Community Times - July Edition

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GOODBYE ASCS

as we say farewell to staff leaving ASCS this year

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U15 CRICKTERS RISE TO TOP despite losses during season, the team remained strong

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BEHIND THE SCENES OF ALADDIN learn what happened in the months leading up to the production

CommunityTimes JULY 2023 | Al Salam Community School

Meet the new Head Girl and Head Boy of ASCS. I’m Aaqilah Omar and I’m beyond ecstatic and honoured to be your next Head Girl! My journey at ASCS started all the way back in nursery, where I was a passionate, driven little girl trying to leave her ‘mark’. Along the years, I’ve developed to become a confident, hard-working and determined person by taking every opportunity I can get to experience new things. Coming to the end of my journey at ASCS, as Head Girl I promise to give you all the opportunity to venture out to find the best version of yourself.

My name is Zakariyah Saad, and it is my pleasure to serve as your Head Boy at ASCS for the 2023/2024 Academic Year. My journey at Al Salam began in 2019, and ever since then, my life has made a complete turnaround for the better. In the spirit of giving back, as Head Boy, it is my mission to ensure that each and every one of you experience as positive of a journey as I did here at Al Salam, where you can enjoy coming to school everyday, with the opportunity to expand on your horizons and have all of your needs facilitated.

VOL NO. 3 • Established 2023

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Summer

Here's how to make the most of it!

Arfa Vaquas

STAFF WRITER

After these intense weeks (or months for some) of exams, the weather’s definitely gotten a whole lot hotter and you can surely call this upcoming break a summer one. Here’s our JBC “How to make the most of your summer?” article to give you a small teaser of how you could spend your break and make a ton of memories!

It goes without mention that an ideal break would (probably) be to travel, go out with friends or family or even just stay at home doing whatever you’re comfortable with. But it’s your initial plans that decide whether you’d turn the summer break into an unforgettable memory or just a regular and normal break like any other.

1. Make Memories There’s a lot of memories that stay with you, especially if they include something that you consider precious. The way to make the most of such memories could

ideally be trying to capture these moments to keep them with you forever. Now, this doesn’t necessarily mean you should use your phone every five seconds, but instead try to capture whatever you find precious at that moment even if it means having to record everything around you.

Using a device isn’t the only way to remember these moments. You could draw, write, do whatever you find easier as long as it helps you to make the most of your summer and reminisce about it all later on in life.

2. Discover Hobbies

if you’re a person who hasn’t had a proper sleep in a pretty long time, now’s the chance to get the sleep you deserve: go on a trip, eat whatever you want, play games, read books, write and spend time with the people who you love and love you.

3. Do What You Love The most important part of making the most of summer would be doing what you love and eventually finding yourself along the way and spending time doing what you enjoy rather than doing it for the sake of

Finding new hobbies and doing things you’ve wanted to try but just didn’t have the time to just became a whole lot easier now that summer’s rolled in and a break is on its way! Making sure to take care of yourself especially would make it an ideal summer to look back to and discovering what you find special and fun would definitely help a lot. Additionally,

ASCS COMMUNITY TIMES

is here!

someone else. And all throughout this, doing so by helping others while working towards a bright future and cherishing every moment you spend, making contact with the ones with you or far away in another country. Make the most of your summer and go on to make the most of everything you get a chance at and spend a summer that lingers forever.

Regardless, the most important thing is to enjoy your summer to the fullest and make the most of it!

CURRENT EVENTS

NEWS BRIEFS

JULY 2023

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Year 13 Graduation a memorable event like no other

ENRICHMENT WEEK to run from July 3rd to July 7th.

These 5 days will be packed full of activities that include the much awaited IMG end of year trip as well as various other exciting events such as the PE House Colours Day, painting party and end of term pizza party. There will also be movie afternoons and various subject-related competitions. Throughout the week, secondary students will be permitted to show up to school in smart casual clothing. For the IMG trip, however, students going must wear their ASCS PE tops.

Additionally, there are different activities for Years 11, 12 and 13. The most notable of these is Careers day on July 3rd and a university fair on July 4th. It is also important to note that attendance will be strictly monitored throughout the week as the KHDA does not tolerate any unauthorized absences.

3 Careers Day 4

SAVE THE DATE

JULY 3 Beginning of Enrichment 3 Y9 and Y10 PE Colours Day 3 Careers Day 4 Y7 and Y8 PE Colours Day 4 University Fair 5 IMG Trip 5 Shadow a Teacher Day 7 Movie Morning in Forms 7 End of Term Pizza Party 7 End of Academic Year

STAFF WRITER

memorable evening spent with family and faculty.

On June 22nd, from 14:00 to 18:30, the Dubai Knowledge Park Auditorium hosted the Year 13 graduation. The last stage of our year 13 students' journey was this delightful event, where they would learn about their upcoming future occupations and travels. Parents were able to see their children's last maturation during this

Having been present at the event, I can confirm how wholesome and gratifying it was to witness such a successful group of young adults transition into their adult lives.

The event was amazingly well-run, and the magnificent decorations, which included balloons and old photographs of our favourite Year 13s, were just the cherry on top.

Sarah Al Qaq

ASCS COMMUNITY TIMES

The cuisine consisted of small cakes and savoury pastries that were served at a buffet for everyone to enjoy.

I want to add that without our incredible Head Boy and Head Girl, and without their heartfelt speeches that made me cry, this event would not have been possible. Overall, I can say that this experience was incredibly and irreplaceably memorable.

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SPECIAL FEATURE

Oneli Vihansi: Leaving a lasting legacy at ASCS and beyond Aly Kotb + Hana Shabad EDITOR IN CHIEF + ASSISTANT EDITOR

As this academic year comes to an end, we bid farewell to yet another cohort of Year 13 students, many of whom are now graduates entering university. Among these students is a figure whose legacy has left an indelible mark on ASCS as a whole.

To some, Oneli Vihansi was a friend. To others, she was (and will forever be) an inspiration. But to almost everyone at ASCS, she will be remembered as their Head Girl, as well as the Secretary General and founder of ASCSMUN. In her own words, however, "I am a recent graduate of Al Salam Community School and I was your former head girl…if I were to describe myself or introduce myself in a way I would say that I am a very passionate student that loves to make change and impact people’s lives."

Leadership Journey "I joined Al Salam in 2009 in FS2 and I have been there ever since, about 15 good years." Having been at Al Salam for so long, it is no surprise that Al Salam played a key role in sparking her leadership journey. During our interview, Oneli recalled that "I remember when I was in second grade and we saw the Head Boy and Head Girl of that time raise the flag and I remember being like I wanna raise that flag one day, I wanna be part

of the school’s leadership team."

Clearly, Oneli had been fascinated by the idea of leadership since an early age and that fascination soon encouraged her to go after her dreams when an opportunity arose in Year 6. That year marked the "first time we were really told about student leadership team roles and were really allowed to be part of the leadership team." At the time, Oneli "was in the red house and became House Captain", which was her very first leadership role. Year after year, Oneli quickly rose through the ranks, going from Form Representative for a couple years to Year Leader to Vice Head Girl when she was in Year 11. As Vice Head Girl, Oneli shadowed Bola, who was Head Girl at the time, and learnt valuable lessons in leadership from her. These skills proved beneficial the next year when she became Head of Secondary as well as House Captain with Danish. Being Head of Secondary, Oneli found she was "doing very much the role of Head Girl" which "made my life a lot easier this year to replicate it indirectly." Her leadership journey finally came to a conclusion this year, when she received the supreme role of Head Girl. Even to Oneli, "there was a definite progression…I would say that a lot of my roles were similar but they also had a certain level of difficulty that definitely built me

up."

Creating ASCSMUN While many know Oneli for her achievements as Secretary General and founder of ASCSMUN, many fail to realise the origins of her burning passion for debating and diplomacy. According to Oneli, this fascination "began in Year 8 when we were back in Al Salam Private School…when the idea was pitched to us about being stage representatives and debating", both of which were things Oneli had never heard of before. When she went into AUS MC 2018, she instantly "fell in love with the ideology of being leaders, being peacemakers and just the whole feel of using completely different terminology and the completely different feeling of being grownups and adults at the time because we were barely 12 or 13 years old then." This newly found passion allowed her to establish the firstever Model United Nations conference at ASCS in 2022. The element which inspired her the most to indulge in such a project was "one of my closest friends at the time." When they went to their first conference together and saw the way it was organised, they were "so intrigued by how you form so many committees, how do you form so many delegates, how do you run a conference of 300400 people?" and "wanted to make sure to have that with our school."

ASCS COMMUNITY TIMES

Since Oneli had continually been keen on leaving behind a legacy, she and her friend found that the "MUN just felt right as our legacy, and we tried our best to replicate it, so we pitched our idea to the principal at the time about five years ago, but they rejected it."

Despite this, Oneli remained persistent and determined, so they "pitched it every single year until it finally got approved in 2021."

Originally, Oneli and her team "came in with the idea that our MUN is going to be the best, and that was a great initiative and great idea” but were quickly forced “to realise that we are a first time MUN no one has heard of before so people do not know what to expect, so we have to give them the best to expect for the years to come." This idea came from some favourable advice she received from her former faculty advisor, Nasser, who told her to "have low expectations and expect to have a low number of delegates and attendees for your first conference." Going forward, Oneli hopes that ASCS MUN evolves into "one of the MUNs that little kids or Year 7s and Year 6s go to, to become their first MUN" which was her "number one priority when planning ASCS MUN: making it inclusive for every single person, regardless of age, because when we were kids, we did not have any opportunities. If you instill that love for MUN at a young age,

SPECIAL FEATURE wonders happen." Additionally, Oneli hopes that we are "still sticking to the values that we found this MUN on", which were: "building leaders, building peacemakers, policymakers and most importantly, building the future generation."

Being an Author Oneli's passion for sparking change, however, extends far beyond her roles within ASCS. She has not only established herself as an influential leader at ASCS, but has also engaged in a variety of fascinating side ventures, one of which included publishing her first book as an author which "was kind of unexpected and not necessarily planned." The project was one of the "‘drastic bucket list items" in Oneli’s life that she wanted to accomplish one day. She encountered the opportunity by joining a program by a former Project You member, who "reached out to me and one of my other classmates and said that we have this great idea", which was to publish a children’s book. Oneli herself is ‘a very big advocate of domestic violence’ and ‘children's protection’, so she and her cowriters ‘wanted to kind of adapt a book that talked about setting personal boundaries: “something that I had to learn over time in my journey at Al Salam and as a child being a little bit more different than everyone else around me”.

Setting boundaries and saying ‘no’ is arguably a challenge which seems to afflict everyone, which is the reason the book has been titled ‘Stop’. The book portrays children of different backgrounds, heritages, races and genders that are in perplexing situations, and reveals that "It's okay to say stop, it's okay to say no. And you're not hurting anyone's feelings by doing that, you're just protecting yourself." The proceeds from the sale of this book are now donated to domestic violence shelters, which are intended to assist any children affected by this widespread issue.

Personal Projects Oneli has also undertaken various personal initiatives to empower the voices which were once unheard, such as Shades of Brown, which considers South Asian

representation, and The Project Untold, which regards a broader spectrum of issues. Through her relentless dedication and unwavering belief in the power of storytelling, Oneli has harnessed the strength of community and transcended societal norms and stereotypes. Shades of Brown looks at "issues that often go unnoticed in the media for South Asians." Growing up, Oneli "didn't have anyone to look up to, anyone to be like, I want to be this person when it comes relating to my Sri Lankan identity or just South Asian identity in general." Since Oneli has (evidently) been passionate about planning and organising events, she ‘wanted to channel that same passion into planning something for a nonprofit cause’. As the manoeuvre flourishes, they hope to ‘organise events that we can use to raise awareness about South Asian issues, this culture and the mindset that should break’. On a more comprehensive scale, Oneli has been involved in the development of The Project Untold, which allowed her to channel her fondness towards videography and photography in ‘the most creative way’.

Ultimately, the project hopes to allow "people to tell their own stories without us interpreting or manipulating any of the production", where they control "what they don't and do want to share, and how exactly they want the world to know." Both of these initiatives' primary goal, which may be overlooked, is raising awareness, "which is a key element in solving issues", according to Oneli.

up until year 12, your academics don't directly impact your future in a way you can always redo it, you can always get another chance…so in year 12, when I failed to realise that deprioritisation was happening and then I saw my results and I wasn't very satisfied with what I had, that's when I needed to take a step back…to delegate work and prioritise my academics." Her efforts soon proved to be successful as "I did my best this year and fortunately, I was able to manage it and give my all when exam season came around." Oneli also explained that this "really does take a lot of discipline and is something that you need to hold yourself accountable to beforehand, before you get to a point and be like, oh no, what do I do now?."

Exam Stress

Maintaining Balance

Being a Year 13 student, Oneli has dealt with exam stress and has been rather open about her experience. According to Oneli, "I think any Year 13 student will tell you we've cried at least five times a day for the past two months", rightfully so as Year 13 is unimaginably difficult and influential. To help cope with this, it is crucial that a student is "prepared and confident in your study approach, (as) you will reduce stress automatically. And take a break, enjoy it, do what you like doing, don’t lock yourself up in your room for two months straight and study, study, study because you're not going to be productive…go out with your friends, but at the same time, maintain a balance." Despite all this, it is indeed "a lot easier being said than done."

As to be expected, having so many extracurriculars and all these projects out of school has come with its very own unique set of challenges. The greatest of these, according to Oneli, has been maintaining a balance between extracurricular and academics.

This was especially true "in year 12, (when) my academics did take a hit when it came to me prioritising MUN and the student leadership team over studying."

This led Oneli to recently realise she is "someone that struggles with priority and prioritising" as

Having recently graduated from ASCS, Oneli is undoubtedly leaving a great legacy behind. Reflecting on her long journey, Oneli found that "I'm not the Oneli I want to be (right now) but I am the Oneli I wanted to be" as "my younger self would definitely be proud of me, but is this the person I want to continue to be for the rest of my life? Not really." Oneli’s journey that brought her to where she is now would not have been possible without those who inspired her,

JULY 2023

who "would definitely have to be my friends" as "they basically built me up to be the person I am today and even though we are all of the same age, it is great to see someone you want to be and want to learn from around you all the time." Of all her accomplishments over the years, her "biggest achievement would have to be a two way tie between MUN…and getting Head Girl", both of which she found made the perfect ending to this chapter of her life. Having a meaningful legacy, in particular, has had great value to Oneli over the years, because "it's very easy to be trapped into the I want my name somewhere on the school forever so people walk by and remember me and while that lasts for a while, people will forget you." She explained that "I hope students remember me as someone that was there for them" as "that’s the legacy I want to leave behind."

A New Chapter Oneli’s graduation and departure from Al Salam and Dubai as a whole marks the end of a chapter in her life and the beginning of a new one as she moves on to study political science at McMaster University in Canada. While her career path has swayed over the course of time, she looks forward to this new chapter, hoping to "be someone that can change people's lives, make an impact, leave some sort of legacy, even in the outer world, like I did with Al Salam, and work in helping those people around me."

Reflection & Legacy

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Good luck Oneli, we believe in you. We can't wait to see what you become.

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CURRENT EVENTS

A Night of Poetic Wonders

A throwback to the success of the first ASCS Poetry Evening Haya Shahid STAFF WRITER

On Thursday May 25th, the community joined together for the ASCS Poetry Evening, which left everyone feeling mesmerised by the power of words and with a new understanding of poetry. The event was marvellously organised by Aly Kotb and Kenzy Abdelaziz as well as various other students in Year 10, along with the support of Miss Qureshi and the English Department. Among the team of student organisers were Batool Enayet and Maria Noor who confidently hosted the event. From guest speakers, to teachers to students, countless people across the school gathered their courage to stand in front of everyone and present their beautiful poems. The event even featured guest poets Hiba Rasheed and Mony Shohayeb, both of whom gave inspiring speeches and recited their

powerful pieces of poetry.

Torn book pages, flowers and fairy lights across the place as decoration created a unique essence of beauty and meaning to the event that made it stand out gorgeously. With little paper roses as centrepieces and poetic masterpieces framed on every table, it is safe to say that the place looked absolutely miraculous.

The evening also had a variety of food stalls. The chocolate brownies, scrumptious cookies and refreshing juices and milkshakes available at the evening undoubtedly demonstrated the effort put into making the event nothing short of perfect. It is no doubt that everyone enjoyed the food as they listened to the courageous performers recite their masterpieces.

event, however, was when our own English teachers recited their poems about life. This included Mrs Preston's poem “Exhibits” about Instagram, Miss Godin's poem about parenting, Miss Kauser's poem, and many others including our Head of English Miss Qureshi. These teachers recited their amazing poems which patently displayed the amount of thought and hard work they put into the event so beautifully.

Miss Souad, who was among the team of supporting organisers, gave us a fantastic review in which she stated “it was a really beautiful event" and loved that “it brings the community together”.

Additionally, she found that "it was really nice to see students and parents coming here to share their poetry with everyone”.

As a performer during the

The most memorable part of the

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event, it was quite a challenge to go up in front of everyone but as I said the poem aloud, all my fears flew away. As the words from the ink of my pen were delivered to everyone through the words of my mouth, it felt like I had a voice that people cared to listen to.

Overall, the event gave all participants a sense of belonging and courage that many don't often experience in this day and age.

The ASCS Poetry Evening was, without any doubt, a wonderful and amazing opportunity for all students, staff and teachers to learn new perspectives while still having fun and making unforgettable memories. I look forward to more events that bring the community together like this one did.

LIFESTYLE

Goodbye Staff bid farewell to ASCS

JULY 2023

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As the school year comes to an end, we bid farewell to all the remarkable teachers who have made a lasting impact on our school's community. Their dedication, passion, and unwavering commitment to education have left an indelible mark on the hearts and minds of students, parents, and colleagues alike.

In the making of this article, I (Ummehani Rafil) had the privilege of sitting down with three of these exceptional teachers to delve into their inspiring journeys, cherished moments, and their aspirations for what lies ahead.

A Heartfelt Goodbye

Reflections on a Journey

A Long-lasting Legacy

Mrs. Preston is an English teacher known for her captivating lessons and infectious enthusiasm. According to her, “when I was pregnant with my child, I wanted to be a good mother and role model, so I enrolled on to a teacher training programe because I figured that would be the best way to understand children and build good relationships with them”. She also spoke of her favourite moments at Al Salam, noting that the most memorable to her were “my form parties with 10C”. She also explained that her proudest achievement as an educator was “last year” when her “Year 11s had their GCSEs and 100% of them had passed in English”. She also mentioned that “moving to a new country and settling in with her whole family was a challenge” but it was the students at ASCS who supported her and made it so much easier.

Mr. Keene is an innovative chemistry teacher who has revolutionised how students perceive the wonders of the chemical world. Despite both his parents being teachers, being a teacher was never something he had anticipated for himself.

During his time at engineering school, he found it tedious and so decided to take teacher training. Eventually, one thing led to another and he ended up being where he is now. Some of his achievements as a teacher include having various students who have made it into prestigious universities like Cambridge. His proudest achievement, however, is that two of his former students are now Chemistry teachers, finding pride in the fact that he had inspired them to pursue such a career.

Mr. Jack is almost everyone’s favourite Physics teacher and has served as an amazing HOY to the Year 11. To some, he was even a role model. He was initially inspired to become a teacher because “seeing kids progress through their learning and develop into young adults” made him “happy and inspired”. He even revealed that his favourite memories at ASCS were the “International Days and celebrating everyone’s culture and learning about new cultures”. He hopes to have had a longlasting positive effect on his students and to have forged memories that will forever remain with them. Finally, he shared some transformative advice: “always remember you can be better than you were yesterday and that every little speed bump on your journey is all in the plan”.

Top Must Visit Spots this summer in Dubai

Omar Mohammed STAFF WRITER

Dubai is a hub for unforgettable and unmatched experiences, and activities in Dubai are certainly no exception. Here are my personal picks of Dubai’s most unique and fun spots to spend time this summer. Whether you’re planning a day out with friends or family (or both!), you’ll love these spots.

PlayDXB Previously knows as the VR Park, it is home to the world's largest indoor virtual reality zone.

PlayDXB offers a diverse range of games that never fail to strike you with immense joy from the very moment you start playing. Better yet, there are games suitable for toddlers, teens and adults. No matter how old (or young) you are, you are guaranteed to have fun!

the place is known for. Being one of the coolest events venues in the city, DIR serves as an ideal setting for birthdays and friendly gathering alike.

Museum of Illusions Game Over

Dubai Ice Rink Dubai Ice Rink serves as a welcome break from the scorching heat of the Dubai summer. Aside from it's unmatched skating sessions and training programmes, DIR offers cool D.J. nights to add to the joy of the trendy weekend vibe

ranging from Atlantis to Money Heist, each providing a different customer oriented experience.

Most escape rooms simply have fascinating puzzles that immerse you into a role according to the scenario. Game Over, however, has its own twist on the escape room genre, injecting lore and interesting story to each and every one of their escape rooms. Better yet, Game Over offers a wide variety of fun escape rooms

ASCS COMMUNITY TIMES

The Museum offers a captivating and mind-bending experience of fascinating illusions that are guaranteed to alter your perception of reality. From a unique anti-gravity room to tricky puzzles and optical illusions, this museum offers an enjoyable and education experience regardless of age. The Museum's amazing experience is sure to leave a memorable impression that is guaranteed to last a lifetime!​​

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ATHLETICS

Players say "we win some, we lose some, but whatever

happens we are always one team " Fatima Ahmed STAFF WRITER

The recent successes of our school's cricket team have been nothing short of remarkable. This season, the team has shown clear dedication, diligence, and sportsmanship in each and every game. Under the leadership of our adept coaches, this cricket team has proven to be a force to be reckoned with. The team's success can be attributed to their patent teamwork and commitment to excellence on the field and beyond.

Introducing the school cricket team: a group of talented and dedicated players who have been working tirelessly to hone their skills. Led by Captain Arham, this team has been diligently practising since January, demonstrating their commitment and passion for the sport. The team players include an array of talent: vice-captain Hamza C, Aaraiz, Saad, Abdullah F, Muhammed Bin, Talha, Hamza B, Ammar, Aola, Zayaan, Amaan, and Abdullah Z. Together, they form a formidable unit ready to compete and showcase their cricketing prowess.

"The Under-13s and Under-15s have been working really hard since January," said Coach McGuire. "They both played 3 matches each and worked hard and won our last match with EIS. Hopefully next year, we will play and win more matches." Coach McGuire acknowledged the dedication and effort put in by the teams, highlighting their success in the recent match and expressing optimism for future victories.

Throughout the season, the team faced tough competition from various other schools, but they never gave up. With each game, they continued to improve and work together to achieve their goals. One of the most memorable games of the season was against their biggest rivals, EIS Jumeirah.

The vigorous game had everyone biting their nails. Despite this, the team displayed incredible resilience, staying focused and determined until the very end.

They emerged victorious, with a score of 143-15, much to the delight of their fans.

During a brief interview, team player Aaraiz explained that "we win some, we lose some, but whatever happens we are always one team, one singular team”.

The Under-15s have been playing really hard since January, hopefully next year, we will play and win more matches Team Coach Mr McGuire

This heartfelt statement encapsulates the unity and camaraderie that prevails within the cricket team at Al Salam Community School. Regardless of the outcome of their matches, they remain steadfast in their support for each other and their commitment to working together as a cohesive unit. This player's words serve as a testament to the team's strong bond and collective spirit, emphasising their unwavering unity regardless

of the wins and losses they encounter on their cricketing journey. To say we are proud of our cricket team is a true understatement. Their dedication, hard work, and sportsmanship have been an inspiration to us all.

Not only have they achieved great success on the field, but they have also shown us what it truly means to be a team.

As the season comes to an end, we eagerly anticipate celebrating the future achievements of our cricket team. They have shown that with hard work, dedication, and a strong team spirit, anything is possible. We congratulate our team and coaches and wish them all the best in the future.

Go ASCS U15 cricket team!

SPORTS UPDATES Girls Basketball | On Wednesday May 24th, the U14s played against Cambridge International School. The extremely intense game was the team's first DASSA league win, scoring 22-11. The team also featured new players Maria and Aiza who had recently joined from the U10 squad.

Boys Basketball l On Monday June 12th, the U14s played against the North London Collegiate School's team. The game was played away from home, at the NLCS campus. After a heated match, the U14s ended up winning by a landslide, with the final score being 58-16.

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ATHLETICS

JULY 2023

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Sports Awards Given Out During Special Evening

Hana Shabad + Batool Enayet ASSISTANT EDITOR + STAFF WRITER

The school's exceptional athletes, who encompassed over 250 students and represented 37 sports teams, were recently honoured at Al Salam’s first ever Sports Awards' Evening, which was held on Tuesday June 20th. It was a brilliant means of pondering upon the extraordinary milestones, resilience, and dedication displayed by these students. The

event enabled both coaches and parents to appreciate and acknowledge the great effort put in by the diligent athletes this academic year, which can be distinguished by the noteworthy number of victories achieved by our fellow athletes. Awards included individual medals for outstanding athletes, in addition to gleaming trophies granted to formidable teams. However, the optimism for impending successes and the quest for sports glory only

escalated as the curtains fell on this remarkable evening, guaranteeing a bright future for the athletes from ASCS. I, Batool Enayet, had been invited to be there as I had participated in the EISSA athletics league 2023 and the DASSA league for the U16 Girls' Basketball Team. By the end of the event, every athlete in that room had gotten a certificate of appreciation and I had won U16 Player of the Season as well as the

ASCS COMMUNITY TIMES

U16-19 Girls' Leadership Award.

Ultimately, it was an enlightening experience for every athlete there as everyone had family cheering them on and words of appreciation were passed between the staff and students attending.

There were constant cheers of students and proud parents and all in all it was a very wholesome and much-needed experience to get a boost of serotonin induced onto those athletes to end this year on a great note.

10 | JULY 2023

ENTERTAINMENT

Behind the Scenes of

The months of work that led to the production's success Shahd Marwan STAFF WRITER

Telling and sharing stories evokes creativity and muchneeded conversations revolving around key themes such as friendship, courage, freedom, power, women empowerment, social injustice and class hierarchy- all of which could be seen in our upcoming drama production based on the classical tale of Aladdin. Al Salam Community School’s first-ever student-performed theatrical production took place on stage on the 19th of June in Masrah Al Qasba, Sharjah, where the audience was inspired to ponder upon the war between good and evil and the importance of friendship on an adventure in search for one's true identity. The brilliant play was not only a delight to watch, but it stimulated everyone’s inner child’s taste and imagination, boosted confidence, and elicited excitement amongst the audience.

The production is the result of months of hard work and dedication from an extensive team of students and staff that worked persistently behind the scenes to

create the Aladdin spectators enjoyed on Monday. With that said, let us dive into the behind the scenes of the making of Aladdin!

Put together by the primary Drama teacher, Ms Dina, the script for this production was written over the span of two years; as it was Ms Dina’s “dream for many years to have this play” and the time has finally come where Aladdin finally takes to the stage.

Students from years four to thirteen have all contributed to the play to make this a perfect and sublime opportunity for primary and secondary students to interact and build friendships. The bond the students have created over the course of the production is evident, many being grateful for the ‘community’ the play has provided the cast and crew. Upon dedicating approximately two hours every day after/ during school, the cast has not only built a bond with one another but naturally built a bond with their respective characters. From the mysterious undertones of the ‘evil’ characters to the strong-willed and independent nature of our heroes, the play has given reason to relate to the characters that are now brought to life. The casting process

was both a long and short one depending on the character.

Students auditioned for multiple roles until the decision was made.

“Funny, helpful, and kind to everyone”. From the moment Ms Dina saw Youssef Hassan she thought “this boy is going to be Aladdin”. Youssef has worked diligently since, going to the extent of learning a backflip with professional assistance from Ms Parry to execute an exhilarating performance. “Friendly and pure”: Mayar Eid’s voice and emotion “will give you the feeling of princess you are looking for” in Jasmine. She echoes the morals Jasmine stands for as she represents strong independent women who refuse to allow anyone to bring them down while she sets out on a journey to discover her identity.

Dancers from Primary have worked in earnest as they induce life to the play while another group of students handle the music and sound effects, allowing the students to experience the process included in producing a school play. While the school has employed tailors to create the costumes, some students have inspiringly set out to make their

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costumes in an eco-friendly way.

Mikeal Kamran has gone to the extent of using 3D printing to make his staff for the character of Jafar as he enjoys playing the puzzling personality of his character. Ms Dina, with the help of Primary students, from year one to three, has created vibrant decorations and props while Ms Rehab is particularly assisting with the palace scene, subsequently bringing the world of Aladdin to life.

The performance of Aladdin undoubtedly brought people together, thanks to Ms Dina’s hard work. Since credit is given where it is due, Ms Dina has also mentioned that she is “grateful for Ms Victoria, Mr Tahir and Ms Sue for supporting [her] and helping [her] do this”. There were “many students that are really talented but could not be on the stage” due to the restriction of time and insufficient roles provided, but there is hope more things can be done in the future “to give people more chances”. Ms Dina even revealed that she has “a vision of having Lion King next year but [is] studying Aladdin’s production this year” so keep an eye out as this is certainly not the end!

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what was a rapidly growing franchise at the time.

STAFF WRITER

Let’s get straight to the point, this movie is terrible, one may even say absolutely horrendous. This disastrous 1993 live action adaptation of the popular video game series, Super Mario Bros, is a pitiful attempt that completely falls short of capturing the spirit, essence, and sheer joy of the games it seeks to represent. Fans and casual moviegoers alike will find this film to be a painful experience and an insult to the franchise.

It is immediately clear that Super Mario Bros. was doomed to begin with. The script lacks cohesion and feels underwritten. The dialogue is often awkwardly written and the scenes are randomly arranged, leaving viewers scratching their heads in utter confusion. The attempts at humour fall flat, relying on humour that has seen better days and forced one-liners that only serve to emphasise the film's lack of originality and comedic talent. It is obvious that the creators did not truly appreciate or comprehend the original work. Without regard for the characters, the wider community, or the fans, the movie comes across as a desperate attempt to cash in on the success of

read The Picture of Dorian Gray Book by Oscar Wilde

The plot, which places the adored characters in the dystopian nightmare known as Dinohattan, is a complete disaster. This confusing environment lacks the charm, whimsy, and vibrant colours that characterise the video games, making it feel like an inferior imitation of the Mushroom Kingdom. Even the character designs themselves are unrecognisable, with the iconic Bowser being portrayed as the lizard “President Koopa”.

uncle everyone knows exists but never talks about. The Super Mario Bros (2023), unlike its awful predecessor, is a must-watch for fans of the iconic video game franchise. It successfully brings the beloved characters and vibrant world of Mario to life in a fun and engaging way. With its charming humour, visually stunning animation, and a heartfelt story, the film offers a delightful experience for both longtime fans and newcomers.

the mark, from the ridiculous plot to mediocre acting and poor visual design. The film delivers an inaccurate and offensive interpretation rather than capturing the soul and magic of the video games. This movie is an insult to everything the franchise's followers stand for.

AVOID THIS FILM AT ALL COSTS. ― Your favourite movie reviewer :))

In a nutshell, the 1993 film is a huge mess.

Everything about it is completely off

Super Mario Bros. is also visually terrible. A messy mixture of unpleasant industrial aesthetics that have absolutely no place in the Mushroom Kingdom make up the production design. With cheap CGI and practical effects that are ill-executed and terrifying to the eye, the special effects are pathetically bad. The overall visual experience is a sensory assault that gives people headaches. Perhaps this is due to the fact that this disaster of a movie is 30 years old, and definitely didn’t age well.

Compared to The Super Mario Bros movie released in April of this year, this film is like the distant

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