Tropicana Jul-Aug 2018 #119 Hot Stuff

ADVERTORIAL
TENBY SCHOOLS MALAYSIA:
AMAZING LEARNING AT
YOUR SCHOOL OF CHOICE -
TENBY INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL
TROPICANA AMAN
Tenby has been upholding
academic excellence and
Amazing Learning since
1960 and we are now part
of the International Schools
Partnership, a fast-growing,
financially secure and global
schools’ group of 32 schools
around the world with more
than 22,000 students.
We are proud to celebrate
another milestone for the Tenby
Group with the opening of our
seventh campus in September
2018 – Tenby International
School, Tropicana Aman, which
is located within a new township next to Kota Kemuning.
Situated on a 10-acre, purpose-built campus, it is set to provide high
quality international education for parents who aspire to select the best
education for their children. Similar to other Tenby Schools’ campuses,
the teaching and learning in this school will be complemented by
excellent specialised facilities including an artificial turf, swimming pools,
basketball court, badminton courts, and art, drama and music studios.
The appointed Head of School, Ms. Jane Kuok is no stranger to
the international schools’ community. She joined the Tenby Group
in 2008 at Setia Eco Park’s (SEP) inception holding the position of
Principal of Tenby International School. Under her stellar leadership,
the school grew from strength to strength to become one of the most
respected international schools in Klang Valley.
Jane also spearheaded Tenby Schools SEP to achieve worldwide
standards recognition from the Council of International Schools (CIS)
and Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), making it
the first school of its type in Malaysia to obtain such accreditations.
From SEP, Jane was promoted to Campus Principal at Tenby Schools
Ipoh Campus where she held the reins for three years. Under Jane’s
leadership, the School is now on its accreditation journey with CIS.
Jane brings to Tenby International School, Tropicana Aman a wealth
of experience in international school accreditation, teacher training,
leading and managing international schools as well as her passion
for educating children for the last 24 years. She will ensure that every
student will have an Amazing Learning experience in this school.
What do you love the most about your job?
Over the years, we have seen so many of our students blossom as
individuals, becoming unique personalities that reflect qualities that
we have termed “Tenbyness”. We have witnessed how they adapted to
different environments and contexts; how they demonstrate confidence
without arrogance; the ability to take risks, showing resilience and
perseverance. Many of our students have graduated from prestigious
universities, including the University of Cambridge, London School of
Economics and Imperial College, London in the United Kingdom. That’s
the best reward for us at Tenby, when we know that we have collectively
laid the foundations for each of our students for life.
Tell us more about learning at Tenby International School.
At Tenby International School, we are learning focused. In our
classrooms, you will see children taking charge of their own
learning. We encourage children to apply the knowledge, skills and
understanding from their lessons into real life and other contexts.
As well as developing the academic side of an individual, we nurture
life skills through giving students exposure to other areas beyond
the classroom. These include providing a learning environment that
embraces local Malaysian culture as well as celebrating international
cultures represented at the school. These may be through residential
trips, excursions, experiences through co-curricular activities, the arts,
sports, music, competitions and community service. Such activities
foster real-life practice for cultivating teamwork, leadership skills and
tools for managing success and failure in preparation for life.
What does it take to be an excellent teacher?
Being a teacher does not end when the children have gone home.
Excellent teachers have a different mind-set. They put their students’
learning first. They willingly give up their own time to prepare their
lessons and provide feedback to students. Our teachers are self-starters,
excellent communicators, organisers and multi-taskers.
What advice would you give parents who wish to enrol their children
into an international school?
Based on research of learning over the last 20 plus years, the ‘traditional’
methods work for passing exams for some students, but not when it
comes to preparing them for tomorrow’s world. Many mistake this type of
school ethos as ‘more academic’ when in reality international schools push
learning to a deeper level where students have to apply their learning in
different contexts.
My advice to parents is to visit the schools under consideration,
understand their philosophy and make a decision based on which school
best suits their children. Parents need to find a school that suits their
children’s needs and has a philosophy in line with their own to allow their
children to learn and flourish, and not just to be “taught” to pass exams.
Do come along to visit us to find out more as there is nothing more
important than choosing the right school for your children.
For more information, please visit www.tenby.edu.my