IGBIS Newsletter, Issue 378.
May 31, 2024
From the Elementary Principal
By Simon Millward
Even with the end of the year in sight, the school is as alive as ever. This week we got off to a great start with our U9 students involved in their AIMS badminton tournament. The students represented the school with pride and we even had some surprise medallists, well done to all of our athletes.
Wednesday saw our Grade 3 students head to Kuala Selangor Nature Park where they interacted with the wild side of Malaysia as they were spotting as many animals as they could. Even though it was hot the students stayed hydrated and had a wonderful nature experience.
On Thursday the Secondary school invited our Grade 3, 4 and 5 students to watch their musical performance ‘School of Rock’. Wow, it was fantastic! The students did an incredible job preparing for this performance. The acting, the singing, the band, the set, the costumes etc were wonderful. Congratulations to all of our student performers and to Ms Jill, Ms Hadewych and all of the teachers and support staff who made this event such a success. It was a huge undertaking but from an audience perspective well worth it! Thank you.
As with any International school, there are always families and staff that leave us. This year is no different, although the amount of teachers leaving is quite small.
Ms Natasha has decided to take a year out of teaching to look after her family. With the arrival of her daughter Daria, she will spend the year at home with her. We wish her the very best and no doubt we will be seeing her around school as a parent next year.
Ms Siobhan in Grade 4 will also be leaving us as she returns to England for family and personal reasons. We thank her for everything that she has done over the course of the two years that she has been with us. Not only as a classroom teacher but as the founding teacher supervisor for our Social Council.
Finally, Ms Stacey our Head of Student Services, whilst I mention her here, she does have a whole school role. Ms Stacey and I have worked closely together as she has been organising and supporting her team with our Tier 2 and 3 learning support students, our ESOL team, nursing team, counselling team as well as sitting on the Safeguarding team. She has worked tirelessly throughout her time here moving us forward in our practices and processes to ensure we are living our ‘inclusive’ mission. Thank you. You are very much appreciated.
Spanish Chocolate Factory Visit
By: Zi Thong Ng and Raashi Agarwal
On Tuesday, June 4th, 2024, two of our Spanish classes from DP1 — Spanish Ab Initio and Spanish B, had the opportunity to go on a field trip, visiting Alba Chocolateria, as part of our immersive learning experience. The factory is a local artisanal chocolate shop located in The Everly Putrajaya. The Chocolateria is run by two Hispanic women, allowing us, as Spanish students, to interact with Spanish-speaking chocolatiers and learn about the chocolate-making process. We were able to familiarise ourselves with Spanish in real-world settings and practice our Spanish conversation skills.
We had a tour of the chocolate factory, learning about the machines used to grind the cacao beans and observing the tempering and moulding of the chocolate. After understanding the process, we had the chance to sample some of Alba’s chocolate creations while conversing entirely in Spanish.
During our visit, the chocolatiers surprised us by baking chocolate chip cookies and preparing sizzling hot chocolate with marshmallow toppings. We were all really happy and enjoyed feasting on the snacks a lot, the cookies were truly delicious!
While exposing us to the native Spanish speakers in real life, we were able to expand our vocabularies and phrases that we learned in class. We all agreed that this was a fun and engaging experience that made us look forward and even more excited for the next Spanish field trip after we continued to improve our Spanish skills.
PVO - Uniform Drive
We are thrilled to share that this week’s uniform drive has successfully raised RM1,070! Thanks to your generosity, the total funds in the Parent Volunteer Organization (PVO) now amount to an impressive RM15,526.
A special thanks go to our dedicated PVO Volunteers – Pauline, Suzana, Ruya, and Swee Lee – who not only helped organise the drive but also took the time to fold and tidy up the uniforms before selling. Their hard work and commitment have been instrumental in the success of this initiative. Your support and contributions are making a significant impact, ensuring that all our students have the uniforms they need.
We remind you that the uniform drive will continue until the end of the school year on June 13, so there is still time to donate any gently used uniforms.
PVO - Prepare for the Exciting New School Year
By Warren Chew
Marketing Manager
As we draw closer to the end of another wonderful school year, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on the incredible journey we've shared. This year has been filled with achievements, growth, and the strengthening of our vibrant community. Together, we've navigated challenges, celebrated milestones, and created lasting memories for our children.
Our community is at the heart of everything we do, and it is your unwavering support and involvement that make our school such a special place. With this in mind, we are excited to announce a new opportunity to further enhance our community connections. Below, we would like to inform you of two opportunities.
Community Liaison Opportunity
We are seeking a dedicated Community Liaison to join our team. This role is vital in fostering strong relationships between our school and the broader community, ensuring that we continue to support and engage with each other in meaningful ways. While we regret that we are unable to provide visa sponsorship at this time, we warmly welcome applications from individuals who are eligible to work without a guardian visa.
The ideal candidate will be passionate about building connections, have excellent communication skills, and be committed to making a positive impact on our school community. If you, or someone you know, are interested in this opportunity, we encourage you to apply! (email to humanresources@igbis.edu.my)
Class Representatives Opportunity
As we prepare for the exciting new school year ahead, we are looking for enthusiastic and dedicated parents to join us as Class Representatives. This role is integral in fostering a strong sense of community and ensuring effective communication between parents and the school.
The roles of the Class Representatives
- Serving as a liaison between teachers, administration, and parents.
- Organising and coordinating class events and activities.
- Supporting new families as they transition into our school community.
- Helping to disseminate important information and updates.
The benefits
- Make a Positive Impact: Play a crucial role in enhancing the school experience for all students.
- Strengthen Connections: Build strong relationships with teachers, staff, and other parents.
- Be Informed: Stay up-to-date with school events and important information.
- Support Your Child: Have a direct hand in shaping the environment where your child learns and grows.
- Develop Skills: Gain valuable leadership, organisational, and communication skills.
- Create Memories: Be an integral part of the school's community and create lasting memories for you and your child.
If you are passionate about making a positive impact and enhancing the school experience for our children, we would love to hear from you. Your involvement can make a significant difference in building a supportive and engaged community.
To express your interest, just click here to apply! https://forms.gle/yvmVKAfvho13eRVT8
Thank you for considering these opportunities to contribute to our school community. We hope you take this role on and enjoy it. Have fun, and build community, after all, we all want what is best for our community!
