As the new year begins, Gary Cairns, Head of School, extends his warmest wishes to the entire SJIIS community and their families for a happy and prosperous 2026.
2026 is a hugely significant year for our school as it marks 10 years since we first opened our doors to students. At the start of the academic year in August, I shared a video with staff of the first time we gathered all of our students together to sing ‘We are Lasallian’. In those days, we could just about fit the entire school into our auditorium and, as a founding member of staff, I remember the moment both clearly and fondly.
As a teacher joining a brand new school, it was incredibly exciting. It was a chance to build a culture and identity from the ground up. In that session with staff at the beginning of Term 1, I also shared the careers and journeys that some of the young people singing “We are Lasallian” in that video had gone on to pursue: lawyers, doctors, neuroscientists, physicists, software engineers, AI consultants, sustainability consultants, environmentalists but, above all, I hope good people who lead in their chosen fields with heart and continue to carry our Lasallian ethos and the words ‘Enter to learn, Leave to serve’ into their chosen places of work, communities and family homes.
Whilst many of the staff who were present when we first sang We are Lasallian’ as a school community have moved on (though some do remain), for current staff who were not there in those early days of SJIIS, I wanted them to share and be part of that history of our school. History is important. It is the shared narrative of our journey that unites us and strengthens bonds between all members of our community whether leaders, teachers, administrative staff, students, parents or alumni. Of course, this is not only the shared history of our school but the shared history of all Lasallian schools around the world that continue the work of our founder St. John Baptist De La Salle.
This year, 2026, I look forward to celebrating ’10 years of teaching minds and touching hearts’ with you all and whether you are still a member of the SJIIS community or have moved on, please remember that you are and always will be a Lasallian.
I have no doubt that as we look forward to the next decade of St. Joseph’s Institution International School in Malaysia, the school will continue to prosper and develop outstanding and caring young people. I am very much excited to see what the future holds for our students and community.
Happy New Year to you all.
Ora Et Labora.
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