A Nomination – Caring Teacher
2008
Mrs. Janice Loh took over as form teacher of P3G sometime around August/September of 2007. This must has been a very happy occasion for the children of this class. They were all very hopeful. After all, their impression of their former form teacher wasn’t that positive. The children opined that teachers are always fierce, unreasonable, inconsiderate, and over authoritative. My sentiments as well; from the many tales our son, Sean Pang , brought home. Even as adults, we were too afraid to confront the issue, for fear of possible repercussions. We just hope for better luck (a caring teacher) in 2008. Barely a week after Mrs. Loh took over, I was pleasantly surprised that my son have good things to say about his form teacher. He told us that his new form teacher has brought a lot smiles and happiness to an otherwise very gloomy P3G. I asked how? Was she fierce? Sean replied, “Mrs. Loh is both friendly and firm. Like all teachers, she would not tolerate nonsense!” I have not heard him singing such praises about his form teachers for a good 8 months.
At around October, I asked to meet with Mrs. Loh to talk about Sean’s progress. To my surprise, she promptly agreed to meet me. I have never have accessed to Sean’s form teacher telephone number or email-id (though I have been asking for this) since Sean was in P1. We had a good 45 minutes meeting. What impressed me was her candidness; her passion as a teacher was unmistakably obvious. She spoke on and on, on how to motivate her children to learn. She liken her charges to her own children. I walked away happy, confident, but most importantly convinced, that my son has finally got a teacher who do care and wants her charges to have a happy, fruitful, and memorable school experience.
But was it for only one term? That’s what Sean and his classmate wondered as 2007 was coming to an end. I was delighted when the school allowed Mrs. Loh to continue her good work into 2008 as the form teacher of P4G. Many of us parents, happy with what we saw and heard (through the innocent heart of the children) about Mrs. Loh, must have lobbied the school to have her continue with the same class. And 2008 got even better. Mrs. Loh set up a website for P4G. Schoolwork, good reference materials, projects are all neatly posted, and updated. The children blogged too, with Mrs. Loh showing the way. This website is not only useful for the kids, but allows us parents to get to know P4G community and its activities, up, close and personal. To celebrate a good CA1 performance and to foster camaraderie , Mrs. Loh organized a pot-luck get together at her house at the start of the June holidays. It must have be another memorable experience for the children and parents. Sadly, as we were abroad, we could not join the party and Sean was clearly disappointed.
It’s end of June 2008 now. I have met Mrs. Loh only once this year, at the PTA in April. Maybe one or two telephone calls from her, when Sean gets forgetful about school work or misbehaves. That’s all and that’s the way it should be. It is when the children completely trust and respect their teacher and vice versa, is where they learned most. In Sean’s own word, “I like and respect my teacher because she is kind, fair, firm, tells us a lot of her life experience, and talks to us like we are friends.” As for us parents, Mrs. Loh is one of a kind. She see herself as a “nurturer” rather than “teacher”, although she probably didn’t realize this herself.
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Letter of Commendation
2008
Dear Principal
I’m mother of Ng Bei Yu from P4G.
I would like to compliment my daughter’s form teacher Mrs Janice Loh, who
has made learning so much fun, especially for the Maths, she has shared
with the class a very comprehensive notes with the drawing & charts follow
by the steps by steps to solve the problem sum, she has made Maths come
alive ! This is the first time i received such notes frm your teacher,
it’s also help parents to understand better with drawing model in order for
us to guide our children at home.
Janice always encouraged the class to reach for the stars, beside she is
very much loved by her class, Janice was always available even it was after
school hours, she give parents her mobile no. & email address (which i know
not all your teacher will let parents to have their contact no.)
I thank you for assigning her to be my daughter form teacher & I hope she
can guide my daughter through her PSLE.
Thanks & Regards
Dorris
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A Petition
2007
Dear Principal,
It has been a good 3 months since our meeting at your office. As the
2007 school year draws to an end, I would like to take the opportunity
to speak about some observations.
I am happy to report that the kids in P3G is a happier lot these days. I
was surprised with the speed of action taken as well as the tremendous
positive effect in these 3 months. This only shows that the Management
at Ai Tong is serious when it comes to the welfare of its image and
the well-being of its kids.
Here, I must commend Mrs. Janice Loh’s efforts for bringing back P3G to
where it was suppose to be. I’m confident your goodself would have
observe this positive change as well. According to my son (and his
friends who occasionally pops over to our home), Mrs. Loh is both
sincere and caring but firm; absolutely necessary traits for nurturing
young minds. She definitely had made an impression with the kids who
is beginning to understand the value of Respect vs. Obedience for
teachers. This can only bode well for their continuing journey in
academia.
Onwards, I would like to hereby petition Management to consider
allowing Mrs. Loh to continue her good work with the class next year
as P4 is the key foundation year for Upper Primary. The P3G kids have
‘lost’ a good 3 terms this year, with their morale improving only in
Term 4. My concern is that they would have to adapt to a new Form
Teacher so soon after Mrs. Loh.
Thanks and Best Regards,
[Parents’ name and contact]
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Reference Report
2002
I have known Mdm Chuah since 1995. She was employed as a relief teacher where I was (and still is) the vice principal. She was an enthusiastic and committed teacher and hence was one of the few sought for relief teaching whenever the need arose. Over the years we have kept contact and I believe I had been an influence in her choice of career.
Mdm Chuah is able to get across her views and instructions clearly and proficiently in writing and I would grade it as very good, She reads fluently and has no problem with comprehension of text. Her spoken English is good as she is always able to express herself fluently.
Mdm Chuah joined the school in May 2000 with a Post Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE). Her professionalism and competence as a beginning teacher was impressive and befitted that of a winner of the Top Student of PDGE (PRI) 2000. She was enthusiastic, not only in the classroom but was able to make constructive criticism to improve the school.
From the onset, her potential was obvious. Mdm Chuah displayed many talents. She was an innovative and effective teacher in and out of the classroom. She expressed an interest in IT and was put to assist the IT HOD in the IT Club as her Co-Curricular Activity (CCA). She is self-motivated and undertakes her job and all duties with passion and drive. Under her guidance, a team of 5 pupils won a Gold award in the ThinkQuest Junior Competition 2001, a web design competition in Singapore. This year, she has prepared and entered three teams in ThinkQuest in 2002 and is hopeful of bagging a Platinum award.
Mdm Chuah’s interest in IT has also benefited her colleagues. Last year she won the Outstanding Contribution Award (Individual Category) announced under the Edu-Pac Plan and given out in schools to encourage and recognize significant value-added employee contributions that have made an impact in schools. She developed a Power Point template to facilitate teachers in developing their own web-based lessons.
The school recognised Mdm Chuah’s capabilities and appointed her the Media Resource Library coordinator last year, in spite of her having been only a year in the service. She was not only able to revamp and update the system but has even initiated new programmes successfully.
As a classroom teacher, Mdm Chuah is responsible, caring and firm. She strives to do her best for her pupils and does not hesitate to check with her supervisors/mentors when faced with difficulties. Because of her care and concern for her pupils, she was identified at the end of last year to be the form teacher of a class with an autistic boy. In preparation she signed up for a 3-day seminar organized by the Autism Research Centre in November, 2001, so that she would be able to give of her best.
In the seven years that I have known Mdm Chuah, she has always been ambitious, diligent, forward-looking and persevering. When challenged to do something new her answer is always, ‘Let me think about it.’, never an outright ‘No”.
Name of referee : Mrs May Chan
Designation : Vice Principal
Address : Yio Chu Kang Primary School, No 1, Hougang Street 5, Singapore 538720
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A Thank You Note
2002
Dear Mrs Janice Loh,
Take you for taking care of Khee You during this academic year.
You have given us a problem free year. This is the result of your excellence guidance and ability to instill discipline in your class. You have been a good role model to your pupils. You patience and understanding towards Khee You is deeply appreciated by us.
May God Bless You and Your Family.
With warmest appreciation from
Mr & Mrs Lau Hong Kah
cc. Principal & Vice Principal
