Issue 37 • Oct 2012Anderson Junior College Newsletter

AJC WINS BIG ON WORLD STAGE IN SCIENCE AND THE ARTS!

After winning this year’s Singapore Junior Water Prize, Luigi Marshall Chua Cham’ (02/11), Lim Jun Yong Nicholas (08/11) and Carrie-Anne Ng Tian Ting (08/11) went on to represent Singapore at the 2012 Stockholm Junior Water Prize (SJWP) on 27 August. They beat national winners from 27 other countries to claim the prestigious SJWP, receiving the prize from H.R.H. Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden. This is the first time Singapore has won on this international platform. Under the mentorship of teachers Mr Goh Kunli and Ms Elling Lee, the students worked on their innovative project for almost a year, researching the use of clay to remove and recover pollutants from waste water. This win shows the depth of science research in AJC, reflecting the rigour and range of the college’s Science Programme. Mr Eugene Ng, who oversaw this project, accompanied the students to Sweden.

World Champion in Stockholm

2012Silver Award

Victorious in Venice AJC Choir emerged Champion from among 38 choirs in the 10th‘Venezia in Musica’ International Choir Competition and Festival (29 April – 3 May). Led by acclaimed choral director, Professor Nelson Kwei, AJC Choir won the following:

• Diploma Gold VIII (highest award) in the Open Mixed Category• Diploma Gold IV Award in the Folklore Category• Special Prize for Best Performance of Compulsory Piece• Special Prize for Best Programme Selection

Honouring the winners (princess shaking hands with winners)

The students are pictured with Mr Peter Forssman, Chairman, Stockholm Water Foundation (left), H.R.H. Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden, Ms Angela A. Buonocore, Sr. Vice President and Chief Communications Officer, Xylem Inc., Ms Helene Brinkenfeldt, Business Relations & Stockholm Junior Water Prize (in red dress on far right)

Photo credits: Cecilia Österberg, Exray, Stockholm International Water Institute.

At the award ceremony

* more details on the back page

2 Student Achievements

College Day 2012 The college commemorated its 28th College Day on 19 May. It was an occasion to pay tribute to the achievements attained by the college, its partners and its students in the past year, especially by the class of 2011. It was a proud moment for parents and teachers to witness the award winners receiving their prizes.

The Guest-of-Honour was Mr Eugene Tan Kheng Boon, Assistant Professor of Law with the School of Law at the Singapore Management University (SMU).

Valedictorian Shaun Seah of PDG 18/10 spoke about the varied experiences his cohort went through, as well as his effort at striking a balance between his studies and his responsibilities as the captain of Wushu. Time management and perseverance, he said, were key to excellence in both.

Chong Yu Peng Daniel (21/10) and Ng Hui Lin Felicia (32/10) won the Non Mihi Solum Award for their outstanding contributions to the community, the first time the award was given out to two students. Cung Suong Huy Thanh (29/10) won the Most Outstanding Student Award.

Student Achievements 3

EDB – Emerging Markets Challenge @ VJC 2012 Emerging markets are nations with social or business activities that are in the process of rapid growth and industrialisation. To participate in this challenge, we read up the resources provided on emerging markets and chose a case problem crafted from the central theme of “Uncovering Africa” to present a written business proposal.

We were thrilled when our business proposal was chosen along with those from two other junior colleges to compete in the Grand Final held on 1st August 2012 at Victoria Junior College. Thanks to the support from the college, we emerged as the second runner-up in the finals. This was definitely an experience that gave all of us in the team a fresh perspective of the African continent. It was truly an unforgettable experience!

By Tan Yuan Ting (12/11)

Cool Ideas for HDB Better Living 2012 A group of JC1 Alpha students, Choo Ruisheng (04/12), Liew Qiu Xia Angeline, Lau Jing Wei, Chua Xin Ni, and Chua Xin Yun, Emily (all from 03/12), took part in a product design competition, Cool Ideas for better HDB Living, organised by the Housing and Development Board (HDB) over a period of five months, from April to August 2012.

This competition encourages participants to generate innovative ideas to solve real life problems faced in housing estates. This group of students invented a modified ramp to improve the mobility of the elderly living in HDB units with steps leading up to their front door.

After going through two rounds of stiff competition against 18 other Polytechnics and Junior Colleges, the group won the Third Prize in the competition and received a $1000 cash prize.

Chandini Manoharan (22/11) and Novitra Fajar Ilmayani (23/11) were among the 8 semi-finalists for the Stanford Book Prize 2012.

In addition, on 19 May 2012, 20 institutions participated in the United Nations Association of Singapore Essay Competition 2012. The theme this year was set by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon on “Sustainability and Equity: A Better Future for All”. The team sent by our college managed to emerge as one of the top 5 finalists, and received the Consolation Medal. The team comprises Cleon Ho, Tay Quan Li and Titus Teo (all from 37/11).

Book Prizes

4 College Updates and Awards

The AJC Hostel is up and running! There are currently 301 hostelites in the AJ Hostel ‘Family’ and they come from Anderson Junior College, Anderson Secondary School, Catholic High School, Nan Chiau High School, Nanyang Junior College and Yishun Town Secondary School. The hostel boasts of facilities such as the Music Room, Games Room, TV Lounge and MPH where students can relax and interact with one another. Since its official opening, the hostel has been bustling with activities such as Orientation, the Chinese New Year Steamboat Dinner and a self-defence class. Even though the hostelites just got to know each other, their team spirit is going strong! They participated in the Oldham Hall’s Inter-Hostel Games and the boys won Gold for Futsal and the girls won Silver for Captain’s Ball. What a vibrant community!

AJC Hostel

CHERISH Award The CHERISH (CHampioning Efforts Resulting in Improved School Health) Award gives recognition to and encourages schools to foster good physical, social and emotional health for optimal learning. Once again, our college is proud to receive the Silver Award for implementing sound health promotion programmes in our college.

2012Silver Award

College Updates and Awards 5

Three of our staff received the prestigious National Day medals this year for their dedication and excellent contribution to the service:

• Ms Siau Fong Fui, Vice-Principal (The Commendation Medal)• Mrs Peh Lai Wah, Senior Teacher (The Long Service Award)• Mrs Maggie Wong Foon Mui, Teacher (The Long Service Award)

National Day Medals

Date Competition Award/Position Members

26 and 27 May 2012

Nanyang Polytechnic

Mindsports Tournament

1st placing (Chinese Chess)

2nd placing (International Chess)

Chinese ChessDexter Lau (25/11) Wang Riwu (24/11)

Zheng Zhicheng (06/11) Goh Mei Ling (24/11)

International ChessCaleb Yeo (18/11) Aaron Tan (34/12) Liu Yinzhi (08/12)

Daniel Seah (03/12) Benjamin Loo (09/11)

4 and 5 June 2012

27th Raffles Cup

1st placing (Chinese Chess)

Wang Riwu (24/11) Zheng Zhicheng (06/11)

Dexter Lau (25/11) Goh Mei Ling (24/11)

Liu Yinzhi (08/11) Tan Hai Liang (10/12)

AJ Chess ClubCHERISH Award

Acing the National Schools ‘A’ Division Championships 2012

Sport Position

Basketball (Boys) 2nd

Basketball (Girls) 3rd

Shooting - Air Pistol (Girls) 1st

Shooting - Air Rifle (Girls) 2nd

Volleyball (Boys) 3rd

Wushu (Boys) 4th

Wushu (Girls) 4th

Tchoukball (Boys) 4th

Tchoukball (Girls) 4th

Peace Boat

Paradigma 2012AJC organised the 12th annual inter-collegiate seminar, Paradigma, to provide a platform for our young people to discuss national and social issues pertinent to them. In light of the recent discussions on keeping a balance between competitiveness and youth aspirations, the theme of Paradigma 2012 was “The Singapore Dream: What is your Singapore Dream?”

The Guest-of-Honour this year was Acting Minister for Manpower and Senior Minister of State, Ministry of National Development, Mr Tan Chuan-Jin. Mr Tan was also one of the three panelists, along with Associate Professor Tan Ern Ser from the Department of Sociology at the National University of Singapore and Ms Elim Chew, Founder and President of 77th Street (S) Pte. Ltd.

There were a total of 400 participants which included AJCians and students from 10 other junior colleges and secondary schools.

It has been 66 years since the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and ten nuclear bomb survivors (Hibakushas) visited the college on 24th April 2012 as representatives of the Japan-based international NGO, Peace Boat. Also known as the Special Communicators for a World without Nuclear Weapon, they shared their experiences growing up in the aftermath of the nuclear weapon detonation and their hope is to work together toward an alternative vision of peace and global stability – one that does not rely on force and nuclear weapons.

6 Student Opportunities

1. How has the Pre-U Seminar given you a better understanding of the issues that Singapore faces? Prior to the Pre-U Seminar, whenever I read the newspaper or watch the news, I tended to pay more attention to issues that interested or affected me. However, attending the Pre-U Seminar has allowed me to have a better understanding of the issues that my peers think are important. Because the parallel presentations and dialogue sessions covered a large variety of topics from heritage to moral values, we were exposed to issues beyond our usual comfort zone and from different perspectives.

2. How has the seminar been enriching beyond the theoretical aspect?Dormitory life has made me more independent and self-sufficient. Living with a roommate allowed me to be closer to her in a short span of time. She is from a polytechnic and was able to share with me her experiences and stories from her school life while I volunteered mine. In my group, we had members from different JCs, schools and polytechnics, greatly expanding my social network. We did a Service-Learning Project at a block of flats with elderly residents, where a group of us helped fix light bulbs in their houses while others entertained them with songs and dances. We were able to do our part for the community after discussing so much about the issues our community is facing. It has definitely made the Pre-U Seminar experience unforgettable because we touched the hearts of these old folks and helped the community in a practical way.

Pre-U SeminarBy Lidia Syahindah Bte Mohd M (36/12)

Character Development 7

The orientation programme was conducted for 14 MOE scholars from Malaysia and India who are joining the Singapore education system at the JC level. Although they have been in Singapore for 2-3 days, they appeared settled and impressed us with their independence, enthusiasm and friendliness. Through our interactions, we learnt more about the challenges and concerns that they faced, which serves well to prepare us for studying/working abroad in future. Many scholars were impressed with what our college has to offer in terms of facilities and enrichment activities. During the activities at AMK and Bishan, many scholars commented on the difference in pace of life, efficiency of transport system, access to public amenities, and uniqueness in the use of “Singlish”. It was a humbling experience for many of us to realise how fortunate and privileged we are indeed to be living in Singapore.

MOE Direct Scholars’ Orientation 2012

I remember the crisp morning in the first week of June when we were told to pass our valuables to our facilitators. They towered above us as we sat in orderly lines on the wooden floors of the hall, each maintaining a focused expression to set the tone of the camp. The following days and nights were filled with lectures that equipped us with critical thinking, goal setting and event execution skills, which were immediately consolidated by hands-on activities. I worked, played and slept alongside some of the most amazing people, each a representation of what leadership should be. We were given ample opportunities to meet and grow with other leaders, fostering a strong and holistic student body. The camp, significantly the finale with the night expedition, inculcated in me the true value of shared suffering and joy, teaching me that such experience should be what we aim for in a team, where we transcend individuality and work together synergistically as one functioning unit to attain excellence.

AB camp

Students’ Council Investiture The 29th Students’ Council Investiture and CCA Leaders Handover was a symbolic and significant event which witnessed the passing of the baton from the JC2 student councillors to their juniors. It is an acknowledgment of the service of the current leaders, and at the same time an anticipation of greater things to come. Non Mihi Solum!

By Ong Jing Zhi (25/12)

Introduction to Public Transport SystemIcebreakers

8 Social Conscience

Saving Lives By Evania Tok (09/12) and Madeline Tan (09/12)

Pause for Paws raises over $3,000 in charity carwash To mark International Homeless Animal Day (IHAD), students from 14/12 organised a charity car wash to raise funds for abandoned dogs on 19 August. This Service-Learning Project also aimed to raise awareness of pet overpopulation and abandoned animals in Singapore, in order to promote responsible pet ownership. In addition, an exhibition board was set up to educate the public on the cruelties behind animal abuse.

Committed students went the distance by learning to wash cars professionally (they were trained by Sonax). They also held up publicity posters by the roadsides. Their efforts were rewarded by members of the public who drove into the college to have their cars washed.

A total of $3081.50 was raised from washing over 100 cars. The funds went towards supporting the work of Action for Singapore Dogs (ASD). The event was sponsored in kind by Pet Lovers Centre and Sonax.

In addition, two Project Eureka students working on pets carbon footprint were selected by NEA as part of the Corporate and School Partnership (CASP) to present and compete with four other teams. The project would be showcased in the Clean and Green Week in November.

As part of the initiative by the AJC Red Cross Humanitarian Society, the annual Red Cross Blood Donation Drive was held in school on 25 July 2012. A total of 144 staff and students participated in the Blood Donation Drive and 98 packets of blood were collected. It was a huge success!

RCYC Best Practices – we GroOved twice! By Ma Chea Yee 26/12

The Non Mihi Solum spirit of AJCians extends beyond the school walls. Since June 2011, over 100 AJCians participated in the Rivervale Grove Residents’ Committee Youth Chapter (RCYC), organising more than 11 public events for the residents. They were such a huge success that the People’s Association Youth Movement (PAYM) invited them to conduct two RCYC Best Practices Sharing this year. In the first session, 6 AJCians joined fellow YC members from ITE College East and North Vista Secondary to conduct a formal presentation themed Nurturing Senior Grassroots Leaders (GRLs), showcasing how youth-adult synergy is a powerful driving force in a successful RCYC. The second session saw another 6 AJC GroOvers, presenting RCYC’s

strengths – Supportive senior GRLs, RCvitalised programme and their niche in game stalls. Through the sharing session, the panel and audience discussed how to start youth chapters in their own RCYCs. Both sessions were highly fruitful for all GroOvers as they interacted with other like-minded youth GRLs. The passion demonstrated by other youth GRLs has also inspired all AJCians present to go beyond the call of duty in community involvement. Rivervale Grove, HUAT AH!

“I have learnt more about public speaking skills through the presentation. I am glad to see that there are many who are creative and passionate about organising residential activities for the community.” - Nguyen Phuong Anh (28/12)“It is definitely a very enriching experience for me. I had the opportunity of presenting in front of a public audience. In addition, I got to know how other RCYC encourage youth to participate in the community events.” - Lee Kian Boon (25/12)“I had the chance to interact with adults who give us the autonomy to do things. I hope that students will be given more of such opportunities to collaborate with external parties such as People’s Association to help them understand what is happening in the real world.” - Ling Yan Ying (25/12)

MLDDS Service-Learning Project - Reading Programme @ Mendaki On 13 March 2012, 17 AJCians volunteered to conduct a reading

programme at Mendaki. During the session, children between the age of 5 to 12 were read to, after which they were given a role to perform the story as a play. The AJCians worked their charm on the children. Even those who were initially very quiet and shy, were drawn out of their shell and came forward to verbalise their thoughts, giving them an opportunity to improve their vocabulary and boost their confidence. Both the children and facilitators enjoyed themselves thoroughly in this event!

National Education 9

MLDDS Service-Learning Project - Reading Programme @ Mendaki

Loving Singapore, My HomeWith much fanfare, the National Day celebrations started off with the parade march past by the uniformed groups, bearing the Singapore flag with a sense of pride. Students recited their recollections of Singapore with gusto, showing their love for this lion city. The concert segment was filled with excitement as the aesthetic groups performed, drawing applause from the audience. In the special item, our expatriate teachers gave a surprise performance to show their appreciation of Singapore. The celebrations came to a close with the much anticipated singing of National Day songs, something that has become a memorable tradition in every school. Many thanks to classes 36/12 and 22/12 for making this event a smashing success!

Mass Civics Dialogue SessionsIt is part of the AJ tradition to have dialogue sessions with people who have contributed significantly to our nation. This year, we had the privilege of having a dialogue with Mr Chan Chun Sing, Acting Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports & Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Defence, and Mr Viswa Sadasivan, the Vice-President of SINDA.

The AJC Mother Tongue Fortnight 2012 was held from 13 to 24 February. It aims to create an environment that encourages students to use their mother tongue languages and to appreciate the cultures associated with these languages.

Highlights of the programmes include: Cultural Broadcasting of famous sayings and literature works during morning assemblies; Enrichment Talks for JC1 students by our invited speakers, Mr Danny Yeo Chin Wei, Mr Yusnor Ef and Mr Shabir. Our students also took part in Language games during the JC1 Orientation, tried their hands at the MTL Quizzes, and the Tongue Twister competitions. Special activities such as the lunchtime Sing-A-Long and the reflection on the Ang Mo Kio Trail also injected vibrance into the college’s programmes.

The learning and application of our mother tongue languages go far beyond the constraints of textbooks & classrooms and our college certainly experienced that during the Mother Tongue Fortnight.

10 Synergy

By Obbana N Rajah (34/11)

Cross Country 2012 On the morning of 25 May 2012, students and teachers alike were greeted with pleasant weather, clear skies and a promising day ahead. The annual cross-country run which started at Tanjong Rhu gave runners the chance to enjoy the scenic view of the Gardens by the Bay and the Marina Barrage. It was truly a memorable event as men from the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) joined the college for the run. The run ended at Marina Barrage with songs and dance performances. This was followed by a guided visit to the ‘Army Open House @ Our City’, held at the F1 Pit Building. The army was celebrating 45 years of national service, and this was an excellent opportunity for students to learn more about the SAF and their service to the country. The Army Open House even featured displays of the 3rd Generation equipment and battle rides which gave everyone an up-close and personal experience of the real thing. Along with a good run, everyone also got to learn a lot more about the SAF which made for a fantastic day!

Synergy 11

12 Vibrancy

IHG: The Power of Puma By Jasper Low Cheng En (25/12)

These days, it is hard to imagine an education institution as a place without sports and games. They have become an integral element of education, having the ability to foster camaraderie and offering an opportunity to construct a culture unique to the school. It was with these objectives in mind that the House Captains organised this year’s Inter-House Games (IHG).

As the House Captain of Puma House, I wanted to fan the flames of team spirit in my housemates. The odds were against us in the initial stages, as many had yet to register for the events. However, with the help of passionate House members and classmates, participants came forward to contribute to Puma House. The support did not end there. Posters, flyers and boards were set up to encourage Puma’s athletes; motivational quotes were posted on the official Puma Facebook page to inspire them.

Weeks of planning came to fruition, as we took in the spectators and supporters at competition venues. I felt adrenaline coursing through my veins as I watched Pumarians in action, culminating in the announcement of the Overall Champion House. After weeks of battling with strong contenders, Puma House was crowned Champion.

Teachers’ Day CelebrationsTeachers’ Day Celebrations is an event that all AJ teachers look forward to, with students showing their appreciation to the teachers through innovative and heartfelt means. This year, Teachers’ Day was extremely special and poignant as we said goodbye to our Vice-Principal, Ms Siau Fong Fui, who left for Hong Kong the very next day to further her studies. The finale of the concert event was very meaningful when all the teachers were presented a photo gift from the class, after which the teachers were treated to a sumptuous lunch that was generously sponsored by our School Advisory Committee. What a great way to wrap up this special day!

Teachers’ Day Reception at the IstanaMs Ho Dai Hwee and Mr William Chua were invited to the Istana on 31 August 2012 for the Teachers’ Day Reception. They had the honour of witnessing the presentation of the President Award for Teachers to five exemplary teachers. This prestigious award gives national recognition to the critical role teachers play in moulding the future of our nation. A sumptuous buffet was served and they chanced upon the opportunity to take a picture with Mr Heng Swee Keat, the Minister for Education. What an eventful evening!

‘Bad Juju’ By Obbana N Rajah (34/11)

‘Bad Juju’ – that’s just what the winning play of this year’s Inter-House Drama Competition (IHDC) was titled. It was about a voodoo doll (played by Zoey Lim of 03/12) who controlled a pawn shop owner (played by Shi Xiao of 28/12) to help her find her next victim. The winning team from Jaguar House was led by P K Mathimugan (37/11) who said that his experience of directing a play for the first time was demanding yet enriching. He also added that the most fulfilling part for him was, “watching the actors experiment with their roles and delivery, and also watching the play come to life with the right sound and lights.” Jaguar House’s play was the most unexpected of all, and it came as no surprise that the Best Actor and Best Actress awards went to both Zoey Lim and Shi Xiao. The theme this year was horror and that’s exactly what all the plays put forth by the five houses did: they horrified.

Vibrancy 13

StAJeWorks SYF StAJeWorks performed the play, The Good Person of Sichuan, by Bertolt Brecht in the Singapore Youth Festival Central Judging and received the Silver Award. Good job!

1st Prize: Joshua Law Zer Wei (36/11)

Imagination - Torrents of DeathThe boy pictured,Looking on the fountain,The fountain of water,Splashing pillars of death,A landscape of danger lies infront of him.Dare he trespass beyond the safety of the dryland?And so he ponders. And Imagines.

Teachers’ Day Reception at the Istana

‘Bad Juju’ By Obbana N Rajah (34/11)

Capturing Imagination

2nd Prize - Seri Ariyani (32/11)

“Imagine there’s no heaven,It’s easy if you try,No hell below us,Above us only sky.” - John Lennon

3rd - Lee Hwayeon (32/11)

Looking glassEverybody has a secret world inside of them.

These are the three winning entries for the Inter-House Arts Competition (IHAC) and it was jointly organised by the Visual Arts and Photographic Society. The theme is Imagination.

14 Vibrancy

Din & TonicsThe Harvard Din & Tonics is Harvard University’s unique jazz a cappella singing group, known around the world for their great voices, interesting and sometimes humorous twist to their pieces. AJC was indeed honoured to have them perform during the JC1 Mass Civics in August, with their tuxedoes and unconventional lime green socks. They have gained for themselves 800 more fans!

Silent Vocals VII: VoicesAJC Dance Society held the dance concert, Silent Vocals VII: Voices, on 5 June 2012 at The Republic Polytechnic Cultural Centre. The performances included a variety of pieces choreographed by T.H.E. Dance Company. From a pastiche of ideas and emotions played up in a piece with the mathematical symbols as the title, □ ± β□ ≈ ◊ (□π), to the soft, intimate moments of Something So Tender, the dancers mesmerised the audience and took their breath away.

By Nicole Chai (36/12)

Voyage 2012: Fiume di RicordiLed by Professor Nelson Kwei, the AJC Choir held their concert on 12 May 2012 at the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music Concert Hall. From a repertoire of celebratory songs sung in Latin to songs inspired by traditional Japanese folklore nursery rhymes, the choir entertained, entranced and enthralled the audience with their heavenly voices. The AJC Choir was also privileged to have the guest choral group from Meridian Junior College to perform 4 choral songs in the concert.

Vibrancy 15

Harmonica Band ConcertThe Harmonica Band Concert was held at the AJC Auditorium on 4 May 2012 with a repetoire ranging from movie theme songs such as Music of the Night (Phantom of the Opera), Innocent (Japanese best-selling Anime film, Laputa: Castle in the Sky), Colours of the Wind (Pocahantas) to classic marches like Turkish March and American Patrol. The well-received Finale song, Those Years, 那些年 (from the popular Taiwan movie 那些年，我們一起追的女孩), was specially arranged by the newly formed Modern Music Committee. This year, it was also a first for the Harmonica Band that a student conductor, Lui Rong Hua (06/11), conducted two of the songs during the performance.

Spiritanto XIVThe Symphonic Band concert charmed the audience on 2 May 2012 at The Republic Cultural Centre. Hightlights of the performance include pieces from all around the world such as the Armenian Dances Part 1 by Alfred Reed, Fantasy Variations by Niccolo Paganini, I Ask Heaven, American Graffiti XX “Michael Jackson Medley” and My Neighbour Totoro by Joe Hirashi.

16 Science Excellence

Elementz

The 13th Elementz Science Research Conference and Exhibition, themed Responsible Innovations, Caring Thinkers was organised in April 2012 by Anderson Junior College. This annual event creates an avenue for secondary school and junior college students with a common interest in science to meet, share and showcase the findings of their scientific research. This year, more than 70 carefully conducted and creatively presented projects were submitted, each project showing a unique way of examining current problems and offering insightful solutions. During the judging process, young scientists eagerly presented their findings and confidently introduced their potential inventions or solutions to existing problems. The conference provided a chance for all the participants to showcase the results of months of hard work and to exchange views with their peers. The Elementz Conference could possibly be the catalyst that has given these future scientists a spark of passion to pursue greater scientific knowledge as they take their first step in initiating their own research.

Science Buskers: The Final Frontier

On 31 August, two teams were sent from Project Eureka to the finals of the annual Science Buskers Festival 2012. Out of the top 20 teams in all categories that made it to the final round, The A-team and The Alpha Species from the college had high hopes of obtaining a coup for the college. It was a big morale boost to see a whole bus-full of fellow AJcians making their way to the Science Centre to cheer for the finalists. Despite the fierce competition, The A-team wowed the crowd with their tales of the fire and water benders, earning their way to a respectable 2nd runner-up in the Secondary/ Junior College category and a cash prize of $100. Congratulations to the members of The A-team: Willis Cheng (21/12), Jackie Tan (21/12) and Nathanael Neo (22/12). Not forgetting The Alpha species, with the members Kumaravel Ayyappan (31/12), Trixie Lim (06/12) and Cheng Zheng Zhuan (02/12), who made balloons scream and created bubbles that burst into a mist - they too had also captured the imagination of the audience with their story!

By Nguyen Tu Anh (30/11) Science Buskers: The Journey

Project Eureka sent 4 teams to represent Anderson Junior College in the inaugural Science Buskers Festival 2012 organised by the Science Centre. All 4 teams were shortlisted for the audition round and it was a tough fight indeed as there was limited preparation time for all teams. Despite that, everyone did their best and wowed the judges with flaming tricks and bubbling concoctions. Eventually, 3 teams were selected to compete in the next round, where they busked in the presence of the public at the Science Centre to garner votes. In the end, 2 teams were voted into the final round! Congratulations!

By Cheng Zheng Zhuan (02/12)

Science Excellence 17

Singapore Junior Water Prize

Marshall Cham (02/11), Nicholas Lim (08/11) and Carrie-Anne Ng (08/11) participated in the Singapore Junior Water Prize (SJWP) 2012, organised by Ngee Ann Polytechnic, on 31 May 2012. The purpose of this national competition was to pick a winning team to represent Singapore to vie for the international Stockholm Junior Water Prize in Sweden. Our project involved a novel flocculation-flushing method which generated much interest among the judges and audience. In the end, our work was announced as the overall winning project, which left us euphoric as we were able to gain glory for the college and represent our nation in the Stockholm Junior Water Prize. Our heartfelt appreciation goes to our teacher mentor, Ms Elling Lee, Project Eureka for constantly supporting us, and AJC for giving us this golden opportunity to participate in SJWP.

By Carrie-Anne Ng Tian Ting (08/11)

EEEgnosis!Workshop@AJC Conducted by our partner, the NTU School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering (Outreach Programme), on 17, 24 and 31 August, this workshop gave interested AJCians a better understanding of the Electrical and Electronic Engineering Course in NTU through hands-on experience.

The collaboration is the fruit of discussion between Associate Professor Ng Beng Koon (Assistant Chair for the Outreach Programme) and Ms Koh Ee Hway and Mr Jeffrey Toh from AJC. Assoc Prof Ng noted that many ex-AJCians who specialise in the course have performed well. In fact, many of the trainers for this workshop are ex-AJCians, currently under the NTU Student Leadership Programme.

Student Lin Zichao (13/12) won the first prize for the LED display he constructed at the workshop. Here is what he has to say of the experience:

‘I think the most exciting part of this workshop is the “DIY” process. I was asked to solder every piece of wire and bulb together, which was quite a tedious job at first. However, I managed to acquire the techniques through more and more practice, and it became an enjoyable thing to do. In the end, I made myself an LED Cube as complex and beautiful as the samples that were shown to us in the first lesson. It was awesome to be able to claim complete ownership of the LED Cube that I could bring home and show off to my friends!’

18 Global Outreach

Without doubt, the first day was a nervous one. We weren’t familiar with the place nor were we told of what to expect. We were all strangers among the Singaporeans, not to say among our peers from other countries. We began by befriending our fellow Singaporeans, but soon we were split up to join others from Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau and Malaysia. Despite knowing Mandarin, we still felt that there was a language and cultural barrier among us.

In the few days there, we were shown rocket exhibits, simulations and even launched our own mini-rocket. We came to understand the process behind a launch and the problems faced by rocket scientists.

Additionally, we were also brought around to well-known tourism spots in Beijing such as the Olympic Village, The Great Wall of China and the ‘Bird’s Nest’ Stadium in Beijing.

All in all, it was still the friends that we made in these six short days who made this trip such a memorable one. We also gained much insight into the field of aerospace and had a better grasp of China’s Aerospace capabilities.

Beijing Aerospace Summer Camp 2012

This year, AJC hosted 19 PRC Senior Middle 2 (SM2) scholars from 27 February to 2 March in the JC Experiential Programme (JXP) 2012. The objective of the JXP is to provide the SM2 scholars with the opportunity to interact with our local students and gain an insight into our JC/CI education system. 23 JC2 Alpha students were involved in the programme - three of them were student leaders organising the programme and 20 of them were buddies to the SM2 scholars. Here are some thoughts from one of the buddies:

The SM2 scholar I buddied told me how much she enjoyed the holistic development programmes in our college, having sat through our lectures, tutorials and participated in CCAs. On the other hand, I learnt to be sensitive to my buddy’s different cultural background and also got a better understanding of their learning environment and their education system. I was motivated to see how much they valued our lessons. It gives me a new appreciation of my own learning environment and our education system.

JXP 2012 By Lim Wei Ling Crystal (11/11)

Congratulations to our AJCians who did so well in the 36th South East Asia Shooting Association Shooting Championship 2012 held in Subang, Malaysia!

Triumph in Subang

Name PDG Event (Results)

Tai Weiyi Marina 12/1210m Air Pistol Women Junior Team event (Gold)

Khow Wei Shuen 30/1210m Air Rifle Women Team event (Silver)

Ho Zhi Fan Crystal 14/1210m Air Rifle Women Junior Team event (Bronze)

By Johann Ko 04/12

Reach Cambridge 2012 15 students accompanied by two teachers, Mr Wee Hock Guan and Ms Edina Rahman, attended this two-week summer immersion programme which aims to broaden the students’ academic and cultural perspectives. They were in England from the 4 to 19 August 2012.

All of the students were charmed by the romance and splendor of Cambridge as the city is home to many stately museums and monuments. The students also had a wonderful experience of punting down River Cam, during which they were indulged in the beauty of Cambridge and the majestic colleges surrounding the river.

The academic programmes were engaging and the lessons have not only provided them with further insights into their choice subjects but also sharpened their perspective on global issues. Besides classroom based lessons, some of their days were also filled with excursions to places like Shakespeare’s Globe Theater, the Tate Modern, the Natural History Museum and the Bank of England.

It was also an exciting time to be in England as the Summer Olympics was being held in London when the group was there. The group had a day-trip to London, visiting St Paul’s Cathedral, Tower Bridge, the London Eye, and Westminster Abbey. We were also privileged to catch a glimpse of the Olympic Village in East London.

Reach Cambridge was a priceless experience that will stay with the students for a long time to come.

Hosting of Nguyen Tat Thanh High School from Vietnam and No. 14 High School from Kunming, China AJC hosted students and teachers from Nguyen Tat Thanh High School, Vietnam, and No. 14 High School, China, for the 13th Elementz Science Research Conference and Exhibition held in our college in April 2012. Three groups from Nguyen Tat Thanh High School participated in the conference and they achieved 1 Gold, 1 Silver and 1 Commendation Award. There were two groups from No. 14 High School who shared during the conference and they received 1 Gold and 1 Commendation Award. Besides the conference, these visitors attended performances by our cultural CCAs and were very sporting during their interaction with our students while playing Malay traditional games and ball games. In return, these students performed during the JC1 Mass Civics International Friendship Day celebrations. It was indeed a fruitful experience of cultural and intellectual exchange!

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Concorso e Festival Corale Internazionale, Venice

We have gained a lot of unforgettable memories and experiences in our trip to Venice, Italy. During our sightseeing trips prior to the competition, the beauty of the city of Venice took our breath away with the enormous, ancient Saint

Mark Square surrounded by innumerous famous architectural structures and the gorgeously decorated gondolas gracefully floating on the meandering canals.

We conducted a street performance of two of our choral pieces and they were more than well-received by the audience. This boosted our morale to better ourselves during the competition the next day. Once more, there was resounding applause from the audience and judges in the conference hall and the AJC choir emerged as the proud

winner for the open-mixed category and the highest scorer for the compulsory piece, Exultate Justi.

Right after the performance, all of us felt that we have truly worked hard for this moment and no one could hold back their tears when our conductor expressed his gratitude towards the choir. At that moment, all of us felt that our AJ choir is really one big family. Together we contributed our best effort and together we soared to greater heights. This whole experience has indeed been one of the greatest highlights of my life.

Photo credits: AJC Photographic Society and all other individual contributions.

20 Global Outreach

By Nguyen Thuc Anh (25/12)