Weekly Newsletter  

This Week At LOTS: 12 - 16 Feb 2024

Term 2 | Week 6

Dear parents,

Taking the road less traveled is always the tougher option, and also the more rewarding option.Running extra classes in the afternoons for CP and Secondary students for the whole of February is the road less traveled, but definitely the road with more rewards at the end. As a school we have a commitment that by the end of the academic year, students in a particular grade will be imparted a certain set of skills and knowledge - and in spite of the cholera induced gap, we are determined to give the students that full bouquet. Thank you all for supporting us in this endeavor. Come March and we will be back to our regular schedule, and afternoon activities/clubs and ECAs will recommence.

Learners are back in school and all is well with the world again. The vibrant colors of life are back for all of us, making our days busier and eventful and more storied!

Now for some very practical considerations to make matters easier for everyone, and to streamline procedures. As we all know, the first point of contact is the class teacher. If there is a concern that does not find resolution at that stop, the next stop is the Coordinator. If your child is in the Pre Primary (EYD) section, the Coordinator is Mrs. Idah Mugala, and her number is +260963666935 and her email is idah_mugala@lusakaoaktree.school. If your child is in the CP section, the Coordinator is Mr. Tommy Lungu. And his number is +260979432667, and his email is tommy_lungu@lusakaoaktree.school. If your child is in the secondary section, the Coordinator is Mr. Ryan Zulu, and his number is +260979969395 and his email is ryan_zulu@lusakaoaktree.school. If a resolution is still not found at this stop, then the next stop is the concerned Principal. And then finally there is the head of School. Request you to please follow this sequence for Academic and pastoral matters.

A lot happened in the first week of on campus school, and a lot more is scheduled to take place in the coming week. Valentine’s Day celebrations, Welcome Back assemblies, and more. Please read on to find out.

Warm regards,

Shouquot Hussain

Head of School

We are excited to announce that we will be having our first ever LOTS Yearbook/ School magazine and it is for this publication that we will be having our class group photoshoots from Monday 19th February to Friday 23rd February. Specifically -

• EYD photoshoot - Monday 19th Feb.

• CP photoshoot - Wednesday 21st Feb

• Secondary photoshoot - Thursday 22nd Feb.

This is a wonderful opportunity for our students to capture memories that will last a lifetime. Professional class photos will be taken and we urge you to ensure your child comes to school dressed neatly in school attire and ready to smile. We encourage you to keep a close eye on the provided dates so that your child is appropriately groomed and present for the shoot on the given day.. Thank you for your cooperation, and we look forward to creating beautiful memories together!

Warm regards,

LOTS Yearbook Committee

We are thrilled to inform you about this exciting upcoming event that we are organizing as Lusaka Oaktree School. Firstly, it is a great honour to be the first school in Zambia to be awarded a license to host a TEDx event. This event will provide a worldwide platform for our students to share their innovative ideas and perspectives on various topics.

TEDx is a program that allows local communities to organize independent TED-like events. It aims to spark deep discussions and inspire individuals through thought-provoking talks. Our TEDx event will feature a series of engaging presentations by our students, who will be selected based on their unique ideas and ability to communicate effectively. All students in the Secondary Section are encouraged to apply. The application and the selection process will be shared soon. The event will be taking place in October, and more details will be shared in time, including the exact date, time and venue.

We encourage you to attend and support our students as they showcase their talents and share their inspiring stories. The event will not only provide an opportunity for our students to develop their public speaking skills but also foster a sense of community and encourage intellectual curiosity among our students. We look forward to your presence at our TEDx event and appreciate your continued support in encouraging our students to explore their passions and share their ideas.

We wish to extend a special invitation to volunteers and sponsors who would like to be a part of this great event and jump on to the bandwagon. If you have any questions or require further information, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Warm regards,

 TEDx LOTS Youth Team

Valentine’s Day was celebrated to commemorate the spirit of kindness and compassion. Academics continue to take the center stage in the students' daily routine, but on Valentine's Day, the emphasis shifted towards fostering a sense of love and empathy among the students. 

Teachers incorporated activities and discussions centered around kindness and compassion, encouraging students to not only excel academically but also to be mindful of their actions towards others. This holistic approach aimed to instill in them the importance of spreading love and kindness in all aspects of their lives. Most of the children were excited to make cards for their parents.

 We needed to make some changes in the CP timetables to adjust some aspects. We are sending the updated timetables on the parents' class groups.

You will also receive curriculum overviews soon. This will inform you of the subject standards and topics that are covered for terms 2 and 3. 

We would like to thank our dear parents for bringing back the students to school. We are grateful that you dressed our students in valentine colours. The day was colourful and we appreciate the sense of kindness shown on this day.

Lessons went on well and encouraged the students to continue asking where they are not clear. It is through this interaction that the students will grasp fully the content done. Our students should report early for lessons to avoid missing the first lessons.

All students should take the afternoon lessons seriously as this will help cover all the work that teachers have planned for the second term. 

We are kindly requesting you, our dear parents, to ensure that your children are in proper uniform everyday as they report for school. On days when they have Physical Education they are free to report in their sports attire.

The IGCSE students will start their mock examinations on 26 February, 2024. This has been scheduled for this period to allow more time for revisions before sitting for their final examination. Examination entries for IGCSE and AS-A Level students have been done and will be submitted after all the verification of details is done.

Taking care of school property is the responsibility of all the students. This includes text books, class furniture and buildings. 

 We needed to make some changes in the Secondary timetables to adjust some aspects. We are sending  the updated timetables on the parents' class groups.

All the parents with children attending prayers on Fridays to register with the class teachers. This will help us maintain order as some students may otherwise use this to leave school early.

Students’ pick up: Students must be picked up by 15:45 or latest by 16:00. Last term, we had many instances where teachers, coordinators, and principals had to be in the school premises to monitor the students till late and therefore knock off from school at late hours. We have made individual calls to the concerned parents many times. Our ardent request to you is to pick up your children on time (latest by 16.00 hrs)  which allows them to also rest well and be ready for the next day. Teachers on duty will not wait beyond 16.00 hrs, and students who are not picked up by 16:00 will remain at the school in the designated area (benches in the play area on the right side of the gate as you enter school)  and will be monitored by the security guards only.

All new parents are advised to collect their car sticker from the reception front desk within the week. This will help streamline campus entry and keep everyone safe. 

Please be on the lookout on our social media handles and our website, for the video containing messages from the 4 Student Council Presidents (2 Secondary Council and 2 Primary Council) on the commencement of the term. This will be released in the middle of this coming week.

KEY DATES FROM FEB TILL THE END OF THE ACADEMIC YEAR