From the Principal 28.03.2020
Dear KIS Community,
A full week of online learning, well done everyone. I am really proud of the efforts of our community. Though I do need to remind a few parents to please keep an eye on what your children are doing online and to make sure they are accessing their learning. We do appreciate this can be difficult at times and might mean siblings having to share devices. Please do let us know if you are experiencing any access problems so that we can try and support you.
During home learning, where possible, make sure your children are in a public part of your home when they are online and if in a separate room, the door should be open. Please also make sure they are dressed appropriately, if not in uniform, at the very least they should not be in their pyjamas when online or posting videos. Maintaining their online safety and wellbeing is very important to us and the school IT acceptable use policies are still in place, even at home.
When mentioning wellbeing, it is more important than ever that your children are getting regular exercise, even if in a limited inside or a small outside space. Our PE department have been fantastic in providing fun and inventive ways of getting exercise and I would urge you to take PE lessons as one of our core subjects at this time. You don’t need me to remind you of the benefits of exercise and how this impacts on our mental wellbeing.
It’s not just for children, all of us must find the time to do some exercise and keep our bodies and minds active whilst we are living within a movement control order.
Being in close proximity with all our family members can be fantastic, it can also be very stressfull. Arguments do happen, our patience can wear thin at times, even for the most patient of us. I wouldn’t be too surprised if some of us are getting a little snappy at times and probably regretting it straight away. We all have these feelings from time to time. If things are becoming a little too much please do feel free to contact Siti, our school counsellor, (counsellor@kis.edu.my). Siti is available to all members of our community and will be happy to offer advice or simply just listen if you need. Reach out, don’t stress out.
I have been reaching out myself, with colleagues in China who have been going through home learning much longer than we have. It is reassuring to know that we are not alone in the emotions we are feeling from being at home for a long period of time and missing our friends. Try not to dwell on the negatives and focus on personal goals that are achievable. Try to maintain regular routines and build in new ones with your family and friends, whether in person or online. We all need routine, children and adults, and maintaining them will help get us through this difficult time.
Be sure to check your emails, we have sent information about school reports, the Easter holidays that are coming up as well as updated information regarding examinations. Keep up the fantastic work you are all doing and remember to do some exercise.
Finally, today is Earth Day, read more about this in the Primary section and how you can get involved and do your bit for our planet.
I wish you all a lovely weekend,
Ian Gross
Principal
