KGIS Weekly Newsletter 28 March 2024

THE KNOWLEDGE

A Message from the Executive Principal

As we end Term 2 and start our Spring Break, it is wonderful to look back over the last three months and celebrate all that has happened for the KGIS community. This term alone we have packed in an astonishing amount of activity beyond the learning in the classroom. These included the brilliant 'Matilda' musical theatre production, the BSME U11 Games in Al Ain, outdoor education residential trip to Sifah for Grade 4 and 5 students, a fantastic Book Week and World Book Day celebration, sports days for KG and Primary students, cross-curricular projects, Pi Day, LAMDA examinations and much more

I want to acknowledge the fantastic generosity of the staff who want to enrich your child’s experience by committing to these additional activities, often in their own time. Similarly, I would like to thank the parents and carers who contribute so much to the KGIS community. Our focus on community events such as our recent Community Iftar and the KGIS 'Year of Giving' charitable drive has continued with full force this term thanks to the support of our parent community I also want to thank all the parents and carers who have taken the time to write lovely messages of thanks to staff, your kindness and warmth mean a great deal to us.

A reminder that your child's Term 2 reports are now published on the newly launched ISAMS Parent Portal app. Please ensure that you have downloaded the app following the instructions in the previous communications from Mr James If you experience any issues regarding the ISAMS parent app, our team are available to assist via email: isams@kgis-edu com

I wish you all a restful and peaceful Spring Break, and look forward to welcoming students back to school at 7:40am on Sunday 14th April. May I also take this opportunity to wish you all Eid Mubarak in advance!

Key Dates

Please make a note of the following important dates:

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:

KG1

KG2

Grade 1

Grade 2

Grade 3

Grade 4

Grade 5

Grade 6

Grade 7

Grade 8

Grade 9

Grade 10

The Holy Month of Ramadan at KGIS

As we reach the end of Term 2 and approach the last weeks of Ramadan, we would like to once again take the opportunity to thank all the parents, staff and student who supported our charitable initiatives during this special month. This week we saw the power of benevolence in action as we welcomed nearly 150 construction workers from the local community to the school for Iftar. Organised by our Student Council, the workers enjoyed breaking their fast together with an array of delicious food kindly donated by parents. The students were selfless in their service and were on hand to welcome our visitors, serve the food and ensure the comfort of our guests. Thank you once again to Azima Catering for their generous support of this event, and to Al Mouj Muscat for their partnership

This week also saw our Grade 9, 10 and 11 students distribute the Ramadan boxes kindly purchased by KGIS parents to families in need in the local community. Mr. Ibrahim and Mr. Hussam supervised the students in organising the distribution of the 57 boxes to families located in Al Khoudh. The Ramadan boxes were extremely well received by all families, and students were able to experience first hand the joy of giving back

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

On Tuesday the KG children celebrated Qaranqasho at school. The joy and excitement that filled our Early Years building as we celebrated together was fantastic! The children and staff enjoyed dressing up in colourful clothes and traditional dress. They absolutely loved exchanging sweets and treats with their friends, and participating in fun activities such as singing, which highlighted the spirit of community and generosity. Thank you to our amazing KG Arabic teachers, Ms. Najat and Ms. Aisha who worked so hard to decorate the Early Years building in order to create a wonderful atmosphere for our little ones to immerse themselves in!

Our KG children were also very busy preparing and collecting their Ramadan Shoe Boxes for a local orphanage. Thank you to all parents for their generous donations of toys, stationery and books.

In class, we talked about the importance of helping those less fortunate than ourselves and how one simple act of kindness can make someone else smile. The message of helping others during the Holy Month of Ramadan begins from a very early age here at KGIS and it was wonderful for our youngest students to be able to help those less fortunate than themselves.

A Message from Mr. Ian, Head of Primary

Primary News

I want to take this opportunity to thank you all for your support, kindness and positivity as we draw our term to a close We are very lucky at KGIS to have such wonderful children in our Primary Phase and it is a testament to our parents and families, and the commitment and support they give.

I would also like to say an even bigger thank you to our teaching staff, our teaching assistants and support staff for all of their hard work, dedication and above all commitment to the children in their classes. I am very proud of how hard our team works and I know you will join me in thanking them and applauding their efforts this term.

On Tuesday the children were visited by myself and Mr. Mike to deliver some bags of treats for Qaranqasho. The children were delighted to hear that we had forgotten to fill the bags with vegetables and instead they were packed with sweets, cookies and other goodies! It is a real pleasure and honour to be able to get involved in and learn about Omani and Khaleeji traditions and see the joy and happiness in our children.

Wishing each and everyone of you a very blessed time remaining in the Holy Month of Ramadan and in advance, Eid Mubarak from myself and the whole KGIS Primary Team!

Grades 1 & 2

In Grade 1, the children have been learning about capacity and volume. They have been completing tasks measuring capacity and weight with cubes. They have also been investigating volume by measuring the volume of water through a variety of beakers and measuring cups.

Primary News

Grade 2 have been learning about measures and took their newfound expertise out of the classroom. The children were investigating how to measure capacity and enjoyed not only learning but also getting very wet in the process!

Grades 3 to 5

This week in Grades 3 and 4, we have continued to explore try freestanding structure made only from 20 disposable cups. g set and complete these as a team whilst being unable to talk to each other! Hand gesture communication. The children had to ensure they were aware of the other team mates observe what others were doing to not accidentally knock over their structure We had g

Grade 4 children spent time recently learning about helicopters. They learned how the blades of the helicopter can generate lift and then researched how to build their own examples. A huge amount of fun was had testing their creations!

Message from Mr. James, Head of Secondary

Secondary News

As we approach the end of another exciting and event-filled term at KGIS, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for your continued support and cooperation. We have been privileged to have so many exciting events this term, from the musical production of 'Matilda', our U11 BSME team winning the BSME Fair Play award and most recently, our wonderful Community Iftar. Success in any school can only take place with the support and partnership of parents so once again, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to you.

I am profoundly aware that the success of any school is intricately tied to the support and partnership of parents. Your continued involvement, encouragement, and commitment to your child's education are invaluable pillars upon which our school thrives. Therefore, I extend my sincerest appreciation to you for your dedication and trust in us. As we reflect on the achievements and fond memories of this term, let us look forward to the opportunities and adventures that await us in the future. Together, we will continue to inspire, empower, and nurture the bright minds of tomorrow.

Revision Tip - Maximising Spring Break for Study

Embarking on exam preparation during Spring Break can be a pivotal time for students to consolidate their learning and maximise their academic success. By implementing specific strategies and techniques tailored to their individual needs, students can transform this break into a period of focused and effective study. From setting clear goals and creating distraction-free study environments to utilising active learning methods and prioritising weak areas, there are various avenues for students to enhance their understanding and retention of key concepts Moreover, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, taking regular breaks, and practicing self-care are essential components of a well-rounded exam preparation strategy.

Set Clear and Achievable Goals: Encourage students to set specific, measurable goals for each study session. For example, completing a certain number of practice questions or mastering a particular topic

Create a Distraction-Free Study Environment: Advise students to find a quiet and comfortable study space free from distractions such as phones, social media, and television. A well-lit and organised environment can enhance focus and productivity.

Use Active Learning Techniques: Promote active learning methods such as summarising, teaching concepts to others, and creating flashcards or mind maps. Encourage students to engage with the material actively rather than passively reading or listening.

Break Down Study Sessions: Suggest breaking down study sessions into smaller, manageable chunks of time (e.g. 25-30 minutes) with short breaks in between. This can help prevent burnout and improve retention.

Practice Retrieval and Spaced Repetition: Encourage students to engage in retrieval practice by recalling information from memory without referring to notes or textbooks. Additionally, introduce spaced repetition techniques where students review material at gradually increasing intervals to enhance long-term retention.

Secondary News

Utilise Effective Study Resources: Guide students to utilise a variety of study resources such as textbooks, lecture notes, online tutorials, and educational apps. Encourage them to explore different formats to find what works best for their learning style

Prioritise Weak Areas: Encourage students to prioritise studying topics or subjects they find challenging. Allocate more time to these areas to ensure a thorough understanding and mastery.

Stay Organised and Keep Track of Progress: Recommend using planners, calendars, or study apps to keep track of study schedules, deadlines, and progress. Breaking down tasks into smaller, manageable goals can make studying more manageable and rewarding

Stay Physically Active and Maintain a Healthy Lifestyle: Remind students of the importance of regular exercise, healthy eating, and sufficient sleep during exam preparation. Physical activity and proper nutrition can boost energy levels, reduce stress, and improve cognitive function.

Take Regular Breaks and Practice Self-Care: Emphasise the importance of taking regular breaks to rest and recharge. Encourage students to engage in activities they enjoy, such as hobbies, spending time with family and friends, or relaxation techniques like deep breathing or meditation.

Subject Spotlight: Science

Secondary News

In the Grade 11 Bilingual Diploma Biology class, students were immersed in a dynamic learning environment as they delved into their Assessed Practical in Biology. This assessment places a strong emphasis on honing scientific and analytical skills essential for future scientific endeavours. Central to their exploration is the investigation of osmosis through a practical experiment involving potato chips and varying sugar solutions. By observing the movement of water across cell membranes, students gain invaluable insights into cellular processes and the principles of diffusion Additionally, students engage with microscopic slides to discern cellular structures and calculate the actual size of cells under the microscope. This hands-on approach not only deepens their understanding of biological concepts but also fosters critical thinking and observational abilities crucial for success in the field of Biology.

A Level students eagerly engaged in hands-on experiments as they delved into the fascinating realms of Anatomy and Forensics, with their resident skeleton affectionately known as "Brooks" serving as a central figure in their studies. Through meticulous observation and practical exploration, students dissected, examined, and analysed Brooks' skeletal structure to deepen their understanding of human anatomy. Additionally, they applied forensic techniques, such as bone analysis and pathology assessment, to simulate real-world crime scene investigations.

Grade 12 students have been fully immersed in a series of experiments focused on the fascinating world of acids and alkalis Through hands-on experimentation, students have meticulously observed the reactions between various acids and alkalis, documenting changes in pH levels, colour indicators, and chemical compositions. From titrations to neutralisation reactions, each experiment has provided invaluable insights into the principles of chemical equilibrium, stoichiometry, and reaction kinetics. Students have oratory skills but also developed a deeper appreciation for the vital role that acids d industrial processes

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