Taska & Tadika Kembangsari: Double celebration

The educators started to ask which day are they to stay on after work to help pack the goody bags for the children. Mum simply replied that they will be informed. After a few days, slightly agitated, they asked again. Mum decided that this year, none of the educators will have to stay on after work because the children will be part of the packing.

Some time during lessons were used to implement this special "activity" that incorporated teamwork, communication, turn-taking, counting, sorting and sharing. This special activity in packing goody bags for everyone in their group not only allowed them to learn the fore-mentioned but also to take pride in their own contributions to the group, as well as develop a sense of belonging.

"Look, my mummy made these for us." "My daddy bought these for us." We could just feel the happiness and pride. We were done with the packing on Wednesday, our earliest to date. Previously, the packing would go on till after dinner on the night before the actual day.

Since we had Thursday free, we started blowing the balloons. More were blown on Friday morning. With the passing breeze, the children were welcome to school on Children's Day by a floating display of red, fuchsia, orange and yellow.

The children love this day. Some parents even revealed how their little ones have never gotten ready as quickly as on this morning. How could they not be excited and not look forward to having a full day of games and laughter with their friends wearing masks and party hats they made themselves?

Year after year, the parents never fail to impress. This year, this was even more so the case, as some parents contributed not just once but twice, which resulted in three things. Firstly, the children had so many presents in their goody bags this year.

Secondly, we were all spoilt for choice when it came to food.

It was like a competition to see whose contribution was the best - there were so many home-made things like jellies, cakes, cupcakes, muffins, puddings and even carved fruit!

We were so touched with the amount of time and personalised effort that the parents had invested into preparing their contributions.

 

Thirdly, not only were the children happy, so were the educators - so delightful to see the children thoroughly enjoying themselves! Of course, secretly elated that there was so much to eat, too!

But the icing on the cake would have to be that unexpected phone call from the Selangor Department of Community and Welfare asking Mum when she would be going in to collect her "stuff". Mum was not sure what "stuff" it was but the lady over the phone said that it has been there since December waiting to be collected.

Little did we know that while Mum and Dad were in Melbourne for Pei Shin's wedding with me last year, the department awarded us Model Childcare Centre for the municipality of Subang Jaya for the year 2012. Wow, we were stoked and felt very honoured! In all honesty, when Mum sent this photo to me over Whatsapp, I could not contain my excitement. I was so proud of Mum, I had tears in my eyes.

It has been a wonderful week for us at Honey Bee, a week worth celebrating.

To all our wonderful children, Happy Children's Day and to our remarkable staff members congratulations! This award would not have been possible without each and every one of you and your understanding families!

Happy Children's Day!

I remember my children's day celebrations from back in primary school. I remember them quite well and with photographs to record those happy times, those memories are even more vivid. How can I not remember days when all classes were cancelled to enjoy lots of unhealthy snacks and much water balloon fights?

It is hard to imagine that such a carefree and joyous day has a hard beginning. Celebrated on various dates in many places around the world, Children's Day was established in 1954 to protect children from working long hours in dangerous circumstances and to allow all children access to an education.

This year at Honey Bee, we celebrated Children's Day in purple. Instead of the brown paper bags we used previously, we opted for purple recycle bags. Don't you think they provide a striking contrast to our signature yellow walls?

This year, one parent generously offered the children some special balloons, which some of our creative teachers used to funkily decorate our environment. Parents and children alike were fascinated!

Year and year again, we are bowled over by the enthusiasm, generosity and dedication of some of our parents. We had a wide variety of food, many of which were homemade by the parents. We also had lots to put into the goody bags for the children to bring home.

The teachers and carers enjoyed themselves very much, too, and we thank every parent for helping make this year's Children's Day celebration a huge success. The children were extremely happy with their goody bags and could not wait to share their 'haul' with their parents and siblings!

A November to remember

Plenty of happenings at school - Children's Day and the biggest event on our calendar, the Concert and Graduation, which was last night. I had a ball of a time and judging from the response of the parents, it looked and sounded like they enjoyed themselves, too. The children put up a great show this year and I am so proud of them!

Global warming seems to have made itself comfortable in recent months and more so during the eleventh month of the year. While it is blistering hot in the morning, it would be dogs and cats at noon and sunny again at 4pm. It's a wonder how the children at our centre are still well and healthy, not to mention us teachers, too.

Well, I'm down with yet another bout of cough and flu - a real bad one this time.

Weather is just one of the few things that made this month special. There were more reason, one of which was the little reunion with Mei Ann.


It was great to see her all lady-like and grown-up. I say grown-up because I felt like I was sort of stuck in the era of polo t-shirts and mini jeans skirts. It was great to hear that she did not bring her angmoh accent back to KL (I really dislike how some people feel that having spent 5 years abroad means needing to sound like they grew up there). With two years to go, we can officially call her Dr Choong!

I love reunions, no matter how often or rare they happen, with whoever. I love them because I get to reconnect with the people who has had a big share in helping to shape the person I am today. Friends, when you think about it, who can live without them despite all their imperfections?

Also, this month was when I found a new friend and fashion consultant in a young Penangite chap.


Introduced by a friend I made over half a year ago (who unlike him, is totally hopeless when shopping is concerned), he is a delight to be with. Maybe it is because of his 'younger' taste and happy-go-lucky nature. Or perhaps it is how both of us enjoy jabbering so much. But it is definitely due to how he gives his share on the clothes I choose to buy. For someone who did not finish high school, he is well-versed on a variety of other topics - take my hat off to him.

Of course, November is special because I was born on its 19th day.


With wishes from near and far, it was one day my phone would not stop vibrating. I celebrated my 26th year in existence over a meal at Sushi Zanmai with 3 crazy women. I also marked the occasion by collecting the album of photos from the studio.


November, ah... if only every month was a November month...