Today, the 8th of August 2024, marks the conclusion of Term II. We express our gratitude to the Almighty for guiding us through what is typically the most demanding period of the school calendar. Our appreciation extends to all the staff, pupils, and parents for their collective efforts in achieving numerous successes this term. We are thankful to our parents for their unwavering support and consistent presence. Your frequent and substantial presence at the school has not gone unnoticed.
The academic progress of our children this term has been remarkably gratifying, particularly in the enhancement of reading and writing skills. While attention has been focused on developing reading abilities primarily in the lower school sections of both the Cambridge and National curricula, efforts have also been dedicated to addressing challenges faced by pupils in the Upper School with similar needs. Notably, a significant number of children have shown substantial improvement in their examination grades, demonstrating their commitment to reaching their full potential. Term 3 presents an opportune moment for all of them to achieve this. We encourage you to take the time to discuss their progress with them upon receiving their report in order for them to be accountable and to establish targets for Term 3.
The term commenced with the Langford Memorial football tournament, traditionally held every June in honour of Patrick Langford, the former and founding head teacher of Taibah International School, previously known as Junior School. This tournament included both boys' and girls' teams, who featured under teams named after major European footballing countries France, England, Germany and Spain. The event was well-organized, providing many children with the opportunity to showcase their football abilities, in line with our belief of nurturing potential in every child. We extend our gratitude to Teacher Jorvan for the tournament's coordination and to all the teachers involved in managing the teams and games.
The Theme for this term focused on Environmental protection and the imperative of safeguarding Mother Earth. Numerous activities were conducted to underscore the significance of environmental preservation, with a dual objective of educating our children, who represent the current and future generations, about the importance of environmental stewardship, while also raising awareness within the broader community about the environmental challenges we face due to human impact. The Environment Protection Week featured daily presentations by our children to the parents during drop-off and pick-up times, culminating in a successful marathon aimed at promoting environmental awareness among our learners and the wider community. We extend our appreciation to the parents who contributed towards the purchase of kits and the creation of awareness messages for the marathon.
Additionally, we initiated a tree planting campaign, commencing with the planting of trees by our children around the new car park to commemorate the marathon and hopefully kick-start a sustained initiative. Children and parents were provided with seedlings to plant at home. We encourage parents to support their children in ensuring the planting and diligent care of these trees. Our aspiration is for these small actions to have a lasting impact on our children, inspiring them to continue planting trees wherever possible.
The focus of our recent Exposition centred on Environmental Protection, addressing the various ways in which human activities impact the environment, and presenting solutions and alternatives to promote harmony with the natural world. Pupils had the opportunity to engage with a range of topics, including water conservation, tree planting campaigns and others. Our primary objectives for the exposition, which typically involve nurturing our pupils' knowledge and promoting the development of the 5Cs (Confidence, Creativity, Critical thinking, Communication, and Concern for the Community), were complemented by the important message of environmental stewardship. The exposition not only enhanced our students' critical thinking and communication skills but also instilled a sense of responsibility towards environmental conservation. We are proud of them for the hard work, perseverance, and creativity demonstrated throughout the exposition.
The term also included the Acts of Kindness Week, dedicated to reaching out to underprivileged members of our society. Our children contributed to this initiative by visiting various individuals in need, bringing smiles to the faces of those facing adversity. The primary focus of this week was to cultivate our children’s Concern for the Community, instilling the value of kindness and empathy. Recognising the scarcity of kindness in the world today, we believe that nurturing these values from a young age will contribute to a more compassionate and supportive community.
African Day celebration was another significant event aimed at promoting cultural awareness and pride among our children. The day was marked by children dressing in traditional attire and participating in various cultural activities such as dances and quizzes. I extend my sincere appreciation to the teachers and parents who contributed to the success of this event. A special mention goes to Harriz Kafeero for emerging as Mr. Africa 2024 after an engaging quiz competition. Your support in dressing the children appropriately is highly valued, as it contributed to enhancing their cultural understanding and pride.
Our Nursery School’s Sports Day was a compelling demonstration of the children's innocent participation in friendly competition. I commend Tr. Monellah, the Headteacher, and the entire staff for organising a successful sports day. I also thank you our parents for your enthusiastic presence. It's important to note that in our Nursery school, the emphasis is on participation and enjoyment, ensuring that every child is celebrated as a winner.
The Nursery School also recently celebrated Storytelling Week, during which parents were welcomed to share bedtime stories with the children. The ambience was set with children dressed in their pyjamas, eagerly awaiting the enchanting tales from the storytellers. The event brought joy to both the children and the participating adults. We look forward to your future involvement in creating similar memorable experiences with the children.
There will be a trip to Dubai from the 4th to the 9th of December 2024 and another to East Africa. Individuals interested in these trips are encouraged to contact Teacher Umar at 0703461695/0772516366 and Teacher John at 0755028181/0772520172 for details on the Dubai and East Africa trips, respectively. We believe that travel plays a vital role in one's personal growth and educational development. We urge parents who can prioritise their children's exposure and experiences to contact the respective teachers soon. Organising international trips and obtaining necessary permissions require ample time.
We have assigned project work to our children to further reinforce their learning. While we encourage your guidance, we kindly request that you refrain from completing the work on their behalf. The assigned tasks are designed to be doable, with an understanding that they may not be flawless. We seek to promote their individual efforts and the display of their intellectual and practical skills. Each student has been assigned two subjects, to allow for adequate resting.
Term 3 begins on September 10, 2024, for boarding pupils, and September 11, 2024, for day scholars. Given the nature of our academic program, we emphasise the importance of returning your child on the specific start date to avoid missing learning time. Furthermore, we allocate beds on a first-come, first-served basis for boarding pupils. We highly encourage pupils to personally pack their suitcases, as they will be responsible for checking in on the first day. Please ensure all essential boarding necessities are included. We remind pupils to pack appropriate church attire, and for our Muslim children, a Kanzu or Hijab for Juma prayers. It is important to dress appropriately in places of worship.
Thank you once again for your consistent support. May this period offer you an opportunity to impart invaluable knowledge to your children beyond the school curriculum. Take the time to engage with them, understand their development, and perhaps provide constructive feedback upon your return. I pray for good health and prosperity and for the safe return of our children next term.
Wishing you a lovely holiday. May you be blessed abundantly.
Warm regards,
Judith Musisi
Head Teacher
TISP
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