All About Your Child

2008 is a leap year, with 366 days instead of the usual 365 days.

It was the ancient Egyptians who first figured out that the solar year and the man-made calendar year didn’t always match up.

That’s because it actually takes the Earth a little longer than a year to travel around the Sun — 365 days, 5 hours, 48 minutes, and 46 seconds, to be exact.

Therefore, as the hours accumulated over the centures, an extra day was occasionally added to the calendar, and over time the practice became more or less official.

It was the Romans who first designated February 29 as leap day. Later, a more precise formula (still in use today) was adopted in the 16th century when the Gregorian calendar fine-tuned the calculations to include a leap day in years only divisible by four, i.e., 2008, 2012.

Another stipulation ruled that no year divisible by 100 would have a leap year, except if it was divisible by 400. Thus, 1900 was not a leap year … but 2000 was! Go figure.

Thankfully, all this intricate plotting will continue to keep us in tune with the seasons over the next several thousand years.

Born on a Leap Day?

According to astrologers, those born under the sign of Pisces on February 29 have unusual talents and personalities reflecting their special status.

Most have to wait every four years to “officially” observe their birthdays, but leap year babies typically choose either February 28 or March 1 to celebrate in years that aren’t leap years.

Poor babies, they got to wait for every 4 years before they can celebrate on their actual day.

Is your baby born on Leap Day? If so, Happy Birthday kid!!! May you enjoy your day to the fullest or you’ve got to wait for another 4 years.

Not very happy today after fetching Keatkeat from school. In fact, its not just myself, it was every other parents in Keatkeat’s class too. Everyone received a letter saying that the school is introducing reading as part of the cirriculum. Every child had to buy 4 English books and 4 Chinese books. We do not get to choose the books. The school has already decided on the 8 books. Total cost? S$90.00!

All the parents took a close look at the sample of the books. They are no different from the usual story books which we could easily get at S$5 from neighbouring bookshops. Please don’t tell me that there is a special teacher employed just for this reading session. ‘Cos there isn’t! So why are we paying so much for just 8 simple books?

Many parents who are having financial difficulties, went to talk to the principal, but the answer was, “I am sorry, this is compulsory. Anyway, your child get to keep the books at the end of the sessions. There is no exceptions, every student must get them.”

All the unsatisfied parents were mumbling as they leave the principal room. Why do we have to pay that much!? I would rather they follow what my secondary school used to do- give the parents the names of the books. The parents go get it themselves. There are many of us who are members of different bookshops, hence with our discount cards, we definitely can get the books at a cheaper rate.

Are we too stingy over the S$90.00 or are we really being ripped off over these 8 books?