Teacher's Day Celebrations 2005

The day that seemingly makes all the pain, heartaches and mental stress worth it - Teacher's Day. 'Politically correctly' speaking - it really doesn't matter if students don't give you anything, as long as they have learnt and moved on in life. Unpolitically speaking, the little presents, thoughts and gestures really make your day. Some snapshots for the day.

Shuhui, Yaling, Swee Keng, me and Karen.

My USSS students. Omar [left] is the one who owes me milo dinosaur. Haha, now with your face on my blog, there is no escaping.

My kiddos from USSS 4E3 [class of 2004]. I am really glad to see that so many have moved on well in their lives.

I can never imagine myself saying this but '3E4 rocks!'

I think 3E4 outdid themselves this year. I happen to be the teacher who is blessed to be on the receiving end of their outpouring love.

The Story of the Surprise

[After the concert, hanging around, chatting and taking pictures with ex-students]

Zhixuan: [trying to look frantic] Mrs Tan, Mrs Tan, people are fighting in the class!

Mrs Tan: [being her perceptive self, she rolls her eyes and immediately smells a rat] So do I have to break out into a run?

Ana: *laughs* really, really

Mrs Tan: ok, I will pretend to run to class.

Ana and Zhixuan grabs Mrs Tan's things and they tried to run to class.

As Mrs Tan walks in, students started to sing a song.

So, Mrs Tan sits on a chair to appreciate.

She is then presented with stuffed toys from Winnie the Pooh - Piglet [Mrs Tan] and Eeyore [Mr Tan] and a little handcarry bag. Even Mr Tan received a present. The students insisted that eeyore represented Mr Tan. I think it is my cheeks and Dan's hair.

That's not all, there is also a beautifully drawn shirt. I like that a lot. Very meaningful [internal sobbing]

This was followed by a wonderful slide presentation of the class. Hilarious and surely a lot of man hours was invested into that effort. Thanks to whoever worked through the night for that. It will leave wonderful memories for me. The slide presentation ended with the song which they sang. During the reprise [kids, please use Webster if you need to clarify meaning], they brought out a chocolate cake.

*Applause* Thanks*Candle Blowing*Wish Making* - 3e4 started to realize that Mrs Tan is having too good a time after all the torturing she has done to them. That is when the battle ensued.

Well, all I can say is that 3E4, you have impressed me with your spontaniety. I am sure there were a clear few masterminds - thank you girls.

Happy teacher's day to all of you out there, especially my Christian teacher compatriots! It is a calling, a passion, a vocation. Let us walk worthy of the calling, and continue on, knowing that our labour is not in vain in the Lord.

Lunch at food court with ex-students

Our Teacher's Day dinner at Park Royal Plaza (tropica theme)

My 3rd Wedding Anniversary 310802

For His merciful kindness is great toward us,

And the truth of the Lord endures forever. Praise the Lord!

Psalm 117:2

This verse was the theme of our wedding and it has indeed been the theme of our lives together these past 3 years. The wideness of God's mercy has seen us through the joyous occasions as well as the trying situations.

Looking back, I still remembered how in our wedding, we went against some 'taboo'...for one, we held our wedding during the Seven Month Festival. That was perhaps the only available holiday apart from Dec which we could afford. That was considered extremely inauspicious. It was kinda like embarking on Mount Carmel and challenging the gods of the earth. Well, not exactly that noble. But we knew that man's traditions and created beliefs were no match when compared to the power and love of God. When people avoid these dates, it gives you more bargaining power. The hotel threw in a one night stay for one of our guest and the family. It is a blessing when we obey God in boldness and without apology.

to be continued....

DJ Wedding team [our family, church frens and secondary frens]

Solemn at the altar

DJ's immediate family & the wedding celebrations

Welcome to 3E4!

Welcome dear readers. Let me introduce you to my form class - 3E4. This is the first batch of non USSS students that I had to deal with at a much personal level. It is one of the largest classes in FTp [43]. Sigh...challenges, anyway, kinda used to it by now. Technically, I was supposed to abandon them in July due to new tasks assigned to me. But after 1) contemplation and 2) persuasion, 3) begging and 4) crying to the Principal, I managed to continue in my role till the end of the year [apparently, in the 4 options, at least 2 are exaggerations, hahah - *shrug* it makes good dramatic effect and evokes sympathy]. Anyway, getting on with my story. I can summarise this class or rather the individuals in the following list of adjectives and phrases:

• Strange
• Quirky
• Loud
• Sweet
• Heartwarming
• United [mostly the girls, the guys are a little 'nua']
• Dirty [the class is like a pig sty and the duty roster never seems to work]
• Hysterical [really, they never fail to make me laugh]
• Contemplative [euphemism for daydreaming] and finally
• Blessed [cos they have a teacher like me, hahaha]

Its really funny that in camp, some started to call me Aunite Joann. They sounded just like the BFC youths. It is all because of our infamously notorious teenager who goes by the name of Chen Jianwei. Yes, he is the one who howls, convulse violently on the floor and does all the strangest things possible. Anyway, my class stayed at Pasir Ris for the first half of the camp, so I did not get to see them till much later. But it was still fun...well, without further ado, let me introduce you to faces of my class.

Guess why they are hugging me so tightly? Cos they are wet and I am dry! That is half of my class. The other half never made it to my checkpoint cos of heavy downpour.

The noisy and giggly girls who always smuggle tidbits into class which ends up with me.

The sweet, diligent and quiet girls,

Another group of good girls.

Naughty Huiling and Carmen

The look-quiet-but-not-so quiet girls.

My class trying to cook their dinner.

As usual, the boys are absent in the photos. They are either too 'nua' or too macho for photo taking. Well, hope you all enjoyed this brief introduction.

Outdoor Camp at Pulau Ubin 24-26 Aug

Before going off for the camp, my brains were as tight as a rag cloth, wringed and squeezed with 3 Common Test marking, Sec 4N2 Prelim Marking, O Level Oral Examination etc. But camping at Pulau Ubin was a refreshing experience. Nature and the outdoors are God's wonderful gift to a people stressed and caught up with the affairs of this life. Sigh...in a high pressured society like Singapore, even breaks need to be enforced. I think this trip is good for many students who are not exposed to nature. Cooping at home with the computer dulls a teenager and narrows one's mind. Well, it was really heartening to see the students and my 3e4 enjoying themselves (I hope they did). Haha..now they know that Mrs Tan is a rule bender when it comes to playing games. It was a good trip for the teachers too. This enforced camp allowed me to know the new teachers and the senior ones too. Here are some snapshots.

Pulau Ubin has undergone a major facelift. It is really cool now!

Waiting to go to Changi Village to feed our derpived tummys.

The spectacular view from the campsite [NPCC campsite]

This is where the students stay. We, teachers have a bunk.

The approaching storm as viewed from the ferry.

This was my station for the 2 days.

The life jackets. Abram and Wei Long and their victory!

CLass 3E3

More victories!

Class 3E2

Class 3E1

More of Class 3E1

Ms Sylvia Ang, Ms Lydiawati and me in our victory pose!

In truth, this trip was a truly enjoyable one. It has prepared me. I am truly ready now...to go off for my Sept Hols, hahahah!

National Day Celebrations and Guests

Check out what we can see from our lovely home!



Our guests during the national hols



From top left, our everlasting daisies, the young adults, cutie pies - Beniah and Claire and the adults. I love holidays - they are wonderful excuses for fellowship.

Speech Day cum National Day Celebrations

A little belated but Happy Birthday Singapore! Sigh...I did wish that the students appreciated the nation a little more. But praise be to God for the prosperity and freedom of worship He has bestowed to Singapore. I think we cannot start imagining the persecution faced by other Christians in other parts of the world. There is much responsibility for us, as Christians in Singapore to be used of the Lord for His glory.

Well, despite the not-so-enthusiastic celebrations, I was glad to see my USSS students return for their prize giving ceremony. USSS's pride and joy...let me introduce you to them. BFC Youthies, their results can make some of you blush. FTP students [my dear 3E4], diligence and humility can make a whole lot of difference. From the left is our top student -Zheng YuanHang [7A1s], Hu Guang [6A1s], Shah Jahan [excelled in Tamil and English], Ian Ling, who looks real hip now [best in Science] and Penny [part of USSS even though I did not teach her]. Congrats guys! You deserve every bit of it!

All the best in all your future endeavours! I am glad our paths have crossed in the lovely school, nestled near Potong Pasir. In all your pursuit of life, ambition, and fun...remember your creator God who loves you. There is more to life than all of life's pursuits.