gollysmolly

Today was a half-day of school, with morning mass in the chapel.

Organized by the YCS (Young Christian’s Society), I must commend them for a job well done on their part to uphold the school’s status as Catholic.

They collaborated closely with the Chinese staff department to work out translations for the prayers and readings. Even the songs were sung in Chinese!

Friar gave up his usual homily, to be replaced by a prominent Chinese teacher, who had just returned from China. He was to enlighten us with his sharing of the gospel and thankfully, he used simple-enough Chinese, such that even I could understand him.

Other than that, I feel that mass went very well, with crazy photographers going trigger happy (literally) and Wang Wen singing her heart out with assisstance from Jude Tan.

After mass we had our lesson of the day, which involved Mathematics. Mr Low had to think of something "fun" to do, but something educational at that. So he came up with the idea of applying the binary and hexadecimal systems to Mathematical problems, such as the Number Theory. He also showed us how to prove irrationality of numbers, which was pretty hard to grasp.

But all of that is way beyond me… For now =P

The concert in the PAC was a success, with Michael Yee and Wang Guan as well-versed and entertaining emcees for the event.

Set in a news bulletin-like atmosphere, the two emcees introduced their way through the different acts of the MLS, TLS, CLS (Malay, Tamil and Chinese Language Societies), and co-stars of the performance, such as the three Josephian Idols singing their hearts out in Chinese, with teachers like Teresa Lim, Daisy Chia, Daniel Chua and another guy whom I don’t know.

They seasoned the morning’s "news update" with a flavour that had an overwhelming aftertaste, one that you could never forget.

The concert marked the end of school, and while some headed back to their primary schools to see their ex-teachers, others went on their way to have fun and celebrate.

I was initially planning to return to St. Michael’s School, but I changed my mind after learning that no one else was going back. It would seem rather awkward if I was the only one who went back, so I went straight to the Legion party at Mr Ang’s house instead. (Well, not exactly straight there, since we waited around in the cenacle for about an hour or two…).

I had a fun day of bitching, eating, and Taboo with friends all around, all the time. I enjoyed the companionship and fellowship as well as the bonding between this Legion and its members.

All in all, I had great fun today, marking the start of the CNY celebrations.

Xin Nian Kuai Le, Gong Xi Fa Cai, Wan Shi Ru Yi, Long Ma Jing Shen, Xin Xiang Shi Cheng and all the rest to everyone celebrating the New Year!

Happy Chinese New Year,
Gab.

PS. LOM QOAS ROX =P !!!

There’s really nothing interesting about school.

Why then, do I like it so much?

Sure, I like learning. I enjoy the challenges set to test the knowledge imparted from our teachers.

Sure, I love my friends =P. Not one day goes by without my best friends by my side =P !

Sure, I know that many others hate school. But its something that all of us HAVE to do, so we might as well make the best of it =P. Make friends, enjooy their company, have fun with the teachers, study hard for the subjects you like, and study harder for those that you don’t…

School is for learning, but why do so many people hate it?

Do they hate learning? It can’t be, cuz everyone learns something all the time.

Teachers teach, yet they learn from their students whom they are teaching.

Learning does not ONLY take place in class, it is omnipresent.

Enough psychology.

My commonwealth essay got chosen to represent the school. It’s now undergoing revision by the teachers.

Maths is going crazy, the sums are madness. We’re moving from cubic equations to inequalities. Half of my brain cells are already MIA.

Sec 3 is full of activities, but I don’t know if I can cope or not. With all the stress in class, and all my CCAs, plus my new responsibilities…

Exchange programme sounds fun… But i really don’t know. I want to go, but I don’t… It’s all so complicated.

But it’s school.

School is fun.

School is here

School is …

From yesterday, we practiced and perfected our little performance for the sec 1s; a dance to ‘Dragostea Din Tei’, or ‘Numa Numa Iei’, making use of all our creativity to come up with a simple dance that could excite and dazzle the crowds. Thanks to Gautam, Jervis, Sheridan, Calvin, etc. for beautiful choreography.

We managed to work out a routine, but it was still pretty plain…

Today after school, everyone had their respective CCAs, but as I was so unfortunately (and opportunely) sick, I was excused.

The real fun started at five.

Most of the PSLs were gathered in the LT, and we performed our dance for the rest of the PSLs who didn’t know the dance (cuz they didn’t go for the Thurs meeting)…

Joseph played a big part in modifying it to make it the spectacularity it is now, especially with his CAP (Creative Arts Programme) mind whirring away…

So before going out to join the Sec 1s in their campfire night, we had a briefing by the teachers (who also approved our dance), and a prayer (led by SIN)…

The campfire itself was pretty successful, I must say… I hope the Sec 1s enjoyed it as much as us =P

The PSLs tried to involve the Sec 1s in The ENERGY, helping them sing louder, bond better, and most importantly, have greater FUN.

Timothy Lee, a Sec 1 in my group, was so nice as to get me a present, since we were also nice enough to give them all presents =P … I think its easier to give than to receive, so I was stunned to receive a gift from him! Inside was a pen, but it was more, even than our PSL gift, which was only a cross…

I suppose it’s the thought that counts, and his thoughts mean a lot, since he is extra quiet, but extra nice.

Anyway, back to the campfire, some of the Sec 1 classes also put up acts for the level and parents;

Sec 101 - Dragostea Din Tei (Numa Numa Dance)
Sec 112 - You Raise Me Up
Sec 103 - Las Ketchup Song/Dance

And I’m sorry if I missed out any other brilliant shows that were put up.

All I can say is, participation is the key to have FUN!

Not to mention the two "hilarious" emcees, who made everything a hundred times better (and noisier)…

With help from;

All the PSFs, the campfire wouldn’t be anything without them (including its existence).

All the parents, who saw what a "GOOD" school that they chose for their sons, or their sons chose for themselves.

All the teachers who made this possible, Mr Chan, Mr Ang, Mr Chua, Mr Wong and all the form tutors, and non-teaching staff who helped out.

All the ex-Josephians, who pass on the Josephian spirit as it burns in them forever.

All the PSLs, who screamed their lungs out, sung their throats sore, and danced their legs to jelly.

All the Sec 1s, who came, enjoyed, and got "energized".

Thank you,
God bless,
Good night.

PS. Hope yall enjoyed yourselves VERY VERY MUCH!!! (Esp Sec 1s)

PSS. Sec 1s ROCK ON!!! Where is the ENERGY?

I know its been quite long already, since the camp ended a week ago, but I fell sick and haven’t been able to write lately, so pardon the tardiness…

I can’t say how nervous I was when Mr Ang told us to "let go our self-conciousness", and reach out of our comfort zone to the Sec 1s. That was already so difficult to do last year, in the Legion.

However, I did lower down my concrete walls surrounding me… Not collapse or destroy them, just lower…

When we were told to make a flashy entrance into the LT, I immediately decided to do what I do best. "Smile and wave" I told Marcus Tan and Alex Poon, my fellow PSLs.

So when we waved our way down the staircase of the LT, it was kind of overwhelming to see everyone looking at the three of us, but the awed looks and smiles helped that feeling a little.

We got to the bottom eventually, and bowed very elegantly. *Phew* I didn’t fall =P

Anyway, other than the camp itself, which was fun in general, I got to know SOME Sec 1s at least, and if they joined Legion, all the better =P.

My group members were (in no particular order);

Timothy (Oen), Daniel, Alex, Aloysius (Jun An), Marcus (Lee), Terence, Ian, Timothy (Lee), Francis, Brandon, Isaac. There was one more, but he was absent. Gabriel (Goh) if I’m not wrong…

Anyway, I got to know what they were like, or somewhat, their level of reserve (how quiet they were), etc.

Since Marcus, Alex and I were all from the Legion (coincidentally), we decided to try and get them to join us, since we were obviously the most fun Catholic group around. (Who else has an annual chalet?)(Which other teacher invites his students to his home?

Of course a two-day camp is hardly enough to get to know anyone, let alone one whole group…

110/1 ; I hope to see yall grow (mentally, physically, spiritually, psychologically, emotionally, intellectually, etc.)

I had a really fun time with yall, hope you enjoyed it too!

God Bless,
Gab

I know this may sound cliched, but school is school, and I’m not used to it.

Yet.

Sure, I’m making (or remaking friends), but I still have a long way to go before I know everyone in all my diffrent classes, which includes people from 331-334.

Adjusting is, right now, my main concern, but still, I think that I hardly know anyone in the four classes, even though I see them almost everyday.

I’m glad to say that most of my teachers know (and like =P) me, most of the students know me (or my name at least), but forgive me if I don’t know theirs.

Today was the first monday of the year. I forgot how depressing mondays can be, especially with the tune of the morning prayer psalmody not helping the mood.

Anyway, today’s training was "cancelled" due to the weather, and the unavailbility of space in the school. We not only sat down and looked at pics of world-famous throwers competing at competitions, but we also ended early.

I went down and found Marcus and Melvin still "bitching" from lunch. Naturally, I joined them. (Cross reference Leion Chalet post).

We "discussed affairs" for quite a long time, with brief guests of honour, such as Alastair, Jordan, Joseph, Dylan, and Derek (who probably stayed for the longest time).

Anyway, I am at home now, after half of my family came to pick me up (three out of six others), waiting for the dinner feast about to take place. Maybe I should go bathe.

There’s legion tomorrow, which I’m looking forward to. Hopefully, the Charlie’s Devils can have a bitching reunion. But we just had one… *Diao*

The more the merrier.

As most people probably know by now (one way or another), I am in sec 331, TDP (Talent Development Programme) English and Science.

Life in this environment is definitely less "entertaining" than last year, of course, though I must say that it has been different.

Very different.

Everything has changed, my teachers that I was close to, my friends that I hung out with, my subjects that I could cope with… It’s pure madness!

But now, everything is new, a clean slate. My teachers, my friends (of course I still love the old ones =P), my subjects, responsibilities… All of them need adjusting to, and that is something that I have to do fast.

*Sigh*

I shall focus on today, since I was a bit of a scatterbrain on the previous days. Today was pretty fun, training after school (Field training, cuz they needed help for Sports Skills Test), which meant I was excused from NCC training, in which they were tortured by Martin while I sat by the side watching (from afar).

After that, I went to see how I could help the PSLs involved in Orientation Camp One, since mine is next week (which means I am excused from training AGAIN!!)

In the evening, there was a parent conference for the parents of the new Sec Ones, in which I met someone involved, someone least expected.

My very own mother.

Actually, I was already informed of her expected presence, but not so well informed to expect to meet her upon arrival. She had to talk to a class of Sec 1’s and console their anxious parents about their decision to put their sons in SJI. I must say, she did a wonderful job of praising me in the process =P , together with Ms Syed, my form tutor for the past two years…

Anyway, I saw Mrs Vastel, and her stomach is back to normal, so I tried to see if her baby was anywhere in sight, but it wasn’t… Oh well..

I also saw Martina Chan, Bryan Poon, Rosy Goh, Michael Chin, Mrs Fong, and of course, Genesius Chan, Dominic Ang, etc.

That said and done, it was quite a fun day, filled with Sec 1’s (at the Sports Skills Test and Sec One Parent’s Orientation thingy)… All small and innocent-looking =P …

Next week is my Orientation Camp, let’s hope it goes all well =)

Wish me luck!
Gab.

PS I actually find life in S331 more challenging, and I like the way they jumble up the classes, so you have a wider circle of friends, not limited to the same classroom.

PSS I like life here.