Newsletter
7th March
2008
Headlines
For This Week
News
From Principal
-
School/Family Meetings
-
Car Park
-
School Calendar 2008/9
-
Super Camp
News
From Secondary
-
Sterling
Lecture
-
SEAMC 2008
News
From Primary
-
Primary Swimming Gala 2008
-
Primary
Book Week Book
-
News
From Primary LRC
Notice
-
MFL Gets Even More
International
-
Thank You Message From Head
Of French
Co-Curricular
Activities
-
U15 Fobissea Tournament,
Phuket
-
CCAs During The Week Of
Primary PTCs
-
Junior
Parent,
Teacher and Friends of GIS
-
International Week
-
Immunisations and
Vaccinations
-
Parent Volunteers Wanted
For Secondary Library
-
Diary Dates
-
Parents’ Forum
-
Mum & Tots Group
-
2nd Hand
Uniforms/Book Library
NEWS FROM PRINCIPAL
International week
is over and it finished as well as it started. The International Exhibition was
an outstanding success with fabulous food, activities varying from interactive
story telling to origami and the wonderful Year 5 constructions and information
stalls. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all our families,
friends, teachers and students for their commitment to the week and we look
forward to next year.
This
week our focus has turned to Drama. Our A2 students have been entertaining and
impressing all who have attended their performances of Under Milkwood at the
Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre. These four students with outstanding
support from their teachers are now performing at a professional level.
I look
forward to seeing you on the 11th or 12th March at our family
forums.
School/Family Meetings
11th March (8:30am - 10:30am) - The PTF will be hosting a morning
session to discuss the draft of our aims. These aims have been developed by
gathering information from the students, families and teachers. We now wish to
solicit feedback on the draft aims from our families. All are
welcome.
12th March (6:30pm - 8:00pm) – A repeat of
the morning session on the 11th March to allow for family members who are
unable to attend on Tuesday morning.
10th – 21st March, Parent Survey – we request
that as many families complete the family survey as possible over these two
weeks. The information we collect during this period is used to guide and
develop the school improvement process.
Car Park
Could I
please remind families that the car park is to provide the facility for parents
and families to park their cars when they need to escort students onto the
school grounds. For families that use drivers, could
you please remind your drivers not to occupy the parking spaces.
They should only be entering the car park when your children are ready to pick
up and they should be circling the car park if and when you are escorting your
children to class.
School Calendar 2008/9
Please be
aware that the school calendar has been completed and is available on the
website.
SUPERCAMP – Free Preview Sessions On 15th & 16th March
(Sat & Sun)
SuperCamp, a leader in
student success with over 48,000
graduates from more
than 80 countries, is organising a 6 Days/5 Nights residential camp for
children ages 10-13. This Junior Forum program will be conducted
fully by US Facilitators and held from June 2-7, 2008 (Mid-Term Break)
at Trolak Country Resort, Sungkai Perak.
SuperCamp -
free preview sessions on March
15 and 16 at Cititel Mid Valley, KL (Matahari 2 Room, Level 5).This is a
great opportunity for you to find out more about the SuperCamp
experience. A very special discount will be offered on those two dates.
HELP YOUR CHILD SCORE A+ IN LIFE!
To find out
more about SuperCamp, please visit their website at www.supercamp.com.my.
Simon Mann
Principal
NEWS FROM SECONDARY
Sterling Lecture
Date &
Venue: Tuesday, March 18th at 2.30pm, 6th Floor
Conference
TITLE:
‘Materials in the Design of Aircraft and Space Vehicles’
Dr. Alan R Chambers (
Dr Alan Chambers
is a senior lecturer in the
This is a unique
opportunity for students to listen to an expert in the field of engineering.
I strongly
encourage all students in the sixth form studying Maths/Science courses and
anyone else interested in Engineering and Aerospace related issues to attend.
Head of Secondary
SEAMC
2008
SEAMC (South
East Asia Maths Competition) 08 was held from 28th Feb to 2nd March in KL this year. It was
co-hosted by our school,
The
competition consists of both team and individual events. It is not only tests
students on their quickness in solving the most challenging maths questions, it also tests them on their perseverance as each
session usually lasts at least an hour. Of course, it is not all about solving
maths problems. During the course of the competition, students also did a maths
trail in 1 Utama shopping mall and bowling at Mid Valley in their buddy groups,
thus forging friendships from different countries.
I am proud to announce that Garden International
School emerged top among the schools from
Maths Teacher
KS5 I/C
NEWS FROM PRIMARY
Reminders for your diary :
|
Reception
Parents |
4th March 2008 |
Reception trip to KLCC Aquaria |
|
KS 2 Parents |
4th & 5th March 2008 |
ICT PTC Evening |
|
Year 1 Parents |
5th & 6th March 2008 |
Year 1 Trip to |
|
All Parents |
5th & 6th March 2008 |
Art Info Night |
|
Year 5 & 6 Parents |
7th March 2008 |
Valentine Disco Dance |
Advance Warning for your diary
:
|
All Parents |
12th & 13th March 2008 |
Primary PTC |
|
KS 2 Parents |
12th March 2008 |
Key Stage 2 Swimming Gala |
|
All Parents |
12th March 2008 |
Charity Event – Coins on the Field |
Dear Parents,
Guardians and Friends
First of all, thank you all for your
help in supporting the International Week last week. Whether you were able to
attend the events or simply helped by ensuring your child had a national
costume on for the International Parade, we thank you! Having been teaching
internationally for over 17 years, I can put my hand on my heart and state that
it was the best International week I can remember. The Cultural Show held on
Wednesday night was quite simply stunning.
Moving on, we have many things happening
at school at the moment. The dates section of the
newsletter will highlight just how much is going on. We would like to politely
remind parents and guardians to check your child’s school bag and/or
communication book for any letters or information from school. Thank you in
advance for your help with this matter.
On a somewhat disappointing note, there
have been 3 cases of stealing within the Primary School over the past two
weeks. These cases have resulted in 4 children being suspended from the school, we hope this will stress just how serious the matter
is. As part of our Personal, Social and Health Education, we regularly look at
issues including stealing. However, we would like you to take the time to
discuss the impact of stealing with your child at home. It is important that
the children understand that stealing will ultimately get them into trouble. More
importantly, it can cause much pain, anxiety and stress; to the victims their
families and even our own families.
Please note there is an enormous amount
of lost property in the Primary Office. If your child has lost any items of
uniform, water bottles, snack boxes or even a Tae Kwon Do suit, please come and
reclaim them. Sadly, none of these items are named!
Finally, may we remind parents that we
are very happy to help children to ring home when there is an emergency. However, many children are coming along to make
phone calls for social and other non-urgent matters. The office staff have been reminded that only emergency calls are to be
made.
We look forward to seeing you all next
week for the Parent Teacher Conferences (PTCs). These are a great way for you
to help your child make the most of their education. At the last PTCs in
October, we had over 99% attendance which is truly an indication of the level
of support we enjoy. Long may this continue.
Neil Smith
Head of Primary
PRIMARY SWIMMING GALA 2008
I am delighted to inform you that we will be having
the Primary Swimming Gala:
Wednesday, 12th March 2008
From
8.00am – 2.10pm at the School Swimming Pool
For
all Year 3, 4, 5 and 6 students
(Weather permitting)
Objective:
Maximum participation
by all students in each year group (students must participate in at least one
event even the weaker swimmers). Please note we will be swimming in separate
Year groups (3,4,5 then 6) with competitors sitting in
the stands in their houses.
Event: (min 1 event, maximum 2 events
plus one relay for each year group)
Year 3 (Time: 8.10am – 9.20am) and Year 4 (Time: 9.30 am
to 10.40am)
Events: 25m freestyle, 25m breaststroke,
25m backstroke, 25m float race (This event is catered for the weaker swimmers only, good swimmers are not allowed to compete
in this event) and Fun class relay (8x25m - 4 boys and 4 girls in a team - this
event will only take place if we have enough time at the end of the all races)
Year 5 (Time: 11.00am – 12.30am) and
Year 6 (Time: 12.40am to 2.10pm )
Events: 25m
freestyle, 25m breaststroke, 25m backstroke, 25m butterfly, 50mfreestyle, 50m
breaststroke, 50m backstroke, 25m float (this event is catered for the weaker swimmers only, good swimmers are not allowed to
compete in this event) and Freestyle Class Relay (8x25m – 4 boys and 4 girls in
a team - this event will only take place if we have enough time at the end of
the all races)
All events are timed finals
– only
top three swimmers from each heat will be timed and all these results
will be compared to get the overall top three swimmers for each event.
Swimming gala is a house-based competition where children who participate get a point for their house. Students who get
first place and second place and third place in their heat will get 6 points, 4
points and 2 points. Then the points for the overall winners for each event are
as below:
1st place – 10 points
2nd place – 8 points
3rd place – 6 points
4th place – 4 points
5th place – 2 points
In order to
celebrate students’ achievement, competitors will be awarded medals for each
event for the top three positions. The medals presentation will be held on
Wednesday,19th
March during primary
assembly.
Parents are
welcome to come to attend the gala for individual Years and the medals
presentation ceremony.
Head of
Primary PE
Primary Book Week Book
Please
remember that from Monday, 10th March – Friday,
14th March, Primary students and their parents will be able
to visit the BOOK WEEK BOOK
Each class
from Year 1 – Year 6 will visit the sale, with children being told which day is
their scheduled visit day. Please send along money (RM20-RM40) on that day if
you wish them to purchase. Parents are also welcome to visit the sale any time
from 8.30am – 2.30pm each day.
Deputy Head
of Primary
News From Primary
LRC
We are busily
preparing for author/illustrator Yangsook Choi’s visit on 21st and 22nd of April and by now your child may have
had one of her stories read to them. Please encourage your child to
visit Yangsook’s website http://yangsookchoi.com/
so that they are familiar with the range of her books.
MPH Bookstore has informed me that they will be able to bring in the
following books by Yangsook Choi:
1.The Key Collection – RM 64.90
2.Nim & War Effort – RM 24.90
3.This Next New Year – RM 69.90
4.Earthquake – RM 32.90
5.Peach Heaven – RM 66.90
6.Landed – RM 76.90
7.Behind The Mask – RM 65.90
8.The Name Jar
If you would
like a copy of one of these books reserved for your child to have signed by
Yangsook, please email me at roulston.s@gardenschool.edu.my
or send me a note with your child. I will need to forward the order to MPH next
Friday, 14th March. So, please let me know before then.
Borders at
The Curve are also taking orders for Yangsook’s books. So, you may wish to go
in and place a special order.
Ms Siobhan
Teacher
Librarian
NOTICE
MFL Gets Even More International!
In celebration of last week’s
International Week at GIS, students witnessed a huge array of activities
organized by the MFL Faculty at the school. Both students and staff worked hard
and had much fun in what was a successful week geared at the promotion and understanding
of other cultures and countries. Some of the activities were:
·
Student presentations on
·
Visits to
·
Playing traditional
·
International Idol singing competition
·
Guided tour of Muzium Negara in French and
·
International fashion show
·
Guest speaker from
·
Chinese calligraphy lessons by parent
·
Workshop on Chinese knots
·
Chinese paper cutting sessions.
·
Visiting speaker from WWF on endangered species
·
Visit by Director of Alliance Française to discuss importance of learning
French
·
Italian cuisine class led by Italian chefs from “Neroteca” restaurant
·
Visit by Foreign Affairs Counsellor of
·
Visit by the
·
Student presentations on Spanish speaking countries
·
Chinese chess and mahjong classes
·
Portugese lessons
·
Australian history and culture presentation
·
Introductory Dutch lesson on language and culture by parent.
·
Introductory lessons in Korean, Bengali, Hindi, Japanese and Dutch by primary
students
It was indeed an entertaining,
educational and informative week. The Head of MFL, Ms Gruberska, would like to
thank each and every one of the MFL staff and students for their efforts, hard
work and enthusiasm in organising and participating in what was certainly the
most successful International Week to date.
Ms Gruberska
Head of MFL Faculty
Thank You Message from Head Of French
A big ‘Thank You’ from the French Department to our guests,
sponsors, parent helpers, colleagues and our students for their participation
in the 2008 GIS International Week.
The French Department
would like to thank the following people/establishments (NOT listed in order of
importance) without whom the numerous activities/events we staged
during international week would have not been possible.
GUESTS:
(i)The
ambassador of Belgium, Dr
Frank Van der Craen;(ii)
The Counsellor to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Morocco, Mr Said Menzou;
(iii)Massimiliano and Elisa (owners and managers of the great ‘Neroteca’Restaurant,
Somerset Apartments, Lorong Ceylon);
SPONSORS:
(i) JMG TRADE
(a Mont Kiara-based Japanese Food import-export Company) who contributed a big
box of Japanese ‘goodies’; NEROTECA (Lorong Ceylon) and CIPOLLA
(Bangsar) two very well-known Italian restaurants who contributed vouchers (RM
200 each). Thanks to all of the above for ‘funding’ the International Idol
contest;
STAFF:
(i) Mr Bisby
(ICT), Ms Sime (Music), Ms Rames (
STUDENTS:
(i) Smriti, Henna and Zaffran (Year 11), who helped me organize ‘International Idol’; (ii)
all the very brave students who participated in the contest and in the other
activities for displaying a mature, sensible and positive attitude at all
times.
‘Un grand merci’ to Ms Peers, too for being so forthcoming, helpful and inspirational !
Thank you.
Dr Conti
Head of French
CO-CURRICULAR
ACTIVITIES
U15 Fobissea Tournament, Phuket
Last weekend saw a party of thirty-six
students represent GIS in the U15 Fobissea tournament held at the very pleasant
|
Sport |
Place Overall |
|
Swimming |
2nd |
|
Athletics |
Not Published |
|
Boys’ Basketball |
4th (losing semi-finalist) |
|
Girls’ Basketball |
8th |
|
Boys’ Football |
5th |
|
Girls’ Football |
5th |
Many congratulations to the individual winners in both
the Swimming and Athletics competitions:
Swimming
|
Name |
Gold |
Silver |
Bronze |
|
Adam Lim |
4 |
- |
- |
|
James Bradley |
2 |
1 |
1 |
|
Toshi Isato |
2 |
1 |
1 |
|
Stefano Ang |
- |
1 |
1 |
|
Seung Min |
- |
- |
2 |
Athletics
|
Name |
Gold |
Silver |
Bronze |
|
Adelene Lai |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
Ai Ru Lee |
1 |
1 |
- |
|
David Samy |
- |
1 |
- |
|
David Tan |
- |
1 |
- |
|
Lara Price |
- |
1 |