Yes DEAR: 20 - 24 July 2009 : Day dreaming

Ramu Das lived in his humble dwelling with his better half, Mrs. Das. Their only child dropped early out of school to help his father fill the family coffers. The Das family sustained from hand to mouth existence and gradually began to dream of a better life, of a wealthier life. Dreaming became so inherent in their bed every night that it continued in the morning. They would discuss their dream and the best won an extra chappati for dinner.

Day dreaming, night dreaming and more dreaming. Life revolved around dreaming and very little was worked upon achieving the dream. Towards achieving a little more wealth. To sweat from the brow and feed their cows.

Once Mr. Das said, I will start planting vegetables in our garden tomorrow. There will be all types of vegetables available in our vegetable garden. All our neighbours will come to us to buy vegetables. Then money will start pouring in and we will get rich. Inspired Mrs. Das added that I will cut vegetables and slice them too and charge a bit higher for the sliced vegetables.

Sooner said than done, Mr. Das took the spade and dug up the entire backyard. He unearthed the entire ground and stormed off to buy seeds for the vegetables, only to realize that he did not have any money to buy them. Sulking he sat in a corner and left rats and stray dogs find a home in the ruined backyard.

And so went on the dreaming paradise of the Das’s until one day a neighbour’s son Shyam who had returned from the city heard about the Das’s. Shocked by their life he wondered how to bring the Das’s out of their surreal world. He chanced upon them at the tea stall and worked his way to being invited home.

The thatched roof and the cow caked walls were not very welcoming, but Shyam battled the stench for he had come with a purpose. He realized what a simple life the Das’s had. That Mr. Das was far behind his peers who had all progressed. Mr. Das had spun into the laughing stock of the village with his dreaming feature characteristic and it had to stop.

Occupied in his thoughts, Mr. Shyam had barely spoken that Mr. and Mrs. Das began telling him about their dreams of getting rich. Soon they had a new dream, at that spur of the moment. Mr. Das said I could sell the milk of our cows, go door to door or directly to the village market and make money out of it. Everyday I will give my cows more to eat so they will give me more milk and I will reap more money. Then I can go give some milk to my sister said Mrs. Das. No you will not, said Mr. Das, I cannot let anyone have a share of my profits. I will break all the pots in the house so that you will not have any pot to carry milk to your sister. Saying this he began breaking all the pots, leaving terrified Shyam in the midst.

Instantly Shyam began beating the cows outside. What are you doing, said Mr. and Mrs. Das, why are you beating the cows. Well your cows will want more food to give more milk and they will eat my garden plants, so I am beating them up even before they can do that.

Then suddenly it dawned on the Das’s their critical mistake. No milk, yet the pots were broken. No milk, yet they were dreaming. They looked up to Shyam and said. May be god sent you, so that we learn a lesson for life. From that day on, day dreaming was shunned and hard work was plugged in.
Moral: Put your dreams into action.

PIES 13 - 17 July 2009:Paper Consumption Is Set To Increase

Paper consumption is set to increase over the years and the government should make it more attractive for local industries to set up more paper mills here in collaboration with foreign investors.
“More than half of what is used now is imported,” Malaysia Paper Merchants’ Association(MaPMA) secretary Manmohan Singh said at its 20th anniversary dinner last night which was graced by Deputy Finance Minister.
“About 150,000 tonnes is produced locally at the Sabah Forest Industries(SFI) in Sipitang, Sabah, Malaysia’s first integrated pulp and paper mill.”
Malaysia consumes about 380,000 tonnes of printing and writing paper annually, of which about 230,000 tonnes are imported, including from Thailand and Indonesia.
“With attractive incentives, our mill partners from the neighbouring countries will be more attracted to add on to, or shift, their operations to Malaysia, while SFI will certainly consider expansion plans to meet the present shortfall and the annual growing demand.
SFI’s production, he said, was set to increase to 180,000 tonnes a year within the next two years. The deputy Finance Minister said the Government would always hold a dialogue with the industry prior to formulating a policy or law.
“I encourage paper merchants to come together and invest in the industry so that we do not have to depend so much on imported paper, as imports can affect pricing,” he added.
He said the fluctuating oil prices had affected all industries, including the paper industry, making budgeting and purchasing difficult.


WORD LIST
1. mills
2. integrated
3. pulp
4. consumes
5. incentives
6. shift
7. consider
8. expansion
9. annual
10. demand
11. prior
12. formulating
13. invest
14. affect
15. budgeting

ENRICHMENT LIST
1. consumption
2. collaboration
3. graced
4. shortfall
5. fluctuating

PIES 6 - 10 July 2009: Sarawak braces for another round of floods

Floods have forced the evacuation of some 800 people in central and northern Sarawak, while the southern region braces for a second round of flooding in a month.
State authorities have alerted villagers in low-lying areas, including in Bau district, to be ready to move out from their homes.
Kuching, Samarahan and Sri Aman Divisions were hit by massive floods more than two weeks ago when thousands of residents were moved to higher grounds.
Dr Chan said the water level in Sungai Sarawak Kiri in Batu Kitang near here and Sungai Sarawak Kanan in Buan Budi had surpassed the the alert level at noon Thursday, and was still rising. Dr Chan said 795 flood victims from 140 families were now housed in nine evacuation centres in Sibu, Bintulu and Miri Divisions.
Roads in Sebauh/Tubau and Kampung Pandan in Bintulu are not accessible to small vehicles. Dr Chan said directives had been issued to all divisional engineers to check on landslide-prone areas to ensure that early warnings on any danger could be issued to the public.

WORD LIST
1. evacuation
2. flooding
3. authorities
4. alerted
5. low –lying
6. district
7. residents
8. grounds
9. families
10. centres
11. housed
12. evacuation
13. directives
14. divisional
15. warnings

ENRICHMENT LIST
1. braces
2. surpassed
3. accessible
4. prone
5. issued

Yes DEAR: 6 - 10 June 2009 : A Story to Share - True Friend

Inspirational Short Story

Horror gripped the heart of the World War 1 soldier as he saw his lifelong friend fall in battle. Caught in a trench with continuous gunfire whizzing over his head, the soldier asked his lieutenant if he might go out into the "no man's land" between the trenches to bring his fallen comrade back.
"You can go," said the lieutenant, "but I don't think it will be worth it. Your friend is probably dead and you may throw your life away." The lieutenant's advice didn't matter, and the soldier went anyway. Miraculously he managed to reach his friend, hoist him onto his shoulder and bring him back to their company's trench. As the two of them tumbled in together to the bottom of the trench, the officer checked the wounded soldier, and then looked kindly at his friend.
"I told you it wouldn't be worth it," he said. "Your friend is dead and you are mortally wounded." "It was worth it, though, sir," said the soldier. "What do you mean; worth it?" responded the Lieutenant. "Your friend is dead" "YES, Sir" the private answered. "But it was worth it because when I got to him, he was still alive and I had the satisfaction of hearing him say, "JIM........, I KNEW YOU'D COME."
(Take sometime to think about the story then stroll down)
Many times in life, whether a thing is worth doing or not, really depends on how you look at it. Take up all your courage and do something your heart tells you to do so that you may not regret not doing it later in your life...”May each and every one of you be blessed with the company of TRUE FRIENDS." "A true friend is one who walks in, when the rest of the world walks out." War doesn't determine who's right. War only determines who's left.

English Literature Workshop

An English Literature Workshop for form 5 students was held on 4th July 2007. The students were divided into groups of 4 and asked to answer literature questions from past years' questions. Students worked in the group to answer the questions and find the textual evidences needed. At the end of the session, students handed in the completed answer written on mahjong papers. The form 5 teacher are going to mark the answers and choose the best answer for each year to be displayed in form 5 classes. All the students will be asked to copy the answers.

The Star and Pizza Hut’s Newspaper-in-Education (NiE) Mag Inc (Magazine Incorporated) Contest 2009

When school reopened, the teachers collected the mini magazines to be sent to NST.This year, MOZAC sent a total of 78 entries which involved 390 students. A total of 31 teams are from form 1 and 29 teams are from form 2.The students of form 1 & 2 submitted the mini magazines as part of the project this year. The teachers evaluated them and the marks will be added in their Test 2. Form 3 students sent 7 entries while there were only 9 teams of form 4 students took part in this year's competition. Only 1 team of from form 5 sent their entry this year.

PIES 29 June - 3 July:Learning Haven

This is a school without desks or chairs, but the students are only too happy to have access to some form of education.
Walk down one of the rubbish-strewn lanes in the heart of Kuala Lumpur, and you will come across the narrow entrance to a nondescript flat. Just minutes away some of the glitziest malls in the city, but here, the atmosphere couldn’t be more different.
Small, messy stalls line the lane, and the people walking around, going about their daily business, look distinctly non-local.
Inside the building, the stairwell is dim, grubby, and rather dank. Climb up three flights of stairs and you will arrive at a cramped unit. Clothes-lines hang right outside the flat’s narrow corridor, aflutter with the day’s washing. With its shabby walls and linoleum-lined floors, this unit looks no different from any of the others in the building.
Except for the large group of laughing , chattering children sitting inside. Their eyes are on an adult who is pointing to a whiteboard and speaking loudly. Surrounding them are piles of books and stationery.
Hand-drawn posters and educational charts liven up the plain walls, and two computers sit in a corner. These children are Myanmar refugees of Chin ethnicity.
These children do not wear uniforms, there are no desks or chairs, and classrooms are simply different units on the same floor. Yet, for the 150 students who study here daily, this little flat is the closest thing to a school they have in Malaysia.

WORD LIST
1. rubbish-strewn
2. narrow
3. nondescript
4. atmosphere
5. messy
6. distinctly
7. stairwell
8. cramped
9. corridor
10. aflutter
11. shabby
12. hand-drawn
13. refugees
14. ethnicity
15. daily

ENRICHMENT LIST
1. haven
2. glitziest
3. grubby
4. dank
5. chattering

How to Prepare and Face an Interview

An interview can be defined as a face to face oral communication between the interviewer and the interviewee in order to assess the views, attitudes and ideas of the interviewee. However the interview process also enables the interviewee and observers to assess the skill and ability of the interviewer. Thus, an interview is a test of both the communicants and parties engaged in the interaction. Intelligence, knowledge, personal qualities and character are revealed and both parties are required to be well prepared. The process allows everyone involved to make some important decisions.

The following suggestions are advisable when faced with an interview:

1) Dress appropriately – A well dressed and groomed appearance can do wonders for that first impression. Now is not exactly the time to make a fashion statement so a tastefully chosen professional outfit, with suitable accessories like a hand-bag or brief case should be fine.

2) Posture and Carriage - The way in which the candidate carries himself while walking and sitting tells the interviewer about your confidence. Good “carriage” and posture have to be developed over a period of time and are essential in distinguishing a shoddy and careless attitude from a sharp and alert one.

3) Be confident - Self confidence, or the lack of it, is observed through your behavior, right from the way you sit to how you speak. Good manners and proper behavior are obviously necessary. Suitable greetings for the time of the day and other formalities must be known to the interviewee; for example, sit down only after being told to; elbows must not be put on the table; the brief case or bag should be kept on the floor beside the chair and do not play with any of your accessories or clothes. Nervous movements betray show a lack of confidence and concentration.

4) Mental Preparation - The candidate should be well informed about current events, domestic and international, and topics of general interest. Regular reading of newspapers, listening to radio and TV discussions, participating in group discussions and general reading habits are helpful activities in developing the required mental status for an interview.

5) No guessing games - In situations where the candidate does not know the answer to a question it is always better to state ones inability to answer than to make a guess. No one is expected to know everything; admitting that one does not know the answer reflects honesty.

6) At the end, candidate’s are usually not sure when to leave. If the interviewers indicate that the interview is over, collect your bag, wish them and thank them for their friendly attitude and leave. Some candidates, due to nervousness, seem to be in a hurry to leave and forget to wish or thank the interviewers. Always remember that your parting movements are also closely observed so hurried and frantic movements may betray an earlier composed attitude.

In order to succeed in an interview each individual must make an honest self-assessment and find out one’s areas of strength and weakness. Knowledge of one’s deficiencies is useful in overcoming weaknesses and unconscious bad habits of posture or speech can be improved by effort. Shortcomings which cannot be overcome can be accepted and acknowledged so that they do not lead to depression and embarrassment when others notice them. Therefore, coming to terms with oneself and knowing how to deal with one’s faults, and how to make the best use of one’s knowledge and skills, is another vital element in preparing for an interview.

by: chillibreeze writer — Sanjeevni Gangwani

Happy Father's Day

Father's Day Tribute - Watch more amazing videos here



A Dad is a person
who is loving and kind,
And often he knows
what you have on your mind.

He's someone who listens,
suggests, and defends.
A dad can be one
of your very best friends!

He's proud of your triumphs,
but when things go wrong,
A dad can be patient
and helpful and strong
In all that you do,
a dad's love plays a part.

There's always a place for him
deep in your heart.
And each year that passes,
you're even more glad,
More grateful and proud
just to call him your dad!

Thank you, Dad...
for listening and caring,
for giving and sharing,
but, especially, for just being you!
Happy Father's Day

Congratulations

Yes DEAR: 15 - 19 May 2009 : A Full Jar

Inspirational Story

One day an expert in time management was speaking to a group of business students and, to drive home a point, used an illustration those students will never forget. As he stood in front of the group of high-powered overachievers he said, Okay, time for a quiz.
Then he pulled out a one-gallon, wide mouth mason jar and set it on the table in front of him. Then he produced about a dozen fist-sized rocks and carefully placed them, one at a time, into the jar. When the jar was filled to the top and no more rocks would fit inside, he asked, is this jar full? Everyone in the class said, yes.
Then he said, “Really?” He reached under the table and pulled out a bucket of gravel. Then he dumped some gravel in and shook the jar causing pieces of gravel to work themselves down into the space between the big rocks. Then he asked the group once more, is the jar full? By this time the class was on to him. Probably not, one of them answered.
Good he replied. He reached under the table and brought out a bucket of sand. He started dumping the sand in the jar and it went into all of the spaces left between the rocks and the gravel. Once more he asked the question, is this jar full? No the class shouted.
Once again he said, good. Then he grabbed a pitcher of water and began to pour it in until the jar was filled to the brim. Then he looked at the class and asked, what is the point of this illustration? One eager beaver raised his hand and said, the point is, no matter how full your schedule is, if you try really hard you can always fit some more things in it. No, the speaker replied, that’s not the point. The truth this illustration teaches us is: If you don’t put the big rocks in first, you’ll never get them in at all.
What are the big rocks in your life? Time with your loved ones? Faith, education, your dreams? A worthy cause? Teaching or mentoring others? Remember to put these BIG ROCKS in first or you’ll never get them in at all.
So, tonight, or in the morning, when you are reflecting on this short story, ask yourself this question: What are the big rocks in my life?
Then, put those in your jar first.

PIES 15 -19 June: Octuplets surprise doctors

Newborn octuplets in Southern California are a feisty bunch that appear healthy even at nine weeks premature, a doctor said Tuesday.
Three babies are being given oxygen but appeared to be doing well, said Dr. Mandhir Gupta, a neonatologist at Kaiser Permanente Bellflower Medical Center. Two of the newborns were initially on ventilators but no longer need them.
"All babies were delivered vigorous, crying, kicking. Everyone was very excited," said Dr. Karen E. Maples, chief of service for obstetrics and gynecology and the physician who personally delivered Baby No. 8.
The mother, who has not been identified, gave birth Monday to the six boys and two girls weighing between 1 pound, 8 ounces, and 3 pounds, 4 ounces. She was resting comfortably Tuesday and was elated at welcoming eight children to her family, Gupta said.
The eighth baby surprised the parents and doctors who had prepared to deliver seven children.

WORD LIST
1. premature
2. appeared
3. initially
4. ventilators
5. delivered
6. gynecology
7. physician
8. identified
9. weighing
10. comfortably
11. excited
12. surprised
13. prepared
14. vigorous
15. ounces

ENRICHMENT LIST
1. octuplets
2. feisty
3. neonatologist
4. obstetrics
5. elated

Kem Pemantapan Akedemic SPM 2009

Starting today until 13th June, the form 5 students are attending an academic camp at school. The first session is the English session done by Mr. Tan Chai Whatt from ACS. He touches on how to do well in Continuous Writing, Directed Writing and Literature.Hopefully the form 5 students are able to have a better understanding on how to score in those areas. More internal workshops will be done at school level to improve on the students'grades when school resumes next week.

A Sad Story

A very touching and sad story that everybody should read

Mid Year Exam Papers - Melaka State

PMR
Paper 1
Paper 2
Marking Scheme

SPM
Paper 1
Paper 2
Marking Scheme