End of Water Polo

This Tuesday was the end of the Water Polo activity.

Actually, I have to admit it was the best water polo session yet, because we just played a game from beginning to end.

I did learn some skills and rules over the course of this activity, like how to pick up the ball from the water, that you're not allowed to shoot with two hands, and that you're not allowed to put hte ball underwater, etc.

I suppose I won't ever come back to the school water polo activity, though. At the end of the day, it's just not all that fun being the only participant above year 8...

Water Polo - Day something

I missed quite a few water polo sessions. At least 2. Not very perseverent in attending...

Oh well. This time it was much the same as last time. Didn't really learn anything, felt no real challenge, etc. Everyone else was year 8.

Kinda regret joining this activity. I mean, it's fun to do this new sport. But the club itself is disappointing.

This is my honest reflection.

HKSSF Finals 2011-2012

My last ever swimming race as a high school swimmer. For some reason, it doesn't feel as incredibly significant as I thought it should.

50m butterfly. 30.74. (insert expletives) I choked on water. Came 8th. 1 person got disqualified for false-starting, so I became 7th.

Hm. I can't really say much.

Kind of a disappointing end to my high school swimming career. Not just disappoint for myself, but a disappointing team result. A-grade team came 10th. B-grade team came _last_. It was only because of our champion C-grade team that we managed to stay in D2, and actually came 6th overall. We were 3rd last year. It just really sucks when HKSSF finals is during half-term break. While for other schools, it would mean there would be a billion supporters come to cheer, for us, it just means our team members are away on vacation...
http://www.hkssf-hk.org.hk/hk/sec/events/swimming/results/OS2_D2.TXT

Time now to focus on my longer term swimming goals. I.e. entering my eventual university varsity team.

This episode is now over. With all the excitement of HKSSF, my focus is all shot, and my schoolwork...

HKSSF Swimming Heats

Yesterday was heats day. I was so incredibly anxious that I got sick on Monday-Tuesday. Hadn't swum in a week and decided to regain some feel on Wednesday after school. So anxious that night that I barely slept. Weak.

Horrible start to the day, with a 1:06 in the 100m Freestyle. That's several seconds slower than a few years ago... That event actually started out promisingly; I had a terrific start and underwater, coming up ahead of the defending champion who was swimming in the next lane. I tried to keep up, but after the turn, he just turned it on while I faded, and I could only see the flutter-kick fading into the distance.

I did, however, fortunately, manage to make the finals in my main event, 50m Butterfly. The time was 30.98, becoming the 8th place qualifier. I was dying by the last 15m or so, so, knowing my poor condition, I feel that I can go much faster in the finals. Perhaps even under 30?

Here's a video kindly recorded by Victor:

youtube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6kckn3zWGoI

The results sheet:

And here's a video of our 4x50m medley relay. I'm the butterfly leg. We came 9th, and thus missed the finals. I feel I should be sad about this, but I can only see it as an opportunity to focus on my individual event.

How To IB. Second meeting

Long time no meeting!

Only me, Victor and Emmanuel, this time. Thinking about designs. Thinking about incorporating video interviews and the like.

Nobody has yet written an article.

This seems to be stalling.

The Rejuvenation of Feedback?

First meeting of the new term this week. Seriously delayed, yes.

Quite productive, though.

This term, we've welcomed Jason (Fong) into our editorial group. He's a friend of mine and although he's reclusive and can be unapproachable and self-righteous, I have come to know him as a _thinker_. As he was in need of a CAS project, I invited him to join us. I believe he will be a valuable addition to our group, adding a new perspective and voice.

In this meeting, we officially decided to become HowToIB.com (again paid for by Victor, of course). As Victor puts it, "really sleek name"; definitely has a more professional sound than feedback-sis.com. As of now, we've pretty much sorted out how it's going to work, and assigned some preliminary articles to work on. This could be promising...

Water Polo - Day 1

Well. That was a waste of time.

I missed the first session. Probably a good thing, in reflection. Pun intended. :D

Didn't really learn anything substantial. Or, rather, nothing at all. And it wasn't even physically taxing, so no gain there...

The worst thing is that everyone else is year7-9... so it was substantially less fun. I tried, but it's just difficult to connect with someone with of such an age difference.

I hope it gets better.

School Swimming

School swimming is GOOD. It's such an incredible thing to say, for me. With my training with PSC, I'd always felt school training was tame, and so had tended to avoid it. However, now, I'm really realising the benefit of going to after-school swimming. As long as I push myself to swim hard, why shouldn't it be hard, effective training?

After just a week, I've really opened my eyes. In particular, the coach currently in charge of Tuesday morning training, Randy, coaches in a particularly modern way, focusing a lot of technique, and similating race conditions, rather than simply more meters. This is a fresh experience for me, and one that I really appreciate after training with old-fashioned PSC for so long.

I freely admit my own lack of fitness at this point in time. I hope, however, that school training will at least make me competitive in time for HKSSF in mid-October.

And afterward, I've decided to continue participating in school swimming, getting in good enough shape to dive right back in to PSC training come summer, and be in position to fight to take the lead.

A New School Year - What's going on?

Poetry Slam
Last year's Poetry Slam was... fairly successful, and I really hope it'll continue going from strength to strength. Unfortunately, I really don't like the idea of putting yet more time into the activity this year, since this is my final year, to be occupied with final projects and studying for exams...

WHICH IS WHY, I am passing the project on to Katrina (Deocadiz), a dedicated member of the Poetry Slam club last year, who is now beginning her own IB journey.

Here's to hoping for the future success of the SIS Poetry Slam


Feedback

Feedback. Now that's interesting. Victor has proposed something very reasonable, if daunting. Presently, The Feedback Blog targets everyone in the school as an audience, from year 7 to year 13, and potentially even teachers. Realistically, that's a very tall order. The proposal is to transform Feedback into something different, a guide to IB targetted exclusively at years 11-13, particularly year 11s choosing their subjects and year 12s just entering IB. I will be called "HowtoIB"...


and of course, Swimming

Last year of high school competition for me. Let's make it good. Definitely gonna attend all the school practices this time.

Also, I will be helping Victor (who's been chosen as the new team captain) implement some changes i the team. We plan to increase the training, and address some issues we think have severely held us bac in previous years. We've already started a Google Doc and mostly planned everything out.


Also, Water Polo

I'll be joining the Water Polo activity this term. Not much to say, really. It's interesting. Activities are starting this week, so we'll see how it goes. I'm quite optimistic about it, actually; I hope I'll learn some proper water polo stuffs.

Back to Swimming

BACK TO SWIMMING TRAINING AT LAST!

Two weeks ago, I returned to PSC (Pacific Swimming Club) training in Wanchai. It was excruciating to know how slow I now am, especially over longer distances (even just 200m!) In contrast, everyone of my old club-mates is so powerful! I can't even follow behind them because their kicking is so strong!

However, after two more sessions, I feel that I'm already beginning to regain some stamina. Starting this week, I intend to swim 5 times a week until school begins. I hope I will be able to regain some good muscular endurance and power.

The goal? I want to break 26.50 in 50m freestyle. And of course my long-standing goal of going sub-30 (or even Sub-29.50) in 50m butterfly.

WWF Volunteering

The 4 days of volunteering at the WWF HK office have ended. Initially, I was apprehensive about volunteering at the WWF office, having never done anything like that before. However, the people were quite friendly, especially Cathy, the girl (woman? lady? anyway) overseeing me. My task was basically to do the menial stuff like filling and sealing envelopes, marking bills, generally taking care of the drudgery that the actual employees haven't got the time to do.

I suppose I'm helping in some way. I suppose volunteers like me are needed for a large non-profit organisation.

On my last day, Cathy wasn't present, so I had to ask someone else to sign my CAS form. I hope that's alright...

FTU card-making award ceremony

(Federation of Trade Unions)

So I knew my job was to help take photos, but apparently I also had to help set up.

This activity was pretty dull, actually. Display the winning works, set out the chairs, put up posters. Then take photos.

The kids seemed pretty happy, which was good. But I was surprised the parents actually took it so seriously when it was just some card-making competition. I guess I learned how seriously parents take their parenting.

Initially, I was also a little apprehensive because I know HKFTU is a left political group that supports the Beijing government.  I mean, what is this... But it turned out to just be a family fun thing. :)

Poetry Slam prize presentation

Arranging with Georgia (Head Girl), we got a short slot in the final school assembly on the last day of term, to present the newly made Poetry Slam plaque to the winners, Jimin Kang in the junior section and Shreena Thakore in the senior section.

It was unfortunate that Audrey, Jimin and Shreena were all away from school, so it wasn't much of an award presentation.

However, it turned out better than I expected. I just said a few things and waved the plaque around a bit.
Then I used the opportunity to advertise Poetry Slam.

Here's to hoping for more success next year.

End of Librarian Duty

Librarian duty is officially over for our cohort. Really, with missing quite a few sessions over the past year either legitimately or because I forgot, I don't think I've really accomplished much. I said as much in my interview with the librarian Ms. Ow for my final evaluation. Though I suppose I did help present about some Library Online Databases and make a poster, and also compile a new list of potential resources... but that's not really more than is required, except for the list.

Through this activity, I've learned a fair bit about how the library operates.

It has been a valuable experience and I recommend all bibliophiles (or library-philes...?) to commit some of their time to helping out at the library.

April 1st, Poetry Slam

Ah! What a relief! The responsibilities of handling the new Poetry Slam event are over. To be honest, the pressure kinda grew unexpectedly in the last two days.

In the end, the event was fun. And I never realized there were such amazing poets in our school!

However, only 6 contestants showed up. And though it was a great experience, when only 6 out of 1400 students turn up, it's impossible to call any event anything but a failure, even if just on technically.

I was expecting an attendance number at least in the teens. Six... Honestly, it was a serious disappointment. Even as the others were saying it was great, I only felt disappointed.

-Oh, shoot. I forgot to take photos.

Library Online Databases

In the past weeks. Library duty has continued, and I've continued to forget to go almost every other week. (sheepish face) I realised that I tend to miss duty on week 1, cuz I have a free period before my duty and just stay at the IB center until break (that's when I have my duty) ends. >.>

Other than that, we actually had a student librarian meeting thing on Wednesday after we were all required to complete a survey on the online resources (this organised by a few, in my opinion, unfortunate student librarians chosen for the task - EXTRA WORK!!)

I walked away from the meeting with the task of making a table of all the online resources I've bookmarked over the years. >.> Troublesome, and I am inclined to be selfish and want to keep them all to myself. >.> However, as has been proven in the past when I shared resources with my GCSE English class, I still enjoy sharing the wealth. I hope it actually helps, or I'll spend who knows how long bemoaning wasted effort...

Feedback has partnered with 50NFR. And is launching; at last.

New site design! Well. For a while now, considering as I haven't updated in a long time... Oh, and articles are lagging. Darn it, I keep getting ideas for articles but then not having the time to write them.

Anyway. Progress. Some time ago, when we met with Mrs. Curran (we still meet as a team weekly! :D), she pointed out a big flaw with our system of inviting new writers. We need to really formalise our writing guidelines along the lines of those of true journalistic publications, so that he articles we get are appropriate for a general audience, as that is our aim. Thus, we've developed a working model, which can be found here: http://feedback-sis.com/writing-guidelines/

Also, when we tried to launch a few weeks back, we were faced with some extra difficulties. First, there was the issue of sustainability. Quite a few student publications in the past have simply puttered out after the original group graduated. Secondly, there's another group, 50NFR, doing something similar too. It was suggested we partner with them, or merge.

After meeting with them twice, most recently this Thursday, we have come to an agreement. As our two groups have different aims in terms of what sort of publication our projects will be, including the target audience, will not be able to merge. However, Feedback will have a page dedicated to 50NFR where we will post a "Preview" of each successive 50NFR issue, while 50NFR will have a section of select Feedback articles chosen by their editors. Also, 50NFR readers will be able to go on Feedback to post comments on 50NFR articles. This will work to promote our respective publications to the other's readers.

Feedback launches next week. I believe it's something to be excited about.

Poetry Slam update

In the past few sessions, there have still not been any new members. Only Katrina, Sam, Audrey and me. Even when we put up a notice offering free food... D:

Audrey and I met with the English Department to sell the idea of the Poetry Slam. They said it was a good idea, and we left with the task of compiling a slideshow presentation of some sort to introduce the activity to students.

Here it is (or rather a cropped screenshot of the mac preview of it, since I still haven't figured out how to upload keynote files to blogger):

After that, still no new members.

We continued to run the activity. We continued to plan. The structure has been finalised.

(copied from doc):

SIS Poetry Slam

Name: Slam!
Annual Event.
Straight Finals, in anticipation of low rate of participation

If many people: Heats after school, OR just have scheduled auditions for each entrant at lunch times, depending on number of people who sign up.

Friday afternoon, April 1, in (preferably) Hall.
Split event into age-based sections: Senior Division (y10-13), Junior Division (y7-9)
Split into sections for cover performances and own compositions
Enforce rule of at least 1 person from each tutor group?

As the event gains prestige and competitors year by year, it can perhaps be allocated an evening, like the Winter and Spring concerts, school plays, Innovation, and International Evening.

Rules and Judging

• Split sections: cover performance and own poems?
• Any genre of poetry
• No props, costumes or musical instruments.
• 3 minutes (w/ 10-sec grace period) to read 1 poem. If the poet goes over time, points shall be deducted from the total score.
• Judged by 5 judges
• Judges give scores from 0 to 10 based on content and performance. 5 for content, 5 for performance.
• Lowest and highest scores dropped, middle 3 added to give a total out of 30.
• Audience encouraged to respond to the poets or the judges in any way they see fit. Gives the event a much more sport-like atmosphere and encourages more energy and enthusiasm. No poet is beyond critique; all are at the mercy of the audience.

Awards and Prizes

• Trophy and Certificate for Winner. Certificate for runner up. (Mr. Kane organise)
• Congratulated in a Whole School Assembly (ask Head Prefects after actual event)
• House Points

Raise Awareness

• The Feedback Blog (in the works)
• Bulletin notices (achieved - recycle)
• English classes (in the works)
• House Assemblies (Schweitzer achieved, )
• Whole School Assembly?
• Posters around school (From early-mid March?)
• Start an afterschool activity in term 2 (achieved - need more members)

Participation
CAS hours incentive. And as something to put into one's college app.

The word "poetry" tends to arouse a lot of bad feeling in SIS students. How can we overcome this?
-> Ask Mrs McKee to email House Captains to tell Houses to have min 1 participant from each tutor group

Posters (designed by Katrina) and a facebook group were used. (We need to put up more posters, actually.)

Now, the actual date of April 1 is drawing nearer. Looks gloomy...

Chinese New Year Assembly

The Chinese New Year Assembly took place on Friday, Jan 28. I'd first been approached by Ms. Li about performing a Chinese piano piece way back in November. In the end, I started practicing a piece at the beginning on this month, and had just about gotten it down, when I was asked if I wouldn't mind instead playing a short simple piece instead, in accompaniment of a performance of the Chinese yoyo by some guy. I was also asked to be MC for the event; perhaps as compensation for asking me to switch performances.

Anyway, I accepted that.

...then, I sprained my ankle severely, and had to stick to just playing accompaniment on the piano, due to being unable to easily walk on and off stage as the MC would have to.

The good thing is that because my role was so reduced, I hardly had to attend rehearsal. However, the little I did see was really eye-opening, as I'd never been part of something like this at SIS before.

Poetry Slam Activity Session 1

Today, we had the first session of the Poetry Slam after-school activity. 2 people signed up. Yes. Two. Luckily, they both came, or else I don't know what we could've done. Heh.

So, we started off by introducing the idea of poetry slam, and each person saying why they were interested in it. And then we watched a few vids on youtube and discussed a little bit (very tiny bit) about them. Then, we each went online and found a poem, and performed it.

It was only a little awkward, and quite fun.

Kinda disappointing that there wasn't a larger turnout, though. I guess the word "Poetry" might have scared them off. In the future, that word should definitely be left off until we've got them snared...

-----
Poetry Slam activity planning on Google Doc:

Progress on Feedback Blog

I didn't realise I haven't made a post on the student blog in so long!

Since my last update, we have decided on a final name of "The Feedback Blog". We actually have our own domain name now: http://feedback-sis.com/ and we have a healthy number of articles and writers. The blog will be for everyone in the school, and anyone in the school can submit an article to us, about absolutely any topic. We've continued to meet every school-week Thursday.

Pure awesome.

And now here's the bad news: We keep postponing the launch date... Heh. Anyhow, with any luck, we shall put up own promotional posters this Thursday, and implement our other launch measures within the next couple of weeks. Hopefully, it will pick up speed and become self-sustaining in the school community.

When complete, the Feedback Blog will be, really, a platform that increases student voice, and allows for increased sharing and exchange of ideas, cultures, and interests, as well as something to unite students easily in this digital age. What a vision.

What's also pretty cool is that there's now apparently a Student Newspaper ("50NFR"), a Student Magazine, and a Student Blog ("Feedback Blog" us!!!), whereas before now, despite our school having existed for over 30 years, no such thing student media existed!

Librarian: Resources presentation

Gave a presentation last Wednesday to my TOK class as a student librarian about the Library Online Databases available for research use.

Really, I didn't feel it was necessary. This kind of stuff can easily be learned by exploring, and it would even allow you to understand better than if someone tells you about it.

The one good thing I took from the experience was that in having to prepare for the presentation, I was forced to explore the sites myself. Otherwise, I likely wouldn't have bothered.

Term 2 of IB begins

Happy New Year!

This term, I will no longer be doing Debating; didn't really take to it and wanted to do Chinese Debating instead, but that wasn't so pleasant either, and in any case, they're both on Monday afternoons, where I've set a weekly maths tutoring to get my maths grade up. And as year 11 Extra English is over, I won't be doing that anymore either. I'll also be halting my Piano studies until IB mocks are over.

Got about 70+ CAS hours already, by my reckoning.

Let's see how this goes.