Victoria Junior College

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Victoria Junior College
維多利亞初級學院
Maktab Rendah Victoria
Motto Nil Sine Labore
(Nothing Without Labour)
Established 1984
Type Government, Single-session
Principal Chan Poh Meng (wef 28 Dec 2006)
MOE Code 0706
Colours Red, Yellow, Beige
Locale Marine Vista, Singapore
Enrollment 1744 (for 2006)
Website www.vjc.moe.edu.sg
Ministry of Education
Flag of Singapore Republic of Singapore

Victoria Junior College (Abbreviation: VJC) is a junior college in Singapore. Established in 1984 to be the affiliated Junior College for Victoria School, it was generally considered one of the traditional top five junior colleges in Singapore until the ranking of junior colleges was discontinued. It is the elite college preparatory programme for the wealthy scions in South-east Asia. It is the only preparatory school in the region offering sea sports such assailing, yachting, Theatre, tennis and university-level French. It is considered the ultimate prep school by the beach. Unlike other top schools, it has a culture of social interaction instead of cramming. It is also the school that has produced the most number of celebrities.

In addition to the usual programmes of study offered by similar institutions, VJC also offers a special programme in Theatre Studies & Drama. Since 2005, a four-year integrated programme has been available. Previously, VJC offered the French Language Elective Programme before it was axed by the Ministry of Education in 2006.

Victoria Junior College is located in the Marine Vista precinct in the east of the island, about one kilometre from its namesake and affiliated secondary school, Victoria School.[1]

Contents

[edit] History

VJC was formed and incorporated in 1984 to provide graduates from Victoria School (VS) a choice where they may have 2-year Junior College Pre-University education in an institution named after and affiliated to Victoria School. VS used to have 3-year pre-university classes but had been discontinued by then. Besides, by late 1970s & early 1980s, many top and better students from Victoria School had chosen to attend 2-year Junior Colleges bearing other names after completing secondary four instead of VS pre-university section. Victoria School boys who attended other Junior Colleges before VJC was formed include Major General Neo Kian Hong (attended Nanyang JC) and Major General Ng Chee Khern (attended Hwa Chong JC), Singapore's Chief of Army and Chief of Air Force respectively [since year 2007].

The idea of VJC was first mooted in the 1970s by Dr Ong Chit Chung, an old boy of VS and whom later became a Member of Parliament, and a successful proposal submitted to the Ministry of Education with the help of old boys of Victoria School and the VS Advisory Committee.

The eleventh Junior College to be incorporated, VJC received her first batch of 776 students at the (then) brand new Marine Vista campus with 51 teachers. The pioneers of VJC set the standard and left their legacy, which include the uniform design which still lasts to this very day, and the many traditions such as the elections of the Student Councillors (SC) and the annual junior-meet-senior session held at the start of each school year.

The current enrolment as of October 2006 is 1933 students (including 234 IP students) and 151 staff.[2]

[edit] Past Principals

1984 - 2001: Mrs Lee Phui Mun
2001 - 2006: Mrs Chan Khah Gek
Present: Mr Chan Poh Meng

[edit] Symbols

VJC adopts the same Motto, Colours and has almost identical Crest with Victoria School (VS) since VJC was established to be VS's affiliated Junior College and named after VS. Hence, the meaning, significance and history of these symbols are all inherited from Victoria School.

The only minor difference from Victoria School's crest is the full torch in VS's crest is adapted to a 'J-torch' for VJC and the "S" (Victoria "School") replaced by "C" (Victoria Junior "College")

[edit] School Crest

The school crest is somewhat similar to Oxford University’s crest, possibly due to the Victoria School's English origins.

The open book symbolises lifelong learning, while the torch symbolises truth and the passing on of tradition. It also illuminates the way of Victorians who venture forth to excel beyond the shores of Singapore.

[edit] School Colours

Yellow: Signifies dignity and excellence, closely assosciated in an Asian society.

Red: Symbolises universal brotherhood and equality.

[edit] School Motto

"Nil Sine Labore"

The motto is in Latin and Victoria School adopted this motto in March 1940 (it wasn't uncommon for schools before 1950s to use Latin motto). It means "Nothing without Labour", emphasising the need for Victorians to work hard in fulfilling their dreams and passions.

[edit] College Anthem

Only lyrics is very slightly modified from Victoria School's pre 1987 original school song

Lyrics by J A Frazer (VS's pre `87 version)
Music by W E Meyer (VS's pre `87 version)

Victoria in Singapore
There are other schools we know
Victoria is something more
The school that watch'd us grow

For here we've learnt and striven too
And played the sportsman's game
Victoria we give to you
The honour that you claim

Victoria thy sons are we
And we will not forget
Victoria thy triumphs see
And victories we share yet

For others came before and went
And carried to the world
Victoria's fame and our intent to
Keep her flag unfurled.

[edit] Facilities

VJC has remained at its Marine Parade campus ever since its inauguration in 1984, but with major changes and renovations to the campus over these years. There are 6 Lecture Theaters (LT1 – LT5 along with LT AVA), with LT1 and LT5 being the largest in the school, along with air-conditioned tutorial rooms and computer labs.

The college campus is compact. Notable facilities include a 800+ seater state-of-the-art Performance Theatre and the VJC Archive which were completed in 2001. Recent additions to the school campus include the renovation of the Concourse and the General Office, the completion of the famous Treehouses and the Students' Lounge, called The Igloo. Facilities in the Igloo include a 7-foot pool table, a PlayStation 2 video game console, as well as a dart board and Foosball table.

[edit] Academics

All students complete courses in English examinations for general knowledge named General Paper, Project Work and Mother Tongue at H1 (Higher 1) level. Students who have obtained at least a C6 grade in Higher Chinese at the 'O' levels have the choice of not studying the Mother Tongue at H1 level.

Although not a pre-requisite by the MOE, former principal Lee Phui Mun insisted that students who wish to take Biology at 'A' level should preferably have studied Biology at 'O' level. Moreover, even having A1 grades at O level biology did not guarantee that a student would be allowed to do A level biology.

Lessons are conducted in the traditional Lecture-Tutorial style that is prevalent throughout the other JCs and CIs i.e A large group of students will undergo a lecture on a particular topic, then attempt some tutorial questions before meeting their individual subject tutors to go through those questions and clarify any other doubts.

[edit] Faculties

In VJC, the standard practice is to pick 4 H2 level subjects or 3 H2 level subjects and 1 contrasting H1 subject to study for and to be examined for the next 2 years. The choice of subject combination is made on the very first day of school, during the orientation programme, in which subject talks will be given, and the students will make their choices. The allocation of classes are based on the subject combination, and done randomly, to ensure an equal ratio of boys and girls in each class, and to ensure the widest spread of diversity.

  • The Science 1 (S1) faculty takes Mathematics C and three sciences, namely Physics, Chemistry and Biology. Known as the "Triple Science" faculty.
  • For 2004 & 2005, the S2 faculty takes Mathematics C, Biology and Chemistry with either Physics, Literature, History or Economics.
    • Before that, the S2 faculty took Mathematics C, Further Mathematics, Physics, and Economics.
  • The S3 faculty takes Mathematics C, Further Mathematics, Physics and either Chemistry, Computing or Economics (from 2004 onwards).
  • The S4 faculty takes Mathematics C, Physics, Chemistry and Economics. Variation includes substituting Economics with Art or Computing or the Humanities.
  • The Arts 5 (A5) faculty takes English Literature, Economics, and two other subjects, from the choice of History, Geography, Mathematics C, Art and Theatre Studies and Drama (TSD). Taking both History and Geography as the two remaining subjects is considered on a case-by-case basis, while TSD and Art as the two remaining subjects is rarely offered, often with the requirement to drop either English Literature or Economics if one wants to pursue this choice.
  • The S6 faculty takes Mathematics C, Physics, Economics and either Chemistry, Computing, Geography, History or English Literature. S4 students may also be placed in this faculty to avoid an imbalance in faculty sizes.

However, starting 2006, the faculty system has been changed. In the new faculty system:

  • The Arts 1 (A1) faculty replaces the A5 faculty. However, it is compulsory for all Arts students to take Mathematics as one of their A-level subjects
  • The S3 faculty now takes Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry as their 3 basic subjects, and a choice from either English Literature, History, Geography, Economics, Art, Chinese/Tamil/Malay Language & Literature, Theater Studies and Drama or General Studies in Chinese
  • The S4 faculty remains as it is, taking Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry as their 3 basic subjects. However, taking Computing with Physics and Chemistry is not allowed now due to the requirement that students must take a contrasting subject (i.e. a Humanities subject).
  • The S5 faculty replaces the previous S6 faculty, and take Mathematics, Physics, Economics as their 3 basic subjects, and a choice from either English Literature, History, Geography, Computing, Art, Chinese/Tamil/Malay Language & Literature, Theater Studies and Drama or General Studies in Chinese.
  • The S6 faculty offers a new subject combination. Students in this faculty take Mathematics, Chemistry, Economics as their 3 basic subjects, and a choice from either English Literature, History, Geography, Computing, Art, Chinese/Tamil/Malay Language & Literature, Theater Studies and Drama or General Studies in Chinese.

PCME students may be allocated into S5 and S6 classes in order to avoid an imbalance in faculty sizes, since the S4, S5 and S6 subject combinations are quite similar.

Since 2006, Science students are allowed to take Theatre Studies and Drama (TSD) as a contrasting subject, whereas previously, TSD was only exclusively offered to Arts students.

[edit] Curriculum Hours

Curriculum hours vary widely across each level and differently for different classes. Morning Assembly (and the time after which one is considered late for school) is at 0740, and the first lesson starts at 0800. Each period is 35 mins, and the dismissal times range from as early as 1210 to as late as 1725 for all days. On Wednesday, the day allocated for CCAs however, the latest dismissal time is 1430. There are no specific periods allocated for break time or recess, to prevent overcrowding of the canteen. It is usual for students to have 2 or more consecutive periods of breaks, and this is especially common for students in the Arts Faculty.

For 2006, the last year of Special papers, most year 2s have Special paper lessons on Thursdays and Fridays from 1430 to 1650.

Students are only allowed to leave school from 1245 onwards.

[edit] Class Naming Conventions

VJC uses the naming convention that is common across most other JCs. Specifically, each class is called a CT (Civics Tutorial) group with a form teacher called a Civics Tutor. Each class follows this naming system of year of formation, followed by the stream (S for science, A for Arts and V for the Integrated Programme), then the faculty number and then the class number. For example, 05S44 denotes that the class was formed (or the students entered the school) in 2005, S for the Science stream (A for the arts stream, V for the Integrated Programme), the first 4 for the faculty (S4) and the second 4 denotes that S44 is the 4th class in that faculty.

This means that there will be only one of each class and the class name remains unique to each class only.

For the Science Faculty, the last digit of the class name usually represents the subject combination that some students of that class may be taking. SX1 students would be taking Geography as their 4th subject. SX2 students would be taking History as their 4th subject. SX3 students would be taking English Literature as their 4th subject. As an example, some students in S51 would be taking Geography in place of Chemistry, since the S5 faculty takes Physics, Maths, Economics as their 3 basic subjects.

For 2004: 04S11 – S17, 04S21 – S27, 04S31 – S36, 04S41 – S47, 04A51 – A55, 04S61 – 04S64

For 2005: 05S11 – S19, 05S21 – S28, 05S31 – S34, 05S41 – S47, 05A51 – A55, 05S61 – 05S64, 05V11 – V14

For 2006: 06A11 – A15, 06S30 – S39, 06S40 – S49, 06S51 – S56, 06S61 – S64, 06V11 – V14

For 2007: 07A11 - A15, 07S30 - S39, 07S41 - S49, 07S51 - S56, 07S61 - S65, 07V11 - V14

[edit] Special Programmes

The following special programmes are available:

  • FastTrack@VJC Teaching and learning with Broadband Programme
  • Hospital Attachment Programme
  • HP Email Mentoring Scheme
  • Humanities and Social Science Research Programme
  • Humanities Scholarship Programmes
  • Mathematics Enrichment Programme
  • NUS Education Programme for Gifted Youths (NUS-EPGY)
  • Scholarships Programme
  • Science Enrichment Programme
  • Science Research Programme
  • Science and Mathematics Olympiads
  • Science Focus
  • Taiwan Immersion Programme
  • Technology and Engineering Programme
  • Theatre Studies and Drama Programme
  • Victoria Integrated Programme

[edit] Co-Curricular Activities

Victoria offers a wide range of co-curricular activities to nurture student talents, social skills and leadership abilities. The VJC Students' Council, being a leadership student body, provides the opportunity for students with leadership potential and aptitude to passionately and professionally serve the college and the student body as a Student Councillor. Uniquely, VJC is the only Junior College to have a Civics Tutorial (CT) Council, a leadership student body consisting of selected CT Representatives as well as deserving students from the different classes who display leadership skills and aptitude in serving the college and the student body as a CT Councillor. The CT Council works with Students' Council in organising school-wide activities, at the same time also organising college events on their own and proposing initiatives to benefit the student body as well.

Every year, new activities are proposed by students themselves. 2004 saw the founding of a Fencing Club and Golf Club and in 2005, Rock Climbing was established as a CCA.

Clubs with low membership are merged with other related clubs so as to add to the variety of activities each club does. In 2004, IT Council merged with iComp, and Bridge and Chess Club merged with Defence Science Club to become the Strategic Games Club.

The List of various CCAs in Victoria Junior College

[edit] Student Leadership

  • Students' Council
  • Civics Tutorial Council
  • House Committee

[edit] Sports Groups

[edit] Performing Arts

[edit] Clubs and Societies

  • Animal Welfare Society
  • Art Club
  • Astronomy Club
  • Bizclub
  • Career Development Council
  • Chinese Society
  • College Magazine
  • Community Involvement Council
  • Debating and Oratorical Society
  • Earth Watch
  • FIREfly@VJC
  • First Aid Club
  • French Club
  • Global Affairs Society
  • Health and Fitness Club
  • Horticulture Society
  • Infocomm Club (internally known as iComp)
  • Indian Cultural Society
  • Interact Club
  • Japanese Club
  • Library Council
  • Lighthink (General Paper Society)
  • Lion Dance Troupe
  • Malay Cultural Society
  • Mathematics Society
  • Outdoor Activities Club
  • PA Crew
  • Philosophical Society
  • Photography Society
  • Robotics Club
  • Science Council which consists of:
    • Chemistry Society
    • Medical Society
    • Physics Society
  • Science Research Society
  • Strategic Games Club
  • Subjectif
  • VJC Archive
  • Writers' Circle
  • Singapore Youth Flying Club (external)

A list of the CCAs available in VJC along with links to their websites can be found on the College Website here

Established clubs such as the VJC Choir regularly participate in international competitions. On 19 July 2004 the choir represented Singapore in the Choir Olympics held in Bremen, Germany and participated in 3 categories: Musica Sacra, Contemporary Music and Open Mixed. The choir emerged as the category champion in Open Mixed, and as second in the Musica Sacra and Contemporary Music categories. Gold standard medals were also awarded for each of these categories. Furthermore, the VJC Choir participated in the 9th Concorso Corale Internazionale (International Choir Competition) from 9 April to 12 April 2006, held in Riva Del Garda, Italy. The choir participated in the Sacred Music and Mixed Youth Choirs categories and clinched a Gold I and Gold V in the respective categories, and managed to emerge as Category Winners in the Mixed Youth Choirs category. They then proceeded to compete in the Grand Finals, in which they triumphed and clinched the illustrious Grand Prize as well as Audience Prize, bringing the Grand Prize to Asia for the first time in the history of the competition.

The Symphonic Band also ventured overseas in March 2006, participating in the prestigious Pacific Basin Music Festival held in Honolulu, Hawaii. This festival regularly draws world-class faculty and this year, judges included Dr. James M. Bankhead ( Chairman of Dept. of Music, CSU) Mr. Felix Hauswirth (Conductor of Baden-Wurttemberg Youth Wind Ensemble of Germany and Zug Wind Orchestra of Switzerland, President of World Association for Symphonic Bands and Ensembles(WASBE) 1997 – 2001) and Dr. Glenn Price ( Director of Wind Ensembles and professor of Conducting and percussion at University of Calgary, elected to post of WASBE President for 2007 – 2009). In 2006, bands from USA, Guam, Australia and Japan took part in the Festival. The VJC Symphonic Band achieved a gold award in the adjudicated performance.

Many other performing groups also excel regularly in the biannual Singapore Youth Festival.

In 2007, the Choir, Dance, String Ensemble and Symphonic Band achieved the Gold with Honours award at the Singapore Youth Festival Central Judging, while the Chinese Orchestra, Guitar Ensemble and Harmonica Band were awarded the Gold award.

As for sports, VJC has done well over the past few years. One of its niche areas in the sporting arena is in the sport of Soccer. The guys' team, has made it to the finals of the National A Division Inter-School Soccer Championships for the past 7 years, missing the finals in 2007 after being defeated by eventual champions Raffles Junior College on penalties in the semi-finals. The girls' team, formed in late 2005, emerged champions in 2006 and finished runners-up to St. Andrews Junior College in 2007.

Besides soccer, VJC has been doing well in hockey for both boys and girls. The girls' team were crowned champions for the 5th consecutive year in 2007. The college is also strong in sports such as cross-country, softball and sailing.

[edit] Houses

During competitive intra-school events, the school population is divided into six houses. These houses and their respective colour codes are:

The House Committee is in charge of each house, with each house having at least 4 House Comm members: The House Captain, The Vice-Captain, The Treasurer and The Secretary. Integrated Programme students into the House Comm are called "Caplets". House points are earned through inter-house activities.

The house system was introduced in 2004 in order to prepare students for the change in curriculum in 2006, when the current faculties such as S1 and S2 faculties will be eliminated. Before the house system, the school population competed as faculties. Currently, the house system distributes students from different faculties evenly, eliminating the size advantage that the S1 or "triple science" faculty used to have from offering the most popular subject combination.

The house with the highest grand total of points wins the La Coupe Etoile (or The Star Cup), awarded to the Champion House at the Farewell Assembly for the Year 2s at the end of each year.

Past Champion Houses

2004: Draco

2005: Ursa

2006: Aquila

2007: Pegasus

[edit] Affiliations

Victoria Junior College is affiliated to Victoria School, Victoria School boys choosing to enter Victoria Junior College can get two bonus points off their 'O' level L1R5 academic aggregate although Victoria Junior College also has a small portion of its total student intake enrolled through VJC's own Integrated Programme (IP) - which non-affiliated students and VS boys has equal opportunity of enrolling.

Both institutions are under the charge of the Victoria Executive and Advisory Committee (VEC/VAC) and share a common alumni association — the Old Victorians' Association (OVA).

Both campuses are located in East Coast within walking distance of each other. The two schools occasionally conduct joint programmes and activities such as concerts and overseas trips.

[edit] Former Victorians

  • Politics and Government
    • Chia Ti Lik: Lawyer; Workers' Party candidate, 2006 General Elections
  • Business
    • Douglas Foo: Founder of Sakae Sushi; Entrepreneur of the Year, 1992
    • Adam Khoo: Entrepreneur, best-selling author
  • Sports
    • Lim Tze Ting: Gold medalist, Sailing, Asian Games, 2006
    • Mah Li Lian: SEA Games gold medalist and national squash champion; Sportsgirl of the Year, 1987; Sportswoman of the Year, 1989 and 1991
    • Fabian Tan: National Under-23 (Young Lions) footballer; One of the few Chinese and only NUS undergrad in SLeague
    • Sarah Tan: Gold medalist, Sailing, Asian Games, 2006
    • Roy Tay: Gold medalist, Sailing, Asian Games, 2006; Flag-bearer, Singapore contingent, Asian Games, 2006; Sportsboy of the Year, 1999;
    • Teo Wee Chin: Singapore's first world youth sailing champion, World Youth Sailing Championships, 2005; Gold medalist, Sailing, Asian Games, 2006; Sportsboy of the Year, 2002

[edit] References

  1. ^ See Map of Victoria Junior College from Street Directory
  2. ^ See VJC webpage

[edit] External links

v • d • e
Pre-University Centres and Post-Secondary Institutes in Singapore
Pre-universities
Integrated Programme Schools
Four-year: National Junior College  · Temasek Junior College (Temasek Academy) · Victoria Junior College · Raffles Programme (Raffles Institution/Raffles Junior College · Raffles Girls' School (Secondary)/Raffles Junior College)

Six-year: Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) · Dunman High School · Hwa Chong Institution · NUS High School of Mathematics and Science ·
Hwa Chong Affiliate Programme (Nanyang Girls' High School/Hwa Chong Institution) · River Valley High School

Junior Colleges
Anderson JC (AJC) · Anglo-Chinese JC (ACJC) · Catholic JC (CJC) · Hwa Chong Institution (HCI) · Innova JC (IJC) · Jurong JC (JJC) · Meridian JC (MJC) · Nanyang JC (NYJC) · National JC (NJC) · Pioneer JC (PJC) · Raffles Junior College (RJC) · St. Andrew's JC (SAJC) · Serangoon JC (SRJC) · Tampines JC (TPJC) · Temasek JC (TJC) · Victoria JC (VJC) · Yishun JC (YJC)

Centralised Institute
Millennia Institute (MI)

 Flag of Singapore
Polytechnics
ITE Colleges
ITE College East (ITE CE-SM) · ITE College West (ITE CW) · ITE College Central (ITE CC)

Coordinates: 1°18′23.70″N, 103°55′13.35″E

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