Volleyball Game

We had a Volleyball game today and we played terribly, losing 4 out of 4 sets. This was not a very good morale boost considering the SAISA tournament is next week. We didn't have very good communication or transitions. Like I said, I generally play liberro and so I didn't play in the front row in the first three sets but in the last one Mr. B put me in for the entire game which meant I went to the front row. I had no idea where I was going at this point, it was embarrassing. In the car, on the way home I asked Vera what I was doing wrong and I now understand so hopefully I will not mess it up next time. We played the senior team the first two sets which is why we got crushed, but it was a learning experience for all of us, we didn't play to our full potential and have an increased awareness of our strengths and most importantly our areas for growth. By playing the senior team this time we were able to undertake a new challenge, they were much better than the junior team and we were not having a very good day. The above photo is of a practice, not of the game we had today, photos and videos of which I can get later on the U Drive.

SGA Bakesale

The Bake Sale allowed us to work collaboratively with one another and was a huge success. We sold nearly everything we baked and could have sold more if we'd had more of the more popular baked goods. We now not only have an easy, efficient way of raising money but we also know what will sell and what won't. The fruit cake didn't sell at all, which really says something about the health of our school but this helps us as we'll know what not to bake next time. I'm debating having another one before the Halloween Event, which we've now decided to be a movie night with trick or treating and a haunted house. We have a meeting tomorrow in which we'll discuss this event as it's coming up frighteningly soon, it is planned on October 28th, the Friday we return from October Break. We raised Rs. 10,540 in this bake sale which was impressive but from this we have to subtract the money we owe the canteen for drinks from the disco as well as the money we have to pay the decorations, both in the Rs. 1000 to 2000 range. This doesn't leave us with much and we need to buy candy for the trick or treating. I need to find out before tomorrow whether I'll be able to buy candy from the American Commissary with SGA money as having American candy will be a great incentive for many people to come. I'm glad we undertook this new activity as it's given us a great experience as well as way to raise money.

SGA Meeting

The SGA is planning two Spirit days for next week, Hippy Day and Blue & White Day. On Hippy Day we're organizing a bake sale and today's meeting was regarding that. There has not been a bake sale at this school organized by the SGA in the two years I've been here however I believe that bake sales are an excellent way to raise money. My friend and I held a bake sale in Jordan and were able to raise nearly $100 with simply five people running the stall and providing food. I hope that the bake sale next week will provide us with more than this as its purpose is to provide for our Halloween event. It's important that we raise money rather than lose for this event because our previous event, the Welcome Back Disco, caused us to lose money as we had a small turnout. We need to work collaboratively in order to make this bake sale a success, many of the SGA need to bring something as well as help run the stall during break and lunch time. I'm having trouble getting a straight answer from representatives as to what they want to bring and this is troubling because the bake sale is on Wednesday next week and therefore we don't have a meeting before then. I've asked them to check their OSC emails, a resource the students at this school really need to begin to check more frequently.

Bethlehem Creche: September 8, 2011

We were given today's meeting to work on our blogs as the MYP students needed to create their blogs. On Sport's Day we had planned to sell 'Spirit Bags' in which we had put strings, balloons, ribbons and stickers in the colors of each individual house. Unfortunately we were unable to sell the bags because all of us were required to play at the time that the bags should've been selling. I think that this could have been better organized; we would have been able to earn a substantial amount of money if these bags had been sold. We are going to save these bags and sell them on the Primary Sports Day which will be just as effective, if not more, however, as of now, we have not been able to raise any money for the Creche. Next Thursday we will be having the children visit the school and we still do not know what we'll be doing with them. I don't think our meetings have been effective in decision-making and if we don't pull it together I don't think we'll be able to have much of an impact on the children there. I made the goal to raise enough money to purchase a DVD player and am still not sure how we are going to accomplish this. We have made the choice to visit the school and repaint the walls, as Sister Florella asked us before the summer. We are currently planning this activity to be held on an upcoming Sunday and before this occur we must first plan out what we will paint on the walls, what colors we need and who will paint what.

Initial CAS Goals

Creativity:
Last year for my Personal Project I published a book of poems. I have been writing poetry most of my life and really enjoy it and before last year I'd never shared my poetry with people other than my family and close friends so I underwent a large risk in publishing that book. I'd like to work on my poetry as an aspect of creativity in my last two years of high school. In the end of 10th grade I was debating publishing another book including poetry that were directly linked to my own life as the ones in the other book were based on the theme of poverty. However, this year I'm of a different opinion. To publish my book in 10th grade I had to pay a sum of money but in the next two years I want to publish at least one poem without paying money but by entering a competition or some other method. This would allow me to undertake a new challenge, as I've never published a poem on my own before.
I'm playing the role of Golde in the Secondary Production of Fiddler on the Roof. This production is required for HL Drama students and although it does not truly constitute as CAS I will be putting in much effort not expected by Drama class. The production is a musical and in this fact alone it allows me to undertake a completely new challenge because I’ve never been in a musical as well as increase my awareness of my own strengths. I realize that a large part of the reason as to why I got this part is the fact that I am in HL Drama and she must give priority to us. I feel like by being given the opportunity to play Golde I’m able to see how I approach a singing role even though I’ve never been considered a particularly strong singer. I had rehearsal on Monday where Giorgio and I practiced the song, ‘Do You Love Me’. He is my husband and throughout our marriage we’ve never truly said ‘I love you’ and in this song we finally establish a sort of love for one another. I think this song is adorable; you gain an insight to not only this couple’s marriage but to a whole other culture overall. You see a sort of tentative love and affection shared between those in an arranged marriage. I’ve seen this in my grandparents’ relationship. Their marriage was arranged and although they don’t openly display their love you can tell they’ve grown to love one another.

Action:

Volleyball and Basketball--
I want to fit in as many SAISAs as possible before I move from Sri Lanka so I'm going to do both these seasons. I did the Volleyball last year when it was still in its trial phase because I simply wanted to have something to do. I decided to do it this year because it's another way to stay fit and I relatively enjoy it. I've found that although I've played sports all my life I hate competition, it takes the fun out for me and adds stress to a once fun game. However overall I believe that being on a team is important for me. I like the bonding that takes place between teammates produced by collaborative work and am able to learn a lot about the sport I compete in, developing new skills. Last year I participated in Volleyball, Soccer, Basketball and Badminton. As mentioned Volleyball was not an actual SAISA and neither was Badminton however we played games against the local schools for Badminton. I don't know yet if I've made the Volleyball team but I've been to enough practices to know what I need to work on. I want to 'perfect' my spike and work on my blocking. We had a game last Saturday and I was assigned the position of liberro. Essentially I substituted in for certain people, only remaining in the back row, and doing everything I could to try not to let the ball hit the ground. In Basketball I hope to make the team as I did last year and be able to travel one last time before I move. I wanted to do Basketball this year especially since I did it last year and I want to persevere in this sport.

Service:
I’m currently involved in a project called Bethlehem Creche, which I initiated last year as a result of my Personal Project. I have a series of goals I’d really like to accomplish before I move in December of this year. I’d like to purchase a DVD player for the Creche. To do this we need to do a fundraiser at the school. We could do a bake sale, sell drinks at a function or sell some sort of souvenir/trinket, as the Alzheimer group did last year. DVD players are not outrageously expensive and I really believe that through one or two fundraisers we’ll be able to buy one. Although a DVD player may seem trivial I think this purchase is important because it’ s a tool the Creche uses to entertain the children and they’ve been asking for one ever since the building was flooded last year. During the summer I remained involved with the Creche, inviting the children to come visit the American Center as I had an internship at the library there. They had a great time and had the opportunity to both experience a different environment as well as watch a movie, which they don’t get to do very often. If we were to buy them a DVD player they’d easily be able to enjoy this at the Creche rather than go through the formalities of visiting the American Center.
I also made a goal to paint the playground, tables and chairs there, a goal we’ve established within the service group. As I mentioned in another reflection we plan on visiting the Creche one Sunday to paint the murals and perhaps part of the playground. I really believe this will brighten the whole building and atmosphere there. Previously I thought we’d have to raise money for the paints however I found out that Ms. Shameela will provide us with paints using the C&S funds which will be very helpful.
I also want to begin reading to an orphanage near my house called the Fathima Welfare Center. While working for the US Embassy over the summer I visited the orphanage twice and was able to make an impression on the girls there. I really enjoyed the visits and genuinely want to return. I recently donated some items and was able to see some of the girls and they were very excited to see me. I promised I’d come back and by reading to them I’d be undertaking a new activity, as I’ve never really had so much attention focused upon me before. I believe my reading to the girls is will be a good thing to do because it is important to be able to connect with someone not within the community who is of the same age group and gender. It’s wonderful because they are able to relate to me in a way they cannot to the teachers and administrators there. I hope to get involved soon; I’ve gotten the number but have not yet called to see if I can begin reading as I’ve become so busy. My goal is to begin reading by October.