Sekolah Menengah Damansara Utama

Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Damansara Utama (SMK Damanasara Utama / Damansara Utama High School / SMKDU / SMDU) is a secondary school situated in Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia.

Infobox Malaysia School
name = SMK Damansara Utama


motto = "Berfikir Asas Kebijaksanaan"
established = 1989
type = Government Co-ed Half-boarding Secondary School
session = Double
grades = Form 1 - Form 5
principal = Puan Hjh. Norsham bt. Baharuddin
enrollment = 1460
faculty = 85
district = Petaling
area = Damansara Utama
city = Petaling Jaya
state = Selangor,
country = Malaysia
website = http://www.smkdu.edu.my

Forefront

Motto

"Berfikir Asas Kebijaksanaan"

To explain further, 'Berfikir Asas Kebijaksanaan' which is a phrase in Bahasa Malaysia, refers to thinking as the basis of wisdom.

Vision

"Pelajar Cemerlang SMKDU Gemilang"

This motto basically means that when the students perform the school will also perform too. This is very much emphasized by the current Senior Principle, Puan Hajah Norsham bt. Baharudin.

Mission

To produce students who are balanced by way of:

*individuality

*academic

*extracurricular.

Identity

School Emblem

*"BERFIKIR ASAS KEBIJAKSANAAN"
Printed in black to emphasize the importance of thinking skills to succeed.

*"Paddy"
Symbolizes the staple food of Malaysians that guarantees health and well-being of students.

*"Year 1989/1409"
The year of the opening of SMK Damansara Utama.

*"Flaming torch"
The red flame symbolizes courage, firmness and discipline that is instilled in SMKDU.

*"The shape of a betel leaf"
Carries the meaning of the beauty and uniqueness of the school.

*"The colours of the school emblem"
The official colours of the Malaysian flag that symbolizes the nation's identity.

*"The book, three circles and a serrated wheel."
Shows the determination and perseverance of the students of SMK Damansara Utama in gaining knowledge to achieve success.

School Anthem

The school anthem was written by three students who were among the pioneer batch. As the school was new, most students who started there from the first day had ample opportunities to "build" the school from new. These included writing the first school song. The song was launched and rendered by the schools first choir on its first Parents Day.

Berfikir Asas Kebijaksanaan by Grace Yeong, Ng Sook Wah and Cynthia Lim

Di sini kami ditunjuk ajar penuh keyakinan
Belajar berusaha bersama-sama ke arah kejayaan
SMKDU sekolah kami sekolah kami cintai
Majulah bersama penuh semangat
Bersatu teguh bercerai roboh
Jadikan teladan
Marilah kita bersatu padu
berfikir asas kebijaksanaan.

"Literal translation:"

Here we are taught with confidence
Learning to make an effort together towards success
SMKDU is our school the school that we love
Let's move forward together with great spirits
Together we stand divided we fall
Make it an example
Let's unite
To think is the basis of wisdom

Translator's notes:
It may not be grammatically correct and may sound a little out of tune but Bahasa Malaysia works a little different from English.

History

Principals

1989-1990 : Encik Nazar bin Deruwish 1990-1992 : Pn. Nurhani binti Haji Mohd Sa’aid 1992-1993 : Encik Mokhtar bin Taib1993-1995 : Allahyarham Haji Mohamad bin Haji Taib 1995-2005 : Pn. Hajah Salmah binti Mat Isa 2005 - present : Puan Hajah Norsham binti Baharuddin

Publishings

School Magazine

Title: Memori
Issued: Yearly

It is amusing to say that Memori can just mean memories. It is the continued existence of memories that will forever remain in the hearts of those within the brick walls.Each year, there are different themes given for the magazine, below listed are some of the themes given according to year:-

2002-Nostalgia

2003-Dreams Unlimited

2004-Fountains of Inspiration

2005-Beyond the Horizon

2006-Frozen in Time

2007-Captured, Locked and Cherished

Website

Until recently, SMK Damansara Utama did not seem to have an official website.Fact|date=October 2007 However, ever since the upgrading of the computer lab complete with internet, the official website is now maintained by administrators on board.

Structures

Blocks

There are many blocks in the school. These are the blocks as of 2007:

*Block A (Aktif)
This block houses the Main Office, the printing room, the Lounge, and 'Bilik Kebal'.

*Block B
This block houses the classroom turned Bunga Raya Room, a computer lab, a science lab, a bookshop, the prefects room, the Koperasi, the APD room, the library and the meeting room (Bilik Wawasan).

*Block C
This block houses the old Chemistry, Biology and Physics labs. On the second level, there are the new Chemistry, Physics and Biology labs as well as an SPBT room turned classroom.

*Block D
On this block, there are only the form 1 classes (anggerik, cempaka, dahlia, teratai, kenanga, orkid, kiambang, mawar, melati) and a Scouts den.

*Block E
This block contains four Form 2 classes, the staff room, the SPBT room, two science labs, toilets and a St. John/PBSM room.

*Block F
This block on the other hand, houses the remaining four Form 2 classes, five form 5 classes, a counseling room, a disciplinary room, a cooking room (Living Skills), a Sports Store room and an Arts room.

*Block G
This block houses the remaining form 5 classes , an electrical workshop (Living Skills), two carpentry workshop (Living Skills), toilets and a media room.

Others

*Hostels
There are also the Hostels for students who live far from school. Some of the students are under a government program and thus live in the hostels.

*Canteen
The canteen is the place students love most. There are wide varieties of food sold at the school canteen.

*Hall
The school hall is where most of the functions are held at the school.

*Surau
The Surau is where students pray when they cannot make it home in time or for use during religious classes. It is located next to the hall.

Additions

Currently, there is a computer lab being built to accommodate a larger amount of students to use the computer.

Abilities

SMK Damansara Utama prides itself for producing achievers in many areas. Most of the students graduating will most likely attend colleges (namely Taylors, Sunway, Help or TARC), continue on with Form 6 or pursue further studies at local matriculation centres among other things.

Achievements

Anugerah Sekolah Harapan Negara - Runner Up

SMK Damansara Utama students have their share of achievements as well. Areas of sports such as tennis and badminton are the main ones which student have attained high achievements.

The drama team also achieved commendable success. Besides that, the English Debate team is also one of the best.

However, due to the change of the new school administrations, these are rarely seen today.

Trivia

#There used to be a fountain in front of the main entrance gate. However, it was removed due to certain reasons.
#For some reason, it is a withstanding tradition whereby students commonly use the term DUrians to refer SMK Damansara Utama students. This may be due to the one of the Young Entrepreneurs (YE) company name sometime ago, which is DUrians. Coincidentally, DUrians also refer to the King of fruits which Malaysia is famous for.
#The students come in earlier than working people. The first bell rings at 7.20 a.m. and the call is made at 7.15 a.m. indicating the students to be ready at the assembly area. Classes are usually required to start at 7.30 a.m. During this time of the day, music and poetry can be heard within the school compound played by the AEC club
#Currently, there are about 84 staff on board.
#It seems that the school admins are quite enthusiastic about making a cheer and a name other than DUrians. Apparently it was because of the durian reference.
#55% of the students in SMK Damansara Utama come from SRK Damansara Utama. 18% from SJK [C] Damansara, 13% from SJK [C] Puay Chai 1+2 and 14% others.
#The first batch of students in this school were invited from mainly two primary schools i.e. SRK Damansara Utama and SRK Damansara Jaya. Students who did not opt to join SM Damansara Utama mostly continued their studies at SM Damansara Jaya [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SMK_Damansara_Jaya] . Due to this historical reason, the students from both high school who were once schoolmates compete in many areas especially in sports and academic subjects on various level such as district level and national level etc.
#Thus explained they long-lasting rivalry.
#Admins in this school are divided into many different ranks in other words "cliques". There are the 'asrama' (hostel) students, the Greens (prefects), the cool students, goodie-two-shoes nerds, beauty queens, loners, greenpeace-bono-wannabe students, the scouters, the basketballers, the shufflers and many others.
# Majority of positions within Clubs and Society are give priority to Form 4 students as the Form 5 students need to prepare for they SPM National Examination.

List of Notable Alumni

#Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan
# Soo Wincci (Miss World Malaysia '08)
#Nicholas Khaw (Harvard '09)
#Ng Hui Lin (badminton)

External links

*Official Website - http://smkdu.esmartstudent.com/index.htm
*Additional Website - http://www.smkdu.edu.my
*Prefectorial Board 99/00 - http://members.tripod.com/~DUPrefects/index-2.htm