What? When? How? Who?

“What to play?” “How to play? How to do the props needed?”
“When to do?” “Who to ask for help as I'm a ... person when it comes to art?”
... questions that went through my mind when I was told by Boss S that I'm doing game for JAMs Xmas.

Unlike normal svc, big day's games can be quite challenging.
Though this is my xth time doing big day's games but if you ask me, "are you nervous?!" The answer is .. .. .. OF COURSE!
=) But to me, is always a great privilege to be doing games segment for big day. Am not a very “steady” person when it comes to speech/presentation so the fact that Im chosen ... is a miracle! Haha!

JAMs Xmas 2007 ... Magic theme!
What games will Teacher Rick & Teacher Yanni play?
What props are they going to make?
=) Let's wait and see ... meantime you can be a great help by keeping them in PRAYERS!

Recently wanted to find some “creative juice” so looked through the games photos for last 2 years' big day. Is very coooooooool wor! =)
Of course total credits don't go to me but fellow helpful & creative workers who offered help!

National Day 2005 - SnAkE & LaDdEr (the late nightsssss of hard works by Cher Szeming, Cher Huimin & I).

Wowow! Don't you think it looked great on stage?!?! =) One of the props I'm most "proud" of.

Christmas 2007 - @@ at all the presentssssss ... hands-wrapped by few workers!

Little Snowman...

Pass Candy Canes Competition... =) all those colourful equipment was kindly "borrowed" from my previous kindergarten! Can still remembered how I will go back to school in the early morning and cab them to church.

See! =) Thanks guys!

National Day 2006

*tears* don't play play ... 18 letters! Other than the letters where I asked my colleague to help me write, the rest I did myself: the sticking & the wrapping.
AFTER the game ... all threw away! Argghhh ... .... so sad!

Christmas 2006 - props' team (Cher Jinzhi, Cher Szeming, Cher Karen, Cher Huimin & Cher Yanni) @ work ... on 2 mega xmas trees, 2 mega stars & 2 mega boxes!

Nice ar! =) The few props that wasn't throw away immediately after big day. It was being reuse for couple of times!

Cher Karen's masterpiece! =)

*clap clap clap* The 2 EXPENSIVE Xmas Trees! =)
Surely this 2 trees don't come easily! Haha!

*the most important moment* ... the "LAST" appearance for the trees before they goes into the d_st_n! Haha!

$$$

Last week being our 1^st week of holiday, one of my colleagues Cher W & I hosted a 3 days “Exploration Enrichment Holiday Program” for some of our school's children.

1st day was @ Botanic Garden ... thank God for GOOD WEATHER! =)
Cause of the “bad unexpected weather” for the past few days, I did include this item in my QT and true indeed that morning not only it didn't rain, the weather was not warm too ... it was perfect. After the outing, Cher W just cant stop talking about it, on how amazed she was by the weather (as the night before it was pouring heavily). I told her I prayed (she was a non believer). Then she agreed and even told me to go church and share the good report.

Thank God for His PROTECTION! =)
That day, we allowed the children to not walk in twos or hold partner's hands ... we allowed them FREEDOM (but of course under our close supervision) as we thought since we are out in the nature so no point being so controlling over them.

We collected $xxx from the parents for this 3 days program and the $$$ was divided equally just between my colleague & I as our principal didnt requested us to contribute to the school.
3 days, 12hours - I managed to earn $3xx which really a lot a lot. This $$$ come just on time for my Arise & Build. Thank God for the extra income!
Just a thought... wait till my colleague & I more “stable”, maybe we can quit our job and focus on doing such program. Wooooo!

@ Cactus Garden

it was peaceful and quiet UNTIL........

little "angels" came!!! Muahaha!!!

wooo... special guest-appearance?!?!

Shhhh... let me check this leaves out!

iM aFfEcTeD...

Had school's orientation during the last weekend of school, for parents of ex, present & future children. Right from the start was already “trembling” as was told that I need to give a short presentation to parents about next year's new curriculum.

Everything went off well UNTIL parent ABC came. It was during one-to-one time where she voiced out, there was no smile & no greeting from ABC. ABC had a look that going to overthrow everything and a look that ABC is all out to “attack” teachers. But worse was when ABC had a harsh tone throughout the conversation, a tone that may just start a “war”. (am not exaggerating).

“hncaabdsjsdajasitumasdkasdot” ... the moment parent ABC made that kind of remarks, my mood went all the way down! After parent ABC left, the biggest “challenge” to me is to brace myself up and carry on for the rest of the meeting and even to force a smile out.

1 bad remarks received ... does 1 or more good remarks “heal” the “wound” in my heart?
Not at all I supposed.

After parent ABC left, there were many good comments/praises (for school and personally for me) made by parents:
. their child love the kindergarten
. loved and greatly influenced by the teachers
. their child benefitted from the teaching system
. their child enjoyed Cher Lim's lesson
etc etc etc etc

But still none of the good comments was able to lift me up.
Haiz... guess we just cant please all the parents?

** Do your best and let God do the rest **

tHe EnD...

Term 4 was buuuuuussssssssssssssssy!
More than just the late nights, I guess I'm down physically by all the works that I need to accomplish within a tight period. But thank God for His strength, really, that kept me through. =)
~ It started few months earlier during the season of intense concert preparation.
~ During last few weeks of Term4, on top of the concert's busyness, there's more stuffs given. like to make sure children complete stacks of worksheet, works to mark/sort, filing, testimonials, report books and other admins.
~ To make it more “exciting”, there was a BIG change to next year curriculum so on top of everything, I need to digest the new curriculum fast so as to be better prepared for the orientation with parents on the last weekend of school.

As I looked back to my one year in C_n_a_ Kindergarten ... it was a pleasant one!
~ As compared to previous kindergarten, the teaching system here very different ... THANK GOD for the wisdom & grace that I was able to switch over well. Though struggling to cope in the beginning but better when I get the hang of it.
~ Also the favor from principal, colleagues, parents & children. Just being my 1st year, I was given much responsibilities from boss ... THANK GOD & also for the confidence to communicate & good rapport with parents.
~ The children was awesome! It was a great one year with the children, especially the K2 who be moving on to next phrase of their life next year.
Though at times (most of the times actually ... haha) they really can drives me up the wall but still they are class of nice, interesting, sweet, loving, happy children.
=) going to miss them!

Check out some of them... ...

=) Our school's "Miss Gorgeous" ... thats what us the staff & even her friends always call her in school.
Best of all, she herself also acknowledged that. Haha!

Miss Koo ... a nice girl who never fails to always make my day! =)

Mr Tan = Mr Gentleman! =)

Miss Ng, an outstanding student! =)
I always like to "disturb" her by placing my palm over her face! HeEhEe!

=) K2 boys ... what can I say, what can I say?!?!?!

HoOoOoOrAy!

FINALLY...
after mths of trainings, practices, scoldings, naggings (opps! haha!) ... my school's Concert & Graduation Ceremony ended successfully! PTL! =)

Though this my 1^st year with the school, I was given much responsibilities. Together with another colleague, we like the coordinators for the whole ceremony, our “job” to make sure everything went smoothly.
=) Thank God for favor & opportunity!

Just when everyone think the stage looked great, the backstage was in MESS- talkingss & talkingss, children everywhere entertaining themselves in many ways, teachers changing costumes for children, teachers getting children ready etc etc etc. But still in the midst of "chaos", item by item managed to carry out smoothly.
=) Thank God for the success & good team work with colleagues!

My “greatest joy” was still to see the success of the 2 dance items that I'm totally in-charge of. From recommendation of songs to the dance steps (some “pirated” from JAMs ... opps!) to trainings of children was done by Cher Lim & Cher Lim only.
=) Thank God for His strength & PATIENCE!.

It can be quite a challenge to want see all children dance perfectly together with similar coordination. You may have children who are good but still bound to have three or four who will play you out. On the actual day, after I sent forth my children out to dance, I just stood at the backstage to use “eyes power” to “communicate” with them. Haha! Though wasn't very perfect but I could feel a “kandong-ness” as I see each child gave their best shot (as compared to their practices) and received the applause/good comments from audience.

Way earlier, I promised K2 children reward after their concert, asked them what they wanted instead. One child replied, “Cher Lim, later you waste $$$”. I replied him & rest, “Is ok! I know you all practice hard for the concert. Is a reward for all of you!” =)

Is my way to give salute to the graduands - not only they need to memorize the procedure of the whole concert (as they are the main stars that night), they also need to memorize 2 different dance's moves, individual speech in Eng/Chi and also a speech on behalf of classmates. Wow!

Mr HaNdSomE & MiSs BeAuTy, our co-hosts for the night...

children waiting "patiently" for their turn to perform...

=) some of the K2 graduands...

HoW tImEs...

I was cordially invited to my ex-kindergarten's Graduation Concert yesterday. Their 2008's graduands are actually the last batch of K1 I taught last year before I left the school.

the boy, my “godson” who I will give special “treatment” ... graduated
the boy who rolled & twisted on the floor, climbed and jumped off table ... graduated
the boy who made me vomitted blood ... graduated
the girl who can always “stepped” my toes ... graduated
the boys who zzzzzzz easily during lesson time ... graduated
the sweeeeet boy who touched my heart ... graduated
the class who always made my day ... graduated
the class who always made me very “fearful” of entering ... graduated

It was a pleasant night to see the grown-up and changed (physically) children in their graduation gown and to see them put up great performances. It was also a time of catching up with few ex-student's parents.

One of them, my “godson's” aunties, they told me that the star sticker I once gave to “godson” is still on their fridge as “godson” instructed them not to throw away because it is from Teacher Yanni. =) ~super kandong


Wow! this boy once touched my heart ... a great gentleboy!

twin brothers!

handsome boy ar! guess he must have spent quite a while at home before he can make his way to school. Haha! =) He always made my day!

hEeHeE... the boy who I will give SPECIAL "treatment"!

=) the children are always ready for shots!

oppps! supper unwillingly?!?!

=) though small but.....

=) he is the boy! the boy! the boy!

nEw ChIlDrEn'S taLk 7 ... lAsT oF 2007

sCeNe 1
+ class work time +
Child N (evangelist) was doing her work & chit chatting @ the same time with Child K
+ Cher Lim sitting purposely came and sit near them as know Child N may “preach” +
Child N: ... ... You know hor, you cannot play awfully
Child K: + innocently listening +
Child N: Later you play awfully ... Satan will take control of you
Child K: @@! Satan! Satan is a bad guy right!
Child N: Yes! Remember I got teach you right! Satan... Satan is a bad guy!
Child K: + listening +
... ... ... conversation went on ... ... ...
Child N: Jesus... Jesus is your father!
Child K: @@! My father name is ___ ___ ___
Child N: Yesh! But you have 2 fathers!
Child Z: + opp Child N + My father name is ____
... ... ... conversation continued ... ... ...
Child N: You... You must tell your mummy about God ok
Child K: + listening very attentively ... UNTIL legs went up the table +
Huh! But my mummy dont know Jesus
Child N: Then ... then you must tell your mummy about Jesus & God

sCeNe 2
+ due to the outbreak of HFMD over at our centre few mths back, we had to have thorough check +
Mdm L: + check on Child L +
Hmmm... Cher Wong, come and take a look at him
Cher Wong: + check on Child L from top to bottom +
Hmmm... Cher Lim, come over here!
Cher Lim: + went over and continued the check +
Oh! he has some red spots
Cher Wong: Child L, what are all these (pointing to the red spots)?
Child L: + very serious look + I... fall down on the grass
Cher Wong & Cher Lim: @@! + speechless +
++ Child L become a “suspect” so all teachers alerted ++
+ Principal: came and did another thorough check +
Child L: + cant take it anymore + suuppper serious look +
How... How many minutes are you done with me?
Principal: + shocked by how he phrased himself +
Cher Lim: + giggled + Child L, wait a while more ok
Principal: + final check +Mdm Tan & Principal came over +
Child L: + verrry serious look +
Ok already!?
Principal: =) Ok already!
Cher Lim: Let's go, Child L.
++ Child L safe ... not HFMD ++

sCeNe 3
+ play time +
Child R & Child I had some “quarrel” with Child K
+ Cher Lim heard it but didnt want interfere ... wants to see how they solve the problem +
Child I: ... Later we all dont friend you ...
Child R: Ya lohz!
Child K: Dont friend then dont friend lohz
Child I: My house... My house got gun you know! (attn! Is toy gun! Haha!)
Child R: Ya lohz! I also have!
Child K: + silence +
Child I: I also have “knife” ... tomorrow I bring
Child R: + indigestion of Child I's words + Huh!?! Real or fake one?
Cher Lim: + overheard + Haha! Children's imagination does run WILD~~~

sCeNe 4
Cher Lim: Child D, come here!
Child D: Yes?
Cher Lim: What happened to your eyes?
Child D: My eyes... My eyes got something wrong
Cher Lim: Hmm... something wrong?! Haha!

sCeNe 5
+ dismissal time +
Child E: + sobz face + Cher Lim, I... I have stomachache
Cher Lim: Oh! You need to go to the toilet?
Child E: + shaked her head with tears slowly filled her eyes +
Cher Lim: + knowing Child E is quite an emotional girl +
Ah! Dont cry. I apply oil for you then you rest a while. You be fine.
Child E: + burst out crying +
Cher Lim: Aiyoyoyo!
Child E: + secs later after she went back to her seat, she BURST out crying again +
Children: Oh ... what happened to Child E?!?!
Cher Lim: Ok! Child E, dont cry already. You going home soon.
Child E: + crying mode + The... the bus drive... drive very fast... I cannot... I cannot breathe
+ burst out crying even LOUDER +
Cher Lim: + flipped +

sCeNe 6
Child Z (6yrs old): Cher Lim, see! This is my new watch!
Cher Lim: Wow! Do you know what time is it now?
Child Z: Yes... now is 1.36pm
Cher Lim: @@! Now is not even 12pm. Now is only 11.36am
Child Z: ~ dont want to be defeated look~ OH! Mine is faster.
Cher Lim: ~ flipped ~ toooo fast already!
Child Z: Hahaha!

CaN yOu??

Some thoughts of mine this week...

Can you work under pressure? Can you not lose your cool in midst of pressure?
Can you work well in midst of crowd? Can you handle pressure & crowd?

=)

I'm blessed with weeks of FREEEEEEEEEE rides on buses & trains.

For the very first time ... I'm blessed this way – Boss J blessed me with $xx top up to my ezlink card. Now whenever I tap on board, I feel like a rich passenger! Haha!

Boss J ... I know you be reading this ... is YOU is YOU! =)
Though very pai seh to accept but still ... thank you very much!

mY 23rD...

wItH mY gReAtEsT fRiEnDs @ AiRpOrT

IrIs Da-JiE wAs ThErE tOo!

mY pReSeNt FrOm Cg ... dRuM rOlL pls!

dInNeR wItH bS-gRp ... Da-JiEsSsS tHeRE toOo

mY bDaE cArD fRoM mY fRiEnDs In JaMs

GuEsT-aPpEaRaNcE bY mRs ChIa! =)

=) mY fRiEnDsSsSsSsSsSssSSSsss


sOOooooOOOOoooOOOoo hAnDsOmE!!!

L.O.V.E

Recently God added to w5 a very interesting & “challenging” student, ST. I ever shared about her in one of my blogs. As much as ST's family wants her to come to JAMs, ST just can't as she tends to OVER-sleep.

Praise the Lord! With God @ work + prayers + visitations = miracle! =) Last weekend was actually ST's 3^rd week @ JAMs. Every week not only was she able to wake up on time, she was also all dressed-up before our bus reach.

During 2^nd week visit to her house, before my helper and I reach their doorstep, we heard ST's loooooud cry. Throughout our stay, she didn't stop crying (she cried BEFORE we reached, DURING our stay and AFTER we left) and it seem no one in the family can/want stop/coax her.
There she was in her hot & stuffy room, sweating all over as she refused to turn on the fan, crying non-stop, with xxxx “swinging” from her nose. That “scene” was just unbearable ... to a point I made a prayer in my heart, “God! Come and bring peace to her!”
The grandma shared with us about ST's relationship with her elder sister ... felt my heart dropped. On one hand I'm “disappointed” with the elder sister's actions but on the other, I can also understand why. With her family environment, it also pretty hard on the sister.

For the 1^st & 2^nd week @ JAMs, it was a “challenge” to workers who was in contact with her & also myself. Her “style” - when service went for 30mins, she will cry, cry and cry. Trust me, she REALLLLLLLY cry! As told, ST cannot stay @ a place for more than half an hour, once time up, she will cry and want to go home. Not just in church, when ST @ her relative's house also same “style”.

Last weekend @ JAMs - service went on for 20mins, 23mins, 26mins, 29mins ... I went to her @ 30mins ... she was =) -ing. *thank God* It was during praise, though she didnt stand to sing but saw her very engrossed with the “happenings” on stage. Guess what, she didn't just pull through 30mins, she actually pull through the ENTIRE service and without tears. She was pretty happy during dismissal too, only asking for milo! Haha!

Trust me ... ... ... I'm soooooooooo happie! =)
Prayers works!
Earlier on our way to church, we pray for ST as a bus that God will give her the peace and she will not cry during service.

Through all the interactions I had with ST and her family, the visitations, the “stories” heard... one line of a song came alive to me:
“show me how to love like You have love me”

Is always so easy to love the lovable but not the unlovable.
Who will you love?

pHoToS #2 ... JAMs StUdEnTs

ChEr YaNnI & ChEr RyAn with Mr Sato!
- whenever our "V.I.P", Mr Sato comes JAMs ... he will have "special treament". a personal security attached to him

ChEr ElIs & ChEr YaNnI trying verrrrrrry hard to take picture with the 2 super "willing" hunks ... hEeHeE!

ChEr YaNnI with Keyang .... again! Haha!
- every week @ JAMs, is a must for ChEr YaNnI to say hi to him

ChEr YaNnI with handsome TeReNce ... but rather camera-shy ar! heeHEEhee!

Cher YaNnI with little Lisha ... all the way from Thailand =)

ChEr YaNnI with Mr Chua ... =)
- He is the man! Haha ... the man who can make ChEr YaNnI "angry & happy" at the same time! =)

ChEr YaNnI with Larry @ expo ... a gooooood boy!

CheRsssss with little Malcolm & grandmother! =)

mY pHoToSsSs

SURPRISE! Photossss @ Yanni's blog for the ... 1st time! Haha!

Recently, one of my friends “enlightened” me about how easssssssy it is to upload photos to blogger. All along was told need to use html to upload then as I am not a “computer expert”, didn't try or even explore anymore UNTIL..... *shy* Haha! Have many photossss to share with you guys ... do check it out! =)

Let me start with my beloved w5, one of the “highlights” for w5 students, especially the higher ones will be birthday celebrations.
In 2007......

NeW cHiLdReN tAlK 6

sCeNe #1
Child N (5yrs old): Cher Lim, you know hor, you must tell the K2 dont say bad things
Cher Lim: -shocked by her sudden comment- Hmmm ... ok!
Child N: you know we say bad things ... the Holy Spirit & Jesus will cry and Satan will laugh
Cher Lim: Hmm... how come Satan will laugh?
Child N: Satan will come to us and say, “poo poo” (when Child N said that in Mandarin, she whisper to herself ... trying to show Satan whisper thoughts to us) and then we say out “poo poo”
Cher Lim: Oh... like that ar. Who is Holy Spirit? Is Holy Spirit powerful?
Child N: Yes! ~very convicted~ Holy Spirit is very powerful
Cher Lim: Then how come Holy Spirit never destroy Satan
Child N: -being challenged- ... ... Holy Spirit will destroy Satan but you must wait ok
Cher Lim: Oh ... okok!
~conversation ended because Child N need to go home~

sCeNe #2
Boy J (4yrs old): Mdm T, you know hor... tomorrow I am not coming to school
Mdm T: ~pretty worried~ Why? Why you not coming to school
Boy J: ~serious look~ Because tomorrow I have fever
Mdm T: ... ... ... ~burst out laughing~

sCeNe #3
Cher Lim caught Child J in the act of peeling the wall's layer off
Cher Lim: Chid J, what are you doing?
Child J (5yrs old): ~shocked + INNOCENT look~
Cher Lim: Ah... now I know who is the one who peeled it off, is Child J
Child J: ~shaked his head~ No... not...me
Cher Lim: Child J, is you who do it. I saw it with my own eyes
Child J: ~innocent but “not me” look~
Cher Lim: Oh ok... I saw this hand (pointed to his hand which he used) peeling the layer.
Whose hand is this?! ~purposely want to disturb him~
Child J: ~shocked look~ silent
Cher Lim: Whose hand is this? I saw this hand peeled. Is this hand yours?
Child J: ~shocked + blur~ and shaked his head
Cher Lim: @@ What?! This (pointed exactly to his hand) is not your hand? Then?
Child J: ~paused a while and pointed the person in front~
Cher Lim: ~cannot control not to laugh~ Child J, dont do it again next time ok ~quickly walk away~

sCeNe #4
~a K2 boy fell and “awarded” a big swelling on his forehead~
~class brought in for “lecturing” about the importance of safety
Cher Lim: ... ... ... ... All of you understand?!
Children: YES!
Cher Lim: Haiz... see! Now Child B has a swelling on his forhead.
You can imagine how painful it is!
Child E: Cher Lim, take a book
Cher Lim: For?
Child E: Take book and then smack the swelling to go in
Cher Lim: Child E!

SceNe #5
~arrival of children~
Child I: ~came into class~
Child E ~first to reach~: Child I, I number 1 you know
Child I: ... ... we two number 1
Child E: ~paused a while~ No.. No.. I number 1, you number 2
Child I: No Child E, you number 0, I number 1 ... remember 0 comes first
Cher Lim: @@! ~was near them, didnt want interrupt, purposely want to listen to their talk~
Child E: ~almost convinced~ ... ... ... But 0 is nothing lehz

sCeNe #6
~ work time ~
Child S: Cher Lim, Child L said mine not nice
Cher Lim: Child L...
Child L: No. I... said... to... the... window
Cher Lim: @@!
~shortly after~
Child D: Cher Lim, Child L said “stupid”
Cher Lim: Child L, why did you said that
Child L: No. I... said... to... my... bag
Cher Lim: ~flipped~

w5 TeStMoNiEs

1. prayer ANSWERED
Usually along our way to church, I will pray with my students in the bus. Beside praying for service, I will ask them whether they have any prayer needs so we can pray together. This particular student, L who been out of job quite some time said she just had a job interview. As a bus, we prayed for her!
Hours later @ lunch, she came to me happily and said the manager called her to collect the uniform the next day!
Wow! The POWER of PRAYER! =) I took this opportunity to challenge her & friends to keep praying & trusting God.

2. protection
Last weekend we were all waiting @ church lobby before going hall. Everything was ok until one of my young student decided to have a 100m dash towards road with busy traffic! The police on duty saw but guess they weren't as fast as my helper who immediately ran after him and thank God., he caught him just on time! Cant and dont want to imagine what if ...... Just want thank God for His constant protection over students.

3. new contact
Few months back, one of JAMs workers.passed me this new contact, ST. I called & visited but she just can't make it for JAMs - not don't want to come but cant come as she has quite a bad habit of “over-ZZzzzzZZ”. Without proper discipline & parents' support, she is left to do whatever she wants and likes. The “hightest record” she slept all the way from day 1 night to day 2's 7pm plus. Wah! So JAMs service being in the morning, she simply just cant "crucify her flesh". Hee! Even once I called her for big day in the late afternoon, she still sleeping! *flipped*
I nearly give up in reaching out to her but last week decided to give another “shot” with my new helper K. As I was preparing my helper by decribing more about ST, he told me that family is related to him. Im @@!
Last Sunday when I called in the morning, the grandma told me ST is awake! And she agreed that I come pick her to church! Praise God! Tell you... I was soooooooo happy!
The power of K? The power of cousin-hood? Haha!
All in all... is miracle! Is the power of God! The power of visitation!