Volume 4, Issue 27 Thursday 14 April 2016

https://www.facebook.com/KingsSchoolAlBarsha

https://www.linkedin.com/company/kings-schools

Dear Parents

Firstly a warm welcome back to the Summer Term at Kings’ Al Barsha. With temperatures on the rise, there is an equalled acceleration of progress across many areas of the school

and notably with the school building. I sincerely hope that you have found time to read our latest update from our new Chief Executive, Dr Fetter. You should have been sent this via

Communicator. Even after week one we have witnessed outstanding student success through our cross-curricular ‘desert orienteering curriculum’, and hard working students preparing for Duke of Edinburgh this weekend!

It is a very important term for our Year 10 as they approach the first stage of their Double & Triple Science GCSE Exams. Every attempt is being made by our Science staff and Mr Graizevsky (Deputy Headteacher Curriculum) to ensure their success, but ultimately it will

be up to the pupils themselves to put in the individual effort still required within this outstanding support structure. School life is not all about examinations and therefore Abel

& Millie (our Head Boy & Girl) presented me with an interesting proposal this week for a School Yearbook. It was an excellent presentation demonstrating the willingness of the Student Council & other interested students to take on leadership roles at their own level.

The schools at Al Barsha are ‘filling up’ quickly and Senior Leaders across the Campus have been busy with parental tours from within and beyond the Kings’ family, and we are

really looking forward to opening up new classes and sections in our improved and expanded facilities next year. On a tour of the school this week a parent asked me ‘how I would describe the school’ and I suggested we asked the students. The most common

word used by them was ‘happy’ among many other positives! I was particularly pleased with that description.

In the very near future I will be communicating with you on proposals to make slight improvements to the structure of the school day & week at Al Barsha. I have been asking some parents and also working with staff & student representative groups to seek

feedback on initial proposals. Our thinking is that by staggering the start of the day we can significantly ease congestion in the car park which is an important ‘issue’ for parents. It is

likely that secondary will start slightly earlier and finish closer to Primary on a Thursday (similar to other premium secondary schools in Dubai) which again, several parents (not to mention the

students!) have stated would be an improvement, for example to help when collecting siblings. The changes

also allow us to align our timetables closer with Primary & Foundation and therefore allow students across the 3-18 Campus to use the new facilities in areas such as

technology, design, computing, sport and the expressive arts. Amidst all of this ‘thinking’ we will, of course,

continue to keep our curriculum fresh and innovative and ‘the best by every child’.

The best by every child

‘Change’ is a constant in schools and as an unashamedly ‘British’ school within an

international context, we need to keep a close eye on changes to the UK National Curriculum (while continuing to tap into the ‘best of the rest’) and in particular changes to

GCSE grading & assessment. With that in mind, Mr Graizevsky has been working with our staff & student ‘assessment working group’ to improve our present systems for tracking and monitoring student progress. Again, we will keep you fully ‘in the loop’ via a future

newsletter, a communication brochure as well as opportunities for parent meetings etc.

Also coming up in next week’s Newsletter will be an introduction by Mrs Fantham (Deputy

Headteacher Pastoral) to our new whole-school ‘Kings’ Learners’ behaviours’ initiative which is a co-ordinated approach to push forward our unique ‘opening minds curriculum’ & ‘student competences framework’ at Al Barsha.

Starting next week there will be a series of opportunities for me to meet parents informally for a ‘coffee morning’ with an initial invite to Year 6 parents. Look out for further opportunities this term for ’Meet the Principal’ events outwith Ramadan. I am really

looking forward to hearing more about how you view the service we provide and where you feel we can improve.

Other indications of the speed of progress in this busy term includes a discussion this week about our ‘prizegiving’ for the end of the year and support for new staff, as we plan expansion with twelve new secondary staff joining us in August 2016 ready for their own

‘Kingsification’ induction!

To end though… the highlight of my week was winning my first game of table tennis in the competitive environment of the rear playground at interval!

Alan Williamson Principal Kings' School Al Barsha

(Follow me on Twitter @AlanDWilliamso1)

View our fun activities and events at:

Kings' School Al Barsha - https://www.facebook.com/KingsSchoolAlBarsha/

Kings' School Dubai - https://www.facebook.com/KingsSchoolDubai/

Kings' School Nad Al Sheba - https://www.facebook.com/KingsSchoolNadAlSheba/

Swimwear should be pre-

ordered at least 24 hours in advance of collection. Sizes

available along with order forms can be found on each R e c e p t i o n a n d t h e

Communicator. Order forms should be completed and

returned to reception with the exact amount in cash in a

sealed envelope.

LInK Idea - Mrs Dawson

Please find below a link to a useful

resource. Practical tips for helping your children with school. Although written for children with

identified needs the tips are relevant to all

parents and children!

Enjoy.

http://www.helpguide.org/articles/learning-disabilities/helping-children-with-learning-disabilities.htm

The best by every child

We are delighted to offer students the opportunity to compete in the British

Independent Schools Ski Championships taking place this December.

This opportunity will be open to the three Kings’ schools for students in Years 4 and

above who ski/snowboard competitively or have experience in ski/snowboard racing.

For full details on the package being offered, please see the link below.

http://www.schoolskichampionships.com/dates-prices/

We estimate the cost of this trip to be in the region of 12,000AED. Prices will need to be

confirmed once flights have been secured and initial entry fees paid to the

Championships. This price will include all details outlined in their programme together

with flight and a full set of Kings’ Ski Team Ski Wear (worth 1600 AED).

If you would like your child to take part please register via email to the ECA-Sports

Coordinator, Lydia Wickham at eca-sports@kingsalbarsha.com by no later than 21st April

2016.

Please note: successful entry into these competitions is dependent on parents

meeting deadlines for signup & deposits. Failure to meet these dates may result in

having to cancel our entry.

Proposed timings:

Initial Sign up by 21st April

Decision on viable trip 28th April

Final Information Letter and prices to parents 1st May

Initial Deposit 7th May

First Instalment 19th June Final Instalment 15th September

We hope you will agree this is an exciting opportunity for all our skiers. If you have any

further questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Colin Morris

Director of Sport

Mr Williamson has been attending the Year Group Assemblies and has been incredibly impressed by

students who have performed in recent weeks:

Monday 8 February: Hyeong Jun Park (Piano), Mariia Sytnik (both piano)

Sunday 21 February: Callum Ansari (Piano), Zara Khan (Piano)

Monday 22 February: Kyra Amin (Piano) and Sarah Mathew (singing)- Duet, Hyeong Jun Park

(Piano)

Sunday 28 February: Rehman Asif Oomer (Piano), Rehan Samaratunga (Piano)

Monday 29 February: Darina Al Aroud (Tenor Sax), Mariia Sytnik (Piano)

Sunday 6 March: Aila Farkouh (Piano), Bhava Dang (Guitar and Singing)

Monday 7 March: Bhava Dang (Guitar and Singing), Hyeong Jun Park

(Piano)

Sunday 13 March: Callum Ansari (Piano), Riccardo Orlandi (Singing)

Monday 14 March: Sophie Milner (Singing), Zara Khan (Piano -TBC)

We will continue to have Pianists, Singers & other Musicians and as we

have a Cellist at a forthcoming assembly, that tells you we are in entering

the preparation stage for our forthcoming Summer Recital!

The best by every child

After such a successful rugby season we would like to extend the opportunity to stay

rugby fit before we leave for the summer

break.

Therefore every Monday morning (starting

18th April) from 7:00-7:45am we will be

holding a mixed rugby touch session.

All abilities and fitness levels are welcome to

join in the session.

We look forward to seeing you there.

Mr Stewart and Mr Jones

Kings’ Al Barsha Chess

Tournament

After over a month of competition we are getting to the business end of the tournament.

Ralph Holt has still yet to lose a game and remains the favourite but there are clearly

others who will push him hard for his crown. This week Ralph returned his trophy so that

the other competitors could finally glimpse what they would take home. The last 16

results are below and some of the semi-finalists have also been decided.

A special mention must go to Vali Gadayev and Eamon Sharma as they drew all their

three matches and the winner had to be decided by the toss of coin. Vali went through so

commiserations must go to Eamon. By this time next week we will be down to the

finalists.

A big thank you to all who have taken part and those who still come to watch the games,

your support is truly appreciated.

Mr Hurst

Last 16

Harry Horton 10N 0 vs 2 Liam Ciolli 7S

Vali Gadayev 7N* 1½ vs 1½ Eamon Sharma 7S

Shamel Shamsheer 7I 1 vs 2 Carl Leszczinski 7S

Mikail Khawaja 9K 2 vs 0 Kun Tena Wisse 9I

Amr Shaikh 10N 2 vs 0 Khaleel Raja 7I

Ralph Holt 9K 2 vs 0 Ismael Hussain 7S

Ahmed Shaikh 9K 0 vs 2 Aditya Jauhari 7S

Sanad Ibrahim 7K 2 vs 0 Rehman Oomer 7I

The best by every child

Sunday 10 April School reopens

Sunday 17 April ECAs begin

Monday 18 April Year 7 Parents’ Evening 3.45 -7pm

Wednesday 4 May Year 10 Parents' Evening

Thursday 5 May Al Isra wal Mi'raj Day - confirmed

Monday 9 May SLC Year 7-9

Wednesday 11 May Music Recital 7 pm Black Box Theatre

Tuesday 17 May Year 10 GCSE Science B1 Science Unit 1:

Influences On Life (1 hour)

Thursday 19 May Year 10 GCSE Science C1 Science Unit 1:

Chemistry In Our World (1 hour)

Thursday 19 May Outdoor ASAs end

Wednesday 25 May Year 10 GCSE Science P1 Science Unit 1:

Universal Physics (1 hour)

Sunday 29 May Arts and Music Exhibition

29 May - 4 June Year 10 Mock Exam Week

Thursday 2 June ECAs finish

Sunday 5 June Awards Evening (TBC)

Monday 6 June First day of Ramadan (TBC)

Tuesday 14 June Year 6-7 Step Up Day

Thursday 23 June Iftar (TBC)

Thursday 23 June Sports Awards

Wednesday 29 June Q4 reports issued

Thursday 30 June Year 10 Student-Led Reflection Day (appointment only)

Thursday 30 June Staff Inset day

Facilities Progress

Black Box Theatre - Further enhancements have been made including stage and additional

lighting.

Art, Design and Technology - Facilities are complete and doors were opened this week for the

Formula 1 event. This provides state of the art Technology and Expressive Arts facilities

unrivalled in Dubai in terms of future learning. This includes metal and wood work, electronics,

art and food technology rooms.

Auditorium – Work is progressing and the grand steps are complete.

Gymnasium – The second indoor gym is now completed and ready for use. This area will be

utilised from term 3 as PE activity moved inside due to the heat.

Sports Hall - This has moved ahead considerably. The main construction is complete. Internal

electrics, plumbing and AC is being installed, followed by flooring.

Sports Fields - These continue to be of the highest calibre for any school in Dubai. The

boundaries will be extended to cater for full scale rugby and football matches. Cricket and

tennis nets will be added ready for activity in September 2016.

Competition/secondary Pool - This is on track to be ready for use in the new academic year.