PRINCIPALLY SPEAKING
Simon Brooks, Principal
“Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference.’”
– Winston Churchill
School spirit is an essential element of our school community going well beyond just showing support for our school. Recent studies have shown that students with a high level of school spirit perform better academically, are more socially and civically engaged, and are happier in general than their less spirited peers. In fact, 92% of school principals believe that high school spirit is tied to high student achievement.
At AISM, we are fortunate to have a school community that is brimming with school spirit, evident every day at our school in so many different ways.
Of the many examples that come to mind, our International Day is one: it was so wonderful last year to be part of a day that celebrated the diversity of our community while simultaneously cementing the Australian values that we have in common.
Another example of our school spirit in action is our Team Building Day, which we look forward to on the final day of Term 1. This day is an amazing opportunity for our students from the Junior, Middle and Senior School to come together in vertical groups to build connection and team spirit. This year, our student leaders themselves will be partly responsible for designing the shape of the day and the activities that will take place, which will undoubtedly boost the level of school spirit to even greater heights!
Just yesterday, I was once again wowed by the powerful sense of school spirit at our Middle and Senior School swimming carnival. The house spirit demonstrated by our students from Rafter, Savage, Freeman and Thorpe was truly magnificent to behold. When they performed their house chants, you could practically feel the ground vibrating underfoot. During the course of the day, it was so wonderful to witness the way in which they supported, encouraged and cheered for one another.
Research indicates that students with a great deal of school spirit are also more confident, more likely to be leaders, happier, more active in their communities and more fulfilled. These are all excellent reasons to continue nurturing the wonderful culture of school spirit which is the beating heart of AISM.
I am proud of the strong school spirit that exists within our community. It is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our students, staff and parents. Let us continue to foster this spirit of community, inclusivity and excellence, and ensure that AISM continues to be a place where all members of our community can thrive.
JUNIOR SCHOOL
Michelle Chaplin, Head of Junior School
In the Junior School it is that time in the term when our learners are reflecting on their goals for Term 1 and with 3 weeks to go, looking at their progress and what happens next! Our goals have 3 parts to them - literacy, numeracy and character goals -
“Begin with the end in Mind” - Stephen Covey - sitting neatly alongside our Visible Learning Philosophy of understanding this step right now - next steps and then where to on a broader journey.
I encourage you to chat with your children about their goals and how they are travelling. This will play a key role in the Parent Teacher Student (PTS) Conferences in week 9.
Week 9 - Monday - we will hold our PTS Conferences - parents should have booked their meeting time now with the homeroom teacher and we look forward to seeing you on Monday March 20.
Academically our students are motivated and engaged and the Junior school is a hive of positive energy - the campus is alive with the laughter and joy of learning - I would love to see as many parents as possible take up the option to visit us on campus for our end of term conferences - to enjoy and feel the life of the Junior School at AISM.
Year 1 Learning Snapshot
Mr Matthew Brown, Year 1 Teacher & Curriculum Coordinator
Term 1 is always a hive activity as classes settle in, get to know each other and get ready for a year full of discovery and learning. In 1G, we have welcomed the smiling faces of our new students and our class has already developed solid routines and energetic ways of working together.
In Literacy, we have been writing Recounts and exploring the Main Idea of different texts. We have also set ourselves a challenge to read at least 2 books in class every day of the year, and so far we have shared 56 stories! Each time we finish a book, we discuss what we liked about it, whether we would recommend it to our friends and if it reminds us of other stories we know, which has led to some fantastic sharing. If you ever need a book suggestion, ask Year One!
Our Maths work has covered - reading the time on clocks and calendars, investigating 2D Shapes and solving problems with number lines. It has been so satisfying to witness our learners use different strategies and work to explain their thinking. Talking a lot about concepts of Time has linked in with our Inquiry unit and an exploration of history and family differences.
Whether it’s gardening in the Living HQ, working up a sweat at P.E., singing their lungs out in Music or improving language skills in LOTE, our students have already demonstrated impressive levels of growth and an inspiring love of learning. Every day is filled with questions, wonderings, laughter and curiosity - what a great place to come to for learning everyday!
Music Term 1 Newsletter
Ms Nicki Taylor, Music Teacher
Music is in full swing in the Junior School and our three instrumental immersion programmes are off to a great start. Year 3 are learning the recorder and are experts already at controlling their breath so that it’s always a nice sound.
Year 4 has discovered that once you can play four chords on the ukulele (or any chordal instrument), then you can play almost any pop song! After only a few weeks of lessons, they have been able to play Iko Iko (My Bestie) Dixie Cups/Justin Wellington, and Ho Hey by the Lumineers.
Our Year 5 learners shared their initial instrumental learnings at assembly last week, explaining the complexities of playing the flute, trumpet, trombone and clarinet. The students have embraced the challenges of learning a wind instrument and are making progress from ‘strange’ noises to actual note pitches!
The Lower Junior School are consolidating musical skills by singing, playing percussion instruments and moving to music.
Our production this year is in its initial stages of rehearsal and casting and will feature Foundation, Year 3 and Year 5 learners. An Egyptian Whodunnit will be staged in Week 9 of Term 2. More details will be shared in due course. Any parents wishing to help with costuming and set design are encouraged to contact Mrs Taylor at nickit@aism.edu.my We are aiming for a much ‘simpler’ show than Rocktopus was last year!
MIDDLE & SENIOR SCHOOL
Our Parent Teacher Student (PTS) Conference Day for Semester 1 takes place on Monday 20 March.
This will be a non-timetable day, which means that no classes or CCAs will take place. Instead, we invite you to attend school at the times you select to meet with your child's teachers.
Please note that there will be no buses running on this day and no activities taking place at school apart from PTS appointments. Appointments with teachers are 10 minutes in length and you will be able to make bookings to meet with any of your child's teachers. We encourage students to attend with their parents and guardians - conversations about their learning are so much richer when they are driving the conversation.
The booking window for making appointments through Engage (our school management information system) closes on Monday 13 March at 3:30pm so please ensure you make your bookings before then.
If you are a parent or guardian new to the school, you will need to ensure you have activated the parent portal before making your bookings. If you require any assistance in completing this process please email us at admissions@aism.edu.my who will be pleased to help you.
A micro-narrative inspired by the short story 'NO ME DEJES' by Mark Oshiro
Mahjabeen Gazi and Youli Ng, Yr11 Advanced English student
The thoughts of you have become stronger over the years. So at times, I have pushed them back, seeking to extinguish them. Yet here I am, staring at my reflection in the foggy glass doors of the supermarket. I try to muster up every description of you I can remember.
I try my best to not think of you, especially on days like these when I'm surrounded by strange people and even stranger objects. Countless objects stand anonymously, lined in perfect symmetry, on the shelf in front of me. A plethora of fresh produce is crammed onto each shelf, eager to be chosen by the next person. Simultaneously, chaotic noises resonate with the walls of the store; the quick-paced footsteps of the shoppers impatiently searching for their choice of product. I can hear the commotion, ranging from people hurrying to get to the checkout counter to the wails of babies as their mothers try and fail to quiet them, all while the wheels of their carts cry in protest as they get dragged from aisle to aisle.
All while I stand here trying to figure out the foreign objects in front of me and the foreign words written on them while I stand on this foreign land in this body that feels foreign to me. The characters resemble a child's drawing, flashing every colour of the rainbow. If you were here, you would make fun of the variety of colours they use here, and everything would be alright again. I wouldn't be here staring aimlessly at the cartons, trying to hold back a stream of tears that resemble the beads of water sliding down the cartons.
The thoughts of you come in a soft, low lullaby that speaks of the time of healing to come, of a road that must be travelled one step at a time.
The rain has been ongoing for a while now. Varying harshness of raindrops are heard - some sharply hitting roofs of cars and buildings, others gently trickling down walls and windows. Puddles of rainwater glisten, gleaming reflections of assorted traffic light hues, bright off-white headlamps, along with damp streetlights. With the sun already set, they were the only sources of illumination, irradiating the street of this tranquil evening. I wish it were like this all the time.
The downpour isn’t particularly torrential. Still, the needle-like water could sting you as you reach your arms out to get a feel of it. The splatters of the pouring rainfall practically overpower the honking and screeching of the vehicles, but they don’t go unnoticed. Pedestrians crossing this street envelope themselves under vivid raincoats and umbrellas, powering through the gusts of wind that blow from the opposing direction. Nostalgia gushes within me each time I encounter a pair of iconic, yellow-coloured rain boots as I reminisce of my own pair that I had received during my childhood years.
A cold, gloomy atmosphere almost dissipates instantaneously as the store’s doorbell chimes and jingles, colliding with each other; the mellow lighted shop greeting me with warmth. “Time’s Antique”, is the store’s name. An overwhelming number of clocks and watches are displayed here, yet the hour seems to trail behind. I wish it were like this all the time.
This place is somewhat consolidating - I’m uncertain what makes it so. Perhaps it is the old, vintage style of the items sold here, the oddly pleasant stuffiness and warmth in contrast to the chilly environment outside, or the young man’s tender yet welcoming demeanour. I think maybe, it’s everything combined. Every minor aspect of this antique store - adds up to this safe place where people can come by to seek comfort. I wish it were like this all the time.
Le Carnaval
Ms Madame Rajani, French Teacher and Year 8 Homeroom Teacher
Le Carnaval est une fête joyeuse et colorée qui est célébrée dans de nombreux pays du monde. Les gens se déguisent avec des costumes extravagants et des masques, et se rejoignent dans les rues pour faire la fête. Les parades sont organisées avec des chars décorés, des danseurs et des musiciens qui animent les rues avec des chansons entraînantes. Les élèves de AISM ont créé un masque et ont découvert la tradition du carnaval de Dunkerque qui est une célébration unique en son genre, empreinte de traditions et de convivialité. Les festivités culminent avec le "Jet du Hareng" où des harengs salés sont jetés sur la foule. Quelle drôle de tradition!
Carnival is a joyful and colourful celebration that is celebrated in many countries around the world. People dress up in extravagant costumes and masks and gather in the streets to party. Parades are organised with decorated floats, dancers, and musicians who bring the streets to life with catchy songs. The AISM students created a mask and discovered the tradition of the Dunkirk Carnival, which is a unique celebration filled with traditions and conviviality. The festivities culminate with the "Jet du Hareng," where salted herring is thrown into the crowd.
What an unusual tradition!
Dance Fundraiser - Bake Sale
Steven Webster, Stage 5 Pastoral Coordinator
We are excited to announce that our senior school students will have the opportunity to attend a formal dance on Saturday, June 17th. This event will provide a safe environment for students to socialise, interact, and build positive relationships while enjoying an unforgettable night with their peers. The theme for the evening will be vintage Hollywood, and we are confident that the students will put on an incredible display.
Our aim is to ensure that ticket sales are affordable for all students, which is why we have planned various fundraising activities. Our first fundraising event will be a Baked Goods Sale during recess and lunch on Friday, March 17th.
If you are able to donate baked goods such as cakes or cookies for the sale, or if you can provide any other form of assistance, please do not hesitate to contact Mr Steven Webster at stevenwebster@aism.edu.my. Your support will make a significant impact in ensuring that the dance is a success and that all students make memories for life.
We appreciate your support in helping us make this a memorable event for our students, and we look forward to hearing from you soon.
Sincerely,
Dance Organizing Committee
Year 10 Field Trip to Pantai Morib
Chris Broadbent, Head of Humanities
On Thursday 2 March, Year 10 recently had the opportunity to take part in a Geography excursion to Pantai Morib, located near Kuala Langat. The excursion was a valuable experience for the students, as they were able to gather primary data for their assessment task, exploring how this stretch of coastline can be more sustainably managed.
The group also took part in a beach clean up activity, working together to collect and dispose of any rubbish found on the beach. This was an important activity as it helped to preserve the beauty of the natural environment.
Overall, the excursion was a great success. The students were able to gain valuable knowledge and experience, as well as take part in a meaningful activity. Hopefully, this experience has inspired the students to take on other initiatives to protect the environment.
Team Work Makes The Dream Work
Ms Gayatri Unsworth, Year 11 & 12 Society and Culture Teacher
The Year 12 Society and Culture students have been busy unpacking China via a range of sociological lenses to deepen their thinking and understanding around the social and cultural continuities, as well as changes, over time in the country.
In examining the key question of whether all change is necessarily progress and how China has sought to manage change at the macro, meso and micro levels of society, students investigated the Hukou system (a system of household registration for population management purposes) and explored the push and pull factors that influence rural to urban migration in China.
Students were given two simple prompts and invited to develop and build upon these with their own ideas, thoughts and questions. They were also encouraged to add to, extend and/or challenge the ideas put forth by their peers which saw some deep, meaningful discussions taking place.
This activity served as both a learning and revision exercise, linked to various syllabus dot points, which allowed students to leverage upon the combined knowledge and expertise of the group in a structured yet supportive environment.
This activity exemplified the AISM educational ethos, which is one that promotes active student engagement and fosters collaborative practice in recognition of the diverse abilities of our students as well as the collective value of their unique perspectives and life experiences when brought into the classroom setting.
Pi Day
Tanya Fisher, Head of Faculty - Mathematics
Pi Day is fast approaching March 14th - 3.14!
MSS students will be busy baking pies to enter in a competition with some keen “pudding-lovers” for judges.
We are also opening a challenge for the MSS students to enter a competition to see how many decimal places of Pi they can remember.
There will be great prizes on the day.
Did you know that the number Pi is the number of times the diameter or ANY circle can fit around its circumference?
