JC1 ORIENTATION - Ministry of Education

RIVER VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL

HIGHLIGHTS

RV 63 SONG MEDLEY

DIVING INTO ACTION

JC1 ORIENTATION

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NEWSLETTER • ISSUE 01 / 2019

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立化63周年校庆活动

今年1月16日，立化中学全体师生齐聚礼堂，共同庆祝立化建校63周年。

为了这次校庆，同学们踊跃参加为校庆举办的歌曲创作比赛，最后有两首歌曲获得评委青睐，在庆典上现场表演，歌曲凸显了同学们对立化的归属感，引起在座的老师、校友和同学们的共鸣。

今年的校庆主题为“感恩.63.创新”。校长李惠棣女士在致词时再次强调立化精神——创新求异的重要性，并提到立化在过去一年里，学校取得的佳绩，特别赞扬了表现杰出的校友、同学。他们树立了好榜样，我相信大家都能以他们为荣。校长希望大家再次携手共进，让立化再攀高峰。在致词中，李校长也不忘感谢在座的每一位咨询委员会委员及校友的到来。

接着，便是立化高中戏剧组的表演。他们利用子孙之间的谈话，巧妙地把立化六次搬迁，三改校名，以及立化如何从一所华文政府中学，发展到今天优秀的直通车学校的过程，完整地演绎出来。令人难忘！

不知不觉，庆典已来到了尾声，校长与嘉宾上台切蛋糕，大家起立为立化唱生日歌，为校庆画上圆满的句号。我们心系立化，立化永远是我们温暖的家。

黄梓妍 (4K)

Happy 63rd Birthday RV!

Keeping the shoes dry while singing in the rain - a scene from CLDDS’s original play 风雨同舟63载.

Mdm Leong Fun Chin sharing with the students her heartfelt memories as former RV principal.

RV63 Celebrations

Principal Mrs Teo and guests arriving for the school anniversary celebration.

Principal Mrs Teo presenting a token of appreciation to the Guest-of-Honour, School Advisory Committee Chairman Mr Lim Lee Meng.

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Songwriting and music production have been a part of RV culture ever since the birth of Xinyao. In recent years, songwriting has re-emerged in our campus, along with the rise of a new generation of RV songwriters and singers, carrying on the legacy of our seniors. This year, in conjunction with the RV63 Songwriting Competition, the 40th Students’ Council was inspired to put together a RV Song Medley as an RV63 gift, with the aim of honouring our seniors’ legacy, by showcasing all the songs that RVians have written, in hope to inspire future generations of RVians.

The process of putting together this medley of RV songs was definitely a memorable and meaningful one. While it was difficult, all of us were very clear of our end goal. With this shared vision, we are able to gather RVians to embark on the journey with us.

When the final product was screened during the RV63 celebrations, all of us were excited and we were glad to see that RVians enjoyed it as well. Furthermore, after being uploaded to our Youtube channel for only less than a day, the video reached more than 2000 views!

This RV Song Medley would not have been possible without the help of many RVians, both past and present. This collaboration brings RVians closer together as this project resonates within

us strongly. By aligning our individual strengths, RV students are capable of creating something meaningful beyond ourselves, for the school.

This video belongs to all 63 batches of Rvians whose memories are captured in the video. We hope that through this medley, RVians are reminded that songwriting culture is something uniquely ours and may the next generation of RV songwriters and singers pursue the craft as well. Chase your dreams, and continue singing our RV story!

Lim Ren Jie (18J10), Jason Yeo Thiam Poh (18J09)

RV 63 Song Medley

Musicians hard at work to record the song medley.

RV63 Celebrations

Filming of the song, Stage!

The end product of our filming!

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The 2018 GCE ‘A’ Level results were released on Friday 22 February 2019. River Valley High School’s IP graduates have, like their seniors, done the school proud with their excellent ‘A’ Level results!

Out of the whole cohort of 379 students, a total of 99 students managed to obtain at least 6 distinctions. In addition, a record high of 57.1% of the students obtained at least 85 University Admission Points (UAP) with a total of 48 students obtaining the maximum score of 90 UAP.

Besides, the school is proud to share that 48.0% of the whole cohort scored at least 3 distinctions in their H2 subjects and 75.5% of the students who offered 4H2 combination obtained A/B grade for all their H2 subjects.

The school also congratulates the 2018 cohort of students for their achievements in various H2/H1 subjects.

2018 GCE A' Levels Results

A Level Results

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With the release of 2018’s spectacular ‘A’ Level results, we managed to interview four outstanding graduates on their ‘A’ Levels journey. The four graduates, Gerald Goh (6P, second row, first from right), Luke Tan (6J, second row, middle), Thoe Xin Yi (6F, first row, middle) and Chu Ting Fang (6M, first row, first from right), embodied the school’s core values as they overcame obstacles and challenges leading up to the ‘A’ Levels. They shared with us how the school values have shaped them to be the people they are today.

People-centricity “The three most important pillars of support

you must always have are your family, friends and teachers.”

Luke Tan believed that there is no success story without the support system built around him throughout the years. His sentiments were echoed by Gerald Goh who further explained that engaging in sports with friends had really helped him to rejuvenate and become mentally prepared for the examinations.

Proactiveness Thoe Xin Yi felt that it was undoubtedly crucial

to ensure that students come prepared for every lesson. This allowed them to seek clarifications on complex concepts if they needed help. Ting Fang affirmed that frequent consultation sessions with her teachers were a great motivating force that has driven her to complete her work. She encouraged students to attend consultations because not only do they help in the reinforcement of the concepts learnt, the advice given by teachers has proven to be extremely helpful.

PerseverancePreparation for the ‘A’ Levels was certainly an

arduous journey packed with anxiety and stress but our graduates showed grit and resilience in the face of adversity. For Gerald, creating his own unique studying method was crucial in helping him stay focused during the long hours of revision. Xin Yi mentioned, “A good study routine really ensures that you put in consistent effort.” She emphasised how motivation is actually short-lived while habits and routines truly lead to consistent revision.

Upholding values through the A's

A Level Results

Pursuit of Excellence

“Baby steps in the right direction can lead to significant improvements in the long run.”

Thoe Xin Yi is a firm believer of her personal mantra. One of the biggest obstacles she had to overcome was to manage her expectations. While it can be disheartening to receive results that may not reflect the effort she has put in, she realised that she should focus more on her own improvement and learning throughout her academic journey instead of comparing herself with others. She strongly encouraged us to pick ourselves up after facing setbacks and to believe in our own potential.

We would like to extend our heartfelt congratulations to the Class of 2018 for their achievements and we wish them all the best in their further endeavours.

Lin Ruoxuan (18J04), Wong Yan (18J17), Alycia Wong (18J17) and Cheng WenQi (19J06)

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Our journey started in April 2018 under the Physics Society programme of the Physics Department. Awed by the sophisticated lab equipment and complex Physics concepts the Singapore Young Physicists’ Tournament (SYPT) module offered, the eight of us signed up without further hesitation.

After the tasks for SYPT 2019 Category A were released, we started our rigorous preparation. We came to the realisation that the prospect of collecting experimental data to match our theory was challenging. Having conducted the same experiment for the umpteenth time, it was our resilience that made the ‘Eureka!’ moment even more precious and memorable. We persevered through countless rounds of rehearsals and painstakingly perfected our presentation. In the three months of intense preparation, the teachers supported us during all lab sessions, not only offering their expertise in Physics but also constantly encouraging us despite multiple setbacks during the experimentation process.

On the day of the competition, 23 February 2019, we were nervous yet eager to do our best. It was heartening to see a team of strangers had already become close friends, encouraging one another to loosen up and calm down. Fortunately, our hard work paid off as both teams achieved commendable results, with our two teams achieving the Distinction and Merit awards.

SYPT 2019 was an arduous yet invaluable journey for all of us. Having the autonomy and freedom to define and conduct our very own research enabled us to better appreciate the limitless nature of Physics. Not only did it improve our expertise level, it also grew our passion for the subject. For some, it might have been the complicated concepts, surreal phenomenon and hands-on aspects that thrilled them. For others, the camaraderie forged and every member’s selfless contribution may seem the most memorable. Nevertheless, this journey will always be a rewarding and unforgettable experience shared by us.

Pang Kai Lin (18J11)

On 20 February this year, RVians from Secondary 4 to JC2 participated in the International Biomedical Quiz held annually at Anglo-Chinese Junior College.

Under the guidance and tutelage of our alumni - Dr Lim Boon Ang, class of 81, and seniors aspiring in the medical field - we were able to gain a deeper understanding of this year’s topic, Ophthalmology. Preparation included weekly training sessions organised by seniors, and Dr Lim conducting e-lessons and a formal guest lecture at Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH).

In addition, the JC1 students had the opportunity to attend a one-day attachment at TTSH. From this experience, we observed how tests, such as the Humphrey Visual Field Test, are run, and how the slit lamp and other equipment are used in diagnosing patients’ conditions. Witnessing the procedures gave us an insight into how the knowledge we learnt is applied in a clinical setting.

The hard work and preparation put us in a better position to answer the competition questions. After a taxing round of writing, our school made it to the stage round. The team comprising Monica Rae (18J02), Sammi Ong (18J04), Zheng Meijia (18J05) and Choi Tong En (18J05) was faced with rigorous questions and distinguished guest judges assessed their answers. Despite the gruelling round, the team persevered and emerged as 3rd runner-up. Overall, our students achieved tremendous results.

This competition has truly been enriching, having exposed us to topics beyond our syllabus, and arousing our interest and curiosity in biomedical science.

Chan Xin Hui (19J03)

Singapore Young Physicists' Tournament 2019

RVHS Team 1

Achievements

Biomedical Quiz

Our JC2 team qualified for the stage round at the International Biomedical Quiz.

Dr Lim Boon Ang sharing a light-hearted moment with our students.

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During his younger days as a competitive swimmer, Mr Kwok Ying Liang would respond negatively to any races that he lost. At one point, he was so overwhelmed with dejection that he stopped competing completely. But over time, River Valley High School’s new Vice Principal began to realise why he enjoyed the sport so much in the first place.

“It liberated me. It allowed me to reflect and think, and shut off my

worries,” he said. Having overcome his past setbacks, Mr Kwok still swims regularly and

when work allows, he competes in races. “I even have my favourite swimmers too, similar to how many students

might have a favourite sports person or artist. It is quite exciting to see them win their competitions,” he added.

He joined River Valley High School late last year, and lately the Student

Editorial Club took the opportunity to spend some time with Mr Kwok and found out more about what makes him tick.

What academic subjects have you taught before or have the most interest in?

I am a Chemistry teacher so I enjoy teaching ‘A’ Level Chemistry quite a fair bit. In fact, I really like nucleophilic substitution reactions. I think that reaction mechanisms in organic chemistry are most interesting to me because it is about pattern recognition. When teaching organic chemistry, I do not see it as content focused; I feel it is akin to deciphering a pattern. And I apply it in other areas – in work, life or situations where I aim to identify if there is a recurring pattern and whether there is a solution to it.

Do you miss teaching the subject?

To a certain extent, I do. The classroom environment offers direct interaction with students — the reason why I decided to be a teacher in the first place. When you move on to more managerial roles, you tend to get a little more distant from the students. However, your sphere of influence increases because you get to influence teachers, to encourage them to become better in their craft and therefore ultimately benefit the students, which is why we are all in the teaching profession. We want to help students improve and become better persons in future.

What aspirations do you have for RV students?

I want RVians to remember that you will grow up to be leaders of distinction. This must be coupled with a good set of values. When you eventually go to work, the problems you will face might not have straightforward answers or they might not be absolutely right or wrong. Instead, some of the challenges students will face are often such right and right decisions. This makes it very difficult to determine your route, and is very dependent on your own value systems. The belief of being leaders of distinction usually comes with certain trade-offs but I hope that students will be able to counter them when the time comes.

How do you think we can further place emphasis on these values so that the students can remember them after leaving school?

I think that is exactly what is being done in our classrooms today. We put a lot of emphasis on knowing what you are learning, so we have systems like the Cultures Of Thinking environment that actually provides a platform to air your views. This is done through talking and discussions to clarify what we know and believe in. Then, what we believe in will in turn shape our individual value systems.

What else would you want students to know about?

The schooling experience is always seemingly long but actually it is very short. So, treasure your schooling experience, appreciate all the good thoughts your teachers have for you and do not forget them. Remember to learn and internalise the lessons learnt well as they will place you in good stead for the future.

Lim Tze Dean (18J13) and Yuan Chen Xin (18J15)

Diving into Action

Our New Vice-Principal

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River Valley High School commemorated Total Defence Day with a series of programmes leading up to 1 February 2019. The Total Defence Day team’s main objective was to promote cyber wellness amongst the student body. With the rapid advancements in technology and the increasing threat of hackers and cyber attacks, together with Cyber Defence being recently added as the sixth Total Defence pillar, the team felt that it was important to bring across such a message. They also felt that cyber defence would be a relevant topic to the student body as teenagers use the internet and other data-based technologies on a daily basis, exposing them to various risks.

To commemorate this day, the National Education Council prepared a video centered

The name “Gap Exploration Month” was inspired by the gap year that some college students take to travel and explore different parts of the world, or take up internships to gain new experiences. Similarly, the Gap Exploration Month was designed for RVians to explore interests and broaden their horizons. By being exposed to different perspectives of people from various walks of life, we developed a better understanding of our society.

One of the highlights of the Gap Exploration Month is the Social Investigation Project. It enabled us to step out of our comfort zones and reach out to the public. By conducting surveys and interviews with the public, we learnt to better empathise with different people. This not only heightened our awareness of difficulties faced by different communities, but also planted the seeds for us to contribute more to society.

Another meaningful programme is the Education Career Guidance programme. Through the sharing by various speakers, students were able to find out more about the opportunities different industries and local universities have to offer. With the insights gleaned from the talks and learning journeys, we have a better understanding of the prospects and opportunities we can strive for.

The Sports Enrichment Programme enabled RVians to experience various sports beyond Physical Education lessons and emphasised the importance of healthy living. We also learnt more

Total Defence Day 2019

Gap Exploration Month

Sec 1-2 students learning about Cryptography during their interaction lesson on Cybersecurity.

SEP – Rock Climbing

School-Wide Events and Activities

about topics that we are interested in through Academic Exploration where we chose courses from online platforms.

With all these enriching activities and programmes, we spent a meaningful and fruitful month to propel us into our JC life!

Lim Li Xuan, Linette (19J19)

on the idea of cyber wellness, its impacts on our country’s security and the various steps that should be taken to reduce the risks of facing a cyber attack. The goal of the video was to present these ideas in a manner accessible to their peers and to remind their peers that they, too, can play a vital role in preventing cyber attacks.

Having seen the positive feedback the video received from the students and teachers, the Total Defence Day team is honoured to have been involved in the ideation and planning of this year’s Total Defence Day programme. They hope to apply the skills they have gained from such an experience to their daily life.

Swann Teh Tong Ay (4J)

SIP – Interview with the public on social needs.

SEP – Dragon Boat

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School-Wide Events and Activities

2019年“春到河畔”学生导览之旅

落地生根，开拓新家园

今年的春到河畔，公众除了可以观赏绚丽的烟花汇演、精彩的节目表演，也可以参观今年的春到河畔特展“心系河畔，话说狮城”。这次特展以新加坡河为背景，展现出新加坡河从殖民地时期至今的变迁与转变。来自六所学校的学生导览员，以角色扮演的方式讲述着新加坡河的曾经、现在和未来。这次的特展展厅也独具一格，展厅不仅比往年大了一倍，而且造型还是根据一艘绿头船设计的。这艘绿头船的意义重大，它代表着来自中国的祖先们搭乘这艘船，飘扬过海地来到新加坡落地生根。

我们很荣幸能够代表立化中学参加这项导览活动。从这次的体验中，我们不仅学会了许多导览技巧，还学会了如何随机应变，比如说：当我们无法回答观众的提问时，我们学会了怎样礼貌地去回应他们。

在整个导览过程中，虽然很累，每次导览过后都要很晚才能回到家，但一想到公众对我们的赞扬和鼓励，我们就会觉得这点苦不算什么。而且，我们也有机会为部长、议员，甚至我们的总理，李显龙先生进行导览。对此，我们荣幸至极。

“落地生根，开拓新家园”，是由新加坡宗乡会馆联合总会为纪念新加坡开埠两百年所主办的展览。我们学生导览员以角色扮演的方式，带领大家走入时光隧道，通过六个展区，探索先辈们如何从落叶归根的“过番客”逐渐成为落地生根的新加坡人。

在学习如何成为一个合格的导览员的过程中，我们觉得最有意义的，便是了解先辈们当初下南洋的经历，因为这令我们更加感恩并且珍惜我们现在所拥有的一切。没有当初这些辛苦的先辈们，新加坡也不会有如此繁荣的今天。我们这些年轻一辈不应该辜负先辈们的努力，而是应该学习他们坚韧不拔的精神。

参加了导览培训之后，我们也对新加坡的历史有了更深一层的认识。我们以前只知道有红头巾妇女的存在，但现在我们认识到其实不仅有红头巾，还有黑头巾以及蓝头巾妇女。戴着不同颜色的头巾就代表着她们来

今年是我们头一回以学生导览员的身份为公众导览，一开始不免会有些紧张，但一次又一次的练习，培养了我们彼此之间的默契，很快地，我们对自己的能力有了信心，使我们在导览时能够自由发挥，呈现出自己最好的表现。

我们想要感谢老师们对我们的支持和信任。学校给了我们这次表现自己华文口语水

平的机会也让我们由衷地感激。这次的经验真的让我们受益匪浅。这也许是我们第一次，也是最后一次代表学校参加春到河畔特展的导览，但我们希望学弟学妹们今后可以再接再厉，更上一层楼，为立化争光！同时，我们也希望学校能够继续给我们更多的平台，让我们一起合作，绽放异彩！

陈姝祯 (3A)，符永泰 (3B)

自中国不同的地方。不同颜色的头巾方便她们辨认哪些是她们的同乡人。

我们在这个活动中最享受的就是在导览培训时和其他学校的学生互动的过程。其他学校的学生们也非常优秀，所以这开阔了我们的眼界，并提醒我们“人外有人，天外有天”。而我们也应该学无止境，取长补短。

在培训的过程中，对我们来说最有挑战的地方是要将导览稿自然地呈现出来。这次的导览和以往的并不一样，我们不是以一个导览员的身份进行导览，而是要通过角色扮

演的方式生动地诉说先辈们的故事以及新加坡的发展。因此，我们学到了在导览时，最重要的是要真正地明白导览稿的内容，并融会贯通，绝不能死记硬背。在导览时，若有意料之外的状况，也要懂得灵活应对，表现出十足的自信。

总的来说，“落地生根，开拓新家园”的导览是一次即特别又宝贵的学习体验。这次的活动让我们都获益良多，并且学到了不少在课堂上学不到的知识。

钟品曼 (3B)，童靖媛 (3C)

与“落地生根，开拓新家园”新春导览主宾哈莉玛总统合影。

与春到河畔导览主宾傅海燕部长以及洪维能议员合影。

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Singapore World Water Day is an annual campaign led by PUB. The Eco-Sustainability Leadership Academy (TESLA) was privileged to be invited back to the launch event on March 2, at the Marina Barrage. Amalyn Leong (18J13), TESLA’s president, was even invited to launch the event alongside the Guest-of-Honour, President Halimah Yacob and other distinguished guests!

For the event, TESLA created an educational game to illustrate how thimbles, a small plastic

Co-Curricular Activities Curriculum

TESLA @ Launch of Singapore World Water Day

一路走来，有笑有泪-记2018世界中学生华语辩论公开赛

去年12 月中旬，我校中文学会辩论社前往马来西亚，参加了世界中学生华语辩论公开赛。紧锣密鼓的赛前准备，电光火石的唇枪舌剑，以及赛后情不自禁的笑中带泪，都是我们难忘而美好的回忆。

在前期准备时，我们走入了生活、走进了时事，也重新思考了很多从未思考过的问题。我们思辩生活中的为人处事之道——为人处事应不应该以德报怨？我们也将视线放到了政治人物和政策议题上——政治人物被

套上明星光环是否利大于弊？马来西亚应不应该禁止政府以诽谤罪起诉公民？除了时事课题，我们也思考了如何学习历史——戏说历史能不能帮助青少年培养历史观？不得不说，这趟旅程除了让我们感叹平日学习积累的重要，也让我们深刻认识到培养批判性思维、环球意识与跨文化沟通技能的重要性，在这过程中我们获益匪浅。虽然结果不是最理想的，也留下了一些遗憾，但我相信我们能越挫越勇，继续努力。

能够受邀参加世中杯这样的国际赛事，实属难得可贵的机会。我们有幸与来自马来西亚、中国大陆、台湾等地的辩手进行切磋，唇枪舌剑的交锋不但磨练了我们的辩论技巧，更激发了我们的无限斗志和无穷潜力，让我们能够在短时期内取得极大的进步，不断超越自我。而能取得这样的成就，除了我

们自身的努力外，也要归功于老师和教练的辛勤付出，以及评委们客观犀利、一针见血的点评与建议。

一路走来，有笑有泪。难以忘记晚上十二点，大脑超负荷运转的那种疲惫。也难以忘记赢得比赛时，那种如释重负的快乐与自豪。还有惜败比赛时，内心不甘与悔恨混杂的苦涩。固然是辛苦，固然是不易，但更难忘记的，是讨论时偶尔的插科打诨逗得众人捧腹大笑，是比赛后看见老师精心准备的饭菜在桌上腾腾冒着热气，更是获胜时内心满溢的骄傲与自豪交织的喜悦。这一切的一切，都是珍贵而难忘的回忆，将被我们每一个人好好珍藏。

我们从小组赛突出重围，却遗憾止步十六强。虽然心有不甘，但这也正提醒了我们，自己还有很多进步的空间。

新加坡的双语教育政策造就了今日的我们，就算面对来自中国、马来西亚、台湾各地的队伍，我们也能坚定地在辩场上告诉大家，身为新加坡华族的一份子，我们会不断努力，力求游刃于双语双文化之间。中文学会辩论队一定会继续努力，再创高峰！

刘清音 (18J10)

device installed at the end of taps, can help reduce households’ water consumption. It involved players shaking ping-pong balls out of a box with two holes at the bottom, into a pail. The balls are obstructed from “flowing” out of the box smoothly, similar to how the rate of water flow would be reduced by thimbles.

The game was well received, as seen from the members of the public forming queues to have a go. Through the simple game and an

accompanying graphic, TESLA was successful in inspiring participants to save water, and many subsequently chose to sign up for the free water-saving kit offered by PUB. Overall, it was an enriching experience for TESLA members, as we learnt how to relay key water-saving messages in a simple but engaging manner, allowing for a lasting impression.

Tong Yizhi (18J05), Liu Yixuan (18J05) and Lee Wei Jin (18J08)

十大最佳辩手之一刘清音，2018世界中学生华语辩论公开赛。

蓄势待发。

The TESLA team who worked hard to make the event a success!

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Christmas Carolling at Gardens by the Bay


Seniors and juniors basking in the Christmas spirit.

Yearning for yet another carolling experience since our performance in 2014, we were exhilarated to be given another opportunity to relive the magical moments.

In December, River Valley Chamber Singers (RVCS) prepared 12 carols to share with the jolly crowd who was soaking in the Christmas spirit at Gardens by the Bay. Our repertoire included classic church hymns like “Silent Night” and “The First Noel”, and more upbeat, joyful melodies like “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” and “Frosty the Snowman”. With the support of our juniors from River Valley Chorale, we delivered the familiar tunes and ended the performance with contented hearts and bright smiles.

The success of this performance did not come easy as we practised hard to perfect the carols while gearing up for the 2019 Singapore Youth Festival. Some of the carols were almost taken out of our repertoire due to a lack of preparation. Nevertheless, the perseverance of the choir and the many self-initiated practices paid off, and we managed to perform the full set of carols.

For many of us, it will be our last time carolling as part of RVCS. As such, this opportunity was extra memorable and will certainly be etched in the hearts of all choir members. We hope that our juniors will be able to experience the same joy we had while carolling and continue to convey the Christmas spirit through singing!

Tang Bi Feng (18J01)

RV’s String Ensemble performed at the Singapore Youth Award ceremony held at the Istana on 21 October 2018. It is the highest national youth accolade which honours young people who represent the best of youth, and whose service, achievements and values serve as an inspiration to others. Led by conductor Mr Jesher Loi, the string ensemble presented Ms Annette Lee’s hit song, “All He Had”, a heartfelt tribute to the awardees and the unsung heroes including family members and friends.

Despite having performed this song before, we wanted to render an even better performance of it on this special occasion. This goal fueled our drive and determination, and we took every rehearsal seriously. The effort and dedication of the ensemble truly paid off, and we left the stage feeling proud of our performance. We received many compliments from guests who enjoyed the performance including Deputy Prime Minister Mr Teo Chee Hean who met with the students during the post-award reception.

To us, this was not simply just another performance opportunity. Being able to be there and to listen to the stories and experiences the awardees had to share made us realise that we too

have the ability to make a change, regardless of how big or small that change may be. It was truly inspirational to see how they were able to touch the lives of many in our community by starting small and taking the time to grow and expand their influence, helping many in the process. We are honoured to have been given this opportunity to perform at such an event and to be able to witness the success of awardees who have made a difference to our society.

Hu Hui Ying (18J11)

Performance at the Singapore Youth Award Ceremony

Taking a group photograph with DPM Teo Chee Hean and Minister for Community, Culture and Youth Ms Grace Fu.

DPM Teo Chee Hean and Minister for Community, Culture and Youth Ms Grace Fu share a light-hearted moment with the players.

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除旧迎新齐接福，立化华乐贺新春

2018年中国银行、中国文化中心学习之旅

农历新年脚步将近，风景优美的游客必打卡景点——滨海湾花园，为了迎接猪年的到来，举办了一系列名为“春 • 喜”（Spring Surprise）的春节活动。2月8日，立化华乐团前往滨海湾花园演出，为“春 • 喜”活动助兴。

立化华乐团准备了几首大家耳熟能详的新年贺曲与公众喜迎新春。这些歌曲不仅包括气势磅薄的华乐曲目《忆》为整场表演拉开序幕，还有家喻户晓的新年歌曲《迎春接福》、《新年歌儿大家唱》、《小拜年》，以及电影“我的少女时代”的主题曲《小幸运》和

2018年8月15日，中四41名双文化学生前往中国银行大厦（Bank of China building）和中国文化中心（China Cultural Centre）进行双文化学习之旅，不仅学习到中国历史与传统的相关知识，也了解到中新金融业和外交联系的历史与现状，收获颇丰。

中行大厦位于新加坡河畔，与历史悠久的富丽敦酒店毗邻。大厦第13层是新中金融博览馆，为纪念中新建交25周年和新加坡建国50周年，于2015年建立，记载了新加坡自开埠以来金融业的发展历程。作为本地第一家由


金融机构创建的金融历史博览馆，新中金融博览馆从新加坡外资垄断，到华人自营银行的设立与本地银行业的百家争鸣，再到新世纪金融发展与经济振兴这几大展览单元，还原了中国银行业最初登陆本地的一段历史，也回顾了新中两国历久弥新的友谊以及双方在各领域的合作成果。

中国银行于1936年在新加坡设立分行，但不久后，二战的战火蔓延到了新加坡，金融业陷入低谷。在日军占领新加坡的前三天，中行员工还在冒着身命危险坚持工作，其中一

位员工在外出给客户运送几十万的现金的途中突然遭遇日军的空袭，只得躲进附近的防空洞。尽管无法将款项送往客户手中，但他在空袭后立刻将钱护送回中行总部，敬业精神可嘉。二战结束后，新马合并为马来亚，而马来亚所推出的《中央银行条例》规定外资超过50%的企业不得经营，勒令中国银行停业。所幸的是，在中行新加坡分行即将关闭之际，新马的分家,又给了中行继续营业的机会。中行重新在新加坡开设分行，营业至今。4B班的陈伟航表示：“我刚发现，原来中国早就通过银行业，和新加坡建立起一套民间外交机制，而中国银行也成为了中新两国建交的一座桥梁，将两国紧密地联系在一起。”

参观中行之后，同学们来到中国文化中心，观赏“写意敦煌—中新佛教书画展”以及“一带一路”的宣传视频。书画展主要为南山真龙法师的作品，他师法汉隶，行草碑帖，各种字体与画作风格都驾驭自如。“一带一路”的宣传视频则介绍了“一带一路”倡议的由来及其历史演变。自古以来，丝绸之路一直在中国对外的文化与经贸交流中扮演重要角色，而如今，“一带一路”也成为中国的国家战略，旨在积极发展与沿线国家的经济合作伙伴关系，提升中国的国际影响力。

通过此次的学习之旅，我们将课堂知识和对现实世界的观察联系起来，从社会实践中加深了对当代中国的最新发展，以及中新合作的了解。

张子芊 (19J12)，李星宇 (19J19)

立化华乐团于滨海湾花园演出，为“春·喜”活动助兴。

立化华乐指挥郑凯文老师。

立化中四双文化学生参观中国文化中心。

周杰伦的《等你下课》。其中，《小幸运》与《等你下课》作为公众较为熟悉的华语流行歌曲，也吸引了不少观众驻足欣赏。当天，我们也请来18J09班的郑启文同学演奏架子鼓，将熟悉的旋律带给观众，活泼的鼓点使演出气氛更加热烈。

整场演出只有二十分钟，但俗话说得好：“台上一分钟，台下十年功。” 经过三个月的选歌、准备与彩排，我们收获颇丰，不仅锻炼了琴艺、自信，也与学弟妹们增进了感情。在校外演出是一次不可多得的机会，华乐团的观众从熟悉的老师与同学们变成了公众。我们希望通过这次演出获得的经验与心得，为即将来临的新加坡青年节（Singapore Youth Festival）比赛做好准备。

预祝立化华乐团在不久后的新加坡青年节中振奋人心，感动全场，再创高峰！

张钰滢 (18J17)

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Cognitive-Interest Development Curriculum (CIDC)

From 10 to 14 December 2018, a group of ten JC 2 students participated in the Student Industrial Internship Programme organised by GlaxoSmithKline (GSK).

This internship aimed to expose us to the various aspects of work in a pharmaceutical company. We had the opportunity to visit different departments in GSK to learn how each department plays a part in the production process of active pharmaceutical ingredients.

The highlight of the internship was synthesising our very own paracetamol and seeing how concepts taught in school are applied in the industry. Being able to go on site visits to the plants and laboratory also allowed us to better understand the many stages of drug development. Most importantly, we had the chance to interact with GSK staff from different departments where they shared their experiences and gave us insights into their lives as a chemist or an engineer.

Overall, this internship has been an eye-opening experience, inspiring us to further our aspirations as engineers and scientists in the future.

We would like to thank GSK and the school for giving us the opportunity to engage in this enriching experience and for our mentors’ guidance throughout the internship.

Law Ming Han (6C 2018) and Erin Lee Ke Xin (6J 2018)

From 21 to 25 January, Kevin Khoo Weixue (19J13), Gladwin Tan Ke Ye (19J15) and I participated in the International Science Youth Forum (ISYF). Organised annually by Hwa Chong Institution and Institute of Advanced Studies of the Nanyang Technological University, the ISYF serves as a platform for about 90 passionate young scientists from 40 schools across the globe to engage in intellectual discussions and cultural exchange. Throughout the five-day forum, we participated in activities such as master classes, cultural showcases, project poster exhibitions and dialogue sessions with eminent scientists.

The main highlight of the forum was the Nobel Grand Ceremony

where Nobel Laureate Sir Tim Hunt, who won a Nobel Prize in Physiology and Medicine in 2001, and Dr. Tuomo Suntola, who won the Millennium Technology Prize in 2018, presented on their perspectives on the theme ‘Science and Enterprise: A Symbiotic Union”. These accomplished researchers offered insightful responses with their personal anecdotes in answering many questions from the delegates.

In addition, we enjoyed the Team Project Challenge. We had to work in our respective groups to plan and construct a prototype of a Rube Goldberg machine which is a gadget designed to perform a simple task in an indirect and overly complex fashion. Through this hands-on activity, we interacted and formed strong bonds with both local and international delegates. Kevin’s group was the Champion in the Challenge.

Lastly, we would like to thank the school and the Science Leaders Academy for providing us with this opportunity to participate in this prestigious event.

Ng Simin (19J08)

RV-GSK Student Industrial Internship Programme

Ng Simin (19J08) brainstorming ideas at the Team Project Challenge

Dialogue session with GSK engineers

Group photo with GSK mentors

Kevin Khoo (19J13) receiving a token of appreciation from Chairperson of A*STAR, Mr Lim Chuan Poh, at the ISYF closing ceremony.

International Science Youth Forum @ Singapore

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In July 2018, our CID 4+ Physics group, under the guidance of our teachers, won first prize in the secondary school category of the Energy Innovation Challenge organised by Science Centre Singapore and the Institute of Engineers Singapore. For the award, we got the privilege of embarking on a fully sponsored Energy Innovation Challenge (EIC) study trip to Munich from 23 to 28 November to better learn about German culture and business models. This was also a rare opportunity to experience an immersion at the headquarters of an automobile industry leader, Bavarian Motor Works (BMW).

During our BMW immersion, we had the opportunity to visit its production facility and recycling centre. Coupled with the dialogue session with BMW staff, we gained rich insights into innovation and environmental sustainability. We learnt that environmental sustainability is neither about sacrifice nor compromise, but is instead an investment for our future generations. In working towards corporate sustainability, BMW leverages on creative solutions and new technology to provide premium mobility services, ultimately contributing to a better quality of life for its stakeholders.

We also visited many places of interest in Munich, including the Deutsches Science and Technology Museum where we observed classical experiments that demonstrated the theories that we learnt in our classrooms today. This visit made us better appreciate the history of science and encourage us to create value in our society through innovation. In addition, our experience at Dachao Concentration Camp left a deep impression. We were appalled by the living conditions and the medical experiments back then, making us better appreciate the security and ethics legislation that we enjoy in Singapore today.

We are indeed thankful to the school for enabling us to experience this trip that has opened our eyes to the history, arts, science and technology in Germany. We also made like-minded friends from Dunman High School and ITE College West; and the interaction with staff from Science Centre Singapore and Institute of Engineers Singapore inspires us to pursue our aspirations in the field of science and technology.

Corea Chua Ying Suang (JC1, 4B), Wang Tian Cheng Henry (JC1, 4I) and Yeoh Wen Shien (JC1, 4G)

Dialogue on sustainability with staff at BMW HQ Learning about sustainability and innovation at BMW headquarters.

Energy Innovation Challenge Study Trip to Munich, Germany

Cognitive-Interest Development Curriculum (CIDC)

We gained a deeper appreciation of art and history through the vast collection of paintings at Alte Pinakothek.

We learnt about Lugwid II of Bavaria at Neuschwanstein Castle, with staff from Institute of Engineers Singapore.

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Leadership-Character Development Curriculum (LCDC)

In November, we embarked on our first overseas Values-In-Action (OVIA) trip to Siem Reap, Cambodia, where we had the opportunity to visit Romdeng Primary School which is located in a rural village. Over there, we interacted with the Cambodian children at the primary school, we painted a wall and helped with the construction of a kitchen.

One humbling yet memorable lesson for us was when we wanted to teach the students how to upcycle old T-shirts and transform them into tote bags as we thought that it would be a good platform for students to exercise their creativity and learn how to play a part in reducing waste. As we were about to conduct the lesson, we realised that the children would rather wear the T-shirts than cut them up to be made into tote bags because many of them come from very poor families and do not have the habit of buying and discarding clothes. What may seem old and of little value to us may not necessarily be the same for these Cambodian children, and it made us realise that we have been taking our possessions for granted. Having put ourselves in their shoes, we decided to change our lesson plan and eventually, conducted a lesson on art and craft. From this incident, I learnt the importance of being adaptable, and the need to be more sensitive when interacting with people from different socio-cultural and religious backgrounds.

In conclusion, although our OVIA trip has ended, I am sure that our spirit of volunteering and desire to serve the community will last for a long time.

OVIA trip to Siem Reap

Not only can we contribute back to the community, service learning is also a valuable learning opportunity for us to reflect on our own experiences and the values and knowledge we have put into practice. Even though we may not be able to entirely empower the community to more self-sufficient, I hope that we have left an impact on their lives in one way or another, just like how they have left a positive impact on us. Because of this OVIA, I am inspired to continue volunteering and to inspire others to do service learning too.

Lim Ze Hui, Alvina (18J01)

Fun and games

The 7-day Overseas Values in Action (OVIA) trip to Chiang Mai aimed to impress upon us the value of perspective taking, empathy and collaboration. It also gave us the opportunity to visit a local school and an orphanage while also learning about Thailand’s cultures and traditions. The trip not only allowed us to serve the global community, but also gave the 26 of us the platform to plan unique activities for local students.

Overseas Values in Action Trip to Chiang Mai

Group photo with local students

The highlight of our trip was definitely interacting with the local students! Initially, the language barrier was extremely daunting, but with the heartfelt sincerity and enthusiasm of the children, we quickly broke the ice and started bonding with one another. In the beginning, we signed up for the OVIA trip with the intention of giving, but it was apparent that we were the ones who learnt a lot more from the local students. Their appreciation towards the many things we take for granted, as well as the generosity they treat others, were some of the many valuable reminders we took away from the time spent with them.

Besides this, we have two significant takeaways from our trip: the importance of adaptability and the appreciation of cultural differences. Adaptability was essential as we were unfamiliar with our surroundings and we had to think on our feet to overcome the unexpected challenges we faced. Exposure to Thai culture through traditional performances, historical sites and local customs helped us to understand and appreciate another way of life.

Thailand OVIA’18 has indeed left us with many unforgettable memories to fondly look back.

Lua Yi Jin (18J01) and Heng Shu Hong (18J12)Interaction with local students

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In November 2018, a group of 17 Secondary Four students embarked on an Overseas Experiential Learning Trip (OELP) to Malang, Indonesia. During this trip, our understanding of leadership was challenged and transformed.

A dialogue session with our invited speaker, a Malang city urban planner, Mr Pandu, highlighted the importance of goal setting for the future. Besides having goals and the end in mind, we need the confidence and courage to work towards achieving our goal. Yet, this is not enough. Focusing solely on this end goal will cause us to

Leadership OELP at Malang

lose sight of those around us. During the Gen-Y programme that was held at our sister school SMAN 3 Malang, we attended a seminar where one of the officials of Malang shared about their programmes that attempt to address the needs of the people living in the villages. They shared that the programmes planned were not the main reason for their success – it was the collection of opinions and feedback from the villagers themselves. Only with the perspectives of the villagers could they understand the main issues rather than just blindly planning a programme. We discovered that a leader should not merely

focus on the objectives, but to also customise the programme to cater to the recipients. Every member in the team and every participant of the programme has to be cared for. Through this trip, we learnt the importance of leading with courage and empathy.

The old mentality that a leader only needs to instruct and ensure the completion of tasks is gone. Leaders need to realise that the welfare of people matters greatly too and this is what people-centricity is about.

Dialogue session with Mr Pandu Zanuar from Mayor Office of Malang

Group photo at Greenfields FarmIdentifying a problem in Desaku Menanti and presenting a solution to participants of Gen-Y.


The Leadership Development Camp (LDC), held annually in November, is a leadership camp conducted by River Valley High School’s Student Leadership Development Academy along with a team of Organising Committee members comprising Secondary 4 and JC 1 students. Participants of the camp include Secondary 1 to Secondary 3 student leaders from Sports, Aesthetics and Uniform Groups as well as Student Councillors from River Valley High School. We also had participants from Jurongville Secondary

Learn. Dare. Change.

Group Mentors leading participants in a cheer during Leader’s Night.

School, Huayi Secondary School and NUS High School of Mathematics and Science.

True to the theme which was, Learn. Dare. Change, student leaders had the opportunity to step out of their comfort zone and challenge themselves. In groups led by their mentors, they engaged in activities centring on values such as proactiveness and effective communication, as well as other technical skills specific to their CCAs that are integral to their leadership journey.

Participants engaging in a creative problem solving activity.

The camp also serves as a meaningful platform to equip student leaders with new insights about leadership. Through the various activities, they were empowered with the drive and courage to seek new opportunities to influence and enthuse others in their team.

Yip Jun Yi (19J10)

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Last November, River Valley High School and Hua Yi Secondary School students, along with MOE’s Physical, Sports & Outdoor Education Branch, hosted the 12th Singapore Indonesia Student Leaders Adventure Camp (SISLAC). Months before the event, we made a lot of preparations in order to be excellent hosts.

Singapore Indonesia Student Leaders Adventure Camp

Hear us roar for the team challenge.

Ending SISLAC with a blast..Check out the diversity in ethnic costumes.

During the camp, we experienced many challenges. However, embracing these challenges was what made this entire camp worthwhile. The most notable example was definitely our cultural differences. Coming from two different countries with diverse cultures, there were times when we had very different perspectives. Yet, it was from this difference that something special was born.

We explored Singapore together and fostered deep friendships. We worked together as a team during our Team Challenge to expand on one another’s ideas, and shared our cultures through cultural performances and stories on Cultural Night. Having to step out of our comfort zones, work as a team and think creatively to achieve our objectives were not easy but this process truly allowed everyone to not only become more culturally sensitive, empathetic and innovative leaders, but also forge meaningful friendships as one SISLAC.

As the organising committee, we learnt to build our resilience, trust and empathy to overcome these challenges. We are proud of the SISLAC story we had written for ourselves and our buddies, and we are eager to apply what we learnt to our schools and communities at large.

Participants taking a we-fie during the photo hunt.

Participants actively learning the SISLAC’18 dance moves from their facilitators.

Participants learning a new cheers before their first meal.

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River Valley High School’s annual Prom Night was held at Marriott Singapore Tang Plaza Hotel on 6 December 2018, where the Class of 2018 gathered as a cohort for one last time to look back on their fond memories from RV. The theme of Prom Night 2018, Epilogue, was a fitting way to mark the end of the seniors’ six-year journey in RV – a journey that began with their Secondary One Orientation: Prologue.

As the organising committee, our main

objective was to celebrate the end of our seniors’ six years in RV, with the company of their friends, and right after the GCE A-Level examinations to boot. There were segments throughout the

Prom Night 2018

Best Dressed of the day!

Prom King and Prom Queen of Epilogue!

night that brought laughter and tears to everyone, including performances by the seniors themselves, award categories like The Greatest Showperson and Sleeping Beauty, and one final rousing rendition of the school song.

The organising committee was honoured to have the opportunity to plan Prom 2018 for our seniors. It was definitely a night to remember and we believe that these valuable memories will be treasured by all who attended.

Lee Hwee Liang Ian (18J02) and Lim Ren Jie (18J10)

立化中一迎新会

今年，中一迎新会的主题是 “爱我立化, 以心迎新”。刚从小学毕业，面对崭新且陌生的环境、同学，中一生可能会感到不安。他们要学会以开放的心态去适应这些新的事物，熟悉这新的环境。经过了迎新会，相信他们对立化不再感到陌生，也在立化找到了归属感，并且满怀信心地去书写他们人生的新篇章。

今年的迎新会, 我们专注于人际、环境、精神，以及团队合作。

首先，我们希望中一生能够与同学建立良好的友谊；

第二，我们希望能够让中一生们更快地熟悉我们立化校园；

第三，我们希望通过共同创造美好的回忆，来增进友情，并且灌输成为立化学子的自豪感；

第四，我们希望他们可以通过互动，学习如何与刚见面的同学合作；

最后，我们希望中一生能通过课堂活动和游戏了解团队合作的重要性。

我们还特别邀请了校友杨承融老师，来为中一新生解释立化校歌的含义，并教授立化的历史。相信经过了杨老师的生动讲解，中一生已对立化有了更深的了解，并且对自己身为立化人的这个新身份，引以为傲。

值得一提的是，在互动环节中，今年我们加入了house的元素。这让中一生能够与其他班的同学一起合作，并且认识不仅仅是他们班的同学，还有他们同级的同学。这让他们能够更快的了解我们立化，并且在未来的活动中，也不会对house感到陌生。

中一新生一起为自己的班级取名。

中一新生的入学仪式。

Epilogue-themed photobooth

Performances by seniors!

入学典礼上，校长李惠棣女士，和初中部主任杨老师致辞。她们鼓励学弟学妹们要好好努力学习，并且期待他们将在立化书写的新篇章。典礼会也播放了此次迎新会的回顾影片，让中一生回想起这三天来的一点一滴。典礼的高潮，是中一生在父母的见证下别上校徽，象征着他们正式的成为了我们立化大家庭的一员。

期待中一生在立化书写又一段精彩的人生！

爱我立化 • 以心迎新！

王琪淇 (4B)

Student's Council

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Student's Council

In February this year, River Valley held her first ever JC1 Orientation that included students from the Integrated Programme and Joint Admission Exercise. When planning this camp, we had three main objectives in mind – firstly, we wanted to give students the opportunity to build strong, lasting friendships. Next, we wanted to strengthen the RV Spirit. Finally, we wanted to give RVians a glimpse into how RV JC life will be like.

During the 3-day orientation, we presented the JC1 cohort with challenges that provided the impetus for them to form strong bonds as they collectively overcame difficulties and limitations. The driving force of the camp was our new JC House system led by our charismatic Orientation House Captains and enthusiastic Orientation Group Leaders (OGLs). The change to the new 4-House structure helped inject energy and excitement

Learning to trust one another and forging stronger bonds through the exciting games.

Our new JC Houses battle it out with their creative mascots and strong cheers during House Showdown.

Our JC1 Cohort united to form our camp’s theme - Trailblazer.

into the camp as it signified new opportunities and platforms for the JC 1 students.

One of the main highlights of the camp had to be the House Showdown on the final day. During the showdown, the JC1 cohort worked as a cohesive unit within their houses in an effort to claim the final few points needed to achieve the title of Best House. The atmosphere was electrifying as the students cheered their lungs out whenever their mascot walked down the aisle with their Orientation House Captain.

We hope that every JC1 student had an enjoyable and meaningful time, and that we are now ready for a rewarding JC journey in RVHS.

Tristan Sim (18J16) Working as a cohesive unit to move from one point to another. Communication is key!

Linked shoulders during our Celebration Night, signifying the strong RV Spirit that will bring us through JC life.

JC1 Orientation

Getting to know each other through ice breakers during the first day of camp.

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2018年中三中四双文化学生南京、苏州、上海、湖南学习之旅

今年的11月11日 - 12月10日，中三中四的双文化奖学金得主有幸到南京、苏州、上海、湖南参与为期一个月的浸濡活动，活动包括游览当地的景点胜地，了解风土人情，以及到知名学府参观学习交流。这一路下来，我们看尽了一路迢迢的美好风景，领略了中国大地的雄伟壮丽，感受了中国各地的民族色彩，吃遍了各地独有的美味佳肴，目睹了当代中国的飞速发展，也与身边的小伙伴结下了深厚的友谊。

参观南京大屠杀纪念馆，让我们不忘过去，珍爱和平。1931年12月13日，日军野蛮侵入南京，制造了震惊中外的南京大屠杀惨案。“战争的受害者永远都是无辜的老百姓”，警示着后人牢记“前事不忘，后事之师”。

游览上海著名的南京路，那百里飘香的老字号小吃，应有尽有的百货商场，世界名牌的专卖商店……让我们感受到上海的繁华和热闹。参观新天地和田子坊，使我们体验了上海的弄堂文化，也感受到了上海的人文风情，穿梭于一条条小巷中，看着一家家小店，听着一声声叫卖，闻着一阵阵香味，我们仿佛穿过了时光的隧道，进入了几十年前石库门时代的回忆。

我们也和上海南洋中学的同学们进行了交流，他们为我们精心准备了许多有趣的课程，如中国文化课，让我们有机会自己动手完成一副优美的国画，让同学们都乐在其中。而负责接待我们的同学们则是外交社的，他们热情地带着我们参观他们的校园并对我们的问题一一耐心解答，让我们对于中国的中学有了一个更加透彻的认识，也与他们结下了深厚的友谊。

此行的一大亮点之一，便是我们有幸来到中国的知名学府——复旦大学和湖南大学，并与那里的教授和正在那里就读的立化学长学姐进行交流。这个千载难逢的机会得来不易，靠着老师们的精心策划，才有机会让我们能够亲身体验中国顶尖学府的深厚文化底蕴，参观他们各自别具一格的优美校园，感受中国的大学生活。我们同在中国大学就读的立化校友有了深入的交流，从他们身上，我们看到了立化精神：好学不倦、携手共进。在复旦和湖南大学，我们一共上了十堂讲座，每场讲座都知识丰富，引人思考。

湖南张家界，让我们不禁感叹大自然才是这世界最充满想象力的艺术家。从天门山

国家森林公园和天子山的山腰间放眼望去，印入眼帘的全是那鬼斧神工的山岩陡壁，令人望而生怯却又为其的壮观和宏伟。

最后，我们也到访了长沙规划馆和岳阳规划馆，对中国在城市治理和规划上有了进一步的认识。中国虽大，但她在管理和规划方面做得有条不紊，就以长沙和岳阳为例，这两座城市被划分成了更多块小区域，而每一片区域都有它不同的作用，就好比有些区域是用来做发展和建设的，而另一些是住宅、学校等，再一些就是景区和供人们娱乐休闲的地带。

所谓“读万卷书，行万里路“，这次的双文化之旅让我们真正意识到了这句话的真谛。我们一路上看到了南京的厚重历史，苏州的优美如画，上海的摩登繁华，长沙的源远流长，岳阳的巴陵胜状，大家都开阔了眼界，感受了中国各地的风土人情，获得了有关当代中国的知识，真是获益匪浅、满载而归。

张子芊 (19J12)，陈心怡 (19J20)，朱文盈 (4C)，蔡长明 (4C)

上海南洋中学书法课后展示作品张家界天门洞

参观机器人博物馆

聚精会神聆听讲座

参观新加坡-南京生态科技岛

Internationalisation

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2018年高一双文化学生重庆、武汉学习之旅

去年12月，我们兴致勃勃地踏上了为期两周的重庆和武汉学习之旅。这是所有高一双文化奖学金得主参加的最后一次双文化浸濡之旅，因此对我们来说意义非凡。

在重庆大学上课期间，我们深刻地了解到中国当前面临的问题以及世界发展局势，如社会领域的农村人口流动问题、经济领域的国企改革挑战、外交领域的中美关系的走向等。另外，我们也有机会与重大的研究生交流学习心得，并请他们指导我们的论文写作，收获颇丰。

谈到重庆，怎能不讲讲火锅呢？在重大的最后一天，重大的老师为我们举办了欢送会，还特意请我们品尝当地的火锅。相信大家一定对火锅不陌生，可是我们尝过重庆火锅后，这才发现新加坡和重庆的火锅差得太远了。重庆的火锅非常麻辣；那一餐大家喝的比吃的还多，看来我们品辣的功夫还差一点！

在重庆的七天里，最让人难忘的是自主出行日。同学们分成三组，每一组自行安排一天的行程。从去哪一个景点到午餐吃什么都是同学们自己决定，老师会跟团但不会给我们指示。我们这一组首先参观了重庆独有的“轻轨穿屋”，然后乘坐长江索道到解放碑做街头观察。作为重庆段的最后一站，我们还参观了古重庆城门之一的洪崖洞，体验到那里的民俗风貌特色。回想这段时光，我们学习到不少课本上没有的技能，比如如何带队、安排行程、看地图等，获益匪浅。

重庆的行程结束后，我们沿着长江以南，乘坐动车抵达了湖北宜昌的三峡大坝。举世闻名的长江三峡大坝便是在那里建成的。作为世界最大、争议最多的水坝，导游在参观之余向我们一一介绍了大坝的利弊及其对当地居民的影响。三峡工程作为迄今为止世界上综合效益最大的水利枢纽，发挥了巨大的防洪和航运的效益，同时也具备了抗旱和发电的功能。然而，凡事都有两面；三峡大坝的建成也使长江珍稀和濒危物种面临灭绝、库存水污染加重、成千上万个文物淹没等，使人们对大坝的建成与运作持有不同态度。

到了武汉后，我们参观了辛亥革命武昌起义纪念馆，从导游的解说中了解到当时清廷腐朽，革命已风起云涌，最终以推翻清朝专制告终。

除了参观景点，我们也非常有幸能够参观凯德集团（CapitalLand）的公司。武汉负责人向我们讲解凯德作为一家新加坡的企业是如何在中国这个庞大又非常有竞争力的市场上生存，并不断发展壮大的历程。作为作为最早进入中国市场的本地企业，凯德早已在中国站稳了脚跟，并拥有稳定的项目，也搭建了广阔的人脉，即使面临重重竞争，也仍旧能屹力不倒。这让我们了解到，懂得如何把握时机在商场上是极为重要的。

王慧文 (18J17)，黄山珊 (18J14)

与带队老师黄秋莺主任、陈钦主任，于重庆大学前留影。

自主出行日游览洪崖洞。

在三游洞前留影，记录最后一段双文化浸濡的美好时光。

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In November 2018, 14 students from the Bicultural Leaders Academy embarked on a memorable trip to the USA.

Apart from visiting key attractions in New York and Washington D.C., such as the Statue of Liberty, Times Square, and 911 Memorials in Manhattan and the Pentagon, we also attended docent-led museum tours which were awe-inspiring. In the Tenement Museum, we took on the role of a newly-arrived immigrant in New York and interacted with a settled Italian immigrant in New York, 14 year-old Victoria Confino --- a role played by a museum guide donned in traditional costume, against a replica of the old living quarters. These tours allowed us to design our own questions and placed strong emphasis on the ownership of our learning.

Interaction with the locals was another highlight of our trip. We attended a half-day programme at the Bergen County Academy where we were paired up with our American buddies and

Interactions in a Foreign Land

got to attend their lessons. Their pro-activeness during classroom discussions motivated us to adopt the active learning mindset and participate more actively during lessons. At Yale University, we attended a seminar at the Yale-China Association (YCA), a non-governmental organisation serving as a bridge between Yale and China, where we learnt more about their work and how recent U.S.-China bilateral ties could adversely affect YCA’s operations in China, especially with developments like China’s “Overseas NGO Law”.

With Albert Einstein at the National Academy of Sciences, Washington DC.

Shall I compare thee to a winter’s day? Christmas lights that adorned the walls shone almost as brightly as our eager eyes. Hot chocolate warmed our hands, almost as warm as the fire in our hearts. We stood before the very sights that inspired works of Shakespeare and the Bronte Sisters, the very monuments that commemorate the people who fought in – and ended – the two World Wars. Our trip to the UK really opened our eyes to these implicit forces behind the disciplines we interact with almost every day as students.

“Imagine all those faces from the history books, the news; imagine for one moment that you are standing in their shoes. Imagine having hopes and dreams, then everything goes wrong; and everything you want to be – reduced to just – be strong.”

This excerpt from a poem by Tony Walsh, “Mightier Than War”, was specifically recorded for a permanent exhibition in the Imperial War Museum Manchester and was accompanied by a film screening. Taking in his words, we saw history through the lens of literature (literally because the museum projected onto the wall, images of war and its resulting devastation while the poem was read out) and we felt emotionally connected to the many people alive in history by understanding war on a much more personal level.

Exploring Warwick Castle as the sun sets. Waiting to watch Les Miserables the musical.

Humanities and Social Sciences Leaders Academy Trip to the United Kingdom

It never really hit me until then, that literature can play such an influential role in shaping history, not only contributing to the understanding of war through multiple perspectives but also enables us to present war in the most sensitive and relatable way. The lines of poetry peppering the International Slavery Museum in Liverpool was particularly impactful and helped to put all the other exhibits such as war memorabilia in perspective.

However, as much as history relies greatly on literature, literature is also largely influenced by history. On the trip, we saw how writers’ histories influenced their writing. History also opened up windows into the society that famous writers lived in, helping us to understand the significance of their works in their time. For example, the significance

We also met up with RV alumni who are currently living in the USA. They offered us advice on studying and working in the USA, and noted that it is important to leave one’s comfort zone and experience new possibilities in a foreign environment. Their valuable experiences serve as a road map for our own journeys.

Mao Yu Di (18J14) and Vivian Tan Yan Zhen (18J17)

of Jane Eyre’s willingness to assert her desire for identity, definition, meaning and agency only became really apparent to us upon visiting the Bronte Parsonage Museum which gave us a better idea of the social mores the Bronte sisters grew up with. History therefore becomes vital in helping us understand why and how their literary works were revolutionary and empowering.

All in all, this trip has definitely been an eye opener and exposed us to many places and knowledge about other disciplines that we definitely would not experience as tourists. It is very fun learning with peers from other disciplines and seeing things from their perspectives. We are very thankful to be given this opportunity to learn and experience culture in another country.

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From 14 to 23 November 2018, seven of us from the Mathematics Leaders Academy (MLA) embarked on an Overseas Experiential Learning Programme to London and Cambridge. We gleaned several key takeaways from the places we visited and the interactions we had with the locals.

It was a great privilege to have a guided tour at the renowned University of Cambridge with our senior Wan Moquan (class of 2010) in the Engineering Department who shared his ongoing PhD research on Speech Synthesis. We also had dinner with a group of RV alumni studying in the UK and their sharing of interesting experiences inspired us to persevere in our pursuit of excellence.

We visited Bletchley Park, the top-secret headquarters of Britain’s World War II encryption and code-breaking force, and learnt about the

From 14 to 22 November 2018, ten students embarked on an overseas experiential learning programme to New York, New Jersey and Boston under the Science Leaders Academy (SLA) Global Science Village Programme. The trip enhanced our understanding of science and technology, and developed our global awareness and cross-cultural skills. The highlight of the trip was the exchange at our sister school, Bergen County Academies (BCA), New Jersey, where we were paired with local student buddies for the entire school day. We

Group Photo with graduated senior Moquan at Cambridge University Engineering Department.

mathematical principles behind various codes and ciphers. We even had the opportunity to programme our own snake game using BASIC programming language at the National Museum of Computing!

The London Mathematics Tour was another enriching experience as we learnt about the critical role Mathematics plays in the construction and design of buildings. We also enjoyed the bell-ringing session with students from the University of London immensely, and learnt how mathematical concepts taught in the classroom context can be applied to make melodious music. We had the privilege to visit TechItalia:Lab where we gained a deeper understanding of potential opportunities in newly-emerging industries through a dialogue session with the professionals.

This was indeed an amazing journey with cherished memories and experiences. Not only did the trip allow us to discover the beauty of mathematics in the real world, it also developed our global awareness and cross-cultural perspectives. We are thankful for being given the opportunity to learn valuable life lessons through this OELP.

gained valuable insights from the interactions with our buddies and attained a better understanding of the American education system.

Besides BCA, we were privileged to visit Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where we met our alumnus, Zong Guo, who shared with us his research work and life as an MIT student. Through our interaction with Zong Guo, we were motivated to step out of our comfort zones and persevere in our pursuit of excellence. Last but

not least, a guided tour at the Freedom Trail and Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum also helped us to understand the importance of teamwork, as well as the vulnerability of life in the face of humanitarian issues. Overall, this learning trip has inspired us to persevere in our pursuit of excellence in the field of science, and to develop ourselves as leaders who are proactive in making positive changes in our lives and the larger community.

Lim Xin Yi (5F) and Jerlyn Chua (5D)

Pulling the bells during the bell ringing sessions.

Student experiencing VR presentation.Students playing with LEGO Mindstorm at MIT Museum.

Students working on a Chemistry experiment at BCA together with their buddies.

Mathemathics Leaders Academy UK OELP 2018

Science Leaders Academy Overseas Experiential Learning Programme to New York, New Jersey & Boston

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