Volume No: 2003-04/37

Date: 09 July 2004

Dear Parents

I t has not quite sunk in yet that this is the last newsletter of the year, although the exhausted faces in school this week have made it clear that everyone is ready for a holiday. Staff and students have had a very busy final few weeks of term – which is, of course, just as it should be. Reports are out, exams are a distant memory and all we are now waiting for are the final SAT, GCSE and IGCSE results from England .  The Year 11 students had a splendid send-off at Shangri-la Tanjung Aru and, inevitably, we shall be saying more sad farewells in the next few days to students who are moving on elsewhere.

Already our thoughts are turning to next year and the challenges and changes it will bring. There is an extensive programme scheduled for the holidays to refurbish the library and improve the Foundation Stage facilities. Hopefully, parts of the school are going to look a little different when we return in September and I am already looking forward to the start of the new academic year. First, however, we all deserve a good rest!

End-of-Term Party 

Last Saturday’s end-of-term party at Sutera Harbour was a joyous affair. Mr Albert and the PTA did an excellent job of creating an opportunity for our musicians and singers to perform and they excelled themselves. One of the most gratifying things about the whole evening was the warm and friendly atmosphere. It was good to celebrate being together as a school and to celebrate the accomplishments of our young people. Sincere thanks to Mr Albert and the PTA for arranging the programme and the venue, and to Mrs Helen Wong for generously sponsoring the appearance of Bodycare.

International Day

A week ago the school playground was humming with activity as parents arrived with trays stacked high with delicious food to celebrate International Day. Eating was a major feature of the day – and everyone, from ELC to Year 10 and the staff, enjoyed what was on offer. My Marmite sandwiches have not tasted so good since, and I continue to think wistfully of those culinary delights …

Victorian Day

Year 5/6 had a rather different school day earlier this week when Mrs Spice organized a Victorian school morning for them. Desks were pushed into rows, rules were strictly enforced, rote learning was re-introduced and children were addressed by numbers instead of their names. In the playground, games and activities had a distinctly Victorian feel about them too. I have to say that I enjoyed making my contribution as a strict Victorian headmaster and inspected the cleanliness of fingernails, necks and ears, as well as providing some spontaneous testing. The odd thing about all this was how much the class enjoyed it – and by popular request the classroom is still arranged in rows!

Library Books

Because of the alterations to the library, all library books should have been returned by today. Please search your children’s rooms for any remaining books over the weekend so that we can start a complete stock-take on Monday. Thank you.

Clubs

As usual in the last week of term, there will be no clubs next week.

Secondary Parent-Teacher Meeting

Can I remind all parents of secondary children that there will be a parent-teacher meeting on Monday, starting at 3.15. This is timed to follow up on reports and is a good opportunity to meet with the teachers to discuss your child’s progress this year.

Chess Tournament

Marco Marsh is the current school chess champion after winning a closely fought contest with Hae Jun. Congratulations, Marco – get ready to defend your title next year!

Outward Bound

One of the reasons for the pale faces in secondary this week was the Outward Bound trip. This was obviously hugely successful and all the students I have spoken to had a great time – despite their exhaustion! Rather than go into details myself, I will let Mr Leak, with help from Claire and Didi, tell it his way:

A sunny Monday morning at Bukit Padang saw 36 students arrive, filled with trepidation. We were soon on our way, in a luxurious air-conditioned coach. The welcome we received from the OBS staff was second to the greeting from the various biting insects. Several of the boys seemed to be collecting different insect bites. No sooner had we dropped off our luggage than the children were divided into groups and sent to start the activities. The rock climbing proved very popular and challenging, especially for some of our more rotund students. The afternoon saw Mrs Hamilton reliving past glories by playing dodge ball with the children. We were lucky enough to have Mr Leak’s brother with us on the trip. As one child remarked, “He is so nice, not like Mr Leak at all!” After that, I watched as all the students kayaked their way towards the open sea, enjoying themselves greatly.

With the coming of the night the students had to prepare their own meal and sleep in the jungle. Considering the circumstances, the food was excellent and Michelle Quek and Mary Walker proved to be talented chefs. It was time to finally get some rest as, one by one, the children fell asleep. At about 2.30 a.m., the ‘snoring’ competition began. We had great wonders, as even some of the girls (surprisingly) joined in. There were certain cases of sleep talking that scared the faint-hearted as they heard their friends talking in their sleep. It was a different atmosphere at six the next morning, with all pupils walking around like zombies. A two-hour treasure hunt preceded the long awaited flying fox.

The low ropes were an unexpectedly tough challenge as the children had to trust each other completely, as Sarah Møller, the first person to start off, found out as she was weaving through the course, holding on and listening to the instructions of her partners, Claire Curtis and Corissa Loh. Although some children showed style, the instructors were clear that the best was Mr. Leak.

We finally retuned home in a state of exhaustion on Tuesday night. One thing I must say though, is that I was pleasantly surprised by the children’s attitude and spirit. They all looked at things positively and the great effort and teamwork they all put in will never be forgotten. I saw new friendships and new bonding stirring between all the children. OBS was invaluable for the children, and they were my best two days in Sabah . I would like to thank all involved, especially Cikgu Mutang and Mrs Hamilton - but most of all the children.

J Leak

On that very positive note as the year comes to a close, I would like to wish all families a safe and happy vacation. Thank you for your support over the course of the year … and I look forward to seeing you all in September.

Best wishes,