Reported by :
Gaby Seow Jing Yi Jr2Z(5)
On the 14th of January 2023, a speech by Miss Choong Bai Qi (庄白褀) for the Junior Middle Two students was held in Kuen Cheng High School’s auditorium.
Firstly, Miss Choong gave a brief but warm opening speech. She also shared that one of her main motives was to encourage students to learn via many fun activities, such as games, storytelling and handicrafts.
Miss Choong beginning with a warm introduction
Miss Choong started off by asking students thought-provoking questions that were related to the definition of beauty. Each question helped define the subjective meaning of beauty. In actual fact, beauty is everywhere, and everything is beautiful, including many that are usually considered outside the scope of beauty, such as insects. However, many believe that beauty is defined as physical, material things that are aesthetically pleasing to the eye, which is why beauty is also considered to be subjective. She shared how we are sometimes distracted from beauty and appreciation of beauty. Beauty can be seen in experiences, gestures, and life in general.
Following that, Miss Choong provided narration for a picture book, an adaptation of the English book “ The Three Questions”. Its storyline was centred around a boy called Nicholas, who had 3 questions. He asked his friends but ended up unsatisfied with their responses. Finally, he asked an elderly turtle. Suddenly, a panda falls, and he saves it, as well as its child. The turtle answered, that the most important moment is the present, the most important people, the people surrounding us now, and the best thing to do now, is to live this experience to the fullest.
Next, Miss Choong talked about the next book that she was about to share, titled Kuala Sangga, My Home (“老港是我家”), which was jointly written by students from SJK(C) Poay Chee. She shared the inspiring story of how the book got published. Starting off, she had no intention of publishing a book. The students wrote 3 short stories as part of an activity, and those stories were later used as the storyline for a shadow play performance that was held in the school to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival. The book contained 3 stories, titled small bridge(小桥), fishing boat(渔船) and school (学校).
The first story was about a narrow bridge that served as the main road in the fishing village, whereas the second story was about fishing boats. Lastly, the third story focused on the school that the students attended.
Last but not least, Miss Choong narrated a book called “Every little kind act (“美一个善举)”. The story was seen from the perspective of a little girl, Chloe. Despite various friendly attempts at making friends with Chloe, new student Maya doesn’t have any friends. Maya is mocked behind her back by Chloe and her friends for her odd lunches and clothes, which were old hand-me-downs. A class about kindness makes Chloe conscious of her treatment towards Maya. However, she is unable to make up with Maya as Maya has moved away.
Miss Choong narrating the book, “Every little kind act (美一个善举)”
To top the event off, Miss Choong gave a concluding speech and asked students questions regarding the books she had shared with the students, awarding students for answering questions correctly.
A student answering Miss Choong’s questions