From the Head of Secondary 03.12.2022
Breast Cancer Awareness: Pink Day Proceeds
On Tuesday morning we were delighted to welcome members of the Kinabalu Breast Cancer Awareness Team (Kinabalu Pink Ribbon) into school to be presented with the funds (RM 2161) which were collected by the Student Council during Pink Day on the 28th October.
Kinabalu Pink Ribbon was formed by a group of women who had experienced breast cancer and realised that there is a great need of support for women and men affected by breast cancer in Sabah. It started with one woman who contacted other survivors and they gathered together to share experiences and support. The Reach to Recovery (RTR) group set up its committee under the umbrella of an existing NGO in 2001 with the same aims and objectives at that of the Reach to Recovery International. Almost 10 years later, this group of courageous women felt it was time to step up and form an NGO for the women of Sabah. They realised the need to reach out to the general public and to advocate early detection of breast cancer as well as to address the dire need for peer support for women/men affected and diagnosed with breast cancer. Kinabalu Breast Cancer Support Association was officially registered with the Register of Societies on the 7th June 2010. The society is known as the Kinabalu Pink Ribbon and the President and Founder is Datin Lucilla Pang, who we met on Tuesday.
It was very interesting talking to these ladies as they outlined the tremendous (purely voluntary) work that they are doing across Sabah. One aspect involves giving talks to different groups, including in schools, and we are planning to invite them into school so that they can share their knowledge with our students and raise awareness of breast cancer within our student, staff and perhaps parent bodies.
Many thanks to all members of our community who generously donated to this very worthy cause!
A Level Options Presentation
At this time of year we are talking to our Year 11 students about the Sixth Form at KIS, and what is involved. These students are getting closer to taking their IGCSE exams, with one milestone, the Mocks, happening at the start of next term. These will be followed by the actual exams in May / June. It is all happening very quickly and the weeks are going by very quickly so in school they have been hearing about the different of subjects that are on offer for A Levels.
On Tuesday this week Mrs Colbeck, Head of Key Stage 5, held a well-attended meeting for parents where she gave a presentation which covered all aspects of the A Level Programme, and why taking these important courses at KIS is a very good idea. She spoke about the advantages of our qualified and experienced A Level teachers, small class sizes, extra-curricular activities including leadership opportunities and individualised careers counselling and support with university applications. Not least in all of this is the wide range of subjects on offer. Mrs Colbeck explained the process that the students went through in choosing their four subjects, with the absolute necessity of choosing subjects that the student thinks they will enjoy and be good at as a starting point.
At this stage there are many students who are still very unsure about what they would like to study at university and what career they would like to have, and that is perfectly normal. We are here to help, advise and support.
A final word from me this week. On Thursday evening I attended a wonderful evening of music courtesy of our brilliantly talented students.
Well done to Adam, Grace, Sarah, Ruth, Calista, Wesley, Marcus, YI Chen, Toby, Dominic, Laverne, Timothy, Julia, Vayne, Iman, Ada, Fion, Eshaana, Helena, Kayden and of course Ms Tretter. It was fabulous!
Have a wonderful weekend and after that, it’s BOOK WEEK!
Mrs Margaret Renshaw
Deputy Principal / Head of Secondary
Final reminders for Book Week – NEXT WEEK!
It’s so very nearly now, the excitement for Book Week is palpable! Some reminders about the key events coming up during the week:
Book Crossing– The cafe will be hosting this event, so when you drop by for coffee, just pick up a book to go with it! Even better, bring one to swap.
Book Fair– We will be hosting a Book Fair in the MPR this year, and all Primary students will get the chance to peruse the titles on offer, and opportunities to buy some lovely new books!
Book Swap– All Primary students should have hopefully brought in a book to swap, so they will all have a ‘new’ preloved book to read.
PJ Day– Don’t forget to put on your best pajamas on Thursday 8th Dec- we are celebrating the joy of bedtime reading, and the whole school is invited!
Cake Contest– Are you up to the challenge of creating a baking wonder? Make a cake with a book theme, and celebrate your creative genius by scoffing it down on Friday 9th Dec.
Character Parade– I hope the costume-making is all going well – I have quite a lot of crafting and spray painting to do this weekend for mine! But the parade on Friday will be magnificent, and there will glory, pride, and cakes as prizes for the best!
Mrs Colbeck
Head of Key Stage 5
Teacher / Librarian
