Primary Newsletter

Message from the Head of Primary

Dear Moms and Dads,

What a joyful and encouraging start to 2026! As we begin this new year together, we are filled with gratitude and hope for all that lies ahead. This is a year full of possibilities and learning opportunities for our children, and we are thankful to be walking this journey alongside you. At Lighthouse, we truly believe that education is a partnership; when school and home work together in unity, our children flourish.

The first days of school were truly special. Thank you to all the parents who attended the Open House and helped make the day such a success. The Grade R picnic was a wonderful highlight, and it was heart-warming to see families spending time together as children settled into their new environments. We also thank you sincerely for your patience with the traffic on that morning. While there were a few challenges, we appreciate your understanding and look forward to improved parking arrangements in the future, including the opening of the top field.

The first official day back was a great success. One of the most meaningful moments was watching our Grade 1 learners walk into the pavilion, warmly welcomed by loud applause from our senior students, with other learners lining the pathway in support. Even with the rain, it was a powerful reminder of the spirit of belonging, encouragement, and unity that defines our school community. We give thanks to God for His faithfulness and for the joy that filled the day. Our children looked wonderful in their uniforms, and it was truly a beautiful start to the year.

To assist us with important administration matters, we kindly ask all parents to complete the Parent Survey sent out by teachers. Please ensure that all contact details are accurate. We also encourage parents to volunteer as a Class Parent Liaison (CPL). One CPL per class helps ensure clear, consistent communication and supports strong relationships between parents and the school. We look forward to working closely with our new CPLs this year.

Please remember to follow the morning traffic flow procedures. While overall traffic moved well, there were one or two incidents that caused delays. Your cooperation is essential in keeping our mornings safe and efficient for everyone.

Sports and club sign-ups will open today (Tuesday 20 January, 5 p.m), with the final deadline being Thursday 22 January at noon. If a child is not signed up by the deadline, they will be allocated to a sport or club. After this point, changes become very difficult, as groups are finalised to ensure balanced and manageable programmes for all learners.

The CAR1 planning for each grade will be shared next week on 26 January, and reporting will follow thereafter.

A kind reminder to sign up or log into the Ed-Admin portal if you have not done so yet. Also, please update any relevant information or contact details.

And finally, please enjoy the Back-to-School Thursday photos, and remember that as a leadership team, we are always here to listen. Do not hesitate to reach out, have a conversation, or ask questions; we value open communication and partnership.

As we journey through this year together, may we continue to support one another, guide our children with wisdom and care, and raise them to grow academically, in character, and in faith.

We wish you and your families a wonderful and blessed week ahead.

Kind regards,

Mr Hannes van der Westhuysen

Head of Lighthouse Primary School 

Reception Picnic

Back to School Thursday

Primary News

A Fresh New Look for Our French Department – 2026

We are excited to introduce our new French Department team for 2026:

• Ms. Sharon – Intermediate French

• Ms. Jemima – Advanced French

• Ms. Leiticia – Beginner French

As part of this new chapter, our French programme will transition to a Mauritian/Canadian French curriculum for Intermediate and Advanced students.

Students’ learning will be organised around themes from the Mauritian Curriculum, through which they will develop grammar, reading, and writing skills. Speaking and listening will be strengthened using approaches from the Canadian Curriculum, helping children grow as confident and effective French communicators.

For our French Beginners, the curriculum will follow the international CEFR framework, focusing on the gradual development of listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills. Learning will be age-appropriate, engaging, and centred on building confidence and real communication. Over time, this will prepare students to work towards CEFR Level A2, aligned with the DELF Prim certification in the upper primary years.

French Assessment & Reporting

• Reporting will take place termly, in CARs 4, 6, and 9.

• A formal assessment will be conducted in CAR 6 to help us better understand each child’s progress in French. This may support decisions about whether a student would benefit from remaining in their current group or moving to a different level, ensuring they are learning at a pace that best suits their needs.

• Continuous assessment throughout the year will guide teaching and support each child’s individual growth.

Please watch this space as more information will be sent to you concerning our French Curriculum.

We are confident that this renewed structure and our dedicated team will enrich our students’ French learning experience. Thank you for your continued support — we look forward to a wonderful year ahead.

Communication Channels

We would like to reiterate that our newsletter will be the main distribution point for whole Primary School communication and we encourage you to prioritise reading our newsletters. The newsletter is distributed on Mondays. Please keep an eye out as it will contain important updates and information.

We also kindly invite you to visit our website for important documents and FAQ concerning our school such as fees, admission process and more. 

Finally, follow us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn and don't forget to tag the school in your school event photos.

Pick-up and Drop-off Traffic Flow on Campus

Our aim is to create a smooth, safe and stress free environment when you drop-off and collect your child(ren). 

We therefore ask that you please team with us by familiarising yourself with the drop off and pick up procedures. 

Reception parents: Please double-check your Afternoon Pick-up and share with any drivers or grandparents.

Sign up to be your Class CPL

Our CPLs (Class-Parent Liaisons) play an essential role in building our Lighthouse community and being the spokesperson for the class.  Having a CPL has helped parents greatly in communicating with the teachers or the school leadership regarding urgent matters. This is a great opportunity to not only get to know other parents in your child's grade, but also contribute meaningfully to the success of our school.  

The responsibilities of a CPL include the following:

• Maintaining a social connection with all parents in the class and building community 

• Disseminate information as directed by the class teacher or Head of Primary school 

• To connect and relay parent’s concerns directly to the teacher or Head of Primary

• Meeting with the Head of Primary or the Curriculum and Well- Being Leader once a term. These meetings will be held between 8:00-09:00 and will include tea, coffee and snacks. Our first one for the year is 4 February.

• To organise teachers and assistant teacher’s birthday gifts and class related parties

• To get involved in fundraising or community events hosted by the school
  
  

If you would like more details about the role and what it entails, we would be happy to assist. Please email the Primary Secretary at julie.lavenerable@lighthouse.edu.mu. 

Please let your class teacher know by 20 January (via your parent survey or direct email). 

Sports & Club Sign-up Opens on 20 January, 5 p.m

Please note that you will be able to sign up your child for their Term 1 Sports & Club on your Ed-Admin Parent's Portal, as from 20 January . Deadline to select your child’s Sports & Club: 22 January, noon.

As communicated last week, a new sports and clubs structure will be implemented in Term 2.

Once sign-ups are open for this term, follow the instructions here to sign up your child for the Term 1 Sports & Clubs.

Please see below schedules for Lower and Upper Primary, to understand the weekly rhythms and what you need to sign up for.

You can also find the list of available clubs and sports at below link:

• Lower Primary (G 1-3) and Upper Primary (G 4-6)

If you do not sign up by 22 January, we will allocate your child to the remaining sports and club options. This is a great opportunity for students to get involved in activities that match their interests and talents.

Should you need support to sign up, please contact Ms Julie: julie.lavenerable@lighthouse.edu.mu.

How to access our Ed-Admin portal

Please be reminded to download, activate and familiarise yourself with the Ed-Admin app (named Ed-Admin multi portal) as soon as possible.

Activation code: 241850. This platform gives you an overview of your children's school reports and parent event sign-ups.

If you are a new parent and cannot log in on the Ed-Admin App, we highly recommend you try logging in through the web browser https://lighthouse.ed-space.net before downloading the app.

Please check all details currently on your children's profiles and let us know if anything has changed. If you're struggling to download and log into the Ed-Admin app, please email our ICT Lead, Mr Adrien on ict@lighthouse.edu.mu for assistance.

Contact Details Changes

To ensure that we have the most up-to-date information for your child, we kindly ask you to log in to your Ed-Admin Parents’ Portal and update your details if there are any changes in address, phone number, etc.

Attendance: What To Do When Your Child Is Absent

A reminder that anytime a student will be absent from school or departing early, please email attendance@lighthouse.edu.mu or call our main number 243 7100 so that we can accurately monitor your child and provide good care.  Ms Julie, LPS Secretary, is our key contact in tracking all student movements. In the case of lateness and/or early departure, please come sign in and/or out at the hub. 

Start of 2026 Health Reminders

Please take note of a few health reminders as we start out this new school year:

• 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.

Uniform Shop Hours

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: Monday (08:00 - 12:00), Wednesday (08:00 - 13:30), Friday (08:00 - 12:00)

Important: Please note that this week, the Uniform Shop will exceptionally be open on Thursday, 22 January only, from 08:00 to 14:00.

2026 Uniform Schedule

Jackets to Collect at Lost & Found

We still have many jackets that have been found on the playground, or in the Pavilion in Term 3. If your child is missing a jacket, please be sure to check our ‘Lost & Found’ box at the hub before the end of this month. We will make all remaining jackets available to our bursary students thereafter. 

Primary Events

Reading Info Night

Please mind that this event is only for Grade 1 parents, and new parents from Grade 2 and Grade 3.

Regular Reminders

Lunch Menu

Please checkout our January/February menu here. 

Key Lighthouse Documents

A reminder that we have a few key documents to help guide you around school operations:

• Code of Conduct

• Parent and Student Handbook

• Student Health and Wellness Guidelines

• 2026 Fees and Payment Policy

• 2026 Student Calendar

•  Student Dress Code Policy [2026] 

• Parents' Quick Guide: Lighthouse's Weather Related Closing Policy

• Classroom Rules

Dates to Remember 

Birthdays