A RED LETTER WEEK

Jerica Eliese Juarez

            High School Students of Childlink were trained to become Red Cross volunteers last June . A Basic Leadership Training and Basic First Aid Training was taught to the students for the week to train students to BE PREPARED and BE PROACTIVE at all times.

            The goal of the Red Cross Youth Council are as follows:

1. Inculcation of moral values and character building
2. Protection of life and promotion of community health
3. Service and Solidarity
4. National / international friendship, understanding and education of peace
5. Dissemination of 7 fundamental principles and the International Humanitarian Law(IHL)

            Here is a glimpse of what the Linkers did during the week.

The First Overnight Leadership Course

Jodimarie Lloyd Tio

            Last July 8, 2011, the class officers, along with the newly elected SSC officers attended a basic leadership training seminar with the theme, “Small is the New Big, Where Little Things Make a Difference”. The seminar this year focused on teaching the students good values that would make them become good leaders as well as building trust amongst the students and facilitators. The seminar lasted for 2 days so the students got to stay overnight in school.

            The seminar consisted of many activities. One of the first activities, which aimed to build trust between the facilitators and students, had the officers blindfolded themselves and while blindfolded, they were made to free fall and go through obstacles with the help of the facilitators. This, of course, was no simple task but when the students placed their faith in the facilitators, things got easier. So, the first day’s activities focused on trust. On the second day, the officers awoke from a restless sleep, restless because they could hardly sleep with all the excitement. Everyone helped in preparing breakfast for all. Afterwards, the officers were given an activity that tried their ability to follow instructions as well as how well they can cooperate with one another. There were a few times that the teams could not accomplish a task but everyone passed with flying colors. Everyone was able to turn their representative 360 degrees with a glass of water without spilling even a drop of it.

            All in all, the seminar taught the students to trust each other, follow instructions and be cooperative. All of these are values that would make a good leader. In the end, everyone knew what was that one of the “little things that made a difference” and it is ATTITUDE. ATTITUDE is the LITTLE THING THAT MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE.

DIFFERENT LANGUAGES, ONE VOICE

Athina Marcine Olan

            Kumusta! Ni hao! Hello!

            Communicaiton is the exchange of thoughts, messages, or information, as by speech, signals, writing, or behavior. It is the art and technique of using words effectively to impart information or ideas. Good communication is important. It helps people understand what other people are saying. It also means that they can express their own needs and concerns.

            Filipino, Chinese, and English are the main languages taught by Childlink for students to learn. Before, the celebration for each of these languages were being celebrated separately. We had the Language Week, Filipino Week, and the Chinese Week. So it came as no surprise when we Linkers found out that all these languages will be celebrated as one, Communication Week.

            For the end of the week celebration, there was the Readers’ Theater Contest for the Grades 1, 2 & 3, Chamber Theater Contest for the Grades 4,5 & 6 and Speech Choir Contest for the High School I, II, III & IV.

            The following winners were proclaimed:

Readers’ Theater        –           Grade 3

Chamber Theater       -           Grade 6

Speech Choir              -           High School IV

LEAD

Erika Danielle Olan

1 student body. 2 parties. 8 candidates. 1 goal. 1 dream. To serve. Behold the story that would take you behind the scenes of the election week that would change the course of school history.

The student council election week. How do I even begin to describe it? Well, for one, it was memorable and exciting. The CLC-HS student council elections is annually held around early June. The school’s aim for this is to mold us students to become effective, competent, disciplined, responsible and better leaders by enhancing our skills and brining out our full potential. On the side of the student voters, we learn how to make choices and accept the consequences for those choices made.

Truth be told, I wasn’t prepared at all for the elections. I don’t think anyone was; I, together with some other candidates, were told only last minute that we were running. Nevertheless, both parties showed immense confidence and determination during the campaign.

Elections was definitely not easy. It challenged the candidates to step up their game to show everyone whether or not they have the ability to lead and serve the students. Both parties, KLYMAXX and Yes!, campaigned all around the school, visiting each classroom and reciting to the students the speeches we prepared that talks about our worth as leaders and what we could do if we were given the chance. The Klymaxx party composed of myself, Erika Danielle Olan, for president, Fadhli Bhatkal for vice president, Caryssa Therese Versoza for secretary and Jodimarie Lloyd Tio for treasurer. On the other hand, the Yes! Party had Jack Lao for president, Gene Robert Sales for vice president, Jerica Juarez for secretary and Joanna Camille Chio for treasurer. My party’s goal, and the other party’s, I’m sure, was simply to make this school year memorable and fun by lining up a series of activities, projects and fundraisers that would benefit the school, the students and the faculty. You’d think that there would be some sort of hostility between the two parties but there wasn’t. It was a friendly competition; so friendly, in fact, that in the last 3 classrooms we campaigned together at the same time and supported one another.

Then there was the presidential debate. I could remember feeling extremely nervous. It seemed to consume me. Before giving my speech, I had different scenarios running through my head. My hands were shaking as I read the speech I prepared. However, after a while, I felt at ease. My party and I were able to answer and make replies to the questions that my opponents and the audience gave. It was truly an experience worth remembering and a memory worth keeping.

Despite the fact that this I have held the same elected seat back in 2007 and 2009. I still feel like a neophyte when it comes to running a school organization and I can still feel the pressure of the tasks ahead of us. It’s overwhelming knowing the reality that we are the voice of the entire student body. Nevertheless, I know that with the help of the teachers, students and parents, we will be able to leave a legacy after our term.

Being involved in the SSC has been a learning curve for me. It made me realize that leadership is not just a mere position. It is passion and courage that is given to a great leader that makes him or her fulfill his or her vision. It isn’t about leading your members, it’s more of motivating your followers to share your vision, inspiring through example, having a sense of responsibility and duty, finding problems and finding ways to fix them, setting and achieving goals and understanding people’s weaknesses and limitations and knowing how to deal with them. Leadership is a quality that starts within us. We all have the potential to lead, we all have the power to make a difference. I am truly honored and grateful to all the people who trusted and voted for me and my party. Everything that happened would be cherished forever and I feel very proud to have been part of it all.

By: Caryssa Therese Versoza

According to Lao Tzu, a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. In all life’s toil, it is likened to a minute seed that with constant care will evolve into a sturdy tree that resist all forms of harsh weather conditions. Little things are not to be disregarded but rather they are to be continuously nurtured.

 For school year 2011-2012, Childlink embarks on the theme, Small is the New Big, Where Little Things Make a Difference. It means that everything that we do in aimed for a certain purpose. The purpose is achieved because we worked for its success by having the right attitude.

 The joint effort of the school administration, the staff and the students is the most essential factor in the realization of the school’s thrust for the year. A student could give a major contribution in the attainment of the said goal by studying conscientiously. The role of a student does not end in school but it goes beyond the four walls of the classroom. One needs to actively partake in his societal duty by abiding with community laws and at the same time render some socio-civic activities. These are the learnings that were imbued to us by the school. Each student has the capacity to achieve because the school environment supports and encourages each one to achieve. We, Linkers believe that we are the prime movers for positive change.

 Ultimately, it takes a prime mover with a desirable idea and a multitude of working hands to spread the message and act of goodwill. LINKERS are the forerunners because early in our formative years we are groomed to lead and abide. Every little we can do makes a difference.