CCA Olympics 2016

The Henderson PE department hosted the 2nd Annual CCA Olympics on the last day of Term 2, 27th May 2016. This year, all CCAs were involved in the Olympics. Similar to last year's CCA Olympics, students competed in four different sports, namely, Football, Ultimate Frisbee, Captain's Ball and Floorball. Sports Leaders were also tasked to be referees for all the games. The Olympics followed a round robin format where the top 2 teams of each sport per gender will be awarded with prizes and certificates of achievement.

During the event, both students and CCA teachers were seen participating enthusiastically in the games as seen from the photo below...

The day gave students the opportunity to bond as a CCA and make friends with school mates from other CCAs.

A Captain's Ball game in action...

A Ultimate Frisbee game in action...

NCDCC girls posing for a photo after their game.

When the games ended, everyone gathered back in the hall for prize presentation. The prizes consisted of water bottles and shoe bags, both of which are items to encourage students to make use of them when exercising so as to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Team and individual certificates of achievement were given to prize winners as well.

Mr Simen, our Principal, with the Basketball Boys who came in as Champions for Floorball.

Dance Girls with Ms Ho, our Vice-Principal. They were the champion team for the Floorball Girl's category.

Mr Kwok, our Vice-Principal, with the Runner-up Ultimate Frisbee CCA team consisting of boys from IMC, St John, & Boys Brigade.

The day ended with our Sports Leaders leading the school in a three cheers of Hip Hip Hooray as we reflected on what we have enjoyed and learnt through CCA Olympics. The PE Department would like to thank everyone who have supported us in this event one way or another. Hopefully this time next year, we will be able to host our inaugural CCA Olympics in the newly merged school!

(Photo Credits: Teachers and students from IMC)

Cross Country Meet 2016

Banner done up by our Sports Leaders.

The final Henderson Secondary Annual Cross Country Meet was held last Friday, 15 April, at the tranquil Japanese Garden and Chinese Garden this year. Approximately 500 students and staff took part in the event.

The day started of with a cloudy sky to shade us from the morning sun. Preparation of the event started early and with the help of our sports leaders, student councilors and teacher volunteers, everything was set up smoothly.

The stage is set and ready to rock and roll!

Our St John students being assigned their first aid duty for the day. There will be a couple of students at each checkpoint along the running route to ensure the safety of students running at all times.

As students start streaming in to the Japanese Garden Rest House, the atmosphere was bustling with excitement and anticipation for the start of Cross Country 2016.

Our PE teacher informing students of the to dos and don'ts before starting on the warm up.

After the sports leaders have led the school in the warm-up, it was finally time for the run to start!

First up, we have the teacher's race with our Principal, Mr Simen, flagging off the run.

Next, our Vice Principal, Mr Kwok, flagged off the Sec 4/5 boys.

The Sec 3 boys were next and we can see that they were all ready to move off!

The last batch of boys were the Sec 2 boys, the juniors of Henderson.

After the boys were flagged off, it was the girls turn. They were also flagged off in the same sequence. We have our Vice Principal, Ms Ho, to flag off all three batches of girls.

Sec 4/5 girls - are they ready to run or ready to pose for photos?

The ever ready Sec 3 girls.

Lastly, the Sec 2 girls with Ms Ho. Always take a photo before the run.

Now that all the students have been flagged off, it was time to head to the finish line to see who our Top 10 fastest runners are for the various categories.

Are we there yet?

Some of our boys running their hearts out. You do not stop running until you reach the end line where the timekeeper is standing!

Our teacher timekeepers hard at work recording and collating the results...

In the meantime, the ever important 100+ station is packed with students who have finished their run. Students who did not participate in the run were tasked with refreshment duties to do their part for the cross country meet. Thank you student helpers!

At the end of the run, students gathered back in the rest house for refreshments and cool down as we collate the results for the Top 10 runners of each category.

Prizes ready to be given out.

The PE department have catered for trophies to be given out to the following categories of each gender:
1) Top 10 WMP (Weight Management Programme)
2) Top 10 Sec 2
3) Top 10 Sec 3
4) Top 10 Sec 4/5

The following photos are the prize winners of each category in order of the list above - girls first, then boys.

We are thankful for the kind weather despite a slight drizzle at the start of the race. After all, what's a cross country meet without some rain? As the event came to an end, the students dispersed to take photos with the serene background of the Japanese Garden.

A group photo of our graduating batch with their form teachers and our school leaders. 

We would like to thank everyone for participating and contributing to this event in one way or another. The event has been a meaningful and unforgettable final Cross Country for the school. The PE department would not have been able to carry it out without all of your help! Together, let's continue to advocate healthy living and instill the value of "Healthfulness" in our school!

From us to you - Thank you and may we move forward together in the year to come...

(Photo Credits: Mr Vincent Chia, Mr Joshua Li & Ms Olivia Hu)

Outdoor Education @ Henderson - Tent Pitching

Sec 2 girls enjoying being in the tent after all their hardwork.

After the knot tying lesson, the department felt that a relevant application of knot tying was to pitch a dome tent. After all, one needs to seek shelter to have a better chance of survival in the outdoors.

Below are some pictures to sum up the lesson on tent pitching:

First, we lay the dome tent down on the field.

Second, we connect the tent poles together. Teamwork really makes this a faster process! Whoosh!

Third, we slot the tent poles into the channels.

This is not as easy as we thought!

Students determined to slot the tent poles properly. They know that if this step is not done properly, the tent will not be able to support on its own and they will have to start from scratch.

The fourth step was to put the tent poles under tension to create the final shape of the dome tent.

Close to the final product!

A PE Teacher guiding students on how to peg the tent down to prevent it from flying away under strong wind conditions.

Some Sec 2 boys enjoying the fruits of their labour :)

After 4 days of OE lessons, the Sec 2 OE Programme for Term 1 has come to an end. Students will now be more prepared for the upcoming GROW week where they will participate in a 3D2N Adventure Camp @ Camp Challenge Sembawang. During the camp, they will be exposed to more outdoor elements. This will provide them with opportunities to use what they have learnt. By the end of the camp, students would have strengthened their own willpower and survival instincts while forging closer bonds as a Sec 2 level.

Outdoor Education @ Henderson - The 7 Essential Knots

Mr Kek, PE HOD, giving a mass lecture on the theoretical knowledge of knot tying.

The department felt that knot tying was an essential part of outdoor education as an experienced outdoors man would tell you that a good knot can determine your life and death. This message was also put across to the students...

The 7 knots that we taught were - reef knot, thumb knot, figure of eight, bowline, sheet bend, clove hitch, fisherman's knot. 

One of our teachers helping a student out with his knot tying.

Students carrying out pair work.

With these skills, students will be prepared for the upcoming lesson on tent pitching.

Outdoor Education @ Henderson - Field Cooking Lesson #2

For the second lesson in field cooking, students were given the challenge of cooking beehoon soup. A brief recap on the first lesson was done before students set off to start on their cooking challenge. Students were given the opportunity to direct their own learning while PE teachers facilitated and ensured safety procedures were followed.

Recipe instructions for making beehoon soup.

Students queuing up to receive the ingredients which consisted of eggs, vegetables and beehoon.

A student lighting up the fire after the cooking site has been set up. They have been instructed to have their water bottles at all times as a safety measure against fire.

Masterchef at work.

Students enjoying the fruits of their labour.

Washing up is an essential part of field cooking as it teaches students to minimise their environmental impacts in the outdoors.