PDO 

School  Newsletter

  May 24th 2023

Dear Parents,

We are delighted to share with you some of the highlights of yet another week of incredible learning at PDO School. 

Please remember that school will be closed tomorrow and Sunday 28th May for teacher training. We look forward to welcoming the children back on Monday 29th May.

Please take some time to view the Class Pages for more detailed information about your child's learning this week and any class notices here. 

Early Years

Physical development is an important part of learning in Early Years.  Children in FS1A have been enjoying their daily gross motor sessions where they practise movement sequences to music in the Early Years gym.  Fine motor skills are developed in all areas of provision and this week, children have really engaged with paint and natural beach themed resources in the messy room.

Continuous provision provides the children with endless opportunities for learning.  In the construction room, a group of FS2 children engaged in a self-chosen activity where they constructed a symmetrical tower using large wooden blocks of various shapes and colours.  This gave them the opportunity to explore the mathematical concept of symmetry as well as utilising their understanding of the world to ensure the tower had a solid structure.  In addition, they used the personal goals of collaboration and communication.  

Miss Dawn, Leader for Early Years

Year 1 Exit Point - Super Humans

There was a great buzz in the Year 1 classrooms today as children welcomed their parents for our Super Human Exit Point. They were able to guide their parents around a number of senses activities and show them what they have learnt about. These parts of our body really are Super Human!

Miss Emma & Mr Mohsin

Year 3N Well-being

Year 3N have been developing their understanding of gratitude and kindness during their well-being lessons. The children thought of adults around the school who help them and then created a 'Thank You' card expressing why they appreciate them and the work that they do. Upon reflection, the children were quick to understand that showing gratitude towards people not only made the recipient feel good, but also filled them with joy too.

Miss Naomi

We are thankful for Mr Ram, Mangal, Hozaifa, Subbu, Saji, Dill, Suma, Ponnamma and Kalu for keeping our school clean!

We are grateful to Rashid for keeping our school gardens looking so super!

Combined Choir, Wind and Brass Day at BSM

Congratulations to all the children who gave up some of their weekend to participate in the  Combined Choir, Wind and Brass Day.  On Friday 19th May, over 40 children from PDO School participated in a joint workshop and concert at BSM Oryx Theatre with children from BSM and Royal Flight Schools. It was a very intense morning for the children but they were very enthusiastic and coped superbly with the hard work needed to prepare for the short concert to parents.  Well done to all of the 120 or so children involved and especially PDO children who represented the school superbly.

Gary Ruston - Leader of Music

Year 4 Art 

In Art lessons, Year 4 are investigating sculpture and looking at how sculptures are  made.  Through the monthly personal learning goal of 'Communicator,' the students are also investigating the verbal and non verbal messages the artists are communicating and how their art translates around the world.  The  children are also making felt monsters to accompany our well-being lessons.  These are 'worry monsters' that the children can share their worries with and the worries are discussed as a class or individually. 

Y4A - Sculptures inspired by the work of Andy Goldsworthy - a British Sculptor who is an environmentalist and works with natural materials including human hair and cow dung!

Y4E -Creating Figurine Sculptures inspired by the Artist Alberto Giacometti. 

Y4I - Creating their felt Worry Monsters

Year 5 - Lifesaving Lifeboat

The lack of sufficient lifeboats is one of the main reasons why the sinking of the Titanic is considered a tragedy. Many more passengers could have been saved if safety had been prioritised over style. However, a space in a lifeboat does not guarantee survival as there are many more hazards to be faced in open water. In Year 5, the children brainstormed a list of these potential threats and then designed a modern-day lifeboat that would effectively protect passengers against them. The children have demonstrated their ability to be both analytical and creative thinkers in their designs and will be using them to support their advertisement of a new and improved ocean liner!

Miss Munira - IPC Leader for Learning

Coming Up:

29th May 

Boys u11 Basketball @ ABA

30th May 

Mixed U9 & U11 Unihoc @ BSM

21st June 

U11 Mixed Waterpolo Festival @ PDO

 U11 Basketball Girls 

On Monday our U11 girls entered the MPSL Basketball Tournament at AGS. PDO Scorpions earned an impressive second place. Our team played incredibly well in the first basketball tournament for many, they displayed impressive skills, determination and teamwork.

These dedicated young athletes have been practicing hard for this tournament and showcased their spirit, perseverance, communication and trust, complementing each other’s strengths on the court. We are very proud of the way they played, and we received many compliments on their attitude and impressive skills from the teachers and coaches from the other schools.

Congratulations, girls!

Mr. Scott and Miss Iveth

Farewell and Good Luck!

We would like to say a farewell to the Wielaard family as they move back to their home country after 5 years in Oman.  Thank you for the lovely message you shared with us and we wish you all the best for the future.

Leaving Oman -  please let as know as soon as you can

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 Kath, kmorgan@pdoschool.com or Ms Zoe, zmcintyre@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


Wishing you a pleasant weekend,

The PDO Team

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 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 Acting Headteacher, Ms. Kath Morgan.

Mr. Hamed, our School Manager, is also happy to listen to any parental concerns that have not been resolved successfully.