THE DAY...

Well, it's that time of the year again (quote unquote the teachers in my school). For me, it's the first time for me, being officially a teacher of a form class, with my own kids to celebrate with, and also the first time I truly feel that I deserve the day to rest...

On Tuesday, the whole school went for a Staff Dinner, and I really feel fortunate to have such a good School Advisory COmmittee. They really pumped in the money for the staff dinner. Previously, one of the SAC members was the boss of the Zhen Fa live seafood restaurant, but if you all read the news, he actually passed away last year, and hence this year the venue was changed to Boon Lay Raja Restaurant, at Jurong East Interchange. I don't know by what standards such dinners should be set, but then this dinner was good by my standards. There was shark's fins (by the slices), one suckling pig, one roast peking duck...and other stuff. I thought that it was really good.

The three beauties: (from left, yours truly, Yen Ru and Evelyn...)Ning, Myself, Nazli and Cynthia (my mentor)
This was the first dish - the cold plate. I think it was quite unique, and it tasted good. There was lobster salad, scallop, some bacon roll and another don't know what it was...

As for the other dishes, I was too engrossed talking, laughing, gossipping and eating at the same time to pay attention to taking the photos.. (And by the way, the other men sitting at the table were too fast, and we had to fight to ensure that we had enough to eat.. haha)

This is a picture of all the SAC members, who have generously provided the funding for our dinner. In the middle, the only female in the picture, is out very nice principal, Mrs. Sng. She is indeed a very nice person; warm and fuzzy. I have really never seen a P like her...

Today was THE Day. The ACES Day that I had trained so hard for, and rehearsed so many times for, was postponed because of the stupid rain. The initial backup plan was for the pupils to do the exercise in the hall, level by level. However, it was "decided" that we postponed it to the TUesday after the start of school. Sheesh. Another one more week to stress over it, and another week of memorizing the stupid routines which I have choreographed with another two teachers.
At the start of the day, when I went to the hall to take attendance, these kids ran up to me one by one, shoving things into my hands, saying "Miss Lee, Na". I had to reject all of them, saying that I will only take it in class later on. They were a bit taken aback that I was rejecting them. What I was really thinking about was the real meaning behind giving the teachers presents on Teachers' Day.

And so, when I got back to class with them, I had a long talk with them. Ha (Talk about "sheesh...just want to give her a present ma..."). I asked them how many of them didn't buy any presents. Some of them raised their hands. The other kids were mocking them, saying "ooorrr, you never buy anything for Miss Lee". Then I thought I could talk to them. I wrote the idiom "it's the thought that counts" on the board, and asked them if they remembered what it meant. They did, and some kids were screaming the explanation to me, that if you mean to give someone something, it doesn't matter how big or small the gift was. I told them that they were right, and therefore there was no real need to get the present for me if they don't mean it. Then I told them that it was ok even if they just gave me a hug; that could mean even more than a very expensive present. And so, I asked if any of them would like to give me a hug. A few of the girls came up, started shy, and then after seeing one or two of them warm up to me, the others were more forthcoming.

YOu know how they say hugs are really therapeutic? Yes, they are. Just hugging them made me feel much better. I made them promise to be good kids today, as a good present for me. They were quite good, comparatively to the other days... hahah.

Here's my class. This photo is a bit blur.. taken by their art and craft teacher.

The girls. They are really quite sweet (most of them, anyway), but some of them can really drive you up the wall, especially the malay girl. SHe is always not bringing her stuff, and it always makes me mad... Like I always tell them, it's ok if they are slow; I can help them. But if they do not want to help themselves, there is nothing that I can do to help them.

The boys in my class. Generally the smarter gender in my class. They are also more creative and very academically inclined. See the handsome boy on the left of the picture? (The one behind the buy in P.E. T-shirt) He is my top student. So far, he had already gotten two storybooks from me for scoring full marks in the test. He's really good. AND WELL BEHAVED. RARE! The one beside him is the infamous Keefe Tok. He is really smart, and witty, but very very naughty. I have to thumb him down everyday. EVery other teachers are complaining about him. As for me, I am trying everyday...(really trying very hard), to see the beauty in him. He is really quite cute lah, but really too mischievious.

The gifts that they got for me. The cards were really quite sweet, but the one that touched me the most is the card on the left, made by Hafiz (one of the lower ability pupils in my class). it said "You are the most lovely teacher! Thanks!". Sigh. really melted my heart. Keefe's card also warmed me up. It was really quite sweet. One of the girls baked me two muffins. Sweet. All the gifts felt really sweet this year, because I really deserve it.

To all the teachers in the whole wide world, Happy Teachers' Day. It's been a hard year, and we all deserve it. =)