THE STAR, TUESDAY 2 JUNE 2015

special

Global learning
for future leaders

THE STAR, TUESDAY 2 JUNE 2015

2 bright kids

Enhancing English skills

A CHILDS character is shaped
through education, which begins
the moment the child is born and
continues when he or she starts
communicating verbally and
attending playgroups or
kindergarten.
Providing the best early
childhood education to children is
every parents hope. To achieve
this, teaching them to use English
as a medium of learning from a
young age is important as English
is one of the most important lingua
francas.
Smart Reader Worldwide offers
the Smart Reader Kids Intensive
English Programme (IEP), which
emphasises vocabulary
development, communication and
public speaking.
Rajeswary Moorty believes that
the Smart Reader Kids IEP, which
caught her attention four months
ago, can help produce more
students who are proficient in
English.
She is very satisfied with what
the programme has provided for
her six-year-old daughter
Shuneessha Mariappan, who is
studying at Smart Reader Kids
Damansara Heights.
My daughter is learning new
things every day. I know how
much she enjoys the programme
because she is always talking about

Rajeswary witnessed her daughters love for learning

grow through the Smart Reader Kids Intensive English
Programme.

her IEP classes, says Rajeswary.

Within three months,
Rajeswarys daughter was able to
read without pronunciation errors
and could write without making
spelling mistakes.
Since joining the Smart Reader
Kids IEP, Shuneessha has enjoyed
communicating in English at home.
She can now speak fluently and
confidently in the language.
The Smart Reader Kids IEP
components include public

Ellya Robanis children exhibit more creativity in

expressing themselves after attending the Smart Reader
Kids Intensive English Programme.

speaking, appreciation of poems

and rhymes, oral communication,
word treasure, drama, storytelling
and writing.
The programme is interesting
and helpful in building a good
foundation for each child to
master the English language.
Ellya Robani and Affendy
Osman are also thankful that both
their children, six-year-old
Armand Nur Rizq and five-yearold Arshad Nur Rizqin, have no

difficulties in understanding
lessons taught in English.
The siblings are from Smart
Reader Kids Taman Impian Putra
and have been enrolled in Smart
Reader Kids IEP for a month.
Arshad is now more confident
and participates in public speaking
activities.
His brother Armand now
exhibits more creativity in his
thinking and boldly expresses
ideas in English, a tremendous

improvement from less than a

month ago.
The Smart Reader Kids IEP
provides fun learning
opportunities, where children are
taught English through exciting
activities, such as singing, games,
poems and choral speaking.
Every day, they will tell me
about all the exciting activities they
did in their IEP class, says Ellya.
Now, my sons participate and
communicate more with their
friends and I am glad both of them
are able to interact well in
English.
Children are a blank slate. It is
up to the parents to fill the slate
and determine the childs future.
Therefore, children must be
given a good education with
different approaches to learning.
Smart Reader Kids offers just that
quality pre-school education that
shapes a childs future.
To quote South Africas former
president and anti-apartheid
leader Nelson Mandela, A good
head and good heart are always a
formidable combination. But when
you add to that a literate tongue
or pen, then you have something
very special.

n For more information, call

03-6279 5555 or 1300 885 555 or
visit www.smartreaderkids.edu.my

THE STAR, TUESDAY 2 JUNE 2015

bright kids 3

Career planning with guidance

TOWARDS the completion of
their school career, students
reach a critical point where
they face one of the most
important decisions they will
have to make career choices.
It is a decision that is
potentially life-changing, and as
the weight of its importance
sinks in, students can easily slip
into a morass of anxiety,
indecisiveness and frustration if
they do not receive proper
guidance and advice.
The role of the Sunway
International School (SIS)
Guidance and Career Office is
essential throughout a students
secondary school experience.
The schools career guidance
staff members provide students
with advice and effective
strategies to help them think
clearly and carefully about the
educational choices that will
eventually lead them to their
careers.
At SIS, career planning for the
future is considered so vital that
an entire week of themed
activities titled Career Week is
organised by the school every
academic year.
Career Week features
activities such as online career
testing, panel discussions
featuring professional speakers,
Take Your Kid to Work Day
experiences and in-class study
of work-related issues that
include transferable skills and
stress management.
The SIS guidance staff
considers Career Week to be
important as it inspires students
to plan for their future and has
customised activities that
benefit individuals of different
grade levels.

Inspiring planning
It is the hope of the guidance
counsellors to have SIS students
actively dedicate time to career
planning by taking advantage of
the activities organised and
resources provided during
Career Week.
Career Week allows students
to see that the skills and values
they learn in school can be
applied in the outside world.
In addition to the
opportunities to explore
occupation options, the aim
of the event is to educate
students about the changing
nature of the modern
workplace and assist them in
gaining first-person insights
into the challenges and
opportunities experienced by
professionals.
These lessons become so
much more effective by virtue
of having the students
encounter the experience
themselves.
For example, the ninth
graders pick up people
management skills by
shadowing their mentors in
Take Your Kid to Work Day.
From this experience,
students can begin to
understand the daily
operational requirements of

their mentors job as well as the

amount of time, analysis and
effort required to resolve issues.

Customised activities
During Career Week, a range
of activities are planned to suit
the different age and maturity
levels of the SIS student
population.
Some activities involve every
student while others are
specifically targeted at
individual grade levels.
For instance, Grade 11
students tackle workplace
concerns such as stress
management and wage equality
to prepare them for the realities
of working life while Grade 10
students are encouraged to
think about transferable skills to
stimulate awareness and
appreciation of their own skills.

Immediate results
SIS proudest achievement
and most popular event is the
Guest Panellist Sessions.
During these sessions,
students have the opportunity
to present questions to invited
speakers and absorb useful tips
from presentations.
This gives them valuable reallife insights into professions
spanning a multitude of scopes
and industries.
It is especially rewarding for
the school to see its students
take away a new sense of
purpose and motivation from
these activities.
Some of the activities can
even spark an interest in
careers that students had never
considered before.
Tools such as online career
tests are an engaging way of
identifying students interests,
competencies and strengths.
Teachers and students build
on these findings so that they
can explore possible
occupations that match these
characteristics.
Career Week encourages
students to take ownership of
their career planning as well as
become more specific in their
enquiries about post-secondary
entry requirements, university
rankings and the like.
With the introduction of
Career Week, the SIS Guidance
and Career Office aspires to
produce graduates who are not
just academically prepared, but
cognizant of the flexibility and
skills that employers are looking
for in an ever-evolving labour
market.
Armed with the proper
guidance and advice, graduates
of SIS can forge their way to
fulfilling their aspirations, enter
the workforce confident of their
capabilities and be prepared for
a promising career.
Join SIS Registration Week
from now to June 5 for
admission into the July intake.

n For more information,

call 03-7491 8070 or visit
www.sis.sunway.edu.my

Students
had the
opportunity
to present
questions to
the
speakers at
the Guest
Panellist
Sessions
during SIS
Career
Week 2014.

THE STAR, TUESDAY 2 JUNE 2015

4 bright kids

Building strong bones

CHILDREN benefit greatly from a
physically active lifestyle. It
promotes growth, development and
fitness while improving balance and
posture.
Getting enough physical activity
also ensures that children can
achieve and maintain a healthy
weight.
This lifestyle builds their selfesteem, which can help them
become more motivated, alert and
successful.
Here are some ways you can
encourage your children to be
healthy:
l Join in the fun If you are
active, it is likely your children will
follow suit.
l Feed children the right foods
Children need the right nutrients
to help them stay healthy and active.
l Give them milk Milk is
important for building strong bones,
which is a key factor in promoting a
healthy and active lifestyle. When
children have strong, healthy bones
to support their bodies, they can
keep up with physical activities.
Ensuring that your child has
strong bones allows them to enjoy a

Vitamin D
and
calcium,
which are
found in
milk, can
enhance
childrens
health.

healthy and active lifestyle that

helps build strength and confidence.

The right nutrients

Children need the right nutrients
to build stronger bones and
healthier bodies. Ensure that
children get enough of the following
nutrients each day:
l Calcium Important in
strengthening bones and providing
skeletal support. Children can
consume dairy products to get a
good dose of calcium each day.

l Vitamin D Helps the body

absorb calcium. Sources of vitamin
D include fish, egg yolks and milks
fortified with vitamin D.
l Protein Building blocks for
bones, muscles, cartilage, skin and
blood. Protein and calcium interact
in the body to promote bone health.
Marigold UHT Milk is enriched
with calcium, protein, vitamin D and
unique BonePlus formulation to
supplement children with the
nutrients and minerals needed for
an active lifestyle.
Q-dees lessons integrate the latest in teaching methodologies and
technology to deliver its quality learning programmes.

Innovative learning
Q-DEES preschool programmes
are fun-filled and conducted in a
dynamic environment by
dedicated teachers.
Its programmes are distinctive
as it integrates the latest in
teaching methodologies and
technology to deliver lessons.
There are three programmes
incorporated into the preschool
syllabus Fliptec@Q, Beamind
Foundation and Q-dees Love to
Life.
Fliptec@Q utilises the Focus
Learning Imaginative Play
technology, which is effective
in motivating learning,
concentration, recall and
understanding.
Beamind Foundation is
uniquely designed to stimulate
intelligence by empowering
creative and logical thinking as
well as enhancing language
proficiency.
Q-dees Love to Life is a
programme that aspires to
nurture and promote love,
kindness and other essential
moral values.
Customised and highly
effective teaching tools have
been developed to make learning
fun through songs, dance,
animation, rhymes, poems,
stories and other methods.
This enables a higher rate of
learning, improves attentiveness
and enhances the ability to apply
concepts learnt into daily
activities.
Q-dees Fliptec@Q and
Beamind Foundation
programmes are geared to
enable students to master
English, Bahasa Malaysia and
Mandarin. The lessons are
designed to promote proficiency
through practice. Students are

equipped with the ability not

only to speak but also to read,
write and listen attentively.
Allowing children to
experience technology first hand
at an early age can enhance their
learning experience and prove to
be an added advantage for the
future.
As children tend to have short
attention spans, the inclusion of
attractive visuals, audio and
animation in lessons can help
engage children and promote
interactions.
By employing a combination
of new teaching and
technologically advanced tools in
the classroom, challenging topics
such as mathematics and science
can be made easy to understand,
thus accelerating childrens
mastery of the subjects.
In addition, the e-Readers
programme under the Beamind
Foundation programme has
been successful in instilling a
reading culture among children
as young as three years old.
The e-Reader books are
developed meticulously and
graded with a controlled
vocabulary to maximise word
identification and fluency.
Being accessible from home,
the programme is aimed at
fostering a passion for
independent reading and allows
parents to be involved in their
childs reading session.
Q-dees strives to deliver the
best, meeting both international
standards of education while
also nurturing values that
empower lifelong education.

n For more information,

call 1700 815 077 or visit
www.q-dees.com

THE STAR, TUESDAY 2 JUNE 2015

6 bright kids

THE STAR, TUESDAY 2 JUNE 2015

The library is
one of
childrens
favourite
places to be in
at Rafflesia
International
& Private
Schools as
this is where
they can enjoy
the fun of
reading
together.

Instil love for reading

INSPIRING children to enjoy reading is
one of the most important things to do as
a parent.
While children develop reading skills at
school, this often leads to reading being
associated with work rather than pleasure.
The most effective way to encourage
children to love books and reading is to read
aloud to them, even when they have learnt
to read by themselves.

Why children do not like

reading
Its boring You can vary reading
activities at home and relate them to the
childs interests.
Too busy Some children need help in
rearranging their schedules to make time
for reading.
Too hard If your child is having a hard
time reading, talk with the teacher and ask
how you can find interesting books and
materials that match your childs reading
ability.
Too much pressure For some children,
especially those who have difficulty reading,
reading causes anxiety.
Even for children with strong reading
skills, performance-driven reading can place
a lot of pressure on them. Give them space
to just enjoy reading for fun.

Encourage reading

Use childrens interests and hobbies as

starting points to find good materials for
them to read. Build on that interest and read
short selections aloud and discuss things that
interest them.
Play games that are reading-related such
as spelling games or board games that
require players to read cue cards.
At Rafflesia International & Private
Schools, reading activities such as Literacy
Awareness Week and Book Parade help
promote and instil reading habits in Rafflesia
students.
Students are encouraged to read and learn
and the school also promotes reading and
learning to teachers and other staff
members.
Learning is extended to parents of
Rafflesia students through seminars held by
its board of governors, which are held from
time to time to share expertise on supporting
the education process at home.
Rafflesia invites parents and children to
come and visit the school on its Open Day on
June 20 from 10am to 4pm at its Puchong
and Kajang campuses to find out more about
its International School and Private School
syllabus as well as its learning culture.

n For more information, call 03-8953 9088 or

03-8741 7099 or visit www.rafflesia.edu.my

Enjoyable English classes

LEARNING a language is not the same as
studying subjects that involve memorisation
of facts such as science, history or
geography.
Language needs to be absorbed and
practised. The main objective for language
teachers is to ensure that their learners
become more proficient in using the target
language, particular in reading, writing,
speaking and listening.
Children are best motivated to learn and
use a new language when placed in a nonstressful learning environment.
When a child believes that learning a
language can be fun, he or she will be eager
to participate.
Games and other activities are useful
media to teach language in a non-stressful
way. This facilitates the target language to be
acquired as part of the activity and be used
naturally in familiar situations that children
can relate to.
At Cambridge English For Life (CEFL), this
communicative method of teaching is used
to help students acquire English and prepare
them for the Cambridge English tests and
examinations.
Enrolment is open to children aged as
young as four years old, where they begin
their journey to attain a high level of
language proficiency. It is important that
children begin learning English efficiently
and effectively at an early age.
CEFL classes have four components
reading, writing, listening and speaking.
Children are encouraged to speak English
and actively use it in classroom activities to

Children are more keen to participate in

lessons if they find the learning experience
fun.

gain more practice and confidence.

Other tasks such as drawing, colouring
and speaking to the examiner motivate and
inspire children in their learning as well.
In addition to developing English language
proficiency and preparing students for the
Cambridge exams, CEFL also provides
enrichment programmes.
The up-to-date course materials include
topics of global interest historical,
environmental and cultural to broaden the
minds of students and widen their
perspectives. Students are also encouraged
to be independents learners in the process.
To be the best that they can be, children
need to have an environment conducive to
learning that is non-threatening and fun.

n For more information, call 03-7883 0912 or

visit www.cambridgeforlife.org

THE STAR, TUESDAY 2 JUNE 2015

bright kids 7

Creating successful global citizens

UCSI International School
recognises the importance of
holistic learning from a young age,
as is reflected by its offering of the
full array of the International
Baccalaureate (IB) programmes.
Combined with its full boarding
facilities, this has set a strong
foundation for the school to
achieve its mission of providing
international education to nurture
knowledgeable and responsible
global citizens.

Revolutionising learning
UCSI International School
incorporates the IB syllabus
throughout primary and secondary
education.
l Primary Years programme
(ages three to 12) Focuses on
developing students inquisitional
capacities involving knowledge
and skills derived from six areas of
study. The areas are language,
social studies, mathematics, arts,
science as well as personal, social
and physical education.
l Middle Years programme
(ages 13 to 15) At this stage,
students are groomed to become
independent, critical-thinking
global learners. Students take up
courses in language, individuals
and society as well as mathematics
and science, among others. They
also complete an actions-as-service

Top facilities and resources support holistic learning at UCSI

International School.

component and personal project.

l Diploma programme (ages
16 to 19) This programme is
designed to address the
intellectual, social, emotional and
physical well-being of students,
preparing them for university life
and beyond.
Students take six subjects in the
areas of language, arts,
mathematics and science. They
also complete an Extended Essay as
well as Theory of Knowledge and
CAS (creativity, action and service)
components.

Students are exposed to greater learning

opportunities through the IB programme.

To complement its solid

academic programmes, the school
offers various opportunities for
co-curricular involvement through
its After School Programme.
Under this programme, students
can get involved in coding, drama,
choir or sports such as football,
swimming, tennis and basketball.
These are supported by top
facilities and learning resources,
including Wi-Fi availability, five
science laboratories and a library.
The overall experience here is
truly amazing. Our teachers,

facilities and programmes are

incredible. We have created an
amazing school community, says
UCSI International School principal
Kathryn Farrell.

The IB advantage
The IB programme is
internationally recognised for its
unique structure and pedagogy,
which places emphasis on
application, synthesis and analysis
in learning.
On top of that, community

service is integrated into the

curriculum in line with the IB
Mission Statement to help create a
better and more peaceful world
through intercultural
understanding and respect.
According to Farrell, teachers at
IB World Schools act as meddlers
in the middle they apply
concept-based, inquiry teaching as
facilitators. All UCSI International
School teachers are formally
trained under the IB.
IB graduates have also shown
great interest and success in higher
education, making them prime
candidates for top universities
worldwide. Data from the Higher
Education Statistics Agency
comparing two academic years
between 2007 and 2009 showed
that IB students were more likely
to enrol into a top 20 higher
learning institution, receive
honours degrees or awards, and
be employed in graduate level
positions and higher paid
occupations.
UCSI International Schools Open
Day will be held on June 13 from
10am to 4pm at the Springhill
campus. Grade 8 students will also
be taking part in a fun run in
conjunction with the Open Day.

n For more information,

call 06-653 6814 or visit www.
ucsiinternationalschool.edu.my

THE STAR, TUESDAY 2 JUNE 2015

8 bright kids

Effective digestion in children

PARENTS today are more healthsavvy and capable of taking
preventive measures to ensure
their childs good health.
Although people are becoming
increasingly aware of the
importance of nutrition, the same
cannot be said about awareness of
good gut health.
Ensuring that your child
receives a well-balanced and
nutritious diet is in vain if his or
her gut is not in a healthy state to
absorb the necessary nutrients,
says nutritionist Neoh Guat Khim.
A large part of maintaining a
healthy gut involves having a
balance of good bacteria known as
probiotics.
A healthy human gastrointestinal
tract is surrounded by up to 80% of
good bacteria, which is necessary
in maintaining the balance of a
good gut microflora.
Good bacteria act as the first line
of defence in the gut by lining the
gut membrane to form a physical
barrier that blocks the action of
pathogens and allergens.
When this intestinal balance is
compromised and there are
insufficient good bacteria, the

membrane is easily infiltrated,

leading to the weakening of the
gut and a host of other health
complications.
Children typically take up to two
years to develop a mature digestive
system.
As they grow, they are
increasingly exposed to various
viruses and bacteria, especially
through interactions with peers.
It can be difficult to monitor
your childs diet and activities at
all times, let alone ensure that they
are maintaining healthy eating
habits.
On top of this, some children can
be picky eaters, which makes it
harder for them to receive
adequate nutrients.
Children who are constantly on
antibiotics may have a harder time
maintaining healthy intestinal
microflora because antibiotics kill
both good and bad bacteria.
An unhealthy gut leads to an
increase in a childs susceptibility
to illnesses, which are made worse
with changing lifestyles and
dietary habits.
Therefore, parents need to
recognise the importance of good

bacteria in their childrens

digestive system.
We rely very much on our
nutrient intake to supplement us
with good bacteria.
An unhealthy gut affects
nutrient absorption, thus
affecting the balance of
essential nutrients. This can
cause children to fall ill
frequently, which will affect
their growth, says Neoh.

Positive synergistic
effects
Lactobacillus acidophilus
(LA-5) and Bifidobacterium
lactis (BB-12) are probiotic strains
that optimise food digestion
and nutrient absorption.
Individually, the LA-5
strain is known to aid
lactose digestion and
reduce symptoms of
lactose intolerance
while BB-12 promotes
high bile tolerance,
acid resistance and
widespread
colonisation in
the gut.

Chicory inulin, which is

extracted from the chicory plant
root, has been identified as a
complementary prebiotic that
works well with LA-5 and BB-12.
This oligosaccharide
(saccharide

polymer containing small numbers

of simple sugars) assists in the
absorption of nutrients while
promoting growth and
development in children.
Chicory inulin works
synergistically with probiotics to
promote the growth of good
bacteria in the gut, thus improving
intestinal microflora and function.
When combined, LA-5, BB-12
and chicory inulin enhance
nutrient absorption of calcium and
other minerals as well as vitamins.
These are the characteristics of a
healthy gut, which allows regular
bowel movement for an overall
healthier and happier child.
This article is brought to you by
BiO-LiFE.

n For more information, e-mail

health@biolife.com.my

Maintaining a
healthy diet is
essential in
protecting gut
health.

THE STAR, TUESDAY 2 JUNE 2015

bright kids 9

Epsom College in
Malaysia provides a
multicultural and
multilingual
learning
environment.

From the headmaster

The wonder of
multilingualism
AN Epsom College in Malaysia
(ECiM) education provides young
minds with more than a solid
academic qualification.
Part of our learning is the
inclusion of cultural aspects of
life, which is evidenced by the
importance we place on
language acquisition, says
Spanish teacher Louise Capon.
Language plays an
increasingly crucial role in
transforming the educational
landscape. To become
frontrunners in an increasingly
globalised world, students must
equip themselves with as many
skills as possible, including the
ability to speak various
languages.
ECiM recognises the
importance of multilingualism
and promotes this by offering
five languages throughout all
levels of education.
Besides English, languages
taught at ECiM are Bahasa
Malaysia, Mandarin, French and
Spanish.
Students in Years 7 and 8
study all five languages and are
required to pursue at least one
of the four additional languages
at the GCSE level.

Enhancing the learning

experience
It is not a mammoth task to
gauge the value of
multilingualism in such a diverse
campus.
On top of local students of
various cultural backgrounds,
the ECiM student body consists
of large numbers of British,
Japanese and Chinese students.
Students often come together
to celebrate one anothers
cultures during festivities and
International Day events. Such
celebrations highlight the rich
cultural variety in ECiM while
enhancing intercultural
understanding and appreciation.
These values are especially
crucial in a boarding school such
as ECiM, where students must
learn to be respectful and
supportive of fellow boarders.
Students learn to use
appropriate language in
different contexts and display
initiative by checking
translations of words or phrases

to better express themselves.

Capon explains that because
language learning is centred
around communication in terms
of listening, speaking, reading
and writing, improving in a
second language should assist in
developing those realms of
communication in the students
native language as well.
Multilingualism opens doors
to the world and it is very much
alive in ECiM, she says.
At times, I hear conversations
being conducted in up to three
languages with students
switching naturally between
them.
Educators set examples by
using the language they teach to
converse with students both in
and out of the classroom. They
also converse with other faculty
members in a common language
besides English.

Opening doors to a
brighter future
Many people believe the early
years of schooling is the best time
for second language learning as
this is the time childrens brains
are developing the most.
At this point, they have not yet
developed a strategic system for
learning, making it easier for
them to absorb and retain new
sounds and words of a second
language.
In the words of Capon,
younger children do not yet have
a bias telling them that things
have to work in certain ways.
This makes them prime
candidates for language
acquisition.
English lessons are compulsory
for all ECiM students, with nonnative speakers receiving
additional support to allow them
to catch up with others at their
level. Bahasa Malaysia is
compulsory for Malaysian
students up to the GCSE level.
Students are also exposed to
modern languages with a global
reach such as French and
Spanish, which promote the
development of a truly
international perspective.
Capon attests to the benefits of
multilingualism herself,
explaining that multilingual
graduates have greater

opportunities in the global

employment market.
I believe that being able to speak
a second or third language can set
students apart from their
counterparts, opening the doors to
international employment, she
says.
While many people in England
are still complacent due to the fact
that English is so widely spoken, I
think the Asian education systems
hold great store in the value of being

TEACHING was not my first

choice of career. After university,
I served for 10 years in the British
Army as an infantry officer before
taking my first teaching post.
The career move was tougher
than I had imagined it would be,
but it quickly became apparent
that I had made the right decision.
Epsom is the fourth school I have
worked in, and the second as a
headmaster.
Previously, I spent six years
as head of Durham School, a
600-year-old boarding school in
the North of England.
My subject is history and
politics and I have always
maintained some teaching
responsibility, even as a
headmaster.
I currently teach a few periods
of A-Levels politics. It is
important that headmasters
maintain their professional
connection with classroom
practice.
At ECiM, we have achieved an
extraordinary amount in a short
period of time.
Opening last September with
130 pupils, we ended the year
able to communicate competently
across borders.
Learning new languages exposes
students to a whole wealth of
cultural richness, making them
more tolerant and accepting of

with well over 200.

This term, we had our first
A-Levels examinations. We have
had great success in the English
Speaking Board Exams with 100%
distinctions/merits.
There have been several
successful trips, both locally and
overseas.
We have achieved some
notable sporting successes,
including the girls senior squad
winning the Penang schools
football competition.
We have also hosted some
fantastic events on site, most
notably the performance of
Hamlet by the Globe Theatre on
its world tour.
It is scarcely believable that in
such a short space of time, our
staff, pupils and parents have
generated an incredibly close,
supportive, energetic and
purposeful community.
I suspect I have the best job in
the world.

n Martin George is the

headmaster of Epsom College
in Malaysia.
others while equipping them with a
skill that will further increase and
diversify future career options.

n For more information, visit

www.epsomcollege.edu.my

THE STAR, TUESDAY 2 JUNE 2015

10 bright kids

Optimise
learning abilities
IRON, iodine, fibre, calcium and magnesium
deficiencies are some of the most common
nutritional problems that affect children.
These elements are needed in a childs
everyday dietary intake as they each
perform a different function in the body.
The body may only need iron in trace
amounts daily, but the mineral has
important roles in deoxyribonucleic acid
(DNA) synthesis, energy metabolism and
oxygen storage and transport.
The most glaring sign of iron deficiency is
microcytic, hypochromic anaemia, which
causes a child to tire easily and become
befuddled, thus affecting his or her studies.
Adolescents from the ages of 14 to 18 are
the most vulnerable as their bodies rely on
iron for muscle growth. If a young girl is
menstruating, she is losing even more iron
and requires an extra supply of the mineral.
Providing children with adequate iron and
vitamin C can improve their energy levels as
well as improve brain development linked to

behaviour, cognitive abilities and

subsequently academic scores.
The body requires vitamin C to help
absorb the iron optimally.
Despite living in a country that is sunny
all year round, many young Malaysians lack
vitamin D. Children should be exposed to
sunlight besides getting their vitamin D from
food sources.
Apart from helping the body absorb
calcium for the toughening of the bones and
teeth, vitamin D is crucial for bolstering
cognitive performance and overseeing
normal brain development and function.
Iodine is fundamental in the production
of thyroid hormones. Depending on age and
gender, children only need around 90mcg to
150mcg iodine per day.
We can help children counter iodine
deficiency by increasing their intakes of
food rich in iodine, iron and selenium,
which play a part in maintaining healthy
thyroid functions.

JoyAmaze
Inspired
chocolate milk
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vitamins and
minerals for
overall good
health.

A healthy gut also plays a part in ensuring

that children have a healthy mind. Regular
bowel movements ensure healthy intestines
and brains. The intestine is a part of the
enteric nervous system, linked to the brain
by the vagus nerve.
If children are experiencing irregular
bowel movements, there is a high
probability of pathogenic bacteria dwelling
in their guts, consequently compromising
the immune system.
Isomalto-oligosaccharide, a functional
fibre, amplifies the beneficial intestinal flora
population of Lactobacillus acidophilus and
Bifidobacterium longum. The probiotics
strengthen the immune system and help
salvage cognitive functions.
It is crucial to provide children with a
variety of healthy foods to achieve a

balanced diet. Besides giving them proper

meals, we can enhance childrens learning
potential with JoyAmaze Inspired, a
chocolate milk rich in nutritional value.
It provides schooling children and
adolescents with 50% of the Reference
Nutrient Intakes (RNI) the amount of
nutrients needed by the majority of the
population to meet the bodys requirements.
The chocolate milk provides a high
content of DHA, vitamins A, B complex, C, D
and E, iron, iodine, selenium, calcium,
magnesium and zinc. It contains additional
prebiotic isomalto-oligosaccharide to
improve overall digestive health.
This article is brought to you by JoyAmaze

n For more information, call 1300 881 268.

Geelong
Grammar
Schools
School of
Performing
Arts and
Creative
Education is
set to
encourage
students to
innovate.

Inspiring creativity
CREATIVITY and innovation are the focus
of an exciting new approach to learning at
Geelong Grammar School.
The school appointed Dr Tim Patston,
who has built an international reputation as
a pioneer in modern education, as its
inaugural co-ordinator of creativity and
innovation at the beginning of this year.
A former head of music at Australias
National Institute of Dramatic Art, Dr
Patston is also an honorary fellow of the
Melbourne Graduate School of Education
at the University of Melbourne, where he
lectured in positive psychology and
curriculum development.
More than ever, schools have a
responsibility to prepare children for a
society of rapidly changing diversity and
opportunity, explains Dr Patston.
Being able to innovate is the single most
important skill our children can learn. I
believe that creativity in all students and
teachers can be accessed, ignited and
nurtured if a supportive and sustaining
environment is provided.
On May 23, Geelong Grammar School
opened its AU$20mil (RM56.25mil) School of
Performing Arts and Creative Education
(Space) to act as a catalyst for the schools
development of creativity and innovation
as well as provide a focal point for the
performing arts.
The building provides state-of-the-art

facilities for drama, music and dance.

It has theatres, classrooms and spaces
designed for students and teachers to
express themselves, explore creativity,
collaborate and innovate.
This is the most exciting part of what we
are doing, says Stephen Meek, the schools
principal.
We want to encourage our students to
find innovative ways of doing things.
Dr Patston believes this focus on creative
learning highlights a fundamental shift in
the way people view education, particularly
as the South-East Asian region increasingly
moves away from a resource-based economy
to a knowledge-based one.
Though computers can now do the jobs
that people used to, they cant think laterally
in a creative way and turn ideas into
something practical. Creative students will
find it easier to discover their own path in
these new workplaces, he says.
Geelong Grammar Schools vision in
nurturing this new approach to learning and
developing the Space puts the school at the
vanguard of contemporary education.
Geelong Grammar School will be holding
an information session at 5pm on June 9
(Tuesday) at Shangri-La Hotel, Kuala
Lumpur.

n For more information,

visit www.ggs.vic.edu.au

THE STAR, TUESDAY 2 JUNE 2015

bright kids 11

Australian education in Malaysia

THE Australian International
School Malaysia (AISM) has
grown steadily since its
inception 15 years ago.
It is the only international
school in Malaysia offering an
Australian curriculum for all
year levels delivered by
Australian teachers.
The school, located in a gated
community in Bluwater Estate,
Seri Kembangan, caters to
students from ages three (preschool) to 18 (pre-university).
The student body comprises
individuals of 40 different
nationalities.
AISM offers the rigorous,
holistic and world-renowned
Australian curriculum in which
senior students complete the
New South Wales Higher School
Certificate (HSC) before
graduating.
The broad curriculum
provides students with
opportunities to explore their
areas of interest and expertise
as well as excel in an
internationally recognised
senior certificate.
The HSC provides direct
pathways to universities in
Australia, New Zealand, the
United Kingdom, the United
States, Canada and India, where
students can pursue degree
courses in medicine, pharmacy,
dentistry, engineering,
architecture, business studies,
information technology and
other areas of study.
A significant difference
between the HSC and other
international senior curricula is
the recognition that students
should be given opportunities to
be assessed in a range of ways
besides external examinations.
Assessment for the HSC has
two components 50% of the
overall grade comes from a final
examination that is set and
marked in Australia and the
other 50% comes from school-

Accessible and flexible

resources

Open communication and collaboration are key aspects of the Australian

curriculum.

based assignments, examinations

and projects.
This form of assessment
provides every student with the
opportunity to achieve their best,
thus opening up a greater range
of international tertiary
pathways.

Curriculum for a
multicultural society
According to an Australian
Mutual Provident Society (AMP)
report in 2010 titled Income and
Wealth Report Issue 27 - Calling
Australia Home, Australia was
tied with Switzerland as the
second most multicultural nation
in the world, behind
Luxembourg.
With a growing population
made up of 25% skilled migrants,
it was essential for Australia to
develop a curriculum that met
the needs of a mobile and
globally focused multicultural
community.
The new curriculum has been
designed to improve learning
outcomes for a diverse
population of students, making
the school an ideal choice for
Australians, Malaysians and
expatriate students in Malaysia.
The Australian curriculum
embeds seven general

capabilities literacy, numeracy, ICT

capability, critical and creative thinking,
personal and social capability, ethical
understanding, and intercultural
understanding.
The curriculum has the flexibility to
cater for the individual learning needs,
strengths, interests and goals of
students.

To support the delivery of the

Australian curriculum to students
in urban, remote and island
settings, the administering
organisation, the Australian
Curriculum, Assessment and
Reporting Authority (ACARA), has
developed a range of web-based
reference and online interactive
resources.
The resources are available to
both domestic and international
students and teachers. This makes
the curriculum a particularly
attractive option for international
schools such as AISM as it serves a
large expatriate population in
Malaysia.
The flexibility of the curriculum
allows students of all abilities,
including those with special needs
and gifts, to experience robust and
relevant learning opportunities
that will allow each of them to be

challenged, engaged and prepared

for life in a dynamic world.
Take the opportunity to visit the
schools Open Week from June 8 to
13 (10am to 1pm) and understand
how the Australian curriculum
could suit your childs learning
needs. Exciting activities are in
store for your child, including
science experiments, storytelling,
Lego design and construction, and
trial classes.
Parents will have the
opportunity to meet the principal
and heads of school over morning
tea.
They can join a briefing that will
help them understand the
importance of cultivating good
thinking skills in children as well
as the differences between the
Australian curriculum and other
international curricula.

n For more information,

call 03-8949 5000 or visit
www.aism.edu.my

THE STAR, TUESDAY 2 JUNE 2015

12 bright kids

CALCIUM is one of the bodys most

important minerals that helps
bones and teeth grow and stay
strong.
Most parents provide their child
with multi-vitamins and vitamin C
daily to boost their immune system
and prevent them from catching
a cold or the flu.
Unfortunately, calcium is
often overlooked as an
important supplement.
Ninety nine percent of the
calcium in the body is stored
in the bones.
If children do not get enough
calcium from their diet, the body
will extract it from the bones,
causing the bones to become weak
and this will ultimately affect
growth.
Building your childrens bone
bank account is same as to saving
for their education. The more they
accumulate when they are young,
the longer it will last them as they
age.

How much calcium do

children need?
The recommended daily calcium
intake of a child increases with age
as his or her skeleton grows.

Increasing calcium
intake
Milk and dairy products are a
good source of calcium. However,
some children do not like to
consume milk and dairy products.
Here are some tips to increase
their calcium intake:

Getting enough calcium

daily calcium requirements.
l Choose a good calcium
supplement for your child.

Choosing a good
calcium supplement

Milk and dairy

products are
a good source
of calcium.

l Replace milk
with calciumfortified juices for breakfast.
l Choose calcium-rich food as
snacks for your child, such as
crackers with low-fat cheese or
yoghurt topped with their
favourite fruits.
l Ensure that your child eats a
Age

variety of foods.
Foods besides dairy
products may also contain calcium
in smaller quantities such as fruits,
dark green leafy vegetables and
cereals.
The variety of foods accumulates
a significant portion of your childs
Calcium intake
(mg/day)

Full Cream
Milk (ml)

One to three years old

500mg

360ml

Four to six years old

600mg

360ml

Seven to nine years old

700mg

550mg

1000mg

800mg

10 to 15 years old

The recommended daily calcium intake of a child increases with age as his or
her skeleton grows.

l A good calcium
supplement for children should
contain a minimum of 200mg of
calcium, which is the optimal
amount of calcium that a
supplement should have.
While it is important to
supplement a childs diet with
calcium to ensure that they meet
their daily calcium requirement,
supplements should not be the only
source of calcium. A balanced diet is
recommended for children to
maintain good health.
l The calcium supplement should
contain 300IU of vitamin D3 for
every 200mg of calcium. The added
vitamin D3 helps to lock in the
calcium in the bones because
vitamin D3 helps your childs body
absorb calcium more efficiently.
l The calcium supplement should
be tasty. Children often refuse to
take calcium supplements due to
their chalky taste. Hence, try to
find a calcium supplement that their
taste buds agree with.
n For more information, e-mail
foongyi.leong@pharmacare.com.au

Calcium is an important component

of childrens growth.