Volume No: 2004-05/20

Date: 11 March 2005

Dear Parents

This week’s big event was, of course, Sports Day. Despite the earlier start, it was still awfully hot by the time we had finished. Those of us lucky enough to be sitting in the shade of the stands had, I think, a completely different experience to those who were competing or marshalling on the track and field. Step into the open sun and the temperature soars and the all-pervasive heat was the talk of both staff and students the following day.

There are two ways in which we can consider combatting this. The first is to move Sports Day to the first term, when it is often a little cooler (but also, of course, a lot wetter). The second is to start still earlier in the morning. Or both. We always review major school events shortly after they have happened and we shall explore the pros and cons of altering our existing pattern.

The heat aside, it was an enjoyable morning. It was a treat to see so many of our students giving their all for their Houses. Our better athletes are always going to stand out but I am also impressed by those less gifted students who agree to run or compete for their House in the certain knowledge that they will come last or close to the back of the field. That calls for courage of a different kind - but it is nonetheless real.

The final points score demonstrates just how important those single points for finishing can be. When all the points were added together, just 4 points separated Sapi and Sulug, with Sapi emerging the eventual winners. The difference may just have been those competitors who picked up the single points …

However, our congratulations go to all participants, of whatever age, and we recognise their achievements. Marco Marsh and Jessica Wong deserve special mention for outstanding performances and I am surprised that they managed to get home after so many medals had been hung around their necks! Being a small school, our better athletes tend to compete in a large number of events and it is no wonder that most of them were still pretty exhausted the following day!

Our sincere thanks also go to the parents who helped out with so many events. You were invaluable.

Sports Day photographs

The paparazzi seemed to be out in full force on Tuesday! Could I ask for copies of any high-resolution digital photographs, please? No matter how many pictures we have, there always seems to be a shortage when it comes to compiling the school magazine, so any photographic contributions of this or any other school event would be very welcome indeed.

Next Week

After weeks of uninterrupted schooling, we have a flurry of staff activity next week. Mrs Wickham will be on an in-service course in Penang from Monday to Wednesday, Mrs Spice will be a guest of Singapore Educational Tourism on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and I shall be attending the FOBISSEA Business Meeting on Friday and over the weekend. All classes will be well taken care of but this is a classic example of how nothing happens for weeks and then everything happens together! ‘Twas always thus. 

Charity Week

I wrote at length about Charity Week in the last newsletter and shall not do so again except to ask that sponsorship money be collected and handed in as soon as possible. We are anxious to “close the books” and send the money off to Room to Read. 

Charity Week Total: RM8146, with some sponsorship money still to be collected. Congratulations, everyone, on a splendid and very worthwhile effort!

FOBISSEA

Plans are now well underway for our primary students to compete in this year’s FOBISSEA Games. A coaching schedule will be drawn up shortly and all participating students (and parents) will be given a copy. If you have not yet paid the RM500 deposit, please do so.

 

Year 5/6 Trip to Kinabalu National Park .

Mrs Spice would like to thank Mrs Ford and Mrs Greve for accompanying this trip and writes:

The Year 5/6 trip to Kinabalu National Park was a great success, not least because we had tremendous views of the mountain throughout the journey up there. Everyone was suitably impressed by the size and majesty of it and, as we twisted sharply left and right, it surprised us by appearing on different sides of the road. Not until we started our descent to Kota Kinabalu did it finally disappear under cloud.

At the National Park we enjoyed an informative VCD and a guided walk in the Botanical Gardens. We saw the smallest pitcher plant in Sabah and some of the tallest ferns.

The sparklingly clear weather also enabled us to observe closely the changing terrain from KK to Kundusan and the ways in which people live in the mountains. Looking at the differences between life in KK and in the mountains is a key part of the project, so we peered at terraces and tiny villages perched on ridges. Some of you might even have been brought some vegetables grown around Kundusan. All in all, we had an excellent trip and returned with our heads full of Mt Kinabalu.

Finally, Mr Leak reports on the Futsal Fundraiser and the Girls & Dads vs Young Men football match… and also reminds all of our students about dropping litter …

Futsal Fundraiser

As the challenge to help the victims of the tsunami was set by Mr Spice, several ideas were aired in the Year 11 conversation pit. After discussion, the girls came up with the idea of a futsal marathon, the idea being that 4 teams would play constantly, with the winning team staying on the pitch, for an uninterrupted 4 hours. This turned out to be a stern challenge. In all we mustered about 26 players with evergreen favourites Ian Hamilton and Cikgu Mutang providing some sage wisdom as to the benefits of running at one hundred miles an hour right from the start. The fortunes of the four teams ebbed and flowed with a partisan crowd cheering from the cheap seats. The tournament was eventually halved with Mutangs’ maniacs drawing level with Marsh’s crew. In all seriousness it was a great occasion and I thought the students were fantastic, some running almost constantly for 4 hours. Well done everybody involved and our thanks to their sponsors. It proved the biggest single money-raiser of Charity Week.

Note About Litter

Unfortunately the last 3 times we have had sports events outside school, the enjoyment of the occasion has been tarnished by the amount of litter left by our students. This is quite simply bad manners and must stop.

Girls & Dads against the Young Men

When Britney Spears whined about the trials of having a stalker, I could finally sympathise. For several months, I myself had been stalked by the young ladies of our senior form. They were not in search of my autograph, however, but anxious for the opportunity for revenge. The girls wanted a re-match against the KIS young gentlemen. In the end I took the sensible option - I gave in.

This brought us to the hallowed turf of padang C, the graveyard of champions that is the Archery field. According to popular wisdom, revenge is a dish best served cold. Our young ladies seemed to suggest that it is best served with a size 8 boot applied vigorously about the shin of any male.

The first ten minutes were frenetic, with the girls kicking like a Folies Bergeres chorus line. However, too much perspiration is never an answer for inspiration. They proved very effective in the early exchanges but soon seemed to run out of gas. The Boys’ strike force of Paek and  Marsh formed an effective unit. Jung Ho started well but Samson-like, seemed to lose strength as his hair-do proceeded to melt, whilst Marsh, sporting an exquisite bouffant reminiscent of a fifties Oxford don, provided the main problems for the girls’ defence. Soon the boys were one up. This went against the run of play, with Jessica Wong playing out of her skin and dominating the midfield. Half time saw the ladies turn round one nil down.

In the second half, old war horse Nick Pilcher trundled around the midfield to good effect, soon grabbing an equalizer. But then the deadly duo increased the Boys’ lead with Paek netting a fine goal. Evergreen striker Ian Hamilton, an old head on old shoulders, scored a fine equalizer to square it all at two apiece. As the game approached the last 10  minutes, resident domestic engineer Steve Wickham suggested all players on the pitch. The boys consequently had 24 players against 14. This gave them the advantage needed to steal the game 4 to 2. Once again, a great occasion played in great spirits by some great students.

 

I would endorse Mr Leak’s view that these games are great fun and they are increasingly well supported. Do join us if you are able to.

Best wishes,