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special
All-round advancement
2 bright kids
Coming
out stronger
Beyond everyday
education
By THERESA BELLE
BOARDING schools are more than
institutions of learning they are
every students playground, home,
and growth platform. When a child
arrives at boarding school, it is the
beginning of a whole new chapter.
Today, these schools are moving
further away from the reputation
of aggressive disclipining and
ragging that they held decades ago,
moving with the times to become
institutions that prioritise
wholesome development.
Principal Bill Ironside of Sunway
International School, where
the hostel houses international
students from grades 9 to 11, says
that if done right, boarding can be
quite a motivating experience for
children.
Boarding builds a community
where kids can be safe away
from their families. Within
this community there is safety,
nutrition, and a range of afterschool programmes that provides
students the opportunity to play
and learn outside the classroom,
he says.
While the merits of a completely
immersive experience are still
topics of widespread debate,
there are clear advantages that
underscore the boarding
experience. With almost 40 private
and international boarding schools
in Malaysia, the preference for
modern boarding is growing
among local and expatriate
families alike.
Living up to excellence
Exposure to a wide range of
academic and co-curricular options
allows students to further develop
their abilities and interests in a
completely immersive
environment.
Whether it is through basketball,
drama or the science club, students
fill their days with purposeful
activities that develop the
mind and body, together with
their peers.
Being part of such a community
is what builds the esprit de corps
that is so synonymous with
boarding school alumni. It is a
spirit of pride that school-leavers
carry well into their adult lives,
driving them to be a part of their
alma maters growth long after
they leave.
Being a team player is
enormously valuable because very
few jobs require people to operate
in a vacuum. An obvious means of
instilling this attribute is through
sports or as part of a cast for a play
or musical ensemble. Pupils
become used to grouping together
to achieve the same goals.
High expectations require
students to be honest about their
individual contributions and to
offer constructive criticisms to
others, says Mark McVeigh, head
of Senior School at Marlborough
College Malaysia.
It is not hard to see the appeal of
this lifestyle to parents, especially
those who are busy, live far away
or are going through circumstances
that render them unable to pay as
much attention to their children as
they would like.
Most of the time, though, the
reason is simple parents want
their children to have a solid
chance at success, and esteemed
boarding schools have the
resources, experience and routine
to make this happen.
Camaraderie in
competition
Healthy competition in boarding
schools keeps students engaged,
challenged and continously
striving to be better than they
were yesterday.
According to Martin George,
headmaster of Epsom College in
Malaysia where pupils aged
11 to 18 can opt for day or
boarding school it is not the
competitive spirit alone that is
fostered in such a setting, but the
l Academic stress
Boarding schools are known for
rigorous academic routine and
high standards, which lend to
their long-standing reputation
of excellence.
Total immersion in this
routine can be overwhelming
at first, but students can learn
to cope.
Coming up with a study
schedule of their own can help
students allocate more time
to difficult topics or subjects,
and having set time for
homework and revision
ensures they keep up with
schoolwork at all times.
Besides that, the various
sports and extracurricular
programmes on offer at
boarding schools serve to
diversify students activities, so
they are not strictly occupied
with classroom and study
sessions.
Getting enough exercise is
not only vital for physical and
mental development, but can
be an outlet for stress relief.
They can also spend some
time on therapeutic hobbies
such as reading and drawing.
Staying focused on their
academic and career goals will
also reassure boarding school
students that their efforts will
not be for naught.
Dalat International
Charis International School
School
Kolej Yayasan Saad
Highlands International
International School (KYSIS)
Boarding School (HIBS)
Zenith International School
International Islamic
UCSI International School
School Malaysia (IIS)
Springhill
International School of
Prince of Wales Island
Penang (Uplands)
International School
Kolej Tuanku Jaafar (KTJ)
(POWIIS)
Epsom College in Malaysia
Private schools
(ECiM)
Tenby Schools
Seri Omega International
Sekolah Wadi Sofia
School
Sekolah Taman Ilmu dan
Excelsior International
Budi Setia Budi
School (EIS)
Sekolah Menengah
Pegasus International School
Advent Tamparuli
Raffles American School
Sekolah Swasta
Nilai International School
Saleha Genting Highlands
Wadi Sofia International
Iraqi Private School
School
Malaysia
Tenby International School
Westlake International
Source: schooladvisor.my
School
bright kids 3
Great care
Schools such as UCSI
International School Springhill
offers a boarding programme
where students are under the
guardianship of professional and
experienced houseparents and a
residential life coordinator, giving
them optimum care.
To ensure students security,
guards patrol the campus 24 hours
a day, seven days a week, with a
wide coverage of CCTV cameras.
Purposefully
designed
spaces are a
hallmark of
UCSI
International
School.
The residential programme at UCSI offers trips, sports and other activities on
weekends as well as free time for students to rest and interact with their peers.
of the campus.
Core beliefs
UCSI International School
believes in sharing, camaraderie
and teamwork, which are
necessary values to help an
individual succeed in life.
Boarding life is an education in
itself, which is why UCSI provides
an attractive campus setting and
exceptional facilities to encourage
students to live and study in a
quiet, peaceful environment, which
also offers plenty of opportunities
not only for staying focused on
studies but also to participate in
sports, social activities, trips and a
whole lot more.
4 bright kids
Nutrition for
growing children
CHILDREN and motherhood
magazine BabyTalk has been
running its yearly survey the
BabyTalk Readers Choice Award
to seek out favourite brands of its
faithful readers.
Last year, Morinaga Chil-kid was
awarded the Readers Choice
Awards 2015 for Best Nutrition Milk
by the BabyTalk and MamaPapa
magazines.
In the same year, the product
was again voted the Best Nutrition
Milk for Children under Readers
Choice Awards 2015 by the Natural
Health and A Healthy Lifestyle
magazines.
Morinaga Chil-kid provides
a milk formula that supplies
essential nutrients in a
well-balanced ratio that children
need, based on the international
standard of growing-up formula
Building
good global
schools
IT takes bringing together a
combination of elements to build
a good school. GEMS
International Schools in
Malaysia offer a curriculum that
provides the knowledge, tools
and skills children need to be
masters of their destiny and
excel in a global context.
GEMS International Schools
apply a philosophy of education
that emphasises qualities such as
self-direction, social skills,
critical thinking and creativity.
They provide an innovative
and vibrant environment that
inspires children to explore and
grow. Operating more than 70
schools worldwide, GEMS
Education establishes schools
that students, parents and staff
love.
In addition to making quality
education available to families
around the world, GEMS
International Schools bring a
bold, fresh-thinking alternative
to Malaysia, helping children
earn good grades as well as
develop distinctive skills and
traits that position them to thrive
in a global society.
Parents embrace the
philosophy and structure of the
GEMS curriculum, which
provides a balance between
these soft skills and rigorous
academics.
In promoting academic
achievement, GEMS
International School Pearl City,
Penang and the interim campus
in Tropicana Metropark, Subang
Jaya, help children adopt a
values-driven perspective that
serves as the foundation for a
happy, healthy and successful
life.
The academic programme at
the schools features an enriched
version of the British Curriculum
for England and Wales (also
known as the British
Curriculum), which is used in
more than 150 countries.
The British Curriculum
provides a robust and detailed
blueprint for fostering and
charting the academic progress
Creativity and
self-initiative in
the classroom
are encouraged
at GEMS
International
School, where
students learn
English through
scriptwriting
and acting.
bright kids 5
Parents are updated on their childs progress in the Gakken classroom so that
they can engage with teachers to improve their childs educational experience.
of topics.
Science students take home a
report after each class so that
parents are aware of their childs
progress and can engage with
teachers to improve their childs
educational experience. As for
mathematics, teachers constantly
update parents through progress
reports.
Fun Explorer Sdn Bhd, the main
licensee in Malaysia, works
together with the recently
6 bright kids
Different strokes
A boarding student
learns to carry out basic
chores such as ironing.
Holistic child
development
SINCE its inception more than
25 years ago, Q-dees has grown
into one of the foremost
establishments in early
childhood education in Malaysia.
With more than 170 centres
nationwide, Q-dees has
successfully prepared more than
200,000 students for private,
national and international
schools.
Fun and holistic, Q-dees
programmes empower children
with a strong foundation for the
future. Q-dees Starters is a
cutting-edge preschool
programme stringently
benchmarked against global
standards.
The language programmes
are geared to enable children to
master English, Bahasa Malaysia
and Mandarin. Taught
thematically and phonetically,
the lessons encourage children
to expand their vocabulary while
also fostering the correct
contextual usage of the language.
Encompassing the essential
skills of reading, writing,
listening and speaking, the
Q-dees approach nurtures
mastery of subject matter
beyond students age so that
they can confidently express
themselves in these languages
regardless of their background.
At Q-dees, seemingly complex
mathematics concepts are made
simple and fun for children to
understand using Hands-on
Mind-on Mathsboard.
The science programme has
been designed to make science
simple and stimulating to learn.
The lessons encourage hands-on
participation in fun experiments
to ignite childrens curiosity for
the world.
Q-dees art and craft
programme develops childrens
creativity and imagination in
tandem with the daily theme.
Through the GymFlex
programme, they learn about
teamwork, improve body
coordination and further
develop fine and gross motor
skills through fun exercises,
physical activities and team
games.
The Q-dees Love to Life
bright kids 7
Nazreena Devi (second from left, back row) pictured with her
educators and students from Smart Reader Kids Taman Bayu
Mutiara, Bukit Mertajam in Penang, has exciting activities planned for
visiting children during the upcoming Nationwide Open Days.
8 bright kids
Dedication in vocation
Ironside started out as a
geography and outdoor education
teacher, leading activities in the
Canadian wilderness. He was also
a programme consultant for the
Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District
School Board of Education in
Ontario.
Throughout his 28 years in
education, Ironside has
participated in growing the
relevant and vibrant Ontario
programme to become a leading
English language curriculum
globally.
Collaborating efforts
The principals goals at SIS serve
to build on the strong learning
culture the school prides itself on.
As a teacher leader, I want to
seize the opportunity to help build
a school that makes sense for
the community and allows
children to thrive.
School should be a safe place
for kids to take risks, ask questions
and push themselves out of their
comfort zones so they can learn
from their mistakes, explains
Ironside.
This happens by continuously
improving teaching methods and
Bill Ironside
encouraging collaborative
efforts to build the best teaching
practices.
This happens at staff and
department meetings and
professional development
workshops such as sharing
sessions on using Online Learning
Portal effectively, during which a
number of expert teachers guide
their colleagues, but mostly
during those teachable moments
between two teachers on any
given day, he says.
Ironside believes that his role
as principal involves establishing
constructive, two-way
something new.
As a father of two, he enjoys
graduations as this is when
parents and teachers see young
people at their best.
Knowing that you have had
some impact on a childs learning
and development through those
formative, curious years is a huge
reward.
To me, education should
equip students with the
knowledge, skills and attitudes
to be successful individuals
contributing to families, work
and communities. I want to be a
part of this at SIS for as long as I
can bring value to the school.
bright kids 9
Fight
the
common
cold
COLDS and the flu are very common in
young children. On average, a child may
catch more than five colds during the first
two years of his or her life.
Preschoolers or children in daycare
centres are even more susceptible to colds
and the flu because viral agents are easily
spread through physical contact. Some
airborne viruses can also spread through a
sneeze or cough from an infected person.
Parents are aware of the need to boost
their childrens immune system in raising
healthy and happy kids. But how can it be
done?
Many have heard about the use of
vitamin and mineral supplements such as
vitamin C and zinc in revving up their
childs immune system. However, many are
unaware that the bodys largest immune
defence is located in the gut.
Eighty per cent of immune cells residing
in the gastrointestinal tract and probiotics,
also known as live culture or friendly
bacteria, can communicate to activate an
immune and defence response at times of
viral attacks.
Probiotics can help regulate childrens
immune functions. Lactobacillus acidophilus
LA-5 and Bifidobacterium lactis BB-12 have
been clinically proven to improve the
digestive system and immune functions in
children.
Lactobacillus acidophilus LA-5 is able to
adhere in the gastrointestinal tract and
increase the phagocytic activity (ability to
destroy harmful foreign substances by
ingesting them) of white blood cells.
White blood cells play an important role
in defending the body against infectious
agents and foreign substances.
Both Lactobacillus acidophilus LA-5 and
Bifidobacterium lactis BB-12 assist in the
digestion of lactose and reduce the
symptoms associated with lactose
intolerance.
Continual administration of
Bifidobacterium lactis BB-12 can also
increase the immune factor secreted by
intestinal cells such as immunoglobulin A
(IgA).
Not all probiotics are created equal.
Different strains of the same species, called
strain-specific probiotics, can manifest
different health effects.
There are many probiotic products in the
market. Nonetheless, to be a good probiotic
10 bright kids
group discussions.
A comprehensive co-curricular
programme will offer pupils the
chance to be captain of a team or
leader of an ensemble.
A pastoral care structure will
have pupils in positions of
responsibility, such as heads of
house and prefects. There is a
bigger scope for this in a boarding
community, where leading by
example is highly regarded and
pupils can be guided to show
initiative.
Learning all the dates of the
Battle of the Somme in World
War 1 may be tedious but looking
bright kids 11
True to tradition
Todays lesson,
tomorrows success
TO effectively learn a language, a person
needs to develop confidence in using the
language in all four language skills
reading, writing, listening and speaking.
Although English is widely taught in
schools, lessons are generally imparted in
a theoretical manner, leading to very little
real-life practice for students.
Unsurprisingly, fresh graduates are
finding it increasingly difficult to secure
employment or advance professionally
because of their lack of English language
proficiency. Cambridge English For Life
(CEFL) applies the communicative approach
to language learning, allowing learners to
develop their language skills at their own
pace through stimulating contexts.
With a network of 60 language centres in
Malaysia, CEFL is dedicated to offering
learners from four-year-olds to adults the
right English language course to help them
achieve greater heights in life.
As CEFLs teaching method is based on the
communicative approach to language
acquisition, the focus of all training
whether at the beginner or advanced level,
in academic or business English is to
develop fluency, improve reading and
listening comprehension, expand ones
vocabulary, and refine pronunciation and
intonation.
The most effective way to boost your
motivation in learning English is to use the
language as often as you can.
Trying to have
more
conversations
in English is a
simple but
effective
method of
motivating
yourself to
learn the
language.
Brother
Thomas
Lavin.
12 bright kids