27 Apr 2019 - BBO Ballet Grade 4 Exam

It's the time of the year when Jerlene took her Ballet grading exam.  This year she's taking Grade 4 exam and she needs to memorize the theories from Grade 1 to 4.  While doing their usual warming up exercise, the girls tested each other on the theories.

There they went to the exam studio.  All the best, my little ballerinas!  :-)

21 Apr 2019 - More "invited" guests to our mini roof garden

While providing "tender loving care" to our plants on our roof terrace, we found a caterpillar having its "meal" and a snail crawling up a wall.  It's slowly turning into a home for many garden creatures.

20 Apr 2019 - More Scratch Projects by Javier (JJJwong)

It has been one month since the last time I checked on Javier's projects on Scratch platform.  He has created close to 20 new projects since then.

If you like simple games that test your precision, try the Align 1 and Align 2 games.
If you like city simulation game, try City.
If you like to test your eyes and finger agility, try out the series of Guitar Hero games with different difficulties.  I tried the insane level and I scored -200K.  I really don't know Javier does it which he scores 180K.  Do try out all his other projects as well and give your feedback.

Recently, he started participating in the Scratch Forum discussing with fellow Scratchers from all around the world.  Since he's really into programming, probably I should go look around to see if there is any competition which I can sign him up.  :-)

19 Apr 2019 - A Visit to Jewel Changi Airport

It's public holiday today and we decided to get out of the comfort of our house.  One of the recent major events in Singapore has to be the opening of Jewel Changi Airport.  After years of anticipation, the majestic Jewel Changi Airport opens its doors to the first visitors this week.  As the place is expected to be very crowded, we drove there early in the morning.  By the time we drove into its car park, there were still available parking lots.

The main attraction is the Rain Vortex, the largest indoor waterfall in the world – and the crown jewel of Jewel Changi Airport.  It's really spectacular and we took photos of it from all angles around it.

As expected, queues for the eateries and shops were a little bit out of control.  One of the most popular shops in the Pokemon Center, the first centre to open outside Japan.  Seeing the super long queue, we decided to just take a look from outside of the shop.

The centre is a specialist store for all things Pokémon and where to collect 'em plush toys, video games, trading cards, Pokémon apparel and other official merchandise. This store in Jewel Changi Airport also stocks Singapore-exclusive official merchandise which you can't get in the Japan store.

There are other attractions in Jewel Changi Airport but most of them, such as Canopy Park, Hedge Maze, Topiary Walk and Changi Experience Studio, have yet to be opened.

We decided to have an early lunch before the lunch crowd started streaming in.  We had our lunch at Hot Tomato, a contemporary casual steakhouse offering grilled steaks and seafood, pasta, salads and sides.

Jewel Changi Airport is situated in the middle of Terminal 1, 2 and 3.  It connects to Terminal 2 and 3 via a glass walkway.

We took the walkway to Terminal 2 looking for Starbucks as the one in Jewel was full house.

It has been a while since we last visited Terminal 2.  Frankly speaking, it's still one of the better terminal that we had visited so far.  We were especially attracted to an incredible clocks artwork, which is both a kinetic sculpture and a functioning clock.  Hats off to the designer of this amazing piece of artwork.
By the time we returned to Jewel from Terminal 2, it was so crowded that the airport staff had started performing crowd control to the Rain Vortex.  This place is more than just an airport and I am sure Changi Airport will continue to be voted as the Best Airport in the World in the years to come.

14 Apr 2019 - Completed the second Taekwando Grading Assignment

Today Javier had his second assignment during Taekwando grading at Toa Payoh Sports Hall.  Though he's currently wearing a Junior Black Belt, he needs to complete two assignment before he can get the actual certificate.  Below shows Javier leading the warm-up exercises in front of the class together with the instructor.

They are one of the last group to be graded today.  And they almost missed the grading as they were given a last call while they were still practising outside the hall.  Fortunately we heard it and informed the instructor.

Javier took on his next task below being a referee during a sparring session.

7 Apr 2019 - Ballet (Grade 4) Mock Exam

Jerlene's Grade 4 Ballet Exam is just round the corner and today we were invited to the studio to watch her taking the mock exam.  It has been 7 years since she started her first ballet lesson in 2012.  I am glad that she manages to persevere over the years.

Below is a video of the mock exam.

5 Apr 2019 - Parent-Teacher Conference

We met up with Jerlene's teachers this afternoon during the parent-teachers conference.  We first met Jerlene's form teacher at the multi-purpose hall.  She was very glad to see us because she wanted to personally thank us for raising Jerlene up to be such a wonderful girl.  She went on to explain why she said that.

Apparently, there is a student with special needs in the class who had been very temperamental.  Even the teacher had problem to calm him down at times.  Jerlene was given a task last year to try to "counsel" him.  After several months, she actually managed to calm him down.  According to the teacher, that student has improved a lot since and she really want to thank Jerlene for all her effort.  She said she met up with that student's parents earlier and they too wanted to thank Jerlene.  I guess that's the reason why the teacher had chosen Jerlene to be the ICARE champion.

Well done, Jerlene!  Though academic results are important, personally I feel that such values that you had demonstrated is even more precious.

3 Apr 2019 - Invitation to Speech and Prize Giving Ceremony 2019

Javier passed me an invitation card this evening to attend the school's Speech and Prize Giving Ceremony which will be held on the last day of term 2.  This is his third time being a prize recipient.

What surprised me is that Jerlene also passed me an invitation card to the ceremony.  This is her first time attending the ceremony as a prize recipient.

She will be awarded as an ICARE champion as she had demonstrated the following core values in the past one year.

Well done to both my angels!  Really proud of you two!  :-)