Mr Gary Cairns
Welcome to St. Joseph’s Institution International School. Whether an existing member of our community, or a prospective student, parent or teacher, I hope that you will enjoy learning more about our amazing school community. Since being appointed to the position of the Head of School at St Joseph’s Institution International School in April 2022, it has been my mission to ensure that this school thrives and flourishes. Our students, teachers, administrative staff and parents, are proud to say that we belong to St. Joseph’s. Our aspirations are clear – to be the best school in Malaysia.
I was a founding member of staff when the school first opened in August 2016 and it fills me with great pride to see what the school has become today. Like many students, parents and teachers, I was attracted to the idea of a values driven education. It was the vision of a school that not only attained outstanding academic results and supported our students to gain places at some of the world’s best universities, but also an ethos that puts character education and virtues such as tolerance, respect and community at its very heart.
St. Joseph’s Institution International School, the first SJI in Malaysia, is part of a broader network of Lasallian schools, and is the brother school of St. Joseph’s Institution Singapore and St. Joseph’s Institution International Singapore. This network of Lasallian schools continues the 300 year mission of St. John Baptiste De La Salle.
At SJIIS, we are guided by the five principles of Lasallian Education: an inclusive community, respect for all persons, quality education, faith in the presence of God and concern for the poor and social justice.
When you walk into SJIIS, one of the first things that you see are the words, ‘Enter to Learn, Leave to Serve’. That idea of giving back is something that we aim to nurture in all of our students. Not just for the period that they are with us at school – but, as they go on to university, move into their careers and in their future lives, we want them to feel that sense of social responsibility. With support from Lasallian Brothers, SJIIS achieves this through service learning opportunities for students but, more than that, by teachers and parents also collaborating on projects that support the last, the lost and the least in society.
The culture at St. Joseph’s is a culture built on respect and collaboration. As a Lasallian school it is a culture in which all of us are expected to model the highest standards of integrity, fully commit to the highest standards of teaching and learning and hold true to a belief that children learn best in an environment where they feel safe, happy and are held in unconditional positive high regard. Those are my non- negotiables as a leader and I have every belief that our teachers do commit to this culture too.
Our students are a source of great joy to me and the teachers. Not only have they consistently achieved outstanding results, they have grasped what it means to be a Lasallian. Despite striving to achieve, they never forget to act with virtue, humility, good grace and respect. They are a credit to our parents and a credit to our school. My pledge to our students is to lead the school that I know they undoubtedly deserve.