Issue 11 - Australian International School Malaysia

Main Schools Performing Arts Others
Reflection from the Assistant Principal
Last weekend, AISM participated in the Private
and International Schools Education Fair at Mid
Valley. The majority of International Schools in
KL and around were represented, and potential
“customers” were able to find out about what we
offered.
The most common question that I was asked was
“what makes the Australian School different from
any of the other schools represented here” A good
question, but one that is not easy to answer as
the differences depend on which system we are
comparing ourselves to.
However, some of the philosophies that set us apart
are:-
• Our teaching approach is one that quite clearly
develops independent learning capabilities.
Students in an Australian curriculum “learn how to
learn”. This sets them up for success in life and
tertiary education because they are independent
thinkers who can take responsibility for learning.
Research shows that people with these attributes
are more successful at university.
• Skill development is complemented by real life
application of learning. One very basic example
is that in our curriculum, young children don’t just
learn their times tables by rote, but they learn the
concept of what it means to multiply and how this
relates to real life situations.
• At the senior end of the school, whilst our Higher
School Certificate is of an equivalent academic
standard to, say the British A levels, our students
can undertake five or six subjects. This leaves more
options open for future pathways and entrance into
a wider variety of university courses. We believe
that this is a positive thing as many 16 year olds
are still uncertain of what they would like to focus
the rest of their lives on.
• We believe in educating “the whole child”. Our
students are challenged academically, but are
equally strongly encouraged to participate in a
variety of activities and particularly, to step outside
their comfort zone to try new and challenging
activities. An important aspect of this is developing
confidence and the ability to think and speak about
their ideas in front of an audience.
Evidence of the above are seen in many ways. The
fantastic Senior School Production at the end of last
term and our success at the World Scholars Cup
Finals, being just two examples.
Wendy Gardiner, Assistant Principal
MATILDA EXPEDITION 2012
Our Service Learning
Group is off to Sabah
to work in our Matilda
Project at the Asrama
Desa Pukak hostel
in week 5 and would
like to ask for any last
minute donations.
We have limited luggage allowance but if you
have any of the following, we would be happy
to deliver them to the 30 students and Dora,
their house mother.
Toothpaste/
toothbrushes, soap /
face towel, coloured
pencils, postage
stamps, clothing
for 5-11 year olds,
other good ideas
(eg; skipping ropes),
board games / colouring-in books, playing
cards, hair clippers, seeds (flowers or vegies,
trowel), colourful posters (educational or
decorative).
We will collect it from the box in Junior School
Office.
Many Thanks.
Alex MClaws, Tom Tranter, Sabah Team and
Service Learning Committee.
Sheila Martineau
Co-Curricular News
Activities will start next week on Monday, July
23rd. Students are requested to check your
enrolment with your homeroom teacher. If you
would like to amend your enrolment, please
send an email to ccp@aism.edu.my. You
can still sign up for activities using the online
forms on the school website. Thank you!
Steve Warren,
Co-Curricular Program Coordinator
Page 4 20th July 2012