Weekly Newsletter
This Week At LOTS: 26-30 Aug 2024
Term 1 | Week 1
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Weekly Newsletter
This Week At LOTS: 26-30 Aug 2024
Term 1 | Week 1
Action is the foundational key to all success - Pablo Picasso
Dear Parents,
Let us get down to the action on ground this week straight away, to keep the ball moving.
So we started with a student orientation program on day 1 where each section was guided on the schedule of the day, their classes and teachers, essential behavioral agreements, curriculum, and related information and instruction through group sessions and assemblies. More details on this will be in the respective Principals’ sections and program specific parts of this newsletter. So I will leave it at that.
The new time tables with new schedules were put in place, and have worked well in the first week. The morning homeroom mentoring time of 20 minutes is already paying rich dividends in terms of student care, and the separate break timings are helping keep spaces and matters uncluttered.
An earnest request to all parents - please ensure you drop your children at school definitely before 7.20 hrs - otherwise they miss out on valuable homeroom mentoring time and related activities that help a child truly get ready for the day.
We have started using the new volleyball court already, and the new soccer pitch and the new Performing Arts hall will also be in use from the coming week. The sick bay is in operation too and all is well. We will have a dedicated nurse from next month.
The coming week is a busy one.
We have parent orientation sessions spread across all 5 days of the week. Monday Early Years, Tuesday CP1 to 3, Wednesday CP4 to 6, Thursday LS 1 to 3, and Friday IGCSE 1 to A Level 2. All sessions will commence at 14.00 hrs and will be held at the new Performing Arts Hall next to the volleyball court.
Parent Orientation Schedule -Click here to access
The coming week is also Literacy week, and every day there would be related activities in respective age groups and classrooms including ‘authorspeak’, culminating with Character Day on Friday 6th September. We look forward to all the inventive and colorful fun!
Next week the COMPASS Leadership program will also commence for students, with dedicated lessons on the time table, and Entrepreneurship classes and Service Learning sessions for the other grades - with the sessions rotating every term to ensure every age group gets to experience all three components.
The week after would come the Math and Science Fair and the first Leadership Camp (IGCSE 2 to A Level 2). But more about these in the next newsletter.
A warm welcome once again to all returning parents and students and to new ones. We are the LOTS family and let’s join hands and collaborate, as always, to help our children become the best versions of themselves.
Warm regards,
Shouquot Hussain
Head of School
Academic standards are established guidelines that outline the knowledge and skills students should gain in each grade and subject:
At LOTS, the Cambridge Curriculum is used from Early years to A-Level. We as the LOTS team are working incessantly to strive towards excellence by setting high standards in academics. Students in all classes are helped to understand the expectations in every subject. Students are encouraged to be active learners by asking questions and deliberately participating in the learning process.
Here is an overview of a policy outlining the criteria for academic honors, promotion requirements, and the responsibilities of students, parents, and the school in achieving these standards.
Academic Honors Criteria
First Honors:
Aggregate: A minimum of 95% across all subjects.
Individual Subject Requirement: A minimum of 90% in each subject.
This award will be awarded at the end of semester one and semester two.
Second Honors:
Aggregate: A minimum of 85% across all subjects.
Individual Subject Requirement: A minimum of 80% in each subject.
This award will be awarded at the end of semester one and semester two.
Most Improved Student:
A minimum of 15% improvement in aggregate scores from Semester 1 to Semester 2.
This award will be awarded at the end of semester two.
Promotion Requirements
Minimum Passing Criteria:
Aggregate: A minimum of 50% across all subjects.
Individual Subject Requirement: A minimum of 50% in each subject.
Promotion to Next Year Level (Cambridge Primary and Lower Secondary):
Students must achieve the minimum passing criteria in both aggregate and individual subjects to be promoted to the next academic year.
Promotion to IGCSE 1:
Aggregate: A minimum of 50% across all subjects.
Individual Subject Requirement: A minimum of 50% in each subject.
Promotion to A-level 1:
Aggregate: A minimum of 50% (D grade) across all subjects.
Individual Subject Requirement: A minimum of 50% (D Grade) in each subject
The first week of school went on well and the main agenda during orientation was going through the student code of conduct. We outlined the expected good behavior of students in school. We also highlighted the things students are not expected to do in school.
We also attended to a number of parents who visited the office for clarifications and concerns.
The concerns you have on bullying are being addressed. Our appeal to you is that we take time to talk to our children about respecting others and being empathetic. The children come from your homes. We should work together in shaping their moral and social aspects.
We should continuously engage with each other for a better Lusaka Oaktree School.
We still want to remind you, our good parents, that our open door policy is ongoing. You are welcome to see us when you have any concerns.
The communication procedure is as follows:
First contact - Class teacher/Subject teacher
Second contact - Section Coordinator
Third contact - Principal Academics/Principal Pastoral Care
Fourth contact - Head of School
If your concern is not addressed to your satisfaction at any given level, you are free to move to the next level. We shall ensure to do our best to serve you well.
As a way of striving to serve our students better, we are currently working on a pastoral care handbook which will outline the well-being of our students.
The children in the Early Years have enjoyed being back at school and are now settling down and connecting with new friends. It has been a week of fun, friends, and happy learning. The community of our little ones is thriving, as you can see from the happy photos below!
We're off to a fantastic start this school year! Our students were eager to reconnect with friends and teachers, and we warmly welcomed new students, pairing them with returning classmates.
During our assembly, we reviewed our code of conduct, wellness initiatives, and mentorship programs, and it was wonderful to see students engage with thoughtful questions.
Our mentorship and wellness periods have been a hit, with homeroom teachers leading interactive games and discussions on wellness and good conduct. We encourage students to arrive early and participate in morning workouts and mentorship sessions.
Homework will begin next week, and we'll share the schedule with you soon. Overall, it's been a great beginning to the year, and we're excited to see our students thrive!
Welcoming Students back on Campus:
A warm welcome to all the Returning and New students joining us for the 2024-25 Academic year, we are so happy to have you back on campus.
Warm Up Sessions:
Our week has been energetic with students and Teachers across secondary taking part in the early morning warm up sessions that have been happening from 07:10- 07:20hrs
Homeroom Mentoring:
Students have appreciated the efforts made by the school in introducing Homeroom Mentoring, Circle time, Affirmation and Bonding games have kept them thrilled and encompass the values of the school - CREED. We urge students/Parents to also share games that will help us enforce our values.
Lessons:
Our week has been buzzing with exciting class activities as well inquiry based lessons where students take part and also make meaningful contributions to the class.
Knock off time:
Please note that for the next two weeks Secondary school lessons end at 1:20 pm.
Senior Secondary is a very defining and decisive time in the Cambridge curriculum and at LOTS. These are the years that will help shape university admissions and career paths. This year we as students and parents and teachers have our goals set:
Right subject choices - the Coordinator, the Homeroom Mentor and the University Counseling team will guide learners through this to ensure they arrive at the right fit, merging ability and ambition.
Career Guidance and University admission application process - Students and parents need to be committed and supportive of the very intense and detailed process laid down by the Career Counseling team - building portfolios, assembling and submitting transcripts, writing personal statements, collecting recommendation letters, completing and submitting applications on time.
Academic rigour - please pay heed to the guidelines below:
Stay Focused: Keep your goals in sight and manage your time wisely. Staying focused will help you excel in your studies.
Seek Help: Don’t hesitate to ask for help when needed. Teachers, counselors, and peers are here to support you.
Balance Academics and Activities: While academics are crucial, make sure to enjoy your hobbies and downtime. A balanced life keeps you motivated and energized.
Engage Actively: Participate in class, join school events, and get involved. Active engagement enhances your learning experience and makes school more enjoyable.
Let’s make this year memorable and successful together!
The 20 minutes Morning Mentoring schedule every morning:
Week 1 is done and dusted! The week kicked off with mixed emotions as we began the new academic year. An excitement of meeting friends and delighted to meet new homeroom teachers. On the other hand there was some sadness about returning to early mornings and anxiety about the new grade workload. The teachers have worked extremely hard to regulate all these mixed emotions during the daily 20mins mentoring session which were recently introduced for all our classes.
The goal of these sessions is to create a fun and safe space for learners to express their opinions and feelings, to bond with their homeroom teachers and classmates. This is done through an affirmation which is decided by the learners, interactive games and circle time where school rules are reiterated, feelings are shared, questions are asked, topics are discussed and advice is given. We are hopeful that these mentoring meetings will be fruitful and help our learners have a great start to the day.
Please do share any suggestions or observations you have made concerning your child and the morning meetings.
Exciting Times Ahead: ECAs Start Next Week!
We are thrilled to announce that our Extra-Curricular Activities (ECAs) program kicks off next week! This is a fantastic opportunity for our learners to explore new interests, develop skills, and make friends outside of regular classes.
ECAs on Offer:
- Sports: Football, Basketball, Tennis, Volleyball, Karate and more
- MDD (Music, Dance, and Drama), Ballet
- Visual Arts: Painting, Drawing, and more
- Debaters and Writers
- STEAM Clubs:
- Science Olympiads
- Mathematics
- Engineering
- Coding and Robotics
- Community Service:
- Red Cross
- Scouts
To secure a spot, please submit the sign-up form shared with parents and learners promptly. Remember, enrollment is on a first-come, first-served basis, and spaces are limited in each activity. Don't miss out on the fun!
If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to reach out to us. We're looking forward to a fantastic ECA season!
Deadline for submission: 04/09/2024)
Note: As the forms have been released to allow children and parents to choose the EC activities, please note that the payment for paid clubs (Karate & Ballet) will be done in the third week .The numbers and coaches’ details to send payments to will be made available to you before that.
Here are the essential points that need student and parent attention:
The Career Counseling office will be set up with a new dimension this year, with more intentional and deliberate interaction points with students and parents..
The Career Counseling Handbook is in final stages and will be published by next month.
Students and parents are encouraged to write their concerns regarding careers to careercounseling@lusakaoaktree.school.
A lot of information sessions are planned for IGCSE and A Level students.
We will begin the application process for Universities Abroad for A levels by the end of October.
Students are encouraged to attend these sessions and enjoy the process that will take them to their destination.
Reading and writing are the foundations of knowledge. They ignite the spark of Creativity and foster Empathy and understanding through the stories and experiences of others.
By dedicating ourselves to reading and writing with Excellence, we cultivate a culture of Discipline, thereby empowering ourselves to think critically, express ourselves authentically, and connect with others meaningfully.
Through reading, we broaden our perspectives, absorb information, and gain insights, while writing enables us to clarify thoughts, process emotions, and connect with others effectively. By embracing these skills, we can unlock our full potential, pursue our dreams, and contribute to a more literate, inclusive, and enlightened society.
Literacy Week, hence, is a vital celebration that shines a spotlight on the transformative power of reading and writing. In a world where knowledge is currency, literacy is the key that unlocks doors to endless opportunities, empowering individuals to reach their full potential.
Thus, this coming week, LOTs, together with the rest of the world, we will acknowledge the profound impact that literacy has on our lives, from fostering critical thinking to creativity - enriching individual lives and shaping a more informed, empathetic, and engaged community.
Let us come together to share the joy of reading and writing, to make a difference in the world, one word at a time! Here is the broad program:
DAY1: Teachers will run through the importance of the Literacy Week and emphasis will be on the importance of the week and how everyone must get involved.
DAY 2: Learners will identify their buddies whom they will read a book with and swap their books which are intended for their friends or colleagues to keep and read even after the Literacy Week.
DAY 3: Selected parents will be invited to read for the learners for few minutes. This will be done in a spirit of oneness and to encourage children to read beyond the walls of the school.
DAY4: Literacy also entails writing. Therefore, both learners and members of staff will be expected to write a short poem or any creatively written peace that explores their imagination. This will be kept in their pockets, and they will have to read it to anyone who asks them to deep into their pockets. This will be coupled with reading different appropriate messages on T- shirts as a way of appreciating literature and a variety of writing styles.
DAY 5: The Grand Finale as the climax of the week. Learners across the school will be encouraged to draw/ dress up like their favorite character as a way of bringing their favourite characters alive as they celebrate the theme. This will be celebrated at a given time slot which will be communicated. This last day will also have different programmes ranging from poetry, spelling bee, skits, inspirational segments and recognition of exceptional pupils.
We look forward to travelling together throughout this week as we journey on both familiar and unfamiliar roads to celebrate the week as a school community. Support from all staff members and parents will be greatly appreciated.
The countdown is on! This October, LOTS is hosting an electrifying TEDx event, and it’s going to be epic! We are bringing together a lineup of game-changing speakers who will challenge, inspire, and ignite your imagination.
Expect mind-blowing ideas, powerful stories, and the chance to connect with thinkers who are shaping the future. This is more than just an event, it's a movement of ideas that can change the world.
Students who are speakers and performers and their parents - this is your breakthrough opportunity. Give it your all. We the team of TEDx mentors and patrons are here to guide and support you.
Mark your calendars for October. You won’t want to miss this! Stay tuned for more details.
TEDx LOTS Team
Students to reach school no later than 7.20 hrs.
Attending morning mentoring time is mandatory.
Pick ups after school on a regular full day should be no later than 16.00 hrs.
Homeroom mentors (class teachers) are the first point of contact for concerns and resolution of issues. Next point of escalation is the concerned Program Coordinator (including the Mentoring and Wellness Coordinator).. Next point of escalation for matters related to academic curriculum is the Principal, Academics, and for matters behavioral and wellbeing is the Principal Pastoral Care. For matters related to fees and payments, the point of contact is the Accounts Officer. For admission and enrolment related matters it is the Admissions Officer. For Transport and Maintenance it is the Operations Officer.
In case something does not find closure in this chain, the Head of School may be approached.
Dear LOTS Families,
We strongly urge you to prioritize your child's immediate return to school. Every day of missed classes results in academic loss, which can be challenging to recover from. Consistent attendance is essential to ensure your child does not fall behind in their studies and can fully participate in the school community.
Kind Regards,
Lusaka Oaktree School