
Newsletter, July 2022
July 9, 2024
Message From The Head Of School

Dear Parents / Guardians, Students, Teachers & Staff,
How quickly yet another academic year has now come to an end. This past academic year will definitely be one that we will remember. At AIS, we started the year with a reasonable degree of optimism, and we have completed it peacefully with joy and great achievements. As a community we have approached the COVID-19 challenge with a growth mindset under the government of Rwanda guidance. Looking ahead, the journey continues. In August, we will be the first international school in Rwanda to offer STEM Education, a range of computer coding and science awards initiatives planned as part of our internal school commitment.
AIS students will have a bilingual learning environment from the next academic year of which the French international certification program; DELF-PRIM/JUNIOR will be implemented fully throughout all grades. The school continues to invest in its infrastructure; the new building NEW CAMPUS ready for students by July, will provide 40 classrooms with all facilities as well as different offices. Within this, we will have separated the Preschool section, Primary section and Secondary section. The new school building has all required facilities as detailed on its Marquette designs attached like a dedicated school computer lab, library, science laboratories, performing art, visual art, music room,LRC, swimming pool, football field, basket-volleyball court.
To this end, I would like to thank all of our teachers who continue to make the lessons engaging, interactive and relevant. Equally, a measure of recognition must go to the students themselves. Their resilience, sense of independence, and self-discipline have been tested; and each in their own way has risen to this challenging year. Our thanks also go out to our parents’ community, for their dedication and support in working together for the benefit of the students. Parents continue to remain engaged with teachers. They have also regularly attended Parent-teacher’s conferences and school’s events.
And in preparing our students to be critical thinkers and introduce them to the social processes of society in a constantly changing world, the newly introduced sociology and enrichment programme for our secondary students will provide a rigorous, innovative and trans-disciplinary learning journey that will offer their true relevance to their future.
To the new team coming on board, we would like to extend a warm welcome to the AIS community! We look forward to working with you and building on the next chapters in our story.
To all our community that is ready to be remaining with us for the start of the new academic year, I wish all of you a restful, safe and enjoyable holiday break. We look forward to seeing you all again on 22nd August for the new academic year 2022-2023.
Head of School
Ms Fatima Ayaz Hashwani
Message from AIS-PTA Chair

Greetings to AIS Families!
On behalf of the AIS PTA, I would like to take the opportunity to thank you for choosing Acorns International School for the last academic year 2021- 2022. This year the COVID 19 pandemic tossed out all plans once again and presented us with unimaginable challenges. It has unexpectedly difficult time for all of us, but I have been so encouraged by how our PTA were able to provide needed support to the school community under the circumstances. While it is important to acknowledge the ongoing challenges, it’s also key to take a moment to celebrate a very successful academic year and the highlights for 2021-2022 are as follows
- Sports day activities
- Concerto 2021
- Many outdoor activities –Kigali City Tour, shopping etc.
- Cultural shows
AIS outlook
We are energized to be joining new state of the art campus and have been working hard with Mrs. Fatima Hashwani the head of School and the amazing teachers and staff to reimagine how the PTA can best support our students and school community. As we continue to learn and adjust to life during COVID, we are thankful that with your support many beloved programs and events will return, and though they might look a little different they will absolutely embody the best of AIS!
I look forward to working with the school community on key initiatives listed below
- 1.Online class to continue at least once or twice even with the ease of COVID Pandemic restrictions
- 2.Laptop/electronic gadget day to enhance learning and adaptability
- 3.Foreign language (French) day –To encourage non-French speaking students to get extra help
- 4.Kinyarwanda day –As part Rwandan culture initiatives all students will be encouraged to improve Kinyarwanda speaking.
We look forward to more interactions and engagement in the coming year!
With Best Regards,
AIS PTA Chair, Rose BUGUNYA
Report from Head of Academics

In the academic year of 2021-2022 we have initiated different learning programs focused on Cambridge learning objectives like Guided reading program and practical life.
Guided reading program: The practice of guided reading is based on the belief that the optimal learning for a reader occurs when they are assisted by an educator, or an expert to read and understand a text with clear but limited guidance. Guided reading allows students to practice and consolidate effective reading strategies. At AIS we introduced the Project X: Origin series by Oxford and it went well. We shall continue the same to help our learners develop reading skills.
Practical Life Sessions: Practical Life activities are the activities of everyday life and they are involved in all aspects of life. The child observes these activities in the environment and gains knowledge through the real experience of how to accomplish life skills in a purposeful way. This year we tried to give exposure to our learners to learn these skills once a week and which was appreciated by you all.






The teaching and learning continued albeit, Events such as the annual Sports Day, the school learning tris, Science fair, the Bike Week for preschool and competitions were all successful. Some of our students participated in The Mental Math World Cup online competitions 2022. Congratulations to the qualified students; we wish them the very best to the next step which will be the GRAND FINAL.
PRESCHOOL & PRIMARY
As we celebrated the end-of-year assembly and the new campus visit, preschool and primary students are sincerely appreciated for their enthusiasm towards the celebration of learning as well as daily activities. They put on some great performances; from story-telling to music and dance. They reminisce about the many memorable activities that they did this year together. This term we celebrated two major learning events with Preschool.
Camping Night



Bike Week


Francophonie day


Science exhibition



Sports Day


Well done students. It had not been easy, but you did it. Thank you teachers for your unwavering support and care. Thank you parents, for being there for your children.
SECONDARY, IGCSE & As LEVEL
Our secondary students and teachers spent time recognizing and honoring the many achievements of our students, from academic to sports and music. We were in awe of how talented they are, and how hardworking they have been this year. Each of these accomplishments were made even more extraordinary because it was achieved under difficult circumstances.
To conclude the year, the IGCSE & AS-A LEVELS had their celebrations led by teachers and the Student. With performances by fellow students, entertaining videos and speeches, all was the perfect send-off for the High school. Led by Mr Davis and a G11 student, Maxim, students had the chance to say their final goodbyes to their teachers through two friendly games (football and volley matches) with the teachers who wished them the best of luck.
Francophonie Day

Science exhibition


Sports Day


This year was a bridge test, and you all passed with honors, teachers and students alike! Well done!
Highlights of the year
This academic year we tried our best to expose our students to real world of joy and competitions, which are as follows. We shall try our best to give them more opportunity of learning in the upcoming years as well.
Field trips
After pandemic we were able to resume our different activities in which field trips were included. We arranged Trips to following sites.
- Spiderman Game Centre- Pre School
- Kigali bus tour-Grade 1 to Grade 5
- Lake side Fish Farm-Grade 6 to As level
Interschool friendly matches

Interschool Debate

Graduation


Site Visit






In the end of this newsletter AIS-Management wishes you all happy holidays and Eid-Mubarack. Hope to see all our Students back on 22nd August, 2022 at the new campus.