KISU NEWSLETTER
Number 477 ...............................13th March 2021
Director's Message
In this week's newsletter you will see photos of the half year academic awards assembly for secondary - the first in person assembly for nearly a year, arrangements for more parent/teacher meetings, details of ABRSM music examinations and the long awaited reintroduction of swimming.
At this time of year I often ask people to try to connect some numbers;
24, 25, 5 and 15
All these numbers are relevant for our DP2 class.
24 - the number of teaching days before IB examinations start.
25 - the number of HL lessons left this year.
5 - just under 5 teaching weeks before the exams.
15 - the number of SL lessons left this year.
This is not meant to panic students, but just to remind them that the end of the IB marathon is close and that with any long distance race a sprint finish is required. There is lots of support available and we all want our students to achieve their absolute best.
On a more personal note I would like to confirm that I have been offered and accepted a contract for next year. This will be my tenth year at KISU and I am really looking forward to getting us back to the wonderfully holistic school we were before COVID intervened.
Academic Honours Winners
Academic High Honours winners
Swimming is back!!!
We are delighted to announce this week that swimming is once again part of our PE curriculum with lessons for all Key Stage 2 and 3 students . Our beautiful pool has stood undisturbed and silent for a week short of one whole year; however, it has been lovingly maintained and it has been fantastic to see the children enjoying the water once again after so long.
ABRSM is back
For all students that registered for the ABRSM examinations in 2020 that never happened because of COVID 19, there is an opportunity to have them this year. News from the ABRSM in England confirms that the exams will be run in Kampala in May and June 2021.
For new registrations as well as those who were registered in 2020 and would like to take the examination this year, the registration window is between 8th - 21st March 2021. To enter for a higher grade than previously registered for, one needs to top up the difference in fees between 2020 and 2021 fee structures.
Due to the fluctuations in currency and the revised base price of the exams by the ABRSM, there will be a need for those who previously paid for exams in 2020, to top up in order to cover the shortfall for 2021 exams.
The ABRSM agrees to overlap the syllabi from 2020 with that for the year 2021 such that students that practiced pieces in 2020 can be examined on those if they so wish rather than starting afresh with the new syllabi. This will however, apply only to pieces or repertoire and not to the supporting tests which will be according to the current syllabi. You may visit https://gb.abrsm.org/en/our-exams/exam-syllabuses/ to get info on syllabi requirements for your specific instrument.
ABRSM FEES FOR 2021 PRACTICAL EXAMINATIONS
Prep Test UGX 196,000 USD 50
Initial Grade UGX 185,000 USD 48
Grade 1 (All instruments) UGX 208,000 USD 53
Grade 2 (All instruments) UGX 236,000 USD 60
Grade 3 (All instruments) UGX 269,000 USD 69
Grade 4 (All instruments) UGX 275,000 USD 71
Grade 5 (All instruments) UGX 303,000 USD 78
Grade 6 (All instruments) UGX 320,000 USD 82
Grade 7 (All instruments) UGX 364,000 USD 94
Grade 8 (All instruments) UGX 420,000 USD 108
Associate of the Royal Schools of Music (ARSM) UGX 594,000 USD 153
Diploma ABRSM (complete exam) UGX 807,000 USD 207
Licentiate of the Royal Schools of Music (LRSM) UGX 2,319,000 USD 596
Fellow of the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (FRSM) UGX 3,344,000 USD 860
For more information please contact Dr Benon Kigozi on 0774 655 864 or b.kigozi@kisu.com
Focus on Business Studies
In Business Studies we offer pupils the opportunity to learn about all aspects of businesses and the techniques that are used to make decisions in business organisations. We explore the theories behind business decisions and learn how businesses operate. Students study small businesses in Year 10 and larger businesses in Year 11 – in both years they are looking at Finance, Marketing and Human Resources as well as looking at how we as a country interact with the wider world.
What makes our subject great? – we asked the pupils…
A student in year 10 said “Business Studies is really enjoyable. Learning about real life companies makes the whole subject really interesting. Business Studies will definitely help me in later life.”
Ansh said, “Business Studies is an interesting lesson. I enjoy our discussions about what businesses have done, and watching videos on them, it helps me learn.
This week in Primary
This week, Primary has launched ‘Spelling Shed’. Spelling Shed is a fun and compelling spelling game for learners which is great for practising spellings at home. This spelling practice website and app uses a friendly interface to encourage children to practice their spellings via mobile, tablet and computer devices. It is easy to navigate and manage and provides a whole-school spelling scheme, giving 100% coverage of the National Curriculum.
Your child has been given their unique ‘Login’ details and QR code so they can access the Spelling Shed website and practice the spelling lists that their Class Teacher has assigned. I wonder who will gain the most spelling shed points this week and achieve the highest score by practicing regularly to improve their spelling accuracy?
Primary parent/teacher meetings:
We are delighted to be able to invite parents of Primary pupils onto campus to attend Parent Conference Meetings during the last two weeks of this term. A fifteen minute appointment can be booked with your child’s Class Teacher through the following link: www.wejoinin.com/sheets/evpwj/edit or through the primary office primaryoffice@kisu.com
Early Years Parent Conference Meetings are arranged for Monday 22nd, Tuesday 23rd and Wednesday 24th March.
KS1 and KS2 Parent Conference Meetings are arranged for Thursday 25th, Monday 29th and Tuesday 30th March.
These meetings are an opportunity for you to discuss your child’s attainment, progress and attitude to learning, their successes and targets or next steps. We look forward to seeing you there!
Music in Key Stage 2
Music is a vital and integral part of the primary curriculum and is taught by Dr. Kigozi and our new specialist music teacher, Ms. Janice. We aim to develop the children’s listening, appreciation, composing and performing skills. Pupils in Years 4, 5 & 6 will continue to have recorder sessions as part of their music curriculum. These sessions will give pupils the opportunity to explore and develop their music notation reading, composing and performance skills. It would be really valuable if pupils could bring their own recorder to school. Not only will this be safer but it will also enable students to practice at home and give personal concerts to family members!
We base our music curriculum on the English National curriculum guidelines for music which requires a descant recorder, or a flauto barocco soprano. We recommend that you purchase either a Yamaha or Aulos descant recorder for your child. Descant recorders can be purchased from the school or from a musical instrument retailers, like Glory Electronics. The cost is between USHS 30,000 to USHS 40,000.
Learning is our Superpower!
The Super Learning Power or Guiding Statement that we have been focusing hard on this week in Primary is ‘Being Balanced’.
At KISU we are proud to be a learning community that consciously sets out to develop the whole person. Our amazing facilities and experienced staff team provide a creative, broad and balanced curriculum which not only acts as an excellent vehicle for building character, values and personal qualities, but develops balanced, all rounded and mature young people ready to flourish and succeed in ‘tomorrow’s world’.
Our Primary ‘Super Learners of the Week’ are:
KG1&2: Samantha Amolo and Zoe Bamugye
KG3: Ariella Nakasango and Jonathan Olowa
Rec: Roxanne Kirabo and Kiyansh Goyal
Year 1: Francella Wijaya and Amara Damani
Year 2: Michimasa Usui and Dima Ahmad
Year 3: Trina Ahaisibwe and Poorna Sen
Year 4: Awa Cisse and Elliot Wise
Year 5: Chaahat Goyal and Blessed Muhwezi.
Year 6: Emmy Kilonzo and Jason Oleko
Well done to all for demonstrating the different aspects of a balanced person including physical, mental, emotional, social and academic awareness.
Next week our Guiding Statement focus and Super Learning power is all about ‘caring’.
News from Year 1
In the past few weeks Year 1 has been buzzing with lots of activity.
Non-fiction reading and writing in Literacy; focusing on Nocturnal Animals.
Exploring length, height and weight measures.
Designing different everyday objects using a variety of materials suitable for the purpose.
Going back in history and looking at toys in the past, comparing them with toys today and sorting them into different categories.
Finally making posters and creating a TOY MUSEUM.