2009 Achievement

Jono's study strategy - NOT recommended! Jono came back from exam early this year and was complaining that he has to write an English essay on the spot. So I asked him why he didn't prepare for it in the first place. His response was he did but the theme that he prepared wasn't one of the questions asked. So I asked how many themes did he actually prepare for. Answer is ONE! I was shocked. I told him that is NOT the right way, he has to prepare for at least 2. This is the strategy he used: he is using his 'psychic' ability to prepare for exam. He claimed he usually has 'good' feeling about what will be asked and this 'strategy' has never failed until that day! He has had dreams since primary school about what will be on the test. The very first time was 10 words that the teacher gave as a surprise spelling test, Jono dreamt about this the night before! So he got all of them right. What I didn't realised was he is using this as the ONE and ONLY strategy to prepare for all future exams!  Who is to argue with Jono about his study strategy (if you can even called that a strategy!) when his VCE results proved that he is in the top 2%.  (I thought he was in the top 5%.)

Not many parents can boast about this, I know all Jonathan's friends by name, they all seem to have the same name, "Hey man!"

I was quite "upset" with Jonathan's Term 1 Progress report, his lowest rate was "Very Good", the rest were "Excellent".  Why can't he be just 'perfect'?  As you are aware, this is his final year in high school, to achieve this type of result is really unreal.  Considering the fact that I have never ever had to ask him to do his homework, never ever check if he has done his homework.  He doesn't even attend any extra classes after school!  He is pretty much on his own, except for very little help he gets from me on Maths.  But I think he really was just getting lazy and get me to 'do' some of his homework!  Like I say, he is very smart.  Sometimes I really have problem trying to solve the problem (I did VCE a very long time ago!), his question to me was if I really graduated from university!  (I do have a piece of paper to prove that I graduated!)

I am going to miss reading his school reports as this will be the final year of his secondary education.

I bought Jonathan his first pair of jeans this year.  He hated jeans since he was a toddler!  He didn't have much choice this year, with his very 'active' social life, he needs to wear something other than tracksuit.

This is taken at Jono's graduation dinner at The Sebel Hotel at Albert Park.  The first thought that came to my mind when I saw this photo was what Jono said to Matt many years ago.  ( Matt was about 1 year old.)  Matt has always came between me and Jono or interrupted us whenever Jono talked to me.  Jono has been very patient and gave way to his brother until that fateful day.  He has had enough and this is what he said to Matt in his most authoritative voice, "She is my mum too!"  Matt was taken aback and the message sank in, the little fellow went away and never interrupted us ever since.  All mothers need a Jonathan!

I was very impressed with the way the young adults behave at the graduation.  They were hugging each other good-bye, including the boys!  There was a slide show on showing what the kids were up to in school.  I learnt more about my son in that hour than I have in the last few years!  Going through puberty and adolescent wasn't easy for anyone, he wasn't talking to me as much as I would like. (Remember when they were in primary school?  They told you just about everything!)  The slide show was really reassuring, I now know for sure he has been ok, has a happy time with his friends at school.  Not that I was 'spying' on my son, one day I was taking Matt and Fay to school, we saw Jono walking with his group of friends to school, they were chatting and laughing.  If you have a teenage kid, perhaps 'spying' would help ease your mind if you are concerned about your teenager's wellbeing.

Matt and Fay played at Westfield Shopping Centre, Doncaster as part of the Suzuki Association's effort to raise fund to build a new playground that was burnt down by the bushfire.

Here is my little girl performing her 2 pieces in front of an audience.

Then, it's Matt's turn.

 

 

Matt's tennis team managed to get into semi-final for the summer season, unfortunately they didn't make it to the final.  For the winter season, they did it!  The medal is sitting nicely in Matt's room.

This is Matt's final year at Kew East Primary.  He will be attending Balwyn High next year.  It felt like it was only yesterday that Jono graduated from Kew East Primary.  Time really does fly.  We attended music survey and instrument try-out night.  Interestingly, Matt will be playing saxophone as well, just like his brother.  He is getting very excited about attending high school next year.

Matt spent a week at camp this year and absolutely loved it.  So did Fay, a week without her annoying brother!  I love it too, it's so quiet and peaceful, it's like having one of those religious retreat at home!

On the religious note, Matt received his confirmation in August.  He was really impressed with all the seven gifts he is receiving from the Holy Spirit: Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, Fortitude, Knowledge, Piety, Fear of the Lord. His confirmation name is Frederick, after Professor Fred Hallow.  He chose the late Prof Hallow because he is a great Australian.

I was really surprised at Matt's school report.  His teacher said he has great leadership potential and that we should encourage him in developing his leadership skills.  I thought I know my children well.  Matt also managed to get a few 'A' this year - he was determined to get at least one as he didn't get any last year and his sister has two.  You know which of my children is the competitive one.  At graduation, the teacher would say a few words about each student.  This is how I found out that Matt is 'the most positive person on the planet!'  I really need to spend more time with my kids!

Fay joined the Australian Girl's Choir this year and absolutely love singing!  In Term 3, she joined the Australian Girl's Dance as well.  Now I have a singing and dancing doll.  Her first performance was at Monash University concert hall, I got the tickets online and must have been one of the first to get them, got the front row seats.  It was a very entertaining afternoon, excellent performance by the choir.  For the annual concert in November, she performed at Hamer Hall at Melbourne Arts Center.  She was really inspired by the older girls and wished she could sing like them one day.

You might start to think I am a 'pushy' mother, the poor girl claimed she doesn't like singing.  So I did a clinical study on Fay.  The clinic is our home,the only equiment used was DVD player and TV.  Fay was writing down something, pause the DVD, write a few more words and restart the DVD.  Occasionally she has to rewind a bit.  I was really curious and asked her what she is doing.  She said she is writing down the words of the song so she can commit them to memory.  She really loves the song and needs to remember all the words for singing.  She 'really' doesn't like singing.  She would demostrate to me how some kids at school were singing at the wrong pitch when it should be higher.  She would sing the song at different pitch so I can tell the difference.  She knows what she is talking about.  Based on this research, I think she is in denial!  She loves singing, I don't remember a day when Fay doesn't sing.

I was reading Fay's journal that she wrote at school.  She sure can write, now the teacher knows when her mum bought her undies, what we did on weekends ...  Her writings style is very similar to her talking style.  She will tell you a story and randomly makes a few sentences that is totally irrelevant to her story.  When I asked her how is that related to the story, her response was 'none'.  The thought just came to her mind and she decided that she might as well tell me about it right there and then.  

Fay is really excited about next year - she will be going to school camp for the first time and she will aim to get her 'pen licence' early in the year.

I hope you will have something exciting to look forward to as well in the new year and have a merry Christmas and a safe and relaxing holiday.  Till next year ...