| Fizah HAB, Syazwani Hj Rosli, Wani Roslan, Ishan Ibrahim & Hakim Hayat |
IT’S new faces and new places in the academic scene across the country yesterday, with schools busy welcoming fresh batches of students for the new term.
In the Brunei-Muara District, Sultan Muhammad Jamalul Alam (SMJA) Secondary School welcomed a fresh intake of 158 students during their first day of orientation at the school’s Mumtaz Room.
SMJA Secondary School Principal Haji Juma’ata Sonadey bin Haji Mornie opened the orientation programme with a brief speech, congratulating the students and their parents for their achievements and results in the Primary School Assessment (PSR) examinations, and familiarising the newbies and their parents on the school’s rules and dress code as well as introducing them to the class teachers.
“There’s a need for time management by the students as they go through their studies this new academic year. I hope the students are able to adjust to the new school environment and new challenges, they are now in secondary school,” Haji Juma’ata Sonadey said in an interview with the Bulletin.
The students will undergo an assimilation programme, which ends on January 7, to ensure that they get off to a good start with their new peers and teachers and get a good grasp of the school environment and rules.
At Berakas Secondary School (SMB), more than 180 students who have passed their 2018 PSR examinations were welcomed by teachers and staff during the opening of a three-day students’ orientation programme yesterday morning at the school’s multipurpose hall.
In her welcome address, SMB Deputy Principal (Academic) Zaliha binti Haji Metussin hoped that the students will help the school achieve its vision towards academic excellence, highlighting that the school emphasises a balance between quality learning and co-curriculum activities to generate excellent students to help Brunei achieve its National Vision 2035.
The day continued with several talks from the administration section, academic section, operation management section, Parents-Teacher Association (PIBG), and an insurance briefing by representatives from Insurans Islam TAIB. Class teachers were later introduced to parents and guardians before the start of the orientation activities for the students.
Throughout the three-day programme, designed to help the new students successfully transition from primary school to secondary school, the students will be given a school tour, more briefings on discipline and co-curricular activities, health briefings, counselling and other orientation activities.
Elsewhere, at Lambak Kiri Secondary School (SMLK), new intake of 142 Year 7 students were welcomed during the orientation programme at the school’s multipurpose hall.
SMLK School Principal Rosmawati binti Mohammad congratulated the students for passing their PSR examinations and gave a brief overview of the school schedule and activities.
The programme continued with a briefing by SMLK Deputy Principal (Academic) Mohd Hafizuddin bin Abdullah Tong in which he briefed the students on subjects offered by the school, such as Mandarin, Arabic Language, Drama and ICT.
He also talked about welfare and discipline, the school’s co-curricular activities, and examinations and assessments.
At Pengiran Anak Puteri Hajah Masna Secondary School, 186 new students for Year 7 were welcomed.
The orientation opening was attended by School Deputy Principal (Administration) Salmiah binti Abas, Deputy Principal (Academic) Pengiran Mohd Arrifin bin Pengiran Haji Aliuddin as well as the Year 7 students and their parents and guardians. The school’s teachers and staff were also present.
Principal Hajah Norwen binti Haji Brahim in her opening speech urged the students to focus on their studies and study hard, stressing that their success ultimately means the success of the school as well.
The day also featured talks by Head of Sales at Insurans Islam TAIB General Takaful Roslan bin Haji Md Tahir and Clinical Psychologist at the Health Promotion Centre Syahmun Metassan.
Meanwhile in Mukim Kilanas, the Sayyidina Hasan Secondary School welcomed Year 7 students with an orientation and briefing programme.
While welcoming the new students who were also present alongside their parents and guardians, the school’s Principal Haryani binti Haji Mohammad in her speech reminded that parents and guardians play an important role in children’s academic success.
They also have a vital role in non-academic aspects such as inculcating good moral values and reading culture while at home, she said.
The school’s two-day orientation programme also saw a briefing on academic, administration, student affairs and welfare as well as a lecture on ‘Growth Mindset’ for parents and guardians.