Newsletter
9th
February 2007
NEWS
FROM THE PRINCIPAL
The
In an article on international education The Guardian newspaper in the
The Guardian, December 12th 2006
The
Best International Schools Around The World
“Neither the IBO or the Council of International Schools (CIS) which
accredits schools, publish league tables. The following list of the top
International and IB Schools across the world are based on a combination of
factors, such as exam results, school facilities and extra-curricular
activities offered, but it’s also based on word of mouth and those schools
recommended by expatriate teachers and parents.”
Tanglin
The
International
St. Paul’s School, Sao Paulo, Brazil
St. Christopher’s School, Bahrain
This achievement is very much in line with the School’s
‘To be acclaimed by the world-wide international education community as
a provider of the highest quality international education which
is specifically matched to the needs of our expatriate and local students.’
Annual Parent
Satisfaction Survey
Each year, the school
carries out a range of satisfaction surveys to help us improve our services to
you and your children. Results are analysed and areas
where improvements are needed are then targeted for development or improvement.
This year, to ensure impartiality and to provide anonymity, the survey will be
carried out by the
All parents who have
provided the school with their e-mail address will, on Friday 16th February, receive an
invitation to participate in the survey. I would be very grateful if you could
follow the link provided in the e-mail to participate in the survey. Your
response will assist the School to improve the services it provides for
students and their families. The survey will take approximately five minutes to
complete. You will be able to respond to the survey at any time until Friday 2nd
March 2007.
There are two
surveys, one for parents with children in the Primary School and one for
parents of children in the Secondary school. If you have children in both
sections of the school, you will receive two separate invitations. If you have
children in both Primary and Secondary please complete both survey forms. A full
analysis of the survey will be provided for parents when it becomes available.
If you have not
received an e-mailed invitation to participate in the Survey by Monday 26th
February, please contact parentsurvey@gardenschool.edu.my.
I thank you for your
assistance in helping to improve our services to you.
Ray
Davis
Principal
NEWS
FROM ADMISSIONS
Enrolment For September 2007
Do you plan to enrol a child at GIS from
September 2007? We encourage you to begin the application
process soon as places are limited in every Year group. Forms are
available at the Admissions Office and from our website at http://www.gardenschool.edu.my/subfolder/admissions/forms.htm
Karen Lim
Admissions Manager
NEWS FROM PRIMARY
Reminders for your
diary:
|
Years
3 and 4 Parents |
Tuesday 13/2 Morning |
Year 3 and 4 Sports Day Details were sent out this week |
|
Year 2 Parents |
Wednesday 14/2 08.15 |
Chinese New Year Assembly Details below |
|
Year 3 and 4 Parents |
Friday 16/2 08.00 |
Year 3 and 4 Sports Day
Presentation Assembly |
|
All Parents |
Monday 19/2 -Friday 23/2 |
School closed for Half-Term |
Advance
Warning for your diary:
|
All
Parents |
Monday 26/2 |
School resumes at the normal time |
|
All Parents |
Monday 5/3 – Friday 9/3 |
International Week |
|
KS2 Parents |
Tuesday 20/3 |
KS2 Swimming Gala Details after half-term |
|
All Parents |
Wednesday 21/3 and Thursday 22/3 |
Parent Teacher Conferences Details in March |
Year 4
Class Assemblies
This week it has been the turn of Year 4 to put on their class
assemblies this week and at the time of writing, I have been impressed by the
quality of these. As well as thanking teachers and students
for putting the Assemblies together, many thanks also to all parents who
supported their children by coming along this week.
Reminder : Year 3 and 4 Sports Day
We look forward to seeing parents and friends supporting their children
at Sports Day in the morning of Tuesday 13th February. On Friday 16th
February, there will be a special assembly at which medals will be awarded and
to which Year 3 & 4 parents are also invited.
Reminder : Chinese New Year Assembly
The Chinese New Year Assembly for parents of children in Year 2 will
take place on Wednesday
14th February. Parents of children in Year 2 are warmly invited to attend
this special Assembly which will take place in the Grand Hall at 8.15am.
Later in the day, Year 2 children will again perform their Assembly this
time for the whole Primary School. PLEASE NOTE that this Assembly is only for the
Primary School and I am sorry that we are unable to accommodate parents on this
occasion.
Children who wish to come to school on 14th February in appropriate
costume to help everyone celebrate the forthcoming Chinese New Year are welcome
to do so.
To add to the excitement, the Cafeteria will be putting on a themed
lunch menu.
Head of Primary
Recommended
Revision Guides and Practice Papers for Year 6
Though we have changed to the Cambridge International Achievement Tests,
the questions that the pupils will face are still very much the same, as any
children would experience while sitting the National Curriculum Test.
The Cambridge International Achievement Tests are based on the National
Curriculum for
I would particularly like to recommend the following books, which I have
successfully used in the past:
Revise Wise: KS2 National Tests: Revision Tips
(ReviseWise) ISBN-13: 978-0563543589
KS2 Maths: Study Book Pt. 1 & 2
by Richard Parsons Publishers: CGP ISBN-13: 978-1841460505
KS2 Science: Study Book by Richard
Parsons Publishers: CGP ISBN-13: 978-1841462509
KS2 English: Study Book Pt. 1 & 2
by Richard Parsons Publishers: CGP ISBN-13: 978-1841461502
KS2 English, Maths and Science (National Tests Practice Paper Folders) (Paperback)
Publisher: Letts Educational Ltd ISBN-13: 978-1843155195
Most of these books can be purchased through the school bookshop.
Veena Annies
ARR Coordinator
Year 1 visit
to
Year 1 children were transported back in time when they visited
An educational and fun time was had by all!
The Year 1 Teachers
Year 3 and Year 4
Sports Day
The
Year 3 and 4 Sports Day will take place on Tuesday, 13th February.
Each
child will take part in 9 different activities, which will be 3 running events, 3 jumping
events and 3 throwing events.
Sports
Day is a House-based competition where every child who participates gets points
for each event for their House.
To
raise the House profile and keep the maximum participation ethos, there will be
some changes this year.
There
will be a set of standards (see school notice boards) for each event with the
scoring as follows - participation
(1 point), bronze (2 points), silver (3 points) and gold (4 points).
An
overall certificate will be awarded to all competitors depending on points
scored – participation
(9-13 points), bronze (14-22 points), silver (23-31 points) and gold (32-36
points).
Students
will compete in their classes with the top three (1st, 2nd and 3rd)
receiving a ribbon for each event.
In
addition to every pupil receiving a certificate and the top 3 in each class
receiving a ribbon for each event, there will be a trophy for the top 3 boys
and girls overall (top points scorers) in Year 3 and Year 4.
Parents
are encouraged to watch safely from around the field.
To
celebrate achievements, the bronze, silver and gold certificate winners will be
announced, and six trophies for each Year group will be awarded in Friday’s
morning assembly 16th February.
Mr
Dale
Head
of Primary PE
NEWS
FROM THE HEAD OF SECONDARY
Year 11
Parent-Teacher Conference
This takes place on
Wednesday 14th February 2.45-4.45pm.
All Year 11 students
and their parents should attend. This is an important opportunity to discuss
with teachers the final important steps which are needed to ensure success in
the IGCSE examinations.
Robert
Lloyd
Head
of Secondary
Learning Assistant
Needed – Urgent
․ To work full (or almost
full) time in the Secondary school.
․ To start after Chinese New
Year holiday (or as soon as possible).
․ Attending subject
lessons and break times with a Year 9 boy.
․ Starting at 7:40am daily 5
days a week.
․ Experience not needed.
․ Flexibility, excellent
communication skills, a calm manner and positivity
essential.
The current assistant has done a wonderful job
but is resigning due to family changes.
Please contact parents for further details if you
are at all interested: 012-2261281
Lorna Prestage,
Head of Learning Support
Year 11
Reports
Year 11 students were given their mock exam grade reports yesterday
Thursday 8th February. By now you should have seen
these and discussed the reports with your son/daughter.
Please complete the reply slip to show that you have seen the reports and
return the form to you son/daughter’s Form Tutor by Monday 12th February. On Wednesday
14th February, you will have a chance to discuss your son/daughter’s
performance in their mock exams with their subject
teachers.
The Parent-Teachers Conference will begin at 2.45pm
Stephen Butlin,
Deputy Head, Curriculum
Year 11 – Careers Work Experience - 2007
Year 11 students have
been given a Work Experience presentation during their tutor period over the last
two weeks. The students were told about the benefits of doing a Work Experience
and were given some advice on how to find a placement.
Since the Work
Experience programme has been introduced to Year 11
it has proven to be a very successful, enjoyable and a worthwhile experience
for the students involved. This year, Work Experience will again take place
after the IGCSE exams from 19th– 28th June. The students will be
bringing home the following paper work:
3
sheets outlining the benefits of work experience
₪ A checklist to help them to stay organized during
this busy time
₪ A letter for parents
₪ A reply slip for parents to
return
If your son/daughter
has not received or has lost the above paper work, could you please tell
him/her to ask his/her Form Tutor for the relevant sheets.
Please take time to
read through all this information carefully with your son/daughter.
All reply slips must
be returned to the Form Tutor by Friday 16th February. If your child is unable
to participate in the work experience programme, then
we will require a letter to be handed in.
All Year 11 students
should now be actively looking for a placement. Once they have found a
placement, the Form Tutor will pass on the next bit of paperwork, an employer
detail form to be completed by the student and the employer, and an employer
booklet which is to be kept by the employer, as it informs them about the work
experience scheme, health and safety regulations and our expectations.
At
As they are now
beginning to make future study and career choices, we hope that this programme will be invaluable in giving them some experience
of an area of work they are interested in. If any parent would be able to
provide any of our students with a suitable placement I would be delighted to
hear from you. Please contact me at school by e-mail at sharma.v@gardenschool.edu.my or
call 62096888 ext 6150.
Thank you for your
support.
Ms V
Sharma
Careers
Advisor
Year 10 Careers
This term (5th Feb – 22nd Mar) all Year 10
students will be introduced to the careers software called Jiig-cal
Pathfinder 2. The programme enables students to
answer questions relating to their ability and preferences regarding their
skills. The programme will produce a profile for the
students with a list of suitable careers and a breakdown of information of
their top four suggested careers.
The profiles will be
saved by all pupils within their folders on the school computer system. At this
point I shall also be asking the students to fill in a pre work experience
questionnaire.
Please would you
spend some time with your child looking through the profile and discussing the
possible career choices that have been suggested? The students will be asked by
their tutors to look through the information saved, during Term 1 and Term 2 of
Year 11. This will be necessary for tutors to use with the students during
mentoring sessions in preparation for the Year 11 Work Experience in June
2008.
If your son/daughter
does not get a profile, it may be because they were absent or late for one of
the sessions that are to be held during the morning tutor time.
Your son/daughter can
get further careers advice from me if they come to see me in the careers office
(situated in the Head of Years office or in the teacher’s workroom on the 5th floor of the Arts
block). They are also able to access the Pathfinder 2 programme
at any time in the library.
If you would like any
more information about the profiles or about any other aspect of the careers programme at GIS please do not hesitate to contact me by
email at sharma.v@gardenschool.edu.my.
Mrs
V Sharma
Careers
Advisor
Learning To Learn
Within The Classroom
Learning to learn is
a keystone to the future success of the learners at
Doing more of the
same thing is argued to be less productive for learning than doing more of
something different. This is where the importance of learning styles comes in
to it’s own.
Each student, and for
that matter each individual, is unique in the experiences they bring to any
learning situation. What has gone before is fundamental to the success of how
young people develop their future knowledge, skills and understanding within a
secure and challenging
environment.
With so many
individuals to facilitate, it could be considered more difficult to meet every
student’s needs, however this would be a contradictory theory.
Research carried out
by psychologists and educational professionals during the 1970’s identify a
range of learning styles that incorporate senses. Learners can also fall into
categories of preferred learning styles. Neuro–Linguistic
Programming considers there are three main focuses, Visual, Auditory and
Kinesthetic. This can be described in its most simple terms as ‘learning by
seeing’, ‘learning through hearing’ and ‘learning by doing’.
In processing
information that heightens one or more senses allows the learner to retain
greater amount of information? It is considered that a person will innately
have one preferred learning style by which they retain the most information. It
is not unusual for a student to have more than one preferred learning style and
this increases the chance still further of effective learning.
A simple and easy way
to test this theory is to read a list of words from a page and try to recall them 30 seconds later. To increase your recall, you could
try reading the words and then visualize the words or items in your ‘mind’s
eye’ though you could find that you may need an alternative?
Now try reading each
word and visualizing it and at the same time, try touching your fingers with
your thumb, one at a time and a different finger for each word. Wait
30 seconds and try to recall the words. You may find that touching
the relevant finger could act as a physical prompt to improve your recall
abilities.
So how does this work
in the classroom?
Developing an
awareness of learning styles allows students access to autonomous learning and
the ability of learning how to learn which has become one of the 21st Century’s Key Skills in
a rapidly changing and uncertain world.
Staff
at GIS provide many opportunities in their best
practice that fosters confidence and competence
in making Learning to Learn accessible for each individual student on a daily
basis, across all Year groups and faculties by providing a variety of
activities in a challenging environment.
Michelle
Taylor
Gifted
and Talented Curriculum Co-ordinator
Memory and its
effects on learning
To allow learning and
recall to take place we all need to engage memory, albeit Immediate, Short Term or Long
Term memory. “Neurologists describe memory as learning that sticks”. Alistair
Smith: Accelerated Learning in Practice, Network Educational Press Ltd.
New information
begins by stimulating our Immediate Memory. This can also network links to both
the Short Term and Long Term memory. Memories are considered to be constructed
from neural pathways that work together in patterns that are forever changing
with each new experience or piece of information that occurs.
So how does it all
work?
When we first
encounter information, it filters into our Immediate Memory where thousands of
piece of information are stored for just a few seconds. When unfamiliar
information is held in ‘chunks’ without rehearsal or conscious attention for
more than 8 seconds, the information can be lost to the Short Term Memory.
Therefore, the use of rehearsal strategies can significantly increase
information retention to the Short Term Memory from the ‘inadequate’, Immediate
Memory.
To make memories
stick long term, a physical process of chemical reactions need to take place in
the brain which are associated with arousal and act like a memory fixative that
holds tight to the many pieces of information creating pathways through
emotions, personal belief systems and the perceived importance or reasons for
retaining the information.
Whether we realize it
or not the brain has a specific hierarchy of memory systems to depend on. These
are the natural ways our brain assigns significance to an experience.
Categorical or
Semantic Memory involves rehearsal, repetition of information and is a feature
of recall. It is said that adults and young learners have the ability to retain
7 plus or minus 2 pieces of information without chunking or categorizing
learning. (George Miller 1956)
Two other systems
that we commonly rely on are Procedural Memory and Contextual Memory. The
former is recognized by evoking sensory interaction or movements and requires
little extrinsic motivation as movement is an innate skill learned before
birth. Many Kinesthetic learners rely on their Procedural Memory to retain and
recall their learning experiences.
On the other hand
Contextual memory best serves the needs of our visual learners where
associations are made between locations and circumstances and shows great
importance to the environment that surrounds the learning.
This is natural and
requires little extrinsic or intrinsic motivation. It is a state of dependence
to the world around.
With this in mind
learners are encouraged to know the bigger picture of their learning, not only
on a daily basis but over the duration of a course or unit of work.
Students are
regularly encouraged to set themselves achievable yet challenging targets that
reflect on how they can develop prior learning. Use of reviews, recapping,
organizing information and recall techniques through a variety of activities
are commonplace in lessons.
Open ended
questioning techniques that
encourage lateral thinking are encouraged systematically through interactions
that increase sensory memories to facilitates pathways and support recall
ability.
The learning
environment is of equally great importance and that is why use of stimulating
and interactive displays are found around the school
and in the classrooms allowing students to form Contextual stimuli for their
learning.
For more information on the effects of memory on
learning, you can turn to Alistair Smith’s book, Accelerated Learning in
Practice, Network Educational Press Ltd. (1998)
Michelle
Taylor
Gifted
and Talented Curriculum Co-ordinator
CO-CURRICULAR
ACTIVITIES
MSSKL Team Announced
Head Swim Coach Mr
Ong has announced the Dragons MSSKL Swim Team that will travel to Cheras to compete against schools from right across
The team is:
Andrew Lee, Themistoklis Xynobalas, Shivam Shama, Mathieu Proniewst, Arya Torabi, Annabel Suan, Molly
Smith, Rojin Torabi, Tanya Kotecha, Lauren Bradley, Dwayne Matter, Juliyan
Somasundram, Sean Lim, Lovito
Ang, Scott Lim, Claudine Low, Nicola Lim, Hannah Jackson, Zahara
Foysten, Ji Yoon Frantzen,
Masayuki Isato, Kwek Kon Hao, Thomas Kim, Harry Smith, Adam Lim, Gareth Wdlake, Stefan Domanski, James
Bradley, Toshi Isato,
Danielle Brooks, Nadja Van Der
Drift, Julia Van Der Drift, Adela
Tanaya, Alexandra Popescu,
Andrea Popescu, Christopher Teh, Lee Su Ann, Aaron
Yip, Yau Kin Hoe, Andrew Chim.
Congratulations and
good luck to the team.
Swim News Updates
If you would like to
receive updated news about the Dragons Swim Team, you can join a swim team
email list by contacting Rob Cope on
Also check the weekly
GIS newsletter and the swimming notice board for the latest news.
Rob
Cope
Swimming
Coach
JSKL Badminton
Championships (Under 15)
On Saturday 20th January, Ms Jillian
Bloor and Mr Macdonald accompanied the 21 Dragons participants to the
Ten teams were
entered for the competition and GIS entered two teams this year. As
defending champions, our teams fought well…the A team losing out narrowly to
the eventual champions, the
In the Individual
Competition, GIS almost swept the board with the following results:
Champions:
Ridhima Kad (8W) - Girls' Singles
Adam Simoneit (7S), Lim Kian Chuan (10W) - Boys' Doubles
Janice Quah (7K), Nicole Chan (7L) - Girls' Doubles.
The
teams were:
A
Team: Ridhima Kad, Jo Young Min (Capt) (10S). Justin Tung
(10S), Darshan Joshi (10S), Lim Kian Chuan (10W),
Esther Lim (7K).
B
Team: Maria Temporal (8S), Adam Simoniet,
Janice Quah, Chia Lok Yong (9W), Lim Khai Wern (9W), Nicole Meredith (Capt) (10S), Ashoke Anand (10S).
Other
students who took part in the individual competition were: Vincent Hsiao (9I), James Lee (8G), Sean Lee (7G), Wei
Cheng Eng (8W) and Andrew Chin (8S).
Everyone had a great
day at the competition, enjoying competing against talented players from
other international schools and no matter win or lose, they are looking forward
with enthusiasm to next years event.
Many thanks to the
organizers at the
Andrew
Macdonald,
Badminton
Teacher
Swim Team Triumphant
The Dragons Swim Team
returned from the MSSMKL swim meet this week after bagging 35 individual and
team medals, completing one of the team’s most successful outings at the annual
event that attract schools from right across KL.
Lee Su Ann topped a
remarkable individual performance by winning the coveted 18-year Girls Cup,
setting a new meet record for the 18 girls 50m breaststroke, and winning seven
gold medals in the freestyle, butterfly, breaststroke and backstroke events.
Also among the
individual medals was Claudine Low with seven medals including two gold,
Annabel Suen with three medals, Adam Lim with three
medals, Scott Lim with two medals and Rojin Torabi with one medal.
But it was in the
relays that GIS showed its real depth of talent. The 10-year girls and boys
both routed their opposition to take gold in the medley and freestyle relays,
as did the 12-year girls. The other GIS relay teams dug really deep to ensure
that Garden secured silver and bronze medals. There were some gutsy relay swims
from people like Danielle Brooks, Gareth Wedlake and
Christopher Teh and others that kept GIS on the podium.
There were many
swimmers who consistently gave strong performances throughout the two day meet,
including Stefan Domanski, Andrea
& Alexandra Popescu, Hannah Jackson,
Nicola & Sean Lim, Dwayne Matter, Julia and Nadja
van der Drift, Kwek Kon Hao, Harry & Molly Smith, Themistoklis
Xynobalas, Andrew Lee, Yau Kin Hoe, Shivam Shama, Mathieu de Proniewski, Zahara Foyston, Giovito Ang, the Isato brothers of Masayuki and Toshi,
Adela Tanaya, Lauren
Bradley and Thomas Kim.
The courage award
must go to Aaron Yip who stepped up for the team and swam the 100m butterfly
leg of the 4x100 medley in the face of some fierce opposition. He was closely
followed by James Bradley who admirably conquered the voodoo of a 50 metre pool.
Team player awards
should go to Ji Yoon, Tanaya
& Arya who were on standby all day for the
team should replacements be needed for the relay.
Many of the swimmers
swam personal best times during the meet. Any of the swimmers who did their PBs at the meet (yes, we will accept your mum’s
confirmation), can see Rob Cope for a choice prize!
Rob
Cope
Swimming
Coach
SEASAC Senior
Basketball
The South East Asia
Student Activity Conference (SEASAC) is an annual event where students from all
over
On 1st February 20 boys &
girls set out on the long coach ride to
The American schools
in particular have strong basketball programmes and
as a result dominated the tournament. In total the Dragons boys played 5 games
and won one, beating the Surabaya International School 33 points to 23.
Out of 12 teams, they
finished a respectable 8th place. Desmond Ng was
voted the teams MVP (Most Valuable Player). The Dragons girls coached by Mrs.
Cope played 5 games and soundly thrashed International School of Yangoon. MVP was Anisha Jethwani.
All the players
enjoyed the experience immensely. They now know how hard they have to work if
they are to improve in next year’s tournament.
|
BOYS SQUAD CHRIS TEH LESLIE TAN CLEMENT CHEW CHRIS
HO UMAIR
SIDDIQUI DEREK CHAN
ZAHIR KHAN DEWAN
NG DESMOND NG JOSH
KONG |
GIRLS SQUAD AMANDA LEUNG ANISHA JETHWANI YI FEN KUEH ELANIE KHAMIL |