“Jackpot” on the First Day of School

The first day of school on the 2nd semester. Two children did not come to school. The spirit of the children and teachers are still soaring up to the sky-high after being re-charge during the holiday. Some children did not going anywhere during holiday, and spent the holiday at home. But still, the first day of school brought its own excitement.
Half the day had passed when a child came towards me, asking permission to go to the toilet. Of course I allowed him to immediately go to the toilet, since the teacher who supposed to teach hasn’t come to the class yet. Before long, he returned back to the classroom, reporting.
“Miss … I wanted to pooped, but I got diarrhea. My pants are dirty…” Whew!!! You got hit by the jackpot on the very first day of school. The child didn’t prepare any extra clothes to change. Fortunately, there was one other child who had brought complete package of clothes. Pants, t-shirt, singlet and briefs, all in the package. Umm … may we borrow it? Fortunately he was kindly allowed his friend to borrow his clothes. Isn’t he a nice kid, uh?
Then I brought the package of the clothes into the boy’s toilet. Yeah, right, you did not misread it. I, that in fact is an original female, must entered the boy’s toilet to assist the poor boy who got wet his pants. He could clean himself, but he still need to be guided. Well, he is a Primary 1 student, anyway.
There were two or three times that other boy was found to be ‘shocked’ when they found me in their toilet. Sorry boys… my purpose is only doing my business. No intention to do any harassment.
No matter happen, I won’t let this “jackpot incident” ruin my first day of school. It was the first one in this term, although my partner and have been experienced similar incident for several times already. It almost became a common occurrence in my class and the class next door. Last term only, there were about 6 ‘cases’ that happened in my class, with different children. My partner and I even counting each other, define the ‘lottery’ of who will got the next turn to ‘deal’ with the kid.
And started the second half of this school year, I hope that would be the one and only incident. I really hope the children would prepare spare clothes to keep in class locker. Hopefully it doesn’t have to be used, just let it stored neatly in the locker for the whole semester, to be taken home again at the end of the semester.

Heroes Day Commemoration in Our School

Heroes’ Day commemoration in our school, Al Irsyad Satya Islamic School, lasted with a blast. Morning 10 November, assembly area has been ‘transformed’ into a simple stage to perform a few scenes of a bloody events happened in front of hotel Yamato in Surabaya 46 years ago, in a socio-dramatic performance.
Setting of the hotel was made from used cardboard that was pasted in front of the futsal goal post. At the top, a symbol of Dutch flag was placed, the red-white-blue flag as a symbol of the Netherlands.

On the left ‘stage’, attached on the transparent wall of the tower of the school big clock, the words “RRI Soerabaja“.  The students, especially those who were on the Primary level, been curious already of what would be presented before their eyes.

We were sitting lined up according to class, accompanied by the home room teacher, getting ready to watch a series of events to be held that morning. The narrator has already started with a short introduction, soon to be continued with poetry readings by two girls from Secondary. After that, a group of other students start performing the short drama which tells the story of the struggle and battle happened in Surabaya years ago, a historic moment that we are commemorating heroes day now.

The costumes of the ancient warrior or the Dutch figures were quite easily get and wore by every character who had a role in the drama. The storyline was packaged in a short but quite informative scenes. The act of every characters were fine, though I know that the preparations were made in a very short period. I salute all Secondary students and teachers who mentored them.

Haryanto at the top roof of hotel Yamato

And the peak scenes were the part of the torn of  the blue part of the Dutch flag, done by Haryanto at the top of hotel Yamato tower. It was so dramatic and made the audience cheered. ”Long life Haryanto!” “Merdeka (Freedom)!” “Haryanto, I love you!” Uh … those words spontaneously spit out of my mouth, when I saw his heroic action. All eyes were on me. Ah … it was quite embarrassing. ;)

A bamboo shellfire enliven the show, became an integral complement of the overall socio-drama event. It was sign of the killing of General Mallaby when he was just came out from the hotel Yamato. Then Indonesia successfully defended its independency, so we can breathe the air of independency these days. Merdeka! Let’s commemorate and appreciate the services of the heroes and our ancestors!

Alvin as the honorable Diponegoro

One other event was hero costume contest made of newspaper. My group had to dress up one child as closely as possible with the figure of Diponegoro. O-ow … OK then. Armed with stacks of newspaper and cellotape, we had to dress-up one of our group members to become the legendary figure. And here is the result, the honorable Diponegoro. He looks so similar to the character, isn’t he? :):);)

So that’s all the events to commemorating heroes day this year. I hope it’s not only brought a deep impression for a day, but also leave a long thought to get to know our nation’s history trail, increase appreciation to the services of the heroes who have gone before us. Their struggle and battle to make Indonesia became an independent country are priceless. We thank them dearly, then we continue their spirit by doing our best to make Indonesia  continuing as an independent country. God willing, yes we can….!

My First Quilting Project

I planned to submit another design for the Alfamart Photo Contest Batik Creative Challenge, but I cancelled my submission because of the regulation. One contestant can only submit one design/project, and I’ve submitted the reversible batik apron already. So I’ll just show this here on my blog posting. It’s a pair of pot holders. Yes, this one also reversible, with one letter on each side. They could be read as ALFA.

It’s a very simple project. Can I claim it as a quilt? Hm… Then I can say this is my first Quilting project. There will be another one, then. Insya Allah. Sewing, when it’s done like this Quilting project, is actually addicting

Reversible Batik Apron

I am an impulsive person. Yeah … yeah … I have to admit it. I am also a last minute person. But I usually finished the whatever assignments I have to be done at the last minute time, very close to the deadline. Like this one.
I have a short holiday after progress report last weekend. So I use my holiday time to work on my craft project, making a reversible batik apron. I’m going to submit it to a Batik Creative Challenge photo contest organized by Alfamart. The deadline is Saturday the 15th -which is tomorrow-, and I rushed finishing this reversible batik apron. In the previous day I had cut out the fabric, and in the next day I marked the seams with rader and carbon, and then speed up finishing in in half a day. Yess!!!
I’m pretty satisfied with my work. It’s easy to make, simple without the need to do anything extra to the seams because its all hidden inside. But if you want to get the best result, well… it means you cannot be lazy to go back and forth from sewing machine to the ironing table. But the result came up all right. Don’t you think? ;)Well… I’ve done something extra during my holiday time, how about you? Come on, take advantage of your vacation time …! Oh my God! I forgot that I should go to the car salon for an oil change and check the condition of the air conditioner. Ooops … then let me do it tomorrow. Insha Allah. After all the pictures of this reversible batik apron has been successfully displayed on Alfamart’s facebook wall as it required. Now I just have to wait for the result. Anyone would like to add some thumbs on the photos? I’d really appreciate it, and I better say thank you in advance

Eid Mubarak, Time To Be With Family

Eid moment this year, we spent together just with my sisters, three nephews and two nieces. Ramadan this year is memorable (well… I think all Ramadan are memorable, with its own memories, each year differently). There was incident and controversy of defining Syawal the 1st. The government decided to set Syawal the 1st (as we have to stop fasting and celebrate Eid) on August the 31st, while other decided to end Ramadan on 29 and celebrate Eid on 30. Ah… confusing. We stutter in the morning of (predicted) Eid day. But okay, that issue became one topic to write a blog posting in Kompasiana forum (I’m in the middle of writing addiction in Kompasiana )

The family. Left to right: Panji, me, bude Yayu (my eldest sister), bunda Trini, adik Rizki, mbak Layla, kakak Tasya. At the back row: tante Rani and Adam.

My sister Trini and her family came that morning. We had short chat for a while, took some photos, and then have to they leave, heading to another destination. And so, that’s the moment of the Eid day this year. This is the second Eid after our mum passed away. Without her presence, Eid moment certainly felt different. We miss you, mum.

Eid Greetings

It is end of Ramadhan, the holy month. And I realized that there are so many things that I haven’t done, included 2 delayed blog postings that I haven’t published . There are still many things that I have not done it perfectly, although I realize well, that perfection is belong only in Him, Allah The Al Mighty.

Syawal is another new start that promising purity. I really hope that Allah will give us chance to become a better person, long live to meet another Ramadhan in the future.

I ask for forgiveness for all the wrongdoing and mistakes I made. May Allah accept our shaum, and made us a better muslim after Ramadhan. Ameen.

Embracing Ramadhan

Monday, 1 August 2011, is happened to be the first of Ramadan 1432 Hijri. The first day of Ramadhan, it become a national holiday for school community, so the teachers can enjoy a day off as well. ;) Marhaban yaa Ramadhan...!

School timetable has an adjustment according to Ramadhan month, the fasting month. As lunch time is trimmed, the students can have their dismissal sooner. Come on, then, let’s do fasting together, will you kids? I have already told my students in Primary 1 and 2 to do fasting. At least when they are at school, they should not eat nor drink. After that, whether in the car pool or at their own house they would want to have their lunch, then it become their parents’ responsibility. But actually, let’s imagine for the next few years, when the children can proudly tell you that they could do their fasting fully from dawn until dark (evening) since they are still in Primary 1. Oooh, it will be their achievement, and mom and dad will be proud and happy as well. They’ll become the light of your eyes, the precious jewel in the heaven.

So, let’s embrace Ramadhan with our pure heart and sincere intention to perform worship through the holy month with our best efforts. May we all pass Ramadhan and become a more pious person. Ameen.

Pin for My P2 Ihsan Students

It’s been a long time that I haven’t written any blog post. I miss it. The days before, I was busy preparing children report and also preparing our departure to Singapore for an intensive internship program with the Madrasah Al Irsyad Singapore. In addition there were also various other matters that can not wait to do. It just have to be done.
Alhamdulillah, all my students in P2 Ihsan, my previous class, were passed to higher grade. Their performances were up and down, but there were always time when they worked hard, study hard, or play like mad For all the good times we had in P2 Ihsan together, I gave them pins. With pictures of all of us in it, and personalize it with our own names. So all have one on their own. Looking at those cute faces and expressions, um… cute weren’t they? I miss them already. Hope you all learn more diligently in Primary 3, will you kids?

Another Earthquake. At School, This Time.

Break between two lessons. My students were outside of the classroom, playing around, running in the corridor. Vague, I think there is a small shake. Was that earthquake…? I made sure that the shocks that I felt on the second floor of the school was not the resonance effect of the normal vibration of heavy vehicles passing by on the street side. Students’ work hanging on the window was a bit swaying when I looked at it. Slowly. It makes me believe that this was earthquake. I felt nervous.

Walked out from the classroom, I asked some colleagues and students. Many of them Didn’t feel any earthquake. They were being too ‘busy’ with their world, I guess. I’m a bit paranoid, I guess. I took my bag along with my laptop, went to the regular spot to have meeting with my PDIS department every Tuesday. One of the agenda to be discuss: disaster response training at any time, in case of similar incident occurred, while the students are still in school areas. I think it must immediately scheduled. Let’s do it…!

Polling Device in the Class

Math become favorite lesson lately. The material seems to be easier after practiced and trained many times, and it is also delivered in an interesting and varied methods. Ms.Pury, one of our math teacher, often uses technology to attract our students’ attention to study maths for more. One technology-based program used by ms. Pury is Polling Device. It is a kind of electronic survey tools. The data is being input, then the results can be directly acknowledged within a moment.
Polling devices can be used in Interactive Teaching Room or in the classroom. The preparation is quite time-consuming, while the execution just take several minutes. But when the children seems to be eager to learn, it makes the effort worth.
Ms. Pury uses ARS2007 program that has already installed in the computer (actually, it is already installed in our computer as well. Mine too :p). Set of questions and answer keys are made in separate file. All questions are made in the form of multiple choices. Usually, ms.Pury make 10-15 questions to be used in one session. Once stored in the folder, the files are ready to be used at any time.
When it is used, ms. Pury brought in in-focus projector to the classroom or bring the kids to the IT Room. The kids look so eager -though actually they are going to have exercise. When the in-focus projector is ready, each kid can get the remote to be used for data entry.

First, they have to check the availability of the power of the battery. Next, ms. Pury will start displaying the questions, one by one on the screen.

In a relatively short period of time, the kids must read and answer the questions appeared on the screen and choose/press one of the buttons on the remote they hold. Sorry to be sorry, the answer can not be revised, there is only one chance to hit.

Later, the result can be acknowledged directly on  the spot. Anyone who answer the question correctly or wrongly, it is also can be displayed on the same screen. And the final result? It’s like playing games, the top ranking until the lowest, all are shown clearly in front of their eyes.
In addition, ms. Pury can discuss the matter when it is necessary, immediately, emphasizing the problems that seems to be difficult for the kids. So similar mistakes in the future can be minimized and even avoided. Whatever result they found, the activity is still fun for them.