Dear Parents and Carers,

Honoring the late Sir Michael Somare

This week, our school community will come together to commemorate the life and legacy of the Late Sir Michael Somare, former Prime  Minister and a revered figure in Papua New Guinea's history. Known affectionately as the "Father of the Nation," Sir Michael played a pivotal role in leading our country to independence in 1975. His visionary leadership and unwavering commitment to nationhood have left an indelible mark on PNG, fostering unity and progress that continue to inspire us today.

To honor Sir Michael's contributions, we will observe a public holiday next Wednesday, and we have planned a Whole School Assembly this afternoon at 2:05 PM. We encourage all students to participate actively as we reflect on his extraordinary achievements and the values he embodied.

Reminder on School Policy - Banned Substances

We would also like to remind parents and students of our school's strict policy regarding the use of banned substances. Recently, there have been instances of secondary students possessing vapes on school grounds. This behavior is strictly prohibited and will be dealt with promptly and severely.

It is crucial that children understand the dangers of vaping. Many countries have banned the use of e-cigarettes and vapes due to the significant health risks they pose. We urge parents to have open discussions with their children about the harmful effects of these substances and to support our efforts in maintaining a safe and healthy school environment.

Lae International School Association Meeting

I would like to extend a warm invitation to all parents and guardians to attend the Lae International School Association Meeting on Monday, the 24th of February, at our primary campus, starting at 5:30 PM. Your participation and input are vital as we continue to work together to provide the best possible education for our children. I look forward to seeing you there.

Communication with Teachers and Raising Grievances

We value open and respectful communication between parents and our teaching staff. To ensure that we maintain a positive and constructive dialogue, I would like to remind parents of the appropriate ways to communicate with teachers and raise any grievances.

Please refer to the attached grievance policy for detailed information. Remember that approaching classrooms during teaching times is not allowed. For safety and security reasons, all parents must report to the office upon arrival. If you wish to see a teacher, you can do so before or after school, and it is encouraged to make an appointment in advance.

While we welcome the polite and appropriate raising of grievances, intimidating or threatening behavior, including raising voices, will not be tolerated. We are committed to resolving any issues in a respectful and cooperative manner.

Student Pick-Up and Drop-Off

Parents are reminded to collect their children in the afternoon at the appropriate time from the hall, with the exception of ELC and Preschool, where children can be collected from the classroom. If a parent needs to collect a child early, prior arrangements should be made with the teacher or through the office.

Warm regards

Mr Greg Neville

Principal

There will be no school on Wednesday the 26th February due to the National Remembrance Day of the Late Former Prime Minister, Great Grand Chief Rt. Hon. Sir Michael Thomas Somare.

Parents and Friends Committee is driven by volunteer parents and friends of the Lae International School. It is a way for parents and community friends to support the school in a meaningful way through different events, such as market days, discos, or any other events parents feel could add value as the year progresses. It supports our students and school through fundraising initiatives and creates a great sense of community. The P&F has raised over 100000 Kina for the school recently funding a new Primary Library, Primary ICT Lab, and supported this year with the purchasing of new musical instruments to be used in Secondary and Primary Music lessons.

We look forward to your continued support.

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.

We are midway into the first term, our students are now settled into their classroom routines and they are well into their learning. A warm welcome to new families that have joined us this week. This week you should have received mid-term emails from your child’s teacher. If you have not received an email, please do send your updated email address to your child’s class teacher. 

Upcoming Events 

• Week 6; International Mother Language Day – Assembly
• Week 7; Middle Primary Assembly
• Week 8; Grade 8 Mock Exam
• Week 8; Student Led Conference
• Week 9; Grade 8 conferencing

Reminders

• Classrooms are off limits during class times. Please visit the school office between 8:30am and 3pm.
• Students must be wearing their hats when playing and moving outdoor. Ensure your child has a school hat.
• Classes for part time ELC and Preschool ends at 12pm and the rest of the school at 3pm. Please collect your child/ren promptly at the finishing time.
• Chewing of betel-nut and smoking is strictly prohibited on and around the campus. 

Learning News

Our teachers use the Seven Steps to Success program to plan and teach their writing lessons. the Seven Steps to Success is a program that breaks down writing into seven key techniques that professional authors use. Students focus on one Step at a time, which allows them to understand, practice and master each individual skills before they write a whole text. Taking small, manage steps builds students’ confidence and makes writing fun and achievable for all ability level.

Below are examples of students using the story graph to plan their adventure stories and written pieces after covering their learning on Fantasy stories using the Seven steps to success.  

Hi all

Welcome back to this week’s newsletter.

At our school, we remain committed to fostering an environment of excellence in line with our school's vision. Our goal is to ensure that every student achieves their full potential through dedicated teaching and comprehensive support. The assessment period has begun for all students. We encourage everyone to assist students in completing their assessments and submitting them on time.

Assessments Preparation

Adequate preparation for exams and tests is crucial, so please start studying well in advance. A detailed school assessment schedule has been shared with all parents and distributed to students. We urge you to refer to this schedule to plan your time effectively and perform well in all assessments. All students have been provided with a diary that must be checked and signed by parents on a weekly basis. This practice is essential for supporting our students' learning and ensuring effective communication between home and school.

ECAs

We apologize for the delay in starting our secondary ECAs. However, we are excited to announce that our ECAs will commence in Week 7. Completed ECA forms along with the necessary payments should be submitted by Week 6 to the ECA leaders. All ECAs will be held from 3:15 PM to 4:15 PM and expected to continue next term.

We warmly welcome all new students and families who have joined us in the recent days. We are honoured to have you as part of the LIS family and look forward to a successful year together.

Thank you for your continued support.

• Our excellent facilities are available for hire information regarding costs is available from the receptions on both campuses or via the school email.
• Annual Individual pool use hire is now available for the Coronation Pool on the secondary campus. Please enquire at the LIS reception regarding cost and the terms and conditions for use.