Secondary One Orientation Programme

An account by a Secondary One student

    Most secondary schools welcome their first year students with orientation camps and programmes.  My school, CHIJ Secondary (Toa Payoh), was no exception. A three day orientation programme was held from the third to the fifth of January 2007. It consisted of a range of useful talks, much-needed tours of the school and exciting games that helped build new friendships and cemented existing bonds among the secondary one students. The whole programme culminated with a spirited campfire night that had my classmates and I wishing that the programme would never end.

Walking along the corridors in Chijmes

   One of the first things we did at the start of the orientation programme was to meet the school principal, Mrs Regina Lee. She gave us a clear and thorough talk on what to expect from the academic and non-academic programmes in CHIJ. The impressive list of past achievements filled me with pride and determination to help my school achieve even more. Mrs Lee also informed us about the school’s core values of faith, hope and love. It was heartening to know that besides caring for our intellectual abilities, the school would not neglect nurturing our spiritual and emotional selves as well. Besides Mrs Lee’s talk, the orientation programme included other important talks as well such as the ones given by the Dean, Miss Teo and the Head of Year, Mrs Helen Tan. My classmates and I tried hard to absorb all the important information that we were being told such as the school rules and policies.

   One of the most exciting activities that we did on the first day of Orientation was to go on a Learning Journey to Boat Quay and Chijmes. I was fascinated to see where the CHIJ nuns had first arrived in Singapore. At Chijmes, we were brought to see many interesting sights such as the Gate of Hope where the CHIJ Orphanage used to be located, the CHIJ Chapel and an ancient looking well. It was a surreal experience to be walking along the corridors where hundreds of former IJ girls used to traipse along, including my mother.

Gazing at the Gate of Hope

The second day of orientation was a fun-filled one where we met our seniors who taught us many enjoyable games such as “Zip, Zap, Boing” and “Human Knot”. One of the most thrilling events was when the seniors tried to attack us with water bombs. We realized then why we were told to bring along extra clothes. The games, although immensely fun, also tested our ability to focus and team-building skills. I made many new friends and had a whale of a time. My classmates and I also had to practice for a campfire item that we had to perform the following day. With the help of the seniors, my classmates and I managed to think of a catchy cheer and a short song and dance item.

Waiting with excitement in the school hall

    The exhilarating games continued on the third and last day. There were squeals and yells when our seniors covered our limbs with a suspicious looking brown liquid. We were relieved to learn later that it had been some sort of coffee mixture. Other nerve-wrecking activities followed such as having to retrieve MnMs from flour by only using our mouths. Although these games tested our limits of endurance, my classmates and I enjoyed every minute of it - going through, as one senior had put it, this “rite of passage” to CHIJ Secondary.

The most unforgettable event in the entire orientation programme was the very last event – the campfire. We had all gathered in the parade square and the sight of the flames glowing in the night was beautiful. The most exciting part was when each class took to the stage to perform. My class, Sec. 1/1, was the first to perform and I had the jitters just before going on stage. However all fears dissipated upon hearing the loud whoops and cheers from my school-mates. Nothing could quell our spirit, not even when the heavens opened and it started to pour. We all trooped into the school hall where the fun continued unabated. Each performance drew loud cheers and strong class spirits were evident when the results of the campfire competition were announced.

Campfire Burning

  All too soon, it was time for the final farewell song that signaled the end of the orientation programme. As I made my way home, my mind was filled with the many things I had learnt and the many friendships I had forged. Remembering the tongues of fire that had burned during the campfire, I knew that the IJ spirit would burn just as brightly within me and my schoolmates all our lives.

Welcome to the IJ Family

By Rachel Roch
      Sec. 1/1
      2007