The only bright spot!

Was Gillian passing her PSLE!!!!!!!

Those who know me know I never expected her to pass, fully prepared to have her retained etc. But the girl surprised me. She passed with a Grade 2 for English and a Grade 3 for Maths. Her total aggregate was 98. Much, much better than I expected. Among the higher end for EM3 kids posted to the Normal Tech course.

On Monday after returning from Japan, we went to school to get her results. Euphoric and happy, we all then went to the two schools shortlisted for the first choice - Katong Convent and PLMGS (Paya Lebar Methodist Girls School). Both had good programmes for Normal (Tech). Both had won the Academic Value-Added awards for the Normal stream (which meant that their Normal students showed marked improvement in academic results).

KC had bowling as a CCA which Gillian liked, it was a convent school, still part of the IJ family and it was her Mama's and Aunts' alma mater. Yes mum is a KC old girl. It had the same Catholic environment that Gillian was used to. And her aggregate qualified her for it - well within the range. We considered PLMGS because it was an award-winning school, with very good programmes for the girls, it was also an all-girls school and it was nearer home, much nearer than KC. PLMGS occupied a spanking new building but Gillian did not like it. She said she did not feel "comfity". On the other hand, she seemed to like KC although it was in an older building and showed its wear and tear. The familiarity of the environment probably played a part - they also had Mother Mary's statue, a serene grotto/garden and Fr Barre's statue around, girls dressed in the same uniform etc.

So she said she preferred KC as first choice. Second choice was PLMGS, third was SJC. Fourth was Zhong Hua Sec just outside our estate, fifth was Beatty Sec a good neighbourhood school in Toa Payoh and finally Bartley Sec, which also seems to be improving, according to my bro who used to study there.

We will know only on Dec 19 if she will get her first choice, but I don't think it would be a problem.

Knowing that Gill has made it really took a big load off our shoulders. Its like we (and KH says he feels the same) wake up in the morning and we feel unsettled as if we're supposed to be worrying about something, but then we realised - gee she's made it! And a load rolls off, we feel lighter and happier. I think the awareness that she's able to make it has also done wonders for Gillian's self-esteem. And that's the biggest reward I think, although she might not realise it. She is already calling in her carrots - $100 from Uncle Paul, a High School Musical 2 CD from me + a hair make-over at Shunji Matsuo (I did promise her this if she ever made it to Sec 1), a cruise from Mama (that will happen when dad gets better), scuba lessons from Aunty Vi. In desperation before the exams, everyone seemed to promise her one thing or another if she passed, so she did and now she's calling it all in!!