By Raffles Bowling

To the untrained eye, bowling seems simple. It’s always the same bowling ball, rolling down the same lane, in the same bowling alley. Again, again and again. But beneath the surface, there’s so much more. Bowlers are required to strike a delicate balance of knowledge, technique and mental strength to hit every seemingly effortless strike.

Contrary to popular belief, bowling is not a mindless flexing of muscles to whack the ball at the pins. Instead, it demands precise technique and knowledge of your equipment. Most importantly, you can still flex, since flexibility in adjusting according to the lane conditions is absolutely imperative. Whilst you might think that all lanes are identical, they each consist of different oiling patterns that vary in length and thickness.

Bowling is often misconstrued as an individual sport—each shot being taken individually against wooden opponents. In reality, the element of competition forces us to work together as a team to achieve a strong cohesion, spurring each other to the summit. There are three separate events in the national inter-schools—Singles, Doubles, and Team (made up of four bowlers per team), all of which culminates towards the all-events placing. Whilst there is a finite limit of bowlers within the pair of lanes you bowl on (anywhere from four to eight!), the wild screeches and hollers of support from our teammates behind our back becomes a constant throughout the competition, pushing each of us through every shot.

Throughout our events, we strive to maintain a high level of team synergy throughout the three to four hours of intense battle,​ ​giving​ ​each​ ​bowler​ zeal​ ​to​ stay focused and push​ ​through​ ​even​ the most nerve-wracking of moments. This is the team spirit that has been inculcated in Raffles Bowling over the years and is the defining characteristic of our family. We are proud to say that none of our achievements in A Division 2019 could have been possible without such strong pillars of support.

Cheers done before every event not only motivate us to give our best, but also gives us the assurance that we are a team on this journey. We know that there will be someone watching our backs in every shot we take—solid strikes or ghastly gutters—and that sense of assurance is what drives us to never call it quits, even in our darkest hour. 

WHAT TEAM?
RAFFLES!

Training​ ​for​ ​A Division (held in April) commences from​ ​November​ ​the​ ​previous​ ​year​. They are usually held at Orchid Country Club (also our competition venue) ​three​ ​times​ ​a​ ​week: ​Mondays​ ​and​ ​Fridays​ ​from​ ​6​ ​to​ 8 pm​ ​and Wednesdays​ ​from​ ​3​ ​to​ 5 pm​ ​(subject​ ​to​ ​change​ ​according​ ​to​ ​our​ ​timetables). 

After some simple stretching exercises and jumping jacks on the lanes, we start training with some interesting and sometimes seemingly dubious drills, sometimes even ​throwing​ ​our​ ​balls​ ​to​ ​our​ ​teammates instead​ ​of​ ​the​ ​pins. These​ ​exercises​ ​help ​us​ ​to​ ​hone​ ​various​ ​skills​ ​vital​ ​for​ ​bowling​ ​such​ ​as increasing our accuracy and ability to hit our targets.

These training sessions strengthen our repertoire of bowling skills, helping us get into the zone for competition whilst perpetually solidifying our overall team spirit. Consequently, we achieved good results in the National Inter-Schools competition in 2019, with both the Girls and Boys Team coming in second, whilst simultaneously bagging numerous individual achievements—including two gold medals.

Apart from our toil of trainings and the annual National Inter-Schools competition, some of our most memorable highlights originate from our much-anticipated annual events: March Holiday Camp, Post A Division Party, and Y6 Farewell. 

The March Holiday Camp focuses primarily on promoting inter and intra-batch bonding, ensuring that our J1s are able to transition into the team smoothly. Breaking from the usual monotone of the bowling alley, we partake in various sports and games ranging from the adventurous treasure hunting to the nonsensical United Badminton to foster a close-knit family before we are thrust into our competitive mood.

Upon the conclusion of our A Divs, we traditionally throw a Post A Div Party to celebrate our accomplishments, allowing us to build stronger, long-lasting friendships to last us for the remainder of our tenure, and possibly beyond.  

Last but certainly not least, ​​the Y6 farewell celebrates our seniors’ hard work and efforts; allowing us to express our gratitude towards their guidance and support, which serves as the very foundation for our batch spirit since our induction. Well-wishes for Prelims and A levels aside, this also serves as a warm way to wrap up the year.

Lack prior experience in competitive bowling? Fret not, our team has a wide range of competitive experience from seasoned veterans to those whose A Div experience this year was their first outing. As long as you’re open-minded and possess an enthusiasm to learn, no peak is too high to surmount!

 Hence, if you’ve ever found it a struggle to get that balance between social life and grades but still seek to achieve some form of perfect balance, or felt up for a challenging mental game to test your tenacity when​ ​faced​ ​with​ ​ten​ ​pins 60​ ​feet​ ​away, or just ​want​ ​to​ ​be​ ​part​ ​of​ ​a​ ​fun​, ​loving​, supportive bowling family​, we​ ​look forward​ ​to seeing​ ​you​ ​at​ ​trials​!

By Coline Staes-Polet (20A13A), Girls Captain, Brandon Tan (20S03G) Boys Captain, Vivien Tai (20S03G), Girls Vice-Captain, Edison Yap (20S07B), Boys Vice-Captain

If you ever happen to be craving an ice cream waffle after a long day of classes on a hot afternoon, you may find yourself outside Y1-4 Chill surrounded by the sounds of splashing water, loud screams and laughter. You see, this is where we train. Just a fence away from Y1-4 Chill, the RI pool, is Water Polo territory.

Water Polo is a physically demanding yet exhilarating activity that requires players to attack, defend, and pass a ball, all without being able to touch the bottom of the pool. Surely then, many may ask: why play a sport that is such hard work? What do you stand to gain? To that, we say: because of our team that we call family. Let us share about our family here in Raffles.

The girls’ team, despite being categorised as a “developmental sport” in RI, trains just like any other competitive team sport, and sets its goals just as high. As Water polo is a relatively new sport for girls, none of us had any prior experience playing this sport. So it is through pure determination and perseverance that we have managed to retain the A Division National School Games Championship title for over 10 years, and are hoping to continue this feat. As intimidating as that may sound, know that we are not looking for people with extensive experience in swimming or even any other sport, but rather someone dedicated, courageous, and open to challenges.

Though we admit that the learning curve may seem daunting at first, having a group of friends by your side every step of the way, to push you through the tough times and celebrate with you during the happy ones, will make the impossible possible.

For the boys’ team, it is a little different. Boys are generally required to have prior competitive experience in Water polo should they wish to join the CCA due to the higher level of gameplay observed. The RI boys’ team has proven to be a formidable opponent, having clinched the A Division gold medal from 2016-2018 and silver in 2019. It is true that nothing comes for free, and this is the result of countless hours of training spent doing weights, swim sets, ball drills, tactical drills and game simulation.  

Our dedication to the team and love for the sport makes it possible for us to find unexpected ways to lift our spirits amidst the mundane yet intense drills. Additionally, the boys’ team also has an annual overseas training trip that is a perfect opportunity for the team to bond, as well as gain valuable experience for the upcoming season.

For both teams, the many hours spent in and out of the pool together naturally builds a sense of camaraderie, ethos and tenacity within each of us which never fails to put us in good stead for challenges to come.

Although we share the pool and training hours, the boys’ and girls’ team train and play separately. However, once out of the pool, we always find the time to bond as a team, be it by enjoying waffles by the pool before training or having dinners together after training. We form friendships that go beyond the occasional passing “hi” and eventually find ourselves teasing and joking with each other comfortably. These heartwarming connections allow us to escape from the monotony of our daily school routines, to a group of people we can call home.

Pre-season training takes place at the RI pool thrice a week on Mondays (5.30-8.30pm), Wednesdays (2-5pm) and Thursdays (3-6pm–Girls) / Saturday (1.30-4.30pm–Boys) and is reduced to twice a week when it’s off-season. Of course, all our achievements and progress would not be possible without our incredibly dedicated and knowledgeable coaches, Coach Yu Lei who coaches the boys and Mr Lim who coaches the girls. We also have our understanding and caring teacher ICs (Mr Chan, Mr Swee, Mr Ortega, Ms Lee) to thank for their guidance in and out of the pool.

With that, we look forward to welcoming you into the Water Polo family.

By Lim Zhi Xuan (20S03J), Girls’ Captain and Thaddaeus Ng (20S07A), Boys’ Captain

Cross Country: No half times, no time outs, no substitutions. It must be the only true sport. – Chuck Norris 

Indeed, cross country is not an easy sport—it involves non-stop running, regardless of rain or shine. And, it does not stop there. PT awaits us after torrid long runs or hard interval sessions, as if we aren’t battered enough by them. So in all honesty, to those considering cross country, we highly advise you not to. Unless, you know what you’re in for, and are willing to make countless sacrifices for it—including waking up before sunrise every, yes every, Saturday morning. 

Despite that, we still manage to drag ourselves to training and constantly push ourselves past our limits. Running makes us search for every last bit of strength and determination that lies within us. As we triumph over the pain, the rewards are unimaginable—the sense of self satisfaction at the end of the workouts, limitless personal growth in the form of discipline and resilience etc. Other than leading a healthy lifestyle, cross country focuses on nurturing the right attitude to always give nothing less than our 100%. It strengthens our mentality, such that even as we encounter roadblocks or take stumbles in life, we learn to pick ourselves up and continue unfazed.  

Training sessions are thrice a week—Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday. Weekday trainings are usually in school, while Saturday trainings are at MacRitchie/Bedok Reservoir. Each session is tailored to each individual’s fitness levels to maximise one’s potential. 

What makes arduous trainings more bearable is the companionship of our fellow cross country members. From a simple gesture of clapping as a form of encouragement to one another during training to post-training lunches and dinners, a strong sense of camaraderie is fostered. Raffles Cross Country is like a second family, where we spend the good times and bad times together. And as they say, those who suffer together, stay together. And of course, not to forget our teachers (Ms June Tan and Mr Teo Hui Koon) and our coach (Mr Lim Kien Mau) who are with us every step of the way. 

Cross country is truly a CCA which will bring out the best in you, and while it can be painful at times, the lessons and the friendships that you will take away from this CCA make it truly worthwhile. As the saying goes, what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. 

By Cherie Goh (20S06O), Chairperson, and Lily Wei (20S03C), Vice-Chairperson

An Introduction to Advocacy

In the midst of our hectic day to day life, it is all too easy to overlook a glaringly obvious fact—society has not dealt everyone the same fortunate hand that we have been dealt. Here in Community Advocates (CA), we refuse to ignore these injustices. We choose to take a stand, and we strive to drive a change. This is the essence of CA.

Advocacy doesn’t mean that we have to be loud, haughty or eloquent. On the contrary, if you have an open mind, a listening ear and a big heart, you are more than ready to become an advocate. Certainly, it isn’t easy to start reaching out to others and to have your voice heard. But keeping these three tenets in mind, our members have astounded us by quickly growing into more experienced advocates and empathetic people.

About CA

Our advocates’ journey of growth can be seen in our CCA’s progress. With just 12 years of history, CA is a relatively new service-based CCA that encourages students to go beyond direct community service and make a deeper impact in their community. Even in this short span of time, we have emerged with a unique identity founded on the close relationships within our ‘second family’!

Student Interest Groups

Within this family, we are gathered into three student interest groups (SIGs), each championing a different cause. They are named endearingly—Lifeline (Healthcare), Empty Pocket (Poverty) and Doveswarm (Migrant Workers). Within these SIGs, each member has the opportunity to unite with other like-minded individuals to tackle social issues that they are passionate about. Lifeline SIG advocates for physical and mental health issues in society, Empty Pocket SIG is committed to combating poverty in its various forms, and Doveswarm SIG aims to promote mutual understanding and acceptance between migrant workers and local residents.

Year to year, while the causes we serve never change, the organizations we work with may. This is because each batch has the freedom to set its own direction. Each SIG partners with a local Social Service Organization related to their respective causes and members volunteer for regular direct service.

Weekly Service

This year, Lifeline is focusing on palliative care and has partnered with Assisi Hospice for regular service sessions. Members help nurses with basic care-taking responsibilities like feeding, oral care and sponging patients. At the same time, members also interact with patients and keep them company during the final stage of their life.

Empty Pocket conducts weekly tutoring sessions at a student care centre run by Faithacts, a non-profit community service agency. The SIG’s focus this year is on giving underprivileged children one-to-one academic support, as well as to be friends and role models to them as they progress through primary school.

Doveswarm is working with Transient Workers Count Too (TWC2) in The Cuff Road Project, helping migrant workers who are currently unable to work—due to reasons such as work injuries or salary problems with employers—by giving them tokens that provide them with free meals. In their weekly service, Doveswarm members also have the opportunity to interact with the workers, be a listening ear to their problems, and advise them on any cases that they are dealing with.

General Meetings

Aside from weekly service, each CA member attends General Meetings every Wednesday from 2.30–4.30 pm. During such sessions, we discuss and plan upcoming advocacy projects, and from time to time we also invite speakers pioneering various social causes, such as Ms Dipa Swaminathan, founder of It’s Raining Raincoats and an advocate for migrant workers. 

Projects

In CA, every member has the opportunity to engage in different advocacy projects. Each SIG runs at least one advocacy project during their time in CA, and the batch comes together to organise a batch project every year. Examples of what we’ve done in the past include Hair for Hope in 2014, which aimed to raise awareness about cancer patients, and Homeground in 2019, an event to celebrate the contributions of non-teaching staff working in school. Last year, our Y5s embarked on The Little Green Book, a batch project in which they created a booklet aiming to promote environmentally-friendly habits to secondary school students. In line with our batch project, we also put up a thrift store in school where all proceeds went to Zero Waste SG, an organisation dedicated to reduce waste in Singapore. We also organise various pop-up activities throughout the year, such as a donation drive to collect water bottles and spectacles that were donated to Westlite Dormitory which distributes basic needs to foreign workers, and LSC Eye Clinic’s Recycling Vision Campaign (a spectacle recycling programme to help needy children and adults) respectively.  

As each batch is not tied down by previous years’ commitments or events, we enjoy a rare degree of autonomy which allows us to chart our own path in our advocacy journey. This is a valuable opportunity for you and your batch to truly follow your passions and advocate for a cause that you believe in. You hold the power to choose the sort of difference you wish to make!

To End Off

It sounds like an insane idea to claim that we want to change the world. But we like to think that the ones crazy enough to change the world are often the ones who do, even if it’s only in a small way. From interacting with patients to serving a meal to migrant workers, each of these small acts add up to become something bigger. Should you join us on this journey, the change you make, the lessons you learn and the people you meet will make it all worthwhile. If you think you’ve got what it takes, CA welcomes you with open arms!

To find out more about CA, do visit our website speakactchange.wordpress.com or our Instagram @rafflescommad!

By Raffles Debaters Exco ’20

Who are debaters? Perhaps you have seen us on one of our regular trips to Chill, leaving with an armful of coffee, honey lemon and Strepsils (and sometimes, to the sighs of our coaches, spicy seaweed that is bound to ruin our throats). You might also have spotted us going up to the cashier at Popular bookstore, trying our best to balance a teetering tower of blank index cards. If you happened to be in school on a Monday or Wednesday afternoon, you may have even caught us rushing up the stairs to the 4th floor classrooms (the only cardio we do in this CCA).

Jokes aside, the simple answer is this: we are a motley crew of people who bond over our common love for arguing (in debates only, we must stress—it is probably unwise to extend this into one’s daily life) and desire to become better at it. Although we say “arguing”, debating is more than that—it is a clash of style and wit, where speakers go head-to-head in a fiery exchange of arguments and rebuttals. In debates, teams are given a topic, such as “This house would support military retaliation against cyber attacks”, to either propose or oppose (we don’t get to choose our sides!). Speakers then construct and defend their case while attacking their opponent’s case, often by evaluating moral principles and practical outcomes for different stakeholders. Ultimately, logic and rhetoric must be wielded effectively to convince the judges of their team’s stance.

Our club, founded in 1886, is the oldest CCA in RI, and has a strong tradition for excellence, having produced luminaries who have gone on to contribute to Singapore such as former Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong and Professor Tommy Koh. We seek to nurture critical thinking and a passion for knowledge in all our club members, regardless of debating background. By the time you leave the club, we hope you will have honed your speaking skills and intellectual dexterity, developed a greater sensitivity to the world around us, and made some good memories along the way.

All these may sound rather daunting, but fear not—we have capable and qualified coaches who, along with our dedicated teachers-in-charge, Ms Umarani, Mrs Ruth Koh and Mr Ashton Tan, will go out of their way to help you grow! Training is held twice a week for four hours per session, usually comprising debates, drills on specific skills, and feedback sessions to boost our development as debaters. Often, our illustrious alumni also come by to spar us and give valuable advice. In addition, our club participates in numerous competitions every year, ensuring that everyone, new and seasoned debaters alike, has the experience of debating in a competitive setting. We are proud to say that our debaters did extremely well in 2019, winning multiple competitions such as the Singapore International Schools’ Debating League and Infernus Cup, clinching top 10 speaker rankings at the Oldham Cup and Asian World Schools Debating Championships, and emerging as champions at the MOE-ACJC Intercollegiate Debating Championships. Alongside these achievements, our club members have also made great personal strides as speakers and debaters (which we are sure you will too)!

Honing our skills as debaters, however, is not all that we do, as we also actively find ways to serve our community. Our club members frequently volunteer to adjudicate at tournaments, and we also organise the annual Raffles Debate Academy Under-14s Debating Championships, a debate tournament catered to secondary school students. We have also held the Hodge Lodge Debate Series, inviting students to witness engaging debates by guest speakers on various topical issues.

If there’s one more reason we hope you will join us, it would be the community you will find in this club. Cliche as this may sound, we are more than just a group of people who meet twice a week. Rather, we are a family, and some of the best memories in debate are made over post-training meals at J8/ Prata House (including the perennial struggle to find tables long enough for everyone), bad jokes/memes shared on group chats and wacky games played at club events (for our club camp in 2019, we had a lip sync battle—fun stuff!). Admittedly, debate can be challenging at times, but besides becoming a better debater, what makes the journey particularly worthwhile is the camaraderie you’ll share with your fellow debaters.

If all these sound inviting to you (and we have successfully convinced you with our logic and rhetoric), we invite you to come for trials! Prior experience is not necessary—we only request that you come with an open mind and a sense of fun. Whether you are a first-timer or an experienced debater, we welcome you to our club!

By Soccer (Boys)

While the football boys aren’t exactly known to have the sharpest minds out there, don’t let the cheery, happy-go-lucky exterior fool you. Trainings are intense and serious, with the basic expectation that everyone should put in their 100% and push themselves; expect sessions to include drills like possession, high press, crossing, and practising the D (our signature move). Furthermore, don’t be surprised to see the footballers putting in the extra work, be it with self-trainings or going for runs. With our motto “Belief, Desire, Teamwork”, all footballers are expected to put in their all to bring out the best in themselves and their teammates.

While training sessions are long and we spend a lot of time in one another’s company, footballers are still always together outside training. We eat, study, watch matches, and even engage in bowel movements together. It’s more of a close-knit family that supports one another when the going gets rough—be it failing to score either on or off the pitch, you can always count on your teammates to be there for you.

Another added perk of being in football would be that you’ll never be taunted for “skipping leg day”. We can guarantee that the regular 2.4km timed tests, PTs, and trainings will leave your lower body disproportionately larger than your physique.

The team enjoys a great relationship with Mr Iqbal, our coach, who is very much like a father figure to us. Think strict, kind, a magnificent-looking beard, and a touch of narcissism (he insists that #IQBOYS be printed on the sleeve of all our jerseys), and you have Mr Iqbal. Don’t be surprised to see him joining the footballers in futsal sessions or challenging players to 1-on-1 situations. Thanks to Mr Iqbal, injury rates are fairly low despite the haphazard tackles that happen occasionally. As an expert on physiology, he frequently shares his expertise on shin splints, muscle injury treatment (ask him about the hot towel and cold towel method!), and a more-than-vivid description on how one can tear his ACL during a tackle. However, as an avid fan of Liverpool Football Club, do expect gloating when the team wins a game and the constant belief held among most fans of the club: that next year will be their year and the front 3 can do no wrong. 

Many of our alumni have gone on to play in the National Football League and form teams to win other local leagues. In addition, the regular video-analysis sessions will get you up to speed with the strategic aspects of the game. In these sessions, previous matches would be analysed to improve our positioning and movement and to iron out any mistakes (often through the meting out of 20 pushups to offenders).

Don’t be afraid if you haven’t had any prior experience playing football competitively! As a developmental sport, we pride ourselves on being able to transform hopelessly uncoordinated individuals to fully-functioning players on the pitch. We have players coming from different backgrounds and various levels of experience, so fret not—no matter how skilful or experienced you are, you still have to go through the 2.4km tests and pushups.

If you are interested in joining us and love football, do come down for the trials. We hope to see you there!

By Megan Hon (20S06D), Chairperson, Shitong (20S06G), Vice-Chairperson, Zhang Ming (20S07A), Musical Director, and Ruoqing (20S06O), Secretary 

Psst… do you feel like you are a green banana sometimes, with stiff fingers that never seem to follow what your brain dictates? Well, here at RIPE, we can be your personal catalyst for your RIPEning journey!

Jokes aside, RIPE actually stands for Raffles Institution Piano Ensemble, and we are one of the Performing Arts CCAs offered here in RI. And no, we do not have the whole ensemble banging on a single piano (poor piano)—it’s much more peaceful than that. Contrary to popular belief, we usually practise duet or quartet pieces, with the number of hands on one piano at a time totalling up to no more than six!

Practice makes Perfect

Let’s start with where the magic begins—the practice room. To be accurate, the room we use for weekly Tuesday practices from 4.30pm to 7.30pm is the MEP room, situated at the end of a narrow, shady corridor on the 3rd floor of Block A. 

Upon entering the practice room, you will be greeted by two shiny, majestic grand pianos, both of which you are entitled to use whenever you want to. Soundproof practice rooms are also available if you wish for some peace and quiet to work on that musical number you chose after much deliberation. Yes, you heard that—here in RIPE, you get the autonomy to decide what you want to perform in the next big event, as long as it adheres to any theme(s) that our CCA decides upon for events such as concerts. Tired of having someone else telling you what to play? Want to try out pieces with different CCA mates? RIPE is perfect for you!

Our practice sessions focus a lot on the personal growth of our members, featuring masterclasses and workshops that hone our skills in performing, composing, and arranging. Of course, the element of fun is not to be neglected—our CCA sessions are spiced up with games, food parties, and CCA dinners added into the mix. 

Performance Opportunities

The biggest treat we have in store is our annual concert, happening in late April every year. Click here for the Press review of Reverie 2019 to get an idea of how our efforts came into fruit-ition on the 26th of April. 

The thrill doesn’t end there though—July marks our competitive season with the commencement of Vivace, an annual piano ensemble competition organised by National Junior College. Participation is on a voluntary basis, and our teams have brought glory to the ensemble and the school by maintaining a streak of gold accolades or higher in the past few years. 

Beyond the spotlights and roaring crowds, RIPE has its down-to-earth side as well, and we make giving back to society a vital part of our RIPE journey. In 2019, we held a mini-concert at Changi General Hospital, bringing music to patients and staff as well as livening up the atmosphere. 

This, of course, is only one of the many ways you can spend the second half of your J1 year after the action-packed first half. You are free to explore all the possibilities out there: be it conducting piano lessons for the disadvantaged, showcasing your talents to the school population, or playing it chill and bonding with your batchmates. After all, at any point in time, you may not be sharing a piano with all your batchmates at once, but being in an ensemble means working with other people, which means that teamwork and camaraderie is of utmost importance. 

How to join us

It’s easy—all you need is a burning passion for piano music and an ABRSM Grade 5 Practical qualification or the like. Our selection process involves a short sight-reading test, followed by a performance of a piece (of at least 3 minutes) of your choice and a brief interview. If all these seems daunting, fret not—just make your passion known and we will take care of the rest. 

To end off, here’s a final banana joke: why does the banana on the floor like music? Because if you don’t C sharp, you will B flat! We hope we have a-peel-ed to all of you smart bananas to join us on your journey to RIPEning.

By Zachary Chan (20S06B), Boys’ Captain and Ashley Fok (20S07C), Girls’ Captain 

Have you ever felt like you are hitting walls in your life? Squash players would tell you they are doing that every day! Jokes aside, do you ever crave for demanding physical exercise that will make your muscles melt—but with satisfaction? Well, you have clicked on the right article! 

Squash is a high-intensity racket sport played between 2 players in a four-walled court. This sport prides itself on being physically and mentally challenging, where stamina and agility are crucial aspects of the game. Squash does not require a net and is played by hitting a ball against a wall while both players are present on the same side of the court. Even though the black squash ball might be miniscule and not very bouncy, do not underestimate its power as it can reach unbelievable speeds of up to 280km/h. It is a sport where intense focus and concentration to stay in the game are key.  

Trainings are held twice or thrice a week during non-peak and peak seasons respectively. Each training lasts from two to three hours.

Leading up to the anticipated National School Games in March, trainings are held on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday weekly. Apart from the physical training sessions on Monday, which are held at the New Stadium Track, trainings are held at Serangoon Gardens Country Club. Court sessions consist of a wide array of intensive drills and exercises and ends off with friendly matches with one another. These trainings are specifically designed to help every player, experienced or not, to achieve the best. Don’t worry if you are completely new to the sport: our friendly and dedicated Coach Allan, as well as your fellow CCA-mates, will be there to guide you along the way! After the National School Games, training sessions will be reduced to twice a week for the Year 5s. Year 6s will then step down from the CCA as they prepare for their upcoming ‘A’ Levels. 

The high intensity of the sport, coupled with the strenuous training sessions, might make the CCA seem daunting. However, beyond all these, Raffles Squash is a family. A family where we will have one another’s backs both on- and off-court. With our small numbers, long-lasting friendships are forged and you will definitely enjoy a strong camaraderie within the team, whether it is through team dinners after training or cheering one another on during nail-biting matches. 

As the saying goes, “United we stand, divided we fall.” Most think that the sport is individual, but here at Raffles Squash, we compete as one, we fight as one, and we celebrate as one. After all, it is not the team with the best players that shines. It is the players with the best team that will go far as one. If you are looking for that in a CCA, don’t hesitate to come down for our trials this coming year! We are excited to have you join the family :)

By: Alastair Tam (20S06N), Boys’ Captain, and Yasmin Tay (20A01C), Treasurer

Did you know that the fencing sword is the second fastest moving object in sports after the marksman’s bullet? Pretty cool, huh? Due to the likes of pop-culture icons such as Captain Jack Sparrow and Obi-Wan Kenobi, sword fighting is vastly misrepresented. In reality, a lot more than the mere clashing of swords is required for victory. Apart from the extreme physical prowess required to outmanoeuvre opponents on the piste, a lot of mental dexterity is also required to strike at the opportune moment.

The first historical evidence of fencing dates back to as early as 1190 B.C. From then, fencing has evolved tremendously. Comprising three different weapons, épée, sabre, and foil, fencing has more variety than one might think. Now you may ask what the differences are between these weapons—and that would be the rules and characteristics of the weapons. Épées are the heaviest among the three, and have a large umbrella-shaped guard to protect the wielder’s hand. The rules of épée dictate that the entire body is a valid target area, and that the first person to hit their opponent scores a point. Sabre is the weapon that favours speed the most. Possessing a U-shaped guard, it is the most recognizable amongst the rest as movies most commonly use sabre blades. Aggressive and swift, sabreuers aim to land the tip of their blades on the opponent’s electric jacket and mask. Foils are the lightest of the three weapons, but do not underestimate them on account of their weight! The target area for foil covers the torso, up to the neck, giving it the smallest target area of the weapons.

Fencing as a sport is unorthodox in Singapore, let alone as a CCA. With all the physical prowess and mental dexterity needed as mentioned above, it is no surprise that training would be rigorous. Do not let this faze you, though! After training hard alongside your fellow fencers, satisfaction is promised. After all, no pain, no gain! Conducted on Tuesdays and Thursdays, trainings comprise not only physical training, drills, and sparring, but we are also no strangers to games.

Aside from training, fencers can also look forward to competitions. Competitions are platforms for both experienced and inexperienced fencers to hone their skills and even meet new people.  Some of these competitions include Novices, Junior Championships, National School Games and Pesta Sukan. While many of our fencers have done the school proud over the years by winning medals, winning is not the most important aspect of participating in these competitions. Instead, it is the lessons learnt from mistakes made, and the camaraderie forged between you and the team, striving towards a common goal. 

Another exciting event to look forward to is our annual Raffles Invites that we plan and host! Open to participants across Singapore, we are given the chance to compete and make friends with fencers from all walks of life. Every fencer in the CCA becomes an integral part of the organisation and execution of this event. What’s in it for our own fencers? They get to participate for free! 

Contrary to popular belief, fencing is more than just an individual sport. Without the support of your coaches and teammates, especially amidst times of adversity, you would definitely feel desolate. Bonding is an extremely important part of our CCA, and we hope to be a pillar of support for each other in the tumultuous ocean that is JC life. Regular team dinners after trainings, signing up for competitions together, and enduring the at-times gruelling trainings all serve to strengthen the bonds between us. At the end of the day, what we value most isn’t the results we get in competitions, but the relationships and experiences that we gain along the way. There is nothing more gratifying than fencing with a team of people striving for greater heights.

What are you waiting for? Select your weapon and we will see you at trials! 

By Alvan Png (20A03A), Chairperson, Lam Weng Chung (20S03Q), Vice-Chairperson, Kong Pek Yan (20S06A), Secretary, and Teo Gi Sing (20S06T), Quartermaster

“Do not fear mistakes—there are none.”

Miles Davis

Honestly, Jazz is kind of weird. 

From rampant dissonances and blistering solos, to straight-up spicy harmonies—it’s easy to call all these things “mistakes”. But as jazz musicians, the contemporary palette of tools we have for expression and context-giving is so large that, in the words of Vincent Persichetti, “Any tone can proceed any tone […] and any group of tones can proceed any group of other tones”. 

People joke about it. A lot. But with such a wide array of tools at our disposal, there really are no wrong notes and no mistakes, as long as the performer has what Mr. Persichetti calls “skill and soul”. Thus, in Raffles Jazz, we seek to bring out that skill and soul, to showcase that freedom of self-expression—the ability to not fear mistakes, because there are none. And because of that, joining Raffles Jazz—while kind of weird—is never a mistake.

Flowery language aside, who are we really? We are a small group of individuals fascinated by the jazz genre and the possibilities it brings, passionate about the craft and intricacy behind the musical form. Beyond that, we’re also a one-of-a-kind, tight-knit CCA, who are always eager to learn more about, and get better at jazz through conversation and communication with one another.

Our CCA sessions are held every Wednesday from 2.30pm to 4.30 pm and Friday from 2.30pm to 5.30 pm. We meet to practice for any upcoming gigs and quality checks, or just to jam together and enjoy the process of music-making. However, in the lead-up to gigs or concerts, there are usually extra practice sessions added to ensure that we are ready for our performances.

Now, that sounds rather serious, but fear not! We don’t just play music together—we play together as well. Through our nervous backstage dancing sessions as we wait for our turn to perform during gigs, playing the Lick^TM on recorders during our annual post production party, and spamming sending innumerable unglams of our vice-chairs, we’ve managed to create a family out of a random bunch of individuals who just happen to all love jazz. And this chemistry that we’ve built is what we strive to show the audience whenever we perform.

Speaking of which, some gigs that we’ve done in 2019 include National Day, Teacher’s Day, as well as Batch Night! These are great opportunities where we get to express ourselves to a large audience, so if you love performing, they will be right up your alley.

Besides having regular practices, we also have sectionals and quality checks by our professional instructors who are always ready to provide us with invaluable guidance and advice. These help us better our technical and communicative skills, both as individuals and as a team.

We also have a tight-knit Raffles Jazz family made up of generations of friendly and dedicated seniors who always return to guide us in different ways. Raffles Jazz is not merely a space, it is a place, a home for passionate jazz musicians who are always ready to support each other at all times. Like how a real family navigates the unpredictable struggles of reality through the warmest support and encouragement, so too does the Raffles Jazz extended family tree help YOU to explore the unpredictable, weird, and wonderful world of jazz.

At this point, I bet some of you probably aren’t even reading this article anymore. Well, good news—you won’t have to read notes in jazz either! If you’re new to jazz, or maybe even to playing instruments found in a jazz band like ours (i.e. keyboards, guitars, drums, bass), it’s perfectly okay! While we do require some basic instrument competency, Raffles Jazz operates very differently from a classically-trained ensemble! Like we said, jazz is weird, and because of that it has its own notations, structures and technical mumbo-jumbo unique to it and nothing else. Many of us also started from square one musically; however, with dedication, an open mind to new sounds and ideas, and much help from seniors, instructors, and batchmates, anything is possible! It’s never too late to start listening and (hopefully) learning one’s way about the intricacies of jazz. We’re all here to grow, improve, and most importantly, make music together, so don’t be afraid to try something new!

Some songs we’d really like to recommend you listen to are: “Autumn Leaves”, “Blue Bossa”, “Sir Duke”, “Take the ‘A’ Train”, “Wave”, “Fly Me to the Moon”, “What a Wonderful World”, “Spain”, “Giant Steps”, “Isn’t She Lovely”, and “Cheek to Cheek”. Just remember that these are just a couple of recommendations in a sea of artful jazz standards, so feel free to explore the genre on your own too.

Perhaps you’re still hesitant. You’re thinking: How can I know if this strange club is really right for me? Would I be making a mistake by joining this club? Well, like we said earlier, there are no mistakes in jazz, but if you really, really have your doubts for some inexplicable reason, simply head down to our pre-audition workshops! Taking place in early 2020, we will be there to answer any burning questions you may have, and also to put on a small performance of jazz standards for you to enjoy! You can get a clearer glimpse of the genre and the types of songs we perform, to make a more insightful, informed decision… that decision being to join Raffles Jazz, of course.

As Barry B. Benson once said, “Ya like jazz?”. And here in Raffles Jazz, we really, really do. So if you’d like to join us in our eternal appreciation of jazz, we hope to see you at our pre-audition workshop and at our non-pre-audition-auditions. As they always say:

By Jerome Tay (20S06Q) and Wang Xuyang, Chairperson (20S06K) 

Choral singing isn’t easy. Hours of hard work are to be invested in every piece that Raffles Chorale performs. Magical moments, beautiful harmonies, and literal chills only happen after members of the 19-strong CCA come together and brave the rigour of practice. 

Raffles Chorale has sessions twice a week on Wednesdays and Fridays, mostly held in the LT1 of the Y1–4 campus. Stumbling into the LT during one of our sessions rewards you with a world of musical pleasure and confused stares from the choralists as you frantically realise that, no, that was not the venue of your history lecture. With a broad range of music from soulful Germanic lamentations of ages long past, to pop songs of our decade and whole arrangements about food, Raffles Chorale has something for every aspiring singer out there.

The countless hours put into practice have yielded a strong sense of camaraderie amongst our Choralists: be it randomly breaking into song, or challenging each other to see who has the highest falsetto, our members can be who they truly are during training sessions. The bonds forged here are unique, with friends made through the appreciation of art (and memes—lots of memes). To the 19 of us, Chorale is an ever-present family through the hardships of the concert season and the frustration of rehearsing the same part of a song multiple times. Excellence has only come through blood and tears. No sweat, because we enjoy the luxury of a fully air-conditioned LT.

With prospective members hailing from different secondary schools and musical backgrounds, talent takes a backseat during the selection process as each individual is judged on their passion and receptivity to feedback and growth. 

Raffles Chorale has pretty impressive accolades as well, clinching the Distinction award at the biennial Singapore Youth Festival in 2019, as well as obtaining the Gold Award in the 12th International Choral Festival Orientale Concentus in 2018. Prospective members can look forward to an overseas exchange next year where we pit our voices against choirs from around the world. Kind of like a riff-off, but with people that can *actually* sing. You can even look forward to Vocal Delights, Chorale’s annual student-run a capella concert, where our members are given the liberty to explore new depths—such as arranging and acting—and perform popular songs to display our skills in multiple genres of music. We have also worked with Habitat for Humanity for the past few years to make Vocal Delights a charity concert—all proceeds from this concert go toward helping their cause of improving the lives of those in need. 

If there’s one thing that Raffles Chorale has taught us, it’s this: you don’t have to be the next Freddie Mercury or Whitney Houston to be able to make beautiful music. In Chorale, it is the continuous pursuit of the intrinsic reward and magic of music-making that motivates and drives us to perform and improve. With the burning passion that our Choralists carry, and under the baton of our conductor, Mr Toh Ban Sheng, music comes to life.

By Tasha Ting (20S06F), Vice-captain and Max Koh (20S06U), Vice-captain

You stand at the plate. 3 balls, 2 strikes, 2 down, bases loaded. The winning run at third base. “Play ball.” Your grip on the bat firms, and you eye the ball with a renewed sense of hunger. Here’s the wind-up, and the pitch. 

Closer.

Closer.

1, 2, now.

There has always been an indescribable beauty in the dynamics of a game of softball—the unspoken chemistry, the unfathomable satisfaction of hitting that 12 inch red-threaded yellow ball over the fence, the nerve-wracking yet exciting feeling of jogging on the spot restlessly, waiting for the opponent to bat the ball to you, always ready for that dive, always ready to tag the runner out. There is also the love and unity within the team that seems so tangible, the comforting familiarity you feel while getting ready for softball trainings, and the yearning for the school day to end just so you can dash to the Y1-4 canteen to get changed for training. All these explains the immense love our players have for the sport. 

Despite its name, softball is far from a soft sport—for starters, the ball isn’t even soft. It’s a game which requires both your brains and brawns. It might seem daunting to even think of playing this sport at first, but what we can guarantee you is that the trepidation and apprehension you might have while entering the sport will definitely pay off in more ways than one when you leave the sport.

What does it mean to work as a team? “Your personal victory ends wherever the team’s victory ends.” Our head coach, Coach Farhan, is a firm believer in teamwork. Teamwork isn’t taking your respective places on the field just so that you have enough players to enter the tournament; teamwork isn’t about filling up all 9 places in the batting line-up; teamwork isn’t about training hard to be the MVP so you feel a sense of self-glorification. Teamwork is about the love, the bond, the camaraderie both on and off the field. We are not only teammates on the field, but also a band of brothers and sisters who do anything and everything together—from shouting into cones at Junction 8, to shouting “WHO WILL CATCH? CANNOOOOTTT PEEPEEPOOPOOMAN WILL CATCH. CORRECTTTT” (an inside joke that you will most definitely be exposed to once you join our CCA), and on a more serious note, just being there for one another through thick and thin.

Every year, both the boys and the girls team participate in the National Inter-School Games for ‘A’ Division Softball in the first half of the year.  In 2019, both our boys and girls achieved commendable results. The boys clinched overall first runners-up while our girls clinched overall second runners-up. In addition, the girls team took part in the annual tournament organised by Singapore Recreational Club and did us proud by coming in second-runners up as well. Regardless of the outcome, we give every game our best shot so that every training session pays off. 

Commitment and dedication is a big part of what we do, and we train thrice a week, every Tuesday (4-7pm), Wednesday (2.30-5.30pm) and Friday (4-7pm). 

The horrible aches in your quads after doing split squats, the blisters and calluses from batting and the enormous blue blacks—these are just glimpses of our depth of work. But this pain is incomparable to the joy that comes with the celebration of our best athletic moments and the culmination of our labour in a solid, good game. And the best part is: you will never walk alone. 

Reading this and can’t wait to be part of this big family? You are welcome to come down for our trials! Fret not, no prior experience and knowledge is required, but don’t forget your sunblock! 

By Liu Kaizhong (20S03C), Quartermaster and Fiona Xiao (20A01A), Quartermistress

What does it mean to be in Raffles Players? The first thing which comes to your mind is probably just acting and putting on a show on stage. Indeed, the word “Players” suggests that we simply adopt different personas to entertain our audience. On the contrary, while you may not always have the chance to act, you get to be involved in the process of transforming mere words on the script to something grand. Dry descriptions of a scene on a script manifests in the form of majestic sets, coupled with the surreal atmosphere created by lights and sounds. Actors make their appearances and characters in the script are brought to life as the dialogues in the script evolve into passionate exchanges of emotions complemented by their glamorous costumes. During each transformation you thought that nothing could get more ambitious than this, and again you were surprised until you ceased thinking and just resigned to the interminable wonders washing over you as you marvel at your final production.

The sky is definitely the limit in the scale of performances we put up. However, the journey to becoming a proficient practitioner of the theatrical arts will not be easy. While our official CCA sessions are usually held on Wednesdays from 3pm to 6pm, extra hours are spent on other days during the intensive but rewarding production season to build sets, work on publicity materials, go through rehearsals, and design costumes.

Main events

Dramafest

A biennial event, Dramafest is an exciting opportunity for houses to compete against each other by putting up a fifteen-minute play. Dramafeste 2019’s theme was non(SENSE)—each house was in charge of putting up a play based on one of the 5 senses. 

Non-players can get acquainted with the theatrical art form by participating and volunteering to act, write scripts, build sets and props as well as many other duties. It is truly an enriching experience that gives you a sense of working on a production as you explore and learn new skills, while bonding with your teammates in the same house!

College Production

The most significant milestone in a Player’s career, College Production is where batch after batch of Y6s strive to leave their legacy through their last performance as a part of the CCA. Possibly also the biggest and most challenging production in a Player’s career, it is a full-scale performance held in the school’s Performing Arts Centre (PAC) and is largely unrestricted in terms of production value or plot direction. Both batches come together and work hard to create a unique and tremendous display of creativity and wit, and the result is—if we say so ourselves—often remarkable.

If you had come down to watch 2019’s College Production, The 39 Steps, you would know exactly what we are talking about. It’s not just the lights and sounds or the breathtaking set that we’re referring to, but the spectacular acting, stage-managing, and directing that stood testament to the amount of hard work and effort put into this production. The life-sized promescium archway and the 15-feet-tall spectator’s gallery were simply brought to life by our actors’ humourous and captivating performance. Of course, there were numerous trials and errors that we had had to go through, but learning from our mistakes had only helped us to grow as actors and as crew, helping us to make the show even better for our audience.

J1 Production

The J1 Production is an avenue for the junior batch to hone their theatrical craft, by trying out as different roles in various committees. It is also an opportunity for the batch to bond over the immense effort invested into making a play. This year’s J1 batch put up an adaptation of Homesick by Alfian Sa’at. The complex drama within the Koh family that occurs as a result of the characters’ distinct, conflicting personalities leaves the audience to ponder the question, “What does home really mean to us?” Indeed, the poignant and evocative theme of belonging is fleshed out in our production. We are not just performing; we are expressing a deep, meaningful and universal human experience through our play.

Training

With all that we have going on in a year, training sessions are essential in our development as actors and directors. Conducted every Wednesday (and the occasional Friday) afternoon from 3–6pm, professionals from the industry take away from their busy schedules to teach and mentor a class or workshop. From comedy and clowning, to animal studies, and even special effects makeup, CCA sessions help us to gain insight into the different aspects of the industry and serve to hone our skills in many of these areas. During those sessions, we are introduced to the complexities of acting which incorporates theories of Stanislavski’s system to encourage a more emotionally expressive performance. Furthermore, we get to explore genres like the timeless commedia dell’arte, an Italian form of improvised comedy popular in Europe from the 16th to 18^th century. These sessions are said to encapsulate the essence and joy of Players, with its vibrant and energetic atmosphere and our members’ eagerness to learn almost palpable in the air, they not only provide an escape from the stress and buzz of normal school life, but are essentially a time of honest enjoyment for our members. 

Should I join Players?

Although we have many people in CCA who have a background in drama, we welcome anyone who displays the keenness to learn more about theatre and the willingness to exit his or her comfort zone. Unequivocally, there may be slips in our mock performances and improvisations during our training sessions; however, what is most important is that we are open to criticism from our mentors and that we do not shy away from trying again just because of a minor flop. It is precisely this perseverance through tedious performances which we also value. Passion for theatre is also essential as something to motivate us to put in our best effort and committing ourselves to staging a brilliant production. 

If you feel enthusiastic about theatre and want to challenge yourself to embark on an arduous journey to becoming a proficient practitioner of the theatrical arts, do sign up for auditions! Auditions will take place some time in February—it will include segments such as monologue reading, interviews, group improvisation, and more. Don’t fret about the difficulty of those activities because we will help to ease you into them by making your audition fun and enjoyable.

By Ian Michael Yam (20A01A) and Wong Chia Ying (20S03C), Secretaries of the Students’ Council

“Council comprises 3 departments – Welfare, Communications Department (Commz’D) and CCA Department (CCAD) and 5 House Directorates, led by the Presidents and Secretaries. Council also plans 6 functions (National Day, Teachers’ Day, Graduation Night, Open House, Orientation and Council Camp). Councillors can also initiate timely initiatives known as Project Xs to meet the current needs of the school. Councillors are expected to lead by example and uphold the highest standards of conduct…”

Yet, beyond this standard response on Councils’ formal structures, what’s more important is that Council is a team of 63 people. And this is important because people form the core of what we do.

As a Councillor, you serve not just your friends and batchmates, but our entire school community. And trust us, this isn’t as easy as it sounds. Should you decide to step forward, you must be prepared to work with many different kinds of people, each with their own strengths, weaknesses and ideas, and respond to a seemingly endless stream of demands coming at you from different directions.

That’s not all. You’ll have to contend with being perennially sleep-deprived and meeting a slew of pressing deadlines. You’ll have to take Ls for the team along the way, and accept that all the slogging you do behind the scenes has no guarantee of bearing fruit. All this while juggling other commitments you may have.

So then, why Council?

Because even if what you do as a Councillor may not succeed at first try, it is never a wasted effort. It is unlikely that you’ll ever be able to taste personal glory, but really, the greatest reward you can ever get is knowing that you didn’t just think of ideas; you made them happen. All this to make Raffles a better place.

This is what rallies us Councillors to strive on. The ability to “make things happen” and “enact real change” is so much more than just a motivational force. It’s an opportunity, a responsibility and most of all, a calling.

Council is also so much more than just troubleshooting and making one-off changes here and there. On the one hand, traditions have been passed down from one Council batch to the next (39 so far, by the way). And on the other hand, each batch is tasked to chart out a direction of its own. In the bigger scheme of things, Council can and has taken steps to influence not just events but our school culture itself.

Seems daunting?

Don’t worry, it’s the same for us too. But seriously though, if you wanted to know what “rising to the challenge of leadership” is all about, this is it.

However, beyond the hard graft, Council is also about the little things. It could be you covering for your mates, lending an additional helping hand to make something work or going the extra mile to do something that may not necessarily lie within your so-called “job scope”. It’s also about the friendships that will last beyond your term as a Councillor.

To sum things up, being a Councillor will never be a bed of roses. More often than not, you’ll have to bear hard knocks. Nevertheless, you’ll see the litany of deadlines through, and just like the 39 batches of Councillors that have preceded you, you will survive (and emerge a much stronger person).

We hope that this short preview has given you a snapshot of what it means to be a Councillor. Hopefully what we said meant something to you, and now, it’s about what you will make of it.

All the best!

Do join us for our annual Council Sharing which will take place shortly after Orientation 2020! Details will be released soon :D

For more detailed information on what we do & FAQs, visit our Open House display and look out for our publicity releases!

By Ng Ziqin (20S03H), Chairperson, and Sarah Lok (20A03A), Vice-Chairperson (Editorial) 

Six weeks and 67 CCAs later, it’s finally our turn!

A curious and somewhat charming breed of student, the student journalist can often be found in the thick of the action at any school event, chatting effortlessly to students or staff whom we might only have seen in passing outside a lecture theatre, attempting to collect an insider perspective or a pithy quote.

After all, whether it’s a fashion show, the annual Kiwi Cup, or a self-organised TED talk—we’ve got you covered. 

To us, documenting the events that make up our school experience is of paramount importance. If a tree falls and no one is there to hear it, does it make a sound? If the table tennis team continued their fifteen-year winning streak but no one heard about it, did it really happen? 

Therefore, Raffles Press strives to be the heartbeat of the student body, and that means we don’t just capture events. We tell stories. Stories about the biodiversity pond, the people in our school community who often go unseen,  and even a teacher who has taken part in an Ironman triathlon. 

We provide information—accurate and reliable—about the things you know you want the answers to: “How do I choose my subject combination?”; “When should I buy my school uniform?”; “Which CCA is right for me?”. 

But the information we provide isn’t all academic. Sometimes it’s purely recreational, like what a day in the life of the school cat is like. We offer reviews and analyses on popular movie and book releases, and occasionally, do crazy things like trying eight different types of bubble tea on the same day. 

We even answer the questions which you never thought to ask: “What happens to unsold fruit in the canteen?”; “How do I become a relief teacher after ‘A’s?”; “What do people type in the Raffles Press search bar?” 

While we remain primarily a school press, the stories we cover sometimes transcend the physical boundaries of 1 Raffles Institution Lane. Our adventures have taken us around Singapore to Kranji, Bukit Brown, and cat cafes. This year, we started two new columns: one dedicated to exploring and uncovering the untold stories of RI’s surrounding neighbourhood, and another dedicated to ranking the latest fads. 

Sometimes, what we’re trying to cover may not even be something tangible. That’s why we’re constantly looking for fresh means to bring our stories to readers in the best way that we can, trying out new forms of multimedia, and keeping a finger on the pulse of the journalism zeitgeist. As video journalism and interactive visuals become ubiquitous in the newsroom of the future, Raffles Press is also beginning to branch out into photo essays, videography, and accompanying infographics.

Writing is often perceived as a solo activity. Typing away on a keyboard as words appear on your screen might sound like a lonely journey. But that’s not what Raffles Press is about. Here, it’s common for student journalists to team up to write articles or reviews together in pairs, trios, or even foursomes. Press is very much a community of writers who understand one another’s struggles, and are always there to provide support to one another, be it technical or emotional. We meet up every Tuesday from 4.30pm to 6.30pm to hone our skills through self-led training sessions, pitch article ideas to one another, and brainstorm new ideas together. Sometimes, we invite guest speakers to share their insights on journalism: this year, we’ve had talks by a photojournalist, a multimedia journalist, and an environmental correspondent. 

Our bonding excursions (affectionately dubbed ‘prexcursions’) and our annual Press Camp are also excellent opportunities for Press members to get to know one another better while braving mosquitoes, the heat, and (domesticated, not wild) animals.

Furthermore, Raffles Press is interested in connecting writers not just within RI, but also across schools. We organise an annual inter-JC press conference, Pressing Ahead, in April each year to connect like-minded student journalists and give them the opportunity to learn from and network with one another. 

As a CCA, we are constantly thinking of new ways to create positive change. In 2019, we embarked on a collaboration with Times Reads to promote reading culture in JC students, and published a series of teacher features—coupled with a special print edition—to recognise and celebrate the teachers’ lives outside of school with the RI community. 

If you are curious and tenacious, have an eye for stories, and a flair for telling them: we want you. And of course, being comfortable with talking to strangers is absolutely necessary—though this is definitely a skill that can be cultivated over time.

Think you fit the bill? We look forward to seeing you at Press trials this year!

By Jermaine Wong (20S03R)

Since ‘Despacito’ topped the Billboard Hot 100 in the summer of 2017, the popularity of Spanish pop music––and along with it, Spanish and Latin American pop culture––has skyrocketed worldwide in recent years. However, where most people think of Latin pop music or telenovelas at the mention of Spanish, there is more to discover. 

This is because while Spanish in secondary school focuses on building a strong foundation in grammar and vocabulary, the H2 curriculum places greater emphasis on understanding Spanish and Latin American history, culture, and societal issues. Some of the topics that we discussed this year as part of the J1 curriculum include (but are not limited to) Health and Fitness, Education, and Family. These themes were also tested in our Oral, Reading, Essay, and Listening assessments. For example, several essay questions that we covered under the aforementioned topics are: 

• ¿Se puede usar el deporte para dar ejemplo a la gente de justicia, de amistad, y de coraje? (Can sports be used to set an example for people of justice, friendship, and courage?)
• “La educación es el arma más poderosa que puedes usar para cambiar el mundo,” Nelson Mandela. ¿Hasta qué punto estás de acuerdo? (“Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world,” Nelson Mandela. To what extent do you agree?)
• La idea de la familia tradicional no tiene importancia para los jóvenes de hoy. ¿Hasta qué punto estás de acuerdo? (The idea of the traditional family does not matter to the youth of today. To what extent do you agree?)

The J2 curriculum would include the other topics in the H2 syllabus that were not taught in J1, such as the Media, Technological Innovation, and the Environment. For more detailed information on the topic areas covered, you might wish to refer to the 2020 SEAB syllabus for H2 Spanish. 

In comparison to Secondary One to Four Spanish, the marking criterion for each component is significantly more stringent as candidates are expected to conduct their own self-directed learning outside of the classroom. To elaborate on the assessment structure:

• In the Speaking (i.e. Oral) component, we first give a 3-minute presentation on our topic of choice from Section 4 (Topic Areas) of the SEAB syllabus. This is followed by 7 to 8 minutes of Topic Conversation on our chosen topic, and finally, 8 to 9 minutes of General Conversation. The mark allocation is 20 marks for Presentation, and 40 marks for each Conversation.

• The Reading and Writing (i.e. Reading Comprehension) section comprises two passages. Questions related to the first passage consist of Vocabulary Recognition (5 marks), Grammatical Recognition (5 marks), and Open-Ended Questions (OEQs) (20 marks). Questions related to the second passage comprise only OEQs (20 marks). For OEQs, we are not only assessed based on the relevance of our answers to the questions, but also based on our ability to paraphrase the material from the passage –– 5 out of the 20 marks for each set of OEQs are set aside for Quality of Language. Lastly, we have to summarize and give our personal opinion on both passages in 140 words or fewer (20 marks).

• For the Essay component, we are required to write an argumentative essay of around 250 to 400 words based on the question we have selected. Each of the five questions is related to a different topic listed under Section 4 of the SEAB syllabus, and changes every year. Out of 40 marks, a maximum of 24 marks and 16 marks can be awarded for Quality of Language and Content respectively.

• The Listening Comprehension section is also more challenging, with discussions about complex issues such as scientific findings rather than simple conversations about everyday life. In the first section, we have to fill in blanks, grids, tables, or other diagramatic aids based on two short conversations (10 marks). In the second, we answer OEQs and are assessed both on Content (30 marks), and Quality of Language (10 marks). 

In J2, we will also have several months to work on our Coursework, which should contain two or three pieces of writing totalling approximately 2000 words. There is a lot of creative liberty given with regards to how we can craft our pieces –– they can take the form of a poem, a narrative, and more. While adapting to these changes might seem daunting at first, the new class environment would definitely help you to adjust well!

With a small class size of seven, the atmosphere is cozier and more intimate. Lessons are conducted twice a week on Mondays and Thursdays, from 5.30pm to 7.30pm, at the Newton MOE Language Centre (MOELC). During a typical lesson, we might play games based on Spanish game shows, watch Spanish movies and TV shows on Netflix, or debate sociopolitical issues surrounding Spanish-speaking countries. Other times, we have even borrowed the kitchen on campus to make Spanish delicacies like torrejas and tortilla de patatas (an omelette made with eggs and potatoes). 

At the end of J1, there is also the Overseas Study cum Immersion Programme to Spain for students who received the Language Elective Scholarship (Spanish) (SLES). This year, we will be going to Granada, a city in the south of Spain that is home to the Alhambra, a majestic Moorish palace and fortress complex. To qualify for the SLES, candidates must have attained at least a B3 in Spanish for the O-level examinations (a B-grade is also a recommended prerequisite for taking Spanish at the H2 level). Successful applicants will also receive an annual allowance of $1000 and enjoy subsidised school fees. 

Now that we’ve covered the basic details, you might still be wondering: why Spanish? While other arts subjects might seem more practical in terms of future prospects, there are a host of opportunities that await you after your two-year journey in H2 Spanish! After all, it has the second largest number of native speakers in the world (after Mandarin), and is the official language of 21 countries. Furthermore, Spanish is commonly spoken in other countries such as the United States. Hence, being fluent in the language grants you the opportunity to study or work in Spain and other Spanish-speaking countries in future. 

Nevertheless, the above-mentioned are not the only reasons you should consider taking H2 Spanish. I would say that a strong passion for the Spanish language and culture is more important, as it makes all the (apparent) sacrifices––after-school classes and additional assessments––worthwhile. In fact, you would scarcely pay attention to these aspects if you look forward to attending classes every week. Instead, it is the the laid-back lessons with our teacher, Ms Dunne, and the enjoyable class outings––whether they were to the Mexican Film Festival at NUS or to the KFC at Velocity––that have come to define my H2 Spanish experience. 

Ultimately, if you have a strong interest in Spanish and wish to discover more about the rich culture and history surrounding the language, H2 Spanish might just be the right choice for you. So, what are you waiting for? ¡Será pan comido!

By Kelly Leong (20S07C)

All opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own and are no substitute for formal academic advice.

Ah, selecting a subject combination: a time of great distress for those not yet certain of their aspirations, or those with so many passions that selecting just four subjects becomes a daunting task. Many will be familiar with the two distinct streams, Arts and Science, and might even be torn between both, but few would stop to consider staying in the middle.

If I were to be honest, I don’t think my parents fully supported my decision to take this subject combination initially. Even I had qualms of my own! In fact, the days leading up to inputting my subject combination were full of doubt and uncertainty:

“Shouldn’t you reconsider?” 

“Will you have a job?”

“Are you sure you’re making the right choice?”

And to answer all these questions, one has to understand what taking a hybrid combination entails.

So, What Exactly is ‘Hybrid’?

A quick Google search on ‘Hybrid Combinations in JC’ will pull up a multitude of results—most notably the Reddit and various forum pages. Filled to the brim with rumours and concerns of students who have considered the hybrid combinations, mixed with a dash of advice from ‘jaded’ seniors, it’s a trove of opinions that may do nothing but confuse.

To put it simply, hybrid combinations are essentially combinations that comprises two science subjects and two arts subjects. The two sciences would consist of Math and either Chemistry or Physics, together with H2 Economics and another arts subject (though you can request special combinations if you think H2 Economics is not for you). It is worth noting that while RI treats the hybrid combinations as part of the science stream, people will often understand you better if you just said “hybrid”.

Unfortunately, for those aspiring to take H2 Biology in isolation (BMEX), you’ve been had—this combination is not offered due to MOE regulations.

And What Can I Expect From This Peculiar Combination?

While the hybrid combinations stray from the traditional science and arts combinations, it offers a unique mix of numbers and frantic scribbling that can be enjoyable for some. For Christine Sim (20S07A), “hybrid was the most balanced for [her]”, and she feels that “it’s pretty good if you’re someone who likes both arts and sciences”. One can expect fewer calculations than those taking PCME, and less writing compared to those taking H/GELM. It’s a nice balance, suitable for those who have some aptitude for both skills, as you get to hone them simultaneously.

In fact, this balance and versatility comes in handy when applying for university! Hybrid students are situated comfortably in the middle of two very different streams. This gives you the flexibility to take a science course (such as environmental engineering or pharmaceutical chemistry) in certain universities, while still have some background in the humanities subjects should you choose to study liberal arts further down the line.

Of course, this same ‘staying in the middle’ concept may turn on you should you decide to pursue specialised fields, such as Aerospace Engineering or Medicine, since most universities require students to take two sciences other than Math to be eligible for such courses. Chances are, though, that you already aren’t especially inclined to the sciences if you’re considering this stream.

Okay, I’m Listening, But I’ve Heard Some Things…

There are some stereotypes and rumours about those taking the hybrid combinations, and of course these may be formed on some basis of truth, albeit warped and slightly exaggerated. I’ve heard a number of them myself from the grapevine extending batches back, so here’s my take on some of the more prevalent ones:

1. People take hybrid combinations because they don’t know what to do or are unable to cope with studying the ‘full’ science stream.

This statement cannot be entirely disputed since there are a variety of reasons why someone would choose to take any combination. Yet, it’s rather unfair to generalise everyone taking such a combination as indecisive teenagers or struggling academics (and even if they were, there’s nothing very wrong about that!). Debbie Kang (20S07C) expresses that the hybrid combinations was her choice as she simply “did not enjoy any of the other two sciences”, but still did not want to fully enter the arts stream as “she had an interest in some branches of science”. Hence, the middle ground was the most suitable option for her. 

I myself took this subject combination above a ‘full science’ one because I had ruled out (with swift decisiveness) certain specialised fields, and hence decided to free up a subject and study something I enjoyed.

2. You won’t have options in university.

A simple glance at any university course requirements would assure all anxious Year 5s-to-be that this is verifiably untrue. It’s not that one has absolutely no options in university, rather that your options may just be marginally limited. For instance, while you might be unable to pursue Marine Biology in certain universities, you may still chase your dreams taking Pharmaceutical Chemistry instead. I recommend you check the admission requirements for your course of choice to determine if forgoing a subject is alright. You’d be surprised at the options you still have, as requirements often vary by university. Urban legend even speaks of students who have gone on to do Medicine without taking two sciences!

3. Hybrid classes are one of the least academically-inclined classes. 

I would like to express that this is once again a hasty generalisation, and a rather unfair continuation of the first rumour. As you would have heard during matriculation, students in Y5–6 are first sorted into classes by subject combination, a whole host of other factors, and lastly by grades. The relatively small cohort of hybrid students means sorting students based on combination and timetable clashes is often enough. Sure, one could argue that without streaming (such as in PCME/BCME classes), hybrid classes tend to be a mix of people with different aptitudes for academia, and varying paces of learning. Some may be more serious about grades than others, and the class as a whole could be ‘rojak’, but it all boils down to the individual, doesn’t it? As a close friend of mine put it, variety is the spice of life!

Huh, Maybe This is Where I’m Meant to Go!

In retrospect, I don’t have many regrets about choosing a hybrid combination, and I’m definitely glad I did not reconsider; personally, I’m enjoying the mix of chemical equations and geography essays. So, if you want to study Newtonian mechanics, learn about the economy, work out some mathematical proofs and understand the English language all at the same time, consider taking up a hybrid combination! Just remember to do your research, and look into potential courses in university that you might want to pursue.

It’s obviously scary to realise that you might be selecting your future career with this choice, but little can beat passion when you’re thrown into the rigour of JC life. With so much happening, it may pose a challenge to some to find happiness and enjoyment.

You can avoid being one of them by simply choosing what you want to do.

By Valerie Tan (20A01E)

Maybe you haven’t thought much of your matriculation form since the day you submitted it. Or maybe there’s been a persistent nagging feeling in the pit of your stomach since you confirmed your subject combination as a JAE student. Either way, you’re presented with a shiny new timetable and class one day in February, and are informed that you’ll have to stick with them for the next month or so.

You go to your Physics lecture for the first time and zone out to the lecturer’s rambling on measurements, wondering what on earth you’re doing here. You think back to that form you submitted during JIP, or filled in during your JAE exercise. H2 Physics, you’d written, thinking that all would be well. What a fool you were! For now the only connection you feel to Physics is that it makes you physically ill, and you want out.

Sounds like you? You’ll be glad to know not all hope’s lost just yet, with the help of an appeal form that’ll appear on the student’s portal towards the end of February. You’ll then be free to change your subject combination—subject (haha) to the timetable committee’s ability to fit you in somewhere, of course.

But of course, decisions should never be made rashly. Changing your subject combination has the potential for regret, too. There are a few things to consider before you decide to do so.

Interest

Your decision is fairly easy if you know that you absolutely detest the subject you’re taking at the moment. If opening your Economics notes makes you want to cry, or if Chemistry makes you sick, there’s almost no doubt that a change in subject combination will be right for you. Whatever you take up in replacement, it’ll definitely be a much more pleasant experience.

A similar situation would be about being deeply passionate about another subject that you, for some reason or another, didn’t end up taking at first. This may go along with the previous situation, but not always. In this case, the subjects you’re taking right now are fine; you might even be enjoying them. But you miss learning about Biology, or Literature, or whatever else your heart is dreaming of right now. Taking up this subject would necessitate dropping another subject, of course, even if it’s one you still like. But if it’s worth it, why not?

Ability to do well

This is easy enough to think about, and tends to go along with interest. A deep passion for a subject is likely to motivate you to work harder, while hating something is likely to send your grade for it spiraling down. This is especially when your interest in it is so low that there’s no hope of trying to discipline yourself into studying for it. With the end goal of A levels in sight, it’s natural to want to pick subjects that you’re able to do well in, rather than ones that leave you floundering in the dark. If what you’re taking at the moment doesn’t match up with what you’re able to score in, a subject combination change may feel appropriate—and especially so for the most pragmatic among us, for whom A levels is the be all and end all of things.

For the above two points of consideration, it’s always wise to do your research first. A subject that seemed tame and manageable in Upper Secondary may end up being unexpectedly different, and thus boring and hard to tackle, at JC level. Perhaps Literature was fun previously, but will it feel the same when you’re faced with Andrew Marvell? Or how will Chemistry be like with the endless number of calculations you have to do now? To gauge how the subject will be like at the A levels, you should consult friends currently taking the subject you’re eyeing (borrowing their notes to study is always a good idea), ask your seniors for help, check the syllabus handily put up online by SEAB, or seek advice from a teacher—JC or upper secondary.

Take the example of Nadine Lee (20A01C), who excelled in Chemistry in upper secondary, and considered changing her subject combination to include it, but chose not to in the end. “I talked to my friends who are taking Chem,” she shared, “and they said it was a lot of number crunching. I’m really bad at working with numbers, so that made me reconsider. I also took someone’s Chem stuff to read through and got really put off. The number crunching would’ve shredded me and made me very stressed, so I’m glad that I didn’t take Chem. I appreciate it as a discipline deeply, but I’m not cut out for the numbers in it.”

After consulting those around you, if you’re sure that you like the subject you’re considering and will be able to do well in it, taking it up in place of another seems like a natural choice.

Unless…

Recall our first sentence in this section; the ability to do well “tends” to go along with interest. But of course, there are limits to this statement. Sometimes you fall in love with a subject, but don’t do well in it, especially under duress in an exam setting. And there are some you excel in, but could actually care less about. Your ability to score and your interest in a subject clash, leaving you at a loss. And unfortunately, the desire to do well is pretty much unavoidable at the A levels.

In such cases, what do you do?

Unfortunately, there is no solid answer to this, and is ultimately based on what you value more—your A level grades, or the content that you learn in school.

Sophia He (20S03H) gave some insight into her subject combination choice: despite being deeply interested in the humanities and even securing a spot in the Humanities Programme (HP), she chose to take BCME instead. “I really like the humanities,” she admitted, “but I realised that I panic a lot when I study them, because […] there are technically an infinite amount of materials to consider, which lowkey freaks me out in an exam setting as compared to the more rigid structure and curriculum of sciences. And so I thought, with the stress of A levels and all, that I should probably just choose something I’m more comfortable with, even though I may not be that interested in the subject matter.” Instead, Sophia chose to take on CCAs that allowed her to continue to “explore the arts in a more leisurely setting”, balancing between pragmatism and passion.

“I think it’s good to think deeply about your own learning style […] and ensure that it suits your subjects, sometimes in spite of your interests.”

“Just because you don’t take a subject in the ‘formal’ aspect doesn’t mean that you can’t explore it in your free time,” Nadine also added. If you’re passionate about a subject, but don’t perform well in it in school, it’s still available for you to pursue at leisure: “Even now, in my own time, I read up on Chem-related stuff just for my own pleasure.”

Practical value

The third point of consideration can come in useful in such a dilemma as well. Something to think about might be your university course. If the course you’re gunning for doesn’t require a very high UAS, taking something you’re interested in but might not do well in might still be a fairly safe option. On the other hand, if you’re looking to read something like NUS Law or Medicine, both of which consistently boast IGPs of AAA/A, you’re better off taking whatever you’re better at. After all, the odds are that you don’t hate whatever you’re taking; it’s probably more a sense of indifference you’re experiencing, which is likely to give way once you remember what you’re taking this subject for.

Generally, if you’re sure that the subject you’re considering dropping will not have any bearing on the pool of careers that’s available and appealing to you, the answer is fairly simple: drop it! Personally, this writer was faring decently in Chemistry, but decided to swap it out for History once she realised she wouldn’t ever go into a field that required it. On the other hand, Nicole Lim (20S03I) chose to forgo her HP offer in favour of BCME to keep her options open: “Being an active runner in the school team, sports science and physiotherapy were two career paths I was seriously considering and was not ready to rule out. Accepting the HP offer would mean closing my window to them and limiting my options. […] Eventually, I decided that even though the sciences felt a lot more painful to learn in such great detail, two years of discomfort would be better than being on a road of no return if I were to realise that the humanities was not something I wanted to pursue at the end of my A levels.”

In the above two cases, despite the different thought processes and outcomes, the practical value of the subjects taken was definitely a consideration.

“If you’re undecided, like me, especially with careers which seem to be at opposite ends of the science-art spectrum, I suggest you take the combination that gives you the most options. JC, after all, is still a time to explore and learn more about your interests.”

Class environment

Sometimes you’re comfortable with your subject combination. You go about Orientation without a sliver of doubt or regret in your heart. Then you receive your class allocation, trot off to your Civics classroom, and boom—it’s a disaster. Such a disaster, in fact, that you’re willing to change your subject combination to get out of it.

A poor class environment is definitely a valid reason to change your subject combination, and shouldn’t be disregarded—because JC is not all about the A levels, but also about the friendships you make along the way. One could love the subjects they’re taking, but have a miserable two years because of their classmates. In the worst scenarios, the class environment could even take a toll on their mental health, impinging on their performance in school and CCA as well. If you’re struggling to go to school every day because of your classmates, and are willing to do anything to leave, changing your subject combination to one that belongs in another class might be a way out.

Cheryl Chan (20S06P) faced this experience with her previous class: “It was really stressful being in a class where everyone was good at everything. I felt very inferior, and insecure, and just unhappy.” Together with stress arising from the fear of being unable to cope with her studies, this prompted her to leave her class by changing her subject combination, where she opted to drop Chemistry RA entirely (though one must acknowledge that her situation was fairly unique, as her minor change didn’t require her to take up an additional subject in replacement). Fortunately, this turned out to be a good decision; things got better for her, and she is now “happier in [her] new class”.

These are usually the main four points to take into account when deciding whether or not to change your subject combination. There are a few things that you shouldn’t consider, too, at least not as much as the above:

External pressure

“Ah girl, you should do medicine, then earn a lot of money! Got future one.”
“Eh, do HELM with me, then we same class!”
“You know, I think you’re doing really well in Chemistry, you should continue taking it…”

Parents, friends, and teachers alike are bound to have their thoughts on what you should take. They’re not wrong to have their own opinions; they all (or at least, mostly) want the best for you. But you’re not wrong for rejecting them either, for wanting to make your own choice. Having the possibility of better life prospects or being in the same class as your friend won’t be worth it in the long run if you don’t do well in the subjects, or don’t need them for your university course in the end. While you can take their thoughts into account, you should ultimately still pick the subjects that are more relevant to your life as you see it. If Chemistry is rapidly melting your brain, and the only thing keeping you from dropping it is your parents’ wish for you to be a world-famous doctor, replacing it with a different subject is likely to be better for you.

These sentiments were shared by Celine Tan (20S06A), who dropped Economics for Literature instead: “Don’t pick a subject combi just because your parents want you to take those certain subjects. It’ll most likely suck any joy you had for learning.”

Another form of external pressure is one that is less direct and obvious in nature, but that can be equally harmful to those struggling with a subject they’re taking now: the pressure of convention. With so many students taking the ubiquitous combinations of BCME and PCME, it can be easy to believe that that’s a path that you should follow too, even if you don’t truly want to. This was the case for Minnal Dhayalan (20S06A), who swapped out Economics for History: “I had chosen Econs to try and take more of a typical combi, and since most of the school took Econs, it had to be the right choice, right?” Unfortunately, the answer to this turned out to be a solid “nope” for her, as Econs “just wasn’t [her] thing”, contrary to the trend that the rest of the student population presented. Indeed, though some subjects are taken by a huge majority of students, the truth remains that not everybody is cut out for them. What’s the point of following the crowd if the journey isn’t going to be as fulfilling for you?

Steep learning curve

It can be hard to tell the difference between thinking, I can’t and don’t want to do this right now, but I’ll get better at it eventually, and thinking, no amount of effort till A levels is going to save my grade here. A steep learning curve must always be taken into account, especially for the sciences. Dropping a subject on impulse because of the huge jump in content, or an unwillingness to start studying again after the joy of three months of freedom, isn’t really a great idea.

This is the most subjective point to consider, but such a dilemma can be fixed to some extent by looking at your experience with the subject last year (though this tip is sadly inapplicable to new subjects in JC). Even if the journey wasn’t a breeze, if a fairly normal amount of work was enough to score you an A, you’re likely to be able to eventually cope with it in JC. On the other hand, if multiple all-nighters cramming formulas in your head never paid off, it’s probably fine to change your subject combination in favour of something else that you’ll be better at. It’s worth noting, of course, that “no combi is an easy way out,” as one Year 5 who wished to remain anonymous remarked. There will always be hardships with any subject you take, old or new; what you should take note of is whether you’ll be able to continue coping with it.

Fairly certain that you want a change, but still afraid of regretting it? Take the leap of faith! A number of people have done it, and are mostly satisfied. In a small survey conducted with 10 students who changed their subject combination, there was an overall increase in the level of satisfaction with their subject combination after the change: the average score was bumped up from 2.2 to 3.3, with the minimum score of 1 being “very unsatisfied” and the maximum score of 4 being “very satisfied”. This increase is even more pronounced if we disregard the anomaly of one student who, upon changing her combination, regretted it and returned to her previous combination (which, yes, you can do if you submit your appeal form early enough!): the average level of satisfaction would then have increased from 1.7 to 3.5. Evidently, this decision turned out to be a positive one for most, if not all, of those who chose to change their subject combination; many reported feeling “much better” and “very happy”, with one going so far as to call it the “best decision of [their] life”.

Of course, there will always be some students for whom this change did not yield much happiness. One Year 5 student, who opted to remain anonymous, said: “After you change your combi, you might start questioning your choice a lot, especially if it was a tough decision for you. But all you can really do is make the most of it. I wasted a lot of time just lamenting my decision, when I could have just sucked it up, which would have been a lot better.” Nevertheless, this group of students forms but a small minority, and if your heart is pulling you towards the change, it is perhaps best to run with it.

By now, maybe you’re leaning towards changing your subject combination, but are afraid that you’ll be rejected. You’ll be glad to know, then, that the odds of your desired combination being accepted are, thankfully, usually pretty high. Unless it’s a rare combination, of course, because the school might not be able to accommodate it, or if you need to take an entrance test for it, as in the cases of special subjects such as ELL or Art. But this writer recommends that you go for it anyway; there’s no harm in trying, even if the school ends up rejecting your application.

(Here’s a tip: if you’re trying to change to a rare combination and are 100% sure that you don’t want to end up stuck with your current combination, it’s best to apply early. Even if you get rejected, you can swiftly follow up with a backup that you don’t mind switching to either.)

And maybe you’re wondering now: what class will I end up in after my change is approved? The answer is that it really depends on how common your subject combination is. Changing your combination to PCME leaves you with a grand total of about 20 possible classes to end up in, so you’ll usually be randomly slotted into anywhere with vacancies. (Or if there’s a pattern, it hasn’t been figured out yet.) On the other hand, if you’re changing to a fairly uncommon combination, asking around should do the trick. For instance, the first two or three S03 and S06 classes are usually for those who don’t take Economics, and doing H1 Mother Tongue or Math with a common combination like BCME will also greatly narrow down your list of potential classes.

Overall, whether or not you end up changing your subject combination or not, what’s most important is that you make a choice that you are most comfortable with, and that will benefit you in the long run. Natalie Leong’s (20A01B) comment seems to be the most fitting way to close this article:

“It can be helpful to consider others’ views and opinions but ultimately, the choice is your own! Really cheesy, but the best piece of advice is to just follow what your gut is telling you to do.”

By Raffles Volleyball

Being a Raffles Volleyball player requires grit and spirit. What we experience on the court simply does not exist elsewhere—volleyball is a unique experience unmatched by any other; any attempt at describing it would merely diminish the beauty of the sport. However, we will do our best to encapsulate the spirit of the game within the following paragraphs.

While it may seem like a slightly more complex version of the balloon game in which the balloon can’t touch the ground (we know what you’re thinking, it’s not that easy!), volleyball is a game that’s hard to master. To be a true expert, one needs to work hard on the many unique skills that volleyball will impart to you—digs, sets, spikes, serves, and even dives—which elude other more common sports involving just physical dexterity. Fully grasping these skills requires the utmost level of dedication and patience, any small mistakes in stance or movement could send the ball flying in unintended directions (unfortunately, one of the authors here was smacked in the face twice during her first CCA session). However, the sheer time and effort we pour into ensuring such proficiency guarantees that our performance as a team is not only top-notch but that the game is also enjoyable.

Most of us joined the CCA without much prior experience in the sport, but this in fact motivates us to work even harder. We may not start off as the best, but what’s key is our insatiable hunger for improvement and our overflowing passion for the game. As long as you are willing to put in the sweat and the hours to train, volleyball will turn out to be a very fulfilling CCA.

Volleyball being a team sport also means that covering for your teammates is equally important as guarding yourself. Communication is key, due to the three-touch nature of the sport. When the ball comes flying towards your side of the court, you and your team will be directing the flow of the match; within the court, no matter a faulty receive or failed set, your team covers for you. Within the court, not one member is left out; we are not a team of strong individual players, but one strong team.

That being said, volleyball isn’t always about competitions and serious matches! To any new player, the thought of engaging in an intense rally spanning 60 to 90 minutes might be daunting, but training sessions are, in essence, time slots to bond and learn new skills as a batch. It is only through attempts, mistakes, and obstacles, that you and your team grow as players and forge the strong, lasting bonds that will mould all of you into a family.

Contrary to popular belief, you do not, in fact, have to be above 170cm to join! What you do need is an interest in the unknown, an eagerness to work hard to improve, and the courage to give your all in spite of everything. Training will be tough not only because of the intensity of the physical training, but also because of the disappointments you have when you make mistakes. Be it when you serve the ball into the net, or the first ball that you failed to pass to the setter properly, or the imperfect form of your spike that you cannot seem to correct, there will be moments when CCA is mentally and emotionally draining. However, this is where true growth and improvement take root, and we must give our best, just as it is the job of a volleyball player to chase the ball with all they’ve got, so long as “the ball hasn’t touched the ground yet”.

If you find yourself thrilled when faced with challenges, enticed by the potential for growth; or drawn to the adrenaline rush and camaraderie that comes when you shout “RAFFLES ACE!!!”, come join our family! Before long, you too will be addicted to spending your afternoons chasing after a ball with your fellow ball-chasers.

Training sessions take place every Tuesday (5pm-8pm) and Friday (5pm-8pm) during off-season, with an extra Saturday training during season. These three-hour training sessions include physical training, drills, and gameplay. After each CCA session, you can look forward to team dinners at the J8 rooftop: for there is no better way to end the week or nurse your sore arms than to bond with your teammates after training with bad jokes and banter. 

If the COVID-19 situation improves, you can look forward to the National School Games (A Divisions) in April. As the A Divisions draw near, the team may also meet more regularly to practice. This includes Saturday training and booking beach volleyball courts at the Stadium or indoor courts at the OCBC Arena. Apart from that, we have yearly events such as Team Raffles Games and Old Rafflesians League (ORL), where alumni members come back for a fun day of friendly matches with one another. Furthermore, we also have friendly matches against other schools to provide us with the exposure we need before competitions. 

And that is what Volleyball truly means to us; forget the glitz and glamour of National Volleyball players duking it out for each and every point, forget your favourite anime series that details highly unrealistic (but extremely entertaining) matches. Volleyball is family. What more could you ask for? 

By Boys’ Brigade Primers

*cover photo was taken pre-COVID*

If at first glance, you think we’re just a UG CCA, you’re wrong. 

Somehow, we’re a UG that does sports and performing arts as well! We do way more than just building tents and doing foot drills. We participate in a variety of activities, to provide our members with a holistic experience in the Boys’ Brigade! As Primers in BB, we are in large part coaches and mentors to the Y1-4 Boys, helping to teach them during CCA sessions, and run the large array of activities that BB has to offer. 

In Primers, we split up into different committees that take care of different activities and programmes. For instance, we have committees to teach the different Y1-4 batches and offer them guidance in their secondary school life. Through this, we form bonds with our juniors and become very much like older brothers/sisters to them!

This year, despite facing many restrictions due to Covid-19, we innovated and came up with many solutions to give our Boys a meaningful experience during eCCA. We used online platforms like MS Teams and changed our teaching methods, such as by using Kahoot quizzes, filming video lessons, or designing interactive lessons to keep our Boys engaged. As a CCA we felt that it was important to continue having consistent interaction with one another to maintain our strong sense of community!

Did you know that BB also has our very own bagpipe band? We usually play at various events and compete in competitions, but it hasn’t been possible this year. Still, we have kept up with it by having online band practices—with Primers mentoring Boys individually— which has allowed us to produce an e-performance this year!

Despite not being a sports CCA, BB does organise a variety of sports events! We have an annual hiking competition called “BB Blaze” where our Boys race against other BB companies, with them running, cycling and kayaking up to 30km! In the six months leading up to the competition, we train the Boys and function very much like coaches to them!

As for Primer events, we usually start our year off with Day 0, where we come together as a batch to set our goals and vision. Following that, we have March Camp, a 3D2N camp where Primers participate in hikes with the Boys, among other activities like archery or high elements. After that, we have Primers Challenge in June, which is a 4D3N camp in Malaysia, where Primers are challenged with exciting activities such as waterfall abseiling, white water rafting and caving. If you are someone that loves adventure, joining Primers will be a really awesome experience for you!

In August, we have the Annual Parade, where the company puts up a grand parade for the alumni and parents. During this parade, our band puts up a performance, the Boys get promoted, and we recognise the efforts of our graduating batches! If you love the impressiveness of the contingents you see during NDP, Annual Parade will be really cool for you!

We also have December Camp, which is an end-of-year camp similar to March Camp. During December Camp, the Primers participate in many fun bonding activities with the Boys and plan some of these activities. We also have an annual Christmas dinner at the end where we reconnect with many past batches and end the year together as a company!

In BB, we also get to participate actively in community service. For example, the BB Share-a-Gift (BBSG) Project is a community service project that promotes the spirit of caring and sharing amongst the local community during the Christmas season. The project is carried out annually, and our Boys and Primers serve by collecting the donations at the various Fairprice outlets, packing the hampers at the BB HQ, and most satisfyingly of all, delivering the hampers to underprivileged families. 

With so many different wonderful opportunities in BB, we hope that you see the appeal of joining Primers! But even more than just being a CCA, Primers is a family dear to many of us. Through all the things we’ve gone through together, both in and out of CCA, we have grown close to one another. The Primers community is one where we can all trust one another and depend on each other for help as friends. We hope to see you in our CCA!

FAQ 1: Who are we looking for to join Primers? Can I join if I’m a girl or not from BB?

Everyone is more than welcome to join! Girls are welcome to join as well, and in fact they make up a good portion of many of our batches!

The Primers Programme is diverse and multi-faceted, with a whole slew of activities catered to various strengths, and can thus comfortably accommodate people from a multitude of backgrounds. We have had quite a few Primers that are not from RIBB or even Girls’ Brigade in the past, drawn to Primers by the community and programs. Don’t worry, as the Programme is tailored to also suit youth without prior experience, and the ‘veterans’ in your batch will guide you along the way!

FAQ 2: How busy will I be, should I choose to join the BB Primers?

The Primers Programme largely adopts a committee-oriented commitment scheme—CCA is on Mondays and Wednesday (from 4-6pm), with Company Contact Time (where the whole CCA gathers) and Company events (camps, etc.) being the only compulsory activities. 

One’s schedule is highly flexible, depending on which committees you’ve signed up for earlier in the year, be it badgework such as Adventure and First Aid, mentoring committees, or training the Boys for competitions. 

FAQ 3: How does it count towards the Raffles Diploma and other awards?

The breadth of activities organised ensures that all of us are well beyond the minimum criteria for the Raffles Diploma. In fact, most Primers will get the BB Anchor Award through our participation in the CCA, earning us minimally a Merit Award. The NYAA Gold award is a notable additional achievement for members to work towards, for which the Primers Programme is adequately aligned towards.

FAQ 4: How can I find out more about the RIBB Primers Programme? 

We’d be delighted to have you down at our open house booth, or our January Induction Programme CCA feste! We’re also on Instagram (@our60th) :D