Thursday, August 6, 2009

PESA Storytelling Competition Update

Today, Min Yi went for her Semi Final Round of Storytelling Competition. The competition was keen and she, despite putting in good effort, did not make it to the Finals.

Nevertheless, it has been a fruitful journey for her, as well as for me, being my first time in training a child for a storytelling competition.

It was a good exposure and experience to watch children from other schools telling stories. The standard of storytelling was indeed very high. The children had to vary their tone, pitch and pace as they impersonated different characters and resumed their role of storytellers at different times. Some stories were amusing and tickled the funny bone of the audience. One of the stories was a sad one and the audience could feel the sadness and guilt of the storyteller for putting through her teddy bear through various pains by not taking good care of her teddy bear.

Some pictures to share:

Before we started on the journey
Min Yi and her mother
Other storytellers:

A beautiful peacock in waiting ...
'A woman's wit'
The audience
Min Yi the witch-and-Gretel rolled into one
Min Yi and her supporters
Min Yi and her parents
Min Yi and me
Min Yi, Ms Chia and me
The supporters among the audience during the break
Going home ... "Smile, Jennifer!"

It has been a rewarding, albeit arduous, journey as we prepared for the PESA Competition. A lot of time and effort was committed to brush up the pronunciation of words, coming up with actions and gestures for the lines, refining the actions and the impersonation of various characters and varying the tone and pace of the storytelling. On many occasions, we had to rack our brains to think of how to make the characters come across as really evil, sad, shocked or puzzled etc. We deliberated on the props, facial expressions, the kind of voices the characters would use, right down to how Min Yi's eyes should look.

I'm quite glad of the outcome. Like I said in my earlier post about the Competition, it is already a feat for Min Yi to enter the Semi Final, given that she does not have as much support as the other PESA competitors in terms of the environment. She has come a long way to where she is. From someone who is not a natural when it comes to dramatisation, Min Yi has indeed put forth her best in the Competition.

I will say it one more time - Well done, Min Yi!

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

PESA Supporters

Dear children,

I hope some of you are reading this now.

I just received a reply from PESA (storytelling organiser) saying that I'm able to bring along quite a number of supporters for Min Yi for her Semi Final that is coming in two days' time.

I would like to bring along 5 supporters from our class.

If you're keen to know how the PESA Storytelling Competition is like and how artful the storytellers are at the Semi Final Round, and may want to take part in the PESA Speech Competition (for the Upper Primary) in future, when you're in Primary 5 or 6, do ask your parents if they would allow you to go to the Semi Final as Min Yi's supporters.

The details are as follow:
Venue: YMCA Orchard
Date: 6th August 2009, Thursday
Time: 1.30 pm to 5.30 pm

We'll take a mini van there from school at about 1 pm and come back to school at about 6 pm.

To be fair, I'll ask the class if anyone is interested in coming along tomorrow and it'll be good if you already have your parents' consent. I'll also give out the consent forms tomorrow.

Definitions of Class Names

I've had the experience of children asking me what the various class names mean, and some children gave their own meaning to the class names. For instance, children from Conscientious classes thought that 'conscientious' means 'clever'.

So that inspired me to provide definitions of the class names:

Persistence - the act of continuing to do something, although it is difficult.
Conscientious - showing a lot of care and attention (to work).
Commitment - the hard work and loyalty that one gives to an organisation or activity.
Creative - producing or using new and effective ideas.
Determination - the ability to continue trying to achieve what you have decided to do even when this is difficult.
Diligence - hardworking, careful and thorough.
Innovation - a new idea, method or invention.
Inspiration - to make someone feel encouraged to be as good and successful as possible.
Reliable - can be trusted or depended on.

(Source: Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English)

Do enlighten your friends if they do not know what their class names mean. :)

Have fun!

Best Group of the Month (July)

Red Clownfish!

Monday, August 3, 2009

Sony Creative Science Award Roundup

These are the children who submitted toys for Sony Creative Science Award. They were given a Certificate of Participation each as an acknowledgement of their good effort.

Xiang Qi received Sony product vouchers worth $600 for winning the Second Prize

Friday, July 31, 2009

Sony Creative Science Award

CONGRATULATIONS to Xiang Qi!

She is awarded the Second Prize (nation-wide) for Sony Creative Science Award 2009!

She was invited to attend the presentation ceremony on 22nd July.

Xiang Qi had won the Third Prize last year for the same event. Well done, Xiang Qi!


Xiang Qi with her 'Jumping Piano'
Xiang Qi with the other winners and their toys
Xiang Qi with Mdm Farina, Teacher-in-charge of the event in our school
Other toys showcased at the Science Centre





(Photographs: Courtesy of Xiang Qi's parents)

Paper Crane Submission

Today, the children handed in their cranes.

The boys unfolding their cranes
Looking pleased with their creation
"Pouring" their cranes into the collection bag
The children folded more cranes with left-over papers, and showcasing them

The one who gives is more blessed than the one who receives.

Thank you, children, for your hard work and heartfelt contribution!

On a side note, Zafranshah had lost the 25 paper cranes he made earlier while he was at play in school. However, he asked me for extra papers so that he could fold the cranes again to make his contribution. Trivial as it may seem to some, I'm very glad that such is our children - not one to give in or give up in the face of setbacks. Discouraged, but not beaten.

Thank you for reminding me of the important things in life through what you do, children.