The Junction

Friday 9 December 2022

A Note From Mr Green

Whilst it might not be the end of an academic year; bringing to a close the first term, in this year of 2022, allows us all to take a moment to reflect, celebrate, and take a quick peek at the term ahead. We have all been through so much over the past two years and this term reminds us all that we may very well have turned a corner and are now headed toward brighter days ahead.

With everything that’s going on at the end of a busy term, taking the time to pause creates an opportunity to hit the reset button in our minds, to be more present, and to more fully acknowledge the moments, thoughts, and emotions that are important. Creating, guiding, and nurturing a community of learners through school is an incredible accomplishment that we can sometimes forget and is well worth celebrating. That goes for all of us in this special community we call JAS. Jebel Ali School is at the heart of the community and the community is at the heart of what we do. In the promotion of our core values of ‘Belong, Believe, Become’, we encourage our staff and students to get involved and to actively support in-school activities, community work, charity work, and other opportunities. It has been a pleasure to see so many students participate in a whole variety of different activities this term – at lunchtime, before and after school, and also in the trips and excursions that have now returned. Academic success is important but we also recognise the value of the many character-building opportunities we offer at school to ensure that the talents and interests of all students are developed and supported.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m sure many of us feel like a break, but for me, there is always an assortment of emotions as I see the last student and member of staff leave the campus. Yes, there is a definite sense of exhaustion at having completed yet another busy term, but there is always a sense of joy and excitement for the forthcoming holiday. Many of us are already looking ahead, planning for the new term and new opportunities but as the end of any term nears, we should always take the time to pause. Like I say for all of us, it creates a chance to hit the reset button in our minds, to be more present, and to more fully acknowledge the moments, thoughts, and emotions that we have experienced this term.

There have been numerous terrific moments over the course of the term and many, if not all, of these, are wonderfully captured in our past editions of the Junction. In the past couple of weeks, we have celebrated National Day, enjoyed our amazing Festive Fayre, tasted victory in the Dubai Super Science League, enjoyed amazing individual sporting success, from both staff and students, and been blown away by the numerous musical events that have been on offer this week, culminating in a star-packed Winter Concert, just last night. These are great days of celebration and joy which only serve to demonstrate what a fabulous community we belong to. However, there was one event, one story, which really captivated me this past week. Over the national weekend, our U13 and U15 Netball teams competed in the Dubai Sevens in front of huge cheering crowds, and whilst our U13 were narrowly defeated our U15s were victorious in the Plate Final. A fantastic achievement that clearly inspired our senior Girls' Netball Team, who, for the very first time, represented Jebel Ali School in the U19 section of the Sevens Competition. This inaugural participation was a culmination of many years of planning, training, and resilience. Were we an unknown entity? Were we the classic underdogs up against much more renowned and established teams? Perhaps. But everyone who witnessed these girls play over the three days knew they were watching something special. At the heart of every great sport is a great narrative and the very best sport involves these narratives being completely torn up and discarded. There is nothing in sport quite as captivating, compelling, and wholesome as an underdog defying the odds, and succeeding in the face of possible adversity on the biggest stage of all. And our girls delivered. For the experience, the emotion, the cheers, and the tears of being with this team, their parents, and supporters, every step of the way over the weekend, I thank you. They were unbelievable ambassadors of the school and made us all very proud.

I wish you all the very best for this festive season and look forward to seeing you all again in the New Year.

Mr Stephen Green

Head of Secondary

Week in Review

Year 10

Year 10 have completed this term by performing a Monologue and Duologue from the GCSE set text, Blood Brothers. Students have spent the last few weeks learning lines and rehearsing ready for their assessment which was marked against the Component 3 GCSE Criteria. Well done to all the students who absolutely smashed their performance, see below some of the examples.

Issy Monologue.mov

Kaustubh Monologue.mov

Computer Science

This is Computer Science Education Week and students have been completing an Hour of Code in lessons. The Hour of Code is a global computer science initiative that creates a fun and creative environment for students to be introduced to the concepts of computer programming.

Teaching coding as an integral part of the curriculum fosters critical thinking and a mindset for innovation from a young age. The ability to code equips students with the proficiency to solve problems and design sustainable solutions and Hour of Code gives them the opportunity to explore, play, and create with computer science.

Please encourage your children to have a go: https://hourofcode.com/us/learn

Literacy Newsletter

Thank you to Hania, Year 10, who has put together our first Literacy Newsletter as part of her International Duke of Edinburgh Award. Hania has worked hard on this project and will be looking for volunteers to work with her on future newsletters next term. Well done Hania.

JAS Got Talent

JAS Has Got Talent is back and we want YOU! Over the winter break, Y6-Y13 can audition by videoing your talent and sending it to jashasgottalent@jebelalischool.org. JHGT welcomes every kind of talent! Here is a list of the type of acts we have seen in past competitions: singers, bands, instrumentalists, comedians, DJs, dancers and dance teams, beatboxers, gymnasts, parkour, impressionists, monologues, rappers, acting, skits, acrobats, jugglers, magicians, comedians and the weird and the wonderful! These auditions will be put into an episode and students will vote. The top 2 auditions of that week will go through to the live final. There is a prize for the top 3 who win in the live final:

1st place will receive a 250 dhs Virgin gift voucher

2nd place will receive a 150 dhs Virgin gift voucher

3rd place will receive a 100 dhs Virgin gift voucher

If there are any questions, please email jashasgottalent@jebelalischool.org.

Thank you,

Pippa and Molly

JAS Secondary Sport

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

U13/U15 Girls Rugby DC Sevens

The U13 girls rugby team put great effort into the four matches that they played at the DC7s tournament. They faced difficult opponents, meeting DC, JESS B and Safa in the group stages and were unlucky to finish the group without a victory, despite scoring some excellent tries and demonstrating brilliant defending. After the rounds the U13 girls team progressed to the plate competition where they faced a spirited side from NAS. Both teams demonstrated excellent attacking phases which led to a high scoring game for both sides. Unfortunately, JAS were denied the victory by a last second try by NAS. Player of the tournament was undoubtedly Maya Maguire, for her consistent determination to slow down opponents with some outstanding defending and some blistering attacking runs.

The U15 girls were excited to try and continue the success they experienced at the tournament last year when they arrived. However, despite their best efforts they succumbed to losses at the hands of two outstanding JESS and SAFA teams. The girls were undeterred though and produced an outstanding display against NAS, beating them 31 - 5 to go through to the plate competition as third in their group. They met WSO in their next match and, unfortunately, could not overcome them to win the game. Lexie Batten was player of the tournament as she consistently led by example and scored numerous tries due to her excellent lines when running in support.

U12/U13/U14 Netball DC Sevens

This was the U12s first game of netball together this year, they brought so much enthusiasm and energy it was fantastic to watch! The U12s also introduced 3 new players to Jebel Ali so it was great to see some new faces in the Jebel Ali netball kit at DC. The U12s managed to get a great win against SAFA Community with Amelia Meridith scoring both goals. Player of the tournament went to Gracie Miller for her resilience in Defence.

The U13s got put in a very tough group for this tournament so only managed to get one win of the afternoon, beating SAFA in one of their last games of the afternoon. The girls showed amazing teamwork and supported each other throughout. Some amazing play from the defenders keeping the goal difference down. Player of the tournament went to Arabella Wilson.

The U14 netball team had a brand new squad this year with lots of them playing their first match for Jebel Ali. They brought so much energy and determination which led them to winning their first game against SAFA community school. They put everything into every single match and showed so much positivity to their teammates. Player of the tournament going to Layla Dingle.

U13/U16 Boys Rugby DC Sevens

The U13 squad had a tough group losing their first two games of the morning, however, confidence grew and they stepped up for game three to take victory over Kings Al Barsha. Injuries took us down to 7 players heading into the Plate semi-final and were looking strong until another injury left us with 6 players. We were holding the lead just 2 points over DCB in the dying minutes of the game, but unfortunately, a referee decision in the last play of the game cost us a penalty and the place in the Plate final. A special mention goes to Toby Stevens who unknowingly fractured his collarbone and still tried to play on! Get well soon Toby.

The U16 squad had a very successful DC7s. The boys dominated the group stages against some tough opposition, but their work rate and game plan proved too strong for others with them winning all of their games enphatically. The squad played some fantastic flowing rugby, with the ball moving through the hands at pace and creating opportunities all over the pitch. With the excitement building throughout the afternoon the final was upon the team and they couldn’t have been more focused on the task in hand as they faced up against WSO. From the first whistle they worked hard to be dominant in both attack and defence with the boys saving their best performance until last and coming out as DC7s U16 B League Cup Champions! This was a huge moment for this rugby team and a fantastic way to kick on into the DASSA league in term 2. It’s hard to pick 1 stand out player as everyone played so well but special mentions have to be made for the work rate and try scoring record of both Jude Taylor and Archie Young who led from the front all afternoon. Well done boys on this huge achievement, a moment that will live long in your JAS memories.

U13/U15 Netball Youth Sevens

The U13 netball team were excited to be the first in their age group to represent JAS in the Netball Youth Sevens. They had mixed results in their group, however securing two wins meant that they progressed to the Plate Final which was to be played at Dubai Sevens. Despite their best efforts, unfortunately the U13s lost their final to Jumeirah College 6-2. We were so proud of all of the girls, they demonstrated resilience and never gave up. Player of the tournament was Hanna Brodrick for her high energy, support and encouragement at all times.

The U15 netball team played some excellent netball in the group stages of the Netball Youth Sevens, securing one win, one loss and one draw. After losing to an outstanding JESS team, eventual winners of The Cup, the girls played WSO in the semi-final for a place in the Plate final. After lots of court to court action and some good goals at both ends, JAS came out victorious and progressed to the Plate Final against DBS JP. Despite some initial nerves, the girls dominated the first half of the final and went into half-time 5-0 up. Despite changes to the team, they continued to play an excellent standard of netball in the second half, resulting in them securing an 8-2 victory. We were all so proud of the effort and determination demonstrated by each of the girls throughout the whole tournament. Player of the tournament for the U15s was Lucy Stevens, who demonstrated excellent control and skill and brilliant teamwork throughout.

U19 Netball Dubai Sevens

This was the first year that JAS competed in the U19 Netball Dubai Sevens tournament. After several years of sitting on the sidelines - too young to compete - the girls were excited to lay down a marker in this prestigious tournament. With ten weeks of intensive practice under their belts and record crowds expected at the tournament, anticipation was high. However, the nerves soon turned to excitement after the presentation of their new netball dresses and the girls were ready for the big stage.

Led by Jebel Ali’s first ever U19 netball captain, Dana Elliott, the girls opened up the tournament with a nerve-settling victory over Repton. After a loss to Dubai College in their final game on Thursday, the girls came out firing on the Friday morning to win all three of their remaining pool games. Saturday brought a quarter final against an unknown opponent in Jumeriah College. After tense start to the game, Inaaya Ansari soon settled into her shooting rhythm to guide the team to a 10-4 victory. This meant that JAS would face Dubai English Speaking College in the semi final. Both teams traded blows for a frantic fourteen minutes. At 5 - 5 nothing could separate the two teams and the game went deep into extra-time. Both teams scored off the centre pass to make it 6-6 with two minutes remaining on the clock. After a flurry of turnovers, JAS scored a long range penalty to nudge themselves in the lead. With one minute remaining, DESC had the ball in hand to equalise. However, their attacks were faced by a brick wall made up of Schreiner, Brodrick and Smies. An outstretched arm from Tessa Smies intercepted a ball in the shooting circle, to give JAS possession in the final fifteen seconds. With steely determination and composure, Dana Elliott took control of the centre third to play the clock down. The final whistle screeched over the roars of the Jebel Ali contingent in the stands to mark the end of a nail-biting game. Victory, Jebel Ali. 7-6.

With barely a moment to catch their breath, the girls were soon back on court for the final - a rematch against their previous opponents, Dubai College. A nervy start from JAS allowed DC to take a confident 3 - 0 lead. However, propelled by encouragement from the crowd, the girls fought hard to bring the scores back to level-pegging at 3-3. With both teams unbreakable off the centre pass, the match would finish at a stalemate. 7-7. Extra-time was soon becoming familiar territory for the girls in blue. With shooters from both teams dangerous under the posts, the game once again failed to find a winner at the final whistle. This would only mean one thing: golden goal. Dubai College had the ball in hand and worked it smartly into the circle. Composure from their shooter settled the game at 9-8. Victory for Dubai College.

Secondary Girls Football Season

Secondary girls football had a term of impressive participation and a high level of progress across all age groups. With cup fixtures to come in term 2, the students are excited to compete for their places in the A teams to compete for JAS in the cup.

Numbers attending training across all age groups increased throughout the term, with a record number of 72 girls regularly attending training (28 from year 7, 21 from year 8, 8 from year 8, 10 from year 10 and 5 from year 11). All of these students had the chance to represent JAS in a competitive DASSA fixture throughout the term in one of the 5 teams that took part in the leagues (U12 A and B, U13, U14 and U16) across 30 fixtures.

The U16’s were the stand out team, competing in division 1 with the top schools across Dubai, coming away with a 4th place finish. The team were incredibly competitive, only losing to league winners JESS in the last minute of the game, losing by 1 goal to 2nd place finishers NAS and drawing with 3rd place finishers Dubai College. Triumph came by convincingly beating JESS B and DESC by 3 goals.

Currently sitting 4th in the league with 1 game to go, if the U14 team beat Southview they will jump to a 3rd place finish which would be phenomenal after not winning a game for the whole of last season.

Well done to all the girls who have attended girls football practice and represented JAS this term. With all teams winning at least 2 games in the season, this is a great achievement in the development of girls football at JAS, which we hope to continue next year.

Secondary Boys Football Season

This year was an incredibly exciting year of football for JAS as we ran the school's first-ever U19 football team. Adding to the record-setting year we had a total of 6 teams across the secondary school giving 94 boys the opportunity to represent Jebel Ali. That works out at just over 1 in 4 boys in secondary school playing football for the school. This season the boys have come up against some extremely strong competition and at every opportunity, our boys have developed and grown as individual players as well as learning to play as a team. Over the past 8 weeks, the teams have collectively played 34 fixtures and it comes as no surprise that our U19s lead the way with regards to performance (currently unbeaten), but perhaps more importantly setting the example for our younger teams in terms of sportsmanship and passion for the game. Whilst the contributions of everyone are valued, we need to highlight those of one of our players especially. Our U19’s captain Ben Messingham (Year 12) has not only led our most successful football team, but he has coached the U16s, refereed for the U12s and we are sure he would argue that he is a contender for the goal of the season too.

A huge congratulations to all of the boys who have played football this term, have a wonderful winter break and rest up, the first round of the DASSA football cup is scheduled to start when we return in January.

Secondary Swimming Season

The JAS Swimming team has had a positive start to the year, entering teams into the U13, U15, and U19 sections of the competitions for the first time. We have had consistently good numbers at training sessions and 34 swimmers have represented the school this term.

The team has participated in four fixtures this term, starting with the DASSA Seeding Time Trial. This event would be responsible for deciding the division that we compete in for the remainder of the year and students ensured to give their best effort in all of their races. Following the DASSA Seeding Time Trial, we entered Division 4 along with four other schools ready to participate in the three remaining Term 1 galas.

We had mixed results in the galas due to overlap with residential trips on two occasions, leaving us with a heavily depleted team. However, we still managed to record some outstanding individual race results at each of the three galas. As always, we were blown away by our students and their determination to show resilience and never give up in the face of adversity.

Some particular highlights include Daria in Y8 recording the third fastest time in Dubai for the U13 50m Breastroke at the DASSA Seeding Time Trial and Cara in Year 12 recording the 7th fastest time in Dubai for the U19 50m freestyle in the same event.

Coming up in Term 2 we have the DASSA Individual Championships which will be a short course event at the Hamdan Sports Complex. We are also excited about the secondary aquathlon which starts in Term 2.

Secondary Girls Basketball Season

It has been a really exciting season to have teams of all ages in the DASSA senior basketball leagues. The U16 girls have had a very exciting season progressing from creating scoring opportunities to learning how to win games. They have faced the intense moments of basketball finishing on draws and playing games to the final buzzer. With over 16 girls involved in the entire season, this has to be the highlight giving us a very strong foundation moving into the future years. Our U19 girls have had their debut season with nail-biting games, game-buzzer shots, and successful wins to put them in a good position to win the league. However, with some buzzer shots not going our way and a very busy end to the term the girls finished in the middle of the table! Congratulations to all of the girls involved this season.

Secondary Boys Basketball Season

Basketball here at JAS has been gradually improving over the last few years and it is fair to say that it is quickly becoming one of our most popular, and competitive sports. This term we had 2 teams and in total had 28 boys representing the school in a combined 11 fixtures. Our U16’s faced an extremely challenging season, but the amount of skill development and basketball awareness grew from game to game, finishing with our strongest performance but unfortunately missing out on the win by a basket in the final 3 seconds of overtime. This year was extremely exciting as we had the opportunity to showcase our U19 talent with the schools first ever U19s basketball team, led by Rayaan and Yassin. The highlight of the season had to be the U19’s first game. Arriving at a school, with music echoing around the room, and bleachers full of students and staff supporting our opposition, it was a daunting environment for our boys, but in true Jebel Ali fashion, they stepped up to the challenge and took home the win from what was pretty much a 1 point game for all 4 quarters. After this, our team became plagued by injury and illness, but even when low on numbers the boys were relentless in their efforts, losing one of our matches by a single point in triple overtime! Once through the playoffs, the U19s went unbeaten as players recovered from previous injuries and we returned to full strength, showing just what we are capable of.

Next term, we begin to train our U12/13/14 teams in preparation for their season later on in the year and I am extremely pleased to share that our U16/19s will be supporting and coaching of the next generation of JAS basketball players.

Inclusion Insights Newsletter

Welcome to our new Inclusion Insights Newsletter. You'll find helpful hints, articles of interest and challenges. It will be available on the inclusion page on our school website. We hope you enjoy it. Please CLICK HERE to access our newsletter.

The Inclusion Team

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.

Empire Football

What Empire Football Academy offers:

We cater to all levels of footballing ability (Beginner-Advanced)
UEFA Qualified Coaches
Football specific Camps (in line with school holidays)
Largest Girls academy in the UAE Ages 4 - 18
Compete in Leagues and Competitions within the UAE
Compete in International competitions
Internal league (Evolution League) for boys and girls ages 7 - 15

Helpful Hints

12 Practical Tips To Stay Fit For Christmas

Christmas is approaching fast, and lots of people not only tend to ruin their usual diets, but they also gain a few extra pounds. Based on studies, the majority of people tend to gain additional weight during the holiday season which starts with Thanksgiving Day and ends with the New Year celebrations. Excessive eating is claimed to be the main cause for the additional weight gain, but it is also due to lack of physical activity and exercise.

A lot of individuals out there tend to set aside their fitness routines during the holidays since they believe that they do not have enough time to perform their workouts. And because they feel guilty after the holiday season, most of the gyms and fitness centers are packed with fresh members. Always bear in mind that you can still enjoy the holidays and stay fit at the same time. If you want to stay fit during the holiday season, especially during Christmas and New Year’s Eve, here are some useful tips that might help you:

1. Eat Before Heading Out

First, it is best that you eat something before heading out for visits, trips, or family dinners. By doing so, you will no longer be tempted to eat a lot or overindulge yourself since you have already eaten. Skipping on meals is not a good idea either, because you will only be forced to eat more later.

2. Select The Treats

Make sure to select the treats that you eat in a wise manner. You should choose something that you can only enjoy during the holiday season and not something that is readily available all the time.

3. Avoid Skipping Meals

Don’t skip meals, especially breakfast! Even though it can be tempting to skip certain meals, believing that it will make up for the treats you consumed the previous day, don’t do it because it will only lead to counterproductive results.

4. Drink With Moderation

It is best to regulate your drinking since coke or other juices will only add more calories to the ones you have already eaten!

5. Be Active

You should still perform your fitness routine whenever possible and if you can’t do that, simply walk more, park your car some distance away from the store or just use the stairs!

6. Get Out Of The House

Make the holidays a family affair and plan outdoor activities where everyone is involved. Even a snowball fight in the backyard will burn a lot of calories and will keep the children entertained.

7. Don’t Skip Your Strength Workouts

Always remember to perform your strength training in order to maintain that muscle mass you worked hard to get. You might be tempted to use light weights and just do some cardio, but you can burn just as many calories by lifting weights. And with all of those extra stakes you had on the holiday meals, you might even gain some extra muscle. And this is much better than gaining some extra fat.

8. Set Realistic Goals

You should set realistic exercise objectives. Aim for at least half an hour per day and you will be very happy when you will achieve that. If you plan one hour or more and do not achieve it, you will only end up disappointed.

9. Enjoy Yourself

Also, make sure to set realistic diet plans! Trying to restrain yourself totally from some foods will only make you eat more. Feel free to enjoy the treats that you really love, but in small portions.

10. Drink A Lot Of Water

This can satiate your appetite as well as keep you hydrated at all times.

11. Eat Less And More Often

Distribute your meals evenly throughout the day, and do not eat everything at once. Instead of having 2 enormous meals, have 5 small ones. Eat your dinner earlier and have a nice walk before going to bed.

12. Prioritise Your Workouts

Try to do them early in the morning while everyone else is still sleeping. This way you will also avoid remarks like “Oh, come on! It’s Christmas…”

So there you go! Twelve simple tips that will help you avoid gaining weight during the winter holidays, but will also allow you to enjoy yourself and have a great time with your loved ones.

Craig Wilson: https://www.lifehack.org/articles/lifestyle/12-practical-tips-stay-fit-for-christmas.html

Mr Ben Parnell

Deputy Head of Secondary

Article of Interest

Gratitude and happiness: the importance of being grateful

During difficult times, it’s easy to feel a little overwhelmed or drained by life. Negative feelings and thoughts can creep in, which can make it difficult to see the positives. However, one simple practice, gratitude, can help to alleviate these feelings. We take a look at the importance of being grateful.

Despite being a simple concept, gratitude can make us happier, healthier, and more settled in ourselves. We explore what gratitude means and the benefits it can bring, along with some practical tips for being grateful.

What is gratitude?

Let’s start with a gratitude definition. You’re probably familiar with expressing gratefulness by saying ‘thank you’ when someone does something nice for you. Yet it’s a more nuanced concept than simply expressing thanks.

Gratitude is defined as a positive emotional reaction that serves a biological purpose. It’s the appreciation of the valuable and meaningful things in our lives. As one of the world’s leading experts in gratitude, Robert Emmons, explains in his essay on gratitude:

“It’s an affirmation of goodness. We affirm that there are good things in the world, gifts and benefits we’ve received.”

However, he also points out that there is another element to being grateful:

“We recognise that the sources of this goodness are outside of ourselves. … We acknowledge that other people—or even higher powers, if you’re of a spiritual mindset—gave us many gifts, big and small, to help us achieve the goodness in our lives.”

As we’ll see, there are many different gratitude practices out there that can help you hone these skills. What’s more, the benefits of doing so can be quite remarkable.

Why is gratitude important?

While we’ll get into the specific benefits of being grateful further down, it’s worth mentioning the overall importance of gratitude. Although it can appear to some as a little bit of a wooly term, there is actually a body of scientific evidence that demonstrates its effectiveness.

Countless studies have shown that gratitude can bring a variety of physical, psychological, emotional and social benefits. It helps us appreciate all the positive elements of our lives and the people in it.

While it might not be a panacea or cure-all for everything, gratitude can help to keep us grounded and feeling positive, particularly in times of uncertainty.

Many of us are familiar with feelings of dissatisfaction – we feel that our lives are incomplete and lacking in the things we crave. At such times, it’s easy to compare yourself to the idyllic-seeming lives of others and judge yourself to be lacking. The simple practice of gratitude can help to alleviate these feelings.

Is gratitude right for everyone?

Before we get into some of the research and facts behind gratitude, it’s important to take a moment to discuss whether practising gratitude is right for everyone. Although there is a lot of evidence that highlights the benefits of this practice, it isn’t the answer for everyone.

Studies suggest that we each have a level of ‘trait gratitude’, which determines how grateful we can feel. Factors such as genetics, culture, and personality impact this level. It’s not known exactly whether a person can ‘train’ themselves to experience more gratitude. Similarly, the endless pursuit of happiness can be draining, and life can throw up painful moments without warning. Although there are many benefits of practising gratitude, it may not be suitable for everyone. Do not be discouraged if you don’t feel the effects, and be sure to discuss any mental health issues with your doctor or other medical professional.

The benefits of gratitude

Let’s take a look at some of the specific and evidence-backed benefits of gratitude. While there are actually quite a few, we’ve picked out some of the most notable ones below. The benefits of practising gratitude include:

It can make you happier

A 2003 study found that those who practised gratitude reported ‘considerably more satisfaction with their lives as a whole.’ They felt more optimism about the future, as well as more connection with others. The study concluded that participating in gratitude resulted in substantial and consistent improvements in an individual’s perception of their wellbeing. Evidently, gratitude and happiness are closely linked. Those searching for a path to happiness might want to consider how being grateful can help.

It can improve your mental wellbeing

When it comes to your mental health, gratitude goes beyond just happiness. Studies have shown that being grateful can make you more optimistic, improve your mood, and even lower rates of stress and depression.

However, a recent study found that the benefits of gratitude interventions had a limited impact on reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression. As we mentioned earlier, it’s not a cure-all and shouldn’t replace medical advice.

That being said, if you are working to manage your mental health and stress, gratitude could still play a part. Just be sure to always discuss your mental health issues with your doctor or health professional.

For those looking to learn more about depression and low mood in young people, we have a course that can help you identify coping strategies. Similarly, our ExpertTrack on Psychology can help you explore the links between mind and behaviour.

It can improve your physical health

So far, we’ve spoken about gratitude as an internal and emotional concept. However, there is evidence to suggest that it can also bring about positive impacts on your physical health. One study from 2014 showed a positive correlation between gratitude and self-reported physical health, propensity for healthy activities, and a willingness to seek help for health concerns. There were further links between gratitude and healthy activities.

If you’re interested in the connection between physical and mental health, our course Integrating Care: Depression, Anxiety and Physical Illness can help you explore the subject further.

It can increase your self-esteem

One of the markers of long-term wellbeing is self-esteem – an individual’s opinion of their own worth. A 2011 study found that grateful contemplation could be used as a tool to increase satisfaction with life and self-esteem.

For those interested in ideas of self-esteem and self-worth, our course on body neutrality and body image with Jameela Jamil provides a fascinating insight into self-love.

It can enhance positive emotions

As well as being a positive emotion in itself, gratitude also tends to bring out the best in other sensations. Research from 2017, positive emotions allow people to build psychological, intellectual, and social resources. What’s more, practices such as gratitude may play a role in motivating individuals to engage in positive behaviours leading to self-improvement.

The study found evidence that expressing gratitude helps people with emotions such as connectedness, elevation, and humility. All of these, along with other aspects, are crucial to maintaining a mindful life.

It can help you make friends

Gratitude is part of our biology, and its likely predecessor, reciprocity, is still seen throughout nature. These mechanisms allow us to exchange things for the mutual benefit of both parties. When someone does something nice for us, our brains react to make us want to repay the favour, meaning we care for others and others care about us.

Research has shown that even something as small as thanking a new acquaintance for their help can make a social relationship more likely. What’s more, other studies have shown that being grateful towards your partner can boost your romantic relationships.

It can improve your sleep

We’ve already seen that gratefulness is a positive trait that can help to improve your mental and physical wellbeing. However, there is also evidence showing that it can improve your sleep quality.

Those who are struggling with their sleep will know how difficult it can make life, so any practice that can improve your sleep will be welcome.

It can boost your career

Gratitude can make you more helpful, more compassionate, and more forgiving. Several studies have suggested that practising gratitude can also make you more satisfied with your job. All of these are positive traits for the workplace, but the evidence doesn’t end there.

A 2016 study found that gratitude and respect in the workplace can help employees feel valued and welcomed in an organisation. Similarly, a 2015 study highlighted that gratitude also helps people find meaning in their jobs.

If you’re interested in exploring these topics further, check out our Wellbeing and Resilience at Work course, part of our Skills to Succeed in the Digital Workplace ExpertTrack.

It can help you deal with hardship

A recent study at Eastern Washington University explored the link between gratefulness and dealing with difficult experiences. Participants were asked to recall and report on an unpleasant open memory. Those who thought about the positive experiences generally responded more positively than those who only thought about the memory in general terms.

The study found that those with gratitude ‘showed more memory closure, less unpleasant emotional impact, and less intrusiveness of the open memory’ than others. If you are dealing with difficult times, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, you may find one of our online courses can help.

How to practise gratitude

The benefits of gratitude and being grateful are clear. So how do we go about tapping into these benefits? Well, there are several exercises and methods that you can implement to practise gratitude. We’ve picked out some of the most common ways to be more grateful:

Gratitude exercises

Meditation. A 2017 study found that gratitude meditation can improve emotion regulation and self-motivation. You can read our guide to morning meditation to find out about how the practice works. Gratitude meditation focuses on being thankful for various elements of your life and the world around you.
Gratitude mapping. If you’re a visual learner, this is the perfect way to express gratitude. You create a visual mood board that contains all of the things you’re grateful for. Once you’ve made it, you place it somewhere prominent to remind yourself to be thankful every day.
Gratitude jars. Another visual method of practising gratitude is to write down short notes of the things you’re grateful for and keeping them in a jar or container. Not only does this give you a visual manifestation of the things you’re thankful for, but you can also read the notes back when you need a reminder.

Gratitude journals

Perhaps the most common and effective way to practise being grateful is through a journal. Essentially, this is just like writing a diary, except rather than recounting the day’s events, you record the things that you’re grateful for.

This isn’t something you need to do every day. Evidence suggests that one to three times per week may be sufficient. When you write your gratitude journal, you should record five to ten things that you’re grateful for.

You don’t have to write loads – your gratitude diary could be as simple as a list of bullet points for that particular day. However, when you get the hang of it, you might want to expand a little. Towards the end of this article, you’ll find a gratitude journal template that can help to guide you.

You can read more about how to make gratitude a habit with our open step.

Gratitude prompts

Of course, it might not be that easy to identify things to be thankful for. Below, we’ve highlighted some gratitude journal prompts that can help you across all ways of expressing gratefulness. If you’re looking for gratitude examples, these can help:

Simple pleasures. Think about some of the everyday things that you take joy in. A nice cup of coffee, your favourite song on the radio, a particularly cosy jumper. Anything that has brought you pleasure can be celebrated.
Happy memories. It doesn’t have to be in there here and now; you could focus on positive moments from the past. Memorable days, happy events, or times when you’ve felt content are all worth being grateful for.
Important people. Your friends, family, and even your colleagues can play a big role in your life. Think about the people whose love and support has helped you through difficult times and those who have been there with you for the good times.
Nature. The world around us is full of wonder and beauty. Consider something from your environment that you find appealing or amazing, or simply enjoyable. The warm sun on your face, the smell of freshly cut grass, or the beauty of Spring’s first bloom.
Acts of kindness. If someone has done something nice for you, no matter how small, being grateful can enhance your positive feelings. Similarly, if you’ve carried out a kind act, celebrate the mutually shared experience.
Accomplishments. Throughout your life, you will have worked towards goals, mastered skills, and demonstrated your abilities. Highlighting these accomplishments can help to boost your self-esteem.
Tranquil moments. Be grateful for the time you have to reflect on life or the moments where you can relax and take in all that’s around you. They don’t need to be incredible or extra special; you can still express gratitude for them.

Gratitude journal template

If you’re looking for an example of a gratitude journal template, you can find a rough outline below. It gives a number of different prompts that you can use to start writing about your day and the things you’re grateful for. Remember, you don’t have to write loads, and you don’t have to do it every single day. All you need is a blank notebook and a spare few minutes.

What happened in your day today? (Write about a few of the things you did)

What positive things happened? (Write 3-5 good moments from your day, no matter how simple)

What would you miss if it wasn’t there? (Write down a couple of things that you’d be sad to have missing from your life)

What are you grateful for today? (Write 1-3 things that you’re thankful for in your life from today)

A gratitude journal can be that simple. You don’t have to fill each section in every time you write, and you shouldn’t stress about what to put in there. Some days you might be too tired to write it, while others you might forget. That’s totally fine. Eventually, it’ll become a habit, and hopefully, you’ll start to feel the benefits of gratitude.

Final thoughts

Throughout this post, we’ve looked at the power of gratitude. There is a huge body of evidence to suggest that it can bring many benefits to our mental and physical health, as well as other areas of life. Although it might not be right for everyone, and it certainly isn’t a ‘cure’, gratitude and happiness are closely linked.

Reference: https://www.futurelearn.com/info/blog/gratitude-and-happiness-importance-being-grateful

Mr Ben Parnell

Deputy Head of Secondary

Staff Focus/Highlight

World Championship Bronze for Mr Parnell

The World Triathlon Championship is an annual event where the world’s fastest triathletes travel to iconic cities to compete head-to-head for a chance to be crowned World Champion. On 24th November our Deputy Headteacher Mr Parnell proudly competed for Great Britain in the Super Sprint Triathlon as part of the four-day event at YAS Island, Abu Dhabi. The short but very intense event took place at 1pm during the heat of the day and included a 400m swim, 10km cycle, and a 2.5km run. Mr Parnell secured a bronze medal missing out on gold by only 10 seconds!

“By far the best part of the day was getting to compete alongside the young athletes I have coached for a number of years. They got to represent their country for the first time and the fact two of them crossed the finish line first to become World Champions made me extremely proud”

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Student Focus/Highlight

Jasmine (Y12), competed in the West Australian Combined Events Championship over the weekend, in Perth.

She was competing in the U18 Heptathlon and secured 3^rd place in a very close competition with the top 3 places being decided by the final event. (4123 vs 4250 points the difference for the top 3 competitors after 7 events)

She has gained qualification for the Australian Championships (Mar 30 – Apr 2 2023) which was her goal and also her selection into the WA State Team.

A great experience and a great weekend for her against some amazing athletes.

Amelia (Y7), competed for her club Aspire Gymnastics in USAG level 4 in the Little Stars Winter Wonderland Competition in Abu Dhabi where she took 2nd on floor and 3rd on vault in her age group.

Alfie Gray - Dubai Falcons rugby success

Along with all of the school sports taking place last weekend, a number of JAS students represented their clubs in the HSBC Dubai rugby 7s tournament. Year 8 students Alfie Gray and Adam Rammal donned the Dubai Falcons shirt and came out on top as winners of the U14s tournament.

Alfie, who is the Captain of the team, was very proud to lift the Plate after defeating Abu Dhabi Harlequins in the final.

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Jasmin - Irish Open Diving Championships

Jasmin (Y10), recently traveled to Ireland with DuDive to compete in the Irish Open Diving Championships. Jasmin had a hugely successful event competing in three categories: the 3m platform, 1m springboard, and 3m springboard. Congratulations Jasmin on coming away with two silver medals and a bronze medal!

This is a superb achievement considering Jasmin has only been diving for two and a half years. Her dedication and love for diving developed from trampolining and gymnastics from a young age. Jasmin admits she absolutely loves being in the water and has made fantastic friends within the diving community.

"The feeling I get in a competition are quite varied, training before the competition gets me so excited but when it comes to the actual event, I get so nervous, which is normal. What I do to control it, as my old coach said, is before you go, take a deep breath in and out and keep your focus on the moment"

Sixth Form Achievement

We are pleased to inform you of an upcoming online event run by Q Girls, a project run QUECWA (The Quantum Education Centre of WA).

Sadiyah Saqib, one of our Year 12 students, will be presenting ideas from her writing about Physics and how particles separated by a large distance still show the same quantum properties due to their entanglement. Her ideas are linked with why quantum entanglement is so interesting for physicists and scientists alike because it can help us understand how nature works at its most fundamental level.

Congratulations Sadiyah, on an amazing achievement, to be presenting this information at such an early stage of your career in Quantum Physics/Coding.

The presentation will be on Sunday 11th December at 8am Dubai time.

MORE about QUECWA

Link to the promotional video.

Shamsa (Y8), competed over the national day weekend at her second showjumping international competition of the season CSI 1* Riding for the UAE she came 3rd out of 85 riders (Including adults) after a nerve-racking jump off.

On Tuesday she went to Kalba beach to compete national dressage. She came first.

Photos of Shamsa at the dressage being presented her trophy by H.H Sheikh Haitham bin Saqr Al Qassimi.

Photos of Shamsa showjumping and trophy being presented by H.H Sheikh Nehayan bin Khalefa Al Nahyan.

Student of the Month

Star of the Week

The Jebel Ali Star of the week is Leanne Carson in Marketing. She is always thinking and working on how we can better promote the school and showcase the JAS magic. She is passionate about her job and her enthusiasm is infectious to everyone she meets.

Marisha MacDonald

Admissions Assistant

Without hesitation, I nominate Shaz Hussey who has thrown herself wholeheartedly into being a class teacher. She stepped up when called upon and it's clear to see how comfortable, confident and engaged her class are under her wing. I have no doubt they will always look back on this year with incredibly fond memories and many tales to tell!

Marisha MacDonald

Admissions Assistant

Staff Profile

Elizabeth Hitie - English Teacher

Ms Hitie joined us this year as an English teacher. Coming from a family of teachers, Ms Hitie was adamant she was not going to join the profession herself until she had experienced the wider world! Whilst completing her degree In English Literature, Language, and Drama at Birmingham University, Ms Hitie gained work experience at a barristers’ chambers in Birmingham, which prompted her to complete her Graduate Diploma in Law. Following this, Ms Hitie spent an invaluable period of time working within the criminal law sector.

After obtaining her PGCE, Ms Hitie worked at an outstanding school in Surrey for 5 years, where she helped develop the Media and Film Studies department. Prior to working at JAS, Ms Hitie worked at the British School Muscat in Oman for 6 years as an English teacher and Second in Department. It was here she established the Academic Mentoring Program and is looking forward to setting up the program with the sixth form in January.

Liz says of JAS and the JAS values:

“The moment I stepped foot in Jebel Ali, the energy and dynamism were tangible - I had to send my children to the school and apply for a teaching position!

As for the JAS values, I believe resilience is one of the most important to grow and nurture in our children. Resilience enables them to embrace the wider world, its diversity, adversaries, and opportunity. If our children have the tools needed to be resilient, they will thrive anywhere, in any situation.’’

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