Sometimes, the concerts would be only a small scale one held in the school itself; sometimes, it would be a grander one involving other schools. Usually, I would be involved in these concerts either as a dancer with the Chinese Dance Group or as a trumpeter in the school band.
For the class parties, we would put up some simple decorations like crepe-paper streamers or 'paper-chains' made of paper rings which we had made in class. Some parents would sponsor some snacks like fried bee hoon and fish balls for the potluck party. Then we would all eat, drink and be merry!
For games, we would play ultra-simple stuff like Whacko, Pass the Parcel and Musical Chairs. Maybe children these days don't play these games that often now - I suspect some of them would consider these 'lame'.For Whacko, the boys would usually volunteer to roll very tightly a big bunch of old newspapers (which we took with the teachers' permission from the general office/teachers' room) and tie them into the 'stick'. And this was how we played the game (in case anyone has forgotten what Whacko is all about, as is the case for me):
All players would all sit in a circle and there would be one 'whacker' who held the 'stick' standing right in the middle of the circle. Someone would start by calling out the name of another person seated in the circle, and the 'whacker' would need to whack the person whose name had been called out. If the person whose name had been called quickly called out yet another person's name before the 'stick' landed on him, then the 'whacker' would need to whack that other person instead. Anyone whose name was called out but failed to call out someone else's name before the 'stick' landed on him, would become the next 'whacker'. And the game went on till we all decided we wanted a break.
Pass the Parcel and Musical Chairs were very much the other de facto party games in those days. 'Forfeits' were simple things like singing a song for everyone, or barking like a dog, etc.
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WY is having his class party this morning. Actually, this is a special allowance his very kind and understanding Form Teacher, Miss Lee has granted to the class as a form of encouragement to the children. (The school is not having any special programme for Children's Day - it usually just gives out a Children's Day gift to the students and gives them a day off - which for this year, will be next Monday.)
When Miss Lee (also WY's Form Teacher last year) did the same thing last year after getting clearance from the principal, she had shared with me then that her 'deal' with the children was that after this Children's Day class party, they would need to engage their working 'gear' and start to prepare and get ready to do well for the final year exams. Then, after the gruelling exams, she would allow the children to have yet another party to celebrate their achievements.I think this is a very thoughtful gesture.
And so, this morning, I let WY bring a big bag of Golden Boronia Crunchy Nougat to school. I hope the children have a good time even though this special party is limited, according to WY, only Miss Lee's lesson time. From what WY has explained, Miss Lee will also let the children share their favourite videos and music cd's which the children will be allowed to bring to class today.
Talking about the GB Nougat, we have had the good fortune to try almost all the varieties available under this Australian brand because of my super-generous colleague N. She has a friend whose daughter has migrated to Australia. And because my colleague N regularly buys pretty dresses for her friend's 'Australia-granddaughters', N's friend always gets N 3-4 big bags of these GB Nougat each time she visits her daughter in Australia.So, each time my colleague N receives the GB Nougat, she would generously give one pack to me. Sometimes it is the variety pack, sometimes it would be the original crunchy ones. We all enjoy this special treat we receive from N; WF especially loves the crunchy ones whereas WY likes all the different types.
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Next Monday, WF will be involved in a Children's Day concert in CH school. We have no idea yet as to what the performance is all about. But it will be a brief concert, we were told, as it is scheduled to start only at 5:45pm.Meanwhile, here's wishing everyone a Happy Children's Day!
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