Orientation (MPLS) at Harapan Bangsa Junior and Senior High Schools, 2025/2026 Academic Year

Written by Merry Angellica (Grade 12), Callista Aprillia Lendra (Grade 12), Jessica Xaviera Devanta (Grade 11), and Edward Nathaniel Kurniawan (Grade 11).

To welcome a new academic year, Harapan Bangsa School held its school orientation program, also known as MPLS, starting from Monday, 14 July 2025 to Wednesday, 16 July 2025. MPLS is a mandatory activity for new students at the beginning of a new school year. It aims to help students understand and familiarize the students with the school environment, rules and regulations that are applied, and the cultures or habits practiced at Harapan Bangsa School.

On Monday, 14 July 2025, the first day of MPLS began with an opening prayer, opening ceremony, singing the SHB Mars, and reading the SHB Pledge, led by the members of the Student Council (OSIS). This was followed with a welcoming speech by the Harapan Bangsa Modernhill Junior High School Principal, Ms. Sisilia Juni Arianti, S.Pd., M.Pd., and the Harapan Bangsa Modernhill Senior High School Principal, Mr. Agustinus Joko Purwanto, M.S. Both principals warmly welcomed the new students and emphasized the new students to apply SHB’s visions (Knowledge, Faith, and Character) to their daily lives.

The first day focused on helping students become familiar with the school staff and environment. Teachers and staff members were introduced one by one, followed by a session on school rules delivered by Ms. Martha, the discipline coordinator. Students also received important information about counseling services from Ms. Bene. To lighten the mood, the Student Council (OSIS) organized an ice-breaking game aimed at assisting the students get to know one another better. During the activity, students from Grades 7 to 12 shared their names, birthdays, favorite colors, foods, and school subjects. In addition, the Student Council also conducted a School Tour specifically for Grade 7 and Grade 10 students to help them become familiar with the SHB areas and facilities.

Image: school tour with OSIS, MPLS Day 1

The next day, the MPLS activities began with an opening prayer, singing the national song, and reading the SHB Pledge. On the second day, (Tuesday, 15 July 2025), it was continued with various of activities, which one of them included is the announcement regarding the ECA (Extracurricular Activity) for the 2025/2026 academic year by Mr. Johan. After that, the school council held a School Travel game for students from grade 7 to grade 12. In this game, each group explores various areas in school while collecting signatures from the OSIS members. To achieve the signature, each group must complete the challenges given. The group that can successfully complete the challenges and collect all the signatures the fastest will be the winner. Other than that, students also received important informations and regulations regarding the services of the library, school administration, and the clinic.

Image: games from OSIS, MPLS Day 2

The school orientation continued on the final day, which took place on Wednesday, 16 July 2025. The activities began with a group prayer, reading the SHB Pledge, and the singing of the national anthem by all students. On the third day, students participated in a game prepared by the Student Council (OSIS) called Straw Tower. Where each group competed to build the tallest and most stable tower using only the provided straws. This game encouraged students to think strategically and creatively to solve problems, while also allowing them to practice team coordination through discussion, idea sharing, and collaborating during the execution of the task.

Image: games from OSIS, MPLS Day 3

Other than that, students also attended an informational session about School Culture, presented by the Junior High School Principal, Ms. Sisilia Juni Arianti, S.Pd, M.Pd., and the Senior High School Principal, Mr. Agustinus Joko Purwanto, M.S. Each principal explained the values, norms, attitudes, and habits practiced by students and other members of the school community, with the aim of sharpening students’character so that these positive values can be applied in their daily lives. Following this session, students are expected to grow into individuals who are not only academically intelligent, but also strong in character and behaviour,

Overall, the three day MPLS program provided a positive experience and impact for all students of Sekolah Harapan Bangsa. Through the series of activities such as, school introduction, explanations about the regulations, and collaborative games, students not only get to know the school environment better, but they also get to build constructive values including self confidence, togetherness, and responsibility. The MPLS program is also expected to strengthen the relationship between the new students and the teachers, seniors and juniors, and among their peers, creating a more comfortable learning space that supports the adaptation process in a new environment. In addition, values such as cooperations, discipline, mutual respect, and enthusiasm helps to develop the students from the beginning of the school year, thus becoming an important foundation for the students’ learning journey in the future.