Last Day Of Kindergarten

Big Bee's last official school day was on Wednesday. I met up with her form and Chinese teachers, and was elated to receive feedback that she had been a strong leader in school, both liked by peers and teachers. They advised me to continue her interest in public speaking, performance and drama. This transformation is no less due to the wonderful teachers in her kindergarten, especially in K2, and I seriously hope that she can receive the same personal nurturing that had led to her metamorphosis.

She brought back her K2 works and yearbook, and I flipped through her works with bittersweet emotions welling up in my heart. No more reading her daily story books from kindergarten with her. No more corresponding freely and informally with her teachers through the communications book. No more light-hearted treatment of her homework and spelling. For I traverse on the road to primary one with much trepidation. My poor Big Bee would have to start the relentless drill of Singapore's harsh academic system that had jaded most of us.


All her friends' and teachers' signatures and a recent class photo from her K2 yearbook. Big Bee is at the top row, 2nd from right. She also had to collect farewell comments from all the teachers who had ever taught her in her 4 years of preschool, featured in other pages of her yearbook.

One of her homework essays in early October was on the topic "What do you like about your kindergarten?". I thought it is apt to feature her short essay (which was straight from her heart) here as a striking and moving finale to her unforgettable preschool years. No editing from me, so pardon the funny grammar in some parts.

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What do you like about your kindergarten?

I like my kindergarten because of my teachers and friends. I like my friends because we play together for the past four years. I have many friends in school and they make me very happy. We learn together, we eat together and perform together.

I like my teachers because they teach me and my friends many new things. They are also kind and friendly. I also like my teachers because they go to field trips with me and my friends.

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Her teacher's comments: "Good job! I will really miss you, Miss Y." (Her teacher has a habit of calling her by her surname in jest.)

I pray that primary school will be an extraordinary journey as well.