Teacher training by Dr Kaleswary on 11 Nov 2020 wason enhanced and advanced applications and new toolsavailable for teachers for their online learning. The latesttool shared was Socrative which teachers may use toengage, assess and personalize their classes. Educatorscan initiate formative assessments through quizzes, quickquestion polls, exit tickets and space races. Socrative willinstantly grade, aggregate and provide visuals of resultsto help teachers identify students’ understanding.

America's new President-elect, Joe Biden, suffered many personal tragedies and professionalchallenges. Just when he was to be confirmed as a USA Senator, his wife Neilia HunterBiden, a teacher and 13-month-old daughter died in a road accident while his other twoyoung sons suffered injuries. Joe Biden became a single parent at the age of 30. In 1987 and2007, he tried unsuccessfully to enter the race for presidency. Then in 2015 another tragedystruck when his son Beau Biden, a decorated war hero who wanted to run for Governor ofDelaware, died of cancer at age 46.

Despite all his setbacks and tragedies, he still found strength within himself to continueundaunted. His inspiration comes from a framed cartoon strip on his desk of Hagar theHorrible, the red-bearded Viking character created by American cartoonist Dik Browne. Inthe cartoon strip, Hagar, stranded on a rock in a violent storm as his ship sinks, lashed bythunder and lightning shouts 'Why me?' A voice from above replies with a simple, 'Why not?’

Hence Joe Biden’s philosophy of life is to face reality and meet the challenges. However badthings may seem, many people are going through a lot worse than us. 'If you don't get up, itwill crush you’. But there are ways to prevent this crush. Those dearest and closest to thepeople who are suffering must reach out to give them solace, and help them find a purpose.Parents, guardians and educators therefore need to help our young ones learn resilience,build a strong character and find their purpose in life. With a strong purpose, they will beable to face and overcome challenges to become better than what we are. That would alsobe our ultimate success as we have guided our next generation to be better than ours.

Ongoing TeacherTraining in MPS

Virtual PTC in MIEY

We Are What WeEat: The TasteReceptors

Local Exposure inMIS Music - DikirBarat

The Challenge ofLearning A NewLanguage

MGS DeepavaliCelebration

Lap Book ReportProject

ONGOINGTEACHER

TRAINING INMPS

MGS ECHO2 0 N O V E M B E R 2 0 2 0 , I S S U E 8 6

THISWEEK'STOPICS

CAMPUS PRINCIPAL'SMESSAGE

Matrix Global Schools Weekly Newsletter

Ongoing Teacher Training

matrixschools.edu.my

- Nelson Mandela -

(President of South Africa)

"Winner is adreamer who

never gives up."

Joe Biden, bakal Presiden baru Amerika Syarikat, telah mengharungi pelbagai tragedi dan cabaran dalam kehidupan dankariernya. Tatkala beliau menerima pelantikan sebagai Senator Amerika Syarikat, isterinya Neilia Hunter Biden, seorang guru,dan anak perempuannya yang berumur 13 bulan meninggal dunia akibat kemalangan jalan raya yang turut mencederakan 2orang anak lelakinya. Joe Biden telah bergelar bapa tunggal pada umur 30 tahun. Pada tahun 1987 dan 2007, beliau gagal dalamcubaan memenangi kerusi presiden. Pada tahun 2015 pula, satu lagi tragedi telah melanda beliau di mana anaknya, Beau Biden,seorang perwira perang yang ingin mencalonkan diri sebagai Gabenor Delaware meninggal dunia akibat barah pada usia 46tahun.

Walaupun terpaksa mengharungi segala dugaan ini, beliau tetap menguatkan semangat dan terus berusaha. Inspirasi beliaudatang daripada keratan komik yang dibingkaikan di atas meja beliau, iaitu ‘Hagar the Horrible’, sebuah karakter Vikingberjambang merah yang dicipta oleh kartunis Amerika, Dik Browne. Dalam keratan komik tersebut, Hagar terdampar di atasbatuan di kala ribut kuat yang menenggelamkan kapalnya lalu menjerit, “Kenapa saya?” Satu suara dari langit menjawab denganringkas, “Kenapa tidak?”

Justeru, falsafah hidup Joe Biden adalah untuk berdepan dengan realiti dan menghadapi cabaran. Walau seberat mana bebananyang dipikul, ramai lagi yang mengharungi dugaan yang lebih berat daripada kita. ‘Jika kita tidak bangun, bebanan ini akanmenghancurkan kita’. Namun, masih ada jalan untuk mengelakkan kehancuran ini. Mereka yang paling dekat dan menyayangiorang-orang dalam kesusahan perlu menghulurkan bantuan dalam bentuk kata-kata semangat dan dorongan bagi mengharungidugaan ini. Ibu bapa, penjaga dan para guru haruslah memberikan sokongan padu bagi membantu anak-anak muda kita belajarerti kecekalan, membina karakter diri yang kuat serta mencari matlamat hidup mereka. Dengan pendirian dan cita-cita yangteguh, mereka akan dapat menghadapi dan mengatasi dugaan untuk menjadi lebih baik daripada kita sendiri. Ini juga merupakankejayaan paling besar buat kita semua kerana dapat membimbing generasi akan datang yang dapat mengatasi keunggulangenerasi kita.

On 8th November 2020 our MIEY had a virtual Parent-TeacherConference (PTC) which is important to build a strong partnershipbetween parents and teachers which will help them find ways to worktogether to ensure the success of their children.

These were the key questions asked at the PTC:1) Is my child ready to go to the primary level? Answer: Your child has improved in all areas of development and is ready for Standard 1

2) My child's abilities have improved. Is it according to the level of his age? Answer: Yes, his/her abilities have improved in all aspects especially in reading.

乔·拜登 (Joe Biden) 作为美国新当选总统曾经遭受过⽆数个⼈悲剧和职业挑战。正当他被委任为美国参议员的时候，他⾝为教师的妻⼦—— 莉亚·亨特·拜登(Neilia Hunter Biden) 和13个⽉⼤的⼥⼉在⼀次交通事故中丧⽣，⽽他的另外两个⼉⼦则受伤。当时年仅30岁的乔·拜登 (JoeBiden)就此成为单⾝⽗亲。1987年和2007年，他尝试参加总统竞选均未果。2015年，另⼀场悲剧降临，他的⼉⼦博·拜登（Beau Biden）因癌症逝世，享年46岁。博·拜登（Beau Biden）曾经是⼀位有过竞选特拉华州州⻓梦想的战争英雄。

尽管经历了许多挫折和悲剧，他仍然在⾃⼰的内⼼深处找到了继续前进与毫不畏惧的⼒量。他的灵感来源于办公桌上摆放着的带框卡通带——《恐怖的哈格》（Hagar the Horrible）。这是⼀个由美国漫画家迪克·布朗（Dik Browne）所创作的红胡⼦维京⻆⾊。在卡通带中，哈格在猛烈的⻛暴中被困在⼀块岩⽯上，他的船沉没了。在电闪雷鸣中，哈格⼤喊道： “为什么是我？”哈格得到的回应仅仅只有⼀句：“为什么不会是你？”

CAMPUS PRINCIPAL'SMESSAGETRANSLATED

matrixschools.edu.my

VIRTUAL PTC IN MIEY

“We are happy that Devnesh can read fluently and is able tobe more focused in class. We are glad with his overall

progress in school and thanks to the teachers for making thelessons online more interactive and interesting for him."

- Mr. and Mrs. Thivakaren, Devnesh's parents

“I am glad that Dhevashwars has shown very goodimprovement in his reading skills. I am thankful to all the

teachers in preschool for their effort and fast action to prepareactivity boxes for him to continue with the activities at home.”

- Mrs. Parama, mother of Dhevashwars's (Kindergarten)

此后，⾯对现实和勇于迎接挑战就成了乔·拜登的⼈⽣哲学。⽆论我们⾝边的事情看起来有多么的糟糕，总有⼈的遭遇⽐我们的更加不堪。“如果你不振作，它就会把你压垮”。遇到挫折的时候，⾝边最亲近的⼈若是能够伸出援助之⼿，给予慰藉，并且帮助受挫者找到⼈⽣⽬标就可以避免被压垮。由此可⻅，⽗⺟、监护⼈和教育⼯作者务必帮助我们的下⼀代培养出坚强的品格并找寻他们的⼈⽣⽬标。拥有了强⼤的⽬标，他们就能够⽐我们更优秀地去⾯对与克服挑战。这也将会是我们在引领下⼀代，使他们变得⽐我们优秀的过程中所能获得的最终胜利。

2 0 N O V E M B E R 2 0 2 0 , I S S U E 8 6

As part of the IPC Unit, 'We are what we eat', MISP Year 2M class shared their learningabout 'The Tastes Receptors'. They were able to communicate their knowledge andunderstanding of the topic through a recorded news update and mind-mapping. Learningabout the receptors of humans and animals helped the kids to realise why our favourite foodtastes so good and why the animals are able to find out which foods are best for them.

By creating a video and google slides presentation, the kids were also able to show theproper ways of taking good care of their teeth. They understand that by practising gooddental and oral hygiene they can have the best tastes and good smiles.

For the music lesson, our MIS Year 7 studentshave been learning about traditional Malaysianmusic, Dikir Barat. They learnt about the historyof Dikir Barat, traditional instruments, famousartists who perform Dikir Barat, rhythmicpatterns in Dikir Barat performance,choreography, and most importantly speakingand singing in Kelantanese dialect. The objectiveof this unit is not only to familiarise our studentswith this type of music, but also to develop theirconfidence in performing for other people.

Students have been given the task to createtheir own choreography and rhythmic pattern tothe popular Dikir Barat song “Wau Bulan”, whichthey have then to perform for their peers online.The practice sessions started with learning tospeak and sing in Kelantanese dialect as well asmemorizing the “Wau Bulan” lyrics. Activitiesnow include students continuing to create theirown choreography and rhythmic patterns athome.

Students were encouraged to participate in this week’s challenge of enhancingtheir creative skills by learning a new language. Their responses were charmingas they shared their speaking skills in a foreign language. This supports one ofour core values which is ‘Everyone learning’ and ‘Everyone maximisingpotential’.

THE CHALLENGE OFLEARNING A NEW

LANGUAGE

WE ARE WHAT WE EAT:

THE TASTERECEPTORS

LOCAL EXPOSURE IN MISMUSIC - DIKIR BARAT

matrixschools.edu.myM l i b S K Y N d C E F 2

2 0 N O V E M B E R 2 0 2 0 , I S S U E 8 6

"Dobre rano is good morning in Czech."

- Sebastian, Standard 2M "Oi means yes in French."

- Riiyesh, Standard 1A "Kamsahamnida is thank you

in the Korean language." - Dhia Sofea, Standard 1A

"Hello is marhabah inArabic."

- Cahaya, Standard 1A

”This is how to brush our teethproperly”

- Ashreyna, Year 2M

“People have different taste receptors” - Georgia, Year 2M

“I take care of my teeth” - Ethan, Year 2M

"Disculpe is excuse me inSpanish."

- Yassheka, Standard 4M

Online learning and Dikir Barat performance by our MGS students, last year inChina,

Musical Instruments

Musical Instruments

Marakas

The Form 2 students learned the conventionsof writing a report through a Lap Book Reportproject. A lap book report is a report thatdiscusses a book from an objective point ofview. It includes flaps, pictures, text and foldeddisplay material creatively arranged in acardboard folder. The students had to pick abook which they had read and to provideenough information on it to give the reader anunderstanding of the book. The project aimsto build students' informational writing skillsand ability to evaluate a work of fiction ornonfiction in English.

Students and teachers across the school celebrated Deepavali this year virtually.From wishes, dance preparations to singing, a plethora of activities were recordedby teachers and students, assembled together and shared virtually for all to enjoy.

Routinely, schools celebrate Deepavali with functions, where teachers andstudents present skits and other performances and serve varieties of food for all to

taste. Despite the CMCO, we kept the spirit high and celebrated just as joyously.

MGS DEEPAVALI CELEBRATION

matrixschools.edu.my

2 0 N O V E M B E R 2 0 2 0 , I S S U E 8 6

LAP BOOK REPORT PROJECT

"The process of creating and assembling the lap book is really fascinating. This is becauseyou can start with picking out a book that you are interested in and work from there. Oneby one, you can add the characteristics of the characters or information of the author andthe summary. At the end, you will feel a sense of accomplishment and pride because youknow you might be able to inspire others to read the book you have responded to!"

- Tan Ee Va, Form 2M

"The lap book report that we did waspretty fun and I must admit that it waschallenging. Good thing I had a veryunderstanding and cooperative partnerEe Va. We worked hand in hand tometiculously put our project togethersince we are very ambitious people. Inthe end we pulled through and we werevery proud of how our lap book turnedout."

- Tan Co Ee, Form 2M

Aysshni of Form 2A who is an avid reader, chose to doa Lap Book Report on one of her favourite books 'The

Little Prince' by Antoine de Saint-Exupery

Students' creative activities to celebrate Deepavali across the schools