One of the refreshing things about working in an international school is being able to determine what you feel is best for children. We do not have to worry about “no child left behind” or whether we made AYP or how many students were at level 3 on the WELPA test. As a faculty, we get to look at research and best practice and determine the course of our school.

At ISKL, we believe there is a need to educate the whole child, and part of that is offering a well-rounded program that includes the arts.

We offer dancing, music, instrument playing, visual arts, and drama. We believe that involvement in the arts improves a child’s confidence, concentration, perseverance, focus and motivation. We also believe there are gains associated with the involvement in the arts that extend throughout the curriculum….in math, reading, writing, critical thinking, teamwork, and verbal skills. Kids just enjoy the arts and look forward to coming to school each day.

I took some pictures of the artwork displayed around the school. When we talk about teaching ART at ISKL, we don’t mean crafts. Our teachers TEACH perspective, shading, negative space, patterns, texture, etc. We have pottery, ceramics, batik work, silk-screening, etc. It is amazing the work our little ones create.

More Christmas decorations and music.
I’ve mentioned before how much Malaysia loves holidays. Christmas has been no exception. At school, each grade level has an artificial Christmas tree that they decorate. The fifth grade “red hats” added a Holiday Wish on the back of their decorations. In the studio, we are getting ready for our Christmas music department extravaganza. They hung all these Santa Hats with fishing line….it gives the impression of Harry Potter’s Hogwart’s School….neat effect. Each grade level is responsible for a program during the year. They are focused on units of study. The music department may assist but are not responsible for the grade level programs. They get the Christmas program where our choir and band perform. Again, it is the philosophy that music is important for each of our students. Every fifth grader plays a band instrument. Rather amazing to hear a band of 110 kids. Each lunch recess there are “master” classes for all the instruments. Kids willingly give up their time to play. All students have music twice a week. After school there is choir, gamelan music, guitar, and band.

We took Allie to Central Market. Heidi had to show her this “awesome” store that sells “really cute” skirts. Allie bought three. I was creeped out by the mannequins. After hours of shopping I did convince them to try the fish spa. It was so funny to watch their reaction as schools of doctor fish nibbled at their feet. It took Heidi some time to get used to it and entertained the crowd of onlookers with her giggles and laughter. We quickly found out who had the driest skin…..within minutes the fish left Allie and me and zoomed over to Heidi…a total migration.

Fruit of the Week

RED BANANA
Now this is how bananas SHOULD taste. Red Bananas are shorter but more plump than the bananas you get in the stores in the USA. The flesh is more of a creamy white, almost a pinkish hew. And so flavorful. I don’t know if I will ever be able to enjoy the bananas at home…I’ve been spoiled.
The ones pictured below were grown in the backyard of our swimming pool assistant. He said when fully ripe they get almost magenta in color.

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