KGIS Weekly Newsletter 14th March 2024

THE KNOWLEDGE

A Message from the Executive Principal

May I begin by wishing Ramadan Mubarak to all members of the KGIS community! As an international school we welcome new students and families from around the world throughout the year. For some of our families, this will be the first time that they experience this special month as they learn about the religion, culture and traditions of this beautiful country.

It is wonderful to be part of an international community such as ours, and also to be part of a country and society such as the one here in Oman The values that are held and practised as part of Ramadan are an ideal example for all our students, wherever they may be from.

Within our school we emphasise the universal values including Benevolence, Gratitude and Support. In addition to this, Ramadan is a time for reflection and community, and very much for tolerance and consideration of others. This all fits in very closely with the aims that we all have for how our children grow up, and the kind of people we wish them to become

Thanks to all parents and students for adapting so well to the new school timings which started on Tuesday. Even though the hours are shorter we will continue to make the best of each day for our academic learning, and for the personal values and consideration which are so important throughout the Holy Month.

Finally, I would like to draw your attention once again to our programme of Ramadan events at the school I hope that you will be able to join us at our Community Iftar on Wednesday 20th March. Please use the link in the newsletter below to register your attendance.

Wishing you all a peaceful weekend!

Key Dates

Please make a note of the following important dates:

Wednesday 20 March: KGIS Community Iftar (6:00pm)

Sunday 24 March-Tuesday 26 March: KGIS Workers Iftars

Thursday 28 March: Last day of Term 2

Sunday 31 March-Thursday 11 April: Spring Break (school closed)

Sunday 14 April: Start of Term 3

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

Clickonthelinksbelowtoaccessthelearningoverview,homelearningexpectationsand

assessmentdatesforeachgrade:

KG2

Grade 1

Grade 2

Grade 3

Grade 6

Grade 7

Grade 8

Grade 9

Grade 10

KG1

The Holy Month of Ramadan at KGIS

This year we are focusing on our 'KGIS Year of Giving'. This is particularly fitting as we approach the start of the Holy Month of Ramadan. For Muslims, Ramadan is considered one of the most blessed months of the year. This is due to the revelation of the Holy Qu’ran to the Prophet Muhammad (May Peace and Blessings be Upon Him). The Holy Month of Ramadan provides an opportunity for Muslims around the world to reinforce their faith in Allah through the process of self-purification.

During the Holy Month of Ramadan, many members of our school community will fast, will engage in more prayers and acts of worship, and will spend more time with family to strengthen and unify these relationships. Ramadan is a time where we should be more concerned about the needs of others Sharing meals and giving to charity are encouraged as some of the most beloved deeds to Allah that Muslims desire to be accepted by Him.

Fasting, praying and giving during the Holy Month of Ramadan should not affect our daily activities. They mean a greater effort to perform all the usual duties and more. It is important to remember that this holiest of months is like an intense ‘training period’ for life. The intention is not that we fast, pray and give only during Ramadan, but that these are behaviours that we demonstrate throughout our lives.

This month at KGIS, we will be encouraging all students and families to think about our value of benevolence and how we can give back to our local and international community. As such we will be promoting the following charitable activities in order to raise money for local and international charitable causes including the Oman Charitable Fund and our mosque building project in Senegal, and we thank you all in advance for your support of these

Ramadan Food Boxes for the Needy

Parents who wish to donate Ramadan food boxes to needy families in the local community now have the convenience of being able to order and distribute their food boxes directly through the school! The boxes will contain essential non-perishable food items and are available at cost of RO 12 each As well as helping local families in need, a proportion of the income from the food boxes will be donated to our local and international charitable causes.

As a school we will distribute the Ramadan Boxes to underprivileged families and groups in the local community during the week commencing Sunday 17th March Please click this link to pre-order your Ramadan boxes no later than Thursday 14th March.

Sponsorship of Items for Senegal Mosque Building Project

After Eid, our Construction Engineer Mr. Syed is travelling to Senegal in order to supervise the first phase of the build for our mosque project. As such we are inviting parents who wish to give Zakat and contribute to sponsor individual items that are required for the mosque. These include lights, wall tiles, carpet, air conditioning units, ceiling fans and more. Please click here to register your interest in sponsoring an item. A complete list of items required will be sent to parents who register interest.

KGIS Workers Iftars

The Holy Month of Ramadan at KGIS

Following the great success of our Workers Iftars last year, the Student Council will once again be preparing and serving an Iftar meal to 50 workers based in the local community each evening during the week commencing Sunday 24th March. In order to support this fantastic student initiative, we are asking parents to consider if they would be willing to prepare and donate a dish for up to 50 people on one evening. This could be an appetiser (samosas etc.), a main dish or a dessert. If you would be willing to contribute a dish, and would be happy for the Student Council to contact you, please click here and complete the form

KGIS Community Iftar: Wednesday 20th March

We are pleased to invite families once again to our KGIS Community Iftar on Wednesday 20th March at 6:00pm. The Community Iftar gives us the chance to come together as a community to pray, celebrate the Holy Month of Ramadan and break fast together with a lovely meal The event will be sponsored by Azima Catering once again this year and we thank them for their generosity in preparing another amazing buffet for this event! The event is open to all KGIS families. Tickets cost RO 3 for adults and RO 1.5 for children and all proceeds will be donated to our local and international charitable causes. If you would like to join us for the Iftar, please click here to obtain your places as soon as possible. We hope to see lots of you attend!

School Hours During the Holy Month of Ramadan

The Holy Month of Ramadan started on Tuesday 12th March. The timings of the school day are as follows:

KG: 8:15am-11:50am

Grades 1 & 2: 8:15am-1:15pm

Grades 3-12: 8:15am-1:45pm

Parents are asked to drop their children at school no earlier than 7:50am, and no later than 8:15am. The school bus service will operate with amended timings as per the above. Please note that the morning pick up will be approximately one hour later than normal during the Holy Month of Ramadan

Please also note that there will be no before or after school extra-curricular activities during the Holy Month of Ramadan. During the Holy Month of Ramadan, the school will operate designated fasting and non-fasting areas at break and lunchtimes. Students will be able to pray during the school day and take part in daily group prayers under the supervision of the Islamic Studies Department

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.

Extra-Curricular Activities during Ramadan

A reminder that Extra-Curricular Activities are not taking place during the Holy Month of Ramadan. All activities will resume as normal when we return to school after the Spring Break.

Inspired Forte Music Programme

Extra-Curricular Activities

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

Inspired Summer Camps

Inspired Global Camps, a tailored option for every child

Watch our YouTube video here!

Extra-Curricular Activities

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 Update

KG News

This week the children have been busy preparing for the start of Ramadan. They have enjoyed creating decorations for their classrooms and taking part in henna activities. Our children made some beautiful lanterns which they will use do decorate their homes as well as our classrooms. We had a great time on Tuesday having Ms. Aisha and Ms. Maathir drew some beautiful henna designs on the girls' hands to celebrate the start of Ramadan. Thank you to all the girls who brought donations to support our charitable projects!

We also enjoyed a fantastic dress up day last Thursday to celebrate World Book Day with the children dressing as their favourite book characters. Well done to Ms. Isobel's class who won the door decorating competition with their beautiful “Little Red Hen” design!

A Message from Mr. Ian, Head of Primary

Primary News

As you know, last week was a fantastic Book Week at KGIS! Our children and teachers made a huge effort to celebrate World Book Day by getting dressed up as their favourite characters from the literary world! Our theme was based around Roald Dahl this year and the school was filled with Charlies, Matildas, Twits and there was even a Big Friendly Giant to be seen!

Book Week encourages reading and literacy among people of all ages, but especially among children and young adults. By highlighting the joy and benefits of reading, it helps foster a love of books and learning. Books have the power to spark imagination and creativity in readers. Book Week celebrates this aspect of literature, encouraging children to explore new worlds and ideas through the pages of a book.

Well done to all of the children who worked really hard on their door displays but a special congratulations to Ms Ashley and her Grade 3B class for their wonderful and original “The Enormous Crocodile” door, to Ms. Sarah and her 1A class for their beautiful door based on the story of ”Handa’s Hen”

Grades 1 & 2

Grade 1 have had a busy time in Maths as we celebrate Pi Day! We have started learning about measuring. We read the book ‘Actual Size’ and we put some children in size order from shortest to tallest. The children then completed a task ordering different sizes of giraffes from shortest to tallest

Primary News

In English, we are continuing learning about the fairytale "Little Red Riding Hood". In Science, the children are learning about different properties of materials and they will be drawing a design for a toy made out of the materials of their choosing We also consolidated their prior knowledge of the words transparent, translucent and opaque.

Grade 2 students spent time reading the story "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" and looked at the characters and discussed direct and indirect speech. They chose different characters from the story and wrote some speaking texts using speech marks.

In Grade 2 Maths, we are learning to use standard and non-standard units to measure. The children learned to how to use a ruler to record different lengths. Pictured, you can see us practising using foot steps to measure how tall someone is!

Grades 3 to 5

In Grade 4 we spent time writing our own creative fantasy stories. This week we wrote about our villains and even made up our own songs. The Grade 4 students are working on honing their editing skills too to improve their writing We have spent time looking at each other's work and giving some feedback on how our stories can be improved as well as checking our grammar and punctuation. The feedback is focussed on being specific, kind and helpful.

In Mathematics this week we have had a look at 2- dimensional and 3 - dimensional shapes and their properties leading up to the concepts of symmetry, and tessellation in patterns. This was a fun week of finding shapes and patterns in our own classrooms and creating our own tessellations, and discovering what everyday objects are symmetrical or asymmetrical

In Science we have been looking at different types of energy and examples of these We discovered that energy cannot be created nor destroyed but rather it changes from one type to another. Exploring sound energy inspired us to create our own musical instruments and create our own melodies.

Primary News

Message from Mr. James, Head of Secondary

Secondary News

Ramadan Mubarak! As we embark on this sacred month, it's a time for spiritual reflection, self-discipline, and heightened devotion. Ramadan offers us an invaluable opportunity to deepen our connection with our faith, strengthen our bonds with family and community, and foster empathy and compassion for those in need. Through fasting from dawn till dusk, Muslims not only abstain from physical nourishment but also strive to purify their hearts and minds, seeking forgiveness and seeking closeness to the Divine. It's a time to engage in acts of charity, selflessness, and prayer, enriching our souls Let us embrace the blessings of Ramadan with open hearts, striving to cultivate patience, gratitude, and kindness in our daily lives. May this month bring peace, blessings, and spiritual fulfilment to all!

Henna Design

In the spirit of Ramadan, the presence of an expert Henna artist on site at our school this week was truly uplifting. It provided a unique opportunity for students to engage in a cultural tradition that holds significant meaning during this sacred month. Henna, with its intricate designs and rich symbolism, serves as more than just a form of adornment; it's a reflection of identity, celebration, and spirituality.

For our students, participating in this activity not only allowed them to beautify their hands with stunning designs but also provided a moment of connection to the cultural and religious significance of Ramadan As they adorned themselves with Henna, they were not only preparing for the month ahead but also immersing themselves in a centuries-old tradition that fosters community and spirituality. Moreover, having the Henna artist on site created an atmosphere of inclusivity and celebration, where students from diverse backgrounds could come together to appreciate and honour each other's traditions. It's moments like these that enrich the educational experience and promote understanding, empathy, and unity among our student body

Punctuality

Punctuality is a cornerstone of success, especially in the realm of education. Its significance extends beyond mere timeliness; it directly influences students' learning outcomes and academic progress Research indicates that even small increments of tardiness can significantly impede a student's educational journey. For instance, missing just 15 minutes of class per day can accumulate to nearly 70 hours of lost instructional time over the course of a school year! This lost time translates into missed opportunities for learning crucial concepts, participating in discussions, and engaging with peers and teachers. Moreover, the impact is not limited to the immediate lesson missed; it can cascade into subsequent lessons, as students struggle to catch up on material they've missed.

Punctuality instils valuable habits that carry over into adulthood, contributing to professional success and personal fulfilment. Employers highly value punctuality as it demonstrates reliability, responsibility, and respect for others' time. In essence, the impact of punctuality on student learning cannot be overstated.

Students should arrive at school no later than 8:15am during Ramadan.

Revision Tip - Studying During Ramadan

Secondary News

Maintaining a productive study schedule during Ramadan is essential for students to effectively balance their academic responsibilities with the spiritual observance of fasting. A structured approach to studying ensures that students can maximise their learning potential while honouring the significance of this sacred month. Here are some tips for students to effectively manage their studies while fasting during Ramadan:

Plan your schedule:

Create a structured study timetable that accommodates your fasting hours. Allocate time for studying during periods when you feel most alert and energetic, such as in the morning or after breaking your fast in the evening.

Prioritise tasks:

Identify the most important assignments, exams, or revision sessions during Ramadan and focus on completing them first. Prioritising tasks will help you make the most of your study time and ensure essential concepts are covered.

Take short breaks:

Incorporate short breaks into your study sessions to rest and rejuvenate Use these breaks to hydrate, stretch, or engage in brief physical activity to maintain energy levels.

Stay hydrated:

Drink plenty of water during non-fasting hours to stay hydrated. Dehydration can negatively impact concentration and cognitive function, so it's essential to replenish fluids when possible.

Optimise meal times:

Plan nutritious meals for Suhoor and Iftar to sustain energy levels throughout the day. Include foods rich in complex carbohydrates, protein, and healthy fats to provide lasting energy and promote satiety.

Break tasks into smaller chunks:

Divide larger study tasks into smaller, manageable segments to prevent overwhelm and maintain focus Set achievable goals for each study session to track progress and stay motivated.

Utilise efficient study techniques:

Employ effective study strategies such as active recall, spaced repetition, and summarisation to enhance learning and retention Focus on understanding key concepts rather than memorising information verbatim

Listen to your body:

Pay attention to your body's signals and adjust your study routine accordingly. If you're feeling fatigued or experiencing difficulty concentrating, take a short break, rest, and resume studying when you feel refreshed.

Seek support:

Don't hesitate to reach out to teachers, classmates, or family members for assistance or clarification on challenging topics. Collaborating with others can provide valuable insights and support your learning journey.

Practice self-care:

Secondary News

Prioritise self-care practices such as adequate sleep, exercise, and relaxation techniques to promote overall wellbeing during Ramadan. Taking care of your physical and mental health is essential for optimal academic performance and productivity.

Subject Spotlight: Performing Arts

The Grade 10 and Grade 12 Drama students have concluded a pivotal week dedicated to the preparation and performance of their IGCSE and A Level drama pieces. Grade 10 captivated audiences with their rendition of 'Teechers', while Grade 12 mesmerised with their interpretation of 'The Woman in Black'. Their unwavering dedication to excellence in these performances underscores the significance of this exam, constituting 20% of their final grade. These performances not only served as a platform for students to showcase their theatrical abilities but also as a culmination of months of hard work, rehearsals, and artistic exploration. The significance of this exam, constituting 20% of their final grade, underscores the importance of these performances in their academic journey.

The Grade 8 Art students have showcased their creativity and artistic talents through a fantastic door decorating project, coinciding with Book Week festivities. Their imaginative designs transformed ordinary doors into captivating portals of inspiration, bringing to life the magic of literature and storytelling.

Each door served as a canvas for students to express their unique interpretations of beloved books, characters, and themes. From whimsical illustrations to intricate collages, every creation reflected the students' passion for both visual arts and literature.

This collaborative project not only fostered creativity and teamwork but also encouraged students to engage with literature in a dynamic and interactive way. By merging art and literature, students gained a deeper appreciation for storytelling and the power of imagination. Grade 8 students have demonstrated the transformative power of creativity and the boundless possibilities that arise when art and literature intersect.

It was a case of lights, camera and action in Grade 7 English this week, as they acted and sang their way through a rendition of "Rumpelstiltskin." Delayed by the weather last week, the play was performed as a part of the Book Week celebrations. KGIS is no stranger to drama, and the Grade 7’s proved that they are highly capable singers and actors with their wonderful performance which wowed the eager audience. It must be said that learning all of the words for speaking in a 30-minute play script is a real achievement On top of this, the class had to learn how to sing five songs, which they did with such eloquence. All in all, a big congratulations to the cast – you have made everyone at KGIS proud with your fabulous acting and singing skills.

Secondary News

School

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

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