DINE IN THE DARK - A real-life experience

Mrs. Jacinta Michael contributed to the following article, depicting her real-life experience of "Dining In the Dark" at the Singapore Association of the Visually Handicapped (47 Toa Payoh Rise).


It was totally DARK. We could not see anything. Yet, by the grace of God, I managed to feel my way and eat my food, keep my plate and table area clean. I did not spill a drop of water or orange juice. I learned to "try and be neat" at the table, finding my way for the items of food on my plate, including a packet of tomato sauce, which I had to tear open! We were not told what we were having for lunch; we just had to taste it for ourselves.

Lessons learned - the blind need us to communicate with them - talk and lead them. The next time I meet with my aunt, I know that I will have to take her hand and tell her what it is she is eating or drinking. I also learned that when a blind person dreams, he/she hears our voices!

While dining, suddenly had the thought that the blind are blind and in darkness on earth, here and now... yet, the Bible speaks of an "outer darkness"....the thought gave me a deeper awareness that there will be a "reversal" in eternity. As we take care of our natural eyesight, let's strive to be careful of our spiritual “eyes”.

ANNOUNCEMENTS & HIGHLIGHTS - January 2009

Parents who are keen to help in the making of Chinese New Year hampers for our FA families, please email to us your contact and availability.

When? : 16th January 2009 (FRIDAY)
Where? : School's canteen @ 2.00pm
How?: Don't worry about the "how"... we'll show you!

FOR UNTO US A SAVIOR IS BORN ....

Each year, Christians everywhere celebrate the birth of Jesus, the single life that changed the world and continues to change hearts today. The simple and yet inspirational story of the birth of Jesus fills our souls with gratitude for the many blessings in our lives and the promises of God.

It is most appropriate time of the year to specially give thanks for Christ's message of love and mercy, and we are reminded of our responsibility to serve.

Christmas is a time to rejoice and remember the birth of Jesus Christ. Thus, we would like to wish you a Christmas that's filled with God's blessings and glad tidings!

Have a BLESSED Christmas!

From: All of us at Presbyterian High - Parents' Support Group.

The End is Near!

A priest and pastor from the local parishes are standing by the side of the road holding up a sign that reads, "The End is Near! Turn around before it's too late!""Leave us alone you religious nuts!" yelled the first driver as he sped by.
From around the curve they heard screeching tires and a big splash. "Do you think," said one clergy to the other, "we should just put up a sign that says 'Bridge Out' instead?”

TOMATO & HAM QUICHE

With Christmas around the corner, having guests coming over and want to impress them?

Tried and tested, this simple-to-follow recipe is a thumbs-up! Die, die, must try!

Ingredients for Pie shells (3 x 8” dia. Pie shells)

2 cups of plain flour
8 tbsps margarine
Pinch of salt
Iced cold water
Knead the above ingredients to a dough and line in a pie dish. Blind-bake for 10 mins, leave to cool.

Ingredients (for quiche filling):
4 eggs
2/3 cups fresh milk
2 tbsps chopped basil leaves
4 tbsps cheddar cheese (shredded)
2 tomatoes (sliced)
½ diced onions
1 cup chopped ham
Pinch of salt
Crushed black pepper to taste
1 tbsp margarine for frying onions

Method:
1) Melt butter in saucepan, fry chopped onions till transparent. Set aside to cool.
2) Stir thoroughly – milk, eggs, cheddar cheese, basil, salt and black pepper
3) Add in chopped ham and stir-fry onions.
4) Mix all together and pour into pie shells
5) Top with tomato slices
6) Bake at 175Deg.C for 30 minutes or until mixture is set.

Enjoy it hot with a nice cold salad and your choice of hot or cold beverage, or even chilled wine!

Do you have a recipe to share with us? Please email to: presbyterianhighpsg@gmail.com (If you have a photo of the dish, it will be helpful.

Sec 1 Registration at PHS!

This morning was the Sec 1 Registration at PHS!

We had a hall filled with excited parents, students and of course, very busy teachers and student councillors!

The PSG was very pleased to be part of this exciting day, where we recollect about our child's experience then!

Reflections: A little gesture goes a long way!

CHINESE NEW YEAR COOKIES & GOODIES

I know ... Christmas is only approaching and we are planning for Chinese New Year! Sounds a little 'kiasu' but with the Chinese New Year so close to Christmas, we have to start somewhere, right?

Traditional cookies and goodies, gift packs too ...
FOR THOSE OF US who have Corporate contacts, or plan to purchase hampers and goodies for your clientele, relatives, friends, please consider supporting PSG, for a good cause!

(Note: All proceeds will be directed to our Financially-Assisted families.)

CONTACT US: presbyterianhighpsg@gmail.com for more information on the cookies varieties and price list.

We've started taking orders and the last day for orders will be on 5 January 2009... don't miss our yummy cookies with NO preservatives!

Secondary 1 Registration - 19 Dec 2008 (Fri)

Remember your child's first day at his / her Secondary school?
Can you recall how lost or confused it might be for new student and their parents?

That's why we need ...
PARENT VOLUNTEERS FOR SEC. 1 REGISTRATION.
Please email your contact information to: presbyterianhighpsg@gmail.com

DATE: 19 December 2008 (Friday)
TIME: 8am to 12.30pm
**(Report at 7.30am - Bethel Hall 2nd Level for briefing)

Bonding is essential to unite people with the same interests

It is so true that "many hands make light work", with joint-effort, we can make the school a better environment for the students. After all, it is your child and mine that are studying at Presbyterian High.

Teenage years emcompass the vital period of our child's journey to adulthood. It is a period of moulding him or her to be a responsible, motivated and compassionate person. Each child is a special individual that will eventually form the society of the future.

At PSG, our work is our pride...

FRUITS OF LABOR

Greetings from PSG!

The Fruit Basket Program (FBP) was spear-headed by a group of parents in 2007, primarily with the following objectives in mind

- to provide the teaching staff a fruity delight during their weekly Friday meetings
- to provide a source of income to PSG in order to sustain our activities
- to create a 'bond' between school and parents.

Mrs. Jenny Chan (Secretary of PSG ExCo), is reaching out to parents who are able to contribute to this program.

A weekly fruit basket is delivered to school on Friday mornings (with the exception of public and school holidays!).

If you require more detailed info on how this program works, she will fill you in with the details of the Program. Just write in to presbyterianhighpsg@gmail.com.

If you are already familiar with this program and would like to contribute, we'll like to schedule your contribution for 2009 accordingly.

I am looking forward to your participation, in one way or another. For working parents who are not able to personally wrap the fruit basket and bring to school, you can contribute a nominal sum of $25 to the PSG account; one of our non-working PSG member will be assigned to arrange for the fruit basket to be wrapped and delivered to school WITH a personalised note from you!

Let's take a moment to decide how, as parents, we can jointly make the school a better place ... starting with a little gesture of appreciation! The Fruit Basket Program awaits your decision.

With warmest regards

Mrs. Agnes Chan

*Live our life purposefully,

Serve the Lord passionately.

BLESSED ASSURANCE

A Scottish tradesman, a painter called Jack, was very interested in making extra money where he could. So he often would thin down his paint to make it go a wee bit further. As it happened, he got away with this for some time.

Eventually the Church decided to do a big restoration job on one of their biggest churches.Jack put in a painting bid, and because his price was so competitive, he got the job. And so he set to, with a right good will, erecting the trestles and putting up the planks and buying the paint and thinning it down with the turpentine.

Well, Jack was up on the scaffolding, painting away, the job nearly done, when suddenly there was a horrendous clap of thunder. The sky opened, and rain poured down, washing the thin paint from all over the church and knocking Jack fair off the scaffold to land on the lawn.Now, Jack was no fool. He knew this was a judgment from the Almighty, so he fell on his knees and cried, "Oh, God! Forgive me! What should I do?

"From the thunder, a mighty voice spoke: "Repaint! Repaint! And thin no more!"

Forest Gump & St. Peter

When Forest Gump died, he stood in front of St. Peter at the Pearly Gates. St. Peter said, "Welcome, Forest. We've heard a lot about you." He continued, "Unfortunately, it's getting pretty crowded up here and we find that we now have to give people an entrance examination before we let them in."
"Okay," said Forest. "I hope it's not too hard. I've already been through a test. My momma used to say, 'Life is like a final exam. It's hard.' "

"Yes, Forest, I know. But this test is only three questions. Here they are."

1) Which two days of the week begin with the letter 'T'?"
2) How many seconds are in a year?
3) What is God's first name?

"Well, sir," said Forest, "The first one is easy. Which two days of the week begin with the letter 'T'? Today and Tomorrow."
St. Peter looked surprised and said, "Well, that wasn't the answer I was looking for, but you have a point. I give you credit for that answer."

"The next question," said Forest, "How many seconds are in a year? Twelve."
"Twelve?" said St. Peter, surprised and confused.
"Yes, sir. January 2nd, February 2nd, March 2nd …"
St. Peter interrupted him. "I see what you mean. I'll have to give you credit for that one, too."

"And the last question," said Forest, "What is God's first name? It's Andy."

"Andy?" said St. Peter, in shock. "How did you come up with 'Andy'?"

"I learned it in church. We used to sing about it." Forest broke into song, "Andy walks with me, Andy talks with me, Andy tells me I am His own."

St. Peter opened the gate to heaven and said, "Run, Forest, Run!"

TODAY marks the 20th Anniversay of World AIDS Day

The 1st of December, World AIDS Day, is the day when individuals and organisations from around the world come together to bring attention to the global AIDS epidemic. 2008 marks the 20th anniversary of World AIDS Day. Whilst we have come a long ways since 1988, there is still much more to be done.


HIV facts & statistics

The number of people living with HIV is continuing to rise in every part of the world - here are the facts:

International Statistics
People living with HIV:
33 million people living with HIV worldwide
30.8 million adults
15.5 million women
2.0 million children under 15

New HIV cases in 2007:
2.7 million total new cases
2.3 million adults
370,000 children under 15

HIV-related deaths in 2007:
2.0 million total deaths

*All figures from UNAIDS.


Please remember & pray for those who are suffering from AIDS, especially the 2.37 million children under 15.