Victoria Junior College

1°18′23.6″N 103°55′14.2″E

Victoria Junior College 维多利亚初级学院 Maktab Rendah Victoria
Nil Sine Labore (Nothing Without Labour)
Location
Marine Parade,
Coordinates	1.30656°N 103.92061°E / 1.30656; 103.92061
Information
Type	Government
Established	1984
Session	Single-session
School code	0706
Principal	Chan Poh Meng
Enrolment	Approx. 1700
Colour(s)	Yellow, red
Website	www.vjc.moe.edu.sg

Victoria Junior College (abbreviation: VJC) is a Pre-University co-educational institution in Singapore. It stands on Marine Vista, about one kilometre from affiliated Victoria School and a very short walk from East Coast Park.

History

Victoria Junior College was established in 1984 to replace the Pre-University classes in Victoria School. The pioneer batch of 776 students was received with 51 tutors. The outstanding results of the pioneer batch of students in the GCE 'A' Level examinations was to set the academic standard for succeeding generations of Victorians.

Over the years, VJC has widely been recognized as one of the top three junior colleges in Singapore, and was ranked first in the ranking of junior colleges in 1995 and 2001.

VJC has been at the forefront in implementing some of the new initiatives in the Singapore education system. It was the first and, until 2005, only junior college to offer the Theatre Studies and Drama programme, which was established in 1989. It also offered a university-level French curriculum as part of the Language Elective Programme (LEP) until it was discontinued in 2006.

The VJC Choir was the first school choir from Singapore to win an international choir competition in Wales in 1991, while the VJC symphonic band became Singapore’s first school band to be invited to perform at the prestigious Japan Band Clinic the following year.

With the opening of the East Zone Science and Technology Centre in 2002, VJC became the centre of research in Science and Technology for East Zone schools. The college was also the first Singapore school to participate in the International Science and Engineering Fair in 2004.

In 2009, VJC celebrated its 25th anniversary. The theme of the anniversary was "XXV: Viva La Victoria".

Since 2005, VJC has offered a four-year integrated programme, Victoria Integrated Programme (VIP), starting from secondary three level. The programme has been replaced by the new six-year Victoria-Cedar Alliance Integrated Programme (VCA IP) in 2012. The students will spend the first four years of their secondary education at Victoria School or Cedar Girls' Secondary School before continuing year 5 and 6 in VJC. The college will see its final VIP batch in 2012 for secondary three students.

College symbols

VJC shares the motto, school colours and almost identical Crest with Victoria School since the former was established to be the latter's affiliate. The meaning, significance and history of these symbols are all inherited from Victoria School.

Crest and heraldry

The school crest and heraldry were based on the Anglican tradition, and modeled after Oxford University's crest.

Colours

Yellow, signifying dignity and excellence from a colonial legacy. Red, signifying universal brotherhood and equality.

Motto

"Nil Sine Labore", or "Nothing without Labour" This motto was inherited from Victoria School, and was created in March 1940. It emphasizes the need for Victorians to persevere in order to fulfil their dreams and desires.

College anthem

The college anthem was inherited from Victoria School's original pre-1987 school song, after modifications were made to the lyrics so that VS and VJC can share a common Victorian Anthem. "School" was dropped after "Victoria" in the first two paragraphs shown below in 1987 by Victoria School.

Lyrics by J A Frazer (pre-1987 version)
Music by W E Meyer

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.

Principals

• 1984 - 2001: Mrs Lee Phui Mun
• 2001 - 2006: Mrs Chan Khah Gek
• 2006–present: Mr Chan Poh Meng

Academics

Victoria offers a traditional UK-style A-level curriculum, with Ivy League-style liberal arts offerings. Lessons are conducted in the Oxbridge lecture-tutorial style.

Class choice

New students 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 first day of school, during the orientation programme, in which subject talks are given, and the students make their choices. The allocation of classes is based on the subject combination, and is carried out in such a way as to ensure an equal ratio of boys and girls in each class and the widest spread of diversity, though in some classes there can be a disproportionately large number of international students.

Humanities and the arts

Most students obtain distinctions in Cambridge A-level General Paper. Victoria has a strong Debating Team, with a tradition in Oratory and Rhetoric. The Victoria Debating Team has won national and international competitions including the United Nations Debates, the Rotary Championships and the Phillip Jessup Debates.

Theatre Studies is also its forte. Each year, students perform politically and socially controversial plays in a mini-festival, and these are open to members of the public. Visiting guest lecturers have included Broadway legend Lea Salonga. Under the guidance of Reynold Buono, Victorian alumni in the Arts include Geraldine Kok, MFA Yale, has performed in New York and Broadway. Ava Lyn Koh has starred in feature film Crime Of Passion. Alex Liang, an actor and model in London, has appeared in numerous UK TV programmes, ads, feature films and music videos including Madonna's Hung Up music video. Film makers include Jasmine Ng, Tan Pin Pin, Kelvin Tong, and Lynn Lee. Yang Guichuan and Ho Yi Pingok, MFA Yale, has performed in New York and Broadway. Arts alums moonlight as daytime corporate attorneys but perform in the night. Theatre stalwarts, director Natalie Hennedige and playwright-actress Eleanor Tan continue to stir the Asian arts scene. Also, Janice Koh, Kaylene Tan, Noor Effendy Ibrahim Rohaizad Suaidi, and Tang Fu Kuen have been important, not only as performers, but as critics and arts administrators.

VJC alumni were also the first Singaporeans to break into Hollywood - Lydia Look in Rush Hour and Lucy Liu (who was on exchange from Stuyvesant High in New York). Regional and local television artistes include Michelle Chong and Joanne Peh.

20 nationally ranked students are named Humanities Scholars each year in the Humanities Programme.

Curriculum hours

Curriculumary across each level and class. Morning Assembly (and the time after which the student is considered late for school) is at 0740, and the first lesson starts at 0800. Each period is 35 minutes, 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 fixed periods allocated for break time or recess, to prevent overcrowding of the canteen. It is usual for students to have two or more consecutive periods of breaks, and this is especially common for students in the Arts Faculty.

Students are allowed to leave school from 1245 onwards.

Faculty system

• The Arts 1 (A1) is the Arts faculty of VJC. It is compulsory for all Arts students to take Mathematics as one of their A-level subjects. This is because all students have to take a contrasting subject and Mathematics is a contrasting subject to Arts.

• The S3 faculty has Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry as their three basic subjects, and a choice of Arts or Humanities subjects (English Literature, History, Geography, Economics, Art, Chinese/Tamil/Malay Language and Literature, Theater Studies and Drama or General Studies in Chinese) as their H1/H2 content subject.

• The S4 faculty elects Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry as their three basic subjects, with a contrasting arts or humanities subject (stated above).

• The S5 faculty elects Mathematics, Physics, Economics as their three basic subjects, combined with any Arts or Humanities subject, or Chemistry.

• The S6 faculty elects Mathematics, Chemistry, Economics as their three basic subjects, and a choice any Arts or Humanities subject, or Physics.

The PCME combination may be grouped in the S5 and S6 faculties due to the popularity of the course and the subject similarities to avoid an imbalance of faculty size, as it is a flexible combination which allows entrance into most courses in local universities.

Class naming conventions

Each class follows the 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, 08S54 denotes that the class was formed (or the students entered the school) in 2008, S for the Science stream (A for the arts stream, V for the Integrated Programme), the first 5 for the faculty (Science S5) and the second 4 denotes that S54 is the 4th class in that faculty.

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.

Special Programmes

• FastTrack@VJC Teaching and learning with Broadband Programme
• Grassroots and Governance 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

Co-curricular activities

The Students' Council and the Civics Tutorial Council works in organising school-wide activities, also organising college events and proposing initiatives to benefit the student body.

The Civics Tutorial Council, also known as the CT Council, is a student leadership body composed of a CT Representative from each Civics Tutorial Group (Class). The CT Councillors serve as the bridge between the college and the class, promoting the welfare of each student. The CT Councillors also work with the Student Councillors and the House Committee members in organising, maintaining and planning college events and functions.

The House Committee comprises the key figures for each of the six Houses, coming together as a united body, organising inter-house activities and assisting the CT Council and Students' Council for events.

Every year, new activities are proposed by students. 2004 saw the founding of Fencing Club and Golf Club and in 2005, Rock Climbing was established as a CCA. Cheerleading began in late 2007 to quick success as they emerged champions in the SKM Cheerfest Stunt category in the following year.

Clubs with a small number of members are merged with other clubs. In 2004, the IT Council merged with iComp, and Bridge and Chess Club merged with Defence Science Club to become the Strategic Games Club.

List of CCAs

Student leadership

• 28th Students' Council
• 20th Civics Tutorial Council
• 8th House Committee

Sports groups

• Air rifle
• Badminton
• Basketball
• Bowling
• Canoeing
• Cheerleading
• Cricket
• Cross country
• Fencing
• Floorball
• Frisbee (still an unofficial CCA)
• Golf
• Hockey
• Judo
• Kayaking
• Netball
• Rock climbing
• Sailing
• Soccer
• Softball
• Squash
• Swimming
• Table-tennis
• Taekwondo
• Tennis
• Track and Field
• Volleyball
• Wushu

Performing arts

• Chinese Orchestra (Gold - SYF 2007, Gold - SYF 2009)
• Choir (Gold With Honours - SYF 2007, Gold With Honours - SYF 2009)
• Dance Club (Gold With Honours - SYF 2007, Gold - SYF 2009, Silver - SYF 2011)
• The Dramatic Society for Dramatic People (Drama Club, Silver - IP SYF 2009, Silver - SYF 2010)
• Guitar Ensemble (Gold - SYF 2007, Silver - SYF 2009)
• Harmonica Band (Gold - SYF 2007, Silver - SYF 2009)
• Piano Ensemble
• String Ensemble (Gold With Honours - SYF 2007, Silver - SYF 2009)
• Symphonic Band (Gold With Honours - SYF 2007, Gold - SYF 2009)

Clubs and societies

• Animal Welfare Society
• Art Club
• Artery (Arts Society)
• Astronomy Club
• Bizclub
• Career Development Council
• Chinese Society
• College Magazine
• Community Involvement Council
• Culinary Club
• Debating and Oratorical Society
• Earthwatch
• FIREfly@VJC
• First Aid Club
• French Club
• Global Affairs Society
• Health and Fitness Club
• Horticulture Society
• Infocomm
• 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.

The choir has participated in international competitions. On 19 July 2004 the choir represented Singapore in the Choir Olympics held in Bremen, Germany and participated in three 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 medals were also awarded for each of these categories.

The choir participated in the 9th Concorso Corale Internazionale (International Choir Competition) from 9 April to 12 April 2006, held in Riva Del Garda, Italy.

Other performing groups from the school took part in the biennial 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.

One of its niche areas in the sporting arena is in the sport of Soccer. The boys' team, has made it to nine of the ten finals of the National A Division Inter-School Soccer Championships for the past ten years, and winning five of the finals. The girls' team has been champions three times and runner-up once in the past four years since the Girls' competition was started in 2005. See Victoria Junior College Football.

The college is also strong in sports such as cross-country, softball, sailing and wushu.

Houses

For competitive intra-school events, the school population is divided into six houses:

• Aquila (blue)
• Draco (red)
• Lynx (green)
• Pegasus (purple)
• Phoenix (orange)
• Ursa (yellow)

The House Committee is in charge of each house, with each house having at least four House Committee members: The House Captain, The Vice-Captain, The Treasurer and The Secretary, and the Quarter Master. 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 of 2006, when the S1 and S2 faculties were eliminated. Before the house system, the school population competed as faculties. 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 'Arts Fac' and 'Science Fac' cheers have since made way for the new house cheers.

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
• 2008: Pegasus
• 2009: Lynx
• 2010: Lynx
• 2011: Lynx

Victoria School

VJC is affiliated to Victoria School (VS). VJC was established in 1984 to replace the Pre-University classes in VS.

VJC provided VS students an option to continue a two-year junior college education within the Victorian family after the completion of their secondary education. VS students choosing to enter VJC get two bonus points off their GCE 'O'-Level L1R5 academic aggregate.

Students from VS and Cedar Girls' Secondary School in the 6-year Victoria-Cedar Alliance Integrated Programme (VCA IP) continue their Year 5 and 6 education in VJC.

There is likely to be a merger between VS and VJC in the future as seen in the Raffles Institution and Raffles Junior College merger of 2009.

Scholars

Four Victoria Junior College students had received the prestigious President's Scholarships.

• Sng Chem Wei, 1990
• Brandon Lee Tian Boon, 1991
• Nicholas Tay, 2009
• Chow Yi Ling (Ms), 2010

Victoria Advisory Committee

The Victoria Advisory Committee (VAC), formed in 1968, set the direction and advises on the future of Victoria School and Victoria Junior College.

The principals of VS and VJC, as well as the President of the Old Victorians' Association, sit on the Committee. The present Chairman of the Committee is LG (NS) Ng Yat Chung, a former Chief of Defence Force of the Singapore Armed Forces and old boy of VS.

Victoria Chorale

Formed in 1988, Victoria Chorale, which comprises of graduands of Victoria School and Victoria Junior College, is one of Singapore's top semi-professional choirs. It has won numerous prizes at many prestigious international competitions, including gold medals at the Choir Olympics.

Old Victorians' Association

The alumni body, Old Victorians’ Association (OVA), was established in 1941. It serves as a channel for former students of Victoria School and Victoria Junior College to continue to associate with their alma mater.

The OVA supports the activities undertaken by the schools, assists needy students, and promotes sports, social and cultural activities among members.

Every first Saturday of March has been designated Victorians' Day, when Victorians from VS and VJC of all years play games, eat school canteen food again and catch up with long-time schoolmates.

The OVA football team plays an annual friendly football match with Victoria Institution Old Boys' Association (VIOBA), the alumni body of Victoria Institution, Malaysia. The OVA hockey teams play in the Singapore Hockey Federation - Men's Division 3 League and Women's Premier League.

In 2009, OVA organized the inaugural combined VS and VJC gala concert, with a 260-strong cast comprising both students and celebrity alumni, at the Esplanade Concert Hall.

In 2011, OVA organized the Victoria School 135th Anniversary Celebration Dinner at the former VS campus at Tyrwhitt Road.

Notable alumni

Politics

• Lawrence Wong: Minister of State, Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Education, 2011-
• Alex Yam: Member of Parliament, Chua Chu Kang Group Representation Constituency, 2011-
• Janice Koh: Nominated Member of Parliament, 2012-; Stage and television actress
• Chong Chieng Jen: Member of Parliament, Bandar Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia; Vice-Chairman, Democratic Action Party, Malaysia
• Nicole Seah: Prominent opposition candidate for National Solidarity Party in the Singaporean general election, 2011
• Tony Tan Lay Thiam: Prominent opposition candidate for National Solidarity Party in the Singaporean general election, 2011
• Chia Ti Lik: Secretary-General, Socialist Front

Government

• BG Tan Meng Dui: Deputy Secretary (Technology), Ministry of Defence
• Lam Yi Young: CEO, Maritime & Port Authority
• BG Kwek Kok Kwong: Commander, Air Defence and Operations Command, Singapore Armed Forces

Entertainment and The Arts

Television

• Diana Ser: Actress and presenter
• Michelle Chong: Actress, compere and film-director, Mediacorp; Winner, Best Comedy Performance (Highly Commended), Asian Television Awards, 2008
• Joanne Peh: Actress, Mediacorp; Best Actress, Star Awards 2009; Miss Elegant and Miss Personality, Miss Singapore Universe, 2002
• Felicia Chin: Actress, Mediacorp; Winner, Star Search 2003; Youngest national softball player at the age of 15, 1999
• Rebecca Lim: Actress, Mediacorp; Best Actress, Asian Television Awards, 2010; Fourth runner-up and Miss Photogenic, Miss Singapore Universe, 2005
• Pamelyn Chee: Actress
• Lee Teng: Compere, Mediacorp; 1st runner-up, Superhost, 2005/2006
• Glenda Chong: News presenter, Mediacorp; Best News Anchor, Asian Television Awards, 2001

Music

• Ho Yeow Sun: Music Ambassador, 2008 Beijing Olympics
• Keely Wee: Female champion, Campus SuperStar, Season 2, 2007

Film

• Kelvin Tong: Film director, producer and screenwriter
• Tan Pin Pin: Singapore Oscar-winning film director

Radio

• Georgina Chang: Senior creative director, 987FM
• Joe Augustin: Radio presenter and voiceover artist

Theatre

• Noor Effendy Ibrahim: Artistic director, The Substation
• Natalie Hennedige: Artistic Director, Cake Theatrical Productions

Magic

• J C Sum: Illusionist

Comics

• Sonny Liew: Comic artist/illustrator, best known for his work on Vertigo Comics' "My Faith in Frankie"

Miss Singapore Universe

• Cheryl Marie Cordeiro: Winner, Miss Singapore Universe, 1999
• Nuraliza Osman: Winner, Miss Singapore Universe, 2002
• Jessica Tan: Winner, Miss Singapore Universe, 2007

Corporate

• Douglas Foo: Founder, Sakae Sushi; Entrepreneur of the Year, 1992
• Adam Khoo: Best-selling author and peak-performance trainer
• Willin Low: Lawyer-turned-restaurateur/chef
• Chua Shenzi: Founder, NewUrbanMale.com (NUM)
• Han Kwee Juan: CEO, Citibank Singapore

External links

• Official website of Victoria School
• Official website of Victoria Junior College
• Official website of Old Victorians' Association
• Victoria Chorale