Temasek Junior College Friday, 10 March 2017

TEMASEK PRESS 1

TEMASEK PRESS PASSION. PURPOSE. SATAY.

BY SYLVIA LOH (25/16) AND STEPHANIE KRISTINE FRANTZ (19/16)

Mr Daren Ong (Science department), Ms Nicolette Teo (Humanities department), and Ms Chua Shi Yan (MTL department) posing for a photograph with food

“I’ll choose to eat satay forever. Even in my next life.” - Mr Vivek Mukherjee (English department), on choosing between going vegan or eating satay for the rest of his life

Every year, on the last day of the first term, Temasek Junior College (TJC) hosts a unique celebration which probably won’t appear on any other calendars but its own. With a congregation of excellent company and an oasis of mouth-watering food, this event commemorates the end of Term 1, and heralds the beginning of the much-needed March Holidays. This exclusive event is none other than TJC’s annual Satay Party. True to its name, the party showcased the electrifying energy of staff and non-staff alike as they connected over plates of smoking hot satay, as well as a delectable array of other dishes from the catered buffet. The familiar faces of our tutors and support staff as well as the fresh faces of their families and friends, filled the basketball court; all ready to devour the hearty buffet and show their support to the event. Many of the attendees we spoke to were eager to sing praises of the school tradition, swearing by its ability to invariably bring staff members together every year for a chance to bond over their shared experiences in the college.

Temasek Junior College Friday, 10 March 2017

TEMASEK PRESS 2

“This is my 4th year in TJ, I’ve attended every Satay Party. It’s nice to mingle with the other staff members away from everyday school life.” - Mr Nordin Bin Hassan (PE department) Away from the stresses of work, the Satay Party proves that TJC is a place that truly cares for the well-being of its staff, and where one can relax and unwind. Seeing tutors shed their professional personas and attend the party wearing a more informal demeanour proved that they aren’t the rigid marking machines we sometimes imagine them to be, and are rather unlike those stereotypes we impose on them while listening to their lectures and sitting in their tutorials. Like us, they too have their personal lives waiting for them at the end of their busy days, and indulge in the simple pleasures of having a meal with their friends and family. The event was an exemplary demonstration of TJC’s focus on a work-life balance, and the prominent air of inclusivity engulfing anyone who steps through the school gates.

“My best experience as a teacher in TJ are the friends I’ve made.” -Ms Tan Jinyu (Arts department) Many may think that the college is merely a place for hard work and intense study, however being at the Satay Party has truly opened our eyes to something greater. True to Ms Tan’s testament of how the school has allowed her to meet many lifelong friends, we have found that TJC is also a place for passionate teachers to befriend one another and thrive in an environment that allows them to do what they love - mould the future of Singapore.

“Caring. Inclusive. Interesting.” - Mr Marcus Goh’s (Maths department) 3-word description of TJC It was the little things that clearly showcased the close-knit nature of the TJ family-- playing a game of tennis with your fellow colleagues, laughing together over shared experiences, or even entertaining your co-worker’s kids while they queue up at the buffet line.

Mr Russell Tan (English department) playing a friendly game of tennis with

Mr Peter Teo (an ex-TJ GP tutor)

Temasek Junior College Friday, 10 March 2017

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TJC is truly a community of caring, hearty individuals who always remind each other that they all have a place in the college. Our beloved principal, Mrs Low, truly exemplifies the all-embracing personality of our college, as she was seen eagerly playing with the staff members’ children in the basketball court with a wide smile and crinkled eyes. Mrs Low was also game enough to join a circle of tutors who were playing basketball, and gleefully participated in a match with them. It was truly a sight to behold, and a shining reminder of the familial TJC community. Seeing all the circles of friends, families and colleagues sitting together under the light of the moon and next to the crackling fire of the grill truly portrayed the picture of the loving and welcoming kinship that TJC strives to offer.

TJC’s very own Lebron James - Mrs Low

“I have come for the Satay Party every year I’ve worked in TJ” -Mdm Lim Chai Cheng (Operations Support Officer) Mdm Lim, a beacon of dedication to TJ, had warmly welcomed us to the party, offering us food and regaling us with stories about her time in TJ. As a steadfast member of the college, she has attended almost every Satay Party since its inauguration as one of TJ’s annual traditions. Donned in a Beta House T-shirt (which she can be seen wearing almost every day in school), her eyes glimmered with unspoken pride and fondness for the school, its achievements, and its unique culture. Endlessly praising the party’s joyous chatter and flavourful food, her kind face was set in a smile for our entire conversation. Listening to her cheery voice and pleasant conversation was certainly the perfect way to end our time at the party.

An eye-opening event, TJC’s Satay Party proves once and for all that the school’s core values remain the bedrock for its many years of success in the years past, as well as the years to come.