Weekly Newsletter
This Week At LOTS:22-26 April 2024
Term 3 | Week 4
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The battle of Waterloo was won on the playing fields of Eton.
— Duke of Wellington
Dear parents,
In the quote above, what Duke Arthur Wellesley obviously highlights is how the skills of strategizing and coordination and teamwork and split second decision making that he acquired and honed in the school playgrounds helped him use a more high stakes version of the same to win that decisive war with Napoleon Bonaparte. The bigger implication of the same thought is that what we teach students outside of the much vaunted ‘core academic curriculum’ (Sports, drama, poetry, music, art and yes, dance) likewise add as much value. One learns to be confident in front of a thousand pairs of eyes (and we had more during our Annual Production), one learns to improvise on the spot (as our performers did during a scene in Homecoming when the dancers were late to arrive and the actors had run out of scripted lines), one learns to carry on and move on (there are no retakes or safety nets), one learns to bask in the joy of being alive and celebrate life (the different dances and songs).
We all need to count our blessings and there is no one single way of doing it. Some do it through prayer, some through song, some through play, some through poetry, some through art, and some through dance! And that was what the School Annual Production was about, actually - a platform for LOTS Acorns to own their talent, feel better about themselves, take responsibility for the outcome, and increase their self-esteem. I am belaboring this point simply because the perception that these are distractions and hence less important is gaining traction in today’s competitive world, and interfering with the JOY of learning. That joy is necessary. We cannot take the childhood away from our children.
Thank you for supporting our Annual Production the way you did, on Friday 26th April.
Thank you for supporting the Football Fundraiser so wholesomely the week before.
Thank you for being there for the Preprimary assembly on Thursday 25th April.
Thank you for being a family that cares.
Board exams for our IGCSE 2 and A Level students have commenced. And a month and a week hence, it will be exam time for all the rest. This is a demanding time for all students, and hence a fragile time. Let us please support them by being kind and sensitive and non-judgmental at this point, by recognising their vulnerabilities - and acknowledging our own. More than anything else, children at such times just need to know we are there for them, no matter what.
To support your children better, we are hence carrying on with the class wise Parent Coffee Afternoons on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Thank you to those who attended the ones for Reception and IGCSE 2 last week. Here is a reminder for the very next one:
Warm regards,
Shouquot Hussain
Head of School
The LOTS Annual Production 2024
The LOTS Annual Production 2024
The day was Friday, the date was the 26th of April. The Venue was the theater at the Golden Peacock Hotel. The show was to commence at 18.00 hrs, but actually started at 18.30 hrs, because many parents faced traffic jams and were still on their way and rang up to request that we wait a little as they did not want to miss their children’s performances. It was originally planned as a 2 hour affair, but the detailing and transitions took longer than anticipated and it became a 3 hour show in totality. Our apologies on that front.
The evening was essentially divided into 2 parts - the first part being a series of standalone short performances, and the second part being a play called ‘Homecoming. So the first part included ballet, band, poetry, song, contemporary dance, classical dance, and martial arts. The second part encapsulated travel and cultural exploration through the medium of drama and dance and music.
They say a picture speaks a thousand words. So will primarily let the pictures speak.
World Book Day at LOTS
World Book Day at LOTS
This day essentially celebrates literature and the written word. It is celebrated the world over on 23rd April - the day Shakespeare was arguably born and the day he died as well. To promote a love for books is the intent. And you can very well understand the challenges from the audio visual internet dominated world now. But what the screen cannot do is get learners to exercise their imaginations like reading does - because while reading they have to imagine the visuals themselves.
The students took time to explain how books have been helpful in their lives. Some of the common elements they pointed were;
-Educational (READING AND SPELLING)
-Entertainment
-Discovering new things
-Enhance their vocabulary
-Hone and sharpen their imagination
-Articulate themselves better.
"THE WHOLE WORLD OPENED UP TO ME WHEN I LEARNED TO READ”
- Mary McCleod Bethune.
Library Activities
Library Activities
Lusaka Oaktree School, in its efforts to continue supporting students in their academic journey, a whole lot of new books have been procured. One would be glad to note that these books are up to date in terms of editions, thereby providing students with timely and accurate information to help them whet their curiosity as well as creativity.
Just like new things are attractive, the library has become more attractive to students. Library sessions are interactive. One of the activities conducted is Book Review, where students who have finished reading the books are asked to share what they read in their own words. They start by sharing the title of the book, and thereafter the plot, characters and themes..
Another activity is storytelling, where students pick short story books and read in front of their classmates. Then a question and answer segment follows to assess the listening skills of students by the reader.
Furthermore, games that promote creative thinking also take place in the library using cards - games like ‘WHAT AM I?’ where students are grouped into two groups and cards with an image and words are given to each one them. Then one group would give out clues to the other group to figure out the answer. The group that scores more answers automatically becomes the winner.
PRE PRIMARY AND PRIMARY SECTION
PRE PRIMARY AND PRIMARY SECTION
Institutions around the world are taking on the responsibility of educating students on the importance of sustainability and conservation efforts to create a more environmentally conscious generation. By incorporating these values into education, students can learn to make a positive impact on the planet for future generations. Our school has a subscription to a program called Earth Warrior, and all classes have it as a subject. 22 April was Earth Day, and students learned different things through language, science, social studies, and 'earth warrior' lessons.
This week, the Early Years Middle B class made their presentations in the assembly. They demonstrated how humans grow plants through a skit. They also presented a song and poem. The emcees and all the presenters were well prepared and confident. Our enthusiastic EYD band led the national anthem and other songs. They entertained us and shared their knowledge with all of us.
SECONDARY SECTION
SECONDARY SECTION
Monday 29 th April is a holiday and on this day our IGCSE 2 students are writing their Chemistry examination. This holiday is only observed in Zambia as it is not an international day. The Chemistry examination will start at 14:00 and all the students writing are expected to be in school at 13:00. Copies of the final examination timetable and examination guidelines have been shared on the class WhatsApp group.
Lessons in all the classes are going on well with full student participation. Homework is given according to the class schedule. Kindly ensure that homework is done by offering necessary support to the learners.
We request you to spend time talking to your children on general behavior. Students should not be carrying phones to school, and if they do for communication with parents and safety purposes, the protocol is that they are submitted at the front desk in the administration block first thing in the morning. Anyone found with phones on them during school hours will have these confiscated without exception - to be returned only at the end of term. And carrying any unauthorized material to school, which is against our school code of conduct, will lead to serious disciplinary consequences. We have been facilitating regular counseling for our students about how poor choices can harm them. Any student found with banned material like vapes will be directly given a forced transfer. Kindly help us help these children and guide them to comply - because home is where they step out of, every morning.
REMINDERS
REMINDERS
Exam students to recheck their schedules constantly and arrive on time.
Please pick up your children definitely by 16.00 hrs.
The Class Teacher is the first point of contact, and it is useful to follow that protocol, because then we get to know things from point 1 and then work together to address them.
Parents to keep track of the grade-wise Coffee afternoon schedule and attend the ones their children are in (though reminders are sent in class groups).
KEY DATES TILL THE END OF THE ACADEMIC YEAR
KEY DATES TILL THE END OF THE ACADEMIC YEAR
Term 3 School Fee Overdue Reminder
Term 3 School Fee Overdue Reminder
Fee Payment Procedure
Fee Payment Procedure
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