School Anwering Machine

This is hilarious - no wonder some people were offended! This is the message that Maroochydore High School Queensland, staff voted unanimously to record on their school telephone answering machine. This is the actual answering machine message for the school. This came about because they implemented a policy requiring students and parents to be responsible for their children's absences and missing homework. The school and teachers are being sued by parents who want their children's failing grades changed to passing grades - even though those children were absent 15-30 times during the semester and did not complete enough school work to pass their classes.

The outgoing message:

Hello! You have reached the automated answering service of your school. In order to assist you in connecting to the right staff member, please listen to all the options before making a selection:

To lie about why your child is absent - Press 1

To make excuses for why your child did not do his work - Press 2

To complain about what we do - Press 3

To swear at staff members - Press 4

To ask why you didn't get information that was already enclosed in your newsletter and several flyers mailed to you - Press 5

If you want us to raise your child - Press 6

If you want to reach out and touch, slap or hit someone - Press 7

To request another teacher, for the third time this year - Press 8

To complain about bus transportation - Press 9

To complain about school lunches - Press 0

If you realize this is the real world and your child must be accountable and responsible for his/her own behavior, class work, homework and that it's not the teachers' fault for your child's lack of effort: Hang up and have a nice day!

If you want this in another language, please move to a country that speaks it.


CQ wonders what will be the parents' reactions if the above message to be implemented in the local schools ... hmmm


~ shared by a friend who's a teacher by profession :)

Exam fever!

Besides the GCE 'O' Levels exams, there are other exams that are on-going in schools; like the GCE 'A' Levels, PMB, PSR and the final year-end exams for primary and secondary schools.

CQ hoped all these students have made early preparations and revisions for their exams. Parents must also ensure that their children do study and revise at home and to lessen any other activities like watching TV or lepak-ing with friends ..yeah!

Just hours ago, CQ recieved an email about a Malay composition written by a primary four pupil. CQ believed it was written in such a manner due to the after effects of watching tooooo much TV ..read on to find out =)


"Karangan oleh kanak2 darjah 4...

Pagi itu pagi minggu. Cuaca cukup sejuk sehingga mencapai takat suhu beku. Sebab itu saya tidak mandi pagi sebab air kolah jadi air batu dan air paip tidak mahu keluar sebab beku dalam batang paip.

Pagi itu saya bersarapan dengan keluarga di dalam unggun api kerana tidak tahan sejuk. Selepas itu emak saya mengajak saya menemaninya ke pasar. Tetapi saya tidak mahu. Selepas emak menikam perut saya berkali-kali dengan garfu barulah saya bersetuju untuk mengikutnya.

Kami berjalan sejauh 120 kilometer kerana pasar itu letaknya 128 kilometer dari rumah. Lagi 8 kilometer nak sampai pasar saya ternampak sebuah lori kontena meluru dengan laju dari arah belakang. Dia melanggar emak saya. Emak saya tercampak ke dalam gaung. Dia menjerit 'Adoi'.

Lepas itu emak saya naik semula dan mengejar lori tersebut. Saya pun turut berlari di belakang emak saya kerana takut emak saya melanggar lori itu pula. Pemandu lori itu nampak kami mengejarnya. Dia pun memecut lebih laju iaitu sama dengan kelajuan cahaya. Kami pula terpaksa mengejar dengan lebih laju iaitu sama dengan dua kali ganda kelajuan cahaya. Emak saya dapat menerajang tayar depan lori itu. Lori itu terbabas dan melanggar pembahagi jalan lalu bertembung dengan sebuah feri.

Feri itu terbelah dua. Penumpang feri itu yang seramai 100 orang semuanya mati. Pemandu feri itu sangat marah. Dia pun bertukar menjadi Ultraman dan memfire pemandu lori. Pemandu lori menekan butang khas di dalam lori dia..lori itu bertukar menjadi robot Transformer. Mereka bergaduh di udara. Emak saya tidak puas hati. Dia terus menyewa sebuah helikopter di Genting Highlands dan terus ke tempat kemalangan. Dia melanggar pemandu feri yang telah bertukar menjadi Ultraman itu. Pemandu feri itu terkejut dan terus bertukar menjadi pemandu feri semula lalu terhempas di jalanraya itu. Pemandu lori sangat takut melihat kejadian itu. Dia meminta maaf dari emak saya. Dia menghulurkan tangan ingin bersalam. Tetapi emak saya masih marah. Dia menyendengkan helikopternya dan mengerat tangan pemandu lori itu dengan kipas helikopter. Pemandu itu menjerit 'Adoi...!' dan jatuh ke bumi.

Emak saya menghantar helikopter itu ke Genting Highlands. Bila dia balik ke tempat kejadian, dia terus memukul pemandu lori itu dengan beg tangannya sambil memarahi pemandu lori itu di dalam bahasa Inggeris. Pemandu lori tidak dapat menjawab sebab emak saya cakap orang putih. Lalu pemandu lori itu pun mati.

Tidak lama kemudian kereta polis pun sampai. Dia membuat lapuran ke ibu pejabatnya tentang kemalangan negri itu. Semua anggota polis di pejabat polis itu terperanjat lalu mati. Orang ramai mengerumuni tempat kejadian kerana ingin mengetahui apa yang telah terjadi. Polis yang bertugas cuba menyuraikan orang ramai lalu dia menjerit menggunakan pembesar suara. Orang ramai terperanjat dan semuanya mati.

Selepas itu emak saya mengajak saya ke pasar untuk mengelak lebih ramai lagi yang akan mati. Di pasar, emak saya menceritakan kejadian itu kepada penjual daging. Penjual daging dan peniaga-peniaga berhampiran yang mendengar cerita itu semuanya terkejut dan mati. Saya dan emak saya terus berlari balik ke rumah. Kerana terlalu penat sebaik saja sampai di rumah kami pun mati. Itulah kemalangan yang paling ngeri yang pernah saya lihat sebelum saya mati."


p.s. This is one ridiculous yet hilarious piece of Malay composition! and CQ hoped that no one had read and laugh to death! =)

They deserve a second chance ...

Just few days ago, CQ had an interesting conversation with few friends over coffee at one of the famous Malls.

While enjoying our light snacks and deeply engrossed discussing about courses and other academic issues, CQ could not help seeing a couple of youngsters working as cleaners.

Now! CQ is NOT against the job 'cleaners' ...but do these youngsters have ambitions or perhaps to have a will to better themselves? They may not be smart in the brains but they could excel in practical studies or courses.

CQ knew of a young boy (CQ will name him Mikey) who had dropped out of school at the age of 14 years old! Reason being that he was so shy to be a 'repeater' in Form One. So, till today, he is still out of school, doing only odd jobs available. CQ had seen him washing cars and cleaning tables at a Mall. He is a bright and friendly young chap, though is shy at times when bumping into CQ while cleaning tables.

Is there a second chance for these youngsters to better themselves? Is there any vocational schools that conduct or offers short courses or worshops for them to enrol in? With proper skills acquired, a certificate in hand and a positive attitude, CQ believes these youngsters can find a better employment in the real world.

Short basic courses for beautician, waitering, plumbering, basic clerical or any other courses that are relevant to the market demand, should be made available in order to allow these 'older' school dropouts / leavers or uneducated adults to earn a simple certificate, which will be easier for them when applying for a job. It may even motivate them to further upgrade themseleves and sees at least a little reduction in the unemployment % among youths.

Don't we want everybody to be educated? =)

Who is to be blamed??

Road safety is everyone's responsibility. This is a gentle reminder to CQ and readers of this blog. Pictures speak for themselves.

CQ was driving towards Mumong last Sunday when CQ saw this two cars 'kissed'. Obviously, it looked like a 'NO-give-way' accident.

Anyway, CQ also saw a child laid back on the side of the road - bleeding while awaiting for arrival of medical help.

In a different situation ...

As a parent, CQ is quite disturbed with this picture. This happened a few weeks ago and was not the first time!

Where were the teachers or guardians? Yes, the teachers were also taking part in the morning run or walk around the residential housing vicinity ..but these less-stamina teachers were staggering among or in between the hyperactive children!

These two young girls were standing on the road, obviously waiting for their teachers ...and a car passed by! Who will the parents of these girls blame, should there be ...?? You readers can finish up CQ's sentence!

No doubt this school is Not situated on a busy road, BUT when out of the school premises, danger lurks everywhere in any forms. Handling young children, especially when outing on foot as in the above pictures, needs stricter supervisions, discipline and patience.

... *sigh* ...

Kimchi visits Tasek Merimbun

Weekend Bulletin dated 2 August 2008

Last 21 July 2008, Tasek Merimbun greeted Kimchi and her fellow Form 2 & 5 students from Sekolah Menengah Rimba.

Tasek Merimbun Heritage Park was declared an ASEAN National Heritage site in 1984.

Students had to walked in to reach the Park.

local handicrafts

an eight-legged crawlie lost its way home ...


Kimchi showing the way ..huhu

one of the many species found at the National Heritage site

this tree has a unique spiral trunk ..

a type of mushroom growing from the bark of a tree


Cikgu Hjh Jamaliah and her students

One can admire the beautiful views surrounding the lake

Arab-Families performing Umrah

Alhamdulillah. With Allah's divine grace and blessings, the Arab-Families has departed safely to the Holy City for Umrah this evening.

The group will be transiting in Singapore for a night stay and will continue the journey to Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, tomorrow morning.

A ' doa selamat' was held at the Serikandi Restaurant for the intending Arab-Families umrah group on last Thursday, 12 June 2008.

Mdm Tiff liased with a TTA personnel on the total count of baggages and boxes before checking-in.

Bigboss made sure the trolleys of baggages and boxes were in line for check-in.

The Arab-Families' Umrah group

A lesser form of pilgrimage to Makkah Al-Mukarramah that is not obligatory for Muslims, unlike the hajj, and can be performed at any time of year.

Ayahanda - Shaikh Hj Ahmad and Bonda - Sharifah Hjh Maimunah
with BinKhalid

Shaikh Hj Said @BinSaid - representing his family- with Mdm Jarah and X-kid. The Bling-bling Sistas and Golden boy could not be found for picture taking.. *sigh*

Mr & Mrs Sam and their two youngest daughters, Mira & Melia, will be joining the umrah trip.

Bigboss will be accompanying the Arab-Families' group.

Shaikh Hj Khalid - Head of the Arab-Families' umrah group - brings along his whole family to perform the umrah. Pictured here are only Mdm Tiff and Cici - the rest CQ can't gather them together ...all running here and there huhu

Sherry and Geerah will be among the umrah pilgrims and also to 'babysit' UmiQ :)

Ladybiker will be the 'doctor cum nurse' for Ayahanda and Bonda.

Shami will represent his dad - Senor Pablo, mom - Bunny Pablo and his brothers - Fejj, Marshmellow Boy and FunBoy.

UmiQ - her first umrah trip without her family, represent her dad - BinAzmi, mom - Mdm Rose and her sister - UmiFanah and brother - BinAbid.

His Honourable, Dato Paduka Hj Hamdillah made a courtesy send-off to Shaikh Hj Ahmad and the Arab-Families group at the airport.

Sisters - Sharifah Hjh Aisah and Sharifah Hjh Hasiah came all the way from KB to send off their eldest brother - Shaikh Hj Ahmad.

A doa was read by an Ustaz.

Arab-Families.com


Some candid and sad moments at the airport

cousins - Melia, Mira, Kimchi, UmiFanah and UmiQ

Mr. Sam and the Boys

The female members of Arab-Families with BinKhalid

Bunny Pablo's family were also at the airport to send Shami off.

Bling-Bling Sistas with Mdm Rose and UmiFanah.

Rara, Cici, Mr. LV, Sweetcherry and Mdm Aini

Bigboss with Kimchi

Sham is either feeling too tired with excitement or he's already felt 'missing'..

aawwwwwww - peewweeettttttttt


May they have a safe journey to the Holy City

Labayk Allahuma LabaykLabayk. La shareeka laka Labayk. Innal hamda wannimata laka wal mulkLa shareeka Lak .. (Here I am at your service, oh Lord, Here I am. Here I am. No partner do you have. Here I am. Truly, the praise and the favor are yours, and the dominion. No partner do you have.)

BinKhalid & Mdm Tiff

Bigboss and the Sams

Mr. LV - the accompanying Mutawwif

CQ apologised to Hj Hisham and Syafiq - who are part of the group, for not able to post their pictures here becoz CQ couldn't find them at the airport *sigh* ..it's not easy to be a mamarazzi OK!

__________hours before__________

Alhamdulillah, Bigboss and CQ are sweet seventeen today ..huhu

This yummy mousse cake which CQ requested for mars bars as filling - can be ordered from Bunny Yummies

the oozing mars bars will drool you till you drop huhu ..

CQ made a special soto or/and mee soto for lunch. The dark green mass is actually cili padi - you can't eat without that!! hmmm those who have tried will know what CQ meant huhu ..Hey! people don't call Ciliqueen without a reason OK! lols ...but CQ will not be held responsible if you blow your top off ...hehehe pedassssss lerrr

_________in the morning________

Remember this post? Yes! Kimchi was announced the winner. CQ and Bigboss are so proud of her. Keep it up! Believe in your ability and capacity to achieve and succeed in your dreams!

That's all people! CQ is so exhausted ...zzzzzzzzzzzz

Poetry Competition

Last Thursday, Kimchi was chosen by her Form Teacher to represent her class in the SMR's upcoming Poetry Competition.

As much as being talkative by nature, Kimchi has a natural flair for public speaking. I have always encouraged her to read good books so as to develop the proper usage of good English language (writing and speaking) and also to increase her library of vocabulary. Reading broadens the mind. Don't you know?

Kimchi's New Zealand-born English Language teacher - Sir Simon - as he is fondly called by his students, was overwhelmed and pleased with Kimchi's recent performance when she and a fellow classmate gave an impressive talk to all the Form 5 students on how to be well-prepared for the G.C.E. 'O' Levels Examinations - 2008.

According to Kimchi, Sir Simon was speaking literally in a Shakespearean style when he approached Kimchi with the idea. Surprised and amused by her teacher's poetic act, Kimchi accepted with beaming eyes.

The finals will be on 14 June 2008 - wow! a day when auspicious happenings will take place huhu - and till then, Kimchi has to practise with her Shakespeare-inspired teacher - Sir Simon. Good Luck!