Dear Parents,

As many of you know, I have returned to Sunway International School after a short leave of absence. However, in the one year since I was last here, we have introduced Grades 7 and 8 and there are ten new faculty members.  What a difference a year makes!

With the new Grade 7 and 8 classes, the total enrolment at SIS has grown to 250 students, and our little house is bursting at the seams.  Plans are going well with the new building, and if construction progresses at the present rate, the building will be completed and fully occupied by July 2012.

An area which never ceases to fascinate me about SIS is the students and the staff.  At my first SIS Awards Assembly, in July of 2009, I was supremely impressed with the energy and enthusiasm of the student body in recognizing and acknowledging the academic accomplishments of their peers.  At the recent July 2011 Assembly, I was equally amazed at the outpouring of respect and admiration for this year’s award winners - 2 different assemblies but the same reaction in both.  Even though there were different students and a somewhat different staff, the enthusiasm of the student body is alive and well at SIS.  The academic, social and cultural growth that has been a trade mark of SIS since its inception is alive and well today.  I am sure it will last forever.

I would be remiss if did not mention the staff.  The bulk of the staff is new, but as with the students, the initial indications are that the present SIS teachers will be as hard working and dedicated as those in the past.  I have had the opportunity to meet them all as a group and several as individuals and I am very confident that your students will be in good hands with these new teachers.

I do believe that every Principal has the same message to all parents when he/she asks for parental support.  In order for a school to function well, all the constituent parts must work as a team -  parents,  teachers, students and administrators.  To this end, I encourage all of you to participate with us; to join our activities; to contact us as needed; and to be there for us.

At this time I would like to acknowledge the diligence of our Office staff.  They are our first line of communication and they serve us very well.  If you need any assistance, please call the office and if someone there cannot help, you will be directed to someone who can.

Finally, I would like to mention the efforts of two people who are on the front line every day and try to provide yeoman service to all – students, teachers and parents.  Certainly our Deputy Principal, Ms. Annie Lim works very diligently to improve all facets of school life at SIS and Academic Coordinator Mr. Manny Avila, who ably assists Ms. Lim and is always there to offer help when and if needed.  Personally, I recognize their efforts and thank them very much.

Again, I am very pleased to be back and I look forward to the future with SIS.

Yours truly,
John Futa,
Principal