29th October 2025

Dear Parents

In 2 weeks time we have our Poetry and Nursery Rhyme week, where we will be celebrating this genre. The genre is exciting and interactive, it makes learning fun and we look forward to children's engagement in the topic. Please see below the benefits of Poetry and how you can support at home.

Why Nursery Rhymes and Poetry Are So Important

Boosts Language Development - Rhymes introduce children to the rhythm and melody of language. They help with pronunciation, vocabulary and sentence structure.
Enhances Memory and Cognitive Skills - Repetition and patterns in rhymes improve memory and sequencing skills. Children learn to anticipate words and phrases, which strengthens cognitive development.
Supports Early Literacy - Rhymes lay the foundation for reading by familiarising children with sounds, syllables and word patterns. This phonemic awareness is a key predictor of reading success.
Encourages Creativity and Imagination - Poetry and rhymes often tell whimsical stories or describe vivid scenes, sparking imagination and creative thinking.
Fosters Emotional and Social Bonds - Singing or reciting rhymes together creates shared joy and strengthens the bond between parent and child. It also helps children learn social cues and turn-taking.

How Parents Can Support

Make Rhymes Part of Daily Routine - Sing during car rides or bedtime. Repetition helps children feel secure and engaged.
Use Gestures and Movement - Add hand motions or dance to rhymes like “Itsy Bitsy Spider” or “Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes.” This builds motor skills and makes learning fun.
Read and Recite Together - Choose age-appropriate poetry books and nursery rhyme collections. Let your child finish the lines or guess the rhyming word.
Encourage Creative Play - Invite your child to make up their own rhymes or act out poems. This builds confidence and language fluency.
Explore Cultural Rhymes - Share rhymes from your heritage or learn new ones from other cultures. This fosters inclusivity and broadens understanding.

School Closed for Training - A reminder to all parents that the school is closed for students on November the 6th (Thursday) for staff training.

Tim Robinson

Headteacher

Digital Discoveries with Year 2

In Computing, the children in Year 2 have been diving into the world of computers. After learning all about the different parts and purposes of computers, they put their knowledge into action with an exciting IT walk around PDO School.

Armed with curiosity and confidence, our young learners became Thinkers and Communicators, using their Personal Learning Goals to explore how digital devices are used all around the school — from the office and library to classrooms.

It was wonderful to see their excitement as they made real-life connections between what they’ve been learning in class and how technology supports our everyday life at PDO School.

Milepost 1 Parent Workshop Reminder

Monday 3rd November

We would like to invite the Year 1 and 2 parents to a Maths Passport workshop on Monday 3rd November, starting at 8.05am in the staff room. This workshop will explain what the Maths Passport is, why is it vital to your child's learning and how you can support at home.

I look forward to seeing you all there.

Miss Liz

BSM Music Collaboration Event Information For Parents

For parents of children in Years 4 to 6 who have signed up to the BSM Music Collaboration Event this Friday 31st October, you should have received an email from me with details of the day's schedule. If not, please find the link is below.

BSM Music Collaboration Event Information for Parents

Please read the information carefully to avoid any confusion on the day. Don't forget that parents and children are invited to a performance at 1.30pm in The Oryx Theatre at BSM.

If you have any questions, please email me. gruston@pdoschool.com

Mr Gary

PDO Christmas Performance Choir at The Grand Hormuz and PDO Club.

Just a reminder to parents of children in Years 3 to 6 and have signed up for the Christmas Performance Choir at The Grand Hormuz and PDO Club, rehearsals start Thursday 30th October 2.10 to 3.10pm and run concurrently until the performances are completed. Rehearsal time is limited so attendance is very important. I have had a meeting with the children this week so they should also be aware. Please provide children with an extra snack for the end of the day.

Finally, all children who are being picked will exit through the Year 3 door at 3.10pm.

The songs can be accessed through the learning portal or at Christmas Songs 2025

If you have any questions, please email me. gruston@pdoschool.com

Mr Gary

Early Years

As our Powerful Plants unit comes to a close, our Nursery children have been filled with curiosity as they explored how plants provide homes and shelter for many different animals around the world.

The children revisited our wonderful Early Years Souq area to observe which animals live among the plants there. They were excited to spot and name the animals, share what they knew and even build up the courage to touch the large animal posters on the windows!

Through our discussions, the children discovered that not all environments are the same. Together, we compared lush, green jungles to the dry, sandy deserts we see here in Oman, deepening their understanding of different habitats and fostering a truly international perspective on the natural world.

Milepost 1

This week in Milepost 1, Year 2 reflected on their Exit Point that happened just before the break.

The children reflected on how they used their knowledge, skills and understanding to teach their parents about emotions and how to regulate feelings. The children shared their knowledge of artists such as Yayoi Kusama, Jackson Pollock and Romero Britto, explaining how their art portrayed different emotions. The amazing children taught their parents how to create paintings based on the drip technique, the patterns of Romero Britto and the dots of Yayoi Kusama, creating an installation in the Milepost 1 corridor based on her visions of 'we are all dots in the universe.'

Milepost 2

In IPC this week in Milepost 2, Year 3 have been busy exploring the fascinating world of fossils...

The children investigated what fossils can tell us about the past and researched the different types — including body, trace, mould and cast fossils. They then became young paleontologists themselves, using their creativity and curiosity to make their own fossil models.

Milepost 3

This week, Year 6 have begun their new Maths unit on Fractions, exploring learning through the Concrete–Pictorial–Abstract approach.

The children took part in a variety of engaging activities that brought the CPA approach to life. They used Cuisenaire rods and other concrete materials to model fractions, worked with pictorial representations to compare and identify equivalent fractions, and tackled abstract number problems to apply their understanding. Pupils also enjoyed using technology to test their knowledge and reflect on their learning through self-assessment. Throughout the week, they collaborated effectively, explaining their reasoning and demonstrating excellent communication skills.

Congratulations to our Learners of the Week!

A huge congratulations to our newest Learners of the Week! This award recognises the incredible effort they put into their learning and the excellent ways they are putting their personal goals into practice. It's fantastic to see them growing and becoming such dedicated and confident learners.

PDO School Newsletter