Seeing that I posted on my other blog accidentally, I'll repost my reflections of the past few weeks in the same way I posted them in my other blog.
House Practice 1, 2 & 3
Intra-House time was very interactive for the first house practice. All of the house commers were very proactive in mingling with our new year ones. I tried to mingle with them as well, by going into the crowd and sitting with them, talking to them about school life so far. They had quite alot of things to talk about, so I listened with interest and offered advice if they had any questions to ask. Besides that, some of them had numerous questions about house and house practice as well. I answered their questions to the best of my abilities. I believe that mingling with the year ones did help me bond with them and get to know them better. After Intra house time, it was time for the station games. I was assigned as a station mistress for netball. We had a small briefing session at the netball court for the year ones present who were about to play the game but I felt that it wasn't very effective as one person was explaining to a group of more than 60 students. Next time, we should make it that we break them into smaller groups before one house commer each goes to the smaller group to explain the rules. Afterwards, the games started and the year ones were quite enthusiastic from the start. However, their interest in the game started to wear off because they wanted to partake in some of the other games as well, such as frisbee. However, the schedule only allowed them to play one game. I feel that if we have station games, we should allow the year ones to try a hand at all of the games, because different people might like different games. Besides that, playing under the hot sun for a long time got them tired after a very short amount of time. I felt that it was important for us to include more activities that was indoors as well, so that it gave them time to rest. Besides that, some students may also enjoy indoor activities more than the games outside. It is crucial that we take into account the various interests of the year ones and not forget about the minorities so that we can ensure everyone has a good time at house practices.
Intra house time for house practice 2 was even better than the one in house practice 1. We broke up into our smaller groups and had time allocated for us to chat with the year ones and play games with them. It was easier this time round because we were in smaller groups. After playing ice breakers I got to know each of them more personally and I inquired them about their CCAs and how they were adjusting to the school. Most of them answered and took part in the conversation willingly and all of us had a wonderful time bonding. Afterwards, I took my B1 group around for inter house time. It was more fun this time round because we had a arts and crafts session as well as games outdoors. The contrast was good for people with different preferences. The arts and crafts session, something my batch has not gone through, was more interactive than any of the games outside because we were singing as well as talking to each other while folding the fans. It was truly enjoyable and I felt that the comm that had planned this had really put a lot of thought into this activity and made it truly enjoyable for all of us. All in all, i felt that this house practice was better due to the feedback from the previous house practice, and it would be possible to improve for the next house practice.
House practice 3 also consisted of station games. This time, the games were varied and they were at various locations. The games did not require one to be extremely athletic and were more of bonding games because the games were quite simple. There were only two groups at one station at a time so it was easier to explain the rules of the game to them. The year ones cheered each other on and had a lot of fun playing the games. As a station mistress, I could see a lot of difference between the first house practice and third one. The year ones this time round, understood the rules more clearly and they enjoyed the games more as they were more engaging and simpler. The games did not tire them out completely and this was one of the main reasons they were no longer reluctant to play the games this time round. These changes that have been gradually made from house practice 1 indeed made a difference in how the year ones felt about house practice, as I spoke to some of them who said it was more enjoyable that the first house practice.
I believe that the feedback at the debriefs are invaluable and help house comm progress a lot, and it gives us a wider perspective and the opinions of more people. If we continue to improve based on feedback from our comm, we will eventually reach a point where we have maximum participation and enthusiasm from the year ones.
