Garden International School

Newsletter

29th June 2007

 

 

Headlines For This Week

 

News From Principal

-          Mrs Sally Watkins, the founder of Garden School

-          SMP Dian Didaktika, Cinere, Indonesia visits GIS

-          Year 11 Awards and Year 13 Graduating Evening

-          Discovery Week

-          Parents, Teachers & Friends Committee 2007/8

-          The Conduct of Bodyguards

 

News From Secondary

-          Discovery Week

 

News From Primary

-          Primary Concert

-          Year Five Micro Society Sale

      -     Year 6 Assembly

-          Year 6 “Ball”

 

Co-Curricular Activities

-          Sports Award Evening

 

Parent, Teacher and Friends of GIS

-          Mum & Tots Meeting

-          Second Hand Book Sale

 

Announcement

-          Book Sale Schedule for Next Academic Year (Sept 2007 – July 2008)

 

 

NEWS FROM PRINCIPAL

 

This week, I received the sad news that Mrs Sally Watkins the founder of Garden School, passed away peacefully in a nursing home in England. Mrs Watkins, with her husband Lt-Col Freddie Watkins the Fire Chief of Kuala Lumpur, founded Garden School in their home in the Lake Gardens in 1951. Mrs Watkins opened a small Kindergarten in her house to prepare British expatriate children for boarding school life in the UK. In 1953 the school had a population of 33 children, divided into two classes taught by Mrs Watkins and one other British trained teacher. The 19 boys and 14 girls came from Britain, Italy, Belgium and India. By 1954 the school had expanded to include all primary age children and moved to premises in Jalan Bukit Bintang. Mrs Watkins remained Head of the school until 1955 when her position was taken by Mrs Sigme Syme.

 

As Malaysia prepares to celebrate its 50th Anniversary, it is worth remembering that Garden International School was founded in Malaya and was celebrating its 6th anniversary when Malaysian Independence was declared.

 

On behalf of our school  community, I have sent our sincere condolences to Mrs Watkins two sons, her four grandchildren and one great grandchild. (Copies of ‘In Full Bloom’ the history of Garden International School are available in the school libraries).

 

On Tuesday 27th June, we were very pleased to welcome students and teachers from SMP Dian Didaktika, Cinere, Indonesia. The students spent a day working with GIS students, practising their English skills and demonstrating traditional dance.

 

The Year 11 Awards and Year 13 Graduation Evening is being held on Friday 29th June. At this formal event, Year 11 students are presented with their Records of Achievement, Subject Awards and Special Awards. Year 13 students are also presented with awards and given recognition of their academic and personal achievements. During the evening event, the names of those students who gained 6th Form Scholarships are announced. Our guest of honour for the evening is the Acting British High Commissioner to Malaysia, Mr Patrick Moody.

 

Next week is the Secondary School Discovery Week. Secondary students will be taking part in a number of overseas and local residential visits, activities based in and around Kuala Lumpur and Community Service activities which take place in a large number of children’s homes, homes for the elderly, nursing homes, disabled recreational centres, and environmental activity centres. Students participating in overseas trips will be going to        Beijing and Tianjin, Paris, Italy, Tokyo and Cambodia. Malaysian expeditions will be going to Mount Kinabalu, Rompin, Taman Negara, Redang, Pangkor and Sarawak. Activities in KL include, Horse Riding, Public Speaking, Photography and Go-Karting. I would like to thank all Secondary and Administrative staff who have worked so hard to provide such a wide range of activities for our Secondary students.

 

Parent, Teachers & Friends Committee 2007/8. As mentioned in previous newsletters, nominations are now open for representatives on the Parent, Teachers and Friends Committee. Nominations should be sent to lam.yvonne@gardenschooledu.my

 

The Conduct of Bodyguards.  There is a growing trend for parents to employ bodyguards for some children attending GIS. The school takes a number of precautions to ensure the security of children on the school campus and we therefore do not allow bodyguards to accompany students into school. I must reiterate that it is strictly forbidden for any bodyguard to carry or bring firearms or weapons onto the school site. This includes bringing firearms or weapon into the school car park. Our security guards are empowered to conduct random searches and inform the police if necessary.

 

Ray Davis

Pincipal

 

 

NEWS FROM SECONDARY

 

After many months of preparation, Discovery week has finally arrived. The expeditions to Italy and China have already left. Over the next few days, the journeys to Paris, Tokyo, Cambodia and Sarawak will be departing. In addition, there are the activities based at Pulau Pangkor, Summerset Bay (Pahang). Students will be snorkeling and diving in Pulau Redang, horse-riding at Bukit Tinggi and taking part in International Award Expeditions to Taman Negara and Mount Kinabalu. Other activities based in KL including Karting, public speaking and photography.

 

Those students who have elected not to participate in Discovery Week Activities will be carrying out community service with the local area. This too should be a valuable educational activity and help our students understand their responsibility towards the less fortunate members of society. Our students are very good at raising funds for charity.  This is very commendable but, maybe, does not present quite the same challenges as personal participation in service and support to those who really need it.

 

We hope that all our secondary school students benefit from next week’s programme and enjoy these very different educational experiences.

 

Robert Lloyd

Head of Secondary                                     

 

 

NEWS FROM THE HEAD OF PRIMARY

Reminders for your diary :

All Parents

Wednesday 4 July

6.30pm – Grand Hall

Primary Concert

Details below

All Parents

Friday 6 July

Micro Society Sale

Details below

 

 Advance Warning 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

All Parents

Monday 16 July

‘Moving-up day’

Details soon

All Parents

Tuesday 17 July

End of Term

 

PRIMARY CONCERT

You are warmly invited to come and join us and be part of an enthusiastic audience at the end of term Primary Concert, which is to be held on Wednesday, 4th July at 6.30pm in the Grand Hall.

 

As a celebration of GIS children's work, the varied programme will include solos, duets, bands, whole-class choirs and guitar ensembles. You will enjoy musical styles ranging from medieval, classical and contemporary, to disco and Disney.

 

The primary children are working hard, preparing for an exciting hour of music - do come and join us!

 

Catherine Guna

Primary Music Coordinator 

 

Year Five Micro Society Sale

Our Micro Society Sale is being held on Friday, July 6th and we hope that as many parents and friends of GIS will come along to support this very worthwhile cause. Last year we raised the huge sum of RM16,000 so this year we are hoping to better that by raising at least RM17,000. All proceeds raised will be donated to needy children in KL. The fun will begin at 9.40am in the covered court. Hope to see you there!

 

Please remember to send in any unwanted items that we can sell at our White Elephant stall. Items such as CDs, books, ornaments, games, toys, etc that can be easily and safely sold would be appreciated. Items for either children or adults are suitable. Please deliver these items to the Primary Office where they will be stored until the sale.

 

It is all for a worthwhile cause and we thank you in advance for all your help and support.

 

Year Five Team

 

Year 6 Assembly

"Artemis Fowl"

Venue "The Grand Hall"

Thursday - July 12th, 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 - 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

 

 

CO-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

 

The GIS Sports Awards Evenings were held recently in the Grand Hall. Trophies were given out to Most Valuable Players (MVPs) and Most Improved Players (MIPs) from each of the teams. The sports programme at GIS continues to go from strength to strength with 40 teams being run from Year 4 to Year 13. The highlight, The Rafael Leonar Memorial Shield for Sporting Excellence was awarded to Lee Su Ann for her performance in swimming. Lee Su Ann was unbeaten in all individual events this year and chosen Best Overall Swimmer at SEASAC.

 

 

Mr. Wellington

Head of PE 

School Team

Most Valuable Player (MVP)

Most Improved Player (MIP)

U18 Boys Basketball

Dewan Ng

Joshua Kong

U15 Boys Basketball

Tian Xiong Liew

 

U13 Boys Basketball

Nicholas Chan

Jefri Abdul Rahman

U18 Girls Basketball

Ang Wuay Ching

Zaffron Jami

U15 Girls Basketball

Chloe Ellis

Rachael Ward

U13 Girls Basketball

Marsha Lalchand Aswani

Maria Temporal

U18 Boys Football

Andy Chan

Ben Bradley

U15 Boys Football

Justen Pang

Thibault Caumont

U13 Boys Football

Michael Cantillon

Seok Won Oh

U11 Boys Football

Marco Zieger

Sarj Shah

U18 Girls Football

Anisha Jethwani

 

U15 Girls Football

Tunku Elana Yaacob

Rachael Anne Ward

U13 Girls Football

Adela Tanaya

Soraya Jansen

U11 Girls Football

Ji Woo Lee

Molly Smith

U18 Netball Team

Kee Hoi Jean

Fairuz Halim Hashim

U15 Netball Team

Eluth Lee

Nicole Meredith

U13 Netball Team A

Marsha Aswani

Adela Tanaya

U11 Netball Team A

Sian Wilson

Nina Fuchs

U12 MSSKL A Netball team

Ji Woo Lee

Yuri Matsui

U11 Boys Netball Team

George Tan

Eric Blackshaw

U15 Boys Swimming

Andrew Chim

Masayuki Isato

U13 Boys Swimming

Adam Lim

Stefan Domanski

U11 Boys Swimming

Eric Blackshaw

Charlie Green

U9 Boys Swimming

Mathieu Proniewski

Andrew Lee

U18 Girls Swimming

Su Ann Lee

 

U15 Girls Swimming

Julia Van Der Drift

Tunku Elana Yaacob

U13 Girls Swimming

Claudine Low

Nadja Van Der Drift

U11 Girls Swimming

Zahara Foyston

Hannah Jackson

U9 Girls Swimming

Annabel Suen

Lauren Bradley

Senior Bad. Team (U18 and below)

Ridhima Kad

 

Junior Bad. Team (U13 and below)

Adam Simoneit

 

Secondary Athletics Team

Tunku Elana Yaacob

Hwi Inn Lee

Primary Athletics Team

Shirin Cantillon

Hannah Drew

Senior Tennis Team (U18 and below)

Christian Lee

Edwin Heng

Junior Tennis Team (U13 and below)

Arjun Menon

Marina Tatsumi

Senior Rugby

Owen Bendor-Samuel

Jon Sum

Softball Team

Harry Smith