From the Head of Secondary 09.01.2021

It has been wonderful to see students back in school this week; this is where we all prefer to be. The students [and staff!] have been delighted to see each other, talk to each other and enjoy each other’s company. The transition into the physical from the virtual teaching and learning experience has gone very smoothly indeed. Many thanks to parents who have played their part in supporting this, including dropping off children at the correct time in the morning [so that all students are here by 7.30] and in adapting again to the 2.45pm pick-up for KS3 students and Key Stages 4 and 5 at 3pm.

From Monday next week to the 20th January we have the Year 11 Mock Examinations. This is a very important event in the school calendar. We replicate the experience of the May/June IGCSEs exams in that we follow all of the Cambridge Board’s rules and regulations. This gives the students an authentic experience and prepares them well for the future tests. The exams give the students an opportunity to consolidate their learning thus far and, when the papers are assessed, teachers will be able to see where the relative weaknesses are in the cohort and in the individual, and will be able to plan future lessons accordingly, seeing where extra emphasis needs to be focussed. The exams also provide vital evidence for the confidential forecast grades which teachers have to provide every year to the Cambridge Board before the May/June session begins.

After the mocks, we will be providing supplementary sessions for Year 11 in the different subjects. Ms Service is currently planning the schedule for these after-school lessons and we will inform parents and students about them in due course. 

Next week sees an inaugural event for KIS. From the 13th to the 16th January. Our Duke of Edinburgh International Gold Award candidates will be undertaking their practice Adventurous Journey [Year 12] and actual Adventurous Journey [Year 13]. In addition to challenging physically distanced hikes the students will be camping on the school field each night, under strict AJ SOP rules. This is the first time such an event has been held, overnighting within the school site and with route plans starting and finishing at KIS. We wish all the students the very best in this venture and thank Ms McNutt, our DoE Coordinator, as well as Mr and Mrs Colbeck, Ms Watt and Mr Hallas for their support of this event.  

Many thanks to Celine Hiew, Year 8K, for sending me an account of a very special event that she organised, with family, on the 18th December. 

 Read on to find out  how Celine spread Christmas cheer: “From kindness there arises the best form of happiness.” 

Well done Celine!

Mrs Margaret Renshaw

Deputy Principal

Head of Secondary

Christmas is a widely celebrated festival in Sabah, when people make merry and have fun. It is also a time for family and making happy memories. Unfortunately, some people are not as fortunate, and don’t have the means to celebrate Christmas.

This year I decided to gift people at Leshan Home for Special People, in Kota Kinabalu, with toys, homemade cookies and the gift of music. I made a collaboration for the concert with Mr Neo, a kalimba tutor. The kalimba is a modern version of the old African instrument mbira. It is also sometimes called the thumb piano. Me and my siblings, as well as my cousin, made the 120 mouth-watering mini chocolate chip cookies.

On the 18^th of December, I and Mr. Neo travelled to the home, armed with Christmas songs. When we arrived in the large white building, we were greeted by a sea of faces and children, sitting restlessly on chairs. But as we started played, I noticed happy smiles form on the children’s faces, and I felt a wave of euphoria. Christmas is, after all, not only a time for getting presents, but also for giving them.

We are all finding Covid-19 hard, however we should try to look on the bright side.

“Kindness is spreading sunshine into other people’s lives, no matter the weather.”