In the first edition of the Patrol League Gazette, we interviewed Sim Hon Jui, the 2021 Patrol Leader of Cobra. He will be revealing his thoughts on his Patrol's journey in securing the title of Best Patrol of June Challenge 2021. What motivated your Patrol throughout June Challenge, and how did you maintain your Patrol's motivation? "Ensuring my Patrol’s motivation throughout the entire June Challenge was not an easy feat. However, I realised the importance of having a solid Patrol morale and worked on building it from different aspects. Setting small goals for ourselves to achieve along the way was one of the ways I motivated the Patrol, and ensured that my Patrol was up to the task and meeting the goals we set together. In addition, my Patrol’s motivation came from wanting to win the Best Patrol title. We felt that the June challenge was a great opportunity for the Patrol to showcase our abilities to the Troop and were willing to put in the commitment and effort to achieve the results we want. Lastly, the strong bond that binds every Patrol member together allowed the Patrol to communicate effectively with one another on most occasions, and work towards achieving Best Patrol." What do you think were the main factors contributing to your Patrol's success in June Challenge? "Perseverance was one of the key factors that maintained our drive to win the Best Patrol and allowed my Patrol to last through the different challenges at hand. The Patrol was also guided by one common goal, which was winning the title of Best Patrol and leaving no regrets at the end of the day. This enabled us to stay determined and connected in achieving our goals and remain undeterred in forging ahead even when we did not achieve the desired results for certain tasks. When times are rough, developing a positive mindset ensured our Patrol spirit remains high. The Patrol remained goal-oriented and was constantly reminded of the ultimate goal. In addition, we never once doubted ourselves despite knowing that other Patrols were just as strong, if not better than us, in terms of scouting skills. Lastly, consistency was also one of the elements that allowed my Patrol to succeed. From basic things such as physical training, we set realistic goals for ourselves to meet in every session, and ensure that the goals are met after each session. This allowed the Patrol to be amongst the few Patrols to complete many reps of exercises, even after a prolonged period of time. Overall, all of us were also able to sacrifice our time for Scouts, and put in our best for the Patrol." How did you lead your Patrol during June Challenge? Was there any difference in your style between offline and online activities? "As a Patrol Leader, I constantly reminded my Patrol of our ultimate goal, which was to win the overall Best Patrol. This allowed the Patrol to stay motivated, and strive for their best in whatever they do to help the Patrol achieve our goal. In both offline and online activities, I remained focused on pushing my Patrol, and ensuring they carried out the activities to the best of their abilities. I also tried to facilitate a healthy environment that allowed everyone in the Patrol to bond together and bridge the gaps between one another, regardless of their level and ranks. However, one difference in my leadership style during the June Challenge was to tone down on pushing my Patrol excessively as I could sense that most of my Patrol members were getting mentally exhausted from the excessive number of meetups. To lighten the mood and bond with the Patrol, I usually organise games like Kahoot quizzes such that everyone can learn important knowledge while having fun at the same time. Using certain online platforms to conduct Patrol activities have also assisted me in leading and engaging the Patrol during the June Challenge." What do you think you could have done better during June Challenge? "I think we could have attempted more side missions and try to earn more points for the Patrol. This probably would have involved more planning beforehand, which includes letting everyone have a clear understanding of their job scope and standardising the quality of the submissions. Also, there could have been better communication between Patrol members. For instance, during E-Jihes, some of my Patrol members were passive and did not take the initiative to contribute to the discussions. I could have used a different approach to reach out to some of the Patrol members who were more reluctant to share their views, such as having one on one conversations with them privately and familiarising myself with their personalities. Another aspect we felt we could have done better was orienteering. We feel that we could have revised more on our orienteering as that is our weakest category, having only gotten 6th place out of the 8 Patrols." What is your biggest takeaway from June Challenge? "One of the biggest takeaways I have was learning how to work well with a team effectively and contribute actively as a team member. As the saying goes, ‘No Man is an Island’. A team is only successful when everyone shares a common goal and works together seamlessly as a team. Cobra Patrol is a Patrol that is united by one common goal- to win the Best Patrol. With everyone putting in a substantial amount of effort and contributing to the best of our abilities, the Patrol was able to take on the challenges in stride, regardless of their difficulties. This allowed us to sustain ourselves through all the challenges and not burn out, emerging as a stronger Patrol at the end of the day. June Challenge had made my Patrol better understand the significance of teamwork, and how it could be the determining factor of the Patrol’s success. In the coming days, my Patrol would work on developing a stronger rapport with one another and staying calm and collected when tackling future challenges." What is your next goal for your Patrol after June Challenge? Both short-term and long-term. "In the short term, I would want to improve on the Patrol’s scouting skills, such as orienteering, first aid, camp development, and pioneering. From June Challenge, we manage to learn what we are strong at and what we are lacking. For example, our orienteering skills could be improved as we placed 6th out of the 8 Patrols. These are all very important skill sets we need to master as Scouts, and we shall work towards that in the coming days. In the long-term, we would want to achieve the overall Best Patrol. June Challenge is merely one of the many milestones the Patrol needs to cross. We believe that winning the June Challenge marks the start of the Patrol’s success and progress to greater heights. With determination, we aim to achieve the title of overall Best Patrol and leave a legacy behind for the future generations of Cobra Patrol members. Also, we would want to reduce the gap between the different levels and improve the friendship between Patrol members. Now that the Patrol has built a solid foundation on its Patrol morale, I would want to cement it further, such that everyone would be proud to call Cobra as their Patrol."

By Rayn Tan and Sam Li Jie Updated: 29 December 2021 Due to the increased safeguards caused by the current COVID-19 situation, the Troop was unable to hold our annual June Camp. Despite the setback, Catholic High Scout Group would not let the virus dictate our ability to train and would adapt and innovate our premier training so that the Scouts would still flourish even at home. June Challenge June Challenge was held over 3 weeks from 31 May to 19 June. June Challenge provided a platform for the Patrols to foster their Patrol spirit. This leads to them being self-motivated to learn the required skills for the challenges as they want to put their Patrol at the top. June Challenge mainly consisted of two parts. The Home-Based Assessments which the Scouts were to complete in their own time by the given due date and E-Jihes held over Zoom every Saturday morning. During E-Jihe, Patrols would compete against one another in different challenges. Throughout the entire June Challenge, Patrols rack up points based on their performance in the assessments. The Patrol with the most points wins the title of the Best Patrol of June. June Challenge was also a test for the Venture unit as this was the first time the newly appointed Secondary 4 Ventures had to run such an extensive programme. Other than having to plan the different challenges which were mostly restricted to online-only, they also had to ensure each challenge would be fun and engaging for the Scouts. As being stuck at home may cause the Scouts to lose some motivation, the Ventures needed to be able to engage and motivate the Scouts to put in their best effort during the challenges. PT and Side Missions Besides the HBAs and E-Jihes, Patrols had other opportunities to gain additional points. Patrols were given points for doing additional reps of exercises after finishing their weekly PT. The higher the number of reps, the higher the rank, thus the more points awarded. Patrol Leaders encouraged and led their Patrols in doing the additional reps, with some Patrols achieving more than 1000 reps of squats per person in a single week. On the other hand, Patrols showed their creative flair in the side missions. There were a total of 8 optional side missions, split between individual tasks and Patrol tasks. The harder tasks which required the entire Patrol to take part together were worth more points compared to the individual tasks. These tasks range from designing a Patrol Zoom background, Patrol skits, and learning flag signalling, etc. PLs took the initiative to schedule meetings with their Patrol members throughout the weeks. During these meetings, they would complete their side missions and the extra PT challenges while spending more time together to bond as a Patrol. They took this time to get to know their members better and strengthen their Patrol spirit collectively. A strong Patrol spirit is the sturdy foundation of a Patrol with a strong work drive and the commitment to achieve excellence. This in turn becomes the building blocks for a strong Troop, allowing the Troop to achieve success. Episode 1 The first episode of June Challenge tested the Scouts in their orienteering and first aid skills. The Scouts did a first aid test for their HBA, consisting of MCQ and open-ended questions. During E-Jihe, the Ventures went through the common mistakes the Scouts made in the test, explaining the first aid concepts and reasoning behind the answers. The next activity was orienteering battleships. Patrols had to pinpoint the hidden "bases" of the other Patrols on the topography map using the clues prepared by the other Patrols. Patrols also had to identify the false clue from each set of clues. The bases and clues were already done beforehand during HBA. This activity tested the Scouts' orienteering skills and knowledge of Singapore's landmarks. Proper manpower allocation and communication were important for the Patrols to work efficiently and discover as many bases as possible within the time limit. Each members' knowledge of Singapore was crucial for the Patrol's success as everyone lives in different areas, hence their knowledge of landmarks differ. Therefore, the activity tested the PL's ability to facilitate discussion amongst the entire Patrol to gain the knowledge and opinion of each member. The last activity was a first aid VOJ. Scouts had to plan and present four different first aid scenarios. Not only were they judged on their responses, but the Ventures in each breakout room also took into account the level of discussion in each Patrol. Patrol members were encouraged to contribute more ideas to their PL to promote communication and engagement in the Patrol. Furthermore, the PL's ability to delegate tasks to his men while knowing when to take charge or take a back seat was important for the challenge to progress efficiently and successfully. Episode 2 The second episode of June Challenge tested the Scouts' understanding of pioneering and camp development, two core scouting skills. The Scouts first did a fun Kahoot quiz to review their pioneering and camp development knowledge. Despite no points being awarded, Scouts tried their hardest to snag the top spots to show off their scouting knowledge to the rest. Next, the Scouts had to analyse a video of the CHS NPC X team building a tower. They had to come up with nine points related to three categories: notable structural features, safety precautions, and maximising efficiency. This activity not only tested the Scouts’ pioneering knowledge but also their observational skills, especially with the smaller details, along with their understanding of safety protocols and maximising efficiency. As Patrol members had adapted to this new norm of discussion, they were fruitful, lively and constructive. Many members were willing to pitch in to give their observation of the building process which brought about many insightful and interesting points. Following a short break, Patrols got ready to take on the challenge of planning out a campsite plot. While Scouts were taught how to construct bashas and gadgets in past Jihes, most Scouts still had little experience with campsite planning due to the lack of camps caused by COVID-19. Thus, to let them gain an idea of what a campsite planning session would be like, Patrols had to plan their ideal campsite layout while designing and listing down the specifications of their proposed gadgets. As this was the most ambitious challenge yet, manpower allocation and teamwork were imperative to the smooth planning of the campsite. The Patrol should be split into small groups with the PL facilitating discussions and helping out where he sees fit. Patrol members should be assigned to groups where they can help out the best. Harder tasks like gadget planning should be given to the more experienced seniors while easier tasks like campsite layout should be given to the inexperienced juniors to make use of everyone efficiently. Episode 3 The third and final episode of June Challenge was fairly laid-back as it replicated the campfire session held during June Camp. It comprises mostly of fun games and activities, giving the Scouts a chance to relax after three busy weeks of activities and challenges. The Scouts learnt the many campfire songs, Scouts hymn, Troop cheer, and Patrol cheers for HBA. A fun Kahoot quiz was then held during E-Jihe to see who remembered the most, including the other Patrol cheers. There was also a code-breaking challenge where Patrols compete to see who can break the different codes the fastest correctly. Next, the Scouts watched the skits prepared by Cobra and Shark Patrol. The theme was 'Patrol identity' and each Patrol portrayed it wonderfully in their creations. It was also interesting and hilarious to watch the unique production of the skits as the Patrols had to overcome the challenge of 'no real-life interactions' to film their videos. Afterwards, the Patrols were challenged to come up with a satirical presentation on why they felt their Patrol deserved the title of Best Patrol. The process of planning was made interesting as Scouts came up with various ridiculous and humorous ways to put their message across with the use of inside jokes that bonded the Patrols even closer. Each Patrol then presented their say, trying to convince the Troop with humorous logic and jokes. Overall, this was a more fun experience for the Scouts, allowing them to deepen their bonds with their Patrols. A tight-knit and bonded Patrol leads to better teamwork and unity. This in turn creates a strong cohesive Patrol, capable of overcoming any difficult challenges they come across as one Patrol. Best of June After three weeks of challenges and competing with one another, the results had been tallied. We now move on to the prize presentation. The best Secondary 1, 2, and 3 Scouts of June Challenge 2021 are Darren Goh, Josh Goh, and Sim Hon Jui respectively. As for the Best Patrol of June Challenge 2021, it is Cobra Patrol with an outstanding performance. Congratulations to all the winners of June Challenge 2021. Conclusion Through June Challenge, Patrols were able to strengthen their bonds and foster Patrol spirit. They were also able to challenge and test themselves, identifying issues in their Patrol which they need to improve on in their pursuit of glory for their Patrol. PLs also gained more experience in leading and engaging their Patrols, fine-tuning the style which best suited them. Truthfully, programmes like June Challenge take months and years to plan. Our fast planning time and success can be attributed to two main factors. Firstly, our Troop's strategic foresight to build up vast digital assets over many years in our online databases accelerated the preparation of learning material. Secondly, our Ventures' experience with TCP last year helped them plan more interesting and engaging challenges to optimise learning. June Challenge showed that even when restricted at home, Catholic High Scout Group is still able to adapt and come up with fun and engaging training methods to train our premier Scout Troop.

By Chey Jedd Today on 16 July 2021, the Scouts learnt how to pack a rucksack and prepare for an inspection. Not only does it train their organisation and attention to detail, but it also trains their discipline and ability to work quickly without forgoing quality. After a long period of online activities, the Scouts are excited to be able to come down for physical training. Rucksack Packing Due to COVID-19, the Scouts were split into three groups by level to reduce intermingling. The Scouts first learnt about the three types of rucksacks; frameless, internal-frame, and external-frame. Choosing the right rucksacks is important as different scenarios require different bags. Frameless are preferable for short hikes as they are light while the lack of back support is tolerable due to the short distance. On the other hand, external-frame is the best for long and mountainous hikes as although it is the heaviest, the better support would be more advantageous. Scouts also learnt the most efficient way to pack their rucksacks. In general, light items which are not used often should be placed at the bottom. The heaviest items should be placed in the middle as close to the back as possible to balance the load. Important essentials like jackknives and first aid kits should be placed at the top for easy access. For sloping terrains, the heaviest items should be packed more towards the bottom to lower the centre of gravity for better stability. As there is a huge list of items and equipment used during camps, the rucksacks must be packed compactly to maximise the available space. Moreover, as we use the frameless rucksack, ensuring that everything is compact allows the bag to better keep its shape and prevent items inside from moving much, reducing wasted energy while moving. Inspection The Ventures then taught the Scouts how to prepare an inspection during camp. There are two types of inspection, close and open inspection. The purpose of an inspection is to account for logistics. An inspection should be prepared in such a way that one look can easily tell what is missing. This is imperative during camps as if any equipment is lost, there is no way to replace it. Therefore, Scouts must be responsible and be able to account for all their equipment. Inspections also instil discipline and attention to detail in Scouts. Scouts must be able to prepare a neat and organised inspection that is standardised amongst the entire Troop. Moreover, as preparation time for an inspection could be as short as a minute, Scouts need the discipline to be able to work with a sense of urgency while still hitting the expected standard. This is even more so for Catholic High Scouts who are expected to go above and beyond just the expected standard. As the Scouts must ensure that their inspection layouts are immaculate, they must have the attention to detail to spot any mistakes which must be corrected immediately. This does not extend only to their own inspection, but also their Patrol mates as the Patrol should be working together as a unit to overcome this challenge. The Ventures also demonstrated to the Scouts how to fold their clothes for an inspection. At the same time, they also showed how to waterproof their clothes and rucksacks. With Ubin’s erratic weather during camps, it is crucial for the Scouts to waterproof their rucksacks and clothes properly unless they want to have a miserable experience. Practise makes perfect After learning all the knowledge on rucksack packing and inspection, the Scouts got to put what they have learnt into practice. They were made to practise folding their clothes until they could accomplish it in around a minute per set. Afterwards, the Scouts got the chance to try and waterproof their clothes. The Scouts were then tasked to prepare a close inspection based on the example prepared by the Ventures beforehand. At first, they were unable to finish within the stipulated time as they were not very familiar with the inspection layout yet and the timing given was short. However, after familiarising themselves with the layout while coordinating to help one another, they were able to achieve excellent inspection layouts expected of a Catholic High Scout. After each inspection, the Scouts had to pack their equipment back into their rucksacks in under 2 minutes. Furthermore, the Ventures emphasised packing the rucksacks based on the proper method the Scouts were taught despite the time limit. This is because they wanted to inculcate in the Scouts the ability to work quickly with quality. Moreover, the Scouts would not be working effectively nor efficiently if they do not make use of the knowledge learnt. Conclusion Without a doubt, the Scouts had put in their best efforts and had managed to achieve excellent results during practice, showing that they would settle for nothing but perfection. Although the chances of camping are slim this year, the knowledge learnt today is still invaluable as it can still be applied to the Scouts’ daily life. Catholic High Scout Group does not want Scouts to only train skills useful for CCA, but also skills that can be applied practically and widely in their daily lives so that they would continue to benefit after graduation.

By Daniel Ong Today on 17 July 2021, the Troop began intensive training with regard to foot drills. This was in response to the Scouts’ lack of ability to perform in this area. This is especially true for activities like 升旗, where the Troop wished to display their discipline and determination through the clean execution of foot drills. Unsurprisingly, the Troop wishes to regularly perform and execute a flawless 升旗. Thus, the Troop decided to try their hardest to hone their skills in this area. As a result of COVID-19 restrictions, the Scouts were split into smaller groups to reduce intermingling. A blessing in disguise, it allowed for the Ventures to better teach and correct mistakes as well as personally guide the Scouts. The Purpose While all the time and sweat spent on foot drills under the hot sun may seem completely arbitrary and useless, the truth is far from it. Foot drills serve a multitude of purposes, all honing the mental and physical capabilities of the Scout as well as reinforcing a sense of pride and identity. Foot drills are not simply a skill or task done for the sake of doing but are instead an expression of discipline. While there is undoubtedly an element of performance and display, it would be narrow-sighted to only focus on this one purpose of foot drills. Foot drills hone awareness by ensuring that the Scouts are kept sharp at all times. Despite the heat and physical demands from executing the drills, the Scouts must be alert and ready to respond immediately to commands. Hence, foot drills simultaneously train mental and physical resilience. Foot drills reinforce the importance and difficulty of working in a team. In drills, every turn and every step must be done in sync. Therefore, timing is also a crucial element for the Scouts to take note of. They should not rely only on the timekeeper and should keep track of the timing in their head. It is also important for them to be aware of those around them during drills like marching so that any minor adjustments could be made to ensure unity in the drills. The Challenge Foot drills is a difficult and trying activity. Due to the lack of physical training for the past month and more, as well as the lack of intensive foot drill training for the Scouts, they evidently struggled to execute them properly and perfectly. Nonetheless, the Scouts soldered on. Their pride as Catholic High Scouts does not allow for anything but perfection. The Scouts were also reinforced with the importance of discipline during foot drills. For example, Scouts were reminded to stay still during 升旗 and to have the self-discipline to do so. Learning The Scouts went through foot drills such as Sedia, Cepat Jalan, and Hentak Kaki Cepat Hentak. While the Scouts struggled with the last 2 commands, there was no shadow of a doubt that the Scouts pushed themselves to perform better in their pursuit for success. The Ventures broke down the last 2 drills into simpler steps so that the Scouts could easily absorb what was being taught. For example, the Scouts learnt to march by first coordinating their footsteps without the need of swinging their arms. When they got used to it, they proceeded to practise marching while swinging their arms. Towards the Future By the end of the session, the Scouts have learnt all the common commands and can execute them albeit with room for improvement. As the Scouts continue to train, we are confident that the Scouts will push themselves even more to reach greater heights and ensure the constant execution of a perfect 升旗. To glorify the Troop as well as to showcase their discipline and determination, nothing can stop Catholic High Scouts.

In the second edition of the Patrol League Gazette, we interviewed Lucas Kong, the 2021 Patrol Leader of Tiger. Tiger was recently crowned the Best Patrol of July. Lucas will be revealing his thoughts on his Patrol's journey thus far and his opinion on what makes up a good Patrol. How did you lead your Patrol during online activities? Is there any difference compared to how you would lead them during offline activities? "Due to the heightened COVID-19 measures, my Patrol meetings and activities had to be carried out online. The Patrol used Discord to meet virtually. As a Patrol Leader, I believe that success can only be achieved when everyone works together and put in their 100%. Hence, Patrol spirit was something I paid close attention to. Other than just focusing on skills training, I also put aside some time for the Patrol to bond together. I think their closer connection with one another was the main reason they were motivated to continue pushing themselves as they wanted the Patrol to achieve success and glory. After many months of online training, I realised that other than the physical constraints, it was also much harder to maintain Patrol morale during online training compared to physical training. During physical training, I was able to closely watch all of my Patrol members and point out their mistakes. When the Patrol was physically together they were more active and would more willingly interact with the Patrol. However, it was more difficult to get them to actively participate in online activities as they were not as enthusiastic. I believe the reason was that online activities were less hands-on than physical activities, therefore they felt less excited to participate. To solve this issue, I incorporated more engaging activities during the online sessions such as fun games and quizzes. This helped them to be more engaged with the online training and gave them something to look forward to. Moreover, their enthusiasm would carry over to the more mundane but no less important skill training." What do you think makes up a good Patrol? "To me, a good Patrol is one where the Patrol members understand when it is appropriate to do certain things. This refers to knowing when to joke around and have fun, and when to take matters seriously. There is no issue with having fun, but when topics like safety or discipline are being brought up, they should be treated seriously. I personally think that great skill sets are not the most important thing to possess in the beginning. Skill sets can be improved upon over time, but every Patrol member must have the right mindset and attitude to learn. Without having a good learning attitude, a person will never be able to improve. Another quality of a good Patrol is being able to listen to one another. Every activity requires teamwork. Patrol members must be able to listen to the opinions of others, and not think that they are always the correct ones. If a Patrol member cannot do this, it could cause a rift to form in the Patrol. The Patrol would not be able to work together in unity due to underlying tensions. Furthermore, each member could cover the other's lacking knowledge. The ideas of each member could also be combined to come up with new and innovative ideas." What do you think your Patrol needs to improve on to become your ideal Patrol? "For my Patrol to become my ideal Patrol, I think that each Patrol member needs to find their own motivation. Throughout June and July, I was constantly pushing my Patrol and finding ways to encourage and motivate them. I had also set targets and goals for them to achieve. At the end of the day, I can only do so much to motivate them. If all of them are able to find their own motivation, maybe wanting to win Best Patrol, or setting a goal for themselves, then they will be more committed to putting in the effort to succeed." What are your short-term and long-term goals for your Patrol? "My short-term goal for my Patrol is to win August Best Patrol. Although I do not know what challenges we will face in August, I want my Patrol to continue working hard and persevere. As long as they are determined to face whatever obstacles they encounter, I believe that they will be able to overcome any challenges. I hope that they will not get complacent just because we have won Best Patrol for a month. If we continue to work hard and learn new things, we will definitely be able to achieve this goal. The long-term goal for my Patrol would be to strengthen our Patrol bond. Forging the bond between Patrol members takes time and effort. It takes time for Patrol members to get comfortable with one another. When I was a Secondary One Scout, it took me a few months before I was able to talk to my seniors without any fear or whatsoever. Some people are shyer and need more time, while others need less. When a Patrol is bonded, Patrol members are able to co-exist and work in unity, achieving better results as compared to doing things alone." How do you plan to achieve your goals? "I plan to achieve the short-term goal by helping my Patrol members find their own motivation. Although I think that there are other important things that my Patrol needs to focus on, such as their studies, I also want them to continue putting in the effort to stay at the top and maintain our position of Best Patrol. As long as they manage their time wisely, they should be able to do both. I think that motivation is key and without it, they might give up when the going gets too tough and put up a lacklustre performance. I plan to achieve the long-term goal by leading my Patrol in a more relaxed and fun manner. This is so that they will be more comfortable and would not be afraid to ask any questions or voice out their opinions. I also plan to occasionally host online Patrol bonding sessions with them just before training begins. We would do things such as chatting about random topics like school or play some games. Not only does this foster Patrol bond, but we also get to know each other better through casual conversations. This then results in the Patrol members being more participative in training, leading to a stronger Patrol"

By Chey Jedd The Scouts and Year 1 Ventures recently took part in the National Mind Quiz 2021 held in July by the Singapore Scouts Association. As the first competition of the year, the Troop was determined to put in their utmost effort, aiming for an excellent showing. It was also a good opportunity for the Scouts to learn more about the scouting movement and refresh their theoretical knowledge. NMQ was split up into two stages; the Preliminary round which was an online quiz and the Final which was held over zoom. It was further split into the Scout and Venture categories. The Final consists of the six teams with the best scores from the Preliminary round competing against one another. There was a wide range of topics tested from Scouting lore and skills to general history and humanities. Plan of action It was not easy learning all these pieces of information by the Preliminary round but with proper manpower allocation and consistent revision, the online quiz was not much of a challenge for our Scouts and Ventures. To make revising of information easier and more accessible, the Scouts and Ventures worked together to create a compilation of notes. The topics tested were further divided into many different themes and competing members were allocated different themes to research and compile information on. Furthermore, researching information would have been more difficult without the Troop’s extensive digital database containing years of archived scouting notes. This greatly reduced the workload and allowed them to focus more on revision. The Rovers gave their assistance by creating their own quizzes to test the Scouts and Ventures. The quizzes tested their knowledge and their ability to make informative guesses for questions they were unsure of. They also learnt new information through unfamiliar questions in the quizzes. Moreover, the test scores helped the Scout Leaders determine the team lineups for the competition. Competition “A Scout is to be trusted”. Before the start of NMQ, the SLs emphasised the importance of integrity and self-discipline to the Scouts and Ventures. No matter how easy or tempting it was to search for the answers on the internet, they must not do so as that would be unfair to the Scouts from other Troops and would go against the values of the Troop. After the Preliminary round held on 24 July, the teams for the Final was announced. Catholic High Scout Group managed to get both a Scout and a Venture team into the Final. The Scout team was Tan Jen Yih, Fabian Lim and Lim Jun Sian. The Venture team was Siauw Yu Hern, Chey Jedd and Joshua Low. On 31 July, both teams participated in the Final. The entire Troop came online to watch and show their support to their fellow Scouts in the Final. Both teams pushed past their mental exhaustion and fought fiercely during the competition. In the end, the Scout team attained third place while the Venture team attained fourth place in their respective categories. Final Lesson Although the Troop may not have gotten the results they had hoped for, there were many learning points they could take away from this experience. Firstly, the Scouts’ and Ventures’ knowledge of International Scouting Lore was not as strong as other topics. This would be a weakness that they would have to focus more on the next time. Secondly, the strategies used during the different rounds could have been better. This was especially so for the lighting round during the Venture competition where even if they do not know the answer, they should have snatched the question and guessed the answer. If the answer was wrong, the question would be voided, preventing the other teams from obtaining the point. Conclusion Despite falling short of expectations, the Troop would learn from their mistakes and come back stronger in their pursuit of continuous improvement. The Troop’s digital assets were also strengthened with new resources added to the drive. Catholic High Scouts do not let one loss define them. Instead, they would use this loss as motivation to push themselves further and develop into better Scouts worthy of the title.

By Tristan Chua On 21 and 28 August 2021, the Secondary 3 Scouts built 2 bridges and 2 towers respectively under the supervision of the Rovers as part of their pioneering activity. Not only does pioneering test the Scouts’ lashing skills and their familiarity with their equipment, it also trains up their soft skills such as teamwork, adaptability, and spatial awareness. From the Ground up Before the activity, the Secondary 3 Scouts spent weeks practising their lashes. The hours put into training proved to be fruitful as during the building of the structure itself, the lashes were tied quickly and tightly. This is the standard expected of a Catholic High Scout. Construction manuals were sent to the Scouts to give them a rough idea of how to construct the structure, as well as an image of the final product. On the day itself, they were split into 2 groups, each to build one of the two structures. Due to time constraints, the Scouts had to prepare the resources needed for their respective pioneering structures before 升旗. The selection of wood is crucial to ensure a strong and stable structure, this is especially so for structures that are tall like towers. Blue bases (lightest) should be used only at the highest point of the structure while yellow bases (heaviest) are more appropriate for the base so that the centre of mass would be closer to the ground, making it more stable. Most importantly, the wood must be checked for any cracks or insect infestations. This is to prevent injuries as wood with the above issues may break if force is applied on them. Crossing Rivers The two types of bridges built were the suspension bridge and the drawbridge. After completing the frames of the bridges, the Scouts had to raise them up from the ground. The most important step they had to take note of was the pivot. The pivot ensures that the base of the frame does not move in the opposite direction with which the frame is being raised as it would cause the base to be lifted off from the ground. One problem that popped up was the delegation of roles. Although highly detailed manuals were sent, the Scouts did not delegate the workload effectively, causing minor confusion. However, as the Scouts slowly started to get a hang of what needed to be done, they adapted and acted accordingly to the situation. Reaching for the sky The two types of towers built were derived from the same base structure - the tripod. At its core, most towers constructed in our Troop’s pioneering projects can be linked back to the humble triangle as it is resource-friendly while being stable and resistant to warping. While one tower was built using one tripod as its base, the other consisted of four tripods. This was to show the Scouts that one object can be used and adapted for many different things. The Scouts were placed in different groups as compared to the previous week; however, learning from their previous mistake, they allocated manpower much more efficiently, allowing each group to work with more efficiency and effectiveness. The Scouts' ability to work in a team was especially important too since there was the need to raise and lower the towers, which requires quick movement and the ability to coordinate with each other. Tearing down to come back up The Secondary 3 Scouts swelled with pride as they tore down their structures, albeit a little unwillingly, as they had managed to hit their goals of improving their lashings beyond what they thought they could within two sessions as well as completing the pioneering structures. “If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. ” -General Sun Tzu, Art of War The Scouts learned more about each other and themselves during the pioneering activity, better understanding their own limits and capabilities as well as their fellow Scouts'. Not only would this ensure that in the future, manpower allocation would be done much more effectively, but they would also know what they need to improve on to become better Scouts. Conclusion By the end of the two sessions, most, if not all, of the Secondary 3 Scouts are confident of their pioneering skills and are ready to tackle new challenges. They had proven that they are capable of upholding the Troop’s high standards and could be relied upon to pass the knowledge on to their juniors.

Written by Joshua Lee, Edited by Chey Jedd The Troop held a Scout Leadership Course (SLC) for the Secondary 2 Scouts from 23 October to 20 November 2021. Due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, SLC had to be held as an online course instead of the usual leadership camp. SLC equipped the Scouts with the leadership and skills needed to lead the Troop when they take up leadership appointments in Secondary 3. Scout Leadership Course Through SLC, the Scouts had the opportunity to attend online lectures by the Scout Leaders to deepen their understanding of leadership, as well as the various methods to lead. Afterwards, the Sec 2s were joined by the Secondary 1 Scouts to take part in online activities conducted by the Ventures to test the Scouts’ scouting skills and put into practise the leadership knowledge they had just learnt. The Scouts were arranged into six Patrols with a Sec 2 Scout assigned as the Patrol Leader on a rotational basis each week. A Sec 2 Scout would also be chosen each week to be the Senior Patrol Leader, acting as the liaison between the Scouts and the SLs while ensuring the Patrols prepared the necessary materials before each activity. Throughout the course, the SLs and Ventures were observing the Scouts to find candidates for the 2022 Patrol Leader Council. Learning the lore The leadership lectures covered the deeper meaning behind the numerous scouting modules like the Patrol System, the Scout Motto, Promise and Law. Gaining a deeper understanding and wider appreciation of the scouting modules, the Scouts are better able to identify with them and implement them in their scouting and daily lives. For example, the Scout promise is beyond a simple promise Scouts recite during CCA, but a way of life; a set of principles that they should live by even outside of scouting. Learning about the duties of the various leadership positions such as PL, APL, etc and gaining insight into the Patrol system, Scouts are better able to carry out their respective responsibilities. Furthermore, they would be able to make the most out of the Scouts in their Patrol, allowing the Patrol to achieve excellence. The Scouts also learnt about the various leadership methods and their pros and cons. One such example would be the EDGE Method(Explain, Demonstrate, Guide and Enable), which is applied when teaching skills or imparting knowledge. These methods would act as the foundation and could be modified to better fit the style they are more comfortable with. Learning by doing During the activities, the Scouts learnt many important aspects of leadership. Two aspects that stood out the most were communication and engagement. Clear and concise communication is important to ensure Patrol members understand the tasks given to them by the PL so that they could execute them efficiently with no error. Level of engagement is how motivated and interested the Patrol is in doing a task. If the Patrol is not engaged, it is difficult for them to exert their full ability which would hinder the progress of the Patrol and the quality of their work. These aspects were especially crucial during the course as everything was being conducted online, hence it was many times more difficult for the PLs to lead their Patrols. Securing the future To end off, an online campfire was held on the final week where Scouts got to bond as a unit. The course was immensely beneficial for the Secondary 2 Scouts and helped position them to rise and assume leadership in Secondary 3.

By Chey Jedd and Sam Li Jie Updated: 26 December 2021 Recently, our Secondary 1 Scouts received their full uniforms for the first time. Such a great honour comes also as a responsibility, sewing the Troop logo on their uniforms and becoming part of our 73-year legacy of excellence. The scouting uniform was inspired by Robert Baden-Powell’s experiences in Great Britain’s army during his service in the South African Constabulary, where he thought the uniforms that were worn in that division were “comfortable, serviceable, and a good protection against the weather.” From there he created a set of standardised uniform for all Scouts. Each part of the uniform holds value and importance to the Scouts and has applications in various survival situations. Although through the years the Scouts uniform has undergone changes and reforms, the significance it holds still remains. The Singapore Scouts uniform: In Singapore, the Scouts uniform consists of the shirt, pants, belt, beret, scarf, woggle, shoes, and socks. A Scout's uniform is a representation of himself and should be worn with pride and dignity. It should be kept neat and tidy at all times. This is an important discipline which all Scouts should practice. A dirty, unkempt, and creased uniform reflects poorly on a Scout and the Troop he comes from. The uniform of a Scout is not just for display. Many of its parts are designed to serve practical functions. For example, the scarf can be used as a triangular bandage while the belt buckle could act as a bottle opener. The uniform shirt carries the identity of a Scout. It contains different badges which show information about a Scout, as well as his skills and achievements. Some badges include; Proficiency badges, Area badge, Unit badge as well as Progress badges. The uniform pants are suitable for formal scouting events like flag-raising and even serve as good protection when hiking. The Scout belt is used to hold the pants up and the Scout emblem can also be seen displayed on the belt buckle. The national scarf is what makes us identifiable to the public as Scouts. It is worn by Scouts throughout Singapore at formal events and celebrations like World Scout's Day. The woggle that should be worn with it fits it in place and also bears the Scout emblem. The Scout beret is to be worn only during formal scouting events. The Beret badge is fitted on it, with the Scout emblem, showing our pride to be part of the scouting society. Within Catholic High Scout Group, certain appointment holders, as well as Venture Scouts, have additional nylon lanyards, with SPLs wearing the green lanyard, Ventures wearing blue and ASLs wearing a Yellow and White lanyard laced with blue. Of the three, the ASLs who serve as both members of the Ventures unit and assistant leaders in the Scouts unit, have the most intricate lanyard combining all three Troop colours. This is a reminder to them that they are the embodiment of these values and they must hold themselves to the highest moral standards as examples for both Scouts and Ventures to follow. Troop Scarf The Troop scarf consists of a triangular scarf, half white and half yellow with a blue line outline. Similar to the Troop badge, the colours of the scarf, blue, white, and yellow, represent our core values 智仁勇 respectively. The Troop scarf is bestowed to Catholic High Scouts on their second year of scouting during investiture. It symbolises that they are officially recognised as part of Catholic High Scout Group as they have earned it through their display of loyalty and dedication to the Troop. In fact, during the Troop's 70th Anniversary Dinner, similar scarves were given out to guests as a gift, but these special scarves did not carry our Troop logo on them, precisely because our Troop scarves have to be earned. The Troop scarf is used during scouting events and competitions like National Patrol Challenge and Adiji Chief Scout to represent our Troop and show the other Troops that we are Catholic High Scout Group, striking respect and awe. The Troop scarf is our sense of identity and pride, and a Catholic High Scout will always be seen in full uniform wearing it. Badges Badges are the hallmark of any Scouts uniform and have been long-implemented in scouting as a means to encourage self-driven learning and achievement. Catholic High Scouts take special pride in their badges and are highly selective about which badges to display, often only choosing those that are most symbolic and meaningful to us. This is why Catholic High Scouts often choose not to sew on Event badges, unless that event is especially significant to the Troop. This is also why Catholic High Scouts are so insistent on sewing on the Troop Anniversary badge, continuing a 23-year tradition in our Troop reminding ourselves that we are part of writing our Troop's history of success and excellence, as we help complete the 40-year cycle starting since our 50th Anniversary. Troop Badge The Troop badge consists of an inverted triangle with a blue outline and a blue cross, the inverted triangle on the left is coloured yellow while the right is coloured white. The yellow inverted triangle represents Heaven while the white inverted triangle represents the Earth. Together, they represent the significance of mankind. The cross represents God while the person wearing the badge represents humanity. Hence our logo symbolises the relationship of Heaven and Earth, God and humanity. The colours blue, white, and yellow also symbolise wisdom, benevolence, and courage which are our Troop's core values. These values are what keep Catholic High Scout Group on the right path to be a strong and undefeatable Scout Troop and drive us to achieve excellence, not just in strength alone but also in bettering and helping our community and the people around us. ​ Troop Anniversary Badge The 5-Year Anniversary badge was first introduced by our GSL, Andrew Chua in 1998 when Catholic High Scout Group celebrated our 50th Anniversary. It holds a special place on our uniforms and is personally managed by our GSL, Mr Chua. The current iteration of the Troop Anniversary badge was meant to commemorate the Troop's 70th Anniversary and long-standing history of excellence. The 70th Anniversary badge consists of an inverted yellow triangle with black outlines. The inside of the triangle is a totem pole with the number 70 in the middle and the Troop symbol at the top. Under the left and right side of the totem's wings are the years when Catholic High Scout Group started and when we celebrated our 70th Anniversary respectively. Each iteration of the Anniversary badge would last for five years before a new iteration would be swapped to commemorate another five years of excellence and strength. The next badge after our current one would be the 75th Anniversary badge in 2023. Currently, 5 Anniversary badges including the 70th Anniversary badge have been introduced since 1998 and would form an octagon once the 8th badge has been issued in 2033. The octagon is a shape commonly known for symbolising infinity. Hence, when the 8th Anniversary badge has been issued, it would symbolise both Catholic High Scout Group's longevity and long history of service and excellence in Singapore as well as the bright future ahead of us to reach even greater heights. Proficiency & Progress Badges The Proficiency and Progress badges are awarded to a Scout as recognition of his skills and knowledge, earned by completing the requirements needed to obtain the badges. Proficiency badges are usually sewn on the right sleeve while Progress badges are sewn on the left sleeve. Proficiency badges (right) are meant to recognise a Scout's effort in learning a particular skill that could benefit the Troop. Such skills include astronomy, cooking, and computer skills. Progress badges (left) are earned by showing the values and lessons a Scout has learned through scouting, usually in the form of a report and reflection. The Progress badges include; the Scout Badge (Tier 1), Discoverer Award (Tier 2), Explorer Award (Tier 3), and Voyager Award (Tier 4). Each subsequent badge can only be obtained when the badge before it is obtained. After reaching the Voyager Award, a Scout can also try their hands at obtaining the Chief Commissioner's Award. South Area Badge Catholic High Scout Group is located in the South Area and wears the South Area badge on our uniforms. The South Area badge is a green pentagon with a surgeon's knot in the middle. The South Area's "One Promise" is in the middle of the knot while "South" is underneath the knot in red with the Singapore Scout Association logo. Conclusion To Catholic High Scouts, the Scout uniform is a sacred object earned through that Scout's honour and commitment to our Troop. When one wears Catholic High Scout Group's badges and scarf, they carry the legacy of our 73-years of excellence in scouting. Only Catholic High Scouts are deserving of such heavy responsibilities, hence it is upon us to protect and take pride in our uniforms, never neglecting it and never allowing it to fall into the wrong hands.

By Wong Zheng Tat and Lucas Loh Updated: 25 December 2021 In preparation for the Troop’s Birthday, we cleaned and upgraded our quartermaster stall. Being the largest quartermaster stall of any Scout Troop in Singapore, Catholic High Scout Troop has to constantly upgrade our quartermaster store to accommodate the influx of new equipment. QM maintenance is almost ritualistic to us - a sacred and important process that not only is critical for the operations of the next scouting year, but also a service we pay to our equipment to give thanks for its service to us. This process of remembrance serves as a reminder never to take our resource endowments for granted - and to always put the Troop before ourselves. This quartermaster upgrading session was the most ambitious session to date, where we rebuilt the entire wood rack out of construction-grade scaffolding poles to twice the amount of wood. This included expansion upwards to fit the new uncolored bases, as well as additional supports built for existing frames. The rungs of the wood rack were also given a fresh coat of paint, giving it a clean and new look. We also consolidated and sorted all 600+ of our wood into the new wood rack. With an organised and effective quartermaster store, Catholic High Scout Troop is ready to soar to new heights in 2020.

Written by Seah Zhang Qi, Edited by Chey Jedd The Chief Commissioner's Award is a prestigious award that is presented only to the most outstanding Scouts to recognise their commitment and remarkable achievements. This award is the highest level a Scout can achieve and it represents the accumulation of all their achievements in scouting thus far. Below are the words of the 2020 Senior Patrol Leader, current Venture Chairperson and recipient of the Chief Commissioner's Award Seah Zhang Qi. Road to success Our road to achieving the Chief Commissioner's Award was a 4-year long journey which began all the way in Secondary 1. We had stepped into scouting not knowing much, with most of us going with the flow and blindly listening to our teachers, unknowingly completing the checkpoints to the Scout Award Tier badge along the way. As we grew older and progressed to Secondary 2, we had already gone through multiple camps and engrossed ourselves in countless training sessions. At that point, we all had shared a deeper love and understanding for scouting, birthing the fire of the want to improve within us. The accumulation of those experiences and growth, being the Discoverer Award Tier badge. Stepping into Secondary 3 was a whole new experience for us as seniors and leaders for the younger Scouts. With most of us taking up leadership roles, there was suddenly a whole new chapter for us to break into, with so much more things to learn, not just about ourselves, but also about the rest of the Patrol as well. Many of us had to learn how to guide, how to motivate, how to lead an entire Patrol. With this deepened sense of responsibility and higher level of expectation placed upon us, we diligently fulfilled all the criteria to the third Tier badge, the Explorer Award. Now, stepping down from our leadership positions and stepping up into the unfamiliar position of being mentors, we now had a new role placed upon us filled with new responsibilities. We planned training for the younger Scouts, provided advice to them when they were in need, and acted as role models for them to follow. This all led up to the attainment of the Voyager Award. Chief Commissioner Award With our growth and fiery passion for scouting, we had applied for the Chief Commissioner's Award, putting our 4-years of experience and growth into this one award. From being inexperienced Scouts who only went with what our Patrol Leaders said, to mentors and role models for others to follow, this award represents our hard work and achievement throughout these 4 years. And I am proud to say that Loh Feng Ryan, Siauw Yu Hern, Kaiser Koh, Joshua Low, Daniel Ong, Audric Tan, Li Shu Heng, and I, Seah Zhang Qi, have all successfully attained the Chief Commissioner's Award. I am always, and will forever be grateful to those who have helped me along the way, guiding and pushing me to achieve higher than before, to be a better me than I was yesterday. The next checkpoint However, this is only one checkpoint along our scouting journey, one which affirms us that we are going in the right direction. As Catholic High Scouts, we will always strive for greater improvement and greater progress. As the saying goes, 'Without continuous effort, there cannot be continuous achievement'. This is only one point along our journey in scouting, and just the beginning of our next chapter.

Written by Joshua Low, Edited by Chey Jedd On 27 November 2021, the Year 1 Ventures underwent backswood training. Being the first backswood session the Ventures had since the COVID-19 outbreak, it was a good opportunity for them to polish their skills which faded over the course of online training. Self-management Backswood is an essential skill to any Scout. In a wilderness setting, it allows a Scout to be independent; to prepare his own food and care for himself. From the collection of firewood, to the building of a firepit and the final preparation of food, backswood tests a Scout's ability to multitask. It can act as an indicator of a Scout's skill in management and leadership. This is especially crucial to ensure cleanliness, hygiene and for the food to be ready within the allocated time. Challenge The Ventures were split into 3 groups, each group tasked to cook a chicken using a different style, as well as prepare side dishes such as Bread Twists and Orange Eggs. The 3 styles of chicken selected were Bell Chicken, Lotus Leaf Chicken and Spatchcock Chicken. Progress The first step to a backswood session is turfing; preparing a fire pit. The Ventures quickly learnt the importance of planning ahead, such as planning where dugout soil should be positioned and how large a firepit should be. Catholic High Scouts aim to construct a tiered fire pit, where one segment of the pit is elevated. Such a fire pit can make the process of managing embers and food within the pit much easier, as food which requires less heat to cook can be placed at the elevated area instead of directly on the embers. Different methods of cooking chicken have different pros and cons. The preparation to cook a Bell Chicken is more complicated, having to construct a makeshift oven to hang the chicken over the embers. However, it is compensated through its simpler and faster cooking process. On the other hand, Lotus Leaf Chicken has a simple preparation process, having to only wrap the chicken in moist lotus leaves before leaving it to cook in the embers. Its cooking process is however more difficult, it is difficult to observe if the chicken is fully cooked and the chicken is prone to mix with burnt lotus leaves. Spatchcock Chicken has neither a particularly complicated preparation or cooking process, it is limited by its simple cooking style which prevents it from achieving more creative flavours. Leaving no trail behind Following the words of Lord Baden Powell, Scouts should aim to leave any place cleaner than before they found it. Looking back on the turfing process, it ties in to this last step of cleaning up the cooking site. If the soil was carefully removed in a calculated way, filling in the fire pit to make it seem inconspicuous is a simple task. However, if the soil was carelessly removed, the fillings of the pit would seem chaotic and messy. The simple process of digging a pit and filling it back neatly shows how essential having foresight is. Preparing ahead Looking forward, the training gave the Ventures, especially those striving for President's Scout Award, a taste of what they will eventually face in their Venture Challenge Course (VCC). While the test seems far ahead for the Year 1 Ventures, it is only with foresight and early preparation that the Ventures can prove their prowess.