This is it! SCHOOL IS STARTING AND WE ARE ENTERING A NEW PHASE WITH HIM!
I can feel all the butterflies in my stomach as I entered my son's school today.
It is a Chinese vernacular school so main subjects will be taught in Mandarin Chinese. It may be a bit challenging for him as our medium at home is actually English as I am the only person who can speak Mandarin at home. Nevertheless, we will try him out together to see how he can cope with it.
This school is called SJK(C) Nan Yik Lee Rubber.
It is 7 to 8km away from my house so initially I did not apply and put it as my first choice. However, due to insufficient classes to meet the demands of too many applications to the school of my first choice, we got sent to this school.
Today is the day where I meet his class teacher without him to fill in some formal procedures, get loaned textbooks and also buy his necessary activity books as well as exercise books.
There are many other parents who are like me, and we got directed to queue according to the class our children have been allocated to. I can see the newer trend is non- Chinese parents have been more and more keen to send their children to attend a Chinese vernacular school too.
Did not manage to talk much with his teacher but paid the necessary fees and went to buy books from the book store in the school.
After that, I managed to seek some clarifications with one of the school's vice principal though who was very friendly and helpful.
Two weeks ago, we went to the school when the school was all empty as I needed to go to the school office to submit some documents and join their WhatsApp group. This was the time my son and mum-in-law tagged along and they allowed us to walk around the school to take a look. Really appreciated that.
This is the school with its motto translated as: Diligence, Determination, Sincerity and Simplicity.
It is equipped with a well-maintained basketball court and a badminton court.
Here is the office for general affairs.
The teachers staff room.
The Book Store.
Isolation room if in case anyone shows Covid symptoms
The Canteen
Their field
Sports Equipment Room
Some other rooms. Didn't get to see their computer labs and library as they are on the higher floors.
Some of their noticeboards
School Compound
The backgate I need to drop my son off and pick him up. Thank God for another friend who already has schooled her children here so she could show me some of the important spots of the school.
Now one of my biggest concerns is the toilet. Glad to realize it is quite well-maintained. I had some phobia from my school days where toilets were dark and smelly snd dirty. Yikes! Can you imagine my relief to know my son need not go through this?
Everything will start on Monday: the waking up at 615am and reaching school before 715am, the stories my son may be telling after school, me dropping him off with an anxious heart as a mother, and learning a new language! Thankfully, the school also does know the students need a transition so they have planned a 4 weeks transition phase for them to adjust from home learning and online classes to physical formal education.
I BLESS US AND AM PRAYING HARD THAT HE WILL LIKE THE SCHOOL.