Week 7 Term 1 2026

Weekly Newsletter

Principal: Greg Neville

Deputy Principal: Stephen Sowter

Head of Primary Campus: Vanessa Ignas

Head of Secondary Campus: James Winas

Head of Boarding: John Kalenda

Message from the Principal

Dear Parents and Carers,

I am pleased to share that Mr. Neal Mather, CEO of the IEA, has formally endorsed and established the Lae International School Board of Governors. This is an important milestone for our school community, ensuring strong governance and continued support for our vision of excellence in education. The Board brings together dedicated individuals who will work alongside us to guide the school’s future direction and uphold the values we stand for.

2026 Lae International School Board of Governors

  • Donna Aisi Chair
  • Herman Kunsei Deputy Chair
  • Gregory Neville Principal
  • Kaire Kemung Teacher Rep
  • IEA Rep TBC
  • Carmellina Amol Member
  • Mikal Nolan Member
  • Gemma King Member
  • Annastacia Karoto Member
  • Diandrah Rosso Member

I would also like to remind families of an important matter concerning student conduct. Students are not permitted to post on social media while in school uniform or on school premises. Additionally, we ask parents to actively monitor the types of social media groups their children are accessing on WhatsApp and similar platforms.

Bringing the school’s good name into disrepute—even outside of school—will be treated as a serious matter and addressed through our discipline procedures. We rely on your partnership to reinforce these expectations at home, ensuring that our students represent themselves and the school with pride and responsibility.

Thank you for your continued support in nurturing a safe, respectful, and positive learning environment for all.

Success Starts Here!

Mr Gregory  Neville

Principal 

Lae International School

Deputy Principal's Notices

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Creating Foundations for Excellence

As we move further into the assessment phase of the term, it’s important that students have strong, positive study routines in place. The best way to beat procrastination is through consistent habits, such as:

  • setting up a suitable study space
  • putting phones away; if phones are proving too tempting, there are apps that can lock them down for set periods
  • spending focused time each day on each subject

A small amount of intense, distraction‑free work is one of the most effective ways to build real understanding and long‑term memory. Please encourage your child to schedule assessment work in their diary and stick to those times.

Study Methods

It’s essential that students choose the right study methods. Re‑reading isn’t enough. Students need to actively work with the information by creating their own summaries, concept maps, or other ways of manipulating ideas. Each student is unique, so it’s important they find methods that genuinely work for them.

Seeking Assistance

When students need help, they should ask early rather than in the final hours before something is due. Teachers want to see their students succeed and are always happy to help; however, if students leave it too late, even the best support can’t work miracles.

Effort

Most importantly, learning is embodied; it’s something each student must do for themselves. Just like fitness, strength, and flexibility, improvement comes from effort—and effort can be hard. As parents and carers, our encouragement helps students push through challenges and strive for their personal best, remembering that learning isn’t passive; it’s dynamic and deeply rewarding.

We thank all parents and carers for everything you do in supporting your child to build a foundation for success. As the term progresses, students will naturally become tired. Learning is difficult, and while we want to push them to reach their full potential, we also need to keep encouraging them, giving them a gentle nudge when needed, and acknowledging their efforts.

Kind regards,

Mr Stephen Sowter

Deputy Principal 

Lae International School

 

Food Brought to School

The Senior Leadership Team has reviewed our food policy to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all students. Please note the following guidelines:

  • Food brought by students must not be shared among classmates. Students should only consume the food packed for them by their parents or guardians.
  • Parents are not permitted to bring any food for class events other than a birthday cake or cupcakes.
  • Next week, parents of each primary campus class will receive a permission slip via the Audiri App asking them to give consent for their child to participate in eating cake at birthday celebrations throughout the year. Secondary students are presumed mature enough to manage this without permission slips.
  • Chewing gum, lollies, soft drinks, and chips are not permitted in student lunches.
  • School fundraising events selling a variety of treats will continue as planned. 

These measures are in place due to dietary and allergy restrictions and to promote healthy eating habits across our school community.

Thank you for your cooperation and support in maintaining a safe and healthy environment for all students.

Safety in School Carparks

Recently, there have been several instances of unsafe driving in the school carparks. As the safety of our children is paramount, please take note of the following guidelines:

  • No taxis are allowed in the carpark unless prior notification has been given to the school.
  • The speed limit is strictly 5 km/h.
  • Please follow the directions of carpark attendants and security officers.
  • Park only in designated parking areas. Do not park on the side if already full, as this blocks traffic and creates bottlenecks.
  • Parking or idling in the middle of roadways for drop-off or pick-up is not allowed. Please use the designated areas.
  • Take extra caution during pick-up and drop-off times, as there are many small children moving through the carpark.

Thank you for your cooperation in keeping our school environment safe.

Uniform Shop Update


We’re happy to let you know that the school uniform shop has been fully restocked. All standard items, including hats, are now available for purchase.

Thank you for your patience and continued support while we awaited new stock.

Parent School Access Cards

Parent School Access Cards

In the interest of health and safety, we are introducing a new Parent School Access Card (see example in the picture). All parents are required to collect their card from the school office in either Primary or Secondary.

This card must be presented whenever you wish to enter the school campus, including during pick-up and drop-off times.

Steps on how to create an Audiri account


Download

LIS Positive Behaviour Policy

Displayed below are copies of the behaviour stages implemented by all staff when responding to instances of negative behaviour. Parents who wish to obtain a complete copy of the school’s Positive Behaviour Policy may request one from the school office, located in either the Primary or Secondary campus.

Head of Primary Campus Notices

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

PE lesson update

We have successfully completed swimming lessons for this term, and next week our focus in PE will shift to field sports, particularly track events, as we prepare for the Athletics Carnival in Term 2.

Parent-Teacher Conference

On Monday, you should have received a Parent–Teacher Conference letter from your child’s teacher. Please ensure this form is completed and returned. If you have not received one, kindly speak directly with your child’s teacher.

Assembly

Grade 2LT hosted a wonderful learning assembly on Friday, showcasing their achievements in class. Congratulations to all students who received awards for following our Steps to Success and for applying problem-solving skills in their learning interactions at school.

Year 8 Mock Examinations 

Next week, our Grade 8 students will sit for their first mock examination. Please ensure your child in Grade 8 arrives at school by 8:15 a.m., ready to begin their test.

Steps to Success – Weekly Focus

At LIS, we are committed to nurturing the values and skills that help our students grow both academically and personally. Each week, our Steps to Success program highlights a key focus area to guide learning and behaviour across the school.

This week and next week, our focus is on Problem Solving. Students are encouraged to display problem solving skills and strategies in both their learning and their friendships. This means thinking carefully about how they behave, how they speak to others, and how they approach challenges.

Spelling focus

This week, the focus letter sound is “d dd (duck  paddle)”, and your child should have brought home a list of words on Monday to practice at home. Please take a moment to check in with your child to ensure they have their spelling words and are working with them regularly.

Looking ahead to next week:

  • Grades 1–6 will focus on the letter sound “d dd”.
  • Prep will continue with their High Frequency Words (HFW).

Grades 7–8 will work with their assigned spelling word lists. We appreciate your support in encouraging consistent practice at home, as this greatly reinforces the learning taking place in the classroom.

School Gate Access & Supervision

  • Please note: access to the school grounds will only be granted upon presentation of your parent access card.
  • The school gate opens at 7:30am for students to enter.
  • There is no supervision before 7:30am. Students must wait with their parents until the gate opens.

Looking ahead

  • Week 8 – Grade 8 First Mock Exam
  • Week 8 – End of Afterschool ECA
  • Week 9 – Parent – Teacher conferencing
  • Week 10 – Last Day of School – Friday 27th March

Upper Primary Student Handbook

Download

Lae Amateur Swim Club

Dear Parents,

We are delighted to announce our partnership with the Lae Amateur Swim Club, a wonderful organisation dedicated to providing quality coaching. As part of this collaboration, the school is proud to provide access to our pools for the club’s training sessions. We strongly encourage more students to get involved and take advantage of this excellent opportunity to develop their skills and confidence in the water.

Please see the attached flyers for more information.

Head of Secondary Campus Notices

Secondary News – This Week

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Welcome to this week’s Secondary update. Please see the key reminders and notices below. 

Student Use of Private Vehicles

This notice outlines the school’s policy regarding senior students driving private vehicles to and from school.

In line with our commitment to student safety and safeguarding, the following requirements apply to all students who wish to bring vehicles onto school grounds:

  • Parents/carers must provide written permission authorising their child to drive a private vehicle to school.
  • Students with parental consent must submit a copy of their valid driver’s licence to the school office.
  • Parents/carers must provide the names of any other students permitted to travel in the same vehicle.
  • No additional students may travel in the vehicle unless explicit consent has been provided by the parents/carers of both the driver and the passenger.

    • We kindly request your full cooperation in adhering to these requirements, which are essential to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of all students. This policy forms an important part of the school’s safeguarding procedures.

    Grade 9 Cairns Trip

    Important information and documentation regarding the Grade 9 trip to Cairns have been shared via email and the Audiri App last week. This trip provides valuable external learning experiences and is scheduled for Monday, 9 November to Saturday, 14 November.

    Key information:

    • Trip cost: K7,000 (includes flights, accommodation, excursions, and meals). Payments may be made in instalments between February and May.
    • Permission slip: Confirms participation and passport status.
    • Medical consent form: Mandatory for participation (student details, emergency contacts, health information).
    • Health requirements: Students with conditions such as asthma or allergies must provide a written healthcare plan from a doctor. Required medication must be supplied; failure to do so will result in exclusion from the trip.

    Deadline: Please return all completed forms to your child’s homeroom teacher by Friday, 13 March.

     

    Grade 11 New Island Trip

    It has been a fantastic start to the year and we are pleased to welcome back our continuing students from Grade 10 2025 and the new students that have joined the LIS community this academic year.

     As per our correspondence last year we have been planning the Grade 11 trip to Port Moresby and the New Ireland Province. This trip has an approximate cost of 3500 Kina, throughout this year Grade 11 students will have the opportunity for fundraising to reduce the overall cost per student. The cost of the trip will be inclusive of flights, accommodation, organised trips, and daily meals.

     The trip to Port Moresby and the New Ireland Province will offer our Grade 11 students the opportunity for memorable external learning experiences on both the scientific, business and humanities strand of the curriculum. Should parents wish to cover the cost of the trip in instalments the school office is able to arrange this and provide further details. The trip is scheduled for Week 9, Term 3, with a tentative date set for departure on Monday 31st August to Saturday 5th September.

     We ask all parents to fill in the Port Moresby and New Ireland Province trip reply slip indicating whether or not your child will be participating. These should be returned to your homeroom teacher by Friday 13h March.

     Thank you all for your support.

    Stay Connected with the Audiri App

    The school has officially launched the Audiri App, a digital platform designed to strengthen communication with our school community.

    This initiative reflects our commitment to timely, accessible, and streamlined communication.

    Key features:

    • Instant notifications and alerts
    • Integrated school calendar
    • Digital notices and forms
    • Direct communication channels with staff

    We strongly encourage all parents and guardians to download and join the school’s Audiri App at their earliest convenience. This platform is our primary communication channel for important updates and information.

    If you require assistance with installation or use, please contact the school office. Thank you for your continued support as we enhance our communication processes.

    Finally, this term promises to be both dynamic and productive. Your ongoing partnership with the school is vital in ensuring a positive and successful learning experience for all students.

    As always, please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions or concerns regarding your child’s learning or school life.

    Kind regards,

    James Winas Head of Secondary

    Steps to create an Audiri account


    Download

    Safety Guidelines for Authorising Boarding House Leave


    Download

    Lower Secondary Student Handbook

    Download

    Upper Secondary Student Handbook

    Download

    Join our Social groups

    Uniform Price List

    Uniform Requirements


    Download

    Homework Policy

    Download

    Student Photographs

    There are many photo opportunities at our school and student images are often used in publications, such as the Newsletter, and displayed online through the school website / Facebook and Instagram pages. Student images will continue to be featured in the Newsletter, website and other media this year. If you do not wish photos of your child to be displayed through any form of print or digital media, please advise the office.

    This week in pictures!

    Facility Hire