Dear parents/guardians,

We have almost reached the end of the second term of academic year 2009/2010 and what a term it has been! Hardly a week passed by without some major event or activity taking place. In fact, the events calendar had become so congested that we were almost relieved that our International Talent Show had to be postponed to 1st May. The reasons for changing the scheduled date from this Saturday, 20th March, were largely out of our hands. Our major sponsorship partners, Orange, had some problems coordinating the marketing campaign and the production of the tickets so it was felt by all parties that, in order to give the show the publicity that it warranted, the best solution would be to postpone it by six weeks.

This week, of course, there was already one major event in the school diary with our annual Sports Day taking place on Friday. Tomorrow (Thursday) there is the build up to the big day with lots of primary school events taking place. Yesterday (Tuesday) afternoon some of the secondary school field events were completed. A full programme of the two sports days coming up is attached. We would very much welcome your support at anytime during the next two days as we are sure your children would also.

Also on the sporting front, we won the primary school interschools swimming gala on 12th February by some margin and we also had some impressive individual performances in the secondary school gala at KISU last week. The PSA held a very successful World Cup fun Day a few weeks ago and in late January there was the first ever PSA biathlon. All the PSA events have raised significant money towards musical equipment, library resources and secondary school lockers. Look out for more enjoyable fundraising events next term.

As always the events at Rainbow have encompassed all aspects of the extra-curricular programme. In the last two months or so we have held two discos, a poetry evening and a Cheese and Wine evening to showcase some of the musical and acting talent of our students in the higher end of the school. Next Thursday, 25th March, there will be a year 3 variety show called ‘Year 3’s got talent’ taking place at the National Theatre.

Academically the older students have been focusing on their final examinations with a session of mock exams for IGCSEs, AS and A levels. The actual exams take place in May and June. There have been many educational trips this term; the most notable being the delegation of 19 students who went to Nairobi at half term to take part in the EAMUN conference. Every year Ms Thomas and Mr Biteetsigirwe who accompany the students say that the confidence, good behaviour and quality of debating of our students improves on the previous year. This year was no exception. There have been a few secondary school camping trips and the IGCSE hillwalking expedition to Fort Portal. This Friday a large contingent of year 4 and year 5 students will be heading off to Rome for a week and there are several other primary school trips happening during these final two weeks of term.

As always Rainbow has encouraged its pupils to consider the community beyond the confines of the school. At present a coordinated appeal is taking place to raise money, clothes and other items for the victims of the Bududa mudslide. You will see donation boxes in the school reception. Earlier in the term during a wonderful primary school Book Week, a collection of books was made by our children which were donated to some local schools. This Sunday, 21st March, we hope that several members of the Rainbow Community will be running in the 10km Fun Run starting and ending on Ggaba Road to raise money for disadvantaged children in the Kikubamutwe slum.

Of course, the term hasn’t quite finished yet. Here is a summary of key events taking place in the last week of term:

Thursday 18th & Friday 19th March: Year 3 Parent/Teacher Consultations (11:00 - 12:20 & 3:00 - 4:30 on Thursday) and (3:00p.m. - 4:00p.m. on Friday)

Friday 19th – Friday 26th March: Year 4 & 5 trip to Rome

Mon 22nd – Wed 24th March: Year 4 trip to Discovery Centre, Jinja (for those who did not go on the Rome trip)

Monday 22nd March: Group 1 of Year 6 trip to Ngamba Island

Tuesday 23rd March: Group 2 of Year 6 trip to Ngamba Island

Wed 24th – Fri 26th March: Year 5 trip to Discovery Centre, Jinja (for those who did not go on the Rome trip)

Tuesday 23rd & Wednesday 24th March: Early Years Parent / Teacher Consultations (3:00p.m – 5:00p.m.)

Tues, Wed & Thurs 23rd / 24th & 25th March: Year 1,2 & 6 Parent/Teacher/Consultations (3:00p.m. – 5:00p.m.)

Tuesday 23rd March: Year 7 & 8 Parent/Teacher Consultations (3:30p.m. – 5:00p.m.)

Wednesday 24th March: Year 9 & 10 Parent/Teacher Consultations (3:30p.m. – 5:00-.m.)

Thursday 25th March: COOL Awards ceremony on the main field at 2.30 p.m.

“Year 3’s got talent” at National Theatre at 7.00 p.m. (tickets on sale at reception for 5000/=)

Friday 26th March: End of term assembly on the main field at 11.45 a.m. School closes when the assembly ends at about 12.30 p.m. NO LUNCH IS SERVED ON FRIDAY, 26TH MARCH.

I hope to see many of you at the various events happening at Rainbow in the next 9 days starting with the primary sports day activities tomorrow. It just remains for me to wish you a good Easter break and I look forward to seeing all the children back on 13th April for the start of another busy term.

Yours faithfully,

CLIFF GREEN.
Principal