Tennis so far...

I have started something new in Tennis these days, and that is learning how to serve. Although it is quite difficult at first, I think I am getting a hang of it. Here are some pictures of last weeks' lesson:

Selling card for Alzheimer's

On 4th November was our school's Primary Production (the Seussical for which I had previously helped design Sets for). As part of raising funds for our Alzheimer's Service, we sold beautiful Cards designed by a famous Sri Lankan artist called Senake Senanayake and cool pens! Overall, we managed to raise about Sri Lankan Rs13, 000. Here are some pictures of the event:

UN day!

On October 15th 2010 was the UN day celebrations at OSC. All the students had to dress up in their country's traditional clothes and participate in a parade at school. There was food from all around the world.

A special UN day assembly followed up on these celebrations, where we learnt about the how the United Nations of the world are all in agreement to follow a single document to maintain peace and good relations within their country and with each other.

This day was exemplary of our school motto, and I think it really highlighted our 'Unity in Diversity'!

Stage and Set Design.

Last Tuesday was the last official session for the Stage and Set design Afternoon Activity.
I helped complete two backdrops and one stage clip-on showing grass.
This activity was a lot of fun for me as it was a way of relaxing and doing one of my favourite things, that is to paint!
The production is due to happen in November, so if there is still some work to be done with props, I have promised Ms Barnett our art teacher to come and help out.

The back-drop that we painted. :)

Tennis Lessons!

Today was my fourth tennis lesson since I started the activity. During the past 3 lessons, my coach made me mainly focus on and practice my forehand shot. Today I started with my backhand.
At first it was hard to turn my body all the way around to the left side, but gradually I got better at it. In fact, I think I am doing better at my backhand than I initially did when I started my forehand.

Unfortunately, it started raining again today, so we went inside to practice by hitting softer balls against the wall in a Squash court. I had to practice keeping the shots slow and steady, because if I hit it too fast, the ball would hit the wall and come back to me at the same speed, so it would kind of feel like I was getting attacked!
This was good practice in trying to keep the ball steady and hitting it slowly and smoothly for Tennis.

Here are some pictures I managed to take before it started raining:

Alzheimer's awareness session.

Today we had the opportunity to talk to two guest speakers from the Lanka Alzheimer's Foundation during our Service hour. It was extremely informative and we learned a lot of things about both Dementia and Alzheimer's that we were not aware of before. I feel that the most important thing we learned is the general message that can be taken with us and spread to the community, the basic fact that Alzheimer patients should not be treated differently, or marginalized in any way. The fundamental point that comes through this is humanity.

I felt that the session today was both an incredible insight as to what we should really aim to achieve in this Service, and an inspiration on how people manage to bravely face this disease.

We were also told about functions that are coming up that were being organized by this Foundation, and most of us are looking forward to attending the Christmas party and also a further lecture on this disease by a guest speaker from overseas.

My Goals.

Now that I have officially started the IB Diploma Program, this blog is going to record my CAS activites.
CAS - which is divided into Creativity, Action and Service is a fundamental part of the IB program.
For Creativity I have already started Stage and Set Design as an afterschool activity on Tuesday. This year, the primary school is putting up the 'Seussical' as their drama production. Art is one of my interests and hobbies. As I have not been able to fit in art as a subject this year, I felt that this was a good way in which I could still get involved in it . My goal for this activity is to enhance my painting skills and get familiar with working on a large scale in art.

For Action I have started with a sport out of school; tennis. I have not yet started this, but I am looking forward to my first lesson which will be on Monday next week. I have not played much tennis before, so this activity will help me learn a new sport and the develop basic skills that are a part of it. I also plan to take part in SAISA this year and hopefully get selected for the team. The sport I am interested in right now is SAISA Basketball.

For the Service aspect of CAS, I have already joined the Alzheimer's group in school. We had our first meeting last thursday, where we discussed fund raising by selling tickets and the upcoming Walk for Alzheimer's. Even though this service is a difficult one to be part of due to the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease being quite emotionally challenging to witness, I wanted to be a part of making at least a small difference in the lives of these people. Additionally, I will also start to take part in a Service outside school, which is to work for a few hours each Saturday at the MOH Clinic in Koswatte. I have always had a interest in medicine and I feel that this would be a good opportunity of seeing and understanding what it really involves.

I am really enjoying the Creativity and Service activities that I have already commenced and am excited to soon start with the Action and the other Service activity as well.
I look forward to a good, fulfilling first semester of CAS!

The Alzeheimer's Walk.

Today was the annual walk for Alzheimer's. It was my first time taking part in it and it was both an amazing experience and a fulfilling feat! It took place around the Colombo city area where we walked for about 5km in order to raise awareness to this disease. The monsoon rains have been hitting Sri Lanka these days and there was a bit of rain from the start of the day. Thankfully it cleared out closer to 8.30am when the walk was due to start. Stepping around mud puddles and hurrying through the occasional drizzling with big wooden banners, I felt extremely proud at the end of the walk and like I had really accomplished something. We managed to give out several leaflets to passer by cars and people walking along the streets.

These are some pictures I took of the event:

My mum (who joined in too) and I holding up banners and balloons.

Hee Soo and I during the walk.

Just a few of the many others who joined in.