IGB International School’s Weekly Newsletter - Issue 94, Week 3, November 2016
• Friendship Day, an Elementary Student Council initiative.
Intrumental Music Academy ~ Pg. 2
Inside This Week Message from Head of School Mrs. Anne Fowles 2 Head of School .............................................................. News from Elementary School Mrs. Claire McLeod 2 Elementary School Principal
Grade 4 Field Trip ~ Pg. 4 Friendship Day ~ Pg. 5 University Information ~ Pg. 6 The Flying Phoenix ~ Pg. 7 Sports Day and Lightning Detectors ~ Pg. 8 SENIM Conference at IGB International School ~ Pg. 9 3 things you need to know about 24 Hour Race Kuala Lumpur 2016
~ Pg. 12
MILLIONS OF YOUNG PEOPLE. 24 HOURS. the END OF SLAVERY. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19 TH - SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 20TH, 2016 24hourrace.org | https://sites.google.com/igbis.edu.my/pvo
Message from Head of School Dear IGBIS Parents and Community Members, After many months of discussion and consultation we are delighted to launch the revised IGBIS Vision and Mission which will underpin our school moving forward. During the process we have acknowledged the progress the school has made in building an inclusive learning community that encompasses students, parents, teachers, administration, support staff and the school board. We believe that by harnessing the collective input of our community, we are well positioned to provide not only an innovative and challenging IB education, but one that empowers members of our community: IGBIS Vision “To provide an innovative international education that inspires learners to make a positive impact on the world.” IGBIS Mission “To provide an inclusive learning community embracing diversity by offering a challenging IB education which empowers its member to be caring global citizens.”
During the last week I have been privileged to present at two IB events: the IB Higher Education Forum (An IB education at IGBIS) and the MARA IB Conference (21st Century Approaches to Teaching and Learning). We are hosting a major event at IGBIS over the weekend with approximately 1000 students from across Kuala Lumpur coming to take part in the ‘24 Hour Race’ to raise awareness and combat Human Trafficking. Those who attended the ‘Light for Freedom’ charity dinner last Friday night were shocked to hear of the hundreds of people, mostly women and children, who are being trafficked in Malaysia right now. Anything that we as a school can do to reduce this issue is to be commended, as are the young people and school staff who have come together to organise this event.
Mrs. Anne Fowles Head of School
News from Elementary School Congratulations to our Boys Under 11 Basketball team who won the KLISS competition this week. Our girls team came second, so there were celebrations all round! Our Elementary Student Council held a very successful Friendship Day event today. The students were dressed in bright colors, they discussed what being a friend would look and sound like, and they sent friendship messages to each other. Students also donated money so the Student Council could purchase and build some benches to decorate and place Friendship Bench signs on them. Anyone feeling a little lonely could sit on this bench and that would be signal to their peers that they would like some company and maybe an invitation to play. This week l had Ms Deb and Ms Dashani’s Early Years class
visit me to share their excitement of swimming in the learn to swim pool. It was wonderful to hear them confidently relate how they displayed teamwork, commitment and focus to help everyone move from one side of the deep end of the pool to the other side. Please keep the morning of Friday 2nd December free so you can attend our Elementary performance of Pinocchio. It will be held in the Theatre and will start at 8.15am. Until next week.
Mrs. Claire McLeod Elementary School Principal
IGBIS Instrumental Music Academy Jon Suffolk MYP Performing Arts and DP Theatre Teacher .............................................................................................. The Instrumental Music Academy is moving along smoothly this semester with far less disruptions than were experienced last year. I would like to thank the parents for supporting both the program and the tutors by completing the payment of all semester fees. This makes administering the program and salaries so much easier.
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End of Semester 1 Concert Dates The End of Semester 1 concert dates are as follows:• Tuesday 17th January - Students of Ms Iko, Mr Andy and Mr Yew Chee • Thursday 19th January - Students of Mr Adil, Ms Irma and Ms Wong These concerts are a great opportunity for students to showcase their progress and gain performance experience. They will be held in the IGBIS Theatre and will commence at 2pm. All parents and families are invited to attend.
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Igniting Minds
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Grade 4 Field Trip Steven Harvey & Kari Twedt Grade 4 Teachers .............................................................................................. Grade 4 students are learning about ecosystems in their unit “Sharing the Planet”. To gain a deeper understanding of how ecosystems work, the students recently visited Kuala Selangor Nature Park, near the mouth of Sungai Selangor, a one-hour drive from school. The day was hot, but at least it wasn’t raining. The mosquitoes were buzzing around and very hungry, it seemed, because even with repellant on everyone treated them to lunch (advice for next time: wear long pants!!). There was a lot of walking involved, but there was so much to see along the way. Students observed many animals living in a mangrove forest, a tidal wetland and a secondary forest, including mudskippers, crabs, eagles, mosquitoes, kingfishers, monitor lizards and monkeys. They recorded what they saw and back in the classroom, they have been speculating, discussing and learning about how these animals interact with each other and depend on their environment. “I think the field trip was so fun because we got to learn new things about nature and the environment.” ~ Bitian “Our field trip to Kuala Selangor Park was a delightful experience. I learnt about biotic and abiotic features of the park.” ~ Sophie “I had so much fun on the field trip because I learnt many new things. But it was very hot and some big, fat red ants bit me.” ~ Angel “My favorite part of the trip was walking through the Mangrove Forest because it looked amazing.” ~ Adam “We saw some different types of ecosystems, animals and trees. My favourite animal was the mudskipper.” ~ Riko
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Friendship Day
The school was awash with colour on Friday as students wore their brightest clothes to celebrate Friendship Day, an Elementary Student Council initiative. Students had the chance to think about what friendship means to them, and especially what it means to be a good friend. Everyone in elementary school got together to write friendship messages to each other on paper hands that were pinned onto noticeboards - a great way to show that we are all thinking about and caring for each other.
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Another important aspect of Friendship Day was the opportunity to raise money to purchase Friendship Benches. The students raised almost RM800 - enough money for three benches. These brightly painted benches will be placed in play areas through the school and will allow students to find new friends and form new connections whenever they feel the need. Congratulations and a heartfelt thank you to all the students for doing such a magnificent job of raising funds for this important initiative.
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University Information Pauline Davidson Grade 9-12 School Counsellor ...............................................................................................
attend the university globally, with almost 11,000 located in Edinburgh. The school is highly regarded with emphasis placed on the high employability of graduates. The five undergraduate schools are School of Energy, Geoscience, Infrastructure &
Following on from last week’s rundown of universities that visited IGBIS, eager to share
Society; School of Engineering & Physical Sciences; School of Management & Languages;
the benefits of the educational and recreational experiences they can offer, I am excited
School of Mathematical & Computer Sciences; and School of Textiles & Design. A range of
to present information about 11 universities from the UK that visited our school last week.
scholarships are available to overseas students. Alumni include Irvine Welsh, author; and
I hope that this information helps graduating students and their parents to narrow down
Joanne Yeoh, Malaysian violinist and music lecturer at Universiti Putra Malaysia.
the list of universities they wish to apply to in the coming weeks. If you would like more University of Manchester
information about these universities, please contact me.
The University of Manchester is ranked 29th of all the universities in the world. It supports University of Aberdeen
38,000 students and offers the greatest number of courses of all UK universities. The
Established in 1495, this university in northern Scotland supports 13,500 students,
three faculties are Biology, Medicine & Health; Science & Engineering; and Humanities.
including international students from 120 countries. The 550 undergraduate degree
International students hail from 154 countries, and are welcome to apply for one of several
courses are divided among three colleges: College of Arts and Social Sciences, College
scholarships. The list of famous graduates is extensive and includes John Dalton, founder
of Life Sciences and Medicine, and College of Physical Sciences. The university is one
of modern atomic theory; Alan Turing, one of the founders of computer science and
of the highest ranked in the world, offering several scholarships, including a University of
artificial intelligence; and Irene Khan, former Secretary General of Amnesty International.
Aberdeen International Undergraduate Scholarship, open to all international students. The list of notable alumni is extensive and includes many contributors to the worlds of science,
University of Sheffield
politics, arts, law and more.
One of Britain’s best universities and is constantly ranked in the Top 100 globally, University of Sheffield supports over 27,000 students. The university is divided into five faculties:
University of Bath
Arts & Humanities; Engineering; Science; Social Sciences; and Medicine, Dentistry &
Bath University’s compact campus, in Somerset, southern England, has been voted the
Health. There is also an International Faculty - City College, Thessaloniki, Greece. Several
best university campus in Britain. It supports almost 17,000 students, 30% of which are
scholarships are offered to international students, including an International Baccalaureate
international students. The school’s academic strengths principally lie in engineering,
Scholarship which is offered to 10 IB Diploma holders. Notable alumni include Eric Moxey,
physical sciences, mathematics, and technology. Several scholarships are offered each
bomb disposal expert and inventor of the Fuze Extractor; and Eddie Izzard, comedian.
year. Notable alumni include Salleh Mohammad Yasin, Director of International Institute for Global Health at the United Nations University and Former Vice-Chancellor of the National
University of the Arts, London
University of Malaysia.
This large university specialises in art, design, fashion and performing arts, and is one of the top 5 universities in the world for art and design. The university supports over 17,000
University of Birmingham
students, half of which are international students. Several scholarships are offered to
The University of Birmingham, in Edgbaston, Birmingham, in central England, supports
international students. The list of notable alumni is extensive and includes actors Ralph
over 34,000 students. It has five colleges: Arts & Law; Engineering & Physical Sciences;
Fiennes and Colin Firth; fashion designers Alexander McQueen and Stella McCartney;
Life & Environmental Sciences; Medical & Dental Sciences; Social Sciences; and Liberal
and advertising executive Charles Saatchi.
Arts & Sciences, the university was named the 2014 University of the Year, and is ranked in the top 100 of global universities. Engineering, computer science, philosophy and political
University of Sussex
sciences are strong areas of study. The university offers several scholarships including
The University of Sussex, in Brighton, England, boasts a multidisciplinary teaching
the University of Birmingham / MABECS Outstanding Achievement Scholarships, offered
environment, allowing students to graduate with extensive background knowledge
specifically to Malaysian students. Alumni include two former British Prime Ministers and
in a variety of subjects that complements the core knowledge they gained from their
11 Nobel laureates.
specialised subject areas. Of the 13,000 enrolled students, one quarter are international students. Support and opportunities for international students are extensive and include
Bristol University
a summer programme, language support, a merit-based scholarship programme. Notable
This research university located in the scenic Clifton area of Bristol, southern England
alumni include Ian McEwan, writer; and Nobel prize winners Harold Kroto (chemistry) and
ranks amongst the Top 10 of UK universities and is highly regarded for computer science,
Anthony Leggett (physics).
electrical & electronic engineering, civil engineering, biological sciences, mathematics and psychology. Of the 21,000 students, more than one sixth are international students.
Swansea University
Numerous international scholarships are available. Notable alumni include Mike Bennett,
Located on the shores of Swansea Bay, Swansea University is renowned for medicine
digital media entrepreneur; and Albert II, Prince of Monaco.
and engineering. The university supports 16,000 students, including students from 130 countries, and offers up to £1.5 million in scholarships to international students. Alumni
University of Essex
include Lyn Evans, CBE, Project Leader of Large Hadron Collider, CERN; and Colin
Over 14,000 students attend this university, located in Colchester, Essex. Its economics,
Pillinger, CBE, Planetary Scientist.
government (political science), and sociology departments are considered some of the best in Europe. Several scholarships are available to international students, including the
University of Leeds
Vice Chancellor’s International Scholarship. Notable alumni include Óscar Arias, former
With over 30,000 students, this research university in West Yorkshire is one of the largest
president of Costa Rica and Nobel Peace Prize winner; and world-renowned architect
in the UK. It offers 560 undergraduate degrees, and excels in rare specialties including
Daniel Libeskind.
colour chemistry, fire science, nanotechnology and aviation technology with pilot studies. Several merit-based scholarships are offered to international students. Notable alumni
Heriot-Watt University
include several Nobel laureates and NASA astronaut Piers Sellers.
The main campus of this university is located in Edinburgh, Scotland, with smaller campuses in the Scottish Borders, Orkney, Dubai, and here in Malaysia. 31,000 students
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The Flying Phoenix Tim Bartle Athletics & Activities Coordinator ............................................................................................... U11 Basketball A long trip down to KTJ in Seremban on Wednesday afternoon saw our boys and girls U11 Basketball teams compete in their
season Plate Final. A huge congratulations is in order to our teams and coaches! Both teams have worked incredibly hard at training this season and have improved immensely under the guidance of Mr Hawkes and Ms J. The Girls team lost to Nexus, drew with KTJ and beat Taylors to finish in 2nd place overall. The Boys team drew with KTJ, won a close game with Nexus and defeated Help 9-8 to finish as Plate champions!
U11 boys and girls basketball teams with their coaches
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Sports Day and Lightning Detectors Andy Mullin Physical Education Teacher ............................................................................................... On November 9th IGBIS had its second Sports Day after the successful inaugural event last year. Unfortunately the weather wasn’t on our side this year and the event was cut short due to lightning and the storm that accompanied it. We did however get to see the Phoenix spirit alive and well as Mr Bartle warmed the crowd up in the morning with his now infamous round of jokes and anecdotes followed by a cameo appearance from Abdullah Salam as the chief aerobics instructor. After an hour of rotations the lightning detector siren sounded and everyone retreated to the Sports Hall. This was seemingly the end of the event, but as it turns out the whole school ‘Rock, Paper, Scissors’ championship turned out to be the highlight of the day!
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The house system has been in place for a year and its importance within the school culture is becoming more evident with the students feeling a sense of connection and community within their houses. Watching as DP students and MYP students move around with PYP students forming strong bonds across the school helps to build a school community based firmly on the Learner Profile. As a side note, the introduction of the automated lightning detector to the school has been welcomed with open arms by the PE, Athletics and Activities departments as we continually seek ways to ensure the safety of our students. Although frustrating at times as we try and deliver the best possible programmes for our students, the removal of doubt through the automated system ensures that we can all rest a little easier when the inevitable storms roll in, particularly now during the monsoon season.
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SENIM Conference at IGB International School It certainly shows the dedication and professionalism of teachers when 120 of them spend their Saturday sharing their ideas and strategies to help the many children with special needs in our communities. The 3rd Annual SENIM (Special Educational Network in Malaysia) conference was held at IGBIS last Saturday and was a wonderful sharing of best practice with regard to meeting the needs of students. ‘Special Educational Needs’ can be defined as particular educational requirements resulting from learning difficulties, physical disabilities, or emotional and behavioral difficulties. The theme of the conference was ‘Keys to Unlocking Learning’ and participants chose from a variety of workshops within three key strands: Technology; Learning About Learning; and Social Emotional.
of understanding the various needs of children when teaching for success. Each session was a celebration of their quest for excellence. It is important to note that the conference incorporated so many members of our school community - specialist teachers, classroom teachers, students, and parents; all in a leadership role - well done to you all. Lucas Waechter made a ‘super’ effort sharing his inspirational story on centre stage - we will have video of his interview available on our Facebook page soon. Special mention must also go to Lizzie Hudson, Gail Hall and Julie Arcidiacono who did much of the organisation for the event.
Teachers in all educational contexts are continuously searching for the best way of meeting the needs of the children they teach: this conference simply underlined the importance
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3 things you need to know about 24 Hour Race Kuala Lumpur 2016 Astro Awani | Translated by: Suganthi Suparmaniam Published on November 18, 2016 08:25 MYT ................................................................................................................
(NGO) in countries like Nepal, Hong Kong, Cambodia, Singapore and Malaysia. The initiative is to create more leaders in the fight against modern slavery.
KUALA LUMPUR: Did you know, every 24 hours, 3,287 people in the world are sold as slaves? The 24 Hour Race Kuala Lumpur 2016 takes place tomorrow to increase awareness on this grave issue. Here are three things you need to know about the 24 Hour Race Kuala Lumpur 2016: 1) When did the 24 Hour Race first begin The 24 Hour Race was first organised in Hong Kong in the year 2010. Today, countries like Malaysia, Singapore and Korea among others, participate in this event. Last year alone, more than 2,000 students from Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia took part in this event in their respective countries in the effort to end modern slavery. Since 2010, the 24 Hour Race has involved more than 100,000 participants in Hong Kong, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur and has collected more than US $550,000 through many charity events and awareness campaign on modern slavery issue.
3. When and where? The 24 Hour Race Kuala Lumpur 2016 will be held on November 19 from 9am and will end the next day at 9am. The event will be held at the IGB International School, in Sierramas, Sungai Buloh. The event will be held simultaneously in Hong Kong and Singapore on Nov 19 while the charity run event in Seoul, Korea was held on Sept 12 at Cheonggye Plaza. Those who wish to support or donate to the event can obtain more information http://24hourrace.org/. Article cited: http://english.astroawani.com/lifestyle/3-things-you-need-know-about-24-hourrace-kuala-lumpur-2016-122966
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2. What is the goal of 24 Hour Race? The initiative was started by a group of young people globally to collect funds to be channeled to anti-slavery non-governmental organisations
IGBIS INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL
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