Pico Iyer , a travel writer , once said , ‘ We travel to open our hearts and eyes and learn more about the world than our newspapers will accommodate . We travel to bring what little we can , in our ignorance and knowledge , to those parts of the globe whose riches are differently dispersed .’ Truly , this forms the very core of our International Education ( IE ) programme . Every year , groups of Secondary Three students will travel overseas as part of our student development programme to learn more about the world beyond the shores of Singapore .

During such trips , students are given the opportunity to participate in various activities such as sowing rice seedlings , attending or teaching lessons at various schools , repainting rooms , using their own pocket money to host a lunch for the orphans and conducting bonding games for the children . Through it all , our students learnt the values of empathy , compassion and perseverance well .

Brother Michael explaining to our students the Massacre that took place in the chapel at Lasalle University

A group photo at Changi Airport before departing for Siem Reap

11 February 2015 marks the first Lasallian Catholic Investiture Mass for the Catholic Societies in St Joseph ’ s Institution – Legion of Mary , St Vincent De Paul and Young Christian Society .

The Eucharistic celebration brought the societies together as a community , reminding us of the faith we share in common and the strength we draw from . After communion , a special badge symbolising the Lasallian values of Faith , Service and Community , was pinned on each of the leaders from the various Catholic Societies , not only to recognise but to empower them to go forth and be of service to the community .

They returned with a greater appreciation of the struggles of communities that are not well-off but were still able to enjoy the simplicity of life without much technological gadgets . Their minds were opened to the reality of the poor and the boys are better prepared to help the last , the lost and least in the community .

Being a brother to the little ones at the orphanage .

Older students were tasked to build the tallest free standing tower with satay sticks and plasticene

I fit in snugly . I am not too tall to hide in the Cu Chi tunnel .

Learning to plant seedlings in the fields in Ho Chi Minh

Frying fish on wood fire- a maiden attempt for our students

ST JOSEPH ’ S INSTITUTION JOSEPHIAN ANNUAL 2015