PDO
School Newsletter
8th December 2022
Dear Parents
It has been a busy week both in and out of school this week for many of our pupils. The PDO School Choir sang at The Grand Hormuz this week, while many of our younger pupils performed at a ballet production at The Grand Hyatt. Congratulations to everyone who took part. Please do join us this afternoon at the PDO Club for another festive performance by our school choir, times are below.
As promised, our newsletter this week is a little longer than usual as it encompasses learning events from this week and last week, which due to the public holiday was a shorter week.
In order to view the Class Pages for more detailed information about your child's learning this week and any class notices, please click the link here .
Early Years - Oliver's Vegetables
We continued our 'Growing: Plants' theme this week by learning all about vegetables. Children enjoyed reading 'Oliver's Vegetables' and learnt the names of lots of new vegetables as well as learning how to scrub vegetables clean before eating them. Classes investigated the most popular vegetables and recorded their findings on pictograms. In our 'messy' room, children learnt about processes and changes by exploring toy fruits and vegetables which had been frozen in ice.
Phase 1 - Kindness
Year 1 have been busy being kind! They have been keen to spread the love and make lots of wonderful cards for each other. The postbox has been inundated with entries. The children have been doing lots of random acts of kindness which has been a joy to see.
Phase 2 - Art
Year 3 and 4 have been learning about different artists and artistic styles in preparation for the 'Winter Cafe'. The children have loved using a variety of artists techniques as well as different mediums to produce some wonderful pieces of artwork. The parents will get to view these masterpieces at the 'Winter Cafe'.
Year 3 Recycling Request
Year 3 will be studying the IPC topic 'Saving the World' - Rainforests next term. As part of our Entry Point we will be creating animals, leaves and vines for our rainforest display. We will need old newspapers / magazines, plastic bottles tops and strong cardboard boxes. If you have any of these items at home can you please bring them to school and deposit them in the Phase 2 corridor in the plastic box provided.
Thank you for your help.
Year 3 Team
Phase 3 - Problem Solving
In Year 5, we have been exploring different problem solving strategies. We have focused particularly on using lists and tables; a technique that allows all possible variables to be collated so that the correct answer is easily discernable. By working systematically, we solve for efficiency as well as accuracy, something that budding mathematicians are always aiming for.
Science
Year 5 - Forces
Year 6 - Living Things
Year 5 have been carrying out an investigation to determinethe effects air resistance on falling objects. The children made three spinners, the blades of each spinner had different surface areas. The spinners were dropped from a set height and the fall timed. The results showed that the spinner with the largest surface took longest to fall.
Year 6 have been learning about the classification of living things. Following on from the study of the Linnean classification system the children have been experimenting with branching databases, also known as binary trees. The children created a branching database to classify the birds in our local environment according to a variety of physical features.
French
What have the children all been learning in French this half term?
In years 4 to 6 this half term, the children have been working towards talking and writing about their birthday in French. They have been learning the days of the week, months of the year and numbers up to 31 as well as grammar structures in order to achieve this outcome. The children have thoroughly enjoyed participating in songs, games and various tasks to help them to embed this new vocabulary in the four skills: listening, speaking, reading and writing.
The children have also been looking at etymology (where words come from), to know the origin of the days of the week in both English and French, using their knowledge of the months in English to help them to deduce and translate the months from French into English as well as recording and listening to themselves speaking in French to help them to check their pronunciation.
Year 3 have also been looking at learning the days and months.
In Phase 1, the children have been learning some colours in French. They have also been learning the names of the fruits and the animals from the story, "Handa's Surprise" by listening to this story in English and French and by playing lots of games to help them to know and remember the new vocabulary.
What a super first term! I am so proud of all of the children and how eager they have been to learn a new language.
PDO School Choir Performances
It has been a very busy time for PDO Choirs over the past few weeks, with several performances taking place both inside and outside school.
IMG_0074.MOVIMG_0076.MOVPDO School Christmas Performance Choir
On Tuesday, PDO Christmas Performance Choir sung at the Tree Lighting Ceremony at The Grand Hormuz Hotel. They also have two further performances coming very soon:
PDO Boat Club tonight Thursday 8th December at 5.30pm
The Park Inn Hotel Al Khuwair at Monday 12th December 4.30pm
All parents are welcome to join us for some festive fun. Children will need to arrive 30 minutes before the performance.
The Children have demonstrated a great deal of commitment and dedication over the past 6 weeks and deserve a great deal of credit for their performances.
IMG_0071.jpgPDO School Choir Informal Concert
Despite the very busy schedule of the Christmas Performance Choir, the full PDO School Choir have also been busy rehearsing during lunchtimes since the start of the academic year. Today, the choir of around 80 children performed this morning in our Thursday Informal Concert. This was their first performance of the academic year and a wonderful opportunity to show off the work they have been doing.
They will also be performing at the Winter Cafe on Tuesday. Well done to everyone this morning.
IMG_0081.jpgThe PDO School Choir Informal Concert.mp4IMG_0079.jpgBallet at The Grand Hyatt
Congratulations to all children who took part in the ballet at the Grand Hyatt this week. Zoë, Pippa and Sophie did the opening and closing number for the Christmas program, dancing to Jingle Bell Rock. Stella and Hattie danced to the Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy from The Nutcracker. There was quite a crowd so the girls all did remarkably well to perform in front of so many people.
Computing - Internet Safety Week
This week, Years 1- 6 have taken a break from their Creating Media topic to focus on Internet Safety.
Phase 1 and Lower Phase 2 have been watching short videos called Jessie and Friends. They follow the adventures of Jessie, Tia and Mo as they begin to navigate the online world. They learn that while the internet can be an exciting place where they can learn and have fun, sometimes they may encounter things online which make them feel worried, scared or sad. Through completing follow up activities, the children have been learning the key message that if a child ever feels worried about anything that happens online, they should seek help from an adult they trust.
Upper Phase 2 and Phase 3 have been watching a series called Play Like Share. The series follows the adventures of Alfie, Ellie and Sam as they form a band and enter their school’s Battle of the Bands contest, taking on the mean but ‘cool’ Popcorn Wizards as they go. The three friends learn that while the internet can help them in pursuit of their goal, they need to use it wisely and safely. The videos and supporting resources aim to give children the knowledge, skills and confidence they need to:
Identify signs of manipulative, pressurising or threatening behaviour online,
Respond safely if they think someone is trying to manipulate, pressure or threaten them,
Understand their rights online, and respect those of others,
Take measures to control their privacy and digital footprint,
Get help from an appropriate source if they need it.
Please click here for more information about keeping children safe online.
Miss Kirsty, Leader for IT
Road Safety Assembly
PDO School were pleased to have a visit from the Road Safety Team in assembly, who were pleased to share information with the children about how to keep safe on the roads in PDO Camp. We look forward to seeing them in school again soon for their much valued input.
Below is the link to the slideshow which the team shared with the children:
Winter Café
Parents of Year 3 & 4 are warmly welcomed to attend our Winter Café in the Learning Souq area on Tuesday 13th December from 9am to 10am. The school choir will be performing and light refreshments will be served, whilst you enjoy an array of wonderful artwork produced by our Year 3 & 4 pupils. Please note, this event is open to parents of Year 3 & 4 pupils only.
Miss Eimear, Leader for Phase 2
Please help the Shoebox / Books of Love Campaign
As a whole school we have decided to support the Shoeboxes of Love Campaign.
We will have a collection area in the main reception from Dec 11th-14th. Please read the details below for how to contribute to this great initiative. This year they are collecting Books. Excellent condition/new books for all genders and age groups (from ages 1 to 15), in Arabic and English.
Here's what you'll need to do to participate:
1. Find a shoebox that the book(s) will fit in or you can wrap books individually.
(If you wish to wrap or decorate a box, please cover the box and lid SEPARATELY.)
2. Decide which age category your book is for: 1–3 years, 4–7 years, 8-11 years or 12–15 years and mark it on the book or box.
3. Your child can add a nice message if they wish.
4. Drop it off at the Main Reception collection point December 11th-14th.
5. Tell a friend and spread the news! More books = more happy children!
***IMPORTANT*** - please make sure books are wrapped and write a label with the AGE group it is for on the outside.
They will be delivered to the orphanage, and families less fortunate via a number of other organisations just before December 25th. I believe this is a wonderful way for us to be spreading some PDO Community Kindness. I look forward to seeing this being a huge success!
Miss Emma, Year 1 teacher
Kindness Collection for OIG Workers
We will be holding a collection to share between the OIG Workers who look after our school. If you would like to donate any monies for a seasonal gift for OIG staff that work at the school, please send any donation in a sealed envelope to Miss Jawahir on Reception, clearly labelled OIG. Any monies received will be added to the monies received today for the non uniform day and shared equally amongst the team on 15th December. Thank you in anticipation for this Act of Kindness.
PTA Committee
We are pleased to announce that the PTA was ratified at the Board Meeting on 7th December.
Chair of the committee Edward Graham 23 votes from school families
Vice Chair Sheila Borbajo 15 Votes from school families
Treasurer Anshupriya Agarwa 32 Votes from school families
Secretary Louise Bolton 18 votes from school families
Parent Magda Bednara 15 votes from school families
Parent Patrycja Ryba 13 votes from school families
Parent Amanda Reimsnyder 11 Votes from school families
Teacher Mohsin Shabir 26 Votes from school staff
Teacher Kirsty McDonagh 24 Votes from school staff
Learning Assistant Nabiha Al Ghadani 11 Votes from school staff
School Uniform
A gentle reminder of the requirements for school uniform:
Boys can choose to wear trousers or shorts. Girls can choose trousers, shorts or skirts. Our Muslim girls may wear scarves and leggings with the skirt, in the same colours as their polo tops to compliment the uniform. Leggings should not be patterned.
You can find full details of the school uniform guidance in the Parent Handbook, on the school website. As always, school uniform can be purchased at the Main School Reception.
Miss Eimear, Leader for Phase 2
Leaving Oman
We request that parents who have plans to move away from Oman, to please provide us with the details as soon as possible by emailing Ms Cheryl, cfox@pdoschool.com or Ms Kath, kmorgan@pdoschool.com . This will allow us time to prepare the Transfer Certificate and other documents your child may require for their application to a new school, as well as to be able to give your child a traditional school farewell.
Dates for your Diary:
PDO Club, Thursday December 8th, 5:30 pm
Park Inn Hotel, Monday December 12th (Years 4 to 6)
Winter Cafe (Year 3 & 4 parents), Tuesday December 13th
Last Day of Term 1, Thursday December 15th
FS2 Parent Reading and Phonics Meeting, Thursday 5th January @ 1:15 - 1:45 pm
Biscuit decorating and refreshments morning (Early Years Parents), Wednesday 11th January @ 11 am - 12 noon
Parental Concerns:
At PDO School we acknowledge that, from time to time, parents may wish to express concerns about specific aspects of their child’s education. We are always happy to investigate and respond to these concerns. Please note that, for the Class Teachers, it is important that even informal discussions take place outside of their teaching time.
What do I do if I have a concern?
Please make the Class Teacher your first point of contact if your concern is not successfully resolved, please contact the school via notices@pdoschool.com to make an appointment with the Headteacher, Cheryl Fox, or the Deputy Headteacher, Ms. Kath Morgan.
Mr. Hamed, our School Manager, is also happy to listen to any parental concerns that have not been resolved successfully.
Wishing you a pleasant weekend
Cheryl Fox
Headteacher
cfox@pdoschool.com kmorgan@pdoschool.com nurse@pdoschool.com