JJZZJ Days Of Our Lives

I used to suggest field trips. I also planned field trips for the schools. I coordinated and executed them. I know the before-trip and after-trip’s work. Massive. The actual smooth running is challenging and important. I love field trips!

I went for most of my children’s school’s field trips, except for those at Zane’s EIPIC centre. I missed some of his childcare centre’s trips as I had to teach. How to take leave when you are a teacher?

Today, I went for one, my first with Zane’s current school. I am glad I went. I was hesistant when I know that I have to trouble my in-laws to watch Jeff as Jeff is more active now.

It was indeed a very different kind of experience. Firstly, the children are not like the mainstream children. They are children with special needs (ASD children). The school has almost 100 children now. But guess how many buses she needed? 5 long coach buses. I think each of these can take up to 44-50 pax.

Each class has 2 teachers and 4-6 students. One may think that it is a very good ratio and should be easy for the teachers. No no, definitely no. Can you imagine 100 Zanes and only 35 teachers ?

The school is wise. They planned one-to-one. How kind of them. But how to achieve this since they do not have 100 teachers? They strongly encouraged parents to come along. Those who cannot are allowed to send their domestic helpers. Still, the numbers were not enough. Thankfully in this little island of ours, there are kind souls around indeed. A group of green T-shirt volunteers came down to help. They took time off from work to come to help. They told their work to take day off. They filled in the gaps where we parents failed.

In Zane’s class, there are 4 students. I was with Zane. One mom came but she has a 2+ yo son to manage at the same time. One boy’s guardian is a grandpa. Zane’s teacher requested him to follow and he did. The last boy’s mum is a stay-at-home mum with a maid and her daughter is in a childcare and she did not come along?! She told the teachers this is to let her son learn to be independent? Hur ????!!! If the teacher had not ask grandpa to come along, it would be very taxing.

All went on fine. I know Zane’s teacher would love to help that mum with a toddler at the same time as her ASD son runs off at every opportunity, but that grandpa is too old to help his own grandson through the gym activities or to follow him in the maze. I could see that mom to two boys panting. Zane’s teacher took that boy who was not accompanied and her assistant teacher took the boy with the grandpa for the activities. Zane was automatic. He could see that his teachers were busy and their hands were  full, so he did not really bother them or stick to them. I think he did not even go near them to request them to do things for him or help him. I guess he was glad that I was with him ?

Oh yes, i like the way Teacher M describes her 4 students.

“This one as you can see.”

“This one hops.”

“This one wanders off.” (Zane)

“And this one runs.”

Hahaha … must really have octopus arms to catch hold of all 4 .

At the field trip venue, the kids’ maze is HUGEEEEEEEEEEEE . Ok, I mean GIGANTICCCCCCCCC!!! Three storeys high. I almost died. Not because of climbing up the stairs. That would be easy. But to squeeze through the giant-web-step-holes to get to the top. I made Zane climbed all the way up, just to realise that that channel did not lead us to the slide. Haiz . Zane was more facinated with the coloured balls. He enjoyed himself very much.

The physiogym exercises were very good. I am so glad that the school engages the gym’s instructor to come weekly to give the students gym lessons. The whole place is very well planned and the instructors are very clear in delivering their instructions. One of them can even remember Zane and calls him by name. That warmed my heart. Good people God has sent to the school and Zane.

The teachers are really amazing. At the same time, they know how to have fun too. They went down the slides themselves too! So cool! It is good to have young teachers in the midst, it pumps fresh and fast blood. It makes the whole team alive. It is also wonderful to have male teachers in the team. They form a different male element which the boys need (85% are boys), not forgetting their strength, stamina and zest. The school is on a very right and good track. It takes so much guts to be willing to implement so many changes within 1-2 years. Things are moving definitely. Initially at snail paces and now at a faster pace. Thank you, P and teachers, for all your hardwork.

Till next field trip in 2010. Thank you for extending the invite to us parents. Appreciate much.

Due to privacy reasons, both for the students and the teachers, I have decided not to take any pictures of the trip in the end. Actually …. where got chance ?? hands full lah !! kekeke ….  So, no pictures for this entry .

There are a couple of things which touched my heart when I was at the field trip.

1. The mother with a toddler and an ASD son? The ASD son is about 7 and when the children had to put on shoes, she told her toddler to wear his shoes on his own and she knelt down to help her ASD son with his shoes. The little boy can fend for himself anywhere he went among these big special kids and adults. At one point, he was tasked to find his kor kor’s sock which dropped into the pit of balls for his kor kor while his kor kor just happily enjoyed being buried by the coloured balls.

I think I will be doing this with Jeff and Zane soon. Even though Jeff is 6 years younger than Zane, he will have to resume the responsibility in taking care of Zane with us too. Heartwrenching and sobering thoughts at the same time.

2. There are two Indian boys who take very very good care of their ASD younger brothers. They brought their brothers through every part of the maze and even made their brothers try the slides. They are such sensible boys. I praised them personally and they just smiled shyly at me.

Zoe is doing this too. She needs to do this joyfully. One thing is that Zane is stronger than her physically even though she is older. And she gets discouraged with Zane doesn’t obey her. Lord, grant her wisdom, strength and favour with Zane.

When Daddy and Mummy pass on …. please take care of your ASD brother, Zoe and Jeff. If you both really cannot manage the middle age Zane by then, mummy and daddy won’t hold it to you if you have to place him in a home. We understand that you will have your own families to take care of. You try your best. That is all we ask. Thank you.