1. Orientation
2. Security at LIS
3. Getting ready for school
4. Communications at LIS
5. Liaising with other parents, PTA
6. Lunch
7. Medical assistance
8. Co-curricular Programme
9. Library
10. Life in Luanda

Welcome to Luanda International School (LIS) and thank you for joining us in building this vibrant, diverse and dynamic community. This is the beginning of a great experience that we hope will enrich your life. Despite being a very exciting moment, we understand that this transition can also hold some challenges. This little guide is a one-stop-shop to everything LIS and we hope it helps in making this transition a smooth and pleasant one.

LIS is a private coeducational day school, which offers an English medium educational programme for students from age 3 to 18, predominantly from the international community in Luanda, Angola.

LIS is an International Baccalaureate (IB) World School and is authorized to offer three International Baccalaureate programmes: Primary Years Programme (PYP), Middle Years Programme (MYP) and the IB Diploma Programme (DP). We use these programmes as the framework for an inquiry-based approach to learning and teaching.

Although a relatively young school, LIS is fully accredited with the IB, the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) and the Council of International Schools (CIS). LIS has a very strong local, national and international reputation. This success is directly connected to a dedicated and talented staff, active parental involvement, and a supportive community.

We believe in the unlimited potential of our students by respecting and developing their individual social, emotional and cognitive needs. We set challenging and demanding expectations for growth and support all students to achieve high standards. We foster a culture of civility where students and adults are treated with fairness, are respected for their contributions, and are celebrated for their effort and successes.

After you receive your enrollment confirmation, you will be informed of the orientation day for your child’s specific school section. If you are starting school after the first day of classes, the Enrollment Department will inform you of your individual orientation day.

The orientation is usually a few days before the first day of classes. This is an opportunity for students and families to get set-up with our systems and protocols, to learn about the school and ask any questions they may have. The orientation includes a school tour and a social event so families can meet and mingle. Families will also be introduced to key staff and faculty members.

School Hours
Prep 3 & 4: 7:50-12:40*
Years 1-13: 7:50-15:00**

PTA School Store Hours
Monday, Wednesday and Friday
7:45-8:15
14:45-15:15

Cashier Hours
Open Daily
8:00-10:00
12:00-13:00
14:30-15:30

*Parents / caregivers must remain outside on the playground with ELC students until 7:50 am, at which time, children may go to their respective classes.
**Students in Years 1-13 may arrive on campus as early as 7:15 am.

All vehicles will be stopped before accessing the school. Security staff will check the vehicle for a current LIS sticker and ensure all adults present their personalized school identification lanyard. Only vehicles and adults with the correct ID will be permitted access to the school. Respectfully, our security team will not permit access to vehicles and adults who do not comply with these basic safety requirements. If the vehicle is not allowed access to campus, the student(s) will need to exit the vehicle and enter campus as pedestrian(s). Students may be escorted by security staff and/or adults with proper identification, as necessary.

With the exception of LIS students, all members of the LIS community including, without limitation, parents, family members, staff, volunteers, contractors, drivers, nannies and other persons authorized to access the LIS campus must have their photo taken at the front office for the creation of a personalized lanyard.

All LIS community members are expected to wear their lanyards at all times.

ELC
Needed
Hat, reusable water bottle, backpack, change of clothes, library bag, bathing suit and towel
Suggestions
Water bottles, hats and school spirit wear can be bought at the PTA store
Other locations: Candando, Kero

Primary
Needed
Hat, reusable water bottle, backpack, library bag, bathing suit and towel, PE clothes
All school supplies for Year 1- 6 provided by LIS
Suggestions
Water bottles, hats and school spirit wear can be bought at the PTA store
Other locations: Candando, Kero, Sport Zone in Xyami Shopping

Secondary
Needed
Reusable water bottle, Secondary equipment list provided on enrollment in the welcome letter, PE clothes
Suggestions
Water bottles and school spirit wear can be bought at the PTA store
Other locations: Candando, Kero, I-Store in Avenida Shopping, Wammo in Avenida Shopping (technology shop), Sport Zone in Xyami Shopping

www.lisluanda.com
LIS website, external communications, calendar

Veracross Parent Portal
Student attendance, Primary reports, email log, directory (updating contact and emergency details)

Managebac
Secondary communications, Secondary grading/reports, calendar

Seesaw
Primary communications

Twitter
Tweets by ‎@LISDirector
Tweets by @PrimPrincLIS
Tweets by @SecPrincLIS
School communications

Emails
School communications

Notice Boards
School and public news and events

The LIS Parent Teacher Association (PTA) organizes a number of events and activities to bring the school community together and provides parents several opportunities to meet each other in an inviting atmosphere.

If you need to get in touch with other parents, you are welcome to use the Veracross Parent Portal directory for their contact information.

• Overview of PTA Events:
• International Day – October
• Game Night – November
• Holiday Market – December
• Quiz Night – February
• LIS Fair – May
• Teacher Appreciation:
  • Lunch – November
  • Tea – April
• Car Boot Sale – April

Check out their Facebook page at LIS PTA or contact a PTA representative at pta@lisluanda.com.

Both Primary students in Years 1-6 and Secondary students have a 50 minute lunch break. The lunch breaks are staggered to allow sufficient time for the kitchen staff to serve those students taking school lunch.

LIS offers an optional paid lunch programme which you can sign-up for in the enrollment office. The payment of this programme is per term or annually and cancellation must be done in writing prior to the end of the payment term. Included in the lunch programme is morning snack (sandwich and fruit) and lunch (main meal, salad bar and fruit). All staff, faculty and students eat from the same catering service.

All home lunches must be ‘clearly named’ and dropped off at the front gate with the security staff. The security staff will then take the lunch to the appropriate lunch shelf for pick-up by the student. It is recommended that lunches be delivered half an hour before the respective student’s lunch time.

There are two medical officers who are based in the clinic adjacent to the cafeteria. In addition, the school trains staff in Emergency First Response.

It is the school’s policy and practice to call a parent immediately if a student requires urgent medical assistance. If the student needs to be taken off site for medical assistance, the parents will in the first instance be asked as to whether they wish to make their own arrangements for transport of the students. If the parents cannot be contacted, or on parent request, the student will be moved to school transport by stretcher or wheelchair where appropriate and transported to the ISOS clinic in Talatona. A school medical officer will always accompany them.

Any accident and/or injury sustained by a student whilst on school premises must be reported to the school’s medical officers. Medical officers and/or school leadership may, in the exercise of their discretion and based on the severity of the accident / injury, contact the student’s parents and/or document the accident / injury.

It is extremely important for families to update their contact details in order for the school to contact parents in the event of an emergency. Contact details can be updated with the Enrollment Department or directly on the Veracross Parent Portal.

To ensure the health and wellbeing of all the students at LIS, please follow the protocols in the Student and Parent Handbook.

After School Activities
The co-curricular year is split into three trimesters, with each trimester eight weeks in length. ASAs run from 15:00 – 16:00 (except Advanced Arts and competitive sports which run from 16:00 – 17:45). The programme is for Year 2 to Year 13.

Primary
Parents are emailed the timetable and a Google form before the start of each trimester. Registration will take place at a specified time, and registration is on a first-come, first-served basis. For popular activities, we ask families to only sign up once per year.
Year 2 – Can participate in ONE activity per week, each trimester
Years 3 to 5 – Can participate in TWO activities per week, each trimester
Year 6 – Can participate in THREE activities per week, each trimester (if places are available)

Secondary
Students are emailed the timetable and a Google form before the start of each trimester. Registration will take place during a Wednesday homeroom session. Registration will take place at a specified time, and registration is on a first-come, first-served basis.
All secondary students can participate in ONE activity per day, each trimester.

Attendance
Once registration is confirmed it is an expectation that all students attend each session, except in the event of illness or unavoidable appointments/emergencies, for the entire eight weeks. Please contact the Co-curricular Coordinator if an absence is unavoidable.

LIS Library is made up of two libraries. The Primary Library is on the ground floor of the building. The Secondary Library is on the upper floor.

The Library hours are:
Days 0-8
7:30 am – 4:00 pm

The Library has an open door policy. Students may visit any time to check out books, find information, read, or create. Primary students have scheduled times for book exchange; however, they are welcome to visit the Library on other days. Families, who are part of the Luanda International School community, are welcome to become members of the Library. Please see the Library staff to join. Patrons are notified of items checked out in their name via email.

The Library has over 22,000 items in the collection. All members of the community can search the LIS Library Catalog – http://destiny.lisluanda.com/ – to find out what is available in the collection.

Library volunteers play an important role as partners in the developing a Library that is the hub of the LIS community. People with a variety of skills, interests and abilities are needed to work with Library staff as a team devoted to enriching the lives of others.

Good websites/blogs for information on life in Luanda

Luanda British Women Angola

Vivre en Angola (page has an English and Portuguese option)

Welcome to Angola (directory for business and pleasure)

Luanda Nightlife (information on restaurants, clubs, hotels/resorts)

TICA Luanda (The International Community of Angola)

The above links are provided for the reader’s convenience. LISA does not control or guarantee the accuracy, relevance, timeliness or completeness of this outside information.

Shops and services in Luanda

Candando
All food products including some international selections, clothes, toys, basic garden and hardware supplies, school supplies, bakery, coffee shop and take-away section

Shoprite
Fresh produce and food products from South Africa, small selection of basic necessities, camping/BBQ section

Food Lovers
Fresh produce

Intermarket
Fresh produce and food products, good selection of natural whole food alternatives

Kero
Fresh produce and food products with basic necessities, sushi, juice and take-away counters

Kinda
Home decor and kids toys

Celeiro
Vitamins, supplements and natural foods and beauty products

Unitel, Movicel
Mobile phone service, cable service

TVCabo, ZAP Fibra, DSTV
Cable / Internet service