25th Nov 2006
The morning was promising with clear skies ahead. Visitors started streaming into West Spring even before 10am. Tour registrations were done right after they arrived. Each family were escorted by a student leader. This was evident as whenever I turn around I could see every family was accompanied by our students. The school band was in full swing playing their tunes and the 24 Drums...beating to my heartbeat, each taking turns to greet the visitors with their melodies.
Our PSG volunteers, Mdm Karen Eiw, Mdm Judy Tan and Mdm Ang Y K, came punctually for their duties. I deployed Mdm Ang over to the drink stall while Judy and Karen were at the barbeque pit. For myself, I was ushering parents, handing them files with information about the school with student leaders giving out mineral water bottles away as they enterd the auditorium. All seats were taken up very quickly as the crowd kept coming. Christopher manned the library, talking to parents, giving information whenever needed and going back and forth to the auditorium.Once the door of the auditorium was closed, I went down to check on our parent volunteeers....(not wanting them to feel left alone)
Mrs Yip (teacher in charge) was more than gracious to our parent volunteers, making them feel at ease in doing their duties. It was as though we were barbequeing on the beach at East Coast. Thank you Mrs Yip! The Entrepreneur Club students with trays of barbequed sausages were fantastic walking around the school offering them free to the visitors and selling them for 50 cents each to students. The atmostphere was buzzing with calls like, "Come get your sausages, free sausages!!" was heard all around school.
The weather was turning on us....it started drizzling and soon after it was pouring. Barbequeing was halted. Metal covers were put over the pits to keep them dry. As the lunch buffet was ready..I invited the 10 to 12pm parent volunteers over. Our 12 to 2pm shift came soon after, making sure they join the lunch buffet before they start their duty. It stopped raining and barbequeing continued.Even with the rain, visitors kept coming in droves. As a result, an unscheduled principal's talk was put in place at 11.45am immediately after. The auditorium was fully seated again and Mr Seet kept going...and going.....with performances by the Chinese and Malay dance, Dikir Barat, Guitar Ensemble, School Band, etc.
Yvonne was wonderful helping out with parents who queried in Mandarin. There was quite a number of them. Good job Yvonne!! The crowd was encouraging and that spurred both us to do a better job in engaging more parents to choose West Spring as their 1st choice. While Yvonne entertained questions in Mandarin, I did mine in Malay. Most of them thought we are teachers until they see our ID pin which proudly says, 'West Spring Sec School - PSG'. Mdm Siti Hajeer came very early despite her 12 to 2pm shift and stayed on till the end at 4pm. Mdm Norizah Goh came even with her baby in the pram from 12 to 2pm to help in the barbeque. Tina Tan and Cynthia Tan helped ushering in parents into the auditorium from 2 to 4pm, while Mdm Seri and Jenny Yim continue barbequeing from 2 to 4pm.
May I say that all did their duties with conviction and perseverence, even in the rain!! In all, this event was a success in pulling together new parent volunteers towards PSG. Though tired, I left West Spring yesterday with a sense of satisfaction knowing we did the best job possible with our limited resources.
Thanking all parents involved in this event and may we meet again in future endeavours.
Blogged by Rosita.
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