THE STAR, TUESDAY 1 MAY 2018
An exceptional educational experience
CHILDREN are innately inquisitive
and filled with wonder. We need to
take advantage of this to not only
provide them with a sound
academic basis but also – and
perhaps more importantly so – to
help inculcate in them a love for
learning, particularly during their
formative years.
At Shattuck-St Mary’s Forest City
International School, an amalgam
of tried-and-true creative teaching
methodologies is employed to
create a vibrant learning
environment for children from the
moment they set foot in there.
“We aspire to go beyond a
traditional setting to provide our
students with an exceptional
educational experience that is both
enriching and relevant,” says head
of school Graham Gamble.
Albert Einstein said that “play is
the highest form of research”, and
this is the central approach used to
engage and inspire the school’s
youngest learners.
In line with this, the Early
Childhood programme provides
myriad of opportunities for
children to explore their
environment and interact with
peers as they build their social and
mathematics. Second, we
encourage practical innovation and
creative thought.”
In recognising that education
does not only occur within the four
walls of the classroom, Shattuck-St
Mary’s Forest City International
School offers plenty of
opportunities for children to
enhance their potential.
Among others, the school
features a state-of-the-art two-
storey weCreate Center, which
offers innovative spaces and
technologies to help students
pursue their passion in fields that
include robotics, electronics,
Shattuck-St Mary’s Forest City International School in Johor employs architecture, music, film-making,
creative teaching methodologies to provide a vibrant learning environment photography, designing and more.
for your child. Students are also given
opportunities to engage in
academic skills. the world and their interests in a experiential and service learning.
“We perceive each and every wide range of areas, including This encompasses field trips for
child as a strong, capable and STEAM (science, technology, active on-site learning and
resilient individual. Our engineering, arts and mathematics) community projects that let them
programme focuses on children’s and athletics, in addition to contribute to society.
needs and interests to enable them solidifying their foundation in The development of leadership
to grow holistically,” explains the literacy and numeracy. skills is prioritised as well. In a bid
school’s Early Childhood principal Elementary School principal to nurture its students to become
Meg Brainard. Wayne Burnett says, “Our leaders of the future, the school
As children move up to the Elementary School is based on two offers various avenues for students
elementary level, they are vital pillars. First, we provide a to hone their skills, including
encouraged to continue exploring strong foundation in English and partaking in Student Council as
well as other forums and roles.
These are complemented by
leadership development
programmes.
“We understand that children
learn in different ways. Hence,
our curriculum and learning
programmes are designed to meet
their individual needs while
reflecting a unified vision of
education for the whole child,”
adds Gamble.
Shattuck-St Mary’s Forest City
International School is a global
campus of Shattuck-St Mary’s
School, an acclaimed American
boarding school. It is the first
educational institution in Forest
City, an up-and-coming intelligent
eco-city comprising four man-
made islands in Johor.
The campus is set to
accommodate up to 3,200 students
and features cutting-edge facilities,
including a theatre, dance studio,
soccer field, swimming pool,
gymnasium, kiln rooms and
boarding facilities.
n For more information about the
school or to register for the August
intake, call 019-730 2021 or visit
www.ssm-fc.org
2 Bright Kids THE STAR, TUESDAY 1 MAY 2018

A new approach
R.E.A.L Kids marks a milestone this year
with the launch of its new curriculum – the
R.E.A.L Kids Learning Journey.
This new curriculum is not limited to
learning materials. Developers of the
curriculum meticulously established
appropriate learning principles and
activities, design of learning spaces,
21st-century learning approaches and
methodologies, the role of technology in
learning processes and learning
assessments.
The R.E.A.L Kids Learning Journey was
designed with young children in mind. Thus, R.E.A.L Kids’ new approach to teaching lets
lessons are fun, interactive, personalised and its learners gain and retain knowledge more
collaborative. effectively.
The goal is to nurture confident learners
who can experience and enjoy holistic Established in 1986, R.E.A.L Kids is the
learning opportunities to develop positive country’s largest owner-operated early
self-awareness, empathy and basic skills in childhood education provider with more
literacy and numeracy, communication, than 30 centres nationwide.
science and expressive arts. All R.E.A.L. Kids centres provide full-day
This innovative curriculum gives children programmes from 8.30am to 3.30pm.
ample opportunity to explore, investigate Extended programmes are available for busy
and appreciate their own journey. parents.
Central to this initiative are the following Explore what R.E.A.L. Kids has to offer
teaching and learning approaches that will your child during its Open Day this Saturday,
soon be introduced in R.E.A.L Kids centres. which will be held at all R.E.A.L Kids centres
l Multiple intelligences theory nationwide.
l Project-based learning
l Interdisciplinary learning n For more information, call 03-5631 8000
l Play-based learning or visit www.realkids.edu.my
THE STAR, TUESDAY 1 MAY 2018
Participants, facilitators and leaders of last year’s Asia Leadership
Youth Camp.
Committed
to moulding
future leaders
THE youth are the backbone of
society and the foundation for
future global development. They
should not only be treated as
leaders of tomorrow, but as
partners of today as well.
Thus, it is essential for parents
and educators to inculcate them
with skills such as creativity,
innovativeness, communicative
ability, cooperativeness and
logical thinking. Young people
need to be aware of their
potential because how they
approach challenges can have a
significant impact on their
future.
Hosted by Sunway
International School (SIS) and
jointly organised by Center for
Asia Leadership, the Asia
Leadership Youth Camp will
be held from July 2 to 6. The
camp is a five-day residential
programme titled “Experiencing
Harvard”.
Now in its fourth year, it
aims to expose students aged
15 to 19 to unique, advanced
experiential learning
opportunities. Participants will
discover how to evaluate choices
and formulate and execute
achievable action plans for their
studies and future careers.
Students can also benefit
from career mentoring sessions
and various workshops
on leadership skills,
entrepreneurial thinking,
professional development and
community service.
The camp will be facilitated
by teaching fellows from
Harvard University and other
Facilitators from distinguished institutions – such as Craig Brimhall
(centre) from Harvard University – will be present at the camp to guide
participants through various activities.
Bright Kids 3
Emphasis on English
AS an extensively used language in
communications, informative
literature, business, finance and
entertainment, English has gained
prominence in Malaysia.
Smart Reader Worldwide
recognised the need for quality
English education and introduced
the Smart Reader Kids Intensive
English Programme, which aims to
sharpen young children’s grasp of
English.
The programme effectively boosts
children’s fluency and articulation
in conversation and writing. Lessons
are supplemented with interesting
teaching aids so that children are
excited to learn.
Franchisee of Smart Reader Kids
Precinct 11, Putrajaya, Mohd Rajaie,
understands that the rate of learning
is highest during a child’s formative
years and quality holistic early
childhood education must be
prioritised.
“We have seen students as young
as three years old who demonstrate
tremendous improvement in oral Smart Reader Kids franchisee Mohd Rajaie with his students at the Precinct
and written literacy. This helps 11, Putrajaya centre.
prepare them for more advanced
lessons during primary education teaching strategies such as role play, Reader Worldwide’s award-winning
and beyond,” he says. storytelling and quizzes to make programmes, facilities and
globally renowned institutions. Smart Reader Kids Desa Pandan lessons more engaging for students. enrolment by visiting any of its 300
Samuel Kim, co-founder and franchisee Wan Ahmad Diah The curriculum has a perfect centres in Malaysia.
president of the Center for Asia explains that the programme not balance of language enrichment
Leadership, defines success as only focuses on enhancing English exercises and fun activities that n For more information, call
the ability to foreground lifelong skills but also develops children’s develop students’ cognitive and 03-6279 5555 or the SMARTLine
empowerment among youth. interest in learning. motor skills.” at 1300 885 555 or visit
Kim facilitates more than 42 “Our teachers use various Parents can learn about Smart www.smartreader.edu.my
annual programmes in 27
countries across Asia that help
the region’s emerging leaders
discover different approaches to
professional competency and
social responsibility.
The teaching fellows will be
using myriad delivery methods
and instructive tools during the
camp. It aims to allow
participants to identify their
talents and master new skills.
The infrastructure and
facilities at SIS Sunway City
provide a vibrant environment
conducive to learning.
The campus is also equipped
with wireless Internet, which
makes it an ideal “home away
from home” for camp
participants because it lets them
keep in touch with loved ones
during the camp.
SIS is fully owned and
governed by the Jeffrey Cheah
Foundation. Together with the
Centre for Asia Leadership, it
aims to equip the youth of Asia
with globally renowned
practices and skill sets to
produce world leaders.
Application submission for
the Asia Leadership Youth Camp
is open until June 1.
n For more information on the
camp, call 03-7491 8070 or visit
sis.sunway.edu.my/ALYCamp
4 Bright Kids
Hands-on learning and creative approaches are some of the strategies TIS Kuala Lumpur
teachers use to encourage student engagement during lessons.
Developing
winners in
education
TAYLOR’S International School (TIS) Kuala
Lumpur is a leading centre of academic
excellence. Dedicated to producing top
scholars, its students have received 22
Outstanding Cambridge Learner Awards
across all subjects since 2012.
Furthermore, in the International General
Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE),
the school has been producing Top in
Malaysia and Top in the World award
winners for Mathematics and Additional
Mathematics since 2014.
Last year’s Outstanding Cambridge
Learner Awards winners Joshua Toh Weng
Ho and Jeong Dong Hoon gained the highest
scores in the world for IGCSE Mathematics.
“It was beyond all expectation. I worked
hard and my efforts paid off in the end. It
feels great to be on top,” says Joshua.
Initially, Dong Hoon had trouble with
mathematics, but his hard work bore fruit.
“Once I reached the point where I could
apply formulae and equations in all the
right places, I stopped looking at hard
questions as unsolvable problems,” says
Dong Hoon.
Both students’ achievements are partly
thanks to Albert Pang, their mathematics
teacher. Pang believes that nurturing
confidence is the first step in unleashing
students’ true potential.
“At TIS Kuala Lumpur, we build a solid
platform for students to develop personal
qualities. When we teach, we want to create
a sense of self-belief in students so that they
use their personal strengths to reap success
in life.”
Creativity is the secret behind Pang’s
teaching strategy. During lessons, he
introduces treasure hunts and card games
to enhance student engagement.
“We use visuals, mind maps and games
to simplify all the steps while learning
mathematics. A creative approach
in presenting our subject
THE STAR, TUESDAY 1 MAY 2018
knowledge makes lessons approachable,”
he shares.
Paul Lim, TIS Kuala Lumpur’s head of
mathematics, believes that variety is
important to keep mathematics from
becoming a mundane subject.
“I believe teachers have to evolve with
the times. If you want to draw students’
interest, you have to evolve and add variety
to teaching,” says Lim.
Joshua says, “The learning environment is
enjoyable and our teachers are passionate.
Sometimes, they use my classmates and
me as examples so we can recall the
equations better.
“Whenever there are long formulae in
maths, my teacher shortens them and
creates acronyms so we can easily memorise
them.”
Embracing new teaching methods is part
of the school’s commitment to academic
excellence. Principal Peter Wells knows it
best.
“Teachers need to be well prepared to
challenge students and this means giving
them access to all the tools they require.
“This includes access to up-to-date training
and exposure to new and exciting ideas.
It is important to build solid, supportive
relationships in the classroom for students to
thrive on,” says Wells.
Under his leadership, TIS Kuala Lumpur
is preparing early for this year’s IGCSE.
The principal stands by the school’s core
purpose, which is to educate the youth to
become global community leaders.
“As a school, we are continuously adapting
to focus on what students need for the
future. We question what we do and make
the necessary changes to give students the
confidence and skill to be successful.”
n For more information, call
03-9200 9898 or e-mail
admissions@kl.tis.edu.my