planning ahead

I've mentioned it before about how tough it is to run a centre. The instructor of a nearby centre, about the same size as mine, have decided to surrender. She tried to sell her centre off, but wasn't lucky to get a buyer. This month would be her last month running her centre.

I am actually a little worried about the future of her students. They have been following the program for years, some started even before she started (7 years ago)with another centre.

After much thought, I've decided to stop new intakes at my centre and start to accomodate all the transfers from her centre. She's recommending most of her students to my centre based on experience and track record.

I am not going to neglect my existing students, so, i need to plan and restructure a lot of things, like the centre layout, students intake procedure and training of staff. I need to be more mobile too at the centre...which means more energy needed!

I want I want....

Little Zahra has always tried to get my attention when she's at the centre. She's not enrolled as a student but she always tags along when her brother and sister come to the centre. The truth is....I always try to get attention from her because little girls like her, I just can't resist to hug and kiss. Talk about Kissy Pooh!

One time, I made her count frm 1 to 10 so that I can give her a sticker and she did. In return I get to hug and kiss her.

Today, she walked in and told my Admin Assistant, Kak Wan that she's there to see me. She could talk quite well, and she's only 3!!!

I was of course happy to see her. I asked her "What can I do for you today Zahra?". "I want a test!!!!" she demanded. ~~~Just like that!~~~

So I tested her and was very impressed that she could recognize numbers from 1 to 10. I wanted to see if she could recognize numbers more than 10 and tried 12. She said "that's 1 and that's 2!" while pointing at the numbers. That's smart huh?

Somehow, she reminds me of this little person I've met in Osaka 3 years ago. She must be about the same age. Oh! how much I adored her!

Hmmmmph!

I have been terribly busy this whole month. Today, I only had time to eat lunch. No rest at all from 10 am to 8 pm. By the time I got home, I just feel like sleeping, but here I am....blogging.

I should continue tomorrow...before I start to write something senseless.

Please concentrate......

Here's my favourite lines to use when the children are newly enrolled at the centre:

"Children, before you start your work, prepare yourself not to be distracted with other things. If you need to go to the restroom, do it before you start your work. If you want to talk to your brother or mom, do it before you start your work. In the classroom, once you write your time....focus on your work. Don't talk to your friends. Don't look around. DON'T EVEN LOOK AT ME....COS I'M NOT VERY PRETTY ANYWAY....!!!!" They'll always laugh at the last line and start to work without looking around. ;)

Influential People

Over the years, I've had the priviledge of teaching quite a number of children of influential figures in Malaysia. I've made sure they're treated the same as my other students. My staff are aware of my ideology and are treating them just as the others.

In year 2003, 4 of our Prime Minister's grandchildren were with me. They were all nice children. However, I never get to meet their parents. They were not around much for them. It's pretty sad when at young age (around 9 or 10) they were enrolled in boarding schools abroad.

We did have a few ministers children as well......I have no complains abou them as their mothers are nice people and are always very accomodative when called for parents-teacher meeting.

At present , we have the King's niece and nephews with us. They're just so adorable and do not act like princes and princess.

It explains that, most influential people are normal people too and would like to be treated the same as the others. When i do have problem with parents, they are usually rich but "not quite there yet".....

Free Trial Campaign 2008

Today is the first day of our Free Trial Campaign for this year. The office prepared a lot of useful tools for us to use. 3 versions (different languages) of letters to be distributed to nearby schools, invitation cards to give existing students so that they can extend the invitation to their friends, 2 weeks journal for free trial students. There are a few more useful materials that we can use and I'm tying my best to fully utilise them as much as I can.



Today was the one hour of students' orientation. This time around...we selected our intake. After screening through a few times, we decided to call 5 parents for the parents' orientation. This may sound like I don't want to get more students, but I felt like I needed to do that because I only want genuine and serious parents to be given the opportunity to enjoy the free trial offer.



There were 6 new students today to join us for the orientation. Our total numbers of participant this time around is 11. I think it's not bad at all.

Lazy Suzy wanting attention.

I have not been writing here regularly, because I just never felt like updating. I used to write here because I had so much thought and no one to talk to. Now, I have so many to talk to, and very little thoughts.

An instructor friend told me this afternoon to keep on writing because she finds my earlier posts funny and interesting. Perhaps, it's much more fun to be a loner if I want to write more.......but...I don't think I want to ever not have anyone to talk to again.

I remember that I was motivated by readers. The more readers assured me that they read my blog....the more I have to share.

Please write to me or leave a comment here if you think I should keep on writing. I have a journal now...so, it's either here or my journal.