NEWS AND EVENTS
TIS 2016/2017
SST 2016
PAST EVENTS
ACTIVITIES:
In line with Tenby's mission statement of 'A united world at peace through education", we feel that learning should be life-long. Come and join us for our various Coffee Morning talks and events.
EVENT WRITE-UPS
17 MAY 2017
Our Coffee Morning talk 'When Smart Students Struggle with Learning' focused on how we can help students overcome their learning obstacles. This talk fitted in well with Campus Principal, Mr Ian Temple's 3 year strategic plan for the school where Special Education Needs is one of the subject item featured. As such, he was the obvious choice to deliver the opening address, where he stressed that Tenby recognises that learning is different by each individual and assured parents that Tenby is supportive of our children's differing learning capabilities.
Ms Pamela Dolton, our Head of The Learning Centre (TLC) was the first to present. She went through the different kinds of learning disabilities, common ones which TLC are encountering and methods used to assist in the different learning styles of such students. Our second speaker, Ms Tan Ching Yi, is head psychologist at a multi-disciplinary intervention centre for children and young people with learning difference. She also covered different learning disabilities, giving great real-ilfe examples of how simple methods can work and also managing parents' expectations. She gave parents a list of resources for assessments/diagnosis and support groups.
WHEN SMART STUDENTS STRUGGLE WITH LEARNING by Pamela Dolton and Tan Cheng Yi
PARENTING IN THE 21st CENTURY by Paul Jambunathan
15 MARCH 2017
What a hilarious session we had today! Nearly 100 parents came to listen to clinical psychologist Paul Jambunathan, who also happens to be a renown radio and TV personality. While he peppered his talk with funny anecdotes and showed the folly of our parenting ways, he had a very serious message to deliver.
He started off with the 4 basic needs of humans, according to Dr Banks in 1976, Most of us have our needs met already and are now pursuing our wants. But we have so many wants in life and are also teaching our children how to have more wants. This has caused us to lose our balance in pursuit of these wants. Some mothers now work just to be able to afford a maid or driver, have the latest phone for themselves and their children and many more goods that they don't necessarily need.
In a simple exercise, he showed how we were predominantly negative in our thinking. So, negative parenting has negative outcomes. Another exercise showed that we could just switch to positive thinking by changing our mindsets. He showed that values determine attitude, which in turn, determines behaviour. Different people have different values. Today, in the quest for attaining our ‘wants’, we parents have lost our values and our common sense. The role of parenting has been delegated to the maid. Parents live through their children. They want their children to have good grades. They over-schedule their children with activities and tuition. In their busy-ness, they don’t have time to be together and just talk. Talking, not giving instructions, nagging or reminding. Just talking one to one with the child. These days, the child talks more with the maid. The values that they learn are their maid’s values.
In a nut shell, he is saying that we parents are doing a terrible job at parenting. It is time to wake up and use a common sense approach in parenting, for our children will one day be parents of our grandchildren.
EARTH MATTERS by Ivan Ho
22 FEBRUARY, 2017
“Oh My God! What am I in for?” This was what most participants in this Coffee Morning must have been thinking. It was so different from any of the Coffee Mornings that we’ve had in the past. Ivan spoke. Faces looked perplexed. Jaws dropped. Ten minutes passed. By then, most had braced themselves and went with the flow, while a couple left. But by the end of Ivan’s talk, all of us came away with new 'A Ha' moments and realizations.
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Earth Matters. All things are connected: we to the Earth; Earth, and everything in between, to us. From the start, Ivan’s passion for this topic was evident. To demonstrate such an abstract theme, he had us do role-plays and watch a few YouTube videos from the Nature is Speaking series.
The first role-play was to show how Earth is interconnected to all elements and living things, good and bad. We were assigned to be elements, eg Earth, microbes, plants, etc. Some elements had good and bad counterparts, eg good bacteria and bad bacteria. This was a sensorial exercise, more so for the person playing Earth. She had to feel the effect on herself when bad or good elements exert their forces on her. As the exercise continued, it was evident to the group that the bad elements have more influence on Earth than the good elements but Earth was still taking in all these effects to her detriment. And yet, though within her capabilities, she does not destroy any of the bad elements.
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Our second role-play was to demonstrate physically how each element affects the earth and each other. Ivan had us do this using raffia strings. One end was tied in a loop to our hands and the other end of the string to Earth’s hands. Other strings were used to loop other elements to each other. We ended up with a cobweb effect. Each movement of an element had an effect on Earth and all other elements. Again, we saw how when bad elements exerted their pull against Earth, the good elements could not balance out their forces and so were unable to protect Earth. With each role-play, we realized how important it is to have love and acceptance.
In the next exercise, Ivan had us look at our own homes and list down what we would like in our homes. Some replies were, trees, garden, birds, animals, music, love, friendship, family security, gratitude and more. This was want we innately wanted. One participant said that what she wanted in her home was to establish a re-connection with the Earth. With that, Ivan brought out a bag of soil. All of us had to touch and feel the soil. It was unlike any that we’ve known. It felt clean, light, odourless and some said, powerful. Ivan explained that though the soil was from his farm, he has carried this same bag to all the workshops that he’d conducted. Thus, the soil had absorbed all the good energy from the participants. With good thoughts, we get soil, with bad thoughts we get dirt.
At the end of the session, we were really glad we stayed on and went along with what Ivan had us do. The role-plays very powerfully demonstrated how interconnected we are, for better or for worse. We also left with the realization that it really was up to us, the individual, to make a difference in our own world and to planet Earth. Bravo Ivan!
COMMON EYE DISEASES IN CHILDREN AND ADULTS by Dr Chuah Kay Leong
9 JANUARY 2017
Finally, this long awaited talk by Dr Chuah is happening. He arrived full of cheer and enthusiasm despite having to give up a part of his precious day off.
His talk was very informative, starting with the basics; the anatomy of the eye, definitions and clearing up some common misconceptions. He then covered the common eye diseases in children, using terms simple enough for us to grasp, before stopping for a session of Q&A.
After an interactive Q&A session, he proceeded to cover the common eye diseases in adults. All of us, being adults, were eager to hear what he had to say about out eye health as we age. Some were disappointed to learn that we are not able to change our eye colours, some learnt about how they can help their elderly parents as they encounter issues with sight, while others were planning their next eye exams, after being told that being 50 years of age is the cut-off point when eye health starts deteriorate and would need yearly exams.
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After the class, he was cornered by some parents who wanted more clarification and advice from him, to which he patiently addressed.
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TENBY BIODIVERSITY RESOURCE GARDEN-OFFICIAL OPENING
29 NOVEMBER 2016
After 6 years of untiring and diligent efforts, the 1000 species Tenby Biodiversity Resource Garden was officially opened on 29th November, 2016. The said Garden is an integral part of Tenby ECO school Programmes.
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In conjunction with the official opening, a "Biodiversity Resource Garden Explorer" competition was held, and trees were planted by committee members of TIS and SST Parents' Associations; and distinguished guests from The Malaysian Rubber Board.
23 NOVEMBER 2016
Here is what Subitra, one attendee had to say about the talk:
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"Interesting and informative! That was Dr Akhtar Qureshi's recent talk on Breast Cancer at Tenby EPC. He kindly took time off to educate us on the subject. He definitely busted my own long believed myths about what causes breast cancer. Glad that he did. What especially struck me about his talk was that he told it like it is. No frills needed. No doubt some of the slides were shockingly painful to see but I guess sometimes we need that to take some positive action. I definitely did, as I have already set a plan in motion. I have a few friends who are going through breast cancer and who are also survivors and I have shared some of the information with them .
Thanks Dr. Qureshi for sparing your precious time for this good cause.
BREAST CANCER TALK by Dr. Akhtar Qureshi
TENBY CHRISTMAS BAZAAR 2016
16 NOVEMBER 2016
Tenby School SEP had its 1st Christmas Bazaar organized by the Tenby International School's Parents' Association (TISSEPPA). And what a fun festive bazaar this was!
We had over 30 vendors showcasing and selling 'value-added' products, produce, goodies and gifts. Visitors were delighted with an amazing selection of jams, honey, virgin coconut oil products, chocolate, cookies, cupcakes and Christmas gifts featuring toys, art & craft, jewelry, , plants, Christmas trees and more! We even had an auction going! Two 3-tiered naked cakes by Pauline were auctioned off and the proceeds were donated to the PA fund. A big thank you to Tom Robinson, Deputy Principal (Pastoral) for being our auctioneer.
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We had gorgeous Penan baskets were brought to you by the Malaysia International Schools Parents Support Group (MISPSG), on behalf of the Penan Women Project (PWP). These were extremely popular with the ladies.
People came for breakfast and stayed till lunch as we had a coffee truck, homemade nasi lemak, a hot dog stall, homemade ice-cream, pastas and smoked delicacies.
Some took the opportunity to indulged in a back massage which was much appreciated by those with tired bodies from shopping. Children, and adults alike. had henna art done and / or face painting.
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Customers enjoyed the festive atmosphere and were impressed with the variety of vendors selling good quality products. Vendors commented that the bazaar was well organized and were satisfied with the high number of people coming through.
Lian Foong-Siddle, head of the Bazaar Committee had this to say to the the Bazaar Committee and the rest of the TISSEPPA Committee members: "Love it that we work well together; it makes the job SOOOO much better and more fun!! Thank you committee."
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We would like to thank the many people who made this bazaar such a success. Thank you to Ian Temple, our Campus Principal for giving us the go-ahead and for his welcome address at the start of the bazaar. We would also like to thank the volunteer parents, teachers, Heads of School, maintenance staff, IT dept, security team, vendors and Mandy Cheong (EA to Campus Principal).
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A PREVIEW OF PILATES by Anna Kronenburg
13 OCTOBER 2016
This was our 2nd coffee morning for the term and it rained again! Nevertheless, majority of those who registered for the talk did brave the rain and turned up, all eager to hear what Anna had to say and even more eager to try out some Pilates exercises. Anna did not disappoint. She started off with a video which highlighted the differences between Yoga and Pilates. Anna then explained the history behind Pilates, which of course would include something about the life of Joseph Pilates, the man who originated the method.
Next, she covered the principals of Pilates, and also had all of us stand up to try the Pilates breathing method. It wasn't as easy as how Anna demonstrated. It wasn't long before we were on the mat. The exercises that we did started out simple. When we had to incorporate the breathing pattern, things, or should I say, limbs went awry. Anna reassured us that it was very natural for that to happen.
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An interactive question and answer time followed with participants asking really good and relevant questions. Anna deftly answered each one with ease, giving us some insight to her extensive knowledge and experience. At the end of the session, participants were happy with what they have learnt and some, thinking about how they can join Anna's classes.
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After the class, the PA committee took the opportunity to introduced our new website and Facebook group to the crowd.
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MEET & GREET
7 SEPTEMBER 2016
We started off the year with our 1st Coffee Morning. A meet and greet with Ian Temple, new Campus Principal and his team. Despite the rain, the turnout was better than expected, all eagerly awaiting what Ian Temple has in store for us. But before he had a chance to start, Julie Thomas, TIS Parents' Association co-Chairperson, told the group about her plans and took the opportunity to introduce her new 2016/2017 team.
Ian Temple outlined his plans for the school, both short term and for the long term. He introduced his senior leadership team, who looked ready and keen to steer the school to a new level. In many ways, it was an encouraging and heartening meet and greet. A word of thanks to everyone who came and made it a successful event, to those who contributed to the PA coffee morning fund and, last but by no means least, thanks to those who brought the most delicious cakes for our first event!
INTERNATIONAL WEEK PHOTO CONTEST
In conjuction with Tenby Schools' International Week, SST PA organised a photography contest. Photos were uploaded onto the school's Facebook page and judged from there. Judging from the number of photos uploaded, it was a success.
ECO FAIR 2016
SST PA, in support of the school's activities, was involved in setting up the Tenby SEP Eco Fair 2016 on 19th May. The event was well attended by school teachers, staff, students and parents. The SST PA had their own booth, selling gardening items like colourful bio-degradable pots and potted plants, while TIS PA had a booth selling food products, woven bags by Penan Women Foundation and preloved books.
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