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July14
SCHOOLS
all three siblings are on the same campus.
This not only makes it easier for me, as a
working mum, to drop them off and pick
them up, but more importantly they can
see each other throughout the day in the
playground, at lunch and during break.
We learnt about the school through
friends of friends who had children
8 Jalan Purnama, Bandar Seri Alam,
81750 Johor Bahru, Malaysia
+607 3 888 999 | eis.edu.my
Excelsior International School
Sharon and Anthony Rivers, American;
Isaac (6), Isaiah (4), Immanuelle (2) and Ivy (9 months)
We have lived in Malaysia for over six years, the last three in Johor Bahru. We first
met Excelsior principal Julian Leah at an International School Fair while the school was
under construction. After seeing the plans and hearing about the teaching staff and
sports and academic facilities, plus the inclusion of Singapore maths in the curriculum,
we were convinced they meant business about providing a well-rounded education.
Isaac and Isaiah are both students in the Early Years programme, Isaiah in Nursery
and Isaac in Kindergarten 2. Excelsior opened this year, and from the start it was clear
that not only were we, as parents, allowed on campus, we were welcomed and expected
to participate in as many aspects of campus happenings as possible.
There have been opportunities to help with the Nursery class’s weekly swim lessons
and KG2’s library and PE lessons.
Isaiah has always been quite timid, but this year we have witnessed him blooming
in how he relates to others. He now regularly takes the lead at home and away, as he
plays with his siblings and friends. His teacher has also noted this change. It’s great to
know she is watching him so keenly and celebrating his progress.
We have been so impressed with the academics, the creative freedom, the daily
communication between home and school, the athletics, and even the playground
equipment. Excelsior International is just getting started, and we are so glad to have
found such a fantastic school for our children.
attending SMM at the time. After taking
a tour of the school, we too felt that
immediate sense of local community, and
felt it was vital in the early learning years
for our children to be in a nurturing school
environment. Parents are welcome to get
involved, to be heard and to help grow the
school; Bianca was active in the Parents’
Association for three years.
Relocating to a new country and a new
school can be daunting, but the SMM
community is like a family. This is possible
in a school where the class sizes are small.
This also enables teachers to understand
and cater to each child’s needs, both
academic and social.
There are somany amazing international
schools in Singapore, but being able to
send our children to a Jewish school where
they can learn three languages (English,
Hebrew, Mandarin), study their Jewish
heritage and celebrate international,
cultural festivals in addition to the excellent
secular studies on offer, is something that
as Jewish parents we couldn’t look past.
38C Belvedere Close
6737 9746 |smm.edu.sg
David and Bianca Janover, Australian;
Phoenix (6), Ty (5) and Miller (2)
Phoenix started in the Nursery class
(aged three) when we moved to Singapore.
Ty started Pre-Nursery at two years, and
last year Miller joined the Tiny Tots class
at the age of 18 months. I love the fact that
Sir Manasseh Meyer International School (SMM)