Week 5 Term 4 2025

Weekly Newsletter

Principal: Greg Neville

Deputy Principal: Daniel Lyng

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, 

This week the IEA held the final Principal’s meeting of the academic year at the IEA Head Quarters in Port Moresby. The focus of the meeting is for reflection and a look forwards to the IEA 50th Anniversary Celebrations next year.

We are now over halfway through the term. It has been a busy and engaging term so far, and as we move forwards into week 6 we have many events planned to look forward to including the Primary Disco and Whole School Christmas Market Day. 

I want to thank the Grade 5 and 6 teachers who this week have worked tirelessly to plan and make the STEM Sleepover a success. It is clear the students have had a creative experience filled with innovation. We extend a special message of thanks to them.

Next week we have our annual school camps for Year 9 and 11, Group A Year 9 will be traveling to Cairns and we look forward to hearing about their experiences as the week progresses. A selection of Year 11 students will be traveling to the New Guinea Islands to experience the Marine Biology centre and the WW2 relics.

In the secondary next week we have a Careers Week planned for all Year 10 students and students from Year 9 and 11 not attending the school camps. This is a great opportunity for students to be inspired and to begin thinking about their chosen career paths and tertiary education choices.

Next week, Mr Lyng, Ms Ignas, and I will be supervising the two camps for Year 9 and 11. In my absence, Mr Winas will be acting Principal across both campuses, he will be happy to assist with any needs should they arise. Lessons in primary and secondary continue as normal as teachers continue to complete their final units and assessments for 2025 over the coming weeks.

Many thanks

Mr Gregory  Neville

Principal 

Lae International School

Parent School Access Cards

In the interest of health and safety we are introducing a new school parent access card (example in picture). All parents need to collect their card from the school office in primary or secondary. This card will need to be presented if you want to enter the school campus at any time, including pick up and drop off.

Steps on how to create an Audiri account


Download

Deputy Principal's Notices

Grade 5/6 Sleepover:

Our yearly Grade 5/6 sleepover continued this week with the students completing STEM themed activities today, Friday 31st, and staying over at the secondary campus this evening. This is an opportunity for students to develop their STEM skills and their independence. We thank the Grade 5/6 teachers and the boarding house for supporting this event.

Careers Week and Trips:

Next week our Grade 9 and 11 will be travelling on their school Trips. Our Grade 9 will be the first group to travel to Cairns for an international school trip and our Grade 11 will be travelling to New Guinea Islands for a Leadership trip. We look forward to hearing all about their experiences when they return to school in Week 7. Many thanks to all the administrative staff and teachers that have made these trips possible.

Events upcoming:

We have our final primary disco on Thursday 13th November, more information for this will be shared next week.

Market Day including Monster Raffle scheduled for Saturday 22nd November.

All families have been given a raffle ticket book to sell, the money raised goes towards the P&F committee fund that is responsible for significant improvement projects at the school. Last year the P&F contributed by funding the new music resources for the school. The 1st Major prize of the raffle is a whole pig kindly donated by Pelgens. Andersons have also donated a 500 Kina shopping voucher for our second prize. Many other businesses and parents have donated items towards hampers available to won.

Mobile Phone Policy

As with many other schools around the world LIS has led the way with a zero tolerance on the use of mobile phones in school. This is to ensure our students attention is on learning both socially and academically. All parents are reminded that if student mobile phones are seen on either school campus they will be confiscated by the teacher. Parents will then be asked to come and collect the phone from the school office. Repeat occurrences do result in further behaviour sanctions and longer periods of confiscation. We thank all parents for their support in helping our school to remain a distraction free environment where our students can interact socially with one another and give full focus to strengthening their knowledge and understanding.

School Arrival and Departure Times:

Parents are reminded that school finishes at 3pm on both campuses. Students should only remain past pick up time 3.00pm – 3.15pm in secondary if they are participating in intervention classes or a sports ECA. Students not participating should leave the secondary campus promptly after 3pm.

ECAs finish have now finished in primary. All primary students should be picked up promptly between 3.00pm – 3.15pm. In the rare event of a late pick up, due to unforeseen issues, parents should be contacting the school office to advise them. Students should not be regularly picked up late as the school is unable to provide supervision for them.

The school bus service is available as an option if parents are unable to pick their children up at the required times.

As a reminder to all parents and guardians, supervision of students on the primary campus begins at 7.30am with students able to enter classes from 7.45am. We advise all parents to ensure they do not drop their children off earlier than 7.30am. If students arrive between 7.30am and 7.45am they will be supervised in the hall and need to remain in there seated quietly until they can enter classroom. 

 

LIS Positive Behaviour Policy

Pictured below are copies of the behaviour stages followed by all staff when dealing with negative behaviour. Should parents want a full copy of the school’s positive behaviour policy this is available from the school office at either Primary or Secondary.

Head of Primary Campus Notices

Hello everyone,

Welcome to this week’s edition of Primary News.

PAT Testing

PAT testing have started this week and will continue for the next two weeks. Students from Grade 1 to 4 have now completed their test. If your child will be absent from school during PAT testing week, please ensure to inform class teachers in advance.

Grade 5-6 Sleepover

Our Grade 5 and 6 students will be having their sleepover tonight at the secondary campus. Their Friday at school was focused mainly on STEM learning and activities.  We look forward to seeing exciting captures from their sleepover in our next newsletter.

LIS Way Donation

Our primary student leaders are organizing a charity drive to mark Universal Children’s Day. This initiative promotes the “Child to Child” concept—encouraging students to donate items that can benefit other children in need.

This year, all collected items will be donated to Lae Disability Voice of Hope, a local organization supporting children with disabilities. The goal is to share useful items with children in shelter homes and help make a positive impact.

We kindly ask each family to use the LIS WAy guide to prepare a pack of donation and send with your eldest child to school. The items should be packed in a shoe size box or a gift bag.

Please kindly ensure this is send to school on Monday 17th November. All packs will be wrapped and delivered to the children on Friday 21st November.

Market Day

The school together with P&F will be hosting the annual end of year market day on November 22nd. Tables are now available for sale- K50 for a table. You can come by the Primary office to secure a table. We will also have the monster raffle draw. Families have received a ticket book to sell – K2 a ticket. We have a whole pig donated by Pelgens to win along with other donated prizes which includes, shopping voucher, food hampers, utensils etc. We are still open for any more donation towards the monster raffle draw. The more prizes the better.

 UN Assembly

We’re excited to announce our upcoming UN Assembly in celebration of Universal Children's Day! This special event will take place on Friday, 21st November, and we warmly invite our international family to join us in showcasing the rich cultural diversity that makes LIS so unique.

What to Expect:

  • Each class has been assigned a country to study and represent.
  • Students will explore the traditions, customs, and stories of their chosen nation.
  • Teachers will be sending out notes via email and Audiri with more details.
  • The UN Committee has also sent letters home to inform parents.

How You Can Participate: We encourage families to get involved—whether through cultural dress, food, music, or storytelling. It’s a wonderful opportunity to celebrate our children and the vibrant cultures they bring to our school.

Let’s come together to honor the spirit of unity, diversity, and childhood. We look forward to seeing you there!

Betel-nut on campus

Please be reminded that entering the school grounds with betel-nut in your mouth is strictly prohibited. This is in accordance with our school policy aimed at maintaining a clean, safe, and respectful environment for all. Anyone found entering with betel-nut present in their mouth will be refused entry. We appreciate your cooperation in upholding our community standards.

Hat policy

Students are encouraged to wear their hats at all times when outdoor. Please ensure your child comes with his/her school hat/cap to school every day. Students without hat will not participate in outdoor activities including playtime. Class teachers will reach out to parents of students who are not wearing the correct school hat/cap in school or their child may be without a hat/cap for a number of days. Students who tie their hair are encouraged to tie their hair in a manner where their hair allows the hat/cap to sit nicely on their head.  

Carpark Safety Reminder

To help keep everyone safe, please follow these important carpark rules when entering and exiting the school:

  • Drive slowly — the speed limit is 5 km/h at all times
  • Stop behind the cones — do not drive past them
  • Avoid stopping on the crossing line — keep it clear for pedestrians
  • Be considerate — watch out for other drivers and pedestrians
  • If you’ll be parked for a longer time, please use the parking space under the tree

Your care and attention help make our school a safer place for everyone. Thank you for your support and cooperation!

Looking ahead

  • Week 6 – PAT Testing
  • Week 7 – Swimming Carnival
  • Week 8 – UN & Children Day’s Assembly
  • Week 8 – Market Day and Monster Raffle Draw
  • Week 9 – ELC and preschool moving up ceremony
  • Week 9 – Primary Awards Assembly
  • Week 10 – Christmas Assembly
  • Week 10 – Thursday 4th December is last day of school

Upper Primary Student Handbook

Download

Head of Secondary

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Warm greetings and welcome to this week’s edition of our Secondary Newsletter.

Important Notices and Reminders

Grade 9 and Grade 11 Excursions

This week, our Grade 9 and Grade 11 students are preparing for their respective educational trips. They will be away for one week and are expected to return to school upon completion of their programs. We wish all travelling students and accompanying staff a safe, enjoyable, and enriching experience.

Normal School Operations

While these trips are in progress, normal classes will continue for all other students, including the Grade 10 cohort. Please note that this is not a school holiday, and attendance is expected as usual. We kindly ask all parents and guardians to support us by ensuring their children attend school during this period.

Grade 10 Post-Examination Program – Careers Week

The Lae International School Secondary Campus will host a Careers Week for Grade 10 students from Monday, 3rd November to Friday, 7th November 2025.

This program aims to:

  • Provide students with valuable career education and guidance to help them make informed decisions about their future study pathways.
  • Expose them to a range of professions and industries, highlighting the skills and qualifications required for different roles.
  • Connect students with professionals, parents, and alumni who can share their career journeys and experiences.

We have extended invitations to parents, former students, and local businesses to participate by sharing insights into their educational and professional experiences. Industry representatives are also encouraged to present on their organisation’s mission, values, and structure, helping students understand workplace operations and career opportunities.

Parents or guardians who are interested in contributing to this initiative are warmly invited to confirm their participation by contacting us via one of the following emails:

Your involvement will greatly enhance the learning experience and inspire our students as they plan for their future.

Staying Connected

To remain informed about upcoming events, assessments, and important school announcements, we encourage all parents and guardians to stay connected through the Audiri App, our primary communication platform.

Your continued engagement ensures timely communication and strengthens the partnership between home and school.

Thank you for your ongoing support and partnership throughout Term 4. Your involvement plays a vital role in your child’s academic progress, personal growth, and overall success.

As always, please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or concerns regarding your child’s learning or school matters.

James Winas

Head of Campus

Head of Boarding

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Congratulations to all our grade 12 residents on their graduation! We know how hard they've worked, and now it's time to relax and recharge. To the parents of our year 12 students, thank you for being part of our boarding house family and allowing us to be part of your children’s story.

1.      Events coming Up

  • Saturday 15th November – Angau children’s ward visit

Boarders will visit the children at the children’s ward to present gifts and put a smile on the children’s face

  • Saturday Evening 22nd November – Boarders Carols by candle light

2.      Virtue of the week

In a world that often celebrates loud success and bold self-promotion, humility can feel like a forgotten virtue. But here, within the walls of our boarding house, humility is the quiet thread that binds us together.

This week we have been asking students and staff to interpret what this statement means “Humility isn’t about thinking less of yourself—it’s about thinking of yourself less.

  • Humility is not having low self-esteem but reducing self-obsession
  • It’s a shift from self to focus on others and the world

Staying at boarding house involves living together means navigating differences. Humility helps us:

  • Accept feedback without defensiveness
  • Apologize sincerely when we’ve made a mistake
  • Celebrate others’ achievements without envy
  • Offer help without expecting recognition

When we practice humility, we make space for others to shine—and in doing so, we shine too

3.      Reminders

For students in year 9 and 11 who will not be travelling with the groups, normal school program applies during school and normal boarding program also apply at boarding after class and on weekends.

4.      Safety reminders when authorizing leave from boarding house?

Parents may take their child on leave from boarding house however it is an expectation that students attend classes for the duration of the term. Signing out during the school week will not be entertained as we have ongoing programs at school that students must remain on campus to attend. A days’ notice of an intention to go on weekend leave is requested to assist with planning.

Often a boarder would call the parents to approve a host to sign them out for the weekend. Kindly consider the following for the boarder’s safety.

  • Have you contacted the host to confirm permission from their end and their willingness to take on responsibility for the boarder?
  • Do you know of the activity they will be taking part in?
  • Do you approve of the location they will be in?

Once you give your approval, the host will be required to comply with the following conditions

  • The host agree to be responsible for the whereabouts of the student at all time
  • The host agrees to contact boarding house should there be changes to details on the leave request
  • The host agree to ensure safety and wellbeing of the boarder
  • The host agree to return the boarder in person on the agreed time to the boarding house

 

With warmth and gratitude,

The Boarding House Team

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

Academic Assessment Policy

Download

2025 Lae International School Fee 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 / FB and Instagram pages. Student images will continue to be used 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