Volume No: 2004-05/17

Date: 18 February 2005

Dear Parents

Firstly, let me thank all those of you who took note of the requests on the last newsletter. My impression is that punctuality is now a little better and that there are fewer instances of incorrect kit and caps not being worn. However, “fewer” still means that we do not have 100% success, so please redouble your efforts to ensure that your children are delivered and collected on time with the correct clothes and equipment for the day’s activities.

  Foundation 1 Pick-up

I have been asked to remind parents that children should be collected from Foundation 1 either at 11.30, before the children eat lunch, or promptly at 12.00, after they have eaten lunch. I gather we are veering towards flexi-time and over-time at the moment!

Library Books and Reading Books

We are always delighted to see children borrowing books and taking them home to read. Indeed, we would be very worried if a steady stream of books were not going home. However, we are also delighted when books are returned to school – and at the moment more books are going out than are coming back! It is time for us to chase up all those books that are currently sitting in bedrooms and living rooms around KK. Please check thoroughly and let us have them back. Reading books, in particular, are getting low at some levels and that is entirely because they have not been brought back to school. Please help us to help yo ur children.

Ms Hardie

We were saddened to learn this week of the death of Ms Hardie’s father in New Zealand . She has left work for her classes and we have arranged for staff to cover them all, but she will be away until 1^st March. As a result, there will be no Geography, History or Leisure & Tourism grades in the current batch of secondary grade cards. Our sympathies are with her and her family and we look forward to her return. 

Charity Week

The school’s Charity Week begins on Monday 28 February. I mentioned in an earlier newsletter that the FOBISSEA schools were hoping to combine their efforts and support a charity involved in re-building and equipping schools in tsunami affected areas. The charity is called Room To Read and its website can be found at www.roomtoread.org The current Chair of FOBISSEA, Ray Davies of Garden International School in KL, has been in touch with them and has had contact with people who know their work. He is confident that they are a good choice.

We are busy planning fund-raising activities and, when the time comes, will welcome parental involvement and help (not to mention money!). Plans so far include a sponsored spell, a sponsored football tournament and a cake sale and bake. We expect more activities to emerge in the next week as our students’ creativity is unleashed.

A key principle underlying our planning is that children should actively have to DO something to raise money. Whilst collecting money for a worthy cause is valid in itself, it is not quite the same as working for it. Please encourage your children, therefore, to make the extra effort that is required to help others. It is a satisfying process.

Charity Talk

Both primary and secondary students were able to hear Mr Daniel Fox talk briefly on Thursday morning about charity work. After over twenty years of working with charities, he was able to give them some insights into the world of fundraising. It was a good platform on which to plan our own efforts and we are grateful for his time.

Options Meeting for Parents of Students in Year 9

As scheduled, there will be a meeting for parents of pupils in Year 9 on Tuesday, 22 February. This will take place at 7.00pm in the library. This is an important meeting at which we will attempt to guide parents through the complexities of GCSE and IGCSE courses and the options we are able to offer our Year 10 students next year.

Year 5/6 trip to Rasa Ria

Year 5/6 spent a day at Rasa Ria on Wednesday looking at various aspects of the resort’s conservation work, especially with orangutans. Here is a small selection of student comments:

I really enjoyed our wonderful trip to Rasa Ria…

I think the trip to the Rasa Ria Nature Reserve was educational. We looked at the mountains and the natural habitat. We also learned about orangutans…

I loved the trip because it made us appreciate nature more than ever before… I never knew that Rasa Ria was involved with Sabah Wildlife Department and other wildlife departments …

The whole day was interesting, exciting, fun and not to mention it involved a lot of walking!

The children were accompanied by two well-informed and helpful guides, who gave a presentation as well as answering countless questions.

Our sincere thanks go to Reto Klauser, the General Manager of Rasa Ria, for making this thoroughly worthwhile trip possible, and to the staff of Rasa Ria for treating us so well. Thank you also to Margreta Klauser and Ana Kollert who accompanied the trip so helpfully.

  Primary FOBISSEA Games Meeting

All children in Years 3, 4, 5 & 6 have now received letters about the forthcoming primary FOBISSEA Games in Thailand in May. Please ensure that the reply slip is returned whether or not you are interested in your child taking part.

There will be a meeting for all interested parents on Tuesday at 2.10 pm in the library where we can share the information that we have at this early stage.

Lion Dance

Memories of Chinese New Year are already fading but the Lion Dance that came to school on Friday, 4 February will not be so quickly forgotten. The dancers were wonderful – elegant, daring, funny and very good with the children. A big thank you, therefore, from the whole school to the PTA for organising the occasion and for sorting out so many ang pow!

Visit to Tambunan Children’s Home

A group from the school will be visiting Tambunan Children’s Home tomorrow. I have to say that the response to this has been disappointing. A Saturday was deliberately chosen to avoid cutting into curriculum time and that seems to have put off some parents and children. Nonetheless, a party will be going to cement the strong links we have already made with this very worthwhile project. Our thanks go to Lily Walker and the PTA, and to Mrs Spice, for persisting!

Football Match

There will be a Girls and Dads versus Boys football match at 5.00 on the Archery Field next Friday, 25 February. Spectators are welcome.

Year 1/2 Sleepover

Year 1/2 will enjoy a sleepover next Friday night, 25 February. Separate letters are being sent out and parents have already been involved.

And finally, a plea … PLEASE, PLEASE, COMPLETE AND RETURN PROMPTLY any forms that accompany letters sent home. Individual teachers have spent a lot of valuable time this week chasing responses to letters that should have been returned some days previously.

Best wishes,