KGIS Weekly Newsletter 30 March 2023

THE KNOWLEDGE

A Message from the Executive Principal

As we reach the end of Term 2, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for the tremendous amount of support, help and appreciation you have shared over the past few months. It was lovely to see so many parents and families at our Community Iftar last night, and this served as a timely reminder of the fantastic community spirit that we have at KGIS. We are fortunate to have had the opportunity this academic year to meet so many of you at our different events, information sessions and Academic Review Days. It is always a pleasure to welcome you to the school!

A reminder that the school will be closed to students for the Spring Break from Sunday 2 April and will re-open on Sunday 16 April at 8:15am (as we will still be observing our Ramadan hours on this date). During the holiday, the School Office will remain open for Finance, Admissions, Uniform Shop and general enquiries from 8:30am until 1:30pm.

Admissions for next academic year are now open and over the last week, we have sent a link for re-registration to all parents. Please complete the link at the earliest possible opportunity to reserve your child's place for September. We are now full in many grades and have a waiting list for some grades As always, we give preference to existing families The deadline for completion of the re-registration form is Sunday 16 April in order to guarantee your place(s). Similarly, a polite reminder that the school has a one term notice policy for withdrawal. Therefore, if you plan to withdraw your child(ren) in September, please ensure that you provide notice as instructed no later than Sunday 16 April in order to avoid being charged for Term 1

Wishing you all a restful and rejuvenating Spring Break!

Ms. Liz Stanley Executive Principal

Key Dates

Please make a note of the following important dates:

Thursday 30 March: Last day of Term 2

Sunday 2 April-Thursday 13 April: Spring Break (school closed)

Sunday 16 April: Start of Term 3

Please click here to access the Academic Calendar for this year

Clickonthelinksbelowtoaccessthelearningoverview,homelearningexpectationsand assessmentdatesforeachgrade:

KG2

Grade 1

Grade 2

Grade 3

Grade 4

Grade 5

Grade 6

Grade 7

Grade 8

Grade 9

Grade 10

Ramadan at KGIS

KGIS Community Iftar

Thank you to all the parents, students, teachers and families who attended our first ever KGIS Community Iftar on Wednesday 29 March. We welcomed 400 guests who joined together to pray and break their fast. Prayers were led by Head of Islamic Studies, Sheikh Ibrahim along with Mr. Ahmed Al Harthy, First Islamic Studies Supervisor from the Ministry of Education. We were also privileged to welcome His Excellency Dr. Abdullah Ambusaidi, Undersecretary to the Minister of Education and Mr Fahad Al Ismaily, Director of the Department of Statistics and Information at the Ministry of Education.

We extend a particularly special thank you to our event sponsors! Azima Catering, our school caterers, very generously donated the food for the evening. We were treated to a delicious and sumptuous buffet with a huge range of appetisers, main courses and deserts! Thank you also to Illy Cafe who sponsored the drinks for the event.

Ramadan at KGIS

We are pleased to share details of how we will be celebrating this very special month as a community at KGIS. Our Universal Islamic Value for the month of March is benevolence, and as a school community we plan to embrace the Pillar of Zakat during this holiest of months in order to instil a joy of giving in all our students. As such we will be starting Ramadan by promoting the following charitable causes and will launch some further initiatives as the month progresses We thank you all in advance for your support of these

Zakat at KGIS

1 Food and Gift Packages for the Underprivileged

As a school we will prepare and distribute food and small gift packages to underprivileged families and groups in the local community during the week commencing Sunday 26 March. Food packages will be distributed to needy families, and gift packages will be distributed to a local orphanage, and to child cancer patients at SQU Hospital. We therefore ask students and parents to contribute dry or tinned food items, small gifts or books for children (new condition), and toiletry items. We can also accept monetary donations which will be used to purchase food items. Students should bring their donations to their Homeroom Teacher from Sunday 19 March to Thursday 23 March. There will be House Points for the Homeroom Group that collects the most items!

2 KGIS Workers Iftar

During the week commencing Sunday 16 April, our Student Council will be preparing and serving an Iftar meal to 50 workers based in the local community each evening. 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.

School Hours during the Holy Month of Ramadan

We expect the Holy Month of Ramadan to start on Wednesday 22 March. Once the start of Ramadan is officially announced, we will inform all parents and will operate amended timings for the school day during the Holy Month. The timings of the school day will be as follows:

KG: 8:15am-11:45am

Grades 1 & 2: 8:15am-1:10pm

Grades 3-12: 8:15am-1:40pm

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 Mr. Ibrahim and the Islamic Studies Department.

Extra-Curricular Activities

a-Curricular Timetable for this term

Extra-Curricular Activities

Please note that there will be no before or after-school extra-curricular activities or Football Academy during Ramadan

Model United Nations Update

One of KGIS’ most popular clubs, the Model United Nations (MUN), is stepping up its preparation for its first conference at The Sultan's School on 13 May! The Model United Nations (MUN) is a great way to engage students in global issues and build their communication and leadership skills. As students prepare for their first MUN conference, it's important to introduce them to the language and format of draft resolutions, which are a critical aspect of the MUN process. By practicing writing their own resolutions, students can learn how to research, articulate, and advocate for their positions on important global issues.

To help students gain a better understanding of what to expect at a conference, our MUN club will be hosting their own practice conference. This will give students an opportunity to learn about the procedures and protocols involved in MUN conferences, such as how to make speeches, negotiate with other delegates, and collaborate on solutions to global problems. Through this experience, students can also develop their critical thinking and problem-solving skills At the practice conference, students will be given a chance to present their resolutions and receive feedback from their peers and club advisors. This will help them refine their ideas and strategies for the upcoming conference. Additionally, by simulating a real conference environment, students can gain confidence and build their public speaking skills

Inspired Student Competitions

We are pleased to share details of two Inspired global competitions that are open to students. Please do encourage your children to participate!

KG Update

KG1 have been learning about farm animals and have been incorporating it into their small world set ups. As the children move towards confidence in writing, they have been practising mark making to gain control over their fine motor skills needed for more formalised writing In English lessons they have been reading the popular story 'Dear Zoo'.

KG2 have enjoyed making Ramadan crafts and this has allowed them to refine and focus on improving fine motor and cutting skills. Cutting with scissors is a very easy and very effective method children can engage in at home to improve their global fine motor skills. In class the children have learned about life cycles.

Both KG classes have really been enjoying our outside provision as the weather remains somewhat cool and breezy. Our new EY garden and mud kitchen have been put to great use all month and we have filled the Tuff Trays with water and toys The children are particularly enjoying water play and getting stuck in and WET!

Primary News

A Message from Mr. Ian, Head of Primary

A huge thank you to our children, their teachers and you, their parents at the end of this term. As we begin our long-awaited Spring Break, it is very important to look back over the term gone by and highlight some of the fantastic things we have seen such as our BSME games, High School Musical, Maths Week, Book Week, our Primary Sports day and most recently our KGIS community Iftar, as well as all of the progress made by the children in their lessons and classes. We are a busy school and are constantly looking at what we can do next, do better or simply do well! I look forward to another productive Term 3 and hope you and your children have a well deserved break and time with your families, especially during this Holy Month.

In the Primary Phase this week, we have continued to complete almost a full week of Ramadan. Many of our children are adjusting to fasting for the first time and have remained hard working, committed and focused on their learning.

We have seen quite a high incidence of head lice across the school this week and every child was checked by the School Nurse. Please take the time over the holidays to regularly check your child’s hair and treat it if necessary. If you do find evidence of headlice, it is important to wash bedding and clothes on a high temperature in order to kill eggs or existing lice.

A reminder that Extra-Curricular Activities are cancelled during the Holy Month of Ramadan and will return again straight after the Eid Holiday as normal

Wishing you all a fantastic Spring Break!

Grades 1 and 2

In Maths this week Grade 1 has been learning about capacity and weight. The children loved estimating how many small cups of water it would take to fill a larger container They thought about whether weight corresponds to size, made predictions about which item would be heavier and estimated how many cubes heavy each item would be.

Primary News

In English we have been looking at maps. The children learnt about different types of maps and how they could be used. They drew and labelled some amazing maps which included the places and features from the stories of Jack and the Beanstalk, Goldilocks and Little Red Riding Hood.

During Arabic lessons the teacher took a break and let the children be the teacher! We think a great job was done indeed!

Grade 2 students were busy measuring standard and non standard units in Maths lessons. They were introduced to perimeter and were able to put their skills learned in the classroom into use around the school building and in the playground.

Primary News

Grades 3 to 5

Grade 4 students have been learning that technology can be used to organise, reorganise, develop, and explore ideas, and that working with information in this way can aid understanding It has also given students opportunities to discuss their experiences of using ICT and how it is used in the wider world. Students have been able to apply what they have learnt in this unit when identifying key points in a story or account, writing accounts in which details of character and action are used to interest the reader and using evidence and examples to support key points.

Grade 5 have been studying the digestive system this week in Science. They can name the major parts of the system and explain the function of the mouth, stomach, small and large intestines. We made a model of the digestive system using a pestle and mortar, coloured water and even a pair of socks! The students seemed to really enjoy the process, although the end result wasn't too pleasing on the eye!

Secondary News

Message from Mr. James, Head of Secondary

As we reach the end of Term 2, I would like to take a moment to wish you all a restful break. It has been an extremely busy term, full of exciting events and outstanding achievements. Firstly, I am very proud of our Grade 11 and 12 students who achieved some landmark A Level results and GED results in January's exams. Our students have worked incredibly hard and their efforts have paid off! I am sure we will see them push on and attain even greater heights in their final exams this summer

Further milestone moments this term came with our successful BSME Games and High School Musical, where our students showcased their talents and dedication. We look forward to building on these events in the future. It was wonderful to see our school community come together to support each another.

Book Week and Maths Week were also highlights of the term. Our students enjoyed a range of activities and events that encouraged their love for reading and Mathematics. Moreover, our students have been fortunate to participate in various school trips, including Geography field trips and G11/12 university seminars. These experiences have been invaluable in enriching their learning and broadening their horizons.

Finally, I am grateful for the parental engagement we had during our Grade 8 and 10 Option Evenings. It was a pleasure to have the opportunity to discuss the academic choices of our students with you. All in all, it has been a busy and productive term and I would like to thank our students, staff, and parents for their hard work, support, and commitment to our school community. We look forward to welcoming our students back on April 16th, refreshed and ready to continue their academic journey!

Uniform

As a school, we have high expectations for our students in terms of academic performance, behaviour, and appearance One aspect of appearance that we take very seriously is the wearing of school uniform Uniform plays an important role in creating a sense of unity and pride amongst our students, as well as promoting a positive and professional image of our school in the community. It also helps to remove any distractions that may arise from students wearing inappropriate clothing, and allows our teachers to focus on delivering the best possible education to our students.

We expect all students to adhere to the school's Uniform Policy, including wearing black shoes; crocs are not allowed. Students who are not wearing the correct uniform may be asked to change and parents may be called to bring in the correct uniform for their children. Hoodies are not allowed to be worn in school and students will be asked to remove them. School jackets are available in the Uniform Shop.

Thank you for your cooperation in ensuring that your child follows our school's Uniform Policy. We believe that it is an essential aspect of our school culture and helps to promote the high standards that we expect from all our students

Secondary News

Grade 10 Options Pathway Google Form

Thank you to all our Grade 10 students who have completed the Grade 11 AS and GED Options Google Form. If you have not, I would like to remind parents to speak to their child about their options for next year. You will find the two Google Forms that need to be completed below The deadline has now passed, so we would appreciate it if you could complete this as soon as possible. If you have any questions, please contact me by email james.o@kgis-edu.com .

For A Level options please click here

For Oman Bilingual Diploma GED options please click here

Learning and Teaching

Grade 6 students are currently studying microorganisms and their characteristics. They have been learning about the differences between bacteria, fungi, and viruses. To enhance their understanding, the students have created models of the microorganisms they researched. For their homework, they will be writing up a disease caused by a particular organism. This activity will not only help them grasp the importance of microorganisms but also their impact on human health. Overall, it's a fascinating and educational project that will allow the students to develop a deeper appreciation of the microorganisms that surround us

Our Grade 10 Business students were gathered together to work on past paper questions. The students collaborated with one another, sharing their insights and knowledge to answer the challenging questions. They brainstormed various approaches to tackle each problem and exchanged ideas on how to improve their responses. The collaboration encouraged active participation and boosted the students' confidence in their abilities Working together also provided an opportunity for students to learn from one another and develop their problem-solving skills. The positive outcomes of this collaborative effort were evident in the students' improved understanding of the subject matter and their increased readiness for future exams.

Revision Tip - Maintaining your study during a holiday

Holidays can be a great time to catch up on some much-needed rest and relaxation, but it's also an excellent opportunity to get ahead on your studies. Setting up and sticking to a study routine during the holidays can help you stay on track and reduce stress when you return to school

Create a study schedule

Plan out your study sessions ahead of time, including the specific topics you want to cover, and set aside dedicated time for studying each day

Set achievable goals

Break down your study sessions into manageable chunks and set specific goals for what you want to accomplish each day. This will help you stay motivated and give you a sense of accomplishment as you work towards your larger goals.

Take advantage of peer support

Reach out to your classmates or study groups during the holidays to keep each other accountable and share study resources. This can help you stay motivated and make studying more enjoyable.

Choose a quiet and comfortable study space

Find a place where you can focus without distractions, whether it's a designated study area at home or another quiet place.

Take breaks

It's essential to take regular breaks during your study sessions to give your brain a chance to rest and recharge Try studying in chunks of no more than 45 minutes and then take a 5-minute break

Stay active

Exercise is an excellent way to reduce stress and improve focus. Consider incorporating some physical activity into your daily routine, whether it's going for a run or going to the gym.

Get plenty of sleep

A good night's sleep is essential for learning and memory retention Aim for at least 7-8 hours of sleep each night to feel refreshed and ready to tackle your studies the next day.

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