Written by rashma.
Indian Cultural Society (ICS) is not just a CCA, it is beyond that in all aspects. Indian culture is one of the elements of Singapore's rich cultural heritage. Through its activities, TPJC's Indian Cultural Society aims to create an awareness of Indian culture among members of the TPJC community.
ICS comprises a closely bonded group of students and teachers-in-charge where all of them work together to aim and achieve. This can be seen through all the achievements ICS has made just within the first 4 months of this year.
In January, at the Thai Maatha Thendral competition held at Saint Andrews’ Junior College, our ICS members clinched 1st placing for Singing and 2nd placing for poetry. On the 22nd March, at the ‘Agni’ competition, ICS won 1st for Impersonation and 2nd for Singing.
Reactions from the ICS members after announcement of results.
The highest achievement that ICS has attained within these 4 months would be at the ‘Arangam’ competition on 1st March. ICS emerged as the Overall Champions in the competition organised by Ravindran Drama Group (RDG). RDG is a renowned Drama group that has also gained its recognition in the Singapore art scene through many independent and collaborative productions.
Our ICS drama members worked hard together with our teachers-in-charge, Miss Devi, Mdm Banumathi, and Mr S Nalluraj and their drama coach, Ms Amaravathi.
During the preliminary round, our team attained a ‘Gold’ award for SYF, whereas the other finalists, Temasek Junior College and Republic Polytechnic attained ‘Gold with Honours’ award. However, our drama members remained undeterred. They worked even harder and pushed themselves beyond their limits, fully utilised every meeting they had. At each step, taking back feedback and improving on it, with the help from their mentors.
Tears of joy and celebrations.
As finals inched closer, they worked doubly hard and persevered all the way, never set back by any obstacles.
During the ‘impromptu’ round the drama contestants were given 10 random props and had to create and act out a play on the spot! This round was definitely the most demanding of all. This required not only teamwork but also creativity at the spur of the moment.
For some, this competition was their first taste of drama. However, this did not stop them from achieving what some thought to be impossible. As the saying goes, ‘there is always a first time for everything’.
With their ‘never give up’ attitude, they emerged overall champions! Once again, doing our college proud and maintaining TPJC-ICS’s reputation for excellence in drama.
Our ICS members posing with their coveted trophy.
We can learn from this that one should remain determined and always persevere to achieve their goals. Aim, Act and Achieve.
A Sweet Year For Our Indian Cultural Society (ICS) Members
Sports Day '08: Hawk Did It AGAIN!
Written by azhar.
Credits to huichin from 08S22 for pictures.
It looks like history has repeated itself for Hawk, the yellow house. Once again, Hawk has managed to beat the other five birds to clinch the prestigious Champion House trophy. Falcon won the Overall Boys' Champion trophy while the female athletes from Seagull proved to strong and won the Overall Girls' Champion trophy.
The march past kick started the event, with the Eagle house leading the pack. Each houses grabbed this chance to showcase their respective mascots. The mascot from Hawk seems to receive the most attention. It was equipped with wings, a helmet and even a yellow skateboard. It was entertaining the crowd with its amusing acts on the track.
The star of the day, the hawk mascot.
The cheerleading competition was one of the main highlights of the event. The cheerleaders from Heron were the first to sweat it out, followed by the energetic Eagles. Supporters surrounded them and cheered with fervour. The first spot for the cheerleading competition eventually went to the Seagull cheerleaders. They performed to the songs, Low by Flo Rida and Fergalicious by Fergie and captivated the judges with their almost impeccable synchronization and teamwork. The president of the 22nd Student Council was one of the cheerleaders and wooed the crowd with his never-been-seen-before krump moves.
Falcon cheerleaders in action.
This year's Sports Day introduced the inaugural Novelty events, which were aimed to include every member of the student population. The teachers were the first to compete in the Novelty race, followed by the J1 and J2 students. The Falcon house were first for the J1 Novelty race, while Phoenix triumphed for the J2 category. The novelty races were a success as competitors indeed had fun while competing.
The event officially ended with a college cheer by the 22nd and 23rd student councillors. Tpjcians have shown their sportsmanship and the college spirit in this annual sporting event. They had fun running, jumping and cheering despite the hot weather. The PE Department did a great job organizing the event. It will definitely be a memorable event for some.
[Have pictures? Share with us! Online message me, from 07S16]
Which Bird Will Prove The Strongest?
Written by azhar.
Sports Day '08 is approaching and tpjcians are gearing up for the annual sporting event. The participating athletes from the six respective houses look set to sweat it out during the event which falls on 30th April 2008. They have ran through the qualifying rounds and semis, before reaching the final leg of the chase for the top three spots.
Below is the current house rankings as of 25th April 2008:
1) Hawk
2) Seagull
3) Phoenix
4) Falcon
5) Eagle
6) Heron
I have mailed Mr Hafiz to consult him about the point system for all events, and he has kindly replied me with the following table:
As for the Novelty event, the remaining 7th to 12th spots carry the points as follows:
7th-8th= 4pts
9-10th= 3pts
11th-12th= 2pts
Last year's winning bird was Hawk. Let's see which bird will triumph as the strongest this year?
Will it be Falcon?
Phoenix?
Heron?
Seagull?
Eagle?
Or will history repeat itself for Hawk?
We shall wait and see...
'A' Level General Paper '07 Review
Written by azhar.
Last Thursday, the HOD for General Paper (GP), Mrs Toh revealed the statistics of the performance of the 2007 batch of tpjcians in GP to the JC-2 students. The purpose of the lecture was to raise the awareness regarding our lacklustre performance in GP for the previous year, and hopefully to act as a wake up call for us, tpjcians.
The main highlight of the lecture was the statistics which indicates the 'A' level performance of tpjcians in GP over the past three years or so. Below is the data:
| | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 |
| % Passes | 86.6 | 87.2 | 82.5 |
| Mean | 3.9 | 3.6 | 3.7 |
| % National Pass | 93.2 | 92.2 | 91.6 |
| Difference | -6.6 | -5.0 | -9.1 |
The Arts students seem to do better in GP rather than those in the Science stream. Below is the statistics:
| | Arts | Science |
| % (A) | 29.9 | 4.83 |
| % (A-E) | 96.9 | 80.4 |
Several reflections by repeat students of the year 2007 were also showcased during the lecture. Here are some important points that I manage to extract from them:
1) Candidates fail to answer question.
It does not really matter if you have a B3, an A2 or even an A1 anymore. Candidates must acquire the skills of interpreting the question correctly. The high number of failures is believed to be the result of essays which are written out of point; that is the essay does not answer the question.
2) Knowledge of recent events is fundamental.
Content seem to be lacking for the candidates last year. It may have been because some tpjcians have not cultivated the habit of reading newspapers or even magazines. According to Mrs Toh, content is imperative when it comes to answering a GP essay question. Relevant and good examples laid out by candidates in their scripts will help substantiate their points or arguments. Candidates who did well last year suggested that tpjcians should make an effort to read the Review section of the Straits Times, as it gives a very vivid example and opinion of what is happening around the world today. You may choose to use a book to archive any relevant news regarding the GP topics you have learnt.
3) Practice is essential.
One essay or comprehension per week. That should be the target every tpjcian should set in their minds , as a stepping stone to do well in GP. We need the practice not only to test our memorizing abilities in terms of content, but also to complete the essay in similar examination conditions. This will also help you revise your GP topics.
We should start learning from the previous mistakes of others and improve ourselves at the same time. Together, we can achieve good results for GP, and make our teachers and college proud.
Additional Lessons On Academic Days: A LOAD Too Heavy For Us?
Written by Joshua from 08A03
On 8 April 2008, Mr Lim Chok Peng posted an announcement on TPJC.net, stating that JC-1s would have to attend additional lessons on academic days (Monday, Tuesday and Thursday). The additional lessons, which are compulsory, start at 5pm and end at around 7pm. Subject tests will occasionally be conducted during these extra lessons.
This announcement was met with widespread unhappiness from the JC-1s, who posted their complaints in a thread in the Feedback section of the TPJC.net Forum. The thread was started by Dylan from 08S01 and has received over 300 (and counting) replies as of 20 April 2008, indicating the level of discontentment among the student population.
One of the main criticisms of the additional lessons is that students will return home very late. As a result, they will have insufficient time to do their homework, prepare for lectures and do self-study. They may have difficulty understanding what is taught and might be punished (or even suspended) for failing to complete and submit their homework promptly. Those who live far away from the college, such as John from 08S27, are worst off, as they may take over an hour to travel home from school (and to school from home). Besides reaching home at an ungodly hour, they have to wake up earlier to avoid being late.
An article published in the September 2007 edition of Newsweek states that the average teenager needs about nine hours of sleep per day to stay healthy. However, most students do not get enough shut-eye. The additional lessons make our timetables even tighter, forcing us to sacrifice our sleep to finish our assignments. In fact, Sarah from 08S16 mentioned that some of her friends had only one hour of sleep for two days in a week! Due to their lack of sleep, students will be tired and have difficulty concentrating during lessons (especially the extra lessons).
Students also complained that they were hungry during the extra classes and their hunger affected their concentration. Julius from 08S05, who also writes for TPJCian magazine, said that he had gastric problems because the additional lessons pushed back his dinnertime. A quick check of the timetables of a few Civics Groups reveals that regular lessons usually end at 4.30pm or 5pm on academic days. By then, the canteen stalls have closed (and students have inadequate time to purchase and consume food from elsewhere).
In the long run, the stress, hunger and fatigue will adversely affect students' emotional and physical health. Irregular diets and a lack of sleep weaken the immune system, causing students to fall ill more easily. Studies have also shown that sleep deprivation increases the risk of obesity, depression and a plethora of other medical conditions. Moreover, student morale has fallen since the extra lessons started. Shaun from 08S09 related how members of the chess club were acting "emo" the day after the additional classes were announced.
We hope that the college administration will listen to our concerns and take steps to improve the situation. Several students have put forward interesting ideas that should be considered. For example, Ron from 08S06 suggested that tutors and students arrange extra classes at times which are most convenient for both, while Joshua from 08A03 proposed that the extra lessons should only be compulsory for the weaker students. A couple of students raised the possibility of holding additional lessons on Saturdays, sparking a mini-debate over whether that would be a boon (since students would be less tired and hungry) or a bane (as weekends are for students to relax).
To prevent our stomachs from interfering with our concentration, the canteen stalls could be closed later or, as Hui Chin from 08S22 recommended, free snacks could be provided for hungry students. Finally, perhaps study groups would be more effective than additional classes, while the additional lessons themselves would be more useful if teachers experimented with more innovative teaching methods and different ways of explaining concepts.
Understanding Islam [The Prayers]
The recent release of the film ‘Fitna’ has caused much turbulence around the world, especially in Muslim-dominated countries. It has concocted the meaning of Islam and has caused a lot of suspicion and confusion among those who have viewed it. Several political figures have also shared their disdain for the short movie.
This series of posts prepared by me with the help of reliable online resources is meant to clear some doubts and educate the general public about the true meaning of Islam.
I will first touch on the prayers. Many non-Muslim tpjcians have approached some of my friends and me about the way we pray. They often walk past the upper level staircase at the 3rd floor and seem curious about what we are actually doing. Here comes the answers:
Who do Muslims pray to?
Muslims pray to One God without associating any partners with Him. They pray facing the Holy Mosque in the city of Makkah. You will notice that the prayer mat, also known as the sejadah, is always facing a particular direction on a particular spot in school. Facing this mosque is simply for uniformity and homogeneity in the prayers of all Muslims around the world and not as an act of worship to the mosque itself.
Muslims perform obligatory prayers five times per day. Muslims will start preparing for the next prayers upon hearing the call for prayers.
What do Muslims say and do?
Muslims stand before their God by making the intention to pray, leaving all other chores and concerns aside.
While standing
While standing, the first chapter of the Quran is recited. This chapter can be translated as follows.“In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful. Praise be to Allah, Lord of the Worlds. Most Gracious, Most Merciful. Master of the Day of Judgment. Thee (alone) we worship and Thee (alone) we ask for help. Show us the straight path. The path of those whom Thou hast favoured; Not the (path) of those who earn Thine anger nor of those who go astray.” (1:1-1:7)
After the first chapter, any other passage from the Quran is recited. Following is a translation of one such passage.“Say: He is Allah, the One! Allah is He on Whom all depend. He begetteth not, nor is He begotten. And there is none like unto Him.” (112:1-112:4)
While bowing
Muslims then bow to God and glorify Him. This glorification can be translated as follows.“Glory be to my Lord, the Almighty.”
While Prostrating
To express complete submission and humility before God, Muslims then prostrate and place their foreheads on ground. According to the prophetic traditions, at this moment of humility, the worshipper is closest to his/her Lord. While prostrating, Muslims glorify God as follows.“Glory be to my Lord, the most High.”
Other than glorifying God, it is also a moment for Muslims to ask God for His forgiveness, mercy, blessings and bounties. Muslims then sit for a few seconds and prostrate one more time before standing up again.
Depending on the time of the prayer, Muslims repeat this cycle once, twice or thrice in each prayer.
While sitting
In the end (and also in the middle for some prayers) Muslims sit as shown in the figure. At this point they testify before God that there is none worthy of worship but Him and that Muhammad (peace be upon him) is His slave (meaning creation that is subject to it’s Lord’s commands at all times) and His Messenger. Muslims then ask God to send His peace and blessings on His Messenger Muhammad (peace be upon him) as He did on Prophet Abraham (peace be upon him). The translation is as follows.“All service is for Allah and all acts of worship and good deeds are for Him. Peace and the mercy and blessings of Allah be upon you O Prophet. Peace be upon us and all of Allah’s righteous slaves. I bear witness that none has the right to be worshipped except Allah and I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.O Allah exalt Muhammad and the followers of Muhammad, just as you exalted Abraham and the followers of Abraham. Verily you are full of praise and majesty. O Allah send blessings on Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, just as you sent blessings on Abraham and upon the followers of Abraham. Verily you are full of praise and majesty.”
At the very end, Muslims turn their face to the right and the left, sending God’s Peace on those surrounding them. This greeting of peace can be translated as follows.“Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah”With this greeting, the obligatory prayer ends.We hope that this brochure was beneficial to you in understanding how Muslims pray the obligatory prayers. In addition to the obligatory prayers, Muslims may supplicate and glorify God at any time. It is commendable in Islam to be in a habit of unceasingly glorifying God and supplicating to Him.
Gay Football Players Banned!
Prejudice And Discrimination
Former managing director of top Italian football club, Luciano Moggi, has sparked controversy once again by openly propagating comments that homosexuals or even long haired football players should never be permitted to play football.
The 70-year-old who has managed Juventus alongside England boss, Fabio Capello, had this to say in an interview:
"There are no gays in football, I don't know if players are against having them in their team but I definitely am."
"In the teams where I worked there were never any. I never wanted to have a homosexual player and I still wouldn't sign one."
"I'm old school but I know the ambience of football and a gay wouldn't be able to survive within it.
"A homosexual cannot do the job of a footballer. The football world is not designed for them, it's a special atmosphere, one in which you stand naked under the showers."
Rumours are abound about many players in internet chat rooms but still the subject remains something of a taboo in football.
There are no openly gay footballers in any of the major leagues in Europe and the only reasonably well-known player to have come out while playing was Justin Fashanu, in England back in the 1980s.
Fashanu committed suicide by hanging himself due to a sex assault case. He wrote: "Being gay and a personality is so hard, but everybody has it hard at the moment, so I can't complain about that.
"I want to say I didn't sexually assault the young boy. He willingly had sex with me and then the next day asked for money.
Are you ready for gay football players?