Welcome to The Journal: the Half-Termly Journals combined into one publication, and a celebration of all we have achieved across the year within our strategic priorities at DBS Emirates Hills. The Journal has been designed to give you a window into your child's world, with as many images as we could squeeze in, for you to get a glimpse of the DBSEH experience just from a simple 'flick-through'. For those of you with more time to spare, the articles written aim to provide readers with a thorough understanding of why the priorities we have chosen are crucial to our students' development, and what these look like in action. Additionally, you will find articles containing a lighttouch introduction to relevant theories which complement the action taking place in school. Whether browsing through the pictures, or taking a closer look at the articles, we hope you enjoy looking back on the year 2022 - 2023, and finding out more about how we have supported every child to 'Enjoy - Aspire - Achieve' with us, at DBS Emirates Hills.
Sarah Reynolds Principal
Wellbeing
October 2022
Wellbeing remained the key priority at DBSEH this year and we were committed to ensuring that it sat at the heart of all that we undertook. We were excited to launch the year by implementing the Positive Education Enhanced Curriculum across all year groups from FS1 to Year 13. Positive Education is an approach that blends academic learning with the development of character and wellbeing. Through weekly discrete lessons that focus on explicitly teaching life skills and the implicit reinforcement of key messages in lessons, assemblies and daily interactions we are intentionally designing and ensuring opportunities for our students to flourish not only while they are at school but also preparing them for a positive future.
The introduction of 'What Makes Me Special' Day in FS and Primary, and 'What Makes Me Happy' Day in Secondary have enabled students (and teachers) to share and gain an insight into others’ interests and talents, celebrating diversity and inclusion; supporting the development of creating connections with others and ultimately providing platforms for everyone to shine! 'My Day Friday' in Foundation Stage continued again this year and ensures our youngest learners have opportunities to showcase their uniqueness by choosing their outfit for themselves once a week. By exercising the practice of low-stake decision-making in our youngest students, we aim to lay the foundations of positive identity that will continue to reap benefits as our students grow into young adults.
Georgia Lavery Head of Primary
Wellbeing
October 2022
These explored what commonly gets in the way of young people achieving their best and being their best, and strategies which can be used to overcome these obstacles. It explored the thinking traps which young people often fall into, common emotional regulation issues which hold them back from achieving what they are capable of, and practical mindfulness-based strategies which can be used to treat these mental health barriers.
A key element of our school’s mission to promote student wellbeing is acknowledging the importance of mental health. We support the World Health Organisation’s efforts to ‘make mental health and wellbeing a global priority’. World Mental Health Day 2022 was marked with staff and students wearing green, as well as raising awareness and knowledge about mental health all week for our entire community; students, staff and parents. We were delighted to welcome The Free Spirit Collective who led research-based learning sessions for students across the secondary school.
Sheridan Teasel Deputy Head of Secondary
In addition, parents attended a session exploring young people's mental health on global and local scales, including the impact of Covid-19, the challenges young people currently face, and the common mental health issues seen among adolescents. The discussions considered what parents can practically do at home to support a child and strengthen their mental health, and gave DBSEH parents a chance to ask a practising psychologist their questions about teenage mental health and any concerns.
Wellbeing
December 2022
FIGHTING FIT Supporting and empowering young people to proactively manage both their physical and mental wellbeing is central to our school ethos. One of our most popular events promoting regular physical activity is the Dubai Fitness Challenge. Now in its sixth year, the Dubai Health Authority’s ‘30 x 30 Challenge’ puts forward a simple goal: complete 30 minutes of activity each day for 30 days. The aim is to inspire everyone to create a fitnessfocused mindset and seek healthy, active lifestyles.
Dr Suhail Al Rukn, Neurologist and Head of the Stroke Unit at Rashid Hospital, says: “This initiative is like no-other. Seeing community members build a simple but highly effective routine of getting 30 minutes of exercise per day is something I feel grateful towards as a doctor." Dubai British School Emirates Hills offered an extensive program of challenges and activities throughout the 30 days. We have worked to incorporate the amazing calendar of events around Dubai, including The Race to Dubai Golf, FIFA World Cup and supporting the Arab cross- channel rowing team.
Wellbeing
December 2022
As part of their wider personal development, our students have learnt about planning for a healthy lifestyle and making time for activities to improve their physical, emotional and social health. The culmination of the term’s wellbeing, fitness and PE efforts was our Secondary Sports Day held on 30th November at the Dubai Police Academy, which was a wonderful celebration of our sporting excellence and an opportunity to come together as a community to work as House teams.
Sara Donovan Director of PE & Sport
IT'S GOOD TO TALK In February half term we shone the wellbeing spotlight on two of our most valuable specialist resources; our counselling team. As Counsellor and Assistant Counsellor, Gail Gallagher and Aliyah Marshall offer expertise, both preventative and in response to need, from whole school to individual level.
Gail Gallagher
Aliyah Marshall
Benefitting students, staff and parents, the team's professional, trusted and nurturing approach advocates, champions and supports wellbeing and positive mental health for all. The comprehensive support has multiple facets; some support is ‘universal’ and offered to all via whole school events, workshops, assemblies and planned initiatives. This includes top tips for mindfulness, co-regulation strategies, emotional literacy, developing a growth mindset, ways to develop resilience and ways to manage anxiety. Much of this support is preventative in design, is woven into the curriculum and is therefore responsive and adapted to a cohort’s needs. The team also tailor and target support to meet the needs of small groups of students. This support usually focuses on the development of important social skills that can be used to develop lasting problem-solving strategies, emotional regulation strategies and resolve friendship issues.
For students who may be experiencing personal difficulties, the team offer individual counselling sessions and confidential support with general coping strategies around school and home issues relating to change and transition, academic stress, setting and achieving goals, developing self-esteem, peer relationships and social skills; as well as grief and loss, mood disorders and trauma and crisis intervention. As we all know, being away from our home countries and families can prove challenging at times and so our staff also benefit from the support that Gail and Aliyah offer, to ensure that they are still able to bring their best selves to the classroom. Parent support comes through the ‘Let’s Talk’ coffee morning series, the most recent of which focused on Managing Anxiety and Stress.
Our counselling team are a significant asset to the school's outstanding holistic provision. With the rich range of expertise they utilise to benefit students, parents and staff they are crucial in supporting the schools mission to ensure that every child can Enjoy, Aspire and Achieve. Our team are receptive to planning talks that meet the needs of our community, therefore if you have specific requests for topics you would like to see covered, please let them know. They are also available to meet with parents (by appointment) to discuss any social/emotional concerns.
Georgia Lavery Head of Primary
THE POWER OF PERFORMANCE The performing arts are very close to my heart; as a music graduate and advocate for all-things performance related, I have felt first-hand the positive effects on my mental health having conducted my way through a musical, sung my heart out with a choir, or successfully made it to the end of a challenging piano performance.
Through the pandemic, the most crucial element of the performing arts, that is the sharing of the experience with others, was stopped dead in its tracks in our schools while we rightly prioritised our physical health. Now we are thankfully through those challenging times, we are breathing life back into our performance programme – and it feels great.
Inspiring Young Minds Our inspiring Music Specialist duo, Mrs Fiona McManus and Mr Neil Milton must, therefore, also be considered crucial members of staff responsible for our students’ wellbeing. With an evolving performance programme that affords all students the opportunity to perform within their classes, as well as providing those students who demonstrate a particular aptitude for performance to access higher-stakes platforms, we are consciously developing the next generation of arts enthusiasts, both consumers and performers, and doing all this while complementing our wellbeing provision.
The last few weeks of Term 2 were incredibly busy in this regard; our FS2 children performed at the CMA Spring Fayre on Saturday 11th March, which showcased excellence in performance from across schools in Dubai. Our Desert Dancers represented both the Primary and Secondary school at Dubai College for the recent Dance Showcase which took place over the previous weekend. The Cheer Squad competed against other schools in Dubai at the recent inaugural inter-schools Cheer Competition, proudly organised and hosted by our own staff here on site.
Additionally in Term 2: Year 5 demonstrated the skills learnt in lessons on the Ukulele to their parents in a series of morning concerts, FS students performed to their parents as part of their spring and Mothers’ Day celebrations. International Day saw students through the school celebrating the arts from their home cultures. Students and staff performed in showcases in assemblies, and our secondary students delivered on stage with their evening event 'A Night with Us'. Additionally, auditions have been taking place for the eagerly anticipated secondary show which will be announced shortly.
And it doesn’t stop there. Our students are clearly cottoning on to the feel-good factor that the arts bring: an increasing number of students are taking up instrumental provision offered in school by our partners at CMA and DPA; hang around after school on a Friday and our Sixth Form Rock Band can be heard rehearsing - their music warmly resonating through our quiet corridors. Our primary club leaders now regularly choose to lead dance clubs, and our choir is always full to bursting. At the end ogf Term 2 student leaders from Year 6 brought their own dance troupe of Year 1 and 2 students to perform in front of the whole primary school. The performing arts are well and truly back, and we’ve only just started.
With big plans on the performance front coming for next year, I am very excited to see how the arts continue to flourish at DBS Emirates Hills and we look forward to continuing to welcome you through our doors to be a part of it.
Sarah Reynolds Principal
PAYING IT FORWARD Benevolence: an act of kindness or inclination to be kind. If ever a time of year called for our community to demonstrate this characteristic at its best, it would be during Ramadan. Acts of kindness make the world a better place for everyone, not just those on the receiving end of a thoughtful gesture, and this is why it was the perfect place to start the May edition of the half-termly journal, reflecting on how charitable acts that took place in school positively impacted the wellbeing of many during the holy month.
Starting At Home The beginning of Ramadan saw our staff donate funds to enable the purchase of Ramadan gift boxes for our support staff. Heba Regai (Year 5 LA) and Asma Moon (SEND LSA) organised the collection, an initiative they started just last year.
Filled with rice, flour, canned goods and oil, the boxes shore up the cupboards of our support staff with the essentials and are a gesture of our gratitude to them for ensuring the smooth running of our school day to day.
All Together Now
“We started this initiative last Ramadan to bring our community closer together and celebrate the essence of giving during the holy month of Ramadan. This would not have been possible without the support of the wonderful staff at DBSEH and we thank them from our hearts.” - Heba and Asma
Our FS & Primary students took matters into their own hands, quite literally, with every child contributing to a yeargroup wide piece of artwork, all linking to Arabic themes, which were offered up to silent auction, the takings from which were donated to Breast Friends, an Al Jalila Charity that supports Breast Cancer Awareness.
Additionally, in the few days we had in school during Ramadan this year, two of our student leaders also took the lead with a thoughtful ‘Ramadan Calendar’, on display in the foyer. Every day students arriving at school could open the doors of the calendar to be presented with a task for the day that sought to encourage goodwill from one person to another. ‘Wish someone Ramadan Kareem’, ‘Smile at everyone you see today’ and other random acts of kindness shared at the beginning of the day set the tone for our whole community.
Community Outreach After the Spring Break our Head of Arabic Subjects, Mrs Rania Reda, took the lead on getting the wider community involved in populating similar food packages which were donated to a Red Crescent Charity initiative. Students, parents and staff donated long-life food items that were sent to families in need across the Emirate. Each of these acts perfectly demonstrate that the gift of wellbeing can be given with the smallest of gestures.
GCSE Blood Brothers Masterclass
ASDAN Heritage Express Tour
Year 4 Plastic Pollution Artwork
House Sing-Off Competition
Mr Z during sewing ECA
Primary Arabic Spelling Bee
Chinese New Year Parade
Emerson and Treedom Visit to DBSEH
Unified Games
Agency
October 2022
IN THE DRIVING SEAT Student agency is a vital concept permeating every area of education and it carries a plethora of practical implications for schools. A key approach to developing effective and deliberate approaches to student agency is to firstly establish its components, to identify how they currently function and to consider how they might be optimised. At DBSEH, we consider the key components to be choice (the extent to which students can choose how and what they learn or experience), voice (the extent to which students can meaningfully express their opinions and perspectives on a range of issues that directly and indirectly affect them) and leadership (the opportunities students have to positively influence others and to develop skills and traits that will enable them to do so even more effectively in the future).
Our student leaders started the school year in earnest. The first half-term saw our Head Girl and Head Boy greeting parents and students at the school gate, skilfully hosting visitors and leading committees tasked with key responsibilities. Our House Captains developed plans to maximise our post-Covid freedoms to ensure this year is one of fierce yet friendly competition, while our prefects raised the profile of their beloved academic subjects among our community. Meanwhile our Peer Mentors coordinated a student support network to enhance and personalise our wellbeing provision.
October 2022 In other areas of school life, more subtle leadership development abounds. Earlier in the first term a group of our Year 13 students attended Mental Health First Aid training and began raising awareness among their peers of the ways in which they can proactively safeguard their own and each other's wellbeing. Our Sports Leaders worked with younger children to nurture their love of physical activity and to facilitate key sporting events. Our Duke of Edinburgh candidates started their familiarisation with the award programme and are considering the challenges they will undertake in their service, skill, physical activity and expedition units. As the year progresses we will see these aspects of student agency flourish further as a whole-school movement which benefits our entire community whilst at the same time making our contribution to developing the next generation of leaders.
David Potts Head of Secondary
Agency
December 2022
LEADING BY EXAMPLE A hallmark of excellence recognised by the Dubai Schools Inspection Bureau, the authentic undertaking of initiatives by students for the benefit of others, is a growing feature of our student body that very few other schools can proclaim.
DBSEH Eco Leaders As part of their Eco Leader roles last year, Clara and Ekaterina (now Year 7) took part in a competition to design a sustainable product. Their dog blankets made from recycled t-shirts saw them win 500dhs for the school, which they reinvested this term having noticed the number of disposable coffee cups being utilised at the canteen. With an estimated 4000 cups being thrown away per month the students approached a company to design a DBSEH-branded, reusable coffee cup for staff to purchase, to support us in being more sustainable. Now, with a growing entrepreneurial spirit, these young leaders are working with the canteen to agree a discounted coffee price for staff who bring their cups to be reused.
Chinese New Year As you may have read in our weekly notices, Bohan in Year 12 initiated her own project to ensure our community learns more about Chinese New Year, a highlight in the calendar of her home culture. She approached the school for financial and logistical support and coordinated the efforts of our Chinese students and families to design a celebratory event for students, staff and parents to learn and enjoy in January 2023.
Agency
December 2022
Ozan, Yasmina, Layla and Mia (Year 4, Year 7 and Year 12 students) seized the opportunity to apply the skills they have been learning as part of the ASDAN curriculum, by designing, producing and selling greetings cards at our recent PTA Car Boot Sale. Sales were so positive that they extended their range from general greetings to a festive focus for the winter break. Proceeds from the sales will be reinvested by the students as they see fit, to further support their entrepreneurial learning. Leader of the Events Committee, Angus in Year 13’s raison d’etre this year has been to raise funds for the Year 13 Grad Ball. This has seen him lead and coordinate events for the committee, including an enormously popular Friday afternoon ice-lolly sale to help our students skip into the weekend with a smile on their faces. Other events he has spearheaded have been a face-painting service for students on our Spooky Dress - Up Day and numerous bake sales throughout Term 1. We hope that his significant efforts prove fruitful for the end of year graduate celebrations.
Sarah Reynolds Principal
STAFF AGENCY For decades conventional professional development models in British education settings have focussed largely on a top-down, one-size-fits-all approach which subjects teachers en masse to instructional ‘training’ imparted by their leaders irrespective of their individual contexts. Whilst paradigm shifts are slow in most professions, they are particularly ponderous in education where there is a tendency for schools to cling to the status quo for fear of disruption amid the annual cycle of examination results and inspection. However, an evolution that has gained momentum in recent years is the recognition that the continued progress of high-performing schools is dependent upon teachers driving their own professional learning in a manner bespoke to their and their students’ particular strengths, needs and priorities. In this vein, our teachers have been considering their own specific areas of focus as part of their professional learning and growth. Our primary teachers, for instance, have been engaging in peer observation and providing formative feedback which allows further refinement of their practice towards objectives related to student achievement, engagement and experience. In addition, they have been collaborating on key areas of strategic planning linked to curriculum design, the use of educational technology to redefine learning opportunities and relational behaviour approaches to ensure our next steps at a whole-school level are the product of full consultation and due consideration of best practice research.
In the secondary school a team of teachers with specific pedagogical interests have led their colleagues’ learning in five key areas: Metacognition – encouraging students to understand their own thinking processes Effective questioning to stimulate deeper thinking Giving effective feedback for improvement Leading student agency to develop independence, engagement and critical thinking Using writing as a structure for thinking across the curriculum These learning experiences have served as an initial stimulus for teachers to embark upon action research projects in which they will now explore new teaching techniques and carefully monitor their impact before sharing with colleagues for further consideration. This is the beginning of an approach to professional learning at DBSEH designed to ensure that not only does our collective professional practice continue to improve, but it does so in a way that promotes effective distributed leadership practices and leads to innovation that allows DBSEH to operate at a truly worldclass standard.
David Potts Head of Secondary
COMMENCING THE CAREER LADDER In a noteworthy example of student agency, a group of Year 12 BTEC Business students organised a fantastic initiative earlier this year, which was very beneficial to senior students and also helped to harness the collective wisdom of our community. The students arranged a DBSEH Speed Networking event on May 3rd during which students learned about career pathways in a range of professional industries. They spoke with parents and staff about the realities of working in various sectors, and the skills and mindsets which are likely to lead to success in such companies.
In planning such an event, and bringing it to fruition, the students deomnstrated great initiative and are continually developing life skills and competencies which will stand them in good stead for their lives beyond DBSEH, at university and in the workplace.
Sheridan Teasel Deputy Head of Secondary
PREPARING YOUR OWN PATHWAY Life at Dubai British School Emirates Hills is about so much more than just producing excellent results at GCSEs, BTECs and A Levels. Whilst our results do remain outstanding, our ethos is focused on inspiring and nurturing holistic personal growth and development in all our students which will prepare them for life beyond school, whether at university, in the workplace or in their community. That said, helping every child attain the best results they can in public examinations, given their own individual pathway, will always remain an important part of that journey from school to the next phase of their life.
It is noteworthy that great results and sound personal development are completely intertwined; by helping our students gain vital life skills of independence, organisation and planning, to manage their time, and take agency over their choices in their studies and in life in general, they become better prepared for both public examinations and life beyond school.
"The opportunities for leadership and agency at DBSEH allow you to foster strong relationships that serves as great preparation for students' educational journeys and beyond." - Laila, Sixth Form student
The provision put in place for Year 11 and Year 13 students during study leave from 15 May ahead of public examinations are a great example of how student agency helps with both. Students plan their own diet of revision sessions These can include supervised private study sessions in school, both one-to-one and small group, independent study in school, as well as the freedom to do so at home, based on which is best and most suitable for them personally. Whilst we all have our own views on the optimal balance, it will vary greatly between individuals; only the learner themselves has the complete picture of their skills, knowledge and confidence regarding each topic and sub-topic of every one of their subjects.
This makes the learner the only person on the planet who truly possesses all the nuanced information required to make these choices; learning to use that information wisely requires both support and independent practice. By prioritising student agency at DBSEH, from a young age and across every year group in the school, we are continually helping our young people prepare for what success looks like for them personally, both in their public examinations and life beyond school. We wish all of our students the very best of luck in their upcoming examinations.
Sheridan Teasel Deputy Head of Secondary
Opportunity
October 2022
EXCITE, ENGAGE & INSPIRE Before students returned for the start of Term 1 we spoke to all staff and reflected with them to find out which memories from school meant the most to them. As teachers, whilst we’d love to think it is our lessons that are the main reason the students get out of bed in the morning, we shared our own favourite memories and realised it was actually the parts that wove in and around the school day; the additional opportunities, that formed our fondest recollections. Consequently, as we return to life after the pandemic, we are unpacking what ‘opportunities’ look like and the most obvious place to start is the ECA Programme. Through our ECAs we aim to inspire, nurture and refine students’ interests, skills and talents in a broad range of areas that seek to get our students skipping through the doors in the morning.
Opportunity
October 2022
We were delighted to be able to offer a recordbreaking 111 clubs in the first term, with 665 students taking part. Included in these are student-led ECAs both in primary and secondary which have both broadened our offering, and also provided real-life leadership experience for children as young as 10 years old. Not only does this benefit the student leaders, but students attending the club have the chance to build relationships with older students, nurturing the tight-knit community feel we are so proud to have in our school.
Opportunity
December 2022
OUT AND ABOUT Experiential learning opportunities outside the classroom offer our students a range of contextualised ‘hands on’ experiences that are invaluable in deepening understanding, developing self-confidence and honing essential life skills.
Across the school, from FS1 to Year 13, a wealth of trips took place in the second half of Term 1, promoting and celebrating learning without walls. From a picnic in Barsha Park to high ropes in Hatta, a walking tour in old Dubai to experiencing life inside a rainforest at Green Planet, from investigating forces in roller coasters at Motiongate to role-playing ‘real life’ experiences in Kidzania, the change of environment and carefully planned activities have inspired and motivated our students (and teachers!) to experience new things, be creative, take risks and think outside the box.
These themes continued with a variety of curriculum enriching trips and events for Secondary students including Sail GP, Innovation Lab at HSBC, Red Arrows Engineering at HerriotWatt University, PICO Kids STEAM event, BSME Art and Photography competitions, and end of term bonding at places such as Ferrari World, Warner Bros. World and YAS Waterworld in Abu Dhabi.
Opportunity
December 2022
After a three-year hiatus, Year 6 students also embarked on their first school residential to Hatta. New friendships were forged and fostered over high rope challenges and snorkeling escapades, and the sense of independence and adventure further developed self-esteem, resilience, risk-taking and selfconfidence. Above all, long-lasting memories have been made and we look forward to many more being created next term and beyond!
Georgia Lavery Head of Primary
THIRD CULTURE KIDS ‘Third Culture Kids’ - the term given to children who grow up outside of their home culture, i.e., most of the children in our care at DBS Emirates Hills. Being a third culture kid, or TCK, comes with its fair share of benefits; their horizons tend to be broader; they interact more comfortably with other children from a diverse range of backgrounds, races and perspectives, and on the whole, they are more socially confident than their home-born peers. But the challenges that children face as a TCK are also significant. Most predominantly, TCKs report challenges about a sense of ‘belonging’ - Where do they come from? Who are they? Where do they belong?
One of the reasons why opportunities feature so importantly on our agenda at DBSEH is because they help our students to understand themselves, their interests and their identity, and the value they possess as contributing citizens to society. This forms the foundations of understanding who they are, and their sense of belonging. Overseas residentials are a key feature of the opportunities programme because they help students to develop skills, interests and talents in specific disciplines, but they also provide students with an opportunity to bond with their TCK peers and share the experience of being away from their common ‘home’. This in turn helps them to understand who they are and informs their personal conceptual tapestry of belonging.
This year we have taken Year 7 & 8 students to Barcelona for the World School Games football tournament and, at the time this article was shared, had 50 students from Year 5 to Year 10 in Switzerland carving up the slopes on our long-awaited ski trip. We are lining up plans to offer the Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award next year, which features an overseas project, and plans are afoot to afford some students the opportunity to go to Japan to support their studies, as well as taking even more students to the piste in 2024!
As students undergo these experiences, they will undoubtedly face challenges; from navigating airports, to communicating across language barriers, battling home sick feelings, to handling success and defeat in the projects they have undertaken. However, they are doing it with each other, building supportive and lasting relationships that will hopefully see them through their time with us and beyond, and giving them confidence and faith in who they truly are.
Sara Donovan Director of PE & Sport
CONNECTING WITH OUR COMMUNITY The schools trips our students attend serve many purposes. They are typically set in a context that have direct curriculum links and can bring a theme or subject to life, making it more memorable for our students, such as a visit to Green Planet, or Emirates Bio Farm. Some trips aim to develop students’ characters, putting their perseverance and resilience to the test, such as Duke of Edinburgh desert expeditions and weeklong ski trips in Switzerland. And some trips aim to help students develop a deep respect for and love of their locality, recognising the cultural differences between their home country and the country we call ‘home for now’, encouraging them to view these differences fondly. Across the school we provide students with the opportunity to receive firsthand experience of Arabic and Islamic culture. Year 3, for example, have been getting to know the immediate community that surrounds the school with, most recently, a visit to the mosque.
"Understanding how the mosque supports and serves the community was new and important learning for so many of our students, shared by the imam of the mosque himself in a valuable Q&A session with the children. " Lauren Garratt, Year 3 Leader
Additionally, over 40 students from across the school were proud to take part in the inaugural DBSEH Qur'an Competition. With external adjudicators impressed with our young people's recitation skills, it was difficult to decide our trophy winners. We are excited to see the competition go from strength to strength in the coming years.
Year 6 took a trip aboard the Heritage Express to find out more about Emirati culture. “Heritage Express' concept revolves around communicating the Emirati culture through genuine and immersive experiences...(their) main objective is to narrate real stories about the local culture. The UAE culture is rich in its traditions and customs and we take pride in highlighting how different and exciting it is in every aspect.” As part of the tour, students enjoyed hearing more about desert life from a Bedouin, visited a range of significant historical landmarks in old Dubai, and had their fill of Luqaimat and Chibab, as well as learning traditional dining etiquette while they ate.
At the end of May the school hosted a Heritage Day to highlight and celebrate the many cultural characteristics that make our country so special. With food, art, music and language at the heart of many creative activities on offer for students on the day, we hope that students feel connected to the Arabic culture in a way that remains with them for the rest of their lives.
Sarah Reynolds Principal
EMIRATI HERITAGE DAY Many of the opportunities presented over the previous few pages have involved leaving the school site to access environments and resources it would otherwise be impossible to experience during the typical school day. However, it is just as important to bring experiences to the students in school, particularly when connecting them to our host nation's culture, so that they can truly feel connected to their community and nurture their sense of belonging to the UAE. The DBSEH Emirati Heritage Day aimed to engage students with the UAE heritage and culture through hands-on traditional experiences as well as inspire students with talks from young Emiratis who share similar values to themselves. With falcons, henna, shwarma, and an Emirati Heritage Bus all on offer for students to explore the day was a multi-sensory, immersive experience that brought culture and tradition to life. Older students received a talk from Mohammed from Heritage Express, a young Emirati blogger who gave further insight into the traditions surrounding hospitality; an important part of Emirati culture, as well as elaborating on the rich heritage and culture of the UAE.
'By sharing the unique aspects of UAE heritage and culture we aim to promote cultural diversity and tolerance, by encouraging our students to learn about and respect each others' traditions and customs.' Rania Reda, Head of Arabic Subjects
Inclusion
October 2022
ALL ABOARD For a long time the term 'Inclusion' has been associated exclusively with 'learning difficulty'. At DBSEH 'Inclusion' means that we consider every student's profile of need so they can reach their potential in the day-to-day learning process. Put simply: Inclusion is about everyone.
Additionally, under the umbrella of inclusion are identified and specific learning needs, and through this journal we would like to enhance parents understanding of what these might include. In this issue we are placing a spotlight on Dyslexia, and on the next page you can find out more about how this presents in students. As the Head of Inclusion, part of my role is to ensure that students are wellsupported through strong relationships between home and school. Our Inclusion Team works alongside staff to support them with meeting the diverse needs of all students in our care, as well as collaborating with parents to ensure that we see the whole picture of the child and offer support ideas at home. We regularly welcome in external experts to provide workshops and sessions that seek to benefit all parents with how to support their child outside of school; the team from Insights Psychology delivered a parent workshop on ‘Supporting Parents with screen time and well-being’, and we engaged with an external consultant to provide parents with a session on 'Mindful and Conscious Parenting' this year, as just two examples. All events are open to all parents, and will be shared the week before they occur on the Principal's Weekly Notices. I look forward to seeing you there.
Jacqueline Baxter Head of Inclusion
Inclusion
October 2022
NEURODIVERGENCE FOCUS:
DYSLEXIA ‘We can simplify things. We see the big picture…dyslexic minds have exactly the skills we need for the workforce of tomorrow.’ – Richard Branson CHARACTERISTIC TRAITS: Difficulty with accurate and fluent word reading and spelling Difficulties recognising sounds and how they make up words Difficulties with verbal memory i.e. the types of sounds that constitute speech Impacted processing speeds which subsequently
affects
quick
recall
of
information and ability to follow multilevelled instructions Difficulties with sequencing such as alphabet, months of the year, recording
FAMOUS PEOPLE WITH DYSLEXIA:
Orlando Bloom - Actor Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock Astronomer Albert Einstein – Scientist Jennifer Aniston – Actress
stories in order
FURTHER INFORMATION AND SUPPORT British Dyslexia Association: www.bdadyslexia.org.uk The Dyslexia-SpLD Trust: www.thedyslexia-spldtrust.org.uk Helen Arkell Dyslexia Charity: https://www.helenarkell.org.uk/about-dyslexia
Inclusion
December 2022
COMMUNICATION Communication is a key skill that is fundamental to a student's ability to learn, but often taken for granted. It is a life skill that allows us to make meaningful connections with those around us. For this reason, it is vitally important to ensure that we model this both at school and home, especially in the early years. With this in mind, we would like to share some home activities. Early Years (3-6 years) ‘What’s Wrong’ pictures. You can achieve this by cutting out familiar pictures of objects and sticking them behind/on top/under each other, for example an elephant sitting on an apple. Ask your child what is wrong and how to ‘fix it’. Odd one out game. Gather some objects from around the house, putting three objects out at a time, for example, apple, orange, spoon. Two of the objects fall into a similar or same category as each other, which you want your child to articulate, for example, “Apple and orange are fruits.” Adult modelling here can help extend language further by responding with “Yes that is correct, the spoon is the odd one because the other two are fruits.” Play games such as ‘Yes or No.’ Ask questions such as, "Are you Marty?" and "Can a pig fly?" Have your child make up questions and try to fool you. USEFUL WEBSITES https://www.expressable.com/learning-center/tips-and-resources/15-speech-therapy-strategies-forparents-to-use-at-home https://speechandlanguageathome.com/sign-up
WEEK WITHOUT WALLS February saw an action-packed half term in Inclusion with lots of fabulous learning experiences taking place outside of the classroom and school. Student Agency continued to be at the forefront of our approach, with our ASDAN students leading their next enterprise initiative, focusing on sustainability and marketing. The beautifully recycled heart shaped crayons and cards were a roaring success, selling out quickly meaning many lucky recipients will have felt that extra bit special on this year's Valentine's Day.
Taking our learning experiences outside the classroom, we experienced an educational day learning all about Emirati culture. Linking up with other schools within Dubai, we headed off to the to discover all about the amazing country in which we live. From food tasting to learning about the traditional cultural dress, it was an action-packed morning of hands-on discovery.
The Unified Games was next on our agenda. Hosted by DBS Jumeirah Park, we limbered up to participate in a range of organised sporting events competing against other students from schools across the emirate. It was a great morning of healthy competition, laughter, collaboration and making new memories, as well as the opportunity to discover new talents that we possess in the sporting field. Finishing off our hectic half term, our Year 7 students headed off to Khorfakkan for their residential trip. Three fun-filled days of activities and team building was a great way to round off this half term with us all ready to recharge our batteries during our week off.
LEARNING WITH LEGO We have been delighted to officially launch Lego Therapy after our wonderful Ms. Harris completed her certified training. The sessions have been rolled out across Primary and Secondary and have seen positive gains in social communication and teamwork, as well as having great fun with one of our staple toys for young and old.
The approaches to Lego Therapy empower our students to both make decisions and to take on collaborative roles. This team-based approach requires development of various different social communication skills such as turn-taking, teamwork, and negotiation. The leader of the group is very much the facilitator and guide, helping students to navigate difficulties, all whilst making impresive Lego structures and designs.
FS Sports Day
HotDesk Business Studies Visit
International Day
Cheerleading Competition
Sewing ECA
Secondary Residential Trip
FS Turtle Trip
Year 2 Trip to Ski Dubai
WTA Tennis Championship
UNDERSTANDING AUTISM April marked Autism Acceptance month, where we aimed to educate our school community further about autism. We were delighted to welcome our Governor of Inclusion, Grainne Parish, Director of Insights Psychology, to deliver an informative talk to our parents in April. In this month’s slot we wish to share some of the take aways from Grainne’s talk for those who were unable to attend. Statistics from America CDC 2023 found that roughly 1 in every 36 children has been identified with autism spectrum disorder, with boys being four times more likely to identified with autism than girls. Masking of needs can be common, however this can distress for the autistic person.
Person with Autism or Autistic Person? This is heavily reliant upon each individual and their preference or if they even wish to use this defining terminology, with some preferring to use the neurodiverse. So, what exactly is autism? It is a neurodevelopmental difference in the way that our brain style is different. The image below highlights some of the traits associated with autism, however as the word ‘spectrum’ indicates, one person’s autism looks very different to another person’s, with not all these traits being present.
Acceptance for all is something that we strive for in both inside and outside of school, and to do this a better understanding of how to support a person with autism is vital, so the more informed we are, the better equip we are to offer this support and educate our children at home.
Here are some strategies that you can adopt if you are in the company of an autistic person: When people around you/children in our community act in unexpected ways – give them more support and compassion, not less. The previous image highlights some of those possibilities. Consider the people around you that may be neurodiverse – is there a way that you can change yourself to be more compassionate about their struggle? Think about your own communication, avoiding things like idioms or sarcasm, using a level tone of voice. Consider accommodations for playdates/birthday parties. Sensory overload is common in people with autism, so possibly having a quiet area at the party, some calming toys such as fidget spinners and stress balls are always good tools, or even talking with parent prior to the party to seek their ideas on what works well. Take the time to teach your child about differences – the earlier the better. As adults we are the role models to our children, so acceptance for all needs to start at home. Reach out to other parents in your community that may need support.
There is a wealth of literature out there to help us all learn more, from podcasts, television documentaries to a large range of books, there is something for everyone no matter the age category. If you wish to learn more, here are some useful resources. Christine Mc Guinness: Unmasking my Autism, available at https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m001k31t/christine-mcguinnessunmasking-my-autism There are lots of good Facebook groups for parents internationally too, Autistic not Weird is a practical option to support parents: https://www.facebook.com/autisticnotweird Follow accounts on Twitter using #actuallyautistic TikTok Accounts: #actuallyautisitic Instagram Accounts: @the.autisticats; @theautisticlife; @neurodifferent. @neurowild YouTube: Yo Sammy Sam
Jacqueline Baxter Head of Inclusion
Community
PARENT POWER It was so wonderful to welcome our parent community back onto the school site this academic year. We ran a range of events since August to bring new and existing parents into the building, starting with our (re)introduction sessions before the term commenced. This enabled students to have a ‘soft’ start to their term and to view school and home as a partnership right from the start of the year. Over the first seven weeks of the year, parents of students from Foundation Stage right through to Sixth Form were invited to attend workshops and information sessions related to meeting the teachers, understanding young children’s language milestones, the FS Curriculum, the Positive Education Enhanced Curriculum, Year 6 Residential Camp, UK Study Options, and supporting the mental health of the teenage child. These opportunities seek to provide parents with the chance to deepen their understanding of their child’s learning journey and school experience. To complement this provision, our PTA play the crucial role of providing events that unite students, staff and parents through community events and initiatives. So far this year they have supported our parent body through second-hand uniform sales at the start of term, led the Drawings by Me initiative in the primary school, and led the school’s fund-raising for Breast Cancer Awareness month. Keep an eye out on our social media and weekly updates to find out about the amazing events planned in the near future.
October 2022
Community
December 2022
BETTER TOGETHER ‘Community’ is a word that never fails to pepper conversations on the topic of what sets DBSEH apart from other schools. Nestled within a vibrant residential milieu, our location, intimate campus, eager students, supportive parents, proactive PTA and passionate teachers create fertile ground indeed for a flourishing learning environment. But a well-appointed habitat alone is not enough. It is the bonds nurtured through shared experiences and common values which build the trust, respect and cooperation required to form something as special as a community. In the first term at DBSEH we saw a wonderful array of collaborations and celebrations which served to knit the fabric of our community together as we continue to relish our post-pandemic freedoms.
Our PTA Car Boot Sale hosted over 50 vendors and hundreds of customers keen to strike deals on preloved items and hand-crafted wares, engaging with parents, students and members of the Springs and Meadows community. Our medical team also launched the first in a series of pediatric basic first aid training for parents. Keep an eye out on the weekly notices to find out when the next session takes place. Our academic team hosted a Diwali meal for support staff, the unsung heroes of the school, to support a special celebration marked by many of the team and their families back at home.
Community
December 2022
An opportunity to join our wider DBS partners came in the form of the DBSJP Community Football Tournament in which teams of parents, school staff and other Taaleem colleagues competed in what is hoped to be the inaugural event of an annual tournament series. As the end of term drew to a close and winter festivities began, we were delighted to welcome the PTA back through our doors as they hosted Secret Santa, a calendar highlight for some of our youngest students. And, for older students or parents who wanted to get in on the festive action we had our annual Giving Tree in the foyer. An opportunity for us to give back to our community, this year to Hope Amel, supporting less fortunate families in Dubai this season - perhaps one of the most poignant examples of community we might hope to see.
David Potts Head of Secondary
Community
West Side Story – Our School Production On the 22nd and 23rd November sell-out crowds were delighted by the talent and passion of our theatrical performers as showcased by our production of Westside Story. With moments of comedy brilliance, thrilling action and heartrending tragedy, each underscored by wonderfully performed musical pieces, our students left their audiences invigorated and wanting more! Huge thanks to all students and staff, cast and crew, who worked so hard to create such a special event, one which will provide so many happy memories for years to come and inspire younger students to continue DBSEH’s strong and vibrant theatrical tradition.
December 2022
ABOVE AND BEYOND If you were to ask members of the DBSEH community to describe Mr Zulfiqar Ali, they may look at you with a confused look upon their face. But ask them about our one and the same 'Mr Z' and their faces would light up and words like steadfast, industrious, diligent and kind-hearted would be showered upon him. It is likely that you have seen Mr Z’s kind and friendly face around school as he earnestly goes about his work in providing the safest, most welcoming learning environment for our children. Whether it be hanging flags for National Day or decking the school with lights for Diwali he is the man responsible for many aspects of school life that seemingly go on ‘behind the scenes’ but Mr Z very much deserves to be centrestage for the work he does for our children. We recently celebrated 10 years of Mr Z being a member of the Taaleem family and as we spoke to people who were eager to wish him well on this achievement, we discovered more and more of his underlying talents. A very skilled carpenter, Mr Z is also a talented tailor and as well as utilising these skills to build princess carriages and games for school events, he can also be found supporting the children at sewing ECA.
Mrs Ragei who relishes in having opportunities to work alongside Mr Z had this to say about him: “Mr. Zee continuously exceeds every expectation. His dedication to whatever he does is phenomenal. He is a great support to all staff members and students. Mr. Z inspires me. DBSEH is so lucky to have you.” Year 5 students James and Jackson wanted to Mr Z to know: "Mr Z has been helping us with sewing and we would not be as good without him. He is a huge help and is kind to everyone. He is very patient and honest which has helped us to progress and understand our mistakes. Thank you for everything you do!" It comes as little surprise then that the PTA presented Mr Z with the 'Above and Beyond Award' in Term 2. A pillar of our community, he is an asset to our school, so if you do see him around please share a smile or some words of thanks with him.
Lisa Smith Deputy Head of Primary
SPRING FAIR 2023 It would be remiss of us not to spotlight the incredible event that was our PTA Spring Fair 2023: The Royal Edition. Over 1500 of us enjoyed the offerings carefully curated by our passionate PTA, all around the delightfully British theme which aimed to celebrate the imminent coronation of King Charles III. A popular addition to the scene this year were our enthusiastic sixth formers. With Head Boy Finlay Shaw working the PA system and Head of the Events Committee, Angus Fleming (or ‘King Angus’, as was his highly popular, sweetie-sharing persona on the day), as well as students manning many of the most popular stalls, the student presence was a most welcome one.
The entertainment line-up was also greatly enhanced this year, with our Choir, Cheerleading Team, and quintessentially English maypole dancers performing to delight onlookers aged from 3 to 93. Particularly special was that our maypole dancing team was taught as an ECA by PTA members this term, a wonderful and culturally enriching contribution to our ECA programme.
Almost all of our teaching body managed to attend the event as well to lead the fun of the games stalls, or even be the stall itself, with Mr Houghton, Mr Keeney, Mr Edwards and myself proving popular targets for soaked sponge projectiles. (Having seen the students’ enthusiasm at launching the sponges at Mr Houghton and Mr Keeney, a new ‘underarm’ rule was introduced for when I took the stand...) Also in attendance were families who are not yet with us but joining the school in September; they’re invited so we can give them a sneak preview of what they can look forward to, and one attendee’s comment says it all:
No other school in Dubai that I’ve seen manages to create such a cohesive sense of community both inside the school day, and out. Can we come now?
COMMUNITY IFTAR A highlight of the school year for many of us at DBS Emirates Hills, the DBSEH Community Iftar 2023 wowed us all. With the tennis court converted into a dining space to seat over 400 attendees, banners designed for us by our marketing team, table decorations created by our ASDAN students, performances shared with us by our Islamic students, lighting purchases to create a magical atmosphere at sunset by the school, and meals brought to be shared by our hundreds of staff, students and parents, it was a truly community event.
In previous years the Iftar has enjoyed a smaller more intimate setting, but with a few new faces around the leadership table this year it was a good time to try something new. An Iftar working party met weekly on the approach to Ramadan, bringing together skills and expertise from across the school to ensure that the views and preferences of many were considered and accommodated.
The performance element was led by our students; Deputy Head Boy Abdulrahman delivered the address in both Arabic and English, before Yassin, Year 11 shared a poignant recitation from the Qur’an. Younger student leaders shared their own prepared presentations on what Ramadan is like in their home countries, and Year 4 and Year 6 Islamic students had the audience clapping along to their brilliantly performed, and very upbeat, songs. Although the night did not run perfectly to plan – the queues for the food will be addressed next year (!) - the main purpose of the event was achieved; to bring our community together, both Muslim and non-Muslim, to break fast and develop our understanding of, and respect for, Islamic tradition.
INSPIRING SPACES This term we were delighted to open our new DBSEH Café; a beautiful new area designed for students, staff and parents to relax, socialise, and enjoy. In the few weeks since its opening it has already hosted a wealth of events that have brought members of the community together.
The opening event saw families who have a 'Decade of DBS' under their belt invited to enjoy a relaxed brunch alongside Taaleem Executives, Senior Leaders of the school and our Student Leaders. Whilst providing a 'fine dining' venue sits high on the agenda for the space, we are also keen to use the Café to raise the profile of other events taking place in school, and have already begun to do so. GCSE and A Level Art students had their work displayed in a stunning vernissage earlier this term, where other aspiring student artists were invited to come and seek inspiration from their seniors' efforts, alongside proud parents and highly impressed staff. Against a backdrop of live lounge music provided by students, and coupled with canapés and drinks from our incredible caterers, the event showcased what a beautiful setting we have at our disposal.
And it's not just the DBSEH community who have been wowed. Training hosted at the school for The National Professional Qualification for Headship (NPQH) saw senior leaders from across the region come to develop their thinking on leadership theory, in a session facilitated by Sarah Reynolds, which was kick-started in the café as well.
'Starting the day's training in the Café allowed delegates to really remove themselves from the traditional school setting. Many of the attendees commented on the inspirational nature of the venue, which gave them the headspace they needed to ponder big ideas, which is a huge part of the learning.' As we look to the year ahead and design an exciting repertoire of parental engagement activities we are excited with the potential that the Café holds, to continue to strengthen the relationships between home and school, in an incredibly beautiful setting.
Arabic Heritage Day Face Painting
Year 2 on the Heritage Express
New DBSEH cafe opening
Inclusion programme in DBSEH cafe
Meet the falcon for Arabic Heritage Day
DSEH Year 13 graduation day
Excellence
October 2022
EXCEPTIONAL OUTCOMES “What really matters for success, character, happiness and life-long achievements is a definite set of emotional skills— not just purely cognitive abilities.” — Dr. Daniel Goleman
With Student Wellbeing placed so firmly at the heart of our approach to education, our students are perfectly positioned to achieve academic excellence. Students at Dubai British School Emirates Hills achieved a stunning set of results in the GCSE and Level 2 BTEC results released in August 2022. Almost a quarter of all entries were awarded a Grade 9, the highest possible grade, and 64% of grades were awarded Grades 9 to 7. 82% attained Grades 9 to 6, making these the best ever set of GCSE results for DBSEH. Our A Level results were equally as impressive, with 82% of students achieving A* to B grades or equivalent, and an overall 100% pass rate. Both these, and the school's GCSE results, defied the Ofqual prediction that "very few schools or colleges, if any, will get higher results than in 2021".
Excellence
December 2022
The GCSE certificate presentation towards the end of Term 1 was another example of our students' outstanding outcomes.
In the first set of public examinations in 3 years, our students achieved an impressive set of GCSE and BTEC results with 26 students, 35% of the cohort, achieving the Outstanding Learner criteria by gaining five or more results at Grade 8 or 9. Special mentions must go to Anna and Minseo, now in Year 12, for achieving the maximum possible of ten Grade 9s each at GCSE, with students Claudia and Ayah the next top achievers in the school, securing nine Grade 9s and a Grade 8 each.
BTEC Silver Award Winner Making headlines on a global scale, Michael has been recently announced as Silver Award winner for his BTEC IT work in Years 10 and 11. This award is open to all students studying BTECs globally with only a handful of students achieving this prestigious award worldwide. Similarly, Is-Haaq attained the highest score in the Middle East in his GCSE Geography examinations.
Excellence
December 2022
Moving on to our last Year 13 cohort, amongst an impressive haul of A Level and BTEC results for our now-graduated students, Jasmine and Christina excelled by attaining three A*s and one A grade each, and Aarnav also gained three A*s at A Level. Michael and Aaliyah also attained three starred distinctions (D*s) each in their BTEC results. An impressive 30% of our Year 13 cohort attained three As or A*s at A Level or three Distinctions or D* at BTEC, also meeting the criteria of Outstanding Learner.
Our graduates gained places at prestigious destinations such as the University of Oxford, the London School of Economics, and Imperial College London with 47% of UK applicants taking up a place at a Russell Group university. Most impressively, a massive 94% of our most recent graduates secured places at their first-choice university, proving that our post-16 provision supports students in following the path that they are most passionate to pursue.
INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATION The notion of excellence is so often associated with exceptional outcomes. We are proud to share our incredible academic outcomes with you under this strategic objective, but when you consider the international context in which we find ourselves we’d like to expand this lens and think about what excellence looks like in broader terms. Over the past 3 years, DBS Emirates Hills as partnered with PICO Kids, an Israeli initiative that seeks to provide quality educational experiences to its students by placing them in an outstanding international setting and providing a rich programme that benefits both the visiting and resident students concurrently. Interested students are selected from Year 8 and 9 from DBSEH to embark upon a 3-day challenge with their Israeli peers. The students, under the watchful eye of Mrs Fisher, are teamed up to collaborate on a project that tackles the issues of water scarcity. They are given two days to design a prototype solution and then head to Dubai Future Foundations to present their projects in a beautiful environment to members of the Israeli Consulate, Israeli Diplomats and Elie Wurtman, the founder of PICO Kids.
The start of the collaboration sees students break the ice with traditional Israeli games, as well as presenting to each other about themselves. This, along with the high-profile presentation at the end of the project serves as an incredible opportunity for our students to develop high quality and effective communication skills; students’ creativity and collaborative skills are honed and refined as they work together to generate solutions to real-life, globally relevant challenges, and problemsolve their way through the design phase.
Providing these opportunities for students to forge new and productive relationships beyond the school walls, and respond to authentic challenges in high-stakes settings is one thing, but witnessing our students meeting such incredibly high expectations is another. The PICO Kids initiative is just one way that Excellence is illustrated as we equip students with the skills they need to thrive in their adult lives.
PICO kids 2021/22
Sarah Reynolds Principal
FIRST-CLASS LINGUISTS Our Year 11 students experienced their first public GCSE examination in January and subsequently discovered the personal satisfaction and joy that come with consistent effort, self-discipline and determination upon receiving their English language results earlier this month. With 26% of grades awarded at 9, 66% at grades 9-7 and 94% at or above grade 5 - the strong pass standard, these results represent a very pleasing example of what our young people can achieve when the stakes are high. English language is one of the core qualifications that secures accession to many higher education and employment pathways and so these students should be very proud of the steps they have now made towards their extraordinary futures by virtue of their hard work and tenacity.
PODIUM PROWESS ‘Small and mighty’ is our mantra in all things, and never more so than in the sporting arena. For reasons known only to DBSEH athletic folklore we seem to have a disproportionately rich and broad seam of sporting talent that runs through our bijou learning community. Perhaps it’s the genes of our fighting-fit parent population, or the expert coaching and the wealth of opportunities to be active in and out of the school day. Maybe it’s the superhuman pursuit of athletic perfection from our magnificent young people or even the exceptional nutritional quality of Leela’s lunch time offerings (the author received no fee or inducement in the writing of this article) that has brought about this unusual clustering of physical prowess.
Most likely it’s a mysterious combination of all the above, but what is clear is that DBSEH is resolutely and prominently on the Dubai sporting map - a fact borne out by our recent successes which in Term 2 included: DASSA Secondary Athletics Winners DASSA U19 Girls Volleyball Winners DASSA U9 Girls Football Winners DASSA 4 x Champion Gymnasts DASSA Primary Aquathon Winners Division 1 & 2 Netball, Football and Rugby Teams
What new challenges await? Who knows? What we can be sure of, though, is that our students will prevail on many different levels, from outstanding personal and academic growth to pedestal-topping victories and notoriety. Enjoy, Aspire, Achieve. Excel
POCKETS OF BRILLIANCE This term we have received several accolades that confirm DBS Emirates Hills’ reputation stands firm as a centre of excellence: 1 of only 7 UK Curriculum 3-18 schools in
Dubai
to
have
been
rated
‘Outstanding’ by the KHDA in the annual school inspection evaluations Received the highest possible rating for Wellbeing as part of the new evaluation process for schools’ wellbeing provision Shortlisted for ‘Best British Curriculum School in the UAE’ by Top Schools Award 2023 Shortlisted for 'Best Sixth Form in the UAE' by Top Schools Award 2023
And, although those whole-school headlines pack a punch, it’s the pockets of brilliance around the school that help to get us there. Also this half term, we are proud to share: Incredible singer songwriter duo Venice and Belle (Year 9) AKA Seaside Feels are finalists for the International Songwriter Competition run by songacademy.co.uk Year 5 students returned victorious from the interschools Arabic Enrichment competition as winners in their category The DBSEH Primary Choir were highly commended at the Taaleem Extravaganza Choir Showcase involving choirs from across the UAE University offers from prestigious universities continue to come flooding in for our Year 13 students, including University College London, Imperial College London and Durham University for a range of undergraduate courses including Nuclear Science, Medicine and Pharmacology, and Media and Communication
Year 13 Leavers Day
King's Coronation
Year 6 Graduates Class of 2023
Primary Swim Gala
KHDA Wellbeing Provision Rating "Very High"
Taaleem Extravaganza
Year 11 Leavers Day
Careers Event by Year 12 BTEC students
Year 3 Trip to Spinneys
Excellence
June 2023
ASPIRING TO EXCELLENCE As we come to the end of the 2022-2023 school year we start to think about the summer break and what changes await us on the other side. For some of us, that may simply involve buying the same school uniform but in the next size up, but for others greater adventures lay ahead.
Our Year 13 cohort, Class of 2023, will be completing their final school examinations as this edition of The Journal goes to press. Just as their exam season was about to commence, we had the pleasure of hosting a graduation ceremony in school, which was followed a couple of days later by their own, personally arranged, celebrations at the Waldorf Astoria, The Palm. The ceremony was well-attended by our leaving students and their parents. Students received not only their graduation certificates, but also academic awards for effort and achievement across all A Level and BTEC courses. Also presented was the Azzam Prize, presented by Dr Azzam himself to Laila Nicholson for sustained academic excellence and exemplary service to the school community.
The conclusion of the ceremony saw students process out of the auditorium and around the campus cheered on by the DBS Emirates Hills students, who filled the corridors in celebration (and admiration) of their seniors. As our young adults left the school for the last time, with exciting futures stretching out ahead of them they carried many happy memories and, hopefully, the continued desire to Enjoy, Aspire and Achieve.
Excellence
June 2023
AWARDS SHORTLIST Ending the year on a high, we are delighted that we have been shortlisted for the following awards, proving that DBS Emirates Hills' journey to excellence shows no signs of slowing down.