IGBIS Newsletter, Issue 372.
April 19, 2024
IGBIS Newsletter, Issue 374.
May 3, 2024
From the Elementary Principal
By Simon Millward
There have been so many great things happening at school this week. The finishing touches are being made to our G5s sharing areas for the upcoming Grade 5 IB PYP Exhibition starting 30th April as well as field trips and other valuable learning experiences. Keep reading for a summary below.
PYP Exhibition action help:
My name is Jake from Grade 5. I am currently doing my PYPX. My PYPX topic is all about saving endangered animals. I have a personal interest in the welfare of animals. I think it is important that we protect all endangered animals. I was also curious about extinction, and what causes animals to become extinct.
Did you know that?!
- Did you know that there are only 4,500 tigers left in the wild?
- Did you know that some rainforest frogs are endangered because of deforestation?
- Did you know that deforestation, pollution or overhunting can affect extinction in ecosystems?
I would like to take action to protect these wonderful animals. My action plan is to raise awareness of endangered animals, make a donation box, get donations and send the money to Malaysian Wildlife. Malaysian Wildlife is an endangered animal conservation charity.
If you are interested in helping me take action to save endangered animals, please donate some money for them! If you would like to donate I will leave the donation box in the elementary school office.
Any money should be in a sealed envelope with your child’s name written on it.
Thank you for your help in protecting these vulnerable animals,
Jake (5M)
On Wednesday, IGBIS hosted the first-ever Hi5 Volleyball tournament. Organisers, coaches, parents, and players worked together with other schools and we navigated through this new, (to us!) sport. We had an enthusiastic bunch of U11 boys who were courageous enough to embrace this new challenge. They came in with dreams of victory and with only a few weeks of learning the rules, and developing skills, they were ready to play. With a final game of 5 sets, it was a lose, win, lose, win, with the fifth set a super close 15-13 loss, narrowly missing the 3rd place medal.
Despite their disappointment, these boys showed two important ATL States of Mind character traits; perseverance and resilience. They bounced back from their loss like trampolinists, and their positive thinking soared higher than their serves ever could. So, while the U11 boys did not place where they would have liked, players, parents, coaches, and the spectators’ hearts are filled with the real gold, (or silver, or bronze), of grit and teamwork.
This week we have had a number of field trips and camps taking place.
We were really excited to have 4 students from Grade 4 - Cedar, Ian, Ichi and Jayden K - in Johor Bahru with Miss Nikki and Mr Nigel competing in the AIMS Maths Competition.
This competition gathers teams of G4 students from many international schools throughout Malaysia to participate in activities such as maths relay, construction, individual rounds, shuttle rounds, treasure hunts and escape rooms!
While there is a strong maths focus, the boys were excited to work together, get creative and problem-solve in as many ways as they could come up with together.
We wished them the very best of luck as they relished this exciting opportunity to represent IGBIS.
Our KG students had a great time at Pusat Sains Negara (Science museum) learning a lot and finding some answers to their many questions. Our Grade 4 students travelled to Greater Action to learn from those who are developing their own skills there. Greater Action is a non-profit organisation that helps refugee families rebuild their lives after fleeing their homeland. They teach them skills that empower them to grow and gain the necessary skills to become self-sufficient by providing them with sustainable livelihood opportunities. Our students had their eyes opened to others in the world which enabled them to appreciate what they have.
Grade 3 also attended camp. They had a wonderful experience sleeping in school, engaging in outdoor camp craft activities, river walking and team building activities. On their second day, they learned to use a stand-up paddleboard. What fun it was!
Wow, what a busy week, I think I need a weekend to recover! I hope you have a relaxing weekend too.
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! FirstPoint USA representatives will visit our school from 06 May to 10 May 2024 offering football trials, rugby trials and insightful presentations on sports scholarships.
In response to popular demand, we are thrilled to announce that our trial sessions are now open to students aged 14 and above! Join us now and be part of the action!
Visit our website for more information about our partnership with FirstPoint USA.
Tentative Visit Schedule:
MRISA Membership
In case you missed the parent presentation, you can access the slide deck from the MRISA Presentation HERE. This has all the information regarding the conference.
Here is the brief overview previously shared:
IGBIS has been accepted into the Mekong River International Schools Association. MRISA is made up of schools from Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, and now Malaysia. One of the key reasons for our desire to gain membership in this specific conference can be understood direction through their Mission statement:
MRISA exchanges, conferences and tournaments for students will place emphasis on cooperation among students and wide participation by students, rather than on competition and winning.
The sports programme at IGBIS shares this mission to get as many students involved as possible, with winning being only a small part of the greater picture of what kids learn through competition.
Historically, MRISA has been made up of 6 schools, and their desire to expand to 8 schools has provided the opportunity for IGBIS to be voted in as a member. Schools rotate hosting sporting events at both the High School and Middle School level in basketball, football and volleyball. Additionally, one school hosts an Art Exchange each year, with plans to offer an additional event next year.
Being a part of this conference will provide our students the opportunity to travel to Southeast Asian countries to compete in sports and take part in the Arts exchange. More important is the chance for our kids to expand their cultural horizons while meeting kids from other schools and various countries, making new friends and strengthening bonds with their teammates.
IGBIS Yearbook 2023/24 Pre-Order
Dear IGBIS Community,
The yearbook pre-order is finally here! Get ready to dive into 284 pages of cherished memories and unforgettable moments. Do not miss out on this opportunity to secure your copy today.
If you are interested in purchasing the full version yearbook priced at RM 100 per copy, simply complete the form.
Please note that if you choose not to purchase the full version, there is no need to fill in the pre-order form. Your child will automatically receive a single yearbook booklet corresponding to their current grade level (either one of the following: Fireflies - Grade 2, Grade 3 - 5, Grade 6 - 8, Grade 9 - 12).
Thank you for being part of our wonderful community and for helping us capture the magic of this school year!
Click HERE or scan the QR code below to place your order
IGBIS Open Day @ 10 May 2024, Friday
Establishing a solid foundation is paramount as it serves as the bedrock upon which individuals develop essential skills, enabling them to navigate challenges and seize opportunities with confidence. This strong groundwork not only shapes their immediate success but also sets the stage for a future characterised by resilience, adaptability, and fulfilment.
Explore the importance of a well-built foundation at IGBIS Open Day on:
10 May 2024, Friday from 12:45 pm to 3:00 pm (Onsite)
During the open day, attendees will be able to join our Head of School, Dr Gregory Brunton and the leadership team to gain insights into the importance of a solid foundation in shaping a successful future for your child. They will also be on a guided tour of our state-of-the-art facilities led by our leaders and student ambassador as well as explore our school and the educational offerings we have further through a counselling session.
Attendees get a *100% application fee rebate + *100% enrolment fee waiver for new students aged 3 - 7!
*Terms and conditions apply
REGISTER now for the Open Day!
