PSLE 2016 Timetable is out!

DON'T STRESS... DO YOUR BEST.... FORGET THE REST!

And so the countdown begins. My youngest son's turn to take the PSLE is just a few months away. I know many of the parents whose children are also taking the PSLE this year are stressing over whether their children have done enough or are doing enough to prepare for the much awaited (dreaded) national exam in primary school. There are some parents. on the other hand, who are taking things more lightly and giving their children are more balanced approach - with tuition classes in certain days and music/art/physical activities in other days to get their minds off the routine. We each have our own ways of dealing with it.

Celebrating Lent in 2016

Every year Lent Weekly Reflections booklets are handed out to parishioners and I always make it a point to get one for the family so we can do our own reading and reflections at home.

Parenting Workshop in Secondary School (part 1)

I have recently attended a parenting workshop at Montfort Secondary School and I thought some of the issues we’ve discussed are worth sharing. Parenting after all is a lifelong learning process – from the time our kids were born up to the time they have families of their own.

This specific workshop invited parents of Secondary 3 boys – teenagers and challenges parents face in this stage. Although we have not encountered any serious problem having a teenager in the house, I felt there is still a need to educate ourselves (myself and my husband) on the HOWs and WHYs and WHATs, to know what to expect as we all go through another phase in our child’s life.

Back to school in 2015

my boys are growing up so fast

It’s only the second day of the New Year and my boys were already geared up for the new school year.  Friday was the first day of school this year (yeah, I know!) and it has to be a family event. That meant daddy had to wake up early and go with the rest of us to the bus stop (special request by Ira).

Weekend Biking cum Picnic Adventure

For two weekends in a row our family went biking to Pasir Ris park in the late afternoon. We brought with us some snacks, our picnic mat and tent, dropped by Popeye's for take out dinner and cycled our way to the park.

Puppet Making

Two weeks ago, Ira's class was given a homework - to make a puppet of their choice. He actually forgot to tell me about it and if it weren't for another parent (co-parent volunteer), who's son is in the same class as Ira, he would have gone to school with no puppet to pass to his form teacher.

Counting my Blessings

Oftentimes I find myself caught up in the hustle and bustle of life, my days filling up with "I should haves" and "why didn't Is", complaining about things I couldn't do or couldn't have instead of appreciating what I have and what I can do. The constant thoughts of what must be done and the endless to-do lists flood my ever over-thinking (analyzing and reanalyzing) mind. I fail to remember that I am just human and I need time to sit down, relax and let go once in a while (or should I say often?). And simply just be thankful.

Our Children are listening: Nine Messages they need to hear from you by Jim Taylor PhD

In my pursuit to becoming a better parent, I found yet another interesting and helpful parenting book - "Your Children are Listening: Nine Messages They Need to Hear from You" - by Jim Taylor, Phd. I've read the book and had my notes for quite sometime, but the draft remained a draft (revision after revision, trying to keep it short but informative enough) until now. .

The book basically talks about how parents can clearly communicate messages to parents and how parenting skills can be developed in conveying these messages. The author enumerated nine messages that our children needed to hear from us. I think, as parents, we all know that COMMUNICATION is indeed a very important part of the parent-child relationship (so with other relationships). His book not only suggests HOW we should communicate but WHAT we should communicate to our children. I learned new techniques on how to communicate with my children better (although I have to say learning is one thing, applying what I've learned is another).

Reading is my refuge

When we moved to a 3rm HDB rental flat in 2002, I was so thankful that we chose one that was within walking distance to necessities - hawker, bus stop, train station, church, grocery, and, most importantly, the library. It was a place I frequently visited with my then 2-year-old son. The possibilities of exploration were boundless.

We borrowed children's books for me to read to Kelvin. Sometimes I even let him "choose" the books he found interesting - usually illustrated ones, mostly related to automobiles. He loved to pretend reading books, I think it also helped him read at an early age. Every night, he would ask me to read of the small children's books my aunt gave him - all 10 or so of them!

Obsessively Frozen

We usually watch movies way too late to really join in any bandwagon (eg. twilight, LOTR, Harry Potter, Hunger Games) because we seldom go to the cinema. By the time the hype has died down we are just starting to understand what it was all about.

Last year, just before we left for our December holiday, Frozen was all over the movie theatres. It was a big hit. Kelvin and Ira were looking it up on Youtube, watching video clips and listening to the songs, but because we haven't watched the full movie yet, we really couldn't get the big picture. Coming back from our holiday, we had a chance to watch the movie and we were amazed by how good it was (still is!). We were glued on tv, the boys singing along to the songs they knew. I was captivated by the songs, too, and found myself singing (or humming) along. Hubby was the only one not into the movie as he didn't like musicals.

After watching, the boys have gone totally crazy about it (ok, I admit, I was also very much into it). Ira wanted to memorize the lyrics to all the songs so he looked them up online and wrote them on paper (to which I said he could actually ask dad to just print them! Good thing he was only done with one song). The following day, he watched the movie again (and again), this time even saying the lines. Kelvin brought it to the next level by learning to play the songs on piano! He searched for music sheets online (he is still learning "Let it go") and started practising. I told him he could actually get one on Youtube with piano tutorials but he said he preferred "reading" music sheets to following video tutorials (I prefer the Youtube videos though). From that day forward, our house became filled with music from Frozen soundtrack, our favorites being "Let it go", "First time in forever", "Love is an open door", "In summer" and "Do you want to build a snowman". You can imagine Ira having a concert in the living room, singing at the top of his lungs (and he could really reach the high notes) while playing with his toys, while Kelvin is seriously sitting in front of the keyboard learning his selected piece. I have yet to record them on video while singing or playing the piano. I, on the other hand, have my moments in the morning, when all of them have gone to school/office. Singing our new-found favorite songs has also become a bedtime ritual for the past few days. 

I wonder when this obsession will last.... For now, I will soak up the moments when my kids exhibit their musical talents and inclinations (thanks to Lola Girl's genes). Having a duet with Ira after school and trying to learn piano pieces with Kelvin after he does his school work are some of the parts of their childhood/teenage life that are worth being a stay-at-home-mom for. Thanks to Frozen (Disney) for these musically-inspired moments.

Oh! And let's not forget the moral of the movie (at least from how I understood it) - TRUE LOVE doesn't necessarily imply romantic love (Kristoff's love for Anna, to break the spell) - as what most of us probably automatically thought about while watching the movie. It can be maternal, paternal, or in this case, sibling love. After all, love starts in the family.

A Visit to St Theresa's Home

Last 19 October, Saturday, our family had to deviate from the usual routine (that is, waking up late in the morning from a late-night Friday movie or tv show). I woke at 630am to prepare light breakfast (a.k.a. heated pizza from the night before) and got everyone ready by 8am to take the bus to Montfort Secondary School (MSS) and catch the shuttle bus to St Theresa's Home. After a short briefing by the MSS Parent Support Group (PSG), we were on our way to meet, greet and entertain some special people.

The visit to St Theresa's Home was a joint project by MSS PSG and the Montfort Alumni, their first as a team, in line with the school's vision of "A Man for Others". St Theresa's Home, formerly the Little Sisters of the Poor, was established in 1935 to provide housing, food and medical services to the elderly. When I received the letter from the school about this volunteer activity, my first thought was "we have to take part in this project". It was on my birthday month and it would be a great way to celebrate by sharing our time being of service to some elderly people in the community. So there were no second thoughts, we HAD to join in this activity. Kelvin initially didn't have a good reaction, which I understood as it was a weekend which was one of the days he could rest. He even said no one from their class was going. But I convinced him that this was for a good cause - showing compassion and sharing our time with the elderly. To make the story short, I was able to convince him and his brother that we were going. I knew something good will come out of this somehow.

When we arrived at St Theresa's Home, we were welcomed by other organizers who got into the venue first. The hall was already prepared and decorated with flower balloon sculptures. Tables and chairs were set up for a lunch treat.

We wheeled the residents (aunties and uncles) one by one from their rooms/wards into the entertainment hall. There were about 40-50 residents per ward (a total of 200 or so residents), and 40 volunteers who came, so each of us accompanied around 4-5 residents into the hall. The first auntie who I assisted was a very friendly lady. She was quite chatty. She asked where I was from and who I was with. I replied I was from the Philippines and I was with my family (husband and 2 boys). She said I looked young she thought I was a student (I think my petite figure is always mistaken for youthfulness). She said she was single so no children to take care of her, but that her brothers sometimes visit her. She seems to enjoy her time at St Theresa's Home and has a very positive outlook. And even if the entertainment has not started yet, she was already very grateful for our presence.

I left her at the hall after finding a good place she was comfortable in and went back to the ward to help bring in more residents. I was separated from my boys as they headed to the second floor to assist the caretakers in taking the residents to the lifts. The second resident I was about to take was an uncle, but he said his brother came to visit and he will be going out with him, so I had to give back to spend some time with his family member. His brother was also an old man, but probably slightly younger than him. I could see the concern/care of the visitor brother as he talked to the resident brother. He even brought him some food, which I assume was his favorite because he was proudly showing them to me before they left. 

The next uncle I brought to the hall was so excited about us visiting and preparing some entertainment for them. They even called it a "party". One of the caregivers asked, "Rocky, do you want to go to the party?" To which he quickly replied, "Yes, of course!" Then he was strapped into his wheelchair before I wheeled him into the hall. He was a very tall man but looked quite frail. I had to make sure his legs were secure and not dangling while I was pushing the wheelchair. 

After several trips, most of the residents were already in the hall, while others had to stay in their wards due to physical restrictions or because they had something else to attend to (visitors, favorite tv show, etc). The program started with a prayer by Brother Thomas, followed by a speech from the PSG Chairperson Vincent. From then on, strings of performances from different groups wowed the residents. There was a lion dance performance, dance number, marching cadets' exhibition, wushu, and song numbers by the PSG. The Filipino resident caregivers were also called up the stage and performed a famous Filipino song "Anak" by Freddie Aguilar. They were accompanied by a local volunteer who was also playing the guitar. his rendition of the song was so spot on we couldn't believe he could sing fluent Filipino. The entertainment portion of the program ended with the volunteers singing "pass it on" (of course, I was trying to stop tears from falling at this moment).

Lunch for the residents followed as the volunteers took turns queuing up for food to be distributed to the residents. The teachers reminded parents and other volunteers to let the Montfortians do most of the responsibility of being of service to the residents as this one of the main goals of the activity. The food - fried rice, plain rice, curry, fried chicken, vegetables, meatball, kuehs - was catered. While some of the residents were eating, some PSG volunteers were going around asking residents to sing. The residents eagerly took the mic and brought us back to olden days with their renditions of their favorite English or Chinese songs. I could see they were really having a good time and that they were happy visitors come from time to time to entertain and be with them.

When they were done with their desserts, we said our goodbyes and wheeled them back to their wards, one by one, as they received goodie bags prepared by PSG volunteers. They were all grateful for the gifts and thanked all of us as we brought them back to their wards. Their smiles were worth giving up more sleeping time. This was a Saturday morning well spent.

Here are some of the photos taken during our visit to St Theresa's Home.

short break as the elderly were finishing up their desserts

lunch time for the residents

the Filipino caregivers accompanied by our local guitarist

with Tara, a fellow parent volunteer and a friend for several years now

our family felt blessed (even with Ira whining at some point)

 to be able to take part in this sharing activity. I know it will sink in, somehow :)

There were several times I had lumps in my throat as I thought of their lives in the home. Some of them were really old and immobile. Some don't seem to respond to anyone. Some even don't have family members to visit them. It saddens me to think I will also be reaching this stage in my life and may also be left alone. But having met some residents who had bubbly personalities and positive auras, I knew life can be better no matter where we are or what age and state we are in. It's all in the mindset. That was what I took home from this experience.

For those who are interested to share their blessings at St Theresa's Home and make the elderly residents happy and entertained for a day or so, you can visit their website:

http://www.sainttheresahome.org

Address	:	49 Upper Thomson Road, Singapore 574325
Telephone	:	6256-2532
Fax	:	6254-4589
Email	:	victor@sainttheresahome.org
Head of Agency	:	Mr Victor Seng, Administrator

The gift of forgiveness

36 years and counting - of friendships, family relations, new challenges, victories as well as setbacks.

For my birthday last year, I've listed down all the people, places, and events that I am thankful for - the blessings I've received and continuously relishing. This year, I thought I would want to focus on the one thing that I thought was somehow holding me back from having a really meaningful and enjoyable life moving forward - forgiveness.

My Journey with MJPC

It all began in 2007 when Kelvin was in P1. A Filipino mom "recruited" me to perform library duties once a week. She said it would be a good experience for me, to get to know the boys  in school and the teachers better. Since I still have a preschooler to attend to, my library duties weren't as regular as I hoped for. Few hours a month was all I could do that time.

When both boys attended the same school in 2011, it gave me more opportunity to be an active parent volunteer. And by active I mean really ACTIVE. I was there in almost all events, as long as I was free. There were even times I was in school for activities/school programs for the whole week! That's commitment - to the boys, to the programs/activities, to my fellow parent volunteers. My co-parent volunteer, and Exco Vice Chairperson Amie, informed me in one of the meetings that after tallying PV participation throughout the year, I came out tops! 

After some time, I was given bigger roles like being the PV-in-charge for the day, to the PV-in-charge of the Lego Room, to being the appointed secretary of MJPC. I had big shoes to fill. I knew there were expectations to live up to. But I knew I can only contribute what I am capable of.

During the last general meeting, parent volunteers gathered to elect the next batch of MJPC Exco. Initially, I was asked to remain as the secretary, and I agreed with the support of fellow PVs. But things took a different turn when some of the Exco members discussed (actually, gave secret signals) that I am better off as Special Events Coordinator. I knew it was going to be a big task with several events to plan every year. I hesitated, knowing that some of the people I worked with in the past were not going to be active volunteers anymore (eg. their sons have graduated, or for other personal reasons). I took me quite some time to agree with their nomination (not that I'm being a diva, but I wouldn't want to agree to something I knew I wouldn't be able to deliver), until someone suggested that there should be 2 people filling in the position. With a partner to do these big events, I had more confidence that things can be done. And so I accepted the nomination, and was elected as Special Events Coordinator together with Annie.

Most of the newly-elected Exco members were quite new in this field, and in the Exco. We all had doubts in our capacity to fulfill our duties. We all had our reservations. We were somehow charging into the unknown. We were frantically over-planning in the beginning. But as each event passed, we began to adapt to our new responsibilities. We got to know each other well. We were able to work with each other seamlessly. Event after event, we kept going on. Tapping each others potentials (and sometimes pleading for help). But most of the times, the help came naturally. We knew we had a good team going. Not only between Exco members but among other parent volunteers as well. They were our lifelines.

All the worries and doubts we had in the beginning slowly melted away. We became good friends, great allies. The duties were fun times with the boys and with each other, and we would sometimes end up having lunch or snack after, to continue with the stories about parenting and what nots.

Who would have known that my married and family life would revolve mostly around my volunteering activities, aside from the usual parenting and marital matters? These experiences have somehow added to the excitement and value to my life as a stay-at-home-mom. 

It's difficult to name names as there will definitely a long list of them. But I am thankful to all the mommies, and dads, who are part of this group we call MJPC. I've learned, I've laughed and I'm sure I'll definitely treasure all of them.

taken during the recent Open House 

with a record-breaking 60++ parent volunteers who signed up for Olympic Fun Day

97th Founders Day together with an ex-Montfort Junior parent volunteer (and friend), Ms Chye (MJS principal), and Amie (Exco Vice Chairperson)

job well done for International Friendship day

one of the after-school duty get-togethers

Volunteering and it's rewards

Volunteering is offering a service willingly and without pay. 

I have been exposed to the idea since I was young, when I would go with volunteer groups to give donated goods to less fortunate families or those badly affected by natural disasters like typhoons or volcanic eruptions (remember Mt Pinatubo?). My parents were also both involved in their own volunteer activities in church and in the community. What a great feeling it was knowing that I have done something good. 

When I had my boys, I knew that I would still want to continue to contribute to the community somehow by doing volunteer work. With 2 growing boys, time wasn't really something that I have enough of. But that only meant my volunteer stint had to take a side step for some time. When they were in preschool, I was given an opportunity to do volunteer work again - as a parent volunteer for the learning journeys. It was the first step towards my life as a parent volunteer.

Being with preschoolers was a different experience. They were full of energy but needed more attention. They had a lot of questions sometimes not even related to the learning journey we were in. I was no longer giving donated goods to the needy, but these kids needed something else - my full attention, my energy running after them, and my knowledge of whatever it was that they wanted to ask. Being a parent volunteer then also paved way for me to know more about my sons' teachers and friends. This was definitely beneficial specially when my boys were in primary school.

When Kelvin was in primary 1, I didn't have much time to volunteer in his school because of the conflict in schedule with Ira's preschool class. When I did have the time, I would help in the library. That was my first stint as a parent volunteer at Montfort Junior School (MJS). The few hours a month in the library became few days a month helping out in other events and school programs as Ira joined the same school 4 years after. Schedule was no longer a big problem, the advantage of having both boys attending the same school.

Volunteering can be addicting. Why did I say so? Because the few hours turned into few days, until Amie, the Vice Chairman of MJPC (Montfort Junior Parent Connection - parent support group), pointed out that I was the PV who attended most of the activities in the school year 2011 after she tabulated the event participation data (the most active PV!). That's being there for almost all of the school events, as and when I can. We both couldn't believe it. But when you are doing something you are enjoying, I think you wouldn't really notice that you've already done a lot!

So why do I do it? What's in it for me, because everyone says there should be something there for me to keep coming back and doing it? Money is definitely not the answer, as volunteer work means you don't get paid for the work you do. You actually spend money from time to time, to help make things happen. Advantage for the kids in school as I am visible? Not really, because in Singapore education system, the marking is very objective - one of the things that motivate me to continue volunteering as it doesn't give bias to my sons' performance in school.

I enjoy volunteering because it gives a sense of belonging - parents who want to give their time to help the school provide better experiences to our boys and be a part of the process. Friendships are formed, experiences are shared. Our boys benefit as a result.

It gives me satisfaction knowing that I am not just on the sidelines waiting for things to happen, but being an instrument in making things happen. We help give our boys quality learning experiences through working hand-in-hand with the school.

It provides an opportunity for me to know my sons' friends, who are the people they are interacting with in school, the type of environment they are in. Nothing beats the feeling of being the mom/dad who almost everyone knows and respects (we hope so!) because the boys see that we care that is why we give our time to them.

I also get to see the teachers in action - how much effort they are putting in to teach 30 or so boys everyday. It is not an easy task, I tell you. Maintaining discipline in itself is already a big challenge, imparting knowledge is a different thing. A balance between the two is almost an impossibility. But the teachers do it somehow. And I'm really very fortunate to know, and work with, a handful of teachers who are very efficient and effective in their chosen field. They discipline, they teach, they care. I've already named some of them in my previous blog about teacher's day. And there are still more of these unsung heroes of sorts. 

Being a parent volunteer opened my eyes to some parenting and school system realities. I had a deeper appreciation for the teachers and the work they are doing. It proved my belief that parent involvement is that crucial to our children's development. When I am aware of the different activities and programs the school has for my children, and I spend time helping out in making these programs happen, the end result is that my kids as well as the rest of the school benefit a lot. I develop good relationships with their teachers which enables us to work together to make learning a fun experience for my children. I get to know their friends, which I'm sure is something my kids appreciate a lot.

In addition to these positive outcomes, I take home a sense of self-worth. I am happier because I get to do things I enjoy and love with the people that I get along with and respect. I gain self-confidence. I am blessed with good friends. I learn from different experiences. And I am recognized - not by any awards, but when my sons' friends and other students I have helped somehow say "hello, Auntie". That meant I have left a good impression with them. When I see their happy faces during events that I am assisting in, that is priceless. And when my son tells me, "Mom, can you volunteer for my learning journey?", which means he appreciates my role as a parent volunteer in his school. I think that is the biggest reward I can ever ask for.

Being a parent volunteer can be a very taxing but truly rewarding / fulfilling experience.  Volunteering may not be for everyone, people may say, but my take on it is - if it feels right, it is right. So come aboard!

after Mother's Day celebration in school 2012

Kelvin's P6 Financial Literacy Programme which I helped facilitate in 2012

Olympic Fun Day 2012 - Kelvin's final year in Primary School

Parent Volunteer friends get-together

Parent Volunteers for International Friendship Day

- Filipinos, Singaporeans, Indians (we live by example)

time to go formal, during 97th Founder's Day

my labor of love - Teacher's Day gifts 2012

I even get to do other things I love - like dancing!

Chinese New Year celebrations 2012

Olympic Fun Day 2012 - we're tired but we're happy!

Olympic Fun Day 2013

Children's timetable

I came across a printout of Ira's timetable while weeding out papers. This was when he was 3-4yrs old.

Although we weren't able to follow the schedule to the dot (you know, kids would always want more of the playing and less of the learning), I'm glad i made this for him (and several others for his older brother, every year). It kept me "sane" knowing they have some sort of plan to do for the day - a mix of things they enjoy and things they need to learn. Kept them occupied as and when I need to do house chores, too.

I made this one in color as it was more fun/interesting to look at. When they were both in primary though I went for the simple black and white timetable. Less confusing for growing kids :)

Kelvin's Rite of Passage

After months of researching for clinics and comparing prices, we have finally gone through the process and it's done! 

Less than a month ago, we visited Hamid Family Clinic in Pasir Ris to go for preliminary doctor's visit before the procedure (circumcision). We had to wait for a while for the doctor to arrive but it was all worth the wait because the doctor (Dr Hamid) was very friendly and professional. He was able to address all our questions and my son felt at ease with his instructions on how to prepare for the "big day". Dr Hamid did a preliminary check and interview with Kelvin and advised him accordingly.

Two days ago, we went back to Dr Hamid's clinic for the actual procedure. We were all ready - baggy shorts and deposit slip in tow. Kelvin was a little bit nervous while waiting (went to the washroom several times and said he seemed to have stomach pains). When he was called in to the operating room, we asked if we could go in with him. The nurse said it was ok and we ALL went in (me, daddy and Ira).

Kelvin was prepped for the procedure while Ira was busy playing with the phone (which was a good thing since he was the one who was more nervous than Kelvin). We let him sit in the office, take some sweets and play games. Mark and I stood by the door as we watched the doctor and nurses/assistants begin the procedure. Kelvin was becoming more nervous but he carried himself pretty well. He held his hands to his chest. I was there watching him put up a brave front. I knew he would be ok but mother's instinct pushed me to go to him, to hold his hand and show my support - to let him know that mom's here and that everything will be ok.

I witnessed the whole procedure from administering the local anesthesia to the pulling and cutting and stitching (yes, Kelvin had undergone the normal procedure, not laser). It was indeed a gruesome site and I'm glad I was there to tell Kelvin to just look at the ceiling lights. The doctor made sure the he didn't see anything that was happening (because this would make him REALLY scared for sure!) and said reassuring words to him. When the anesthetic has taken effect the procedure went well - Kelvin didn't feel any pain at all (that he couldn't handle). From time to time he would squeeze my hand as he felt some tingling sensation but not pain. After a few minutes, the procedure was over. He was relieved and couldn't believe it was that fast to do it. But his hands and mine were a bit numb from the squeezing.

He got down from the operating table, stood up, fixed his own clothes and was smiling around as if nothing happened! Right there and then I knew everything went well. As I was talking to the doctor on how to take care of the wound and stitches I felt weak in the knees, like my whole body was burning. It's as if something came over me and I felt like vomiting. I think it was then that everything sank in - witnessing the surgery, with blood and all. I've undergone a CS and normal delivery but didn't really see the gory stuff so I guess I was "emotionless" then. I'm just thankful I didn't faint in the middle of the procedure!

After hearing so many scary stories about circumcision, I'm glad we are done with it (one more to go). Preliminary doctor's fee was $37 (inclusive of $20 deposit) and actual day's fee $210 (inclusive of medication). Not bad as compared to other clinics which charge a hefty $900 and above.

It's only Kelvin's second day and he is doing pretty good (aside from the pain he felt a few hours after the procedure). He can walk properly. He can definitely eat well. And he can make jokes. The important thing, I guess, was that he wasn't traumatized by the experience. And he was eager to call his friend to share his experience.

 

This was Kelvin, before and after the procedure. 

See the smile on his face? Priceless :)

Thanks, Dr Hamid!

A tribute to my sons' teachers in 2012

As we celebrate Teacher's Day 2012 I told myself I have to write something about the teachers who have been there to guide and mentor my children, in recognition of their hard work and in appreciation of the effort they put in to their profession.

I have posted Teacher's Day greetings on Facebook through our parent volunteer group. I have also posted a pre-blog greeting to the teachers in my FB wall. I have sent personal text/email/skype messages (and still sending up to now) to each and every one of my sons' teachers. It was an emotional one for me because I am really grateful for all the things they have done - not only as teachers, but as second parents, to my boys.

As mentioned in my wall, these teachers truly are the epitome of caring, devoted, reliable, inspiring, and successful teachers students and parents are hoping for.

To Kelvin's teachers:

• Mdm Tay Chor Lin (form and Math teacher) 
• she was Kelvin's teacher in P1, P5 and P6 so I can safely say that she has somehow seen Kelvin's growth and development through the years. When Kelvin was in P1, I was very excited for him to experience life in primary school and I hoped for a good teacher to walk him through the first year of formal education. If my memory serves me right, Mdm Tay (Miss Tay back then) was quite a new teacher. My idea of a good teacher was someone who can inspire students, who can teach well not only academics but good values as well, someone who can communicate to the parents comfortably. And she did not disappoint. She was very approachable and she made sure that her students (all boys in this case) did their work neatly every time. I knew then that Kelvin was in good hands. 
• Four years after, when I found out that she was going to be Kelvin's form teacher again in P5 and in P6, I was confident that Kelvin, in these 2 delicate years in primary, will again be in caring hands. Mdm Tay showed me in several occasions that she really cares about her students. She knows them well, not only in academics but also their behaviors/attitudes. 
• she is able to communicate what she observes about her students in the classroom to parents so that we can work hand-in-hand to help our children do better in school.
• I remember what she said in the last meeting during P5 that it's not really just about academics but what values we can instill in our boys. And I do agree with her on that. I'm glad she is able to see the good in the boys and enhance that for them to become better students and have good values.
• I appreciate the fact that we can reach her whenever we have questions - whether it's a weekday or a weekend, and even during holidays! That simply shows that she really makes time for her students, even if she has to sacrifice a few minutes of her supposed free time. That to me is dedication. 

• Mdm Uma (English teacher) 
• I can't stress enough how lucky my son's class is when I found out that they will be handled by the head of the English department during the P5 and P6 years. I knew it was going to be such a challenge for Kelvin because the teacher will definitely have big expectations and stricter rules. It can also be quite intimidating knowing I will be talking to the head of the department whenever it's results day every term or so. But she, like Mdm Tay, was very friendly. 
• She assured me that if there were any questions or concerns regarding Kelvin, I can just call or sms her. She even made time to meet with me during one of the terms to personally explain to me Kelvin's progress and how we can help each other guide Kelvin to do better in the subject. 
• She also lets me know whenever there is a positive development in Kelvin like the time when he got perfect in his prelims orals. She saw me during my duty at the Lego room and stopped for a while to share the good news. That is a wonderful gesture coming from a teacher. Even though she knew Kelvin will tell me when he gets home, she made it a point to personally tell me, somehow to reassure me that we are going on the right track in helping Kelvin. It inspired me, and motivated Kelvin to do well knowing that his teacher was proud of his achievements.
• She leads by example. By that I mean she speaks well and with that she also expects better things from her students.

• Ms Han (Science teacher) 
• to have an award-winning teacher can be a pressure for the students to do well, but Ms Han creates a very positive atmosphere in the classroom  (and even outside the classroom) wherein she motivates her students to ask her any scientific questions they can think of. 
• Like Mdm Uma and Mdm Tay, she also gave her personal number to the students, as well as the parents, so she can be reached anytime if there are any concerns or questions. Sometimes the boys even sms her with questions not related to the topics they are discussing but she still replies to their queries because she believes this will enable them to think further. 
• She gains the students' trust  and I believe they learn better that way. 
• She communicates to the parents what the weak areas are and gives suggestions as to how we can help to improve our children's performance. She even calls parents who are not able to attend meetings to update them on their child's development. She never puts the students down even if their marks fall but lifts their spirits up by telling them that they can do better with a little help. She really is devoted to having her students learn and enjoy learning Science.
• Mdm Lee Teck Lan (Kelvin's Chinese teacher in P5)
• the first thing I liked about Mdm Lee is that she is able to speak good English (goodbye to language barrier). This meant I can communicate my concerns to her better and she can respond in a way that I can clearly understand.
• She explains Kelvin's status in school well. She tells me when there are both good and not-so-good results as well as behaviors in class. She makes sure I know I we can both talk to Kelvin if there are any behaviors that need to be corrected.
• The one thing that really impressed me the most was when the time came that Kelvin's MT marks were quite low. I was at a dilemma whether to have him go to PSLE with his MT or to apply for MT in lieu at the last minute. I asked for her suggestion as to what to do in Kelvin's case. She deliberately looked for Kelvin's MT teachers from P1 to P4, talked to them about Kelvin's situation and asked for their suggestions as to what the better options are. She met with me afterwards, presented to me the options and came up with the advice of continuing MT until PSLE because she knows, based on an overall assessment from his previous teachers, that Kelvin can pass and do better. She explained to me in detail what MT in PSLE would be like and how he could score better, which parts he should focus on, etc. She also mentioned that the option of taking MT in lieu may not work to his advantage in secondary as he will not have enough knowledge by that time when everyone else taking the subject will have studied the language in depth as compared to him. I am impressed at how she was able to make time to approach Kelvin's previous MT teachers and prepare an analysis of what path is best for us to take. For this I am really grateful. 

To Ira's teacher:

• Mr Thiru (form, Math, Social Studies and English teacher)
• fierce as he is known to his students, but I believe at some point teachers do have to be fierce especially if they are handling a class of 30 EXTREMELY active boys. The boys need to know who is in-charge in class.
• putting his fierce nature aside, I commend Mr Thiru for being able to handle a class like P2-Service. He is able to get their attention and have them learn something at the end of the day. How do I know this? One time, I asked Ira what the new topic in Math was. He explained it to me in a very clear manner. I was impressed. That meant he was listening and Mr Thiru explained the subject well in class. 
• I saw how patient he was with the boys and he takes their active nature positively saying they are just full of energy but they are not the naughty types. It's reassuring to know that he sees the good in his students.
• Ms Arshi (French Faster, tuition teacher)
• a very patient teacher
• she knows how to motivate Ira even when he is not a very good mood (sessions are after-school and sometimes he is so sleepy)
• she compliments every little achievement and improvement which motivates Ira to do well
• she is bubbly and approachable

These are only some of the teachers I have come to know in and out of Montfort Junior School.   There are still many more and I could go on and on about their qualities and my experiences working with them. That may yet be in another blog.

Being a parent volunteer opened my eyes as to what a teacher does and experiences in class and in school activities. It made me appreciate them more because I am more aware of what really happens in school. 

It's not easy being a teacher. But they chose to be one and they are doing very well at it.

Sometimes we only think of teachers if we have some complains or questions about our children. I think sometimes we demand too much from them maybe because we don't really know how much work they are doing.  We complain about not getting the exam paper results right away, not taking into consideration that they have to go through 30+ papers. Some parents talk to teachers only to ask about what the teachers are doing to help their children improve, without asking what they can do to help. And so on, and so forth. 

I say we, as parents, should treat teachers as partners in moulding our children - to become educated people with good values. Let us not leave the responsibility of doing this to the teachers alone. They are already doing a big part on our children's lives.

There are many other teachers that deserve our gratitude, and I say we must let them know. That is the least we could do to show our appreciation for all their hard work. For the difference that they make in our children's lives.

I read an article online (http://www.greatschools.org/improvement/quality-teaching/79-what-makes-a-great-teacher.gs) and would like to share it with you. 

"What makes a great teacher? Teaching is one of the most complicated jobs today. It demands broad knowledge of subject matter, curriculum, and standards; enthusiasm, a caring attitude, and a love of learning; knowledge of discipline and classroom management techniques; and a desire to make a difference in the lives of young people. With all these qualities required, it's no wonder that it's hard to find great teachers."

• Great teachers set high expectations for all students. They expect that all students can and will achieve in their classroom, and they don't give up on underachievers.
• Great teachers have clear, written-out objectives.Effective teachers have lesson plans that give students a clear idea of what they will be learning, what the assignments are and what the grading policy is. Assignments have learning goals and give students ample opportunity to practice new skills. The teacher is consistent in grading and returns work in a timely manner.
• Great teachers are prepared and organized. They are in their classrooms early and ready to teach. They present lessons in a clear and structured way. Their classrooms are organized in such a way as to minimize distractions.
• Great teachers engage students and get them to look at issues in a variety of ways. Effective teachers use facts as a starting point, not an end point; they ask "why" questions, look at all sides and encourage students to predict what will happen next. They ask questions frequently to make sure students are following along. They try to engage the whole class, and they don't allow a few students to dominate the class. They keep students motivated with varied, lively approaches.
• Great teachers form strong relationships with their students and show that they care about them as people. Great teachers are warm, accessible, enthusiastic and caring. Teachers with these qualities are known to stay after school and make themselves available to students and parents who need them. They are involved in school-wide committees and activities, and they demonstrate a commitment to the school.
• Great teachers are masters of their subject matter.They exhibit expertise in the subjects they are teaching and spend time continuing to gain new knowledge in their field. They present material in an enthusiastic manner and instill a hunger in their students to learn more on their own.
• Great teachers communicate frequently with parents.They reach parents through conferences and frequent written reports home. They don't hesitate to pick up the telephone to call a parent if they are concerned about a student.

I'm really very grateful that my sons are under the care of their teachers. They exemplify the characteristics of great teachers. Let us continue to support such teachers so that they will continue to do their part in bringing out the best in our children.

The Art of Documenting: safeguarding those important papers

I have always been (or at least I try to be) an efficient organizer. I want clothes to be folded properly in the closet. I make sure things are in their proper places most of the times (it's difficult when you have 2 boys at home). And most importantly, I try to keep all important (and sometimes the not-so-important but sentimental) papers/documents. You can say I got the habit that from my mother.

I remember this one time when I participated in a competition when I was in primary school (can't remember which one though). My mother was so nervous (she always was every time I compete) that she didn't go to school to watch (she usually doesn't). After the competition my teacher/coach sent her a note. She was a bit hesitant to open the note, but anxious to read what's written in there. When she finally got the courage to do so, this was what greeted her:

My mom had kept this paper as a souvenir of that special day (and many others). And I have brought it here to Singapore with me, together with other important documents like diplomas, certificates, report cards, etc from when I was in preschool up to uni years. Yes, my mother has kept all of them in order in a file so she could hand it over to me when I move on to another chapter in my life (in short, when I got married and became a mom like her). 

I believe that this is a very effective way of documentation. We don't really know when we will be needing these papers, and which papers will be useful. But it's a good practice to save them for future reference/use. Better safe than sorry :) 

I'm not saying that we should keep all papers/documents that come our way. I guess as I parent, somehow, we have an idea as to which documents would be valuable in the future (whether to us or to other parties). We have the instinct to hold on to those papers (the memories), and it pays off.

I know when the PSLE results come out, I will be keeping a copy of it and saving it the way my mother has kept, saved and passed on to me ALL the important and memorable pieces of papers throughout my childhood/teenage days. I have been doing it for the past 12 years as a mother to my children - from their first scribbles to progress reports to school awards to report books. My mother has trained me well :)