Bye-bye Nursery

Hendrik survived his first year in school.  =)  This year was a major milestone and an adjustment for him. We are just glad that he survived it well and effectively.

He learned to be independent in school. At first, he would cry, wouldn’t let go of me and didn’t want me to be out of his sight even for a bit. His first few days in school was a drama – crying, shouting to look for me, even vomiting. I only managed to attend his classes with him on the first week. The second week was he was on his own. He learned that he had to behave himself in a new environment and new faces. With me monitoring with his teachers, we were pleased to know that he was trying to control his cries on the second week. Then, he totally stopped the drama on his 3^rd or 4^th week in school.

Getting into the school bus every morning was also a struggle at first. Actually, he didn’t dislike riding the school bus, but the thought of him without Mommy or Daddy or Lola going to school with him made him sad and worried. Eventually, he would just wave at us (whoever is sending him off), smile and say that he will see us later after school.  =)

* Photos grabbed from Sunbeam Kindergarten's Facebook page *

He also learned to socialize. His teacher would tell me that he was quiet and would just play by himself and didn’t interact with his classmates. But, as time goes by he slowly feels comfortable and gets at ease with the people surrounding him.

He had also learned academically. He can now speak, read and write simple Chinese characters (which anyone in the family doesn’t know. Hehehe!). His teachers would tell me that Hendrik does his work independently and without any assistance. =)

Since school year 2012 is over, it’s bye-bye nursery now and hello K1 next year!

Related posts:
First Day in Nursery 
First School Assessment
Semester 2 Assessment

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Universal Studios Singapore

Early last month was our RGS Family Day. My company decided that we spend our family Day at Universal Studios Singapore (USS) for the second time around.  The last time we went there with Hendrik was 2 years ago. He was still very young and cannot remember that we went there except for the photos that we showed him. Since then, there has been a couple of additional attractions, like Transformers - The Ride, Sesame Street Show and Battle Star Galactica – Cyclone and Human Roller Coaster Rides were up and running already.

Like the last time we were at USS, King Julienne’s Carousel was the first ride we took – not only once or twice, but a couple of times. Good thing the queue was not that long.

Another highlight of our visit was the Sesame Street Show. We have traded watching the popular Water World Show which had the same show timing with Sesame Street. We thought Hendrik would enjoy seeing Elmo, Ernie and Grover than hearing the gunshots and fight scenes in Water World. Besides, he doesn’t like violence and noisy effects, so this was an easy choice for us. We were glad because he really enjoyed the show and he was very attentive the whole time.

Hendrik also managed to pose and take photos with the vintage cars.

And a bit of some love and cuddle time…

Daddy and Hendrik took the Shuttle Ride a number of times before we watched the USS Parade late in the afternoon around 6pm. Hendrik must have loved this ride so much that he asked Daddy to ride with it again after the parade. And even after a couple of days later after our visit to USS, he mentioned to me that he wants to go there again because he wants to ride it. I remember Lola and I got dizzy when we once tried it 2 years ago =).

It was a long and tiring day, but fun. We adults were also able to see the shows we never had the chance of seeing the last time we visited.

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Semester 2 Assessment

Hendrik came home on Monday (12 November) bringing his school profile in his bag. This was unlike the first semester where we had a one-on-one parent-teacher meeting before getting his school assessment file. Nevertheless, we can see and read from the file how he was like in school this semester. I also have had the opportunity to chat with Hendrik’s new form teacher, Mrs Linda Lim, after the school’s Concert and Graduation Ceremony 3 weeks ago.

Sharing some of the snap shots we took from Hendrik’s folder for 2^nd Semester 2012:

 "Hendrik is a well-behaved boy. He is always attentive during lesson time. His written work is consistently neat and tidy".

 

 "Hendrik had lots of fun when Jerel role played serving him roti prata".

 "Hendrik gets excited when he sees a red ball of this size. He is able to roll, throw and catch the big ball. These activities allow him to master movement patterns and develop physical skills in relation to himself, his environment and his peers".

 "Hendrik tears and sticks cotton wools on the cut out sheep on 14 September with much enthusiasm. It enhances his fine motor skill and Hendrik is absolutely motivated to complete the task".

  "Hendrik is a gentle, quiet and well-behaved boy. He has shown marked improvement in his interaction with his friends. He does his work independently and shows enthusiasm in exploring various art media and participates well in class activities".

 

 

Related post: First School Assessment

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The Ikea Experience

There is never a dull moment when Hendrik steps in at the Ikea store. He is always full of excitement and is very vibrant as he explores the different show areas. What better way to capture this than Daddy taking photos of him as he tests out what’s inside the store:

~ trying out the beds ~

~ trying out the chairs ~

He would also stop by and look at the map to see where he is at the moment. And he doesn't forget to try the toys that catches his eyes.

~ trying out the kitchen and dining areas ~

 

~ trying out the bath and shower ~

Of course, there's always the yummy food that we as a family enjoy at Ikea.

Shopping or even sight seeing at the Ikea store always brings a whole new experience for us as Hendrik would exhibit delight and enjoyment to the rather familiar set-up of the store.

 

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Art Garden 2012

This is a long overdue post as our visit to the Art Garden 2012 at the Singapore Art Museum (SAM) was held 2 months ago. It was Hendrik’s 2^nd time to visit the interactive art display for children which was in its third year running in Singapore. The last time we visited, which was last year,  Hendrik was amazed with the displays and had a lot of fun. This year, some of the artworks which were shown last year were also found this year and a bit more. The photos show some of the additional works which were included in this year’s contemporary art exhibition for children at SAM @ 8Q.

 ~ Mommy helping Hendrik create patterns and designs using objects such as clothes pegs, keys, etc. ~

~ Hendrik loves to stamp! ~

~ Hendrik coloring his tree ~

~ Instead of pasting up his own tree on the wall, he opted to pose for the camera instead ~

~ Video of Hendrik, Mommy, Daddy and other participants dancing to the music selection in the "Let's Dance" installation ~

(we are at the bottom of the screen =)  )

~ Screen capture photos from the big screen of "Let's Dance" ~

~ What better way to culminate our museum visit than to savor Hendrik's favorite moist chocolate cake! Yum! Yum! ~

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Our Very Own Composer

There have been instances wherein Hendrik plays a tune in the keyboard where I know neither me nor Lola taught him. And when I ask him who taught him the notes, he would answer, “No one…”, right away. Further, I ask if he’s the one who looked for the notes and created the tune..., of course he will answer with a “Yes…”.

I know he has a very sharp memory and that he can easily remember the ones we taught him. But, I didn’t expect and was actually very surprised that he also knows the difference in each note. He knows which note to press in order to make the correct tune.

The first video is his rendition of what he calls “Seven Days in a Week”. The song, “Seven Days in a Week”, was taught to them in school; and I would usually hear Hendrik sing this song at home. Because he likes the song so much, he arranged a keyboard / piano piece for it.

"Seven Days in a Week" | 4 y/o

♪ There are seven days ♪

♪ There are seven days ♪

♪ In a week, in a week ♪

♪ Sunday, Monday, Tuesday ♪

♪ Wednesday, Thursday, Friday ♪

♪ Saturday… Saturday ♪

The next video is his rendition of the Korean cartoon TV series, “Tayo the Little Bus”. He only managed to figure out the 1^st 2 lines of the opening song. But, not bad, eh?

"Tayo the Little Bus" | 4 y/o

♪ Tayo, Tayo, Tayo, Tayo, he's a friendly little bus ♪

♪ Speeding up, slowing down Tayo’s always loves to run ♪

I asked him to complete the whole song, but I guess it was too much of me to ask of him. I myself, cannot even figure out the first 2 or 3 notes!

There is another rendition, a song he calls “Singapore, Singapore – Tropical Fruit Paradise”. He said the song was also taught to them in school by their music teacher, Auntie Sook Ching. I googled the song, hoping to find the lyrics, but unfortunately couldn’t find it. I suppose it is an original piece composed by their teacher. Hendrik was able to complete the keyboard / piano piece, but cannot remember the entire lyrics. One of these days, I will ask the school for the lyrics so that I can upload it together with Hendrik’s accompaniment of it as another blog entry.


Related posts:
Little Mozart - Hendrik's collection of piano / keyboard pieces since he was barely 2 years old.
Christmas Medley - Hendrik played a Christmas medley on Christmas eve, 24 December 2011.
Family Pianist - Blog entry where Hendrik became our official family pianist.    

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Unexpected Outbursts

When Daddy, Hendrik and I came home Monday noon time (08 October 2012, 12:20 p.m.) from Kinder Clinic after consulting Dr Lim about Hendrik’s stomach pains following his Children’s Day celebration at school, we were caught unaware of his angry outburst that happened:

Scenario – Hendrik tired from the long wait to see Dr Lim at the clinic; still having stomach pains due to the infection; didn’t have good night’s sleep for a couple of nights; hungry and have not eaten proper meals for 4 days. In other words, Hendrik was just exhausted.

Daddy was carrying Hendrik, and as soon as we entered the house's main door, he put him down and told Hendrik that he will just remove his shoes. Hendrik objected and whined to Daddy that he wanted to be carried still.  

Liam and Tita Leomie were eating lunch at the nearby table. When Liam heard Hendrik, he laughed at the idea that Hendrik wanted to be carried by his Dad and somewhat mimicked Hendrik’s words.

Hendrik shouted, ITS! NOT!! FUNNY!!!, pointing his finger to Liam.

This is not the only time that Hendrik had an outburst. Lola told me what she witnessed last Thursday (04 October) afternoon: 

Scenario – Hendrik in the living room after school. He used one of the sofas where he gathered and stacked the pillows one after the other. He got his toy cars and played in the area that he has arranged. 

Liam came out from his bedroom, walked towards him and asked him what he was doing. 

Hendrik said that he is playing and told Liam that he shouldn’t block his way. 

Liam did not listen and followed Hendrik whenever and wherever he moves his toy cars. 

Lola was sitting on the nearby sofa just listening and observing them. 

Hendrik told Liam to stay out and not to block his way several times. 

When Liam did not bother to listen to Hendrik’s appeals, Hendrik destroyed the stack of pillows and throwed them one by one on the floor towards the door. So as his toys and Lola’s pair of slippers that was near him. 

After scattering them on the floor, Hendrik walked fast to our bedroom, slammed the door and locked it. 

Lola picked up the scattered pillows and toys and put them back on the sofa as Hendrik arranged them. 

She then asked Hendrik to open the bedroom door and talked to him. Hendrik told her that he was angry because Liam did not listen to him. Lola gave Hendrik a hug and after their talk, she convinced him to play again in the living room. 

Hendrik found the pillows and toys already arranged on the sofa just the way he did before he threw them away. When he also saw that Liam was still there, he never hesitated to scatter them again on the floor and went back inside the bedroom and never went out that afternoon.

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Children's Day 2012

Last Friday, 05 October 2012 was Children’s Day. Hendrik’s school, Sunbeam Kindergarten, declared it as a school holiday, thus the children, teachers and staff enjoyed a day off. The school had a party the day before to celebrate the special day for the kids.

When I phoned Hendrik at home after school that day and asked how the party went, he gladly reported that he participated in the games and activities as well as partook of the foods that were prepared for them. I also found out when I came home from work in the afternoon that he also brought with him goodies and / or presents from school.

~present from Mrs Neo and Mrs Lim - Hello Panda biscuits inside ~

~ present from the Kindergarten - sticker puzzle ~

 

~ present from the teachers and principal - mini white board and marker ~

I would have wanted to bring Hendrik out last Friday to celebrate Children’s Day, but he fell ill Thursday night. He complained of stomach pain, vomited and had diarrhea. Doctor’s diagnosis was stomach infection due to germs / dirt from the hands, food, etc. Hendrik was unwell for 5 days. We never really knew the root cause of the infection because there was not any lab test done. Suffice it to say that being careful the next time is needed, making sure that his hands are clean whenever he eats and that the food also should be cooked and prepared well.

 
Nevertheless, from Hendrik’s enthusiastic report about their party, I think he enjoyed his first Children’s Day celebration at school…

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