10hours

Spent a solid 10hours on the third day of the second week of “Back to School” today.

So far…
- house keepings
- attended Kindergarten Learning Forum
- checked/refilled learning corners
- cleared/packed term resources
- class furniture checking/shifting

- attended National Geo/Endo intro talk
- sat in meetingssssss
- reviewed and went through lesson plans for Phonics, Grammar, Math, Moral, Theme, Environmental Awareness, Art & Craft
- printed worksheet, activity sheet, letters for 4 classes
(for ~100 children)
- settled form classes’ stuff like name list, visitation list, observation list, name tags, birthday tags, inventory list etc
- typed/printed/sorted teaching resourcessssss

To be done in the next remainder days…
- “house” moving
- class boardsss
- fill up stationery
- set up classroom
- grouping/partnering for form classes
- do up Art & Craft samples

I was just thinking to myself otw back home from school…

Same Dec holiday. Same school period.
Same teaching level. Same working-together colleagues.
Different Miss Lim.

The “Miss Lim” two years ago when first joined the school was blur, quiet, closed-up, talk/smile-to-no-one and had a “Pls refrain from talking to me!” written on face when colleagues approached.

But the “Miss Lim” today is noisy, sharper (I think so?), super opened-up (haha!) and talk/smile-to-everyone and of course “Pls come and talk to me!” written on face when colleagues come near. =p

Personally I feel it is important to be comfortable with the work environment we are in…
It is also important to be comfortable with the people we work with…

With this, I can’t help but to thank God for not just giving me a great (but busy) school, a super two-thumbs-up principal and of course loving colleagues!

Though I am not the youngest among the staff but I am (very) well-loved and pampered.
Especially by my mentor, my Chinese teacher, my Level Head, my principal and Mrs HL.


Really thank God for the favor with man!

End

2011 school year has ended!
This year been pretty special… I was around for the beginning and end.

Ever since I started in this field, I never taken a “break” from teaching so Term1 was not really used to it when I was helping out at PreNursery and Nursery, more to like TA so no teaching.

Was then away for SOT for two terms.
During the two terms, was in contact with my principal and few close colleagues. Though I miss the little ones but due to “time difference”, wasn’t able to drop by.

Upon the completion of SOT, I went back after the agreement with principal that I will continue with them. Glad to know she welcomed me with opened arms.

Unlike Term1, Term4 seem to be “over-staff” thus with that I was not required to help out PreNursery or Nursery. But instead I was taken out to be in Task Force (first was alone, later part another two colleagues join in).

Really thank God for the stillness.
I have NEVER enjoy desk-bound job, I need to move/talk. Haha!

As principal didn’t want us to be disturbed thus we were not in the main office but to Level2 where there were no one else but just us.
In the beginning, I was alone, one and only in the office.
Already “challenging” for me to sit still and now no one for me to talk to. Haha! Can only self-entertain myself with music.


One term. Ten weeks.
I thank God for the fruitfulness!

All in all, I completed SOP for the entire school.
Lesson plans on “Environmental Awareness” for two levels for the whole of 2012.

I thank God for the wisdom too!
SOP had been something new to me but I thank God I managed to complete for the entire school.


It been “decades” since I last write lesson plans so to ask me to start and on a “new” subject, that’s definitely not easy and some more with the pressure that it is going to be for the whole year.

One conclusion at the end of the day… Miss Lim is never suitable for “office job”! Haha!

Looking forward to school year 2012 where Miss Lim will be back in the classroom TEACHING!
Next year gonna be busy and challenging as the school will be going through QRS.

Got to get myself ready for the commitment again!
Beside the daily teaching... the visitation, the markings, the callings, the observations etc etc etc.

Changed

Being in Early Childhood field for quite some years.

Started with PCF Kindergarten then to Cxxxxx Kindergarten which was later converted to HxxxxTxxx Childcare.
Now I am with Lxx Kindergarten.

3 different kindergartens… 3 different cultures…
3 different styles of concerts…

I must say that it is in current kindergarten where my perspectives and attitude toward the concert, the children @ concert, the rehearsal etc changed.

Tour Guide

Back to SOT moments…

I was like the “tour guide” when Teammate YG’s family and YG’s boyfriend and pastors came during the graduation week.

* On the last day of SOT…
Together with Teammate EM & Teammate HM & Teammate JI, we brought Teammate YG and family & Teammate JL and boyfriend to Sentosa.


We actually wanted to go USS but due to the sudden heavy rain, we decided not to waste the tickets.
So instead they had a tour in casino while the rest of us who didn’t have our passport with us stayed outside and chatted.
We also walked around and took lots of photos.


After which, we brought them to Chinatown for a wide spread of local food. It was a blessing from us… the local students.


Though spent quite a lot, for dinner and earlier late lunch but all was worth it. Glad that they enjoyed themselves despite a long tiring day.

* On the first night of graduation...
I brought Teammate YG and family & Teammate JL and boyfriend and pastors to Makansutra for dinner before a walk along the river and a short laser show @ MBS.


Though had to “sacrifice” having celebration dinner but all was worth it.
Glad that they loved the views and show.

* On one of the days during “Emotional Week”, I brought Teammate YG and family to Clarke Quay for pork rib soup lunch then walked them around.


Though I was tired (both physically and emotionally) but I thank God I had the time to fellowship with them.
Glad they enjoyed the food, the views and the company.

* On the day of their flight...
As Teammate YG’s flight was earlier than her family, Teammate EM and I “took care” of her family, brought them for lunch, showed them around, assisted their check-in before sending them off.


What’s the final conclusion after a week of being a “Tour Guide”?
I need to read up more about the history/current facts of Singapore. Hahaha!

Not wanting any reward but rather just doing what I can.
Since I'm more "free" and being good friend with Teammate YG and Teammate JL, thought that was the least I can do for them.


Glad to be able to be a blessing to them all.
Definitely more blessed to give than to receive!

Plug-In

The theme for this year Graduation cum Concert - Plug In


This year was different for me.
As I am “class-less” thus didn’t go through the full responsibility and busyness before, during and after concert.

Every year @ concert, the busier group will be the K2 Graduands.
They have more than one item. They have limited time to change.

As I had a year of experience of being with the K2 on concert, I was assigned to help one of the classes.

Though it was busy - seldom a moment to rest but it was fun.
They were involved for Graduation ceremony, Graduation items, Grand entrance, Concert item, Special items and Grand Finale.


Both nights of concert ended sweetly when I get to see many of my ex-students but only managed to take pic with three.


All in all, I’m glad and proud to be a part of “Plug In 2011”.

"Emotional" Week #4

Fri 26/8
Teammate YG and Teammate SM
The fourth and last day at the airport.


Was at the airport in the early afternoon.
This time was to send off the second last teammate, Teammate YG.

Team8’s representatives this time just my Team Leader and I.

@ the departure entrance, we almost had a heart-attack when Teammate YG couldn’t find her Student Pass. We were like “history repeating?!?!” But thank God it didn’t.


Goodbye my teammate, my friend and my study-kakis!
Goodbye Teammate YG! Gonna miss you too!


After we bid goodbye to her, Team Leader and I accompanied Teammate YG’s family whose flight was later in the late evening. We brought them around T3, a little shop, lunch before we helped them with check-in and then sent them off.


After that, we met up Teammate ME and Teammate LE to say goodbye to Teammate SM.
As that day we need to rush back to JW for meeting, we didn’t manage to see him off. But anyway Teammate SM had many people who came to send him.


Goodbye my teammate and my friend!
Goodbye my best mission-partner!

"Emotional" Week #3

Thurs 25/8 Teammate ZR

We met the night before to give her a farewell dinner. Majority of the local students turned up. It was a simple but heartwarming dinner.

@ the airport, few representatives from Team8 came to send her off. Her cg leader and members were there too.

Actually on our way to the departure entrance, though Teammate ZR didn’t show/say much but could already feel her emotion.

Hugs - that’s a must!

For us in Team8 - though by now, we should be “experts” in sending teammates off but whenever we reached “the moment”, we still have wobbly legs and “weak hearts”. Haha!

Though you could see little watery eyes but she was still smiling after the hugs from us.

But the “killing hug” came when one of her cg members hugged and whispered few words to her.

She cried.
The rest of us almost too but we held back.

Goodbye the first close friend I made in Team8!
Really gonna miss you, my buddy and my friend!