Dear Parents
We have reached the last week of this, our inaugural first term at the new Oryx International School. It has been a challenging time during the past few months but in the words of an old proverb, ‘nothing worthwhile is ever easy’. I am certainly of the opinion that we have come a long way in a short period of time as a school community. I am delighted that we have finally got all of our magnificent facilities available and we can now start to enjoy and benefit from them. Of course schools need procedures, policies, routines and rules in order to become effective and efficient communities and I am very grateful for the cooperation of our students and parents in helping to establish our expectations. It is important to remember that our school community – students, staff and parents – has grown by three times the amount since last June and we now have over 90 different nationalities! This is an added challenge which we have faced, none more so than integrating the many differing expectations this brings, and I can already see the wonderful potential we have for the future success of the school, working together.
When I was appointed to the post of Executive Principal, I was tasked with providing a 5-star school for our students, staff and parents as well as a beacon of excellence in the local community. Our recent Winter Fair is an example of what a 5-star community event looks like and for our first event it was a remarkable success. This is down to teamwork and inspired leadership from Mrs. Laidlaw and her PTSA Committee, ably supported by the Parent representatives and student council. This event, which attracted over 700 people, brought together the whole school community including our cleaners, security, technicians, teaching staff, admin staff, students, parents and supporters from the wider community; exactly what a 5-star school represents. Now that we have established the standard of cooperation and community spirit for which we aspire at OIS, all other areas of our school provision must follow suit.
I would like to offer the following staff our best wishes for the future and my thanks for their contributions as they leave us at this time: Mr. Keith Harrison, Mrs. Vanessa Trindade and Mr. Deaglan Madine.
I am very proud of the way our students have settled into their new school and new routines, already they are eager to make more progress and reach new heights in their achievements. Our school will provide these opportunities and I look forward to sharing in all their successes in the near future.
Our staff – academic and support – have worked tirelessly to ensure that we overcame our early challenges and I am indebted to their commitment and skills establishing our new school. I am also very grateful to our Facilities Management team who have supported us magnificently in everything we have requested or required from them, and always with a smile!
I wish you all a very happy, relaxing and fun-filled holiday and hope you can spend some quality family time together. I look forward to welcoming you all back to the new school term on Sunday 6th January 2019.
Regards and season’s greetings,
Derek Laidlaw
Executive Principal
