uas secondary march newsletter 2015

UAS Mission Statement: Universal American School provides a challenging, inquiry-based American and interna�onal

educa�on that empowers students to be caring individuals, cri�cal thinkers, and responsible global ci�zens.

March 2015

Le er from the Principal

Dear Parents and Students,

This month has been filled with events and success for many students in many different fields.

My ar�cle this month will focus on the achievements of our students. However, there is also

some important informa�on that I would like to add as we near the end of quarter 3.

Firstly, I would like to congratulate the Senior Art students who displayed their wonderful art

pieces at the Annual IB Art Exhibi�on last week. The students were very ar�culate when explain-

ing the symbolism behind each of their pieces. Congratula�ons to all the students and to Ms.

Etemadi for pu-ng on such a great showcase of UAS ar�s�c talents. I would also like to thank

Mr. Lefort for his support of the students.

Also this month we had the cap and gown photos for the seniors. The seniors came dressed up

and were very elegant and mature.

Inside this issue:

Le0er from the

Principal - 1

Student Council - 2

Math Dept. News - 3

Arts News - 6

Athle�cs News - 10

FABC News - 13

Green Commi0ee - 14

Important Dates:

Mar. 26 - End of 3rd

quarter

Mar. 27-Apr. 11 -

Spring break

Apr. 12 - Q4 begins

Apr. 14 - Student

Council Talent Show

Apr. 15 - Gr. 8 Service

Learning Project Fair

Apr. 15 - MUN-ISS

Apr. 16 - Last day Gr.

12

Apr. 21 - PISA test

Apr. 21 - Poetry Slam

The STING

Le er from the Principal cont’d.

Last weekend we competed and hosted the OAC track and field compe��on. UAS performed very well taking first place in

JV Boys and JV Girls, and second place in Varsity Girls and Varsity Boys. Congratula�ons to all the compe�tors and athletes.

A special thank you to Mr. Buschini the Athle�cs Director and all the teacher volunteers who helped in pu-ng on such a

successful event.

Important Informa on:

Quarter 3 Report Cards will be posted on the school portal on Sunday April 19. Shortly aBerwards the students will be giv-

en their course selec�on forms for next year. It is important that these are returned promptly as spaces in some classes will

be limited. The deadline to return the course selec�on forms will be aBer the parent-teacher conferences (29-30 April).

This will give parents and students the opportunity to discuss course op�ons for next year.

The second round of MAP tes�ng will take place in April. Students in grades 7-9 will sit a Language, Reading, Math and Sci-

ence test. The report on the students’ growth will be posted on the portal as soon as the results are returned.

I wish everyone a wonderful spring vaca�on.

Simone SebbanSimone SebbanSimone SebbanSimone Sebban

Student Council News

The Student Council had a stand for the Interna�onal Day fair and had a lot of fun with kids

from 6 to 66 years old. This year we had an aqua�c theme, with a “catch-a-duck” and a “drop-

the-penny-in-the-fish tank” ac�vi�es. We also organized a face pain�ng workshop that met

with quite a bit of success.

Our next big event will be a cookie compe��on (the Council will provide the milk), open to all

our would-be bakers, students and staff. More informa�on will be sent out aBer the Spring

break.

In April, we will also be hos�ng our yearly Talent Show, pu-ng our talented student in the

limelight.

The STING

Featured Department: Mathema cs

The STING

Featured Department: Mathema cs cont’d.

The STING

Featured Department: The Arts

The The The The AAAARRRRTTTTSSSS at at at at UASUASUASUAS!!!!

This year, students in Music, Art, and Theatre have really shined! Tal-

ent pours out of this school!

Here is a little sampling of all that we have done…

Theatre….

The STING

Featured Department: The Arts cont’d.

Music….

"The UAS Grade 8 Choir recently par�cipated in Choir Fest Middle East, held at Nord Anglia Interna�onal School. The choir

par�cipated in a workshop with an a capella quartet, Cadence, and watched many other choirs perform from across Dubai.

The Grade 8 students represented UAS extremely well, and knocked the socks off of the audience with their dancing!"

"The UAS Grade 7 and 8 combined band playing their finale at the January Band concert."

Don't miss the Grade 7 and 8 Band and Choir Extravaganza held on Tuesday, June 2 at 7:00 pm in the MPH!"

The STING


Art…. “Hamsa Hands Project and a visit from an ar st”

In response to the project of ”Hamsa Hands”, students gained a be0er understanding of the historical and cultural signifi-

cance of these symbolic objects. Grade 8 Visual Art students produced comprehensive and well organized Inves�ga�on

Workbooks which show how they developed their ideas through research of different cultures, recording informa�on,

analyses, sketches, media experimenta�on, ar�st connec�on and planning.

Students learned that the Hamsa hands are very well-known amulet found throughout the Middle East. They studied their

symbolic meanings and why they are used for protec�on, blessings, and strength by Muslim and Chris�an people alike.

For the first part of the project they each did a realis�c drawing of hands using gridlines with tonal pencils in their art jour-

nals, then they each learned the technique of using foil art, and produced very professional Hamsa hands using foils.

Next, Miss Zari and her grade 8 classes welcomed, Mrs. Marlene Nasra who is a UAE-based tradi�onal ar�st to the art

room. Mrs. Nasra’s work mostly revolves around oriental mo�fs, floral landscapes, s�ll life, and close-ups of Hamsa hands.

She visited UAS and demonstrated to both Grade 8 classes her style of floral Hamza hands in acrylic.

Students each produced an A4 size acrylic piece inspired by her style. Grade 8 classes then con�nued their work and each

student created a sculpture hand piece using packaging tape and mod-roc. Students painted and decorated their sculpture

pieces in their own chosen style.

Please see examples of students work below.

The STING


“IB Final Art Exhibi on”

Last week my Grade 12 IB art students held their IB Visual Arts Exhibi�on. ABer

almost two years of pu-ng countless hours into both their inves�ga�on work-

books and their studio works, students enjoyed this very special event and got

the opportunity to showcase their hard work. They prac�ced for their IB inter-

views on the next two days by presen�ng to teachers, parents and members of

the administra�on. It was a very joyful opening night recep�on with students,

their parents and staff talking with the students about their experience and their

achievements over the dura�on of this course.

The interviews were filmed thanks immensely to Mr. Lefort for helping me con-

duct the examina�on by videotaping the exam interviews which will be soon sent

off to IB for modera�on along with their ar�st statement, photographs of their

pieces and their inves�ga�on workbooks.

Again congratula�ons to Rawan, Femke, Misha, Mahra, Alia, Dyala, Anne-Marie,

Aditya, Ka�a and Jennifer for a very successful final art exhibi�on. ☺

GALLERY VISIT

The Mirror

Handmade Printmaking: Chalcography Group

Exhibi�on from Iran

On February 11th the juniors’ art class took a trip to an art gallery. The exhibit

presented the print works of 11 different ar�sts on the theme “mirrors“. We, as

students, learned the different styles of chalcographic prin�ng, the effort put

into the crea�on of each matrice (metal plates used to create the prints) and

how a print is made valuable.

When we first arrived at the gallery the curator, a previous student of our very

own Mrs. Zari E�madi, explained the purpose behind this gallery exhibit “this

project is seen mostly as an experimental and educa�onal one“ said Anali Vakili

“Throughout this process, everyone’s idea about mirror and their rela�ons to

mirror evolved and eventually found its own shape, form and style“.

ABer that we watched a video introducing us to the various processes for the

different styles of printmaking. We learned the difference between direct and

indirect chalcographic prin�ng. We learned how the etching technique unlike the

dry point technique does not use any chemicals. We not only learned about

printmaking but we also had the opportunity to see, first hand, the tools used to

etch and create textures onto the metal plate. Because of this video we were

able to later iden�fy the aqua�nt technique because of the texture the resin

leaves onto the plate.

We learned that the plates are actually destroyed aBer a certain number of prints are produced. Which at first baffled us,

un�l we learned that this process makes the prints valuable due to the fact that they are one of a kind and can no longer be

recreated and resold: thus the concept of limited edi�ons.

We got the chance to not only look at the different pieces the ar�st created, but talk to three of the ar�sts and ask them

what inspired them personally to create their works. This experience was not only interes�ng and educa�onal but also

helpful in understanding the benefit and importance of viewing things in different perspec�ves.

by Rand Habbal, G11, IB Visual Arts student, UAS-Dubai, March 2015.

The STING


IB VISUAL ARTS

It is rather common to find that many students, teachers and

parents alike are uninformed about what exactly the IB Visual

Arts program entails. It is important to understand that this

rich course goes far and beyond the simple development of

ar�s�c skills and produc�on of artworks. To assume so would

be commi-ng a great injus�ce to all that this course has to

offer.

According to the course descrip�on on the official IBO web-

site “the course encourages students to ac�vely explore the

visual arts within and across a variety of local, regional, na-

�onal, interna�onal and intercultural contexts.” The course

descriptor then goes on to further outline the technicali�es of

the program. Yet, from the perspec�ve of a student personally involved in the course, this descrip�on once again falls short

of capturing the true essence and beauty of the Visual Arts program.

As IB Visual Art students, we reach beyond simply the explora�on of the visual arts across the boundaries of different cul-

tural contexts, rather, we thrive to explore all aspects of life, and more importantly, of ourselves. The freedom and inde-

pendence offered by the program is unlike that of any other course, allowing students at this cri�cal age of self-discovery

to do just that: understand and express themselves. Such libera�on presents students with complexi�es and obstacles they

must overcome, evoking depth of thought and an extensive process of explora�on. The crea�on of a successful final piece

involves a comprehensive procedure that involves several stages of brainstorming, inves�ga�on, researching, experimenta-

�on, and finally crea�on. These are skills that are not exclusive to the visual arts, but beneficial to students’ educa�on and

development. Consequently, the IB learner profile is not simply a neglected concept hanging on the walls of the classroom,

but an integral part of the course. Students are encouraged to ques�on what they wish to produce, why they wish to pro-

duce it, how to do so most effec�vely and how it is significant in the portrayal of a predetermined message.

Upon the comple�on of an artwork, we present our work to our classmates, reflec�ng on the process and receiving feed-

back. Mr. Lefort is not fond of the word “final” piece and has taught us that, to an ar�st, this concept does not exist. We

reflect, we refine, we produce, constantly thriving for a sense of perfec�on that can only be sa�sfied by the constant pro-

cess of explora�on that the visual arts program ins�lls in us. So long as we are living beings, we will con�nue to take in the

extraordinary encounters of everyday life. As students of the IB visual arts course, we learn to do so with great apprecia-

�on for the intricacies of life.

By Farida Saleh, G11, IB Visual Arts student, UAS-Dubai, March 2015.

WWW PHOTO FOCUS

Twenty four students from grade 7 to 9 who wanted to learn how to take their digital SLR photography to a higher level,

both crea�vely and technically, a0ended this crea�ve workshop offered during the Week Without Wall 2015:

During the Week without walls experience I chose Photography, because I had a professional camera, which I didn’t know

how to use properly. In the beginning of the Photography course I wanted to learn how to use the filters, how to use

se-ngs, how to take perfect portrait and landscape pictures, and when and how to use the different kinds of se-ng op-

�ons.

During this short week I learnt a lot, and the experience was amazing. As on our first day we watched a few video on pho-

tography and we took portrait picture of other members of the group, it was a good experience because we got to meet

other people in the class we didn’t know. We also went around school to take pictures of people and things, which was a

good experience. That day I learnt how to focus, stay s�ll whilst taking pictures, and how to take a good picture, which in-

cludes angle and background.

The STING


On our second day we went for a walk around Al Badia and we stopped near the lake. Many of us took amazing pictures

and the Al Badia Lake was new for some of us, because most of us had never been there. ABer the lake we walked around

the area looking for things to take pictures of. ABer 2-3 hours we headed back to school with a short break at spinneys. The

fun part of the trip was showing our pictures to everyone at the end, and people nicely gave us ideas of how to improve

the picture for next �me.

On our third day we went to Al Bastakiya, which was an amazing experience

because we were enhancing the Arabic culture whilst looking at different types

of art. Later on aBer lunch we walked around the creek almost photo bombing

a magazine photo-shoot. Later on some of us went for a boat ride, which was

pre0y fun because we got to see the area more. Around 1:00pm we headed

back to school, went to class, and chose one of our best pictures of the day. It

was nice to see how people found perfect places to take pictures. Many of us

were really crea�ve with choosing an area to take pictures of. I chose a picture

of the camel and I named it “Trapped” because the poor thing was �ed up

when we reached Al Bastakiya.

Besides that my experience was amazing thanks to Mr. Lefort, Mrs. Zari, Mrs. Hontoria. I learnt a lot in 3 and half days

thanks to them.

By Khadijah Suleman, G9, UAS-Dubai, March 2015.

“I really like the pictures I took and I feel proud about them. On the third day,

when we went to heritage village, I had an amazing �me walking around, tak-

ing pictures and learning about the area. When we went on the boat ride, I

took a lot of pictures of the ducks and boats in the water. I really enjoyed this

course and i learned a lot from it and i will use what I learned in the future.

this is a start for me, and i will con�nue to experiment in my photography.”

By Banna Ashour, G8

“During the three lessons, how to say it was amazing ! I discovered new places

to take pre0y pictures, more details about the ¨white balance ¨amount of

light, method to do portrait ( ver�cal ) , tricks to pick the good light ( perspec-

�ve ) , to develop crea�vity ( story, images... ) This experience was very nice

and make me confident to sign up for next year.”

By Raphaelle Pepin, G7

by Khadijah Suleman - G9

by Subhadeep Sarkar - G8

by Varun Bha0acharyya - G8

by Lianri Van Schalkwyk

- G9

The STING

Athle cs News

ACS Athens Swimming Cup

March 5th

-8th

saw the UAS swim team par�cipate in the American Community School Athens Swimming Cup. This was the

first �me the swim team had par�cipated in the event and with 12 schools taking part it was the biggest swim meet UAS

had ever par�cipated in. The team comprised of 23 athletes all looking to gain a personal best and a piece of silverware to

take back to Dubai. Our swimmers did a fantas�c job with many pos�ng personal bests and we had numerous podium plac-

ing’s. We will definitely be looking to return to ACS Athens next year to improve upon our overall placing.

OAC JV Boys & Girls Basketball Tournament

The JV Boys & Girls Basketball teams par�cipated in the Oasis Ac�vi�es Conference basketball tournament from March 12th

-14th

in Abu Dhabi. With a long season behind them both the boys and the girls teams were confident heading into the

tournament. The boys played some great basketball, but came up against some s�ff opposi�on in ACS Beirut who knocked

the boys out of the tournament at the Semi-Final stage, the boys went on to finish the tournament in 4th

place. The JV Girls

team started the tournament strong and con�nued to dominate all three days, ul�mately finishing the tournament in 1st

place and going undefeated. Congratula�ons to both teams for a great tournament and great sportsmanship.

Season 2 Sports Awards Ceremony

On March 16th

the UAS Athle�c Department hosted the Season 2 Sports Awards Ceremony. The evening is a night to recog-

nize the hard work and dedica�on the student-athletes exhibit throughout the season. Many coaches had videos and slide

shows to show their athletes and it was a nice �me for student-athletes to be as a team one last �me.

OAC Track & Field Championships

March 20th

-21st

saw the UAS campus host the OAC Track & Field Championships. With 130 athletes compe�ng for medals

as well as personal bests it proved to be a fantas�c weekend. The UAS Scorpions had a great performance over the two

days, with many athletes taking home medals and many gaining PB’s. Please see below the overall team results:

JV Girls Overall Team Ranking – 1st

Place

JV Boys Overall Team Ranking – 1st

Place

V. Girls Overall Team Ranking – 2nd

Place

V. Boys Overall Team Ranking – 2nd

Place

Thank you to all the athletes who competed tremendously well and showed fantas�c sportsmanship throughout the cham-

pionships. Also, thank you to the many volunteers who worked extremely hard to make the event a success.

The STING

Fine Arts Booster Club

FAB, The Broadway Revue,

A Musical Revue presented by the Fine Arts Booster Club at UAS

April 22-23 at 6pm.

Featuring a cast of 138 people from the UAS community including 92 students and 46 adults!

The STING

Green Commi ee

Green Committee Interview: The Recycling Program at UAS

Featuring Mr. Vijay from the Facilities Office, along with Zainab Jabak (Grade 11) and Kymberley Chu (Grade 10) from the Green Committee

How much trash is weighted each day? After recycling on school grounds (with paper and plastic), we were able

to reduce a large amount of the trash. Before we even started recycling,

the trash was simply collected together, now after five years and this has

minimized, the quantity of trash. Could you give an estimation in liters after recycling? How much is

paid for waste removal? We have large trash collector vehicles that come and pick up the collected

trash every day. We are charged 100 dhs per trip. We have one pick up every school day. How is the trash separated? We have this company called SITA Trashco Environmental Solutions. They come and collect the trash and separate it. This company is responsible for waste removal for both elementary and secondary sides? Yes. How can students and staff help with recycling around school? We believe students should recycle and we should keep containers like plastic and paper separated. Students and staff just

have to use the colored bins in each classroom and office. Personally, what do you think people can do in order to improve the waste efficiency at school? We can decrease wastage by not using as much paper and toilet rolls and by trying to minimize the usage of plastic bottles.

Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum presents Academic Excellence Award to ESOL Universal American School student

His Highness Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum presents Academic Excellence Award to ESOL- UAS student

Dubai, April 23

rd 2015: His Highness Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and

UAE Minister of Finance, will award Simran Vedvyas, a Grade 11 student from The Universal American

School, the Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Dis�nguished Academic Performance at

a ceremony held last night. She is the first student from Universal American School to win this dis�n-

guished accolade in the category.

This is an added milestone for Simran who has won this award for the third �me in addi�on to winning

several dis�nguished Interna�onal acclaims during the year 2014-2015 including the pres�gious Diana

Interna�onal Award UK 2014, Interna�onal Eco Hero Award USA 2014, Puruskar at Na�onal Level (India)

shortlisted as best student for Paryavaranmitra Leader for Change, John Muir Youth Environmental Con-

serva�on Award USA, and The Principal’s Award at School Level- for academic and co curricular achievements-2014

“I applaud Simran who has demonstrated excep�onal achievements and success consistently. The moment Simran got the

news by a text message from her parents, she came to me and we exchanged a high five of congratula�ons for the fantas-

�c news. We are so proud of her, knowing well that her enthusiasm, and commitment to academic excellence made her an

earnest winner of this pres�gious award,” said Mr. Andrew Torris, Director of The Universal American School School, ESOL

Educa�on.

Ms. Simone Sebban, Secondary Principal of The Universal American School School, ESOL Educa�on commented that

“Simran is a student who exhibits a high level of leadership; respect and kindness that makes her stand out among her

peers. It takes determina�on, focus and a whole lot of energy for any student to develop the skills they need to succeed in

high school and beyond, and Simran has successfully incorporated these skills in her academic phase of life”.

uas secondary march newsletter 2015

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