Dear Parents and Students

MID-SEMESTER BREAK       Next week, starting on Thursday, 19^th October, the school will be taking its mid-semester break. Please note that normal school routine will resume on Saturday, 28^th October, at 7.25 a.m. Students should gather on the marble terrace for a whole-school assembly.

RAMADAN CHARITY APPEAL       This fund-raising activity has been particularly active during Ramadan, following the school’s tradition of thinking about, and providing for, some of those who are less fortunate. We are delighted to announce that, this year, our students have been instrumental in providing Iftar for the children of the Orphanage in Al Khuwair, as well as generous donations to the Handicapped Association, Dar al Attar Organisation and Al-Noor Association for the Blind. Altogether, over 600 Omani rials have been raised by the students. Almost 1,000 kilos of dried and canned food have also been donated by students and parents. This will be distributed to the needy for Eid.

SCHOOL POLICIES AND PROCEDURES BOOKLET       An up-dated version of our school polices and procedures booklet has been prepared for the benefit of all parents and students. Parents are asked to collect a copy of this amended version when you come to Parent Evenings on 6^th and 7^th November. Copies are available as you check in through the school reception.

EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES       Our first [eight week] block of activities commences on Sunday, 5^th November [Secondary] and Tuesday, 7^th November [Primary]. Please keep a look-out for information about enrolling for these activities and reply promptly so that our service and response can be swift and efficient. Do, please, encourage all of your children to attend at least one activity.

UNIFORM / P.E. KIT      All students by now have been allocated one of four Houses [Masira – Green, Buraimi – Blue, Dhofar – Yellow, Jabrin – Red] and should be wearing their House T-shirts as part of their full P.E. kit. Thank you to all those students who are appearing in the proper P.E. kit for these lessons. Should you need to purchase any items for your child’s P.E. kit, these are available through the school store.

LOST PROPERTY    Please remember to check the lost property cupboard if an item has been misplaced at school – there are quite a few pieces of clothing, drink bottles, lunch boxes, etc. already stored there.

It is recommended that all students’ belongings be labelled appropriately so that items can be returned to them, particularly in the case of the Primary children.

PROMPTNESS TO BUSES      Students who are deliberately late to their bus at going-home time will not be allowed to board the bus, and the school will expect parents to make alternative arrangements to transport them home.

EQUIPMENT TO BE PROVIDED BY STUDENTS     Please note the following excerpt from the Policies and Procedures Booklet.

PURE LIFE ESSAY WRITING COMPETITION      Grade 5 and Grade 6 students recently entered a competition sponsored by National Heaters Industries Co. LLC [Coolex] enhancing environmental awareness among students. The theme was "Using Water Responsibly". The following students received Certificates of Commendation: Safa Al-Bulushi, Adam Beleko, Bayan Al-Bulushi, Madhi Islam, Ahmed Hassan, Hari Nair and Umar Siddique [Grade 5]; Badar uddin Nadeem, Loay Bahwan, Sami Al-Harthy, Amal Al-Balushi [Grade 6].

Third Prize Winner was Rehan Sadiq [Grade 6]; Second Prize Winner was Islam Abdelaty [Grade 6] and First Prize Winner was Ayesha Burney [Grade 5].

Congratulations to all the participants.

Many, many thanks to all those parents who braved the road-works to attend our first P.T.A. meeting of the current academic year. Attendance was significantly improved over last year.

We particularly welcome those parents and teachers who are new this year to the committee [marked with an asterisk for your information].

Principal