KGIS Weekly Newsletter 15 February 2024

THE KNOWLEDGE PARENT NEWSLETTER 15 FEBRUARY 2024

A Message from the Executive Principal We have had a shorter week than expected at KGIS due to the two day closure announced by the government as a result of the rain. I hope that you all managed to keep your families and homes safe during these days - it's great to see the sun shining once again!

We have two very important events to look forward to next week. Firstly, we look forward to welcoming Ms. Zoe, our new Executive Principal who will be taking over from me in September as I move with the Inspired Education Group to the British School of Bahrain. You will recall that we wrote to you in December to inform you of this important leadership change. Ms. Zoe will be in school from Sunday to Tuesday and will have the opportunity to meet with staff members, students and parents. I know that you will all join me in making her feel truly welcome and showing her what a special place KGIS is!

Next week we also look forward to our annual musical theatre performance. This year Primary and Secondary students are performing Matilda: the Musical on Monday 19th and Tuesday 20th February at 6:00pm. Please come along with your family and friends to enjoy the show. The students have been rehearsing and working hard since September, and are sounding fantastic. This promises to be a fun evening for the whole community to enjoy! Entry to the show is free of charge and you can reserve seats in advance using the link below in the newsletter.

Finally, I am pleased to share that we will be holding a second Community Fair on Tuesday 5th March by popular demand! Please keep the date free so that you can come and enjoy the games, stalls and food stands with your family. Once again, all the proceeds will be donated to our KGIS 'Year of Giving' charitable projects. We look forward to seeing you there!

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

Monday 19 February & Tuesday 20 February: ‘Matilda’ performances (6:00pm) 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 & Student Council Bakesale Sunday 3 March-Thursday 7 March: Book Week Tuesday 5 March: KGIS Community Fair (5:00pm-8:00pm) 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.

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 from 6:00pm. 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

KGIS Community Fair: 5th March Click here to access the Extra-Curricular Timetable for this term

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 What a busy Sports Day our Early Years students had last week! The children were all very excited to take part in the games, activities and races! We were very lucky as the weather was cool and not too sunny. The children were able to use the parachute (always a big hit!), as well compete in races, obstacle courses, dance, throwing and catching games.

A big thank you to Mr. Sean and the PE Department for organising the day, and to our Secondary student Sports Leaders for leading the different activities.

We will be holding a Parent Picnic next week on Wednesday 20th February for our KG1 and KG2 students. All parents are welcome to attend between 8am and 9am for reading, play and of course some yummy snacks and treats! Please let your child’s teacher know if you will be attending on the morning.

Primary News A Message from Mr. Ian, Head of Primary We are very excited for the upcoming show, “Matilda: The Musical” which takes place next week on 19th and 20th of February. Many of our children in Primary are involved and all parents are invited to attend. Drama is a very important part of academic life and is beneficial for children in several ways: Creativity and Imagination: Drama encourages children to use their imagination and creativity to inhabit different characters, settings, and situations. This helps in developing their creative thinking skills, which are valuable for problem-solving and innovation in various aspects of life.

Communication Skills: Through Drama, children learn to express themselves verbally and non-verbally. They practise speaking clearly, projecting their voice, and using body language effectively. These communication skills are essential for success in both personal and professional settings.

Confidence Building: Participating in Drama can boost children's self-confidence and self-esteem. Performing in front of an audience, whether it's a small group or a larger audience, helps children overcome stage fright and develop a sense of accomplishment.

Teamwork and Collaboration: Drama often involves working collaboratively with others, whether it's fellow actors, directors, or stage crew.

Children learn to cooperate, compromise, and communicate effectively as part of a team, fostering important social skills and the ability to work harmoniously with others.

Problem-Solving Skills: In Drama, children often encounter challenges such as memorising lines, blocking scenes, or improvising in unexpected situations. These experiences help them develop problem-solving skills and resilience as they find creative solutions to overcome obstacles.

Cultural Awareness and Appreciation: Through exploring different characters, stories, and cultural contexts, children gain a broader understanding of the world around them. Drama provides opportunities for them to learn about diverse cultures, traditions, and perspectives, fostering cultural awareness and appreciation.

Overall, participating in Drama offers numerous benefits for children's intellectual, emotional, and social development, making it a valuable and enriching experience. If your child is not involved in the show this year, please encourage them to get involved next year!

Primary News Grades 1 & 2 Our Grade 1 students have been very busy lately in Islamic Studies preparing a wonderful song and dance routine to celebrate the anniversary of Isra and Miraj. A big thank you to Ms. Mona for helping to prepare the children and well done to them all for a fabulous performance!

Grades 3 to 5 Grade 3 have been working hard learning how to play the recorder.

Learning a new musical instrument not only teaches the children to read music notation, it helps with concentration, listening skills and coordination. The children have really enjoyed learning to play the recorder!

Primary News Grade 3, 4 and 5 students treated us to an excellent Drama performance marking the momentous occasion of Isra and Miraj. Students performed beautiful poetry and recitations of Islamic songs called Anasheed. This was followed by Islamic themed speeches and reciting of the Holy Qu'ran. The play recounted the journey of Isra and Miraj. Well done to Sara, Basil, Nooh and Salim on an excellent job!

Secondary News Message from Mr. James, Head of Secondary Firstly, I hope that you are all safe and well after some adverse weather and although this was a slightly disjointed week with two ‘rain-days’, it has been another busy week here at KGIS. It was wonderful to see so many parents and students attend the IGCSE Options Evening for our current Grade 8 students. Making informed decisions is crucial to success at IGCSE level and it was great to hear parents commend our teaching staff on putting on such an informative event.

The cast of “Matilda: the Musical” have also been busy rehearsing and putting the finishing touches to their performances before the opening night of this year's KGIS musical theatre production. Having witnessed the rehearsals, I can honestly say that this is going to be the best show we have ever put on at KGIS. Tickets are quickly being reserved so please ensure that you sign up to get your places in the audience!

A-Level/Bilingual Options Evening - Grade 10 Parents - Wednesday 21st February @ 4:00 pm We are excited to invite you to our A-Level and Oman Bilingual Diploma Options Evening on Wednesday 21st February, starting at 4:00pm in the KG Hall. This event serves as an invaluable opportunity to gain insights into the available pathways at Post-16 level and make informed decisions about future academic pursuits in Grade 11.

Choosing the correct pathway is pivotal for students' success and aligning their interests with suitable subjects. The A-Level and Bilingual Diploma Options Evening fosters collaboration between parents and school specialists, allowing for personalised guidance tailored to individual student strengths and aspirations. This informed decisionmaking process contributes significantly to students' academic achievements, career readiness, and overall satisfaction in their educational journey.

English Creative Writing Competition The English Department is very proud to announce the winners of their recent Creative Writing competition. Sasha Menon in Grade 10 wrote a piece that transported the reader into a world of suspense and uncertainty, skilfully weaving a narrative around a power outage and an enigmatic threat lurking in the shadows. Through meticulous storytelling, she captivated the reader with her ability to create tension and intrigue, showcasing a remarkable talent for engaging fiction.

Our other winner was Joe Skeldon, also in Grade 10, whose narrative took readers on a gripping journey through the tumultuous world of ex-Special Forces soldiers. His story brimmed with action, exploring the intricacies of conflict and unresolved vendettas from past missions. His adeptness in crafting thrilling sequences and complex characters demonstrated a keen understanding of the genre and a flair for storytelling. It is fantastic to see such wonderfully skilled writers at KGIS and we look forward to reading more riveting stories soon.

Senior Students Bake Sale On Thursday 29th February we are celebrating an extra day for our 'Year of Giving' with the second instalment of the KGIS Senior’s Bake Sale, a wonderful initiative orchestrated by our Grade 12 students to raise money to support our local and international charitable causes. This event is more than just indulging in sweet treats, as the funds generated will contribute to our Senegal mosque building project. The Bake Sale not only showcases the entrepreneurial talents of our seniors but also exemplifies the school's commitment to instilling a sense of social responsibility. By aligning this event with the 'Year of Giving', students actively participate in philanthropy,

Secondary News emphasising the importance of collective efforts in making a positive impact on a global scale. This endeavour reflects the school's dedication to nurturing compassionate leaders and fostering a spirit of generosity within the KGIS community.

Thank you for your continued partnership and support.

Subject Spotlight: Physical Education In the Grade 7 curriculum, emphasis on the skill of jumping is a strategic approach that extends beyond mere physical activity. Through a series of diverse activities, students engage in a comprehensive exploration of jumping techniques. The combination of deliberate demonstrations and purposeful practice instils a solid foundation, enabling students to seamlessly apply these skills across various contexts. This extends beyond the immediate realm of physical education, extending into sports like basketball and the high jump. By integrating this skill into multiple disciplines, students not only enhance their physical capabilities but also develop a versatile set of abilities applicable to real-world scenarios. The deliberate focus on jumping ensures a holistic approach to skill development, fostering well-rounded individuals with the capacity to excel in diverse activities.

Secondary News The Grade 8 Boys' Basketball House Tournament emerged as a spirited platform, where camaraderie was interspersed with competitiveness to create a fantastic experience for all involved. The triumph of the Dolphin House not only showcased their athletic prowess but also underlined the importance of friendly yet competitive house competitions within the school community. These events serve as a link for fostering a sense of belonging and teamwork among students. The camaraderie developed through such tournaments transcends the confines of the classroom, strengthening the bonds within houses and, by extension, the entire school community. The friendly competition ignites a sense of school pride, encouraging students to actively participate and showcase their skills, fostering a positive and inclusive environment. While victory is celebrated, the focus on friendly competition ensures that the experience is enriching rather than divisive. Well done to all involved!

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