THE STAR Tuesday 3 February 2015

StarSpecial

CHOOLS can be a powerful

tool in promoting health and
preventing diseases. This is
because school is where adults and
children spend a great portion of
time together. Studies have shown
that healthy children who become
healthy adolescents are more likely
to become healthy adults.
Students aged between
five and 19 are at the most
influential stages of their lives,
so having adult role models such
as principals and teachers who
practise good health habits during
these stages is most beneficial.
With more children than ever
receiving a formal education,
schools are an efficient and
organised way to reach out to
youths and their families.

Health awareness
starts in schools
encourage students to share with
management their views and
opinions on healthy eating.
l Physical health
Despite the many health
benefits associated with regular
physical activity, many children
and adolescents do not participate
in physical activity for the
recommended 60 minutes or
more each day. Team sports such
as football, rugby or basketball are
vital to teach children teamwork,
communication, coordination
and leadership skills, which are
important as they mature and
enter the working environment.
Additionally, this is often the
only way that youths are able to
interact with their peers outside
the classroom. Rafflesia Private
and International School, for
example, makes it compulsory for
students to take part in at least
three sporting activities per week,
from age five onwards.
A quality physical education
provides students with the
opportunity to learn, is an
enjoyable experience for all
students, meets the needs and
interests of all its participants and
keeps students alert.

Defining health in Malaysia

In the 21st century, health is a
shared responsibility that involves
equitable access to essential care
and collective defence against
transnational health threats. The
World Health Organization defines
health as a state of complete
physical, mental and social wellbeing and not merely the absence
of disease or infirmity.
Malaysia recognises the
contribution of health towards a
nations development through the
introduction of various regulations
and outreach programmes.
How mental health affects you
Mental health an essential
part of childrens overall health
has a complex interactive
relationship with their physical
health and their ability to
succeed in school, at work and
in society. Both physical and
mental health affect how we
think, feel and act on the inside
and outside.
For instance, an overweight
boy who is teased about his
weight may withdraw socially
become depressed and may be
reluctant to play with others
or exercise. This leads to
poorer physical health and as
a result, poorer mental health.
These issues have long-term
implications on the ability of
children and youth to fulfil
their potential as well as
consequences for the health,
education, labour and criminal
justice systems of our society.
Among Malaysias successful
strategies to create an
environment that benefits the
health of primary years children
was the introduction of a school
health programme in 1967, a
supplementary food scheme in
1972 that was later complemented
with the school milk programme
in 1983, and the introduction of a
free HPV (human papillomavirus)
Vaccination Programme in 2013
for all girls born between 1993
and 1995.
Dr Siew Qui Hen, a medical
and health officer for the School
Health Team at the Kuala Kangsar
District Health Office, says that

Improving womens health

There is a need to recognise schoolchildren as a priority group for nutrition education.

other than routine visits to schools
throughout Malaysia, the Ministry
of Health, in collaboration with
the Ministry of Education,
provides various activities to
promote health education in
schools such as Program Doktor
Muda (Young Doctor Programme)
and Program Minda Sihat (Healthy
Minds Programme).
There are also ongoing health
education talks and workshops
directed at school teachers on
various matters such as child
behavioural problems, learning
disorders and autism.
This training benefits both
teachers and students as the
former are able to correctly
identify and manage these issues
when encountering them during
classes.

Strategies in schools
Private and international
schools in Malaysia strive to
provide the perfect environment
and state-of-the-art facilities in
raising health-aware students,
proving that the tuition fees and
donations submitted by parents
are worth every penny.
These steps include providing
health facilities with in-house
nurses, encouraging outdoor

activities and also collaborations

with panel clinics and private
organisations, providing
opportunities to increase health
awareness through volunteer
programmes and easy access to
health care.
l Nutrition
Malaysia has the highest
number of obese people in SouthEast Asia and is on the way to
developing alarming levels of
diabetes, heart disease and a
staggering level of vitamin D
deficiency among its population.
Obesity is the precursor to all
sorts of diseases, including high
blood pressure, joint degradation
and heart disease. The effects of a
diet that contains a large amount
of unhealthy junk food will only
accelerate this process.
There is a need to
recognise
schoolchildren
as a

priority group for nutrition

education to contribute to
their physiological, mental and
social development, enhance
their learning potential, reduce
nutritional disorders and prevent
diet-related diseases later in their
adult lives.
Instead of relying on the
simplistic argument of bad food
versus good food, private and
international schools in Malaysia
understand that nutrition
education should take into
account the social significance and
nutritional value of food served at
their respective institutions.
Principals often work closely
with the catering staff to ensure
that the menu provided to the
students supports their
vigorous activities
with healthy meal
options and aim
to rid the school
of any unhealthy
ingredients.
Boarding schools
such as Epsom
College in
Malaysia,
where
the aim is
to produce
holistic
global citizens,

Education has been proven

to directly benefit womens
health in developing countries
as research has shown that
fertility and infant mortality
rates go down as literacy rates
increase. This is because girls
who attend school (even for
only one year) are more likely
to marry at an older age, use
family planning methods and
are more informed on how to
take better care of their babies.
Malaysia was one of the 125
countries, including Nepal and
Malawi, that were on course
to reach gender equality in
education by 2005 a target
set by the United Nations
as part of the Millennium
Development Goals. The
United Nations Childrens
Fund (Unicef) reported that in
Malaysia, the enrolment rates
of girls are equal to or exceed
those of boys at all levels
of schooling. Literacy rates
among women stood at 88.1%
in 2004, rising from 85.4% in
2000 and at the tertiary level,
the enrolment of women
outnumbered men although
enrolment in PhD programmes
were lower for women.
>> TURN TO PAGE 2

2 BRIGHT KIDS StarSpecial, Tuesday 3 February 2015

High-quality teaching
A

GOOD international school would

pride itself on two factors: an
internationally recognised curriculum
and a qualified faculty of teachers to deliver
that curriculum.
As the only international school in
Malaysia to offer the Ontario (Canada)
Ministry of Education secondary school
curriculum, Sunway International School
(SIS) has established its hold in the
industry as a premier provider of one of
the most globally recognised qualifications
for admission into top-tier universities
worldwide.
As an academic programme can only go
so far, many aspiring scholars have credited
the discovery of their true potential to
the expert and dedicated coaching and
guidance provided by qualified educators.
Credible and professional accreditation,
relevant years of experience and exposure,
and in-depth fluency in their subject areas
are just a few of the expected criteria that
teachers of today are required to have.
SIS supports its world-class curriculum
with educators who are not just qualified
but also take into account these varied
needs. SIS teachers are fully certified by the
Ontario College of Teachers (OCT), one of
the most respected authorities for licensing
teaching professionals. The OCT teaching

certification distinguishes SIS teachers as

professionals whose practice is guided and
informed by Canadian education standards,
ethics and traditions.
In addition, SIS sources for teachers who
can demonstrate valid teaching experience
in their area of specialisation and education
as well as exposure to different school
environments.
The 40 Canadian teachers at SIS
each have an average of five years of
experience teaching in Ontario schools
and international schools in more than 16
countries.
SIS teachers design their lessons and
classroom strategies with the students
learning needs in mind, preparing students
with both academic study skills and realworld knowledge applications, says
John Mackle, SIS principal.
The teachers apply Ontario Ministry
of Education endorsed methods to assess
a students capability and subsequently
design lesson plans that establish
their strengths and potential while
developing areas where the student needs
improvement.
The positive and enthusiastic
response from students to this novel
approach is evident.
Students also gain confidence and

SIS teachers design their lessons with students learning needs in mind.
leadership skills from teamwork and
leadership opportunities that the teachers
encourage and exemplify in extracurricular programmes, community
outreach programmes and activities in the
classroom.
More importantly, the reward for the
teachers is seeing their students grow in
confidence and believe in their potential to
make impactful changes.
Our student body is an interconnected
community of lifelong learners who intend
to solve problems and realise that their
opinions and actions have the potential to
change the constructs by which they and
others live and learn, says Marcus Brims,

academic coordinator at SIS.

Ultimately, students and parents will
look for the best combination of curriculum
and teaching faculty to fulfil their needs.
For a teaching-learning environment that
is highly interactive, promotes critical
thinking and social responsibility and
where teachers advocate experiential
reflection and make learning fun, SIS is one
of the best options.
The Parents Info Session at SIS will be
held on Thursday, March 19 from 6.30pm to
8.30pm.
n For more information, call 03-7491 8070
or visit www.sis.sunway.edu.my

>> FROM PAGE 1

Mental health is vital too

Other than the prerequisite curriculum,
schools also need to ensure that recess time
is used as an opportunity for students to
participate in free-time physical activities.
Students who make use of their break time
by being physically active are reportedly
more attentive, more focused and exhibit
good discipline and punctuality in the
classroom.
l Mental well-being
Many mental health crises can be
prevented, especially if schools, parents and
community members know what to look
for. Schools can start by training staff on
the early warning signs of mental health
conditions and connecting children and
youth exhibiting those warning signs with
mental health services.
Dr H.J. Teoh from the Department of
Psychology, Sunway University College in
his survey of 307 Malaysian children and
adolescents in urban areas, discovered that
secondary school children report slightly
higher rates of depressive symptoms,
whereas primary school children report
higher rates of social problems. There was
also a discrepancy between child and
parents reports of childrens emotions and
behaviours.
Other than worries about being bullied,
Malaysian students are mostly stressed
about academic choices, stating pressure
from peer and parents as the most
Good mental health is important
to a childs future success.

influential cause.
With job options reportedly becoming
more narrow and limited, children are
forced at a young age to seek out an
academic path that guarantees some
semblance of security in their future
working life.
According to Dr Norma Hudson, principal
of International School of Kuala Lumpur,
school counsellors play a big role in
identifying and addressing these concerns.
ISKL counsellors for example, work with
students and really tailor the academic
programmes to each student so that they
have the opportunity to be as successful as
possible.

Families and Communities

Private and international schools in
Malaysia also encourage parents and
community members to be part of the
schools health advisory council. The
programmes available such as an annual
Family Day, will reflect the culture of the
community and provide physical activity
opportunities as well as a chance to
exchange ideas between school, students
and parents.
Parents have the right to help plan their
childs care and so should keep in touch
with and discuss the available options with
their childs schools to decide what level of
attention they want for their childs health.

StarSpecial, Tuesday 3 February 2015

MART Reader Worldwide, a

renowned early childhood
education provider,
constantly conducts research
and development to upgrade
its programmes. Its penchant
for quality has enabled it to
remain at the helm of pre-school
education.

Learning made fun

activities is effective in capturing
the interest of students, says
Nur Yasmin.

Developing confidence

Loving school

Noor Adli Zainal and Siti

Ninaa Haryani saw changes in
their three-year-old daughter
Nur Qaseh Umairah in less than
six months of enrolling her
in Smart Reader Kids, Taman
Pelangi, Johor.
She was unable to pronounce
her own name upon joining but
she is now even able to recognise
numbers and the alphabet.
Nur Qaseh is now friendlier
and more confident when
approaching others. She has also
learned how to hold a pencil and
can colour within the lines.
Smart Reader Kids exposes

Zawawi Haji Ibrahim and

Ainoor Jawahir Haji Jantan
decided to enrol their son in
Smart Reader Kids Chukai Utama,
Kemaman, two years ago after
doing thorough research on the
Internet.
They saw a lot of improvements
in their son Muhammad Aniq
Zakwan since he joined Smart
Reader Kids. He can converse
fluently in English and Mandarin.
He is also good at colouring and
mathematics.
Zawawi says that his son used
to have problems waking up
in the morning. But now, he is
enthusiastic to go to school and
wakes up before his parents. He

Nur Yasmin Anuar with her children Adriana Nabila, Rais Luqman and Alisha
Wardina at Smart Reader Kids Seksyen 20, Shah Alam.
my child to a lot of hands-on
activities and group activities. The
teaching style is fun and exciting.
My child loves going
to school because of the
innovative approach Smart Reader
Kids uses to teach children, says
Siti Ninaa.

Enjoyable learning

Nur Qaseh Umairah with her mother

Siti Ninaa Haryani at Smart Reader Kids
Taman Pelangi, Johor.

BRIGHT KIDS 3

Nur Yasmin enrolled her two

children, Rais Luqman (age six)
and Alisha Wardina (age three),
in Smart Reader Kids, Seksyen 20,
Shah Alam, Selangor after seeing
the improvement in her daughter
who was previously enrolled.
Nur Yasmin says that she
chose Smart Reader Kids because
of its proven track record and

the systematic way classes are

conducted at the centre.
Her children have shown
tremendous improvement since
joining Smart Reader Kids.
They can read well now and
sometimes get so excited that
they try to read sentences off
billboards, advertisements and
signboards. I am proud to see
them progressing so well, says
Nur Yasmin.
Her children are happy going to
school and are always excited to
share what they have learned at
Smart Reader Kids.
They learn rhymes, the
alphabets, numbers and shapes at
school. I have found that the fun
way Smart Reader Kids conducts
their teaching and learning

lacked confidence and was shy

and timid before joining Smart
Reader Kids but he has learned
to make friends and converse
with everyone confidently.
Zawawi and Ainoor speak
highly of the teachers who are
patient and loving towards their
son.
He is very comfortable in
the centre. He has lots of friends
and loves his teachers. We feel
that our son is safe under their
care, says Zawawi.
Zawawi says that he is
satisfied with his sons progress
and is confident that Smart
Reader Kids has prepared his
son well for primary school.
n For more information call
03-6279 5555 or 1300 885 555
or visit www.smartreaderkids.
edu.my or www.smartreader.
edu.my.

Zawawi Haji Ibrahim and Ainoor Jawahir Haji Jantan with their son Muhammad Aniq
Zakwan at Smart Reader Kids Taman Chukai Utama, Kemaman.

4 BRIGHT KIDS StarSpecial, Tuesday 3 February 2015

Eating right for a balanced school life

C

that affect them.

ELEBRITY chef Paul

Prudhomme reminds us that
you dont need a silver fork
to eat good food.
Indeed, the students of Epsom
College in Malaysia (ECiM) are
ensured that meal times are not
just for eating healthy, nutritious
food but are also part of their
holistic education.
ECiM students are proud to
call their peers family. Scientific
studies show that children who
eat at least five times a week with
their family have lower risks of
developing poor eating habits,
weight problems or substance
abuse and tend to perform better
academically than students who
frequently eat alone.

Conscious choices

Discipline in a dish
ECiM observes that the
students need to eat healthy and
on schedule. Meals are provided
five times a day for boarders:
breakfast, lunch, dinner and two
snacks in between main meals.
Staff and pupils eat together
at meal times and Early Years
and Pre-Prep have morning and
afternoon snack times together as
well.
Housemasters, assistant
housemasters and heads of house
are responsible for supervising
students overall well-being,
including ensuring that they keep
balanced and healthy lifestyles.
As part of this initiative,
students and staff always make

At ECiM, students are provided with

healthy and wholesome meals.
an effort to sit together during the
designated meal times.
The food hall also serves as
the perfect environment for
children to learn how to conduct
conversations, observe good
manners, serve others, listen,
compromise and solve conflicts.
This is why it is important for
adults around them to model
positive mealtime behaviour
and etiquette.

A meeting of minds
Conversations during a meal

provide opportunities for diners

to bond, plan, connect and learn
from one another. It is a chance to
share information and news of the
day, as well as pay extra attention
to one another. Having meals
together fosters warmth, security
and love, as well as feelings of
belonging. It can be a unifying
experience for all.
Renowned nutritionist Alice
Julier proposes that eating
together can radically shift
peoples perspectives. ECiM
fosters diversity as eating together
contributes to altering students

perceptions of inequality as they

tend to view those of different
races, genders and socioeconomic
backgrounds as more equal
than they would in other social
scenarios.
Pupils of ECiM are also
encouraged to submit meal ideas
to the catering manager and
sensible suggestions are taken
up after consideration by the
school council. It is the schools
continual aim to ensure a balance
between what the pupils want
and what they need as well as to
involve students in the decisions

Good food is a must at a

day or boarding school; meals
should be fresh, nutritious
and enjoyable. At ECiM, there
are often new and different
foods on offer with the menu
on display in the classroom or
house.
The menu provided at ECiM
is nut-free and students are
able to choose from Western,
Asian and vegetarian options
for all meals. Parents are able to
monitor their childrens meal
options from a downloadable
menu on the schools website.
ECiM aims to provide pupils
with a nutritionally sound and
balanced diet that is varied and
appealing.
Individual diet requests are
catered for by arrangement,
with students personal,
cultural or ethnic preferences
taken into consideration.
All the boarding houses have
their own kitchens called brew
rooms where students are free
to use its pantry, microwave
and fridge.
These brew rooms help foster
discipline and self-sufficiency
among the older students by
allowing them to organise their
own supplementary snacks.
n For more information , visit
www.epsomcollege.edu.my