MY CHINESE NEW YEAR CREATIONS FOR 2009

Always look forward to this day where I would be shopping at wholesale centre, hunting for fresh flowers and getting all excited to try out my new ideas and creations ........

Laid my hands on Heliconias, ruscas leaves, chrysanthemums, roses, leaves of birds' nest ferns and "iron plant" .........

Most enjoying part was to weave young coconut leaves ....... can be quite an addiction !

BELATED THANKS TO ALL MY BELOVED STUDENTS

I just want to express my heartfelt and sincere thanks to all my Beloved Students with this blog.

Every of my student is PRECIOUS TO ME.

Hopefully this belated "THANK YOU" note to all my beloved students did not come too late.

It came as a shock to me when I was told to prepare my Teaching Portfolio as a result of being nominated for the School's Teaching Award 2008.

Believe it or not, till this day, I do not know who were the students who have nominated me for the above award as we were not allowed to know. It is through our Teaching Porfolio that I would need to show evidence and proofs of my students' nomination for me ........

It has definitely NOT crossed my mind to be one of the nominees. I have never dreamt of working towards the award EXCEPT to dedicate myself and my life to those students that crossed my life in one way or the other as I lead my life as a teacher.

MY GOAL AS A TEACHER IS AS SIMPLE AS TO TOUCH THE LIVES OF THOSE WHO ALLOWS ME TO BE A PART OF THEM.

All I want to say now is, THANK YOU ALL who has nominated me for the award and allowed me to walk into and touch your lives ...........

My Teaching Philosophy is as simple as:

If the students need someone to trust, let me be trustworthy;
If they need sympathy, let me sympathize;
Not to anger easily but let me be just;
That when I stand before them, let me look strong and good and honest and loving;
To counsel the anxious, crack the shy, temper the rambunctions with a gentle attitude.
To inspire them so that learning will not cease at the classroom door but that the lessons they learn; make their lives fruitful and happy.

and always reminding myself that ...........

Successful teachers are those who have lived well, laughed often, and loved much;

who have gained the respect of intelligent persons and the love of children;

who have filled their niches and accomplished their tasks;

who leave the world better than they found it - whether by an improved poppy, a perfect poem, or a rescued soul;

who never lacked appreciation of earth's beauty or failed to express it;

who looked for the best in others and give the best they had.

and MOST IMPORTANTLY,

While we can be strict and demanding, showing compassion can be accomplished just by the way we treat our students and the things we say to them. Letting the students know that you care about them breaks down a lot of doors and goes a long way towards getting them to perform .......

With Love

Going Under the Knife Again

Sigh ......

M going under the knife again this holiday. But this time, I could have only a very short rest at home cos the date of the knife going through the cyst below my scalp is goona be very near opening of the new term. Scheduled on 3 Oct whilst term is starting on 13 Oct.

Really hope I do not have to return to see my kids with stitches and gauze on the head ...... that would be so embarassing.

Praying that no complication develops during the op and that I would be well and strong enough to start the new term.

Peck's Leaving

Well, it's been a long time since I last blog.

The last semester in School was real tiring for me. I guessed I did not have enough rest after my surgery and plunged myself straight into work.

Sad to know that my most trusted colleague, Peck is leaving NP. Anyway, I wish her all the best. She would be going back to the Industry to work. I guessed it's good for her to resinstate her market value.

Sometimes, I wonder if it is good to stay away from the industry for a while ........... a common consensus that our market value drops.

Has been rather confused lately ......... a fight and inner struggle between my passion for teaching and love for the kids in school as against reinstating my market value ?????

Well, to bid her farewell, I did a small little gift for her ......... a small little floral gift arrangement which some thought was a cake.

Taking a Break

Not sure when I will be back to this blog.

Officially off from school today. Need to prepare for my surgery tomorrow morning. Went for a haircut (for easy maintainance as I knew I'm gonna be heavily immobilized after the surgery). Got to pack my bag too ..... Went to see Fr John Wong. It was so nice of him to offer me "anointing for the sick" and pray over me before my surgery. We prayed for safe and speedy recovery as I told him I'm eager to get back to school to teach again before term starts in April 08.

Kind of little heavy hearted this time cos I guessed I have too much worries in my head ...... eager to go back to school in time, worry whether I will have enough time to prepare for next semester and all the admin work left piling up .......

Thank God, I had nice room mates and Mrs Juliet Tan who offered to cover some of my duties while I am away.

Am really eager to be back to see my existing students and also the new batch that will be coming in.

Well, I guessed I've got to let go to let God take over. I believe he hears my anxieties and my needs and will answer me. Even if he does not, I need to trust that there is a better reason for it.

Was really very touched to receive so many SMSs and email from my students wishing me speedy recovery and cheering me up. They even wanted to visit me at the hospital. Was so touched when one boy even wrote to say that he will be praying for me. How can I not miss and love this thoughtful and lovely bunch of kids!

Not sure how long I will be in hospital. Doc says he would like to discharge me within 2 to 3 days if I do not come down with any complications. This will help to cut down the risk of me catching infection from other patients within the hospital environment.

Hope to be back on this blog soon when I regain the use of my arm.

Back again

I'm finally back on my blog. Have been real busy since 2 weeks ago. Busy compiling all my students' CA marks followed by marking of my PAC papers.

Today, I've finally completed processing the marks of my students. At the same time, I've also completed the project at BE@xis. Installed a "Wall of Appreciation" in BE@xis. Purpose is to give due recognition to companies who support our students in their educational journey in BE especially for internship programs (both IAP and OIAP). Also, with this Wall of Appreciation, I hope to let the students have a glimse of the companies that they are likely to be attached to during their internship program ....... hopefully, it serves to motivate them to work hard during term time.

Well, the whole of BE will be going to Malaysia for retreat tomorrow. They are going to visit some Orchard, going for seafood etc. Sad to say, I will not be joining them as advised by my doctor cos in one week's time, it'll be my big day in the hospital ...... repairing my shoulder ....... going for submacromial decompression as well as acromioplasty procedures. A week before, I should take care not to fall sick.

So heavy hearted to go for the surgery cos I'm worried if I'll be well enough to start the new term on 14 April. Also, just feel so bad that I can't be around to prepare for my new semester. Anyway, I told my surgeon that whatever it takes, I want to be back in April to teach. Praying for a fast recovery though I was warned that the procedure is gonna be very painful as they are going to shave off certain portion of my shoulder bone.

Well, this semester will soon officially end next week. Quite glad that some of my students did not disappoint me for this round of exam. Am very happy for few students who have allowed me to help them at the last minute and they did well for my paper. That's really the joy of being a lecturer when someone willingly allows you to walk into his life and help him.

Sent my apologies to CO2 for not being able to attend their class gathering. By then, I should be on the operating table.

Really looking forward to working with the Ben, Simon, Darren, Ying Hua, Maurice and Han Xian on the Green Building Design Competition.

The path leaders are gonna meet on Thursday. Waiting eagerly to see what they have on the platter for Mrs Tan and myself .......

Marathon Interview of FYP

It was a marathon for some of us, lecturers today. There were altogether 6 appointed panels of interviewers set up to interview the final year students on their Final Year Project.

I started my session as early as 8:30 am sharp and ended at 6 pm with only 1 hour lunch break.

Many students took the FYP very lightly until they are in for the interview; realizing how strict the panel can be in their assessment.

There were many lessons learnt - which I thought I must share with my new group of FYP student beginning April 08; not to make those mistakes!

One of the most important lesson - DO NOT TAKE THE FYP LIGHTLY; BE CONSCIENTIOUS, CONSISTENT ......... failing which they are in deep trouble.

FYP is just as important as IAP and OIAP. No one on the interview panel takes the matter lightly as the project is 25 credit units.