it's been a while

So much have happened since my last post. Lydia Sum left us. Edison Chen shocked us. A limping JI Terrorist alarmed us. Orientation 2 wheezed pass. Results surprised us. New Year celebration past. Life overwhelms us. Life carrys on beyond us.

I won't be posting any photos on some photobucket or multiply domain. Most of the photos that's relevant to you will be here, as the remaining are shots taken of the pageant contestants. So if you fancy some of the shots here, please right-click your mouse and "save picture as". It should be able to work. This entry is dedicated to all the table shots. Hopefully it reminds you of happier times and brings back familiar feelings.

Some of my friends like to rack up old photos and notes from friends once in a while. You know, awkward (mostly embarrassing) secondary school photos with offbeat hair and terrible expressions, Angel+Mortal anonymous notes wishing you luck for exams, souvenirs and birthday cards, etc etc. When school work or life overwhelms, I hope you too find comfort and energy in these to move on.

Enjoy.

a tease-kit, a taskit

Don't you just love movie trailers? Not only do they let you have a quick glimpse into something highly anticipated, it makes you excited and wish there were more. Sometimes I think trailer-makers are sadists who like to 1) keep people hanging, 2) take revenge on the audience.

But I love it. So here's a big teaser for all those who've been dying to see the prom piccies: a post of (mostly) inanimate objects that were nicely snapped by our dear photog-of-the-night Mr Raphael. Have fun looking for signs of human life. In a way, i've fulfilled my promise of a 4k hit post =)

but don't worry. I'll post the rest soon, sans signs of human life. I guarantee some spectacular spectacular. tsk tsk.
Happy Chinese New Yr to all. Hope it was a great long holiday. =)

Orientation 08

It started on 16/01/08 and faster than we can spell "SO FUN ITS SHIOK!", the camp was over on 18/01/08.
Orientation sort of marks the end of the high before everyone embarks on a slump that is the post-CNY-till-June period of studying. While some bury their heads in tests and exams, others would be busy with their newfound hobbies, getting involved in CCAs and all. I've always felt that March onwards is a boring period, and the fun really begins towards the end of the year, whereby friends start meeting up after their exams for chalets and gatherings and festive celebrations. I'm sure I speak for alot of you out there that you're facing some form of withdrawal symptoms. Even though I haven't been there for the full 3-days, I myself am missing all the fun.

So what was the best part of the camp for you?


Captain's Ball?

Soccer? Seeing a bunch of kids running around chasing after a ball as huge as them provided some comic relief for me. They were trying so hard not to use their hands, but it just didnt work! Some people find a dozen adults chasing after a ball professionally silly, but when you see these Sec 1 kids doing it, soccer seems like a darn fun game man! (and of course, strategy talk is a must-must to eavedrop on. Some of them had some really weird ideas). I cant help but snap one too many shots of kids trying to chase after the ball. And poor Fu Cheng had to shout so much because the whole game area was humongous.

The Maze. Face it: pouring water and stomping on tables had to be fun! And you know what's sweeter? Sarbo-ing the kids who have made the camp horrible for you! hahahahahahhaa.

But my favourite is the Gladiator station. They could have played more Gladiator-ish music to make it more hilarious. But seeing a dozen kids ambushing a few hiding behind the "shelter" seemed like true fun. You know, innocent fun where you throw things at each other without harm. It's almost like fighting a losing battle, until you see some kids who can run faster than you blink, and they made a dash to the final hurdle in one sprint. amazing. There's nothing more exciting than seeing someone triumph over adversity (even if it's in the form of harmless balls). And i've heard stories of "shelters" being over-crowded and they ended up toppling their own shelter. hahahha. it must have been a sight.

Or it must have been working with your fellow batch mates. I mean, surely it has to be. That's what it's all about right?!

It can also be the supper. I've never seen a gathering of more McChicken in my life before.

Or having a slice of Auntie Jenny's Sweet Secret log/cheese cakes. There was suppose to be two more bags of breads/buns to feed you hungry monsters, but somehow it went missing. What a pity.

But for me, it's definitely working with my fellow "advisors". Honestly I dont know them much before the camp. I wasnt even sure they're gonna be there. Heck, I don't even know some of their names prior to this camp! But I'm glad we bacame friends within this short period. It was unexpected, so it's definitely something memorable I brought home with me. Dont think we're just giving eye power(piew-piew-piew). It was quite some hard work, but always fun. I'm glad that even though we came from different batches, we're able to talk and mingle like cool friends. I discovered not only the potential of some of the peer leaders, but also amongst some of them as well. Of course, "fuzzy wazzy", "open/close", "Johnny", and "What's next" helped to break the ice. hahahahaha.

Like, "OMG?!?!?!?!?!?!?"

So I didnt stay for the final day, but I hope you had tremendous fun. There might not be much opportunities like this to mingle with your fellow batch mates anymore. I hope the Sec 1s see you as their role-model and you've imparted to them the essence of the Commonwealthian spirit. It's not hard to believe that some of my friends, to this day, still keeps in touch with their peer leaders. So I hope what you've achieved these 3 days will last them through their secondary school days like a ripple, to good effect.

In the hopes of making this space more interactive, you're most welcome to post entries on this site as well. If you want to share your Orientation experience (complaints, hilarious incidents, discussions, or even just some personal after thoughts to share with everyone) or even your Prom experience (I know it's a little too late), please feel free to send your entries(aready drafted) to askthepromcom@hotmail.com. Pictures are of course welcome and we'll post it up for you.

Alternatively, if you wish for us to create a link to your blog, we'd be glad to do so. Just send your request to the same email above.

I'm about to get my hands on the prom photos. Will upload once i get them, and we'll see how we can spread the pics around. In the meantime, good luck for your upcomin O Level results and have loads of fun in your new environment. Take care.

YiHuA ;-)

CSS Orientation 2008

HAPPY NEW YEAR (pull your ear) !!!

How did you celebrate the New Year? with a bang I hope. Make 2008 the best you ever had =)

so step 1 of making 2008 eventful is by being part of the CSS Orientation 2008!



ok. I sound like a salesperson with a pitch. ANYWAYS, here are the details:

dates: 16/01/08 - 18/01/08
in-charge: Mr Faizal and Mdm Ros

16/01 - break camp at 1800hrs
17/01 - overnight stay
18/01 - break camp at 1700hrs

Basically, your job is to be the facilitators to the sec 1s. You know, take care of them, bring them around school, pinch their cute faces, endure their rowdy nature, bond them, etc etc. So if you're interested, please drop us an email at askthepromcom@hotmail.com with your details and we'll contact you in due time. Please spread the word to your friends as this can be a time to share with your close friends too. What's a better way to bond than through over night camps gossipping the night away eh. =)

SO do respond asap, hopefully by the 10/01/08 ya. Hope to hear from alot of you. =)

Till then, have a great 2008.

YiHuA ;-)

epilogue

Dear students

5 days after prom now. I hope all of you enjoyed yourselves immensely and none of you are having withdrawal symptoms (like I am).

I believe I speak for all my committee members when I say that organising this event is all because of you. On top of having the time of your life, we hope that the night provided you with many significant and unforgettable moments. During the process of organising this, I find myself questioning my goals and intentions, constantly asking myself "why am I doing this?" questions. I then realise that one of my newly added objectives then was to create a night that hopefully, when you move on to JC prom nights or Poly DnD, you will look back on and remember how special Reposicion 2007 was in comparison. And if we do change your lives in any way, all the better.

I hope that no other prom will demonstrate a stronger sense of school spirit than ours when Mdm Asnida took the stage and did an acoustic but rousing rendition of our school song. Up on our feets and arms over shoulders, singing out loud, that was one of the best bits of programme for me. (And that segment was totally impromptu. No one knew that Mdm Asnida was going to sing that.)

I hope that the pageant contestants had a confidence boost and was exposed to things they never had an understanding before. I hope you all bonded through the dance and workshops and hope you guys remain friends for a long time.

I hope that whomever won the lucky draw first prize (A PSP! gosh!) will smile even in his sleep. You are one darn lucky fella.

I hope you love the ballon arc because it took a hell lot of manpower and time (not to mention, energy and breath). Tell me if your prom even has a balloon arc at all next time. =) I bet ours rocked more.

I hope that the councillors who have kindly volunteered their services have a bigger understanding of how events are run, and that hopefully some school spirit and passion will rub off on you to bring back to your own council. (join the Alumni!)

Doing this was alot harder than it seems. I hope the alumni and PTN will have many more wonderful years of working together, and the support on both sides only increase throughout the years. I hope the school will only show increasing support so that we can improve each year. Most importantly, I hope you love CSS as much as most of us. Do come back to offer your help in ways you can. Hopefully you'll realise that though you don't get paid (or even recognised sometimes) for coming back to help, you'll find joy in working with the same people you went to school with before, and take pride in making a difference to the lives of your juniors. As the number of years we've left CSS increase, our sense of familarity with the school can only decrease. Therefore I am really proud of the committee members that have stood by me. This is a group effort and no one person can pull it all off. So do come back and continue the tradition of fine leaders.

P.S: this is not an alumni recruitment entry. SERIOUSLY! so don't feel obliged to join it at all. seriously. You can make a difference even without being officially in it.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the students whom I've worked with. The class chairman and vice chairman for helping me make the phone calls and stuff, the "good friends" who helped me with the photo shoot, etc etc. And to everybody, thank you for making the Prom a success by turning up. Kudos to those who took the effort to dress to the theme. =)

pls continue to visit this site as we'll put up some pre-prom production photos and, alas, pics of the actual night. Spread the word, spread the love.

Hope to see you all again real soon. Good luck to your future endeavours.

YiHuA ;-)

Prom Committee Chairperson
Batch of 2001

Here we go

I hope you all are just oozing with excitement as you countdown the final hours to Reposicion 2007. Anyway, here are some tips and pointers to take note:

- the last ride for the Rasa Sentosa shuttle bus will end at 2340hrs. Therefore, it is highly advised that you take the 2320/2340hrs shuttle to avoid being stranded on the island.

- Though doors open at 1800hrs and the program starts at 1900hrs, do be seated by 1830hrs for a never-before special early-bird pre-prom program. I promise you will love it. So register and warm your seats by 1830hrs.

- Do NOT hang around outside the ballroom, taking photos while waiting for your friends to arrive before going in. I assure you that there will be ample time for you to take pictures with your darlings, so get seated and don't crowd around the reception area. =)


- The decorations outside the ballroom are interactive, so feel free to pick them up and snap some pictures (when it's not crowded). There'll be portable photo frames, retro standees, etc etc. There will also be a message board for you to say a few words to friends whom you might be separated from next year. Emcee might take some time to read them, so do make sure it's something nice and heartwarming =)


- Please proceed to the reception table to register once you arrive. Doorgifts will be given out there and your ticket will be checked. No registration, no chance of winning any lucky draw prizes. I can guarantee you, the top prize is something to die for. =)

- Our program is scheduled to end at 2315hrs.

that's about all. For those of you still unable to download the letter, all I can say is, erm, do not go alone. Go with someone who has it.

Till 231207, 1800hrs, travel safe and look forward to a blast.

"see you at the Prom."

Getting Back

Dear all

Reposicion 2007 - Retro Breakout! is scheduled to end at approximately 2315hrs. After which, you may choose to take the Rasa Sentosa Resort's shuttle services out to mainland. The shuttle service is said to end at 2300Hrs, but we're in talks to have it extended till 2330hrs for your convenience.

If not, there's always the taxi (the price hike!) and manual footwork. Sleepovers at beaches are highly discouraged. =)

Getting there

Hi everyone. 6 more days to

Commonwealth Secondary School Seniors' Prom

Reposicion 2007 - Retro Breakout!

Exciting, hur?

Anyway, please frequent this site for the next few days as we will be posting a series of posts that are Prom related. Some logistical, some instructional. So do check this cool site out.

For today, here's a guide on how to get there.

Please note that regardless of the way you get there, you would require the Free-entry letter as posted in the earlier entry. This is to waive off the $3 Sentosa admission fees. (unless of course you do not mind donating to Sentosa's already very generous funds) If you face any difficulty downloading the form, pls email to askthepromcom@hotmail.com or seraphim89@gmail.com for assistance.

One free-entry letter can enter a group, as mentioned in the previous mail.

If you are downloading/printing out the letter, please ensure you have the Adobe program installed.

via Public transport

- alight at Harbourfront MRT station.

- take the free shuttle bus service that would bring you directly to Rasa Sentosa Resorts.
- the shuttle service arrives in 20mins/40 mins intervals (ie: 7.20pm, 7.40pm, 8.20pm, 8.40pm)
- the waiting area is at the Singapore Cruise Centre(SCC) carpark. FYI, the SCC is just beside harbour front shopping centre.
- there are no signs that says it is the waiting area. If you do get lost, please ask for directions. Those who are working there would know.
- In the event of rain, the bus will be waiting at the sheltered bus stop, as shown in this picture taken at the bridge linking the SCC to harbourfront shopping centre. Pardon the bad quality as it was taken from afar and the weather was terrible. (I am sure you get the idea). So if it's not raining, the bus will be waiting at the other side of the carpark, at the right of this picture(my lens weren't wide enough to capture it).


-you should see this sign. if it's raining, please wait at the sheltered carpark on the left. If not, please wait on the right.

- this is a pic of the shuttle bus. it should be very obvious.

via car

- please refer to the earlier entry for the driving route to the hotel.
- the free-entry letter would be needed as well. On top of that, you would need a complimentary car pass. All these will need to be shown at the gantry.

- However, the car passes will be placed at the gantry on the day of Prom, so all parents who are driving in would just need to produce the free-entry letter.

Hope this helps. keep a lookout for more details regarding prom. This site will still carry on post-prom. See you at the Prom.

Letter/Map Troubleshoot

Hello guys, it's your friendly neighbourhood tech guy here to the rescue!

From what I have heard, some people are having troubles downloading/viewing the letter or the map. If you're one of them, make sure you follow the following steps:

1. Click HERE and download Adobe Reader.
2. Install it (come on, you know how). The letter is in PDF format, which means you NEED the program to open it.
3. Once you're done, click either the LETTER or the MAP to view them. Take note: It might take a while for your computer to start the program and download the documents, so do be patient.

I've tested this on multiple platforms, so it should work. If it still doesn't, there are two simple solutions below. Also, put a note in the tagboad so I have a sense of how may people are having this problem.

1. Share with a friend! One letter can admit a group. And you can get the map from any of the bus stops at Sentosa.
   
2. If by any chance you find yourself stranded without a friend with a letter (how sad), simply e-mail a request to seraphim89@gmail.com with subject line 'Prom Letter Request'. I'll e-mail you the required documents in a flash.

That should be it. If that doesn't work, I'll have to refer back to Computers for Dummies and get back to you.

See you guys at prom! (which means the letter works!)


Farhan Rais
Tech Head
Prom Committee 2007
CSS Alumni Youth Wing

Battle Of The Bands. Ok. Not Really.

Woo Whee! Last Sunday saw the auditions for performing bands come to a conclusion. And boy, was it sonic pleasure!

We heard everything from groovy covers of 'A Certain Romance' (originally by Arctic Monkeys) to a well executed cover of "Cold Day In The Sun' (originally by Foo Fighters).

Add in a dash of "Dance Dance" (originally by Fall Out Boys) and "Collide" (originally by Howie Day) and I'm sure you would have an idea how rockin' the auditions were.

Although we would have liked all the bands to perform at the Prom, fact is we had to choose to the best. Of course, that is not to discount the level of talent that the other bands possess.

I guess I will just leave you guys "High & Dry" as to which band exactly is going to perform. But keep watching this space, I'm pretty sure the name will be announced soon enough.

Serious!

(I just know you can't Stan it any longer!)

Please Mr Postman - Battle of the Sexes

As what the title says :)


by The Beatles




by The Marvelettes




In preparation for prom night, perhaps you might want to steal the chance to learn a dance move or two? ;)

UPDATES!

Hello all, here are some really important documents so do check them out!

1) Letter for Free Entry to Sentosa:

http://hydraphim89.brinkster.net/BQTConfirmLTR%20-%20Commonwealth.pdf

Do head over to this link to download and print out your copy of the letter! If you're going as a group, you need not print one for everybody. One copy will be sufficient to allow entry to the entire group entering Sentosa together.


2) Map of Sentosa:

http://hydraphim89.brinkster.net/Map%20of%20Sentosa.pdf

Use this if you need some form of reference to get around Sentosa.


3) Route to Rasa Sentosa

Use this if you need directions to the hotel, especially if you're heading there yourself.

Vintage Fashion Guild

Well, this is as vintage as it gets. really.
Go check it out!

Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young

This is Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young with Helplessly Hoping

Pageant Contestants Selected

After a gruelling round of interview and much debate...

we are pleased to inform you that the Pageant contestants for this year have been chosen!

Wanna know who got in exactly? Well, we're not telling just of yet. But it would be announced REALLY soon, so just keep watching this space if you want to find out!

Check Those Frames

Here we have today, some suggestions for you to choose the right type of glasses / shades to flaunt your good looks.

Most importantly, can we even imagine what's retro like without that pair of huge a-go-go thang?


The above link will take you on a journey, complete with coloured pictures, to check out what kind of frames suit you best. Don't be turned off by the "men" word. The info really can apply to all.

Below are some pointers that we have gathered for you, in addition to the above.

Have fun!


Light: If you are fair-skinned, lightweight styles in bronze and other warm coloured metals are recommended. But avoid dark, heavy styles, cold colours.
Dark: If you are dark-skinned, choose any of the metallic frames but avoid bright colours .

Long nose: a low-set bridge appears to shorten it.
Short nose : a style with a high-set bridge.

Close set eyes : a thin or clear bridge appears to add width between them.
Wide set eyes: a coloured bridge will make eyes seem closer together.


Last check point, do take all precautionary measures and checks while checking out those shades in shops... and taking photos.

Check out slips that go "no taking of pictures" because they might really be working surveillance cameras checking you out checking the frames :)

2006 Prom Pageant Contestants

WE, are your 2006 Prom Pageant Contestants.


We learnt to pose.


We listened.

We learnt how to dance.


We laughed.


We learnt new dance steps.


We helped each other.


We learnt to dance- together.


We learnt to strut like models.


We forged friendships.


And much more.


Keep a lookout for us, next week to know what happened on the actual day of PROM!