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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.