Children's Day gifts

This is the last Children's Day gifts I'm giving che-che's friends. No more! I think for mei-mei's friends next time I'll just do a generic one, no need personalisation. I run out of ideas!

It wasn't easy to decide what to get the girls without burning a big hole in my pocket. I love personalised notepads but x40.... it's $$$! Name stickers - too childish. Finally I decided that the anti-dust plug might be really useful. Most girls have a handphone, a smart phone!! Rich gals!

After shopping in Aliexpress and DHGate for mei-mei's birthday favor, I was so hooked in this bulk purchase thing. Needless to say, an easier way was thought out and I made my charms purchase in there.

It's really beautiful except for the long gold chain, which I have no idea what it is for except to sling in on wrist but it's too long. Loving simplicity, I took out the chains and put in the alphabet charms on, carefully without tarnishing the colours off.

The charms are in different colours. I placed an order for silver owls, therefore ordered silver alphabet charms from another seller. Then I received emails that silver are out of stock. Seller managed to convince me that gold and silver do match. The photos on their website don't do any justice, the owls look nice but it's nicer when I held it closer to see.

*sorry for the horrid pictures. They were taken in the night, while girls sleeping I'm busy     

After assembling the owls, it was time to personalise the backing. Initially I had wanted to buy new cellophane bags and then do all the measurements and make the cards. But then I looked at the pristine condition of the actual packaging it came in,so I worked around the measurements of the cards. Printed and pasted on my hard paper. I junked the original backings away, leaving only a few to use the slit as a stencil and cut on my new backings. Smart right?

Rainbow theme = good luck = good wishes ..... yup somewhere along that line.   

Packed into different bigger bags (different letters) for easy distribution

Keeping to the rainbow theme. I wanted to patronize my friend's shop getting all the rainbow colours candies and packed them up + tagging but unfortunately time was not on my side. I was really tired from all the late nights, on one of my grocery run I chanced upon this mentos and decided that this would make my job easier. Sorry Wen! I'll shop another day. 

Tickets booked!

Yay! Tickets to BKK booked for a short break on PSLE Marking Days.

Tickets booked too for November to Shanghai. It's going to be a long trip for us. Ironically 3 weeks can take us to Europe or USA but we end up somewhere closer. Sigh.... Actually I'm dying for a trip to Holland. So tempted to bring the girls there. 

Anyway, we're going to Tokyo in between the Shanghai trip. The girls wanted to go Hokkaido again, I wanted to go Onsen but I think I'll have a big problem especially if I'm not that familiar with the place and need to read the map.. and its snowing blizzard there! Don't take the risk so decided Tokyo. 

Actually I thought maybe we can go Moscow from Shanghai (8hrs + flight).  Haha! Of course I didn't tell hubby this. Can't read; can't speak Russian one woman dragging two girls along is very dangerous. 

Have intention of signing them up for any short classes in Shanghai to immerse them in Chinese. 

What!? Seriously........?

Any parent would know of this website - kiasuparent -  which speaks so accurately of us. There are a variety of topics discussed, of course the most active ones would be academic support. There's a Discussion for 2014 PSLE students too! And in this forum, everyone discusses and share tips on how to conquer their first mountain. 
During this period, students and parents put answers and compare with the others. Not like anything can be done if our answers differs from the rests but perhaps it's just an assurance if our answers are the same as the rest. 

But I'm wondering how these kids can even remember the question numbers; questions and answers so well. My blur sotong girl can even forget what she was tested earlier on or.... even forgot what she wanted to ask me. 

Needless to say, I did ask her what was her answer and it took her some time to recall what was the question. She can't remember what question number is a certain question. I asked her how is it she can't remember all these when she can rubbish or whatever things she read months ago. She then replied me "mummy, do you want me to spend my time memorising the questions and answers OR do you want me to spend my time checking my answers?" Well, she made a very good point. 

Hangover

I feel so much better today..... it's the first day of FREEDOM. I can't explain that relief off me. It really feels that I was the ONE SITTING FOR THE EXAMS. 

Imagine, days before I was running through revisions and since I had been hands-on since Day One, I know where her weakness and strengths are, I know where she tends to be careless. Like a fortune teller with a crystal, i forwarned her how doomed she would be if she neglected areas or misread certain Science questions etc...

And suddenly everything just disappeared with the typhoon. GONE! RELIEVED!

And guess what? I must have been that overly exhausted that I overslept!!!! Reason for exhaustion is mentally and physically having to handle home, education and girls affairs solo. On PSLE days I was worried of oversleeping and woke up almost every hour. Hubby, who returned just few hours ago, roused me from sleep "ay! It's 7+ already." Shucks! Just a sleep and I totally forgot I had another daughter (lil one). She panicked.... and first thing she told me "I need to go to school today I have spelling." Haiyah! Spelling only not exam not PSLE." 

I am an irresponsible mom. I could have brought her to school but she would reach at 8+ close to 9 since it was close to 8 when I was awoken. But in the end, the laziness sank in. I need a well-deserved break moreover she's only in Primary 2..... She can catch up. Anyway she had been revising on her own. I need a break before I get myself busy with her exam preparation.

Che-che had requested to go Orchard Rd days before, she even asked daddy when they Facetime-ed. So after lazing in bed for another 2 hours (not enough for me but I wasn't going to deprive myself on a trip down to Orchard) we set off. In BBW -Taka bumped into a schoolgirl. Haha! When you see any kids not in school at that time, they must be the P6s. Had a nice time lazing doing nothing, for me I know it's short-lived happiness. 

It's OVER!!

Oh YES! Oh YES! Oh YES YES YES!!! It's finally OVER! 

Can't believe the long journey we took, 6 years! And the journey got rougher with big tidal waves in the last year. Plus the puking from me from the nauseating rides up and down the waves. There were days (oh well majority) when I want to be a pirate and swing the sword at her or me

Our final lap, we made a cool and calm swim. Hopefully we did it right. It wasn't a good chance for making experiments because this exam is serious and important, we had to get it right for her. But for the second round, I learn from mistakes and hope to do it better for mei-mei (if I still have the energy)

I can finally let my hair down, let her hair down. Phew!

Rest for 2-3 more years then chiong again. Sigh...... Meanwhile I need to read up on the new syllabus. DUH! 

Meanwhile shots of my girl. Precious moments....

This was taken on 29th Sep - day of her second last paper - her most hated subject Chinese. I thought to myself that the next day I had to do this mamarazzi again coz' like how many times is she going to take her PSLE?? 

30th Sep - everyday I hear the footsteps and whispers as the girls finish their paper for the day. Today, it was much quieter as most girls made light footsteps down. They were elated that all papers are finally over. I can never describe the heave of relief that took over my heart, immediately I felt myself lightened.
Smiles from the girls. And I can't spot my girl coz' it's a sea of blues there. 

I see my girl smiling everyday. I should be happy when she tells me the papers are easy. She sounds very confident over the papers, she didn't have the anxiety as she experienced 2 years back. The anxiety that led her to see the school counsellor, that made me worried every school tests and exams. (she always do well for papers at home but ....) I pray hard that she gets the results that she truly deserves.

I'm short of pushing a mic into her face and interviewing her, otherwise I make an awesome full- fledge journalist not mamarazzi

When I stood at the vicinity, I can't help but think back of her first day in the school. Her second day of school. And how she (embarassingly) hugged my legs infront of the Principal. She laughed when I recalled the incidents to her. I hope I'm not embarassing her by blogging down all her 丑事 for the world to read. However these are memories that will help me recall when I'm old and senile.  And this my girl is going to end her 6 years in this school soon. I'm crying....

Teacher's Day gifts

For the past 2 years I commissioned a very crafty friend to help me make something for Teacher's Day. Initially this year I wanted to follow the trend but decided that I could plan and prepare way way way in advance, I should be able to come out with gifts for the Teachers myself.

I bought a lot of bottlecaps, for hairbow making purposes, and thought I could do something with it. Knowing me, I prefer to get practical (or maybe in my opinion is) gifts for teachers since they'd be loaded with cups, frames, flowers or some other generic mass-produced and easily available in stationery shops. Honestly, I'm running out of ideas over the years. I think soon I'll be really purchasing gifts from shops.

These are personalised bottlecaps    

Bottles of M&Ms filled up

Candles for non-school teachers, who would have no use for the pass holders

.

Feeling shitty

没有想到还不会吗她。

一讲到就一把火。

Why? I think I have depression. Everything also must scold her.

Three more weeks and ......... I feel the anxiety, she doesn't! I feel that she hasn't revised enough, she thinks it's sufficient!

To sum it all, this whole process is draining me dry

Why? Why can't I have a motivated child?

To band or not to band?

When kids reach P3, I always hear parents complaining. "Why band? Isn't this sterotyping the children? The 'faster ones' in one class and the 'slower ones' in another class?" It isn't happening only in my girls' school but in most schools in Singapore.  And most of the time, the parents who complains have kids in the lower tier class (just like those parents who complain about the primary school registration process are the disadvantaged ones who can't register their kids in the sought-after schools) they slam the system and ask the Principal to abolish the whole thing.

Some parents in mei-mei's class haven't had the slightest idea yet. So I shall wait for the next In-Conversation with Principal.

So, is it necessary to band the children into classes? I have two girls with different strengths, so if I say YES I'm disadvantaging the lil' one. Che-che's forte is Math, she's able to process fast and see things in a wider perspective. As for the lil' one, she's too naive - believe every word you say. Even if I tell her I picked her up from the rubbish dump, she would believe me. 

Teaching lil' one -  I finish my sentence, she still looks at me blurly. I use other examples or methods, she don't understand. Needless to say, I usually lose my patience and flare up. 

Math + she + me = worst combination

As it is, I'm only handling one kid at a time and I can't take it. Can you imagine the poor teacher being thrown into a class of mixed ability? 

Needless to say too, the faster ones are pushed to the maximum,the slower ones are given just the minimum. Materials given in girls' school are different. Assigning of homeworks had always been thrown to us since P3. 

All I hope is the lil' one, by miracle, will be put into the same tier as her sister.  

 

Mini celebration .... Surprise!

Mei-mei was disappointed that she had to go for her ballet and Berries on her birthday. She declared "A free day doing nothing" but with her ballet exam coming up in Nov and I get laden-ed with extra homeworks when she miss a Berries class, I told her I can bring her out for lunch & dinner on her birthday. (Ha! She was convinced)    

I thought it would be boring for che-che and me to sing her a birthday song on her birthday so thought I'd surprise her with a small celebration in her ballet class. I sms-ed Miss Kathleen two days before or was it a day before?? (Omg! my memory's failing me!! I post-date my blog entry) Once approved, I quickly packed goodie bags for 7 kids. And prepared small insert to put in each cupcakes.  

Goodie pack : Mentos, Kit kat, bookmark 

Went over to 12 Cupcakes and bought Rainbow Vanilla. Bought a cake board from SKP to present the cupcakes.

Reached ballet studio earlier and began the job of taking out the small cards on each cupcakes and put mine. Stuck each cupcake container to the cake board just in case it topples 

Mei-mei didn't suspect a thing and was surprised when we walked into the studio. Smiling gleefully for the camera. 

And then distributed the goodie pack.... guess what my girl miscalculated the number of kids, I'm short of 2 (and short of 2 cupcakes coz' I had bought extras for Miss Kathleen, Sally and Jeremy) 

Here's wishing her a : Happy Birthday my little terror!!

Aricia's 8th Birthday

Celebrated 2 days earlier in school, as MOE has declared her birthday an OFF DAY for her and .... the rests of the school. Hahaha! My lil naive girl really believed so when I told her.

This year I'm a little smarter, I stayed around the vicinity after dropping the girls off in school. I went into the school earlier too to decorate the table, after last year's rushed preparation I learnt my lesson. Recess is at 9.40am, I thought my 8.57am was early since I told baker to come around 9 to 9.15am, but when I walked to the canteen she was already there - infact half an hour early. She was so nice to help me arrange the place. Lovely cupcakes right?  

When I was doing the setup, the P5s were getting ready to leave for their LJ. And it's so funny that all these years I get kids asking me if I was selling them. I wonder if they ask every parents who celebrate their girl's birthday in school.....or maybe my setup is too exaggerated. 

There were two other celebrations and they all simply brought cake and display and that's it. No wonder they can come 5 mins before recess. Actually I shouldn't make life difficult for myself right? Next time I don't have to be so bothered.... oh but I think next year we can celebrate in our new place coz' we finally have a Clubhouse!!  

   

The set-up 

The girls

Birthday gal

Rushed home to put the extras in fridge

Aricia's birthday preparation

After the movie Frozen took Singapore by icy storm (pun intended) last November. it's no surprise that the lil' one wants it for her birthday theme her next birthday.

We would hear children in the malls singing "Do you want to build a snowman?" "Let It Go". It's really popular, I found myself humming to the tune and ..... I even play (and sing out) it on the way to pick the girls up from school. But I was worried if ten months down the road, the fad would die down. On the brighter side of things, it might be easier to find favors in Singapore.

Hmmm.... not really. Yes, there are Frozen items sold in Singapore. Water bottles, lunch boxes, cutlery sets. However it would cost a lot of $$ if I multiply by 30+ kids. I went online, China, to be exact to get everything from them direct instead of getting from middlemen. Smart move! I save a lot. The bags I ordered, I saved more $$ when I opted for the slowest mail. To play safe, since there was a 35 days lead time for delivery. I ordered the bags two months in advance. Can sail through the ocean and sea, rain or shine.. I wasn't in any hurry. Better still, I didn't have to run around Singapore trying to source for ideas. I'm getting old and weary of all these birthday preps that I want to take a seat back, the fingers can do the clicking.

These are the 4 designs the bags come in.

      

To keep things simple and didn't want to burn my brain cells thinking of what to pack, I decided to pack lesser stuffs in their goody bags this year. It would also ease the weight on che-che, who would be tasked to help her sister bring up to classroom on her birthday celebration day.

Each goody bag contains :

1) drawstring bag

2) personalized kit kat bar

3) personalized mini mentos

4) bookmark

5) marshmallow

The bags arrived end July and I started packing stuffs up within a week. Even before I could pack the Teacher's Day stuffs. Well, at least I can strike this off my TO-DO list

Feeling bleh!

As I was packing the Teacher's Day gifts, I felt a tinge of sadness. It's probably going to be the last gifts I'm giving to the teachers in their school; my school. Is my fate with this school going to end next year? I know I am an IJ girl, always an IJ girl. Does che-che feel the same way as I do? Or is she too young to feel a sense of identity; a sense of pride? Six years, well at least longer than the time mei-mei is going to spend in the school - a mere 2+ years. 

I think I'm always the sentimental, 'can't have separation' person. Che-che had some good teachers who had taught her, she has two favourite teachers. One was her FT for 3 years, a very nice teacher. I'm not sure if she remembers all her students' parents coz' she taught a lot of girls, but she recognizes me. Maybe coz' my girl was always in Lala-Land in her class so she remembers her well. But why me? I don't think it's because of my presence in the school as a PV right? After all I've toned down in volunteering ever since I didn't have any helper. But I do see her in PP sometimes. 

The other teacher whom che-che favours is her Chinese teacher. Her teacher who went extra mile in helping her. 

Mei-mei likes her P1 FT too! Though her time is going to be short in the school, I'm sure she has many wonderful memories of the school. For eg. daring enough to approach the VP to borrow money. *slap my own head*

I had been volunteering on Teacher's Day (for the past 4 years. I didn't volunteer for 1 year when KZ just left and I had no one to help me pick the little one from Kindy) , a day when the teachers come to school late, where the classes are taken care by the PVs. This year would be my last.

Teacher's Day Appreciation Lunch - probably the last one for me too. 

I'm going to miss the school ; the teachers ; the blue pinafore. Oh yes, I remembered on her first day of school I didn't sing our National Anthem but sang the School Song. ?!?!?!?      

Busy Busy

Hubby left on 27th July and that makes me being on solo for 15 days. Tiring! A few days back I had this sharp pain on my head, so bad that I wanted to just do nothing but I couldn't...... as PSLE Oral was in less than a week. SCARY!!  In the end, I had to sacrifice Aricia's ballet and Berries on Friday so that I can rest at home. I napped for 30 mins when che-che was doing her work (good thing we got back home early as it was National Day Celebration in school) and the next nap of 1hr was when che-che had her tuition. Poor mei-mei grumbling away.

Although I'm used to this solo act, whether hubby's in Singapore or not, but I have no one to taichi to now. Usually on Fridays, he'd help me pick mei-mei up from Berries while I would have finished some chores. But now, I'm rushing through with no break in between. 

I guess I was so busy was also partially because I was preparing for Teacher's Day gifts, mei-mei's birthday goodie bags, and some of che-che's Children's Day gifts. All these are probably 自找麻烦 but I'm just so used to preparing stuffs for che-che's classmates during Children's Day, this would be the last gift from me. 

I had been sleeping at 2-3am, waking up at 5+ - 不头痛才怪！But I'm glad I've finished the Teacher's Day gifts and mei-mei's goodie bags within 10 labourious days.The Children's Day gifts preparation - just left with a little more thing to do and that's it. But that is like in 2 months time?? Hahaha! 

Perhaps wondering why the rush? Cause I needed to do more decluttering around the house, I can only do so when my mind is off from all those things. 

I haven't had proper sleep too, not when I have two horrendous SLEEPERS sleeping with me. After two nights, I gave up and asked one girl to sleep on the floor. Starting with the ------ Smallest size but occupy- so-much-space girl!! She likes to curl her body (foetal position) so either way she always makes me and hubby sleepless. And this girl likes to KICK and SLAP too! 不要看她小小只，她踢的时候很痛，她打的一把掌也很痛。Then when che-che sleeps with me, that King Kong girl roll to my side, I push her back she rolls back to me. 

Hmm..... I think the best solution would be me sleeping on the floor instead. I'll let them kick and punch and squash each other.     

Spoilt for choice

Definitely spoilt for choice for International schools.

Although I was insistent in enrolling the girls in SSIS (Singapore curriculum), I was curious with the other choices right infront of the computer screen. Took me some time to read a few websites, reading some reviews from parents (some may even date back to 7 years ago. *gasp*)

And I wasn't even looking at location. However it seems that expatriates are clustered at Minhang and Pudong, and there are alot of schools there. If staying in Minhang, it takes around 30 or more horrid minutes getting stuck in Shanghai traffic (if my memory didnt fail me) to reach the city centre. 

American curriculum, British, Canadian, Hong Kong, European concepts etc.... Argh! I narrowed down to my preference to keep things easier.

I thought SSIS, so be it. I can bring some of che-che's stuffs over. I can buy assessment books and lull it to Shanghai (kiasu!) 

But somehow hubby managed to spot & bookmarked this SUIS. The curriculum seems interesting. Using Chinese Math ( but does that mean teaching Math in Chinese? If it is, my kids will mati) and me being too boh-liao had to link up to PISA. Wait a minute! Shanghai is ranked #1 in Reading, Math and Science. Sunny Singapore is #2. I think the Sun has burnt my brain! Just what was I thinking? Parents hated the silly stressed system and leave Singapore , and here I am considering to put my kids in #1 ranked in the world curriculum. 

Something else is tempting is 'Other language program' - there's Japanese!! I have kept some of my Japanese language stuffs, so unwilling to part with them.. It might be useful afterall!

I'm so tempted to fly to Shanghai to recce the two schools to check it out for myself during PSLE Marking Days. Most importantly the girls must like the school. Need to settle fast coz' there's a waitlist.

Shanghai United International School (Hongqiao)

Shanghai United International School Hongqiao is an IB school located in Minhang District.  SUIS is certified as an IB World School  using the Primary Years Program (PYP). SUIS Hongqiao is part of the Xiehe Education of bilingual schools across Shanghai. For the 2014-2015 school year, primary education averages 100,000 and secondary averages 120,000.

• News
• Blog

• Summer Science at SUIS HongqiaoJun 30, 2014
• Head Girl Vivian Wu on SUIS Gubei GraduationJun 12, 2014
• University Enthusiasm at SUIS GubeiMar 04, 2014
• SUIS Gubei attracts hundreds to parents dayFeb 20, 2014

• Basic Infomation

Early Years / Pre-K (ages 1-3)
Kindergarten (ages 3-6)
Primary Years (ages 6-12)	￥ 100,000 *
Secondary Years (ages 12-18)	￥ 120,000 *
Curriculum Type	British, Chinese, International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP), Primary Years Programme (PYP)
School Type	Local School With International Division
Established Year	2003
Campuses	6
Main Language	English
Chinese/English Bi-lingual Programme
Other Language Programme	French, Japanese
Average Class Size	24
School Lunch
School Bus
Certifications	International Baccalaureate
Extracurricular Activities	Art, General Music, Golf, Dance
Competitive Sports	American Football
Financial Aid
University Guidance
Parent Association

* Price information on this website is for information ONLY, and not legally binding. Even though we try to keep our site updated, some schools might have changed their fees today.

- See more at: http://www.chalksmart.com/schools/Shanghai-United-International-School-Hongqiao.html#sthash.YcFDQBHv.dpuf

The Deed is Done

And so my girl went for her first DSA audition and interview.

Intimidating as it sounds, she was a little nervous. There were girls who came with their instruments, they are already in their primary school band. So that would put them in a better advantage than my girl who came with no instrument. Haha!  But the parents there, their kids from the same school, were really friendly.. Held decent conversations and I didn't felt any bitchiness. I'm not sure how it would be like if it's the elite of the elite schools. Maybe parents not talking to one another and giving the last words of advice. No pressure from me just told the girl to do her best.

I know she did. For that a pat on her back. WELL DONE, GIRL.

God Bless their souls and their families

Was at the computer when I read the news of MH17 crash. At first I thought it was some hoax news and looked at the webpage. "Yup! I'm on Yahoo news not Facebook." Reality sank in, gasped in horror. "Not again?" With MH370, there's that glimmer of hope that the passengers and crew are alive in some remote place. But wit MH17, it's confirmed.

Our lives are really in the hands of God. We can go any time; any where. So before we go, we must make sure that we show our love to our loved ones.

Differing theories, conspiracies etc etc.... Yah everyone can say what they want, suddenly everyone became a forensic expert, CIA etc.. What matters here is, the poor innocent lives lost. And what's left behind are anguish for the families. Time can never heal the pain of losing someone close to you.

SQ also took the same route. It could have been us, moreover SQ was 25km away.  

http://singaporeseen.stomp.com.sg/singaporeseen/this-urban-jungle/sq-flight-was-just-25km-away-from-where-mh17-was-allegedly-shot-down

I'm certain crew who arrived back SIN on that CPH flight would be shaken after hearing the news. 

I remember when SQ met with that crash in Taipei, I was packing my cargo bag for a long haul flight the next day. Should I tell my mom I love her?

At Control Centre, the mood was sombre, alot of whisperings amongst crew. Even if we bumped into someone familiar, there's no laughing or loud exchange. We were asked if we were alright, if not we could step down from the flight. Whatever was the agenda in the station we were going, we still had to fly. Who's gonna get the work done? We step down from the flight and get on another flight, does that matters? But I'm sure the mood in MH is far worst.....

God Bless their souls. And pray for strength for their families

DSA Audition & Interview

Received a phone call this late morning for an audition & interview in one of the two schools we applied for DSA this Saturday. Wow! So rushing.

Good luck my baby #1. Show them what you've got!!

ALL THE BEST!

Decluttering

为什么我们有这么多东西？ It's never-ending, I seem to have so many things to junk, give away. I am so numb now that I junk without batting an eyelid. It has been an on-going process decluttering, sometimes taking a break in between.

It's amazing that such a small house can contain so many things. We can't buy anymore things. Really! I've been telling family members and friends not to gift us anymore things but ..... And we can't use so quickly.

Bags - we have far too many. My girls do take care of their bags so they don't need to change their bags that frequently.

Too many stationeries, I've given away and it seems to keep coming in. From where? I dunno...if only money can come in as quickly as these things.

Shoes - need a day to check with che-che what she can fit into. Wash and give them away.

Clothes - I think I did that months ago and it seems like she has more clothes she can't fit. Did she have a growth spurt? Eh...I'm talking about the older one, the young one never seem to grow. *sob sob*

Studyroom - can't wait for PSLE to be over!! Time to throw some stuffs and keep the rests. For what? I don't even know if mei-Mei has use for it. Sigh.....

Scan in some stuffs for mei-mei  which was an on-going process as I was  going paper-less. All saved into hard-disk. ( Ahh.... That one another thing to do next time -HOUSEKEEPING the hard disk. )

I really need an extra pair of hands now. I can only do these when the girls are in school. However I'm also laden with housework, updating their educational blogs, mei-mei's birthday preparation. Am I a superwoman or what?! When they're back, I'm stuck with them in the studyroom. I'm so tired!! Can anyone help me??

Skip PSLE?

This morning, che-che told me that a girl will not be taking her PSLE. Her dad is going to work in USA for 3 years so she's going before her Prelims. "She's so lucky......I wish I can......." I know what she's going to say. I wish she can skip too but we can't just skip PSLE for a few reasons.

1) No confirmed place in school over there yet

2) Are we just going to dump everything all of a sudden and move over when house is in a mess, everything is unplanned. And school starts in Sep. So what? Is she going to repeat Primary 6 in Sep there or jump into Secondary 1? Impossible also right?

3) It took a year for her friend to move to MEL so by correct process time, we should also need a year to settle everything. Correct? We got the news in June 2014, so by June 2015 we'll move over. Hey! I'm dealing with two school going kids leh! Not nursery or kindy kids where I can just grab and go. I prefer to finish writing the last chapter of a storybook before closing it, not leave the chapter haphazardly written.

4) The girl's dad knows how long he'll be there. We have no idea how long we'll be there. Whatever it is, she needs to sit for the exams here first.

DSA

An ex-collegue has been checking with me if I've heard from the two schools. He's more nervous than me. Frankly speaking, I've been having that bo-chap attitude. I haven't made that call to the schools to check with them. They will call if they think my girl qualifies. Fighting for that few places in the school, will she qualify?

Why did I bother to drive back to school thrice then. Once just to collect CCA testimonial and then the other two times to pass a form and collect it back from CCA teacher during the school holidays? Nope make that three times to pass a form and collect it back. (So in total I drove back to school four times) I don't know why.. I thought I printed out the correct extra form, I put it in an envelope and drove to school. I didn't check it but somehow something nudged me to open up that envelope to check. I was walking to the office when I gasp in horror. OMG! It's the wrong form!! I didn't bother to go into the Office and drove back home again to print the correct forms and then drove down again. When I was walking to the car upon realising my neligence, I wondered if that was a sign to me - that this DSA application is simply a waste of time. 

Even if she gets selected for interview, she already has that "I don't want to get into this school" persona. She might not want to open up her Made of Gold mouth. Ultimately, it's also time wasted. Plus I didn't make her memorize a 'trying to suck up to the school' script. She'll just appear in that school doe-eyed. 

Somehow, I begin to feel that this whole DSA thing has gone too war-ish and elite-ish. 

A friend related to me she overheard a Chinese mother berating her son after the GAT test. I began to think of the tense atmosphere in GAT test hall; in holding area for interviews & in interview room. Strangers will look at one another as enemy. Friends may suddenly look at each other as an opponent. People will be selfish and not share information. Parents will accompany their kids in support, just like a coach of a boxer - they tell them how to knock down opponent; give some water, rub the boxer's back, wipe the face. 

I was shock to learn that there's DSA Preparation class, DSA Interview class and what nots. Ehh......Is it a real prep class? Desperate parents might fall for the tricks just like this clever conman did. This is absolutely crazy! 

Two girls in the school I heard have applied for 7 and 6 schools repectively. Wow! I think that's overrated. One of them is a high scorer, always the Top 3 student in her class (Tier 1 class). And she's getting tensed up and I heard she even cried. Why? DSA is suppose to help a child get into a school , not to break him/her apart even before the interview. 

So, they have 7 and 6 schools all lining up for them. If they're not accepted into their dream school they're simply taking any school that accepts them? 

2 - 3 schools is sufficient. Interview time is conducted during July/August which is during the Prelims. So instead on concentrating on revising for Prelims, these kids go from schools to schools for their interviews. Sigh..... I dunno if their parents pushed them into it or they did it in their own accord. Whatever it is, I better keep my mouth shut incase I offend some people reading my blog. 

DSA is now also being used as a footstool for those high scorers so that they needn't feel so strung up during PSLE. So what has that "we're looking for talented students who can contribute to our school" fineline become of? 

Since the school has so many applicants, how are they going to select the students for interview? To narrow down, the logical thing would be by results. Then those deserving talented kids but poor in academic may be axed out.

Years down the road, I'm sure some parents will cry foul over the whole DSA process just like parents cry foul over the P1 registration every year. 

The disadvantage of being accepted into a school by DSA-CCA is that time will be spent on trainings. The poor child has to be very independent to study on her/his own. I've heard of incidents where some kids are asked to leave the school for poor results.  

I will not be angry if my daughter is not asked to go for an interview. I always believe things happen for a reason. If it's meant to be yours, it will be yours.