Bright Kids - 7 June 2016

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THE STAR, TUESDAY 7 JUNE 2016

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bright kidsTHE STAR,

TUESDAY 7 JUNE 2016

WIDE recognition and acceptancen tertiary institutions around the

orld have granted internationalhool curricula an edge inday’s increasingly globalised

ducation landscape.With efforts shifting to

reating self-learners andolistic individuals, co-curricular

nvolvement and out-of-assroom learning are regularxtures across the board inritish, American, Australian,anadian, Malaysian andnternational Baccalaureate

schools in the country.Here is some important

information on curriculumstructure, aims, content andassessment found in Malaysiafor you to consider for yourchild.

The international

curriculum summaries beloware derived from theircountries of origin – localadaptations of these syllabi arealtered to suit context andeducation needs, using theoriginal versions as a strongbasis.

British American Australian Canadian

Divided into four key stages(Years 1 to 2, 3 to 6, 7 to 9 and 10 to11) and involves subjects classified

as “core” or “foundation”. A typicalschool year begins in September.

Consists of elementary school(Grades 1 to 4), middle school(Grades 5 to 8) and high school

(Grades 9 to 12). In the UnitedStates, policymaking is done at stateand local levels, which means thereis no standardised national syllabus.

Divided into elementary(inclusive of kindergarten) andsecondary school in Ontario.

Grade structures vary betweenprovinces as there is nointegrated national system ofeducation.

Sunway International School(SIS) offers the Ontario middleschool (Grades 7 and 8) andhigh school (Grades 9 to 11)curricula.

The Foundation – Year 10 curriculum follows athree-tier system much like the Malaysian system,consisting of primary school until Year 6, then

secondary school in Years 7 to 10, and finallytertiary education, which can be in Years 11 and12 or college.

At the Australian International School Malaysia(AISM), which offers the New South Wales Boardof Studies (NSW BOSTES) curriculum, studentsstart Foundation year at five years old. Years 1 to 5are primary school, Years 6 to 8 are middle schooland Years 9 to 10 are senior school.

To introduce pupils to the essentialknowledge needed to be educatedcitizens, generating an appreciationof human creativity and achievement.

The United Kingdom Departmentof Education states that “The nationalcurriculum provides an outline ofcore knowledge around which

teachers can develop exciting andstimulating lessons to promote thedevelopment of pupils’ knowledge,understanding and skills as part ofthe wider school curriculum”.

Generally, K-12 education aims todevelop well-rounded individualswith critical thinking skills,problem-solving skills and creativitywhen approaching real-lifesituations.

According to Creating Pathways to Success: An Education and Career/ Life Planning Program for OntarioSchools, Policy and Program Requirements, Kindergarten toGrade 12, 2013, the educationpolicy’s goals aim to ensure that

students develop the knowledgeand skills they need to makeinformed education and careeror life choices through theeffective application of afour-step enquiry process.

Designed to develop successful learners,confident and creative individuals, and active,informed citizens.

The curriculum aims to nurture seven generalcapabilities, which are literacy, numeracy,information and communication technologycapability, critical and creative thinking, personaland social capability, ethical understanding and

intercultural understanding.These apply across subject-based content and

develop children into lifelong learners.

Core subjects English, mathematicsand science are taught at all levels, asis physical education.

A selection of foundation subjectssuch as art and design, computing,design and technology, geography,history and music are taught at thefirst three key stages.

Foreign languages are taught inkey stages 2 and 3. These subjects arealso offered at key stage 4 optionally.

Students are allowed greaterflexibility in selecting subjects inmiddle school, where they havedifferent teachers for differentsubjects as opposed to the gradeteachers in elementary school whoteach several core subjects.

In high school, they take on avariety of subjects that extendsacross a broad spectrum.Mandatory subjects are in the areasof science, mathematics, English,

social sciences, physical educationand health.Students may also choose elective

subjects on technology, arts orforeign languages.

Students first experience acurriculum that includes thearts, languages, health andphysical education,mathematics, science andtechnology and social studiesthen later in high school areexposed to Canadian and worldstudies, guidance and careereducation, and interdisciplinarystudies.

Eight disciplinary knowledge learning areasof the Australian curriculum are English,mathematics, science, health and physicaleducation, humanities and social sciences,the arts, technologies and languages.

Health and physical education, humanitiesand social sciences, the arts, technologies andlanguages all encompass multiple subjectspooled into one learning area.

As per NSW BOSTES recommendations, AISMallocates at least 25% of school hours to English,20% to mathematics and a minimum of 6% to

other learning areas.

In the first three key stages,students are tested on literacy andnumeracy as well as other subjectsof study through standardisedexaminations.

They then prepare to takenational qualification examinationsin key stage 4, which is usually theGeneral Certificate of SecondaryEducation (GCSE, or IGCSE outsidethe UK).

The A-Levels typically follows in

sixth form or college.

Students are consistently assessedthroughout the school year toproduce a final grade.

High school students typicallycomplete the SAT or ACT (AmericanCollege Testing) examinations inpreparation for university entrance.

They can also take on AdvancedPlacement (AP) courses, which allowthem to earn university credit andeases placement of high schooldiploma holders.

At SIS, 70% of students’ finalgrade is determined by workcompleted during the course,while 30% is determined byfinal evaluation.

School-leavers can go on topursue the Canadian Grade 12at Sunway College, known asthe Canadian InternationalMatriculation Programme(CIMP).

Students are assessed through ongoingformative assessment within classrooms, biannualsummative assessments, annual testing in Years 3,5 and 7 for literacy and numeracy, and periodicsample testing of specific learning areas.

At AISM, 50% of the final grade is based onassignments, examinations and projects while theother 50% depends on external examination,which is used to moderate school-basedassessments. Students graduate with a HigherSchool Certificate upon completing Year 12.

To obtain the Higher School Certificate (HSC),

students take up five or six subjects leading up totheir first tertiary placement.

Local adaptations can be found atBritish International School KualaLumpur, Garden InternationalSchool, Epsom College in Malaysiaand at the soon-to-be-opened St Joseph’s Institution InternationalSchool Malaysia, among others.

Local adaptations can be found atRaffles American School andInternational School of KualaLumpur.

Local adaption of middle andhigh school syllabi – Years 7 to11 – is available at SIS. SunwayIskandar in Johor, which opensnext year, will offer the fullOntario curriculum frompreschool to Grade 10.

Local adaptation based on the NSW BOSTEScurriculum is available at AISM.

Structure

Content

Assessment

Schools

Aims

Right academic ft

y THERESA BELLE

> SEE PAGE 4



Relevantcurriculumchoice

High school principal Stuart Glascott (second from left) with parents at a St Joseph’s Institution

International School Malaysia event.

ST JOSEPH’S Institution International SchoolMalaysia (SJIIM) recently announced that ithad received the International Baccalaureate(IB) World School status a few months aheadof its opening in August this year.

In keeping with the standards of the IB, allschools must complete an authorisationprocess before offering one or more of its listof programmes.

Relating the rigorous process, SJIIM’s highschool principal Stuart Glascott says, “Aftersubmitting an application for our IB DiplomaProgramme (IBDP), we had to demonstratethat we had all the key attributes of an IBschool – which can be hard for a new school.

“We documented specifics on theresources, facilities, curriculum planningand teaching pedagogy to illustrate that wehad what it takes to run a good IBDP.

“From there, an IB inspection team visitedthe school for a three-day inspection toverify that we had all the aspectsdocumented,” he explains.

SJIIM’s IB coordinator from the UnitedKingdom and teachers selected from allaround the world to teach in the schoolbeginning August were also part of thisverification visit.

Having attended the respective IBworkshops, they were then required todemonstrate their understanding of theprogramme and the commitment neededto successfully run the programme.

The perfect curricular t

Over the years, the IBDP has gainedwidespread recognition as a leading

pre-university course, particularly for itsunique ability to create well-roundedlearners ready to take on the world.

“We chose the IBDP for our Year 12 and 13programme because we believe that it willprepare students more comprehensively foruniversity life and help them access a widerange of top universities around the world,”says Glascott.

Interestingly, the holistic learning that iscentral to IBDP’s ethos is also a vital aspect ofthe SJIIM education philosophy.

This, together with its common focus onacademic excellence and service, willenhance the IBDP learning experience atthe school.

As an IB World School, SJIIM will beoffering the diploma programme in Years 12and 13. As such, students progressing from Year 11 will have the option to continuewith the IBDP upon completion of theirInternational General Certificate ofSecondary Education (IGCSE) examinationwith the school.

According to Glascott, this academicpathway is quite common in prestigiousschools in Asia and beyond as both theIGCSE and IBDP are internationallyrecognised with externally verified andauthenticated assessment systems.

With this pathway, students at SJIIM will

have the most ideal curricular structure tocater to their global needs.

Vision of excellence

IBDP teachers are known to be topclassroom teachers who create frameworksthat harness students’ ability to developtheir own ideas.

This allows students to build on eachother’s knowledge and skills whileenhancing their individual analyticalcapabilities.

The IBDP is also offered at St Joseph’sInstitution in Singapore, where studentsachieve excellent results year after year.One might wonder how SJIIM plans toemulate that success here in Malaysia.

“When you walk around SJI Singapore,

you get a sense of community and the firstgoal of SJIIM is to match that in terms ofmaking students feel happy, safe and part ofthe larger Lasallian community,” saysGlascott.

“We believe that if students feel this wayand are comfortable with their teachers andpeers, they will enquire and explore in theway that is relevant to the IB philosophy.”

n For more information, visitwww.sji-international.edu.my.


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TUESDAY 7 JUNE 2016

Structured for developmentROM PAGE 2

International Baccalaureate (IB)

Malaysian

Consists of the Primary Years Programme (agesthree to 12), Middle Years Programme (ages 11 to16) and Diploma Programme (ages 16 to 19).

There are also career-related programmes thatlead to higher education and employment fordiploma students.

Students start primary school (Standards 1to 6) the year they turn seven years old andsecondary school (Forms 1 to 5), typically theyear they turn 13. Form 6 is available as apre-university option at certain public andprivate schools.

Its one-of-its-kind ethos separates IB fromnational systems. The InternationalBaccalaureate Organization states “The IB aimsto develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caringyoung people who help to create a better andmore peaceful world through interculturalunderstanding and respect”.

The National Education Policy states thateducation in Malaysia is “an ongoing efforttowards further developing the potential ofindividuals in a holistic and integrated mannerso as to produce individuals who areintellectually, spiritually, emotionally andphysically balanced and harmonious”.

Internal and external assessments are usedthroughout the IB, which include oral, field,laboratory, artistic and investigative work as wellas essays, case studies and response questions.

Students’ work is assessed against programmegoals as direct evidence of achievement.

Monthly tests and biannual examinationsallow teachers to gauge progress at every level.

Students sit for the Primary SchoolAchievement Test (UPSR) at the end of primaryschool. In Form 3, they undergo the LowerSecondary Evaluation (PT3) and in Form 5, takethe secondary school leaving examination for theMalaysian Certificate of Education (SPM).

Upon graduating, students can do two years ofForm 6 for the Malaysian Higher SchoolCertificate (STPM) qualification, matriculation orother pre-university courses.

UCSI International School Springhill, FairviewInternational School

All public schools – Sekolah Rendah (primaryschool), Sekolah Menengah (secondary school)and Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan (vernacular,national-type secondary school).

Some private and international institutionsalso offer the local curriculum, includingRafflesia Private School Kajang.

Language, social studies, mathematics, scienceand technology, arts, and personal, social andphysical education are studied in the primaryand middle years programmes.

In the diploma programme, students study six

subjects chosen from these subject groups,complete an extended essay and complete theoryof knowledge and creativity, action, servicecomponents.

Core subjects are Bahasa Malaysia, English andmathematics. Upper primary students explorescience and aspects of geography and history.

Students can take language classes in theirmother tongue. Living skills, visual arts andmusic classes are also offered as part of theprimary curriculum.

After Form 3, students are streamed intoscience or arts classes or go on to pursuetechnical and vocational, or religious education.

Islamic or moral education is compulsorythroughout the schooling period, as is physicalor health education.

Structure

Structure

Content

Content

Assessment

Assessment

Schools

Schools

Aims

Aims

here is a variety ofurricula to chooseom. Study all yourptions thoroughlyefore making aecision.



ScholarshipsavailableTHE Australian InternationalSchool Malaysia (AISM) isoffering scholarships for Years 6to 12 (pre-university) todeserving Malaysian andexpatriate students.

AISM is the only internationalschool that offers the Australiancurriculum in Malaysia, whichleads to the internationallyrecognised Higher SchoolCertificate (HSC) acceptwed bytop universities worldwide.

The full scholarship is offered

to pre-university students (Years11 and 12) who would nototherwise be able to study atAISM.

Malaysian students sitting forSPM, IGCSE or O-Levelsexamination this year who arenot enrolled at the school areinvited to apply.

The scholarship holders willenter Year 11 and continue to Year 12, at which time they willcomplete the Higher SchoolCertificate and be able to applyfor their university of choice inother places such as in theUnited Kingdom, United States,Australia, Malaysia, Japan, SouthKorea, countries in Europe and

more.The scholarship covers 100%

of cost – admissions fee andtuition fees – for the entireduration of schooling at AISMfrom year of entry.

Application fees, annualtechnology fees and yearlydeposits are waived. Thisscholarship will be extendedto cover the fees for someuniversity degrees at Taylor’sUniversity, depending on thestudent’s performance (termsand conditions apply).

The scholarship is awardedbased on the strength ofstudents’ academic performance,participation in school

activities, including leadershiproles, sports and the arts aswell as involvement in schoolcommunity projects.

Preference is given to those

who would not otherwise havethe opportunity to attend andbenefit from a school such asAISM.

Many Malaysian studentshave benefited from thisscholarship, which has beenoffered for the past nine yearsat AISM.

Students have gone on tostudy medicine, law, science,accounting, business and morein top universities around theworld.

Special 10-yearanniversary ofer

AISM is offering 50% and 30%fee-reduction scholarships todeserving students to mark its10th year of being part of theTaylor’s Education Group inMalaysia.

Malaysians and expatriatestudents not currently enrolledat AISM who are aged 11 to 18are eligible for entry intoprogrammes from Year 6 topre-university.

A discount of 50% or 30% onthe admissions fee and tuitionfees is offered for the entire

duration of schooling at AISMfrom year of entry, while theapplication fee, annualtechnology fees and yearlydeposit are waived.

How to apply

To apply or enquire further,call the principal’s office at03-8949 5000 or [email protected] by June 24.

You can also visit the schoolduring the Open Week held on June 10 and 11 for a shortbriefing on the scholarships.

n For more information, visit

www.aism.edu.my/full-scholarships (pre-universityscholarships) or www.aism.edu.my/partial-scholarships (10thyear celebration scholarships).


bright kids 5

Leadership, sports, the arts and school community involvement areimportant evaluation criteria in selecting suitable candidates for thescholarship at AISM.

AISM pre-university students learn from each other in an interactive and engaging classroom.




TUESDAY 7 JUNE 2016

Voted best nutrition milkILDREN and motherhoodgazine BabyTalk Malaysia hasn running a yearly survey – the

byTalk Readers’ Choice Award tod the favourite brands of theirders.

Last year, Morinaga Chil-kids awarded as Readers’ Choiceards 2015 winner for Besttrition Milk by BabyTalk d MamaPapa magazines.n the same year, Morinagal-kid was again voted Besttrition Milk for Children underaders’ Choice Awards 2015nner by Natural Health and Aalthy Lifestyle magazines.The product is a high-qualityk formula that suppliesential nutrients in a well-anced ratio for children, basedthe international standard ofwth formula and latest

entific knowledge.

Morinaga Chil-kid, a growthmula for children aged oned above, is enriched withbiotics arachidonic acid (AA),osahexaenoic acid (DHA),

acto-oligosaccharides (GOS)well as nucleotides (fivecleotides), to provide theimum nutrition for children’swth.

AA and DHA enhance the

Morinaga Chil-kid is launching a promotion from June 15 to Aug 15 for itsquality nutrition milk.

development of the brain andcentral nervous system as wellas visual and retina function.

GOS helps to establish a

Bifidobacterium-dominant floraand suppresses the growth ofharmful intestinal bacteria.

GOS is important in alleviating

constipation while nucleotidespromote a healthy gut.

Morinaga’s extensive researchand development has resultedin the discovery of well-knownprobiotics Bifidobacterium longum BB536, which is one of the mostwidely recognised probiotics in theworld, as well as lactoferin, whichis widely used in children formulato improve immunity.

Morinaga Chil-kid is producedand imported from a state-of-the-art plant in the Netherlands using Japanese technology and stringentdouble-safety standard. Theproduct is halal certified.

Choose Morinaga Chil-kid and

you can rest assured knowing thatyou are offering children the bestin terms of quality.

Morinaga Chil-kid can be foundin Tesco, Giant, Cold Storage,Mercato, Aeon, Sogo, Isetan, UrbanFresh, Village Grocer, SJ Kota, DeMarket, Haniffa, Alpro Pharmacy,Chinese Medical Halls and babyshops. It is also available on onlinestores such as HERMISO.com,

MORINAGA Milk Industry Co Ltdis the second largest dairyproduct company in Japan andwas founded on Sept 1, 1917 asNippon Rennyu Co Ltd.

Morinaga started its businesswith the production of condensedmilk before producing the firstmilk powder in 1920.

Today the mega brand iswell known in Malaysianhouseholds and prides itself inbeing committed to creatingnutritious and healthy productsfor all ages and exports itsproducts worldwide to more

than 30 countries.Morinaga has been in Malaysia

for almost 50 years and was thefirst Japanese milk formulaavailable in the market.

Lazada and 11 Street.

n For more information,visit www.facebook.com/ MorinagaMilkMalaysia.

About Morinaga

SpinningbucketTHIS experiment allows childrento learn about cetripetal force. Itis also a fun outdoor activity fora hot day.

What you need:l A bucket with a strong

handlel Waterl An open area outside

What to do:l Fill the bucket with water

until it is about half full.l Stand well clear of other

people and anything that could

get in your way.l Hold the bucket tightly byits handle with your armextended and start spinningquickly, moving the buckettowards the sky and back to theground in a circular motion.Make sure to spin the bucket fastenough to keep the water insidethe bucket.l Stop spinning before your

arm gets tired. Watch out for

splashes as you carefully bringthe bucket to rest on the ground.

How it works:The water does not spill out of

the bucket and wet you evenwhen its over your head. Whydoes that happen? How fast doyou have to spin to make thishappen?

When you spin, the water inthe bucket is affected bycentripetal force, which is theforce directed at the centre of anobject that makes it follow a

curved path. You can also seethis force at work on rollercoasters.

As you spin the bucket, youmay feel that it wants to fly outof your hand in a straight lineaway from you. This is ademonstration of Newton’s firstlaw of motion – an object willcontinue in a straight line unlessan outside force (in this case,your arm) acts upon it.




bright kids 7

Making adiference“THE important thing is not tostop questioning,” quotes AlbertEinstein, a physicist who hadpublished many scientific worksand is most notably known forwriting the formula E = mc2.

He believed in the need toquestion – questioning andenquiry lead to the discoveryof many wonders in the eyes ofstudents.

In an environment ofsafety, students are lead and

encouraged to question, exploreand enquire. This freedom tomake mistakes provides thebest environment for creativity.

Creativity is important intoday’s world as jobs oftomorrow are unknown andone must be creative to adaptand adjust to a constantlychanging world.

This happens when a teacherexposes students to many thingsand shows them where to lookbut not point out what to lookfor.

Often, students attend schoolsthat have things well-arrangedand given to them, which makesthem unable to produce their

own ideas.However, more and more

students are now exposed tovarious curricula andprogrammes, which can eitherbe boring or awaken minds.

Hence, it is at the hands ofamazing teachers that the joyof learning and curiosityflourishes.

These teachers can nurturestudents’ minds, encouragingthem to step out of their comfortzone and be courageous.

Aristotle, the greatphilosopher, stated that humanbeings are curious by nature.This curiosity, with the correctstimulation and environment,

can grow and lead tounderstanding.

Many curricula andprogrammes, be it Cambridge,International PrimaryCurriculum (IPC), TheInternational General Certificateof Secondary Education (IGCSE),A-Levels or InternationalBaccalaureate (IB) have theability to stimulate minds.

Teachers determine ifstudents memorise content,develop skills or understandconcepts.

These are all important buta teacher who can teach astudent how to growindependently, think, questionand apply is to be applauded.

The curriculum is but ameans to expose students todifferent content areas. Theability to manipulate the

information obtained is moreimportant.

UCSI International Schoolteachers strive to exposestudents to a variety of contentand guide them to understandthat there is so much more toexplore beyond the classroom.

In the safe environment ofthe classroom, however,students can make mistakesand learn from them. Theyunderstand how to apply whatthey have learnt to differentsituations.

The cultural diversity of theteachers at the school allowsstudents to view things fromdifferent perspectives and

understand that there aremany ways to deal withsituations.

In this environment andunder the teachers’ guidance,18 students from UCSIInternational School Subang Jaya in six teams, with justmore than a week ofpreparation, participated inthe World Scholar’s Cup, KualaLumpur Round, on May 14and 15 this year.

Three teams qualified forthe Global Round in Bangkok,which is an amazingaccomplishment for students.

This would not have beenachievable if their curiosity

was not nurtured and if theywere not encouraged to thinkindependently.

Therefore, a school is but abuilding, a curriculum a guideto follow. It is the teachers thatmake the difference.

n For more information, visitwww.ucsiinternationalschool.edu.my.

The UCSI International School Subang Jaya team for the World Scholar’s Cup.

The alpaca was elected the mascot of the World Scholar’s Cup.





Optimise learning potentialSMART Reader Kids pridesitself as the nation’s leading earlychildhood provider and this hasbeen proven by the numerousprestigious accolades andrecognitions accorded from localand overseas institutions. Constantresearch and development of thecurriculum has enabled thisrenowned brand to remain at thehelm in providing qualityeducation for preschoolers.

At Smart Reader Kids, childrenare not only exposed to numbers,letters, colours and shapes, butthey also learn to interact withother children.

The Smart Reader CreativeTeaching Methodology unleasheschildren’s creativity and inculcatesa love for learning.

Alvin Liaw Tse Hou, franchiseeof Smart Reader Kids KuchaiExchange, believes that a solid

learning foundation should startfrom preschool.

The strong foundation builtduring children’s early yearsensures that they have a smoothtransition to primary school andbeyond.

“Children at Smart Reader Kidsare exposed to a wide range ofhands-on activities that enhancetheir creative and expressive skillsand imagination. They aregroomed to be confident, excitedand interested in the learningprocess. Many of our students aredoing very well in primary schoolnow,” says Liaw, who offers theSmart Reader Kids Classicprogramme at his centre.

Franchisee Melinda Seng May Yee of Smart Reader Kids PandanIndah and Smart Reader Kids BukitIndah, Ampang, says, “We offer theSmart Reader Kids Classicprogramme at both centres and the


bright kids 9

Smart Reader Kids Islamicprogramme at Smart Reader KidsBukit Indah to meet the needs ofour Muslim parents,” says Seng,franchisee for 16 years.

“Many parents saw progress intheir children’s language and

communication skills after afew months at the centre. Theirchildren could read, write andspeak English well and hadexcellent interpersonal skills,”she says.

Franchisee Kalimani Velaithamoffers Smart Reader Kids Classic,Smart Reader Kids IntensiveEnglish Programme and SmartReader English Tutorialprogramme at his centre in BandarDataran Segar, Lukut, Port Dickson.

He says, “Children love to goto our centre because they havelots of fun in the classroom dueto the Smart Reader CreativeTeaching Methodology, whichencompasses elements of creativity

and imagination.”“Some children were initially shy

but they soon became excited afterattending the classes. They lookforward to going to school everyday. Their parents were surprisedto see their children’s excitement to

attend classes and praised theSmart Reader Kids’ syllabus thathas helped their children read,write and speak well. The childrenhave also become more confidentand polite,” says Kalimani.

The educational programmesoffered by Smart ReaderWorldwide are Smart Reader Kids,Smart Reader Kids Islamic, SmartReader Kids Mandarin Medium,Smart Reader Kids IntensiveEnglish Programme and Smart

Reader Kids++ franchisedprogrammes.

n For more information, call03-6279 5555 or 1300 885 555 orvisit www.smartreader.edu.my.

Franchisee of Smart Reader Kids Pandan Indah and Bukit Indah Melinda Seng May Yee withher students.

Teachers and students of Smart Reader KidsBandar Dataran Segar, Port Dickson.

Education during medieval times centred on clerks and clergymen, thoughsome universities were eventually opened and attended by sons of therich, as depicted in this mid-16th century manuscript.

The evolution of educationMANY of us hear stories fromgrandparents or parents abouthow school was different back inthe day, but do you ever wonderwhat it would be like to go toschool in a different century?

Education systems, as a fixture

of civilisations across the world,evolve to match society’s changingcircumstances and needs accordingto each era.

You may be surprised to learnthat in 1045 BC China, for example,girls only learnt rituals, conduct,and silk production and weavingbefore Confucianism introducedphilosophy, which developed thecurriculum of Chinese educationfor the next couple of centuries.

In fact, it was not until the Mingdynasty (1400 AD) that womenstarted reading and writing – eventhen, education was a luxuryreserved for rich women with thetime and means to write poetry.

Here is a simplified timeline that

will give you an idea of theevolution of western education andhow it served purposes that wererelevant to that period in history.

l Ancient Greece and Rome –Spartan boys as young as sevenyears old were sent for rigorousmilitary-style training to preparethem to become warriors by thetime they turned 18.

Over in Athens, both school and

exercise were given weightage.Literature was a centralcomponent of schooling, andolder boys who were too poorfor school undertook tradeapprenticeships with philosopher-teachers. Earliest knowledge

transfer on geometry, astronomyand arithmetic took place in thismanner.

Roman education was influencedby the Greeks with a heavier focuson oratory skills.

Children learnt reading, writingand counting, and upper class boyswere sent to grammar school andtrained in public speaking.

l The Middle Ages – Followingthe fall of the Roman empire,medieval churches salvaged whatwas left of western education.Education centred on learningLatin, mathematics and singing.Education was more centred onvocational schools for clerks

and clergymen.It was not until the 12th centurythat universities came intoexistence to teach grammar,arithmetic and astronomy again.

What followed were theRenaissance and Reformationperiods, where the heavy religiousinfluence and the birth ofProtestanism created severe biason curriculum and its methods ofdelivery.

l 17th century to 20th century –Education was a lot morewidespread by this time, with areformed system in Europe thatincreased government interest andinvolvement.

States came to be responsible for

carrying out an organised primarysystems involving all children.

Pedagogical systems wereproperly developed at universities,but education was still being usedto push forward political ideologies.However, as people became moreliterate, more desired to pursuesecondary education.

Considering education as weknow it only began to be adaptedworldwide in the 20th century,it is hardly surprising that the UnitedNations Educational, Scientific andCultural Organization estimatesmore people will receive formaleducation in the next 30 years thanin all of human history thus far.

Due to the rise of technology,knowledge today is transferred at apace that would have beenimpossible through traditionalmethods alone.

Regardless of how schools developfrom this decade on, children of thefuture will probably look back ateducation in this period with thesame incredulity and fascinationthat we experience whenconsidering past centuries.



0 bright kidsTHE STAR,

TUESDAY 7 JUNE 2016

Choosing the best schoolTERNATIONAL schools inlaysia offer a variety ofricula, thus allowing parents toose one based on their child’s

rning needs.The vast majority ofernational schools in Malaysiaer the national curriculum ofgland and Wales (generallyown as the British curriculum)d the Cambridge programmes,ere students sit for theernational General Certificate ofondary Education (IGCSE).

However, the Internationalcalaureate is becomingreasingly popular with amber of schools offering it.Other curricula in use include

American, Australian,nadian, Indian, Islamic and theernational Primary Curriculum.

Each curriculum has its uniqueracteristics, which may be seen

The Private & International School Fair gives parents the opportunity to learnmore about international schools before making a decision.

Native-speaking English teachers guide and nurture students to readand appreciate books.

Boost English skillsAT Morris Allen English,teachers know the importanceof reading and nurtureschildren’s appreciation forbooks.

They ensure that students

use the right reading materialsaccording to their age andability and are guided inselecting their preferred genre.

This freedom of choice cansometimes mean the differencebetween developing an avidreader and a reluctant one.

Reading is one of the mostimportant ways for children toenrich their learning of English.Reading exposes them to avariety of vocabulary, array ofspelling patterns and the correctuse of grammar and sentencestructures.

Morris Allen English adoptsan interactive learningprogramme that not only

involves reading, but alsoencompasses speaking, listening,writing and creative thinking.

These crucial skills areinterrelated, allowing studentsto develop their potential in theholistic knowledge of using theEnglish language.

Nurturing creativity andoriginality allows students toexpress their ideas both verballyand through writing.

Teachers achieve this throughhigher-order questioning,requiring students to makeinferences based uponpredictions and personalexperiences.

When students are supportedthrough this process, positivediscussion is evoked, leading tofurther ideas for creative writing.

Another avenue that buildsstudents’ confidence in using theEnglish language is speech anddrama classes, where the focus isplaced on speaking and givingpresentations.

In these classes, students areinvolved in fun speaking androle-playing exercises, oralreadings to entertain and speechpresentations with guidancefrom qualified native-speakingEnglish teachers.

With English being a globallanguage, Morris Allen English

understands the importance ofthe language in today’s world.Morris Allen English builds its

students to become individualswith a strong command of theEnglish language, preparingthem for greater opportunities inthe future.

n For more information,call 03-7610 9889 or visitwww.morrisallen-malaysia.com.

in the teaching methodology,learning philosophy or objectives,assessment methods andextracurricular activities offered.

These curricula are

benchmarked against internationalstandards that emphasise learningprocesses rather than the results.

Parents today have moreopportunities of finding the right

international school that meetstheir requirements.

Mint Communications SdnBhd initiated the Private &International School Fair seriesin 2012 to showcase thedifferent curricula.

These fairs allow parents toobtain useful information aboutinternational schools and letthem speak to representativesfrom these schools. Every year,the fairs attract an increasingnumber of schools, preschools,learning centres and parents.

According to Nickie Yew,co-founder and director of MintCommunications Sdn Bhd,“Parents often face the complex

task of choosing the rightinternational curriculum.

“Through our fairs, parentscan find out more about theiroptions in international schoolsbefore making a decision.”

In the upcoming fair on July16 and 17, parents will be able tomeet and speak to principalsand head teachers from variousinternational schools.

In addition, there will be talkson the Cambridge programmesand factors to consider whenchoosing a school.

International educationconsultant Santhi Latha will bepresenting a comparisonbetween the Malaysian andinternational curricula, whileFigur8 founder Dr Lee Shen-Liwill be giving advice on how toraise successful children in the21st century.

Visitors will be able to get thelatest edition of Education Destination Malaysia, acomprehensive guidebook thatlists all international schools inMalaysia and provides essential

information to help parentsmake informed decisions.

Admission is free. Interestedindividuals can register online atwww.pisf.asia to receive updateson the fair.

n For the latest list ofexhibitors, visit www. PrivateInternationalSchoolFair.com.







Expansion toimprove learningSUNWAY International School (SIS)was founded on the mottoNurturing Mind, BuildingCharacter and has stood firm withthis principle ever since.

As an education provider in afast-paced society, SIS has beenconsistent in providing anenvironment for students toflourish.

SIS strives to provide aneducational platform for all

students to continuously grow asan individual both inside andoutside of the classroom, which ismade possible through eliminatinglimitations in the learningenvironment.

The ever-growing student bodymeans that there is a need for SISto expand. Recently, the schoolexpanded its wings to the EastBuilding.

The East Building offers anadditional 11 classrooms, a musicroom and drama room. Theexpansion of school facilitiesprovides a richer learningenvironment for the SIS


bright kids 13

community.The performing arts is one of the

most exciting areas of learning inschool and SIS has providedstudents and teachers with a new,modern Black Box drama room.

Complete with a set of risers tocreate a stage, curtains, lightingand its own sound equipment, it isa facility that will please allperformers.

Music also plays an integral role

in the field of performing arts andSIS acknowledges the importanceof music as part of developing artand literacy.

Hence, the new music roomcaters to music-loving students as afree space to unleash their innermusician. It is also one of the manysteps taken towards introducing amusic programme at SIS next year.

On top of that, the school libraryhas been relocated to the EastBuilding. The enlarged facilitycan now cater to three timesmore students than before.

Equipped with an online searchterminal, the space also introduced

The new library at Sunway International School offers various zones,including a leisure zone, to accommodate different learning needs.

five zones to cater to differentneeds – media zone, silent studyzone, leisure zone, printing zoneand a collaborative study zone.

At SIS, students are given theopportunity to expand andimprove literacy through severalfun initiatives, including The Battleof the Books and the annualSunway National Poetry Slam(SNaPS).

These fun out-of-class activities

improve students’ literacy andcomplement a holistic educationsystem.

The Battle of the Books, whichwas organised by the school librarycommittee, aims to improveliteracy by developing readingskills and promoting the readingculture as a lifestyle.

In this competition, teamsof students read a selection ofnovels and compete to answer aseries of trivia questions based onthe novels.

A stellar performance byparticipants of all grades is a goodsign that the SIS community has

embraced a reading culture.

The third annual SNaPS for SISwas once again a great success. SISwas awarded the overall championtitle for the third year running.

This remarkable achievementis the result of the dedicationand commitment from the schoolcommunity in encouragingstudents’ creative endeavoursand ensuring that students thriveoutside the classroom.

Following the success of thecampus in Bandar Sunway, SIS hasannounced the launch of a new Johor campus in Sunway Iskandar,Medini next year. The new campuswill offer programmes catering to

early years up to Year 12.

In May, SIS was announcedthe Gold winner for the Reader’sDigest Trusted Brand Award in 2016in the Private/International Schoolcategory, the first school to win theaward for two consecutive years.

SIS was also endorsed in thesame month by the EducationMinistry to receive the 5-StarQuality Standards Awards forPrivate Education Institutions(Skips) for this year.

SIS’ next intake begins in July.

n For more information,call 03-7491 8070 or visitwww.sis.sunway.edu.my.




TUESDAY 7 JUNE 2016

Healthyamily drinkFORE you power through a busyy, your body needs sufficientergy and nutrients.While we often turn to ourourite foods such as nasi lemakeed ourselves and our childrenore we head out, these foods

ntain few health benefits andse hunger to strike beforechtime.

enets of purple sweetotatoes

t is startling to note that one inr children between the ages ofto 17 skip breakfast while thoseo do consume breakfast eathealthy meals, according to theionwide MyBreakfast Studyiated by the Nutrition Society

Malaysia.t also adds that only one in fourmary school children and oneive secondary school children

nsume wholegrain productsh as cereal and bread.

This is worrisome since it is

known that wholegrain foods cankeep us feeling full for longer andcontain ample health benefits.

Consuming our dailyrecommended intake of nutrientsis important for a healthy mindand body. However, this can bechallenging with a demandingschedule. This is where NH NutriGrains can make life simpler.

NH Nutri Grains is a wholesome

health drink made from 20nutrient-rich grains, purple sweetpotatoes and soluble fibres,including FibreSol-2 and inulin.

This tasty instant beveragecontains grains that are packedwith protein, dietary fibre,vitamins, minerals andphytonutrients for good health.

The purple sweet potato is anutrition powerhouse – it is anexcellent source of fibre, vitaminsand minerals and antioxidants,and can help lower blood pressureand boost immunity.

This root vegetable has thehighest antioxidant content

compared to other sweet potatoeswith white, orange or yellowflesh. Purple sweet potatoescontain anthocyanin, a flavonoidpigment that gives it its distinctivecolour.

It also contains higherantioxidant levels compared tosuperfoods such as blueberries,making it an essential componentto incorporate into your family’sdiet.

A complete drink foreveryone

Our modern schedules may be

demanding but there is a way tostay healthy despite a hecticlifestyle.

With NH Nutri Grains, fulfillingyour daily nutrient requirementsbecomes a cinch. Simply mix twoscoops of NH Nutri Grain powderwith cold or hot water and enjoythis tasty beverage daily, anytime,anywhere.

Kids will love the taste of beinghealthy with NH Nutri Grain.With its rich, flavourful taste,your children can gain importantnutrients for a healthy growthand feel energised throughouttheir day.

The aroma of healthy grainswill make this an enjoyable drinkfor adults, the elderly andchildren alike, besides offeringhealth benefits such as promotingdigestive health and bowelregularity, among others.

Keep your kids and familystrong and robust with NH NutriGrains. NH Nutri Grains retails atRM78 (introductory price) for a1kg tin. The drink is available atall Watsons outlets.

n For more information,call 1300 882 993 or visitwww.nhnutrient.com.

Kick-start your daywith NH Nutri Grains.

Holiday funat home

SCHOOL holidays are a time for children toplay and unwind, but busy working parentsmay find it hard to find time for longvacations.

Besides having fun and relaxing, childrenalso need to be consistently engaged inactivities that keep their minds and bodiesalert during their downtime.

Parents can get the ball rolling at homethese school holidays by engaging in simpleyet exciting and productive activities to keeptheir children occupied. Try these toencourage your child to explore and growwhile making good use of their break.l Start a big project and work on it with

your child throughout the break. Building atree house together, for example, willexpose children to tools and safetyprocedures in do-it-yourself projects and

teach them how to bring their imaginationto life.l Older children can work on more

complex projects such as making a shortmovie. Get them to write the script, figureout props, costumes and locations, and shootand edit with some guidance. Besideslearning basic movie-making skills, they willalso have a creative outlet that can make it afun group activity.l Dedicate some time every day to

teaching your child a new skill such as

baking or cooking. Get them to identifytheir favourite flavours and foods andsource for the ingredients together.Learning to cook or bake also instilsa sense of self-sustainability andresponsibility.l Involve educational lessons in

everyday life and allow children to applywhat they have learnt at school in the pastterm. When shopping, for example, useprinciples of physics to explain howshopping carts work and basicmathematics to calculate expenditureand advise on sticking to a budget.l Get your children to start a holiday

journal or scrapbook to document theirschool break. They can take photos andwrite notes on exciting activities, differentfoods they have tried, a TV programme that

they enjoyed or any interesting events thattook place. This encourages creativity whileensuring children are constantly observingtheir surroundings, writing down theirthoughts and expressing their ideas.l Bring the outdoors indoors by camping

in the house or backyard. With just a fewsleeping bags, torchlights and snacks, youcan entertain children by telling stories orbuilding a pillow and blanket fort. Let theirimagination run wild and children will findinteresting ways to entertain themselves.



Wonderfully lost in QoloraFOLLOWING the blazing trail ofprevious plays such as Mamma

Mia, Tarzan, Nanny the Musical,Green Witch and Kristella the

Musical, this year’s livepresentation Lost in Qolora byR.E.A.L Schools’ Cheras campus isanother full-fledged, self-producedmusical that lived up to its promiseof thrilling existing fans once moreand winning over new ones with aspectacular showcase of theatre,music and dance.

The campus’ Hall of Characterwas once again transformed intoan enthralling wilderness that isQolora.

The two-hour musical, which ranrecently on three consecutive days,kept audiences engrossed andentertained with captivatingperformances and even specialeffects with fire breathers.

Lost in Qolora is testament that

last year’s success of R.E.A.LSchools’ maiden originalproduction, Kristella, was no flashin the pan. In fact, this latestinstalment has upped the ante,especially in terms of costumesand set design.

The superb live music that wasperformed by talented members ofthe school orchestra and choir alsofeatured songs that were originallycomposed by the Cheras campusstaff themselves – in particular itspassionate band of musicians.

Lost in Qolora tells the story ofVelma, an obstinate and rebelliouschild who craves for her parents to


bright kids 15

be more attentive to her needs.She survives a plane crash but

ends up alone and stranded in the jungles of Qolora as the fate of heroverbearing parents following thecrash is unknown.

Rescued from a pack of ravenouswolves by Tigara the tiger, Velma is

Musical Lost in Qolora performed by students of R.E.A.L School Cheras was asuccess and showcased the many talents of its students.

subsequently taken in by the tiger’sfamily and friends.

The storyline also revolvesaround Tigara, who discovers thetruth behind his true origins whilebeing forced to stave off anenemy’s plot to kill him and reignterror over the kingdom of Qolora.

According to parent Choy CheeMei, “ Lost in Qolora surpassed myexpectations of a school musical.Apart from the breathtakingproduction, the story propagatesthe value and importance ofteaching love to our children.”

“Being in a musical has exposedme to the various techniques thatenhance an actor’s performanceand director’s vision of the play.Polishing these skills, whichinvolve singing, dancing andimprovisation, is a key element inbringing a musical to life,” saysLam Cher Sze, who played Velma.

“With wonderfully patientteachers guiding us every step of

the way, we rose to the challengeand I now have a newfound loveand respect for acting,” says fellowcast member Adam Adnan.

Britney Lim Yee Nie concurs,saying, “This musical has taughtme the finer details of acting. It hasalso influenced my individualityand altered my perspective of theperforming arts. This is a living,breathing art form that can stirand evoke strong emotionsbetween the performers andaudience,” she says.

During the musical’s half-timeintermission, there was a fashionrunway show featuring youthful,

budding models who paraded awide range of original clothingcreations crafted exclusively byCheras campus’ Art & Designdepartment.

It was a perfect platformfor aspiring fashion designersand models to showcase theirfabulous designs and innovativetalents.

The department was alsotasked with coming up withthe musical’s array of amazingcostumes and props.

Lost in Qolora is a majorundertaking that was months inthe making. It reinforces R.E.A.LSchools’ practice and philosophy

of providing quality, balancededucation that goes beyondacademic results.

The performing arts, alongwith a host of other uniqueextracurricular activities andschool events, play a vital rolein fulfilling R.E.A.L’s mission oftransforming lives andcommunities.

n For more information, callR.E.A.L Schools at 03-9021 3601(Cheras campus), 03-7842 3228(Shah Alam campus) or 07-3864468 (Johor Baru campus) orvisit www.realschools.edu.my.




TUESDAY 7 JUNE 2016

Upholding educational excellence2011, Taylor’s Internationalool, Kuala Lumpur, changedm using the national curriculumMalaysia to the nationalriculum of England andorporated the Internationalmary Curriculum (IPC) into itsmary school at the same time.

The transition into theernational curriculum overlast five years has beencessful.

This year, the school was oncein recognised by the Education

nistry as a five-star school in itsality standard awards forvate education institutions.

Another sign of success and its

ching and learning quality is itseptional students’ievements.n a short period of four years ofing the IGCSE examinations, itsdents have garnered 10 Top inlaysia awards and two Top inWorld awards given by

mbridge Internationalaminations.The school continues to have aong holistic approach toucation and this is seen by itscess in sports as well as thewing popularity of the school’sforming arts talents.

Last year, the school was invited

Taylor’s International School, Kuala Lumpur will strengthen its curriculum offering next year with the introductionof A-Levels for Years 12 and 13.

to perform at 1 Utama ShoppingCentre as part of the Music andDance Festival event and at anational corporate awardsceremony attended by the mostsuccessful businesses in Malaysia.

Taylor’s International School,Kuala Lumpur, continues to grow

and carry on its tradition ofexcellence.

The school is proud to expand toinclude a Sixth Form programmein January next year for Years 12and 13.

This is a pre-universityprogramme built upon the success

of IGCSE and will offer A-Levelsenhanced with teaching ofleadership and life skills.

This two-year programme notonly focuses on academicexcellence but also preparesstudents for university and beyondby incorporating a leadership and

life skills programme alongside theacademic subjects.

The school will be offering arange of A-Levels subjects,including mathematics, science,business and humanity.

A-Levels is one of the mostrecognised pre-universityqualifications and is used to gainentry to universities around theworld, including Malaysia.

However, universities these daysare asking for more than pureacademic qualifications – theyexpect students to have life andleadership skills and experiencesthat extend far beyond classroomsubjects. The programmes are

offered within the comfort offamiliar and safe surroundings,where teaching is student-centred.

The TIS Leadership programmeand enhanced co-curricularactivities will expose students inpractical learning modules.

Students will undertake teamand individual projects to furtherenhance their leadership qualitiesand life skills.

n For more information about theSixth Form programme at Taylor’sInternational School, KualaLumpur, visit www.tis.edu.myor call 03-9200 9898.

7. Pour oatmeal mixture into baking dishand bake for 20 minutes or untiloatmeal is golden brown and set.

8. Remove from oven and serve warm.9. Add additional toppings of choice.

(Adapted from www.twopeasandtheirpod.com)

Salmon cream cheeseIngredients:l 6 ounces cream cheesel 2 tablespoons Greek yoghurtl 1 tablespoon capers, drained and rinsedl 1 tablespoon red onion, dicedl 2 teaspoons freshly squeezed lemon

juicel ½ teaspoon horseradish or English

mustardl 2 ounces smoked salmon, coarsely

chopped and dividedl 1 tablespoon chopped parsley for

garnishl Lemon slice for garnish

Instructions:1. Process cream cheese, yoghurt, capers,

red onion, horseradish or English mustardand lemon juice until well incorporated.2. Add two ounces of chopped smoked

salmon and continue processing untilsmooth.

3. Transfer cream cheese to a servingbowl, stirring in the remaining two ounceschopped smoked salmon.

4. Garnish with chopped parsley and addlemon slice on top.

BreakfastideasPARENTS usually wait until children are alittle older to let them help out with cooking,but you can introduce younger children tothe kitchen with simple recipes that are fun,quick and tasty. This school break, let yourkids have their hand at being chef for themorning with these two yummy breakfastrecipes.

Parents or older siblings can help the littleones with cutting ingredients up and usingthe oven. Children can follow these simplesteps to spruce up their oatmeal breakfast or

prepare a delicious dip that could double asa snack.

Apple cinnamon baked oatmealIngredients:l 2 cups oatsl ¼ cup light brown sugarl 1 ½ teaspoons cinnamonl 1 teaspoon baking powderl ¼ teaspoon saltl 1 ½ cups milkl ½ cup applesaucel 1 tablespoon melted butterl 2 egg whitesl 1 teaspoon vanillal 1 large Granny Smith apple, peeled,

cored and diced

Optional toppings: Brown sugar, raisins,dried cranberries, chopped almonds

Instructions:1. Preheat oven to 350°F.2. Coat an 8x8 inch baking dish with

cooking spray.3. Combine and mix oats, brown sugar,

cinnamon, baking powder and salt in alarge bowl.

4. Whisk milk, applesauce, butter, eggwhite and vanilla in a separate bowl.

5. Pour wet ingredients over dryingredients Stir until combined

Apple cinnamon baked oatmeal.

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Bright Kids - 7 June 2016