013: LDC Pre-camp

LDC Precamp: 21st May 2011

The Leadership Development Camp (LDC) is a very important camp for both the Year 2s as well as the Year 5s. For us Year 5s, this is the very first camp that we are planning together as a cohort, and for some of us, the first time we’re working so closely with some of our peers. As part of LDC, the LDC pre-camp was held today. Through a fun time of bonding with the Year 2s in games as well as learning new skills (cycling and first aid), the LDC pre-camp was certainly spent memorably.

In order to prepare ourselves for LDC, we had to brush up on old skills (or learn new ones) in order to confidently set good examples for our juniors all through LDC. These skills included tent-pitching as well as how to administer first aid. Discipline standards for us were also raised and we really found ourselves scrambling to meet timings. Today really drove home the point that we as Year 5s, are supposed to be near-perfect examples for the Year 2s to follow, and as such, are supposed to embody all that we want them to become. Although it was tough and a little surprising at first, everyone managed to come together out of love for the Year 2s to strive towards increasing the standards of our discipline. Even after a long day of running programs and games and the like, we still managed to keep up the good discipline and met all the timings given to us.

The toilet was too far away...

For most of the new primers, today was definitely a great opportunity to get to meet more Year 2s and for all the primers, games were definitely a wonderful chance to get to know the Year 2s in our respective groups. Even the rain could not dampen our spirits, as the Year 2s and 5s raced around school playing station games. The games played today were only the first step in learning how to work together as a group, and both the Year 2s and 5s had fun in doing so. This was only the second time that we had scheduled time to spend with the juniors, and most of us eagerly took up this opportunity to get to know our juniors better. With LDC just around the corner, it was great to get to know the fellow primers and juniors that we’d be spending 4 whole days with.

(Top right) Gabriel: "Hey Ben, see the camera? Yeah, It's pointing at us"

(Bottom left) Richard and Chun Yi hammer the basha pole into the ground.

(Right) Mr Ainsley Liew, Benjamin and Gabriel inspect the tents. 

 Tent pitching

Following games, we had some LDC committee time, which we used to settle certain administrative matters within our respective committees as well as to pray for LDC. It was a time dedicated to God, to just continually seek His guidance in our plans for LDC and to commit the entire camp, the Year 2s and the Year 5s into His hands. After that time of prayer, there was no better way to end of this extended parade with a time of worship! Led by Clt/5 Noel and Clt/5 Alex, the short but meaningful worship session led us all to reflect on bringing everything back to God with sincerity and coming to Him just to worship at His throne. On that note, we closed LDC pre-camp, tired and worn-out, but enriched by the experience. I daresay that today was one of the most tiring parades we’ve had since the start of the year, but it has also been one of the most rewarding parades.

~Written by:
Clt/5 Dorothy Loo

Psalm 55:22
Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.

012: 30th April Parade

Parade: 30th April 2011

It wasn’t a bright sunny morning. The sky was overcast and the rain was pouring down relentlessly. Nevertheless, the rain didn’t dampen the spirit of us primers one bit as we got together for another time of fellowship, outdoor fun and closer spiritual connection with God.

The day started off with committee time, during which members of each of the four committees sat down together to discuss, share and plan activities that will help fulfill the mission and goals of each committee.

The 1hour-and-45 minute meeting proved to be an intense brainstorming and discussion session for us as each committee worked to the best of their ability to ensure the smooth planning and execution of duties, events and activities. In the process, there were active contribution and evaluation of ideas, plans and feedback by each member. As we tried to improve and fine-tune our plans, we collaborated not only intellectually, but also in action and in spirit. I realized, at the end of the day, the ultimate agenda was not the planning of the activities per se, but rather, the building of team spirit, fellowship and love among the members, and the furtherance of God’s kingdom.

David's all excited to cook...

mmmmm....

            Joshua Seow cooking...            WARNING: DO NOT PLAY WITH FIRE

Following that, we had a brilliant time cooking in the outdoors. Well, not exactly outdoors --- we were cooking under a shelter --- thanks to the rain, but close to that nevertheless. Using tommy cookers and mess tins, we made ourselves a sumptuous meal comprising of anyone’s all-time favourite --- maggi mee! Not only that, our officers Mr Caleb Lin and Mr Lee Yi Wei also taught us a handy trick to cook rice using two mess tins. With the light tapping of the raindrops on roofs in the background, we enjoyed yet another moment of wondrous bonding in the aroma of maggi mee.

The Boys working for their food

Hi Dorothy. Hi Jeanette. I just want your noodles. I'll take it and go... kthxbai

Brian caught in an intimate moment with noodles

Genevieve eats noodles and reminisces about the past...

After we had filled our stomachs, the primers headed back to the lecture theater for a time of sharing and praying for the upcoming LDC. We broke up into small groups of 3s and 5s, and joined our hands in sincere prayer for the preparation of the camp. After that, in a big circle, we shared with one another our convictions as we prayed for the camp. Some of the convictions include loving the Year 2s and taking the initiative to bond with them during the camp, bearing pure motives in planning for the camp, and unity among the primers. Through the sharing, we learnt to take a step back from the planning for the camp, and look at things not merely as organizers of the camp, but also in the perspective of God’s helpers. Hopefully, through the LDC, we can fulfill our roles in God’s perfect plan for both the year 2s and ourselves.

~Written by:
Clt/5 Hsu Ying

Matthew 11:28-30

“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

011: BB Day 2011

BB Day: 12th January 2011

The Boys’ Brigade day (BB Day) is held annually in schools with Boys’ Brigade on the 12th of January. Some year 5s contributed to this wonderful day as we were part of the Primers’ contingent in the BB Day Parade held in our school.

The year 5s who participated was those who were from the 12 (I) Singapore Company in secondary 4. Having volunteered to come back and serve as primers, we were also made to march for BB Day. And we gladly accepted it! There were 2 rehearsals, one on 8th January and the other on the 10th of January. Both rehearsals were held to ensure that everyone was familiar with the procedure of the parade and had a run through of the parade sequence. However, our primers’ contingents had to deal with a tough command—right turn on the march. This was tough and despite having two full rehearsals, it was not perfect.

Finally, the big day arrived. We had to reach school at 630 so that we could be in the parade square for the uncasing of colors. After the uncasing of colors to show our BB flag, we went up to our form up positions to get ready for the parade. When the school had arrived and settled down at the parade square, our parade commander, SSG Tan Ting Yu, started the parade. With the music coming from the BB Band, the contingents marched to their form up positions. After the parade form up, the Guest of Honor recited and BB Day 2011 message and gave a few words of advice for us. Then, the parade commander asked for permission from the GOH to continue with the march past. After permission was granted, we marched off.

Now the 2 primers’ contingents had to execute the right turn on the march. With commands given at the right time and with our feet moving to the sound of the BB Band, we executed the turn very well and were full of confidence as we marched down the ramp and away from the parade ground.

Having participated in this parade in secondary 2, it has always been a joy to march for BB as it signified a year that has passed and a new year that will be remembered. This day has been a special day in many of my cohort mates’ hearts and it will continue to do so in the future.

~Written by:
Clt/5 Gabriel Loke

Proverbs 1:7
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge;
fools despise wisdom and instruction.