From the Principal 27.01.2024

‘Ambitious’ is a word that sometimes understood in a bad light. However it is an attribute I believe is needed for all good schools to be successful and should be embraced.

Being ambitious is about setting clear targets and pursuing with conviction achievable but aspirational goals.

When this attribute is fused with care and compassion, great things are possible.

Yesterday afternoon KIS welcomed ‘1 Stop Borneo’ to school for the launch of their ‘Wildlife Youth Ambassador Program’. 1 Stop Borneo is an NGO focused jointly on conservation efforts as well as educating young people about the bio-diversity of this beautiful part of the world. The organization is barely a decade old and is doing incredible things across Sarawak, Brunei and Sabah; from delivering talks and workshops to taking meaningful action to preserve, maintain and regenerate the natural environment both on land and at sea.

The aim of their youth ambassador program is support students from a range of schools across Sarawak, Sabah and Brunei to become experts in the bio-diversity of the region as well as become leaders in conservation efforts in their own contexts. While this may sound simple enough, to be successful requires the collaboration of multiple schools across multiple states and countries, as well as experts, businesses and NGOs to all working together.

The premise of the program is of course incredibly exciting, but as I listened to the speeches yesterday during the launch what I found even more amazing was the energy, conviction and passion with which the team from 1 Stop Borneo (and the committed teachers associated with the program  – including our very own Ms. Gibbons and Ms. McPherson), were pursuing its success. 1 Stop Borneo had set very ambitious goals for the program and their approach to inspiring positive change as well as working with local communities was very exciting.

The program is in its first year and it is a great honor to not only see several KIS students as part of the inaugural batch of youth ambassadors, but to also have the privilege of hosting the event at school.

Today the Board of Governors along with the Senior and Extended Leadership Teams will meet at school to work on strategic plans to guide the next phase of the KIS school journey. The day will be a very exciting one in which new ideas will be shared, problems solved and plans committed to to take KIS to the next level.

To ensure that day is a success, that we are able to lay foundations for future growth and inspire positive change, the ambitious spirit displayed by 1 Stop Borneo is something that the leadership team will certainly be emulating.

I am confident that in the coming months we will be able to share with the community our own ambitious plans for the future of KIS. Plans built on care, compassion and the aspiration to continue providing the best education and school experience for our future global citizens.

Sam Gipson