Week 0 of 2019

This is the first week of school but it is considered Week 0 as there are only 3 days of school this week. Most, if not all schools are testing out their time-tables to make sure there are no clashes or it is orientation week for the students. 

Back to School II

Back in school again today at SCGS, my alma mater. 
Loved surprising my daughter and seeing the look of terror on her face! Hahaha. I think what tickled my friend most (who led me to my daughter's class) was what I said to my daughter when she stepped out of her class, "Where is your badge?!". :D Once a teacher, always a teacher. Certain things cannot be unseen. 
Never knew I missed teacher chat so much. Maybe one day I may just return to teaching. 

My girl and my former colleague, Mrs Fern

My former student! Now Mrs Ang teaching my girl Geography

Love the food, the chat and most of all, the company!

饮水思源

I saw this in a school I visited today, 饮水思源. 
It has a lot of meaning for me personally because my mother always taught my brother and I since young that we must always 饮水思源 which literally means when we drink, we must think of its source. In plain words, it means that we must be grateful for our blessings, never take things for granted and never forget one's origins. 

Life's Simple Pleasures 2017

Nothing better than enjoying a hot bowl of delicious mee hoon soto soup (non-spicy) in the school canteen on a wet and cool day (amid the students' staring haha). I just couldn't resist adding a perfectly fried egg with crispy edge! 

CHS Family Day & Homecoming

I was invited by Catholic High School to their Family Day and Homecoming held today 830am-3pm because of our partnership with the school in providing their students work experience opportunities with my project. I had a great time with my RA and friend, Cheryl. Unfortunately, Filzah and Liyana couldn't join us as they had to go visiting for their Hari Raya.

Super delicious! Regretted not buying more.

School Break Work

Although it is the one week school break, there is no respite for my research team. We have requests from schools to conduct our data collection during the break. Just today alone, we met with school leaders, HODs, and teachers - 2 interviews and 2 FGDs. 
Going to be a busy week, school break or no school break.

School Canteen Food

Sometimes, school canteen food is the best - cheap, delicious, healthy and filling. 

SCGS Parents' Briefing 2017

I attended the Parents' Briefing for Secondary 1 students at SCGS in the evening. Lots to take in about school matters. 

Sighted! Pokemons in School!

Here's one more reason why I love working with this school for the past 13 years and counting! :) 

"Under One Roof" SCGS Family Carnival

It's a family outing for my girls and I, attending the SCGS Family Carnival. However, upon reaching SCGS at 9:45am, my girls abandoned me as they went off with their friends. 

Marieann as she went off with her friend

With Juliane before she ran off with her friends too

It's ok, I met several of my former SCGS colleagues. ALWAYS a blast catching up with them! They never fail to make me miss my teaching days. :)

Juliane is horrified that I took a photo with Mrs Lim, her form teacher haha

Marieann, her friend, Mun Ling with Ms Koh, their P6 form teacher

I also met some of my classmates and my former students, Yvette and Michelle who are both teaching in SCGS!

My 1998 4P student, Yvette

I taught Michell when I was doing long term relief teaching in SCGS

What's carnival without buying home goodies! Hahaha

We really enjoyed ourselves, catching with friends. 
Once an SC girl, always an SC girl! :)

Honours Day 2016

My counselling school invites me to their Honours Day every year and I always find it a joy to attend it. Other than showing support to my colleagues (yes, I see the teachers as my colleagues as we are all working for the students' welfare :) ), it is also a great opportunity to see the students' various talents through their performances and their handicrafts. :) Honours Day always ends with a buffet dinner which is a wonderful time to relax and chill with the teachers.  

The students' handicrafts which I bought on Honours Day :)

Week 2

It's the start of Week 2. Schools will be trying out the time-tables and making sure nothing clashes. 

Week 1 Down

Week 1 is over. Everything went well. Phew. :)
Another 39 weeks to go. 

"Twins" on 1st Day of School 2016

Today is the first day of school on Monday 4 January 2016. 
I sent both my girls off at the door as they left for school, Juliane in Primary 6 and Marieann in Secondary 2. I took their photos and posted on Facebook. Many friends and colleagues commented that they look so much alike, like twins! Haha.

What do you think? 
When I told the girls about them looking like twins, they both went, "Eww, I don't want to look like Jie Jie/ Mei Mei" in unison. Lol :D

I wish them both a wonderful start to the new school year in 2016!

Diwali Rangoli Rice Art

Diwali Rangoli Rice Art in school

My counselling school celebrated Diwali with a Rangoli Rice Art placed outside the General Office. :)

Life's Simple Pleasures VI/ Childhood Memories

Simple pleasures of life - seeing the Milo van/truck at my counselling school!!! Can you imagine the happiness I felt?! I never ran so fast to the Milo van besides every Sports Day when I was in school. :P The Milo uncle even posed for me!

The Milo Uncle and van/truck before the students and I swarmed it

My second cup of Milo! 

Somehow the tiny Milo cup makes one crave for Milo even more haha. I only drank two cups of Milo but I have seen the students going back for 3rd, 4th and xxth cups of Milo! I think my classmates and I used to do that too when we were students ourselves haha. :P 
The Milo van/truck is definitely a fond childhood memory for me! How many of you remember it? :)

School Again

It's back to school again for the new term. Hopefully the girls will engaged their time more meaningfully during the new school term than they were during the holidays. They were watching the Charmed tv series. Ok I used to watch it too. :) Wondering why they are not watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer t series... :P

"Teacher, teacher"

I was in school to meet with the key personnel to brief about our research project. While waiting (I was early) at the General Office, I was approached no less than three times by the students calling me "Teacher, teacher" and asking me for help. I had to redirect them to the GO staff. 
Guess I still look very much like a teacher to students lol.

Best Speaker

Juliane took part in a Debating Skills Programme organised by her school. I have seen her researching, preparing and writing out her speech for the debate topic. Previously her team had a debate in class and she did well in her team debate even though her team didn't win. Today was the final debate. She won Best Speaker! She was so excited that she called me to tell me the good news after school when I was at work.
Well done, Juliane! Proud of you. 

Just hope she doesn't use her new found debating skills on me.  :P

Dual Roles

I think for the first time, the teachers in my counselling school were a little confused over my role haha. 
I did my counselling with the students in the morning. Once my counselling ended, I joined my NIE colleague who was facilitating a focus group discussion with teachers. 
It was funny to see the look on the teachers' faces when I appeared at the discussion venue. They were probably thinking, "What is the counsellor doing here?". I had to explain that I am also a researcher from NIE, besides being a counsellor in their school. :)
A lot of the staff, other than the school leaders and middle managers, don't realise that I have dual roles because I am passionate about both work and I couldn't let go of one or the other. 
I am both a counsellor as well as a researcher. :)