ISKL Goes Greener
This academic year sees the start of what may well be a first for an international school; the creation of a full time Environmental Coordinator position.
The post comes with wide ranging responsibilities that include helping teachers use Education for Sustainable Development in their classes, lessening the environmental impact of our day to day operations, setting up the International Award Scheme and perhaps most significantly, empowering students to lead environmental initiatives across the campuses.Several initiatives are already in place with members of the High School Earth Club running a recycling session for the ISKL community. The monthly event typically saves 700kg of material from going to landfill and raises money for other projects that the students are involved with.Further information on our efforts to lead a more sustainable lifestyle can be found on the Green Pages linked to the school’s website (www.iskl.edu.my).

ELC Intl  School students kick off  TLC “Promise Me” Campaign
On Friday 30th July 2010 a hoard of elc students flanking a Malaysian football legend – Mr. Santokh Singh – descended on a local orphanage called Rumah Aman. Right from the start it was clear Mr. Singh is man of action, because almost immediately after we entered the house we were back out on the football field doing warm ups for a game of football.
For over an hour Mr. Singh provided tips, hints and encouragement to the boys, and the only reason we stopped was due to the rain. There is no doubt this was a fantastic way to kick start elc’s TLC “Promise Me” campaign. Thank you Mr. Singh for so generously giving up your time to remind these boys there are football legends here in Malaysia too.For those of you wish to learn more about TLC’s “Promise Me” campaign and read about our exploits please visit www.tlcpromiseme.com.

Dalat Intl School Showcases Student’s Talents
A second chance in life? Sharing your gifts before a crowd of hundreds of people? These are what the students at Dalat International School in Penang were able to do to celebrate the end of a great school year with a spectacle of fine arts events. The High School Drama department presented the student written and directed play “Take Two” in which a young woman gets a second chance to make new choices and change the course of her life forever. The performance was held at Wawasan Open University and benefited Seventh Day Adventist Hospital. The High School and Middle School Performing Arts department showed off their hard work by performing before a crowd of hundreds at the Dewan Sri Pinang Performing Arts Center. An exhibition of visual arts preceded a night of fantastic music by the Dalat choirs and bands.

Tattybogle at the British Intl School
The primary school put on a very entertaining end of year musical in the form of Tattybogle. The story was about a scarecrow who was everyone’s friend and actually helped animals enjoy the fruits of the fields rather than frighten them away. It was an impressive show with excellent singing, polished acting, speech with clarity, performances with confidence as well as colourful and imaginative costumes. Congratulations especially to the production team of Miss Tame, Miss Talbot and Mr. Douglas for pulling it all together. It certainly shows how our performing arts and music programme is developing rapidly and impressively.

From Belfast to Ipoh’s Tenby Intl School
For a month, Tenby Schools Ipoh (TSI) hosted five teacher trainees from Stranmillis University College, Belfast, Northern Ireland who were here on an ongoing exchange programme initiated by Mr. Loh Ghee Juan, former Director of Curriculum Development of Tenby Schools and Dr. George Beale, a university lecturer from Stranmillis University College, who is no stranger to TSI, having been here as a visitor three years consecutively. Three teachers from TSI had previously participated in a training programme at the university in 2008.
The trainees were placed in classes in the kindergarten and Junior School of Ipoh International School and taught at least four lessons a day throughout the period. During the stint, they are assessed by senior members of staff as part of the requirement of the programme.
Apart from the experience gained academically, the trainees were given a huge dose of Malaysian culture and hospitality; from the endless eating sessions and frequent invitations to events, to Malaysian driving on the highways and byways – as witnessed through their programme-packed weekends here!

Ground-Breaking Ceremony of Tenby Schools Penang New Campus
The ground-breaking ceremony for the new campus of Tenby Schools Penang in Permai Village at Tanjung Bungah was officiated by the Penang Chief Minister, Lim Guan Eng recently. Tenby Schools Penang currently runs two campuses on Lorong Burma and Macalister Road. Due to expansion and space constraint, the Lorong Burma campus will be moving to a new purpose-built campus in Tanjung Bungah in August 2011. Conveniently located on a 6-acre site, the school offers not only state-of-the-art facilities, but will provide the best of international and Malaysian education on one campus.
At the ceremony, guests were entertained to choir and dance performances by students of Tenby Schools Penang. A scale model of the new campus, as well as a presentation on the interactive whiteboard proved to be a crowd puller for young and old alike.Tenby International School at Tanjung Bungah will offer classes from Early Years to Secondary School from the August 2011 intake onwards.

AISM Hosts Jamuan Teh Malaysia & Raise RM 8,000 for Cancer Society
For the second consecutive year, the Australian International School Malaysia (AISM) played host to the Jamuan Teh Malaysia (JAM) or Malaysia’s Tea Party. Modeled after Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea, this event focused on health and cancer education and raised RM 8,000 for the National Cancer Society Malaysia and Breast Cancer Welfare Association.
The event which was attended by more than 150 guests, was set in a traditional morning tea atmosphere with tiered cake plates and doilies! Guests were treated to the meaningful speeches, best dressed awards, fabulous sponsored prizes and an entertaining teh tarik demonstration and competition. Further to this, the students participated in various school activities such as guessing competitions, sale of sponsored muffins and ice creams to raise funds for the event.

Fusion Academy of Performing Arts Malaysia
What a fabulous year it has been for us here at Fusion! Started the year with Saturday school held at Garden International School. March we ran workshops with West End Star Dylan Turner and Marissa Dunlop doing Fame! and Chitty! July we completed two weeks of GLEE! with Grace Warner another West End Star. Next term for Saturday school starts Sept 4th-10 weeks. This December Dylan is back doing ‘Magic of Musicals’ which will include Disney and Wiz for juniors. For seniors besides musicals it will include songs from Glee! Come join us today!

Taylor’s Pre-U is Focusing on Character Education
South Australian Matriculation (SAM) teachers at Taylor’s College were in for a treat when renowned speaker, author and award-winning educator, Dr Hal Urban was invited as the guest speaker at their annual Professional Development Day on 5 July 2010.Speaking on the topic of “Character Education”, Dr Urban shared his 36-year experience as an educator, and emphasised the significant role teachers have to play in the students’ personal development. Mrs Hoe Li Lin, Principal of SAM said, “This programme was in line with the New SAM model which, starting from 2011, will focus on developing well-rounded, capable students.”SAM teachers, Julianne Leow and Sharon Chan, commented, ““Sometimes we are quick to judge and point out mistakes, failing to take notice of the good that students have done or achieved. Thus, this message came as a wake up call to many of us, to be more appreciative of our students and the people around us.”

Source: The Expat September 2010 Issue

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This article has been edited for ExpatGoMalaysia.com