The LZDS freshmen integration
In the Lord of Zion Divine School, Bacnotan, La Union a unique yearly tradition is set to welcome students in their freshmen days as “Zionistas.”
The freshmen integration is a welcome initiation-like party for new students (grades 7 and 11, transferees of grades 8 and 12) and new faculty members, who undergo different challenges during the program. It was designed to acquaint students with the culture, tradition, virtue and lifestyle of a Zionista.
It was developed to adequately boost self-esteem, build-up camaraderie and establish strong relationships amongst all members of the LZDS family.
LZDS prepares each student to respond positively in taking challenges in life and help them discover their individuality and God-given skills.
This year, the freshmen integration was held last Aug. 18 & 19, with the theme “Fanning the Flame of Zionistas.”
It was actively participated by 72 freshmen and three newly hired staff. The event was divided into two-day activities: group dance presentation and seminar workshop on the first day and amazing race on the second day.
On day 1, freshmen were asked to wear colorful themed costumes as they enter the school premises and were set to perform dance numbers after the flag ceremony. Donning their costumes, they went to their respective classrooms to attend their classes. Randomly, whenever a themed music is on play during the remaining school hours, they were obliged to assemble and enthusiastically perform dance numbers in their designated performing areas.
Included in the first day activity was the “Younique You” seminar-workshop, which is adopted from the program of Jayson Lo. In this activity, students were taught to discover and maximize each personality type’s strengths and minimize weaknesses and trained how to work effectively together by using the DISC model (Dominant, Influential, Steady and Corrective).
To wrap up the seminar, a series of team building activities were given to test how much they have learned and developed.
On day 2, the freshmen underwent physical and mental challenges to test their individual and cooperative skills.
The facilitators carefully designed each challenge which represents a specific facet in life to ensure the significance of cooperation and trust to one another.
The day is celebrated with a “color run” where students and faculty members joined the run while being sprayed with color powder. After the run, the LZDS administration prepared a sumptuous meal in a form of a “boodle fight” where all freshmen, faculty members, and administrators lunched together to celebrate the day.
The corporate singing of the LZDS anthem and the reciting of “Oath of a Zionista” were done as a declaration of being full-fledged Zionistas.
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