Stella Maris 10th Annual Prize Giving Concert 2012

All I can say is Wow! My students can really sing! I'm so proud of them all!

Our school - Sekolah Rendah Stella Maris (Ampang) - ended with a school concert in the morning of November 10, 2012 held in Dewan Risda, Jalan Ampang. It is a day of recognition for students who have made some achievements in their academic performances during the year. Parents and friends of students were all invited to a day of prize giving and concert items presented by each class from Years 1 to 6, in addition to the Stella Maris School Band and the Bible Knowledge Choir.

Here's an account of my journey from the inception of the choir to the day of presentation.

.. and (sadly) the aftermath.. 

Since I was teaching Bible Knowledge classes I was asked to prepare the Years 4, 5 & 6 students to present a concert item, with the help of a good friend/teacher Ms June. We came up with three Christmas carols - One Small Child, Do You Hear What I Hear & Feliz Navidad. I thought what better way to end the school days than by bringing some Christmas cheer to all, since we wouldn't be seeing each other during the holidays. We started the practice first week of September. 

We started practicing class by class initially since we were unable to gather all of the students at one time. When I first taught them to sing in parts it was a little chaotic, and I was getting doubtful. Would I be able to pull it off? 

I was playing the guitar during the first few sessions but later I played my guitar recordings so I could focus on giving them directions. Furthermore, that way the tempo could be kept consistent. From thereon, I assigned one girl from Year 5 to be the conductor.

In later practices I started recording the singing (discreetly) and I would then review them at home, almost every night. Even before I arrived at school in the mornings I would listen to the recordings and planned the practices. It was all I could ever think of during the last two months before the concert. However, things began to look brighter when we had our practices with the Year 6 students. They were quite a mature bunch. One student offered to play the Bass guitar - it was a great addition to our music. We also included two tambourines and the Triangle.

After much thought and planning I decided to form a backup singers (Year 4 & 6 girls) who would sing the parts for the duration of the presentation, instead of inconsistencies caused by alternating between boys and girls. I even had separate practices with this group to fine-tune their singing and asked them for feedback.

I was so obsessed with our concert item that I bought an additional microphone, a bongo and a Triangle on my own account. Anyway, I had always wanted to buy them, and the timing seemed right.

During the last two weeks before the concert we managed to gather them all together for practices and I was really surprised with their singing. They sang very well indeed, albiet some who were not serious, and some not really singing but wished to remain a part of the choir. Anyway, I welcome them all 2despite certain remarks aimed at them. I just wanted everyone to have a good time and try their best.

I was greatly encouraged after hearing my Headmaster and office staff complimented on their singing several times.

On the Prize Giving day our presentation was slotted last so they could end the concert by singing the National Anthem while still on the stage. How did the choir fare on that day? Well, here's the thing..

I believe the students were all tired after almost three hours when the concert started, without any supply of drinks. When one of the microphones were set up I forgot to switch it on, causing a teeny bit of glitch in the second song. The student who was supposed to play the bongo did not turn up, but that's alright. Overall, the singing was not as good as the practices we've had in school but, considering the circumstances mentioned earlier, they really gave their best, and I'm so very proud of them all. My Headmaster also complimented on their singing.

I thank all the students for their participation and for making the concert and practice sessions a very happy experience for me. Especially the Year 5 girls in the front row with T-shirts and jeans wearing hats - who were not fully focused during practices but gave their best here during the concert.

My appreciation goes to :

- Shiebnaa - solo (One Small Child)

- Chloe - solo (Do You Hear)

- Brian, Nicolas, Komal & Ann (Single Line Solo - Do You Hear)

- Alessandra, Amanda, Shiebnaa, Chloe & Kristen (Backup Singers)

- Alessandra & Amanda (Tambourine)

- Roshini (Triangle)

- Daniel (Bass Guitar)

- Caitlyn (Conductor)

- Ms June (Teacher / Choir Assistant)

- and the rest!

- Thanks to Bryan for helping me video capture.

While waiting for the official video you can watch the singing which I have uploaded via the following links:

One Small Child

Do You Hear

Feliz Navidad

The aftermath..

That concert day was actually a very sad day for me. Not because of the small glitches, oh no. They all sang their best despite being exhausted. It was a sad day for me for the obvious reason that I would not be seeing them until next year when school reopens. Sadder because I won't be seeing my Year 6 friends whom I have worked closely with during the practice sessions. Suddenly, all life in school seem to come to a standstill. So quiet.. 

Hope I'll see them again..

Sad goodbye to my Year Six friends

Where's the 'good' in GOODBYE? How does it benefit both parties? Rather, how can saying goodbye help, unless, of course, you really don't want to see that person again..

That is the reason I always bid someone 'bye' without the 'good'.

I've only been working as a teacher in Stella Maris primary school for five months. Just when I was getting to know Year 6 pupils a lot better, they have already gone off on year-end school holiday, and chances of seeing them again appears slim as they will be advancing into secondary school elsewhere. I can only cherish the good times (no bad times, thankfully) I have spent interacting with them and hope to see some of them soon. Good thing I've some encouraging words from some of them written in my journal - will talk about that later.

I don't actually teach Year 6 class but had the opportunity to teach songs to some of them who are enrolled in Bible Knowledge (or BK) classes. You see, we have a yearly concert usually held in November at the end of school term and I was assigned to guide the BK of Years 4-6 in presenting a concert item, with the help of another teacher, Ms June. That was when I got to know them better during the song practice. At first I was a little uncomfortable cos I wasn't sure what they would make of me, a new teacher, and how well they would accept me. But during the practice we did have fun, we laughed at our mistakes, and we did try and improve. After the first practice I was already looking forward to more as most of them were quite a matured bunch and they enjoyed the song practices. Heck, I was also enjoying their company!

Of course I also enjoyed the song practices we've had with Years 4 & 5 as well. But I just want to focus on Year 6 in this blog.

Over time, I have regarded them as friends, not just my pupils. Sure they've learned from me, but I've also learned some things from them too. I've learned that we can have a good time in school. I've learned that friendship means a lot to me as it is to them.

But I've also learned how heart-wrenching it can be to build friendship just to have it distancing from  me at year's end and leaving behind the memories of a wonderful time amidst a very quiet and empty school, where I am still working with a skeleton staff till year end.

Well, I guess this is one thing I did not see coming. Thankfully, during the last week of school when Year 6 pupils went around asking friends and teachers to autograph their school magazines, I asked some of the Year 6 pupils to autograph my Starbucks journal. All of them, knowing that I am a new teacher recently out of the corporate working world, wrote very encouraging words and asked me to stay as a teacher in this school.

Sometimes when I feel lonely and a little discouraged in school I would open my Starbucks journal and read what they have written, and my heart would begin to power up once again. That is the stirring I feel in my heart. That's what friends are for - encouraging one another. I wish all my Year 6 friends the best that life has to offer!

Next year 2013 I will miss my Year 5 (going to year 6) friends..