Saturday 21 December 2013

2013: Year In Review - Part III


To all my lovely readers,

It's the last month of 2013, hence it's the last part of the definitive list of posts that have defined 2013 on this blog. Today, we take things differently, as we display artworks and videos made specially for the blog. If you haven't seen the first two parts, click the links below:

2013: Year In Review - Part I
2013: Year In Review - Part II

Have you read the first two posts? If you have, then feast your eyes on the delectable artwork below:












In celebration of 10,000 views this year, we even created some jumping GIFs!




With a three-part line up of posts, it is fitting that I should end with not one, not two - but four videos right down here. They are certified to leave you laughing, as they certainly have proven themselves at their premiers during the Annual Farewell Parties.






With that, I bid you happy viewing, happy reading, and happy holidays!

Friday 20 December 2013

2013: Year In Review - Part II

Welcome back, people! This is 2013 in review, and we here on the blog are compiling a list of outstanding posts we have shown on the blog. If you haven't read the previous post, I suggest you get cracking and read it first before you go down this list.


First up, school news gets the spotlight with the following pieces telling of the school's almanac:

Orientation day!, the day of a new beginning for primary school leavers.
Our school got star-struck, with cameos on television as seen on 16 May 2013: Look What Was on the Television! and Featured on television, again.
School Co-operative Entrepreneurship Day, the day of fine sales and bargains.
A Horde of Minions on Sports Day?!, look what happens when cute munchkins overrun a day of athletics
Merdeka: SMKBU(3) Style!, where patriotism takes centre stage with Malaysia's birthday.
PMR Trials: A First-Hand Encounter, the first wave of the examination fever spreading nation-wide.
Clean up, clean up; everybody, everywhere...  or a fine day to get together for a noble cause :)
2013 SPM Trial Examinations, the second intense wave of examinations coming through!
Co-curriculum Day 2013 - What a Day! now with videos to get you awestruck
A Graduation To Remember for us school leavers, with our joy exhibited in the videos of Graduation Day Performances
SPM examinations, then the holidays!, an experience to certainly get your adrenaline going
PMR results are out!, a most tumultuous day to finish off the year.



You may be thinking, there are some events missing. Where could they be? Well, they were so well written that they were actually featured in School Times, an educational pull-out of the New Straits Times. They are here below, for you to look through:

Highlights of 2013: One flaming scout's camp
Highlights of 2013: Celebrating academic success
Highlights of 2013: Teacher Oh Teacher!
Highlights of 2013: Quiz Masters
Highlights of 2013: Language Week
Highlights of 2013: Thank You!
Highlights of 2013: First day at secondary school

There was even articles from years past, for you to see as well, some even pre-dating the blog's founding:

Highlights of 2011: Canteen Day
Highlights of 2011: It all started years ago...

Well, these aren't that old, but they do chronicle quite a 2012 filled with activities, and good reads:

Highlights of 2012: Law Games
Highlights of 2012: Co-curricular success
Highlights of 2012: Three Cheers for Malaysia!
Highlights of 2012: A Week of Delights
Highlights of 2012: Reaping what they sow
Highlights of 2012: Behind the scenes: Haunted house edition
Highlights of 2012: Teachers' Fete
Highlights of 2012: On your mark, get set, GO!
Highlights of 2012: Dancing For Health
Highlights of 2012: Endurance Race
Highlights of 2012: Wind Band's Opus
Highlights of 2012: Go, Lego, go!
Highlights of 2012: Welcome back!

A school without its students is just an empty building, an ironic paradox. Hence, second is a series of posts celebrating the best of the student body, with their diverse capabilities:

Student Highlights: Passion For Success
Student Highlights: All for basketball
Student Highlights: Passionate Writer
Student Highlights: Musical Mathematician
Student Highlights: Remarkable basketballer
Student Highlights: Not bound by limits
Student Highlights: A Class Above The Rest
Student Highlights: Determined to succeed
Student Highlights: Inventing Solutions

That's all in this part of the list, but the final part will be up tomorrow, with a more artistic angle in mind. Till then, happy reading!

Thursday 19 December 2013

2013: Year In Review - Part I

December is here, and as the holidays lets us administrators relax, it is a great time to review the year. With our ups and our downs in this roller-coaster ride of 2013, we present to you the series of posts which have been prominently featured on the blog, capturing the essence of the Librarians with a rich list of posts up and down the year. This is the first time we have done such a definitive list, so let's make it one to remember!

 
First up, we have 'From the Desk of the High Committee' - stories, musings and  swan songs from the members of the 2012-2013 Librarian High Committee, ready to be shared with the rest of the world. As with most things unorthodox, the authors seem taken aback with the project initially, but the results are spectacularly deep and insightful, as can be seen in the list below (in no particular order of precedence, because they are equally amazing):

Sketches of Librarian Life by Foong Kang Yee, a look on probationary Librarian life in endearing sketches.
Words of Wisdom... by Carissa Ho, a brief and thoughtful muse on being a Librarian.
Towards Discipline We Strive Together by Hiew Yi Sa, words of sound and wise Librarian advice.
Life of a Librarian by Quek Zuoo Yuon, a story of a Librarian's challenge with responsibilities.
I am Eager to Learn... by Serene Khoo, a testament of a Librarian's growth and blossoming.
Time Flies So Fast... by Yeoh Zi Qing, a detailed chronicle of a Librarian's journey of discovery.
Librarian, and Proud! by Hans Lee, a cheerful commentary of the joys of Librarian life.

The project garnered so much enthusiasm, that even an old Head Librarian even contributed:

Looking Back... by Brittany Jalleh, a swan song of insights into the essence of being a Librarian.

Heartwarming as it is, there are also anecdotes from other Librarians as well

The Perks of Being A Probationary Librarian, Saya Sebagai Pelatih Pengawas Pusat Sumber and  2013: Life as a Probate are all entertaining accounts on being a probationary Librarian.

Just A Few Words are something that junior Librarians need to say to their seniors, from which the seniors respond with Before We Part....


Second up are our events, which we host every year. They give an insight into the high points of the Librarian year, and gives colour to Librarian life.

Friendship Day about our sales during this love-filled day.

Below is this year's coverage of Library Week:
Saya, Kamu, Kita: Day I
Saya, Kamu, Kita: Day II
Saya, Kamu, Kita: Day III
Saya, Kamu, Kita: Day IV
 
Trip To Cameron Highlands, our annual field trip, this year to the cool Cameron Highlands.
A Trip to Rhythm & Hues Studios, bonus field trip to the studios, famous for rendering 'Life of Pi', for deserving Librarians. 
Boo!: It's the Haunted Library!, a scary look into our sales during Entrepreneurship Week.
Prefect and Librarian Board Appointment Ceremony, the big day that our probationary Librarians and the Library Board are officially appointed.
Our Annual Farewell Party of 2013, where we celebrate what the year has blessed us Librarians with.
A Day in the Jungle, a trip to Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM) by the NILAM subunit.

In a school, teachers are the ones that will guide us to achieve our full potential. Hence, third in the list are a few tributes to our teachers that have taught us:

Goodbye, Mr Mah! is about the farewell of our former Senior Assistant for Student Affairs
School Pioneer, Beloved Teacher, Dedicated Educator is the farewell of Pn. Phay Hearn Heng
Much Ado About A New Teacher... is the welcome of our new Senior Assistant for Cocurriculum, Pn. Ngau Siew Lian
Serving Excellence: Words of a Principal, our outgoing principal's swan song.

Teacher's Day, our coverage on the school's Teacher's Day.

Fourth on our list is our own outlet, The Be You! Tree and the blog.

Super Special Anniversary Post... is our second birthday, in commemoration of the blog's founding the night of 31 July 2011.
Our 100th Post!, the milestone post for all of us.
10,000 Views: Jump for Joy!, bonus content for our loyal readers who got us here :).
The Be You! Tree Omnibus Issue - A Parting Gift is the deluxe compendium of the school's newsletter, with articles dating from 2011. 
Origins: The Be You! Tree details the humble beginnings of the newsletter and its current direction.

With that, we come to the end of today's post, but the list goes on tomorrow with Part II and Part III. Stay tuned, people; check out the featured posts, and check out the rest of our posts as well!

PMR results are out!

 
19 December 2013: it's the day at last. Tears and laughter alike will resonate across the nation, as the final cohort of the PMR examinations will received their long-awaited results today by 10:00 AM.

After months of studying, revising, and basically squeezing brains dry; the examinations came, went, and all was left to wait. It will certainly be a day to remember, as it will determine the stream one would enter in upper secondary school.

For those of you wanting to find out your results via text, type:
PMR<space>ICNUMBER<space>INDEXNUMBER
and send to 15888

Note: The above method can be used starting from 10:00 AM, 19 December 2013 until 11:59 PM, 25 Dec 2013.

Wednesday 18 December 2013

Networking away...



Hello readers of the blogosphere,

Have you ever wanted to be kept up to date with what's happening on the blog, without having to check in every few seconds? It's been around for some time but anyways, what if I told you that we are ever so present on social networking? Yes, it's that easy to find us!

Anyways, they've been launched quite a long time ago, but then again, there's no harm in telling you guys about it again (since you're worth the trouble).

If you are a Facebook bug, like our Facebook fan page and be instantly notified of the happenings on the blog, without disrupting your chat with friends and letting you read the blog and update your status at the same time.

Twitter is also on the list, especially for all you hash-taggers and tweeters, as it will link you directly to the blog.

Now, we even have Google+ for those brave enough to venture into the site. Who knows what the future brings?

Even though the end of the year usually entails a mellowing-down of the blog, with the year-end school holidays, they will surely be of much aid in notifying you what is the news in the school and the Library in the next year. Hence, happy holidays to all of you!

Sunday 15 December 2013

Our little songbird...

Once again, we meet dear reader.

This post is about the go-to person for a guranteed-to-be-awesome show in school. Singing like a lark, we have the distinguished Shawn Ng. We've mentioned him here from time to time in our reports on school events (and if you're wanting to find them, feel free to scour the blog); but the true jewel in the crown, the feather to cap it all off is his victory in this year's MY Challenge hosted by KDU University College. No words can describe his voice, but this unique vocal gift is captured in the two videos below, which chronicle his journey to the gold. What are you waiting for? Get listening!




Saturday 14 December 2013

Featured on television, again

To the people of the blogosphere!

Hello, little me again. I was just surfing on YouTube, when I stumbled upon this video, yet again highlighting our school, taking the newly acquired cluster school status in stride to show the best that we have to offer. In this episode of Malajah 3, the focus is on the roles of parents in schools, and how they participate in the motions of keeping the school running with selfless contributions. Though this short cameo is brief and concise, it surely shows how far we have gone. Anyways, video below, and happy watching!


Friday 13 December 2013

Gymnastically inspiring

As the holidays set in, time and space seem to go into infinity, without boundary and divisions. With that in mind, more likely or not, Youtube would be a refuge for most (provided the Internet is at your disposal). Amongst random videos, I found quite a profound performance that reminded me of this year's Co-curriculum Day, with Keshia Jasmine being the star of the show. With fluid movements and clockwork precision, nothing could capture the essence of a masterpiece more accurately than the video itself. Without further ado, I give you the stunning presentation


Wednesday 11 December 2013

SPM examinations, then the holidays!

Hello people once again!

After a long hiatus, I have come back to blow the dust off this blog. It's been months, and I appreciate your patience as you wait. We truly apologise for this, as the end of the year is really the busiest for the school, and who are we but just students who are busy tying up all this year's loose ends.

As the school holidays have rolled in, it is finally the right time to write about the major thing that happens at the end of the school year. If you've read the title, then it's pretty obvious what I'm going to write about. If you still want to guess, good sport! I'll give you three chances (Nah, just kiddinng, I know you know what it is :P)

The Malaysian Certificate of Education (Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia in Malay) examinations took place in schools nation-wide, as seventeen-year-old Malaysians felt the jitters in the bones as their 11 years of education are put to the test, yours truly included. In the months prior to this, all classes go to intensive revision mode and nothing else but the examination was on everybody's minds. Well-wishers abound with chants of 'Good luck' and (my personal favourite) the Hunger Games-esque 'May the odds be ever in your favour'.

On the day before the examinations, our school had a small ceremony for the students and teachers. Teachers and students reconcile and exchanged cordial wishes. Even our illustrious principal, Pn. Azizah Yusoff was there to wish us well, especially her History students in 5 Orkid and 5 Mawar. It really touched us all, especially when our teachers have been with us all our five years in secondary school, giving us support both directly and indirectly without question.

After a brief on examination procedures, we headed to our respective rooms. Sorted and seated according to index numbers, we arranged our tables and chairs, thus sweating ourselves out. This was it: we were on the brink of a storm.

As the 6th of December approached, the storm had arrived. Invigilators arrived in the school, and us candidates sat meekly at the assembly point. Books at hand, desperate to cram, but the storm had arrived. Then, the time started, and all was furious scribbling. Then, all of a sudden, time is up, and you are free to go, for now, into the eye of the storm. This was the ritual with every day, will frustruated candidates and relieved ones alike, mingling and preparing themselves for the next paper.

If the trees could see what we were doing, they would most certainly have protested, because of the sheer volume of writing we do. At any essay section, we would have a tonne of paper written on at the end of it. One of the notable paper-burners was Paper III of History. Being a detailed analysis and synthesis from a History lesson, this pilot entailed three hours of non-stop writing. Personally, I asked for so much paper that the invigilator gave me a lot extra to save time.

On the questions themselves, many people see many things. Some were confounded, others were jubilant. It really showed how much effort once actually puts into the examinations, and these sentiments intensified as the forbidding discussions ensued amongst the jaded candidates.

First, it was the core subjects: Malay, English, History, Mathematics, Iand slamic Studies or Moral Education. Then, the electives went full flight. Science, Physics, Biology, Chemistry, Additional Mathematics, Mandrin, Tamil, Principle of Accounts, Commerce, Basic Economics, Visual Arts: they all made an appearance. There were numerous others, especially the vocational ones, but the feeling they all gave was the same.

At the end of it all (mine ended with Biology), I'm sure most were bewildered that the storm finally ended, feeling empty as we look for the next thing to do. Some even managed to snap a few pictures or two, to commemorate their victory after the long hard battle, fought with nothing but pens, papers, calculators and brains.

The day the examinations ended was the day we ceased to be students, rather we progressed to be alumni. Even as we move on, our hearts never leave, and we will have to come back, as our examination results would be revealed. Until that day, with school magazine tucked in arm, we will rest and ponder to our fill and wonder which tribute will be crowned Victor of the annual Hunger Games.

With that, I end my post here, and wish everyone happy holidays, from all of us at the Library.

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