Record or no record, SMK Simpang Kuala has memorable celebration
ALOR STAR: Although they failed to secure a place in the Malaysia Book of Records, SMK Simpang Kuala teachers won the hearts of their students with a 156m-long “shell out” feat.
It was a memorable day for students as many of them were able to enjoy “shell out” for the first time, thanks to the hard work of 90 teachers and staff of the school.
They took two hours to cook 500kg of seafood, chicken and rice for the students, which was served on a 156m-long table at the school compound to mark Teacher’s Day, yesterday.
Form Five student Ahmad Kamal Arif Omar said the event was meaningful since some of them had never tried shell-out before.
“We were excited when the school announced the project. I never had shell-out before and it was even more memorable as the teachers had prepared it for us,” he said, adding that the students enjoyed the meals.
School principal Mustaffa Ahmad said they wanted to create a bonding moment between teachers and students.
“We usually celebrate Teachers Day with games and performances.
“But this year, we wanted to do something unique,” he said.
The school and the ParentTeacher Association (PTA) contributed RM8,000 to buy raw materials, including rice, crabs, prawns, vegetables and chicken.
Teachers Day celebration coordinator Rohana Yusuff said the project relived the nostalgia of the 1970s when teachers prepared food for their students.
“Even the money for this event was contributed by teachers and the PTA because we do not want to burden the students, who mostly come from low-income families,” she said.
Rohana said the school initially wanted to list their feat in the Malaysia Book of Records, but was told that the length was too short.
“To enter the book, we needed to reach 500m in length, and ours was less than that.
“But the most important thing is that we have created something memorable for the teachers and students here,” she said.
In Kuala Lumpur, more than 100 teachers, students and staff of SK Bukit Bandaraya, Bangsar, had a fun and engaging Teachers Day.
Themed “Sonquerade”, teachers were seen clad in traditional batik attire and masquerade masks.
Some male teachers were dressed as pendekar (warriors), while the female teachers wore batik.
As students waited in the school hall, the teachers, in their colourful attire, began to parade in at 8am.
The celebration continued with the singing of Kami Guru Malaysia and Guru Pembina Negara, followed by the presentation of souvenirs to teachers, dance performances by teachers and a lucky draw.
School headmaster Rosli Ahmad said each year, the school celebrated with different themes.
Last year, they introduced seven different themes.
“This is how we show appreciation and gratitude for the dedication of our teachers, who sacrifice their time for their students.
At the Cempaka International School Damansara Heights, students awed the audience with their dance performances and poetry.
However, SK Bukit Pantai in Jalan Cenderai had postponed their celebration due to midterm examination.
A school spokesman said the Teacher’s Day celebration would be celebrated next week on May 24.
In Kota Baru, some 54 teachers from SK Zainab 2 near Jalan Telipot here celebrated Teacher’s Day yesterday in a different way — by wearing attires of various ethnicities in the country.
The teachers wore the attires that represented the 11 different ethnicities in Malaysia, which include Chinese, Malay, Indian, Siamese and Orang Asli.
Headmaster Zaini Yusoff said the school administration decided to ask the 54 teachers to wear the attires to give more understanding to the pupils on the various cultures and races in the country.
“Every year, we decide on a different theme for Teacher’s Day. This year, we choose Silang Budaya.
“We want the pupils to know that there are many races and cultures in the country, and we live in peace and harmony,” she said.
Raisah Sulaiman, 45, one of the teachers who was involved in the performance, said she chose to wear the dress of the Senoi tribe.
“I choose the attire because I had taught at an Orang Asli school in Kuala Betis in 1998 and wanted to show the pupils here what the community’s attire was.”