14 LUMEN | TRIBUTE
REV BRO KEVIN BYRNE TROPHY This trophy is presented to the best Humanities Scholar in Secondary Three who has obtained the highest total score for English language and two of his chosen Humanities subjects .
Tributes to Brother Kevin Byrne :
Kelvin Monteiro , SJI Track and Field Captain ( Class of 1980 ): “ One of the longest serving Principals at SJI and one of the most loved . He was soft spoken and gentle . One would have to lean in to hear him but his actions spoke volumes . He supported the sportsmen , the uniform groups and the athletes during our time ... He was the one that ‘ banned ’ the cane at Bras Basah in the swinging 70s . ... More importantly , he was a man that gave second chances when most would have given up ... I saw Christ in him .”
Keith Teo ( Class of 1988 ): “ I remembered Bro Byrne sitting under the heat with the boys at the National Stadium during the 1987 Outdoor Band Presentation . He was not with the VIPs at the VIP stand where it was cooler and sheltered . A gentle giant with a giant heart . He was with the boys and for the boys .”
Granville Ed D ’ Souza ( Class of 1986 ): “ Lovely man . Most compassionate and loving Principal I ’ ve had . He taught me in 1985 ... Ethics class and I was always in awe of his kindness , humility and compassion . “
Mrs Tan Eng Hong , Mathematics teacher at SJI : “ One of his first classes was the class of 4 Science 6 / 1978 , of which Dr Euan Murugasu was a class member . This was a very intimidating class to teach , for the students were all so bright , mischievous , and playful . They had up their sleeves all forms and manner of tricks , as well as treats , for teachers , Brother included . Brother secretly knew all their trickeries but he accepted the boys for what they were , and knew they were an intelligent lot who would rise up to the occasion . Even noisier classes whose din rose higher and higher as the day wore on , competing with the traffic outside at Waterloo Street , were not lost to him . He cared for all his students . If anyone did badly for their monthly tests , they would be called up to his office to be counselled .
Fr Joachim Chang ( Class of 1980 ): “ He was a very pleasant principal . I remember when I was in secondary three and four , I could even enter his office to chat without any prior appointment .”
Sundar Job ( Class of 1981 ): “ Thank you Brother Kevin Byrne for being the best principal a boy could have during a boy ’ s teenage schooldays in Singapore . You made a real difference in my personal , academic and professional life opportunities and choices and I sincerely thank you for it all . God bless you , Brother Kevin Byrne .”
Ms Charlotte Collars , teacher : “ I shall always remember ‘ the silent one ’ who always had time to chat with me over the progress of my students whenever we met along the long corridors of the Bras Basah Rd SJI .”
Sebastian Anthony ( Class of 1981 ): “ He was such a humble man . A great principal and an even greater teacher . Thank you Bro Byrne .”
Michael Au ( Class of 1986 ): “ I remember him as a very soft-spoken man whose words of advice , servant leadership and quiet assertiveness are qualities much needed in school leadership these days .”
Br Paul Rogers , former principal of SJI : “ Br . Kevin was Principal of SJI during a remarkable period of its history . Taking over in 1979 , he was to work with Goh Sin Tub over the coming 10 years to raise the funds and build the Independent SJI . Some of the early statements of the new school were exceptional and will stand