newsletter: october 2014 - tenby schools malaysia - oct 2014.pdf · they recited poems ... lastly,...

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Newsletter: October 2014

A United World at Peace - Through Education

Tenby Schools Penang 2 Lintang Lembah Permai 1 11200 Tanjung Bungah Pulau Pinang Phone: +604 892 7777 Fax: +604 899 8826 E-mail: [email protected]

Note from the Principal:

I had an interesting conversation with a colleague recently where the question “What does 21st Century education look like?” was raised. My thoughts immediately went to Karl Fisch’s presentation called “Shift Happens” where the latest edition contains the following statement;

“The top-10 in-demand jobs in 2013 did not exist in 2004. We are currently preparing students for jobs that don’t yet exist, using technologies that haven’t been invented, in order to solve

problems that we don’t know are problems yet.”

The answer to the above question, therefore, is that while we can describe the differences in education between the current time and the late 20th Century, we probably have no idea what it will look like in 10 years, let alone in a longer timeframe. It also raises a further question; “How should Tenby education be structured now in order to meet the rapidly changing learning needs of our current and future students?”

There is little doubt that the explosion in access to technologies since the turn of the century has altered forever how, what, and where learning opportunities exist. How-ever, technologies are not an end in themselves but rather tools that students can use to create knowledge, and to create personal and social change.

The real implications are for the way we design our curriculum; the ways by which we assess learning; the way we organise our learning spaces; and the ways by which teachers present and facilitate learning opportunities.

Thankfully, gone are the days of textbook-driven, teacher-centred, paper and pencil schooling. Thankfully also gone are the traditional neat rows of students where di-

dactic teaching provided only information to be absorbed and regurgitated at appropriate examination times rather than engaged, meaningful learning where all students can be absorbed in interdisciplinary, real-world problem solving and knowledge acquisition that builds progressively on prior knowledge, inter-ests and talents.

Curriculum in the 21st Century should be integrated, project-based and research-driven. It should trans-cend national and international boundaries, and incorporate such things as higher order thinking skills, multiple intelligences, multiple literacies, authentic assessment, assessment for learning, technology and social service aspects. Furthermore, it should challenge all students and provide for differentiation at all stages.

Such a curriculum has huge incentives for our teachers to re-view how they are structuring their curriculum delivery and what they are doing in their classrooms to embrace the 21st century learner. It is dynamic, fluid, unpredictable, and in-creasingly so. Tenby Schools, Penang is committed to contin-uous improvement and to the pursuit of excellence.

Best regards

Gregory C Mowday Campus Principal

TENBY SCHOOLS, PENANG

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Calling All Tenby Students! Compose a song for…..

The Tenby Schools Official Song Competition

Here’s a chance for you to compose and perform a song for your school and have it entered for a national competition to find the Official Song for Tenby Schools Malaysia. All Primary and Secondary Tenby students are welcome to participate in the competition. If your song wins at your local Tenby school, it will then go forward to the National Finals, to be held as part of the Tenby Schools Inaugural Music Camp 2015

Here are the details:

Eligibility

TIS: 4 – 11, 6th Form; ST: Standard 3 – 6, Form 1 – 6

Requirements

1. Duration of the song should be between 1:30-2:00 minutes

2. Lyrics should be mostly in English (with some words and phrases from other Malaysian languages if desired) and must reflect the Tenby Group’s Vision and Mission: A United World at Peace - Through Education. You do not need to use these exact words, but the idea must be present in the song.

3. Any style of music is acceptable but, given that this is a school song, it should be suitable for performance by a group of singers.

Competition Arrangements

Entry

You enter the competition by completing an entry form attached together with:

1. A typed copy of the song lyrics

2. An audio or video recording of your piece (simple realization will do: voice & piano or voice & guitar, etc)

3. A lead sheet score including melody, chords and lyrics (optional).

Performance

The best songs submitted to Mr Nick will be performed in Tenby’s got Talent 2014 (Revisited). The 1st place win-ner will proceed to the National Finals of the competition in Ipoh during the Tenby Schools National Music Camp, February 2015

Copyright

Participants shall retain the ownership rights to all submitted songs. Tenby Schools Malaysia shall reserve the rights to use and record the winning song for any school events and publicity.

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On the 23rd September, Sri Tenby National School conducted a science quiz for students from forms 1 to 5. The aim of holding the quiz is to develop awareness that activities based on science and technology can be fun. Students also learnt to solve science problems with a hands on approach.

The quiz began at 8am and ended at 9.30a.m. Students were required to answer multiple-choice as well as structured questions based on specific topics. Students who fared well in the quiz, were awarded certificates. These were given out during the school assembly.

It was a great learning experience for the students as they enjoyed the quiz very much and at the same time they got to equip themselves with new scientific facts and information.

Sri Tenby Secondary School Science Quiz

Students busy answering questions… Stress Management Workshop

It’s that time of the year with examinations on every one’s mind. There are school assessments, PT3, SPM. Students want to realise their full potential academically but in the process, they may experience stress that are manifested in their emotions and behaviour.

To help students relieve stress, Sri Tenby Secondary School organised a workshop on stress management on 28 September. Ms Lim Shin Nee from Kepala Batas General Hospital and Ms Vri Lim from Mount Miriam Cancer Hospital helped students to maintain balance and reduce stress through simple stress management techniques.

The students tried out stress relievers that are effective, easy and relevant, all of which will help them to relax and function at their best.

Feedback from students; Students found the segment on positive affirmation particularly beneficial. Many said that they just needed a reminder that a simple shift to positive thinking can help to change the experi-ence of a stressful situation Students also learnt that in situations where they do not have control, they can still choose the right attitude and response. They will use techniques from the workshop to prepare for examinations and minimize their school stress levels to make their learning easier. Above all, students feel more relaxed and confident to face challenges in their lives.

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Sri Tenby Secondary School

Merdeka Day Celebration

It was an auspicious morning for Sri Tenby Primary and Secondary Schools as a combined celebration of Malaysia Day and Independence Day was held on 5 September. The theme for Merdeka Day was “Disini Lahirnya Sebuah Cinta”. There were speeches by the Principal, Mr. Gregory Mowday and the Heads of Schools. The head prefect raised the “Jalur Gemilang” as the national anthem, Negaraku was sung. Stu-dents then gave spirited renditions of patriotic songs such as the “Jalur Gemilang” and “Malaysiaku Gemilang”. The primary school students staged interesting items. They recited poems they wrote and role-played famous historical figures.

Lastly, the resounding shouts of ‘Merdeka’ was heard as students and teachers, re-enacted the scene when the first Prime Minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj ibni Almarhum Sultan Abdul Hamid Halim Shah declared independence for Malaya with the rallying cry of ‘Merdeka!” The National Day celebration was truly momen-tous. It was meaningful. We are thankful to be in a multiracial and peaceful country and we are certainly proud to be Malaysians.

Sri Tenby Primary students Singing national and state anthems

Multi ethnic Sri Tenby students dressed in traditional costumes

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Mid –autumn Festival is a harvest festival celebrated by ethnic Chinese and the Vietnamese peoples. It originated in China and is celebrated on the 15th Day of the eighth month in the Chinese Lunar calendar. This festival is considered a cultural heritage. This celebration is also known by many names such as Moon Festival, Mooncake Festival, Zhongqiu Festival. In Malaysia and Singapore this celebration is called Lantern Festival or Tanglung Festival. However do not confuse this festival with the Lantern Festival celebration in China which is celebrated on the 15th Day of the First month in the Chinese Lunar Calendar.

Tenby celebrated Lantern Festival on the 12th September 2014. This is an annual celebration which see parents, teachers, students and friends coming together to fellowship with each other. It is also a time for the students and teachers to show their talents in singing, dancing, or playing a musical. Although the weather was wet and humid the few days before the day of the celebration , it turned out fine on the afternoon of that day. We were much relieved as it

meant that the celebration could go on.

The celebration started with a short speech by Mr Cheah who welcomed everyone and thanked the parents for their support to the school.

After that there was a sumptuous dinner consisting of mouthwatering items of satay, nasi hujan panas, dalca, tau kwa, nasi himpit, fired chicken and many other dishes. Parents who are ever so generous provided snacks and delicacies to complement the dinner. After that students per-formed various dances and songs to entertain those present. Mr Cheah rendered his ver-sion of the song “My Way”. It was a “garden’ type atmosphere as the audiences sat on ground sheets in the quadrangle.

The performances were interesting and were enjoyed by everyone present. Miss Josephine and Mr Gregory Anthony were fantastic comperes for the night. They were hilarious and made the audiences laugh. In between the performances lucky draw prizes were given away.

After the performances there was a parade around the quadrangle. Students carried lanterns of various designs for the parade. “Kong Min’ lanterns were also lighted up.

The celebration finished with a fireworks display.

We would to thank everyone who has contributed in one way or other to make this celebration a success.

Sri Tenby Primary School Tanglung Night at Tenby

newsletter: october 2014 - tenby schools malaysia - oct 2014.pdf · they recited poems ... lastly,...

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