Uplands School Weekly Newsletter - Term 3 Issue 4 - 22 May 2015

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To all in the Uplands Community,

There will only be two more newsletters

after this one before the end of the

academic year! What a year it has been

so far. We started by celebrating our

60th Birthday and tonight we will be

celebrating the Graduation of our Year

13 Students and wishing them well as

they become our new Alumni of the

school.

Thank you to everyone who has donated so generously to

our Nepal earthquake charity relief collection. We have had

a staggering response. I would like to highlight a most

generous donation received today from the Korean Catholic

Womens Group of RM 1000. Thank you very much ladies!

We are going to start the complicated process of sorting all

the many different currencies that have been donated and

converting them into one currency for the school to donate.

I will update you all when we have a final total. If you

would still like to make a donation of coins and foreign

currency we would still be delighted to receive it!

Enjoy the contents of this newsletter and have great

weekend!

Yours sincerely,

Matthew Bristow

Principal

Follow us on Twitter: @ISPUplands

Contents Message from the Principal Secondary School News Primary School News Music Concerts International Awards UPTA News Upcoming Events

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Tonight we look forward to the Year 13 Graduation Dinner at the E & O Hotel. I was writing my

speech the other night and I started to reflect on this group of students with whom I have spent

the last eight years. When I started at Uplands they were in Year 6. Now they are young adults,

many of them about to leave home for the first time and experience the real world. I look forward

to celebrating tonight with the students, as well as their family and friends. I would like to wish

the Uplands Graduating Class of 2014-2015 the very best of luck with their future endeavours. I

am extremely proud of the people you have become and I am extremely confident you will all

succeed in the future.

Yesterday afternoon I sent an email to all Uplands parents in regards to the re-modelling of the

House System and the introduction of Kelawei House. To introduce a new House we need the

support of the entire Uplands community. If any families wish to make history and be an

inaugural member of Kelawei House I would like to hear from you as soon as possible. To make

this change please contact me [email protected] .

A reminder that during next week, the Year 10 and 12 students will be sitting end of year internal

examinations. All students have received, via their Uplands email account, a copy of the exams

timetable. There will be no timetabled classes during the week for the Year 10s and 12s and they

will only need to be on campus for their exams. Please note that if they only have a morning

exam they can study at home in the afternoon. Likewise, if they only have an afternoon exam,

they can study at home in the morning. However, if they have both a morning and afternoon

exam on the same day, they will not be able to leave the school campus in between exams. The

Year 12 students will be allowed to leave during their lunch break as per usual. These exams are

extremely important as the results will allow the students to identify their strengths and

weaknesses at the half-way point of their two year programmes.

Have a great weekend

Craig Skinner

Head of Secondary

[email protected]

Follow us on Twitter: @UplandsSecSch

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A good time was had by all on Friday evening at the SPACE Disco. Thank you to the members

of the Do Something Society (DSS) for organizing and supervising the disco. GREAT JOB! In

recognition of Teachers Day on Saturday, 16 May, special thanks to UPTA your wishes and

gifts were much appreciated. On Tuesday almost all students in Primary contributed to the non-

uniform day where over RM600 was raised for the children at the Hearing Impaired School in

Penang. We look forward to having 30 students from the Hearing Impaired School join us on

Friday when we will have some special activities for our guests involving our students as well.

The non-uniform day and visit to Uplands have been initiatives from our Year 3 students. On

Wednesday Year 1 children very much enjoyed their visit to the Owl Museum on Penang Hill.

Sharing Assembly: Our next Sharing Assembly will take place on Monday, 25 May beginning

promptly at 2:00pm. The assembly will be hosted by Year 4 students in the Sports Hall due to

the Year 6 Exhibition displays in the foyer. Parents are invited to attend.

Year 6 Exhibition: Come and help us celebrate our students skills and knowledge as they take

one of their final journeys in Primary!

Dates & times: Tuesday 26 May, 8:50am - for parents of Year 6 students & special guests -Performance and

official welcome Ground Floor - F block

Tuesday 26 May, 12:45 to 2:00pm for the community

Wednesday 27 May, 8:00 to 9:30am for the community

Wednesday 27 May, 10:30 to 11:50am for the community

Wednesday 27 May, 12:45 to 2:00pm for the community

Thursday 28 May displays to view only, anytime

Primary FOBISIA Games: Next week will see the final training sessions for the Primary FOBISIA

Team in preparation for the Games being hosted by Uplands here in Penang. Teams from

Dulwich College Seoul, St Andrews Green Valley, British School Beijing, British International

School Kuala Lumpur, British School Guangzhou and Bangkok Prep will share in the experience

of the games. In the spirit of the FOBISIA Games - team work, good sportsmanship, making new

friends and having fun supersede winning at all times.

Year 6 Graduation Celebration: For parents of students in Year 6, please mark Friday, 12 June,

3:00 5:00pm in your calendars to join us in celebrating the completion of the Primary Years

Programme as our Year 6 students make the transition into the next phase of their learning. More

detailed information will be given to parents next week.

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E-coupon cards: It is important that all children have their E-coupon cards at school each day.

We recommend that children keep their cards in the classroom, lockers or trays at the end of each

day for safe keeping. When children dont have their cards and wish to have lunch, a lot of extra

work is created for our already busy administration staff. We would appreciate your help and

support!

Uniform Outlet: If you wish for your child to purchase any items from the School Uniform Outlet

please communicate this through the homework diary so we can be sure parents have approved

requests from Primary children. Thank you.

Alison Nicholson

Head of Primary Follow us on Twitter: @uplandsprisch

Primary Non Uniform Day

The Primary Prefects awarded Mrs Nicholson a House Point for wearing correct uniform. Non-

uniform day for the children School uniform for the Head of Primary!

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Two music concerts will be conducted during the second from last week of this term. These

concerts will be a wonderful opportunity for our talented young music students to showcase

their progress in this field, to their parents, classmates and teachers. Parents are invited to attend

and support these young boys and girls. Permission letters have been sent home to those

performing on the dates given below. As mentioned in these letters, parents and guardians are

requested to submit the return slips by Thursday 28th May.

1 Primary and Secondary CCA Music Concert in F block MPH on Thursday 11th June, 6.30

pm

Performers: Uplands Orchestra, Junior Choir, Senior Choir, Junior String Ensemble, Senior

String Ensemble

2 Year 7 8 9 Music Concert in F block MPH on Friday 12th June, 6.30 pm

Performers: Year 7, 8, and 9 students who are taking music lessons in Terms 2 and 3

Year 7 Caribbean Songs, Year 8 Programme Music Composition, Year 9 Popular Song

Composition

Tomoko Ogusu

Head of Music

Over the course of the last two weekends, our Bronze International Award students have been

braving the jungle of Penang to test their orienteering, camp craft and teamwork skills. Not only

has that meant two weekends of (very) early starts, gruelling treks on unforgiving terrain and

more than one (minor) injury; it has also seen our participants having to carry a weekends worth

of supplies on their own backs, build their own shelters and cook their own food; all whilst trying

not to get lost!

Unfortunately, for a few, this last task proved one step too far on the first weekend. My huge

sympathy to those teachers who had to follow their groups east for two hours when they should

have been heading west! Luckily, by the time the second weekend came around, lessons had

been learnt, compasses and maps were checked, rechecked and triple checked throughout the

day and all participants ended Saturdays trek over two hours earlier than predicted. Excellent

work!

The Adventurous Journey is the culmination of a years worth of work that our participants

have undertaken in order to gain the internationally renowned Duke of Edinburghs

International Award. It aims to allow young people to push themselves in a variety of ways and

asks them to learn a new skill, take part in a continuous physical activity on a weekly basis,

devote time each week to a volunteer project and to see how they, as individuals and as part of

society, can help make their community a cohesive and happy one.

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Whilst the assessed trek is not until the start of the next academic year (keep fit over the holiday

please!), we have been amazed by how well this cohort have done on all aspects of the Award

and we look forward to being able to give them their accreditation before the end of 2015.

Well done team!

Miss Bell, Ms McAskie and Mrs Skinner

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MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL

Calling all parents, teachers and staff who would like to Bend it like Beckham or Rocket it like

Renaldo, or like most of us just want to have a kick about- then please come along to UMFC

(Uplands Monday night Football club) @ 8pm on the school field every Monday. To register for

the mailing list or any questions please email: [email protected]

TUESDAY EVENING ULTIMATE FRISBEE

Calling all parents, teachers and staff who would like to turn Uplands football pitch into Bondi

beach or the Malibu Coast, please come along for game of Ultimate Frisbee every Tuesday

@5.45pm. Willingness to run, throw, and soft trainers (i.e. no studs) are the only essentials. To

register for the mailing list or if any questions please email: [email protected]

SATURDAY MORNING CYCLE

All parents, teachers, staff and their families, who are interested in a healthy outdoor Saturday

morning cycle-ride, we'd like to welcome you to come along to USCC (Uplands Saturday

Morning Cycle Club). Whether you're interested in taking on the Penang Hill Challenge or

prefer a more relaxed version of a gentle ride to Teluk Bahang, pump up your types, slap on a

helmet and meet @9am outside the school gates. Please email [email protected] for registration

and/or any questions.

PIZZA EVENING TUESDAY 9th JUNE- Venue and time TBC next week

Pizza and drinks for all Parent and Teacher members, social chat, and meet fellow members of

the UPTA. Any queries please email [email protected]

If you are interested in any of the following activities and potential clubs, please can you email:

[email protected]

TABLE TENNIS

TENNIS

HIKING

ART AND CRAFT

DRAGON BOAT

ANY OTHER SOCIAL OR SPORTING CLUB YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE SET UP AND

MANAGED BY UPTA

CALLING ALL GRAPHIC DESIGNERS, TRANSLATORS, and TEACHER MEMBERS TO

HELP PROMOTE US IN THE SCHOOL, PLEASE EMAIL [email protected]

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2:00pm Sharing Assembly hosted by Year 4. -

Time: 2.00 pm; Venue Sports Hall Monday5 May 2015

Year 6 PYP Exhibition Tuesday 26 Thursday 28 May 2015

Visit to Uplands -The School for Hearing Impaired ` Friday 29 May 2015

Primary FOBISIA Games hosted by Uplands Tuesday 2 Saturday 6 June 2015

Primary FOBISIA Games (Athletics & Swimming @ USM) Wednesday 3 June 2015

Primary FOBISIA Games (TBall @ PFS) Thursday 4 June 2015

Primary FOBISIA Games (FBall @ PSC) Friday 5 June 2015

UPTA Parents and Teachers Pizza Evening

Venue and time: TBC Tuesday, 9 June 2015

Year 6 Graduation (3:00 5:00pm) Friday 12 June 2015

SUMMR FAIR at UPLANDS SCHOOL 11 am to 3 pm Saturday, 13 June 2015

Period 1 & 2: Secondary Awards Assembly in

MPH (no timetabled classes). Period 3 9:

Normal timetabled classes Monday 15 June 2015

Period 1 8: Normal timetabled classes Tuesday 16 June 2015

Year 6 Transition Day (Uplands & SCIPS Year 6 students

on campus special program to be devised) Tuesday 16 June 2015

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Period 1 6: Year 7 9 Swimming Carnival

(no timetabled classes). Afternoon classes as

per timetable.

Year 10 & 12 Normal timetabled classes all day Wednesday 17 June 2015

Primary Awards Assembly Wednesday 17 June 2015

Normal timetabled classes all day

Presentation Day rehearsal from 3:30pm

for those students receiving awards Thursday 18 June 2015

Primary student reports issued Friday 19 June 2015

Registration Period 1: Whole School Assembly farewell

Period 2: Tutor Groups / clean up / report

distribution / students can have a snack. Students

to keep bags and unopened reports in their lockers.

No locks to remain on lockers at end of day.

9:30 9:45 Students enter MPH for

Presentation Day Ceremony (staff to be dressed

formally suit and tie for males)

10:00 12:00 Presentation Day Ceremony

12:00 Students dismissed from MPH

Following the Presentation Day proceedings,

refreshments will be served in the refectory. Friday 19 June 2015

Boarding House closes at 12.00 noon Saturday 20 June 2015

FOR FULL INFORMATION PLEASE SEE SCHOOL CALENDAR

http://online.uplands.org/calendar/SitePages/Home.aspx