CHAPTER ONE
Mr Chew Sung Luan
Mr Chew Sung Luan , our Senior Laboratory Technician , is an iconic figure in SJI . He joined SJI on 8 Jun 1970 and has served SJI for 49 years . He has been the backbone of our school laboratory staff , from Bras Basah to Malcolm Road .
Mr Chew is very skilled at making and repairing things , especially items in the laboratory . He also makes educational adult wood puzzles / steel puzzles . He has done these handiwork : 1 . he reuses PET bottles to make into potted plant holders . 2 . he has a collection of fire-blown glass figurines which he made from broken glassware .
3 . he repairs broken lab equipment and reuses some of these items for other purposes instead of throwing them away and buying new ones .
In the recent O level exam , we were required to make a round shape object out of plasticine for all the candidates . The object has to have certain dimensions . Mr Chew came up with a mould to make this object that is uniform for all students . Such is his creativity .
Mr Chew has shared at National level with other TSOs his skills in repairing and reusing items in the laboratories .
Mr Raymond Wong & Mr David Kwang shared , “ As a student in SJI , I remember Mr Chew as THE laboratory technician who was also the handyman . We did not have fancy labs nor equipment back in our old Bras Basah campus , but I distinctly remember doing science projects from scratch , going to Bras Basah Complex ’ s many art and handicraft shops to scour for materials to make my project team ’ s own hovercraft . Through
it all , we always had the reliable hands , technical expertise and experience of Mr Chew in guiding and helping us set-up our experiments and even to make our own improvised equipment . Mr Chew is a man of many talents who has served SJI well . Till today in Malcolm Road , he continues to share his technical knowledge with his younger colleagues both in and out of SJI and spends bonding time with colleagues and ex-colleagues in weekly games of badminton in the ISH or Founder ’ s Hall . His presence will be dearly missed in SJI .”
Fr Adrian Danker , SJ , “ Mr Chew is indeed a staff member whose presence has made a significant difference in the lives of many students and staff . He has often shared his thoughts and reflections on many things ; these give us a glimpse of a man whose heart cares for all and whose love for SJI is boundless . I know many of us , especially those who have worked with him in the Science Labs and recreated with him , either playing badminton or cycling , will miss his steady presence and his warm friendship .”
Friar Michael D ’ Cruz
SJI also bids farewell to our Chaplain , Friar Michael D ’ Cruz who has been appointed as the Parish Priest of St Mary of the Angels ( SMOTA ) Church from 2 January 2020 . With this appointment that carries greater responsibilities , Friar Mike has asked to step down as our Chaplain .
Friar Mike has been our Chaplain , teacher , consoler and friend to many in SJI for the past 18 years . Many of us have become spiritually richer because of his presence and teachings , and the community that he has helped us become . From Inaugural to Thanksgiving assemblies throughout the years , Friar Mike has always reminded us of God ’ s holy presence in our own respective religions , and to treasure the gift of friendship . The SJI community will miss him and his creative paraliturgies dearly , and we wish him all the best as he embarks on his new mission at SMOTA .
Staff Who Left SJI in 2019
• Koh Chee Yeong ( 15 Apr )
• Pervin Kaur ( 7 Jul )
• Josephine Khoo ( 31 Jul )
• Peter Joseph ( 31 Jul )
• Heng Guek Boon ( 29 Nov )
• Therese Vinnie Tan ( 31 Dec )
• Cindy Ong ( 31 Dec )
• Raynard Heah ( 31 Dec )
• Ong Luan Feng ( 31 Dec )
• Paolo Macario ( 31 Dec )
• Judy Liew ( 31 Dec )
26 ST JOSEPH ’ S INSTITUTION