Newsletter
6th July
2007
Headlines
For This Week
News
From Principal
-
Follow-Up On The Results Of Annual Parent Satisfaction Survey
-
Swimwear 2007/8
News
From Secondary
-
Graduation Awards Evening
-
Music, Music
-
UKMT Junior Maths Challenge, 27th April 2007
-
Year 10 Parent Teacher
Conference
-
Smart Rangers Book
News
From Primary
-
Year
6 Assembly
-
Year 6 “Ball”
Parent,
Teacher and Friends of GIS
-
Second Hand Book
-
Donation :
Announcement
-
Book
NEWS
FROM PRINCIPAL
Dear Parents,
RE: FOLLOW-UP ON THE RESULTS OF
ANNUAL PARENT SATISFACTION SURVEY
Each year, we ask
parents to assist us by completing an Annual Parent Satisfaction Survey. The
results of the survey were published several weeks ago in the weekly
newsletter. Some parents have asked what happens to these results and how do
they help the school improve its services.
The returns from
the online survey are automatically and independently collated and sorted by
the survey software and the results and parent comments are then made available
to the school. The results and comments are carefully reviewed by the School’s
Senior Management Team, the Primary and Secondary Management Teams and by the
Management from the
Each of these
groups analyses the results in order to identify areas of strength and weakness
and to determine areas that will form part of the schools future development
plans.
This process has
now been completed for the recent 2007 survey. The results of this may be of
interest to parents.
Overall Satisfaction
The annual survey
has taken place since 2001. It is very encouraging to note that all areas of
school life, without exception, have shown increasing levels of satisfaction
over the past seven years. The 2007 survey shows that overall the satisfaction
levels with the various aspects of school life are very high. With the
exception of Careers Education (72% satisfaction) and Levels of Homework (79%
satisfaction) all areas received over 80% satisfaction levels, with 15 areas
receiving a satisfaction level of over 90%.
Major Areas of
Satisfaction & Improvements
All teams that
analysed the results were very pleased to note that respondents to the
statement, “My child
enjoys school”, showed a
95% satisfaction level. The most basic of questions is perhaps the most
important as children need to be happy and enjoy school in order to be highly
motivated and progress. This is reflected in the very high level of
satisfaction (93%) with the schools’ academic results. Similarly, high
levels of satisfaction also exist with the leadership of the school.
Satisfaction with the leadership of the Principal and Heads of School is at the
94% and 95% mark.
The 2007 survey
showed a significant improvement in satisfaction levels of areas that over the
past few years have been targeted by the school for improvement. These are:
Areas of
From the survey,
we have noted that parents have provided feedback on a few areas of which we
are indeed looking into for improvement in the school’s future development over
the two years.
Some parents may
not have been clear on the provision of Careers Education.
To clarify, Careers Education affects only those students in the Secondary
level of the school and the survey results indicate that parents of younger
children are not fully aware of the careers education that takes place at the
higher levels. One of the areas for future development is to strengthen Careers
Education and publicise the programme
more widely to parents, as part of improving communication. Parents with
particular career education needs for their child are welcome to contact the
school for assistance.
Whilst 79% of
parents thought the amount of homework was at the correct level, the remainder
of respondents were fairly evenly split between wanting more homework and
wanting less homework. On analysis, it is concluded that in general the level
of homework given to students is appropriate, and the achievement of excellent
academic results support this. We will continue to monitor this feedback in our
academic and curriculum review.
Another area we
plan to look into is co-curricular
activities (CCA). While
we have more than 81% satisfaction in CCA questionnaires, we have written
feedback that there are instances when such activities have not run as smoothly
as we would like, such as demand for popular activities, last-minute changes
which are unavoidable. We will look into these feedback
to endeavour to minimise
inconveniences to parents and students.
Thank You
Our school is not
complacent about the very good levels of satisfaction and will continue to
target areas for improvement in its future development plans. These will
include:
I would like to
thank all of you who took the time to complete the survey on-line
questionnaire. We assure you that your time and feedback are valued by us as we
continue our efforts to improve the school, facilities and services to our
parents and students.
Sincerely,
RAY DAVIS
Principal
Swimwear 2007/8
From
September 2007, all students taking part in swimming activities at the school
will be required to wear
regulation GIS swimwear. The swimwear has been specially designed by Arena and
will be available for purchase at the beginning of the new school year. There
will be a short grace period at the beginning of the school year to enable
students to purchase their swimwear but from a date to be announced all
students must possess the regulation GIS swimwear.
NEWS
FROM SECONDARY
Graduation Awards
Evening
For
students in Years 11 and 13, the final event of the school year, for many of
them the final event of their school careers, took place last Friday. After a
year dominated by examinations, it was an occasion for celebration,
congratulation - and relief! For many students, it will have been a happy
occasion tinged with sadness that this was their last time together as many
move on from the school to colleges and universities across the world.
All students in
Year 11 received their “Records of Achievement” and those in Year 13 received
an acknowledgement of their university
destinations. In addition, subject awards were made to students in both year
groups for excellent performance in individual subjects. Special awards were
made to students who had made exceptional contributions to the academic, social
and cultural life of the school. The recipients of the special awards were as
follows:
Principal’s Award
Gregory
Das
Manisha Rajaratnam
Head of Secondary
School’s Award
Rahimah Abdul Halim
Head of Sixth
Form’s Award
Christopher
Ho
Head of Year 11
Award
Yan Ruizhe
PTF Award
Ang
Wuay Ching
Council of
International School’s Award
Low
Jie Ying
Taylor’s Education
Group Award
Kee Hooi Jean
Congratulations to
all award winners and indeed to all our Year 11 and Year 13 students. They have
both been excellent year groups who not only deserve success in their
examinations but have also contributed greatly to the school community. They
are a credit to the school, their families and to themselves.
Music,
Music
Last
week saw two very different but equally enjoyable musical events. “
The secondary
school concert took place on Thursday and showcased the exceptional musical
talents of our students. An extremely varied programme of high quality terminated
in a wonderful
performance by the school choir, singing their hearts out for the last time
under the direction of Ms Krenca. It was a fitting tribute to Sue Krenca and
the enormous progress that the musical life of the school has made under her
leadership over the past six year.
Head of Secondary
UKMT Junior Maths Challenge, 27th
April 2007
The UKMT Junior Maths
Competition was held earlier this term and the results have recently been
released. Our students in Years 7 and 8 who took part did exceptionally
well. Of the 134 students who entered the competition, 23
achieved Gold, 46 Silver and 29 Bronze. Three students qualified for the Junior
Maths Olympiad. The student with the highest score
was Wen Han Yap of 8L. Congratulations to all
those who took part!
Kwan Seto
Mathematics Faculty
Year 10 Parent
Teacher Conference
A reminder to all that the Year 10 PTC will take place between 2.45pm to
4.45pm on Wednesday, July 11th in the Sports Hall. A letter will be coming home on Monday
for you and your son/daughter to decide which teachers you would like to see.
Deputy Head(Pastoral)
Smart Rangers Book
The 2nd hand book sale held last term and during
Walk The World raised a grand total of RM2050. The
total fund has now been sent to S.T.O.P (Save our Turtles Outreach Program), Universiti
To everyone
who donated books or who helped to organize the sales, a big “Thank You”. The
books that were left have been taken to various Children’s Homes during
Discovery Week. Next year, Smart Rangers will be increasing their recycling
efforts and looking forward to your continued support.
L. Wilson
& Ms. Sheila
On 27th June, the Grand Hall was a tense, yet exciting place to be,
as 5 bands waited nervously back stage to compete for a studio recording
session. There was a top class judging panel, which included JD, a guitarist
from the rock band ‘Pop Shuvit,’
Miss Sheppard
Head of Music
NEWS FROM THE HEAD OF PRIMARY
Reminders for your diary :
|
Year 6 Parents |
Thursday 12 July (evening) |
Year 6 Assembly Details below |
|
All Parents |
Friday 13 July |
Reports and Class Lists for 2007/2008 issued |
|
Year 6 Parents |
Friday 13 July |
Year 6 ‘Ball’ Details below |
Advance Warning for your diary :
|
All Parents |
Monday 16 July |
‘Moving-up day’ Details in next week’s newsletter |
|
All Parents |
Tuesday 17 July |
End of Term |
PRIMARY CONCERT
On
Wednesday, over 300 children from Year 1 to Year 6 performed in this year’s
Primary Concert. Acts ranging from choirs to individual solo items entertained
the audience in and around the Grand Hall. It was a magnificent event which
impressed everyone with the quality, the variety and the children’s confidence.
Thank you so much to the hundreds of parents who supported the event, but a
very special thank you to the many teachers who assisted
OTHER
EVENTS
At the
time of writing, Year 2 are about to depart for their trip to Port Dickson and
by the time you read the Newsletter, Year 5’s Micro Society Sale will have
taken place. As part of their fund raising for needy
local causes, Year 5 have already raised over RM 6,000 from their cake sales.
Next week, I hope to be able to report the final total raised.
Head of
Primary
REMINDER ABOUT
FORTHCOMING YEAR 6 EVENTS :
Year 6 Assembly
"Artemis
Fowl"
Venue "The Grand Hall."
Thursday, 12thJuly
- 6.30pm.
This year, the Year 6 students are
performing a play based on the novel "Artemis Fowl" by Eoin Colfer, one of the books on
their reading list. It is an adaptation with some innovative changes which
should keep the audience both amused and intrigued as to the outcome. We look
forward to seeing you in the audience!
Year 6
teachers
Year 6 ‘Ball’
This Year's
Ball for Year 6 students will take place on Friday, 13th July between 5.30pm to 7.30pm. Formal attire is required.
More detailed information will follow with the Year 6 students within the next
few days.
Steve Brown
Year 6
Coordinator
PARENT, TEACHER & FRIENDS OF
GIS
Second Hand Book
A reminder for all
parents that there will be the usual second hand book sale at the end of
school year. It will be on Thursday, 12th and Friday, 13th July in the
Donation :
Families who
will be leaving GIS this end of term are welcome to donate their children’s
school uniform to PTF anytime after the end of the term. School uniforms can be
handed over to Mr.
PTF Communications
sub-committee
ANNOUNCEMENT
Booksale Schedule for Next
Academic Year (Sept 2007 – July 2008)
* Please see attached booksale
schedule