Brought some of the students from my form class out for lunch on Thursday. We couldn't decide between Pizza Hut or Sakae, so I asked them to vote. In the end, we decided on Pizza Hut.

Anyway, Xiyu had a new name on Thursday. She's called Taxi Chua. When we were walking to Westmall, I guess she's lazy to walk so she kept saying the word 'Taxi', and when I asked her whether she preferred Pizza Hut or Sakae, she replied 'Taxi'. Weird girl! There's probably the only word she knew at that point of time.

Took some pictures after we had finished eating, and it was taken after much coercion by the evil teacher. Haha.

Anyway, Taxi Chua only ate a piece of the pizza and she's full. Some of the boys ate three pieces and she lied that she had already eaten two pieces, which was clearly a lie. She even hid her plate under the table so that we couldn't put the pizza on her table. Gosh! How childish she can get. I took a picture of that, but decided not to post instead to save her the embarrassment. Jason must be very angry when he read this.

Yes Jason, maybe it would be a wiser choice to bring you there as you would not waste the food. Next time k, and that next time will come, don't worry, during the holidays with you, Brandon and Hong Sing.

Took a picture with my wonderful chairman and vice-chairwoman who have worked very hard throughout the year. Really appreciate their help in managing the class and assisting the teachers. If I still get the chance to be their form teacher next year, they will still be my number one choice as the chairman and vice-chairwoman.

That's the evil mama with her son. Poor Brian had to take the picture so many times because the evil teacher was so fussy over how she looked in the picture. Haha. Can't help it lah, when the evil mama is so fat and ugly. Haha. Then my poor son doesn't mind coordinating with his mama so that she would look a tiny bit smaller in the picture.

Doesn't my son look cute in the picture with his small eyes and dimples and his disgustingly fair skin? Haha. And Brian was so frustrated with me because of my small eyes. Instead of the usual '1, 2, 3, Smile', he said '1, 2, 3, Open your eyes' Haha.

Oh ya, my son was such a disgrace in the restaurant. Super disgusting and childish. So big already still played with the straw and blew the ice from the straw, and when there's no more ice for him to blow, he sucked tissue paper and blew it at my wonderful chairman, to the extent that my good-natured chairman was frustrated. Hong Sing grabbed the tissue balls that Leonard had blown on his face and smeared it on Leonard's face, so that Leonard would get a taste of how smelly his saliva was.

Gosh, shan't bring him out again anymore until he promises to behave himself in the restaurant. Oh ya, evil mama is going to threaten my son with the pictures that we took when he was so engrossed in his childish act. He looked so deformed in the pictures. Haha.

Anyway, side-track a bit, haha. When I first saw Francesca, she reminded me of Denise Keller. She does share some resemblance to the famous model and VJ for MTV Asia. I thought Leonard and her look quite good together. Haha. But too bad, my whiny son doesn't know how to appreciate good girls.

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Now that exams are over and the holidays are here for the Lower Secondary students, I thought that teachers should be freer now, but it doesn't seem like it. Gosh, there are still so many things to see to. There are still 2 reports to write for the Learning Circles Project and the Jobscope Committee. Then there are so many events coming up for the CCA, the NSI competition and the visit to Microsoft, completion of the videos for the Schools Digital Media Awards, the mass updating of the NYAA booklets and the IDA Infocomm Club 2nd Anniversary Celebration cum Awards Ceremony.

The Secondary Three students are still having their foundation programme and I haven't even planned the lessons for my 3T1 English and worst still, I'll be teaching them CPA too even though I don't teach them this year. Siraj and Mr Ong are not able to teach them during the foundation programme as Siraj is the CPE for O levels in Bukit Batok Sec and Mr Ong is out for invigilation. Why is he out for invigilation even though he has classes to teach?

Haiz. No choice, I guess, the onus will be on me to take them since I'll be teaching them CPA next year, but I'm still not familiar with the new syllabus yet. My current batch of 4T1 is the last batch taking the old syllabus. Need to spend my Sunday planning the lessons.

In the midst of all these, the teachers still have to pack their stuff and we need to vacate the old staff room and move to the temporary staff room by next Wednesday. Oh man, it's really a hassle to pack everything. After four years in Bukit View, there are so many things that I've accumulated and it's time to dump those things that I don't need. I havent had the time to file the worksheets yet, and yes, many teachers have dumped many stacks of paper into the recycle bins.

Well, we can't really complain as the school is renovating the staff room for our own good. Our current staff room is really pathetically small compared to other schools where their staff rooms are so much bigger, and they have their own cubicles instead of a small table. But we will only get to enjoy the new staff room in late March, so we have to squat in the temporary staff room for the next few months.

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I have just received notification regarding the details of the Award Ceremony for the Panasonic Kids Witness News (KWN) competition. It will be on 7 November 2007 at Capital Tower, STI Auditorium. Let's keep our fingers crossed that there will be good news. Swathi and Raseena must be really anxious now and can't wait for 7 November to arrive.

For the submission of the video, the students managed to do an interview with Shyam during one of his trainings at Ngee Ann Polytechnic. They really had the foresight to ask him in advance when he was in our school for his teaching experience.

Here's some pictures that I've taken during the interview.

We have really worked very hard for the competition. Let's hope we can be rewarded for the effort that we have put in.

I still have other things that I want to blog about, but I'm really tired now. Zzz, next post then.



All the best to those students who are taking the O levels. The crucial English Language paper is on Monday. Good Luck. Study hard and persevere for the final hurdle that you need to clear for your secondary school education. Remember to take care of your health as you can't afford to fall sick now.

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Saturday, October 20, 2007

It's Promotion Day, a day to discuss the promotion status of the students. Well, those who deserved to be promoted are promoted even though some of them missed the criteria by only a few marks, and those who don't deserve to be promoted are retained or laterally transferred to Normal Academic.

Of course, it's not a perfect world out there, all in the name of Consistency. That's a nicer way to put it. There are some students who do not deserve to be promoted, and yet they are promoted because they are just plain lucky, even though they have serious attitude problem and couldn't be bothered with their studies.

But I always believe God is fair. They can't be lucky all the time. If they can barely scrap through this year, unless they work doubly hard or triply hard, they will encounter the same problem next year.

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Finally had the chance to meet up with Esther today. She's back in Singapore two weeks ago. I was unable to meet up with her because we were all so busy with marking.

The royal family had our gathering today at Cafe Cartel. Grandmama wasn't present but Patsy joined us. The five of us had a good time catching up with one another, and did our 'sharing' on the things happening in school. It's been a long time since we had a good chat like this, something that we were unable to do due to the marking madness.

Now that we have some time to spare, we had our 'fellowship' time in a relaxed manner to keep ourselves sane and updated at the same time. Haha. Gosh, so many things had happened in school and we were not aware of it. Plus, there are going to be so many changes next year. Let's keep our fingers crossed.

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Anyway, Mrs Tan spoke to me in the afternoon. Grace spoke to me and Mr Lau spoke to me too. Patsy and Siraj said that it was a good opportunity. Is that good news or bad news? I don't know either. Haiz.

Should I take it up? If I were to take it up, that means my teaching load will be reduced by a quarter, fewer teaching periods and fewer classes to teach. Sounds like a good offer ar. The management recognises my ability and I will have fewer teaching periods. But I really don't think so.

More responsibility and more work would come with the offer. It's all in the package. I can't reject the offer right? Like what Patsy said, if I don't take up the offer, then what am i going to do? Remain stagnant in this profession?

I really don't mind accepting the added responsibility, until the reality slapped me real hard on my face. Reduce teaching periods - doesn't that equate to taking away one of my classes? That is really one area that I really can't take it positively. You gain some, but you will lose some right? You can't have the best of both worlds.

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How would you choose if you were me?

1E1 is my dearest form class. Even though some of them are mischievous and talkative and noisy, they are still adorable and lovable in their own ways, my group of wonderful girls who are so thoughtful and do not give me any major problem at all, my Indian contingent, the cute Korean councillor in my class, and many other students, and of course not forgetting my dear whiny son whom I've picked up from the dustbin and thrown down from the window so many times when I was angry with him, and my wonderful Leng Leng chairman.

Then there is my precious 1E4, the class which has given me so much joy and laughter during the lessons, especially from the 47-chromosomes retard. Then, my moo-moo son and my talented son are there too, and not forgetting my favourite EL rep who shares the same surname as the evil teacher, and my wonderful and humble star student.

Last, but not least, my dear 3T1. Since it's not an easy class to manage, the wise choice would be to abandon them right? That's not what I feel. In fact, i really feel that this class is the under-privileged class. Under-privileged because of their disadvantaged family background, and the fact that they have a lot of potential that are not utilised properly yet.

Even though some of them could be so naughty and stubborn at times, they have really touched my heart in their own special ways. There's really a great sense of satisfaction derived from teaching that class.

When I saw the effort they had put in for their End-of-year examinations, I was really impressed. Deep down in my heart I told myself at that time: I am really determined to guide them through their N levels next year, so that they can do well for the examinations and feel good of their achievements.

Then there's my dear Aloysious. I still remember that he was such a bright boy in Secondary One. He was my favourite CPA rep at that time and he was so enthusiastic about his work. He was such a darling. I told him that a few weeks ago when I took him, Wei An and Ming Kwang out for sushi buffet.

I didn't teach him when he was in Secondary Two. I was so disappointed to learn that he had changed so much to become such a defiant student. I was thinking: what kind of changes had he experienced at that stage of life that could cause such a drastic change in him?

When I learnt that I was going to teach this class again, not CPA but EL, I told myself that I can't lose this boy anymore. I must really bring the good Aloysious back again. I guess I have managed to do that. Although it's not the same old good Aloysious, I am really glad that he has responded well to me.

When I read what he had written in his composition for the examination, that he really appreciated what I have done for him and that I reminded him of his mama, I was really touched even though he claimed that he was just writing nonsense. I chose to believe what I had read because it just made me feel good of myself. Haha.

Oh please, I'm not so thick-skinned k, haha. Through the interactions that I have with him and the many little things that he had done for me because 'I give you face then I do for you' as quoted by him always, I know there is definitely a strong rapport that I shared with him, and he is slowly on the right track to become a good student and a good son.

Oh ya, I was really disappointed that he wasn't able to go for the OSL Batam trip because I strongly believe that it would be a good learning experience that would benefit him. But sigh, family commitment at home disallows him to go for that trip.

Haha, I think I've digressed from the main issue. haha.

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Seriously, these are the three classes that I feel so much for, and it's really hard to let go of any one of the classes.

Then like what the humble student had asked me, can I still keep all the three classes even though I have taken up that responsibility? I would love to do that but would I be able to handle that? Would I be able to juggle my time well?

My two Sec one classes will be having their streaming next year and my 3T1 will be taking their N level next year. These are all the important phrases of their education, so I really cannot afford to 'play play' wo. It would not be fair for them too if I was unable to devote my time to them. Then wouldn't it be better for them if another teacher was to take over the class? They would be in good hands right?

I cannot be so selfish to hold on tightly to them at their own expenses when their futures are at stake.

"Bee Lee, you must really learn to detach yourself from the classes and learn to let go," Patsy told the emotional me point-blank in my face. Even though that statement hurt, I can't deny that she had truly identified my concern.

Oh man, I really hate to be caught in such a dilemma. It's really hard to make a choice between these three classes. It just reminded me of the incident that happened three years ago. Will history repeat itself again? But history is kinder to me now right, that I have the time to ponder over this issue than to be caught unaware of the whole situation till the last week before school reopens?

But I think the kindness will just stop at that, nothing more for the evil teacher because she has done enough evil to be bestowed such 'retribution'. haha. Then again, why am I thinking so much? Maybe the classes will rejoice when they know that I might not be teaching them next year so that they do not need to suffer under the hands of the evil teacher. They will be freed of such torture and ill-treatment. Picture this: Toasting of the champagne!!

The humble student said that he won't be happy about that because he was not a 'wang en fu yi' person. haha. I have not wasted my time and effort on this thoughtful student after all. Haha.

All these would be finalised when I see Grace for work review next week. No point harping too much about this issue right. God will make the final decision that He feel would be beneficial for me. Hopefully by then, I would learn to accept the cruel fact. However, in the meantime, the response to this whole issue is still Arghhh.......

2:23 am
Bee Lee

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Tuesday, October 16, 2007

Phew! Finally, I'm done with my puking. Haha.

Which means no more marking for the year. Horrray!

Thank God for the long weekend. I guess teachers especially appreciated the long weekend to clear the disgusting exam markings, which explains why I wouold associate marking with puking.

Checking of scripts will be done in another few more hours. Sigh, and that more or less seals the fate for some students. Let's hope everyone will pass English, but that's quite impossible. Or rather, let's hope that those who have worked hard and those deserving students will have their wishes granted.

Have been used to keeping late nights for the past few days, so much so that I can't get to sleep even though there's no more marking. So not used to the idle life, so I did some colouring today when I was bored. Haha. Pictures of the Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

Don't laugh. Your eyes are not playing tricks on you, and I know it's hard to associate the evil teacher with what you have read. Haha. But can't help it, I guess. The last time when I bought the colouring books with Chris, Popular only had fairy tales or cartoon characters, and the limited options that I have at home are only Dora, Snow White, Care Bears and Winnie the Pooh. Must go and stock up on the colouring books. Where to get colouring books other than those childish fairy tales and cartoon characters? Those are for the elementary level. I'm in the Intermediate or Advanced level. Haha.

Oh ya, I hate the colour Beige. Hate to colour the face and the body with that colour. Yucks. Will post the 'Masterpieces' when I have the time, Haha.

Let's see what are the things I need to clear - Marks Analysis, Marker's report, HRC remarks for my Form class, Preparations for the OSL Batam trip and the Sec One Councillors and PSL camp.

Beside those serious work that I need to work, I have tons of things to blog. Haha. Knowing the naggy and evil nature of me, I definitely have loads of things to share and pictures to post.

Another day then. The Zzz monster is finally here. Haha.

2:03 am
Bee Lee

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