KGIS Weekly Newsletter 8 June 2023

THE KNOWLEDGE

A Message from the Executive Principal

Thank you for all your support in ensuring that all students completed their end of year assessments successfully over the last two weeks. A reminder that normal lessons are continuing until the end of the academic year, and vital teaching and learning is still taking place. Please ensure that your children continue to attend school each day so that they do not miss important learning that prepares them for next academic year.

We have received approval from the Ministry of Education for students to finish the school year on Thursday 22nd June due to the Eid holiday that is expected the following week. Therefore the last day of school for all grades will be Thursday 22nd June In order to celebrate the end of a fantastically successful academic year, we plan to finish with a Non-Uniform Day in aid of local charitable causes. Students may attend in non-uniform and should bring OMR 1 to contribute to the charity fund raising on this day. All classes will have a class celebration afternoon on Thursday 22nd June organised by their teachers and we hope that all students can attend to celebrate the year together!

We will be sharing final reports, summer work and information packs with all parents during the final week of the year. These can be collected by parents from the School Reception on Monday 19 June and Tuesday 20 June between 8:00am and 4:00pm Any packs not collected on these days will be given to students to bring home on Wednesday 21 June and Thursday 22 June.

Thank you as always for your continued support!

Ms. Liz Stanley Executive Principal

Key Dates

Please make a note of the following important dates:

Monday 19 June: KG2 Graduation Ceremony (9:00am)

Monday 19 June: Grade 5 Graduation Ceremony (1:30pm)

Tuesday 20 June: Grade 12 Graduation Ceremony

Wednesday 21 June: Term 3 Academic Reports published to parents

Wednesday 21 June: Student Awards Ceremony (2:30pm)

Thursday 22 June: Non-Uniform & Class Celebrations Day for all students

Thursday 22 June: Last day of Term 3 for students

Please click here to access the Academic Calendar for this year

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

Learning

Overviews

Clickonthelinksbelowtoaccessthelearningoverview,homelearningexpectationsand assessmentdatesforeachgrade:

KG1 KG2

Grade 1

Grade 2

Grade 3

Grade 4

Grade 5

Grade 6

Grade 7

Grade 8

Grade 9

Grade 10 (no overview due to IGCSE exams)

Extra-Curricular Activities

a-Curricular Timetable for this term

Extra-Curricular Activities

Extra-curricular activities continue as normal this week. Please use the link above to see the timetable for Term 3.

KGIS Science Day: Thursday 8 June

This week we celebrated Science Day at KGIS for all students. On Thursday students were invited to come to school dressed as their favourite scientist and it was fantastic to see the great effort that everyone had put into their costumes! Everyone embraced the opportunity to create hands-on scientific fun for the students. Students enjoyed experiments including dancing raisins in KG, volcano making in Grade 1, water transportation in Grade 2, chemical reactions in Grade 3 to electrical circuits and bouncing eggs in Grade 4! The students had great fun trying their hand at a variety of investigations and explaining what and how they have done it.

Secondary students enjoyed a range of practical activities as well a fantastic Science Show led by Mr. Graham. We look forward to Science Week in the next academic year. If we can have so much fun in just one day, imagine what we can achieve in a week!

KG Update

Another fantastic week in KG has flown by in a flash! Thank you so much to our Mystery Readers, Shahd's big brother Mansoor visited KG1 to read the children a story, they were simply in awe as he read to them, thank you Mansoor! Meanwhile, in KG2, Mr Ali visited from the Secondary Phase and read the children a story about dragons. Thank you Mr Ali, the children thoroughly enjoyed the story and answered the wonderful questions which you had prepared to ask the children afterwards!

This week in KG1 the children have enjoyed continuing their learning about going on holidays and transport, we have had some wonderful drivers of the 'Naughty Bus'! In KG2 the children have been working hard to understand odd and even numbers to 10, we set up a lovely picnic and shared foods between Ted and Fred to consolidate this understanding. The children are really looking forward to our school trip on Monday 12th June, pictures to follow!

Primary News

A Message from Mr. Ian, Head of Primary

Hoping that as always you are all well and getting ready for our summer break in a few short weeks. Lessons are ongoing everyday so please ensure your children are attending on time and every day. We are still covering vital curriculum content and it is hugely important not to allow your child to miss any school this month.

With the arrival of the warm weather, kindly ensure that your child brings their hat and water bottle to school daily. It is important for children to have the opportunity to enjoy outdoor time, allowing them to stretch their legs, relax their muscles, and rejuvenate their minds. In order to ensure a safe and pleasant experience, students have a reduced outdoor playtime, during which they are required to wear a hat and have a water bottle with them Additionally, children are permitted to bring a small toy or engage in a craft activity while in their classrooms during the remainder of playtime

Finally, our Islamic Theme of the Month for June is Solidarity. Solidarity is of great importance for younger children as it plays a crucial role in their social, emotional, and cognitive development. Here are some key reasons why solidarity is significant for children in their primary years:

It builds empathy and compassion

Children learn to understand and appreciate the feelings and experiences of others

Children develop a sense of care and concern for their peers

It supports emotional well-being

Solidarity promotes a sense of belonging and inclusivity among children When they experience solidarity, they feel supported and valued by their peers, which helps them develop a positive self-image, boosts their self-esteem, and reduces feelings of loneliness or isolation.

Solidarity encourages children to work together and collaborate towards a common goal. It teaches them the importance of teamwork, cooperation, and compromise and provides children with opportunities to learn and practice conflict resolution skills.

Finally solidarity teaches children the value of support and resilience. When they witness or experience solidarity, they understand that they are not alone in facing challenges It helps them build resilience by providing a support network and a sense of collective strength, enabling them to bounce back from setbacks and adversity.

Primary News

Grades 1 and 2

Grade 1 has been working very hard on learning how to use clay They designed a 'Wild Thing' and used different tools to bring their sketch to life with clay. Once they had dried, they added paint to add an extra effect.

1D have been enjoying their ICT lessons in the computer suite. They have used a painting programme, learnt how to type some captions, used a story creating programme and have begun to learn coding by creating a sequence of events for a character to follow.

Grade 2 have loved their topic on buildings and homes. They looked at some different homes around the world and tried to recreate one of them by using a variety of materials from leaves and twigs to stones and polystyrene blocks. They worked together in teams to decide the best way to join and assemble the pieces together and created some amazing structures

Primary News

Grades 3 to 5

Grade 3 have been working on creating paper fans decorated in the style of the French artist Henri Matisse. The techniques they used are collage (the technique that made Henri Matisse famous) and origami. The students worked in two groups, each choosing a complementary colours including black and white. The art vocabulary we have been learning and using is collage, balance, complementary, embellished and ornamented. This is definitely a technique that children can try at home themselves over the holidays!

One of this week's Mathematics topics is probability for Mr Simon’s Grade 5B & 5C. The children had a practical lesson where they each made a six sided spinner. The children used a premade template and personalised the spinner. Cutting cardboard was part of the process and this was done by the teacher with craft scissors. Students prepared a tally table in their notebooks and made a tally of the results of spinning their personalised spinner. The randomness of the outcomes stimulated some talk about how different the spinners could be.

Secondary News

Message from Mr. James, Head of Secondary

As we move into June, we begin celebrating a new Universal Islamic Value, that of solidarity A value that lies at the heart of our school community. June is a month that highlights the significance of unity, empathy, and collective support. At KGIS, we believe in fostering an inclusive environment where every student is encouraged to appreciate and embrace the principles of solidarity. Solidarity teaches our children the importance of standing together as a cohesive unit, supporting one another through challenging times, and celebrating each other's successes. We strive to instil in our students a deep sense of empathy and compassion for their fellow classmates, promoting a culture of understanding, acceptance, and tolerance.

We encourage collaborative learning, group activities, and communal projects that enable them to work together, appreciate diversity, and build long-lasting friendships. By emphasising the value of solidarity, we believe our students are equipped with the necessary tools to navigate the complexities of the world with kindness, respect, and a profound sense of togetherness.

I would again like to remind parents that lessons are taking place as normal. It is extremely important that all students attend as teachers will be delivering vital feedback from exams, as well as preparing students for the next academic year If students do not attend, they will be at a major disadvantage I appreciate your support in encouraging your child to attend all lessons.

Finally, it was fantastic to see so many students dress-up and participate in a very successful Science Day! The theme of the day was ‘Exploration and Discovery’ and there were many opportunities for students to participate in exciting experiments and amazing activities throughout the day! Please see photos below of some of our wonderful students.

Secondary News

Learning and Teaching

Students in Grade 8 performed two practical experiments in which they extracted cheek cells from their own mouths and onion cells. They stained their samples and observed them under a microscope. Conducting microscopy practicals is essential for students to develop the ability to calculate magnification and appreciate the differences between animal and plant cells. Furthermore, these microscopy practicals allow students to gain hands-on experience in preparing slides, focusing the microscope, and adjusting magnification settings. By observing the distinctive features of cheek and onion cells, students can better understand the contrasting characteristics of animal and plant cells, enhancing their overall understanding of cell biology.

Throughout the week Grade 6 students have been engrossed in their study of the solar system. They eagerly delved into researching the planets, their orbits, and unique features. As a culminating activity, students showcased their newfound knowledge by creating spectacular 3D models of the solar system. With meticulous detail, they crafted planets using various materials, accurately representing their sizes and colours These captivating models not only reinforced their understanding of the solar system but also sparked their creativity and imagination. Perhaps KGIS has just unearthed future astronomers or even astronauts!

Secondary News

Art students have been fully engaged in a project focused on crafting lifelike models of aesthetically pleasing trees. They showcased their artistic abilities through a variety of skills and techniques. From sketching and designing the tree's structure to employing different cutting techniques, the students demonstrated their creativity and attention to detail.

Grade 9