SJI Celebrates Inaugural Assembly 2024

The Inaugural Celebration at SJI is a cherished tradition that celebrates the beginning of the new academic year. It is the first formal assembly when the entire Josephian community comes together in a spirit of thanksgiving and prayer. After a month of orientation, we officially welcomed the newest additions to the school – namely our Year 1 & Year 5 students and the new members of the teaching and non-teaching staff.

During the Principal's Address, Mr Justin Arul Pierre set the directions and priority areas for the school in 2024 with emphasis on Nurturing Adaptive and Inventive Thinking, and Global and Cross-Cultural Literacy. He also introduced the school theme for the year, "Deepening Our Connections with the World, Industry and Community".

As we embrace the challenges and various disruptions confronting us in this ever-evolving and uncertain world, Mr Pierre called upon the school community to broaden their worldview, to adopt an open mindset and to be courageous to experiment and do things differently. This will enable us to be adaptable, nimble and resilient to changes and ambiguous situations.

Mr Pierre reminded Josephians to uphold our Lasallian ethos and traditions. The education mission that the founding De La Salle Brothers brought to Singapore is even more important today. In the midst of a world that seeks instant gratification and is more self-centred, we must continue to stay true to the Lasallian education philosophy encapsulated in our motto, “Ora et Labora” (Pray and Work).

Today, the school community also witnessed our Principal and several teachers sharing the stage to sing "We Are the World"; their collective voices echoed with passion, spreading a message of unity, hope, and solidarity. Their heartfelt rendition of this song was a powerful reminder that as educators they not only impart knowledge but also role-model the values of empathy, love and the sense of community.

The Inaugural Assembly concluded with the celebration of the Eucharist where Friar Michael D’Cruz OFM further emphasized the significance of Community, a very precious bond that we all share here in SJI. He also blessed the school flag and the school colours. These much-cherished symbols have carried many generations of Josephians through the school and beyond.