Free YOG Village stay for 200 boys

The Strait Times
23 July 2010
by Amelia Tan

NEARLY half of the 500 places taken up by students for a two-day preview of the Youth Olympic Village have been filled by Victoria School (VS) and St Joseph’s Institution (SJI) boys, thanks to their schools’ alumni.

The Old Victorians’ Association (OVA) has forked out $15,000 to send 100 VS boys to the Village, located in Nanyang Technological University, next Friday and Saturday.

Similarly, 100 SJI boys will also be at the Village. Their stay will be sponsored by SJI old boy Ronnie Lum, 42, who is the chief executive of an insurance brokerage company.

The ‘stay and play programme’, which spans two days and one night, gives organisers a chance to test the Village’s readiness to host the world’s best young athletes during the August 14-26 inaugural Youth Olympic Games (YOG) in Singapore.

Participants will tuck into the same buffet spread that will be served during the Games, spend a night in the rooms where the athletes will stay, and attend cultural and educational activities such as workshops, exhibitions and a dialogue session with Deputy Village Mayor and former Olympian C. Kunalan.

They will also get to preview the YOG official opening ceremony.

A $150 early-bird fee was charged for those who signed up before June 30, and $188 for those who signed up after.

Youth Olympic Village director Sheryl Lim said participants are required to pay fees to defray the costs of meals and services at the Village.

About 1,000 people have signed up for the programme. Half of them are students, and most of the rest are YOG sponsors, partners, staff, and their families and friends. About 15 members of the public are also taking part.

The students, most of whom are athletes and leaders of sports co-curricular activities, are from 10 secondary schools and the universities.

Besides SJI and VS, other participating secondary schools include Jurong West Secondary, Boon Lay Secondary, Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) and Cedar Girls’ Secondary. The students either pay the fees themselves, or are sponsored through funds such as those from residents’ committees.

OVA president Vernon Teo, who is also the show producer of the YOG opening and closing ceremonies, said he learnt about the two-day stay earlier in the year and brought up the idea of sponsoring VS boys during a gathering with other OVA members.

‘The association felt that it would be an eye-opening experience for the students. They will be able to experience how a large-scale international event is run. Not many people have such a chance,’ said Mr Teo.

VS student Marcus Ng, 14, who is a cross country runner, said: ‘I’ve been looking forward to staying in the Village since my school told me a few weeks ago that I’d been selected. The experience will be special for me because I am an athlete. I feel inspired to work harder in my sport so that one day I can take part in international competitions and use such world-class facilities.’

Applications for the programme have closed.

ameltan@sph.com.sg

Additional reporting by Hoe Pei Shan

Source: The Straits Times, NTU

Visa Go World - Jeffrey Lightfoot from VS

Following up on VS athlete to front Visa global campaign to promote YOG, here is the poster of Jeffrey Lightfoot in his element.

Source: Visa Southeast Asia

05 May – Excerpts from: http://www.tnp.sg/sports/story/0,4136,239207,00.html

Victoria Junior College (VJC), Meridian Junior College (MJC), Saint Andrews’ Junior College (SAJC) and Raffles Institution (RI) each confirmed their semi-final appearances after winning two out of their three second group stage matches.

PLAYER TO WATCH:

Former VS & Present VJ Star Player

Dilip Thapa (VJC)

ONE PLAYER who could have a huge say on the final outcome of the match would be Victoria Junior College’s (VJC) Dilip Thapa.

The Nepalese midfielder has been earning rave reviews for his action packed performances in the middle of the park.

An all-rounder, Thapa is able to pass, shoot and tackle well.

Thapa hailed from Victoria School (VS) and joined Victoria Junior College this year.

Despite this being his freshman year, he has cemented his place in the first team and is a vital clog in a VJC side which has scored 47 goals and conceded none in six ‘A’ Division matches.

VJC soccer coach Tan Yew Hwee credits VS for making Thapa such a formidable player.

Said Tan: ‘The guidance and coaching Dilip received from VS is the key to him being the player he is today.

‘I am merely reaping the rewards of his VS coaches’ hard work.’

Preventing the talented midfielder from establishing a foothold in this game will go a long way in securinga positive result for Meridian Junior College (MJC).

It will not be an easy feat though. Thapa’s goal tally has already entered double figures, an amazing feat for a midfielder.

06 May – Excerpts from: http://www.tnp.sg/sports/story/0,4136,239307,00.html

BY THE looks of it, Victoria Junior College (VJC) are the team to look out for in this year’s National School’s ‘A’ Division title this year, and not without reason.

KEY PLAYER: Dilip Thapa

THE NEPALESE midfielder has been making heads turn this season with a string of stirring displays in the middle.

He is strong on the ball and is a key component in VJC’s engine room.

Not only that, his eye for a goal means the midfielder’s goal tally has already hit double digits.

SRJC captain Cheah, whose side went down 5-0 to Thapa’s VJC, was full of praise for VJC’s No. 10.

The 19-year-old said: ‘Dilip is the best player in VJC’s team. With him in their side, they have to be considered favourites.’

VERDICT: Champions

Mr Jeffrey Lightfoot from Victoria School is one of three athletes selected to promote the Youth Olympic Games.

3 S’pore athletes to front Visa global campaign to promote YOG

By Patwant Singh | Posted: 06 May 2010 1908 hrs

SINGAPORE: Three Singaporean athletes will have the honour of being featured in a global campaign by Visa to promote the upcoming Youth Olympic Games (YOG).

The trio is part of the “Go World” campaign which was launched at the Singapore Sports School today.

16-year-old sailor Darren Choy, 17-year-old swimmer Amanda Lim and 15-year-old football player Jeffrey Lightfoot will be featured in posters and TV commercials.

The campaign will include celebrity swimmer Michael Phelps.

But the Singaporeans will have the distinction of competing in the upcoming Games.

Amanda Lim says: “Positive kind of motivation for me to since I am sort of the ambassador for this campaign.”

Darren Choy says: “I’m hoping this would boost my confidence and I would train harder for the upcoming YOG.”

The trio says fronting the campaign was something new and challenging.

Jeffrey Lightfoot says: “We took about 100 shots I think so I had to do it a lot of times, I don’t think I did jump that high, but I think they edited it.”

The ceremony was also attended by American gymnast Kerri Strug, who shared her experience with the students.

Strug is known for her memorable moment at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, where she went on to help Team USA win gold despite competing with an injured left foot.

The “Go World” campaign started at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Besides Michael Phelps and Kerri Strug, the organisers are looking at bringing in other big name athletes before or during the Youth Olympics. And these sports superstars will not only be sharing their experience but also taking part in other activities like training session with young Singaporean athletes.

- CNA/jy

Source: Channel NewsAsia

3 S’pore athletes to front Visa global campaign to promote YOG
By Patwant Singh | Posted: 06 May 2010 1908 hrs

	Photos 1 of 3
	Video 3 S’pore athletes to front Visa global campaign to promote YOG

SINGAPORE: Three Singaporean athletes will have the honour of being featured in a global campaign by Visa to promote the upcoming Youth Olympic Games (YOG).

The trio is part of the “Go World” campaign which was launched at the Singapore Sports School today.

16-year-old sailor Darren Choy, 17-year-old swimmer Amanda Lim and 15-year-old football player Jeffrey Lightfoot will be featured in posters and TV commercials.

The campaign will include celebrity swimmer Michael Phelps.

But the Singaporeans will have the distinction of competing in the upcoming Games.

Amanda Lim says: “Positive kind of motivation for me to since I am sort of the ambassador for this campaign.”

Darren Choy says: “I’m hoping this would boost my confidence and I would train harder for the upcoming YOG.”

The trio says fronting the campaign was something new and challenging.

Jeffrey Lightfoot says: “We took about 100 shots I think so I had to do it a lot of times, I don’t think I did jump that high, but I think they edited it.”

The ceremony was also attended by American gymnast Kerri Strug, who shared her experience with the students.

Strug is known for her memorable moment at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, where she went on to help Team USA win gold despite competing with an injured left foot.

The “Go World” campaign started at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Besides Michael Phelps and Kerri Strug, the organisers are looking at bringing in other big name athletes before or during the Youth Olympics. And these sports superstars will not only be sharing their experience but also taking part in other activities like training session with young Singaporean athletes.

- CNA/jy

Victorious after 41 years

Victoria School players carrying their captain Yusuf Aslam after beating Raffles Institution by 37 runs in the Schools National B Division cricket final. -- PHOTO: CHEW SENG KIM

POWERED by Siddharth Sikka’s half-century and captain Yusuf Aslam’s brilliant batting and fielding, Victoria School won the Schools National B Division cricket final at the Ceylon Sports Club ground yesterday.

They beat favourites Raffles Institution by 37 runs to claim the title after 41 years. Victoria were second in the past two years.

‘Both teams were good and the match was of high quality,’ said Fred Martens, the Victoria coach. ‘Raffles dropped a couple of crucial catches, we didn’t. That cost them the match.’

Victoria should be thankful Yusuf was dropped when the 16-year-old had just begun his innings.

Yusuf and Sikka, after initial consolidation, tore the Rafflesians’ bowling apart with some powerful hitting.

Sikka smashed 56, including four sixes and three fours, and Yusuf contributed a swift unbeaten 38, with two boundaries and a six, as Victoria totalled 141-4 in 20 overs.

Brief scores: Victoria School 141-4 in 20 overs (Siddharth Sikka 56, Yusuf Aslam 38 n.o.). Raffles Institution 104 in 17.2 overs (Divesh Dadlani 23; Shabab Chowdhury 3-24, Abdul Hareesh 2-8).

From: The Straits Times

PA gets historic new home

By Nur Dianah Suhaimi

In the News ~ PA gets historic new home

The conserved the old school building while converting the classrooms into sleek offices. The school hall-cum-canteen is now a dance studio and storage area for Chingay and National Day props. — ST PHOTO: ALPHONSUS CHERN

WHEN the People’s Association (PA) was set up 50 years ago, its headquarters was a former airport in Kallang. On Friday, it officially moved to another old building: the former Victoria School building in King George’s Avenue.

This time, however, the PA engaged architects and gave its new home a $47 million makeover.

The conserved the old school building while converting the classrooms into sleek offices. The school hall-cum-canteen is now a dance studio and storage area for Chingay and National Day props. A new five-storey extension block was built behind the old school and a sprawling lawn fronts the entire structure.

The changes won it the Architectural Heritage Awards last year, an annual honour given to well-restored monuments and conservation buildings in Singapore.

On Friday night, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, who is also PA’s chairman, officially opened it new home in a ceremony attended by about 1,000 people, including Cabinet ministers and grassroots leaders. The event, held on the lawn, was like a mini National Day celebration, complete with floats, performers in colourful costumes as well as a fireworks and pyrotechnics display.

Mr Lee also opened the PA heritage gallery, an exhibition which charts the association’s growth over the past 50 years. The gallery will be a permanent fixture at the building’s atrium. These events are the first in a series of activities to be held this year to mark PA’s 50th anniversary.

From: The Straits Times

For English readers, click here for an automatic translation via Google Translate.

23 Jan 2010

SINGAPURA

PERTANDINGAN ANIMASI N.E.MATION!
Minat terhadap kartun berbaloi

Pelajar menengah tiga bersama tiga rakan hasilkan klip animasi yang dipilih ke peringkat akhir

Oleh
Nurul Dayana Simangoon

SEJAK kecil lagi, Khairul Azri Uthli, 15 tahun, terpesona setiap kali menonton kartun di televisyen dan ingin tahu bagaimana caranya menghasilkan kartun seperti itu.

Demikian minatnya terhadap animasi hingga klip animasi yang dihasilkannya bersama tiga lagi pelajar menengah tiga Sekolah Victoria (VS) berjaya dipilih ke peringkat akhir pertandingan animasi N.E.mation! baru-baru ini.

Ini meskipun mereka diberikan hanya seminggu untuk belajar menggunakan sofwe animasi Toon Boom, yang turut digunakan untuk menghasilkan kartun The Simpsons.

Klip bergelar Caretalyst yang dihasilkan oleh keempat-empat mereka itu dipilih menjadi antara 10 animasi terbaik daripada 440 penyertaan dalam pertandingan yang dianjurkan buat kali keempat tahun ini.

Tema N.E.mation! tahun ini pula ialah ‘Mengapa Saya Sayang Akan Singapura’.

Ketika ditemui baru-baru ini, Khairil, salah seorang anggota kumpulan yang digelar ‘Catalyst’ itu, berkata klip animasi mereka menggunakan cara unik untuk mendidik warga Singapura agar menjadi warga yang lebih penyayang menerusi istilah sains.

‘Kami minat terhadap animasi dan sains, oleh itu kami cuba menghasilkan sesuatu yang menggabungkan kedua-dua minat kami itu. Caretalysts mengisahkan tentang satu kelas kimia unik yang mengajar murid-murid cara ‘menghasilkan’ warga Singapura penyayang menerusi satu eksperimen saintifik.

‘Dalam klip ini, eksperimen itu menggunakan beberapa ‘bahan pemangkin’ seperti ‘sukarelawan ceria’, ‘sifat ihsan antara satu sama lain’ dan ‘sikap toleransi terhadap bangsa dan agama lain’,’ ujar Khairil.

Kali ini pertandingan peringkat kebangsaan sempena kempen Pertahanan Mutlak itu menarik penyertaan 1,569 pelajar sekolah menengah dan maktab rendah. Jumlah penyertaan itu merupakan satu peningkatan 67 peratus berbanding tahun lalu.

Menurut ketua kumpulan, Kenneth Chiang, pula klip tersebut mengambil masa tiga minggu untuk dihasilkan dan mereka terpaksa mengorbankan cuti sekolah Disember lalu bagi menjayakan projek tersebut.

‘Pengalaman menghasilkan animasi amat seronok kerana kami dapat ‘menghidupkan’ sesuatu yang sebelum ini tidak dapat bergerak,’ ujarnya, sambil menambah klip mereka dihasilkan menerusi teknik animasi 2-D.

Pemenang N.E.mation! akan diumumkan pada 11 Februari ini. Orang ramai juga diundang mengundi klip animasi pilihan mereka hingga 1 Februari ini di www.nemation.sg.

Pemenang berpeluang ke Amerika Syarikat untuk melawat studio Dreamworks Animation SKG.

Source: http://cyberita.asia1.com.sg/msingapura/story/0,6879,157771,00.html

Bouquets – Dedicated teachers

“Without them, my son would not have been promoted.”

Madam Janet Peh: “My son was struggling to cope academically during his first and second year of the four-year Integrated Programme at Victoria Junior College (VJC) in 2008 and last year.  A passionate group of teachers sacrificed their school holidays, going back to school without fail to help him catch up with his peers.  Without them, my son would not have been promoted to IP3 this year.  My heartfelt gratitude to the vice-principal and teachers of VJC.”

From: The Straits Times Forum Page

VJC and Victoria School must not compete for students

I REFER to Mr David Goh’s letter on Tuesday, ‘Beware of breeding elitism’.

I had the privilege of graduating from Victoria School (VS) in 1993 after four wonderful years.

I believe many VS alumni like me are concerned that should Victoria Junior College (VJC) get the Ministry of Education’s go-ahead to start a six-year Integrated Programme (IP), this will result in competition for students between VS and VJC’s IP.

VS could lose out as an IP is deemed more prestigious than a regular four-year secondary school education.

While this scenario may seem far-fetched, history can shed some light. I believe attempts to start a Gifted Education Programme in VS did not work out because of poor enrolment due to competition from IPs launched by other schools in 2004.

Fast-forward to this year. If VJC does launch an IP with the Victoria brand name, what calibre of students will VS attract and how will this affect VS’ development? Only when we learn from past mistakes can we avoid mistakes in the future.

My Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) score was 252, but VS provided the same quality education for my classmates and me, regardless of our results.

During our lower secondary years, each class had an even mix of PSLE scorers and there were no attempts to ‘hothouse’ or have ‘elite’ classes for students with better grades. Each and every VS boy was given equal opportunity and treatment. This allowed us to explore our potential to the fullest.

VS has neither the legacy of the Raffles schools nor the financial resources of the Anglo-Chinese family. It is a common man’s school but its alumni are the common men who are part of Singapore’s social and professional fabric.

VS boys like me cringe when we hear talk of elitism or upper echelons of society. This country was built on meritocracy, and school is one of the first places where children learn and understand this concept.

Do we really need a nation built along the lines of Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World, where children and society in general are divided into clearly defined castes?

Hong Chou Hui

Sunday Times, 13 September 2009

They opposed co-ed proposal in 2005, now they object to VJC’s plan to admit Sec 1s
By Mavis Toh

How far will you go to preserve the ‘family spirit’ of your alma mater?

One group, old boys of Victoria School (VS), went to the extent of writing to ministers, setting up online petitions and Facebook groups, and calling a press conference.

Four years ago, they objected to a proposal to turn the school co-ed.

Recently, they were upset again after affiliated school Victoria Junior College (VJC) wanted to enrol Secondary 1 students.

At the crux of the present brouhaha is this: VJC wants to attract top primary school pupils by accepting them – both boys and girls – at Sec 1 and taking them through a six-year programme to the A levels.

VJC submitted its proposal to the Ministry of Education (MOE) last month. It currently enrols students from Sec 3 for a four-year integrated programme (IP).

The old boys oppose the initiative for several reasons. If VJC gets its way, they fear it will vie with VS for the same post-primary cohort and hence ‘split up the family’.

Also, the Old Victorians’ Association (OVA) told The Sunday Times it is all for a VS-VJC merger as long as the school’s heritage is preserved and VS remains a single-sex school.

OVA president Vernon Teo, 41, said the group is especially ‘disappointed, saddened and puzzled’ as to why it was not properly informed and consulted before VJC’s submission.

VS started as an English class in Kampong Glam Malay School in 1876. Over the years, it moved to Victoria Street, Tyrwhitt Road and the present Siglap Link.

It attracted students from all walks of life and produced three presidents: Mr Yusof Ishak, Mr C.V. Devan Nair and Mr S R Nathan.

Today, the 133-year-old school is the only all-boys government school left and is a top boys’ school.

VJC, an idea first mooted by Victorians, was set up in 1984 after the late MP Dr Ong Chit Chung, an alumnus, submitted a proposal to the MOE. It has always ranked as one of the top JCs.

In 2005, after a proposal was floated for VS to become co-ed, then OVA president Teo Ser Luck organised a forum for the involved committees, alumni, teachers and principals.

Mr Teo, 41, now Senior Parliamentary Secretary (Community Development, Youth and Sports, and Transport), attributes his leadership qualities to his time at the school, and said Victorians are a ‘bonded and vocal bunch’ who readily contribute time and money generously to the school.

‘The school spirit has always been very strong. We would cheer our schoolmates in everything, from those involved in the band to drama to sports,’ recalled Mr Teo, who graduated in 1984.

Mr Vernon Teo, the managing director of an events management and production company, who took over as OVA chief in 2007, said he continues the fight to keep the school’s heritage.

Besides holding two more dialogues, he wrote to Education Minister Ng Eng Hen last month to explain why the association is against the expansion of the JC’s IP.

He has also called a press conference and, last week, penned an open letter to the Victoria Executive and Advisory Committee (VEC/VAC). The Sunday Times understands that this 18-member body, which includes old boys, can offer its views on the policy decisions of VS and VJC.

Mr Vernon Teo said previous meetings had led to an agreement that OVA be consulted on major decisions by VS and/or VJC, especially regarding the implementation of any IP.

He added that the OVA had not been consulted on VJC’s recent proposal, even if the move was apparently backed and supported by the VEC/VAC. He wants to know if there was a voting process and, if so, what the outcome was.

‘My question is, before the proposal was made, had they consulted enough parents, students, stakeholders and old boys,’ he said.

He graduated 25 years ago and spoke fondly of the times he sneaked into the school’s Jalan Besar campus after dark with fellow boys for ‘ghost walks’.

‘It was there we built our character and grew from mischievous boys into young men,’ he said.

Another Victorian, Mr Teo Yang Song, 55, agreed that VJC’s proposal would split the family. But if the proposal passes, he wants VJC to stop using VS’ badge and song.

The senior executive building officer has been voluntarily coaching the VS soccer team for the past 12 years. He met his wife there, when they were in the school’s co-educational pre-university classes, and his eldest son, 28, is an old boy too.

Meanwhile, a Facebook group set up to protest against expanding the IP now has about 2,200 members. Also, all 60 comments posted on a website OVA launched to gather views on VJC’s proposal were against the idea.

But one old boy, engineer William Tan, 57, does not care. He said: ‘The education landscape has changed, the principals should do what’s best for the students. Retaining heritage is not everything.’

When contacted, VJC principal Chan Poh Meng said that since 2005, VJC and VS have actively engaged OVA members, former students as well as the VEC/VAC to discuss extending VJC’s IP to Sec 1 students, including a possible merger with VS. Several meetings were held, he added, before the proposal was submitted to the MOE.

Meanwhile, the OVA has three suggestions: a merger with centralised management; a collaboration with an all-girls school to provide students for the IP; or setting up an all-girls school within the Victorian family.

Said Mr Vernon Teo: ‘We just want to look after the interests of the family.’

mavistoh@sph.com.sg

What are your views on the moves by the old boys? Send them to suntimes@sph.com.sg