Contents

MessagefromthePrincipal

SecondarySchoolNews

AccreditationProcess

CurriculumandAssessment

ICTSubjectIntegration

PrimarySchoolNews

BoardingHouseNews

UplandsRoar

SecurityPolicy

CelebratingGreenPastures

DramaDepartment

AcademicTermDates20162017

UpcomingEvents

AcademicTermDates20162017

ToallintheUplandsCommunity,
HappyNewYear!
Ihopeyouhadaveryenjoyableholiday
periodandstarttotheNewYear.Itis
wonderfultohaveallthestudentsand
staffbackatschoolthis weekandhear
about the many different ways people
spentthethreeweekbreak.
Althoughwehavejustbegun2016wehavealready
startedplanningforthenextacademicyear.Please
seetheacademiccalendardatesfor20162017later
in this newsletter. These dates have already been
added to the schools online calendar and the
UplandsMobileApp.Theschoolholidaydaysare
nowfixed.Shouldtherebeanyamendmentstothe
gazetted Public Holiday dates we will update the
online calendar and inform you of any changes
throughtheweeklynewsletter.
ItmayonlybetheendofWeek1butthisnewsletter
isburstingwithinformation!Wehopeyouienjoy
it.Haveagreatweekend!
Yourssincerely,

MatthewBristow
Principal
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WelcometothestartofTerm2.Ihopeeveryonehadarestfulbreakandhadthechancetospend
somevaluablefamilytimetogetheroverthefestiveseason.Iwouldliketotakethisopportunity
towelcomeallofthenewstudentsandtheirfamiliestotheUplandscommunity.InSecondary
wehadtwelvenewstudentsbeginthisweek:

Year7TehDeYongandJermaineEow

Year8SafiyaYusufandWongYuSen

Year9CaoYiWen

Year10PortiaMacintosh,AndyOoiandRhyleyTiatoa

Year12LeeJiaWen,LohWeiMin,JesslynOngandAaronRaj

Idohopeallofthestudentshavehadacomfortablestarttotheirtimeatuplands.Aspartofthe
newstudentsinYear12,Iwouldliketocongratulatethethreescholarshipstudents;LohWei
Min, Jesslyn Ong and Aaron Raj. These three students, as well as five other shortlisted
candidates, went through an extensive application process throughout November and
December, sitting four exams and an interview. They showed excellent academic and
communicationskillsthroughouttheprocessanddemonstratedcharacteristicsoftheIBLearner
Profileaswellasexperienceinbeingaglobalcitizen.Iwishallofournewstudentstheverybest
ofluckduringtheirtimeatUplands.
I would also like to officially welcome a new member of staff to
Uplands;MsPennyAckroydhasjoinedtheScienceFacultyandwillbe
teachingBiology,GeneralScienceandICT.PennyjoinsusfromHobart
in Australia, where she has had an extensive career in education,
holdingavarietyofleadershippositionsinbothsecondaryandtertiary
institutions.Pennyisalsoanavidnetballerandwillalsobecoaching
somegirlsnetballteamswithMsMarshall.
NextweekIwillbedepartingforLondontoassistMrBristowintherecruitmentofteachersfor
thenextacademicyear.IwillbeabsentfromTuesdayafternoonandwillreturntoschoolthe
followingWednesday.Inmyabsence,ourHeadofPastoral,MrBillMitchell,willbedeputising
forme.
Haveagreatweekend

CraigSkinner
HeadofSecondary
craig.skinner@uplands.org

CALLINGFORVOLUNTEERS

DearParentsandStudents,

As you may be aware, we have begun the process of gaining accreditation by the Council of
InternationalSchools(CIS).OneofthekeyaspectsofschoolsthatCIStakeveryseriouslyand
wanttoseeembeddedineveryaspectofschoollifeareourGuidingStatements(vision,mission,
values,mottoetc).Wehaveasetofthese,buttheyhavenotbeenreviewedforsomeyearsand
needrevitalisingfortheschoolwehavetodayandwanttobeinthefuture.

Withthisinmind,WingCommanderPaulWebb,theCommandingOfficerattheAustralianAir
ForcebaseinButterworth,whoisbothagovernorandanexperiencedcolleaguewhohasworked
onguidingstatementsbefore,hasofferedhissupporttotheschoolandwillrunsomesessions
withvolunteerstobegintheprocessofrevisingourstatementsasaschoolcommunity.

OnSaturday30thJanuaryPaulWebbwillbeleading2sessionswitharangeofpeoplefromour
schoolcommunitygovernors,staff,parentsandstudentscollectively.

Thisisanexcitingopportunitytobeapartofourschoolsfuturedevelopmentandhaveasayin
how we shape our mission and values. We would appreciate your support as parents and
studentsinthisprocess.Youwouldbeaskedtoshareyourideasandthoughtsonourschools
missionandvalues;essentiallywhatweconsiderthebestwaytoworkasaschoolcommunity.

Ifyouwouldliketovolunteerforoneofthe2workingsessionsonthatdaypleaseletmeknow
bychoosingbelowandemailingmeassoonaspossible.Yourhelpwouldbegreatlyappreciated,
andyouwillbejoinedbybothacademicandadministrativestaffvolunteersinthisprocess.It
shouldaninvigoratingandexcitingchancetohaveyoursayinwhatwesayaboutourschool
andthewaywedothingsatUplands.

Saturday30thJanuaryParkRoyalHotel
Session18.30am12.00pm
Session21.00pm4.30pm

Ilookforwardtohearingfromyouall.IfyouhavefurtherquestionsIcanalwaysbefoundin
theHeadofYearoffice(B104)oremailmeyourquestions.Yoursupportandattendancewould
begreatlyappreciated.
Email:lynsey.collis@uplands.org

WarmestRegards
LynseyCollis
HeadofYear8&9
AccreditationCoordinator
3

Year11andYear13MockExams

OurYear11andYear13studentshavecommencedthistermwithsomeapprehensionbutalso
withgreatenthusiasmfortheirMockExams.SomeofourYear10andYear9studentsarealso
embracingthechallengeofwritinganearlyexamination.Aftermonitoringtheapproachofour
studentsthisfirstweek,itisveryapparentthattheyhaveappliedthemselvesfullytotheirstudies
over the term break in readiness for the Mocks. Year 11 and Year 13 Summary Reports,
distributedonFebruary5th,willindicateaMockExamgradeforeachsubject,alongwithgeneral
attainment and effort grades. Mock Exam grades are also used to inform and update any
predictedgradesrequiredinassociationwithuniversityapplications.
OnbehalfofallAcademicStaff,Iwouldliketoencourageourstudentstocontinuetoexercise
greatresilienceanddiligenceduringthisrigorousexaminationperiod.Wishingthemthebestof
luckforthefinalseriesofexaminations.

PaulRose
HeadofCurriculum

Letyourchildpromoteyourfamilybusinesswithtechnology.

In Term 2, ICT classes will learn (Year 7), apply (Year 8) and evaluate (Year 9) the following
presentationsoftware:

http://www.clearslide.com/
http://prezi.com/
http://www.google.co.uk/slides/
http://slidedog.com/
https://www.apple.com/uk/mac/keynote/
www.slidemagic.com

Allstudentsaretomakedigitalpresentationsprojectsastheirassessmenttasks.ICTteachers
will trainandguide students to meet thetechnicalitycomplexity requirements.The students
maychoosetopresentanycontents,topicsorsubjects.

Teachers are encouraged to request the students to research and present one difficult or
interestingtopicoftheirsubjectareas.Examplesofthestudentpresentationprojectsinclude:

IntroductiontoAI2programming.
Whatdoescookiemeanincomputerscience?
HowtodownloadandinstallYousicianmusicApp?
Howtoserveafootballcornerkick?
Stopswearing!

Parents may wish their child to make a presentation on their business. These business
presentationscanbedisplayedinalooponacomputerintheshopfront,thereceptionareaofan
organizationorontheInternet.

RobinLiao
HeadofICTdepartment

OnbehalfofthePrimaryTeamweextendaverywarmwelcometoournewPrimarystudents
andtheirfamilieswhohavejoinedusthisterm.Wearealsoexpectingmorestudentstojoinus
laterthisterm.

ReceptionYuxinGuo,
Year1DorisXu,RonalTodd
Year2AnikaMoxham,LeanneLim,KristiNg,LukaHodak
Year3MarvinTeow
Year4JessicaNg,QingYunTang,SharroneHalim
Year5AmeliaTiatoa,XingRongGoh,JongminBae
Year6ZoeWittmer,SanWeiLim,GeorgiaHalim

WeknowyouwillhaveanenjoyablelearningexperiencehereatUplands!

Year6Residential:OnTuesday,ourYear6studentswilldeparttospendfourdaysonLangkawi
aspartoftheircurrentunitofinquiry.Wewishthemasafeandenjoyabletrip.Theywillreturn
totheUplandscampusonFriday,22ndJanuary,atapproximately4:15pm.

Term2CCAs:CCAswillbeginonMonday25thJanuary.

Primary Sharing Assembly: Our first sharing assembly for term 2 will be on Monday 18th
January,hostedbyYear3.Theassemblybeginspromptlyat2:00pminthefoyer.Parentsare
invitedtoattend.

AliBabaDVDs:WestillhaveafewcopiesofthePrimaryProduction,AliBabaandtheBongo
Banditsforsale.RM30,availablefromthePrimaryOffice.

Haveanenjoyableweekend,
AlisonNicholson
HeadofPrimary
Ladies Bootcamp: Calling all female teachers, staff, mums and senior girls: Join Gillian Gray
(ACECertifiedTrainer)foracalorietorchingtabatastyleindoorladiesbootcamponTuesdays
andThursdaysat7pminthePrimarySportsHall.ContactGillianformoredetails:0126170376.

WelcomebacktoUplandsboardingfor2016.

WehavehadanuneventfulstarttoTerm2.ManyboardersreturnedonSunday10thJanuaryin
preparationfortheYear11and13Mockexaminations.WecelebratedtheirarrivalwithaPizza
nightandintroductiontothePeakefamilywhohavejoinedtheboardingcommunitythisterm.
The entire boarding community are looking forward to moving into the new residences in
February2016.Itisasignificanttimeofchangewithinboardingandweappreciatethesupport
providedbytheUplandscommunityinmakingthishappen.AnimportantaspectofBoarding
life is to assist our boarders to organise a worklife balance. Hence an exciting weekend of
activitieshasbeenorganisedincludingaFridaymovienight,weeklytriptoGurneyPlazaand
SundayadventuretoFlee60inBatuFerringhitoescapetheroombysearchingcluesandsolving
puzzleswithinalimitedtimeframe.

JacalynnePeake
HeadofBoarding

UplandsNewYearSwimMeet
The International School of Penang (Uplands) is pleased to invite your son/daughter to
participateinthe1stUplandsNewYearSwimMeet.ThisisthefirstyearthisMeethasrunand
wearedelightedtobeabletoofferourdedicatedswimmersthechancetoexperienceagreatand
excitingatmosphereduringtheMeet.

MeetInformation
CompetitionDate:
23rdJanuary2016(Saturday)

CompetitionVenue:
UplandsSwimmingPool

CompetitionTime:
8:00AM4:00PM
*Thisisanestimateandissubjecttofinalswimmercountandpossibleweatherdelays

CompetitionInformation: January23rdisthecutoffdateforeligibility.e.g.ifyouare9on
January23rdyoucanswiminthe910category.
ThepoolopensforWarmUpsforUplandsTeamat6:45AMbeforeopeningforVisitingteamsat
7:15AMwiththefirstracetocommenceat8:00AMsharp.

EntryFees:

RM50perswimmertobepaidincashontheMeetday.

AgeGroups:
6&U,78,910,1112,13+

IndividualEvents:
Swimmers6&U

25meventsonly
Swimmers78

50meventsand100mIMonly
Swimmers910

50meventsand100mIMonly
Swimmers1112

100meventsand200mIMonly
Swimmers13&Above
100meventsand200mIMonly
*The200mIndividualMedleyeventhasaqualifyingtimeof3:30.00

RelayEvents:
Girls&Boys:710years: 4x25mMedley,and4x25mFreestyle
Girls&Boys:1113+years: 4x50mMedley,and4x50mFreestyle

MaxEntries:
Thereisamaximumof5individualeventsand2relayeventsperswimmer.

EntriesRegistration:
ToconfirmyourplaceinthismeettheOnlineRegistrationFormbelowmustbecompletedby
Wednesday20thJanuary,otherwisewewillpresumeyouarenotabletoattend.
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https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/newyearswimmeet2016

Food:

Therewillnotbealunchbreak,althoughtherewillbeshortbreaksscheduledduringthemeet
toexchangevolunteers.Werecommendyourson/daughtertohavetheirlunchasbestfitstheir
eventschedule.

MrBenLim
SwimCoach

SECONDARYSPORTSDAY

OnWednesday16thDecember,Secondaryschoolhadourannualsportsdaywhichwasheldat
USM.Onwhatwasawonderfullycooldayandperfectforanathleticsmeetwestartedoffwith
the100mheats.The2fastestfromeachhousewouldthenmeetagaininthefinals.Everystudent
wasinvolvedanditwasobviousfromthestartthatitwasgoingtobeaverycompetitivedayof
trackandfield.

ThisyearsawtheintroductionofournewesthouseKelawaismallinnumbersbutstrongin
spiritwastheirmottoandthisprovedtobeexactlythecaseasthedayprogressed.

Thedaycontinuedwithboyscompetinginthefieldeventswhilstthegirlswerecompetingon
thetrack.Thereweresomeamazinglycompetitiveracesandsomeoutstandingjumpsandthrows
itreallywasevidentthateverybodywascompetingtothebestoftheirability.Therewasa
great atmosphere in the stadium and everything was running extremely smoothly. The sun
brokethroughthecloudsbutstudentswereabletokeepshadedthankstothetentsthatwere
kindlydonatedbySantaFe.Thesewereverywelcome.

AtthechangeoverallwereentertainedbythenewHousechants!Influencedjustalittlebythe
AustralianFootballIthink.

Swappingover,itwastimefortheboystoshowtheirspeedonthetrackwhilstthegirlswere
competinginthefield.

Intotaltherewere18schoolrecordsmadeandahugecongratulationsgotoallthestudentswho
holdnewUplandsschoolathleticrecords.
Therehastobeanoverallwinnerandthisyearitwas:SCHOOLhouse.
Theoverallscoreswereasfollows:

SCHOOL 2236
HILL
2137
CRAG
1848
KELAWAI 1542

Abigthankyoutoallconcernedwhomadethisyearssportsdayanexcellentevent.
RobertPearson
HeadofSecondaryPE

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11

TheOperationsteamiscurrentlyreviewingandlookingatstepstoimprovesecuritymeasures
fortheUplandscommunityinschool.Weareinthemidstofsettingupanewsecuritypolicy
withtheimplementationofanewaccesssystemforeveryindividualenteringandleavingschool
campus.

Furtherinformation will be publishedoncethe system isin placeandwe willnotifyall staff,

studentsandparentsaccordingly.

Welookforwardtoyourcooperationinhelpingustoupkeepasafeandsecuredenvironment.

SweeGuatTan
HeadofAdministration

SomeofourUplandsstafffoundafewminutestoenjoythenewUplandsGreenthispastweek.
Since the start of term, it has been wonderful to see our Senior and Primary students coming
togetheronthelatestschoolcourtyardupgrade.Anotherfreshcommunitygatheringplace.
PaulRose
HeadofCurriculum

12

Iwouldliketosayahugethankyoutoallthosewho
were involved in the Senior School Production of
MulaninDecember.Wesoldalmost400ticketsto
the show across our three performances! The
feedbackreceivedfromthewholeschoolcommunity
wasfantastic andasanew member ofstafftothe
schoollastterm,Iamoverwhelmedwiththesupport
received from the school and especially from the
parents!
IthoughtIdsharesomephotosoftheproductionfor
thoseofyouwhodidntgettoseeusinaction,orfor
those of you who would like a reminder of the
brilliantperformancesbyourUplandsstudents.
DVDAvailableNow!
TheDVDoftheproductionisavailabletobuyatRM
30. Please put your name on the list in the main
officebeforeFriday22ndJanuary,statingyourname
andhowmanycopiesyouwouldliketoorder.

AlisonHurst
HeadofDrama

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14

SharingAssemblyhostedbyYear3

Monday,18thJanuary2016

Year6Langkawiresidential

Tuesday,19thFriday,22ndJanuary2016

ISPUplandsNewYearSwimMeet

Saturday,23rdJanuary2016

FOBISIASwimMeet@BISPhuket

29th31stJanuary2016

SeniorsFootball/BasketballInvitational

Saturday,30thJanuary2016

SeniorsFootball/BasketballInvitational

Sunday,31stJanuary2016

MidTermBreakSchoolclosed

Saturday,6thSunday,14thFebruary

Year5KLresidential

Wednesday,24thFriday,26thFebruary

InterHouseCrossCountry@Penang
BotanicalGardens

Saturday,27thFebruary2016

FORFULLINFORMATIONPLEASESEESCHOOLCALENDAR
http://online.uplands.org/calendar/SitePages/Home.aspx

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16

NewStudentOrientation

StartofTerm1

MidTermBreak

EndofTerm1

NewStudentOrientations

StartofTerm2

MidTermBreak

EndofTerm2

StartofTerm3

EndofTerm3

NewStudentOrientation

StartofTerm1

Friday,12thAugust2016

Monday,15thAugust2016

MondayFriday,17th21stOctober

Friday,16thDecember2016

Monday,9thJanuary2017

Tuesday,10thJanuary2017

MondayFriday,20th24thFebruary2017

Friday,31stMarch2017

Monday,17thApril2017

Friday,23rdJune2017

Friday,11thAugust2017

Monday,14thAugust2017

17