From the Head of Secondary 18.05.2024

We are all very aware that the weeks are flying by and very soon it will be the last week of this academic year! Between now and then there is a lot happening:

Of course, this list of events really only represents a fraction of what is going on in Secondary. Parents, the Ground Staff and Mrs Colbeck have been working tremendously hard preparing the library to be transported to its new environment. A dedicated group of parents demonstrated very impressive book-wrapping skills, working at speed to ensure that parcels of books were well prepared, so that our Ground Staff crew could transport them carefully downstairs to their new home in the current multi-purpose room. Mrs Colbeck was competently overseeing the whole operation. She has assured the parent crew that she is very willing to give them all A* for Achievement and Effort, and if they ever need references for job applications to removal companies, they only need to turn to her!

We are very much looking forward to having Year 6 joining Secondary for three days in June. Ms Beresford is currently finalizing the arrangements. As part of that, on the 18^th June we will also be holding a meeting for our Year 6 Parents so that we can give information and answer any questions that there may be. Secondary is quite different to Primary, and there is lot to adjust to, for students and for parents.

Year 7 to 10 Exams: Coming next Month

These exams will take place from the 4^th to the 11^th June and at the moment and moving forward teachers are preparing students to achieve their potential with revision and practice. These exams are carried out in conditions which emulate those at IGCSE and A Level. By sitting exams in Key Stage 3 and Year 10, we can prepare our students for their later experience, and they will therefore be better prepared and potentially will find IGCSE and A Levels less stressful. We understand that some students, particularly those in Year 7, might never have experienced formal exams previously and we work hard to ensure that they feel as comfortable as possible throughout the process. We pay close attention also to any new students who have not been with us for the whole year; allowances will be made for them and they are encouraged to simply try their best.

Amazing Success for KIS student Winnie Pon!

Last month Winnie, in Year 10, participated in The United States Biology Olympiad (USABO), and achieved a Global Gold Award!

The United States Biology Olympiad (USABO) is a global competition which is held annually. It tests the participant’s knowledge of both theory and lab skills in Biology, including MCQs, short answers, and practical rounds. The official website is:  https://www.usabo-trc.org/usa-biolympiad.

Winnie says “I started prepping for this competition a year ago, and took part in it during the end of term 2 break (April 6th). Results were released this month, while I was on the Duke of Edinburgh AJ. I feel grateful for the opportunity to represent Kinabalu International School (KIS) in participating in this competition.”

Congratulations Winnie! This is a fantastic achievement.  

Have a wonderful weekend!

Mrs Margaret Renshaw

Head of Secondary / Deputy Principal

Silver Practise Adventurous Journey

On Thursday 9th May, 21 students from Year 10 embarked on their Practice Adventurous Journey in Kota Belud District, walking and navigating the roads, tracks and trails to, around and from Daradaat View Campsite.

With the support of an accomplished staff Award Supervisor team from KIS and local guides and logistics crew we were able to guide our students to the successful completion of this 3 day Journey under the stunning shadow of Mt Kinabalu.

Report by RED HUE

Exploration is a human instinct, and the forces that drive us forward are diverse. It may be due to the love of knowledge, the persistence of challenges, and the expectation of the unknown. No matter which one it is, it is the driving force behind THE RED HUE’s growth and progress.

Carrying a mountaineering bag on our backs and setting off bravely, the mountain road is rugged, but our footsteps are firm and persistent. THE RED HUE worked together really well as a team. We understood that success relied not only on individual capabilities but also our ability to work as a cohesive unit. Throughout the whole journey, each member understood their roles and carried out their respective responsibilities, ensuring that no one was left behind. Our motto for the team is “To Leave No One Behind”

While the RED HUE team displayed commendable teamwork during the adventurous journey, there is always room for improvement. We believe that our pre-purpose work preparations and kit list should be further reinforced and checked to ensure optimal progress of our team. We look forward to the qualifying Duke of Edinburgh Adventurous Journey in October!

Report by Seb’s Scouts

We managed to do well on time on the second day, but a bit late on the last day. However, whilst the AJ was tiring, overall we had a fun experience, with the food we cooked being tasty and cooling off sitting in the river by camp  was fun as well. We also need to work on the timing of our breaks. In conclusion however, Seb was almighty and handsome!

Report by YU2

It was a fun trip. We spent a lot of time taking photos and admiring the scenery along the route which was our team’s goal. We had to take a few extra rest stops to support team members but we still managed to finish this Practice DOE as a strong team!

Year 10 Geographers Go Out and About!

Tuesday this week brought another great opportunity for our Geographers to get outdoors and experience their iGCSE course first hand.

The six Year 10 students left with Ms McPherson and Mr Gipson at 7:45am, eager for a day of physical geography fieldwork. This included a morning on a tributary of the River Kiulu where they learnt a range of river fieldwork techniques, including measuring river velocity, wetted perimeter and channel gradient, with a clinometer.

After lunch while sheltering from the rain, they headed back to KK and spent the afternoon on Tanjung Aru beach completing coastal fieldwork techniques. Students tested for longshore drift and compared sediment size using calipers. All of these skills are truly invaluable for the paper 4 exam in their iGCSE next year. Students who see and practice these skills in real life have a huge advantage over those who are confined to learning them in a classroom.

We are proud at KIS to consistently offer these experiences to our iGCSE Geography candidates, and proud of our students for their hard work and enthusiasm on the day.