By Jeanne Tan (17A01B), Lee Yun Ning (17A01E), and Nicki Chan (18S03C)
Pictures by Raffles Photographic Society
Storyline adapted from script by Chamber Ensemble

The day before Mother’s Day, at one minute to 3pm, audience members filed into LT2 unsure of what to expect. The word “CHAMBER” lit up the front of the stage in elegant cursive, and the usual digital clock was replaced with one stuck at 2:59.

Minute before the start of show

The audience settled down, the lights dimmed, and the narrator’s voice filled the LT, accompanied with soft music.

Once upon a time, there lived a young princess, blessed with a loving mother who decided that tea-time was a must.

“I am sick and tired of this,” said the Princess. “I wish all of this would just go away!”

You know what they always say: be careful what you wish for.

The ensemble opened their concert with the beautiful first, fourth and fifth movements of Idyll for Strings, composed by Leos Janacek. What started off as a melancholic tune in the first movement, Andante, soon turned into one that was more cheerful. Scherzo, the fifth movement, proved to be an uplifting end to this piece, with beautiful counterpoints between the lower and higher sections and plucked notes adding a calming effect to the piece.

The ensemble playing their second piece

Next up came the renowned Danse Macabre, the “Dance of Death”, by Camille Saint-Saëns. The ominous mood of the piece was delivered from the outset by 12 notes from the cellos, symbolizing a clock striking midnight, followed by shrilly dissonant chords from the violins. Separate waltz melodies by the violin and lower sections intertwined to evoke the mood of a frantic dance, with low, detached notes by the double bass and cello sections adding to the tension. The piece ended remarkably with a sharp drop in volume, leaving only an airy, eerie note from the violins.

An exchange between the princess and the goblin

The Princess’s time was stuck at 2:59, a minute from tea-time. Time was protected by the most hideous creatures, the most mind boggling passages – and was kept out of reach from all beings, by the goblin.

This particular goblin, the ugliest, most mischievous, was actually just a poor woman placed under an unforgiving curse of a witch.

“Let me save my mother and in turn, I will lift the curse from your sorrowful life,” said the Princess.

Admired for her valiant bravery, and still somewhat bent on fooling around with the Princess, the goblin offered a riddle.

The uncertainty of the princess’ fate hung in the air as the first movement of Schubert’s Death and the Maiden began. As though a switch was flicked, the performers’ expressions shifted from being passive to that of fierce concentration, as though the Princess’ answer depended on their playing. The song had an ominous undertone due to the alternating build-up and resolution of tension, amplified by the wavering qualities of the tremolo technique.

Death and the Maiden

The song faded away on a soft note, in contrast to the previous fast-paced intensity of the piece, leaving a sense of incompleteness. Below the stage, there was complete silence.

Following that was the first movement of Dvorak’s Piano Quintet No. 2, which began with gentle accompaniment on the piano and a soulful cello solo by Joshen Lim (17S07D). While the feel of the piece was gentle but cheerful, a busier melody was later introduced on the viola, causing the piece to fluctuate in intensity. The two melodies ran throughout the song and complemented each other surprisingly well with further development by the violins. The piano also added a delightful lyrical touch to the piece.

Once upon a time, there lived a young princess, whose time was stuck and was running out. Her Mother was sinking deeper and deeper into the curse, and her, into despair.

The goblin, seeing his only promise of lifting his curse dispirited, sent her a bubble – a bubble of hope.

The stage curtains reopened after the intermission to Mozart’s String Quartet no. 17, nicknamed “The Hunt”. One could liken this song to the effect of caffeine, courtesy of the many spikes in energy levels throughout the piece. While the melody was uplifting and lighthearted as a whole, it was repeatedly taken to new heights due to the powerful triads carried throughout the song.

Next was String Quartet no. 2 by Alexander Borodin, reportedly written as a declaration of love. True to its nature, the song opened with a sweet melody, smoothly traded back and forth between the cello and violin, like a loving conversation. The song’s rhythm gradually became more vigorous, seemingly a declaration of passion. The piece drew to a satisfying close with a long, drawn-out chord, as though the promise of love had been fulfilled and kept.

I love you, mum!

On that joyful note, the ensemble launched into some familiar pieces, starting with the Overture from Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite. The light and playful piece fell on enthusiastic ears. The Russian Dance was a pleasant contrast to its grander mood, and the mirroring of the second violin and viola sections in the harmony line intrigued the audience. However, the tune of Waltz of the Flowers caught the audience most strongly, when Farah Wu introduced the piece on the piano.  The ensemble lit up the LT with its strong delivery of the grand piece, despite only performing it with string instruments and not a full orchestra.

Next came more contemporary pieces, including “Departures” from the Spirited Away soundtrack, arranged by Neo Wei Qing (17A01A). The adaptation of this music for the ensemble was particularly successful for this piece, with the pizzicato of the violin 2s contrasting with the high melody line played by the violin 1s. The effect of the ensemble coming together was intense; a cello solo ended the piece on a bittersweet note.

The ensemble playing their final piece

The final piece evoked perhaps the most enthusiasm from the audience. The John Williams medley, arranged by Ms Marietta Ku, included the iconic themes of Superman, ET, and Jurassic Park, evoking excited chatter from movie fans in the audience. While the ensemble chose not to include some other iconic Williams music (such as those from Star Wars and Indiana Jones), the magnificent arrangement ended the concert on a joyful high.

Following cries of “ENCORE!” from the audience, Joshua Yong (17S06B) took the podium as student conductor, and the ensemble broke out into the familiar theme from Beauty and the Beast. The other song, “Belle”, from the movie soundtrack was seamlessly woven in, allowing the concert to end with a level of grandeur associated with Disney fairytales.

Joshua Yong and Joshen Lim mischievously shaking hands

The overarching storyline connected the seemingly disparate pieces together, adding a unique touch to the concert. The significance of the story itself was meaningful – as explained by chairperson Jackie Sim (17S03G), “The storyline was centered around Mothers’ Day, since the next day is Mothers’ Day, which teaches the audience to appreciate our mothers and thank them for whatever they do for us”.

Gillian Yeong (17A01A) and Ms Marietta Ku having a laughing moment

This being their final concert, 2:59 Minute To Tea Time proved to be a memorable experience for the graduating J2 batch, as well as the J1 batch who learnt tremendously from their seniors and now have to fill their shoes. The two hour concert was but a short glimpse into the hours of late-night practice, the laughter shared and the camaraderie forged between the Chamber members.

“These 1.5 years have been nothing short of fun, friendships, and memories,” says Jackie. “To the J1s, continue doing what you all love and are good at doing!”

Set List:

Fun Act 1: I’m a Little Teapot

Idyll Suite for Strings by Leos Janacek

Danse Macabre by Camille Saint-Saens (arr: John Harvey)

Fun Act 2: New World Coming, Hall of the Mountain King, I See Fire (arr: Claire Chow)

String Quartet No. 14 in D minor, Death and the Maiden, D810 by Franz Schubert

Allegro, ma non tanto from Piano Quintet No. 2 in A major, op. 81 by Antonin Dvorak

Fun Act 3: One Day More (arr: Farah Wu)

Fun Act 4: Empty Chairs and Empty Tables (arr: Farah Wu)

String Quartet No. 17 in B-flat major, “The Hunt”, by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

String Quartet No. 2 in D major, Alexander Borodin

Fun Act 5: Fight Song

The Nutcracker Suite; I. Overture Miniature IV. Russian Dance VIII. Waltz of the Flowers by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

Departures by Joe Hisaishi (arr. Neo Wei Qing)

John Williams Trilogy (arr. Ms Marietta Ku)

List of performers:

Violin 1:

Jackie Sim

Rin Hong Wei

Eleanor Chong

Rachel Chung

Liu Zhilong

Glenda Wee

Violin 2:

Elena Lee Ruoxi

Caleb Leow

Rachel Lee

Charissa Poh

Chan Shiqi

Wiesiek Khoo

Claire Chow

Viola:

Joshua Yong

Tricia Tan

Gillian Yeong

Emelyn Aw

Nicole Ng

Cello:

Joshen Lim

Zhuang Jianning

Tamara Au

Tian Xindi

Teo Ziyang

Bass:

Park Jiwon

Vanessa Tay

Guest Performer:

Farah Wu (Piano)

Conductor:

Ms Marietta Ku

By Asfar Alim (18S03J) and Joan Ang (17A01B)

Photos by Abdul Qayyum (17A01B) and Raffles Photographic Society

Runway is one of the less conventional CCAs offered at RI — instead of sports competitions or concerts, Raffles Runway annually stages RPROJECT, a fashion show curated and organised by the CCA, featuring original pieces designed and sewn by its members. From ticketing to designs to the gorgeous photobook given to each audience member, every aspect of the show was put together by Runway members themselves.

The theme of this year’s show was RPROJECT: Origin. Centred around the idea of beginnings, each designer’s collection sought to explore a different interpretation of the theme, from depictions of the universe (‘Aurora’, Cherie Ng), to the various stages in a life cycle (‘Metamorphosis’, Fabiolo Susilo). More importantly, the show was a presentation of the designers’ own journeys, and as said in their introduction to the photobook: “this is a show of our Origin.”

The show was held on campus this year, a departure from last year’s, which was held at Capitol Theatre; still, the reporters were blown away by the sheer beauty of the set, with the MPH transformed into a glamorous setting. Seats were arranged in several concentric circles centred around a small stage. Models would catwalk through the audience before reaching centre stage, their gorgeous outfits on display for the entire hall to see.

On the stage itself, block letters spelling out ‘RUNWAY’ and the fairy lights delicately strung across the backs of the seats bathed the room in a warm glow, giving the MPH a mellow quality.

The stage

RPROJECT: Origin was kicked off with the showcase of the junior collection, designed by the Year 5s. Each had been tasked to design one or two pieces, and the stunning display made clear the sheer amount of effort put in. In particular, designer Darrell Koh’s (18S03D) pieces stood out by choosing to dress one model in tattered sleeves and knee-high socks, an unconventional set in comparison to the rest of the collection.

Another outstanding piece was Monica Murtidjaja’s (18S06H) snow-white piece, which opted for long sleeves and cheongsam-esque slits, while utilizing a fleece colour and vest. The design was adorned with pink and purple flowers, adding a sense of traditional femininity to the piece; yet, the cut of the piece made it innovative and modern.

Monica’s piece

After a short video showcasing their designs, one by one, the larger, more stylised senior collections were put on display.

‘Aurora’ by Runway chairperson Cherie Ng (17S03H) took the lead, comprising coats and dresses with elaborate sequin designs. At first, it seemed as though the darker pieces of the collection were at odds with the theme of the Aurora itself — yet, it was this contrast that was the key concept of the collection, representing the changing colours and volatility of the Aurora.

Cherie’s eponymous piece, ‘Aurora’

The audience was then left in awe as the model for the design Hale marched onto the stage, with his long fur cape sweeping the floor. The design Monroe, however, stole the show with its stunning black-and-gold dress and headdress which gave its model the appearance of a goddess. This beautiful collection, ‘Soul’ by Keran Wei (17S03Q), sought to explore the various manifestations of the soul, and the different ways that people view such manifestations.

When asked about the ideational process behind her collection, Keran replied that she had “always been interested in different people’s conceptions of beauty” and sought to express that in her pieces — from the “most organic to the most refined” ideas of it, not just in designs, but also in “fabric and models”.

‘Monroe’, by Keran Wei

Another collection that took the same angle was ‘Metamorphosis’ by Fabiola Susilo (17S06A). Each model personified the the different stages of a butterfly’s life cycle, from a caterpillar to a chrysalis before becoming a beautiful butterfly. In her design process, Fabiola identified key traits of each stage that she wanted to bring out in her garments, such as the textured exterior of an eggshell, or the spreading wings of a butterfly, resulting in a collection that was incredibly diverse in design.

‘The Butterfly’, by Fabiola Susilo

Deviating from these darker designs was ‘Ostara’ by Hu Junyi (17S07D), who applied pastel colour schemes that complemented each other in a warm, refreshing way. Black is a versatile colour, one that is easy to match, and Junyi’s decision not to use it made her collection that much more of a challenge to the designer herself. Yet, she pulled it off with finesse: the collection was centred around the theme of unconditional love, with the garments making use of natural imagery, such as small birds and floral patterns, to evoke a sense of awe in the viewer.

‘Eden’, by Hu Junyi

The varying natural landscape of our world was explored in the collection ‘Horae’ by Wang Yuxing (17S03N). Themed around the never-ending cycle of the seasons, Yuxing’s collection sought to explore the passage of time and our awareness of the process, utilising more vibrant colours for spring and summer, while opting for cooler, more chilling colours in autumn and winter. Ultimately, the collection, like the others of her batch, tackled a central question: where do we begin?

‘Summery’, by Wang Yuxing

The presentation of the senior collections over, the audience was then treated to a short montage of the buildup to that night’s show: from the conceptualization of the costumes, to taking the measurements of and styling the various models, each aspect of Origins had been created by the Runway batches themselves. The montage also gave us a look behind the scenes of the show, showing short clips of artful hair arrangements, but also humorous clips of Runway members eating bread in the Runway room.

As expanded on by Marilyn Kang (17A01B), “the conception of the show begins right after handover. The theme is everything, and we have to decide that first because we design according to it, and after that we smooth out the budget in accordance with the theme and a rough idea of the venue.”

With garment-making done by February, the process then “steamrolls” into photoshoots and additional filming in order to promote the event. “After that,” she said, “we’re kind of done until rehearsals, while we continue to source out stuff for the actual show.”

Throughout the entire night, this crystallized what had been clearly visible to the audience all along. The sheer amount of talent and hard work that had been invested into the entire production truly revealed to us the depths of the batch’s passion for fashion, all culminating in this final, stunning showcase.

Curtain call

RPROJECT: Origin officially came to a close as all the models and designers made one last catwalk through the MPH and gave a final bow.

However, what was most heartening was the immense amount of support from the audience members, who cheered fervently for their friends onstage. This sentiment was best expressed by Runway chair Cherie Ng: “Even though fashion may not be everybody’s cup of tea, we’re grateful for everybody who came down to support their friends”.

The final words by the graduating EXCO certainly showed the hard work and dedication that made this year’s showcase a success, not just on the part of the designers, but the models as well, whose grace and charisma were clearly displayed to the audience. Runway may not be as conventionally appealing as some other CCAs in RI, but their pure dedication to their art made the whole experience worth it, from the glitz and glamour of the ending to its humble origins in the Runway room.

By Choi Hoe Chang (18S07A) and Jeslyn Tan (18S06R)

Photos by Raffles Photographic Society and Choi Hoe Chang

On 17th May, our boys’ floorball team faced Victoria Junior College in the finals of the ‘A’ Division Floorball National Championship. The match was expected to be intense and tough – RI and VJC have long been rivals in floorball, as both possess equal skills, strength, and spirit. They were to put themselves to the test for three periods, each lasting 15 minutes.

We arrived at the Delta Sports Hall just as the match was about to begin. Both teams  were having their last huddle before the championship game, and the crowd was waiting in tense anticipation. The spectators’ galleries were packed with spectators who were eager to witness the showdown.

The two teams greet the crowd as the match begins

The match began, and the floorballers went into action.  

1st period

In the first period, the strategies of both teams were clear. RI focused mainly on defence, our VJC focused on their offensive.

Of course, this trend was reversed on some remarkable occasions where some of our boys cut through the VJC defence lines to attempt territorial invasion and even goal attempts.

Fierce competition for the ball

However, the stellar performance of both teams’ goalkeepers ensured that a 0-0 scorecard was maintained for the majority of the period. The competition for ball possession and territorial invasion was intense, until VJC drew first blood with a goal, 7:51 into the game.

For the remainder of the period, mainly long passes and attack-defence routines were observed from both teams.

2nd period

The second period saw a significant change in RI’s strategy. In the attempt to catch up to VJC’s lead in the scorecard, our boys shifted their focus on territorial invasions and goal attempts.

Several close attempts to shoot were made, only to be denied by the VJC goalkeepers. Our opponent maintained their aggressive attack strategy and scored a goal about 6 minutes into the period. The next ten minutes showcased a series of goal attempts, which were all either denied by the goalkeeper or missed entirely.

The heat of action in front of VJC’s goal

The last 90 seconds of the period, however, were fiercely intense. VJC racked up two goals within a single minute, almost ensuring a 4-0 lead by the end of the period. However, our boys made a major comeback by responding with 2 goals in less than 30 seconds. The action-filled period ended with a final score of 2-4, in VJC’s favour.

3rd period

The third and last period was rife with tension. Our boys had 15 minutes to close the 2-point gap, while the Victorians needed to focus on defence.

Our players brace themselves

However, less than 30 seconds in, VJC scored yet another goal, widening the gap to 5-2. Our boys responded with multiple goal attempts, which were unfortunately unsuccessful. The remaining time ran out quickly, and RI was dethroned by VJC with a final score of 2-5.

Post-Game Sentiments

We followed our boys outside, where they were huddling for a post-game debrief. Understandably, our boys were swollen with emotion. Many of them could not hold back their tears.

The team in post-game huddle

Boys’ Captain Marcus Chua (17S06C) admitted that the VJC team caught our team off guard with their aggressive strategy. However, he applauded the team by commenting: “Even though we were 4-0 down, we didn’t give up…I’m very proud of my team”.

The team assembled at prize presentation

Indeed, our floorballers showed us what it meant to fight with an indomitable spirit. Although all the odds were against them by the end of 2nd period, they were determined to persevere. While they may not have seized the championship title, they stood strong and proud.

By Lakshminarayanan Kaushik Rangaraj (17S06P) and guest writer Aahan Gopinath Achar (17S03J). Pictures by Liu Xin Yu (18S05A) and the Raffles Photographic Society.

Scorecard:*
ACS(I): 110/6 in 20 overs (Anirudh – 39)
RI: 81/10 in 17.2 overs (Karthik – 24)

Rain had plagued the whole A Division Cricket season. Keeping with the theme, the finals too were marred with foul weather. Due to unrelenting showers, they took place over 2 days, 15th and 16th May 2017.

RI played in the A Division finals against their perennial rivals ACS(I), having smashed VJC by 9 wickets in the semifinals to book a berth in the final. Although the Rafflesians lost their group stage game by a mere 9 runs, they were hopeful of pulling off an upset and beating favourites ACS(I) to clinch the gold. However, they entered the finals missing star all-rounder and vice-captain Laavanya Kejriwal (17S07B) due to illness, and with several players battling injuries. On the other hand, ACS(I) headed into the game having convincingly beaten every team that stood before them and ultimately ran off as clear winners, winning by 29 runs in a stop-start game due to rain.

The game started with RI captain Aahan Achar (17S03J) miraculously winning the toss. He elected to bowl as planned, sticking with the strategy of restricting the opponents to low totals and chasing it down with a power-packed top order. The Rafflesian opening bowlers got off to a good start, with Mustafa (18SO6Q) and Dineru (17SO6C) pressuring the ACS(I) openers with tight lines and good variations. However, eventually Yuvraj (ACS(I)) broke his shackles with an assertive six over mid-wicket off Mustafa.

Looking to make a change after the pacers were unable to make a breakthrough, Aahan turned to fellow left arm spinner Karthik Mohan (18SO6Q). Karthik got Yuvraj stumped as he charged down, looking to hit. What followed was a mini-collapse by the ACS(I) batsmen. Karthik had ACS(I) captain Somil caught, and bowled brilliantly after he punched the ball straight back. Shardul was dismissed by Dineru trying to drive through the covers. ACS(I)’s middle order then dug deep to survive until drinks, happy to pick singles and punish the rare loose delivery as the ACSians headed into the break at a threatening 47-3. While things looked even at the mid-innings break, ACS(I) had the upper hand as they had a deep batting order filled with capable hitters. They looked to push for a score in excess of 125.

Karthik celebrating one of his brilliant wickets.

After the break, RI employed a pace-spin combo of Aahan and Akshay (17S06O), who kept things tight and built pressure on the ACS(I) batsmen. Akshay expertly varied his pace and probed outside off while Aahan bowled with good flight and dip. The runs dried up for ACS(I), leading to their player Suyash going for a panic run and getting run out by Muhsin (17S06R) from square leg. Muhsin himself had an eventful few overs before that, with the batsmen picking him out perfectly on some occasions. However, once the duo completed their 4 over quota, ACS(I) capitalised on a poor over from Karthik as he saw a couple of half trackers disappear over the roped for 6s.

Dineru and Mustafa returned and kept their lines tight once again to restrict ACS(I) to 110 after 20. Dineru saw 2 deliveries sail over the ropes off the blade of Vikas (ACS(I)) but struck back with 2 well-deserved wickets in the death, showing immense calm under pressure. It was an applaudable performance by him, especially as he was playing with a sprained ankle. The injury had ruled out him out of the group stage games, and he had not completely recovered by the finals.

Muhsin celebrating his run out.

Initially, RI seemed to have learnt their lessons from previous games. They started off cautiously, having lost their key one down batsman Laavanya. Rahman (18S06R). Mustafa slowly ramped up their scoring as they spent more time on the crease, resolved to chase down the tricky total. However, Rahman found himself caught behind on 10 looking to force a shot off a length ball from Anirudh (ACS(I)) which kicked up. Karthik’s introduction to the crease saw RI engage in a cavalier approach to the chase. With the rain pelting down and the thoughts of their depleted batting order and the DL target at the back of their minds, the dynamic batsman swung for the fences, clearing the rope on several occasions with ease.

ACS(I) firmly stuck to their strategy, knowing that their risky approach could potentially spell the end of Raffles, given their lack of batting depth. Eventually, Mustafa was caught at mid off by Shardul after looking to launch another six. Captain Aahan followed him in the next over, out for a duck after edging a ball from Nick Singham (ACS(I)) which kept low to the keeper, his hopes of orchestrating a winning captain’s knock similar to the one against VJC dashed.

With the lower-middle order now with him and the DL target climbing, Karthik reverted to launching boundaries. The Rafflesians were hopeful, but he fell off Yuvraj’s bowling, with Shehzad (ACS(I)) taking a phenomenal catch to dismiss him. The target and stakes were simply too high for the remaining batsmen to chase down. Despite some encouraging shots from Vaishob (18S06H) and Dineru, the Gryphons folded for a meagre 81 as ACS(I) marched to a comfortable victory in the finals.

Rahman was in the groove before his innings was prematurely cut short.

Ultimately, the difference between RI and ACS(I) was in the application by their respective batsmen when the wickets were falling. RI was left ruing missed opportunities, having not had the advantage of a fully fit team, but could find solace in the steady improvement they had made throughout the season, having started out as a small and relatively inexperienced squad. With five of their top eight batsman being Year 5s, they hope another season of training would help them garner enough experience to unseat ACS(I) next year to bring the cup back home.

The RI Cricket Team of 2016-17.

Team (according to batting order)

Mustafa Anis Hussain,17, 18S06Q
Abdul Rahman Bhadelia, 21, 18S06R
Anandaselvan Karthik Mohan, 7, 18S06Q
Aahan Gopinath Achar, 3, 17S03J
Vaishob Anand, 9, 18S06H
Dineru Priyalal Premasinghe, 11, 17S06C
Prittam Ravi, 19, 18S06J
M Muhammad Muhsin, 8, 17S06R
Akshay Babu, 18, 17S06O
Mustafa Kaed, 14, 17SO3J
Lakshminarayanan Kaushik Rangaraj, 23, 17S06P

Reserves:
Laavanya Kejriwal (VC), 10, 17S07B
Taran Singh Bhogal, 6, 18S06O

*Scorecard format: [School]: [Runs]/[Wickets], (Top batsmen – runs scored)

By Soh Ying Qi (18A01C), Adri Faris (18A13A) and Ianni Tan (18S03C)
Photos by Raffles Photographic Society

On the afternoon of 19th May 2017 at Toa Payoh Sports Hall, our Raffles Badminton team made the school proud once again by sweeping the highly-coveted titles of national champions of both the boys’ and girls’ Schools National ‘A’ Division for the second year running.

Girls’ finals

The competition was kicked off with a good fight from RI’s Rachel Tan Xi-Hui (18S07B), who was unfortunately no match for the River Valley High School (RVHS) contender in the first set, losing  21-7. However, she did not give up just then, and returned to the second set with a vengeance, beating RVHS 21-19 in a constant back-and-forth that echoed the high stakes of the finals. RVHS went on to take the next game 21-15, winning the match.

Rachel putting up a good fight

The second match opened with a strong performance from RI’s doubles team Lim Boon Wen (17S05A) and Kaelyn Kong (17S03Q), who defeated RVHS 21-11. In the set that followed, the pair trounced their opponents yet again with a score of 21-9, taking the match amidst spirited cheers from Rafflesians in the audience.

Dynamic duo Boon Wen and Kaelyn

RI’s Natalie Ng (17S06Q) faced tough competition in the next match, losing to RVHS 21-19 twice in a row despite a valiant fight that kept spectators on the edge of their seats. However, doubles pair Tan Jeng Swan (18S06E) and Nicole Png (17S03I) quickly regained momentum for the team, winning 21-17 and 21-11 against their opponents.

Natalie poised to strike

With two matches won on both sides, the fifth and final match would decide the champion of this year’s finals. Singles player Hannah Tay (17S06H) gained a slight advantage, beating RVHS 21-18 in a determined bid to win. With just one more set needed to win the competition, the atmosphere grew tense as the players fought on. As the shuttlecock sailed back and forth between both courts in a battle fraught with anticipation, spectators clung to the edge of their seats, awaiting the pivotal moment of triumph. A decisive victory was secured when RI emerged victorious with 21-3, awarding RI the championship trophy.

Partners Jeng Swan and Nicole on the court

When asked how she felt about the team’s performance, Hannah answered: “I feel very happy… it was unexpectedly smooth.” She also expressed gratitude towards several people in her life, saying, “I want to thank everyone who supported me, especially my team and my classmates and all my friends around me,” a sentiment that was surely shared by many of her teammates.

Hannah reaching for the shot

Boys’ finals

The first singles’ match started off with Chew Wei Loon (18S03D). Both Wei Loon and his ACS(I) counterpart, being equally proficient, were neck and neck. The crowd were holding their breaths in anticipation during the second set, when the score was at a nerve-wrecking 20-20. As Wei Loon gained 2 more points over his opponent to win the match 22-20, our supporters immediately erupted into frenzied cheers.

The close score was not the only notable aspect of this match – at the end of the third set, the players, in a show of sportsmanship and respect for each other, gave each other a pat on their backs. Wei Loon then proceeded to do a quick dab before leaving the court as the victor.

Next up were Andy Kwek (17S07B) and Neo Wei Jie (18S06R). The game started off after a quick high-five between the players. Throughout the entire match, both Andy and Wei Jie displayed remarkable teamwork on the badminton court. Amidst a myriad of determined glances, encouraging nods and quick yet powerful badminton strokes, the duo dominated all of their 3 sets (21-12, 21-12 and 20-11), earning yet another round of applause and cheers from the raving audience.

Strong display of team spirit on the courts

The second singles match started off with Everard Ong (17S03M) winning the first set (21-12). However, the tables were turned at the second set – the score had reversed (11-21). Despite his loss, Everard’s display of sheer determination and perseverance amidst fierce competition was truly commendable – in the third set, he pushed through to gain a solid 8 points in a row (from 6-14 to 14-14). He – both literally and figuratively – stood up after falling, and continued to put up a tough fight throughout the entire match. Even though he eventually lost the match 18-21, the crowd of supporters was still very much impressed by his fighting attitude.

In the second doubles match, Zachary Low (18S06N) and Amos Khan (18S03E) continued to put up a good fight against their opponents. Although they lost the first set to their ACS(I) opponents (15-21), they managed to come back stronger for the second set, emerging victorious (18-21). The way both players communicated with each other on the court amidst fierce competition and showcased strong determination through their excellent teamwork clearly highlighted their tremendous skill in the sport. It was heartwarming to see how they continued to persevere throughout the entire match while the supporters continued to roar for them.

Last but certainly not least was Suyash Chand (18S06F). This highly important match was crucial in deciding which school would bring home the highly-coveted championship trophy. The crowd watched with immense anticipation, and in a particularly heartwarming moment, the RI supporters  ever-so-spontaneously slipped his name into a cheer. Suyash breezed through with a 21-11, 21-13 victory against his ACS(I) counterpart. The cheers only grew louder when Suyash emerged as the victor, with the team running onto court to embrace each other in a team hug.

Sweet victory: Our players celebrating their win

Overall, the boys, through their hard work and perseverance, successfully claimed the title of champions once again. As team captain Everard Ong said,  “All of us gave our best. All of our trainings and hard work behind the scenes were really put in display in today’s victory.”

The afternoon of gruelling, intense matches finally came to an end as the players accepted their crowns and came together to sing the Institution Anthem. Sng Ding’s (18A01C) comment aptly summarises the entire experience in Toa Payoh Sports Hall that afternoon: “The calmness that they showed despite the harsh opposition was befitting of champions.”

Raffles Press would like to congratulate the Badminton team on their well-deserved victory and wish them all the best for their future endeavours.

Team list

Girls

Rachel Tan Xi-Hui (18S07B)

Lim Boon Wen (17S05A) and Kaelyn Kong (17S03Q)

Natalie Ng (17S06Q)

Tan Jeng Swan (18S06E) and Nicole Png (17S03I)

Hannah Tay (17S06H)

Boys

Chew Wei Loon (18S03D)

Andy Kwek (17S07B) and Neo Wei Jie (18S06R)

Everard Ong (17S03M)

Zachary Low (18S06N) and Amos Khan (18S03E)

Suyash Chand (18S06F)

By Abigail Ang (18S06B) and Zhu Xiuhua (18S06A)

Calligraphy, songwriting and drama – three entirely different forms of art; how can they possibly integrate seamlessly and culminate in one flawless production? Raffles Institution’s Chinese Language Drama and Cultural Society (CLDCS) answered this in their annual concert held at the school’s Performing Arts Centre last Friday evening. Titled 翠谷回响・四季之约 (A Date with the Four Seasons), this year’s production included a calligraphy showcase, ten original Chinese songs and two dramas that explore various interpersonal relationships.

The Calligraphy

Numerous Chinese calligraphy pieces were put on display at the front of house – a strategic location that allowed many to admire the works of art before the concert and during intermission. One audience member expressed her appreciation for the different styles of calligraphy writing and commented that ” the texts were very ‘deep’ “. Although often forgotten in this modern era, Chinese calligraphy is an integral element of the traditional Chinese culture. Indeed, the calligraphers invested immeasurable effort and dedication as exemplified by the meticulousness in their works.

Student admiring the calligraphy by CLDCS members displayed outside the PAC.

The Music

The night’s music ranged from bubbly soft-pop to edgy rock songs and powerful ballads. The first song, 冬暖 (Winter Warmth), a jazz piece sung by Tan Hsiao Fang (17S06G), created a relaxed atmosphere, before lively beats of the drum woke the audience from their reverie, as Joshua Ong (17S06C) strode onto the stage to perform his self-composed song Our Way. With supporters at the back cheering eagerly and waving signboards, this performance gave off a strong Campus SuperStar vibe.

The night’s offerings also included acts such as, 不是我的我 (The Me that is Not Me), written and performed by Zhu Ruixi (17S06B), was an edgier rock song about finding oneself, and the pop-rock song 难上加难 (Vectors/Adding Difficulty to Difficulty) by Loo Rui Jie (17A03A).

Hsiao Fang also returned on stage with the soft-pop song 天空的思念 (Longing), which would not seem out of place on a Rainie Yang album. Xiao Jianzhi (18S02A) – inarguably the MVP of the night – then performed 挚爱 (Beloved), moving the audience with his amazing vocals.

This was followed by 没有你的曾经 (A Past Without You) by Yoong Hui Xuan (17S06M), and 锅上的城堡 (Castle on the Pan) by Zhou Yifan (17S06S). Accompanying his song with engaging hand actions and facial expressions, Yifan pulled off the fresh and bubbly self-composed pop song with flair. The next song was a duet by Sally Yang (18S05A) and Anna Ying (18S06K), titled 追逐 (Pursuit). While the melodious tune and overlapping of sweet vocals was certainly memorable, their unorthodox fashion sense was even more so. When asked, Sally explained that it was to complement the lyrics of their song which used Chinese ink wash paintings as an important metaphor.

Sally and Anna duetting 追逐 (Pursuit) while rocking their semi-traditional Chinese costumes.

Finally, Jianzhi reappeared on stage, this time together with Liu Yanru (17S05A), a guest performer, to perform the song 沙哑 (Hoarse). Jianzhi’s energetic rap overlapped with Yanru’s opera-like vocals to create an interesting and powerful piece, concluding the song segment of the concert well. Liu Chuyue (18S06B) commented, “the song segment was really fun because the songs were quite upbeat. I was expecting, like, opera.”

The Plays

The first play, titled 过境 (Crossing Borders), was a special performance brought to us by Raffles Girls’ School Chinese Drama which was also presented at this year’s SYF. It follows the stories of three pairs of passengers on an a plane – a pair of friends, a pair of siblings and a mother-daughter pair. As the play progressed, light is shed on their histories – the common point across all of them being the failure to communicate good intentions resulting in fractured relationships. As one party in each pair accuses the other of not being understanding, tensions are heightened, and at the breaking point, the plane coincidentally experiences extreme conditions. The conflicts are ultimately resolved when they finally tried to understand each other’s perspective and put old grievances behind them.

Conflict between the mother-daughter pair – a daughter trying to chase her dreams and a mother worried for her future.

The acting and costumes were en pointe, and the sparse use of sets further contributed to the tense atmosphere.The effective use of lights and sounds also heightened the tension at the peak of the characters’ conflicts. It was professionally executed and without a doubt an impressive play.

Finally, the last performance of the night was the play 冬夏春秋 (Four Seasons), which began with the scene of four children attending their mother’s funeral. The Third Daughter (Zhang Shiyu, 17S06O) – the only one who stayed by Mother’s (Zhu Ruixi) side when struck by muscular dystrophy – is accused by her siblings of murdering Mother for money after a visit by the family doctor who claimed Mother’s death to be unusual.

This ‘Happy Family’ reunites to attend their mother’s funeral – and to play a real-life round of Cluedo.

The play took a surprising turn when the First Daughter (Wu Yongyu, 18S06I), a Police Chief, suddenly collapses onto the floor when the siblings gather to discuss Mother’s death. The Third Daughter then laughs, admitting that she has spiked the First Daughter’s drink, and the other two siblings look on in horror.

Before you wonder if this play ends in bloodbath, the Third Daughter reveals that she had not in fact killed her elder sister; the drug simply left her temporarily paralysed. An audio recording that their late Mother left behind then reveals that she enlisted the Third Daughter’s help in ending her life because it was too tiring to live on. She also left instructions for the Third Daughter to poison the First Daughter, in hopes that her children could understand her pain – and by extension, her actions.

With the theme of euthanasia, as well as flashback scenes of Third Daughter taking care of her rapidly-deteriorating mother, grappling and finally coming to terms with her mother’s decision, the play took on a much darker tone. The theme song, 冬雪 (Winter Snow), sang by Shiyu and Yifan, tugged at the audience’s heartstrings, adding further emotional value to the play. The incorporation of the song into the play was evidence of the meticulous effort put into the integration of the different sections.

“我会陪伴着你 冬雪还是雨 （I will accompany you, no matter rain or snow.）”

However, this author – like many members of the audience – was stumped as to why the mother would leave instructions to paralyse her own daughter. Nonetheless, it was a very touching show – some said to have shed a tear or two during the scenes of the Third Daughter taking care of her dying Mother – interspersed with moments of lighthearted humour that balanced out the certain darker tones of the play.

As the night’s performance concluded with roaring applause from the audience, it was clear that CLDCS has successfully brought together the different Chinese-related arts to create one entertaining production.

With Raffles schools having a reputation among some of being Anglo-centric, this writer was heartened to see a thriving appreciation for Chinese culture and art, both traditional and modern, through the events of the night.

Raffles Press awaits CLDCS’ concert next year and looks forward to another high-quality production.

By Abigail Ang (18S06B), Lim Jing Rong (18A03A) and Ling Young Loon (18S07A)

Under the floodlights of the National Stadium, the field was empty but for two orderly lines: one yellow and blue, and the other green, black and white.

ACSI and RI rugby teams lining up at the beginning of the game.

It was the afternoon of the ‘A’-Division Rugby Championship Finals. The tensions and stakes were high. Last year’s Finals had also seen RI and ACSI pitted against each other, with the latter emerging as champions for the third year running. ACSI was determined to defend their title, while RI was determined to break their rival’s streak.

First half

ACSI made fierce dashes for the try line as soon as the match commenced. RI countered each ferocious attack effectively, but they were unable to gain enough momentum to make their own attacks.

It was around the 8 minute mark when ACSI scored their first try.

ACSI’s early lead, though not surprising from the current title-holder and powerhouse, nevertheless shook many of the Rafflesians on the benches, if not on the field.

Our boys fought with skill and grit, but were unable to make much progress until the 21 minute mark, when Raffles scored a penalty kick. This brought the score to 5-3 to ACSI.

The golden kick by Ryan Leong (#15) for RI at the 21 minute mark.

Even with 10 minutes left, ACSI’s attacks remained relentless. Much of the remaining time was spent on RI’s side of the field, with some near misses at our try line, prompting yells of ‘defend, defend’ from the RI stands.

23 minutes in, Benjamin Lim (#16) from ACSI scored another try for his team. That, along with a successful “conversion” kick, brought the score to a total of 12-3.

The ball finally entered our possession as Jediel Yew (#14) stole it. For the next 6 minutes, Raffles gave our opponents a tough fight, attempting multiple tries and keeping the ball close to ACSI’s try line. RI came tantalisingly close – less than two metres away – but the horn blew before the ruggers could secure a try.

Halftime ended with the score still at 12 for ACSI and 3 for Raffles.

Second half

Eager to close the gap in points, our ruggers made smooth passes, but were tackled twice near the centre of the field before they could come close to ACSI’s tryline.

One spectator commented that “they are even [in terms of skills], but ACSI can sneak in their runners ‘cos they’re damn fast.”

This was apparent at the 46 minute mark, when the yellow-and-black-striped players (bumblebees, as one spectator called them) were able to pass the ball quickly from one another despite being tackled by our team, maintaining possession of the ball.

Our school spirit remained unabated, however, as the supporters continued to cheer on our team with gusto.They were absorbed in every second of the game.

Many in the stands were praying for a try, followed by a successful conversion. Hopes soared when our team finally broke through the ACSI defences towards the end of the game. However, it was not meant to be, as our team’s last attempt at a try was unsuccessful. The horn sounded, and ACSI’s title as Rugby champions was secured for the fourth year running.

This result was greeted with disappointment and pain, as evident from many of the players’ faces. Indeed, their short hour on the field was not enough to bear testimony to all the late nights, muscle aches and even injuries they had endured for the past year or more in preparation for this day.

All this was not forgotten by the spectators in the stands, however.

Supporters giving the team a standing ovation at the end of the game.

As Mr Magendiran said after the match, “[The match was] quite an emotional rollercoaster. At the end of the day we lost, but I am still very proud of the boys. The score did not do [their efforts] justice.

“I know the boys are disappointed, but they can hold their heads high. They’ve done well.”

Indeed, for in the team’s excellent display of sportsmanship, determination and grace that day, there was no defeat, only pride.

Wishing the boys all the best next year!

Final Score
1st Half: ACSI – 12, RI – 3
2nd Half: ACSI – 0, RI – 0

By Jonah Tan (18A01A) and Nicki Chan (18S03C)

On the 25th of May at Toa Payoh Sports Hall, Raffles Netball took home the championship trophy for the fourth year running after a thrilling match against Anglo-Chinese Junior College (ACJC).

From the very start, the match was foreseeably a clash of the titans, as both RI and ACJC had nabbed impressive victories over Hwa Chong Institution and River Valley High School respectively in the semi-finals.

Before the match began, a flurry of drills was executed with jaw-dropping precision by both teams on separate halves of the court. The spectators’ excitement was palpable from their busy chatter and stray cheers, and the soundtracks pounding through the speakers set the stage for the showdown to come.

Shortly after the first quarter commenced, the first two goals of the afternoon were scored by the AC team, and deafening cheers promptly rang out from the opposite side of the court. Clearly, the RI team was up against strong competition, as their opponents had proved their skill and had a strong support base as well.

Despite this setback, the RI team was unfazed. They remained calm as they warmed up to AC’s playing strategies. This paid off shortly after, and the RI supporters bellowed in victory as our team’s first goal was scored by Goal Shooter Amandeep Kaur (18S03M).

Amandeep making an impressive catch

Living up to their reputation, the AC team returned with two more goals shortly afterwards, but the RI team swiftly responded with two goals of their own. Unfortunate stumbles by AC, however, gave RI the opening to press ahead and retain their advantage over the course of the game. Thus the first quarter ended with a confident score of 13-8 to RI.

The tension in the arena was noticeably higher from the moment the 2nd quarter started. Both RI and AC were met with stronger attempts at interception from the opposing team. However, long, smooth passes by RI ensured little room for interception. Despite AC initially scoring every alternate goal, Amandeep and Goal Attack Valerie Shao (17S06J) managed to score 4 consecutive goals with the help of their team members.

Valerie aiming the ball at the net

Determined to catch up with RI, the AC team played even harder. Despite putting in a strong showing, AC were unable to compensate for their loss in the first quarter. RI managed to widen their lead, ending the quarter with a final score of 25-16.

Intensive gameplay with bold interception attempts

Despite RI’s comfortable lead over AC, the third quarter easily proved to be the most challenging for our team. Short and accurate passes by AC saw them open the third quarter with three consecutive goals, narrowing the point gap and placing immense pressure on the RI team as fatigue began to set in.

The RI team, however, remained cool and clear-headed amidst the aggressive advance by AC, demonstrating fluid passes across the length of the court and practised shots into the net. Their consistency and perseverance paid off, ending the third quarter with a hard fought, cautiously optimistic lead of 38-25.

The final quarter saw a markedly heated atmosphere, with AC under pressure to close the point gap before the game drew to a close, and RI to maintain their lead. Despite blazing towards the finish line with four successive goals by RI, our team showed no sign of lowering their guard, continually moving to block AC’s repeated attempts at scoring.

Even as the clock ticked to a close and the outcome seemed to be all but certain, ACJC moved to attempt goal after goal, keeping the RI team on their toes and the audience on their edge of their seats.

The final whistle saw the hall burst into cheers, as a long and grueling match came to an end with a final score of 55-32. The numbers, however, fail to do justice to the incredible resilience and competence of both teams, which kept us guessing till the very end.

The two teams about to bow to each other, concluding the match in good spirit

Despite having defended their title for the fourth year running, the journey has not been easy for Netball. As captain Angelina Lim (17S01D) described, “trainings gradually became more intensive and ‘specialised’ [with regards to each player]… We focused on sticking tight together as a team and continuously gave support to each other.” The individual determination and resilience of the players as well as their strong team spirit has evidently paid off.

Raffles Press would like to congratulate Raffles Netball on their victory, and wishes the team the best in many more years to come.

List of players:

Goal Shooter: Amandeep Kaur (18S03M)

Goal Attack: Valerie Shao (17S06J)

Wing Attack: Laura Low (18S06R)

Centre: Angelina Lim (17A01D)

Wing Defence: KS Farhana (17S06Q)

Goal Defence: Alëna Rae Ong (18S06B)

Goal Keeper:

Jane Yu (17S06A) – first quarter

Jamie Lim (18S06P) – 2nd to 4th quarter

By Calista Chong (18A01A) and Chung Sohyun (18A13A)
Photos by Raffles Photographic Society

Gearing up for the match with enthusiastic team high-fives

The Basketball Girls have made a sterling comeback.

After placing third in a narrow loss to Hwa Chong Institution last year, Team Raffles was in the running to be crowned overall champion. This decisive battle was to be fought against their fierce opponent, Dunman High, who had claimed victory over the Hwa Chong team in their semifinals this year.

The girls demonstrated their prowess right from the outset. Executing smooth and long passes across the court, they gave no chance for the Dunman team to intercept the ball. Notably, #21 Rachel Yeo (18A03A) cannily alternated the speed of her dribbling before changing course abruptly, successfully breaking the strong ‘man-to-man’ defense which the Dunman team has put up. The eleventh goal was especially difficult to score due to the numerous interceptions, but by the end of the first quarter, the team had attained an eight-point lead with a score of 12-4.

After a short break, the girls returned to the court, geared up for the second quarter of the game. In less than twenty seconds, Team Raffles scored the first goal of the quarter – a three-pointer, no less – and it was clear to all that they were determined to continue their winning streak. #8 Choo Jie Ying’s (17S06S) fierce tenacity shone through when she fought hard to regain possession of the ball after a few near misses. #18 Aisling Lum (18S03S) with her dexterous dribbling, also managed to manoeuvre past the stronghold put up by the Dunman players. Ten minutes later, the whistle blew. With a score of 30-17, Team Raffles had proven their mettle once again.

Aisling deftly dribbling her way past the defender.

When the third quarter kicked off after a short break, a noticeable change could be observed both in the varying tactics employed and the higher energy level among the Dunman team players. While Team Raffles was the first to score the goal two minutes into the quarter, Dunman caught up immediately with three consecutive goals within a minute. Both sides displayed indomitable spirit, resolved not to let the opposing team score into the basket, resulting in a long stalemate marked by numerous turnovers. Six minutes into the game, the Dunman team caught up rapidly with their well-coordinated passes, narrowing the score gap (36-30) and drawing enthusiastic cheers from Dunman supporters.

During this period, it was especially heartwarming to hear our Rafflesians’ collective shouts of “Press On!” and “Defend! Defend!” to boost our players’ morale. Indeed, undeterred, our players upped their game and picked up their pace; with skilful drilling across the play area and excellent teamwork demonstrated through smooth passes, the score gap increased once more to a 40-30. The third quarter ended with a final, hard-won goal from Raffles.

A leap of hope for that final shot.

Just one more quarter stood between the players and the glorious championship trophy. The players from both sides were visibly more tired by then and the pressure to increase the score margin was understandably heavier in this final round. Still, our players refused to succumb to fatigue. Cheered on by our supportive Rafflesians, Team Raffles scored 5 consecutive goals within 3 minutes – leading by an impressive 12 points (52-30). Boosted by their successful performance, our players launched swift attacks and took advantage of the long passes by the opponents to gain possession of the ball.

As the clock ticked on, showing a mere 7 minutes left in the game, the tension escalated. Players displayed more aggression, with one Rafflesian and Dunman player even rolling onto the floor after a collision. In the final two minutes of the game, Raffles scored another 3 consecutive goals, gaining a comfortable 26-point lead (62-36). The Dunman players were admirable in their unyielding spirit to fight till the very last second, but the last goal went to Raffles once more, and the match ended victoriously for Team Raffles, with a score of 64 points.

Angus Yip (18A01A), a spectator, praised the nimbleness of the players in “[responding] to every move”, and affirmed that the “players’ determination to win was clear to everyone watching”. His comment was apposite – the girls emerged triumphant not only because of skill, but also their spunk.

Raffles Press would like to congratulate the Basketball Girls on their well-fought, well-deserved victory and wish them the best for future matches to come.

A heartwarming team hug after the match.

Roster
#5: Jeannine Tang Kai Wen 17S06S
#7: Rhianne Caitlin Vaz Xin Ying 18S03Q
#8: Choo Jie Ying 17S06S
#9: Sophia Isabelle Ang Su Min 17S03M
#10: R Shalleeni 17S07B
#11: Kelly Tan Si Qi 18S03D
#12: Lin Yi Han 17S03G
#13: Tan Jia Hui Sofia 18S06J
#15: Shriya Chettiar 17S03P
#18: Lum Chee Ching, Aisling 18S03S
#21: Rachel Yeo Pei Shan 18A03A
#76: Tiong Zilin, Shannon 18S07B

By Calista Chong (18A01A) and Zara Karimi (18A01A)

Photos by Raffles Photographic Society

The mood in the multi-purpose hall was anticipatory as students, parents, teachers and guests made their way to their respective seats during assembly period for Council Investiture, ushered in by members of the 37th Students’ Council.

Council Investiture is an annual event that serves to commemorate the handover of responsibilities to the incoming batch, as well as celebrate the contributions of the outgoing batch.

The theme for this year’s investiture was Spectrum, which represents the assortment of individual experiences within Students’ Council, functioning like colours on a spectrum. In acknowledging this unity in diversity, members of the 37th Students’ Council hope to bring about positive, effective change in the school.

The arrival of the Guest-of-Honor, Dr. Chan Tat-Hon, accompanied by Deputy Principal Mr Magendiran

The event began with the arrival of Guest-of-Honour, Dr Chan Tat-Hon. As Vice-President of the 5th Students’ Council, Dr Chan drew on his personal experiences in cautioning the new batch of councillors of the disappointments and obstacles they would face in their term, stating in his address that “the journey [would] not always be…smooth-sailing.” However, he went on to express that so long as councillors continued to “do things out of love” they would succeed at “[persevering] in the face of adversity.”  

President of the 36th Students’ Council, See Chung Yi, gives his speech

This sentiment was echoed in the speech made by See Chung Yi, President of the 36th Students’ Council. He started his address by conveying his feelings, “a little nervous, but filled with anticipation”. It was clearly evident that he did not forget the promise which the 36th Student’s Council had made to the student body and to themselves, as he referenced last year’s theme “Blossom” — helping the school grow into something more “beautiful, and vibrant”. He then went on to express his hopes for the new batch of councillors, hoping that “like colours on a spectrum, [they will] be united by a common passion for service”. Lastly, he ended his speech with keen gratitude — “…this is my heart, filled with love.”

Shortly after, the symbolic processes of investiture commenced with the stepping-down of the 36th Students’ Council. Members of the 36th were presented with Certificates of Appreciation by Deputy Principal Mr Magendiran, so as to recognize their efforts in supporting the school community for the past year.

Following this came the poignantly emblematic Blazer Ceremony, where the senior batch of councillors helped their juniors don their blazers. This represented the transfer of responsibilities from one batch onto the sturdy shoulders of another. Smartly decked out in their blazers and encouraged by the rapturous applause of the batch of 2018 as they strode onto the stage, the members of the 37th Students’ Council were officially ready to begin their journey as Student Councillors.

After the last Councillor had been invested, the 37th Students’ Council lined up in rows on stage, solemn-faced and resolute. Vice-presidents Jared Foong (18S06H) and Warren Liow (18A01B) led the batch in reciting the Council’s Oath. It was delivered with great gusto, conveying the conviction that councillors have in their promise to serve.

Thereafter, newly invested Council President Beverly Fu (18S03Q) addressed the school. She first thanked the audience for believing in the councillors, and vowed to be “worthy of that trust”. Her speech focused on the theme, “Spectrum”, which encapsulates the aspirations that the 37th batch has for their coming term. Like her predecessor, Beverly went on to make the earnest promises that “unity will not come at the expense of individuality”, and no councillor’s “spark [will ever be] dulled”. Lastly, she exhorted the 37th Students’ Council to “[allow] the badge to be a constant reminder of the oath [they took] today”, and ended on a poetic note — that Councillors will always “have their eyes on the stars, and feet on the ground”.

As the end of Investiture drew near, a video montage dedicated to the 36th Students’ Council prepared by the newly invested batch was played. It was axiomatic that the seniors played an integral role in providing support and encouragement to their juniors, having showed them “what pride, spirit and unity really looked like”.

Council Investiture not only marked a change in reins, but signalled the start of a new chapter — in the journey of service and leadership for the 37th Students’ Council, and also for the school community as well. The 37th Students’ Council will no doubt continue their predecessors’ legacy and be instrumental in shaping our school experience for the next year.

The 37th Students’ Council, newly invested, standing before the school

Raffles Press congratulates the 37th Students’ Council on their investiture, and wishes them a fruitful year ahead.

By Choi Hoe Chang (18S07A), Ling Young Loon (18S07A) and Yeo Kee Hwan (18S03Q)

Every May, the Audio-Visual Unit, the unsung heroes of the school community, organizes a DJ showcase event for an afternoon of dance, music, and fun. After all, they are often behind the scenes, helping to make various events a success, but this was one of the occasions where their skills could take centrestage and wow us all. This year, the event was organised on a Thursday afternoon, a day after the GP and KI Common Test. We dropped by the Theatre Studies Room (TSD) to see what the crew had in store for us.

We were greeted at the reception table right outside the TSD, where we received a glow stick and an exclusive free gift – a Shark bookmark! The room was dark and obscure, but we were soon overwhelmed by a cacophonous burst of colour. The Crew performed stunning light displays to warm up the audience, whilst they ran their last minute technical checks.

And with the booming voice of the emcee, the music began to play.  The music was electrifying indeed, featuring old and new hits from artistes such as The Chainsmokers and Zedd. To our surprise, the Crew’s playlists did not only include the typical songs that would be expected at a rave. They explored a wide variety of genres, catering to the varied music preferences of the audience, ranging from the usual electropop and EDM, to the ever trendy K-pop, and even included some Disney hits which were remixed, producing quite a different sound. Some highlights included the Satoru club edit of Shape of You, a hardwell remix of Sky Full of Stars, and a Pitbull remix of Blank Space.

Raffles Crew makes good use of the screen and other equipment

Throughout the afternoon’s mixes, the Crew also made good use of the flashing lights to create a club-like setting, at times flashing symbols like lightning bolts and the like to liven up the mood. The screen in front also occasionally switched to a live camera, showing the students in the room, especially those who went to the front to make faces at it, in an attempt to engage the audience further.

While some members of the audience were swayed and shook to the beats, others preferred to sit and listen in quietly. The event definitely did not live up to the frenzy of a disco, and you would have wished there were a few dancers to light up the scene. Despite the emcees’ immense effort in soliciting enthusiasm from the crowd, some of the audience remained unresponsive as rocks. The others were nonchalant and unparticipative. Perhaps some of them mistook Rave for GP remedial. Press will never find out.

Nevertheless, Rave was a perfect occasion to blow away the stress accumulated this semester. It was a series of pleasant surprises – the talent of the DJs, the electrifying club-like atmosphere of the TSD, and the brilliantly arranged music playlists. Rafflesians’ meek response, however, did no justice to the event. It seems we all need a little training in raving.

By Soh Ying Qi (18A01C) and Ianni Tan (18S03C)
Photos by Raffles Photographic Society

The first thing you would notice when you walked into the *SCAPE Ground Theatre was the atmosphere, which seemed to crackle with a kind of palpable energy felt by every audience member. Held on the night of 26 May, Raffles Rock’s annual concert, Rockout, was certainly an electrifying way to close the hectic term, leaving attendees exhilarated with a brilliant showcase of the members’ musical talent.

Handcrafted planets and space rocks made up the set, which also utilised a smoke machine placed at the back of the stage to evoke a degree of grandeur. The cardboard planets used a plethora of materials, including broken CDs and feathers. The strings of fairy lights draped over the planetary structures and strobe lights in red, blue and green made the theatre a sight to behold. Loud rock music blasting through speakers had the crowd nodding their heads and waiting in eager anticipation.

The spectacular set of Rockout: Space Odyssey

The concert opened with a bang, as J1 band Hothead took the stage with Europe’s The Final Countdown. Vocalist Timothy Chin (18S03B) went back and forth between both ends of the stage, waving a large red flag and bringing to mind the image of Les Miserables’ Enjolras. The opening number also showed off impressive work by skilled guitarists Shane Tan (18S03T) and Kevin Nathaniel (18S03D).

“We’re a really big band, and we have a really big sound,” Timothy said by way of introduction. The band launched into their next song, The Great Escape by Boys Like Girls, which brought back memories of Orientation for many J1s in the audience while the other vocalist, Sarah Leong (18A03A), held her own with an impressive performance that left the crowd eager for more.

Timothy and Sarah working in tandem

This was followed by a-ha’s Take On Me, which featured a stunning keyboard performance by Clement Chan (18S03B) and Seraphine Loh (18A13A). The band’s chemistry was evident from the knowing glances exchanged between members throughout the song. Their penultimate song, Starboy by The Weeknd featuring Daft Punk, began with a strong bass beat by drummer Dawn Wee (18S03G) and bassist Charlene Ng (18A01D). With the use of a drum machine performed by Julene Ngew (18S02A), the song was a departure from a typical rock-music sound, featuring an acoustic twist on the original heavily electronically-produced pop song.

The band’s finale started off slow and atmospheric, before the drums kicked in for a stunning rendition of All These Things That I’ve Done by The Killers. Audience participation was fulfilled when Timothy invited the crowd to sing one line together with the band: “I got a soul but I’m not a soldier.” With that, the band closed their set to thunderous applause.

Hothead members in action

The theatre went silent as the screen began playing a series of video clips set in space, as a prelude to the entrance of the first J2 band, Daybreak. Soon enough, the band took their places on stage and launched into their first song, Hysteria by Muse, to enthusiastic cheers from the audience, which intensified as vocalist Su Ying (17A01B) jumped out of the wings and onto the stage to join her bandmates. Opening the song with Muse’s own “Munich jam”, bassist Yun Ning’s (17A01E) work was a crucial part of the bass-heavy performance.

Following their opening number was a deafening cover of Oh Yeah by Chickenfoot, featuring Sophia Kim’s (17S03P) phenomenal drumming, before segueing into a rendition of That’s What I Like by Bruno Mars that was prefaced with a shoutout to a friend of a band member in the audience: “This song is for you.” The rhythmic quality of the song, enhanced by keyboardist Deanna See’s (17S03C) performance and Su Ying’s well-executed runs of high notes, was certainly a treat for the audience.

J2 band Daybreak during their set

“Now we’re going to tone it down a notch,” Su Ying informed the audience, before strapping on an acoustic guitar for a crowd favourite, The Only Exception by Paramore. It was a welcome change from the previous high-energy songs. The moment when Su Ying backed away from the microphone, stopped strumming the guitar and sang a cappella effectively brought out the soft emotion in the song.

You’re a Lie by Slash featuring Myles Kennedy and The Conspirators was a return to a more spirited style, beginning with a loud clash of the cymbals by drummer Sophia Kim. “We’re taking you back to 2008” was the cue for the band’s last song, My Chemical Romance’s Famous Last Words. The song started off with an impressive guitar performance by Ho Chih Ying (17S06C) and Adam Teo (17S07B) that instantly had the crowd moshing wildly – with their dramatic, energetic finale, Daybreak truly went out with a bang.

Daybreak vocalist Su Ying closing the set

The next band set to play was Osaka Sun, comprising the other half of the J2 batch. They swiftly began their set with Knights of Cydonia by Muse, kick-started with a clear, powerful harmonica solo by vocalist Sophia Goh (17S03H), solid guitar riffs and Ethan Cheong’s (17S03H) skillful drumming. The mix of instruments  and Sophia’s strong vocalisation entranced the crowd. The band’s stellar rendition of this piece ignited the audience, who leapt into yet another moshing session.

Arcade Fire’s Wake Up was a song with sentimental value – Sophia explained that “it’s one of the first songs we played together as a band last year”. The steady drum beats made for an impactful introduction. Surprisingly, the performance took a sudden twist, transitioning into a more light-hearted rendition – certainly a job well done.

This was followed by local band Take Two’s In Your Arms. Sophia’s vocal mastery was evident as she navigated the high notes easily, supplemented by Enlyn’s (17A01D) and Joelle Ocampo’s (17S03A) performance on the keys and bass respectively. While their next number, Human by The Killers, was considerably more mellow, it remained popular with the audience.

J2 band Osaka Sun onstage

The band threw light sticks into the crowd before starting on Lost Stars by Adam Levine. Jesse Tan (17S06N) and Mu Zi Peng’s (17S06H) gentle strumming on acoustic guitars set the tone of the song, putting the audience at ease, and Sophia’s high falsetto was nothing short of amazing.

Next up was the band’s last song, Coldplay’s Fix You. Sophia poured waves of emotion into her singing, bringing out the gravity of the sombre lyrics and the raw emotions of the song. The sentimental, comforting melody, coupled with the crowd waving their phone lights, made for an incredibly beautiful scene. The slick guitar solo was definitely not to be forgotten either.

Osaka Sun’s Sophia Goh giving it her all

However, the show was not over just yet. The J2 batch then regrouped for 3 more songs, beginning with Starlight by Muse, which featured striking drum beats. This was followed by Here’s to Us by Halestorm. The soothing guitar intro, paired with rhythmic drum beats and thrilling high notes made for a spectacular rendition of this song. The other members of the band rushed on stage, arms linked and bodies swaying to the beat.

For their encore, the J2s chose The Killer’s Mr Brightside – a high-energy, energetic song to end off the night. It was certainly a grand, exuberant exit, with the J2s spontaneously forming a conga line onstage.

The J2s letting loose for their last song

The J2s then proceeded to thank the AVU personnel, teacher ICs Mrs Teo and Ms Ng, as well as their CCA instructor Mr Ian Toh. Just as Su Ying was about to end off the thank-you speech, the band thanked her for being the “best chair ever”, before thanking the audience and taking one final bow.

Rockout 2017: Space Odyssey was a magnificent show that was certainly true to its theme – out of this world.

The J2s take their final bow

Setlist

• Hothead
  • The Final Countdown by Europe
  • The Great Escape by Boys Like Girls
  • Take On Me by a-ha
  • Starboy by The Weeknd ft. Daft Punk
  • All These Things That I’ve Done by The Killers
• Daybreak
  • Hysteria by Muse
  • Oh Yeah by Chickenfoot
  • That’s What I Like by Bruno Mars
  • The Only Exception by Paramore
  • You’re a Lie by Slash ft. Myles Kennedy, The Conspirators
  • Famous Last Words by My Chemical Romance
• Osaka Sun
  • Knights of Cydonia by Muse
  • Wake Up by Arcade Fire
  • In Your Arms by Take Two
  • Human by The Killers
  • Lost Stars by Adam Levine
  • Fix You by Coldplay
• J2s (regrouped)
  • Starlight by Muse
  • Here’s to Us by Halestorm
  • Encore: Mr Brightside by The Killers

By Soh Gek Shuen (18S03B)

Photos by Amy Lim Zhi Ting (18S06O), Raffles Photographic Society

In Chinese, there is a phrase that goes 伸手不见五指, which means being unable to see your outstretched hand. Though commonly used in narrative essays, it is hard to truly imagine seeing nothing even with your eyes wide open. This year, Behind the Light gave diners a taste of all-consuming darkness.

I, for one, faced great difficulty getting around without light, somehow managing to drop my spoon onto the floor, where it was doomed to remain for the rest of the evening. Not to mention having to poke around for several minutes before getting the straw into my packet drink, though I daresay I’d have done it much quicker if my friend hadn’t passed it to me upside down.

Normally, we complete these everyday tasks without batting an eye. Isn’t it ironic, how easily we overlook the struggles faced by the visually impaired? Dine in the Dark, an annual event organised by Raffles Interact in collaboration with the Singapore Association of the Visually Handicapped (SAVH), allows us to walk in the shoes of these individuals by opening our eyes to their struggles. This year, Behind the Light aimed to raise awareness and promote empathy for these forgotten individuals.

Ticket collection and registration booth

By early evening, diners were milling about outside of the Albert Hong Hall, abuzz with excitement. Exhibits featuring personal stories and artwork from members of the SAVH provided some diners with their first glimpse into the lives of the visually impaired. Early attendees also participated in the sensory trail, in which they were tasked to shop for groceries in the dark. Participants had to rely solely on their sense of touch and hearing to get to the supermarket, by using tactile paving for guidance and listening intently to traffic lights. This was disorienting for many, who quickly came to realise that seemingly unremarkable tasks like crossing the road and buying groceries are not so simple for the visually impaired.

Exhibit featuring SAVH beneficiaries

Diners were led into the Albert Hong Hall in groups of eight. “Hold on tight!” the usher at the door warned, as we were plunged into complete darkness. Stumbling around in human chains, participants were left to marvel at how the ushers were able to find their way around with apparent confidence and ease. The dining hall was abuzz with conversation and laughter, and every sound seemed to be amplified in the darkness. Jeers erupted all over the room whenever someone attempted to use their phones as flashlights, until the light was switched off.

The night was opened with spoken-word poetry by Writers’ Guild. Rayasam Harshini (18S06B) performed a self-written poem entitled ‘But What Do I Know’, while Aurora Chang (17A01E) performed ‘I See, Yet I Don’t’, written by Aiken Lee (18S06G). Taking the form of a dialogue between a blind and a sighted individual, the poem sought to challenge the notion that the visually impaired are worse off, emphasising that life is truly what we make of it.

Following this, clips of sports commentary and the audio-described movie The Lion King were played while diners snacked on Oreos and biscuit sticks. Audio description is the auditory narration of visual elements such as scenes, settings, actions and costumes, typically done during the natural pauses in the audio. These clips allowed diners to experience first-hand how audio description makes visual media such as film and live performances more accessible to the blind and the partially-sighted, who can still enjoy their favourite television programmes.

At long last, the first course was served. Diners tucked into their pizza with gusto as Raffles Rock took the stage. Osaka Sun, a J2 band, swept the crowd off their feet with soulful renditions of popular songs such as Lost Stars by Adam Levine and I of the Storm by Of Monsters and Men.

The visually impaired usually have a refined sense of touch, making them adept at art and craft. Between courses, each diner’s fingers were put to the test. They were handed a piece of paper and tasked to fold an origami heart according to the emcees’ instructions.

As the second course was served, Mr Muliana Bin Sali, a professional blind masseuse at the Singapore Association of the Visually Handicapped, took the stage to perform two songs. His heartfelt performance was met with enthusiasm by the supportive audience. Following this, Mr Chong Kwek Bin, an IT programme executive at SAVH, shared about his personal experience training other visually impaired persons on the use of computers and mobile devices.

After Mr Chong’s earnest sharing, Goh Chou Xuan (17S03J) and Jesse Tan (17S06J), finalists of Raffles Got Talent 2017, performed a catchy mashup of Stay and Sorry, as well as a mellow rendition of Bright by Echosmith that captured the hearts of many diners.

As the evening drew to a close, diners were urged to close their eyes and reflect on their experience. Glow sticks and pens were handed out to diners, for them to pen down their thoughts and feelings on the origami hearts they had folded earlier on. While the grossly misshapen hearts evoked laughter in some, it was a humbling moment for others, who began to see the extent of the difficulties faced by the visually impaired. For the very last act of the night, Loo Rui Jie (17A03A) from the Chinese Language Drama and Cultural Society performed a couple of classical Chinese songs, with Ethan Chia (17A03A) of Interact on the piano.

DITD Organising Committee 2017

All in all, Behind the Light was an eye-opening and meaningful experience that gave diners a glimpse into the lives of the visually impaired. To quote Izzy Seah (18S03B), “I had no idea what I was having for dinner right up to the moment I got the spoon in my mouth, which was hardly an issue, though whether or not the spoon had food on it was a separate matter altogether.” Another J1 diner, Shermaine Loh (18S03D), noted that “even the simplest of tasks become tiring when you can’t see.” A mere two hours in the dark had thrust the very real issues faced by the visually impaired into the spotlight, promoting empathy amongst diners and lending them a greater appreciation for sight.

As Alden Tan (17S06L), the President of Interact, aptly put it, “Dine in the Dark is not just about having a meal in darkness. It is about truly appreciating the sight we are gifted with but so often take advantage of.” While the visually impaired face countless struggles in their everyday lives, it is their courage and determination that define them, more than any impairment ever could. Indeed, it is not always darkness that lies behind the light.

Raffles Press congratulates the Interactors on their well-executed event, and looks forward to seeing them (or not) again next year!

Dine in the Dark 2017 Organising Committee

Vanessa Chuang Zhen Xuan (17S06C)

Lee Yao En (17S06J)

Shashneetha D/O Yoganathan (17S06A)

Hoe Shi Min, Jessica (17S03I)

Mok Wei Tong (17S03L)

Lian Ying Xuan Ericia (17S03I)

By Sheryl Gwee (18A01D)

“Spaces, Places”, a first-time collaboration between Art Club and Raffles Photographic Society, was a feast for both the eyes and the palate. Wanting to provide the audience with the best atmosphere and art-viewing experience, the organisers opted to exhibit the artworks at Flor, a quaint little Japanese-styled bakery nestled among the shophouses at 2 Duxton Hill.

The exhibition was held at Flor, a bakery at Duxton Hill.

For just a small entrance fee of $6, viewers were able to savour a wide range of interpretations of the exhibition’s theme, including sculptures, fully illustrated diaries, watercolour paintings, digital paintings, and of course, photographs, all while enjoying a delicious, freshly-baked cupcake. (The cupcakes were in such hot demand that the teachers decided to order an additional hundred, which the audience promptly devoured just an hour-and-a-half after the show had begun.)

Despite initial concerns over slow ticket sales and worries that holding the exhibition quite a distance away from the school would discourage visitors from attending the event, “Spaces, Places” turned out to be a success. The organisers saw an unexpected number of tickets bought on the spot, and the bakery was soon jam-packed with people trying to catch a glimpse of the artworks on display.   

Works by the Year 6 members of Art Club were displayed on the tables, photographs by the Year 6s of Photographic Society were framed and hung on the walls, and photographs by the Year 5s were printed onto a large folding “map”, which could be converted into postcards if you tore it along the perforated lines.

One work that caught the attention of many visitors was Night by Claire Chan. By cleverly playing with positive and negative space, Claire created a series of black and white illustrations, where moving a small transparent card attached to the background would reveal different landscapes. Claire’s work explores how nightfall transforms the spaces that are familiar to us by day, imagining the sinister forces that lurk behind what may seem to be an innocent facade.

Claire’s Night.

Another fascinating artwork was Nicole Lai’s photograph, The Space We Deserve. While one would expect well-centred, clean snapshots of concrete receding into distance in response to the theme, Nicole’s artwork simply shows the top of a head — the hint of an eyebrow, a wrinkled forehead, and wild black hair — set against an empty beige background. The subject’s hair seems to take on a life of its own, and invites the viewer to guess what “spaces” and “places”  (perhaps the hair represents a forest? a bustling cityscape?) the photographer intends to represent in her peculiar photograph. Perhaps the image  alludes not just to physical spaces, but also to the space we need to grow, age and negotiate the tangled mess of life.  

Nicole’s The Space We Deserve.

As a whole, the postcard photographs by the Year 5s were also highly impressive, with a decidedly Singaporean slant towards their interpretation of the theme. Scenes of local life — weathered stall-owners standing in the warm light of night markets, children in playgrounds, a pasar-malam uncle surrounded by a sea of blankets, towering HDB flats and their greying corridors, misty sunsets — were artistically captured and featured in the four-by-five set of postcards.

Overall, the exhibition displayed a multitude of interpretations on the theme captured through different mediums, with quite a selection of outstanding works. To the viewers, this exhibition was certainly a thought-provoking one.

For those who missed the opening night (and the cupcakes), but would like to view the artworks for yourselves, you can still head down to Flor to check out the photographs, which will be exhibited till the end of July.

By Angus Yip (18A01A) and Elizabeth Leong (18S06G)

Photos by Ong Tsien Jin (18S03I)

Despite the heat and the absence of proper seating at Farrer Park Fields, throngs of enthusiastic supporters gathered to watch the 2017 Inter-JC Ultimate Frisbee competition, held over the weekend of 27 and 28 May. Many alumni of the CCA also came down to support their juniors. Having given their all in an intense weekend of competitions, RI had won the match against St Andrew’s Junior College (SAJC) in the semifinals to secure a spot in the finals, against Pioneer Junior College (PJC).

The muddy ground and exhaustion from previous matches did not dampen the spirit of our Ultimate players, who were cheerfully gathered under a small blue tent set up for the Raffles delegation. “Everyone [in this CCA] really levelled up and evolved, and it is amazing to finally fight for Raffles in the finals!” said Zenn Wong (#7) prior to the match.

Pre-match huddle

The game started with a pull (throwing of the frisbee) made by PJC. Possession of the disc alternated between the two teams a few times before Parathan Arasu (#10) managed to regain possession. Unfortunately, the Raffles team missed the chance to score a goal as the disc dropped onto the field before it could be caught. Around the 8-minute mark, PJC scored the game’s first goal.

PJC made a pull again, which was deftly caught by Naomi Poh (#18). This time, after a short minute or so of passing, Raffles succeeded in scoring an impressive goal – the already-tall Ho Wen Zhong (#97) had to jump high to catch the frisbee in the scoring zone. The crowd roared, and the Ultimate CCA members ran onto the field with messages of support for the players.

PJC scored another point at the 13-minute mark, but their subsequent pull was out-of-bounds. Jamie Lee (#34) gained possession of the frisbee and managed to pass it to Jessica Wong (#15) despite being heavily marked. This enabled further passes by Joon Hui Xuan (#3), Jenny Zhang (#4) and Jamie, resulting in the latter scoring another goal for Raffles. This evened out the score, with two points per team.

Despite good attempts at marking by Raffles, PJC managed to pull off some clever passes. At one point, PJC was trapped in Raffles’s scoring zone. However, the opposing team managed a sudden, smooth pass out of the area, allowing PJC to score yet another goal at the 20-minute mark. At the 24-minute mark, PJC scored yet again after managing to intercept a pass by Raffles. This brought the score to 4-2, advantage to PJC.

Mere minutes later, however, Raffles managed to score a goal of their own. Nick Lee (#11) caught the pull made by PJC, before passing the Frisbee to Wen Zhong. He then passed it to William Zheng (#29), who successfully caught it in the end zone.

Things were looking slightly more hopeful, with PJC transferring possession of the disc to Raffles after failing to catch it. However, PJC eventually intercepted our players and scored yet again at the 34-minute mark.

The match was an intense one, with players scrambling to gain possession of the frisbee at every turn.

Seeing the discouraged looks upon our athletes’ faces, alumni shouted encouragement from the sidelines: “It’s not over yet, keep your heads up!” Indeed, despite the grating discomfort of not having anywhere to sit, the rest of the Raffles crowd was equally enthusiastic in voicing their support for the players.

One parent remarked that she felt that the spectators were really “giving it their all” too. Often, the audience would get too close to the boundaries of the playing space in an effort to better view the game that they were all engrossed in.

The supporters continued watch as PJC attempted but failed to score another goal when the frisbee fell to the ground. Raffles gained possession of the disc once more, and there was a series of passes between Yan Yiqing (#21) and Nick. Unfortunately, one such pass was intercepted, leading PJC to score at the 44-minute mark. Another loss of possession on Raffles’ part saw PJC scoring yet again in the 50th minute, bringing the score to 7-3.

Although technically there was a mere ten minutes left, this marked half-time for the game as half-time is determined by the first team to score 7 points. The situation looked grim for the Rafflesians, some of whom were holding back tears. Still, the team huddled together spiritedly, never blaming individual players for whatever mishaps that had occurred on the field. Clearly, they were not going to go down without a fight.

Half-time team huddle

Even with so little time left in the game, Raffles continued with the same intensity they displayed at the start of the game. James Lee (#9) managed to score in the fifth-last minute,  prompting cheers from the crowd and the team alike (“Raf-FLES! Raf-FLES!”) This brought the score to 7-4.

In the final few minutes, the intensity of the match ramped up even more, with possession of the disc changing rapidly. Yiqing jumped to intercept the frisbee, though the opposing team regained possession of it shortly after. Even so, PJC accidentally dropped the disc, with Zenn falling to the ground to retrieve it. After a couple of passes between the Rafflesians, a dispute resulted in PJC regaining possession of the frisbee. Despite Yong Cheng Hoa (#23) taking a fall in an attempt to intercept, PJC managed to score a goal in the very last minute of play.

The match was over, with 4 points by the Rafflesians against PJC’s 8.

After a few long seconds of disappointed shock, the many members of Raffles Ultimate frisbee huddled together on the field, displaying solidarity and unity amidst the sadness they felt over the result. Many supporters were moved by the team’s behaviour. Said spectator Keng Teng (17S03C), “during this hardest hour, their sense of family and belonging to the CCA and the sport they love so much really shines through everything”.

Post-match support and encouragement

The team had some time to cool off before the awards ceremony, which was held on the same muddy ground, metres ahead of where the final match was played. Hui Xuan was announced as the winner of the Most Valuable Player (Finals) award, much to the delight of the CCA. After the individual awards and second-runners-up medals had been presented, the team accepted their medals and posed for photographs. Despite the exhaustion of a weekend’s worth of hard work, they continued to smile.

Team captain Leo (#1) said of the tournament and final match, “Our team really fought very hard. One teammate was recently hospitalised for a kidney problem. He wasn’t able to join us. For every team huddle and team talk, we cheered his name at the end to remind us of who we were fighting for.

“I think we did him proud.”

Despite the outcome of the final match, the Raffles Ultimate Frisbee team was still proud of how far they have come.

Indeed, the team showed immense camaraderie and sportsmanship throughout the competition, on top of demonstrating great skill in having successfully fought their way to the finals of the championships. The past 1.5 years of training have certainly brought the team very far, especially since many started with little knowledge of the sport.

Raffles Press congratulates the Ultimate team on their achievements, and wishes them all the best for their future endeavours.

Raffles Ultimate Frisbee Year 6 Batch

#1 Lynn Htet Aung Leo

#2 Khoo Weijian

#3 Joon Hui Xuan

#4 Jenny Zhang

#5 Christopher Tan

#7 Zenn Wong

#8 Brenda Tan

#9 James Lee

#10 Parathan s/o Arasu

#11 Nick Lee

#12 Leong Jann En

#13 Marc Tham

#14 Kok Ze Xuan

#15 Jessica Wong

#17 Jiang Xiuting

#18 Naomi Poh

#21 Yan Yiqing

#22 Shawn Chua

#23 Yong Cheng Hoa

#27 Angela Hsu

#28 Yang Yang Sasa

#29 William Zheng Tao

#33 Lee Siying

#34 Jamie Lee

#46 Teo Kai Jin

#89 Yasmin Ziqin

#97 Ho Wen Zhong

By Bay Jia Wei (17S06R)

A soapbox, an inter-school conference, a dramatic blunder, a Reddit feature, many movie reviews, and a good number of opinion editorial (Op-ed) hits later, Raffles Press has broken new ground. As always, thank you to our readership – Rafflesian and non-Rafflesian alike – for having a humble school press’ webpage on your browser, and for supporting student journalism.

Batch of 2018

As much as we celebrate our achievements, I cannot help but wonder how much was Press, in my term, blinded by legacy and the pressure to keep the Golden Age alive.

Undoubtedly indebted to generations of seniors before us, we were given an established site to work with, known for its insightful Op-eds and extensive coverage of school events, a privilege that few other school Presses have.

Yet, it was perhaps this silver platter that caused us to lose a larger sense of purpose in our work – where event coverage tended to sound formulaic, and the administrative process behind it a greater nightmare. Still, we played along with what we had always been familiar with though we were never once accosted within or outside the school compound to cover every school event that we had heard of.

Yes, it is possible to cite readership as a defence. But to get into the blood of school life? Event coverage simply isn’t going to cut it. Press needs to write about issues that Rafflesians care about, not issues that Raffles cares about – and the Rafflesian is a complex identity that extends beyond the walls of the institution and into the wider community.

Statistically speaking, these articles earn us the most readership. Quixotically speaking, writers can attest to the fact that these Op-eds tend to be the more rewarding pieces of their career: from getting to the bottom of school life, to commenting on the phenomena concerning youths or students as a whole, and even venturing into the wider community. In this sense, my members have done remarkably well in our term, and this exhaustive list of hyperlinks does them little justice.

Yet, as I speak of our accomplishments, I urge the future batches not to blindly follow tradition. Take what you like, and throw what you don’t – think of it not as tarnishing, but rebranding, the name of Raffles Press.

It is, after all, a fun time to be embroiled in journalism, with the rise of independent media in Singapore, and allegations of the media’s power in politics; it is an opportune moment to rock the boat. To the next batch taking over the reins: Think, amidst the fuzz of administrative struggles, about journalism and where Raffles Press stands – how do we stride the line of objectivity versus subjectivity? Are articles too balanced to generate discussion? Have we been subconsciously self-censoring? Where exactly are the boundaries?

I look back at my term in Raffles Press with a slight tinge of regret that my batch has left without fully exploring these questions, but I am nevertheless proud of every individual’s accomplishments – it is my belief that the fleeting time spent in CCA, in the larger scheme of things, is to be spent on the self-development of its members.

In retrospect, perhaps the most remarkable thing about being a Press member was to have had the liberty and responsibility to make Press the space for our opinions, both not to be taken lightly in the context of a very complex media age.

Batch of 2017

As a final parting remark, let this article be a binary line between the past and the future. And, ironically, in the previous Chairperson’s words, “… to paraphrase Patek Philippe, you never actually own Press, you merely look after it for the next generation.” I leave with good faith that every subsequent batch of Raffles Press will keep their seniors in the archives, and begin their own tradition.

The writer is the outgoing Chairperson (2016-2017) of Raffles Press. The views expressed are her own.

By Asfar Alim (18S03J). Photographs by Asfar Alim and Goh Ting Wei (18S03K)

On Friday, 2nd June 2017, RI’s dragon boating teams competed in the National Inter School ‘A’ Division dragon boating championship, held at the bustling Marina Reservoir.

The two teams were entirely composed of J1 students, all part of the very first batch of RI’s new Dragon boating CCA. They were determined to impress the crowd with the school’s debut in the dragon boating scene. Indeed, both the boys’ and girls’ team performed well in the heats earlier that day, qualifying for the 200m finals held in the late afternoon.

The finals were a short but intense spectacle. The ‘A’ Division boys’ team competed against formidable opponents such as SJI, NYJC, NJC and MJC. Despite their initial struggle against NJC (who had quickly secured a lead), the boys worked together and paddled furiously, eventually gaining speed and securing a commendable 3rd placing in the race.

Their coach, Kannan, was satisfied with the sportsmanship shown by the team in spite of the loss. “(You were able to tell your opponents that) they did a good job, (and) congratulated them on their fight. That is what shows the rest who we are. And that is what differentiates Raffles from the other schools,” he said after the race.

The boys’ team passed the finishing line in 3rd place.

The ‘A’ Division girls also did not disappoint. They were aggressive in their attempts to overtake NJC and SJI (two teams that were also close to being in the lead). Our girls exhausted all their energy, paddling with great speed to the finishing line. The result was a very close one, with RI beating SJI for 2nd place by mere milliseconds. Certainly, this achievement made their struggles (both in training and in the race itself) well worth all the effort.

Despite this event taking place during the June holidays, many Rafflesians came down to the venue to support their friends, truly showing the extent of their school spirit. Their cheers and support were most appreciated by the competitors that day.

The camaraderie and sportsmanship shown by the dragon boating teams have brought them very far in the competition. Their skill and tenacity were apparent in the outcomes of the final races, and are all the more impressive as some members are fairly new to the sport.

The girls did well, achieving 2nd place in their race.

Our pioneer batch of dragon boaters has certainly achieved results to be proud of. In doing so, they have truly set the bar high for future batches of the CCA.

Girls’ Team
Shermaine Loh (Captain)
Loo Zen Yee (Vice-captain)
Clarissa Lim
Rachael Hong
Nursyafiqah Noorman
Lee Yee Lei
Angelica Ang
Goh Ting Wei
Christina Ng
Angie Oh

Boys’ Team
Lucas Cheng (Captain)
John Fu (Vice-captain)
Jae Mak
Ryan Phua
Nazrul Syahmi
Ravindiran Rakesh
Leonard Teo
Yong Yan Jian
Tan Qi
Ethan Teo
Shawn Law

By Calista Chong (18A01A) and Ashley Tan (18A13A), with guest contributions by Isabel Toh (18A13A) and Sophie Low (18S07A)

LiHO outlet at AMK Hub

When we received a Whatsapp group message from a friend announcing that all Gong Cha outlets would be bowing out of Singapore by 5 June, there were several panicked reactions bemoaning the loss of a fallen brother. Yet, it seems that this sentiment was not an individualistic one – in fact, it was shared by many Singaporeans, some of whom queued patiently for their favourite Gong Cha drink for the last time at its last standing outlet on 4 June.

First introduced to Singapore in 1992, the bubble tea craze has slowly risen over the course of the 21st century. In 2011, the bubble tea wave took our city by storm, with stores popping up in virtually every neighbourhood and mall. Eventually, what came next was the purging of stores – lesser-known stores shuttered their doors, leaving just a few brand names that we are familiar with today – Gong Cha, Koi and Blackball. With Gong Cha being such an established brand in Singapore (almost synonymous with the term “Bubble Tea”), it seemed unfathomable that it would ever leave our shores.

However, the saying “all good things must come to an end” proved true once again, with Gong Cha announcing that it would be replaced by homegrown tea brand LiHO. To check out the new brand for ourselves, Raffles Press headed down to LiHO for a quick taste test.

From left to right: LiHO’s Classic Milk Tea + Pearl, Royal Milk Guan Yin + Pearl and Classic Earl Grey Milk Tea + Pearl

Classic Milk Tea + Pearl (M: $3.30)

“HO BO” rating: 2/5

Trying her very best to recreate what has been lost, this reviewer ordered the drink as similarly as she would have from Gong Cha – Classic Milk Tea with pearls, 0% sugar, with less ice. But, as much as it pains her to say this, the drinks from the two stores tasted miles apart.

The milk tea from LiHO was quite honestly, more milk than tea. While the milkiness of the drink was refreshing, it was sorely lacking in terms of the tea flavour, and this made the drink really plain. Even without sugar in Gong Cha’s milk tea, there had existed a hint of aromatic fragrance that came with the drink. The dilution in Gong Cha’s successor was further compounded when the ice in the drink melted. Bluntly speaking, this reviewer felt that she was basically drinking milk with water (with the occasional tapioca ball) which, safe to say, was not pleasant at all.

While this reviewer understands that LiHO is trying to create a brand name for itself, the vast change in the composition of tea and milk had more repercussions than it may have realised. She finds it regrettable that she is no longer able to enjoy a healthy and refreshing cup of no-sugar-added bubble tea with the exit of Gong Cha, as it seems that her go-to combination of classic milk tea with pearls is rather disappointing under LiHO’s brand.

Classic Earl Grey Milk Tea + Pearl (M: $3.40)
“HO BO” rating: 3/5

With Gong Cha’s Earl Grey Milk Tea being lauded as a fan favourite previously, we simply had to try LiHO’s version of this bubble tea classic to assess whether it would match up to the standards of its predecessor. While this drink fit the typical description of an earl grey bubble tea drink, it contained a milkier taste distinct from Gong Cha’s version, which conventionally infuses stronger hints of the tea flavour.

The deciding factor, however, boiled down to the quality of pearls that LiHO had to offer. In this regard, this reviewer was rather disappointed. The portion of tapioca pearls provided was sufficient for a medium-sized bubble tea drink, but the quality of pearls was, unfortunately, substandard. As a self-proclaimed bubble tea connoisseur, this reviewer felt that the pearls were too hard and stiff, a clear signifier of pearls that have either been overcooked or kept in the refrigerator for too long. In fact, it took several forceful chews before the pearls finally disintegrated, making it a rather unpleasant experience.

However, if you are simply pining for a standard earl grey milk tea drink (without the tapioca pearls) to quench your thirst, then LiHO may be a bubble tea store that can sufficiently satisfy your needs.

LiHO Royal Milk Guan Yin + Pearl (M: $4.00)
“HO BO” rating: 3/5

This reputedly conservative reviewer chose to stick to a classic – good ol’ milk tea (she might have also picked it because it sounded fairly regal.)

LiHO’s Royal Milk Guan Yin is one of the popular drinks on the menu that is brewed from Tie Guan Yin (translated: “Iron Goddess”), a premium variety of Chinese Oolong Tea. It was also recommended for diehard fans of Gong Cha’s Alisan Tea, which was previously renowned for its zero-calorie status.

Succinctly put, the drink was satisfying. The reviewer could taste the distinct flavour of Tie Guan Yin, although its tartness was sadly drowned by the sugar overload (bewitched by the numerous choices available, she forgot to specify the sugar level of her drink). The pearls served as a pleasant complement to the tea, but this reviewer’s only grouse is that the pearls were too stiff for her liking.

Cheese Melon Tea

Cheese Melon Tea (M: $4.10)
“HO BO” rating: 4/5

Having heard that every LiHO outlet sells only 50 cups of cheese teas a day, this reviewer was pleasantly surprised to find that this elusive cheese drink was still available when she approached the counter at 7pm. As this reviewer cannot imagine having both cheese and tea in the same cup, she ordered a cup of Cheese Melon Tea (100% sugar with no ice because she is a sugar addict) and expected the worst.

The cup of Cheese Melon Tea came in two layers – winter melon tea at the bottom and a layer of cheese at the top. The winter melon tea was rather mediocre, similar to Yeo’s Winter Melon Drink. While many would expect the layer of cheese to be thick and flavourful like melted cheese, it was actually a foamy layer which contained hints of salt, cheese and milk. Overall, the drink was not overpowering, but instead offered a light and creamy taste.

Mixing of the cheese and melon tea proved to be an arduous task as the cheese simply refused to diffuse into the cold tea. It took 5 minutes of non-stop stirring for the layer of white cheese to dissolve into a cup of cloudy brown coloured liquid. While this may not sound particularly appetizing, the cheese actually made the otherwise plain winter melon tea thicker, more fragrant, and less sweet. Surprisingly, both elements of cheese and tea worked well together to create a unique, milky, taste-bud pleasing winter melon tea that one can only find at LiHO. While some may still be trying to wrap their heads around the concept of having cheese in tea, LiHO’s new innovation is definitely worth a try despite its steep price.

Our Final Verdict

All in all, there were both hits and misses. The reviewers sincerely hope that such misses are attributable to the fact that LiHO has only recently started its operations, and that by taking into account feedback from the Singapore populace, evolve itself into a truly homegrown brand that resonates with every Singaporean’s tastebuds.

By Sheryl Gwee (18A01D)

The participants gathered at East Coast Park were all set and ready to roar!

Mud. Sweat. Gears. After sixty kilometers and nine hours on their bicycles, Gear Up participants certainly had a taste of all three.

An annual cycling event hosted by Raffles Outdoor Adventure and Activities Club (ODAC), Gear Up gave participants a chance to bond with their friends, get a good workout and to explore our little island, all without having to fumble with maps and other logistical issues.

While Gear Up had been an overnight cycling event in previous years, this year it began at 1 pm in the afternoon and ended just after 10 pm. While some might have been disappointed over not being able to cycle in the cool darkness throughout, the event was no less exciting as participants were able to experience both daytime and night-time cycling, and to witness the sunset as they cycled towards the glittery Marina Bay Sands area.

Sunset over the MBS area

Having fun was a priority at Gear Up, but so was safety. With 63 participants and 22 Group-ICs journeying across Singapore, countless potential hazards and prevention measures had to be taken into account. All participants had to go through a proficiency test several weeks before the event to ensure that they could confidently manoeuvre narrow pathways, sharp turns and pedestrian crossings on two wheels, and to allow the organisers to look out for the less seasoned cyclists during the event.

Groups of five participants each (as per the sign-up requirements) were led by three or four ODACians and accompanied by friendly teacher chaperones as they journeyed across the island. Beginning at East Coast Park, participants travelled through Bedok, Tampines, Lorong Halus, Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park, Kallang and Marina Bay Sands, before returning to the starting point.  Participants cycled an average of one-and-a-half hours between breaks, with six rest stops (two of which offered refreshments provided by the event’s sponsors) along the way.

Lorong Halus and Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park, the two rest stops with sponsored refreshments

For many, Gear Up was a welcome break from the hectic school semester. “[Gear Up] was a good change of pace from the usual school grind, and an exciting ride around Singapore,” said Michael Chow (18A13A). Casual conversation and light-hearted banter under rolling clouds and picturesque greenery, which soon turned to shimmering city lights in the night sky, certainly lifted the participants’ spirits. “It’s a feeling I’ll never forget—that of feeling the breeze at night and enjoying the scenery,” said Chua Ying Xuan (18S03Q), who had signed up for Gear Up with her OG-mates.

Moreover, the event was also a fresh experience and an opportunity for participants to take in new sights and sounds as they travelled through both parks and urban areas. “I really liked how we got to explore places in Singapore I never knew existed, especially together with friends!” expressed Ying Xuan.

Participants take a breather and a couple of snapshots against a backdrop of city lights and Singapore’s most iconic attractions.

With changing weather conditions, traffic, accidents and many other factors beyond control, planning for and organising Gear Up was no small feat. It was the organisers’ hard work—all those weekend “recces”, action plans, liaising with the sponsors, the teachers and the school—that pulled the event together seamlessly.

That night, all participants—seasoned long-distance cyclists and first-timers alike—successfully completed the journey, with no major injuries. One can easily imagine the physical exhaustion they must have felt (sixty kilometres isn’t a walk in the park), but also the immense satisfaction of having finished what they set out to do. All in all, the participants certainly gained much in the process, be it friendship, good spirits, or simply a good workout.

By Abigail Ang (18S06B)

You may have heard the rumours, or overheard the vendors talking about it in the canteen. The announcement on Stamford last Friday served as the final proof: the Healthy Meals in Schools Programme (HMSP) will be rolled out once Term 3 reopens, marking the end of fried food, potato chips and high-in-sugar drinks in RI.

The HMSP, which aims to encourage healthier food and beverage choices in schools, will bring about four major changes to the food sold at the Chills and canteens, at both Year 5–6 and 1–4 sides.

(Summary of HMSP guidelines)

The main change to food sold in the canteen is that it will now come in set meals, with a minimum portion of fruits and vegetables. The additional cost of this, as well as the use of healthier ingredients, means an increase in food prices; the school has stated that one set meal will cost $2.30 to $3.50.

It is unclear if students will be able to purchase food outside of the set meals, if they only want a snack, for example. One could, of course, head to Chill@RI for one of those. However, you are unlikely to find your favourite chips brand still on the shelves.

According to Joanne, owner of both Chills in RI, the majority of potato chips on the market do not have the Healthier Choice symbol, such that she may remove some shelves in Chill due to the lack of approved brands to fill them.

Don’t count your chips at the table.

To our relief, Joanne assured us that the waffles at Chill@Y1–4 will continue to be sold, since less sugar is already used in the batter. The sale of biscuits, sweets and cereal bars at Chill will also be unaffected.

Safe for now. (Source)

The fate of many beverages is less certain, though. As the sugar content of homemade drinks cannot exceed 6g per 100ml, drinks such as the ice lemon tea at the Year 5–6 canteen will either have to be eliminated or watered down. Similarly, the sugar content of commercially prepared drinks must not exceed 7%. This may worry some consumers of energy drinks, which are usually high in sugar. For example, Red Bull contains 10g of sugar per 100ml.

Angus Yip (18A01A) stated that “While I can see the school’s rationale in banning such drinks, it’s still disappointing since some people really rely on them to get through the school day.”

Students may be relieved to hear, however, that not all of their ‘guilty pleasures’ will be eliminated. According to a list of approved beverages compiled by the Health Promotion Board, Pokka Ice Lemon tea and flavoured milks (such as chocolate milk) will remain up for sale, though students will have to settle for low-fat or skim milk.

Another concern is the possible loss of revenue for canteen vendors. When asked about this, one of the ladies at the drinks stall remarked in Mandarin, “There is no other way, we will just have to make less.”

However, we should also not be too dismissive of the programme, as one of the aunties reminded this writer:

“The government is good to you, the programme is for your health.”

In any case, this writer hopes that when it is time for students to swap their chips for fruit or a bag of nuts, they will look out for each other and continue to support the friendly vendors in the canteen and Chill, who have always served us with kindness.

(Cover image source: https://www.healthhub.sg/live-healthy/1114/healthy-eating-in-school-and-at-home)