It has been a real pleasure to see how well the children have settled back into school following the summer break. Already, classrooms are alive with exciting learning activities, and it is wonderful to see the children re-establishing friendships and building new relationships. I hope you enjoy reading this first edition of this BiWeekly, finding out about some of the fantastic experiences and opportunities your children are already engaging in.
I would also like to thank you for your attendance at this week’s Meet the Teacher presentations. I trust you found the sessions informative and useful. Your feedback is greatly appreciated, and I encourage you to continue sharing your thoughts and asking questions so that, together, we can further strengthen and improve our provision for the children.
Yesterday, you should have received information about ourAfter SchoolActivities (ASAs). Please remember that the deadline for sign-ups is this Monday at 3:00 pm.
ASA1stTerm Letter
Finally, I wish you all a very enjoyable long weekend, and I look forward to welcoming everyone back to school on Monday.
Best Wishes, Brian,
SLT
and all of our staff.
CounsellingService
Mr Chris is our new Counsellor. He will be in Teraja on Wednesdays andThursdays.
If you would like to arrange a meeting with him to speak about your child or for your child to have a session with Chris, then please email:
Counsellor@Panagaschool.net
Parents of any children who were having regular sessions last year with Mr. Dean will also need to contact Chris if they wish their child to continue with regular sessions.
Encouraging your children to talk is the best way to help them recognise and process their feelings
ArrivalsandDepartures
At Panaga we want to maximise learning time and encourage punctuality for all students.
At the end of registration time the registers close and children need to be registered at the admin office where they will be recorded as late.
We understand that delays happen, so if you are going to be late for pick up, please inform us so we can reassure your child
*Rampayoh parents can wait with children in the central play area or in the library
**Year 3 parents with a sibling inYear 1 or 2 can leave the child with the LSAon duty in the play area from 7:20
***Year 3 Pick up could be on Rapmayoh orTeraja depending on specialist lessons and assemblies
UPCOMINGEVENTS
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 08
RECEPTION PARENTS
7.45am : Phonics Workshop
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 15
ASA STARTS
Year 1 - Year 8 Students
YEAR 4
Entry Point - Active Planet (No Parents)
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18
EARLY YEARS
7.45am : Friends of Early Years
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 19
YEAR 6
BJSL Indoor Athletics at Hornbill
Meet the children from The Sun Bear Class!
We have had lots of fun playing with new friends and getting to know our teachers! We are Marvellous Mendaram!
Reception Specialist Lessons
This week theTurtles have shown their adaptability and resilience at our first specialist lessons.
We have met our new teachers and happily explored new learning environments.
Year 1 & 2 IPC Entry Point
We Are What We Eat - International Food Fair
On Wednesday we had our first IPC Entry Point for our new unitWeAre What We Eat!
We tried food from all around the world and asked lots of questions.
The food was absolutely delicious!
THANKYOU to everyone involved for making this such a memorable event.
Year 6 IPC Entry Point Mission to Mars
Year6launchedintotheirnewtopicwithan exciting and fun-packed Mission to Mars Entry Point! The day was filled with thrilling space-themed challenges designed to test whether they had the skills and qualities neededtobecomeastronauts.Fromteamwork tasks to problem-solving missions, the children demonstrated the school's personal qualities—resilience, curiosity, respect, and cooperation—at every turn. Their enthusiasm was infectious, and it was wonderful to see them fully immersed in the experience. We’re lookingforwardtoatermofspaceexploration and learning as we journey further into our intergalacticadventure!
Discover the Joy of Woodwind at Panaga
Following the success of our woodwind program last academic year, we are delighted to be expanding opportunities for students in Years 4–8.
At the end of last year, children from Panaga enjoyed an inspiring Wind Band Day at JIS. Around 40 players from both schools came together, rehearsed throughout the morning, and finished with a vibrant lunchtime concert for parents. The smiles and pride on every child’s face showed just how powerful music-making can be.
Why Choose Woodwind?
Woodwind lessons give children the chance to develop confidence, creativity, and teamwork. They also open the door to ensemble playing—something piano or violin alone cannot always provide.
Learning flute, clarinet, or saxophone allows students to make music together, building friendships and skills that will last a lifetime.
Easy to Fit Into School Life
Listen to the Concert Here
World-Class Instruction
Your child will learn with Fiona Berry, an internationally recognised music educator and specialist:
Trinity College London Examiner
Adjudicator for International Federation of Festival
Adjudicator of Hong Kong Music Festival Author of “Play Music Better”
● Weekly 30-minute lessons during school hours
● Rotating schedule ensures no subject is missed repeatedly
● 15-minute trial lesson to find the right fit
● Instruments available for hire (flute, clarinet, and limited saxophone places)
Recognition & Achievement
Students can work toward Trinity Music Exams, gaining internationally recognised qualifications and the confidence that comes with real progress.
And if your child already learns piano—great! Piano skills often accelerate woodwind learning, while woodwind adds the joy of ensemble music-making
5th
Melilas Science
Year 7
Year 7 students started the year by learning important scientific skills and the basics of lab safety. They discovered how to use equipment carefully and follow safety rules to keep everyone safe while exploring the exciting world of science!
Melilas Science
Year 8
Year 8 students began the term by learning how to test foods for key nutrients. They used chemical reagents like iodine to detect starch, Benedict’s solution for sugars, and Biuret solution for proteins. This hands-on work helped them understand the different components in everyday foods.
Art & Design Technology
THE COLOUR COLLECTIVE
Together we can create something amazing.
Each Panaga student received a set of shapes to create their own unique patch. Then, as a team, we combined everyone's work into a huge, vibrant mural. It is a perfect example of how our individual creativity and teamwork can create something truly special. The mural will be displayed in the Teraja entrance hall for Y4-Y8 and in the Rampayoh entrance for Y3. Can you spot your own patch?!
How it started…. How it was made…. The final piece!
Wow! What a fantastic start to the year inADT.You all showed such creativity, resilience and cooperation.This mural reminds us that Together we can create something amazing!
Rise to the challenge!
Take part in this years FOBISIAart competition.
THEME: Explore your artistic response to the theme “Hidden Worlds”
MEDIUM: Create your masterpiece using any medium—painting, drawing, printmaking, sculpture, textiles, digital art, photography and more…
ELIGIBILITY: EYFS, KS1-5 (students aged 4-18)
If interested, speak with Ms Jen for further information and support.
Panaga School continues to offer a rich and varied PE curriculum, includinggymnastics,dance,invasion games, striking and fielding, net and wall games, swimming, and outdoor adventurous activities (OAA). Pupils will develop their skills, teamwork, andconfidencethroughfun,engaging lessons.
Building on last year’s success, our students will enjoy exciting inter-school fixtures through BJSL andBSSL,withmoreopportunitiesto come as the year progresses. A standout highlight will be the FOBISIA Games, where selected students represent Panaga in international competitions alongside schoolsfromacrossAsia—afantastic experienceforallinvolved.
martinharvey@panagaschool.net
Over the past two weeks, our MFL lessons in French, Spanish, Mandarin and Malay have been filled with fun and interactive activities designed to spark students’curiosity and keep language learning lively. In Mandarin, students have been practicing the four main tones to improve their pronunciation and understanding of how tone changes meaning, as well as learning about the different strokes used inwriting.InFrenchandSpanish,theyhaveenjoyedrole-play dialogues, catchy songs, and games beyond the classroom thatbuildvocabularyandgrammarinaplayfulway.InMalay, students have been working on everyday greetings, simple conversations, and cultural elements that bring the language tolife.Acrossallfourlanguages,studentshavebeenactively participating and embracing the challenge of expressing themselvesinnewways.Theseactivitiesnotonlystrengthen theirlanguageskillsbutalsoconnectthemtotherichcultures behindeachlanguage,
sondeskhelifi@panagaschool.net
5th September 2025
Jungle School at Panaga - NTC
The past academic year saw the exciting launch of Jungle School at Rampayoh, led by Mrs. Alex and Mr. Kane. This new initiative quickly became a huge success, with many students eagerly joining the Thursday afternoon ASA sessions.
Jungle School is not just limited to after-school activities. Increasingly, teachers are taking their students outside and exploring ways to embed the Forest School approach into lessons. Learning outdoors offers many advantages: it supports well-being, sparks creativity, develops teamwork and problem-solving skills, and allows students to connect more deeply with nature.
In NTC, students have been learning about themselves through a creative project where they led the design of faces using natural resources such as leaves, flowers, and shells. Their ideas and imagination shaped the activity, and the results were wonderfully unique—showing how much learning and joy can come from hands-on experiences in nature.
Of course, not every teacher feels fully confident using the outdoor space just yet. One of the aims of Jungle School is to provide ideas and inspiration—showing how the outdoors can be used across different subjects in ways teachers might not have thought of before.
The success of Jungle School has also inspired the next step. Mrs. Angela and Mrs. Steph are training to become Level 3 Forest School leaders. Their vision is to set up another Jungle School at Teraja/Melilas, so that older students—and staff—can also enjoy and learn from the natural environment.
We have a beautiful space—so why not use it?
Become a Wildlife Warrior!
Do you want to help save the planet?
Do you care about animals, nature, and the future of our world? Then it’s time to join the Panaga School Wildlife Warriors! We are looking for willing, enthusiastic members who are ready to make a real difference.
What is Wildlife Warriors?
Wildlife Warriors is a student-led eco club that takes action to protect Borneo’s wildlife and reduce single-use plastics in our school, our Panaga community, and beyond. Together, we run exciting projects, spread awareness, and show that small steps can change the world!
What do Wildlife Warriors do?
• Map and reduce plastic use in school and at home
• Organise fun campaigns, eco-stalls, and assemblies
• Work with local schools and community groups
• Fundraise to support wildlife conservation in Borneo
Why join?
• Be part of something fun and meaningful
• Learn leadership, teamwork, and eco-skills
• Make new friends while helping the environment
• Become a role model who shows others how to live sustainably
Commitment
• One school year
• Weekly meetings + some exciting weekend events (Monday 3.35-4.30)
• Wildlife Warrior T-shirts must be purchased (required)
Who can join?
KS2 and KS3 students who are: Willing Committed
Ready to take action
How to apply:
Pick up an application form from Mr. Kane (Rampayoh). Mrs. Steph (Teraja) or download here Places are limited — so don’t wait!
Together, we can protect Borneo’s wildlife, reduce plastic, and change the world… one step at a time!
Join the Panaga School Eco Committee!
Do you care about the environment?
Do you want to make a difference at Panaga School and in our community? Then we need YOU!
We are setting up the Panaga School Eco Committee. We are looking for: Parents Amah helpers
How often do we meet?
● Once every half term (6–8 weeks).
● Sometimes more, if we are organising special events. What is our goal?
● To help Panaga School become a Green / Eco School.
To reduce single-use plastic in school and in our community.
● To share ideas for protecting nature and wildlife in Brunei.
● To work together on fun eco-projects and events.
What do we need?
● People who are willing.
● People who want to make a positive change.
● People who believe that small steps can make a big difference.
Why join?
● Be part of something exciting!
● Meet new people from across the school sites.
● Show our children that adults care about their future.
If you would like to join the Eco Committee, please contactMrs Steph - stephaniestraatman@panagaschool.net
Together, we can make Panaga School a shining example of an Eco School
Afantastic opportunity for all our Footballers at Panaga School to take part in the JIS Football FUNday. If you would like to enter a team, the fee is $100. Please click on the links below for further information regarding this event.
If you require any further information, please contact Mr Martin.
Run around Borneo!
The total distance all the way around Borneo is 4,971km!
