PRINCIPALLY SPEAKING
Aaron Wise, Principal
The Value of Encouraging Our Children to Do Hard Things
This past weekend, I had the privilege of completing the Man of Steel Triathlon—3 kilometers of swimming, followed by a grueling 130-kilometer bike ride, and capped off with a 30-kilometer run. The entire event took me just under 8 hours to complete, pushing my physical and mental limits to the maximum. As I persevered through each phase of the triathlon, I couldn’t help but reflect on the importance of encouraging our children to take on hard challenges.
In today’s world, where instant gratification and comfort are often prioritised, it’s crucial to remember the value of perseverance and resilience. Encouraging our children to embrace difficult tasks not only builds character, but also fosters a growth mindset—an idea strongly supported by research.
Harvard’s Project Zero, an initiative that studies the nature of intelligence and learning, highlights the importance of pushing beyond comfort zones. When students engage in challenging tasks, they are more likely to develop critical thinking skills and a deeper understanding of the material. This aligns with the findings of John Hattie’s Visible Learning, which emphasizes the power of feedback and effort in achieving educational success. Hattie’s research shows that students who are encouraged to persevere through difficulties and receive constructive feedback are more likely to excel academically.
At AISM, we are committed to nurturing resilient, responsible, and relevant students. These qualities are best developed not by avoiding challenges, but by embracing them. Whether it’s tackling a difficult math problem, learning a new instrument, or participating in a demanding sport, the skills and mindset gained from these experiences are invaluable.
By encouraging our children to take on hard things, we are not just preparing them for exams or competitions—we are equipping them with the tools to navigate the complexities of life with confidence and determination. Let’s continue to support and motivate our students to reach for the stars, knowing that the effort they put in today will pay off in their future endeavors.
Here’s to embracing challenges and celebrating the growth that comes from doing hard things!
JUNIOR SCHOOL
Michelle Chaplin, Head of Junior School
The Junior School is always looking to provide opportunities for students to feel the MAGIC of learning! This week we celebrated the Foundation Class 100 days of Learning, some excellent ICAS results and joined with the MSS to celebrate STEM week - from gelatos to bug skeletons to toy mobiles and recycling goods!
Next week we head into the MAGIC of reading as we celebrate book week - exchanging a book with a friend, dressing up along the lines of MAGIC on Friday and our classroom DOOR competition. Come along on Friday and see the MAGIC in action - 9am in the Gym!!
It’s been a wonderful first 5 weeks of Term 3, with 5 great weeks to go. Let’s enjoy the MAGIC of AISM!
Magic in Year 5
Mr. Ryan Mclntyre, Ms. Jaeshinthaa Kaur Uppal, Ms. Taranpreet & Ms. Poovaneswary, Year 5 Team
Congratulations to everyone involved in our Year 5 production, Hoodwinked! Your dedication and hard work truly paid off and the show was a spectacular success. A special thanks to all the students, staff and parents who contributed to making this production unforgettable.
In our academic journey, students are diving into persuasive writing, focusing on crafting compelling feature articles on important topics from their inquiry units. They’re honing their skills in presenting strong arguments and engaging readers.
We are excited to announce that as part of our Science units, Year 5 will be visiting Pusat Sains Negara in Week 9. This trip will enrich their understanding and spark curiosity as we delve deeper into our Science Curriculum.
With graduation around the corner, we’re preparing for a memorable celebration. To capture the journey of growth, we kindly ask all parents to send in a close-up photo of their child from their Foundation year. It’s a wonderful way to see how much they’ve grown over the years.
Thank you for your continued support and involvement!
Warm regards,
The Year 5 Team
Junior School Music
Nicki Taylor, Music Teacher
“Music is about communication, creativity and cooperation. By studying music in school, students have the opportunity to build on these skills, enrich their lives and experience the world from a new perspective.” - President Bill Clinton
The Performing Arts Department is slowly coming back down to earth after the successful season of ‘Hoodwinked’ presented by our Year 5 students. We commend the artistic, collaborative and personal growth of the students over the course of the production period and performances.
Our Year 4 students are doing well with their violin studies and look forward to sharing their work with the community at the end of this term. Very short, regular practise sessions will help the students to be confident when they perform, so they are encouraged to take their violins home and bring them to school every Wednesday.
We are looking forward to sharing more musical performances with the AISM community this semester through our school events and assemblies.
Hoodwinked Highlights
Experience the magic of "Hoodwinked" all over again! Our talented Year 5 students delivered outstanding performances in this unforgettable production. Watch the highlights now to relive the adventure and be amazed by their talent and dedication.
Junior School Enrichment Snapshot
Ms Leigh Janett, Deputy Head of Junior School
Our Junior School has been exceptionally busy in the world of Learning Enrichment. To celebrate, each newsletter will showcase a sneak peek of the deep thinking and innovation happening on a weekly basis.
Our Foundation and Year 1 Literacy Enrichment group have called themselves ‘The Champions', which is rather fitting. They meet weekly with Ms Janett and Ms Husna to access learning well beyond their years.
Last week they received an email from an elderly Malaysian lady searching for a retirement village. The highly funded individual had heard about our curious and innovative thinkers in this group, asking them to design a new build project that:
- is Green (not the colour green, but good to the Earth); and,
- makes its residents feel healthy and happy
The Champions' plans were very impressive and they confidently shared their ideas with others within the group, broadening their vocabulary surrounding renewable energy and sustainable building materials.
This week they began building their retirement villages in Minecraft Education, guided by their original designs and used signs to clearly label constructions.
Reeta from 1G was quoted as saying “It was so cool. I used an AI website creator by entering sentences and reading questions from the AI chat. I built my own website for my retirement village called The Green Village!”
Can you believe these clever learners are only in Foundation and Year 1!?
MIDDLE & SENIOR SCHOOL
IESC Students Shine in The Learning Village Annual Competition
Mrs Gayatri Unsworth, Head of Language Acquisition Faculty
Our Year 6 to Year 9 IESC students recently participated in the Learning Village Annual Competition, showcasing their English language abilities as well as active engagement with the Learning Village platform, which is used as part of the IESC programme.
As part of the competition, students earned points for completing different English language tasks, undertaking particular language challenges and completing various activities. Many of our IESC learners engaged with the competition rigorously, securing high points and also contributing to AISM being placed 4th worldwide for overall points collected by a school.
To recognise their outstanding efforts and achievements, the two highest scoring students for each year level were recently presented with a certificate and gift.
Congratulations once again to all our Learning Village annual competition participants and winners.
From Left to Right
Sitting: Rou Gin (Year 7), Amelia (Year 6), Hiroki (Year 7), Kelly (Year 6)
Standing: Miyuki (Year 9), Mandy (Year 9), Cindy (Year 8), Angela (Year 8)
WHOLE SCHOOL
Public Holiday Clarification
Aaron Wise, Principal
Taylors Education Group have clarified their approach to the two public holidays that happen on the same day this year with the following statement:
"TEG observes both Malaysia Day and Prophet Muhammad's Birthday as public holidays. Therefore, we would like to inform you that 17th September will be a replacement public holiday for TEG".
Hence, 17 September will be a public holiday at AISM.
2025 AISM Calendar
Aaron Wise, Principal
The AISM Calendar for 2025 has just been approved and is as follows:
Save the Date
Ivan Yoong, Whole School CCA & Sports Coordinator
Cross Country Carnival 2024
Middle and Senior School - 29 August
Junior School - 30 August
Pink Gala Dinner
Get ready for an unforgettable evening at the AISM Pink Gala Dinner – Shades of Pink! This glamorous event will take place on 26 October, and we are thrilled to announce that tickets are now on sale.
Indulge in a luxurious 5-course dinner, enjoy free-flow alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, and be entertained throughout the night. The evening will also feature a charity auction, a raffle and much more to keep you entertained and engaged.
Why Pink?: The Pink Gala Dinner is a PTC fundraiser to support the National Cancer Society of Malaysia (NCSM). Every year in October the NCSM runs Breast Cancer Awareness Month - Pink October. All money raised from the Pink Gala Dinner will be donated to the MCSM as part of their Pink October fundraising. This will ensure that the money will go directly to those who are affected by all kinds of cancer in Malaysia.
Please note that the ticket price covers the cost of a delectable 5-course meal, free-flow drinks, and fantastic entertainment throughout the evening. This ensures that you get to fully enjoy the night’s festivities without any additional worries.
Since the ticket price is purely to cover these expenses, it means all the funds raised during the event through auctions, raffles, and other activities will go directly to supporting MCSM. We will also raise money through sponsorship of the evening.
Early Bird Special: Regular tickets are priced at RM 550, but if you purchase before the end of August, you can grab them for just RM 500! Don't miss out on this fantastic offer.
Gather your friends, dress to impress in black tie and evening dresses, or your finest shades of pink, and join us for a night of fun, food, and fabulous entertainment – all for a great cause.
Ticket Purchasing Instructions: To secure your ticket, please deposit the payment directly into the school's bank account. Be sure to include a note in the remarks section indicating that the payment is for the Gala Dinner. Once the transfer is complete, please send a copy of the transaction along with details of who the tickets are for to accounts@aism.edu.my.
Let’s make this a night to remember!
August Open Day
Help us spread the word and make our Open Day on 22 - 24 August from 10AM to 12PM even more spectacular by inviting your friends, family, and anyone interested in our wonderful school community! Share the excitement of exploring our vibrant campus, meeting our dedicated AISM team, and enjoying a delicious Aussie BBQ. Together, we can showcase the warmth and spirit that make our school truly special. For more details, visit our Open Day page. Let's come together and make this Open Day an unforgettable experience for everyone!
School Captain Annabelle
At AISM, we nurture future leaders with a holistic approach to education. Meet Annabelle, AISM’s school captain, who bridges the gap between students and faculty, representing their voices all while excelling in both academics and extracurricular activities.
Well-Rounded Student Yin Kai
AISM offers a balanced education and leadership development for every learner. Hear it from one of our ace students. On top of being a house captain, leader of the basketball team, and member of the Student Representative Council, Yin Kai also organises numerous activities while excelling in his academics.
