newsletter - pdo-schoolschool year 2013-2014 issue 14 – the pdo school newsletter is compiled by...

School Year 2013-2014 Issue 14 – The PDO School Newsletter is compiled by Claire Bonham

Newsletter

Date: 27th March 2014 Issue: 14

Dear Parents,

It was wonderful to meet so many parents at our first “Breakfast Meeting with the Head

Teacher” earlier this month. Thank you for making me feel so welcome and for sharing your

views about what the school does well, and your ideas for improvement.

We had lots of positive and constructive discussion. Here is a summary of the ideas

expressed:

What the School Does Well

Inclusive, encouraging and supportive

Very active calendar ( Market Day, Charity Events etc)

The Teachers and Higher Management of the school are very accessible

Fantastic, supportive and highly motivated staff who help not only with issues around

coming to a new school, but also a new country

Excellent standards of multinational cohesion

Great NTC program

Fantastic Learning Support Team

Great at involving parents in their child’s education

Welcoming new children

Making them enthusiastic learners

Enthusiastic teachers, well organized class rooms and a great IPC program

Co-operation between classes as in buddy systems, year groups together. Mileposts

together

The atmosphere if you ever enter the school is brilliant!

My children enjoy going to school

Ideas for Improvement (with my initial responses)

Clarity of roles and responsibilities within the structure of the school i.e. The School

Board, The PTA

I will discuss with the School Board and provide clarification

PDO School

PO Box 81, Muscat 100

Sultanate of Oman

Website: www.pdoschool.com

Tel: (+968) 24675864

http://www.pdoschool.com/


SEN/Learning Support – better collaboration between class teacher, parents and

child. More in class support.

Christine Stafford our SEN/ Learning Support Leader had already made changes to

further support collaboration. She will be writing an article for a future newsletter

providing more information on this.

Speech Therapy in School.

Plans are underway for this service in school

Integrate Karavan in the Pre Nursery; a lot of children will be in 3 different classes in

one year. They are so small and easily unsettled

The new school building incorporates an Early Years area that accommodates

Karavan, Pre Nursery and Nursery in one building. This will make transition for the

children much easier. The staff will be able to work collaboratively within one setting

to support the children.

Better communication with parents about lunch, clothes, homework etc instead of

passing a message through the children

This has been passed on to our teachers. We will endeavour to improve our

communication systems with parents

After School Activities – extend the choice for younger children ensuring no clash

with Dutch Home Language learning. Arabic lessons after school requested.

We are looking into further provision for After School Activities and will communicate

them to you as soon as possible.

Other suggestions were also received and please be assured these have been noted and

where practicable, implemented.

The next Head Teacher’s Breakfast Meeting will be held on Monday 2nd June 2014 at

8.15am. I do hope you will be able to join us again and offer your contributions to support

PDO School in its future development and success.

Thank you,

Joanne Speller

Headteacher

WaterAid

After two successful fundraisers, organised by the Student Council and the PTA we have

now donated OMR 2965 to WaterAid.

This money will go towards a project in Ethiopia to help reach over 37,000 people including

school children.

Please find attached a PowerPoint presentation with more information on the project.


HSE Week: The Environment

HSE Week at PDO School was 16th-20th March for Term

2. The focus of HSE Week was the Environment and

we looked more specifically at the Importance of

Water. After thinking hard about our Water pledges,

we displayed these in our mileposts. Our pledges

were relating to how we are going to help save water

in PDO School and at home. We wrote our pledges

onto water droplets.

The Student Council, together with Mr Erik

Hawkes, made a slogan for the school to put

onto stickers which we were given during HSE

Week.

Joanna Vos came to speak to Milepost 1 about how we can help to save water in Oman

at home and at school.


HSE Week was filled with fun activities so that we could learn more about how we can help.

We also read the book “The boy who harnessed the Wind” written by William Kamkwamba

and Bryan Mealer.

Muscat Daily Article

MECA campaign educates children about mangroves By Zain al Tauqi

As part of the Ministry of Environment and Climate Affairs’ (MECA) ongoing campaign to

promote awareness on importance of mangroves, 60 students of PDO School visited the

Qurum Nature Reserve last week.

Aida al Jabri, marine environment specialist, MECA, said, “Our mission is to educate

children throughout the country on the importance of mangroves.

“MECA has been planting mangrove saplings since 2001. Avicennia marina is the only

variety of mangroves found in Oman. Mangrove forests are haven for many species of fish,

crab, shrimps, mussels, birds and even honey bees. They flower around the month of June.

“There are 36 mangrove forests in Oman; three of which are in protected natural reserves.

However, it’s important to note that a Royal Decree prohibits cutting down mangrove trees

anywhere in Oman.”

She said that MECA plans to open an environmental information centre at the Qurm site for

educational purposes.

Joh Weekly, teacher, PDO School, said, “The programme showed students why it’s

important to measure the health of the environment. As the tide was in, students had the

perfect opportunity to see crabs, fish, birds, dragonflies and butterflies. It was an exciting

opportunity for children to understand biodiversity.”

http://www.muscatdaily.com/Archive/Editors-Names/Zain-al-Tauqi

http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&docid=wR4Df8P7VihWsM&tbnid=g2FbyvhAHOc9DM:&ved=0CAYQjRw&url=http://shop.scholastic.com/shop/ProductDisplayView?storeId=10751&productId=145752&urlRequestType=Base&langId=-1&catalogId=10051&ei=CnMpU5DcJuqh0QWt7IBI&bvm=bv.62922401,d.d2k&psig=AFQjCNEIvxFHc0caos0jxcL6h8SZYPNSSA&ust=1395310882941541


After School Activities

Please note that after school activities will finish on 3rd April 2014 for term 2. This is one

week earlier than previously advertised.

Next Year Intentions

As you know PDO School is currently in the process of planning and preparing the classes

for the next academic year 2014-2015. As part of this process we need to ascertain which

children will continue with their education at PDO School and which children will be

moving schools.

Please remember to use the form you have already received and fill out the information for

each of your children currently studying at PDO School below and return before 10 April

2014. If you do not respond by this date we will assume that your child/ren are remaining

at PDO School. Should you subsequently decide to move your child/ren you will incur the

fees as explained below. The first possibility to move without any penalty will be January.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Please be aware that it is PDO School policy, agreed with PDO, that families considering

transferring their child from PDO School to another school in Muscat, with the exception

of transfer to a secondary school, must:

Provide at least one full term’s notice in writing to the PDO School Head teacher or

Deputy Head teacher of the intention to move and give sound educational reasons for

the proposed move.

This includes families who place their child on a waiting list.

If these criteria are not met, the family may still transfer their child but the school fees will

not be reimbursed by PDO.

Use of Photographs on the School Website

As you will know we are eager to use the school website as a means of celebrating the

many different events and activities that take place at PDO School. The photos are never

posted with the full name and we select the photos used carefully. If you are not happy

about your child’s photo featuring on the PDO School website please email Miss Claire and

let her know.


School Closure

The decision to close school is never taken lightly and the philosophy behind the decision is

always with the health and safety of our children as our priority concern.

Weather forecasts, weather warnings, road safety conditions and company policies and

procedures are used to help inform the decision.

Senior staff make every effort to inform the school community as soon as possible.

Information is gathered and evaluated, and the decision is made with the approval of

senior PDO managers. The decision is never easy, as we are weighing up the impact of

school closure upon our children's learning and development and the inconvenience to

parents, against the safety of children travelling into school, some from a distance. We also

have to take into consideration the possibility of further heavy rainfall causing travel

disruption once the children have arrived at school.

We understand the need to communicate urgently, especially for those parents who have

a distance to travel and do our best to inform you as soon as possible. To help this process,

please ensure we have your up to date contact details.

Thank you for your understanding.


March 29 Earth Hour 2014: Have you pledged?

Earth Hour campaign is the largest voluntary initiative in history! For the past 7 years, millions

of people around the word have joined this global initiative to demonstrate their concerns

about the future of our planet by doing something simple, yet remarkable - they turn off

their lights for one hour.

The event is held worldwide as a symbol for people’s commitment to saving the planet.

During 2012 Earth hour, Oman saved 53,430KWh of energy (enough to power 1000

households for 5 days!) and in 2013 approximately 70,000 KWh of energy.

Make your pledge for Oman by visiting http://www.omanearthhour.org/.

This year’s Earth Hour is scheduled for Saturday 29 March, from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Let us

all commit to the hour and help to reduce the energy consumption.

Be a part of Earth Hour with millions of people around the globe.

The PDO Earth Hour Organising Team

http://www.omanearthhour.org/


Dates for your Diary

Please find below important dates that are coming up soon, as well as an

overview of the dates for the next academic year. A reminder that all

term dates are available on the school website.

Year Planner 2014-2015

24 August 2014 New School Year starts for staff

31 August 2014 Start of Term 1 for children

5 – 9 October 2014 Half Term (Eid El Adh’ha) holiday

25 October 2014 Islamic New Year* To be confirmed

18 November 2014 National Day* To be confirmed

18 December 2014 Term 1 Ends

19 December – 10 January Winter Break (for children)

6 January 2015 Staff to Prepare new school

11 January 2015 Start of Term 2 for children

18 – 19 February 2015 Half Term Break

26 March 2015 Term 2 Ends

27 March – 11 April Spring Break

12 April 2015 Term 3 Begins

16 May 2015 Prophet’s Ascension* To be confirmed

27 - 28 May 2015 Half Term Break

2 July 2015 End of Term 3

3 July – to be decided Summer Break

Please note that we are currently planning to be in the new school building for the start of

term 2. Staff will of course ensure that the classrooms are ready both in the existing building

at the start of the academic year and in the new building.

Date Event

16th – 20th March HSE Week

3rd April Last day of After School Activities

8th April P4,5 and 6 Concert

9th April Learning Open Afternoon – parents invited

10th April Last Day of term 2

27th April First Day of term 3

14th May PDO School Parents Day

http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=dates+for+your+diary&qs=ds&form=QBIR

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