Teachers’ Day Lunch, 29 August 2008
The Primary and Secondary Parent
Support Groups (PSGs) jointly organised a Teachers’ Day lunch on 29 August
2008. The lunch, which was sponsored by both the PSGs and the Alumni, was a
Thai buffet spread. The teachers ate their lunch at canteen tables which were
covered with table cloth and decorated for the occasion. Each teacher took home
a goodie-bag containing chocolates sponsored by The
Message from Ms Shireen Poore (Sec HOD for Mathematics)
Dearest
Heem Juay,
Just
wanted to say thank you all so much for a wonderful Teachers' Day celebration.
I am really touched by the amount of time and effort that all of you put in for
us. I felt much pampered. The food was absolutely delicious (I ate like a pig!)
and you gave us so many gifts, the chocolates, tea, computer bag, organiser....
I really liked the handpainted stone.....I loved this gift most. Aside from the
fact that it was so pretty, (I got a flower) it is knowing that you
handpicked the stones and painted them yourselves... for us. I was also
very touched by the extra effort that you all put in to preparing the tables where we sat to have
lunch....going to the extent of placing table cloths with the plastic
covering, the paper cut-out of the flowers and those pretty butterflies on
the stones. I loved those....I took 2 back ok?!!! You know, at first the canteen
felt so noisy with the pupils, past and present around, and it was difficult to
relax. But after sometime, it felt good. Having the lunch in school, amidst all
the noise....this place where we work and give so much of ourselves to our
pupils..... you parents were looking after us and pampering us. Thank you for
making us, for making me, feel so special. :)
Shireen
Message
from Miss Chan Wan Siong (Principal)
Dear Heem Juay, Yoke Lin and Wan Cheng,
On behalf of the staff, I would like
express our sincere thanks and appreciation to the PSG and Alumnae for hosting
the Teachers’ Day Lunch on 29 Aug. Special thanks to the PSG members who came
in as early as 9 am to set up the venue, transforming the canteen and creating
a lovely setting for the occasion. The food was good and the gifts – a
wonderful surprise for all of us.
We had a pleasant time enjoying the
fellowship. It was indeed a wonderful way to end the day’s celebrations and to
close a hectic Term III.
Please convey our thanks to all who have
contributed to the success of the function.
Thank you very much for your generosity
especially that of time and love. You are indeed a blessing to all of us at St
Nicks.
In appreciation & love,
Ms Chan Wan Siong
Principal, CHIJ St. Nicholas Girls’ School
Message
from Ms Chan Yan Hoon (Vice-Principal, Primary)
Dear Heem Juay,
On behalf of the primary staff, I would
like to express our appreciation for the lovely lunch spread that the PSG and
Alumnae had laid out for us on 29 August. We were also touched by the
tremendous effort put in to make the occasion special for us, from the
hand-painted pebbles to the stenciled butterflies and flowers that beautify the
tables even as we ate. Your thoughtfulness warms our hearts.
Thank you and warm regards,
Chan Yan Hoon (Miss)
Vice-Principal (SNGS
Primary)
Message
from Mrs Goh Kok Chan (Vice-Principal, Secondary)
Dear
Heem Juay
Thank
you for such a delightful lunch last Friday. I have a sweet tooth so I found
the desserts heavenly. Though the canteen was very noisy, it was heartwarming
to be surrounded by parents, alumnae members and our ex-students – one big
family celebrating our big day. Michelle’s speech was long but heartfelt and I
think my colleagues appreciate the thought and effort she had put into it.
Regards,
Mrs
Goh
Vice-Principal
(SNGS Secondary)
Here’s the story shared by Michelle Voo:
THE CREATION OF THE TEACHER
Author Unknown
The
Good Lord was creating teachers. It was
His sixth day of 'overtime' and He knew that this was a tremendous responsibility
for teachers would touch the lives of so many impressionable young
children. An angel appeared to Him and
said, "You are taking a long time to figure this one out."
"Yes,"
said the Lord," but have you read the specs on this order?"
TEACHER:
…must
stand above all students, yet be on their level
... must be able to do 180 things not connected with the subject being taught
... must run on coffee and leftovers,
... must communicate vital knowledge to all students daily and be right most of
the time
... must have more time for others than for herself/himself
... must have a smile that can endure through pay cuts, problematic children,
and worried parents
... must go on teaching when parents question every move and others are not
supportive
... must have 6 pairs of hands.
"Six
pairs of hands, “said the angel, "that's impossible"
"Well,” said the Lord," it is not the hands that are the
problem. It is the three pairs of eyes
that are presenting the most difficulty!"
The
angel looked incredulous, "Three pairs of eyes...on a standard
model?"
The
Lord nodded His head, "One pair can see a student for what he is and not
what others have labeled him as. Another
pair of eyes is in the back of the teacher's head to see what should not be
seen, but what must be known. The eyes
in the front are only to look at the child as he/she 'acts out' in order to
reflect, "I understand and I still believe in you", without so much
as saying a word to the child."
"Lord,"
said the angel, "this is a very large project and I think you should work
on it tomorrow".
"I
can't," said the Lord, " for I have come very close to creating
something much like Myself. I have one
that comes to work when he/she is sick.....teaches a class of children that do
not want to learn....has a special place in his/her heart for children who are
not his/her own.....understands the struggles of those who have
difficulty....never takes the students for granted..."
The
angel looked closely at the model the Lord was creating. "It is too soft-hearted," said the
angel.
"Yes,"
said the Lord, "but also tough, you cannot imagine what this teacher can
endure or do, if necessary."
"Can
this teacher think?" asked the angel.
"Not
only think," said the Lord, "but reason and compromise."
The
angel came closer to have a better look at the model and ran his finger over
the teacher's cheek.
"Well,
Lord," said the angel, “your job looks
fine but there is a leak. I told you
that you were putting too much into this model.
You cannot imagine the stress that will be placed upon the
teacher."
The
Lord moved in closer and lifted the drop of moisture from the teacher's
cheek. It shone and glistened in the
light.
"It
is not a leak," He said, "It is a tear."
"A
tear? What is that?" asked the
angel, "What is a tear for?"
The
Lord replied with great thought, "It is for the joy and pride of seeing a
child accomplish even the smallest task.
It is for the loneliness of children who have a hard time to fit in and
it is for compassion for the feelings of their parents. It comes from the pain of not being able to
reach some children and the disappointment those children feel in
themselves. It comes often when a
teacher has been with a class for a year and must say good-bye to those
students and get ready to welcome a new class."
"My,"
said the angel," The tear thing is a great idea...You are a genius!!"
The Lord looked somber, "I didn't put it there."