Last year, Shan did the Young Botanist Card. This year, the teacher gave them "I am a Young Water Ambassador" card. This explains why we needed to make a trip to NEWater Visitor Centre. The centre is located at Kok Sek Lim Road which is near Changi. We made a booking to tour the Visitor Centre after church last Sunday.



While Shan is busying trying to take note of Singapore's four National Taps, Sky and Seth were grooving around playing with the interactive games.

After the previous note about her recent ICAS results, I have been reminded to be positive. This time, she shouted her news about obtaining distinction for ICAS Maths through whatsapp.

 
What amazes me was not so much of her results but God's work in our family. Specifically this year, she had placed all her exams and tests unto the lord. A little prayer before the kids went off to school and before they sleep was all it took. But indeed, this year, dosage of prayers are more consistent and had increased. At times, when the little grouchy one screamed his head off cos I woke up and left his side, it would just be a quick "blessed day ahead".

I was also very impacted during one of the meeting where Pst Kong spoke about Spirit of Faith is Speaking and Believing. I started to pen down what will come to pass and when I looked back, I noted that I had wrote "Shan obtaining Distinction for Maths ICAS". I tested God and God Wow me!

So during this exam period, God is at the centre of it all. I was pretty relax and Shan was lagi more relax. She's already marking her calendar, counting down to year end holiday!

Every year, the whole P3 cohort in Singapore will be taking the optional Gifted Education Programme (GEP) exam to determine your route of learning thereafter. Considering that she has a set of less than intelligent parent, it was only through God's means and wisdom that Shan passed Round 1. 

As a result, she was slated to go through 2nd round of screening during two half-days of the PSLE Marking days. That, unfortunately disrupted my her study schedule for the 4 days in preparation for the year end exam.  On 2nd day, she came back defeated and protested that the Maths paper was too tough. And that was supposed to be her strongest subject. Nevertheless, was still thankful that she had the chance to experience this.

Can't wait for another week to go before year end exam would be over! 

Shan got her first Distinction in ICAS and gee! I'm not even excited or as a matter of fact, I'm expressionless. The Distinction was for "Computer Skills" paper. I guess my reactions would be different if it was for English or Maths paper. Even so, she had only managed a "Credit" for her which she would indignantly reminds me that she's one of the 25% particpants across schools in Singapore to obtain this grade..

Obtained from UNSW

Actually, I had meant to let her take Science but by stroke of error, she ended up taking Computer Skills instead. 

Frankly, I was not sure if I had set too high of a standard on the kids. She told me that when she obtained her English ICAS cert, she was shocked to see only "Thank you for participating" and only to realised that she was been given her classmate's cert. She was only satisfied when she gotten her own cert and it stated "Credit". I guess this showed that she had a certain level of expectation on herself.

As for Sky, he recently got back a Math test paper with  a 36/40 score. I looked through the paper and I was disappointed. The paper was damm easy! And the best part, the 4 points he lost was due to carelessness. I should have told him "Good Job!"or "Well Done"! Instead, I nagged and chided at him for the 4 marks he lost. I really sounded like a horrible mum.

Later in the night, I took a step backward and thought if I should be a better parent. I should have smacked her with kisses or threw her up in the air or do whatever to make her feel good. Afterall, this is her first "Distinction" she gotten. I must really learn to be more encouraging and speak life into them. In short, I must learn to be a better mummy.

Sky loved sparring with Daddy on Chess even though out of 10 times they played, 10 times, he could not win.  I thank God that there was an opportunity for him to find his encouragment back. He came back from school telling me, he won a chess badge from his team competition. I though nothing of it. Only when I spoke to him over dinner, I realised that there were around 20 over students and only 3 or 4 students obtained the badge.He had emerged as one of the top 3 or 4th player. He even proudly told me he beaten his P4 classmates. Some kind of achievement huh! He's gushing over one classmate of his that beat him in seven steps and he's trying to learn the technique.


...and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary ~ Revelation 2:3:

I realised that I was rather laid back on updating the blog for a good two months. Sheepishly to admit, I have been staying up late to watch my k-dramas via iPad after the kids were asleep. Well, the other important reason was I Shan was taking her first serious examination this year.

By far, this has been an extremely busy year for Shan. Besides staying back twice a week for dance practice in lieu of SYF, she was also staying back for Malay class. It does not help that in P3, the teachers piled them with homework and at times she was nodding her head off while struggling to complete her homework. And when we thought she could relax after SYF, the teacher asked them to sign up for Maths Olympia and again she's back to staying back thrice a week. These activities left her lesser time to do other form of assessments. Anyway, regardless of the busy schedule, she got to be ready for SA1. So, I got to do some timetabling making sure she done enough to be well prepared for the exam.

Nevertheless, we still manage to find some time to walk in the park and the kids could take a breather, looking at the greens, playing with coconuts and simply let free. It's a small commercial break for them to charge up.

For the past year, the school dance team had been sweating training up for SYF 2012. As a enthusiastic mother, I volunteered as a parent helper to do make up and hairdo for the lovely gals. They gotten prep talk from the dance director prior the competition and the Principal came down specially to cheer the gals on. While they were doing their last bit of rehearsal, the dance teacher was nearly screaming her head off. Looks like they were under tremendous pressure to perform.


Today, Shan called and ecstatically informed that they won Gold with Honours Award. All their hard works were being paid off.

Recess time. Sky looking very happy with his new-found friends. The school arranged pre-pack recess for the first 10 days, exposing them to the food from all the stalls.

Look at all the eager parents at the right hand side...all of us looked like in the "zoo" looking at exhibits.
After recess, the kids were led to the basketball court where the Principal personally shook every pupil's hand and handed a welcome bag to them.

With my decision to go back to work, our original plan to let Seth attend Sky's kindy was cancelled. In fact, we had already registered him and before Seth could start, we had to withdraw him and forfeit the deposit made. We totally love CWK but weighing other considerations (aka, do not want Seth to get too close to our helper :p), we contemplated putting Seth in a CC instead. It was just timely when a new CC opened just within 2 mins walk away. After a visit during the open house, it wasn't too hard for us to decide to switch Seth to there.

We prayed for smooth transition to the new school and it was indeed so. Although Seth sobbed a teeny while when we left, teacher mentioned that he got over it quickly and participated in all activities. For the first three days, teacher let Daddy accompanied him till assembly time and these are the pictures took by him.







Now, the only thing he hasn't get used to is taking a nap in the school. Usually at home, Tess would carry him and pat him to his nap. Last Friday, he merely took 15mins of nap. When Tess brought him home at 5pm, he complaint to her that Teacher never carry him to sleep and was tired. He promptly fell to sleep when he reached home.

Today, when I fetch him from school and while walking home, I asked if he took his nap. He cheekily mentioned that he do not want teacher to carry him. He requested for Mummy or Aunty to carry him to sleep! At 8pm, he announced that he was tired and slept! Study is tough. Long way to go, Seth!

Can hear Sky loud and clear at the start of K2 Victory's show

Shan in her super high spirit, ecstatically called me to report that she was awarded the Star Pupil Badge. It was a goal she had set for herself beginning of this year and it was a great milestone for her. I was overjoyed too but got to suppress it since I was not at home.

Frankly, I wasn't sure what was the selection criterion. What I briefly understood from her was as long you are a Monitor/Monitoress, you naturally qualify. Aside from that, I guess would be the form teacher's assessment of your overall character and academic results. In fact, her class already had 8 students with the badge. This semester, she's the only one in her class to be awarded. It was a heart pumping session for her as she need to collect it from the P at the stage during assembly time.

Shan, Mummy is very very proud of you!

Sky made his first maiden solo performance during his Kindy's Teacher's Day dedication concert. He passed the audition and was chosen to perform on Teacher's Day.  The audition wasn't that smooth sailing actually. On the day of the audition, he blew it and totally blanked out. The teacher in charge called and said that Sky did not sing a thing. She mentioned that she would give Sky another chance the next day and if he still did not sing, he wouldn't be able to perform. After some praying and a small prep talk that he could do it, he gamely went for another try. The teacher subsequently called to say that he was in for the dedication concert.

Ok, Sky is not outspoken by nature. When I was working in my ex organisation, I cringed whenever I had to present to a large crowd. So, to sing in front of the whole school, I definitely can't do it. So, even comparing to one chap who sang Justin Bieber's most famous number "Baby",

or another one who had to recite 三字经,

Sky's simple song is really nothing to shout about. But to me, it's really BRAVO and a job well done!

National Arts Council organised a platform to promote the appreciation and showcase of Chinese dance. NHPS's Chinese dance is one of its strongest CCA and has been winning Gold Award in Singapore Youth Festival (SYF) competitions. Along with other award-winning schools such as Yishun Pri, PHPPS, Anderson Sec, NTU, Dunman High, Hwa Chong and NAFA team, NHPS was invited to participate.  It was held at NAFA Lee Foundation Theatre last Saturday with two shows at 3pm and 8pm respectively. Tickets were sold via Sistic at $10 each. Since I volunteered to be Mummy helper (helping the girls with their make up and hair-do), I was entitled a free ticket. Daddy, to show his support, rushed down after church (he got to be part of the SOT cohort which was graduating the weekend) and purchased tickets to see the show.

Gathered at school early in the morning at 9am wearing costume, doing make up and hair do