The Care:Mvmt (Care Movement) in the GIS primary school is an integral part of fostering a nurturing and inclusive environment where every child is encouraged to grow academically, emotionally, and socially. Rooted in the principles of being relevant, responsible and resilient, the movement ensures that students not only learn within the classroom but also develop empathy and understanding for the world around them. Through intentional programmes and day-to-day interactions, we aim to cultivate a culture of care that shapes our students into compassionate global citizens.
From our Classrooms to the Community
Lim Lay Har and Lim Lay Koon are two sisters from Malaysia who have been creating books for children for many years. Together, they have won awards for writing and illustrating children’s stories and produced two books specially to support charities protecting endangered animals in Malaysia. Lay Koon visited our Early Years Centre (EYC) several times during our Book Weeks and shared her stories and her environmental awareness with our youngest learners.
Our EYC students also worked with SPCA to find out about what the animals in their care needed in order to protect and maintain the health of animals without homes. Once they heard what the animals might need, they began sourcing and collecting items that they could send to the animals (along with letters they wrote and pictures they drew!), all packed up in shoeboxes, and donated them all to the SPCA.
Our Year 3 students worked alongside the staff at the Lost Food Project to engage with the community around GIS. The purpose of this was to encourage businesses, particularly bakeries, to allow the food left at the end of the day to be collected and redistributed to those not fortunate enough to have easy access to food. Our GIS students campaigned on behalf of the Lost Food Project and secured more food to support those in need.
Year 5 students worked alongside students from Dignity for Children Foundation of the same age to learn from each other and enjoy each other’s company! They engaged in fun games and activities at Dignity school, before coming together at the National Art Gallery to explore the artwork. The experience culminated in an art project at GIS, the purpose of which was to raise funds to create opportunities for students to attend Dignity school.
Our Year 6 students visited Greater Action in Ampang to find out more about the Afghan refugees, both women and children, in Malaysia: their lives up to this point, the challenges, and the successes. The women taught our students how to upcycle materials to make pom poms and bunting, and the students worked to source more second-hand materials for the women to use in order to carry on producing amazing accessories and making a living for themselves and their children.
Care for Self, Others and for the Environment
Our Jungle School and Green Dragons programmes empower students to care for the environment, while mental health awareness activities and mindfulness sessions promote self-care and emotional well-being. We also have regulation stations positioned on all corridors to enable students to select their own strategies for self regulation when necessary. These initiatives demonstrate our commitment to integrating care into every aspect of school life.
Other examples of how the CARE Movement is exemplified in our primary school include peer support initiatives like “Buddy Systems,” where older students mentor and support younger peers in transitioning smoothly into the school environment.
As the Deputy Head of Primary, it is an absolute delight to see our students engaging in such rich and diverse opportunities to care for themselves, for others and for the world around them. We continue to seek these opportunities within school, within our community and beyond.
Written by,
Kelly Hersey, Deputy Head of Primary – MA, BA (Hons), PGCE, QTS (UK)
Alan Archer, Year 5 Teacher – BA (Hons), PGCE, QTS (UK)
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