Starchild: Malaysian children celebrate teachers with love and gratitude

The Star

19-05-2025

It is Teachers Day today and Starchild would like to thank our teachers for all their hard work in helping students learn and grow.
Whether it is reading, writing or counting, our teachers guide us every step of the way.
Bethany Wang Qi Syuen, 10 Teachers don't just teach from books – they also teach us how to be good friends, solve problems and believe in ourselves. They cheer us on when we try something new and encourage us when we feel like giving up. That is what makes them so special.
On Teachers Day, many students write thank-you cards, sing songs, or give small gifts like flowers, bookmarks or handmade crafts.
It is not about how big the gift is – it is the thought that counts. Just saying, 'Thank you, teacher,' can make their day.
You can also show appreciation by being a good student. Listen in class, try your best, and be respectful. That's one of the best gifts you can give your teacher every day.
This Teachers Day, think about how your teacher has helped you. Did they help you read your first storybook?
Teach you how to add and subtract? Or maybe they helped you make a new friend when you were shy?
Here are the letters from Starchild readers on the topic, Teachers Day. Starchild will run the second batch of letters next week.
'My class teacher Ms Gong is petite and very strict. She encourages us to be brave to try new activities and not shy away from participating in school events.
'In class she often tells us stories, including some stories about her childhood. She cares very much about cleanliness; we are required to clean our classroom, keep our desk tidy and trim our nails, which she checks with weekly spot checks. Ms Gong is a dedicated teacher. I wish her and all my school teachers a Happy Teachers Day,' says Bethany Wang Qi Syuen, 10.
Angely Sekar, 6
Six-year-old Angely Sekar enjoys learning, thanks to the fun and caring approach of her kindergarten teachers. 'You play games (with us) to help me read.'
Jeff Chong Yi Fan, 6
'My teacher teaches and plays with me everyday,' writes Jeff Chong Yi Fan, six.
Egan Liau Minson, 6
Egan Liau Minson, six, looks up to his teacher for making learning exciting and inspiring. 'You help me grow up. I love to learn science with you.'
Daniel Harraz, 6 'My teacher loves me,' says Amber Ng Enn Yu, six.
For six-year-old Daniel Harraz, learning doesn't just happen in the classroom – it continues outdoors.
'We play and learn on the playground. We have races and they are fun.'
ITEM: Recently, a very sad thing happened on a highway in Perak.
A baby elephant was knocked down by a lorry while trying to cross the road.
The mother elephant's desperate attempts to save her calf included trying to push the lorry off the calf's body.
Many people who saw the video were heartbroken.
This incident made many Malaysians realise that we need to make our roads safer for wild animals like elephants, tapirs and tigers – especially roads that go through forests.
Wildlife crossings (like special bridges or tunnels for animals), speed bumps, and clear signboards can help save animals' lives.
We want to hear your ideas. Imagine you are an engineer, artist or inventor.
How would you make Malaysian roads safer for animals?
Maybe you can design a tunnel just for elephants, colourful signboards with animal pictures to warn drivers, or even animal traffic lights.
Find the hidden words!
Be creative and show us how we can share our roads with wildlife in a safe way.
Let's work together to protect our precious animals. Your drawings might inspire real changes!
Email your contributions to [e-mail] by May 30. Please put 'STARCHILD: Protecting Wildlife on Our Roads' in the subject line of your email.
Scanned drawings should be in jpeg format, with a resolution of 200dpi. Your contributions must carry your full name, age (open to children aged 12 and below only), gender, phone contact, and address. Instead of handwritten letters, please type out your letters.