Newsletter October 2024 – Acorns International School

October 2024

Message from CEO

As we welcomed a new season of learning and growth this August, we also entered an exciting chapter of expansion and consolidation at Acorns International across all four campuses. Each school remains committed to creating an environment where students flourish academically, socially, and personally.

From innovative programmes to outstanding achievements, there is much to celebrate in our community. I invite you to visit our newly updated website at https://acornsschools.com/ for an in-depth look at the unique journeys taking place at each of our schools.

A great deal of thought and care has gone into every aspect of our growth, from the design of our new logo to the vibrant colours and branding that reflect our shared vision.

Wishing everyone a restful midterm break! May this time offer you a chance to recharge, enjoy meaningful moments with loved ones, and return energised for the exciting weeks ahead.

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Message from the Head Of School

Key Measures Implemented:

Enhanced Hygiene Protocols: We have increased the frequency of cleaning and sanitization throughout the school premises. Hand sanitizers are readily available in all classrooms and common areas.
Health Screenings: Daily health screenings are being conducted for all students and staff. Anyone showing symptoms will be required to stay home and seek medical advice..

Communication:We will continue to keep you informed about any updates or changes to our protocols as the situation evolves.
Awareness and Education: We are educating our students about the importance of personal hygiene and preventive measures to reduce the risk of infection.
Academic Continuity:Despite these challenges, we remain dedicated to providing a high-quality education. Our teachers are prepared to adapt their teaching methods to ensure that learning continues uninterrupted
Community Support:We encourage you to reach out if you have any concerns or need assistance. Our community is strong, and by working together, we can navigate these difficult times. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or require further information.
Thank you for your continued support and cooperation. Together, we can ensure the safety and well-being of our students while maintaining a positive and productive learning environment.
Sincerely,

Fatima Hashwani
Head of School
____________________________

Email : headofschool.rwanda@ais.ac.ug

Updates from Heads of Departments

Primary

Dear Parents and Guardians,
We are already halfway through our term, and much has happened since the start of the school year. Here is a short update on what we have accomplished so far:
We had a lot of fun during Literacy Week! We kicked off the week with a school-wide scavenger hunt. Our little ones in Early Years explored the theme of Jack and the Beanstalk and enjoyed a letter scavenger hunt. Primary students followed different clues around the school, while Secondary students solved various puzzles and clues.

scavenger hunt. Primary students followed different clues around the school, while Secondary students solved various puzzles and clues. On Tuesday, we celebrated Thoughtful Tuesday, where our students wrote encouraging letters to their peers. They learned how being thoughtful towards one another is a valuable trait. Our Early Years students created phrases with their classmates to narrate Jack and the Beanstalk. On Wednesday, students played Charades, acting out different phrases while their classmates guessed the meanings. In Early Years, they created posters of their characters and acted out the story of Jack and the Beanstalk. Thursday was filled with riddles and tongue twisters, tailored to each class’s level. Early Years students also took part in these activities. On Friday, we ended the week with a fun-filled day! We had a book character parade in Pre-Primary and Primary, watched a film based on a book, and shared snacks with our friends.

C.A.T. Assessments: The following week, our students gave their best effort during the Continuous Assessment Tests. They all did a great job, and we sincerely thank you for your ongoing encouragement.
World Teachers’ Day: On Friday, 4th October, we celebrated our teaching staff for World Teachers' Day. We acknowledged all the hard work they do and how much they care for the students. It is not an easy job, and they give their all every day.
Colour Week: For our Early Years, we organised a Colour Week, with different activities centred around one colour each day. On Monday, we explored the colour red; on Tuesday, we had fun with the colour blue; on Wednesday, we focused on yellow; on Thursday, we did activities related to the colour green, and on Friday, we had a multi-colour day where we used all the colours. Student Elections: Some of our students participated in the Student Council elections, which began on 11th October. We have around eight students from Grades 4 and 5 who signed up for the following positions: Vice President, Head Monitor, and Co-curricular Activities. On the first Monday after our mid-term break, we will announce the winners.
Math Week: From 14th to 16th October, we enjoyed our Math Week. Students participated in several maths-related activities, including games on the smartboard, team-based games, art with shapes, and mental maths games. Students have learned a lot!
CEM Baseline Assessment: In the same week as Math Week, Primary students also took their CEM assessment. This test will help our teachers understand where our students are academically and how we can support their growth.
Now it is time for our well-deserved mid-term break. Students have worked hard, so please ensure they get plenty of rest!

MIRANDA MARIELLE HOEKSTRA
HOD Primary
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Email: miranda.miranda@ais.ac.ug

Secondary

Dear Parents and Guardians,
As you well know that we began our new academic year on 2nd September 2024, at this point in time, we are heading for our Mid Term of term 1. Our dedicated teachers were on ground for in service program between 16th August and 30th August where we had various activities in preparation for the new academic year. This was concluded with a successful open house on 30th August where our parents, students and all interested from the public were free to tour the school premises and have a chat with the administration and the staff of AIS. I must confess that I am delighted to share with you the progress and achievements of our secondary students thus far.

Cambridge Centre for Evaluation & Monitoring: Our students from G.7 to 9 have undergone the CEM assessment. This is a computer based assessment that tests an individual learner’s abilities in English Language and Mathematics. It is customized according to a student’s ability and finally gives feedback about an individual learner’s strengths and weaknesses in the tested areas. We shall share with you the results as soon as they are ready.
Literacy week: We had this between 23rd and 27th September. This saw our learners involve in reading related activities, phrases scavenger, thoughtful letter writing, charade, riddling and tongue twisters and movie Friday where every class watched a movie based on a movie or book or any literary work of art with some moral lessons worth sharing.
Continuous Assessment Test 1 (CAT 1) In regard to our termly assessments, we are glad to inform you that we have concluded our Continuous Assessment Test 1 (CAT 1) which carries 25% of the termly report. We are in the process of generating reports and we shall share within this week. We continue to encourage our learners to take these assessments seriously in addition to homework and projects which all contribute to the overall termly grade. Co-Curricular Achievements: In honor of the World teachers’ day, we had a friendly match with our students on Thursday, 10th October. Our female staff played basketball with our female students. From the males, our male teachers also had a great football match with the male students. In all the matches our students showed great talent and humbled their teachers.
Mathematics Week: In an effort of enhancing and cultivating a culture of Mathematics, given its vital importance in academics as well as in everyday life, in line with this year’s theme Playing with Math, our students are also engaged in Mathematics related fun games as a way of sensitizing the students about Mathematics. This begun on Monday 14th October and will go on till Wednesday, 16th October 2024.
Student Leadership: We are also in the process of having a new student council in place. The process begun on Monday 7th October and will end with voting on Wednesday 16th October 2024. The results will be announced on Monday, 21st October 2024. Leadership fosters teamwork and collaboration in addition to encouraging civic engagement and responsibility amongst the students as they become more keen to taking up responsibilities and upholding the school policies. We shall keep you updated in our subsequent weekly newsletters.

Curriculum Evening:
This was held on 13th September. We are very grateful for the parents and guardians who managed to make it for our annual curriculum evening where we share the various subjects and the content that our students from G-7 to 12 are engaged in. It is always a pleasure having you around so that the school can give an insight about the curriculum and the demands of the various subjects.
Upcoming Events: