In this week’s KLASS Times, I will share with you some highlights from over the last week, some more new staff profiles and further information on the development of our student leaders across the school.
Year 5 started their assemblies last week. Class 5H started the year off with an informative and moving assembly on ‘Jeans for Genes’ day. Last year, the money we raised bought a wheelchair for a local boy here in KL and I am sure the money raised this year will be put towards something equally valuable and life changing.
As part of our aim to further improve communication this year, Mr Hellier and Mr Speirs led a well attended parent workshop on Assessment and Reporting - thank you to them for running it and thank you to all of the parents who attended. Mr Hellier will also be providing some further information about reports on next week’s KLASS Times. I would also like to mention our Year 6 students who went on an amazing trip to see HMAS Adelaide. Caroline from Year 6 has written an excellent report of the day, please take time to read it here.
Following on from last week’s information, Mrs Shine has written about the latest playground updates.
Playtimes
Lunchtimes and playtimes are undoubtedly some of the most important times of a child’s day. It is where enjoyment and exercise are available, friendships are made and there is a lot of freedom! If children come in from playtime after playing happily they will be ready to learn and their day will be a more productive one. If children return to class upset, they are more likely to be wound up and lessons may well follow a less productive pattern.
At JB, we have a plan to transform our playgrounds. We want to enable all of our students to make the most of their playtimes. Our aim is to organise all playtimes so that everyone can feel safe and enjoy themselves. With this in mind, we have created playground zones (see pictures below). By zoning the playgrounds we aim to create spaces for all children to be able to engage in positive play.
KS2 Play Areas
Year 2 Play Areas
Year 1 Play Areas
Foundation Stage 2 Play Areas - To be introduced at a later date.
Last term, our Student Voice requested more playground equipment, we are pleased to announce that we have invested considerable funds on playground resources. At the same time, the student survey highlighted that the students perceived that their peers did not always follow the school Golden Rule - “We look after property, we don’t waste and damage things.” For this reason, all playtime equipment will be managed by our Year 6 House Leaders, with the help of Class Break/Lunchtime Monitors and Teaching Assistants. We believe it is vital that our students learn to look after school property and be supported to be responsible for their actions. As well as this, all playground equipment will now be locked away other than during break and lunchtimes. We politely ask for your help to manage this, if you see play equipment out either before/after school or over the weekend, please encourage your child to put it by the playground storage units. As well as this, gently remind visitors that we have a collective responsibility to look after school property.
We are very excited about our new playground and Student Leadership initiatives, but appreciate that they are both changes. Please talk to your child about his/her experiences, we are keen to empower the Student Voice and would welcome any constructive feedback. If you or your child have any good ideas about how we could further enhance our playgrounds, then please tell either Mrs Shine or Mrs Nadarajah. We believe that with our new formula there will be positive behaviour, respect and enjoyment and, in fact, we hope to be the friendliest school in the world.
New Staff Profile
Jane Rodic - Music Teacher
Hello, my name is Jane Rodic and I have recently started working in the music department teaching children across the Primary Campus. I moved to Malaysia last October from Singapore where I also taught music and have thoroughly enjoyed my first year in Kuala Lumpur. Some of you may have spotted me around the school last year as I did some cover work when I first arrived in the country, which was a lovely way to meet all the children. All the staff, parents and children have been so welcoming and I am really looking forward to my time here at Alice Smith. Having just got married in the summer to Mr Rodic who is also an Alice Smith teacher at the Secondary Campus, it has been exciting to come back to Malaysia and start our new life together here. I am particularly looking forward to working with the Young Singers in their ECA this year; they have had a great start and are singing with such enthusiasm!
Scott McRae - P.E Teacher
Hello, my name is Scott McRae and I moved here with my wife Alice and young son William. Prior to working at a British school in the Netherlands and a spell in the UK, we decided to venture further afield to S.E. Asia. I heard about Alice Smith and its excellent reputation from friends and colleagues.
We are now settling in well to life in Malaysia and KL as a vibrant city. One of our recent highlights was cycling an old triplet bicycle around Lake Titiwangsa on a beautiful Sunday morning!
As a PE specialist, I have been very impressed with the school's facilities and equipment. After teaching several lessons, I quickly realised that the students at Alice Smith are well behaved, motivated and eager to learn. Staff are very friendly and welcoming.
I look forward to meeting some of you during the course of the year.
Alistair Baker - Year 6 Teacher
Hello my name is Alistair Baker and I am a Year 6 teacher. I have moved here with my fiance Claire (who is a teacher at EP) from England. It was Claire’s stories - from when she worked here previously - about all the great people she has worked with, how amazing the school was and how there was no other place like KL, that got me excited to move here. Her stories did not do this place justice. My first few weeks here have been a whirlwind of excitement and confusion.
My year 6 class are awesome and have been so welcoming, as have all the staff here at Alice Smith. The Year 6 team are all so friendly and supportive and have been a great help. I look forward to seeing what happens this year and getting involved in all the exciting activities and visits that are planned.
On a personal note, I am a rugby player and have just started playing for KL Tigers who are a good team and seem like a great bunch of lads. I look forward to winning many games with them this year.
Tom Verity
Principal
Primary Campus
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Click here for this week's full issue - 6th October 2017