Temasek Junior College
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| Motto | For College, For Nation |
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| Established | 1977 |
| Type | Government, Single-session |
| Principal | Loke-Yeo Teck Yong (Mrs.) |
| School code | 0702 |
| Colours | Green, Yellow |
| Locale | Bedok, Singapore |
| Enrollment | approx. 1600 |
| Website | Temasek Junior College Online |
 Republic of Singapore |
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Temasek Junior College (commonly known as TJC or TJ) is a Junior College located in the Eastern region of Singapore. It is consistently ranked as one of the top three junior colleges in Singapore. In 2006, the traditional ranking criteria of 2As and 2AOs placed TJC second only to RJC in terms of academic performance.
The bulk of the students (affectionately called "TJCians", prounounced tee-jay-shens) enter as graduated secondary 4 or 5 students. They are admitted on the basis of their net L1R5 aggregate from their Cambridge GCE 'Ordinary' level examination. In junior college, they take a two-year course leading to the Cambridge GCE Advanced level examination. Students offer three to four A level subjects in addition to General Paper, Mother Tongue and Project Work. In the revised curriculum, exceptional students may take one to two H3 modules that are more in-depth than the regular H2s if they desire to compete for scholarships offered by various private and public bodies. The H3 syllabus effectively replaces the Cambridge Special Papers being offered earlier.
In 2005, TJC started its "Temasek Academy 4-Year Integrated Programme" with 100 secondary 3 and foreign students from various local secondary schools and countries respectively. Its aim was to provide students with an intense, challenging and exciting college life, bypassing the GCE 'O' Level examination and culminating in the GCE 'A' Level examination.
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[edit] College History and Identity
Temasek Junior College was built in 1977 as the second government-aided junior college in Singapore. It has earned for itself the reputation of being one of the best academic institutions that focuses on the all-round development of its students.
The College has been under the leadership of six dynamic Principals:
- Mr Wee Heng Tin (1977-1979)
- Mr Eugene Wijeysingha (1980-1985)
- Mrs Goh Chi Lan (1986-1988)
- Mr Robert Tan Hui Sen (1989-1999)
- Mrs Cheong Poh Gek (2000-2001)
- Mrs Lim Lai Cheng (2002-2005)
- Mrs Loke-Yeo Teck Yong (2005 to present)
[edit] Shared vision
- Teamwork and open communication
- Every TJCian matters
- Achievement of excellence
- Devotion to College and Country
- Forward-looking
- Adaptability to change
- Spirit of caring and sharing
- Trust, respect and integrity
- Passion, Purpose and Drive
[edit] College Motto
The College motto is "For College For Nation". While the ultimate objective of the College is for the good of society, the initial drive will be to the College community and then broaden out to embrace the nation.
[edit] College Crest
The College crest depicts the letters TJC in bold form, with the letter T taking a symbolic shape and reflecting a characteristic architectural feature of the College. Contrary to popupar belief, the "T" is not a mushroom but in fact the design of the original two lecture theatres in the college.(LT 1 and LT 2)
The green background acknowledges our alignment with the national objective of projecting a clean and green country.
The divisions in the cross of the T stand for the 5 national ideals of justice, equality, happiness, prosperity and progress.
The segments in the trunk of the T symbolise the 4 major areas working in unison within the College towards the national ideals.
The name of the College encircles the crest, flanked by laurels which represent the recognition which the College has achieved and are a constant reminder of its commitment to its motto.
[edit] College Awards and Achievements
The Sustained Achievement Award (SAA) was inaugurated by MOE in 1999. The College has won the SAAs for Academic Value-Added in 1999, 2000 and 2001; for Physical Fitness in 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2003; and the SAA for Arts in 2001 and 2002. The College was also the top Value-Added College from 1996 to 2000 and in 2003.
TJC officially received the Singapore Quality Class Award from Spring Singapore in 2003.
The College is also a recipient of Best Practice Award (BPA) in Teaching & Learning, as well as the School Distinction Award (2004 - 2008) from the Singapore Ministry of Education.
[edit] Recent Student Achievements
Sports
- Singapore Sports School Council National Schools Netball Championships 2006 'A' Division - 2nd runners up
- Top 4 National in Sports 2004 – “A” Division
- Badminton Boys & Girls (national 2nd for both boys and girls)
- Basketball Boys (champion)
- Taekwondo Mixed (Overall champion)
- Table Tennis Boys
- Cricket
- Swimming Girls
- Sailing Girls
- Air Pistol Boys & Girls
- Chinese Pugilistic Club (Wushu) Boys & Girls (Overall National Champion, Colours Award)
- Rock Climbing Boys & Girls
- Bowling Boys & Girls
SYF Performing Arts Groups
- Symphonic Band: Gold with Honours (2005) (One of the two bands awarded "Top 2" status in 2005)
- Chinese Orchestra: Gold (2005) (Best Chinese Orchestra of the Year 2001)
- Modern Dance: Gold with Honours (2005)
- Guitar Ensemble: Gold with Honours (2005, the only guitar ensemble that was awarded this top honour)
- Choir: Gold (2005)
- Art: Gold
- Drama: Silver
- Chamber Ensemble: Bronze (2005)
- Malay Dance: Silver
- Malay Debates (Champion)
Non-SYF achievements
- Symphonic / Alumni Band: Champion in the 1st National Band Competition 2006 (Open Division)
[edit] College Facilities
[edit] Academic
Library
The modern and spacious library houses books (fiction and reference), multimedia, magazines and newspapers. There are many chairs (some sofas) and tables available for use. In addition, a specific area in the library is also set apart for selling Subway sandwiches (Subs) and cookies, as well as Nestlé mashed potatoes, iced lemonade and peach tea. They are open on Tuesdays and Fridays, managed by the Entrepreneurship Club. Students can do work and read materials from the library in this area set for consuming food.
Study areas
Private study areas that can accommodate 380 students are made available under LT1 and LT2, near the Art studios and the Library. Students can study at benches in these open-air spaces. Additionally, students can also study in air-conditioned LTs when they are vacant. During the 2006 haze, additional air-conditioned classrooms were opened for students to study in.
Photocopying Shop
The photocopying shop, otherwise known as the Zap, is located in canteen. Lecture notes, tutorials and past-year exam papers from GCE as well as other top-five JCs can be purchased from this shop. The shop also provides photocopy service to students.
Besides the shop, students can also photocopy in the library (ground floor behind the magazines rack). The photocopier machines in the library operates on card system. Students can purchase the photocopy card from the photocopy shop at a cost of $5.00 and $7.00 for 140 and 210 photocopying pieces respectively. In practice, it is always easier to borrow the book and send down to the photocopy shop for printing.
Book/Stationery Shop
The bookshop is located in the cafeteria, next to the photocopying shop. The bookshop sells stationery, books, school uniforms, as well as T-shirts.
[edit] College House System
The College has four houses, namely:
A l p h a
B e t a
G a m m a
D e l t a
Each house is run by its own House Committee, which is the second highest student body in the school. The members of the House Committee are elected by nomination by students of the own house.
The houses compete actively in events organised by the school and the House Committee usually takes charge of these events. Some events include the intra-house captain's ball/hand ball events or house functions organised throughout the year.
[edit] Recreational/Sports
Students' Lounge
For students to relax after school with music or board games such as Chess and Go. It is a double decker bus, courtesy of SBS Transit.
Sports Complex
The sports complex houses an air-conditioned gymnasium, dance studio, air rifle range and a stadium gallery. The gallery overlooks a multi-purpose sports field and a standard 400 metres running track.
Other sporting facilities include:
- Four Indoor squash courts
- Four Tennis courts
- Three Basketball courts
- Two Netball courts
- Two Volleyball courts
- Three Long jump pit
Barbecue Pits
Students are welcome to use the 3 barbecue pits near the sports complex for social gatherings. The pits are available on a first-come-first-serve basis.
[edit] Student welfare
First Aid and Sick Bay
The First Aid Unit is run by students and provides ancillary services at College functions and in the sick bay. The sick bay is open on Monday to Friday from 0740 hours to 1540 hours. Students are required to sign a book-in/book-out register in the General Office when they make use of the sick bay.
Lockers
Small private lockers available to students for a small fee.
Notice Boards and the Public Address system The notice boards beside the General Office are used to convey information intended for the entire the student body. Announcements made over the public address system during morning assemblies will be minimal and confined to urgent and vital matters only. Students are expected to refer to the relevant notice boards for information on co-curricular activities or on academic matters. The Higher Education notice board is located outside the General Office. Students interested in studying overseas are strongly advised to keep an eye on the board.
[edit] Dining
Cafeteria
The cafeteria opens during school days (weekdays) from 7am to 3pm. Although there are designated times for recess and lunch, students may eat at the cafeteria at any time during their school day. Food may not be consumed outside the designated area around the cafeteria,
There are nine stalls offering a wide and affordable variety of food, including pasta, Malay food, and Chinese rice and noodle dishes. Halal food for Muslim students is available at two stalls. Snacks, drinks and fruits are also available.
The stalls are: Tropicana Haven, Temasnack, Wild Wild West, Noodle Parade, Oriental Delight, Chicky Gourmet, The Wok, Kampung Delight, and Aunty's Corner
Additionally, the hawker centre and 7-11 located opposite to TJC are frequented by students during lunch time. Apart from providing more variety and convenience for students, they serve to cater to students at late hours - when the stalls in the cafeteria are closed.
Vending Machines
Vending machines situated in the cafeteria make packet/canned drinks available to students at all time of the day.
[edit] Academic regime
[edit] Teaching Styles
The teaching system in the college is rigorious and approximates very closely to that in the university and all subjects, except for the Second Language and General Paper. They are taught using the lecture-tutorial method.
A lecture takes the form of a straightforward lesson delivered en masse to all students studying a particular subject (usually with powerpoint or the visualizer/projector) while a tutorial is generally a follow-up lesson on the lecture, involving a smaller number of students and providing for closer interaction between the students and tutor. Generally tutorial lessons involve going through homework (called tutorials) and clarifying doubts.
[edit] Civics Groups
On admission to the College, students must participate in the orientation programmes organised by the Student Council. They will be divided into Civics Groups (which are also Orientation Groups) automatically by the College in-house computer system. Every CG has nearly the same ratio of boys and girls and an optimum diversity of students from different cultural and educational backgrounds. As the CGs are created before students choose their subjects, there is no fixed subject combinations in a CG. In order to encourage bonding within the group, students of the same CG will join the same Orientation Group. An Orientation Group usually consist of 2 CGs.The boy to girl ratio is usually not equal in most classes, especially in art stream CGs where they may be only one or two boys only.
However, as of 2006, Civics Groups no longer function like this, but rather as Subject Combination Groups, although the name "Civics Groups" is maintained. Civics Groups before 2005 has also be functioning as Subject Combination Groups.
Each Civics Group is under the charge of a Civics Tutor who meets the group during the weekly Civics period on Wednesday. Thus, a civics group corresponds to a class in a normal school. Unlike the school system, however, students do not stay in an assigned room for all their lessons but instead move to different rooms for different lessons.
[edit] Subject Combination Groups
Students are placed into Subject Combination Groups (SCGs) by the computer system once they have indicated their choice of subjects to offer during the orientation period. A student may join many subject groups, one for each subject that he/she offers. Similar to CGs, students in the same SGs do not stay in an assigned room for all their lessons but instead move to different rooms for different lessons.
TJC has recently confirmed that from year 2006 onwards, all the SCGs will be renamed as CGs to avoid confusion. SCGs were only present in the 2005 batch.
[edit] Number of Subjects to Offer
As the computation of points for the admission into the NUS, NTU and SMU is based on the General Paper and only the best three ‘A’ level subjects, the logical choice for students in the college would be a combination of three ‘A’ level subjects. The Second Language will only be included if it helps to improve the overall score. This would mean having more time for an in-depth study of the subjects as well as participation in College life. Taking a course of four ‘A’ level subjects can prove taxing both on curriculum time and the workload. Analysis of students’ performance in past examinations show that weaker students who offered three subjects at ‘A’ level scored better grades than students of similar standing who offered four subjects at ‘A’ level.
However, because of the special prerequisites for admission to certain courses of study at the NUS and the NTU, students with four ‘A’ level subjects do enjoy broader course options at the university. The academically stronger students are thus encouraged to offer four subjects at ‘A’ level in the college. An approximate measure of one’s ability to cope with four ‘A’ level subjects is one’s performance in the GCE ‘O’ level examination.
Students who wish to have an additional edge in competing for scholarships and for degree courses which are in high demand may also want to offer four ‘A’ level content subjects as well as up a maximum of 2 ‘Special’ Papers.
[edit] College e-Learning Portal 'maTrix'
The MaTrix (http://matrix.tjc.edu.sg), which refers to the College E-learning Portal, was first implemented in 2002. All students are required to sign up with the MaTrix and subscription fees will be deducted from their Edusave fund.
The MaTrix aims to facilitate and enhance the learning experience of students in the College. It is used in conjunction with the lecture-tutorial system in the College. In theory, selected topics may be covered solely online as an e-lecture, aided by streaming video, animations, discussion forums and online assessment outside of curriculum time or more commonly through a mixed mode teaching where readings, content materials and other e-resources are made available for students to access and prepare for tutorials during curriculum time. In practice, however, the MaTrix is often just used as a platform for teachers to upload lecture slides and tutorial questions for the students to download. The chemistry department also use MaTrix to host online quiz during holiday periods.
To support the e-learning portal, the College has a recently completed IT-Block housing four Computer Labs and two IT Resource Rooms. Students also have access to computers in The Hub and College Library. In addition, there are also wireless-hotspots around the entire college for internet surfing. Any student with a Centrino laptop can use the boardband wireless internet service for free.
Recently a number of Tablet PCs were lost in the college compound. It was suggested that this was mainly due to the carelessness of the students as well as the widespread use of expensive laptops in TJC. As a follow up, the college administration has taken positive steps in preventing further loss of laptops by hiring security guards and installing numerous close-circuit cameras around the college. Students are also strongly advised not to leave their laptops in areas under LT 1 as well as the Scope unattended.
[edit] Higher Education
The Higher Education department in TJC actively invites guest speakers from both foreign and local universities to give admission talks. In 2006, speakers from Oxford, Imperial College London, London School of Economics, the University of Warwick and a few other universities were invited. Students are invited to attend such talks to widen their further education options. Although SAT lessons are no longer offered in TJC, specific tutors are assigned to handle the university application process for students applying to US and UK universities. These tutors ensure that the student does not overlook any part of the application process and also function as the students' referees.
[edit] Notable alumni
[edit] External links
| edit |  Pre-University Centres and Post-Secondary Institutes in Singapore |
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| Pre-universities | Anderson JC (AJC) • Anglo-Chinese JC (ACJC) • Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) (ACS-I) • Catholic JC (CJC) • Hwa Chong Institution (HCI) • Innova JC (IJC) • Jurong JC (JJC) • Meridian JC (MJC) • Millennia Institute (MI) • Nanyang JC (NYJC) • National JC (NJC) • Pioneer JC (PJC) • Raffles JC (RJC) • St. Andrew's JC (SAJC) • Serangoon JC (SRJC) • Tampines JC (TPJC) • Temasek JC (TJC) • Victoria JC (VJC) • Yishun JC (YJC) | |
| Polytechnics | Nanyang Polytechnic (NYP) • Ngee Ann Polytechnic (NP) • Republic Polytechnic (RP) • Singapore Polytechnic (SP) • Temasek Polytechnic (TP) | |
| ITE Colleges | ITE College East (ITE CE-SM) • ITE College West (ITE CW) • ITE College Central (ITE CC) |
