Patrol Activity, 7th August

Hello Guides!

We had PA on the 7th of August! Here are some reflections from the Year 2s :D

Reflection from a Year 2 of Patrol 1:
I felt that PA was a great opportunity for us to practise our lashes and recap on how to build a kitchen shelter. As the kitchen shelter was a significant structure in Guides, it is important that we familiarise ourselves with it, especially now that we are Year 2s and have to shoulder the responsibility of guiding the Year 1s. This PA was also the first time I worked together with my batch mates to guide the Year 1s along for pioneering, without help from the Year 3s since I missed the previous PA session. This PA also allowed me to understand the different roles that we get to experience, such as a PL (Patrol Leader) and a PS (Patrol Second), and how to properly allocate manpower. I felt that this PA was a small preparation for the next few 集合s, during which we will have to lead the Year 1s to build larger and more complicated structures. This PA allowed us to understand each other's abilities better, as well as cultivate a sense of urgency in us as the schedule was quite tight that day. Although we did not manage to finish building our kitchen shelter, I think that the most important thing was the experience of leading the Year 1s, learning to be more efficient in future, and also allowing us to familiarise ourselves with building a kitchen shelter, all of which I am very grateful for.

Reflection from a Year 2 of Patrol 2:

Last Monday, we had our PA. Our patrol was first tasked with bringing down our 配备 and the 木 required to build a standard KT (Kitchen Table). We then played a game, during which a Year 2 was paired up with a Year 1 and the Year 2s were to describe an item in the 配备 to the Year 1s, for them to sketch out. Once each Year 1 was done, the sketches were then swapped between the Year 1s and they were to guess the item. Only then were we able to claim the item. We were able to claim all our logistics within 8 minutes, which included a 1 minute time extension. We were then tasked with tying a standard KT. However, one Year 2 and two Year 1s had “sustained” injuries. We were to find out what their injuries were, through asking indirect questions about the injuries and they were to reply with 2 truths and 1 lie. However, we did not understand the instructions clearly, so the casualties ended up telling us what they did to sustain the injury. Sadly, we were unable to complete the KT before having to mass change into our Guides Uniform for photo taking. I felt that we could have tied our lashes more tightly and also displayed a greater sense of urgency so that we could have completed our KT.

Reflection from a Year 2 of Patrol 3:
We were tasked with building a kitchen shelter and an emergency shelter for PA on Monday. When we went to collect our logistics, we 过时-ed and did not collect all our logistics within the time given. I think this was probably because my patrol lacked communication and we thought that the other party had already took the logistics such as the canvas sheet and metal mallet. As a result, we did not manage to retrieve all the logistics in time. In addition, we did not check 团部 thoroughly for metal mallets and could not find them even though there were many of them. I feel that we should improve on this the next time. We split the work up so around 4 of us started with the kitchen shelter and the other 3 did the emergency shelter. However, we were unable to build the kitchen shelter as we had taken the wrong canvas sheet that was too big. When we went to replace the canvas sheet, we had one that was too small, then one that was too long and lastly another one that was too small again. Additionally, we could not build the emergency shelter either as the floor was too hard to 打进 into. I think we can all learn that we should always check the canvas sheet before taking it as we wasted time and when we found out there was no proper canvas sheet to build the kitchen shelter, we had already wasted a lot of time.

Reflection from a Year 2 of Patrol 4:
During PA, we were required to build a kitchen shelter. We were given more time in order to teach our Year 1s how to build the kitchen shelter for future reference, and although we did not use all the time as it had to be cut short for the photo taking session, I feel that we have still accomplished at least half of our goal to prepare our Year 1s for future building of structures. We managed to build our kitchen shelter faster than the other patrols, which instilled a sense of pride in me for our patrol being able to work together efficiently. On the other hand, it was also slightly stressful as we had to handle both building the kitchen shelter and teaching our Year 1s at the same time. Despite this, I have faith that the next time our patrol builds a kitchen shelter, both Year 1s and 2s will be able to collaborate and accomplish our task quickly together. Overall, I feel that what was truly important was involving everybody in the building of the kitchen shelter so that we could all gain the same experience and that we should maintain a high morale to work on the structure quickly.

Reflection from a Year 2 of Patrol 5:

Most of the patrols were building a kitchen shelter for PA, including our patrol. We were given the choice to decide how much time we needed to collect our logistics and we chose 6 minutes. We had to build a flagpole and a kitchen shelter in 45 minutes. Hence, we decided to split our manpower so that the two structures could be built concurrently. Everything was going smoothly until we noticed that our canvas sheet had slipped out of the 深蓝木 after we got the structure up. Our senior asked us if we wanted to 倒 the structure and retie it but due to time constraints, we decided to leave it there. However, after a few minutes, a 红木 slipped out and hit one of our patrol members. We quickly asked if she was okay and 倒-ed the structure. This incident was quite a shock for me as I did not expect the 木 to fall out. After that, we were scolded by our seniors for not looking out for the safety of our patrol members and not thinking about the consequences of our actions. Later, we realised that the 木 fell out because the lash that it was tied to had came loose. This made me realise how important the tightness of our lashes were. Through this incident, I realised that we had to tie our lashes tightly, check that everything is in place before we proceed with 起-ing the structure and to fix a mistake before it gets worse. Through this activity, we have also gotten more familiar with how to build a kitchen shelter as many of us were unsure of how to build it. I am sure that after this PA, many of us will take note of what to be aware of when tying structures.

Reflection from a Year 2 of Patrol 6:

For PA, we were told to familiarise ourselves with building the kitchen shelter. We had to retrieve all logistics for building a kitchen shelter and I was rather embarrassed as I mistook a tablecloth for a canvas sheet and left out several other logistics. Thus, due to my absent mindedness, it resulted in us having to go back to 团部 more than once and we even 过时-ed. In addition, when our patrol built the kitchen shelter, we did not really look at it through a bigger picture -- we did not consider whether we would have enough space to 起 our kitchen shelter. The kitchen shelter is very important, especially during camps such as ATC (Annual Training Camp) as without it, we would be unable to cook and carry out many other activities. Not only that, it was not our first time building it, thus we should have been more aware of the important points we had to take note of when building the structure. As Year 2, we have to lead the Year 1s and this also means that we would need to have more initiative to clarify any doubts we have with our seniors. We would also need to learn how to better allocate our manpower as well as manage our time more efficiently so that we would not exceed the time limit and people would not be slacking. Hopefully, for the next PA, we would be able to build a better kitchen shelter!! :"")

Hope this PA had been an enriching one for all!

Published By:
Arielle
49th Batch Secretary

Initiatives, 4th August

Hello Guides!

For 集合 on the 4th of August, we decided to have an initiative session.

The Year 1s did their Toymaker, Speaker and Artist badges.

Toymaker Badge

1. Make a string puppet
2. Make a patrol scrapbook to include pages of drawings and pictures

Speaker Badge

1. Talk to a Guider about anything of her choice for more than 1 minute
2. Share with a Guider about an experience she had over the June holidays

Artist Badge

1. Draw in charcoal, pastel or soft pencil, an object in the room; add other objects and a background, to make a pleasing composition.

2. Draw one of the following in colour:

1. A landscape;
2. A figure drawing;
3. A still life drawing;
4. A plant drawing.

3. Draw one of the following in colour:

1. A design of simple pattern suitable for well-paper, embroidery, or curtain material, indicating method of repetition.
2. A drawing in pen and ink depicting a scene from the history of the Guide Company.
3. A coloured design for a poster, or book cover.
4. A notice written in pen and ink for a Guide event.
5. What Guides means to you.

Reflection from a Year 1 ;
During last Friday's 集合, my batch mates and I worked on three badges: the Artist badge, Toymaker badge and Speaker badge. We started making the doll for the Toymaker badge. At first, we were a little confused about how the doll was supposed to be made, but we helped one another out and managed to complete it eventually. After completing the doll, I felt satisfied, proud and happy as I had put a lot of effort into making it. The doll was quite successful as it managed to hang onto the sticks and stay upright. This toy making exercise also allowed me to utilise my own creativity, and let my doll look different from the others. The next task we worked on was the Artist badge. We had to draw something in the room, followed by a landscape, a figure drawing, a still life drawing or a drawing of a plant. Then, we had to either draw a design of simple pattern, drawing of a scene depicting the history of the Guides company, a coloured poster or a book cover. As I am not very confident in drawing, I was afraid that I could not complete the task or do it well. I had to look around to observe how my batch mates drew, so as to get ideas on what and how to draw. The effort I put into my drawing paid off as I was quite happy with my work. Lastly, we had to complete the Speaker badge. We got called out by the Guiders to read a passage and talk about an experience during our June holidays and anything of our choice. I did not have much trouble with that. I enjoyed the experience and felt more bonded with my batch mates.

Meanwhile, the Year 2s worked on a WAGGGS (World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts) badge called Games Go Global, which had the objective of enabling Girl Guides and Girl Scouts around the world to learn more about the Olympic Games.

Reflection from a Year 2 ;
After a busy week of revising for Common Tests, I was glad that this Friday’s 集合 was physically less strenuous and more about understanding and working together with our batch mates. As Year 2s now, we have more responsibilities compared to before the Year 4s passed down, and I felt that last Friday's 集合 was the perfect opportunity to bond with my batch mates, who are also the people I would be working together with for the next few years. This 集合 allowed us to have more initiative as a batch together, with limited help from the seniors. We also learnt that everything we did came with a consequence and we did PT (Physical Training) to make up for our mediocre performance during OJ last week. I feel that this is a fresh new way of planning 集合, and guiding the Year 1s with their badge work was fun and interesting as well. We also got to bond more with our juniors through the activities. Although the 集合 on Friday was a relatively less stressful and a more relaxed one, I still felt a sense of accomplishment after that as I felt that we (the Year 2s) got to know each other better, and we also bonded with our juniors. This was a different experience of leadership in Guides, where we got to lead and help the Year 1s ourselves without any form of physical training or structure building, but simply helping them with  Arts and Craft. I like this type of 集合 very much and I hope to have more of such 集合s in the near future too.

The Year 3s worked on another WAGGGS badge called the AIDS Badge, which aims to supports girls and young women to work towards prevention, eliminating discrimination and providing care for those already living with HIV and AIDS. Activities must include at least one activity from each of the three areas: Prevention, Care and Support and Human Rights – Changing Attitudes.

Prevention

1. Make a scrapbook to share with your peers. Include the following topics:

• The human body, both male and female
• Body fluids of a female infected with HIV that have enough virus to spread to infection from person to person
• Body fluids of a male infected with HIV that have enough virus to spread to infection from person to person
• High risk behaviours that can spread the virus from person to person
• Healthy decisions that can prevent the spread of HIV

2. Make a poster about using condoms to prevent sexually transmitted diseases including HIV/AIDS. Include information about the following:

• Sexually transmitted disease rates (including HIV) in your community (if available from health officials)
• How using condoms can prevent sexually transmitted diseases
• Information on where to get condoms
• Steps to correct condom use

Care and Support

1. Make a list of ways people with HIV/AIDS are cared for in your community. Where would someone with HIV/AIDS go for help? Answer as many of these questions as you can:

• Is there a hospital or a special clinic for people with HIV/AIDS in your community?
• Are there any community associations that help people with HIV/AIDS and their families?
• What does the government do for people with HIV/AIDS or people with any life-threatening illness?
• If there are no HIV/AIDS specific services, what kind of care is available for people with any serious illness?
• Who provides the care? Doctors, nurses, volunteers, family?

Human Rights - Changing Attitudes

1.  Imagine what it is like to be open about having HIV/AIDS.

• Make a list of reasons why people would not want to be open about having HIV/AIDS. What are the barriers in your community to being open about having HIV/ AIDS? Discuss with your group.
• If there is someone known in your community or country to have AIDS, write a letter to encourage them in their difficult work. Share with your group and ask others to sign it with you. Ask your leader to help you send it to the person.

2.  Make a poster asking people to support people with HIV/AIDS and not discriminate. If December 1st is near, make it a World AIDS Day poster.

Reflection from a Year 3 ;

This 集合 was focused on doing badge work in our respective batches, and the Year 3s were required to complete the WAGGGS badge for AIDS. After briefing the Y1s and Y2s, we gathered together to learn more about the issue of AIDS and we grew to be more aware about international concerns and knowledge related to the disease. We completed various tasks as a batch, including scrapbooks and posters aimed at spreading information about AIDS. It was a meaningful session and it felt nice to have such a batch activity as after we stepped up as the leadership batch, we did not have much of such opportunities other than planning for and discussing about PAs and 集合s, so it was a short refreshing break for us :") Thanks ICs for planning! 集合 ended with patrol corner to discuss patrol tees and enjoyed Ribena delivered as a token of appreciation from the organisers as some of our Guides helped out at the Marine Parade Community Sports Day :) We hope this 集合 was fruitful and enjoyable for all :-)

Hope everyone enjoyed this 集合!

Published By:

Arielle

49th Batch Secretary

Year 1 Lecture + Year 3 SJAB Sharing, 28th July

Hello Guides!

For 集合 on the 28th of July, the Year 1s and 3s did something different from our usual activities, since the Year 2s were absent due to their Common Tests. The Year 1s had a lecture session, conducted by a few of our Year 3s. Meanwhile, the Year 3s had a sharing session with the St. John Ambulance Brigade (SJAB).

Year 1 Lecture
Firstly, the Year 1s attended an hour long lecture session, during which they were taught about the basic rules in Guides, the different activities in Guides, and songs and cheers used in Guides, to name a few.

Next, they had a mass change session. The Year 1s were given a chance to set a target time for themselves to mass change for the first time. In subsequent tries, the Year 3s would set a timing for them that is below their target, so as to push the Year 1s to their limits. The Year 1s are to make sure everyone is in standard attire at all times and that no one lost anything whenever they 集合 back. If their batchmates are not accounted for / if lost items are found, the whole batch would be responsible for it and everyone would have to do forfeits. The Physical Training forfeits would be decided by the Year 1s themselves, so as to train their sense of responsibility and batch unity. An attire check was also conducted, to ensure standard attire of the Year 1s.

After which, the Year 1s were briefed on the upcoming Skills Training segment, before they were split into their groups. The respective Year 3 ICs of each group then carried out a demonstration on how to tie the tripod and quadpod lashes. The Year 1s paired up and took turns to tie a tripod lash and a quadpod lash, under the supervision and guidance of their Year 3 ICs.

Lastly, the Year 1s had a short Physical Training (PT) session. The objective of this activity was to teach them the proper and standard form of PT, so as to reduce the injuries and strains on their backs whenever they do PT. The Year 1s were first shown a demonstration on the correct way to do the different PT, before they tried it out on their own. They were taught planking, squats, lunges, jumping jacks, 站马  and bench dips.

Reflection from some Year 1s:
I think that the lecture last Friday was really useful. Our seniors managed to teach us the basic rules in Guides, as well as the different types of lashes used in Guides. Additionally, I managed to find out more about the different activities in Guides and clarify all my doubts. For example, I could clarify my doubts on the Guides and Scouts raftings and also learnt how to do the quadpod lash. On top of that, it was also fun as I was able to bond with my batch mates and learn the songs that are rarely sung during 集合. In a nutshell, I am glad that I was able to find out more about the meaning of Guides and familiarise myself with the different practices in Guides.

On Friday, other than building tripods and quadpods among other things, we learnt how to do some standard PT. Although there were a number of requirements for the PT we did, which were more tiring than the 'un-standard' PT we had been doing, I felt enlightened on how to do them properly, so as to prevent injury while doing the PT. This PT session also strengthened the 'one for all, all for one' spirit among our batch as we waited for our fellow batch mates to catch up and complete the PT together as a batch, and re-do parts of the PT we did not do properly, together.  In a nutshell, this PT session was one which we could take away much from.

Reflection from a Year 3:
As the Year 2s had CCA stand down due to Common Tests, it was our first time having a 集合 session with only the Year 1s. We were really impressed by their performance even though there there were not any senior guiding them along. It was really heartening to see the Year 1s being really participative during the lecture and putting in their best efforts to learn from this 集合. What impressed me the most was their batch unity, as they constantly cheered and sang Guides songs which really improved the batch morale during the tougher segments, such as mass change and PT. (Keep up the good work!) Overall, the Year 3s planned this 集合 with the objective of allowing them to fully understand the rationale behind Guides activities and at the same time, learn hard skills which they are rarely exposed to. We hope that the Year 1s learned something new, and that they would remember the things we taught them and continue putting in their best effort in everything they do!

Year 3 SJAB Sharing

Meanwhile, the Year 3s were having a sharing session with SJAB. The objectives of this activity were to allow bonding between Guides and SJAB, allow the SJAB cadets to learn more about the types of activities Guides do, and to facilitate easier cooperation between the two CCAs in the future.

The SJAB cadets were first given an introduction to Guides, in the form of a mini lecture. After which, they headed to the GSL (General Science Labs) area, where they were split into 4 groups. The Guides then taught them the basic hitches and lashes, such as the timber hitch and the square lash. The cadets were then given time to practise their lashes. The groups were then merged to form 2 groups. The highlight of this session was the pioneering activity, during which the 2 merged groups built a kitchen table, and a swing.

Reflection from a Year 3:
The combined session with SJAB was something new, as we didn't usually have CCA sessions with the other UGs. At the start, I felt really awkward with the SJAB members as I didn't know them very well. However, after teaching and guiding them in building the tripod and square lashes, the atmosphere became a lot more relaxed and we started laughing and joking around. They were pretty interested in what we taught them and asked questions like when we should tie a square lash from up to down, and down to up. They later shared that they planned to teach the lashes to their juniors, which I found really encouraging, as it showed that they really wanted to learn something from this session. Afterwards, we built a swing to put the skills they'd learnt into practice. Between tying the lashes, we learnt more about each other's CCA and got more familiar with one another. It was altogether a pretty enjoyable experience and I think it's safe to say that we all gained something from the combined CCA session, whether a member of Guides or SJAB.

Hope that this 集合 had been a fruitful one for all!

Published By:
Arielle
49th Batch Secretary