It's beginning to feel a lot like...

... winter! YAY!

2 days ago, it started getting a LOT cooler here in Bangkok.
So cool, I haven't turned my A/C on in more than 24 hours!
In fact, I woke this morning feeling chilled, and couldn't simply reach for the A/C remote and turn the A/C off.... had to close the windows. Heh.


So here we are in November, and just an inch away from 2010.
How time does fly.

School is getting to the point where everyone is crazybusy.
Teachers and staff look a tad insane because all our wonderful activities are crushed into the small time-bracket left for 2009.

Things have really changed at my school. What positive changes they have been too.
Everyone is learning a whole lot, and our school is definitely progressing in an upwards fashion.



On a personal note, the last few weeks have been... overloaded.
To the point where I succumbed to a cold virus for the first time in years. Eargh.
Forgot how sucky it is to be sick. Hahhahaa...

Anyway, I'm rushing off to work in just a bit, but wanted to blog a few glimpses I've had this last week:

In reflecting about what is life, and -- if I had just 4 minutes left on this earth, what I would say...

LIFE

It's not about...
money
health
beauty
conveniences
possession
having people you love physically with you
relationships with family and friends
feeling like you FIT
being happy
or satisfied with life
and especially not SELF...

For all is meaningless... a chasing after the wind.


RATHER,
it's ALL about
getting to know WHO GOD IS

EVERYTHING experienced in this life
is for the sole purpose of learning about WHO GOD IS
and letting His Character teach and seep into
your OWN life...
your work
your relationships
your activities
your mental/emotional state...
such that it is merely an overflow
of WHO GOD IS.

In fact,
one lifetime is possibly not enough!
That is how immense GOD is!

And so - the meaning of life..,
is wrapped around the Heart of God.
For without Him,
ALL is meaningless.
But FOR GOD,
ALL has meaning.
Even death itself.

Extra Long Episode this Week - W51.TV, Episode 6!!

Getting back from mid-term break was especially hard - after a lazy week at the beach, and one crazy zombie-weekend, I dove straight into work with newfound fervour..., and now at the end of the week, am practically burnt out!

This has been one crrrrrrazy school week!

As testament to week gone by that was just jam-packed with activities and work, here is the product of HOURS upon HOURS of filming and editing:

Been a while...

I've been busy.

B.U.S.Y.


Things that I've been working on lately:

• Organizing and instructing dance rehearsals for Thrill the World BKK. *Gasp!* I can dance!
  
• Filming, producing, editing W51.TV - our school's new "TV" show.
• Developing proactive, preventative methods using positive psychology to fortify the kids at school against socio-emotional problems.
• Making music for charity (Help Live concert)
• Leading worship in church, and (this coming weekend) gonna be sharing the message...
• Giving workshops, going to workshops/meetings (All to do with Education and Psychology)
  
• Running!
  

Well, there's more but I won't bore you too much.

In the midst of it all, I'm praying for calm.... this week is gonna get busier again cuz no more interns to help me. Sigh.


I'll say this though - there has been increasing synthesis between my work and personal/spiritual life. Which is good.

Prayer Requests: (If you can, please join me in prayer)

• All those affected by the earthquakes/tsunami.
  
• Kristen's mom is still in a coma. Please pray for her and her family.
• My job is my service to God - please pray that I receive wisdom in how to help the kids at this school learn more about love and kindness.

Some pics of yesterday's Rehearsal:

Episode 4

Episode 3!!!

YAY! Each successive episode gets better and better (or so we hope)!



We "pre-released" this episode at a Parent-Teacher Potluck... It was supposed to "air" on Monday (in school), but oh well! :p

Check out all my school-related videos HERE.

An inside looks at what happens during Hangout Times in the Counseling Room

W51.TV Episode 2!

This is what I do...

Curious about what a Counselor does?
Well... wonder no more!

Stay abreast with what I do via my new Counseling (School) Blog:

Learning Life!

*sobsob!!*

The classroom is empty, the walls are all bare.
The children have left, now I sit here and stare....



.... for a while that is.
Now I have to pack all my stuff up - moving from the classroom to the counselling room.

Next school year is gonna be interesting.
I have my work cut out for me.
:)












I miss them already!!!!
BOOOOOHHHOOOOO.......

Oh to be a kid again....

Brought my class and the whole lower elementary to the FUNARIUM (Yeah, I know right...? Who the heck came up with that name!??!) yesterday.

I've never been pulled (LITERALLY) by so many little hands in so many different directions at one time.
Up weird looking steps, down black-hole tunnels, across net-bridges, through small spaces, round and round and bouncing and..... you get the picture.

How do you know if you've made at least *some* impact....?

Two incidents today give me hope that I'm on the right track as a teacher:


********

Bonus Marks Exam Question: Draw and explain your favourite day in Grade 3.
Several students drew a picture of the day we (me and my class) met --> the first day of school.


********

Secondly...
At the beginning of every lunch, I pick my kids up from our Homeroom Classroom settle them down, and bring them to lunch.
Today, I was a few minutes late (marking exams!!)... but looking up to our classroom which is on the 2nd floor, I didn't see any of my kids. So I assumed they were still in their Math class and would be late.
Imagine my surprise when I walked into an entirely silent class - my students were practising meditation quietly.

I was floored... flabbergasted... and humbled!

"Who are you and what have you done to my class??" I asked after a minute of stunned silence.
Some of the girls giggled.
Then I told them that this was the best gift they could give a teacher and encouraged them to do the same for their other teachers.

"You are our best teacher ever!" They replied.

********


Ahhh... the innocence of youth! :)

A Visit From The Ancients...

Grade 3B gives Grade 3A an impromptu fashion show...

From here on, it's just gonna fly right by us....

Time that is.

I'm looking at my calendar, and yeah... wow!
WASC (Accreditation) visits our school next week, 2 public hols the week after, a few weeks of reviews for exams, exam week, marking, and then just like that..

The school year will be over!
Ack.


Can't believe how fast (and yet excruciatingly slow) time passes.


How much has changed in one year?
(Yes, my internal mp3 player started playing the theme from Rent at this point)

Way.
Way,
WAY too much.

But I'm thinking... all for the better. :)

Moments like THIS give me hope...

*Name has been changed to maintain privacy.


Student. [04:08 PM]: hi ms shimona

Student. [04:21 PM]: hi yo what are you doing can you play badmintan at lunch with me

Student. [04:22 PM]: pleaseeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

Student. [04:23 PM]: come on give my a answer

Shimona Kee [04:23 PM]: Hahahhaa... right now, i am still sitting in our classroom, working on getting our Class Newsletter finished. Hopefully you can all get it by this week!

Shimona Kee [04:26 PM]: I would love to play badminton with you.
BUT.... I usually have a lot of work to do, even during lunch. I'll try to make time on a day I don't have go to the student center. ok?

Student. [04:28 PM]: man why don't you keep a asistant

Shimona Kee [04:31 PM]: Well, I don't know! Maybe you can hire one for me!

Student. [04:33 PM]: yay

Shimona Kee [04:36 PM]: HAhahahahahaa....

Student. [04:37 PM]: i feel like hugging u

Student. [04:38 PM]: i'm sad

Shimona Kee [04:40 PM]: Awww... don't be sad. I'm not!
I enjoy doing things for you all. Because I love you all very much! You must work hard and make me proud ok?

Student. [04:40 PM]: oooooookkkkkkkkkk

April Fools!

Currently, my score stands at:
No. of times I've Fooled: 8
No. of times I've Been Fooled: 2

Hehehehe....

The Most Important Class Job...

Every month, I reassign class jobs to my students so they all can take turns learning about responsibility.

Currently, the jobs up for grabs are:

• Class manager (Elected by class)
• Office Runner
• Room Manager
• Lights Manager
• A/C Manager
• Door Managers
• Lunch Manager
• Class Librarian

But most importantly......

• Water Manager - Makes sure that Ms. Shimona's cup is always filled.

Ms. Shimona is one thirsty camel.
The Water Manager has a big job.
And surprisingly enough... everyone in class wants to be the water manager!
Hahahahahahhaa....

A Lamp to my Feet and a Light to My Path

How sweet the wisdom of Your words.
What peace Your understanding brings.
How great Your mercies...
... My lips can find no words.

of joy
of grace.



Gentleness....
As I stood shouting at the noisy students in my classroom, I was quietly chastised.

Handle them gently.
Just as I do you.

Yes, there are times for tough love.
But there are also times for gentleness and patience.



I delight in Your Word.
Bless us all with Your sweet grace and discernment.
Oh Lord, I pray for Your blessings.
More, we cry... more!

And then....
Who will go?
Send me!!!

What I'm busy with at the moment...

Been making quite a few lists lately.
Here's another:

Things to do this week:

• Finish unpacking, organizing and cleaning new apartment
  
• Be nice to my kids
• Start and finish this month's Class Newsletter
• Attend Fuel meeting
• Smile at my kids more
  
• Lead worship at Fuel on Wed
• Meet with parents
• Do lesson plans for next 2 -3 weeks
• Tell my kids I'm proud of them
  
• Plan Song Kran beach trip to Phuket (YEAH!!)
• Attend Thai Language & Culture workshop (part 2)
• Spend more down time in The Word
• Go for at least 1 run in the park
• Watch the breeze in the trees
• Prepare for Class Award ceremony

Funny... before I wrote that list, felt like I had tons to do... but really, I have only a few things... NOT! Some of those are really quite big jobs that take a long time. Eg: Class Newsletter=hours of cross-eyedness. Heh.

Oh well.

It's all good. Very good. :)

PEACE

Today I attended Professional Development Day, and left school absolutely inspired.

Dr Art-Ong Jumsai is a man in his 60s who has worked for NASA, has 3PhDs, and yet is one of the most profoundly humble and grounded people I have had the honour to meet.

He gave a talk on integrating human values into education...
(Something that as a counsellor and a teacher who loves her students, I know to be extremely important.)

He spoke in parables and anecdotes.

His lessons were on life, his emphasis on peace and love.



I noted down in my little gem-book (personal not professional) some of the thought-gems I particularly liked.




Let me share a few with you:

How lucky I am to receive problems in my life...
...that I may have the opportunity to
learn,
progress
& find
peace
& joy
in everything around me.


****

If you are sensitive, easily hurt and offended by things people say this one's for you:

What are these words you think will hurt me?
Nothing but vibrations of air particles.

(In other words, we assign our own meaning to what is said, and hence we don't need to get angry if we don't want to -- a sort of detachment.)


****

And my favourite: A philosophy on life:

You say
"I WANT PEACE"
But to receive peace, you must first get rid of
"I"
and
"WANT".
Then will you find that you have peace.

Read:
I is the ego --> the love of oneself.
Want is the desire for needless things,
which if not attained leads to disappointment and disenchantment.
(Yes, these are very psycho-Buddhist teachings... wisdom comes in many forms!)

"Best Day of My Life!"

Reading my students' journals can sure be amusing.

Every so often, a kid will talk about something they were excited about, and then follow up by concluding that that was the "best day of my life!"

Kinda made me think today - couldn't each progressive day be the best day of my life?
In other words, there's a kind of forward-looking attitude to it.



Gotta run.
Just thought I'd share.... :)