Gleeful Cherubs

On 19 October, I volunteered as a parent helper at one of Little Bee's school field trips. This would be her 3rd field trip but my first time volunteering. Previously, with Big Bee, I helped out with several field trips and found the experiences enriching and uplifting, especially in getting to know their classmates better, allowing their classmates to know me better and to inject some sense of pride and happiness into the Bees, as all children felt whenever their parents helped out in school. 

So, it was on a hazy dusky day (unfortunately, the haze from Indonesia was rather severe on the day of the field trip!) that we set forth to West Coast Park. It wasn't a very exciting destination, compared to all the other funner places they had been, but this term's theme in school was "Children Of The World", so I guess the gigantic playground at West Coast Park would really be an ideal venue symbolising what every child in the world would love! 

It was so heartening to see the little kids getting really excited in the classroom before the trip, anticipating an entire afternoon of playground time. Little Bee was already giggling with exhilaration on the way to school, and in class, the rest of her classmates were hopping around in full glee! 

It was hilarious on the bus, listening to the two N2 classes singing nursery rhymes at the top of their voices, and watching each pair of kids chattering innocently to each other. 

They were immensely well-behaved once we reached the destination, walking quietly in pairs and patiently ambling to the heart of their mirth - the colossol sandy playground! 

Once they were "released" officially into the playground, you could hear them squealing away in cheeky delight, all running to the liberty of clambering up all sorts of different structures that they fancied. This was the first time I accompanied a field trip where the children did not need any formal guidance or supervision, so it was truly relaxing strolling around, helping Little Bee tackle a steep ladder or her friends with some other obstacles. 

After some time at the open playground, the group made our way to the flying fox. When I told Little Bee that we were going to try the flying fox, she looked worriedly around and asked me if foxes would bite little children! Haha! 

Most of the little kids were rather frightened by the seemingly eternal distance that they had to spend on the flying fox. Besides, given their short little selves, I am sure the flying fox seemed like miles from the sandy ground! However, Little Bee was filled with unusual courage for her petite little frame. She was the only one in class to try the flying fox twice, hanging on for dear life on the menacing contraption! It was great fun, and she descended the flying fox twice with giant beams on her cheery face. 

The little kids were fooling around a lot on the sand, taking out their socks and shoes and dirtying themselves all over. It was rather tiring and challenging for the 2 parent volunteers and 2 teachers to manage a class of 12 messy and boisterous children!

Hence, it was with much relief when we settled down for a little picnic teabreak, although we adults did spend a fair amount of time cleaning up the children before that! Little Bee's appetite was really good, relishing off 2 fluffy buns and 2 packets of succulent dried raisins. It was truly gratifying to sit on a picnic mat, chatting idly with these cute innocent angels, and laughing at some of their jokes and antics! 

Time really zoomed by swiftly when we had fun. Soon after the picnic, we had to go clean up the children at the nearby toilet in MacDonald's, before adjourning to the bus for another fun ride back to the school. Little Bee and one of her good friends Olivia were really laughing hysterically on the bus, and it was so amusing just to watch them having such tremendous fun. 

Little Bee told me she really loved it that I helped out at the field trip, and I am sure I would be back for more field trips next year!