Stonyhurst Newsletter 4/2021
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StonyHurst Newsletter Issue 6 | April 2021 From the Principal Dear Parents, I would like to offer you a very warm welcome our Admissions Office. We are accepting to the April edition of the Stonyhurst applications from parents and holding in person International School newsletter. You will notice meetings in our office by appointment only that our newsletter is moving towards a new and following strict SOP. It has been wonderful and improved format, we will be including a to speak to parents again and discuss our wider range of information and regular features vision for Stonyhurst International School. on a range of educational issues. We are processing a considerable number of applications with some year groups in particular James Mower will continue to provide us with already facing pressure for places. his dispatches from Stonyhurst College and from May we will also be including a monthly As we move towards our opening date, we will profile section that introduces you to key be expanding our team and our Admissions members of our team beginning with our Board Office, we are in the process of taking over the of Governors. space next door to our current office to allow for expansion. We very much look forward to It is with great pleasure that I announce I introducing you to new staff members as they am now back in Malaysia and working from come onboard. At the moment we are working towards bringing our Assistant Principal James move forward at a rapid pace. Mower into the country and envisage that he will arrive along with his family in July this year. As always, I would like to thank you for your Our construction continues to remain on track ongoing support for completion on time with the piling now completed and the academic block starting Kind Regards to take shape. We are working until 10:00pm each night which is allowing the construction to Justin Durling Third Culture Kids James Mower – Assistant Principal, Stonyhurst International School Penang I first left the UK to embark on a career in our multicultural student body, coupled with international education back in 2007 when my our academic and pastoral programmes will wife and I moved to Australia. Since then we support the development of internationally have also lived in China, Thailand and the United minded students. We will encourage students to Arab Emirates and I have experienced working develop intercultural understanding and engage with a diverse range of students and colleagues in global issues through classroom examples, from around the world. Both of my children assemblies and service activities. By developing were born outside of my home country, and cultural appreciation and compassion in our until this year had not experienced life in a UK students, we can build a truly global community. based school. As a result of my lifestyle, I have been drawn to studying the concept of ‘Third Alongside the benefits of growing up as a TCK, Culture Kids’. Sociologist, David C. Pollock it is also worth noting some of the challenges (1999) defined a Third Culture Kid (TCK) as that they may face. Phinney (2008) suggests that ‘a person who has spent a significant part of a multicultural upbringing may prolong the time his or her developmental years outside the individuals spend exploring their identity, due parents culture.’ By reflecting on his and others’ to a sense of rootlessness (feeling that home research, I have considered how as educators, is everywhere and nowhere) and restlessness we can ensure that we provide the best (having a migratory instinct) stemming from possible environment for our multinational and their transient lifestyle. Their exposure to occasionally transient student population. multiple cultures poses challenges for TCKs in establishing who they are within themselves. There are many positives associated with raising Through our pastoral and coaching programme, our children as TCKs. Research conducted in Stonyhurst Penang students will have the 2004 by Fail, Thompson and Walker concluded opportunity to interact with peers across age that many TCKs have an expanded world groups to reflect on and share their own identity, view, due to their experiences attending culture and background. Our pastoral structure international schools. Exposure to different will ensure students feel a sense of stability as cultures at a young age leads to a high level of part of their House ‘family’. We will also create intercultural sensitivity. At Stonyhurst Penang, opportunities for students to interact in a variety of settings, to support the formation of life- Stonyhurst Family, no matter where they are from. long connections and friendships. In the future, I look forward to engaging with staff, Sources quoted students and the parent body to facilitate further Fail, H; Thompson, J; Walker, G (2004): Belonging, identity and understanding of Third Culture Kids, to support Third Culture Kids: Life histories of former international school students within our international community. I am students excited to learn more about our students’ backgrounds Phinney, J S. (2008): Bridging identities and disciplines: Advances and experiences, and alongside our pastoral and and challenges in understanding multiple identities academic teams, will ensure that everyone settles Pollock, D C. (1999): The Third Culture Kid Experience: Growing quickly to feel welcome and cared for as part of the Up Among Worlds Editor’s Note Sin Yee – Director of Admissions and Marketing, Engrossed, blessed and coffee obsessed. Sin Yee is a mom-of-three, educator and marketer; not necessarily in that order. She writes about child-raising, education, children’s health and everything in between as she juggles her work, family and self-care. Fevers and Why You Shouldn’t Freak Out Thermometers are everyone we go to these days. On average, I have my temperature checked three times a day and most of the time, I don’t bat an eyelid when I look at the reading. So what is the fuss about our body temperature then? Why the ardent interest in knowing one’s ‘hotness’ before allowing the person to come into a building? Sure, we know that fever (temperature above 37.5°C) is one of the symptoms of COVID-19 but there’s no reason an average. A body temperature reading that’s to freak out if you or your child are feverish. above or below the average doesn’t automatically Most parents I know think fever is dangerous mean one is ill. A number of factors such as but let’s debunk the myth. age, gender and activity level influence our Firstly, fever is not an illness, fever is simply body temperature. In babies and children, the the body’s response to an underlying infection. average body temperature ranges from 36.6°C For children, the infection is usually viral like a to 37.2°C. Among adults, the average body common cold or stomach bug. Parents often temperature ranges from 36.1°C to 37.2°C. concentrate more on lowering the temperature In older adults, the average body temperature than figuring out what could possibly cause the is lower than 37°C. So confusing - but here’s fever. So next time your child develops a fever, a tip, take your body temperature when you check if there are visible signs of infection. are healthy. Identifying your own normal range Sometimes children just develop fever without can make it easier to know when you have a an apparent cause which could be a viral fever. In general, a reading that’s 1.1°C above fever. A pediatrician will usually prescribe your normal temperature is usually a sign of acetaminophen or ibuprofen for the fever, a fever. Also, be consistent when taking the which should make your child feel better while temperature. Use the same thermometer and s/he are fighting the infection. check the same side of the ear if you are using an ear thermometer. Secondly, let’s not get too carried away with the number. We are told the normal body Cold bath or hot blankets? Neither! Whilst it temperature is 37°C but this number is only seems like a good idea to give a child a cold bath to bring down a fever, it’s actually not recommended. time, a fever goes away with plenty of rest and fluids. The cold water will cause shivering which can actually However, when the fever climbs too high, lasts too increase internal temperature. For the same reason, long, or is accompanied by severe symptoms, seek sponging a child down with cold water is also not a treatment. Treating the cause of the fever is more good idea. A tepid (lukewarm) bath, however, might important than bringing the temperature down. make a child more comfortable. Avoid bundling up - using a blanket or two to stop your child from shivering when s/he has a fever is fine, just don’t overdo it. Disclaimer: The article is not intended to be a substitute for the Remove coverings once he/she gets comfortable as professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment provided by too hot blankets may raise body temperature further. a Medical Provider. Always seek the advice of your own or your child’s Medical Provider regarding any questions or concerns you A fever isn’t usually a cause for concern. Most of the have about your or your child’s specific health or any medications. News from Stonyhurst The ‘Line’ Competition at Stonyhurst UK “This term we began to have Lines. They are the same worth noting at this point that generations of the as the College, only the College has had them for a quite same family who attend the school are placed into a number of years.