Teachers' Day

A college (we're talking mature adults here!) that celebrates Teachers' Day must have 1) really dictatorial 2) very good teachers. Since the Student Council has effectively prevented the first possibility from ever materialising, it's the second. Sincerely, we have fabulous teachers here, and the proof of the pudding is in the eating, our A-Level grades have never failed to impress. FTSJ (For the Sub-Juniors), Teachers' Day is one of our yearly traditions. If you need to know any more, please do drop by P30A on your first day in college and you will receive a complimentary, cracked mug, our farewell present from the last Student Council, with all the important events engraved on. First sub-junior to win the prize...wins.

Seniors and juniors both put up impressive performances, in Dr Foord's words (FTSJ: Physics teacher. God-like status.) "It's so much of a pleasure to come here and watch the unique ways you fete your teachers as we don't do that in the UK." Seniors did "GUMbira", a combo performance of a VERY well done original acapella piece "Terima Kasih", a trademark Pijat (FTSJ: Anything in capital letters is generally a student's name) love-ballad-like piece for the teachers, a kompang performance, and a parody on "Tanggal Tiga Puluh Satu".

Juniors did 2 performances: nasyid and choral speaking, both original pieces for teachers. Note to self: Expat teachers are astounded by Choral Speaking. Apparently this concept does not exist in the UK.

BUT the teachers stole the show. They put up a sketch of a classroom scenario, changing clothes, toting shopping bags, and generally, being children at heart once again. Dr Foord (there he is again!) dressed up as Faez, a real life student whom FTSJ they will never get to meet...shame...while Mr Cranwell (English) and Mr Hanson (Chemistry), the stalwarts of the Drama Department, stole the show as Faez (presumed dead)'s father and the Headmaster respectively.

AND halfway through the ceremony a huge breach of decorum occured. The Great Hall turned into a party game venue, teachers being divided into 3 groups to take on each other in party games. Shockingly, the Maths Department beat the Physics Department in the tower building competition (lifted straight from the Induction Week programme - students build towers with straws and cellotape, now the Teachers get a go), while many teachers, who will remain unnamed for the Sub-Juniors' sake, cheated in the Blindfold Yourself and Draw The Guy You See Six Days a Week in Acad 2 game.

And of ocurse, we had a good laugh over the photos of vainglorious moments of carefree youth and maddening moments the teachers submitted, displayed in prime position in the middle of the hall.

Well, who says college isn't fun?