Newsletter No. 55 - September 2014

Tenby Schools Ipoh host the

Global Perspectives Debates II/2014

The Lanterns display

Tenby Schools Ipoh hosted a veritable carnival of

verbal crossfire from 12th to 13

th September 2014.

Known as the Global Perspectives Debates

II/2014, the fiesta of debates drew sixteen teams

from schools in the Kinta Valley. Among the

schools represented were the Anglo-Chinese

School, Kampar, SMK Sam Tet, SMK Jalan

Tasek, Poi Lam Private School and Tenby

Schools Ipoh.

The debates were organized by the Sixth Form

Council of Tenby Schools Ipoh as part of their

Global Perspectives studies.

More stories in this newsletter ...

The finalists of the Global Perspectives Debate II/2014,

with Ms Mangales.

The opening of the event.

From the Campus Principal

I am pleased to report another week of busy activity and hard work

at Tenby, Ipoh. On Monday we held successful staff training days

for our international school staff covering a wide variety of topics

from differentiation and Abacus Maths to a more subject based

focus in the secondary school. Wednesday saw a lively and

dynamic assembly for the secondary school celebrating Malaysia

Day.

I am often asked how we monitor the quality of learning and teaching in our class-

rooms and in short we use internal and external systems to ensure a high quality of

delivery. A robust appraisal system exists for all staff, but this term will also see

evaluation by two groups of assessors from outside the campus itself. Our interna-

tional primary school will undergo the final part of its IPC accreditation and we look

forward to welcoming the inspection team in a few weeks’ time. A team of assessors

from our corporate office and other schools within the group will also visit IISEYC

and TIS Secondary to evaluate all aspects of their operation from classroom and

curriculum to health and safety. We look forward to the reports from these respec-

tive teams, will celebrate successes and develop areas that are identified as

needing further work. In Sekolah Tenby a very experienced educationist, Mr. Paul

Osburn, is conducting a systematic series of classroom observations across the

school. The feedback from these observations is very important in guiding further

development.

We were sorry to say goodbye to Kelly Davies, our SENCO, at the end of last term.

A number of parents have asked about her replacement and I am pleased to report

that we are currently in the process of selecting a successor. We have received

some very strong applications and I will report further on progress in due course.

Work is continuing on the tennis courts and we hope to report completion very soon.

We have also been looking at ways in which we can further improve the appearance

of the campus with further planting of trees and hedges. We are lucky to enjoy such

a pleasant facility and will seek ways to constantly improve what is on offer.

With best wishes for a pleasant and relaxing weekend.

Howard Bullock,

Campus Principal.

Message from the Head of International Secondary

We are 4 weeks in to the new school year, and a very small degree

of poor practice is apparent. I am a little concerned at the level of

fatigue displayed by some of the secondary students. This is

occurring not just later on in the day, but can be seen first thing in

the morning also. I am keen for students to strike a balance between

studies and rest time. We set homework at school when the

experience will add value to the learning of our students. This

balance can only come about if parents are aware that hours of tutoring after school

or over the weekend has the potential to lead to exhaustion and thus could be

detrimental to the overall learning progress being made. Similarly, our students need

to be reminded of the importance of rehydrating during the day. There are healthy

drinks available in the canteen, along with water dispenses across the campus. The

students are likely to feel more energetic if the contents of their snack boxes are

healthy and wholesome, rather than sugary and full of artificial additives. Getting to

bed at an ‘age-appropriate’ time is key to a restful night of sleep ahead of the

challenges of the next academic day. Students should be encouraged to some daily

reading, to foster in them a love of books which hopefully will stay with them for the

rest of their lives. Finally, time spent using game consoles or trawling the internet

should be limited so that it does not become habitual and addictive. Whilst the

internet can be a wonderful tool for research, there are potential inherent dangers if

your children use the web unsupervised. Please support our learners in striking an

appropriate balance in order to maintain good health.

Mr. Neil Page

Weekly Message from the Head of International Primary

Despite the various days off at the start of this academic year we are

now fully immersed in our ‘Learning and Teaching’ within the school

with some new exciting curriculum support areas being implemented.

Firstly is the additional ‘Grammar’ book in English Language which

supports our new English Scheme of work ‘The Oxford International

Primary English’.

Secondly, after a year trial period of setting Maths in year 5 we have now extended

this by setting in years 4 & 6. This allows immediate differentiation in Maths across

the three year groups. However, this does mean that due to the ability and learning

styles of these different groups on occasions they may well receive different tasks in

the classroom and different homework. This is to support the learning of all students.

Thirdly, after a short trial period completed by our year 6 students, over the next two

weeks all students from Year 1 to Year 6 will be given a login to

www.activelearnprimary.co.uk. This will allow them access to interactive Maths

games that are allocated by the teacher and designed to enhance your child’s learn-

ing. These games may be given either as a set homework or used as a supplement to

homework.

Homework is the most controversial area for schools to address. Some parents will

think that not enough homework is given, some parents will think that too much

homework is given. The guidance that is given to all teachers in the International

Primary School is that homework should enhance a child’s learning and not be given

to just keep a student busy or as a base for external tutors. (There are many books

and resources available externally for those purposes).

Here at Tenby International Primary School, Ipoh, we believe in educating the whole

child not just academically. We focus on the IPC Personal Goals in developing the

whole student, but we also believe in developing a child’s confidence and independ-

ence. This means that we increasingly encourage our students to take responsibility

for their own education and develop their readiness for learning by using a variety of

techniques.

Mr. Lee Harvey

Message from the Head of Sekolah Tenby

This week, three classes went on educational trips. SR 6 visited the

National Science Centre while SM 1 students went to Pantai Remis

and visited the Turtle Conservation Sanctuary. On Thursday, SR 1

and SR 2 went to the Infoternak Farm in Sungei Siput to learn about

the breeding process of livestock such as goats, deer, rabbits and

ostriches. Many thanks to the teachers who organized these trips and

those who went along as chaperones.

During the August school break, national school teachers attended training on

differentiated learning by Mr. Paul Osburn. To encourage teachers to put the training

learned into practice, Mr. Paul and the management team have been doing formal

lesson observations since last week and will continue till October. As teachers, it is

vital that we recognize and accommodate the differences amongst our students -

different learning styles, interests, abilities, language proficiency and those with

special needs. When we see our students as individuals with different learning capa-

bilities and use different teaching strategies to help them, we will be able to draw out

the potential in each and every child in the class.

SM 3 and SM 5 teachers are busy doing intensive revision with their respective

classes We are drawing up a revision schedule where specific tasks will be

completed during the months of September and October. We hope that parents will

work alongside us by ensuring that your child comes to school every day so that they

can do all the work prepared by our teachers.

Mdm. Soot MC.

Message from the Head of IIS Early Years Centre

We are already in the middle of September, how the days are flying. I am

sure all of you are now more relaxed with your children being in school.

They are now busy exploring and making new friends.

We were delighted to welcome Dr. George Beale, Principal Lecturer from

Stranmillis University College, Belfast, Ireland, who paid our school a visit

while he was on a training programme in Kuala Lumpur. He was impressed

by the high standard of work taking place in the classrooms. He found the

children engaged with their learning and using language to investigate and explore and reflect

on their experiences which were recorded by the teachers and used as displays in the class-

room.

This was reminiscent to the Reggio Emilia approach

where the rhythm and pace of the child is always

given overriding importance...This means really

having time for children’s thoughts and ideas, and

giving value to their work, their conversation and

their feelings by slowing down to listen to them.

I am sure you are aware of our News Corner, where newspaper cuttings relating to children’s

issues and other information are put up. This week I would like to thank Mr Loganathan, father

of Avanesh from FS2A, for his contribution to the news corner – “Eyes on the child”. You are

welcomed as parents to share any articles or news to be read by others.

A gentle reminder to parents on punctuality, as we still have a handful of children who

come in late to school.

Mrs Puvanes Mahendran

<<<

Dr George Beale in one of the classrooms

at IISEYC.

Children exploring their creativity in building blocks.

Tenby Ipoh’s Grand Fiesta of Words

“We organize these debates on a bi-annual basis to promote the tradition of interschool debates in Ipoh

city,” says Sixth Former Saniika a/p Renganadan who together with Nicole Fong, was the convenor of

the debates. “It is also an opportunity for students from various schools to meet as friends and fellow

scholars of oratory.”

Adds Nicole Fong, the joint convenor: “Organising the debates has been an invaluable event-

management experience for the sixth formers of Tenby Schools. We were challenged to apply our

knowledge of public relations to achieve client satisfaction at all levels.”

All teams had the opportunity to participate in at least four debates over two days while the finalists had

to do battle over six rounds. In the final round, the teams were issued the topic of debate one hour

before the final debate began.

“It was a baptism of verbal fire all the way,” said James Lau of SMK Sam

Tet. “It was intense, demanding and truly an educative experience for us. It

was also a marvellous way to exercise our mastery of the English

Language.”

The topics debated were not only topical but often contentious. Here are

some of the issues that generated heat, light and much laughter at the

debates:

Source of Article: Mr Louis Rozario, Pictures: Mr Harry & Ms Mangales

James & Edward of Sam Tet

1. Capital Punishment should be abolished.

2. The driving age should be raised to 21.

3. No family should have more than two children.

4. Nuclear weapons should be abolished.

5. ASEAN should become one country.

6. We owe more to the sage than to the scientist.

Representatives from Poi Lam Private School.

From SMK Jalan Tasek

Speaker of SMK Methodist (ACS) Kampar in action.

Continue next page

Cover story continues...

The first four rounds were adjudicated by a sturdy band of student adjudicators led by a “high bench” of

four chief (student) adjudicators from the Tenby Sixth Form. They were Jonathan Cheah, Ronald Alan

Woodworth, Winnie Yip and Ong Hui Xue. These adjudicators have been trained over the past 12

months at Tenby’s Wednesday Debate Workshops and at the SIDEO debates organized by Universiti

Teknologi Petronas, Seri Iskandar.

The final debate saw four teams arrayed against each other in the four-cornered debate format known

as the British Parliamentary Style debates. It was adjudged by prominent lawyer and Rotarian, Mr

Edwin Siebel (Chief Judge) .He was assisted by law graduate, Mr Vinobha Anthony Doss and Monash

University finance student Michelle Liang.

The judges declared Emily Ho and Victor Ho of Tenby Schools Ipoh as the champion team. In second

spot were Chan Weng Kit and V.G Divyaa, also of Tenby School, in third place was SMK Sam Tet

represented by Jonathan Foo Jien Xiu and Ko Cheng Zi. Jonathan Foo was also declared the Best

Speaker in the final debate.

The next round of Global Perspectives Debates at Tenby Schools Ipoh will be held in March 2015.

<<<

(L-R) Mr Louis Rozario,

Mr Raj - Teacher Advisor of

Sam Tet, Ms Michelle

Liang, Mr Edwin Siebel,

Mr Vinobha Anthony Doss,

Mrs Mala - Teacher Advisor

of Sam Tet, Mr Neil Page.

Jonathan Foo & Ko Cheng Zi of Sam Tet.

STAR as the opposition team defending a motion.

A Levels students go ...

It is mid-September and this is when prestigious universities open their gates to the best

and brightest from all over the globe. Every year we are proud to count Tenby Ipoh’s

stalwarts among this happy number.

Here’s the latest…our A Levels students of Cohort 7 pursue their studies and soar to the

next level in their lives.

Becky Tan Yee Gee has been admitted to the University of York, England. She

has started on her degree course in Economics & Business Administration.

Tan Jia Hou has been awarded a full scholarship by Herriot -Watt University at

their Putrajaya campus. He has already started on his degree course in Mechanical

Engineering.

Eva Lau Pui Yee (Cohort 7) has

gained admission to the University of

London to study Pharmacy. She joins

her elder sister, Estee Lau Pui Mun,

at the same

university. Estee,

incidentally, was

one of our pio-

neer sixth former

(Cohort 1/2010).

Chin Wai Hoe, who

earned the Best All-

Round Student award for

2014 is now studying

Biological Sciences at the prestigious

University of Edinburgh, Scotland.

Estee & Eva Lau

Aruna Baskaran, who

acted with such great

aplomb as Brutus in our

school production of

“Julius Caesar” will be

studying Medicine at the University

of New South Wales, Sydney,

commencing February 2015.

Saktivadivelu Letchmanan

has been awarded a full

scholarship to study Medicine

with the inaugural intake of

Universiti Perdana, Kuala Lumpur. This

medical degree is awarded by the Royal

College of Surgeons, Ireland.

Continue next page

KBSR 6 School Trip to National Science Centre, Kuala Lumpur

On the 15th Sept 2014, the students of KBSR 6

went on an educational school trip to the National

Science Centre in Kuala Lumpur. There were 36

students accompanied by four teachers.

Upon entering the National Science Centre, the

students were amazed by the ‘welcome’ that they

received from the fish as they walked through the

aquarium tunnel. They were also fascinated by the

activities related to basic principles of science in

various galleries such as ‘Kids Discovery’,

‘Pathways to Science’, ‘Wonderspark’ and many

more. Here, they discovered the macro and the

micro in the fields of Biology, Physics, Chemistry

and Astronomy.

The highlight of the tour was at the ‘Crime Scene

Investigation’ gallery where the students were

given the opportunity to help solve a crime. They

really enjoyed themselves, acting like little

Sherlock Holmes when they managed to ‘nab’ the

criminal.

Before leaving, the students were entertained by a

science show where members of the audience

were invited to participate in hands-on experi-

ments. A few of our students were brave enough

to go on stage and this helped to make the show a

success.

We left the National Science Centre at around 4

p.m. after the science show ended and arrived

back at the school around 7.15 p.m. All in all, it

was an interesting and educational experience for

the students.

As we write these lines, more news is arriving on the Tenby “invasion” of academia

worldwide……

Kevin Mano famed Tenby

debater and orator, is

now reading Engineering

at McMaster University,

Ontario, Canada.

by Mrs Bavvanii Ganesan (KBSR 6B Class Teacher)

Kenneth Mano has received

offers of admission from two

universities, worlds apart in

distance. He could end up at

the University of Warwick,

UK or he might go down under to the

University of Wellington, New Zealand.

In either case, his chosen field is

Economics.

Students exploring Science related activities & games at the National Science Centre.

On 12th September 2014, the Chemistry students of Sixth Form Cohort 8 and Cohort 9, along with two teachers Ms

Chong Yoke Cheng and Mr Chong Poh Nam, went on a learning trip to the Ipoh Public Health Laboratory at

Jelapang to gain knowledge about toxin residues in food products. We arrived at the venue at 10 a.m. and were

welcomed by the Director Dr. Hasmaizal Bin Hassim, along with his deputy, who explained briefly the itinerary of the

trip. We were thrilled to know that we were the first group of students ever to visit the laboratory!

The visit was divided into sessions where each session was led by the head of the respective units. The first unit we

went to was the Food Additives and Standards Unit where we were introduced to the different dyes in food,

detected by HPLC (High Performance Liquid Chromatography) and paper chromatography, and the “permitted

preservatives testing” for benzoic acid and sorbic acid. The next unit was Food Microbiology which examines and

detects microorganisms in food for compliance with the standards prescribed in the Food Act 1983 and Food

Regulations 1985. This unit also provides analytical and diagnostic laboratory services for surveillance, export and

import monitoring programs for the Ministry of Health. The third unit we visited was the Veterinary Drug Residues

unit. This unit provides a food supply monitoring program for festive seasons such as Eid Mubarak, Chinese New

Year, Deepavali and Christmas. It also participates in the Proficiency Testing Program such as Food Analysis

Performance Assessment Scheme (FAPAS), United Kingdom. The last two units were the Microtoxin and Pesticide

Residue units.

Most of the units use HPLC, Gas chromatography with FPD, ECD and FID and mass spectrometers to help them in

detecting foreign toxic materials in food. Microwave digesters and a uv-vis spectrophotometer are amongst the other

specialized equipment that are found in the laboratory. All this equipment must be kept under cool conditions for

top performance.

All in all, the whole trip has widened our knowledge about the analysis of the food we consume. It was a fruitful trip

for all of us.

Article by Wong Foong Yee (Cohort 9); Photos edited by Suki Wong (Cohort 8)

Contact Us

Tenby Schools Ipoh

16 Persiaran Meru Utama

Bandar Meru Raya

30020 Ipoh, Perak

T: 05 - 525 2628

F: 05 - 525 2881

ipoh@tenby.edu.my

Visit us on the web at

www.tenby.edu.my/ipoh

Upcoming Events/Announcements

20 October 2014

Year 5 school trip to Planetarium Negara, Kuala Lumpur

Sekolah Tenby

25 September 2014

PT3 & SPM Trial Examination Results Ready for Collection

Referring to circular no: IIS.938.2014, students and parents are

welcome to come to school and meet the teachers for collection of

results on 25 September 2014, 4.00pm-5.30pm, at Room D-1-8.

13 October - 17 October 2014

PT3 examination

3 November - 3 December 2014

SPM examination

Interact Club

22 September 2014

District Governor Kirenjit Kaur visiting our campus.

28 September 2014

Inspirational Seminar for Rotaractors & Interactors, at Universiti

Teknologi Petronas, Tronoh.

Note:

Ongoing Rotary International Essay Writing Competition ends on

15th

October 2014.