Newsletter
9th March 2007
NEWS
FROM THE PRINCIPAL
New Early Years
Centre
This is
another major advance for
An
exhibition showing details of the Early Years Centre and its location is
currently on view in the Foyer of the Arts Centre.
International Week
A very big thank you to
all of those who made the 2007 International Week the most successful ever. The week’s events are too numerable to
mention here but, highlights included The Grand Parade of Nations, The first
Kuala Lumpur Model United Nations Conference, The Humanities Debate, Batik
Painting, visits from AEC students from
Principal
NEWS
FROM SECONDARY
Colloidal
Nanotechnology!
What
is it? Why is it important? What is it all about?
Find out by attending this year’s
Sterling Lecture on Thursday 22nd March at 2.30pm in the 6th
Floor Conference Room.
The lecture is being given by Professor
Simon Biggs of the
Parents, members of staff and students
in Years 10 to 13 are invited to attend; younger students may do so on request.
Robert Lloyd
Head of Secondary
Secondary Sports Day
Thursday 15th March
The following letter is being sent to
all secondary parents with details of the arrangements.
Dear Parents,
The Secondary School Sports Day is just
over one week away, Thursday 15th March 2007. Can I take this opportunity
to update you on some of the details of the organization for the day. We will be busing approximately 750 students to
the stadium on the day. As a result of this, students in Years 7 to 9
will line up on the field as they would for a fire drill at the start of the
day, 7.40am.
They will be registered before they get
on to the buses. Students making their own way to the stadium will need to
register with their tutor at the stadium, Stadium Petaling
Jaya, Jalan SS 7/15, 47301 Petaling Jaya, Selangor, by 8.25am. Students will be able to leave the
stadium after they have registered again at approximately 1.35pm.
Students will need to bring with them a
packed lunch and a drink on the day. There will be limited snacks and drinks
available at the stadium. There will be a good supply of water for all
competitors on the day. Students should also bring with them a hat and sun
cream.
Parents are more than welcome to attend
on the day. As our security staff will be present, please make sure that you
bring your identity tag with you in order to enter the stadium. For safety
reasons, spectators must remain in the main grandstand.
Mark Springall
Head of Secondary
Physical Education
Valentine’s
Mufti, Dance & Dedications
The annual
Valentine’s Fund-Raising Event (Mufti School Day, Dance and Dedication) took
place on the second Friday of February and has been the school’s most
successful Valentine’s event yet!
A record
breaking total of RM10, 000 was raised from the three main fund-raisers –
collecting Mufti fines, Dedication sales and students’ participation in the
Valentine’s Dance.
The dance was
extremely well received with more than 400 primary and secondary students
attending the Secondary dance. All in all, The Valentine’s Event went on
smoothly without any hitches and everyone enjoyed themselves.
A big thank
you to all who participated and organised this year’s
Valentine’s Event! The money raised will be going towards the Happy Home in Klang to support and supply their needs. The Interact Club
looks forward to working with this home again this year.
Leonora Anne
Peers
International
Coordinator
Last Thursday
and Friday a group of 13 singers from GIS went to Alice Smith to participate in
a Choral Festival. This was the first festival of its kind and an ambitious
project as it involved students from various schools around Asia including: Rayong in
Overall there
were about 150 students involved! The two days were spent rehearsing 12 songs,
some of which were new to the students and some of which had to be learnt from
memory. It was extremely intense and involved a huge amount of energy and focus
as we were singing from 9am to 5pm each day. Both students and staff were
pushed to their limits!
On the Friday
evening, the festival culminated in a concert to celebrate the work achieved
throughout the 2 days. The sound was fantastic and the concert thoroughly
enjoyed by all who attended. A very well done to our students from Years 8, 9
and 10 who participated!
Lisa Sheppard
Head of Music
SATURDAY 17th MARCH 11.00AM – 5.00PM
IMPIANA KLCC
HOTEL & SPA, 13 JALAN
Representatives
from
Steve
Ellis
Head of
6 Form
NEWS FROM THE HEAD OF PRIMARY
Reminders for your
diary :
|
Nursery Parents |
Friday 16/3 |
Teddy Bears’
Picnic Letter sent out
this week |
|
KS2 Parents |
Tuesday 20/3 |
KS2 Swimming
Gala See below |
|
All parents |
Wednesday 21/3
and Thursday 22/3 |
Parent Teacher
Conferences Letter being
sent out very soon |
|
KS2 Parents |
Friday 23/3 |
KS2 Swimming Gala Presentation Assembly See below and letter to be sent next week |
Advance Warning
for your diary :
|
All Parents |
Friday 30/3 |
End of Term 2 |
|
All Parents |
Monday 16/4 |
Term 3 Commences |
END OF THE SCHOOL
DAY
IF YOU READ ONLY
ONE THING IN THIS WEEK’S EDITION, PLEASE READ THIS!
At the end of the
school day, parents are collecting their children and then allowing them to
play unsupervised in the play areas, hard court and canteen. For safety
reasons we must ask that all children be supervised at all times by a responsible
adult. Should your child use the play areas, the equipment must be left in a
tidy fashion, ready for the next school day.
We do NEED your
cooperation and understanding with these matters, and it is, of course, very
much appreciated.
International Week
After a
magnificent start to the week with the Grand Parade (thank you to all parents
who came and supported their children), the week progressed to include the
Cultural Show – which the Primary School saw on Wednesday afternoon.
At the time of
writing, we are still looking forward to the International Bazaar and the EYD
Grand Parade – both of which are scheduled for Friday.
During the week,
teachers used their lessons to reinforce the importance of international
understanding and tolerance through knowledge. In next week’s Newsletter, there
will be a brief resume of some of the week’s highlights.
PTF Coffee
Morning: Wednesday 14th March
A reminder that at
this month’s PTF Coffee Morning, the Primary Leadership Team and I will be
talking about thematic teaching in the Primary School and why we think the
International Primary Curriculum is the best way forward.
KS2 Swimming Gala
The annual
Swimming Gala for KS2 children takes place from 8.00am to 2.10pm on TUESDAY 20/3 (weather
permitting).
Years 3 and 4 will
swim from 8.00 to 10.30am
Years 5 and 6 will
swim from 11.00 to 2.10pm
Parents are warmly
invited to attend and also the KS2 Swimming Gala Presentation Assembly which
will take place on Friday, 23rd
March at 8.00am in the Grand Hall.
Further details
will be sent home in a letter next week.
Head of Primary
CO-CURRICULAR
ACTIVITIES
PRAKL Age Group
Championship 2007
On 2nd, 3rd and 4th March
2007, the GIS Dragrons Swim Team competed in PRAKL
AGE GROUP SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIP 2007. This event was held in Kuala Lumpur
Swimming Complex Cheras.
The Garden Dragons Swim Team consisted of :
Boys :
Andrew Lee, Mathieu Proniewski, Arya
Torabi, Makus Domanski, Park Jong Min, Kwek Kon Hao, Gareth Wedlake, Sean Lim, Scott Lim, Stefan Domanski
and James Bradley.
Girls : Zoe Bowden, Tara P Kanayala, Laruren Bradley, Tanya Kotecha,
Annabel Suen, Molly Smith, Rojin
Torabi, Poshni P Kanayalal, Claudine Low, Nicola Lim, Nadja
van der Drift, Danielle
Slatr-Brooks and Julia van der
Drift.
For some of our younger swimmers, this
was their first time participating in such an important event and also getting
their first medals.
Kudos goes to: Andrew Lee, Mathieu Proniewski, Arya Torabi, Makus Domanski
and Zoe Bowden.
For the Group 3 Boys (under 13) James, Gareth, Stefan and Kon
Hao and Girls Nicola, Danielle, Nadja & Claudine swam their hearts out for the team and
also got us silver medals for both relays in each group.
Medal Winners
1. Andrew
Lee
1 gold
1 silver
2. Mathieu Proniewski
1 gold
1 silver
3. Kwek Kon Hao
2 silver
1 bronze
4. Claudine
Low
2 silver
5. Annabel Suen
1 bronze
6. Group 3 Boys relay team
2 silver
(James, Gareth, Kon Hao & Stefan)
7. Group 3 Girls relay
team
2 silver
(Nicola, Danielle, Nadja & Claudine)
8. Group 5
Boys
2 bronze
(Andrew, Arya, Makus & Mathieu)
In the end, it was a good experience for
the young ones and we will strive for better!!!
Julia van der Drift
8W
FINA Technical
Official Course
Congratulations to Andrei Popescu Year 11 who has completed his training for Fina Technical Official Course organized by Amateur
Swimming Union Malaysia from 1st - 4th March, 2007 at Cheras.
The four day course included technical
swimming rules where he did two days theory with test and two days practical.
SEASAC Swimming
Tournament
Good Luck to our Dragons 24 swimmers at
the SEASAC Swimming Tournament in
Under 12 - Boys Sean Lim, Scott Lim, Darly Leong
& Xavier Foyston.
Girls Zahara Foyston, Hannah Jackson, Jiyoon Fransten & Nicola Lim
Under 13 & 14 - Boys Gareth Wedlake, James Bradley,
Stefan Domanski & Struat
Smith
Girls Adela Tanaya,
Above 15 - Boys Andrew Chim, Thomas Kim, Jeon Seung Min & Chakrit Ansunee-Na
Girls Lee Su Ann, Tunku Elana, Rachael Ward & Chole Ellis
There are a total of 8 International
School participating in this meet, they are :
1.
2.
3.
4. Mont’Kiara
5.
6.
7. United
8. New
Mr. Ong
Swimming Coach
PARENT, TEACHER & FRIENDS
Calendar Term 2
13th March – Mothers & Toddlers Group,
‘Teddy Bears Picnic’
14th March – PTF Coffee Morning, Topic
‘Primary Thematic Teaching’ (Note change of date)
Mothers &
Toddlers Group, 13th
March, 9.45 – 11.15am, EYD Hall
The theme for the
next meeting will be ‘Teddy Picnic Bears’. Bring your favourite teddies and
have a fun picnic with Therese and friends!
PTF Coffee
Morning, Wednesday, 14th March, 8.30-10.00am, Primary Hall
Please note, the change of date for this particular Coffee Morning.
It will be on Wednesday and not Thursday. The topic will be ‘Primary Thematic
Teaching’.
This is to
enlighten all parents of the style of teaching which is practised in all
British Primary schools. It is especially beneficial for Primary parents, so do
come along and find out what it is all about. As usual, breakfast will be
provided for by the PTF.
Secondary Sports
Day, 15th March
The PTF will be
holding a refreshment stall on the day. Any offers of help and donations will
be very much appreciated. Please contact Jessie on 0163952507 if you are
interested.
On-Line Forum
This is to remind
all parents to make use of this on-line forum to bring your views forward be it
negative or positive. All correspondence will be dealt with confidentially and
will be forwarded to the appropriate member of staff for response. The email
address is gisptf_forum@gardenschool.edu.my.
Tina & Cheryl
PTF Communications
Sub-Committee
INTERNATIONAL WEEK ~ CULTURAL SHOW
Around
the World in 90 Minutes!
7th International Cultural Show
~ 7th March 2007
from Ms Susan Krenca
Head of Performing Arts
The Cultural Show
is unique in that it draws upon the imaginative, creative and performing skills
of the whole school community. It is my privilege to work, each year, with
students, staff and parents who are committed to their art, and whose quest for
excellence is impressive indeed.
This year was no
exception. On Wednesday, 7th March, two hundred and ten students, aged
between 6 and 18 years old, participated in the annual Cultural Show. In an
inspiring and dynamic celebration, impressive in its standards of performance,
dancers and musicians embarked upon an amazing feast for the senses,
transporting the appreciative and enthusiastic audience across the continents.
You can read more
about the show in the forthcoming Access Magazine and Year Book. For now I would
like to pay tribute to the parents and staff who freely gave their time to
inspire and rehearse our students, to design and sew an array of stunning
costumes and to support the show:
Mrs
Masumi & Japanese parents (Japanese & Tap Dances),
Ms
Daisy Stella, Ms Ann Jones & Ms Noraiza (Indian Dance),
Mr
Oliver & Ms Rani (Korean Fan Dance),
Parents
& teachers of all independent dances (Indian Folk, Bollywood
& Classical,
African
Ballet & Korean Dance Duet)
Ms
Kayla Maxey (Flamenco Dance)
Ms
Jacqueline Perry (Yoga)
Ms
Jacqueline Chin (Year 3/4 Choir),
Ms Kate
Guna & Ms Caitriona Ni Loinsigh (Year 5/6 Vocal Ensemble),
Ms
Susan Krenca (Senior Choir),
Ms Lisa
Sheppard & Mr Andrew Gui (Foyer Music ~ Gamelan,)
Mr Adam
Briggs (Sound)
Ms Jo
Lee (Lighting)
Ms Sara
Lewis Ms Jo Lee and Ms Dean (programme cover & backdrop)
Ms Ann
Khoo (photography)
Ms Shirena Hamzah (Dancesteps Studio)
Mr
Andrew Ling and the Premises Team (hard work, efficiency, time, patience)
Secondary
Music department (Kompang drumming)
Congratulations
also to those superb students whose skill and maturity enabled them to rehearse
and direct their own performances.
Many thanks to all our performers – you are a credit to GIS!
International
Week
Indian Dance Workshop
~ 8th March 2007
On Thursday,
8th March fifteen lucky students were treated
to a 90 minute Indian Dance Workshop. Organized and conducted by one of our
fabulous parents – Mrs Priti Mastakar,
and supported by expert dancers (both parents and students), the participants
experienced the basics of Indian classical dance – Odissi
from the East, Bharatnatyam from the south and
Kathak from the North.
Punctuated by
demonstrations from our beautiful visiting dancers (who, incidentally, had to
get up extremely early in order to dress and make-up for the occasion) GIS
students learned typical facial expressions, hand movements and gestures,
rhythmic footwork and some basics of Indian dance language. We all left the
session with a better understanding of the rigours
and subtleties of Classical Indian dance training.
Many, many
thanks to Mrs Mastakar and her team for a wonderful experience!
Photographs – Can
You Help?
Photographs
of our dancers and choirs were taken by Ms Ann during the Cultural Show.
Unfortunately they were corrupted during transfer to the computer – only a few
have survived. Our IT team will make every effort to retrieve them, but it’s
unlikely they can be saved.
If
anyone has taken photos of the show and is willing to share them with us,
please would you let me have them burned onto disk. We need to select
photographs for display, and for the Access Magazine and Year Book.
I look
forward to hearing from you,
Yours
hopefully,
Ms
Susan Krenca,
Head of
Performing Arts