secondary partnership

AL YASMINA SCHOOL

CONNeCtBLOOMGrOwLeArNNurturePLAY

ABu DHABI ISSue 2OCtOBer 2012/2013

AL YASMINA SCHOOL STRIVES TO BE AN OUTSTANDING INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY SCHOOL, MAXIMISING THE LEARNING POTENTIAL OF ALL

PARTNERSHIPTHE SECONDARY

AL YASMINA SCHOOL

CONteNtSweLCOMe FrOM tHe SeCONDArY PrINCIPAL 3

eNterPrISe PrOGrAMMe LAuNCHeD IN SeCONDArY SCHOOL 4

PLANNING FOr NAtIONAL DAY CeLeBrAtIONS uNDerwAY 6

CAreerS ADvICe AvAILABLe FOr SeCONDArY StuDeNtS 7

SCIeNCe FAIr 8

FOCuSING ON HIStOrY 9

PAStOrAL CAre A PrIOrItY FOr YeAr 7 StuDeNtS 11

HH SHeIkH ZAYeD INSPIreS POet 12

exAMINAtION OFFICer ON BOArD 13

ONLINe COLLABOrAtION FOr ICt StuDeNtS 14

reADING PrOGrAMMe uNDerwAY 15

equeStrIAN CLuB OFF tO GALLOPING StArt 16

New HOuSe SYSteM LAuNCHeD 17

StuDeNt vOICe MeMBerS eLeCteD 18

HALLOweeN BAke SALe 19

Welcome to the second issue of the Secondary PArtnership for the 2012/2013 academic year. The Secondary PArtnership is the publication for Al Yasmina's secondary school and is published eight times a year. Look for previous issues on the school website.

The Secondary PArtNERSHIP keeps you up-to-date with student activities across the secondary department. It also gives Al Yasmina School the chance to celebrate progress and achievement and provide more in depth information to parents on a wide variety of subjects.

We welcome your feedback. [email protected]

The second PARTNERSHIP for this academic yearTopics, trends, updates, views and news from the Al Yasmina Secondary Department

weLCOMe

Pictured on the cover: A SEA OF PINK: Al Yasmina School students abandoned their usual green attire today in favour of pink to show their support for breast cancer awareness. The school raised 11 000 dhs for breast cancer research. 2

issue 2october 2012/2013

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The summer of pride began in London with the Olympic Games. Pride radiated from the city and extended from the sporting arena into homes and families. Here at Al Yasmina School we also soaked up some of this Olympic pride, cheering on teams from our home countries and celebrating in their success.

As every single student at this school knows, pride is a big part of our core values. Pride, aspiration, respect and trust - our values underpin every aspect of school life. I was especially proud of the school during the ADEC inspection. Everyone pulled out all the stops during inspection week, working together for a common goal. An inspection team reviews every aspect of school life and the school is required to produce a self evaluation document which is evidence-based. The inspectors spent a lot of time observing classroom practice from FS1 to Year 13, talking with students and parents, reviewing policies, student work and planning. We have received a brief overview of the inspection report and the commentary is very positive. We will share excerpts from the report with the school community when we receive the full copy and this will be placed on the school’s website. As a school we strongly believe in transparency being an important part of our culture. There will of course always be areas for improvement and we welcome these suggestions. I am also looking forward to sharing with you the many areas in our school where the inspectors say we are doing exceptionally well.

The excellent GCSE results also were a source of pride for me. I know how hard students and teachers worked to get these results. Achieving inside and outside of the classroom and in exams takes commitment, sacrifice and hard work. These results were evidence of a partnership between teachers, students and parents. With these three components in place we had a recipe for success and this was clearly reflected in our results.

The feedback I’m receiving after two and a half terms in the post also fills me with great pride. Children talk with pride about ‘their school’ and parents are taking the time to tell me what they like about Al Yasmina School. We are pleasing most of the people, most of the time and delighting a lot of people a lot of the time. This is evident from the feedback received at the recent round of parent teacher consultations.

Staff are also a sense of pride for me. Our teachers and support staff are committed and driven; they are here to make a difference and that is evident in everything they do. We have been focusing on development plans and staff performance management targets and have been looking at how we can use staff skill set to move the school forward.

We are already seeing some exciting innovations in the first half of the term. The new sports website, curriculum changes, the Achievement Centre and the Enterprise programme are just some of the new initiatives. Student Voice representatives have also been finalised. We are committed, purposeful, determined - and PROUD!

The Secondary PARTnership continues to provide a valuable insight into what is going on in the secondary school. So much of our communication centres around the practical issues that are essential to keep school life on track. It’s good to be able to offer you an insight into how we are continually adding value to your child’s educational experience.

I’d like to return briefly to the Olympics. A display in a notice board in the secondary school uses the Olympic rings to show the connection between pride in our presentation, relationships, our school, learning and self. There is also a quote that is relevant to each and every one of us.

“Time is an equal opportunity employer. Each human being has exactly the same number of hours and minutes each day. Rich people can’t buy more hours. Scientists can’t invent new minutes. And you can’t save time to spend it on another day.”Enjoy the second half of the term. I said in my last column that this year would be the best ever. We’re right on track.

FROM THE SECONDARY PRINCIPAL AND HEAD OF SCHOOL, MR GALE


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Suit jackets buttoned, ties adjusted and briefcases snapped shut, the young executives entered the meeting room. After a round of handshakes and introductions, they sat at the meeting table, ready to talk to the Head of School, Mr Gale, about their business proposition. The meeting was arranged by Year 12 Business Studies students who are taking part in the Enterprise programme, an initiative that gives them the chance to run their own business and exposes them to all the realities and challenges of the business world. Working in teams, the students are involved in every stage of business development, ranging from managing production and finances, organising sales and marketing campaigns and liaising directly with customers. “The students gain real-life, hands-on business experience and can put into practice what they learn in the classroom,” says Curriculum Team Leader for Business Enterprise and Learning Technologies, Mr Dube, who is facilitating the programme with ICT teacher Mrs Eaves.

He says the students are very enthusiastic about the enterprise programme. They began by watching an episode of the television programme The Dragons’ Den, where entrepreneurs pitch their business ideas to millionaires willing to invest their own cash. Next was a brain storming session and mind mapping to come up with different business ideas. Mr Dube says the students are encouraged to manufacture products or add value to existing products, rather than just buying items and selling them on.

“It’s interesting to see the different viewpoints and how the students find some areas of common ground. There is slight conflict, but in a very healthy way and the students are learning how to overcome that. What we expect to see as the project develops are high levels of innovation and ingenuity.”

"What we expect to see as the project develops are high levels of innovation and ingenuity.”

AN ENTERPRISING APPROACH

Mr Dube says while the early focus was on making money, the team is also exploring how they can support local charities. The programme facilitators also plan to tap in to the expertise of the school’s parent body and have offers from several parents who are prepared to give business advice. Aldar’s Marketing Manager will also talk to the students about developing marketing strategies. Mr Dube says the Enterprise programme will be extended across the secondary school next year and will eventually become a whole school initiative. He also hopes it will be taken on board by all Aldar schools. “We are really keen for the whole school to think enterprise and for students to develop the life skills, communication and interpersonal skills, along with increased self confidence, as they work their way through the different stages of their business,” he says.

YAZMANIA SETS SIGHTS ON T-SHIRT BUSINESSStudents in the Enterprise programme have established two companies. The first, Jazmania, plans to sell a range of t-shirts which will be printed with different designs. They will have a range of set designs but will also offer a bespoke service for customers who want individual designs. The t-shirts will be printed by the school’s uniform shop. The company will sell the t-shirts from a stall at the Festive Fayre on December 8.

“We are really keen for the whole school to think enterprise and for students to develop the life skills, communication and interpersonal skills, along with increased self confidence..."

AROUND THE BOARD TABLE: Students meet to discuss their business plan with the Head of School, Mr Gale. Karim Saleh Abdel Latif (left), Mitchell Keel, Ahmed Aman, Mr Gale, Faisal Ali, Dalia Audhali and Rameez Ansari

BUSINESSMEN: Karim Saleh Abdel Latif (left), Mitchell Keel, Ahmed Aman


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THE YAZMANIA TEAMAs company director, Dalia Audhali knows that the buck stops with her. She is aware of her directorial responsibilities and says she will be firm but fair in her approach. “My job is to lead the company and the discussions, make sure we are doing everything on time and on schedule, that we have a product and a name for product and know where we are going to get the product - in other words, all the aspects of running a business,” she says. “I will also make sure employers are turning up for meetings, are motivated, are contributing and are doing their job. In our business, everyone participates. Every week we need to make sure that everyone has done their job for the week, and my role is to make sure they are doing that.”

Administrator Karim Saleh knows that the attention to detail required of his role will be crucial to the efficient running of the company. “I will organise agendas for our business meetings and prepare outlines for proposals. I need to make sure things are running smoothly so will be applying common sense and using my organisational skills. I will be the person who is the point of contact with the uniform shop and will also be working closely with the Finance Director.”

Artistic Director Rameez Ansari’s designs will be used on the t-shirts being sold by the company. “I am concentrating on the t-shirt design, on the creative side of the business. I need to produce some set designs which will sell for a fixed price and I will also need to interpret ideas from customers who want a personalised design.” He will be working closely with the Marketing Manager to ensure the company has a presence on Facebook and will be drawing up posters to ensure the business is being promoted and advertised around the school.

JEWELLERY COMPANY READY FOR BRIGHT FUTUREA jewellery manufacturing and design company, offering both customised designs along with ranges produced by each of the employees, has been established by the second group of Year 11 students. Yea In Lim, Laura Tibi, Clara Ziada, Hibah Hassan and Anissa Johnson are the brains behind Of Petals and Pearls. The students plan to sell their jewellery via a website that will be attached to a fashion and lifestyle blog that Laura, the company’s Chief Executive, established in August.

READY FOR BUSINESS: Administrator Karim Saleh (left), Company Director, Dalia Audhali and Creative Director, Rameez Ansari

JEWELLERY SUPPLIES: Laura Tibi (left), Yea In Lim, Hibah Hassan and Clara Ziada

They will also use Facebook to attract customers. The employees eventually plan to expand the business to include clothing which they will design and manufacture. Laura, who is the Chief Executive, says the company will begin with jewellery and expand once it has a solid base of loyal customers.

The company sources some items for its jewellery locally, and also imports beads, ribbons and other items from Canada, Korea and London. Some items have been purchased on e-bay. Every employee is involved in the creative process, working under the guidance of Yea In, the company’s Creative Director, who says the name of each collection will reflect the individual who put it together. The company has already developed a signature bracelet which features faux pearls on a velvet band.

“We will all collaborate on the first collection, but will then focus on individual collections,” Laura says. “We all have different styles and this gives us the ability to target a lot of different tastes in the market. Some of our collections are vintage while others use more edgy designs featuring spikes and beads with skulls on them.”

The students say they will interact with other jewellery designers via the company blog, giving items to other fashion and jewellery bloggers who in turn write about the company and its products. They also have a private Facebook site where they can interact with each other and exchange ideas.

Yea In says her role in the company is an extension of what she enjoys as a hobby. “This is what I do in my spare time and I am always thinking about what I can design,” she says. “As Creative Director I will always also need to be thinking about innovation.” Laura says as CEO she will have to ensure staff stay motivated. “If anyone wants to join the business they have to prove what they can do to make this a better business or how they can help promote it,” she says. “Yea In knows what she is doing, she is very creative and organised so I don’t have to tell her to do this, she organises herself. In this company we want people who we can depend on without having to nag them.”

Clara has been appointed the company administrator, Hiba is in charge of business development and Anissa will take care of the finances. The students plan to have a stall at the Feline Friends Christmas market at the Abu Dhabi City Golf Club on November 30 where they hope to recoup some of their setup costs.


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AL YASMINA NATIONAL DAY CELEBRATIONS

A CELEBRATION FOR A NATIONNational Day is for everybody in the UAE, regardless of where they are from, Mr Abu Saleh says. Taking part in the celebrations gives people an opportunity to appreciate the heritage of the UAE and to increase their awareness of the culture of the Emirates which he says represents a "unique model of cross-cultural harmony, peaceful co-existence and religious tolerance."

“The host country provides facilities for everyone to live here peacefully and happily,” Mr Abu Saleh says. “National Day is an opportunity to express gratitude to the leaders who provide equal opportunities for everyone regardless of their religion or nationality. The expats make up the largest group in the country so they are the biggest beneficiary of everything that is good in the country. The UAE is the fastest developing country in the region and the UAE Nationals are optimistic about their future. On National Day we can all celebrate the achievements of the country.”

Organisers of the celebrations to mark the 41st UAE National Day on 29 November at Al Yasmina School are hoping the event will be even more successful than last year, when a host of activities were held to mark the 40th anniversary of the union. Curriculum Team Leader for Arabic, Islamic and UAE Social Studies, Mr Abu Saleh, says the scope of activities last year were particularly pleasing for the community of UAE Nationals at the school and many were visibly moved to see their culture taking centre stage.

The community wants to build on the success of the celebrations last year and a group of Arabic parents are joining FOY (Friends of Al Yasmina) to help organise the programme of activities this year. They will help source traditional dancers, decorations, flags, and will bring in artifacts from their homes and farms which will be sold at a charity bazaar offering traditional food, heritage items and handicrafts. Mr Abu Saleh says the format for the day will be similar to last year, with a students’ parade, an operetta, Yola dancing, which is performed by the men, and Na’sh dancing in which girls swish their hair from side to side as they dance.

Secondary students will deliver key note speeches, read Nabaitiy poems and take part in flag raising and oath taking activities. Oath taking is particularly significant for UAE Nationals. It will be recited mainly by Emirati students and other native Arabic speakers and testifies to their pride in the Union, loyalty to the leaders and a commitment to fulfill their aspirations and dreams by making sacrifices to ensuring the safety, security and sovereignty of the UAE.

CAREER DIRECTION: Careers advisor Mrs Howell talks to Year 13 student Jess Vickery


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CAREERS ADVISOR CASTS EYE OVER UNIVERSITY APPLICATIONS

“I want to make them think about what they would be doing in three or four years time when they finish their degrees so I encouraged them to think long term. It’s important that they do this before they start their degree so they can make any changes now. A lot of students do a degree because they think it is the right thing to do, but don’t know where it is going to take them and are unsure about exactly what skills they will acquire during their studies to achieve their end goal.” Mrs Howell has worked in the UK with secondary students of all age groups, with adults wanting professional qualifications, and with people whose roles have been made redundant.

Year 13 students have received expert advice from a careers advisor on how to market CVs and personal statements for their UCAS applications. All applications to higher education in the UK, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are done through UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Services ) which processes university applications. Students complete an online application, create a CV and write a personal statement.

Mrs Howell has had one-to-one sessions with all Year 13 students and says most personal statements are in good shape but many students needed to focus more on the marketing and presentation side of the documents. “Most of the students are selling themselves properly and have outlined their achievements and their transferable skills, so the main content is there, but they need to ensure they are presenting this in the best possible light,” she says. Mrs Howell also urged the students to think about where their higher education might take them.

Students with questions about career and higher/further education options can now find answers right on their doorstep. English teacher Miss Ariff has been newly appointed to the role of providing careers advice as part of the recent restructuring at the school. She is responsible for coordinating careers advice and activities and has an open door careers session each Tuesday after school for secondary students. Her current focus is on the school’s Post-16 students.

Representatives from Reading, Southampton and Warwick universities have spoken to the Post-16 students and this month a delegation from Abu Dhabi University will address the group. Miss Ariff is also collating information for students planning to attend university in other countries, such as Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the US, where admittance procedures differ from the UK.

She also hopes to be in a position to offer advice to families who are not resident in the UK but who wish their children to attend UK universities. Miss Ariff says from January she will introduce a careers-related programme for students in KS 3 and 4.

Other career-based initiatives in the secondary school include:

• careers-centred lessons are being delivered through the secondary school’s PSHCEE (personal, social, health, citizenship and economic education) programme for Year 11 students. A version of this may also be introduced for Year 8• on-line careers assessments• work sampling day for Year 7 students to introduce them to a working environment• work experience for Year 10 students• work placement for Post-16 students over the summer• mock job interview process for Year 9 students• a day for Year 10 students which focuses on business presentation skills.

[email protected]

A COORDINATED APPROACH TO CAREERS ADVICE


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the science festival was a fantastic experience

SCIENCE FAIR

took place on 16 October at ADNeC

the most exciting activity we did was dissecting a camel’s eye

we learned the importance of science in our lives and how the world would be hopeless without it

we discovered and explored information in an entertaining way

By Sally ZeidanYear 8 Hatta

SOURCE-BASED FOCUS FOR YEAR 13 HISTORY STUDENTS

Year 13 students who have chosen History as an A level subject are increasing their analytical knowledge and further developing the critical thinking skills they will need for their university studies. Subject Leader for History, Mrs Hodgson, says the subject provides students with important skills that will be of great value as they embark on their higher education and future studies. "History students learn to absorb, analyse and assess a wide variety of information and viewpoints, to express arguments in oral and written form, and to think and work both independently and in co-operation with others," she says. "This means History students acquire skills which are valued by employers in all fields. Learning about the past also enables students to come to a better understanding of the present."

The A2 History students have two double History periods twice a week with Mrs Hodgson and a double period once a week with History teacher Ms Natschowny. They are focusing on 20th century international relations from 1879-1980, examining the changing relationships between the powers and the ways in which this affected the balance of power throughout this period. They are concentrating on Germany between 1900 and 1945, analysing the development of Hitler's dictatorship and the fall of the Kaiser and the Weimar Republic.

The students will look carefully at Germany in peace and war and the tragic evolution of the culturally sophisticated and economically impressive Second Reich into the Third Reich via the Weimar Republic, Mrs Hodgson says. "This unit is a study in depth and requires a firm understanding both of the selected chronology and of key issues, problems and debates associated with it."

CHOOSING HISTORY FOR PRESENT DAY ADVANTAGE History will be one of the subjects Jon Alexander will study at university before heading for a career in military aviation or in the infantry, and he says learning "what went on before will come in handy." He says enjoys studying what he describes as a particularly volatile time in History. "It is different from GCSE in terms of skills. It's a lot more advanced and we have to be a lot more concise and can't waffle, but in terms of what we are studying there is lot of familiar ground. But I like the fact we are going into the subject in a lot more depth."

Chloe Moss decided to take History because she really enjoyed the subject in Year 12. She plans to be a PE teacher and says her History studies will further develop her analytical and essay writing skills.

"We did Germany history in Year 11 but we are now going into things in a lot more depth, using a different writing style and analysing sources so it's a lot harder."

Brandon Rowland plans to be a History teacher. He describes the Year 13 syllabus as fun, but difficult. "The Cold war and the naval arms race are all topics I enjoy," he says. "The biggest change compared to previous years is having to write in a more concise manner, making every word count and using source-based material." Brandon says he enjoys German history and is able to make use of what he learnt during the school History trip to Berlin when he was in Year 11.


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HISTORIANS: Brandon Rowland (left) Chelsea Lawson, Alistair Mains, Chloe Moss, Haas Al Mashani, Khalifa Saleh and Jon Alexander

HISTORY IN THE SECONDARY SCHOOL

Year 7 students have begun their History studies by examining their own pasts. They have produced timelines in a comic strip style to show significant events in their lives. Year 7 History teacher Mrs Wood says the students were asked to chose six major events in their lives and complete a timeline by drawing these events, writing about them or using photos. The exercise enabled to students to look at chronology, evidence, sources and what bias means in History.

"The students did very well in recording the important events in their lives, but most were not precise about when these events occurred," Mrs Wood says. "We will work on them being more specific, which is a skill they will master as their studies progress." Students were also asked to bring in pieces of evidence about themselves and their classmates had to write about what these items said about their fellow students. The class was flooded with memorabilia as the students brought in mementoes from their past. For Lotte De Rooy, it was a cup she received in a sailing competition. "I've given up sailing now but it reminds me of what I did achieve when I used to sail a lot," she says.

H History in the secondary schoolStudents will study the following topics this year:Year 7

Students will study the following topics this year:

Year 10 Causes of WW1 The Peace Settlement 1918 The Cold war Germany 1918 -1939

Year 11 Germany from 1918-1939 USA 1945 - 1970 Post-16 Germany from 1900-1945 The Cold War 1945 - 1990

HISTORY BECOMES PERSONAL FOR YEAR 7 STUDENTS


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Year 7 What is History? Medieval Times

Year 8 The Tudors Native Americans Year 9 Industrial revolution Slavery The Battle of Somme

MEMORABILIA: Lotte De Rooy with her sailing cup.


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PASTORAL FOCUS FOR YEAR 7

BOXING ON: Reem Ibasais (left) and Jamie Queen with the 86 boxes filled as part of the Box Appeal charity campaign.

each issue of the Secondary PArtnership will focus on a different secondary year group. In this issue we look at Year 7.

Comprehensive support measures are in place to ensure that the transition from primary to secondary school is a smooth one for Al Yasmina’s Year 7 students. Year 7 Leader Miss Macleod says the move into the secondary school is an exciting one for the students who feel more grown up with their own lockers, secondary school uniform and specialist teachers. Although they are the youngest students in the secondary school they are every bit as important as the older students, and this message is reinforced in Year 7 assemblies, Miss Macleod says.

The mentor group structure is particularly important for Year 7 students. Registration and PSCHEE lessons are delivered via mentor groups. The Year 7 students have decorated display boards in their rooms with pictures of themselves, giving information on where they have come from and their personal targets. This lead to a healthy competition between each of the six Year 7 mentor groups for the best boards, Miss Macleod says.

“For this Year group the pastoral side is just as important as their subject learning so in PSCHEE lessons we are focusing on what their issues might be and being in tune with anything that the students want to discuss,” she says.

Goals and target setting are a focus for Year 7 students this term. They are encouraged to meet manageable, smaller goals each week and as a group worked together towards a bigger goal of organising the box appeal this year. A total of 86 boxes were filled and will be donated to the city’s labourers. Other ideas include organising a fundraising event to support the World Challenge students. The Year 7 students will also have the opportunity to forge relationships with the school’s Year 12 in a peer mentoring scheme which is part of the Year 12 community service award. This scheme gives the older students an opportunity to undertake volunteer activities in the school and the wider community.

A buddy system has been established, allowing the six Year 12 students in the CSA scheme to work alongside Year 7 students who may need extra help with organisation or support with homework or other issues during PSCHEE. This scheme was introduced to students at a Year 7 assembly. “A lot of issues can be worked through with the help of an older student,” Miss Macleod says. “We have also put a suggestion box in each mentor group and Year 7 students who have any concerns can write them down, put them in the box and then the Year 12 students can take charge and sit down with the younger students to work through these issues.”

FARIS’S POEM Once a young child sat with his dad with a map on his lapFound land shaped like a kangaroo and asked “Where’s that?” pointing at the map.“I don’t know,” he answered, “I don’t know.”

Down in the Middle East, where nothing grewSat a leader looking at the view“One day this place will be a beauty,” said this wise leader, “One day this place will be a beauty.”

Sand blew from west to eastThe trees left stood like a beast“This place is dead,” said the British, trying to find resources for WWII, “This place is dead.”

Then came a son of a sonWho grew up in the sand under the sun“This child will be great,” said his father, “This child will be great.”

He was young, he was wiseHis wisdom slowly rose“This child will be a great ruler,” said his father, “this child will be a great ruler.”

Started with Al Ain, slowly to the big cityTurned a big city, green and pretty “It’s a dead country,” they said, “It’s a dead country.”Under the sun, he had a dreamThat all the cities nearby became a team“That was when the union started,” announced UAE, “That was when the union started.”

Once unknownNow knownTook 20 years, or less, took 20 years

We have power, we have fameHe created us a patriotic nameEmirati we call our self, proudly, Emirati we call our self

Now the richest, strongest and the bestHe accomplished a dream, he accomplished a quest“You taught me well,” as this wise ruler looked down in his father’s grave, “You taught me well.”

Broke records locally and worldwideWe’re proud to have this pride“Is this still a dead country?” I asked. “Is this still a dead country?”

In 2004 thunder struckTurned all our hearts into muckRest in peace, great one, rest in peace.

Now we have the biggest tower, we have the biggest mallNow this country will never fallHis name was Sheikh Zayed, rest in peace great one, his name was Sheikh Zayed.


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WRITING FROM THE HEART Year 10 student Faris Al Nahdi was five-years-old when he met His Highness Sheikh Zayed at a horse riding competition in Egypt. Faris has no memory of the meeting and relies on the photographs of them together as evidence of his encounter with the Father of the Nation. So when he was asked to write a poem at school for National Poetry Day, Faris did what he always does - he turned to HH Sheikh Zayed for inspiration.

“We had to plan and write a poem but mine was already in my heart,” Faris says. “Sheikh Zayed is the inspiration for everything I do, all I had to do was write it on paper. He is my greatest inspiration because of everything he has done and his beautiful vision for this country.” Faris writes poetry for pleasure and recites it to his family. Visiting relatives often ask to hear his latest compositions. “All I need to do is think of Sheikh Zayed, my favourite hero, and that will motivate me to write a poem,” he says

POET: Faris Al Nahdi recites his poem about HH Sheikh Zayed.

“All I need to do is think of Sheikh Zayed, my favourite hero, and that will motivate me to write a poem.”

EXAMINATION RESPONSIBILITY: Al Yasmina School’s Examination Officer, Mrs Gale.


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EXAMINATION OFFICER LEAVES NO ROOM FOR ERRORAl Yasmina School has appointed an Examination Officer to oversee the organisation of the school’s GCSE, A level and BTEC examinations. Mrs Gale’s responsibilities range from educating students about exam protocol to managing the enrolment process, analysing data and handling queries after the exam results have been received. Her key responsibilities include registering the details of all students in Years 10-13 who are sitting GCSE and A level exams with Edexcel, the school’s exam board, liaising with Curriculum Team Leaders over programmes of study, producing exam timetables and ensuring all fees are paid on time. Mrs Gale also liaises with ADEC to ensure exam results are approved and registered.

Another important part of her role is keeping up-to-date with Edexcel course changes and ensuring these are communicated to Curriculum Team Leaders. Edexcel has a regional office in Dubai and Mrs Gale works with the exam board’s coordinator for the region and the account advisor in London. “Each year Edexcel sends us up-to-date information on the courses changes, specifications and new opportunities, so I make sure teachers can access this information,” Mrs Gale says.

[email protected]

I’ve heard that if I go for a remark on my exam paper that the mark can only go up, not down - is this true?There are 3 things that can happen:1. Your original mark is confirmed as correct and there is no change to your grade.2. Your original mark is raised so your final grade may be higher than the original grade you received.3. Your original mark is lowered and may or may not affect your original grade (it is recommended to ask for re-mark if within 3 marks of the next grade so a loss of 1 or 2 marks would not usually result in a grade change)

I’ve heard that there are some changes to the GCSe exams. what are these, and how will it affect Al Yasmina students?Maths is moving to a linear course which means current Year 10 students will sit their final exam in Summer 2014. Other subjects, including ICT and Business, are changing from IGCSE to GCSE and will be modular courses, examined throughout the year.

why is it important that my name on my passport matches the name on my examination papers?Because when applying for university or college places or at a job interview, you will be asked for a copy of your passport and this will need to match against the name that appears on your exam certificates. It can potentially create many difficulties if the name on both documents differ. Also, ADEC requires the passport name to exactly match school exam results documentation.

Can I re-sit in any exam session?Some subjects are available in November, January, March and June others in June only. The availability can be checked with the Examination Officer or the student’s subject teacher.

FAQ

Can I get a copy of my exam paper?Yes. Every student who has sat an exam paper may request a copy of that paper. There is a deadline for paper requests for each exam series - ie November, January, March and June. This year, the deadline for the summer series was September 20.

Do I pay for this?The cost of getting a paper returned varies by subject, but it is around 100dhs per written paper or module sat.

If I opt for a resit, and I did better in the first exam paper than in my second attempt, can I choose the better of the two grades? Edexcel will take the best mark of any units sat at A Level and GCSE. However, if you resit and re-aggregate a whole GCSE they take the most recent grade.

Is there anything on my resit result that indicates I sat the exam more than once?The provisional statements of results after each exam series will show all attempts, the final certificates show only the final aggregated grade.

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FOY is looking for a volunteer to fill the role of Santa at the Festive Fayre on December 8. “It will involve about an hour of someone’s time and will make a lot children very happy,” FOY Chair Mrs Loftus says. “We would also like to hear from anyone who can lend us a Santa suit for the day.” The Festive Fayre is being held in the school grounds on December 8 from 11am to 2pm, and organisation for the event is in full swing. Volunteers are still needed. Anyone who can run a stall or can help with organisation before the event can email [email protected]

FOY would like to hear from parents who are interested in purchasing fresh vegetables via the school. The group is considering a partnership with the Abu Dhabi Farmers’ Services Centre, an organisation that distributes food from local farms. If the scheme is introduced, Al Yasmina families could submit weekly or monthly orders, with cash payment, for fresh vegetables or a soup or salad mixed box in either 2kg, 5kg or 7kg weights. Produce is fresh and prices reasonable, with all funds received used to benefit local farmers and FOY for the benefit of Al Yasmina students. “At this point, we are simply gauging interest to see if this is a worthwhile venture,” Mrs Loftus says. “Boxes would be delivered weekly to the school atrium at parent pick up time. Parents would be responsible for picking up their box on the designated day/time and signing for it.” Register your interest by emailing [email protected].

FOY is still looking for a parent willing to take on the role of FOY secretary. Please email Mrs Loftus if you are interested in joining FOY or need more information on the role.The next FOY meeting is on Monday 26 November at 8am in the old uniform shop, ground level, off the atrium.

Key dates:

26 November - Next FOY meeting 29 November - National Day 8 December - Festive Fayre

SEARCHING FOR SANTA

“This allows students to put up reports, link through to different internet sites, and create an online forum so they can collaborate and teach each other,” Mrs Dunn says. “They can update and modify the material as they wish and upload it to their group so everybody in the Year 11 ICT group can then also access it. They can also invite people from other groups to view their work. It will be a continuous buildup of the students’ resources.”

Emails are the first part of the package to be implemented and the interactive components will be in place shortly. Once the system is robust, Miss Dunn says it will be introduced gradually into the secondary school, one year group at a time. The aim is for each Year group to have their own area and within that Year group every subject will also have its own space.

NEW LOOK FOR ICT CURRICULUMThe secondary school’s ICT curriculum has been revamped to make it more relevant, modern, enriching and engaging. Students will look at real world applications and learn more about how they work, increasing their base knowledge which in turn will raise attainment levels. There will be lots of interactive and animation-based projects and a focus on up-to-date, relevant learning.

INTERACTIVE LEARNING TOOL FOR YEAR 11 ICT STUDENTSYear 11 ICT students are trialing a new software package that allows them to collaborate online with their classmates using web conferencing, group videos, emails and voice chat. If the project is successful, the ICT department plans to introduce it across the secondary school.

ICT teacher Mrs Dunn says Office 365 runs on all PCs and Apple computers, smart phones, android phones and Blackberries, enabling students to stay in touch with each other through what is essentially a virtual learning environment.

Students can carry out group work from remote locations using the tools available in the software package. Typically they might upload and download documents and use messaging, video conferencing and file sharing to complete tasks set by the teacher. The information can be uploaded to a blog or Wikispace.

Please email your answers.The solution and the person who solved it correctly will be published next month. [email protected]

This month’s challenge may cause a few problems. Using only the numbers 1 to 6 can you make each “leg” of the L shape add up to the same number?I have provided one solution there are two more…

MR RICHARDS’ MATHEMATICAL CHALLENGEFrom many correct entries Zaid Al-Qaimi drawn at random provided the correct answer of 5, simply adding the top and bottom row.

1 3 3 5 4

5 6 8 7 ?

4 3 5 2 1

2

1

3 5 4


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Secondary librarians have catalogued books for the Accelerated Reading Programme and students have been through the initial round of testing. The programme is designed to improve the reading abilities of students and encourage a life-long love of reading. Year 7 students are the first to participate in the scheme, which will be introduced across the secondary school next year. The on-line assessment provides information on the student’s overall reading ability and suggests a range of book levels for each student. Teachers then meet with each student to set individualised reading practice goals and monitor progress as the students work towards these goals.

Aran Quintana returned a perfect score after his on-line test. The avid reader answered questions on The Spooks’ Stories (Witches) by Joseph Delaney, which he describes as a “good combination of fantasy and comedy, which work well together.” Aran couldn’t say exactly how many books he would typically read in a week. “If I’ve got seven books, then maybe seven,” he says. After they finish their books, students take part in a quiz to test their comprehension level. Points are awarded to students each time they win a quiz and these points are exchanged for prizes.

EMIRATES LITFEST WRITING COMPETITIONSCalling all budding poets and authors - the Emirates Festival of Literature is next March, but entries for story writing and poetry competitions close later this month. Students can submit a poem exploring the LitFest theme of “Heroes and Villains” or write a story about “Seeking the Truth.” Entries for both categories close on November 25. To submit your entry, and for further information, see www.emirateslitfest.com

READING PROGRAMME OFF TO A GOOD START


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AVID READER: Aran Quintana (left) with the book he was quizzed on, and (right) Reem Ibasais chooses a book for the accelerated reading programme.

NEW HORSE RIDING CLUB FOR SECONDARY SCHOOLA group of eight secondary students have become the first to join the Al Yasmina Equestrian Club. The novice riders have begun lessons at the Al Forsan Equestrian Club and the club coordinator, FS1 teacher Ms O’Farrell says another eight students come on board in December. Lessons are in five week blocks and each session is 30 minutes long. Ms O’Farrell says giving students the opportunity to take a short number of lessons initially gives them the chance to see if horse riding is a hobby they want to pursue before making a longer financial commitment.

The first group of students are in Years 6-10. Ms O’Farrell, who has a Certificate in Breeding and Horsemanship from an equestrian college in Ireland and has taught riding for 10 years, assists the Al Forsan instructor. She says the students learn to ride fairly quickly. “By the end of five weeks the students should be confident on their horses, will have learned to maintain proper posture on the horse and will be able to get their ponies to walk, trot, canter and go over small jumps,” she says.

Students pay 500dhs for a block of five lessons. Bus transportation is provided by the school to the equestrian centre in Khalifa A and Al Forsan has waived the normal entry fee into the resort. Members of the school’s equestrian club also receive a discount from Al Forsan’s shop and discounted entry to events at the resort. Ms O’Farrell says if the students in the first groups decide to continue with horse riding and advance to intermediate and advanced levels then the school will be able to offer riding lessons across the ability range. The equestrian club is on Wednesdays from 2.45pm. Students are back at school by 4pm. All the gear is provided by the centre, but students need to bring a long-sleeved top, long pants and closed shoes. Secondary students interested in joining the club from January should email Ms O’Farrell.

[email protected]

A MUSICAL END TO EACH MONTH

Don’t miss the opportunity for a musical interlude on the last Thursday of each month. The school’s talented musicians perform at an after school concert, showcasing a range of different instruments and musical styles, ranging from electric guitar to the flute and a range of brass instruments. The performance helps students get used to performing in front of an audience. The concert is held in the old uniform shop, on the ground floor of the school just off the atrium. Note: The concert was held early this month because of half term. The next performance is Thursday, November 29, at 2.45pm.


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HORSEMANSHIP: Year 9 student and Al Yasmina Equestrian Club member Amro Luqman puts his horse through its paces.

DISCOVERY TAKES OFF

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HOUSE SYSTEM EXPANDS THROUGHOUT SECONDARY SCHOOL


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Discovery has taken the lead in the House competitions after students put their sporting prowess to the test just before half term break with boys’ football and girls’ netball competitions. Director of Sport Mr Smith says the tournaments were all close affairs and were played in good spirit with a healthy dose of competitiveness. “Thanks to both staff and students for ensuring the House competition started in true Al Yasmina style,” he says. The next activities on the House sporting calendar are athletics and swimming. Overall Standings for term 1:

The House system is about to hit the classroom, beginning this term with English, Maths and Science competitions for Year 10 and 11 students. “Look for inter classroom chess competitions, Olympic-style maths quizzes, and Shakespeare spot prizes,” says Director of Sport, Mr Smith. “The idea is to extend the same fun, competitive element that we have in House sports through to all other areas of learning.”

The new House system will extend across all KS3 subjects next term and Post-16 students will come on board in the third term. House points and bonus points will be awarded during the year and the winning House announced at the end of each year. Students have to apply for roles as House captains and House leaders, Mr Smith says and he is currently sifting through around 70 written applications. Appointees will be featured in the next Secondary PARTnership.

“We’re hoping that students will bring the enthusiasm and competitiveness they have on the sporting field to the classroom,” Mr Smith says. “We know we are going to get the same eagerness to compete and desire to uphold the school’s motto of pride, aspiration, respect and trust.”


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Back from left: Maddie Korff (Music), Nour Barjes (French), Zain Mustafa (Drama),Tejas Menon (ICT), Mohamed Al Hashmi (Arabic native), Rowan Smith (Arabic non-native), Shan Coley (History), Kelsi Friedenthal (Science)Front from left: Roxy Gardiner (Geography & Spanish), Mr Gale (Head of School), Kieran Moss (DT), Salmaan Mohammad (Islamic Studies non-native), Dana Nasser (Islamic Studies -native)Not pictured: Fadhel Barakat (UAE Social Studies), Khamis Al Hinai (Maths), Karim Saleh Abdel Latif (Business & Economics), Shahmir Khan (English), Stephanie Lepouras (Psychology), Jake Hughes (PE), Liam Troup (Art)

STUDENTS OF THE MONTH

NEW SECONDARY STUDENT COUNCIL ELECTEDStudent Voice representatives have been elected, and their first job is to come up with a new name for the group. Ideas so far include The Voice of Al Yasmina, Student Committee and PARTicipation Group. The students will also nominate a Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, Secretary and Treasurer.

Student Voice coordinator Mrs Hewitt says these positions of responsibility will rotate each term. This year every Learning Mentor group has one representative on Student Voice and all representatives will attend a fortnightly meeting to ensure that each Learning Mentor group has a ‘voice’, she says. The next meeting is period five, Thursday November 8. “We are still in the early stages of discussing our plans for the year but so far the students are very enthusiastic about working in conjunction with the primary school council, improving the atrium, planning celebration and charity days, improving the school’s environmental impact and improving communication within school,” she says.

Year 7Butinah –Katya AyassMaryah-Fatima AnaniDelma-Matthew PretoriusYas-Ibrahim Al MokatashFutaisi-Sumayah YousafReem-Kayan Khraisheh

Year 8Siji-Nicole GrossTayyibah-Abdullah Al MazroueiBih-James EnsorGaleelah-Micheal FranksHatta-Rachel FoulshamMardi-Aurore Queromain

Year 9Jaziera- tbcKhaladiya- Chris LincolnMuroor-Tina KamelSafarat-Ramya IyerGurm-Geethma KaunatilekeHamdan-Areeb Ansari

Year 10Sidra-tbcKhannour- Katha TomaYasmina-Salem Al ShamsiMuzeera-Eliel PonenQattouf – Tehara Moonemalle

Year 11Jahili-Yash BhatiaFahidi-Clara ZiadaBushaq-Mohmmmad Shahrour/Anissa JohnsonHusn-Mallory de Man

Year 12Nayhan-Nicola BurgessMaktoum – Thomas Willcoxson-Staines

Year 13Zayed-Post 16 leadership team on a rotaKhalifa-Post 16 leadership team on a rota

Cakes, cookies and muffins with a Halloween theme filled the atrium yesterday in a bake sale organised by Post-16 World Challenge students. The baking, which was donated by parents, was sold after school to hoards of hungry students. Duke of Edinburgh Award Coordinator Ms Stephenson says the bake sale raised dhs 5200. “Thanks to everyone who contributed,” she says.


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HALLOWEEN BAKE SALE

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