Ad Astra, 2009/2010 - The Alice Smith School

ad astra
T h e A l i c e S m i t h S c h o o l
Fame
Musical production
Peter Pan
Year 2 production
2009/2010

our mission
To provide young people with
an outstanding British Education,
preparing them for a successful
international future.
our vision
To be a consistently outstanding school
which provides high quality learning
experiences and opportunities,
maximising the potential of every learner.

contents
6
12
13 19
FROM THE COUNCIL
The Council of Governors 1
PREFACE
The Director of School 2
FEATURE
Scientific Innovations and Ideas 3
TECH TALK
Generation M:
Media in the Lives of 8-18 year olds 4
COMMUNITY & CHARITY
Bringing Christmas Cheer to the Community 5
Charity Days 6
Earth Day Celebration 7
International Week 8
Charity Dinner 9
Fun Run 10
Kids for Earth 11
Summer Fair 12
22
PRIMARY CAMPUS
HIGHLIGHTS
The Smurthwaite Gym 13
Mural for the British High Commission 14
FOBISSEA Mathematics Competition 15
Activity Week 16
Wind in the Willows 17
Peter Pan 18
Junior FOBISSEA Games 2010 19
SECONDARY CAMPUS
HIGHLIGHTS
FOBISSEA Choral Festival 20
Chemistry Challenge 21
FAME 22
FRANTIC Assembly 23
Art and Design Technology Show 24
Martial Art and World Book 25
U15 FOBISSEA Games 26
KLASS Torpedoes 27
Printed on 100% recycled paper
24
KLASSICS NEWS
Walking Down Memory Lane 28
ad astra • July 2010

The Council of
Governors
The Alice Smith Schools Association turned 60 at its Annual
General Meeting at the end of January. Although the school
itself is a little older, reaching our Diamond Anniversary as
a formal educational institution is a great achievement. It
underlies the robust tradition and community strength of our
not-for-profit educational foundation.
As such a foundation, we have a school that is collectively
owned by the parents. The board or Council of Governors,
is made up of parents and trustee governors. Last year,
the Council was concerned that the global financial
crisis would have a negative impact on the school roll.
But that has not been the case and the school roll has
instead risen. This means that the Council, the School
Leadership Team and our enthusiastic and dedicated
teachers have been able to focus clearly on our goal of
making the school “consistently outstanding”.
Council of Governors at the 60 th Annual General Meeting
indicators that various Council sub-committees will
monitor, and the second to build on teamwork with the
School Leadership Team and also streamline the internal
functioning of the Council.
As term ends in July, work will start on the new Business,
Media & Technology Building on the Secondary Campus.
In September, we welcome our new Secondary Campus
Principal, Roger Schultz to the team and will have all
the building blocks in place for a great academic year
ahead. aa
Summer Choir Tour 2010
Academically, the results last year were the second best
recorded and the School Leadership Team hopes to better
that this year. In sport, performing arts and all the other areas
that make a good school great, the school is increasingly
ambitious and confident. Of course, recruiting, supporting
and keeping good teachers is essential. We have had
encouragingly high staff retention rates this year, and
overwhelming levels of applications for vacant positions.
Increased management capacity in ICT, infrastructure and
marketing & communications over the last year has also
enabled the Council to step back from daily involvement
in the school, and focus on its two key roles of strategic
guidance and being a low-key but firm “check and balance”.
To that goal, the Council and its sub-committees meet
on a regular basis. There were also two strategy sessions
this year, one to establish the basis for key performance
(top)
Incoming Secondary Campus Principal, Roger Schultz
•
(centre) Artist impression of the new Business,
Media & Technology Building
•
(bottom) Year 3 Sports Day
ad astra • 1

Issue 2 • 2009/2010
The
Director of School
Welcome to the ‘new look’ of Ad Astra. The magazine has
undergone something of a transformation and we hope that
you are pleased with the design and content which reflects
upon the many events and successes of this academic
year. And what an eventful academic year it has been!
Many interesting and varied activities have taken place
involving pupils from both campuses of the school, none
of which could have happened without the support,
imagination and dedication of the respective teaching
teams.
From Going Green on the Primary Campus to the Earth Day
Celebration on the Secondary Campus; Fame and Peter
Pan; sporting fixtures; co-curricular activities; International
Week - there have been a wide variety of school based
events taking place on a regular if not daily basis. The list
goes on and there is much to celebrate.
The achievements of our students and major school
events have featured prominently in newspapers and
magazines across the city and a flavour of this is contained
in this magazine. Another new element is governor news
which will keep you up-to-date with the membership of
the Council and highlights some of the projects that they
have undertaken during the course of the year.
The community involvement in the Alice Smith School is
one of its major strengths which adds to the warmth and
success of the school and your contribution as a school
community member is much appreciated by those on
both campuses.
We also have much to look forward to next year but I hope
that you will enjoy this opportunity to browse through this
brief overview of 2009/2010. aa
Valerie Thomas-Peter
Director of School
ad astra
T h e A l i c e S m i t h S c h o o l
Fame
musical production
Peter Pan
Year 2 production
ad astra • 2

Scientific
Innovations and Ideas
by Richard Nagel
Learning Team and Year 5 teacher
Source: Image from Japaneselifestyle.com
The Japanese “Bullet” Train
Why do we teach Science in primary school? Why
does a significant part of that involve observation of the
natural world around us? If we take a look at some of the
most significant scientific innovations and ideas, based
on nature, the reasons become clearer. Flying birds gave
inspiration to the design of aeroplanes and the observation
of a falling apple led to the theory of gravity. Having time to
think about these natural occurrences allowed scientists to
develop their ideas. Encouraging thought about the natural
world must surely lead to new developments.
Biomimetics is the field that deals with design and
development of products that are inspired by nature. Here
are just a few of the most significant ones. The Japanese
“Bullet” Train, one of the fastest trains in the world, drew
its inspiration from owl plumage to reduce air resistance
and noise. Its air piercing nose cone was inspired by the
kingfisher’s aerodynamic beak.
performance of 0-60 in eight seconds. It emits 80% lower
nitrogen oxide and consumes 20% less fuel.
Perhaps one of the most exciting new developments in the
pipeline is the possibility of copying one of nature’s most
common processes to generate electricity. Photosynthesis,
the process by which plants convert sunlight into food and
oxygen, represents some of the most advanced technology
engineered by Mother Nature. Now scientists around the
world are discovering new ways to harness this process
to create electricity, liquid hydrogen and methane. These
could be produced without having any effect on food
production (unlike bio fuels) yet have a dramatic impact
upon how we address our energy needs.
Plants convert sunlight into energy through
photosynthesis. Can we do the same?
What, you might ask, does this have to do with Science in
the school? Well, all of these innovators started somewhere,
and perhaps some of them without any encouragement.
If our children develop a love of learning, and we allow
them to observe the wonder and beauty of nature, thereby
increasing their knowledge and understanding of the world
in which we live, then surely we are also developing the
innovators of the future. In Science, which is simply Latin
for knowledge, children are given the time and freedom
to explore their understanding. In fact, at Alice Smith it is
actively encouraged. Expressing their thinking so that it
becomes clearer, may, one day, cause them to look at
a small wonder of nature and develop an idea that truly
allows man to reach for the stars. aa
Advances in technology designed to reduce emissions,
resulting in a more carbon efficient future were a major
theme at the Primary Campus’ Activity Week last year. This
has also come about as a result of direct observation of the
world around us.
The Mercedes bionic concept car is based on the body
shape of the boxfish, which is found in Malaysia’s marine
habitats. The car’s hexagonal shaped body has less weight
and all its parts are also lighter which results in a speed
Source: Image from Carbodydesign.com
Mercedes Bionic Concept car
ad astra • 3

A major study was recently published that documents the use of
media by 8 to 18 year olds in the United States. It confirms what
most of us already know - that media plays an important role in young
people’s lives. But the data collected reveals far more than that,
particularly as the same study was also carried out in 1999 and 2004,
providing valuable comparisons. Understanding the role of media
in young people’s lives is essential for those concerned about their
development. We felt that some of the statistics from the study would
be of significant interest to both parents and educators, particularly as
young people spend more time interacting with media than any other
activity. For an average of 7.5 hours a day they watch TV, play video
games, listen to music, read books, visit websites and communicate
electronically.
So, here is a summary of some of the statistics which are of interest.
Over the past five years, young people have increased the amount of
time they spend consuming media by an hour and seventeen minutes
daily, from 6:21 to 7:38. The use of almost every type of media has
increased over the past five years, for example, 24 minutes a day
extra playing video games, 27 minutes a day more on computers, an
additional 38 minutes watching TV content and an extra 47 minutes
a day listening to music and other audio.
The importance of Mobile Media has exploded in the last five years.
The vast majority of young people now carry devices on which they
play games, listen to music, and, increasingly, connect to the Internet
and watch videos. The proportion of 8 to 18 year olds owning a laptop
has climbed from 12% to 29%; handphone ownership has jumped
from 39% to 66%, and those with an iPod or other MP3 player has
leapt from 18% to 76%. Even the 8 to 10 year olds have significant
ownership of mobile media devices: 65% have a handheld game
player like a Nintendo DS or a Sony PSP, 61% have an iPod or other
digital audio player, 31% have a handphone, and 17% have their own
laptop.
Television maintains its dominance, averaging 2:39 hours a day for
scheduled programming watched on a TV, plus another 1:50 a day
that is either pre-recorded or watched on other platforms such as
computers, DVDs, handphones or iPods, for a total of 4:29 of TV
content daily. In a typical day, half (50%) will view some TV content on
at least one of those new platforms, ie a handphone, iPod or online.
In a typical day, seven in ten kids go online. Visiting social networking
sites, such as Facebook, is the most popular computer activity,
with 40% of young people who will go to a social networking site,
spending an average of almost an hour a day (54 minutes). 18% of
8 to 10 year olds and 53% of 15 to 18 year olds regularly use social
Generation M 2 :
Media in the Lives of
8-18 year olds
by Ian Pittman and Dr Martin Watts
Learning Technology Leaders
networking sites. This activity is continuing to rise as Facebook now
exceeds 500 million users worldwide.
The only media activity that hasn’t increased among young people
over the past ten years is reading traditional print media. However,
although time spent with magazines and newspapers has declined
(much of this type of ‘reading’ is done online), the reading of books
has actually increased, with young people reading for 25 minutes
a day.
Listening to music is more popular (over 2 hours) and other audio
(12 minutes). Game playing is also high on the list, and on any given
day, 60% of young people play video games. Interestingly, the split
between portable handheld devices and consoles is about 50%
each way.
So how does all this fit in to a single day? Multitasking is the
answer. 40% of young people use two or more media concurrently
most of the time - that is, watching TV while flipping through
a magazine, or IMing, listening to music, and surfing the Web all at
the same time. aa
As parents and educators, this kind of insight
into the lives of today’s young people is highly
valuable. If we understand the way they work
and communicate, we can adapt our parenting
and teaching styles to provide the support and
education that they need.
ad astra • 4

Bringing
Christmas
Cheer
to the Community
Students and staff at the Alice Smith School are thriving
on the music front. The school hosted its annual
Christmas concerts at the Primary and Secondary
Campuses serenading the audience with lovely vocals
and showing off talented musical skills. Next, parents,
staff and students enjoyed the Celebration of Christmas
in the exquisite setting of St. Mary’s Cathedral where
traditional hymms were sung at the Service.
The Secondary students were also honoured to be
invited to perform at the British High Commissioner’s
Residence for the second year. Members of the British
Community were invited to this private affair hosted
annually by the British High Commissioner, HE Boyd
McCleary and his wife Jenny. Guests were seen tapping
their feet and singing away to popular Christmas tunes
like Deck the Hall, Joy to the World and Jingle Bells.
The school has a vast range of activities, which take
students beyond the confines of the classroom and
their involvement in the community has been inspiring.
aa
Key Stage 2 Choir entertaining the crowd at the annual Christmas concert
Our Christmas celebrations for 2009 started with a Christmas
Bazaar hosted by the Parent Teacher Association. The community
of staff, parents and students were out in full force organising stalls
selling mulled wine and mince pies, running the children’s lucky dip
and Christmas stalls. The choir entertained shoppers throughout
the evening, with beautiful festive songs to add to the atmosphere
and Santa’s Grotto had a steady stream of eager visitors, both
young or old.
The Sixth Form and Interact Club students were also present
at the Bazaar raising funds for local charities. Beautiful crafts,
bookmarks, cards and printed T-shirts were on sale. There were
over ten different Charities at the Bazaar raising money for their
respective worthwhile causes.
The hard work of the Parent Teacher Association
in organising the Christmas Bazaar paid off with
over RM30,000 raised for the school.
(top left) Sixth Form students doing their bit for local charities
•
(top right) The community celebrating a traditional
Carol service at St.Mary’s Cathedral
•
(bottom left) Shopping opportunity - plenty of knick knacks and
souvenirs to pick up at the Christmas Bazaar
•
(bottom right) Seniors performing at the
British High Commissioner’s Residence
ad astra • 5

Community & Charity
Raising funds
for a Worthy Cause
Bands; Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow; Teacher Gunging;
Mufti Day and cakes and cookies stalls which raised
RM15,000 for Nur Salam Children’s Refuge, Breast
Cancer Awareness Malaysia and to purchase a battery
operated wheelchair.
The children, families and charity representatives who received cheques and
gifts at our Primary Campus assembly
“It’s a great idea for students to learn and
be aware of not only the less fortunate but
to be able to help raise money for their
needs. Moreover, it’s wonderful to see that
students have taken on the responsibility of
organising and running the variety of stalls
and activities on their own” added Sue
Bamford, Council Governor at the school.
Students organised specific charity events at both campuses
earlier in February 2010.
The event at the Primary Campus was themed ‘Giving Children a
Better Chance in Life’ and involved 700 students from 3 to 12 years
old.
Alice Smith believes in nurturing the young to be
independent, responsible, and to be in tune with the
community around them. aa
It raised nearly RM 40,000. All proceeds were channeled to the
Lighthouse Children’s Home, the UNICEF Haiti victims as well as to
purchase three Braille machines for the students at the Malaysian
Association for the Blind.
The amazing array of stalls and activities set up, as well as the
creativity, teamwork and entrepreneurship exhibited, reflected the
real charitable spirit of the school community.
“Following last year’s success, the children from Pre-school to
Year Six, were all enthusiastic about helping those who are less
fortunate,” said Steve Caulfield, Principal at the Primary Campus.
Charity co-ordinator Sarah Wheeler-Tan said the children had begun
preparing for the event as early as after Christmas last year. All students
had taken their lunch break off to set up a variety of stalls selling various
foods like cupcakes and cookies, gifts like bookmarks, accessories as
well as games. There was also a competition among the houses to fill
tubes with coins and the house with the most coins won.
At the Secondary Campus, students also played their part in
contributing to society. They held events such as Battle of the
(top) Students busily organising their own stalls
•
(bottom left) Students bravely volunteered to have their heads shaved
by the experts, A Cut Above, for a worthy cause
•
(bottom right) Primary Principal, Steve Caulfield looking for marbles
in a bowl. “Where are these marbles, girls?”
ad astra • 6

Community & Charity
Earth Day
Celebration
There were hues of brown, green and blue on
the approach to the Secondary Campus one
morning on 25 th March 2010. The theme colours
were a representation of colours of the earth to
mark the launch of Earth Day at the school.
Matthias Gelber also known as Mr Green was the
guest speaker at the school assembly. Matthias
was voted the Greenest Person on the Planet in
2008. The organisers of the award, 3rd Whale,
call it the American Idol for green people.
Hailing from the small town of Lippe in Germany,
Matthias’ passion for nature and the environment
was instilled when he was a kid playing in
his backyard. “Suffice to say, I grew up in my
own ‘kampung’ in Germany where there were
only about 500 people,” he said at the school
assembly.
Matthias shared with the students his passion
in protecting the environment using some of
his personal practices including reduction of
consumption, living without a car, recycling, using
energy efficiency strategies and other practical
environmental actions.
Reusable bags on sale for RM1 each
All monies raised from these activities were channeled to the ‘World
Land Trust’, one of the projects based in Malaysian Borneo to preserve
the rainforest for orangutans and other endangered species.
The Alice Smith School believes in educating the young in ways to
protect the environment and the world in which we live.
“My mission is NOT to exploit Mother Earth, but to
nurture her and live in peace and harmony with my
fellow citizens on this precious planet. There is only one
Earth, we need to take good care of it,” added Matthias.
It is also our mission here at the Alice Smith School.
aa
“We are taking environmental issues increasingly
seriously at the school. To celebrate Earth Day,
we’ve lined up a series of activities throughout the
day to create awareness and fundraising,” said
Asif Chishti, Earth Day organiser and Secondary
Campus teacher.
Apart from students wearing earth colours on the
day, other activities included student organised
food and games stalls, car wash services and
green stalls selling reusable bags. A dedicated
website was also set-up for parents, staff and
students at the school to make a green pledge
for the year ahead, not just for Earth Day.
(top) Hard at work washing cars for a good cause
•
(bottom right) Matthias Gelber, the Greenest Person
on the Planet in 2008 and Asif Chishti,
the Greenest Teacher at the school
Throughout the day, there was no air-conditioning
to see how much energy the school could save.
ad astra • 7

Community & Charity
Celebrating the diversity of
Cultures and Nationalities
“The Alice Smith School is known to be
a multi-cultural school where students
from both campuses develop a profound
understanding of different cultures and
customs, gain essential international
experience and enhance their global
awareness,” added Valerie Thomas-Peter,
Director of School.
Students in a variety of national costumes
Since its founding in 1946, the Alice Smith School has grown into a
diverse and dynamic community with more than 1400 students from
over 45 different nations. Although the education provided is firmly
rooted in the British tradition, the school does provide a uniquely
stimulating international environment.
The Alice Smith School offers an exceptional
combination of the best of British education
delivered within a truly international community,
enriched by the variety of cultures that characterise
our increasingly global world. The school is owned
by the parent body and is not-for-profit. All resources
and efforts are focused on the needs of the students
in the school. aa
To celebrate the diversity of the community, the Secondary Campus
holds an International Week, an annual event at the school. Earlier in
February 2010, students came to school dressed in a wide variety of
national costumes, from Scottish kilts and Malaysian national dress
to Japanese kimonos and Korean han bok. Some came dressed
in their national colours and the school was a veritable rainbow of
‘green and gold’, ‘red, white and blue’ and other hues.
During the International Week, the School had Europe, Asia, Africa
and World Day. Music was played from the different cultures and at
lunch time there were performances by students from each culture
respectively. An International Food Fair was also held, with a buffet
of tasty morsels from all over the world enjoyed by many. Students
and staff shared an enormous selection of delicious food including
lamingtons and Anzac biscuits, flapjacks and Cornish pasties,
hummus and baklava, curry puffs and satay, sushi and noodles.
Many of the students had prepared the items that they brought
themselves and were proud to share them with their friends.
In continuing with International Week and to commemorate the
Chinese New Year celebrations, students from both the Primary
and Secondary Campus celebrated in style. Students were seen
dressed in colourful silk costumes. Students in the Primary Campus
also had the opportunity to learn more about the Chinese culture
and participated in a range of exciting activities to celebrate this
festival. Without a doubt, the main highlight at both the Primary and
Secondary Campus was the lion dance performance.
(top) Dressed in colourful Chinese
costumes
•
(left) Trying out the spread of delicious
food
•
(right) Showing off their Chinese
dragon and lantern designs
ad astra • 8

Community & Charity
The Greatest Gift of all is the
Ability to Give
Fancy being served and entertained by students at a formal function throughout the
evening?
As guests approached the Ballroom of the Westin Hotel Kuala Lumpur on 1 st May 2010,
the Sixth Form students were on hand to greet, serve pre-dinner drinks and usher guests
to their tables. For the first time, a leading hotel in Kuala Lumpur has taken on board
nearly sixty Sixth Form students to be trained as waiters/waitresses in collaboration with
the school’s Charity Dinner event.
The event was a resounding success raising over RM 27,000 in aid of
a number of environmental projects and communities identified by the
Sixth Form students. During trips week at the end of June, students
visited and worked at the following centers in Thailand, Cambodia and
Indonesia:
KO PHI PHI
CAMBODIA
PHUKET
KO PHI PHI
KRABI
KO SAMUI
BALI
: Baan Laem Tong International Community Resource Centre Project (Tsunami)
: Sustainable Community Development through Educating Children
: Teaching in Phuket’s Special Educational Needs School and Beach Cleaning
: Working in an Animal Rescue Sanctuary
: Volunteering in Orphanages and Refuge Shelters
: Food donation for the homeless and Community Support Work
: Marine Conservation and Community Work
where our students were the models on
the evening; the Westin Kuala Lumpur
for training and giving the students the
exposure and opportunity to work as waiters
and waitresses; HSBC Bank Malaysia,
Allied Pickfords, L’Occitane, Shanghai
Tang, Cold Storage and Robinsons.
“It’s a great idea for students to learn and be
aware of not only the less fortunate but to
be able to help raise money for their needs.
Moreover, it is wonderful to see that the
students have taken on the responsibility
of being part of such an event. The school
is certainly vibrant with a vast range of
activities, which take students beyond
the confines of the classroom. Their
involvement in the community has been
inspiring”, added Valerie Thomas-Peter.
“I have heard nothing but praise for this
wonderful Charity event and am delighted
that everyone is keen to see this as an
annual event. The Sixth Form students
hope that the Charity event will inspire their
younger fellow students to continue the
tradition of giving to the community”. aa
“Our students represented the school with great pride and did fantastic jobs in working
as waiters/waitresses serving dinner and drinks, selling lucky draw tickets and providing
entertainment throughout the evening. This included singing, dancing, playing musical
instruments, band performances and modeling in a fashion show. As parents, we are
all very proud of their efforts in helping to raise money for charity. We also hope that the
experience and joy gained from the evening will give them fond memories of their time
at the school” said the event’s main organiser and parent at the school, Rachel Brown.
Organising such an event required a team of dedicated parents and staff. Working
alongside Rachel were Sue Fairclough, also a parent at the school; Tobin Connell, the
Head of Sixth Form and Lynsey Buck, the Enrichment Coordinator.
“It was great seeing everyone work together to raise money for a good cause. The
members of staff that trained us at the Westin Hotel were very welcoming and helpful. I’ve
learnt valuable new skills which would be useful in the future. At the end of the evening,
we were all awarded with a certificate from the Westin Hotel. The event should be held
again next year as it was a really good experience” said Sixth Form student, Jessie
Addington excitedly.
Director of School, Valerie Thomas-Peter said that the success of such an event would
not have been made possible without the fantastic support from the community and over
twenty sponsors. The main sponsors were Quiksilver and Roxy for the fashion show,
(top) The ‘Singing Waiters’
•
(centre) Students in the
fashion show sponsored
by Quiksilver and Roxy
•
(bottom) Students getting
ready to serve the
next course
ad astra • 9

Community & Charity
Support for UNHCR and
Lighthouse Children’s Home
Back by popular demand, the annual Fun Run
attracted more than 100 students, parents and
staff on 9 th May 2010. The Primary Campus
ground was transformed into a colourful running
circuit. After being briefed on the race format, the
participants who were dressed in sportswear and
fancy dress took to the field in a relaxed manner.
Some of the participants
donned fancy dress for
their part in Fun Run
Before the race, participants pledged an amount
for each lap completed and the officials tabulated
the total at the end. While some jogged along
the marked-out course, others simply walked
hand-in-hand with mums and dads or were
carried on shoulders. Individuals, pairs and teams
took part, all in a concerted effort to raise funds
for the UNHCR and the Lighthouse Children’s
Home.
Children from the Lighthouse Children’s Home also joined in alongside a
family of sleepwalkers, a chef, a cat, a pencil and paper, Darth Vader and
Princess Leah, a fairy and even a runaway bride and her groom! At the end of
the race, the participant with the fanciest costume walked away with a prize.
Altogether, the participants completed 866 laps of a 440m circuit a total of
381km. That is just over 9 marathons – all in half an hour! aa
“The event was extremely enjoyable and very well
supported. It not only celebrates the community spirit but
helped fund raise for worthy causes,” said Valerie Thomas-
Peter, Director of School.
Fun Run participants waiting anxiously to be flagged off
ad astra • 10

Community & Charity
Kids for
Earth
Kids for Earth was set up in 2009 by a
group of children who were concerned for the
environment. The brains behind Kids for Earth
are Gabriel Tseng in Year 9 and his sister,
Raphaelle in Year 6. Kids for Earth’s vision is to
inspire children and teenagers to be more active
eco citizens for the future of our world.
“When I was younger, we lived in Europe and so regularly
visited our grandpa in France. He is a very outdoorsy
person and has his own garden. We therefore spent a
lot of time learning how organic and home grown foods
were better for the environment and healthier,” added
Gabriel.
Gabriel created a simple presentation about the
life of Billy - the Plastic Bag. This has lead to the
Kids for Earth team presenting their environmental
messages to hundreds of children in local schools
and to a constantly updated blog. They have even
had national media coverage.
“Our parents and teachers were very encouraging
and helpful with our search for sponsors when we
require extra means and resources to realise our
ideas and projects for Kids for Earth” said Gabriel.
Since they started, Kids for Earth has never looked
back. They have printed Billy the Plastic Bag
presentation into a book in collaboration with YTL
Corporation and the book was launched at the YTL
Climate Change Week. The children are working
with Astro, who have helped Billy become a star
on TVIQ (Channel 552) in a 1-minute filler all about
the dangers of plastic bags. Kids for Earth have
also designed great cotton bags for groceries and
wine bags, conducted workshops to encourage
children to start Kids For Earth activities in their
school, and set up stalls at Bazaars. aa
(top) KFE team from the
Alice Smith School
•
(centre) Ribbon cutting ceremony at
the YTL Climate Change Week
•
(bottom) KFE Biodegradation game
ad astra • 11

Community & Charity
Summer Fair
(top) Tracy Dale and Rachel Bright from “The Fish & Chippery”
•
(left) The bargain corner
•
(right) Avid readers with good bargains
One sunny Sunday morning in June 2010, the Secondary Campus
was abuzz with fun and engaging activities at the annual Summer
Fair organised by the Parent Teacher Association (PTA). Parents,
students and visitors were warmly greeted at the entrance by the
Council of Governors collecting RM5 for each adult to enter. Parents
were busy manning various stalls while some seized the opportunity
to catch up over a cup of coffee, helping themselves to a wide array
of food and beverages.
The fair kicked off with a Triathlon, sponsored by 360 Financial.
Early bird parents and children found good bargains at the Toy Stall
which was a favourite among the young ones. Avid readers of all
ages were busy checking out their favourite titles at the Book Stall.
“We had very good response this year with the books donation. The
PTA selected good and suitable books which were donated to the
library of both campuses before the books go on sale today,” said
Melanie Waring, Book Stall Co-ordinator and Year 10 Class Rep.
“This project is pretty cool and fun. We learnt a lot and this is part of
our Duke of Edinburgh project. We definitely need more space next
year to cater for the crowd!” quipped Lewis Dean and James Howat,
Year 10 students. The Tombola and White Elephant stalls were also
a favourite for bargain seekers.
Outdoor in the Amphitheatre, the sounds of laughter and cheers
were heard as students were busy with mount climbing and riding
the mechanical bull. Young children had great fun on
the bouncy castle whilst the parents relaxed under the
sun. The crowd was entertained with various band and
dance performances while some were serenaded by
the talented choir group from the Secondary Campus .
One of the eagerly awaited moments was the Raffle
Prizes and Lucky Envelopes draw, as attractive gifts
and vouchers were offered.
“This year, the fair received an amazing
response from the sponsors. Thanks
to their support, sponsorship this year
played a big part in helping to raise nearly
RM35,000 for the PTA and the school -
which is just fantastic!” said Tracy Dale
who managed the sponsorship of the fair.
The event was greatly supported by twenty-one
companies, namely 360 Financial, Allied Pickfords,
Leighton Contractors, Concorde Hotel, Hard Rock Hotel,
Shangri-la, Hilton KL, Finnegan’s Irish Pubs & Restaurant,
Jarrod & Rawlins and other generous companies.
The school places great value on the partnership
between parents and the school, encouraging parental
involvement in various activities and trips. The annual
Summer Fair is indeed one of the many highlights of the
year that foster such partnership. aa
Entertaining performances by our talented students
ad astra • 12

Highlights
A new milestone was reached on the Primary Campus
with the opening of the RM 3.2 million four storey gym
in Jalan Bellamy on 14 th January 2010. Named after
John Davidson Smurthwaite, the project started in
December 2008 and took about a year to complete.
The building houses the lower and upper
gyms, indoor basketball courts, badminton
courts, teaching rooms and PE & Sports
staff room. It is equipped with state-of-the-art
facilities with all floors in timber, centralised
air-conditioning, interactive teaching rooms
and excellent acoustics. It complement
the existing playgrounds, playing field and
swimming pool of the school.
“John Smurthwaite has served for thirteen years as an Alice
Smith School Governor, both as a parent member and as
the trustee representative of the Malaysian International
Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MICCI). On two
separate occasions, John served as the school’s Chairman
and he was part of a small group of Governors who oversaw
the development of the Secondary Campus at Equine Park.
During his long association with the school, John took
a particular interest in fostering sport and physical education,
raising the level of excellence whilst actively promoting the
ethos of ‘sports for all’. Four Smurthwaite children saw their
schooling at Alice Smith and certain athletic records are
still retained by the Smurthwaite family! Given this long
association with the school, and John’s focus and support
for sport, the Council of Governors were delighted when
John agreed that the new gym at Jalan Bellamy could
be named in his honour,” said Andrew Barber, the former
Chairman of the Council of Governors.
The same sentiment was shared by Steve Caulfield, Principal
of the Primary Campus as he said “John’s passion is always
on sports. Over the years he has given generously of his time
and has really supported ‘sports for all’ at both campuses.
A true “Alice Smither”, if ever there was one!”
The
Smurthwaite
Gym
The new Smurthwaite Gym
A single storey gym, named the Wilkinson Gym, stood
on the same site from 1984 to 2008. In recognition of the
contribution of the Wilkinson family, the Wilkinson Bench
was placed at the entrance to the new gym. The school was
honoured to have Bill Wilkinson and his wife present during
this auspicious event . Bill Wilkinson said “Alice Smith School
is a happy place to be and I learned a great deal while I was
schooling here.”
Since its inception in 1952, the Primary Campus has been
extended and refurbished as a specialist facility for primary
education, providing a caring, child-centred environment,
with a rich and diverse array of extracurricular activities, good
facilities and strong pastoral care, on par with excellent British
Schools in the UK and overseas. aa
(From left to right) Valerie Thomas-Peter, Bill Wilkinson, John Smurthwaite,
Andrew Barber and Steve Caulfield
(left) John Smurthwaite officiating the new gym
•
(right) The Smurthwaite family with the Primary Campus Principal and a Governor
ad astra • 13

Primary Campus Highlights
Mural
for the
British
High
Commission
A group of our Year 6 children together with Sarah Wheeler-Tan, Shonagh
Key and Mrs Abbiss were involved recently in designing and creating a
Welsh Mural for the Queen’s Birthday Party which was held at the British High
Commissioner’s Residence in June 2010.
The brief given to the students was to create a striking mural, 2 meters wide x
2.2 metres high, designed to represent one of the countries of Great Britain
as a backdrop for the party. The students were given Wales. Three other
schools were also chosen to design the other countries. The great challenge
was to use city/landmarks in silhouettes, coupled with words from Welsh
poetry. The colours used were black, white and gold.
Once the Year 6 students had completed their research on Wales, they set
to work. First, different designs were created for the chosen landmarks, using
their own visual interpretations of what they felt and saw in these landmarks.
After that, the Year 6 students worked on their own individual or group square
of fabric. The fabric had been divided into 15 separate squares.
A variety of media was used to help create texture and movement. What great fun!
“The children were extremely enthusiastic. They had great
creative ideas for the design of the mural. We are so proud
of how well they worked as a team,” said Sarah Wheeler-
Tan, Art Coordinator at the Primary Campus. aa
The masterpiece
(top) The team
•
(centre) HE Mr Boyd McCleary posing in front of the mural
•
(bottom) Valerie Thomas-Peter, Sarah Wheeler-Tan
and Shonagh Key
•
(right) Thank you letter from the British High Commissioner
ad astra • 14

Primary Campus Highlights
Problem-solving,
Treasure Trails and
Fun Team Bonding
at the
Newly Introduced
Mathematics
Competition
(left) Students attempting the marble rollercoaster building competition
•
(right) Fun Day at the Petronas Discovery Centre
“It is hoped that this competition will provide
an alternative, academic version to the
existing long-running sports and music
events,” said Louise Nelson, the competition
organiser and teacher.
Maths activities out of the classroom are a great way to stimulate a child’s mental thinking
The Primary Campus hosted the first ever FOBISSEA
(Federation of British International Schools in South East
Asia) Mathematics Competition from 4th – 6th February
2010.
Gifted and talented students from fifteen British International
Schools in South East Asia participated in this three-day
event. Over eighty students all aged between 10 and
11 years old were selected from their schools for being
particularly able mathematicians whilst also being good
at working through tricky mathematics problems as part
of a team. Students tackled intensive individual rounds,
team challenges and practical problems. Other activities
included journeying around the famous KLCC Park in
search of clues in order to answer questions in an exciting
and demanding Mathematics Trail, a chance to have an
adventure at the amazing Petrosains Discovery Centre
and complete a complex Construction Challenge.
“The children gained so much from
the event, making new friends
as well as being challenged,”
added Nigel Barrett from the
British International School, Manila.
The event was such a great
success that Bangkok Patana
School, Thailand has offered to
host the competition next year and
the British International School,
Manila will be hosting the year
after. The FOBISSEA Mathematics
Competition was initiated,
developed and run for the first time
by staff at the Alice Smith School,
Primary Campus. It is based on
a similar format as a European
International Schools mathematics competition. It is
certainly hoped, by teachers and students alike, that
the FOBISSEA Mathematics Competition will become
another successful, annually-held event. aa
(left) At the Petronas Discovery Centre
•
(right) A student working on an individual challenge
ad astra • 15

Primary Campus Highlights
Going Green
at the
Primary
Campus
Individually and as organisations, we are being challenged to be
ethically responsible. The onus to conserve, preserve and renew
falls on us all, so the decision to use our annual Activity Week in
October 2009 as a catalyst to a ‘Greener Future’ was a natural one.
Activity week is an incredibly enriching experience
where skills, thoughts and ideas from all year groups
are on display in shared areas around the school.
We know children learn best when they are engaged and able to
make links between new and existing learning. An abundance of
creative displays and activities enabled the children to explore the
topic of a ‘Greener Future’ in depth. The week had the additional
educational appeal of catering for a variety of learning styles and as
they moved about the campus, the children had the opportunity to
see and hear about the many different pressures on our environment.
The vibrancy and commitment to our community is never more
evident than in a week like this when we move off-curriculum. Our
parents, the maintenance team, administration and of course our
teachers worked tirelessly and collaboratively to reach a common
goal - an inspirational learning environment.
Previous themes for activity week have been ‘Sizzling Science’ and
‘Amazing Asia’. Watch this space for next year’s topic. aa
Children having fun exploring the topic a ‘Greener Future’ in all the varied activities
ad astra • 16

Primary Campus Highlights
Laughter and cheers of parents and teachers filled the hall as young
and talented Year 4 students wowed audiences with their amazing
performance of ‘Wind In The Willows’ in December 2009.
The musical production was based on the classic British children’s
novel by Kenneth Grahame and focused on the special friendship of
four creatures: Toad, Badger, Ratty and Mole. It involved everyone
of our 110 Year 4 students.
The school hall was buzzing with activities even before the start of
the performance as devoted parents and teachers were busy face
painting the various characters, putting on those lovely costumes
and ensuring the props and equipment were in order. The hall started
to fill up well before the start of the performance.
Developing
Young Talents
Wind in the
Willows
Close bonding, support and care were strongly felt
throughout the production, these values are strongly
encouraged which Alice Smith students develop
over the years.
The much awaited moment came alive when the children staged
their spectacular performance. They mesmerised the audience with
their singing, playing of musical instruments, acting and dance.
Months of hard work and preparations paid off as the students not
only staged a high standard performance but also discovered many
new talents. aa
ad astra • 17
Various characters of the production

Primary Campus Highlights
Enchanting
Production of
Peter Pan
The scene is set and the stage is lit by the stars of the night sky –
the Year 2 superstars! Based on the book by J.M Barrie, Peter Pan
was made into a play script in March 2010 by Kate Brandreth and
Gina Jones, teachers at the Primary Campus.
A combined effort of 110 children, teachers and an army of parents
culminated in a spectacular colourful performance. Think happy
thoughts and have your magic fairy dust ready as the magical journey
begins. A mischievous boy who refuses to grow up, Peter Pan
spends his never-ending childhood adventuring on the small island
of Neverland, interacting with mermaids, the Lost Boys (a bunch of
carefree children with no mothers), Redmen Warriors and pirates.
“The children never fail to astonish me with their talent,
enthusiasm and energy. I am very proud of each one
of them,” said Kate Brandreth, Year 2 Leader.
“Our Year 2 production of Peter Pan, as always, was
extremely hard work. But with a fantastic, talented
team it made the process thoroughly enjoyable
and a pleasure to be part of. The children were
incredible and watching them perform was a truly
magical experience,” added Gina Jones, Year 2
Class Teacher.
The children were also very enthusiastic in sharing their experience.
“I was nervous, but then when I was on stage performing in front of
the whole school, I forgot about it,” said Vrinda Raninga who played
one of the carefree children in the second scene, The Lost Boys.
“There were lots of dramatic moments which made it very exciting.
Learning our songs and dances for the Mermaid scene was great
fun,” said Rivaa Ubrani with excitement.
To give the performance an extra edge, a team of twenty Year 2
children played various musical instruments, namely the xylophone,
violin, guitar, chime bars, djembe drum kit and glockenspiel. aa
The Lost Boys and the Darling children are captured by the pirates and are tied up
to prevent them from flying away
Mom busy helping to face paint the characters
ad astra • 18

Primary Campus Highlights
JUNIOR
FOBISSEA
Games 2010
In June 2010, a group of Year 4, 5 and 6 students
participated in the Junior FOBISSEA Games
hosted by Tanglin Trust School, Singapore (TTS) -
what a fantastic tournament!
The organisation was brilliant with the TTS staff,
coaches and helpers being extremely friendly and
supportive. All competition days ran smoothly,
with a healthy competitive edge to the games
giving rise to new friendships being made.
The children competed at the highest level of
sports and performed really well. Competitions
were held over three days and the children
participated in T-ball, football, athletics and
swimming.
“It was noticeable how KLASS did so well in all the team
events - shuttle relay, football, T-ball which shows a real
team spirit, commitment and support with their fellow
team mates,” said Simon Grimshaw, Head of PE.
“Every child returned with medals in hand, with each one telling their own
story. Not that it is about the medals (but just try telling the children that!).
They also returned home tired and mentally exhausted, but knowing that
they ran their little hearts out, never giving up, and having the best of
times made us all really proud of them,” added Simon. aa
ad astra • 19

Highlights
FOBISSEA Choral Festival
Showcases Talent
Maria Grace Koh singing
a solo number ‘On My Own’
The 2 nd FOBISSEA Choral Festival hosted by the Alice Smith
School in mid January 2010 ended on a high note with audiences
mesmerised by the performance of our young and talented students.
In particular, Maria Grace Koh who gave a great rendition of the solo
song ‘On My Own’. In the audience was Datin Seri Tiara Jacqueline, our
renowned Malaysian actress and film producer who has been supportive
of the Alice Smith School’s arts and music development. Datin Seri Tiara
Jacqueline conducted a workshop with the students in preparation for the
concert. This is the second time that the Alice Smith School has hosted
this event following on from its successful inauguration here in 2007.
“The purpose of this unique event is to promote singing
with a particular focus on a cappella (singing with no piano
accompaniment). Students that have the opportunity to
sing without accompaniment in a choir will quickly learn
how to blend and project their voices and to control their
breathing,” said Alistair Hamilton, the Festival Coordinator.
(top left) Students enjoying themselves and
in total concentration at the kompang
workshop
•
(top right) Datin Seri Tiara Jacqueline with
Valerie Thomas-Peter, Director of School
•
(bottom) Audiences mesmerised by the
engaging concert
The event was a great success as the 180
students who converged from Malaysia,
Vietnam, Indonesia and Brunei completed the
singing workshops and performed well in the
concert. As said by the Director of School,
Valerie Thomas-Peter, “All of the students
taking part have much to gain from their
involvement on this event which in many ways
falls outside of the traditional curriculum and
traditional classroom environment.”
The Alice Smith School believes in nurturing
young people with multiple talents in preparing
them for a successful international future as
reflected in the school’s motto - Sic Itur ad
Astra - in this way you shall go to the stars.
The music department has participated in
a wide variety of events organised by the
Federation of British International Schools
in South East Asia (FOBISSEA) and South
East Asian Student Activities Conference
(SEASAC). The school will embark on its
third Choral Tour this year, singing in Austria,
Hungary, Slovenia and Italy. In the past two
years, the Choral Tour has brought Alice Smith
students to perform at the Lincoln Memorial,
Washington DC in July 2009 and at the
Idyllwild Music Festival, Palm Springs, Los
Angeles in July 2008.
The FOBISSEA Choral Festival was the first
event to be held in the newly refurbished
RM2.5 million Performance Arts Centre at the
Secondary Campus. The hall is equipped with
new lighting, retractable curtains and silent
air-conditioning which makes it a perfect venue
for concerts, smaller drama productions and
art exhibitions. aa
ad astra • 20

Secondary Campus Highlights
Inter-school
Chemistry Challenge
When interviewed, most of the students
said they were excited and initially nervous
having not participated in an inter-school
Chemistry Challenge before. But now, they
can’t wait for the next Challenge to take
place.
(left) A student dips a nichrome wire in dilute hydrochloric acid and heats it in the
bunsen burner flame to test the metal and record the colour of the flame
•
(right) Pouring chemicals carefully to avoid spillage
Back by popular demand, the Secondary Campus hosted its second Kuala
Lumpur International School Chemistry Challenge on 11 th May 2010.
“It was wonderful to see all students work
well together. Teachers and students spoke
about the desire to participate in the event
next year. It is hoped that this will mark a
way forward in greater collaborative events
in science between international schools in
KL,” added David Slade, Head of Chemistry
at the Secondary Campus. aa
Top notch Science students from Years 7 and 8 were selected to participate.
For most of the students, it was their first time participating in such a challenge.
Eighty students in total from ten international schools in Kuala Lumpur spent the
day investigating two main mystery chemistry experiments involving a series of
chemical tests. Known as the Chalkwell Mystery and the Safe Combination
Experiment, each team of four was given a booklet with full instructions for
various chemical testing, a chart for the metal and non-metal tests and a map
of Chalkwell. During the exercise, teachers were not allowed to give advice
on techniques as the objective of the competition was for students to work
unaided as a team. Students were assessed on their accuracy, teamwork and
presentation of results.
The day ended with a bang as the Alice Smith School’s Science team
demonstrated a series of chemical reaction experiments and even blew up
hydrogen gas in a balloon!
“In this competition, winning was not the only goal but
creativity, accuracy and attention to detail were all very
important factors. It was fantastic to see the younger students
taking part in an inter-school Chemistry Competition with
enthusiasm and flair,” said Valerie Thomas-Peter, Director of
School.
In full concentration
ad astra • 21

Secondary Campus Highlights
FAME
The Smash Hit Show
The musical production FAME was a big hit. The play opens
with a group of vibrant, energetic young people auditioning for
the chance to study at the famous New York High School of
Performing Arts. Once accepted, the students are greeted by
Miss Sherman, their English teacher, who warns them that it
takes a lot more than dreams to succeed in Performing Arts.
One of the world’s most successful musical productions with
performances in nearly 25 countries, the musical touches on
many issues that confront young people today including issues
of prejudice, identity, self-worth, literacy and perseverance.
With sell-out performances for all four nights, the revival of
the musical definitely attracted fans both young and old. For
diehard fans of FAME, the songs played certainly got feet
tapping instantly, bringing back some fond memories.
Directed by Melissa Bicknell, drama teacher, more than 50
students from ages 13 to 18 made up the cast and crew. They
auditioned in September 2009 and spent months preparing.
“This is one of the most challenging musicals to put together.
The dance, music and vocal arrangements are complex.
With the development of drama at the school and its growth
as a subject, the students are far more skilled as performers
and rose to the challenge. We have been fortunate this year
to have found the most incredible cast of students we could
have hoped for. Committed and enthusiastic, they have made
rehearsals fun and enjoyable from start to finish,” said Melissa.
To give the performance the extra edge, students also had
the opportunity to work with professional musicians and
a choreographer for the first time.
Cast of FAME
Playing the role of Serena (Leah Sams), Mable (Tunku Martika
Tunku Mu’tamir) and Carmen (Sofia Tengku Daud), the girls
were very excited. All agreed they could relate very easily to
their character in the show, and have grown and improved in
many aspects. Though practices have been intense, they had
a lot of fun practicing and rehearsing their parts.
“The teachers in school have been working
very hard to pull this spectacular show together
and have invested a lot of time, effort and
energy in ensuring that every aspect is of top
quality. The students taking part have much to
gain from their involvement in this event which,
by combining dance, drama and music, allows
students to share their creativity in unique ways
to create an original performance outside of the
traditional curriculum and traditional classroom
environment,” added Valerie Thomas-Peter,
Director of School.
The Alice Smith School has a growing reputation as a centre
of excellence in the Creative and Expressive Arts of which the
FAME production is a good example. aa
Scenes from the show
ad astra • 22

Secondary Campus Highlights
Top London theatre company,
Frantic Assembly
in Kuala Lumpur
Having a well deserved break during practice
Twenty drama students had the opportunity to learn and work with
members of the top London theatre company Frantic Assembly
in March 2010.
The company produces thrilling, energetic and uncompromising
theatre. Described by both ‘The Guardian’ and ‘The Independent’
newspapers as ‘The Future of British Theatre,’ the philosophy
of Frantic Assembly is very much one of openness, sharing and
encouraging appreciation and understanding of their work. They are
one of the only leading theatre companies to have such an extensive
educational programme, designed to challenge and develop the skills
of students studying drama at a higher level and to introduce the
unique performance techniques of the company.
With only five days to create a show, the piece entitled ‘Growing
Younger’ was devised around the concept of aging and time. Whilst
the piece was directed and facilitated by the Frantic team, the voices
and ideas within it were very much the students’. The project has
been set up to develop physical theatre skills and training for these
students and to promote drama in Malaysian education.
“I’m very proud of the students
and loved the work they’ve
created. Every student rose to
every challenge set and the final
performance was fantastic,” added
Melissa Bicknell, drama teacher.
The Drama department of the Alice Smith
School has been participating in a wide variety
of Federation of British International Schools in
South East Asia (FOBISSEA) and International
Schools Theatre Association (ISTA) events
throughout South East Asia. This is the
second year that the students have had the
opportunity to work with such a renowned
theatre company. aa
Students are being taught the right ‘lifting’ technique
Rehearsing one of the scenes
ad astra • 23

Secondary Campus Highlights
For the Love of
Art and Design
Art lovers were impressed with the art and design masterpieces
displayed by the Alice Smith School’s GCSE A Level, AS Level and A2
Level students. The high quality works were on display for one week in
the respective Art and Design Technology Departments.
Held annually, the Art and Design Show is a great
opportunity to showcase the creativity and excellence
of our young talents highlighting what they have to offer
in the world of art and design.
“This year’s show demonstrates the outstanding commitment and
dedication of students, especially the rise in quality within students’ skills
and techniques. This is particularly evident in their sketchbook practice.
There is no distinctive ‘house’ style or practice, the strength of the Art
department is the individuality of the students’ ideas and outcomes in
our quest to be an outstanding department” said David Boyle, Creative
and Expressive Arts Faculty Leader.
Some of the design technology works produced by the students have
also been successfully commercialised, a testament to the capability of
our students.
“A lot of time and effort has been put into both shows and the quality
of the pieces is tremendous. The stunning display is a testament to
the creativity and intellectual output of our students. The Alice Smith
School has a reputation of offering the highest quality of experience for
our students and staff by providing a learning environment that is both
supportive and challenging. This is evident in the high quality of the
work on display,” said Valerie Thomas-Peter, Director of School.
Added Adam Phillips, Head of Design and Technology, “As always, the
outstanding exhibition showcases students’ progress and achievement
at all levels of ability in the three tiers of examination level: GCSE, AS
and A2 Level. What is extra special this year is the variety of materials
(top) Some of the spectacular pieces on display
•
(bottom) AS and A2 ‘resistant materials’ and graphic products
used in the ‘resistant material’ projects and the
spectrum of graphic product works. As well as
this, the school still remains committed to its view
of using materials that are environmentally friendly.”
A team of dedicated staff and students worked
together to make the show a success. aa
‘Toys that teach’
Year 6 students admiring the art pieces
ad astra • 24

Secondary Campus Highlights
Martial Art
and World Book
Young Samurai: The Way of the Warrior
- nominated for 7 book awards in
2009 including the Carnegie Medal
Chris’ visit was a great inspiration to writers at
the Alice Smith School, be it writing for fun, as
part of the curriculum or for publication.
Here at the school, the English faculty also
continued a unique project.
Students queue eagerly for an autograph
The school was proud to welcome multiple award nominated author
from the UK, Chris Bradford in November 2009. Chris entertained a
transfixed audience with readings from his book, interspersed with hair
raising demonstrations of Samurai swordsmanship and anecdotes
from his many travels and experience as a writer, musician and martial
artist. When Chris was ready to sign copies of two of his books
- Young Samurai: The Way of the Warrior and Young Samurai: The
Way of the Sword, the library was filled with enthusiastic and curious
autograph hunters.
The World Book is made up of a compilation
of writings from students all over the world.
The earlier edition featured stories, poems and
non-fiction from schools in Malaysia and five
other countries in Asia. This year, the school
has received entries from a range of schools
in Malaysia, Chile, Peru, Bolivia, Nigeria,
Turkey, Hong Kong, Ethiopia, Bali, Singapore,
Australia, UK, Thailand, Philippines, the US
and China. Students are now working on their
submissions for the eagerly anticipated World
Book 2010 to be released in November. aa
Chris also managed to find time to conduct a workshop with some
talented writers from both the Primary and Secondary campuses. A
select group of students from years 6, 7, 8 and 9 had the opportunity
to share inspirational tips on the craft of writing and also enjoy lunch
and a closer informal chat with the author. Chris shared the significance
of narrative hooks to draw the reader into the story. Plausible but
intriguing and different scenarios sustain the readers’ involvement with
the story. He also explained that his own Samurai series are thrillers
which use exotic settings for narrative purposes.
“Writers must always strive to write about what they
like and find interesting,” added Chris.
ad astra • 25

Secondary Campus Highlights
The Spirit of
Sportsmanship
The school hosted the U15 FOBISSEA (Federation of British
International Schools in South East Asia) Games for eight
international schools around the South East Asian region in
December 2009. The heavy downpour on the morning, did
not dampen the spirits of over 250 students as loud cheers
and clapping were heard throughout.
The FOBISSEA Games is one of the many highlights
of the school’s sporting calendar as an opportunity to
compete at the highest level against other international
schools across Asia. However, the Games is about far
more than just collecting medals and score rankings. In
today’s borderless society, the Games provide an ideal
opportunity for students to foster new friendships and
adapt to each other’s cultures and way of living.
Hosting an event of this magnitude is a massive
undertaking. Secondary Faculty Leader for Physical
Education, Andy Charman attributed the successful
hosting of the FOBISSEA Games to a team of dedicated
parents, coaches, staff and students plus the support
from our generous sponsors: 360 Financial, Jarrod &
Rawlins and PepsiCo Malaysia. aa
Competitions were held over three days. Students participated
in swimming, athletics, basketball and football. The events
took place at the Secondary Campus and at the Panasonic
Stadium for the athletics events.
The FOBISSEA Games is known as the ‘friendly
games’ but that does not mean rivalry is not
intense! Standards in both team and individual
events have been rising every year and there
were some outstanding individual and team
performances.
The Alice Smith School and Bangkok Patana in close-tie for first place
ad astra • 26

Secondary Campus Highlights
Well done
Torpedoes
The KLASS Torpedoes swimmers from both the Primary
and Secondary Campuses have been busy participating in
various swim meets, and venturing into the highly competitive
world of state swimming with the annual Persatuan Renang
Amatur Kuala Lumpur (PRAKL), Selangor Age Groups (SAG)
and National Age Group (NAG) competitions as a club and
Majlis Sukan Sekolah (MSSS) as a school team which leads to
potential selection for Majlis Sukan Sekolah Malaysia (MSSM).
On the international scene, the students participated in their
usual round of Primary U13 and U15 FOBISSEA and SEASAC
Swimming in Jakarta and the ISAKL meet. The return of the
British International School (BIS), Phuket Flying Fish Invitational
was a massive success and
the school look forward to
returning to this next when
we also hope to attend the
Bangkok Patana Feeding
Frenzy meet.
Nerves have been high as
these meets represent a
step up in standard for many
students who have limited
experience or have not
participated at such level in the
past. Every swimmer broke at
least one personal best with
most breaking many more
through the course of the
season. This is a phenomenal achievement for the swimmers at
the end of a highly successful season.
All of this would not have been possible without the fantastic
work of all the coaches at both campuses and particularly the
parent committee whose time and effort has established KLASS
Torpedoes as the successful and competitive swimming club
that it is.
“Next year, I look forward to competing at state
as a whole school team, targeting a top 5 finish
and having at least 5 different medalists,” said
Stuart Bromley, Head of Aquatics. aa
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Walking Down Memory Lane
In early February, we were delighted to receive a surprise visit from
Mr Greg Carpenter and his family. Currently residing in Australia,
Mr Carpenter served on the Board of Governors from 1998-2000 and
his daughters were among the first pupils to move to our newly built
Secondary Campus at Equine Park. aa
Making his first visit back to Malaysia since 1958, we were
particularly honoured to welcome Mr Jeremy Taylor and his wife to
the Primary Campus. Mr Taylor attended Alice Smith School in the
1950s. He thoroughly enjoyed his tour of the campus and while
obviously much has changed, he was still able to recognise some of
the buildings and playgrounds where he had played as a child, even
spotting himself on one of our old school photographs. Mrs Muir
was the headmistress at the time, a stern and formidable character,
but according to Mr Taylor ensured that he had an excellent start to
his education. “I have a lot to thank the school for and have done
very well in my education and schooling. I was at least a year ahead
of all my peers on my return to England,” he recalled. aa
Melissa Choo, Kate Anderson and Caroline Wentworth have been
friends since the 1990s. The three girls met up in Australia recently for a
wedding. They decided to fly to Kuala Lumpur for a few days to visit the
school. The girls were at the Secondary Campus and were delighted to
meet with Madame Nicole Wong, their former teacher. They were taken
on a tour of the campus and even participated in Madame Wong’s
French lesson.
One of the fondest memories of the Alice Smith School were the wicker
baskets which they had used in their younger days. They will also never
forget the happy, multi-cultural environment and the friendships made.
“It was a great opportunity to meet friends from around the world,
keeping in touch with all these years and now meeting up for a friend’s
wedding,” said Kate. aa
ad astra is published annually for the Alice Smith community including alumni, staff, government, business associates and friends. The
views expressed by contributors are not necessarily endorsed by the School.
All rights reserved. Copyright 2009/2010 by the Alice Smith School. If you wish to be in touch, please email marketing@alice-smith.edu.my.
ad astra • 28

Primary Campus
No. 2 Jalan Bellamy
50460 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Tel : +603 2148 3674
Fax : +603 2148 3418
Email : klass@alice-smith.edu.my
Secondary Campus
No. 3 Jalan Equine
Equine Park, 43300 Seri Kembangan
Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia
Tel : +603 9543 3688
Fax : +603 9543 3788
Email : klass2@alice-smith.edu.my
www.alice-smith.edu.my