THE CREATION OF THE TEACHER

The Good Lord was creating teachers. It was His sixth day of 'overtime' and He knew that this was a tremendous responsibility for teachers would touch the lives of so many impressionable young children. An angel appeared to Him and said, "You are taking a long time to figure this one out."
"Yes," said the Lord, " but have you read the specs on this order?"

TEACHER:
…must stand above all students, yet be on their level... must be able to do 180 things not connected with the subject being taught... must run on coffee, coke and leftovers,... must communicate vital knowledge to all students daily and be right most of the time... must have more time for others than for herself/himself... must have a smile that can endure through pay cuts, problematic children, and worried parents... must go on teaching when parents question every move and others are not supportive... must have 6 pair of hands.
"Six pair of hands, " said the angel, "that's impossible""Well, " said the Lord, " it is not the hands that are the problem. It is the three pairs of eyes that are presenting the most difficulty!"
The angel looked incredulous, " Three pairs of eyes...on a standard model?"
The Lord nodded His head, " One pair can see a student for what he is and not what others have labeled him as. Another pair of eyes is in the back of the teacher's head to see what should not be seen, but what must be known. The eyes in the front are only to look at the child as he/she 'acts out' in order to reflect, " I understand and I still believe in you", without so much as saying a word to the child."
"Lord, " said the angel, " this is a very large project and I think you should work on it tomorrow".
"I can't," said the Lord, " for I have come very close to creating something much like Myself. I have one that comes to work when he/she is sick.....teaches a class of children that do not want to learn....has a special place in his/her heart for children who are not his/her own.....understands the struggles of those who have difficulty....never takes the students for granted..."
The angel looked closely at the model the Lord was creating. "It is too soft-hearted, " said the angel.
"Yes," said the Lord, " but also tough, You can not imagine what this teacher can endure or do, if necessary".
"Can this teacher think?" asked the angel.
"Not only think," said the Lord,. "but reason and compromise."
The angel came closer to have a better look at the model and ran his finger over the teacher's cheek.
"Well, Lord, " said the angel, your job looks fine but there is a leak. I told you that you were putting too much into this model. You can not imagine the stress that will be placed upon the teacher."
The Lord moved in closer and lifted the drop of moisture from the teacher's cheek.It shone and glistened in the light.
"It is not a leak," He said, "It is a tear."
"A tear? What is that?" asked the angel, "What is a tear for?"
The Lord replied with great thought, " It is for the joy and pride of seeing a child accomplish even the smallest task. It is for the loneliness of children who have a hard time to fit in and it is for compassion for the feelings of their parents. It comes from the pain of not being able to reach some children and the disappointment those children feel in themselves. It comes often when a teacher has been with a class for a year and must say good-bye to those students and get ready to welcome a new class." "My, " said the angel, " The tear thing is a great idea...You are a genius!!"The Lord looked somber, "I didn't put it there."

-- Author Unknown

SPECIALLY DEDICATED TO ALL THE TEACHERS AT PRESBYTERIAN HIGH SCHOOL!

Teacher's Day 2009 - School Concert - Preparation & Actual Day

My dear Student Councillors & Parents

The Parent Support Group would like to thank you for your time taken on Friday evening, 28 August, in the preparation of the decorations etc.  You have shown to have positive attitude with excellent team work! 

And special thanks to the PSG team who has taught the Student Councillors how to make flowers out of recycled materials like disposable plastic cups and the crepe-paper flower.... not forgetting the fathers from our team - Alvin, Ang and Bernard - now we know why God made men taller than women!

Here are some photos for the memories!

Teacher's Day 2009 - Hall Decorations

Our Bouquet of THANKS!

28th August, Friday evening - A group of Student Councillors, a team of parents & Mrs. Joyce Lim (AM) assembled at Bethel Hall, all ready to decorate the place for Teacher's Day. The theme was ASPIRE and the tagline is "Because of You, We Aspire".

What an appropriate theme for Teacher's Day!
Teachers are the constant pillar of strength, the mentor of the students, the guiding 'light' in a dark alley, they constantly need to recharge just to shine bright and far for the students. So this Teacher's Day, we salute you!

Here are some the photos of the Hall decorations, inspired by the PSG and transformed by the students.

BLESSED TEACHER'S DAY 2009!

PHS Evening Academy

Look at those happy faces, don't they just melt your hearts away?

After such a long school day, these students persevere to put in extra hours for revision or various subjects with their school teachers.

Simply providing a little snack coupled with a drink, continues to energize them and allows them a little study ' break' in-between.

They look forward to have the PSG as part of the Evening Academy, they feel your love, care & concern.

Those of us who are currently working, our energy levels may drop at the end of the work day, but if you keep these photos in mind, consider energizing yourself by serving at the Evening Academy.

For those who are not working, why hesitate? All we require are 2 hours of your evenings.

A duty-roster will be worked out, start volunteering - as many hands make light work!

For more info, email us at presbyterianhighpsg@gmail.com.

The above photos were contibuted by Mr. Ang Lee San (yes, a father!) who has volunteered to serve the students.

COME AND SERVE,

AND NOT BE SERVED!

A Note to All Parents ... we need your help!

THE PHS EVENING ACADEMY IS NOW ON!

So, what is the PHS Evening Academy?

Annually, a batch of ‘N’ and ‘O’ Levels students are putting in the extra effort to study within the school compound, alongside with their subject teachers in an informal manner. Students are encouraged to ask their teachers for any help they require pertaining to their subjects.

Presbyterian High School opens its doors from 6pm to 9pm nightly starting from 11 August 2009, to encourage the students to study within a conducive environment with dedicated and self-sacrificial teachers who will accompany them during this examination ‘fever’.

If the students and teachers are so busy, what can the Parent Support Group do?
To share our love and care. HOW?

The Parent Support Group extends our invitation to you, to be part of this program. We need your commitment to a date or dates that you are available from 6pm to 9pm. With your commitment, a duty roster will be written.

Our duties:
• To ensure that snacks are delivered to the School’s canteen during that period, so that the students can have a night-snack.

• To serve the students their night-snacks* along with a healthy drink (barley, Milo, juice, Ribena etc.)

• All the foods and beverages served must be ‘halal’ as a respect to our Muslim students.

• After the snacks are served, to tidy up the PSG corner that is set aside for beverage serving or food preparation. Please ensure personal hygiene during the preparation of food & beverages.

Note: A nightly turnout is approx. 20 to 25 students/teachers. You are encouraged to bring sufficient snacks with a little extra for the Security Guards and the School Attendants.

*Some classification of night snacks:
Sandwiches (remember, no pork and must be halal)
Little cakes, brownies, muffins
Sweet potato soup / Green bean soup
Basically, finger-food

# All cups, paper plates, serviettes, forks/spoons need to be provided by the Parent-On-Duty.

Remember: Your child will eventually be an Evening Academy ‘candidate’.

For any clarifications, please let us know either by email: presbyterianhighpsg@gmail.com or give us a call.

Parenting Workshop by Glenn Lim

Dear Parents

Please be informed that the Parenting Workshop by Mr. Glenn Lim has been cancelled due to the current situation on H1N1.

Thank you for your understanding!

Warmest regards
Parent Support Group

NDP 09: Come Together – Reaching Out, Reaching Up

Our National Day serves as a reminder and a celebration of our nation’s history and achievements, and it also looks forward to our future. Although our independence was attained amidst turbulent times, we have defied the odds and not only have we survived, but we have thrived. We should be rightfully proud of our independence and our way of life. We should not take it for granted. As we are facing challenging times, it is perhaps even more significant that we rally round and reach out to our fellow Singaporeans. And we should be confident that we can and will continue to reach up to our hopes and aspirations

Our theme for NDP 09, “Come Together – Reaching Out, Reaching Up” draws inspiration from our Pledge. It is about our coming together as ‘one united people’, to Reach Out to all Singaporeans regardless of ‘race, language or religion’, and to Reach Up towards our hopes and aspirations articulated when we pledge to ‘achieve happiness, prosperity and progress for our nation.’ When times are tough, we know that Singaporeans will rally together, support each other and believe that things will work out fine.

At the end of the day, let's reflect on what does National Day means to us!

May God continue to bless our nation on it's 44th birthday and many more to come!

National Day 2009 - Reflections

Nothing is politically right which is morally wrong.

—Abraham Lincoln

10 Laws of Sowing

1.What we sow is What we reap
2. Where we sow is where we reap
3.The Quality we sow is the Quality we reap
4.Want to harvest a thousand plants, we need to sow a “few” thousand seeds
5.The seed sown multiplies
6.Sow to your Harvest and NOT from your Harvest
Want to harvest 10 acres, then sow in a plot of 10 acres. If we stick to the
current 5 acres, it is not sowing to the harvest but from the harvest.
7. The seed must be planted in the ground
8. The seed must be left alone for the harvest to occur- Seasons
9. The Harvest always takes time
10.The window for the Harvest cycle is short – Harvest Does not Wait

Collaboration is an Excellent strategy for achievement

A man was lost while driving through the country. As he
tried to read a map, he accidentally drove off the road into
a ditch. Though he wasn’t injured, his car was stuck deep in
the mud. So the man walked to a nearby farm to ask for help.

"Warwick can get you out of that ditch," said the farmer,
pointing to an old mule standing in a field. The man looked
at the haggardly mule and looked at the farmer who just
stood there and repeated, "Yep, old Warwick can do the job."
The man figured he had nothing to lose. The two men and
Warwick made their way back to the ditch.

The farmer hitched the mule to the car. With a snap of the
reins he shouted, "Pull, Fred! Pull, Jack! Pull, Ted!, Pull,
Warwick!" And the mule pulled the car from the ditch with
very little effort.

The man was amazed. He thanked the farmer, patted the mule
and asked, "Why did you call out all of those other names
before you called Warwick?"

The farmer grinned and said, "Old Warwick is just about
blind. As long as he believes he's part of a team, he
doesn't mind pulling."

Moral:
Collaboration is an excellent strategy for achievement.

Article is taken from PROMOTING RESPONSIBILITY & LEARNING - Marvin Marshall's Monthly Newsletter

NO UNDERSTAND ????

This is a contribution from one of the fathers. No offence to all the women out there, this is just one of those jokes that we, ladies, take it within our stride .... Ahem! Enjoy it!

THE CHOICE IS YOURS - John Maxwell

5. COMMITMENT is a Choice

You will invest your life in something, or you will throw it away on nothing.
Haddon Robinson

How to develop commitment

- Realize it usually begins with a struggle
- Understand that it has nothing to do with talent or ability
- Recognize that it’s not a matter of conditions but of choice
- Start with the little things
- Settle moral issues before you are confronted
- Trust in God

6. TEACHABILITY is a Choice

They know enough who know how to learn. – Henry Brooks Adams

Nothing is interesting if you are not interested. Helen Macinness

To be fond of learning is to be near to knowledge. – Tze-Sze

U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt is an outspoken man of action. He is known for regular boxing, judo and horseback rides, hikes.
His accomplishments while in leadership, are remarkable; building of the Panama Canal, negotiation of peace between Russia and Japan, winning a Nobel Peace Prize.
Even after his presidency, he led a scientific expedition to River of Doubt in Brazil. It was a great learning adventure and he was 55 years old.
On Jan 6, 1919, he died at his home, in his sleep. Although death has taken him during sleep, when they removed him from his bed, they found a book under his pillow. Up to the very end, Theodore Roosevelt was still striving to learn and improve himself.
He is a truly remarkable man of his age, to be always on-the-go and thirsty for knowledge.

Bubbles On The Border - taken from Our Daily Bread

Stuck in a long line at the US-Canada border, Joel Schoon Tanis had to do something to lighten the mood! He reached for his bottles of bubble-making solution, bounded out of the car, and began blowing bubbles. He handed bottles to other drivers too, and he says that “soon there were bubbles everywhere. . . . It’s amazing what bubbles do for people.” The line didn’t move any faster, but “suddenly everyone was happy,” Joel says.

“What we see depends mainly on what we look for,” said British statesman John Lubbock (1834–1913). A good attitude and the right focus help us to handle life joyfully, even though it doesn’t change our circumstances.

Paul encouraged the Corinthians in their trials: “Do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal” (2 Cor. 4:18).

So what’s unseen and eternal that we can look at? The character of God is an excellent place to focus. He is good (Ps. 25:8), He is just (Isa. 30:18), He is forgiving (1 John 1:9), and He is faithful (Deut. 7:9).

Pondering God’s character can give us joy in the midst of our struggles. — Anne Cetas

The eyes of faith when fixed on Christ
Give hope for what’s ahead;
But focus on life’s obstacles,
And faith gives way to dread. —D. De Haan

When Christ is the center of your focus, all else will come into proper perspective.

THE CHOICE IS YOURS - John Maxwell

3. VALUES are a Choice

Try not to become Men of Success,
Rather, become Men of Value – Albert Einstein

Values are like …
Anchors – They hold you steady during roght times
Friends – They stay with you and assure you
The North Star – They are always dependable to guide you
A Fresh Wind – They give you refreshing encouragement

4. SELF-DISCIPLINE is a Choice

It is not the mountains we conquer, but ourselves – Sir Edmund Hillary

6 keys to self-discipline

Train yourself to make good use of your time
Study yourself, identify your strengths, and build on them
Know the priorities of your work
Give your time to the people who produce results
Make decisions quickly with limited information
Take action whenever possible

Book of the Month - The Choice Is Yours - John C Maxwell

For the month of July, let's review John C Maxwell's "The Choice Is Yours."

This small, yet powerful handbook offers inspiration and guidance in 16 key areas that will help you become the person you desire to be.

In our everyday life, we are faced with choices and decision-making. Do we select the path that is difficult and less-travelled or the easy road? The decision is yours ... and the choice is yours!

The 16 key areas are:
1. Attitude
2. Character
3. Values
4. Self-discipline
5. Commitment
6. Teachability
7. Initiative
8. Passion
9. Courage
10. Responsibility
11. Growth
12. Relationships
13. Communication
14. Encouragement
15. Servanthood
16. Love

To totally grasp 16 key areas at one shot maybe a little too much to handle, so we'll cover 2 key areas each time.

TODAY (Day 1)

1. ATTITUDE is a Choice
Life is 10% how we make it; 90% how we take it.

No matter what, your attitude is a choice
It’s easier to maintain the right attitude than to regain it
Your attitude determines your action
The people you lead reflect the attitude you possess

Reflection:
Happiness does not depend on outward things, but on the way we see them
- Leo Tolstoy

2. CHARACTER is a Choice
A good heart is better than all the heads in the world

- Gifts and talents are given to us, but character is developed by us
- Our character earns the trust of others
- Only good character gives us lasting success with people
- Strong character communicates credibility and consistency
- Our character colors our perspective
- We cannot rise above the limitations of our character

Sow a Thought, and you reap and Act
Sow an Act, and you reap a Habit
Sow a Habit, and you reap a Character
Sow a Character, and you reap a Destiny.

GCE 'O' Levels - Mother Tongue Oral Examinations

The GCE 'O' Levels Mother Tongue Oral Examinations will be on 7 July 2009 (Tuesday).

Students of Presbyterian High School who are taking this exam, please ensure that you bring your NRIC and your school tie on that day.

H1N1 Alert to all Parents and Students of PHS

Please note that school will be closed for a week and re-opens on 7 July 2009 (Tue) due to a teacher who was infected by H1N1.

Parents, ensure your child refers to the school website and get their homework from the MLG.

Prayers for the recovering teacher is appreciated and let's uphold the Principal, Mr. Lim and his staff in prayers during their Leave of Absence.

Meantime, ensure your child is keeping a healthy lifestyle ...
Drink plenty of water
Get sufficient rest
Avoid crowded places
Eat healthy
Temperature taking twice a day is encouraged!

Fund-raising for a good cause - by Finetuners have just begun...

Log on to http://finetuners.livejournal.com/11682.html and learn more about how you can be part of a good cause in fund-raising for a special 4-year old girl named Charmaine.
More details about Charmaine's plight and flight for cancer can be found at http://www.ourfeistyprincess.com/

The kind people at Finetuners will be donating their earnings from customized watches sold through their website. Each customized watch is at $50 each (GST included - good deal!) and there are 2 designs and 5 colors to select from.

So, if there is an important occasion that you are intending to get a gift, why not select from from http://finetuners.livejournal.com/11682.html ... all for a good cause! Charmaine and her mum, Mrs. Cynthia Lim will deeply appreciate your gesture of love!

NOTE: THIS IS NOT AN ADVERTISEMENT OR A HOAX! Log on to the above websites and you will find out more!

FATHER'S DAY DEDICATION....

Presbyterian High’s PSG wishes all fathers a blessed Father's Day.

Even though some fathers may feel that they are the most unnoticed and unsung heroes of our time; on the contrary, they are the most revered assets of the society.

Here are some of the countless words of encouragement specially dedicated to you…

"My father didn't tell me how to live; he lived, and let me watch him do it." -- Clarence Budington Kelland, U.S. Writer

"How true Daddy's words were when he said: 'All children must look after their own upbringing.' Parents can only give good advice or put them on the right paths, but the final forming of a person's character lies in their own hands." -- Anne Frank, German Jew and Holocaust Victim

"It is much easier to become a father than to be one." -- Kent Nerburn, U.S. Author and Educator

"My dad has always taught me these words: care and share." -- Tiger Woods, U.S. Professional Golfer

"Blessed indeed is the man who hears many gentle voices call him father!" -- Lydia M. Child, U.S. Author

"We are given children to test us and make us more spiritual." -- George Will, U.S. Journalist

For Christian fathers, God’s words speaks aloud in the Bible and here are some verses chosen for you.

Psalm 103:13 As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him; (NIV)

Proverbs 3:11-12 My son, do not despise the LORD's discipline and do not resent his rebuke, because the LORD disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in. (NIV)

Proverbs 3:32 For the LORD detests a perverse man but takes the upright into his confidence. (NIV)

Proverbs 10:9 The man of integrity walks securely, but he who takes crooked paths will be found out. (NIV)

Proverbs 17:24 A discerning man keeps wisdom in view, but a fool's eyes wander to the ends of the earth. (NIV)

Proverbs 17:27 A man of knowledge uses words with restraint, and a man of understanding is even-tempered. (NIV)

Ephesians 6:4 Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord. (NIV)

Colossians 3:21 Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged. (NIV)

Hebrews 12:7 Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? (NIV)

PHS DJs Rock The House @ Home Club

Announcement to ALL PARENTS....

What's more appropriate than to give these pupils our support... especially this Sunday, 21st June, which is FATHER'S DAY!

A great event for the whole family... come by and have some fun!

This is a collaboration between Presbyterian High (PHS), HomeClub, iShop and DJs Unity for the above mentioned event.

This event will be the first of its kind, where a government school teams up and collaborates with one of the most vibrant and dynamic clubs ever to grace the shores of Singapore. We proudly bring to you the revival of the 80s oh-so-famous "tea-dance" parties.

All 14 students, including some teachers from PHS, who have recently taken up basic dj-ing lessons over at iShop, will officially have their graduation ceremony at this event held right at the heartbeat of the Singapore River.

The students, fresh from the course, with their exciting and youthful creative spark, will showcase what has been taught to them over the past 2 weeks in the academy with regards to the basic requirements of being a DJ. They will be performing to a crowd of approx 400 people within. So come on, let's see those fingers and hands trembling, but only because the anticipation is too tough to handle!

Feel free to invite your friends, fellow colleagues, family members to come and join the party on the 21st of June over at HomeClub Sg.

All 14 graduating students from PHS will be playing a set of 20 mins each, back to back. This is one event you don't wanna miss as we usher in the stars of the future. Be amazed at the DJs, some, as young as 13 years old.

Do come and check out this hallmark event, as you'll like to be the one who brags years from now, that you were there, when and where it ALL began.
So, see you there!

Event name: DJs Unity Academy Graduation Afternoon Tea Party
Event Date: 21 June 2009 (Sunday)
Event Time: 2pm - 6pm
Age limit: All ages (Anyone and Everyone!)
Location: 20 Upp Circular Rd, B1-01/06 The Riverwalk (Opp The Central, Nearest MRT Clarke Quay)
Entry Charge : $5/person (Comes with a soft drink coupon) - we're NOT making money out of this event, this is to help cover some operating cost (like utilities, labor, etc) for our kind venue sponsor (Home Club)... it's only fair!
Drinks promo (additional) for event day:
- Soft Drinks @ $4
- Juices @ $6
- Mocktails @ $10
**Sorry folks, as this is an event for teens, NO alcohol will be served.

SEE 'YA!