is magazine 8.1 - Autumn/Spring 2005 - International Schools ...

Conducted over eight weeks, totaling 20 hours, staff underwent
theoretical lessons and practical exercises on various
aspects of first aid. Having completed the course, they are now
well versed in the functions of numerous bodily systems, and are
capable of attending to problems like asphyxiation, shock, fractures,
burns and scalds, poisoning and cardio pulmonary resuscitation.
The training was conducted by the Malaysian Red
Crescent Society (Penang Branch) at the School campus, and
all staff were presented with the Certificate for Basic First Aid
at the end of the course. Office administrators, boarding
matrons, catering and maintenance, as well as teaching staff
were involved, ensuring that there are qualified people to handle
emergencies at any area of School.
With this first batch trained, one in five of Uplands staff are
now capable of administering first aid, be it to students, other
staff or visitors. Training for other staff, retraining for those who
have undergone the basic course, and a special course for students
will be rolled out over the course of this programme.
In the aftermath of the Tsunami the International School of
Prague responded with Wave Aid. Tony Mobbs, High School
Student Council Sponsor, International School of Prague,
writes: ‘I can still remember the feeling of helplessness as I
watched the scenes of total devastation on the television from
the comfort of my house here in Prague, thinking of people I
knew who had travelled there, hoping that they were safe, and
seeing images of places that I had visited now totally wasted by
the power of nature. What could we do?
Never has such an event brought together the whole ISP
community as the tsunami tragedy of 26th December 2004. It
touched all of us in some way, and we all wanted to help.
Raising money was the best way forward, and faculty sponsors
for each of the ISP student councils (STUCO) met to discuss
our way forward. The resulting enthusiasm and commitment
from all areas of the school was outstanding, and the theme of
“Wave Aid” was adopted. It was also unanimously decided to
target Sri Lanka, and in particular schools, hospitals and com-
is Autumn 2005
Spring
People and Places
Uplands staff with their Certificates in Basic First Aid. Seated in the middle are Mr Chan Hon Kwong (Vice President of the MRSC)
and Mr Charlie Chua (MRSC Training Coordinator).
munity needs, through People in Need.
Each student council decided to go their own way with their
fund raising efforts. The High School students had bake sales,
pizza sales, and sold tsunami relief bracelets. The Middle School
students also sold the now famous blue bracelets, as well as sales
of baked goods, a dance, and a Valentines Day roses sale. The
combined total is around 60,000Kc ($2,600).
The Elementary school was outstanding in their response,
raising a large proportion of our final total. They held a
Valentines Day breakfast, sponsored a super sale of books, puzzles
and stuffed animals. The PK3 class made and sold wooden
tulips. The after school swimming activity students were sponsored
to swim lengths, and individual students were also sponsored
by parents to carry out household chores.
There was an ongoing coin drop for the whole school, which
raised a huge amount of money. The list carries on!
Fast forward to May 2005, when the details of the events
have gone from the news but we are ready to send off 100,000
Czech Crowns to People in Need, a Czech organization working
in Sri Lanka helping to rebuild communities affected by the
tsunami. A very generous donation was also made through the
Fund for Education, which donated a percentage of proceeds
from the ISP Gala, which totalled a massive 188,766Kc.
So our total at the moment stands at an amazing 300,000Kc
($13,100)! Our own SCA also had sales to support the fund
raising.
Apart from bringing the ISP community together to fund
raise for a specific target this tragic event has also raised our
awareness of fund raising on a more global scale. Discussions
have taken place within each student council to target a global
need each year, and to target our fund raising towards those less
fortunate than ourselves whether this is in Darfur, Indonesia, or
those in need in the Czech Republic.’
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