Weekly Newsletter  

This Week At LOTS: 18-22 March 2024

Term 2 | Week 11

Dear parents,

We spend too much time trying to arm our children with the tangible and measurable aspects of life - academic excellence (marks), sporting acumen (trophies), intellectual prowess (winning the argument - at home or office or on stage), creative output (inventions, startups, cracking the code). Which is all good.

But we should be spending as much time cultivating the intangibles, which, like the gaps in our fingers, are equally valuable, if not more. Being better listeners, being aware of the emotional needs of those around us, respecting individual space and time (of others and our own), being grounded and real - and develop the ability to, as Cinderella’s mother told her, “be courageous and be kind”

It’s the more humane aspects that arm us with the ability to make a difference. A student may have all the skills, but only when she is intentional about how she wants to use them, can she add value to the community.  

Our students took a few small but intentional steps in that direction this week with the Spirit of Giving and Enabling drive. A part of our bigger ‘LOTS on Wheels’ initiative. More about it is detailed in the later parts of this newsletter.

On a lighter but equally important note, I want to take this opportunity to thank all of you for your robust and happy participation in the LOTS Founder’s and Culture Day festivities. Your presence, and your work behind the scenes in the endeavors of your children, truly made the event come alive! Thank you for the support, the enthusiasm (some of you are great dancers), and the very appreciative as well as constructive post event feedback that many of you took to trouble to send. Which makes us look forward eagerly to your support yet again for our next big event - which is the School Annual Production. Date - 26th April. More about it in more detail, as you read on.

Inter school sports, Assemblies, Exam prep, other upcoming events, and further updates on our other ongoing initiatives - all there. Please read on to find out.

Warm regards,

Shouquot Hussain

Head of School

We are proud to share with you an update on our recent visit to the Alliance for Children Everywhere-House of Moses. Our students had an incredibly heartwarming experience, and we would like to take a moment to express our gratitude for your support and involvement in making this visit possible.

The purpose of this visit was to spend quality time with the children, engage in various activities, and spread joy and love through the spirit of giving. The students effortlessly formed bonds with the children at House of Moses, creating a sense of belonging and Friendship.

As the day came to an end, it was evident that the visit had made a significant impact on both our students and the children at House of Moses. The bonds formed and the memories created will undoubtedly stay with them for a lifetime. Our students left with a renewed sense of gratitude, empathy, and a deeper understanding of the importance of giving back to the community.

We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to all the parents, learners and staff members who supported this initiative. Your contributions, whether through donations, time, or encouragement, played a vital role in making this visit a success. Together, we have made a positive difference in the lives of both our children and the children in House of Moses - and for that, we are immensely grateful.

We look forward to sharing more updates on our community outreach initiatives in the future. Together, we can continue to make a meaningful impact in our community, and enrich LOTS students with more crucible experiences that add to their growth as empaths. Thank you once again for your unwavering support.

LOTS Community Outreach Team

This is a call for applications for your child to be a speaker or performer at the TEDx event we are hosting on 5th October 2024. Open to students from LS 2 to AS levels. This requires rigorous preparations and polishing and practice since it is a world event. Hence we are starting early, to give students ample time to be trained. Below is the pitch, and the link to the form (which is pretty detailed).

Dear Innovators, Thinkers, and Performers,

Are you ready to share your ideas worth spreading with the world? We are thrilled to extend an exclusive invitation to  our students - to speak or perform at our upcoming LOTS TEDx youth event, where we will explore the power of ideas and performances that ignite change, inspire action, and spark conversations that matter.

Interested learners can sign up using the link below:

https://forms.gle/wMdD5oNzmGxpr7xs9

Regards

LOTS TEDx Team

Our next big event! The School Annual Production! A musical (a play heavily supported by song and dance) that tells the story of a journey of self-realization in a way that entertains and educates. 

It will be performed on Friday, 26th April, in the School Amphitheater. Evening 18.00 hrs to 19.30 hrs. Block the date, and purchase your tickets (VP and Regular). Tickets will be available from next week, at the admin front office desk with Ms Mwango and Mr Gerald. Limited number of seats. So advise you to pick up your tickets the moment they are made available.

Here is a brief synopsis about the show:

Home is where we grow up. So, we take it for granted.  And want to spread our wings. And then, identity beckons...

"Homecoming" tells the story of two Zambian school children, living in the USA, who are sent back to Zambia to research and experience the cultural richness of their homeland. As they journey through various provinces, they immerse themselves in traditional dances, hospitality, and customs, discovering the depth of their heritage and the importance of their roots. Along the way, they confront challenges and prejudices, but ultimately find a sense of belonging and pride in their identity. Through their adventures, they learn valuable lessons about the importance of cultural heritage and the power of embracing one's roots.

Songs, dances, drama, life. And an empowered HOMECOMING.

So - as the sun goes down on you and the stars in the evening sky alight, our stars on ground (our students) will regale you with their luminosity. Remember - Friday, 26th April.

We are continuously reminding the students about the values of our school. We are also reiterating the code of conduct in school and ways to have fun or play without hurting others emotionally or physically. Behavioral counseling is provided when students are making mistakes. Please read the student code of conduct document and help your child understand the expectations. 

Students are encouraged to report to the teachers/coordinator/principal about any incident. However, we find that most of the time the students need help in understanding how they could avoid those situations and if there is anything that they should not have done. Students are encouraged to be reflective in different situations and evaluate their own behavior and responses. 

To help them reflect about the incident, some questions we can ask them are - 'Were you in a supervised area?' 'Were you disrespectful towards the other person who offended you and did it help you resolve the situation?' 'Were you following the teacher's instructions when this incident happened?' We would recommend that when your child reports to you about any situation, that you also ask these questions to help them reflect better. 

Robotics lessons, Library lessons, Earth Warriors - are some of the exclusives that we offer our students, over and above the regular academic curriculum. This is to ensure holistic growth. We will keep updating you as we find more ways to equip your children with the life skills that can further arm them.

All students to be in school by 7.15 hrs latest.

New parents to please collect car stickers from the Front Desk.

Note that Wednesday 27th March is the last day of school before Easter break, and we reopen on Tuesday 2nd April.

Any student bringing a phone (with permission) needs to deposit it at the front desk first thing in the morning.

Board Class students coming in for special saturday lessons need to follow all regular dress code rules.

A friendly reminder that the Term 3 school fees are now due. We encourage you to settle your child's fees as soon as possible to ensure their continued enrollment and participation in school activities.

Payment Deadline:

All Term 3 school fees must be paid in full by Friday, April 1st, 2024. A 10% late fee levy is applicable for late payment.

Payment Methods:

Online: All school fee payments will be made through bank deposit or bank transfer into:

Bank: First National Bank                  Account Name: Lusaka Oaktree School

Account Number: 62692539384        Branch: Makeni

Branch code: 260016                          Swift code: FIRNZMLX

Payment Materials:

Payment Plan: There are no payment plans available in term 3. 

Invoice:

E-Mail Attachment: The invoice has been shared via E-mail.

Print Copy: Your child has also received a physical copy of the invoice that they brought home from school.

Outstanding Dues:

Please be aware that students with outstanding balances from previous terms will not be allowed to participate in school activities or receive their report cards until all fees are settled in full.

Questions and Assistance:

If you have any questions regarding your child's fees, payment options, or outstanding balances, please do not hesitate to contact the school administration office at +260 97 9604243 or finance@lusakaoaktree.school. Please refer to the attachment for further guidance. We are here to assist you in any way we can.

Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.