Primary Newsletter

06 July 2026

Message from the Primary Curriculum Leader

Dear Lighthouse Families,

Another busy and purposeful week at Lighthouse! There is a strong sense of engagement across the Primary as children continue learning, growing, and participating actively in their daily routines.

As we move through this week, I would like to reassure you that the Primary continues to run smoothly and with consistency under the leadership structure now in place, working closely with Dr Claire. The day-to-day learning, routines, and care of the children remain unchanged, with no disruption to their school experience.

We are grateful for the contribution of Mr West during his time at Lighthouse, and we continue to build on the strong foundations already in place as we move forward together as a school community.

Last week was meaningful, as we had the privilege of welcoming Dr Pretorius for her final visit as a board member. She has been a consistent source of encouragement and guidance, and her insights will continue to inform our ongoing development.

This week, we are preparing for Parent-Teacher Conferences on 15th and 17th July. Booking opens on Wednesday 8th July at 15:00. Please note that students are encouraged to attend these meetings as part of the learning partnership between school, parents, and students. A reminder that there will be no school on 17 July.

We are also currently running MAP assessments this week and next. Please see the schedule below, and a reminder for parents of Grades 1 and 2 to please send wired headphones with your child.

If you would like to learn more about MAP testing, please click the link below.

Finally, a gentle reminder to please drive slowly on Albert Lane during drop-off and pick-up times, and avoid parking on the roadside when visiting the shops, as this may obstruct traffic flow.

Thank you, as always, for your continued support, encouragement, and partnership.

Have a blessed week.

Florence Thomas (Ms Flo)

Primary Curriculum Leader

MAP Testing

What is MAP Growth?
MAP Growth is an online, adaptive assessment that measures a student’s academic achievement and growth over time in key areas such as Reading, Mathematics, and Language Usage. Unlike traditional tests that are limited to a specific grade level, MAP Growth adjusts to each student’s individual learning level. As students respond, the difficulty of the questions adapts—becoming more challenging when answers are correct and adjusting when support is needed. It is designed to measure what students already know and what they are ready to learn next, rather than what they can memorise or revise for.

Why is our school using it?
The primary purpose of MAP Growth at our school is to inform and enhance teaching. It provides teachers with detailed insight into each student’s strengths and areas for development. The data helps us to:

Identify where each student is in their learning journey.
Differentiate instruction to better meet the needs of all learners.
Set goals and monitor progress over time.
Evaluate the effectiveness of our curriculum and teaching strategies.

How will the data be used?
At this stage, MAP Growth results will be used internally by our teachers and leadership team. The data will help us build a clearer picture of how our students are progressing and where we can focus our efforts to support learning more effectively. Teachers will use the results to guide instruction, plan small group work, and personalise learning experiences in the classroom.

When will the MAP testing be administered?
As a school, we are planning to administer the test twice a year - once in June and once in November.

What is tested in MAP?
Across all primary grades, MAP consistently assesses:
Reading
Comprehension, vocabulary, inference, and understanding of texts.

Mathematics
Number sense, operations, geometry, measurement, data, and problem-solving.

Language Usage
Grammar, sentence structure, punctuation, spelling, and writing conventions.

How can you support your child at home?
There is no need for students to revise for MAP, as the assessment adapts to each child’s level and measures their current understanding. The best support at home is ensuring children are well rested, have a healthy breakfast, and arrive at school on time, as this helps them begin the test with a calm and confident mindset. Reassuring them to simply try their best also makes a meaningful difference.

We appreciate your trust and support as we take this step toward more personalised, data-informed teaching and learning. We are excited about the ways this tool will help us serve our students even better. In the future, we look forward to involving families more directly as part of this process.

If you have any questions about MAP Growth or how it is being used in our school, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Ms Flo at florence.thomas@lighthouse.edu.mu.

More in This Newsletter:

Grade 6 Outdoor Education

Aquaponics Course Feedback

Primary Events

French Curriculum Webinar, 13 July

Save your seat! On Monday, 13 July, the French department will host a special webinar dedicated to our new French curriculum. This event will take place online, and parents will have the opportunity to hear the French teachers and Ms Flo explain the news about this year’s classes and answer the most asked questions.

To register and to drop your questions prior to the event, please click here. Deadline to submit your questions: Thursday, 9 July at 12:00.

The webinar will also have a short live Q&A session at the end to allow for more clarifications.

More practical details will be communicated in the next newsletter.

Parent-Teacher Conferences, 15 and 17 July: Sign-ups on Wednesday

You will have the opportunity to book your mid-year Parent-Teacher Conference with your child’s class teacher and specialist teachers (PE, Music and French) from Wednesday 8 July at 15:00. This is a valuable opportunity to discuss your child’s progress, celebrate achievements, and identify areas for further growth and improvement.

Appointment booking slots will be available on Ed-Admin from 15:00 on Wednesday 8 July until 12:00 on Thursday 16 July.
School will dismiss at the usual time on Wednesday, 15 July (12:40). Conferences will be from 13:15 to 17:00 on this day. Please note that there will be NO SCHOOL for students on Friday 17 July, as Parent-Teacher Conferences will be taking place from 08:30 to 14:00.

Lighthouse Has Talent Finals, 24 July

Lighthouse Has Talent is a house-based performing arts event, giving students the opportunity to showcase their creativity and talents.

This week, we encourage parents to speak with their children if they are interested in participating. Students should then inform their class teacher, who will add their names to the audition list.

Auditions will take place on 13, 18, and 20 July.
Finalists will be announced on 21 July and will then prepare for the finals on 24 July.

The finals will take place in the morning, and only parents of finalists will be invited to attend.

Click here for more information about The Performance Guidelines and Criteria

Categories allowed for the Performing Art Talent Show

Music and Vocal ( singing, choir, playing an instrument, beatboxing, original composition etc)
Dance (Solo or Group Dance, Cultural, Contemporary, classic, folk, street, hiphop, gymnastics etc)
Drama and Acting (Monologues, skits, Mim, spoken words, storytelling etc)
Creative Performance ( Poetry, Slam, standup comedy, magic tricks , puppetry, shadow theatre)
Additional (film, lightshow or any teach-enhanced performance etc)

All items should be a maximum of 5 mins

What can students do, and what are they not allowed to do?

Students should songs which are clean i.e. no swearing, explicit, sexualized or violent lyrics
Attire should be appropriate i.e. not suggestive, revealing or not age-appropriate
Item should be respectful of any culture, religion and people i.e. no mockery or dark humour

All acts and songs will be subject to approval by the Teacher House Leader during auditions to ensure they align to the school’s values and guidelines

We look forward to all the submissions and enjoy.

Grade 6 Invitation: Curious Researchers Masterclass Series - Harvard Student Mentors, 11 and 25 July

We are sharing this invitation from Learn with Leaders with Grade 6 parents and students interested in research, innovation, and solving real-world problems:

Read the full invitation

Learn with Leaders is delighted to invite you to the Curious Researchers Masterclass Series.

Led by Harvard student mentors with extensive research experience, these interactive sessions will help students discover how research begins, how ideas become projects, and how curiosity can be transformed into meaningful academic work.

Curious Researchers Masterclass Series - Led by Harvard Student Mentors | Live on Zoom | 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM EDT

Session 1: How to Turn a Hobby Project Into an Award-Winning Competition Entry in 6 Weeks

Date: 27th June, 2026 - already held

Session 2: You Already Think Like a Scientist — You Just Don't Know It Yet

Date: 11th July, 2026

Session 3: The Worst Research Ideas That Turned Out to Be Genius

Date: 25th July, 2026

Session Details

Eligibility: Grades 6–8, Parents & Educators

Format: Live Interactive Zoom Sessions

Duration: 60 Minutes per Session

Fee: Complimentary

What Students Will Learn

• How to turn everyday interests and hobbies into research projects

• The mindset and habits of successful young researchers

• How innovative discoveries often begin with unconventional ideas

• Practical steps to start exploring research in middle school

• Ways to build confidence in critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving

Meet the Mentors

Simran - Harvard University | Biomedical Engineering & Anthropology

Simran conducts bacterial microbiome research at the ADA Forsyth Institute and serves as a Radcliffe Research Partner studying the impact of climate change on women in South Asia.

Sophia - Harvard University | Applied Mathematics & Psychology

Sophia is a researcher affiliated with the U.S. Department of Energy National Laboratories and has presented research at national conferences, bringing both academic and practical research experience to aspiring young scholars.

Dates to Remember

6 July - CAR 6 Planning

6-16 July - MAP Test

13 July - French Curriculum Webinar

15 July - Parents/Teacher Conferences

17 July - Parents/Teacher Conferences. NO SCHOOL

20-24 July - Art Festival Week (No exhibition)

23 July - End of Sports&Club

24 July - Lighthouse Has Talent Finals

31 July - End of Term 2 (dismissal at 12:40); CAR 6 Report

Primary News

CAR 6 Planning, 6 July

Our CAR planning will be out this Monday by the end of the day. Please check your inbox as an email will be sent by the teacher.

MAP Test, 6-16 July

MAP testing will start today.

A few reminders for the days to come:

Please ensure that your child is well prepared. It is very important that children are present on these testing days, as the assessments play a key role in helping us understand their progress and next steps in learning.
Please ensure your child is well rested and has had a good breakfast so they can concentrate fully during the morning sessions.
Grade 1 and Grade 2: please have children bring their own headphones for the tests. These should be plug-in headphones (no Bluetooth).

Thank you for your continued support and cooperation.

Click to see the schedule

Art Festival Week Update, 20-24 July

Please note that the Art Festival Week's Visual Arts Exhibition will not take place this year at Primary. The Art Festival Week, composed of both visual and performing arts, will only feature the performing arts part (Lighthouse Has Talent) this year. In order to ensure a smooth and successful running of this beloved event, we have made the decision to alternate the art exhibition and Lighthouse Has Talent each year.
We thank you for your understanding.

Winter Uniforms and Dress Code Policy Updates

We inform parents that with the new winter jackets available, our custom Uniform policy will be effective again from next Monday.

Students are required to wear the formal uniform (jackets + trousers). The wearing of leggings or other forms of layers is no longer permitted.

Please consult our dress code policy and visit our uniform shop to order the new winter jacket if you have not done so already.

Registrations Still Open for Fun Run & Market Day

Our Fun Run & Market Day has been postponed to Term 3. Registrations for participation and parent volunteers remain open.

We encourage everyone to come dressed in their brightest colours, craziest socks, fun accessories, or anything that adds a little extra joy to the day, while ensuring outfits remain comfortable and appropriate for running and walking.

We would love your support! Sign up to volunteer here: Volunteer and Help Make the Day Memorable

A variety of market stalls and food vendors will also be available on the day, making it a wonderful community event for the whole family.

Featured: Specialists: French, Music, PE

Discover what your bilingual, creative, and athletic children have been up to in their French, Music and PE classes:

French

Music

What's Happening in Secondary?

G10 EM Field Trip: An Immersive Experience!

Our Grade 10 Environmental Management students have had the chance to experience firsthand what it really means to care for our coastlines and waterways at the Marine Discovery Centre (MDC) at the Attitude Hotel in Anse la Raie.

They engaged in a series of interactive workshops that opened their eyes to the richness of our marine ecosystem.

Students also got their hands dirty at Rivière Citron, near the lighthouse, where they learned about their local river. Armed with scientific tools, they measured water temperature, current speed, and pH levels, like true environmental stewards!

Lunch Menu

Coming up on this week’s lunch menu (6 July-10 July):

Please find the full July menu here.

Monday

Spaghetti Bolognaise (Chicken)

Cheese & Veggie with Tomato sauce

Tuesday

Sweet & Sour Chicken with Rice

Vegetable in Sweet & Sour Sauce

Wednesday

LPS

Tuna Mayo or Cheese

LSS

Filled Baguettes

Thursday

Fish with Tomato Sauce & Chips

Fried Tofu

Friday

Tandoori Chicken Kebab with Bread

Vegetable Stir Fry

Regular Reminders

Parents' Prayer Meeting: Every Friday

As every week, parents are welcome on Friday for our prayer meetings. Join us from 08:00 to 08:30 at the Hub (upstairs balcony). We look forward to seeing you there!

Traffic Flow: Morning, Afternoon and Wednesday Pickup

Wednesday Only Afternoon Pickup

Reception and Grade 1 Pickup

Parents should enter the gate in the right lane. You should enter the lay-by and pull forward as far as possible for your child to enter your car. Once your child is secured in your vehicle, follow the lay-by and exit the far end to rejoin the right lane of primary traffic. Move to the left lane, turning right, and carefully pass the Grade 2 and 3 loading zone and merge to proceed past the Pavilion to exit at the lower gate.
If your family has siblings in Grade 2 or 3, they will still be picked up with your reception or Grade 1 child.
Grade R parents, as communicated, please drop and go. Only park if you have a meeting with a teacher or if you need to drop off something with a teacher.

Grade 2-3 Pickup

Parents should enter the gate in the right lane. Instead of entering the lay-by, proceed to the roundabout turning right and remaining in the right lane. A new ‘Wednesday only’ loading zone will be located at the end of the Hub parking lot. Once your child is secure, merge into the traffic to proceed past the Pavilion to exit at the lower gate.

Grade 4-6 Pickup

Parents should enter the gate in the left lane. At the roundabout, stay left and proceed behind the secondary to your usual pickup point at the lay-by on the right near the Farm Lab/lower gate and pull forward as far as possible. Once your child is secure in the car, remain in the lay-by and follow vehicles in the lay-by to exit the far end and rejoin the general flow of traffic, and exit campus.

Regular Morning Drop-Off and Afternoon Dismissal

Uniform Shop

Online Uniform Shop: https://lighthouse.edu-emporium.com/.

Dates and times:

Pick-up at the Hub (for online purchases only): Monday to Friday (08:00 - 15:30 - upon email notification that your order is ready for collection).
Uniform Shop in the Pavilion building (first floor): Monday (08:00 - 12:00), Wednesday (08:00 - 13:30), Friday (08:00 - 12:00).

Please make sure to bring your reservation number in order to collect your purchase at the Hub.

For all information concerning the exchange policy and more, please consult our dedicated pages here:

Attendance: Notice of Early Departure

If your child needs to leave campus before the usual dismissal time at short notice and for a valid reason, please call the Hub or send an email to attendance@lighthouse.edu.mu before 13:30 so we can inform your child's teacher. After 14:00, students and teachers may be in different areas (especially on Tuesdays and Thursdays when we run Sports & Clubs), and messages may not reach them in time. To avoid any confusion, please ensure all transport and arrangements are clearly communicated.

In case of early departure, the parent or responsible party must sign the student out at the Hub.

Health Reminders

If something has changed for your child health wise, please keep us up to date by submitting a new Student Health Form. Otherwise, we will assume all permissions and medical information remain unchanged.

No medications may be kept in student bags! If your child needs to take medication while at school, please fill out this Medication Authorization form and drop the form and medication at the HUB.

First Aid notifications to parents: We do not phone parents for minor first aid incidents at school. You will receive a call or note in the following circumstances:
- A call if your child is sick needs to be sent home
- A call if your child is injured and may require further medical attention.

Fever-Free Policy

Any child who develops a fever should remain at home until they are fever-free for 24hours without the use of fever-reducing medications (such as Paracetamol or Motrin/Ibuprofen).

Why is this necessary? Fever-reducing medication (such as panadol or burofen) can mask symptoms, making a child appear well when they may still be contagious or prone to a relapse.
What defines a fever? For the purposes of this policy, a fever is considered a temperature 37.8°C or higher.

When to Keep Your Child Home:

In addition to the Fever-Free Policy, please consider keeping your child home if they exhibit:

Vomiting or diarrhea( 2+ times) within the last 24 hours.
Too weak or unwell to participate in the school activities.

We understand that keeping a child home can be a challenge for working schedules, but your cooperation is essential in preventing larger outbreaks in the classroom.