To Learn, To Advance, To Excel

1. There will be Foot Drill Training this Tuesday, 07 02 2012. All competition team members are to fall in on the netball court at 0720 hours.

• They will be dismissed at 0750 hours.

2. There will be Foot Drill Training this Thursday, 09 02 2012. All competition team members are to fall in on the netball court at 0800 hours.

• They will be dismissed at 0850 hours.

3. There will be First Aid and Foot Drill revision this Thursday, 09 02 2012. All involved Standard 2 members are to fall in on the netball court at 0745 hours in PT kit.

• They will be dismissed at 0845 hours.
• They are to bring along their school uniform to change out into.

4. There will be Routine Training this Friday, 10 02 2012. All members are to fall in on the netball court at 1445 hours.

• Standard 1 members are to fall in in PT kit.
• Standard 2 to 4 members are to fall in in Full Brigade Uniform.
• Standard 2 to 4 members are to bring along their PT kit.
• All members are to bring along an extra shirt to change out into.

5. There will be Junior NCO Training Course Examination this Saturday, 11 02 2012. All Standard 3 members are to fall in outside Classroom D2-04 by 1100 hours in Corps tee, school pants/skirt and standardised socks.

• They are to revise their Junior NCO Training Course manual beforehand.
• They are to bring along their writing materials.
• They will be dismissed by 1330 hours.

Schedule for 10022012:

Remarks

1. For shirts, standardize within your own squad on what shirt you want to bring.

- Same shirts to be worn on the same day

- Suggested shirts to bring would be 2 PE shirts and a dark coloured shirt. Squad tees are only accepted as dark coloured t-shirts (If applicable)

2. Standardized socks are expected

3. For shorts, Dunman High PE shorts are accepted.

- Those who do not have enough PE shorts, criteria of shorts accepted: Pure black or pure dark blue (Except for logos having a different colour is accepted)

- Extremely short shorts are not allowed  (Not shorter than half of your waist to knee)

- No curve cut shorts and FBTs are allowed

This is to inform you that the Intra-Corps First Aid Competition allocated on 7^th May 2011 as indicated in the parents’ letter will be postponed to 14^th May. The reason is that 7^th May coincides with the Polling Day. As such, there will be one more training session per house within the week of 10^th May to 13^th May to prepare your child/ward for the competition.

The training schedules for the ‘Houses’ are as follows:

We seek your kind understanding in this matter and sincerely apologize for any inconvenience caused.

Thank you.

Yours sincerely,

Intra-Corps First Aid Competition Committee Advisor

SSSGT Yeo Li Fen Daphne

cc. Mrs Grace Ong

Due to Polling Day being held on 7th May, please take note of the following changes to the training schedule for the rest of the term.

7th May (Saturday)
- There will be no activities due to Polling Day public holiday.

13th May (Friday)
- There will be Passing Out Parade Rehearsal from 1500 hours to 1830 hours. All Standard 4 members and Standard 3 Parade Personnel are required to attend.

14th May (Saturday)
- There will be Intra-corps First Aid and Foot Drill Competition from 0800 hours to 1300 hours. All members are required to attend.
- There will be CPR+AED Course from 1330 to 1800 hours. Standard 3 members are required to attend.
- Arrangements will be made for Standard 3s to leave earlier. Lunch will be provided.

Specific details for the day’s activities will be posted on the Routine Order for that particular week. Please refer to the SJ notice board and the website during that week for more details.
Cadets who are unable to attend the activities are to to inform their Standard Coordinators and are to submit a leave application beforehand.
Cadets are to inform their parents of the changes to the schedule made, and are to refer any queries to their SCs.

Thanks.

Regards,
Yi Xi
Administrative Officer

Over the phone, his mother told him, “Mr. Belser died last night. The funeral is Wednesday.” Memories flashed through his mind like an old newsreel as he sat quietly remembering his childhood days. 

“Jack, did you hear me?”

“Oh, sorry, Mom. Yes, I heard you. It’s been so long since I thought of him. I’m sorry, but I honestly thought he died years ago,” Jack said. 

“Well, he didn’t forget you. Every time I saw him he’d ask how you were doing. He’d reminisce about the many days you spent over ‘his side of the fence’ as he put it,” Mom told him. 

“I loved that old house he lived in,” Jack said. 

“You know, Jack, after your father died, Mr. Belser stepped in to make sure you had a man’s influence in your life,” she said. 

“He’s the one who taught me carpentry,” he said. “I wouldn’t be in this business if it weren’t for him. He spent a lot of time teaching me things he thought were important… Mom, I’ll be there for the funeral,” Jack said. 

As busy as he was, he kept his word. Jack caught the next flight to his hometown. Mr Belser’s funeral was small and uneventful. He had no children of his own, and most of his relatives had passed away. 

The night before he had to return home, Jack and his Mom stopped by to see the old house next door one more time. 

Standing in the doorway, Jack paused for a moment. It was like crossing over into another dimension, a leap through space and time. The house was exactly as he remembered. Every step held memories. Every picture, every piece of furniture… .Jack stopped suddenly. 

“What’s wrong, Jack?” his Mom asked. 

“The box is gone,” he said. 

“What box? ” Mom asked. 

“There was a small gold box that he kept locked on top of his desk. I must have asked him a thousand times what was inside. All he’d ever tell me was ‘the thing I value most,’” Jack said. 

It was gone. Everything about the house was exactly how Jack remembered it, except for the box. He figured someone from the Belser family had taken it. 

“Now I’ll never know what was so valuable to him,” Jack said. “I better get some sleep. I have an early flight home, Mom.” 

It had been about two weeks since Mr. Belser died. Returning home from work one day Jack discovered a note in his mailbox. “Signature required on a package. No one at home. Please stop by the main post office within the next three days,” the note read. 

Early the next day Jack retrieved the package. The small box was old and looked like it had been mailed a hundred years ago. The handwriting was difficult to read, but the return address caught his attention. 

“Mr. Harold Belser” it read. 

Jack took the box out to his car and ripped open the package. There  inside was the gold box and an envelope. Jack’s hands shook as he read the note inside. 

“Upon my death, please forward this box and its contents to Jack Bennett. It’s the thing I valued most in my life.” A small key was taped to the letter. His heart racing, as tears filling his eyes, Jack carefully unlocked the box. There inside he found a beautiful gold pocket watch. Running his fingers slowly over the finely etched casing, he unlatched the cover. 

Inside he found these words engraved: “Jack, Thanks for your time! Harold Belser.” 

“The thing he valued most…was.. .my time.” 

Jack held the watch for a few minutes, then called his office and cleared his appointments for the next two days. “Why?” Janet, his assistant asked. 

“I need some time to spend with my son,” he said. 

“Oh, by the way, Janet…thanks for your time!” 

As we rush along in life, we may forget to take a look around us and appreciate the things that people have done for you. Similarly, people will seldom thank us for our efforts and hard work. Sometimes it makes you wonder whether what you are doing is worthwhile. As you get tired, frustration seems to set in more easily, and so does disappointment. You may lose your sense of direction and become disillusioned. 

Perhaps, you should consider taking some personal time off in a day of busy schedule, catch your breath, stare at the sky, and think about what is really important to you. Take some time to look around you, and recall the faces that have made an impact to your life. And take some time, to visualise the faces of those whom you would like to make an impact to, knowing that they may not thank you, but they will appreciate your effort in time to come, and it doesn’t really matter because you don’t do it for them to be of gratitude to you, you do it because you care and you find satisfaction in it. 

Often, we do not understand the importance of time until we realise we do not have enough. And very often, we have less time than we think. Don’t start regretting after you run out of time. 

And I thank everyone for your time reading this.  

Kin Keong 

Lesson 1: People who share a common direction and sense of community can get where they are going quicker and easier because they are travelling on the thrust of one another.

Fact 2: When a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of flying alone. It quickly moves back into formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the bird in front of it.

Lesson 2: If we have as much common sense as a goose, we stay in formation with those headed where we want to go. We are willing to accept their help and give our help to others.

Fact 3: When the lead goose tires, it rotates back into the formation and another goose flies to the point position.

Lesson 3: It pays to take turns doing the hard tasks and sharing leadership. As with geese, people are interdependent on each others’ skills, capabilities, and unique arrangements of gifts, talents, or resources.

Fact 4: Geese flying in formation honk to encourage those up front to keep up their speed.

Lesson 4: We need to make sure our honking is encouraging. In groups where there is encouragement, the production is much greater. The power of encouragement (to stand by one’s heart or core values and encourage the heart and core of others) is the quality of honking we seek.

Fact 5: When a goose gets sick, wounded, or shot down, two geese drop out of formation and follow it down to help protect it. They stay with it until it dies or is able to fly again. Then, they launch out with another formation or catch up with the flock.

Lesson 5: If we have as much sense as geese, we will stand by each other in difficult times as well as when we are strong.

From Christine Hill 

10% of life is made up of what happens to you. 90% of life is decided by how you react. What does this mean?

We really have no control over 10% of what happens to us. We cannot stop the car from breaking down. The plane will be late arriving, which throws our whole schedule off. A driver may cut us off in traffic. We have no control over this 10%. The other 90% is different. You determine the other 90%.

How? By your reaction. You cannot control a red light. However, you can control your reaction. Do not let people fool you;

YOU can control how you react.

Let us use an example: You are eating breakfast with your family. Your daughter knocks over a cup of coffee onto your business shirt. You have no control over what just happened. What happens next will be determined by how you react. You curse. You harshly scold your daughter for knocking the cup over.

She breaks down in tears. After scolding her, you turn to your spouse and criticize her for placing the cup too close to the edge of the table. A short verbal battle follows. You storm upstairs and change your shirt. Back downstairs, you find your daughter has been too busy crying to finish breakfast and get ready for school. She misses the bus. Your spouse must leave immediately for work.

You rush to the car and drive your daughter to school. Because you are late, you drive 40 miles an hour in a 30 mph speed limit zone. After a 15-minute delay and throwing $60 traffic fine away, you arrive at school. Your daughter runs into the building without saying goodbye. After arriving at the office 20 minutes late, you find you forgot your briefcase. Your day has started terrible. As it continues, it seems to get worse and worse. You look forward to coming home, When you arrive home, you find small wedge in your relationship with your spouse and daughter.

Why? Because of how you reacted in the morning. Why did you have a bad day?
A. Did the coffee cause it?
B. Did your daughter cause it?
C. Did the policeman cause it?
D. Did you cause it?

The answer is “D”.

You had no control over what happened with the coffee. How you reacted in those 5 seconds is what caused your bad day. Here is what could have and should have happened.

Coffee splashes over you. Your daughter is about to cry. You gently say, “Its ok honey, you just need to be more careful next time”. Grabbing a towel, you rush upstairs. After grabbing a new shirt and your briefcase, you come back down in time to look through the window and see your child getting on the bus. She turns and waves. You arrive 5 minutes early and cheerfully greet the staff. Your boss comments on how good the day you are having.

Notice the difference?

Two different scenarios. Both started the same. Both ended different.

Why? Because of how you REACTED.

You really do not have any control over 10% of what happens. The other 90% was determined by your reaction.

Here are some ways to apply the 90/10 principle.

If someone says something negative about you, do not be a sponge. Let the attack roll off like water on glass. You do not have to let the negative comment affect you! React properly and it will not ruin your day. A wrong reaction could result in losing a friend, being fired, getting stressed out etc.

How do you react if someone cuts you off in traffic?

* Do you lose your temper?
* Pound on the steering wheel? A friend of mine had the steering wheel fall Off!
* Do you curse?
* Does your blood pressure skyrocket?
* Do you try to bump them?

WHO CARES if you arrive ten seconds later at work? Why let the cars ruin your drive. Remember the 90/10 principle, and do not worry about it.

You are told you lost your job. Why lose sleep and get irritated? It will work out. Use your worrying energy and time into finding another job.

The plane is late; it is going to mangle your schedule for the day. Why take out your frustration on the flight attendant? She has no control over what is going on. Use your time to study, get to know the other passenger.

Why are you stressed out? It will just make things worse. Now you know the 90-10 principle. Apply it and you will be amazed at the results. You will lose nothing if you try it.

The 90-10 principle is incredible. Very few know and apply this principle.

The result? Millions of people are suffering from undeserved stress, trials, problems and heartache.

We all must understand and apply the 90/10 principle.

It CAN change your life!

Once upon a time, there was a wise man who used to go to the ocean to do his writing. He had a habit of walking on the beach before he began his work.

One day, as he was walking along the shore, he looked down the beach and saw a human figure moving like a dancer. He smiled to himself at the thought of someone who would dance to the day, and so, he walked faster to catch up.

As he got closer, he noticed that the figure was that of a young man, and that what he was doing was not dancing at all. The young man was reaching down to the shore, picking up small objects, and throwing them into the ocean.

He came closer still and called out “Good morning! May I ask what it is that you are doing?”

The young man paused, looked up, and replied “Throwing starfish into the ocean.”

“I must ask, then, why are you throwing starfish into the ocean?” asked the somewhat startled wise man.

To this, the young man replied, “The sun is up and the tide is going out. If I don’t throw them in, they’ll die.”

Upon hearing this, the wise man commented, “But, young man, do you not realize that there are miles and miles of beach and there are starfish all along every mile? There are more starfish on this beach than you can ever save before the sun is up. Surely you can’t possibly make a difference!”

At this, the young man bent down, picked up yet another starfish, and threw it into the ocean. As it met the water, he said, “It made a difference for that one,” and he tossed another into the ocean, “and this one”, toss, “and this one…”

Loren Eiseley was a anthropologist who wrote extensively. He was the ‘wise man’ in the story, and he was walking along a beach after a storm and encountered the fellow throwing the starfish back.

“The Star Thrower” is a classic story of the power within each one of us to make a difference in the lives of others. It is a powerful reminder that we should be here for each other, and to seek to help, even in small ways, whenever we can. 

We may feel alone and small and unable to make any lasting changes we may find ourselves asking “What can I do that will make a difference?” or “What can one small person like me do?”

In reality we don’t have to be rich, talented or even particularly intelligent to make a difference in the life of another. We just need to remember that we ARE here for a purpose, and that making small changes in the world eventually add up to something bigger in the life of another.

He would miss the paycheck, but he needed to retire. They could get by.

The contractor was sorry to see his good worker go and asked if he could build just one more house as a personal favor. The carpenter said yes, but in time it was easy to see that his heart was not in his work. He resorted to shoddy workmanship and used inferior materials. It was an unfortunate way to end his career.

When the carpenter finished his work and the builder came to inspect the house, the contractor handed the front-door key to the carpenter.  “This is your house,” he said, “my gift to you.”

What a shock!  What a shame!  If he had only known he was building his own house, he would have done it all so differently. Now he had to live in the home he had built none too well.

So it is with us. We build our lives in a distracted way, reacting rather than acting, willing to put up less than the best. At important points we do not give the job our best effort. Then with a shock we look at the situation we have created and find that we are now living in the house we have built. If we had realized that, we would have done it differently. 

Think of yourself as the carpenter. Think about your house. Each day you hammer a nail, place a board, or erect a wall. Build wisely. It is the only life you will ever build. Even if you live it for only one day more, that day deserves to be lived graciously and with dignity. The plaque on the wall says, “Life is a do-it-yourself project.” Your life tomorrow will be the result of your attitudes and the choices you make today.

—Author Unknown