4F Forever

I'm Proud of You..

2009-01-12T05:25:00.000-08:00

Dear 4F,
As your form teacher and EL teacher for 1.5years- I'm very proud of what most of you have achieved for English. Some of you have made very drastic and good improvements. For that, I believe you are more pleased than I am. You will always be the craziest class I have ever taught!!

Keep in Touch and you always know where to find me ;)

*love aplenty*
Ms Ong :)

GCE 'O' Level Results

2009-01-07T04:33:00.000-08:00

Hi All,
Those regular readers of this blog- Please pass this very important message to your classmates/ schoolmates.

GCE 'O' Levels- 12th Jan 2009.
Reporting Time: 2pm, School Hall

Please do not be late on that day as there are a lot of things we need to settle.
I will be around to personally give out your results slips amongst other things such as advice you on your next step be it JC or Poly.

So see you all there!

Enjoy the rest of this weekend before this earth-shattering event come Monday..

Ms Ong :)

Popstars Go Red!

2008-11-16T07:36:00.000-08:00

Dear 4F,
This is my last formal post as your form-teacher. I am really glad to have crossed paths with you people for the past 1.5yrs. You have been emo and I too had my emo moments. Still, thanks for being part of a memorable start of my journey in Dunman. :)

Here are the photos that I took with you guys at Popstars Go Red & Graduation Day!
There are more that I have not loaded as I have not taken a look at the photos taken by Mr. Zul on that day. :) Will upload them once I have access to those

Meanwhile, this is the link! ;)
http://s494.photobucket.com/albums/rr309/alifeinpictures/Dunman%20Graduation%20Day%20and%20Prom%20Night/

SOME 'WISE' WORDS...

2008-11-10T09:44:00.000-08:00

14.11.2008 will mark the end date of your journey in Dunman for 4years. For some, it is laden with joy and successes and for others, the road has been more bumpy with setbacks. One thing is for sure, whatever path you take...

My Lit Students will find this familiar but I urge you to read the passages below:

A mob's always made up of people, no matter what. Mr. Cunningham was part of a mob last night, but he was still a man. Every mob in every little Southern town is always made up of people you knowdoesn't say much for them, does it?"
"I'll say not," said Jem.
"So it took an eight-year-old child to bring 'em, to their senses, didn't it?" said Atticus. "That proves something -that a gang of wild animals can be stopped, simply because they're still human. Hmp, maybe we need a police force of children ... you children last night made Walter Cunningham stand in my shoes for a minute. That was enough."

In life, we will often be pressured to act like people in a mob (gang) in order to fit in. It is especially in gangs or in big groups where even wrong actions can seen right because you become blind to the actual truth. It is my hope and wish for everyone in 4F'08 to grow and become the discerning individuals who will question and query acts of peer influence (be it fashion, attitudes and actions).

Afterall...

The one thing that doesn't abide by majority rule is a person's conscience

Go forth 4f'08 and begin carving a good chapter of your lives ahead.

Here's Ms Ong wishing you all the best in your endeavours and life's richest blessings! :)

Graduation Ceremony Info!

2008-11-10T09:32:00.000-08:00

Hey all,
FINALLY! By the time you read this message- I am sure almost all of you are rejoicing and throwing confetti into the sky. :)

However, before you start heading out in full throngs to pierce whatever part of the body you have been dying to inflict pain on, or turn your head into a walking bob of green...
Please note the following information:

Graduation Ceremony Cum Tea Party
Date: 14 Nov 2008 (Fri)
Time: 9am- 11am
Venue: School Hall
Attire: Smart Casual (Ie. Collared T Shirt/ Blouse for Girls + Jeans)
Please do not walk into school with your piercings and funny coloured hair. Save that for Prom Night (if you really want to)

* Please be punctual so that we can start on time- we have a programme to adhere to as the hall is used in the afternoon (at 2pm for some other school function)

Also, those who really want me to be there to celebrate with you people this Fri Night @ Prom, please indicate your preference and wishes by sending me a text message. If I have more than 20 people who shamelessly want me to be there, I will. If not, I am afraid my very presence might just be too stifling for my 4F who has tasted newfound freedom ;)

Jokes aside.. the real reason is...
Ms Ong is very busy with family affairs lately as my my grandparents are very ill- one suspected of stomach cancer :( Also, the other grandparent is diagnosed as diabetic... As such, Ms Ong is quite stretched... Unless, 4F wants to very kindly and generously sponsor Ms Ong to Prom (kidding!) ;)

MORE PROM NIGHT INFO

2008-11-05T23:36:00.000-08:00

Programme for Prom Night is as follow:

7.00pm – Registration
7.30pm - Principal’s address
Ice Breakers
7.45pm - Buffet commences
8.00am - Band performance
8.15pm - Lucky Draw (11th-20th)
8.30pm - Games
Table Prize (1st – 3rd)
Nomination for Prom King/Queen
9.00pm - Lucky Draw Prizes (1st – 10th)
9.30pm - Prom King/Queen
10.00pm - Dance Commence
11.30pm - End

The theme for this event is ‘Pop Stars Go Red’.

PROM NIGHT :)

2008-10-22T16:48:00.000-07:00

Dear 4F Students,

Upon finishing your GCE 'O' levels, please take note of the following events:
1. Graduation Day
2. Prom Night

Graduation Day
14 November (Friday)
Time: 9am, School Hall
Students will receive your school testimonial and graduation certificate in the school hall.
Students will then adjourn for a mini reception that will be held for them.

Prom Night
Date: 14 November 2008 (Friday)
Time: 6.30pm onwards
Venue: Suntec Singapore International Convention & Exhibition Centre

Programme:
Students will arrive latest 7.30pm
Dinner: Served at 8.15pm
(Buffet Dinner- Halal and Non-Halal Dishes available)
Games & Lucky Draw will be conducted during the evening.
Prom King & Prom Queen to be selected
Dinner will end latest at 9.30pm
Thereafter, the floor will be open for students to dance the night away/ take photos to remember this once in a lifetime event ;)

Say It My Way

2008-10-20T08:12:00.001-07:00

Hello People,
I did a simple thesaurus search for "say" and below are the results/findings. :)

6 thesaurus results for: say
Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition
Main Entry:
say
Part of Speech:
verb
Definition:
make declaration
Synonyms:
add, affirm, allege, announce, answer, assert, break silence, claim, come out with, communicate, conjecture, convey, declare, deliver, disclose, divulge, do, estimate, express, flap*, gab*, give voice, guess, imagine, imply, jaw, judge, lip*, maintain, make known, mention, opine, orate, perform, pronounce, put forth, put into words, rap*, read, recite, rehearse, relate, remark, render, repeat, reply, report, respond, reveal, rumor, speak, spiel*, state, suggest, tell, utter, verbalize, voice, yak*

In addition: murmer, grunt (mutter), mumbled, murmer, (whisper), barked, bellowed, clamoured, roared (shout)

The Final Lap

2008-10-20T07:46:00.001-07:00

Dear 4F Students,

The End is really near... GCE 'O' Levels are here and this is your final dash and run to the finishing line. All the best and I wish you the very best of luck! I have also attached a handout for your final download/ reference on the following weblink: http://myenglishcafe.pbwiki.com

Look for the EL Link that says "Linking Words". It is a MS Word File that contains some useful terms that will be helpful for summary. Please also read through all my old notes and remember some useful vocabulary terms to describe your characters.

Remember:

Appearance
Characteristic
Mentality

For Situational Writing, please remember the "8 Elements"
1. Given Situation (Context)
2. Given Information (Tables, Diagrams, Speech Bubble etc)
3. Task (Report, Article, Speech etc)
4. Your Role (Who are 'you' in the given situation?)
5. Audience (Who are you addressing?)
6. Requirements (Items to fulfill and address in the written task)
7. Formats (Refer to 'Templates' Handout)
8. Style/ Tone (Persuasive, Polite, Courteous, Enthusiastic)

Comprehension-
1. Read Question very careful- You can do selective lifting but it cannot exceed a phrase (7words).
2. If asking for in your own words- please do not lift any word from the passage or even alter the verb form of the word. use a totally different word to substitute!
3. Summary- Cambridge is quite generous with this- there are usually more than 15 points. So finding 15 will not be a problem at all. Remember to count and write the number of words at the end of it. Do not cheat. Examiners will check.

All the best 4F!! :D

Practice Paper

2008-10-06T00:46:00.000-07:00

Dear Students,
Remember what I mentioned about the creation of an online site where you can download papers without logging into Egenie.

Here it is:
http://myenglishcafe.pbwiki.com

Please keep this only within the Dunman Community. I will try to update as frequently as I can, it is still in its initial stages.

Cheers,
Ms Ong :)

LITERATURE TIPS FOR GCE EXAMS

2008-10-04T17:15:00.000-07:00

Dear Literature Students,

Please REMEMBER THE FOLLOWING THINGS:
1. Write your name details neatly on the paper.
2. Write your question number (die-die must write!) and title of book on the top of each writing paper.
3. Write your answers in paragraphs please! (5lines per paragraph minimum!)

Paper 1:
There will be many texts to choose from:
DO ONLY QUESTIONS FROM:
TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD- HARPER LEE [Choose 1 out of the 3- Essay Qn (a) or (b) or Passage Based Qn (c) ]

+ Unseen
Do 1 Question (Either Unseen Prose or Unseen Poem)

So ALTOGETHER: PAPER 1- ATTEMPT 2 QUESTIONS
1 ESSAY ON TKAM + 1 ESSAY ON UNSEEN

Paper 2:
There will be many texts to choose from:
DO ONLY QUESTIONS FROM:
A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM- WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

COMPULSORY QUESTION (die-die must do!) PASSAGE BASED QUESTION

CHOICE QUESTION: Essay Question (a) or (b)

So ALTOGETHER: PAPER 2- ATTEMPT 2 QUESTIONS
1 ESSAY ON MIDSUMMER + 1 PASSAGE BASED ON MIDSUMMER

LITERATURE ESSAY WRITING TIPS/ STRATEGIES:

1. Always remember --> 1 point per paragraph
2. Essay Structure is as follows:

Introduction
List minimum 5 points per essay = 5 paragraphs
Conclusion

What should I write for my Introduction?
If there is a quotation for the essay question- explain the quotation in the first paragraph.
You can write about what the quotation means in terms of themes (eg: courage in TKAM or the role of magic in Midsummer)
If there is no quotation, explain the significance of the character/ theme in the novel or relevance in the passage
also include a summary of the actual points you will be discussing

What should I write for my Conclusion?
Summarise all your points
State your stand about the theme/ character
State how you feel about it WITH RELEVANCE to the play/novel

ALL THE BEST FOLKS. GO FORTH AND ACE YOUR LITERATURE! :)

PROM MONEY

2008-10-01T16:52:00.000-07:00

Hi 4F Students,

It is now the time for me to play loanshark and collect $75 for your Prom Ticket. For those who are able to pay asap, please do so. Otherwise, this is the deadline- 10th October 2008 (Fri)

Payment Mode: Cash
Venue of Collection: Fri EL Night Study
Pay to: Ms Ong

For the really genuine cases who are unable to meet the 10th October deadline, please come and talk to me about it and I will forward your request to Mr. Bernard who will speak with you personally about this matter.

If not, please cooperate with me and you can begin paying me whenever you see in school for EL Consultation or EL Night Study on Fri (3rd October 2008) at 5.30pm

Thanks!!

Re-Test (Muslim Pupils)

2008-10-01T16:44:00.000-07:00

Dear 4F,
Please inform your friends below of the Re-test or if the people are reading it, please turn up for the Re-Exam on 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th October.

Subject: Humanities
6th October, 8am-9.30am P1, 10am-11.30am P2

Subject: Physics/ Chem
7th October, 8am-9.30am Physics, 10am-11.30am Chemistry

Subject: E Maths
8th October, 8am-10am P1, 10.30am-1pm P2

Subject: EL
9th October, 8am-9.45am P1, 10am-11.40am P2

Muhd Aerzam
Subjects to take Exam:
Humanities
Maths
Science

Iskandah
Subjects to take Exam:
Humanities
EL
Maths

Thanks!

Class Matters

2008-09-24T01:01:00.000-07:00

Dear 4F,
I need those who have not been coming to school to turn up as there are some documents which I need to attend to such as your SGC and CCA Certificate.
Also for English, those who are not in my group for EL- please make sure you complete my work before tomorrow's EL session:

EL 2004 TYS
Summary Writing
1127/02- Make sure you attempt the right paper. There are 2 different sets of 2004 papers.
Attempt the New Syllabus Paper- It will be the paper with 2 passages. (Modern Technology & Narrative on Zang)

I expect to see full attendance tomorrow.
School is not a hotel that you can check-in and check-out anytime that you like.
Fellow students who have been coming to school, please remind your friends to turn up for lessons.

Prom Night Matters:
Venue: Suntec Singapore International & Convention Centre
Date: 14th November 2008 (Friday)
Time: 6.30pm
Cost: $70.62
Please make sure you have your funds ready soon because collection of money will be take place sometime next week!

Ms Ong

Attitude

2008-09-20T10:09:00.000-07:00

Dear 4F,
I am rather frustrated with your attitude towards English in general. Except for a small few who are keen to learn and improve, the rest of you are just waiting to be reminded. There is no effort on your part to write additional essays or even for most of you in this class to hand in your September Holiday homework to me!! (Zhonghua Prelim) Those who have not handed in, you know who you are. Those who have requested for extra papers, there is no point in taking additional papers and not working on them.

As such, I will adopt a "compulsory" EL Consultation Session in order to be able to get each of you to work and complete a certain number of assignments before you take your EL Exams. Consultations will be on an individual basis (one-on-one) since you cannot be trusted anymore to look for me in small groups and the student will need to finish writing an Essay before coming for the session. Student will need to bring along the Essay Compilation Book! Students who are granted exceptions and are allowed to see me in pairs are those who have proven themselves worthy in the past 1 month.

Consultation schedule will be distributed on Monday!

Night Study Attendance:
EL Night Study Attendance last Friday was pathetic and those who did come, did not manage to complete 2 pieces of assignments. There is a reason why we make you come down for 3hours from 6pm-9pm and this is so that, you can "force" yourself to time your own writing. Without this discipline, how are you to excel and complete your paper on time? With this, I am also referring to the more studious students- your attitude towards time-management is atrocious!

It takes 2 hands to clap!
In order to make this journey to work, I need everyone to play their role and for my Class Committee to rise to the challenge to steer the class in the right direction and not be some driftwood with no aim or leadership abilities!

Ms Ong.

EL Oral Exams

2008-08-19T05:20:00.000-07:00

Hello 4F again!

Here's the topics that were tested during the Oral Exam today:

Reading:
An Exchange between 2 students about a sports match with some mention of gender inequality
Picture:
Students cheering along the sidelines of the field (during a Sports Meet or Sports Game)
Conversation:
-Students were asked to relate an incident that happened to them when they realised that they had done something wrong
- Sports: Gender Equality in Sports/ Whether people can be good in sports/ Why some people are better in sports than others

Please focus on issues that have not been tested yet:

These include:
Ageing Population
Citizenship
Family
Teenage Issues (BGR, Technology etc)
Also consider more serious issues like:
Corruption in Politics Eg:
Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian accused of corruption
M'sian Politics rears its ugly side/head when Anwar and PM Ahmad Badawi are now caught in a political quarrel that is read by millions across the world
Tourism (think IRs, Formula One Grand Prix (pronounced as "gron pree") that will coming to Singapore next month, Revamp the image of Sentosa etc)

To all taking their exams tomorrow- ALL THE BEST!! :)

2008-08-18T04:04:00.001-07:00

Hello People,
Here's the lowdown of what was tested today:

Reading: Passage on teachers discussing education topics.
Picture: Students & Teacher participating in a Sci Experiment.
Conversation:
- Tell me about your favourite subject.
- Are some subjects more important than others?

Remember that today I told you people, Education will come out- voila!
Don't ask me if I have any hunches tomorrow- all is silent in my head.
I don't have a crystal ball either.

In any case, good luck in your preparation for your Oral Exams! :)

Go 4F'08!

EL Oral Consultations

2008-08-17T07:16:00.000-07:00

Hi 4F students,

EL Oral Consultation will be held tomorrow in the 4F Classroom.
I would like students to come so that I can go through some last minute revision tips with everyone and share with you some common errors to avoid!
Attendance is compulsory for all students!

The EL Oral Consultation will take place from 10.30am-11.30am, 4F classroom.
Students who do not have exams tomorrow can feel free to come to school a little earlier tomorrow to seek assistance or one-on-one consultation from me.
Students who are under Ms Marie, you can also approach her tomorrow for some help after school hours.

Things to Do:
Read through the entire set of EL Oral Skills Conversation Notes given by me at the start of the year! There are many good pointers covered.

Although the Prelims have ended, I know that some of you want a mini breather- but please remember to take it only after your GCE 'O' level Orals Exams. Remember, that this coming Tues & Wed, it is the real deal and will seal the fate of 20% of your English grade. Your seniors mainly scored their distinctions through their EL Oral.

That said, All the best 4F for your EL Oral Examinations!!

GOOD LUCK!

2008-07-30T08:29:00.001-07:00

GOOD LUCK 4F FOR YOUR SCI PRELIM PRACTICALS!

Ms Ong :D

Class Photos

2008-07-27T05:39:00.000-07:00

Dear 4F,
Please bring your money meant for Class Photos to school tomorrow. You have up to Thursday to bring your money after which, the orders will be given the Company together with the amount. Please pass your money to Khairul who will tick your name off the list once you have placed the order and given him the amount. If you do not pay for your photos by Thursday, your orders will not be processed.

Khairul- I will have to trouble you once again. You're doing a really great job so far, thanks! :)

Thanks for your cooperation!!

Ms Ong :D

English Matters Again

2008-07-24T21:23:00.000-07:00

Hello again!

There will be an EL Mock Exam held on 25th July 2008

EL Mock Exam

Paper 2- Full Paper

Duration: 1hour 40mins

1.30pm-3.10pm

AVT

Muslim Boys,

You will report for this Exam at:

4A Classroom (New Block, Ground Floor, Next to Vending Machine)

2.30pm-3.40pm

You are to bring your own writing paper for this exam.

Also, EL Consultations

I will be rostering everyone to see me for EL Oral Exams. Regardless of whether you are under me or Ms Marie Ong, everyone has to see at least one more time before you sit for your EL Oral Exams. I will conduct an Oral Workshop sometime nearer your 'O' Level Oral Date. So please jot down in the tagboard the dates for oral- please confirm if it is 19/20/21 Aug. Thanks!!

EL Consultations (Written Work)

I need everyone to see me on a weekly basis and for some of you on a more daily basis regarding your work. I need each of you to prepare work and will upload them on this blog for download (when I figure out how to). Any help here would be kindly appreciated!

Compo- I need all of you to write essays with at least 10-12 good phrases!

Compre- You will need to keep practicing. I have a lot of prelim papers for you to try! Just let me know if you wish to work on Compre so I can print the paper and answers in advance. We will go through the answers together during your Consultation slot.

Thanks dudes!!

ALL THE BEST and Remember GCE 'O' levels will make or break your future.

4F Class TShirt Design

2008-07-04T09:34:00.001-07:00

This is the Class T-Shirt Design for 4F'08.

Use of Air-Conditioning

2008-07-02T07:15:00.000-07:00

Dear 4F Students,
I received a very angry email from Mrs Neo today. It seems that at 1.40pm, all the doors to the 4F classroom with all the lights on and the aircon blowing on at full blast but there is no one in the classroom at all!!

I do not want this to happen again! I am very angry and disappointed that this has to happen especially since I trust all of you. Moreover, it has to be the day when I leave school early to accompany a student for a competition. Why is it that everytime I am not in school- something has to go wrong? I cannot be there for all of you throughout your entire lives to make sure that everything proceeds smoothly.

Reuben- as the class chairperson you are responsible for this. You will have to be the last person to leave the class at all times and when Reuben is absent, Sara, you will be take charge. If at any time, any two of these officers are not in charge, the welfare officer- Jerrold will be held responsible.

Your privileges to enjoy an aircon classroom will be removed immediately if this incident occurs again! Everyone in class has to play their role and their part!

REMEMBER, SWITCH OFF ALL LIGHTS + FAN + AIRCON WHEN NOT IN THE CLASSROOM!

an exhausted and fatigued,
Ms Ong

:(

Class T Shirt!

2008-06-30T05:56:00.000-07:00

Hello 4F Ppl!

Please remember to bring $10 on Thursday. This $10 will go towards your downpayment of you Class Tee Shirt. Remind your friends who do not see this message about this as well ok?!

Kok Leong, Sara & Gang- Can you please go down and place the TShirt order asap?

I want everyone to have Tshirts in time for National Day Celebrations and also you can start wearing it to all your wonderful Night Study Sessions! :D

Ms Ong :)

P/S: Please remember to line up according to your register numbers for all morning assemblies! I do not want to have to holler at you all the time in the morning. Thanks! :)

English Tips- Narrative Writing

2008-06-28T10:33:00.000-07:00

Hello 4F-ers!

This is a good website that you can check out if you want to improve your Narrative Essays writing style! There are some useful tips located here!

http://glory.gc.maricopa.edu/~mdesoto/101online_new/assignment3writing.htm

Always remember that a good narrative piece is one that:
1) Has well-developed characters
2) Using the 5 senses to create the overall picture of the story- Be specific and detailed
3) Able to engage and interest the reader to continue- Ask yourself is this a story that everyone else could think of? If yes, then how can you make yours stand out from the rest- Descriptive Phrases!!

Always ask yourself the 2 questions below after you have a rough storyline in mind:
1) Did I use my mind- Is it realistic? Is it practical?
2) Did I use my heart- Will the story impact the reader? Do I have sufficient sections dedicated to creating meaningful characters and developed plots that are linked to the essay title?

If you have done the above 2, then I see no problem in acing the Narrative Essay!

Good Luck!

Ms Ong :)

"Fill your paper with the breathings of your heart" - William Wordsworth

Exam Schedule

2008-06-27T09:45:00.000-07:00

Hello 4F-ers!

Knowing how forgetful you people can get and how good you are at finding means and ways to sneak online, I have decided to create this blog so that I can post updates regarding Class Matters/ Exam Matters for your reference.

THE RACE TO THE BIG 'O's

'O' Level Prelim: 5th August -15th August
English Oral Exam: Refer to Entry Proof (18-20th Aug)
Night Study: August- Oct 13
GCE O Level Study Leave: Oct 14 Onwards
GCE O Level Written Exams: Oct 20- Nov 13 (Thurs)
Graduation Ceremony: Nov 14

GCE O Level Timetable Found Here:
http://www.seab.gov.sg/SEAB/oLevel/2008GCEOTimetable.pdf

GCE O Level Syllabus (in case you cannot remember the various components):
http://www.seab.gov.sg/SEAB/oLevel/syllabus/school/2008_GCE_O.html

Important Things to Remember:
1) Your Entry Proof
2) Stationery
3) Your Brain!

ALL THE BEST 4F'08!

Ms Ong