End of Academic Year Newsletter
This Week At LOTS: 24-28 June 2024
Term 3 | Week 13
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End of Academic Year Newsletter
This Week At LOTS: 24-28 June 2024
Term 3 | Week 13
Dear parents,
This is the last newsletter from the Head of School for this academic year. As we celebrate the year that was, our focus is keenly on the year to come. Please note the following for the new academic year commencing 26th August 2024:
TECHNOLOGY
All IGCSE and A Level students will have to bring laptops to class for work.
Tech support for other classes will be enhanced with additional desktops in the computer lab and the provision of a mobile computer lab as well.
The library will have access to a digital library too, besides regular hard copies of books.
DAILY SCHEDULE AND TIME TABLE
Break time and lunch time will be different for Primary School and Secondary School.
There will be a 20 minute mentoring session with Homeroom Teachers (Mentors) to start the day with every morning.
ACADEMIC CALENDAR 2024-25
Here is the link to the Academic Calendar for 2024-2025:
STRATEGIC CHANGES IN SCHOOL LEADERSHIP STRUCTURE
We are pleased to inform you of some significant strategic changes in the leadership structure of Lusaka Oaktree School. These changes are designed to enhance our focus on academic excellence, student well-being, and operational efficiency, ensuring that we continue to provide a high-quality education and supportive environment for all our students.
New Leadership Structure
Instead of having separate Principals for Primary/Preschool and Secondary School, we have created two new leadership positions: Principal - Academics and Principal - Pastoral Care.
Principal - Pastoral Care: This role will concentrate on promoting the well-being and personal development of our students. The Principal - Pastoral Care will be supported by the Mentoring and Wellness Coordinator and a team of dedicated mentors. This team will ensure that all students receive the support and guidance they need to thrive both academically and personally.
Principal - Academics: This role will focus on driving academic excellence across all levels of the school. The Principal - Academics will be supported by a team of dedicated Academic Coordinators, including:
Preschool Academic Coordinator
Primary Academic Coordinator
Lower Secondary Academic Coordinator
IGCSE/A Levels Academic Coordinator
Additionally, in the Secondary School, the Principal - Academics will be supported by Heads of Departments, and in the Primary and Preschool levels, by Lead Teachers.
Business Manager: To further enhance operational efficiency, we have appointed a Business Manager who will support and coordinate all non-academic functions. The Business Manager will work closely with both Principals and provide critical support to the Head of School, allowing for a greater focus on academic excellence, student well-being, and efficient operations.
Goals and Vision
These changes are aligned with our commitment to our core values of Creativity, Respect, Empathy, Excellence, and Discipline. By refining our leadership structure, we aim to create a more cohesive and efficient environment that supports our mission of nurturing well-rounded individuals who are prepared to succeed in an ever-changing world.
Communication and Collaboration
We believe that these strategic changes will significantly benefit our school community, and we are excited about the positive impact they will have. We remain dedicated to maintaining open lines of communication and collaboration with all parents and staff members.
We will keep you informed of further relevant information as necessary. Wishing all parents a memorable time with their children during these much deserved holidays.
Warm regards,
Shouquot Hussain
Head of School
Wednesday 26th June was the last day of school for students and we had the academic year ending assemblies where Academic, Leadership and Co-curricular excellence awards were presented.
We also had the usual practice of closing out the year with vibrant class parties for every class, celebrating the successful conclusion of the year’s learning and growth. We thank all parents for the support you rendered in terms of food on the day.
Thursday 27th June and Friday 28th June were the PTCs for Junior School and Senior School respectively. The semester performance reports were shared by teachers and feedback provided on specifics, including the way forward on bridging gaps.
Though all students are on vacation now, they are requested to keep in touch with academia - specially IGCSE and A level students - so that getting back into the groove is easy and seamless when they get back in August. Also please note that students who need to sit for reassessments have been noticed of the dates and need to honor them.
As we come to the end of the academic year we would like to encourage our A' Level students to start preparing for their university applications by taking time to draft out their personal statements. It's essential to highlight the significance of writing a compelling personal statement. A well-crafted personal statement can make a crucial difference in the application process, setting you apart from other applicants and showcasing your unique strengths and experiences.
Why Personal Statements Matter:
Showcases Your Voice
Tells Your Story
Demonstrates Reflection and Self-Awareness
Reveals Your Writing Skills
Tips for Writing a Strong Personal Statement
Start Early: Give yourself time to brainstorm, draft, and revise your statement.
Be Authentic: Share your genuine thoughts, feelings, and experiences.
Show, Don't Tell: Use specific examples and anecdotes to illustrate your points.
Edit and Revise: Ensure your statement is free of errors and flows smoothly.
Seek Feedback: Ask parents, mentors, or peers for constructive feedback.
During the holidays the career guidance department will be available to guide you through the process. For any questions and submissions on 2nd August,2024 please use careercounseling@lusakaoaktree.school.
Best of luck!
Promotion to the next class is just a part of the bigger goal, but progressing as an individual is a lifetime goal. I really hope that the indicators reflected in the results will motivate us to continue working hard and striving for personal growth in all aspects. Holiday is a good time to reflect on such attributes and create fresh ideas for the new academic year. Parents, thank you for all you have done this year and we look forward to the next academic year with new hopes and new beliefs that will make LOTS community a stronger community.
During holidays if you are interested in keeping your child’/rens’ practice in Maths and English https://learn.khanacademy.org/khan-academy-kids/ please use this website to create a parent login and add your child’/rens’ names. This is a self monitoring portal with demonstrations, videos, examples and practice units. I hope you and our students will enjoy this!
I would like to take this time to thank all of our parents for the support and partnership during this complete and unforgettable school year. Thank you to those who helped our students persevere through our virtual and physical classrooms.
To our students, thank you for all your hard work throughout the school year. I am so honored to work with you. I would like to wish you all the very best vacation possible, and I look forward to welcoming you all back, refreshed, for what will be an exciting, new academic year.
Special thanks also goes to our teachers and support staff for all the good work done.
Congratulations to all the students who are promoted to their next grade level. The criteria for promotion in secondary school is passing five subjects. All students who did not make it will be given a chance to write examinations in August between 19th -23 August. Help them prepare for these examinations. Direct communication will be done to all the parents whose children are affected.
Please note that school reopens on 26th August 2024.
Those receiving reassessment requests please adhere.
The school administration will be open and available on working days from 8.00 hrs to 13.00 hrs throughout the vacation.
The School Leadership team will be available on email and whatsapp over this period.
Dear Parents,
This message is to inform you that the invoices for Term 1 of the 2024-2025 academic year have been emailed. You can expect to receive it from finance@lusakaoaktree.school.
The invoice details your student's tuition fees for Term 1 for academic year 2024-25, along with any applicable charges. We encourage you to review the invoice at your earliest convenience. The fee must be paid on or before 01 August, 2024.
Payment Options:
All school fees 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
Kindly note that it is the responsibility of parents/guardians to provide Proof of Payment to Accounts. POP must clearly mention the student’s name and grade.
Printed Invoice: If you did not receive the email invoice or prefer a printed copy, kindly contact the Accounts Office at +260979604243 or email finance@lusakaoaktree.school.
Discounts Available:
We appreciate your continued partnership with Lusaka Oaktree School. To assist with financial planning, we want to remind you of our available fee discounts:
Annual Fee Payment: Pay your child's entire annual tuition by 01 August 2024 and receive a 5% discount.
Sibling Discount: If you have multiple children enrolled at LOTS, you qualify for a 5% sibling discount on tuition fees.
Term 1 Fee Discount: As a valued member of the LOTS community for more than a year, you are eligible for a 5% discount on Term 1 fees. (Please note: This discount may already be reflected in your invoice.)
Please refer to fee schedule for more details or get in touch with the accounts department.
We encourage you to take advantage of these discounts whenever possible.
Should you have any questions regarding your invoice, payment options, or the aforementioned discounts, please don't hesitate to contact the Accounts Office at +260979604243 or email finance@lusakaoaktree.school.
Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.
Kind Regards,
Lusaka Oaktree School