Garden International School

Newsletter

16th February 2007

 

 

Headlines For This Week

 

News From The Principal

-          Reminder on Parents Survey

 

News From Secondary

-          Year 9 IGCSE Options Evening

-          South East Asia Mathematics Mathematic Competition (The Warry Cup)

-          Discovery Week Late Addition (Ho Chi Min Sports/Cultural Trip)

-          Computing Project Evening

-          Visit By Belgian Ambassador

 

News From Primary

-          Year 3 & 4 Sports Day

-          Chinese New Year Assembly

-          Half-term

-          EYD Trip To The Butterfly Park

 

Co-curricular Activities

-          MSSMKL U12’s Netball

 

Parent, Teacher and Friends of GIS

-          International Bazaar

-          Mothers & Toddlers Group

 

 

NEWS FROM THE PRINCIPAL

 

A Reminder from Last Week

Please help us by participating in the 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 Taylor’s Education Group Survey Unit using a web-based survey form. 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, and 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.

 

“Gong Xi Fa Cai

 

May I take this opportunity to wish all of our Chinese families a peaceful and prosperous New Year. The School will be closed for the holiday and will reopen on Monday 26th February

 

Ray Davis

Principal

 

NEWS FROM SECONDARY

 

VERY IMPORTANT!

Year 9 IGCSE Options Evening, Wednesday 28th February 2007 7.30pm

An evening will be organized for parents and students where the options programme will be explained and parents and students can meet teachers to discuss possible choices of subjects to study at IGCSE for September 2007.

 

Year 9 students will already have received a letter explaining the evening, an Options booklet and an Options form to read through and consider with their parents. They have also had an assembly in which the Options Programme has been outlined to them.

 

The programme for the evening will be an introduction by the school Principal, Mr Ray Davis, followed by an explanation of the Options Programme by the Deputy Head Curriculum, Mr Stephen Butlin, after which parents and students will be able to meet subject teachers to discuss courses. Light refreshments will be served during the course of the evening which will close at 9.00pm.

 

This is a very important occasion and I encourage all parents and students who will be in Year 10 in Garden International School in September 2007 to attend. Please come early so that we can begin promptly at 7.30pm and so that parents and students can have plenty of time to meet subject teachers.

 

We look forward to meeting you on 28th February.

 

Gong Xi Fa Cai!

 

Stephen Butlin

Deputy Head, Curriculum

 

SEAMC – The Warry Cup

South East Asian Mathematics Mathematic Competition is indeed a unique annual event where students from all over South East Asia gather together to participate in activities involving NOT SPORTS !, NOT MUSIC!! But MATHEMATICS.

 

It is about talented young mathematicians meeting students and teachers from these countries. It is about engaging mathematics in stimulating and unique ways. It is about challenging your mind to focus on problem solving in different environments. Most of all, it is about having fun doing mathematics and interacting with other young mathematicians.

 

Steve Warry had a belief that mathematics could be a “spectator sport” .In his pursuit of this goal, he organized the first SEAMC at Alice Smith School in 2001. Tragically, he died the week prior to the competition, but the event went ahead and Steve’s dream became a reality. The SEAMC challenge trophy has since then been named the ‘The Warry Cup’.

 

This year, the event was hosted by Singapore American School and UWCSEA in Singapore. There were 51 teams from 27 different International Schools from Brunei, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam and Thailand. As is the case every year, the competition was expected to be of a high level.

 

Garden International School has committed itself to send 2 teams every year for this prestigious event. After going through a series of selection test, we form the Team Square Roots consisting of Basil Lim, Derek Cheah and Chia Lok Yong and Team Primes consisting Pranay Sharma, Saikiran Adapa and Gordon Hooi. These students then went through weeks of training, with the help of past participant Low Zhen Lin.

 

On 1st February, our two teams with their two teachers (Mr. Lim and myself) set out on a long coach ride to Singapore. On arrival, we checked-in at the Fort Canning Lodge where all other participants were staying.

 

There after, events were typically 3 days of excitement, fun and competition. There were individual competitions, team competitions, Maths Trail at Suntek City, Project Adventure and an Amazing Race finishing off at the Night Safari. Participants also had a talk by the guest speaker Ron Lancaster an on-air teacher and consultant for several   television series.

 

On the last night, was the Gala Dinner and prize giving ceremony. It was certainly an exciting moment when BASIL LIM was announced as 2nd in the overall individual competitions (out of the 153 brilliant mathematicians!!!). The team Square Roots also was the winner in a team event (Lion Round). Overall our school got 4th position out of 51 teams.

 

Students from both our teams certainly worked hard for the event and felt honored to have represented the school. We are proud of their achievement and hope they enjoyed themselves and had an exciting and pleasant experience in Singapore.

 

Mrs. Sathi

Maths Teacher

 

DISCOVERY WEEK LATE ADDITION

Ho Chi Min Sports / Cultural Trip

Trip details have finally arrived for this late addition to Discovery Week. The trip is open to Year 7 & 8 boys who will play fixtures against local international schools in football and basketball.

 

In addition the week will involve cultural trips to My Tho (river cruise on the Mekong), Cu Chi Tunnels, Independence Palace, War   Museum and local markets. The estimated price is RM2, 100 (does not cover cost of visa organised by travel agent) which includes:

 

1) Flights

2) Travel Insurance

3) Hotel 5 * Windsor Plaza

    (http://www.windsorplazahotel.com/overview.html)

4) Full board 3 lunches 4 dinners

5) All afternoon/day trips

 

If you are interested and would like further details please contact Mr. Wellington or Mr. Dale in the PE office. Deposits of RM500 to be paid to Miss Devi in the Arts Centre ASAP.

 

Paul Wellington

Head of P.E

 

Computing Project Evening

27th February 2007, 6.00 – 8.00 p.m

ICT Rooms S3 and S6

The purpose of this evening’s event is to present the programming project work of our Year 11 IGCSE Computer Studies as well as our A Level Computing students.

 

The students have been working on their projects for several months and the evening provides an opportunity to view the ‘work in progress’. It also gives a chance for the students to ‘test out’ their projects so far on the end user and receive valuable feedback and guidance on necessary changes and improvements.

 

It will be beneficial for the potential IGCSE Computer Studies and A Level Computing students (Years 9 and 11) to attend in order to gain an insight into the ICT subjects that they may pursue next academic year.

 

During the evening, please do take the opportunity to ask the current students anything about their work and current experiences. They would be grateful for any comments and constructive criticisms that you might be able to offer.

 

CK Loo

Head of ICT Faculty

 

Visit By Belgian Ambassador

The Belgian Ambassador will be visiting on 8th March, 9.45am to meet Ms Gruberska Year 11 students. Parents with any interest in Belgium and its culture are warmly invited to come to join us.

 

For any information please contact Dr. Conti from the French Department.

 

Dr. Conti

Head of French

 

NEWS FROM PRIMARY

 

Reminders for your diary :

All parents

Monday 19/2 -Friday 23/2

School closed for Half-Term

All parents

Monday 26/2

School resumes at the normal time

 

 

Advance Warning for your diary :

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 3 and 4 Sports Day

Many thanks to everyone who came to support Year 3 and 4 Sports Day. It was a lovely morning and it was really good to see so many parents and friends around the field. My thanks too to Simon Dale (Primary PE Coordinator) and all those teachers who helped to make everything go so well.

 

Chinese New Year Assembly

Congratulations and many thanks to the Year 2 team for putting together an excellent Chinese New Year Assembly this week. The Assembly was splendid with lots of colourful dances. It was also wonderful to see many children and staff dressing up so colourfully for the day.

 

Half-Term

Please remember that there is no school next week. We wish everyone a happy holiday and especially those who celebrate Chinese New Year.

 

Christopher FitzGerald

Head of Primary

 

EYD Trip to the Butterfly Park

With the help of an intrepid team of parent helpers, the Nursery and Reception Classes had fun investigating all things creepy-crawly last week.