SJKC Primary One Orientation Week

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Just as the year-end school holidays started a fortnight ago, Ethan had to go to his primary school for a two-week orientation. We paid for this actually, RM130 for 2 weeks (4 hours/day) inclusive of food. We asked Ethan earlier if he wants to join this orientation and excitedly he said YES so we signed him up on the day we confirmed his registration in this school.

With Ayden keeping me occupied, I had not much time to think about this orientation until the day comes. On the first day, I woke Ethan up early at 6.30am as he had to be in school by 8am. I dressed him up in tee and sandals as it never occur in my mind that other kids will attend in full uniform!

Thank goodness he wasn’t the only one in casual attire!

They were partnered right from the beginning. By the 3rd day, the class teacher rearrange the seating arrangement with the ‘cheekier’ ones being partnered with the ‘good’ ones. Ethan’s partner the girl was transferred to be seated behind Ethan to be partnered with a cheeky student while another cheekier one was made to sit next to Ethan. That means Ethan and the girl are the ‘good’ ones? :P

On the first day, they are required to hold their partner’s hand to the canteen and back.

15 minutes is all they have to finish their meal. Ethan usually takes an hour or more to finish his lunch so you can imagine my surprise when he managed to finish his meal within 15 minutes here!

We are lucky Ethan is very independent. He doesn’t need us to be around from Day 1 but us being us, we lingered around, not letting him see us. Watching him from afar, bravely making his way into this new environment really warms my heart. He is so brave, so, so brave.

By the third day he is already in uniform complete with school shoes and bag. We bought his uniform from the school itself as the badge is readily printed on the white shirt. We bought 3 white shirts (RM15 each) and 3 pants (RM16 each). The above picture shows the morning assembly. They’ll be lined up; a line for boys, and a line for girls. Girls outnumbered the boys in Ethan’s class of 40 students. There are 2 Malay girl in his class too.

During this 2-weeks orientation or tuition as some calls it, Ethan studied Mandarin and BM. He said they were pretty simple. He learned many songs. I love seeing him coming home each day singing different songs. Those are educational songs to learn BM and Mandarin. Very good I must say.

The teacher speaks using a wireless mic headset in class so the children can hear her loud and clear. She also uses projector instead of writing on the white board. Quite high-tech compared to MY time in school >_<

There are certain rules the kids MUST adhere to in school. The one and most important rule is NO RUNNING. If you run, the teacher can hear your footsteps and you will be punished, so they were told. I guess this is to avoid them from falling.

The teacher also brought them to canteen and back to class. Once back in class the teacher gets the students to go to the toilet by groups. Students are not allowed to go to the toilet during lessons so Ethan dared not drink a lot of water in school -.-

The kids are partnered from day 1 but might get switched to another partner if both are deemed too naughty. Ethan was partnered with a girl on Day 1 but by Day 3 he was given a ‘notti’ boy to take care of.

The kids are given designated gates for pick-up after school. Parents need to choose which gates to pick their child and the gate number will be written on the children’s tag.

Ethan was also told to cut his hair super short so that there is no need to gel them as styling the hair to school is not allowed! There goes my rocker boy! :'(

The children are not allowed to bring mechanical pencils to school. Sharpeners need to be with covers or else they are not allowed too.

Since Ethan loves the canteen food during the 2 weeks orientation, we decided to pay for the food so Ethan will have food provided during recess time in January and February. If everything goes well, we’ll continue on the food for the following months but for now, let’s wait and see how things go. At RM2.50 per day, I think it is quite okay as I don’t think I’ll have the time to prepare any of the above for Ethan. Besides, he’ll get allocated seat in the canteen so that is definitely a plus point, for now.

I am glad Ethan went for this 2 weeks orientation as we were told that when they start school next year, parents are not allowed into the school compound after the 2nd day. At least during this 2 weeks, we are allowed to stay until we feel comfortable enough to leave. I saw several children still crying even on the second week. I stayed for a day only while the Daddy stayed for 3 days before feeling comfortable enough to leave him unsupervised.

At least now I know Ethan is already comfortable and knows the school rules and system. He told us not to worry come January as he already knows where his class and toilet is, who his teachers and classmates are and more.

If you are sending your child to SJKC and is worried that your child might not cope with Mandarin, I think you need not worry as I saw how the teacher introduces Mandarin to the children in such a fun and simple way. I don’t know if it is too early to say but I see no ‘monsters’ in the school as yet. It was all fun, fun and fun according to Ethan. I really hope it will stay that way next year! Who knows, he might beg to differ come January….