Our second batch of JC2 students celebrated the end of their two year journey at SJI at the Farewell Paraliturgy and Assembly , and the Graduation Ceremony on 16 and 17 October respectively .

The mood was contemplative and solemn as Friar Michael D ’ Cruz led a combination of prayers , hymns and songs . Having decorated receptacles secretly and wrote reflections for their peer , the students then filled these receptacles bearing the Signum Fidei , with water . The act of pouring the water into one big bowl that represented the whole school community symbolised the contributions of many into one .

There was a light moment though still reflective , as teachers put aside lessons to deliver an impressive dramatized “ Oh , the places you ’ ll go ” by Dr Seuss .

The students had the opportunity to reflect quietly about their SJI experience , jotting down their thoughts on their receptacles and a Signum Fidei star prepared for them . This was followed by the form tutors presenting their students with a green scarf memento from the school . Tutor groups gathered , cherishing and reminiscing the special moments of their two-year journey together . The quietness was quickly broken with a spontaneous dance to “ Malo ! Malo ! Thanks Be to God ” – an apt rousing closure to celebrate the paraliturgy .

The next part of the celebrations saw the JC1s joining in to cheer “ Salute to The Alma Mater ”. Mr Nick Moughtin ’ s speech , referring to his unavoidable passion , football and his favourite team , Everton , reiterated to the students the inevitability of “ once a Lasallian , always a Lasallian ”.

The current Student Council President , Mark Ngoh , on behalf of his cohort then bade his farewell to the JC2s who proceeded outdoors

to the garden singing “ We are Lasallian ”. To commemorate their graduation , a tree was planted by Dr Koh Thiam Seng , Principal ; Mr Moughtin , Head of Senior School ; Mr Raymond Karam , Head of Level – JC 2 ; and the JC2 students watered the tree with the water from the receptacles .

The graduands entered the parent-packed auditorium to the tune of “ Glorious Patron ”, followed by Mr Gerard Ee , Chairman of SJI Board and Guest of Honour ; Dr Koh Thiam Seng , members of the Board of Governors and senior leadership .

Dr Koh delivered his final official speech as Principal to the graduands before he leaves SJI at the end of the year . This was followed by an inspiring speech from Mr Gerard Ee , who encouraged the students to follow their passion instead of traditionally popular professions .

The students were presented their certificates from Mr Ee . This was complemented with a creative presentation of slides put together by the students themselves on their thoughts of the occasion . The form tutors also introduced their classes , with their personalised set of speeches ranging from references to friction from the Physics tutor to singing by the English tutor .

The last speech of the occasion was by outgoing leader of the student council , Lee Suyi Seraphine . With mixed emotions , her strong speech summarised how the cohort had grown up in the last two years .

As a final celebration of their final lap at SJI , a group of students performed an emotional “ Long Live ” by Taylor Swift , as the audience viewed a show of slides of the students ’ lives and memories of their time well spent in SJI .

ST JOSEPH ’ S INSTITUTION JOSEPHIAN ANNUAL 2015