Independence Day 2013

Hi all.
Happy 56th Merdeka Day!

On Thursday, 29th August 2013 we had a few activities done as the national independence day is celebrated every year on 31st August.

Students were told to suit up in sports attire and assembled in lines according to their own sports houses. At around 11.00 in the morning all of us gathered at our newly-remade school field. We marched around the field and sang a few songs in full spirit of patriotism. The Headmaster read out a special speech from the Education Ministry and then called off the assembly by leading us in shouts of "Merdeka!".

Walking down in a line.

Students lined up.

The Blue.. and half Yellows? Heee..

Singing songs and waving flags.

Cikgu Mike happily singing with the boys.

Cikgu Nik, En. Hartoni and Cikgu Basri with their own antics.

The Green House marching.

Later that night, the celebration continues with a choir competition. Each choir team represents one sports house. The students were required to choose a patriotic song and then trained with their teachers. The results? The Yellow House won the first place (the points include points they've  been given by judges in the marching competition earlier in the morning), just ONE point more than the Blue House who settled for second place.

The Green House choir team performing 'Cemerlang, Gemilang, Terbilang'.

This is.. Yellow House singing their song, maybe.

In traditional Malay costumes (don't mind the sneakers).

As it was, the night event was actually a 2-in-1 celebration. Apart from celebrating Merdeka, we were also celebrating the Hari Raya. Thank you to the staff and students who have helped in preparing special meals for the night. Oh, not to mention a sketch performed by the students with help from Cikgu Mike. Nice try, kids.

No doubt this should be our yearly event.

That is all. See you later!  ^_^

Malaysiaku Berdaulat, Tanah Tumpahnya Darahku

Out With The Old, In With The New

The month of July marked the end of service of two dedicated teachers. No, they weren't retiring, they're merely moving back to the peninsula to be closer with their families.

The two were Cikgu Faizal and Cikgu Salehudin. Faizal will be teaching in Kuala Lumpur while Salehudin will be starting over in a small school in the state of Terengganu, his birthplace.

As they were finalising tasks and preparing for departures, our school had also welcomed three new teachers who arrived in the first week of the month. Fresh out of teaching college, those three teachers are now ready to takeover teaching duties from Cikgu Faizal and Cikgu Salehudin.

We organised a farewell dinner on the fourth of July, doubling as a welcoming do for the new teachers as well. Each of them were given a little bit of time to introduce themselves that night. Here's some info on them for enlightenment. Cikgu Faiq, is from Putrajaya, born to Kelantanese parents and graduated from IPG Perlis. Another hero in the lineup is Cikgu Basri, a flamboyant dude from Perak, having spent his student years in IPG Kampus Dato Razali Kuala Terengganu. The only girl among them is Miss Fazita, who hails from Terengganu and graduated from IPG Tg. Ampuan Afzan Kuala Lipis, Pahang.

Cikgu Faizal giving a speech.

Cikgu Salehudin looking deep in thought.

Our PTA Chairman, Mr. Peterus Balang Laya and the Headmaster handing out a token of appreciation to Cikgu Salehudin.

A simple meaningful backdrop.

The students singing a farewell song.

The new teachers (L-R: Cikgu Basri, Cikgu Fazita & Cikgu Faiq)

Looking at cards made by the students.

Cikgu Faizal with Pn. Aimah & Pn. Rudang.

The batch of 2009 (L-R: Mr. Hartoni, Cikgu Nik, Cikgu Salehudin & Cikgu Faizal)

Posing with the kids.

A picture of us. And the new staff.

The next morning, we were all gathered in a simple send-off ceremony. The two teachers who were leaving gave their final speech, and then the students lined up, shook hands with them and it was all teary-eyed for the children (and some teachers too).

Cikgu Faizal's last speech.

And then it was Cikgu Salehudin's turn.

Shaking hands with the children.

Special pose with Steven.

A bit of drama by Cikgu Mike.

And more drama by Hartoni.

The old and the new. (L-R: Mr. Ngelambai, Cikgu Salehudin & Cikgu Faizal, Cikgu Nik, and the new teachers Cikgu Faiq & Cikgu Basri)

Farewell. May both of them prosper and continues to be the great teachers they had been here in their new schools. As for the new staff (Mr. Faiq, Mr. Basri and Miss Fazita), welcome to SKLL!

2012: Enrollment of Students

The students' enrollment as of January 2012 is as followed;

One person short of a hundred.

2012 School Term Has Started!!

It has been two weeks since the new school term started. There are a few fresh new faces among the children and the teaching staff, too.

We are now joined by a new teacher, Mrs. Angud Balang. She is formerly a teacher at SK Long Sukang. She is also our Headmaster's wife. Welcome madam!

We kickstarted the year with our very first staff meeting of the year on the night of January 3rd. All staffs; academic & the supporting ones were present. Although all of us were tired (very!!), we managed to keep our heads up during the meeting. 

All of us except Cikgu Salehuddin were bundled up in Uncle Balang's pickup truck for the journey to school earlier in the day (Jan 3). Cikgu Salehuddin were the only motorcycle rider that day. Oh, the headmaster drove his own 4WD as usual...hehe...with his wife, our new staff. 

Stories of holidays' happenings were traded during the journey. It was all fun for us.

The last day of 2011 schooldays. Farewell assembly for Azrul.

It is now January 14th, and we are all rearing up for the year!! We have finished with almost all first meetings for everything. And the lessons have all commences since day one! 

And now we are hoping we would get another new teaching staff next week. Welcome and warm wishes from all of us. 

Regards from the Highlanders

Hi all.

First off, this blog is created as a medium of sharing between us; the people in the school, and you, the readers who might be anywhere in the world.

In recent years, the school has been involved in various activities and it might be good if we could share it with others. We would never know if anything posted here will be of inspiration for others. But for sure it will at least help in providing a bit of information about the school and the people in it, and around it.

Let's start with a bit of info about the school.

The school is located in Kampung Long Luping, Lawas, Sarawak. The village is about 80 kilometres from Lawas, sharing the same route to Ba'kelalan (which is much more known to the outside world than our place, mind you). Yes, we are in the rural highlands of Sarawak. And no, you don't have to take sampans, long boats or express boats as the main mean of transport here is the 4x4 (four-wheeled drives) pickup trucks.

Gravel road all the way.

Greenery such as these accompanies you all through the three-hour journey. A sight to behold. Never tire of this.

One of the scenic rivers you could find along the way.

At the moment (as of December 2011), about a hundred students enrolled at the school and we also have 11 academic staffs, supported by another seven non-academic staffs.(Haven't finished listing their names and pics on the left, still rummaging for the best photos of the staffs.)

The academic staffs; 4 lady teachers (of which three are locals, one from the peninsular) & 7 male teachers (two are locals, 3 from the peninsular, two from Kuching).

The supporting staffs - 1 'penyelia asrama'/hostel supervisor.
                               - 1 clerk.
                               - 3 'pembantu pengurusan murid'.
                               - 2 cooks.

Stay tune for more.

Updates will be posted later on, with photos, videos and such.

This is just the beginning, anyway. *grins*