Come week 10 of term 2, I wanted so much for the holidays to come cos all I wanted to do was to clear my desk, file all the loose papers and rest. It's funny that on the third day of the holidays, I'm still as busy as a bee!
I've since become the in-house designer for my school. The daily routine I have these days revolve round chasing some sales man from some printing firm that I swore never to work with again! Since last week, I had to be the one chasing and chasing and chasing for mock-ups and final proofs and emails and quotations and.... the man never returns my calls when he says he will, and I really don't know if he can meet tomorrow's deadline of getting the stuff printed. Something tells me he won't deliver... Arghh...
The 1500 inserts are ready and printed and ready to be packed. The first mock-up I did for the programme card looked fabulous, in my opinion... If only I had a say in the invites.. but yet again, that's another matter... I think we're all almost ready for our school blessing on Friday. Maybe after that, I'd have some slack time to finish up all the paper work and marking!
I think I could have done better for remedial lessons today. I forgot to involve good students so they could help me facilitate the learning. It was difficult to do a one-to-one in a group of 15. The boys are particularly weak, and I'm really concerned. Have to do more homework to build their foundation. First, to overcome to fear of using the language!
I hope Justin will do well for the PESA award. He came by today to ask me what he should speak on for the competition. After much teasing and taunting, we came to the idea of talking about FATS... How credible! We joked that he was authentic material, and would be certainly convincing in portraying what he wanted to say! The best part about Justin is his confidence and being able to take all of these in... Hope you'll win Justin!
OK - time to sleep. Have to get up tomorrow for the APBL workshop.. Ciao!
31 May 2006
13 May 2006
Done with marking...
Finally, I penned my last red mark on the last exam script, tied up all the papers and tabulated the marks. This, amidst the preparations for the school blessing, and other things, have kept me busy, not to mention physically and mentally tired.
Unlike last year, Starbucks and chocolates didn't keep me company as much whilst I marked, though the airport remains the best spot to mark. With a "don't finish this pile - don't go home" mantra, it sure was a good way to motivate myself to complete my marking in the least possible time.
An experience I had on one of such days was when I was sitting by Pacific Coffee Company one day on one of those red comfy couch seats. i had an empty seat beside where I was sitting, and somehow, it attracted single diners to ask if they could join me. From Singaporeans to Hong Kongers to Aussies, I had them all. The Aussie was particularly interesting, cos we struck a conversation longer than the rest.
The pile of marking and the red pen always spurred strangers to ask, "Are you a teacher?"
"Oh, yes, I am."
Questions will follow that, ranging from how the students are in Singapore to why I was marking at the airport, and interestingly enough, I got to know them better.
The Aussie was from Darwin, an electrician, broke his hand and so decided to head to Phuket for 10 days to relax and get away from all the phone calls he would have to reject cos he couldn't take on the jobs because of his hurt hand. He used to be a guide for bush walking in Darwin, and had a nephew staying with him. He's got a huge family of 8 brothers and sisters, not to mention the 20-something nieces and nephews. He was on transit in Singapore and was waiting for his flight. He had 10 hours to burn when I met him, and so I sent him off to Tampines Mall to watch a moive before heading back. He was surprised to catch me back at PCC when he came back after the movie! I guess he must have thought teachers in Singapore work hard!
Back at school, I've been keeping my hands busy with designing. I have become the unofficial in-house graphic designer, churning out artwork for the invite card, to touching up the artwork for the banner, liaising with T-shirt suppliers, and printers, to choosing and scaling pictures to size for the commemorative stamps, and my biggest project ever, the commemorative pack.
And with 8 gigabytes of pictures to look through, and albums of pictures of the school since the 1950s to flip through, I have sure seen snapshots of the history of HIHS - literally!
It's a love-hate relationship I have with design, having dabbled with it since uni days, and perfecting it only when I was working at the Public Policy Programme where I took on projects that saw me designing everything for both print and web, Many have since asked me to go into graphic designing full time, but I've declined. I did consider quitting my job once to study at TP doing a graphic design diploma, but the opportunity cost was just too high. And so, here I am... an unofficial graphic designer..
Well, I've to get back to doing up the commemorative pack now, and before I sign off, I'd like to show you my masterpiece - and to thank Lynn and Chuanlian for their "mother's day" gift. Thanks, girls... I was really touched when you said, "You're like a mother to us." Study hard for your O-levels, and do yourselves proud, ok?
Starfish signs out...
Unlike last year, Starbucks and chocolates didn't keep me company as much whilst I marked, though the airport remains the best spot to mark. With a "don't finish this pile - don't go home" mantra, it sure was a good way to motivate myself to complete my marking in the least possible time.
An experience I had on one of such days was when I was sitting by Pacific Coffee Company one day on one of those red comfy couch seats. i had an empty seat beside where I was sitting, and somehow, it attracted single diners to ask if they could join me. From Singaporeans to Hong Kongers to Aussies, I had them all. The Aussie was particularly interesting, cos we struck a conversation longer than the rest.
The pile of marking and the red pen always spurred strangers to ask, "Are you a teacher?"
"Oh, yes, I am."
Questions will follow that, ranging from how the students are in Singapore to why I was marking at the airport, and interestingly enough, I got to know them better.
The Aussie was from Darwin, an electrician, broke his hand and so decided to head to Phuket for 10 days to relax and get away from all the phone calls he would have to reject cos he couldn't take on the jobs because of his hurt hand. He used to be a guide for bush walking in Darwin, and had a nephew staying with him. He's got a huge family of 8 brothers and sisters, not to mention the 20-something nieces and nephews. He was on transit in Singapore and was waiting for his flight. He had 10 hours to burn when I met him, and so I sent him off to Tampines Mall to watch a moive before heading back. He was surprised to catch me back at PCC when he came back after the movie! I guess he must have thought teachers in Singapore work hard!
Back at school, I've been keeping my hands busy with designing. I have become the unofficial in-house graphic designer, churning out artwork for the invite card, to touching up the artwork for the banner, liaising with T-shirt suppliers, and printers, to choosing and scaling pictures to size for the commemorative stamps, and my biggest project ever, the commemorative pack.
And with 8 gigabytes of pictures to look through, and albums of pictures of the school since the 1950s to flip through, I have sure seen snapshots of the history of HIHS - literally!
It's a love-hate relationship I have with design, having dabbled with it since uni days, and perfecting it only when I was working at the Public Policy Programme where I took on projects that saw me designing everything for both print and web, Many have since asked me to go into graphic designing full time, but I've declined. I did consider quitting my job once to study at TP doing a graphic design diploma, but the opportunity cost was just too high. And so, here I am... an unofficial graphic designer..
Well, I've to get back to doing up the commemorative pack now, and before I sign off, I'd like to show you my masterpiece - and to thank Lynn and Chuanlian for their "mother's day" gift. Thanks, girls... I was really touched when you said, "You're like a mother to us." Study hard for your O-levels, and do yourselves proud, ok?
Starfish signs out...
05 May 2006
Marking again
Yes. It's the exam season and it's been tiring. Besides juggling the marking and invigilation, we teachers are also planning for the school blessing come 2 June. The Archbishop will be coming to bless our spanking new school, so everything has to be well... swee-swee.
It's fun in a way cos i see it like an event, and I did enjoy my event planning days before I came into teaching. Back then, I handled almost everything. In school, it's a little different with work being split up. I guess with the teaching load, that's only logical.
So, yes, I am marking, marking, marking and planning, planning, planning.
It's close to 1am and I've just done the remarks for my students' report books. No, I've not finished marking. There is too much to, but I'm handling it ok - I think.
Here's an announcement for all Sec 1 and 2 students:
SPH Media Club Camp from 6 - 8 June.
It's not a stay-in camp, but it lasts for three full days. You'll get to learn from fellow journalists, photographers, media club members from other schools and creating a school newsletter. I'm looking for good writers or someone with a keen interest in journalism and/mass media.
Interested applicants, please write on a topic of your choice in no more than 500 words, typewritten.
Please spread the word...
In the meantime, happy studying!!
:)
deb
It's fun in a way cos i see it like an event, and I did enjoy my event planning days before I came into teaching. Back then, I handled almost everything. In school, it's a little different with work being split up. I guess with the teaching load, that's only logical.
So, yes, I am marking, marking, marking and planning, planning, planning.
It's close to 1am and I've just done the remarks for my students' report books. No, I've not finished marking. There is too much to, but I'm handling it ok - I think.
Here's an announcement for all Sec 1 and 2 students:
SPH Media Club Camp from 6 - 8 June.
It's not a stay-in camp, but it lasts for three full days. You'll get to learn from fellow journalists, photographers, media club members from other schools and creating a school newsletter. I'm looking for good writers or someone with a keen interest in journalism and/mass media.
Interested applicants, please write on a topic of your choice in no more than 500 words, typewritten.
Please spread the word...
In the meantime, happy studying!!
:)
deb
Marking again
Yes. It's the exam season and it's been tiring. Besides juggling the marking and invigilation, we teachers are also planning for the school blessing come 2 June. The Archbishop will be coming to bless our spanking new school, so everything has to be well... swee-swee.
It's fun in a way cos i see it like an event, and I did enjoy my event planning days before I came into teaching. Back then, I handled almost everything. In school, it's a little different with work being split up. I guess with the teaching load, that's only logical.
So, yes, I am marking, marking, marking and planning, planning, planning.
It's close to 1am and I've just done the remarks for my students' report books. No, I've not finished marking. There is too much to, but I'm handling it ok - I think.
Here's an announcement for all Sec 1 and 2 students:
SPH Media Club Camp from 6 - 8 June.
It's not a stay-in camp, but it lasts for three full days. You'll get to learn from fellow journalists, photographers, media club members from other schools and creating a school newsletter. I'm looking for good writers or someone with a keen interest in journalism and/mass media.
Interested applicants, please write on a topic of your choice in no more than 500 words, typewritten.
Please spread the word...
In the meantime, happy studying!!
:)
deb
It's fun in a way cos i see it like an event, and I did enjoy my event planning days before I came into teaching. Back then, I handled almost everything. In school, it's a little different with work being split up. I guess with the teaching load, that's only logical.
So, yes, I am marking, marking, marking and planning, planning, planning.
It's close to 1am and I've just done the remarks for my students' report books. No, I've not finished marking. There is too much to, but I'm handling it ok - I think.
Here's an announcement for all Sec 1 and 2 students:
SPH Media Club Camp from 6 - 8 June.
It's not a stay-in camp, but it lasts for three full days. You'll get to learn from fellow journalists, photographers, media club members from other schools and creating a school newsletter. I'm looking for good writers or someone with a keen interest in journalism and/mass media.
Interested applicants, please write on a topic of your choice in no more than 500 words, typewritten.
Please spread the word...
In the meantime, happy studying!!
:)
deb