Weekly Newsletter
This Week At LOTS: 2-6 Jun 2025
Term 3| Week 9
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Weekly Newsletter
This Week At LOTS: 2-6 Jun 2025
Term 3| Week 9
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“I am always ready to learn, though I do not always like being taught”
- Albert Einstein
Dear Parents/Guardians,
The quote above is a huge reality for most students. Essentially all youngsters are curious and they most definitely want to know and learn. But are not excited about the dreary and invariably passive routine of being fed and taught information and insight day in and day out in a controlled and fixed environment. They want to breathe, to actively pursue what excites them, to explore with an element of choice. This is where certain self learning avenues come in. let me just take two examples today:
Reading
Let the child pick what it wants to read. Just show them a little by example. Once their interest is generated and their curiosity piqued, the rest will run on autopilot. They will feel empowered because they decide what to read and when to read. And they will take more ownership of the outcomes because no one is judging their act here. And it need not be a physical book always - let them read on the device - soft or hard copy should not matter. The fact that they are engaging should.
“The more that you read,the more things you will know, the more that you learn, the more places you’ll go” Dr Suess. Need i say more?
Traveling
No, I am not talking about international luxury travel (though no harm in that either) but about just moving children from routine comfort zones and helping them experience another place, another people, another perspective, another way of life, another horizon. It could be a visit to a farm or a festival of another people or to the arms of nature. This makes them see beyond the well and the bubble they are in, and get them to experience a microcosm of the world even without really having to traverse much. One learns most by observing, and by interacting with those who do not lead your kind of life.
“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome and charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner all of one’s lifetime” Mark Twain. Again, need I say more?
So let’s embark on both these adventures for the sake of our children, and let these journeys teach them life.
Warm regards
Shouquot Hussain
Head of School
Examination time should be viewed as a way to reflect on and apply what has been learned. With proper preparation and a calm mindset, students can approach exams with confidence. Learning should remain an enjoyable process, where curiosity and growth are valued more than pressure and fear.
If there are urgent queries regarding examinations, please contact the academic coordinator. Please see the calendar for important dates and contact details. This week we have started revision work in different subjects. Meanwhile, practical examinations have started in some classes.
We have taken record on all students reporting for school after 07:30. Some of the reasons for late coming are:
Traffic
Staying far
Break down
Starting off late
Driver reporting late
Tyre puncture
We suggest the following solutions for the highlighted reasons
We would like to announce the success of the Zambia Spelling Bee Competition held on 31st May 2025, hosted by Lusaka OakTree School. The event brought together young, enthusiastic spellers from many different schools across Lusaka in a vibrant celebration of language, learning, and academic excellence.
A total of 14 students represented Lusaka OakTree School in the competition, showcasing their dedication and passion for spelling:
Aadhya Nair
Likith Sai Raj Sangalapali
Shauna Ellen
Jay Nebhwani
Stella De’Miranda
Walid Shalak
Ethan Sakala
Zanele Ncube
Adalynn Katambo
Navia Duby
Asia Adele
Humera Chauhan
We are especially proud of our Secondary Team, made up of Adalynn Katambo and Asia Adele, who earned a 3rd place win in the Lusaka District round! Their exceptional performance reflected strong spelling skills.
Congratulations to all our participants for representing Lusaka OakTree School with enthusiasm. We look forward to hosting many more exciting academic competitions in the future!
It has been an exciting and inspiring term for our school’s athletics teams, with both our junior and senior athletes making us incredibly proud on and off the track!
The Junior Athletics Team (comprising of U9, U11 and U13 athletes) had showcased incredible determination, team spirit, and sportsmanship as they headed off to compete in the ISAZ Junior Athletics Meet that was held at Trident Prep on 7th June 2025. Whether setting personal bests or supporting their teammates, they’ve embodied the true spirit of athletics in every event. Their energy and enthusiasm promise a bright future for our athletics program.
The senior athletics team under the guidance of Coach Asher and Coach Ngao traveled to Ndola for the annual ISAZ Athletics Nationals that was held on Friday, 6th June 2025. The team comprising of 14 students had a great outing filled with hard work, competition fun and team building. We extend our heartiest congratulations to the Senior Athletics Team, who have achieved the remarkable feat of qualifying for the National Championships where they did not just participate but competed! Their consistent hard work, discipline, and unwavering focus have paid off. Competing against some of the toughest schools in the country, they stood tall and earned their place among the nation’s elite. We were filled with pride seeing them represent our school with such pride and passion.
Well done to all our athletes – your dedication and perseverance inspire us all. Keep reaching for the finish line! 🏅💪
Piloting Positive Behavior: A New Approach to Student Growth
This term, our school took a proactive step in supporting student development by piloting behavior trackers in Lower Secondary 1 (LS1), Lower Secondary 3 (LS3), and IGCSE 2 classes. The goal of this initiative is to encourage self-awareness, accountability, and positive behavior in the classroom through consistent monitoring and reflection.
The behavior trackers allow students and teachers to work together in identifying patterns, setting behavior goals, and celebrating progress.
Alongside this pilot, CP5 students have been participating in weekly behavior regulation classes. These sessions focus on building on respect and disciplining. Through interactive discussions and practical strategies, students are developing key skills to manage their behavior in class.
As we continue to gather feedback and assess impact, we hope to expand and refine these tools to benefit even more students in the future.
Student Council: A Year of Growth and Reflection
This academic year, the Student Council experienced both moments of achievement and important lessons in leadership across the primary and secondary schools.
In Secondary, the standout event was Spirit Week, which brought energy and excitement to the campus. With themed dress-up days and a great show of school unity, students enjoyed a much-needed boost of fun and unity—thanks in part to the Council's involvement in organizing and promoting the week.
Meanwhile, in Primary, the Student Council supported a special visit to LAWS (Lusaka Animal Welfare Shelter). This engaging event not only raised awareness about animal care and compassion but also gave younger students the chance to connect with a meaningful cause and reflect on their roles as responsible community members. Some students went to the extent of adopting some pets and giving them a loving home.
While these events were certainly highlights, the Student Council overall faced challenges in maintaining regular activity and participation throughout the year. Limited involvement meant fewer initiatives were carried out than hoped. However, this has also opened the door for growth, improvement, and renewed focus moving forward.
As we close the year, we celebrate the successes achieved and recognize the lessons learned. We’re excited to see another Student Council next year—one that continues to give students a voice and shape our school community in positive ways.
Term Reflections
The term is quickly coming to an end, with just a few weeks remaining. As we approach this special time of year, we are excitedly preparing for the Reception Graduation and getting ready to say goodbye to our wonderful Kindergarten children as they move on to the next stage of their journey.
It’s a bittersweet moment, filled with pride and joy, and we look forward to celebrating these important milestones together.
📅 Graduation Date: 23rd June 2025
⏰ Time: 8:30 AM – 9:30 AM
👕 Attire: CP1 Uniform
🎉 Class Parties and Official Closing: 25th June 2025
Let’s make these final days of the term memorable and meaningful for our young learners!
Assembly
The Middle Class has made impressive strides in their reading skills, showcasing mastery of vowels and fluently reading sentences. What's equally inspiring is their dedication to being Earth Warriors, emphasizing the importance of environmental stewardship. They've even developed and shared their own class rules to promote sustainability. We're thrilled to see their academic growth and commitment to making a positive impact.
The Last Days of School: A Critical Period
The last days leading up to exams are crucial for success. Regular attendance is essential for:
Revising and reinforcing key concepts
-Making final preparations for exams
-Receiving important exam instructions and guidance from teachers
Importance of Not Missing Exams
Attending all scheduled exams is vital. Missing an exam can significantly impact academic performance and progress. Please ensure students are well-prepared and present for all exams.
Recent Highlights: CP1C Assembly
We were thrilled to host our recent CP1C assembly, themed "Colours of the World: Celebrating Diversity and Unity." The learners showcased their talents through various presentations and performances, including:
- An English presentation featuring compound words, pronouns, and gender nouns
- A mathematics presentation on statistics, focusing on gathering data
- A science presentation exploring the Earth and the importance of the Sun
- A captivating performance of the "United Rainbow" song
- A French song, "Colours of the World," highlighting diversity and unity
The assembly was a wonderful celebration of our students' creativity and learning.
Upcoming Events
Class Parties: We'll celebrate the end of term with class parties, and dates will be communicated separately.
Parent-Teacher Conferences (PTCs): We'll host PTCs on June 29th to discuss progress with teachers.
We appreciate your continued support in ensuring regular attendance and exam preparation.
END OF SEMESTER 2 EXAMINATION
The end of Semester 2 examination will begin on 9th-20th June, 2025. We urge you to encourage the students to study ahead of these summative Assessments as they will determine progression to the next grade.
CLASS PARTIES & ASSEMBLY
Last day of school for students will be on 25th June, 2025. Class parties and Assembly will all happen on this day.
GRADUATION CEREMONY
Please note that graduations for CP6 & LS3 will take place on 23rd June, 2025.
CP6-10:00-11:30
LS3-11:30-12:30
PARENT TEACHER CONFERENCES (PTCs)
Our parent teacher conference will happen on 27th June, 2025.
As we approach the end of the term, we wish to remind all IGCSE and AS Level learners that end-of-year examinations will commence on Monday 9th June 2025. A minimum of 50% in all subjects is required for progression to the next grade, and we encourage every learner to continue preparing diligently.
Graduation Ceremonies will be held on 24th June 2025:
IGCSE 2: 09:00hrs – 10:00hrs
AS Level: 11:00hrs – 12:00hrs
Parent-Teacher Conferences will take place on 27th June 2025, offering an opportunity to discuss your child’s academic journey and next steps.
Please also note that Cambridge Board Exams conclude on 11th June 2025. Let’s continue to support our learners through this important season.
Let us love and nurture our children through this last month of exams and assessments and celebrations.
Let us follow through with all requirements, to be ready for the new academic year.
Let us carefully note all important dates listed below - exams, assemblies, class parties, PTCs.