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From mid-Nov to end-Dec, that’s a total of six weeks of holiday.
With first two weeks back to school, the rest are totally ours.
As of today, we are one week plus away to a brand new school year.
With like four weeks to spare, felt a little pity didn’t go overseas.
Thus full four weeks spent/spending in Singapore.
Nonetheless it had been fruitful so far - especially for Miss Lim to rest physically, mentally and emotionally from school.
Of course, this is not the first time I get to enjoy long holiday like this (and still get my pay) but this is the year where I really appreciate the holiday and felt blessed to have it.
There are days where I just stayed at home throughout.
Other then that, here are some highlights of my school holiday:
Meet up! Meetup!
This holiday met up with two groups of “long-lost” friends.
#1 - Girls from ex-cg
We had it over a time of KTV and buffet feasting!
Had always and is still feeling very comfortable with them.
Not only I agreed to go KTV, I also sang!!!
And this is probably “the most” I sang of all my ever visits to KTV.
Is always very heartwarming to know that after so many years, really so many years and the changes that took place in our history of "cg-hop", we are still in contact.
#2 - Friends from CHEC
Great time spent over dinner and desert.
Not forgetting catching up with each other.
Glad to know everyone doing well.
We met ten years ago in CHEC.
Ever since we graduated, a group of us (especially 8 of us) stay in contact. Back then, probably due to our commitment, we don’t really meet up often. Maybe around once a year?
In the recent month/s, not only they/we met up more, we are also very in close contact via whatsapp chatgroup. Haha!
Toffee Nut Latte momentssssss
I’m hooked by one of Starbucks’ Seasonal Beverages, Toffee Nut Latte.
Whether alone or with friends, I will try to have it AT LEAST once a week.
Highest record I think is 4 cups in a week? Hehe!
to be continued...
I'm overwhelmed, very overwhelmed by the parents of the little ones this year. I'm just so blessed by their thoughts and gestures.
Some stayed around after dismissal (especially on the last two days of school) to get their child to take pictures with us. There was even one parent who managed to gather and get a short with all the child's teachers who ever taught since Nursery.
Some shook our hands to express their gratitude.
Some expressed through gift/card.
Some expressed through smses.
All these affirmation will definitely be one of my motivations as I carry on in this field.
Some affirmations I managed to capture through sms.
#1 (Mrs C)
Hi Ms Lim, would like to thank you and Mdm Zhang for being G's class teachers. She really enjoyed her school days and both will be missed by her and friends too.
... Good teachers don't come easy and without good teachers like you, the kids will not enjoy their school life.
#2 (Mrs D)
... also want to thank you for caring and loving J. Thank you.
#3 (Mrs S)
Miss Lim, it's been C's great privilege to know you & Mdm Zhang as his teachers this year. He loves LSK. May you have a blessed & meaningful Christmas!
This card from Mrs L and Child M brought tears to me…
A moment of whatspp-chatting with the Principal:
Oh Yanni, I have always thought I can groom you to be the next generation to lead the school.
You love God
You love people enough not to gossip or out people down
You are capable
You are available
You have Pastor Kong's drive to die for JESUS!
That's precious!
Translate to touching lives both young and old at your workplace
You can one
One more thing, Yanni
From now on.... Try to think "management"
This will lead you to lead as a level head
That's the direction you should take
Then go for Leadership Programme
Go for leadership track
Principal Mrs E Tan never once fails to let me go “WoWoWoW!”
From this and the many conversations I ever had with her, realized she don’t just think highly of me, she thinks verrrrrry highly of me.
15th Nov - Party time!!!
The children brought foodie and foodie and lots of foodie to party and share with their friends and teachers.
The children and teachers also had fun playing games.
16th Nov - the last day of school
Being official Miss Lim to the little ones for the last time..
Walking the children to the classroom for the last time..
Spending the school hours together for the last time..
Having the little ones as a class for the last time..
Giving instructions as their teacher for the last time..
Singing “Goodbye song” for the last time..
Having the little ones to say “Goodbye Miss Lim” for the last time..
Giving the little ones a hug for the last time..
Sending them off to the school bus/to their parents for the last time..
Was sharing with my colleagues that compare to the K2 two years ago, I feel more attached to the batch this year. Unlike two years ago where I had a mentor with me for a period of time, this year had more time of “Miss Lim ONLY with children”
That’s why the last week of school been a week of mixed feelings - happy that the little ones graduating and moving on the next chapter of their life but sad that they will be leaving us.
Shots with almost ALL my little ones, 50 children with 1 who went India.
A group of wonderful little ones who never fail to make my every day.
There were days where they upset and made me angry.
(sometimes real angry)
There were days where they made me nagged and nagged and nagged.
There were days where they just left me too tired to do anything.
There were days where they cheered me up by their acts and words.
There were days where they amused me with their conversations.
There were days where they surprised me with gift, cards and flower picked at roadside.
Miss Lim's little ones, thank you for making a difference in my life!
Love all of you!
Water Play on the 16 Nov - the day all children been waiting for
More than just being their last water play in kindergarten, that will also be a water play their teachers will be involved and they will be allowed to splash water at them.
Weeks and days before, you can hear children sharing among themselves or telling the teachers what kind of water gun they have or which water gun they will be bringing.
Here comes the day…
The children in the morning session really don’t give grace. The moments the teachers were out, they went “atttttacccccckkk!!!” and water came from everywhere - their water guns, buckets and pails etc.
"Drenched" will be the word I used to describe ourselves.
The children in the afternoon session were more peaceful. They didn't "attack" us but were playing on their own until the teachers shouted "atttttacccckkk" and splashed water on them.
But of course beside children “attacking” the teachers and teachers “attacking” back, we also had teachers "attacking" teachers. Haha!
All happened in the eyes of the principal who watched from afar...
(she could have been inside if not unwell)
A little peek through video...
The last two weeks of Term4 had been tough, very tough… physically and emotionally.
During second last week of school, straight after the end of concert… the teachers were still on top gear, cant relax yet as there were year-end thingy for us to settle.
At the end of year, we have to return to children:
(1) Worksheet - English & Theme
(2) Worksheet - Math
(3) Portfolio
(4) Observation report
(5) Photo CD
That's for per child so for me, I have to prepare for 51 children.
Compilation of worksheet
English, Theme, Math
After ensuring all marked, we got to sort accordingly before we staple.
Portfolio
The toughest I guess
We have to make sure each child has a specific numbers of activity sheet done over the entire year, (10 English & 5 Math activity sheets) then mark, compile, check and staple.
Observation Report
We have to “rate” each individual child accordingly to the different areas. And as this is the end of school year, we also have to write a short summary of the child’s overall performance. All done manually.
*numb hands*
Photo CD
From the many photosssss taken throughout the year, we have to see see look look and sort them according to individual child. And after ensuring the child has the photos of all six learning areas and certain quantity, we got to burn them into CD.
After three nights of ending work at almost 8pm, 9pm and 10pm… finally done with all. Really no joke. Sat until backache.
Maybe some will ask why didn’t we start earlier or why didn’t we do here and there throughout the year.
Seriously not because we don’t want to but really because we cant.
Either we are too busy. Trust me, I mean it… cause everyday has everyday stuff and every week seem to have new things or that there are just some we cant do it till school year ending.
That’s for physical tough part.
As for emotional tough part, is a long long story which I don’t know where and how to start. There were days I stepped out of school with teary eyes and cant believe there was one night I cried myself to sleep. But no worries, the fact that Miss Lim is blogging = she is recovering and picking herself up again. Slowly, but surely. Out of all the kindergartens I been to, this is the only kindergarten that got me in so much tears.
"And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose."
Romans 8:28
Chapter 3: Graduating Classes
Miss Lim: Children, get into your “Did You Know” queue
* children started telling each other “did you know" *
Child A: Hey Child B, come here!
Child C: Where is Child D?
Child E: I stand behind Child F.
* rest of the students get into their queue *
Miss Lim: Ok, now get into your “Grand Finale” queue
Child G: What is it now huh?
Miss Lim: Grand Finale, the hold hands bow
Child H: Oh… hold hands bow
Miss Lim: Child I, you know later must turn at which line?
Child I: Yes, the red line
Miss Lim: Good! Child J, where do you stop later?
Child J: At the black dot
Miss Lim: Good!
* while the rest of the students get into their queue *
Miss Lim: Children, the last… now get into your “Grand Finale” queue
Child K: “Glory to the Lord”?
Miss Lim: Yes Children, now is “Glory to the Lord”.
* blink blink blink, children got into their queue *
Special salute to the graduands, the only 6years old graduands!
From “Graduation ceremony“ to “Graduation songs” to “Grand Entrance” to “Class Dance” to “Grand Finale” and “Special Item” … they did in pride and excellence, no sweat!
All in all, there were about 3 different queues they need to remember.
There were definitely more than 1 formation they need to remember too. And not forgetting the stepssssss of the different songs.
Some of them even remembered their friends' queue and formation position. Haha!
The children were simply amazing!
Many thumbs up!!!
Chapter 2: Concert
1st night for 1st session of children..
2nd night for 2nd session of children..
2.5hrs before the arrival of children:
Teachers arrived in school to ensure for the final time that everything needed are ready. As for me will be things like graduation gown, mortar hat, hair clips, gel, their certificate and their present.
2hrs before the arrival of children:
Teachers gathered up in the main auditorium for worship and prayers where we also walked around the hall to lay hands on seats, for the people who be coming to witness this joyous event.
1hr before the arrival of children:
Teachers grabbed their dinner and get ready.
6pm - the arrival of children, busyness starts
We put on the graduation gown and mortar hat on the graduands … comb, gel and pin their hair to make sure they are at their best.
We then went ahead to the first few order of the concert - Graduation ceremony and Graduation songs.
The massive turnover took place as in the fastest speed and shortest time to change the graduands into their dancing costume and that includes to style the boys’ hair and put on accessories for the girls
Thereafter were Grand finale, Class dance, Grand finale and K2 Special item. Everything went on pretty smoothly for both nights, no big hiccups/”mistakes”.
Personal “challenges” I faced for my class were mainly on the first night…
Child E arrived in school in tears and fear, fear of going up the stage. After some struggle at the door, I managed to calm her down and coax her to put on her graduation gown. Along the way to graduation ceremony, I had to constantly talked and ensured her.
Thank God she went through the graduation ceremony but was in tears and trembling. Likewise for graduation songs but that was only for a while before she stood near me.
Surprisingly, very surprisingly… she kind of like a changed-person straight after we came down for the change. She was back to her usual self, happy and excited again for the rest of the concert.
Child S - was having fever the day before and still running slight fever just before the concert. But as Child S very much wanted to join in and mum also very much wanted Child S to participate, being the last year of kindergarten and that the entire family came.
So the “tense” moments came when I got to settle crying Child E and be there when Principal spoke to Child S and mother who was later in tears when talking to me.
Second night was more or less ok, just that Child S from the first session was well to request to join in and Principal approved for graduation ceremony, graduation songs and finale thus I have to be sharp and watchful during the segments to know where to place her, as not to affect the 2nd session children’s formation.
WARNING!!! Long and many entries on the same topic!!!
Hehe! Just my way of keeping as memories…
Chapter 1: Pre-Concert
From the dance steps to the dance formations to children’s costumes to their accessories, I’m very much independent this year. Unlike two years ago though I also had graduating classes but I had a mentor who worked closely with me as it was then my first year with the school.
#1 - Song/Dance
We were given the song much earlier this year as more than the actions, Principal emphasized a lot on children singing the song.
“My Number One” was assigned to my class, a song that I have never hear before, not to mention the children. After I familiar with the song, I introduced to the children sentence by sentence.
There is even a short rap in the song and this acts as a challenge to the boys who got to sing out the words fast and clearly.
The children were simply amazing! Thumbs up!!!
Just within 2weeks, the children were able to sing the entire song and the boys took less than 2weeks to be able to memorize and sing out the rap without any prompting.
Not my first time choreograph dance steps or plot formation for children but this was a little challenging as find the song tempo a little unique. But I thank God that with the help of internet, one of my colleague and my own juice … came out wit the steps and the formations that received good feedback after the concert.
#2 - Costume
Find this year’s in-search-of-costume was like a spiritual warfare. Haha! So much opposition and last minute hiccup.
At the shop we settled at, this is our 3rd year with them. Together with my K2 colleague, we went all the way to the west to check out their stock. It didn't takes us long before she found one for her class and I found one for mine.
Calls were made. Emails were sent.
A week or so later, we were told to collect the different sizes that came from their factory in HK. Upon reaching there, only my colleague got hers but I was told they don’t have any more stock for the design I chose.
I almost flipped cause they didn't inform me at all throughout our wait and even during my emails with the Lady Boss.
Then on my own, I went around to search at different places (ever blogged) while waiting for the Lady Boss who promised to email me their new designs. But after a long wait and she failed to despite my emailsss so as time was tight, Principal decided to let my girls go for tailor-made by the Aunty who does the boys’ costumes.
Work continued - measurements for the girls, fittings/marking etc.
Part of the girls’ costume, I also need to get white plain top. Due to the quantity I need, I had to go several places to get all 27 pieces.
But that’s not the end as there were some hiccups when the girls tried on during their full-dress rehearsal. Another long story but thank God eventually everything went well.
#3 - Accessories
The girls - as their overall costume kind of plain, I was advised to have some accessories to brighten it up. With the help of my mentor who found mini hat, I traveled on my own to get after the approval from Principal. The purchase was smooth and the effect after the girls put on was amazing, really very pretty.
Only problem occurred was the quality of the hat as either the clips or the “diamond” came off, even at the very last minute before full dress rehearsal and minutes before they go out for the actual performance.
The boys - usually boys don’t have accessories, theirs will be as simple as possible. But as they were be rapping so I just thought why not act a sunglasses for them?
And the search, intense one started as I went places after places to look for cool and budgeted ones. I was given another option of those “kiddish sunglasses” but that was my last option and also due to their bad quality. Thank God at the very last minute, I found affordable ones as I actually didn’t claim from school - a blessing from me to my 22 boys.
After which I still got to purchase string as the boys cant manage their sunglasses well while dancing and running thus I had to tie and hang around their neck.
At the end of the day, all time spent and miles went were worth it cause beside the good response from the crowd when the boys put on, whats more important is that the boys love and were happy about ownership of their very own sunglasses.
What an unforgettable pre-concert journey!
to be continued...
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