Festive Air

Assalamualaikum and Hello everyone! I think I myself am glad and relieve that finally I can afford to sit down in front of the computer and contribute something to my own blog,hehe!I got some feedback from those who have read the earlier posts in the blog, that i should update it REGULARLY..problem is, most of the time, TIME is not on my side. Anyway, thank you for 'stopping by' at my blog and sorry for not being able to respond to the comments in the Shout Box.However, its good to hear from you guys!!
Well, what is new in Kolej? I think we started the year 2008 with a good start;the PMR result was better than last year, with 64 students scoring Straight As. Now, Kolej also offers Japanese language to the Form One students,but it is not compulsary for everyone to take the subject. Only two classes of Form One will be involved and according to Mdm. Pengetua (Umi), this is one of the signs that Kolej will become a 'cluster' school.I don't think it would be a problem for the students to excel and enjoy learning the language because there are so many Japanese television programmes to help them with the revision!
Apart from that, we also have a score of new teachers teaching various subjects to replace those who have gone to other schools for greener pasture...Rumah Perdana especially, suffers the biggest lost because about three or four experienced teachers are no longer in the team...
Today, the festive air of Gong Xi fa Chai is really evident.The chinese teachers got together and gave all the staff 'limau mandarin' and being the only mum-to-be (no.5!!!), I got the most limau mandarin compared to my other colleagues,hehe..yesterday,during the weekly assembly, we enjoyed listening to Mdm.Maria Tan regaling us with the history of the chinese animal zodiacs.It was really fun and informative, what more with the 'lagu hari raya cina' at the end of her talk.Oh yes, everyweek, at least one student can get a chance to win a prize if she or he is able to answer a question based on the information shared in the weekly assembly. Actually, since last year,the weekly assembly is also conducted in English. And, every week, a teacher is invited to speak on stage, sharing either words of wisdom or anything which could help Kolejians to do better in life generally. Teachers also gain benefits from this practice because now everybody gets the chance to speak on stage.Mind you, teachers can talk eloquently infront of a class, but some do suffer from stage fright...
For those who want to visit their teachers in Kolej, it is really easy to find our tables now because our sitting arrangement is based on our department.If you want to find me in the staffroom,you'll meet other language teachers easily, together with the Agama, History and Geography teachers...The Science,Maths and technical departments are on the other side of the staffroom.So, maybe now you get the idea of which side of the staffroom is noisier,hehe!
Well, thats all for now, Bye,and be good, ya!Happy holiday Eberibodi!

Merdeka Night

Hi People, I'm back!Sorry for the long silence but I was having a little bit of 'special health condition'and was not in the right mood to share any news.Anyway,its better now and its good to be back.
How's your merdeka celebration,everyone?For those ex-students who were staying in the asrama especially, you might have had involved in the previous merdeka celebration nights -the countdown,also known as Malam Ambang Merdeka-(from early 2000) in Kolej and I hope you have fond memories about them too. Well, last night,there was a countdown too in Kolej and we had a blast!It was great and everything went really well.There were 'Kolej Idol'singing competition,a Dikir Barat performance, a dance performance(Asmaradana)and a pantomime by the English Drama Club members. Considering that the students did not have much time to practice for the performaces, I must say that they really put up a wonderful show. Before that, prayers for Maghrib and Isya' with tahlil were also conducted at the Surau Kolej in conjuction with Malaysia's 50th Merdeka Celebration.With the big screen on the stage,one minute before 31st August 2007, all 'Warga Kolej' in the Dewan Bestari was a part of the celebration conducted at Dataran Merdeka,Kuala Lumpur. It was really GREAT!
The physical outlook of Kolej is now starting to look different.There is a major construction work at the Dewan Bestari as well as at the Administration Building. And, don't be surprised that you'll find three big ,long mirrors at strategic places in Kolej. OK then, the next time you people come to Kolej, try to locate those three mirrors,ya?!For the current Kolej students,well, its good to be vain, you know, because normally, vain people are always smart looking,hehe!
I know you guys don't like me to mention this,but next week is the last relaxing week for the exam students. Trials for both PMR and SPM will start in two weeks time. Teachers are nervous about examinations too but its good to note that majority of Kolej students are serious about sitting for the exams. Maybe academic qualification is no longer the yardstick for success nowadays, but the most important thing is the right attitude to carry out whatever undertakings that you face. Since it is examination time and you are a student, better be PREPARED for it!
Ok,that's all for now. Oh ya, somebody mentioned the time for each entry that I made before..and yes,you have the right to be doubtful about Madam Ina writing an entry at those time...for the time being, I dont know how to fix the problem yet(hint,hint!) and right now its 11.14pm with KingKong on HBO,hmm..And to all my dearest ex-students,please reveal your true names if you want me to recall who you are(with a smile,of course!).I love to hear from you guys and come visit us Warga Kolej(mind you,not warga Tua, ha!)and belanja us at Kantin Kolej,hehe..Nite-nite & See ya!

BBQ nite at Dewan Besar Kolej

Just came back from Dewan Besar Kolej. PIBG kindly sponsored a BBQ for all the teachers and staff of Kolej Abdillah.The food was good and I ended up eating more than 'necessary'.Anyway, we had a fantastic time listening to teachers and staff rendering songs (karaoke). Mr. Madzalan,as usual,found it difficult to resist the microfon. It was wonderful listening to him and his duet, Mr. Zaidi,singing 'Angin Malam',followed by 'Isabella' (I must confess that at that moment, Mdm.Norlia,Mdm.Noor Aishah and myself were seriously considering of going up the stage just to walk by the singers like the 'gadis videoclip',hehe!)and this time, his duet was En. Awang Kok. But, the biggest surprise of all was witnessing and listening to Mdm.Rahimah(yes, your Add.Maths teacher!)Mdm. Hjh Aishah (PKHem),Mdm Ani the clerk and Mdm.Melly the librarian singing 'Suci Dlm Debu'...those people could sing very well lah! Even Mr. Salleh Maarof(History teacher)belted out two songs tonight and of course, Mdm.Johara Zen (Pengetua) who sang a sweet evergreen song which hinted that she's not the microfon-shy type...Way to go to all those talented people. I am very sporting at times but unfortunately I do not have any talent in singing & dancing...Anyway,the teachers really let their hair down tonight.

Oh, I forgot to mention about the new name of the Dewan Besar..erm, actually, i forgot the new name. Anyway, the competition for renaming the Dewan Besar is still open..The hostel rooms are given new names too and even classes have new names (Merah/Ruby;Jingga/Amber;Amethyst/Indigo;Putih/Diamond;Biru/Sapphire;
Kuning/Topaz and Hijau/Emerald).The new elected prefects are called 'Exco Majlis Perwakilan Pelajar',there are 69 of them and they are still on a one month probation. I wish them well because I know it is not easy to be a prefect but it is a learning opportunity not to be missed either...

Okay,time to stop 'talking'. Syamsul, my student from 3 Ruby told me that he felt as if I was infront of him talking when he read my entry,hehe..For those who visited the blog and even sent something via the Shoutbox (which I really love to read),"Thank You" from Mdm. Ina and for those who havent given any comment,well,"komenlah",hehe..Good nait eberibodi!

"To be or not to be"

So,have you guys watched the much-awaited-film...Harry Potter? Wish I have a wand, teaching would be very fun and 'innovative', 'creative..'. Personally, the premiere did good to the students coz on the next day, students seemed to be extra cheerful,even early in the morning. Class 5 Diamond tried to coax me to talk about the film, but, knowing how good I am at talking, I resisted the temptation..Once I started talking about it,not sure if I could stop coz obviously the students were really keen to discuss about the film for the whole two periods...hehe...Madam Noor Aishah was even teased as purposely wearing magenta pink baju kurung that day to remind the students of Dolores Umbridge,ha!

During the morning assembly today, the Pengetua urged students to put on a smile whenever they reached the school compound in the morning..Some people are not morning people and the thought of a long day with many tasks to do might not appeal to everybody. However, I am a firm believer in setting and getting the right mood before studying or working. You cannot wait for other people to make you happy and make things 'happening' for you.You have to do it yourself,getting the right mood,making things work.Many youngsters always grumble about school activities or lessons as boring,however, they do not realize that 60% (maybe!) of the success rate of something to be succesful and happening depends on the person herself or himself, like what the grown ups say 'everything is a choice'. So, what is your choice today? To be a happy person?To be an understanding friend? To use your time wisely?
"To be or not to be" --Shakespeare
Pick your choice!

Oh Ya! We had a succesful Hari Permuafakatan last Saturday. I got to meet most of the parents of my class, 3 Ruby. It always amuses me that students are so nervous taking their parents to meet their teachers. Teachers can say nice things about you too,you know!hehe. I must say that on that particular day I could fetch some valuable 'insider information' voluntarily spilled by the parents.However, parents and teachers have the same goals, which are mainly to get our 'children' try their best and do things to improve themselves. The rest, after all the hard work, tawakal!
Ok then, time to go. Have a good weekend everybody!

Transformers and Harry Potter

My nine year old son is really mad about Transformers the movie(I haven't watched it and to him its a big sin..) I did try to get the cinema poster but to no avail. I thought to myself that by getting it, my ranking as the coolest mummy would be upgraded a bit..Anyway, my best friend, Aishah, was dissatisfied with the ending of the story which she said 'anti-climax'..I always feel the same about action movies, the characters fought so hard or underwent the most disastrous situations most of the time,but in the end,the efforts seemed useless or not satisfactory at all..Hmmm, maybe they should elect me to be one of the judges for any film festivals,huh!
My Form Five Diamond told me today that they had read the 1986 Spectra edition and saw my class photo(I was in Form Two-). Then, somebody showed me an old 'Kolej DPAH Abdillah Guide Book' which I remember given to us Collegians back in the 1980s when we registered in Kolej Abdillah on the first day...its golden in colour and only a few coloured pictures in it..I urged him to give the book to the school library because that book can be considered as 'barang sejarah'.of the school.Nowadays, we dont have any special book which makes students feel really special about registering as a collegian.Should we 'revive' it?
This coming July eleventh is a big day for us teachers and students of Kolej Abdillah.The whole one big family is going to watch 'Harry Potter' at Star Cineplex,at 7.30pm.This event is actually a drive by the school's PTA to get donation for the school. The tickets are sold at RM20,RM50 and RM100.Some students and some parents complaint about the price of tickets and having to buy it,but,they are not aware that the money is 'coming back' to them in the form of the school facilities and education-related programmes.People are quick to say negative things rather than the positive ones.Of course there are better ways to get money for the school,but,no matter how good it is,some are more willing to give harsh comments than constructive ones.So, you guys out there, be very supportive of Kolej Abdillah,eh?Hmm..this is serious stuff,ha,BORING LA MADAM INA TODAY,hehe..
Looking forward to this coming weekend.Friday is the best because it promises Saturday n Sunday!Plan to have a girls night out on Saturday nite,time to unwind!The activities?Window shopping-makan-gossipping..sounds really fun,eh?
Alright then,time to fly and land my head on the pillow.Really glad I can post something in the blog this week. Thinking of making the blog looks more 'interesting',any ideas?Well then,tarrraaa...

Time is running super fast nowadays. I hardly find the space to be 'myself' and to do things that I normally would love to indulge myself in. Anyway, its no use lamenting about it.
So, last week we had a really good time doing gotong-royong in school. It was fun coz everybody was in the mood to do something for the school,well, at least that was the impression that I got. The school looks better and even Dinosaur (still remember the green dino?) got its teeth scrubbed!Those who had been reluctant to visit the school should come and see it for yourself...if not to help us cleaning it, at least you guys can give constructive comments about the school compound.
This week,I am on duty to check the classes' cleanliness and keceriaan..Students are making really good efforts and the classes look more inviting,hehe. At least we dont see curtain being folded uncreatively and dumped at the back of the class.
Sales of tickets for the PIBG's Harry Potter film is going on fine, I guess. I am taking my darling to watch it on July eleventh and the whole Collegians 2007 are going to be in Star cineplex, at 7.00pm. Looking forward to see Collegians crowd in a different setting and different moods!
Have to stop now. Hopefully can update during the weekend. Till then,take good care of yourselves, people.. Oh ya!I ended my lesson with my 3 Ruby with the last line of the cute poem (forgot the title,but its so cute!).."love is not one but two, one for me and one for you.." See ya, people!

Busy Week

Hi again. Been very busy this week and having a hard time to catch up with the rest of the world. Sometimes ignorance is bliss!However, its hard to do that when you're earning money for the family. So you guys out there, having loads of homework or assignments are not real 'cool' excuses for not being happy,hehe!
The talk of the town is the Harry Potter movie. Frankly speaking, I would rather read the books than be disappointed with the movie version. Maybe it is due to the fact that I normally have a 'connection' with the characters or setting of the stories that I read. It makes me feel 'geram' if people do not have the same 'understanding' of the book like I have, not just HP but other novel-film adaptations as well. So much for encouraging students to be creative and having their own opinions,eh?
One of the things that I do regret about my time as a student is not being active in sports. I was very active in Girl Guide ,though. I learned leadership qualities the most from my Girl Guide experiences. However, now I do think I lack competitive edge in me which could have been developed from getting involved in sports..The only thing which I am good at whenever there's any sporting events is...I can cheer very loud, hehe!But cheering from the grandstand will hardly get you anywhere because the real winner is on the field or track, regardless of whether you win or lose..So, can you follow what I am hinting at here?A little bit philosophical but its worth pondering upon..
Okay then, I am still in my teaching-mode now and its going to be a boring entry if I were to continue..Hopefully tomorrow will bring more things to cheer me up. Good night,People, and take care!