The Junction

Friday 16 June 2023

A Note From Mrs Sims

Cultivating Growth-mindedness - Unlocking potential together

Over this academic year, the SLT has based our Junction notes on the JAS values. This week and for my final note of the academic year I have decided to write about ‘Growth-mindedness’.

My rationale behind this is the fact that I am coming to the end of my first academic year as a Secondary Assistant Headteacher, I am on the verge of completing my NPQSL qualification (next Tuesday!) and I have had the absolute pleasure of teaching A level Spanish again this year after a 3 year sabbatical of no A level teaching. Hence, you might be wondering why am I writing about these and how they have any relevance to ‘Growth-mindedness’.

Firstly, they have been a real focus of my professional career over the last 12-18 months. Without a positive mindset and having the support of my amazing colleagues at JAS and my friends and family I do not think I would be where I am today.

Secondly, in the journey of life, we often encounter obstacles, setbacks, and challenges that test our resilience and determination. These experiences can shape our mindset, either limiting our potential or propelling us towards growth. It is in these moments that the power of growth-mindedness comes into play. Back in 2004, after completing my AS levels (in which I gained the highest grade in French for AQA in Liverpool that year), my French teacher told me I would amount to nothing and would not go far in life.

Did it hurt? Yes.

Did it upset me? Yes.

Did I believe her? For about a week or so I did. However, I soon developed resilience and I tried to embrace a path of fulfilling both personal and academic achievements. This resulted in me gaining excellent A Level grades, being the first member of my family to go to university, and yes even studying languages at degree level. I have now been teaching languages for over 12 years.

Understanding Growth-Mindedness

Growth-mindedness is an approach to life that focuses on the belief that our abilities and intelligence can be developed through effort, learning, and perseverance. Unlike a fixed mindset, which assumes that our qualities are set in stone, a growth mindset nurtures the belief that talents can be cultivated and that failures are stepping stones to success.

Growth-Mindedness for students

The journey through Secondary school is filled with academic, social, and personal challenges. Developing a growth mindset can be a game-changer, empowering you to overcome obstacles and reach new heights.

Embrace the Power of "Yet": When faced with a difficult subject or a skill that seems out of reach, remember to add the word "yet" to your vocabulary. Instead of saying, "I can't do this," shift your perspective to "I can't do this yet." This simple change opens up a world of possibilities and encourages you to keep trying and growing.
Embrace Failure as a Learning Opportunity: Failure is not a roadblock; it is a stepping stone towards success. Approach setbacks as valuable lessons that help you refine your strategies and improve your skills. Embrace challenges with enthusiasm, knowing that each stumble is a chance to learn and grow.
Cultivate a Love for Continuous Learning: View education as a lifelong journey rather than a destination. Foster curiosity, explore new subjects and develop a thirst for knowledge. Remember, every piece of information you acquire and every skill you master adds to your personal growth.
Surround Yourself with Supportive Peers: Seek out like-minded individuals who also strive for growth. Surrounding yourself with friends who encourage and support your aspirations can have a profound impact on your mindset. Together, you can motivate each other to reach for the stars.

For us parents:

Our role in fostering a growth mindset in our children is invaluable, something I will admit, at times, I have struggled to do with both of my children. By creating a nurturing environment that embraces growth and resilience, we empower our children to navigate challenges and flourish.

Praise Effort and Persistence: Celebrate your child's hard work, determination, and perseverance. Instead of focusing solely on achievements or grades, recognise their dedication to learning and overcoming obstacles. This does not necessarily need to relate to school. For example, I have just completed (in Shallah) potty training with my two-year-old daughter. It has been extremely tough and very different from when I did it with my son but with small steps and giving her praise every step of the way she has persevered and tackled her own obstacles. This instills a belief that effort and resilience are essential ingredients for success.
Encourage a Positive Attitude towards Failure: Teach your child that setbacks and mistakes are part of the learning process. In one of my first notes of the academic year I wrote about my son and his dislike for swimming and as Dory says ‘Just keep swimming’. This is something I have really worked on with him and even enrolled him in swimming lessons. Within 4 weeks of lessons, he has been moved up to a more advanced class. Rewind 2 months ago, this is a boy who would never put his head underwater, would never try and swim, and would just ‘bob up and down’ yet by showing him that every time he felt like failing and giving up, it was not a bad thing. Emphasise that failures are not indicative of their abilities but opportunities for growth. Encourage them to reflect on their experiences, extract lessons, and develop resilience.
Model a Growth Mindset: Children learn by observing their parents. Demonstrate a growth mindset in your own life by embracing challenges, learning from failures, and displaying a willingness to continually grow and develop. Your actions speak louder than words.
Foster a Love for Learning: Create an environment that promotes curiosity and a passion for learning. Encourage your child to explore diverse interests, engage in stimulating conversations, and pursue extracurricular activities that align with their passions. Show them that learning extends beyond the classroom.

Growth-mindedness is a transformative mindset that can shape the trajectory of your life. For students, it unlocks the potential within and helps them overcome challenges with resilience. For us as parents, fostering a growth mindset in our children creates a foundation for lifelong learning and success.

Embrace the power of growth-mindedness, supporting and inspiring each other on the path to self-discovery, personal growth, and limitless possibilities. Together, let us embark on this transformative journey of growth and unlock our true potential.

Have a wonderful weekend,

Mrs Sims

Assistant Headteacher for Learning & Teaching

Important Notices

Reminder from JAS Clinic

If your child has any personal medication within the nurse's clinic, please can you ensure it is collected before you leave for the summer break. This includes EpiPens, Ventolin inhalers etc. The last day for collection will be the 5th of July.

ECA Cancellation - WC 19 June - Due to KS2 Swimming Galas

The following ECAs are NOT taking place next week due to the KS2 Swimming Galas.

Monday 19 June

U13 Boys Water Polo

Tuesday 20 June

U12/U13/U14 Girls Basketball
U13/U15 Boys Cricket

Wednesday 21 June

U13 Girls Water Polo Training
U19 Boys Football Training
U12-U19 Badminton Training

Thursday 22 June

U13/U15 Girls Rounders
U12/U13/U14 Boys Basketball Training

Friday 23 June

U7-U19 - SwimFit
U10-U19 - Ultimate Frisbee

Week in Review

KS3 Performance Evening

On Tuesday, Drama students form Years 7-9 took to the stage to perform a series of set pieces from their recent classwork and extracurricular activities, including performances from JAS Drama Society and JAS Dancers. IT was a fabulous evening full of dramatic talent. Well done to all of the students involved. We look forward to bringing you more of these performance evenings in the future!

#JASDrama #JASDance #JASPerformingArts #JASPA

KS3 Performance Eve - Dance.mov

Design Technology

Annual F1 in Schools UAE National Finals

We have 4 JAS teams competing in the annual F1 in Schools UAE National Finals in Abu Dhabi.

The teams have been working hard to prepare their project elements, including model race cars they develop through 3D CAD, 3D Printing and even CFD testing in Virtual Wind Tunnels before the race day where they will compete against 80 other teams. The coveted national championship is tough to win and in past years we have managed to reach the Podium 3 times – this is our best chance yet. If our teams win first place, they will be invited to represent the UAE at the F1iS World Finals, taking place each year at different Formula 1 events around the world, this is truly an amazing experience in terms of STEM, Project Management, Branding, Business and Public Speaking.

The competition runs across 2 event days – Yesterday and Today with Pro and Rookie category teams taking part on each day.

The event is livestreamed on YouTube from Yas Marina Circuit – our teams should be on track at approximately 2:35-2:50pm each day.

Thursday June 15 - F1 in Schools Professional

Friday June 16 - F1 in Schools Rookie

Our Teams Lists are below and their Team Portfolios for you to take a look and see how much goes into these projects.

JAS Sport

JAS Secondary Sport

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

U18 UAE 7’s Rugby Trials

It was great to see some of our Year 12 students attend the U18 UAE rugby trial last weekend. We wish them the best of luck in the rest of the process.

Chess Competition

This week JAS took part in the first ever DASSA secondary chess competition. We had 5 students representing the school across all year groups; Lewis in Year 12, Flynn in Year 9, Adam and Magnus in Year 8 and Zack in Year 7! All of the students played 5 rounds of 5 minute games. For those of you who follow chess you may understand the term ‘Blitz 5+3’. We had a mixture of wins, draws and losses across the afternoon with stalemates, checkmates, illegal moves and time running away with us too quickly! Congratulations to all the students involved and we can't wait to get involved in future competitions.

What’s On - WC 19 June

Living in the Online World

Helpful Hints

Conflict Resolution

As temperatures soar and our enthusiasm starts to fade, we all eagerly await a well-deserved summer break so we can recuperate from a hectic and productive academic year. This is when conflicts can sometimes surface. But here's the thing: conflict doesn't always have to be a negative experience. When handled properly, conflicts can actually lead to positive changes and stronger relationships. Teaching your child valuable conflict resolution skills is incredibly beneficial. It equips them with the tools they need to navigate future interactions with others.

Be aware of and regulate your emotions. When you can identify how you feel and why you feel that way, it becomes easier to grasp your own needs and effectively communicate them, which can help smooth out disagreements. By staying in control of your emotions, you can express your needs without intimidating or punishing others, fostering a more positive interaction.

Fight fair. The way we approach a conflict has a significant impact on whether it will be resolved in a positive or negative way.

Stay calm: if you can't stay calm, take a short break.
Show respect: treat the other person the way you want to be treated.
Clearly express what is bothering you or what you need.
Refrain from attacking the other person: avoid name-calling, yelling, accusing, or threatening.
Use "I" statements instead of "you" statements. For example, say "I feel hurt when..." rather than "You are so mean when you..."
Avoid generalisations: steer clear of words like "never" or "always."
Don't exaggerate: stick to the facts and express your genuine feelings.
Focus on the present: avoid bringing up past issues.
Don't shut down communication: positive outcomes require two-way communication.

Use active listening. Take a moment to try and understand things from their point of view. Avoid interrupting with your own perspective until they have expressed everything they want to say and feel that you genuinely grasp their message. While you listen, ask questions to clarify, show your attentiveness through subtle gestures like nodding, and once they have finished speaking, summarise in your own words what you think they have conveyed. Active listening can be incredibly useful in resolving conflicts.

Work on nonverbal communication skills. Nonverbal communication involves various aspects like eye contact, facial expressions, tone of voice, posture, and gestures. By attentively observing the other person's nonverbal cues, you can gain insights into their true message. Additionally, employing positive nonverbal signals such as maintaining a calm tone of voice or displaying a concerned facial expression can help de-escalate a heated conversation.

Pick your battles. Dealing with conflicts can be draining, so it's important to ask yourself if the issue is really worth your time and energy. Sometimes, letting go of the small stuff can lead to more peaceful relationships with others. And when it comes to the big things that truly matter, people will pay closer attention to your concerns.

Prioritise the relationship over winning. Many times we go into conflicts with the mindset of "winning." The initial step towards resolving conflicts in a healthy manner is trying to grasp the other person's perspective. This allows both of you to collaborate and find a solution that works for everyone involved. It's important for each person to express their viewpoint, outline their needs, brainstorm potential solutions, and ultimately select an option that addresses as many needs as possible and is agreeable to all. It's all about shifting our mindset from seeing the conflict as "me against you" to "you and I against the problem.”

Final thoughts…

We often fall into the trap of thinking that in order for one person to win, the other person must lose. However, the reality is quite different. With some creative thinking, it's often possible to find a solution that satisfies everyone involved, leaving each person feeling that their needs have been addressed. This is the ultimate objective of conflict resolution, and those who can master this skill will find success in various aspects of life.

Mrs Chittenden

Head of Psychology

Article of Interest

Making Sustainable Choices

As residents of Dubai, we have the power to make a positive impact on the environment right from the comfort of our own homes. There are many small steps which we can make to embrace sustainability and create an eco-friendly living space.

1. Reduce Energy Consumption, start by minimizing your energy usage:

- Use energy-efficient LED bulbs, which consume significantly less electricity.

- Remember to turn off lights, fans, and electronic devices when not in use.

- Make the most of natural light during the day to reduce dependency on artificial lighting.

2. Embrace Water Conservation: Water is a precious resource, especially in regions like Dubai.

- Install low-flow taps, showerheads, and toilets to reduce water consumption.

- Fix any leaks promptly.

- Opt for shorter showers and avoid leaving taps running unnecessarily.

3. Practice Waste Management: Implement proper waste management strategies at home.

- Set up recycling bins for paper, plastic, glass, and metal waste, and ensure that you segregate and dispose of them correctly.

- Consider composting organic waste like food scraps and garden trimmings to create nutrient-rich soil for your plants.

4. Choose Eco-Friendly Products: When shopping for household items, prioritise eco-friendly and sustainable products.

- Look for labels indicating organic, biodegradable, or environmentally friendly options.

- Swap single-use plastic items with reusable alternatives like stainless steel water bottles, reusable shopping bags, and food containers.

- Choose local products

Remember, even small steps towards sustainability can have a significant impact. By adopting these simple measures, we can contribute to a greener and more sustainable Dubai, ensuring a better future for ourselves and generations to come.

Ms Collery

Teacher of Science

Staff Profile

Pam Dhaliwal - Teacher of Science

Pam has been teaching Science and A Level Biology for over 20 years to secondary school students. Pam studied Biomedical Sciences and completed a PGCE in Secondary Education Biology and General Science at Leeds University.

Pam has developed her teaching practice as a classroom teacher, an Advanced Skills teacher, a Lead Practitioner of Teaching and Learning, Head of Science and Director of Science in the UK. In 2020, Pam moved to Dubai as a Head of Science. After a short interval of teaching Science in New York, Pam joined Jebel Ali School in November 2022. Pam strives to engage all students, develop positive relationships, and uses a variety of teaching methodology in her day-to-day teaching. She is a firm believer of a growth mindset and that everything is possible with hard work.

Pam says of the JAS values:

‘I believe that all of the JAS values are important. However, the one which stands out the most for me is resilience. In Science, the academic demand of the subject is such that students find the application of science concepts extremely challenging. By developing a resilient growth mindset and continuing to practise the application of difficult concepts, all students can succeed and reach their goals.’

Pam enjoys travelling and some of her favourite experiences are travelling to Mongolia and China to experience a nomadic way of life, and Ecuador and Galapagos, to walk in the footsteps of Charles Darwin. To balance out a busy work life, Pam is passionate about fitness and wellbeing in her free time.

Page updated

Report abuse