Parents’ Support Group

From: Lim SB [mailto:limsboons@yahoo.com]
Sent: July 21, 2007 7:16 PM
To: aly_63@streamyx.com; suetsen; salasiah@pecd.com.my; ismarizal@mohr.gov.my
Cc: ‘Loretta Lee’; chanhownean@pd.jaring.my; ‘Yeoh Lee Lee’; ‘Stephanie Siew’; ‘Sharon Lim’; ‘Robitahani’; ‘Nonnamalai Namasivayam’; ‘Low Mee Lai’; ‘Lim Huey Ling’; ‘Lakshmana Raj’; ‘Jennifer & Patrick’; ‘Henry Tai Boon Seong’; ‘Hanan Wong’; ‘Esther Sim’; ‘Enid Gomez’; ‘Annie Koh & Caesar Koh’; ‘Abdullah, Hanan Wong’; alicia_tung@yahoo.com; jlouis62@yahoo.com; gordita33@hotmail.com; Harjeet Kaur; Rafilda binti Adul Rahman; Yazid Jamian; Ang Cheng Siong; Catherine Chuah & Andrew Tan; Joan Lee
Subject: Re: SS17 Dyslexic Class

Dear All,

Sorry for my late response as I was very very busy lately and have no time to reply emails.

I am so glad to read about what Alison Ng has shared and especially about that part where she said that her son is now so happy with his new environment in the SS17 school where he is so ‘well accepted’ by the kids of that school. I have also heard similarly good remarks from another parent who also recently sent her son to this school. This SS17 primary school is certainly a good place for dyslexic kids to be there. Hope more parents will take the opportunity to also send their kids there and enjoy the benefits.

I wonder if Loretta is still around here in Malaysia now as I read in the earlier emails that she is planning to go to UK very soon. Like to wish her and her kids all the best. As for her trying to know how to make her own blog, I’m sorry that I can’t help much as I too have never tried writing any blogs yet. Anyway, without a blog she can also continue to update us with info from UK by visiting this particular local community web forum and just register once to post in it - http://www.usj.com.my/bulletin/upload/showthread.php?p=241003#post241003

This particular forum thread in usj.com.my website was started by me a long time ago when I was looking for a dyslexic support group to join in then.

As for Suet’s request whether she can put our correspondences into her own blog, my answer is also yes since it will also benefit others.

Take care and all the best.

Regards

Lim
aly_63@streamyx.com wrote:

Hi,

I strongly agree with Suet’s point of view and opinion. I just managed to get my son to start his classes in SS 17 school. He is so happy and looking forward for his school days for a change.

I don’t know about others, but I was brought up in a kampung area where I used to have many concerned neighbours. I used to share my stories with my kids and they find it impossible to believe due to the hectic life and some unfriendly neighbours. But when my son enter the SS17 school for the 2nd day, he came back and told me that he could feel what I have gone thru’ during my childhood in the kampung. Eventhough the class was small about 25 students but the other kids were so caring and willing to help the other counterpart which made my son feel at home and easily adapted to the atmosphere. This is what is missing from the modern life that I feel that the kids are missing these days.

I am so happy for him. As what Suet said having self-esteem and confidence is more important than all the academic. True enough, my son used to hate to attend school and each week he will definately have a day or two giving me the excuses not to attend school. Mind you, my son is from a chinese school Lick Hung. He could hardly speak english and BM when he was there. Then I took him out for the whole year when he was in year 5 to attend the classes held by Puan Sariah in USJ 6. No doubt he had improved but there are still more room for improvement. Due to the centre not having the school syllabus, I managed to reserve a seat for him back in Lick Hung. In fact the teachers and classmate understand him but it’s only school days and hardly any hours for playtime that makes him shunt away. But after attending the 3rd day in SS17, I realised that he has build his confidence to dare himself to speak in English and BM.  Well to me this is an achievement. No doubt back in the USJ 6 dyslexia centre he did tried to speak but I feel lately it’s more natural and with confident. There again they will be hiccup here and there but as long as he is happy, I do believe the improvement would be more remarkable.

Anyway it’s still up to you parents to decide. As Suet said we had fought so hard for it, I have waited for the SS17 school for almost 2 years, since the government had made it for us, please treasure it before they take it away.  For your info, Puan Saidatul, the dyslexia teacher in SS 17 told me that she would be flexible to accept any age students to come in this year. As for next year onwards she will only take in year two students and the existing dyslexia student in the school. So take this opportunity to made your decision.

For those who wanted to put their kids in dyslexia classes, please contact:

En Jajuli Sarjo

Unit Pendidikan Khas

Jabatan Pelajaran Selangor

Jalan Jambu Bol 4/3E, Seksyen 4,

40604 Shah Alam

Tel: 03-55186204

Your kid had to be assessed before they are being accepted and once they are accepted please prepare the necessary documents.

Compulsory:

1.    Borang Pendaftaran & Cadangan Penempatan              (BPKKK1)

2.    Permohonan Untuk Bertukar Sekolah oleh murid warganegara P.U. (A) 275

3)    Photostat copy of NRIC for both parents

4)    Photostat copy of Birth Certificate for the child

5)    2 passport size photograph of your child

Optional

6)    Photostat copy of OKU Card

7)    Photostat copy of BSN first page of your kid’s account.

Regards

Alison Ng

—– Original Message —–

From: suetsen

To: salasiah@pecd.com.my ; ismarizal@mohr.gov.my

Cc: ‘Loretta Lee’ ; chanhownean@pd.jaring.my ; ‘Yeoh Lee Lee’ ; ‘Stephanie Siew’ ; ‘Sharon Lim’ ; ‘Robitahani’ ; ‘Nonnamalai Namasivayam’ ; ‘Low Mee Lai’ ; ‘Lim SB’ ; ‘Lim Huey Ling’ ; ‘Lakshmana Raj’ ; ‘Jennifer & Patrick’ ; ‘Henry Tai Boon Seong’ ; ‘Hanan Wong’ ; ‘Esther Sim’ ; ‘Enid Gomez’ ; ‘Catherine Chuah & Andrew Tan’ ; ‘Annie Koh & Caesar Koh’ ; ‘Ang Cheng Siong’ ; ‘Alison Ng’ ; ‘Abdullah, Hanan Wong’ ; alicia_tung@yahoo.com ; jlouis62@yahoo.com ; gordita33@hotmail.com

Sent: Friday, July 06, 2007 11:19 AM

Subject: RE: SS17 Dyslexic Class

Dear All,

My son is one of the pioneers in the Pilot Dyslexia Programme at SK TTDI (2).  This school has now 34 dyslexics – too many as it was planned initially to have only 16 students there. This school is not accepting any more new students. There are other schools with this programme – Shah Alam, Subang ss17, Rawang, Cheras and Setapak.

Anyway, I would like to inform all that my son is only taken out for BM periods only as he is in 5 Tekun (B class – so withdrawal is only for one subject). We want our children to fit into the norm so they should be with the non-dyslexics as much as possible. If they are weak in certain subjects, then only are they withdrawn. Unfortunately there are not enough special ed teachers to take care of the child’s every weak subject.  There are only teachers for BM.  There is also another teacher who teaches Maths – that is for the other class(C class) whereby withdrawal is for BM and Maths. 

I would like to emphasise that the Dyslexia Programme is not a ‘cure-all’.  It does not mean that once your child is in this programme he will be okay academically.

My son only passes English and Science. I do not make a fuss about him failing the other subjects but praise him for being the top in Science  52%(among dyslexics of course).  Being weak in BM, he of course fails his BM and all the other subjects that is BM based – like KT, KH, Moral etc,,,, He also fails his Maths which is in English but when I teach him at home he understands the concepts of percentage, fractions etc…. Slow but let it be. He will catch up in due time. Like my husband always say “Why are you in such a hurry???”

To me, having self-esteem and confidence is more  important than all the academic As. I do not expect the Ministry to be able to provide facilities like UK or Australia in the near future BUT we make do with what we have now and work towards more help for our kids. This is a starting point. We have fought so hard for this programme to get off the ground. We will have to make it a success.

I am keeping him in this programme because he is happy as he has his 34 dyslexic gang and he wants to go to school.  Very important for them to know that there are many other kids like them. They are not alone. He looks forward to seeing his friends.  They have the Pend. Khas sports activities whereby he participated and won the silver medal for 100 metres relay in May.  There are other activities like going swimming and bowling once a month.  Many fields trips – like to the Science centre, Mint factory, Petronas Twin towers etc….. Very important too- teachers who understand them.

The teachers in the dyslexia programme will have gone or will have been earmarked to attend the Dyslexia course. Therefore better able to handle the dyslexic kids.

Of course, parents need to keep an eye and liaise with these teachers to ensure that they are doing their job right.

I still send my son for his English and BM tuition. One just cannot teach one’s own child – too much stress. I still help him out at home if he asks for help.  

He will complain about tuition and says he hates school whenever there are tests or if he has lots of homework – only natural. But overall he is happy and looks forward to school and does not feel he is stupid like before (when he was in the normal school with no special ed).

So I strongly encourage parents who have dyslexic children to go to SS17.  Being the pioneers you can make this programme work accordingly to what you all want it to be. Initially when there were so many teething problems at this school, I regretted sending my son there. But luckily, I stuck with it and fought “tooth and nail’ to make sure that the programme benefits the children first and nobody else just for namesake.

When the programme started in SK TTDI (2), you should have seen the teething problems and how I was disliked by most of the teachers and the HM for being so nosey and interfering.  Being new, there were lots of theories which were not workable practically.  All the 8 dyslexics thrown into the C class.  Of course, the normal class teachers were not happy. All dyslexics made to stand and pull their ears when they forgot to bring their books to school, etc….   One teacher even took 2 months unpaid leave so that she does not have to teach this class. Didn’t’ help that my son was the ‘Dennis the Menace” who even hit the Head Prefect and spit at the teacher and was not afraid of authority.

Luckily all the teething problems were ‘ironed-out’ and this school is a model school.  So parents, take this challenge and make this SS17 school, what you want out of it.

If you all see things not right, voice out and give solutions to make it better for the kids and the teachers. A win-win situation.

One cannot just rely on the school system and the teachers, parents play a vital role. Whether to make the programme in this SS17 school a success or failure.?

It is up to you Parents.

Just my thoughts.

Rgds

Suet

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From: Salasiah Rashidi [mailto:salasiah@pecd.com.my]
Sent: July 05, 2007 11:39 AM
To: ismarizal@mohr.gov.my
Cc: Loretta Lee; chanhownean@pd.jaring.my; Yeoh Lee Lee; suetsen; Stephanie Siew; Sharon Lim; Robitahani; Nonnamalai Namasivayam; Low Mee Lai; Lim SB; Lim Huey Ling; Lakshmana Raj; Jennifer & Patrick; Henry Tai Boon Seong; Hanan Wong; Esther Sim; Enid Gomez; Catherine Chuah & Andrew Tan; Annie Koh & Caesar Koh; Ang Cheng Siong; Alison Ng; Abdullah, Hanan Wong; Isma Rizal; alicia_tung@yahoo.com; jlouis62@yahoo.com; gordita33@hotmail.com
Subject: RE: SS17 Dyslexic Class

En Isma,

Can you tell me more about your daughter’s Special Class in USJ2? 

My dyslexic son is in standard one and no special class at his school.  I have visited the school at SS17 and as you said it is for inclusive session only (BM).

Regards;

Salasiah