KGIS Weekly Newsletter 4 May 2023

THE KNOWLEDGE

A Message from the Executive Principal

Dear parents and carers

This week we are thinking about our Universal Islamic Value for the month of May, which is 'trust' As you know, at KGIS, our core priority is the safety and welfare of our students. Creating a happy, safe and secure learning environment that is built around mutual trust is a key part in ensuring that all of our students have a school setting where they can reach their potential and enjoy their learning

KGIS policies are in place to ensure that there is a consistent approach to practices throughout the school and that they are understood and adhered to by all staff, volunteers, the School Board and parents. Adults have a tremendous impact on young people and the stability of school is an essential part of providing young people with the consistency they need to be successful. With this in mind adults at KGIS will work within the agreed policies of the school to promote an environment of trust where students know that they are safe, and know who to speak to if they have any concerns or worries

There are numerous policies in place to safeguard our children and these are available on the school website. KGIS is committed to safeguarding. If you have any concerns about a child in school please contact the school's Designated Safeguarding Lead, Mr Ian Lohan or the Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads, Ms Katie Dillane or Mr James O'Reilly The School Board member responsible for Safeguarding is Mr. John O'Connor.

Ms Liz Stanley Executive Principal

Key Dates

Please make a note of the following important dates:

Wednesday 10 May: Academic Review Day for Grades KG1 to Grade 9

Sunday 7 May: A Level Examinations start

Sunday 14 May to Tuesday 16 May: British Schools Overseas inspection

Sunday 14 May: IGCSE Examinations start

Sunday 21 May: Grade 11 Oman Bilingual Diploma examinations start

Sunday 21 May: Examinations for Grades 6 to 9 start

Thursday 29 June: Last day of Term 3

Please click here to access the Academic Calendar for this year

Please click here to access the Academic Calendar for next academic 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

Extra-Curricular Activities

Extra-curricular activities continue as normal this week. Please use the link above to see the timetable for Term 3.

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 News

KG Update

We have had a wonderful full week in KG! The children particularly enjoyed their Mystery Reader visit from Haya’s mummy in Planets Class. We loved listening to the story of Little Red Riding Hood and finding out her Arabic name Thank you for joining us! If you would like to volunteer to become a Mystery Reader and read a story to your child’s class, please contact your child’s teacher and they will organise a suitable time with you. Thank you for your ongoing support, we really appreciate it.

KG1 children are learning about the concept of full and empty this week in their lessons. They got to fill lots of different vessels with different items from across the classroom and had lots of fun in the process!

Primary News

A Message from Mr. Ian, Head of Primary

I hope you are all well and your children are settled back into school routines. We have been checking uniforms daily and I am happy to say we have seen great improvements across all grades which I thank you for. A reminder, black shoes are required and black trainers on days when children have PE are expected.

Our Universal Islamic Value for April was gratitude. This week in assembly, we spoke about having an “attitude of gratitude” and I have set the children a challenge to show their gratitude for you, their parents,

Over the past few weeks, I have been sharing ideas and best practice around your child’s wellbeing and health

This week I think it is important to speak about the importance of sleep. Sleep is essential for overall health and well-being, especially for young children who are in a crucial stage of development Children need quality sleep to support their physical, mental, and emotional growth. A good night's sleep can help improve memory, attention span, and concentration, which are essential for learning and academic success.

Children who do not get enough sleep are more likely to experience behavioural problems, mood swings, and difficulty controlling their emotions. Lack of sleep can also impact their physical health by weakening their immune system, making them more susceptible to illnesses.

It is recommended that primary school children between the ages of 3 and 12 years should get between 9 to 11 hours of sleep each night As parents and guardians, it is crucial to establish a consistent sleep routine for your children. This includes setting a regular bedtime and wake-up time, creating a calming bedtime routine, and limiting screen time before bed Our KG to Grade 2 children should ideally be in bed by 7pm and for older children 8pm is seen as a good bedtime.

To reiterate the points above, adequate sleep is essential for the overall health and well-being of primary school children. By prioritising sleep, we can help our children thrive academically, emotionally, and physically.

Grades 1 and 2

In Grade 1 we have been reading the story Where The Wild Things Are. We looked at adjectives to describe a 'Wild Thing' and wrote a description about one of the Wild Things from the story. The children had lots of fun making a mask to support their description of their chosen wild thing character.

Primary News

Grade 2 Arabic lessons were focused on learning about the rules of the road and traffic safety. Our 2B students had great fun applying their knowledge in the playground and putting some of their practical skills to the test!

In Islamic lessons, the children were learning about the Pillars of Islam. They made beautiful posters to hang in our classrooms. Mabrook Grade 2!

Grades 3 to 5

This week Grade 3 were thinking about the Ancient Egyptians and life in Ancient Egypt as part of their creative writing lessons. We discovered the many things that they invented such as the calendar, telling the time, writing and evening number! We also learnt that the Pyramids are in fact ancient tombs of the rulers of Egypt and started to think about how long ago these things were first thought about We looked at time lines and discovered that life 3,000 years ago was very different. We then went out to the playground and plotted different civilizations using time lines.

Primary News

Grade 5 students are currently studying a beautifully illustrated book called ‘The Journey’ written by Francesca Sanna It is the story of a mother who has to flee her home country with her children because of invaders and make the long, arduous journey as refugees to a safe country where they can begin a new life. Our students are gaining empathy for the difficult experiences that refugees live through, as well respect for their resilience and determination. Students have studied images from the book and answered inference and deduction questions about metaphors and symbols they can identify. They are learning to write an analytical paragraph which includes their understanding of the metaphors and symbols in the images Students are also writing empathically as a refugee, focusing on a clear description of any feelings and experiences.

Secondary News

Message from Mr. James, Head of Secondary

As we are now fully into Term 3, I would like to take this opportunity to remind you of some important events coming. This week, on Wednesday 10th May, we have our last Academic Review Day for Grade 6 to 9 students. Meetings will begin at 8:00am and finish at 5:00pm, with a break from 12:30pm-1:30pm. Each student has been issued with an appointment sheet and will be responsible for scheduling appointments with each of their subject teachers. Each time slot consists of five minutes. Please stick to this - if you need more time, speak to teachers in advance so they can plan accordingly as this will help ensure parents are not waiting too long for appointments

This event provides an opportunity for you to meet with your child's teachers and discuss their academic progress throughout the year. We believe that open communication between parents, teachers, and students is essential for academic success. Academic Review Day provides a platform to discuss your child's strengths and areas for improvement, identify any challenges they may be facing, and collaborate on strategies to support their learning It is important that your child attends this event with you as it allows them to take ownership of their learning journey and participate in the discussion. This will enable them to better understand their academic strengths and weaknesses and work with their teachers and parents to improve their performance. We understand that your child's education is a partnership between home and school, and we believe that working together is the key to their success Therefore, we encourage you to attend this event and take advantage of the opportunity to meet with your child's teachers, ask questions, and learn more about their progress. Please also note that lessons will not take place on this day.

Finally, as the AS and A2 students begin their final exams, it's important to acknowledge the dedication and hard work that they have put in over the course of their studies. These exams represent the culmination of their efforts, and I'm confident that they will perform to the best of their abilities. It's normal to feel nervous and anxious during this time, but it's important to remember that they have the support of their teachers and peers, and that they have prepared extensively for this moment I wish them all the best of luck and hope that they are able to showcase their knowledge and skills to the best of their abilities

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

Learning and Teaching

Grade 6 are focusing on 'Introduction to Shakespeare' in English this term. They've been introduced to Shakespearean words and language They focused on a scene from Romeo and Juliet. Working in teams, they had to match the modern translation with the original. In addition to developing their language skills, studying Shakespeare can also help students understand the complexities of human nature and the social and historical context of his plays By exploring the characters and themes of Romeo and Juliet, for example, students can learn about love, loyalty, family conflict, and the challenges of living in a society with rigid social structures. This can help them develop empathy, critical thinking skills, and a broader perspective on the world around them

Grade 8 Drama students have just started their ‘Devising Project’ and are in the process of planning their storyline, characters and era. They were given pictures as their stimulus and will be developing their creative ideas and practical work over the next 6 weeks They will then be performing using costume, sound effects and props for their final assessment. They have come up with some very imaginative storylines whilst incorporating relevant techniques to show off their skills! The Devising Project is an excellent opportunity for students to develop their artistic abilities and express themselves creatively Through this project, they can explore their passions and interests while learning valuable skills such as collaboration, problem-solving, and critical thinking. In addition to honing their performance and production skills, students will also have the chance to reflect on their work and evaluate their own growth and development. The final performance will not only showcase their hard work but also allow them to share their ideas and talents with their peers and teachers.

Key Question - What is the point of punctuality?!

I would like to remind all students and parents that school starts at 7:40am If students arrive at any time after that, they are missing a key part of their day. Being on time for every lesson is so important. Punctuality is a crucial habit that all students should strive to develop. It refers to the quality of being on time or arriving at a designated place or event at the appointed time Punctuality is not only important for developing a good reputation and building trust, but it also has numerous benefits for students both in and out of the classroom.

Here are some reasons why punctuality is essential for students:

Respect for others: Being punctual shows respect for other people's time and schedules It demonstrates that students value and appreciate the time of their teachers, peers, and colleagues.

Improved performance: Arriving on time allows students to get settled and mentally prepare for the lesson or activity. This helps them to focus and concentrate better, which can lead to improved academic performance and learning outcomes

Discipline and responsibility: Punctuality is a valuable character trait that reflects discipline, responsibility, and reliability. By being punctual, students develop a sense of self-discipline and accountability, which are essential for success in both academic and personal life.

Reduced stress and anxiety: Being late can cause stress and anxiety, which can impact a student's mental health and wellbeing. By being punctual, students can reduce stress levels and feel more relaxed and prepared for their classes and other activities.

Professionalism: Punctuality is a critical component of professionalism, and it is highly valued in the workplace. Developing this habit in school can help students prepare for their future careers and demonstrate their professionalism to potential employers.

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