Budding Journalist?

Big Bee's class (and their P5 seniors) created the school's first student-produced e-newsletter, which was distributed to the whole school in October. The kids learned all about news gathering, writing, journalistic photography, photo editing and even video production (the e-newsletter was speckled with short video clips, which was really cool!).

The 20-page newsletter was filled with a plethora of news items - ranging from a report on the historical background of their school, to journalistic articles on major school events, to interview features with alumni. There were comic strips drawn by the students, poems penned lovingly by them, as well as heartfelt multimedia slideshows about the school's founders and teachers.

One of my favourite segments were the creative articles about the significance of different parts of the school - from the courtyard to the canteen. Big Bee's article about the piano in the canteen took up a page in the e-newsletter, and I am heartened that she found it fulfilling to read her own article in a beautifully and professionally laid out newsletter.

Here is the article by Big Bee featured in the e-newsletter (the name of the school is omitted and is represented by XX):

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Music To Our Ears
Creative Piece by Big Bee

It is a hot and humid Monday morning and classes are over in school. I am sitting in the noisy canteen, staring absent-mindedly at the old piano. Long, snaking queues are forming in front of various stalls while the students are chattering nineteen to the dozen excitedly.

Gazing at that very old and badly tuned piano with keys that are out of position, memories from the past flooded into my mind...

My friend and I once played a lively, merry duet on the piano while giggling away. Playing the piano was one of our favourite activities during recess and we always looked forward to our turns at the instrument. These are fond memories we shared in XX, memories that we would relish even as adults.

On another occasion, one of my classmates played such a melodious and enchanting piece on the piano that a large group of students began to gather around her. We started clapping and singing to her tune spontaneously, filling the entire canteen instantly with zest and vibrancy.

My mind also drifts back to a gloomy day when my best friend cried uncontrollably because she had failed her Maths exam. I tried my best to comfort her but to no avail. I decided to play a calming and soothing tune on the piano and eventually, her sobs subsided and she broke into a smile.

The piano in the canteen has brought much joy and happiness to the students and I cannot help but smile as I reminisce about those days when we were young. Suddenly, I am jolted from my daydreams when a petite Primary 1 girl dashes across the canteen shouting,"Mummy! Mummy! Let's go home now!" I smile at her contentedly and we head to the carpark, hand in hand. I am glad my daughter can relive the days I had in XX.