Post-pandemic it has been more important than ever to offer a wide range of opportunities and activities for students. Our CCA programmes are up and running, overseas trips and competitions are in full swing, and full training schedules are in place before and after the school day. But it isn’t only children who benefit from feeling connected, being part of a community, and learning new skills. Our parents are also an important part of our school, and we try to bring them into the school whenever we can.
Community Learning Series
Over the last two years we have been building up our community learning series to offer parents the opportunity to learn new skills and make friends from the GIS community. Many of our parents have learnt new languages, new musical instruments, practised their artistic skills, and engaged in cultural programmes such as dance. Not only are these workshops useful for parents personally, they also model the importance of lifelong learning to their children! Our wonderful parent learners have performed at a school concert, organised their own school trips, and taken part in a range of activities and events.
I have participated in so many community learning series, such as Malaysia language class, instrument class, dancing class, etc… But since I joined the GIS Community Learning Series I met many new friends who have common interests. Now I have many friends around which always make me happy… During the class we had lots of fun, joyful memories. It makes my life happier.”
Nicole Liu
It was a great opportunity for me to learn foreign languages and get to know culture. Also, I could meet friends who have the same interests.”
Hiroko Tsukamoto
Parent Workshops
The community learning series are in addition to our weekly parent workshops which support parents in understanding our school systems. Our teachers and external experts run workshops every Wednesday on everything from dental health to IGCSE options. Recent examples include phonics, competitive sport, trauma-informed parenting, communication skills, and AI. This allows parents to ask questions about aspects of learning at GIS and to give feedback. It also allows parents who are not used to the curriculum structure of an international school to understand how subjects work together and what qualifications and options will be available to their children when they leave.
When I was a newbie in GIS, I could make many friends from all over the world and enjoy Malaysian warmth, heart and culture. I am so thankful to GIS community staff and teachers.”
Jungah Shin
It’s informative for parents to attend, as it will clear all doubts and we can ask questions to a particular speaker or teacher about any subjects related. While attending those parents can connect and be with other parents that have the same issues and exchange information, build up knowledge and be better.”
Nik Shamsiraini
Parents, Teachers and Friends
Our PTF (Parents, Teachers and Friends of the school) are an important part of helping us to ensure that our parent workshops are relevant and useful. The PTF hosts events as part of, or in addition to, our workshop schedule. This has included medical talks, first aid training for parents, and coffee mornings. The PTF are pivotal in helping us welcome new families and connect them to the community, including offering buddies, country representatives and translations. They also organise events in and outside of school such as celebrations of different festivals, and trips and visits to places in the local area such as to a beautiful nearby mosque.
Our International Community
GIS is an international community with over 65 nationalities represented by our students and parents. We understand the importance of including everybody, and therefore for workshops we provide translated materials in Korean, Japanese, Mandarin and Bahasa Malaysia. We also offer parent groups the opportunities to come and gather for coffee mornings at GIS and speak in their native languages. This allows parents who don’t speak English to still feel part of the school community and welcome on campus. We offer language classes, including English and Bahasa Malaysia, to help support communication with our parents, and welcome any parent who would like to offer conversational language classes to others. It is a privilege to serve a multilingual community and we recognise and support that.
GardenPod
GIS also has a podcast, the GardenPod, which is released weekly during term time. This enables parents who can’t attend our workshops to still learn about important aspects of learning and hear what we are doing in school, alongside our weekly newsletter communication. It is linked via the parent portal and all previous episodes can be listened to. Particularly popular episodes include Executive Functioning and Social and Emotional Learning with expert Ellen Mahoney. The GardenPod is listened to by educators and parents around the world.
