Monday 22nd - Friday 26th of September

CCA's have started this week at school and once again there is vast array of activities on offer for our pupils. Mr Springall was delighted to see so many Year 9 girls trying out for the U15 Dragon's basketball team. I am sure he will be expecting great things from them again this year!

 

The 'most popular' CCA at school once again appears to be the over-subscribed Chemistry Club. To accommodate such large numbers the group has now split into two with Mr Donaldson and his assistant Mr Robinson taking the older pupils, which includes a good number of Year 9's.

This term Chemistry Club will be working on the RSC Global experiment 2014: the art of crystallization. Details of the project can be seen here:

http://www.rsc.org/learn-chemistry/collections/experimentation/collaborative-chemistry/global-experiment-2014

In other Science related news, Mr Fernandes and his Year 9 group have been having a great time exploring the biochemistry of macromolecules. The kinesthetic activity (pictures below) of building the individual units and then condensing them together to build a macromolecular chain certainly helps cement an understanding of the concept.

 

 

I also had the opportunity to pop into Dr. Mason's Biology lesson this week. Her Year 9 class were looking at food tests and just about to start an experiment to investigate the presence of reducing sugars using Benedict's reagent.

 

Year 9 CAMP Update!

All pupils should have brought an updated packing list for the Year 9 camp home with them this week. The list is also viewable below. Pupils will learn more about the activities that they will do during camp week in the Year 9 assembly next week.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1I5bAMjrTiESndxRU9pQ202U0U/edit?usp=sharing

Merits and Attendance Update!

Miss Holden's form 9G are still holding onto the lead for most merits this term, whilst second place is very close between 9M, 9P and 9S! There looks to be a positive correlation between merit totals and form attendance levels. I strongly encourage parents to ensure that all pupils attend as fully as possible. It is not surprising that the more successful / thriving pupils are the ones with the best attendance records!

Monday 15th - Friday 19th September 2014

Once again I have been inundated with positive comments about the Year 9 pupils this week! Mr Fernandes (Head of Science) was particularly keen to tell me about his market place activity in Biology. As you can see in the pictures below, Ryan (9M) is furiously recording information from Urvi (9M) and Emily's group (9P) are certainly engrossed in the activity.

 

  

We have also had our first Positive Education session of the year this week (formerly known as PSHE) and it was great to visit all of the forms and see so many happy faces!

 

Following a meeting with new pupils into the GIS community, I decided that it could be helpful to set up an iPad support group. I arranged a time and place and then handed over to some expert volunteers from the year group to help the GIS pupils become more familiar with their devices. 

 I would like to thank the following pupils for helping out: Audra, Helen and Elizabeth from 9G, Samantha and Muskaan from 9S and Vitthal and Daniel from 9K. There will be another session next week to ensure that the new pupils feel confident using their apps in lessons.

A short video clip from the session can be viewed below:

  
Merits and Attendance!

After a third week at school it is still 9G leading the way with merits but now 9P and 9S are starting to catch up. Interestingly, the form with the most merits (9G) also have the best attendance so far this term!

I would also like to remind parents / pupils attendance that the camp trip next month is compulsory - if you would like to request absence from the trip please send a letter directly to Mr Walker walker.s@gardenschool.edu.my

Monday 8th - Friday 12th of September 2014

Pupils in Year 9 have now met all of their new classmates and teachers and are certainly getting back into the school routine. It has been really great to pop into some Year 9 lessons this week and see all of the learning taking place.

Mr Netcher (Head of Chemistry) was looking at Kinetic Theory with his Chemistry group and pupils have been using their iPads to publish work and collaborate on Padlet. A sample of the work is accessible via this link::http://padlet.com/netcherk/4xr7rsta4x24

In Biology, pupils have also used ipads effectively to prepare presentations about cash crops.

 

In Drama, Mr Rankin has been creating scenes using insults from Shakespeare's plays.

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Rewards and  Recognition:

As we move closer towards the Year 9 camp week, it is pleasing to see all of the responses coming in. 9M have won the prize for being the most efficient in getting the indemnity forms completed (well done parents!). I am also closely monitoring the number of merits collected from each form on a weekly basis and at the moment 9G and ahead with 9P and 9S in second and third places respectively! Keep it up guys!

A note to parents from Mr Ball (Head of Design and Technology):

 

This year students are taking part in a competition called 'F1 in Schools'. It is an international competition that enables students to improve various skills, all linked to the GIS Learner skills. Students are to form a Formula 1 team of of 3-6 people. They are required to raise money to help them design and race a miniature wooden F1 car. They are also required to produce a team uniform, display stands, portfolio amongst other items.One way money can be obtained is through sponsorship from local companies. 

Students will be briefed on how to contact suitable companies, how to write effective letters etc. However, we are also telling students never to contact companies/strangers without parental permission. Whilst dealing with industry and adults can be very beneficial for students and give them an insight into real-life industries, we are all aware of the potential risks involved.

If you are unhappy for your child to be contacting outside agencies/companies, this is absolutely fine and they may be able to raise finances using alternative approaches, for instance in-school competitions and events, doing jobs at home etc. The more inventive they are, the better. Further details of amounts required to compete and details of race days will be given to you as soon as these have been finalized. Any further questions on this exciting initiative please search 'F1 in Schools' on the internet or feel free to contact Mr Ball: ball.r@gardenschool.edu.my

First Week Back!

It has been quite a short but very busy first week back to school! A number of the forms were welcomed by new tutors and now more subjects are taught as mixed forms. There is a real opportunity for the Year 9 pupils to start to widen their social circles, learn from and work with different people.

 Mr Lawrence was particularly keen to tell me all about 9L's drama lesson and particularly Max's idea for what caused the feud between the Montagues and The Capulets in Romeo and Juliet.

 

The highlights of the week for me have been seeing the pupils new to GIS being so warmly welcomed and looked after by their buddies and hearing from new teachers to GIS about how impressed they have been with particularly their Year 9 classes!

9M are leading the way for the most camp indemnity forms returned! Please complete this asap. Thanks!