1st April 2026

Dear Parents

This term has been a demanding period for our school community. The ongoing regional conflict has created significant uncertainty, compounded by challenging weather conditions that have disrupted our normal operations. We recognise the strain these events have placed on students and their families and we would like to formally thank our parents for your support and cooperation during these difficult months.

We also want to express our gratitude to our teaching and support staff. Despite the uncertain future facing us all, the team has remained fully committed to the education and well-being of your children, ensuring a stable learning environment throughout the term.

Today we also say goodbye to Miss Amy, who is leaving the school after four years of service. Miss Amy has played a key role in the development of our school during her tenure, contributing significantly to our growth and academic standards. She will be moving on to a new role as Primary Headteacher of Jebel View International School in Muscat and we thank her for her dedication and wish her the very best in her new leadership position. Ms Munira will be taking over her role at the start of Term 3.

Finally, we wish everyone a restful and safe long break. This time away is important for everyone to recharge. Please monitor your Seesaw for any updates regarding the return to school, as we will continue to track regional developments and weather forecasts during the holidays. Thank you for your continued partnership.

Tim Robinson

Headteacher

Year 6 Playground Leader Program

I would like to introduce you to our fantastic Year 6 Playground Leaders. Over the past weeks, they have been busy planning, organising and presenting a wide range of games and activities for the younger children across the school.

Easily identified in their bright orange uniforms, they have brought energy, creativity and enthusiam to the playground and field at break times. Our leaders are thoroughly enjoying their roles and it has been wonderful to see how much the younger students are engaging with and enjoying the new activities on offer

The Playground Leader Programme brings many benefits to our school community. It supports improved behaviour while also promoting higher levels of health and wellbeing. The activities encourage cooperation, inclusion and positive social interaction, helping students build new friendships. At the same time, our Year 6 leaders are developing valuable leadership, communication and teamwork skills.

Activities this term have included, tag games, yoga, arts and crafts, girls' football, Capture the Flag, mixed games, bracelet making, drama, sticker club, gardening, bottle flip, Foot Square, free drawing, and more. It has been so rewarding to see younger children interacting so positively with older students and looking forward to the fun and engaging opportunities that will be available on the playground (and indoors) in Term 3!

Miss Jamie

Our PLG Journey: Together as a Learning Community

We are excited to continue sharing our Personal Goals Padlet platform in our weekly newsletter to celebrate achievements together as a wider community.

We kindly ask for your support in capturing moments when your child demonstrates any of the Personal Learning Goals - whether at home, in the park, during outdoor play or in daily routines. For example, if your child shows collaboration while playing outside, you may upload one photo and select the appropriate Personal Goal folder (e.g., “Collaboration”).

Families are welcome to share one photo per week if they wish, highlighting a Personal Goal your child has demonstrated.

Please click on the Padlet link below to share your child’s achievement with our community. This is a wonderful opportunity for children to celebrate their out-of-school achievements and for us to reinforce that their Personal Learning Goals are transferable skills beyond the classroom.

PLGs Padlet

Thank you for supporting the celebration of children’s achievements.

The IC Team

Early Years

Children were excited to return and play with their classmates in the outdoor area. They engaged in a range of hands-on and imaginative play experiences.

In the outdoor area, children explored the mud kitchen by mixing mud and water, experimenting with creating “cement” and developing early critical thinking skills. They used watering cans to transport and pour water, supporting their coordination and transferring skills. Some children engaged in role-play, sitting together and pretending to host a party, encouraging communication and social interaction. Their play reflected schematic behaviours, particularly transporting and containing, as they moved and filled materials with purpose. These experiences support creativity, collaboration and problem-solving. It is lovely to see their confidence, creativity and friendships grow through play.

Milepost 1

This week in Milepost 1 the children have been working on their collaboration and reading skills.

The children have been discussing their reading and the skills needed to show their understanding of what they have read. This week they found out about the Tamagotchi toy, which was first sold in 1996! The children found out that by 1998, more than 40 million Tamagotchi's travelled to homes around the globe! After lots of talk about Tamagotchi, the children then worked together to answer different types of questions about the text.

Milepost 2

Year 4 recently celebrated a fantastic Exit Point to conclude their topic on Explorers and Adventurers. Throughout the unit, students researched a range of explorers, developing their understanding of the causes and effects of the Age of Exploration.

They demonstrated thoughtful inquiry skills and made meaningful connections across subjects. In English, learning was enriched through links to How to Train Your Dragon, inspiring creativity and descriptive writing. In Design and Technology, students crafted impressive clay dragon eyes, showcasing both imagination and fine motor skills. The Exit Point was a true highlight, with students taking the lead and confidently teaching their parents how to use watercolours, inspired by the work of botanical artist Margaret Mee. It was a wonderful celebration of independence, creativity and cross-curricular learning. Well done, Year 4!

Milepost 3

This week, Year 6 celebrated the culmination of their IPC unit Mission to Mars with an exciting and engaging Exit point event. Parents were invited to join the children in exploring all the fantastic learning that had taken place throughout the unit.

The corrior was transformed into an interactive space where pupils proudly shared their Virtual Learning Environment, showcasing their research, creativity and digital skills. Visitors also enjoyed taking part in a range of activities alongside the children, including a hands-on art task, an interactive quiz and a timeline challenge that demonstrated their understanding of space exploration.

A highlight of the event was the presentation of home learning projects. The children had created impressive models of the solar system, displaying great effort, imagination and attention to detail.

It was a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the hard work and enthusiasm of Year 6 and to share their learning journey with their families. Well done, Year 6: your mission was a great success!

Book Week - Sunday 19th April - Thursday 23rd April

A gentle reminder that our Book Week will run from Sunday 19th April to Thursday 23rd April. There are a range of activities that will take place during the week. Please see last week's newsletter for key dates including the Book Character Parade.

A Huge Congratulations to our Maths Passport Globetrotters!

Achieving the Globetrotters certificate is an exceptional accomplishment and represents the final stage of the Maths Passport programme. This award reflects years of dedication, perseverance and consistent mastery of key mathematical skills. Reaching this level requires determination, resilience and a genuine love of learning and we are incredibly proud of the hard work and commitment shown by our students. Well done on this outstanding achievement!

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