sis phoenix magazine - december 2014
DESCRIPTION
This is the termly magazine covering the exciting events of SIS Schools in Indonesia.TRANSCRIPT
16th EDITION l OCTOBER 2014
S I S G R O U P O F S C H O O L S C O M M U N I T Y A N D A L U M N I M A G A Z I N E
7 t h E D I T I O N l D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 4
Collaboration Unleashed! Real World Learning
Immersions Around the Globe
2 PHOENIX I SIS GROUP OF SCHOOLS COMMUNITY AND ALUMNI MAGAZINE
2 SIS KJ Celebrates their UN
and Children
8 CSR SIS KG JKTM Marathon 13 Testimonials 15 New Exemplary IGCSE Results
14 Kelly Skating to Success
Around the World
10 SIS Palembang Inspiration
9 SIS Art Festival 2014 “Circle of Life”
5 Learning Immersions SIS Medan
& SIS Semarang
4 Learning Immersions SIS KG &
SIS PIK
3 SIS KJ Learning Immersion in Bali
7 SIS KG Expanding Learning in
New Directions
12 SIS KJ Committed
to Supporting Orphanages
6 SIS PIK Celebrates Global Dignity
Day 2014
ontents
“Singapore School Kebon Jeruk – family-
focused, great location and excellent
academic results. We develop the whole-
person and winning the Australian Beef
Chef competition was just one of the
many exciting extension activities our
students excelled in,” says Head Teacher,
Craig Hansen.
16th EDITION l OCTOBER 2014
The printer and designer (PT. Phoenix Communications, Jakarta) accept no responsibility for the Print-Ad materials and contents thereof.
No part of this publication printed without prior permission of the SIS Group of Schools. Editorial enquiries or submissions should be addressed to :
The Editor, Mr Craig Hansen, SIS Group of Schools
Publication Date : December 2014Editor : Craig HansenAddress : SIS Bona Vista, Jln. Bona Vista Raya, Lebak Bulus, Jakarta 12440, Indonesia
Front Cover : John Torr, SIS Bona Vista
Design, Layout and Printing : PT. PHOENIX Communications. Jl. Benda Raya No. 98 A-B Cilandak 12560T: +62-21 781 3212 | F: +62-21 781 2476 | E: [email protected] | www.phoenix.co.id/csdth
e P
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... is a Publication of the SIS Group of Schools, Indonesia.A C O M M U N I T Y A N D A L U M N I M A G A Z I N E
Pioneers in Education
An early education pioneer in Indonesia, SIS Group of Schools has been leading the way in curriculum
innovation for nearly two decades. By blending international best practices to suit the local context and
culture, SIS has prepared our many thousands of students for global success while cultivating respect and
commitment to their host country.
At the heart of our evolving curriculum is our Council of Head Teachers, through which the Leaders of our 8 Schools
in Indonesia continually develop the common curriculum and standards that guide SIS Schools. The Council, with
representatives from 7 diff erent countries, ensures world-class standards and drives the success of SIS academic
programs.
While much attention is invariably placed on our excellent international examination results [see below], the true foundations for such success are
anchored in our Preschool and Primary years programs, which nurture the character development, learning dispositions and thinking skills in Languages,
Maths and Science necessary for later academic achievement.
Learning activities at all levels are guided by the principles of student-centered, inquiry learning. Classroom experiences are hands-on, and students are
encouraged to leverage their existing knowledge and skills in order to further develop their critical and creative capacities. Interdisciplinary activities
lead students to address real-world problems that transcend individual subject areas, and require meaningful exposure to local and international
communities. The past year has seen SIS students volunteer teaching in Cambodia, exploring the arts in the Netherlands, and studying mangrove
conservation in Bali.
Results also matter. SIS Schools are also renowned for their academic rigor, high expectations, and disciplined focus. It goes without saying that we take
great pride in the stellar academic achievements of our students. Though not the only measure of our success, our world-class scores on the IGCSEs are
certainly one indication of the strength and balance of our programs across subject areas. A snapshot of some of our 2014 SIS-wide IGCSE results, sat for
by nearly 150 of our Secondary 4 students:
W h e n c o u p l e d w i t h t h e i r social
development, community service work
and extracurricular successes, these
results indicate the readiness of our
students to move on to our demanding
IB Diploma and A Level programs – in
SIS Bona Vista, SIS Kelapa Gading, SIS
Pantai Indah Kapuk, and SIS Medan –
and ultimately, top universities around
the globe.
Chris Toomer
Academic Head - SIS Group of Schools
Singapore School Bona VistaJl. Bona Vista Raya - Lebak Bulus, Jakarta Selatan 12440. Indonesia. Tel : (+62 21) 759 14414Fax : (+62 21) 759 14418
Singapore School Pantai Indah KapukJl. Mandara Indah 4, Pantai Indah KapukJakarta 14460 Telp : (+62 21) 588 3835Fax : (+62 21) 588 3836
Singapore School Kelapa GadingJl. Pegangsaan Dua No.83, Kelapa Gading, JakartaTelp : (+62 21) 460 8888Fax : (+62 21) 460 7306
Singapore School Kebon JerukJl Meruya Ilir No 89, Meruya Utara, Kebon Jeruk, Jakarta Barat 11620, [email protected]: (021) 5867570 / 49Fax: (021) 5867573
Singapore School SemarangJl. Bukit Candi Golf, Golf Residence, Graha Candi Golf, Semarang 50274.Tel: (+62 24) 850 9108Fax: (+62 24) 850 9107Email: [email protected]
Singapore School MedanRoyal Sumatra ComplexJl. Letjen Jamin Ginting Km. 8,5 MedanTel: (+62 61) 836 2880 Fax: (+62 61) 836 0148
Singapore School PalembangJl. Letda Abdul Rozak No.1Taksam/Chuan Ho, PalembangTel. (0711) 562 6778 / 426 4860, Fax. (0711) 562 [email protected]
Singapore School CilegonJl. Raya Merak No.49, Bonakarta, Cilegon, Banten 42414Tel: (+62 254) 394 460Fax: (+62 254) 394 335
7th EDITION l DECEMBER 2014 1
2 PHOENIX I SIS GROUP OF SCHOOLS COMMUNITY AND ALUMNI MAGAZINE
EV
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2 PHOENIX I SIS GROUP OF SCHOOLS COMMUNITY AND ALUMNI MAGAZINE
SIS KJ CELEBRATES their UN and Children’s Day
Singapore School KebonJeruk
celebrated their UN and
Children’s Day in style! We held
an all-nighter, where our students
made costumes of other nations,
were quizzed on the UN history,
challenged each other in games
and team points were awarded.
Over 50 students and 20 staff stayed
overnight on campus, shared dinner,
breakfast and a water-balloon fi ght
at 6AM. It was one of the best special
days of the year.
Says Head Teacher Craig Hansen,
“This was a time of celebration, fun,
bonding and a little bit of naughty
for our school! It was great to see
it so well supported by students
and parents. Without the hard
work of our teachers to plan this
event, and the support of our non-
teaching staff , we could not run
such an event. I am delighted that
we have such strong teamwork at
Singapore School Kebon Jeruk!”
This year, Beaconhouse broke the Guinness world record for the largest art class at a youth festival held in Pakistan. The event hosted almost
6000 Beaconites ages 10 – 15 and a team from the Guinness Book of World Records to verify the record. It was an experience of a lifetime for the students who were thrilled to have become part of an international record-breaking attempt and even more excited to have succeeded.
BEACONHOUSE RECORD SETTING
36th EDITION l OCTOBER 2014
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37th EDITION l DECEMBER 2014
On the 20th of October, the
students of SIS Kebon Jeruk
from the class of Primary fi ve to
Secondary four gathered together
at the Soekarno Hatta International
Airport, all excited for their fl ight
to Bali.
The fl ight didn’t take long and soon
enough, the students were alighting
from their planes and walking in
the Ngurah Rai International Airport
of Bali to claim their luggage. After
everything was settled, the students
boarded a bus which would be their
transportation that they will use for
the next fi ve days.
The activities that came after
included a brief lecture on the history
of Penglipuran Village, the study of
biogas-making, playing traditional
games with the Primary students of
SDN 2 KUBU, a local school there, as
well as visiting the bamboo forest.
Dinner, of Indonesian cuisine, was
held at the village. After that, the
entertainment, which is watching
the villagers do the jogget dance,
came. The SIS Kebon Jeruk students
even got a chance to go onstage and
learn on how to do the dance.
When the entertainment was over,
the students were sent back to their
rooms to do their EAI Booklet, in
which each of their grades would be
based from, before they went to bed.
The second day was just as hectic.
After breakfast of spicy Balinese food,
the students planted frangipanis
around the village using their
gloves and were given free hats for
gardening as a souvenir. Then, they
took a photo with the village leader
before the students left for the
gamelan-making workshop.
In the workshop, the students
inspected the gamelans, which are
Balinese musical instruments made
for several festivities and occasions.
There was a brief introduction on
how to make gamelans and the
students were able to play them,
hearing the high and low pitch
melodies produced.
The third day of the trip was the
time where the students did some
of the most exciting activities. They
visited the Blanco Museum, which
is built in honour of Antonio Blanco,
a famous artist who could paint
extraordinary sceneries.
The tour guide of our visit in the
museum was none other than
Antonio Blanco’s son himself, named
Mario Blanco. He took us to see some
white starlings, a small white bird
native to Bali before explaining on
how they breed these birds here. It
was an amazing experience, to be
learning about this endangered bird
and have time to pet other birds
there, such as parrots and macaws.
Lunch was held at a Balinese
restaurant and the next destination
of the trip was the glass blowing
factory where the students were
given a chance to see up close the
processes on glass blowing.
The next stop was a small building
where the students were able to
make and bring home two arts and
crafts of their choice. These included
wood-carving, painting, pottery,
batik-making, kite-making as well as
clay-moulding.
On Thursday, the students ate
their breakfasts at the hotel before
moving on to Pantai Karang Beach
to do some cleaning and trash
picking activity with some of the
secondary students of a school
named SMPN 9 Denpasar.
This activity encourages the SIS
KJ students to mingle with other
students from diff erent schools
and work together to do an eff ort
in caring for the environment. This
activity also shows the students the
importance in taking care of the
beaches by not littering random
junk on the shores.
After that, the students visited the
TCEC, or also known as the Turtle
Conservation and Education Center.
This place teaches the students
about the stages in a turtle’s life as
well as the common predators and
dangers that these turtles face.
A short video and a tour around the
turtle conservatory was prepared for
the SIS students so that they could
have close experiences with the
turtles. This part of the trip was quite
educational for the students.
As the students boarded their bus
again, they went to the Mangrove
Plantation Center after attending
their lunch at a restaurant called
Tempo Doeleo.
There was a slide show regarding
the uses and basic information
of mangroves. Moreover, some
students were selected to experience
planting some mangrove plants in
the muddy ground.
The activity that came next included
the students going to Jimbaran
Bay and experiencing the fun
on releasing the adorable turtle
hatchlings out to the ocean.
By that time, the sun was starting
to set as the sky turned to pink and
orange. The students had some
time to enjoy the view before they
ate their dinner of seafood at the
beach shores.
The last day of the trip was used to
visit the sparkling blue waters of the
Pandawa Beach as the students got
another opportunity to play in the
water under the supervision of the
teachers.
The students’ lunch was at Krisna
Culinary Center where the students
were given the freedom of choosing
their own meal. There was also some
time after that for the students
to buy souvenirs as a keepsake at
the Krisna gift shop before they all
reached the Ngurah Rai International
Airport for boarding their planes
back to Jakarta.
By: Vania Cheryl Antono
SIS KJ Reporter
SIS KJ Learning Immersion in Bali
4 PHOENIX I SIS GROUP OF SCHOOLS COMMUNITY AND ALUMNI MAGAZINE
4 PHOENIX I SIS GROUP OF SCHOOLS COMMUNITY AND ALUMNI MAGAZINE
LEARNING IMMERSIONS SIS KG & SIS PIK
Many of Singapore School, Kelapa
Gading Secondary students
participated in the Lombok Learning
Journey. Everyone gained something
from the trip. Here are some of our
experiences.
ON DAY ONE, Monday, we arrived
at Lombok International airport and
were very surprised that we had a
police escort all the way to our fi rst
experience, which was to an 8th
century Hindu temple which had a
sacred well. The area is a beautiful
park with a swimming pool. We
also visited a local museum which
displayed social and cultural
artifacts and samples representing
the mining industry in Lombok.
ON DAY TWO, Tuesday, we
travelled to a traditional Sasak
village. Sasak is the name of the
people of Lombok and their
language. Our guide, who spoke
fl uent English, told us about their
family and marriage traditions.
We toured the village where the
houses all have grass roofs. The
people grow rice and weave
wonderful cloth.
In the afternoon we visited a
pottery factory. Each of us made
a small pot and we also did some
painting.
ON DAY THREE, Wednesday, we
participated in Outbound activities
at the hotel. We learned the
importance of cooperation and
teamwork, which were all important
to successfully complete the tasks.
The ‘Second Waterfall’ In the Mount Rinjani National forest
In the afternoon we went to
Rinjani national park. We hiked
into the park to visit two waterfalls.
It was hard work, but it was also
fun to get out into the forest.
ON DAY FOUR, Thursday, we
took a ferry to Gili Trawangan.
We participated in ecotourism by
cleaning a half kilometer of beach.
In the afternoon we visited the
sea turtle sanctuary and set
turtles free into the ocean.
We encourage all students to
take part in Learning Journeys
in the future. It’s a great way to
learn new things and have new
experiences.A woman weaving in a traditional Sasak village
Fifty-one Secondary 1 students
participated in a 5-day-4-night
learning adventure to East Java from
13-17 October. Students, parents,
and school staff convened at the
school grounds as early as 4:00 in the
morning on October 13, 2014 with
traces of excitement and energy as
they carried suitcase and backpacks
for the trip.
The group left Jakarta via a Citilink
fl ight to Malang where fun activities
awaited them for Day 1. Upon
arrival, they went to Lawang where
they learned the life and what-
to-do in Bee Keeping. They even
experienced hands-on activities
involving beehives, honey-
extracting, and many more.
After lunch at Kantri Restaurant in
Batu Malang, the troop proceeded
to Museum Angkot where
they witnessed the history of
transportation means in Indonesia, as
well as some other facts pertaining to
travel and vehicles. They proceeded
to the Museum Topeng where they
came face to face with diff erent kinds
of masks in the history of Indonesia,
SEC 1 Learning Adventure to East Java
They also experienced canoeing in a
man-made pond. After a sumptuous
dinner, they proceeded to a 2-hour
drive to KaliandraSejati Eco Resort
where they will be housed for the rest
of the adventure.
Day 2 started with aerobic exercises
followed by character building and
conditioning activities through
high-rope course, fl ying fox,
paintball game, leadership games,
and building-a-tower. After dinner
and before retiring for the night,
a neuro-linguistic programming
seminar followed where students
experienced thinking outside the
box and mindset changing by
making a bottle stand on two other
lying bottles.
Day 3 started with trekking to
Perhutani tropical forest ecosystem.
Then, the students proceeded to
immerse being English teachers in a
local Islamic school where they get
to interact with local students in the
classroom and in games. Then, they
proceeded back to the resort where
they get to experience becoming
organic chefs through a cooking
competition. The winners received
aprons on top of the prestige being
cooks themselves.
Day 4 started as early as 12:00
midnight as the group, in their
half-open eyes secured their seats
in the bus bringing with them
layers of clothing as they proceeded
to Bromo. Arriving at 3:00 in the
morning, the group was greeted
by some mothers who went their
way up to Bromo to also experience
some of the activities for the day.
Riding 5 persons-in-a-heavy-duty-
big-tired vehicles, they proceeded
to GorongPenanjakan to witness the
dawning colorful and spectacular
sunrise. This was followed with
a 45-minute hike to the Bromo
volcano crater. The troop proceeded
to have breakfast at Lake View Bromo
Hotel and continued with a lecture
on volcanology and tree-planting.
By noontime, they proceeded back
to a 3-hour drive to Kaliandra resort
where they got the chance to move
to the groove of traditional dances.
Then, each student and staff was
provided with Javanese attires
that will be used during the fancy
dinner that night. Each student and
staff paraded to the dinner venue in
their elegant attires wearing them
with pride and nationalism.
Day 5, the last day of the adventure,
began with a yoga relaxing activity
before the troop fi nally packed up
heading to another 3-hour drive to
the Surabaya Airport in time to catch
their 1:15 p.m. fl ight back to Jakarta
where home and family is excitedly
waiting for them.
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56th EDITION l OCTOBER 2014
In October 2014, 15 Junior College
students from SIS Medan (Grade
11-12) visited Beaconhouse Sri Inai
International School.
The students shared experiences of
their schools, countries and cultures.
This trip has resulted in forming
new friendships and promises
to continue future exchange
programmes.
57th EDITION l DECEMBER 2014
21-24 October 2014
The fi eld trip to Malang was
one of the most memorable
moments in my life.
In a short but sweet span of three
days and two nights, my secondary
mates and I with the teachers,
experienced an onslaught of
adrenaline-pumped activities such
as motocross and komodo ride; our
visit to the theme park where all of
us had a splendid time trying out all
of the available rides were nostalgic.
It posited a recall of childhood where
one leaves anything behind and just
indulges. Not only were the activities
LEARNING IMMERSIONS SIS Medan & SIS Semarang
planned full of action, they were
educational as well. Indeed, learning
should not be confi ned in the four
walls of the classroom – with avenues
like these; the real world is our lab.
Our visit to the ‘Kota Batu’ museum
where a vast array of preserved
animals and all sorts of creepy-
crawlies were displayed - the latter
making my skin crawl (personifi ed)
was a reservoir of knowledge to
learn from. Best of all, it was just
next door to the hotel, Pohon Inn we
were staying in! Now that's what I
call convenient! While the activities
had no doubt brought smiles to our
faces and mine as well, personally, the
best part of the trip for me was the
quiet nights I spent at the hotel lobby
where I looked up upon the crystal
clear sky and a good number of stars
were visible due to the unpolluted
mountain air – quips!It was one of the
most peaceful moments where I was
able to contemplate over what the
future may bring. This will not last but
the learning(s) and memories live on.
Before I knew it, all of us were in the
bus and on our way back home.
All in all, it was a splendid fi eld trip
and with graduation looming closer
- where all of us would have to go
on our separate paths. However, the
joyful memories shared with my
friends in Malang would stay with
me forever.
Waldemar Kane Curtis
Secondary 4
Our Bali adventure, where to
begin? The Bali experience was
something that couldn’t be
explained; it’s a very cultural and
spiritual journey that needs to be
experienced in order to be understood.
Joining the trip, I was lucky enough
to enjoy some of the most beautiful
locations the island has to off er. We
began in Nusa Dua, then to Uluwatu,
Ubud and Kuta. We swam and went
kayaking in a possibly new beach
named Pandawa. The water though
not blue; it has mesmerising corals.
The beach’s jolting and rejuvenating
waves were worth paying a visit.
Shopping in the entrancing
boutiques, relaxing at the cool cafés
as we were in the mall, and dining
at the beach were the most exciting
parts. The thing I loved most about
Bali was that it off ered something
for everyone -- picturesque scenery,
unique shopping experience,
enthralling get away to some of the
most beautiful beaches in the world
and fanciful restaurants too.
On the fi rst day, we got the chance
to watch Bali’s common yet typical
cultural dance called Kecak; I haven’t
seen anything similar to it. When the
show was over, we all went for dinner
in a seafood restaurant. We reached
the hotel, and we rushed to our
respective rooms to get some rest.
Touring around got us all exhausted-
--quips!The rest of the days were
visits to museums, monuments and
historical sites – which were very
relic-fi lled experiences of sightseeing.
There was this one thing that seemed
lasting, thus kept replaying in my
mind (for quite sometime). I realised
fi rst days were always the merriest. I
recalled - when we went to ‘make a
scene’ in Pandawa beach;the place
was crowded! So many people were
enjoying the sun; surfi ng, tanning,
sipping fresh coconut water and
swimming.We had no swimming
apparel at all in hand; the bus was
parked kilometres away and we’re
given only three hours to enjoy!We
had no choice, but to jump in the
water and rent kayaks.
There we went - raced, fl ipped,
and tipped. Oh, we cherished that
moment! No dry clothes, sandals,
towels or anything; the only choice
we hadwas to purchase this ethnic
Balinese cloth that was certainly very
cosy to dry up with. Going back to the
bus, we were soaked and dripping
wet as we just hopped out off the sea.
That was just pure fun! Learning at
this point was taking on a diff erent
face and phase.
On some nights, the sky was fi lled
with thousands of silver shining
stars, especially the night before
we left. Bali is an island that is so
humble and serene to experience. I
was so glad to be a part of this trip.
The atmosphere and lovely faces of
its people showed its distinct
Indonesian hospitality.
Jihane
Secondary 4
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6 PHOENIX I SIS GROUP OF SCHOOLS COMMUNITY AND ALUMNI MAGAZINE6 PHOENIX I SIS GROUP OF SCHOOLS COMMUNITY AND ALUMNI MAGAZINE
SIS PIK CELEBRATESGlobal Dignity Day 2014
On October 15th, 2014, close
to one thousand SIS students
celebrated the 7th annual Global
Dignity Day along with our
Beaconhouse sister schools and
students in over 70 countries
worldwide.
Founded by HRH Crown Prince
Haakon (Norway), Professor Pekka
Himanen (Finland), and John Hope
Bryant (United States), Global
Dignity Day aims to empower
people through dignity. According
to the co-founders, "In a world
where it seems no-one agrees on
anything, a world where politics
divides, religion divides, and race
and even cultural borders seem to
divide, dignity is something that
everyone can agree on."
SIS PIK, SIS Semarang, SIS Kebon
Jeruk and SIS Cilegon all celebrated
the day in their own unique ways.
SIS PIK students, for example,
hosted their Grandparents for
the day, recognizing the role that
Grandmothers and Grandfathers
play in teaching us values. These
honored visitors were treated to a
special assembly presentation and
invited to participate in the classes
of their grandchildren. Some shared
stories of when they were young,
gave advice for the future, and
one Grandfather even sang for his
grandson’s Preschool class!
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76th EDITION l OCTOBER 2014 77th EDITION l DECEMBER 2014
SIS KJExpanding Learning
in New Directions
Singapore School Kebon
Jeruk encourages varied and
interesting guests and teachers.
One such visitor was Vania
Wibisono, one of the famous chefs
in Indonesia. Vania Graduated
cum laude from the University
of Indonesia, moving to receive
a scholarship opportunity to
Australia. She chose to enjoy life.
After that, she decided to become a
chef. The recipe for her message to
students and her life is eating lots of
vegetables and raw food because
he said it increases energy. Vania
actively campaigns that home
cooking is more delicious, easy
and healthy. In addition, she is the
“I like to eat. I want to grow
healthy food habits in students for
the sake of helping others to reach
their potential," said Vania.
Alysha Wang
“I felt happy
and excited
about the
event. The
event was
very-much
fun and
gave me more experience in
cooking for the fi nale”
Celine Hardi
“I feel
happy”
Chiara Nathania
“I am really
happy and I
appreciated
being the
1st-place
winner; it
gave me
more experience in cooking.
I really enjoyed the event. I
hope we will have it again next
year, so that other students can
feel the fun too”
Kartika Priyanka Shan
“I feel really
happy that
I won the
competition
with my
team. I was
also excited
and I look forward to the next
competition”
Student
Testimonials from
the Beef Chef
Competition
guest chef for Australian Beef which
enabled her to share her skills and
knowledge with the students of
Kebon Jeruk.
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8 PHOENIX I SIS GROUP OF SCHOOLS COMMUNITY AND ALUMNI MAGAZINE8 PHOENIX I SIS GROUP OF SCHOOLS COMMUNITY AND ALUMNI MAGAZINE8 PHOENIX I SIS GROUP OF SCHOOLS COMMUNITY AND ALUMNI MAGAZINE
CSR SIS KGJKTM Marathon
On Sunday, October 26 over
15,000 runners from over
50 countries descended on the
Monas in Central Jakarta before
dawn to run the Jakarta Marathon.
Twenty-fi ve students from SIS Kelapa
Gading (SIS KG) - all our Junior
College students and some of their
Secondary school peers - along with
two of their teachers formed part
of this international crowd Sunday,
running the 5k race and using it as
an opportunity to raise over 5 million
rupiah from sponsors in the SIS KG
community to go to Wisma Cheshire,
a residential vocational training
programme located in South Jakarta
for adult men and women with
mobility disabilities.
As an authorized International
Baccalaureate (IB) World School, our
Junior College students at SIS KG
take the IB Diploma Programme.
A core part of the IB curriculum is
a course called Creativity, Action,
Service (CAS) wherein students
take the initiative to create or fi nd
opportunities to express themselves
creatively through the arts, maintain
a holistic approach to learning by
being physically active, and serve the
needs of others in their community.
“Creativity, Action, Service is in
fact the heart of the IB Diploma
Programme,” explained Mr. Sencer
Donmez, the IB Diploma Coordinator
at SIS KG. He continued, “the IB
Diploma Programme is designed
so that academic achievements go
parallel with social developments
of students taking the programme.
As a dedicated IB educator, I am
happy to see the enthusiasm of
our IB students and teachers in this
purposeful activity with signifi cant
outcomes. SIS KG made a very good
beginning to the programme.”
The students feel the same
enjoyment about their experience
with the IB thus far and have learned
a lot from it as well.
“I’ve enjoyed the IB even though
my workload has increased
exponentially,” affi rmed Brandon
Guntoro, a fi rst year IB Diploma
student. “In particular, CAS has
made me more disciplined. I have
guitar lessons, and now that I have
to count my hours, I don’t skip any
of my lessons. It has also let me try
new experiences, like writing for the
school newsletter.”
As part of their CAS eff ort, some of
the Junior College students visited
Wisma Cheshire during their term
break a couple weeks before the
marathon and there witnessed the
dire need for community support.
“Most of the people there had their
disability from an accident. The
bedrooms were small, there was no
AC, and the beds were hard,” explained
Christian Hoetama, another fi rst year
IB student.
The students also saw that Wisma
Cheshire’s need was less well-known
than that of the Red Cross, the offi cial
charity linked to the Jakarta Marathon,
so they resolved to donate their raised
funds to Wisma Cheshire.
But fi rst, the students upped the ante
to their sponsors, stipulating that
the students themselves would pay
the amount their sponsors agreed
to donate if they didn’t fi nish the
race within the time limit, but that
the sponsors would double their
donation if the students fi nished the
race in under 45 minutes.
The Jakarta Marathon thus became a
way of “challenging ourselves while
also raising even more money for
charity,” said Prisca Yaputri, the fi rst
year IB student who organized the
whole event for the school.
Prisca spearheaded the eff ort
to involve SIS KG in the Jakarta
Marathon, acting as a liaison
between the school and the Jakarta
Marathon. From raising interest and
securing registrations from other
students to sorting out registration
and payment with the Jakarta
Marathon team, Prisca said she
learned how to ensure eff ective
communication, meet deadlines,
solve problems on her feet, and be
responsible for a group of people.
This was Prisca’s fi rst time organizing
a large event, so she was happy to
see it have gone smoothly. She said
that although the experience of
organizing the event and running
the race was challenging, it was also
very satisfying and fun.
“The most fun part was running the
race and the accomplishment of
everyone fi nishing!” Prisca exclaimed.
EV
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96th EDITION l OCTOBER 2014 97th EDITION l DECEMBER 2014
This year’s Art Festival was a
SIS-Wide event. SIS KG has
the privilege to be the host.
Our objectives for this event
were to highlight the subject
of Visual Art and to provide
an opportunity for our best
and most enthusiastic young
artists to be recognized and
given an opportunity for
some advanced skills training
and inspiration. Circle of Life is
this year’s theme, which is an
exploration, collaboration and
expression of Visual Art based
on the Circle theme.
Each SIS School was requested
to submit up to 8 collaborative/
individual artworks to the SIS KG
campus. Any form of visual art
or materials (drawing, sculpture,
painting, photograph, etc) was
permitted. Students supplied
nice written explanations of
their artwork, with their name,
age and school and the price
for sale, to be displayed with
their artworks. All artworks were
proudly displayed for sale in our
Art Gallery and proceeds were
donated to the Hope Worldwide
Indonesia. Parents had the fi rst
opportunity to purchase their
own child’s artwork. The Art
Sale for Charity from the Gallery
created from students raised
over IDR 8 million.
On this day there was Artisan’s
Bazaar from Local Artists, the
artists sold many creative
handmade products. Hope Indonesia
also had a booth, which prepared
useful information about the
foundation. They also sold bags,
which were made by recycled
material such as detergent plastic
wrap.
Face Painting was one of the instant
hits as students lined up with
excitement to get their face/hand
painted by our Art Teacher from
SISBV, Ms. Rina. She also had a booth
: Red Rina, which provides handmade
jewelries made of clay and resin.
Precious One was also one of
students’ and parents’ favorites,
as they sold many interesting
SIS Art Festival 2014“Circle of Life”
handmade products for home
supply. Base mats, tissue box, fi nger
puppets, aprons were some of
their most-selling items during the
day. 2 crews were there to serve
and create some special requested
items. Their products were the work
of those who live in silence but have
sensitivity and passion to make
good quality production. They were
talented people who do not give in
to limitations.
Bizzy Bee was also participated
and supplied various kinds of DIY
and craft tools, such as pom-pom
makers, shaped-hole puncher,
paper quilling, etc.
Inspiring Young Artist
Azzura Indrakusuma is a
Secondary 1 student in SIS
KG. In her presentation as
an inspiring young artist,
Azzura shared the story of
how she got an off er to be an
illustrator for children books,
published by Kinokuniya
book store.
During her presentation
she also showed 3 of her
illustrations published by
Kinokuniya, the title of the
books are ‘ The Heart of
Aslopan’, Nosy Dinasour ,
and The Bee Keepers, and
she also explained her long
experience as a kid joining
many drawing competitions
and that she always had the
support from her parents.
Comic Workshop
Mr. Handri Satria Handjaya,
a Comic Artist, conducted
this 3-hour Comic Workshop
regarding “How to make
a comic character” on 26
September 2014 at SIS
Kelapa Gading. At the fi rst
session Mr. Handri showed
slide presentation about his
work, and his preference
comic style. At the second
session Mr. Handri is giving
an advice on how to fi nd
inspirations, motivation, and
tips to participant to create their
own original comic character.
At the third session Mr. Handri
demonstrated on how to draw comic
character with manual and digital
techniques how to use drawing
pad, using Photoshop software, etc.
Participants were asked to follow the
steps and techniques showed by
Mr. Handri.
The overall goal of the workshop
was to have all participants create
original comic character, to learn
how to do basic drawings of humans
and how to use Photoshop software
in drawing and coloring the comic.
EV
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1 0 PHOENIX I SIS GROUP OF SCHOOLS COMMUNITY AND ALUMNI MAGAZINE
VO
IC
ES
SIS PALEMBANGInspiration
1 0 PHOENIX I SIS GROUP OF SCHOOLS COMMUNITY AND ALUMNI MAGAZINE
We have choosen SIS
Palembang for the
educational needs of our
children. SIS Palembang
is the only international
curriculum school in
Palembang. With the
affi liation to the SIS
group and curriculum of
Singapore, we believe it’s
the right choice for the
future of our children. By
educating in the English
language and learning
Mandarin Chinese, this
will gain an advantage for the future in this competitive world. Our 3
children, are always happy to go to school and keep on talking about
the activities they do. The CCA activities are a great way of exploring
and educating the childen in a fun and relax way. Our children, started
at SIS palembang in the early stages, and their development has grown
overtime in the same way as the growth of the school. Keep up the good
work, educating the children and preparing them for a bright future.
Regards,
Herman & Nadia Courbois
Our daughter Chelsea
has been enrolled
in SIS Palembang since
Nursery and has now
progressed to K-1. Before
she joined SIS, Chelsea
was a shy girl and was
hesitant to communicate
and interactive with
new people. We have
witnessed a dramatic change in her character where she now enjoys
participating in group activities, especially in singing and dancing,
and even enjoys performing on stage during school events.
We thank you for for widening her experiences and the development
of her personality, in that she is not shy to try the new things; it’s
fantastic that at such a young age we see her bilingual (Indonesian &
English) and now her Mandarin is improving! A big thank you to SIS
Palembang from proud parents.
Bramwell & Elly
I am a mother of 3 children. When
SIS Palembang was fi rst established
in 2012, we only enrolled two of our
younger children in SIS (Fiona in
pre-Nursery and Darren in K2). The
eldest daughter, Clara was already in
P3 studying in another school. After
seeing her own brother and sister
having enjoyable times studying in
SIS, Clara asked to be moved into SIS
as well. Knowing that Clara had a good
academic life in a well-established and
reputable school, we did not see the
need to move her into any new school
as we were also afraid that she could not cope adapting to an English-
speaking school. We only started to change our views towards the end
of SIS Palembang’s fi rst academic year. We saw that SIS has a diff erent
approach to teaching students, not in the stiff , old-fashioned or one-way
teaching, but students are very much involved in interacting with one
another and the teachers. They are taught to have self-confi dence through
mini presentations and public speaking. In just a few months in SIS, our
son Darren could already communicate with others in English fl uently.
Students are also taught to do numerous creative activities through
arts and CCAs. So, we decided to enrol Clara into SIS the next academic
year. She is a shy girl by nature, especially meeting new people in a new
environment. She had diffi culty mingling with her new classmates and
communicating with the teachers in the fi rst few weeks as she was really
new to a totally English-studying environment. Special thanks to her class
form Teacher, Mr Johan, under his patient guidance and encouragements,
Clara fi nally opened herself up. Within the fi rst semester, Clara could
communicate and write in English fl uently! We are glad to see her many
positive progressions. She has developed strong self-confi dence and
motivation to achieve not just academically, but also in sports and music.
As for Darren, he is a more playful, active and sociable boy. We were not
worried about his social life, but more for his academics. He started out to
be slower than other children at his age who could already read and write
far better. But in his third year in SIS now (P2), we are relieved to witness his
positive academic and emotional developments. The youngest one, Fiona
was always a timid girl especially after each school holiday. She would
have a crying session every morning when she arrives in school. But now,
Fiona has become a very cheerful girl and never cries in school. Thanks
to all the teachers who are always dedicated and patient in helping her
in class and making her a more independent girl both in school and at
home. One diff erence of SIS with other schools is that it is a friendly school
where parents are always welcome to have an open discussion in terms
of the welfare of the school and students, so we can support one another
and progress together. I believe SIS Palembang will continue to grow in
student numbers and also in its teaching quality in the years to come.
Sutian Goeretthie, - SIS Palembang, K1, P2 and P5 Parent
1 16th EDITION l OCTOBER 2014
VO
IC
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SIS PALEMBANGInspiration
My daughter, Clea loves to study at SIS Palembang. In my opinion,
SIS is a serious yet enjoyable school. SIS Palembang’s tagline is
“Serious learning is seriously fun” makes my child easily master the
lessons delivered by teachers. Not only transferring the knowledge,
SIS Palembang is also
teaching the pupils about
politeness, respectful,
sharing and discipline
that can be implemented
in their daily life at home,
school, and society.
Moreover, SIS Palembang
is a school which really
appreciates their students’
achievements. Good luck
to SIS Palembang.
Gustina - SIS Palembang,
P4 Parent
I have two kids, Pieter and Paris, in Primary 1 and Primary 3 classes.
SIS Palembang is the fi rst English school for my children in where
they are learning and developing speaking and writing skills.
Previously, my daughter Paris didn’t want to join SIS Palembang and
she insisted to continue at her Kindergarten school. She was a shy girl
actually, but the SIS environment enabled her to be active and cheerful
kid.
Above all, as a
parent I’m so
pleased to see
m y c h i l d r e n
learning and
g r o w i n g i n
this school.
Lidya Sutanto
SIS Palembang,
P1 & P3
Parent
Two years have passed since I enrolled my daughters, Manishaa
and Mannpriya at SIS Palembang. Cheerful students, motivating
teachers, supportive parents and a friendly environment………. it’s all
about SIS Palembang.
My daughters have gained so much confidence since they began at SIS
Palembang. They have made new and dear friends, their school is none
other than their second home.
Thanks to the very motivating teachers and warm hearted staff
members that make the learning process easier at SIS Palembang. They
put in their best efforts to provide students with the best of education.
Not only that, the curriculum at SIS is able to engage and challenge their
minds in dynamic ways. It provides a strong foundation which enables
students to pursue further education in life.
I watch my daughters grow along with their school and it’s truly an
amazing journey. I wish SIS Palembang their continued success. Thank
you all!
Vicky Kaur - SIS Palembang, P1 & P2 Parent
1 17th EDITION l DECEMBER 2014
1 2 PHOENIX I SIS GROUP OF SCHOOLS COMMUNITY AND ALUMNI MAGAZINE
Over the past year Singapore School Kebon Jeruk has committed to
supporting over 300 children in four orphanages around Jakarta. This has
provided an opportunity for our students to raise funds, understand that not
everyone has the same advantages and to build an ongoing relationship with
an organization with similar values.
So far we have provided Christmas Presents, given school bags with stationery,
funded a nutrition programme, hosted an Easter event and supported an all-
orphanage camp! In December this year Singapore School Kebon Jeruk will
AC
TIV
ITIE
S
SIS KJCommitted to Supporting
Orphanages
1 2
www.mentaribooks.com
again host over 300 children for their Knights & Princesses celebration where
awards, dancing, food and birthdays will be celebrated as one family. Our
prefects and senior students have the opportunity to serve on the night and
help coordinate.
As a school we know we are making an impact both inside our school with our
students and outside our school in our wider community. Singapore School
Kebon Jeruk – Committed to Supporting Orphanages
1 2 PHOENIX I SIS GROUP OF SCHOOLS COMMUNITY AND ALUMNI MAGAZINE
1 36th EDITION l OCTOBER 2014 1111 33336666thth EDEEEEDITIITITTT ONONNNNN llll OCCCCCCCTOOOOOOBEEEER 202222 1444 1 3
TESTIMONIALS What our alumni
say...
My school life
I am one of the Korean students
at SIS BV. I have been in my
School since 2013. When I was
a new student, the fi rst month
was absolutely challenging for
me to speak English with my
classmates whose nationalities
are diff erent from mine
However, soccer provided a
chance for me to be closer
with my classmates. I had a
debate about ‘who will win the
El Classico (Real Madrid CF vs
Barcelona FC)?’ and it helps to get closer to others.
Thanks to such a quick adaptation, I had plenty of events in the School. For
example, I got two Gold Medals and one Silver Medal in the SIS Olympics
and I won the English Monologue Competition against other branches of
SIS. At the end of 2013, our class built a ‘haunted house’ for the SIS Mega
Bazaar Day then we showed our teamwork to customers who got really
scared. Although, IGCSE exams were hard to prepare because I skipped
one year, the Academic Year 2013 was really awesome and a positive
challenge.
Today I am familiar with studying at SIS and able to speak English just like
Korean – I made a “buddy” whose favorite team is Manchester United.
I always think that moving to SIS BV was an inspiration from God in my
student career. Moreover, if I didn’t have any support from my teachers
in the School, my School life wouldn’t be what it is today. Lastly, I hope I
can make my School proud as a student of the fi rst IB batch in SIS BV –
my aim is 45!
Myung Ha SONG (Singapore International School, Bona Vista)
Testimonial from Ms. Dwiristiana Murti
My daughter has been
studying in SIS BONA VISTA
Preschool for the last year as a K2
student. The Preschool teachers
here are excellent, they are very
approachable and are always very
nice and kind.
They always make studying for
my daughter very interesting and
certainly lots of fun for her and
have given her many memorable
exper iences. She has loved
studying here and looks forward to going to school every day and seeing
all the lovely friends she has made.
The progress which she has made this last year has been huge and very
noticeable. Thank you SIS Preschool for giving her such an unforgettable
start to her school life.
SIS BONA VISTA: The Ultimate Experience
When I fi rst enrolled at SIS
BONA VISTA in January
2003, I had never expected my
experience as a SIS student
to be such a memorable one.
However, it did turn out to
be the best nine years of my
life – not only in terms of its
high-quality education, which
allowed me been to secure
a place at The University of
Melbourne, Australia – but also
in terms of the friendships I have
made, most of which are still
going strongly - be it among
fellow classmates, juniors and/
or seniors, SIS students have always been united. That’s something you
can’t always fi nd anywhere else. For me, going to school every day felt
almost like going home to my family, with many “siblings” being there to
welcome me with open arms. The fact that I have always tried my best to
perform well in my academics, whilst being a part of as many activities
as possible, has also enabled me to form strong, positive bonds with
the teachers, all of whom I still remember fondly as an omnipotent
force that shaped my life journey with their kindness, humor and never-
ending guidance.
Another, most important part of my life as a SIS student that I will always
cherish is the sense of belonging I experienced, which, in SIS, was unlike
any other. We may not have been a very big school in size, but we were
(and still are) known as a “family school” – and I personally felt that this
was an advantage. In SIS, I had gotten the chance to involve myself in
numerous activities, ranging from the school musical (which I was very
passionate about), the yearbook committee, and even sports (which I
was not very good at) – but that’s the beauty of it. SIS is very open in
that sense, as it gives us all a chance to develop our true potential in
any area we choose, regardless of our backgrounds, strengths and/or
weaknesses. In SIS, there’s always something for everyone, and the sky
is the limit – as long as we are willing to reach for it.
Fast forward to 2014, and I am now proud to say that I am a graduate of
SIS Bona Vista. My advice to current SIS students is that the battle may
seem tough at fi rst, but you’re all really lucky to have SIS as a training
ground to face any and all challenges that you’ll encounter in your
university lives and in your future career. Regardless of where you end
up in life, you will always remember your SIS experience as the most
life-defi ning one, as it will shape you not only as a student, but also
as a person with the courage and willingness to go for your dreams,
knowing that ultimately, you can achieve anything as long as you set
your mind to it. SIS BONA VISTA will always be home to me, and that will
never change no matter what.
Nur Azuraa Datau Soegiarto
SIS BV Alumni
Class of 2013
AL
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1 4 PHOENIX I SIS GROUP OF SCHOOLS COMMUNITY AND ALUMNI MAGAZINE
Low Res.
NE
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KELLYSkating to Success Around theWorld!
1 4 PHOENIX I SIS GROUP OF SCHOOLS COMMUNITY AND ALUMNI MAGAZINE
Singapore School Kebon Jeruk is
proud to have Kelly (11yrs) as part
of our school family. She has been
skating since 2010 and competed
in a number of top level events
such as Skate Asia in Bangkok and
Malaysia, Development Trophy in
Manila, Asian Open Figure Skating
Trophy in Taipei, Asian Junior Figure
Skating Challenge in HongKong and
Indonesia Figure Skating National
Championship in Bandung.
“It takes a lot of practice and
perseverance to become good and
commitment to become great.
Our Head Teacher Mr Craig keeps
reminding us that perseverance is a
SIS value, so I can’t forget it. My mum
and dad have given me so much
support, I could not do this without
them. I have two families that help
me be successful; Singapore School
Kebon Jeruk and my home family,”
says Kelly.
Kelly’s teachers say they are always
impressed with her focus, positive
attitude and determination to do
well in her homework, tests and
exams. As a school we understand
the pressures of an international
career in skating and support Kelly
100%. We know Kelly will succeed
in anything she does – on and off
the ice.
1 56th EDITION l OCTOBER 2014
with Singapore Schools’ partner Prodigy Learning Center’s Janise Petty
There was a strong performance
from SIS KG again in 2014,
the highlights being:
• Prisca Yaputri with 5 “A*”s and 3 “A”s - this is our best ever result
• Andre Christian
received 4 “A*” and 4 “A”s
• The total number of ‘A*’ received by students was: 30
• The total number of ‘As’ received by students was: 45
Singapore School students face a number
of exams, both internal and external.
We asked Singapore School partner Prodigy
Learning Center’s Janise Petty,
“What are the best four study tips you
would give to them?”
Here are her answers:
Since Prodigy embraces “out of the box” strategies to master test preparation,
here are some unconventional, but highly eff ective study tips:
• Memorize using silly acronyms. What if you need to memorize the fossil fuels
for science? Instead of trying to memorize natural gas, oil, and coal, why not
memorize “Nice Girls Obey Cats”. Yes, this is silly but much more fun to remember.
• Draw pictures or illustrations to summarize your class notes. Instead of
simply memorizing the process by which government branches work together,
why not draw it out and make sense of it all visually? It can give you a holistic
understanding you might not have been able to achieve any other way.
• Study in bursts with a timer and a specifi c goal. Instead of dreading a 2 hour
INTERVIEW
IGCSESuperb Results SIS-Wide
1 57th EDITION l DECEMBER 2014
NE
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1 6 PHOENIX I SIS GROUP OF SCHOOLS COMMUNITY AND ALUMNI MAGAZINE1 6
study session, why not break it up into 20 minutes segments? Tell yourself,
“I’m going to practice my math review for 20 minutes or until I reach the 14th
review problem, whichever comes fi rst!” Without even realizing it, you will
concentrate better and retain much more information.
• Make your own fl ashcards. What if you have to explain the Six P’s in Marketing?
Instead of staring at a page of typed notes, create colorful fl ashcards you can quickly
study anytime. Long car rides from Jakarta’s traffi c jams are perfect for quick and
meaningful fl ash card races. Challenge yourself to do it faster every time!
Try adapting one or all of these tips into your study program and see how much more
interesting studying can actually be.
For the students interested in studying overseas, particularly in North America,
Canada, Australia, the UK or New Zealand, what would you recommend are the
best exams for them to pass in addition to their A-Levels or IB?
While A-Levels and IB grades are
the most important element to any
university acceptance, standardized
tests are mandatory requirements
for most reputable universities.
Standardized tests are a means
to ensure a universal standard of
achievement is met. The standardized
tests that are the most commonly
required are SAT/ACT and TOEFL/IELTS.
The fi rst step is deciding where the
target schools are located and then
familiarizing yourself with their specifi c
requirements. For example, the US
requires either SAT/ACT and TOEFL as a
general rule while the UK requires SAT
and IELTS.
Prodigy is running exam preparation
classes hosted at SIS PIK, SIS KJ, and
SIS BV. What is the focus of these
classes and who would benefi t the
most from them?
Prodigy is off ering SAT and TOEFL test
preparation at each of the campuses
above.
SAT is separated into two broad
categories: Verbal and Math. While
SAT may seem like devilishly twisted
random collections of questions, in
actuality the test is formulated around
predictable mathematical and verbal
principles that we examine and explain
during the course. Prodigy’s method
is based upon analysis of questions
that have appeared on the actual
exams, and students will learn how
to break down those questions and
recognize the principles used by the
test makers. Our exclusive techniques,
methodologies, and strategies,
combined with the best instructors,
course materials, and student support,
will help you exceed your SAT goals.
TOEFL is separated into four main
categories: Reading, Listening,
Speaking, and Writing. Just as the
overall prerequisite to gain admission
into universities have skyrocketed,
TOEFL minimum score requirements
have followed suit. Now, in order to
even be considered by most programs,
many universities require an iBT TOEFL
score of 90 or more. Prodigy equips
students with the strategies to master each component of the TOEFL.
Singapore School spends a lot of time recruiting great teachers that have the
qualifi cations and experience needed for success. How do you choose the
Prodigy teachers and why?
Prodigy’s teachers/test preparation trainers are the key to its success. We are the
only test preparation center that TRULY off ers 99th percentile teachers. This means
each and every teacher must actually score within the top 1% on all these rigorous
exams. Our teachers are carefully screened, including detailed background checks
and education verifi cation. While having the ability to score highly is important, the
most important characteristic of a Prodigy teacher is enthusiasm! They love what
they do and it shows based on the countless rave reviews all our teachers receive
from both parents and students.
Please see the Prodigy notice inside this magazine for more information.
PHOENIX I SIS GROUP OF SCHOOLS COMMUNITY AND ALUMNI MAGAZINE