Thursday, July 1, 2010
5:51 PM
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Paramount Championship 2010 - Finals (Category A)
Best Speaker: Ong Ee Fen (3W)
Pembahas Terbaik: Tan Qian Ying (3D)
最佳辩论员: Kee Mun (2E)
Best Supporting Role: Wan Ahmad Aimann Wan Azaini (3N)
Best Actress: Ong Ee Fen (3W)
Best Actor: Razlan Ashwyn Arif Bin Richard Azlan (3N)
Best Creativity: Modern Dancing (2G)
Best Team Spirit: Skit (3N)
Best Showmanship: Razlan Ashwyn Arif Bin Richard Azlan (3N)
Best Drummer: Jonathan Michael Chin Yoong Kim (3E)
Best Guitarist: Morgan Nathan (3N)
My Favourite Dancer: Lawrence Pang Loong Sin (2G)
My Favourite Singer: Sophia Liew Yii Lin (3G)
My Favourite Performer: Fam Hui Ying (2M)
Best Dancer: Shea Chew Shen Ren (2N)
Best Vocal: Sophia Liew Yii Lin (3G)
Best Performer: Razlan Ashwyn Arif Bin Richard Azlan (3N) – 4G, 2S, 0B
Champion Class: 3 Newton (6G, 3S, 1B)
Best Speaker: Ong Ee Fen (3W)
Pembahas Terbaik: Tan Qian Ying (3D)
最佳辩论员: Kee Mun (2E)
Best Supporting Role: Wan Ahmad Aimann Wan Azaini (3N)
Best Actress: Ong Ee Fen (3W)
Best Actor: Razlan Ashwyn Arif Bin Richard Azlan (3N)
Best Creativity: Modern Dancing (2G)
Best Team Spirit: Skit (3N)
Best Showmanship: Razlan Ashwyn Arif Bin Richard Azlan (3N)
Best Drummer: Jonathan Michael Chin Yoong Kim (3E)
Best Guitarist: Morgan Nathan (3N)
My Favourite Dancer: Lawrence Pang Loong Sin (2G)
My Favourite Singer: Sophia Liew Yii Lin (3G)
My Favourite Performer: Fam Hui Ying (2M)
Best Dancer: Shea Chew Shen Ren (2N)
Best Vocal: Sophia Liew Yii Lin (3G)
Best Performer: Razlan Ashwyn Arif Bin Richard Azlan (3N) – 4G, 2S, 0B
Champion Class: 3 Newton (6G, 3S, 1B)
Labels: by Zachary Wong Ket Lud, category A, special awards 2010
6:46 PM
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
GOLD - Tai Lin Xuan & Lim Ke Rou (2G)
SILVER - Azzira Azli & Selena Tee (3D)
BRONZE - Joanna Tan Hui Jean & Lynene Lai Rou Qian (2M)
SILVER - Azzira Azli & Selena Tee (3D)
BRONZE - Joanna Tan Hui Jean & Lynene Lai Rou Qian (2M)
Labels: by Zachary Wong Ket Lud, category A, Culinary Competition, main course, results
2:04 PM
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
6:37 PM
6:28 PM
2:06 PM
Monday, May 17, 2010
10:38 AM
Friday, May 14, 2010
For most part of her life, Alice has always remembered living in the pale white sanctuary of a hospital wing. Room A-14B was her slice of heaven. She was only six when the government agency brought her here for a full medical check up.
And found out she was diagnosed with leukemia.
Her parents were both hardcore drug addicts and passed away not long after they were detained by the police for attempting to hide heroine in their shoes. Alice was sent for a medical check up before they decided to put her under a child-care agency’s care. But after the doctor diagnosed her with leukemia, everything changed and she was whisked away for many immediate treatments under the watchful eyes of experienced doctors.
Her first chemotherapy session was on 19 April 2009. It was successful.
Alice was a girl that you could completely walk pass a thousand times in your life, and never even take a glance at. She hardly spoke a word to anybody, never smiled and never shed tears. Even though she was under the ever loving care of the nurses and doctors, but the scars from her ugly childhood left a deep, unadulterated impact and she always had bad nightmare problems. She was a cold lifeless doll with no breath of humanity until she met Emma.
Emma, also aged 10, was diagnosed with leukemia on 1st May 2009.
She was a happy and exceedingly brilliant child, filled with love and energy from her tight-knitted family. When she was diagnosed with leukemia, her parents’ love was greater than ever. Emma and Alice was a world difference apart. They had nothing in common except that they were both of the same age; same gender, and had same disease.
But nonetheless, they became best friends.
It was on a bright, sunny day.
“Mommy, mommy. Who is that girl? ” Emma curiously asked when she saw Alice around for a few times waiting for her monthly blood tests. Alice was reading intently on a chair.
“Darling, she’s also sick. She just has been here longer than you have.” Her mother replied promptly.
Emma trailed her eyes over the child while fingering her necklace, and decided that that child was the prettiest girl she ever met. And after her mother left the hospital, Emma sneaked out of her room and went into the room the pretty girl always walked to. As usual, the pretty girl was reading a book on her bed. It was titled Pollyanna.
The door closed with a soft shut. Alice was shocked to see a blonde child walking up to her shyly. But her face was impassive, showing no sign of emotion.
“Hello.. Nice to meet you.” Said Emma.
Alice didn’t reply, instead she closed her book and stared at Emma.
“Well I just happened to saw you outside Dr.Hugh’s room and..”
Alice stared.
“OH STOP STARING AT ME. THIS IS SO WEIRD. ”
Both of them stared at each other for a few moments, still tension was in the air.
“Are you…real?” Alice finally asked, with eyes wide open as though Emma was a tooth fairy that only existed in story books.
Emma laughed, and sat on the edge of Alice’s bed.
“Of course I’m real! ” Emma took a bewildered Alice’s hands and cuddled them.
“My name’s Emma Beaufort . Just call me Emma ! I was recently admitted into this big, big hospital and the food here isn’t that all bad , you know? The nurses even gave me a bar of milk chocolate the other day because I was brave to take that injection that Dr.Hugh gave me. It was all painful and I happened to see you there again and—Oh. I completely forgot. I was babbling away and I forgot to ask, what was your name again? ”
“Alice.”
“Alice? What a pretty name ! You’re so pretty too. Oh you’re reading Pollyanna ! I love Pollyanna, she’s the girl that everyone….”
And that was a start of a beautiful friendship. They began to form a strong and fiercely loyal bond. Even Alice’s nightmares were slowly going away. Every day, they would read to each other, play games and even sometimes nick a bud or two from other patient’s flower bouquet just for the fun of it. Of course, they would give them back with a solemn face and then burst out in hysterical laughter when they were safely back in their rooms. They hardly ever spent a day apart.
To Alice, Emma was her Pollyanna.
The girl with the ever-glowing sunshine.
All along, Alice was always quite jealous of Emma’s diamond necklace. It was a simple string with a beautiful square-cut 4-carat diamond set deep in sliver. It was a breath-taker. The necklace was given to by Emma’s late grandmother who adored her grandchild above anything. Even Emma kept it very well and barely let Alice touch her most precious possession in the world, Alice would always stare at it hungrily, and only dream of having a necklace like that one day.
After a whole year of bliss, Emma was to undergo a bone marrow transplant after doctors confirmed her elder brother, Robert, was a near perfect match and that Emma should take this operation. Everyone in her family was overjoyed, because the doctors said Emma had a fairly good chance to live as a normal child again as her condition was looking good and stable. Everyone was happy.. except Alice.
For Alice, this meant that she would lose a best friend, no, an only friend. Emma would be skipping her way out of the hospital and go to a proper school and have proper friends. Although Alice heartily congratulated Emma at first but deep down, she wished that the operation would never happen. She wished that Robert never existed. She wished and wished. And all that anger and jealousy tore away at her. She knew what she felt and thought was wrong, but she didn’t care, because Emma was always the one getting attractive flower bouquets, daintily-wrapped chocolates and photo albums filled with happy family memoirs. It was always Emma.
Why can’t I have a bone marrow transplant too?
Why can’t I have flowers and chocolates too?
Why can’t I have presents?
Why can’t I have a beautiful necklace ?
WHY? WHY? WHY?
This took a drastic turn on their friendship. Emma couldn’t understand why Alice felt such anger towards her. They no longer talked and barely looked at each other. Even Alice kept to herself in her room. She felt lonely and hard again.
The day of the bone marrow transplant operation came not long after.
The day that Alice wished would never happen.
Alice was standing all by herself waiting for her next injection when Emma was wheeled into the operation room. Her family was close by, tearing up with happiness. Then, both friends shared a glance but Alice looked away.
If one was a close observer, one would notice that Emma’s eye lowered in disappointment as the operation room doors closed behind her. Alice walked inside Dr. Hugh’s office to get her injection.
The only thought in her mind as she saw Alice’s eager family waiting in anticipation was
‘ I hate her ’
After many hours, the doctors came out and pulled their masks off.
“Doctor, how did it go? Was it okay? Is she okay? ” the whole family crowded around the doctors, looking worried and impatient.
“I am happy to say it went well, congratulations Mrs.Beaufort . The bone marrow transplant operation was very successful.” The doctors smiled and excused themselves politely.
The whole family was in an uproar and news traveled fast. Alice heard about it, and she felt her world was growing bigger and lonelier. Nobody was with her now.
Alice and Emma never talked to each other, even during Emma’s last weeks at the hospital. Emma tried to greet Alice every time they met, but no avail. The wall Alice had built around her was so solid and strong.
The few months in which there was no Emma to talk to, was plain hell for Alice even though she would never admit it. She still felt the jealousy of Emma being able to be a normal girl again, but deep down inside her heart, she had this tingly feeling. Like something was wrong.
The hospital days passed slower and slower. Until one day, an enclosed letter addressed to Alice was sent.
It rained heavily, What an ominous, gloomy setting for the evening, Alice thought. She sat by the window sill, and let out a soft sigh before opening the letter.
Dear Alice,
I regrettably write this letter to inform you that my sister, Emma Beaufort, passed away a few days ago. It was her last wish to inform you of her passing. She said the few months spent with you was unforgettable and she wished that you would understand. Besides that, she has also sent you something that she’s been working on the past few months. I have placed it all in a box, please collect it from the nurses…Well, I always had hoped that you two would someday reunite. This pains me.
Alice, I hope that you will give Emma your blessings.
Thank you,
Robert
“EMMA DIED?” Alice was wild in shock.
“WHY DIDN’T ANYONE TELL ME THIS ?”
She broke down and started howling. The nurses took her to her room and tried to calm her down. But Alice slammed the door shut and started shrieking.
“THIS IS A LIE. THIS IS A LIEEEEEEEEE !!!!!!!! I HATE YOU ALL . I HATE YOU ALL ! GO AWAY AND LEAVE ME ALONE ! LEAVE ME ALONEE NOWWWW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
Alice cried herself to sleep that night, in her hands clutched the letter, the words now blurred by her tears.
In the morning, without changing her clothes, with a bloated face and puffy, swollen eyes, Alice walked up to the nurse and asked in a hoarse voice for the box Robert mentioned in his letter. The nurse immediately fetched the box after seeing the poor state of her patient.
Alice walked slowly back to the room, knowing stares and whispers were thrown in her way, but everything was so numb. She couldn’t feel anything except the smooth surface of the big box Robert sent. She held onto it tightly.
After plopping it on her floor, Alice felt weak and miserable. She had given up all hope and faith. Nothing mattered. She tore open the box roughly and everything tumbled out. It was colorful. At one look, Alice could see paper flowers, soft toys, small boxes, chocolates, candies. And they all had tags on them. She curiously held a stuffed puppy and read its tag.
Aliceee ! I bought this at a fair near my house. Doesn’t this look like Nurse Lydia’s white puppy? Minus the snapping and barking ! –Emma
Alice stifled back a sob. Emma did this all for her?
She grabbed a chocolate bar and read its pink tag.
Hullo Alice! Guess what? This chocolate bar’s brand is WILLY WONKA! You remember Charlie and the chocolate factory? I’ll bet a pound that you’ll love it!
The flavors were so sour that even Robert spat it out. His expression was priceless!
-Emma
Alice went through all the presents that Emma gotten for her, every tag that she read she had to squeeze her eyes to prevent any more tears from coming out. Every tag was so meaningful, the months that she spent with Emma felt alive and real again. She hated herself for hating Emma. She hated herself for being a stupid friend. And most of all, she hated herself for not being there when Emma needed her most.
Alice started crying all over again. Emma was gone forever.
And nothing she could do or say would bring her back.
Alice stood up and accidentally kicked something in her way. It was a tiny black box. She picked it up and opened it slowly. Something long and shiny fell out gracefully on her palm.
It was a very familiar, stunning necklace with a single diamond on it.
The tag wrote:
Alice, always have faith. -Emma
And found out she was diagnosed with leukemia.
Her parents were both hardcore drug addicts and passed away not long after they were detained by the police for attempting to hide heroine in their shoes. Alice was sent for a medical check up before they decided to put her under a child-care agency’s care. But after the doctor diagnosed her with leukemia, everything changed and she was whisked away for many immediate treatments under the watchful eyes of experienced doctors.
Her first chemotherapy session was on 19 April 2009. It was successful.
Alice was a girl that you could completely walk pass a thousand times in your life, and never even take a glance at. She hardly spoke a word to anybody, never smiled and never shed tears. Even though she was under the ever loving care of the nurses and doctors, but the scars from her ugly childhood left a deep, unadulterated impact and she always had bad nightmare problems. She was a cold lifeless doll with no breath of humanity until she met Emma.
Emma, also aged 10, was diagnosed with leukemia on 1st May 2009.
She was a happy and exceedingly brilliant child, filled with love and energy from her tight-knitted family. When she was diagnosed with leukemia, her parents’ love was greater than ever. Emma and Alice was a world difference apart. They had nothing in common except that they were both of the same age; same gender, and had same disease.
But nonetheless, they became best friends.
It was on a bright, sunny day.
“Mommy, mommy. Who is that girl? ” Emma curiously asked when she saw Alice around for a few times waiting for her monthly blood tests. Alice was reading intently on a chair.
“Darling, she’s also sick. She just has been here longer than you have.” Her mother replied promptly.
Emma trailed her eyes over the child while fingering her necklace, and decided that that child was the prettiest girl she ever met. And after her mother left the hospital, Emma sneaked out of her room and went into the room the pretty girl always walked to. As usual, the pretty girl was reading a book on her bed. It was titled Pollyanna.
The door closed with a soft shut. Alice was shocked to see a blonde child walking up to her shyly. But her face was impassive, showing no sign of emotion.
“Hello.. Nice to meet you.” Said Emma.
Alice didn’t reply, instead she closed her book and stared at Emma.
“Well I just happened to saw you outside Dr.Hugh’s room and..”
Alice stared.
“OH STOP STARING AT ME. THIS IS SO WEIRD. ”
Both of them stared at each other for a few moments, still tension was in the air.
“Are you…real?” Alice finally asked, with eyes wide open as though Emma was a tooth fairy that only existed in story books.
Emma laughed, and sat on the edge of Alice’s bed.
“Of course I’m real! ” Emma took a bewildered Alice’s hands and cuddled them.
“My name’s Emma Beaufort . Just call me Emma ! I was recently admitted into this big, big hospital and the food here isn’t that all bad , you know? The nurses even gave me a bar of milk chocolate the other day because I was brave to take that injection that Dr.Hugh gave me. It was all painful and I happened to see you there again and—Oh. I completely forgot. I was babbling away and I forgot to ask, what was your name again? ”
“Alice.”
“Alice? What a pretty name ! You’re so pretty too. Oh you’re reading Pollyanna ! I love Pollyanna, she’s the girl that everyone….”
And that was a start of a beautiful friendship. They began to form a strong and fiercely loyal bond. Even Alice’s nightmares were slowly going away. Every day, they would read to each other, play games and even sometimes nick a bud or two from other patient’s flower bouquet just for the fun of it. Of course, they would give them back with a solemn face and then burst out in hysterical laughter when they were safely back in their rooms. They hardly ever spent a day apart.
To Alice, Emma was her Pollyanna.
The girl with the ever-glowing sunshine.
All along, Alice was always quite jealous of Emma’s diamond necklace. It was a simple string with a beautiful square-cut 4-carat diamond set deep in sliver. It was a breath-taker. The necklace was given to by Emma’s late grandmother who adored her grandchild above anything. Even Emma kept it very well and barely let Alice touch her most precious possession in the world, Alice would always stare at it hungrily, and only dream of having a necklace like that one day.
After a whole year of bliss, Emma was to undergo a bone marrow transplant after doctors confirmed her elder brother, Robert, was a near perfect match and that Emma should take this operation. Everyone in her family was overjoyed, because the doctors said Emma had a fairly good chance to live as a normal child again as her condition was looking good and stable. Everyone was happy.. except Alice.
For Alice, this meant that she would lose a best friend, no, an only friend. Emma would be skipping her way out of the hospital and go to a proper school and have proper friends. Although Alice heartily congratulated Emma at first but deep down, she wished that the operation would never happen. She wished that Robert never existed. She wished and wished. And all that anger and jealousy tore away at her. She knew what she felt and thought was wrong, but she didn’t care, because Emma was always the one getting attractive flower bouquets, daintily-wrapped chocolates and photo albums filled with happy family memoirs. It was always Emma.
Why can’t I have a bone marrow transplant too?
Why can’t I have flowers and chocolates too?
Why can’t I have presents?
Why can’t I have a beautiful necklace ?
WHY? WHY? WHY?
This took a drastic turn on their friendship. Emma couldn’t understand why Alice felt such anger towards her. They no longer talked and barely looked at each other. Even Alice kept to herself in her room. She felt lonely and hard again.
The day of the bone marrow transplant operation came not long after.
The day that Alice wished would never happen.
Alice was standing all by herself waiting for her next injection when Emma was wheeled into the operation room. Her family was close by, tearing up with happiness. Then, both friends shared a glance but Alice looked away.
If one was a close observer, one would notice that Emma’s eye lowered in disappointment as the operation room doors closed behind her. Alice walked inside Dr. Hugh’s office to get her injection.
The only thought in her mind as she saw Alice’s eager family waiting in anticipation was
‘ I hate her ’
After many hours, the doctors came out and pulled their masks off.
“Doctor, how did it go? Was it okay? Is she okay? ” the whole family crowded around the doctors, looking worried and impatient.
“I am happy to say it went well, congratulations Mrs.Beaufort . The bone marrow transplant operation was very successful.” The doctors smiled and excused themselves politely.
The whole family was in an uproar and news traveled fast. Alice heard about it, and she felt her world was growing bigger and lonelier. Nobody was with her now.
Alice and Emma never talked to each other, even during Emma’s last weeks at the hospital. Emma tried to greet Alice every time they met, but no avail. The wall Alice had built around her was so solid and strong.
The few months in which there was no Emma to talk to, was plain hell for Alice even though she would never admit it. She still felt the jealousy of Emma being able to be a normal girl again, but deep down inside her heart, she had this tingly feeling. Like something was wrong.
The hospital days passed slower and slower. Until one day, an enclosed letter addressed to Alice was sent.
It rained heavily, What an ominous, gloomy setting for the evening, Alice thought. She sat by the window sill, and let out a soft sigh before opening the letter.
Dear Alice,
I regrettably write this letter to inform you that my sister, Emma Beaufort, passed away a few days ago. It was her last wish to inform you of her passing. She said the few months spent with you was unforgettable and she wished that you would understand. Besides that, she has also sent you something that she’s been working on the past few months. I have placed it all in a box, please collect it from the nurses…Well, I always had hoped that you two would someday reunite. This pains me.
Alice, I hope that you will give Emma your blessings.
Thank you,
Robert
“EMMA DIED?” Alice was wild in shock.
“WHY DIDN’T ANYONE TELL ME THIS ?”
She broke down and started howling. The nurses took her to her room and tried to calm her down. But Alice slammed the door shut and started shrieking.
“THIS IS A LIE. THIS IS A LIEEEEEEEEE !!!!!!!! I HATE YOU ALL . I HATE YOU ALL ! GO AWAY AND LEAVE ME ALONE ! LEAVE ME ALONEE NOWWWW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
Alice cried herself to sleep that night, in her hands clutched the letter, the words now blurred by her tears.
In the morning, without changing her clothes, with a bloated face and puffy, swollen eyes, Alice walked up to the nurse and asked in a hoarse voice for the box Robert mentioned in his letter. The nurse immediately fetched the box after seeing the poor state of her patient.
Alice walked slowly back to the room, knowing stares and whispers were thrown in her way, but everything was so numb. She couldn’t feel anything except the smooth surface of the big box Robert sent. She held onto it tightly.
After plopping it on her floor, Alice felt weak and miserable. She had given up all hope and faith. Nothing mattered. She tore open the box roughly and everything tumbled out. It was colorful. At one look, Alice could see paper flowers, soft toys, small boxes, chocolates, candies. And they all had tags on them. She curiously held a stuffed puppy and read its tag.
Aliceee ! I bought this at a fair near my house. Doesn’t this look like Nurse Lydia’s white puppy? Minus the snapping and barking ! –Emma
Alice stifled back a sob. Emma did this all for her?
She grabbed a chocolate bar and read its pink tag.
Hullo Alice! Guess what? This chocolate bar’s brand is WILLY WONKA! You remember Charlie and the chocolate factory? I’ll bet a pound that you’ll love it!
The flavors were so sour that even Robert spat it out. His expression was priceless!
-Emma
Alice went through all the presents that Emma gotten for her, every tag that she read she had to squeeze her eyes to prevent any more tears from coming out. Every tag was so meaningful, the months that she spent with Emma felt alive and real again. She hated herself for hating Emma. She hated herself for being a stupid friend. And most of all, she hated herself for not being there when Emma needed her most.
Alice started crying all over again. Emma was gone forever.
And nothing she could do or say would bring her back.
Alice stood up and accidentally kicked something in her way. It was a tiny black box. She picked it up and opened it slowly. Something long and shiny fell out gracefully on her palm.
It was a very familiar, stunning necklace with a single diamond on it.
The tag wrote:
Alice, always have faith. -Emma
Labels: category A, English Essay Writing Competition, gold
12:18 PM
Dyslexia. If you ask a doctor or even an adult what it means, they will tell you it is an impaired ability to read and write. However, if you ask an immature teenager, he or she will probably tell you it’s a disease, which makes kids useless. Is this true? Are they useless? Or is there something they are good at?
This brings us to the story of Shayden Wehr.
Shayden was a quiet, well-mannered boy. At the age of 6, he was diagnosed with dyslexia. That was his first year of elementary school. His grades were extremely low. His parents thought that a personal tutor would help, so they hired one. They didn’t want to believe that he could not read, or write. They wanted to believe that he just would not. By the age of 7, he was still failing every class except for Art.
Yes. That was one of the only things Shayden was good at. As he couldn’t read or write, he spent most of his time drawing, colouring and painting. He was pretty much absorbed in himself. This was because he had no friends in school. Every one called him a freak. Who knew you could be called a freak at the age of 7?
Two years passed by and he has his 9th birthday. Shayden had shown no improvement whatsoever in his studies. He knew he couldn’t do anything in that school. He had given up on himself. Much worse, his father had given up on him. His father turned abusive. He couldn’t take the complaints from the school and remarks from other people. He cared for his reputation and he felt that his son was ruining it.
When anything had happened to him, he would cry to his mother. He often states the same thing.
“ I am stupid! Dad thinks I am stupid! Why do I need to go to school anyway? When I grow up, I want to draw and paint. I don’t need school,” he would keep telling his mother. Sometimes, his mother would feel a tug in her heartstrings.
“ Why did this happen to me? Why can’t I read? Why can’t I write? Why, mother, why?! I just want to be normal so every one will talk to me at school,” His mother didn’t know what to say. After a while, they would both just fall asleep.
“ This is the last straw! I can’t have you here anymore,” shouted Mr. Wehr. Shayden’s father had just been to his school for a parent-teacher conference. Shayden’s English teacher had shouted directly to his face. Mr. Wehr had never been angrier in his life. He had to put his son somewhere else. Mr. and Mrs. Wehr had decided to put him in a boarding school. Although, Shayden’s mother was actually forced to. She didn’t want to leave her son. What kind of mother would, especially when he needed help?
So it was set. Shayden left for a private boarding school in the middle of the semester. It was hard for him to settle in. He did make a friend. His dorm-mate. A cripple named Jaymie. They thought they could relate to each other as they both had disabilities. Shayden was happy that he still had Art. He was also fond of the teacher, Mr. Colin Bennett.
Mr. Bennett was a young, good-looking man who would actually do better, rather then just teaching. No one knew why he wanted to teach little kids Art. Well, not yet, anyway. Over the next few months, Mr. Bennett took a sudden interest towards this Shayden Wehr. At first, he didn’t know why. Then, he started talking to Shayden after finding out he was diagnosed with dyslexia. You see, Mr. Bennett had a peculiar interest in disabled kids.
Mr. Bennett and Shayden soon became good friends. Mr. Bennett never brought “dyslexia” up though. All they talked about was anything that tickled their fancy. After all, they already had a common interest, Art. Soon later, Shayden finally opened up to him about how he is not able to read and write.
“ I could teach you,” said Mr. Bennett.
“ That’s impossible. I’ve already had 3 different teachers. Look how they did,” muttered Shayden.
“ Ah. Well, how I teach is different. I have a younger sister with dyslexia too,” said Mr. Bennett. Shayden was surprised, mainly because he didn’t know what dyslexia meant. However, Shayden gave in. It would be nice to pass an exam, he thought. It was already Year 4.
It was true. Mr. Bennett sure had a different way of teaching. He did everything slowly, following Shayden’s pace. Slowly, he was able to read the word ‘cat’ and then write a word like ‘elephant’. For the first time is his life, Shayden felt that he was good at something else, besides Art.
Months later, Shayden could pass exams for Year 1, 2 and 3. The ones he has sat for, but never took. Shayden felt on top of the world. He did well in class too. He paid attention to the teachers and even made notes. His handwriting was still barely readable, but he still had time.
Extra lessons with Mr. Bennett were still going on. By that time, his Year 4 exams were the next week, but he had studied and felt prepared. Even his skills for Art got better.
2 weeks later…
Shayden had passed his examinations. There were A’s and B’s and C’s but he didn’t fail even one subject. His parents came to pick him up for the term’s holidays. Shayden almost cried when he saw that big smile on his father’s face. His mother was already crying of joy for her son.
Then, Shayden saw him. Mr. Bennett. He ran towards him as though his legs were going to fall off. Shayden gave him the biggest hug anyone could ever imagine. Right then and there, Shayden thought, what if there was never a Mr. Bennett? What if there was no one that caring, who made him pass his exams?
Almost a decade later, at the age of 18, Shayden was given a full scholarship to New York’s finest art school. He had also studied like a normal student throughout. He still had minor difficulties with his dyslexia but hey, he got what he wished for. He could read and write. Now that, was against all odds.
This brings us to the story of Shayden Wehr.
Shayden was a quiet, well-mannered boy. At the age of 6, he was diagnosed with dyslexia. That was his first year of elementary school. His grades were extremely low. His parents thought that a personal tutor would help, so they hired one. They didn’t want to believe that he could not read, or write. They wanted to believe that he just would not. By the age of 7, he was still failing every class except for Art.
Yes. That was one of the only things Shayden was good at. As he couldn’t read or write, he spent most of his time drawing, colouring and painting. He was pretty much absorbed in himself. This was because he had no friends in school. Every one called him a freak. Who knew you could be called a freak at the age of 7?
Two years passed by and he has his 9th birthday. Shayden had shown no improvement whatsoever in his studies. He knew he couldn’t do anything in that school. He had given up on himself. Much worse, his father had given up on him. His father turned abusive. He couldn’t take the complaints from the school and remarks from other people. He cared for his reputation and he felt that his son was ruining it.
When anything had happened to him, he would cry to his mother. He often states the same thing.
“ I am stupid! Dad thinks I am stupid! Why do I need to go to school anyway? When I grow up, I want to draw and paint. I don’t need school,” he would keep telling his mother. Sometimes, his mother would feel a tug in her heartstrings.
“ Why did this happen to me? Why can’t I read? Why can’t I write? Why, mother, why?! I just want to be normal so every one will talk to me at school,” His mother didn’t know what to say. After a while, they would both just fall asleep.
“ This is the last straw! I can’t have you here anymore,” shouted Mr. Wehr. Shayden’s father had just been to his school for a parent-teacher conference. Shayden’s English teacher had shouted directly to his face. Mr. Wehr had never been angrier in his life. He had to put his son somewhere else. Mr. and Mrs. Wehr had decided to put him in a boarding school. Although, Shayden’s mother was actually forced to. She didn’t want to leave her son. What kind of mother would, especially when he needed help?
So it was set. Shayden left for a private boarding school in the middle of the semester. It was hard for him to settle in. He did make a friend. His dorm-mate. A cripple named Jaymie. They thought they could relate to each other as they both had disabilities. Shayden was happy that he still had Art. He was also fond of the teacher, Mr. Colin Bennett.
Mr. Bennett was a young, good-looking man who would actually do better, rather then just teaching. No one knew why he wanted to teach little kids Art. Well, not yet, anyway. Over the next few months, Mr. Bennett took a sudden interest towards this Shayden Wehr. At first, he didn’t know why. Then, he started talking to Shayden after finding out he was diagnosed with dyslexia. You see, Mr. Bennett had a peculiar interest in disabled kids.
Mr. Bennett and Shayden soon became good friends. Mr. Bennett never brought “dyslexia” up though. All they talked about was anything that tickled their fancy. After all, they already had a common interest, Art. Soon later, Shayden finally opened up to him about how he is not able to read and write.
“ I could teach you,” said Mr. Bennett.
“ That’s impossible. I’ve already had 3 different teachers. Look how they did,” muttered Shayden.
“ Ah. Well, how I teach is different. I have a younger sister with dyslexia too,” said Mr. Bennett. Shayden was surprised, mainly because he didn’t know what dyslexia meant. However, Shayden gave in. It would be nice to pass an exam, he thought. It was already Year 4.
It was true. Mr. Bennett sure had a different way of teaching. He did everything slowly, following Shayden’s pace. Slowly, he was able to read the word ‘cat’ and then write a word like ‘elephant’. For the first time is his life, Shayden felt that he was good at something else, besides Art.
Months later, Shayden could pass exams for Year 1, 2 and 3. The ones he has sat for, but never took. Shayden felt on top of the world. He did well in class too. He paid attention to the teachers and even made notes. His handwriting was still barely readable, but he still had time.
Extra lessons with Mr. Bennett were still going on. By that time, his Year 4 exams were the next week, but he had studied and felt prepared. Even his skills for Art got better.
2 weeks later…
Shayden had passed his examinations. There were A’s and B’s and C’s but he didn’t fail even one subject. His parents came to pick him up for the term’s holidays. Shayden almost cried when he saw that big smile on his father’s face. His mother was already crying of joy for her son.
Then, Shayden saw him. Mr. Bennett. He ran towards him as though his legs were going to fall off. Shayden gave him the biggest hug anyone could ever imagine. Right then and there, Shayden thought, what if there was never a Mr. Bennett? What if there was no one that caring, who made him pass his exams?
Almost a decade later, at the age of 18, Shayden was given a full scholarship to New York’s finest art school. He had also studied like a normal student throughout. He still had minor difficulties with his dyslexia but hey, he got what he wished for. He could read and write. Now that, was against all odds.
Labels: category A, English Essay Writing Competition, silver
12:16 PM
Isabelle looked out the window and smiled as she felt the warmth of the sun’s rays on her face. She loved the morning when the Earth woke up and the first signs of life made itself known. She stretched herself and slowly made her way to the window.
“Isabelle, get back into bed right now!” Isabelle frowned as she heard the nurse’s voice, ruining the beauty of the early morning birdsongs just outside the window.
“I am ill, Brenda, not totally incompetent,” Isabelle said in a tone of defiance. It was bad enough that they kept her cooped up in a small hospital room. They could at least let her go to the window and enjoy whatever peace she could find there.
“Fine, stay by the window, but don’t let me catch you sneaking out again.”
Isabelle nodded and dismissed the nurse with a wave of her hand. When the nurse had left, she turned to the patient on the other bed next to hers.
“Won’t you join me, Teresa?” she asked the other girl. Teresa looked up at Isabelle with a blank look on her face and shrugged her shoulders.
“What’s the point? I’m dying, you’re dying. We both have nothing left.”
“We have faith,” whispered Isabelle.
“Faith?”
“Yes, I have faith that God will deliver me from my illness.”
“You and your God, you disturb me.” Isabelle only smiled at Teresa’s obvious insult of her religion. During the time she spent in the hospital, she had gotten to know her roommate quite a bit. She knew that Teresa had a dull outlook towards life and did not believe in anything. The added ‘bonus’ of her chronic illness only served to make her all the more bitter towards life. Isabelle had always wondered how she got through each day with that attitude of hers.
On the other hand, Teresa did not understand how Isabelle could be so optimistic when each passing day only brought her that much closer to death. She could not fathom how her roommate maintained her belief that everything would be okay. Most of all, she did not understand how Isabelle could have so much faith in her God.
“Tomorrow is the day you will have your operation.” Isabelle’s childlike voice brought Teresa out of her musings. Was it? She honestly couldn’t remember. What was the point of remembering which day it was that would likely bring her death? A heart transplant had a low success rate after all.
“Good luck. I will pray for you,” Isabelle said, extending her hand. Teresa glanced at the hand apprehensively, before gingerly shaking it.
“I’ll most likely die anyway.” Isabelle’s eyes darkened at Teresa’s words. Just as Teresa was wondering why her roommate looked so angry, she suddenly felt the sting of Isabelle’s slap across her face.
“Don’t you keep pretending like you want to die,” Isabelle said, her voice raised a little higher than usual. Teresa did not think Isabelle even noticed the tenseness in her own voice.
“And what if I do? It will be a relief after all this,” Teresa retorted darkly.
“You’re cynical, skeptical and generally quite a pain, but you don’t have a
death wish. No matter what you’ve said, you don’t want to die, because you have faith as well,” Isabelle said, her voice softer this time. “You may not have faith in my God, but somewhere deep inside, you do have faith that you’ll survive this. You don’t want to die, because you know there is still a chance,” Isabelle said slowly as if explaining some complicated concept to a small child.
Was there still a chance? Of course there were always two sides to everything, a positive and a negative. It was whether the good outweighed the bad or vice versa. In her situation however, there was no denying that the chances of dying were so much more than the chances of surviving but Isabelle was right in a way. There was still a chance, however small it might be. The question was, did she believe in that slight chance that she would live. Could she have enough faith?
The next day, Teresa was wheeled to the operation room, sitting with a quiet confidence. There were no words that needed to be exchanged. Isabelle knew something she had said to Teresa the previous day had gotten through to her. There was a fire in her eyes that Isabelle had never seen before. Isabelle sensed that Teresa was determined to pull through. Before being wheeled through the operation room door, Teresa turned towards Isabelle and nodded her head – A silent promise, ‘I will see you later.’
Isabelle’s outburst the previous day had struck Teresa like a magic sword. She realized that she had so much to live for. She knew her family missed her terribly and her friends wanted her back as well. She wanted to live to see them again. She knew she needed to put up a good fight for her life if indeed she truly wanted a chance to survive. She needed faith – A faith that would summon every part of her body to build up the strength that would see her through the surgery and whatever risks that came with it.
The doctor injected some sort of sedative into her bloodstream and Teresa had one last thought before unconsciousness claimed her. ‘Isabelle’s God, if you exist, please help me.’
Teresa came to her senses a few hours later and found the familiar face of her doctor smiling down at her. Form his expression and the expression of her family members, she knew that the operation was a success. It looked like she really would have to thank Isabelle later. Teresa smiled for the first time in a long time.
A month later, Isabelle had her liver transplant. Before going into the operation room, Teresa squeezed her hand in encouragement and said, “Have faith, Isabelle.”
The morning after Isabelle’s operation, the two girls had a small celebration in their hospital room. The worst was over and now, both of them had their whole lives ahead of them. Recuperation would be a piece of cake compared to what they had already been through. Suddenly, Isabelle broke into a gentle smile as she realized she would soon be able to watch the sunrise from somewhere other than a hospital window. Teresa, as if sensing her thoughts, looked towards the window as well. The orange glow of the sun beckoned an exciting new era in both their lives.
“Isabelle, get back into bed right now!” Isabelle frowned as she heard the nurse’s voice, ruining the beauty of the early morning birdsongs just outside the window.
“I am ill, Brenda, not totally incompetent,” Isabelle said in a tone of defiance. It was bad enough that they kept her cooped up in a small hospital room. They could at least let her go to the window and enjoy whatever peace she could find there.
“Fine, stay by the window, but don’t let me catch you sneaking out again.”
Isabelle nodded and dismissed the nurse with a wave of her hand. When the nurse had left, she turned to the patient on the other bed next to hers.
“Won’t you join me, Teresa?” she asked the other girl. Teresa looked up at Isabelle with a blank look on her face and shrugged her shoulders.
“What’s the point? I’m dying, you’re dying. We both have nothing left.”
“We have faith,” whispered Isabelle.
“Faith?”
“Yes, I have faith that God will deliver me from my illness.”
“You and your God, you disturb me.” Isabelle only smiled at Teresa’s obvious insult of her religion. During the time she spent in the hospital, she had gotten to know her roommate quite a bit. She knew that Teresa had a dull outlook towards life and did not believe in anything. The added ‘bonus’ of her chronic illness only served to make her all the more bitter towards life. Isabelle had always wondered how she got through each day with that attitude of hers.
On the other hand, Teresa did not understand how Isabelle could be so optimistic when each passing day only brought her that much closer to death. She could not fathom how her roommate maintained her belief that everything would be okay. Most of all, she did not understand how Isabelle could have so much faith in her God.
“Tomorrow is the day you will have your operation.” Isabelle’s childlike voice brought Teresa out of her musings. Was it? She honestly couldn’t remember. What was the point of remembering which day it was that would likely bring her death? A heart transplant had a low success rate after all.
“Good luck. I will pray for you,” Isabelle said, extending her hand. Teresa glanced at the hand apprehensively, before gingerly shaking it.
“I’ll most likely die anyway.” Isabelle’s eyes darkened at Teresa’s words. Just as Teresa was wondering why her roommate looked so angry, she suddenly felt the sting of Isabelle’s slap across her face.
“Don’t you keep pretending like you want to die,” Isabelle said, her voice raised a little higher than usual. Teresa did not think Isabelle even noticed the tenseness in her own voice.
“And what if I do? It will be a relief after all this,” Teresa retorted darkly.
“You’re cynical, skeptical and generally quite a pain, but you don’t have a
death wish. No matter what you’ve said, you don’t want to die, because you have faith as well,” Isabelle said, her voice softer this time. “You may not have faith in my God, but somewhere deep inside, you do have faith that you’ll survive this. You don’t want to die, because you know there is still a chance,” Isabelle said slowly as if explaining some complicated concept to a small child.
Was there still a chance? Of course there were always two sides to everything, a positive and a negative. It was whether the good outweighed the bad or vice versa. In her situation however, there was no denying that the chances of dying were so much more than the chances of surviving but Isabelle was right in a way. There was still a chance, however small it might be. The question was, did she believe in that slight chance that she would live. Could she have enough faith?
The next day, Teresa was wheeled to the operation room, sitting with a quiet confidence. There were no words that needed to be exchanged. Isabelle knew something she had said to Teresa the previous day had gotten through to her. There was a fire in her eyes that Isabelle had never seen before. Isabelle sensed that Teresa was determined to pull through. Before being wheeled through the operation room door, Teresa turned towards Isabelle and nodded her head – A silent promise, ‘I will see you later.’
Isabelle’s outburst the previous day had struck Teresa like a magic sword. She realized that she had so much to live for. She knew her family missed her terribly and her friends wanted her back as well. She wanted to live to see them again. She knew she needed to put up a good fight for her life if indeed she truly wanted a chance to survive. She needed faith – A faith that would summon every part of her body to build up the strength that would see her through the surgery and whatever risks that came with it.
The doctor injected some sort of sedative into her bloodstream and Teresa had one last thought before unconsciousness claimed her. ‘Isabelle’s God, if you exist, please help me.’
Teresa came to her senses a few hours later and found the familiar face of her doctor smiling down at her. Form his expression and the expression of her family members, she knew that the operation was a success. It looked like she really would have to thank Isabelle later. Teresa smiled for the first time in a long time.
A month later, Isabelle had her liver transplant. Before going into the operation room, Teresa squeezed her hand in encouragement and said, “Have faith, Isabelle.”
The morning after Isabelle’s operation, the two girls had a small celebration in their hospital room. The worst was over and now, both of them had their whole lives ahead of them. Recuperation would be a piece of cake compared to what they had already been through. Suddenly, Isabelle broke into a gentle smile as she realized she would soon be able to watch the sunrise from somewhere other than a hospital window. Teresa, as if sensing her thoughts, looked towards the window as well. The orange glow of the sun beckoned an exciting new era in both their lives.
Labels: bronze, category A, English Essay Writing Competition
12:13 PM
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
3:37 PM
Monday, May 10, 2010
1. Razlan Ashwyn (3N) – 73.1%
2. Sophia Liew Yii Lin (3G) – 71.3%
3. Joanna Tan Hui Jean (2M) – 71.0%
4. Crystal Koo (3W) – 70.1%
5. Nur Syahirah (3N) – 67.2%
5. Lim Jodi (3G) – 67.2%
2. Sophia Liew Yii Lin (3G) – 71.3%
3. Joanna Tan Hui Jean (2M) – 71.0%
4. Crystal Koo (3W) – 70.1%
5. Nur Syahirah (3N) – 67.2%
5. Lim Jodi (3G) – 67.2%
Labels: by Zachary Wong Ket Lud, category A, English Solo Singing competition
4:37 PM
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
2:46 PM
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
6:38 PM
6:31 PM
6:29 PM
GOLD - 3N (82.0%)
SILVER - 3W (66.3%)
SILVER - 3W (66.3%)
Please be informed that there will not be a Bronze medal this year for the Skit Competition (A) as there wasn't any deserving skit up for the award.
We are also pleased to announced that Ong Ee Fen (3W) and William Loo (2G) are both being nomimated for Best Actress and Best Supporting Role, respectively. Well done!
p/s: Photos will be uploaded soon....
Labels: by Zachary Wong Ket Lud, category A, Skit competition
6:19 PM
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Category A
1. Puteri Irdina Azra Shelleh & Tengku Sara Tengku Mohd. Rizal (3C) - 81.9%
2. Chou Chia Yu & Carmen Oh (3G) - 81.3%
3. Ng Vi Vien & Liew Man Yi (3C) - 80.8%
4. Yap Yik Ni & Lau Yun Shiuan (2A) - 79.6%
5. Kelly Teoh Zi Yuen & Chia Sze Ying (3A) - 77.8%
6. Elya Miza & Iman Adira (3A) - 76.8%
7. Hi Jil Yen & Victoria Leong Yak Seen (1W) - 74.8%
8. Ashley Chan Hui Zeng & Jessica Tung Wei Li (2M) - 74.8%
9. Nicole Sim Bao Ling & Agnes Tan Han Chee (3E) - 74.5%
10. Katrina Tan Hsin Ting & Gillian Wong Zhu-Ven (1A) - 73.8%
11. Liew Jia Hooi & Soh Mei Yin (2C) - 73.0%
12. Daniel Tan Sher Ee & Aina Nur Nahirah (1E) - 71.8%
1. Puteri Irdina Azra Shelleh & Tengku Sara Tengku Mohd. Rizal (3C) - 81.9%
2. Chou Chia Yu & Carmen Oh (3G) - 81.3%
3. Ng Vi Vien & Liew Man Yi (3C) - 80.8%
4. Yap Yik Ni & Lau Yun Shiuan (2A) - 79.6%
5. Kelly Teoh Zi Yuen & Chia Sze Ying (3A) - 77.8%
6. Elya Miza & Iman Adira (3A) - 76.8%
7. Hi Jil Yen & Victoria Leong Yak Seen (1W) - 74.8%
8. Ashley Chan Hui Zeng & Jessica Tung Wei Li (2M) - 74.8%
9. Nicole Sim Bao Ling & Agnes Tan Han Chee (3E) - 74.5%
10. Katrina Tan Hsin Ting & Gillian Wong Zhu-Ven (1A) - 73.8%
11. Liew Jia Hooi & Soh Mei Yin (2C) - 73.0%
12. Daniel Tan Sher Ee & Aina Nur Nahirah (1E) - 71.8%
Labels: category A, Culinary Competition, dessert
3:36 PM
3:02 PM
8:21 AM
