PRINCIPALLY SPEAKING
Aaron Wise, Principal
Welcome to Term 4, the final and perhaps the most exciting stretch of our school year. As we enter this important phase, I would like to extend a warm welcome to the new families joining us at AISM. We are thrilled to have you become part of our vibrant community.
For our Year 12 students, this is a pivotal term as they prepare for their final exams. We know they have worked incredibly hard and are ready to showcase their knowledge and resilience. Let us offer them our encouragement and support as they embark on this significant milestone in their academic journey.
This term is also filled with fantastic events, and October holds a special place as we honour Pink October. At AISM, we proudly support the work of The National Cancer Society Malaysia, and I encourage everyone to get involved in our Pink October events. Tickets for the Pink Gala Dinner—to be held on October 26 at the Sofitel Hotel—are now on sale. This promises to be a wonderful evening for a great cause, so please sign up and join us in supporting cancer awareness and research.
In addition to the Gala, we have the Pink Fun Run and the Pink Bake Sale, offering fun and meaningful ways to contribute to this important cause. Let's come together as a community to make these events a resounding success.
Wishing you all a fantastic term filled with learning, growth, and a shared commitment to making a positive difference.
JUNIOR SCHOOL
Michelle Chaplin, Head of Junior School
Term 4 has begun with much excitement and a little bit of nervousness. In Year 3 - Year 5 our students sat the ISA Assessments. This will give us data that helps to identify where our students are at in their learning and where the school sits in regard to other international schools. The results will be sent home with the school report in Week 9 and we look forward to celebrating the growth of our students and what I am sure will be excellent results—well done to all those students for their professional approach to these assessments.
Term 4 is a wonderful term where we can consolidate what we have learned this year - grow more knowledge and skills and prepare for the next step in 2025. There will be opportunities to celebrate the successes of 2024 and to come together as a community to finish the year on a high. Lots of important diary dates:
| October | |
| Friday, 18 | Year 3 Assembly |
| Monday, 21 | PTC Coffee Morning - All welcome |
| Saturday, 26 | Pink Gala Dinner |
| Wednesday, 30 | Year 1 Assembly and Deepavali Celebration - wear your best Deepavali Look! |
| Thursday, 31 | Public Holiday |
| November | |
| Monday, 18 | Year 6 2025 Information Session |
| Thursday, 21 | Music Academy Concert |
| Friday, 22 | Junior School Athletics Carnival |
| Friday, 22 | CCA's Conclude |
| Wednesday, 27 | Move Up Day / Year 5 transition to Year 6 Day |
| Thursday, 28 | ELC Graduation |
| Friday, 29 | Whole School Singalong |
| December | |
| Monday, 2 | Year 5 Graduation |
| Wednesday, 4 | Junior School Celebration of Achievement |
| Thursday, 5 | Final School Assembly |
| Thursday, 5 | Last Day of School 2024 |
| Be warned - lots of excitement and fun ahead… | |
Year 4 Inquiry and Excursion
Mrs McTaggart and Ms Gan, Junior School Year 4 Teachers
In Year 4, Term Three wrapped up with an exciting adventure to Putrajaya’s vibrant tropical wetlands. The class observed colourful birds, lush vegetation, and winding waterways, gaining firsthand experience of the thriving ecosystem. This excursion tied perfectly into their inquiry unit, ‘Exploring various wet ecosystems,’ where students deepened their understanding of the water cycle's crucial role in sustaining life and shaping these unique environments.
Back at school, the students applied their newfound knowledge to create detailed wetland dioramas, each representing a specific ecosystem. They concluded their project by presenting their research and models to their Foundation buddies.
MIDDLE & SENIOR SCHOOL
AISM’s First Expeditionary Team Dives into Conservation on Malaysia’s Vital Coral Reefs
Christian Ogle, Service Learning Coordinator
We are thrilled to announce the successful completion of the first half of the Australian International School Malaysia’s first-ever Expeditionary Team to explore and document Malaysia’s ecologically essential coral reefs! With a spirit of dedication, adventure, and environmental stewardship, 12 courageous students took on this challenge with passion and purpose. Their mission? To become certified PADI Open Water Divers and use their skills to build a conservation campaign to protect Malaysia’s pristine coral ecosystems.
Throughout their training, each team member mastered the fundamentals of scuba diving and then pushed further, learning to navigate the unique underwater environment. Equipped with their new skills, the students conducted ecological surveys using traditional transects—a challenging task even on dry land, let alone beneath the waves! These young conservationists sacrificed nine days of their school break to dive, document, and analyze the health of Malaysia's coral reefs. Early mornings, rigorous training, and a steep learning curve made this expedition no easy feat, but our students rose to the occasion with determination and heart.
The Expeditionary Team has captured thousands of images and hundreds of videos, bringing back not only data but stories that underscore the incredible beauty and fragility of these underwater marvels. Their journey has only just begun. Now, as they collaborate on planning, drafting, editing, and reporting their findings, they hope to inspire action for conservation to raise awareness about the urgent need to protect these invaluable ecosystems.
This expedition has marked a profound step for our school and community—a rallying cry to protect our planet’s natural heritage. The coral reefs of Malaysia are under threat, but thanks to the dedication of our Expeditionary Team, there is new hope that these stunning, life-sustaining ecosystems can be preserved for generations to come.
French Cultural Cooking Class
Stephanie Rajani, French Teacher
Dans le cadre de nos leçons de français, les élèves du collège ont eu l'occasion d'apprendre une nouvelle recette française: le Pain Perdu. Le terme "pain perdu" apparaît en France au Moyen ge et signifie littéralement "pain perdu" parce qu’il était fait à partir de pain devenu trop dur pour être mangé tel quel. La recette classique consiste à tremper des tranches de pain sec dans un mélange de lait, d'œufs et de sucre, avant de les faire dorer à la poêle. Aujourd'hui, le Pain Perdu est dégusté dans de nombreux pays, parfois avec des variantes, comme l'ajout de fruits, de sirop d'érable, ou de crème fouettée.
As part of our French lessons, Middle School students had the opportunity to learn a new French recipe: Pain Perdu. The term "pain perdu" first appeared in France during the Middle Ages and literally means "lost bread" because it was made from bread that had become too hard to eat as it is. The classic recipe involves dipping slices of stale bread in a mixture of milk, eggs, and sugar, before frying them in a pan until golden. Today, Pain Perdu or French Toast is enjoyed in many countries, sometimes with variations like the addition of fruit, maple syrup, or whipped cream.
Pour les élèves de Year 12, avant leurs examens finaux, nous avons terminé sur une note gourmande en cuisinant un Croque Madame. Le Croque Madame est une variante du célèbre Croque Monsieur, un sandwich chaud apparu au début du XXe siècle. Le Croque Monsieur aurait été servi pour la première fois dans des cafés parisiens vers 1910. Il s'agit d'un sandwich au jambon et au fromage (généralement du gruyère ou de l’emmental), gratiné ou grillé.
La version Croque Madame se distingue par l’ajout d’un œuf au plat posé sur le sandwich, qui rappelle la forme d’un chapeau féminin, d'où l'origine de son nom. Ce plat simple mais savoureux est devenu un classique des brasseries françaises et est souvent servi au déjeuner ou au dîner. Ce dernier cours de cuisine a servi à la fois de pause réconfortante et de dernière immersion dans la culture française, avant qu'ils ne se lancent dans leurs épreuves. Un délicieux au revoir avant l’examen final !
For the Year 12 students, before their final exams, we wrapped up on a delicious note by cooking a Croque Madame.
The Croque Madame is a variation of the famous Croque Monsieur, a hot sandwich that first appeared in the early 20th century. The Croque Monsieur is said to have been served for the first time in Parisian cafés around 1910. It is a sandwich made with ham and cheese (usually Gruyère or Emmental), either baked or grilled.
The Croque Madame version is distinguished by the addition of a fried egg on top of the sandwich, resembling a woman’s hat, which is the origin of its name. This simple yet delicious dish has become a classic in French brasseries and is often served for lunch or dinner. This final cooking class was both a comforting break and one last immersion in French culture before they dive into their exams—a tasty farewell before the final exam!
Year 7 Budget Snack Assignment
Stephanie Rajani and Anna Wood, Food Technology Teachers
Last term, Year 7 students took part in an exciting Food Technology assignment where they were tasked with creating a nutritious and budget-friendly snack for two people. With just RM10 to spend, they had to consider the nutritional value and cost of their ingredients. The one-hour lesson allowed students to showcase their culinary creativity while learning essential skills in food cost management and planning.
Students applied tools like SWOT analysis to assess their ideas and used the SCAMPER technique to brainstorm innovative twists on classic recipes. The results were fantastic, with snacks ranging from pancakes and baked potatoes to bruschettas, waffles, and sandwiches— healthy, delicious, and affordable.
Points were awarded for taste, texture, and food presentation, encouraging students to present not only nutritious but also visually attractive and appetizing snacks.
This assignment was a wonderful way for students to engage in hands-on learning, gaining valuable experience in budgeting, nutrition, and creative problem-solving.
WHOLE SCHOOL
International Day 2024 at AISM
Mrs Gayatri Unsworth, Head of Language Acquisition
The last day of Term 3 concluded on an amazing, colourful note as the AISM community came together to mark and celebrate International Day 2024. The day’s festivities took us on a journey across the globe, highlighting the diversity and richness of our community’s cultural backgrounds. From the striking traditional costumes worn with pride, to the colourful array of flags representing the many nations within our community, it was a day that celebrated and showcased intercultural understanding and connections.
We were honoured to have Ms Danielle Heinecke, the Australian High Commissioner, deliver an insightful keynote address around the importance of cultural diversity and the value of global citizenship in the opening ceremony. Other highlights of the ceremony included captivating performances from both staff and students alike, featuring an energetic Scottish Reel, an expressive and powerful Haka, an adorable rendition of Saya Anak Malaysia by our youngest learners from the ELC and a string ensemble showcasing our talented Year 4 violinists.
The AISM campus was brightly lit throughout the day with a colourful array of traditional costumes, worn with immense pride to highlight cultural identities and backgrounds. Students also went on a trip around the world as they completed different rotations throughout the day, which allowed them to experience cuisine, sports, dance and art from an array of different cultures. The Food Fair, organised and facilitated by the PTC, was, as always, the most popular stop on the day’s journey, offering all attendees many mouth-watering opportunities to savour culinary delights from around the globe.
International Day has always held a special place within the AISM community, and this year was no exception. Our community's strengths lie in our unity and cohesion, which was beautifully demonstrated on the day as all members of the AISM family came together with a shared vision to celebrate our diversity and foster authentic intercultural connections.
Celebrating Deepavali at AISM
Aaron Wise, Principal
At AISM, we are excited to join our Hindu community in celebrating Deepavali, the Festival of Lights.
On Wednesday, October 30, students are encouraged to wear traditional Deepavali attire or their regular school uniform as we join our Hindu community in celebrating the spirit of light overcoming darkness. This is a wonderful opportunity for us to learn about and appreciate the cultural diversity within our school.
Let’s make this celebration a bright and meaningful one for everyone!
Parent Coffee Meeting - Save the Date
Aaron Wise - Principal
We will have our next Parent Coffee Meeting on Wednesday, 13 November from 9:00 am in the school auditorium. This is a time for parents to come into the school to be updated regarding what is happening in the school and to have an opportunity to ask questions of the school leadership.
Please mark this date in your calendar as we look forward to sharing a coffee with you in November.
Parent Gmail Address for Billing Information
Finance Team
Dear Parents,
We would like to remind you to regularly check your assigned Parent Gmail Address to access billing information and important updates.
If you are having difficulties logging in or need assistance with your Parent Gmail Address, please feel free to reach out to our ICT support team.
Thank you for your cooperation.
Save The Date
Ivan Yoong, Whole School CCA & Sports Coordinator
| Term 4 CCA Update | |
| CCAs commence | Monday, 14 October |
| CCAs conclude | Thursday, 21 November |
| Note: Creche & Sibling Games CCA is unavailable on Mondays. | |
| Athletics Carnival | |
| Middle & Senior School | Wednesday, 6 November |
| Junior School | Friday, 22 November |
Applications for Hall of Fame & Andrew Colbey Sportsperson 2024
Ivan Yoong, Whole School CCA & Sports Coordinator
Please review the criteria below for the Hall of Fame (Sporting) and the Andrew Colbey Award. If you would like to apply, please send your application to ivany@aism.edu.my by 3 PM on Wednesday, 30 October
Hall of Fame
The Hall of Fame is to promote sporting excellence within the school and recognise high achievers in our sporting community.
Criteria for Hall of Fame (sporting)
Andrew Colby Award
At the end of each year the Andrew Colbey award is presented to one male and female from Junior School, Middle School and Senior School to recognise the best all-round sporting male and female talent in AISM, based on set criteria.
Term 4 ‘Just15’
Leigh Janett, Deputy Head of Junior School
It is wonderful to see so many Just 15 initiatives happening each week of Term 4, led by our incredible students.
15 minutes is all it takes to care for yourself and strengthen your mental fitness.
Starting on Monday, 28 October, we will be launching Just 15 for Parents and Carers. We are hoping this will be a regular Monday morning practice. Please join us at Gate D for our very first session - walking around the lake. See you at 8:45 AM for a 15 minute mindful walk and chat. What a great way to start off your day!
Mental fitness
Your foundation for thriving.
Evidence shows there are a range of skills that underpin mental wellbeing. And, just like we train different muscles to build physical fitness, we can practise a range of skills to build mental fitness and support our ability to thrive.
Pink Gala Dinner
Aaron Wise, Principal
Join us for the Pink Gala Dinner, a special evening dedicated to supporting the National Cancer Society of Malaysia. The night will include:
- A delectable 5-course dinner
- Free-flowing drinks
- Live entertainment
- A charity auction
- A raffle with fantastic prizes
…and more!
Tickets are available for RM500. To reserve your ticket, please contact the school to arrange payment. Remember to note "Gala Dinner" in the remarks section and email the transaction slip along with your ticket details to accounts@aism.edu.my.
Dress to impress in black tie, evening wear, or your finest shades of pink, and get ready for an unforgettable night filled with food, fun, and entertainment—all for a worthy cause.
Healthworks - Chiropractic & Physiotherapy
