The Junction

Friday 14 April 2023

A Note From Mr Green

It’s an incredibly busy time of year and with GCSE and A level examinations just around the corner, you would think that assessment, exams, and testing are all that matters right now. For some, this might be true, but Jebel Ali School has always been and will continue to be, much more than that. In a week where we were delighted to welcome parents to our annual Iftar, it was also a reminder of how we can take time to consider other people, to be kind, thoughtful, and respectful. Of course, we should also take time to focus on the importance of our own mindfulness and well-being. This is pertinent at any time of year and becomes more accentuated during exam season.

We should remember that being worried is a normal part of life, and incredible as its sounds, can even be helpful in some instances. We often worry about things that are present in our lives, such as exams, friendships, finances, work, and family, and this worry has the potential to help us make good decisions in these areas. It is possible, however, for worry to become more challenging and unhelpful. Taking time to reflect on the positives can make us happier and more emotionally fulfilled in the long run and we should, therefore, embrace the notion of thinking positively every day if we are to have more positive outcomes.

There exists a moral responsibility to do this.

I’ve often used the word ‘responsibility’ at key times over the course of a school year and I feel that we can be in danger of overusing this word and, as such, lose focus on what it really means. It takes on a different meaning to different people in different contexts, but to me, it simply means to accept that I, alone, am accountable for my life. Being responsible, therefore, comes with the realisation that we are where we are, and what we are, because of our own conduct, behaviours, and choices. If we were to look more closely at the word responsibility - ‘response - ability’ - we can see that it is simply the ability to choose one's response.

It's an important word. Crucially it's an important characteristic. Once we accept responsibility we realise that no one else can live our lives. Accepting this leads to a much more proactive outlook on life, and more proactive values, where we actively seek and go after the things that we want to do and accomplish in life. At school, as educators, we commit ourselves fully to supporting our students to achieve their goals, but the responsibility is achieved when the student realises that it is ultimately up to them to achieve these goals.

Responsible people tend to be highly proactive people. They do not blame circumstances, conditions, or conditioning for their behaviour. Their behaviour is a product of their own conscious choice, based on core values, rather than a product of their conditions, based on feelings.

All successful people look upon themselves as the cause of what happens in their life. They understand that they are in control, and where they are today is a direct reflection of their actions in the past. We feel good about ourselves to the degree to which we feel in complete control of our lives. When we blame other people or things for the way our life is, we lose that control, and with that, a loss comes a feeling of helplessness and negativity. There will always be external factors that we cannot control, which can sometimes have a huge impact on our lives, but it is how we respond to these difficulties that is important. Our "response" becomes a measure of how positive and "response able" we can be.

So, as we think about the meaning of the word responsibility, we should take a moment to think about what it means to us personally. Whether it's about making sure you spend an extra 20 minutes on the piece of homework due in next week, whether you need to make amends for a wrong you inflicted on a friend, or whether you stick to that revision programme you have created to ensure success in forthcoming examinations, you would do well to remember that where you are today is a result of your actions in the past. Therefore, your future will be a result of what you do today.

As school will be closed next Thursday and Friday may I take the opportunity to wishing you and your families Eid Mubarak.

Mr. Green

Headteacher of Secondary

Week in Review

JAS Iftar

A-Level and GCSE History session with Dr Tim Bowman

Our GCSE and A-Level History students had the wonderful opportunity today to talk live to leading historian Dr. Timothy Bowman. Students were able to ask pertinent questions on studying history at university as well as topical questions on key historic figures, eras, events and strategies in history.

Renowned Dr. Bowman is a lecturer at the University of Kent which is ranked no.1 University History Department in the UK, beating the likes of Oxford and Cambridge. Before moving to Kent in 2005, Dr. Bowman held lecturing posts at The Queen's University of Belfast, University of Durham and King's College London (based at the Joint Services Command and Staff College) before moving to Kent in 2005.

Originally from Northern Ireland, Dr. Bowman started his university pathway into History at Queens University in Belfast and went on to do a PHD on Discipline and Moral in the First World War which then influenced his first book. During the interactive session with our students, he gave anecdotes on how he developed his interest in history, his internships, writing ten books on Military History, and the specialist roles he has had throughout his career.

Dr. Bowman explained the key differences in studying History at University level compared to Sixth Form level, in particular, recorded lectures and the level of independent research work required in the lead-up to coursework and exams. He gave the students some helpful insider top tips including making use of the time that students have available to meet with lecturers to help transition their skills from A-Level and BTEC to Degree. He also touched on current hot topics of AI exploitation and consequently the current debate on examination and coursework formats.

Dr. Bowman gave helpful insight into the different types of History degrees to think about and research, guiding students to look carefully at university prospectuses to learn more about their unique approaches and course content focus, where they sit in the different league tables, the quality of teaching, and different university campuses and locations and of course, preparing thoroughly when submitting applications and sitting interviews.

The students thoroughly enjoyed the session and found it very informative and helpful.

Arabic

Students enjoyed learning Diwani calligraphy and wrote beautiful phrases and paintings. Some students also wrote their projects in several Arabic fonts. Students will start learning a new calligraphy in the third term.

JAS Sport

JAS Secondary Sport

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

Living in the Online World

Helpful Hints

Mental Maths

1. Adding large numbers

Adding large numbers just in your head can be difficult. This method shows how to simplify this process by making all the numbers a multiple of 10. Here is an example:

644 + 238

While these numbers are hard to contend with, rounding them up will make them more manageable. So, 644 becomes 650 and 238 becomes 240.

Now, add 650 and 240 together. The total is 890. To find the answer to the original equation, it must be determined how much we added to the numbers to round them up.

650 – 644 = 6 and 240 – 238 = 2

Now, add 6 and 2 together for a total of 8

To find the answer to the original equation, 8 must be subtracted from the 890.

890 – 8 = 882

So the answer to 644 +238 is 882.

2. Division tricks

Here’s a quick way to know when a number can be evenly divided by these certain numbers:

10 if the number ends in 0
9 when the digits are added together and the total is evenly divisible by 9
8 if the last three digits are evenly divisible by 8 or are 000
6 if it is an even number and when the digits are added together the answer is evenly divisible by 3
5 if it ends in a 0 or 5
4 if it ends in 00 or a two-digit number that is evenly divisible by 4
3 when the digits are added together and the result is evenly divisible by the number 3
2 if it ends in 0, 2, 4, 6, or 8

3. Percentages

Finding a percentage of a number can be somewhat tricky, but thinking about it in the right terms makes it much easier to understand. For instance, to find out what 5% of 235 is, follow this method:

Step 1: Move the decimal point over by one place, 235 becomes 23.5.
Step 2: Divide 23.5 by the number 2, the answer is 11.75. That is also the answer to the original equation.

Ms S O'Neill

Teacher of Mathematics

Article of Interest

Drama is a versatile subject that offers many benefits to our students. Whether you are interested in theatre, film, television, or any other form of performance art, studying drama can be a rewarding and fulfilling experience. Here are some of the key reasons why you should consider studying drama at GCSE or A Level;

Develop Your Communication Skills

One of the most significant benefits of studying drama is that it can help you develop your communication skills. Drama requires you to communicate effectively with your fellow actors, directors, and other members of the production team. You must also be able to communicate your character's thoughts, feelings, and motivations to the audience. By studying drama, you will learn how to express yourself more effectively, both verbally and nonverbally. You will also develop a better understanding of body language, vocal tone, and other forms of non-verbal communication, which will be invaluable in all areas of your life.

Build Confidence and Self-Esteem

Another important benefit of studying drama is that it can help you build confidence and self-esteem. Drama requires you to put yourself out there and take risks, which can be scary at first. However, as you gain experience and become more comfortable with performing, you will develop a greater sense of confidence in your abilities. This confidence can spill over into other areas of your life, such as public speaking, job interviews, and social situations. You will also develop a greater sense of self-esteem as you see the positive impact that your performances have on others.

Enhance Your Creativity and Imagination

Drama is a highly creative field that encourages you to use your imagination to bring characters and stories to life. By studying drama, you will learn how to think outside the box, develop new ideas, and explore different perspectives. This enhanced creativity and imagination can be applied to many different areas of your life, such as problem-solving, brainstorming, and innovation. You will also gain a greater appreciation for the arts and their ability to inspire, entertain, and educate.

Collaboration

Drama is a highly collaborative subject that requires you to work closely with others to create a successful production. You will work with actors, directors, designers, technicians, and many other professionals to bring your vision to life. By studying drama, you will learn how to collaborate effectively with others, build strong relationships, and develop a greater sense of teamwork. These skills are highly valued and can help you succeed in many different careers.

Gain a Deeper Understanding of Human Nature

Finally, studying drama can give you a deeper understanding of human nature and the complexities of human behavior. Drama allows you to explore different characters and their motivations, as well as the social, cultural, and historical contexts in which they exist. This deeper understanding of human nature can be applied to many different areas of your life, such as relationships, politics, and social issues. You will also gain a greater appreciation for the diversity of human experience and the importance of empathy and compassion.

In conclusion, studying drama is a highly rewarding and fulfilling experience that offers many benefits. Whether you are interested in theatre, film, television, or any other form of performance art, drama can help you develop your communication skills, build confidence and self-esteem, enhance your creativity and imagination, collaborate effectively with others, and gain a deeper understanding of human nature. So, if you are looking for a challenging and rewarding subject,, consider studying Drama!

Ms K Hansford

Teacher of Drama

Staff Profile

Nour Shallah - Teacher of Arabic B

Mrs. Shallah is originally from Damascus in Syria. She joined the JAS team in September 2021 as an Arabic B teacher. She is qualified from Damascus University in Syria with a degree in French literature, and a diploma in educational qualification.

She moved to Dubai in 2013 with her family. Mrs. Shallah is a mother of three children.

Before coming to Jebel Ali, she taught at Gems Wellington International School, Dubai for seven years and she was a volunteer teacher in Syria before that.

Mrs. Shallah is passionate about her education job and about making a difference in the lives of all her students. She works hard to make learning Arabic enjoyable for students. And feels that the JAS value that holds the most importance is ‘Kindness’ because it is about being friendly, generous, and a good listener. When acting kind especially at work; lowers stress levels and spreads positivity.

Mrs. Shallah loves to travel and visit new places. She lived a few years in Michigan, USA. She visited many states, and she went to Spain, Italy, France, Turkey, and many other places. She speaks many languages besides Arabic and English. She is fluent in French, and a bit of Turkish. She also loves reading. She enjoys listening to classical music like Chopin and Vivaldi.

She recently started attending CrossFit lessons that she really enjoys.

Page updated

Report abuse