KLASSics Chronicle June 2023

KLASSics CHRONICLE

The Alice Smith School

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LUMPUR SINGAPORE BRUSSELS RIYADH MUMBAI DELHI PANAMA HO CHI MINH

A brand new year of adventure and new possibilities. The world has opened up again and we get to see the places we missed and the people we love. Many alumni came back this year to their alma mater; and what a sight it was to behold. KLASS has also taken the opportunity to evolve in its teaching, learning through changes in its curriculum, prioritising safeguarding rules, reforming our vision and mission statements and building a better infrastructure for the future of the School. You will be able to read about all the improvements we have been executing in the #MessagefromtheHeadofSchool and the #Newsroom.

In this issue, we have decided to bring you news from what you love most about KLASS; your teachers! Teachers are the backbone of the School and they have shaped and moulded us to become better human beings. Our #KLASSicsKonfidential sections feature stories of learning and teaching adventures from our teachers and students. Read our #InLivingColours as we share interviews with teachers who have been here for over a decade as well as some teachers from the past! We hope these interviews will make your day as you reminisce about the good times. We also have some lovely tributes by our alumni to the teachers that made a difference in their lives.

So much to be proud of in our #KLASSicsNews as we see our community going above and beyond in the careers and passion they have chosen. Be inspired by the impact that The Alice Smith School Foundation has made through the generosity of our community in the #GivingNews feature.

We’ve got many more interviews, features and updates of our teachers and alumni in this issue. We hope you feel inspired and develop new perspectives from their stories in this issue. We look forward to next year as we bring your more services and activities. Enjoy this issue of the KLASSics Chronicles!

• Sic itur ad astra. Thus one journeys to the stars.

• To set a new course, to explore the unknown takes courage.

• We are called to light the way for our students.

• To help them reach for the stars with courage.

• To enable them to inspire change for a future that we can only imagine today.

In the spirit of Alice Smith, we constantly look to evolve the learning experience of our students, balancing the latest pedagogic research and learning tools, with the deep experience of educators who have been part of Alice Smith for years and those bringing new perspectives.

“I can understand why the school wants a clear PURPOSE. It gives direction for the teachers. It’s what a lot of organisations have.”

JB parent

“Being courageous embodies almost everything. It’s being the best you can be times two.”

EP teacher

To write this new chapter for Alice Smith, we too must courageously push the boundaries, Explore new ideas, and learn, relearn and unlearn. Each child is known and appreciated at Alice Smith. Always encouraged to forge their own paths. To be fearless like Alice Smith in their quest. To spark courageous exploration to inspire a better world.

“Courage – that’s important. There is always something new so we must be courageous. Courageous in the everyday.”

Professional services staff

JB

“Courageous exploration - that’s beyond the comfort zone. It’s spontaneous, extraordinary.”

EP student

“Courage means perseverance to me.”

student

THE ALICE SMITH SCHOOL’S ALUMNI NETWORK

We are in contact with 6,356 alumni

Our alumni live and work in over 46 countries all around the world!

Alumni by age group

Rising Stars

(Alumni aged 18 - 25 years old)

Shining Stars

(Alumni aged 26 - 45 years old)

Golden Stars

(Alumni aged 46 years old and above)

42%

42%

16%

2%

KLASSics Support

Stay connected with KLASSics! We bring you many benefits and services to keep you connected with the Alice Smith community and provide you the networking opportunities to stay abreast of current events.

organises alumni reunions annually. We’ve held reunions in London, Australia, Singapore and of course in Kuala Lumpur. Look out for more reunions in more countries soon! Check out our previous reunions here

“Wisdom is not a product of schooling but of the lifelong attempt to acquire it.”

~Albert Einstein~

Every single moment in our life has the ability to teach us something, be it a life lesson, a cautionary tale or even just a moment to cherish. Teaching and learning go hand in hand and through these stories we see how the sense of knowledge is amplified through hard work, sacrifice and dedication. Read these inspiring stories below of our alumni sharing their journey and experience of how teaching has changed their lives.

Kate Fuller

Shaun Scott

Chris Jones

Harriett Spearman

Learning Wherever You Are

by Kate Fuller (Former Principal, 2011 - 2016)

Our Former Primary Principal, Mrs Kate Fuller lived a life of adventure when she left Malaysia in 2016. She shares her journey of how learning happens everywhere and anywhere. Her husband and her have been homeschooling their three beautiful girls from boats, campsites, and now in a caravan! Read all about their adventure here.

Following the diagnosis of my father with terminal cancer, we made the difficult decision to take the girls out of school and to travel as a family to be by his bedside in Crete.

The challenges of home-schooling three children across three different key stages while providing palliative care for my father, emotionally supporting my step-mother and living in a caravan were enormous. Despite this, the educational, developmental and relational outcomes for the whole family were amazing, thanks to learning outdoors.

Anyone who has holidayed in a caravan will know that getting up and getting out is key for familial harmony. Our time spent in Crete, then Sicily and France over the coming year was no different. We quickly learned that we needed to embrace our locations to bring learning to life or there was no way we would be able to compete with the lure of the beach or the gravitation towards the garden.

Fortunately, unlike many parents during the pandemic, we are both qualified teachers. This meant that we had an underlying knowledge of curriculum content and progression that allowed us to embrace the opportunities of each location and tailor them so they became learning opportunities for the children.

In one example, a riverside campsite in France afforded us the opportunity to investigate the correlations between river speed and depth, river speed and size of stones on the river bed and to put our mathematical skills to practical use.

Before starting we hypothesised what we thought we might find. Where would the river be deepest and why? Where would the largest diameter stones be found on the river bed, and why? Where will the river flow fastest? And why?

We set up a line across the river and marked it off at 1m intervals. The girls then explored the depth using a long branch and a 30cm ruler at each marker. Some measurement issues gave us the opportunity to discuss where 0 is on the ruler compared to the end of the ruler and accurately measuring the branch by using a ruler repeatedly. We kept a record of the depth across the full span of the river to create a graph in our books later. Next, a stone was retrieved from the river bed at each marker, and its diameter measured and recorded.

Finally, a second marker was set up 100 steps downstream to allow us to measure the river speed of the river flow at each interval. We used a stopwatch on the phone and a floating toy as our visual aid.

The mathematical language was brilliant, a true immersion into the different measures for depth, speed and diameter as well the investigations into the tools needed for each. Once all the data was collected the children created graphs in their books - again some great discussion about scales, direction of lines and what results meant ensued.

Not only did they have great fun playing purposefully in the river all day, they drew some brilliant conclusions about the strength of the river and the impact the flow had on moving rocks and gauging out the river bed.

In another example, we used the sand dunes in Sicily as the location for:

• Reggio Emilia inspired maths; creating a pictogram for the different kinds of sea birds we saw that day

• Anthony Gormley inspired sand sculpture and

• An investigation into wind speed and direction by placing stones at different locations and seeing how high the sand piled on the windy side, compared to the leeward side.

While some locations clearly lent themselves to certain styles of learning - such as the Acropolis in Greece, others needed more consideration.

When we were short of location led ideas, we often used books or observations as the inspiration for learning. The sight of raptors in the French sky led to Freya and I starting an investigation into different birds of prey, their wingspan, clutch size, gestation period and fledging dates. We used the information we found to create a set of Top Trump cards and used these to teach the whole family about what we found.

The worst year of our lives is also the best year. Losing dad to such a terrible illness was awful. But the experiences he inadvertently created for us as a family were a gift we never expected. We truly loved every moment of learning together intergenerationally and now use every holiday as an opportunity to learn outdoors.

Shaun Scott shares his calling of the teacher life and how he has found himself teaching a school in Mallorca, Spain.

Why do I still want to be a teacher?

By Shaun Scott (KLASS 2007 - 2013)

“Why did you want to become a teacher, sir?” One of the inevitable questions on the bingo card of a teacher. Along with: How old are you? Are we your favourite class? Or, what were you like in school?

To which I honestly reply, “I had no idea, it was two weeks before my teacher training started that I applied for the course!” And just like that I had embarked on my Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) and the journey to becoming a teacher. So, back to university I went, and after a few weeks of learning pedagogical theory you take your first steps into a classroom. It’s from that point on that the PGCE now consumes your life, where time management is one of the keys to success, to avoiding the ever looming burnout.

If I made it through the PGCE, I knew I wanted to teach internationally. From my time in Secondary at The Alice Smith School it always felt more homely in a community of others who had a similar upbringing along with the different backgrounds of my classmates and teachers which created an immemorable environment for my secondary years.

Fast-forward to the end of my training, and I found myself packing my bags for Mallorca, Spain. Not to celebrate becoming a qualified teacher in the well-known nightlife of Magaluf, but to a school on the island where I’ve found myself ever since; teaching Geography, Sports, and Duke of Edinburgh. Of course, the holidays we get are a huge plus of the job, however the relationships I’ve developed with the students and the genuine gratitude of students are the things that have kept me going through unavoidable slumps in the year and by the end of those summer months I surprisingly find myself counting down the days until we start again.

Longing for the potential madness of the school day, where no two are alike. To learning new content to teach or being taught facts from my students. Watching them be proud of their success or learn from their failures. For the waiting at the end of a DofE expedition, watching the overwhelming joy that they’ve made it.

I’ll use these answers whenever I get asked “Why do you still want to be a teacher, sir?”

This is the story of Chris Jones, our school counsellor who has a long generational history with the Alice Smith School spanning four generations from the time of his grandmother, Muriel Cox who was working alongside Doris Muir, to now with his daughter enrolling as a student at the Alice Smith School. He also shares his journey as a Play Therapist and the importance of relationship building.

by Chris Jones (Current staff, KLASS 2022 - present)

My grandparents were placed in Malaysia through my grandfather’s work and my grandmother, Muriel Cox, was a teacher here at Jalan Bellamy in the 1950’s. Through this, my mother, Susan Cox, attended the school twice from four years old to six years old and again from eight years old to ten years old. The family left to return to the UK in 1957, after my grandmother had stepped in for Doris Muir as Acting Principal in the early 1950s whilst Ms Muir was on leave in Australia.

I never had a clue that I would one day end up being part of the Alice Smith family and that my daughter would continue on this legacy. It’s truly a fascinating journey. Although I attended an International 6th form School (UWC Atlantic College in Wales) my dreams of working internationally had faded after I had become a Play Therapist and started a family, putting down my roots in Scotland. It was only after applying for this job some years later that I mentioned to my mother that we would be moving, and did she know anything about Malaysia and Alice Smith? She was stunned to hear the name of the school and was very excited to hear that we were coming to Kuala Lumpur as it holds many great memories from her childhood.

My mother recently came down to Malaysia for a visit after almost 60 years. She had the privilege of walking down memory lane and visiting her campus. She reminisced all the beautiful memories and photos as she toured the campus she once studied in many years ago.

I have worked with traumatised children and families for over 20 years now, in many different roles, but always using the medium of Play and harnessing the power of relationships to help people understand and gain mastery over their experiences. I have seen first hand how Trauma in families can impact the life chances of Children and Young People and I wanted to learn more about how I could help at an earlier stage, and how that help can have a positive impact and lasting consequences. I’m also fascinated by child development, neuroscience and family systems, and as a Play Therapist I get to work with those everyday!

As a Play Therapist, my favourite part of the job has to be seeing the positive change that children and families can go through, and the hard work they are willing to put in to make that change.

Relationships, relationships, relationships. Our brain is a social organ and it can only thrive in the context of relationships with other healthy brains around it. The more positive relationships we have around us the more likely we are to successfully manage stressful experiences in healthier ways. When we can trust that the world is a safe place and our needs are able to be met, we are more willing to take risks. Life is but a series of adventures to and from a secure base, and connection help us join others on their adventures, as well as share ours with them.

I have a short message to all who read this, Don’t sweat the small stuff, and try not to let the little things have big impacts. Invest in your relationships and friendships. Look after your back and your knees. Play as much and as often as you can. Remember to breathe and if you need to take a minute, take two.

 Three generations of KLASS

 Muriel Cox in the early 1950s

 Susan Cox at her class photo shoot (5th from right)

 Muriel Cox (4th from left) with all the staff in the 1950s

Over the past few years, I have become a team leader, overcome teaching through a pandemic, had a baby, got married here in Malaysia and of course taught many fun, kind and enthusiastic learners.

Coming back to my alma mater as a teacher felt strange in many ways. Many things around the school have changed. The surroundings, the buildings and how small things looked now as an adult seemed strange. However, the feeling of belonging was a feeling that I have been unable to lose. The school remains a safe and happy place to be, surrounded by a truly special community.

Having been lucky to attend excellent primary and secondary schools, I have always enjoyed school. I have always enjoyed learning about culture and diversity which led me to study International Education at university. It was during this time that I was surprised that not everyone had the same school experiences and it made me consider a profession to develop a love of learning for the next generation and provide positive experiences similar to my own childhood.

I would say that I am a talkative individual and my favourite part of teaching is talking to children. These conversations often bring humour to my day. I love being able to chat to previous children that I have taught and to children who I may teach in the future and of course my own class. I am a people person and teaching has given me the opportunity to chat to many children who often make me smile and laugh.

My most memorable moment must have been in my first year at Alice Smith where I dressed up as a Roald Dahl character. The year leader at the time

had recommended I use a costume from the cupboard. Unaware of what I was looking for exactly, I found something that resembled my character and wore it proudly into the classroom. It wasn’t until later that my colleagues saw me and realised I was wearing a child’s reptilian skin leggings and accessories that were far too tight that maybe I really was too enormous for this Enormous Crocodile outfit. Nevertheless, I remained in the outfit while the team laughed and the children were thrilled to see me dressed up for the entire day. Afterall, dressing up days are supposed to be fun, aren’t they?

An interesting coincidence is that I taught my former KLASS teacher, Puan Linda’s son. It was quite a surprise once I found out who the child’s mother was. Having been taught Bahasa by Puan Linda at a young age, I had not made the connection until later on. Now knowing this, it really shows how special the school is and how the world really is not that big. I feel privileged.

Some memories of Puan Linda I remember are making crafts for Malaysia Day and learning about the various celebrations as well as the language. I feel that this made a huge impact on who I am today and so I am very grateful.

Teaching is a hard but rewarding job. My advice to alumni who want to pursue teaching is to think of a time when a teacher inspired you or an experience that made you really enjoy school. Celebrate the successes and lightbulb moments for the children and for you and work for a school that has the same values as you so to ensure you are your best self for you, your family and the children that you teach.

Harriet Spearman (KLASS 1999 - 2001, Teacher at KLASS since 2017)

Being an Alice Smith student and now a teacher at the same school. Harriet shares her journey and experience coming back to her alma mater with a different role.

In Living Colour

Decades of Memories

The Alice Smith School has always been a special place of community, love and immense sense of belonging. We spoke to a few teachers who have been teaching and giving back to our generations of students for more than a decade. They share some fondest memories of their time here and some heartfelt messages for our readers.

Rob Kimura-Davies

Rob George

Ben James

Sarah Shine

Emily Graham

Lea Ann Robinson

Jennifer Doyle

Lauren Ebsworth

Ian Quirk

Stewart Edmonds

Pn Linda

Debbie Jonathan

Dorothy Nice

In Living Colour

One of the great things that has happened for me over the last five years has been my involvement as a tutor at KLASS. I worked as a Key Stage Leader and Faculty Leader for Humanities for my first 10 years here, so never had the opportunity to pastorally mentor one class of students over a period of time as a Form Tutor. This changed in 2018 as I took over the 2025 graduating ‘R’ tutor group as they started with us at the EP campus in Year 7. As they now prepare to take their I/GCSE exams this summer and move into the Sixth Form and beyond after that, I am feeling all nostalgic about how much I have enjoyed sharing time with them, experiencing their learning journey here and witnessing their growth academically, physically and emotionally over this time. It really has been great fun and an education for me too.

The last 5 years have certainly been dominated by the recent pandemic and that has shaped a great deal of how I have experienced school in that time. Emerging towards the end of 2019, our school faced the challenges of Covid with a real positive and determined outlook. We would do the best for our students… whatever the world would throw at us, be it online in lockdowns, separated by perspex table shields and 1.5 metres, or simply with masks on. I have had to really think about how I am as a teacher, how I teach and what I can offer for students. This has given rise to new opportunities to how learning is shared and experienced, shaping new tools and understanding for me. I hope that this has made me a better teacher, one that can further facilitate enjoyment in learning for students, in any circumstance…as that is really all I ever want.

What do you like most about teaching?

This is a surprisingly easy question to answer as I just love to be in any environment with students, engaging in a shared experience of learning. The enjoyment for me is in being able to witness a moment of excitement where success is achieved or a moment of enlightenment happens. Some of the best memories for me throughout my teaching career have been where a student’s eyes suddenly light up and the expression on their face changes to one of delight, as they realise they have discovered something new or been able to beat a challenge they faced. I have worked in many different types of jobs and industries before, but nowhere have I managed to get this level of job satisfaction, the reward I get reflecting on the impact I can have simply through what I do.

What is the most memorable moment at KLASS?

There have obviously been quite a few memorable moments across my 15 years here at KLASS. This may seem a little ‘twee’...but being able to be a part of my own two sons’ experience in school during our time here is certainly one of my favourite things. I am so grateful that I could see my boys every day. The quiet little nod of acknowledgement, with a knowing look from Yushi as we cross paths, or the big cheerful grin and rowdy “Robert Huw” greeting in his best Welsh accent from Taishi, are moments I have cherished.

I am sure people are fed up hearing about the ‘Choir Tour’ from me…but wow, what a fantastic experience they all were. I missed the first one to the USA, but did take part with four; the USA & Canada tour in 2009, the Italy, Slovenia & Austria one in 2010, the tour of the British Isles in 2011 and finally to Russia in 2012. Each one a new and fantastic voyage of discovery for me, with students full of commitment and real dedication to rehearsals and all the intense activities, through to the concert tours themselves. So many wonderful memories, too many to describe here. But if you are one of those students who joined any of the tours, I am sure, like me, they will stay in your heart forever.

What are some of the common goals that every person should live a successful and happy life?

‘I just want to be happy’...That is it.

Not the most auspicious or promising start to a job interview or attempt to get a promotion I am sure. It can be looked on as a slight lack of ambition perhaps…in career terms. But in all honesty, I am glad that I have managed over time to get a balance with my life and things in perspective, as I realised that striving for happiness really is the most important thing and the way to really achieve success.

Life is what you make it…so make it a happy and pleasurable one that is fulfilling for you. Negativity and stress are wasted energy…so be positive, stay calm and look for good in all you see. Enjoy and appreciate the simple things that surround you and fill your life; a clear blue sky, the play of light with leaves on a tree, the rustle of the wind across a field of rice, a smile from a loved one, or the taste of your favourite food…give them time and savour them all. Measuring success through being happy is what I would hope we can all aim for as a goal in life.

A message to alumni

It has been a pleasure working here at KLASS for the last 15 years…somewhere in that time, if we have worked together, I hope you have fond and good memories of time shared.

I am delighted for you all that have forged your own pathways and futures beyond our school. There is no real advice from me that you need…so I will simply finish with how I end each email message…

Take care, stay safe & have fun!

Rob Kimura-Davies a.k.a Mr K-D Teaching at KLASS since 2008

Robert George a.k.a Mr George Teaching at KLASS since 1996

Many KLASSics will remember me in my first 6+ years at KLASS as Head of Science, then Head of Sixth Form and subsequently Assistant Principal for Student welfare between 1996 and 2002. After that I took time out to realign my direction with a Master’s Degree in Library and Information at Victoria University in New Zealand. With that qualification I have been teacher Librarian at Tanglin Trust School in Singapore, the Regent’s School in Thailand and Dubai British School.

It was with great pleasure that I returned to KLASS as teacher Librarian in 2010. As a British national it might feel strange to say it but it really felt like coming home. Perhaps it was because I was part of the team that developed the Equine Park campus that gives me such affinity. Another great opportunity was gifted to me here as we renovated the library in 2017-2018. We were given great freedom to create a dream space and I feel blessed to share this beautiful library with our students and the wider community.

I got married for the first time at the age of 54 and that has so enriched my life. My lovely wife, Onchuda, is Thai and albeit late in life for me we now have a 17 month old little boy who brings joy every day.

What do you like most about teaching?

I graduated with an Engineering Degree and it was through the vagaries of life that I came to teaching as a career. My many years of teaching and interacting with students has allowed me to see just how impactful teachers are, with alumni remembering micro-details of interactions with you in the past in the most positive way.

Being an important building block of young people’s future is a privilege and an honour, along with being a huge responsibility. With this in mind I find it awesome that I’m still in touch with a student from my first ever Sixth Form group from 1984 at the Leys School in Cambridge… he’s now 55 years old!

What is one of the most memorable moments of your teaching career?

This is a tough question as there are so many. As I run this question through my ageing CPU hundreds of options start to surface which is yet another illustration of the beauty of teaching.

If I think of my 20 years at KLASS, it could be KLASS’ first ever graduation dinner and valedictory assemblies, the first ever DoE expedition, the first ever prefects retreat, the first ever sailing trip. Each one of them were awesome KLASS defining moments but I will choose a much more simple moment to highlight here, something that fortunately happens very often.

Everytime a current student or alumni drops by the library to see me just to chew that fat, those are golden moments as a teacher, when you know that the young people trust you and value your opinion.

What do you think should be the common goal(s) for every person to live a successful and happy life?

I think the obvious answer for me is implied in the question. For a life to be worthwhile it needs enough happiness. Achieving that is not as easy as it might sound, as life throws down significant challenges for all of us. We all need friends, perhaps not so many as you get older, and the kindness and compassion you receive from others is immeasurably important. You cannot buy kindness and compassion, but as long as you give it to others unreservedly, success and happiness will find you.

A message for alumni

My previous response evoked embracing altruism so I hope this advice does not feel contradictory in that respect. It’s a tough world out there and hopefully KLASS has laid some good foundations in you navigating that. My advice is that you should not feel shy to responsibly use your contacts to ease your navigation through life and in the same way to look to offer a helping hand to others. Look after yourself, both physically and emotionally.

The last five years have been a period of massive change and growth, for both me and the school. Whilst teaching online, like most of my colleagues, I have had to learn new technology skills including video and audio editing, and most importantly, blurring my zoom background! It has been wonderful to be ‘back to normal’ for a while, making music in the classroom, and enjoying a hectic travel schedule once more.

Having enjoyed 11 years at JB, I have made the difficult decision to leave Alice Smith in July 2023. I’ve been teaching for 15 years so I feel that a break from the formal education business will be good, in order to refresh and refocus on goals for the future. I have no particular location or direction at the moment but hope to return to Asia at some point so perhaps our paths will cross again in the not too distant future!

What do you like most about teaching?

Every day is different when you work with children, and the energy created is very exciting. When you’ve been here as long as I have (my first Year 1 students are now Year 11) you have the privilege of seeing the students’ journeys, and witness many wonderful ‘first moments’. This could be the first time they’re on stage, or the first time they master a musical skill. One of the best aspects about teaching music is that it is a universal language which transcends all other barriers, and allows access regardless of your background or home language.

What is one of the most memorable moments of your teaching career at KLASS?

There have been many wonderful moments I’ve enjoyed, many of which come from the Year 6 productionsover the years, and some from everyday aspects of my job such as succeeding in encouraging a timid Year 1 student to sing alone for the first time in class. However, the grandest moment I am proud to recall is conducting an orchestra and choir of 120 students in ‘O Fortuna’ in the FOBISIA 2019 Primary Music Festival. The feeling of accomplishment was overwhelming for both myself and the 25 Alice Smith students who took part, and reminded us how wonderful it is to be a part of something bigger than yourself.

What do you think should be the common goal(s) for every person to live a successful and happy life?

I believe we all need to find our sense of belonging and purpose, and to find a way to use your time and talents meaningfully. That being said, I also think that balance is important and a little bit of what you fancy often does you good!

A message for alumni

Take the best part of what you enjoyed from your time at KLASS and ‘pass it on’ to the people around you.

Ben James a.k.a Mr. James Teaching at KLASS since 2012

How has life been in the last 5 years?

What a 5 years it has been! The Covid pandemic and subsequent implications of it were totally unprecedented. Schools transitioned online overnight. Teachers had to learn how to teach on Zoom. Students had to learn to live and learn in their homes, without their school friends. It was a very strange experience. I am extremely proud of how the Alice Smith community looked after each other during these peculiar times. My favourite part of the week at that time was the online assemblies that I co-hosted with Mrs Nadarajah. It was amazing to connect online with all of our students and be greeted by smiley faces on multiple screens.

Thankfully, during the school year 2022-23 we have moved away from SOPS and returned to many of the things that we commonly did pre pandemic. Music Moments, clubs, sports days, galas, residentials to name a few. Every day, I am impressed with the way that our students make sense of their learning. This week alone some children sang a song to teach me about the water cycle and others showed me models. I am very thankful to be back to busy school life. I especially enjoy talking to our students. Last week, a preschool student made my day when she presented me with a necklace and said “Happy International Women’s Day.” I love being in a school with such motivated and kind students. I genuinely believe that our students are changemakers and will help to make the world a better place.

What do you like most about teaching?

The thing that I most love about teaching is that no two days are the same. Every day I experience something new and different.

What is one of the most memorable moments of your teaching career at KLASS?

I have so many fabulous memories of my time at Alice Smith school. I have had the privilege of teaching lots of incredible students and working with inspiring teachers. Since working in the leadership team, I have worked very closely with Mrs Nadarajah. My nickname for Mrs Nadarajah is Dr Dolittle - she is amazing with animals. I, on the other hand, am not so keen on animals. One day as we were preparing for an assembly a very big lizard ran across the hall. I immediately jumped on the stage, whilst Mrs Nadarajah calmly tried to catch the creature. It was quite comical. Another time we took Mr T for a walk and he ran away!

What do you think should be the common goal(s) for every person to live a successful and happy life?

To live a happy and successful life I think we need to remember to practise being grateful. I know that when I pause and think about everything that I can be thankful for it helps me to have perspective on life.

A message for alumni

Remember that we are each unique. It is important to learn to be comfortable with who you are. Also, try to do something positive every day.

Sarah Shine a.k.a Mrs Shine Teaching at KLASS since 2007

Emily Graham a.k.a Ms Graham Teaching at KLASS since 2010

Life in the last five years has been quite different from the preceding ones! The pandemic created lots of challenges and frustrations but also helped us to forge new ways of working and being. I did enjoy the opportunity to take a slower pace and reflect on life a bit more.

I have changed roles in the school; although I miss working with all of the Sixth Form students to support their university applications and life ahead, I really enjoy working with the best faculty as Head of Humanities! However the main change for me is the fact that I am now a parent to a two-year old boy, which has made a massive change to my life.

What do you like most about teaching?

Like most teachers, what I like most about teaching is interacting with students. It’s such a joy to be able to work with such engaged and engaging students; I love the discussions we have about the world and the ways in which we might improve it.

What is one of the most memorable moments of your teaching career at KLASS?

This is difficult to decide upon; there have been so many. I remember organising events such as Charity Dinner and the Sixth Form Proms, and seeing the various pranks that the graduating classes have pulled. However, one of my favourite moments would have to be cantering through wildflowers in the Mongolian steppes as part of the Mongolian World Challenge Trip.

What do you think should be the common goal(s) for every person to live a successful and happy life?

To live a happy and successful life, I think it is important to keep reflecting on what you are grateful for, whilst also challenging yourself to do new things and considering how you can make the world a better place.

A message for our alumni

Make the most of the opportunities that you are given and think about how you can make changes, however big or small, to improve the life of others. There is more to life than examination results and making money; do what you enjoy and what you are good at. Above all else, be kind to yourself and to others.

Lea-Ann Robinson a.k.a Mrs Robinson Teaching at KLASS since 2013

Over the last five years, my life in Malaysia has changed more than I have expected. My husband and I have purchased a unit in a low rise condo among lots of greenery! The change of scene brought about peaceful mornings full of bird song and nature. Two and a half years ago, I became pregnant with our first child, who has filled our home with much needed noise and excitement (especially during the pandemic)! Just this week (early April), I delivered our second daughter and we now continue our learning journey of being parents! We have just been successful in applying for The Residence Pass-Talent (RP-T) which offers skilled expatriates the ability to work and live in Malaysia for up to 10 years. We call Malaysia home!

What do you like most about teaching?

I love teaching children, the energy they bring with them each day is something for us all to learn from. Teaching at Alice Smith School gives the flexibility we should all have as teachers, to cater for the needs of each individual, this keeps me inspired year on year. No day is the same!

What is one of the most memorable moments of your teaching career at KLASS?

Teaching in Early Years gives you memorable moments each and every day! While teaching at KLASS I have been asked if my mole is a tornado button… One child said “what have you done to your hair?” and no they did not like my hair style!

The renovations of the reception garden is something I am very proud of, it is now a place full of open end possibilities with no limitations to what the children can achieve.

What do you think should be the common goal(s) for every person to live a successful and happy life?

Be kind, it costs nothing. Try and see things from another’s perspective, everyone has a story but we control our own emotions and how we react.

A message for our alumni

Alice Smith itself is still full of spirit and soul. This is evident in the community feel of the campus.

Jennifer Doyle a.k.a Mrs Doyle

Teaching at KLASS since 2011

I have had the opportunity to experience a positive and enriching work environment that fosters professional growth, creativity, and a love for teaching. Despite the challenges of the pandemic that has shadowed the majority of the last 5 years, I have been able to continue my own personal growth as a teacher and as a learner in my own right, gaining a masters in positive psychology and coaching psychology. It has been wonderful to see KLASS thrive as a coaching culture school which drives learning through positive interactions with students and allowing them to foster individuality and a genuine love of learning.

What I love most about teaching?

What I love most about teaching at Alice Smith School is the school’s emphasis on promoting a positive learning culture that nurtures individual growth and development. I am passionate about independent learning and love nothing more than working alongside students to take ownership of their learning in order to develop into curious, reflective, and self-aware individuals.

What is one of the most memorable moments of your teaching career at KLASS?

As a teacher at Alice Smith, I have had many memorable moments that have made my job an incredibly fulfilling and rewarding experience. It is always a joy to speak with former students who come back to visit and listen to how their experiences at KLASS have shaped them into global citizens.

What do you think should be the common goal(s) for every person to live a successful and happy life?

What makes a successful and happy life is having a growth mindset and being open to new opportunities. Alice Smith gives us all, students and staff, so many opportunities to thrive, to give back and most of all to show kindness to everyone in the community.

A message for our alumni

My advice to alumni of Alice Smith School is to be ambitious, courageous, and compassionate. Take the skills, knowledge, and character building attributes you have acquired during your time at the school, no matter how long or short, and use it to become future ready, global leaders capable of making a positive difference in the world.

Life in the last five years at Alice Smith has been very different to when I first started. Due to COVID we started teaching online and this presented many challenges for the school but yielded so many rewards. The use of technology to stay close to our students and community was welcomed by all. Learning to do your job in a whole different way was a rollercoaster! It is wonderful to now be back on site and face to face with the children. The buzz at the JB campus has returned and with it a number of new students and teachers.

What do you like most about teaching?

What I like most about teaching is that everyday is different! As a teacher you wear many different metaphorical hats and this variety is joyous. Being able to spark an interest in different areas of the curriculum and giving children tools to support their learning and wellbeing is truly an honour.

What is one of the most memorable moments of your teaching career at KLASS?

One of my most memorable moments in my teaching career at Alice Smith was during a World Book Day celebration. We had a visiting poet and the whole of Key Stage 2 started to get up from assembly and perform a conga line round the school!

What do you think should be the common goal(s) for every person to live a successful and happy life?

I think a common goal for everyone should be to keep each other safe, whilst being kind and respectful. It is important that we create good relationships that allow us to be courageous in our thinking and being.

A message for alumni

My advice to alumni is to treasure the past but use it as a stepping stone for the future. What we know now will not be the same as what we know tomorrow and being open and inviting of change will serve you well.

Lauren Ebsworth a.k.a Mrs Ebsworth Teaching at KLASS since 2014

Ian Quirk a.k.a Mr Quirk Teaching at KLASS since 2005

I’ve always felt that the years at Alice Smith seem to pass so quickly and blend together - it’s not easy to differentiate from one year to another. For example, when any of our alumni pop-in to pay us a visit, I often say, “how long has it been since you guys left?” And I’m always surprised how long it’s been because it feels like they just left! I do really enjoy seeing them again and hearing about all the interesting things they have been doing now they are out there making their way in the world.

What do you like most about teaching?

For me teaching is a career that allows me to do something that is meaningful and has a positive impact, so that each day I feel like I’ve achieved something. I like to get stuff done and for those of you who were taught by me will know I very much like my students to do the same! This gives me a huge amount of satisfaction. In Design Technology (DT), supporting students to create their products and see them progress is very rewarding. In my pastoral roles, I’ve always enjoyed helping students overcome challenges so they can reach their potential - this gives me a sense of purpose.

What is one of the most memorable moments of your teaching career at KLASS?

Oh my goodness, too many to be specific….numerous ski trips I’ve ran over the years, football teams

I’ve coached, students I taught who’ve produced work to a standard that they never would have thought they would have, teaching both my children DT (surreal hearing then call me Mr Quirk!), wonderful colleagues that I’ve worked with both past and present…I could go on and on!

What do you think should be the common goal(s) for every person to live a successful and happy life?

I’ve always believed that success and happiness come with doing something you enjoy, you take pride in and that ultimately benefits society in some way. It shouldn’t be just about money or status - those things alone are not going to make you happy.

A message for alumni

The message I’ll give is; we all know The Alice Smith School motto - Sic Itur Ad Astra, “In this way we shall reach the stars.” What I truly hope is that the people, experiences and journey you all had when you were with us has helped you on your way to fulfilling your dreams and aspirations. Hopefully you’ll look back fondly at your time here and think that your school days were some of the best times of your life.

Stewart

Edmonds

a.k.a Mr E Teaching at KLASS since 1998

The last five years have been eventful, to say the least. The world has experienced a time of significant change and disruption, but also one of resilience and adaptation. The Alice Smith community has come together to face the challenges and opportunities it has presented. Who would have thought that we would find ourselves teaching and learning from home for such an extended period of time?

In terms of technology, there have been significant advances in areas such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, and automation, which have the potential to revolutionise and transform the way we live and work.

On a personal level, I have found joy in working collaboratively alongside a team of like-minded professionals in the Maths and Computing Faculty who share a common vision and purpose within an environment of camaraderie and mutual support, which has enabled me to thrive and find joy in my work over the past five years.

What do you like most about teaching?

In my experience, teaching offers both a sense of stability and routine as well as an environment that is constantly changing and dynamic. I find that it challenges me to be a lifelong learner because there are always new concepts to explore, especially in the field of computer science education. Additionally, the privilege and responsibility of inspiring, building relationships with, and empowering the next generation deeply moves me.

What is one of the most memorable moments of your teaching career at KLASS?

Being a part of the Alice Smith community for so long has given me a lot of memorable experiences, making it difficult to choose just one. I remember going to the Jalan Bellamy campus for my interview with Andy Homden, as we toured the school, he checked in with every student we passed, addressing them by name. Even though the school was smaller at the time, it left me with a strong sense of what ‘Alice Smith-ness’ was all about - every child matters.

What do you think should be the common goal(s) for every person to live a successful and happy life?

What makes a happy and successful life can vary from person to person, as everyone has their own unique set of values and goals. Find your passion, and pursue activities that you enjoy and that are meaningful to you. Ultimately, a happy and successful life is about finding fulfilment in what you do, connecting with others, focusing on the positive aspects of your life, and expressing gratitude for what you have.

A message for alumni

Everyone who has had the privilege of the Alice Smith experience will confess that they have had a unique and impactful experience there. As alumni, you are in the best position to share what you have learned and the values you have gained with others, whether that’s through mentoring, volunteering, or simply being a positive role model.

It’s not always that we encounter a tale of a teacher teaching their former teacher’s child at the same school. A true circle of life. If you were in the Primary Campus, you would have known the infamous Pn Linda who has been teaching the Malay language since 1997!

The last three years the whole world faced the same issues and distance learning was the best way to continue educating children. It was very challenging for me as I have to take 2 roles at the same time. Being a mother to monitor my children learning at home and being a teacher for the students.. If there were any domestic related issues, the team was quick to respond. Looking at the students on the screen via zoom made my heart melt as all the physical activities that we used to do in class were not relevant, however we at Alice Smith made it. The students, teacher and parents positively supported everything. Students adapted to the new norm of learning beautifully. Now we are all back to reality, I can see from their eyes how happy they are.

What do you like most about teaching?

Teaching is my passion as I love children very much. Looking at their improvement from day to day really makes me happy.

What is one of the most memorable moments of your teaching career at KLASS?

I started my teaching career at Alice Smith in 1997 where I was teaching the Early Years group. At The Alice Smith School Bahasa Malaysia is known as a Foreign Language. It was very challenging to teach another language to International students. However, with my experience in composing a song, I created my own songs according to the topics and the children learned very fast in creative ways.

Your former student (Harriet Spearman, KLASS of 2001) is now teaching your child. - How do you feel about this? What a lovely question. When Harriet came into School as a teacher for her first day, I didn’t realise that she was going to teach my youngest son (Arfan Danish). I looked at the list and spotted Class 2H and his class teacher was Miss Spearman. The surname sounded very familiar to me and when the school started, I came to drop off Arfan and was shocked to see Harriet Spearman, my former student and this year I can’t believe she’s teaching my son. The cycle of life!

Do you recall some of your memories teaching Harriet? She was a little bit shy and she loves doing creative work in a small group.

What are the things that have changed significantly in school since you started and what has not changed? The school uniform, school bag, library bag, PE shirt and shorts are changed. The building has extended to a modern look but the school hall remains the same.

Please share with us a message to our alumni. Dear KLASS alumni, please do join KLASSics and share all your memories with us and do visit us. Your success is really appreciated and you are a great example to the new generation. Wherever you go please keep Alice Smith in your heart.

Pn Linda Othman a.k.a Pn Linda Teaching at KLASS since 1997

I joined Alice Smith School in 1996 when the whole school was on one site at Jalan Bellamy. It has been quite amazing to witness the changes the school has undergone during the time I have worked here.

However, what we went through as a school community, as a direct result of the Global Pandemic, has left a lasting impression from which I have learnt so much about myself both professionally and personally. The most significant changes I have experienced have been during the Covid years. I taught Bahasa Melayu online, and then taught Library lessons too. I eventually ended up Teaching Reception (also online) which was both rewarding and demanding.

I often felt like an octopus plucking one resource after another from my desk to capture the children’s attention and educate them. My husband kindly bought me a rotating bookcase, which we assembled together so I could have an even greater range of resources at my fingertips.

At one point I was simultaneously teaching children in Reception and Year One based as far apart as America and China. There is never a dull moment teaching at Alice Smith and to pinpoint any one particular moment would not do justice to the amazing job of teaching daily at Alice Smith.

Alice Smith for me is most importantly about loving your learning whether you are an educator or a student. It’s about always striving to do your very best and never giving up. To sum it up, a Reception child once wrote to me, “You are Mrs Jonafun because you are a fun teacher”. The lesson is to make your teaching meaningful and fun so the learning comes naturally and easily.

Alice Smith has been part of all the special things in my life since 2005 and I would not trade these years for anything in the world!

The ways in which our school has grown and expanded both physically as well as in numbers over the years, have been beyond amazing and one of the best things that I love is that our family spirit has remained in the caring relationships we share. I remember well my tiny little cubbyhole classroom on the top most floor of our Languages faculty where I had Bruce Bawden as my neighbour who was also in an equally tiny room! How wonderfully cosy it was being with my Year 7 babies and all my lovely language kids!

My years at Alice Smith continue to be filled with many, many beautiful moments with wonderful people that are and always will remain treasured, precious memories. Teaching equals love.

Alice Smith is home away from home. All who pass through the Alice Smith doors remain in this family, yesterday, today and forever.

Debbie Jonathan a.k.a Mrs Jonathan Teaching at KLASS since 1996

Dorothy Nice a.k.a Ms Nice Teaching at KLASS since 2005

A Legacy of Memories

The stories of our former teachers inspire us as they leave the school with a legacy of memories and hard work that is forever etched in the walls of our campus and hearts of our students. Sharing with you the low down of what some of your teachers have been up to.

Becky Carville, Roz O Shea, Claire Walton, Steven Shorthose, Gavin Lazaro, Ben Winter, Anne Winter, Chris Boden, Robert Gardiner, Andy Homden,Pn Azizah

Andy Homden a.k.a Mr Homden

Former Director of School, 1996 - 2002

Jan and I are in Ireland - County Donegal - where we started our business, Consilium Education, in 2014. Our office is on campus at the new Atlantic Technological University - formerly Letterkenny Institute of Technology. We are involved in supporting new school projects from the Far East to the Middle East. It’s not easy starting your own business, but so rewarding and involves work that we really enjoy doing.

What do you miss most about your time at KLASS?

The community - always very special when we were there and still is!

What is one of the most memorable moments of your teaching career at KLASS?

One of the most memorable things was the way the new community at Equine Park pulled together to create a new school on a new site - which was true to the atmosphere and ethos of Jalan Bellamy, while being itself. That was 1997! I particularly remember the way there was a programme of tree planting sponsored by families and alumni and the way the new trees were labelled with the names of each species and the sponsoring family with special arboreal tags prepared for us at Kew Gardens, which expanded as the trees grew. There was still a huge amount of forest around us in those first years, and three or four months after opening there were rumours of a ‘large cat’ being seen on the periphery of the trees. Never confirmed one way or the other - but several claimed to have seen it!

What do you think should be the common goal(s) for every person to live a successful and happy life?

When you choose a career make sure it involves work that you will enjoy and encourage others to do the same.

A message for alumni

Festina Lente! [‘make haste slowly’]

Becky Carville, a.k.a Mrs Carville

Former teacher, 2016 - 2022

I am now teaching at British School Muscat where my two sons also go to school while my husband is studying for a degree in viticulture in New Zealand so we are a truly global family at the moment! We are enjoying the landscape - the mountains and the sea on the doorstep and the beautiful food and culture of Oman. To add to the three Malaysian street cats that we took with us, we have now adopted a rescued local wadi dog so we’re a full house now! My sons still wear their KLASS tops everywhere - we need bigger ones sent!

What do you miss most about your time at KLASS?

I miss the beautiful green campus - I was reminiscing with some other colleagues who also left about this just a couple of days ago! The greens, the library, the rain, the lightning alarm, friends and colours - I miss all of these so much! It is very beautiful here but in a very “brown” way!!

What is one of the most memorable moments of your teaching career at KLASS?

Seeing my KLASS of 2022 graduate and celebrate at the Prom after the Covid years!

What do you think should be the common goal(s) for every person to live a successful and happy life? Be kind. Listen to life around you. Pay it back and forward!

A message for alumni

Don’t be afraid of change - you make the future what you need it to be!

Steven Shorthose a.k.a Mr.

Former teacher, 2001 - 2015

Shorthose

I left Alice Smith to set up my own education company, INtuition which has been massively challenging but It has done really well and I’m super proud of what we have achieved. Life has been interesting and I certainly miss the big school holidays.

What do you miss most about your time at KLASS?

I taught at Alice Smith for 14 years (maths and Head of Year 10 and 11) and loved every minute of it. I took Year 10 and 11 for their school trip to Tioman which was a fantastic way for the students to relax after their IGCSE examinations.

What is one of the most memorable moments of your teaching career at KLASS?

I have so many memories it’s hard to pick out the highlights, although having Shan Li Ng attain top of the world in the express additional maths IGCSE course was a superb achievement from one of my students. It was also the first time anyone had attained the award in any subject at Alice Smith.

What do you think should be the common goal(s) for every person to live a successful and happy life? Empathy, tolerance and understanding seem to be 3 qualities that we should all improve upon.

A message for alumni

Keep your feet on the ground and keep reaching for the stars - (Casey Kasem - Host of America’s top 10 in 1984).

A Legacy of Memories

Christine Boden a.k.a Mrs Boden Former teacher & Vice Principal 1995 - 2009

After leaving JB in 2009, I lived in Toronto and then had five years in Hong Kong before returning to the UK. We now live in Glasgow, Scotland to be near our little granddaughter and enjoy our retirement.

What do you miss most about your time at KLASS?

I miss the wonderful KLASS community and of course, the Malaysian food! As part of my role as Vice Principal, I enjoyed being a problem solver and endeavouring to be someone that people felt they could confide in and trust.

What is one of the most memorable moments of your teaching career at KLASS?

I have lots of memorable moments but a highlight was being instrumental in reuniting the Primary School at JB and showing the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester around the new Year 5 & 6 building in 2002.

What is one of the most memorable moments of your teaching career at KLASS?

Life always has ups and downs but a rewarding job and good, loyal friends and colleagues can make all the difference. Don’t get stuck in a rut. Take a chance if you can. The move to Malaysia certainly worked for me and my family.

A message for alumni

The advice I’d give is ‘Keep in touch’. It’s a marvellous thing to have friends all over the world and I’ve loved my visits back to KL.

Gavin Lazaro a.k.a Mr Lazaro Former teacher, 2013 - 2022

I left KL in July 2022 and am Deputy Head at a start-up school in Lisbon - The Lisboan International School. Portugal is an amazingly welcoming country and its capital is really vibrant, with lots of culture, amazing food and fabulous people. We don’t have any students at the moment as we are only due to open in September, but our team has been busy working on creating a value-driven school, with an innovative curriculum in the heart of the city. It’s an incredibly exciting and challenging process but I am enjoying it enormously.

What do you miss most about your time at KLASS?

That’s a really tough question… there are lots of aspects of life in KL and especially EP that I miss. My colleagues, the students and the parents, of course. Beyond that, I miss the ‘feel’ of EP, the greenery, the space, the warmth and the buzz. Because The Lisboan only opens in September 2023, I have only a few colleagues and no students, so I miss the diversity that an international school offers. It is people that really make a place feel like home, and KL was no different. Oh and I also miss roti canai…!

What is one of the most memorable moments of your teaching career at KLASS?

Of my 9 years at Alice Smith, Graduation at EP was one that stays firmly in my mind. Graduation at any school is a remarkable event - the culmination of years of determination and commitment - but the first proper Graduation at EP back in 2019 was a wonderful celebration for students, parents and staff. The fact that I was also a parent at that event only added to the joy. Of course, the year after we had to revert to an online event, so I am sure that the future EP graduations will rekindle the excitement of the first event.

What do you think should be the common goal(s) for every person to live a successful and happy life?

I am currently meeting huge numbers of parents who are interested in a slightly alternative and very skills-based approach to education, and we always talk about what’s important in life. One crucial thing I talk about is to know and understand your own values and be utterly driven by them. The other is to take care of yourself and those that are close to you.

A message or advice for alumni

I’m not really a great one for advice, but a long long while ago when I was working in the chemical industry, my boss said to me “Be bold”, and I’ve tried to do that myself whenever I can. Fear can hold us back unnecessarily, and being bold can sometimes give us the impetus to nudge ourselves forward to do something a little unusual and out of our comfort zone that may be incredibly fulfilling.

Claire Walton a.k.a Ms. Walton Former teacher, 2011 - 2013

At present I’m teaching in a Europe and enjoying the onset of spring. Life has been busy and fun- I am currently doing an MA in creative writing which is wonderful and inspiring and reflective. The best part of being a teacher is we are lifelong learners.

What do you miss most about your time at KLASS?

The wonderful friends I have in KLASS, running around the track at crazy hours of the morning with Mr Williams and the students, the sun on my back as I swim in the pool, the lush green trees outside my classroom window. The fun. Lots of fun.

What is one of the most memorable moments of your teaching career at KLASS?

Muir winning the House Cup (flipping around that reputation for being losers). 80s style aerobics on the basketball courts with year 11 and Ms Cooper. Taking a group of runners to FRIM for a Friday night jungle run. I know that isn’t one...but there are too many memories!

What do you think should be the common goal(s) for every person to live a successful and happy life?

To be joyful in all we do. Happiness is a mindset, not a gift.

Roz O’Shea a.k.a Miss O’Shea Former teacher, 1999 - 2001

I returned to Newquay, Cornwall July 2022 after 23 years overseas. I left in 1999 destined for KLASS and had 2 happy years teaching PE there at EP. This followed a move to Bangkok Patana until 2003 where I emigrated to New Zealand where I developed my career into Head of Health Education. I married my Canadian partner Chris in 2007 and had 2 children Ruby and Charlie who are now 15 and 13.

I taught at a school for teenage mums for 7 years and a school for sick children for 4 years before, as a family, we decided to return to the international teaching scene. In 2018 we sold everything in New Zealand and moved to Shanghai, China. In 2020 we secured jobs in Penang and thought this was the final move. Unfortunately living through a pandemic overseas and feeling totally estranged from our families, changed everything.

After much heartache and deliberation we decided returning to Cornwall where all my family live, was the best and final move for us all. I’ve left the teaching profession after 29 years, and am now working with vulnerable teenagers as a Targeted Youth Worker.

What do you miss most about your time at KLASS?

I miss the amazing FOBISIA Games excitement from KLASS, especially as we won so many competitions. Being the lead teacher and organiser of the cultural Japanese exchange to Fukuoka was also a huge highlight. Sundowners in Bangsar on a Friday night was also a brilliant tradition!

What is one of the most memorable moments of your teaching career at KLASS?

Probably one of the most memorable moments was organising all the fundraising appeals for Budriah Orphanage and a local children’s hospital cancer ward. I arranged a huge Christmas present appeal where a bus load of students delivered the gifts and sang Christmas carols to the children and babies. A few months later I organised a charity rounders tournament which was lots of fun and provided so much support for these local charities.

What do you think should be the common goal(s) for every person to live a successful and happy life?

Know your truth and live life to the full. No regrets.

A message for alumni

Always be polite to all those around you, avoid judgement but above all, be kind.

A Legacy of Memories

Robert Gardiner a.k.a Mr Gardiner

Former teacher, 1997 - 2002

Currently I live in York (UK) with my wife Julie and our two daughters. Julie and I met in KL, she taught Year 1 at the JB campus, whilst I taught Biology at the EP campus. Through a range of jobs in schools and colleges within the York area, we now find ourselves teaching at Bootham School, an independent Quaker school. Our daughters are just completing their GCSE’s and A Levels and our thoughts are very much focused on the future.

What do you miss most about your time at KLASS?

I miss the camaraderie of the staffroom and the firm friendships which extended beyond the school. The positive energy that filled the school for both the staff and students. The EP campus was new, and it felt like we were all part of the same journey as the school grew and students sat GCSE’s for the first time.

What is one of the most memorable moments of your teaching career at KLASS?

At the end of the first ever Biology A Level field trip to Kuala Selangor we had to use our meter rulers to defend ourselves against a troop of marauding monkeys and shut ourselves in a car before they would leave us alone. On this trip we were lucky enough to see a wild pangolin which was very special.

The second sports day at the Maybank Stadium whose ending coincided with a massive rain storm. The staff put the students on the School buses and returned to find their cars floating in the underground car park which was now a lake.

What do you think should be the common goal(s) for every person to live a successful and happy life?

Live true to your beliefs. Help those in need. Consider you may be wrong.

A message for alumni

Thank you to those people, both staff and students whom I had the privilege of meeting whilst working in KL. I have many memories from my time at Alice Smith, most are positive bringing back feelings of warmth, energy, enthusiasm and kindness. I remember my last day at the school, walking the boundaries of the fields at EP taking in the sights and sounds of the pockets of jungle that surrounded the site. Much will have changed in the 20 years since I left but I hope that there is still a consideration for the natural world in all our lives and space to find the peace which nature brings.

Pn Azizah Majid a.k.a Pn Azizah

Former teacher, 1994 - 2021

I am still based in Kuala Lumpur but sometimes travel around to visit with my children. I worked at Alice Smith school for 28 years and it was not easy to let it go.

What do you miss most about your time at KLASS?

The thing I miss most are the students at KLASS and my best team ever that is Language Faculty.

What is one of the most memorable moments of your teaching career at KLASS?

One of the most memorable moments of my teaching career are the students that I taught achieved excellent grades in their exam.

What do you think should be the common goal(s) for every person to live a successful and happy life?

To relax and not allow stress to affect you.

A message for alumni

Always be happy.

Ben Winter a.k.a Mr Winter Former teacher, 2013 - 2020

We now live and work in Devon, UK, running Winter Teach Tuition. We tutor students aged 4-15 around the world, from KL ranging westwards through Abu Dhabi, and on to Austria, Oxford and London. Online tuition has inspired a fascinating evolution of our teaching careers in many ways, particularly because it allows us to really focus on the needs of the individual child as and when they appear in our sessions. In July 2020, at the height of the Covid19 global pandemic, we left KLASS to return to be closer to our family in the UK. It certainly was a strange time to return!

What do you miss most about your time at KLASS?

I miss the face to face contact with amazing teachers, students and families in the KLASS community. Zoom tuition has many great aspects, but being a KLASS/class teacher is such a privilege

What is one of the most memorable moments of your teaching career at KLASS?

Performing my first ever KLASS assembly on the Vikings in front of 600 students. This memory is closely followed by presenting Maths workshops for parents and performing calculations in front of 100 interested parents - my performance was later compared to Carol Vorderman on Countdown, a career high for me!!

What do you think should be the common goal(s) for every person to live a successful and happy life?

Kindness, Laughter, Appreciation, Sympathy - I would have preferred “gratitude” here, but you know… Sense of humour

A message for alumni

Never assume you know what someone else is feeling or thinking. Talk and find out.

Anne Winter a.k.a Mrs Winter Former teacher, 2013 - 2020

The Winter family are doing well; Maisie and Amelia are both at University (Sussex and Bristol), Bea is in Year 8 at our local grammar school and Ben and I feel very lucky to have jobs we really enjoy.

In 2020, mid pandemic, we returned to our home in the UK. The Winter family came back to Totnes, Devon. We swapped the bright lights and big city for the British countryside. No all-night roti, lots of mud! When we got back, Ben and I started online tutoring from home and we have kept this up. So even though we are physically in deepest Devon, we are connecting with students all over the world through “Winter Teach”. Hooray for Zoom!

At KLASS, we were encouraged to follow the needs and passions of the children to make an engaging curriculum. This experience has proved invaluable in our current work and I’m incredibly grateful for this inspirational training.

What do you miss most about your time at KLASS?

Recruiting internationally means that KLASS only employs the most adventurous teachers; people with a real ’can do’ attitude. I miss the fun, laughter and cheeky shenanigans with some of the loveliest people I’ve ever met.

What is one of the most memorable moments of your teaching career at KLASS?

My memory is a small moment, nothing out of the ordinary. It was in 4T, looking out over the Chinese Graveyard, through the branches of a beautiful tree. My class was fully engaged; reading books and then adding responses to a display we were making together. There was a purpose and harmony, which was often the case.

Maya Angelou said “At the end of the day people won’t remember what you said or did, they will remember how you made them feel.”

My memory is of the feeling of wonder and gratitude in that moment. How much support that moment needed; the well resourced library, the years of learning, the support of the cleaners and maintenance staff. How unusual that common-place time was!

What do you think should be the common goal(s) for every person to live a successful and happy life?

Gratitude. When we celebrate all the positives we have, they spiral into greater ideas. Success and happiness come from inside, when we make time to reflect on where they are in our lives, we feel them even more keenly.

A message for alumni

What an incredible chapter of our lives to have shared! I wish you every happiness and success, my fellow adventurous, skilled educators.

A Legacy of Memories

Mrs Nadarajah has been at KLASS for over three decades. This July 2023, she will be saying her final goodbyes as she will be retiring. The primary campus will feel the void but Mrs Nadarajah’s legacy will live on in every part of the school. We decided to get one last interview with her before she enjoys her time with her family and a well deserved break.

What’s your most memorable moment at KLASS?

The most memorable moments for me were when the whole campus was involved in a special day. I particularly remember our famous Activity Weeks. ‘Arts Alive in 2005’ stands out as a particular favourite with every year dancing to a different genre in the infant playground with parents cheering us on. A real community feel. Equally, the many charity weeks we held over the years deserve a mention. The field would be full of stalls all created and set up by the students. What fun we had while raising lots of money to help children in need.

What will you do once you leave KLASS?

I will divide my time between Malaysia and Scotland. My sons live in the UK, so it will be lovely to see them more often.

What will you miss the most about KLASS?

The students and the families. Following the progress of students who move up through the school has been a real privilege. I love hearing how everyone is getting on and what amazing careers they have chosen. So, I’ll miss ex-students returning and watching them marvel at how small the campus looks.

Which person has had the most impact on you from your years at KLASS?

The person I remember the most is principal, Mrs Patricia Lee. I only worked with her for a couple of years before she retired, but she left a lasting

impression. She was kind but firm with both staff and students. She knew every student and parent by name and even remembered alumni when they came back to visit. She was genuinely interested in her students and wanted to make a difference.

What do you imagine your mornings to be as a retiree?

A little quieter; sitting on my balcony bird spotting with a cup of coffee. I will not miss the traffic jams or the busy Jalan Kerayong morning arrival!

Do you have a pet; what is his/her name?

Oh yes, I have many pets: fish, dogs and turtles. Then there is the lone monkey and large monitor lizard that make an appearance in the garden from time to time. My pets are all rescue animals and somehow they found me. I did have a dog once called ‘Bellamy’! I think you know why.

Which is your first holiday destination after retiring?

I’m off to visit my family in Scotland, but not for long; I’ll be back in Malaysia soon. I’ve lived here for nearly 40 years - it’s definitely home for me!

If you could choose a superpower what would it be? It would be to have the ability to sprinkle kindness around the world. Acts of kindness make for a positive community and a happier environment for everyone.

What’s your most favourite song and why?

Apart from the Alice Smith song, it would be hits from the 70s! That’s my era..

If you could invite three people to dinner, living or dead, who would you invite?

Well, it would have to be Alice Smith herself! Many years ago, I was fortunate enough to meet her daughter Lyndsey when she visited Alice Smith for the 50th anniversary. Later I met her son and grandchildren. To make it an interesting dinner party, let’s throw in a few of those other early principals. What was Mrs Muir really like?

Alison Nadarajah Former Teacher and Vice Principal January 1986 - July 2023

10 Things you didn’t know about Mrs Nadarajah

Teachers are the backbone of every school. A student’s experience of school will always stem from a teacher’s guidance and attention.

Dvij Sharma

I’m one of the lucky ones who had the support and mentorship of Madame Wong right from Year 7 all the way to Year 13. Unsurprisingly, she is one of the people with whom I associate my fondest memories of Alice Smith, as early as my first school trip to Ipoh and as late as my final days of A Level French. In addition to being a great teacher, it was always clear that Madame Wong genuinely cared about my wellbeing both inside and outside the classroom, and wanted to see me realise the potential I didn’t even know I had. In fact, I remember almost wanting to quit A Level French in early Year 12 after a string of disappointing grades, deciding that I just wasn’t cut out for how difficult it was. Madame Wong’s advice to me? “Don’t be so hard on yourself, the learning curve is steep but you’ll be fine. It’s not worth the stress.” Of course, she was right; I was fine. But even today I’m struck by two things: she believed in me at a time when I didn’t believe in myself, but more importantly, reminded me that my health was more important than any grade could be. How many teachers would do that for their students? I know for a fact that I wouldn’t be the person I am today without Madame Wong, and am very thankful that our years at Alice Smith coincided.

(KLASS 2014 - 2020)

Thape Dlamini (KLASS 2000 - 2003)

Mr Wood, Sports Department.

There’s a lot of things that stuck with me. I ended up becoming a PE Teacher and it’s because of Mr Wood. There are a few things I remember about him. The senior Rugby team was always up and running; my brother was part of the team. I was desperate for us younger people to play as well because I had played previously when I went to school in Belgium. Mr Wood actually got a team up and running. There was one year we were supposed to go to Hong Kong and he called for a team meeting to break the bad news to me that I was 5 days too old to meet the trip’s requirement; which meant alot to me

We were on a school trip in Year 10 to Tioman last term there as I recall and I misbehaved and left my room when we were not allowed to leave our room and Mr Wood was on the trip and he was one of the tutors my Year 10.

I wasn’t in the good books of my Head of Year whereas Mr Wood knew me well as I did a lot of sports; Athletics, Aquatic alot of Football and Basketball

Stephanie Kampl (KLASS 1998 - 2003)

Mr Gardiner was my biology teacher way back when and because of him, I went on to do biology for A Levels. I remember this one time, we were going through the difference between the different types of pollination. He dressed me up with the skeleton’s wig (which was always wearing a colourful wig and science lab coat), wrote the plant name parts on my arms and I had to stand on a stool. It was hilarious! But he was a great teacher and I learnt a lot!

Omar Ogbeide (KLASS 2007 - 2021)

I want to take this chance to give a shoutout to a few special teachers - Mr Shine, Mr Williams, Mr Edwards, Ms Curwood, Ms Walton, Ms Nice, Mr Nelson, Mr Lyford and Ms Jonathan - thank you all so much for supporting me during my time at KLASS. I wouldn’t be where I am without you guys. There was never a dull moment in your classes and I will always cherish the chats and memories we shared over the years.

I have so many fond memories of school and the amazing teachers I could talk about. The thing that really stuck out was A Levels Economics and that was thanks to Mr Johnston. He was just incredible, I don’t think I’ve ever laughed so hard. He was just so fun, so fair and you really have to hand it to him because Econs is not an easy subject to teach. He made it so digestible, so fun, so interesting. I mean we all had fantastic grades. I remember I told him I was a really visual person and I was really really struggling and from that point on he made everything that he could into shapes, into diagrams. I really can’t thank him enough for that. Best of all he treated us like adults; when you are 16, 17 that’s exactly what you want. It was such an amazing experience and I had such a great time in class.

Ms Muttiah was one of my standout teachers at school. She was always so encouraging, patient and kind. She really pushed me to improve my English Literature and because of her and Ms Early I succeeded at the subject at A Levels. Ms Muttiah always put her students first and was always there to help out with university applications too. Thanks for being such a great teacher!

Throughout Sixth Form, as things progressively got more stressful with work piling on, exams coming up, and university applications, I would always look forward to the Friday afternoon ‘Picnic Friday’ sessions in the Computer Science department. Mr Edmonds and Ms Quaye would let us have these super chilled and relaxed lessons where we would all bring in snacks and drinks, and take the time to do independent work so we could catch up on what we might not have had time for during the week, or to continue working on our programming projects. I remember looking forward to Friday afternoons so much because there would be no pressure of extra work or extra deadlines, and we could just get things done with maybe some music on in the background – a wind down after a hectic week. Sometimes Ms Quaye would chat to us one on one or even as a group to touch bases and see how things were going, not just academically but also pastorally, and I know the whole class felt as if she and Mr Edmonds really.

(KLASS 2006 - 2020)

Teresa Meriggi

Lena Fricker (KLASS 2002 - 2014)

Lara Boyd (KLASS 1996 - 2010)

Rikigoro Shinozuka

(KLASS 2009 - 2012)

It’s 3:00 pm on a Wednesday afternoon in 2010. The relentless sun is beating down on the rain-

soaked grass field behind the sports hall where pools of mud hide the white painted 400m loop

we (used to) proudly call our track at Equine Park. Barefoot intervals of 8x400m is the menu served by none other than Mark Williams for the scrawny few of us that thought this ECA was

a great idea. We do our usual 2-lap warm up, followed by some stretches and running-specific drills, receive a great pep talk, and then it’s go time. As we speed through the intervals with Mark leading the pace, each repeat hurts more than

the last to the point of breaking. “Imagine you’re holding feathers!”, “Look towards the trees!” ,

“Float! Relax! It’s all in your head!” - These are just a few of the words of wisdom that Mark would

yell at us as we tunnel-vision and hyperventilate at the brink of collapse, questioning why we are

doing this to ourselves. Yet, somehow they worked. They got us through the sessions, strengthened our mental and

physical endurance, and ultimately made us better runners. Fast-forward to today and here I am, a professional triathlete pushing myself to the limits and competing against the world. I still often imagine myself holding feathers as I run and remind myself that the limit is all in my head. I still think back to the knowledge of Mark that remains ever so relevant now in everything I do- racing or not. And so this little story is a tribute to Mark Williams, who I never even had a class with, for being a positively significant influence who I’ve

grown into today.

Jemaimah Mustapha

(KLASS 1992 - 2003)

I will always remember the first day we had Mr. George as our science teacher. We were in Year 7 and making such a noise outside his classroom, waiting for the new science teacher to appear. Suddenly the door swung open and Mr. George looked so angry and told all of us to enter his classroom now, pointing inside. We all hurried in silence to our seats, all looking at each other and thinking ‘Oh no, this is going to be a tough class’. I can honestly say I was so scared. Science was a problem subject for me and to have a very strict teacher that would torment me did not sound like a fun year ahead.

As class started, he introduced himself very seriously. But then he started smiling, talking about science in a fun way, and making jokes. I don’t remember what the joke was but it definitely lightened the mood. We all sighed in relief and, after that, we looked forward to his classes. Mr. George made science so interesting that someone like me, who had a hard time in science, suddenly loved the subject.

Some of my friends and I still talk about that day. It is a funny story that never gets old.

I just want to say thank you to Mr. George for handling us misfits well (I am pretty sure we were known as the loud troublesome class) and still making science so enjoyable.

Jesselyn Lee (KLASS 2010 - 2013)

These are teachers who were there every year I was at KLASS and guided me every step of the way, and are the reasons I am who I am today.

One teacher who I’ve not only known for more than 15 years but I’ve also come to view as my inspiration as a teacher now myself is Mr K.D. I came to KLASS as a shy 12-year old but full of passion for the historical world. Although I was new to KLASS, Mr K.D. was not a stranger in my life as he previously taught in a different school I attended in Dubai. I think it would be accurate to say that Mr K.D. helped to bring this passion out through my work. He always encouraged me to explore my interests, and would indulge discussions around various topics, prompting me to go further to research whatever he told me. Even on my last visit to KLASS less than 6 months ago, we found ourselves conversing about modern history with the same zeal. It was not only through History classes that I came to develop a bond with Mr K.D. but also through Tour Choir back in 2012. The group’s trip to Russia prompted a certain excitement among those of us who love History, even more when Mr K.D. was enthusiastic to share his knowledge about Russia’s past. Now that I am a History teacher, I can only hope to be half as good as he was to my class.

At 16, I began to ponder my future. I had questioned for more than a decade at that point whether I should become a teacher or not. I had the desire to share my knowledge with the next generation, but I could not tell whether it was my vocation. I expressed this desire to Ms Nice, perhaps the last teacher one might expect me to turn to because I had very little interest in learning Bahasa Melayu – yet I had every reason to. Entering her class on the top floor, that same cold room we always whined to increase the temperature, there was always a sense of warmth there because of Ms Nice’s sweet personality. I told her I was discerning becoming an educator, and she told me in a very sombre, clear voice, “Teaching is not a job; it is a calling.” There was no teacher in my life who knew that better than her because we shared the same Catholic faith. I could tell she felt very deeply that to teach a student did not just require the ability to do so, but the call of a higher power to actively pursue such a life. Every single year since she told me this, I kept this advice very close to my heart, and I believe it wholeheartedly today. Each day as a teacher brings various challenges, and sometimes I am exhausted; but knowing that I was called to this vocation, I never feel like giving up – and Ms Nice helped me realise exactly what I was meant to do in this life.

The use of words is a delicate yet important action. It conveys what one thinks and expresses how one feels. To be deliberate with words is a necessity in order for us to understand others as we wish to be understood. Ms Muttiah was instrumental in helping me find different ways to explain exactly what I was thinking, and while she did not teach me every single year I was at KLASS, she was a crucial part of developing my vernacular. In between English lessons and working on the World Book, Ms Muttiah took me to a cornucopia of vocabulary. I remember struggling to write essays because I had the right thoughts but I struggled to put them on paper without “going off tangent.” Thanks to her patient guidance, I left KLASS with a bizarre love for writing essays, and a keen eye for essays that stray from the topic. Ms Muttiah has always been one of my greatest and beloved supporters, and I am indebted to her for keeping me on the straight and narrow.

Dominique Yahaya (KLASS 1974 - 1982)

I was at Alice Smith from 1974 until 1982. In those days, Prep 2 was as far as it went and it was heartbreaking to leave, I was extremely fortunate to be able to meet up with a large number of school friends at the Platinum celebrations in 2017 and as we reminisced about our school days and the numerous teachers who had, in one way or another, left us a great impression, one teacher in particular stands out for me, Mrs. Lawrence, music and choir teacher.

Mrs. Lawrence was an exceptional teacher, she taught us how to play the flute (yes, that very important instrument without which no one is deemed to be a musician…),thetriangleandmostimportantly,tosing,obviously!Eversince,singing is something that has never left me and is always a great remedy to dull moments. Mrs. Lawrence would make all the musical arrangements for the yearly school concert, teaching each class its bit to make the show a harmonious ensemble from Kindergarten to Infant 3 or Junior 1 to Prep2.

Mrs. Lawrence obviously had great ideas for the school choir. There were the more traditional carols for the Christmas concert where all the parents would happily sing along,but also the modern versions of Noah’s Ark, Joseph and the Amazing Technicoloured Dreamcoat, to name just a few. To this day, there are times when bits and pieces of the hymns and songs we learned with her come back to mind and if we’re missing a piece, all we have to do is go back to our group of school buddies and, without doubt, each of us will have a bit to add to rebuild the songs.

Wei Pong even dug up his book of songs!

Mrs. Lawrence had a strong voice, no-one would have interrupted her when she spoke but it was not out of fear, just plain awe. She had a great smile and would always encourage us to give the best of ourselves at all times. It was alright not to be talented, as long as we enjoyed ourselves. We would spend hours rehearsing, sitting on the wooden benches in the assembly hall while dear Sambhi and other members of staff listened in as they walked past.

When we left school after Prep 2, we spent the last day getting our uniforms signed by our teachers and Mrs. Lawrence, without failure, would leave her unmistakable mark on our dresses and shirts… music !

Lisa

Ms Gunny was one of my favourite teachers because she goes the extra mile and her teaching ways were different and inspiring. I always remembered how her tolerance and calmness helped me and other kids through our years at KLASS. There were a few special kids with speech impediments and she did not treat them any different. She ensured that they were equally treated and given enough attention to succeed in class.

Tan (KLASS of 1989)

Alba

Mika

Lara Boyd ♥ Gus Kennedy (KLASS 1996 - 2010) 9th December 22

Olivia (Libby) Kucia ♥ Jack Haines (KLASS 2003 - 2014) 7th April 2023

Diana Mantey ♥ Nick Ng (KLASS 2007 - 2010) 24th March 2023

Tengku Alana Iman Shahirah ♥ Faiz Dhiyaulhaq bin Suffian (KLASS 1989 - 1996) 5th June 2022

Yasmin Kim ♥ Jackson Roder (KLASS 1997 - 2007) 1st April 2023

Iman Denney Brown  Niall Hanrahan (KLASS 1995 - 2017)

Kaya Hanrahan born 27th Feb

Heather Bignell  Marcus Anderson (KLASS 1997 - 2006)

Otis Ritchie Brooks Anderson born on 23.3.23

Melissa Tan  Shai Yurkevich (KLASS 2004 - 2006)

Yurkevich born 23rd March

Zara Cobb (KLASS 1997 - 2001)

Mia Marian Cob born on 28.3.22

Jordana Williams  Pat Kirby (KLASS of 2008)

Hallie Margaret Kirby born 29.09.2022

KLASSics REUNITE!

A few momentos photos of our alumni re-uniting, spending some quality time together!

A lasting friendship of KLASS of 2001!

L-R: Amri Sofi, Lim Kok Wing jr, Shaun Jacobson, Andrew Yong, Ho Jin Lee, Edward Kadar Shah and Russell Boyd

So lovely to see our former teacher in the 1970s; Jan Judson and former student Sunil Ramalingam (KLASS 1968 - 1975) caught up in Auckland!

A casual hang!

Our former teacher, Ben Winter (KLASS 2013 - 2020) and alumni Fraser Durham (KLASS 1983 - 1985) bumped into each other in 2022. “Our children both play hockey at the same club and in the course of conversation, we discovered our shared connection through Alice Smith School.”

(L-R) Dafinah Azman, Lena Fricker, Kevin Pereira, Aisling Murray, Celeste Wijnands and Mubin Al-Manaf

KLASS NEWS

Read all about the achievements and milestones of our Alice Smith community.

Hard work and passion is seen through their successes. Let us celebrate them together.

If you have visited the Secondary Campus recently, you will have noticed a startling change: the canteen is no more, we have several new food and beverage outlets and there is a very distinctive green hoarding snaking its way through the campus. The KLASS Hub is well and truly underway.

It was Winston Churchill who once said “We shape our buildings, thereafter they shape us.” This serves as a thoughtful reminder as to the importance of our environment and how a sense of place and space is integral to the culture and behaviour of those who inhabit it. The KLASS Hub will undoubtedly impact both our Secondary Campus and our Whole School Community. We are now seeing the laying of the foundations, both physically and metaphorically of what will become a new central space within the campus that will allow us to provide a whole raft of upgraded facilities within 18 months and ensure the ongoing development and sustainability of our school, such as:

• A brand new kitchen, canteen, dining and deli spaceindoor and outdoor

• A multi-storey car-park and covered bus area to support safe and smooth pick up and drop off

• A single point of secure entry for students and visitors with an electronic gate system

• A welcoming lobby and reception area that speaks of the history and innovation of KLASS and provides spaces to show off our students’ learning and creativity

• A new KLASS Shop - uniform and more!

• A heritage centre to showcase our KLASS history

• A parent delicatessen and bespoke seating area

• Spaces for community events, such as for our Parent Teacher Association

• A new Admissions centre

• Increased capacity for solar panels to support our sustainability mission

Contextual Wellbeing Guru, Dr. Helen Street, highlights in her work the importance that school spaces have upon learning, and upon our intended outcomes. Providing a

space that meets the needs of our learners and wider community is therefore of paramount importance as we move forward as a school.

Paying a visit to EP campus right now permits you to see that the campus has already undergone a lot of physical change, with the old canteen from 1998 no longer there, but demolished. In its place a barrier to ensure the safety of all on site and meet our safeguarding needs. What can be found on the other side of that fence is a blank slate of earth, and the buzz of busy construction workers and their machinery preparing the foundations for our new multipurpose building. You’ll also find the new eateries: The stables, a Grab’n’Go food outlet for students; The Tuck Shop, a traditional style outlet for a whole raft of edible delights; and The Bakery, a place to unwind, socialise, take a break and of course have a coffee for parents and Sixth Formers.

The pictures below will give you a snapshot of the work that has already gone into KLASS Hub at such an early stage, only a month into the project…

These are exciting times for our Secondary Campus as we look towards the future. If your curiosity is piqued, please feel free to get in touch with KLASSics (via email; klassics@alice-smith.edu.my) to drop into campus and take a look at the scaled model of the KLASS Hub in the Professional Learning Centre. Alternatively, you can watch our video of the design vision of the KLASS Hub.

Congratulations to Makissa Sophia (KLASS 20032009) on the opening of LaGula By The Hungry Tapir situated on the Ground Floor of Four Points by Sheraton Kuala Lumpur. Do drop by if you are looking for a cosy ambiance and some vegan pastries.

Melur The Musical recently was a hit in the local theatre scene. It sold out for all its shows. What you might not know is that this production had four KLASS alumni working their magic!

Daniel Adams (KLASS 2012 - 2014) Creative Direction & Photography

Badrish Isdin (KLASS 2014 - 2020) Creative Direction, Music & Vocals

Karmila Mohsin-Effendi (KLASS 2002 - 2013) Cast; plays as Cempaka

Emma Martin (KLASS 2006 - 2020) Assistant Producer and Stage Manager

Congratulations to Victoria Tan (KLASS 2009 - 2019) who bagged a gold medal at the Sukan Malaysia 20th MSN 2022 (SUKMA) in the golf tournament! Well done Victoria!

Jessica Chapplow (KLASS 2000 - 2012) has been included in Forbes 30 under 30 this year’s list for her work in E-commerce, and being an industry leader looking at how data should be used ethically in relation to Artificial Intelligence. Read more about her achievement here

Congratulations to Karmila Mohsin-Effendi (KLASS 2002 - 2012) on winning a gold medal in the Jiu Jitsu competition at the Singapore International Open in September 2022!

Ben Proud did it again! He won a gold medal at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games as he reclaimed the Men’s 50m Butterfly title. Proud is now a two-time champion of the 50 butterfly at the Commonwealth Games, winning his first title in 2014.

Jalan Bellamy Teaching Staff 2000 - 2001

Top row: Simon Lees, Justine Mitchener, Unknown, David Ingram, Irene Court, Marie Bakar, Robbie Khoo, Helen Hew, Alison Nadarajah, Jean Thompson, Unknown, Jyoti Rama

Middle row: Roz Hannan, Stephanie Gilchrist, Anne Azim, Tian, Unknown, Ms Pike, Juliette Webb, Unknown, Leela Su, Jackie, Linda Othman, Ms. Sawyer, Debbie Jonathan

Bottom row: Charlotte Metcalfe, Julie Russell, Sarah Wheeler Tan, Susie Jeffcott, Bing Lim, Janet Marsden, Christine Boden, Deb Burchill, Unknown, David Mitchener, Janaki Kanniah

EP Teaching Staff of Year 1999-2000

Bottom row from left: Michael Lee, Susan Skinner, Rosemary Atkins, Roz O’Shea, Dot Whitelaw, Matthew Wood, Azizah Majid, Alex Mackenzie, Su Guest

Second row from left: Stephen Murray, Deborah Elliot, Elizabeth Loh, Wai Ching, Nicole Wong, Julie Andersoon, Lesley Lee, Stewart Edmonds, Paul Elliot, Andrew Homden.

Third row from left: Francesca Buttle, Peter Wells, Sarah Standring, Liz Kirton, Rachel Batty, Alison Stockwell, Olive Liew, Kevin Davies

Fourth row from left: Sue Staples, Helen Russel , Rob Gardiner, Andy Coates, Steve Warry, Rachel Batty, Emma Piper, Robert George, David Norwood, Michael Thomas, Neil Sumner

Foundation Charity Dinner 2020

Hardip Biring, Warren Newbery, Bill Mcateer, Andrew Howard, Robin Coryton, Laura Young, David Morris

No-shave November 2011

Top: Marcus Sheerwood, Simon Grimshaw

Middle: Edward Duncan, Sgt Lee, Andrew Boase, Nathan Phipps and Philip Kearton

Bottom: James Knight, Simon Senior, Mark Jones, Eilidh Currie and Niall Dickens

Our Journey of Legacy, Philanthropy and Hope

2022-2023 was a meaningful year for our Foundation. We won our first global philanthropy award and pivoted to focus on sustainability after the challenging years of the pandemic. Having operated for four years now, we continue to make a meaningful impact through our philanthropic work and supporting the long term sustainability of the school as a not-for-profit educational institution. The generosity of our donors and support of our community have enabled our Foundation to continue with its work in making a difference in our community.

Our First Global Philanthropy Award

Our Foundation was on a high note with the CASE Circle of Excellence Award, having won a Bronze Award in the category of targeted campaigns and appeals (COVID-related) for the #BuildKindness-Support the Urban Poor fundraising campaign, benefitting Kechara Soup Kitchen Malaysia. Alice Smith is the only school to receive recognition in this category alongside reputable universities worldwide.

The collective effort as a caring community resulted in RM 170,000 raised, providing the 25 urban poor families with 17 months of food sustenance.

~ Comments by CASE judges

75 th Anniversary Diamond Gala Ball

The anniversary ball has not only gathered the community to celebrate the 75 great years of the legacy of our school, it has also provided an opportunity for our caring community to be involved in various projects to help fundraise for our Foundation.

“Great parent and family/volunteer engagement. Good philanthropy education and involvement for students.”

Volunteerism in Support of the Beneficiaries

Our community of volunteers lent a hand to distribute food to the urban poor with Kechara Soup Kitchen and restore and maintain Pulai Trail in conserving nature with Free Tree Society during World Kindness Day. It’s been an enlightening experience for all our volunteers in our effort to support the vulnerable community and the rehabilitation of the environment.

Giving News

Amazing 3D mosaic sculptures using recyclable materials by our talented secondary students

Fantastic Malaysian themed art pieces by our talented Year 6 students

STAY CONNECTED

As a lifetime member of KLASSics Alumni Association, you are incredibly important to us.

You are a part of a global community of over five thousand active alumni. We are here to help you build a lasting relationship with The Alice Smith School and each other. Wherever you are in the world, we ask you to stay connected and be a part of our community. We provide you with many services, benefits and opportunities.

Find out more of what KLASSics offers here: https://www.alice-smith.edu.my/klassics/stay-connected

Keep connected with us by updating your contact information with us to ensure that you do not miss out on KLASSics invitations, news and communication.

Update you details online here: http://bit.ly/JoinKLASSics

Tribute

We lost a few fellow KLASS comrades in the last year. These beautiful souls left a remarkable impact on KLASS and everyone whom they have crossed paths with.

Jahanvir Chall (KLASS of 2005)

Passed away on 11th September 2022. He was an amazing person and loved by all who crossed paths with him. His ability to connect with people and light up their lives were so apparent through their heartfelt and outpouring tributes to him.

Mark Lawrence (KLASS 2011)

Was tragically killed in a hit in an accident on 2nd October 2022. He was full of charm and kindness. He was a very much loved and popular member of the Sale FC Family, an extremely gifted player.

Datuk Seri Gopal Sri Ram (A former parent and governor of KLASS from 1984 - 1991)

Passed away on 29th January 2023. He was a highly valued and respected member of the legal fraternity and played a significant role as an Alice Smith School governor back in the 80’s. His demise is a great loss to many.

Alex Loosley (KLASS of 1998)

Passed away suddenly on the 14th of February 2023. Alex was a caring and gentle soul who always looked out for others. He was always beaming with that infectious smile.

Primila Edward (Former parent and governor of KLASS from 1997 - 2007)

Passed away on 18th March 2023. She was a warm soul that always had a smile on her face. She will always be remembered for her jovialness and her contribution to the School.

Damian Broadbent (Former governor)

Passed away on 28th March, after a short period of illness. Damian was nominated as a governor by the Royal Society of St. George in Dec 2019 and resigned in Oct 2021 as he had to return to the UK for family reasons. He had served on the Marketing Subcommittee and the Head of School Search Task Force. Whilst being a governor for only a brief period of time, Damian contributed immensely to Council and the school.

May the souls of the dearly departed rest in peace. Our thoughts and prayers are always with their family and friends.

We provide quality We provide quality construction for every construction for every project project