Editorial Club is a major core-curricular activity of Catholic Junior College, a pre-university college in Singapore. It publishes the college's official newsletter publication - The Flame. It also convenes the Annual Literary Competition and publishes the Annual Literary Magazine - Zephyr. From 2007-2008, it was headed and managed by Ben Chester Cheong (2T15).

1. in this issue
A NEWSLETTER OF CATHOLIC JUNIOR COLLEGEMAY 2008
The GCE‘A’level Spartans of CJCThe GCE‘A’level Spartans of CJC
By Ben Chester Cheong (2T15)
2
THE GCE ‘A’ LEVEL SPARTANS
OF CJC
3
OF WITCHES, GHOULS
AND VAMPIRES
LENTEN VIGIL
4
GETTING STARTED - 34TH
STUDENT COUNCIL ELECTION
INTERNATIONAL FRIENDSHIP DAY
5
NEW ROCKAFELLA CHAMPION
IS A REAL CLASS ACT
PARENT-TEACHER MEETING SETS
THE TONE FOR JC1S
6
ORIENTATION 2: “EXOTHERMIC”
7
RICE TO THE OCCASION
GIVING BLOOD - WITHOUT THE
SWEAT AND TEARS
8
BATTLE DROIDS
CHOIR CONCERT:
A JOB WELL DONE
9
LARGEST EVER MEDAL HAUL
FOR CJC FENCING
10
FROM STUDENTS TO TEACHERS
JUDOKAS BAG MEDALS AT NATIONAL
CHAMPIONSHIPS
11
MAKING HISTORY
12
STRIKING A CHORD
The Flame is a publication of Catholic Junior College.
© 2008 CJC
No part of this publication may be reproduced or
transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical,
including photocopy, recording or
any information storage or retrieval system,
without the permission of the copyright owner.
T
he tension in the Performing Arts Centre
(PAC) was palpable. However, this was no
concert or performance. It was a make or
break moment for the 2007 JC2 cohort on 7
March, the day of the release of the 2007 GCE ‘A’
Level Results.
When school principal Bro. Paul announced that
the results were the best in 11 years of the
school’s history, the students, teachers and
parents who were present in the PAC broke into
euphoric screams and applause. Never had so
many students scored 4 or more distinctions.
There was added cause for celebration when it
was announced that the number of distinctions
for most subjects enjoyed a tremendous increase.
The top performing subject was Literature at H1
and H2 level, with 100% passes. At H2 level,
there were 45% distinctions, while at H1 level
there were 56% distinctions.
The subject which saw the largest improvement
was Biology. Many students acknowledged that
Biology was difficult as the concepts can be
convoluted. When Bro. Paul mentioned that there
were 28.7% H2 distinctions and 50% H1
distinctions, the whole PAC was filled with gasps
of astonishment and surprise. The H2 distinctions
were up by a whopping 16%. Judging from the
flabbergasted reactions as Bro. Paul continued his
long list of improvements; it is safe to say that the
2007 ‘A’ level results were phenomenal.
The top two students were Liew Han Hsien
(2T13/’07) and Chua Kim Loong Victor
(2T27/’07), who each received 7 distinctions.
Both were from the Science faculty. This
performance was outstanding - they had broken
the record set in 2006, when the top student,
Alexandria Kate Neo (2T06/’06) had achieved 6
distinctions.
Han Hsien did not enter CJC through the
traditional route. He had entered CJC directly
after schooling in Malaysia. Yet, this did not put
him at any disadvantage. He scored distinctions
in H1 GP, H1 Chinese, H2 Maths, H2 Physics, H2
Chemistry, H2 Economics, and H3 Chemistry.
When queried on his secret formula for success,
he replied modestly, “I never believe in last
minute studying. I studied regularly at my own
pace and more importantly, I
prepared my own notes as
well.” He also spoke about
achieving a balance between
CCAs and academics.
Considering that he was the
CIP coordinator for Fencing
and a NYAA participant, this
feat is admirable. Han Hsien
elaborates, “I see CCA as the
number one distraction. In
JC 1, the number of activities
was tremendous. In order to
achieve a balance, I had to
be very focused and
disciplined. Mr. Tan Hoe
Teck, the NYAA coordinator,
taught me how to achieve
this delicate balance and I
think I benefitted from his
guidance.”
Continued on page 2
Bro Paul with the Top students of 2007
Bro Paul with Top Arts students, Brenda Tan
and Andrea Lee

2. news
The GCE‘A’level Spartans of CJC Continued from Cover Page
2
Furthermore, his college involvement did not just
revolve around school work. Han Hsien has an
interest in the French language and is very well-
versed in it. He said of this accomplishment, “I
started learning French in 2002. I liked the style
of the language and the intrinsic value of it.
French is my fourth language. I can speak and
write well in English, Chinese and Malay as well.”
Han Hsien intends to apply for a scholarship to
allow him to study law in the London School of
Economics (LSE). When asked about his future
plans, he proudly replied, “I hope to get into the
United Nations (UN) and be a UN delegate to
help out in eradicating the problem of HIV/Aids
in the Third World countries.”
Victor’s subject combination is slightly different
from Han Hsien’s. Instead of taking H2 Physics
and H3 Chemistry, Victor took H2 Biology and H3
Maths. He kindly let out a secret about studying
for his most difficult subject - Biology, “Biology is
difficult, I have no doubt about it. But the key to
scoring in this subject is to put in a lot of time
and to consult your teachers very often. They are
the experts at Biology and they can easily point
out your mistakes.” Victor hopes to get into NUS
to study either Mathematics or Business.
The top Arts student, with 6 distinctions was
Brenda Tan Xiang Yun (2T03/’07). She scored
distinctions in H1 GP, H1 Chinese, H2 Literature,
H2 History, H2 Economics and H2 Mathematics.
Credit must also be given to the highest value-
added student of the 2007 JC2 cohort - Brandon
Wong Kah Ming (2T23/’07). He has a success
story truly admirable and commendable. With a
PSLE T-score of 144, he was posted to the
Normal (Technical) stream. Against all odds,
he worked hard and eventually made it to
CJC with a L1R5 score of 10. Adding to
his track record of continuous
improvement, he achieved a
distinction in H2 Maths and B for H2
Economics and H2 Physics.
The best value added student to walk through
CJC’s gates is Thio Soon Huat, Justin (2T24/’07).
He had distinctions in H2 Maths, H2 Economics
and H1 Literature and he achieved a B in H1 GP
and H2 Physics. This young gentleman came to
CJC with a not so perfect result slip. He had a
PSLE T-score of 195 and a L1R5 score of 8. Yet,
he is a testament to how much one person can
achieve when he sets his mind to doing well.
Justin was also Captain of the Canoeing team,
obtained an NYAA Gold award in JC, and has
been selected for Officer Cadet School. He hopes
to be a pilot.
In all, there were 67 students with 4 or more
distinctions. One of these 67 students is Shaun
Gerald Nathan (2T28/’07). Shaun had 6
distinctions and was the only person in his cohort
to take 2 H3 subjects. What was more
outstanding was that he received distinctions for
2 of his H3 subjects in Maths and Chemistry. To
this great achievement, Shaun said that he would
like to thank all the teachers who have supported
him in achieving such exemplary results.
Another student in this league with 5 distinctions
is Goh Bing Xing (2T30/’07). Bing Xing had
distinctions in H1 GP, H2 Chemistry, H2 Maths,
H2 Biology and H2 History. When asked how he
feels about his results, Bing Xing had this to say,
“I am surprised by my results but I think I
expected it. I was consistent in my work and paid
close attention to all the lectures.” He also
thanked Mr. Ho Seng Chye, Ms. Daphane Tan
and Mr. Melvin Ho for contributing to his
successes. Bing Xing also spoke on his next move
from here, “I would be applying to study
medicine at NUS. I am deeply interested in
medicine as I enjoy service vocations.”
One student who was singled out by Bro. Paul as
having a tremendously heavy CCA commitment
in his capacity as Captain of Track & Field and a
low PSLE score of 211, stood out as a shining star
with 6 distinctions. Choong Jan Tai Lionel
(2T24/’07) was a dark horse of his cohort. When
asked about how he
juggled track and his academic commitments,
Lionel said, “I never allowed an excuse such as “I
was too tired from training”. My idea was that if
you are an athlete, you train hard and you study
hard. Towards the end of my season, I went mad
with studying. I studied from 8pm to 12am at
night.” On a lighter note, Lionel says for the
whole 19 years of his life, CJC was the best place
where bonds are truly made and lessons learnt.
As an Officer Cadet, Lionel has this advice for
aspiring officers, “For all aspiring OCS people,
start training now. It’s not even questionable
whether it will be tough or not, it’s confirmed.”
Lionel is thinking of pursuing a double degree in
Engineering and Business locally but he will
consider an overseas scholarship.
The most memorable moment of the results
release was when Bro. Paul announced that Koh
Jun Rui, Benjamin (2T17/’07) achieved 3
distinctions. In his own right, Benjamin’s
performance is special. Benjamin is profoundly
deaf yet this handicap did not hinder him from
performing to the fullest of his ability. This
individual shows us that we must have resilience
when faced with any setback, no matter how life-
size the setback might be. Only then will we be
rewarded with the promise of good results.
Such sterling results would not be possible
without the hard work of the students and the
guidance and mentorship from Bro. Paul and the
teachers. This stellar performance is therefore
dedicated to those who have contributed to
the accolade of “best ‘A’ level results in
11 years”.
3 of the Top Science
Students take pride in their
results. From left: Evan
Yeo, Victor Chua and
Shaun Nathan
The beaming faces of Linus Seah and Zhou Xiao
Nan (2T17/’07) upon receiving their results
Lester Hio (2T11/’07)celebrating his results
with Mrs Sng

3. celebrations
Of Witches,Ghouls and Vampires By Michelle Kwok (2T13) and
Victoria Pereira (1T06)
I
t was a real Freaky Friday on the
evening of 1st February as witches,
vampires and other manner of
ghoulish beings flitted about the
grounds of CJC. For those seeking a true
paranormal experience, however, the
apparitions were merely the college’s
JC2 Literature students having a
monstrously good time at this year’s
Gothic-themed Literature Film Evening.
For some, it was a chance for them to,
literally, dress to kill as they traded their
school uniforms for Gothic costumes.
Photo-taking were the order of the
evening as students hammed it up in front of
the cameras.
The evening began with movie
screenings of “The House of Usher” and
“The Raven”, both of which
shared elements of Gothic
horror. These elements are
related to the nightmare
worlds that the Literature
students are analysing
in class and students
were asked to look out
for them in the films.
The highlight of the evening, however, was the
prize ceremony for the Best Dressed Class
award. The judging criteria for the Best
Dressed Class competition included
relevance to the theme and creativity.
Carrying off the night’s top honours
were the spirited 2T05, whose ranks
included a version of the ghoulish
killer from the movie
Scream as well as a
tall and imposing
Count Dracula. 2T01
and 2T13 were the first
and second runners-up, respectively.
“I took more than an hour to dress up. I
was rather surprised that my class won.
We’re all very glad that our efforts have paid
off,” said “Count Dracula” Muhammad
Zulhilmi (2T05) whose intricate outfit
complete with make-up attracted
considerable attention and made him a
favourite target for the photo-taking hordes.
Goh Yi Ting (2T01), who was dressed as a
Gothic duchess for the event, summed up
the night by saying, “The event is fun and
definitely an eye-opener!”
Lenten Vigil
C
atholic students in CJC
gathered on 18 March 2008
for a very meaningful
spiritual journey in a Lenten Vigil.
The CJC Catholic Activity Wing had
prepared the Lenten Vigil to mark
Maundy Thursday, a time for
reflection for Catholics around the
world.
The Lenten Vigil was divided into
seven main parts, with clips from
the movie The Passion of the Christ
shown at some sections. At the start of the
evening, Father Francis Leong lighted the
Pascal Candle to symbolize God’s continuous
presence throughout the journey, followed by
the sharing of The Seder Meal. The Seder Meal
represents the Last Supper which comprised
The One Bread, The Lamb, Bitter Herbs, The
Meal and The Cup of Solidarity. To represent
their friendship and care for each other, the
students then washed one another’s hands.
After the washing, the students
embarked on a journey to
discover their relationship with
God and the people around
them. They moved around the
college to 4 stations for a
modified version of the Stations of
the Cross. At three of the stations,
they were asked to reflect on how
they would respond to His call
and a time of reflection followed
where students renewed their
commitment to God.
For some students, the experience was unique
and priceless. Said Clare Low (2T37), “I’ve
gotten a new point of view of the Seder Meal
after being able to share it as one community.”
3
BEWITCHED: 2T13 show off their wicked side
FREAKY BUNCH: Best Dressed Class winners 2T05 in all their
Gothic glory, together with Literature teacher Mr Rupert
Glascow (back row, 2nd from right).
A REAL SCREAM: Principal Brother Paul gets
up close and personal with The Scream.
Breaking Bread: CJCians remember the work of
Christ as they share a meal at the Lenten Vigil.
By Yosephine Leosaputro (2T13)
and Khoo Jia Xin (1T12)

4. By Yosephine Leosaputro (2T37)
and Khoo Jiaxin (1T12)International Friendship Day
“A friend loves at all times, and a
brother is born for adversity.”
- Proverbs 17:17
F
riends are part and parcel of our lives.
Considering the valuable roles that friends
play in our lives, Friendship Day is a day
dedicated to friends and friendships, and was
celebrated on 15 April in the college.
To commemorate the occasion, a booth selling
cookies was set up in the canteen. The cookie
booth was a combined effort by the students
of Legion of Mary and St Vincent De Paul
Society. Funds were raised for a combined
overseas community involvement project to
help an orphanage in Batam. The organiser
was Beverly Anne Kannangar (2T21).
More than 200 cookies were baked by
students from these two societies, and each
was individually decorated with creative and
cheerful designs. Some cookies could even be
uniquely customised with a short handwritten
message composed by the buyer.
These cookies were met with overwhelming
response and support by the student cohort.
Many students who visited the booth ended
up with a packet of cookies to give to their
friends as a token of appreciation.
Leonard Yeo (2T08), one of the helpers at the
event, mentioned that the response from the
students was overwhelming as they did not
expect the 200 self-baked cookies to sell out so
fast. “The favourite phrase of the day was
‘Keep the change!’”, he said. “CJC-ians are
generally supportive of the needy and we are
very proud of this spirit.”
The support from the students motivated the
organisers to produce and provide more
cookies which were selling out fast. “I think it’s
a good way to inculcate camaraderie among
the students,’ said Goh Ee Ling (1T12).
By Samuel Kwek (2T15) and
Magdalene Yeow (1T05)
events
Getting Started - 34th
Student Council Election
4
T
he 34th Student
Council Election is
an especially
exciting period for the
JC1s. Most candidates
had no prior
experience in standing
and campaigning for
elections, and steps
had been taken to
prepare the candidates for the role of being a
Student Councillor.
Students had to first submit an application
containing reflective questions on how they
would like to serve the college. Nominees had
to attend a Nominees’ Camp, held over two
days (4-5 April) with programmes that
mimicked typical council work, such as
submitting proposals for planned events and
executing it during the camp. Based on a
theme “WAVE”, the
nominees planned a
prayer service and a
finale event for the camp.
Going through this
allowed nominees to
have a taste of what
council work would be
like and
whether
they were up to meeting the
challenges of council work.
Teacher advisors and their
seniors also had the opportunity
to get to know them better.
Lastly, nominees prepared their
proposals for their campaign
event and executed it. The
election process was completed
on 22 April with the student
population voting for their
potential council leaders.
According to the nominees, the
camp tested their limits of patience,
endurance and creativity as they worked late
into the night. They learnt to be more
accommodating in their ideas and
mindsets, a trait that is vital to being a
member of the student
government. The camp also
enabled the participants to
cross paths with many others
who share the same passion
and ideals as them, though
different in many ways,
offering them a chance to
work with a diverse group of
people, and taste what it is
like to be a Student
Councillor.
Solving problems as a team
Student nominees trying out the games
proposed by their teams
An interview session with the council
teachers in charge
A debriefing session by the seniors on their
games
Students nominees explaining their proposals
to council teacher, Mr. Eugene Yeow.

5. events
New Rockafella Champion
is a Real Class Act
By Ben Chester Cheong (2T15)
5
W
ooo...hooo” screams filled the air as
hundreds of students cheered for
their favourite performers. The venue
was CJC auditorium. The event: Rockafella IV.
On 15th February 2008, the auditorium, used
to housing students diligently taking their
exams, had been transformed into a darkened
hall with disco lightings and rock music.
In fact, it was so electric that many started
jumping, dancing and clapping to the groove
of the rock music. Some students even rushed
up to the centre-stage to idolize their favourite
rock star.
The fifth performance by Class Act upped this
feeling further by its outstanding performance
of “Always”. Lead singer, Al-Sharifa Um Salama
Haka (2T37) was extremely loved by the crowd
for her powerful vocals and heart-warming
renditions. After the band finished with their
performance, the whole auditorium was filled
with deafening cheers and applauses.
From the sheer extent of the cheers, it is no
wonder then that Class Act stirred the hearts,
minds and souls of the judges. They were later
awarded the prestigious title of “Overall
Winning Band”.
This year, CJC had an exciting and diverse
panel of judges. The 4 judges who presided
over Rockafella IV includes Ms. Caroline Smith,
an ex-teacher from CJC who is currently a
Class 95 DJ, Ms Tiffany Tay, an ex CJC student
councillor who was the brain child of
“ Rockafella, Ms. Kelly Poon, the runner up in
2005’s Project Superstar, and Brother Paul.
For the organizing committee, putting
together this year’s Rockafella has been a life-
changing experience. Michael da Silva (2T36),
Vice-President, Community Involvement of
Student Council explains, “As an organiser, I
felt that Rockafella was a life changing
experience for me. All profits from this year’s
Rockafella will be donated towards the
Overseas Community Involvement Project
(OCIP) fund. Having gone for an OCIP trip
myself, I realised how important Rockafella was
in helping to raise funds to aid the children in
the various orphanages and schools.”
Many students acknowledged that this year’s
Rockafella was much earlier than expected.
Some were caught by surprise when told of
the timing in late January. Participating rock
bands had to make do with a shorter time
frame for rehearsals. Yet, the earlier concert did
not cause the quality of the rock concert to be
compromised.
This was echoed by a first-timer to a Rockafella
concert Hansel Chew (1T32), “I think that the
performance tonight is comparable to
professional rock concerts. I feel that it is
interesting to have this in school as it engages
both students and teachers.”
Parent-Teacher
Meeting sets the
tone for JC1s
By Low Han Loong (2T05)
and Jorain Ng (1T05)
T
he first Parent-Teacher Meeting, held on
2 March 2008, was warmly graced with
the presence of teachers, parents and
students. The purpose was to set the tone and
expectations for the JC1 students as they begin
a new phase of life in junior college. The
school principal, Brother Paul spoke about
what students must expect of life in junior
college - elaborating on the all-round aspects
of academic achievements, character
development and personal attributes - as well
as the importance of parental support.
Parents were also briefed on the school
calendar for the year, giving them an overview
of their children’s time schedule and the stages
involved in Project Work. They were also
briefed about the school’s Service Learning
Project which exemplifies the college values of
Integrity and Service. Parents were also urged
to be more aware of their children’s daily
activities and to take a more active role in
establishing good relations and giving the
necessary support to their children.
Teo Xin Le Sandra (1T28) was one of the
students present who found the session useful.
“I am now more aware of the need to establish
and cultivate good time management skills
and will strive for a balance between studies
and other personal activities,” she said.
Energized for a good cause
Teachers and the JC1 parents meet each other
for the first time.

6. events
Orientation 2:“Exothermic” by Ben Chester Cheong (2T15)
& Low Han Loong (2T05)
6
From a facilitators’ perspective
I
t is often said by even the cynics of
leadership that one of the pinnacles of
leadership development is servant leadership,
with the attention paid to being a
steward/stewardess of the college mates they
served. More importantly, this style of
leadership emphasizes collaboration, trust and
empathy which are the key intentions of the
2008 Orientation 2 program.
This year, the theme for the 2nd orientation
was “Exothermic”, which took awhile to settle
on after many weeks of brainstorming. The
theme emphasized the formation of strong
bonds between the students and the school, as
well as their peers.
Deriving a theme was only the tip of the
iceberg. The big chunk that ensued was the
planning procedure which dragged late into
the evenings almost every day for two weeks
before Orientation 2.
Orientation 2 I/C, Billy Tanu (2T33)
highlighted that this orientation was special in
its own right as it was only 4 days compared
to the traditional 6 days of orientation.
Furthermore, the JC1s remained in their IG
groups throughout the program unlike
Orientation 1 and the past two orientations in
2007, which saw them being grouped by
home tutorial groups. According to Billy, this
was a challenge given that the students had to
re-interact with their peers when they were
assigned into their home tutorial classes. As a
result, the councillors tried to arrange activities
and games that catered for massive
interactions, hoping that it would lessen the
chilliness among the JC1s.
Matthias Chua (2T15), an EXCO member in
the Student Council considered the East Coast
park games where students got to enjoy
challenging competitions, the mass dance and
the finale night as crucial items that
contributed to this spirit of fraternity.
As Han Su-Ying (2T29), Assistant
I/C for Orientation 2, puts it,
“Seeing how much the JC1s
enjoyed the programme made the
organising committee’s sacrifices
worthwhile. Our aim was to give
the JC1s an orientation to
remember long after they have left
the school. And I feel that O2 has
left a lasting impression on each
and every student that was involved
in it, be it the facilitators, or the
JC1s.”
JC1’s responses to O2:
Exothermic, the experience was one they will not soon forget but they will forever remember
as a highlight of their JC experience.
Koh Jiajian (1T23) - “The theme Exothermic captured the vitality and life of the orientation
programme. It was full of energy! Just like an exothermic reaction!
“The games and activities conducted really helped us to bond and I got to meet many new
people,” reflected David Low (1T27).
The highlight of the orientation was undoubtedly Finale Night, which saw Solas defeating the
other houses Honoo, Arator and Fuoco to win the title of “Best House”. “It was one of the
most exciting events I had ever
seen,” remarked Yeoh Keong Yee
(1T04), who is from Solas house.
“I was really surprised but happy
that we won.”
“It was enriching on the whole,”
shared Osman Khan (1T05). “It is
always fun to meet new people!”
JC2 facilitators unleash their tribal instincts
Scaling the heights of friendship
Firing up the college spirit
JC1 students engaged in some water games

7. community involvement programme
Rice to the Occasion By Edson Kieu (2T06) and
Victoria Pereira (1T12)
By Bianca Mascarenhas (2T10) and Faza Mahirah (1T03)
7
O
n 17 and 18 of April, CJC’s Interact
Club organized a rice donation drive to
help migrant workers defray the cost of
rising food prices. Students were encouraged
to bring a cup of rice each to school on one of
the two days. The project, entitled ‘Rice to the
occasion’. Not surprisingly, they rose to the
occasion, contributing at least one bag of rice
per class.
This remarkable act of charity undertaken by
Jagan Nagappan S/O Muthaiah (2T31), the
International Understanding Director of
Interact Cub, came about when he was
browsing the internet. Inspired, he
therefore decided to adopt a
project to help out the needy
migrant workers who rely on
external funds. With their low pay
coupled with the rising cost of rice,
these have caused their wells to run
dry. In conjunction with UNIFEM,
this project would ensure that
workers did not run out of food.
The objective of the rice drive was
three-pronged. First, it aimed to
meet the needs of shelters run by
H.O.M.E. (Humanitarian
Organisation for Migrant
Economies) by collecting rice from students in
a collective effort. Secondly, to raise awareness
about the problems faced by migrant worker
as well as violence against women. Lastly, it
was also meant to cultivate a spirit of giving
among youths.
The Interact Club members worked tirelessly to
make this project a success. During their recess
breaks on both days, 2 to 3 members were
stationed at the booth to collect the rice
dropped off by students in school.
Jagan noted delightfully that even though we
asked students to bring a cup of rice each,
classes went a step further and gave
collectively an entire 5kg bag of rice. The
project turned out to be extremely successful,
with over 2394 kg of rice collected, far
exceeding the initial target of 500 kg. Being
the project pioneer, Jagan was elated with the
amount of rice collected. Nevertheless, without
the united effort of every contributor in CJC,
the rice donation drive would not have been
such a success.
Giving blood - without the sweat and tears
A
pril was the month where 188 Catholic
Junior College students stepped up to
the challenge and donated blood, during
the Blood Donation Drive, held on the
10th and 11th April.
The Blood Donation Drive was
advertised during morning assemblies
through hilarious and innovative short
skits. These helped raise awareness of
the drive among students and many
were eager to lend a helping hand
when faced with the prospect of
saving lives. Understandably, some
students still had a phobia of donating
blood and needed a gentle prod from
their friends to step up to the
challenge.
Scores of students came within the designated
timings to donate. The atmosphere in the
auditorium was surprisingly cheery, given the
normally gory subject of blood, and many
students were talkative as they waited for their
turn. Most appeared calm as blood was drawn
out of them and many were surprised
at the relative painlessness of the
whole process.
“It was not painful at all! It really isn’t
as bad as some people think,” said
Tara Averial Chan (1T03). “It was also
less intimidating because I donated
blood in school - where my friends
can give me support.”
Students queuing to donate their rice to the team
GOOD CAUSE: Students find the experience of donating blood to be
less painful than they had envisioned.
From left: Michelle Tan (2T26), Cheryl Choo (2T19) and
Wong He Jun (2T25) together with representatives Mr.
Jolovan Wham (H.O.M.E) and Ms. Lynn Tang (UNIFEM)

8. achievements/events
Battle Droids By Ben Chester Cheong (2T15)
and Joel Tay (1T35)
U
nlike the massed ranks of CCAs like
ODAC or Interact Club, the first thing
that one notices about the Robotics club
is how few members there are. But that only
serves to make this crack team of Roboracers
all the closer and upon closer inspection, like
family. As amiable as they are, this team is a
regular Michael Schumacher on the racetrack.
They edged out fierce competition to place
both 2nd runner up and Champion at the
Robo Grand Prix F1 Masters in the JC/ITE
category as well as coming in 1st and 3rd
runner up in the Temasek Polytechnic
Challenge.
While the small size of their team could be
easily perceived as a drawback, the members
were quick to correct this assumption, making
it understood that their small team allowed
them to really get to know the true
performance capabilities of their robots.
Rebecca Chan (1T19), who had no prior
knowledge of robotics before joining the club,
said that with personal help from all the
members, she could pick up the required skills
quickly so that she could do her part to
contribute to the team, especially for the next
Robo GP competition.
However, these results were not easily obtained
and were the product of time and effort of
daily trainings over the course of a year. With
this effort, the results would have been
expected, but the team reveals that such
results came as a bit of a surprise to them.
Cheng Ren Hao (2T23), Head of Micromouse,
recounts how “before the competition, my
robot was breaking down, it could not even
start. It’s quite a miracle that it came through
in the end.” Alvin See (2T23), Head of Robo
Grand Prix, too was not immune to technical
faults as “during the preliminary rounds my
robot did not perform as expected. It’s
fortunate that I managed to rectify the
problem before the finals though.” Edmund
admits that “We faced tough powerhouses and
other defending champions, so naturally this
comes as a surprise to me.”
The team was, in the words of Vice-President,
Edmund Wee (2T23), “Exhilarated over the
prospect of winning two championships”.
Rightly deserved pride also came in at a
juncture with the Ren Hao jokingly
commenting that their achievements were
“routine!” While this may suggest that the
team is satisfied with their results, President
Chan Hou Cheng (2T23) had this to say, “We
should not only be the best nationally, but
internationally!”
While the team may deal with robots on a
daily basis, it appears that they have not
inherited their robots’ lack of ambition. Anyone
hoping to find a robot on the team would be
sorely mistaken after all, in the wise words of
Obi-Wan Kenobi, “These aren’t the droids
you’re looking for”
Choir Concert:
A Job Well Done
By Bianca Mascarenhas (2T10) and
Faza Mahirah Bte Md Suhimi (1T03)
I
t was a night of heavenly voices at the
Victoria Concert Hall on the 8 May where the
year’s Choir Concert was held. This year the
audience was treated to an outstanding array
of performances put up not only by CJC Choir
but with the choirs of Dunman Secondary
School as well as Saint Anthony’s Canossian
Secondary School. Special guests included
Brother Paul, Mrs Edelweiss Neo, Mrs Vivien
Low, Mr Ling Koon Chow principal and vice-
principal of Dunman Secondary School
respectively, and Ms Melanie Ann Martens the
principal of St Anthony’s Canossian Secondary
School.
The concert kicked off with the songs ‘Ave
Maria’, ‘Tanguendo’ and ‘I Am Not Yours’. For
the finale, together with the choirs of Dunman
Secondary School and St Anthony’s Canossian
Secondary School the songs ‘I Believe in
springtime’, ‘One Day More (from Les
Miserables)’ and ‘Irish Blessing’ were sung with
evident spirit and passion.
This may not have been possible had it not
been for the tremendous dedication of the
choir members making the concert a
resounding success. Members went through
gruelling practice sessions every Wednesday
and Friday, each session lasting four to five
hours. This was definitely on par with most
sports CCA’s who train endlessly as
competitions draw near. Even during the
March holidays, intensive practices were
conducted to ensure that the members could
work together and sing in tune and harmony
with each other.
All in all, it seems that all the hard work and
dedication was worth it in the end, as Brother
Paul appropriately noted, ‘It was a job well
done.’Our Harvests from The Singapore Robo Grand Prix
8
From left: Chan Hou Cheng and Alvin Seet
calibrating the racers on the F1 Masters Track

9. achievements
Largest ever medal haul for CJC Fencing
W
hen you are with your teammates, you fence and train vigorously.
When meeting your opponents, you pray enthusiastically.” This was
the approach of Charmaine Teo (1T16) towards the 3rd Fencing
National Interschool Championships (‘A’ division) that was held from the 31
March to 3 April at Clementi Sports Hall. Along with Mindy Ko (1T26) and Lim
Kailing (1T32), the three won silver at the Women’s Saber Team event.
This year’s fencing result is a milestone in CJC Fencing history as it marked the
largest number of accolades ever won by the club. Our fencers accumulated
and bagged medal after medal, as though they were determined
to bring home every award available for their taking. Every fencer
who took part won in at least one category, winning a total of 31
medals in 14 different categories.
Notable achievements included the Men’s Sabre Team Event
(Gold), with the team comprising Ken Chew (1T06), Yeo Qing
Yuan (2T17), Huang Bairong (2T17) and Morgan Lee (2T21).
Jeremoth Tan (1T21) went against the odds and took home the
gold medal for the Men’s Foil Individual event. The girls did
remarkably well also, with Cheryl Wong (1T34) and Sonia Mao
(2T03) winning the silver award for the
Women’s Foil individual and Women’s Epee
Individual respectively.
Hard work and tough training enabled them to
emerge victorious. They had a two-week long
intensive training session before the competition
season began. “We would even stay behind in
school every day till 8pm to train,” Jason Lee
(2T36), Captain of the boys’ fencing team and
winner of Novice’s Individual (Bronze), recalled
fondly. Not that the sessions had been a breeze
- “There were literally sweat, blood and tears,”
as Ng Kian Seng (2T08), who won the gold for
Men’s Individual Epee informed us teasingly.
“No pain, no gain, as they say.”
There was no doubting that the fencers
deserved their victories after going through
countless adversities. “Our success would not
have been possible without the support of the
teachers though,” Jason added. “We have far
exceeded their expectations and have done
them proud!”
9
The ladie’s Epee team together with Brother Paul and teacher-in-
charge, Mr. Jonatan Tan
The all JC1 Sabre team basking in their victory
The participants with their ‘flame’ trophy
“
By Ho Pei Ying (2T09) and Irene Chong (1T31)

10. From Students to Teachers Judokas Bag
Medals at
National
Championships
By Samuel Lee (2T15) and Dora Lim (1T12)
10
W
ith the start of the new school year in
2008, the fresh faces of relief teachers
as young as 19 to 21 years of age
were sighted amongst the teaching staff, all
ready to face the new challenges ahead. In
total, 11 ex-CJCians from the ‘03 and ‘05
batch began their 6-month relief teaching
stint.
Many of these young teachers have chosen to
return to CJC to teach in appreciation of what
the college has helped them to achieve as well
as inspire in their students a passion for the
subject which they developed under their own
teachers.
When they were students, most of them
envisioned their perfect teacher as someone
who shows care and concern, is fully
committed to their students, who is able to
connect well with them and make a lesson
interesting. However, becoming teachers
themselves, they realized that being the
perfect teacher was not as easy as they
thought it to be. Most of them feel that they
have tried their hardest, but recognize the
stumbling block of being inexperienced and
that being a perfect teacher is something that
takes a lot of perseverance and commitment
on their part.
Even so, Mr Oliver Ching, (2T17/’05), a
Ministry of Foreign Affairs scholar, pointed out,
“In JC, I do not believe that teachers should
spoon feed their students. In order to have the
best outcome, it really takes two hands to clap.
The students must put in the effort before the
C
JC’s judo team performed creditably at
the National Kyu Grade Judo
Championships and the National Inter-
School Judo Championships, garnering an
impressive haul of medals in the process.
At the National Kyu Grade Judo
Championships, an open competition, on 17th
February 2008, CJC’s judokas came away with
2 golds, 1 silver and 4 bronzes. Lin Zhenyi
(2T25) and Sam Yvonne (2T31) bagged gold
medals for the Extra Lightweight Division, 1st
to 2nd Kyu and 5th to 6th Kyu respectively
while Joshua Liang (2t24) clinched a silver in
the Heavy Weight Division 5th to 6th Kyu
event.
“I’m really proud of myself,” confessed gold
medallist Sam Yvonne. “The competition was
challenging, as I competed with more
experienced players of the same belt.”
teacher is able to help them.”
On a lighter note, Miss Eileen Chua,
(2T10/’07) admits that in becoming teachers,
they experience a distinct change in roles
which can be a plus for those who have been
students their whole lives.
“Having the authority does come with some
perks”, Miss Eileen Chua, (2T10/’07) said with
a smirk “one of which is the ability to give
homework rather than receive it.” However,
the new found “power” is accompanied by a
responsibility to conduct themselves well and,
ironic as it sounds, their “homework” has just
multiplied many folds, this time in the form of
marking piles of students’ work instead of
doing one assignment. The relief teachers also
feel that the narrow age gap between the
students and themselves actually helps them to
be able to identify with how the students
think, something that more experienced
teachers might have lost touch with.
On the whole, these teachers feel that they
have gained from their stint here.
Mr Ching agrees that being a relief teacher
does help him to grow as a person. “Becoming
a relief teacher has enabled me to understand
people better, be it students or fellow teachers.
It also turns my focus back to studying before I
go on to study Economics in the University.
Taking up this stint allows me to experience
first hand what working life is all about and
thus preparing me for the future.”
alumni/achievements
OLD BOYS & GIRLS OF CJC: Clockwise from left - Joey Kang, Jonathan Sim, Elaina Foo, Jessica Tan,
Sarah Ooi, Oliver Ching, Ng Kuan Khai, Tan Kai Pin, Anne Marie Chua, Eileen Chua and Brenda Tan.
Judokas celebrate a successful Kyu Grade
Championships 2008.

11. Making History By Low Han Loong (2T05)
and Jorain Ng (1T05)
H
istory came alive quite literally on the
night of 30 April 2008 as CJC held its
inaugural History Night. Lecture Theatre
2 became the venue for scenes of great
emotional gravity featuring the Berlin Wall, Pol
Pot’s reign of terror, the Philippines’ People
Power revolution, the fall of Communism in
the Soviet Union and even a game show where
the likes of Fidel Castro and John F. Kennedy
among others made their appearance.
In getting the students to have a greater sense
of the History they study in the classroom, the
JC2 H2 History students were tasked with
creating a short play of about 15 minutes
around the theme “Triumph and Tragedy”
from a segment of their syllabus. Combining
the use of drama and multimedia, the JC2
students played to a rapturous reception in
front of an audience comprising Guest of
Honour Associate Professor Ian Gordon of the
NUS History Department, school principal
Brother Paul, vice-principals, various teachers
and the college’s H2 History students.
The night, however, belonged to the team
from 2T06 (which also included a few students
from 2T29 and 2T33) whose presentation was
deemed Best Adaptation by the judging panel
of Prof. Gordon, ex-History teacher Ms Fiona
Koh and Drama Club teacher Mr Christopher
Tay. Their play, Deadly Sins, combined wit and
humour with human emotion, and gave a
human face to those whose lives were affected
by the Berlin Wall. Lim Chuan of 2T05 walked
away with the Best Character award for his
sterling (and side-splitting) turn as Ferdinand
Marcos, former president of the Philippines.
“I am quite stunned at the quality of some of
the reflections and final decisions. From a
historical point of view, it was superbly
executed. The interesting presentation,
performance and the interplays of historical
text facilitate understanding and relive history,”
said Brother Paul, adding “I thoroughly
enjoyed it.”
For the students, perhaps the reality of events
they read about in their textbooks finally sank
in. Hurwitz Joo (2T06), who directed the
winning play, said, “It was ultimately an
enriching experience as, by performing
through the eyes of people in the past, we
gained new insight into how history has
impacted us now.”
alumni/news
By Michelle Kwok (2T13) and
Irene Chong (1T31)
Muhammad Iqbal bin Yacob (2T30), See Yong
Jun (2T07), Lee Boon Ping (2T16) and Tang
Hui Yi (2T31) rounded off the outing with
bronzes in their event.
The judokas also did the college proud at the
National Inter-School Judo Championships,
held from 27th-28th March at Raffles
Institution Hall. Competitors included Hwa
Chong Institution, Raffles JC, Nanyang JC,
Bishan Park Secondary and Assumption English
Secondary. Nevertheless, judokas Lim Yue Tow
(2T37), See Yong Jun and Tang Hui Yi,
successfully clinched their Bronze medals for
Light Weight Division A Division, Extra Light
Weight Division A Division, and Heavy Weight
Division A Division respectively.
Hui Yi also had much to be pleased about.
Having just joined the club last year, she was
initially afraid she would not be able to adapt
to the strenuous sports training. “I was
uncomfortable about it at the start, since this is
my first time joining a sports CCA. But it’s
meaningful and I have a passion for it. With
passion, everything can come through,”
mused the rookie who now as two medals for
her efforts.
Mr and Mrs Marcos: 2T05’s Tiffanie Chia and
Lim Chuan channel the former First Lady and
President of the Philippines.
Winning smiles: The team from 2T06 whose presentation took top honours for Best Adaptation.
11

12. A
night filled with a wide range of music,
from classical works to rhythmic pop
pieces, Con Fuoco VI, held on 3 May,
showcased the talents of the Catholic Junior
College Symphonic Band.
With a repertoire ranging from Puccini’s spell-binding Turandot to Holsinger’s raging war piece
In the Spring, the concert swept the audience up on a ride of jubilation and pensive poignancy.
Con Fuoco VI set the stage for a masterful display of musical virtuosity from the soloists in pop
pieces like A Song For You and Jounetsu Tairiku.
The concert also featured passionate musicians of Catholic Junior College Symphonic Band from
previous years. Their unwavering support has helped inspire us to reach the pinnacle of our
music-making endeavors. This year, they spiced up the concert with a highly energetic
performance of three pieces, including timeless classics like Deep Purple Medley. A collaboration
between our alumni band and CJCSB, our very first musical production Godzilla Eats Las Vegas!
greatly entertained the audience with a comical enactment of Godzilla’s rampage through the
glitzy streets of Las Vegas.
Such a performance would have been impossible without the hard work of the band, their
conductor, and the alumni who rendered their support. Months of intensive and often
frustrating rehearsals culminated in a most memorable and dazzling performance that every
musician is proud to be a part of.
Buoyed by the success of Con Fuoco VI, the band is optimistic that their efforts will be rewarded
with a rousing performance at the Southern Cross Music Festival in Brisbane this June.
12
Striking A Chord
“
“
The majestic tunes of Con Fuoco IV
events
Such a performance would
have been impossible
without the hard work of the
band, their conductor, and
the alumni who rendered
their support.