Monday, January 5, 2009

2nd Day - 5th Jan

Though it's her 2nd day in school, I feel this is her 1st day in school. Last Friday, she went to school bringing only her pencil case whereas she's fully geared (ready for war) today.And also, alot of time was spent on logistics and orientation again.
The new school I feel is nice but too many steps. It has all the sub levels, so many places to hide - good place to play 'hide and seek'. And when we were at the highest level - P6 classes - I felt that level is way too dangerous for kids. But oh well, with the increasing classes (more kids = govt happy with the success of their campaign), they have to build it upwards.

We left the house early, at 6.35am... by the time the children dilly dally down the lift etc.. I drove off at 6.47am. Dropped KZ and Aricia at the school; parked along East Coast and we walked to school. No wonder they say, once a child is in school uniform you can't tell the difference from one another. There were so many short-haired girls and .... I see a "sea of pink" - pink bags; pink waterbottles. Really! I'm not joking!

S came by and we chatted while the girls were seated in a straight line according to their classes. Athena kept turning to look at me, once I noticed her teacher asking her to look in front. Then like what S said "why is it that all KC Principals have so much to talk?" I thought it was a real funny and frank comment and reminded myself how I used to 'shut off my ears' too when my Principal was blah blah blah-ing.

We were then asked to stand aside coz' the assembly was about to commence. S was carrying sleepy A and I asked her to take a sit, she patriotly told me "no, going to sing the National Anthem". Wah! I didn't sing and S sang!!! And when they sang the school song, I sang too. There's some slight variations to the song. Ah ha! School song must sing.

Then I started to look at the girl I thought was Athena, which is not! Where the heck is my girl? She was standing behind. Didn't even know when/why she was brought there.

After assembly, they went up to their class. And I left after that, went over to see Aricia.


Back home I remembered I have to swop their places. Athena's original seat is right behind me, now with her having to alight/board the car with ease I changed places. And I unlocked the child-lock to her door-side as well.

When I picked her up at the end of the day. OMG! Very bad traffic jam in that small Martia Road, I couldn't move at all. No matter how small the car is, I can't squeeze in anywhere! I could have trimmed my eyebrows while waiting - it was that long - 7-10 mins. I kindda worried if the ah-nia will start crying.

When I finally move from my spot, it was 1.40+ pm. The children were waiting at the gate with her teacher, cars were coming in, I think Athena is overwhelmed by what she saw (I told her not to pay attention to the big big cars but our small small Mr Bean car) - okay, I noticed too alot of Mercs & BMWs. She didn't notice me coming, I had to shout to get her attention. Mrs Tan, the Principal, was there and helping out as well. It was so kind of her to tell me to "jump into your seat, I'll help her in."

When we reached our carpark, Athena complained "mummy, my bag is very heavy. I carry alot of things....." She's a big complain queen. As usual, me being the negative and naggy one said "you are considered lucky already. I didn't have any lockers in my time. (She complained only twice; I nagged even longer)

Back at home I opened her bag and >> it's empty except for a new folder her teacher put in. Whatever has happened to the 2 other textbooks I packed as well. In the locker??
I asked her "what happened to your textbooks?"
Then I recalled...." you were carrying an empty bag and you were complaining?

16 comments:

Roslyn said...

OMG! You have to leave home so early. My hubby always asks why must they start so early? It's such a big milestone right, starting P1? When Louisa started school here, didn't really feel that way. Schools are small and so are the intake. But I'm thinking, if we're in Singapore, it will be a different story altogether.

Karmeleon said...

Not early, wat, Ros. You & hubby also went to sch here - shd know. But hey, the schoolbag complaint is really....LOL!

Roslyn said...

Sam,
Precisely the point you see. He stayed at end of Sembawang and had to travel to Bishan. Been saying for years school should start at a later time and not 7.30am (our time). I showed my sis the bags the Pri school children carry here and she laughed. No workbooks, no textbooks. Almost nothing. Just books to bring home to read and worksheets. Don't even need pencil case. I remember last time I had to bring not just that but also colour pencils. What's in the children's schoolbags now? Still weigh a ton?

Lily Ann said...

Actually I think it depends on school. Her school has a locker, on the 1st day we packed in the books to be left in school. They didn't indicate textbooks but I packed and end up they took everything. ?!?! Occasionally only bring back 1 book to read & a file to bring back worksheets.
They don't even have books for their English lesson!!
So it's the so claimed ergo-bag that is adding weight (think I might change her bag.
So, I can't imagine schools that have no locker.
Ros : some schools do start late, but it also ends late. And think, if end late, means a little more time wasted too coz' children needs second recess. Personally I prefer to start early and end early - so that I can continue to drill her 2nd part at home.
Sam : I buay tahan that Ah-nia. Always complaining!

Roslyn said...

What time does Athena starts and finishes school?

Katong Gal said...

Hi Lily Ann
Guess kids don't know when they are lucky... really enjoyed my Pr school years in OE Convent with the big school field to run around in...

Karmeleon said...

Ros - well, the schoolbags will be either heavy/not-so-heavy, depending on how our kids handle it. Yeah, they have lockers in their classrooms. My boys do tend to carry the WHOLE term's work in their bag, to which I'd just say "carry the bag yourself". The boys can handle it, lah. It does tend to look somewhat cumbersome on CCA days when they need to also carry their instruments (either boy's violin & younger boy's erhu) and the scorebooks. So I would offer to bring the instruments for them at lunchtime instead.

Lily Ann said...

Hey ladies, think about this - don't you think we're the suay generation that have to carry heavy bags? Our parents' time, rich ones can afford to go school have ah-mat to help them, some poor ones don't even go to school & carry nothing.
We carry every stupid books (and my older brother even brought his combat toys to school - hee!) Then in secondary school, we try to outsmart our teachers by leaving books under table or when there's spotchecks, we quickly throw our books in a secret place, which we did have a hard time retrieving it. Hahaha! Thank goodness teachers all old, take time to climb up stairs.
Then govt realise heavy bags bad for back etc.. our children get to have lockers.
Like Cheng, I make her carry her schoolbag herself. (but I may think differently with Aricia- so small size)
Ros : Starts at 7.50 am (assembly 7.35am) and ends 1.20pm. Fridays will end at 3.50pm

Karmeleon said...

I'm a bit lucky, lah. Big brother (二哥) helped me carry my schoolbag until pri 2. After that, he graduated from sec 4 already, then I had to carry it myself, but at least a little older by then. *haha*

Lily Ann said...

Sam, lucky you! I think I lugged my whole books to school. Got told off by mom many times.But she never help me pack coz' she can't read. I can't remember why my siblings never helped me.

Karmeleon said...

Bc I was the baby sister, mah! Did you catch the age gap? BIG brother. ;-)

Lily Ann said...

8 years diff, same as my bro and me. Only thing bro was in all- boys school. Sister & me in different school (me in Pri, she in Sec). Anyway, don't think I'll trust her to take care of me - she'll probably kick me down the stairs again.

Roslyn said...

Fri till 3.50pm? That's a very long day! Yah, so good to have lockers these days. Last time must bring jotter books, note books, textbooks, workbooks and whatnots.

Lily Ann said...

Ros : Yes, they have enrichment classes for P1 and P2s on Fridays. You should see P3 onwards, it's like 3 times a week - coz' of CCAs

Roslyn said...

OMG! I'm really out of touch!

Lily Ann said...

Our curriculum kills. No wonder alot of parents send children overseas.