Weekly Newsletter
This Week At LOTS: 16-20 Sep 2024
Term 1 | Week 4
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Weekly Newsletter
This Week At LOTS: 16-20 Sep 2024
Term 1 | Week 4
Access LOTS Community Hub Visit - hub.lusakaoaktree.school
“Brevity is the soul of wit” - William Shakespeare.
Dear Parents,
Parent Teacher Council AGM and Election:
The AGM for fresh PTC elections is going to take place on Saturday the 28th of September, at 10.00 hrs, in the school premises (as shared in the earlier newsletter). Here is the link to the document detailing the event. If you are interested, please respond to the email ids given in the document confirming attendance.
Student Council Election and Investiture:
This week has been another emotional roller coaster particularly for our senior most students in the secondary and primary sections as Student Council elections draw near.
It has been a week of calculated moves, lots of discussions among friends, teachers and parents and deciding on which position to apply for. Our A levels , AS, IGCSE2 and CP6 students have filled application forms and are ready to begin campaigns. Let the games begin!
The excitement is building and the applicants are hungry for leadership. We look forward to seeing campaign strategies and well thought out speeches to win over the masses in the next coming weeks. Date for your diaries:
23rd - 27th September - Campaigns
30th September - Candidate speeches
1st October - LOTS goes to the polls (Voting)
7th October - Inauguration ceremony to welcome the 2024/2025 Student Council
TEDxLOTS
Watch this space for the declaration of the final list of speakers and performers and details of each, exact venue and time of the event, tickets. Soonest. As they say - patience pays!
Please follow the rest of the newsletter for relevant information and updates.
Warm regards,
Shouquot Hussain
Head of School
The goal of the first PTC (parent-teacher conference) is to establish an effective partnership between parents and teachers, ensuring a smooth transition into the new academic year. This meeting allows teachers to share the class goals as well as individual goals for your child and discuss how parents can support learning at home. It also provides an opportunity for you as parents to share any new developments or concerns about your child(ren), ensuring teachers are aware of changes that could impact academic performance.
Please do not miss this opportunity that will foster open communication so that the school and families can work together to support student success. Please sign up for a slot. The dates are Thursday 26 September (EYD to CP4), and Friday 27 September (CP5 to A Levels).
Our mentorship and well-being program started and our teachers have attached great importance to this program. We are all being reminded that we are mentors and we should continue insisting on good behavior from our students throughout.
We have decided to divide our secondary section into smaller mentorship groups. Each group has been assigned to a teacher who will be responsible for the wellbeing of the students.
The homeroom teacher will be the team leader of all the mentors at grade level. All the communication to the parents will be done by the homeroom teacher. In order for the program to be successful students should be dropped early at school. The program will start at 07:20 Monday to Friday. A student who misses the mentorship session will be marked absent for that day.
The mentors have been divided as follows:
Lower Secondary 1
Mr Emmanuel Chimantila - 8 students
Ms Jaqueline Mubiana - 8 students
Ms Mailess Lungu - 8 students
Ms Bridget Mwila- 9 students
Mr Chishala Manda - 9 students
Mr Cletus Hakubeza - 9 students
Lower Secondary 2
Mr Wezi Mkandawire - 13 students
Ms Mable Bwalya - 12 students
Mr Nathan Mwambazi - 12 students
Mr Elisha Banda - 11 students
Lower Secondary 3
Mr George Sabiti - 9 students
Ms Precious Chileshe - 9 students
Ms Getrude Banda - 8 students
Mr Milimo Mainga - 8 students
Mr Ryan Zulu - 8 students
IGCSE 1
Mr Tilata Mulambia - 9 students
Mr Asher Kapalaula - 9 students
Mr Jabes Tembo - 8 students
Mr Victor Mwaekwa - 8 students
Ms Khona/ Mr Mweemba- 7 students
IGCSE 2
Mr Richard Mwanza - 13 students
Ms Lauren Njungu - 13 students
AS LEVEL
Mr Denny Sepiso - 7 students
A-LEVEL
Mr Hensley Chabinga - 9 students
The mentor - students ratio is good and this will allow more interaction between mentor and mentee.
Permission Slips
We write to notify you that any student picked from school before knock-off time has to collect an exit pass from the homeroom teacher or coordinator. The security officers will ask for the exit pass before allowing the student to leave. Kindly cooperate with our security team as all this is done to serve you better.
School code of conduct
Kindly go through the code of conduct with your child/ ward. This will help remind them of the dos and don'ts in school. Let us join hands in helping our students practice the school core values of CREED.
Our week was packed with activities like swimming ,art, karate, sports, reading, and more. We also had a lovely assembly led by the Reception B class who focused on friendship and featured an excellent reading session.
The ECAs are now up and running, and we encourage those in the middle and reception classes who haven't signed up yet to do so. Please label the children's items for easy identification, including bottles and lunch tins.
Assembly Review
Our recent assembly was a resounding success, delivering an epic, educative, and entertaining experience under the theme "Friendship and Teamwork." We appreciate the parents who took time to attend.
September Formative Assessments
Assessments will run from next week to Tuesday, October 1, 2024. They will take place at scheduled times for each subject, as indicated on the school timetable. Please ensure students arrive early.
PTC/3-Way Conferences
Note the following dates:
CP 1-4: September 26, 2024 (No school for these grades)
CP 5-6: September 27, 2024 (No school for these grades)
Sign-ups for PTCs are available on class WhatsApp groups.
Key Reminders:
Attend PTC/3-Way Conferences
Every Friday, students knock off at 13 20 hrs.
Thank you for your continued support.
AFFIRMATION: AS LOWER SECONDARY STUDENTS, WE WILL BE DISCIPLINED AND RESPECT ONE ANOTHER IN EVERY POSSIBLE WAY.
Snack break implemented
With feedback from you our parents, we have been able to implement the snack break which was received by the students with so much joy and excitement.
A slight change in our September LS Formative Assessments
Due to the already outlined PTC's on our Calendar on the 26th and 27th September, 2024, we have decided to move the Assessments scheduled for those two days to 30th September and 1st October, 2024 for convenience sake. We have also communicated promptly to our students, Please refer to the final Assessments Schedule which will be sent to the WhatsApp Class groups.
PTC 26-27th September , 2024
The Parent teacher conference is a very important event that allows us to communicate with you on the progress of our students, in our quest to improve on feedback, we have decided to have our PTC on;
EYD-CP4: 26/09/24
CP5- A/LEVEL: 27/09/24
LS3B assembly
The Discipline themed Assembly was well captivating and an interesting one to watch where students presented speeches, dance and drama. Well done LS3 for that amazing performance.
Mentoring and well being
As we continue to better the pastoral lives of our students, we have introduced smaller teacher pupil ratio groups where the teachers will mentor the students through a structured program. We look forward to week 5.
Reading program
In order to enhance reading and critical thinking in secondary, we encourage all students to make the most out of the newly introduced reading schedule which is incooperated in our English lessons.
Upcoming Baseline Exams
We would like to take this opportunity to inform you about the upcoming Baseline Examinations for our Upper Secondary students beginning on 23rd September 2024.
These exams are a crucial part of our academic calendar as they provide us with a clear picture of each student’s current strengths and areas for improvement. The results from the baseline exams will help our teachers tailor their teaching strategies to meet the needs of each learner and ensure every student is on track to meet their academic goals.
Why are Baseline Exams Important?
They help us understand where each student stands at the start of the term.
They provide an opportunity for students to familiarize themselves with the exam format and practice time management skills.
They allow both teachers and students to set clear targets for growth and improvement.
What Can Students Do to Prepare?
Review your class notes and previous lessons to ensure you have a solid understanding of key concepts.
Create a study schedule that allows you to cover all subjects and allocate time for revision.
Practice past papers and sample questions to get used to the exam format.
Stay positive and confident! These exams are a stepping stone towards future success, and every effort counts.
We encourage all students to put in their best effort during these exams. Remember, this is an opportunity to set the foundation for a successful academic year ahead.
We wish all our students the very best of luck in their preparation and performance. Let's aim high and work together to achieve excellence!
The Benefits of Morning Mentoring
Another week of morning mentoring is done. This week we celebrate the “small wins” and reflect on the benefits of the morning mentoring. Before we dive into the benefits, we would like to remind parents to bring children before 07.10 so they can be part of morning workout and morning mentoring which has a positive impact on the students wellbeing.
Now to look at some benefit, during these 20mins:
Students are given an opportunity to debrief emotions, discuss issues that may hinder their learning and prepare them for the day through announcements or helpful tips.
Students are encouraged to think critically when a topic is discussed or a game played.
Students are given a chance to Improve their social skills and create stronger bonds with their peers and teachers.
Students learn to express themselves, share their ideas and views
Students feel happy about being in school and as a result are able to learn better.
Some feedback from students:
‘We enjoy coming in the morning because we have a safe space to share our ideas with each other, get to know each other better and hear each other's views without any judgment.’ - A Level girls-
‘My favorite part of the morning mentoring is the games we play with my friends and my teacher because we laugh a lot’ - Lower primary student.
Tennis success at the ISAZ Inter School Lawn Tennis championships:
Our teams fought hard and gave a stellar account of themselves. The highlight was Wasulungu Phiri reaching the Semi Finals in the Boys section. To make it to the final four in such a competitive pool was no mean feat. Congratulations are very much in order!
(Wasulungu pic and team pic).
ECAs after school:
The dust surrounding ECAs has seemingly settled as they seem to be running more smoothly with almost all learners knowing exactly where they need to be and what activities they are doing. Physical sign ups have been concluded and now manual entries will follow. This means that learners who do not have a group, activity or sport and want to sign up will be manually entered into the system through the register that is conducted by the teachers/instructors. Kindly note that this does not apply to karate and ballet.
During the weekend, a list detailing the participants in the extra-curricular activities will be shared in the various WhatsApp groups in order to assist the parents in knowing club and activity allocations. Parents that need help with any issue, please feel free to communicate to any member of the PE department.
Ballet and Karate payments.
All payments pertaining to the paid activities should be made directly to the instructors. The preferred methods of payment are FNB eWallet payment and Airtel Mobile Money. Please use the following contact numbers: Miss Lisa (260973545452) for Ballet and Mr Freelance (260976488742) for Karate. Please contact them before making any payments.
Exciting Insights from Massey University Presentation Dinner
Our University Guidance team had the pleasure of attending a dinner where a representative from Massey University, New Zealand, delivered an insightful presentation. We’re excited to share the key highlights with our community, as Massey University offers exceptional opportunities for students considering international education.
Why Choose Massey University?
Massey University is recognized globally for its academic excellence, offering programs in agriculture, business, creative arts, social sciences, and more. With three campuses across New Zealand (Auckland, Wellington, and Palmerston North), students can experience both the rich academic environment and the beautiful landscapes of New Zealand.
We encourage parents and students to explore this exciting opportunity and consider Massey University for their international education!
University of Staffordshire Visits LOTS
This week, our students in IGCSE and A levels had the exciting chance to interact with a representative from the University of Staffordshire, UK. The session was an engaging exchange, with students actively asking questions about the university’s programs, internships, and campus life.
Students showed great interest in Staffordshire’s strong industry connections, especially in fields like digital technology and business. The rep explained how internships and real-world projects help boost employability, which sparked enthusiasm among the group. Questions about scholarships were also addressed, with the representative highlighting the financial support available to international students.
The session was a dynamic discussion that gave students a clear vision of life at Staffordshire, making the possibility of studying in the UK more tangible.
Please sign up for the Parent Teacher Conferences.
Confirm your attendance by email if interested in PTC elections.
Remind your children about the formative tests and baseline assessments.
Please fill up and sign the consent forms for your child’s Leadership camp as and when the forms reach you.
Please visit the Community Hub to collect curricular and related details.
For any concerns or issues please reach out to the concerned department in the school. The contact details are always listed towards the end of every newsletter.
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