The last couple of weeks have been incredibly busy, both inside and outside of the classroom, with fantastic learning taking place across the school. Year 1 children have been busy sculpting, developing their creativity and fine motor skills, while Year 3 have been designing beautiful marble art. You can also see some lovely Reception art work in the Rampayoh entrance this week from the 'Panaga Art Gallery' they created for their assembly. Year 4 pupils have been building stilted houses inspired by Kampong Ayer (models, not the real thing!) and have also been strengthening their analytical skills in literacy.
Further up the school, Year 6 have been using Scratch to develop their coding skills, and Year 7 students have been coding and carrying out some very exciting experiments — as have ourYear 8 scientists, who have been fully engaged in hands-on investigative work. It has been wonderful to see such enthusiasm, creativity and curiosity across all year groups.
You will also read about some of the outdoor learning that has been taking place, as well as the achievements of our BJSLathletes and our Key Stage 2 singers, who represented the school so very well. If you were unable to watch The Big Sing live or online, you can access the recording via the link provided.
Congratulations to our latest group of Bronze and Silver achievers — a fantastic accomplishment. It has also been lovely to see our House Captains bonding with their younger housemates, demonstrating leadership, kindness and a strong sense of community across the school.
Coach Eric will be leaving Panaga Club on 16 February 2026. During the interim period, Coach Ema and Coach Hakim will be covering all classes. This arrangement will remain in place while Panaga Club works to recruit a new swim coach, which they anticipate will take approximately three months. School staff will continue to assist and supervise during swimming lessons. We would like to thank Coach Eric for all that he has done for our swimmers and wish him every success in the future.
Thank you to the parents who have already confirmed their intentions for the 2026/27 academic year. If you have not yet done so, please complete this via the personal link that was sent to your email. We are also opening enrolment for new children in Pre-Nursery and Nursery — further details can be found on the next page.
We have a couple of school trips taking place next week for Year 3 and Reception, as well as the BJSL Football Tournament, which will be held at Panaga Club. Please do come along and support if you are able. Residential trips will be taking place in the final week before we break up for half term, and we know the children are very excited about these fabulous adventures.
The new date for Sports Day has now been finalised and will take place on Wednesday 24 June — please be sure to put this in your diaries.
Wishing everyone a very relaxing and safe weekend.
Best Wishes,
Brian, SLTand all of our staff.
January & February 2026
Football at Panaga Club Year 3 -Trip to Bowling Centre MendaramAustralian Celebration
Trip to One Billion Barrel Monument
KEy Stage 2 got to take part in THE BIG SING!!
A wonderful event in which multiple schools come together to share a love of music and singing. The event was a smash hit!
All of Teraja took to the stage!
We could not be more proud of them!
If you would like to relive the big sing, you can watch the whole show again here:
Our Year 1 historians have been busy traveling back in time for our Stories People Tell IPC unit. After exploring the myths and legends of the Nile, the children stepped into the role of artists to design their very own statues.
Here is a look at their creative process:
● Design: Students researched the symbolic features of Egyptian gods, choosing between powerful animal heads and majestic headdresses.
● Sculpting: Using clay, the children practiced their fine motor skills to pinch, pull, and smooth their designs into 3D forms.
● Authentic Palette: To finish their masterpieces, the children carefully selected paint colours—such as terracotta red and deep blue—to mirror the natural pigments used by the Ancient Egyptians thousands of years ago.
The results are truly "pharaoh-nomenal"! We are so proud of the focus and creativity our young learners showed.
Year 4 Literacy in action!
Our young learners are delving into ‘The Explorer’ by Katherine Rundell and putting their analytical skills to the test. They designed posters to showcase their understanding of the characters.
Imaginary Animals in Year 6
Year 6 have been exploring imaginary animals in French, developing their language skills while also using AI to help inspire and shape their ideas. Throughout the topic, students have learned the vocabulary and grammar needed to describe their creatures accurately, including adjective agreement, masculine and feminine forms, and singular and plural verbs using avoir and être.
As the project nears its final stage, students designed their own imaginary animals — each one a creative mixture of five different animals. Learning then moved outdoors, where pupils explored the environment to see which natural resources could be used to represent different animal features. For example, tree bark could become rhinoceros skin, while leaves, stones and sticks could be used for wings, claws or scales.
This project is a great blend of language learning, AI and outdoor exploration, and we cannot wait to see the final results!
YEAR 3
ADT
Year 3 have been exploring how to make art using force. Carefully they rolled a paint covered marble around a tray. They had to concentrate very hard to control the ball as much as possible. It was very exciting seeing the paint mix, and observing the marble slow down or speed up depending on how much paint there was.
YEAR 4
ADT
Year 4 have been in the woodwork room! They have worked with care and responsibility to carefully saw their batons to create their stilt houses of Kampong Ayer.
Bright Sparks
Kampong Ayer house
To share their knowledge from their IPC unit, ‘Go with the Flow,’Year 6 are creating a true or false quiz using Scratch.
Year 7 are coding in Python.They have been using inputs and variables to create a ‘Future Me Generator!’
Inside the
Stomach:
Acids and Antacids
VS.
Year 7 students explored neutralisation by testing two different antacid tablets used for stomach acid. They observed the reactions to find out which antacid worked best and fastest. Through this practical activity, students developed their observation skills and learned how acids and alkalis react in everyday life.
Y7
Understanding Energy Stores and Transfers
Year 7 students began their new topic on energy by taking part in an Energy Circus. They rotated around seven different activity stations, making observations and recording the energy stores at the start and end of each activity, as well as the energy transfers involved. This hands-on activity helped students understand how energy is stored and transferred in everyday situations.
Rust in Action: Investigating Iron Corrosion
Year 8 students explored what makes iron rust. They placed nails in water, boiling water with oil, salty water, and calcium chloride. After three days, they checked the nails and compared how much rust had formed, learning which conditions cause rusting.
Metals React with Acids Testing for Hydrogen Gas
Year 8 had a blast testing copper, zinc, iron, and magnesium with acids! The most exciting part was hearing the “pop” of hydrogen gas. Students discovered which metals are the most reactive and which are the least reactive.
Extracting Copper from Copper Oxide Y8
Year 8 students tested their practical skills in an exciting copper extraction experiment! They started by heating copper carbonate to make copper oxide and carbon dioxide, which they tested using limewater. Then, they mixed the copper oxide with sulfuric acid to make copper sulfate solution. Finally, they added magnesium, which displaced the copper because it is higher in the reactivity series. Students learned how metals can be extracted from their compounds.
Year 7BAssembly
The Melilas assembly was presented by the 7B students and showcased their excellent cooperation and teamwork. Students demonstrated Tai Chi to show the connection between Chinese culture and science, highlighting balance, movement, and energy. They also delivered engaging presentations on Chinese inventions, including gunpowder, the water clock, and the compass. The assembly reflected strong collaboration, confidence, and thoughtful learning
House Edition : The first site visit
Last term, the house captains and vice-captains visited Rampayoh to meet with their ellow house members, play ames, bond, and learn more about their housemates.
We had an amazin time ettin to know everyone and learnin new and interestin acts about each other. We played a variety o creative ames, andit was truly heartwarmin to see all the housemates ettin alon so well.
It was a reat experience, especially or the youn er members, as they ot the opportunity to know their house leaders better and spend quality time buildin a stron and riendly bond.
Everyone had a lot o un durin the short time we spent to ether, and we would love to do it a ain. We can’t wait to see them all a ain.
Written by the House Captains and Vice-Captains
Recognising Dedication: Bronze Achievers
Recognising Dedication: Silver Achievers
Jungle School, our new Rainforest School ASA in Teraja, has made a fantastic start. As a group, we first established five shared agreements, including respecting each other and respecting nature. Since then, we have been exploring what our playground has to offer in terms of natural learning opportunities. Students were given buttons to match with natural elements found around the playground, encouraging close observation. We also created a simple compass using wooden sticks, where children explored different sections and collected natural items from each direction. This was a great way to discover what can be found in the playground and where. We have also spent time listening carefully to the sounds around us and were amazed to hear a hornbill knocking inside the nest box. With many more activities planned, Rainforest School will continue to open up children’s imagination through nature while encouraging them to explore and learn using all their senses.
The BJSLAthletics event at Jerudong International School was a superb celebration of competitive spirit and teamwork, with our team finishing a very respectable 2nd overall Facing strong opposition from across the league, athletes delivered excellent performances in both track and field events.There were multiple podium finishes, personal bests, and determined relay efforts that highlighted the depth and balance of the squad. Beyond the results, the athletes showed outstanding sportsmanship and unity, consistently supporting one another throughout the day. This impressive outcome reflects the team’s hard work, preparation, and positive attitude, making it a proud achievement at the BJSL Athletics
Mystery in Panaga!
There has been a mystery unfolding in Panaga… andYear 2 have been on the case!
TheYear 2 students were given an individual challenge to gather information about eight different people by following clues hidden around the playground. Posters were placed in different locations, and each child worked independently, acting as a lone detective to track down the information.
The task was made even more challenging as students were not allowed to take their worksheet to the information. Instead, they had to read and remember the details, then return to their worksheet to record the answers — a great way to develop memory and concentration skills.
At each station, students recorded details such as names, ages, where each person lives, favourite foods and hobbies. This was particularly impressive as the children have only just started learning French, yet they showed determination, focus and great resilience throughout.
The final clue — revealing who ate all the biscuits in the staffroom — has not been revealed yet, as the investigation is still ongoing. The mystery continues…
Afantastic effort from ourYear 2 detectives — keep searching!
InBahasaMelayuLanguage, This week, the children will experience food tasting throughtheirsenses. They will explore how food feels when they touch it, how it smells, what it lookslike, and how it tastes. This activity helps children develop their sensory awareness, build vocabulary, and talk about their preferences while trying different foods.
Mandarin
The lion dance came to ourYear 1 classroom today. Students participated in the lion dance, learning the movements and working together inside the lion. They had lots of fun exploring the traditions of the lion dance and learning about Chinese New Year.
Cooperation: When Differences Become Strengths
Last week, the 7A tutor group delivered a highly engaging assembly linked to the PSHE theme of cooperation. The pupils chose their own characters and created a creative storyline combining the world of Super Mario, the Glitch and the K-pop Demon Hunters, capturingtheaudience’sattentionfromtheverystart.
The tutor group did an excellent job performing the assembly. Every pupil played an important role and worked together effectively, demonstrating confidence, clear communication and strong teamwork throughout the performance. Their enthusiasm and commitmentmadetheassemblybothentertainingandmeaningful.
A key message of the assembly was that cooperation often matters most when it involves working with people who may seem very different from ourselves. The story showed how the most unexpected and unlikely groups can come together when faced with a shared challenge. By setting aside differences, listening to one another and using individual strengths,thecharacterswereabletosolveproblemsandsucceedasateam.
ThislinkedcloselytoourPSHElearning,remindingpupilsthatcooperationisaboutrespect, compromise and supporting one another, especially in situations where collaboration may not feel easy at first. The assembly clearly demonstrated that working together can lead tostrongeroutcomesthanworkingalone.
A huge well done to the tutor group for delivering such a thoughtful and impactful assembly.
Mindfulness for Families
Simple breathing and calming techniques.
When you’re anxious, it can feel like there’s no way out.This is especially true for children and teens, who are experiencing many emotions, pressures, and situations for the first time. School expectations, social challenges, family changes, and constant stimulation can quickly become overwhelming.
While anxiety can feel complex, one simple—but highly effective—tool can make a meaningful difference: deepbreathing.
Breathing exercises help young people shift their focus away from fearful thoughts and bring them back to their bodies. By concentrating on slow, intentional breaths, children and teens can interrupt the cycle of anxious thinking and regain a sense of control.
“Breathing techniques calm down your mind and body so you are better able to deal with stressful situations.”explained Suzanne Silverstein, MA, founding director of Cedars-Sinai’s Share & Care program.
Deep breathing works by activating the body’s relaxation response. When anxiety kicks in, the body goes into “fight-or-flight” mode—heart rate increases, muscles tense, and thoughts race. Slow, deep breathing sends a signal to the brain that it is safe to relax, lowering stress hormones and helping the nervous system settle.
Mindfulness for Families
Breathe In, Breathe Out
Cookie Breathing
Picture yourself holding a freshly baked cookie. Breathe in through your nose to smell the chocolate chips or vanilla, and then blow on the hot cookie to cool down your treat.
Best for: Small children up to age 5
Smell the Rose, Blow Out the Candle
Picture yourself holding a rose in one hand and a candle in the other.Take a big breath in through your nose to smell the sweet scent of the rose. Next, slowly blow through your mouth to put out the candle.
Best for: Small children up to age 5
Take-Five Breathing
Hold one hand out and place your other hand’s index finger at the bottom of your palm.Trace it up to the top of your thumb, and breathe in.
Trace your finger back to the bottom of your palm, and then exhale.
Repeat the process for each finger until you’ve done all five, breathing in when you reach the top of each finger and breathing out when you return to the bottom of your palm.
Best for: Older children and teens
Belly Breathing
Put your hands on your belly, and inhale slowly and deeply for four seconds.
You should feel your stomach moving out as you suck in the air. If your breath is still in your chest, it’s too shallow.
Hold the breath for seven seconds, then slowly release it over eight seconds.
Best for: Older children and teens
Run around Borneo!
The total distance all the way around Borneo is 4,971km!
Make sure you are in the Running Club WhatsApp group! We will post on here if Running Club is cancelled due to the weather etc!
Total Distance overall Updated 30th January 4,385 km
