"Look at the world around you. It may seem like an immovable, implacable place. It is not. With the slightest push - in just the right place, it can be tipped".

Malcolm Gladwell, in The Tipping Point.

Dear Parents, 

In essence, what Gladwell is saying is we don't have to  move mountains to change things for the better. We do not have to reinvent the wheel, we just need to move the wheel in the right direction. So we, the Lusaka Oaktree School Community, are tipping the relevant points to see more progress and growth in our learners, as we commence the academic year 2024-2025. And those points are:

The Organizational Structure 

Streamlining academics and pastoral care as exclusive domains, for better focus and accountability in each. Hence instead of a Secondary School Principal and a Primary School Principal, now you see a Principal Pastoral Care and a Principal Academics. 

Also in the secondary school, you now have a separate LS Coordinator and a separate IGCSE/A level Coordinator. Moreover we now have a Mentoring and Wellness Coordinator to manage and support the wellbeing aspect of learners. 

Additionally, Secondary School will now have Heads of Department, and Primary School and Preschool will have Lead Teachers.

Facilities 

There is a new Art and Music hall - which will provide exclusive space for art and artwork, and keep the music away from regular classrooms to avoid noise overlap.

There is a new Volleyball Court and a new Soccer Pitch. Right as you enter the school campus, the smooth green turf of the new soccer pitch will greet you on the right. And right next to it will be the newly minted volleyball court.

There are new classrooms and expanded classrooms, with ample space.

The Library has been renovated and expanded in size - with an extra outgoing door and broad windows to let the sunlight and the breeze in and providing a more conducive reading space.

There is a refurbished Sick Bay now which will be looked after by a dedicated nurse.

Additional Personnel 

• A Special Needs and Learning Support teacher.

• An additional MDD teacher.

• A School Nurse.

• Additional Support Staff.

Revised and improved Daily Schedule 

20 minutes of dedicated mentoring sessions by Home Room teachers every morning.

Exclusive Leadership/Entrepreneurship/Service Learning lesson every week.

Separate Break Times and Lunch Times for CP and Secondary students.

To all of this, and more, welcome back!

The respective Principals, in their sections, have listed out the details of the orientation programs and relevant details about ECAs and other relevant aspects. Please do pay due attention to all of it.

Warm regards,

Shouquot Hussain

Head of School

If we want our students to shine academically or in any field, we have to make them stronger; we have to develop GRIT, COMMITMENT, and a SENSE OF PURPOSE in them.

We are wholeheartedly waiting to welcome our students into the new academic year. Our focus in these areas will become more clear to the students as they will be oriented into the expectations—both behavior and academic, both inside and outside the classrooms. Academic excellence is what we are striving for and we will do everything under our control to maximize resources, teaching quality, assessment, and feedback processes. To inculcate GRIT, COMMITMENT, and a SENSE OF PURPOSE, we must make the students know that our expectations are the same from home and from school.

To get to know your class teachers, ECA program, and get an overall orientation into the academic year, we are organizing parent orientation sessions in the first week of September. Please note the dates and timings.

• Tuesday, 3rd September, 14:00-15:20 - Early Years parent orientation

• Wednesday, 4th September, 14:00-15:20 - Cambridge Primary parent orientation

• Thursday, 5th September, 14:00-15:20 - Cambridge Secondary parent orientation

Venues for these events will be posted in the WhatsApp groups closer to time.

The first day of school will include a comprehensive orientation programme for all students. Given below is a glimpse of the orientation agenda. 

As we welcome our students for the new academic year, we would like to inform you that we now have a pastoral care department in school. This has been done to serve both our students and parents well. At Lusaka Oaktree School, we recognize that the academic success of our students is intricately linked to their overall well-being and happiness. As we move into the academic year 2024-25 and beyond, our key focus is to create an environment where students can thrive both academically and personally.

PASTORAL CARE is the nurturing of social development in children enabling them to develop character, personality, sense of value, judgment, self-discipline and the ability to mix and form relationships.

At Lusaka Oaktree School we aim to help in the total integration of academic, social, emotional, physical and cultural well-being and development of a student; bearing in mind the possible contrasting interface between home and school.

We are preparing a pastoral care handbook which will soon be shared with you.

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

Extracurricular activities provide a channel for reinforcing the lessons learned in the classroom, offering students the opportunity to apply academic skills in a real-world context, and are thus considered part of a well-rounded education.

We should therefore support the students in signing up for these activities. The activities will include clubs and sports activities. The activities offered will vary from one age group to the other. The sign up forms will be on a drive and we shall sign online. 

ECAs/After school activities will commence from Monday 9th September.

The activities available each age group are listed below:

Lusaka Oaktree School is committed to providing a safe and supportive learning environment for all students. The Student Code of Conduct has been established to ensure that all students are aware of the expectations and guidelines for behavior within the school community. The purpose of this code is to promote a positive and respectful school environment where all students can thrive and reach their full potential.

A copy of this document is available on the school community hub. Kindly take time to encourage the students to read it and help to create a positive learning environment that is conducive to academic success.

Ensure that you do not allow your child/ward to carry their gadgets at school. Read the school code of conduct to guide on the consequences of committing such an offense.

The policy is available on the school hub. 

Lusaka Oaktree School is committed to creating a focused and conducive learning environment.

To support this goal, we are implementing a comprehensive policy that prohibits the use of smartphones and cell phones during school hours. This policy is grounded in research that highlights the benefits of minimizing distractions and fostering face-to-face interactions among students.

Effective from Term 1, Academic Year 2024-25, the use of smartphones and cell phones during school hours is strictly prohibited. Students are required to leave their devices at home. 

Lusaka Oaktree School is committed to providing all students a safe, respectful and positive learning environment. As a parent of a student attending Lusaka Oaktree school, it is important to understand your role in creating a safe and positive learning environment for all students. We recognize that parents play a critical role in supporting the school's mission and creating a positive school culture. To this end, we expect parents to conduct themselves in a manner consistent with our values and code of conduct. The purpose of this code of conduct is to ensure that parents are aware of their responsibilities and expectations while on school grounds or participating in school-related activities.

WE ADVISE YOU OUR DEAR PARENTS/GUARDIANS TO READ ALL THE SCHOOL POLICIES ON THE SCHOOL COMMUNITY HUB.