Weekly Newsletter  

This Week At LOTS: 20 - 24 May 2024

Term 3 | Week 8

Dear parents,

1. LOTS is now accredited to run the Cambridge Early Years program, which is a milestone in more ways than one. We now are the first school in Zambia to offer the accredited Cambridge Early Years program. Which, in effect, makes us the only school in Zambia to offer the full spectrum Cambridge suite of programs - Cambridge Early Years, Cambridge Primary, Cambridge Lower Secondary, Cambridge IGCSE and Cambridge A Levels. This assures a continuity of academic vertical alignment and curriculum quality assurance - right from EYD to A Levels. And gives our teachers and students a host of resources to populate the learning curve of all pupils - right from content to assessment. A more detailed elaboration has been provided exclusively in this newsletter, as you read on . Read more here...

2. The official Cambridge CheckPoint assessments will be on offer for all students of CP6 and LS3, from academic session 2024-25 onwards, as they transit from CP to LS and from LS to IGCSE. Parents will have the option of opting for it (it involves an examination fee payment) or go with the school conducted exams (which are also created from the test makers from the cambridge support hub and hence are no different from the official CheckPoint exams in terms of quality, rigour and validity). There is one thing i want to make clear here, that the only mandatory Cambridgre official exams are the IGCSE and A Level board exams - all other grades including CP6 and LS3 do not require external exams. But these will be made available as options from the new academic year.

3. The CREED Leadership camps from the new academic year 2024-25 will be school sponsored - meaning parents will no longer be charged extra for these camps. We are trying to support leadership growth experientially, because that is a very effective way, and we want all of our learners to benefit from this outbound leadership experience. We do not want any pupil to miss out on this because of practical constraints. Hence this move.

4. A thirteen week Leadership curriculum (the Compass project) will be integrated into the time table for all classes in the new academic year 2034-25, designed and conducted by leadership experts from the CREED School of Leadership - and this too will be totally school sponsored.

5. We had the school disinfected professionally over the weekend and did a full spring cleaning of the classes, furniture, surfaces, carpets, beddings and washing of all toys. A detailed report and advisory on the same, inclusive of photos, has been included in this newsletter. Please go through the write up in detail, so that we are all well equipped.

6. We are in the exam season now. So everything henceforth will be related to examinations. The respective grade wise exam schedules have already been shared on class whatsapp groups. As have been the curriculum overviews. Now the focus is on revision, academic support, and examination prep. The only remaining events are the graduations, which are also academic completion related. Please support us support your children with their academic needs now. If you have any subject/curriculum related queries or concerns, please reach out to the respective class teachers and coordinators.

7. There are legacies we are beginning  to establish - like the Student Council, TEDx, Duke of Edinburgh Award program, the Scholar's Cup, University placement support and Career Guidance, psychological counseling and socio-emotional support for students. And we are already seeing results. The Student Councils are now driving admirable community outreach programs and leadership practices. Our reading program in the primary is gaining traction. Our teams have qualified for the Global round of the Scholar's Cup. Our students are going to be speakers and performers in Zambia's first school TEDx event. The first cohort of the Duke of Edinburgh Award program will  earn their bronzes in the first term of the new academic year. LOTS will be hosting university fairs, and LOTS students will be attending several university fairs to gain access to and forge connections with universities across the globe. Yes there are distances to cover and improvements to affect, and we are doing our best to get there. Claiming perfection is a dead end and the end of growth. We are striving for betterment and  need your support to increase the wellbeing of your children at school.

8. We have taken into account your constructive feedback on Sports Day and Annual Production. Most of it tallies with our own reflections as well. We will take definite steps in these domains to mount these events more judiciously. We will separate the Primary Production and the Secondary Production. This way the contents for both will be appropriately distributed, and the events will not get overcrowded - both in terms of time and number of attendees. And we will affect due diligence to ensure even participation and stringent safety protocols during the sports days.

9. The enrollment intent form is not binding. It is an expression of intent and not a declaration. We understand that you may want to change your mind at a later stage. This tentative data will simply help us better prepare ourselves about new numbers we will have space for our August intake. The enquiry and waiting list is long and hence it helps the organization to at least approximately know the withdrawal and intake equation. It helps with logistics. That’s all. So please fill it up and submit - so that we can plan better for your children. 

Warm regards,

Shouquot Hussain

Head of School

We are thrilled to announce a significant milestone for Lusaka Oaktree School (LOTS) – we have been officially accredited to offer the Cambridge Early Years Programme! This exciting development allows LOTS to provide a seamless and internationally recognized educational pathway for your child, from the very beginning of their academic journey all the way through to their A Levels.

What is the Cambridge Early Years Programme?

The Cambridge Early Years Programme is a stimulating and play-based curriculum designed for children aged 3 to 6 years old. It focuses on holistic development, nurturing your child's social, emotional, physical, communication, language, and cognitive skills. The curriculum aligns perfectly with our existing commitment to providing a stimulating and supportive learning environment that empowers young learners. To learn more visit Cambridge International Website...

Why is this a milestone for LOTS?

This accreditation positions LOTS as the only school in Zambia currently offering the Cambridge Early Years Programme. Additionally, with our existing offerings of Cambridge Primary, Lower Secondary, IGCSE, and A Levels, LOTS becomes the sole institution in the country to provide a complete Cambridge Assessment International Education (CAIE) qualification pathway from Early Years all the way to A Levels.

Benefits for Your Child:

By enrolling your child in the Cambridge Early Years Programme at LOTS, they will:

• Benefit from a globally recognized and respected curriculum.

• Develop a strong foundation for future academic success.

• Experience a stimulating and play-based learning environment.

• Gain essential skills in communication, language, critical thinking, and problem-solving.

• Prepare for a seamless transition into the Cambridge Primary programme at LOTS.

Programme Launch:

We are excited to launch the Cambridge Early Years Programme for the upcoming academic year 2024-25. More information about the curriculum, and classroom structure will be shared soon.

A Brighter Future Starts Here:

At LOTS, we are committed to providing your child with the best possible education. The addition of the Cambridge Early Years Programme further strengthens our commitment to excellence and equips your child with the skills and knowledge they need to thrive in an ever-changing world.

We look forward to partnering with you in this exciting new chapter for LOTS. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the school administration.

Sincerely,

Lusaka Oaktree School

A potential case of scabies was reported in the Baby Class. One child has exhibited symptoms consistent with scabies, and we are taking all necessary precautions to prevent further spread.

What is Scabies?

Scabies is a highly contagious skin condition caused by tiny mites that burrow under the skin and lay eggs. It causes intense itching, especially at night, and can lead to red, bumpy rashes.

Symptoms to Watch For:

• Intense itching, especially at night

• Small, red bumps or blisters on the skin, often between the fingers, wrists, elbows, armpits, buttocks, and genitals (in infants, scabies can appear on the palms and soles of the feet as well)

• Irritability and difficulty sleeping due to itching

Steps We Are Taking:

• The Entire School (all classrooms, tables, chairs, door handles, frequently touched surfaces etc) has been cleaned and disinfected.

• We have thoroughly cleaned and disinfected all surfaces and toys in the Baby Class.

• We have reminded staff members about proper hand hygiene practices.

What You Can Do:

• Please be vigilant and check your child for any symptoms of scabies.

• If you notice any symptoms, please consult your doctor immediately. Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial to prevent further spread.

• If your child has been diagnosed with scabies, please keep them home from school until they have completed the prescribed treatment and are no longer contagious.

• You can find additional information about scabies from the following resource:

• World Health Organization (WHO) - Scabies

Some of the strategies that can be applied to help students gain self-regulation are providing consistent routines and expectations, teaching problem-solving skills, and encouraging self-reflection. Additionally, modeling self-regulation behaviors and providing opportunities for practice and reinforcement can also support children in developing this important skill. 

Positive reinforcement techniques need to be applied in a variety of contexts, including homes, communities, and schools. Talking to your child about the school code of conduct and the importance of abiding by these rules would help children to be self-regulated and make the right choices. 

On another note, we had a good turnout of parents in CP1 and 2 coffee afternoon. We are thankful to the parents for an open discussion and for sharing your concerns and suggestions. 

Last but not the least, the final exam schedules for CP classes have been sent on WhatsApp groups. For accessing the report card, you will need to use Engage. Kindly submit your email address to the class teachers if you have not already done so. Sometimes the email addresses mentioned in admission files are incorrect or not in use. 

Students’ progress should be taken as a joint effort between teachers and parents/guardians. We should work together to ensure student progress on classwork and homework.Work together with the subject teachers by seeing to it that our children are up to date with their work.

We sent intention forms for re-enrolment, kindly give feedback by simply indicating if the student is coming back or not. Take this seriously as we have students on waiting lists and we have to make decisions.

Our students will soon start their end of year examinations as indicated on the examination timetable. These examinations must be taken seriously by all the students as they will be used to determine learners who will proceed to the next grade level. Only students who will reach the passing mark will proceed. Take time to discuss with your child/ward on the importance of the examinations. Kindly engage with class teachers and subject teachers for any clarifications.

As earlier stated we shall now use our Engage platform for publication of results. We therefore request you to submit your email ids to the class teachers if you have not done so already. This is a platform which will help you monitor all the academic progress of your children, kindly ensure that you have access to it.

The graduation ceremonies for all the graduating students are on.The graduation dates are 20.06.2024 for LS3 and 21.06.2024 for IGCSE 2 and A-level. Kindly get in touch with class teachers for any clarifications on the information earlier shared about the graduation ceremony.

Kindly take time to discuss good behavior with your child/ward. Some of our students are exhibiting bad behavior and they have been warned and counseled. Committing any offense now will lead to expulsion. Some offenses to be committed now by students who have received counsel and not changing in behavior will lead into the students receiving forced transfers.

• CP and Secondary parents and students are advised to keep referring to the examination timetables to ensure students get the dates and times right and are able to prepare accordingly without stress or confusion.

• For any doubts at this point, please immediately contact the class teacher or concerned subject teacher.

• This week will be totally focused on revision and academic support and exam preparation for CP and Secondary students.

• IGCSE 2 and A Level board examinations continue, and we request the parents of these students to continue supporting them as you have done so far, by ensuring they are on time for the right exam on the right date at the right time.

• Graduation practices will run on given days for the graduating classes. Students and parents of these grades should keep a keen eye on the flow of information related to Graduation.