It was a good start!

Though it was a lot of drama with my kids at home this week, life at work, has not been too bad. It was great too finally meet all my friends at work. I've been missing them. There's in fact a new addition to the panitia, turned out she was my boss for a work I did 4 years ago, I liked working with her and she is still the same nice lady I've known, so it is actually wonderful that she's now joining us here.

I like the classes I got, I hope to do more with the Form 3 classes this year. As some of these girls are getting me for the third year of their secondary school life. Not sure whether it's a pain or a bonus. I hope it's the latter. ahak ahak. I have not met the Form One yet, just hope that they would leave their immature, childish act in their former school and would not go 'teacher, teacher' everytime.
I am looking forward to meet them and scare them of their wits. Muahahaha. evil!

So here's hoping to a good year at work and at home.

Khairina and Dhaniyah First Day of School

Khairina

So it was Khairina first day of school today. I still remember her first day in kindi, when she was 4, how she was unhappy and cried when I had to leave the premise. Hence I'd imagined that it may be a drama today too as well although few weeks before that she told me how excited she is to be in Year One and she just can't wait for school to start soon. Not only that she had been parading her school outfit in front of everybody with socks and shoes on and backpack strapped on her shoulders. So I commented on hubby that should be a good sign ain't it?

And that reminded me of Nabil on the eve of his first school day where he went 'Abah, is it true that I'll be Year One tomorrow? I'm not ready,' and how that statement caught us off guard as we thought he is brave enough to go through Year One and everything will be plain sailing. How wrong we were!!!

Alright back to Khairina, so I was actually prepared for her to suddenly get nervous breakdown and that she may shed a few tears or even throw a tantrum so I told hubby to just stay on until recess.

That morning when I woke her up, I was pleased that she woke up with a smile, getting her ready was also easy, so when all 3 were ready I sent them off to their father's car.
While I was at work, I called hubby to see how thing went and he said everything's fine. Khairina is ok and she has managed to make few friends.

Khairina eagerly waiting for the lesson to start

As my timetable was quite free on Monday, I decided to check on her during her recess. I watched her from afar and she was doing so fine, she looked calm and confident, she chit-chatted with her new found bestfriend, they sat together and ate the food they brought from home. When I aprroached, she was pleasantly surprised to see me and a few minutes later, the big brother joined her for break and played his brotherly role pretty well, sitting next to the sister and making her comfortable in this new environment. I was overwhelmed, they are both big kids now that I had to put both my hands on my chest. (Read : emo+overeact).

When I told her, I need to go off, she just said "Pergilah" and when I asked "Will you be alright?' She went 'Yes, yes, Ibu pergi ajelah' and that made me sad. My girl is so big, she doesn't need me that much anymore. Waaaaaaaaa....! Letting go is never easy. Soon, before I know it she's going to get married and she'll forget about me. Waaaa....!! (ok ok that was overboard and way out of topic). sorry.

Look at that smile. This photo is taken right after recess


Engrossed in a discussion

That night when I asked her how she liked her school, she said she liked it because she can go shopping and I went Shopping?! Where?! And she went shopping in the school canteen, I like it Ibu, I like spending money in the canteen. Hah! Alamak who taught you this huh? Wonder where you get that idea from? And that night before going to bed she told hubby that he doesn't need him to wait in school anymore.

We got worried for nothing. She is doing fine. She likes school just hope she continues to like school for the next 10 years of her life.

Dhaniyah

Today was Dhaniyah's first day in a kindergarten. We opted for the afternoon session class as she has trouble waking up early in the morning. For the past 2 weeks we have been getting her prepared for school by reminding her she needs to go to school soon and making her repeat her class name and teacher's name.

She was not eager with the idea of going to school. When we asked her whether she looks forward for school, she will say 'school ada slide' so we weren't sure whether 'ada slide' is good enough to make her go to school. Nonetheless, it was difficult getting her ready today, but when was told that I'll be coming home to take her to school, she was ok.

Was happy at the very beginning


Busy colouring

She made no fuss entering the classroom, so I was happy and I thought this should be easy. I told her to sit down, she obliged, the teacher gave her a piece of paper, a picture of 2 pears for her to colour, she quickly took out her colour pencils and began to colour, she was doing a good job and I told her that I shall wait for her outside, she went 'Ok, tapi Ibu jangan pergi mana-mana ok?' and in my heart I went 'Oh Oh' so I stood there and from time to time she would lift up her head to make sure I was there. About half and hour later the principal told us to leave the premise and that the children are under their good care so while I was making myself to the exit I heard 'Nak Ibu, Nak Ibu' and I saw her running after me. I did not have the heart to leave her that way, that I carried her back to her classroom, she protested but after I promised that I shall wait for her she agreed.

She was sobbing here

Instead of sitting on the chair, she decided to sit on me and continued colouring, they were other kids crying too and I felt bad that I was the only parent there when the rest had left the building. I then coaxed her to sit on the chair and to make sure that I will not leave her, she had one hand holding the colour pencil and colouring the picture given and the other hand all the time holding my hand. Smart girl!

About 20 minutes later, the teacher told them to line-up so they can go to the sink to wash their hands and ready for snack so I took the opportunity to fled when I heard a loud wail of 'Nak Ibu, Nak Ibu, Ibu tipu Niyah' Alamak! My own daughter called me a penipu. What example have I set? What have I done. It was a tear-jerker, heart-wrenching but I had no choice so I left the place.

I waited for her to get back, when she did, she looked happy and when I asked 'Did you like school?' She said 'Best' and when I asked are you going tomorrow she answered 'yes' I was overjoyed until she said 'Besok Ibu kena hantar shaya pash tu tunggu shampai shaya balik tau, shebab nanti shaya nangish shebab shaya shedih shangat shangat pash tu shaya nangish banyak banyak'

Ayoyo! How now brown cow?

Stop Complaining, Start Contributing!

This post may offend some of my readers but I'm just merely stating the truth, if you're not happy please do not bother to read on and go visit other blogs that make you happy.

The week after the final-year exam, has been really stressful and hectic for us, the marking of papers and the preparation of the Charity Dinner this coming Friday night.

I'm proud to say, I'm a teacher of this school and usually the impression that I get when I say am a teacher of this school, that I'm lucky as it is an elite school where you can find all the rich people's and VIPs children here. They are not wrong but we don't get things that easy here as sadly it is difficult to get contributions from all these people.

I'm aware being a teacher you are bound to shoulder all kinds of responsibilities, and I don't intend to complain here, I do not mind at all but my heart is a bit heart-broken when all the effort done, do not really get the support from the students and their parents themselves.

Sometimes, I think to myself is it worth all the sacrifices made, though most of teachers only have the best interest of the students in their mind but my heart keeps questioning, is it all worth it when some of the students themselves do not care a hoot of what the school is doing for them?

Since we became the cluster school, especially this year,I believe the school has done so much to serve and to cater for the students needs, but what do we get in return? I can tell you this, not much.

I had to stay back whole of this week for the orchestra practices for the charity dinner. I came on Sunday too. We prepared new blouses for the girls, we prepared permission letters, we prepare working papers, we need to prepare food for them, we hired a bus, we are hiring the conductors, we have to pay arrangement for the songs, we are paying the vocal teacher on top of our core work which is teaching and all these done so that the girls will get the chance to play and showcase their talent for the Queen in Nikko Hotel. It's a big event and it is done to upgrade all the facilities that we have in school, we are trying to be 'the school of the future' and what we want in return is to get the support from the parents to make this a reality by contributing RM200 per seat for the dinner in the name of charity.

The sad thing is that some of the parents are not even aware of this BIG event as they were not told by their children though we have distributed the letter for all the parents and we even published it in our website. We got such poor response and some students can even say the are facing 'financial crisis'? FINANCIAL CRISIS? Mind you, these words blurted out came from the students who have drivers to take them home, whose parents car are dwarfing all the teachers' car, they carry handphones that are more expensive and sophisticated than mine, who wear watches which cost hundreds of ringgit, who are willing to pay hundreds of ringgit worth of ticket concert, who go for holiday overseas annually, whose parents are willing to buy Guitar Hero, PS2, PSP and they are not willing to fork out RM200 for the school. This event is all done for the benefits of the students, definitely not us the teachers, as to prepare such big event we are bogged down with just more work.

It is just sad to see this whole scenario happening in an environment where majority of the students come from such affluent and privilege families where we have to beg them to contribute for the school. It is just sad what more with what the school has done for the students 'the Musical Night, Mantap Minda, Majlis Restu, Graduation Night' just to name a few, and the only thing that we often received is the rising number of complaints from the students and the parents. So if you're not willing to contribute, please stop complaining.

So who can we blame when the students have such selfish act?

Ask not what the school can do for you but what you can do for the school.

P/S- I remember for the years I was in that school, I had been contributing to build-up of the surau, I did not get to enjoy the privilege then but it did not stop me contributing for the school.

To write and serve with love.

Come and show your school spirit!

I love going to Cheer competition. The excitement, the vibrant colours, the adrenalin rush when they execute the stunts never fail to impress me. Every year I drag my whole family to watch and to support my school team, the glamour 'D'starz', lucky me all my girls love watching cheer and so does my hubby as this his chance staring at sweet, young girls with short, skimpy outfit without getting the glare or awful remarks (ahak ahak).

So today we all came clad in orange t'shirt and I got everybody to wear orange. My hubby was a real sport as he wore orange t'shirt too. Remind me why I married him in the first place. I shouted at the top of my lungs when my team perform, although there were some minor glitches but overall they did a fantastic job.

Sadly today, not many came, so they did not get much cheer from the crowd. The purpose of me writing the blog today is to call out to all Sri Amanian out there, to get ready to get out, wear your orange shirt and come and support your school team 'D'starz' tomorrow. Bring the fans, banners, placards and don't forget to shout as loud as you can for 'D'starz' tomorrow.

See you there!(NOT!)

p/s - I was there today, so I did my part. (ahak! ahak!)

The Dancing Queens

So everybody, this is the video you guys been waiting for. Enjoy!

We really let ourselves loose and we had a lot of fun.
To all my students, you guys were a group of great and loud supporters. Thank you for the overwhelming cheer and applause.

At the backstage, nervous, getting ready to rock the floor. ahak ahak.

And my dear students, thank you for the lovely gifts, cards, cupcakes, muffin, cookies and chocolates. Love them all. The munchies were gone in a jiffy basically had to fight with the kids. So I get only to taste some and they were yummy and looking at the crumbs left on the floor, I think my kids agree with me too that my girls can bake and good at it. So thank you from the very bottom of my heart for being thoughtful and putting the effort in giving, finding me the gifts. I appreciate it. Thank you. <