And just like that, January is over. Four weeks into Primary 1! How are we faring?
Noey is doing surprisingly well. Surprisingly, I say, because if you know my little son, you’ll know that he isn’t usually the most adaptable. He can be a bit clingy, but he has shown no hesitation to the school routine or being thrown together with strangers into a totally new environment. Instead he’s taken to it with gusto and is (dare I say it) enjoying school. It comes as a surprise to me because there were times when he used to complain that his 3 hours spent at kindy was too long. But now, despite the fact that school is double the length of time, he’s been really ok with it.
The reason, of course, is really THE BREAKS. And the freedom to do as he pleases during these times. On the first day of school, he discovered the library. When on the second day he realised that they screened videos in addition to having shelves of books, I know he felt like he had discovered the PROMISED LAND. All those books to read, plus videos to watch! What more could this little boy ask for, right? The library has become his default haunt outside the classroom and is definitely the best part of school for him.
It has also helped that in respect of school work, the school has certainly eased them in. He is now convinced that “primary school is easier than kindergarten“. While I have warned him against being complacent, I guess it’s not surprising. Noey’s never had any problems with English, and for this term at least his English spelling only takes place once a fortnight. His spelling words are also easier than he had in K2 (sheep, cow, duck, dog, etc. for Week 1) and certainly easier than when he used to self-sabo and write in sentences in kindy. For 听写 they will be alternating between 汉字 and hanyu pinyin. Since Noey is an excellent speller who has never needed to learn spelling — he can usually spell a word correctly at the first try — and hanyu pinyin seems to come to him naturally, he’s going to have an easy time this term. I hope he doesn’t get too used to it!
I did worry quite a bit about Chinese (still do) since he’ll to doing it at Higher Chinese level from P1 so I’m really glad that he seems to like his Chinese teacher. She, I must say, has been great at engaging the class with jokes and stories, as well as getting them to draw pictographs of Chinese words in the first week. He finds Maths interesting though it does look to be relatively easy at the moment. So I guess it’s true that P1 is nothing too scary, at least to start!
Since the little fiasco in the canteen on the first day, Noey continued to buy the exact same thing from the canteen everyday at recess for the next whole week: a chicken burger. He didn’t want to try anything else! Thereafter I asked if he’d rather I pack a lunchbox for him everyday, he willingly agreed. So he’s been taking food to school everyday instead, alternating between buns, sandwiches, biscuits(nothing he can’t eat with his hands please, he said), and always some fruit. Whether he eats it all is another matter altogether! Food is bottom priority for this boy. In fact, I had popped in to check on him during recess one day in the first week and caught him merrily trying to head straight to the library without eating, only to guiltily turn around when I questioned him about food.
I thought he’d have trouble waking up at 6am, but as it turns out, that is one of the least of my worries. It has been a lifestyle change trying to get them to bed earlier and by and large, both kids now sleep by 9pm. Ideally they should be sleeping by 8.30pm, but I’m already rushing them to bed everyday so that’s a work in progress. He wakes up with minimal fuss in the morning though so that’s good.
The one thing I do worry about is whether he’ll be able to make some good friends. I think I’m more concerned about this than he is. But maybe that’s because I am female! Noey is more of an independent spirit. During the first week, he merrily ran downstairs during recess on his own, and after he had bought food, found a familiar face to sit with, before running off to the library. On my suggestion, he started heading down to the canteen with the boys whom he sat with in class. But once or twice, he gleefully told me that he went down for recess and ate with some boys before he “disappeared, then later reappeared by myself at the library.” I shook my head on hearing that, amused by how this boy just needs his own personal space. Well, as long as he is happy. He is now seated beside a really quiet boy whom he seems to like so we’ll see how that develops.
So the first few weeks went rather well for Noey, even leading to him being appointed as assistant class monitor! Wow, we were all so proud of him! I had a special Spiderman Super Hero Cake kindly delivered by BreadTalk in the fridge, so when we received the news, we had to have a little celebration, just for him.
Kids were very chuffed that they were going to have cake and felt they had to dress up for the occasion! This Spiderman Super Hero Cake ($38.80, from BreadTalk) was surprisingly good. Surprising because it looks like it’d be a lot of chocolate, when really, it’s a light sponge under that chocolate icing with fresh strawberries, and a layer of mango mousse, that Noey really loved.
Of course, immediately following that wonderful piece of recognition, I got that dreaded phone call from school. My dear son had been involved in a fight with another boy and had to be sent to the discipline master. Oof. That really knocked the wind out of me. How’s that for a see-saw of emotions this term huh! It reminded me that we are still in a period of adjustment, and that plenty of time and prayer are still crucially needed.
On the plus side, the matter was effectively dealt with, there were no hard feelings and the boys seem to be getting along since. I am thankful for the small mercies.
Primary 1 is only a small step in a long journey. I’m glad that despite a little slip-up, we’re off to a good start.
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