Managing Discontent by Wayne Cordeiro

We had a really informal ALG session yesterday night, just sitting around eating rambutans and mangosteens. In between, we learnt about how we can handle discontent in our lives, with authentic examples from Agape's 16-year history. Matthew, Jeannie, Jasmine & I took turns to regale the newer ones with stories from the past, just so that we could all learn from how others handled discontentment, and do better for ourselves in the future.

In view of all this, I am at least partly grateful for preventive H1N1 precautions in school. I have to go earlier to school and because I want to see Jasmine off before she goes even earlier to school, I sometimes reach school at 6.35am when I'm only due at 7.10am. I mean the general office and staff room aren't even open yet! I took the cue from a Christian colleague and use the time to dedicate the day to God. I have about 10-15 minutes alone with God and also talking to fellow believers about work-related struggles. Then the staff room opens and I go in to switch on my super-slow laptop. During that five-minute wait, I proclaim to God that I intend to spend the day in His joy, and I try my best to look for His joy in all situations.

The key verse that we shared in ALG was "David encouraged himself in the Lord", probably in 1/2 Samuel/Kings. And this was when his own men wanted to kill him! I learnt that it is my responsibility for how much joy and discontentment there is in my life. I intend to complain less, as it will only result in grudges and bitterness. I will spend time in solitude with God daily, praying and reading His Word, to encourage myself in Him. And if faced with conflict, I will approach the person in nearest authority to resolve it, and not blab about it to people who can't do anything about it.

Cluster Games 2008

Here's the PR talk first. Seng Kang Pri did astoundingly well at the N1 Cluster Games. The football team reached the semis and was the only team that the eventual champions, Xinmin Sec, failed to beat. Our badminton team finished with a 100% win record.

Now here's the truth. Our football team drew two matches against strong opposition in the round-robin, before running out of steam in the semis. We eventually finished fourth, though we should have got third if not for Kalai's injury.

Our badminton duo of Daniel and Mr Lim won their men's doubles match against local favourites Xinmin Sec. Then they were informed that the next match was mixed doubles. Since neither of them wore a skirt, they had to forfeit. Like, hello? How bad can the communication be that we did not even know that it was a team event of 8 people? Apparently Xinmin Pri, just next door, had no inkling of any badminton competition too. It's obvious to me that this was a shoddy last-minute job instigated by SOMEONE in N1, with Xinmin Sec drawing the short end of the stick to organise it.

Further evidence of incompetence abounded in the football tournament. Firstly, whose bright idea was it to have it during Ramadan? It's complete disregard for the well-being of our Muslim teachers. Secondly, there were no water points despite a blazing hot afternoon sun. We had to walk to a water cooler at the other end of the field. Thirdly, how can you get Xinmin Sec boys to referee games involving Xinmin Sec, especially when their teachers are right there playing? I don't doubt their integrity, but why put them in such a difficult position in the first place? Volunteers from remaining teams could easily have been drafted in to referee the games instead of the boys being referees and timekeepers. Finally, our third-fourth placing match was sidelined by the final, so we had no ball boys, and had to keep waiting for balls to be replaced. Apparently the ball boys were too engrossed in the final. Inexcusable - if you have a job, do it.

The last point I need to mention that points to this being a last-minute job is that Seng Kang Pri's very own Staff Games Day, planned so long beforehand, had to take a backseat to this event just because it's at cluster level. If this had been planned earlier, we could have deconflicted the schedule, allowing our fitter PE colleagues to take part.

The last word goes to the football team. Many thanks and congratulations to everyone for going further than we thought we would.
Azreen & Faisal - Despite your fasting, your self-sacrifice inspired us all. Your holding the ball up allowed us to get in the game, just as your runs to the side allowed us to spread the play. And Faisal, what a cracker! =]
Kok Leong - Our captain led by example, never once letting us down. A rock at the back.
Shou Fei - Your tireless running gave us some respite from fitter teams and you never gave up.
Kalai - Cramps notwithstanding, our creative hub that allowed us to create many chances that we did not take.
Daniel - For stepping into the breach when Kalai was down. Performed admirably and threw himself in the face of danger to save us from going further behind.

Let's do this again next year!

Practicum posting

Went there for induction today. Everything was hunky-dory, but as my soon-to-be Chinese-teaching colleague succinctly put it, "let's wait till we start working and then we'll know". Words of wisdom indeed.

Principal was impressive, school grounds even more so, but I could tell straight away that expectations are high at this school. Confirmation came when the P said that she deliberately left space in our timetables so that we would take the initiative to find periods from other teachers to teach their class. Like, what?! If I were a full-fledged teacher, I wouldn't really like pesky trainees meddling with my class' grades! Especially when you're expected to do so well at Rosyth. Still, I think I can do it with God's help.

The children seem normal enough, though I heard they are smarter and richer, and by design more spoilt. So therein lies the challenge to manage the classroom rather than manage them academically..

The school building itself is a masterpiece. Canteen and hall on fourth floor, indoor basketball court, music Centre of Excellence, two staff rooms, heritage centre, etc. This place really blew me away. Pity it's so far.
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Was supposed to find out tomorrow, but found out this evening that I'm posted to Rosyth School in Serangoon for my five-week practicum. And they changed it from 3+2, meaning three weeks of observation and two weeks of guided teaching, to 2+3. That may not sound like much, but it's 20 lesson plans man!

Was really looking forward to returning to Punggol, what with my ex-students and colleagues there, but I guess it was not to be.

On the bright side, I get to experience a new school; according to Jasmine it has some gifted students, so I get to learn from the best. She said maybe I was head-hunted. Ha! I wish. Could be true though, cos I did do well in NIE. But theory and praticum are two totaly different things.

I'll contact the school tomorrow to find out when I need to go down. But really it's quite far from my home. It'll probably take me at least 30 min to get there. No joke when school starts at 7am.

I don't know anyone there, nor are any of my friends posted there. Touch and go lor. Ironically, Jonathan got posted to Xinmin, Jasmine's school, and Angelica took my place at Punggol.

Pray for good supervisor and CT, both from Rosyth and NIE. As well as a sympathetic principal, though I heard otherwise from Aishah.

Here's where it is. Far out man.