Mrs Tang's Message

Dear Qin En and everyone,
Remember that you can be happy and successful in any of the JCs you have been posted to, not just RJC or HCJC or VJC or NJC and that being able to adjust fast and well to your new environment will stand you in very good stead for success in the A Levels.
I am happy for those who are successful in your appeal because you have your wish fulfilled. However, for those who are disappointed, maybe you will look back in 2 years' time and feel grateful you did not succeed. Trust in God as He may close certain doors for you and open others in your best interest.
Life is full of surprises and silver linings so look out for them. A positive attitude in facing life's challenges and surprises makes all the difference in your happiness and success. The grass on the other side of the fence always looks greener but really, it isn't.
In my current illness, I have been surprised by the goodness of God in His personal attention to us mere mortals as individuals and I feel so grateful to Him for concrete evidence of His care. Another day I shall tell you all about how He has surprised me. Thanks indeed for praying for me as I believe that some of these surprises are the result of the prayers of my friends, relatives and students like you because His answers come for prayers I never even uttered!
So dear gentlemen, look forward to your very short 2 years in JC with gratitude and excitement whichever JC you have been posted to. Do not waste time being unhappy or disappointed. There is a Chinese saying that says that every good thing has a negative/bad side to it just as every bad thing has a surprising silver lining. I believe this from 60 years of life as a human being. Think of all the poor people who have suffered terribly, such as the victims of the Haiti earthquake and the fact that Singapore JCs are all really good. What the JCs are like depend on people like you. Even individuals like you can liven and inspire your tutorial groups. Try it, it is really true. One or two encouraging and enthusiastic students can change the quality of discussions and make the tutors enthusiastic too.
Love,
Mrs Tang
PS. Continue to pray for me. I just started chemotherapy this morning!

Subject Combis

Over the next few days most of you will be selecting your subject combinations. A few pointers:

Strike a balance between choosing subjects you really like and subjects that will be useful in university admission to the course of your choice.

Do not let your choices be influenced by people around you. You are the one that's studying. So it should be ultimately your choice.

Consult the subject syllabuses on www.seab.gov.sg website so that you can choose your subjects wisely and know what to expect to learn in the lessons.

PCME is the most versatile combination but you need to think about whether you will enjoy Economics or not. Economics is new to everyone so there will be a learning curve.

Last of all, beware of the deadline for submitting subject combinations, ESPECIALLY if the process is done online. Do not wait till last minute as the server will definitely lag.

JAE Results and Appeal

JAE results will be out by the modes of sms, the internet or by telephone. I suppose most of you have supplied a mobile phone number so expect an sms on the morning of Wednesday the 27th.

For those who want to appeal, you will need to refer to the websites of the relevant JCs for information on how to appeal. Some JCs will require you to fill in an online form, and submit some documents in person at their general office. Others will just require you to print and fill in a form and submit it at their general office. Either way, you will require photocopies of O level results slip, report card (Prelim results), CCA records, testimonials and supporting documents. Please prepare these photocopies NOW if you are expecting to appeal. Deadline for appeals depends on the JC, but is usually either the end of the working day on the 27th, or lunchtime of the 28th.

Qin En has mentioned about writing appeal letters before. If you are writing one (and you should), please have it proofread by classmates and also by a teacher if possible.

The first day of JC will be 28th January. You will report to the JC that you have been posted to even if you are appealing for another JC.

Wishing you all the best in the academic year ahead!

Appeal and Subject Combos

Hey people,

many of u have been asking the following questions, so i will summarise them in this short FAQ:

1. JAE results are not released yet. Can I appeal?

Ok, You cannot officially appeal now, since the appeal forms are not out yet from respective JCs. However, you should and must start preparation.

2. On JC websites, appeal attempts only need CCA records, prelim results, etc. Why must I write a letter / submit my portfolio?

Chances are, you are appealing to the top JCs. If these JCs were so easy to enter, do you need to appeal? Think of how many appeal applicants there will be. More than your friends, people from all other schools. WHAT THE HECK IS GONNA GIVE YOU THE ADVANTAGE??? WHAT THE HECK IS GONNA MAKE YOU DIFFERENT??? WHY THE HECK SHOULD THE JC TAKE YOU IN?

The answer to that is self-evident. The letter / portfolio will give you that added advantage.

3. Why so hurry? I can do all these later!

Ok, go ahead and slack, and work your heads off once your JAE results release and you only have a couple of days to get everything done. Chances are that you work is slipshot and sucky.

4. How do I make sure that my letter / portfolio is good?

Well, you can always email it to some of ur friends , (INCLUDING ME), then I can help you edit them... There wont be much major changes, just the way you put it. What i offer you is that I can make you sound more "lucrative" (sorry for making you sound so sleazy and cheap), but that is how things work. Your choice, your decision, your fate. Email me at laughingmaniaclives@yahoo.com.sg

5. Which subject combo should I take?

Depends on what you want. If you are going for Science and want to be part of the majority ( I mean really majority), go for PCME or BCME. For those pple who dont know what this means, go fly a kite. Just joking...each alphabet stands for the subject. P for Physics, C for Chem, M for Maths, E for Econs, B for Bio.

The PCME and BCME combos are the most common in RJ and HCI; that I am sure of. Other JCs, i not so sure. PCME is the most generalisitc course...take that and you got almost ALL options open you. It is like the universal, non-specialist. BCME will limit your options to science and research, and without chemistry, trying to go into engineering is very hard. But the plus point is that most girls are going for BCME, so if you take that, you probably be in a class majority girls.

AND PLEASE FOR HEAVEN'S SAKE, DONT ASK IF YOU NEED TO TAKE H2 MATHS. It is the most important and layman subject. For the year of 2009, only 2 JC2s out of 1500 RJC students do not take maths. Thats like 0.005%. You wanna be part of that, go ahead. And without maths, good luck to you. You can tear out three quarters of any university prospectus.

For Arts people, common combos are Geog, History, Econs, Maths. Interested with other Lit subjects, sub it in with either Geog or Hist.

If you need personalised advice, once again, contact me. There are too many options for me to type out


Also, got any questions, email or msn me.

All the Best!

Important Stuff for JAE and JC Choices

If you have lost your JAE booklet, download a soft copy from here.

Follow the instructions on the MOE letter/Form A that you have been given. It's advisable to make photocopies of all your slips of paper for safekeeping in the future as well.

Anyway, for your reference, this is a compiled list of JC open houses for 13th January (Wednesday). NJC is not included because registration for the tours has already closed and visits to it are by tour only. VJC already had their open house last October and will not have one this season.

Anderson JC
10.30am to 5pm

Anglo Chinese JC
12pm to 5pm

Catholic JC
1pm to 6pm

Hwa Chong JC
10am to 4pm

Innova JC
11pm to 5pm

Meridian JC
12pm to 5pm

Pioneer JC
9am to 5pm

Raffles Institution (JC)
9am to 4pm

Yishun JC
11.30am to 5pm

Final Word

Gentlemen, Welcome back from the Judegement Day

We have been through a lot I must say. For some of us, it has been exhilarating and joyful. For some of us, it has been disappointment. As much as we have prepared ourselves for the outcomes, we still are reluctant to accept reality at times. Especially when you are feeling down.

But what i want to say is all of us have finished the fight. We have done extremely well, as a class and as individuals. You have all made it, and we have all finished the good fight.

So now, what's done is done. But the purpose of me writing here is not to console or encourage you. What I want is to encourage ALL of you to soar further and try your best.

Now is JAE. Many of us with varied results do not know whether to go for the top JCs, even if our results dont allow us to. My verdict is: GO FOR IT!

We dont give a shit about how you did. If you think you have the chances of getting into the JC of your choice (be it RJ, HC, VJ), apply and appeal for it. Don't let the opporunity for your chacne to be in the place where you want to be slip through your fingers.

There is NO HARM in trying. Even if you fail to appeal, at least you can look back without regrets and declare that you have exhausted all possibilities. YOu dont want to regret in time to come and say: Why didnt I not give myself a chance.


So go ahead, follow your heart and strive towards your dream JC. YOu can do it. All you have to do is to now collate all your achievements and portfolio, and SUBMIT THE PORTFOLIO TO THE SCHOOL YOU WANT TO APPEAL IN ASAP.

Dont wait until the posting come out. You can imagine the floods of appeals comiong in to the top JCs. So send in your portfolio and application to your JC immediately so that they will keep you fresh in mind and you will gain an advanatage.

Remember, your advantage comes from being first, so go ahead and JUMP for the JC you want!


Last but not least, May the Force be with You, and GOD Bless all of you now and forever. Some of our paths may meet again, some may not, but always remember that we walked through 2 years of the most memorable journey of our lives as one class, one body.

Admin Matters

1. Assembly time is 2pm on Monday. Should be school hall. To make admin easier, bring along your JAE booklet, EZ link/NRIC, stationary etc. Have your haircuts as well and remember what Qin En said in the previous post.

2. The JC Admissions Exercise begins Monday and ends on Friday. Information on how to submit your JC applications is in your JAE booklets. Application will be done online. Please fill up the worksheet in ur JAE booklet before registering online as you will be logged out after 15 minutes of inactivity. JC application closes 4pm Friday.

3. JC posting results will be released on 27th January by SMS, telephone or on the web, depending on what you opt for and what details you submit on registration.

4. These are just tentative dates. Read MOE's official announcement here.

Final Word

Gentlemen,

This is what I really feel, and think it is the most important post on this blog ever so far. So please read it slowly and mull upon it.

Monday, 11 January will be the day our O level results will be released. We all feel nervous and excited now that we are so close, yet so far to reaching out to our fate.

And we all know that some of us will be delighted, some of us will be dejected. But what I would really like to tell all is that WE HAVE TRIED OUR BEST. For all the practice and study we have done over the last two years, it was to culminate to the final battle. The final battle is now over, and the battle's results are to be released.

I would like all of us to know that we have already put in our all, and just remember this one phrase before you wear on the Catholic High School uniform one last time on Monday:

Don't Cry because It's Over, Smile Because it Happened.

Yes, it may sound very idealistic and what I say might be forgotten in view of the results on Monday, but for those who do not achieve what they wanted, just remember to be strong and never give up. Tough times don't last, tough people do.

As a foreword, to those who achieved stellar results, bask in your happiness on Monday, but be aware of those around you. You have achieved success, and we all congratulate you whole-heartedly. But do reach out and help your peers who need the support and encouragement.

To those who have achieved results that you consider moderate, also be joyful, and know that you have crossed a hurdle in your life journey and should continue to strive hard.

To those who have not achieved results they wanted (I am being very careful with what I say here), just remember that Tough Times Don't Last, Tough People do. You have crossed the hurdle with difficulty, but know that this will only make you stronger. He who can last and perservere will soar.

With all this said, once again, it might be all forgotten on Monday. But i still really hope that we can be strong and stay strong.

Look again at our tagline for this blog. Our Blog, Our Class, SUCCESS. Success is what we will all achieve; it is just a matter of time, courage and strength

So with that, I end off, and wish everyone All the Best. Monday will be the last day we all see each other, and may you be blessed always.

Remember: SMILE BECAUSE IT HAPPENED!

What to bring

Please read the previous blog post for details on meeting time and place. Here's what we suggest you bring for the chalet:

Clothes (3 days)

Toiletries

Towels, sleeping bags, anything that can be used as a mattress or bed (The chalet has 8 beds, not enough)

Snacks (Tons of them)

INSTANT NOODLES (Cup, but if you have packet, you can still cook in the kitchen)

CARDS

DVDs

NEBO cards if you have

Entertainment devices of any sort (Includes LAPPIES)

Cash (Since lodging and BBQ are already paid for, say $50?)

Class Chalet Final Reminder

Just some pointers for most of us who have been holidaying and know nuts about the chalet thing:

Date: 6 January to 8 January (Wed to Fri)
Check in Time: 6 Jan 3pm
Check Out: Fri 10am

BBQ Time: 6 Jan 5.30pm--Midnight?

Location: Aloha LOYANG

Nearest MRT: PASIR RIS

Chalet Terrace Number: 8


Please note that we are meeting on 6 January at 2.30pm at Pasir Ris MRT station for those who are coming on first day. Please indicate that you are coming to either me or colin cheng via sms, email or blog tag. This is of utmost importance.

We will gather and leave together...So if you dont want to be left out, inform us so that we can wait for you in the event you arrive slightly late.

With that, see you all on 6 Jan!

P.S. We can do Mrs Tang's card there too; that's if you want... ;)