From Chris Wilson, Head of Prep School
6th February 2026
Dear Parents,
‘Small opportunities are often the beginning of great enterprises’
Demosthenes
College life in the Prep School remains busy, with the children continually exposed to a wonderful array of opportunities, both within and beyond the classroom. While certain events are just for the children, there is no doubt they take great joy and pride in showing their parents the progress they have made and what they have learnt.
The Stay and Play events for Butterfly and Firefly classes were great examples of this, with the exploration of Forest School central to their morning’s activities. Equally, the House Swimming Galas provided the children the chance to showcase their development of swim strokes, while simultaneously representing their House.
The sporting programme has been busy with House matches for football and rugby running alongside some inter-school fixtures, before our Touch Rugby and Rugby Teams set off for KL this weekend for their respective tournaments. Alongside this, our Gymnastics Team has been deep in preparation for the FOBISIA Gymnastics Competition, which is also happening this weekend.
Members of Year 8 enjoyed a day of Drama and acting with Frantic Assembly, (an external Theatre Company), while auditions were underway for the upcoming Piano Festival. In addition, our visiting artist was working with all of Pre-Prep this afternoon, which was a joy to see.
Elsewhere, children from multiple age groups have been preparing for the Lunar New Year celebrations next week, while Taylor House (our Junior Boarding House), went for a poke bowl evening with the Master and Mrs Burbury in the Lodge on Thursday evening.
The School Council (consisting of children from all Year groups that get together regularly) met today, providing us useful feedback and pupil voice about areas of the school that they would like to see develop further.
It has certainly been a week with a great deal going on, with a weekend full of opportunities for the children ahead of us. I wish you all a wonderful weekend.
With best wishes,
Chris Wilson
Head of Prep School
A Message from Mrs Cassidy and the Pre-Prep Team
It was Fireflies’ and Butterflies’ turn for some fun in Forest School with their parents this week. Firefly class topped the excitement scales when they discovered two Asian Swamp Eels in one of the shallow pools of water! Nature continues to surprise and impress us with these discoveries, and it is wonderful to see the enthusiasm and curiosity of the children as they explore and learn outdoors. A massive thank you to all the parents who have carved time out of busy schedules in order to come on these Forest School excursions over the last two weeks.
Our first Parent Beak meetings were a great success and hopefully you all enjoyed the chance to speak to specialist teachers this time around. I know that, for myself, it is a really enjoyable opportunity to share a bit of what the children have been learning in lessons.
Swimming Galas have been another very exciting event and I am very appreciative of the fact that this event involves a lot of standing in the sun for our dedicated parents! Ms Gordon did a wonderful job of organising races and our ever-committed graduate students did a brilliant job of supporting the children in the water. The children really showed their tenacity and team spirit, being avid supporters as well as participants.
Well done to all the pupils that had the courage to put their names forward for auditions for the up-coming Piano Festival, which will take place on 5th March. I know that Mr Chitambo was impressed by both the quantity and quality of the auditionees, and he has another tough decision to make when selecting the final participants.
A Message from Ms Yu, Head of Prep Mandarin
Lunar New Year Assembly 13th February, 2026.
The pupils have been working very hard preparing performances for the upcoming Lunar New Year Assembly to welcome the Year of the Horse. The Year of the Horse symbolises vitality and leadership; it is a time to embrace the spirit of Companionship as we gallop together toward a year of strength and health.
The LNY assembly is scheduled for Friday, 13th February. Kindly remind your child to wear either a Chinese outfit or something red or gold on that day, as it is an MCM tradition for all pupils and beaks to wear Chinese-style clothing for the Lunar New Year Assembly.
A big thanks to all the parents who contributed the red packages; please feel free to continue donating for our upcycling activities. Your support makes these celebrations extra special.
A Message from Cikgu Kavitha, Head of Prep Malay
We are excited to invite you to take part in our Prep School Hari Raya Fashion Show – a celebration of Malaysia’s rich culture and colourful traditions.
Each participant can represent one Malaysian State, showcasing its unique traditional attire on stage.
If you’re interested in joining:
- You’ll need to arrange your own costume that reflects your chosen State.
- Please be responsible for preparing your outfit and ensure your commitment throughout.
- Try not to withdraw at the last minute – it would be such a pity for your State to go unrepresented.
This is a wonderful opportunity to express your creativity, confidence, and cultural pride. If you would like to find out more or need guidance, drop me an email, kavitha@marlboroughcollege.my, I will be happy to share the sample video and additional details with you. I can’t wait to see our talented pupils shine on stage.
Year 8 Geography Trip – Palm Plantation Report
Written by Chloe T., 8-2
On Wednesday, 28th January, all Year 8 pupils went on the Palm Plantation Trip. We were divided into three main groups and rotated between three activities: extracting palm oil, walking around the palm plantation, and kayaking in the mangroves.
First, my group went to the Science lab to extract palm oil from palm seeds. We crushed and filtered the seeds to get the oil. We then did a photosynthesis experiment, in which we placed a lamp a certain distance and measured the air bubbles that were released from the pond weed, and a relay race, where we had to carry different balls symbolising different elements. It was interesting to learn how palm oil is made, but it was also tiring because it required a lot of effort. Overall, it was a fun and hands-on activity.
Next, we went on a walk around the oil palm plantation where we did two field sketches and an environmental quality survey. During the walk, we saw different types of fauna such as monkeys, birds, and cows. The walk helped us learn more about biodiversity of the palm oil plantation.
Finally, we went kayaking in the mangroves where we learnt about the importance of this ecosystem. We went in pairs and paddled through the water. At first, it felt overwhelming because my partner wanted to race and capsize others. We saw mudskippers along the way and were warned about crocodiles, but luckily none appeared and no one capsized.
Overall, the trip was very enjoyable and educational. I hope we can go on more trips like this again.
Ramadhan Fasting
As we approach the holy month of Ramadhan, please ensure that you inform your child’s Form Tutor if they are going to be fasting over Ramadhan, so that we can ensure special provision is made for them. It is very important to us that we understand your wishes over this very special period of time.
The Power of 15 Minutes – Reading Recommendation
We are committed to supporting every pupil in becoming a confident reader, as strong reading skills are essential for success across all areas of learning. Equally, we aim to nurture a natural love of reading for pleasure that will stay with pupils throughout their lives.
To achieve this, we strongly recommend that all pupils in Upper Prep dedicate at least 15 minutes every evening (Sunday to Thursday) to independent reading, ideally in bed. Building a regular reading routine is key to developing a lasting reading discipline and a lifelong love of books.
Here are some useful UK lists to provide inspiration and ideas for reading: Year 4, Year 5, Year 6, Year 7 and Year 8. However, pupils should select books appropriate for their individual reading ability. If you would like recommendations tailored to your child’s interests and reading ability, please encourage your child to speak directly with their English teacher. (Please always monitor what your child is reading and refer to the Common Sense Media website for guidance.)