May to 1 June this
year. The focus of the trip was the musical exchange with two schools: Kuang-Jen High School (which offers a
music programme for talented youth in Taiwan) and Hua Gang Arts School (the largest Arts school in Taiwan).
We were really honoured to have had the opportunity to exchange pointers and learn from the musicallytalented Taiwanese students of these two top schools. Although some of us did not speak Mandarin, we managed
to communicate with our Taiwanese counterparts through the universal language of music.
Of course, the band did not go all the way to Taiwan just for the music. Not only did we sample food such as
“Ah Zhong Mian Xian” and “mango ice”, we also visited interesting tourist attractions, and got to see the
magnificent “Taipei 101”.
The band learned many things during this overseas trip, not just in the area of music, but also of the vibrant
Taiwanese culture and way of life. Our fond memories of the trip and the tips we learnt will definitely spur us
on in our quest for better results.
by Samuel Lim (08S32)
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The Symphonic Band was invited to perform at the Istana grounds for
the public on 1 May 2008. The turnout was huge as it was Labour Day, and
therefore a public holiday. The President, Mr Nathan, and his wife, graced
the performance, clearly enjoying the music. For the band members, it
was a heartening experience as their performance was tremendously wellreceived by the crowd, including the President who commended the
performance as one of the better ones that he had witnessed.
Michael Kwok honoured with
Most Caring Teacher Award
Michael Kwok (HOD / PE) was among three teachers who won the
Most Caring Teacher Award. The biennial award is co-organised by
the National Institute of Education and ExxonMobil Asia Pacific. This
award comes on the heels of the previous award of the Best PE Teacher
he won earlier this year. Congratulations, Michael Kwok.
Mr Maahnekham Wins the Achievement Award
for Education
‘Service without reward’ has been the mantra of Mr Maahnekham, our Tamil Language Teacher, who has dedicated
the last 43 years of his life to the teaching service. Mr Maahnekham recently won the prestigious Lifetime
Achievement Award, Education, awarded by the Tamil Language and Cultural Society, in collaboration with a
number of organisations including the Tamil Language Unit of the MOE and the Singapore Tamil Language
Teachers' Union.
Winning the award was no mean feat as the stringent selection process saw the judging panel conduct a rigorous
inquiry of the nominees’ contributions to the teaching service over the years. Mr Maahnekham’s track record
spoke volumes.
He was a Volunteer Aftercare Officer for the Singapore Anti-Narcotics Association in the 1970s and ‘80s, counseling
and motivating rehabilitating addicts to turn their lives around. Some of those who made it good, attribute their
success to Mr Maahnekham. Furthermore, the Tamil Language teacher was the Divisional Superintendent of the
St. John's Ambulance Brigade during the 1960s and 1990s, and received the Long Service Award from the then
President of Singapore, Mr Benjamin Sheares.
Mr Maahnekham, not once but twice, won the Most Inspiring Tamil Teacher award and was also honoured with
the Outstanding Teacher Award.
More recently, in addition to preparing his students for the ‘A’ level exams, he has become the leader of the
National Resource Centre for junior colleges, and leader of the JC Website Tamil Internet Steering Committee.
‘Aadiperukku’, the multi-racial, inter-junior college competition, was a brainchild of the Tamil Language Society
of PJC and Mr Maahnekham. ‘Aadiperukku’, which is in its 9th year of production, has won much acclaim from
the public and the media for its vision to promote racial and social harmony in conjunction with intellectual pursuit.
Despite the accolades, Mr Maahnekham remains modest. When asked what motivated him, he simply replied,
‘Winning the award was nice and completely unexpected, but the greater reward is the satisfaction that comes
from knowing that I have done my best to help my students to reach theirs.’
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Teachers’ Day Dinner
Teachers’ Day Concert