Sunday, 5 April 2009
@ 9:31:00 pm
(*sorry about the picture- this is supposed to be the puzzle
(read below) but I think I did something wrong :X )
Wednesday 1 April 2009 3-5.30 Unofficial meeting
Happy April Fool's Day :)
PSes take over XD
Everyone fell in according to their patrols at 3 pm, as the PSes were taking over the meeting today. After falling in, we were given 3 minutes to change out of our pinafore and pe attire and into our dark coloured shirts and shorts. Meanwhile, the PSes took some time to organise the activities that we had in stall for them. When everyone came back, they fell in and Qarissa made them do a bit of footdrill while we went to our respective stations and prepared. Two of us stayed behind to brief everyone about the activity, and we had to work in our patrols. Each patrol was given a clue, and had to solve the clue in order to get to the stations. The clues are:
-Faith Hope and Love
-If A=1, B=2....... 15 21 20 4 15 15 17 19 20 1 7 5
-NACTNEE
Can you work them out? :)
Anyway, these clues led the groups to the area at the back of the parade square betweent the two buildings, the outdoor stage and the canteen respectively.
One of the stations were SQUEEZE IT DRY. This game requires the members of the patrol to run to a pail filled with water while holding the sponge with the chopsticks. Next, she has to dip the sponge into the pail and run to a bottle at the other end of the line and squeeze as much water into it as possible, without the help of her hands. The team that reaches the water level marked on the bottle first will win. Everyone in the patrol was given a chance, and they were told to cheer for one another. :)
This activity requires the participants to think of ways in which they will be able to transport the wet sponge without squeezing too much water out of it. In this way, they may be able to apply past knowledge to this situation (if any), and the values of persistence, patience and teamwork will be incorporated, as it requires the effort of everyone in order to win. Also, the patrol that wins will also have to help the other patrol out, thus, there a sense of unity is fostered not only within the patrol, but as a whole coy.
The second activity was HOLD THAT TIGHT! At each time, two participants will be back to back, with a water balloon between their backs. They will have to walk through a zigzag path and burst the balloon into a pail at the end of the route. The first team that has its pail overflowing the wins. :)
Just like the above, this game involves the players to strategize and come up with ways to successfully transport the balloon across (eg, ways to place the balloon btw them so it will balance). Those who are afraid of balloons can also take this as an opportunity to overcome their fear! As this game is played in patrols, bonding between patrol members can be encouraged, and a sense of unity and patrol spirit can be instilled through a simple game as such.
The third activity is YUMMY GUESS! For each round, participants will sit face to face on a table. Both sides will be blindfolded. One of the pair takes the ice cream stick of food/drink/sauce in front of her and feeds her friend opposite her. After the participants have tasted all the samples, they will take down her blindfold and tries to guess what was given to them. Some examples of the food they tasted are jam, peanut butter, nutella, chocolate, lemon and biscuits. :9 Yum!
This game tests the participants’ ability to be observant enough to able to detect the different tastes of the foods- sweet, sour, bitter etc. It is also like a modified memory game, except that this one requires them to use their sense of taste, which is quite unique. It also gives them a chance to feel what it is like to be unable to see, and it teaches them to value and appreciate the little things that are given to them in life.
Once everyone had participated in all the activities, they were given some time to change into their dry outfits, and then had to report back at the outdoor stage. The last activity was fixing a puzzle. As they were given tokens for their winnings and participation just now, each patrol had to present their tokens and in return, were given a few puzzle pieces. They are instructed to piece their puzzle together, and the fastest patrol wins. However, there is actually only one puzzle in the end, and if each patrol tries to fix the puzzle by themselves, they will never be able to get a complete picture! Thus, participants will have to eventually realise that they have to cooperate with the other groups to “win” this game!
This last activity definitely requires everyone’s cooperation. At first, each group will think that they will be the winner, but at the end, they will understand that they can only win if everyone chips in and plays a part. This value is extremely useful, which can be applied in our daily lives, including Guides meetings, such as when we all build a structure- everyone’s contribution is necessary in order for it to become a success. We hope that everyone will be able to get the message of “One COY, One family”, that everyone is included and as equally as important, just like in “Ohana”, where no one is left behind or forgotten! :D
Once everyone was done, the PSes got someone to read the message on the puzzle out. Next, everyone sat in their groups and the PSes gave a debrief. We got a member from each patrol to volunteer and talk about how they felt about the activities which they have just taken part in. Next, the PS gave their comments and views on the COY and what we have done today. We mentioned that most of the time, the COY was not running to get from place to place, but strolling and taking our own sweet time. We also mentioned that the practice of greeting teachers, seniors and PLs was slowly dying. This is not only tradition, it is also a form of respect and manners and a way to show our initiative- to greet without having to be prompted or reminded. Next, Qarissa told everyone to fall in, and we had to run one round around the building as a punishment. The PSes also joined in. After we running we fell in and had to do stetches. NExt, we fell in in horseshoe formation.
The YA (Young Adult), who was here to help our COY improve, told us that as not all the sec ones had managed to pass the colour party, the PSes would have to go on to the Internet and find a 500word long article related to Guiding and forward it to all our patrol members. Everyone has to copy it. And today was also the deadline for handing in our copy of the Module 1 in the Guides handbook. After some other announcements, we fell out, thanked everyone, collected our wallets and went home :)
Hopefully, everyone enjoyed the activities today, and managed to take home some good memories to cherish and friendships forged! :)
Love,
Natalie
Once everyone was done, the PSes got someone to read the message on the puzzle out. Next, everyone sat in their groups and the PSes gave a debrief. We got a member from each patrol to volunteer and talk about how they felt about the activities which they have just taken part in. Next, the PS gave their comments and views on the COY and what we have done today. We mentioned that most of the time, the COY was not running to get from place to place, but strolling and taking our own sweet time. We also mentioned that the practice of greeting teachers, seniors and PLs was slowly dying. This is not only tradition, it is also a form of respect and manners and a way to show our initiative- to greet without having to be prompted or reminded. Next, Qarissa told everyone to fall in, and we had to run one round around the building as a punishment. The PSes also joined in. After we running we fell in and had to do stetches. NExt, we fell in in horseshoe formation.
The YA (Young Adult), who was here to help our COY improve, told us that as not all the sec ones had managed to pass the colour party, the PSes would have to go on to the Internet and find a 500word long article related to Guiding and forward it to all our patrol members. Everyone has to copy it. And today was also the deadline for handing in our copy of the Module 1 in the Guides handbook. After some other announcements, we fell out, thanked everyone, collected our wallets and went home :)
Hopefully, everyone enjoyed the activities today, and managed to take home some good memories to cherish and friendships forged! :)
Love,
Natalie
SiYing; Chomel; Katrina; Meenatchi; Safila; Krystal; Christine; Siti; Rukaiya; Kalyani
Qarissa (YA)(not in picture); Sherwynn; Nicole (not in picture); Caitlin; Charmaine; Vanessa; Amanda; Claudia; Michelle