St. Joseph's Institution, Singapore
Saint Joseph's Institution (SJI) is a Catholic secondary school for male students in Singapore. It was founded in 1852 as St. John's Institution and is the 2nd oldest educational institution in Singapore.
Today, St Joseph's Institution is recognised as being among the top secondary schools in Singapore recognised for providing a value added and all-rounded education to boys of all races and religions. In 1990, it became one of the few schools invited by the then Education Minister to turn independent- a mark of its excellence. Leadership in the school has passed increasingly to lay people but they remain committed to the memory and mission of the Christian Brothers and their founder St John Baptist De La Salle.
Under the administration of Brother Paul Rogers, SJI saw its size grow to its largest ever. The addition in 1995 of a large Perfoming Arts Centre and an entirely new wing to house the Secondary One students, makes it well equipped to handle the needs and demands of a growing population.
The school has performed remarkedly well academically and is consistently ranked as one of the top secondary schools in Singapore. In September 2005, the school as one of the few in Singapore to be awarded the prestigious School Distinction Award as part of the Ministry of Education's 2005 Masterplan Awards. Besides that, it also has been awarded the Best Practice Award for teaching and learning. Moreover, for the 3rd consecutive year, it has been awarded the Sustained Achievement Award for Sports and the Sustained Achievement Award for Uniformed Groups for the 7th Consecutive year.
In terms of Co-Curricular Activities, SJI has managed to make a mark for itself in canoeing, table tennis and rugby among many other sports. The uniformed groups such as NCC(Land), NCC(Air), NPCC, Military Band (SJIMB), Pelandok Scouts and St. John's Ambulance Brigade in SJI are also renowned for their discipline and excellent standards.
SJI moved into a new campus at leafy Malcolm Road located just off the posh neighbourhood of Bukit Timah in 1988. The beautiful old campus with its distinctive semi-circular wings was gazetted by the Singapore National Heritage Board as a national monument. After lengthy and painstaking restoration works, it currently houses the Singapore Art Musuem.
The current principal of SJI is Mr Benjamin Lui Seng Cheong. The deputy principals for curriculum and student development are Mrs Goh Poh Kenn and Bro Michael Broughton respectively.
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 JM Beurel MEP, who offered the six Brothers who came out from Europe to start the school the use of a former chapel as premises. Within a year, an attap hut also had to be erected to accommodate all the students. The school was originally known as St John's, but on 19 March 1855 (the day of the Feast of Saint Joseph), the corner stone of a new school building was laid. From this date onwards, the school was known as Saint Joseph's Institution. The new central classroom block was completed in 1865, though further expansion of the facilities continued 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 numbers expanding, a temporary branch school was opened which eventually led to the building of a second school – Saint Patrick's School – in 1933.
During World War II, prior to the fall of Singapore to the Japanese, the school was used as a Red Cross hostpital and housed a unit of the Civil Defence Force. A bomb hit the school coutyard during the war, leaving a crater, but the main building remained unscathed.
In 1975, SJI's pre-university classes and some its teachers were transferred to the newly-opened Catholic Junior College.
Motto
The school motto- "Ora et Labora", Latin for "Pray and Work" is a reflection of the work ethics of the La Salle Brothers.
Summary of information
Principal
Mr Lui Seng Cheong
Deputy Principals
Mrs Goh Poh Kenn (Curriculum)
Bro Michael Broughton (Student Development)
Assistant Principal
Mr Sydney Tan (Student Development/Admissions)
Heads Of Level
Mr Genisius Chan (Secondary 1)
Mr Low June Meng (Secondary 2)
Mr Sirhan Ahmadiah (Secondary 3)
Mr Jeremy Liew (Secondary 4)
Heads Of Department
Mrs Sandra Lee (English Language/Literature)
Mrs Amy Chua (Mathematics)
Mrs Martina Chan (Humanities)
Mr Michael Chin (Science)
Mr Heng Guek Boon (Mother Tongue)
Mr Alfred Nathan (Physical Education/Sports & Games)
Mr Malcolm Wong (Special Programmes)
Mr Dominic Ang (Character Formation)
Mrs Rosy Goh (Information Technology)
Mr Bryan Poon (Information Management/Examinations)
Subject Heads
Mrs Janet Kwok (Media Resources/Aesthetics)
Mr David Kwang(LSS/JP)
Mr Bernard Low (Projects)
Ms Marakatham (History)
Mr Alvin Chua (PSE/CG)
Mrs Beryl Ang (Literature)
Mr Lee Lye Hin (Higher Chinese)
Ms Siti Rahimah (Mother Tongue)
Mr Jude Tan (CCA)
Mr Tang Woh Un (Chemistry/Biology)
Bus Services
57, 105, 132, 151, 153, 154, 156, 186, 190, 960
Nearest MRT Station
Newton, Toa Payoh, Novena
School Vision
SJI: A world-class Lasallian institution. We shall be recognised for our innovative programmes; developing independent, collaborative learners and nurturing persons of faith and service.
School Mission
Enabling youth in a Lasallian community to learn how to learn and to learn how to live; empowering them to become men of integrity and men for others.
Type of School
Independent School / Boys' School / Single Session
Mother Tongue
Chinese/ Malay/ Tamil
Affiliated Schools
De La Salle School, St. Michael's School, St. Stephen's School, St. Anthony's Primary School
Subjects Offered
Additional Mathematics, Art and Design, Biology, Chemsitry, Chinese, Combined Humanities (S, G), Combined Humanities (S, L), English Language, French, Geography (Revised), German, Higher Chinese, Higher Malay, Higher Tamil, History (Revised), History (World Affairs), Japanese, Literature (E), Literature (T), Malay, Mathematics, Music 'O' Level, Physical Education, Physics, Science, Science (Phy, Chem), Tamil, Visual Arts
Uniform
The boys of SJI are dressed in white entirely. Lower Secondary boys wear shorts while students in the Upper Secondary levels are dressed in pants. The badge is to be worn on the top left hand corner of the shirt pocket.
Green and white striped ties are to be worn at the start of each school week. For prefects, a dark green tie will be worn instead. Prefects are to wear those ties every school day.
Senior prefects will be issued a badge denoting prefectorial status. It is to be worn on the middle of the pocket. They need not wear the regular school badge.
Noted Alumni
Dr Tony Tan- Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore
Mr Teo Chee Hean- Minister for Defence
Mr Mah Bow Tan- Minister for National Development & Deputy Leader of the House
Mr Philip Yeo- Chairman, Agency for Science, Technology and Research
BG George Yeo- Minister for Trade
Gerard Ee, Chairman of NKF, NCSS, AA, PTA etc etc. also a justice of the peace.
Julian Hee famous actor and model
Bryan Wong - famous actor and host