THE STAR, TUESDAY 5 NOVEMBER 2019

BRIGHT KIDS

Discover yourself and be inspired

EDUCATOR'S DESK

SRI Bestari International School
(SBIS) has begun offering an
in-house Master of Business
Administration (MBA) programme.
Principal Dr Wong Siew Chin
shares her thoughts on why it is
important, saying, “A few years
ago, during an MBA module I
pursued at Monash University
Malaysia, I had to answer a
question off a randomly
chosen card in a game.
It read: What would
you do if you were
given a chance to
turn back the clock
and do one thing
you like to do?
“I answered: I wish there had
been a platform for me when I
was a student that exposed and
connected me to the real world, so
I could understand and apply the
best aspects of the subjects offered
in arts stream education, such
as business studies, accounting
and marketing. In Form Four,
I was placed in
the science
stream by
default,
and the
perception
of the arts
stream was always that it was for
the less ‘elite’ group of students.”
SBIS’ MBA programme aims to
cultivate an entrepreneurial
mindset among Bestarians by
exposing them to various
industries through case studies,
analyses of business strategies,
marketing, surveys, interviews
during MBA excursions and being
artistic. The MBA module is
compulsory for all secondary-level
students, who can be as young as
11 years old.
While the skills acquired
through the study of science
subjects is important, it is equally
important for children to grasp the
basic understanding and
knowledge of how a business,
organisation or industry evolves
and thrives. It encompasses many
aspects and entrepreneurship is
not limited to those who start
organisations or ventures. More
than anything, an entrepreneur is
someone who can add value,
whether she creates something
herself or as part of a company.
Since the inception of SBIS, Year
Dr Wong presenting a token
of appreciation to SBIS alumnus
Cheong after his sharing
session with young Bestarians.
Dr Wong Siew Chin
SBIS Principal
7 Bestarians have been exposed to
various industries such as
entertainment, food and beverage,
e-commerce and more. The
students gain in-depth knowledge
of each industry through the
understanding of value
proposition, SWOT analysis,
research and, most importantly,
interviews with aspiring founders.
Bestarians are considered
privileged indeed to receive real-
life guidance from entrepreneurs
such as Inside Scoop founder
Edmund Tan, The Next Academy
founder Josh Teng, FAVE
co-founder Yeoh Chen Chow and,
most recently, Xin Fu Tang master
franchisor Dereck Cheong, who
was also a Bestarian.
Unsurprisingly, amid the current
bubble tea craze, young Bestarians
were especially excited to learn
from Cheong.
“The fun portion of the
programme was when Bestarians
were able to get free samples of
several products, including a few
ice cream flavours from Inside
Scoop and bubble tea. We are truly
grateful to the entrepreneurs for
their support and willingness to
take time out of their busy days to
share their life stories with
Bestarians. It meant a lot to us as
we know that Bestarians were
inspired through this session and
it was worth the effort,” says
Dr Wong.
SBIS’ first intake was in
September 2017. The school moved
into its new complex in September
this year. The new buildings
feature state-of-the-art facilities
such as ICT suites, a Hall of Arts, a
large multipurpose hall, fully
equipped science and culinary arts
laboratories, music and dance
studios, a swimming pool, an
indoor playground, a modern
library and purpose-built
classrooms for 21st century
teaching and learning.
n For more information, call SBIS
at 011-5139 7866 or 03-6273 1072.

Lives are at stake, the text or call can wait

ONE thing that has remained
unchanged in the last five years is
that road accidents continue to be
among the top five causes of death.
The Department of Statistics
Malaysia notes that in 2017, road
accidents were the principal cause
of death for people between 15 and
40 years old, while in 2016 it was
the third highest percentage for
premature deaths.
The Bukit Aman Traffic
Investigation and Enforcement
Department recorded more than
400,000 road accidents in 2017, the
result of which over 6,000 people
died. That averages to more than
1,000 accidents and about 16
deaths daily.
It is unfortunate because road
accidents are avoidable. Often,
collisions are caused by human
error. All it takes is just one
irresponsible act to put lives at risk,
such as answering a call or
replying to a text. Changing unsafe
driving behaviour calls for a
change of mindset.
The Petronas StreetSmart
programme, a corporate social
responsibility initiative by Petronas
Dagangan Berhad (PDB), aims to
instil a safety-first mindset.
“Road safety is of utmost concern
to us, given that we are in the
business of fuelling our customers’
everyday journey. Petronas
StreetSmart is our grassroots
programme to embed a safety-first
mindset among the youth to be
responsible on the road,” says PDB
managing director and chief
executive officer Datuk Seri Syed
PDB recently held its Petronas StreetSmart programme at SMK Sanzac, Sabah.
Zainal Abidin Syed Mohd Tahir.
Introduced in 2013, the half-day
programme is carried out in
collaboration with the Petronas
Science Discovery Centre
(Petrosains) and Road Safety
Department (JKJR), offering
theoretical and practical
approaches for students to grasp
the importance of road safety.
JKJR further reinforces the
message by sharing real-life
incidents and providing the
students road safety tips. Modules
related to science, technology,
engineering and mathematics
(STEM) were also crafted to engage
students in a fun yet informative
way to better understand road
safety issues.
One such activity is the smart car
model challenge, in which
secondary school students use
basic coding to programme a car to
complete a route without breaking
road safety rules.
“It was quite tough to get the
coding correct, but we learnt a lot
about how to stay safe on the
road,” said Hanisah, 14, who took
part in the programme held at SMK
Sanzac (Sabah) recently.
Primary school students on the
other hand learnt to develop a lit
device using micro:bit technology
in the Be Bright, Be Seen activity.
This can be pinned on their shirts
or bags to provide extra visibility
on the road, especially in the dark.
To date, the Petronas StreetSmart
programme has educated almost
5,000 students from more than 50
schools across the nation. This
year, PDB reached out to six
schools in Sabah, Perlis and Negeri
Sembilan, enlightening about 600
students.
Despite knowing about road
safety, children are still susceptible
to risks when left without adult
supervision, such as when crossing
PDB managing director and chief
executive officer Syed Zainal
Abidin.
the road, waiting for the bus or
cycling home. A shift in mindset is
all it takes for us to learn to be
more responsible, considerate and
patient drivers, focus more on the
road and our surroundings instead
of our phones, and constantly
remind ourselves like broken
records that in all we do, safety
should always come first.
This is perhaps the most basic
yet powerful measure we can
adopt, and at no cost, too! We
should do what we can to change
the tragic statistics. Your phone call
can wait for now.
Those interested in the Petronas
StreetSmart programme can visit
the exhibition at the ground floor
of i-City, Shah Alam from 10am to
10pm. Entrance is free.
n For more information, visit
www.petronasstreetsmart.com.my
2 Bright Kids
Best of a premier Canadian system
CANADA is one of the leading educational
influences in the world, as evidenced by
internationally validated assessments such
as Programme for International Student
Assessment and the percentage of students
graduating high school and attending post-
secondary educational institutions.
At Sunway International School (SIS), the
curriculum is guided by the Ontario Ministry
of Education, modified to be culturally
relevant and responsive, and able to support
students in achieving the expectations
outlined for each grade level. SIS teachers
use programme documents from Ontario to
develop lesson and unit plans, assessment
strategies and learning experiences to fit into
Malaysian and Asian values while staying
true to the Canadian framework.
The Canadian (Ontario) full-day
kindergarten and primary school
programmes, from Grade 1 to Grade 6, are
offered at SIS’ Sunway Iskandar campus in
Medini, Johor. The SIS campus in Sunway
City in Selangor, currently offering the
Canadian (Ontario) secondary school
programme from Grade 7 to Grade 11, will
be expanding its campus with Grade 1 to
Grade 6 offerings in 2023. Both SIS campuses
offer the International Baccalaureate
Diploma Programme as well.
Individual learners
In line with the Ontario ethos, SIS is
committed to providing inclusive education,
working towards removing barriers and
creating conditions needed for all students to
be successful. Special education programmes
and services provide extra support to help
children with special needs.
Some students may need short-term help
while others have complex learning needs,
be they from a behavioural, communication,
intellectual or physical aspect, or a
SIS students enjoy the best of Canadian learning right here in Malaysia with the Ontario syllabus.
combination of two or more. Each of these
students will need support over time. In
addition, English as a Second Language (ESL)
support is available for students who are
new English language learners.
Teaching strategies
To help each student take the next step in
their learning, SIS teachers use
individualised methods of instruction for
learning activities in class and through
homework. Teachers also combine different
teaching strategies. For example, a teacher
might instruct the whole class to introduce a
story, then ask students to work in groups to
look at different story examples and then
follow up with individual students who
require specific instruction and assistance.
This range of strategies and methodologies
allows students to have a wider range of
experiences and learn in many different
ways. This is how SIS teachers ensure all
students have experienced the curriculum
and made progress in achieving curricular
expectations.
Encouraging communication
from the primary level
Students at SIS are encouraged to think
critically and understand conceptually. They
learn to sort facts from assumptions, think
logically, ask questions, form opinions about
what they learn and express their opinions
to the whole class.
Working in groups is also important at the
primary level to develop students’ language
and communication skills. Students will
learn to collaborate with others, share
responsibility, listen and learn from the
THE STAR, TUESDAY 5 NOVEMBER 2019
opinions of others, develop research skills,
form and test opinions, take initiative, pose
questions and take risks.
Assessment for and as learning
Assessment is the process of gathering
information that reflects student progress
towards achieving the curriculum
expectations in a subject. The primary
purpose of assessment is to improve
student learning. Assessment for the
purpose of improving student learning is
seen as both assessment for learning and
assessment as learning.
As part of assessment for learning, SIS
teachers provide students with descriptive
feedback and coaching for improvement.
Teachers engage in assessment as learning
by helping all students develop their
capacity to be independent learners who
are able to set individual goals, monitor
their own progress, determine their next
steps and reflect on their thinking and
learning.
Quality and standards
The curriculum has been tested against
rigorous standards. The Education Quality
and Accountability Office (EQAO) is an
independent arm’s-length body designed to
provide all stakeholders with valid, reliable
data about students’ achievements in
reading, writing and mathematics. The
EQAO administers tests annually for all
Grade 3 and Grade 6 students in Ontario
schools and reports these results. Over the
past two decades, students’ EQAO results
have seen steady gains.
n SIS’ January 2020 intake is now open.
For more information, call 03-7491 8070 or
07-533 8070, or visit www.sis.sunway.edu.my
THE STAR, TUESDAY 5 NOVEMBER 2019 Bright Kids 3

Can counselling help?

“I HEARD your child had some problems
with his peers. Is your child going to see a
counsellor?”
This is a common question that is often a
topic of conversation among parents with
troubled teenagers. The answer, sadly, is
often: “No, not at all. She’s doing well in
school and does not need any help.”
Counselling is a concept that is considered
taboo and many do not feel comfortable
when someone asks, “Why don’t you see a
counsellor and get professional help?” In
the Asian community, there exists a fear
that should one seek the assistance of a
counsellor, they may end up being labelled
abnormal or mentally unfit to perform
certain tasks.
Thus, to set the record straight, we need
to make it clear that counselling is for
everyone. Anyone who wishes to explore,
understand and cope with the day-to-day
stress that life throws our way will benefit
from counselling. It is a collaborative
process in which the counsellor works
together with an individual to develop the
skills she needs to face and deal with
challenges and cultivate the mindset
necessary to navigate some of the more
difficult parts of life.
It needs to be highlighted that children
living in this modern era find it a daunting
task to handle their relationships, peer
pressure, social media expectations and
anxiety. With the change in our lifestyles Academic guidance alone is rarely sufficient. Children need support in all aspects of their lives so they may develop physically, mentally and
brought about by constant development and emotionally in a healthy way.
challenges, our children are becoming more
insecure. have the strategies to face and cope with counsellor helps students develop their own American psychiatrist M. Scott Peck said,
Living in the virtual world does not help these challenges. Often, they resort to self- insight and awareness, hence guiding them “Problems do not go away. They must be
either. Instead, this only deepens their sense harm, a perceived solution to the stress they to discover their own answers to the worked through or else they remain forever
of loneliness and inhibits the development face. However, counselling sessions can problems they face. a barrier to the growth and development of
of much-needed social skills. In a The Star begin to address, for example, the When students engage in counselling, they the spirit”. In an ever-changing world,
Online article titled More counsellors needed underlying issue of low self-worth leading to often share that they feel lighter, energised, counselling should not be seen as a sign of
to tackle mental health, Deputy Prime self-harm. With only a few sessions, you positive and hopeful, have learnt more about weakness, but rather a sensible and practical
Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah said, “A sometimes see remarkable changes. themselves and others and improved their approach in a world fraught with obstacles.
study in 2017 (in Malaysia) revealed that Sometimes, the students only need to vent relationships, were able to develop decision- – By Geetanjali Chhabra, head of
anxiety (39.7%), depression (18.3%) and their disappointments and insecurities making abilities and understand themselves counselling at elc International School
stress (9.6%) were the three main mental without the additional stress of an adult better. They feel personally empowered and
health problems among schoolgoing standing in moral judgment. acquire coping strategies which help them n For more information on elc International
teenagers.” However, counselling is typically a slow become more confident and thwart any School’s counselling policy, visit www.elc.edu.
It is apparent that our children do not and continuous process, during which the form of further distress. my/overview/counselling-policy
4 Bright Kids
For gut health
NURTURING the delicate balance of gut
microbiota from the get-go is important as it
contributes towards healthy growth and
overall well-being, helping lay the
foundation for lifelong health.
VitaHealth Kids Probio16 Yogurt Plus
contains two billion colony-forming units of
Bifidobacterium breve M-16V, galacto-
oligosaccharides (GOS) and vitamin D3.
Supported by more than 40 published
studies, M-16V has been demonstrated to
promote healthy gut microbial colonisation
to shape healthy intestinal and immune
systems.
GOS are a type of prebiotic that feeds the
good bacteria in the gut. The symbiotic
combination of M-16V and GOS aids in
nutrient absorption, ensuring that your little
one is getting adequate nutrients for healthy
growth and development. Vitamin D3 helps
in the absorption of calcium for stronger
bones and teeth.
Available in single-serve sachets, Kids
Probio16 Yogurt Plus is convenient for
on-the-go use. It can be consumed directly or
mixed with beverages. This probiotic is shelf-
stable and does not need to be refrigerated.
It is made without additional flavouring,
colouring and preservatives.
Nutritious jellybeans
VitaHealth Kids Multivits Jellybean carries
an extra nutrition boost. Formulated for
growing children, these easy-to-chew, apple-
flavoured jellybeans contain 12 key vitamins
and minerals. In addition, they do not
THE STAR, TUESDAY 5 NOVEMBER 2019
contain artificial flavouring or colouring.
The nutrients they contain are listed below:
l Vitamin A – Good for eyesight
l Vitamin C – Maintains healthy gums,
bones and blood vessels
l Vitamin E – Beneficial against free
radicals in the body
l Vitamin D – Essential for bone health
and helps the body utilise calcium and
phosphorus
l Vitamin K1 – Aids in bone metabolism
and acts as an anticoagulant to assist in
blood clotting
l Niacin and vitamin B6 – Necessary for
proper function of the brain
l Folic acid – Essential for the growth and
division of cells
l Vitamin B12 – Necessary for the
formation of red blood cells
l Biotin – Helps maintain healthy skin,
hair and nails
l Iodine – Needed for the production of
thyroid hormones
l Zinc – Plays a vital role in strengthening
the immune system, supporting healthy
growth and facilitating wound healing
VitaHealth is offering a three-for-two
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This article is brought to you by
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n For more information, call 1800 183 288.