Checklist...barang keperluan asrama

Ramai yang bertanya apa yang perlu dibawa bila anak dapat tawaran belajar di sekolah berasrama. Biasanya sekolah akan menyediakan senarai barang2 yang perlu  dibawa dan barang2 yang dilarang sama sekali untuk dibawa ke asrama. Oleh kerana kami berdua pernah duduk di asrama lebih kurang 30 tahun dahulu dan ketiga2 anak kami tinggal di asrama, sedikit sebanyak ada pengalaman apa yang perlu dibawa.

Biasanya baju uniform ditetapkan oleh pihak sekolah sekiranya berbeza dari uniform sekolah2 kerajaan. Oleh kerana ketiga2 anak kami bersekolah di sekolah tahfiz swasta atau tahfiz kerajaan negeri, uniform mereka biasanya jubah. Kakak dengan jubah berwarna purple gelap dan setelah bergelar hafizah perlu memakai jubah biru turquoise, Abang pula jubah kelabu dan kopiah tahfiz manakala Adik dengan jubah putih, serban putih dan kain rida hijau. Seronok melihat mereka ke sekolah berjubah.

Berbalik kepada senarai barang2 yang perlu dibawa, mengikut pengalaman kami dengan tiga sekolah yang berlainan. Mungkin di SBP, MRSM atau sekolah2 lain sebahagian daripada barang2 yang tersenarai tidak diperlukan. Terpulanglah kepada kebijaksanaan masing2 membuat keputusan semasa membeli belah. Senarai ini pun dibuat atas permintaan sepupu yang anaknya menerima tawaran ke MRSM Parit dan ada yang meminta dikongsi untuk rujukan masa akan datang.

1.    Quran, buku solat sunat, buku solat yg ada zikir lepas solat, mathurat

2.      Telekung (untukperempuan), baju solat yang sesuai (untuk lelaki) and Sejadah
3.       Penyapu and sodok sampah
4.    Tong sampah and plastic biru

      5.       Kain buruk dan axion (nak cuci almari and tingkap etc)
6.       Mop and ubat lantai (kalau bilik kotor masa mendaftar)
7.       Plastik sampah hitam, kalau2 banyak sampah yang ditinggalkan pelajar2 senior 
8.       Feather duster
9.       Alas kaki
10.   Spray nyamuk
11.   Kertas lapik almari
12.   Alarm clock
13.   Torch light
14.   Cermin muka
15.   Air Freshener untuk almari
16.   Ubat gegat
17.   Tempat sangkut yang boleh lekat tu kalau nak sangkut apa2 dlm almari ker
18.   Padlock
19.   Key chain nak letak kunci –satu kunci untuk anak simpan, satu lagi lekat di bawah katil atau tempat tersembunyi dengan selotep, kalau kunci hilang ada spare, satu kita simpan dalam wallet. Kadang2 bila kunci hilang, kita tak perlu ke sekolah sebab ada kunci spare bawah katil :-) 
20.   Engsel – ikut alamari jenis macamana, kalau kayu boleh gunakan engsel, kalau besi biasanya dah tersedia
21.   Hammer and paku (paku biasa and paku dinding) atau tool box nak pasang engsel kalau takde 
22.   Ubat2 – ambik kat klinik yang kita dah biasa bawak anak untuk dapatkan rawatan. (ubat demam, selsema, batuk, sakit perut/cirit, lozenges ) – letak dlm satu bag or bekas
23.   Lain2 ubat – plaster, kapas, minyak mestika, minyak gamat, vicks, minyak kapak ker apa2lah yang dia biasa pakai (kalau budak lelaki elok bawak deep heat takut terseliuh masa riadah)
24.   Kain batik / kain pelekat
25.   Baju biasa untuk pegi prep, baju sukan, baju tidur. Kalau lelaki elok beli beberapa helai pagoda, lebih selesa kalau bilik panas dan perempuan tudung yang bersesuaian
26.   Pad, panty liner untuk perempuan
27.   Tisu paket kecik (selalunya minggu pertama masih homesick :-)
28.   Barang Katil – Cadar, Bantal and Selimut 2 set
29.   Towel 2 helai
30.   Toiletries (berus gigi, ubat gigi, sabun, shampoo, facial wash etc) and baldi kecik untuk letak perkakas mandi
31.   Barang basuh kain – Baldi, sabun basuh, sepit and hanger
32.   Bekas Plastik nak letak barang2 make up (bedak, deodorant, perfume, sikat etc) dalam almari kalau tidak bersepah
33.   Kepit kuku, cotton bud, sewing kit
34.   Beg sekolah and stationeries (calculator and oxford pencil box for maths)
35.   Kasut sekolah, kasut sukan, kasut pegi prep,sliper asadi dan slipper toilet
36.    Mug, sudu garpu, bekas tupperware utnuk simpan makanan atau biskut
37.   Makanan– mineral water elok beli mungkin sekolah tak ada water cooler
38.   Wallet, Photostat IC and syilings/phone card seperti italk untuk buat panggilan talian hayat!
39.   Boleh lah nak bawak satu family photo kalau2 rindu pada keluarga

      40. Kalau nak buat stiker nama pun boleh utnuk dilekat pada barang2 tertentu untuk mengelakkan dari tertukar

Setengah2 sekolah membenarkan pelajar membawa seterika dan kettle tetapi ada sekolah yang menyediakan bilik gosok dan pantry. Biasanya setelah mendaftar barulah pelajar dimaklumkan samada mereka boleh membawa barangan elektrik ke sekolah. Barang2 larangan termasuklah smartphone, MP3, MP4 dan barang2 tajam seperti pisau. Di MRSM, pelajar dibenarkan membawa handphone yang basic. 

Barang2 yang siap dikemas

Barang2 Adik ke SBI

Ada sekolah yang menyediakan bilik asrama dan bukan dometri seperti MTS, satu bilik 8 orang (4 katil double decker) dan SBI juga 8 orang (4 katil single dan 2 double decker). IQKL   boleh memuatkan 12 orang sebilik dengan katil single. Ada ibubapa yang bermurah hati menyediakan tikar getah atau tikar buluh agar anak2 lebih selesa. Ada yang membawa meja jepun pelbagai guna, untuk makan, buat kerja sekolah etc dan ada yang membawa rak buku, rak tuala, rak kasut dan sebagainya. Terpulanglah kepada pengurusan sekolah dan keadaan sekolah yang mengizinkan barang2 tersebut dibawa. Apa yang penting, apa yang kita bekalkan pada anak2 biarlah menjadi manfaat kepada semua rakan2 dibiliknya dan bukan untuk anak kita seorang. Bawalah barang yang anak kita rasakan perlu dan bincang dengan mereka apa yang perlu dibeli. Sebaik2nya jangan bawa barangan berjenama walaupun kita mampu menyediakan untuk mereka kerana kita tidak mahu ada perbezaan di antara anak kita dengan anak2 yang ibubapa mereka kurang berkemampuan. Sekiranya kita mampu, tiada salah membantu rakan2 anak kita yang kekurangan. In sha Allah, segala sedekah yang kita buat untuk anak2 yang mencari ilmu Allah swt akan menjadi amal jariah untuk bekalan kita di akhirat nanti.

No more primary school goers...

2  January 2013, first day at school for primary school students, standard 1 to standard 6 ..... and it suddenly struck us that we have no one going to that primary school anymore. It felt weird and awkward passing by the school, busy with cars and parents... and we are not part of that chapter anymore. Ever since Thaqif checks into secondary school, the primary school period is now over.

We missed those hectic December month.... going to the school bookshop to get the list of books and items to prepare for the new school year, buying the white, peach and blue shirts, blue long pants, white baju melayu and green or red samping...and those first day registration, meeting the class teachers and paying the fees...sometimes on the 3^rd floor, and sometimes the 4^th floor!!

All the 3 kids went to Sekolah Kebangsaan Taman Setia (SKTS) in the morning and Sekolah Agama Rakyat (SAR) Madrasah Al-Ittihad in the afternoon where both the schools are nearby the house, 300 meters away, within walking distance and is safe for riding bicycle. Dini started in 2001, Faiz in 2004 and Thaqif in 2007, or since 2001 until 2012, a total of 11 years engaged in the primary school world as parents and the challenges and experiences have certainly been valuable and full of colours, alhamdulillah.

We thought Sekolah Kebangsaan is still the best primary education available in the country although being still exam centric and equally important for Muslim students is the Sekolah Agama, which only 30% of Malaysian parents bothered to send their kids to... due to various reasons. Unfortunately, SAR does not get equal resources and emphasis from the Government and normally becoming the victims of politics. However, we have different views when it comes to secondary education, based on our personal exposures, experiences and aspirations. It is interesting to note that although Selangor has Sekolah Agama Rakyat for primary students by JAIS, Kelantan does not have similar system for primary but the emphasis was rather for secondary.

What is more important is what we can do to help both the national and religious schools to deliver the objectives of providing education to the kids and that is where active involvement in PIBG, as much as you can, is very-very important. I believe this is a key difference between Sekolah Kebangsaan and Sekolah Cina; poor attendance to PIBG meetings and poor participation from parents can be a hindrance for progress and excellence. There must also be enough positive and balance collaboration between the teachers and parents. It depends on how the people and the leaders navigate the tricky course but the key thing is to take part in the process and we salute those who volunteer to be AJK PIBG for an honest and noble reason. It’s not the magnitude of your contribution that is most important but the readiness to contribute is what matters.

We will certainly miss the PIBG meetings and all the activities like the sports day, hari kantin, solat hajat, hari ihitifal, hari anugerah kecemerlangan and hari report card...and of course the night tuitions twice a week and mengaji twice a week....gonna have to do something else now to occupy the time.

Hari Ihtifal Dini in 2007

Abah and Dini at one of the school's ceremony

We made a point in the past that we will arrange for a trip for the kids before they leave school and we would normally made the arrangements with the class teacher plus selected parents whom we think can help, early in the school term. Kakak’s class went to Eagle Ranch in PD, Faiz’s class went to Ricardo Camp also in PD and Adik’s class went to Gambang Waterpark in Kuantan... a trip for them to remember and cherish their friendship for the past 6 years. I hope this activity will still be continued with participation from more parents.

Equally satisfying is the episode when we collaborated with the community to implement a one way traffic system around the school in 2010, which is still in operation until today. Alhamdulillah, at least something can continue to benefit the schools and the community for as long as the system is suitable.

Dini's trip to Eagle Ranch in 2006

Dini's friends

Faiz's trip to Riccardo Camp in PD in 2009

Water confidence

Flying Fox

6 Geliga 2009

We met many beautiful people, students, parents and teachers. We would like to thank all the teachers, both in Sekolah Kebangsaan and Sekolah Agama plus the tuition teachers and the guru Quran, who have been involved in educating and teaching our children.....and we pray that Allah the Al Mighty will reward you and your family your all the efforts, patience, honesty, dedication and commitment.

We have to move on into a new episode in life and there will be new challenges waiting for us just around the corner. We pray that Allah will continue to guide and protect us throughout this uncharted journey, in sha Allah.

Thaqif First Challenging Week @SBI (Sekolah Bina Insan)

It's been almost 10 days now since Thaqif left home to embark on his new journey of life. The first week seems quite a challenge for a boy who has been at home the last two months of the school holidays and been treated like a King! After going through such comfortable life, the drastic switch took a toll on him! All of a sudden, the strict rules of getting up as early as 4.30am , having to make your bed every morning, queue for the bathroom, walking at least one km to and fro between the mosque and the hostel 4 times a day and washing your own clothes are just too much for him to swallow! He called and cried barely 2 hours after we left him on his first day (day 1). Ibu was shocked to receive a call from Adik since she knew all the public phones at the hostel use italk and we did not get for him the italk card. We only spare him some coins for the public phones. He told Ibu that he called from the mosque and we thought that he was smart enough to find a public phone take takes coins to contact us!

The next day (day 2) after maghrib he called again and Ibu immediately recognised the number! Again, the same story being repeated. Adik wanted to come back home, he did not like hostel lifestyle, too strict and too many rules you have to follow. The orientation week was just too hectic that he did not have the time to rest and freshen up! The distance from the hostel to the mosque is just too far and too much for him to take. But we managed to calm him down, gave words of encouragement and asked him to take things easy and remain compose. We told him that it is normal for ta'aruf week (orientation) to feel tired and exhausted. After all, it was only for a week and his nightmare will end soon. After listening to all his woes, Ibu could not contain herself and finally we decided to make the trip to Bukit Seri Putra that very night, and it was only his second day in SBI!

When we arrived, they have just finished solat isya'. Abah parked the car outside the mosque and waited for him to come out. As usual, Adik was among the last to come out and he had a shock of his life to see us. When we saw him, he looked just fine with his friends around, no crybaby face or drama queen attitude.  Since they have to attend a briefing at the hall, we only talked to him for couple of minutes. Abah told him to be brave and stop complaining. After all, he gets the best of everything compare to Kakak and Abang and should be thankful. He should understand how tough it was for us to find the right school for him since he was practically involved in the process. I think he knows that and doesn't have any intention to quit from SBI. He is just feeling homesick after being in his comfortzone for so long.

The next day (day 3) after solat asar, we received an sms "Bu Adik sakit demam". It was from the same phone number that he called the last two days and Ibu started wondering how advance public phones nowadays. So, Ibu out of curiousity responded to the text message "Adik kat mana?" and the replied received "Kat mesjid". Ibu immediately called the number and somebody answered the call. It was Budin, a second year student in KUIS. Budin is the son of YB Manik Urai who happened to be Tok Abah's friend and we met him during registration day. So, Adik has been using Abang Budin's handphone to make calls when he met Budin at the mosque during prayers. Well, Adik is smarter than we thought he is :-) We asked Budin to check on Adik and let us know if the fever got worse. That night he called again and told us that he felt better after taking panadols. He sounded excited when he told us that Ustaz Don conducted a session in the morning as part of the ta'aruf programme.  Since Budin was leaving for Kelantan the next day, Adik told us that he won't be calling us until we meet on saturday. So no updates for day 4 and day 5.

Iman Muda Thaqif :-)

Parents outside the hostels

Visting time

On Saturday #KL112, Hari Kebangkitan Rakyat (day 6), we left home early, had breakfast at the rest area Serdang and reached KUIS around 10.30am. Many cars already parked outside the hostels. Adik was waiting for us at the balcony and the moment he saw us, he ran down the stairs to meet us. He looked happy and jovial with his "serban" on and started telling us his experience after a week at SBI. He wanted to spend time at home and since we have until 6pm, we decided to take him back home. An action we regretted later as he was reluctant to return back to school and started reciting the same old story again! . We had difficulties convincing him that life will be much better next week since he will start with his daily routine, attending classes, prep with more free time to rest and do all the errands. He finally succumbed to our request to return him back to school.

The next day (day 7), after picking Faiz and his friends from IQKL for a short break at home, we went to SBI again, just to be sure that Thaqif is ok. He was happy to see us and we went out for a while to get him some pizzas for his roomates and italk. We stayed with him for about two hours before we left. This time he was in high spirit knowing that he can call us anytime with the italk. We hope that he will soon find his way around, get to know more friends and get used to the routine in SBI.

Looking forward to Thaqif second week in SBI, hoping for a better story as he continues his journey....

You can watch Thaqif aka "budak comel" on video during Minggu Taaruf at Sekolah Bina Insan KUIS facebook page!