SCHOOL NEWSLETTER Issue 45 - Austin Heights Private ... · at district level (MSSD) including swimming, basketball, ping pong, golf and badminton. Chinese New Year is round the corner,

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SCHOOL NEWSLETTER

31 Jan 2016 Issue 45

Warmest greetings and a Happy New Year from Austin Heights International School.

We wish to extend our warm welcome to the new students (111) and staff (5) joining AHIS this new academic

term. The growth of the school has been very encouraging and we hope this momentum can be maintained.

We had the pleasure of meeting the new students and their parents during the Orientation Day held on Friday,

1 January 2016. Being fully aware that everything in the school would be new to them, we designed the

programme to help these students to face the challenges of the new term.

As part of our safety measures for students, a fire drill was held on 22 January 2016. The exercise was

aimed at ensuring that students could be evacuated speedily and in an orderly manner in case of emergency.

In curriculum, the Year 10 and Year 11 students will sit for their IGCSE Trial Examination from 26 January

to 4 February 2016. We hope this will provide a good indicator to the students the areas of subjects they

would need to focus on for further improvement in their performance in IGCSE, which will be held from April

2016. In co-curriculum, we will be preparing our students to participate in various games and sports events

at district level (MSSD) including swimming, basketball, ping pong, golf and badminton.

Chinese New Year is round the corner, the students and teachers will once again organise a series of

activities for charity to help the less fortunate during this auspicious occasion. The collection through sale of

CNY cookies, song dedication and non-uniform day will be channelled to an orphanage in Johor Bahru

City. We hope that the students and parents will give us their full support for this noble cause.

Wishing everyone a very Happy Chinese New Year and Gong Xi Fa Cai.

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ORIENTATION DAY

The Orientation Day is an initiation programme held every year at

the beginning of the new academic term. It is to familiarise the

students as well as the parents with the intricacies of the curriculum,

assessment pattern, school regulations and expectations from

students.

This programme was held on 1 January 2016 at 10.00 a.m. at the

school hall. The event was graced by the founder of the school, Dato

Steve Chong and the CEO, Datin Low Pek Tin, together with the

Principal, Mr Lui Lai Nam.

The parents applauded when the results of the school top scorers for 2014/15 academic year were

announced. Later during refreshments, parents expressed their delight and some shared how were deeply

impressed they were by the students’ accomplishments. Tutors and administrative staff were on hand to

answer all the queries from parents and students regarding the school procedures, rules and expectations.

Once again, we wish to extend a warm welcome to the new students to the AHIS community!

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THE SPRING OF LOVE CHARITY DRIVE

The advent of the year of the monkey has seen another successful charity drive

taking place at AHIS. As is our custom, we take this time to show our gratitude

for the good fortune we enjoy. We have collected almost RM 6,000 from the

various charity events held in and around the school including a ‘Cookie Sale’, a

‘Song Dedication’ event and a ‘Non-Uniform’ day in the last few weeks along with

the collection of charity items.

The recipient of the funds and items collected will be the Shan De Welfare

Organization. Many of the children in the home come from diverse socio-

economic backgrounds. We often, both children and adults, take for granted the

security we enjoy in our own families. The warmth and care that we take so much

for granted are non-existent for some unfortunate children.

Our love and heartfelt thoughts are with each child in the Shan De Welfare

Organisation this Chinese New Year.

Gong Xi Fai Cai!!

Mr Padraig Thomas Muldoon

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ENTREPRENEUR TRAINING PROGRAM 2016

Twenty-three Business Studies students from Year 10 students

participated in the overnight programme organised by the Johor

Bahru Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry Youth

Committee at Austin Heights Golf Resort from 23/1/16 (Saturday) to

24/1/16 (Sunday).

Throughout the two-day programme, the students listened to

business-related lectures such as HR Management, Business

Management and Financial Management. In addition, they also

participated in a game designed to “earn” money through a process

of bidding on the items for sale.

The climax of the programme was a group sale activity which was carried out in the vicinity in places decided

on earlier by the respective group members. It was an eye-opener for our AHIS participants who found this

experience very beneficial, practical and interesting, saying that it had added value to their monotonous

theory-based learning in school. They look forward to more of such programmes in future.

Ms Tan Lian Huay

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FIRE DRILL

Fire drills are critical for ensuring the safety of staff and students

in school. Practicing scheduled fire drills will help ensure

individuals have the knowledge to safely escape a fire without

injuring themselves or others. If the need arises for an

emergency evacuation of the school, due to a fire or some other

causes, all school staff and students must be fully aware of the

correct procedure to follow in order to minimize the risk of

danger or injury.

Thus, on 22 January 2016, AHIS carried out an emergency fire

evacuation drill. The drill started off with the continuous ringing

of the school bell. Students exit their classrooms without their

bags and books. Under the supervision of a teacher, students

proceeded to the appointed assembly area, which in this case,

is our school field. Once there, students’ attendance was taken

to ensure that no one was left behind in the building. Finally, the

Principal commended the whole school on the discipline shown

in gathering at the assembly point at record time.

The drill lasted about 20 minutes. After that, students were led

back to their class by their respective tutors.

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OUTDOOR MOVIE SHOOTING BY HONG KONG FILM COMPANY

Lights! Camera! Action!

On 14 January 2016, ten of the school Speech and Drama Club members were given the privilege of

witnessing a movie shooting of a Chinese drama by a Hong Kong Film Company at Austin Heights Water

Theme Park.

Students were given the golden opportunity to observe the actors going through their paces in the scenic

outdoor theme park. Besides watching how the actors deliver their dialogues, the students also learnt about

the cinematography techniques and the work done behind the scenes of a drama or film.

But everyone agreed that the most memorable part of their time there was the interview they had, up close

and personal, with some local stars from whom they received some invaluable advice on how to become

accomplished actors. The Drama Club members returned to school, starry-eyed from the experience and

raring to take on the next stage performance!

Ms Nanthini Rajagopalu

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School Sports Council District Level (MSSD)

This term many of our students took part in the various inter -school competitions (MSSD) held among Pasir Gudang district schools. They took part in the Basketball, Badminton, Table Tennis and Golf competitions. In the Basketball, Badminton and Table Tennis competitions, our students managed to qualify to the second round of the competitions.

For golf, Ng Chow Siang (Year 3A) did the school proud by qualifying to the inter-state competitions (MSSJ) in the primary category. For swimming, a total of 19 students represented the school in the inter-state (MSSJ) competitions. The competition was held at the Nusajaya Aquatics Centre.

Clement Lim Yu Fong (Year 11A), won bronze medals in the two competitions he took part in, the Under-18 50m Freestyle and 50m Breaststroke events. Stephany Lim Yu Xuen (Year 7U) emerged as one of the Top 5 competitors in two of the Under-15 events, and one of the Top 10 competitors in another two events.

The school is proud of the all the students who took part in these competitions and encourages more students to take part next year.

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IGCSE Extra Class

Soon after the IGCSE Trial Exam, a schedule will be prepared for extra classes during CCA time, on Friday

afternoon and Saturday morning. Year 11 students will be attending booster class or enhancement class

where they will go through as many past year papers as possible and special emphasis will be given to guide

students who have difficulties in their particular areas. This will enable all students to be ready to face the

actual IGCSE examination with full confidence. Therefore, all students are requested to make the necessary

arrangement so that they can attend all the extra classes scheduled for them. It is time for them to devote

all their effort and time to prepare for the up-coming examination to ensure that they will achieve the best

they can to secure the necessary qualifications to further their studies at the next level.

KEY DATES FOR THE TERM

Date Event

5 February 2016 CNY Celebration

8 – 12 February 2016 School Holiday (Mid Term Break -CNY)

16 February 2016 CCA Drama Workshop “Working as a TEAM in Theatre” (by Hossan Leong)

16 February IGCSE Extra Class Starts

20 February 2016 CNY Visit to Shan De Welfare Home

23 February 2016 CCA Drama Workshop “The 6 secrets of a Great Voice” (by Paul Carr)

24 -25 February 2016 AHGT Audition 1 (Primary & Secondary)

26 February 2016 Swimming Gala