IGBIS Newsletter, Issue 345.
August 18, 2023
IGBIS Newsletter, Issue 347.
September 1, 2023
From the Elementary Principal
By Simon Millward
It was great to see so many of you attend the ‘Back to School/Meet the Teacher’ sessions on Wednesday. I hope you learned a lot and feel you can better support your children in school and be able to contact us easily if you need to.
This week also saw the Elementary school resume our rotational assemblies. Grade 5 led the way by sharing some very important messages about being Mindful of what we do as it can impact others. The students were inspired by the book What if everybody did that? By Ellen Javernick.
The Grade 5 students shared some examples, like what if everybody left the lids off the markers when they had used them? Answer: They would all dry out, and we could not use them.
The students also performed some’ learner profile’ skits, the audience then had to guess which one they were acting out. This brought much laughter to the audience.
The Grade 5 students finished off their part in the assembly by performing their musical rendition of Ed Sheeran’s song ‘Dancing in the Dark’.
Dr. Brunton presented a very special award to Ms. Carol in Kindergarten. The long service award is given to teachers who have worked at IGBIS for 5 years or more. Ms Carol worked at the school when it first opened in Grade 1, took a break and then saw the light and returned to IGBIS! It is wonderful having her work at the school, and we are thankful that she returned.
The final message was from Mr Simon, he spoke about being mindful of how many paper towels we use after washing our hands in the bathroom. Here is the LINK to the video.
The challenge now is to use one paper towel. Are you up for the challenge?!
All in all, this was a great start to the year, and I look forward to more grade-level sharing throughout the year.
Just a reminder that Thursday, 31 August 2023, is Merdeka Day, which is a public holiday, so there will not be any school on that day.
From the Counselling Team
A New Life/A New Year at IGBIS
If you have just recently moved, take a look at what you left behind, and what you could experience in your “new world.”
Many of us are raising Third Culture Kids (TCKs) - those kids who experience and develop a “third culture” inside, which is a combination of several elements of all the cultures lived. This culture is something you create.
Being new to a country brings on feelings known as Culture Shock or Cultural Stress. One will experience a honeymoon and optimism phase where there is acceptance, fun and joy that things are different but okay. Next comes the realistic phase of –why am I here, it’s too different, as well as homesickness and emptiness. Then compromise, and accommodations come into play. You are uncertain of your relationships or how others view you. You understand personal limitations and make adjustments. This leads to you adjusting and integrating into the culture with the acceptance of the foreign culture and new customs. Remember, feeling “at home” can take an average of 8 - 14 months. While this is how it is with settling into a new country, it can be similar for any BIG change…a new school, a new grade, a new school year.
As a parent, you need to take a look at your child and understand them. Be sure to talk with them, but more importantly, listen carefully and with intention. Acknowledge their feelings and appropriately acknowledge and communicate your own feelings. Be aware of changes in your child’s behaviour, some may be dramatic or unexpected and require care and attention.
Know the importance of fitting in from your child’s perspective. To fit in is to belong. To belong to a peer group has priority. Find a balanced lifestyle between home, school, and friends.
Seeing our new friends so happy is a sign that we are doing lots of great stuff at IGBIS…It takes a village! The partnership and strong connections between parents, school leadership, teachers, counsellors and support staff all help to create a ‘culture of care’ where we all feel safe, and transitions are smooth.
Look at these photos, I bet you cannot pick ‘which ones are the new kids’? Why? Because our community is so welcoming and new students feel like they have always belonged!
If you have any questions or concerns about the transition to IGBIS, feel free to contact your child's counsellor.
As a reminder, the counselling team will share our very first coffee morning with parents on 29 August 2023 from 8:15 am - 9:15 am. Come along to meet and socialise with your counsellors, Mr John, Ms Leanne, and Ms Amanda, and learn more about the counselling programme at IGBIS and how we help support and strengthen our community. To help us plan for space and refreshments, please RSVP here.
Best Regards
The Counseling Team
We look forward to continuing the year in the amazingly positive way that it has begun. Have a wonderful weekend, and know that the counselling team is available to both students and parents.
The Counselling Team
- John Schuster (ES)
john.schuster@igbis.edu.my - Leanne Harvey (MS)
leanne.harvey@igbis.edu.my - Amanda Lopez (HS)
amanda.lopez@igbis.edu.my
Referral Incentives Programme
Join us in shaping the future of IGBIS! Your referrals can open new doors for eager learners while fostering a stronger community.
IGBIS parents who refer new students to IGBIS will be entitled to RM2,000 per student or *RM3,000 per family (where there are two or more students in K – 12) through the *Referral Incentives Programme.
*T&Cs apply
Click HERE to access and download the IGBIS Referral Incentive Application form.
Your participation could illuminate new paths for young learners and enrich the tapestry of our educational journey. Together, we illuminate minds and enrich lives. Get started today!
ISTA Inter-Arts Festival
“Celebrating our ability to tune in and connect through the arts.”
IGBIS will be hosting this coming November's ISTA Inter-Arts Festival for Music, Drama and Visual Arts. This time, we will host visiting schools and need families to host these students.
Event Details:
- Starts on Thursday, 23 November 2023, at 3:00 pm
- Finishes on Sunday, 26 November 2023, at 1:30 pm
- Age range: Middle School (Ages 10 - 14)
- Total Participants: 35 - 55
- Host School Participants: Approximately 20 (first 15 host students get host discount rates, and after that, students pay member rates)
Stay tuned! An email with the details for the sign-up will be available soon. Visit HERE for more information.
Future Planning Weekly Update
Amanda Lopez
Highlights of the Week
UKEC Medical School Masterclass
Date: Saturday, 26 August 2023
Time: 10:00 am - 12:30 pm
Location: UKEC Office, Unit 10A (Ground floor), Nadayu 28 Dagang, Jalan PJS 11/7, Bandar Sunway, 47500, Subang Jaya, Selangor - Click here for direction
Students will be able to learn how to prepare for and gain admission to medical schools in the UK, Ireland & Malaysia and the pathways to practice. There will also be 3 tailored masterclass workshops about applying to medical schools in the UK, Ireland & Malaysia. Students who are interested in joining us can register here: bit.ly/events-ukec
Follow Us on Instagram, Facebook and our In-house Counselling Website
It’s about time we joined Social Media, so please follow us!
The IGBIS Counselling Team is now on social media, and we will highlight all things counselling, which includes future planning information, resources, and events coverage.
Follow us on Instagram and/or Facebook - @igbiscounselling and on our in-house Google webpage.
Save the Dates - IGBIS University Fairs
All university fairs will begin at 9:30 am and will typically last until 10:00 am+. Fairs will be held in the MYP and DP/CP Lounges, unless otherwise noted. Parents are welcome to attend. More information will come out soon.
- 18 September 2023
- 20 September 2023
- 03 October 2023
- 05 October 2023
Grade 10 and 11 PSAT Registration and Information
On Thursday, 26 October 2023, the PSAT Test will take place at IGBIS.
Registration will close on Friday, 01 September 2023, and you will receive a confirmation email from me by Friday, 15 September 2023. Please note that the cost of the test is roughly RM 140, and you will be billed directly from IGBIS. Testing space for the PSAT at IGBIS is limited and is open to Grade 10 and 11 students only. Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis.
To register, please click HERE. (Access is only available through IGBIS Gmail)
The PSAT is a “trial run” for the SAT, which is a common standardised entrance exam for colleges and universities in North America. PSAT results will provide useful information about student writing, mathematics, and reading comprehension abilities, and help students prepare for the SAT. For US citizens in the 11th grade, the PSAT also serves as a qualifying test for National Merit Scholarships.
Due to COVID, many North American colleges/universities no longer require students to take the SAT as part of their admission process, however, as the world returns to “normal”, we are unsure if the SAT will return as a requirement. Thus, for students who plan to apply to colleges/universities in North America, it may be to your advantage to take the PSAT in preparation for the SAT.
To help students get prepared:
The only resource I recommend for both PSAT and SAT prep is Khan Academy, as the CollegeBoard specifically partnered with the platform as part of their redesign to end testing inequality in 2016. The data supports that students spend at least 30 minutes per week studying on Khan.
Testing Timelines:
The timeline for the PSAT and SAT for students in Grade 11:
- October Grade 11 - Students take the PSAT
- December/January Grade 11- Students receive their test scores
- March - June Grade 11- Students should take at least 1 of the SATs
- August/October Grade 12- Students can take the SAT if wanted/needed
The timeline for the PSAT and SAT for students in Grade 10:
- October Grade 10 - Students take the PSAT
- December/January Grade 10 - Students receive their test scores
- Spring/Summer Grade 10 into Grade 11 - continue to study/prep
- Grade 11 -
- October Grade 11- Students take the PSAT again
- December/January Grade 11 - Students receive their test scores
- March - June Grade 11 - Students should take at least 1 of the SATs
- August/October Grade 12 - Students can take the SAT if wanted/needed
As we get closer to the actual test date, I will send out specifics for test day procedures.
Upcoming Student Counselling Sessions
*All information and resources will be shared with both students and parents via email after each session
- Friday, 25 August 2023 - Grade 10 Study Hall: Getting to Graduation (credits, grades, transcripts)
- Wednesday, 30 August 2023 - Grade 12 AMP: Letters of Recommendation
- Wednesday, 13 September 2023 - Grade 9 Study Hall: Getting to Graduation (credits, grades, transcripts) and How to Work a University Fair
- Friday, 15 September 2023 - Grade 10 Study Hall: How to Work a University Fair
Upcoming Parent Counselling Sessions
*All information and resources will be shared with parents via email after each session
- Tuesday, 29 August 2023 - Coffee with the Counsellors: Meet & Greet - (K- 12 Parents) Come to meet and socialise with your counsellors, Mr John, Ms Leanne, and Ms Amanda, and learn more about the counselling programme at IGBIS and how we help support students and parents.
- Friday, 15 September 2023 - Coffee with the Counsellors: Pathways and Supports for All Students (K- 12 parents)
- Friday, 27 September 2023 - What’s Next? Wednesday Sessions: Getting to Graduation and Beyond - Overview and exploration of the future planning programme at IGBIS, graduation requirements, credits, grades, and transcripts. Learn how IGBIS supports students and parents in successfully getting to graduation and planning for life after high school.
Worth a Read…
Or listen - this week, we highlight one of my favourite podcasts - College Admissions Decoded.
Created by the National Association for College Admission Counseling, every episode features insiders from the world of admissions breaking down the facts, myths, and rules of engagement for today's college landscape.
Info, Opportunities, & Resources
Ritsumeikan University, Japan Online Session - Sunday, 27 August 2023
Greetings from Kyoto, Japan!
We are writing to invite your students to Ritsumeikan University's webinar on Sunday, 27 August 2023. The webinar will introduce Ritsumeikan University, our English-medium undergraduate programs, and why we think Japan is an excellent place to study.
We have seen more interest and intrigue than ever in studying in Japan - Did you know that many Japanese universities offer undergraduate programs instructed in English? Did you know the average annual tuition fee for Japanese universities is less than 15,000 USD?
Register today and get a head start on your college admissions planning!
Sunday, 27 August 2023, 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm (JST)
Cannot make it? Register, and we will send the recording.
iCLA's Upcoming Virtual Open Campus (Japan)
It is with great pleasure that I am writing to invite you and your students to iCLA's upcoming virtual open campus event for international students on Saturday, 16 September 2023.
As part of our interactive online open campus, your students can:
- Take part in a live demo lesson with Professor Darren Ashmore, who is featured in Netflix's docuseries Age of Samurai: Battle for Japan. Join us as Prof. Ashmore discusses the 1000 years of artistic history which underpins the medium of manga. In the lesson, we shall explore three key figures from the ancient past of manga history and how their legacy lives on
- Get information on applying to iCLA
- Take a campus tour
- Hear directly from iCLA students about life on campus
Pre-registration is required and can be completed by heading to this page.
We are running two sessions on the day, from 10:00 a.m. - 11:45 a.m. and 2:00 - 3:45 p.m. Japan time (+9 GMT).
We are very excited to be holding this event as we are currently taking applications for our Spring (April) and Fall (September) 2024 intakes. The deadlines for which are Monday, 20 November 2023 and Monday, 15 April 2024, respectively (For holders of a current Japanese passport or residence visa, the deadlines are 16 February 2024 and 21 June 2024). Applications for our September 2024 intake will open on 01 September 2023.
Our 2024 Student Guide can also be downloaded here.
Wolves of Wall Street Challenge by Harvard Student Agencies - Applications Open
We at Learn with Leaders are thrilled to announce the Exclusive World’s Global Stock Market Challenge for high schoolers - ‘Wolves of Wall Street Challenge’ by Harvard Student Agencies (HSA) to promote financial literacy among students.
About the Wolves of the Wall Street Challenge by Harvard Student Agencies (HSA):
The Wolves of the Wall Street Challenge is a 12-week investment challenge for high school students to help them learn and develop an intelligent portfolio strategy, trade strategically, and manage their own portfolio to rise to the top of the investor leaderboard under the guidance of Mentors from Harvard Student Agencies. Students will be put into teams, and each team will be provided with challenge logistics and a consistent point of contact for mentorship and guidance. With Harvard Student Agencies' insightful sessions on the basics of investing, practical and theoretical exposure to dominant trading philosophies, participants will succeed to acquire a sense of financial well-being.
All trading will take place on MarketWatch, which is a web-based stock market simulation. It allows students to track stocks and craft their portfolios in a hands-on learning approach while working with real-world data without risking real money.
What will you gain from the Wolves of Wall Street Challenge:
- Learn to make their own investment portfolio with portfolio management skills and master stock simulations hosted on the Market Watch virtual trading game.
- Understand introductory-level technical stock analysis and explore the costs and benefits of derivative trading.
- Acquire Fundamental investing skills to help teams succeed in the competition and pitch phases.
- Gain experience from a practical hands-on approach to investing.
- Pitch portfolios with analysis to judges to qualify as finalists and win prizes worth up to $1000.
- Gain experience in building a portfolio of stocks while understanding their risk tolerance.
- Receive feedback and guidance on your portfolio from experienced traders and investors.
- Enhance your resume by participating in challenges organised by Harvard Student Agencies.
Certificates will be given directly by Harvard Student Agencies.
Challenge Details:
- Challenge Start Date: 09 September 2023
- Challenge Duration: 12 weeks
- Mode: Online (Zoom Video Conferencing)
- Early Program Fee: USD 80
- Early Application Deadline: 05 September 2023
- Regular Program Fee: USD 100
To know more about The Wolves of the Wall Street Challenge, visit: https://learnwithleaders.com/competitions/the-wolves-of-wall-street/
To apply for the challenge, click here.
From The College Essay Guy
I do not typically focus too much on what students should not do when writing great college essays.
But when it comes to choosing a topic, there are certainly topics that are much more common that may put admissions officers into skimming mode pretty quickly.
I have got a lot to say about this topic, so I am excited to share a new YouTube video with you:
5 College Essay Topics to (Probably) Avoid
From College Torch (Robert Powers)
- Diversity is a recurring essay theme!
After the SCOTUS decision that race can only be considered in college admissions in the context of a student’s story, a great number of colleges have added new diversity prompts to their supplemental application.
As an example, here is Northwestern’s diversity prompt:
“We want to be sure we’re considering your application in the context of your personal experiences: What aspects of your background, your identity, or your school, community, and/or household settings have most shaped how you see yourself engaging in Northwestern’s community, be it academically, extracurricular, culturally, politically, socially, or otherwise?”
- College danger ⚠️- Some colleges are exempt from Title IX, the federal law protecting LGBTQ+ and female students from discrimination.
Baylor University has requested and received assurance from the US Department of Education that they are exempt from the provisions of Title IX protecting students from sexual harassment. Unbelievably, Baylor specifically wrote “sexual harassment” into their request, making this a serious first-time-for-everything situation. What makes Title IX exemptions so terrible is that colleges will take advantage of how complex they are. Baylor markets to LGBTQ+ students and their families, who frequently don't know anything about this topic.
University of Bristol - Malaysia Office Events
11 - 13 September 2023: Health Science Applicant Briefings
Hear from the Bristol Medical School, Bristol Dental School and Bristol Veterinary School about our undergraduate courses, 2024 Admissions and student life. Please see below for registration links to sessions.
21 September 2023:Taylor Swift Eras Tour Ticketing Fiasco [Law Public Lecture]
This public lecture is open to any student who is interested in Law and/or Taylor Swift. Third-year Law student Syndy will explain the role of law in everyday life and answer questions about studying Law at Bristol. HERE for more information and link to sessions.
Careers Corner
Popular Resources and FAQs
- 2023-2024 Future Planning Handbook
- Class of 2024 Future Planning Timelines
- 2023-2024 Anticipated Grades Process
- Unifrog
Questions, Support, and Help
Amanda Lopez (Grades 9 - 12 Universities Counselling & Social/Personal Counselling)
To schedule an appointment -
- Parents - https://calendly.com/lopez-igbis/parent-community-meeting
- Students - https://bit.ly/IGBHSCounselor
- Email - amanda.lopez@igbis.edu.my
