- Dear Parents
-
The Board of Management would like to extend their welcome to Mr Martin
Spice as our new School Principal, and express their appreciation and
thanks for contributing his expertise
to the recent recruitment of new teachers while he was still working
in Kathmandu.-
- Dear
Parents
-
-
Welcome to the start of a new academic year in the life of KIS. This
is my first letter to you as Principal and I would like to express my
delight at having joined the school. I would also like to thank the
many Board members, staff and parents who have given generously of
their time to help us, and all the new staff, settle in. It has been a
warm welcome and is very much appreciated. We are all looking forward
to an exciting year ahead.
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- I
am sure that I also speak for the whole parent body when I welcome
Julie Wickham, Jonathan Leak, Christian Hardie, Jenny Spice, Teresa
Bida and Tini Jafar to the staff of the school. Many of you have
already put faces to the profiles that went out last term!
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- The
school has a new look about it and a new feel to it. The look is
smarter and the feel is cooler! The new floors have improved the
appearance of the classrooms and the air conditioning has improved the
working environment for us all immeasurably. The Board of Management
and I would like to thank Elis Ho and the groundstaff for the many
hours of work this has entailed and for the huge efforts they made to
have the school ready for the beginning of term.
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- School Uniform
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- Some
parents have experienced problems in getting the new primary uniform
in the correct sizes. We hope this is now resolved and would like to
remind parents that the designated shoe colours for primary are brown,
black or white.
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- The
tailor will be coming to school on Monday, 15 September, to measure
for secondary uniforms, for new students and for those who wish to
re-order. Please have payment ready with your order: short pants and
skorts cost RM 35 and long pants cost RM55.
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 Rug Donation
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- Our
sincere thanks to Mrs Tay and Mrs Ling Ling Park for the generous
donation of two rugs for the ELC. It is a lively, colourful room and
they further enhance it. Would anyone like to do the same for
Reception Class?
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- Reception
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- The
Board of Management hosted a reception for all staff on Wednesday, 10
September at the Pan Pacific. It was a most enjoyable evening and a
welcome opportunity to get together “out of role”.
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- Communication:
Secondary Curriculum Outlines and Primary Topic Talks
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- I
am anxious to further communication between the school and parents,
particularly on curriculum matters. To this end, parents
of all secondary students will receive a brief curriculum outline for
each subject every term. Normally these will be issued within the
first two weeks of the start of the term, although this term, with so
many changes taking place, they may be a little later.
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- We
have opted for a rather different approach for the primary
classes and will be introducing a system of Topic Talks. These will be an opportunity for parents of children in
each class to attend a meeting at the beginning of term with the class
teacher at which the curriculum for the term will be outlined. Topic
Talks will take place in the week beginning 22 September and firm
dates for each class talk will be given nearer the time.
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-
 Year 6 SATs Booster Class
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- In
a slight correction to the information that went out last term, Year 6
(and only Year 6) will have a slightly longer day on Tuesdays, until
3.00pm. These Booster classes will allow the Year 6 students more
concentrated preparation time for the SAT examinations that they will take
at the end of this academic year.
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 Communication with the School
-
- I
would like to take this opportunity, at the beginning of the year,
to remind parents of the lines of communication with the school.
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- For
parents of primary children, the first and most important contact should
be with the Class Teacher, either by letter or in person.
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- For
parents of secondary students, we encourage initial contact via the
student’s Personal Organizer, either with the subject teacher or the
form tutor. If necessary, appointments can be made in this way.
Mr Davies, the Head of Secondary, can be consulted on any more
major issues that may arise.
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- The
School Office handles administrative and financial matters.
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- Obviously,
I am also willing to help in any way that I can - but the direct lines of
communication outlined above will avoid duplication and confusion.
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- I
would like to re-affirm that the school has an open door policy and
parents are welcome to make appointments to meet with staff to discuss any
matters of concern.
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- PTA Vacancy
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- Due
to changed circumstances, Diane Dennis will be stepping down as Chair of
the PTA from 26 September. The PTA welcomes new members, particularly to
the rapidly depleting group of officeholders, as it plans events for the
forthcoming year.
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-
 Morning Registration
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- The
first few days of term have seen a fair number of students arriving late.
Under the re-organised school day, registration starts at 7.50 and all
students should be on the school campus by 7.45.
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-
- Prize Pianist
-
- Song
Hee, who is Year 4, recently took part in a music competition organised by
Kota Kinabalu Music Society. I am delighted to report that she won First
Prize for her piano piece, Minuet in G, by J. S. Bach. She then
joined the other prizewinners to present a concert in Yayasan Sabah Mini
Theatre. Our warm congratulations on this impressive achievement.
- Swimming
Programme and after-school activities
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- The
swimming programme will start next week and after-school activities will
begin in Week Three. Further details will follow in a letter next week.
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 School Closure
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Finally, school will be closed on Tuesday, 16 September for the birthday
of the TYT Yang Di-Pertua Negeri Sabah and
Hari Malaysia.
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- My
best wishes for a positive and successful new year,
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