IGBIS Newsletter, Issue 383.
August 30, 2024
From the Elementary Principal
By Simon Millward
A short while ago I shared in the newsletter about the student leadership opportunities in the Elementary school. At that time I mentioned that we would be undergoing elections for the positions of Social council members. These are students who are keen to arrange social events in the Elementary school to raise school spirit and build community.
I am pleased to announce the results of the process. Our 2024/25 Social Council Members are:
Grade 3
- Hugo
- Zoha
- Nina
- Ananya
Grade 4
- Jack
- Teeya
- Peggy
- Miao Miao
Congratulations to them and the other students who were risk-takers in putting them forward for the Social Council.
We had excitement in Grade 3 this week as parents volunteered to share traditions and games from their childhoods or cultures with our students. This is all related to their first Unit of Inquiry into the diversity in our community, and the various ways in which this diversity is celebrated. It was fantastic to see the fun laughter and learning happening. We are hoping that the Grade 3 students may teach others about the games they played as other options to engage in at recess time.
A huge thank you to:
- Zane Gardiner, sharing New Zealand culture through te Rakau sticks, with elements of Haka and Poi
- Tina Zhang and Fanny Wang, sharing Chinese jump rope
- Saki Ikemi, sharing Japanese origami techniques
- Krishnan Srinivas, sharing a traditional Indian tag game
Ms Lin and Ms Fatin, who shared Guli (Malaysian marbles)
Our week was rounded off with the Malaysia Day assembly. It was wonderful to see so many students dressed in traditional Malaysian clothes or in clothes the colour of the Malaysian flag.
It was great to have a variety of performances. The assembly started with our Grade 2 students singing the National anthem followed closely by the Grade 3’s singing a traditional song ‘Trek Tek tek’. We learned about the Kings of Malaysia from the past to the present King.
The Grade 3 girls also performed a traditional Malaysian dance Jong Jong Inai hailing from Terengganu.
Our Secondary school also performed in the assembly. They recited a poem Puisi Hari Malaysia, performed an Indian dance and sang a Chinese song ‘Little Hand holding Big Hand’.
Finally, we had a video that the IEAP students produced showing their learning about Malaysia. They have just arrived from their home countries and are learning to sing Negaraku, the colours of the flag and the history of Malaysia’s independence journey. Some of the teachers and students shared their experiences trying Malaysian food whilst others talked about what they love the most about Malaysia?” or “What their favourite thing about living in Malaysia is?
Thank you to all the teachers for guiding the students in their performances. They were great. A huge thank you goes to Ms Meena for taking the lead in organising the whole assembly.
