National Day Contingent, 8 August 2025

Hi Guides! Today was the highly anticipated National Day Observance Ceremony, in celebration of Singapore's 60th birthday! It was a an honourable moment which our Year 2 and 3 Guides had been preparing for, along with the other Uniformed Groups.

Reflection from a Year 2 in P3:

This year’s National Day Parade (NDP) in school was extra special for me because I got the chance to be a part of the Girl Guides Contingent. It was an awesome opportunity, and while it came with many challenges, at the end of it, I am really glad that I was part of it. The weeks leading up to the celebration were packed with long and tiring rehearsals. At first, I did not expect it to be so tough to some extent. However, being in a Uniformed Group means that discipline and precision are everything. Every small movement mattered, from how we stood at “Sedia” (attention), to how we marched off at “Triple Jalan” (march), and even how our hands locked in place and legs at 90° on the spot during “Hentak Kaki” (on-the-spot marching). We had to drill every move over and over again until it was perfect. Sometimes, we had finally finished a full round, only to be told we had to restart because one or two people were out of sync. I struggled greatly with my attention span and to constantly be disciplined enough to do everything perfectly. Having to stand and listen to various commands that were initially foreign to me was not easy as I got distracted after a while and ended up missing the next command given, usually “Ke-Kanan Lurus”, especially during “Sedia” or “Senang Diri” (at ease). Furthermore, when marching, I tend to lack the will to constantly keep myself going. I would end up 'slacking', if that is the word for it, and not rigidly holding myself to the standards when marching because we did it many times for hours. We had to keep the rhythm during “Hentak Kaki”, everyone had to be perfectly in step. The “Triple Jalan” was a challenge too, it really pushed us to stay sharp and move as one 团. It was frustrating, but looking back, it really taught me patience and resilience, and I would say that this is a key part of being in a Uniformed Group. Then, there was the Full Dress Rehearsal. Ironing my uniform was yet another battle. Every crease on my uniform had to be sharp, and my scarf had to look presentable. The worst part was getting home late after rehearsals, still having to complete homework, and then scrambling to prepare my uniform for the next day. But, all that hard work proved to pay off. On the actual day, as we marched across the field and heard the applause from the school, it felt amazing, and I felt pride in putting in my all for this. Even though the march itself was much shorter than even a single rehearsal session, it was the journey that made it meaningful. This experience taught me the value of teamwork, discipline, and pushing through even when it gets tough. Most of all, it gave me memories I will hold close for a long time.

Reflection from a Year 2 in P2:

Being part of my school’s National Day Parade Contingent has been an immensely meaningful experience for me. When I heard that all the Year 2s were selected for marching in the school’s National Day Parade, I felt honoured yet slightly nervous, as I knew that it was both a privilege and a responsibility to represent Guides as a Uniformed Group. As the weeks of training and rehearsals went by, I gained not only marching skills, but also valuable lessons about resilience, teamwork and discipline. The process was not easy. We had multiple rehearsals, such as the Half-Dress Rehearsals which helped us focus on our drills, and the Full-Dress Rehearsals which prepared us for the actual event. These sessions were long and demanding, but they were necessary to ensure that the contingent would perform well, and to showcase our skills and discipline. On the actual day, marching under the scorching sun was especially challenging. My uniform felt heavy, and we were all sweaty as we stood in formation, trying our best to stay as still as possible while our school mates streamed into the field. It was very tough to remain still as many parts of my face felt hot and itchy. Despite the discomfort, I decided to press on to give a good impression of Guides. Seeing the other Uniformed Groups along with us, all marching with the same determination and pride, I felt encouraged to stay strong and give my best. Through this experience, I learned the importance of perseverance. Even when I felt exhausted, I reminded myself that giving up was not an option. I also developed hard skills such as keeping in step with others and maintaining proper posture. At the same time, I realised the importance of teamwork and unity. Every individual had to march in sync so that the contingent looked neat and proud. One person’s mistake could affect the whole contingent, which taught me to be more responsible and mindful of my actions. Overall, participating in the National Day Parade Contingent was an eye-opening journey. It instilled in me a greater sense of pride in representing my school and nation. Most importantly, it reminded me that discipline, teamwork and perseverance are values that will lead me far not only in school, but also in life.

Reflection from a Year 2 in P1:

This year, on the 8th of August, was our Dunman High’s SG60 National Day Celebration, where all 4 Uniformed Groups would form a parade. The preparation for the large scale event started on the 17th of July, our first rehearsal. The Guides Contingent was made up of Year 2 and Year 3 Guides. Before attending the rehearsal, I felt a sense of pride and excitement, as not only did I feel proud of my Year 3s forming up last year as I watched them in awe, but also because of my love for foot drills and the fact that it was my turn to take part. During the first rehearsal, we all gathered in the Sheltered Parade Square. That was the only rehearsal for us to familiarise ourselves with the parade procedures, check for speed, resolve any hiccups, all needing to be resolved before the next few intense rehearsals. During the first rehearsal, we had a lot of comments from one of our Ranges, especially about how we were totally unsynchronised as a contingent, and hence everything looked messy and unorganised. The next few rehearsals were similar, with us going through the parade procedures over and over again with the parade music, and with some final comments and taking measurements. On the 8th of August, we reached school at 0700 in the morning for the final practice before the actual parade, where we still got comments. By the time it was 0745, many Dunmanians came to the field and we got many reminders to not fidget, in order to show discipline of the respective UGs. That morning was not very sunny, and was relatively windy and hence it was not as unbearable as during the afternoon rehearsals in the field the past few weeks. Although I could not see the result, I felt a sense of pride being able to participate in the parade, which I had been excited for for so long! I felt that the 4 contingents worked great together and our hard work had paid off! All in all, I felt that this NDP SG60 Contingent Parade was memorable, allowing us to be able to reflect on how far Singapore has come after independence, from before and after merger to independence, it highlights the resilience that us Singaporeans have and that we should be proud of what Singapore has achieved thus far even though we are just a little red dot, a first-world country that cannot be seen on the globe. This NDP Contingent also definitely brought pride to our school, and for us, to be able to stand in front of the whole school, bringing shine to our respective UGs, even if our speciality is not foot drills, showing the school the discipline, unity, and the effort we have collectively put in the past one month to make the parade happen. As foot drills are also not often done in Guides, unlike lash tying and pioneering, it gave us an opportunity to work on our foot drills, close the gaps, understand our mistakes, and be able to do better than we were before. This year’s NDP Contingent really captured the whole essence of discipline, unity, hard work and teamwork.

Published by:

Goh Kae Lyn

57th 届 Secretary

Skills Training with Rangers, 1 August 2025

Hey Guides! The Rangers joined us for this week's 集合, where our Guides built a 2-Storey Kitchen Shelter as a 团.

Reflection from a Year 1 in P1:

On 1st August, we had a 集合 where we had to build a 2-Storey Kitchen Shelter. We first collected our logistics, working with a sense of urgency. We then formed into 3 groups, one that 记时ed and took measurements, and the other 2 to help build the frames of the structure. However, we could have definitely worked with a better sense of urgency as we had to ask for time extension multiple times. While the 团 tied the structure, those who had nothing to do 集合-ed at the side and got briefed on the next steps of the KS and prepared the logistics. The Year 2s were to tie the structure while the Year 1s had to 顶 the 木. The Year 1s 顶-ed the 木 properly, 报时-ing constantly. We then moved the tables and ladders for the Year 2 and 3s to use to complete the upper half of the structure. It was nerve-racking seeing them balancing on their toes to barely reach the top of the structure. While the Year 2 and 3s were busy with the structure, the Year 1s were keeping the 麻绳, sorting and making our best attempt to untie the knots. I also learnt the proper way to 收绳 that day. We 报时-ed constantly so as to keep the sense of urgency. However, we ended up 过时-ing. While I learnt a lot from that 集合, I hope to work with a higher sense of urgency and not have to ask for time extensions so many times.

Reflection from a Year 2 in P2:

This 集合 was a very special one, as it was a rare occurrence where the session was led not by the Year 3s, but instead by the Rangers. I still remember so many of them from when they graduated from our patrols 2 years ago, and I was glad to see them again. For this 集合, we were doing pioneering, which was building a 2-Storey KS. This was our first pioneering session without our Year 4s, and it was certainly eye-opening. There were a lot of logistics to be collected, and we were split into three groups: one for building Frame One, one for building Frame Two, and one for doing the measurements of the structures. I was in the group building Frame One. I felt extremely stressed as we worked, because the measurements were constantly changing and the lashes were not very tight, thus we had to 重抽 a lot of the frapping and redo the measuring. The atmosphere was tense and focused, driven by our determination not to let the 团, the Year 3s and the Rangers down. We were reprimanded quite a few times for our poor time management and manpower allocation. I think that we have a lot to improve on, and I was thankful to the Year 3s and Rangers for pointing out these areas. In the end, we were unable to complete the last bits of the structure, but it was mostly finished, and we took a few pictures. The 拆掉 and returning of logistics was not any less stressful, because we made the mistake of not properly taking note of time extensions and did not have a good sense of urgency. This made the process even more frantic, with everyone scrambling to finish returning the logistics before the time was up. Despite these challenges, this 集合 really helped to highlight our common mistakes and areas for improvement, such as doing constant time checks and better managing our logistics and manpower, and it is definitely something we will work on for future 集合s.

Through this activity, our Guides were able to have a meaningful first pioneering 集合 of the semester, and have understood their areas of strengths and weaknesses. We hope that they will continue striving for improvement in future activities!

Published by:

Goh Kae Lyn

57th 届 Secretary

Y2 First Aid Certification Course

Hello Guides! The time has come for our Year 2 Guides to take part in their First Aid Certification Course, where they are given the opportunity to learn about the different FA skills, as well as their importance in our lives. Let us see how it went!

Reflection from a Year 2 in P1:

On 30 July, we had our First Aid Certification Course. The first thing we learned about was choking, and steps to take if someone was choking. There were many different ways to do the abdominal thrust, which was different for adults and pregnant women, and we got to try it out with our fellow batchmates, to see if we understood how to do it properly. We also learned how to do Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), how to use the Automated External Defibrillator (AED) Machine, and also what to do to check if the casualty is unconscious and to make sure the environment is safe to carry out CPR, which is very important. After that, we were accessed on our ability to carry out CPR, and also assist the person carrying out CPR. We were able to use the mannequin and do compressions as if it was a real casualty, and attempt to use the AED machine to revive the casualty. We also learned about bandaging, and how to bandage for various injuries. I struggled a lot with the jaw injury as it kept slipping off the head while I was trying to tie it and it was quite messy. I also lost tension a lot when tying the elevation slings, which made it droop down and be easy for the casualty to move around, when the bandage is supposed to immobilise the person. Finally, we learned about burns and other different wounds. We learned what to do in the event of a first, second, and third degree burn, and also what to do to stop a wound from excessive bleeding. Overall, I think that the FA Course was a very meaningful and rewarding experience, as we were able to learn a lot of things that could potentially save lives or prolong lives one day. I learned a lot about FA, and how to act when unfavourable situations occur.

Reflection from a Year 2 in P2:

On 30 July, we Year 2s had our First Aid Certification Course. In the past, this course was conducted over two days, but ours was compressed into just one, making it essentially a crash course! I was a little nervous at first because I was worried that I might not understand the different FA procedures. Nevertheless, I tried my best to listen attentively and follow what the trainer taught us. We began with the procedure to follow when a person is choking, learning both the method for adults and the variation for pregnant women. After demonstrating with a senior, the trainer got us to practise in pairs, with one person acting as the choking casualty and the other as the First Aider. We then switched roles so that everyone had the opportunity to experience being the First Aider. Next, we learnt how to use the Automated External Defibrillator (AED) for someone in cardiac arrest, as well as how to perform Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR). The trainer explained that if help is not given within 4–6 minutes, brain death can begin, making it almost impossible to save the patient. This highlighted the importance of acting swiftly and correctly in any emergency. We were taught the steps to help a patient: check for danger, check for a response, call 995, get an AED, check for breathing, and then start chest compressions. She also introduced us to the different heart rhythms - the non-shockable rhythms (Asystole and Sinus Rhythm) and the shockable rhythm (Ventricular Fibrillation). After learning the theory, we took a break before being tested on how to save someone in cardiac arrest. In pairs, one person performed CPR on the mannequin and called for help while the other prepared the AED. The pair would answer the trainer’s questions while carrying out the procedures. Then, the roles would be switched over. I was a little anxious for the practical test as I was not completely sure of the steps. However, my senior helped me with the questions and reminded me of the correct procedures. Practising the procedures hands-on made the learning much more effective and memorable. Once everyone completed their CPR test, we moved on to bandaging techniques for injuries such as head bleeding and arm fractures. I enjoyed this part the most and found it fascinating to learn the different types of bandages used for different injuries. I had a lot of fun applying the different kinds of bandages on my partner. The day ended with a theory test covering everything we had learnt. Overall, the course was very meaningful and equipped us with practical First Aid skills so we can respond appropriately in times of need. I’m glad to have gained this knowledge and experience.

Reflection from a Year 2 in P3:

Recently, I had the opportunity to attend a First Aid training course, and it was a meaningful and fun experience. I did not expect to enjoy it, but by the end of the course, I felt more confident and prepared to handle emergencies, whether in school, at home, or anywhere else. The course covered a wide range of situations, from minor cuts and bee stings to more serious conditions like fractures, choking, and even Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and how to operate the Automated External Defibrillator (AED). I learned how to check for danger in a situation, approach a casualty safely, and perform basic tests on whether the person is breathing. One of the things that really stuck with me was how much difference a calm and quick response can make in an emergency. It made me realise how valuable these skills are, not just for First Aiders, but for anyone. Even if I do not get the chance to use these skills in action, and I really hope it does not come to that, the act of staying calm and maintaining a cool composure is valuable in many situations. At first, I was a bit nervous. I was not sure how hands-on it would be or if I would remember all the steps. But the instructors were super friendly and made everything easier to understand. They gave us clear demonstrations, walked us through each procedure, and most importantly, let us practise a lot with our batchmates. Doing CPR on the training mannequins or doing the choking technique were probably the most intense parts of the course, but also the most important. It was surprisingly tiring, but knowing that these skills can actually save someone’s life made it all worth it. We also learned how to properly dress wounds, handle burns, and treat fainting or nosebleeds. Some parts were more technical, but practising them with my batchmates made the experience much more enjoyable. There were even moments of laughter when we got things wrong at first like when we were bandaging one another and it came out all wrong, but everyone was supportive, and we improved together. What I appreciated most about the course was that it was not just about memorising steps, it was about building confidence. Knowing what to do in an emergency can help prevent panic and make a real difference while waiting for an ambulance. Overall, I am glad I got the opportunity to have this FA training. It was both educational and fun, and it gave me a greater sense of communal responsibility to help others in need.

Reflection from a Year 2 in P4:

For our First Aid Course, the Year 2s were all gathered together to learn about FA and get certified. We were all in Learning Centre 3 with the Rangers, and overall it was a very interesting and enlightening experience. I learnt a lot from this experience and from the instructors. We were first introduced to how to help someone when they are choking, and how to save their lives in the event of a choking. We were then asked to pair up and demonstrate what to do. This was a great learning experience as we got to demonstrate the skills that we had learnt. After that, the instructor briefed and explained to us about how to conduct Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, which is also known as CPR. They also taught us how to use an AED, which stands for an Automated External Defibrillator. The AED uses shock waves to try to resuscitate the victim. However, we were taught that an AED does not always work, and also needs time to recharge, which is also another reason why CPR is very important in time in an emergency. The AED can monitor the victim's heart beat, and will also deliver shock waves. When an AED is delivering a shock wave, the person doing the CPR and the one in charge of the AED and anyone else has to stand clear, if not they are at the risk of being electrocuted. We were then tested on the practicality of CPR and how to use an AED. We all passed and moved on to the next section, which was learning about different types of injuries, both internal and external. We were all given a few bandages and gauze, and we were tested on how to treat different types of injuries like a sprain to a fracture. All in all, it was a very interesting and enriching experience.

In conclusion, this First Aid Certification Course served as an extremely useful and enriching learning experience, teaching us skills that can go a long way in future!

Published by:

Goh Kae Lyn

57th 届 Secretary

Patrol Activity, 25 July 2025

Hi Guides! Today, we had an intriguing Patrol Activity!

Reflection from a Year 1 in P2:

On 25 July, we had our first Patrol Activity as P2 Orchid. The theme of our Patrol Activity was based on the new movie, “KPop Demon Hunters”. Throughout the session, we had a lot of fun immersing ourselves in our respective characters, working side by side in tying lashes, and posing for playful group photos. We started the activity by dividing into two groups, creating a friendly competition to see who could tie more tripods and quadpods. It was quite stressful as we Year 1s did not have much experience tying tripod lashes, let alone a quadpod lash. Nevertheless, we persevered and managed to tie a decent number of tripods and quadpods. We asked our seniors for help when needed, and tried to work with a sense of urgency. However, I think that our group could have worked faster and made better use of our logistics, as our results were not as good as we hoped. After time was up, we took photos with our structures and acted out a fight scene between HUNTR/X and the Saja Boys for a photo. It was definitely the most enjoyable highlight of this Patrol Activity as it was really fun. Our patrol as a whole had become much more bonded. Next, we returned our logistics, which was particularly tiring as we did not have much time to do so, and had to run quite a lot since most of the staircase gates were closed. In the end, we pushed through and returned all our logistics within the time limit. Afterwards, we gathered for Patrol Corner, where we did our reflections and drank Milo that our Year 3s had bought for us. I felt a lot closer to my patrol mates, and became much more familiar with lashing as our Year 3s went through the timings for each of the standard lashes, such as the tripod and square lash. There were definitely things we could work on, such as making good use of our logistics, allocating manpower efficiently, and having a better sense of urgency. Despite this, I had a great time in this Patrol Activity and learnt many new skills. I hope that in the future, I will be able to tie tighter lashes within the standard timing.

Reflection from a Year 2 in P4:

On 25th July, we had our first Patrol Activity in our new patrols. Our task was to build a creative gadgeting structure, and to make it related to our patrol, P4 Morning Glory, with the logistics provided. After 6 minutes of discussion, we decided on making a cow as our patrol’s chinese name is 牵牛花. We started out by tying 2 tripods and 定脚s, and connected it with horizontals. This resembled the cow’s body. After, we attached an ‘X’ shape, by tying a diagonal lash, to the top of the structure to resemble the head of the cow. We finished by tying diagonals, netting to resemble the hair on the body of the cow, and added a short-half bamboo to the structure to resemble the cow’s tail. During debrief, the Year 3s told us that the improvements that we could have made was that our lashes could have been tighter, we needed to 报时 and cheer more without our Year 3s reminding us, and some of us did not know how to net correctly. After debrief, we ended the PA with Patrol Corner, which further increased our bond. Overall as a patrol, I think we worked very well together, and we were definitely more bonded than before. We had a lot of fun and this activity made us think creatively. Hence, I feel that this PA was very eventful, and helped us improve and recap on our basic gadgeting skills.

Reflection from a Year 1 in P1:

For the Patrol Activity we did on 25th July, we did creative gadgeting, where we built a workable basketball hoop from the inspiration of Lebron James, the famous basketballer. We first built a tripod as the base of the structure. Afterwards, we tied 2 basketball hoop frames using 6 短木s and 2 中短木s, and connected it to the top of the tripod to act as the hoop. We tested the hoop a few times in order to ensure the ball would enter and exit it smoothly.  Afterwards, we took pictures as a patrol while making a wide variety of different and funny poses together. Some of the poses included making a big heart and making a camera illusion. Making these poses were fun and also allowed us to have memorable pictures of us doing the creative poses. Lastly, we played basketball together with P4 using the basketball hoop structures we had built earlier. It was exciting and enjoyable as we played as a team to try and score as many hoops as possible. Overall, the 25th July PA allowed us to train tying our lashes, ensuring that each lash was tight and neat, and also allowed us to be creative when thinking about how to build a creative and workable basketball hoop. We also bonded more together with the other patrols and our own. 

Reflection from a Year 2 in P3:

During the 25th July Patrol Activity session, we participated in a creative and hands-on group activity where we built a structure of Jinu, a character from the new, famous movie “KPop Demon Hunters”. This activity was both fun and educational, giving us the opportunity to develop our hard skills while also encouraging teamwork and creativity. One of the key learning points from this activity was practicing the different types of lashes. These skills are essential in Guides, especially when building structures, shelters, or gadgets. While it was challenging at first to get the lashes right and ensure the structure was stable, we supported each other and shared techniques to improve as a team. By the end of the session, we had not only successfully completed our structure, but also gained a better understanding of how to apply these lashing skills in real situations. What made this activity especially memorable was the teamwork involved. Everyone had a role to play, whether it was tying the lashes, planning the structure, or making sure everything held together. It was also a great bonding experience, as we laughed, problem-solved, and encouraged one another throughout the process. I felt a strong sense of achievement seeing what we were able to build together. Overall, the activity was a valuable experience that combined fun, learning, and teamwork together. It reminded me of the importance of communication and cooperation in Guides and gave me more confidence in my practical hard skills.

We all had fun and grew together as a patrol, practising both our hard and soft skills!

Published by:

Goh Kae Lyn

57th 届 Secretary