Teachers' Day 2007 @YCSS Class 4E1

Today was defintiely the best day I had ever experienced in term 3. Arrived in school at 6.45am. Headed straight for the classroom with Steven and Banu. Checked on a few things like the gifts and the balloons before the group of us got chased out.

There was the ACES(All Children Excersing Simultaneously) Day and a teachers versus students floorball for the upper secondary students. Until 9am,4E1 formed a team to challenge the teachers. Though the students did not win, we still managed to maintain the score of 3-0 and had fun during the games.

Now at the school hall, there was a Lion Dance performance, two rock band performances,two modern dance items and a skit.The band performances were good, but the first item was so loud and high pitched that it left almost half of the shool covering our ears.Next was the dance, and I liked the one which Clara and her friends performed in, and there were some good comments by dancer in our class too... There was also a prize presentation ceremony for the teachers in the school, and Ms Lim won the overall Best Teacher in the upper secondary category as well as the Most Caring Teacher award in the school. Mr Liew won the Most Energetic Teacher Award.

Next is none other than the Teachers' Day 2007 @ YCSS Class 4E1, the main event of the day! I love this part the most, since we had spent more than 24 hours on the whole putting the bits and pieces of the party together and making this party a success!Thank you 4E1 for the efforts put in for this day! The moment the concert ended, everyone headed back to the classroom as fast as we could. Girls formed a line along the windows of the classroom, while the boys formed a line along the parapet of the corridor. Every alternate classmate had a popper(if that is what its called) in his or her hand. Finally, Ms Lim came, and as she passed, the poppers were released one by one, creating a grand ambience. Now, the classroom was more of a pub than some grand place.With 'coloured' lights, hand-cut and spray-painted banners, the place was far from a grand party, for this was more of a once-in-a-lifetime sort of a celeration.Soon, teachers came and joined us for the cake cutting ceremony,the drama put up by some of our classmates,the video made by Damien, the giving out of presents and gifts to the teachers and finally, the buffet prepared by some classmates who stayed up later than most of the class who left school at 9pm yesterday.


Everything does not end here though.
This part is continued at 7pm:

Finally it was time to leave school.I had promised the teachers,three of them in fact, from my primary school, Pei Hwa Presbyterian Primary School that I will be back this year,since I knew that I would not be able to get pass the security guards at all last year(due to the late dismissal time). Sadly,Gloria had decided not to return to school this year, I had to go alone(good, one less person to worry about), since there were only the both of us who were posted to Yuan Ching Secondary from Pei Hwa Presbyterian Primary in 2003.I tripled my walking speed today(yea, new record) in a successful attempt,well not so successful afterall, to make it back to Upper Bukit Timah Road, where the journey took 40 minutes. Arriving near the school at 1pm after taking bus 61, I sprinted for the gates. I saw the security guard and crossed my fingers. Will I be let into the school this year?I walked up,and asked."Yes!By all means,feel free to enter!"He answered with enthusiasm.I entered with appreciation,but not before he gave me a light pat on my back.The school sure has changed alot since the new principal took office this year.Met up with Ms Loh and two ex-students from my class(glad we still recognise each other, though I had forgotten a girl's name,who donned the familiar greyish Jurong Secondary uniform).I was in luck.She was preparing to leave the school until I entered the staff room.The two teachers of whom I was so eager to meet today had left for lunch earlier today. Nevermind, at least I could meet my former Chinese teacher who was willing to let me write a short note to my other two former teachers who taught me the English Language,Mathematics,Science,Social Studies and Physical Education.Without them, I might not have made it to where I am today. I really long to meet them in school again some day, and I knew that this day is drawing nearer by the days. I found out that many things had changed for the better along with the new principal's entrance. I also found out that last year, the school was ranked fourth in Singapore among all the Primary schools in the island,with a top T-score of 28x.Nice work.Although my stay was not very long, I was sort of happy with the ideals of the new principal.

Anyway, to think that theres a part three to today. I call it the outside school visit(first time Im doing this). the teacher I visited today is my Chinese tuitor,who lives in Bukit Panjang and has helped me outside tuition hours at her home at no extra charges. In addition, she has taught me for the past four years!I'm very appreciate of her efforts in helping me to get this grade(although she was not very satisfied with a C,since I could have gotten a B instead). I brought her a self-knitted sweater by my mum, together with a card and some chocolates.Took a joy ride on the LRT before heading to Jurong Point for early dinner at 5pm(I had intended to stop by at Jurong Entertainment Centre at first,but the thought of unecessary spending of money on plastic models there made me change my mind).

Finally,at 5.20pm, I took the proper route home, meaning that I took the MRT train to Bukit Batok Station before taking a bus that stopped near my home.I reached home at 5.50pm(typical journey time).Now, I'm back at home, taking a short break before embarking on recovering more than ten hours lost during the decorating of the classroom which was worth the effort.

Although the urge to let those words out of my mouth is geting increasingly unbearable, it might not be good now, for it could affect the other's performance at the final hurdle;it would not be fairto do that now.
Also, as it is less than two months before it is time to jump as high as I can over that hurdle,this would be my one of my last posts till further notice. The last post before I start again would be the 18th of september.

Some Videos taken today:

Pre-Teachers' Day 2007 @YCSS Class 4E1 Preparations-Part 2

Today is the best episode for the Teachers' Day Preparations. Today we had lots of free time given by our teachers to do the planning for the decorations during the last two hours of school today, since Mr Liew was not well(get well soon yea) and Ms Lim gave us that time to do the preparations.



It was only after school when everything went into action. The tables were stack in threes(interesting ain't it?) and the chairs were stacked as per normal. They are hidden in some place of the classroom with a black banner covering them. Today, Siang Lin liberated two hours for the class by telling Mdm Azlinah that the whole class was involved in decorating the classroom(which was quite true). There, if not for that three hours, things would be a lot worse, since we completed everything at 9pm sharp.There you go, unexpected twists and turns that you meet o your life.



The memorable parts for today? Simple, for they are all unexpected twists and turns which have added a new facet to my life. First up, Damien's performance, Laying out the decorations, Helping classmates with the decorations, heading out to a familiar place to buy items with Pei Xuan, giving friends a treat who were still there to get a snack for them, meeting my uncle and aunt who were there to pick up Clara after her reharsals,Mr Liew's unexpected visit with his tablet PC and something which surprised the ten of us who were still there at the time and finally, forging deeper bonds with our classmates.Today was also the day I felt totally refreshed, with everyone working together as a whole class.

Pictures will be posted on Staurday night,since I experienced an error while doing this.

Somethimes though you know that you had done all you can to make something work for you, there might be the chance that you can go further with the plans,just that the chance has yet to be discovered...

Pre-Teachers' Day 2007 @YCSS Class 4E1 Preparations-Part 1

This is sort of like a sneak preview to the actual Teachers' Day celebrations on Friday,31st August,2007. Actually, this is just a short list of the things that would be done,or was done and completed today. Gifts, rough plans and actual preparations for performances and decorations for the actual thing.Note:If you see a black banner at the back of the classroom tomorrow, Don't,DON'T even think of fostering any temptations to play any games(soccer,friesbee etc.) at the area. That's all for now and I'm feeling dead tired after two long days with five hours of sleep in between.

Start of School Prelims

The first day of the prelims.Nice.Everytime it's the first day of any examination in Secondary school, it's always going to be a rainy day(for those who had not noticed this for the past four years, please bear this in mind),though I doubt it might happen for the Ordinary Level Examination.

Anyway, straight to topic. Did question one."Life is a journey with many unexpected twists and turns."How far do you agree with this statement? My first impression, is this a Social Studies question? Alright, questions two,three,four and five seem to be hard,but doable. Personally, I had always liked to write expositary esays, whether or not it is easy to wrtie(though the only time I do so in an examination is when I am so unlucky that all the questions are just as hard). I wrote another short essay today, at about a page and a half. The risk I took for this paper, my substantiation of the points to be questions seems like they are repetitions(This could mean suicide). To be honest, this is my seventh expository essay this year(pathetic ain't it?).

Next, paper two was rather interesting. Two passages, with the first passage being easy to understand but its questions take some time before the candidate can understand what it wants. The second, you need more than a couple of readings and some inference to understand the passage, and you will ace the questions for this passage, for sure. The vocabulary questions today are a sure killer,and as for the summary, I must say, it's filled with "double-line crosses".


Now, Mathematics lesson was vacant today, sadly. Anyway, used this time to do what we can for The Day Before September. After that, we went for lunch before departing for Jurong Junior College. It was a long walk,yea, but fortunately, there were shelters along the way,since around half of the group had not brought their own umbrellas. Sad to say, but tomorow we might have to go without Mr Liew again, for he has been hospitalised for an illness which Ms Lim said is food poisoning,while we were on the bus.Hope he gets well soon before the BIG event...

We were honored, to be the first secondry school to visit the JC on their Open House.Learnt quite a deal there, knew how much the place had changed and I felt relieved too, since I had the chance to take up Biology there.Now, it's down to whether I should take up Chemistry or Physics. Something really strange happened.Just as the last person int he group stepped out of the shelter, it poured.I sort of helped the others by holding te umbrellas while allowing their owners to pass throught the gate. After that, all was normal again, so we just parted and headed in all directions. Although my papers and books are safe in my suppossedly water proof computer bag, the bag was more or less drenched on the outside when I finally reached home. So tomorrow, there's going to be another switch of bags again, since my main has gotten a little mouldy on the inside.

Finally, my decision is made, JC route, Science course(either Chemistry or Physics has to go).


So, this is how it goes. The path has been planned, and it's time to head out on the journey with the end in mind. Almost everything else does not matter so much for now, till the last hurdle has been crossed in late October.

Run after run

Yesterday was the annual Corss Country Run, then today I am running a fever.
Damn. There goes my study plans for today.Highest temperature:40, lowest:36.5 Nevermind, the moment it subsides, just take out a textbook and a five year series book to attempt some questions.

I'm feeling relieved that Im not involved in the buying of Teachers' Day decorations. Anyway, at least I have got a little luxury of relaxation. Maybe it's time to get more rest, so see ya soon...

Annual Cross Country Run, Strange Occurences?

Today was a day which I like,not becuase of some unexpected news, but more because of the ups and downs that happened today.I like adenture(to a certain extent)~

Anyway, Steven broke out this news to me today, about this admirer thing(felt like I was being shot), anyway,I dint really believe him, till sometime later. Anyway, A few good things happened in school today. Ms Tan finally entered Physics class for the first time this week, and I finally hit Distinction(a mini celebration) for MCQ!It sure is possible to get an A for Physics after all.Next,Social Studies, Steven passed me a set of my notes(how did it get here?). Stupefied, I just took it, examined the pages, and kept it in my bag.The only thing I remember was that the last time I took those notes out was during the Mid-year examination period, moreover, how was it that a secondary 2 student could get his or her(I think it's a her) on my notes? Nevermind... English lesson, I finally get what I wanted; a one-to-one session on letter writing with Mdm. Azlinah. i really get the idea of proper letter writing and less unecessary words and sentences now, thanks!

After school, had a meeting for that special day, and then, after lunch, went to the study corner with Randall to slack. Count it as strange,but I felt someone was looking from above(third floor in fact, two people). Felt strange, but perhaps it was my oversuspicion of things, since I was feeling sleepy at the moment.

Next, the actual cross country run. Was inspired to clinch the top 10 positions for this one with Gabriel,Sean,Cazua and Fong Yong, until I felt one stitch on my right adomen.Forget it, must be lack of water.Pressed on, and then the piercing pain got worse, decided to go easy on this one, then a second stitch occured, this time on my left side. Dammit, I'm losing velocity and concentration! If only I had drank more water just before the run(if pnly I had read the papers this morning, this might not have happened, cause there's an article whch talks about what to do in a long distance run). Anyway, Gabriel took off without me(wish him luck), followed by Andy(wish him luck too). Ok, I came to this cross-roads where only girls were permited to take. Guess what? Boys, a wave of them, roughly 5 in the group, charged out from within(where were the teachers and student marshals?)Fine,it was only five pathetic souls without any sense of integrity. The next one really pissed me off. anothr wave of students came out from a road junction, this time, around ten of them. Fine, I have decided. So,AT THE TIME WHEN I THOUGHT THAT I COULD ENJOY A RACE THAT HAS FEW OR EVEN NO CHEATERS, I WAS WRONG? Ok, Nevermind, let's walk :) ..."Engine failure" reported,right thigh muscle aching. I had not been running for the past three or four months ever since our NAPFA ended. This was near a block of blue flats. Ok, this is one more reason for walking.Come to think of it, this is my last time running in the school's race. Ok, I have promised that I will not receive a card with three digits. I promised my self that I shall not exceed number 50(my number in 2005 was 25, if I remember correctly). So, the moment I hit the traffic crossing,I started accelerating, thinking of a couple of motivation incidents experienced during the past three years and eight months. I hit the finish, and got a devastating 63. Tat was downright appalling. So, that goes to say that there were more of those who took the short cuts? Nevermind, let it rest. This final race shall be for fun only.

This is the part I liked most about today. The prize presentation. The 4Es formed a new cheering team. When classmates and friends went up to collect their prizes, 120(roughly) students unified as one and cheered and clapped for our friends and classmates. Sure is memorable. On the way home, found out that another schoolmate stayed in Bukit Batok...

Tuesday is going to be the start of the Preliminaries, and that marks the time when I should be really ready for the final one...

Somethings ought to be remembered,
Somethings ought to be forgotten.
Somethings ought to be cherished,
Somethings ought to be abandoned.
Somethings ought to be made,
Somethings ought to be destroyed.

SLightly less than 2 months

Yup, it has finally reached and fell below the two month mark before the actual O levels. Everyone is finally starting to show signs of acceleration in their studies, and most are taking pride in it as well. It's a good sign, but tomorrow, it might be good just to relax and run the annual cross-country tomorrow with pride as well, cause we are going to wear our class tee, possibly for the last time.I'm eyeing the top-fifteen,if not,the tenth position, since this is going to be my second and last chance to take aim at it. Right now,I'm feeling sort of weak,grats to me for getting a really bad cough now. Last year, a green stick fracture on my left elbow left me immobilised for the run, and i wish that tomorrow, I will at least give it my all for that position.

I finally have got my time table out, but I'm trying this out:plan for the week on Sunday, review on Saturday, then make improvements and plan a new schedule again n Sunday(I won't feel bored of studying~)...

I'm just glad that for now, things are going just as fine for most of us, although some might fall at the next hurdle,the preliminaries. Hope that that will be a "once bitten,twice shy" sort of an experience,so that no one will fall at the finish...

Relaxing Wednesday

Today,the periods before recess were practically spent outside the classroom, just like any other Wednesday in the school term, and today might just be our last. After Biology, we went to computer laboratory 4 for our Quality School Experience survey(we did that 2 years ago). Today, it was unique for me. First, I did not have a basic unit(computer) to start off with. I just sat at a dark corner with Auggie, and we waited for our 'work stations' to be ready. When we finally had our computers, I thought everything was solved. Ok, maybe the computer's Internet speed was a little slow, so we had to wait a little. One minute,two minutes."Fine, we'll just have to give you another computer then,"the administrative staff replied.I was stupefied(ok, first the 'vip' treatment by the technician which I least expected, and now, again, by a staff). I finally got my computer, a normal desktop computer. Better than nothing.

Back in class, Lee Zhen, Xue Li, Andy and I came up with the idea of organising some event on a special occasion(not to be disclosed), which then led to a class discussion.This carried on during Physics lesson as Ms Tan was not in school again today, and that gives us just sufficient time to complete the foundation work. Tomorrow, the gathering of resources begins(quite fast and efficient are we, huh.)

Anyway, just hoping that tomorrow can be just as relaxed as today, since the only lesson we (Biology students,yes, the eight of us)literally had today was a mini MCQ test at computer laboratory one.

No more free periods...

Thats it...no more free periods for the rest of the year. PE and the Mother TOngue lessons have ben substituted with other lessons.Making this real short...almost mid night, time to go. See if I can update again tomorrow...

Near Misses

That does and proves it. I'm good at evading~ Best of all,I liked the thrill of it(though doing so too often would put many in danger). During today's Physical Education Class, we were playing Frisbee,and Randall and I used a competition frisbee(the black one). I was getting the hang of it, though mine kept flying real low. Ok, consider it going a little overboard, but I actually played long range with Randall. That freaked many of those nearby out. I was in the middle of the danger zone, with many frisbees going in all directions.Those going at low altitudes were slow, so it was simple to avoid them, but there was one particular one, which I remember was a black shadow whizzing past my eyes, narrowly missing me(whew).However, Damien and Ko Hein did not seem so lucky, when their frisbees crashed onto the roof of the store house at the parade square(if you see it there tomorrow, I got nothing to say, since Mr Lim, our class mates and a few other upper secondary friends have tried in vain to get it down.sep11 sure comes early...f7[some game code where you get that zzz look])

Then,next up was Physics. We were doing this practical which was very similar tot he one we did some time ago.However, luckily,my marble fell off the bench and veered away from the drain and rolled towards the bench in front.

Well, Mathematics was not very good today, with Andy and I dosing off at times.Did he look so obvious(even Pei Xuan said she saw him nodding his head)? Our worksheets have fade lines drawn during the times we slept during the lesson...Funny thing was, while I was dosing off for a couple of minutes, I was dreaming. Strange eh? Maybe it could be possible, since being banned from the game takes only a couple of seconds.

Now,I feel glad that I have finally gotten the go ahead to go into full gear(this is the time I work best at home)...For now, maybe a short visit to the server would not do much harm,ya?

"Stress-free" Examination

It was just like the title said. Stress-free. We entered the hall as a class(there were only 19 of us?)

I did a little calculation, which is like, my turn will come in an hour's time(Darn, if only I had that black figure-of-eight ball),and it did. The questions were real simple(since I had done it before). The passage was simple to read. Perhaps my ulcer got the better of me when I was at the word "conversations"?(Oh yes,it just dawned upon me that the examiner,no offence,but the thinner one said that those from our class under their team yesterday were quite good).

Part 2-Picture Discussion. I remember clearly answering seven out of the 10 questions in the picture, paying lots of focus to the bench of school children(the one with an empty seat in the middle and an old lady), as well as the man with the spectacles.I used the bonus question,which was :If this were a ohotograph for a news article, what caption would you give it? My Answer:A named Primary School Invites Parents And Grand Parents To Help The School On the First Day of School Of Primary One pupils.

Part 3-Conversation
Question1:
The question for the day was on FOOD(nice~). I think I aced this one(except for fluency).

Question 2:
The question was about how I would help the less priviledged people in less priviledged countries. Not too bad at all, but this time, I think I did better in describing some facts, instead of using more vocabulary.

The final question was a round-up of the two questions asked earlier, and I did perfectly for this(from the look of both examiners).

Finally, the time has come to hit full speed ahead. This would mean less posts and of course, less frequent updates... till then....

First Wave of Results

This is for the whole National Day holidays.

First, the actual day itself. Boring, since I started coming down with flu and all. The only thing memorable was the National Day Parade this evening... Due to time constraints, I wont be talking so much.

Next, we had hard core Physics the next day, a Friday. Since we did not have much time left for our practicals, we decided to sacrifise our Friday for this.However, it turned out that we had normal lessons instead. Though unexpected, but it proved to be useful, since we did revision on Electricity today. That was really a time-killer, for three hours and thirty minutes just flew by. What's more,this was the first time all thirteen pure physics students were having our lesson in our own classroom, and having our longest ever physics remedial.

Fast forward to Sunday~

Finally, after 12 days in the UK, my brother finally touched-down at Changi International Airport at 6.06pm.OK. Here's the best part. The moment we reached home. We smelled something like lasksa(but we dint cook it,did we?)Did a sensory test. Led us to him. Wow. It seemed to us that his feet had cooked laksa in Hong Kong. Now, the smell was killing us all. 12 days of activities, ONE pair of socks(I take my hat off for him),nice. Anyway, found out that he had a bad infection, that's why he has that infamous Hong Kong's foot. Next up, souveniors! His bag was loaded, not with gold bars, but more of gifts and momentos. I like this particular stuffed toy of a hare(its life sized~), though its not for me(T_T). Anyway, still liked the things that he brought home(I got an owl, except that it was a porcelin one)...

TOday, received my first batch of General Certificate of Examination for Ordinary Level results for Chinese Language. Well, to put it crudely, I passed with 5 points. Not very appealing to many people out there, but like Darren, I would be more than happy with a pass(whats more, I improved by at least a grade or two).

Anyway, tomorrow is my English Language Oral examination. However, timings have been a little too perfectthese days. I have to get this ulcer today(dammit)....I'm pretty confident of acing the oral examination tomorrow, just like I had aced my Chinese oral examination a few months back.For now, see you soon...

National Day celebrations and Speech and Prize Presentation Day

Overslept this morning and reached school slightly later than usual. At 6.50 am, I came in with Gabriel, before we went to meet up with the rest of the class at the canteen and outisde the staff room.

Today was definitely different from other days, since we were there for celebrations in the morning, followed by some Math later in the afternoon. Things were slightly different for me this year. Instead of being at the parade square, Darren and I were in the hall throughour most of the parade this year. So, we sort of like missed watching the parade inspection and the march past, but, we did catch one thing;The choreography of the Guard of Honor and their new drill, whereby the middle row is to join up either with the row in front or the row behind, forming only 2 rows. While the rarade went on under the sun, the 100-strong prize winners were enjoying the air conditioners inside the hall,though we still had to run through our steps once again.

We watched the National Day video today(my first time viewing one in the school), and the scenes were great.

Now the moment has arrived, but things did not go as most of us had expected.Mr Chia went up on stage with the Guest of Honor(dint really remember his name)?Some of us were wondering"what is this? Wasn't it to be that only the Guest of Honor went on stage, and with the help of an ursher(a councillor)?" Nevermind. What's past, is already past, it can't be undone anyway.

The Carnival. YES! TOday is the first anniversary of me putting on my braces~ However, want to know how I celebrated it? I could only eat things that required minimal biting, since I had changed the wire again(the fourth so far). Cazua,Darren,Wee Keong, some 1E3 peeps and I shouted our throats hoarse today,but it was a good attempt to draw the crowds(including some VIPs to the stall). The service that the kids'(as Andy would say) provided was efficient and great.Nice effort put in!

After that, went back to staff room as most of the class was there. There was some sort of a small question and answer session about Junior Collgeges there, listened a little, and found out that I did not quite know many things(more than those Caleb had told me a couple of weeks ago). Nonetheless, rushed to Randall's place for Guild Quest later, and the initial processes seemed fast, as we completed the first stage in 5 minutes! Another record broken. I messed the boos stage up by forgeting to use my skills to avoid being killed, and caused the bags to disappear.

Now, almost time for our lesson.Randall packed his bag, I took two slices of bread(thanks~ though, but I can't really bite well) and we took a taxi down to school. We practically brought it to Ms Lee, who happened to flag down our taxi as it stopped near the bus stop. Nice.

The lesson was refreshing, though most of us were starting to dose off. So, Mr Liew went into Plan B. We did a graph question, and that really worked(at least it kept me fully awake for an hour), before I started to feel lethargic again. 4.59pm. Wow, he sure kept his promise, to release us before 5pm today. I like it, feeling that I had recovered some lost skills in Mathematics.

Next up, a miracle(not really).I accomplished part of my resolution of the year today, by talking to more than one teacher(as I had not done so for the past 6or 7 years) in one day. Somehow I felt really close after that, and new insights amd truths.

Home Sweet Home at 5.50pm, I read the papers for awhile before starting to feel unwell. Maybe like Cazua said, we are going to watch the NDP tomorrow at the hospital(sounds like fun)... On second thought, maybe not. 7.30pm, I dosed off after staring at the computer for 20 minutes. I had finally depleted all that energy for the day.Now, I did not even have the mood to study, since I was still feeling really tired before I finally forced myself to even type this in.

Alright then, time to go. I'm dead sleepy now. Hope I get well soon tomorrow morning...


so, it all boils down to today, that I feel the committment that I had put in for the last 3 years fading away. Seems like it is time to get down to serious work, and less socialising for now at least, I hope. Right now,I'm still wondring, did I even make the right move two years back, to make the choice of coming this far, and doing little about it?I'm still lacking that determination and courage...