4 October 2006, Straits Times

After 52 years, St Michael’s will be returning to its roots, and officially renamed St Joseph’s Institution Junior (SJI Junior) from Jan 1 next year.

In 1954, the school separated from the primary section of St Joseph’s Institution and named itself after the institution’s director, Brother Michael Noctor.

But now the school has decided to revert to its former name to coincide with the launch of the Josephian Programme, a 10-year education programme for pupils from Primary 1 to Secondary 4 offered by SJI schools.

Rather than erase the school’s past achievements, the name change will serve only to “strengthen the bond between us and our brother school”, said Mrs Sara de Souza, principal of St Michael’s.

A heritage centre will be set up on campus and will showcase 52 years of the school’s history.

Both parents and alumni are supportive of the name change, she said.

The schools are among seven run here by the De La Salle Brothers, who will also open the SJI International institution next year.

SJI International is a private, co-educational secondary school that offers a curriculum leading to the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) and the International Baccalaureate.

Enrolment begins next year and up to 20 scholarships will be offered to Singaporeans and permanent residents to study in grades nine to 12 (Sec 3 to JC 2).

Each scholarship is worth $10,000 a year for four years.

Costing a total of $800,000, the 20 scholarships are part of a $3 million fund being offered over the next two years.

The scholarships will be awarded to “students of the highest caliber”, said Mr Andrew Bennett, principal of SJI International. “We’re going all the way out to establish ourselves as a top quality institute.”

For further information, visit www.sjiinternational.com.sg

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