P5 Adventure Camp 1

"Clear runway!"

I am very sure this phrase will sound all too familiar to many of you who have attended the camp and have tried the Zipline (I am oblivious to why some of you would stubbornly don that station as the 'Flying Fox'!).

This camp would be a memorable experience for many of you all in years to come... In this camp, there are many significant first-time experiences you have

For some of you it would have been your first time away from home, and all the comfortable things you will have at home. For some of you all, it would be the first time you realised that you had been taking your parents, siblings and loved ones for granted, thinking that they should always be there to protect you, to pamper you and do things for you...

It is hoped that through this camp, each of you will go away from the camp, maturing in thoughts, deeds and behaviour, to be responsible, independent, and to have greater confidence, perseverance, and appreciation of the loved ones around you.

Here is an account of what has taken place during the camp:

Day 1:
Pupils hopped onto the bus and set off from SVPS and arrived at MOE Dairy Farm Adventure Camp. Many were shocked, they thought it was like a chalet, but soon realised it was not so. They had no beds to sleep on, no air-conditioned room, but just the fans and their sleeping bags...

They were briefed by Mr Yap about the camp rules and expectations, introduced to their leaders, and taught some cheers.

Soon, it was meal time and everyone gathered at the canteen, where they learnt a cheer before they could eat their meals.





Students, excited and restless at the canteen! Hungry hungry! Thirsty thirsty!

After dinner, it was time for night walk! Pupils wore their light sticks around their wrists and made their way out. It was a nice, slow and easy walk out where we got to see part of the beautiful Bukit Timah Hill under the clear night sky. When we got back to the camp, it was time for supper.

Students were enjoying their hot milo, before they were given time to wash up and be back for the night briefing.

Day 2:
Day 2 started with morning exercises for the pupils, and soon it was breakfast.

After breakfast, the highlights kicked off and various groups were sent to different learning stations to experience outdoor education and adventure. They were introduced to a variety of activities such as the Challenging Rope Courses, Abseiling, Zipline, and Rock climbing. Apart from these confident building courses, they were also brought through camp craft, jungle survival skills and team building activities.


Shiqi reaching the top of the wall... WOW! Strong girl! She was really fast!



Mr Yeoh, taking a cheeky picture with the Sports Girl of the class.

Day 3:
Some more of the climbing activities and camp craft skills!


Stylo-Milo Xinyin on the wall!

In this camp, I was thankful that I got to know some of you better by observing how you would handle challenges and problems you would have faced...

To Trilyn: I loved the way you faced the rock wall with such gusto and never-say-die spirit. You may have slipped a few times, but you have trusted your leaders, and me to your safety, and you tried until your hands were tired. That is courage!

To: Xin Yin: I love the way you have not given in too easily to your fears and difficulties. You climbed so well during the start, but perhaps began to doubt or did not trust yourself that you could do it, and you gave up finally. Still, at least you realised that you were able to go further if you had not given up. That is good enough.

To: Jorrell: I'm sure through this camp, you have learnt a lot more to be a team player, more than always being a lone ranger. Thank you for trying to step out of your fear, and try as much as you can.

To: Adelphia: Thank you for being so willing to try to stay through out the whole camp. You were fearful at first, and you missed home... Yet, after talking to Ms Tan and me, you decided to give yourself as well as the teachers your very best effort. I hope the camp did not disappoint you and you have learnt to see that you can also take good care of yourself even though you are away from your family. Congratulations Adelphia, you have grown up more again!

To: Yisheng: I saw another side of you, with regards to how good a team player you can be... I think you can actually be a very responsible and good leader as you are friendly with nearly everyone. I can tell you have little problems in the camp... Continue to stay positive and focus in your goals as a student and as a child at home. Hope the camp has taught you good independence as well.

To: Shi Qi: you never fail to amaze and surprise me. You have conquered the rock wall, and have proven to many that actions speak louder than words. You are a very humble leader, responsible and mature in thoughts. Keep that up!

To: Many boys and girls of 5.7: I am so glad most of you have stayed and have given your best during this camp. I hope you will remember the camp, not just because of the fun, joy and laugher you have, but also the learning points and experience you have to tell yourselves never to give up, never to doubt yourselves but to believe, to persevere and to persist!

"Campers!"

New Term New Beginning!

Hi 5.7!

As a new term debuts, I am sure all of you are ready to fight a new battle. A battle against yourself...

I would like all of you to be reminded that we will work as a class towards success, and not individually. Yes, it is good to do your own work well, but I think it would be far more beneficial for all to share our knowledge, to help one another, and improve as a class!

I would like to urge all the students in the class to help one another to achieve improvements in the various subjects each may need help in.

Remember our targets?

Let us all work towards 0 failures and many 'A's, 'B's and 'C's, rather 'D's, 'E's and 'F's... Start to work in your own circle of good friends within the class today!

There is a famous quote: "I can give without loving, but I can never love with giving..."

Start with giving someone your help and attention to show that you care for them as friends as well!

And the results of the online voting...

Remember I posted a poll on the side of this blog, and 16 of you voted. Anyway, here are the results of the votes!

Getting good results	16 (100%)
Owning lots of games	6 (37%)
Having lots of friends	10 (62%)
Getting a boyfriend / a girlfriend	5 (31%)
Having lots of money	5 (31%)
Being doted by parents/siblings	10 (62%)
Being an obedient and filial child	12 (75%)
Performing well in sports	12 (75%)
Performing well in music and dance	9 (56%)
Having a healthy body	11 (68%)
Grow taller	10 (62%)
Be slim	12 (75%)
To look good	12 (75%)

Votes so far: 16 

So the results are such... When I looked at these votes, I was really glad, yet at the same time alarmed... Why so?

I am glad because all of you see the importance for good results... Yet I am alarmed that not all of you see the importance to be obedient and filial to your parents... I am shocked that nearly one third of you think that having lots of money, games and even boyfriend and girlfriend are important to you at this point of time.

What has happened to the moral education here for our children? I am asking if I am failing here to bring some important messages across to my dear children here. Life is more than just having fun, eat, drink and be merry. It's about making purposeful choices to live a life to love people whom we treasure...

Parents are doing their best to raise us up by working so hard. Yes, there are times we can never understand why they would scold us, nag at us, yell at us and even punish us... When they did these things to us, we would be angry with them, mad at them and even upset...

However, when we grow up would we realise that all along, our parents are doing their part to make sure we do not make grievous mistakes in our lives that we will regret...

They nag at us and force us to study some may think, but hey, at the end of the day when you all grow up, how much you earn depends on how good your studies are, in Singapore and anywhere in the world...

Parents punish us and scold us when we fight, or do the wrong things, so that we know what is right to do, and what would be wrong to do. They teach us the way to know what is morally right, and what is morally wrong, and we won't grow up doing the wrong things in life.

They nag at us to shower and to bath when we are drenched in the rain, so that we will not fall ill and suffer. So, whatever they have done to us, and for us, are all for our good will, and well being. So, why are we not doing our best to love our parents, to obey our parents?

I hope you all will learn from what I have commented here.

Next, a lot of you are seeing money, games and boyfriends/girlfriends as important here.... My comment - WAKE UP PLEASE!

You are barely 11! Don't waste your time on pursuing these meaningless things and waste away your time, energy and emotions. No matter what a boy or a girl may say at this age of 11, they will never last. They never will. Comes secondary school days, and I can guarantee you, a break up is bound to come.

Then along the way, there are so many break ups and heart brokenness which one would have to go through. Is it not time wasting?

Boys are not mature at this point of time to know what is commitment, to stay truthful and loyal, and needless to say, about lasting forever.

Girls are not sure of what kind of partners they are looking for in their lives, and in fact are just looking for someone to pamper them, to give them attention... They may always seek someone more good looking, and someone better....

So, why waste your time, on these things, when you are not mature enough to handle all these yet? I know all of you are growing up, but we need to learn to handle our feelings and affections well. These are crushes, or what we call infatuation. Puppy love will rarely last long...

If this is distracting you from your studies, then sad to say, all your goals of wanting to share A* and As can never be achieved...

Likewise for games... If you spend more time on them than on your family, friends and studies, then, sad to say, you are addicted to games. In a way, you have become a slave to games... The game is your master, and you are serving him by playing with him everyday...

When you spend more time on games, you are spending less time on studies, and on family and friends... So, how do we get good results? Who can we blame?

Dear children, I hope you can understand why I am saying all these. See for yourselves, if I am wrong to tell you all these... CA 1 would have been a wake-up call to many of you... and I hope you learn from your mistakes, don't repeat them.

It is alright to make mistakes, but never alright to repeat them!

Obeying our Mommies...

This is a song about why we ought to be listening to words of our parents - our mothers, as well as fathers...

It's a Mandarin song, but contents of it speaks so much that as much as we are young, and ignorant to why our parents are constantly 'nagging' at us, scolding us or getting us to learn new things, they are doing all these for our good.

We may not understand right now, but when we grow up, we will see the rewards behind all these things they have done for us.

Thank you parents!

Are you going to finish strong?

Like I have mentioned in the class during Wednesday... A lot of us are very disappointed with our own results... We would have to remember the pain, the tears, and the disappointments...

Yet we must also remember that all not is lost! We still have SA 1, SA 2 to prove our point!

Start picking yourself up from this fall... Make practical steps and goals again. Not giant steps that we will find them hard to achieve ourselves, but small baby steps which we can manage... Life is full of ups and downs, and in the video as we have watched... There are moments we will really fall flat on our face, and we find things hopeless...

But are we going to just walk when we are in that fallen position?

Let's get up, remember what we have set our goals to do, and finish STRONG...

Let's fight on! 5.7!

Mixed feelings...

Sometimes, we human beings are pretty much a confused lot.

When we are going through tough times, we would wish that they would end very soon. When they end, we suddenly realise we have nothing better to do thereafter.

I wonder how many of you feel the same way after your CA papers?

Some of you have worked hard during these 2 weeks, and suddenly when they are over, you feel relieved, yet, what are you doing with the free time in hand?

Do you get a mixed feeling about your idleness?

I get it sometimes... I can be so busy with work, but when I am done with them, I will be lost for a while, not knowing what to do next.

Perhaps, it is time to pick up a new sport!