Issuu

Dear -

DBS

News from your students • Issue 5 • May 2020 • Dubai British School

GCSES/A-LEVELS – WHAT NOW? • ZOOM VS. TEAMS • WHAT IS RAMADAN? • Why you should watch foreign film • Ramadan – its meaning and significance • Sixth form article • Agony AUNT • Comics • Art in the modern world • how to stay motivated • TEACHER FEATURE •

GCSE and A-Level Examination Cancellations By Christina Kurian and Jia-Wen Ooi

• 5th - Last day for all Dubai schools •18th - PM Boris Johnson holds press conference announcing national school closures and cancellation of GCSEs and ALevels

• Y11s sit English Language IGCSE exam, the first and last written GCSE for the year

JANUARY

• 22nd - E-learning at DBS begins

FEBRUARY • Assessment Week 2

The evening of 18th March 2020 saw one of the most shocking yet inevitable announcements of the COVID-19 epidemic: the cancellation of exams. After waiting patiently for a reaction from the British government for weeks on end, and despite the slowly sinking realisation that realistically, GCSEs and A-Levels would not go forward - students worldwide were shocked at the speech made by_Boris_Johnson._No_more_exams. For DBS, this announcement was promptly followed by an email the next morning, reassuring parents that it would be students’ top priority to complete the courses, backed by the full support of school staff. In addition, Year 11 and Year 13 students were given the opportunity to voice their concerns - of which there were many - during a live question session via Microsoft Teams. Naturally, students and teachers were dazed by this sudden change as panicked students formed conspiracy theories about their grades: exams from home? A ranking system? Results based on teachers’ choices?

MARCH

• Assessment Week 3

APRIL • 24th – Curfew from 22:00 to 06:00

sudden change as panicked students formed their own conspiracy theories about their grades: exams from home? A ranking system? Results based on teachers’ predictions and choices?

students were still apprehensive of being undervalued, of not receiving particular grades to enter an A-Level course, or of being pushed to complete more exams to use as evidence.

After a tense two weeks, matters became clearer along with the confirmation that IGCSEs would also be cancelled (no more English Literature, French or Spanish): teachers would submit predicted grades based on two years’ worth of work to the exam board, in addition to a ranking system that would place every student in a class from top to bottom. Fortunately, the teachers would also take into consideration the fact that many students drastically improve from Assessment Week Two to the GCSE exams (clearly demonstrated by the outstanding results of English Language).

After all, GCSE and A-Levels were the exams that had been groomed for over the course of two years. This was what mattered. To hear that the hours of revision, tutoring, extra work and study were now worthless made students feel disheartened, to say the least – Ahmed Shabah (VI-3), like many other A-Level students, feels like his true abilities will not be able to be displayed – “it is upsetting to know that I will never be able to demonstrate my true ability in the exam hall – it is similar to an athletes spending their entire lives preparing for the Olympics and it getting cancelled.” [continued on page 2]

The announcement had been given clarity. But students were still apprehensive of being undervalued

announcement had one been given clarity. But stuZoom vs. Microsoft Teams: Which is better?

dents were still apprehensive of being undervalAfter a tense two weeks, the uncertainty drifted “Zoom bombing”, technical issues and By Lisa Menezes and ued, ofe-learning not receiving particular grades toMichaela enter anDeMello away and matters became more clear - along with A-Level course, or of being pushed to complete the confirmation that IGCSEs would also be canDue to quarantine, we have had to throw away the notion of actually attending school (at least more exams to use as evidence. After all, GCSE celled (no more English Literature, French or year) until the next academic and participate in e-learning, which has brought up many challenges and A-Levels were the exams that had been Spanish): teachers would submit predicted grades for both students and teachers. Whilst students and teachers struggle to cope with this new way of groomed for over the course of two years. This based on two years worth learning of work –towhich the exam has proven difficult as there is a lack of motivation- teachers must find a way to was what mattered. To hear that the hours of reviboard, in addition to a ranking systemthis that would navigate new style of learning online, and to truly engage their students as if it was a normal sion, tutoring, extra work and study were now place every student in a class from top to bottom. day in class. This has led to the use of Microsoft Teams and Zoom, which aid the teachers in worthless made students feel disheartened, to say Fortunately, the teachers would also take into concommunicating with their students – but the question is, which is better? [continued on page 3] the least. sideration the fact that many students drastically improve from Assessment Week Two to the GCSE exams (clearly demonstrated by the outstanding results of English Language). The startling announcement had been given clarity. But students were still apprehensive of being underAs the school draws toparticular an end, wegrades must reluctantly valued, of notyear receiving to enter wave goodbye to the or Head Boy and Girl and Team an A-Level course, of being pushed to Prefect complete of 2019-2020. page 3 more exams toTurn usetoas evidence. After all, GCSE and A-Levels were the exams that had been groomed for over the course of two years. This was what mattered. To hear that the hours of revi-

A great year with the DBS’s Head Girl and Head Boy

MAY

Want to join the team?

Email Jia-Wen Ooi or Christina Kurian for more info! 09jiaooi@dubaibritishschool.ae 09chrkur@dubaibritishschool.ae

STUDENT Weekly challenges and the TikTok challenge Page 5

school Teacher Feature: Interview with Mr Owen Page 7

Events Ramadan – its meaning and significance Page 10

ARTICLES 2 GCSEs/A-Level Cancellations 3

Head Boy and Head Girl Interview An interview commemorating the success of the leaders of DBS

Zoom vs. Microsoft Teams Which is the better platform for effective E-learning?

The Rubik’s Cube School challenges at DBS

Creativity in the modern world

Teacher Feature: Mr Owen

Photography with students

Ramadan: Its history and significance

EXTRAS & FUN 11 Editors’ Picks: International Entertainment 13

Agony Aunt

Just for Laughs Star Wars, comics, crosswords and jokes

“If you give people tools, and they use their natural abilities and their curiosity, they will develop things in ways that will surprise you very much beyond what you might have expected.” – Bill Gates, an American software developer, entrepreneur, philanthropist, best known as the co-founder of Microsoft

Articles

GCSE AND A-LEVEL CANCELLATIONS By Christina Kurian and Jia-Wen Ooi

[cont. from front page]

“It is upsetting to know that I will never be able to demonstrate my true ability in the exam hall – it is similar to an athletes spending their entire lives preparing for the Olympics and it getting cancelled.” – Ahmed Shabah (VI-3) The cancellation of GCSEs poses a question: are GCSEs really needed? GCSEs slowly narrow down the student’s interests for the future - a glimpse into what the students could be, and to guide students as to which A-Levels they should choose. However, with the school-leaving age being 18, why would there be two sets of separate and unrelated qualifications? GCSEs are not as heavily weighted as A-Levels, which in the end get students to their further education or careers so why are students being tested on writing skill and not practical skills? Should students call for another form of testing? Especially in an unprecedented time like this, maybe final examinations should be re-thought - GCSEs and A-Levels should change. This year’s situation has also raised the big question of whether GCSEs are an accurate representation of students’ abilities. Final exams, whilst traditional, straightforward and foolproof, do not take into account students’ past work, efforts, work ethic and true potential. It assesses the students’ abilities on that one day - instead of their two years’ worth of work. However, GCSEs and A-Levels encourage both short and long-answer questions, assessing a student’s understanding, their ability to apply knowledge in an effective way on paper. It could be considered much better than multiple-choice questions (MCQ) based exams, where students are led to an answer. However, it is much quicker and easier to mark these papers - put it through a machine and it spits out a score. There would be no need for too many examiners, sheets of paper, staples, manpower.

Staying Motivated During E-learning By Prisha Sharma

Speaking to Ahmed Shabah (VI-3), we learnt that students are beginning to look past the storm and glimpse the sunshine: not writing exams was a colossal stressor that had suddenly disappeared – “In a way, it is a big weight off my shoulders, as I would expect myself to have been revising very hard right now.”. The intense, gruelling work that should have taken place from April to June would not be necessary anymore. Likewise, teachers vowed to appreciate the full potential of each and every student. As of now, there is nothing left for Year 11s and 13s to stress over; the grades have been sent off, the exam fees have been paid and the boards are surely reviewing the results. For those leaving school forever - Year 13s - a new, frightening, exciting, wonderful opportunity awaits you in the form of university. These are your last moments of school - and even if it is elearning (which is not as bad as we had all originally feared!) - appreciate your hard-working teachers who only want the best for you. Appreciate this community that you have been a part of. At DBS, we aspire, achieve and enjoy - now is every student’s final chance to fulfil the school’s motto. For Year 11s, remember that this is the last time doing many subjects, and whether that is a source of relief or disappointment, it is still a parting moment. Look with bright hopes to the future of A-levels, Sixth Form, university and the life that lies ahead of you. In the meantime, Assessment Week! Complete with a week to revise, this brand-new Assessment Week – whilst completely unexpected - will be effective as a final check-up on students’ knowledge and learning. For Year 11s, the more confirmation you receive for A-Level choices, the more prepared you will feel for Year 12. Luckily for Key Stage Three students, there is still ample time before starting GCSE courses and A-Levels – use this time as a test run for future triumphs. Good luck to all students!

Despite the daily struggles of waking up at 6 am, wearing a uniform and all the other usual complaints of school life, there is something disconcerting about speaking to teachers and classmates via Zoom. No matter how accustomed we have become to digital learning, surely it will be a rePerhaps re-thinking the GCSEs - like the way sub- lief to slide back into the familiar patterns of acjects are scored and weighted, could unlock an in- tual school. sight to students’ abilities and being able to enFollowing assessment week are the ‘taster seshance them. sions’ of A-Levels: Year 11s are officially no longer GCSE students! How does it feel? TerrifyLOOKING AHEAD ing, exciting, unbelievable - or all of the above? The overall sentiments of students around the Spend the next few weeks in the stimulating bliss world are about the same during this time - students are left with an abundance of time to study - of discovering new subjects (Economics, BTEC, yet feel unprepared for the next year. Despite still etc.), wondering why some of them are ridiculearning, it does not feel normal; students are not lously difficult and generally experiencing the life challenged. However, every cloud has a silver lin- of a Sixth Former. ing.

taying motivated during a time like this ___|where there is an undeniable cosiness to the ‘stay at home’ orders is definitely no easy task. The duo of being confined to your bedroom as an unconventional classroom and having no sense of concrete discipline is certainly not a catalyst to succeeding during this sub-par period of E-learning – however, seeing as online learning isn’t disappearing anytime soon, it is important to find your light and push yourself to achieve your potential.

1) Set a routine Although it is easy to get caught up within the freedom of being at home, set a routine and stick to it! Set alarms, eat during breaks, set apart time after school for homework etc. this will help you normalize some sort of a schedule which is important during this fluid time where it is hard to keep track of which day of the week you’re on.

2) Eat breakfast Rolling out of bed five minutes before the start of your class may seem idyllic to some, but the truth is – if you don’t have the energy, you will not have the motivation to succeed and properly partake in lessons. Waking up 10 minutes earlier and eating before hand may just be all you need to kick start the day right.

3) Get out of bed Being protected by the heavenly warmth of your bed and blankets is no way to stay motivated, and will only tempt you to fall asleep during classes. We all know someone who has been there… Make sure you find a place like a table and chair – or even a couch is more effective than your bed.

4) Stick to your timetable This is more so directed to classes that don’t have live lessons, but just work set to hand in by the next class. Do the work during the designated time and do not procrastinate it, or you will find yourself drowning in deadlines. It is also useful to make to-do lists for any extra work you may have, and get the work done as soon as possible to prevent you procrastinating it until it’s forgotten.

5) Put your phone away Getting lost in a fantastical whirlwind of Instagram and Snapchat and TikTok may bring about momentary pleasure, but it is not going to help you long term. Keep your phone out of reach during online lessons to try block out as many distractions as possible – being in your own room already provides enough opportunities for distraction! Lastly, try to remind yourself that the work you are doing now is important and you need to keep on top of it. The circumstances are not ideal for such a crucial time, but now is your time to exercise your selfwill and determination to succeed!

Articles

A great year with DBS’ head boy and Head girl

By Christina Kurian

As the school year draws to an end, we must reluctantly wave goodbye to the Head Boy and Girl and Prefect Team of 2019-2020. Head Boy - Oluwadamilola Adesola Head Girl - Isabella Treston Deputy Head Boy - Josh Riding Deputy Head Girl - Kiera McQue Heads of Student Council - Fabian Weller, Leanne Al-Mrayat

They have worked for the benefit of students and the improvement of the school – we would like to thank them for all their efforts and wish them good luck for the university adventure that lies ahead! What were your actions and visions as Head Boy and Head Girl? Dami: As Head Boy, I had a lot planned. Firstly, I was going to help out Year 10s who were starting out their GCSEs by introducing classes for them. I’m a physics and maths student so I wanted to help them using what I’ve learnt previously to help them do well in their exams. I can say confidently that I did achieve that. I also wanted to make the school more inclusive in terms of the connection between the seniors and the junior students and I’m told - I can’t say for sure - that I’ve been able to achieve that! I’ve been able to help develop the sixth form common room; I helped introduce the printer system there (the sixth form have a separate printer because we have a lot of exams and other work to print) and we also had events like Breakfast Thursdays where Mrs. Pennock used to bring in bread and different snacks. We definitely tried to make the school year a fun one! Isabella: My main goal was to have a really close-net sixth form because when I was in Year 12 we weren’t very close with the year above us. I think the whole of my year wanted to make sixth form a friendly environment and I think we successfully did that because the Year 12s and 13s are really, really good friends now. We also wanted to be more present in school and one way we managed that was at lunchtime - we were on duty when kids were in red break rooms. In addition, we had subject specialists an idea that I came up with. Every person would be given a specific subject and anyone from the years below could message or ask for help. Some prefects even tutored students - who asked questions, etc.

What were your proudest accomplishments here? Dami: My proudest accomplishment is, of course, becoming Head Boy! I came here in Y12 as a new student - I didn’t know anyone at DBS and I just took my chance! Especially compared to the people I was running against, like Josh and Fabian - those guys are absolutely amazing and have been here since FS1/2 it was a surprise to become Head Boy. For me, just being active in the school community was a great thing. For example, the DSIB board - where teachers and parents have regular meetings - were able to introduce the Head Boy and Girl for discussions on major topics. I think my topic was innovation in the school community so I was able to work with Mr. Addy and other parents on the DSIB board to find out what we could improve at school. Actually, just being a DBS student is a great accomplishment!

Isabella: DBS is genuinely just a lovely place and I’ve grown so much as a person. I remember in Year 7 I was like, ‘there’s no way I could ever be head girl because you need like 4 A stars’ but then, all of a sudden I realised that I’d never had a detention so maybe I did fit the criteria! Becoming head girl is most definitely one of my proudest accomplishments here. It was just surreal, a really great feeling to know that all the teachers thought I was the most suitable person out of the whole year!

What was the hardest challenge you had to overcome as leaders of the school? Dami: Good question! There were a lot of ups and down, a lot of stressful moments, a lot of ‘this person is supposed to be doing this!’ and ‘that person is not supposed to be doing that!. I think the most stressful problem was trying to manage my time; as an A-level student, the courses are extremely in-depth so there is much more work to complete and I do lots of things outside of school too, such as sports and I also DJ. There were just so many things combined into my schedule! At the end of the day, as the leader of the team, I had to manage my time wisely and ensure that everyone else stayed on track. I can say, however, that we were able to achieve that quite well! But that wasn’t just because of me - people like Izzie (Head Girl), Josh (deputy head boy), Kiera (deputy head girl), Fabian (head of school council) and the whole prefect team were dedicated to the job and lessened the burden on my shoulders. It was a good run! Isabella: Towards the end of the year, it was keeping the prefect team and myself motivated. We had to do different tours and corridor duties - which obviously took away time from free periods and lunchtimes. At the beginning, everyone was willing to do it but later on in the year, people were beginning to slack off...so it was challenging to keep everyone motivated! We had meetings to do that - every Tuesday - where we got everyone together and told them how important it was. Mr. Airey even came in to provide doughnuts and thank us!

What did you like best about your duties? Dami: I don’t want to sound like an adrenaline junkie - but I liked the pressure! Having pressure on your shoulders is scary because you’re being constantly watched, but it’s also pleasing when you can finally complete your duties successfully and make sure that everything runs smoothly. I was also able to develop skills whilst carrying out my duties - I was learning on the job! At the end of the day, when we’re adults, we’re going to have these responsibilities on our

skills whilst carrying out my duties - I was learning on the job! At the end of the day, when we’re adults, we’re going to have these responsibilities on our shoulders so it’s better to start now than later. Isabella: I think my favourite part was having Year 12 and 13 being a community within itself! Mrs. Pennock used to bring us toast and we’d all sit together in the common room and talk. Team-building activities and stuff like that just helped us to become friends. I also do love doing speeches!

What are you going to miss the most about DBS?

Dami: I’m going to miss what I call the ‘DBS vibe’. The DBS vibe is the feeling you get when you walk through those gates and everyone knows each other, everyone’s smiling at each other - there’s just so much positivity! There’s that atmosphere that I’m going to miss so much - the teachers, the conversations in the corridors, the sports! Going to university is a whole different ball-game; you’re going to be on your own and I think I’ll miss the friendly connection with teachers in my small A-level classes. Isabella: That’s such a hard question! I think mainly the people - we obviously haven’t been able to say goodbye - and the community. I really get the impression that each teacher wants the best for each child regardless of who they are or how good they are at a subject - the teacher just puts in all the effort they possibly can and I just don’t think you would get that at any other school. The personal connection is really great at DBS - you know who’s who and everybody gets along with everybody else. It’s basically a big, happy family!

Any last words for your successors? Dami: Don’t be scared. No matter what comes your way, no matter how much pressure and scrutiny comes your way, always be ready to take on that challenge. Don’t toss responsibility onto someone else - be the person you are and take up the job. You might win, you might lose, but you’ll always learn something new. Isabella: As ‘cringey’ as it may be – always, always believe in yourself. I never, ever thought in a million years that I could be head girl but if you just believe in yourself, strive for the best and work hard, you will do great. Do as much as you can to become involved with the school because this is the last time you’re going to be at school before you go off to university. Make the most of it and have fun, because it ends far too quickly.

Zoom vs. Microsoft Teams

“Zoom bombing”, technical issues and e-learning: which is the better platform for E-learning? Due to quarantine, we have had to throw away the notion of actually attending school (at least until the next academic year) and participate in e-learning, which has brought up many challenges for both students and teachers. Whilst students and teachers struggle to cope with this new way of learning – which has proven difficult as there is a lack of motivation- teachers must find a way to navigate this new style of learning online, and to truly engage their students as if it was a normal day in class. This has led to the use of Microsoft Teams and Zoom, which aid the teachers in communicating with their students – but the question is, which is better? At the beginning of May, Mr Horwell introduced a Distance Learning Programme to improve security and reduce incidents on Zoom, which means only the school staff are able to access the class sessions. The students were made to create Zoom accounts linked to their school addresses, which has proved effective; there have been no incidents thus far, and the teachers have been able to monitor their students’ attendance and activity through their email addresses. Many students are finding themselves asking why attending school would even be mandatory – repercussions such as Level 3s would not exactly be detrimental- thus stating that despite better conditions for elearning, the fact that students remain unmotivated is clear.

Microsoft Teams Microsoft Teams is a unified communication and collaboration platform that combines workplace chat, video meetings, file storage, and application integration. Following numerous reviews, the service is appreciated for being a multifaceted platform - unlike zoom- as it includes a structured chat feature along with the ability to assign flexible tasks. In addition, with the additional bonus of it being DBS controlled, the fear of “Zoom bombing” is avoided and a sense of confidentiality is maintained. Yet, where Teams falls short is in regard to its video calling aspect - it can only host the videos of up to three students at a time, causing teachers to often feel disjointed from their classes. Moreover, the overall quality demonstrated from Teams calls is often subpar, often having calls suddenly disconnect without warning and showcasing low quality videos from students.

Zoom is the clear winner of video calling, allowing teachers to comfortably engage with their students as they are able to observe students with high quality video whilst “break-out rooms” further allow for a realistic classroom experience. However, Teams is seen to be a far more diverse tool, allowing teachers to safely monitor students’ progress throughout the classes through assignments and the efficient video calls. So, the questions now fall into your lap; which is superior in your opinion?

TIPS AND TRICKS FOR TEACHING ONLINE ON ZOOM Use the Whiteboard or Annotate function built in which can let your students feel more engaged in the lesson. When sharing a whiteboard, document, screen, or image, try whiteboarding math problems or have a student use annotation to highlight items such as grammar mistakes in a paper you’re sharing. Whiteboard Function: https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/205677665-Sharing-a-whiteboard Annotation Function: https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/115005706806-Using-annotation-tools-on-a-shared-screen-or-whiteboard

Zoom is a cloud- based video conferencing service with multiple other features, such as live chats and the ability to record the sessions. According to most reviews, the service is easy to use and has exceptional video and audio quality and the built-in collaboration tools help the teachers to communicate with their students and vice versa. Despite previous issues with ‘Zoom bombing’, the service added the option ‘Security’ that allows hosts to quickly respond to security breaches by locking the meeting or removing participants. It will also restrict participants from changing their usernames and or sharing their screens, meaning less disruption. Moreover, the Waiting Room function is now on default, so teachers must manually let their students into the meeting, preventing Zoom bombers from breaking in. On the other hand, as the free version of Zoom only offers a limited amount of time for the duration of the call (forty minutes) and it disconnects abruptly at the end of the said time, this often disrupts lessons. There have been issues with the video and audio lagging, but this is mostly connected to each person’s own Wi-Fi connection, and whilst there are other restrictions, like not being able to use the Whiteboard function in Breakout Rooms, there are many who favour Zoom due to the many facilities offered on the service.

By Lisa Menezes and Michaela DeMello

Divide the class into smaller groups to discuss a certain topic or prepare a presentation/debate using the Zoom Breakout Rooms. Breakout Rooms: https://support.zoom.us/hc/enus/articles/206476093-Getting-Started-withBreakout-Rooms The polling feature can be used to create single choice or multiple choice questions to know your students’ opinions. You would be able to launch the poll during the meeting and gather responses from your students, as well as download a report of the poll after the meeting. Polling: https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/213756303-Polling-for-Meetings Enable non-verbal feedback through the raise hand icon which could promote the feeling of being in class. This would also encourage your students to participate more. Non-verbal Feedback Function: https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/115001286183Nonverbal-Feedback-During-Meetings Other Resources: Outschool, a website for live online classes, has made available Free Remote Teacher Training Webinars showing how to adapt teaching practices to a live video chat classroom. These webinars are held by teachers who have transitioned from in- school to online teaching. Teachers can register and find available times/dates at: https://success.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Twxi9n0qQ5WwdtWOxy6JHQ

Mrs Sharatt: I prefer Teams, as it is useful when showing examples. Mrs. King: I prefer Zoom as I find the picture quality to be better. Teams also has its benefits and I find this especially useful when setting group tasks in the group channels as I can see who is in the call at a glance and pop in (like the zoom breakout groups) but I somehow feel I have more control over that in Teams. Mr. Elliott: Teams has a lot of flexibility in terms of assigning tasks, sharing resources, communicating with students, saving files and giving marks and feedback. Mr. Fairfield: Zoom all the way. I can see more than four faces and each student’s reactions. Breakout rooms are very useful and the Yes/No function also helps me communicate with my students. It also seems more stable than Teams. Mrs. Parmar: I prefer Teams because everything is centralised - I can share my PowerPoint/lesson resources directly from my Sharepoint onto Teams. I love Teams now also because I've learnt how to do live quizzes like Kahoot on there which can help make my lessons more active and engaging. I also love Teams to communicate messages to my Year group and to my classes, create separate channels to help monitor work.

Ms. Hamer: I think the quality of Zoom is better and the speed of sharing screen is faster. I also prefer the view on zoom. Mr. White: My answer is actually on the fence - both serve their purpose. Teams is much better for organising a class, submission of work etc and uploading resources. Zoom is good for the interaction and delivery of a lesson. So - both!

Ms. Ridley: I like Zoom as I can see everyone's faces - almost as if I am in a classroom teaching in real life- the added function of breakout rooms is a fun feature, as I can control when you come back to the 'main' classroom but also drop in and check on everyone!

Mr. Clarke: I am a fan of Teams for many reasons, for me they are actually very different products - but with specific relation to video calling Zoom wins hands down. I think Teams (Microsoft) will adapt to their competitor having a better product, but basically the downfall with Teams is that you can only have 3 people live on camera at once (or something like that...) I find the quality on Zoom a tad better but the biggest win for ZOOM is having multiple cameras on so it is a lot more like a class and face to face meeting. There are security issues with Zoom, but these are being addressed and are not a problem when you activate the waiting room.

Articles

The Rubik’s Cube: A hobby that is taking over By Jia-Xiang Ooi

43 quintillion. This is the amount of ways that a Rubik’s Cube can be scrambled. But what is a Rubik’s Cube? Why is it so popular? And what makes it stand out from other puzzles? The Rubik’s Cube was invented during 1974 by a Hungarian sculptor called Erno Rubik. Erno was a teacher of architecture. He wanted to teach his students about 3D and he also wanted to give his students a challenging task. So, he got to work.

onds was one of the first records ever to be set for solving the Rubik’s Cube. Many years later, companies like Gan and Valk took the Rubik’s Cube to the next level. These companies had manufactured their own cubes and made them fast. Really fast. The original Rubik’s Cube stood no chance against a Gan Cube. But why did Cubes have to be fast? Over the years, a new hobby had come into the world.

His first prototype used rubber bands to hold it all together. But that did not This hobby was Speedcubing. work. After many months of building, he had finally found the right design. Instead of rubber bands, the blocks were held together using sphere in the middle of the cube. He showed all his students and Erno realized that the Cube wasn’t expensive to create. So, he began to sell his cubes. From there, it was non-stop for Erno. Fast forward a few years, and the Rubik’s Cube had been sold to the world. Millions of people had bought the cube, but only a few hundred had solved it. Erno had also released new versions of the cube, including the Rubik’s Revenge, which has a 4 by 4 structure. Competitions were made to see who could solve the Cube the fastest. 22 seconds was one of the first records ever to be set for solving the Rubik’s Cube.

Speedcubing is a sport involving solving a range of puzzles like the 3 by 3 cube, as fast as you can. This is a big deal. Most professional Speedcubers can solve a 3 by 3 Cube in under 15 seconds. Competitions are held everywhere around the world and are popular among Speedcubers. Competitors can compete in several events, of which there are seventeen in total. Some of the craziest events are Feet (Solving a 3 by 3 cube with feet) and Blind (Solving a cube, blinded).

Yusheng Du. That is extremely quick, even for the best Cubers. From 20 seconds, to 3.47 seconds - that is a huge jump.

Currently, the quickest time taken to solve a 3 by 3 cube is 3.47 seconds, by But why do Cubers “cube”? There are many reasons. It is very addictive. Every time a Cuber breaks their record, they always want to keep on breaking it. Most non-Cubers think that other hobbies are more beneficial. That is where they are wrong. Research shows that Speedcubing improves the brain’s function. It improves memory and dexterity; it makes the brain more active and it also teaches you many life lessons like patience and problem-solving. Left: The Rubik’s Cube Right: Gan Speed Cube, meant for Speedcubing

So, try getting a Rubik’s Cube, and try it out!

School challenges at DBS

Many years later, companies like Gan and Valk tookOmar-Jafri the Rubik’sand CubeShahnoor to the By Zoyena Ahmad next level. These companies had manuIn the midst of a daunting quarantine, DBS has gotten creative with a vast variety of factured their own cubes and made challenges! them fast. Really fast. The original Rubik’s Cube stood no chance against a Catered specifically to 2020's trends, there's been a TikTok challenge, a baking chalGan cube. lenge (it made us all hungry), a football challenge (for the sporty people), Minecraft But why did to be fast? challenge andcubes other have challenges to keep students and teachers occupied and entertained. Over the and years, a new alike hobbyhave had participated come Teachers students in these - keep reading to find out exactly into the what we world. think ofThis the hobby TikTokwas challenge video! Here are some of the challenges: Speedcubing. Week 2: Bake-off challenge Week 3: Tik-Tok challenge Week 4: Easter egg design challenge Speedcubing is a sport involving solvWeek 5: Minecraft challenge ing a range of puzzles likeofthe 3 by 3 using recycled materials at home Week 6: Creating a mode transport cube, as fast as you can. This is a pretty big deal. professional Firstly – aMost disclaimer, this isspeedcubers all in good fun – so if a teacher reads this articles and so can solvetoateach 3 by 3mecube in under 15 sechappens – please do not drop my grade. I will be taking a critical look at onds. Competitions everywhere the TikTok video thatare theheld teachers uploaded. First and foremost – Mr Airey, I expected around theyou world more – all didand wasare lippopular sync, with no costume, no funny location, nothing. On the among speedcubers. Competitors canyour windmill glasses – good show of cultural other hand, Ms Ridley, I really liked competeHowever, in severalMs events, of which identity. Hamer…I think some context is needed, if you have an M&M there are–seventeen in total.Although, Some of the costume I am concerned. we enjoyed Mrs Henderson’s piece, you had craziest events are Feet (Solving a 3 byMrs Headley, I feel like the need to ask, why in great enthusiasm throughout the video. cube withand feet)your andexpression Blind (Solving a sheer embarrassment and awkwardness. Ultia3toy house shows cube, blinded). mately, the real winner, I have to say is Ms Harris for her great use of locations, props and edits. All all, despite cringe, Currently, theinquickest timethe taken to we were pleased to see teachers rocking it up at home – Zoyena Omar-Jafri solve in a 3quarantine. by 3 cube is 3.47 seconds, by Yusheng Du. That is extremely quick, even for the best cubers. From 20 seconds, to 3.47 seconds - that is a huge jump.

Louisa Parker – The overall winner of the bake-off

Lyla Menadue – Year 8 winner of the bake-off

Ollie Fenner – Year 7 winner of the bake-off

Challenge DBS has received many amazing Q&A with Salma and Lina entries for the competition. After a lot of thought and considera1) What is TikTok to you? tion, we would like to congratu- Salma: An entertaining app late: Lina: A fun place where I can make videos Chloe Williams (KS3 Winner) Salma and Lina Shamseldin (KS4 Winner)

2) Do you think TikTok is appropriate for children? Salma: Definitely not. Lina: Depends on the video.

Thank you to everyone who participated in the challenge! 3) On average, how much time do you spend on TikTok every day? Shout-outs to the following peo- Salma: 2 hours ple for their creativity and deter- Lina: 2 hours mination: Tamara Alwash (Year 7) 4) What kind of videos do you enjoy creating Ashja Syed (Year 11) and watching? Hamzah Hamzah (Year 11) Salma: I enjoy watching dances videos as I enjoy dancing and I also find the comedy side of TikTok very entertaining Lina: Comedy videos, and I enjoy filming dance videos.

Articles

A Starry Night

Creativity in the modern world

A short story by Yonita Saggar

By Caitlin O’Leary and Koko Turner

rt is arguably the backbone of society; it ____turns ideas and imagination into a tangible expression- it encapsulates the views, opinions, feelings and events experienced by individuals and movements into a form that can be appreciated and experienced by others. Art preserves culture, it could almost be called ‘timeless’- it entertains us, communicates messages and drives for social change. While the impact of music, film, poetry as well as visual arts in society is undeniable, the audience targeted is always varied, these messages may not always communicate into the modern society as perceptions and constraints begin to evolve. However, art is not inherently a singular thing with one meaning as it’s interpretations are varied depending on the individuals perspective- it is subjective, but art is meant to communicate and is often fundamentally social, with social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic, how will this effect the experience and community aspect of art?

Many artists have taken to live streaming to make up for inevitably missed shows, as platforms to make up for inevitably missed shows, as platforms such as YouTube and Instagram provide perfect opportunities to still perform and share music – albeit through a computer or phone screen. Importantly, this shows the tenacity of musicians and the poignant presence of music in these times, as the experience of sharing music is not lost despite the difficulties faced. In today’s world, anyone can make music with access to a device. A plethora of apps and software allow you to record and produce your own music, whereas previously music production was strictly reserved to professionals with access to expensive technology and studio devices. This is compounded by many companies offering extended free trials to software during these times, such as Logic Pro X. Therefore, there has also been a

“I can't think of anything more rewarding than being able to express yourself to others through painting. Exercising the imagination, experimenting with talents, being creative; these things, to me, are truly the windows to your soul.” – Bob Ross THE APPRECIATION OF ART During isolation, many have turned to forms of art to express and communicate their feelings and to help cope with the current situation. With the time given on hand, individuals have more time with themselves then ever and this gives people the opportunity to think and assess their current emotions and this also gives us a creative output and allows for us to create art in various forms. It also has provided more time to appreciate artists as during quarantine, people find that they are more dependent on them then they thought – we turn to movies, books, music and various other forms of art when plagued with boredom. Nevertheless, this is also due to the accessible platform given to the modern society: the Internet. This allows for the international boundaries to be torn down and more mediums of creativity to be consumed by the general public. It has also expressed opportunities to try new art mediums such as digital art and creating music using technology. THE RESURGENCE OF ART DURING QUARANTINE With so many creative industries intrinsically linked with large audiences and live experiences, the introduction of social distancing has largely impacted artists, but has dually created a resurgence in art, through which new methods are used to share artistic expression. For instance, some of the most attended music festivals including Coachella and Glastonbury have been cancelled and some postponed to later this year. Amid global uncertainty, inevitable COVID-19 concerns and the guidelines prompted by healthcare officials have made such events impossible to go forward. There is a large dependency on performances for artists, as touring and performing at such festivals generates a large portion of the income of many, thus the turbulent effects of social distancing could directly impact the economic stability of many artists. However, such unforeseen changes spark for ingenuity and a transformation of how music is shared. such as YouTube and Instagram provide perfect opportunities to still perform and share music – albeit through a computer or phone screen. Im-

growth in homemade music, leading many to predict a boom in genres such as bedroom pop, as many are turning to the creation of music to fill time in quarantine. The resurgence self-produced, recorded, mixed and distributed music shows how despite the obvious drawbacks of quarantine, this has given many musicians the opportunity to finish projects, while for others, music is the medium that they turn to in order to convey and encapsulate the common feelings we are experiencing in quarantine. The global pandemic is something no one our age has ever experienced before and has sparked an opportunity for retrospection and critique of the failures of our society, much of which is conveyed through music and other art mediums. The trials and tribulations that have been brought by COVID-19 show the significance of art forms during times of social change, as artists have changed the way art is shared and a resurgence in self-made music has also been triggered.

Our story begins in a very simple way, in a very simple house, on a very simple street. A sign can be seen at the end of the lane, one that reads ‘Springs 3, Street 12’. The summer has just ended, and a cool breeze sweeps through the avenue, making the leaves rustle and the trees dance, as though they are awake. They are not the only ones. A boy sits inside his room, gliding his paintbrush across a canvas. He pauses for a moment and his eyes flicker towards his open window, where the moon illuminates watery rays of light onto his bedroom floor. He sighs and sets his paintbrush down next to the canvas. It will be his first day at a new school tomorrow. Like all of us once did, he felt anxious, and painting was his method of calming himself down. It was therapeutic, in a way. Eager to show off his skills in his Art class, he finishes the painting and sets it out to dry. Hopefully, his art teacher will like it tomorrow. The following morning, when the moon’s subtle image eventually fades and is replaced with defiant glares through the window from the sun, the boy gets ready to go to school. He signs his painting, writing his name, Rohan, in slanted letters on the back. On his way to school, he passes many trees, their thick leaves enclosing around each other, creating a cocoon of some sort. Sunlight manages to weave through the foliage, casting an amber and slightly viridescent kaleidoscope on the pavement Rohan walks on. It reminds him of his painting, the one he spent all night working on. When the boy arrives, he sets his canvas down in the Art room, on the second floor of his new school. Lessons come and go, most of them uneventful. His last class of the day, Art, is about to take place. He enters the Art room and picks up his painting. He is met with a frightful sight. The painting was once an interpretation of “Starry Night” by Vincent Van Gogh, but now it is nothing more than a swirl of swamp green sludge, the navy blue sky fusing with the golden splotches of paint. Water had been spilt all over it, and the piece was now dripping wet, the bright yellow stars still faintly visible under all of the different coats of liquid. The worst part was, Rohan did not know who would’ve done such a thing, and more importantly, why?

“Art speaks where words are unable to explain” – Unknown [to be continued in the next issue]

INTERVIEW WITH MR OWEN By Lisa Menezes

“I realised that teaching Geography would let me go on trips to many different places so I jumped on the best Geography course I could find!” Hello and welcome to our very own article where we expose our teachers and their juicy secrets! For years they have roamed the halls and given us mounds of homework, so we could not help but seize the opportunity to exact our sweet, sweet revenge. In this issue, we delve deep into the fascinating life of Mr. Owen in hopes of discovering more about him … We put the tea in teachers.

QUICK FACTS SECTION: Full name: Drew Owen Birthday: 6th September 1991 Where he is from: Manchester Favourite food: Salt and Pepper Chicken Wings Favourite song: What’s My Age Again? - Blink 182 Favourite singer/band: Blink 182 Favourite movie: Ironman (2008) Favourite colour: Black A-Levels taken: Geography, Philosophy & Ethics, Sociology, Psychology, General Studies

Why did you choose to teach Geography and when did you decide to pursue it as a career? I love travelling to different places, experiencing different cultures and meeting new people. Then I wondered ‘How could I do this and get paid?’ I realised that teaching Geography would let me go on trips to many different places so I jumped on the best Geography course I could find! What’s been your favourite moment teaching at DBS so far? There are so many I could name, even after only being at the school for such a short amount of time, but a real highlight was visiting my previous school, whilst coaching the DBS football team and beating them by a hefty margin!

“If a student wants to be there and is having fun, then they will want to learn.”

If you weren’t a teacher, what would you be and why? An astronaut - As much as I do love visiting places around the world, I would also love to visit places a little further afield, like Mars! OR a chef - I do love food! If you could be any other teacher in the school for a day, who would you pick? I would definitely want to be one of the PE teachers for a day. How great would it be getting to spend all day out in the sun, before it gets too hot at least! Where do you see yourself in five years? I would like to still be in Dubai, still at DBS, helping students gain a love of learning and massive interest in travelling. How do you motivate students to learn? I like to have a relaxed atmosphere in the classroom, this allows students to be themselves, ask questions without feeling embarrassed and actually want to be in the room. If a student wants to be there and is having fun, then they will want to learn. Which celebrity would you want as your best friend and why? Tom Hardy - The guy loves dogs, has played Venom in a movie and seems like a cool guy!

How long would you survive a zombie apocalypse and why? I don’t have to be faster or smarter than the zombies, just faster and smarter than the other people near me. If I can outrun you, they’ll get you instead right? I think for that reason I’ll last at least a few days. What career accomplishment makes you the most proud? Students that follow a career in the subjects I teach! This has been the easiest question to answer - I remember one student I taught, who went on to be awarded a scholarship to Emirates Academy of Hospitality & Management, who now works for Jumeirah. When I found this information out, knowing that she had built her career on the foundations of Geography and Travel & Tourism, this made me extremely proud. If you had three wishes, what would you wish for and why? More wishes? Who wouldn’t?! A small machine that did all of my marking for me. To be able to fly, so that I could make a killing in the circus and be able to travel wherever I wanted quickly.

STARRING MR OWEN

What do you hope to accomplish this year and why? At this moment in time, I am really looking to finish colouring in the set of colouring books I have started on this week. Something to keep my mind at peace whilst working from home!

What are the top three ways you deal with stress? Switch off from work When I finish work for the evening, I am done for that evening. No going back, no checking emails until it is work time again, otherwise it can control your life! Exercise Mr Allan is the best personal trainer I have ever had, not only do I get to release the stress from the day, but there’s also somebody to bounce ideas of or even just vent to whilst doing it. Memes I do like spending a good bit of time after I finish my work, unwinding and having a laugh/catching up on current affairs by looking at memes. Yes, they’re a bit silly, but we all need some silly in our lives right?!

Mr Owen’s last day of school with his best friend, Ben

Articles

Photography – A new “Quarantine Hobby”? By Katelyn Valles

This quarantine period, however unfortunate, has enabled many to take up new hobbies. With the increased popularity of Instagram with our younger generation; photography seems to be a natural by-product. A photography challenge was held at the start of this academic year. I interviewed some of the remarkable young photographers who won, to get their advice on what it takes to get a more aesthetically pleasing photo. As Reel stated: “Everyone is a photographer, no matter how experienced you are and how much knowledge you have” and you never know, you might become the world’s most famous photographer in a couple of years!

Reel Hassan (9S): ‘I love photography, I have been on 'fil sora' a national geographic photography competition show that aired last year, where I came 3rd among other talented photographers in Dubai. I own a photography Instagram page called @reelhas.photography where I share some of my favourite pictures.’

Jack Fenner (9S): “I like to take photos and balance it with a mixture of sports. I like photography because I enjoy the creative flow and just filling your composition with a dynamic mixture of subjects. I had taken photos before as a hobby and for my enjoyment.”

Zainab Sheikh (9S): ‘I've always loved taking pictures since I was little. I love photography because it lets you see landscapes and people in a different way. For example, if you see an ordinary building or garden you wouldn't think to photograph it but you could get some really cool pictures.’

Tips and Tricks Photography is and can be an extremely complicated subject to learn. However, here are a few simple yet effective tips from our very own photographers to help you along your way. “It’s very important to be creative and know that the first shot is not always going to be the best, it takes me around 80-100 photos before I would consider just one to be perfect. You also need to find the perfect angle, lighting and make sure that the object/landscape is not blocked by shadows that aren't purposely intended to be within the picture.” – Reel Hassan “Some advice I would give is using angles to your advantage, angles can make a huge impact on your photos as well as lighting. Also make sure your photo is in focus.” – Zainab Sheikh “I'd say just keep taking photos and don't give up because you will eventually get that great photo you are looking for.” – Jack Fenner Bonus tips! Lighting is a key factor to taking a good picture. Try to avoid using the flash and make the most of the natural light around you. White balance enables you to adjust the setting on your camera to compensate for the type of lighting surrounding you at that time. Setting also plays a key role. Taking a minute or two to set up your background and arranging the items in the setting to reveal a story that you want to tell.

Its meaning, history, and significance By Hamzah Hamzah and Ashja Syed

Grab your lanterns, prepare your fast – the month of Ramadan has arrived. Widely known as a time of forgiveness and peace, many perceive Ramadan as just a fast, but it is much more than that. Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, during which millions of Muslims fast and donate to the poor. In fact, fasting is part of the five pillars of Islam, which shows exactly how important this religious practice is. Many governments worldwide celebrate Ramadan by giving to the poor and releasing some prisoners as a symbol for forgiveness and peace. Ramadan is the month in which Jibril (an angel) brought upon the Prophet (PBUH) the first pieces of the Quran. The holy month begins when the crescent is visible in the dark. The prophet (PBUH) received the first verses of the Quran in the ‘cave of Hira’ where the angel recited the verses, which when translated are: ‘Recite in the name of your Lord who created’.... ‘Recite, and your Lord is the most Generous’ .... ‘Who taught by the pen’ ... ‘Taught man that which he knew not.’ During Ramadan, healthy adult Muslims are required to fast but the Muslim families encourage their children to fast as much as they can. Muslims fast from dawn to sunset for 29 or 30 days (with exceptions given to the elderly, sick people, pregnant and menstruating women during the time, and travellers during the time of travelling. However, they need to make up the fast after Ramadan "same number of days they missed during Ramadan". The month begins with the sighting of the full moon and ends 30 days later. It is a holy time reserved not only for fasting, but also for praying, giving to the poor, sharing, reading Qur'an and reflecting on sins. It is a month where people refrain from eating in order to experience the life of the poor, reflect spiritually, increase devotion to God and self-improve.

"‫"ال إله إال هللا محمد رسول هللا‬

“There is no god other than Allah and Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) is the messenger” They are not many rules and regulations to follow. As mentioned earlier, people fast from dawn (Fajr prayer) to sunset (Maghrib prayer) and refrain from eating or drinking during this time. If a person's fast is broken, they should still continue it till sunset and make up the fast after Ramadan. Many people actually use the month of Ramadan to improve their health by working out or by limiting calorie intake. Along with improving spiritual health, Ramadan is a month for physical healing and development. Ultimately, Ramadan is a time of giving for Muslims all over the world. It is a time to become closer to God. It is a time where you and your family come together to practice religion. We missed out on the yearly school Iftar held at DBS, the Ramadan Fridges, and the food collection. However, we can still spread love through practicing acts of giving and kindness to friends and family. In our day and age, where the COVID-19 situation has consumed most of our time, we must all remember that we are fortunate to be with family. Let's hope that this month of peace lights hope in our hearts.

Arabic phrases for this Ramadan The month of fasting = Shahr Ass-siyam= ‫شهر الصيام‬ fasting= Siyam or sawm= ‫ صوم‬،‫صيام‬ I'm fasting (m) = ana Sa'em ‫أنا صائم‬ I'm fasting (f) = ana Sa'ema= ‫أنا صائمة‬ charity = Sadaka= ‫صدَقَة‬ َ

LEFT: Last year’s School Iftar ABOVE: Food collection at DBS Due to COVID-19 we were not able to celebrate these school Ramadan events – these are pictures from last year.

In a culturally aware and appreciative world, refusing to watch subtitled entertainment has slowly become a relic of the past. The world’s frank admiration of international film industries was most recently demonstrated when Parasite won four Oscars - and everyone rushed to the theatres to see the first non-English film that secured Best Picture. A tale of two families closely linked but simultaneously separated by a vast chasm of socio-economic class boundaries, this spell-binding Korean movie thrilled viewers with its script, filming and acting. It was an instant hit. Why? Because movies tell stories about human nature - like greed, love, desire and a thousand other emotions that unite our human race. Those that can be conveyed not by words, but the skills of actors on screen. No matter where in the world we live, our cultures, or the languages we speak, we will forever be united by our stories. We all have different tales to tell, so why should a ‘language barrier’ deprive us of them? As Parasite’s director Bong Joon-ho put it - “Once you overcome the 1-inch tall barrier of subtitles, you will be introduced to so many more amazing films.”. Naturally, in the beginning it may feel difficult to watch a film in another language, so subtitles have been designed for this purpose. Actually, after the fifteen-minute mark (and this is an overestimate), they are barely disruptive, and the movie flows as smoothly as if you had known and understood every spoken word. So, using a language barrier as an excuse to stay within the ‘comfort zone’ and not explore the true calibre of international filmmakers is rather close-minded, considering the availability of subtitles and dubbing.

The debate between subtitles and dubbing has spanned an eternity…which one is better? Dubbed films and shows offer smooth, trouble-free viewing, without viewers missing any of the action. Fast-paced action movies, for example, require attention throughout its entirety, so reading subtitles could cause one to miss out on certain things. The downside of dubbing is that it almost always has awkward or exaggerated voices, therefore ruining the filmmakers’ vision and the actors’ expression of speech. Subtitles offer watchers the ability to both listen to speech and read its translation - and viewers feel like the film/show has been untouched and authentic. Subtitles are not a barrier, they are a gateway into understanding and appreciating films of other languages. However, both subtitles and dubbing leave room for awkward translations, so learning the movie’s language is also highly recommended. Use this as an excuse to learn a new language! LEFT: A rather interesting translation from the K-drama Itaewon Class.

And yet, it’s not only K-dramas and K-pop that we should consider consuming. Latin music has been widely integrated into the English-speaking industry and it is no longer a surprise to hear Spanish songs blasting from the radio. Netflix has also opened up a huge platform for filmmakers of varying nationalities to display their content, and it has introduced a curious audience to a multitude of new experiences. Another blossoming industry is Bollywood - with its colour and vibrancy and happy-go-lucky content, its movies provide the perfect opportunity to lie back and wish your life was that good. It’s time to let go of unfounded prejudice against subtitled movies and fears about lack of comprehension. Especially in a school where cultural inclusion is effectively practiced and in a world where international boundaries are blurring, learning about different cultures can only be an advantage. Besides, you might even pick up the basics of a new language! So, swap your everyday dose of your usual viewings for a Whole New World of music, food, colours, language and culture. You will not regret it. Check out our list of recommendations on the next page to get you binge-watching!

Bong Joon Ho, South Korean filmmaker. He directed Parasite, which won Best Picture and was the first film not in English to win the award.

CHRISTINA KURIAN I grew up watching subtitled Bollywood films so subtitles have never really been an issue for me! In fact, unless the translations are absolutely horrific, I don’t even notice the difference between reading or listening to the dialogue. More recently, I’ve begun watching K-dramas and listening to K-pop so I’m currently fully integrated into the world of subtitled films. Dubbed movies, however, are not for me - it’s just unsettling to hear the obviously-faked tones, but each to their own! Each country’s entertainment industry has so much to offer and it would be awful if I didn’t at least try to explore some of that. I especially love the cheesy rom-coms of the Bollywood industry and even though the editing could be a little better, the songs, dancing and stunning actors make up for it.

JIA-WEN OOI I was never really reluctant to watch foreign films or TV shows, and opening up to different types of shows has broadened my understanding of different cultures and stories. Just listening to the language, the story, the characters’ actions and behaviours, has made me understand that every culture is unique, but the stories all relay the same messages and emotions - happiness, love, greed, anger… Personally, I think historical Korean and Chinese dramas’ costumes and makeup are so beautiful, and different dramas have their different takes on it. Honestly, just exploring countries’ rich histories and cultures that are so wonderfully displayed through film and TV shows makes me more and more curious about what I have been missing out on. Perhaps if we all watched more, learned more… we would be more understanding and appreciative of our different cultures and stories.

Sky Castle [SKY 캐슬] (2018-2019) is a Korean drama that follows the lives of four extremely wealthy women living in the luxurious SKY Castle neighbourhood, as they obsessively try to secure futures for their husbands (who are engaged in high-flying employment like surgeons and professors) and children. Parasite [기생충] (2019) is a movie that narrates the tale of two families: the wealthy Parks and the lower-class Kims, who are employed by the Parks under various capacities. Whilst being on amiable terms, they are constantly separated by the jagged edges of classism that results in a series of mishaps. Kingdom [킹덤] (2019) is a historical Korean horror/thriller television series based during Korea’s Joseon period. A mysterious plague spreads, and the crown prince is forced to uncover its origin, secrets and the evil scheme behind it. If you liked Train To Busan (also a fantastic horror/thriller), this could be your next watch. Terrace House [テラスハウス] (2012-present) is an unscripted Japanese reality TV show. Provided with a furnished house and cars, the three men and three women live their normal lives, like going to work and pursuing their careers - while getting to know each other and forming relationships. Love 101 [Aşk 101] (2020) Teen drama about a group of outcast students trying to keep a teacher from leaving their school, finding her love. Miracle in Cell No.7 [7 Kogustaki Mucize] (2019) is a Turkish film adapted from the 2013 South Korean drama film of the same name, which also has Filipino, Hindi and Indonesian adaptations. Spirited Away [千と千尋の神隠し] (2001) is a Japanese animated film and the highest grossing Japanese film of all time. When Chihiro’s parents mysteriously transform into pigs, she sets on a journey alongside a boy called Haku to navigate their way out of the supernatural realm, and to free her parents. Attack on Titan [進撃の巨人] (2013), adapted from a Japanese manga of the same name, is a fantasy anime series set in a world where people are terrorised by ‘Titans’ – and the peoples’ defence are tall walls which surround the city. It follows the story of Eren Yeager, who vows to regain freedom for the people after a Titan breaches the wall. Money Heist [La casa de papel] (2017-present) “The Professor” recruits a group of robbers formulate a plan to pull off the biggest heist in Spanish history. Life is Beautiful [La vita è bella] (1997) Loosely based on a real story, this movie tells the tale of a Jewish family, victims of the Holocaust. Despite living in constant fear, to protect his son from fear and danger, his father combines imagination and humour to liven up his spirits. Eternal Love [三生三世十里桃花舀] (2017) Literally translated to Three Lives, Three Worlds, Ten Miles of Peach Blossoms, it follows the tale of the immortal Bai Qian and Ye Hua, and their love which spans thousands of years. Here is the entire series on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HmhVK9onFLY&list=PLpOaOrneXm34lESV2HJzCIFHA3tBrI5s Nirvana In Fire [琅琊榜] (2015) Set during the 4th century, it tells the story of Lin Shu, who has an ultimate goal to bring justice to his family and 70,000 soldiers who were labeled traitors twelve years earlier. Here is the entire series on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D13EhOAhCrA&list=PLtt_YYUGi1gXR t2XVJZrHDBkZECcfmuAJ Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge [दिलवाले िु ल्हदिया ले जायें गे] (1995). As promised by its poster (Come, fall in love!), this legendary movie will have you believing once more in the everlasting, all-consuming force that is love. Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani [ये जवािी है िीवािी] (2013). This movie presents a spin on the old-as-time trope of ‘good girl falls for bad boy’ and it’s honestly worth every minute; the lead actors are enthralling, the music makes you want to dance and the dialogue is awesome. Padmaavat (2018). A historical drama crammed to the brim with action, romance and tension, this highly rated (and somewhat controversial) movie showcases the splendour, opulence and cut-throatness of 14th-century India. Taare Zameen Par (2007) Directed by Aamir Khan, film explores Ishaan, an 8year-old dyslexic child whose parents send him to boarding school due to his low academic performance and seemingly defiant behaviour. An art teacher recognises Ishaan’s dyslexia and helps him overcome it. Hichki (2018) Hichki directly translates to ‘Hiccup’. An ambitious teacher, who has Tourettes syndrome, must prove herself by teaching a small group of underprivileged students. It is a heartwarming tale of overcoming challenges and society’s stigma. 3 Idiots (2009). A coming-of-age film that narrates the tale of two men who are searching for their long-lost college friend, years after they have all graduated and parted ways. Of course, whilst tirelessly seeking their friend, they discover themselves and do a lot of soul-searching along the way…

Agony Aunt Do you have concerns? Need advice?

Yo, my name’s Alex. That can be pronounced as ‘Alex’ or ‘A-l-ex', don’t really care. But what I do care about is you. Don't forget to eat and drink water. We live in Dubai; the weather will curse you with dehydration, before you can say: ‘Get me some water!!!’ NOTE: The Agony Aunt section is Alex’s advice – if you have more concerns, talk to the school counsellor, a teacher or an adult. We have also received many more messages during e-learning. If you feel similarly, please do contact and talk to Ms Gallagher at ggallagher@dubaibritishschool.ae. Entries that are not include in this issue are on the Agony Aunt Tellonym at https://tellonym.me/dbs_agony https://tellonym.me/dbs_agony I'm so sad because I'm not going to see some of my teachers and friends ever again, and also the guy I like is leaving at the end of this year and I'm never going to see him again It truly is an upsetting predicament, and I’m sorry that this had to happen. You say you’ll never see some of your friends and teachers ever again, so try your hardest to tell them how much you appreciate them and how you’ll miss them fervently. Savour the moments you have to talk to them through text now and think back on your best memories with them. The guy you like might be leaving, but he won’t be the only guy. Perhaps tell him how you feel before school ends even if nothing might come of it. I’m sure he’d feel flattered and you’d be able to move on.

I feel like I'm getting no exercise other than PE lessons and E-learning is making me hungry so I'm snacking a lot! Advice? Try some form of exercise you enjoy! Rather than running up and down the stairs for half an hour or sitting on your floor doing the monotonous act of push-ups, try to dance (if you like music) or throw a ball around in the garden. Even jumping around your room chasing your sibling or a ball of some kind can get the endorphins in your brain working and jump-start your day. Exercise is important for your health, however, it’s also important for your mental being and can bring a smile to your face by refreshing you. And I can understand the snacking part. With being locked inside, it’s hard to motivate yourself to make something healthy or even a salvageable meal. I recommend eating the normal three meals a day, one before e-learning in the morning or during the breaks in between, one during the lunch set period and another later in the day after e-learning. To snack, try to distance from your friendly chocolate and candy and chips, try some yoghurt or sandwiches. Even fruits and vegetables make great snacks (I prefer celery and ranch, but I understand that not everyone enjoys such dish). But I need to say, please don’t fret over your weight. Your image or the numbers on the scale should not have to matter to anyone but yourself, and even then, they should play an insignificant role in your mental profile of you. As long as you feel happy in your own skin, then weight should be the least of your worries right now (plus, I’m pretty sure we’re all feeling peckish during these events, so you’re not alone). TL;DR – Do some form of fitness you enjoy and try snacking on fruits, vegetables or even a sandwich. Also, as long as your body is healthy, weight shouldn’t be an issue.

When school first closed I was so excited and now I hate online school, I want to go back to school, I miss my friends and I can’t believe I’m saying this but I also miss the teachers… why does life have to be like this? At least I have a good story to tell my kids when I’m older “kids, your mum went through tough times in the past when she was in Year 8, she even survived a world pandemic” Yes, I agree with you, these are tough times. School being closed sucks, but it’s for the best if you want to stay healthy. You can still communicate with your friends thankfully (with technology and social media), but you’re right about missing teachers. It’s odd waiting until next year to see them again. But it’s good that you’re trying to stay optimistic. Not many will have the ability to say they survived a world pandemic, when we’re older. It’s good to be looking to the future, as it gives us hope and a way to power through these moments in isolation that feel roughest. As long as we keep going and look forward, I’m sure we’ll make it through, and school will start up again in September (at least, that’s what I hope). I feel like this whole quarantine thing is way more stressful than actual school. I just want to go out, see my friends, live a normal life. It's driving me insane. It's like I have nothing to do anymore. Any suggestions? Totally understandable! Being cooped up all day in your house can be stressful, because you don’t know what to do with yourself or you have no energy to. I’d recommend taking up a new hobby; baking, sewing, drawing, dancing, anything of the sorts. A hobby that you can do inside when you feel like you need to take your mind off things or just when you’re bored. We all want to go out and live life normally again, but we can’t right now. The best option would be to stay home and watch a new tv series or movie, despite how unappealing it is compared to what you could be doing out and about. So, try not to stay in your room all day; try to sit out in the garden to get some fresh air or at the dining table just to be around people. Writing or kicking a ball around in the backyard might also be a good way to spend your time and relieve yourself. Even trying a new hairstyle or playing some videogames. TL;DR – Try a new hobby that you can do in the house, stay home and try to interact with your family more often.

I skipped a couple of lessons and now my life is going downhill. I am stressed and everything is going wrong. I can't make myself do anything productive Slow down. It’s totally understandable to have skipped a couple of lessons, and productivity is something most of us have trouble with. Try to compile a list of the things that you need to do or catch up with. Sort what’s in your brain on paper or in the notes app and identify which are of the upmost important which can be delayed in line. You being stressed and overwhelmed won’t help so it’s best to sort everything out first before acting. Getting the energy to perform these tasks though, I agree that that can be a challenge, but sitting around and doing nothing will feel worse. Try to energize yourself or ask one of your parents to help motivate you. If you don’t want to do that or believe it would be better to achieve this on your own, start encouraging yourself. Set an alarm early and sit at your desk or table until you complete that set task. Ignore texts, ignore notifications; all that exists is you and the assignment you need to complete. It’ll be hard at first, you might sit there for fifteen straight minutes doing nothing but staring at the screen. But once you start, and get into a rhythm, I assure you, it will come to you naturally. You will be unable to stop until you finish. Just make sure that where you are is quiet and there are no interruptions or distractions. TL;DR – Take your time and sort out the things that are stressing you out on a tangible record for you to see from anywhere outside your head. Or just talk about it, to your parent or friend, to view it from another perspective. Also, try to be more tough on yourself to be more productive or try to ask your parent for help. It’s ok.

How do you confront your "best friend" that you know that they were talking behind your back? Ask them and give them a way out before confessing that you know. If they tell you ‘yes,’ you guys can talk about it and make up. But if they deny it, then you should tell them that you know. It’s better to tell them straight away, rather than wait, because then details get fuzzy and you’ll be seen as petty. You can confront them about this and not tell them who told you. They would have no solid evidence to use against whoever they find suspicious, so there’s no reason to fear for whomever informed you. The best way, to tell them, is to set it straight. No lies, no manoeuvres, just straight facts. Try not to come off too strong or mad, because then they’ll close off entirely and not speak to you. You want to get answers from them, not cause any more bad blood. Just keep a level head and sort whatever problems they have with you in one go. Text or call but calling is better as you can tell by the tone of their voice what they mean and if their lying or not. TL;DR – Don't wait, don’t attack, just converse. How do you survive in a situation when both of your best friends don't like each other, and they keep telling you negative things about each other, but you don't know what to do? Try not to pick sides too much. Agreeing to whatever one says about the other isn’t really the best thing to do, but you can still listen. Listen and remain indifferent; picking one over the other will only cause hurt (unless you’re positive, because then it causes more hurt to keep going half-heartedly). Your two friends don’t need to interact with each other, so try to deflect if they start talking about the other. It would be great to see them as friends, so you can all talk together, but don’t involve yourself with that. Their dislike for one another is their problem and not yours to interfere with, even though you’re both their friends. TL;DR – Try to deflect whenever one is talking crudely about the other and don’t interfere with their issues regarding one another (it’s theirs to resolve if they chose to)

It's really hard to keep in touch with all my friends now and I feel like we've drifted what can I do? Try calling or just texting out of the blue, you don’t need any excuse to text those that you’d like to talk to. Or better, create a group chat with your friends so you can start a conversation whenever you’d like.

Talk to them. Don’t go behind their back and label them to anyone that’ll listen; try to tell them how you really feel about through a phone or a Zoom call. Clear up the misunderstandings. I have a sister who never talks or interacts with me – please help with any advice. Is there anything that she’s interested in? Maybe try to involve yourself in things she likes. Even ordinary things can become a social event between you and her; watch a movie together, play a video game or even try speaking to her at the dinner table. I’m sure she wants to spend time with you the same way you do with her, but perhaps she feels it’s better to be alone or try to come to grips on her own terms. She might just want some space after being cooped in the house for more than 6 weeks, so try to understand that. But that doesn’t mean you should give up. Continue to insist you spend time together, and I’m sure she’ll let her guard down eventually.

Without being able to talk to friends and peers face-to-face, it is hard maintaining relationships – so try calling them once in a while, check up on them, start a conversation!

just for laughs

General Knowledge Crossword

May the Fourth be with you! The month of May is Star Wars Month, so to commemorate the epic franchise, here is a small section dedicated to the saga. Here are some of the coolest planets and moons you wish you could get away to right now: 1) CORUSCANT A beautiful skyline – here’s what it looks like:

2) NABOO A beautiful planet closely resembling Earth, with hills, grasslands, rivers, swamps and seas.

3) BESPIN Known for the famous Cloud City.

JOKES TO TELL How did Darth Vader know what Luke was getting for his birthday? He felt his presents. Why can’t you blindfold a Pokémon? Because it’s going to Pikachu!

4) KASHYYYK The homeland of the Wookies, a heavily forested planet with beautiful mountains and plants.

What’s the action like at a circus? In-tents. Did you hear about the claustrophobic astronaut? He just really needed some space. What grades did the pirate get on his report card? Seven Cs. To be frank, I'd have to change my name. What’s Forrest Gump’s password? 1forrest1

5) ENDOR Home of the Ewok species – a forested landscape with vines and trees.

What do Kermit the Frog and Attila the Hun have in common? They both have the same middle name.

THIS issue’s team CHRISTINA KURIAN

JIA-WEN OOI

PRISHA SHARMA

Hello, my name is Christina Kurian! I'm the co-editor of this newspaper; my role is to organise and check through various articles. My GCSEs are: French, Spanish, Triple Science, Drama and History. As is probably evident from my choice of subjects, I adore reading - mainly fiction, and I also play the violin!

Hello, I’m the co-editor of the newspaper – I manage the formatting and design of the newspaper. I’m in Year 11 and this is my third year at DBS. I play the piano and I love drawing, photography and listening to music. My GCSEs are Media, German, Psychology, Triple Science and Geography.

Hi! I’m Prisha and I’m in Sixth Form. I take three A-Level subjects I’m passionate about - English Literature, Drama and Psychology. I enjoy listening to and playing music (I play the piano and sing), as well as traveling.

LISA MENEZES

MICHAELA DEMELLO

JIA-XIANG OOI

Hi! I'm Lisa Menezes, and I've been in this school since 2016. I love English, hence why I joined the school newspaper, and I also enjoy playing the piano and drawing. But of course, I'd much rather sleep than do anything.

Hey, I’m Michaela and I’m a year 11 student getting through my GCSEs. My favourite subjects would have to be English, Drama, and Chemistry (shout out to the best teachers) and I’d love to pursue a career in either Law or Psychology in the future!

Hi, my name is Jia-Xiang, and I’m in Year 8. My favourite subjects are Music and Science. Along with solving the Rubik’s Cube during my free time, I also love playing video games.

ZOYENA OMAR-JAFRI

JULIETTE SALTANATKHAH

CAITLIN O’LEARY

Hey, I’m Zoyena and I’m in Year 11, almost about to take my GCSEs, History, Geography, Spanish, Media and Business. I absolutely love performing, and join almost every school show! I’m very sporty and I’m learning how to play the guitar.

I am Juliette Saltanatkhah and I’m 15 years old, turning 16 in February. I take Drama, History, Triple Science and French as my GCSE’s, and you might be wondering… ‘Hey, how come you’ve only got 4 subjects?’ Well, my dear inquisitive reader, that’s because—

Hi I’m Caitlin and I’m in Year 11. My GCSEs are Psychology, French, History, Geography and Art, while my hobbies include guitar, skateboarding and photography.

YONITA SAGGAR

KOKO TURNER

SHAHNOOR AHMAD

Hello, I'm Yonita and I'm 13 years old. My favourite subjects are English and Drama. In my spare time, I enjoy listening to music, as well as reading, and sometimes even writing!

Hi, I’m Koko. I’m in Year 11 and I’m about to take my GCSEs this school year. I take Psychology, Drama, Art, Geography and Business along with my core subjects. I enjoy playing fps games and reading just about anything.

Hi everyone! I’m Shahnoor and I’m currently in Year 11. I always love to have fun and always enjoy whatever I’m doing. A few hobbies of mine are makeup, boxing and singing. I can come across as shy but I then start to open up. In a few words, I’d describe myself as lively, positive and cheerful.

ASHJA SYED

HAMZAH HAMZAH

My name is Ashja Syed, and I'm currently in Y11. My GCSEs are Triple Science, business, French, history and geography and my hobbies include playing FIFA, being BFFs with Hamzah Hamzah and listening to rap music.

Hi, my name is Hamzah Hamzah and I'm currently in Y11. My GCSE subjects are Triple Science, Arabic, DT, Business, History and my hobbies include playing FIFA, photography, listening to rap music and being BFFs with Ashja Syed. I am also very loyal to the nation, long live Iraq.