IGBIS Newsletter, Issue 371.

IGB International School Partners with FirstPoint USA to Offer Unparalleled Scholarship Opportunities

March 27, 2024

IGBIS Newsletter, Issue 372.

April 19, 2024

April 5, 2024

From the Elementary Principal

By Simon Millward

This week saw KG take their turn sharing their learning in the Elementary assembly. The students began by sharing their How We Express Ourselves unit of inquiry about stories. They shared their lines of inquiry and the 5 elements of stories and began by considering how Rapunzel could have escaped the tower without her long hair.

They also performed a play about a magic forest from two different perspectives. That of the witch who was portrayed as being mean and evil by the twins and from the witches perspective as trying to get peace and quiet in her neighbourhood, but was driven out by the mean twins, with help from some fairies.

The students performed a dance that they had devised in PE and a musical piece created in their music class. As we had been sitting down for some time we had to get up and move to a ‘Chase adventure’. The KG’s told us a story about finding treasure and we had to perform a variety of movements like rowing the boat, running forwards, side to side to avoid snakes and tigers, digging and running from the erupting volcano to be safe. It was lots of fun and a great way for us to stretch and feel refreshed.

Finally, KG shared some of the maths-adding strategies they have been learning and applying. The students presented confidently and were risk takers, well done.

Our annual student-led conferences (SLCs) are taking place on Saturday 20th April from 8.30 - 12.30. More information will be sent via Toddle about this day. Students choose where they lead you on the day so they can showcase their learning in 30-minute time slots in the homeroom and 15-minute time slots in the single subject classes.

As we are moving out of the Covid Pandemic we would like to re-evaluate our relationship and need for masks while at school. We have noticed that some students wear masks when they feel a bit sick but are still okay to come to school and join in the activities. It is totally fine and we actually encourage it. However, when they are feeling better, it is best if they do not wear masks.

Being able to see a child's face helps us teachers understand how they're feeling. We can tell if they are happy, confused, or if they need extra help. It's an important way for us to support them. It also has strong benefits from a social standpoint for their relationships with peers.

For younger kids who are still learning to talk, seeing their mouths helps us figure out how to help them with speaking. So, if your child needs to wear a mask for health reasons, please consider getting one that is see-through. It will really help us out. But if your child does not need to wear a mask when they are not sick, please encourage them not to wear one.

Thank you for your understanding and support in this manner.

Do not forget that we have the Hari Raya assembly full dress rehearsal on Monday, 08 April 2024 1:50 pm in the theatre. Parents can attend this performance, knowing we may need to tweak and fine-tune it for Tuesday. It would also be great to see parents dressed in traditional Malaysian clothes on Monday as well. On Tuesday students are encouraged to wear traditional Malaysian clothes or the colour green.

I look forward to seeing you all on Monday, however, if I don’t Selamat Hari Raya.

Stoke City FC Academy Coach Visit

We are having the Stoke City FC Academy Coach visit us in April for a week. Have fun and have skill-building football lessons during PE classes and after-school sessions, from 15 April to 19 April 2024. We have a few sessions catering for students from Kindergarten to Grade 12.

Be on the lookout for Afternoon Demo Sessions registration, which will be available through SchoolsBuddy by then. No registration is required for PE classes, as students will have the opportunity to join during their scheduled class times.

IGBIS Partners with FirstPoint USA to Offer Scholarship Opportunities

We are proud to announce our partnership with FirstPoint USA, a scholarship agency renowned globally for its dedication to supporting student-athletes across the nation! To mark this partnership, FirstPoint USA representatives will visit our school from 07 May to 10 May 2024 offering football trials and insightful presentations on sports scholarships to students aged 15 and above.

Visit our website for more information about our partnership with FirstPoint USA.

Tentative Visit Schedule:

MCF - IGBIS National Inter School Team Chess Championship 2024

Partnering with the Malaysian Chess Federation (MFC), we are thrilled to announce that our school is hosting the National Inter School Team Chess Championship 2024 on 11 May and 12 May 2024. This historic event, aligned with FIDE's World School Team Championship, aims to crown Malaysia's top Primary and Secondary Chess Schools.

Team Composition and Eligibility Criteria:

The tournament welcomes all registered Malaysian schools
Primary schools - players must be under the age of 12 years old
Secondary schools - players must be under the age of 18 years old
Each school is allowed to field a team of at least 4 main players, with a maximum of 2 reserve players
Co-ed schools - at least 1 main player must be of the opposite gender

Fees Payment:

State team - RM 250 per team (to be submitted by state association)
Open entries - RM 50 (required for schools to submit their forms), non-refundable
Selected team - additional RM 350 (when the application is accepted to enter the tournament)

Tournament Details:

Limited to 64 primary and 64 secondary school teams
IGBIS(our school) is given a slot each
Each state chess association can nominate up to 2 primary and 2 secondary schools
The remaining slots (33 each) are filled through open entries
Open-entry teams are selected based on the top 33 average rating points of the best 4 players
Unrated players are assigned a default rating of 1400
Additional open slots are possible if state associations nominate fewer teams

The prize fund for each school category is RM3,000 in total. The champion receives RM1,000, the runner-up gets RM800, and the third-place team gets RM600. Additionally, there's a special prize of RM600 for the top all-girls chess team in the tournament.

There are limited slots available, so hurry to register by 26 April 2024. The final list of playing schools will be selected and announced by 01 May 2024.

Scan the QR codes below for the tournament’s Overview, Rules & Regulations, and Registration Form.

Parents Activities, Events & Workshops Schedule

Parents-Activities-Events-Workshops-Schedule-

Future Planning Weekly Update

Highlights of the Week

It has been 2 weeks since our last “Weekly” update - thank you for your patience and grace as Ms. Amanda has been out on professional development.

Save the Dates for April Counselor Events

Friday, 19 April 2024 - Coffee with the Counsellors: April Edition - Transitions

Wednesday, 24 April 2024 - What’s Next? Sessions: How to Apply to University

Past Presentations & Coffee Mornings

Our March What’s Next? Session took place this past Wednesday, 20 March 2024. Access the slides here.

Parents and students can access all past information sessions and coffee mornings HERE.

For Grade 12s

University Decisions Rolling In!

Students, as you receive university decisions, PLEASE let me know!

And PLEASE UPDATE YOUR UNIFROG

Whether the decisions are a decline, deferral, or acceptance, I would like to celebrate you for all of your bravery and hard work.

Exam Stress Series Begins!

Wednesday, 03 April 2024 marked exactly 3 weeks until Grade 12 IB exams begin, so that means it is time for our Exam Stress Series!

Our first episode launched on Wednesday, and we are talking about the ever-important topic of SLEEP. Access the information HERE.

Our next session will take place in person on Monday, 8 April during AMP

Grades 9, 10 and 11 Future Planning Sessions

Grade 9 - Our Unifrog onboarding session took place on Tuesday, 5 March during Study Hall. Access the slides HERE. Our 2nd session (Career Exploration & Backwards Planning) took place on Monday,1 April. Access the slides HERE.
Grade 10 - Course selections are done! Our next session will be on 08 May 2024 and we will begin planning for Grade 11!!!
Grade 11 - Our 8th lesson was held on Tuesday, 12 March 2024 during AMP, and we took a hard, and reflective look at our activities list and CVs in preparation for uni applications. Access the slides and information HERE. Our next session will take place in Study Block starting on 16 April 2024.

For students applying to the US, the SAT is back…kind of (Info from College Torch)

UT Austin Bringing Back the SAT - In the past few months, we have been seeing schools bring back standardised testing requirements, including Dartmouth, Yale, and Brown. However, "not all Ivies," apparently, as UPenn has announced they will remain test optional for at least one more year.

Forgetting about those schools, though, public school systems have found themselves on one side or the other of the line about SAT/ACT. In Florida and Tennessee, we know to expect tests. However, last week, we could add UT Austin to the list of public schools that require SAT/ACT for admission.

While we are talking about public schools, I will leave my quick reminder that UC and Cal State have pledged NOT to bring back the SAT/ACT at all, ever. (I believe them, too!) Bottom line - Make sure to monitor your favourite school choices and their test requirements.

First Reactions to the New SAT - This month, students have been taking the new, all-digital SAT. This new version of the test is "adaptive", which means that performance on prior questions will change the difficulty of questions moving forward. There are a lot of initial reactions to the test. Students appreciate the new, shorter format. However, a lot of students are saying that the math section is brutal. Reading passages are shorter but students find that it's still around the same difficulty level.

So, how can your teen conquer this new SAT? Is all the "old" SAT prep suddenly worthless?

If your teen chooses to apply to schools that require the SAT, they'll need to prep for it. If they've started studying in the past, that progress is still worthwhile, but now they'll need to practise the specific format of the new digital SAT. The Bluebook app is a Khan Academy app that helps prepare students for the new SAT. Download the app and follow the instructions to take a practice exam.

Worth a Read - From the College Essay Guy

The media and internet (I see you Reddit and College Confidential) are chock full of hot takes about how the college admissions process works, including misconceptions about advantages enjoyed by certain students in the college admission process.

In recent years, the exponential growth of applications to selective colleges and universities (e.g. close to 170K students applied to UCLA last year) has fanned those flames, leading to increased stress among students, further fixation on rankings, and disappointments from students come decision time.

So it is extra important for students and parents to understand the forces that influence who gets admitted to a college and why—and recognise the parts of this process they can and can’t control.

Why? Like us, you probably hear from students and families year after year who put effort (or even blame) in the wrong places when it comes to the admissions process at selective colleges, rather than focusing on the things that they do have control over.

Building a balanced college list.

Not putting in endless weekends trying to boost your ACT from a 35 to a 36.

And so on.

So I wanted to share with you a new blog post written by college counsellor extraordinaire Susan Tree that covers many of the misconceptions about how selective college admissions works.

In particular, Susan covers:

How are colleges influenced by their history and mission?
What are "institutional needs" and how do they influence the admissions process?
What actually are "hooks" in college admissions?
What can students do when they do not have a hook?
Is it easier to get in early decision than regular decision?
Lots more, but I recommend reading the whole post.

Unifrog Stuff

Unifrog Parent Access - From the What's Next? session last Wednesday, a couple of parents asked for Unifrog Parent Access. If you would like to have a parent account on Unifrog, please follow the steps below:

Go to www.unifrog.org/code
On the right side of the page look for the grey box that says "Been given a Sign-up Code" - click on that
The Sign-up Code is IGBIS_parent
Then complete the remaining information
Accept the Terms and Agreements
Choose if you want to sign up to receive the Parent Newsletter (I suggest you do, it's always got good stuff). If you do select yes, you will then indicate the grade level(s) of your student(s)
You are in!

Unifrog University Fair

A free virtual event taking place on Wednesday 24 April 2024, 6:00 pm - 8:30 pm Hong Kong Time, exclusively for students in Asia, Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands, here's a reminder of what to expect at this virtual event.

What they will learn

How to choose the right university - Attend live sessions on studying in the US, Canada or UK, scholarship opportunities, and societies and extracurricular activities.
How to choose the right subject - Panellists will share what it's really like to study subjects including computer science, engineering, and business.
How to apply successfully - Expert tips on Common App essays for US colleges, personal statements for UK universities, and how to get into selective universities.

Who they will meet

Your students can connect directly with international universities including Imperial College London (UK), Breda University of Applied Sciences (Netherlands), John Cabot University (Italy), University of Illinois, Springfield (USA), Middlesex University (Dubai), and Hong Kong Polytechnic University.

Info, Opportunities, & Resources

King's College London Personal Statement Workshop - Register Now!

King's College London has been consistently ranked as world's top 30 universities. Being the member of the prestige G5 and Russell Group, King's College London is a leading UK university located in the heart of London, known globally for its academic excellence, innovative research, and diverse student community.

The personal statement is an essential component of the application process when applying to UK Top Uni like King's College London, as it provides applicants with an opportunity to showcase their individuality, strengths, achievements, and motivations. Personal Statement allows applicants to present a well-rounded picture of themselves beyond their academic achievements. It provides insight into their motivations, experiences, qualities, and skills, helping admissions tutors assess their suitability for their chosen course and the university as a whole.

It is a very rare opportunity and we would like to invite your AS students to grab this chance to listen from the university directly for their PS requirement.

The workshop participation is free, and we require students to pre-register to attend. As we can only accommodate limited places, so the participation will be first come first serve.

King's College London Personal Statement Workshop

⁠ ⁠World top 30 university
⁠ ⁠G5 member
⁠ ⁠14 Nobel Prize Laureates
Worried that you don't know what to include in your personal statement?
Get better ideas to make your personal statement stand out!

Are you aiming for competitive courses and universities? Let King's College London explain what 'competitive' means and how you can stand out from the pool of applications!

FREE workshop, first come first serve. Registration Link: https://forms.gle/C9BHVKyFZy4NEDFT8

Date: Thursday, 18 April 2024
Time: 5:30 pm
Speaker: Ms Francine Dawson, Student Recruitment Manager, South East Asia

Ms Francine Dawson Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/francine-dawson-93604226/?originalSubdomain=my

What Colleges Want: A 9-Part Podcast Series on the Factors Colleges Deem Important (The College Essay Guy)

All episodes are available HERE

Exciting New Webinar: College Admissions Unfiltered (The College Essay Guy)

College Admissions Unfiltered: Ask the questions you are afraid to ask elsewhere
Tuesday, 09 April 2024, 5 - 6 pm PT (8 - 9 pm ET)

In this webinar, we will be covering:

Your completely anonymous questions (which you can submit here)
What annoys admissions officers most?
How biased do you think admission officers are?
What are some things people think admission readers care a lot about that actually do not make too much of a difference?
What are some ways you think the college admissions process is broken?
And more

Saturday, 06 April 2024: Study in Japan at Ritsumeikan University, Online Session

Greetings from Kyoto, Japan! Come attend our webinar this Saturday!

Japan is an excellent place to be a student - did you know that many Japanese universities offer undergraduate degree programs instructed in English? Did you know the average annual tuition fee for Japanese universities is less than 15,000 USD? This webinar will be an excellent way to get a head start in gathering information on studying in Japan.

Topics Covered:

Why Study in Japan
About the University
English-medium Programs
Scholarship Opportunities
Q&A

Saturday, 06 April 2024

1 pm - 2 pm (JST)

Cannot make it? Register, and we will send the recording.

Exciting Announcement - Huron University Study Permit News

We are thrilled to share the Ontario government’s announcement in response to the federal government’s cap on the number of international student study permit applications over the next two years. Recognising the invaluable programs such as those that Huron University offers, the government has prioritised postsecondary education programs that equip graduates for high-demand careers.

What does this mean for students?

HURON WILL ACCEPT INTERNATIONAL APPLICATIONS UNTIL 01 MAY 2024

If students have not already, we encourage them to complete their application and upload the required documents in the Huron Connect Portal. We are accepting new applications until 01 May for international students who wish to apply to Huron.

If students require any technical support with this process, they can reach out to admissions@huron.uwo.ca.

HAVE QUESTIONS? ATTEND A DROP-IN SESSION

Our team is here to help with the next steps and any questions students, parents, and counsellors may have. We are hosting three drop-in Zoom sessions to assist you on the dates listed below:

04 April 2024: 9:00 am - 10:00 am EST
04 April 2024: 8:00 pm - 9:00 pm EST
05 April 2024: 9:00 am - 10:00 am EST

Discover Spain for your students - UCAM, Spain

Why Spain?

Top 5 economy in the EU
2nd most visited country in the world
4th ranked country with greatest cultural influence in the world
Doorway to Europe
Opportunity to stay back for job search after graduation

About UCAM

UCAM provides high-quality university education, with a representative presence in all continents. We are strategically located in Murcia, Spain, with an international environmental campus of 22,000 students wherein about 11% of our student body is international.

Here are some key highlights of what UCAM Spain has to offer:

We offer a list of Bachelor's and Master's Degrees in English, aside from our Spanish Bachelor's and Master's Degrees and PhD's programmes, in multiple disciplines such as Health Sciences, Sports, Business, Law, Communication, Tourism, Languages, Engineering and more.
We continue to offer both on-campus and online courses including the possibility to attend Spanish language and Culture programmes as well as several other Language programs. There are also Short Courses designed for students and professionals.
We are also known as the University of Sports. Our strong support for athletes and teams has shaped a unique model inspired by universities in the United States, but with our own character, have adapted to the reality of sports and the Spanish university system.
We are dedicated to our continuous progress in the search for excellence as an institution and we are happy to share our ranking achievements.

Bachelor's degree programmes we have taught in English:

From Education USA Malaysia

Telling Your Story in the US Application Process

Dive into 'Telling Your Story in the U.S. Application Process' with Johns Hopkins University! Discover the art of crafting captivating essays, sharing your journey, and uncovering what makes your experience shine. Do not miss this chance to master the art of essay writing for your U.S. university application.

Best Colleges with Study Abroad Programmes (2024)

Looking for an institution that can best provide undergraduate programs in engineering, medicine, and economics? See whether this list checks off your best fit here.

Scholarship Alert

Andrea Scott International Graduate Scholarship (IELTS USA) │Deadline: 22 April 2024

The scholarship is designed to support incoming Fall 2024 international graduate students at U.S. colleges & universities. Scholarship recipients will share Andrea Scott’s personal and professional commitment to international education, and her passion for globalisation, creative arts, and equal rights initiatives.

Global Select Scholarship (Wichita State University) │Deadline: 15 April 2024

Apply to Wichita State University and be automatically considered for their Global Select Scholarship award valued at US$20,000 over four years of study. Open to undergraduate and graduate applicants.

International Student Scholarship (Eastern Illinois University) │Deadline: 15 May 2024

Awards are competitive and designed to promote cultural exchange and diversity. Awards may be granted based on one or both of the following factors: financial need and academic excellence. The scholarship pays partial tuition for minimum full-time enrollment in on-campus EIU courses. Open to undergraduate applicants.

MyBrainSC (Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia) │ Deadline: 19 April 2024

The MyBrainSc Scholarship is open to all Malaysian citizens who are currently or will be studying full-time at an undergraduate or graduate level in the fields of pure science (Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Mathematics) at Local Public Universities, Private Institutes of Higher Education (IPTS) and leading foreign universities.

From the College Essay Guy

April Resources

9th-graders

Build an awesome summer reading list:- Start with picks from this recommended list for excellent teen reads. And consider asking your teachers what their favourite reads were in high school.
NYT Writing Prompts for Students: If you haven’t already, start keeping a journal and use some of these questions as inspiration.

10th-graders

Build an awesome summer reading list that includes some biographies and memoirs: Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson is a must-read and can be found at your local library.
100 Brave/Interesting Questions + NYT Writing Prompts for Students: Commit to keeping a journal this summer, and use some of these questions as inspiration.

11th-graders

Values Exercise (video): Spend some time thinking about your core values by working through this simple exercise. Your answers may help drive how you spend your summer ahead.
How to research colleges without visiting a campus: Learning more about colleges is an exciting and time-intensive process. Make sure to expand your search beyond your local public universities—and use your values as a guide.
Colleges That Change Lives: As you build your college list, consider this set of 44 schools that focus on providing a personalised, student-centred experience. Listen to this podcast, and check out upcoming events.
Explore colleges with 800+ lists: Use this fun online, searchable database from CollegeXpress, which covers everything from academic environments to school spirit.
Think about financial fit: Experiment with the Net Price Calculator to get a rough estimate of what you might likely have to pay for college.

12th-graders

Continue applying for scholarships. Check in with your counsellor to see whether there are any local scholarships you might have missed.
Appealing financial aid: Read up on what to do if your financial aid offer does not line up with your budget. And make sure to listen to this podcast before writing an appeal letter.
Making your final college choice: It’s decision time. You need to enrol and submit a deposit by May 1st (or a few days after, depending on the school).

Career of the Week: Ethical Hacker

Ready to explore the exciting world of cybersecurity? Become an Ethical Hacker and protect against cyber threats while making a positive impact!

Overview:

Ethical Hackers, also known as White Hat Hackers or Penetration Testers, are cybersecurity professionals who use their hacking skills for good. They work to identify and fix vulnerabilities in computer systems, networks, and applications before malicious hackers can exploit them.

Skills Needed:

Proficiency in cybersecurity tools and techniques
Understanding of programming languages like Python, C, or Java
Analytical and problem-solving skills
Collaboration with IT teams and stakeholders

Universities Offering Related Programmes:

Northumbria University (UK): MSc Cyber Security and Ethical Hacking
University of Advancing Technology (USA): Bachelor of Science in Network Security
University of South Wales (UK): BSc (Hons) Ethical Hacking and Cybersecurity

Why Ethical Hacking?

Combat cyber threats and protect against data breaches and cyberattacks.
High demand for skilled professionals in industries like finance, healthcare, and government.
Opportunity to work on challenging and rewarding projects while upholding ethical standards.

University of the Week: University of Wrocław, Poland

Discover the hidden gem of higher education at the University of Wrocław, where academic excellence meets cultural richness!

About University of Wrocław:

Location: Wrocław, Poland
Founded: 1702
Overview: As one of the oldest universities in Central Europe, the University of Wrocław boasts a rich history and a commitment to academic excellence. Despite its historic significance, it remains lesser known globally, offering a diverse range of programmes and a vibrant student life.

Key Features:

Academic Excellence: Offering a wide range of undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs across various disciplines, including humanities, sciences, and social sciences.
International Community: Welcoming students from around the world, the university provides a multicultural environment conducive to learning and personal growth.
Research Opportunities: Engage in cutting-edge research initiatives led by esteemed faculty members in state-of-the-art facilities.

Why University of Wrocław?

Quality education with affordable tuition fees and living costs.
Explore the rich history and cultural heritage of Poland while pursuing your academic goals.
Benefit from the university's strong emphasis on research and innovation, preparing students for success in their chosen fields.

Notable Programmes:

Bachelor of Arts in International Relations
Master of Science in Computer Science
PhD in Cultural Studies

And last but not least

We are still looking for a forever home for Milo.

If you are interested in adopting, please reach out to Amanda (amanda.lopez@igbis.edu.my)

If you cannot adopt, please share.

Popular Resources and FAQs

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

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.