This article is part of the CCA Previews for 2016.

by Raffles Netball EXCO’16

The team, huddled and celebrating our win at the 2015 finals.

The journey of a Raffles Netballer is never easy, but definitely one worth the blood, sweat, tears and time over the years because of the precious friendships we make and invaluable lessons that the sport teaches us. Raffles Netball is a close-knit family, made up of a bunch of dedicated, self-motivated, caring and fun-loving girls who share the same love for each other and for the sport.

The sky’s the limit!

As if we do not train together enough, a typical training day would see us meeting up after lessons in the canteen or at the netball benches, sometimes even hours before training starts, just to chit-chat, get some tutorials done or to catch a quick nap. Often, we hear someone suddenly say as she jolts up, “I forgot to bring recovery food!” Almost always, she would drag one of us with her to make the quick dash to RI Chill to get biscuits or a bottle of 100 Plus. Gathering 10-15 girls who have been cooped up in classrooms for the most part of the day is the simplest and fastest recipe for lots of loud chatter and laughter. Once training starts and the coach arrives, however, we all know to focus and make best use of each session, especially when competition season draws close.

With high expectations of ourselves and of the team, training sessions are both physically and mentally draining. What really keeps us going, training after training, is the constant peer encouragement – from the shouts of ‘Jiayou!’ and ‘Good job!’ from the other end of the court, or the quiet ‘hi-fives’ and pats on the back after a tough workout. At the end of an arduous week of school and training sessions, nothing beats spending some quiet time with teammates, admiring the stars while lying down on the courts in the dark after training, before going for yet another fun-filled and satisfying CCA dinner.

Raffles Netball is a happy bunch!

Our annual camps are key highlights in our time at Raffles Netball. Held at different times of the year, the camps seek to achieve various objectives, but wacky team-bonding games, as well as nighttime team and personal reflections in the cosy EW Barker Institute of Sports (EWBIS) room are never out of the picture. (The EWBIS room is also where we prepare for big matches.) The 2015 end-of-year camp for the J1s featured an entire afternoon of games, followed by grocery shopping for a self-prepared dinner. The bonds, support, spirit and attitude that we have in Raffles Netball are what we all hold dear to and spend a lot of time building, from getting through tough training sessions to enjoying fun times together.

After the 2015 year-end camp in the EWBIS room.

The Raffles Netball experience would also not be the same without our dedicated, supportive, approachable and friendly teachers-in-charge and soaches, who often go beyond their duties to help us achieve our goals. During busy periods, they often sacrifice time with their families to be with us at training and camps, chat with us to make sure we are all coping, and buy us delicious after-training goodies.

To many of us, choosing to be part of the Raffles Netball family has been nothing short of a blessing. Looking back, it is not the gold medal that we hold dear to, but the shared laughter, tears shed and strong friendships forged that hold a special place in our hearts. It’s about the journey, not the destination. So join us on this journey of team building, self-discovery, discipline and growth in 2016. It may not be easy, but it will be worth it. Come down to our booth at Open House to find out more!

Raffles Netball 2015.

This article is part of the CCA Previews for 2016.

by Michelle Chong (16S03N), Vice-Captain, and Guo Xinyi (16S06P)

There’s nothing quite like the immeasurable joy when you step onto a volleyball court. Across the net a ball is about to take off and will go to anyone on this side of the net. You share a glance with your five teammates, widen your stance, lower your body weight, and you await.

The ball leaves the server’s hand. In a split second you realise where it’s heading for. You run, stretch your arms out and shout, “Mine!”

Welcome to volleyball.

In the simplest sense, volleyball is a game where six members on one side of the net attempt to land a bouncy ball on the other side. Yet, it is so much more than that. Endurance, camaraderie and teamwork are just some of the treasures encompassed in volleyball, and a Raffles Volleyballer has the chance to earn all of them.

Raffles Volleyball is a relatively new CCA to the school and presumably to many of its members, who come from all walks of life. The Raffles Volleyballers have had a wide variety of secondary school CCAs and most have daringly chosen to try and pick up this new sport of ball volleying in the name of fun and adventure. Regardless of your skill or experience level, if you, the undecided explorer, carry a desire for adventure and excitement, Raffles Volleyball could very well be your destination.

In the first term of the year, three trainings are conducted weekly in preparation for Nationals, Tuesdays and Fridays 5pm-8pm and Saturdays 9am to 12pm. As Nationals end and Common Tests begin, trainings cool down to Tuesdays and Saturdays only. A typical training session involves two hours of warm-ups and drills, and one of gameplay, accompanied by two experienced and driven coaches. Girls and guys train separately, the former with a net of 224cm in height and the latter with a net of 243 cm. Volleyball will not be easy to pick up as it will require a few months to set the foundations before a match can even be attempted. As a result, initial trainings may feel a little slow or frustrating. However, once you’ve learnt the basic dig, set and spike, volleyball will be an exhilarating team sport, which also cultivates bonds through cheers and encouragement each time it is played.

Each year, we enter the Nationals and compete with teams of various schools. Being a developmental sport, lack of experience gives us a disadvantage compared to other schools, and results are not always stellar. There may be disappointments, but we make it a point not to let them overtake our enjoyment of the sport. Regardless of the results of the competition, every batch has felt the sense of accomplishment at having picked up a new sport and competed as a team. It is a wonderful experience. Matches with other schools and community leagues also give us a chance to play against others and hone our skills.

Nationals 2015 – Volleyball A Division Boys.

Contrary to many other CCAs, the Raffles Volleyball journey does not end with A levels. A strong alumni community provides a platform to play volleyball frequently even after graduation. Casual beach volleyball matches and coaching from seniors are some perks of an enthusiastic alumni community, but one of the main events of alumni life is the annual Old Rafflesian League Games. In the beginning of each year, around January, batches of Raffles Volleyballers gather to play, eat and just see one another. There is no age limit, in fact, participants range from 18 to 60 years old. In other words, once a Raffles Volleyballer, always a Raffles Volleyballer.

The current team consists of 25 energetic members – 10 boys and 15 girls. Batch lunches and outings maintain a lively team spirit and a warm atmosphere, the freedom to make mistakes on court as well as the drive to improve. The dynamics of every batch will never be the same, but sweating, panting, hungering and thirsting together has a way of building strong team spirit like nothing else does. But of course, each new batch will have to put in their own effort into creating a bonded and motivated Raffles Volleyball team.

Batch outing to MIND Café.

Volleyball camp’15.

Apart from fast reflexes and impressive moves, Raffles Volleyball can give you incredible fun and a supportive CCA community. The Raffles Volleyball experience has been an enriching one for many batches of volleyballers and will certainly be one for you.

To find out more information about Raffles Volleyball or trials, visit our Open House booth in the Indoor Sports Hall during Open House or simply contact Zhi Feng at 83999875.

To find out more information about volleyball in general, here’s a good website you could try.

This article is part of the CCA Previews for 2016.

by Cacia Tan (16S03G), Girls’ Captain, and Daryl Kow (16S06R), Boys’ Captain

You are on third. It’s scoring position. If you make it home, the game is over and Raffles wins the championship. You shift on the base, and glance at the coach as he taps out the signal. Wrist, chest, shoulder. He wants you to steal home. You nod at coach and roll your shoulders. The final sprint is here, and you have to time it perfectly. The atmosphere is tense as the opponent’s pitcher starts his wind-up. You focus on his wrist. Wait for the release. Wait for it – and explode off the base for home. The ball is hit to the shortstop and she hustles to throw. It’s a final race between you and the ball as both head for home plate. Down! But you go down too late and miss home plate. Your heart freezes and your brain blanks, yet your body reacts, twisting around and reaching for the plate as the glove sweeps just above your hand. “Safe!” The umpire’s single word sparks an uproar of cheers from the Raffles crowd. Your heart lifts as you get up. You did it.

You did it. Photo: Vox Sports

Welcome to Raffles Softball, where we train for three hours every Monday, Wednesday and Friday towards our goal of a grand slam title during the Interschool Championships in April and May. Each training culminates in a final moment. The strength and skill attained through constant practice and correction comes down to that one swing –  to score the winning run, or that perfect throw for the final out. The mental resilience acquired from learning how to recover from each strikeout to courageously attempt another at-bat, or to recover from a costly error builds character and determination. It helps you stay strong, when the team is runs down.

Beyond personal skills, the camaraderie built with each session as you and your teammates sweat it out together under the unforgiving sun, covering for each other and cheering each other on only grows stronger with each match. Years beyond JC, the Raffles Softball community forged through bruises and blisters remains.

Some of us!

Raffles Softball is more than a CCA. As cliched as this sounds, it is truly a family. Countless generations of softballers who were once coached under our late coach Mr Nelson Lim Hock Hua form the backbone of a strong alumni. We have the privilege of having coaches who are able to relate to us as many of them were former Raffles players themselves not too long ago! We are also blessed with wonderful teachers-in-charge who are dedicated, supportive and understanding. Having teachers who genuinely care for each and every player’s welfare both on and off the field and who are constantly looking out for us is something we enjoy and are extremely grateful for as Rafflesian Softballers.

Celebration after a fight. Photo: Vox Sports

As a Softball member, you can look forward to tiring training sessions under the hot sun, games at ungodly hours and pressure like no other. But: expect much laughter, satisfaction and memories.

There is no doubt that Raffles Softball requires much commitment and dedication. Nothing sweet comes easy. But if you’re game, then the Raffles Softball Family warmly welcomes you to the team. :)

#oneteamonedream

This article is part of the CCA Previews for 2016.

by Chung Jia Hui (16S03J), Faith Magdelena Quek (16S03A) and Jodene Tay (16S03H)

Ever wanted to try out martial arts or learn self-defence? Looking for a light-commitment CCA that still allows you to represent the school in a competition?

Then you’ve come to the right place.

Raffles Taekwondo is an external club CCA recognised in RI(JC), and was established only recently in 2015. Taekwondo is recognized by the Singapore Schools Sports Council, and participation in the National Inter-schools will be included in your CCA Records.

 We train every Friday from 4-5pm at St. Teresa Taekwondo Centre @ HomeTeamNS- JOM Balestier (training timings are flexible and will be confirmed after Y5s get their timetables). It is a short 10-minute walk from Toa Payoh Station.

For each session, we usually start with stretching, as flexible legs are essential in executing taekwondo kicks. Next, we practise our kicks, blocks and punches. We aim for maximum precision in our moves. Finally, we move on to either Poomse or Kyrougi – this is alternated every week. For Poomse, we will split into our belt levels and practice our ‘pattern’ – a series of moves to be demonstrated at the grading which will promote us to the next belt level. Our coach will correct our moves at the same time to ensure that they are more precise and accurate to build a firm foundation and prevent any injuries.

For Kyrougi, we pair up, and hold targets for our partners to kick. This allows us to practice and perfect our kicks. Nearer to the grading day, green belts and above will practice non-contact sparring, in which students kick at the air near each other. Only these students will be graded for Kyrougi.

All members have the opportunity to take part in National Inter-schools 2016 in teams of 3 or individually, as well as inter-club championships throughout the year for experience and exposure. They will perform their Poomse pattern once and be judged against students of the same belt level.

Aside from our weekly trainings, we also organise informal sessions which focus on stretching and PT. Breakfasts, dinners or outings usually follow. Closer to the Inter-schools championships, we train almost daily at the mirrors near LT 5.

In addition, we organise birthday celebrations for our members’ birthdays too :) In a small, close-knit CCA like taekwondo, we are able to get to know each other better and appreciate every single one of us.

More on Taekwondo (태관도):

Taekwondo is a Korean martial art characterized by high kicks, fast kicks, spinning kicks and other kicking stunts. While the use of the upper body is not emphasised, a well-conditioned upper body helps players execute punches and blocks in Poomsae. More than mere hard skills and techniques, Taekwondo is an enriching sport which teaches core values such as respect and discipline. There are two main components of Taekwondo: Poomsae, which consists of a series of kicks and punches, and Kyrougi, which consists of sparring – usually non-contact. While Kyrougi may sound dangerous, tactics are emphasised more than force, hence accidents are unlikely. Don’t worry – the center provides a comfortable, padded room.

Achievements:

National Inter-schools 2015: Female Black Belt Team Gold medal and Best Improved Championship School Trophy

Find out more at our Facebook page and Instagram account @rafflestaekwondo, or contact rafflestaekwondo@gmail.com for any queries.

Sign up NOW at http://www.tinyurl.com/RTKD16Signups for trial lessons and join us starting 8 January 2016! If you’re a beginner, taking part in the grading late-January will give you the opportunity to compete in Inter-schools!

No commitment is required as of now. You can withdraw during the actual CCA sign-up period during Orientation, as your membership will only be confirmed then.

This article is part of the CCA Previews for 2016.

by Kristal Ng (16S07C), Natasha Hoong (Secretary), Jeriel Teo and Kelsie Tan (Co-Chairpersons)

ODACians in our natural habitat

“All nature has a feeling: woods, fields, brooks

Are life eternal: and in silence they

Speak happiness beyond the reach of books;

There’s nothing mortal in them; their decay

Is the green life of change; to pass away

And come again in blooms revivified.

Its birth was heaven, eternal it its stay,

And with the sun and moon shall still abide

Beneath their day and night and heaven wide. “

–All Nature has a Feeling, John Clare

Brought together by a thirst for adventure. Bound together as a family. ODAC may not specifically develop better sportsmen, musicians, or artists. Instead, we build better people, with respect for themselves, others and the environment.  ODAC also provides an escape from the high-stress environment of social and academic commitments, and a sense of tranquillity in the great outdoors.

Every Wednesday, no matter rain, hail or sunshine (except haze), one can expect to see a group of students gathered at the stadium steps, backs hunched with the weight of a fully-loaded backpack but still smiling and chatting animatedly. This is just the beginning of a 3 – 4 hour trek out of school, exploring the sometimes hidden, always fascinating wild places in Singapore. Along the way, we also keep our eyes peeled for unique flora and fauna. We learn to revere nature, and appreciate the rare delights of encountering monitor lizards at MacRitchie Reservoir, or a family of otters at Punggol Waterway Park.

Too often, the weight of our packs and the debilitating heat can cause us to stumble (and sometimes sprawl ungainly on the ground), but that is when the encouragement of fellow ODACians makes all the difference. It is during these long treks that we gain not only stamina and endurance, but also the camaraderie and trust of making this jaunt across our little island, aching shoulders and all, to reach the destination, together.

Pipe-a-pie trek! We walk a lonely pipe, the only pipe that we will ever knowwww…

Mondays, on the other hand, are set aside for a whole range of other activities conducted by teachers and fellow ODACians. This can include physical training to build up basic fitness, skills training such as first aid, backwoodsman cooking and tent pitching to prepare us for survival outdoors, as well as to build environmental responsibility.

With our burnt chicken from Backwoodsman cooking.

As a non-competitive CCA, ODAC has certain milestone events which act as goals for the CCA members to look forward to and work towards. At the beginning of the year, new ODACians can expect a 3D2N Basic Training Camp to welcome them to the CCA. During the June holidays, activities will kick into high gear as we prepare for our annual overnight cycling event – Gear Up! as well as the June Expedition.

Nearing the end of the year, one can anticipate the November/December Expedition. Each expedition aims to push ODACians out of their comfort zones, and allow them to grow together from shared adversity, as well as from overcoming challenges.

But in case you think we merely do trekking, fear not! We also explore other aspects of the outdoors. Certification courses for other activities such as kayaking and sport-climbing are also offered and, in fact, highly encouraged, to further enrich our ODAC experience. Due to the nature of our CCA which requires attendance even during the holidays, it is preferred for ODACians not to commit themselves to enrichment programs such ISLE, GCEP, BLP and LBA, as expeditions tend to clash with these trips. Additionally, interested students should be aware that a substantial cost is involved in joining ODAC, as students have to pay for personal equipment used during expeditions.

Becoming KAYA-KINGS after finishing our One Star Kayaking course. (Did you know that kayak spelt backwards is kayak?)

It might seem daunting right now, but don’t worry, being an ODACian does not require supreme levels of fitness or stamina. All you need is an adventurous spirit with the willingness try and to never give up, because in the end, ODAC is a process of self-discovery, of realizing that we can achieve anything as long as we put our mind to it, growing stronger both physically and mentally. Ultimately, “it is not the mountain we conquer, but ourselves.” – Edmund Hillary

This article is part of the CCA Previews for 2016.

By Zhu Minxi (16A01B), Corporate Comms; Wong Jiaru (16A01C), Chairperson; Jeraldine Low (16S06I), Vice-Chairperson

AVU with ICS backstage crew in the control room.

If you had to name one omnipresent and (nearly) omnipotent CCA in Raffles Institution, you probably wouldn’t be able to give an answer. But there is a name you absolutely should be thinking about. Behind the windows of the mysterious control room in every lecture theatre, the sound of every speaker set you hear around school and even the national anthem and announcements in the morning, you will find our shadows fluttering over enigmatic panels with ominous and befuddling faders while we mutter under our breath. Behind every successful concert and every psychedelic light combination you see at the Performing Arts centre, is us in the shadows.

Audio Visual Unit. We are Light. We are Sound.

Glamorous introduction aside, the work scope of the Audio Visual Unit is probably one of the most happening ones in the entire school. Granted, we do have to know our technicalities and have to deal with XLR cables, quarter-inch cables, condensers, various snakes and many speakers that may or may not work. We run with the Arts CCAs’ calendars and their season is our season; we are there at each and every performance made by the performance Arts groups making it happen, and you can be there too. This makes us the only CCA in school that has access and exposure to the preparation and production of every performance; we always enjoy seeing these projects come to fruition, as we are sure you would too.

AVU after CLDCS’s performance

Our commitment policy to these events is also one of the best that any CCA in school has. As we provide AV support for (name all the previous events from the yearbook), you can choose which event to go for, all based on your interest and schedule. Of course, there is a minimum number of hours members must fulfil every year, but that is not going to be an issue and often you’ll end up crashing more events!

If you’re befuddled by some of the technical things we mention two paragraphs above (sneaky sneaky), don’t worry. Most of us start off without prior experience and were similarly befuddled when we first stepped into a control room. What matters is that you are keen and quick to learn!

Each AVU member starts off with the induction camp where we are introduced to everyone else, and more importantly, to the basics. Training sessions will then supplement each member with skills that can be applied at various events to ensure that the audience enjoys the concert and the performing CCAs will love us like they always do.

The most essential stage of your learning comes in your first event. It is up to you to mess around with the equipment during rehearsals and learn about the characteristics of each microphone, cable, light, etc, under the watchful and competent guidance of your senior batch (i.e us) to learn how to run a concert. Of course, we do our best at the actual performance, filling concert halls with lights and sounds that dancers, bands and even presentations cannot do without.

For the more experienced few who are interested in developing their technical expertise, other than exploring through self-reading and trial-and-error with the equipment, we will also arrange for further sessions to cater to your interest. We enjoy guidance from Mr Hazli of the Music Department, who is a professional sound engineer working with the Esplanade, and the fountain of much of our AV know-how. Do you want to be your own DJ, learn the nitty-gritty of recording or even make your own cable? You name it; we’ll do it (or we’ll ask our dear Mr Hazli how to).

Finally, the people in the CCA are a large part of what makes the CCA great. The nature of our CCA requires you to depend on, trust and work with your CCA mates a lot and while it can get tense, nothing is better for fostering great relationships than carrying off an event successfully together or sitting in a little box with someone for 30 hours. Furthermore, you’ll get to make friends with the cool performing arts groups and at the same time have a free back row seat to the performances of your choice!

Now, are you ready to join us and be the master of lights and sounds?

Please direct any queries to avujc@gmail.com :)

This article is part of the CCA Previews for 2016.

by Jaryl Lim (16S03N), Chairman; Regina Vanda (16S06B), Vice-Chairman; Jack Sun (16S03S), Secretary

One Earth batch of 2015-2016

What is One Earth?  A service CCA? An advocacy group? An organisation with the passion to make a difference? Well, we are all of the above! Not just another CCA, One Earth is the only CCA in Raffles which actively seeks to care for and protect the environment.  In addition to providing club members with opportunities for environmental service and advocacy, we also hope to nurture Rafflesians’ interest and passion for environmental issues. In essence, we are a CCA which does environment-related service. This may be slightly confusing, but don’t fret, read on to find out more about our weekly activities and programmes!

Raffles One Earth is all about playing a part in environmental conservation and advocacy, but how exactly does this happen? It all begins in our weekly CCA sessions. Here, the CCA brainstorms about various outings and projects we can carry out together. As a relatively small group of like-minded people, it is much easier to get ideas going. This is where the magic happens; you will feel comfortable speaking up for any environmental concerns you have have kept to yourself all this while. CCA sessions usually involve environmental chit-chat, and frequent short presentations by your CCA mates. These presentations are all centred around what you care about or what you want to suggest; there are absolutely no limits! From endangered species to meditation, the personal to the universal, these presentations encompass a whole range of topics our members are passionate about, keeping each CCA session new and interesting – but most importantly, student-centered. At the same time, they expose our members to a diverse range of knowledge. Nature is after all complex and dynamic. Learning about diverse yet interrelated topics keeps our sense of wonderment alive.

Weekly Presentations

The other major component of One Earth are the Student Initiated Projects (SIPs). Raffles One Earth is one of the few CCAs with the privilege of organising volunteering activities for the school population as part of SIPs. These projects are carried out in groups of 3-5. Other than being able to materialize the environmental change you wish to bring about, the school also recognizes these projects as part of your Raffles Diploma. Examples of such projects include Project Waterworld, an SIP teaching primary school students the importance of water conservation, and Singapore’s Waste Issues, a project that educates students on waste reduction and management. Besides the satisfaction gained from seeing your project come to fruition, an SIP also gives you the chance to experience being an environmentalist, educator, and entrepreneur. Even as you reach out to teach the community the importance of caring for our one Earth, you will learn invaluable skills necessary for advocacy itself. Planning and executing a project can be daunting at the start, but with the right attitude, an open mind and the help of your teammates, a project that brings about real change is definitely within reach. The entire SIP experience can be immensely fun, gratifying and memorable for you, your teammates, and your target group!

If all this advocacy seems too limited or draining for you, you will be glad to know that we take outings very seriously in Raffles One Earth. After all, we cannot speak of loving our Earth if we never go out to breathe its fresh air and look at its rich biodiversity. This is why a day in our CCA can be spent leaving the school altogether to explore Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park, Botanic Gardens, Macritchie Reservoir or many other possible places – of course one at a time. Here, we have the space and time to appreciate nature and its beauty and learn about different ecosystems. Also, we have the opportunities to connect with one another’s passions and enjoy one another’s company. We could even have a game of frisbee in the park!

Going beyond outings, there are ample opportunities to get down and dirty in an effort to care for the Earth. As far as they are not acted upon and practiced, advocacy is, in the end, just talk; raising awareness is, eventually, only preaching. By collaborating with external organisation such as Nature Society Singapore, National Youth Council and even World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), you can participate in many activities which directly protect and maintain the quality and sustainability of our Earth through reforestation efforts, coastal cleanups, and fund raising projects.

Coastal Cleanup

It doesn’t matter if all you have is a small desire to care for the environment. Nature is us; we are nature. Being part of nature we already fulfill the most important prerequisite and reason for protecting it. So we start with small ideas, simple projects- start with our personal voice. Our CCA thrives on these building blocks – the same blocks that can shape a better world. That is why caring for our one Earth happens every day in the life of a One Earth member.

This article is part of the CCA Previews for 2016.

by Goh Xin-Yi (16S03E), Treasurer of Bridge Club

Once I am taken out of the board, I am struck by the liveliness and excitement in the room. There’s a bit of a commotion going on at one of the tables because someone has missed out on a golden opportunity to take a trick. The layout of the room is as such: there are a few desks, with four people seated around each. Every Wednesday and Friday, from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., duplicate tournaments are held where teams compete. Lessons on bidding, declaring, and defending could also be held. Though less exciting, they are necessary in building a good foundation and improving the players’ skills.

“3 Spades.” At my table, bidding has just ended. I am placed face-up on the desk, as my owner is now the dummy.

Members using bidding cards to bid.

Trick. Teams. Bidding. Declaring. Defending. Dummy. Do these terms sound strange? In my short stay in this club since my induction, I have witnessed many batches of Bridge members.

What’s that, you say? Floating Bridge? Just to clear the air, the members in my club play contract Bridge. I know how floating Bridge works – I have been called as a partner before. But contract Bridge isn’t like that. It’s a much more fulfilling game that requires less luck, and more thinking, where partners are determined before the game.

Of course there would be those who are relatively proficient at the game, but there are many more who start off as beginners and only learnt the rules of contract Bridge at the beginning of Year 5. Therefore, to any potential newcomers, don’t be put off by not knowing how to play contract Bridge. All you need is enthusiasm, interest, and diligence. Trust my advice based on my years of experience in the club.

Someone bangs a table in celebration of making his contract. The players are enthusiastic and boisterous – they might, occasionally, feel angry and disappointed, but always passionate. It is perhaps this passion for card-playing that bonds them, that keeps them coming back weekly, or biweekly, for more.

What I feel are the highlights of the club, however, are the matches between the teams from our school and from other schools. Look forward to the Hwa Chong Cup, the National Inter-Schools Bridge Competition, as well as Raffles Pairs, organised by my owners (the members in the club). Nothing can be more exciting than to lie on a table and watch the players from various schools pit their wits against one another.

It may be a personal bias, but having been through all the various card games, from Snap to Solitaire to Hearts, Bridge – contract Bridge – is still the best to me. It’s the most fascinating and mind-stretching game I’ve played. Owner of Forbes Magazine, Malcolm Forbes, once said, “Playing bridge reflects intelligence. It’s one of the really great pleasures of life. I think anybody who’s missing bridge is missing so much in life. Don’t make the mistake of missing out on the fun of bridge.”

***

Time flies – it’s 6.30. My time out in the open is up. After a long hibernation in the Bridge cupboard, I look forward to seeing you, a young and fresh batch of passionate Bridge players, next year. Until then, adieu.

Suggested further reading (All books listed can be found in the Shaw Foundation Library):

1. The Cardturner by Louis Sachar
2. 25 bridge conventions you should know by Barbara Seagram and Marc Smith
3. 25 more bridge conventions you should know by Barbara Seagram and David Bird

*No pre-requisite knowledge of these bidding conventions is required. Reading list is provided for those who are interested to read up more beforehand.

This article is part of the CCA Previews for 2016.

by Cong Feng (Vice-Chairman), Liu Yijia (Chairman), Yang Gan (Vice-Chairman) and Sheldon Tan (Secretary) (16S06E)

Math Club ’15

It may be difficult to condense everything an average member does in a regular session at Math Club into a few words, especially when an “average member” and a “regular session” hardly exist. However, one thing Math Club never fails to accomplish is to make each session the best 90 minutes you have had that week. Equations and fractions not your cup of tea? Graphs make you nauseous? Fret not, for we guarantee that our activities each week are flexible enough to ensure that all members will have the time of their lives.

Every session comprises of either something you had chosen to focus on (be it actual math, Rubik’s cube, puzzles, arithmetic games etc.) or a mystery activity (past examples include origami, advanced origami, folding paper aeroplanes). As to what exactly you can learn from Math Club, it is entirely up you. We will provide the tools and support you, regardless of whether you desire to be the fastest Sudoku solver or if you just want to interact with other math-loving people. Even if your endeavor might seem frivolous, we will be there to help and create masterpieces such as the Great Enchanted Ring (which was so good it became our mascot). Of course, opportunities to take part in competitions and olympiads are also available for the individuals wishing to challenge the process and test their limits.

Great Enchanted Ring (Origami)

And of course, how can we ensure that each member has their exhilarating moments without including fun segments in every session? First and most importantly we guarantee food. Yes, ample snacks will be available every session. However, don’t expect extravagant gourmet unless you’re willing to contribute exorbitant amounts to our funds. Next, a combined camp with our junior schools RI (Y1-4) and RGS is held annually, in which heartwarming tales of friendship, teamwork and plain silly fun blossom. Last but not least, the fun seeking nature of the Math community will most definitely make you feel contented and right at home.

Math Club is, in purest terms, none other than a gathering of random people who really want to do random things. Looking forward to develop your project on the geometry of elliptic curves? Seeking opportunities to pick up a mathematical hobby? Or simply desiring an air-conditioned environment to pass time while you do Sudoku and eat Oreos? Math Club is more than willing to accompany you across every step of your JC life. At the end of the day, you will experience one of the following:

1. Yea I finally broke my Rubik’s cube record :D
2. Urgh I ate too many snacks :’(
3. Both

Regardless of which, one thing is for certain: you had a good laugh and a good time.

Note: Trial sessions are on the 21st and 28th of Jan, and we will be conducting sessions of the AMAZING (foolish) things that we do here in Math Soc.

This article is part of the CCA Previews for 2016.

by Eddrick Tan Qi Zhong, Cheryl Chor, Jerome Lee, Matthew Wong and Ryan Phua

Club Alchemy 2015.

Alchemists hail from the times of antiquity, their work clearing the path for empiricism to take centre stage. Club Alchemy celebrates this tenacity and sense of inquiry and curiosity, transforming our members into passionate students of Chemistry through theory and practical sessions, conducted in an environment conducive for self discovery, experimentalism and peer learning.

We are an exploratory club, where members get to stretch the limits of what they can do with household items and synthesize different compounds, all while learning more about Chemistry in a relaxed environment with like-minded Alchemists.

While we’ve moved past trying to make gold from lead, practical sessions in Club Alchemy are conducted with the purpose of investigating and experiencing phenomena that occurs in our daily lives. Practical sessions that have been conducted over the past year include ice-cream making in 3 different ways (you even get the eat the ice cream afterwards, even though the taste depends on how successful the ice-cream makers were), synthesis of aspirin (you probably shouldn’t eat this afterwards), as well as candle making (you definitely shouldn’t be eating this). Besides getting the opportunity to dive into interesting practical experiments, Alchemists also get to learn about the theory behind those experiments – one such experiment even appeared in a Promos paper!

Interesting wax designs made during an alchemy session

Apart from practical sessions, theory sessions are also conducted which introduce topics inside and outside of the H2 syllabus. These classroom sessions may sound boring, but they include presentations on areas of high interest, ranging from nuclear energy to methamphetamine, allowing members to have increased exposure to various concepts of the subject.

Other fun activities that would be conducted include buzzer sessions, where quirky question and answers and trollish point schemes are sure to excite our Alchemists. The questions range from random trivia to fun Chemistry related puns. Moreover, there are also activities lined up for Alchemists every year, such as organising and hosting bi-annual events such as Eureka!, a multi-disciplinary science competition for secondary school students. Alchemists also get the opportunity to participate in events like the Chemistry Circuit Challenge, held by the National University of Singapore.

2015 Chem Circuit Challenge Team :)

Everyone is welcome at Club Alchemy! As long as you are interested in learning more about Chemistry and carrying out some lab work with like-minded alchemists, do consider joining Club Alchemy. It doesn’t matter whether you haven’t the foggiest of what an atom is or how radioactivity works, anyone aspiring to learn more about Chemistry is more than welcome! Our sessions are conducted every Monday from 4.30 p.m. to 6.30 p.m. and we have a whole list of exciting activities planned out for you, so we hope to see you soon!

Occasionally, we enhance our practicals :)

This article is part of the CCA Previews for 2016.

by Elson Neo (16S03I), Vice Chairperson

We’ll be the first to admit that dedicating after-school hours to biology scarcely seems like an exciting prospect. Having spent the morning in a lecture theatre feverishly copying notes and returning home to a devilishly thick genetics tutorial is certainly enough to turn off most the subject. Understandably, many of us may thus see biology as a tedious, soulless pursuit. However, biology is not, as circumstances would have us believe, the mere dry memorization and regurgitation of facts. From the delectable taste of a meal to the burning sensations during exercise, biology underlies many aspects of daily life. Biology is a magic box of wonders too, seen from the multitude of life forms among us. We at the Raffles Society of Biological Sciences (just call us BioSoc) aim to explore the more fun, relatable and fascinating aspects of biology.

At BioSoc, we see biology not as a chore to be completed late in the night before school the next day, but rather as a means of understanding and appreciating the life around us. Sessions are tailored to the preferences of CCA members, consisting of nature walks, presentations and of course, dissections. We see hands-on activities as a prime way to explore biology; as they say, experience is the best teacher. After all, what better way to learn about amphibian form and function than to try a frog dissection for yourself?

Heart-to-heart interaction with the specimen! (Note: The heart was artifically stimulated, the specimen was long dead when the picture was taken)

In line with the emphasis on exploring biology via experience, we also conduct nature walks to observe biology at work outside the classroom. Although nature may prima facie seem incompatible with Singapore’s urban landscape, our country has no shortage of hotspots teeming with life. MacRitchie Reservoir is an example close to home, housing a plethora of animal species including water monitors, box turtles and grass snakes. If animals aren’t really your thing, plants such as the Singapore rhododendron and figs are equally widespread and play integral roles in maintaining the ecosystem as well. It is seeing biology in the flesh that matters, that incites the sense of wonder and curiosity that textbooks and key words cannot give.

A Malayan water monitor seen at MacRitchie idly contemplates the meaning of life.

Fig tree (:

Here at BioSoc, we believe that biology is a subject where all aspects can be appreciated by everyone. Whether your interest is a niche one like palaeontology, embryology or something more common like medical biology, we’ve got you covered! You don’t have to read university textbooks or attain 6 PhDs to join us, all you need is interest and ability in biology and the enthusiasm to share your knowledge. We welcome members to share what they know with others, be it via conducting presentations during sessions or serving as guides during nature walks.

One’s experience in BioSoc does not end with CCA sessions either. The writer speaks from experience in asserting that the penchant for biological exploration present in the CCA lends itself to other aspects of life. The sight of a common myna perched on a fruiting papaya plant will no longer occur to you as just a pretty bird perched on a less pretty tree, but rather an interaction between life forms involving signals and cues with the same complexity and nuance as our own social interactions. You’ll notice various quirks of nature that you may not have perceived before, and your observations and questions will be met with greater understanding. (Some randomness you might notice are the fact that snails usually emerge from the ground only after heavy rain, and that cutting the top of plants causes them to branch more. You’ll need to find out why by yourself, though!) Even in school, the ability to catch fleeting glimpses of nature can sometimes be rewarding. Did you know that the butterflies in school are not monarchs but plain tigers? Or that red-breasted parakeets flock above the carpark in the mornings? My point exactly. Of course, other more….peculiar habits include a newfound tendency to dissect your food and unnerving familiarity with a scalpel. Just kidding, of course!

A plain tiger spotted in school-Never settle for anything less than butterflies!

That being said, if you have a fondness for biology and would like to explore it beyond the school curriculum, BioSoc might just be the place for you. Perhaps you can join us in discovering the secrets of the natural world; finding, as Darwin quipped, that there is grandeur in this view of life.

This article is part of the CCA Previews for 2016.

by Li Jiaqi (16S03I), Ariel Lesmana (16S03R), Goh Shu Lin, Doreen (16S03I), Nur Amalia bte Kamal (16S06B), Teo Jia En (16S06K) and Shen Yu Jun (16S06E)

The clock strikes midnight and the Astronomer leaves his bedroom. One shoe falls, but he doesn’t turn back to retrieve it. The night is silent and everyone is asleep. He walks down the dim hallway, moonlight streaming through the windows, guiding him to his musty chamber in the Underground. A pristine, polished container stands in one corner: the drybox. He carefully selects a suitable instrument for tonight’s use. Perhaps the 8” Schmidt-Cassegrain will help him visualise the Orion nebula best. The Astronomer brings it out and sets it up in the open space. It is just him, caffeine, and the stars tonight. Cinderella might end her day at midnight, but for the Astronomer, his day has just begun.

Starting 6 pm every Friday, we delve deep into our place in the vast cosmos, learning topics ranging from relativity, cosmology and astrobiology (aliens!), to other disciplines like history of astronomy, astrophotography and mythology. There is something for everyone, from beginners to advanced! If skies are clear, we proceed for stargazing within the school using our very own equipment. While we enjoy using the telescopes and learning from each other, sometimes just lying down, dreaming into the vast night sky and chatting with our batchmates is more than enough. When it’s cloudy, we have spontaneous bonding sessions – unofficial club dinners together.

“We bonded over food, dust, and weather forecast”

– Teo Jia En (16S06K), Practical IC

Perhaps what’s most cherished is the unique Astro community that exists within and out of RI. Our club comprises Y1-6 members, creating a culture of sharing suitable for every level of experience. More knowledgeable seniors guide juniors through weekly lectures, in addition to competition training for those interested. This year, RI Astro had a clean sweep at NUS-NTU AstroChallenge, winning Junior and Senior Category, Best Stargazing and Best Project awards. 3 of our club members also represented Singapore in the 9th International Olympiad of Astronomy and Astrophysics held in Magelang, Indonesia. Sharing the same interests, members find a welcoming space, and also a platform to meet other passionate individuals in the wider community.

Group photo of the Astro Club

“Astronomy in Singapore? That’s ridiculous! We can’t see anything here with MBS.”

– Everyone

Well, not the milky way, nor the aurora, nor hundreds of stars, but we do see the beautiful constellations, periodic meteor showers and daily laser light show FOC. That’s not all. We also organise events like Astrigue, an introductory Astronomy competition, and our annual outreach stargazing event, Astronite. 2015’s Astronite was themed “Stardust”, illustrating how the magic of Astronomy lies in our connection to the universe, how the atoms of our body are the same ones that made up a star which exploded hundreds of light years away, how every time we look up at the night sky, we gaze upon the universe, but also while the universe sees itself in human form.

Members enjoy a first-class stargazing experience, both local and overseas. For better skies, we have an annual optional retreat to Bintan, Indonesia or Port Dickson, Malaysia. Closer to home, we make trips to Semakau Island together with The Astronomical Society of Singapore (TASOS), or simply an overnight Geminids Star Party at East Coast Park. Did you know Semakau is the only island in Singapore reserved for astronomy purposes, having minimal light pollution, and exclusive access by TASOS?

Here’s what Astronomy means to our members on a personal level:

“It has made me realize that nature is full of wonders. All it takes is a little patience and a pair of eyes to notice these little phenomena all around us, not only in the skies, but also in the society and community around us.” – Han Ruobin (3F 2015)

“Astro encourages me to go further, both in pursuing excellence in academics and out-of-syllabus interests (including Astro), while also keeping me grounded with welcoming and supportive friends and teachers.” – Han Shi Yun, Kimberly (16S03J)

To end off, here is a message contained within Voyager, a spacecraft launched by NASA in 1977 which has since left the solar system on its way far out into space:

“This is a present from a small distant world, a token of our sounds, our science, our images, our music, our thoughts and our feelings. We are attempting to survive our time so we may live into yours. We hope someday, having solved the problems we face, to join a community of galactic civilisations. This record represents our hope and our determination, and our good will in a vast and awesome universe.”

We hope one day, having resolved your doubts, you too will join our community of galactic proportions!
Do follow our instagram @rafflesastro for interesting updates and news!

This article is part of the CCA Previews for 2016.

by Jiahai (16S06E)

“Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.” – Arthur C. Clarke

Ever wondered what lies under the hood of the computers, smartphones and tablets? Have you ever been intrigued by what mysterious processes drive these modern magicks? Or are you driven by a passion to create something that you can call your own? Or perhaps there’s a rebellious streak in you, rejecting whatever ready-made cookie-cutter applications Big Tech offers you, instead seeking to write your own alternative? Or are you just a geek at heart, hungry for knowledge about computers and algorithms? Whatever floats your boat, we are Computer Science Society (CSC) and we welcome you.

“Comsci has changed my life. Before I joined comsci, my math was bad. I could barely count. Comsci has trained my cognitive skills, allowing me to excel in life. I rate 10/10” – Terence Tan, CSC member

Our weekly sessions offer a casual environment for members to learn together with their peers. The exact training program is often flexible, dependent on members’ respective schedules. But expect sessions to be intellectually challenging and empowering. Whether the training is on web development, Android programming, or competitive programming (algorithms!), we guarantee that our sessions will leave you a little more wizened, a little wiser, and very much a better, more powerful computer user.

“Fun programming is fun.” – Jayne Woon, CSC member

Computer programming to many is a bittersweet experience. Members can attest to the lengths of time spent staring at code, trying to find the elusive bug in their programs, or the frustration at the many idiosyncrasies of computer languages. Eventually, after the gruelling hours put in, to come up with a finished program, something that runs autonomously, can be very gratifying. For those who are looking to stretch themselves, there are opportunities in CSC to showcase your talents. Our members have participated in hackathons and olympiads, and have achieved commendable results.

Hackatron Asia 2014.

“We learn computer science in a non stressful environment and are able to ask our peers for help whenever we need it.” – Anonymous, CSC member

Ultimately, what makes a club a club is the people in it. Despite having members from various backgrounds, there is a collaborative culture in CSC where members help each other to understand the lesson or to debug their programs. It’s a common sight to see members sharing excitedly their work based on the lessons.

If you find yourself drawn to the club, be it the culture, the program or the programming, do join us! You can also find out more about our club at http://comsci.club.

This article is part of the CCA Previews for 2016.

by Yong Duan Kai (16So6P)

Club Automatica at our annual fun-filled Induction Camp.

Much like how “artists” in times of old did not just paint, but were multi-disciplined and jacks of all trades, (sculptor, mathematician, inventor, philosopher and occasionally politician), being an Automatica club member will train you in various disciplines and skills. In a day, one may operate power tools for crafting of a field, do painting for an upcoming presentation, teach programming to a fellow club member, build a robot and be a part-time cleaner – all whilst contemplating the meaning of life and existence.

A “standard’ automatica day

Most “standard” days involve going to a classroom, and learning new robot techniques and skills from seniors and/or peers , such as how to programme graduate level line-tracking (Google “PID” line-tracking if interested), build spanking new attachments, or even just try and make an earlier build better. Following which, members will split into random teams, and be given a task that requires them to utilise the new knowledge that they have learnt to complete a mission. After that there are sharing sessions where the most successful groups can share their secrets and help the club grow as a whole.

But those are the “standard” days, which do not last for very long. Right away there will be 2 competitions that one has to look out for – the Robocup competition at the start of the year (which we, your seniors, will do our best to prepare you for), and the semi-optional “NJRC”, or National Junior Robotics Competition. Both will challenge you, and both will be tiring. Long days (and nights, if you’re a workaholic) are guaranteed, as you work hard to both conceptualise and realise a solution to the mission you have been given. Before long, heading to the automatic clubroom after school becomes norm, and oftentimes one stays in school as late as 10. (Or more. But completely optional. We promise.)

Club Automatica wining NJRC 2015.

The result? Oftentimes very rewarding. There is nothing more satisfying than seeing something that you conceptualised in you head actually exist and actually WORK. If you enjoy tinkering with programming logic, whilst being able to play with Lego (this seems to be the most appealing part for some reason), then Automatica might be the CCA for you. We welcome you with open minds.

Do visit our Facebook page to find out more :)

This article is part of the CCA Previews for 2016.

by Choo Shuen Ming (16A01E) and Hoong Li-Ann (16A03A)

The Photog Family

If you were to pop by the Raffles Photographic Society (or Photog, as we’re informally known) on a given Friday afternoon, there are a number of things you might find us doing. We might be in the Year 1-4 Artspace, having one of our mentorship sessions, as professional photographers teach us about anything from portrait to night photography, or perhaps we might be on a CCA outing, at some fascinating area in Singapore for a shoot. From atmospheric abandoned places like the Istana Woodneuk, to the colourful likes of Little India. It’s always an interesting experience to discover new places – or sometimes, new ways of looking at familiar places – while getting the chance to put what we’ve learnt from mentorship sessions into practice. This hands-on experience is definitely meaningful, especially with the immediate feedback from our mentors who frequently tag along. Plus it’s also nice to have time set aside in a busy week just for photography. Also, after our outings, we have review sessions as a club where our mentors give personal, detailed feedback on our photographs, helping us improve. It’s also nice to see fellow CCA mates’ photos too and learn from them, and to chat with them, in the process not only swapping ideas and insights about photography, but also making friends.

Makeshift darkroom with pinhole cameras!

It’s quickly apparent that far from the stereotype of photography as an individual, solitary pursuit, there’s really a lot of interaction as a photographer, not least within the CCA. There’s a friendly, easygoing vibe to photog as we discover new places together in our outings, and share photos and conversation both in and out of sessions. The photography community you’ll spend time with is at once diverse, while at the same time also bonded, as we indulge in our shared passion for photography. With all our different levels and areas of expertise, it’s also always great to be able to learn from and help others. Plus, being with a bunch of fellow photography enthusiasts also means having some cool, hilarious adventures – spending hours trying to make a CCA group photo just right, entering the Canon Photomarathon, where some of us actually won!

Our curiosity takes us anywhere and everywhere.

The interaction happens not just within the club, but also outside as we share our works, participating in and even creating our own exhibitions both in school and sometimes for the public. In 2015 for example, we contributed to the Singapore Night Festival, a huge event in the local arts scene, and also put up our very own inaugural year-end exhibition, In Transit. Alongside these artistic pursuits, a large part of photog’s activities also includes events coverage. While certainly a commitment whenever you sign up to cover an event, there are perks too: free entry to, the chance to interact with people from other CCAs and walks of life, and sometimes even get behind the scenes. It’s especially fulfilling when one covers events where a friend’s performing, since you’re not only supporting them by being there, but also helping them preserve treasured memories.

Besides these, being a photographer doesn’t end with just club activities, rather it starts there, with it up to you to keep photographing and exploring on your journey as a photographer. Photography is everywhere, not just CCA moments alone, and in fact a fair number of our photographs are ones taken on our own time. There are always opportunities for a good photograph, no matter whether it’s shot with your phone or a DSLR.

“The best camera is the one that’s with you” – Chase Jarvis

In the end, doing photography ultimately helps shape how you view the world, and not just literally. Through looking through the lens of a camera, one develops a different perspective, and with it the awareness that there are different ways of looking at what’s around you, the knowledge that in the seemingly everyday there are fascinating angles and interesting details out there, just waiting for you to notice them. Photography lets you capture moments, and stop time in a way, to let people look back through your photos. Being able to give that not just to yourself, but also to someone else, is quite an honour. Ultimately, perhaps that’s one of the things photography comes down to, learning to treasure the moments, to feel the fleetingness of things – a deeper appreciation of the experiences we have in life.

Links:
Facebook, Flickr, Instagram (@rafflesphotog) (in the works!)

 

This article is part of the CCA Previews for 2016.

by Naomi Koh (16A13A), Ryan Ma (16S06A) and Brenda Khoo (16S03L)

Milan Kundera once wrote that happiness is the longing for repetition. Here in Writers’ Guild, one can find plenty of repetition in that sense – and by extension happiness – in the plethora of things one can look forward to during the weekly sessions each late Monday afternoon.

You may ask: what is there to look forward to on – groans – Mondays? Members can look forward to Guild sessions that last from 4.30 to 6.30pm every Monday. Each session is handcrafted by members with love, and then led astray into abject entropy due to…well, circumstances. Case in point: one session’s task was to adapt fairy tales into a modern setting. The result: Hansel and Gretel and WiFi, nose hair Rapunzel who lived in the Hwa Chong clock tower, and Goldilocks’ incursion into a heteronormative family of bears. (Disclaimer: Any resemblance to actual people, events or buildings is purely coincidental). And don’t mention the time our CCA’s name was almost changed by popular vote to Writer’s Guilt/Quilt/Killed.

Josef from the Czech Republic who joined us from mid-April to mid-May. He is visibly confused.

Still, before you worry about whether Guild members maintain any semblance of normality, let us assure you that we do have our more serious moments. We are, after all, writers, who draw from the inkwell of words. So yes, we write. During each session, our members pick a theme that they identify with, and spend some time drafting their ideas. Sometimes, we write based on prompts, chosen on the spur of the moment or based on Guild members’ solicitous suggestions. After musing about the subject matter, guild members then put thoughts onto paper. Following that, we begin literary discussions in small groups facilitated by our easy-going EXCO. We then volunteer tributes – apologies, willing and enthusiastic writers – to share their works among fellow guild writers. We try to achieve a balance of humour and seriousness during each session, thereby honing our literary prowess while also having a good laugh over some of our more hilarious works.

Of course, we don’t just write poetry, plays or prose every week. Some weeks, members share about art forms, which they are particularly passionate about.  We do mini-lectures too, depending on interest. For instance: members interested in detective fiction can do a sharing about the evolution of the genre, while members interested in Spoken Word poetry can hijack a session to fangirl – we mean, hold serious discussions – about spoken word poetry and spoken word poets. Anything writing-related is fair game.

That said, if you’re worried that your brilliant works would be stifled within the four walls of C63, fret not. Writer’s Guild is not a reclusive society to which our writers alone are privy, for every year we embark on two projects to showcase our craft to a wider audience. Firstly, one of Guild’s flagship products is the annual anthology, a collection of our members’ works and a vibrant display of our writing talents. Each member also gets the opportunity to be part of the editing, design, and publicity process. The theme of next year’s anthology is “Enter/Exit”, so be sure to anticipate the next issue of Guild’s very own publication!

Our 2015 anthology, Melting Pot: Writer’s Guild goes digital at tinyurl.com/guild15antho

Secondly, Writer’s Guild undertakes the Typewriter Poetry project during the annual LitWeek. In this project, our members go vintage by manning a typewriter station in school, where they type out poems based on prompts given by other fascinated Rafflesians. And yes, we do help out with love poems for youthful, pining souls. In fact, our typewriter poetry has become so popular that our members got to enjoy a post-LitWeek rushing session to complete all the poems ordered by our schoolmates.

Glamorous photo of our members hard at work

What do we look for in our members? Well, sanity is not a prerequisite. Neither is insanity. We do not discriminate against members based on writing ability. Guild’s credo is that everyone can write, and should be afforded the chance to do so. We are not looking for accomplished writers, but passionate ones who want to take their writing to greater heights. To all who seek happiness in the flow of the quill: welcome, and we hope you will find it here in Writer’s Guild!

This article is part of the CCA Previews for 2016.

by Samuel Loh (16A01A), Vice-Chairperson

Raffles Press at our annual CCA camp

The average day in Raffles Press is spent confronting one of mankind’s most perennial, yet outwardly unimpressive, questions: how do we say what we think? Incredible thoughts occur to everybody, but the best writers make extraordinary things ordinary, and the most complex abstractions relatable. At Raffles Press, this is just the issue we endeavour to tackle.

Regular sessions at Raffles Press generally begin with a brainstorming exercise, where club members discuss pertinent happenings and current affairs — both within and without our school — that are of great concern or may interest a Rafflesian audience . It’s an excellent opportunity to bring up issues you feel strongly for. Sharing your views with like-minded, enthusiastic writers is particularly enriching as a platform to apprise yourself of various styles of writing and unique perspectives to nourish your own appetite for learning beyond the classroom. Expect workshops conducted by professionals and alumni who’re more than happy to share their wealth of experience writing as formal journalists as part of recognizable titles like The Straits Times. Expect to be an important part of the writing process of what has since become a characteristic mainstay of the RI student’s reading diet: the Rafflesian Times.

And who ever said good writing was the product of solitude? Don’t miss out on the fun at club bonding activities, which often include trips to peculiarly charming corners of Singapore that promise good sights, good food, and even better company.

Snacking and enjoying yourself is an integral part of Press culture

Just as editing a peer’s work offers valuable experience, conceptualizing and writing your own article can be an immensely rewarding endeavor. The writing process traditionally involves initial discussions with fellow writers to formulate your views, then gathering resources and information to substantiate your claims. Arranging and conducting interviews with stakeholders or experts are part and parcel of producing engaging and well-argued articles, so be ready to pick up some useful skills along the way. Above all, keep a positive mindset and expect your writing to become adventures of their own. There’s no telling when a piece of investigative journalism might involve masquerading as prospective employers to explore the unheard stories of Singapore’s domestic worker industry; exclusive interviews with the humans behind wildly-popular Humans of Singapore; or a school performance you never expected to attend, but found pretty intriguing, after all. Perhaps the best side of writing is just how much you can do to make it exciting and enjoyable for yourself.

Writer’s blocks, sleepless nights, and countless reviews become your best friends. But your fellow cowriters and editors can always be relied upon to provide that little burst of inspiration needed to keep your creative juices flowing. Interestingly enough, well-known author Maya Angelou claimed that there exists “no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you”. A day in the life of Raffles Press is yet another day closer to telling that story.

by Orientation Committee 2016

Additional reporting by Choo Shuen Ming (16A01E), Daphne Tang (16S03M), Karen Cuison (16A01D), Louisa Li (16A13A) and Olivia Tan (16A01E)

Hyped, happy, and ever-so-ready to answer your next burning question or take the MPH stage – these are the Orientation Group Leaders (OGLs) you’ve come to grow fond of along your 4-day Orientation journey. Or maybe you’re a J2 falling asleep in LT1, wondering about the shenanigans your OGL classmates are up to. Whether you’re a cheery J1 or dreary J2, Raffles Press has put together an exclusive, never-before-seen behind-the-scenes look at the preparations for Fiore 2016. Dive in.
War Games

The War Games committee at one of their dry runs.

Who says OGLs can’t have fun too? Megan Gwee (16S07C) revealed that the best part of being in war games, for her, was “[getting] to experience orientation again, but from another perspective!”

She continued, “The hours that go into planning, getting logistics, getting them to work and actually testing the games, can be pretty tiring.”

“But it’s all worth it in the end when we see the OGlings having the time of their lives. That’s when we know our hard work has paid off.”

“I don’t know how we withstood the heat in those black polo tees but we did. And we’re proud.”

Station Games

The Station Games committee – bringing you their linueup of all new games for 2016!

The Station Games Committee – bringing you their lineup of all new games for 2016!

Storyline

Fiore Storyline Comm, all smiles.

Like any other part of Orientation, the successful execution of Storyline called for an immense amount of dedication and time. Cast members ran scenes over and over to get them perfect; the crew was often seen slaving away at the sets and props; while scriptwriters and directors often Skyped at strange hours over the holidays to write draft after script draft.

It certainly wasn’t smooth-sailing: director Caitlin shared how they had a full script (with songs all written!) rejected at one point, on account of it being too violent and morbid. They had to rewrite the entire script and all songs over the holidays before any practice could begin. Their problems did not stop there – they also found themselves short on manpower as the same team of people juggling props, sets and costumes had to handle stage handing and lights as well, and one of the directors even fell sick and was unable to attend rehearsals the week right before orientation.

Another obstacle was getting approval for the narrator character. “People were worried it was too meta but that was precisely why we wanted to try it out,” Caitlin explained. That adventurous spirit carried through Storyline’s direction as a whole. From ensemble-style scenes and straight-up slapstick humour, to a scene with mascots, and even the OGlings as voice characters, Storyline this year certainly brought many a novel concept to the MPH. It was through their desire to adventurously cater to different types of audiences that they arrived at the varied and dynamic final performance.

Sparks of creativity and humour also allowed the cast to ‘improvise’ during rehearsals. Unable to do anything “morbid”, they decided to make it all about flowers (because ‘Fiore’), and proceeded to enthusiastically throw in flowers at every possible moment, just because. At other points, the cast would find themselves spontaneously changing key halfway through a song without realising; or, unable to reach a certain high note, suddenly start singing in a lower octave. In other blooper-worthy moments, some even fell asleep during line runs, stumbling or mispronouncing words and saying completely wrong lines.

On hindsight, however, the team recognised that some of their challenges were actually blessings in disguise. Having their first script rejected gave them to space to experiment with ensemble work and lighter jokes that they couldn’t with the more morbid first theme; having to push for the idea of a narrator also helped them further develop the character to explore its full potential. The team would also like to thank their teachers, too, who stayed back with them until 9+ sometimes, and who gave a lot of support and approved all of “their whacky shit”.

And indeed, everyone was in it together. Goh Qi Shuen (16A01B) said that she felt as if “[she was] part of something bigger than [herself]”, and ultimately, “everything [they] went through was really for the juniors and to make Storyline something they’ll enjoy.” Caitlin echoed that cast and crew alike were “willing to work hard and slave away for hours practising scenes”, all in order to execute the vision that was Storyline 2016.

Decor

Deco subcomm at their usual hangout, the chalkboard.

The artful design of the chalkboard in the middle of the canteen walkway was carefully crafted by the talented Decor team – who, like many other sub-committees, were able to overcome obstacles to present innovative and pleasing new ideas for their beloved juniors.  Their combined efforts to make Fiore a unique and colorful experience proved fruitful in the end, as they were proud of the results that they have achieved as one. One of them being the chalkboard that we see now in the canteen walkway (which took hours of meticulous hard work) – and here’s how it went down:

And what about the ones coordinating this entire event? Orientation IC Natalie Lim (16A01B) confessed that “there’s definitely a lot of pressure… Let’s just say that leading 252 OGLs to plan for 4 days of different activities for 1200 J1s is definitely not the most relaxing way to spend the holidays.” The ICs definitely have a lot of things to manage, especially considering Orientation’s scale, and so it’s no wonder that they may make mistakes here and there. Still, Natalie noted that “seeing their efforts coming into fruition” only “made us feel a renewed sense of respect and gratitude for our seniors who put in so much effort to plan our Orientation.”  The “invaluable, heartwarming” sentiments Natalie expressed are undoubtedly shared by all 252 OGLs, who bloomed with the spirit of Fiore.    

presenting – the OGLs of 2016.

That’s all for Part 1 – check back tomorrow for Part 2 of our behind the scenes article, where we will showcase Song, Dance, PLogs and Highlights!

by Orientation Committee 2016

Additional reporting by Choo Shuen Ming (16A01E), Daphne Tang (16S03M), Karen Cuison (16A01D), Louisa Li (16A13A) and Olivia Tan (16A01E)

Part 1 of our behind the scenes coverage can be found here.

Song:

Turn it up for the Song committee!

As for the talented Song committee, finding inspiration for both melodies and lyrics alike was a “massive challenge for (them) as a team”.

The clear musical prowess of the Song committee was one thing – but conveying a year’s worth of Rafflesian wisdom was quite another. Denise Ong (16S07B) mused that their abilities to poetically convey their well-wishes to the juniors was thoroughly tested. While they initially went with the idea of ‘blooming’ to go with the orientation theme of Fiore, it quickly became apparent that they wanted to say even more with the batch song. In that process of writing, they shared that interestingly, their own batch song proved quite helpful, as they learnt how to write meaningful lyrics through reviewing their seniors’ lyrics. Ultimately, composing proved to be a long and tedious process for them, with it taking regular meetings twice or thrice a week over the course of more than a month to finalise the batch song.

With composing out of the way, practice and filming still remained. Creating the music video was certainly not without its challenges. The original concept for the Song 2016 video involved a one-shot film, with physical lyrics stuck around school. However, the idea was canned due to time constraints. (Juniors, take note and start early!) Nonetheless, the video turned out great – check it out above!

Dance:

The folks with the moves – Dance!

Choreographing and practicing the dances was exhausting, and many late evenings spent rehearsing did not make things easier. What the dancers will present and have presented during Orientation represents the culmination of their sweat, tears and time. All they hope is that everything they’ve put in will pay off during Orientation, and that the J1s have fun busting their moves!

Alongside the batch dance, Dance was also in charge of teaching their fellow OGLs the famous Sundance, which they did in a dry run session late last December. The Dance members capably and clearly took their fellow OGLs through the steps, making it enjoyable and easy to follow, and the OGLs had a blast as you can see below:

When asked about the inspiration for the MV, Grace Lee (16A01E) revealed that, “actually we didn’t really get ideas from anywhere! We just brainstormed for aesthetic locations that suited the mood of the song. Everyone had a say but when we actually filmed Allan (below, in black) mostly decided because he had a vision of the video,” which turned out amazing either way because Dance definitely showed off some breaking moves. Check out the blooper reel below!

PLogs:

Plogs after an exhausting but successful orientation!

The Programme & Logistics comm – PLogs for short – “[plans] nothing and everything” as IC Qiu Jiayu (16S06A) puts it. They’re not directly in charge of specific programme segments like other comms, but they’re the ones settling all the admin, logistics and finances, always there fielding the important support that keeps Orientation running smoothly. PLogs also had a hand in selecting and designing some of the items in the O’Pack and of course, coordinating the packing itself.  Some of PLogs’ duties may sound insignificant – attendance-taking, food distribution and disposal – but when you realise that they cater to the immense combined size of the entire J1 batch and the OGLs, one begins to appreciate just how much work PLogs does. “Ensuring that all our spending and logistics requests are approved, chasing people for receipts, updating the attendance of everyone involved in Orientation” and trying to stay on top of all that admin was “incredibly overwhelming at times”, and probably the toughest part for PLogs Jiayu shared.

In spite of all the work they do, PLogs remains quite invisible for the most part. If everything’s going smoothly – forms submitted, attendance all accounted for, food ready and waiting at mealtimes – you wouldn’t know PLogs was there. It’s only when something goes wrong that you call. With PLogs work not being the most interesting, and the fruits of admin being rather intangible, sometimes having this low profile makes the slog even harder.  While it’s relatively easy to miss out PLogs, Jiayu reflected that perhaps “that was what made it meaningful too – understanding that what (they) did was crucial to the running of the entire Orientation, even though people might not always see it.”

PLogs tirelessly at work, with one member pictured here compiling OGL attendance for a dry run

Highlights:

What’s so fun about being in Highlights? Ryan Chua (16A01A) couldn’t help but agree that “the most fun part about being in highlights was seeing everything come together, after meticulous planning and rehearsals with the other OGLs and Comms!”, while watching the blossoming of Fiore shared with their beloved juniors. Ryan also added that “being put in charge of organizing the major events of orientation (such as the grand opening ceremony, O’Nite and OG hours) was a daunting task”. However it’s certainly has been “very satisfactory” to see the smiles on the faces of J1s and know that “all of their hard work had paid off.” As the sub comm in charge of major events, it is heartwarming to see that it was not about the ‘rewarding’ results that made them proud of their work, but the simple enjoyment of sharing the Rafflesian spirit with the new batch – by coming together as one in OG hours and O’Nite.   

This article is part of the CCA Previews for 2016.

by Agatha Sacha Lim Lee (16A01B), Secretary (Finance)

Photos by Raffles Photographic Society and 35th Students’ Council

Ever wanted to help your fellow Rafflesians – to cheer them on in their matches, to listen to their feedback about school, to brighten up their day or to keep their House spirit burning? Undeniably, any Rafflesian can choose to do these in their own capacity, but Council is one such avenue to serve our school community.

Councillors at the 2015 Netball A Division Match Support

The Students’ Council is a school-based service co-curricular activity in which Councillors lead their peers and serve the school through initiatives, daily duties and interactions. Event organisation may seem to play a large role in Council, but the crux of Council’s role is leadership through service, and vice versa. Though concrete work helps us fulfil this, the role of Council in the school is not always tangible.

“Council is a kind of spirit – one that brings people together, bridges one batch of Rafflesians to the next, and reminds you constantly to be the change you wish to see.”

– Freda Mah, 35th Students’ Council President

So, how does one begin to explain what the past 35 batches of Councillors have aspired to do? As aptly put by our vision, we strive to “serve by leading, lead in serving”. Servant leadership is a timeless model for student leaders, but each batch of Rafflesians is different. The Council thus works together to contextualise this vision, ensuring that it is applicable to the student population. This is done through formulating a mission, as done by the 35th Students’ Council earlier in our term. In general, our batch has agreed on the importance of having a personal touch. This means that we endeavour to serve every single person in school while being less impersonal and detached, in order to make the individuals in our school community feel special.

Traditional batch photo taken at Council Retreat.

To ensure that Council’s events are relevant to these needs, structures such as department and function initiatives are aligned to the mission that we craft.

Departments, House Directorates and Functions

Each Councillor is part of a House Directorate (House D) or department – CCA Department (CCAD), Communications (Commz’D), Welfare or Presidents and Secretaries (PresSecs). Councillors carry out specific initiatives that ultimately aim to make the school community a better place. Still, departments and House Directorates do not merely exist for functional purposes – in working and spending time together, we form camaraderie and bonds that will last beyond our days in Council.

Straight from the horse’s mouth: Describe your Department / House D in one sentence.

“Where we love each other” – Aaron Chee, BB House D

“Bwest bwuddies ever” – Lin Jiaying, BW House D

“Family.” – Shaun Heng, Welfare

Beyond working with fellow department members, cooperation with other student groups is key. For example, House Directorates work closely with their House Committees to ensure smooth running of House events. The House Committee is made up of about 12 individuals who work with the House Directorate, bringing house-related activities to their peers throughout the year. (If you are interested in playing a bigger role in House events during Orientation and Inter-House Championships (IHCs), the House Committee is a possible way for non-Councillors to do so!)

Hadley-Hullett House Directorate and House Committee

Functions are another opportunity for Councillors to serve the school’s staff, juniors and visitors alike. The 35ths have seven functions – Founders’ Day, National Day, Teachers’ Day, Graduation Night, Open House, Orientation and Council Camp. Functions are largely allocated based on preference, and Councillors are given the opportunity to choose the specific area to which they would like to contribute.

Straight from the horse’s mouth: Describe your Function in one sentence.

“Shifting the colours of Green, Black and White to the nationalistic tones of Red and White – this year and every year” – Keane Chua, National Day IC

There is an inexplicable joy in seeing functions being executed and the student population enjoying their time as plans coming to life, after many rounds of proposals and dry runs.

Students singing along during National Day celebrations 2015

On top of department and function roles, Councillors are deployed during most events. Assigned opportunities aside, all Councillors are welcome to step up and propose their own initiatives under Project X. Some examples include JAE Heroes, a buddy programme for ‘O’ Level Students, and Council Room Revamp, for Council’s internal welfare.

Daily Duties

Councillors are deployed for daily duties such as flag raising and running the Hodge Lodge after school. Though seemingly insignificant, these duties are yet another way to ensure smooth operation of processes in school. Every Councillor is assigned to a senior buddy, who mentors and guides their juniors on a personal capacity. As an inextricable tradition of the Council, buddy lines can be traced all the way back to the 15th Students’ Council!

Instead of weekly sessions, the whole Council gathers at monthly General Meetings (GMs). During GMs, we discuss pertinent issues to better understand areas of concern within the school, and ensure that every Councillor is kept updated.

With all these structures put in place, it is easy to believe that Council runs like seamless clockwork. Admittedly, the Students’ Council is not flawless. Miscommunication and errors are not wholly unfamiliar – these are some mistakes that contribute to the learning process. After all, we are students as much as we are Councillors. Likewise, the Council journey is not perfect. There are times when we are frustrated or when we may lose purpose. These are natural parts of the year-long term as a Councillor. As a heavy commitment, time management – balancing academic and Council work, on top of other commitments – is of great importance. Despite all the potential shortcomings and bouts of fatigue, being a Councillor is an extremely rewarding experience.

Elections Process

Before all this, Councillors must be elected through a rigorous process, which comprises nominations, interviews and campaigning. Nominations may be submitted by themselves, or by peers; following which, all nominees sit through an individual interview with a panel of seniors and teachers. Those who are selected from the interview round then move on to campaigning, where they are voted in by the student population to become Council elects. Elects then participate in the long-standing tradition of Council Camp. The Executive Committee and Function ICs are further selected through a round of internal elections before investiture. All Councillors then earn their title as as full-fledged Councillors at the Investiture.

35th Students’ Council taking the Council Oath at Council Investiture 2015

Council elects do not need prior leadership experience, as the key to being a good Councillor is humility and a sincere desire to serve. The campaigning process or Council journey may seem daunting, but at the end of the day, the journey of service and leadership alongside 70-odd fellow Councillors will be a memorable, unforgettable and fulfilling part of JC life.

For more information about Students’ Council, feel free to read previous articles:

1. CCA Previews: 2015, 2014, 2013
2. PMTPG 2014: Departments and House Directorates
3. Interview with 34th Presidents
4. Interviews Transcripts: President Elects, PresSecs, Department Heads, House Captains

Feel free to talk to any 35th councillor to find out more on Council. Alternatively, find out more from us during Council Insight on 11th and 12th February at the Hodge Lodge. Self nominations will be open from 10th to 17th February, so do look out for our announcement for official instructions!