Md Aazim's arrival

Little did I expect it would be the 16th but that was the day and at 4.43pm when you least expected him out he comes weighing 2.7kg.

Landslide woes

I couldn't help feeling sorry for the victims of the landslide. From the BB I gather a few info. They point their fingers at the developers. My question is aren't the relevant authorities supposed to be making sure that the constructions are safe. If there is a question of stability, shouldn't that be addressed first?

Subsidy a blessing

I was refueling petrol at the Mentiri Filling Station and couldn't help looking at the subsidy notice. Brunei has subsidized 220 Million Brunei Dollars in 2007. So 2008 would definitely be more.

Do you think we can do something to reduce this subsidy? Like perhaps come up with a better transport system, an MRT or Underground tunnel system linking major areas advocate carpooling etc. Suggestions welcomed.

Teaching blog

See here students

Chrome A new browser from Google

As I was casually surfing for some lesson material I stumbled upon Google Chrome. Guys you have to try this out.

Last but 1

The 4B's did Black Mamba and the 4I's were no where to be seen.
The staff meeting was on the English Month and was short and brief.
Got the lights going despite the tight schedule.

Beautiful Sunday

Weekend

Nothing much

Friday Shopping

11/9 or 9/11

Well it has been a few years since the twin tower catastrophe.

Ten9oeight

Dropped Muts at SMPDSM and reached school on time. 4I were assigned task on A poor talker.

Tuesday

Arrived in school and 4I were exposed to writing cover letter for a job.
Left school went to UBD and then straight to the jetty. Reached school and started the orals. Finished at 4 and reached home half past.

Another Monday

Woke up at 4 had Sahor: Fish and chips. Prayed Suboh and continued to read The Quran.

Reached school at 7.19 a.m and started a new unit: It happened to me... with the 4B's and took them to the D & T to do research on Roald Dahl and poisonous snakes.

If time permits maybe come up with a leaflet about poisonous snakes in Borneo Island.

The 4I's were looking at past year IGCSE papers.

Left school at 11.07 a.m. Went to HH and then Home.

Reached school at 5 mins past 1. The SS visited and stayed a while. We finished at a quarter to 1 and reached home at 4.05 p.m.

This weekend

Left school at 11.20 a.m and went to UBD. From there headed home, prayed Dzohor and left for the school to do the orals. Got back home at 4 and continued with tuition. Pretty hectic day. Mom and Dad dropped by and stayed a while. Slept early.

Had rice and gizzard curry for sahor. Prayed suboh and woke at 9.30 a.m. The boys came for tuition.

At 1 left to HH for shopping at Manggis Mall and returned home about 4. Sinbabs came for breaking of fast.

Prayed terawih, prepared lesson plans and went to bed.

A Friday in...

Got up at 9 and went to DST. Bought a multimedia speaker.

After prayer did research and decided to write the draft.

The boy came at 4 and stayed till 6.

My research unexpectedly took longer than I thought. Bro invited me for 'tadarus' but unfortunately I couldn't make it.

I think I slept around 2.15 a.m. Woke up at 4 and had Sardines and veggies.

reached school at 7.29 and 4B had silent reading.

Not the 4th of July

Woke up at 4 a.m. had rice and eggs for 'Sahor'. Booked the tickets and started reading Tuesdays with Morrie. Man I tell youve got to read this book. Unputdownable thats what it is.

Prayed Suboh, bathed and reached school and punched in at 7.19.

Ca A is back from her studies. A nice get to together to catch up on things.

Took attendance distributed time table and took the 5H to D & T and did grammar exercises at http://www.englishclub.com/esl-quizzes/grammar-1-present-continuous.htm and http://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/elc/StudyZone/330/grammar/pcont.htm.

Left for the orals at 11.30 a.m. Prayed at the Pintu Malim mosque and reached school at 12.45 p.m.

Finished at 4 p.m. and headed to UBD. Got home around 5 p.m. and the boys were already here 5 to 6 p.m.

Broke fast with French toast and Durian pop ice.

Slept for a while. Got woken up and prayed isya and had dosai.

3rd September 2008

Reached school at 7.25, took attendance and took my 4I's to D & T. Showed them a video of a stunt man jumping from 104.5m, the highest free fall. Then asked them to gather more record breaking feats from Guinness website.

The 5H was also taken to D & T and shown the Directed Composition presentation and asked to practise and submit the work by Monday.

The students were working on the contents for the report.

Left school picked up M and reached home only to hear the maid is leaving. Looks like she can't take it.

'A B reminds me of my son,' she said.

Ok what else to do.

Thank God my visa has been despatched and i don't know when my new maid is arriving. Till that time it would be a hassle.

Anyway arrived at school and continued with the orals. Finished at 4 p.m. and reached home by 4.30 p.m.

Did some correction and preparation for tomorrow's lesson.

Slept at half past ten.

The 1st day of Puasa

Finished eating by 4.25 a.m. and went back to sleep. Got up again and prayed suboh. Went back to sleep again and was woken up by the maid's call at 9 a.m.

Started researching for the paper.

Had the boys from 4 to 6. Prayed asar and broke fast with dates, bandung, rice porridge and vadai.

Ate rice after tarawih.

Played Breakfast at tiffany's for the kids to watch.

Ili said he is leaving tomorrow to work as a driver. wished him luck. People have to move on don't they?

A new month

Reached school at 6.57 and took my 4B and 4I to the D & T and practised the past perfect tense. Submitted the lesson plan to the deputy and started for the orals. Dropped by at my mum's and got dates for breaking of fast. Prayed Dzohor and took the water taxi from the Fire Station and reached the school by 5 minutes to 1p.m.

Started the orals and had a couple absent. Finished by 4 and reached home by 4.40 p.m.

Went to pray tarawih at the nearby mosque and had lamp mutton curry for sahor.

A Sunday before Ramadan

There was a knock on the door and I looked up at the clock it was 9 a.m. I knew it. The boy got the time mixed up again. I told him to hang on for a while and brushed my teeth. S and A B woke up too. Fed the kids and got going with the boy before the second boy turned up right on time at 10a.m.

Slept after watching Hurricane. A touching movie of oppression against black in America during the 60's.

We were at the Gadong Mall when we heard that the fasting starts on Tuesday the 2nd.

Got home around 9.30 and prepared the lesson plan.

Prayers and Birthdays

The students were gathered in the hall. The tahlil started and then a speech followed. Left to the ICT lab to prepare for the lessons.

I forgot to bring stuffs for my colleagues birthday so we left to The Giant and bought some fruits, juice and Katok rice.

Had food and left to pick up Muts at 11.30pm and rushed home to Mentiri.

Dropped her and then headed to Lupak Luas. The time was 12.06 p.m.

Reached SMSUAK at 12.56 p.m

Began orals and ended at a quarter to 4 p.m.

Started drizzling just as I was getting into my car and then downpour lasted till 6.30 p.m even now it is drizzling.

Too many buildings but.....

I was waiting outside the DST in Serusop and looking at the new building being constructed. I was then approached by an elderly gentleman who asked me.

EG: Apa diliat atu?

I: Ni diurang membuat keraja kontrek ah.

EG: Au banyakkan bangunan tapi indada yang kan menyewa?

I: Ia tah ha, tapi bagus jua kali banyak bangunan ani, inda kan?

EG: Bagus, bagus tapi apa faedahnya mun banyak kosong wang.

There is definitely truth in what the man said. What is the point of building so many buildings, shop houses and business premises when you can't find renters or business operators to run their businesses.

Everywhere the rental has dropped but the government is continuing to pay higher rental thereby causing imbalance in economy summarized the elderly gentleman.

What can we do except to go with the flow.

probably a rent control board would solve the problem I don't know. Only time will tell.

Motivation Talk and directed composition

I was surprised when I reached my 5H classroom and found no one there. A teacher came to me and asked
OT: Cg, where are the students?
I : I don't know Cg, maybe a talk or something?
OT: Oh yeah. The motivational talk for MA5.

Right. Then I returned to the staffroom and prepared for my other classes.

Breaktime

There was a large crowd next to 2E at the ground floor and rushed there thinking there was a fight or something only to find the crowd quickly dispersing leaving a cloud of smoke. There were a few boys standing. I approached them.

I: What is happening here?

1st Boy: Nothing sir.

I: Who was fighting?

1st Boy: No one sir. Kami shuffle ganya tadi?

I: What is shuffle???

2nd Boy: Break dancing. Ia tu sir ketuanya.(Pointing to the 1st boy.)

I: Ok come with me to discipline room.

There was a fight between 2 girls.

My 4I was involved in the dancing discussion.

Lunch at UBD with missus.

Prayed at surau UBD and then headed to the immigration. Reached at 1.55 p.m.
Submitted the application and rushed to the oral briefing.
At 4 left to UBD and got home at 5.15p.m.

Woke up at 6.55p.m. Only then I realised that I had missed the hajat prayer at school. felt bad about it.

Prayed maghrib and marked some exercises and then went out to Jaya Hypermart.

Wednesday 27th August

The 4I's were exposed to note taking skills today and would you believe it they were not sure what that means. We were looking at Art no more? The 5H were given exam practise paper. Entered the marks for 4I. The papers need to be submitted. Mut's going back with her friend.

So went to the immigration to submit the maid's papers but the cashier counter at the labour department was closed. I reached there at 2.45pm but it seems they close at that time at 2.45pm. What a peculiar time.

So I went to the bank and retrieved my ATM card and renewed my internet banking ID and PW. Got home at about 4.30pm and had lunch.

Woke up at 7 and was working till 9.30pm.

Must submit application

By hook or crook I must put in the papers today.

Sarah had a fall

Would you believe that my daughter, Sarah fell three times today. Once into a ditch quite deep maybe about 4 feet and twice while running.

I really have a difficult time now for things are starting to pile up and I don't have a maid.

Lately I am being labelled as irresponsible for not hiring a helper or a maid to look after the kids.

Sharing my thoughts

As I was teaching my 4I's today it shocked me that most of these boys didn't know how to send an email. So I had to teach them how to create an account and then compose an email for them. I think perhaps it would help if every student have an email. They should be thought to express themselves through their writing. Gave the SV to the business studies teacher and left to the staff room. The 4C's were taken to the Reading room.

Monday blues

Shall I call it that or what? Took both the 4 B's and I's to the D & T lab. Watched the present continuous video and did some online exercises. Got to enter the marks before noon today. Anyway tough week ahead. Haven't received any suggestions for the title of the newsletter for our department.

Talking about the title

What shall I name the newsletter?

The SMR English Department News or SMRED Fortnightly or any suggestion guys?

A newsletter for the English department of SMR

Today the 23rd of August 2008 was our school's sports day. The chief guest was the acting Director of the Curriculum Development Department. We enjoyed ourselves. 

 After coming back to the staffroom, it suddenly struck me that I should perhaps compile the things which are going on around the school and perhaps do desktop publishing. 

 It's not as easy as it sounds but I thought that I should try it just for the heck of it. Marks needed to be entered but since most of us were at the padang we couldn't do it. Anyway I'll keep you guys posted on the happenings. Cheers.