KGIS Weekly Newsletter 7th February 2024

THE KNOWLEDGE PARENT NEWSLETTER 7 FEBRUARY 2024

A Message from the Executive Principal Although this is a slightly shorter week than normal due to the announcement of the public holiday on Thursday, we have enjoyed an action packed week as always! Our KG and Grade 1 students enjoyed their Sports Days this week where they participated in a variety of exciting team challenges that supported the development of their physical literacy. There were throwing and catching games, an obstacle course that challenged balance, speed and agility, a dance fitness challenge, and parachute games.

The weather was perfect and we all enjoyed being outdoors in the fresh air! This great end to the week served as a fantastic reminder of the importance of sport and physical activity for all members of the KGIS Community, as part of our commitment to promoting healthy lifestyles as well as developing the important skill of collaboration. Thank you to the PE Team for their unwavering commitment to instilling a love of sport in all our students. The event also provided the perfect opportunity for our Secondary students to demonstrate their leadership skills as the Student Sports Leaders did a great job in coordinating and organising each of the activities.

This week we also welcomed a new cohort of mums and children to our KGIS Mother & Toddler Group. It was lovely to meet some younger siblings of children already at KGIS, and also new members of the community who are interested in finding out more about our school. Children from 6 months to 3 years were able to enjoy songs, music and soft play whilst mums had the opportunity to meet each other and enjoy some refreshments. Our next session is taking place on Wednesday 21 February at 1:30pm. All sessions are free of charge! Please share this information with friends and family. To reserve a place at the next session, parents can email Ms. Jenny: jennifer.s@kgisedu.com . Wishing you all a peaceful long weekend!

Key Dates Please make a note of the following important dates:

Tuesday 13 February: Grade 8 IGCSE Options Information Evening (5:00pm) Monday 19 February & Tuesday 20 February: ‘Matilda’ performances (6:30pm) Wednesday 21 February: KGIS Mother & Toddler Group (1:30pm) Wednesday 21 February: Grade 10 A Level and GED Options Information Evening (5:00pm) Wednesday 28 February: Parent Consultation Evening Grades 6 to 12 Thursday 29 February: KGIS ‘Year of Giving’ Non-Uniform Day Sunday 3 March-Thursday 7 March: Book Week Tuesday 5 March: KGIS Community Fair Thursday 7 March: World Book Day

Please click here to access the Academic Calendar for this academic year

Learning Overviews Click on the links below to access the learning overview, home learning expectations and assessment dates for each grade: KG1 KG2 Grade 1 Grade 2 Grade 3 Grade 4 Grade 5

Grade 6 Grade 7 Grade 8 Grade 9 Grade 10

KGIS Universal Islamic Value for February: Excellence

Extra-Curricular Activities Click here to access the Extra-Curricular Timetable for this term Extra-Curricular Activities A reminder that our programme of extra-curricular activities has now started for all students. We have a huge variety of activities on offer before school, at lunch times and after school. There really is something for everyone!

All activities are free of charge and students are encouraged to join as many as possible in order to broaden their skills. Please click on the link above to see the timetable of activities.

Model United Nations Our Model United Nations (MUN) students recently excelled at The American International School of Muscat (TAISM) conference, their second one to date. With a team of 21 students representing various countries, the event provided a platform for diplomatic discussions and collaboration with peers from different schools. The diverse delegation showcased the inclusive nature of our MUN programme, where each student passionately addressed global issues. Engaging in debates ranging from environmental concerns to socio-economic challenges, our delegates demonstrated critical skills such as public speaking, negotiation, research, and teamwork.

A notable achievement came from Numair Al Abdulsalam in Grade 12, who represented Germany on the Security Council and won Best Delegate from our school. His success adds to the recognition our students received for their outstanding performances, underscoring their commitment to excellence. Beyond formal committee sessions, the conference facilitated networking and cultural exchange, fostering connections with peers from diverse backgrounds. As we celebrate the success of our MUN team, we anticipate the lasting impact of this experience on our students' academic and personal development. Their continued growth in the MUN programme promises a positive influence on shaping a better, more interconnected world.

BSM Swim Meet On Friday 2nd and Saturday 3rd February our KGIS swimmers attended a swimming meet at the British School of Muscat. The meet was attended by the best swimmers in Oman, and lots of new records were set during the competition. Our students swam particularly well and set numerous personal best times. As always, the team didn’t come back empty handed; our swimmers brought home 31 medals between them! Well done to everyone who took part and a special congratulations to all the KGIS medal winners.

Medal positions: Amber Dinh, Grade 8 (Girls 13-14) 200m Breast Bronze Amir Marvarov, Grade 4 (Boys 10 and under) 200m Back Bronze 100m Breast Bronze 100m Back Silver 50m Back Silver 200m Free Bronze

Extra-Curricular Activities Click here to access the Extra-Curricular Timetable for this term Jahongir Marvarov, Grade 9 (Boys 15 and over) 400m Free Silver 200m Fly Silver 100m Back Bronze 400m IM Gold 200m Breast Gold 50m Breast Gold Lily Simpson, Grade 8 (Girls 13-14) 400m Free Gold 100m Breast Silver 200m IM Silver 50m Breast Bronze Muhammad Mbaye, Grade 4 (Boys 10 and under) 200m Breast Gold Nizar Sharaf, Grade 9 (Boys 13-14) 50m Fly Silver 50m Free Silver 200m IM Bronze 200m Fly Silver Olivia Simpson, Grade 9 (Girls 15 and over) 100m Breast Bronze 50m Breast Silver Wathiq Mbaye, Grade 5 (Boys 10 and under) 200m Back Silver 50m Fly Silver 50m Free Silver 200m IM Gold 50m Back Gold 200m Free Silver 100m Free Silver 50m Breast Gold

Extra-Curricular Activities Click here to access the Extra-Curricular Timetable for this term

Matilda Musical Theatre Production Rehearsals are well underway for our annual musical theatre production. This year our talented Primary and Secondary students will be performing Matilda: The Musical on Monday 19th and Tuesday 20th February at 6:30pm.

This promises to be a fantastic evening of entertainment for the whole family! Please come along and support the students. Tickets are free of charge, and parents can reserve seats for the show by clicking here.

Mother & Toddler Group Click here to access the Extra-Curricular Timetable for this term KGIS Mother & Toddler Group We are very pleased to announce the launch of our first ever KGIS Mother & Toddler Group for children aged 6 months to 3 years! Come along with your child on Wednesday 7 February at 1:30pm to meet other mums, enjoy soft play and educational games led by our expert Early Years teachers. The group is free of charge, and we are also welcoming families from outside the school so please let your friends know! You can sign up for a place by emailing Ms. Jenny: jennifer.s@kgis-edu.com

Extra-Curricular Activities Click here to access the Extra-Curricular Timetable for this term Inspired Forte Music Programme We are very excited to remind parents of this unique opportunity available for students who learn a musical instrument! This opportunity is only available to students in Inspired schools, and offers a series of private instrument lessons with a tutor from the Royal College of Music in London - the world’s number one music conservatory.

In partnership with The Royal College of Music in London, Forte has launched the Pathways to Performance programme exclusively for Inspired students. The programme offers a package of private lessons with otherwise inaccessible top music tutors, verified by The Royal College of Music, the world’s #1 ranked music conservatory.

Every private tutor currently teaches at or has received music education training at The Royal College of Music, so they are not just excellent Royal College of Music musicians, but they have also been trained by the best in music teaching practice.

The programme caters to students at senior school level who desire to achieve advanced levels in their instrumental abilities and to those preparing for auditions or public performances. Upon completion, students will have the chance to get certificates of attendance issued from The Royal College of Music, further reflecting their hard work.

Further information can be found: https://fortelessons.com/inspired . The following video also offers more insight into the programme: Click here for video

Extra-Curricular Activities Click here to access the Extra-Curricular Timetable for this term Inspired Summer Camps Inspired Global Camps, a tailored option for every child Watch our YouTube video here!

Our summer camps give students the chance to stay at some of Europe's top boarding schools and take part in programmes delivered by world-class partners. It is an opportunity to travel, meet peers from other countries and get involved with inspiring activities, learning new skills that will stay with them forever. For more information, please click here.

KG News KG Update A huge thank you to all of our parents and grandparents who came to visit last Wednesday for our Gingerbread Man picnic! It was great to see so many of you join us and enjoy the delicious food and beautiful weather in our KG Garden. A big thank you also to the KG Team, and in particular Ms. Alison, Ms. Isobel and Ms. Najat for all of their hard work organising the event.

In KG2 the children have been busy exploring the story of The Gingerbread Man. They have enjoyed baking Gingerbread Men and painting their own Gingerbread Man. They even made bridges and boats to help the Gingerbread Man cross the river so he doesn’t get eaten by the greedy fox!

In class we have been using Pie Corbett’s Talk 4 Writing initiative to learn and retell the story of The Gingerbread Man with actions. It is a fantastic tool which enables all children to grow as creative young writers by imitating the key language skills they need for a specific topic orally, before they put pen to paper. The children couldn’t wait to perform the story to their parents and family! This was followed by a wonderful picnic in the KG Garden.

Primary News A Message from Mr. Ian, Head of Primary As is the case at this time of year, we are seeing a spike in seasonal illnesses. We may remember some of the good practices we learned during the pandemic around limiting spread of germs and illnesses but the most important thing we can do is keep sick children at home when unwell.

Health and Well-being of the Child: Sending a sick child to school can compromise their own health and well-being. When children are unwell, their immune systems are often weakened, making them more susceptible to infections. Exposing a sick child to the school environment may increase the risk of spreading illness to other students and staff.

Preventing the Spread of Illness: Sick children can easily spread contagious illnesses to their classmates and teachers. Common childhood illnesses such as the flu, colds, and stomach viruses can be highly contagious, leading to outbreaks within the school community. Keeping sick children at home helps prevent the rapid spread of infections and protects the overall health of the school population.

Maintaining a Healthy Learning Environment: Having sick children in the classroom can disrupt the learning environment. Sick children may struggle to focus, participate, or engage in classroom activities. Additionally, teachers may need to spend extra time caring for unwell students, diverting attention away from the rest of the class. By keeping sick children at home, the school can maintain a healthier and more conducive learning environment for everyone.

Finally, we have had a number of cases of head lice this week in many different grades and classes. Please check your child’s hair for evidence of lice and make sure to treat it with an appropriate shampoo. Children with lice need to remain at home for 48 hours after treatment.

Grades 1 and 2 In English in Grade 2, we have been looking at pronouns. We wrote some sentences which focused on using regular and irregular verbs. We discussed our sentences with a partner and using our phonics Fred Fingers we wrote them down on our tables.

Primary News In Science Grade 2 have been learning about electricity and how it can create heat, light sound and/or movement.

We discussed how some electrical objects can create more than one of these outputs (e.g. a television can create light and sound). Pictured, you can see us go on an electricity hunt around the school grounds!

This week in Maths we have been learning how to double single digit numbers. We played some maths games on the iPad called ‘Hit the Button’ which focused on building on doubling and halving skills. We also practised our multiplication and division focusing on 2, 5 and 10 times tables.

Grades 3 to 5 In Arabic, Grade 3 students used a group of different educational strategies to discover different word divisions in the Arabic language and learned about different sentence structures in an interactive setting.

Primary News This week in Science, Grade 4 spent some time consolidating the topic of the different states of matter. We created fun board games that could be shared amongst other groups. Creating a game to teach Grade 4 students about states of matter was a fun and effective way to consolidate their understanding of the characteristics of solids, liquids, and gases.

After the game, the children had a class discussion to reinforce the concepts learned. They spent time discussing the characteristics of each state of matter and relating them to real-life examples. The teacher spent time encouraging students to share their experiences during the game and how they applied their knowledge of states of matter.

Secondary News Message from Mr. James, Head of Secondary This month we have many parent engagement opportunities and we hope to see as many parents attend these events as possible. Coming up, we have lots of opportunities for parents to get involved in their child’s education.

The first of these events is our IGCSE information evening scheduled for next week (Wednesday 14th February) for Grade 8 students and parents. Furthermore, we will also offer an A-Level/BD Options evening (Wednesday 21st February) for Grade 10 parents and students, and another Academic Review Day for students in Grades 6 to 12. At KGIS, we value the partnership between the school and parents as we believe it is vital to sustain students’ success.

I strongly encourage all parents to attend the events above as is relevant for your child.

IGCSE Options Evening - Grade 8 Parents - Wednesday 14th February @ 4:00pm We are excited to invite you to our IGCSE Options Evening on Wednesday 14th February, starting at 4:00pm in the KG Hall. This event is a crucial opportunity for you and your child to explore the diverse academic pathways we offer.

Our curriculum, the broadest in Muscat, ensures a well-rounded education, preparing students for future success.

At the Options Evening, you'll have the chance to delve into specific subjects with our dedicated specialists and Heads of Departments. This interactive session allows you to ask questions, gain insights, and make informed decisions about your child's academic journey. Your presence is invaluable in shaping their educational path.

Together, let's empower our students for a bright and promising future!

Parent Consultation Evening - Grades 10 to 12 - Next Steps - RESCHEDULED to WEDNESDAY 28th FEBRUARY Due to the government announced closure of roads yesterday, it was necessary to reschedule the planned Parent Consultation Evening for Grades 10 to 12. This will now take place on Wednesday 28th February. Your active participation underscores the shared commitment between home and school to nurture academic excellence in our students. The insights you will gain from fruitful discussions with teachers are invaluable in charting a course toward examination success. As we navigate the crucial period leading to final exams, we encourage you to attend in order to support your child in actioning the feedback received. Implementing sustainable revision strategies is key. Establish a structured study routine, allocate focused time to each subject, and ensure breaks for optimal retention. Utilise a variety of resources, from textbooks to online materials, and encourage active learning through discussions and teaching concepts to others.

Remember, a balanced approach to revision, coupled with consistent effort, paves the way for success. Your support is instrumental in guiding our students toward achieving their academic aspirations.

Thank you for your continued partnership and support.

Secondary News Subject Spotlight: Performing & Creative Arts In the spirit of artistic enrichment, students from Grades 6 to 8 have been diligently rehearsing their instrumental performance pieces, showcasing their talents on an array of instruments including keyboard, guitar, bass, and drums.

This musical endeavour not only nurtures individual creativity but also fosters teamwork and collaboration among students. Through this practical element students are not only learning how to play the instrument, but also how to read musical notation, as well as song structure and composition techniques.

At KGIS, we firmly believe in the transformative power of music within our educational philosophy. Music transcends traditional boundaries, enhancing cognitive abilities, emotional intelligence, and social skills. It serves as a vehicle for self-expression and self-discovery, allowing students to develop a deeper connection with their own creativity and the world around them. By integrating music into our curriculum, we aim to instil a lifelong appreciation for the arts, promoting holistic development and nurturing well-rounded individuals prepared for the challenges of the future.

In Art, our Grade 12 students are deeply involved with the Arabic Calligraphy unit. Students are immersing themselves in the intricacies of diverse calligraphic styles, including Thuluth, Diwani, Al Nakh, and Persian scripts. This exploration goes beyond the strokes and curves, delving into the historical, cultural, and artistic significance of each style. As a culmination of their studies, students will collaboratively channel their newfound knowledge and skills into a class project. This hands-on experience not only hones their artistic abilities but also fosters a deeper appreciation for the rich cultural heritage embedded in Arabic calligraphy. Through this unit, Grade 12 are not only mastering a timeless art form but also contributing to a collective masterpiece that reflects the unity in diversity within their class.

Secondary News In the lead-up to their final IGCSE examination piece, our Grade 10 Art students are showcasing remarkable dedication and talent, leaving us immensely proud of their meticulous approach and patient skills. Each student is diligently honing their artistic abilities, exploring various techniques and mediums to express their creativity. The Art Studio is alive with the vibrant energy of budding artists, each brushstroke and detail reflecting their unique vision and personal flair. This period of intensive preparation is not just about creating visually stunning pieces; it's a testament to the students' commitment to the artistic process. As they navigate the challenges of composition, form, and concept, their growth as artists is evident. We look forward to witnessing the culmination of their hard work in the final examination pieces, celebrating not only artistic achievement but also the resilience and passion that define our Art students.

School Catering We are proud to partner with Azima Catering to offer healthy, nutritious meals for all students.

Please contact Ms. Amira at admissions@kgis-edu.com for any queries or requests relating to catering.

Click here to see this week's menu

Contact the School For General Enquiries please contact the School Reception: E: reception@kgis-edu.com T: 2407 3500 / 2407 3501 For academic or pastoral concerns and questions, please contact your child's Homeroom Teacher in the first instance via email Uniform Shop The Uniform Shop is situated at the Main Reception and is open Sunday to Thursday from 8:00am-3:30pm Finance Office The Finance Office is situated at the Main Reception and is open Sunday to Thursday from 8:00am-3:30pm E: finance@kgis-edu.com T: 2407 3517 Admissions The Admissions Office is open Sunday to Thursday from 8:00am-4:00pm To see school fees and Admissions information please click here E: admissions@kgis-edu.com T: 2407 3504

www.kgis.edu.om