P4-1 (2006) Class Blog

2010-08-17T10:24:00.001+08:00

The Turtles
A turtle family decided to go on a picnic. The turtles, being naturally slow about things, took seven years to prepare for their outing. Finally the turtle family left home looking for a suitable place. During the second year of their journey they found a place ideal for them at last!

For about six months they cleaned the area, unpacked the picnic basket, and completed the arrangements. Then they discovered they had forgotten the salt. A picnic without salt would be a disaster, they all agreed. After a lengthy discussion, the youngest turtle was chosen to retrieve the salt from home. Although he was the fastest of the slow moving turtles, the little turtle whined, cried, and wobbled in his shell. He agreed to go on one condition: that no one would eat until he returned. The family consented and the little turtle left.

Three years passed and the little turtle had not returned. Five years...six years... then on the seventh year of his absence, the oldest turtle could no longer contain his hunger. He announced that he was going to eat and begun to unwrap a sandwich. At that point the little turtle suddenly popped out from behind a tree shouting, 'See! I knew you wouldn't wait. Now I am not going to go get the salt.'

[Some of us waste our time waiting for people to live up to our expectations. We are so concerned about what others are doing that we do not do anything ourselves.]

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The Frogs

A farmer came into town and asked the owner of a restaurant if he could use a million frog legs. The restaurant owner was shocked and asked the man where he could get so many frog legs! The farmer replied, 'There is a pond near my house that is full of frogs - millions of them. They all croak all night long and they are about to make me crazy!' So the restaurant owner and the farmer made an agreement that the farmer would deliver frogs to the restaurant, five hundred at a time for the next several weeks.

Th! e first week, the farmer returned to the restaurant looking rather sheepish, with two scrawny little frogs. The restaurant owner said, 'Well... where are all the frogs?' The farmer said, 'I was mistaken. There were only these two frogs in the pond. But they sure were making a lot of noise!'

[ Next time you hear somebody criticizing or making fun of you, remember, it's probably just a couple of noisy frogs. Also remember that problems always seem bigger in the dark. Have you ever laid in your bed at night worrying about things which seem almost overwhelming l ike a million frogs croaking? Chances are pretty good that when the morning comes, and you take a closer look, you'll wonder what all the fuss was about.]

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The Pretty Lady

Once upon a time a big monk and a little monk were traveling together. They came to the bank of a river and found the bridge was damaged. They had to wade across the river. There was a pretty lady who was stuck at the damaged bridge and couldn't cross the river.

The big monk offered to carry her across the river on his back. The lady accepted. The little monk was shocked by the move of the big monk. 'How can big brother carry a lady when we are supposed to avoid all intimacy with females?' thought the little monk. But he kept
quiet.. The big monk carried the lady across the river and the small monk followed unhappily.

When they crossed the river, the big monk let the lady down and they parted ways with her.

All along the way for several miles, the little monk was very unhappy with the act of the big monk. He was making up all kinds of accusations about big monk in his head. This got him madder and madder. But he still kept quiet. And the big monk had no inclination to explain his situation.

Finally, at a rest point many hours later, the little monk could not stand it any further, he burst out angrily at the big monk. 'How can you claim yourself a devout monk, when you seize the first opportunity to touch a female, especially when she is very pretty? All your teachings to me make you a big hypocrite

The big monk looked surprised and said, 'I had put down the pretty lady at the river bank many hours ago, how come you are still carrying her along?'

[This very old Chinese Zen story reflects the thinking of many people today. We encounter many unpleasant things in our life, they irritate us and they make us angry. Sometimes, they cause us a lot of hurt, sometimes they cause us to be bitter or jealous .. But like the little monk, we are not willing to let them go away. We keep on carrying the baggage of the 'pretty lady' with us. We let them keep on coming back to hurt us, make us angry, make us bitter and cause us a lot of agony.Why? Simply because we are not willing to put down or let go of the baggage of the 'pretty lady'. We should let go of the pretty lady immediately after crossing the river. This will immediately remove all our agonies.There is no need to be further hurt by the unpleasant event after it is over.]

Facebook

2009-12-14T11:28:00.000+08:00

A group has been created for our class. Please check out and join. :)

Class Gathering 10 Nov 2009

2009-11-11T19:41:00.002+08:00

I would like to thank Gin for making the gathering a success. Also, thanks to Cassandra, Han Yi, Shi Zhen and Kaevinn for taking the trouble to attend. Especially Shi Zhen who had to rush back as her CCA Teacher was "checking" on them in Compass Point. After lunch, we went to Hougang Stadium to look for Kimberly who was having a volleyball competition. We managed to find her in the midst of a match. Sadly, her team did not win. Hopefully, she will win tomorrow's match (Thursday).

Sorry for not able to put up any photographs as they were too "shy" for pictures. Maybe next time when they are more comfortable with it.

Lastly, I hope everyone will have a happy and enjoyable holiday! :D

Class Gathering - Attendance

2009-10-26T01:27:00.001+08:00

These are the names that I heard (or was told) that are going:

1) Gin
2) Kimberly
3) Han Yi
4) Cassandra
5) Queenie

Updated on 26 October.

Class Gathering

2009-10-21T21:48:00.003+08:00

Yesterday, someone prompted me about the class gathering again. If any of you is interested in the gathering, please let me know through email or sms.

My email addresses are:

kiaguan2@hotmail.com
or
kiaguan@gmail.com

Suggested date: Tuesday, 10 November 2009
Suggested venue: KFC, Compass Point
Suggested time: 1pm

All feedbacks welcome.

Also, I would like to cosolidate your contact numbers for the class. Please do not reveal your contact numbers in the tagboard. I would appreciate if you could email me your LATEST contact numbers. If you are interested to keep an update of your OLD classmates' contact numbers, please also let me know.

My New Gal - 13 July 2009

2009-10-07T23:52:00.003+08:00

Model pupil dies in accident - 16 Sept 2009

2009-09-17T00:14:00.003+08:00

Mindy is described as 'creative, intelligent and humble' by her teachers and classmates, who have been making cards for her family.

NINE-YEAR-OLD Mindy Neo was so excited about returning to school after the one-week break that she slept early just so she could wake up feeling fresh the next morning.

But the girl, who would have been 10 next month, never made it to class on Monday after an accident involving a van while she was crossing Buangkok Drive at about 6.45am.

The Primary 4 prefect at Punggol Primary School was flung about 20m on impact and died in hospital two hours later.

The 24-year-old Indonesian maid who was with Mindy at the time was injured and is now warded in Changi Hospital with head and back injuries.

The accident is believed to have occurred when the red van turned right from from Punggol Road into Buangkok Drive. Mindy and her maid were using the pedestrian crossing at the time, although it is not clear if the traffic lights were in their favour at the time.

Mindy's parents were distraught yesterday and her father, Mr Neo Hwee Choon, 43, was in tears when he spoke to reporters before her wake yesterday morning.

Just last month, father and daughter composed a song - 'Teachers' Day Love Song' - on a piano he bought her recently.

Mindy went on to record the tune onto CDs and presented them to her teachers on Teachers' Day. Mindy's death was also a blow to her principal, teachers and classmates, who described her as 'creative, intelligent and humble'.

Police have arrested the 63-year-old van driver on suspicion of causing death through a rash or negligent act, offences which could see him jailed for a maximum sentence of five years and fined.

The police are appealing for eyewitnesses and anyone with information should call the Traffic Police on 1800-547-1818.

Happy Teachers' Day!

2009-08-30T00:08:00.003+08:00

Teachers' day is around the corner. I guess most of you will be busy wrapping gifts and cards for your favourite teachers. Here's another way to show your appreciation to your teachers. Go to this website and send in your dedication to your teachers.

Teachers' Day Dedications

2 Schools Suspend Classes

2009-06-29T21:04:00.002+08:00

SINGAPORE clocked its highest number of H1N1 cases in a day with 145 new patients on Sunday. Three of the now 599 confirmed cases are Ministry of Education (MOE) teachers from Presbyterian High, Westwood Secondary School, and Hai Sing Catholic School.

THE Ministry of Health said that although the number if infected cases has increased, 'the severity of the disease remains relatively mild'.

MOH added that with more local cases of infection appearing, Singaporeans should exercise good hygiene practises and be social responsible. This is to protect members of the community, such as young children and pregnant women, who are more vulnerable to the virus.

145 NEW CONFIRMED CASES OF INFLUENZA A (H1N1)
To prevent a spread of the disease, staff and students who were in close contact with the infected teachers have been advised to take Leave of Absence (LOA) for seven days.

As a result, Presbyterian High and Westwood Secondary will postpone school opening by a week. Hai Sing Catholic will operate as usual as only a small percentage of staff is affected.

70 staff members from Presbyterian High will be asked to take LOA from school as the infected teacher came into contact with teachers on several occasions. While no students were affected at Presbyterian, 58 students from Westwood Secondary will be placed on LOA.

Hai Sing Catholic School will not suspend classes because only six members of staff have been asked to take LOA.

While students at Presbyterian and Westwood do not have to attend school, they will be provided with Home-Based Learning (HBL) lessons. These will be coordinated by staff who were not in close contact with the infected teachers.

For students scheduled to take their 'O' Level Mother-Tongue oral examinations on July 2 and 3, the Singapore Examinations and Assessment Board (SEAB) will make arrangements for them to take the exams later.

MOE added that all affected staff, students and their parents are being contacted by the respective schools. MOE has also 'advised schools to avoid situations which bring all their staff and teachers together'.

Punggol Primary Open House

2009-05-20T12:06:00.001+08:00

For those of you who are keen to go back, there's an open house on 30 May (Saturday).

Old photographs dug from PC. :D

2009-03-06T10:50:00.002+08:00

Happy Valentine's Day!

2009-02-14T00:04:00.000+08:00

Happy Valentine's Day to everyone!

I received a Valentine surprise this evening from a Secondary 2 student.
He is Daryl Ng. Very surprised to receive it from him as I only taught him last year. Thanks Daryl! :D

Guess what's inside the paper bag? :)

It's a little muffin!!! :D

Update!

2009-01-16T00:57:00.001+08:00

I have updated the Secondary school posting list. Sorry if I have missed out your name as I may have forgotten it. :D

Happy New Year!

2009-01-02T09:40:00.002+08:00

Hihi! It's a school year and the first day of school! I hope you have made some new friends on this first day of school.

Wish you all the best! Enjoy your days in school. :D

Secondary School Posting

2008-12-27T21:31:00.019+08:00

Hihi! The year is coming to an end and all of you are going to a brand new school next year. Well, I wish you all good luck and all the best in your studies and everything you do. Here's a list of people I know that you may want to find when you go to your new school. :D

Sorry, I think forgot one or two who had told me. If I missed out your name, please update me. Thanks! :)

Bowen Secondary
Trina

Compassvale Secondary
Shi Zhen
Gin Peng
Fann
Jerald
Kaevinn
Sang Siang

Hougang Secondary
Tamara
Syahirah
Mayber

Nan Chiau High School
Jasmine

North Vista Secondary
Sharlene
Hifzhan
Bryan Peh

Pei Hwa Secondary
Joelle Sim
Alvina
Farhana

Punggol Secondary
Han Yi
Kimberly

Seng Kang Secondary
Ding Jun

Serangoon Secondary
Cassandra
Elaine
Mabelene
Nazihah

St. Joseph Convent
Shirley

PSLE Results

2008-11-20T16:54:00.002+08:00

Congratulations to those who have done well in their PSLE. For those who did not get your expected results, please do not be disheartened. I mean you can still work harder in the secondary school you are going and get better results. Do let me know which secondary school you are posted after you get your school posting. Till then, happy holiday! :)

Count Down for PSLE Results . . .

2008-11-17T23:02:00.001+08:00

Hihi! I guess all of you are counting down to getting your PSLE results in 3 days' time.

Good luck and all the best! :D

Sing to the Dawn

2008-11-04T14:32:00.003+08:00

I went to watch this movie yesterday. Nice story.

Choice of schools?

2008-10-24T11:56:00.002+08:00

Hihi! I guess you should have received a thick book on all the secondary schools in Singapore. Maybe you will be thinking of making your choice only after your results are out on the 20th November. Well, since you have all the time in the world, why not discuss it with your teachers and friends. Find out which school is better for you. Of course, you must also rank your choices from the 1st choice to the last choice.

Do update me on the school you will be going. Then, I can post them on the class blog. :)

Clock has STOPPED!

2008-10-22T13:50:00.000+08:00

This morning, at around 12.15, the new clock, which my sister-in-law has bought, stopped moving. How would I know the time? Let you guess. Anyway, she just bought it three days ago. It wasn't one of those made-in-China stuffs (no bias against it). Anyway, it was made in Japan and cost about 14 times more than the one I bought ($1.90).

Forgot to mention about the fault with the clock. It wasn't the faulty mechanism, but it was the ants! The ants went into the clock mechanism and jammed the gears of the clock. That caused the clock to stop. The shop lady was kind enough to remove the ants from the clock free-of-charge. I just got back the clock.

The lady advised me to spray some insecticide before hanging up the clock. That will prevent the ants from getting into the clock.

I'm PINK again!

2008-10-16T01:15:00.001+08:00

I think I have recovered from that awful stomach flu. Why does stomach have flu? Weird! I think I still have to abstain from tea and coffee for a while. I have avoided oily food as much as I can. So far, there is no necessity to take that "vomit" medicine the doctor prescribed.

Thanks for those people who have sent me their regards.

I have fallen ill!

2008-10-14T22:33:00.000+08:00

Yesterday morning, I was still feeling well and eating well. I even braved through one heavy downpour. I wonder if that was the cause of my illness. I started to feel weak after my tuition session with a boy. He was still recovering from his illness. He had fever the week before and was still having flu. I felt so weak and could hardly move my body. I felt so cold. That was when I realised that I had fallen sick.

I slept early last night. Could not eat much as my stomach was bloated even before eating. This morning, I went to see a doctor after taking my son to his nursery class. The doctor told me that I had stomach flu! Oh my, that is one of the worst illnesses. I have to abstain from oily food, coffee and tea. This illness will usually get worse before you will get better. Now, I don't feel like doing anything at all.

I better rest. Signing off.

Hihi!

2008-10-09T13:10:00.002+08:00

Hello to all of you! I guess you all must be enjoying yourselves and making whole lot of noise in school after your PSLE (I am referring to the P6 pupils).

This morning, I went to Tanjong Katong Girls' School to conduct an enrichment class for the Secondary Twos. They were having a Maths Carnival today at the school. Coincidentally, one of the girls recognized me as she was from PPS. I was a little surprised to find someone who knew me there since the school is nowhere near PPS! It was fated to meet her since there were two other classes of the same programme and it happened that she was in my class. Perhaps, Singapore is so small that you can just bump into someone familiar anywhere. Anyway, I think I saw her before but could not remember her name.

I think all of you (P6 pupils) should be thinking about which secondary school you would like to go next year. Remember you will be getting your results in the first week of the school holiday after the end of this term. There will not be much time to think about the schools. Some of you will be asking around and finding out where your good friends will be going so that you can join them in the same school. Well, no matter where you are going, just remember to keep in touch with your all schoolmates and friends.

I hope you will tag your school posting when you receive it later this year. I will put up the posting of the pupils on the blog. :D

End of PSLE

2008-10-08T12:11:00.002+08:00

Congratulations to you! By now, most of you should have completed your PSLE, except those who are taking the Higher Mother Tongue Paper tomorrow.

Now, you can really let go of "yourself" and spend the rest of the year doing "nothing"! Well, not really. You will need to attend some talks from some teachers and principals from secondary schools. Then, you will start to think whether you will go into this or that secondary school. Wherever you are going, just remember to continue doing your best, even if you are not going to the "best" school with your friends. You will definitely make new friends over at your new school. But remember, choose your friends wisely. :D

Last Day of ICT

2008-10-03T16:43:00.001+08:00

Finally, today is the last day of my ICT.
Took my IPPT this morning.

I think I got a Silver this time. :D

Happy Children's Day!

2008-09-30T22:33:00.002+08:00

Wishing all of you ALL the BEST!

Happy Children's Day!

An Adventure to the Medical Centre!

2008-09-19T01:18:00.001+08:00

I wanted to blog about my "adventure" to medical centre yesterday, but I was too busy to do it. Let me show you two pictures of my poor arms with plasters. I have not taken any pictures after taking off the plasters. Maybe next time when I blog.

Yesterday morning, I went down to my army camp for my medical appointment. It was my FFI for IPPT. I cannot remember what 'FFI' stands for, but I do remember 'IPPT' stands for Individual Physical Proficiency Test, similar to NAPFA test in schools.

My appointment was supposed to be 8am but I did tell the sergeant who booked the appointment on my behalf that I could only reach there around 9am. He said it was alright. Anyway, I reached the guard room slightly after 8.30am. I exchanged my identity card for a security pass to enter the camp. Also, I requested for a locker to keep my mobile phone which had a camera function. Camera phones are not allowed into all army camps and installations. I got the lucky 13 locker. The locker number was '13'. So lucky! I remembered my security pass number was 260.

So much for the numbers. I drove into the camp and parked near the medical centre. I entered the centre and registered myself at the registration counter. The place was smelt of a scent which you could find in any hospital.

Anyway, after I registered my name with the counter, I was told to wait at the waiting area outside the treatment room and the consultation room. I was given the registration form, but I realised there was no queue number written on it. There was no one else there, so I expected to have my turn very soon. A minute later, a high-ranking officer (LTC) came and sat at the waiting area too. He was quickly shown into the treatment room. Very efficient of them. After he left, I was still waiting for my turn and watching the news on the television. Then, I saw a number flashing outside the treatment room. The number was '505'. It looked so familiar. I looked around me. There was no one around except me. I was wondering if the number was for me. The same number flashed. Was it for me? Just as I was still wondering, a medic in uniform walked towards me and asked for my name. It was my turn! I was told that the last three digits of identity card number would be flashed as the queue number.

After I entered the treatment room, I sat down and the medic proceeded to draw blood from my right master arm. He followed some procedure to locate the blood veins in my right arm. Finally, he got ready the syringe, which was quite big, to draw blood. I was a little scared of the needle as it was quite long. He poked the needle through my arm and tried to draw the blood, but no blood went into the syringe. He tried to move the needle around (Mind you, the needle was still under the skin of my arm). After a few attempts of trying to "poke" the vein, he gave up and a medic sergeant took over from him. He tried, with no avail, on my left arm and later my right arm to draw the blood. The medic sergeant asked me whether I was afraid of needles. I was thinking who weren't be afraid after three needles went through the skin! I put up a brave front and replied that I was a little 'scared'. After that last attempt, my two arms were already punctured with three 'holes'. Blood was oozing from the 'wounds' on my arms. The two medics then decided to call the doctor for assistance. The doctor was attending to a patient in the consultation room next door. We waited for about ten minutes before the doctor came.

Dr Chia, I remembered, was 'more professional', obviously. Initially, the medic wanted to use 'vacutainer' to draw the blood. The 'vacutainer' seemed to be a better and sure way of drawing blood. It makes use of 'vacuum' in the container to draw the blood. The doctor chose the syringe instead. He was quick to find the blood veins and drew the required amount of blood in no time.

Best of luck!

2008-09-12T00:48:00.000+08:00

Wishing you all best of luck and all the best in today's Listening Comprehension!

Be your best to do your best!:D

Obituary

2008-08-22T23:08:00.002+08:00

In memory of Mr Oh Pian who was a faithful school attendant in Punggol Primary School. He passed away peacefully on 19th August 2008. I was told he passed away on Tuesday. I am sure all of you have seen him before. I remember he would always water all the plants around the school with the big water hose, wearing his sun hat. He would always go around to lock the doors at the end of each school day. Some days, he would "chase" us home by shutting down the air-conditioners and the lights. Sometimes, even when we were still working in the staff room!!!

There was another Chinese teacher who had passed away last week.

These photos were from somewhere I forgot

2008-08-22T22:53:00.001+08:00

Happy National Day!

2008-08-11T08:59:00.002+08:00

Hihi! I hope everyone has enjoyed the National Celebration in your schools. I went to watch the fireworks and aerial display near the Marina Bay during the NDP Preview the week before. The aerial display was taken in a carpark in Shaw Tower. I didn't know that you could see the display so well at the top storey of the carpark. But I don't think you could see the fireworks as there are other buildings blocking the view.

National Parade 2008 Preview

2008-08-04T09:18:00.002+08:00

Istana Visit

2008-07-21T20:54:00.001+08:00

This is my invitation card to the Istana and my uniform for that day. :D

Presidential Garden Reception

2008-07-14T22:36:00.000+08:00

The visit to the Istana yesterday was quite an eye-opening. My reporting station was at the Environment Building along Scotts Road and I was to report there between 4pm and 5pm. I reached the place at around 4.40pm.

Once I reached there, I had to queue up at the registration counter to verify my identification and obtain a security pass to enter the Istana. After I got my pass, I needed to join another queue for the security check. We were like entering the airport security checkpoint as we needed to declare all metal objects and any form of liquid that we carried. That was quite a long queue but the police officers were quite efficient and I was cleared within fifteen minutes. I then boarded a mini-bus and I was on my way to the Istana. The journey was pretty smooth and short. I entered the Istana through another gate - not the one I expected. I thought I would enter the Istana through the main gate next to Plaza Singapura. That's along Orchard Road if you do not know.

There was a number of trees in the Istana compound. There was also a good view of the city skyscrapers within the compound. It was unfortunate that no photography was allowed in the Istana, so I did not manage to take any picture. The Garden in the Istana was round in shape and was quite big. There were a few huge tents set up within the Garden to house the buffet tables. There was a big spread of buffet in the tents and some high tables around the Garden. Most of the guests at the Garden were grouped according to their respective forces. I was surprised to meet one of my old classmates from my primary and secondary schools. He was Martin, an officer in the Navy before he left the service. We had a good chat and ate good food at the Garden Reception.

The President arrived shortly after the arrival of a few ministers and senior officers. The minister who came to our tent first was Mr Ng Eng Hen, Minister of Education. He was friendly and he mingled with the guests at the tent. He shook hands and chatted with them. A few minutes later, he was ushered to the other tents by his accompanying officers. Another minister then came to the tent. The last person to come was the President himself. When he arrived, many guests swarmed towards him to shake hands with him. I was holding on to my BIG plate of food so I did not manage to shake hands with him. The plate was really heavy as it was made of porcelain. The food was definitely wonderful and I ate to my fill.

About an hour later, it was time for the President to take his leave. The National Anthem was played before he left. Shortly after he left, it was our turn to leave the Istana. An announcement was made for the guests to board the bus at the drop-off points. This time, we took the large buses from SBS and SMRT. The bus I took left the Istana through the main gate along Orchard Road. We were dropped off at the bus-stop opposite Newton MRT Station, which was near the Environment Building.

He can read the menu - and he's only three!

2008-06-30T09:18:00.002+08:00

This little boy can read the menu even though he is only three years old. That's means he can order his own food in the restaurant.

School holiday? WHAT HOLIDAY?

2008-05-26T20:01:00.003+08:00

Many students, mostly in graduating batches, have classes during mid-year break
By Jane Ng & Yen Feng

THE four-week mid-year school holiday has begun but many students and teachers will not get a proper break until one or two weeks later.

A check with 25 primary and secondary schools showed that almost all have some form of classes, mostly for graduating batches of students - Primary 6s and Secondary 4s and 5s.

Only two schools - Raffles Girls Primary (RGPS) and Hwa Chong Institution - said they are not holding classes at all.

Many parents, whose children have to return to school for such 'compulsory' lessons, say they do not see the point in them, especially when the children are not sitting for major exams at the end of the year.

A parent, whose son is in Primary 5 at Tao Nan School in Marine Parade, was upset to learn that the three-day lessons held in the last week of the holidays, were 'compulsory, with a medical certificate required if the child was absent'.

'My son is only in Primary 5. Why have lessons during the long holidays when they already have compulsory supplementary classes twice a week during term time?

'What's three days of lessons in a kid's life? I feel sorry when he asks me why he can't play,' she said.

Principal Tony Tan said the classes were to make up for lessons missed by the cohort during a three-day adventure camp last month.

Another parent, whose daughter is in Primary 4 in a neighbourhood school, said she decided not to let her go for the classes as the family had made plans to travel.

'Three days will not get her more A* in the PSLE, not when she's only in Primary 4,' said Madam Judy Chong, 39, a customer services executive, who wrote to the school to excuse her daughter from classes.

Over at Zhonghua Secondary, its Secondary 4 and 5 students have compulsory lessons from 8am to 3.15pm every day for the first two weeks of the holidays.

Principal Dolly Ong said parents were advised early in the year not to take their children on a vacation.

'Unless there's a family emergency, we want students to come back for the classes. They need the time to prepare for the examinations,' she added.

School heads say there are students who need these extra classes and who will benefit from them.

Zhonghua Primary's principal Bucktha Seelan said his teachers have planned lessons in the first three days of the school holidays for pupils who need it.

'It's in small groups and not compulsory, though we encourage them to come. It's the only time we can do something to help weaker pupils catch up with their classmates,' he said.

In Tampines Secondary, Secondary 4 and 5 students have classes every day for the first week. Principal Neo Tick Watt said he had 'mixed feelings' about having classes during the holidays.

'You want the students to enjoy, but you also want them to study. Our students need focus and motivation, and the momentum to keep studying,' he said.

That is how some parents feel as well, especially those with children facing critical examinations.

Mrs Susan Kiew, 49, a housewife who has two children in Kuo Chuan Presbyterian Secondary, said the lessons would benefit her elder daughter who is sitting for the O levels at the end of the year.

'If she has problems she can ask her teacher - it's extra help for her, and is better than staying at home,' she said.

But students having to attend classes would mean teachers giving up their holidays too.

Schools say they are careful to set aside time for teachers to rest.

For instance, while NorthLight School has no formal classes during the holidays, some students asked for enrichment lessons like baking.

So the school found an external vendor to conduct classes, with supervision done by administrative staff so that teachers can go for their break.

Principal Chua Yen Ching said she tries to make sure the teachers get three weeks of uninterrupted rest during the holidays.

'It's important that after one semester, they reflect, recharge so they come back renewed,' she said.

As RGPS principal Tan Siok Cheng, who stopped holiday classes five years ago, put it: 'The girls get so tired, and some don't show up because of vacation plans...so we target them throughout the school year, rather than ask them to come back during the holidays.'

Trash and burn S'pore's waste problem

2008-05-22T23:45:00.001+08:00

'Incineration does not really make the waste disappear, it transforms the problem into a formidable pollution problem,' said Greenpeace Southeast Asia Director Von Hernandez. -- PHOTO: REUTERS

SINGAPORE - CREEPING out of their condo after dark carrying illicit bags of garbage was not part of the life Ms Sarah Moser and her husband envisioned for themselves before moving to tropical Singapore.

But with recycling in its infancy on the island, such nocturnal escapades have become normal for the two academics.

Each week they dodge watchful security guards, barking dogs and suspicious neighbours to carry rubbish they cannot recycle at home to recycling bins far down the road.

'We end up storing tons of stuff,' Ms Sarah Moser said. 'Paper and cardboard, plastics like milk, juice, takeaway containers.'

'Then we have to do a huge big binge trip, and we're so embarrassed because the guards are watching us.'

This small act of rebellion illustrates the problem faced, on a much larger scale, by tiny Singapore: there's nowhere to put the trash.

'It is very costly to get rid of our waste,' said Mr Ong Chong Peng, general manger of the island's only remaining landfill, which cost $610 million to create on Pulau Semakau eight kilometres south of the mainland.

The landfill 'island,' a 350-hectare feat of engineering reclaimed from the sea, opened the day after the last of five mainland landfills closed in 1999.

Every day it takes shipments of over 2,000 tonnes of ash - the charred remnants of 93 per cent of Singapore's rubbish, burnt at its four incinerators.

The National Environment Agency (NEA) predicts a new multimillion dollar incinerator will be needed every five to seven years, and a new landfill like Pulau Semakau every 25 to 30 years.

With nowhere to site another landfill, recycling, though not yet rolled out to the masses in condominiums or state Housing Development Board (HDB) skyscrapers, is no longer just nice to have, but a necessity, said Mr Ong.

'Singaporeans have to practice the three Rs (reduce, reuse, recycle) to extend the lifespan of Semakau as long as possible,' he said, 'and also reduce the need to build new incineration plants.'

Dirty mess
Untroubled by the festering mounds of pungent tropical garbage that frequently pile up in its less-developed neighbours, clean, green and super-efficient Singapore's unique rubbish headache stems from its small size and high population density.

Incinerators have met with public resistance in neighbouring Malaysia and Indonesia, and have been banned in the Philippines because of perceived health risks.

But the plants are sacred cows in Singapore, which opened its first in 1979, little commented on or questioned.

'Singaporeans understand and accept that because land is scarce, incineration is one of the most cost effective ways of waste disposal, as it can reduce the volume of waste by up to 90 per cent,' the NEA said in a statement.

Other proponents stress that the four waste-to-energy plants scattered in the south, centre and north, recover enough heat from the combustion process to generate power equal to lighting up the city three times over.

'Some people think that incineration is just merely a destruction method, but it's not true,' said Mr Poh Soon Hoong, General Manager of the $900 million Tuas South Incineration Plant, Singapore's largest, which burns up to 3,000 tonnes of trash a day.

'We actually generate power. The plants produce two to three percent of the total power generated in Singapore.'

For critics, however, Singapore's set-up is a dirty mess.

'Waste incineration sounds like a pretty good idea if you don't really look into it too deeply,' said Mr Neil Tangri, of the international Global Anti-Incinerator Alliance (GAIA).

'It's power, it gets rid of this problem we have... but it creates dioxins where none existed before. Dioxin is known to increase rates of cancer growth... An incinerator is a major contributor to a whole range of major health problems,' he said.

For Greenpeace Southeast Asia Director Von Hernandez, the plants fly in the face of the green goal of resource conservation.

'Incineration does not really make the waste disappear, it transforms the problem into a formidable pollution problem,' said Hernandez, who led the world's first successful campaign to ban the technology in his native Philippines.

'If you look at this model, from harvesting resources to selling them, disposing of them, it's a linear model. In fact we should be looking at circular models to bring back some of this stuff to nature, and conserve materials.'

'In a small country like Singapore, inevitably, their landfill space will run out and they will have to find other ways of dealing with the problem,' he said.

Recycling to the rescue?
With Semakau landfill expected to be full by 2040, even those who have worked for decades in Singapore's incineration industry agree the old burn-and-bury approach is unsustainable.

'We cannot keep building incinerator plants,' said Mr Poh. 'It's not really the solution.'

Like the NEA, he says Singaporeans must change their mindset.

'We need to get people aware of the environmental impact of their actions.' Convincing people to buy less in a country whose 'national pastime' is shopping is a hard win, he said.

Instead, a wave of softly-softly initiatives are being deployed to enthuse, inspire, or slyly enforce compliance.

Recreational Sentosa Island pushes edu-tainment, with a troupe of trained macaque monkeys who perform daily recycling displays.

At supermarkets, shoppers are now asked to bring their own bags to reduce the likelihood of the thousands of plastic bags handed out each day ending up in incinerators.

Another stealthy project, which began in March, targets the cornerstone institution of Singapore life - the hawker centre.

Darting between tables to snatch up dirty plates at Chinatown's Smith Street food court, the army of plate clearers are at another new frontline in the battle - food waste recycling.

Leftovers scraped into black sacks on the end of the cleaners' trolleys are trucked to a start-up food waste recycling plant that hopes to save 800 tonnes of organic scraps a day from being sent to the incinerators.

Local company IUT Global feeds the scraps into a bacteria-filled digester which turns them into biogas energy and compost.

The plant's capacity will make it Southeast Asia's biggest bio-methanisation and renewable energy plant when fully operational, said Assistant Manager Leon Khew.

In the meantime, normalising the idea of recycling through legislation would help, he said.

'Right now in Singapore recycling is not legislated. In Europe, everyone separates organics, everyone recycles, it's legislated.' -- REUTERS

Fuchun Pri pupils learn to make healthy meals

2008-05-22T23:41:00.001+08:00

Pupils at Fuchun Primary School are taught how to prepare a healthy meal for themselves.

ALL pupils at Fuchun Primary School are taught how to prepare a healthy meal for themselves, through lessons given by parent volunteers under the school's Homeskills Programme.

Primary 1 pupils start with making sandwiches, while pupils from Primary 4 to 6 try their hand at cooking chicken rice, fried rice and chicken curry.

The dishes are made using healthier recipes provided by the parent volunteers.

For example, to make chicken rice, the skin of the chicken is removed, and no oil is added to the rice - one of the ways that parents can help their children lead a healthy lifestyle from a young age.

This topic will be discussed at a seminar organised by the Singapore Heart Foundation and the National Institute of Education.

The seminar, which is part of events lined up to mark National Family Week, will be held this Saturday at Raffles Junior College.

Up to 600 parents and teachers as well as 200 children are expected to attend.

Chemistry prodigy, 8, is youngest student at polytechnic

2008-05-13T11:50:00.002+08:00

AINAN Cawley, eight, is now the youngest student to study at a polytechnic.

The Singapore chemistry prodigy, featured in the media last year, is studying four modules at Singapore Polytechnic, including perfumery and fragrance chemistry.

Ainan is still in primary school, but his parents plan to home-school him soon. He attends classes at the polytechnic two to three times a week.

He created a perfume for his mother for Mother's Day.

His father, writer Valentine Cawley, 39, said he had explained Ainan's needs to the poly. It proposed the modules as a start as they were 'safer'.

He said: 'Our intention is to equip him with the skills needed for a scientist... He will be doing all the laboratory-based chemistry courses.'

Life of a Bus Driver

2008-05-12T11:35:00.001+08:00

Odd hours, long shifts, but he still has the drive

MAKE ROOM, BUS IS PACKED: On one of his trips, Mr Teo has to get off the driver's seat to ask passengers to move to the rear to make room for others.

Why are so few Singaporeans signing up to be bus drivers? The answer may lie in the long, irregular hours and low pay. SBS Transit senior bus captain Teo Cher Soon, 43, earns $1,700 a month after eight years. Reporter Yeo Ghim Lay tails him through a typical nine-hour day

5am: He has breakfast at a coffee shop near his Serangoon North home. He checks his schedule and learns that he will drive services 94 and 94A today. He has to be at the Eunos interchange to start the first of the day's nine trips by 6.32am.

He and a few other drivers are picked up by a bus for SBS employees and driven to the Braddell Road depot.

5.45am: Mr Teo reports to the office, scans his employee pass and picks up a timesheet, which contains the start and end times for the day's trips. He also picks up a checklist he will use as he inspects the bus he is to drive.

After checking for dents and the fuel and water levels, he is satisfied it is road-worthy. He boards the bus and 'logs on' with his pass. He prints out a sample ticket. The ticket machine is working fine.

6.07am: He drives the service 94 bus to Eunos interchange, the starting point. This service runs to the Republic of Singapore Air Force airbase in Paya Lebar and loops back to the interchange.

6.35am: At the Eunos interchange, more than 10 commuters are waiting. The bus fills up en route. (On his second run an hour later, more than 20 commuters are waiting.)

By the third stop, the bus is packed. Mr Teo has to get off his seat a few times to ask commuters to move to the rear to make room for others. He gives the next few stops a miss.

8.17am: He drops off his last load of passengers at the airbase and drives back to the interchange. After he checks to see that commuters did not leave anything behind, he goes to the interchange office, where he clocks in. Then, a five-minute toilet break.

8.22am: He is back on the bus to drive service 94A (the route is half that of service 94's). It plies between Eunos interchange and the airbase, and makes no stops on the return leg.

9.02am: He gets back to the interchange, slowed down by congestion en route. He takes a two-minute break.

Lunch hour: This comes after his fifth trip of the day. He has 25 minutes to eat - and not much choice by way of food at the interchange canteen. He gulps down mixed vegetables with rice and has a cup of coffee. Another toilet break and it's back on the bus.

2.40pm: He calls it a day at Eunos interchange after four more trips. It has been more than eight hours since he started work. He clocks out at the interchange office, and walks to the bus stop at Eunos MRT station to wait for the bus that will take him home.

En route, he looks at his timetable for the next day's shift, which is longer. He will drive service 63, a three-hour route.

Home!: He lies down for a one-hour nap - 'but only for an hour. If not, I won't be able to fall asleep tonight'.

His single day off a week is usually spent with his wife and daughter, who is in Secondary1.

Over the years, he has met his share of unreasonable commuters - those who take it out on him because they think they have waited too long, even when his bus is on time.

Once, he had a commuter who was so drunk that he vomited and passed out on board. Mr Teo had to call the police, who arrived with an ambulance to check on the man. Mr Teo got home later than usual that night.

Among the 10 drivers who started work the same year he did, about half have left, with most having quit or retired.

Some days, he works 13hours, depending on the shift he is assigned. Overtime pay kicks in after eight hours.

Despite the hours, Mr Teo says he does not mind the job, as he does not bring his work home. Also, the job has given him a stable income and Central Provident Fund savings, which pay for his flat.

'I plan to continue driving as long as I am able to,' he says.

Be careful! 8-year-old boy robbed of handphone!

2008-05-08T11:18:00.002+08:00

This piece of news was reported on 7 May 2008.

An eight-year-old boy was robbed of his $200 handphone last Sunday at 10pm.

He was returning from a trip to the provision store at Block 230 Tampines St 23, when a man accosted him and demanded to see his handphone.

The man then grabbed his handphone and ran off.

The suspect is described to be of fair complexion, 1.7m in height, and having a mole under the right side of his lip. He was wearing a cream shirt and long black pants.

Anyone with information can contact the Police at 1800-255-0000.

Woman robbed at knife point at Block 544

2008-05-07T09:31:00.001+08:00

This robbery was reported in the newspaper.

A WOMAN was robbed at knife point at Block 544, Hougang Avenue 8 on Monday.

The woman was seated at the void deck when she was approached by a man at 1.45am. He pointed a knife at her and demanded that she hand over her belongings.

A struggle ensued when he tried to snatch her bag and she sustained a small knife cut on her right thumb.The robber then fled with the bag, in the direction of Hougang Avenue 8.

The suspect is described as 1.6 to 1.7m tall, thin and in his 20s. He wore spectacles, had on a snow cap and was dressed in a black t-shirt and black pants.

Temperature's Rising

2008-05-07T09:29:00.000+08:00

By Diana Othman

IF THE weather has been sweltering lately, it is because May is on record as the second hottest month of the year here.

The fortnightly weather forecast by the National Environmental Agency (NEA) indicates that up till the middle of this month, higher-than-average day-time temperatures can be expected.

There will be little relief from rain, and winds will be too light to cool things down.

To top it off, a slight haze is also expected on some days between now and May 15.

In the first five days of this month, the mercury hit 34.1 deg C at its highest.

The average daily temperature for those five days was 29 deg C, slightly higher than the average daily temperature of 28.3 deg C in May in past years.

Expect temperatures to climb still higher - perhaps to 38 deg C - heading into June, traditionally the hottest month here.

(April and August are the third and fourth hottest months)

What has happened?

2008-04-29T09:56:00.002+08:00

Have you read the news yesterday? This student is probably in Secondary 3, based on his age. But still, it is not appropriate to "assault" his teacher in that manner. I think the students here are getting more rebellious and bold.

Student hit teacher who stopped him from leaving classroom

A 15-YEAR-OLD student assaulted a teacher who tried to stop him from leaving the classroom without permission.

The juvenile, who cannot be named, pleaded guilty to punching, pushing and holding onto the neck of the 34-year-old teacher at a school in the eastern part of Singapore on Feb 1.

The Juvenile Court heard that at about 11am that day, the juvenile assaulted the teacher who tried to stop him from leaving.

The student used his shoulder to hit the victim's chest, and punched him a few times on the chest.

When the teacher tried to break free, the boy held onto the victim's neck and pushed him to the wall, causing him to fall.

The teacher lodged a police report after seeking treatment in hospital.

The court called for a probation report on May 27. Bail of $8,000 was offered.

I am invited to the Istana!

2008-04-25T22:54:00.002+08:00

I received great news today! I was invited to the Istana for a reception by the President himself. Wow! Isn't that great? It's my first time going to the Istana. I hope it was not a prank call by somebody. He told me that he would send me the invitation. I think I needed to fill up some forms before I could go. Well, it's for security purpose. Not everyone can go to Istana, you know. :P

Problem with the tagboards

2008-04-19T08:25:00.003+08:00

There is a problem with the tagboards. I could not tag messages on the tagboards. I do not know what is wrong and I cannot fix it. Maybe it's my computer's problem. :)

Hailstone Shower in Singapore!

2008-03-28T11:48:00.002+08:00

I was in Serangoon Central during the time the hailstones were reported. It rained heavily but no "stones"! I guess I was lucky!!! :P

Central Singapore hit by hailstone shower

Icy pellets get residents in Toa Payoh, Bishan and Braddell excited

By Diana Othman & Sumathi V. Selvaretnam

ICE SHOWER: Stomper Patrick sent in this photo of small pieces of hail falling in his garden in Braddell. -- PHOTO: STOMP/PATRICK

PARTS of Singapore were pelted with hailstones during yesterday afternoon's heavy downpour.

The weatherman confirmed that these pellets of ice were reported in central Singapore between 3.15pm and 3.45pm.

Roughly three-quarters the size of a five-cent coin, they caused a stir among those living or working in Bishan and Toa Payoh.

Hailstones, formed in thunderstorm clouds, usually melt before they hit the ground, but strong downward gusts of wind sometimes send them to the ground before they melt.

A managing director, who wanted to be known only as Mr Goh, was in his office in a flatted factory in Braddell Road when the hail started falling. He said he thought at first it was just raining heavily.

'But the sound of the rain was different - it sounded more like solid things were falling,' he said.

Going out to the corridor in front of his office, he and his staff saw tiny bead-like objects bouncing about on the ground as the rain poured down.

They became excited when they realised the beads were solid pieces of ice which melted as soon as they picked them up.

Mr Goh, who said it was the first time he had seen this weather phenomenon, added that at first, there was 'quite a lot of ice' but, as the minutes went by, they petered out and only rain fell.

He reckoned the hailstones fell for about 10 minutes.

Another witness, IT consultant Stuyvesant Lim, 35, was observing a quiet game of chess at a Residents' Committee Centre in Bishan East when he heard a commotion outside.

He said: 'I thought it was kids throwing ice from the block. Then we realised it was falling from the sky.'

He realised another thing - that had the hailstones been bigger, the windscreens of cars could have been damaged.

Mrs Evelyn Chan, 53, who runs a machine tools business with her husband but was home yesterday, said the strangely 'hazy' atmosphere made her step out of her kitchen into the backyard of her house in Carmichael Road, off Braddell Road.

She said: 'When I looked at the ground, I saw crystals. I thought it was snow. But when I picked up a piece, I realised it was ice.'

The last time hail fell here was in July last year.

Happy Birthday to ALL! (Jan - Mar Babies)

2008-03-27T12:21:00.001+08:00

I killed one last night!

2008-03-19T11:40:00.001+08:00

This is a picture of the American cockroach which was killed by me last night. It was spotted at the "border" between the living room and the kitchen. Instantly, I was tasked to terminate its life. I grabbed some old newspaper, rolled it into a "stick", approached the poor little soul and hit it straight on its head! I gave it a second hit just in case. Death was instant. There was no struggle.

HK faces anger, worries over flu handling

2008-03-13T23:44:00.001+08:00

A student receives temperature check at a primary school in Hong Kong on Thursday, March 13 2008. -- PHOTO: AP

HONG KONG - HONG Kong health authorities tried on Thursday to calm public fears over a flu outbreak which has left four children dead and led the city to close all primary schools and kindergartens.

It was the first time schools in this Chinese city have been closed for a health scare since the 2003 Sars epidemic, and the order came late on Wednesday just hours after a flu-like illness was reported in nearly two-dozen schools.

'It was quite a difficult decision but we realise the number of infections is increasing,' Health Secretary York Chow told a news conference on Thursday morning, when the closures took effect.

'It's not something based entirely on public health data at the moment. But I think the public would appreciate that what we are doing might be a little drastic - but it's reassuring to the community,' he said.

All primary schools, kindergartens and nurseries in Hong Kong were shut down. But the announcement came too late for many parents, who turned up at closed schools on Thursday morning with their children in tow.

Cho Yiu Catholic Primary School
At the Cho Yiu Catholic Primary School, nine students arrived early on Thursday. School staff took their temperature and gave them masks. The students read picture books instead of attending class.

WHO welcomes precautionary measures
HONG KONG - PETER Cordingley, a WHO spokesman for Western Pacific, on Thursday welcomed the Hong Kong government's measures.

'This is not a matter to inform the WHO. It's a seasonal influenza; it's nasty, that's all it is, It's not SARS-related or bird-flu related. It happens every year,' he said. 'The government isn't overreacting. We are talking about the city which was paralysed with the infectious disease by SARS.'
... more
'I'm worried that I'll get infected. Many classmates have been infected with the flu. I'm afraid,' said 9-year-old Winnie Ting, who was already wearing a mask before arriving at school.

Principal Chan Kwok Ming said on average 20 students took sick leave every day in recent days.

The schools had been expected to start their Easter Holiday in a little over a week, though the date varies with each school. Mr Chow said bringing the holiday forward would help reduce cross infection among school children and calm public fears.

The outbreak has conjured memories of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome or Sars, a pneumonia-like virus which killed almost 300 people in Hong Kong five years ago and set off international health concerns.

A seven-year-old boy who died Tuesday after suffering respiratory problems tested positive for a flu strain known as Influenza A or H1N1 - a virus which was also found in a 21-month-old who died last month.

Two other children have died after suffering flu-like symptoms, and a three-year-old currently in hospital has also tested positive for Influenza A.

On Wednesday, health authorities reported outbreaks of a flu-like illness in 23 schools involving 184 people.

I bought blades in bulk

2008-03-13T23:39:00.001+08:00

I bought blades in bulk

Runny (above) made sure her cuts were as close as possible "to save space". -- ST PHOTO: LIM SIN THAI
View more photos
Runny's parents first found out that she was cutting herself when they stumbled on her trying to wash the bloodstains from her clothes.

She was 15 then. Runny (not her real name) would cut herself three to five times a week while hiding in public washrooms, or in the bathroom at home.

For the past nine years, Runny, now 24 and married, has been cutting herself intermittently. She is candid about her condition.

'When I cut, I try to cut as close as possible, like kueh lapis, to save space.'

'I also buy penknife blades in bulk', she added.

Although the frequency of her cutting has decreased since her last hospitalisation in October last year, her left arm is still a battlefield, roped with scars that are a testament to her fight against depression with psychotic features, borderline personality disorder and dissociative identity disorder.

'It started off as a response to stress and after cutting myself I felt more mellow,' said Runny.

'However, it later became so ingrained that it was almost like a default response.'

One factor that may have contributed to Runny's cutting was her non-assertiveness when bullied in school.

'It was subtle. I would be purposely excluded from activities and it got worse after I started cutting myself. Some people would look and me and say 'she's freaky', or 'here she comes again'.'

Her negative experience in school was compounded by the lack of support from her family.

'Although we live together physically, we're separated emotionally. My family preferred to leave things to the health-care professionals, and they would say things like 'hang on, your next appointment at IMH is on Friday',' said Runny.

She first visited a psychiatrist at age 15, when her secondary school referred her to the Institute of Mental Health's (IMH) Child Guidance Clinic.

At 16, she began taking five types of medication for her condition: anti-psychotic drugs, anti-depressants, tranquillisers, sleeping pills and mood stabilisers.

At 17, she was warded against her will in IMH, following a regular check-up.

She has also undergone six cycles of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), which she said helped her.

For ECT, a patient is anaesthetised and electrodes (electric conductors) placed at each temple. Electricity is then passed through the head to induce a seizure for therapeutic effect.

Today, she is still on medication and sees two different therapists once a week: one for psychotherapy and one for medication.

However, life has not been without its bright spots.

'Someone once researched mental health with me and used the information to show me that there is hope and that this can be treated,' said Runny. That 'someone' is now her husband, Kevin, 33. They have been married for seven months.

Dr Daniel Fung, chief of the department of child and adolescent psychiatry at IMH, said that with people who self-mutilate, the intention is more important than the action. 'They may not be trying to commit suicide, it may just be a maladaptive way of dealing with emotional pain,' he said.

He also cautioned against teenagers experimenting with such methods of release.

'Cutting may start off as an experiment, but turn into an addiction.'

Other growing pains

Coping with taunts...

When Joshua Lim, 23, was younger, his friends and relatives would make fun of him for being too skinny.

'I had nicknames like 'Scrawny Josh', and 'Teck Ko (Hokkien for bamboo pole) Lim',' said the student.

When he was in Secondary 1, Joshua was 165cm tall and weighed 45kg.

His skinny frame stuck with him all through Secondary School.

Joshua said that he was the butt of numerous jokes. 'It was mostly harmless teasing, about my frame... even the bigger girls could beat me at arm wrestling,' he said.

Although the teasing may not have been malicious, it left its mark on him.

'When you hit puberty, you get very concerned about the way you look,' he said. It took two years in National Service for Joshua to learn to be happy with the way he looked.

Aside from the fact that he put on some weight during his NS stint, he also found out that big did not mean better.

'I learnt that the biggest guys weren't always the ones who could run the furthest or the fastest or carry the most weight.'

While Joshua still wants to put on more weight, he is no longer as bothered as before about being small.

Dr Daniel Fung, chief of the department of child and adolescent psychiatry at the Institute of Mental Health, said that it is common for teenagers who do not fit in to feel awkward.

'Anyone who looks different will get teased. The most imporant thing is for the teenager to still feel comfortable with himself and to feel loved and cared for.'

Dr Fung also said that the impact of teasing or low self-esteem can be blunted by having a good support network.

... and crushes

Michelle (not her real name), 19, fell in love with her Literature teacher in her first year of junior college. And she still harbours romantic feelings towards him even though she has finished school.

She can pinpoint the exact incident that made her realise she was attracted to him.

'At first I just thought that he was a really cool teacher because of his unconventional views,' she said.

'I'm quite a low profile student and normally teachers don't notice me. But once he singled out my work and praised it in class and I was really touched. It was then that I realised that his opinion meant a lot to me.'

While this is the first time that Michelle has ever had a crush on a teacher, she does not think that it is too unusual or alarming.

'I don't think that this is normal, but then again there are many different types of love,' she said.

She thinks that her teacher is an ideal life partner.

'I need security and affection and someone who appreciates me for who I am. I feel that he's this person.'

While she was still in junior college, each day was an emotional roller-coaster.

'I would look out for him on a daily basis. When I caught a glimpse of him I'd smile to myself. Sometimes I felt like crying when he treated me nicely.'

She was so infatuated with her teacher that she could not leave school without making her feelings known to him.

' I approached him in person and talked to him. I bought him a gift that cost almost $50 and I wrote him a message describing my feelings for him,' she said.

'But after that I felt a bit sad, because I knew that the situation was hopeless and that it wouldn't go anywhere.'

For now, the flame that she carries in her heart for her teacher has yet to die out. Dr Clarice Hong, consultant psychiatrist and psychotherapist at Raffles Hospital, said that while the feeling may be intense, 'it's probably just an infatuation'. 'I would say the 19-year-old is still maturing. She sees in her teacher admirable qualities or achievements which younger men have not accomplished yet.'

Dr Daniel Fung, chief of the department of child and adolescent psychiatry at the Institute of Mental Health, said that infatuations are extremely common, but that taken one step further, they could become an obsession.

Pain relief

2008-03-13T23:19:00.000+08:00

Pain relief

-- POSED PHOTO: DESMOND WEE
The words 'angst', 'cutting' and 'emo' are part of today's mainstream teenage lexicon. And that should be a warning.

'It's not just a Singaporean thing,' says Dr Brian Yeo, consultant psychiatrist at Mount Elizabeth Medical Centre.

'All over the world, this phenomenon is getting more airplay. It is highlighted in the media, in American Idol, Singapore Idol.'

Youth face a host of pressures ranging from intense academic competition to relationship commitments.

Often, they feel suffocated by demands that they are unable to fulfil, whether self-imposed or not.

The result is often a feeling of anxiety, frustration, disillusionment and insecurity - a phenomenon commonly known as angst.

Even if teenagers are able to outrun external sources of stress, angst may still catch up with them.

Growing pains can also be manifested as angst, hitting teenagers hard as they struggle to find their footing in a fast-paced world.

The unavoidable acne, first crushes, a sudden obsession with looks - all these serve only to exacerbate an already pressing problem.

Angst may also be the result of a teen subculture.

In recent years, there has been a proliferation of 'emokids' - teens who stereotypically wear black, embrace the melancholic side of life and have mantras like 'I hate the world, no one understands me'.

'They are more in touch with their feelings and they are more emotional. Some of them even engage in self-harm,' says Dr Yeo.

Attention-seeking behaviour can also be a cause of angst, as can long-term mental health issues such as paranoia or depression.

The point is that there are countless sources of angst and teenagers are relentlessly buffeted by them. It is little wonder that they are constantly seeking avenues to release their pent up feelings.

While some teenagers may choose to play sports or write music, others may turn to more detrimental means to unwind.

Cutting oneself is one of these methods.

'When someone cuts himself, the pain will trigger the release of endorphins. These hormones will numb the pain and give the person something like a 'high'. The effect of endorphins can be similar to certain hard drugs like heroin, which makes cutting so addictive,' says Dr Daniel Fung, chief of the department of child and adolescent psychiatry at the Institute of Mental Health.

In this case, razors, penknives, nail clippers or anything with a sharp or pointed edge become potential sources of relief, as teenagers find a physical outlet for emotional pain through self-mutilation.

Substance abuse is another. Cough syrup, glue sniffing and even alcohol provide a key to an escapist fantasy-land, even if only for a while.

'The incidence of glue sniffing is also on the rise', says

Dr Yeo.

'Also, there are many clubs opening in Singapore and teenagers go to many parties where drinks are easily available.'

Promiscuity is also on the list. A lack of self-love, parental love or support from friends often leads to teenagers looking for affection in all the wrong places.

'In the past, it was accepted that boys and girls were respectful of their chastity, but such people are now exceptional,' says Dr Yeo.

'While we can advise and cajole them, their thinking has already changed.'

Self-isolation, unprovoked aggression and violence are also examples of such behaviour.

Unfortunately, the use of such methods of stress relief seems to have increased in recent years.

Dr Fung also warns of the contagion effect - a teenager who is exposed to it more often is more likely to begin to explore such methods.

But there's help. Over the past few decades, the number of mental health-care avenues available to youths has burgeoned.

More hotlines are being set up, and there are counsellors stationed in many schools to provide support and professional guidance.

But many youths still don't seek help, maybe because they do not see their destructive behaviour as a problem.

They accept cutting their wrists or other parts of their body as a legitimate method of stress relief.

And many parents are oblivious to their children's circumstances.

'Many children have two working parents. They may have more disposable incomes and greater access to IT, but the time spent together is very little,' says Dr Yeo.

Teenagers are at a critical juncture in their lives and they not only need parental support, but they also need parents to catch them before they slip into the habit of self-harm.

Teenagers may also turn their feelings in upon themselves because of the unavailability of appropriate professional help.

While the school counsellor is easily accessible, there is an immense amount of stigma - such as being labelled 'crazy' by classmates - attached to seeking psychological help in school say the doctors interviewed.

But private psychiatrists are not as easily available and it can cost over $100 an hour to seek private professional help, excluding the cost of medication such as antidepressants.

While it is commonplace now for teenagers to 'horrify' adults with their hobbies, fashion, music and language, these passions usually take the form of harmless whims that they outgrow.

Unfortunately for some, like those we feature, their behaviour can be self-destructive.

lting@sph.com.sg

Razors, penknives, nail clippers become a potential source of relief, as teenagers find a physical outlet for emotional pain through self-mutilation.

But many youths still don't seek help, maybe because they do not see their destructive behaviour as a problem.

Bombs from Above!

2008-02-28T12:51:00.003+08:00

This morning, something caught my eyes while walking towards the carpark. Look at the state of the packet drink. The impact from falling from don't-know-what height had ruptured the packaging. Also, take note of how the remaining drink in the packet had spread across the ground. Interestingly, the packet remained upright after falling down. I wonder which floor the packet has fallen from.

Chingay Parade 2008 @ Padang

2008-02-21T12:58:00.001+08:00

The first Chingay Parade started in 1973. It was initially meant to replace the Chinese New Year firecrackers which was banned in 1972. Now, the parade has evolved and become an internationally acclaimed multi-cultural festive event for all of us in Singapore. It includes performers from other Asian countries as well.

If you are keen to see the Parade, you can watch them on this Saturday, 23 February, at Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC.

Check out the details here: http://www.btptc.org.sg/chingay/chingay-main.htm

A Special Visitor

2008-02-21T12:18:00.001+08:00

This morning, we had a special visitor which popped into our apartment. His name was Pigeon. Pigeon walked all over the flat as we followed him. He even went to the toilet but he "poo-ed" at the ledge just outside the toilet. I guess he was not toilet-trained yet. He looked as hungry and tired, so my mum-in-law placed him in a pail and fed him water and bread. He didn't seem to like bread though, unlike other pigeons. Strangely, he enjoyed the "foot" spa as he dipped his little feet into the water, which was meant for him to drink. I wonder if he would drink it later... :P

This is Pigeon, posing for this picture.

I think Pigeon was hurt as he could not fly high. Last night, I met him at the lift lobby. He was chased by a few kids. The kids were running after him till they reached the end of the corridor. I did not know what happened after that.

Exposure to lead? It's a hot water problem

2008-02-14T00:22:00.000+08:00

Feb 13, 2008
fact or fiction
Exposure to lead? It's a hot water problem
THE CLAIM: Never drink hot water from the tap. THE FACTS: The claim has the ring of a myth. But environmental scientists say it is real. The reason is that hot water dissolves contaminants more quickly than cold water, and many pipes in homes contain lead that can dissolve and pass into water. And lead can damage the brain and nervous system, especially in young children. Lead is rarely found in source water, but can enter it through corroded plumbing. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says that older homes in the United States are more likely to have lead pipes and fixtures, but that even newer plumbing advertised as 'lead-free' can still contain as much as 8 per cent lead. A study published in The Journal of Environmental Health in 2002 found that tap water represented 14 to 20 per cent of total lead exposure. Scientists emphasise that the risk is small. But to minimise it, the EPA says cold tap water should always be used for preparing baby formula, cooking and drinking. It also warns that boiling water does not remove lead but can actually increase its concentration. For more information, go to www.epa.gov/lead. THE BOTTOM LINE : Hot water from the tap should never be used for cooking or drinking. - THE NEW YORK TIMES

When milk is not good for you.

2008-02-13T23:45:00.001+08:00

Feb 13, 2008

When milk is not good for you

Dairy products don't go down well with many Singaporeans. GeraldineLing tells you why

What is white and creamy and can cause diarrhoea in many Singaporeans?

The answer: Milk.

This condition, known as lactose intolerance, occurs because the body does not have the necessary lactase enzyme needed to digest lactose, a sugar found in milk.

As a result, the undigested lactose passes through the digestive system, causing nausea, abdominal cramps, bloating, gas and diarrhoea.

Most people have read about lactose intolerance and may even suspect they have the condition. But many confuse it with an allergy.

Lactose intolerance is not a food allergy as it does not involve the immune system.

In primary lactose intolerance, lactase levels are high at birth and in early childhood. However, the irreversible, genetically-programmed loss of lactase typically starts between two and six years of age. In some cases, the loss of lactase manifests itself only after adulthood.

'I didn't have problems with milk until I hit 35,'said Madam Lee Hai Choo, 63. 'I used to drink a lot of milk when I was younger, but now I can't.

'Sometimes just drinking a cup of coffee with milk will give me diarrhoea,' said the part-time saleswoman.

Sometimes, secondary lactose intolerance occurs when an injury to the small intestine causes it to produce less lactase. It typically lasts a few weeks and is reversible.

In certain cases, babies are born lactose intolerant because of a congenital defect.

Dr Ivy Yap, consultant physician and gastroenterologist at Mount Elizabeth Medical Centre, estimates that about 90 per cent of Chinese Singaporeans are affected by primary lactose intolerance.

Data concerning lactase deficiency rates in Malays is unknown, but those in Indians 'would not be so high' because they have 'similar genes as Caucasians' who generally have low rates of lactose intolerance, surmised Dr Yap, who conducted a study investigating lactase deficiency in Chinese Singaporeans.

Typically, symptoms of lactose intolerance disappear when foods high in dietary lactose, like milk and ice cream, are removed from the diet.

These foods may be re-introduced 'gradually and as tolerated' by drinking smaller amounts of milk, buying low-lactose milk and using non-dairy creamers, like soya or rice milk, advised MrsMagdalin Cheong, chief dietitian at Changi General Hospital.

'Drinking or eating milk-containing foods at meal times with other foods will slow down the digestive process and therefore reduce the chance of experiencing lactose intolerance.'

However, consuming less milk and milk products may put one at risk for calcium deficiency in the long term, if there is also a low intake of other dietary sources of calcium, warned Mrs Cheong.

For those who must have their milk, there are supplements out in the market that can help to manage lactose intolerance.

Lactase enzymes, available in tablet or liquid form, contain the enzyme needed to digest lactose, thereby reducing the amount that the body has to break down on its own.

However, these supplements have to be taken over the long term if lactase deficiency is permanent and may not be advisable, said Dr Yap.

In addition to the cost of the supplements, 'we also don't know if there are any side effects,' continued Dr Yap.

Another suppplement used for lactose intolerance is probiotics, the 'friendly bacteria' that helps in strengthening the gut.

Probiotics, often seen as 'healthy foods', are available in capsule form and can help to reduce the symptoms of lactose intolerance.

'If it does no harm, it is acceptable. But as to whether it will help alleviate the condition really depends on the individual,' said Mrs Cheong.

Parents' drinking influences teenagers

2008-02-13T08:45:00.002+08:00

Feb 13, 2008

This newspaper report is about the influence of parents on their children. If the parents drink a lot of alcohol or wine, their children will most likely follow their habits of drinking.

Parents' drinking influences teenagers

NEW YORK - WHEN it comes to alcohol, many teenagers may take a cue from their parents, new research suggests.

In a study of more than 4,700 teenagers, researchers found that parents' drinking habits appeared to influence their children in both direct and indirect ways.

In the first case, teenagers seemed to simply follow the example of a parent who drank excessively, the study found. In the second case, many teens seemed to view parents' drinking as a sign of lax parenting, and this, in turn, affected their likelihood of drinking.

Past studies have found that parents can be a strong influence on their children's odds of drinking. The current findings shed light on how this plays out, according to the researchers, led by Dr Shawn J. Latendresse, of Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond.

'I think that this is an important finding for parents in that it raises an awareness of their multifaceted influence on the drinking behaviours of their adolescents,' Dr Latendresse said.

Knowing how they influence their kids, he noted, may encourage parents to seek help for their own drinking problems, or in improving their parenting skills.

Dr Latendresse and his colleagues report the findings in the journal Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research.

The study included 4,731 Finnish teenagers and their parents; all were part of an ongoing health study of twins born between 1983 and 1987. Parents were asked about their past and present drinking habits, as well as any alcohol problems. Their children were asked about any drinking at the ages of 14 and 17, and about their views of their home life.

That included whether they thought their parents were 'warm and caring', 'indifferent' or 'unjust'. They also described their parents' tendency to monitor or punish them.

Overall, the researchers found, parents' drinking levels correlated with those of their teenagers. But it was more than a matter of the teenagers simply copying their parents.

Instead, the link was partially explained by the teens' perceptions of their parents as monitors and disciplinarians.

Parents who drank heavily tended to be lax in monitoring their children's comings and goings, but tended to punish them more often. Those tendencies seemed to influence their teenagers' odds of drinking and getting drunk, particularly at the age of 14, the researchers found.

The findings, according to Dr Latendresse, suggest that parents who monitor their children may lower their odds of drinking. On the other hand, he added, excessive discipline might have the unintended effect of pushing teenagers to drink. -- REUTERS

Japan's young can't live without cellphones

2008-01-14T00:45:00.000+08:00

But lifestyle has a downside, such as inability to relate face-to-face
WIRED KIDS: Young children showing a 'kid's mobile phone', which is equipped with a GPS tracking device, in Tokyo. -- PHOTO: AFP

TOKYO - YOUNG Japanese people are evolving a new lifestyle for the 21st century based on the cellphones that few are now able to live without.

While the wired world they now inhabit holds enormous advantages for learning and communicating, it also brings a downside, say experts who point to a rise in cyberbullying and a growing inability among teenagers to deal with other people face to face.

'Kids say what's most important to them, next to their own lives, is their cellphone,' said Mr Masashi Yasukawa, head of the private National Web Counselling Council.

'They are moving their thumbs while eating or watching television,' he said.

The passion in 20-year-old Ayumi Chiba's voice backs up this assertion.

'My life is impossible without it,' she says of her cellphone. 'I used to pretend I was sick and leave school early when I forgot to take it with me.'

Starting young
# About one in three Japanese primary school students aged seven to 12 use cellphones.

# About 60 per cent of junior high school students aged around 14 carry cellphones.

# By the time they get to senior high school when they reach 16, that figure shoots up to 96 per cent.

# Cellphones are commonly used for book reading, listening to music, chatting with friends and surfing the Internet.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Sociology professor Hideki Nakagawa at Tokyo's Nihon University said cellphones had become 'an obsession' for youngsters.

'They feel insecure without cellphones, just the way sales people do without their name cards,' he said.

Education professor Tetsuro Saito of Kawamura Gakuen Women's University near Tokyo, said children seemed to want the security of communicating with someone, without the bother of dealing with a real person.

'Communication ability is bound to decline as cellphones and other devices are now getting between people,' he said.

As the multi-faceted cellphone takes centrestage in teen life, it plays a number of roles - including that of a weapon which children can wield with no thought of the consequences.

Mr Yasukawa recalls the case of a 15-year-old girl who regularly received messages telling her: 'Die,' 'You're a nuisance' and 'You smell'.

They turned out to have been sent by a friend in whom she had confided and who told her not to take the messages too seriously.

'The girl who was doing the bullying confessed it made her feel good to see the unease spreading on her friend's face,' Mr Yasukawa said.

'It's a very scary world,' he said. 'Parents don't know there's a very scary world behind cellphone screens.'

As they reveal personal information about themselves, children can become prey for fraudsters and paedophiles, as only about 1 per cent have blocks on potentially harmful material.

But on protected sites such as school bulletin boards that do block adults, bullies are free to anonymously post comments without any teacher oversight or intervention.

A survey of 1,600 junior high school students conducted by Prof Saito found that students can also use their cellphones as an emotional crutch, and the more problems they have at home, the more dependent they seem to become on their phones.

More than 60 per cent of students who said they do not enjoy being with their families send 20 or more e-mail on their phones a day, compared with 35 per cent of those happy with their families.

Ms Kanae Yokoyama, 36, is facing trial for beating and spraining the neck of her 15-year-old daughter after catching her secretly using her cellphone in November.

The girl had been prohibited from using her phone as the bill had hit 120,000 yen (S$1,570) in October, mostly racked up by downloading music and playing games, say local police.

They said the mother had a history of abusing her daughter.

'Considering she was often absent from school, the mobile phone may have been her sole 'friend' to spend her days with,' a police official said.

Congratulations to me!

2008-01-10T22:03:00.000+08:00

Well, what's there to congratulate me? Oh, that's because I received a promotion letter from my Unit in RSAF and I happy to tell you all that I have been promoted to the rank of Staff Sergeant!!! :D

New Year's Resolution 2008

2008-01-08T16:53:00.000+08:00

Dear all,
it's a brand new year, 2008, now! What are your new year's resolutions? What do I mean by "new year's resolutions"? If you make a resolution, you decide to try very hard to do something.

So, what will it be for all of you? Shall we pen down our resolutions for this year? You may write them down in the tag board on the right-hand side.

You may also write down your "WISH LIST" for the year 2008.

Happy New Year!

2008-01-01T18:22:00.001+08:00

A happy new year to everyone! It's now 2008! Time has passed so quickly. The class of 4-1 (2006) has now been promoted to P6!!! Now, they will be the last batch of P6 pupils taking the Mathematics without the calculators. Next year, the P6 pupils will be using calculators in one of the two Maths examinations. Sounds great to use the calculator? Nah... I don't think so.

So far, not many people know what kind of questions will come out in the new Maths examination with calculator. I saw some assessment books with the same type of questions as before, but with bigger figures, like 500 000! I do not think that is the reason for introducing calculator in the Maths examination. Someone in MOE must clarify to the people on this matter. :D

I hope everyone will do very well in his or her PSLE!!! All the best!
Work hard to get into your dream secondary school. :)

Season's Greetings to Everyone!!!

2007-12-27T21:55:00.001+08:00

A good day to everyone! I hope everyone had a great Christmas. Now, the new year is coming. I wish everyone all the best in the coming year. I am glad to hear that Sharlene has received Good Progress Award this year. She has finally "progressed"! Haha! In fact, she should have received it last year!

Anyway, congratulations to the others who have received that award too!

I came back from Taiwan two days again on Christmas Day. I regretted that I could not reply some of your messages and emails during my absence. I did not answer your calls as the cost of answering was very expensive. You know what I mean? :P

Teenage snatch thief nabbed within five hours

2007-12-10T00:33:00.000+08:00

This is a news report about a crime happening around Hougang vicinity. I do not know the reason for the teenager to snatch the woman's purse. Apparently, she did it to get money to satisfy her desire. There have been a number of cases of young children, or juvenile, committing crimes. Do not think no one will catch you. Look at the effectiveness of our police force. A single packet of drink would lead the police to the culprit in just five hours. So, think twice before you even want to commit such petty crime.

A packet drink was the clue which led to the arrest of a 14-year-old female snatch thief on Saturday.

The victim, a 68-year-old Chinese woman was on her way home from marketing when she was robbed.

The woman had entered the lift of Blk 710, Hougang Avenue 2 with the teenager.

When the lift door opened on the ninth floor, the teenager snatched the woman's purse, containing $50 and a $400 gold watch before dashing out and fleeing down the stairs.

The woman told the police that the girl was holding a drink while committing the crime.

When conducting extensive enquiries in the vicinity of the crime scene, shopkeeper Mr Sevathamaricar informed the officers that a girl fitting the description by the victim had earlier bought a drink from him and that he had often seen her in the neighbourhood.

The teenager's identity was eventually established through follow-up interviews with residents in the estate. The stolen watch and cash were also recovered from the suspect's possession.

Commending Mr Sevathamaricar for his cooperation and public spiritedness, Superintendent Lee Chin Ek stressed the importance of the community's help for police to resolve crime cases quickly.

The accused will be charged in the Juvenile Court for snatch theft.

Cold theft, hot pursuit

2007-12-06T09:07:00.000+08:00

This is one good newspaper report you can make use for your writings. Of course, you cannot blindly copy everything here. Read the report and extract the relevant information for your writing next time.

A routine delivery of ice turned into a police chase lasting 60 minutes and covering 50km after a truck was stolen. Khoo How San reports, with contributions from Teh Joo Lin, Arlina Arshad & Tracy Sua

HE TRIED HIS BEST TO STOP THE THIEF: Deliveryman Wunna Swa demonstrates how he tried to get the thief's attention by waving to him. Behind him is the truck that was stolen. -- ST PHOTO: DESMOND LIM

View more photos

'JUST one more delivery before lunch,' Mr Wunna Swa, 27, thought to himself as he glanced at his watch yesterday. The time: 11.15am.

The Myanmar national also reminded himself to keep the engine running so that the ice in the back of his truck would not melt.

Then, off he went to deliver some 18kg of ice to a florist in Ang Mo Kio Central.

It took Mr Swa only two minutes to do that. His truck was still within sight but when he returned, he saw a man climbing into the driver's seat - it was a scene he will long remember.

With the engine already running, the 'ice-jacker' made a quick getaway.

Mr Swa tried running after the Mitsubishi Canter refrigerated truck as it wended its way out of the open carpark. Exhausted, he took out his mobile phone and called his manager.

VIDEO

'Hollywood-style' car chase in Singapore
(2:05)

The chase begins

'I WAS scared to lose my job. I chased...but could not catch up,' Mr Swa said.

'So, I called my manager on my cellphone. My manager called my big boss who called me and picked me up at Ang Mo Kio,' he added.

Mr Alex Goh, 55, director of Uni-Tat Ice and Marketing, which owns a fleet of 39 refrigerated trucks, including the one hijacked, was at home when his operations manager, Mr Kelvin Tan, 36, called him on his mobile phone.

'At first, my driver thought a colleague was playing a joke on him,' said Mr Goh. But it soon hit him that it was no joke.

Back at the office, Mr Tan knew what had to be done next.

Half the fleet was equipped with global positioning system (GPS) satellite tracking devices, as a truck had been stolen previously. In another occasion, a driver had used a truck for cigarette smuggling.

Flipping some switches, it did not take Mr Tan long to locate where the runaway truck was. He called Mr Goh again, as well as the police.

Later, as the police gave chase, Mr Tan was to serve as the 'link', relaying messages between the police and Mr Goh, who also joined the pursuit in his Toyota Land Cruiser Prado.

Mr Goh described to The Straits Times what followed. He picked up Mr Swa from the Ang Mo Kio Central carpark and called Mr Tan. The truck was now at Yio Chu Kang.

He said: 'The police started tracking the lorry at Hougang Avenue 4. At first there were just one or two police cars.

'I drove in my Toyota Land Cruiser Prado to join the chase, and we caught up at Yio Chu Kang Road.

'When I got there, I saw nine police cars in what looked like a convoy, with the lorry on the right-most lane.

'I drove alongside the lorry, side by side. I was in the middle lane on its left.

'The lorry's windows were wound down and its speed then was about 30kmh.'

The GPS log was to show that during the chase, the speed reached 76kmh at one time.

'I saw the driver, who looked like an Indian,' Mr Goh said.

'I shouted to him two or three times: 'Annah (Tamil for elder brother), surrender, surrender. Stop'.'

But Mr Goh said the man shook his head and briefly waved his hands as if to say 'No, no, no'.

What Mr Goh said next could have come out of a Hollywood movie script.

'I asked Wunna if he could try to jump into the truck and take out the key. Wunna said OK. At that time, I was scared that the man would knock someone down because he was driving so recklessly.

'Two times, once at a traffic light in Yio Chu Kang Road and a second time when the traffic slowed down in Sin Ming, we found an opportunity. But before Wunna could go over to jump into the truck, it sped off.

'I then received a call from Mr Tan. He told me that the police asked me not to go too close to the truck,' he said.

Later, it was found that the chase had gone on for an hour. Distance covered: 50km.

The chase ends

THE chase ended at Sin Ming Drive. The rogue driver seemed unfamiliar with the area. He drove into Vicom Vehicle Inspection Centre and then out.

He then drove into a ComfortDelgro workshop.

Mr Goh was still tailing him, all the way in.

The police posse too.

'As soon as the police cars had got in, I quickly got out of my car and closed the exit gate so he wouldn't be able to drive out,' Mr Goh said.

But time was lost. The lorry was found abandoned and the culprit had disappeared in the vast compound.

The police looked for the man everywhere, even in the toilets.

Then an eagle-eyed workshop employee spotted a man under a car being repaired. He realised that it was not a mechanic as the man was not wearing a uniform.

The employee alerted the police.

After about 10 minutes, the man crawled out and did not put up a struggle.

Mr Swa was glad the man was caught.

He said: 'When we caught him, we found invoices, $5 worth of coins, and a small Buddha statue my mother gave me missing from the dashboard. I was very angry because the statue was very precious to me.

'This is the first time something like this has happened to me. I was very worried, and scared.'

A man has been arrested and police are investigating the case.

The ice in the truck was found intact.

Top PSLE student sets new record with 294 score

2007-11-22T20:45:00.000+08:00

Natasha, 12, (centre) whose father is a technician and mum,
a housewife, is from the gifted education stream.

A ST HILDA'S Primary pupil has scored a record 294 in the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE), beating the previous high of 292 set in 1993.

Natasha Muhamad Nasir, 12, eclipsed the record set by Nanyang Primary's Justin Lau in 1993.

Her score was 'outstanding', said the Singapore Examination and Assessment Board (SEAB) spokesman, as it was a good six points ahead of the next highest score of 288.

At St Hilda's on Thursday, Natasha, flanked by her younger sister and mother, smiled shyly as reporters shot questions at her. In the background, her father was recording the scene with a camcorder.

'I was worried if I could get 4A*s,' she said. The Gifted Education Programme (GEP) pupil had found the Science paper 'tedious'.

And on the day of her first PSLE paper on Oct 3, her maternal grandfather, 74, underwent surgery for his heart at the Singapore General Hospital.

Natasha, who was very close to him, spent the PSLE exam period shuttling between hospital and home.

'He taught me a prayer to say before the exam. I would say it before each paper,' she said.

He died on Oct 30.

'I would like to dedicate my results to him. Before I sat for the PSLE, he prayed for me,' she said.

Natasha, who plays the piano and violin and is in the Scrabble club, already has a place in Raffles' Girls Secondary and plans to be a paediatrician in future.

Her parents have left nothing to chance when it comes to bringing up Natasha.

When she was still in her mother's womb, they would would read aloud to her and played music for her to listen.

Her mother, Ms Zaharah Othman, 44, quit her flight stewardess job after Natasha was born so that she can give her 'quality time'.

When Natasha was three months old, she bought her an encyclopedia set. By two and a half years, she could read a book on her own.

Ms Zaharah and her husband, Mr Muhamad Nasir Atan, 47, a Singapore Airlines technician, live in a five-room Pasir Ris flat, but they volunteered at Gongshang Primary in Tampines to get Natasha a place in the popular school.

She went to St Hilda's when she got into the GEP at Primary Four.

The last time a Malay pupil topped the PSLE was two years ago, when Adil Hakeem Mohamad Rafee from Rosyth School scored 282.

Besides Natasha, another 14 pupils scored at least 286 in the PSLE this year.

Natasha was the top Malay student, while Vanessa Malishree Dharmaratnam from Raffles Girls' School (Primary) was the top Indian pupil with a score of 285.

Top Eurasian Santa Maria Priscila Nicole from CHIJ Katong Primary scored 272.

In all, some 49,817 Primary 6 pupils sat for the PSLE this year, a drop of 1.6 per cent over last year.

A total of 48, 665, or 97.7 per cent of the pupils, did well enough to move on to secondary school.

Of these, 63.5 per cent are eligible for the Express, 22.2 per cent for the Normal (Academic) and 12 per cent for the Normal (Technical) course.

SHATTERED EARTH

2007-11-17T22:55:00.001+08:00

This is something very interesting. I mean the picture. Actually, I am more concerned with what will happen to the very planet if we do not take good care of it. :(

A man walks with his dog along a dry cracked reservoir bed in Alcora, eastern Spain. Negotiators working on a landmark global warming report don't need to go far to see the effects of climate change: The evidence is all around Valencia, Spain, where they are meeting. -- PHOTO: AP, FERNANDO BUSTAMANTE

Happy Holiday!

2007-11-13T14:07:00.000+08:00

Hello everyone,

Nice of you to drop by. Well, for pupils of P4-1 (2006), your year as P5 has finally come to an end. Now, all of you should be provided to P6 next year. Congratulations to all, since none of you is retained. Haha!! :P

Next year is a very critical year for all of you. It is a test of how much you have learnt in your primary school - six years of learning! For those who have been consistently doing well, do keep up the good work. For those who are still struggling with your studies, I hope you will take this coming holiday to "brush up" your work. It is never too late, it is just whether you want to put in more effort to make it better.

Please let me know how you are doing in the tag board. If you don't mind, you can tag or e-mail me your results as well.

I wish you all the best!

Boyband banned

2007-11-08T15:02:00.001+08:00

Students of a girls' school go into a rant over their principal's decision to disallow visit by an American boyband
By Debbie Yong
Students of a girls' school go into a rant over their principal's decision to disallow visit by an American boyband.

A DISTRACTION or a form of stress relief? It seems that The Click Five inspires vastly different reactions.
BOYBANDS cause a stir with their presence, but the absence of one last week created an even bigger uproar.

Paya Lebar Methodist Girls' Secondary School (PLMGSS) had topped an online poll conducted by local radio station 987FM two weeks ago and was to be rewarded with a surprise visit from American pop-rock band, The Click Five, last Tuesday.

But apparently the school's principal said 'no' and the band visited CHIJ St Joseph's Convent (SJC) and Zhonghua Secondary School, the second- and third-ranked schools in the poll, respectively, instead.

The students found this out only on Tuesday night and one of them, a disappointed Secondary One girl, collected 300 signatures for a petition to the principal, Mrs Lee Siew Choo, to allow similar events in the future.

One of the students who signed the petition said: 'The school has misused its authority. The way the school makes decisions for its students is unjust and unfair.'

A few students felt that the school should have consulted them first. To address the concerns raised, the principal spoke to the entire cohort on the last day of the school term last Friday.

'We do encourage the students to speak up, but they need to learn that there are proper channels for addressing their concern.'
- MRS LEE SIEW CHOO, PLMGSS principal
She cited her reasons for rejecting the radio station's appeal: The principal had been given the responsibility to make decisions in the interests of the school and she was worried that the event would be a distraction for the Secondary Four students sitting for their O-Level examinations.

The pop culture element of the event also did not tie in with the school's values, she felt.

Following her address, six students wrote in separately to Stomp's Media Club website to air their disagreements with the reasons given by the school.

Said one writer, a Secondary Two student who did not want to be identified, fearing disciplinary action: 'It is an excuse to say that something small like this could be a distraction.'

A Secondary Three prefect added that she felt the school was being too rigid, especially since the examinations for the rest of the students were over by then.

The principal of SJC, Mrs Dolly Chan, said she decided to be flexible about the matter.

She saw the band's visit as a form of post-exam stress relief for her students, but she clarified: 'It should be done in moderation. We are not encouraging them to turn into groupies and follow the band everywhere.'

The six letters posted on Stomp garnered about 1,000 views each over the past week and have spurred comments both for and against the PLMGSS girls. In response, the school wrote to Stomp on Wednesday, refuting allegations made by the students online, such as the school's suspension of two students over the incident, and that students have no say in the autonomous school.

Mrs Lee explained to The Sunday Times: 'We do encourage the students to speak up, but they need to learn that there are proper channels for addressing their concern. A public forum wasn't quite the right place to do it.' She said she was 'saddened' by the language used in the forums. 'Kids nowadays tend to have many demands, and many cannot cope with the disappointment when they don't get what they want,' she said.

Outsiders have also chipped in with their views. Said an ex-teacher, in her late 20s, who declined to be named: 'Students these days are too vindictive. By going to the media, they are only ruining the reputation of the school.'

One contributor, who claimed to be an alumnus of the school, wrote: 'I am ashamed of this batch of brats...You are not mature enough to see that your principal means well. You are abusing your powers and the media.'

Student charged with abusing teacher in class

2007-11-08T14:53:00.001+08:00

A 17-YEAR-OLD student was charged on Wednesday with using abusive language on a teacher in class earlier this year.

Jeremy Tan Wei Liang is accused of abusing Ms Tang Anqiong, 36, at Clementi Woods Secondary School at West Coast Road on April 26.

His lawyer, Mr Edmond Pereira, told the court that he would be making representations. A pre-trial conference will be held at Community Court on Dec 5.

If convicted, he faces a fine of up to $5,000 under the Miscellaneous Offences Act.

Tradition meets joy for Deepavali

2007-11-08T14:26:00.000+08:00

Deepavali, the Festival of Lights, falls today and celebrates the victory of light over darkness. Hindus commemorate this day with enthusiasm, combining traditional beliefs and practices with the spirit of reverence, togetherness and celebration.

SETTING THE PLACE AGLOW

Mr Prakash Kejriwal, 38, lights candles with his family - son Laavanya, eight; wife Veena Prakash, 35; and daughter Esha, three - outside their home in Meyer Road as part of the Deepavali celebrations.

Hindus traditionally welcome the festival by laying broken rice on the floor in a floral pattern. Then, candles and lamps are lit around the house to mark the triumph of good over evil. The festival, also known as the Festival of Lights, is celebrated by Hindus all around the world.

HELPING THOSE BACK HOME

DEEPAVALI is a time when foreign workers here would send money home to relatives in India for the festival.

Foreign worker Ariva Lagan, 29, fills up a money transfer slip before joining the queue of about 60 people at a Western Union money transfer shop in Little India.

He's remitting $1,150 to his mother, father and sister in Tamil Nadu. He usually does this every two months after getting his salary, but this time, he is doing it two days before Deepavali so that they can buy new clothes and things for their celebrations.

He says he will call his family and friends in India to wish them well.

Today, he is going to the Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple, dressed in new clothes, with his Indian national friends. Many of his friends have also remitted money through Western Union to their families.

FIT FOR A GODDESS

Mohan Gurukkal, an Alankara priest, decorates a statue of Sri Mariamman, the Hindu Goddess of Rain. Hundreds are expected at Singapore's oldest Hindu temple to light oil lamps as offerings to her.

Boy, 13, trapped in flat as vandals padlock gate

2007-11-03T19:13:00.000+08:00

POLICE had to resort to 'breaking and entering' on Wednesday - so that Mr Ng Cheng Heng could get into his Bedok Reservoir Road flat.

Vandals suspected to be loan sharks had used a lock and chain to padlock his four-room unit in Block 708, while his unsuspecting 13-year-old son was inside.

Mr Ng, 46, a marketing executive, rushed home after his wife, who had got home earlier at 6.30pm, found the grille padlocked.

Police had to break the lock.

Mr Ng was angry that the vandals had put his son at risk by trapping him inside.

He added: 'It is terrible that the loan sharks are harassing us like this, when we are not their debtors.'

Another neighbour a floor above had his unit vandalised on Tuesday.

Mr Ng, who has made a police report, said harassment of residents in his block by loan sharks acting for illegal moneylenders went back as far as 2000.

The debtor the loan sharks were after is believed to live two floors above Mr Ng's unit.

Fearing for the safety of his only son, he has got him to stay at his sister's house over the past few days, as the school holidays have started.

A woman who wanted to be known only as Madam Lim, from a unit two floors above Mr Ng's, told Lianhe Zaobao that her husband did borrow money from loan sharks previously.

But that debt had been paid off five years ago, she said.

Since 2005, repeat moneylending offenders may be sent to jail while loan sharks harassing debtors may be fined between $4,000 and $40,000 and jailed up to three years.

An amendment to the Moneylenders Act in 2005, which provides for the jail terms, came into effect last year.

The maximum fine for illegal lending is now $200,000.

Previously, a first-time offender could be fined only up to $100,000.

There were 10,221 complaints last year about unlicensed moneylenders and harassment.

The figure was 1,510 in 1995.

Gifted scheme kids to mix more with others

2007-11-03T19:06:00.000+08:00

FROM next year, all nine primary schools offering the Gifted Education Programme (GEP) will be taking steps to get GEP pupils to mix more with those not in the programme.

GEP pupils will, on average, spend between a third and half their lesson time with their non-GEP peers.

The change follows a successful pilot project to encourage mixing, which has been running in two GEP primary schools since January.

The push for integration is in part a response to long-held criticism that the GEP is elitist and churns out students who have problems relating to their non-GEP peers.

Come next year, the nine GEP primary schools will encourage integration in either of two ways:

One is by putting GEP pupils with non-GEP pupils in the same form class, but pulling them out for core GEP classes in English, maths and science.

The other way is by keeping GEP pupils in their own classes, but getting them to join the other students for classes in physical education, art and music, among others.

Minister of State for Education Lui Tuck Yew, while visiting Nan Hua Primary, one of the nine GEP schools, said it was important to let pupils, especially brighter ones, mix with a wider group of people, so they can understand the challenges others face and find ways to learn from them.

Started in 1984, the GEP was aimed at enabling the top 1 per cent of each cohort to reach their full potential.

The programme will be discontinued in secondary schools next year, since the integrated programme schools have their own programmes for gifted students.

But GEP has continued to run in primary schools, said Rear-Admiral (NS) Lui, to uphold 'the philosophy and practice of having distinct programmes for students of higher ability'.

In recent years, letters to the press have voiced concerns that GEP students not mixing with students outside the scheme. A 2004 study of 16 GEP students by then-university student Don Shiau backed the discussion up by saying GEP students were ostracised by non-GEP ones.

At Nan Hua Primary, one of two GEP schools in this year's pilot project to encourage mixing, 44 Primary 4 GEP pupils have been 'twinned' with 45 of their non-GEP peers and divided into three classes. They attend the same classes, except in English, maths and science.

In order not to compromise academic rigour, the non-GEP pupils were picked from those in the top 2 to 5 per cent in GEP tests and from among those strong in English or maths.

The school's principal Lee Hui Feng said each of the three classes had equal numbers of GEP and non-GEP pupils, so neither group would 'feel that it was the majority, or feel lesser compared to the other'.

In a maths enrichment class yesterday, GEP pupil Celia Ong, 10, was helping Estee Leong, also 10, to build structures with plastic blocks.

Estee said it was interesting to 'work with GEP students'; Celia said she had made more friends as a result.

Overall, Rear-Adm Lui was pleased to see 'the familiarity' the pupils had with each other.

'They say they are really not so conscious of this labelling and tagging. They have a chance to interact with more students,' he said.

Besides Nan Hua and Tao Nan which were on the pilot project, Anglo-Chinese School (Primary) and Catholic High also made moves to integrate their GEP and non-GEP pupils this year.

Buying fries with my phone - Oct 30, 2007

2007-10-30T19:02:00.000+08:00

- By Alfred Siew (Digital Life)

The cashier at McDonald's thought I was pulling a fast one when I told him I wanted to pay for my order with my cellphone last Wednesday.

He was still looking surprised after I tapped my ez-link phone onto the reader on the table and carried my food off.

The phone was a no-brand model that StarHub and EZ-Link contracted a local firm to make, and my quick test of the technology turned out to be mostly smooth.

In fact, when I turned up at the ticket counter at Sengkang MRT station to top up my phone, the staff knew - as they should - about the mobile payment trial that EZ-Link and StarHub were conducting.

Though the reader at the station had some problems detecting the phone at first and I had to restart it twice, I eventually managed to top it up with $20.

One tap and the gate opened each time - even when the phone was connected to a call.

The biggest glitch I faced during the test was with the ez-link virtual purse software on the phone.

Although it showed useful information like my last top-up amount and transaction history, it took a few good seconds to start up each time.

To be fair, this was only a test phone, but the big test is whether people will find it useful to pay with a phone. To me, it certainly felt unusual at first. But after tapping on a fare gate a few times, it became quite natural.

Multi-agency group to drive energy efficiency

2007-10-30T18:53:00.000+08:00

By Arti Mulchand & Liaw Wy-Cin

EFFORTS by various sectors to improve energy efficiency in Singapore have been brought under a single umbrella body.

Set up in May, the Energy Efficiency Programme Office (E2PO) brings together multiple agencies from the major sectors of energy use, announced the Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Yaacob Ibrahim on Tuesday.

The five sectors are power generation, industry, transport, buildings and households.

The first three are the largest consumers of fuel in Singapore, and electricity is primarily used by industry, buildings and homes.

'The E2PO will draw on the combined knowledge and strength of these agencies to draw up a long term plan that integrates whole-of-government efforts,' said Dr Yaacob, speaking at the Bayer Young Environmental Envoy and Eco-Minds Award Ceremony at Fullerton Hotel.

The plan will have four key thrusts. It will promote the adoption of energy efficient technologies and measures, build the capability to drive and sustain energy efficiency, raise awareness among businesses and households to stimulate energy efficient behaviour, and support research and development.

A fund will be set up to support these programmes, said the Minister.

The taskforce will be led by the National Environment Agency, and taps on over 40 other agencies, including the Building and Construction Authority, the Economic Development Board (EDB) and the Land Transport Authority.

The team will meet monthly, and is currently formulating the 'long term plan', called Energy Efficient Singapore.

Within the next six months, they will draw up 'indicators' to measure current energy efficiency in the various sectors, said NEA chief Lee Yuen Hee. Actual targets will follow.

While various agencies had their own programmes and policies, there was a need for a more 'coordinated, focused' effort, said NEA chief Lee Yuen Hee.

For example, when building a new industrial facility, incorporating energy efficiency measures at the design stage is often the most cost effective thing to do, so the EDB can work with BCA, he explained.

Other measures being look at in the other sectors include increasing the use of public transport. On this front, LTA aims to raise the proportion of users during the morning peak hour from 63 per cent to 70 per cent in the next 10 to 15 years.

LTA is also exploring how it can get cabbies to stop cruising around empty, so fuel is not wasted.

Motorists will also be able to make greener choices: NEA is studying the feasibility of making fuel economy labelling for cars mandatory. Such labelling is already compulsory for air-conditioners and refrigerators, and may be extended to other products.

NEA is also considering setting 'energy efficiency standards' to remove inefficient appliances from the market.

Dr Yaacob said that energy efficiency would help Singapore meet its energy needs, while satisfying both environmental and economic goals.

It would reduce carbon emissions, improve cost competitiveness of businesses, and improve energy security as reliance on fossil fuels goes down.

And tackling climate change need not be at the expense of economic growth, and should be seen as a 'pro-growth strategy', said the Minister. 'Ignoring it will ultimately undermine economic growth,' he added.

Oct 29, 2007 Body found in river

2007-10-29T18:57:00.001+08:00

The body of a woman, believed to be in her 70s, was pulled out of Sungei Serangoon yesterday.

She was found floating in the river along Hougang Avenue 7 near Block 344. Police received a call at about 2.40pm.

The body was retrieved about 10 minutes later.

Anyone with information should call the police hotline on 1800-255-0000.

Brain study - Sleepy, grumpy and ... primitive?

2007-10-25T21:40:00.000+08:00

Oct 25, 2007 (Taken from Straits Times Interactive)

Brain study - Sleepy, grumpy and ... primitive?
WASHINGTON - A FEW nights without sleep can not only make people tired and emotional, but may actually put the brain into a primitive 'fight or flight' state, researchers said on Wednesday.

Brain images of otherwise healthy men and women showed two full days without sleep seemed to rewire their brains, re-directing activity from the calming and rational prefrontal cortex to the 'fear centre' - the amygdala.

'It's almost as though, without sleep, the brain had reverted back to more primitive patterns of activity, in that it was unable to put emotional experiences into context and produce controlled, appropriate responses,' said Dr Matthew Walker of the University of California Berkeley, who led the study.

That a lack of sleep can make people grumpy is hardly news.

'We all know implicitly the link between bad sleep the night before and bad mood the next day. We are just adding the brain basis to what we knew,' Dr Walker said in a telephone interview.

Dr Walker and colleagues at Harvard Medical School used functional magnetic resonance imaging, which can scan brain activity in real time, to see what was going on in the brains of their 26 young adult volunteers.

Half were kept awake for a day, a night and another full day. The other half slept as normal.

Writing in the journal Current Biology, Dr Walker's team said they noticed profound changes in the brain activity of those volunteers who stayed up.

'We found a strong overreaction from the emotional centres of the brain,' Dr Walker said. 'It was almost as if the brain had been rewired, and connected to the fright, flight or fight area in the brain stem.'

Swinging like a pendulum
And lab workers noticed a difference in the behaviour of the sleep-deprived volunteers.

'They seemed to swing like a pendulum between the broad spectrum of emotions,' Dr Walker said. 'They would go from being remarkably upset at one time to where they found the same thing funny. They were almost giddy - punch drunk.'

Next Dr Walker wants to test people who are chronically sleep-deprived, perhaps by letting them have just 5 hours of sleep over several days. The average adult needs 7 to 9 hours of sleep a night.

He said the findings may shed light on psychiatric diseases. 'This is the first set of experiments that demonstrate that even healthy people's brains mimic certain pathological psychiatric patterns when deprived of sleep.'

'Before, it was difficult to separate out the effect of sleep versus the disease itself. Now we're closer to being able to look into whether the person has a psychiatric disease or a sleep disorder.'

A second study in the same journal suggests daylight-savings time regimes may cause similar effects. -- REUTERS

Questions from Maths PSLE 2007

2007-10-22T11:54:00.001+08:00

Maggots can heal!

2007-10-22T10:16:00.000+08:00

Oct 22, 2007 (Taken from Straitstimes Interactive)

Maggots may be used to heal festering wounds
NTU lab testing larvae that can hasten healing, kill 'super bug'
By Tania Tan

IN THE heart of Nanyang Technological University (NTU) is a research lab raising maggots that may soon be used to treat festering wounds in patients here.

These microsurgeons, which 'treat as they eat', do their job by gobbling up dead tissue and producing infection-fighting secretions, said Associate Professor Daniel Lim, director of NTU's Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Engineering Cluster.

'It's double the benefit for wound healing,' he added.

The idea is not new.

Maggot medicine was tried and tested way back in the 1800s and is now used in hospitals in Britain, Germany and the United States.

Researchers in the lab here - a collaboration between NTU and home-grown life sciences company Origin Scientia - are looking into using the larvae of a local species of fly, Lucilia cuprina, also known as green bottle.

The six-month-old lab already has a stock of 4,000 flies, which are fed a mixture of milk powder and sugar, with a side of Vitamin B-12 enriched syrup.

After the flies mate and lay their eggs, the eggs are harvested and sterilised to ensure the hatched maggots are bacteria-free.

The larvae measure barely 2mm, but are equipped with a huge appetite for dead tissue, such as those in the wounds of diabetics, which do not heal readily, or burns victims.

Sandwiched between two pieces of gauze or other type of dressing, the maggots are left up to 48hours in a wound, after which they are treated as bio-hazard waste and discarded, said Prof Lim.

If the idea of maggots eating away at your flesh turns you queasy, consider the alternative: Left untreated, necrotic or dead tissue is an ideal breeding ground for bacteria or infection that can lead to gangrene, limb amputation and - in severe cases - death.

Prof Lim said no tests have been done on patients here yet, though clinical trials are expected to start as soon as next year.

Already, doctors at Tan Tock Seng Hospital's burns unit are watching the lab's progress with interest.

The deputy head and consultant at the hospital's department of orthopaedic surgery, Dr Ooi Lai Hock, said some patients would 'definitely welcome' the alternative therapy.

Prof Lim said that while adult flies are associated with dirt and disease, maggots produce anal and oral secretions that have been shown in studies to be capable of fighting off the bacterium called Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA).

Known as the 'super bug', MRSA has evolved to become resistant to many antibiotics.

As recently as last week, a teenager in the United States died from an MRSA infection.

Beyond treating wounds, the lab hopes to one day harness the maggots' bacteria-killing abilities for use in products such as creams and serums.

Prof Lim said: 'It's a very long-term goal, but the research journey starts now.'

School uniforms given runway twist

2007-10-22T09:53:00.000+08:00

Ordinary Singapore school uniforms were given a runway twist for Grand Finals of The New Paper New Face 2007.

To view the other pictures, you may visit the Newpaper website below.

Do you know the meaning?

2007-10-15T19:51:00.000+08:00

I saw this notice pasted on the shutter last month. I wanted to send it to STOMP, but I was procrastinating. Anyway, guess what is wrong with it?

Reach for the M!

2007-10-09T11:12:00.001+08:00

I titled this photograph as "Reach for the M!" Well, the "M" here does not refer to the brand name "M". The M here stands for "MAXIMUM". I hope everyone will reach for their MAXIMUM potential.

Good luck to you!

2007-10-09T10:15:00.000+08:00

Hello everybody! I hope everyone is fine in school and at home too! Haha. Anyway, today is the last day of PSLE for the P6 pupils. For those who did not take higher mother tongue, today is an extra holiday for you! I hope all of you will do well in your PSLE. While waiting for your results, you will have to get ready for your graduation party and your whimsical moment.

For the rest of you, do work hard for the coming examinations. :D

Happy Children's Day!

2007-09-26T12:22:00.000+08:00

http://www.GlitterMaker.com/ - Glitter Graphics - MySpace Layouts - Site Clocks

An early greeting to all of you! Sorry, you won't be receiving any gifts from me this year. I only can wish you a happy and wonderful Children's Day 2007!!! Enjoy!!!

All the best to you in your coming examinations!

Happy Studying!

2007-09-21T10:17:00.000+08:00

Hello to everyone, I guess you people must be working hard at school preparing for your coming examinations. I hope you are doing your part by doing your own revisions. All the best to you!!! Good luck...

Uninvited Visitors

2007-09-12T00:37:00.000+08:00

These are SOME of the uninvited visitors which pop in this evening. They might have lost their way home or they could have lost their home!! Whatever it is, they are in the midst of dying while I am writing this blog entry. Farewell little visitors!!

Poll Results

2007-08-24T10:12:00.000+08:00

Which School Uniform(s) do you like best?
Punggol Primary		58% (33)
Yew Tee Primary		2% (1)
Xishan Primary		4% (2)
Haig Girls\' Primary		0% (0)
West Grove Primary		7% (4)
Casuarina Primary		2% (1)
Henry Park Primary		2% (1)
Yu Hua Primary		0% (0)
Marymount Convent		2% (1)
Farrer Park Primary		0% (0)
St. Margaret\'s Primary		0% (0)
Teck Ghee Primary		0% (0)
CHIJ (OLN)		4% (2)
Montfort Junior		2% (1)
Xinmin Primary		14% (8)
Hougang Primary		4% (2)
Yio Chu Kang Primary		0% (0)
Nan Chiau Primary		2% (1)
Holy Innocents\' Primary		0% (0)
None of the Above!!!		0% (0)

Do you like cats or dogs? Which type are you in?
Yes, I am a cat lover!		34% (12)
I don\'t like cats at all.		0% (0)
I am afraid of cats.		6% (2)
I am a dog lover!		14% (5)
I don\'t like dogs at all.		0% (0)
I am afraid of dogs.		3% (1)
I don\'t like cats and dogs.		0% (0)
I like cats more than dogs.		6% (2)
I like dogs more than cats.		11% (4)
I hate animals!!!		26% (9)

Anyone saw this?

2007-08-24T09:49:00.000+08:00

I saw this interesting phenomenon over the sky yesterday afternoon, close to 1pm. There was this huge round band of "rainbow" around the sun. It had not rained in the morning and was not raining at that time. Anyone else noticed it? :D

Happy Holiday!!!

2007-08-13T22:56:00.000+08:00

It's going to be school holiday again for you people not in P6! Well, you should have known! It is PSLE Oral Exams on Thursday and Friday!!! Only the P6 pupils need to be in school and the rest of you would have to remain at home doing your homework!!! HAHA! I am sure your teachers will prepare some nice homework for you to spend your two days!

For the P6 pupils, I wish you all the best in your coming examinations.

All the best for all your examinations!

A Frightening Experience

2007-07-27T01:42:00.000+08:00

Let me relate to you one of my frightening experiences. I would say it was very frightening, but it is an experience which I will remember for life. Well, it was quite a long time ago - more than ten years ago, in fact.

That very evening, I was at the void deck of my friend's block, near the lift landing. I could not remember why I was there. Probably to look for my friend. Anyway, I was at the void deck waiting when I heard a loud "thud" in the direction of the grass patch, just outside the block. Initially, I thought it was somebody's bolster or mattress which had fallen down because it sounded so loud. I did not know what made me walked towards the fallen object. I guess it was out of curiosity, but usually I was not so curious.

Anyway, I guess I should not have walked there. I saw the body of an old lady lying flat on the grass patch just outside the block! Luckily, I did not see her face. But I wondered how she looked like. Suddenly, I felt very cold and something sent shivers up my spine.

I went to a nearby public telephone to call a friend who lived in that block. That time, mobile phones were not so "cheap". My friend picked up the phone, but he did not believe me when I told him about what had happened. So, I told him to look out of his windows to see for himself. I asked him to make a call to the police, but he refused as he was afraid the police would trace the call to his place. In the end, we did not make the call but someone did as the police soon arrived to investigate.

Tanjong Katong

2007-07-26T15:30:00.000+08:00

Yesterday, I went to this primary school in Katong. The school looks big but the road leading to the school is very narrow! Anyway, it was not easy to find a particular classroom as the school does not assign the level according to the "storey". For example, you would expect to find the lower levels (Primary One to Three) at the lower storeys, but the classrooms are located all over the places. Sometimes, you can find P5 and P3 classrooms in a stretch, while some P5 and P3 classrooms can be found in another block. It will be hard for someone like me who has never been there before to locate a particular classroom. I guess it will take some time for a new pupil to get used to that school's classroom arrangement. :)

One thing that impressed me was that the school has vending machines which are not commonly found in a primary school. Look at their play area. It looked so big! One other thing is that the school has pupils of different nationalities. Meaning, there are quite a number of pupils from other countries studying there.

A Riddle - Kelly's World!

2007-07-19T21:56:00.000+08:00

You're in a place called "Kelly's World"
and there is only one law.
There is a mirror, but no reflection.
There is pizza with cheese, but not sausage.
There is pepper, but no salt.

There is a door, yet no entrance or exit.

So what is the law in Kelly's World?

(Find out the answer in the comments link)

Racial Harmony Day

2007-07-16T12:40:00.000+08:00

It is the yearly Racial Harmony Day this Friday. In fact, the actual date should be 21st July, but as it is a Saturday, it will be celebrated on Friday. I guess your "old" traditional costumes are too small or short to be worn. You have better checked and tried on it first before wearing it on Friday.

A Riddle for YOU!

2007-07-13T00:57:00.001+08:00

Why do Chickens lay eggs?

click comments for answer.

Third Week of Term Three

2007-07-09T22:35:00.000+08:00

Hi, this is the third Monday of the third week of the third term. Sound confusing? Never mind. ;) I understand the P4 (2007) went to the Sarimbun Camp last week. I believe all of you have seen the situation you had last year after you came back from the camp. You must have seen the "litters" of clothes and other personal belongings at the fitness corner. Haha! I guess every year we will have this problem unless someone comes up with a good solution.

Tomorrow is the P6 Prelim Oral. I wish all the P6 pupils all the best in their coming examinations. Good luck!

It's July Now!

2007-07-01T11:02:00.000+08:00

Hi, everyone! It's July now. It has been a long time since I last posted here. The vacation or holiday ended quite fast for some of you. Some of you were looking forward to see your friends in the new school term. Well, I met some of them too! Last week, I met Han Yi and Cassandra in the coffeeshop next to the school. Then I saw Jasmine and her brother, Elton. It is a small world. Everyone seems to be taking tuition classes from the same centre.

By the way, I am going back to my camp from tomorrow till the following Friday. My camp is in Sembawang and the name is Chong Pang Camp. It is quite a big camp. I only go there once a year. Sometimes twice.

I hope everyone is learning well in school or tuition centre. Beside that, do continue to keep in touch with your "old" classmates and me. You can always drop me an e-mail if you need my help to solve your problems. I will do my best to help you. :D

How Good is your English?

2007-06-14T20:59:00.000+08:00

I found this website that provides a free English test. At the end the test, it will provide you with a report of your level of English. If you want to know how good your English is, go ahead and take the test. There will be a part on listening, so you will need to adjust your speaker's volume. Have fun and learn! :)

http://encarta.englishtown.com/sp/tests/skilltest.aspx#4

Happy Holiday!

2007-06-12T21:39:00.000+08:00

How is everybody? I am so sorry I have no time to blog here as I am busy lately conducting enrichment classes at schools and also invigilation for examinations at the Singapore Expo. I hope you are enjoying your holiday while revising your work for the new term. I heard some of you were not so happy in your present classes, but please do not blame your teachers for your poor results. I guess all of you have to work hard on your own beside listening to the teachings. I know most of you have your own tuition teachers to help you with your studies. Remember that the teachers are just there to help you understand the topics or subjects better. They will not be there to take your examination papers. So you will have to LEARN to be more independent and DO more self-study in order to achieve better or even GOOD results. Of course, if you really don't understand a topic or a question, do approach your teacher for help. He or she should be the BEST person to assist you in your studies. If you want MY help in your studies, feel free to e-mail me your questions. I will respond to your questions as soon as possible.

Finally, I wish you all the best in whatever you do!

School Uniform

2007-05-24T20:06:00.000+08:00

Hi all, I guess a lot of you are very loyal pupils of the school. You all prefer your school uniform to the other school uniforms. I found out that there was a discussion online with regards to the school uniform. The title was "Why are we wearing school uniform?". The link to the discussion is provided below. Go and see, if you are interested.

http://talkback.stomp.com.sg/forums/showthread.php?t=18109&highlight=school+uniform

Reminder: Please refrain from using "unfriendly" language in the tag boards. I will be removing those "undesirable" messages, and may even ban these people from posting messages in the tag board. Thank you for your cooperation. :)

Which School Uniform do you like best?

2007-05-21T22:44:00.001+08:00

Here are some of the schools' uniforms in Singapore that were featured in the Straitstimes today. If you don't know which uniform belongs to which school, please click on the picture below and you will see the names in small prints.

After that, please indicate in the poll on the right and tell me which one you like best. You may click more than one uniforms. In the first picture, the girl on the left is from Yew Tee Primary School. Sorry the name of the school was clipped off when I took the picture.

By the way, the poll for the gathering is now officially closed. The results? Forty-one (or 95% who responded) indicated that they are going, while ONLY two (5% of the responders) said they are not free on that day. Thanks for your attention. I wish you all a happy school holiday and an enjoyable Open House. :)