Reading Time: 7 minutes

“The whole idea of Track and Field is not to beat your opponents, but to beat the little voice inside your head that wants you to quit.” – Lee Jun Lei, member of RI Track and Field 2014-2015

Track and field is the epitome of athleticism, a sport at its purest. Sweat, tears, blood constantly coax us to give up, and yet despite all these, we trackers continue to adore running, jumping and throwing. Why? Well, this is best encapsulated in our motto for this year: “We run because, we train despite.” Our differing goals and motivations are unified by the shared passion and shared vision of just very simply, doing our best.  It isn’t an easy sport, but the will and grit it imbues you with may well make it one of the most rewarding experiences of a lifetime. And you can be sure that every step of the way will be accompanied by the myriad of voices from our team so variated, yet unshakeable in our ardent unity.

The range of events in Track and Field is perhaps most telling of its all-encompassing nature where all are welcome no matter where your abilities lie. The specialisation of events brings out the focus needed to perfect the specificities of each event.  Gifted with strength? The javelin, shot put, discus beckons. Have an extra spring in your step? The sand pit and high jump mat are an inviting home where hours will be spent perfecting your jump technique. And of course, running. The intensity of a 100m race where months of training boil down to little more than ten seconds of a race, the mental fortification of running kilometre after kilometre in preparation of 800m where it’s do or die. You may ask, why do we do this? To us, it is not about the medals or winning competitions. What drives us is the simple satisfaction of beating our previous best timing, height, distance. Being able to see improvements with training, no matter how slight they are: that is enough to keep us going.

However, RJ Track and Field isn’t all hardcore trainings and competitions. We and our coaches want to have fun as a team too, so every now and then we have exciting trainings at Botanic Gardens or the beach, where the training is a game and there are even cash prizes to be won. Besides that, members can look forward to team events throughout the year such as Track Camp (February), Track Night (June) and Track Chalet (December), and Movie Nights where we bond and spend time together off the track.

For many of us, Track and Field is our second family. Our teammates are our pillars of support, both on and off the track: from cheering each other on during gruelling trainings, to last-minute mugging together before CTs. Our seniors, who are much more like older siblings than seniors, are always willing to give advice regarding training or even school life in general. Many of our seniors continue to return to guide and mentor us even after they have graduated. Behind the scenes, our kind and passionate CCA Teacher ICs guide our EXCO in doing what’s best for the team and work tirelessly to ensure that all our CCA’s needs are met. And of course our dedicated and (self-proclaimed) hilarious coaches, whose training and mentorship have not only enabled us to perform the best that we can in our events, but who have imparted values in us and have nurtured us into being the people we are today.

Now, many of you who are reading this may have never had experience in Track & Field, and you may be wondering whether it is a good decision to join Track & Field in JC. Many of us had the same dilemma that you may be having now when we were choosing our CCAs one year ago. Indeed, we had our initial fears and doubts. However, we will wholeheartedly tell you that we have had no regrets joining Track & Field, this CCA that we’ve grown to love. Gabrielle See, Clara Chua, Rachel Ang and Huang Zi Xian, all of whom did not have prior experience in track nor sports CCAs in secondary school, share why they joined Track & Field and their experiences thus far:

Gabrielle See: I have always loved running since I was younger. Other than track relays held within school, I have had minimal experience, and hence jumped at the opportunity to do so here. I had especially loved long distance running as it was my outlet to clear my thoughts and to release my energy (and to build up fitness at the same time!). But somehow, I ended up in jumps instead! But I’m still very thankful for the chance given to be able to train under such a patient, loving and understanding coach, as well as alongside teammates that are encouraging and have been there for me every step (literally) of the way in track. These people are the sunlight to this budding seedling of a journey, and similar to how a budding seedling grows, there is no way but up!

Clara: I have always enjoyed running but never really got the chance to in my previous schools as I was in photography CCA. I joined sprints at the start of JC to build up my fitness.  I think many of us may fear that it may “too late” for newcomers to catch up as some Track and Field members have trained for several years. However, just one month after I joined Track and Field, our coach presented me with the opportunity to race 800m relay at Singapore Press Holdings Relay Championships. It was a bit overwhelming at the start and I even felt that my lack of experience might burden the team. However, my teammates and coach never left me to go through it all alone. With the support, guidance and encouragement, I eventually pulled through and our team won a 3rd place relay medal at the national level! Eventually, I moved to jumps to explore other aspects of the sport, and it has been a tremendously enriching and enjoyable experience thus far.

Rachel: I was never in a sports CCA before (I was in Debate previously), so I decided that JC was a good time to try something new. And that’s what led me to join track! Initially, track seemed like a individualized CCA to me. But I’ve been very fortunate to have met genuine and lovely people who have become some of my closest friends. Also, Track undeniably has a high commitment level, with training 3 times a week and with few breaks during the holidays but personally, I think this has allowed us to grow closer as teammates. I’m very grateful for being able to train with individuals who are incredibly driven and determined to excel, and I hope one day I’ll be able to perform as well as them!

Zi Xian: I too, was very apprehensive about joining a sports CCA as I was previously from photography CCA and a sport CCA seemed extremely demanding. To be honest, I only joined initially because I was rejected from my first choice. However, I am really glad I got rejected and joined Track and Field instead because otherwise, I would not have gotten to know my teammates with whom I spend a sizeable portion of my school life with! Them constantly being there for me spurs me to seek close relationships with them. Moreover the intensity of training serves as an opportunity to give each other moral support, which is always a nice feeling to have!

Ultimately, the simplicity of a sport at its purest leaves us unable to walk away from its trainings, its hardships and the journey to be your best. And perhaps it is also the reason why any and all newcomers are welcome to a sport that has no prerequisites other than that same desire to put in no less than 100%, to end our seasons with nothing but a sense that we have indeed done our best.

Training Information:

-Sprints

Consists of 100m-800m events, as well as hurdles events. Training are on Monday, Wednesday, Friday/Saturday, 3 times a week with the fourth training optional at RI

-Jumps

Consists of Long Jump, High Jump and Triple Jump. Trainings are on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, 3 times a week at RI

-Throws

Consists of Javelin, Discus and Shotput. Trainings are on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, 3 times a week at RI

-Pole Vault

Trainings are on Monday, Thursday, Saturday, 3 times a week at RI

– Walks

Consists of the 3000m & 5000 Walk. Training are on Monday, Wednesday, Saturday, 3 times a week a RI Y5-6 Track/ Macritchie reservoir

Competitions

Minor competitions from January-March, usually for exposure.

National Schools Championships are in early April.

Reading Time: 6 minutes

Raffles HSTA will be hosting a JIP Elective ‘Fun with MUN’ for budding MUNners on 21 Jan (Wed) from 2.25-6 at A71-72. Do join us if you want to find out more about how Model UN works! We will be demonstrating scenarios before getting you on board for an interesting MUN simulation. There will also be other exciting activities related to current affairs. Don’t worry if you have zero experience because there will be seniors guiding you along! Walk-ins are most welcome :)

5 Reasons why you have to Join HSTA: History and Strategic Affairs Society

The History and Strategic Affairs Society (HSTA, formerly HISSOC) is the place to be to engage your interest in global and local affairs. Through our trainings, competitions and speaker engagements, you will hone your skills in public speaking, negotiation and critical thinking. Moreover, you’ll get to make new friends outside of school and go abroad.

As the institution’s oldest club, HSTA remains one of the most popular CCAs, receiving close to a hundred applications annually. There remains no maximum size and the only prerequisites are passion, courage to speak up and commitment to weekly sessions held from 3.30-6pm or 3-5.30pm every Wednesday. While this means you can sign up for 2nd CCAs, you reap what you sow in preparation for each session.  Although “History” as a subject is not immediately relevant to HSTA, it remains in our name in honour of the club’s rich heritage.

Here’re why you should join us.

1. Join the vibrant Model United Nations (MUN) scene

 

MUN forms the cornerstone of HSTA’s training and competition programme. We also organise Raffles MUN for secondary school students. MUN conferences are prestigious events where you will represent countries to negotiate solutions to the world’s pressing issues. Regardless of experience, you will be given exclusive opportunities to represent the Institution in MUNs, including Yale-NUS Asia Pacific Model United Nations, and Harvard Model Congress Asia held in Hong Kong.

Why should you MUN? Council Secretary Tan Yi Chern from 15S03N, part of the team that clinched the “Best School Delegation” at Yale-NUS Model ASEAN (YMA), describes MUN as a “window of opportunity into the fascinating world of history and the political world of diplomacy; one where your window is as large as your imagination and one where the experiences you gain by sticking your head out are invaluable.” For the “less metaphor-inclined”, former RGS Head Prefect Chloe Wong from 15S06N exclaims, “apart from giving you exposure to current affairs which will undoubtedly come in handy in daily life or your studies, MUNning also gives you the chance to meet (and learn to negotiate with) many wonderful people from other schools! I recommend you to give this once-in-a-lifetime experience a shot.”

Sign up for our Fun with MUN JIP elective to see what MUN is about.

2. We embrace Newcomers!

In fact, primarily newcomers join us every year. Newcomers, we can guarantee to you that the learning environment is inclusive.

HSTA is the only A-Level Institution Club in Singapore that offers regular MUN Training. This means you’ll get tonnes more experience and mentorship than most participants at every MUN conference. You will be given training materials we developed. Experienced alumni and seniors conduct weekly workshops, simulations and consultations, where newcomers can learn the basics in an inclusive learning environment. Here’s what Josiah Kek (15A01C), Youth Ambassador of World Vision Singapore, has to comment: “I was new to MUNning when I joined HSTA. MUN procedures, resolution writing and caucuses were foreign to me. Thanks to the many MUN training opportunities that HSTA offered, I got the hang of MUNning quite quickly. I made mistakes at first, but embracing mistakes and correcting them accelerated my growth as a MUNner.” Josiah won the Outstanding Delegation Award at YMA. We would like to add that it is perfectly fine that you do not aim to win, but we hope you will at least try to contribute to discussions.

More-experienced future members, you can expect to learn new things and sharpen your skills during the training sessions. Our experienced members have learnt to apply immensely useful tips and tricks that they otherwise had not gotten from mere experience, especially since MUN chairs rarely give feedback. You will get opportunities to chair simulations and assist newcomers (often an important lobbying skill for MUNs). You will also help train our Year 3-4 wing in RGS and RI (Year 1-4).

3. You will Learn from the Best

Our 2015 batch includes one of the best Model United Nations teams in Singapore to train you. Furthermore, we often have guest trainers such as Mr. Caleb Liu (GP department) and illustrious alumni. HSTA after all has strong alumni support and boast in our alumni’s ranks several outstanding leaders in politics, foreign affairs and the private sector. In 2011 alone, 2 President’s Scholars came from HSTA.

During some of our weekly sessions off-competition season, alumnus speakers will enlighten you on international relations in the real world. You can for instance look out for a talk by Mr. Dileep Nair, current High Commissioner to Ghana and former Under-Secretary General at the UN. We will also be inviting professional trainers to sharpen your negotiation skills. Finally, you can look out for a field trip to either the embassy or the parliament house.

4. You can Share your Passion for Global Affairs and Engage in Local Affairs

If you’re interested in writing on strategic affairs and maybe even history, you can join us in overseeing a school-wide newsletter on the above topic. We have an in-house Chief Editor who will mentor you. What’s more, for those very interested in writing, you can participate in Model UN as a press delegate, taking on the role of world journalists to report on the debates. A speaker series where prominent leaders will share about strategic affairs and history is also in the works.

In terms of local affairs, HSTA has our own Parliament Programme, featuring exclusive opportunities for you to take part in the Legislative Bill Challenge and Model Parliament, as well as possible visits to the Parliament.

5. Meet Like-Minded Friends and Pioneer Projects

You can look forward to club meals, camps, movies, gatherings, and ultimately a close-knit family.

With this camaraderie, you get to initiate your own projects with batchmates more easily. We encourage you to initiate projects regarding heritage and strategic affairs. For instance, some of HSTA’s members are involved in the SG50: Becoming Bishan project. The club is pioneering ‘the Voice’ in collaboration with Debate and Gavel: a nationwide primary school oral skills training programme for underprivileged Primary 5 children. You can take part as a coach when you join us.

In conclusion, join our CCA for a dynamic and exciting experience, and HSTA la vista! For more information, please visit raffleshsta.com or email your queries to raffleshsta@gmail.com.

Reading Time: 4 minutes

Family. Fun. Adventure.

Leveraging on both the challenges and experiences provided by the Outdoors, the Outdoor Adventure and Activities Club (ODAC) serves as a platform to develop leaders within each and every ODACian. Fostering respect for the self, others, and the environment lies at the heart of what we do, be it camping, kayaking, or even cycling around Singapore in the wee hours of the morning. As a close-knit group of adventurers, we pride ourselves in our willingness to embrace novel experiences and grow and learn together.

 “With each new adventure bringing with it the unexpected, stepping out of your comfort zone will likely be the rule rather than the norm.” – Ivan, 15S06C

Every ODACian will encounter key milestones along his/her journey in ODAC. These are the Basic Training Camp (BTC), June Expedition, Gear Up (a night cycling event) and the December Expedition. Each of these key milestones serves as an important goal for the CCA to work towards to. The overseas June and December expeditions will, arguably, be the highlights of your first year in ODAC. Seniors take on more responsibility in their second year through planning events. Do not fret – no superhuman level of physical fitness or superb organisational skills are necessary. A willingness to learn and work as a team, however, is indispensable.

Trainings are held every Monday (4.30pm – 6.30pm) and Wednesday (2.30pm – 6.30pm) with some of the longer Wednesday sessions used for out-of-school training. Training sessions are varied, consisting physical training, skills training and preparing for our milestone events, just to name a few. To add to our repertoire of outdoor-related skills, batches are encouraged to attend kayaking and sport climbing certification courses, which then enable them to pursue these activities at their own time.

Due to the nature of our activities, there will be some costs incurred to purchase personal equipment and pay for overseas expeditions and courses. With our major expeditions taking place in June and November/December, do note that ODACians are advised against joining enrichment programmes that may hold trips in the same period.

You may be wondering how 2 years in ODAC would benefit you. Well, enjoying the outdoors will require certain prerequisite skills such as cooking, first aid, and simple construction — skills that will be taught and be applicable for life. Without a doubt, ODACians will learn how to be contributing members of a group, look out for fellow members, and make key decisions that will affect the welfare of others, just like any effective leader would.

 

Perhaps one of the most rewarding takeaways from being in ODAC would be the revelation of how remarkable our little island actually is. Going to places you have never been to before and discovering hidden gems of natural beauty make trainings all the more enriching. Last but not least, you’ll make friendships with people from different walks of life, bonded through shared bitter and sweet experiences in the Outdoors. These friendships can last a lifetime – ask our seniors from ODAC 16, whom we met at our CCA homecoming event this year.

Lugging a 15 kg backpack through a dense forest may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but we ODAcians firmly believe that the toil is more than worth the time we spend supporting each other, singing around campfires, and indulging in marvels that Nature presents us with.

“Expect nothing, appreciate everything!” – Pethanakshi, 15S03B

The wilderness is calling out to those with a thirst for adventure close to heart; a can-do attitude; and an open mind. If you think you’re up for it, come join us and create an adventure to call your own.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reading Time: 3 minutes

You step up to the plate, bat in your hands, ready to face the ball. The pitcher fires it – right at your weak spot. “Strike!” the umpire calls. Taking a deep breath, you steady your nerves. You’ll get the next one. But you’re too eager, too anxious, and you swing too early. “Strike two!” One more strike and you’re out. It’s all or nothing now. Your grip on the bat firms, and you eye the ball with a renewed sense of hunger. The ball approaches, and this time, you wait for the perfect moment to swing.

Closer.

Closer.

Now.

Welcome, to the game of Softball.

As with any other sport, Softball is a game that requires both physical and mental strength. And though the high demands of each game can leave players exhausted, it can build them up as well. Build them to be resilient, to believe in their abilities, and to be brave enough to push themselves beyond their limits. It creates team players that trust one another and are willing to put the team before themselves.

Strongly supported by the Softball alumni, our teachers and coaches, the RJ Softball team takes part in several tournaments and friendly matches yearly – both local and overseas. For instance, the SRC-SBSA Softball Carnival, AIA-SBSA Kallang Softball Open and Chiang Mai Open Softball Tournament. This year, our dream is to clinch 1st place in the National Inter-Schools Softball Championships 2015, and through this process to improve team bonding and camaraderie.

We are keen to attract dedicated people interested in playing in our sport, and who dare to try and want to win. Like most sports, we rely very heavily on the hard work and commitment of individuals who give their time and energy to support our activities. These consist of trainings which are three times per week, as well as major and minor competitions that are well distributed throughout the year.

Our training hours are as follows:

Monday: 3.30 – 7.00

Wednesday: 2.30 – 7.00

Friday: 3.30 – 7.00

Our peak period is in the months of March and April, when the intensity of the National competition kicks in.

We do not deny that Softball is one intensive sport. The agony under the sweltering heat to master that perfect psychomotor of receiving a grounder with your glove, getting up, point, flick and throw. The slapping of who knows how many balls with an anti-clockwise hip turn, timed accurately, together with a sweet contact, sending the ball zooming past the fielders. The body aches, bloody blisters and enormous blue blacks that come after a hard game. These are just a glimpse of our depth of work. But the pain cannot compare to the joy that comes with the celebration of our best athletic moments and the culmination of our labour in a solid, good game. And the best part is: you will never walk alone. Are you ready to take on this challenge? Join our team. Join our family. Join Softball.

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Quick, what comes to your mind when I say ‘film’?

Chances are that it’s the last movie you watched. Maybe it’s a three hour blockbuster stuffed full of explosions and adventure? Or a heart wrenching drama, with a crying protagonist standing alone in the rain? Perhaps a colourful, musical world constructed from the imagination and computer screens of Pixar studios? Whatever movie has popped up in your head, it has left you with a different kind of experience.

Imagine being the person who is behind this magical, complicated construct called a movie. Conceptualising, writing, building, directing, filming… you, too, can step into the shoes of James Cameron and create the next Avatar. Similarly, like James Cameron, you don’t need to go to film school, or have any knowledge of film in particular beforehand. Under the guidance of our instructor and teacher in charge, Mr Kelvin Sng and Mr Chia Wei Hou, the only prerequisites for Film Society is to have the passion to learn new skills and strive to tell your story on the silver screen. While having plenty of fun along the way, of course.

Opportunities in FIlm Society are aplenty. Along with the occasional promotional video for the school, Raffles Film Society holds 2 annual showcases every year to show off our members’ original films: one during our internal Arts Season, and another external showcase, held in a real theatre. This is an unique opportunity to experience the film industry on a small, but valuable scale. Plus, members can also participate in both national and international film competitions, and possibly even have their films screened at film festivals, such as the annual Short Cuts, hosted by the National Museum of Singapore. If you find that photography or the written word is insufficient for the stories you want to tell, then may we suggest: Film.

Admittedly, to produce a film is immense work, even more so with school work and project work to juggle. Film Society sessions are held once a week, on either Wednesdays/Fridays between 3.30 and 6.30pm(TBC), however, these sessions are for learning skills and reviewing movies, and members must be prepared to find their own time and place outside of sessions for making their films. Hence, it is strongly advisable to take on film as a single commitment.

The audience may be watching only a few minutes on screen, but every second is carefully calculated, backed by dozens of hours of planning. It is a tough journey, yet when the credits roll and you hear the applause of the audience, it can’t be any more fulfilling. We welcome you to Raffles Film Society to explore, experience and express your own silver screen journey.

As James Cameron says: “Because if you make a film and you put your name on it that says ‘Directed by,’ even if it’s the worst piece of cr*p in the world and cost no money, everything after that, you’re a director.”