The Raffles Institution (Year 5-6) Guitar Ensemble (RJGE) has risen to prominence to be one of the best full-fledged Niibori guitar ensembles in Singapore at the JC level under the baton of Mr. Michael Gaspar.
RJGE took part in the biennial Singapore Youth Festival (SYF) in 2013, where we performed two beautiful classical pieces, “Mountains in Autumn” and “Slavonic Dance No. 8”. It was a great opportunity for us to bond and get together to make music as a family and our efforts culminated into a hard-earned Distinction.
SYF 2013
Also, a combined concert with the RI (Year 1-4) Guitar Ensemble, REJOICE! was put up in May. This concert was the highlight of our RJGE year as we worked together to put up an amazing concert featuring various genres of music and creative works arranged by our own members. With supportive instructors and teachers, our ensemble is given the freedom to experiment, explore and enjoy. We put together a wide repertoire, ranging from classical and folk pieces, to more modern pieces featuring Jay Chou songs, a movie medley and even Disney cartoon theme songs. It was definitely a night to behold for the whole ensemble when we showcased our musical talent, exhibited great teamwork and enjoyed good fun.
Rejoice! A Celebration of Music 2013
Next year, there will be several exciting performances and competition to look forward to, including the 8th Guitar Ensemble Festival in April as well as our very own concert in May.
Our practices are held twice weekly, every Monday and Wednesday. Additional practices may be held on Saturday mornings, if necessary, prior to major performances.
All Year 5 students are welcome to join the RJGE family to play good music and forge new friendships! No prior guitar background is required to join as lessons will be conducted by your seniors. We encourage all Y5s to join us for auditions and begin your journey with RJGE!
Floorball is a relatively young CCA in Raffles, founded in 2006. Thanks to the efforts of the alumnus, Raffles Floorball is regarded as the top few in the island, with the guys team coming in top 4 more often than not, and the girls team with a strong showing year after year.
Raffles Floorball trains under the tutelage of Ms Jill Quek, one of the top female players in the world, well known not just in local floorball circles but also around the world, in traditional floorball strongholds such as Finland and Sweden. Our teachers in charge are Mr Chris Selveraj, an active player of the sport as well, and Mr Winston Cheong.
For the 2013-14 season, the boys are led by captain Zhang Zhen Ming, as well as vice-captains Tay Yang and Andrew Joshua Koh.
The girls are led by captain Ang Shi Hui and vice captains Edith Loo and Lea Tan. Raffles Floorball promises to be a fun CCA for all involved, and will not just develop you as a floorballer, but also as a person. As our coach puts it, “If you can do well on the court, I don’t see why you cannot do well for your studies as well.” if you have any queries, feel free to contact the captains at zzm0406@hotmail.com (boys) or angshihui96@yahoo.com (girls).
By Jedidiah Andrew (14S03K), Dong Yunfan (14S06B), Ong Dingjie (14S03D), Oh Qi Yuan (14S06O)
“Of Chess it has been said that life is not long enough for it, but that is the fault of life, not Chess” – William Ewart Napier
Indeed, chess is a lifelong passion, and rightfully so. The pleasure, excitement, and satisfaction gained from winning chess games have intoxicated many, and they altogether promise an experience beyond words. When you join the Chinese Chess Club, we promise you not boring weekly gatherings for a little more than a year but the mere beginning of a pursuit that will last a lifetime.
Because here we believe: Once a Chess Player, always a Chess Player.
We guarantee that if you see the mind-blowing beauty of chess hidden and intertwined with its complexities and intricacies, you will play it for a long time to come.
Here at the Chinese Chess Club, we offer you the chance to taste and experience this for yourself. There is absolutely no prerequisite in terms of skill level, all we are looking for are people who have the interest and a willing heart to learn. We warmly welcome all beginners; we are more than willing to share with you the rules and basics of chess, and of course some of the more advanced tactics later on.
R&R after an intense competition
We do have a coach during weekly trainings, and our trainings take place every Tuesday from 4pm-7pm. Trainings comprise a wide variety of activities, including coaching sessions by our coach, followed by chess puzzle solving and sparring games, as well as analysis either by our coach or by fellow players. Occasionally, we would also spar with our coach. Although trainings officially end by 7pm, many of us stay way past that time to play and chat.
As a CCA, we take part in numerous competitions throughout the year. There are individual and team Chinese chess competitions, where the former would comprise competitions such as the annual Char Yong Student Xiangqi Championships. Team competitions are an especially good way to strengthen bonds between our players, as we have to prepare and work together to win each match – every board, and therefore every player, counts. I wish I could capture snippets of moments of euphoria we have experienced during competitions, but unfortunately we have enjoyed these moments too much to capture them.
3rd placing at CJC Cup this year :)
With regard to team competitions, the Chinese Chess Club also organizes the annual Raffles Cup Chinese Chess Competition each year in June. This year, we hosted the 38th Raffles Cup. The competition features a team event as well. Need I say that we organize the inter house Chinese Chess competition too?
Of course, when you join the Chinese Chess Club we promise you more than a CCA. We promise you countless hours of excitement and fun in training sessions and numerous chess competitions throughout the year, late night gatherings, the occasional party, basketball games, long chats on the MRT ride back home, a good bunch of buddies, and most importantly, chess sets and clocks in the cupboard.
Will you join our family?
I know your journey here will definitely be made unforgettable by the three of us: me, you, and the Chinese Chess board.
“Time spent arguing is, oddly enough, almost never wasted.” Christopher Hitchens’ words are a reminder of why the Raffles Debaters exist: not merely to win trophies and medals, nor to prepare you for the infamous Oral Presentation at the end of your first year, but to provide a platform for individuals to share different viewpoints and discuss issues that our world faces today in greater depth. In doing so, we aim to inspire a genuine concern about these issues, and to kindle a lasting passion for the art of debating.
Raffles Debaters 2013!
Who are we? Founded in March 1886, we are the oldest CCA in Raffles Institution, with 128 years of rich history. The first motion the Raffles Debaters ever debated was about whether rickshaws should be abolished, a pertinent matter in the day – though rickshaws are rarely seen, much less debated about, now! This keen awareness of current social, economic, political, and cultural issues continues till today, and whether you attend each training as a speaker or observer, you’ll definitely come away with a broadened knowledge and a deeper understanding of whichever topic has been debated.
So why should you join us? Being a Raffles Debater presents you with a whole host of other opportunities outside the Raffles Programme curriculum. You’ll have opportunities to participate in nerve-wrecking but exciting inter-school competitions, like the annual MOE-ACJC Intercollegiate Debating Championship, and “open” tournaments which everyone can take part in, such as the SMU Hammers Debating Championship.
Raffles Debaters receiving their first-place trophies at the Dunman High School Debate Invitational 2013
You’ll also get to be on the organizing end of large-scale debating tournaments, like the Raffles Debate Academy Under-14 Debating Championship. This year, we also organized the second edition of the Prometheus Cup – a seven-day international debating tournament! (A video montage of the highlights can be found here.)
Club members after this year’s RDA U-14s tournament – tired but immensely satisfied!
Last but not least, you’ll have the opportunity to be part of an inclusive and welcoming debating family. Around March every year, we hold our annual CCA camp, where members get to know each other better and bond with one another over fun activities. We also have dinner together every Tuesday evening during training, and we try to go for lunch outings whenever we can!
When asked why he chose to join the Raffles Debaters in JC, EXCO member Samuel Teo replied: “Personally, I feel that there truly is something magical about debating. Every round in a competition, every training session and every speech you make is a brand new experience, no less enjoyable than the previous one, which keeps you always coming back for more and looking forward to every debating opportunity.”
Trainings are conducted twice a week by our experienced coaches. Most sessions involve full debates on various motions, where each team is given time to prepare their arguments before the speakers deliver their speeches. Motions can range from more ‘serious’ topics like social, economic, and political issues, to more lighthearted areas like pop culture and entertainment, so you can be sure that the same motion will almost never be debated twice during trainings! Time is also set aside for self-directed presentations, where members can read up on a pertinent or controversial issue in the news, or an area they are passionate about, and share their knowledge with the rest of the club. Last year, our members gave informative lectures on the Eurozone crisis, the Edward Snowden case, the US political system, and – closer to home – Singapore’s Population White Paper. These presentations will improve your general knowledge, which is definitely useful in debates, and they have also been empirically proven to be Generally very useful for a certain Paper. Need we say more? :)
Debating may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but if you give it a shot, you might just find that it’s the right CCA for you! If you have always been passionate about argumentation; if you’d like to try something new and perhaps (who knows?) discover the debating talent you never knew you had; or if you are the sort to relish the simple challenge and thrill of standing up and telling someone that they’re wrong – join the Raffles Debaters, and you’ll be welcomed with open arms.
Please don’t just skip over our section. We assure you that the next five minutes you spend reading our article will surely be worthwhile. It’s true that most of you wouldn’t even consider joining a martial art like judo as a sport, and we get that! All of us who are now in the judo team once stood in your shoes being highly doubtful of ourselves ever doing well in the sport. We completely understand that judo isn’t a sport that’s within the comfort zones of most students, but don’t be so scared of failure that you dare not try anything new, especially while you’re young and able! Else your school life be filled with ‘what ifs’ and ‘should haves’.
So, what do you picture when you hear the word ‘judo’? Burly savages in baggy white bathrobes throwing themselves at each other? Now, try to imagine yourself in the baggy bathrobe wrestling with an opponent. Embarrassing? Admittedly, at first, maybe. But as you progress to higher levels in terms of competency and as your belt colour changes from white to black, the “ugly bathrobe” will hardly be an embarrassment any longer.
Originating from Japan, judo is a martial art that aims to teach its students to subdue physically larger opponents by using minimal force. When judo players spar, they grab onto the bathrobes of their opponents and aim to best each other using a judo throw. Besides throwing techniques that are applied standing up, judo also comprises pins, chokes and locks that are applied while grappling on the ground. As you can see, judo is a practical martial art and a good form of self defence.
Now we know what you’re thinking, judo seems like a dangerous and painful sport. However, unlike conventional martial arts, there is no punching or kicking in judo, so don’t you worry about major injuries. We’re not going to lie, although there is no striking, there is still some risk of injury involved (just like any other sport). However, rest assured, for one of the first things that you will learn in judo is to break your fall. By reducing the impact of a fall, judo players can prevent pain and injury easily. So despite the loud thud from the fall, a throw is hardly as painful as it looks.
We’re not asking for those who are athletic and buff. You can be unfit and physically weak, because all we’re looking for is some commitment and dedication. Trainings are 3 times a week in the RI Gymnasium. Ultimately, all of our training training boils down to the National Schools Judo Championships, held annually in March/April, where we have consistently been a powerhouse, winning many golds and silvers and also producing many youth team players. If you are willing to put in the hard work, you might even one day pin the Singapore flag on your gi to represent the nation in international competitions overseas.
Finally, if you’ve pretty much skimmed through most of our preview, this is where you should start really paying attention. Although training hard and winning are important, what we all take away most of all from joining this sport far transcends any physical reward.
This may sound cliche, but learning about dedication, discipline and getting up after falling countless times are the intangibles that will last you for a long time to come. And you won’t be alone in this journey, for your teammates will be there every step of the way.
We hope that you’ve gotten a glimpse of what Raffles Judo is about and even though the bulk of you still wouldn’t choose judo as a cca, there’s no harm in visiting our booth during the open house. And who knows, you might just end up falling for us!
Our greatest glory consists not in never failing, but in rising every time we fall.
