Catholic Junior College

Catholic Junior College (CJC) is a junior college in Singapore, offering a two-year course for pre-university students leading up to GCE 'A' Level examination. Founded in 1975, CJC was the third junior college established in Singapore. Its campus is located at Whitley Road, near one of its affiliated secondary schools, Saint Joseph's Institution.

History
CJC was founded in 1975 by the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Singapore, Michel Olçomendy in an effort to coordinate the pre-university education provided by the different Catholic schools, and provide all Catholic schools with pre-university classes. All students enrolled in the fifteen Catholic secondary schools in Singapore are given a two-point deduction from their 'O' Level L1R5 score when applying to CJC.

Principals
Catholic Junior College since its inception has always been led by Catholic religious men and women. The first principal of CJC was Brother Patrick Loh, who moved from one of CJC's affiliated schools, Saint Joseph's Institution, to head the college. CJC was headed by Brother Paul Rogers from 2002. He officially stepped down as Principal at the end of 2009 after eight years. Mrs Christine Anne Kong, the first lay person to helm the college, took over in 2010.


 * 1975 - 1978: Bro Ildephonsus Patrick Loh, FSC
 * 1979 - 1987: Bro. Joseph Kiely, FSC
 * 1988 - 1994: Sr. Deirdre O'Loan, IJ
 * 1995 - 2001: Sr. Maria Lau, IJ
 * 2002 - 2009: Brother Paul A Rogers, FSC
 * 2010 – Present: Mrs Christine Anne Kong

Motto
The college motto is "In Veritate et Caritate" ("In Truth and Love").

Crest
The college crest bears the dove and fire, symbolising the Holy Spirit descending on the apostles as at Pentecost. In the Gospel, the Holy Spirit is a Spirit of Truth and Love. The Presence of the Holy Spirit, alive in our community, is also reflected in our motto "In Veritate et Caritate" ("In Truth and Love"). The motto embodies seeking the truth about ourselves, the universe and God. However, Truth alone is insufficient. Knowledge must be supplemented with love for God and our neighbour. The four-pointed star is a symbol of the cross on which Christ died to save the world.

Flame
The college flame - eternal light - stands for love (red), expressed in service, that is built on the truth (yellow) that sets us free (yellow). This we aim to excel (gold) in living and learning.



Flag
The college flag consists of the colours of Singapore Catholic schools: blue and white, green and white, yellow and white. Yellow and white are also the Papal colours. Y (Gamma) is the Greek letter for C and is also the form of the Cross.

Logo
The college logo consists of the letters CJC and the Flame, which is also used to represent the college spirit.

Principal

 * Mrs Christine Anne Kong (2010 – Present)

Vice-Principal (Curriculum)

 * Ms Rosalind Khng

Dean

 * Mr Tan Jek Suan (Student Development)

Board
The CJC Board of Management is chaired by Mr Gerard Lee, Chairman of Fullerton Fund Management. Previous chairmen include Mr Bernard Chen, a former Member of Parliament and Chairman of the Archdiocesan Commission on Catholic Schools, and the late Dr Ee Peng Liang, founder of the Community Chest and philathropist.

Achievements
CJC has been awarded the following commendations by the Ministry of Education:


 * Value-Added Award for A level results 2006, 2007, 2008
 * Sustained Achievement Award in Physical Fitness
 * CHERISH (Championing Efforts Resulting in Improved School Health) Award
 * Outstanding Development Award (Character Development)
 * Outstanding Development Award (National Education)

The CJC Choir participated in the Musica Sacra competition, an international festival of sacred music held in May–June 2007, and was awarded Gold.

In 2006, CJC broke the 'A' division girls record for the 4×400 m at the National Track and Field Championships 2006. Priscilla Vincent broke the national record for the girls' shot put. The records had stood for 18 years and 17 yrs respectively.

The results from the GCE 'A' levels examinations taken in 2006 show outstanding results for CJC, its best in 10 years with 15 subjects bettering the national average in Singapore and 100% passes in English Literature, History, Art, Further Mathematics and Computing, in addition to a 60% distinction rate for English Literature (H1) and 40% for History (H1).

In 2009, in recognition of CJC's excellence in the Humanities, especially in English Literature and General Paper, CJC was designated by the Ministry of Education as one of three junior colleges to be a Centre of Excellence in English Language. Students from CJC will now be able to offer 'A' Level English Language as a subject, which focuses on the study of the English Language as well as linguistics.

Campus
The colleges is equipped with six lecture theatres (LTs 1-6), an auditorium, a fully air-conditioned Performing Arts Centre (PAC), a Training and Development Centre and a Media Resource Centre that was opened in 2007. There are basketball, tennis and volleyball courts, a gymnasium and an air-conditioned Student Council Centre.

CJC hosts a student hostel for overseas scholars studying at nearby affiliated schools Saint Joseph's Institution and CHIJ (Toa Payoh), as well as at CJC itself.

Curriculum Hours
Assembly begins at 0840 h with morning reflection and prayer, followed by the taking of the National Anthem and the Pledge.

Tutorial Groups
A class or tutorial group can have anywhere between 20 to around 26 students, with a total of 36 classes from T01 to T36 (T for tutorial group). The first ten or eleven classes are usually arts classes, with the remaining twenty-three or twenty-four science. For example, in 2010, JC1 classes 1T01 to 1T11 are arts classes, while classes 1T12 to 1T36 are science.

Uniform
The college uniform is light blue, both top and bottom. Boys wear a shirt and long pants. Girls wear a blouse unpleated skirt, with some choosing to wear safety shorts underneath. The college PE attire consists of a blue dry-fit T-shirt and grey shorts, though FBTs are often worn as well.

Academic Programmes
The college offers a wide range of academic activities.
 * English Language and Linguistics Symposium
 * Economics Symposium
 * Literary-History Evening
 * Literary Film Night
 * Science Week
 * Mathematics Week
 * Beijing Immersion Trip (for students offering China Studies in English)
 * Reach Cambridge (for selected students offering History, Literature, Mathematics, Biology)
 * Notre Dame Summer Scholars (started in 2011)
 * Geography Field Trip
 * H3 Tie-ups with National University of Singapore, Singapore Management University and Nanyang Technological University

CCAs
All students take at least one main CCA. Prior approval from the Head of Department for Co-Curricular Activities is required before a second CCA can be offered.

Sports & Games

 * Badminton
 * Basketball
 * Canoeing
 * Cross Country
 * Fencing
 * Gymnastics
 * Hockey
 * Judo
 * Lawn Bowls
 * Netball
 * Rugby
 * Shooting
 * Soccer
 * Swimming
 * Tenpin Bowling
 * Tennis
 * Track and Field
 * Volleyball

Performing Arts

 * Chinese Drama
 * Choir
 * Dance
 * Drama
 * Guitar Ensemble
 * Guzheng Ensemble
 * Symphonic Band

Clubs and Societies

 * Bridge Club
 * Chess Club
 * Chinese Cultural Society
 * Speakers Ink (Debating / Public Speaking)
 * Editorial Club
 * Environmental Club
 * Film Sound Video (FSV)
 * First Aid Club
 * Indian Cultural Society
 * Interact Club
 * Legion of Mary
 * Library Society
 * Magazine Society
 * Nexus Society (Co-op)
 * Malay Cultural Society
 * Outdoor Adventure Club (ODAC)
 * Political Science Society
 * Science Honours Society
 * Society of St Vincent de Paul
 * Sports and Fitness Club

College Life
Apart from CCAs, activities organised by the college and the Students' Council include:
 * Rockafella, an annual rock concert started in 2004, open only to CJCians;
 * Alfresco, an open-air charity bazaar with food and games
 * Cross-Country, an annual event;
 * Games Olympics, the college sports day;
 * SYF Presents, a showcase of the year's Singapore Youth Festival presentations
 * Blood donation drives;
 * Celebration of nationwide events such as Racial Harmony Day and National Day.
 * CJ Celebrates; a showcase of the Performing Arts;
 * Literature Evening, an annual event for Literature classes to perform a play adapted from their studied books;

Dr Ee Peng Liang
The late Dr. Ee Peng Liang, a Singaporean philanthropist and Catholic public figure, was the main driver behind the foundation and development of CJC as an educational institution. The former chairman of the Community Chest, he served as Chairman of the College Board of Management from its foundation in 1975 until 1994. The Ee Peng Liang Room in the newly-opened Performing Arts Centre was named in memory of his contributions and legacy.

Celebrating Christian Community
As a Catholic Institution of learning, CJC seeks to be a community of Christian love and service while at the same time respecting the individual races and religions that make up the multi-faceted community. This is done through in the cultivation of an atmosphere in which students can experience for themselves the richness of a Christian community.

Morning Prayer
Assembly every morning begins with reflection and prayer, led by members of the Student Council. Additionally, the Legion of Mary leads in the prayers of the Divine Office every Tuesday and Thursday at 0700 h in the Prayer Room.

Mass
Mass is celebrated every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 0700 h in the Prayer Room. High Mass is also celebrated on major feast days and days of obligation, such as Ash Wednesday and Ascension.

Major College Functions
On special occasions in the college calendar, such as the JC1 Commencement Ceremony and the Annual Awards Presentation Ceremony, a prayer service is conducted where the whole college community gathers in fellowship and is invited to join in prayer and thanksgiving.

Retreats
Retreats for both JC1 and JC2 Catholic students are held every year.

Catholic Activities Wing
The Catholic Activities Wing of the Student Council organises daily Morning Prayers and Masses, as well as talks and activities to help the Catholic community in CJC grow spiritually and holistically. Originally the separate Catholic Activities Council, the CAC was merged with the 30th Students' Council in 2004 and became one of the three wings of the CJC Student Council.

Chaplain
Father Leslie Raj, SJ, is the college chaplain and main celebrant of masses and prayer services. He can also be approached for the sacrament of reconciliation.

Affiliated schools
CJC is affiliated to all the Catholic Secondary schools in Singapore
 * Assumption English School
 * Catholic High School
 * CHIJ Katong Convent
 * CHIJ Secondary (Toa Payoh)
 * CHIJ St. Joseph's Convent
 * CHIJ St. Nicholas Girls' School
 * CHIJ St. Theresa's Convent
 * Hai Sing Catholic School
 * Holy Innocents' High School
 * Maris Stella High School
 * Montfort Secondary School
 * St. Anthony's Canossian Secondary School
 * St. Gabriel's Secondary School
 * Saint Joseph's Institution, Singapore
 * Saint Patrick's School, Singapore

Notable alumni

 * Professor Tan Chorh Chuan, President, National University of Singapore
 * Professor Leo Tan, Director (Special Projects), Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore
 * Brigadier-General Ishak bin Ismail, Commander, 6th Division
 * Ms Jessica Tan Soon Neo, Member of Parliament for East Coast GRC
 * Mdm Phua Siok Gek Cynthia, Member of Parliament for Aljunied GRC
 * Assoc Prof Paulin Tay Straughan, Professor of Sociology and Vice Dean, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, National University of Singapore; Nominated Member of Parliament
 * Ms Audrey Wong, Programme Leader, LASALLE College of the Arts, Nominated Member of Parliament
 * Prof Tan Cheng Han, Dean, Faculty of Law, National University of Singapore
 * Mr Leo Yip, Chairman, Economic Development Board
 * Ms Tan Kheng Hua, actress, comedienne, playwright
 * Ms Christine Tan, CNBC anchor


 * Mr Tay Ping Hui, MediaCorp artiste
 * Ms Jacelyn Tay, MediaCorp artiste
 * Mr Ratansha Vakil, Oracle BI SME
 * Father Leslie Raj SJ, College Chaplain
 * Brother Adrian Danker