Student Issues

Commentary, Op-Eds, Student Issues

Great Expectations: What’s In a Theme, Anyway?
Reading Time: 5 minutes

By Tan Jun Xiang (14S06C) and Bryan Chua (14A01A)

It is everywhere we look: from the massive banners festooned on the parade square to the promotional booklets handed out during Open House. Yet to what extent do we really understand and appreciate the theme that supposedly charts the very direction of our school for the year ahead? In spite of the great meaning and value such themes hold for the school, they have hitherto been little more than decorations on our parade square, left in plain sight but going largely unnoticed and unappreciated.

Continue reading “Great Expectations: What’s In a Theme, Anyway?” →

Arts, Commentary, Op-Eds, Student Issues

Teachers & CCA Leaders Speak Out on SYF Reforms
Reading Time: 3 minutes

By Lye Han Jun (13A01A)

Green, black and white – without the Gold?
(source: Corporate Communications Dept File Photo)

The SYF has long been considered a biennial highlight in the calendar of Performing Arts CCAs. In 2011, RI clinched 9 Gold with Honours, 6 Golds and 5 Silvers across Year 1 to 6.

The Ministry of Education has announced that from next year, the SYF Central Judging will be renamed the SYF Arts Presentation. Instead of receiving awards, schools will receive certificates: distinction, accomplishment and commendation. The existing norm-referenced scheme will be replaced by one that is criterion-referenced, which means schools will no longer be benchmarked against each other. From next year, schools only need to score 75% to attain the highest award, rather than 85%.

Continue reading “Teachers & CCA Leaders Speak Out on SYF Reforms” →

Commentary, Op-Eds, Student Issues

It’s a Convention, Really
Reading Time: 3 minutes

By Jervan Khou

The audience paying rapt attention to guest speaker Mr Thaddeus Lawrence.

It is indeed a privilege to be granted the opportunity as a leader of an external CCA to participate in this year’s CCAL Conference. Perhaps this revelation would deny me the right to give my honest, but perhaps sobering, report of this slightly jejune event, but I am going to try anyway.

Continue reading “It’s a Convention, Really” →

Commentary, Op-Eds, Student Issues

Don’t Put Out the Fire in the Prometheum Ceremony!
Reading Time: 3 minutes

By Chua Jun Yan (13A01A)

The pocket-side card issued to CCALs for Prometheum Day.

Yesterday, the college marked the Prometheum Ceremony, in which Year 6 CCA Leaders handed over the mettle of leadership to their Year 5 successors. As we commemorate the formal transition of leadership, it is worth looking at how this exercise can be improved in future years. Here is the wish-list of this correspondent for next year’s Prometheum Ceremony.

Continue reading “Don’t Put Out the Fire in the Prometheum Ceremony!” →

Commentary, Op-Eds, Student Issues

I wish the Dean’s List was online
Reading Time: 4 minutes

By Claire Yip (13A01A)

It’s been just over a week since the Dean’s List for the Year 5s’ CT1s has been put up, but I’ve only looked at it once—furtively, alone, on a quiet afternoon. This isn’t because I’m too cool to care: oh, no, I certainly am not disinterested in the Dean’s List. In fact, I am so very fascinated by it that I would pay actual money for a digital version of it so I could look for trends, take note of recurring names, or just bask in the academic brilliance it extols…from the comfort of my room.

Continue reading “I wish the Dean’s List was online” →