Dear Parents and Caregivers,

Communication

At Lihir International School, we encourage parents and carers to communicate regularly with class teachers regarding their children's schooling. Please raise any concerns with the class teacher in the first instance.  Parents, carers and the community are also encouraged to approach the principal if they wish to discuss any matter regarding their children's education or Lihir International School. The whole school staff are committed to working with parents/carers and the wider community for the best outcomes for all the students at LIS. For more serious matters, please follow the steps outlined in the school's Grievance Procedure outlined in the link below.

School Council Meeting

Our first School Council meeting for 2025 will be held on Thursday 20 March from 6:00pm.

Parent / Teacher Interviews

Parent / Teacher interviews for all classes from Prep to Year 10 will be held between 3pm and 6pm on Monday the 31 March and Tuesday 1 April. Parents can make bookings from Monday of Week 9 by either emailing, phoning or texting Mrs Exzil or coming into the school office. Parents will be advised when they can make bookings. Mrs Collins will advise Kindy parents of interview times.

Dentist Visit

On Tuesday 18 March we will be having a visit from one of the dentists from Lihir Medical Centre. This is a great opportunity for our students to learn more about oral hygiene and the importance of practicing oral hygiene. 

Grade 9 Camp

In Week 9 of this term our Grade 9 students will be attending the annual Grade 9 Camp to Port Moresby. This Camp is a time build friendships and leadership skills, especially with our new Lihirian Scholarship students and other students new to the cohort. The camp will include visits to Parliament House Tour, National Museum and Art Gallery Visit, Port Moresby Nature Park and a visit to Tutu Beach Retreat (Dame Carol Kidu’s Residence).

Staffing Update

Ms Savitas will be leaving Lihir International School at the end of the term for personal reasons. We thank Ms Savitas for all of her dedication and effort during her time here.

We have commenced the process to advertise her position. Ms Tukata will be the sole year 3/4 teacher until the employment process has been completed.

Regards,

Mr Kevin Collins

Principal

SCHOOL HOURS Prep - 6

Official school times are:

8.10 Bell rings

8.10 – 8.15 Home room (Assembly on Friday)

8.15 – 10.35 First session

10.35 – 11.05 Recess (15 minutes eating followed by 15 minutes play)

11.05 – 12.35 Second session

12.35 – 1.20 Lunch (15 minutes eating followed by 30 minutes play)

1:20 – 3.00 Third Session

3.00 End of school day

SCHOOL HOURS 7 - 10

Official school times are:

8.10 Bell rings

8.10 – 8.15 Home room (Assembly on Friday)

8.15 – 10.05 Two periods

10.05 – 10.35 Recess (10 minutes eating followed by 20 minutes play)

10.35 – 1.20 Three periods

1.20 – 2.00 Lunch (10 minutes eating followed by 30 minutes play)

2.00 – 2.55 Third Session

2.55 – 3.00 Home room

3.00 End of school day

2025

Term 1 Monday 27 January to Thursday 3 April

Term 2 Tuesday 22 April to Thursday 19 June

Term 3 Monday 14 July to Thursday 18 September

Term 4 Monday 6 October to Thursday 4 December

• Week 9: Year 9 camp
• Week 10: Parent / Teacher Interviews
• Afternoon activities: This are finished for the term.
• Saturday morning sport: High School Volleyball will be on this Saturday from 8.00am - 9.00am.

After school and Saturday sport

After school activities have finished for this term with there being another game of volleyball for High School this Saturday from 8.00-9.00am. Thank you to the teachers who have taken the different activities this term. Parents are welcome to run an after-school activity. Please see Mr Collins if you are interested.

Kind regards,

Ms Judith Meauri (Sports Coordinator) 

It has been another great term of swimming! 

To advise, there will be no holiday swim lessons over the upcoming holiday break. After-school swimming will finish on and will recommence week 2 of next term.

A new note will go home early next term for term 2 after school swimming lessons.

Kind regards,

Ms Judith Meauri  (Sports Coordinator)

The LIS library is open for borrowing and we encourage all students to regularly borrow. Primary students do need to have a library bag. This will be provided to new students. Students can also return and borrow books at some lunchtimes.

Library days are as follows:

• Tuesday - Kindy and year 1/2
• Wednesday - year 5/6 and year 7
• Thursday - year 3/4 and year 8
• Friday - Prep
• Year 9/10 students do not have a set borrowing time; however, are encouraged to borrow at lunchtime.

Kind regards,

Ms Savitas (Librarian)

NAPLAN

This week our year 3, 5 and 7 students completed their NAPLAN tests. We expect results in term 3 and these will be sent home to parents. Our students are commended for their positive attitude and effort as they sat these tests.      

Primary reading

At LIS, we expect every student to be reading every day and again we thank parents for supporting your children with your home reading. If you have any questions about reading, please do not hesitate to see your child's teacher. We are also seeking parent helpers to assist with listening to children read one on one first up in the morning from Monday to Thursdays. Parents can commit to reading for as many mornings as they wish. Please see your child's teacher if you are interested in helping. Your support is greatly appreciated.

Friday Assemblies

Parents and wantoks are invited to attend our Friday assemblies held in the basketball court every Friday, commencing at 8.10am. Each week a primary class or the Student Council will share a short presentation. This week it was the year 3/4 assembly and next week, it will be the year 5/6 Tok Pisin assembly.

Kind regards,

Ms Langusch.

Work Ready Program

This week we had a guest speaker, who is a former WRP trainee and currently working with Newmont as a HR Officer, HR – HRBP. She shared her experience as being a former student of WRP and now an employee of Newmont. She covered topics on adopting to Workplace Culture, Time Management and Working in Teams comprising a diverse group of people. She also emphasised on observing company rules and polices as well as the safety culture. We acknowledge and thank Ms. Mayble Reba for accepting our invitation again to come and speak to our current WRP trainees. She gave a very inspiring speech based on her own experience as a former WRP student and a young local Lihirian.

 The WRP Trainees also participated in the  Trupla Meri, Trupla Man, (TMTM) training yesterday. The sessions were conducted by Ms. Alu Kila – Officer – Respect@Work.  The students verbally expressed their satisfaction in the training. It was an eye opener for many of them as they did not have an opportunity to attend such trainings that involved challenging and confronting topics which can be perceived as taboo to discuss at times or maybe perceived as acceptable in some societies & cultures. All trainees learned many new things and acquired knowledge and skills that they can be able to use in their villages and at their future workplace.

Next week we expect to have the Upstander Training. We extend our gratitude and thank you to Ms. Alu Kila for accepting our invitation to come and do the presentations on a very important topic.

FODE

Our FODE program is also running concurrently and students are continuing at their own pace with assistance of the STM staff. We have a couple of new students enrolled in the program as well.

Kind regards, 

Mr. David Wengip