CHAPTER ONE
From the Principal
This December we are blessed to have a fir tree for Christmas . We have never had a real Christmas tree before . The day the fir tree arrived and we began decorating it , I watched our cleaners , Aunty Saras and Aunty Nagama repeatedly touch its needle-like leaves and smell its fragrance that wafted through the Brother Kevin Byrne ( Administration ) Block . I watched them smile as they did this . Thereafter , they smiled whenever they touched and smelled our Christmas fir tree .
They had a look of delight . This is a happy image I would invite us to have as we give thanks for our 2019 school year together .
Our new Year 1 and Year 5 students had this same look when they began their first day in SJI buoyed by their hopes and dreams . This is the same look reflected in the joyful faces of our Year 4 and Year 6 students when they graduated . Such was their delight , I believe , because they had a happy , purposeful and special experience while studying in SJI . Many Josephians also smiled with delight each day they learned and grew up , prayed and played in the good and happy company of friends . When they were surprised by the little ways teachers and school cared for them , their smiles were big and bright . In fact , I see their delight most of all in how eager they are to come to school each morning , and every evening , in how much they want to stay back to study or hang out together . and happenings around us daily so that we can better connect , understand and affirm each other . Noticing is a grace ; it humbles us to learn and grow , which is the work of education . When we can do all this we would have a healthy habit to move through the world , and to live well . This is how we can be happy because we will always know how to make a difference and for whom we can do this for . Most of all , noticing helps us to give thanks for all that we receive and have . I am heartened that many of us in SJI practice the art of noticing . This is why we smile and delight much , like Aunty Saras and Aunty Nagama .
As you read the following pages of this year ’ s Josephian Annual , you will see many smiles and much delight . You cannot miss these . You will find it in the many photographs and the writeups about the classes , CCA / CAS groups and school events .
I saw this same look in our teachers and staff again this year whenever their students thanked them for their love and care . They had the same look when the school surprised them with their very own ‘ Google-like ’ space to dream , discuss and incubate new ideas to improve SJI , as well as a staff section in the canteen . They smiled much during Teachers ’ Day as we celebrated with a hearty morning breakfast in the Beurel Library . After a challenging year reorganising the school , we are all smiling more because we can see how our efforts are improving SJI to become a school of significance . Thank you , teachers and staff for your love and care for SJI !
I believe all these smiles and delight are the results of our students and teachers practising the Art of Noticing . I described this practice when I addressed the school at the 2019 Inaugural Assembly . Noticing involves seeing , and not being seen . It also has to do with listening , and not being heard . It is about noticing the people , spaces
You will see Josephians delighted and smiling as they celebrate their good O Level and IB results for 2018 . Our O Level Class saw 100 % passes , of which 94 % qualified for junior college . 106 of the 250 students who sat for the O Levels scored 6 A1s or more , while 107 of them scored less than 10 points . Our IB Class graduated 269 students of whom 180 scored at least 40 points . 111 of them scored 42 points or better and 8 students scored 45 points . The prestigious Bilingual Diploma was awarded to four students . I know they accomplished this excellent results because they studied , supported and challenged each other together , along with their teachers ’ help .
You will see Josephians smiling too when read about their participation in various activities and competitions on the sporting field , arenas and courts . They gave their best at zonal and national levels , including becoming National B Division Champions in Sailing , National C and B Division runners ’ up in Canoeing and winners in a wide range of sports from Dragon-boating to Hockey to Tennis .
Our Uniformed Group members had much to smile about too in 2019 as they continued to be recognised amongst the best units in Singapore for their outstanding performance . In the 2019 Singapore Youth Festival , our student performers from the Guitar Ensemble , SJI Military Band , Vocal Ensemble and Drama Group had great big smiles when they were highly appraised for their outstanding performances .
6 ST JOSEPH ’ S INSTITUTION