The International School Of Penang (Uplands)

In this TouchBase:- Book Week - Board Talk

- FOBISSEA Update- Uplands are 2009 MSSPP Football League Champions

- Race Night- Uplands Performance Week

Get TouchBase in colour at www.uplands.org

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FRIDAY, February 13th, 2009

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Uplands Performance Week 16th-19th March 2009See pg 7.

B o o k W e e k

9th-13th February 2009

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BOARD talk …

In our last TouchBase column we announced details for our O.G.M. We are aware that some people missed this, so as a reminder, the date for this year’s O.G.M is Saturday 30th May 2009. We had previously been asked to try and schedule it in either September or May. As the Companies Act 1965 requires that the O.G.M. be held before the end of June, you will un-derstand that September was not an option.

The recent Theatre Arts Programme Symposium (TAPS) hosted by our School was a great experience for those senior Uplands’ students taking drama as one of their elective courses. The Gov-ernors are delighted that not only are such learning opportu-nities available, but that ISP has the talented staff to organise the workshops and take the lead in some of them. The event attracted drama students from international schools around the region, and one of our number was able to enjoy some of the sessions. This was not just an observation exercise but called for full participation in workshops. This meant miming for “Com-media” and engaging in “Stage fights” (the aged Governor was not allowed, by Mr. Moss, to be thrown across the floor mat – al-though quite willing). Thank you for the inclusion especially in the final night barbeque when student performances along the beach were viewed.

As always, Book Week was a great success, and although it was a collaborative effort by the staff of both Primary and Second-ary, we would particularly like to thank Tom Walton and Alexis Kerr. A variety of activities were organised during the week, from Book Cover Competitions (both on tutor room doors and on paper), the Book Exchange, Pop-In Poets, Book Quizzes to Poetry Readings. As usual, the Character Parade was well re-ceived by students and I have to say the Book Cover Competi-tion (on doors) produced some very high quality entries.

Time and again governors are asked questions about the struc-ture of the Board, how often committees meet, what they do and even how long meetings last. In this column, we would like to highlight the Building and Development Committee.

This is a sub-committee of the Management Committee (MC) to whom it is required to report. The MC will then ensure that those matters which require full Board approval are presented to the Board. The Building and Development Committee (B & DC) is currently co-chaired by Ooi Lye Huat and Bibi Van Ge-mert, and the remaining committee members are Leigh Pratt, Alan Rimington and Brian Bamford. The Acting Principal Alan Smith, Director of Administration Kingsley Charles and Chair-person of UPTA are all invited to be ‘in attendance’ at these

meetings.

How often does this committee meet and what does it do? Monthly meetings are held to discuss matters relating mostly to school maintenance and improve-ment of school facilities. Where possible, such work will be carried out by our own maintenance staff, but some work must be contracted out to local contractors.

Mr Kingsley Charles keeps a list of outstanding work and he is responsible for obtaining several quotations for every job which needs doing. These are discussed and approved (where neces-sary) at the meetings.

Some of the work carried out by the B & DC in recent times includes: dealing with ensuring the school meets the regula-tions required by the Fire Department (Bomba); approval of exhaust fans for the science lab; ventilation louvers for air con-dition compressors and awnings for the new PTA porta cabin. Some of this work was carried out during the school holiday, so the school community may not really be aware that it has been done. At the moment, the B & DC are in the middle of upgrad-ing boarding facilities. The boarding houses were initially only rented for a period of two years. As we have decided to extend the rental period, we have noted that some work clearly needs to be done to ensure our boarding facility is more comfortable and homely for our boarding students. To this end, a variety of work is currently being carried out, including painting and purchase of new furniture.

You will appreciate that although the B & DC may only meet once a month, committee members are constantly busy and communication is on-going between meetings.

Some of you will have noticed that Dr John Horsfall is not only in Penang but has been present on the school campus. As we an-nounced in our circular dated 10th Feb, Dr Horsfall has agreed to conduct a pre-accreditation study of the School. This should help to give him a good introduction to the staff, as well as an insight into the workings and operations of the school. Please be reminded that Dr Horsfall will only assume full responsi-bility as school Principal from the commencement of the third school term of this current academic year.

Feedback on this column is welcome. Comments/suggestions can be sent to boardtalk9@gmail.com.

Susan Leefor and on behalf of the ISP Board.

Are you the crafty type? If you are, come to the craft group at the PTA Porta Cabin on Wednesdays 8:15 to 11:30 am, just next to the Gate B by the school field. If you want a cup of tea / coffee and make some new friends you are WELCOME.

For further information, please contact Cathy ( 012 4726038 )

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Mr. Mueller’s & Mr. Tinesh’s visit to Year 5.

Mr. Mueller & Mr. Tinesh came to school to tell us about what their company invents. First, I will talk about Mr. Tinesh. Mr. Tinesh is Avinaash’s father. He told us about cell phones. Mr. Tinesh works at Jabil. It is a company that makes parts for cell phones. He said after the cell phone is made, they have to pick a volunteer. The volunteer can throw and drop the cell phone. If it doesn’t break and is not damaged, the company can sell it. Wow, I didn’t know that. Cool!

Now, I will tell you about Mr. Mueller. Mr Mueller is Oliver’s father. He works at Os-ram. It is a company which makes light bulbs. He showed us some L.E.D lights. He also showed us the light bulb that is similar to the one that Thomas Alva Edison made. He let us touch it and see it. After that he showed us the light bulb that we use now. It was longer than the old light bulb that Thomas Alva Edison made. He also showed us

a round -shaped light bulb. We got to touch that, too. He also showed us coloured lights. We touched that too! The coloured lights were beautiful. It was very interesting and I learned many new things. Thank you, Mr. Mueller! Thank you, Mr. Tinesh!

Jumi Yoon Y5K.

School Sports Update

The under 17 Boys and Girls Basketball teams competed in a tournament in K.L hosted by ISKL, Feb 6th and 7th. The teams did very well despite being allocated to the outside courts all day. Both the Boys and Girls teams won bronze medals, and once again proved that Uplands is a force to be reckoned with. The coaches Ms. Ross and Ms. Denny would like to con-gratulate them on their great committment and success.

Under 15 FOBISSEA - March 4th-8th 2009 The Under 15 FOBISSEA team is almost ready for their competition in Brunei, training 4 days a week and the oc-casional weekend. The students have worked very hard in their preparation for these games and we want to wish them great success.The FOBISSEA sports will be Athletics, Swimming, Basket-ball and Football over 3 days and all team members will be competing in at least two of the events, with some in all four. The coaches have worked very hard for the past 10 weeks to prepare for the competition and are confident that ev-eryone’s hard work will pay off.I would like to thank the coaches: Buby Weggartner,Philip Nield,Phil Lees, Nigel Whisttlestone, for all their dedica-tion to the team. I thank all the teaching staff who will be working extra hard to cover classes by the traveling coaches. Staff and parents alike can access the website for the games at www.fobisseagames.org. username: GO4gold password: fobissea

The U15 FOBISSEA Team

Janet LinAllie Maurillo

Chloe RimingtonKeara Kulasegram

Soo Min JangMorgan Nicholson

Kelly MestonKanae SugimotoShelvy ChandraVanny Jesseline

Sashi ChiesaJascha Weggartner

Serena HopkinsKristi Ong

Shannon MartinCourtney Primmer

Nisha VasanLayla KuljperDexter SeowFenly SusantoBryce Paule

Cahal FranksGabriel Kessler

Yusuf Abdullah InuwaAaron Loh

Sam PrimmerKen Jones

Oliver HopkinsJee Hun kim

Merrill Ross

H.O.D P.E

Uplands are the 2009 champions of the U/18 MSSPP Football League

I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who at-tended the football match on Thursday the 5th of March. It was great to see so many colleagues at the game and I sincerely thank you for your support. Although the boys did not play their best football, they still came through to win - on penalties. This is the first time we have entered the U/18 MSSPP Football League...and we have a 100% record!

The score at half time was 1-0 to Dalat, then Uplands Lachlan Kerr equalised with 5 minutes to go. Extra time of 10 minutes each way saw Uplands scoring in the the first two minutes but Dalat then equalised in the last three minutes.

The match went to penalties where Uplands won 2-0 on penal-ties. Goalkeeper Chih Yao Ko saved all the penalties. Lachlan Kerr scored both goals in play. Lachlan Kerr and Navin Jayaba-lan scored a penalty each. Please congratulate all the boys on their performance and the great win. I have never been so proud of a group of lads, who always show true grit and determination. A well deserved win!

THE TEAM:Lachlan Kerr

Timmons WongSyafiq Poulsen

Mark ColkChih Yao KoMaiki Kono

Navin JayabalanIvan De Wolf

Joel De AmaralMitchell KamAdam BaskettFim ManeinVictor Lee

Dominic HoeyMatthew Young

Jack SmithJohan Varliete

Craig Skinner, PE

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W e e k Book Week is one of Uplands’ important events in the School year. Its primary aim is to encourage more reading among the student community. This year it ran from Monday 9th of Feb to Friday 13th Feb, beginning with a whole School assembly where students performed funny sketches and played guessing games of book titles with the audience. Some even sang to entertain their fellow students and read poetry to encourage them to read more.

As the week progressed, other activities were organized such as a Book Swap where parents and children brought in books they do not read anymore to exchange, a door decorating competition, a photography competition called ‘Get Caught Reading’ where photos of students and teachers reading in odd locations are submitted. One of the highlights of the week was the storybook character costume parade where stu-dents from each year came to School dressed as a character out their favorite book.

Coinciding with Book Week, Uplands was honoured by a visit by Malaysian Nobel nominated poet and recipient of the Malaysian Lifetime Humanitarian Award, Mr. Cecil Rajendra who read and discussed poetry writing with our IB Diploma stu-dents.

All in all, Book Week has proven to be a lot of fun and I am sure has produced many new bookworms.

Marketing & Events

B o o k

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Book Week – Secondary

The English department is pleased to report that this year’s Book Week was a great success in the Sec-ondary section at Uplands. Highlights included a much-improved turnout from Secondary in response to the traditional costume parade, with many individuals creating eye-catching outfits to celebrate char-acters from their favourite literary works. It was great to see such a positive response – and a pleasure to spend the first part of the morning mixing with the enthusiastic Primary students and teachers!

Other events included a number of poetry reading sessions in the library (with students and teachers reading a variety of published and personal writing), the visit of Malaysian poet, Cecil Rajendra, and a range of competitions that invited students to present responses to literature in a number of ways. The results of these competitions are listed below:

Tom Walton, HOD English

BOOK WEEK COMPETITION RESULTS

Book QuizWinner: Lim Wei Yun, Year 13

Book Covers on Doors:Winner: 11N - Alice in Wonderland

Commended: 10P - Twilight and 7Y - The Hungry Caterpillar Book Covers A4:Book voucher winners:Alina Brennan 9QIsobel Bridgwood 8T

Merit winners:Kwan Maneein 9QFang Sae-Lee 9RZhen Yee Ong 8UJian Wei YeongJolene Teh 9RNadya de Wolf 7XAnne 7ZFrancis Law 7ZZong Dhang 8UHui Min 9Q

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*Uplands Community raise over RM3000 for the Relay For Life charity.*

The Charity Race Night held on February 6th was a huge success. Over 100 people turned up at the E & O Hotel, dressed for a night at the races.

A welcome glass of Pimms was given to all ladies upon arrival. Hats, feathers, dresses and high heels were in abundance, reflective of Ladies’ Day at Ascot, and the prize for Best Dressed lady, a bouquet of flowers was presented to Lady Judith Elleridge. 360 Financial Services, the official sponsor of the night, and their 3 representatives did a sterling job of running the financial side of the evening. 8 races with 8 horses competing in each race gave everyone a running chance of backing a winner. Owners of the winning horses had a photo shoot and were presented with a share in the winnings. Some fantastic prizes were also available in the raffle. The final race was auctioned on the night. Craig Marcombe ran the auctions and in true professional form, enticed the punters into

placing their hands in the air and raising the bidding. The excitement and drama of each race was brought to a head as the final race was off. Race Night was attended by Dato Seri Dr Deveraj, Vice-Chairman of the Penang branch of the Relay for Life, who commenced the night with a short synopsis of the charity and who will be receiving the enormous amount of over RM3000.

Now that the adults have done their bit, it’s over to Year 12s - it’s just a little run!! There are many thanks to be given for the night. Main sponsors 360 Financial Services. Craig Skinner, Carol Ch’ng, Jane Clarke, Joyce Christman, Patrick Hoey, Geoff Harley, Johan Varleite, Finola Leonardi, Craig Marcombe, Nic Klar and Sarah Neild.

Raffle prizes generously donated by : Jonathan Yun Sculptural Jewellery, Pearl Framers, www.penangpassion.com, The Wine Shop, Uplands School, Cutting Edge Hair Salon, Ohara Florist, Sam’s Batik and Jen Heal Photography.

Phil Nield, Economics Teacher

BEWARE! Bumblesnouts are coming to Save Earth…Bumblesnouts (alias cute Year 3 aliens) are landing in Uplands on Thursday 19th March at 6.15pm to perform a fun musical in the large drama room. This project has been IB PYP at its best, over the past 2 months, with trans disciplinary subjects all linking together: In English, the students have written playscripts and designed adverts, in art children have made props and scenery, and of course in music they have been learning the songs.

The audience can expect a treat as they meet eccen-tric characters like Mrs Fizzy and the Punks. They will also experience an animal safari (with help from Re-ception and Year 1).

Mr Holton says, “the songs are really catchy...the cast have worked so hard...you’ve got to get your ticket now!”

Matt Holton, Primary Teacher

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PERFORMANCE WEEK PRODUCTIONS SYNOPSES

BUMBLESNOUTS (Year 3 students with scenes by the Reception and Year 1 classes This hilarious musical offers the polluters and animals of Earth hope for the future when visited by the Bumblesnouts from outer space.

CAT RAP ( Year 2 students) This musical number sees the meows making it real!

CHICKEN BONES FOR THE TEENAGE SOUP (Years 7 to 9 and directed by the 2nd Year IB Theatre students.) The production offers a wonderfully sarcastic parody of the ‘CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE SOUL’ series.

CUT ( Year 10 IGCSE class.) What happens when there is a play, within a play, within a play and each are about being in a play?

CHECK PLEASE (IB Theatre students) This series of “blind dates” proves that kissing frogs to find a prince is also true for those who are in search of princesses as well!

15 REASONS NOT TO BE IN A PLAY ( Year 11 IGCSE class) Mr. Moss is directing 5 productions during Performance Week, this production shows what happens when students just don’t want to be directed!

GOING TO SCHOOL ( Year 10 IGCSE class.) It won’t be long before each of our students have the experience of leaving for college, this production of-fered a look at “what not to do” as a family on that important day.

PRACTICAL CATS (Years 4, 5 and 6.) This production is an original piece based on the poems of T. S . Eliot and the music of Andrew Lloyd Webber.

RESERVATIONS and THE KISSING SCENE (a double bill) (Year 11 IGCSE students.)

RESERVATIONS lets those inner voices be heard (and seen) as a couple go though that rough first date. Everyone remembers the awkwardness of their first kiss. Every actor looks back in horror at their first KISSING SCENE.

SCIPS MUSICAL ENSEMBLE A string ensemble from SCIPS.

YEAR NINE DRUM LINE Rhythm , tempo, sticks and body parts all brought together by our students to create a sound that will make you feet dance and your heart warm.

SENIOR MUSIC RECITAL (IGCSE and IB Music Students) Students share highlights of their musical journey.

Uplands Performance Week Schedule Monday March 16

10:00 am CUT11:20 am 15 REASONS NOT TO BE IN A PLAY 1:10 pm MUSIC ASSEMBLY (Secondary)

Tuesday March 1710:00 am RESERVATIONS and THE KISSING SCENE11:20 am CHECK PLEASE 7:00 pm SENIOR MUSIC RECITAL Wednesday March 188:30 am GOING TO SCHOOL10:00 am RESERVATIONS and THE KISSING SCENE11:20 am CUT1:30 pm BUMBLESNOUTS and CAT RAP (BIO)6:00 pm CHECK PLEASE* CUT6:45 pm RESERVATIONS and

THE KISSING SCENE 15 REASONS NOT TO

BE IN A PLAY*

7:30 pm YEAR NINE DRUM LINE7:45 pm CHICKEN BONES FOR THE

TEENAGE SOUP* GOINGTO

SCHOOL

Thursday March 18 8:30 am 15 REASONS NOT TO

BE IN A PLAY 10:00 am GOING TO SCHOOL 11:30 am CHECK PLEASE 1:45 pm PRACTICAL CATS (BIO)* 6:15 pm BUMBLESNOUTS and CAT RAP (BIO) 7:00 pm SCIPS MUSICAL

ENSEMBLE 7:30 pm PRACTICAL CATS*

Friday March 19 9:00 am BUMBLESNOUTS and CAT RAP (BIO) 11:30 am CHECK PLEASE 1:50 pm CHICKEN BONES FOR THE TEENAGE SOUP*

(BIO) BY INVITATION ONLY *PERFORMANCES IN THE MPH All performances are 35 to 40 minutes.

The International School Of Penang (Uplands)

Jalan Sungai Satu, Batu Feringgi, 11100 Penang, Malaysia. Tel: 04 881 9777 Fax: 04 881 9778

www.uplands.org

TouchBase is published every Friday fortnightly during the school year as a service to the Uplands community. A colour PDF version can be downloaded from the School website: www.uplands.org - Go to ‘Events/ News’ and then click on ‘TouchBase Newsletter’. It is produced by the School, and is meant only for internal circulation.TouchBase is distributed to each family by way of youngest enrolled child of each Uplands family.All information must be e-mailed (bram@uplands.org) to reach the School by 10am on the Monday prior to the following week’s publication.TouchBase encourages every member of the Uplands community to contribute to the publication. However, we reserve the right to edit or reject any article or information.For advertising enquiries, please contact the School.

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TOUCHBASE - General Information

Closing thought...

“I believe that to meet the challenge of the next century, human beings will have to develop a greater sense of universal responsibility. Each of us must learn to work not just for his or her own self, family or nation, but for the benefit of all mankind. ”

~ Dalai Lama

faces of Uplands Rajendran Kalimuthu is currently Uplands’ longest serving maintenance staff member. He joined in 1992.

InformationActivities: I like to play football at the Polo Ground after School, on most afternoons.

Interests: Fishing and home improvement.

About Me: I have respect for my superiors at work. I am a striker/ goal scorer when playing football and I like working outdoors.

My Advice: Don’t mix with bad people.

Wall BoxesPhotosInfo

Uplands Ski Trip

Who is Strangely Brown? Sat Nav? Which male wore a women’s jacket all week? Who only fell over in the toilet and never on the snow? Just who was most bonkers? Who is the champion sledger? Who wore the best boots? Who has a plan B? Just how good is a heated toilet seat? And what is the polka dot tie for? For all these answers you would have to have been on the Uplands ski and snowboard trip.

18 skiers and a strange bear took to the slopes of Japan during the February holiday, braving a metre of snow and -15 degrees of cold. The group ranged from the experienced to the begin-ners with 9 different nationalities, but by Thursday evening all were skiing and jumping under the floodlights in the Japanese Alps together on a slope all to ourselves.All the students were a credit to Uplands throughout the week showing maturity and respect for each other and the staff. A big thank you to Mr. Walton, Ms. Nicholson, and Mr Whittlestone for making this such a fantastic trip for all involved.We hope to return to Yuzawa in February 2010 – watch this space for more information.

Adrian Sparrow, Secondary Teacher