Mr Bean's Holiday

After cell group, Watched "Mr Bean Goes on Holiday" at Plaza Sing this evening. Super funny! I liked this more than the first movie - "Mr Bean the Movie." Okay, the jokes are lame, but come, nobody expects complex plots from Mr Bean right? The show also portrays what Rowan Atkinson (aka Mr Bean) does best - make people laugh without saying much script.

Anyway, this will be the story of the character, Mr Bean. So to all Bean fans out that... so so sad ....

Overwhelmed...

This week had been really being a busy and hectic week.

There were meetings to attend,
talks to attend,
assignments and tests to mark,
projects to grade,
papers and quizzes to set.
There were follow ups to attend to,
administration to do,
students to teach,
students to tutor,
and parents to update.
There were courses to attend,
plannings to do,
deadlines to meet,
emails to send,
appointments to go,
smses to send and delete,
books to buy,
readings to catch up...
blogs to update.
There were minutes to type,
proposals to draft,
CDs to burn
meetings to facilitate
viruses to avoid
and concerts to attend.

I really hope to rest...really really hope to take a break ...

Give me a break... Give me a bar of kit-kat...

A Special Prayer

Read this prayer somewhere:

O Lord!
I do not pray for a good wife
But I pray on behalf of my wife to have a good husband.
That's because if my wife has a good husband,
I will naturally have a good wife.

So I change the prayer also,

O Lord!
I do not pray for a good students.
But I pray on behalf of my students to have a good teacher.
That's because if my students have a good teacher,
I will naturally have good students.

Stop and ponder

Ever since term 2 has started, things seem to have swept past me. I seem to have been caught in a whirlwind of admin things to do. No control over the things around me. No security on what may befall. Only living each day as it is.

I thank God for the few minutes each day, that I have enjoyed reading the Bible. Every since the start of 2007, I have been reading a few chapters each day.

"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." I thank God for the times that he has shown me how to walk in his path, and direct me through love and wisdom.

Many times, God has spoken to us. But many times, like the prophet Elijah, we need to go up the mountain alone, away from all the noise, just to listen to the still small voice of God.

May God grant me security under the shadow of His wings. May God grant the school a good direction to move on, and my students wisdom and good health in their studies and good relationship with their peers.

Simulated VIP

Today had the chance of simulating a VIP during the Student Leader Investiture Rehearsal.
As usual, all VIPs have to shake hands on stage...even now..my hand felt so "suan" after one full dry run. Thank God I am not a VIP. Spare me the limelight. I prefer where I am now. Glad everything is more or less okay for the rehearsal. But came home around 9pm. so tired.

Today had a one hour informal chat with some of the Year 3s. Missed my previous mentor class as well. They are so fun, and happy that they shared to me about life in OBS. Hope they have more fun in the years ahead.

VIPs

For the next few days, there will be two VIPs visiting our school, 2 Ministers with mega big portfolio. To many, this is an honour. In fact, I had managed to shake the hands of one of them some many years back. But it jolts some quite memories some years back...

On the last day of the yr 1999, I was still stuck in the army. To many, they were happily out there waiting for the millinnium countdown. To me and my poor army mates in the same unit, we were supposed to be ready to defend the nation, so for the past one week, we were stuck inside the camp ready for standby, and could not book out. To make matters worse, the Chief of Defence Force wanted to visit our unit, saying he wanted to booast our morale. So in the end, my superiors asked the whole unit to rehearse the parade day after day for that celebrated week (Just after Christmas). We polished our rifles, boots, tanks and vehicles, and we ironed our uniform to tip-top condition. We couldn't book out. Now we had to rehearse for the parade. To make matters worst, on that day, we had to wake up at 5am, and stand at the parade square for a few hours. While everyone was restless, suddenly, annoucement was made at 10am telling us the CDF was finally here. Yes he came, said a 5 min speech, ending, "Happy Millinnium Standby!" (so happy for us right?) Then we took a group photo, and he left the camp. So in the end, all of us were still stuck in the camp till 2 January 2000.

Okay, so now presently in my school. I can sense similar sentiments among my students. Why so much trouble to prepare our school for guest of honour? To some, they felt the honour. In fact, so many schools wanted to seek for such honour, but they did not have the opportunities. To others, it adds on to the already heavy workload that they had. To the teachers, it means more workload as well. To the Principal, there was so much stress to see the school running smoothly. To me, life just goes on. Next week will be back to normal. Back to routine. Back to the same old person and job.

But pondering as a Christian, "If we give so much honour to just a human being, no matter his position, how much more even should we give honour to our King of Kings and Lord of Lords, ruler of the heavenly realm and of the whole world?"

"Render unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's, and to God the things which are God's."

Kayaking is fun!

Some students were asking, "Mr Lee, why didn't you kayak? We want to see you kayak."

Okay, here is some evidence..okay? The photos were taken some time back.But please do not learn from me. If you observe, I wasn't wearing a life jacket. (the giude forgot to give us, and as you can see from the beautiful scenery, it wasn't in Singapore)

Year 1 camp

Came back from a 2 Day 1 Night camp for the Year 1s which was held at MOE adventure campside at Changi Coast (which was just beside the airport!) It was very fun! (Okay, this blog entry is supposed to be a publicity stint so that P6 students can be interested in coming to my school next year)

Air plane zooming across the sky

Soaking wet after the kayaking.

Good students volunteering to help out during meal time

Obstacles crossed by brave students


Students posing for a shot

Abseiling, rockclimbing, kayaking, confidence course, they tried it all

Putting minds and hands and hearts together to solve a problem

102 rocks!

101 united

uniquely 104!

103 soars

Okay, back to serious business, school starts in 4 days' time. :)

Primary 5-6 camp

Today, helped out in a leadership camp in school for Primary 5-6 students of a particular school. They all so so so cuteeee....!!! It is interesting to note that my 17 year old student facilitators were telling me that the primary kids were so energetic, and they felt so old. What does that make us teachers? wah....haha... at least now my student facilitators have a fore taste how teachers generally feel while having camps...haha

Anyway, today, I was so happy having recieved a package from the external vendor who held a camp for my Peer Support Leaders 3 weeks ago. Yes, the photos are with me. Looking for the first ever PSL photo...(they had one last yr in Pasir Ris, but that time, a number of PSLs, along with my co-teacher, wasnt here) Of course some students can pick up this photo from my blog. But if you are a PSL, and want badly the photo collection, do look for me during the Leadership Service Week!

Yes, wishing all my Year 1s a happy time going for tomorrow's camp! In fact my year 1s are sweet. Vivian (modified slightly by Krystal), made a nice constellation picture depicting their class. Quite creative. Keep up the good work!

The holidays are ending fast...and apart from completing Civilization One (Created in 1993, which is older than many of my students) , I did no productive work. Must buck up.. so many things piling up...

Holidays end in 4 days' time...

Why am I here?

Why am I in the school right now? It's the march holidays. The Yr 4s are away to Pahang. The Yr 3s are in OBS. Why why why????

Sometimes, we just need an outlet to express our feelings...

Last day of Term One

Today was the last day of Term 1. some updates from yesterday and today...

Yesterday, went to suntec city for the IT fair with some colleagues in the evening. Wow, one senior teacher happened to meet so many of his former students in the fair. It was everywhere he went, everywhere he saw some former students that he knew. These gave me a brainwave. If 10 years from now, I quitted teaching, the next best occupation would be an insurance agent. Imagine the pool of former students that I can approach..haha. Anyway got myself something nice that can play video and comp games. At least to entertain me if I got bored in the so called march holidays.

Today, not strangely, many students were not smiling, though it was last day for the term. I asked a few, "DOn't you enjoy now that it is the school holidays?" They answered, "What school holidays? got camp ler..!" True.. camp was tiring, but I always enjoyed camps during my student days. It was only the army camp that I dislike the regimentation. haha.

Lunch time, ate with Mr Chris Wong, with a few other colleagues. Would miss him a lot. Miss his jokes, his politcally correct jokes. In fact, he was one of the colleagues that have taught me to look things in a different persepective in this current school, a man who of experience and pragmatism. I have yet seen a person whose IT skills are so cool. Yet he is a man of character. Hope he strives well in his future career!

In the afternoon, played captains' ball, and a bit of soccer, with the students. Quite fun and entertaining, and a wonderful way to wrap up the semester.

School term break starts now, but as described earlier, even to most teachers, "What holiday?"

Random thoughts

Heard this from one of my students today...

Why is A lower than C?


Give up...?


Because A 比 C 低！ （ABCD)


Okay, corny!

Anyway today started to realize how creative my students can be...
Started to sing songs of after songs in the bus all the way to Science Centre.
Changed to lyrics of the hossan leong's song "I live in Singapura" to " I love my class" or something like that..., and the famous "ELMO" song...

Okay... looking forward to weekend..and the one week break... rest finally!

Deleting an old post

This is the first time that i have deleted an old post from my blog...it was dated 27/2/07, where there's a cute equation between man, woman and pigs... however i really did not anticipate the spontaneous feedback from some individuals, and I must apologize that some mistook it for a sexism in action. Thus, to prevent further misunderstanding and a chance to catapult myself to fame should the ST Forum portray it one day, I have decided to take out the post. Happy Piggy New Year! :)

Sending off Victor & Family

Whee... First weekend of March! Slept from 11pm to 8am. PIG! haha...in the morning, went to type some report (Should have done yesterday.. but... haha)

Yesterday: After school, stayed for meetings after meetings. First was the PSL meeting. Lots of administration, so little time. Then it was another meeting from some officials from MOE. Going to organize some activities during the June vacation. After dinner, the teachers got so high then some colleague started to strum the guitar in the staff room and we sung a couple of songs. At 6.30pm, Stayed in school for Principal Dialogue Session with Year 1 and Year 3 parents. It's encouraging to listen to parents supporting in the school's programme. Of course, there were the usual concerns about the syllabus, school work and system. But overall, I felt it was a good way to communicate.

Today: Stayed at home in the morning. Around noon time, ate lunch with parents and brother, then go home and slept till 2pm (life of a pig). Afternoon, went to Victor's place. He and his family would be going for overseas for 3 years. So sad. Will miss them a lot. May God continue to keep and guide them.

Met up with Jasmine too... long time never see her. She brought a friend too. Glad to know that... his name is Wallace.

Me taking a photo of myself with Joshua hiding

Wallace, Me, Joshua and Josiah.

Taking a photo with Victor's family before they leave next week.

Because of the visitation of Victor, I skipped cell group for a month! wah. Felt a bit guilty. Let's see. On the last 4 saturdays, I skipped cell because of personal administration, chinese new year eve (so no cell), school camp, then now, visitation. Wah..such a bad person! haha...but they were still so sweet. Gave me a belated birthday card with so many well wishes. Thank, guys!

Wow... it has been a year that I've been regularly updating my blog. (Even in this very moment, one student is asking me to update my blog). I started blogging when i start to become a teacher last march, and ever since, I have not stopped. Through this past one year, God has been leading me. I will not say that life has no downside, but I am pretty happy about the life as a teacher. I feel that this is because of God's grace that I am posted by 2 good schools (in practicum as well as now), with good superiors and colleagues, and also students. Hopefully, this will motivate me to become more dedicated in my work (as i was well known to be a slacker...haha)

Looking forward to the march holidays. Time to slack, and catch up with 1001 stuffs to do.