SES Newsletter - October
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Transcript of SES Newsletter - October
www.sharjahenglishschool.org
Sharjah English SchoolVolume 2 : Issue No. 1 - October 2010
SES isFirst impressions in Foundation
2
From The Principal’s Desk 3
Primary News 4
Friendship Bench 4
E-Safety At SES 5
Foundation News 7
News From The Secondary School 8
Graduating A Level Class 8
Celebrating GCSE Success 8
Own An SES Tree! 9
2010 - 2011 SES Student Council 9
Maths Problem Of The Month 9
Spanish Club 10
Visiting Illustrator - Sonia Loeng 11
Summer Concert And Art Display 12
Whole School News 15
Dates For Your Diary 16
Contents
3
From the Principal’s Desk...
Dear Parents and Friends,
I am delighted to welcome you to the first full newsletter of the new school year. Though we have only been back for six weeks, it already seems a very full year; how busy everybody has been will be evident from the following pages.
The concept of service for others has always been an important feature of life in SES. We are delighted at the number of students always prepared to take on responsibility for making the school and community a better place. Amongst the roles that students have been volunteering for recently have been those of student council representatives, prefects, sports marshals, house captains etc. Throughout primary and secondary there are also our continuing charity commitments, and there are plenty of examples of service to the community undertaken as part of the International Award. The commitment which the children show in these roles is exemplary.
I would like to apologise to parents hoping to avail of the swimming facilities and the new partnership with Desert Sports Services that the pool was out of use for the first weeks of school. There has been some major work on upgrading the equipment there and hopefully this will ensure that we are no longer hampered by issues relating to poor water quality or poor maintenance. The new programme is an exciting venture and we are delighted that it is at last properly under way.
With the weather cooling, there will be a number of camps and desert trips occurring between now and the end of term: Year 5 has the Desert Safari, Year 7 and 8 are heading to Dibba, and there are social camps and International Award expeditions planned for the older students. We hope these all prove enjoyable, as well as fulfilling their function of creating cohesion and greater solidarity amongst year groups and of permitting participants to try out activities and skills not covered in the mainstream school curriculum.
We can report that work on the new building is still on target; many people have already expressed their surprise at how quickly it is progressing. There has been virtually no disruption to the smooth running of the school. We will keep parents updated on developments.
The PSG have been busy as always; thank you to all the new volunteers who showed up for the coffee morning at the beginning of the month and offered to help in various capacities. With the Christmas Fayre fast approaching there will be plenty to do. I cannot stress too much how valuable the work of the group is and how worthy of support.
Thanking you for your continuing support and involvement,
John NolanPrincipal
4
News from the Primary SchoolAs many of you will be aware, we have had a series of curriculum meetings this term with the view to keeping you, the parents, fully informed as to what your child actually does in school! These have been successfully run and I hope the parents who attended gained valuable insight and were reassured that the correct answer to the question “What did you do in school today?” is definitely not “Nothing!” The staff are also looking forward to meeting parents at our Parent /Teacher Consultation Afternoons. Please make sure you have returned your appointment slips.
Enjoy the Primary section of this newsletter where you will see articles about ‘First impressions in Foundation’, our new Friendship Bench and important information from the Year Twos re E-‐Safety.
Just over a week ago the primary staff and children said and sang a very sad but extremely fond farewell to Mrs. Adib, or Zina as she is better known! Zina was such a popular fixture in Primary that it was a bittersweet assembly but one filled with lots of laughter and happy memories. Zina was left in no doubt that she will be missed but that her SES family wish her all the very best in her new position and look forward to her visits in the future.
As you can tell we have hit the ground running at the beginning of the year and the pace is hotting up for the rest of what promises to be a spectacular term!
Miss Jenefer Race -‐ Primary Headteacher
Friendship BenchWhen the present Year 3 children were in Year 2 they did a reading comprehension about a new playground which had a “Friendship Bench” in it. In the discussion which followed this task one of the children, Jessica Lewis, thought it would be a good idea if S.E.S. had one as it would have been easier for her to have found new friends when she was a “new” girl in the school. The children then decided to present their idea to Miss Race who patiently listened to all the reasons for it to be a feature of the playground. They drew their “ideal bench” and exchanged ideas on materials, monitoring its use, ideal positioning etc. Miss Race thought it was a super plan and the year group then put the idea forward to the School Council with her approval. Again the School C o u n c i l w e r e e n t h u s i a s t i c a n d l a s t w e e k ………..finally………. a really splendid-‐ looking FRIENDSHIP BENCH arrived in school to lots of “oooooooohs” and “aaaaahs” from the children at Assembly!We have to say a huge thank you to our Head Boy and Head Girl, Scott and Mintaka, for their wonderful efforts in bringing this to fruition and for the gracious way they presented it to the children from the 6th Form. The girl who started the ball rolling was asked to sit on it first! Well done Jessica!
Everyone! Please keep these ideas coming for improving your school. It really is important that we get your input!
Remember YOU ARE THE SCHOOL!
5
News from the Primary School
Keeping up to date with technology - E-Safety at SESIt can be a tough job keeping up to date with our children these days. Just when we thought we were doing OK and could set the video recorder, along comes the internet. Suddenly we have a new piece of technology, new language and new challenges! Technology can feel intimidating. While it’s possible that many children may have better technical skills than you, children still need advice and protection in using this new tool. After all, you can teach your children the importance of wearing a seat belt in a car without understanding how the car engine works!Here at school, we believe it is vital to teach children about how to be safe on-line, and using new technologies. The risk element of using new technologies is often determined by behaviours rather than the technologies themselves. Children at Sharjah English School are encouraged to develop their own set of safe and responsible online behaviours from a very young age as, ultimately, this will provide the best defence for keeping them safe online. Continuous e-safety education is essential for all learners, providing an awareness of issues and risks, and strategies for dealing with them. At SES we use different methods to deliver such education depending on the age group. So the delivery of e-safety messages for younger children at Key Stage 1 will be very different to e-safety messages delivered at Upper Key Stage 2 and beyond.
A great example of this work has been completed by Year 2. They have been creating posters with some wonderful designs to help get the message across. Take a look at the photos accompanying this article.If you were unable to attend our recent e-safety meeting for parents, there are still notes available to read on our website. Below are some smart tips that we share with all the children in school. They were developed especially for children aged 8-14 years, but are relevant for all age groups.
• SAFE - Staying safe involves being careful and not giving out your name, address, mobile phone number, school name or password to people online.
• MEETING someone you have contacted in cyberspace can be dangerous. Only do so with your parent's/carer's permission, and only then when they can be present.
• ACCEPTING e-mails or opening files from people you don't really know or trust can get you into trouble - they may contain viruses or nasty messages.
• RELIABLE - Someone online may be lying about who they are, and information you find on the internet may not be reliable.
• TELL your parent or carer if someone or something makes you feel uncomfortable or worried. If you have further questions or enquiries about e-safety, or would like further information, please contact Mr. Smithard.
6
News from the Primary School
7
Foundation News
Jolly PhonicsOn Wednesday 29th September the Foundation Stage teachers hosted a Jolly Phonics Workshop for the parents.The workshop was intended to offer the parents of the children in the Foundation Stage an insight into how we teach Jolly Phonics. Our emphasis was on demonstrating how learning is fun at school and we also shared some fun and creative ideas to try at home. We hope that the workshop was informative.
Foundation Here We Come!
Foundation, here we come! We know we'll have lots of fun. Lots of things to make and do. Reading, writing, counting, too.
Foundation, here we come! We know we'll have lots of fun.
8
News from the Secondary School
Graduating A Level ClassWe would like to congratulate last year’s Year 13 group on their excellent A level results. All have been offered university places in the courses of their choice. We wish them every success in the future!
Student Course Institution
Bayan Abu-Saad Interior Design University of Glamorgan, Cardiff
Lucca Ferrari Mining Engineering University of Exeter, Cornwall
Soroya Grayston Geography Environmental Management University of Bradford
Eimaan Jawwad Economics and Politics University of Edinburgh
Andrew MacDonald Computer Games Technology Abertay University, Dundee
Jack Sparkes Golf Management UHI Millennium Institute, Inverness
Alex Tadros Archaeology and Anthropology The University of Wales, Lampeter
Linda Walker Art Foundation Central St Martinʼs College of Art & Design, London
The Secondary School celebrated some outstanding GCSE results this year. 84% of students got five A’s to C’s, including Mathematicsand English. This represents a substantial achievement by UK national standards.
Celebrating GCSEs
Particularly impressive were the students who scored A or A* in all their nine subjects; well done to Rosalie Croxford, Rohit Siroya and Sonam Chopra.
A special mention to Savaa Pronin who went one better and got nine A* grades!
9
News from the Secondary School
Own an SES Tree!
The ‘Going Green Club’ is running a tree planting campaign over the next couple of weeks. The aim is to help the environment by planting more trees around the school which in turn will provide more shading and make our school look even better.
Parents, staff and friends of the school are invited to sponsor a tree at a cost of only 65 dirhams. The trees are flame trees which are quite common in the UAE; in the cooler months once they have matured they bloom with a vibrant orange flower, hence the name flame tree. You will be given a certificate once you have bought the tree with a number indicating where your tree is planted. Parents might like to buy a tree on behalf of their children, or sponsor a tree as part of someone’s birthday or Christmas gift! Your child will be invited to help plant the tree and it is hoped they will take an interest in its well being. What is extra special is the fact that you can come back in the future and see how well the tree is doing and know you have left something that will remain with the school for years to come.
Thank you for helping SES become even Greener!
The Going Green Team
Note: by the end of its first week, the programme had acquired sponsorship to plant over 50 trees!
A4 PaperAn A4 sheet of paper is such that if you fold the paper in half (fold parallel to the width), you will get a rectangular sheet of paper (an A5 sheet) which is similar to the original A4 sheet.
Given this fact, find the ratio width: length
The answer will appear in the next issue of the newsletter.
Student Council 2010-‐2011We’re pleased to welcome all the new members to the student council! Gabriel and Josephine from Year 7, Russell and Lily from Year 8, Samantha and Kristian from Year 9, Ankara and Zoran from Year 10, Carmen and Lakwin from Year 11 and Edric and Angharad from Year 12 were elected by their peers to represent their year group this year. 2010 is looking to be a big year for the student council -‐ we are currently trying to establish a charity link with an orphanage in Malawi, work on getting the school and students involved with events in Dubai and Sharjah, bring the primary and secondary students closer together, and help students solve issues around the school.
Maths Problem Of The Month
10
News from the Secondary SchoolSpanish Club continues to take place on Monday’s from 3:00 to 4:00 pm.Further details available from Sylvia Ferrari - 050 7696813
Spanish Club
11
News from the Secondary School
Visiting IllustratorSonia Loeng, a leading UK book illustrator, visited Sharjah English School and conducted a superb series of workshops with students in Years 7 and 9. She introduced the students to the characteristics of manga and anime art, which she has used to provide illustrations for dozens of published books.
Her energetic and engaging approach really enthused the students and they were soon producing their own drawings in her style, as well as analysing her technique in books such as her manga version of ‘Romeo and Juliet’.
Sonia finished a fascinating and very stimulating visit by signing copies of her books for a very appreciative group of budding manga artists.
The answer will appear in the next issue of the newsletter.
12
Whole School News and InformationSummer Concert and Art Display 2010
The annual summer concert and art display took place in the last week of summer term.
The music featured a large cast of students from both primary and secondary. Ensembles appearing in the first half of the show included the guitar group, string group, flute group and woodwind supergroup. There were also a number of solo and small group pieces.
During an extended interval the audience then had the chance to view the excellent display of work produced by this year’s GCSE and A Level art students, many of whom were also performing in the concert.
The second half of the show began with a joint performance by the secondary orchestra and senior singing group, before continuing with some dance and movement items. These included a display by Year 5 gymnasts with musical accompaniment by the Year 11 rock group. The evening concluded with the joint primary and secondary choirs sending us away for the summer holiday in a rousing fashion!
SES may be a small school, but it has no shortage of talent to draw on in the arts!
13
Whole School News and Information
Photographs courtesy of Mr. Jorge Ferrari
14
Whole School News and Information
15
Mrs. Zina Adib, who has worked as Admissions Secretary and Arabic Receptionist at Sharjah English School for over twelve years, has recently departed. Mrs. Adib will be well known to all parents, as she has been the first point of contact with the school for so many of our past and present families.
Zina has had a major impact on the school, liaising with the Ministry of Education and doing translation amongst many other important functions. Her humour and personality will be sorely missed by all her friends and colleagues throughout the school. We wish her all the best in her endeavours as she takes on a new job in Dubai.
We welcome Mrs. Mesaa Ajina, who joined us at the beginning of the month; she will be taking over Zina’s duties.
Whole School News and Information
Vacancy for School ReceptionistThe school is currently seeking to appoint a receptionist for the secondary school. The ideal candidate will have experience dealing with the public and answering telephone enquiries; there will also be general secretarial duties, and stationery / stock ordering responsibilities. Applications or enquiries should be sent to [email protected]
We would also like to thank Mrs. Julie Jenkins, who has occupied this role, for her contribution to the school.
Half Term BreakThe school will be closed from Sunday 14th November through to Thursday 18th November; this will cover the period of Arafat Day and the Eid Al Adha Holiday. Classes will recommence on Sunday 21st November.
Poppy AppealPoppies will be on sale from Sunday 24th October to Thursday 11th November. The money from the collec?on goes to the Royal Legion Benevolent Fund for those who have been badly affected by various conflicts over the years.
Learning an Instrument at SESSES is fortunate to have a wider instrumental teaching programme than any other school in the northern emirates, and is also proud to be the ABRSM music grade exam centre for that region. Tuition is available on: alto sax, bass guitar, cello, clarinet, classical guitar, drum kit, electric guitar, flute, oud, piano, recorder, tenor sax and violin. Although some of these instruments are now ‘full’ for the term, there will be vacancies in January. Parents who would like their son/ daughter to learn an instrument should collect an application form from primary or secondary reception. Please note that, in most cases, our teachers require new students to be in at least Year Three before they begin lessons, and for some instruments they need to be older than that.
16
Dates For Your Diary
October 2010October 2010Wednesday 27th Year 10 and Year 11 Parents / Teachers Meeting
Thursday 28th KS4 Camping Trip
November 2010November 2010
Monday 1st Primary Parent / Teacher Meetings
Tuesday 2nd Primary Parent / Teacher Meetings
Wednesday 3rd Year 7 Camp to Dibba
Friday 12th -‐ Saturday 20th Half Term Break (Inclusive of Eid Break)
Monday 15th Arafat Day *to be con)irmed
Tuesday 16th Start of Eid Al Adha *to be con)irmed
Monday 22nd Year 9 Parent/Teacher MeetingsSecondary Ski Trip Meeting
Wednesday 24th Year 8 Camp to Dibba
Monday 29th Year 6 Taster Day in Secondary School
December 2010December 2010
Thursday 2nd National Day Holiday
Sunday 5th Dress Rehearsal for Nativity
Monday 6th Nativity Morning Performance
Tuesday 7th Islamic New Year Holiday *to be con)irmed
Wednesday 8th Nativity Evening Performance
Friday 10th Christmas Fayre
Sunday 12th Key Stage Two Concert -‐ Evening Performance
Monday 13th Foundation Concert -‐ Day Performance
Tuesday 14th Foundation Concert -‐ Day Performance
Tuesday 14th School Carol Singing
Wednesday 15th Carol Singing at Hotel
Thursday 16th Last day of Term One
January 2011January 2011
Sunday 2nd Term Two Starts
Don’t forget to check the school
website for the weekly bulle5n for
updates and further informa5on