Lower Secondary programme letter - Honsbridge International School - Exceeding Expectations

Lower Secondary

Lower Secondary Programme Letter

September 2022

SEAMO 2022 Competition

Southeast Asian Mathematical Olympiad (SEAMO) is a yearly competition that consists of mathematical challenges. It receives thousands of participants from the region and beyond. Our student will participate in the Southeast Asian Mathematical Olympiad (SEAMO) Paper D on 1st Oct 2022 under the guidance of Ms Saktis and Mr Kevin.

 

  1. Ken Wong Ren Wei - Y8/J20

Vanda Science 2022 Competition (26 - 27 May 2022)

Vanda is an International Science Competition held annually around the globe. It focuses on the student’s ability to think critically and creatively to pick out hidden information to aid them in solving the question, thus developing higher-order thinking skills.

 

  1. Brandon Suk Seunghun - Y7/J22A
  2. Carwyn Williams - Y9/J18A
  3. Khor Yin Ai - Y7/J22A
  4. Khor Yin Xin - Y7/J22A
  5. Low Xuan Yi - Y7/J22A
  6. Goh Jie Sheng - Y7/J22A
  7. Hannah Roselyn Ng - Y8/J20
  8. Lee Zenxi Isaac - Y9/J18A
  9. Kok Zhen Ving - Y9/J18A

Chen Jingrun’s Cup Mathematics Competition - 12 July 2022

Chen Jingrun’s Cup Mathematics Competition is a yearly competition organized by the Department of Mathematics of Xiamen University Malaysia. It is to be noted that this is an individual competition. Under the guidance of Mr Kevin, the school has successfully registered 14 students from the Lower Secondary Division. The students are as follows:

 

  1. Low Xuan Yi - Y7/J22A
  2. Brandon Suk - Y7/J22A
  3. Chloe Song - Y7/J22B
  4. King Hon - Y7/J22A
  5. Elizabeth - Y8/J20
  6. Kan Yu Ming - Y8/J20
  7. Lum Khar Yin - Y8/J20
  8. Natalie Wan - Y8/J20
  9. Isaac - Y9/J18A
  10. Shazan - Y9/J18A
  11. Carwyn - Y9/J18A
  12. Wayne - Y9/J18A
  13. Esther - Y9/J18B
  14. Hoo Zheng Xuan - Y9/J18A

World Youth Skill Week - Awareness (12 July 2022)

According to the United Nations, World Youth Skills Day was declared in 2014 to celebrate the strategic importance of equipping young people with skills for various purposes such as employment, decent work as well as entrepreneurship. On 19 July 2022, Lower secondary students from J22AB/Year 7, J20/Year 8 and J18AB/Year 9 were guided by their respective homeroom teachers, Mr Tang, Mr Billy, Ms Umi, Ms Fadhilah and Ms Izyani. The students have caught the attention of everyone during our weekly assembly by showcasing their skills which range from playing computer games to musical instruments and sports activities.

 

Leadership Program

HONSBRIDGE PREFECT BOARD

Apart from our academic programs, our students are equally equipped to be part of student leaders. Class monitors and prefects would be trained on the characteristics and roles before their final appointment into the Secondary Prefect Board under the guidance of our Disciplinary Head, Ms Sarah and Honsbridge Prefectorial Board Head, Ms Prash. The Prefect Board is a student-led organization at Honsbridge International School. Apart from fostering self-regulation among all students, the Prefect Board aims to help them develop their self-awareness to become responsible and respectable young adults. Below is the board of prefects with a few new additions to the Honsbridge Prefects’ Board:

 

 

Here are some examples of the weekly duty rosters created by the Head Prefect: 

The Prefect Board recruits new Prefect Leaders and school prefects every year through the Self-Nomination Scheme, and the applications are available at the beginning of every term. The executive committee heads the perfect board, including the Head Prefect and Assistant Head Prefect, who supervises a group of Prefect Leaders. They support school prefects and class prefects by providing training workshops. This is how we create young leaders from the school level. In addition, the class monitors are equally vital in helping teachers in their classrooms.

September 2021

Right-brain development.

The functions that are related to imagination, expression and creativity are of foremost importance which should be nurtured in the early years. We take pride in our students' work where they were given opportunities to showcase their best work during assembly when there were special events such as the 2021 Teachers’ Day and Mothers’ Day. Cultural exposure to understand Hari Raya Aldilfitri and Merdeka Day. During each celebration, each class can spend the enrichment time to work on art and craft which their homeroom teacher proudly shares during assemblies.

 

The students’ creativity are also applied in the digital form, in their ICT and coding classes starting from Year 7 to Year 9. I am proud to share that they have become the creator of digital media instead of just merely consumer of technology

 

One of the most enjoyable times for the students in the past 4 months was the 2021 E- speech in June 2021 where they can express themselves with ‘I have a dream’ production and costume design and Honsbridge’s Got Talent competitions.

Left-brain development

The functions that are related to language, analytical, numbers reasoning  and logical thinking.

 

     i) Literacy program

Students that need to have a good mastery of language were provided with extra classes in the new programs under English plus and Malay beginners. These programs are to help students catch up with their basics to enable them to follow the regular class. They will have more interest in all their subjects when their understanding of the language improves.

 

The more competent students in the English language were encouraged and guided to participate in the Queens Commonwealth Essay Competition (QCEC). There were not only excellent pieces of Literacy work but also in maths work by the Year 8/J18 readers. They are currently actively preparing for their South East Asia Maths Olympiad championship. Special congratulations to be mentioned again to Noreen Sophia Binti Muhammad Shahruddin of Y8/J18C who was awarded Bronze in the VANDA SCIENCE 2021 COMPETITION when she represented Honsbridge International.

 

     ii) Academic result of Year 8/J18

The dedication and work of the students and their teachers bear fruit with the excellent academic performance among the Year 8/J18  students. Overall, the class of Year 8/J18 did very well for their Year 8 virtual term 2 2021 exam. I am pleased to announce students who score A/A* in Maths and have academic results’ average that are 80% and above have been recommended to skip Year 9 and to read Add Maths as an elective in the Year 10 intake on the 21 Sep 2021. Students whose academic results’ average are 70% and above have also been recommended to skip Year 9 and to read Business Studies as an elective. Here is the list of top 10 students out of a cohort of 53 students from Year 8/J18.

 

 

I am pleased to congratulate the following students who have achieved straight A (80% and above for all their papers). Further,  I am excited to announce Jovan Tan Joo Wen  and Noreen Sophia Binti Muhammad Shahruddin  are eligible to apply for this term’s TFK scholarship awards. Upon successful application, these outstanding students will be rewarded with a RM500 rebate off their next term tuition fee.   

 

Student empowerment (leadership)

During the online learning or physical class, students are equally equipped to be part of the student leaders. Class monitors and prefects would be trained on the characteristics and roles of a leader before their final appointment into the secondary prefect board under the Disciplinary Head,  Ms. Sarah. Below is the board of prefects from the students of the lower secondary classes inclusive of those under probation (P) for their future role.

 

The class monitors have equally an important role to play in helping out teachers in their virtual classroom. They unmute the microphone to greet the teacher and ensure their classmates do not spam the chat box. The term 2 2021 Class Monitors and Assistant Class Monitors for each class are listed below

 

 

Last but not the least, I would like to give my highest commendation to the student leaders who make every event special and who work behind the scenes tirelessly on a weekly basis. They are also the students’ voices of Honsbridge. This special lot of student leaders make up the Honsbrige Principal committee 2020/2021 as helpers to try out all the different roles and responsibilities .

 

Academic staff - training

Our teachers are trained every 6 months to be well-honed in the latest technology to engage the students during on-line learning. Our innovative teachers have done a great job in maintaining great academic results and enjoyment in virtual lessons. Currently all our teachers are fully vaccinated and are ready to come back to school for physical class when required.

Academic System

Daily, there is the homework summary for parents to help track the students’ workload after school. Do check out the 1-CUBE application. It not only has homework announcements but also the CA report card and tips from the teachers for improvement before the major exam. There is also the  weekly assembly  notes which gives a weekly update on what is happening at our school.

September 2020

High achiever for Y9 checkpoint

Despite conducting online classes during the MCO periods, our students manage to pick up during the holiday lessons in June. The extra classes supplemented the setback of online lessons. Our students have achieved reasonably good results.

 

There are 33 students that sat for the Year 9 checkpoint exam for all the 7 subjects. The subjects offered are English, Mathematics, Science, Literature, ICT, Mandarin and Malay. The newly introduced ICT scored the highest average among the 7 subjects. Our students' excellent result in Mandarin has also boosted their confidence to pursue Mandarin second language for their upcoming IGCSE.

 

The class average was 74%.

 

The table below were the average results for each of the subjects and their average of students that achieve A or B

 

 

The laureates of the Year 9 that achieved all As for the subject that they sat for

 

 

The top performers that achieved all As for the 3 main internal checkpoint subject of English, Mathematics and Science are

 

 

Science Technology Engineering Mathematics (STEM) program

There were leap and bounce improvements in technology and gadgetry which has propelled the meaning of online learning to a different level. The sudden change in the education scenario during the MCO has catalysed digital literacy and student learning behaviour from our senior students down to our younger primary students. Currently, we are training a whole new batch of students that relate to the computer at a young age that it is not only an entertainment gadget but also part of the lessons in the form of edutainment. When all these disciplines are integrated, it's, therefore, more realistic to have real-life applications than traditional philosophies of education that have the various subjects in silos.

 

Our pilot project on teaching Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and coding to our junior secondary with 0417 syllabus from cambridge that is part of a continuation from primary. 

 

In 2021, the Primary 1 to 3 will be doing the 'Initial introduction' as  starter to ICT and the 'Next Step' in Primary 4 to 5 and 'On Track' when they are in their secondary Year 7, 8 and 9. The current J18 ICT would still be using their ICT InteraCT textbook together with supplementary material to prepare them for their senior secondary class.

 

You will expect our students who receive STEAM education engage more in experiential learning, collaborate with others, and persist in problem-solving as they take thoughtful risks and work through the creative process.

Blended Education Experience

In order to have a universal experience in learning and the flexibility for remote learning. We have dedicated classes to be online and physical while some students and parents would want to continue with only their virtual presence.

 

Digital transformation is not limited to our online lessons, we have recently conducted physical and online examinations. Our students have the opportunity to try the idea of using not only for fun in preparing for their E-speech day video but also serious matters such as their exam. 

The art of science and the science of art.

Leonardo da Vinci, an italian painter studied biology and civil engineering, astronomy and human anatomy. He is described as a Renaissance man. We have our Honsman on Honsbridge Instagram. We organised the ‘Honsbridge United’ drawing competition for our primary class with the same passion as daVinci. Honsbridge students can build an appreciation not only to technology but also appreciate the beauty of the art. The other digital art that we are learning is in their coding class to animate. Primary students starting from year 2 onwards will follow the coding class by code.org lessons plan and they will code with Scratch by scratch.mit.edu progressively.

Next on digital transformation

Going digital in education also poses some danger in cyber security. We use secure platforms such as google classroom and google hangout meet to conduct our class without exposing our students online. It is important that you understand that all our activities such as our weekly PE or weekly assembly or our big event require every student to log in with the official Honsbridge email. Cybersecurity is an important part of our organization priority

New organisation and teachers

We have new staff and teachers who help us to achieve our target to move on to the next level of digital transformation in delivering knowledge and skill to our students. Please welcome 

 

  1. Our new members of ICT and Coding teachers namely Mr. Anbia and Ms. Fadilla who will work together with Ms. Prash to help us run the ICT program from primary 1 up to year 11.
  2. Joining Ms Sarah to teach English are Mr. Azraf and Ms. Nurul, they will  work together with Ms. Christina and Ms. Izyani in the primary and junior secondary.
  3. Dr. Rama is part of our STEAM teachers to take care of the laboratory and he teaches Biology, Chemistry and Mathematics. 

Housekeeping of classrooms.

We also believe in the human touch and there are certain skills that could not be replaced with artificial intelligence. Our program rates the empathy of our students to work together and have good emotional intelligence. We have a weekly score board announced during assembly and presentation of certificate awards once a month to recognize the class’ effort to upkeep the cleanliness of their classroom. It is vital to have a clean classroom for them to study and to eat as we practice physical distancing.

April 2020

Mentor mentee program

Beginning of this year we have refined our mentoring program. It has been implemented in the Year 7 class of J18 and Year 9 class of J16 students. The goal of the mentoring program is to establish a trusting relationship with accountability and responsibility between the mentor and mentee. We create a program where the subject teachers are sponsoring the program by appointing students who are good at the subject to be a mentor to a student who will like to be mentored. Mentors were identified in February and their training started before the lockdown.  They are trained to see themselves as Hero to guide their friends. While renewing their enthusiasm in the subject. Mentor and mentee, has his/her strength and they contribute to the school and society in a different way.

 

The table below is the list of mentors from our junior classes.

 

Technology emphasis program

Accordion 2 Content

Junior first

Junior students have our highest priority in terms of safety and growth. Application to join Honsbridge Principal Committee (HPC) was opened to all the Year 9 students of J16 class. Students were recommended by the teachers and elected to lead in organising events. It is a stepping stone to train future leaders at a young age as they have shown maturity to learn from the seniors to organise events. Succession planning to groom leaders in the prefects board and sports committee are equally important where they can learn from peers. Students can have an authentic learning experience beyond their classroom where they make a genuinely useful contribution to their community and are not afraid of the ambiguities of real life complex situations. 

The table below is the list of leaders from our junior classes.

 

School has been taking precautions since the beginning of February and March to reduce the risk of students exposed to virus infection with good personal hygiene practice by enforcing them to  wash their hands properly before break time and lunch time. We advise them not to touch their face at all times when having outdoor PE as well as wash their hands frequently when they have their PE. With these measures, we have successfully celebrated our sports day with our Secondary Junior building good sportsmanship without any health and safety incident. 

 

Before the start of COVID-19 movement control, every student has to sanitise their hands and have their temperature taken before entering school. Personal travel declaration was made compulsory to assess the risk of infection for every student and their parents. On the 16 Mar, taking consideration of the personal travel declaration and precautions for health and safety, school advised parents ONLY the Year 7 class of J18 students to have classes and social distance was exercised with the class. For example, lunch was delivered to the classroom in the tupper wares to avoid gathering during lunch time or break time. The aim is to reduce risk of transmission in as small a gathering as possible. 

School closure and COVID-19 movement control order E-program

When school was closed to enforce social distancing, the junior division was not left out. They were given the same consideration as the seniors students. Their needs were not neglected. Each has an personal email and each is assigned to a class. The class still keeps close interaction with teachers. Parents play a big role to have a continuity in the child education. Parents joined force with teachers to teach in a different way. Using technology in a way never before possible. A balance of working in front of the screen in virtual classroom, homework submission and project. All the similar ground rules of exercising self control to take turns to speak up and being independant are applied in the virtual class too. Students learning from the comfort of their home showed improvement and more confidence as they feel the control now is with them. 

 

Honsbridge has moved a long way  in the past 2 months to continue with various activities to be as close as possible to a normal school life.

 

  1. E-Class . 
  2. E-Assembly
  3. E-Openday
  4. E-Enrolment
  5. E-ECA
  6. E-Sport
  7. E-Enrichment
  8. E-SpeechDay with Honsbridge’s Got Talent.

September 2019

For instilling discipline and positive attitude of all students

  1. All students will require the use of 7 subjects x 1 exercise book for notes, A4 full scape paper for homework/tests and a file for keeping tests and homework. Students of Year 9 who read on to Year 10/11 will be required to exercise the same.
  2. Students may purchase the items above from Ms Nabila and Ms Yvonne at the school reception. 
  3. Students have been actively encouraged to have a high standard of good attitude in learning and manners. Attitude index (AI) will be recorded in the students’ report card officially in 2020. All students have a 90% of AI at the start of every term, for every misconduct recorded of the student on the Allschools, there will be demerit points from the AI. An indicative AI has been reflected in the Sep 2019 report card due to the demerit points received by the student for class of J14 and J16. Please refer to the student handbook on the demerit point system.
  4. Commencing 1 Oct 2019, all students will receive demerit points should they still not use the required items as listed in point1.

For improving the safety and efficiency of operation commencing 11 Oct 2019

  1. All students who are interested to read Malay, Mandarin and have time with their Home Room Teacher, school starts at 8am from Mon through Thu. 
  2. All students’ dismissal time will be at 13:30 as opposed to 14:15 because of starting their lessons at 8:00am as opposed to 8:45am on Mon, Wed and Thu. 
  3. Tuesday’s classes 
  4. Friday’s classes which include Physical Education will be held as usual at 8:45am and noon. 
  5. Tuesday’s classes will still commence at 8:00 and end at 14:15 because of Assembly. 
  6. Hence, students should report by 8am on Mon through to Thu. 

Revised lower secondary schooling hours as follows: 

Mon, Wed and Thur - 8:00 to 13:30

Tue - 8:00 to 14:15

Fri - 8.45 to 12:00 (PE attire is compulsory)

For Improving the lower secondary programme curriculum

  1. The students who start reading the new Year 7 program commencing 11 Oct 2019 will have 1 year duration to study. Subsequently, another 1 year duration to study Year 8. In the Year 8 Sep examination series, should the students achieve 80% for English, Math and Science, they will be recommended for promotion to Year 10 by skipping Year 9. Otherwise, students will continue to read Year 9 for 1 more year to build their foundation to study Year 10 and 11.  
  2. There will be eye tests visit by the Sunway Specialist and dental check up visits organised for certain secondary students. Please give your written reply if you will support the eye and dental check up initiatives. The eye tests provider has kindly set up a booth at the PTM today. Please feel free to visit the booth. 
  3. Given there is more time in the Year 7 and Year 8 learning time, there will be a more all round approach to the weekly enrichment classes that we are providing to the students. For example, history, music and singing, dancing, art and craft e.t.c classes will be considered for the timetable of the Year 7 and Year 8 students. For the Year 9 students, they will have more focus on the preparation of their Cambridge Year 9 checkpoint examinations on English, Mathematics and Science, these students will not have as much enrichment classes in their timetable.
  4. Commencing 11 Oct 2019, the new Year 7 students of J18 and Year 8 students of J16 will also have twice the learning time for Malay and Mandarin. 
  5. All student receives a goal setting review with their HRT. It will be very encouraging for both parents and teachers to direct the students to achieve the goals that were set. 
  6. There will be a new timetable for all students commencing 11 Oct 2019. The new timetable will be updated on the AllSchools Apps at a nearer the time.
  7. The Year 9 students of J14 who are promoted to read the new Year 10 and Year 11 commencing 11 Oct 2019, they will have the following subject combination to be assured of the best results, statistically proven over the last 11 years at Honsbridge. The first 6 subjects are compulsory for all students to read. The electives are listed 7 to 9. 
  1. English language (1st) 
  2. Mathematics

iii. Physics

  1. Chemistry
  2. Biology
  3. ICT (Information Computing Technology)

vii. Additional Math or Business Studies

viii. Mandarin 

  1. Malay
  • Year 9 students of J14 are advised to see Ms Hang/ Ms Nabila/ Ms Yvonne to purchase the textbooks and make necessary arrangements e.g. top up of ICT Year 10/11 fees.
  • Year 9 Students of J14 are advised to see Ms Nabila/ Ms Yvonne to confirm their electives 
  • Year 9 students of J14 whose results have 80% in all 5 core subjects namely English, Math, Science, Literature, History are invited to see Ms Hang if wish to read the Express Year 10/ 11 class leading to May 2021 exam session as opposed to the Oct 2021 exam session. For students who will like to appeal for reading the Express class, kindly see Ms Hang.
  • For your understanding, Economics and Accounting are not offered anymore because these two subjects are not compulsory prerequisites for higher education. Instead ICT is now a core subject to suit the digital era going forward.

 

Teaching staff

  1. Honsbridge management gives a lot of attention to training new and current team of teachers. 
  2. As there are more students enrolment, there will be more new teachers. We believe in supporting the suitable teacher to teach the class to completion. 
  3. There will not be a change in teacher unless really there is no other alternatives.
  4. For a list of the profile of our teachers, please check the school’s website www.honsbridge.edu.my and follow the school’s facebook and instagram. 
  5. For students who have a change in the subject teacher, the new teacher will be guided to know about the students in the class and to teach the syllabus according to the scheme of work. 

RSVP for upcoming events

Please  RSVP on the PTM day and latest by the 4 Oct 2019 for attending these below mentioned events and together with our students, to share and to learn more about how we can support our students’ education at Honsbridge. 

You may RSVP at the teachers’ booth stationed at the Reception area.  

 

  1. 11 (Fri) Oct 2019 is the scheduled school’s orientation event whereby all students and their parents are invited to attend. Parents are invited to attend the event from 8.30am to 9.30am followed by light refreshments in the meeting room. 
  2. 18 (Fri) Oct 2019 is the scheduled school’s Corporate Social Responsibility to educate students about caring for the community we belong. This time, the activity will along the route from Honsbridge to Kota Damansara Forest Reserve. It is within walking distance, we are cleaning up the neighbourhood during the walk. Parents are invited to attend the event from 8:00am to 9:30am.
  3. 28 & 29 Nov 2019 is the scheduled Paradise Valley Broga Camp for all the students at Honsbridge. We are pleased 20 students have already signed up, we are releasing the last 10 places for students who still wish to sign up with RM300 and a completed consent form. 
  4. Commencing 2 to 23 Dec 2019, there will be holiday revision classes. Teachers and parents will be recommending students whose  term subjects' exam marks are below 50% for attending these classes. Please RSVP if your child will be attending the classes.