End of semester, Kindergarten 1

Dear Kate, 

So next week is the last week of your school for the first half of 2014. I attended the first parent-teacher session for Kindergarten 1… and there wasn't much feedback at all. In some sense, I guess no news is not bad news, and you are faring averagely well in school that Teacher Y didn't have too much to say. 

Teacher Y said that you "transformed" from term 1 to term 2. I was a little surprised, given that you're not exactly a mouse; but after clarifying, it seems that you took a while to warm up to the class initially. You are socially comfortable and very "cheerful", but you seem to lack confidence to ask questions, or answer questions posed to you. All the hesitance is done and dusted, and you have shed your initial reservations and thus, the "transformation". 

My analysis is that while you're familiar with the school (after the long school break last December), coming back to a relatively new class (you only joined them a month before school closed) may have been slightly overwhelming – maybe not to the extent of you feeling paralysed with fear or anything extreme like that, but it's still a lot to take in. Plus, if you do not feel confident, you will hold back. I'm pleased to know that you have opened up and behave so well in school; so proud of you baby girl.

Hanging out with your classmates.

The next matter that comes to mind is how you have more to improve on, academically. Where soft skills are concerned, the likes of craft – I have no qualms that you are confident and able to participate with gusto. Based on my experience of exposing you to hands-on activities, I know you're more than willing to try it all. It's the "real" things like "A-B-Cs" or the "1-2-3s" that worried me more. Last year, when you were in Nursery, I wasn't sure that you knew your alphabets well and you didn't truly. The surest improvement that I did notice was your ability to recognise your alphabets – good job! However, you have more to improve upon where reading is concerned. Teacher Y agrees and isn't too worried; she's sure that you'll improve (as do I) and with the introduction of your English reading class as an extra-curriculum, I'm confident that you'll be fine.  

The cheongsam in the middle is your masterpiece. 

The other sharing from Teacher Y was how impressed she was with your confidence during the first session of show-and-tell. You could go on and on, she said. Indeed a chatty child of mine!

None of what she shared really surprised me, because it is all very normal. Your hesitance and lack of confidence in areas of unfamiliarity, your usual sociable self and you excelling at show-and-tell when it's a subject matter close to your heart. 

My own observations of your growth/development:

• Comfortable with routine – you do not know the true concept of time yet, but you understand that when you're told to change and prepare for school, you do so & you know that you'll head off to school. Quite happily, I may add and I'm so thankful that you enjoy school. You have extra classes (Chinese and Art) too and you're lapping them up enjoyable, from what I see.
• Extremely accepting of homework – every Friday, you bring back some worksheets from school and you always attend to them with no fuss. It's extremely heartening to see how you take to your duties so responsibly and I'm so proud of you. 
• You're growing taller! - Your uniform, which you have been wearing since a year and a half ago, now fits very well. I remember how it was pretty big on you initially! Note to self: purchase a new set of uniform for you earlier than later so you can wear the new piece more than a year because I'm very sure the current set will be too small by the time you hit K2.
• Reading – you enjoy reading. I can be more disciplined with you to instill better reading habits, and I do wish I am. But given that I'm not, I'm pleased that you do pick up a book on your own accord; even if to flip through the colourful pages of illustrations. 

Flashback pic: First day of school in your (then rather big) uniform, 2013. Look at how much you have grown!

I love you so much, Kate and I'm amazed at your growth and how you are such a sweetheart. You are such a sensitive child and I know that you will continue to do well at school. I'm proud of you, everything that you have done. I wish that you'll not give up or feel disheartened and learn to stand up and ask all that you need to, to continue blooming. 

I love this pic! (I snapped it off one of the pictures that they place outside the classroom)

Here's to a good school holidays this upcoming month of June and to an even better second semester of school this 2014!

I love you, my sweet child.

Love, Mommy