Having been a part of this school from its inception, over seven years ago, my vision for Singapore International School has always been to build a very special school culture, melding the best of international curricula like the IBDP (leading to the International Baccalaureate Diploma), the IGCSE (International General Certificate of Secondary Education), and the Singapore Ministry of Education curriculum for Primary level, while at the same time infusing every subject with a passion for sport, for inquiry and for international-mindedness, a love of nature and the arts, and a sense of social responsibility in a boarding and day school which offers a truly global education in a unique masala with a distinctly Indian flavour. It has been my great joy to see this young school make long strides toward realising these aims.
As our students finish CA1, many of them are busy preparing for our second annual SIS Model United Nations conference (SISMUN), in January, as well as the Harvard MUN. All the rigorous preparation they do is in addition to their studies. They bring home awards and citations attesting to their talent, their global-mindedness, and their drive to become global citizens who will contribute unique talents to their society.
One such student, Kanak Pansari (IBDP candidate, Grade 12), has presented his own rigorous energy audit of our campus. As a result, our SIS family will start the New Year with resolutions to improve our energy efficiency and reduce our global carbon footprint. He is also investigating the photochemical properties of dyes for applications in solar energy technology.
Recently, the Assistant Secretary General of our forthcoming SISMUN 2012, Aditya Soni (IGCSE candidate, Grade 10), was recognized for spearheading a drive to fund the innovative anti-poaching programme of Sanctuary Asia in many of India’s national parks. Aditya, along with fellow students Simran Aggarwal and Nikoonj Dhandharia, received the thanks of the Sanctuary/Kids for Tigers team at a formal ceremony last Friday evening, and Aditya has been honoured as a Tiger Ambassador for Mumbai and Maharashtra.
Another of our students, Akash Chadha (IBDP candidate, Grade 12), raised funds and supervised the design and installation of a sanitary water supply system which now serves sixty families in a rural area of Maharashtra. Like Aditya, Kanak, and many other SIS students, he has found a unique way to express his values and has taken on his young shoulders the responsibility to make life better for people by putting to practical use all that he has learned. Akash is currently working on an encryptation program to enhance wi-fi security at SIS.
Nikita Shah (IBDP candidate, Grade 12) has started a forum for SIS parents to share their professional expertise and career insights with students. She coordinates this programme, SYMBIOSIS!, in an effort to help students broaden their career horizons while still studying in high school.
Kinneri Saha (IBDP candidate, Grade 12) has chosen to work in the field of animal rights by supporting the work of PETA through an internship in their New Delhi headquarters. She has also volunteered with Amnesty International because of her concern for human rights issues.
Finally, we are excited to announce the name of Mansi Goel (IBDP candidate, Grade 11), who bagged the SIS Merit Scholarship (the highest distinction in her IGCSE certificates as a Grade 10, IGCSE candidate from SIS last May).
As we prepare to head our separate ways to enjoy vacation time with family and friends, we offer a special welcome to the SIS family to our latest additions to SIS’s international faculty. Mrs. Liliana Herrera, our new head librarian, from Peru. Ms. Kara Linae Shelly, from the USA, Mr. Yves from Canada in English, Social Science and TOK, while Mr. Kevin Kerr, from Ireland joins the CCA sports coaching and teaching team.
It was my pleasure to meet up with parents on Saturday, 17 December, when we all had gathered on the playing fields of SIS for the Annual Inter-house Athletics Meet. Wishing that 2012 is an enriching,eventful and a Happy New Year for the SIS family.
Thank You!
Sharonee Mullick
Head of School
Singapore International School