Dear parents,

The postponement of the opening of schools for on campus learning to 12th February has of course posed us certain challenges - the major ones being steady and timely curriculum coverage to ensure there is new growth in the learning and not just reinforcement. To enable all of that, when we resume school on campus, we will run a more rigorous and revised academic time table for the first 6 weeks. The details will be shared next week.

The other adjustment this situation has necessitated is a revision of the academic calendar as far as certain engagements and events are concerned. As far as major holiday dates are concerned we have tried not to tamper with them. The closing date for the end of the academic year remains the same - 28th June will still be the last date of school for students. We will have a short break for Easter from 28th March to 1st April - meaning 27th March will be the last day of school before Easter and learners will be back in class from 2nd April. This will be the only break for this half of the academic year, in place of the regular midterm break we usually have. For full details, please have a look at the revised academic calendar attached herewith.

The online learning will of course go on in the meanwhile, with as much meaningful engagement as possible and as appropriate. While we want to maximize instructional hours, we also have to keep in mind the physical and mental health factors associated with using gadgets for too long. So the balance has to be kept in mind. Therefore, the online schedule for the next 2 weeks remains the same as it has been for the past 3 weeks.

Please read through the information shared in the rest of this newsletter carefully, including the academic calendar revision highlights.

Warm regards,

Shouquot Hussain

Head of School

Taking our resolve to provide inclusive education one step further, we have formed a support team to help pay due attention to special needs in our learners. We are excited to introduce you to the dedicated members of our Learning Support Team, led by the school counselor/psychologist Ms Lauren Njungu.

These dedicated teachers form our Learning Support Team, which will be committed to ensuring that every learner receives the necessary support to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. They will work collaboratively with the principals, fellow teachers, parents, and learners to create inclusive learning environments and implement effective strategies that meet individual needs.

Soon, the ISAZ (Independent Schools Association of Zambia) event schedule will be accessible. All participating schools will shortly receive an update about the event calendar, which includes dates places, and program details. In order to provide every athlete with a successful and fulfilling experience, we sincerely appreciate your understanding and patience while we wait for the schools to open.

At LOTs, therefore, our athletes are advised to keep up practices and a physical fitness regime with consistency - so that readiness is not a problem once the floodgates open and the tournament schedules are out.

Online learning continues the next two weeks which we did not anticipate. But as we teach our children to be prepared for challenges, we also model this attitude through this situation. We believe it will provide all of us many new opportunities to learn new things. We can miss those little opportunities if we are not mindful and intentional about looking for those. 

Please contact the class teachers for any clarification on the study pack provided. Online lessons can never be as effective as in a face to face interaction. Study packs and teaching material such as videos will help the students to grasp some idea of the concepts taught. There will be revision of these topics and the online learning will aid students’ learning when they come back onsite. Therefore we recommend that all children are encouraged to use the material to do the tasks given. Please continue to support our young learners to work with joy and determination. 

In the Secondary sections, very important points are mentioned Please read those carefully as these apply to all age groups. Last but not the least, we are eagerly waiting for students to come back on campus. Let’s all pray that Zambia is protected and that this period of adversity gets 

• Arrival time in the morning is 06:45 to 07:15

• All vehicles dropping off and picking up students should have school stickers placed visibly -  failure to do so will will result in denial to access the school premises.

• Students are advised to use designated walkways and pathways and NOT walk on grass.

• Students who are using school bus services are advised to be at their pick up points 5 minutes before bus arrival time.

• The timing of buses are shared on the website and WhatsApp groups. 

• Once payment is done, Parents will be added to the WhatsApp group where live location is shared and bus timings. It is strongly advised that Parents observe drop off time at designated points, this is so that the bus does not delay other students to get to their designated points.

As a way of ensuring that we stay alert of cholera, we have constituted a Cholera Response Team(CRT). The cholera response team acts as first-line cholera response, they will observe students on a daily basis. Interventions to be undertaken by CRT include awareness raising about cholera transmission and prevention, water treatment and disinfection at the school level. This response team will work closely with the nearby health facilities to ensure that Lusaka Oaktree School remains a safe place for all. The team members are:

• Mr Collins Mweemba (Lead)

• Mr. Chris Muhau

• Mr Gabriel Kalaba

• Ms Trudie Malandula

• Ms Misozi Mukelebai

• Ms Chitambo Lyondo

While taking precautions to prevent the spread of cholera is an effort to protect the community, knowing your child's school is closed could be one of your worst nightmares. Children thrive on routine and predictability, both of which are currently lacking in families across the country. Despite the community's uncertainty, you can still try to create an environment that includes as much routine and predictability as possible. Below are some tips on how to manage your children's increased time at home.

Keep a consistent schedule

Sticking with a routine similar to the one practiced for typical school days will help make any return to school smoother, as well as give shape to each day. Try to keep your children’s morning and bedtime routines the same as if they were preparing for school. Keeping meal times the same also can help.

Create a daily schedule that is structured for your children. You can foster a sense of collaboration and control for them by creating a list of activities and allowing your children to pick when they happen.

Use Online Learning Resources

Technology now makes everything easy. At this time, when the world is interconnected, you can get virtually everything on the internet. You can get books, tutorial videos, writing help, access to online libraries or even sporting activities! You can broaden a child’s knowledge with all these online resources. Now that your children are at home, you shouldn’t allow them to remain idle. Instead, you should motivate them to use online resources to learn new things.

Look for ways to make learning fun

Have activities like puzzles, painting, drawing and crafting things. Independent play can also be used in place of structured learning. Practise handwriting and grammar by writing letters to family members. This is a great way to connect.

Create spaces for learning

Many adults have a specific area of the home in which they do work, and it is important that you create a similar space for your child. Your children will achieve their best work in a quiet, comfortable and dedicated space that is strictly devoted to learning. This space should be a different set-up than where they normally play games or watch television.

This should not be treated as a holiday or vacationhis time at home might feel like a holiday for your child, but it is important to remind them that their education still comes first. Obligations like class assignments, grades, tests and homework are not going away just because they are not physically at school.

Stay informed

Read school communications to stay informed about your child's progress and any areas they may need extra support in.

Get involved

Help your child with homework, any other school projects and activities to show your support.