Type Independent Established 1852 School code 7020 Founded 1852 | Religious affiliation(s) Roman Catholic Session Single session Phone +65 6250 0022 Number of students 2,000 | |
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Motto Ora et Labora
(Pray and Work) Address 38 Malcolm Rd, Singapore 308274 | ||
St. Joseph's Institution (SJI) is a Catholic school in Singapore. It is an independent school, providing an all-boys secondary education from Secondary 1 to 4 and a co-educational pre-university education from JC 1 to 2.
Contents
- History
- Affiliated schools
- SJI Senior School
- Uniform
- Co Curricular Activities
- Politics
- Governmental organizations
- Business
- Sports
- Arts and entertainment
- Legal
- Education
- Presidents Scholarship
- References
Founded in 1852 as St. John's Institution, it is the third oldest educational institution in Singapore (the oldest being Raffles Institution and second oldest being Saint Margaret's Secondary School). It is also the oldest Catholic school in Singapore.
The school provides an education to students of all races and religions.
In 2013, SJI became a dual-track school offering an Integrated Programme (IP) track and O-level track. As a dual-track school, the school will be able to serve students with a wider range of academic abilities. As part of its IP, the school offers a six-year programme leading to the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP). The school had its first IP intake at Secondary 1 and Secondary 3 in 2013 and 2014 respectively while the first IBDP intake was in 2013.
History
SJI was founded in 1852 as the first missionary establishment of the La Salle Brothers in the Far East. The endeavour was initiated by Rev Fr Jean-Marie Beurel MEP, who offered six Brothers from Europe to start the school using a former chapel as premises. Within a year, an attap hut also had to be erected to accommodate all the students. The school was known as St John's. On 19 March 1855 (Feast of Saint Joseph), the cornerstone of a new school building was laid, and from that date, the school came to be known as St. Joseph's Institution. The new central classroom block was completed in 1865, though further expansion of the facilities continued well into the 20th century. The school had 426 students in 1900. This grew to almost 1200 in 1914, and 1600 in 1922. With the student population expanding, a temporary branch school was opened, which eventually led to the building of a second school – Saint Patrick's School, Singapore – in 1933.
During World War II, prior to the fall of Singapore to the Japanese, the school was used as a Red Cross hospital and housed a unit of the Civil Defence Force, the A.R.F. (Air Raid Precautionary Group). On 16 February 1942, a bomb hit the school courtyard during the war, leaving a crater, but the main building remained unscathed.
During the Japanese Occupation, the school was renamed to Bras Basah Road Boy's School. The Brothers were soon asked to 'resign'. The school and hostel were run along military lines. However, 3 weeks after the Japanese surrender, the Brothers returned and St Joseph's was re-opened and normal lessons resumed.
In 1954, St. Joseph's Junior School was housed in St. Michael's School, now known as St. Joseph's Institution Junior.
In 1975, SJI's first year pre-university classes and some its teachers were transferred to the newly opened Catholic Junior College.
In 1988, SJI shifted into a new campus at Malcolm Road situated just off the neighbourhood of Toa Payoh, beside the Tanglin Community Centre. The beautiful old campus with its distinctive semi-circular wings was gazetted by the Singapore National Heritage Board as a national monument. It now houses the Singapore Art Museum.
Under the administration of Brother Paul Anthony Rogers, SJI saw its peak in growth. In 1995, a Performing Arts Centre (PAC) and a new wing to house Secondary One students were added.
In 2002, SJI celebrated its 150th anniversary.
In 2006, SJI, upon the urging of the Economic Development Board, began an international school. SJI International began classes in January 2007. The School started with just over 100 students but now boasts more than 1200 students across both its Elementary School and High School. This remarkable success is due to the dedication of the Old Boys and the faith of the parents. SJI International High School offers the IGCSE and the IB Diploma Programme (IBDP), similar to the Senior School of SJI today.
It was also the first year in which only pure sciences was offered to every candidate.
In 2008, the school was re-validated with the Singapore Quality Class Award, obtained, for the second time, the Best Practice Award (Teaching and Learning) and attained the Best Practice Award (Student All-Round Development) in the MOE External Validation exercise. The school received consecutive Sustained Achievement Awards in Academic Value-Added, Sports, Uniformed Groups and Fitness.
In 2009, SJI was recognized by MOE with a pinnacle award – The School of Excellence Award. The School Excellence Award (SEA) recognises schools for their excellence in both education processes and outcomes. It is the highest and most prestigious award in the Masterplan of Awards framework in MOE, Singapore.
In 2013, SJI took in her first intake of students under the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP), with an inaugural batch of 80 students admitted. SJI also bolstered its academic staff and upgraded its facilities for the IBDP student block to provide the necessary infrastructure and support for the students to develop to their fullest potential.
In 2013, SJI moved to a holding campus at Bishan Street 14, formerly ITE College Central Bishan, while the main campus at Malcolm Road was undergoing renovations.
On 20 July 2015, works to redevelop the school began, with a new target of moving back by March 2017.
On 9 January 2017, SJI moved back to their main campus at 38 Malcolm Road, after 2 years of renovations and celebratated their homecoming in lieu with their 165th anniversary.
SJI has been a Gold Value Added school for the GCE 'O' Level examinations.
Affiliated schools
SJI Senior School
SJI admits students into its Senior School section for the IB Diploma Programme (IBDP) in two ways – first, as part of the IP starting in Secondary One, whereby students move on to the IBDP itself; and second, via direct admission based on 'O'-level results. The cut-off point for entry through the secondary school 'O' Level route is 6 points (L1R5), as of the 2015 Joint Admission Exercise. The Head of Senior School is Mr Nick Moughtin and he is assisted by Mr Tang Woh Un, Director of IB, and various academic and non-academic Heads.
The curriculum structure adheres to the global IBDP standard and its faculty comprises both foreign teachers with extensive instructional experience in the IB Diploma, as well as a group of experienced local teachers. The subjects currently offered are: Mathematics, Economics, Chemistry, Biology, Physics, History, Geography, Language and Literature, English, French, Chinese, Malay, Tamil and Music. Students further participate in the Creativity, Action, Service (CAS) programme that aims to provide a holistic educational roadmap.
In January 2015, the School's pioneer cohort consisting of 76 students were all successfully awarded the IB Diploma, connoting a 100% pass rate. The average score across the cohort, out of a maximum of 45 points, was 39.4 points. This score is above the national average of 36.43 points and above the global average of 29.94 points. 44 students scored 40 points and above, with 3 students achieving the school's highest score of 44 points.
Uniform
The school uniform is a simple, white attire with the school badge worn on the shirt pocket on the top left corner (the Prefect badge, worn by school prefects, is to be attached to the shirt pocket at the centre, instead of the top left corner). The school pants are worn by Sec 3 and Sec 4 boys and must conform to the school’s design. White shorts are worn by Sec 1 and Sec 2 boys. Badges, representing CCA identities may be worn but only one is permitted on each shirt collar. The school tie is worn on the first school day of the week and for all formal school functions. The official school P.E. attire is the only other attire that can be worn on campus. A belt is to be worn by Sec 3 & 4 boys only. Socks are to be plain white only. Shoes must be clean, white and in good condition. Stripes, lines, logos and/or coloured edges are not permitted. Coloured sports shoes may be worn only with P.E. attire.
School Prefects and those authorized to wear the school blazer are permitted to wear simple, black, leather shoes when they are formally attired.
Senior School Uniform
Uniform for Senior School girls consists of a white blouse and a dark green skirt, with the school badge pinned on the left hand side of the blouse. Uniform for Senior School boys consists of a white shirt and white pants, with a green inner collar. Similar to the uniform worn by the secondary school boys, the school badge is worn on the shirt pocket on the top left corner. The School tie is worn on the first day of school and for all formal school functions.
Co-Curricular Activities
SJI offers a large variety of CCAs for Secondary One students to choose from. The 3 main groups include Sports, Uniformed Groups and Clubs & Societies. SJI's niches include Rugby, Canoeing and Table Tennis.
The St Joseph's Institution Military Band (SJIMB) clinched the Gold with Honours Award under the baton of Mr Tan Thiam Hee in the recent 2009 Singapore Youth Festival Central Judging, the highest achievable award in that competition. It was one of the top 10 bands in the competition to do so.
In the 2011 Singapore Youth Festival Central Judging, the band managed to clinch the Silver award. The choice piece was the Seventh Night of July and the set piece was the Memories of Friendship.
In the 2011 Singapore Youth Festival Central Judging, the Vocal Ensemble managed to clinch the Gold With Honours award. This was the Vocal Ensemble's inaugural participation in the SYF competition. The choice pieces were Ubi Caritas and Kruhay, while the set piece was The Wind by Kelly Tang. The TTBB Vocal Ensemble was second place overall in the entire competition.