Days of Kelas X6/CIE SMA Negeri 1 Banjarmasin

Class Video!

2011-05-21T13:28:00.001+08:00

Special thanks to my friend, Akbar, for making this. There MIGHT be more to come... =)

Untuk teman-teman Kelas X6....

2011-03-26T19:20:00.003+08:00

To my X6/CIE friends...

Can you believe it? Almost three years ago we became students of SMA Negeri 1 Banjarmasin...?

We got in to CIE class...

We made our seating choices...

We spent our first academic year in high school...

Then I departed for Jakarta, leaving you guys...

But before I migrated, I made this blog...

This blog documented our X6 days...

It's written in English, so that I can share it to the world...

I don't know why, I just felt I HAD to blog about it...

I hope you guys will enjoy it...

If there are any posts that might be hurtful, please don't take it seriously. I was a stupid lad...

Thank you guys and good luck for UAN!

Much love,

Algi

Outside class activ.

2009-06-29T03:23:00.005+08:00

Video Game in class!

2009-06-29T02:12:00.006+08:00

End-of-year!

2009-06-29T01:58:00.004+08:00

Dear Blog!

Ok, forget the last post. I was depressed at the time. WE were all depressed. Three useless homework mounting before us.

A couple of days after I the post before this one, we had our annual assessment (Ujian Akhir Semester). Many teachers told us that it plays a role in determining our grades. Except Arts, we had to go through 17 tests. It was an interesting affair....

Anyways,,,, all of that is over. The holidays has arrived. My final report was good enough for me to pass.

School pressure...

2009-06-01T21:17:00.003+08:00

Dear Blog!

I don't usually write a sincere heartpour, but I have something to share. It's 3 days until the end-of-year examination but school work has reached its climax. Er... well I have 3 stories... One is as unlikely as the next. But its getting late now so I'll have to go.

Hope I'll write those soon...

More images of my chaotic of a class..

2009-06-01T20:55:00.011+08:00

Everyone is into card games...

No. They are NOT gambling. Anyway its the teacher's fault. They failed to supervise the students. Duh? But, since I introduced it, everyone is into Mattel's Uno.

The need of Public Relation!

2009-06-01T20:03:00.012+08:00

Dear Blog!

Just like any other prestigious schools (?) the need to market the school is emphasized. In a school claiming to offer a "plus" program, there exists a school board willing to tell the world. Making sure that the general public and eager parents are aware their school exists and boasts that they are thus the best.

So just recently. Probably 2 weeks ago (around the time Angels and Demons was released in South East Asia) there was an education fair at the local mall, Duta Mall, Banjarmasin. The fair included a kindergarten claiming to adapt a Singaporean curriculum, vocational schools, and the well-known public schools.

I'm trying to upload the images, but damnit, why is Firefox so slow? While waiting I'm listening to Аляксандр Рыбак (Alexander Rybak), a Norwegian artists and violinists that I admire.

Above is an image of the SMK Negeri 5 Banjarmasin stand at the education fair. A vocational upper-secondary specializing in engineering and tech-crafting. Pretty impressive.

Above is a picture of the SMP Negeri 1 Banjarmasin booth. A rather well-known government middle school in my city. Providing a rather home brewed education for the young generation. Keep it up.

Now this is quite interesting. Above is also a middle school. It has been dubbed as a National Standard school. I personally think it's the best. Just look at those colorful decor. Oh yeah, as I've heard this is the first school to adapt the moving class system.

Ok so those are some of the schools who set up a stand at the education fair. So where's my school?
(Un)Fortunately my school did set up a stand but it was so "dinky" and lame... It gives the feeling that "we" were selling thropies.

So we can say that my school's stand presented nothing with the exception of some gold-painted plastics and screen shots of the school........
And we had minimal help from the adult PR staff of our school. No teachers ever bothered to even set eyes on it, I recalled.

And just to let you know. I didn't attend the Senior Prom because I had no obligation to do so. Which was held at the same time as the ed fair...

(Аляксандр Рыбак's music has reached Indonesia. Though his album has not...)

We just had to clean our class...

2009-05-19T16:10:00.004+08:00

More pictures of the chaotic of my class!

2009-04-07T16:56:00.004+08:00

Playing with ladder

Playing Limbo

Reading magazine...

When the teachers skive off learning...

A revolution in cafetaria... (Kantin kejujuran)

2009-04-06T18:47:00.004+08:00

My school built this canteen. Situated below the stairs, it is entirely wooden. And it's tiny and cramped. The canteen sells snacks and small beverages. The difference between this canteen and other school canteens is that the students put the money in a box under no supervision from anyone.

Needless to say most students do not pay....

Sweating to the suns heat...

2009-04-06T18:35:00.003+08:00

Every morning in class, I sit beside the window and every morning I (maybe we) sweat to the morning sunlight... Vitamin D?

So buy a curtain! Yeah right...

The class cooling system

2009-04-06T18:30:00.003+08:00

Below is the picture of my class cooling systems... (note: only the left fan work)

Below is a picture of my Junior High School...

The new library!

2009-04-06T17:51:00.009+08:00

Dear Journ...
So after many months of uncertainties we now have our new library (see older post). When I was in Junior High the Deputy said that a library is the vessel of learning, the window of knowledge. I quite agree. My love of reading things has not been tampered with.

I personally think that my school library is worthy enough to be boasted with. It stands two storey high. The library is located in front of the student gate. I have no shame in saying that its the best school library in my region.

Notice the empty space? The librarian promised units of computers complete with internet connection so that students may access references on the net...

For a school library, it is stocked with comic mangas, newspapers, text books and novels. It even has its own television. For an Indonesian library its great. Students flocked to the library at reecess to do some light reading, loan a text book and access references.

Scenes from the closing ceremony!

2009-04-06T17:47:00.003+08:00

See my earlier posts about a school festival...

Well this was the closing ceremony (March 21st, 2009)

Discussions

2009-03-22T18:36:00.004+08:00

One of the things I love about the curriculum are discussions. I enjoy interacting with my fellow students in social issues and school work. Here is a picture of a decent discussion.

The Guy got it wrong!

2009-03-20T18:38:00.005+08:00

Every class in my school has this plaque. You can see many typographical errors and weird English. This is my class. What does "Grade Tent" mean?

Update 28/03/2009: I just noticed that whoever made the Typo plaque "recalled" its product and is nowhere to be seen...

The Mid Test!

2009-03-18T12:49:00.003+08:00

Dear blog!

It's been a while since I made a new post. I've been offline because of the mid semester examination. The exams started last Tuesday. And ended today. There were ups and downs about the tests. Some of the subjects tested had easy questions and some other's were tough. I don't believe it that I've been at this school for almost a year. I have no idea what the outcome of my overall results and what will it determine. Will my grades faired better than the previous semester?

Some of the tests were multiple choices, some were fill-ins, but most of it was essays.

An image of my Japanese Language test!

Some of the core subjects such as Physics and Chemistry were the abbattoire of the examination. Math was fair. The good thing about these tests is that students go home early. And I decided to give myself a treat at the very near, very popular, noodle corner:

The weird thing...

2009-02-18T21:58:00.005+08:00

About my class.

It is a class with a special program that focuses on the Cambridge International Examinations' syllabus.
And yet not a day passed without at least 1 teacher who flunk'd out at teaching us. So most of the time it looks like this...

It's in chaos...

Duta Mall

2009-02-18T21:40:00.005+08:00

Sunday...

Duta Mall is a shopping mall located in my City. The mall boasts a Studio 21 cineplex, a Matahari departemnet store, a food court and a Gramedia bookstore. Oh... and also an atrium. The atrium is located on the first floor and it is a spot for well...atriums.

My school had booked the atrium for a day to stage events and contest in that atrium on Sunday the 15th in celebration of Smasa Gene...whatever. First was the final round of the English Debate championship. Commenced at 10 pm and finished approx 2 hours later. Then it was the graphic designing cotest.

You can see from the third floor of the mall, computers lining up. That TINY patch of red carpet is our school's. Or so I have been told. A little bird told me that the total fee for the day was 25 million rupiahs.

And you can just barely make out that picture....

The problem about having a school event in a mall is that it sucks. The event committee didn't give their best effort into preparation BUT who could blame them? They have no experience whatsoever in public relations and still they were forced to assemble a stage in the middle of a public mall. Or so I thought...

So true...

2009-02-13T17:56:00.002+08:00

Sick this week!

2009-02-13T17:13:00.007+08:00

This week...the sun is baking my class.

It was felt on Tuesday. This time of the year we were bored out 'coz of downpours but mother nature gave us baking heats this week. The windows of my class looked out to a neighbouring school but it didn't conceal the horizon high enough. And it faced east so every sunrise was pure torture in my class.

On Wednesdays, my class opens up the day with general chemistry. After two periods, we changed into our sports attire and told by the coach to run around the oval twice as a warm up. But we were taken aback as the day PhysEd session was more like a dance lesson. The coach taught us how to do a type of "dance" (following the link will take you to Wikipedia on an article explaining what the dance was)
But the miracle of the day was that two teachers, one had a sudden arrangement and the other went to Java, weren't able to teach us that day and both teachers were responsible for a double period. So two teachers X two periods = 4 hours of free periods. Yay

But both teachers left my class assignments and the following picture will give you an idea on how my classmates do an assignment....

So funny... We work together to survive the onslaughter of Trigonometry....

The following day was Thursday and the day ended with Social Study pop quiz. I managed to scrape an 80 on this one. The next day was Biology pop quiz....

Es-Ge

2009-02-07T16:48:00.005+08:00

Dear blog,

So here's the deal. The Student organization, with the blessings from teachers, is having a big party dubbed SMASA GENERATION XV. The "XV" indicates that this is the 15th time the festival has taken place. It is held in celebration of the school's (56th) anniversarry. The 3 month festival consist of events such as contest, open dialogue, academic tournaments, and social work. It is basically a PR stunt. The school just wants to receive attention by helding this vaganza.

The problem about the "Es-Ge" is that it sucks. To me anyway. Each extracurricullar group is having their own event and the organizing committee is basically the first years. Isn't that good that the first years are learning to be an Event Organizer? The first years learn to beg money from society and sponsors as a preparation for when they're an EO themselves in later life? No. That's why it suxx. The juniors or the fresh mens have no idea what to do! For the event to be carried out smoothly it takes massive funding. And this year's budget is almost equivalent to 1o Macbook Air. And how the hell are a bunch of Indonesian high school students attain such funds?

A solution I had, which has been received favourably, was that SMASA GENERATION should be carried out entirely by the year 11s. The year 10s acts as the observants and the year 12s as the advisors. Therefore we (the year 10s) are prepared when its our time to take control as the Event Organizer for the next SMASA GENERATION.

Another thing that sucks is the product placement vandalising the school. Some students were able to gain sponsorship deals and what we get was just tents....

The only thing positive about this was that my friends and her gang set up this cafe....

Look at the pics from the opening ceremony...

First week back @ School

2009-01-17T12:39:00.006+08:00

What a Holiday!!

I can't believe it. After a pretty eventful holiday the second semester started with a grim...

First there was news concerning the school that I'm too scared to tell the world about. But it should bring the school to an embarrassment. Second was that the first week of the semester and yet homeworks are beginning to pile up. Third was that the school will held a big festival dubbed SMASA Generation 15, and that I had to collect some money for the event and gain trust from companies for sponsorship reasons. Isn't that good? Nope. Coz I haven't done any of those thing and the deadline is ticking.

This week has been rather tense. Take today for example. School finished early because the teachers had a meeting. I wonder what the teachers were discussing about. Today I recited a poem about my school. It was full of hate. I hope none of the teacher's were offended. It was dedicated to the my friend's parents for the injustice concerning how the students pay so much for school yet they received less.

Back with my friends is like the only bright side. You can see from the above images that nothing has changed in my class. The promised library, however, is still incomplete.

Yearly round up

2008-12-20T14:25:00.002+08:00

Its been a wild year....

From the Senior High Junior's Orientation event to the first semester examination. Its been a hectic 6 months. I'm on the edge of the semester. As 2008 comes to a close, I'm halfway through first year in this hectic school.

Through the span of six month I've been having an academic breakdown. Compared to my last years in Junior High School, my grades, just like everyone else, are dropping. The only improvements I made was english. Throughout six month, honestly, felt disappointed with my school. In school, I have amazing friends, but poor education. Every single day there will be a teacher who miss my class. The result is frequent free periods.

I'm writing this post on my first weekend after the start of my examination... The examination was, well, you can say there's ups and there's downs... Math = hard, English = easy, Geography = hard, Theology = medium, Physics = hard, Chemistry = hard, Economy = hard, History = easy, Local Studies = easy, Civics = medium,

I am really not sure about my science marks. I think that they are so poor...

I'm optimistics that I will pass grade 10...

Wish me luck....

Haven't updated!

2008-11-23T06:21:00.006+08:00

Dear Blog!

I haven't updated my blog for a long time! ~~Well this is because I am in no mood~~.

UPDATE: This is because I don't have time what with the mountain load of homework.

But so much has happened in the last two week. Such as the SMASA English Debating Community basic training, my seniors tantrum, me competing in the Universitas Lambung Mangkurat's English Student's Association's program A Week With English debating championship, and the school is soaking wet coz of the rain.

I want to separate my blog on posts concerning school life and my posts on extra curricullar life.

I hope I can do more posting in the future.

Huh!

2008-11-09T11:57:00.003+08:00

Monday, November 3rd

Today is the first day of the first week after examination week (Huh?)
As usal, Mondays starts with school assembly and the Yr 10 Rm 2 conducted the Flag ceremony. During the assembly the principal talked about the abysmal physics results from the recent mid-test examination.

After this was Biology and the teacher revised the test and explained the evidence behind our wrong answers. I managed to scrape a pass on this one.
After a 15 minute recess twas Indonesian literature. I had to write a poem.
Only 45 minutes of creating a poem about our education. Then it was 2 period of english. Fortunately the teacher didn't come to class so it was free period.

The last two period of the day twas Geography and the teacher said I passed the Geo examination. I really couldn't remember after that.

SMA Negeri 7 Banjarmasin has excellent canteens.

2008-11-02T11:41:00.006+08:00

On Friday & Sats

Friday. Got a 73 on Biology. Civics was free period. After recess was 2 period of Math which is nothing again except exercises.

Saturday was 'friendship' day. We don't study on that day and the school decided to carry out an inter-class footy match. And a cooking cook off.

The pics tells you what happened when there is a free period.

P.S.-Congratulation to SMA Negeri 7 Banjarmasin for having 5 star canteens (theirs are better than my schools) and friendly host. They hosted a debating contest and I was invited to watch because I'd have nothing to do in school as it was free period the whole day.

Debate practices

2008-11-02T11:28:00.008+08:00

Thursday Afternoon!

That afternoon extra Japanese was cancelled and 1 hour later was SEDCO. A community/club for school debaters. Dictated by the senior debaters, we the freshmens had to argue about how High School students are eligible to vote in a General Election.

It was damn boring and an afternoon of karate wasted. But I have to play my wits when chosen for upcoming debating contests. Senior acts as adjus and moderator.

I act as the first speaker of the affirmative team. I tried to explained them that High School students can make their own choices but the adju' (see Midi Junior) didn't get my point and said he was hem...hem... disappointed.

After that the Seniors stated that we (the Juniors) are too... well they demonstrated a 'proper' debate.

Social talks

2008-11-02T11:13:00.002+08:00

Thursday!

After an exhaustive mid test school commenced to normal on Thursday, October 30th. Donning the Thursday uniform, the day started with Social Study (a study of social science). Me and my group presented a brief presentation about Social Interactions and Social Reactions. Then it was Q&A session. Next was Cambridge Physics. It was two weeks after the lass 'ordeal.' So keeping it cool the teacher explained how to solve vectors.

History was disappointing as we received our test results and I manage to scrape a 63. Just two marks from the expected passing grade. The teacher then explained cultural heritage. What can you expect from History? Two period of ESL was just viewing comprehension. Recounting a 25min film wasn't that exciting!

The day ended with Physics. It was too horibble what happened on Physics I just couldn't recount it here...

Exam roundups!

2008-10-29T16:11:00.004+08:00

Wednesday!

After 7 days of exhausting mid semester examination, its finally over. Examination began on October 20th, 2008 and ended today (October 29th, 2008). 15 core school subjects were tested for grade X to XII. The exam is a sign that we are halfway through the semester. Hence the name mid-semester tests. The purpose of this test is quite unclear to me.

The first day of examination began on Monday, October the 20th. Everyday two core subjects will be tested and on the premiere jour it was Math and Health. Just looking at the Math questions makes me want to throw up. How the hell am I suppose to multiply logarithms? I totally failed the Math test and have no shame about it because I did my best. Up next was PhysEd, I just had to write ways preventing a front roll gone awry and types of starts. It was fine.

The next day was Tuesday, October 21st. As I came to school w/ fears of the first exam: Science physics. Physics involved a lot of calculation and precise evaluation. The test was exactly that. 90 minutes of solving speed equations and physics cos's. As I sat the test down I felt like ripping the shit to shreds. Yupz, totally failed the Physics examination. Later that day was Theology examination. Theology, well hmm... It wasn't thet bad but I'll think I'll receive an average mark.

Wednesday was a curse. We had chemistry examination and I couldn't understand how to add an atom. Chemistry was 25 tough essays. I totally failed it. This leaves me in a bad mood to concentrate on the civics examination later in that day.

Biology and History were to be tested on Thursday. I studied hard for Biology and History therefore I got through those examinations just fine.

Friday was Indonesian literature and Economy. I kinda forget about these two but I think I got through just fine.

On Saturday October 25th was dedicated to Geography (I am confident that I got through it just fine, honestly. Maybe I'll only get an average mark on Geography) and Japanese (got an 80 on this one so Ok).

After a three day break was the last day of our exam days which was today. First up was Social Study test in which I had to explains mores and CLUCK HOHNs. Next was english and last was the infamous arts.

IMPORTANT: Look at the picture above. Its our library. Its in under heavy disrepair. How Am I supposed to study. No wonder I failed the Math, Physics, and Chemistry tests.

Saturday Stories

2008-10-18T18:18:00.002+08:00

Saturday (I even go to school on Sats)

Today was nothing but Indonesian. Even so the teacher told us to write a short story. She set the theme of the short story to 'People's life'. Writing is just one of my favorite hobbies to reading. I got hyped up and will get so immersed in what I write. So I wrote my short story and reread it grimly 'coz it looked more like a recount. F*ck it.

Indonesian was 3 periods long (do the Math=45 minX3). But after Indonesian was recess and after that was religious education (or Theology). Except that the teacher was a teacher as well as Vice Headmaster simultaneously. So as usual he's busy. Which means its free period. Can you imagine 2 periods of pure class chaos. It was fun.

Because the teachers were having a meeting, the students were dismissed earlier. At least I got a chance to gatecrash Grandpa's alumni party.

So I only studied for 3 periods long.

P.S.-As I write this blog I am listening to The Streets "When You Wasn't Famous"

Friday booboos!

2008-10-17T17:39:00.007+08:00

Friday,

I had to come to school early today 'coz the school along with the student board decided to have another Friday Preach. This was the second Friday Preach. On Friday Preaches, the whole students gather at the basketball field and sit facing a religious preacher while he...well...preach. Today's subject is about the three curses god give to those who insult their teachers. I personally disagree. I am a person who have faith in my religion but also have faith in the freedom to say anything.
After the preach was Biology. We discussed Monera critters and I had to explain the differrence between a bacteria and amoeba. It was fine except I didn't explained clearly and the teacher, she didn't hear me say the Whittaker's Kingdom classificaion.
Next was civics, a subject about the structure of politics and the likes. We had to create 5 questions and the best will be chosen for the upcoming mid-semester test.

After 15 min of recess was General Mathematics. It was the long awaited Math test. The teacher handed out the question sheets and we were told to explain the solution in another sheet. Thank god I got through rational fractions and root forms just fine.

Whoa!

2008-10-16T15:40:00.003+08:00

Thursday,

Thursdays' starts with Social Study. Today's social study was just a period of presenting a group work the teacher set. We went to the multimedia room as some group had their presentation using powerpoint.
Up next was Cambridge Physics.

After 15 minutes of recess, twas a period (45 min) of history. History is very boring as usual. What the teacher explained to us what's right there in the book so I really do feel that the history lessons are a waste right now. Next up was Cambridge English (or ESL), the teacher comfort us all after the disturbing event during Cambridge Physics.

The last period was General Physics. 2 period of exercises on acceleration and that's it.

Wild!!!

2008-10-15T15:45:00.004+08:00

Wednesday,

Today's chemistry test was cancelled (or postponed). Apparently the whole class practically begged the teacher to call off the test 'cause he didn't announced today's test beforehand. So the 2 lesson period was quite an enjoyable affair as I finally understand what Chemistry tables are (I hardly understood anything these days). Physical education was a free period as our physed teacher went to either Yogyakarta or Bali for the 2008 Asian Beach Games .

Cambridge Math (one period after a 15 minute recess) was a 'dozing' affair. Our Math teacher is so relaxed and 'pure' while teaching us that most of us are yawning all the time. It takes an effort not to fall asleep during his class. It is amazing that he left retirement to teach again. Not only that, he taught Math in English at a speed of light (to some of my classmates at least).

One period of Music was replaced by counselling. Nothing special. The day ended with a very brief Music class where the whole class was turned into an orchestra of our National Anthem. It resulted in me not wanting to hear 'Indonesia Raya' ever again.

Cancelled!

2008-10-14T15:48:00.002+08:00

Tuesday,

The Math test today was postponed until Friday. To my relief. Tuesdays started with Economics. The teacher explained 'bout markets and financial graphs. She also preached about the upcoming mid-semester tests. Up next was 45 minutes of English. We were told to get into groups and staged a drama and should be prepared in two weeks.

After 15 minutes of recess, it was Cambridge Chemistry. Nothing special as the teacher only assigned us exercises. To be completed Thursday. When the bell rang signalling the end of Chemistry, it was Math. When the Math teacher walked in he decided to postponed the test to Friday, to our relief. The 90 minute lesson was dedicated for quadratic equations instead.

After another 15 min of recess, the (school)day ended with a two period of Japanese. Today's Japanese class was nothing but playing some Hiragana Snaps.

Whatta day! As I went home I had to finish my Music homework, prepare for the Chemistry test tomorrow and write a play in English! But I blog in English.

Mixed Monday

2008-10-13T16:46:00.004+08:00

Monday,

First up was school assembly and flag raising ceremony. The X1s carried out the flag to the pole during the ceremony. Nothing special about school assembly. After the assembly we went back to class, dreading what's next, the Biology evaluation test. When the Biology teacher came she didn't give any opportunity to let us just open our books once more before the evaluation. Thank god I studied last night. Therefore the evaluation wasn't too difficult. But I still wasn't sure whether I nailed it.

After recess (15 min) twas Indonesian Language. Had to write a paragraph w/ metaphor. I wrote a heartbroken story. I've always wanted to be an author. Then it was English. Didn't really pay attention to the English teacher as I was getting bored by this point.

The day ended w/ a gay Geography lesson. Had to memorize 4 theories concerning the creation of the Solar System. NONE of the theories were actual facts about how the Universe were made. AND we had to memorize them.

After school I stopped by a photo studio to get my close up pic taken for the school report. How depressing. Now its time to focus on Math test the next day.

Gritting teeths

2008-10-12T17:19:00.000+08:00

Dear Blog,

Tomorrow is Monday. All day I've been trying to study math and biology but instead I've been falling asleep. Tonight is CSI Supreme Sunday. The mid-semester examination is less than 8 days away and I haven't done any hardcore studying.

The Biology evaluation test is tomorrow. That's no problem, but the next day (Tuesday) is the math evaluation and I'm extremely nervous as I understand 1/8 of what Logarithm these days.

Hope I'll pass these examinations and pull meself together.

Tommorrow is...

2008-10-12T12:03:00.000+08:00

Dear blog,

Today I created a blog. It wouldn't contain any opinion-ish or criticism. This blog is limited to my daily school life. My school is under a so-called internationalisation. It is the BEST school, whether its the infrastructure or the students' opportunities, for hundreds of miles radius. It is located in Banjarmasin, Southern Borneo. It is considered to be an elite school.

This blog is a diary of a student in an envied school.