It's The End !

Finally, after 3 weeks of Maths remedial, today is the last day.

For the past 3 weeks, I have been busy bringing her to the primary school, chatting with our mummy gang while waiting for our children, go back home, have lunch and then out I am off to work.

There is an extension for another week for weaker students and I am glad that my daughter need not.

She has benefited from this remedial as now she knows how to do subtraction within 20, eg, 15-2, or 20-7. Still need some practice on subtraction within 30.

We praise her and told her we are so proud of her :)

It's worth all the effort and she is very familiar with her school even though she has not started her primary school journey. She also has made new friends which are same class with her. I am very sure she has no problem adjusting to the new environment when school starts 4 Jan 2010.

Days Of Preparatory Class #1

My friend Mag offers to help me to bring Anthiea to school knowing my situation, and also as her son also needs to attend the preparatory lesson.

I am so thankful that we became fast friends over the past year when our children are in K2 and now our children are in the same school, but too bad, not the same class.

But but ..... Heaven is not being kind today as it rained !!

Sigh !

This morning, I sent Zenden to school and went to inform Anthiea's form teacher and principal about the preparatory lesson she has to attend. Maybe I talk to much, hahaha ..... that I return home late and since it's raining, I decided to bring her to school myself.

I seek my MIL's help to fetch Zenden and she said okay.

In the bus, we met Mag and another mother, whose son also needs to attend Maths. As we alighted, we met another grandmother and together, we walked to the school.

I found out that her grand-daughter is in the same class as mine. She intitated to exchange phone numbers and of course I agreed !! Hehe ...

Anthiea and G became fast friends as they held hands immediately. So cute !

We could not enter the school and only waited at the gate. Lucky the four of us have each other as companion during these 1.5 hours. As we waited, we chatted. At 10.40am, the kids were released and we quickly took bus and went home.

I was damn tired as I still need to go to work in the afternoon. It's only Day 1, and we still have 13 days more to go...

Primary 1 Orientation

Before attending my daughter's orientation, about two weeks ago, I was told by a mummy, who came to know the news from another mother, that on the FIRST day in school next year, the kids are supposed to sit some tests and should they fail, they have to stay back for remedial.

I was thinking it was quite absurd because it's only the first day. I was abit doubtful as message could be distorted.

Anyhow, we attended her orientation last saturday. We reached the school at 8.15am (registration commenced at 8.30am and orientation at 9am). There were two sets of programmes, one for the children, the other for the parents.

The children were brought to their respective classrooms while we were at the hall, to listen to the principal's speech and to hand in respective duly completed forms like GIRO.

Her study timing is like this,

- recess time 9.30-10.00am
- monday to thursday, 8.00am-1.30pm
- friday, 8.00am-3.30pm. The extended 2 hours is - 1 hr of aesthetics + 1 hr of sports.

Any remedial class will commence at 3.30pm. So if the child requires extra tuition,

- on monday to thursday, either the child stays behind till 3.30pm for the remedial to commence, OR, goes home first and returns to school again for the remedial

- on friday, after the extended 2 hr programme, 15 mins break before starting the remedial.

I was shaking my head when I heard all these.

Anyhow, we were only allowed to collect our children at 12noon. I went to collect my daughter and was informed that she has to come back for Maths remedial coming monday.

Yes, starting from 9 Nov, every day for 3 weeks, 9.30am to 10.30am, goes to primary school for her Maths preparatory lesson. No need to attend K2 class anymore.

So, the hearsay is somewhat true, AND it did not happen on the first day of school, it happened on the orientation !!

Several parents were shocked about this and were questioning the teacher-in-charge. I saw there were about 20+ students (out of 30) needed to come back for preparatory lesson.

Is your child's primary school also like this ?

I am surprised that my daughter needs to have extra lesson on Maths instead of Chinese. I saw some of her K2 school mates' parents and they also told me their child needs to attend the preparatory lesson too.

I asked my daughter what she was tested and she told me she did not know how to do 15-5 & 13-3, and 3-1 she knew the answer. I thought my preparation for her on Maths is good enough (I taught her how do addition/subtract within 10), but in fact, it is not.

They expect the child to know how to add/subtract within 20 before they enter P1. Wow, I think it's getting more stressful studying here ...

My mind began to think about logistic issues as I need to fetch my son from school at 10am. Unless I can cut myself into two parts, one to the primary school to fetch the eldest, the other half to fetch the nursery .... hahahah .... headache now ....

Casting aside logistic issue, I do appreciate the school's intention to brush up their basic so that the weaker students will be able to catch up when school starts 4 Jan 2010.

There are two sides from a coin, so every event/thing happens will have a good and bad side.

I told my daughter that she has to attend primary school starting from tomorrow and she questioned me why it happened so fast (because I told her next year she will go P1) and she had no chance to say goodbye to her kindy friends.

I promise her that I will let her return to kindy for the last 2 days to enjoy and say bye to her friends.

To My Dearest Precious Anthiea

When mummy and daddy were childless for almost 3 years, we wondered if we would have a child of our own. Miracle happened when Heaven gave you as a gift. Mummy and you must have been fated to become mother and daughter in this life :)

Mummy can still remember on your first day in nursery, you were very frightened. When I was at the door, saying bye to you, I could see you having tears in your eyes and whispering "mummy come ... mummy come"

I went to nearby shop to buy sweets for you, as a promise to you that if you did not cry on your first day, you will receive your reward.

Mummy stood outside the classroom for an hour, just wanted to be the first person you would see when teacher opened the door.

When you saw me, you were so happy and proud to tell me, "mummy, I never cry!" and you sure did not shed any single tear throughout your nursery days, though on your 5th day, you wet yourself in school. Heehee ....

You were a very quiet and soft spoken girl in class and had never given teacher any problem.

As you advanced to K1, you were still quite a child. That's for sure because you were only 4.5 years old. It's your childhood, you must enjoy it.

About 3 weeks into K1 life, your form teacher complained to me that you did not understand instructions well.

She asked you to draw 3 circles and coloured them. Maybe you love to draw and colour very much that you colour the whole paper instead.

However, I do understand the teacher's intention. In primary school, you must learn to follow instructions in order to do your worksheets. Anyhow, after this incident, you have learnt and made progress.

During February 2008, your auntie did something wrong and mummy sent her packing. Mummy decided to take pay cut and worked partime so that I can bring you to school in the morning.

It was indeed a tough path ahead but mummy never regretted this decision as I was more involved in your growing up.

In K1, you started to learn more about our Mother Tongue. I should have blamed myself as since birth, I always speak English to you. Hence you face difficulties understanding what your Chinese teacher taught in school.

Mummy decided to help you, to make amends for myself. I forced us to speak more mandarin at home. It proved to be useful as your spoken Mandarin made a great improvement.

By the end of your K1, you are able to converse in Mandarin. Mummy is so proud of you. You also have opened up yourself. You are more daring to speak up sometimes.

This year, is your final year in kindergarten.

Being more mature and responsible, your teacher made your monitoress of your English class.

For a girl who is quiet and soft spoken in her nursery, till now a monitoress of the class, Mummy is so proud of your achievements! :)

Next year, your classmates and you will be going to same/different primary schools. Mummy decided to plan to have your 6 year old celebration in school. This is the first time you ever had celebration in school and you were very happy. I am glad :)

I could see you are well-liked by your friends as when they saw me preparing your cake, all of them exclaimed, "Happy birthday Anthiea !" Two of your classmates even gave you kisses and hugs too !! Aren't you the happiest girl in the world ? :)

When Year 2009 comes to an end, it will mark another beginning of your milestone as you are going primary one next year !

Mummy still cannot believe ... my precious gem, my sweetest, my most wonderful girl has grown up.

Today is one of your big day, your K2 graduation concert.

Mummy had seen how hardworking you are when you learn the dance steps, going for many rehearsals. When you are bathing, eating, trying to sleep, you are still dancing. Heehee ...

I know you will put up an outstanding performance for mummy, daddy and didi tonight. Mummy will shed buckets, buckets of tears .... of joy when it's your turn to up the stage.

Mummy is always proud of you and Mummy always loves you.

Love,
Mummy

Wean Off From Bottle

Finally, Anthiea is not using bottle to drink milk.

Her Friso milk has finished and she started to drink soya milk. It's weird that she doesn't like soya milk in bottle and so I asked her to drink from cup instead.

I'm not sure if she consider slow in weaning off bottle, but whatever ... she is officially wean OFF !

Yeah !


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Two Hands Please

I am very particular about having two hands on the dining table while having meals.

Each time should my kids or hubby did not put their two hands on the table, I will remind them by saying, "two hands on the table please."

So far, only my son has to be constantly be reminded of. Hubby had been nagged by me ever since we were together. Heehee...

This table manners have been disciplined by my mother when I was young and it has already been blueprinted in me.

Are you particular about this too?