Staff from SMK DPM visit Tallangatta in November 2013

Sunday 24th November 2013
On 24th November, 4 staff from SMK DPM set off from Kota Kinabalu for a visit to Tallangatta Secondary College and Melbourne.

The group consisted of Badinah Bianis and Nainey Ajik who had previously visited with students in 2011, Mohd Fadley Fauzi and Naimah Hj Din accompanied by her husband Martin Bin Bubin

The group arrived in Melbourne at 12.15 am on the Monday morning and were met at the airport by Mr Alby Freijah, Principal of Tallangatta Secondary College and Mr Con Madden, Assistant Principal.

Monday morning in Melbourne with TSC Principal Alby Freijah

Monday 25th November 2013After a short sleep, the group along with Alby and Con, visited Brunswick Secondary College in Melbourne, Brunswick Secondary College is one of the most multi-cultural schools in Australia and has many special programs including intensive English language courses, to assist new arrivals to Melbourne to adjust to their new life in Australia,

Following this visit the group headed up the Hume Highway to Tallangatta, arriving at TSC at about 5 PM then joining their host families.

Tuesday 26th November 2013

The group spent the day at TSC, taking a guided tour of the school. This included the new science centre which had completed since the visit in 2011.  The group visited classes and had the opportunity to discuss different approaches to teaching and learning compared to SMK DPM. They visited a range of classes from general Maths and English classes to cooking, science, humanities, textiles and music. This also included seeing the benefits students had at TSC as a result of being in classes with a maximum size of 25 students compare to 45 - 50 in Penampang.

Textiles class

Wednesday 27th November 2013

On Wednesday, the group were taken by Mr Con Madden and Janet Floyd on a tour of the local area to learn about the geography and the history of the area.
This included visits to Yackandandah, Myrtleford, Bright and Beechworth. 

Map of area

Thursday 28th November 2013
On Thursday the group paid a short visit to Tallangatta Primary School, visiting most of the classes and catching up with some staff they had also met 2 years ago.

The rest of the day was spent in discussions with the principal and other staff members discussing different aspects of teaching and learning and education processes in Tallangatta compared to Malaysia.  We also spent time discussing potential projects for the future, including teacher and student exchanges, possible curriculum projects and even the viability of work experience placements.

On Thursday evening the guests and hosts ventured into Albury for an enjoyable farewell dinner at a Thai restaurant.

Visitors and hosts at dinner

Friday 29th November 2013
Friday morning was spent in discussions with Mr Madden and Janet about different student management strategies and support programs in place at Tallangatta.

This was followed by a morning tea and an exchange of gifts before farewells and promises to meet again in 2014 were exchanged

Plaque to commemorate the visit created by TSC teacher David Goodwin

About 2.00 pm, the group once again to the Hume Highway driven by TSC teacher Rhys McKee and accompanied by Janet.

The next few days were spent site-seeing and shopping in Melbourne, followed by a day trip along the well-know Great Ocean Road to view the 12 Apostles, before returning to Malaysia on 3rd December.

The 12 Apostles on the Great Ocean Road

Everyone at TSC enjoyed the visit and look forward to catching up again in the future.

Thanks to Rhys McKee, Con and Chris Madden, Yanti Grant and Sue Ledsam for extending their hospitality and their homes to make our colleagues from SMK DPM feel welcome.

Orang Utan Adoption Programme

Certificate of Orang Utan Adoption Programme for Katie, Ten-Ten, Itinban and Wulan, which were adopted by Tallangatta Secondary College.

Teacher's Sister School Visit to Tallangatta

Our next project is Teacher's Sister School visit to TSC and Melbourne from 24 November 2013 to 3rd December 2013.  The teachers who will be involved in this visit are :

1. Madam Naimah Hj Din ( Student's Affair Senior Assistant)

2. Mohd. Fadley Fauzi (Counsellor)

3. Badinah Bianis (Head of Student's Affair Unit for the Form Six - Pre University)

4. Nainey Ajik ( Head of the Resource Centre)

The objective of this visit is to obtain best practices of student’s management as well as teaching and learning process.

 

GreenBox Letters From Malaysia to Australia

 All 42 letters are ready to be posted to Australia today.

 The name list of students with their GreenBox pen-pal

Some of the letters for 'Climate/Weather" topic

This GreenBox Letters from SMKDPM is supervised by Teacher Chong Pik Yen and Teacher Irene Lung

Appreciation

SMK Datuk Peter Mojuntin would like to express our highest gratitude and appreciation to the following individuals and organization for their cooperation in welcoming our Tallangatta Secondary College Sister School visit to SMK Datuk Peter Mojuntin.

Mr. Alby Freijah

Principal of Tallangatta Secondary College

Madam Nurani Fauziah Derin

Principal of SMK Datuk Peter Mojuntin

Mr. Con Madden

Assistant Principal of Tallangatta Secondary College

Madam Janet Floyd

Curriculum Senior Assistant and Sister School Coordinator of Tallangatta Secondary College

Madam Fay Hameliene Mogindol

Curriculum Senior Assistant and Cluster School  of of SMK Datuk Peter Mojuntin

Surie Aziz

Sister School Coordinator of SMK Datuk Peter Mojuntin

Students of Tallangatta Secondary College

Ryan Mull

Zachary Stephens

Emily Jarvis

Georgia Trewin

Olivia McMaster

Homestay Sisters and Families

Jane Thecla Bensing Vonih

Vonih Bernard Bass @ Bonnie Bensing

Kimberly Vung

Ifnelly Biak and Vung Hi Ming

Sharmane Suemunie

Mr. Stanley Sikolis and Mrs Sifera Kodoh

Rinie Sheriezah

En. Hamdan Suarah and Pn. Ferizah Casimir

Veneda Angelia Joe

Parents

Deanne Seanuau Kely Jitilon

Pn Winnie Jimis and Mr. Donald Kely Pete

Steffira Zeandea Greater

Mr. Max Greater and Wife

Miss Badinah Bianis

Miss Nainey Ajik

Mr. Medi Marau

Mrs Piluh Osong 

Photographers
Max Greater, Jesson Hintanau, Surie Aziz

Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre of Shangri La Rasa Ria Resort

Monsopiad Cultural Village

Principal and SK Sri Gaya Primary School

Sabah Museum

Persatuan Ibubapa dan Guru SMK Datuk Peter Mojuntin (PIBG)

Special Education Programme Teachers and Students

Students Council (MPP) and Prefects of SMK Datuk Peter Mojuntin

Teachers, Students and Staff of Tallangatta Secondary College
Teachers, Students and Staff of SMK Datuk Peter Mojuntin

Thank you and farewell - until next time

Terima kasih dan selamat tinggal - sehingga masa depan!

And so our fantastic journey has come to an end! We take away with us so many memories of our visit - new experiences, sights and tastes of Malaysia and its vital culture, meeting our orang utan children, visiting special places around Sabah, but most of all memories of the wonderful hospitality and warmth of all the students and teachers of SMK Datuk Peter Mojuntin and their families!

At the risk of overlooking someone, I wish to thank the following people who made our visit so memorable:-
Our wonderful hosts

• Jane Thecla Bensing Vonih and her family
• Kimberly Vung and family
• Sharmaine Suemunie and family
• Rinie Sheriezah and family
• Veneda Angelia Joe and family
• Winnie Jimis, Kely, Deanne and family
• Nainey Ajik and her family 

Also

• Pengetua Nurani Fauziah Derin, Pn. Fay Hameliene Mogindol, En. Salehan Timin, Pn. Naimah Hj. Din, Judy Liew, Yap and other staff at SMKDPM
• The best driver in Sabah, Medi, Max Greater and his family for accompanying us and documenting our many activities with his wonderful photos and all of the students from the SMKDPM trip to Tallangatta in 2011 who welcomed us and shared with us - including the irrepressible Carl!
• To Badinah and Nainey who filled our days with adventure, laughter and friendship

And most importantly
To my dear friend Suriyati Aziz whose hard work and quiet dedication to our Sister school relationship and personal support has made it all possible!  Terima kasih sentiasa kawan baikku.

Saya memohon maaf jika saya telah terlepas pandang sesiapa yang berkongsi masa mereka dan persahabatan mereka dengan kami.Kepada semua guru dan pelajar di SMKDPM, kita tidak akan lupa anda dan kebaikan anda kepada kita semua. Terima kasih banyak.

  

Last Day at SMKDPM

Our last day - interesting activities and fond farewells

The day started with an assembly with the morning school students. This included the regular school assembly and presentation of a range of certificates to recognise student participation in a range of activities at SMKDPM.

Surie explained the background to our Sister school relationship and gifts ro recognise the importance and success of the visit were exchanged.  The assembly finished with a performance by the SMKDPM choir.

After assembly with the morning session, we headed towards Special Education Programme (Pendidikan Khas) cabin to have some activities with them. These students attend the school as they all have a hearing disability.

Sewing a lace called "Siling" used to decorate a local traditional dress of Sabah Kadazan ethnic group. The students proved to be exceptionally patient teachers.

Mudballs

After having heard so much about SMKDPM's record attempt at making mudballs earlier in the year it was now time to find out more about the process.

Mixing the solution with EM1 enzyme used to produce mudballs

Mudballs are used to clean dirty water in river or drainage channels.

Beef rendang
We were also taught how to make beef rendang and joined in a meal together.

After activities at Special Education Programme (Pendidikan Khas), the TSC group went to Kemahiran Hidup Workshop to learn the process of producing a garbage enzyme called eMas by the afternoon session of students council.

That afternoon students of TSC enjoyed their time together playing football with 4A class and their homestay sisters.

 Whilst the students enjoyed their game, Con and Janet visited the District Education Office where they had an interesting discussion about the similarities and differences between our education systems with Mr. Richard David, the deputy regional director.

Later that night we had farewell dinner at Beijing Restaurant at Tun Fuad Park.  Dinner attended by TSC group, school administrator, host families, 2011 sister school visit to TSC including their parents and families, Badinah, Nainey, Surie and Medi.

Farewell Dinner Group Photo

*photo credit to Jesson Hintanau, Max Greater and Surie