Marieann's PSG Dedicated Service Award 2017

I attended St Margaret's Secondary School's 175th Speech & Prize-giving Day. 
I am really proud to see Marieann on stage to receive the PSG Dedicated Service Award 2017 for her outstanding contributions to Library Club! This is her second year as a CCA leader since she became one when she was in Sec 2. She has definitely outdone me! I used to be Head Librarian in SCGS Secondary but never received any award lol. Besides the trophy and the certificate, she also received a cheque of $100. 

The silly girl initially didn't want to attend the prize-giving and would rather help out backstage as she did at last year's Speech & Prize-giving Day. Although she seemed as if it didn't bother her, I could tell that it meant a lot to her that I attended the prize-giving. :) 

SAPA Workshop

Today is the second workshop that I conducted at Springfield Secondary School. I really enjoyed interacting with the teachers and the VP as they started on their hands-on after my brief recap of SAPA (self-assessment and peer assessment). The highlight of the workshop was the sharing by all the groups which I thought were extremely beneficial to all. 

SMSS's 175th Anniversary Green Dot & Homecoming Funfair

Immediately after the talk at NLB in the late morning, I rushed down to Marieann's school, St Margaret's Secondary School for its 175th Anniversary Green Dot and Homecoming Funfair. I wanted to show support to Marieann's school as well as her class stall. I got Marieann to play the game at her class stall on my behalf and I also bought quite a few items, mainly food and a St Margaret's Secondary School drawstring bag. 

Marieann leading the way 

Student Work Experience

Once again, I took in five Secondary 3 students under my project for their work experience programme. Although it is only a one day programme, I built in both information-giving and hands-on for the students without making it too boring or too over-whelming for them as it is their first experience with research work. 

Marieann - one of the students attached to my project for work experience :)

The lovely work experience programme students

My colleagues, Liyana and Cheryl and I enjoyed interacting with the students. We hope that the skills that they learnt at the work experience can also be applied to their school work. 

Domino Effect

While I was resting at home on the second day of my medical leave, I received a call from Juliane in school just after 1pm that she wasn't feeling very well and was having a headache/ migraine. I rushed down to school but met with the traffic due to primary school dismissal. 
We only managed to see the doctor at 2:30pm. Juliane is confirmed down with flu and she had a high fever close to 39C which was causing her headache/ migraine.
4th person to be down with flu... :(

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. 

Breakfast with Principal

Marieann's school had a Breakfast with the Principal session for the Secondary 3 students this morning. I was the earliest parent to arrive haha. Occupational hazard of a former teacher. 
Lots to think about for Marieann's future life options. 

First Day of School

It is Juliane's first day of school as a secondary school student! I don't believe how fast my girls are growing up.

Secondary 1 Reporting Day II

Today is Secondary 1 Reporting Day. This is my second time doing this. Both Juliane and I were at her secondary school by 8:20am. Juliane is posted back to Singapore Chinese Girls' School Secondary, her first choice. My ex-SCGS colleagues saw me and laughed, "You are back again!" Haha :D

The Principal's Address started promptly at 8:30am. By 9:25am, the briefing ended. I allowed Juliane some time to catch up with her friends before queueing to buy her PE attires at 10am. It was an hour later when we managed to get her PE attires. At least, by now there wasn't any queue for the textbooks! I bought her textbooks and school materials in under 3 minutes. :)
By 12pm, we were back home. The perk of staying near the school! 

Juliane started reading one of the literature books:
Emily of Emerald Hill while waiting for
her grandfather to pick us up

SCGS Open House 2016

We went to the SCGS Open House 2016, 9am - 2pm. My former colleagues were tickled to see me there with my younger girl. We were fake new parent and child haha. 

My First Invited Keynote!

Another milestone in my academic career. 
I was invited to give a keynote at a secondary school. It is my first keynote on Student-Involved Assessment: Student Self-assessment. What an experience! I was video-recorded lol. :)

PTM 2

I attended the PTM at Marieann's school this morning. Her form teacher gave me some observations about Marieann in school. Her form teacher also complimented Marieann for being made a student leader in her CCA when she is only in Secondary 2 as the leadership is usually helmed by Sec 3 or 4 student. She is the Vice-President for her Library CCA. :) 

What Shall I Do?

That's what my daughter, Marieann said. Apparently, it was her last day of school yesterday. Her school holiday has already started whereas her sister, Juliane is still having school and examinations! Just hope that Marieann doesn't irk Juliane as she now has too much spare time. 

Student Self-Assessment Workshop

I was invited to conduct a workshop (8:30am - 12pm) on Student Self-Assessment at a secondary school during their Staff Training Day on 26 June 2015. The first half of my workshop was a mini-lecture on the what, why and how of self-assessment. The second half of my workshop involved the teachers crafting self-assessments for their students and a presentation of their self-assessment to their colleagues. The workshop ended successfully at 12:15pm. The school leaders are really appreciative because I did the workshop pro bono. Well, it is my way of giving back to the teaching community. :)

Teachers hard at work in crafting student self-assessment

Teachers presenting their student self-assessment

Group photo with two departments

I felt great that I could share my knowledge and experience with the 80+ teachers. I hope that I have made some small impact to the school, the teachers and ultimately, the students! :)

Pre-workshop Session

I conducted a pre-workshop session with the key personnel and the principal in a secondary school prior to my actual workshop on Friday. I am really glad that the session went well and the discussion was productive. I think there is buy-in from the key personnel. :)  

Good News III

A colleague from an Academic Group sent me a request from a secondary school to conduct a workshop on self-assessment for their teachers. Knowing that self-assessment is my research interest, she thought I might be interested in conducting the workshop. I am really glad for such supportive colleagues.
Yes, I decided to conduct the self-assessment workshop for the school, pro bono too. :) Well, it is my way of giving back to the teaching community.

Ownership

On several occasions, Marieann has been staying back after school. She explained that she has been staying back after school to complete her homework together with her classmate. 
My first instinct is to want her home as soon as possible to do her homework. However, I realised that Marieann is learning to take ownership for her own learning. I guess I also have to do some learning. I am learning to let go where Marieann's studies is concerned. It's time that she takes charge of her own learning. 

Early Bird...

opens the classroom doors! That is the case for Marieann. 
She has been going to school early for the past four days. When I asked her, she said that she is the Key IC. I was thinking to myself "she is the what?". She explained that she is in charge of the classroom keys and she has to be in school early to open the classroom doors or her classmates would not be able to get into class. I asked her how long will she be in charge of opening the classroom doors. She replied until she is tired of it. Looks like it may be her responsibility for the rest of the year since we live so near to school haha. 
Marieann is happy being the Key IC. I am happy that she is happy and for her to take on some responsibility. She is growing up! :)

CCA Interview

Marieann had her interview with CCA Art Club in the afternoon. Apparently there are 27 applicants who applied to join the Art Club but only a handful will be selected. The interview took the form of a drawing. The applicants were asked to draw and the applicants' successful application will be based on the drawing. 
Marieann seemed confident about her drawing. All the Best!
However, she also has a Plan B. One of the seniors who was in charge of her class during the Sec 1 Orientation Week is a Librarian. :) 

Parent-Teacher-Meeting

It is Parent-Teacher-Meeting today for the parents of Secondary 1 students at St Margaret's Secondary School. The Principal's Address started promptly at 6:30pm, followed by a briefing on CCA Matters by the HOD CCA and lastly, an informal meeting between the parents and the respective Form and Co-Form teachers for each of the Secondary 1 classes. My main mission tonight was to find out how Marieann is really doing in school because she always replies, "Ok" whenever I ask her about school. She is a girl of few words. 
However, it was kind of sad when I overheard some parents instead of asking the teachers how they can support their daughters in Sec 1, they were asking about how soon can a transfer between streams take place. Sigh. :(