KGIS Weekly Newsletter 16 February 2023

THE KNOWLEDGE

A Message from the Executive Principal

Dear parents and carers

I hope you are all enjoying the mid-term break with your families! A reminder that due to the announced public holiday, we return to school on Monday 20th February at 7:40am. If you are looking for something to do over the break then please remember that you can visit our Student Art Exhibition in Al Mouj Community! We are very proud to have partnered with Al Mouj Community and the art works will be on display until 8th March. The exhibition is located in the Azura Cafe, which is situated inside the Al Mouj Customer Sales and Experience Centre (next to the Masjid).

I am very much looking forward to the next half-term at KGIS, which is packed full of exciting events and opportunities for our student and families! Next week, all students have the opportunity to participate in Sports Day which is always one of the highlights of the year. Students in KG1 to Grade 2 will enjoy Sports Day on Wednesday 22nd February, and students in Grades 3 to 12 will enjoy Sports Day on Thursday 23 February, I look forward to seeing all students have fun taking part and earning House Points for their Houses!

Wishing you all a restful and peaceful long weekend.

Ms. Liz Stanley Executive Principal

Key Dates

Please make a note of the following important dates:

Wednesday 8 February-Wednesday 8 March: KGIS Student Art Exhibition (Azura Cafe Al Mouj)

Tuesday 14 February-Thursday 16 February: Mid-Term Break (School Closed)

Wednesday 22 February: Sports Day for KG, Grade 1 and Grade 2

Thursday 23 February: Sports Day for Grades 3 to 12

Sunday 26 February: Book Week Starts

Thursday 2 March: World Book Day

Monday 6 March & Tuesday 7 March: 'High School Musical' student performances

Wednesday 8 March: Grade 8 Parent Information Evening for IGCSE (5:00pm)

Sunday 12 March: Maths Week Starts

Wednesday 15 March: Grade 10 Parent Information Evening for A Level & GED (5:00pm)

Please click here to access the Academic Calendar for this 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

Extra-Curricular Activities

a-Curricular Timetable for this term

Sports Fixtures: Week Commencing 5 February

Tuesday 21 February: U11 Basketball at the Sultan's School

Football Academy: Monday 20 February

The Football Academy will resume on Monday 20 February as normal

Sports Day: KG1, KG2, Grade 1 and Grade 2 - Wednesday 22 February

We are looking forward to Sports Day for our youngest students on Wednesday 22 February! The Sports Day will be held onsite at KGIS, and students will be applying the fundamental movement skills that they have been learning by taking part in an exciting range of fun activities at our different activity stations Activities will include obstacle courses, races, tug of war and throwing. KG1 and KG2 will take part in the activities from 8:00am until 10:00am, and Grades 1 and 2 will take part in the activities from 10:30am until 1:30pm.

Sports Day: Grades 3 to 12 - Thursday 23 February

Students in Grades 3 to 12 will take part in Sports Day on Thursday 23 February. Students will compete in Athletics and Dodgeball to win House Points for their House. The Sports Day will be held at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex, and students will be transported from school to the venue and back on the day. Please refer to the separate letter sent by the PE Department Students have been given the opportunity to sign up for their chosen Athletics events in school:

TRACK EVENTS

75m (Grades 3 to 6)

150m (Grades 3 to 6)

300m (Grades 3 to 6)

600m (Grades 3 to 6)

100m (Grades 7 to 12)

200m (Grades 7 to 12)

400m (Grades 7 to 12)

800m (Grades 7 to 12)

100m x 4 Relay (Grades 3 to 12)

FIELD EVENTS

Long Jump

Triple Jump

High Jump Shot Put Javelin

ra-Curricular Timetable for this term

'High School Musical' at KGIS! Tickets now available!

The Performing Arts department is proud to announce KGIS’ inaugural musical theatre production, 'High School Musical'. The cast is buzzing with excitement as they gear up for their highly-anticipated performance! The show, which is set to take place on the 6th and 7th of March, promises to be a grand spectacle filled with music, dance, and drama The cast has been working tirelessly to perfect their routines and bring the best possible performance to their fans!

Doors to the venue will open at 6:00pm sharp, and the show will commence promptly at 6:30pm To avoid disappointment, audience members are encouraged to book their tickets as soon as possible through Ms. Naveen by emailing naveen.h@kgis-edu.com. With only a limited number of seats available, it's best to act fast to secure your spot and avoid missing out on this once-in-a-lifetime experience.

In addition to the stunning performance, the evening will also feature refreshments for those who would like to enjoy a snack or drink during the show. Whether you're a fan of musicals or just looking for a fun and entertaining night out, 'High School Musical' is a must-see event that you won't want to miss!

KG Update

KG1 had a super week! They loved exploring our new provocation trays in the outside learning environment and particularly enjoyed looking at the insects whilst talking about their features. The children also had great fun splashing in the water trays, experimenting with filling, pouring and using language such as ‘full’ and ‘empty’

KG2 children have enjoyed learning about the 'Gingerbread Man' story, writing speech bubbles for the Gingerbread Man and joining in with the phrase ‘run run as fast as you can, you can’t catch me I’m the Gingerbread Man' The children have made us some delicious treats in the Gingerbread Cafe We have tasted lots of yummy ‘hot chocolates’ and ‘ice creams’ this week!

KG Sports Day will be held on Wednesday 22nd February, children should wear their white school shirt, blue shorts and trainers KG parents and carers are invited to join us for a picnic afterwards at 11:00am in the KG Garden. We would greatly appreciate food contributions on that day such as sandwiches, pizza, salad, fruit and sweet treats. We look forward to seeing you then!

Primary News

A Message from Mr. Ian, Head of Primary

Last week we celebrated International Women in Science Day. It was fantastic to see our girls dress up not only as “scientists” but also as engineers, astronauts, inventors, doctors and representing many other areas across Science and Technology. A shout out to our mothers in Science! We are very lucky to have many mums who are pioneers and leaders in the scientific arena here in Oman and also across the globe Ms Kerrie, our Primary Science Coordinator, would love to hear from our scientific community - mums, dads and older siblings too to possibly arrange guest talks and visits for our primary children Please email her: kerrie m@kgis-edu com

Don’t forget, after our well deserved mid-term break, we will have our KG1 to Grade 2 Sports Day on Wednesday 22nd February , followed by Grade 3 to Grade 12 Sports Day on Thursday 23rd February.

Grade 1

Grade 1 has been looking at different printing techniques. They designed a patterned turtle and drew their design onto a printing block. They rolled ink onto their printing blocks, printed a test print and made any adaptations that were needed to their block. They added a watercolour wash to paper and printed their final turtle design onto their painted paper.

In English lessons, they have enjoyed 'Jack and the Beanstalk' and looking at the the Giant character in more detail. They drew a detailed picture whilst describing him. They also had fun writing describing words into a large giant on the floor using whiteboard markers!

Grade 2

Grade 2 has been investigating electricity and electrical circuits. They applied their ICT skills to virtual platforms and then physically constructed circuits using equipment to successfully complete a functioning circuit that illuminated a lightbulb.

Primary News

Grade 3

Grade 3 have been enjoying Drama around the theme of their chosen text 'Oliver and the Seawigs'. They improvised scenes independently and performed them to their classmates, giving and receiving feedback

Grade 4

Students in 4A were tasked with creating their own villain for our new genre of writing, Fantasy Stories.

Grade 5

This week, Grade 5 were learning about perimeter and area. Our playground is the perfect place for active learning activities based on this topic as all of the paving stones are perfect squares. They used trundle wheels to measure the different areas of the yard. We still haven’t worked out how many paving stones there are yet but we are getting close!

Secondary News

Message from Mr. James, Head of Secondary

As we move into the second half of the term, I encourage all students to stay focused and committed to their studies, whilst also taking advantage of the exciting opportunities and events coming up. Sports Day is a great chance to showcase your athletic abilities and represent your House! We also look forward to World Book Day on 2nd March. This is a fantastic opportunity for students to celebrate the joy of reading and engage with literature in exciting and creative ways. KGIS will be hosting a range of activities and events to mark the occasion, including trips, book fairs, and costume competitions I encourage all students to participate and immerse themselves in the wonderful world of books! 'High School Musical' is another fantastic event that showcases the creative and performing talents of our students, and I encourage everyone to get involved and support their peers. Finally, the BSME Games offer a chance to compete against other schools and represent our school on the international stage.

The forthcoming Grade 8 and 10 Options Evenings are important opportunities for students and parents to make informed decisions about future academic pathways, while the A-Level Results Day is a significant moment for our Grade 12 students as they move forward in their educational and professional journey.

Finally, it is essential to maintain a healthy work-life balance, and I encourage all students to take care of their mental and physical health during this busy period. As always, our dedicated teaching staff are here to provide support and guidance, so don't hesitate to reach out if you need help or advice. Let's make the most of the rest of this term and finish strong!

Learning & Teaching:

Grade 7 English students have been studying the novel 'Stone Cold' by Robert Swindells, which is about homelessness. Students researched homeless charities, then planned and created posters to inform others about the charities and what they offer to help the homeless They were inspired by the message of the novel and wanted to learn more about homelessness. They learnt about the harsh reality of homelessness and the challenges faced by those who are struggling.

This project allowed the students to not only learn about homelessness, but also to take action and make a positive impact in their community They left the project feeling empowered and with a newfound appreciation for the importance of giving back. Finally, it allowed students to appreciate all that they have in life and to be mindful of those less fortunate.

Secondary News

Grade 11 A Level Physics students investigated the effect of Tension and Length on the frequency of a vibrating string. They varied the frequency to determine the first harmonic of the string. They set up the experiment and connected the string onto the signal generator through a oscillator. The first harmonic, also known as the fundamental frequency, is the lowest frequency that a string can vibrate at It is determined by the length of the string, the tension applied to the string, and the mass per unit length of the string. Of these factors, the length of the string has the most significant effect on the frequency of the first harmonic.

From the experiment investigating the effect of tension and length on the frequency of a vibrating string, the Grade 11 A Level Physics students learned how the physical properties of a string, such as its length and tension, affect its vibrational behaviour and the resulting frequency of sound produced. They also gained practical skills in setting up and conducting an experiment, collecting and analysing data, and using mathematical equations to describe the relationships between the variables in the system

Grade 9 IGCSE Drama students have been working hard on their own devised performances, which is an essential component of their IGCSE and worth a substantial 40% of their final grade. The students have been dedicating their break and lunch times to rehearsing, perfecting their craft and ensuring they deliver a top-notch performance.

Parents and guardians will soon have the opportunity to see their hard work and talent in action, as they will be invited to watch the students' performance in the near future. This will be an excellent opportunity to witness the fantastic drama skills our students have developed, and the incredible work that goes into preparing for an IGCSE assessment.

Secondary News

Revision Tip - Using Flashcards Effectively

Simply put, recalling information from memory is simple and powerful. Retrieval practice is a learning strategy which makes you think hard and brings information to mind. It is the action of actively retrieving knowledge that boosts learning and strengthens memory. It means trying to remember previously learned information as opposed to simply re-reading it It builds confidence over time and allows you to identify gaps in your knowledge

Examples include:

Knowledge quizzing, low stakes testing and multiple-choice tests. Completing past paper questions or practice answers.

Answering verbal questions asked by teacher/peers/parents

Summarising, creating flashcards or revision materials where you can ‘test’ yourself.

One particularly effective strategy is the creation and use of flashcards. Flashcards are generally a card containing a small amount of information on either side as an aid to learning. The use of flashcards is for low stakes testing to improve recall and to strengthen memory

An effective flashcard may include the following (in each subject they will be used in a different way):

A key term/key word with definition on the back

A key date with the event on the back.

A key equation with its use in practice on the back.

A past paper question/plan and a model answer on the back.

In order to use flashcards most effectively, the Leitner System is a desired strategy for spaced testing. Once you have created a set of flashcards, create three boxes/areas marked as the following.

Secondary News

Test yourself on the flashcards in the Box 1 pile. If you get the answer correct on the flashcard, move it to the Box 2 pile. If you get it incorrect, it stays in Box 1.

Twice a week, test yourself on the flashcards in Box 2. If you get the answer correct on the flashcard, move it to the Box 3 pile If you get it incorrect, it stays in Box 2 The aim is to get all of the flashcards to Box 3

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