Anglo-Chinese Junior College

Anglo-Chinese Junior College
英华初级学院
Maktab Rendah Anglo-Chinese
Address
25 Dover Close East, Singapore 139745
Central Region
Dover
Singapore
Information
Type Government-Aided
Co-educational
Motto The Best Is Yet To Be
Religious affiliation(s) Christianity
Denomination Methodist
Established 3 January 1977
Founder William F. Oldham
Superintendent Rathi Parimalan
Session Single-Session
School code 0803
Chairman Richard Seow
(ACS Board of Governors)
Principal Beatrice Chong
Gender Mixed
Enrolment 1900+
Colour(s)              Red, blue, gold
Song ACS Forever
Affiliation Anglo-Chinese Schools, Geylang Methodist Secondary School, Methodist Girls' School, Paya Lebar Methodist Girls' School (Secondary)
Website http://acjc.moe.edu.sg/

Anglo-Chinese Junior College (ACJC) in Singapore opened in 1977 and is the junior college arm of the Anglo-Chinese School family of Methodist schools. ACJC offers the standard two-year pre-university programme, which leads up to the Singapore-Cambridge GCE Advanced Level examination.

History

The history of the school dates back to 1913, when Reverend William Fitzjames Oldham saw the need for provision of pre-university education for Anglo-Chinese School boys. As a result, the Anglo-Chinese College building project and fund-raising initiative was started by Reverend J S Nagle, who started negotiations with the British coloInial government about setting up a college to prepare students for British university education. The proposal was turned down by the government, who decided in favour of establishing Raffles College to commemorate the centenary of the founding of Singapore.[1]

In 1970 the ACS Board of Governors submitted their recommendations for a junior college to the Singapore government. A 6-hectare site at Rochester Park on a 30-year lease was given for the construction of the college. Anglo-Chinese Junior College thus became the fifth junior college to be established in line with the Ministry of Education's policy on pre-university education, equivalent to a British Sixth-form college, welcoming 968 students in Pre-U 1 and Pre-U 2, on 3 January 1977. To start with, it was an all-male institution. Its main complex was equipped with three lecture theatres, a library, the Tan Chin Tuan Auditorium and eight laboratories. The Shaw Sports Complex housed a 400-metre bitumen track, tennis, volleyball, basketball and sepak takraw courts.

Since then, more facilities have been added to the college, with an extension to the original block, and a refurbishment in the 1980s.

School identity and culture

ACJC is a Methodist institution committed to an all-rounded education based on Christian principles and a consciousness of others, self and God.

Corporal punishment

The long-standing ACS "family tradition" of corporal punishment - using caning to discipline misbehaving male students - was adopted by Anglo-Chinese Junior College in initial years. However, ACJC practice was to deliver the strokes privately in the principal's room, whereas canings at ACS were administered in front of the student body.[2] In one case in 1987, seven ACJC students were caned for stealing audio equipment from the college.[3] This form of punishment is no longer used in ACJC.

Fun-O-Rama

Fun-O-Rama XIX

This biennial fundraiser is a funfair, where students and teachers set up booths for games or for the sale of food and memorabilia. Attractions include the haunted houses and the dunking station in which prominent members of the student body and the faculty participate. Alumni of the school tend to be the largest supporters of the event.

The Fun-O-Rama involves the entire school and its alumni (as well as the entire ACS family), and the funds it has generated over the years have helped the college build a sports complex, as well as giving the entire premises a facelift, including new extensions and buildings. Besides the primary aim of raising funds, Fun-O-Rama helps bond the classes as they embark on their fund-raising projects.

Fun-O-Rama was held on 29 March 2008, 27 March 2010, 24 March 2012 and 2 April 2016.

College facilities

Aerial view of the JC

Phase 1

In 1989 the first physical expansion of the college was conducted, costing SGD 3.5 million. The project was proposed in 1986 and approved by the Ministry of Education three years later. The extension included a new four-storey Library Block to contain the Oldham Library on two levels, two lecture theatres and two micro-computer laboratories. A multi-purpose void deck was built under the extension, providing additional physical space for future events such as the Fun-O-Rama carnival. A brand new 8-lane 400m track and soccer field with floodlighting capacity was also included. This phase was completed in 1991.

Phase 2

1 March 1992 on Founder's Day marked the start of construction for the ACJC Sports Complex. The Complex contains two swimming pools, a gymnasium, badminton courts and billiard facilities. A multi-purpose hall was also built in the complex, together with a lounge, dance studios, and a Heritage Room where trophies and memorabilia are showcased. The Complex also houses a cafe on the pool deck. Funds for this were raised through the Fun-O-Rama and other carnivals, to the tune of SGD 500,000.

Phase 3

(From left to right) Oldham Wing, Library Block and Viewing Gallery. The main 7-storey building is in the background, behind the Gallery.

After 20 years of housing ACJC's main lecture theatres, auditorium, staff room and classrooms, the main 7-storey building was in need of extensive renovation. There was also a need for the college to be in line with MOE's latest specifications, namely in the provision of IT-enabled facilities. In 1999, the College Upgrading Project was started at a total cost of SGD 21 million. The main block was refurbished and a 600-seat lecture theatre and viewing gallery built, with a concourse linking it to the lobby of the building. An Oldham Wing and covered walkways to all parts of the campus were built. This phase was completed by December 2002.

The Anglo-Chinese Junior College for Performing Arts is the centrepiece of the performing arts programmes at ACJC. Commissioned in May 2008, it hosts a fully equipped theatre, a black box, a dance studio and other places for the performing arts. The CPA is home to many of the College's musical and theatrical productions, and the facilities are also available for use by the community.

Achievements

Performing arts

Choir

The ACJC Choir is the four-time winner of the Singapore Youth Festival Choir of the Year award (1997, 1995, 1993, 1989) and holder of the Best Junior College Choir title (2003, 2001, 1997, 1995). In 2005 the choir was awarded the Gold with Honours award in the Singapore Youth Festival, giving a near-monopoly of the nation's highest choral awards from 1989 to 2005. The Choir achieved the Gold award at the 2007 SYF Central Judging, and the Gold with Honours awards at the 2009 and 2011 SYF Judging.

The Choir participates in overseas competitions and tours. It first gained international exposure on a choral tour to Japan in 1989. Since then it has toured South Korea (1990) and the United States (1993), where it performed at the United Nations Building and the White House. The Choir was invited by the International Federation for Choral Music to perform at the 4th World Symposium on Choral Music in Sydney, Australia in 1996. It remains the only Singaporean choir to have been invited to the event.

Since 1997 the Choir has won international competitions in Sweden, Finland, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia. In 2006 the ACJC Choir competed at the Llangollen International Eisteddfod[4] in Wales and came second in the Youth Category and first in the Mixed Category, the highest achievement for a Singaporean choir to date. The ACJC choir was also one of the five finalists in the Choir of the World competition - The Pavarotti Trophy. Its conductor is Mrs Valarie Wilson, an alumna of the college.

In June 2008 the ACJC Choir emerged as the only choir with three Gold medals at the 3rd Festa Choralis International Choir Competition in Bratislava, Slovakia. The only Asian choir at the competition, it competed alongside choirs from Poland, Great Britain, the Czech Republic, Russia and Slovakia in the Mixed Choir (Adult), Youth Choir (up to 19 years old) and Folk Song Categories. In all three categories, the ACJC Choir won gold medals with top marks and was the only choir in the competition to whom the adjudicators awarded a perfect score of 100 points.

The Choir organises the annual concert An Evening With Friends, and performs regularly at community and ministerial events.[5]

Concert Band

Since its inception in 1977, the Concert Band has been a mainstay of the college. It has garnered a succession of Gold awards at the SYF competitions since 1992 and has also achieved the Band of the Year title for a few years. The Band received the Gold with Honours at the 2007 SYF Central Judging. The Band has also participated in overseas music festivals and competitions in countries such as South Korea, Hong Kong, the United States, Japan, Austria and Switzerland. In 2006 the Band travelled to Sydney, Australia for the 17th Australian Music Festival, where it won the Top Gold award and was selected as the Command Band for that event.

The Band holds one annual concert every year, the MUSE Annual Band Concert.

The Band performs as a guest band with the alumni band every year in the alumni band's concert "Legacy".

On 7 July 2008 the ACJC Concert Band embarked on a Switzerland-Austria competition cum performance tour. The Band enjoyed city tours of Lucerne and Vaduz, as well as visits to famous places such as Mozart’s birthplace, the Sound of Music tour and Seagrotto. The Band staged two public concerts in Austria, in Salzburg and Vienna.

The highlight was the Band's competition as part of the 6th Jungfrau Music Festival held in Interlaken, Switzerland. The Band played a set piece, Symphonic Metamorphosis, followed by Armenian Dances Part 1 and a musical showcase of Asian cultures in Charming Asia. The ACJC Concert Band emerged with a score of 93 points, earning the Band a Gold award and the prestige of being the top band of the competition.

The ACJC Concert Band has been awarded the Gold With Honours award for the Singapore Youth Festival Central Judging of Concert Bands 2011 and the Gold award for the Singapore International Band Festival 2014.

Drama

ACSian Theatre has been active in the performing arts scene, and has put up numerous plays and productions for the college and at competitions. As early as 1985, productions such as Billy Liar and The Hound of the Baskervilles were staged. Some productions to date include Amadeus, The Crucible, The Joy Luck Club, Grease, Fame and Camelot. Recent productions include West Side Story (2007), Pride and Prejudice (2008) and The Odyssey (2009). ACSian Theatre has also garnered several Gold awards at the SYF Central Judging, including several Play of the Year titles. Its most recent achievement at the SYF Central Judging is a Gold in 2008.

Dance

The ACJC Dance Society achieved its first Gold with Honours award at the Singapore Youth Festival Central Judging Competition 2007 with the item "Hiya Bob! A Tribute To Fosse". This featured many works of Bob Fosse, such as Cabaret and Sing Sing Sing! The ACJC Dance Society has also performed at many events such as the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting in 2007. The society also stages an annual performance "Restless", first performed in 2003.

Guitar Ensemble

The ACJC Guitar Ensemble, since its inception in 2007, has rose quickly to be a prominent CCA in the college. It has garnered several awards at the Singapore Youth Festival Central Judging (before 2012) and Art Presentations (from 2013): Gold with Honours (2007), Gold (2009), Silver (2011) and a Certificate of Distinction (2013). The ensemble organises two annual concerts - Glissando in May and A Christmas Story in December, to raise funds for its adopted charity, Club Rainbow.

Sports

ACJC is a traditional sporting powerhouse and is strong in bowling, rugby, swimming, water polo, badminton, golf, billiards, netball, air rifle, football and track and field.

The ACJC cross-country team was successful in the national schools championships for 2001, 2002 and 2003 for the boys’ team. The girls’ team won the championship in 1999, and has consistently emerged among the top 3 teams since. In 2002 and 2003, the boys' team won individual champions. Its latest win in the national inter-school cross-country championships was in 2007.

In rugby, ACJC has held the 'A' Division title since 2000, but lost it to longtime rival Raffles Junior College in 2004 by a narrow margin. In 2005 the title was finally regained by ACJC. Waterpolo has also resulted in numerous wins for the college.

National inter-schools championships

  • Air Pistol
    • Boys:
    • Girls: 2007, 2013
  • Air Rifle
    • Boys: 1994, 1996
    • Girls:
  • Badminton
    • Boys: 1990, 1992, 2000, 2002, 2011
    • Girls: 1993, 2007
  • Bowling
    • Boys: 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2003, 2008, 2013, 2015
    • Girls: 1997, 1999, 2000, 2009, 2013, 2014, 2015
  • Canoeing
    • Boys: 2008
    • Girls: 1993, 1994, 2008
  • Golf
    • Boys: 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2014, 2015
    • Girls: 2010, 2014
  • Hockey
    • Boys:
    • Girls: 1994, 1997, 1998
  • Netball
    • Girls: 2005, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013
  • Rugby
    • Boys: 1997, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005
  • Softball
    • Girls: 2013, 2015, 2017
  • Tennis
    • Boys: 2003, 2007
    • Girls:
  • Track & Field
    • Boys: 1996, 1997, 2000, 2001, 2003
    • Girls:
  • Squash
    • Boys: 2002
    • Girls: 1990, 2001, 2003
  • Swimming
    • Boys: 1993, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2001, 2003
    • Girls: 1989, 1992, 1993, 1998, 1999
  • Volleyball
    • Girls: 2013
  • Water-Polo
    • Boys: 1991, 1992, 1994, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2013, 2014, 2015
  • X-Country
    • Boys: 2001, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2007
    • Girls: 1999

Clubs and societies

Oratorical and Debating Society

ACJC's Oratorical and Debating Society takes part in various international, regional and national speech and debate competitions while organising its own public speaking and debate competitions and workshops. ACJC's traditional Intercollegiate Debating Championships is now recognised by the Ministry of Education as the main debate tournament for pre-tertiary institutions in Singapore.

ACJC debate teams have won the national title in 1999, 2001, 2004, 2013 and 2014. It has also won regional tournaments such as the Eurasian Schools Debating Championships, Asian World Schools Debating Championships, Bratislava Schools Debating Championships and the Raffles Debate Academy Prometheus Cup. ACJC debaters are also regularly selected for the Singapore National Debate Team.

ACJC's orators have also won numerous public speaking events, including the YMCA Plain English Speaking Award, the Raffles Institution Gavel and Tampines Junior College Gavel events.

Strategic Games Club

A team of four bridge players from the Strategic Games Club emerged 2nd in both the CJC Inter-school Bridge Tournament in May 2007, and the National Inter-schools Bridge Competition organized by the Singapore Contract Bridge Association in June 2007.

The team consisted of: Ng Ming Chen Edwin, Lo Chih Hung, Boon Thar Er and Peng Bo.

Science and Mathematics Council

The Science and Mathematics Council (SMC) organizes events such as the C.B. Paul Memorial Quiz, Science is Fun! Camp, Sputnik Camp, Amazing Race, Science Week and workshops related to science and mathematics. It introduces the fun part of science to the students and develops their interest in science and mathematics.

Academics

ACJC received the Academic Value-Added Achievement Award in 2005 and 2006. This award is given to schools that have been most effective in achieving improvement in their students. Improvement is measured by comparing the students' expected GCE A-Level results (based on GCE O-Level results attained) with the actual A-level results achieved. ACJC has also produced a number of scholars in recent years, including:

ACJC is affiliated with all Methodist schools in Singapore, including ACS (Barker Road), ACS (Independent), Methodist Girls' School, Fairfield Methodist School (Secondary), Fairfield Methodist School (Primary), Geylang Methodist Secondary School, Paya Lebar Methodist Girls' School (Primary) and Paya Lebar Methodist Girls' School (Secondary)

Co-curricular activities

ACJC offers up to 50 CCAs, and also recognises any participation in external CCAs based on Ministry of Education guidelines.

Aesthetics and performing arts

Sports

Services

Students' Council

The ACJC Students' Council has for 41 years been the voice of the students, forming a bridge between the college administration and the student body. The Council handles the management of events such as Orientation, Teachers' Day and Seniors' Night and is also concerned with student welfare.

The Students' Council consists of five sub-committees: the Administrative Executive Committee (EXCO), College Welfare, Public Relations, CCA, and Sales. Other, temporary committees may be set up to organise specific events.

Councillors are selected through a process of interviews, campaigning, college-wide elections, training sessions, and the April/June camp, which is held annually. The elects then receive their appointment on Council Investiture Day, marking the hand-over of duties from the senior council

Faculty activities

Clubs and societies

Others

See also

References

  1. ↑ Earnest Lau & Peter Teo, The ACS Story, Concordia Communications, 2003. ISBN 981-04-8746-0
  2. ↑ Chee Keng Lim, in Development of Education in Singapore Archived 24 February 2009 at the Wayback Machine., National Archives of Singapore No 1425.
  3. ↑ "Junior college boys caned for audio equipment theft". The Straits Times. Singapore. 12 February 1987.
  4. ↑ 60th Llangollen International Eisteddfod
  5. ↑ Anglo-Chinese Junior College: Students' Achievements
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