Rosalind's HomePage

In my primary school, there was a class which was specially made up of 13 hearing impaired students (including me) when I joined in 1985. I had a teacher who was posted from Singapore School for the Deaf (SSD). She knew sign language and taught us how to sign and learn how to study well. She taught me from Primary One to Primary Four. I remember vivdly that she was extremely concerned about our adjustments to the normal school as it was her greatest challenge to help us to settle in the normal school. In 1986, my class gave the farewell bid to my classmate as she was transferred to another school, Singapore School for the Deaf because she lived so far from her home in Redhill. In 1987, I did well in my exams and integrated into the normal stream in Primary 4. It meant that I would get less attention from my teacher who knew sign language and had to depend on myself a lot. But I was mentally prepared for it. :) That teacher focused more on helping another class which there were 12 hearing impaired students.

In 1988, there were two new teachers who were posted from SSD. I did not do well in my normal stream so I transferred to the extended stream at the end of year 1988 because it was difficult to catch up with hearing students in a class and other reason was my frequent absence. Mrs Ang was kind and inspiring teacher although she was strict. I did not know Mdm Hanis well as she taught me less. I only heard that Mdm Hanis was very, very strict that my friends, who were her students, were very scared of facing her. Within few months, she was transferred back to SSD. I do not know what happened to her now.

In 1989, I was in Primary 5 Extended class. My form teacher was Mrs Ang. I really did enjoy her lessons. She made us work hard. But some did not manage to do well so they were posted to SSD at the end of year 1989. So, there were 7 hearing impaired students (including me) left who were promoted to Primary 6 Extended. In 1990, it was my most exciting year because I had to challenge with my classmate to the first place in the class. I did get it at the end of the year 1990, not in the mid year of 1990. *grin*

She always told us to work hard to get into Upper Serangoon Secondary School as it might be the only one school where there were resource teachers to help and guide us. In 1992, I did well in my PSLE (Primary School Leaving Examination) and admitted to the four-year express stream in Upper Serangoon Secondary School.

What happens to my other six classmates? Four of us including me were posted to Upper Serangoon Secondary School. One girl and I got into express stream while 2 boys got into the normal stream. Other 2 girls with weaker results were posted to Vocational School for the Handicapped(VSH) to pick up the training skills. Last girl decided not to study in VSH and ended up staying at home to look after her youngest half-brother.

Now, the bad news is that my old school is already closed. The school merges with other two schools.