The Junction

Friday 23 September 2022

A Note From Mrs Sims

It is my absolute pleasure to be writing the SLT note for The Junction this week.

During our new JAS parents evening in the first week in September, I was able to talk about Learning & Teaching at Jebel Ali School and what that looks like; not only from a student's way of thinking but also as a parent or teacher. I spoke about how lessons evolve; how lessons are never the same, as both our teachers and students work together to ensure ‘Better is Always Possible’.

Since the beginning of term, Senior Leaders at JAS have had the pleasure of observing lessons within the Secondary school and have been able to witness the ‘JAS Magic’ first hand. I can honestly say we have been blown away by the amazing teaching from our phenomenal staff and by the sophisticated learning demonstrated by students. It has been a pleasure seeing first hand how the JAS vision and mission are pushing and challenging students and staff to become the very best version of themselves.

Last week Mr Parnell spoke about the JAS values, and it has been wonderful to see how these values are conveyed within the classroom. Each and every one of our teachers uses these values when planning their lessons at Jebel Ali School, to ensure that each and every student has the best possibility to grow and learn during their studies; to develop growth mindset and excellence and to create a sense of inclusivity. During our lesson observations, we have seen wonderful things from our fantastic students with regard to the JAS values and below is a snippet of what we have had the pleasure of seeing:

Integrity - not being afraid to take risks and, at the same time, feeling comfortable enough to ask questions if needed as the support and mutual respect are there.
Kindness - the outstanding relationships between students and their peers and also between students and teachers.
Resilience - not giving up when a teacher asks a question they are unsure of; giving new ideas or concepts or questions a go, as they know the teacher will support and guide them.
Growth Mindedness - believing that we can ‘FAIL’ (First Attempt In Learning) during a lesson/module/theme, “feeling the fear and doing things anyway” in the knowledge that this is how we learn, how we reflect on where we need to go in order to make progress.
Inclusivity - students working together, no matter their ability, towards an end goal.
Excellence - both students and teachers working together to empower each other and work towards academic excellence.

Our time at school is limited, I left school in 2005 and still think of it as yesterday (however the wrinkles may say differently). Sometimes I sit and reflect on what I could have done better. Should I have asked more questions in my A level English classes instead of shying away, petrified of making Miss Grace angry? Should I have immersed myself more in my love for Food Technology? Or even challenged myself further in French and Spanish instead of taking the comfortable and easy route through my GCSE and A levels (not to the liking of Madame Wood & Señora Lloyd), which led me to my degree?

This will be the year that each and every one of us pushes ourselves to the limit, the year that we challenge ourselves further than we thought possible; from our academics to our ECAs, to our time at home with our friends and family. Every single one of us at Jebel Ali School is in this together. Whether as student, parent or staff, we are a Learning Community, remembering that ‘Better is Always Possible’. We should be proud of every achievement we make here (in every shape and size, subject, scope or scale) at Jebel Ali School.

Wishing you all a wonderful and restful weekend.

Mrs J Sims - Assistant Headteacher for Learning & Teaching

Important Notices

STS Additional Routes

Due to popular demand, STS Group are looking to expand their bus services for JAS families.

With two established bus routes and further interest from parents in a number of additional communities, STS would like to explore the possibility of adding more routes. Please contact STS directly if you would like a bus route from the following communities in particular: Green Community, Jumeirah Golf Estates, Sports City, Motor City, Town Square and Mira.

You can register your interest for current or new routes by emailing sde-jas@sts-group.com, OR calling Kelvin on 0552023732.

Week in Review

This week our A-Level Art students photographed a range of shells which they will go on to use for observational drawings and media experiments. We used natural light and focussed on texture and form.

Business and Economics

JAS Enterprise ECA

The new set of JAS Entreprenuers have started working on their business ventures. They will compete to turn a 100 dirham investment into as much profit as possible. They are super innovative and ideas are being researched from polaroid locker selfies to ping pong tournaments and finger boards. There are some talented future business stars in this group and I look forward to seeing how much profit they make.

YEAR 7

Mime takes a lot of focus and commitment and Year 7 have done an excellent job in using it to create stories that are clear to the audience. They have been looking at the important rules of mime; silence, exaggeration, size and weight of object and finally making sure objects don’t just disappear!

YEAR 8

It’s been all heroes and villains this week as Year 8 were taking it in turns to mould their partner into their own representation of different stock characters.

YEAR 9

Exploring physical and vocal characterisation was the focus of Year 9 lessons this week as students portrayed the twins, Mickey and Eddie, from Blood Brothers as 7-year old children.

Did you know!

In the original Blood Brothers West End production, the adult actors play their characters from as young as age 7 all the way to adulthood. Check out the Blood Brothers UK Tour trailer here.

YEAR 10

Year 10 this term have been studying different theatre practitioners and styles of theatre. This week and last was a focus on German playwright, practitioner and poet, Bertolt Brecht. Students created a piece of theatre from research around social/policital issues within our society. The group chose to do a piece of women’s rights.

YEAR 11

Year 11 students are currently working on Component 2: Devising Drama worth 40% of their overall GCSE.

The start of any devising project can be terrifying, even for professional theatre makers. There’s no way of knowing the end result of your performance piece and you have no choice but to put all of your trust in the process! It really is a unique thing, collaborating and creating with others to build something from scratch, and it is a valuable experience for individuals to learn how to overcome obstacles, not in theory, but in real-life practice.

Here is a clip of Bella and Bethany working on a short piece of material nearing the end of one of their lessons. Next week they will develop this further and start to add context!

Year 11 Beth and Bella.mov

Here are five things that all students learn from devising theatre:

STUDENTS LEARN THEY HAVE A VOICE

Devised works let students have thoughts, ideas, opinions, and creative impulses they might not ever have been called to stretch. Working on devised work means they have participated in every aspect of creating the piece of theatre that they will present. This not only creates a strong sense of ownership about the work, but as an artist, it may be the first time they have had some control over the kind of topics and issues they want their art to address. Devising theatre can be a way to speak to that need.

STUDENTS LEARN TO RISK

When you are creating original work, you must really put yourself out there without a net, so to speak. There is no roadmap: you have to try things, some that work and some that just lead you to different discoveries.

STUDENTS LEARN TO TRUST THEMSELVES AND OTHERS

Theatre creates a powerful bond between the students involved, and when the play is built together from the ground up, the participants feel not only connected to each other, but meaningfully connected to the story they are telling and the community they are sharing it with.

STUDENTS LEARN WHAT KIND OF WORK THEY REALLY WANT TO DO

Many students go into theatre without realising this was a question that they could ask, so they begin to search out ideas that speak to them, either because of the kind of work they are producing or the way that they create the work.

STUDENTS BECOME ENTREPRENEURIAL ARTISTS

Theatre making is always a collaborative process, but an actor is typically limited to what they can bring to a character that someone else has already written. In devised work, the students really start to understand the process of creating theatre—what makes a story engaging, and what gifts can they bring to the table to enhance the work? Perhaps the most important thing students realise, once they have experienced the thrill of creating a piece of theater from the ground up, is that they don't have to wait for opportunities—they have always had the potential to create their own.

Secondary Production - Oliver!

Oliver! 2023 - Week 2 in Rehearsals

Did someone say FOOD? This week we had a GLORIOUS time creating our first number of the show. A huge well done to all of the cast members involved this week who stepped up to PLATE and managed to learn a new song and a new choreography all in the space of a few hours - no easy feat yet they did it beautifully! It’s definitely left us HUNGRY for MORE!

If you haven’t yet guessed which number we rehearsed this week, take a sneak peek below!

Copy of IMG_0197.mov

We’ll see you next week. Cast members remember to check the rehearsal schedule!

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)

Rehearsal schedule is updated on GC every Friday afternoon for the following week. Please check this weekly to see when you are needed in rehearsal.

Rehearsal Times

Monday 12.50pm-13.15pm

Wednesday 3.30pm-5.00pm

Thursday 06.50am-7.20am

Social Studies

Students in Year 8 presenting in Social Studies their research about difficult environments to live in.

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.

Helpful Hints

Kindness

Kindness has been an important theme at Jebel Ali School this month, as our students have returned from their summer break. Both new and returning students can feel anxious about the return to school but the kindness of others can help to relieve that stress. Kindness underpins everything we do at Jebel Ali School and we are proud to say that it is one of our core values. When we practice kindness either to other people or towards ourselves we know that we experience positive mental and physical changes, such as; lower stress levels and an increase in the level of feel-good hormones such as serotonin in our body. Being kind also helps to boost our confidence and happiness which leads to more success in the classroom.

Acts of kindness

Acts of kindness have the potential to make, not just our school, but, the world a better place. Many scientific studies have shown that kindness is contagious. When one person performs a kind act, the recipient is more likely to perform a kind act of their own for someone else. One study shows how one act of kindness has a cascading effect, as the recipient does a kind act for someone in their social network, then that recipient does another kind act and kindness spreads.

Showing kindness does not have to mean doing something big or life changing. Often it’s the smallest acts of kindness that can have the most impact. Not sure where to start? Here are some ideas of small random acts of kindness that you can do today:

Greet with a smile

Smiling can actually boost a person’s mood, increase positivity and reduce pain and stress. A smile is also contagious. When someone smiles, the person they’re smiling at has a natural inclination to smile, which gives them the same benefits

Help with the chores

Whether it’s meal prep, setting the table or doing the dishes, there are a bunch of different ways you can help out at home.

Clean your room

A great way to show yourself kindness is by cleaning your personal space. Showing kindness to yourself is just as important as showing kindness to others. Being kind to yourself will boost confidence levels and make you happier.

Use reusable bags

Somewhere between 500 billion and 1 trillion plastic bags are used each year. Looking after our environment is an important part of being kind.

Share a compliment

This can truly make somebody’s confidence soar and it will give you a warm fuzzy feeling inside too. Write down someones best qualities and share it with them or notice something they have done well and give them a verbal compliment.

The best thing about kindness is that it isn’t difficult to be kind. There is always something we can improve as we believe that better is always possible. As the Dalai Lama said, ‘Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible’.

Mrs. Moore

Head of Year 7

Article of Interest

Why is A-level Geography so popular?

Geography A-level uptake increased by 6.4% in 2022 in the UK, placing it just inside the top 10 most popular subjects at A-level. In Jebel Ali, 1 in 5 Sixth form students have chosen to study A-level Geography.

Geography is one of the Russell Group universities' facilitating subjects — so called because choosing them at A-level allows a wide range of options for degree study.

As a subject, geography covers so many of the vital issues that affect the world of today, such as the recent political upheaval in the UK, the scarcity of water and extreme weather events due to climate change, the geopolitical impact of conflict and the ensuing energy crisis, as well as the collective impact of global food security and inequalities. Addressing these issues requires up-to-date knowledge about the world’s people, places and environments, which studying geography can provide. Having a solid understanding of geography is one way to equip young people to make sense of, and contribute positively to, these challenging times

Arguably there has never been a better time to study geography. With the mix of technical and social skills that they get from their studies, geography graduates are highly sought after — in fact, according to the Royal Geographical Society, those who study the subject have some of the highest rates of employment.

Geography helps you to make sense of the world around you. It's hands on, relevant, and fun. Whatever your passion for the world – fascination with landscapes or concerns about sustainability – geography will provide you with knowledge and transferable skills that will reward you personally and advance you professionally.

“Geography is the subject which holds the key to our future" - Michael Palin,

Matthew Rice

Student Focus/Highlight

We are really pleased to hear that over the Summer, one of JAS singers own, Savannah Rodrigues participated in the Pre-Teen category of the Vocal Star competition held in Hollywood, California in the USA.

Not only did Savannah represent JAS exceptionally well, she achieved a stunning 2nd place in the category.

Our sincerest congratulations to Savannah for her efforts and we wish her well in her future musical endeavours.

Staff Profile

Katheryn Hansford - Year 7 Tutor and Drama Teacher

Katheryn has been teaching Drama for six years to secondary and Sixth Form pupils. Katheryn studied Drama studies at Bath Spa University and then started her PGCE with Bath Spa University in 2015. After moving from Somerset Katheryn started teaching Drama as an NQT for The Langley Academy in Slough, UK. Whilst there Katheryn also taught Music and Art and became Head of House and Assistant Raising Standards Leader before becoming Head of Creative and Performing Arts in 2019. Katheryn’s favourite thing about teaching Drama is the thrill and excitement students get out performing in the whole school production. Katheryn believes that Drama can give students so many opportunities and transferable skills for their future.

Katheryn says of the JAS Values;

“I wish I could say all of them but my top two would be kindness and resilience. I would say that I am a very kind person, I am happy to help anyone who needs it and I try my best to be kind and I really think kindness goes a long way! My second is resilience, I would say I am pretty resilient, when I don't get something right the first time or I'm not feeling 100% I will always try my hardest to be resilient, to keep trying until I do get it or keep going even if I am feeling unwell.!”

Katheryn is a grade 8 singer and loves musical theatre. Whilst in school she completed her Bronze, Silver and Gold DofE and loves walking and hiking. She loves travelling the world and now that she has recently moved to Dubai she plans to continue to tick more countries off the list!

Katheryn says;

“My hero would probably be my sister. She has gone through alot of hard times in her life and has been so resilient and worked her way through them. She is the kindest and most selfless person I know, she is always willing to help others and thinking of other before herself.”

Katheryn is thrilled and very excited to have joined JAS and to have started a new adventure in Dubai!

Loki - The Reading Dog

Our staff profile this week is on Loki Brown. Loki joins the JAS team as our Reading and Anxiety Dog. He is a four year old, English Cocker Spaniel who was adopted two years ago from a family who sadly could no longer look after him.

Following intensive training and assessment, we are delighted to congratulate Loki on graduating from the Reading Dogs UAE programme and welcome him into the JAS team as our Reading and Anxiety Dog.

Reading to a dog like Loki helps children of all ages relax into reading, open up, try harder and have fun reading. Reading dogs are specially chosen, for their child-friendly, extremely calm nature, which makes them the perfect reading companions. They don’t judge or correct, they allow children to read at their own pace and they’ve proven to be a calming influence on a class. Loki’s temperament, obedience and patient nature makes him a great asset to the JAS Reading Programme.

What you may have already guessed about Loki is that his favourite thing to do is to go for walks, run around the desert and generally get lots of attention! He also really enjoys going to the beach. Loki absolutely loves food, ALL food, but especially sausages!

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