Days ahead.

Can I predict the future? Sure I can! And I will tell you what is going to happen!

After this week, we will have something only Hwa Chong has. That is none other than sabbatical week! Isn't it exciting?! Its the BEST time to take a break from all studies(not really actually...) and enjoy what you will be attending in that week.

After that, we will have Teachers' Day! On 31st August, we will be thanking every teacher who has taught all of us and I hope you will do it sincerely like how I will. On the special day itself, it will be a school holiday and its time for the teachers to take their breaks.

The one week September holiday comes ... and goes...

The next big thing then will be the DOOM of all students including me. THE END-OF-YEAR examinations!

When the EOYs are gone, it will be like a beach walk from there. Having class outing, parties and going out with friend. Now, doesn't that sound SOOO good?

I'm good right? With all the predicting of the future?

No?Everyone knows that? IMPOSSIBLE! oh wait. "Nothing is IMPOSSIBLE"

Well then.

BYEE~

Work in Progress!

Hey guys!

I hope you like the previous two book reviews. However, I have BAD news! The next two books is currently in progress due to the fact that are many tests these couple of weeks. I hope you can be patient while waiting. Thanks for your cooperation and sorry for not being able to show you the book reviews in time.

Regards,

JunYi:D

Book Two - Tales of Mystery and Terror

Title: Tales of Mystery and Terror

Author: Edgar Allan Poe

This book is a is a combination of stories written by Edgar Allan Poe. As the title of the book has said, these stories are mainly classified as horror. In total, there are thirteen stories in this book. However, for today, I will only be telling you about one of the stories, “The Pit and the Pendulum”.

The narrator started the story by saying that he was sentenced to death. When he received the news, he swooned and went unconscious. When he wakes up, he found himself to be in a dark enclosure. He then thought that he was in a tomb but soon, he thinks that he might be trapped in a cave at some deserted place. He tried to see how many steps it takes to walk round the perimeter of this enclosure. Thus, he took a piece of ham, stick it the wall, and started walking.

Suddenly, he fell into a hole and he slept there. When he woke up, he found offerings of food and bread. He eagerly consumes them and went on the explore the place he was in. From here, the story gets more interesting as more unusual things happen. What happens in the end? That's for you to find out, and for me to know!

Do borrow or buy a this book as the stories are pretty interesting and you can also know the end of "The Pit and the Pendulum".

Book One: Stormbreaker - Anthony Horowitz

Title: Stormbreaker

Author: Anthony Horowitz

Stormbreaker is the first book in the Alex Rider series. The Alex Rider series is about a boy, Alex Rider, who unexpectedly becomes an secret agent in MI6. MI6 is a British Secret Intelligence Service. They sent their agents undercover to different missions so that they can bring criminals to justice.

It all starts when Alex's uncle, Ian Rider, dies. He was told that Ian Rider died in a car accident because he did not put on his seatbelt. However, being close to him, Alex had a suspicion due to the fact that his uncle was and had always been a very cautious person and never forgets little things like putting on his seatbelt. And because of his curiosity, he then went to the junkyard and saw his uncle's car filled with bullet holes. It was then that he realised his uncle was murdered.'

He was then partially forced to join MI6 due to certain reasons. Then, he went to a two week training course and went on the mission where Ian Rider was killed.

Well, of course there is always a bad guy in these types of books. So, the criminal here is Herod Sayle. Sayle is a multi-millionaire producing state-of-the-art computers, Stormbreaker. Stormbreaker has a new technology that Sayle created and is said to be a milestone in technology history. And he is going to generously donate these to every school in Britain. However, MI6 thinks that something fishy is going on. Furthermore, Ian Rider died on this particular as well, thus, this created more suspicion.

The final resort is to sent Alex Rider undercover there to find out the truth. Many things happened when Alex was there and in the final chapters of the book, Alex had uncovered that Herod Sayle had actually place a deadly virus to kill every child in Britain since he had lost his childhood. However, before Alex had the chance to report this matter, he was caught. He was placed in a large tank, with one of the most deadly jellyfishes in the world, to die a slow and miserable death. But he used one of the gadgets he was given and escaped. In the end, he had stopped Herod Sayle's evil plans and saved the millions of children in Britain.

These are just the general storyline of the book and you want to know more of the story? That's for me to know and for you to find out.

Overall, this is a interesting book but I seriously doubt that it would happen in real life. This book is more suitable for teens. Moreover, this book has even won awards like New York Times #1 Children's Bestseller.

Personally, I feel that this book, written by Anthony Horowitz, is rather interesting because somehow, it makes me visualize the scenes and thus, making me understand the book better.

Thats all from this book!

Holiday Assignments

Hey guys,

My June Holiday assignment is to read books and then of course to write about the book I have read in this blog. I said that I have to write about the book because I am not sure whether its a book review or a book summery as a review and a summery are two very different things.

Thus, the next couple of posts will be about the books I have read. The books that I will write about are:

Stormbreaker - Anthony Horowitz
The Book Thief - Markus Zusak
The Invisible Man - H. G. Wells
Tales of Mystery and Terror - Edgar Allen Poe.

Enjoy and of course, comments are welcome.

Cheers,
Jun Yi

Term Two Sabbatical Week

Term two sabbatical week was held on week nine, 17- 21 May 2010. Sabbatical week is an event that happens in Term one. two and three. It gives students a chance to pick up a new skill or experience something. There is a list of programs to choose from and I chose guitar.

In this course, we learnt about the guitar, the basics of playing a guitar and even had to learn a simply song and play it with the drummers on the last day of the course. We learnt C, G, A minor, B minor, F and B minor cords. Actually, we only had to learnt the first four cords i mentioned earlier. However, as I said, we had to learnt a song and the song required F and B minor cords (which will only be learnt intermediate level). The song is 'Photograph' by Nickelback. Of course, we played a shorter version of it. Overall, this is a good experience for me and I plan to continue learning guitar as it would quite wasted after learning guitar for a week and not continuing. The song below is 'Photograph' by Nickelback.

Cheers

Jun Yi.

Projects Day Preliminary Judging

It was held on the 7th of April. The projects day is something that only Hwa Chong has. Lower secondary must participate while upper secondary can choose to participate if they want. There are various categories that you can choose to take part in for example, inventions, experimental research, language arts.

My group chose mathematics and it is based the history of mathematics. Our mentor is Mrs Chang. On the 7th of May, we were at the classroom of 3Q for our preliminary round. Before we presented, we were pretty nervous as it was our first time participating in projects day.

However, after we presented, we felt normal as the pressure was already off our chests.

The results were out a few weeks after the preliminary round the outcome is that we have passed! We were were quite shocked as the judges remarks were not what we expected but we will work hard for the semi-finals next term!

Cheers,

Jun Yi.

Combine Sports Meet with Nanyang Girls' School

On 14 May 2010, our school together with Nanyang Girls' school had our annual Combine Sports Meet( CSM). The CSM had track and field events such as sprints, pole vault and high jump. On that day, the CSM started at about 8am, if I'm not wrong, and ended at roughly 10.30am. There most anticipated event was the 4x100m relay run. Lots of people went down to the track to support their classes. For our class, Zi Han was our first runner, then Yu Xiang, followed by Kevyn and lastly, Jack.

Other than all the excitement on the track, there were also games held on top of the terraces and in front of the clock tower. There also booths selling food and drinks. Also, there was event a band playing and singing music for everyone present. After the CSM was over, our class, 1O2, 1P2 and 1P3 went to little India to have some Indian food. Personally, I enjoyed the experience but the food was just too spicy! I could hardy consume it but in the end, I did. So that was the day when the last CSM would be held in our school's track before the Tan Kah Kee MRT Station finish building.

Cheers,

Jun Yi.

Founders' Day

Hey everyone,

The Founders' is on 21st March. On this day, Hwa Chong Institution became 91 years old! To celebrate this, there was a dinner in the evening. However, on this day in this year is a Sunday. So, the students were not able to celebrate on the actual day. Thus, we celebrated this occasion on Wednesday, 24th March 2010. For the Secondary ones like myself, we went for beach for beach cleaning. My class and a few others went to East Coast Beach.

We arrived there and were given garbage bags to each groups. Everybody started going around the beach collecting all kinds of rubbish. I mainly picked up the common ones like cigarette butts and bottles. My classmate even found a SHIRT and a PANTS! How unbelievable is that! You can practically find anything at the beach. However, at the end of the day, I notice that there is seriously a LOT of rubbish at the beach. This is pretty scary as a beach is suppose to be a nice and relax place but after seeing all the rubbish, it could just ruin your mood. Overall, it was a pretty nice experience as it was my first time doing beach cleaning and there is a sense of achievement in me for the fact that I think I have done my part in cleaning the beach but I will do better if I ever go for beach cleaning again.

Cheers,

Jun Yi

Hey all,

Its been quite a while since I posted on this blog. The previous two posts are the assignments that I am suppose to do for LA(hope you like them, especially the poem, I racked my brains to create that poem) in the Home Learning that I have currently, 25th and 26th May 2010. There was a couple of school events this term. They consist of Founders' Day, Combine Sports meet with Nanyang Girls' School, Projects Day Preliminary Judging and Term Two Sabbatical Week. I will give you more details on the above events by the end of this week as I have to do my research for my Humanities Home Learning assignment. BYE~~

Cheers,

Jun Yi

My Poem

Sitting in a quiet classroom
Nobody talks
Nobody chats
Nobody whispers
With a fierce teacher staring right into everybody's eyes

Dozing as the teacher speaks
Staring at the clock as the minute hand ticks
Waiting for the last period to end
And 'rrriiiinnnnnnggggg' goes the bell as the clock strike 1.30pm

Students pack up bags
Dashes to the crowded canteen
Grab a bite
And off they go for their Co-Curriculum Activities

Perspiring after the activities as they walk out of school
Hop on a bus and head home
Reaches home an hour later
Wasted no time bathing and eating

Started on the pile of homework
Ended at 2am and sleeps immediate
Wakes up in the morning at 5.30am
And there it goes again

Analysis of a Poem

The Son is in Secondary School by Affian Sa’at

My badge has a Latin motto
Hope for the future
The future is hope
Or something

At times black crows try to interrupt
When we sing the National Anthem

It is difficult to maintain
The whiteness of my shoes
Especially on Wednesdays

I must admit there is something quite special
About the bare thighs of hardworking scouts

The Malay chauffeurs
Who wait for my schoolmates
Sit on the car park kerb
Telling jokes to one another

Seven to the power of five is unreasonable

On Chinese New Year
Mrs Lee dressed up
In a sarong kebaya
And sang Bengawan Solo

The capital of Singapore is Singapore

My best friend did a heroic thing once
Shaded all A’s
For his Chinese Language
Multiple-choice paper

In our annual yearbook
There is a photograph of me

Pushing a wheelchair and smiling
They caught me
At the exact moment

When my eyes were actually closed


So the poem above is the one that I am going to analyse for Home Learning(e-Learning). Honestly, I really don't know how to analyse a poem so for this, I will try my best to analyse it. Don't laugh!

So basically, this poem is a free verse type of poem, it does not have any rhyme or regular rhythm. It also sounds like a daily conversation you have with your friends. The poet is actually reflecting back on his secondary school life. He sang the National Anthem in school, finds that it is difficult to maintain the whiteness of his shoes, feels that the bare thighs of hardworking scouts are somehow special. The poet even remembers the sarong kebaya that his teacher, Mrs Lee, wore on Chinese New Year. I do not know why but the poet feels that his friend shading all his questions on the answer sheet 'A' was a heroic act. Maybe because of the fact that nobody but his friend dares to do this in an examination thus calling his act 'heroic'. The poet remembers that the annual year book had a photograph of him. At the end of the poem, the poet says,'When my eyes were actually closed.' This explains that he was reflecting on his secondary school life with his eyes closed.

MY BIRTHDAY!

Hey everyone, want to know something? I think you already know by the title of this blog post. It is my birthday today!!!

Received a card from the GREATEST class, 1O3!!!
I also received a birthday present from Wei Jin. It was a chocolate bar which was given to him. THANK YOU WEI JIN!

I also received many wishs by friends and families. Thank you all for doing so!
Had a lovely cake bought by my mother, taken pictures and ate it. It was awesome.
THANKS MUMMY!!

LA Home-Learning assignment

Journal entry according to Detective Jack Noonan's point of view for Lamb to the Slaughter:

It was a rather peaceful day at the police headquarters. Then, out of the blue, the phone rang. It was from Mrs Malony. She was sobbing. That caught my attention immediately. She told me that Patrick Maloney is dead! My heart skipped a beat and I really did not know how to feel. Patrick was a close friend and colleague of mine. I had just watch him leave the building about one hour back and totally did not expect a call like that.

I immediately ruched to the scene, Patrick's house, with O’Malley, also a close friend and colleague of Patrick. Other colleagues like the doctor, police photographers and others that would help with the investigation. I went to check on the body. There was no signs of life. No pulse rate. No breathing. Nothing. He is has really died. I held back my tears. Something tells me that the killer is nearby, near me. However, I doubt the killer would have the courage to stay and see how the investigation goes. I am determined to find the killer and bring him to justice.

Of course, the first person we suspected is none other then Mrs Maloney. We asked her about what happened. Although I suspected that she was the murderer, I eventually gave up that thought. Reasons were that she had always been a good and faithful wife, and she looks really saddened by Patrick's death. We also went to question the clerk at the grocery which Mary had gone to before she called 911. The clerk said that Mary acted normal and was pretty enthusiastic about preparing supper for Patrick as they normally go out for supper on Thursday nights.

Later, Mary had asked us to help her eat up the lamb leg she had prepared for Patrick. We did not want to disappoint her after what had happened. Thus, we did as she said, However, as she walked away behind the wall, I heard her giggle. Was I hearing things or did I really hear her giggle? What had exactly happened to Patrick and who killed him? So many questions to be answered and I guess I should be the one to answer them and avenge Patrick.

'Lamb To The Slaughter' and 'The Way Up to Heaven'

Both stories were written by Roald Dahl and are equally interesting to read.
There are a few similarities between the two stories. Both Mrs Maloney and Mrs Foster were very faithful and loved their own husbands very much. However, the two husbands were killed at the end of the story because of something they did to their wife. It may sound a little weird to you but this makes you want to read the stories because it sounds interesting, am I right?

I personally prefer the story 'The Way Up to Heaven' because of two points. Firstly, Mrs Maloney killed Mr Maloney in a more direct way using a frozen lamb leg while Mrs Foster just left Mr Foster stuck in a lift in their house while she goes away for a 6-week holiday to Paris as if nothing happened. Secondly, in the story, Roald Dahl did not mention that Mr Foster has died. This is indeed very interesting as I have never encountered such a story.

P.S. This is also required in this blog and I will be posting posts like this one from time to time.

Cheers
Jun Yi

Hello!
It has been a while since the previous post. Thus, I shall updated on what I have been doing.

Last Thursday, I had IS test. The test was not difficult but I also cannot say it was easy.

On Friday, we had no lessons! This is because we were celebrating Lunar New Year on that day. There was a concert held at the Kah Kee hall. There were performances like the lion dance , pieces of music by the Chinese Orchestra and also a comedy-like performance by the Chinese Drama. The celebration ended at about 9.30am and everybody was released directly from the hall. After the celebration, I met up with a couple of friends and we went back to our primary school to see our past year teachers, schoolmates and classmates.

On Saturday, my family and I were spring cleaning, preparing for Lunar New Year!
We had our reunion dinner that night and the food was home-cooked! It both healthy and delicious!

On Sunday and Monday, my family and I went around visiting relatives and wishing them a Happy Lunar New Year. On Sunday night, we also went to watch 'Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief' at Golden Village at Marina Square. The movie is very interesting and suggests that if you have not watched it.

On Tuesday, we did not go out. This is because me and my sister had to complete our homework.

Today, we had Math and Composition test today. I really hope the whole class and I would do well in the tests.

Last but not least, I know that I am a few days late but I still like to wish everybody Happy Lunar New Year!

That is all for now!

Cheers,
Jun Yi

Hello!
To be honest, there is not much I can say about today because nothing really happened. However, the thing that left me the greatest impression is the picture composition that we did during the 3-periods of LA. The picture was an octopus in a room with its tentacles swinging around and causing destruction to the room.

That's it for now.

Cheers,
JunYi

Hello everyone!
This is the third post in this blog and its already week 6! Doesnt time pass very fast? *Sigh*
Today, I had AAP, IH, level assembly and Chinese.However, there is something different about today. We went to the Singapore Discovery Centre to learn about Total Defence day.There was a talk about Total Defense and the Civil Defense were also there. They brought some equipment that students could try using like the mist gun which is used to put out fire. We headed back to school at about 5pm and arrived at roughly 5.35pm.

That's it for now.

Cheers,
JunYi

Its finally February! Should I be happy as Chinese New Year is coming? Or should I sad as its now nearer towards the Final-Year-Examinations? Nah... I'll rather be happy!:)

Okay now about school today. I had Art and Acts of Persuasion(AAP) today and it was the first lesson of the day. Also, I forgot to mention yesterday that my AAP teacher is Miss Lim. In the lesson, the main thing we learnt in class is Paul's Wheel Of Reasoning. The next lesson was Integrated Humanities(IH) and we learnt about Geography. Recess followed afterward and then reading period.Assembly and then Chinese was the last six period.

I stayed back for softball trials but it turned out that the softball team was at a competition. I went home in vain and reached home at about 6.30P.M. and here I am blogging about today.

That's it for now.

Cheers,
Jun Yi

Hi everyone! This will be my first blog post in this blog and I hope you will find the rest of the blog posts interesting and leave a comment which should be in proper English and no vulgarities and Singlish will be allowed.

First of all, I would like to introduce myself. My name is Kang Jun Yi and I am none other than a male studying in a really amazing and awesome school, Hwa Chong Institution. I'm also in a really amazing class 1O3 and its under a consortium called Ortus! My Form teacher is Mrs Anuradha, Chinese teacher is 黄老师, Mathematics teacher is Mrs Chang, Science teacher is Mr Low, Integrated Humanities teacher is Mr Balan, Infocomm Studies Teacher is Mr Cheong, Music teacher is Mr Tan , Art teacher is 郭老师and my PE teacher is Mr Wang. I will start to Blog about my secondary 1 life starting from tomorrow.

Cheers,
Jun Yi