Ever been dealt a hand so messed up you stop to wonder what sin you must’ve committed in your past life to deserve it?
Well, that was what happened to a hundred of us Year 5s who’d been sentenced to a year’s worth of exile before we even had the chance to commit a crime—through a singular email.
“Block G.”
Like clockwork, the next batch sent as annual sacrifice. And if you were especially unlucky?
All photographs provided by Xu Fengxuan (27S03M), Zhu Jiajia Christine (27S03G) and Zhu Taiwu (26S06K) from RIAC
Pre-game
11.15am, 14 April 2026: The bus carrying classes of Rafflesians hisses to a stop at Our Tampines Hub, doors sliding open to unload the match supporters that will be cheering on the Boys’ Water Polo team at their NSG finals in minutes. Some clutch onto creative boards adorned with pictures and personalised messages to support their friends in the match.
11.28am, at the grandstands overlooking the swimming pool: The Rafflesian match supporters ramp up the noise with a hearty Rafblood cheer. Hwa Chong Institution, not to be outdone, responds with one of their own cheers. School spirit was coursing through every individual’s veins as they geared up for the NSG finals.
Some Rafflesians showing their school pride by painting themselves with the school colours
11.29am: Splashes announce the players’ entrance into the pool, filling the air with the smell of chlorine. The atmosphere instantly electrifies, and all eyes are on the fourteen players lining up in the pool: seven in white caps, and seven in black.
11.30am: The whistle is blown on the dot. The calm surface of the water is immediately thrown into a flurry as all fourteen players surge towards the centre of the pool, focused entirely on the red-and-yellow ball that has just been thrown into the arena.
All photographs by Orlando Khoo (27S06F) from RIAC unless otherwise stated.
Raffles Institution’s Track and Field CCA enjoyed a highly successful NSG season this year, with the Boys’ team finishing in first place and the Girls’ team coming in at second overall.
Photo 1 (L-R): Manuj Reddy (26S03B), Henry Zhao (26S06K), Bradley Ang (27S03C), and Daryen Ko (27S03C) Photo 2 (L-R): Kyra Seow (27A01C), Mayah Kaufmann (27S06L), Megan Puah (26S06D), and Yeo Pey Wenn (26S03K)Continue reading “Running the Track with Soul and Speed”→
Set in the context of decades of cynical and complex sci-fi films, Project Hail Mary, based on Andy Weir’s novel of the same title, had two choices: to align with or stand in opposition to this canon. The stakes were high for directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller—they were faced with expectations from fans of Weir’s novel and the self-proclaimed ‘sci-fi connoisseurs’, those who hail (pun not intended) the likes of Interstellar and Alien.
We have all heard it, or perhaps said it ourselves. It is a universal sentiment amongst students, the frustrating feeling of dread that makes academic tasks feel like ascending Mount Everest. Some would then attempt to inject motivation into their souls wistfully through online study motivation content.
Fortunately, they come in various forms to cater to each pained soul. Studytok, which provides short-form videos of aesthetic notes, mini vlogs and a multitude of study tips. “Study with me” videos and vlogs that motivate students through providing a virtual companion and productive environment. Targeted at the drama enthusiasts, drama-based study motivation videos compile study scenes from various K-dramas and C-dramas.
