IGBIS Weekly Newsletter. Issue 114, Week 2, May, 2017.

IGB International School’s Weekly Newsletter - Issue 114. Week 2. April 2017.

Grade 3: Super Quiet Uninterrupted Individual Reading Time (S.Q.U.I.R.T.)

Inside This Week Message from Head of School Mrs. Anne Fowles Head of School ....................................................

News from Elementary School Mrs. Claire McLeod Elementary School Principal ....................................................

News from Secondary School Mr. Michael Arcidiacono Secondary School Principal

Grade 3: Super Quiet Uninterrupted Individual

Happening.

Reading Time (S.Q.U.I.R.T.) ~ Pg. 3

++ Mon, 15 May ~ Minerva Schools at KGI - Talk with Alumna Cindy Leow @L6 Learning Lounge 1:00 pm - 1:30 pm ++ Tues, 16 May ~ First Aid Workshop - Burns & Scalds @PVO Room | 8:00 am - 8:30 am ~ Staff Appreciation Lunch @L5 Staff Lounge 12:00 pm - 2:30 pm ++ Wed, 17 May ~ Yoga for Parents @Classroom 3-38 8:00 am - 10:00 am ~ G7 Host Nation Field Trip to Jadi Batek 9:00 am - 11:45 am ~ Zomi & G9 Performing Art Project @IGBIS 1:30 pm - 3:00 pm ~ KLISS U9 Tee Ball @KTJ | 4:00 pm- 5:30 pm ~ KLISS U11 Tee Ball @Help | 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm ++ Thurs, 18 May ~ G4 Field Trip to places of worship 8:00 am - 3:00 pm ~ U13 Boys Volleyball @BSKL 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm ++ Fri, 19 May ~ ES Assembly (EYS) @ES Music Classroom 8:00 am - 8:40 am ~ Open Day | 9:00 am - 12:30 pm ~ G10 Drama Performance “The Little Prince” @Theatre | 10:45 am - 11:30 am ++ Sat, 20 May ~ Ultimate Frisbee Tournament @ IGBIS 8:00 am - 3:00 pm ++ All Week ~ PYP Art Exhibition @ Visual Arts Studio ~ IB DP Examinations @ L7 MPR

IBDP Exams ~ Pg. 5 Food Allergy Awareness Week - 14-20 May ~ Pg. 6 From the Admissions Desk ~ Pg. 7 PVO Brunch and Summer Bazaar ~ Pg. 7

Message from Head of School Dear IGBIS Parents and Community Members, This has been another busy week for staff at IGBIS who came into school on Wednesday to work on the self-study for the CIS and NEASC accreditation process.

We look forward to seeing all of our parents at student-led conferences this Saturday.

Mrs. Anne Fowles Head of School

Congratulations Grade 10 for completing your MYP Personal Project to such a high standard and sharing this with us last week. I am sure that the process will stand you in good stead as you move into the IB Diploma next year.

News from Elementary School After School Activities T-Ball has proved to be very popular with our Grade 2 to 5 students and this season we have two teams training on Thursday afternoons. Using a stationary tee, students learn basic ball skills and the rules to help prepare them for baseball or softball. Building fitness and having fun are also fundamentals to the sport. Whilst l was watching the students training this week I noticed a number of students without hats. Parents are asked to remind their children that hats are required when they are on the field in the intense heat.

fasting please make sure you inform their class teachers and pass on if there are any special requests.

What’s coming up • • • • • •

16th May: Teachers Day. 19th May: Open Day for prospective parents and students.

6th, 7th & 8th June: Music Academy Concerts at 2pm.

13th June: Reports will be sent home.

14th June: Class parties during periods 7 & 8.

15th June: Final Assembly at 8.10am and dismissal at 12.00pm.

Ramadan Ramadan starts on the evening of Friday 26th May. It is important for teachers to be aware of Elementary School students who will be fasting so we can monitor their energy and wellness levels, provide alternative locations for lunchtime and contact parents if required. If your child/children will be

Until next time,

Mrs. Claire McLeod Elementary School Principal

News from Secondary School The opening of our third edition of the Personal Project Exhibition this Friday was a great success - congratulations to all of our Grade 10 students and Mr Clark for their efforts.

As a culminating project in the MYP, the Personal Project is a unique element of the IGBIS education and one that nicely encapsulates our mission. Through the project our Grade 10 students are “empowered” to develop themselves as learners and consider what contributions they can make. Please stop by the Personal Project Exhibition this Saturday, when you attend the Student-Led Conferences with your son/daughter.

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The Student-Led Conferences this Saturday is one of our most important events of the year (and my own personal favourite!) I look forward to seeing all of our families tomorrow!

Sincerely yours,

Michael Arcidiacono Secondary School Principal

Igniting Minds

Impacting Lives

Grade 3: Super Quiet Uninterrupted Individual Reading Time (S.Q.U.I.R.T.)

Simon Millward Primary Years Programme Coordinator ...............................................................................................

Developing a love of reading is so important for children as we want them to read not only now but in the future and as adults as well.

On my travels in school I see a variety of teaching practices. I stopped by Grade 3 this week and you could hear a pin drop in the classrooms as they were all reading — as the newsletter title suggests super quietly, uninterrupted and individually.

Modelling reading at home is wonderful for our students to see, whether you are reading in English or in your home language, the message that we are communicating to children is, reading is enjoyable.

From the photos you can see that where the students were sitting was varied. They were comfortable, they were relaxed and they were completely engaged. Their choice in reading material was appropriate for them and they were enjoying the experience.

Think about when you read for pleasure, where do you sit?

How comfortable and relaxed are you as you read? It would be wonderful to think that you could have S.Q.U.I.R.T. in your household too!

Igniting Minds

Impacting Lives

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IBDP Exams Mary Boyd Diploma Programme Coordinator ................................................................................................................................................................................................

Congratulations to our Grade 12 students, approaching the last week of DP exams next week, with Psychology, Physics, Spanish, Geography and French left. Although some students have already finished this week, we look forward to welcoming them back to school next week, and beyond.

Just as the Grade 12 students finish, the Grade 11 students will start their examination week from Monday 22 May - Friday 26 May. Good luck to all with their preparations.

Igniting Minds

Impacting Lives

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Azilah Chan School Nurse ...............................................................................................

In honour of the 20th anniversary of Food Allergy Awareness Week, created in 1998 by the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network (now called FARE), we would like to raise awareness, encourage respect, promote safety, and improve the quality of life for the several IGBIS students who suffer from food allergies, some of whom are at risk of life-threatening anaphylaxis. During the upcoming week information will be shared with staff; cafeterias will display awareness posters; and at next Friday’s Elementary assembly students will be able to watch a short video on how they can be a P.A.L. Protect A Life.

nuts. If nuts are served at home, encourage and remind your child to rinse or brush teeth and wash hands before coming to school. Even the smallest traces of food allergens can trigger life-threatening symptoms in those with food allergies.

It is important to take action at the first sign of reaction. Should a child under your care break out in hives, complain of an itchy mouth, begin sneezing, coughing, having stomach pain, nausea or vomiting, and especially if it progresses to swelling of the lips, tongue and throat, trouble swallowing, wheezing, feeling faint or having chest pain, immediately administer an Epipen and call the emergency line. The child must then immediately be taken to a hospital to seek care, as the medication may wear off.

What is an Epipen?

What is a food allergy?

A food allergy results when the immune system mistakenly targets a harmless food protein as a threat and attacks it.

Nearly any food is capable of causing an allergic reaction, but there are eight foods that cause the majority of reactions: peanuts, tree nuts, milk, eggs, wheat, soy, fish, shellfish.

An Epipen is an epinephrine injector used to treat anaphylaxis, which is a life-threatening allergic reaction in which the airway is often affected, resulting in tightening of the throat, chest tightness and difficulty breathing. All IGBIS staff receive Epipen training during their first aid courses. If you are interested in learning more about the Epipen, please contact the School Clinic.

What are the symptoms?

An allergic reaction to food can affect the skin, the gastrointestinal tract, the respiratory tract, and, in more serious cases, the cardiovascular system. Symptoms typically appear within minutes to several hours.

What can we all do?

The entire IGBIS campus is peanut/tree nut allergy aware.

Students are not allowed to share food and everyone is reminded to wash their hands before and after eating. Our School Clinic has up-to-date Emergency Care Plans for all students with severe food allergies. An updated IGBIS Guidelines for Allergy Management will be shared with parents at the beginning of the next academic year, as it is currently being reviewed by our school’s Health & Safety Committee.

Parents who send in lunch from home for their child should not send foods containing peanut butter or nuts (including Nutella, for example). There are special days or occasions in which students may want to bring a snack to share - please do not send in products (such as cakes or cookies) containing

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How might a child describe his/her symptoms?

• • • • • • • • • • • • • •

“This food is too spicy.”

“My tongue is hot [or burning].”

“It feels like something’s poking my tongue.”

“My tongue [or mouth] is tingling [or burning].”

“My tongue [or mouth] itches.”

“It [my tongue] feels like there is hair on it.”

“My mouth feels funny.”

“There’s a frog in my throat.”

“There’s something stuck in my throat.”

“My tongue feels full [or heavy].”

“My lips feel tight.”

“It feels like there are bugs in there.” (to describe itchy ears) “It [my throat] feels thick.”

“It feels like a bump is on the back of my tongue [throat].”

Sources: https://www.foodallergy.org/anaphylaxis http://www.epipen.co.uk/patients/epipenr-user-guide/

Igniting Minds

Impacting Lives

From the Admissions Desk Wayne Demnar Admissions and Marketing Director ...............................................................................................

Thank you very much to parents for responding to our reenrolment survey via Open Apply. We are grateful for your assistance and we are now able to proceed with our planning for the new school year accordingly. We would also ask that you let us know whenever your contact details change so that they are up to date on our system.

Open Day Our last Open Day for the year will be held next Friday 19th May. The last time that we held an Open Day on a school day, it was a big success with lots of visitors eager to see what ‘life at IGBIS’ is really like. I would like to ask for your assistance in asking any of your friends or colleagues who might be interested, if they would like to join us on the day. Anyone who

is, can contact me at the school and I will organise tours for them — wayne.demnar@igbis.edu.my

Summer School We have a limited Summer School programme scheduled for July. If you are interested in enrolling your child in Robotics with Mr Derry, please let us know by next Wednesday 3rd May. The programme is open to students in grades 5 to 11.

Date : Monday 24 July to Friday 28 July Time : 8:30am to 12:30pm Cost : RM800 Please contact me at wayne.demnar@igbis.edu.my if you would like to enrol your child.

PVO Brunch and Summer Bazaar Julie Chen Arcidiacono Community Support & Services Coordinator ......................................................................................

Staff Appreciation Lunch Tuesday, 16 May 2017 All contributions should be dropped off on 16th May at the Level 2 turnstiles from 7:45-8:00 am or at Level 5 Reception from 11:00-11:30 am. One of our PVO members will receive the dishes at that time and parents will be able to fill out labels with their names if they so wish. Gentle reminder that all foods should be nut-free.

There’s still time to join in the event! Please contact your class parent representative if you would like to be involved with Staff Appreciation Lunch, either by contributing food & beverages or by helping out on the day itself.

PVO Brunch and Summer Bazaar Thursday, 25 May 2017 Only 2 weeks away! We have over 20 vendors confirmed, selling a wide range of food and crafts, such as fashion accessories, educational toys, stationery, and homemade food & remedies. If you are interested in volunteering, parent help would be much appreciated.

There will be a Summer Bazaar event committee meeting on Wednesday, 17 May at 2:00 pm in the PVO Room. Please join us!

All parents are invited for the PVO Brunch on 25 May from 11:00 - 2:00 pm in Level 3 Classroom 3-38, right before the Summer Bazaar. Stop by for nibbles and a good time with fellow parents before checking out the Bazaar!

Igniting Minds

Impacting Lives

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Correction and apology Last week, the “Book donations for Achiever’s Academy” article was credited to the wrong person. The article was written by Sumire Uenishi, a Grade 11 student. We unreservedly apologise to Sumire and any other people who were distressed by the error, and would like to reprint the article, with the credit going to the correct person.

The Newsletter Team

Book donations for Achiever’s Academy Sumire Uenishi Grade 11 ...............................................................................................

“Thank you so much for the books. I love some of the novels and am looking forward to reading them. Please help convey our most heartfelt thanks to all donors of the books.”

- A message from a volunteer teacher at Achiever’s Academy I organised a book donation for our partner refugee school, Achiever’s Academy. Overall, 445 books were collected: 115 novels, 256 children’s storybooks, and 75 educational books.

Initially, my goal was to collect 300 books, so this result was well beyond my expectations.

I am impressed by a number of books donated by the IGBIS community and greatly appreciate everyone’s help and effort to contribute to this donation. This significant achievement can change the quality of education at the refugee school. In addition, I am glad that the contribution reflects some attributes of our IB learner profile - being caring and open-minded. I would like to say thank you to my teachers for assisting me to make my project successful. I could not have done this project without support from so many people.

Book donation booth at International Day. (S. Uenishi)

Again, thank you all for making this project meaningful.

Kindergarten refugee students learning maths. (S. Uenishi)

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Refugee students helping to bring books over to the school. (S. Uenishi)

Igniting Minds

Impacting Lives