School News

Book Week @ GEMS

Published by SchoolAdvisor | May 09, 2022

“In a world where we are provided with manifold creativity on the screen, it requires the use of the imagination, which has infinite more possibility.” Mr Anthony Partington, Executive Principal, GEMS International School (soon to be Sri KDU International School, Subang Jaya). As one of the editors of Cambridge School Shakespeare series ‘Twelfth Night’ and ‘Much Ado About Nothing’, Mr Partington fully appreciates the positive impact that a powerful and endearing literary legacy work like Shakespeare has on the British Curriculum taught here at GEMS. 

 After a refreshing and colourful Easter Break, The English Department of GEMS International School began Term3 by celebrating Book Week and Shakespeare’s Birthday. Plenty of exciting activities were held throughout the whole School from Early Years Foundation Stage to Primary School and Secondary School.

"Dress Up Day," in which kids dressed up as characters from their favourite book or piece of literature, was unquestionably the cherry on top of Shakespeare Week. A Costume Parade was held in Primary where kids sashayed on the field in their favourite book character costume. We spotted Harry Potter, Romeo, Juliet, Waldo, Alice and Matilda among others. In Secondary, we held re-enactments of Shakespeare play endings and tasked the students to work in groups and put on their stage persona! 

Reading expands vocabulary, helps us to understand different ideas and theories, increases knowledge and keeps our memory sharp. Our annual Book Week event aims to encourage and strengthen the passion for reading in students while making reading and literature fun and engaging for students. GEMS provides a variety of in-school activities for our pupils to enhance the British Curriculum. Students have the opportunity to participate in school camps, swimming galas, and inter-house competitions, among other activities.

Following our successful Swimming Galas, School Camps and Inter-House Sport Competitions, we emerged from our ‘pandemic hibernation’ focused on ensuring a safe, happy and successful learning environment for all. Given the gravity and hardship faced during the pandemic era we were in for the past two years, these aspects of everyday “normal” school life have brightened each student's smile and sparked happy energy even behind the masks! Community gatherings really do provide crucial bonding time, injects delight and preserves morale for all.

Great learning does not happen through academics alone. We are looking forward to developing stronger synergies within our school community and constantly providing an amazing educational journey that positively impacts all children as we work to develop them into future leaders.