As the last patches of snow melted from the Hakusanroku campus grounds and tiny buds of spring began to bloom, something else started fresh, too—our newest batch of freshmen!

 Hi, I’m Domyson Abuan, one of the Learning Mentors (LMs) here at ICT, and our team works closely with both 1st and 2nd year students. This April 2025, we opened our doors to welcome the incoming students who are just beginning their journey of learning, growing, and living here at the Hakusanroku campus.

 Each weeknight from 7:30 P.M. to 9:30 P.M., we run Learning Sessions (LS)—a time dedicated to studying, doing homework, and building good study habits for students. And of course, us LMs are there to guide, support, and sometimes, just be a friendly face to talk to.

 To help our 1st year students ease into this new environment, we planned some fun and meaningful events to help them meet their schoolmates, and get a head start on the semester.

Kicking Things Off: Learning Session Orientation

 On Friday, April 4th, both 1st and 2nd year students gathered for our LS Orientation. We LMs introduced ourselves and gave a quick rundown of what the session is all about. Just like their morning classes, LS has a set of guidelines so everyone knows how to make the most of their evenings.

 One important part? English time! Students are encouraged to use English during LS so they can get used to it in preparation for their life in New Zealand when they are 3rd year students.

 We also introduced this year’s new activity: a Reading Laboratory where students read an article suited to their current level and answer a few questions to sharpen their reading comprehension.

 Afterwards, the 1st year students were given a short tour around the LS spaces—like where to find the announcements, where to grab study materials, and which rooms are used for quiet study and group work.

 Then, the real fun began.

Games, Giggles, and Getting to Know Each Other

 Back in the orientation room, it was time for some team-building games! First up was the Cup Stack Challenge. Divided into small groups, students had to work together using only a rubber band with strings (one per teammate) to stack paper cups into the tallest tower. With three rounds of fast-paced building, the room was filled with laughter, cheering, and a few dramatic cup crashes. Winners, of course, got snack prizes!

 Next was English Bingo, with questions about hobbies and personal interests. The goal? Talk to as many classmates as possible to complete your bingo sheet. It was a great icebreaker and got everyone chatting in English, asking questions, and realizing they already have things in common.

 To wrap things up, students worked together in groups to complete their STEM (Science subject) worksheets—an actual study task to help them prep for an upcoming quiz in their Chemistry class. They answered questions on laboratory safety and proper use of apparatus. We were really proud of how well they collaborated and focused, even after all the fun.

Welcome to the House System!

 On Wednesday, April 9th, excitement was in the air as the students were sorted into their Houses! Think Hogwarts vibes, but with homework points instead of magic spells. As each student discovered their house, you could hear laughter and surprise (“Yay! I'm with you!”) across the room.

 Meanwhile, the 2nd years, now seasoned pros, jumped right into earning points for their houses by completing homework and doing tasks. At the end of semester, the house with the most points wins the House Cup and a special reward. Let the friendly competition begin!

Karaoke, Board Games, and Bright Smiles

 To officially welcome the new students, we held a Welcome Party on Friday, April 11th. The 2nd years really stepped up—they helped set up games and even kicked off the karaoke session!

 One by one, students took the mic and sang their favorite hits. Many sang solo, some in groups, and others danced along. The room buzzed with energy and lots of laughter.

 There were board games, card games, and stacking challenges too—each bringing out bursts of cheers. A computer game even pulled a huge crowd, and before long, many were playing and bonding like old friends.

 Throughout the party, us teachers made our rounds, casually chatting with students in English about how they were settling in and what they looked forward to the most this semester - the chats were made more fun of course by delicious snacks.

 A Springboard into Something Special

 We hope these activities gave our freshmen a warm welcome and a strong start to their life here at Hakusanroku campus. With a new semester ahead, we're excited for more workshops, holiday events, and fun group challenges during our Learning Sessions.

 And yes—we’ll definitely keep you posted.

Domyson Abuan