Bright Kids - 02 Sept 2014

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HE STARTuesday 2 September 2014

Exploring creativity > 4 Outstanding and passionate learners > 10

Shaping

the young

StarSpecial

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2BRIGHT KIDSStarSpecial, Tuesday 2 September 2014

Avenue to

global success

By ANUSHIA KANDASIVAM

THERE are 80 fully operationalinternational schools inMalaysia today. There is one

n almost every state, with theoncentration being in the centraltates of Peninsular Malaysia.

This is a long way fromwhen Malaysia had only onenternational school back in 1946 a home school with two pupilshat in later years would evolvento The Alice Smith School.

Eighty seems a lot for apopulation of 30 million, but HongKong has about the same number

f international schools for apopulation of a little more thaneven million.

The increasing growth ofhe international school marketn Malaysia mirrors that of

Asia, where, according to thenternational School Consultancy

Group, a resource for marketntelligence on internationalchools, worldwide growth of thisndustry is largely focused.

There are 3,766 internationalchools in Asia, more than that in

Europe, Africa, the Americas andOceania combined.

This is no surprise, as Malaysias in a stage of rapid development,nd the Asian economy is now theastest growing economic regionn the world.

This means that investmentsf all kinds are pouring in from allver the world.

With these investments comexpatriate workers who create

a demand for internationaleducation for their children,which prompted the Malaysiangovernment to encourage foreigninvestment into education andposition Malaysia as a regionaleducation hub.

This symbiotic relationship hascreated a perfect recipe for theexpansion of the internationaleducation market in Malaysia,seen numerous new internationalschools crop up in recent yearsand even encouraged privateschools to start offering aninternational curriculum orconvert their existing curriculuminto an international one.

Smorgasbord

The number of internationalschools available gives studentsand parents a wide choice when itcomes to curriculum and location.

Though the highest numberof international schools can befound in the central region of thecountry the Klang Valley andSelangor emerging economicregions are experiencing a surgeof education investment.

Johor, for example, led byEduCity Iskandar Malaysia, agovernment-designated educationhub, now has 11 fully operationalinternational schools.

There are seven in NegriSembilan and three in Malacca.There are new schools opening allover the country every year.

This continued growth alsomakes for healthy competition

among schools and can only driveup the quality of the educationprovided.

At the moment, the growthrate of international schools inMalaysia is about 14%, which iscertainly not a saturated market.

Competition in the marketspace is healthy. If anything itserves as a check and balancemechanism to maintain thenecessary quality in the education

system, says Martin George,headmaster of Epsom College inMalaysia.

To avoid saturation in thefuture, it would be interestingto see the Ministry of Educationlimit the number of licencesthat are granted for private andinternational schools.

This might help to protect themarket from oversupply whichwill allow the schools to focuson whats most important, thatis the quality of education ratherthan competitive marketing. Onthe other hand competition isinherently healthy and certainlyhelps to keep schools on theirtoes when it comes to the qualityof educational provision, hecontinues.

Judging by the rate of growthof the international educationindustry in Asia, however, itseems there can only be moreinvestment of this kind comingMalaysias way.

Globalised education

International schools wereoriginally a means by whichexpatriate families could educatetheir children, often with theeducation system of their nativecountry.

Malaysia has a long historyand tradition of foreign directinvestment and an expatriateworkforce, so the occurrence andmultiplication of internationalschools were part of the countrysnatural development.

The increasinggrowth of theinternationalschool marketin Malaysia

mirrors thatof Asia, where,according to theInternationalSchool ConsultancyGroup, a resourcefor marketintelligence oninternationalschools, worldwidegrowth of this

industry is largelyfocused.

But as Malaysia continues todevelop and the local populationbecomes more affluent, and aspeople become participants ofa globalised community andmore aware of the international

opportunities available out there,the draw of an internationaleducation becomes bigger, leadingto more and more local studentsenrolling in international schools.

According to the ICEF Monitor,a resource for the internationaleducation and student travelindustry, as recently as 30 yearsago a high percentage of studentsat international schools wereexpatriate children, but the trendhas now reversed.

Now, about 80% of studentsat international schools are localchildren.

These local children are seekingquality education and an English-medium curriculum as a meansto acquiring a place at a respectedand recognised internationaluniversity.

The ICEF also states that about30% of all international schoolsin the world are bilingual withEnglish as the primary teachinglanguage usually combined withthe local language.

This blending of local cultureand language with a globallearning approach is a prevalentcharacteristic of internationalschools.

This is certainly true inMalaysia, where it is compulsoryfor local students to learn BahasaMalaysia.

Most schools also offerother modern languages it isinteresting to note that the mostpopular on offer nowadays isMandarin, as opposed to French,which was the go-to secondlanguage offered by manyinternational schools 10 or 15years ago.

Recent data collated by theICEF indicates that the market forEnglish-medium internationalschools is predicted to growsignificantly this year and into theforeseeable future.

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Kuala Lumpur 21

Johor 11

Labuan 1

Malacca 3

Negri Sembilan 7

Pahang 3

Penang 8

Perak 3

Perlis -

Putrajaya 2

Sabah 2

Sarawak 4

Selangor 31

Terengganu 2

Kedah 1

Kelantan 1

International schoolsin Malaysia

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Students learn to work independently and explore means of expression that suit

their individual styles.

ExploringcreativityA

RT is part of our everydaylife and has also been anintegral part of education

rom the earliest of times. Artwas previously used for recordinghistorical and religious data inhe forms of cave paintings andngravings.

Formal educational institutionshave commonly made art a part oftudents learning.

Related subjects includeanguages, art, drama and dance,

which are considered the creativetream of education.

Art is also one of Nilais IGCSEubjects and gives students the

opportunity to express themselvesn a discipline that is challenging

but tailored to the individualsnterests and form of expression.

Art brings a practical aspecto study-oriented subjects

without losing any of the rigoursssociated with the Britishurriculum.

Students learn to workndependently, explore means

of expression that suit theirndividual styles and view the

world from a bigger perspective tobecome accomplished researchers.

They are exposed to art fromround the world, to countries andheir art histories, the different art

movement and famous artists.Student research has to meet

stringent criteria in terms ofthe working process and shouldrepresent their personal interestand what they learn in theircoursework.

NIS embraces other criteriain its curriculum, includingthe formation of character,attitudes and ethics, which arequalities that will put students

in good stead when they enter theworkforce.

Developing independentthinking and acquiring charactertraits that lead to success as adultsare essential skills for students.

Coping with challenges, dealingwith disappointment, learning topersevere and solving problemsin difficult circumstances are lifeskills of successful adults.

The educational route providedat Nilai equips students with thequalifications to further theireducation and chosen career. ByCaroline Page

nCaroline Page is an artand design teacher at NilaiInternational School.For more information,call 06-8502 188 or visitwww.nis.edu.my

Studentslearn to workindependently,explore meansof expressionthat suit theirindividualstyles andview the worldfrom a biggerperspectiveto becomeaccomplishedresearchers.

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StarSpecial, Tuesday 2 September 2014 BRIGHT KIDS 5

1.Wash your handswith sufficientamount of soap.

Scrub yourpalms.

Scrub each fingerand betweenfingers.

Scrub your nailson your palms.

Scrub the backof your hand.

Rinse your handswith clean water.

Dry your handswith a cleantowel.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

HOME-COOKED meals arealways the healthier foodoption. However, as many

people these days lead busy lives,t is easier to eat out at nearbyestaurants or hawker centres.

Malaysians are known to beood lovers and it is common for

people to eat their favourite foodsuch as fried kuey teow, nasiemak, roti canai, fried chicken,hips and burgers quite regularly.f you eat out often, here are someips to help you eat foods that are

healthier and more nutritious.

Choose often:Foods that are steamed, roasted,

boiled or cooked in soup arelways the healthier option. Foodsuch as steamed pau, skinlessoast chicken, boiled eggs andlear mee hoon soup with meatsnd vegetables are not only

healthy, but also delicious.When ordering food, alwaysequest for more vegetables andor your food to be prepared withess salt and oil.

When choosing drinks, opt forbeverages that are less sweet andmore nutritious such as milk,oya bean milk, fresh fruit juices,

yoghurt drinks or plain water.

Choose occasionally:Foods such as nasi lemak, friedice and fried noodles should beonsumed moderately (once orwice a week) as they containome valuable nutrients but arelso high in fat.

Choose less often:Try to limit your consumption ofoods that are high in calories, fat,alt and sugar to not more than

once a week. Some examples of

hese foods include kuih, bananaritters, keropok lekor, doughnuts,arbonated drinks and cordials.

Always remember to choosemaller serving sizes and ifhe serving is big, share it withomeone. It is also good to vary

your food choices. For example,you can have noodles one dayand the next day you can opt forporridge. Remember to vary yourfruit, vegetable and meat intaketoo and always ensure that thefoods you choose are clean andfresh.

Trust your senses whenchoosing foods

Foods that have gone bad emita type of smell and taste and thisis how you know when the foodis not good for consumption. It isimportant for you to know this asconsuming stale food can makeyou sick.

See, smell, taste

Here are some helpful tips tohelp you identify foods that havegone bad using your sense of sight,smell and taste. See if the food has a slimytexture or if it is a different colourfrom what it is supposed to look

like in its natural or cooked form.Another thing to look out for inyour food is mould. Smell to determine if the foodhas an unusual or unpleasantodour. Taste to determine if the foodtastes unusual. If it does, chancesare your food is spoilt or stale.

Guide to choosing safefoods

For cooked foods, choose onesthat are: Still warm and fresh Not exposed to flies or otherinsects Handled using clean utensils

such as chopsticks, spoons andforks Not touched by hand duringpurchase In food containers that are notcracked or chipped In plates or bowls that have not

The Nestl Healthy KidsProgramme is aimed at improvingnutrition knowledge and promotingactive lifestyles among schoolstudents aged between seven and17. It consists of two modules aPrimary School Module called theNestl Healthy Kids Programme,and the Secondary School Modulecalled Program Cara Hidup Sihat.Both programmes are based ona multi-partnership approach,collaborating with national health

and educational authorities suchas Ministry of Education, NutritionSociety of Malaysia and UniversitiPutra Malaysia. To learn moreabout the programme, visit www.healthykids.org.my

About the Nestl HealthyKids Programme

been in contact with dirty plates,bowls or utensils.

For packaged foods, chooseones that: are not past their expiry date have exteriors that are notdamaged. Foods in cans or packetsshould not be leaking, dented orbulging.

Trust your sense of sight, smelland taste to determine if thefood in the packaging is safe forconsumption.

Always be alert

When eating at the schoolcanteen, you should inform yourteachers if you see: Foods that have signs of beingspoiled or stale Foods that have damagedpackaging or with past expirydates Food handlers who useunhygienic methods to handlefood.

Always be mindful of the foodyou consume, rely on your senses

and you will be able to avoid a badcase of food poisoning.

Seven steps toproper hand washingWise

options foreating out

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Top-quality Britishboarding school in Malaysia

EPSOM College in Malaysia,a highly esteemedco-educational British day

nd boarding school for studentsged three to 18, opens the doors

of its first overseas campus today.The new students start their

first day of school in ECiMs newampus in Bandar Enstek, which isbout 15 minutes away from Kualaumpur International Airport.

The 50-acre (20ha) state-of-the-art campus is ready tobe the centre for ECiMs broadurriculum and has been built

with unrivalled academic,o-curricular and boardingacilities.

Long history

The 150-year-old school haslways had strong links to the

medical profession in the UK,which goes hand-in-hand with its

utstanding science programme.Historically, Epsom College

has its roots in the Victorian-erachool built for the children of

doctors who had died from thediseases they were hoping to cure.

Today, Epsom Colleges studentsre still equipped with the skills,ttitudes and knowledge neededo get into top medical schoolsn the UK and also into otherhallenging professions globally.

Students are still coming toECiM with similar aspirations butust as in the UK, ECiMs focus will

be broader and more developed inther areas.

We provide opportunities forhildren to develop in all sorts of

ways. They may come to us withdeep love of science, which we

will continue to develop.At the same time, we will

nsure they have opportunitieso try different things and figure

ut what their other passions inife might be, and give them thepportunity to develop themhrough their teenage years andnto their adult life, says Janemith, head of ECiMs Prep School.

Continuing legacy

Epsom has a rich tradition offirst-class British education andhigher education success. Its well-ounded curriculum places equalmphasis on academics, sports,rt, music, drama, character

building and leadership.The academic programme at

ECiM follows the British NationalCurriculum, culminating in the

GCSE examinations and leadingn to the A-Levels examinations.

Epsom UK boasts records of1% passes graded A*/A-B for the

GCSE/GCSE examinations andmore than 83% for A-Level gradedA*/A-B. ECiM is ready to continuehis legacy of excellence.

Classes are taught inEnglish by highly qualified andexperienced UK teachers, manyof whom posses masters degreesand additional professionalqualifications. They complementECiMs team of local BahasaMalaysia and Mandarin teachers.

There is also a strong emphasison co-curricular activities asthe school strongly believes thatlearning and development outsideof the classroom help shape a childinto a well-rounded and successfulindividual.

Through these activities,

students will learn to beresponsible and disciplinedindividuals who can be trustedand relied upon.

The teacher leading the activitybecomes a role model for the child,and as the student works withthe teacher outside a classroomsetting, he will be able to observethe adult as a real person workingin the real world.

Students and staff workingtogether outside the classroomprovide the added advantageof greater mutual respect andimproved understanding of whatmakes the other tick.

ECiM also continues Epsomsboarding tradition. The modern

boarding experience at Epsomis part of what makes the schoolunique and distinct from otherestablishments regionally. Theschool offers flexible boardingoptions as well as weeklyboarding.

According to Smith, ECiM

is taking the full and weeklyboarding concept to the next levelin Malaysia by offering

flexi-boarding.The school has also hand-

picked Housemasters andHousemistresses who meet theschools strict criteria, as these arethe people who will be influencingthe emotional, physical andeducational development of

the students.

Parents and students can beassured of high standards ofpastoral care within the EpsomHouse system.

A world of opportunity

ECiM maintains strong ties

with Epsom UK, which means

that there is a possibility forexchanges for students andstaff, as well as opportunities forother collaborative projects andexpeditions.

ECiM is not a franchisedschool; it is very much anextension of the UK school.There will be opportunities forstudents and staff to collaborateon projects, compete in sports,and even have video conferencingof lessons.

We will work to ensure thatthe link between the schoolscontinues to develop, says MartinGeorge, headmaster of ECiM.

The school also providesnumerous scholarships and

bursary awards to enabledeserving students in the Asianregion to study at ECiM.

ECiM is conducting studentassessments and hosting campustours for interested parents andfamilies. For an appointment,e-mail [email protected]

nFor more information, visitnew.epsomcollege.edu.my

Historically, EpsomCollege has its rootsin the Victorian-eraschool built for thechildren of doctorswho had diedfrom the diseasesthey were hopingto cure. Today,Epsom Collegesstudents are stillequipped with theskills, attitudes andknowledge neededto get into topmedical schools inthe UK and also intoother challengingprofessions globally.

CiMs well-rounded curriculum places equal emphasis on academics, sports, art, music, drama, character building and leadership. The schools Sports Centre houses 10adminton courts, two basketball courts, three squash courts, a dance studio and a gymnasium.

One of the many courtyards in the 50-acre campus in Bandar Enstek. In time it willbe lush with greenery.

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Igniting a passion for the artsALIFE without passion is alife unfulfilled. This quoteexpresses how I see my

alling in music and musicducation. I am a trained musiciann piano and a teacher with morehan 20 years experience who was

given the opportunity to teachmusic and lead a departmentof talented professionals at elcnternational School in Malaysia.

The performing arts (music,dance and drama) are not easyubjects. They require hard worknd discipline as the subjectsan be difficult, challenging, andtressful at times. But they are also

be uplifting for the spirit.Passionate teachers are able to

help students make connectionsbetween rigorous theory andocused practice. They encouragetudents to excel in things such as

producing a clear tone, deliveringmonologue or playing a melody.

These are the moments thatperforming arts teachers live for to see their students do morehan they believed was possible toccomplish.

We want to see our studentsgain better concentration, improveheir listening skills, control their

gross and fine motor skills andhave a discerning ear for lyrical

xpression.Childrens thinking, analysing

nd problem-solving skills arelso enhanced by music. The

brain is positively affected in amultitude of ways when a personbecomes actively involved in theperforming arts, including havingbetter flow of ideas, increasedpatial awareness and betteringuistic ability.

Performing arts educationoccurs in almost every culture.

However, in parents mindsthere is often a disparity betweenthe reasons and benefits of achild taking up a performing artsactivity.

Albert Einstein, a famousphysicist, learned to play theviolin from a young age andcontinued doing so all his life. Hesaid, Life without playing music isinconceivable to me, I get the mostjoy in life out of music.

If a famous physicist cantestify to the wonders of music,then parents should considerthe impact that music mayhave on children rather thanjust emphasising their examperformances and career goals.

Students who choose to followthe Cambridge IGCSE music

course at elc are offered manyopportunities to develop theircreativity and individuality.

For example, composing andperforming require students toshowcase their individual talentsin playing an instrument suchas the piano, violin or drums orshowcasing their vocal ability.

Students also have to workin ensembles to prepareperformances and are expectedto take part as a lead, solo orharmony, play an instrument ordo a variety of each.

Multi-talented students arebeing created at elc and it isalways a joy to watch our studentsdevelop and mature in a shorttime to become confident, poisedand dedicated performers.

Graduates have foundimportant roles in the performingarts, including becoming local TVand radio personalities, actingand singing at KLPAC, playing atCarnegie Hall in New York andat Albert Hall and in West Endproductions in London.

Therefore, art and music shouldbe seen as an extension of who weare and we should allow ourselvesand our children to explore theempowerment and freedom foundin doing performing arts. - By RayMartin

nRay Martin is the head ofthe Performing Arts of elcInternational School.

elc staged a musical production called Yesterdazewritten and directed by Ray Martin and starring elc students.

Ray Martin, head of performingarts at elc, playing theharpsichord at a school musicalproduction.

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IT is important to balance theamount of time that studentsspend in the classroom and the

ime they spend outside playingports.

Unfortunately, the advent ofechnology, urbanisation and areater focus on good grades have

made most of our young peopleedentary or in some cases forcedo spend more time studying.

Getting involved in teamports, especially from a youngge, allows students to interact

with each other in a competitivenvironment where they will needo trust and rely on each other to

win.The sporting field is the

best place for students to learnprinciples and values such asccountability, responsibility,acrifice, self-confidence and ofourse discipline.

Besides learning good lifeessons and values, taking part inporting activities keeps studentsctive and healthy and away fromsedentary lifestyle.

Not yourusual kind of sport

If you have tried playing sportsnd found that you are no goodhen maybe you should give these

different, odd and fun games a try.These games are slowly gaining

popularity among Malaysians sowhy not get involved with thesenew breed of athletes. Read on tofind out more.

Flag Football

Flag Football is a semi-contactersion of American Football.

The gameplay is exactly like

American Football but instead oftackling the ball carrier, playerspull a flag attached to a flag beltthat is strapped to the ball carrierswaist.

However, hitting and tacklingplayers who are not carrying theball is still permitted, says DaryllNathaniel, co-founder of AmericanFootball Central in Malaysia.

The difference between FlagFootball and most team sports isthat teams are given 40 secondsafter each play to plan their nextmove. Some even refer to FlagFootball as human chess, saysNathaniel.

It is a common perception that > TURN TO PAGE 14

because Flag Football is similar toAmerican Football, players need tobe big and bulky.

While having a big frame mayhelp, it is not necessary. Nathanielexplains, Unlike other sports,there are different roles for peopleof different shapes and sizes. For asuccessful Flag Football team, big,small, tall and short players areneeded.

People should try FlagFootball because it is a sportlike no other in Malaysia. Andin the words of Vince Lombardi,an American Football player inthe 60s, Football is like life, itrequires perseverance, self-denial,

Healthycompetition

hard work, sacrifice, dedicationand respect for authority, saysNathaniel.

The sport also has a strongfollowing among women andis internationally governed bythe International Womans FlagFootball Association (IWFFA).

The IWFFA hosts 8 on 8 FlagFootball tournaments withparticipants from all over theworld.

Players who are interested maycontact Nathaniel to try their handat Flag Football atfacebook.com/afootballcentral.

Getting involvedin team sports,especially from ayoung age, allowsstudents to interactwith each otherin a competitiveenvironment wherethey will need totrust and rely on eachother to win.

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SIS educators employ personalised and attentive teaching approaches toprovide flexible and comprehensive learning experiences for students.

Students are encouraged to growat their own pace and take theirinterests and capabilities seriously.

Gain a quality Canadian educationA

S the only internationalschool in Malaysia tooffer the Ontario (Canada)

Ministry of Education secondarychool curriculum, Sunwaynternational School (SIS) students

benefit from receiving one of themost highly recognised secondarychool qualifications in the world.

SIS commenced its first intaken 2008. Its curriculum received

positive feedback due to theeputation that the Ontarioducation system enjoys as one ofhe worlds best.

SIS also prides itself on a schoolnvironment that is purpose-

designed and conducive to stellarearning outcomes as well as the

quality of its staff that comprisesCanadian-certified teachers.

Being a secondary school thatmploys its learning resources

within a high-tech learningnvironment, SIS spares noffort to ensure the educationalxperience in Malaysia is identicalo the programme offered in

Ontario.SIS educators are fully certified

by the Ontario College of TeachersOCT).

This teaching certificationdistinguishes SIS teachers asprofessionals whose practice isguided and informed by Canadian

ducation standards, ethics andraditions.

SIS teachers make the schoolseaching-learning environment

highly interactive by promotingcritical thinking, socialresponsibility and experientialreflections as part of studentseveryday life.

John Mackle, principal of SIS,says, SIS teachers design theirlessons and classroom strategieswith students learning needsin mind to equip then with bothacademic skills and real-worldknowledge and applications.

Teachers at SIS employpersonalised and attentiveteaching approaches to provideflexible and comprehensive

learning experiences to encouragestudents to grow at their ownpace, taking into considerationtheir interests and capabilities.

In addition to having a high-quality of teaching, many SISteachers have experience fromworking in various internationalschools around the world.

Lessons are never dull at SIS,especially with the extensive useof technology tools and high levelof student-centric teaching andpastoral care.

In addition, SIS students aregiven opportunities to participate

in a diverse range of co-curricularactivities, including debates, role-plays and independent research.

As an example, a group of SISstudents participated in a ModelUnited Nations event in Singaporeand demonstrated their analyticaland oratorical prowess as befittedyoung minds and leaders of the21st century.

At SIS, teachers maintainregular contact with parentsthroughout the academic year.

Regular communicationsand parent-focused events areorganised to engage parents

and review students academicprogress and overall school life.

SIS is hosting its Open Dayon Oct 11 where parents canmeet with the SIS teachers andlearn more about their holisticapproaches to education and thestrategies used by them.

nFor more information,visit sis.sunway.edu.my

SIS teachersdesign their

lessons andclassroomstrategieswith studentslearning needsin mind to equipthen with bothacademic skillsand real-worldknowledge andapplications.

John Mackle

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Wong Synn Jenn (left) and Cindy Leow were awarded with Top in the World forIGCSE Literature (English), Top in the Country for History and Top in the Country forCo-ordinated Sciences (Double Award) at the recent IGCSE Outstanding CambridgeLearners Awards.

Kate Moskwa, head of humanities at Taylors International School, says that lessonsare made interesting, enjoyable and fun through using various learning andteaching styles.

Outstanding and passionate learnersS

TUDENTS from TaylorsInternational School whoachieved Top in the World

nd Top in Malaysia in the recentGCSE Outstanding Cambridgeearners Awards have made thechool proud.

These achievements carry onhe heritage of excellence that

Taylors institutions are famousor.

The school recentlynterviewed two of these toptudents and found that there

were many factors that helpedhem achieve their outstandingesults.

Cindy Leow and Wong Synnenn, who achieved Top in the

World for IGCSE LiteratureEnglish), Top in the Country for

History and Top in the Countryor Co-ordinated SciencesDouble Award), said that thenvironment of the school, havingbalanced lifestyle, family,

good time management, focus,determination and guidance fromeachers were some of the factorshat helped them achieve theiresults.

They also mentioned thatgroup discussions helped developheir critical thinking process and

helped them learn better.Leow also emphasised that

being involved in co-curricularctivities was important in

helping her gain scholarshipsnd placement in the university of

her choice.Both students also praised their

teachers, highlighting their roleas academic mentors and guideswho provide emotional support,motivation and encouragement.

Kate Moskwa, head ofhumanities, says, It is importantthat I help students understandhow they learn best and identifythe style that suits them to varythe lessons accordingly.

A big part of my job is toensure that students are ableto link together what theyare learning and demonstrate

understanding instead of learningthrough memorising. I equipthem with skills that they can usebeyond school.

At Taylors International School,holistic learning is practised andstudents are able to experiencethe comprehensive and balancedlearning that contributes to thesuccess of an individual.

Thytus Tan, a teacher atTaylors, says Through holisticlearning, students are transformedand transcended into activeand lifelong learners and willeventually realise that acquisition

of knowledge is paramount intheir everyday life and should bean integral part of living.

Taylors International Schoolbelieves in shaping and nurturingtheir students to be passionatelearners, global citizens, respectfuland caring individuals, responsibleleaders and resilient individuals.

These attributes developacademic excellence in studentsand have contributed to theheritage of excellence that haspositioned Taylors at the forefrontof Malaysian education.

With the establishing of Taylors

International School in KualaLumpur and Puchong, Taylors isproud to continue this heritage ofeducational excellence and shareit with a larger audience.

Taylors International School,Kuala Lumpur will be hosting anOpen Week at its Taman Maluricampus from Sept 23 to 27 from10am to 3pm.

nFor more information, call03-9200 9898 (Kuala Lumpur)or 03-5879 5000 (Puchong) ore-mail [email protected] [email protected]

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Flexible, unique curriculumS

AFARI Kid Asia, a new internationalpreschool in Malaysia, offers a uniqueprogramme to its students.

Though there are already severalnternational players in the market,

here is no preschool or kindergartenn Malaysia that brings together thebest international practices from theMontessori, Reggio and Waldorf Steinermethods and combines them with a focus

n literacy and maths development, publicpeaking and creativity, which is our

proprietary system, the way we do, saysAniruddh Gupta, chief executive officer of

afari Kid Asia.This enables students to excel beyond

he usual expectations. For example, thepreschools five-year-old students areapable of writing one-page essays, doing

Year 1 equivalent maths, are confidentpublic speakers and know how to useheir imagination for problem-solving.

Safari Kids classes are developmentalge appropriate instead of age-based ashe school recognises that not all children

develop at the same pace.The curriculum has in-built flexibility

nd can be customised for each child,which means that fast learners candevelop quickly and the children who

need special attention will receive it.The Safari Kid curriculum originated

from the recognition that most existingprogrammes do one or two thingswell but dont necessarily focus on thedevelopment of the whole brain.

This ensures that children can enterprimary school well ahead in their classwith a developed love for reading andmathematics that will carry them far in

Aniruddh Gupta, chief executive officer of

Safari Kid Asia.

NUTRITION professional Indra Balaratnam(pic) will be at Safari Kids Bangsar outletfor a relaxed, informative foodie workshopwith young parents on Sept 20.

The free workshop is for young parentswho have trouble getting their little ones toeat nutritious meals or getting them to eatin the first place. Indra will share practicaland sensible tips on how to get children toeat well.

Safari Kid is proud to be working withIndra, who is a well-established consultantprofessional nutrition in the Klang Valley.

She has participated in professionalseminars and health workshops hosted bypharmaceutical and food corporations andshe is also an expert nutrition speaker for

healthy-living workshopsconducted by corporations.

nFor more informationor to sign up for theworkshop, call 03-22015561 or e-mail [email protected] [email protected]

Things to do with your kidsTHE weekend is here and your list ofexciting activities is as thrilling as the dayis long. You cannot wait to get started.Window shop, watch a movie, water-rafting, hiking or feeding the homeless, justto name a few

Hold your horses all activities wouldcome to a screeching halt when you have

young children. There will be a millionthings to think about and or might goterribly wrong if any of the above activitiesare even to be considered. Hence, youractivities have to revolve around theinterest and safety of your young childrenfirst.

Water day

As the scorching weather and airdehydrates, having a fun water day outsideis a great idea. This works better with aporch or a spacious garden. Some propsmay be needed such as a portable pool,hose, water guns, plastic sheets to double upas slides, water-filled balloons, beach ballsand other impromptu items. Get yourselves(yes, yourselves too, as you are going to

be drenched) and kids into swimmingcostumes, invite other kids as well for aplay date and come up with exciting watergames for them to enjoy. If a porch is notavailable, an apartment pool area workswell, too.

Creativity galore

If the weather is simply too hot to handleand you just want to stay indoors, you canhave an educational indoor day. Preparepaints, brushes, colour pencils and crayons,and drawing sheets. Cut potatoes or somehandy vegetables into fun shapes for kidsto dip into paint and stamp onto drawingsheets.

They can mix colours together or dripthem onto oil and this could turn into a fun

learning session as they explore scienceand its wonders. This activity is best carriedout either outdoors or in the kitchen as youwould want to contain the amount of paintsmears around the house.

Little chefs

Young children surprisingly have greatcuriosity towards cooking. The idea ofkneading, mixing, ladling or stirring peakstheir amazement to a whole new level. So,

a day of easy baking or getting them to helpwith kneading dough will prove to be veryexciting for them indeed. Even if the actualend result is ignored, just playing with flour,eggs, sifters, shape makers and other tools iseducational and contributes towards hand-eye coordination and the development offine motor skills.

Heading out

If weather permits, going to activityareas such as parks, sports centres orrecreational areas is also another idea. Bringout the sports equipment, balls, safetygear, bicycles and frisbees and head out tothe nearest play area. A day of playing ball,picnicking, running and sweating it outis always one the best choices for a goodworkout and family fun. The end resultmight very well be getting the family to putaside their gadgets and smartphones andspend quality time with each other.

Responsibility first

This may not be such a bad idea.

However, young children may turn up theirnoses at it.

Since holidays and weekends are thetimes when working parents catch up onchores, getting your children involved inthem might help you in the long run.

If there are closets, drawers or cupboardsthat need rearranging, get your children tohelp put items into designated boxes. Theseboxes can be labelled throw, give awayor keep.

If there are rooms or areas of the housethat need cleaning, getting the young onesto help you can be fun.

For instance, bathrooms and porches canbe cleaned and at the same time be turnedinto fun watery, soapy playgrounds.

Turn household chores into teach time.That way, they learn to be responsible and

learn new things at the same time.As parents, mustering up the energy to

entertain and keep up with young childrenis always challenging, let alone thinking ofactivities that they would actually enjoy.

During the holidays or weekends, whenschool or homework is not there to keepthem occupied, the job of keeping thembusy is up to you.

At least in the end, they will appreciateparents making the effort and spendingquality time with them.

life, explains Gupta.Safari Kid Asia is part of the American-

based Safari Kid childcare centre. Theschools expansion plan encompasses allof Asia and Malaysia is an important part

of its overall goals.We see a big opportunity to get acomprehensive early childhood educationprogramme into Malaysia, says Gupta.

With branches in several countries,Safari Kid ensures that quality ismaintained through extensive teachertraining (through the training hubslocated in California and Hong Kong),standardised lesson plans and teachingmaterials and by ensuring that its teachersare qualified, experienced and able toadapt to the Safari Kid curriculum.

In our Malaysia branch, two of ourteachers are from the United Kingdom,one is from the United States and two arefrom Malaysia.

They have professional qualificationsand a combined 30 years of experience inearly childhood education. We work withfive international recruitment firms tosource our teachers globally, says Gupta.

nFor more information, visitwww.safarikidasia.com

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Speak effectivelyBEING able to communicate

ffectively in English in todaysosmopolitan society has

become a necessity, especiallywith the growing standards forbetter command of the Englishanguage.

Cambridge English Forife (CEFL) understandshis necessity and strives tomprove its students quality ofpeaking through its teaching

methods.To maximise their

earning potential, studentsre first required to take a

placement test to ascertain theppropriate level in which theyhould be placed.

Students start theirormative learning at age fouro five in Junior English, wherehe need to speak effectivelys instilled in them via atudent-centred approach thatncourages active participationn lessons to develop speakingkills.

It raises their awarenessf the spoken languagend eliminates their lack of

onfidence to speak. At thistage, the focus is on gettingearners to express themselves.

Once learners of JuniorEnglish graduate and move upo Young Learners English, theyre able to communicate usingimple phrases and words athe Starter and Super Starterevels.

They then proceed toMovers and Mighty Movers

levels followed by Flyersand Fantastic Flyer levels,where they will be capable ofcommunicating using extendedand more complicatedlanguage skills.

At this stage, CEFL focuseson speaking techniques suchas pronunciation, intonationand using correct grammar in aspoken language context.

After completing Young

Learners English, studentsmove on to the CambridgeMain Suite English that consistsof the Key English Test (KET),Preliminary English Test (PET),Pre FCE and First Certificatein English (FCE) and Pre CAEand Certificate in AdvancedEnglish (CAE) where learnersconfidence to communicateare built through extensivepractice throughout thecourses until they can finallydiscuss abstract or culturaltopics with a good degree offluency, maturity and depth atthe FCE and CAE level.

The lessons at CEFL givestudents the opportunity to

communicate using lessonmaterials set in context withinan interesting and stimulatingenvironment for learning.

CEFL aims to producestudents with high-standardspeaking skills who areconfident of using their abilityanytime anywhere.

n For more information,visit www.cambridgeforlife.org

EFL gives children the opportunity to learn speaking skills in a stimulatingearning environment.

Jane Kilpatrick, educationalpsychologist at Garden InternationalSchool Kuala Lumpur, says thatparents should take proactive steps toidentify whether their child is gifted tomaximise his growth potential.

Spotting gifted childrenGIFTEDNESS refers to achilds possession and use ofoutstanding natural abilities.

Intellectual giftedness is theesult of both environmental andenetic factors that can affect

brain development.A question that parents often

sk is Is my child consideredbright or gifted? Identifying theearning characteristics of a child

who is bright compared to a childwho is gifted enables parents toain further insight into theirhilds intellectual development.

A bright child can easilydentify and accomplish classroomasks whereas a gifted child will

have original and abstract ideas.If you are wondering if your

hild is gifted, the first step is tossess him in the context of howther children of the same age are

performing.For parents and people who

notice advanced capabilities in ahild, it may be worthwhile forhem to investigate the matterurther.

In Malaysia, information abouthis can be found on the Malaysian

National Association of GiftedChildren website.

Parents who suspect theirchild to be intellectually giftedshould also consider having theirchilds IQ assessed to confirm theirsuspicion.

IQ testing is the best measureof giftedness. However, there arelimitations and it should not serveas the sole source of identification.

Intellectual giftedness isrelatively uncommon and isrecognised only in children whose

IQ is at or above 130.All children, whether

intellectually gifted or not, willperform well in an environment

with the right support andstimulation that correlates withtheir abilities and interests.

Skillful parents and teacherswill use strategies that challenge,extend and interest children ofdiffering capabilities.

Therefore, providing giftedchildren with enough supportand stimulation from an early ageis important and gifted childrenwho are identified early should begiven a chance to reach their fullpotential. By Jane Kilpatrick

nJane Kilpatrick is theeducational psychologist atGarden International School KualaLumpur. For more information,visit www.gardenschool.edu.my

A gifted child typicallyis one who has originaland abstract ideas.

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Cosmotots-iqd encourages children to speak upduring classroom activities so that they engagein their lessons and gain confidence to use theirspeaking skills.

Speaking upC

OSMOTOTS-IQD has been providinghigh-quality supplementary educationto children in Malaysia for more than

0 years to help develop their literacy andfluency in English.

Cosmotots-iqd stimulates studentsntellectual curiosity to develop critical-hinking skills, cultivate public-speakingbilities and build up independence and

discipline.It believes that learning should be a

boisterous, exciting pursuit and strives toreate a classroom environment wheretudents can become active participants.

Students make significant progresswhen they are encouraged to speak up inlass whereas silent students find it hard tovolve into independent thinkers.

If students cultivate the habit of beingpassive, they might learn to rely on otherpeople to tell them how to think.

Responsive students find essay-writingess challenging compared to students whoemain relatively uninvolved in classes andre excited to write to communicate the

many ideas that they have.Cosmotots-iqd makes use of two formats

o get students interacting. The first isdebates, which are exciting because of theompetitiveness it encourages.

The urgent back-and-forth of a debatebuilds team-spirit and motivates even themost shy of children to contribute.

Cosmotots-iqd also conducts discussions,which are less combative than debates.Discussions embed education in the form ofollaboration.

Learning becomes a group effort ratherhan a solitary pursuit.

Students gain certain skills fromparticipating in discussions. They learn howo digest, rephrase and expand on their

friends ideas, how to ask questions andhow to draw connections between whatthey have heard, read and intend to write.

From an educators perspective, debatesand discussions are effective tools because

they offer opportunities to give immediatefeedback. Written work has to be markedand hence advice does not reach studentswhen they are most receptive.

However, an educator must respondquickly during conversations to guidestudents in exploring new ideas orpractising new linguistic structures.

Speaking up and participating in classis an essential part of a holistic education.Accordingly, Cosmotots-iqd believes thatstudents must speak up in order to becomeconfident speakers, interesting writers andindependent thinkers.

nFor more information, visitwww.cosmotots.com

Unique sports to check outBASED on the fictional sport, Quidditch,that is played by characters equippedwith flying brooms in the Harry Potterseries, Muggle Quidditch is played onground, also with brooms.

Since its inception in 2005 inMiddlebury College, Vermont,Muggle Quidditch is currently playedinternationally with teams based acrossEurope, the Americas, Oceania and ahandful in Asia, including Malaysia.

Muggle Quidditch or Quidditch as it

is commonly known among players, is aco-ed and full contact sport that requiresseven players on each team.

Positions include three chasers, twobeaters, a seeker and a keeper.

Game balls include a slightly deflatedvolleyball known as the quaffle and twododgeballs called bludgers.

The chasers and keepers handlethe quaffle by passing it around andobtaining points through scoringthrough one of three hoops located ateach side of the field. Each goal is worth10 points.

Beaters handle the bludgers that areused to knock players out of the gametemporarily.

Players that have been hit by a bludgerneed to touch their own hoops in order

to get back in play.The snitch or snitch runner are

neutral players with a ball attached totheir waistband who do anything intheir power to avoid being caught by theseekers. When one of the seekers catchesthe snitch, which is worth 30 points, thegame is over.

To date, there have been sevenQuidditch World Cups and one QuidditchGlobal Games with the latest organisedthis year in Canada.

Interested in experiencing a gameof Quidditch? Make your way to theDamansara Dementors Facebook pageatfacebook.com/DamansaraDementorstofind out when pick-ups are scheduled.

Ultimate Frisbee

Ultimate Frisbee has spread rapidlyacross Malaysia since its first knowngame of pick-up in the early 2000samong of group of teachers at theInternational School of Kuala Lumpur.

Ultimatemalaysia.com,the officialultimate frisbee website, estimatesthat Malaysia is home to 30 to 40 activeteams.

At a competitive level, UltimateFrisbee is played between two teams

with seven players on each side.Just like in American Football, there

are two endzones for goals to bescored.

A goal is given when a player catchesthe disc in the endzone that they areattacking.

Ultimate Frisbee is a non-contactsport and players cannot run with thedisc. Similar to netball, when a playercatches a disc, the player must stop andpass it to a teammate in any direction.

However if the disc is intercepted orhit down by a player on the opposingteam, possession changes hands.

The most unique aspect of UltimateFrisbee is that the game is refereed bythe players themselves.

A player can call out another playerfor a foul but if it was not actually afoul, the called out player may overturnit. At higher levels of play, there areobservers present in place of referees.They only make the call when there is anappeal.

There is probably a team in your area.Log on to ultimatemalaysia.comfor moreinformation on where and when pick-ups are held.

Dodgeball

The number of players on eachteam may vary but according to theInternational Dodgeball Association, themaximum is six players. The same goesfor the number of dodgeballs used in agame.

A typical game of dodgeball beginswith the balls lined up at the centre ofthe court. Players then run towards theballs to either pick up or roll a ball backto their teammates. This is known as theOpening Rush.

The objective of dodgeball is to takeout all the opponents by throwing a ballat them.

Players are not eliminated if theycatch a ball that has been thrown atthem. A point is not earned by the

number of take-outs but only when allthe opponents have been hit.

The development of dodgeball inMalaysia has experienced leaps andbounds with numerous colleges anduniversities forming teams and anational team being sent to Hong Kongfor the World Dodgeball Championship2014.

For more information or to locate ateam near you, head to www.dodgeball.com.my

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Smart Reader Kids is about creative and innovative teaching and learning.Smart Reader Kids centres will have exciting activities happening on Open Day.

Fun and games at Open Day

MORE than 300 SmartReader Kids centres acrossthe country will open their

doors to the public on Sept 6 andOct 11 as part of its NationwideOpen Day.

The event will be held frompm to 6pm and will enable

parents with preschool agehildren to visit the nearestentres to them to learn about

he various Smart Reader Kidsprogrammes.Participating centres will

lso host a variety of interestingnteractive activities and hands-n workshops for children to take

part.For those visiting the Smart

Reader Kids centre in TelokGadong, Klang, there will be a

reat opportunity for parentsnd children to experience themart Reader Creative Teaching

Methodology through a number ofun and interesting activities.

According to its franchiseePuganesvasy Jagadiah Rao, therere plans to conduct relay games,olouring activities and a sessiono teach children popular nurseryhymes.

Children may also choose toather together and listen to shorttories and fairy tales.

While the activities are inprogress, parents are encouragedo explore the centres facilities,ook through the teaching andearning materials and engage

with the teaching staff.At Smart Reader Kids, Bandar

Country Homes, Rawang,ranchisee Kavita Kaur has

decided to organise a Merdekaelebration during the Open Day.

Children will be taught howo make creative national flags

and can participate in a colouringcontest. Other activities includemaking and painting colourfulface masks.

As there is going to be anotherOpen Day in October, we plan toconduct similar activities at SmartReader Kids, Taman Jati, Rawangand Smart Reader Kids, RawangTown.

We invite parents to bringtheir children to participate in theactivities and to meet our staffto find out more about the SmartReader Kids programme, saysKavita.

She plans to offer the SmartTadris programme at SmartReader Kids, Bandar CountryHomes, Rawang, next year.

Special promotions will beoffered during the Open Days.

Parents who enrol their

children are entitled to receiveattractive Smart Reader Kidsmerchandise while stocks last andfor every full-year payment made,parents are entitled to receivea pair of exclusive and limitededition Smart Reader Kids tracktops and bottoms.

In addition, parents withchildren currently studyingin Smart Reader Kids centrescan participate in the Parent-Recommend-Parent campaign,where parents are entitled to afree umbrella for every successfulrecommendation.

New siblings who enrol duringthis promotion period will receivecustom-made savings boxes.

Smart Reader Worldwideoffers quality and effective earlychildhood education programmesbased on the renowned Smart

Reader Creative TeachingMethodology.

The creative and innovativeteaching and learning approachpromotes fun learning throughplay and encourages childrento develop their enthusiasm forlearning.

Programmes that are currentlybeing offered under the bannerof Smart Reader Worldwide areSmart Reader Kids, Smart ReaderKids Islamic, Smart Reader KidsMandarin Medium and SmartReader Kids++ programmes.

Two new programmes will belaunched this month. They arethe Smart Reader Kids IntensiveEnglish programme, whichrun in the afternoons and isspecially designed for childrenundergoing the Smart Reader Kidsprogrammes.

With emphasis on vocabularydevelopment, communication andpublic speaking, the programmeenables children to build theirconfidence and enhance theirverbal expression, fluencyand articulation in the Englishlanguage.

On the other hand, the SmartFunplay programme caters forthree-year-olds and above.

The programme has beenuniquely designed to developthe imagination, creativity andexpression of each child throughplay activities with Bobo the funBear.

nFor more information call03-3372 3757 (Klang) or012-9331841 (Rawang) or03-62795555 (Worldwide) or visitwww.smartreaderkids.edu.my

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Nexus International School gives children the opportunity to engage in free play andhave fun with their learning.

Child-play activities should leverageon their interests as children learnnaturally when they enjoy taking part ineducational activities.

Play at the heart of learningT

HE early years of a childslife have a profound effecton their learning and

development later in life.

The first five years of a childsife are the most important periodf brain growth. New learning

happens at a rapid rate as a childeeks to make sense of the world.

This remarkable growth occurs inesponse to stimuli.

Nexus International Schoolprovides the required stimulationhrough different types ofctivities, including groupctivities, singing, cooking,istening to and re-telling stories,oing for walks and interacting

with both adult and child visitors.Activities may be adult-

nitiated activities that havetemmed from their observationsf childrens ideas and interests

during playtime or child-initiatedctivities.

Child-initiated play is thoughto be more productive as it

motivates the child to take partnd children learn best in annvironment that allows them toxplore, discover and play.

Nexus recognises that childrenneed to play to maximise theirearning opportunities and it hasxcellent facilities and experteachers who specialise in earlyhildhood education for this

purpose.During play sessions, the

eacher takes on various roles andperforms detailed observations

(look, listen and take note) toobtain evidence of what the childcan do, ascertain what the nextgoals should be and the activityor play required by the child toachieve those goals.

Facilitators of child-initiatedplay are also capable of beingpart of the activity and makingsuggestions on how to developor modify the play activity tofacilitate new learning.

One of the teachers said, Inoticed that the children had an

interest in pirates so one morning,I provided a pirate flag and somelarge boxes.

I also managed to find somepirate clothes in our dress-up box.The children started role-playingpirates. I joined in and asked how Icould find out if I was on the rightship and this led to the childrenmaking signs for the ship andisland and drawing a map.

When children were spottedcounting numbers to five, theteacher provided 10 stepping-

stones to reach the island andchallenged the children to orderthese correctly to reach the islandand not fall into the sea.

The children learned quicklyand helped each other to arrangethe numbers in order.

The Nexus curriculum has fourlearning strands Independenceand Interdependence;Communicating; Exploring; andHealthy Living.

Each strand comes with a setof statements detailing whatchildren should gain from thegiven activities.

It is not enough to allow youngchildren to free play all day

without objectives or outcomes inmind.

Children should be givenaccess to a wide range of learning

opportunities as they learn fromwatching and imitating othersas well as by exploring andexperimenting.

It takes a skilled EarlyYears practitioner in a goodenvironment with the correctresources and materials to planand deliver a curriculum in ameaningful and effective way.

nFor more information, visitwww.nexus.edu.my

Nexus recognisesthat childrenneed to play

to maximisetheir learningopportunitiesand it hasexcellentfacilities andexpert teacherswho specialise inearly childhoodeducation for thispurpose.

Bright Kids - 02 Sept 2014

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