The Alice Smith School

Gerla (third from left) looking at his
son Koen's school work during the
open day at the Alice Smith School

Alice Smith's headmaster Steve
Caulfield looking at the school work
of Emma Bradie, six and Stephanie
Sharp, seven.

Extract from The Star (6th March 2004)

School Opens its doors to Parents

Over 600 parents of pre-school to Year 2 pupils at the Alice Smith School in Jalan Bellamy, Kuala Lumpur, had a good time visiting their children during the school's recent annual day.

The pupils, aged between three and seven years, showed their parents their schoolwork and took them around the school to visit facilities such as a swimming pool, gym, library, tennis court, field and two computer rooms.

Karen Wong, the school's public relations officer, said the event was to allow parents to talk to the teachers and check on their children's academic progress.

"The open day also provided opportunities for parents to get to know the teachers better and inquire about their teaching plans for the next school semester", said Wong, 30. The walls and notice boards were lined with essays, poems and artwork done by the pupils.

Among the notable handicraft on display were three-dimensional houses made out of styrofoam and cardboards. Parents were also served refreshments and treated to a 30-minute musical performance by the pupils in the school hall.

Among the parents present was Paul Gerla, who was visiting his seven-year-old son Koen. "This is the first open day I have attended at this school and it has been wonderful. Koen showed me all the school work he has done since August last year and I', pleased with his progress," said Gerla, who works in the finance industry.

Bruce Fletcher, who was with his seven-year-old son Samuel, said he always enjoyed stopping by the school and talking to the teachers about his son's academic progress.

"Samuel won the Year 2 writing trophy the day before. The school has excellent teachers," said Fletcher, the regional director of a water treatment company.

Founded in 1946, the Alice Smith School in Jalan Bellamy provides a British-style education. It has 760 pupils, aged between 3 and 11, whose parents are mostly from the expatriate and diplomatic community.