DB
TI
SJP
MES
SECTIONS School Events Sports
School Celebrations Careers
International Affairs Book Section
Fun Section
SCHOOL
EVENTS
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DBSJP TIMES
SCHOOL EVENTS DUBAI 30X30
The UAE once again challenged us to do 30 minutes of activity for 30 days so we can take a step towards an active and happier future. We have championed fitness and wellness together, geared toward health and embracing an active lifestyle with numerous activities EVERY SINGLE DAY. Many of our DBSJP community were seen on the field and we were extremely excited for every new challenge. So, did you take on the challenge? And what was your 30-day journey? Read more in the sports section.
13TH NOV – ANTI- BULLYING WEEK
During Anti-bullying week this year, we had multiple assemblies both with Ms. Evans and Ms. Gillies as well as our head of secondary Mr. Malcolm who talked us through and demonstrated the values of our DBSJP community. We also had many activities that helped us further develop our understanding of the harms that can come with bullying and what bullying can look like to encourage our community to implement the right values. This year especially we opted to encourage anti-bullying throughout the entire year and not just this week to ensure extended impact to both students and our school.
17TH NOV TO 8TH DEC- PRIMARY AND SECONDARY WINTER CONCERTS AND WINTER SHOWCASES Many of our students, both in primary and secondary are coming together for the countless winter concerts and showcases such as Winter Wonderland. They are performing both in and out of DBSJP including our DPA and choir students who are working on amazing performances, so we hope you enjoyed the show!
8TH DEC - WINTER JUMPER DAY
We have concluded the term in a festive spirit with the students and staff members wearing festive jumpers and accessories so we can make it an enjoyable and memorable occasion for everyone involved as we begin the holiday season.
Written by: Sara Ghafoori
Next up - Section 2
R
SPORTS
SECTION
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DBSJP TIMES
SPORTS
THIRTY MINUTES, THIRTY DAYS, AND THOUSANDS OF SMILES
Dubai is ready to embark on the 6th annual Dubai 30X30 initiated by H.H Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Crown Prince of Dubai in 2017. These thirty days present you with the perfect opportunity to get active, get involved and get sweaty!
WHERE IT ALL BEGAN
BEYOND 30X30
Initiated by H.H Shiekh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin
Sportsmanship does not end at Dubai 30X30, instead it
Rashid Al Maktoum, the Crown Prince of Dubai in 2017
aids in introducing new hobbies and better habits. Whilst
this beloved month has now become a huge part of
within the school we expect to see the anticipated
Dubai’s culture and calendar. Initially focused on
annual Santa Fun Run and our astonishing sports teams
enhancing health through light exercise, it has now
and departments continuing to flourish; Dubai plans to
positively impacted the health of over 2 million people,
continue to encourage healthier more sustainable
representing 2/3 of Dubai's population. The event's
lifestyles through discarding short car journeys for walks
success is attributed to the unity it fosters, bringing
and avoiding heavily processed packaged foods for
people together from across Dubai to inspire a healthier
healthier alternatives. As the term ends, and the new
lifestyle and make the UAE more active. Dubai’s 30X30
year begins, make it your resolution to continue to
also aims to unite the city's people through sport,
implement small snippets of exercise in your routine.
fostering fitness friendships and encouraging collective
You can join an ECA or take a daily walk. Find what is
efforts, such as brisk walks. As a proud citizen and
best suited for you to act as you monopolize your own
athlete, you'll likely share my enthusiasm for Dubai
habits and activities. Ultimately, what matters is that you
30X30, a principal part of the year eagerly anticipated by
take Dubai 30X30 and the rest of your year in stride,
people of all ages, ethnicities, and backgrounds.
whether that includes running, walking, cycling, dancing,
WHAT IS ON?
or swimming. This is your opportunity, take it.
As the weather cools and winter approaches, exciting indoor and outdoor activities await both within and beyond the school. From primary school scoot-athons to the kite-beach fitness village, there's something for everyone. School highlights include PE lessons with
As the ink dries on this article, I would like to reflect on
external providers, wake-up shakeups, a Year-9 boys'
the fantastic opportunity Dubai 30X30 offers and the
football house competition, a Year 11 vs Year 12 prom
myriad of activities involved. Take a break from your
fundraising match, and even a parents vs students
stressful school life and join one of the many activities it
netball match. Beyond the school, the world's largest fun
has to offer. As we have established your health is a
run on November 26th along Sheikh Zayed Road offers
quintessential part of a well-balanced happy life, so,
additional adventures. Whether inside the school or
embrace it this month. Finally, I have one last question,
beyond its gates, what will you join?
what are your 30x30 plans?
Written by: Zahra Maki
Next up - Section 3
A SCHOOL
PRAISES
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DBSJP TIMES
UAE FLAG DAY UAE Flag Day is an annual event celebrated on November 3rd in the United Arab Emirates to honor the country's flag and the ideals it represents. UAE Flag Day is a day for Emiratis and residents of the UAE to come together and express their national pride. In addition to celebrating the flag, UAE Flag Day serves as a reminder of the country's unity, patriotism, and the values it stands for, including peace, prosperity, and solidarity amongst its diverse population. Our fellow students and staff members at DBSJP came together to raise the flag of the UAE as well as express their nation's history and demonstrate
SHEIK ZAYED’S MEMORIAL DAY
their
commitment
to
the
principles
represented by the flag through beautiful melodies, poems, and speeches.
honoring the legacy of Sheikh Zayed on the 2nd of
NATIONAL DAY – 2ND DEC
November. It is a day of reflection and gratitude for the
The UAE national day is celebrated on December 2nd
lasting impact of a visionary leader who played a vital
and commemorates the UAE's formal national union and
role in the UAE's development and progress. It reinforces
gaining of independence in 1971, when the emirates of
the values and principles he held dear, such as
Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Umm Al-Quwain, Fujairah,
compassion, unity, and the pursuit of a better future for
and Ajman came together to form a single, unified
all. Here at DBSJP our students in primary and secondary
nation. We celebrate this joyous day at DBSJP on the
as well as staff showed their gratitude and respect to the
28th of November by coming together and doing various
royal family and the legacy of Sheikh Zayed by writing a
activities both throughout the day and after school that
kind message thanking Sheikh Zayed and the royal
reflect the UAE’s rich culture. Students are also invited to
family for everything they have done for the UAE and our
wear traditional clothing and/or the colours of the UAE
future.
flag.
Sheikh Zayed's Memorial Day is celebrated through
Written by: Sara Ghafoori
Next up - Section 4
CAREER
SECTION
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DBSJP TIMES
ENTERING KEY STAGE 4: WHAT ARE YOUR OPTIONS? After year 9, you begin your GCSE journey by entering Key Stage 4 (Years 10 and 11). Choosing the right subject options can be crucial toward determining your A-level journey which will begin at Year 12 and these choices may help shape your education and career path. These subjects can open a lot of possibilities and allow you to explore areas you were not aware of before. From Psychology to Photography, you can determine your interest within these two years and carry on these subjects all the way to Sixth Form. Let us look at diverse ways you can be sure you chose the right subjects for you:
RESEARCH Though it may seem like a tedious job, researching your interests is the key factor in this decision. If your interests lie within the field of sciences, you
CONSIDER YOUR STRENGTHS:
Reflect on your academic strengths. If you excel in certain subjects, it might be a promising idea to choose those as your GCSE options, as they can potentially lead to higher grades and open more opportunities. Aim for a balanced selection of subjects. Include a mix of sciences, humanities, and creative subjects to keep your options open for A-levels or further education. Think about the long-term. Will the subjects you choose give you a good foundation for future academic and career choices? Some subjects, like mathematics and English, are valuable in many career paths.
may choose to take ‘triple science’ as an option for
It is important to make a balanced and informed
your GCSE meaning that you would be giving three
decision that suits your academic and career aspirations.
separate papers for all the science subjects and will
Take your time to research, consult with professionals,
be obtaining 3 GCSE certificates. Combined Science
and consider your personal interests and strengths. In
(also known as Double Science) is where you study
conclusion, the number of subject options can be an
the three sciences together and receive a combined
overwhelming process considering the wattage it could
average grade of 2 GCSEs.
hold over your future but with proper guidance and
Mathematics is a compulsory subject along with
knowledge you will be able to start the year strong with
English, MSC, and Arabic. For Mathematics and
confidence in what you have chosen.
English, you can opt for an ‘early entry’ examination which means that your GCSE will be taken at the end of Year 10 instead of Year 11 and you’ll have one less exam to prepare for in the next year. On the more artistic side, you could opt for art, photography, drama, or music as a subject which would include making a portfolio full of different techniques and art styles.
Written by: Taneesha Gupta
Next up - Exam Tips
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DBSJP TIMES
EXAM TIPS After choosing your preferred subjects, scoring well in them would be your end goal. The year you would have after selecting said subjects could be utilized to experiment with different study techniques and decide what works best for you. To help with laying out the basics of achieving a good grade, I approached a Year 12 student who achieved all our dream grades in her GCSEs - Alisha Conway.
“PAST PAPER QUESTIONS AND FLASHCARDS WERE MY TOP TWO METHODS FOR REVISING,” Using different websites like Quizlet and ClassMaster to create
flashcards
for
theory-based
subjects
is
a
technique multiple students have sworn by. However, do keep in mind, that if the technique worked for them, it doesn’t necessarily mean that it would work for you as well. On a more visual-based approach for subjects like Psychology and History, Alisha revealed that using mind maps to plot down information helped her retain most of the information for any exam or test while Maths and
“THEY KEY STEP IS TO MAINTAIN A BALANCE BETWEEN YOUR STUDIES AND PERSONAL LIFE.” Alisha is sixteen with a fascination in the field of mathematics and is an avid reader. With a knack of comics and an interest in the world of swimming, Alisha is a compassionate lady who from what I had seen within the first meeting works extremely hard to achieve what she wants and is determine towards her end goal.
Business involve tons of practice questions and case studies. Considering Triple sciences means all three science subjects have a different paper at the end of year 11. According to Alisha, physics is the subject she struggled with out of all three and to overcome this struggle she mentions spending extra time on topics she did not understand and creating effective notes was how she learnt. DBSJP also provides interventions for the subjects students would like help with and that is a resource that could be helpful to a lot of us in numerous subjects. She also used past paper questions to revise until she was 100% clear. Ultimately, a lot of hard work and dedication from her
According to her, making sure you have time for yourself
side is what helped Alisha throughout this journey. Along
despite having to study is one of the most important
with utilising the resources provided and paying
things in acing all exams. From a brief interview with her,
attention in classes, following these study tips should
I would like to summarize the key tips shared. For her
help the road become a bit smoother for everyone. But,
GCSEs, Alisha opted for Triple sciences, psychology,
most importantly, keeping an open mind through the
history, and business. Alisha ended up taking an early
process and allowing yourself to breathe, slow down,
entry examination for mathematics in Year 10 and
and try out new techniques is what I would say is the key
pursued further maths in the following year.
factor.
Written by: Taneesha Gupta
Next Up - Section 5
INT’L.
AFFAIRS
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DBSJP TIMES
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
EARTH’S HOTTEST SUMMER!
Dire consequences can only follow as the overall average temperature may increase. As the planet continues warming, it becomes more likely to experience hotter summers. Higher average temperatures create a new baseline, making extreme heat waves more common! Additionally, global warming is causing polar ice caps and
Scientists at NASA are saying that of all global records,
glaciers to melt, which leads to sea levels rising. This can
which began in the 1800s, the summer of 2023 has been
result in more extreme heat in coastal areas. Not only
the hottest so far! The summer months of June, July, and
that, but this could also lead to more devastating
August have been, together, 0.23 º C hotter than any
wildfires, which, as a result, have a massive impact on
other summer that has been recorded by NASA.
wildlife!
Moreover, compared to the summers between 1951 and 1980, those past few months have been about 1.2 ºC warmer than average. Many countries around the globe were victims of this horrible heat, which led to deathly wildfires in Canada and Hawaii, and scorching heat waves in Japan, South America, the US, and Europe.
“Unfortunately, climate change is happening. Things that we said would come to pass are coming to pass, and it will get worse if we continue to emit carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into our atmosphere,” stated Gavin Schmidt, climate scientist and director of GISS. Although this summer may have seemed exciting, this is only the start of the climate crisis, and the problems that people are facing now because of global warming will become more urgent. Scientists are looking deeper into this issue, and while they do so everyone must do their part to ensure something like this doesn’t repeat.
Written by: Layla Alhamadani
Next up - Section 6
STORY
SECTION
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DBSJP TIMES
BOOK SECTION
BOOK REVIEW A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM AGE RATING: 12+
"A Midsummer Night's Dream" by William Shakespeare is an Elizabethan classic
that
interlaces
comedy,
romance,
and
elements
of
the
supernatural. I read the full unabridged version over a period of a month and am honestly astonished by the breadth of language and plot that is covered over the nine detailed scenes. The play unfolds in an enchanted forest where the realms of humans and fairies collide, creating a scene of confusion and hilarity. From my understanding, the play's central theme revolves around the complexities of love, capturing the fickle nature of romantic entanglements and the tangled web of infatuations and misunderstandings. It is fascinating that the themes present in the book, written in the 16th century - over 400 years ago - are still relevant to 21stcentury audiences! What I think sets this play apart from other books you’d find in a bookstore is Shakespeare's masterful use of language. His dialogue is rich with clever wordplay, puns, and lyrical passages that add depth to the characters and themes. I believe that no comprehensive set of teachings or verbatims about Elizabethan history or culture could quite come close to the insights you receive from delving into the books written in the era; whether for entertainment or education, this book was an undoubtedly fabulous read, especially for hardcore reader bookworms like me. The famous line, "The course of true love never did run smooth," always stood true to me, and truly encapsulates the play's central message. The play's humor is a delightful blend of clever wit and accessibility; merged with hilarious and utterly comedic ideologies. Whether you are a seasoned Shakespeare enthusiast or new to his works, this play is a must-read for its everlasting themes and unforgettable characters, making it a rewarding literary experience for all.
RATING: 4/5 Written by: Abhay Veer Dinesh
Next up - Section 7
FUN
SECTION
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DBSJP TIMES
WORDSEARCH INFORMATION We had a lot of people join in on the fun for the last issue’s scavenger hunt, having all of the characters submitted to us on the SAME DAY of our release. This month, we plan to take it easy before we approach winter break and decided to only do a UAE-themed word search. Merits will be given again if you email us a screenshot of the word search filled up. Have a lovely winter break!
JOKE OF THE MONTH What did the camel say to the oasis? I will never desert you.
WELCOME BACK READERS! We’re sure all you lovely people have been waiting relentlessly for this new issue! Our Year 7-11 writers have worked so hard to write these amazing articles that we have proudly displayed for you here. We hope that you enjoyed this issue, and that you’ve learnt something new. Have a lovely month, we can’t wait to see you in our DEC.-JAN. winter-themed issue next month!
SEE YOU NEXT MONTH!
TEAM! HEAD EDITORS Dóra Kádasi Aden John Amenah Al-Zuhair Loraine Sambile
WRITERS FOR THIS ISSUE Taneesha Gupta Sara Ghafoori Zahra Maki Layla Alhamadani Abhay Veer Dinesh