September 2006

Dear Parents and Students

WELCOME BACK!

An enormous welcome back to all our parents and students, particularly to those who are new to the school. The beginning of the year is a very busy time for us all, especially so this year because of our increased student numbers. Do please bear with us for the opening ten days of term while our subject option groups in Grades 9 to 12 are settling.

There are several important issues to which the school would like to draw your attention. Please note these points carefully. They will be amplified when we convene our first presentation meetings further into term.

New ‘INTERNATIONAL’ STATUS FOR M.P.S.                          ‘International’ status has been officially conferred on M.P.S. by the Ministry of Education and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry respectively, so that now M.P.S. moves forward into its latest exciting phase of development under the acronym M.I.S. [Muscat International School]. The change in status of the school has been envisaged for several months, but it is largely due to the efforts of the Chairman of the School Board, Mr Sa’id bin Ali Al-Kadi, that this change has been approved.

Cambridge International Primary Programme [CIPP]             In its policy drive towards providing Omani and expatriate students with the most pertinent and up-to-date educational package, Muscat International School [M.I.S.], already a centre for Cambridge University ‘A’ level, I.G.C.S.E. and Checkpoint testing, has now extended its affiliation with the same University by being approved as a centre for the Cambridge International Primary Programme.

The installation of the new Cambridge International Primary Programme is an excellent development for the long-term future of the students of the school. It is a programme based on the national curriculum in England, but is culturally sensitive, relevant internationally and can blend with other curricula. Top-quality teaching and assessment resources are available to everyone involved in the course, and one distinct advantage of the programme is that it assesses Grade 1 to 6 students comparatively against both external benchmarks and the standards of other similar international schools worldwide. The focus of this assessment is not just on student achievement, but on the close analysis of each child’s performance.

M.I.S., to use the new acronym, is now poised for establishing the new C.I.P.P. and is looking forward to presenting the programme to you, our parent community as the new school year gets under way. Please expect a letter inviting you to that presentation soon.

New Staff                                              We wish all of our new colleagues just joining us for the start of term a long and happy stint at M.I.S.  Dr Andre’ Nel continues to co-ordinate the Secondary Section, assisted by Mr Iyad Abu-er-Rub and Mrs Wendy Lennon the Primary Section, assisted by Mr Waleed Naccash.

External Examination Results               Students, parents and teachers from the Muscat International School community are to be especially congratulated this year on the release of their IGCSE / ‘O’, AS and ‘A’ level results.

At the IGCSE / ‘O’ level phase, the number of subject entries recorded this year was higher than in all previous years and included a major Omani student participation. At the Grade A / A*, pass rate was also proportionately very high.

With respect to the AS and A2 results, results were even more spectacular, with almost 40% of all grades scored given the grade A classification.   We are particularly pleased to see that the U.K. national average pass rate at both IGCSE / ‘O’ level and AS / A2 levels was far exceeded. Also, the Grade A pass rate in ‘A’ level Maths was again well above the equivalent statistics in U.K. schools.

Such results certainly bode well for the future educational direction of the school. It vindicates the decision made during the last academic year to proceed with an entirely international Cambridge University based curriculum throughout the school from Grade 1 through to IGCSE and ‘A’ level, along with Edexcel board options taken in certain subjects and A level examinations.      We also would like to congratulate all our students and parents for the results of Thanawiyah Amah [our last group taking this exam] for a 100% success.

BUS TRANSPORTATION                       Should you be encountering any difficulties or lateness in the bus scheduling, bear with us please for a few days more. Once the student numbers are settled, we will be able to streamline the system to better efficiency. In the meantime, many thanks for your continued patience.

LATENESS TO SCHOOL                       Rules of punctuality in arriving at school will be much tighter as we progress into term. Please make every effort to support us by having your children arrive at school by 7:25am at the latest, as school regulations indicate. It is imperative that all students are at Assembly for the flag ceremony and important notices that are announced daily.

MOBILE PHONES, iPODs, MP3s            These are absolutely forbidden in school. Please check every day with your children to ensure that they are following the school’s policy on this issue.

SCHOOL UNIFORM                              The day-to-day uniform is available through the school tailor and the sports kit is available through the school.

All students will be expected to have proper uniform and P.E. kit by Wednesday, 13th September 2006 at the latest.

ACTIVITIES                   Please look out for the details of our Activities Programme which will be forwarded to you later in the term.

ORIENTATION / INFORMATION EVENINGS FOR PARENTS

Kindly note that, during the second half of September, our programme of orientation meetings for parents will be set up. I would appreciate your full support at these very important sessions. Specific details of the dates and times of these meetings will be forwarded very soon.

ANNUAL GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PARENT TEACHER ASSOCIATION

The AGA will take place on Tuesday, 12th September, 2006 beginning promptly at 7.30 p.m. in the Theatre.

All parents and teachers of students at M.I.S. are automatically members of the PTA. The purpose of the AGA is to form the 2006-2007 Core Committee by electing or re-electing representatives. Please make every effort to attend. Your contribution is very much encouraged and welcomed.

SCHOOL INFORMATION UPDATE – REMINDER            It would be greatly appreciated if parents could inform us when they change their address or telephone/fax/GSM numbers. This will make it much easier if we need to contact you, particularly in the case of any emergency.

Principal