12 LUMEN | COVID-19 PANDEMIC - TRANSFORMING THE WAY WE WORK , STUDY , PLAY AND LIVE
Summary of SYF Arts Presentation 2021 Results for the Performing Arts Groups
Drama Club
• Team A : A Wok Story - Certificate of Accomplishment
• Team B : The Three Wishes - Certificate of Commendation
Guitar Ensemble Promise of the World- Merry Go Round of Life - Certificate of Accomplishment
Military Band
• Team A : Starlight - Certificate of Distinction
• Team B : Phantom of Dark Hollow - Certificate of Distinction
Vocal Ensemble ( In view of Covid-19 Restrictions , MOE made modifications from a live performance to an audio recording with no benchmarking )
As the year started , there was cautious optimism that Josephians would be able to not only resume training , but also gear up for the National School Games ( NSG ). Indeed , Team SJI were collectively ready to put 2020 behind them , and return to their respective sporting arenas with gusto . When MOE announced in early-March that NSG would resume with 12 non-contact sports , there was a heightened sense of optimism that , if the Covid- 19 pandemic can be brought under control , “ normal service ” can resume for CCAs . While the badminton , table-tennis and tennis squads could commence in-person training knowing that they had a chance to compete , the other teams continued to train earnestly , in hope and anticipation of further easing of restrictions in the months to come .
Josephians from these three CCAs approached their respective competitions with a sense of zeal and zest . After a year-long hiatus , the feeling of relief , mixed no doubt with anticipation was palpable . While the prevailing safe management measures provided a different feel to the competitive process , coupled with the fact that each sport needed to adapt to a number of changes , every member of Team SJI fought and competed with pride and tenacity . It is with this enduring sense of hope that the remaining sports teams will continue to persevere with training sessions held online , and looking forward to the day when we can proclaim proudly , once again :
“ St Joseph ’ s , St Joseph ’ s Together standing tall , Shoulder to shoulder , We ’ ll heed St Joseph ’ s call ”
Badminton In early 2020 , all CCA training sessions were conducted online due to COVID-19 . However , inperson training resumed in the 2nd half of the year . The first few weeks of training was rough and arduous , as everyone needed to step out of their comfort zones and to accommodate the safety measures that were put in place . Although the shuttlers were finally getting back on track with the vigorous training after a few weeks , there was still much uncertainty in the months ahead . Would there be a National School Games competition in 2021 ? Despite the uncertainty , the young sportsmen maintained a positive mindset and attitude that the NSG will happen , and continued training faithfully thrice a week . Every training was tough , as they focused on stamina , strokes and fitness to up their gameplay in matches . When it was eventually announced that there was going to be a National School Games competition in 2021 , all the sportsmen were extremely excited to have an opportunity to represent SJI and were geared up for a tough fight against other schools .
The B-division shuttlers had a common goal - to clinch the top 4 position in the South-Zone , a zone considered to be the toughest in Singapore for badminton . Up against the powerhouse schools , the SJI badminton team had worked hard the past year during both in-person and online training with a hunger to win . This year was like no other year , the SJI badminton team was not seeded in the tournament , this meant that we were not favoured to be in the top four and that our journey would not be an easy one . Yet , the boys went into each game , one at a time and fought their hearts out . Before they knew it , it was the quarter-finals draw . They had the best possible draw and capitalized on it , which allowed them to go through to the semi-finals with ease , securing the top 4 spots . Although they did not let their guards down , and put up a good fight against the other three schools , the SJI shuttlers lost the semis to Raffles and ACI Barker to finish at 4th place .
Table Tennis On Mondays , Wednesdays , and Fridays from three in the scorching hot afternoon till six when the sun starts to set , the large wooden doors of the founder ’ s hall remain shut to a group of young sportsmen . All one could hear is the sound of booming stomps and ricocheting balls echoing through the aisles of the annex and the library corridors . In hopes of winning a coveted medal for SJI and excelling in the national school games , our table tennis paddlers prided themselves on hard work and discipline and gave their very best during their training and at the competitions . Pandemic or not , these young Josephians have proven their worth and endured the challenges together as a team , a winning team .
‘ COVID-19 was not an easy period for any sportsman . When I first heard about the virus , I was not worried and did not expect it to affect us . Then came the postponement of the national school games , the introduction of HBL , and the e-CCAs . It was a lot to handle and our lives had completely changed in a matter of months . However , my passion for the sport had not changed . Throughout the gruesome months of the circuit breaker , we trained as a team , be it physical training together through zoom , or the hours of drills done during CCA , we were all in it together . As the measures eased , we headed back to training , without even knowing what was to come and whether life would return to normal , or whether there were even going to be
This page ( centre ): Kavan serving
This page ( bottom left ): Princern and Nicholas receiving South Zone 4th Trophy and medals