The Poor Heart

 Do you think it is easy being a teacher?

 Really it is not.

 Not when you have to face the brunt of handling the outcome of 2 public exams within a span of 3 days.

Expectations, expectations, expectations.

Take it easy; everyone says.

Yea, take it easy.

 The dear principal; strong and steadfast to handle all that there is; the race is about being fearless and management of stress.

Yet, at the back of her mind; she knows she has to face the department, the cluster school chase, the stakeholders and the public.

Come what may she says; she prays it be good.

So the day came and went of course.

 Thilaham asked; 'what do you think?' Chin Chin says ' aya, que sera sera la'. Ng Poh Choo ponders over her Maths achievement; now what happens? Whoever says a teacher's life is easy? Love you teachers.

 Now they asked; 'what is our fate?' Why are we waiting?

 Yes, Tan Xiao Hui; the student with straight A+; one of the top students of the state. This guy is not a book worm; he was 'on fire' during the Scouts annual campfire and stole the show with his zest and vigour for life. An all rounder, he is indeed a candidate for a future leader.

 This quiet unexpected girl stole the show too with her straight A+; Wong Xin Le. When I asked her how she did it she said; 'study'. So different strategies in life.

Son of a teacher in school, Loong Yi is the robotics guy of the school. A favourite of the principal, he is always with her where computers, robotics and technology are concerned. Loong Yi writes very well; that I can vouch as I taught him in younger years. A pleasant and loving child well brought up by mummy.

 Oh it is just too much for him.Why my dear son? 'Oh I miss one A+ for that perfect score ! I cannot take it !

Yes, you can Hui Ming. Life is more than that. You still can be a mechanical engineer with a smaller A.

Don't cry baby.

You have done papa and mama proud.

 I could not hold back my joy for Jared. His brothers Joel and Joshua Yim were all our protege.

He did well.

 That's mama Khasniyati with son Imran. They die for the school choir and still made it to the top. It goes to say being active in cocurricular activities does not mean you cannot make it academically. 

 Sohan says he wants all A+; all As is insufficient...enough Sohan.

 The all As scorers; thank you.

 Yes, we are joyful on this happy day again.

The 69 straight As.

54 missed an A for the all As category.

It was a 99.5 % pass for the school.

This is stressful for 2013.

My teachers are now on their toes and putting on thinking caps.

Wish us a good journey for the year.

Pray for us.

The Valedictorian

 The final STPM cohort that ends in a final test recorded a 100% pass.

Congratulations to the students who did the school proud.

 Last year's STPM students had an agonizing wait before the results were revealed.

 Teachers too were on their toes as they analysed the findings.

Poor teachers will have to answer to never ending questions.

 This is Johan; with his CGPA of 3.42; is a favourite among the students as he is often very actively involved in activities that had our stomachs in stitches.

 Harmony did her Alma Mater proud with her CGPA of 3.75.

 This quiet unassuming girl; Jane Yeap Soong Yin has a CGPA of 3.92 !; the top girl.

Huang Sheng; the Valedictorian was virtually carried through to receive his reward; his CGPA of 4.0!

A humble and friendly guy, he often helped the teachers by being the best learner !

So today he truly received what he deserved.

 The top boy and the top girl.

A happy day for the happy family.

Well done boys and girls .

The Songkhla Exchange

 What a colourful week.

When you have been approached by an international link for an English programme you cannot refuse in the name of camaraderie and exposure. Staying true to her cluster status, SMK Seafield could but only agree to help out.

Last week we had 60 children and 7 teachers from Mahavajiravudh Songkhla School visiting us for an English enrichment programme. The visitors wanted a taste of classroom learning; observing how our English teachers deliver English lessons.

 Some of the participants are 'Gifted English Learners' and they have an inclination towards the language. They were well-behaved and some stayed with foster parents to understand local culture better.

 Very quickly the education agent for the link, Mr.Romalee insisted on the exchange of gifts and good feelings.

 The Thai Species of the Rice grain is symbolic of the nation. The principal graciously received them with gratitude and thanksgiving.

 Soon they were given a brief history of the school and how it reached its present status. Mahavajiravudh Songkhla School is a premium school of 112 years old and the school has features way back a century ago. So when they saw the very young Seafield school, they could but only say...the school is physically small when compared to theirs ! I can only imagine the stately nature of their school.

 Our local Higher Institution link; UITM sent in their representatives to conduct a workshop with them; thus enhancing the link.

In the classroom, students were introduces to idiomatic expressions and we had creative understanding indeed !

 The Thais though finding the language quite challenging, are not short of expressions and imaginations.

 The teachers too are keen in learning.

They were delighted when some English teachers gave them the materials to bring home.

 These were some of their understanding of the idioms.

Their understanding expressed pictorially.

 Mr. Romalee was the link we had when we visited Haadyai last year.

He shared that Malaysians are lucky because we are rich in languages; especially the English Language.

 He lamented that the Thais find it a great challenge to speak and write in the language.

 So he was impressed with our students' command of the language.

 This young Thai lad however showed off his narrative skill excellently. He caught us through in attention with his story telling charisma; so typical of a Thai.He did his comrades proud.

 In a local exchange, we taught them the congkat game.

 The nasi lemak was a hit with them.

 The satay is representative of the country and must be given a chance to be tasted.

 Later in the evening we gave them a treat to their delight. They expressed their gratitude.

 Perhaps the best joke was when you see 2 foreigners expressing their views in the MALAY language ! Since Romalee found it a challenge to converse in English,Robin took it upon himself to converse with him in a language which both of them could understand. Seafield's international link is indeed working well. Both of them had something in common; Robin was an AFS student and Romalee's daughter was also an AFS student in the States ! At one point, Robin spoke to his daughter over the phone about ....AFS only. So, we had fun seeing the richness of international links. You would have enjoyed it too.

 The Thais left with a good memories; how can one ever forget their rich cultural dance?

Enjoy it.

The Thai Exchange.

Lovely Orchids

 The season is here. If you notice the gardens around your residential area, the orchid species are in splendor. The hot and wet moments seem to feed the plant well. I read in the papers that in Singapore, areas where the tiger orchids are in quiet retreat are now blooming ! Indeed there is a season for everything.

 The tiger species. Tiger spots in abundance.

 In the garden right in front of the school are also great sights !

 The orchids  are also no more shy; they are shooting out of their bulbs in splendid hues. 

When you walk around the garden your heart is lifted up. 

They greet you with smiles and colours.

It is so heart -warming to see them.

 The plants were first brought in by some PTA members way back in 2001 and are still blooming till this day. When you place a legacy along the way, its results last for decades; maybe even generations.

 Rows and rows of them sitting on pots that hang prettily on stilts donated by a parent back then.

Of all the species in our garden, the dancing girl never fails to make our hearts skip.

Dancing girl, dancing girl,

You bloom day and night; no matter what happens.

Even as the world faces problems of all nature,

You withstand them all and do your little part;

To lift the hearts of your onlookers;

To give hope to the hopeless,

To put that smile back.

Dancing girl, dancing girl,

Continue your good dance 

And bring smiles along the way.

A season of orchid.

Thinking People

 I think.

I think the students have finally seen Kestrel's 8 tools of learning today.

I think the teachers will be using these tools in their teaching from now till the end of the year.

I think the students will be led into modes of learning through these tools.

I think we are excited by these tools.

 I think the most excited ones were the Mcs of the day; Madam Doris and her batman; Mr. Robin.

They made great announcers and producers of the opening page today.

 Only Doris will concord ideas like that; the uniform bodies of the school marched to the honour of the occasion today; launching of the program.

 Hey, it's I Think alright !

 Invigorating sounds and music accompanied the guys to the display of the 8 diagrams ! Kudos teachers and students !

Do you see the circle, bubble, tree, brace, bridge, double bubble, flow maps? 

When and how are they used?

 The teachers are superb. They think of all possible positions to make sure the maps are seen by everyone. They work with love.

 So, tell me. What is the name of the map that explains an idea in its local context?

Who can answer? A gift voucher for the right answer !

 Guess what? even Ming Li took the step of faith to answer; he got it right! A free KFC meal for you.

 Sheanis, what is the function of the bridge map? For making analogies. So another voucher for you.

 The young afternoon ones are not left out. Promise we love them just as much; if not more.

The marked difference is that they are very responsive; no reservations.

 So, it's I think for them too. Everyone has a chance to be exposed to the maps.

 Teachers will have the challenge to teach them how to apply.

 Mr. Robin diligently plays his role as he brought the students to a time of awe when he candidly said :

Salam Sejatera 1 Malaysia ! He went 'alamaking' when the students did not respond as expected.

He sure is assimilating himself well.

 How do you like the performance; one even danced to the music of Psy !

We had fun being introduced to the theme of the assembly today; I think.

I think we learn something today.

I think.