Not so perfect birthday & Certificate of Merit

Well, Mia's birthday fell on Tuesday this week. But instead of having a cheerful clear face she had a bruised although still cheerful face.

The story? She fell while running with a few friends in the playground - what more can I say? She came back that day with cuts on her face and knee.  Gladly the teachers had cleaned the cuts and put a band aid on her knee.

Did I mentioned about the Burns Week? Among the activities are recitation of Burns' poems. Though Mia entered as well, she did not win for her category (but she's OK with that - she forgotten the two middle lines of Cat & Mous.  However, Danish & Hakim are much luckier - they received the Certificate of Merit from the Robert Burns World Federation Limited.

Danish did not just won the Certificate but also chosen as the Pupil of the Week.  He recited the Robert Burns poem entitled "Address To A Haggis".  Hakim recited "A Dug A Dug"

This makes me wonder though.  Perhaps, our schools back home should celebrate our own Sasterawan as well - how many of our younger generations today have read the writings of Usman Awang, Tongkat Waran, Khadijah Hashim and Arenawati to name a few? Maybe some efforts has to be taken to do these Sasterawan justice....

National Assessment - Maths

I was quite shocked when Hakim came back with this Certificate last Friday :

I always asked my children what do they learn and what their activities are at school on a daily basis. So, I thought I am well-informed of their school life.  However, Hakim never inform me about having sat for a test or anything of that nature. So, when he came back with the above I was not prepared. But it is such a sweet surprise.

So, what is this National Assessment? I'm not sure but apparently there are three subjects under the National Assessment - Maths, English and Science. There will be Level A - Level F appropriated to which level a student is.  For a P5 pupil, it is Level C. That's about all that I know about it. And Hakim managed to get through it with another 3 of his classmates.  So, I think I should just be glad for him.

So! What can it be?

Yesterday, classes started in full swing.  From 9.00 to 11.00; 12.00 to 2.00 and 3.00 to 5.00.  This semester, I have 2 classes - 5RM (2 hours of lecture and 2 hours of tutorial/workshop) and 5QM (2 hours lecture plus 2 hours lab work). On top of that, a dissertation. Since lectures, tutorials, workshops and lab work are only for Mondays and Tuesdays, I have the rest of the week to work, I mean to really work on my dissertation.

But then again, though I have started looking for the suitable topic since last year, I haven't really decided on which yet.  I want a topic that will keep me going.  Something that can prolong my interest at least until I completed the whole thing (yep! Right to the References).  Something that I can nurture with growing interest each time I work on it.  Something that can be a beginning to a new study later on.  Something benefitful to the society or at least something which can be referred to in future. Well, I know it sounds like I am embarking on some major research work but I am not! It is just a dissertation which I need to complete within a three-month time line.  But, to me, no matter how small or how insignificant it may be to others I want it to be a good paper - something that can give me a good credit for my efforts (after all, I need a good grade don't I?).  And for something like this I can't lose interest halfway. I have to fight till the end with enthusiasm, with devotion and of course as few grammar and spelling mistakes as possible.

Yesterday when I told my friends Monica and Rizal (a PhD student from Aberdeen - somehow he has to attend classes at Dundee - a special Departmental program between the two Universities) of this problem of mine, with a smile Monica said, "Maybe you can continue with Corporate Governance?  Not many are doing a paper on it." And Rizal was telling me,"You have no choice but to choose one.  If not, you are in big trouble. Focus. Just pick one and never lose focus on it." Hmmmph.... I know he has a point but I want to focus on something that I really really like.  But which?  Among the topics that I have in my list are :

(i) complementary currency (if DrSam is reading, yes..., the rubbish thingy)

(ii) interest-free banking

(iii) the Malaysian Corporate Governance

(iv) something on Emerging Markets (but I have scratched this off - there are already a few who wanted to do this.  So, if I join in then there'll be something generic about it).

(v) something on Efficient Market Hypothesis? (Oh I have a lot to say about this! But for sure that is not enough!)

So, you see what I mean?  I can't remember since when I become one very confused lady - All I need to do is to pick one topic and stick to it. (Though I still have to get Dr. Burton's go ahead first!  Actually he has already given me the go ahead on the 3rd topic but I found myself not as excited to work on it anymore!!!)

Well, as I was leaving the Tower Building yesterday, I heard my friend Mokhtar called me (remember him? from My Dear Friend? The one who have his own version of my name?).  I asked him how he is getting along with his research paper (Oh yes! He is working on his PhD).  Oh Dear, I think I have a much lesser problem when he calmly said, "I am not sure of what to do yet. I haven't decided." And he registered about the same time with me - last September!

Is that supposed to be a consolation to me??

(Source of images : both Mortarboard and Blue flowers are from www.upload.wikimedia.org)

In Session : Reading

An avid reader myself, I always encourage my children to read.  More often than not, I will read for them (especially for the two younger children) or read together with them.  However, there are times when I have a new book which I am dying to read and of course! I want to read alone.  So, in times like this, they have to do it themselves.

The good thing here is that a child as little as 3 year old (of nursery age0 can borrow a book each week from the school library.  So, each week everyone will have a book to read. And as for my children they have 4 books to be shared among them.  So, at least I have some quiet time - and that is Bliss!

School, Here I Come!

At last! Since Monday this week there is no more fight-war-battle in the morning.  Aqil is already one happy wee boy excited about going to school.  Here are some of the snaps taken of him on his way to school.  Hmmmm... what relief!!!

So, let me leave you with these inadequate poem of mine dedicated to Aqil and other children who have excuses the first few days of schooling.

My tummy ached so

My head doing a calypso

Last night was a nightmare

Going to school is not my fare

Mummy please understand me

I would rather be with thee

For school is not as fun

When at home we can always sing and dance

Oh Mummy dear

At school there may be a  Monster

One so big might even have me for supper

You don’t want that to happen do you? Mummy dear?

It's Burns Week Next Week

"Dear Parents,

As you know, next week is Burns week in school.  Children across all stages should learn Scottish poem with the infant classes learning a simpler poem which is not Burns!  There will be a competition at each stage group and although all children should learn our poem they can choose to not to enter if they are particularly nervous or shy.  Our poem this year is Cat and Mous by J.K. Annand.  I hope you will help the children learn their poem and best of luck to all for the competition."

Mia handed me the above message from school yesterday.  And attached to it is the poem which she is supposed to learn :

Cat and Mous

Said the poussie                                  

Til the mousie,

'Let me intil

Your wee housie

We will play

And we will sing

And we will dance

A jingo-ring.'

Said the mousie

Til the poussie,

'Ye'll no get

In my wee housie.

Ye are BIG

And I am wee

And ye wad eat me

For your tea.

A very cute little poem isn't it?

Sources of images : Siberian Cat from www.catsfact.org; Guinea pig from www.commons.wikipedia.org

Wha?!

A Dug A Dug  (by Bill Keys)

Hey, Daddy, wid ye get us a dug?

A big broon alsation ur a wee white pug?

Ur a skinny wee terrier, ur a big fat collie?

Aw, Daddy, get us a dug.  Will yi?

Whit! An' whose dug'll it be when it durties the flerr,

An' wets the carpet and messes the sterr?

Its me ur yer Mammy'll be tane furra mug

Away oot'n play.  Yer no getting a dug

But daddy thur gi'en them away

Down therr at the RSCPA

Yu'll get wan fur nothin, so ye will.

Aw.  Daddy, get us a dug, Will ye?

Dji hear um?  Oan aboot dugs again?

Ah think that yins goat dugs'n the brain

Ah know whit yu'll get : a skite oan the lug

If ah hear ony merr aboot this bloomin dug

Aw, Daddy, it widny be dear tae keep

An'ah'd make it a basket fur it tae sleep

An'ah'd take it fur runs away over the hull

Aw, Daddy, get us a dug.  Will ye?

A doan't think thurs embdy like you :

Yi could wheedle the twist oot a flamin' corkscrew

Noo! Get doon aff my neck.  Gies nane a yur hugs

Aw right.  THAT'S ANUFF. Ah'll get yi a dug.

Aw Daddy.  A dug.  A dug.

Well, this poem is sort of Hakim's homework last week.  I like it somehow - I can visualize the children asking, begging their father with pleading eyes to get them a dog.  And not let it go until they get under his skin and finally let them have their way!

And for his effort of memorising the first two paragraphs, Hakim was rewarded a pencil and eraser from his teacher, Mrs. McEwan.