Kicking Off Secondary School Life
Secondary 1 Orientation Camp
Written By
Stefanie Lee Feiyi
Badminton Academy, IBDP, Year 6
From 1 to 4 January 2025, the 21st Student Council proudly organised and led the Secondary One Orientation Camp II (SSOC II), the sequel to the first SSOC held during the PSLE marking days last year. Packed with cherished traditions and refreshing new segments, this camp aimed to warmly welcome the new batch of Secondary 1 student-athletes into our vibrant school community.
The camp began with the check-in of the Secondary 1s into their new boarding rooms in the evening. As student leaders, it was fulfilling to see them bond with their fellow tribe mates and Orientation Group Leaders through fun icebreaker games, which set a positive tone for the rest of the camp. The following day consisted of splash games by the swimming pool, the Champions’ Relay around the school compound, and boarding orientation games. Through these activities, it was truly heartening to witness many Secondary 1s forge friendships and strengthen their teamwork with each other. They also quickly picked up the school cheers, showcasing their impressive unity as they cheered their hearts out to rack up extra points during the games. On the second day, we brought them to a trampoline park— as a celebration of the camaraderie they had built, while figuratively encouraging them to leap beyond their limits, in line with this year’s theme of “Dreams Take Flight”. Along with the sport-specific orientation programmes that were meticulously planned by each sports academy, the Secondary Ones definitely had a meaningful time deepening their school spirit. The final day of SSOC II started off with a bang as the student-athletes embarked on their 5-kilometre run, a time-honoured tradition that serves as a rite of passage before their official induction ceremony into Sports School. Led by the Student Council President Janelle Yeo, their cheers echoed as they ran back into the Auditorium and lit the cauldron, marking the beginning of a journey filled with purpose and determination.
While the grand finale was undoubtedly a highlight, there were other moments that also made the camp a resounding success. In place of the usual physical training at 6am, we introduced “Morning Mindfulness” sessions. This allowed the Secondary 1s to begin each day with a sense of focus, gratitude and calmness amidst the buzzing activities, while also equipping them with valuable skills to manage the demands of school life. Another highlight was the nighttime reflection and party session that concluded day two, the last night of the camp. The student-athletes gathered together for a meaningful reflection, looking back at the lessons and connections formed during the camp. This was followed by an energetic karaoke session with the student leaders, where they belted out songs together, celebrating their shared experiences that had made this camp truly unforgettable.
Reflecting on the journey, I am sure that all of our newly-inducted Secondary 1s student-athletes will cherish the friendships formed through shared challenges and laughter, and will continue carrying with them the confidence that they have cultivated as they learnt to step out of their comfort zones.
This orientation camp was meaningful not only for the Secondary 1s student-athletes, but also for us student leaders. Beyond the joy we felt in being the bridge that helped this new batch of students integrate and create precious memories, planning this orientation camp was a feat that taught us countless lessons. With the support from the staff, we learnt that leadership is not just about guiding others but also growing with them: from leading the Secondary 1s through new segments that even we were unfamiliar with, understanding each person’s strengths and weaknesses in team-building games, to celebrating together with the Secondary Ones when their tribes succeeded in a game.
All in all, SSOC II 2025 was not just a camp but a shared experience of growth, discovery and connection for both the new student-athletes and us student leaders, allowing us to build a foundation of trust, belonging and learning in our school environment.
Written By
Stefanie Lee Feiyi
Badminton Academy, IBDP, Year 6
From 1 to 4 January 2025, the 21st Student Council proudly organised and led the Secondary One Orientation Camp II (SSOC II), the sequel to the first SSOC held during the PSLE marking days last year. Packed with cherished traditions and refreshing new segments, this camp aimed to warmly welcome the new batch of Secondary 1 student-athletes into our vibrant school community.
The camp began with the check-in of the Secondary 1s into their new boarding rooms in the evening. As student leaders, it was fulfilling to see them bond with their fellow tribe mates and Orientation Group Leaders through fun icebreaker games, which set a positive tone for the rest of the camp. The following day consisted of splash games by the swimming pool, the Champions’ Relay around the school compound, and boarding orientation games. Through these activities, it was truly heartening to witness many Secondary 1s forge friendships and strengthen their teamwork with each other. They also quickly picked up the school cheers, showcasing their impressive unity as they cheered their hearts out to rack up extra points during the games. On the second day, we brought them to a trampoline park— as a celebration of the camaraderie they had built, while figuratively encouraging them to leap beyond their limits, in line with this year’s theme of “Dreams Take Flight”. Along with the sport-specific orientation programmes that were meticulously planned by each sports academy, the Secondary Ones definitely had a meaningful time deepening their school spirit. The final day of SSOC II started off with a bang as the student-athletes embarked on their 5-kilometre run, a time-honoured tradition that serves as a rite of passage before their official induction ceremony into Sports School. Led by the Student Council President Janelle Yeo, their cheers echoed as they ran back into the Auditorium and lit the cauldron, marking the beginning of a journey filled with purpose and determination.
While the grand finale was undoubtedly a highlight, there were other moments that also made the camp a resounding success. In place of the usual physical training at 6am, we introduced “Morning Mindfulness” sessions. This allowed the Secondary 1s to begin each day with a sense of focus, gratitude and calmness amidst the buzzing activities, while also equipping them with valuable skills to manage the demands of school life. Another highlight was the nighttime reflection and party session that concluded day two, the last night of the camp. The student-athletes gathered together for a meaningful reflection, looking back at the lessons and connections formed during the camp. This was followed by an energetic karaoke session with the student leaders, where they belted out songs together, celebrating their shared experiences that had made this camp truly unforgettable.
Reflecting on the journey, I am sure that all of our newly-inducted Secondary 1s student-athletes will cherish the friendships formed through shared challenges and laughter, and will continue carrying with them the confidence that they have cultivated as they learnt to step out of their comfort zones.
This orientation camp was meaningful not only for the Secondary 1s student-athletes, but also for us student leaders. Beyond the joy we felt in being the bridge that helped this new batch of students integrate and create precious memories, planning this orientation camp was a feat that taught us countless lessons. With the support from the staff, we learnt that leadership is not just about guiding others but also growing with them: from leading the Secondary 1s through new segments that even we were unfamiliar with, understanding each person’s strengths and weaknesses in team-building games, to celebrating together with the Secondary Ones when their tribes succeeded in a game.
All in all, SSOC II 2025 was not just a camp but a shared experience of growth, discovery and connection for both the new student-athletes and us student leaders, allowing us to build a foundation of trust, belonging and learning in our school environment.
- Kicking Off Secondary School Life