Sunday, February 26, 2012

Contributing to St Joe Private School

Just a quick posting to get you guys to start putting a few coins or notes each day in a spare biscuit tin :)

We will be launching some interesting activities soon to collect some donations and offer some help from the Boys of the Seventies to the development of St Joseph's Private School.

Not only do we want to hand over cash, I for one think it would be more meaningful if we got ourselves involved in nurturing how the school develops.

Think about this. In 10 or 15 years time, when St Joe Private is a successful school churning out high-achieving, well-rounded, socially-responsible young men and women, you can say that you played a role in its beginnings.

Ideas welcome. Volunteers welcome. Donations welcome.

17 comments:

  1. Aha ... the blog comes to life again!

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  2. Any info on how te school is doing? It started already right?

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  3. You want to give desk and chair again ka, WJ?

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  4. Where is this new school?

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  5. For those Josephians in Singapore, there will be a fund-raising dinner at the Shangri-la on 15 April. Please contact me (jslyong@hotmail.com) and I'll share more info and get the organizer to sign you up.

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  6. NEW PRIVATE SCHOOL PREMISES TO BE ON JALAN NAGOR (NEAR SATOK ROAD). CONSTRUCTION IN PROGRESS.

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  7. What did you have in mind as fund-raising activities?

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  8. Maybe we should be donating our children or grandchildren to join the school :)

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  9. Correct me if I am wrong and please accept my apology for being a bit naive here. Hopefully someone can clarify. Here goes: A private school usually means expensive or well above average school fees. So why still need any financial helpings or donations. To me if you want a legacy, then it is the school program, how the school is run, their aim and motive. High standard of education with employment of quality teachers, etc, etc. These are the things that ex Josephians should be involved and assist and oversees to the running of the school. Appointment of good, honest board of governors with regular dialogue/meeting with the school management, parents and surprisingly the students themselves (should also have some say). What do you think?

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  10. I am inclined to agree with Anon 10.07am. St Joe Private is a fee-based institution, quite different from our alma mater. Its students will be the ones who can afford the high fees. Much like Lodge School. In fact, on reflection, if this St Joe Private was there 30 years ago, many of us might not have been students there because we could not have afforded the 'private school fees'. I do not understand the rationale for 'donating' to a fee-based private school as if it is a charity which it clearly is not. That's my 2-sen worth.

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  11. I see it somewhat differently from Anon 10.07 and George. However I welcome their views and an opportunity to discuss this important issue.

    I think there is a segment of us who have over the years been increasingly frustrated that the quality of education (academic and extra-curricular) and consequently reputation, of St Joseph's School has continued to decline year after year. This has been the result of not having much control over the student intake, teacher quality and curriculum, those areas being dictated largely by MOE. I believe the goal of the Mission in launching St Joseph's Private is to rebuild the reputation of St Joseph's and to provide quality education to those who seek it. The fact that it is a private school is but a means to an end. It was never contrived to be profit-making in the first place, although income is obviously necessary to achieve those goals. Without being private, the school administration would be hamstrung to achieve any of the goals mentioned. I have read it mentioned by one of the Mission leaders that if there is any student who is deserving of a St Joseph's education, scholarships and bursaries should be provided to make it possible. All these need money too.

    In essence, while in legal terms St Joe Private is created as a private fee-based entity, the spirit of the organization is to provide quality education the way the old St Joseph's was once able to. I hope enough Josephians can see it in this light and contribute to this worthy cause.

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  12. Harvard and Stanford Universities are private institutions also. Why do they have no shortage of financial supporters?

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  13. This always bothered me ... how will St Joseph's School and St Joseph's Private School co-exist after a few years? Won't it be confusing?

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  14. CALLING JOSEPHIANS IN SINGAPORE.
    THERE WILL BE A FUND-RAISING DINNER AT THE SHANGRI-LA HOTEL ON 15 APR 2012. CONTACT ME (jslyong@hotmail.com) OR DANIEL CHAN (pakwen56@gmail.com) IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN JOINING ONE OF THE SEVERAL TABLES WE ARE PUTTING TOGETHER. THE DINNER IS FREE, BUT HOPEFULLY YOU WILL PLEDGE SOME FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO THE CAUSE. BRING YOUR CHEQUE BOOKS ALONG :)

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  15. Aiya, I will be a 'Josephian in Singapore' the weekends before and after that date. Gonna miss the free dinner :(

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  16. Heard the rumour that St Joe will not take any more Primary 1 students? Anyone heard the same?

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    Replies
    1. Must be April Fool joke la........anon, 1st April.

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