Newsletter April 2015
FROM THE PRINCIPAL
Dear Parents,
As we begin the third term of the Academic Year 2014-15, I would like to thank you once again for the support you have
shown to our school and the keen interest you have shown in your children’s progress. The second term was extremely
busy as usual with a number of whole-school events and a variety of educational excursions taking place.
As most of you are now aware, in early March the school was visited by a team of accreditors from Penta International,
one of the leading independent providers of inspection services in the United Kingdom and overseas, who carried out a
thorough inspection of the school. The team was to assess our performance against an internationally agreed set of
criteria and to determine whether we met the standards for full accreditation with the “British Schools in the Middle
East” organization.
I am delighted and proud to report that the team has recommended to the BSME Executive Committee that Muscat
International School does meet the accreditation requirements. Consequently we now take our place as a fully
accredited member of British Schools in the Middle East.
Among the list of what the school does well, there were the following observations:
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Relationships between students and between students and teachers are highly positive
The behaviour of students is good in both lessons and during less formal activities
The day-to-day management of the school is effective and provides a calm learning environment
External examination results at the end of Key Stage 4 and 5 are a strength
Parents feel that the school is a positive influence in the development of their sons’ / daughters’ academic and
personal lives
During the three-day accreditation visit, 50 full or part lessons were observed, school documentation and policies were
analysed, students’ workbooks were scrutinised, and discussions, both formal and informal, were held with the
Chairman, senior staff, middle managers and a range of teachers and groups across all phases. Groups of parents were
also asked for their views on the school.
I would like to take this opportunity of thanking everyone involved in the accreditation process for their excellent
contribution.
I hope you enjoy reading the following summaries of the events which took place across the school last term and I look
forward to seeing you at the various parents’ evenings, award ceremonies, and graduations which are planned for the
coming months.
Regards,
Brian McCormack
Principal
NEWS FROM SECONDARY
Like all other terms, Term 2 has been incredibly busy and fulfilling. Without a doubt, one of the biggest changes has
been the completion of the green field which has changed the physical and metaphysical landscape of the school. To be
able to hold this year’s Charity Carnival on the AstroTurf was superb and as has been noted by many people, it resulted
in one of the most successful, cleanest and enjoyable carnivals for a long time. It seemed more orderly and perhaps the
banning of silly string had something to do with that.
Recently we celebrated the Sultan’s return in style and I have to thank the Arabic department for putting together such
a colourful pageant in such a short time. Before that, we had International Day and this year we were able to hold a
parade of over 54 nationalities on the Astroturf. Afterwards, there was a plethora of food from many countries which
was enjoyed by the student body during the breaks. A big thank you to all parents who contributed both to the Charity
Carnival and to International Day, this is much appreciated. I have also been greatly impressed by the leadership of the
prefect body who have contributed and been proactive and central in the organization of events, continuing their fine
work from Term 1. I think they have been absolutely brilliant.
I should also like to acknowledge the work of the PE department for putting on excellent Sports Days. This year we had
over 85% of students participating in the Secondary Sports Day and there was a wonderful competitive spirit and
atmosphere between the Houses. It was very, very close this year with Jabrin (the Red House) just piping Masirah (the
Green House) by a mere 10 points. Jabrin has won Sports Day twice in a row. The comportment and enthusiasm of the
student body was excellent.
Numerous sporting events have taken place this term as part of the Muscat Schools' Sports League. Girls and boys
football tournaments, basketball tournaments, athletics meets, swimming meets. GCSE P.E. students have benefited
from a moderation day for the first time, allowing them to demonstrate their practical ability to an examiner in person,
showing their true capabilities.
Overall, the House competition continues with points being gained for academic achievement, good work, good
behaviour and enthusiasm shown by students. I believe that so far Buraimi (the Blue House) is currently leading overall.
There is still a long way to go, and with one full term, any of the four Houses could be the winning House this year. I
also draw your attention to special mentions in Creative Arts. Majid Al Shamsi grade 8A for his landscape project and
Ayman Al Harthy experimentation in his art work. Meanwhile in Drama, the following are to be commended: Azher Al
Habsi 8A, Joanna Fullerton 8B, Rishika Singh 8B, Ghada Al Yaqoobi 8B, Sabrina Abdalla 8B, Hafsa Siddiqui 8C, Nusaybah
Saeed 8C, Renee Roch 8C for commitment and emerging talent in the duologue assignment.
Finally, I want to say thank you to the teachers and the administrative staff for all their hard work, for their commitment
and for their continuing professional and caring approach, something which was mentioned by the BSME inspectors who
visited the school recently. The inspectors observed many teachers and judged the majority of Secondary teaching to
be good to excellent. I am both thankful and proud of this achievement.
I look forward to Term 3 and to supporting the students during exam time. I ask for the help of all parents to ensure
that students are doing their homework – please check their diaries and make sure that if they have finished their
homework that they are revising and going over their work. For the Grade 10s onwards, if students are not doing 2-3
hours a night, this may not be sufficient to pass the exams. Thank you greatly for your cooperation.
Best wishes,
Stefano Piumatti
Head of Secondary
NEWS FROM PRIMARY
The year has been flying by and our students have been working hard in classrooms to make the most of their learning
opportunities. At MIS we are very fortunate to have highly motivated teachers and the resources that allow us to offer
trips and events in each unit of study. During the course of the year you can expect to see each class involved in a wide
range of experiences outside the classroom where the teachers have brought learning to life through carefully planned
and organised events. I hope you enjoy the Key Stage information below on their Term 2 highlights and an outline of
some events students can look forward to during Term 3.
Steve Coventry
Head of Section
Key Stage 1 – Grades 1 and 2
Key Stage One has had a super second term and both students and teachers have worked incredibly hard! The students
are settled into their school routines and continue to be enthusiastic learners. They are growing in independence and
confidence. The students were very excited to be able to use the newly renovated Greenfield and are enjoying
practising their football skills during break-time.
Grade 1’s unit on Fairytales ended with a Fairy Tale Ball attended by parents, who were dazzled by the dances and song
performed by each class.
During The Giant’s Garden unit the students were very surprised to receive a letter from The Giant and were able to use
their letter writing skills to send a reply.
Grade 1 students have also been amazing artists this term. They painted their own versions of Sunflowers by Vincent
Van Gogh and created beautifully detailed observational drawings.
Grade 2’s unit on Minibeasts saw them learning all about insects and the students were excited to find lots of bugs and
grubs around school. Grade 2 enjoyed a trip to Qurum Park where their learning was brought to life as they explored
the habitat and found all sorts of creepy crawlies! The corridors were filled with beautiful displays of the symmetry
work Grade 2 had completed in Maths. Grade 2 have built on their writing skills and written super stories!
Both Grade 1 and 2 teachers are very proud of all the hard work and effort this term. Well done Key Stage One!
Key Stage 2a – Grades 3 and 4
In Grade 3, the children were able to reflect on their studies of the unit, Home Sweet Home, when they visited Bait Al
Zubair museum on the 11th March, 2015. They were also very privileged guests at the first public day viewing of the art
exhibition which was being held there- The Colours of Cobra Art exhibition. The exhibition highlighted a group of artists
who had celebrated children’s art in its own right as well as indigenous art. The children were involved in activities
which held their interest and nurtured an appreciation of art forms.
Field trips were an important part of this term’s work across the Key Stage.
Grade 3 were involved in a Scavenger hunt at Shatti beach on the 25th March, 2015 – exploring ecosystems. This
culminated with a sand sculpture competition making the day a fitting celebration of their studies in the Unit, Under The
Sea.
Grade 4 were involved in a series of four exciting field trips, in the unit Rock On, which involved them in the study of the
geomorphology and shaping of Muscat. They visited Muttrah Geo trek, Wadi Mayh, Wadi Khawd, Bawsha Marble and Al
Awabi. They recorded their findings and reports on their iPods and were able to talk at great length about rock finds and
how Muscat had been shaped from 90 million years ago.
The highlight for Grade 4, this year, was the overnight field trip to Ras Al Jinz beach. This new unit, Prehistoric Culture
and Technology, allowed the children to make links with the previous unit as they explored the uses of rocks in the
locality. At the Stone Age settlement, the children found flint stone and evidence of prehistoric technology such as fish
hooks. They were able to understand first-hand how flint naturally shatters into sharp blades used for weapons.
A return visit to Wadi Khawd offered the opportunity to explore technology further. Here the children built a tepee for a
fire that could cook and smoke meat at the same time and also discovered how water was heated with stones from a
fire.
All areas of the curriculum were enriched by first hand experiences and the ultimate proof of understanding was where
the children were able to make critical links in their learning when reading two novels – Maroo of the Winter Cave and
Cave Boy and the Age Of Stone.
Key Stage 2B – Grades 5 and 6
Term 2 for grade 6 started with the Tour of Oman report writing unit. The students learnt about the sport of cycling and
Mr. Ben’s obsession with Le Velo! Children in Grade 6 researched a rider. The students went to watch the finish of
stage 2 in Al Bustan and cheered their favourite riders. The cyclists and teams were happy to be interviewed and signed
autographs, gave high fives and in many cases bidons, caps and musettes. Muscat International school students were
seen live around the world on various highlight packages of the race. The students returned to school and wrote
newspaper articles about the race.
Grade 5 studied the novel Kensuke’s Kingdom about a boy shipwrecked on a deserted island. To support this unit the
students went on the trip of a lifetime to the Damaniyat Islands. Grade 5 students enjoyed swimming, snorkeling and
exploring the island. To finish the term, Grade 5 held a whole day DT project on robots. The teachers were very
impressed by the materials the students prepared and the team effort of the groups on the day. The outstanding results
are on display in the corridor outside Grade 5.
Term 3 is already full of activities which include Student-led conferences and Science Fair. Grade 6 can look forward to
ending their time in Primary with a 3 week project and the Grade 6 Dinner.
Primary Arabic
. ‫ﻣﻥ ﺩﺍﺋﺭﺓ ﺍﻟﻠﻐﺔ ﺍﻟﻌﺭﺑﻳﺔ ﺑﺎﻟﻣﺭﺣﻠﺔ ﺍﻻﺑﺗﺩﺍﺋﻳﺔ‬
‫ﺍﻟﻣﻘﺭﺭ‬
‫ﺍﻟﻣﻘﺭﺭﺓ ؛ ﻗﺻﺩ ﺇﺗﻣﺎﻡ ﺗﻘﺩﻳﻡ ﺍﻟﻣﻧﻬﺎﺝ‬
‫ﻲ ﺗﻘﺩﻳﻡ ﺍﻟﺩﺭﻭﺱ‬
‫ﺍﻟﺣﺎﻟ‬
‫ﻲ‬
‫ﺍﻟﺩﺭﺍﺳ‬
‫ﺍﻟﻌﺎﻡ‬
‫ﻣﻥ‬
‫ﺍﻟﺛﺎﻧﻳﺔ‬
‫ﺍﻟﻔﺗﺭﺓ‬
‫ﺧﻼﻝ‬
‫ﺍﻟﻌﺭﺑﻳﺔ‬
‫ﻭﺍﺻﻝ ﺍﻟﺯﻣﻼء ﻣﻌﻠﻣﻭ ﺩﺍﺋﺭﺓ ﺍﻟﻠﻐﺔ‬
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ّ
ّ
ّ
‫ ﻛﻣﺎ ﺃﻧﻬﻡ‬. ‫ ﻣﺭﺍﻋﻳﻥ ﺗﻘﺩﻳﻡ ﺍﻷﻧﺷﻁﺔ ﺍﻟﺻﻔﻳﺔ ﻭﺍﻟﻭﺍﺟﺑﺎﺕ ﺍﻟﻣﻧﺯﻟﻳﺔ ﺍﻟﺗﻲ ﻣﻥ ﺷﺄﻧﻬﺎ ﺗﺛﺑﻳﺕ ﺍﻟﻣﻌﻠﻭﻣﺎﺕ ﺍﻟﻣﻘﺩ ّﻣﺔ ﻟﻠﺗﻠﻣﻳﺫ‬، ‫ﻣﻥ ﻁﺭﻑ ﻭﺯﺍﺭﺓ ﺍﻟﺗﺭﺑﻳﺔ ﻭﺍﻟﺗﻌﻠﻳﻡ‬
‫ﻟﻡ ﻳﺗﻭﺍﻧﻭﺍ ﻓﻲ ﺗﻘﺩﻳﻡ ﺍﻷﻧﺷﻁﺔ ﺍﻟﻼﺻﻔﻳﺔ ﺍﻟﺗﻲ ﻣﻥ ﺷﺄﻧﻬﺎ ﺍﻟﻌﻣﻝ ﻋﻠﻰ ﺭﺑﻁﻪ ﺑﺎﻟﻣﻧﺎﺳﺑﺎﺕ ﺍﻟﺩﻳﻧﻳﺔ ﻛﺈﺣﻳﺎء ﺫﻛﺭﻯ ﺍﻟﻣﻭﻟﺩ ﺍﻟﻧﺑﻭﻱ ﺍﻟﺷﺭﻳﻑ ﺑﻛﻠﻣﺎﺕ ﻭﻗﺻﺎﺋﺩ‬
‫ ﻭﺍﻟﻳﻭﻡ ﺍﻟﻌﺎﻟﻣﻲ ﺍﻟﺫﻱ ﻧﻅّﻡ ﺑﺎﻟﻣﺩﺭﺳﺔ ﻗﺻﺩ ﺇﻁﻼﻉ ﺍﻟﻁﻼﺏ ﻋﻠﻰ ﻋﺎﺩﺍﺕ ﻭﺗﻘﺎﻟﻳﺩ ﻭﺗﺎﺭﻳﺦ‬، (‫ﻭﺃﻧﺎﺷﻳﺩ ﺗﻣﺟّﺩ ﺻﺎﺣﺏ ﺍﻟﺫﻛﺭﻯ ﺑﻐﻳﺔ ﺍﻻﻗﺗﺩﺍء ﺑﺳﻧّﺗﻪ )ﺹ‬
‫ ﻭﻋﻳﺩ ﺍﻷﻡ ﺍﻟﺫﻱ ﺑﻪ ﻳﺭﻛّﺯﻭﻥ ﻋﻠﻰ ﺗﻛﺭﻳﻡ ﺍﻹﺳﻼﻡ‬، ‫ ﻭﺍﻟﻳﻭﻡ ﺍﻟﻌﺎﻟﻣﻲ ﻟﻠﻣﺭﺃﺓ‬، ‫ﺷﻌﻭﺏ ﺍﻟﺑﻠﺩﺍﻥ ﺍﻷﺧﺭﻯ ﻣﻊ ﺍﻟﺗﻌﺭﻑ ﻋﻠﻰ ﺍﻟﻁﺑﻳﻌﺔ ﺍﻟﺟﻐﺭﺍﻓﻳﺔ ﻟﺗﻠﻙ ﺍﻟﺩﻭﻝ‬
‫ ﻭﻏﻳﺭﻫﺎ ﻣﻥ ﺍﻷﻧﺷﻁﺔ ﺍﻟﺗﻲ ﺗﻘﻭﻡ ﺑﻬﺎ ﺍﻟﻣﺩﺭﺳﺔ ﻛﺎﻻﺣﺗﻔﺎﻝ ﺑﻌﻭﺩﺓ ﺻﺎﺣﺏ ﺍﻟﺟﻼﻟﺔ‬، ‫ ﺇﺿﺎﻓﺔ ﺇﻟﻰ ﻣﺷﺎﺭﻛﺗﻬﻡ ﺍﻟﻁﻼﺏ ﻓﻲ ﺭﺣﻼﺗﻬﻡ ﺍﻟﺗﻌﻠﻳﻣﻳﺔ‬، ‫ﻟﻸﻡ‬
. K ‫ ﺳﻠﻳﻣﺎ ﻣﻌﺎﻓﻰ ﻭﺍﻟﺣﻣﺩ‬- ‫ ﺣﻔﻅﻪ ﷲ‬- ‫ﺍﻟﺳﻠﻁﺎﻥ ﻗﺎﺑﻭﺱ‬
NEWS FROM KG
The children have had a very busy few months and are no doubt in need of a good rest!
We have enjoyed two trips this year – our latest to Marah Land beside Qurm Park, which proved to be very popular with
the children as well as the staff.
This term the children will be learning about people in the community who help us. We are hoping to get a visit to a
police or a fire station arranged and we will give you more information about this nearer the time.
The KG children will begin to use the splash pool as part of our Physical Education Programme this term. This allows
your child to develop their confidence around water and provides them with the information to keep them safe during
swimming activities. Your child’s class teacher will send you details of this: what day it will be and what to bring with
them.
The children in KG2 will also begin rehearsing for their Graduation Assembly.
I would again like to thank all parents for the ongoing support we receive from you in the KG Department.
Your children have worked extremely hard this term and have been displaying excellent behaviour.
Hazel McCourt
KG Coordinator
IMPORTANT DATES
Thur 30th April
2nd May
3rd to 7th May
Sun 3rd May
Sun 10th May
Tue 26th May
Wed 3rd June
Thurs 4th June
Thurs 4th June
Mon 8th June
Tue 9th June
Tues 16th June
Thur 25th June
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Re-Registration Deadline and notification of withdrawal
Placement Evaluations for New Students
Primary Science Week
Study Leave for Grades 10/11 AS begins
Study Leave for Grade 12 begins
Senior Graduation - evening
KG Graduation – evening. Last day for all KG students.
Awards Ceremonies – Primary 1-3 and 4-6
Last day for G1 to Grade 6 students
Awards Ceremony – Grades 7-9 and 11 GED Periods 6 and 7
Internal Exams begin
Grades 7-9 and 11 GED students leave [or after their last exam]
Final Reports Issued
2015-2016 year
Sun 30th August
Tue 1st Sept
-
Grades 10, 11 and 12 students return to school
Grades KG to G9 student return to school