Volume No: 2004-05/10

Date: 19 November 2004

Dear Parents

 

I hope you all had a good “half-term” break and have returned refreshed for the final three weeks of term. They are shaping up to be very busy indeed! We had our first opportunity to travel to East Sabah and spent three happy days snorkeling off Sipadan, which proved to be a breathtaking experience. Then it was back to school work …

 

Advanced warnings …

 

Mufti Day will take place on Friday 26 November. Snacks (RM5) and lunches (RM15) will be on sale, so please send your child to school with some money rather than food! This event is organized, as always, by the PTA and further details can be obtained from the PTA minutes or PTA members. .

 

Rehearsals for the Primary Presentation take place at Sutera Harbour in the week beginning 29 November. So, on Monday 29 November, Tuesday 30 November and Wednesday 1 December, all primary children will need to be dropped off at Sutera Harbour and NOT at KIS. Please arrange for children to be there at 8.00 am for a prompt start to rehearsals at 8.15. Buses have been arranged to bring ALL children back to school, leaving Sutera at 11.00 am. The school day will then proceed as normal.

 

The annual school Swimming Gala will take place on Tuesday 7 December. Students need to be dropped off at the Likas Pool at 8.00 and we anticipate races starting at 8.30. The events will follow the same pattern as last year’s very successful meet. The presentations should be completed by around 11.30. Please support this whole school event if you possibly can but if you are unable to be there, please arrange for your child to be collected from Likas at 11.30. There will be no further school that day.

 

On Thursday 9 December we are planning to hold a Talent Time concert for all those students who have been rehearsing with Mr Albert this term. We want to offer an opportunity for those who have worked hard to perform for their peers, friends and families. This will be a low-key event and will take place at school. Snacks and drinks will be on sale.

Support for the Children’s Home

 

Attached to this newsletter is a letter from Jenny Spice explaining our proposals for supporting the Tambunam Children’s Home. Essentially, we are hoping that KIS families will support individual children at the Home by paying for their schoolbooks and school fees for 2005. This seems a particularly appropriate way for KIS to support the education of less fortunate children and we are hoping for a good response. Please read the letter and let us know if you feel able to add your name to the list of sponsors. The cost is just RM 75 for the year.

 

Pizza Orders

The school office has had a number of difficulties recently with pizza orders. It appears that parents have been ordering pizzas for their children’s lunches and giving the names of Elsie or Elis as contact names for the suppliers. Please do not do this. The office has had to untangle a number of these orders and has even, on occasions, had to pay for the deliveries. This is not a valid use of office time! If you really need to have food delivered to the school, then please make all the arrangements, including advanced payment, yourself and simply ask for the delivery to be left with the guard at the gate. Thank you.

 

 

At this point, I shall simply hand over the newsletter to Mr Leak, who has three major events to report:

 

10 km sponsored run

Saturday morning saw the participants turn up at Bukit Padang, keen to help raise money for FOBISSEA in December. The task set was 40 laps, roughly 10km, which in the tropical heat was no easy task. The runners set off at a brisk pace with Marco and Sho leading the way. This correspondent wondered if perhaps they were going a little fast in such arduous conditions. The older heads seemed content to make steady progress round the circuit. As the leaders passed 20 laps some combatants started to wilt. Hey Jun ground to a halt and was joined by the sturdy double act of James Walker and Michael Ford. This threesome seemed to be intent on walking most of the way. Young newcomer Greg Fitzgerald showed great form and was soon pressing the leaders. At 30 laps, leaders Marsh and Sho started to flag, taking longer breaks to re-hydrate. This allowed outsider Leak to take the lead, his main advantage being that no water breaks were required as his copious fat stores allowed him to continue, camel like, in the race. A despairing last kick gave Marsh the hope of victory, but veteran Leak held on to break the tape. Marsh followed in second place and Greg Fitzgerald pulled up third. Many thanks to all involved, both participants and sponsors. As this was an enjoyable experience, we hope to stage a K.I.S. hash run after the holidays. Watch this space for further news. As a final thought, this correspondent wonders what it must feel like for young men in their prime to run out second best to an ageing 110 kg old geezer. One cannot imagine.

 

Basketball holiday training

Over the weekend our basketball players had a three day training camp, to aid their preparation for the forthcoming tournament. A special thank you from the school, myself and most of all the children, to Mr Ujihara, whose knowledge and enthusiasm for the game has been invaluable. The pupils have worked really hard and visible improvement is being made. It is a great lesson for the youngsters that progression comes through hard work. Thank you also to the mums who have provided drinks for the children. Go, go, go  K.I.S.

 

One item to arise courtside, was a challenge thrown out by Ms Curtis that a team of K.I.S. ‘Aunties’ will conquer our young ladies. The date for this clash of the titans has been set for Wednesday the 24^th of this month at 3.30 prompt. This one I cannot wait for!!

  

Inter-House Football 2004

A beautiful sunny day saw the three Houses line up for this year’s football competition. Sulug dominated the primary section and went on to win the  lower school competition, making Mrs Wickham very proud. Sapi tore up the form book and won the secondary event. However, the overall result went to Sulug, who maintained their dominance on the football field. It was a bizarre experience to witness players of many nationalities playing soccer in the Borneo sun, being accompanied by the sound of music. Thanks go to Mr Shale for his sterling efforts in supplying the tunes. It was gratifying to see so many players participating. Gavin Young seemed to combine kung fu and disco dancing in his approach to the game! Emily Fitzgerald continued to establish a reputation as a midfield hard man being scared of neither man nor beast: some of her tackles would have been at home in a Jackie Chan movie. Once again the overall effort and behaviour of all the players was an inspiration. Well done to everybody involved, we look forward to the inter- House touch rugby in a few weeks.

 

 

Have a good weekend!

 

Best wishes,