Monday 27th - Friday 31st of October 2014

 

It has been a very busy week to start the half-term this week at GIS. We have had our annual book week and many pupils have been getting involved with activities going on at lunchtimes and there is an after school silent disco planned in the Library for Year 7-9 on Friday! The school grounds have been even more busy than normal this week with GIS proudly hosting the SEASAC football tournament for Under 18 boys. Impressively, Salomé Das in 9K and Claudia Lim in 9L have both been selected to take part in the Under 18 girls SEASAC football tournament being held in Singapore - a remarkable achievement for Year 9 pupils!

We have also had another positive education session this week, with a focus on developing empathy. The pupils took part in various activities to help them try and understand why people have different perspectives and how other people might feel in different situations and scenarios. I managed to visit some of the groups and saw some very engaging activities.

9M engrossed in a lively discussion.

9K trying to determine emotions shown by facial expressions.

Russell looks proud of his art work!

9P sharing ideas about how people might feel in different scenarios.

9G enjoying the scrunch activity to share ideas and generally attack each other!

The aim of the positive education sessions this year are really to help our pupils think about their personal well being as well as the well being of others. If we can cultivate a more positive environment/atmosphere for our pupils and help them realize the benefits of adopting a more proactive and positive attitude, we can ensure healthy, happy and thriving individuals!

Thank you so much to all of the pupils who have spent time completing their camp reflections on the Padlet walls. Myself and tutors have been very impressed with the level of detail and insight offered by some individuals. Following on from this, I will be announcing which form are Year 9 Camp Champions in next week's Year 9 assembly. Regards, Dr. Browning

Friday 17th of October - Camp Update and Reflection!

Firstly, let me say how proud I am of the majority of the Year 9 pupils for their tremendous effort on camp! All of the accompanying staff and our facilitators at Nur Laman Bestari have spoken very highly of you - so very well done and thank you! We have certainly had a challenging camp this year and I know that when the pupils reflect on their experience they will be able to feel a real sense of achievement.

As I mentioned today before we left the camp, over the half term holiday I would like all of the pupils to complete an individual reflection using the padlet walls that I have set up for the respective forms (see the links below). I would like you to spend some time to think about what you have personally gained from the experience this year and then note it on your form's padlet wall. I will look at these at the end of the first week back at school and also the comments about you made by the attending teachers to choose a form to be camp champions! Teachers will be uploading their pictures into the shared google folder (see link below) that you can use to remind yourselves of the activities and feel free to use any relevant photos in your post on the reflection wall.

Photos of Year 9 Camp 2014:

https://drive.google.com/a/gardenschool.edu.my/#folders/0B1I5bAMjrTiEYzNYeWpLWVMyUVk

Padlet Wall for each form:

9G - http://padlet.com/browning_m/9GReflection

9I - http://padlet.com/browning_m/9IRelection

9S - http://padlet.com/browning_m/9SReflection

9W - http://padlet.com/browning_m/9wReflection

9K - http://padlet.com/browning_m/9KReflection

9L - http://padlet.com/browning_m/9LReflection

9M - http://padlet.com/browning_m/9mReflection

9P -http://padlet.com/browning_m/9PReflection

If you have any questions, please email me at browning.m@gardenschool.edu.my

Have a great holiday week and some well earned rest! Dr. Browning

Year 9 camp photos

Thursday 16th October - Camp update!

The second day of the Year 9 camp ran incredibly smoothly with the pupils once again showing real resilience when the late afternoon rain set in! The 3 large groups of pupils rotated around the activities from day one and had their chance to tackle new challenges. It has been very impressive to see the pupils select high but achievable levels of difficulty from themselves, whether it be rock climbing or on the treks. There have been some real stand-out pupils who have been exemplary in how they have helped others and pulled teams together and they will be more formally recognized following our return. So far, not one pupil has asked to use a phone or electronic device - it is great to see them coping so easily without all of the comforts of home and for them perhaps eye-opening in that they can cope. Once again, please accept my apologies for a lack of pictures as internet access is still problematic although rest assured we are taking lots and these will be shared with you in due course. Kind regards, Dr. Browning

Year 9 Camp Update - Wed 15th Oct

The new Year 9 camp at Nur Laman Bestari started very well yesterday with pupils arriving at the base camp about 8.30am. From there the year group split into 3 with some pupils heading straight over to Batu caves for rock climbing and limestone caving, whilst another group were building giant catapults at the base camp and the third group trekked up river and camped out in the jungle! The late afternoon rains did halt some of the activities although the pupil's spirits were not dampened and all teachers were impressed with the grit and determination shown! Unfortunately, there is no access to internet at the base camp and so I have driven 10km to find  sufficient signal to post this! Please accept my apologies in for not being able to update as regularly as we would like. Please contact the school or try my email browning.m@gardenschool.edu.my if you need to contact us. All pupils are doing brilliantly and challenging themselves. Lots of photos are being taken and will be posted/shared as and when possible. Kind regards, Dr.Browning

Monday 6th - Friday 10th of October

IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING YEAR 9 CAMP: 

Please note that the departure time for Year 9 camp on Tuesday 14^th of October has moved an hour earlier. Pupils should arrive at school and be ready to register in the undercover courts at 6.40am. This is to ease traffic congestion around the school site and ensure that we arrive at the camp in sufficient time to enjoy the full itinerary of activities on the first day. The return times will be as scheduled and pupils should be collected at 12.30pm from the undercover courts on Friday 17^th of October. Please accept my apologies for any inconvenience this may cause.
 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sport's Day - Quick Reflection!

It has been a short and yet very eventful week at GIS. Following a restful day on Monday, pupils and staff were treated to a great Sport's day on Wednesday. It was widely recognized that the event unfolded very smoothly. Mr Springall showing once again he has the ability to orchestrate such an event like a military operation and Mr Winstone's dulcet tones kept us all informed and amused throughout the day! Pupils were brilliant throughout the day but the event would not have been possible without without the hard work done by the heads of house, PE department and also teachers who were given different duties such as being track marshals or triple jump judges. Pictures from the event are still being processed and will follow in due course. My personal highlight was having happy birthday sung to me by such a large and tuneful body of pupils!
 

 It really is great to see the GIS pupils giving so much effort outside of the class and remarkable how so many pupils supported each other from different year groups and even across houses! The pupils of GIS really are becoming well rounded individuals; I saw one pupils reading a book on the coach traveling to the stadium, arrive to help captain and lead their house, collect multiple gold medals for their individual sport's performances and then read on the way home!!! 


 Back to Business!

Normal lessons resumed for the remainder of the week and I would like to thank teachers for sending me pictures of their Year 9 pupils in lessons and giving such wonderful feedback about their pupils. Here are a couple of pictures from Miss Morrison in Science, in recent lessons her class have being having a great time conducting food tests.

 I wish all pupils a relaxing weekend before the Year 9 camp next week!

Monday 29th September - Friday 3rd October

 

IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING YEAR 9 CAMP: 

Please note that the departure time for Year 9 camp on Tuesday 14^th of October has moved an hour earlier. Pupils should arrive at school and be ready to register in the undercover courts at 6.40am. This is to ease traffic congestion around the school site and ensure that we arrive at the camp in sufficient time to enjoy the full itinerary of activities on the first day. The return times will be as scheduled and pupils should be collected at 12.30pm from the undercover courts on Friday 17^th of October. Please accept my apologies for any inconvenience this may cause.

 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The School House System

In the build up to the first major house event of the Year, it is worth reflecting on the role of the house system at Garden and the value it holds for our pupils. For me a house system at school should be inextricably linked to the school's pastoral care system and will help provide every pupil with a sense of belonging. The house events held at Garden foster healthy competition to celebrate the strengths of our pupils in both academic and non-academic pursuits. Moreover, the house system generates an opportunity for pupils to widen their friendship circles, not just horizontally in year groups but vertically too. 

Last week the heads of house and their respective house captains were certainly earning their responsibility titles as they tried to manage the coordination of pupils in their groups into the multitude of events that will take place next Wednesday at the school's annual sport's day.I checked in with each house to hear how things are going and to get a sense of how valuable the pupils see the house system at school.

Crest House 

Year 9 Crest House Captains:

                                                     Brandon and Isabelle in 9G     
                                

                                               Salomé Das and Russell Chia 9K 
\
Comment from Mr Finch (Head of Crest): The Crest Yr 9s are epic! We have an amazing group of dynamic, talented and eager individuals in both groups that help to motivate their peers and stand as great models to everyone at GIS. They ensure that Crest as a House is both competitive but fair and graceful in defeat. This would not be possible if they were not passionate and willing - there is rivalry make no mistake but that is because it means so much. Whether sport, expressive arts or the simply recognition of gaining a merit our year 9s are committed to the House system and doing their very best within it in their own way. 

  Chancellor House 

Year 9 House Captains:

                                                  Max Luer and Claudia Lim in 9L

                                            Sahil Chandani and Eman Saif in 9I

Comment from Mr Fairweather (Head of Chancellor): The year 9 students have developed real enthusiasm for being in Chancellor house. This came into fruition last year as we stepped up our performances in all house events and finished the year with masses to celebrate! 

 

Sultan House 

Year 9 House Captains:

               

                                                          
Urvi and Roberto in 9M     

 

    Cameron and Emaan in 9S

Comment from Mr Bannister (Head of Sultan): The Year 9 Sultan team are the most Sultany Sultanites in Sultan!! They have astounded me with their house spirit over the last 2 years resulting in impressive victories at Sports Day and Eisteddfod as well as always being super enthusiastic about any house events! Loving the awesomeness and house spirit from the Yr9 team, keep it up guys!!!

 Queen House 

Year 9 House Captains:

                                       Ilona Miettinen and Danish Samsudin-Bakker 9W        

                                                   Vanessa Lee and Arjuna Sen 9P

Comment from Mr O'Neill (Head of Queen):"Were very excited about sports day, the Year nine team have been very tactical in their decision making for the events"

After meeting all of the house captains in each form this week it was massively apparent that they are hugely enthusiastic about their respective houses and are proud of these positions of responsibility. I would like to wish Good luck to all of the sport's day participants next week and also to the Heads of house and PE department who have had the mammoth task of making the day run smoothly. Please note that any pupils who are going to the stadium via their own transport please remember to find your tutor and register your presence as soon as you arrive. Also, if you are being collected from the stadium you need to stay until the very end to help with the clear up and then parents should meet directly with tutors to inform them that they are leaving. It is always a great day and I am certainly looking forward to seeing the Year 9 pupils put forth their best effort!