NewsletterNewsletterNewsletter Term 1, 1st Issue Term 1, 1st Issue Term 1, 1st Issue

Forever Forward, Always Ahead

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

New School Principal ......... ………..2

New Teachers ..................... ………..2

School Improvement .......... ………..3

Term Calendar .................... ………..3

Teachers’ Prof Development

............................................ ………..4

2015 Term 1 Menu.............. ………..4

Upcoming Events ............... ………..4

SPECIAL INFORMATIONS

Latest Menu for 1st Term 2015

Program of Study

Teacher Donations for Flood

Relief

1st Term Events Calendar

Sri Utama Schools Johor Bahru Sri Utama Schools Johor Bahru Sri Utama Schools Johor Bahru

Welcome 2015!

NEW SCHOOL PRINCIPAL

Sri Utama welcomes its new school principal – Mr Paul Halford. Mr Halford has

had many years of school leadership. This is his fifth school principalship.

Prior to joining Sri Utama Mr Halford was principal of Korobosea International

School in Port Moresby and a Senior Principal with The International Education

Agency of Papua New Guinea. Korobosea International is one of the leading

schools in PNG and has over 700 students. Mr Halford was principal for six

years. He was also the principal of Bishop Druitt College in Australia. This col-

lege had an enrolment of 1200 students. He has also been principal of an interna-

tional school in Indonesia.

We welcome Mr Halford and look forward to benefitting from his many years of

experience as a school leader.

Parents are advised that Puan Kamisah Zainal Abidin has taken the position of School Registrar. The school and teachers are very grateful for her work as princi-pal of the school.

We also welcome a number of new teachers to the school including Mr Mitchell Yamrus from the USA, Ms Lovelyn Mataac from the Philipines, Pn Anna Nadia and En Muhammad Firdaus.

“Your success and happiness lies in you. Resolve to keep happy, and your joy and you shall form an invincible host against difficulties.” ~ Helen Keller

YEAR 2015 1ST DAY OF SCHOOL

Our first day of school for 2015 was un-

fortunately delayed following a Ministry

of Education directive to delay the

schools’ opening due to the flooding that

affected many parts of Malaysia. The

teachers did return to work and made

good use of the time by preparing lessons

and undertaking professional develop-

ment.

Our actual first day (in Week 2) ran very

smoothly. Students spent the first ses-

sion with their Home Room teachers.

The second session after Morning Break

saw the commencement of lessons with

subject teachers. Teachers have been

providing the Program of Studies for the

students to ensure that they are aware to

the subject content and the assessment

process. Parents will be provided with a

copy of this.

We should make a special mention of the

great start that our students in Kinder-garten made. There were very few tears and they were all busy with their program of study in a very short time.

New Year's Day. A fresh start.

A new chapter in life waiting

to be written.

New questions to be asked,

embraced, and loved.

Answers to be discovered and

then lived in this transforma-

tive year of delight and self-

discovery.

Today carve out a quiet inter-

lude for yourself in which to

dream, pen in hand.

Only dreams give birth to

change.

Sarah Ban Breathnach

The new year stands before

us, like a chapter in a book,

waiting to be written. We can

help write that story by set-

ting goals.

Melody Beattie

2

NEW TEACHERS

Mr. Mitch Ms. Lovelyn Pn. Anna En. Firdaus

TERM CALENDAR

Please find attached the calendar for Term One. It outlines the term’s activities.

SRI UTAMA SCHOOLS

JOHOR BAHRU

2015 ORGANIZATIONAL

COMMITTEE

PATRON :

Y.Bhg Dato’ Fawziah Abd Karim

CHAIRMAN :

Y. Bhg Tn Hj Hassan Md Ali

DIRECTOR :

Tn Hj Muhammad Nabil Khairi b. Hj Hassan

PRINCIPAL :

Mr. Paul Barry Halford

REGISTRAR :

Pn Hjh Kamisah Zainal Abidin

HEAD OF DEPARTMENTS:

Administration

Pn Hawa Bakar & Pn Nurul Huda Mas’od

Curriculum

Pn Nor Sita Mahidin & Pn Lidati Salwana Hassan Basri

Co-Curriculum

Mrs Selvakumary Mohan & Pn Marhamah A.Hamid

Student Affairs

Pn Norah Hajah & Pn Norhasnita Mohd Taib

SECRETARY OF EXAMINATION:

IGCSE - Ms Suzana Safian

UPSR - Pn Rozita Mohd Ali

PMR/PT3 - Mrs Lim Pui Hiar

SPM - Pn Siti Abidah Abu Hamid

SIKOMETRIK

1. En. Mohamad Firdaus (Secondary)

2. Ms Ashvini Narayanan (Primary)

PBS PRIMARY

Pn Rohaya Mellan

PBS SECONDARY

Pn Normariana Awang Lah

3

DLP TEACHERS

For the next few weeks we have been joined by four teachers from Kuala Lumpur. These teachers will observe lessons and assist teachers with their work. They are all trained and qualified graduated teachers from Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI).

TEACHERS’ PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

During the postponed first week of school the teaching staff were involved in a series of

professional development sessions. These sessions covered the main factors that re-

search has shown improve schools. These included:

A Safe and Secure Environment

Setting Goals for the School

Implementing the Curriculum

Strategic Resourcing

Leading Learning

The teachers participated fully in the workshops and expressed their desire to continue to work to improve the school for the benefit of the students.

PROGRAM OF STUDY Next week the students will be bringing home the Program of Study (PoS) for each sub-ject they are studying. Parents are encouraged to look at the programs with their child and to use the PoS to create a school and home partnership. Please sign the PoS and

return it to the school.

CANTEEN Please refer to the attached Canteen menu 2015 for information regarding First Term’s meals.

SCHOOL IMPROVEMENTS

During the holiday break a roofing cover was installed over the main courtyard. This

cover will ensure that our PE classes can be held in any weather conditions. It also pro-

vides a covered area for our assemblies. It is also planned to re-surface the court with

artificial turf which will be carried out on 1st term school holiday. The school will also be

improving the playing field.

These improvements are strong evidence of the determination of the school management to improve the school’s facilities and teaching staff.

“Verily, with every hardship comes ease..” ~ Quran 94:6

INSPIRATIONAL QUOTES

TOPIC: “ HELPING HANDS “

Dare to reach out your hand into

the darkness, to pull another hand

into the light.

Norman B. Rice

We make a living by what we get,

but we make a life by what we give.

Winston Churchill

The Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be

Upon Him) said:

“Do not be people without minds of

your own, saying that if others treat

you well you will treat them well,

and that if they do wrong you will

do wrong. Instead, accustom your-

selves to do good if people do good

and not to do wrong if they do evil.”

Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 1325

4

TEACHER’S PERSONAL DONATIONS

I would like to acknowledge and thank the teachers who contributed clothing to assist those affected by the recent flooding. The collection of clothes was taken to the af-fected area.

SCHOOL’S DONATION FOR FLOOD RELIEF

Sri Utama have sent help in the form of daily necessities such as food and beverages, per-sonal hygiene items, kitchen utensils and so on to the victims affected by the floods in Pa-hang, Kelantan and Terengganu at the end of 2014.

5

1ST TERM 2015

PUBLIC HOLIDAYS & SCHOOL EVENTS

Important Dates to Remember for 1st Term Sri Utama Schools Johor Bahru, 2015

Day Date Events / School Holidays & Public

Holidays

Saturday 3rd January 2015 MAULIDUR RASUL

Monday 12th January 2015 1st Day of School 1st Term SSU-UIS

Monday 19th January 2015 1st Newsletter

Wednesday 21st January 2015 1st Fire Drill

Thursday 29th January 2015 Maulidur Rasul Sri Utama Schools JB

Monday 2nd February 2015 Sri Utama Schools Malaysia

Staff Conference-School closed

Tuesday 3rd February 2015 THAIPUSAM

Friday 6th February 2015 Prefects’ Installation

Monday-Friday 9-13 February 2015 Assessment Term 1 SSU/UIS

Monday-

Wednesday

16-18 February 2015 Chinese New Year School Holidays

Thursday-

Friday

19-20 February 2015 CHINESE NEW YEAR

Thursday 26th February 2015 Primary Educational Trip

Saturday 14th March 2015 2015 Annual Sports Day

Thursday 19th March 2015 Educational Trip-Kindergarten

Career’s Day (for Secondary only)

Monday-Friday 30th Mar-10th Apr 2015 Examination Term 1 SSU & UIS

Monday-

Wednesday

13-15th April 2015 Sri Utama JB Annual Camping

Monday-

Monday

13-27th April 2015 1st Term 2015 School Holidays

Tuesday 28th April 2015 1st Day of School 2nd Term SSU-UIS

SRI UTAMA SCHOOLS

JOHOR BAHRU

VISION A united, dynamic learning com-munity that fosters family values and continually strives for success in providing quality education. MISSION To develop confidence, self-esteem and humility in young individuals within a safe learning environment while contributing to society. VALUES

1. Respect for self, others and the environment

2. Humility appreciation and compassion

3. Community spirit which un-derstands diversity

4. Aim to enhance individual skills and talents

5. Determination, confidence and success

Sri Utama Schools Johor Bahru

No. 16, Jalan Beringin,

Melodies Garden,

80250 Johor Bahru,

Johor Darul Ta’zim.

Phone: +607-3347714 / 15

Fax: +607-3347807

E-mail: info@sriutama.edu.my