International School of Kuala Lumpur: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

October 6, 1997

Hello from the International School of Kuala Lumpur!

Our school is an American standard school in which there are students from over 50 different nations. There about 1600 students. Many ride on the school bus to school and from school. The bus arrives at your house at about 7 o'clock. And after school leaves at about 3 o'clock.

Kuala Lumpur is in the country of Malaysia and it is the capital city. Malaysia is a tropical country in southeast Asia. It's neighors are Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines and Brunei. It is a peninsula about the size of Florida plus the northern third of the island of Borneo. The school is in the Ampang area of the city; that's why its called Ampang Campus. You see, there are 2 campuses. The Melawati Campus, about 8 kilometers away, contains grades Pre-K to 5. The Ampang Campus contains grade 6 to 12. It is broken up into 2 parts. "Middle School", and "High School". One thing you might not like is that we have to wear a uniform. But sometimes it is free-dress or you can by a tag for tag day. That means, whoever has a tag on tag day can wear free-dress. The government requires all students in every school to wear a uniform.

The Middle School, unlike the High School, is divided into "Learning Communities", two for each grade named 6-1, 6-2, 7-1, 7-2, 8-1, and 8-2. 6-1, 7-1, and 8-1 are known as the Biru Group. 6-2, 7-2, and 8-2 are known as the Emas. Biru means blue in Malay and Emas means gold. These are our school colors. For a special activity there is a so-called Intramural Program. It is a variety of sports played the whole year long. It is broken up into 3 week periods, in which 2 sports will be practiced. Although Emas and Biru play separately, it is open for everybody. At the end of each three week period, Emas and Biru will play against each other in the "Bowl Games". That is, the sports that they learned over the 3 week period will be played in a tournament. There are also clubs after school. If you're especially interested in a subject, you can join the clubs. Then you have to sign up for the 4:15 bus so you can go back home after the your Club or Intramural activity.

Our school is in the middle of an environmental crisis right now. A thick heavy smog has engulfed the country of Malaysia. This smog is due to locally produced pollution being trapped by a layer of smoke caused by forest fires in Borneo and Sumatra. Many teachers and students have left the country, causing ISKL to go "On Line". Students in all parts of the world can access the school program electronically. Those of us staying in the country will be doing the global water project. It is a difficult time for everyone at ISKL, but we are confident the forest fires will be put out and the skies will be clear again.

Harald Burchardt, from Germany
Grade 6 Student
International School of Kuala Lumpur