Maple Leaf Kingsley International School, Putra Heights

With more and more parents In Malaysia looking to enroll their children into international schools in hopes for better quality education, an international school has to step up to its game and face some pretty stiff competition. However, Maple Leaf Kingsley International School (ML KIS) has little in its way in emerging as one of the top choices for families, and Kiddy123 had the opportunity to discover why and to share its findings with our beloved readers. We talked to Ms Priya and Ms Josephine, the Principals of the Secondary and Primary school, respectively.

Founded in 2011, ML KIS has quickly grown to become a sought-after school among discerning parents. ML KIS is made up of the Early Years, Primary, Secondary levels, and goes all the way up to ‘A’ Levels. Situated today at Kingsley Hills, Putra Heights, ML KIS is a stately sight indeed, and the campus also includes a couple of hostel blocks for boarding students and international staff.

ML KIS adheres to an exam-based British curriculum, and students sit for the renown Cambridge International Examination. It can get quite challenging for students to cope with a somewhat tough curriculum, but Ms Josephine stated assuringly, “While it is a robust curriculum, our teachers are trained to seek out the students who are falling back and offer them the additional coaching they need to excel.

At ML KIS, as explained by Ms Josephine, parents of students are kept well aware of their children’s progress, all the way, right down to the homework that they have to complete. “We have always believed in keeping communication lines open with parents so that any issues can be addressed and overcome swiftly, to ensure smooth sailing for the students’ learning progress,” she added.

Teaching beyond chalk and talk

At ML KIS, teachers take pride in their duty. As shared by Ms Priya, they are constantly updated on the latest teaching techniques which go far beyond just chalk and talk. “Instead of finding students just seated at their desks while the teacher writes endlessly on the board, here, you’ll find that the students are exposed to various teaching methods which keep them motivated to learn and achieve more,” Ms Priya explained. Of course, the dedication, capability and qualification of the teachers also speak for themselves, as they go beyond and above what’s expected from their duties. Ms Priya also emphasised on the topic of pastoral care at ML KIS. Each and every teacher knows the importance of not just giving their best in educating their students, but also ensuring that communication with parents, which includes discussions on what their child needs in order to excel, always takes place, and is productive.

Each classroom in ML KIS has no more than 25 students, hence students are assured of personalised attention.

Study, play and thrive in a modern, conducive surrounding

Apart from academics, students at ML KIS are encouraged to appreciate and practice discipline, have a competitive spirit and have the determination to achieve their goals. They are also nudged towards exercising their bodies and minds, and develop social skills that will help them enjoy a more fulfilled life. Here’s where extracurricular activities play their part.

Among the extensive list of extracurricular activities for all ML KIS students is a special Rhythm and Movement segment, which includes drumming, playing the ‘kompang’, and clapping, whereby at the end of each term, students will also take part in performances. This activity is inspired by the renowned 24-Seasons Drums, and according to Ms Josephine, who was explaining this to us, it has been invaluable in encouraging and building focus and drive in kids. “Kids today can hardly focus due to too much gadget time. They seem constantly distracted by their gadgets, thus their ability to focus on the more important things in their lives, including their education, is badly affected,” she explained. “These drumming activities are helpful in cultivating focus, timing, coordination, memorisation, and many more positive attributes in kids, as well as in adults!”

The facilities at ML KIS are far from ordinary, and they include sound-proof music room, dance studios, an amazing library, canteen, special rooms for story-telling, speech, and drama, science lab, an IT centre, and lots more, including of course facilities for swimming (an olympic-size pool), sports courts and gym. The classrooms are all air-conditioned and equipped with Smartboards.

Bully-free policy

ML KIS is, much to the relief families, an establishment that does not tolerate bullying, and that goes for ragging, and any form of degrading actions. Far from harsh actions though, the school believes in preventive and restorative measures instead, which have been serving them well. In these aspects, let it be known that at ML KIS, effort is made at every level to encourage the cultivation of amiable attributes, and to help students develop healthy communication skills, respect, and empathy. ML KIS graduates are expected, after all, to emerge as wholesome individuals who are not just well-educated but also self-motivated, mindful and confident of their respective roles in this world.