FRIDAY FLYER-Issue 160
21 Sep 2023
Headmaster's Welcome
Dear Reader,
We hope you have enjoyed a productive week and that you are looking forward to your weekend.
We have been busy at school enjoying a range of activities.
Recently, Epsom School celebrated a special occasion - Merdeka Day, that serves as a powerful reminder of the values of unity and open-mindedness that we hold dear in our diverse community. This annual event marks the date when Malaysia gained independence and it provided an excellent opportunity for us to reflect on the importance of our values as part of a global society.
Merdeka Day: A Celebration of Unity and Freedom
Merdeka Day holds immense significance for Malaysia as it marks the day when the nation gained independence from the British Empire. This celebration not only commemorates the hard-fought struggle for freedom but also symbolizes unity among diverse communities, all coming together under one flag. It reminds us that freedom and unity go hand in hand, and that both are essential for a thriving and harmonious society.
Our Multinational Community at Epsom
At Epsom School, we are privileged to have a truly international and diverse student body. With over 25 nationalities represented, including students from the UK, Russia, Kazakhstan, New Zealand, South Africa and various Asian countries, our community is a microcosm of the world's rich cultural tapestry. This diversity enriches our environment, fostering a global mindset, multiculturalism, and a multi-faceted approach to learning and living.
In our daily lives at Epsom, students and staff come to appreciate the value of linguistic diversity, the richness of different religious traditions, and the delightful variety of gastronomy from around the world. Our community is a living testament to the benefits of unity in diversity. It serves as a profound example for our students, teaching them the importance of acceptance, inclusion, and open-mindedness.
Breaking Down Barriers and Fostering an Inclusive Mindset
The diversity at Epsom School does more than just enrich our experiences; it breaks down barriers and fosters an international, inclusive, and accepting mindset. This mindset aligns closely with our vision for our students - to prepare them for the future. We aim to equip our students intellectually and personally, enabling them to make meaningful contributions to society as future leaders, diplomats, entrepreneurs, engineers, doctors, and innovators.
Learning Beyond the Classroom
Living and learning in such a diverse community offers our students significant opportunities and benefits. It allows them to learn beyond the confines of the classroom, gaining insights into different cultures, traditions, and perspectives. These experiences help them develop crucial skills and attributes that will be invaluable in an increasingly interconnected world.
Cultural Competence: Interacting with peers from diverse backgrounds fosters cultural competence, teaching our students to navigate the complexities of our globalized world with respect and empathy.
Communication Skills: In a diverse community, students hone their communication skills, especially in English - the common language - by engaging with individuals who may speak different languages and have varying communication styles.
Critical Thinking: Exposure to different viewpoints encourages critical thinking. Our students learn to analyse, evaluate, and appreciate diverse perspectives.
Adaptability: Living in a multicultural environment instills adaptability, an essential skill in a world where change is constant. Our students learn to embrace new ideas and situations with an open mind.
Global Awareness: Our students develop a heightened global awareness, understanding that their actions have far-reaching consequences in an interconnected world.
As we celebrate Merdeka Day and reflect on the unity and open-mindedness that define our community, let us remember that these values are not just for special occasions. They are the cornerstone of our school's ethos and a guiding light for our students' growth and development.
At Epsom School, we take pride in nurturing future-ready individuals who are not only academically accomplished but also culturally aware, socially responsible, and globally engaged. Together, as a united and open-minded community, we can empower our students to make a positive impact on the world.
We hope that you enjoy the articles that follow and wish you all the very best for your weekend.
Happy Reading and Happy Friday!
Best wishes,
Mr Matthew Brown,
Headmaster.
Follow us on Instagram
A Message from our Leadership Team - Mrs Avis Parker, Deputy Head Academic
If a student wants to be successful at IGCSE, A level or in a degree at university, developing and practicing study habits from a young age is vitally important. Many students wait until IGCSE to really start thinking about effective ways to study when, in fact, by Year 10, studying should be a routine habit which was started in Key Stage 2 and developed in Key Stage 3.
What is meant by study habits?
Firstly, this is not about revising for exams; although revision might play an aspect in your study routine. Instead, this is about developing a routine way of working which is optimal and effective in meeting your needs.
- Everyone needs sufficient sleep, but what does that look like? Children aged 6-12 years need 8-12 hours sleep per night. By the time a child reaches 18 years old, at least 7 hours of sleep is needed. This is because good quality sleep facilitates learning being absorbed into long term memory.
- Learning beyond the curriculum rather than learning for exams is another way to ensure you have developed effective study habits. Students who are curious to find out more and read deeply have more opportunities to understand what they are learning at school. It is even better when a student can develop a genuine love of the subject.
- Students should find a suitable place to study away from distractions (TV, laptop and phone). It should be a quiet room which is comfortable to work in. This allows students to focus on the work in hand.
- Avoiding procrastination is something that many students find difficult. It is much more effective to study in small units of time such as 15-20 minutes and have a short break rather than to study for longer periods of time such as an hour, but spend some of that time daydreaming or checking a phone.
- Find suitable strategies for long term learning rather than trying to learn everything for assessment at the end of a unit of work. This is called ‘spaced retrieval’.
Best wishes for your weekend,
Mrs Avis Parker,
Deputy Headteacher, Academic.
Holman House Updates
Dear readers, can you guess who our boarders are talking about?
BINGO!!! You got it! Our students are talking about our Matron Zuhaila and our Boarding Assistant Sani.
These two kind souls play a crucial role in our House and ensure the smooth functioning of this bustling place. Can you imagine how busy it gets when more than 50 students are in the same House?
Our boarders were readily complementing our matrons but may not really grab the extent of their work. Can you?
Here are some examples of what I heard when I asked them about what our Matrons / Boarding Assistants do while the students are in class: fix water leaks (plumbing) and broken furniture (carpentry), book flight tickets, clean the dishes…
Continuing my conversation with our boarders, I asked them if they could guess what the ladies did before joining Epsom. I had some interesting answers:
P.E. teacher, Prep School Teacher, working in a hospital or cleaning houses…
I decided to give these special ladies the opportunity to talk about themselves, here, in the Friday Flyer and pay tribute to their contribution to Holman House.
Hello Ladies, please could you introduce yourselves to our readers :
(Zuhalia) My full name is Zuhaila. I'm 50 years old. I am from Johor Bahru in Malaysia. I joined Epsom for Summer Camp last year and was appointed as Holman Matron in November. I am married with three children. The oldest is 22 years old and he is studying at university. The second one is 20 years old and studying law at university. Our last child is only ten years old.
(Sanirah) My name is Sanirah and I am 51 years old. I am a Malaysian from Seremban. I am married with three children too. I joined Holman House in January 2023.
Could you tell us about your daily life at the Boarding House?
(Zuhaila) I arrive at 7 in the morning. First, I make sure that all the students go to the dining hall for their breakfast and then I do the registration of boarders and day students. Afterwards, I relay communication with the Housemaster, I solve operational problems (finance, transportation, documentation…) relating to our boarders. I supervise students during break time and make sure they go back to class on time. In the afternoon, I direct students to their CCAs or bus.
(Sani) I arrive around 4 p.m. and help the students with their little worries - I talk to them and I laugh with them. I ensure that they go to dinner and take a shower and I prepare evening registration. Finally, I supervise prep time and help to put the students to bed. I try to comfort them when they miss home too.
What is your favourite part of the day?
(Zuhaila) I love the late afternoon when I have finished my stressful administrative work and I can talk to the students and discover their personalities, they are usually very funny.
(Sani) I love it when students come back from CCA as they are relaxed and usually smiling at me and we can talk for a little while.
What do you love the most about EPSOM?
Our students are nice and usually well-behaved. Therefore, I like to share with them.
The campus is beautiful, the people are very nice and the children are funny.
What were you doing before you came to Epsom?
Previously we were cabin crew with Malaysia Airlines for several years.
We hope you enjoyed getting to know our Matron and Boarding Assistant.
Best wishes from us all at Holman House ☺
Crawfurd House Updates
Leadership Opportunities In Our Boarding Houses
One of the huge benefits of living in a boarding community is developing the individual’s ‘character’. Students learn to live amongst people from all over the world and of different ages. They develop independence and interdependence skills very quickly. For instance, a vital life skill is leadership.
Crawfurd are delighted to announce their Leadership Team for 2023-24:
- Head of House - Adrianna
- Service Leader - ShanNie and the supporting team (Terry, Isabel, Jesslyn and Halima)
- Academic Leader- Rin and the supporting team (Noelle, Alesha and Stella)
- Music and Drama Leader - Elie and the supporting team (Shiloh, Stella, Rachel and Angela)
- Wellbeing Leader - Halima
- Sports Leaders - Kelsie and Sophie
The Service Team have already started to forge plans with Granville to support a children’s charity, and the Academic Team are busy supporting prep time and developing the chess level of the House. Sports has had a fantastic start this term and the Crawfurd sports teams are now working on new plans to increase participation. Finally, the Wellbeing and Music Team will be working hand in hand to create lively, fun and entertaining songs for the Inter House Music Competition.
**** New for 2023-24 - Junior Leadership team ***
Key Stage 3 Leaders - Soimen, Emira and Eleanor
Our Key Stage 3 students are working hard to create junior music performances and will also be supporting the senior girls with the larger projects (raising money, enabling positive conversations with the younger students and creating fun projects of their own).
Watch this space…….
Mrs Helen Miller,
Housemistress Crawfurd House
Follow Crawfurd House on Instagram
Best wishes from us all at Holman House ☺
Marvelous Music at Epsom
The Music Department at Epsom plays a very prominent role in the life of the school, providing classroom learning from the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) through to Year 13, along with 15 after school CCAs each week. Our visiting team of Instrumental Teachers provide more than 100 individual lessons per week and support our successful Instrumental Music Programme. Each term, the Music Department holds a large number of concerts ranging from formal concerts in the Theatre to small-scale informal concerts around the campus, celebrating the wealth of musical talent in the school.
The UK National Curriculum places an important emphasis on the teaching of Music at all Key Stages and over the next few articles, we hope to share with you how we deliver music throughout the school. In this week’s article our Prep School Music teacher, Mr Azmi, describes Music in the Prep School.
Prep School Music - Mr Azmi
In our school's musical odyssey, we embark with a strong focus on appreciating music and grasping fundamental concepts during the EYFS, Year 1, and Year 2. Our young learners are immersed in diverse cultures through music, exploring the core elements like rhythm, tempo, dynamics, and pitch. This journey is further enriched as they revel in singing and creative movements, accompanied by both pitched and unpitched percussion instruments.
Advancing into Year 3, 4, 5, and 6, our musical voyage transforms into a multifaceted adventure through our Instrumental Music Programme. Students explore a range of musical instruments, whilst unlocking a world of creativity, analysis, and historical understanding. Appreciation, composition, and performance stand as the keystones of our musical expedition, paving the way for their musical aspirations in the senior school and beyond.
Every term, our students unite to display their musical talents in the Prep Music Recitals. The spotlight not only illuminates collective harmony but also showcases the individual and smaller group performances, weaving unique melodies into our musical fabric.
Our devoted team, featuring the Director of Music and experienced Visiting Music Teachers who specialise in various instruments, expertly guide our musical explorations, infusing every session with enthusiasm and expertise.
Beginning in Year 3, our musical expedition commences with an enchanting three-week introduction to the flute, violin, and cello. As our students progress through KS2, they are presented with a delightful opportunity to select an instrument that resonates with them, a choice that will echo through their musical journey in the years to come. Moreover, Year 5 offers an exciting prospect for those seeking a novel musical experience—the chance to embrace the saxophone.
By the culmination of Year 6, our aim is for students to attain ABRSM Grade 2 or 3 proficiency level, evolving into independent learners with a profound passion for music. Along this journey, they build a robust foundation in musical terminology, theory, aural skills, and music history, enriched by the diverse spectrum of musical experiences.
Our musical dialogues within smaller groups foster immediate feedback and guidance, honing our ability to appreciate and discuss the musical performances of our peers. Furthermore, we motivate our aspiring musicians to set their sights on ABRSM exams, establishing achievable milestones at the end of each academic year.
The Prep School Orchestra, a significant Co-Curricular Activity (CCA), holds a pivotal position in nurturing our musical development. Inviting student participation, this platform offers dedicated practice sessions focused on honing skills in ensemble playing within a larger musical group. This cultivates an acute awareness of sound nuances and the art of synchronised orchestral performance. These orchestrated endeavours stand as invaluable opportunities, refining our auditory acumen, elevating ensemble proficiency, and enhancing our musical memory—essential facets of our ongoing musical odyssey.
In all cultures, singing is one of the core fundamentals of music and throughout the Prep School, students are encouraged to sing. Our two Prep School choirs offer students the opportunity to develop their love for singing. In recent years, our Prep School choirs have been invited to perform in various places around Kuala Lumpur such as IOI City Mall and KLIA.
Fundamentally, our mission is to nurture musically engaged, curious, and passionate students, instilling within them a deep love for the art of creating music. We invite you to join us in this harmonious journey through the melodies of Prep School music, where every note contributes to the perfect symphony.
What’s Next
Our next major event will be the House Music concert on Thursday 12th October featuring every student in the Senior School. Following the half term break, we have a series of concerts coming up involving students from the Prep and Senior Schools. For our upcoming events please see our Term 1 Calendar.
Best wishes for your weekend,
Mr Russell Crann
Director of Music
Maths Department Updates
This week the Maths Department has been taking part in the FOBISIA Code Breaking Competition 2023.
Maths and code breaking have a long and shared history. The skills that make good mathematicians - problem solving, logical thought and perseverance - are the same skills that make great code breakers. Governments and companies that deal in digital data are always on the lookout for talented mathematicians; so the students who have successfully participated in this competition are paving their way to success already!
Epsom students from Year 4 all the way up to Year 13 have been cracking codes. Here are some of our Prep School students celebrating the breaking of a difficult code! Thank you to Ms Duck for organising this for our Prep students .
There are four different levels to cater for students with a range of code breaking experience. The level 4 code is described by the competition organiser as a ‘Test of Genius’. The first Epsom student to crack the level 4 code will receive a ‘Headmaster’s Distinction’.
It has been great to see the students collaborate; Yuren and Maize, and Jaden and Izz are working together in ‘Competition Maths CCA’.
The competition will be over on Friday and top performing students will win prizes!
Enjoy your weekend!
Epsom Maths Department
Awesome Art
Students have been busy in Art this week, exploring and experimenting with different styles with beautiful results…
Academic Society Fair
Hi everyone! On the 19th of September the Academic Prefects hosted our first event for the year - the Epsom Society Fair!
Societies and clubs in Epsom are a big part of student life. Year 12 and 13 students were invited to browse the many Societies that we offer this year! Societies help students learn about their passion and expand their knowledge in various fields. It is an incredible opportunity to take on leadership roles, make friends and learn more about what you enjoy in a non-traditional sense.
The Societies present included:
- Scienz society
- Humanities society
- BSE society
- Kpop society
- Eco committee
- Epsom Magazine
- Sport society
- Media society
- Maths society
- Medical Review society
However, we hope everyone looks forward to new Societies which will be launched throughout the academic year! If you haven’t already signed up, do look out for emails with the signup forms for the 17 and counting Societies in school! If you feel nothing quite suits your interests, why not create your own Society?
In addition to that, we would like to take this opportunity to thank all of you who have submitted your work for the Epsom Reading Challenge. For those of you who are still working on your submissions, please be aware that the deadline for this competition is 30th September. For more information, kindly refer to this document. We are looking forward to receiving your amazing works!
Until next time, this has been the academic prefects and we hope you look forward to more events throughout the year. Thank you.
Ann Yi, Rachel and Shang Jing
Epsom Academic Prefects
Epsom Science Department Updates
In our most recent scientific adventure, we delved into the fascinating world of plant respiration and its intriguing connection with carbon dioxide production. Here's an exciting recap of our experiment:
Experimental Setup:
Equipment: To embark on this journey, we gathered some essential tools, including a conical flask, Munsen bag, bung (lid), limewater, a graduated measuring cylinder, a plastic pipette, seeds, and cotton wool.
Safety First: Before diving into our exploration, we meticulously conducted a full risk assessment to ensure our safety. Don't forget, safety is our top priority! We all wore protective goggles to safeguard our eyes throughout the experiment.
The Experiment Unfolds:
We kickstarted our experiment by carefully pouring 25 ml of lime water through a funnel into a measuring cylinder.
With precision, we transferred the limewater into the waiting conical flask.
Next, we prepared a cozy home for our seeds. We dampened some cotton wool and nestled the seeds within it.
The cotton wool, along with the seeds, found its place inside the Munsen bag.
Our Munsen bag, now containing the seeds, was hung carefully inside the conical flask. We made sure it did not touch the limewater, as we wanted to observe the magic from a safe distance.
The Marvel of Respiration:
As we know, during the germination process, when a seed awakens into a new plant, it embarks on its journey of life. This means it starts to respire! Yes, just like any living organism, seeds breathe in oxygen and breathe out carbon dioxide.
This process of respiration is essential for the seedling's growth. It breaks down stored nutrients, providing the energy needed for growth until it can develop leaves and perform photosynthesis.
Our experiment allowed us to witness firsthand the fascinating relationship between plant respiration and the production of carbon dioxide. The limewater served as our detective, changing in appearance to indicate the presence of this invisible gas.
Stay tuned for more thrilling scientific explorations and discoveries. The world of science is full of wonders, and we're on an incredible journey to uncover its secrets.
Keep up the excellent work, Year 7 scientists!
Happy Experimenting!
Mr Murphy,
Science Teacher
La Liga Football CCA
We are pleased to announce that our new La Liga Football Coach, Diego Ramos, has joined Epsom College.
He has commenced teaching and already developing the skills of our players. We are looking forward to many fixtures, tournaments and successes.
Friends of Epsom Coffee Morning
The Friends of Epsom are a group of parents who support the work of our school via events and initiatives. These include the annual Epsom Ball as well as fundraising events. Last week we shared a buffet meal together prepared by our catering team. This represented a fantastic opportunity for us to foster stronger connections and discuss ideas.
We are extremely grateful to our parents and wider community for all they do for our school.
Meet our Photographer
Every week we enjoy beautiful pictures taken by our school photographer, Vino…Here he is, the man behind the camera, captured by Mr Brown the other day at the Friends of Epsom Coffee Morning!
Thank you Vino for capturing all our precious memories in pictures!
Meet Our Teachers
Hello, we are Angela and Yunn Xynn of Crawfurd House and we would like to introduce you to some of our lovely Epsom teachers! This week we have interviewed some of our EAL (English as an Additional Language) teachers…
Mr Kevin Hill:
Do you like being an English/ EAL teacher at Epsom?
Definitely.
What advice would you give for someone who wants to become an English/EAL teacher?
Teaching is something we all do. You will have taught people just by your actions today.
What is your secret to being a good teacher?
Patience. Teamwork. Admitting what you do not know. Willingness to learn.
How do you help new students improve/gain confidence in the lessons?
Warmth and kindness.
Can you describe yourself in 3 words?
Tall, kind and exploring.
Ms Habib:
Do you like being an English/ EAL teacher at Epsom?
Absolutely! I love working with students anywhere, but Epsom is special.
What advice would you give for someone who wants to become an English/EAL teacher?
You have to make it fun! For a lot of students (especially EAL students), English is not their favourite subject because it can be difficult. If you can make it interesting and fun for students, hopefully they will enjoy it!
What is your secret to being a good teacher?
Good question! I think it's important to remember that kids are kids! We can't expect perfection. I also believe that teachers should be enthusiastic about their subject. I like to build a good rapport with students and use humour at times so that we can have fun while we learn.
How do you help new students improve/gain confidence in the lessons?
Students should feel comfortable in the classroom. If we can create a positive, safe space in the classroom, students are confident to speak up/ask questions. Giving lots of positive reinforcement is a great way to help students gain confidence. Again, I think having a good rapport with students will also help students feel comfortable and more confident.
Can you describe yourself in 3 words?
friendly, flexible, funny
To learn more about our staff at Epsom, please click on this LINK.
Have a great weekend,
Yunn Xynn and Angela 🙂
Mouratoglou Tennis Programme at Epsom Updates
Dear Epsom Community Members,
Three weeks into the new academic year, students and coaches are still on their feet as training sessions are ongoing at the Epsom Mouratoglou tennis facilities. The coaching staff are forging young athletes!
Both the MTP coaching team and student athletes have been working hard on court in prepping themselves for local and international tournaments: soon our student athletes could be attending the Asian Tennis Federation tennis tournament in Nonthaburi, Thailand. Even if you are not a full time student at Epsom, the MTP team holds camps throughout the year for aspiring athletes to come and train, and to experience our world class facilities.
If you are ever visiting Epsom taking a campus tour, be sure to observe a tennis session: three students recently arrived all the way from Japan to experience Epsom, and are able to join in with our full time students, putting the Mouratoglou coaching methodology into practice!
Lastly, The Mouratoglou Coaching Team would like you all to know that on the 14th - 17th October 2023, we will have a UTR Series IV tournament that’ll take place at the outdoor tennis courts with players coming from all around the globe. We would like the Epsom community members to drop by and show your support to the student athletes who will be participating in the tournament. Your support for us is very much appreciated!
Thank you and have a great weekend everyone!
Sincerely,
The Mouratoglou Coaching Team
Mouratolgou - Follow us on Instagram
Great Golf
Our Golf Academy construction is in ‘full swing’ and due to open in mid-November.
Squash Success
Congratulations to Haneesha, Year 11 Crawfurd who, last week, participated in the CIMB National Junior Circuit (3rd Leg), where she finished third overall in the upgraded GU19 category.
So, Dear Reader,
Thank you for reading our Epsom Friday Flyer and we wish you all the very best for a restful weekend.
Happy Friday from us all at Epsom.
🙂
Follow us on Instagram