IGBIS Newsletter, Issue 347.
September 1, 2023
IGBIS Alumni Panel with Grade 11
September 14, 2023
From the Head of School
By Dr Gregory Brunton
Dear IGBIS Community,
Welcome Community Liaison - Karishma
As mentioned during the Coffee Morning session on 16 August 2023, I am creating the new full-time position of Community Liaison as I firmly believe a solid collaboration with parents significantly contributes to a school’s success. The Community Liaison will be creating a Parent Volunteer Organisation (PVO) Leadership Team to support existing programs such as Class Parents (Elementary) or Grade Level Parents (Secondary) and the Parent Ambassador program. In addition, the Community
Liaison will regularly collect feedback from parents regarding services, workshops, events, etc. Along with other responsibilities and new programmes, it is hoped this role can support our school community as we continue to grow and improve.
The Search Committee and I are thrilled to announce the appointment of Karishma McDonald as the IGB International School Community Liaison. Karishma joined IGBIS as a pioneer parent when the school opened in 2014. Since then, she has been an active community member as a Class Parent, Grade Level Parent, and PVO volunteer. Her enthusiasm is contagious, and we sincerely look forward to working with her. Please join me in welcoming her to this new role and supporting her as she builds on existing and successful parent programs and creates new ones.
Coffee Morning
If you missed the Coffee Morning session on 16 August 2023, you missed some exciting news. Please look on the parent Splash page on our website to see the PowerPoint slides for details of what you missed.
As always, please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions.
Take care,
Dr Gregory Brunton
From the Community Liaison.
By Karishma McDonald
It Takes a 'Kampung' Lah!
Hi! My name is Karishma McDonald, but you can call me Kish. I have been a parent at IGBIS since my son was in Early Years 2 in the first year of the school’s operations. He is now in Grade 8, so it has been a while! I have been a class representative for most of those years as well, and I loved that role. So when this opportunity to be the school’s Community Liaison came along, I jumped at the chance to do what I enjoy most - supporting the school and bringing the community together.
Part of my role as Community Liaison is to build bridges between parents, the school and the local community. To that end, please feel free to contact me with any queries or concerns you may have. I may not have all the answers every time, but I definitely know where to find them for you! You can find me in the PVO Lounge (more on that below), or you can email me at karishma.mcdonald@igbis.edu.my.
Dr Brunton and I have exciting plans for the PVO in store, and I cannot wait to share them with you all soon. To give you a taster - the PVO room on level 2 is now the PVO Lounge - open to parents (and staff, of course) to visit and hang out when you like. We will still have parent-related workshops in there, so we will work around that, but in the meantime, stop by to say hi, listen to music, play some board games, read, work, or just chat. The PVO Lounge will be open for business from 7:30 am to 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday. I look forward to seeing you there soon!
From the Counselling Team
Supporting, promoting and championing inclusion and diversity!
It has been much quieter across the physical IGBIS campus this week, but that does not mean it has been totally ‘quiet’. It has, in fact, been the total opposite, with secondary residential trips (camp), taking place in a range of diverse locations and settings all over Malaysia.
How amazing is it that these trips happened to fall during the month where our (The Counselling Team) mental health theme is Inclusion (and diversity). In a recent social media post, I shared that in order to be brave, we have to first be scared. Similar applies to diversity. In order to have excitement, we need diversity. If we were all the same and if what we were presented with was always the same, then the result is boredom. When we celebrate diversity, then we are supporting and fostering inclusion. Our camps were far from boring, AND they were super inclusive.
Embracing inclusivity is central to all that we do here at IGBIS! Camps that are planned with inclusion in mind, provide a unique platform where campers can explore diversity while cultivating essential personal qualities.
By actively embracing and embedding inclusivity, students not only broaden their horizons but also develop the skills and perspectives necessary to thrive in an interconnected and diverse world. At the heart of inclusion are Empathy and Understanding, Acceptance and Respect, Cultures and Traditions, Self Discovery and Personal Growth and Collaboration and Teamwork. Every camp exemplified each of these. Please take time to look at the photo albums from each of the camps and actively observe the examples of these.
IGBIS Counselling on Social Media
Laughter at Lunch Time
Laughter at Lunch Time is a counselling team initiative aimed to promote inclusion and all the benefits that come with it. Every lunch break (second half) there will be activities in Ms Leanne’s room. Each day the activities are different. Students do not need to sign up. They can come for some weeks and not others. They can come some days and not others. The only requirement is that students must come at the start (1:10 pm) and stay till the end (1:35 pm). They have to set the goal of connecting with and getting to know someone they do not know so well. Please encourage your young people to come along some days AND make sure you ask them to share their experience with you.
After-School Activity Programme
Dear IGBIS Parents,
We appreciate your patience regarding the delayed introduction of our after-school activity programme. We are excited to announce the official launch of SchoolsBuddy! This platform will revolutionise after-school activities for IGBIS parents and students, ensuring smooth sign-ups and seamless communication. You will find it user-friendly and convenient, enhancing your child's extracurricular experience. You will receive a SchoolsBuddy welcome email soon, please check your inbox and junk box over the coming days. You can learn more about SchoolsBuddy HERE.
In the meantime, you can view the after-school activities handbook HERE, where you will find instructions regarding ASA selections, a list of all the activities available throughout the week, and the relative points of contact.
Note: the Athletics team sign-up has already passed.
Thank you for your understanding, and we look forward to your positive experience with SchoolsBuddy.
Phoenix Fanzone
Welcome to the Phoenix Fanzone!
What is it? It is a place for parents to gather and watch livestreams of school events and assemblies as they happen!
Where is it? In and around the Drama room on level 3.
Why should I come to school and not just watch the live stream at home? Sure, there is an option to watch it at home, but then you will miss out on the yummy snacks and drinks we have lined up for you. Also, what is better than watching your children perform? Watching them perform while being cheered on by you and your fellow parents!
We are thrilled that our first livestream will be of the Malaysia Day Assembly on 15 September 2023 at 2:10 pm. We would LOVE for parents to join us in our preparation for this event - please contact Karishma McDonald (karishma.mcdonald@igbis.edu.my) to find out how you can help.
Access HERE for registration.
IGBIS Open Day
The thinking skills inherent in the IB Approaches to Learning hold significant importance for students, as they serve as a pivotal force in enabling students to engage in the art of critical, creative, and reflective thinking.
IGBIS will be having an OPEN DAY on:
27 September 2023, Wednesday from 1:30 pm to 4:00 pm
It would be great if you could share this Open Day information with your friends and family members who are looking for an international school for their children.
On this open day, prospective families will be able to meet our Head of School, Dr Gregory Brunton and the leadership team to engage in a talk about how thinking skills, together with the IB education approach, could support lifelong learning and prepare students for their university journey and beyond.
There will be a school tour for prospective families to explore our state-of-the-art facilities, and witness our students immersing in active learning, thriving in classrooms, and engaging in dynamic sports and activities. A counselling session will also be available for them to get a better understanding of the school.
All attendees receive a *100% rebate on Application Fee upon enrolment at IGBIS.
*T&Cs apply
You may share this link, https://igbis.edu.my/admissions/openday/,with your friends or family members to know more about IGBIS Open Day and to register.
Phoenix Squad T-shirts
The Phoenix Squad t-shirts are open for orders. This year, a special 10-year anniversary logo will be added to the Phoenix Squad design. Wear your shirt with pride on IGBIS event days. Shirt sizes are comparable to IGBIS school uniform and adult sizes. All preorders are RM 30 and must be made by Friday, 15 September 2023, through the ordering form. A limited quantity will be available at future events for RM 40.
Thank you in advance for supporting our IGBIS student community!
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
(The 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.
