PRINCIPALLY SPEAKING
Aaron Wise, Principal
As we approach the end of Term 2 and look ahead to Term 3, I would like to provide a quick staffing update. A hallmark of a good school is being a place where staff want to stay. Low staff turnover enhances stability, fosters stronger relationships between staff and students, and ensures continuity in the educational experience.
I am pleased to announce that our Head of Junior School, Michelle Chaplin, has renewed her contract and will continue with us for the foreseeable future. We have greatly appreciated the strong vision for learning that Michelle brings to the school and her wealth of educational knowledge.
However, we do have some staff who will be leaving us at the end of this term, and I would like to thank each of them for their contributions to the school.
Mr. Anthony Beadle has been a very popular Legal Studies and Business Studies teacher in the Middle and Senior School. Students consistently comment on how excellent his classes are, and he has proven his ability to get the best out of his students during their HSC exams. Mr. Beadle will be moving to China in July to take up a new role.
Ms. Debora Putri has been the Head of Diverse Educational Needs at the school for 1.5 years. During her time here, she has worked with a range of students who need both support and enrichment. We thank her for her dedication and wish her all the best as she moves to Europe.
Miss Zoe McPherson has been the counsellor at AISM for the past 6 years. She is known for her deep care for students and her ability to provide sound practical advice. She has also been a fantastic basketball coach for our girls’ teams, helping them achieve outstanding success. Miss McPherson will be moving to Singapore to take up a new role, with the aim of eventually moving back to Australia.
While we will miss each of these teachers, I am pleased to announce the following new staff members who will be joining us:
Mr. John Tickle has over 15 years of experience teaching Business Studies and Legal Studies in Australia and overseas. Most recently, he was a teacher at the prestigious Pembroke School in Adelaide, where he has worked for over 10 years. In this role, he consistently saw his students gain outstanding academic results while also being known as a very caring and supportive teacher. We look forward to having Mr. Tickle take over Mr. Beadle’s classes from the start of Term 3.
Miss Charlotte Spence will lead our Diverse Educational Needs program. She has extensive experience working with students with diverse needs in London, where she most recently coordinated the special needs program at her school. She has a strong background in psychology as well as postgraduate qualifications in working with students with special educational needs.
Mr. Stephen Liu will join us as our new whole-school counsellor. Born in New York City, Mr. Liu gained a Master of Arts in Counselling and Guidance from New York University. He has worked in several schools in New York City before recently moving to Thailand to work in international schools there. We are confident that Mr. Liu’s deep experience and friendly nature will make him a real asset to the AISM community.
Miss Amanda Felix will join us as our new Teacher Librarian, a role that has been vacant so far this year. A former classroom and drama teacher, we are excited to have Miss Felix come into AISM to help make our library an even more vibrant and engaging space. We also want to take this opportunity to thank Mrs. Janett, who has been filling this role while we looked for an ideal candidate. Miss Felix’s appointment will now free Mrs. Janett up to further support the whole Junior School.
We look forward to welcoming these new teachers to AISM in Term 3 and trust that you will join us in making them feel at home in our community.
AISM Annual Survey 2024
We are reaching out again to ask for your support in completing our annual survey. Your feedback is crucial in helping us understand and improve the school experience we provide.
Please take a moment to click on the link below and share your thoughts:
Annual Parent Survey
The survey will remain open until 10 June 2024.We encourage you to complete it at your earliest convenience to ensure that your voice is heard and to help us celebrate our successes and address areas needing improvement.
Thank you for your continued support.
JUNIOR SCHOOL
Michelle Chaplin, Head of Junior School
Students across the Junior school have been focusing on initiating communication in English and creating a wonderful playground environment where all students feel welcome and valued. Each morning I love the interactions with students, parents, and grandparents where we greet and smile and wish each other a good day. I encourage all our community to greet each other with an English welcome - smile and feel free to be a part of our morning joy.
We have wonderful news from our Year 5 students, our language competition, and some excellent sporting results.
Year 5 News
Ryan Mclyntre, Jaeshinthaa Kaur, Taranpreet Kaur & Poovaneswary, Year 5 Team
We are thrilled to share that our production, Hoodwinked, is in full swing! The students are enthusiastically learning their lines and songs, and we are finalising their costumes this week for the final fittings. With the production date set for 8 August, the excitement is building as everything starts to come together.
A huge thank you to Ms. Taylor, Mr. Keys, Ms. Taran and Ms. Poova for their tireless efforts behind the scenes. Your hard work is greatly appreciated as we bring this production to life.
In addition to the production, our Year 5 students have been deeply engaged in a novel study of "Wonder." This heartwarming text promotes important values such as tolerance, acceptance, understanding and respect. Later this term, we will have the opportunity to watch the movie adaptation and compare it to the book, enhancing our students' understanding and appreciation of these key messages.
Our Year 5 students have also been working diligently on writing informative texts. We have been focusing on structuring these texts to ensure they are engaging and impactful. Students have learnt to start with a sizzling introduction to hook the reader, build tension and interest through the middle paragraphs and conclude with a powerful ending using techniques such as rhetorical questions, emotive language or the rule of three.
This writing project ties into our Science unit on animal adaptations, with each student choosing an animal to research and write about. The effort and creativity they have put into these informative texts are commendable and they are producing work to be very proud of.
Thank you to all the teachers and students for your dedication and hard work. We are looking forward to an exciting term ahead!
MIDDLE & SENIOR SCHOOL
Unveiling Innovation at ITEX: A Transformative Experience for Our Stage 6 Students
Shehrbano Waleed & Isabel Perez, Design and Technology Teacher & Software Design and Development Teacher
Our Stage 6 Design and Technology and Software Design and Development students recently embarked on an eye-opening excursion to the ITEX Innovation Expo at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre. This unique opportunity allowed them to delve into cutting-edge innovation and understand how innovators address societal needs.
Exposure to Global Innovations
At ITEX, students saw firsthand how technology and creative thinking solve real-world problems. The expo showcased diverse innovations that emphasised interdisciplinary approaches, from groundbreaking medical devices to sustainable energy solutions. This exposure broadened their perspectives on how technology and design are used to make a positive impact.
Learning from Pioneers
Engaging with innovators at ITEX showed our students how classroom concepts are applied in impactful ways. They observed how inventors identify issues, brainstorm solutions, and transform ideas into tangible products. This experiential learning is crucial as students begin formulating their projects and understanding the intricacies of turning ideas into reality.
Applying Knowledge to Personal Projects
Insights gained from ITEX directly apply to students' academic and personal projects. Real-world examples of innovation highlighted the importance of thorough research, iterative design, and user-centric thinking. These lessons are relevant to their studies and equip them with skills that will benefit their future careers.
Building Connections and Fostering Collaboration
One significant aspect of this excursion was the opportunity for Year 11 and Year 12 students to learn from each other. This shared experience forged stronger connections across year levels, promoting collaboration and peer learning. Older students mentored younger ones, offering guidance and sharing knowledge, while younger students brought fresh perspectives. This dynamic interaction enhances their educational journey, creating a supportive and enriching learning environment.
This enriching experience was made possible through careful planning and support, demonstrating a solid commitment to our students' growth. The organisation and guidance during the excursion ensured that our students could fully benefit from everything ITEX offered, highlighting the importance of dedicated mentorship in education.
In conclusion, the ITEX Innovation Expo was a valuable experience for our Stage 6 students, offering a glimpse into the future of technology and design. It inspired them to think critically about leveraging their skills to address societal challenges and fostered community and collaboration among our students. We look forward to seeing how this experience will influence their future projects and academic pursuits.
IESC Graduation, Term 2 2024
Mrs Gayatri Unsworth, Head of Language Acquisition Faculty
The Intensive English Support Class (IESC) programme at AISM has had another term with students from non-English speaking backgrounds continuing to go from strength to strength in terms of gaining the language abilities, understanding as well as knowledge needed to cope with and thrive within the Australian educational setting.
Last week, we bid farewell to Zhouyouyou Xiang or Yoyo as she likes to be called, who has now concluded her time in the IESC programme and become a fully mainstream Year 7 student.
Yoyo has worked extremely hard since joining AISM and the IESC programme in Term 4 last year and her efforts have paid off with significant improvements in her language skills and abilities.
The Principal and Head of MSS, Mr Wise, recently presented Yoyo with her graduation certificate to acknowledge her accomplishments during her time in the IESC programme.
The IESC Teaching Team (Ms Rose, Ms Devi, Mr Webster, Mr Kennedy, Ms Emma and Mrs Unsworth) is immensely proud of Yoyo’s achievement and commendable success in terms of her language acquisition. We wish Yoyo all the best as she continues on her learning journey here at AISM.
Education Perfect Languages Championship 2024
Mrs Gayatri Unsworth, Head of Language Acquisition Faculty
A number of our talented language learners in the MSS recently participated in the Education Perfect Languages Championships (EPLC) 2024, held virtually via the Education Perfect platform.
This annual competition brought together learners from over 2000 schools worldwide to celebrate language learning and challenged students to demonstrate their language aptitude and abilities in a range of different languages.
AISM secured an outstanding 3rd place overall position in the Malaysian rankings, out of eight participating schools. The abilities of our MSS language learners were also on full display as AISM students achieved podium finishes in several languages. Our French and Chinese learners were especially impressed, ranking 3rd in Malaysia for both categories. One of our French students, Fiza Gupta (Year 8) was also presented with a Credit Award for her efforts, which saw her placed in the top twenty percent of competitors around the world. Notably, the school dominated the 101-250 student category, claiming the top spot in Malaysia.
We also held our own whilst competing on a global scale with much larger schools. Overall, the school ranked a respectable 1043rd out of an impressive 2,032 schools that participated worldwide.
The dedication of our French, Chinese and Bahasa language teachers and the engagement as well as enthusiasm of the faculty’s students were on full display at the EPLC 2024. These results highlight the school's continued commitment to fostering a love for languages and empowering students to achieve their full potential in a range of settings.
Congratulations to all students who participated in the 2024 Education Perfect Languages Championships.
International Day of Jazz
Matthew Fisher, Head of Arts
The International Day of Jazz has gone off in spectacular fashion this year in KL. Musicians, conductors and tutors from International Schools throughout KL, as well as from Thailand and Singapore, converged on ISKL on Saturday, 11 May for a great day of music making.
The day began with all in workshop on two classic ‘Big Band’ pieces: Bb Shuffle and the classic Coltrane piece, ‘On Green Dolphin Street’. This was to allow students to get comfortable with playing in a large jazz group, most of whom they haven’t met before. Students then went into improvisation workshops within their sections, such as saxophones, brass, rhythm sections, etc. Every student was taught and asked to showcase an improvised solo while others supported in the background. Students were then split into mixed ‘combo’ groups to learn pieces with improvisations within a smaller group context. All of this culminated in a fantastic showcase of the different ‘combos’ performing the pieces they had worked on, plus an ‘all in’ performance of the two pieces which were workshopped in the morning. The final item was an ‘all in jam’ with many, many, many opportunities to show the improvisation skills learnt throughout the day.
This day was offered to students of all levels of playing, with all main types of instruments catered for, including voice and strings. There was even an oboe. I had offered this opportunity to ALL ELECTIVE MUSIC STUDENTS. The two students who took up this opportunity not only had a great time, but learnt and built on fantastic skills to further their musical journey. I encourage all music students to take all opportunities which come your way as you never know what you’ll take away from them.
Strings and Things
Matthew Fisher, Head of Arts
The Arts Department is proud to introduce you to the newest instrumental ensemble at AISM, our Strings and Things ensemble. The beautiful mellow deep cello sound soars through Joe’s passionate playing, while Sarah and Rubi bring the crystal clear brightness of the violins to life. Juan adds another element of brightness to the melodies on flute while the mid and lower end harmonies are filled and supported with myself on viola and Yua on bass guitar. Repertoire from all genres is performed, from Bach, Handel and Beethoven to Pirates of the Caribbean and other movie themes, there’s something for everyone. There is also the possibility of combining with other ensembles as well, which means that the musical directions and possibilities of this group are endless.
If there are any budding strings (and things) players in AISM who would like to come along and join in, you are more than welcome. We rehearse on Mondays during CCA time.
To enquire, see me (Mr Fisher) at any time. (Photos by Mr Keys)
WHOLE SCHOOL
Lockdown Drill
Aaron Wise, Principal
As part of our ongoing commitment to maintaining a safe and secure environment for our students, staff, and visitors, we will be conducting a lockdown drill next Wednesday.
Lockdown drills are a critical component of our comprehensive safety plan. They ensure that everyone on our campus is prepared and knows exactly what to do in the unlikely event of an emergency.
During the drill next Wednesday, teachers will guide students through the process calmly and efficiently. The drill will be announced beforehand, and clear instructions will be provided to ensure that everyone understands what is happening and why.
We understand that drills can sometimes be unsettling for students. To mitigate any anxiety, teachers will discuss the purpose of the drill with their classes beforehand and answer any questions the students may have. Our goal is to conduct these drills in a way that is informative and reassuring.
We appreciate your support in helping us maintain a safe learning environment. If you have any questions or concerns about the upcoming drill, please do not hesitate to contact the school office.
AIMS Language Competition at GIS
Adila Parman & Mohd Fadhly Roslei, JS LOTE Bahasa & MCS Teacher
On 25 May 2024, Garden International School (GIS) hosted the AIMS Language Competition, showcasing the linguistic talents of our students in Bahasa Malaysia, Mandarin, and French. The event saw enthusiastic participation from 12 students from the Junior School and two from MSS, who put their language skills to the test in a series of challenging and engaging activities.
We are thrilled to announce that Rachelle Roy Raja, Year 2, emerged victorious, winning the Gold Medal in the Key Stage 1 Bahasa Melayu as a Foreign Language category. Her outstanding performance was a highlight of the competition, demonstrating her proficiency in Bahasa Malaysia and her dedication and hard work.
We were also very impressed with Caeden Cheong, Year 7, who gained the bronze medal for French in the Key Stage 3 Foreign Language category.
Our thanks to the AISM Languages Department - Cikgu Adila, Cikgu Fadhly, Mr Fong, Ms Wan and Mrs Stephanie Rajani for the preparation of the students and to Coach Hussein for driving the bus and providing invaluable support and encouragement to all.
Congratulations to all the participants for their hard work and enthusiasm.
| AISM Language Competition for Bahasa Malaysia, Mandarin and French 2024 Participants | ||||
| NAME OF PARTICIPANT | CLASS | CATEGORIES | 1ST / FOREIGN LANGUAGE | LANGUAGE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rachelle Roy Raja | 2G | KS1 (Y1-Y2) | Foreign Language | Bahasa Malaysia |
| Lum Yi Hong | 2G | KS1 (Y1-Y2) | 1st Language | Bahasa Malaysia |
| Derek Tan | 4G | KS2A (Y3-Y4) | Foreign Language | Bahasa Malaysia |
| Halle Jackson | 5W | KS2B (Y5-Y6) | Foreign Language | Bahasa Malaysia |
| Francesca Jones | 5W | KS2B (Y5-Y6) | Foreign Language | Bahasa Malaysia |
| Mizuki Tsukamoto | 2G | KS1 (Y1-Y2) | Foreign Language | Chinese |
| Leopold Chang Shih Jie | 2G | KS1 (Y1-Y2) | 1st Language | Chinese |
| Ryder Feng Langxi | 4G | KS2A (Y3-Y4) | 1st Language | Chinese |
| Jaeho Kim | 3G | KS2A (Y3-Y4) | Foreign Language | Chinese |
| Davinah Maree McDavitt | 5G | KS2B (Y5-Y6) | Foreign Language | Chinese |
| Ruohan Liu | 5W | KS2B (Y5-Y6) | 1st Language | Chinese |
| Caeden Cheong | 7G | KS3 (Y7,8 & 9) | Foreign Language | French |
| Rachel Wong | 10W | KS4 (Y10 & 11) | Foreign Language | French |
AIMS Sports
Ivan Yoong, Whole School CCA & Sports Coordinator
AISM has been dominating the sporting scene at various fixtures and in a variety of sports - Volleyball, Badminton, Athletics and Swimming under the AIMS umbrella.
With achievements to be proud of from both individual and team events, the effort channelled by each athlete is what makes it so worthwhile and gives us great moments of joy and builds our school and team spirit.
As Winston Churchill said, “The price of greatness is responsibility”. This sense of responsibility was highlighted during the recent AIMS Swimming Carnival when our community (teachers, students and parent helpers) stepped up to co-host the event that catered to more than 300 visitors from a 7am start to a 6pm finish. Huge thank you to all parties who attended this event for their contributions in this carnival, it would not be possible without their endless support. Well done Team AISM!
AIMS Primary & Secondary Swimming Carnival
| Participants | |
|---|---|
| Ashley,Sharon, Ruby, Isis, Sara, Charlotte, Charmayne, Jen Yi, Sara Inagaki, Rachelle, Halle, Olivia, Luna, Zoe, Carrie, Manuella, Grace, Kelly, Sarah, Elly, Hyuna, Ciarrai, Lexie, Kumika and Ayuha | Kai Ter, Imad, Benedict, Austin, Alex, Sebastien, Chase, Christian, Isaiah, Manaaki, Emmanuel, Ethan Selvindoss, Toby, Yuet Kah, Edwin, Damian, Baxter, Yi Chen, Evan, Jian Zi, Yuto, Belvan, Ethan Ng, Isaac Navin, Zi Yang, Adric and Riley |
Overall Achievement:
AISM came 3rd Overall in Primary Category and finished 2nd Overall in Secondary category amongst 7 other international schools.
| Medals Winners | ||
| Age Group | Student Name | Medal |
|---|---|---|
| 8 & Under Boys | Jian Zi Neoh | 2 Gold, 3 Silver |
| Evan Xu | 1 Silver | |
| 9-10 Girls | Sara Inagaki | 1 Gold, 2 Silver, 1 Bronze |
| 11-12 Boys | Alex Furlan | 2 Silver & 2 Bronze |
| Sebastien Moore | 1 Bronze | |
| Edwin Ng | 1Silver, 1 Bronze | |
| 11-12 Girls | Ashley Yoong | 1 Silver |
| Relay Team(Isis Janett, Lexie Taylor, Ruby Ritchie & Ciarrai Lu) | 2 Bronze | |
| U13 Boys | Toby Taylor | 2 Bronze |
| 13 - 14 Girls | Relay Team (Elly Lyu, Ayuka Riho, Hyuna Oh & Sharon Ng) | 1 Bronze |
| O15 Boys | Benedict Chin | 1 Silver, 1 Bronze |
| Kai Ter Huggel | 1 Silver & 2 Bronze | |
| Chase Jackson | 2 Silver | |
| Relay Team (Christian Koegelenberg, Ima Abdullah, Benedict Chin, Austin Xia & Chase Jackson) | 2 Silver | |
| O15 Girls | Grace Boam | 1 Gold |
| Relay Team(Sara Allenspach, Sarah Selvindoss, Wakana Matsuo & Aneesha Pollock) | 2 Silver | |
AIMS Athletics Carnival (Update)
Overall Achievement:
AISM came 5th Overall in Primary Category and finished 2nd Overall in Secondary category amongst 7 other international schools.
AIMS MSS Badminton Tournament
| Participants | |
| Age Group | Student Name |
|---|---|
| U13 Girls | Ashley, Qian Hua, Jen Yi, Suenne, Elise, Alycia & Pui Mun |
| U13 Boys | Owen, Arif, Kaeden, Edwin, Kyle, Yuet Kah & Charle |
| U15 Girls | Ashley, Tina & Emma |
| U13 Boys | Arif, Max, Roy, Key, Oliver, Edwin, Shawn |
| Medals Winners | ||
| Age Group | Student Name | Medal |
|---|---|---|
| U15 Girls | Ashley Yoong | 1 Bronze |
AIMS U13 & U15 Boys Volleyball
Overall Achievement:
AISM came 2nd Overall in the U13 Boys Category amongst 5 other international schools.
| Medals Winners | |
| Age Group | Student Name |
|---|---|
| U13 Boys | Hallston, Ethan, Juan, Anson, Mackenzi, Alex & Yi Soon |
| U15 Boys | Manaaki, Key, Andy, Fynn, Bo Shen, Hans & Lap Yin |
CCA and Sports
Ivan Yoong, Whole School CCA & Sports Coordinator
Save the date: Semester 2 CCA Update
Preview on Engage Portal - Friday, 7 June
CCAs open for registration - From 7.00pm Monday, 10 June until 12.00pm Wednesday, 12 June
CCAs commence - Monday, 22 July
CCAs conclude - Thursday, 21 November
Click here for more information.
Note: Creche & Sibling Games CCA is unavailable on Mondays.
ICAS 2024
Debora Putri, Head of Diverse Educational Needs
ICAS will return to AISM this year. 2024 International Competitions and Assessments for Schools (ICAS) is available for Students Years 2 to 10. ICAS is possibly the most comprehensive educational assessment program available. It provides deep insight into the true capabilities of students.
This year, we encourage you to consider entering your child into ICAS. This fantastic assessment program allows students to challenge themselves and be recognised for their academic efforts. The assessment is now fully online and sitting dates will commence in Term 3. If you are interested in registering your child please find the information for ICAS dates and fees using the link provided below.
ICAS REGISTRATION LINKYou can also learn more by visiting eats.com.my.
Registration will be closed on 7 June 2024.
