2016 Secondary 1 Week 23 Update

Its the start of the school holidays and we’re in Yogyakarta as I write this. 
Both BB and GG had to go back to school earlier this week, GG for choir practice and BB for a space camp at the Singapore Science Centre. The highlight of the camp at the Science Centre was using their super powerful telescope to see the sky and stars. Unfortunately, the day they were to see this, the sky was cloudy and they didn’t see the stars. BB also had his Math Olympiad test this week and he said it was a very tough one. I am hoping he makes it to the school team (if they have one) as this will help in his DSA application if he plans do so next year (for Sec 3) as well as in junior college and/or polytechnic. 

They do have holiday homework and we need to start working on that as soon as we are back. I am also thinking of using the school holidays to tutor them in humanities, subjects which I am fairly strong in. This should help them in the next semester. This trip was also good in terms of both history and geography, both subjects which they are studying and will continue to study next year. 
I am also planning some holiday activities locally, so the idea is to spend more time with them – the whole idea of me taking a break from work!

2016 Sec 1 Week 22 Update

This was the last week of school and ended with the Parent Teacher Meeting for both BB & GG.

GG first – she did quite well in her exams and at her parent teacher meeting, all her teachers were all praise for her, some even going so far to say they wished all their students were like her! As a parent, I was chuffed and so very proud of her. She was also very proud of herself and I could see her blushing when her teachers started praising her. I am really happy for her and this has given such a strong boost to her self esteem. She is now determined to do better than the mid year exams. She also won the ‘Model Student’ for her class award on the last day of school. This award is given twice a year to a student the form teachers decide on, one who not only are doing well in school academically, but also do well in their CCAs and other school activities and show qualities which embody the school spirit. Her photo where she is accepting the award will  also be put up in a wall in the school. Her form teacher also commented that he hopes she will get to become a school councillor and also lead her CCA in the future as he sees leadership skills in GG.

Now to BB  – his report was not too good, he only got good grades in Maths and Science and the other subjects were all Bs and below.  He also failed in three subjects, two of which are academic subjects! He really needs to work on his handwriting, which will otherwise, be a big hinderancw to him in 3 odd years time when he sits for he GCE O Level exams. Not all examiners will be willing to decipher what he is writing. This will also affect not only grades in English, but also humanities and also the science papers, which will in turn, affect the final grades. My big job this holiday is to source for some class which will help in his penmanship or find resources online. Good luck to me on that!

So that was our last week of school. On to the holidays now!

2016 Sec 1 Week 21 Update

Results week! GG did very well this exam, getting multiple A1s (equal to an A+), including Maths, which is the one subject she always loses marks in. She’s super pumped up and motivated now to do better and in hindsight I feel putting her in this stream has been great for her. She also scored highest in some subjects, of which, which she is very proud!

BB on the other hand, didn’t do so well, only scoring A1s for his strongest subjects of Maths and Science and indifferent marks in others. He also failed some academic subjects. I hope with this failure he pulls up his socks and starts getting serious for the year-end exams. He needs to do well especially next year as they will choose subject combinations in secondary 3, all of which will affect his post-secondary course choices. 

GG also has proceeded to the next round for he councillor selection at her school (actually all students went to the next round). She has the interview session with the current student council later this week. I’m going to help her prepare for this this week.

We also have the parent teacher meetings later in the week, on the same day for both. So first I go to BB’s school, meet his form teacher, then off to GG’s school and meet both, form and subject Teachers. I am also going to talk about a lateral transfer for her. I want her to get the choice, the final decision will be hers!

2016 Sec 1 Week 19 Update

Exam week for both BB & GG so it was a very low-key week for both.They both have finished roughly half with the exams expected to end next week.

We also got the Hindi exam marks this week and as expected, BB failed. I really don’t know how to reach out to this boy. For someone so smart, who can with one reading understand the subject, he is very unconcerned and in fact, completely neglectful of this subject. I hope, I can spend the next month or so with him on it, hopefully it gets inside his head that he needs to at least pass!!

GG, on the other hand, did OK. I did think she will do better, but considering that she was busy with her school  performance with the big day with two  performances just a day before the exams, it was better than expected. She didn’t get much time to study, especially in the days leading up to the exam.

happy-mothers-day-massage-specialsToday is Mother’s Day and to all the mothers who read my blog, here’s wishing you all a very happy Mother’s Day. There’s an old saying that says that since God knew he could not be around each and every one of his children, he created mothers so every one of his children have someone  love them unconditionally, be with them always and fight for them forever! That’s a mom for you!!

happy-mothers-day-poem

2016 Sec 1 Week 18 Update

Exams started for both the children and they’ve been busy with that.

GG has been nominated by her form teacher to apply to be a school counselor and she’s happy at this chance. They need to fill up a form with examples of how they exemplify the values the school holds close to heart and get endorsements from 4 teachers! The teachers then debate among themselves to decide the counselors. But I am happy that she is even trying for the position and her teachers nominated her. 

Other than that, nothing much happend this week with the children. More probably next week onwards as we start our home adventures! Happy weekend everyone