End of Term 1 AY23/24

On behalf of everyone at St. Joseph’s Institution International School Malaysia, I would like to take this opportunity to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Term 1 is such a special time for our students and their families. I hope that, over this festive period, you have had the opportunity to take in and enjoy our many concerts and performances whether that be from Early Years, the Elementary School or High School. Our performing arts team and teachers have worked incredibly hard to put together these shows and the quality of what was on stage has reflected their efforts. There is something timelessly special about that moment when a child is on stage performing and they spot their parents in the audience. It brings them great joy and creates powerful, emotive memories that last a lifetime. Please check our whole school update for some amazing pictures.

It was a great term for performing arts at the school and, earlier in the term, the school hosted its first student FOBISIA competition – the Stage and Makeup Challenge. Last week, our High School students performed ‘Into the Woods’ and it was exceptional to watch. At the final performance on Saturday, I spoke of how proud I was of the students and I applaud them for their courage, effort and exceptional talent.

Throughout International Week, and at Deepavali and Christmas this term, our school was filled with light, music and dancing. All of our community played a part and we could not have done it without the support of our parent community who, once again, selflessly united to bring vibrancy and energy to St. Joseph’s. With deep gratitude, I thank everyone for their generosity. From our amazing stalls on International Day showcasing cultures from around the world, to our spectacular Deepavali showcase (forgive my dancing) to our fantastically festive Christmas Bazaar, organised by our newly renamed PSG – the SJIIM Parent Volunteers, your contributions brought laughter and joy to our community. This year, we welcomed many new teachers and families to our school and I am sure that they will recognise the strength of what we do – something that, in my experience, is uniquely St. Joseph’s Institution International Malaysia.

On that note, I would also like to recognise that our contributions as a community, will also, I hope, bring joy to the marginalised communities of Desa Ria and Desa Mentari as our Shine Kindness Christmas campaign, organised by our Catholic and Christian Community raised RM68,718. Through the kindness of our community, the combined dedication of our various parent groups including Kitar Kitar, and with the support of the Brothers and the Lasallian Fund, in the new year we will deliver laptops, a television and 150 back-to-school hampers for children supported by the Suriana Learning Centres.

Once again, I wish all members of the SJIIM community – the students, the teachers, the admin staff, and the parents a very merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

See you in 2024.

Gary Cairns
Head of School