Cross Country 2011

19th February...

Saturday...

Titiwangsa Park...

Yes, our Interact Club held the annual Cross Country for 2011 except this time instead of the usual Lake Gardens, we had it in Taman Tasik Titiwangsa. This year's theme is 'Compassion in Motion, running for their lives'.

The event was aimed at helping those in need as well as serving the underprivileged, to instill the spirit of charity and social consciousness among our students, and to promote the spirit of good sportsmanship as well as friendship among participants. Proceeds and funds were collected and directed entirely to charity. Around 1100 people including teachers, students, and parents participated in the race which was held on a Saturday morning from 6.30 a.m. to 12.oop.m. Every student was given a donation card each in order to collect donations with a minimum donation of RM 35.

We managed to get various sponsors for the event. Food and refreshments were catered by our school canteen operator who prepared fried banana fritters, curry puffs and “kuih gulung”. V-soy Soya bean milk, F&N, myNEWS.com, Revive, Gardenia, Lotte Mart, Sunway SDN BHD, Mc Donalds, Carrefour and Nestle, were among the major sponsors for the event.

The guests on the day of the event consisted of Dato’ Dr. Tan Kee Hwong, the Chairman of the Board of Directors for Wesley Methodist School, Datuk A.R Peter, the past principal of Wesley Methodist School, Mrs. Matthews the immediate past school principal, Madam Chia Loy Tian, the school principal, Madam Pearl Moses, the vice principal; teachers, parents and students.

After the event was declared open, some basic warming up exercises were conducted by the Presidents of the Interact Club Yeoh Kai Yuan and Eric Soo Wai Lik. There were two routes. The first route was only about 4.4km and was for the under 15 student category, teachers, and parents. The other route was about 6.6km for the Under 18 category and past students of Wesley Methodist School. As the space was limited, and each round around the lake was 2.2km, the former categories ran twice about the lake and the latter three times.

Participants lining up

Our emcees, Calan and Kimberly

The run began with the Under 15 and then the Under 18 Girls, followed by the boys, teachers, parents and ex students. The entire route was covered by Interactors stationed at intervals along the route. Small arrowed signs were also placed to direct the students along the right route. Each student was to obtain a coloured band upon completing each round to ensure that no one cheated.

The prizes were presented by our past principals Datuk A.R Peter and Mrs Matthews. The prizes included 2 Lenova Screens, 2 Samsung mp3s, 4 Justin Bieber concert tickets, 2 Apple iPod Nano 8GB, 4 GB Thumbdrives, 5 Sunway theme park tickets, computer mouse, keyboards, water bottles, a HP Printer, Custom Made Pens, Addidas deodorant, Body Shop set, cups, and a diary. The highest donor for the event was awarded a brand new computer screen and the other top donors with individual hampers. The highest supporting classes of each form on the other hand were also rewarded with hampers each.

Thank you all everyone, the students of WMS and the Interactors for making this event a success.

Visit to the Soup Kitchen

On an early Saturday morning, at around 9.00 am 33 Form 5 Interactors set off to a Soup Kitchen in Jinjang. This visit is the WMS Interact Club's first community service trip for the year 2011. This is something new for all of us because none of us had been to a soup kitchen before.

We arrived at around 10.30 am. There we were split into groups to prepare the food and get the place set up.

There was the cutting of the onions, bags and bags of onions, which made every one doing that tear. Those who walked pass the area even for a moment left with teary eyes. :) Some others were chopping up the garlic, stirring and literally digging the rice out from a HUGE rice cooker to place into the container.

Some of us cleaned the fans

Others were out here skinning carrots, melons, potatoes etc.

Some of us were in here, cooking food with the large wok

Oh, there were even Interactors who helped with the traffic...

and looking after the bicycles, making sure none are stolen.

Then at 11.00 am, we were all ready and people were anxiously waiting outside the building. Soon, they were all swarming in, and Interactors were there serving the food and interacting with them. Most of those who came were senior citizens, a few of the young ones too. These people actually come here as they cannot afford their meals. Some of them come just for the environment, where people are friendly and the atmosphere is lively.

People kept spilling in until around 1.30pm, after which the Interactors themselves took a break for lunch and talked with some of the folks there. Most of them could only speak mandarin and Cantonese or Hakka. Some of us had some trouble with communication, but we learnt a few words, and they were quite willing to tell us their life stories. Smiles were on their faces when they left.

Then of course, we stayed to clean up. Around 2.30pm, we left the place, bringing back with us an unforgettable experience and indescribable joy.

42nd DIC

42^nd District Interact Conference

On the 3^rd of December 2010, 9 of our Interactors gathered in school and headed off towards Seremban at 8.45am for the 42^nd District Interact Conference. The conference was hosted by the Rotary Club of Seremban. Lasting over 3 days, from 3^rd December to 5^th December, the event attracted over 820 Interactors from all over the peninsular of Malaysia.

Yeoh Kai Yuan, Eric Soo, Chan Jun Shern, Brenda Yew, Samantha Ng, Yip Mun Keat, Chan Wee De, Sarah Francis and Kimberly Anne represented our Interact Club in the conference. Being first-timers at such a huge event, we were clueless and expected things to go extremely formally.

At around 9.45am, we reached Royale Bintang Resort of Seremban, where the entire conference was held. After registration, we started mingling with Interactors from other schools. As more and more Interactors arrived, the first floor was filled with Interactors to the brim. We made our way to our rooms before going for lunch. After lunch, the first session was held in the Grand Ballroom at the first floor. The whole conference consisted of 14 sessions, one-hour each, and were all held in the same ballroom. There were roughly 90 tables in the ballroom with around 10 Interactors per table. Imagine controlling the noise level of so many people!

The backdrop for the conference in the ballroom.

The conference had various talks on topics such as marine ecology, the Rotary International Youth Exchange, the Law of Attraction, perceptions of life, college education and using the social media beneficially. Many speakers drove all the down from KL to Seremban just to deliver their speeches.

The opening ceremony was conducted on the 2^nd day of the conference, with all Interactors donning the 42^nd District Conference shirt. District Governor Lim Kok Beng was invited to officiate the event. After that, there was a group photo for all 800 over Interactors in the ballroom.

All 800+ Interactors!

The highlight of the entire event was the formal night on the 2^nd day, which consisted of a buffet dinner and various performances put up by Interact Clubs from various schools. The night started off with Interactors happily stuffing themselves with the sumptuous buffet spread. The performances include a joint YMCA dance by several schools, a sketch on the environment by the Global Indian International School, a Nobody dance by the Wonderboys from Perak, a few singing performances by various duos and groups, some really cool hiphop dancing.

In conjunction with the 2^nd day of the event was also the 81^st anniversary of the formation of the Rotary Club of Seremban. There was a cake-cutting ceremony by President Chiang Sooi Yee and several other distinguished Rotarians and VIPs.

The cake-cutting ceremony for the 81^st Anniversary of Rotary Club of Seremban.

The night ended with the dancefloor being opened to everyone to strut their stuff. Almost everyone in the ballroom rushed towards the stage and danced and partied their hearts out, accompanied by a selection of songs by the DJ.

Our very own I.U. Director Chan Jun Shern garnered a big round of cheers and applause from the raving crowd when he put up some electrifying spins on the stage as everyone lined-up to wait for their turn in the limelight. His awesome moves attracted many compliments from Interactors who witnessed him.

After that, the Rotarians called-off the event and everyone gradually made their way back to the rooms. The Interactors from KL had a group photo.

Formal Night.

With fellow Interactors from around KL.

On the 3^rd day, we were given 3 more sessions before finally calling it a day. In the morning, we took all our luggage down to be stored in the Ampangan Room. All the Interactors were required to wear their respective uniforms for the closing ceremony at 11.30am. As part of the closing ceremony, there was a competition for choosing the best Interact Uniform. Each club was represented by one/two Interactors to go up on stage and present themselves to the judges. SMK Assunta emerged champions with their outstandingly classy uniform! Certificates were then presented to every Interactor. After lunch, we all made our journey home.

Our purple uniforms!

Int. Victor Chan and Int. Kimberly Anne going up as representatives of WMS Interact Club.

Us with our certificates.

In a nutshell, the conference was very informative and served as a platform for Interactors from all over our country to mingle and get to know each other. We certainly made many many new friends as well as sweet memories of the conference.

PBS Workshop

On the 22^nd of November 2010, the Interact Club of Wesley Methodist School organized their second ever children’s workshop for the children of Pusat Bantuan Sentul. The workshop is aimed to further strengthen the relationship between members of the club and the children, as well as helping the children in making sellable items for the upcoming festive Christmas season as well as acquiring art and craft skills, useful in daily life. A short celebration with food and drinks was also held in conjunction with the World Children’s Day celebrated worldwide on the 20^th of November annually.

At 9.00 a.m, the children from PBS gathered in school and a brief registration was held whereby the children obtained sticker nametags and had some cupcakes and drinks for breakfast. Afterwhich, the children and interactors gathered at the assembly ground for two games as ice breakers. The first was “Blow Wind Blow”, all of us had a great time rushing from chair to chair. Next was the classic “Musical Chairs”. Slowly the finalists were narrowed down and it ended with a top 5 all male children!

the circle was bigger then...

and by the time we were about done...

After which the children were seated in the canteen for their first arts and crafts session. There were to make a reindeer wall hanging item out of paper plates and basic materials. The children did a fine job.

Then, the children, wrestles, had a short ten minute round of football. Thirsty and tired, the children had a break of juice cordial and fried mee hoon and nuggets. Then they settled down for their second arts and crafts session. The children were divided into three groups, each group to do bookmarks, pencil holders, and cards respectively in conjunction with the festive season. Interactors tended to each group, helping the children make their items.

Arts and crafts session 2

At 12.30 pm, the children finished up their masterpieces and played another game, “ Pass The Parcel”. We had more than a few laughs at each other, doing the punishments written on the layers. Then we all had a scrumptious lunch of nasi lemak and pasta, with jelly for dessert.

After a quick round of football, the time soon came for the children to go home. After a group photo and distribution of party packs, we bid the children of PBS goodbye. Hoping that we had achieved our aim of making them happy and treating them to a day of fun with our company.

Playhouse Wesley!

On the 22nd of October, the Interact Club held a carnival with the theme;

“Playhouse Wesley”

The carnival started from 8.30a.m and ended at 2.00p.m. On that day, the event was officiated by our principal, Mrs. Vimala Mathews and Madam Chia on the morning assembly. The students were sent back to their classes after the assembly so that they could change into their PE attire. The students were then gathered at the assembly ground again at 8.30a.m. The students were briefed by Victor Chan before being dismissed. There were a lot of games and activities in the carnival, namely Human Foosball, Dodgeball, Face Painting, Ball Toss, Dora the Explorer, House of Mouse, Hidden Mickey, Song Dedication and Movie at the Lecture Theatre.

Movie Screening a the lecture theater...

Hidden Mickey...

Face Painting...

There were a number of teams registered for Human Foosball at the Basketball court and Dodgeball at the Futsal court. Although there were only first and second place winners, everyone enjoyed playing the games. Besides that, there was a face-painting booth outside the canteen. A lot of students came by to get a painting on their face. There was also a game called Ball Toss at the Netball court. The person who scored the most points won a basketball. Besides that, there was a maze at the chapel named Dora the Explorer. Many people came to the maze and they had a lot of fun.

Dora the Survivor...

Ball toss...

Human Foosball...

There was also the House of Mouse at the general science lab 1. The House of Mouse is a game where students are blind folded and are required to crawl around the lab to look for cheese. Next, there was a game called Hidden Mickey at the garden behind the canteen. A number of students who played also won some soft toys and sweets. There was also a song dedication booth outside the Physics lab. Students can choose songs to dedicate to their beloved friends. Last but not least, there was a movie screening at the lecture theatre. Many students came and enjoyed watching the movies.

More face painting...

Dodgeball...

Song dedication...

At 1.45p.m, the carnival ended and students were gathered at the assembly ground. Then, we had our prize giving ceremony where winners for Human Foosball, Dodgeball, House of Mouse and Ball Toss were announced. Prizes were given out by Madam Chia. Both students and interactors had a day jam packed of fun and excitement.