CTSS Carnival Reflections 2009

18 April 2009, Saturday, the long awaited once every 2years CTSS Carnival has finally arrived!!! We were extremely excited and find it hard to resist our excitement due to the fact that the school experienced a wonderful occasion 2 years back and we want to feel it again! The new and accessible facilities in the new school compound provide an ideal place for the carnival. Therefore, I am sure majority of us; Clemeteens feel that we have greater flexibility in choosing the right place for our booths for successful, profitable and smooth run of businesses.

First and foremost, the school’s aim for this year’s carnival is to earn a total of $88,888 for it’s funds. This year’s carnival is slightly different from the previous as the school goes by the “class-buddy” system. This system required class from the upper level sec to team up with class from lower level sec, unlike 2 years back which involved individual classes doing their own planning. The aim is not only to guide the juniors (since it’s their 1st year doing it), but also to increase the bonding spirit of Clementeens by helping one another.

On the wee hours in the morning, before the commence of the Speech Day Parade, the school’s situation was already hectic, with students from various duties busy preparing, running to places and setting up of booths etc.

The Carnival was opened for business from 10 to 4:30. I was exhilarated as there are so many places to visit for food and games! The school has certainly try making good use of it’s compounds.

The food stalls were mostly set up in the canteen, with food such as students-made drinks, colourful candy floss, fried noodles (and many more) sold at rather expensive cost, but still worth the pay for the school’s benefit. (=

Look around! What do you see Clementeens? Visitors are enjoying the food we prepared!

Most games were located in the ISH, those games are indeed innovative. Well done Clementeens!

Songs dedication for friends and loved ones anyone? Or perhaps you prefer the hair spray?

Inviting the Guest-Of-honors to various booths.
Wow! Great stall ambiance!

Ofcourse not forgetting the Dunking Machine and Gladiator Game.
HEY! Who ‘hantam’ who?! Mr Tan K.K, Ms Toh?

Long queues outside the 2 Haunted-classrooms in school!! Eerieeeeee… {{O.O}}

Athough the school has only achieved $65, 000+ ( instead of the goal $88, 888). I believe we should be proud of how much effort and hard work we’ve put into the Carnival and the bonds we’ve earned when working with our classmates. Besides, do you realize how much we’ve also contributed to the community? The school has sponsorors from various food companies such as McDonald’s and Botak Jones, this also helps to promote their restaurants. The Carnival also has many families spending their Saturday family day is CTSS with us! How wonderful! Through this occasion, I believe Clementeens have learnt a lot beyond the usual text-books. We’ve certainly gained more confidence to lead and develop the humility to serve!!

Viviana Lie, 3D1

CTSS Speech Day Reflections 2009

If I was asked which event of 2009 has stirred up the most excitement amongst students, I would frankly tell you without dithering that it was none other then the school’s Homecoming Day.

Some would say rather truthfully that the hard effort put in the whole event only made the results seem much more meaningful to them while other students might confidently declare that it was the awards that motivated them to come. For me, as part of the Uniformed Group (UG) and an awardee, it was all of these.

I can boldly say that the cadets from the various UGs had immersed themselves in the whole Speech Day parade, as it was a chance for us to impress the public, being the niche in the school. It had been months of sweat and toil and numerous selections that led us to this final day, where few could make it to the Guard of Honour, wearing the ‘Number One’ uniform. With crisp uniforms in tip-top condition and the will to perform in the parade, hardship meant nothing to us as we marched united as a squad. Although I admit that I did feel slightly lonely as my friends were not there, I quickly got over the gloom and bounced back, showing the amount of perseverance the school has inculcated into Clementeens.

The hustle and bustle of the crowd was the result of hard work and sheer determination, generating a lot of merriment, quite the contrary to the formal prize-giving ceremony up in the hall. Not that it was dreary, it just brought a sense of formality to the hall. In any case, it was a glorious moment; it was OUR glorious moment to be precise. How many times can students actually go on stage to receive an award for something that they had worked really hard for?

We received our certificates and vouchers and shook hands with the “biggies”. Despite the many practices, I still made mistakes – I extended the wrong hand, and laughed at myself backstage. Also, my seniors who topped in the O’levels were there to receive their awards and the Multimedia Services included videos portraying CTSS’s glorious years, of her aging gracefully into a school of excellence. It was truly inspiring.

The ceremony ended with a bang. It had the Malay and Indian dance performance; both whom received ‘Gold with Honours’ in the SYF Central Judging. It was well coordinated and the choreography was beautifully expressed by our own aesthetically-gifted Clementeens. The lion dance troupe then officially opened the carnival with Dr Amy Khor as our Guest-of-Honour.

The celebration was not perfect but it was indeed a fulfilling and enriching one. I can now look back at the photos feeling waves of nostalgia washing over me. I am both proud of the imperfections that made everything perfect and I truly believe that the school will work at its best, creating historical milestones for the future generations and reach new pinnacles of achievements!

Dayna Chong, 3D1