Tag Archives: Update

2016 Secondary 1 Week 23 Update

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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 Week 22 Update

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This week I officially complete one month of being a SAHM and jobless! In the last week or so, I did not even apply for jobs. I have started to get depressed about this, sometimes thinking that I will not get another job ever. I need to get out of this funk soon. Need to get my act together as soon as I am back from my holiday later this week.

We’re going to Yogyakarta, Indonesia for a 4 day trip later in the week. Yogya or Jogya as it is fondly called by the locals has two UNESCO world heritage sites close by – Borobudur and the Prambanan temple complex and I am eager to explore them and take load of photos!

We also went for Baby’s one month party yesterday and had a blast playing with him. My sister-in-law emulated the local chinese custom where they celebrate a baby’s full moon (1 month) and get everyone to see the baby at the same time!

Gotta prepare for our holidays and source for places to eat and shop! I’ll spam pictures of the place soon and also do a few posts on what all we did so anyone who is interested in this place will have some points to start with….

Have a great week folks!

2016 Sec 1 Week 22 Update

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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

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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 Week 20 Update

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Week 2 of being a SAHM and what hits me hardest is how hot and noisy it is! This is really not an issue when you are in an air-conditioned office where the loudest noise is probably some people laughing, and even these get glares! When I was last in India, I commented on how noisy it is and this statement has now come to bite me! The constant cacophony of noises – people talking/fighting, various vehicles coming and going, the traffic and children playing are all guaranteed to make someone not used to this very irritable! I just hope I can escape this before I become too used to it!

The exams ended and I am looking forward to some time with the kids. I have some places in the city to see and visit and I am hoping I can do this soon. We’re also planning our June holiday trip and this time, it will be another neighbouring country – one of the cities which is supposed to  be full of culture, old temples and ruins – everything I love!! More on this when I finish the bookings.

Yesterday we had the naming ceremony for S’ sister’s baby, called Baby here on! Baby is such a sweetheart that I can’t resist holding him when I see him. He had such chubby cheeks when he was born, but that has decreased quite a bit in the last 16 days (that’s how old he is today). It was a fun, but hectic morning meeting the extended family. However, what was not so nice was wearing a silk saree in this heat! Whenever I wear a saree, I always wonder how my mum does it? I’ve mostly seen her in sarees, 24/7 and while I like wearing one, when it’s hot like it is these days, I wonder how she and all women do it? I should probably do a post on this versatile yet un-stitched Indian garment.

Have a great week folks!