The Junction

Friday 10 February 2023

A Note From Mr Green

“Opening your eyes to more of the world around you can deeply enhance your gratitude practice.”

Derrick Carpenter

February 2023 was always going to be a busy month in the JAS calendar, due in no small part to the array of school trips taking place. In addition to the Bronze, Silver, and Gold International Award expeditions, we are incredibly excited to see our first international trips take place since the restrictions of Covid were lifted. Our KS3 Ski trip has been away this week and by the time this edition of the Junction has been delivered to your inbox, students from Year 12 will have touched down in Vietnam for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. These are truly exciting times for our students and creating opportunities for them to engage and connect with the wider world plays a pivotal part in their educational success; building academic capabilities and fostering a culture of internationalism and global citizenship. I never had this opportunity at school. Indeed, it wasn’t until University that I was fortunate to be part of an ‘educational trip’ - an archaeological excavation in Italy. It felt, at the time, like my chance to see the world beyond anything I’d ever experienced, and one I will never forget.

The special place that trips provide to our students should never be taken for granted. Experiential learning activities provide access to real-world settings and, over the many years I have led and organised school trips, I have certainly seen how they can help develop a more concrete understanding of the world that they’ve learned so much about; the true magnitude of geographical barriers, the landscape of the battlefields, the thin air in higher altitudes, the smells and sounds of a bustling marketplace in South-East Asia or the texture of stone and marble of some of the oldest sculptures in the world. Student engagement increases when presented with such real-world experiences; enabling them to take knowledge from the classroom and combine it with a sensory experience, to create a more well-rounded understanding of the content that they are studying.

Living and working in such a multicultural environment as Dubai does provide significant advantages in terms of understanding different cultures, but clearly, nothing beats the true immersion of visiting a new place. By learning about cultural practices, trying new foods, meeting locals, and participating in their customs, students can observe and engage in a way of life far removed from their own. For many of our students, travel is about being brave, being resilient, and coming to the realisation that we can have a lot in common with someone, who on the surface, appears to be very different from ourselves. It provides the opportunity to break down stereotypes and carefully consider the values system of another culture. As such it truly allows them to become global citizens.

Being brave and trying new things is essential to take on the world as an adult. For many, it is the longest that they have ever been away from home without a family member. Leaving the familiar confines of home and community is a courageous act and, in itself, a fantastic learning opportunity.

Personally, international trips are unsurpassed in terms of developing teacher-student relationships. They provide the opportunity to connect through shared experience, learn about each other’s hobbies and interests, as well as see how people respond to different environments and experiences. On return to school, classrooms are often dominated by talk about the experience, either in linking their journey to the curriculum or in sharing those “Remember when…” moments over and over again. I love these moments and feel both fortunate and privileged to have been part of these experiences.

This brings me to an obvious conclusion; that of gratitude. I cannot thank enough the support of staff and parents in coming together to ensure these opportunities exist. Students themselves can appreciate their own lives even more through empathy and connection garnered through an international school trip. They come to realise the seemingly everyday things they miss from home and reflect upon the relationships that they are a part of in a whole new light. This is at a time when I’ve seen, over the past few days, our special school community coming together to help and support those families who are struggling and suffering in Turkey and Syria, following the devastating earthquake this week. I cannot express enough our gratitude to you all.

We are fortunate that students and teachers are able to take advantage of the amazing opportunities that an international trip can provide, and we can also appreciate the power of community and the gratitude we should feel, to be part of this special place we call JAS.

Mr Stephen Green

Headteacher

Week in Review

Year 7

Last week Year 7 completed their Shakespeare Assessments. We had some outstanding performances across the year group and we were extremely proud of all of the students. The students were required to learn thier lines for the character and use a range of techniques to create tension or comedy for thier audience depending on the script. Well done Year 7!

Year 7 Macbeth.MOV

Year 8

Year 8 have completed a monologue assessment this week. Each student was given a monologue from the play Arbian Nights. Student had to learn the monologue and perform to the class. We were exceptionally proud of all the students, performing a monologue is challenging, but they all rose to the challenge!

Year 8 Monologue (Maryam & Fen).mov

Year 8 Monologue (Rubina).MOV

Wishing all our Drama students and wonderful half term!

Secondary Production

Oliver! 2023 - Week 17 in Rehearsals

38 DAYS TO GO!

If our performers have learnt anything these past few weeks it’s that when we say ‘one last time’, it rarely means it’s the last time! Our production team now have a little break before we come back to 4 weeks of intensive rehearsals! Don’t worry….WE’LL BE BACK SOON!

Additional Rehearsals

All Cast, Crew & Band members will be needed all day on the following:

Friday 10th March - Crew Only till 4pm*

Thursday 16th March (till 3.30pm)

Friday 17th March (till 4.30pm*)

Monday 20th March (DRESS REHEARSAL)

Please try to avoid booking appointments during the school day on these dates.

*Students attending Friday Prayer are able to leave but please notify us in advance.

Weekend Rehearsal dates:

Saturday 11th March - Band only

Sunday 12th March - All Cast and Crew

Sunday 19th March. - All Cast, Crew and Band (TECH/DRESS REHEARSAL)

*All weekend rehearsals will take place between 9.30am-4pm. Production T-shirts will need to be worn for ALL of the above dates. Students will need to bring a packed lunch, snacks and plenty of water. They will not be allowed off-site.

Attendance on the above dates is of high importance. If there is a reason as to why a cast/crew/band member is unable to make any of the above, please notify us as soon as possible via schoolproduction@jebelalischool.org

Cast List

Director - Ms. R Channon

Musical Director - Mr. A Laird

Assissant Director - Miss. K Hansford

Choreographer - Mr. S Sonsin

Stage Manager - Yasmina Habib (Year 11)

If you need to contact any of the Production Team please do so via schoolproduction@jebelalischool.org

Secondary Production Google Classroom: Aztar5o (students only)

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScOAN7c63VxWtrfERmudXEBtof80VIm_xHh6r0RgJHE_mQdbw/viewformRehearsal schedule is updated on GC every Friday afternoon for the following week. Please check this weekly to see when you are needed in rehearsal.

CAST Rehearsal Times

Monday 12.50pm-13.15pm

Wednesday 3.30pm-5.00pm

Thursday 06.50am-7.20am

JAS Safer Internet Day 2023

The internet plays a huge part in the lives of young people today, with many playing online games, posting on social media, and using video-sharing platforms. It can be used positively, helping young people learn new skills, express themselves creatively, and strengthen social bonds. However, the use of many popular online platforms has also been linked to low self-esteem and anxiety. They also come with a set of safeguarding risks, from the pressure to participate in dangerous challenges to cyberbullying. Even today, as tools and systems become more powerful, effective cybersecurity relies more on users’ actions than it does on technology.

Safer Internet Day 2023 was celebrated on Tuesday 7th of February 2023, with celebrations and learning in Computer Science lessons this week based around the theme ‘Want to talk about it? Making space for conversations about life online’.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of Safer Internet Day and while a lot has changed over time, some things remain constant. Online safety has never been more important, with so much of our personal and professional data available on the internet today. Students have had lots of discussions about online issues and how important it is for them to share their thoughts, feelings, and experiences about life online.

Safer Internet Day is a great opportunity for us all to stop and reflect on how we can promote the responsible use of digital technologies and we would encourage you to talk to your children about these issues.

JAS Secondary Sport

Please see a reminder below of any key documents you need for any information regarding JAS Sport.

DASSA Netball Development Tournament - U12/U13/U14

On Wednesday our U12/13/14 Netball B teams represented Jebel Ali in the DASSA development tournament. Our U12s had a fantastic start to the tournament by winning their first 3 matches, but just missed out on qualifying for finals by one point. U13s were absolutely brilliant and managed to qualify for the quarter-finals, losing out to DBS by 3 goals which meant they didn't make the finals. The U14s really struggled after being put into a really tough group and managed to see out the group stages improving in every single game.

A Fantastic effort by all JAS students, the PE team were so impressed with the girl's behavior and attitude all day!

Players of the tournament

U12 - Ruby Jarvis

U13 - Meonia Petrovic

U14 - Anahita Merikhi S

A massive well done to our 3 student leaders for supporting with coaching and umpiring -

Tessa Smies

Inaaya Ansari

Dana Elliott

DASSA Cross Country Finals

Wednesday of this week saw 7 of our secondary students taking part in the DASSA cross country finals. The top 40 students from the whole of Dubai schools qualified from the previous race. All 7 students ran well, all achieving personal best times.

What’s On - JAS Secondary Sport - WC 20 February

Business

On Tuesday 31st January at 11:45 in the lecture theatre, we had Lucy Walls from Phillips and Walls Mortgage brokers coming in to speak the to Yr 12 Business students about being an entrepreneur, working as a partnership etc and bringing in a bit for International Women's Day too.

On Wednesday 8th February we took the Yr 12 Business & PE students to the Circuit Factory for a visit - a talk about health & nutrition, running a business and the business model for a fitness company, they also got to do a mini workout of about 30/40 mins.

Living in the Online World

Looking Ahead

International & Residential Trips 2022-2023

We are extremely excited to share with you the upcoming international and residential trips for the 2022-2023 academic year. These experiences are subject to the number of students who sign-up. Below you will find the dates, a brief description, and approximate costs. Further information will follow.

International Day 2023

Get ready for Jebel Ali School’s International Day on the 15th of March! This is JAS parents’ chance to collaborate, help unite and celebrate all cultures and showcase our JAS value of inclusivity.

Dubai is well known for its diversity - home to a range of identities, and the JAS community has students from over 60 different nationalities! We plan for International Day to be an opportunity to embrace the diversity of Jebel Ali School, enhance school-to-parent connections, and most of all, allow students to share and learn more about their peers’ ethnicities.

We plan to expand International Day to include more activities such as a flag parade, international day-themed lessons, competitive sports games, and more!

Especially, we encourage parents and students to represent their countries by taking part in stalls that students will have the chance to explore throughout the day and learn more about the world.

We are certain that International Day will be both enjoyable and educational for all students!

If you are interested in participating in the JAS International Day, whether to represent your country or show your support for others, please fill in the google form here.

Any help you can offer would be greatly appreciated!

Helpful Hints

How to take better videos on your phone

Did you know that every year mobile video consumption doubles?

With smartphone cameras becoming better and better,

the average person now has access to impressive recording equipment.

So, there is never a better time to start brushing up on your video recording skills.

Five Helpful Hints:

Carefully consider your video orientation. Landscape is better for video, but portrait may work better on some social media platforms. Whichever you choose, stay consistent - don’t switch between the two.

Use a gimbal to stabilise your video and ensure you get smooth footage. Or if you can’t, try to use both hands. If you need to move the camera, try to move slowly and steadily - avoid quick movements.

If your video includes sound, use an additional microphone to improve the quality. Or at least make sure no fingers are covering the mic on the phone!

Check your lighting - try to use natural lighting and avoid shooting directly into the sun.

Just like photography, consider the framing and composition of your shots. Think about what you need to include - a wide shot to illustrate the setting or maybe a close-up shot to show someone’s facial expressions.

Danielle Irwin

Media Studies

Article of Interest

What is Moral, Social and Cultural studies?

Moral, Social and Cultural Studies is otherwise known as MSC on our timetables at JAS. These are lessons delivered to students from Year 1 to Year 13. The aim is to prepare students in line with the UAE’s Vision 2021, which seeks “ambitious and confident people, a strong federation, a competitive economy and a good quality of life in a generous and sustainable environment”. The initiative hopes to build a well-educated human capital and a tolerant population capable of sustaining the UAE’s economic and cultural accolades into the future.

Since 2010, the UAE has effected significant positive change in the geographical region, promoting values of acceptance, empathy, and non-violent conflict resolution in its public schools ( as found by The Institute for Monitoring Peace and Tolerance in School Education across the Middle East (IMPACT-se) ) . MSC lessons are promoted by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, the Ruler of Dubai and the Vice President of the UAE, as part of the “UAE Vision 2021” national agenda. Today, it also features among the priorities of the UAE’s “Vision 2030” plan for the building of a “highly skilled, highly productive workforce.”

The UAE is among the most ethnically diverse nations in the world. It is home to over 200 nationalities. Emiratis constitute roughly 10% of the total population, making the UAE home to one of the world's highest percentage of expatriates, whose members come from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, the Philippines, Iran, Egypt, China, and numerous other countries. This illustrates the importance of MSC lessons in emphasizing the value of multiculturalism, encouraging respect and empathy for others—be it strangers within the UAE or nationals of other countries—as well as providing empirical skills of conflict resolution.

Students in the UAE between the ages of six and eighteen not only learn about the importance of tolerating the differences between themselves and others, and respecting people regardless of their nationality, race, gender, religion, or social status, but also receive practical tools that can help them resolve interpersonal conflicts in the future. Evidencing the UAE’s success on this front is the fact that it has consistently ranked among the safest countries in the world, and even attained the second spot in recent rankings.

The Moral, Social Cultural Studies Curriculum Framework is organised into 3 Domains with corresponding sub-domains, values, skills, character traits, and social competencies as shown in the table.

The MSC Program prepares learners for the ever-rapid changes in social fabric, as well as the need to assess and track trends and changes in moral, community, civic and cultural aspects. It safeguards accomplishments in the formation of a unique local character, preserves national heritage and deters adverse behaviour. At JAS we aim to embody these values through project work, both on an individual and group level, ensuring it is as fun, engaging and interactive as possible.

Syreeta Taylor

Head of Moral, Social and Cultural Studies and Teacher of Humanities

Student Focus/Highlight

Shamsa was selected 1 of 4 of the Nation's team to represent the UAE. Being selected (the only girl to represent the UAE throughout all of the divisions) alone is an absolute honour as only the best were selected by the federation.

Working together they competed against other countries from around the world. They won the international CSICH Nation's cup 23' (Children's division).

Staff Profile

George Spurling - PE Teacher

After completing his undergraduate degree at Durham University, George took on a role in an independent school just north of Birmingham that would eventually cement his passion for teaching, leading him to complete his PGCE and masters degree at the University of Exeter. He is thrilled to be spending his eighth year in the middle east as PE teacher in the JAS community.

George competed in football, basketball, and swimming as a young sportsman. However, his primary focus was on tennis and racket sports; having played and coached at different centres of excellence in the UK, he took his experience and set up a tennis club whilst teaching in Saudi Arabia. Since moving to Dubai, he has taken on the role of 'Head of Tennis and Badminton' for DASSA, co-ordinating competitive provision for schools across Dubai. George is also passionate about the academic pathways offered through Physical Education, such as the GCSE and A-level courses. Having presented research papers on blood lactate accumulation and thermoregulation, he particularly enjoys elements of the curriculum where science, sport and human performance intersect.

As an advocate for holistic, experiential learning George is often leading or supporting learning experiences outside of the classroom, with some of his most fond memories coming from school trips. He has taken students to Sri Lanka, Nepal, Tanzania, and Sierra Leone in previous schools. As you read this he will be en route to Vietnam with our year 12’s as they experience JAS’s first Sixth Form legacy trip.

George says of the JAS values.

The value that resonates most with George is resilience. The ability to accept challenges 'head on' and continue to strive to be better when things get difficult, is something that is exemplified within sports but reaches into every aspect of life.

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