D E T C U R T t S n e s N e r P s v t s a P : DC2O 9 1 0 2 8 1 0 OAKRIDGE HOLDINGS
DCONSTRU R E P O R T CTEDÂ FEB 2019 // PREPARED BY DAVID SMITH
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CONTENTS Intro Opening the Time Capsule Interview with Daliya Habib Philanthropy Year 7 Liaison Programme TV Review DC/AC: Acoustics and Applauses Music, Charity, Love TedX Youth Humans of DC A Poem from DC's first official Poet Laureate
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Intro from the Editors PAST VS PRESENT
This year, we all witnessed the opening of the Time Capsule that a group of students had sealed away twenty years ago. They walked the same halls, wore the same DC logo, and ran to the canteen every Tuesday for butter chicken – just like us. While the physical aspects of our school change with every passing year, its spirit remains consistent. We have new buildings, buses, and Harkness rooms, but the #DCDifference has stayed the same. The strongest Avenger once said “Asgard is not a place, it’s a people.” DC likewise is the product of every individual that walks within its red walls, which watch new and old cycle in and out. With Conceicao, our Head Caretaker, retiring after 36 years, the school sprouting new features every month, and a Year 7 student body continuing to multiply like amoebae, we wanted to take this year to reflect on how we grow as a school, a community, and as a family. While we may not know what life as a DC student was twenty years ago, it is clear that past and present converge more often than we think (and not just on our magazine cover). And for all of us, new students or old students, teachers or caretakers, one thing is true: in the words of our very own Poet Laureate, Kasia Truscott, “the future is all ours.”
- Jasmine and Wynona
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Blast from the past: opening the Time Capsule
Kasia Truscott It was the 13th December 2018: the final whole school assembly of the year. The plethora of glistening medals and shining trophies had already been handed over to sporting champions, debating victors and musical talents; we’d seen the heart-warming highlights of yet another successful year for the Charity Committee; we’d laughed at yet another one of the Head Boy’s speeches; now, there was only one thing left to do. As Mr. Lambert took to the stage carrying a curiously large box, the auditorium fell silent. Ears pricked up and Year 7s edged forwards on their seats as he announced that it was time to reveal the contents of DC’s notorious time capsule. Was anyone truly prepared for what was inside? Probably not. A DC uniform, an eclectic, state-of-the art teen magazine and a copy of The Gulf News from the day the capsule was buried were just some of the many items that were brought to light having spent years hiding underneath C-Block courtyard. But the greatest treasure? None other than an ancient, dust-ridden relic: a 20minute promotional video about Dubai College on a VHS tape. As the lights were dimmed and the flickering screen illuminated the faces of 951 awestruck students, we found ourselves transported back in time to 1998; the year of big hair, questionable fashion choices, and Mr. Woolley wearing short shorts.
The camera took us on a full tour of the school and surprisingly, almost nothing had changed. The barista benches were still in the exact same place they used to be, the science labs were still stocked with microscopes and test tubes, and all the buildings were still that same old lovely shade of brick red. It still looked very much like DC – except, maybe with a less flattering uniform and a classroom full of Windows ’98 PCs. It was a very surreal (and amusing) experience to be able to look back on what DC was like 20 years ago in so much detail, only to discover that not even that much had changed. But at the end of the day, that is exactly what makes Dubai College what it is.
Watch the video here: https://www.youtube.com/w atch?v=KCTPpEdQum8
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While fashions may have come and gone, technologies may have moved on and pupils and staff may have gradually left over the years, Dubai College has never lost the essence of what it is. We are still a hardworking, supportive community that strives for excellence in every part of our lives, both academically and socially. The class of ’98 may have since moved on with their lives and become active members of communities elsewhere, but one thing is for certain: the time capsule will continue to serve as a reminder of DC’s timeless charm, and yes – VHS tapes do still work.
AN INTERVIEW WITH
DALIYA HABIB winner of the short+sweet playwrighting prize What made you passionate about playwriting? I first became interested in playwriting after being in my first ever DC production - A Dream Play by August Strindberg. To this day, it is the strangest script I have ever read, and it took the entire rehearsal process up until the first night of performances to finally realize what the play meant! The combination of Ms. Corless’ unbelievably inspiring directing, the friends I made from being a part of a school production, and the absurd world Strindberg created sparked my interest in writing my own plays. How did you find out about the competition? I actually watched the finals for short+sweet theatre in 2017 (when I was 15), having little to no knowledge on what the competition actually was. I saw some really fantastic plays that evening and I remember finding out the winners would be sent to LA. It’s insane to think we are now in the same position! Honestly, the best way to find out about these competitions is to go out there and watch local theatre - there is so much constantly going on in Dubai and you never know how one performance might open up a new door for you.
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Could you give us a summary of the play’s plot? In the simplest of terms (without giving anything away!) BLANK SLATE is a 10-minute play, where two strangers clash over the meaning behind 3 blank canvases at an art exhibition. Samantha - played by Kasia Truscott - is a stuck up older woman, who lives a very mundane and repetitive lifestyle. She cannot handle being in the wrong, and is pushed to her limits by Dante played by Kris Kolandjian - a laidback, pretentious young artist. In the 10 minutes they share together, the pair go on a somewhat existential journey - unpacking the secrets of life, happiness, and half-empty water bottles. What was the inspiration behind it? I wrote the play while attending the dramatic writing program at Tisch School of the Arts at New York University last summer. While on the program, my playwriting professor, ‘Electric’, really sparked the inspiration for BLANK SLATE, giving us play after play to read over the course of a month. He is also hands down the coolest guy I have ever met - he’s won 7 Emmys for being a writer on Sesame Street! His classes were filled with energy and his genuine love for writing was really inspiring. In particular, The Zoo Story by Edward Albee and No Exit by Jean-Paul Sartre formed the basis of BLANK SLATE - I loved the character dynamics in both plays, as they both follow a small number of characters stuck in one place who transform over a short period of time. It made me realize how it can just take one encounter with a single person to change your entire outlook on life, which is what I tried to experiment with in my play.
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What was the most difficult aspect of the process? In terms of writing the actual piece, the hardest part was sharing it with people around me. Even after writing several scripts, I still feel vulnerable sharing my work, which initially I thought would hinder my confidence. But actually, the reason why I think I found it difficult to let go is because of the effort and attachment I had to the narrative, the characters, and the pieces of myself I inevitably poured into my play. With regards to the competition, the most difficult aspect was probably building the maturity and focus of the adults we saw around us at the festival. Being the youngest team to make it to the finals, we very quickly had to approach each performance with a level of confidence and sensibility that I think you can only gain from actually experiencing a high-stress situation. I owe it all to my tremendously talented best friends, Kasia and Kris, for handling each obstacle like pros, and for making me feel like a very proud director. How else do you explore your passion for playwrighting/film? I could probably spend hours answering this question because this process is truly never-ending! But to keep it succinct, I try and watch/read as many plays, screenplays, and films as I possibly can, and to read reviews too. There are some really artsy short film websites like shortoftheweek.com and kanopy.com that I highly recommend! I also try and write a little every day, whether it’s in the form of quick bullet points for a script or a timed page of dialogue between two characters… the best way to improve your writing is to quite simply WRITE! Currently, I am starting to explore the world of filmmaking with my EPQ, which is going to be an existentialism based short film. I am really looking forward to unpacking the symbiotic relationship between philosophy and film, which I think have a lot in common.
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What was the end-goal for your project, and what do your future plans look like? Well, the most quickly approaching goal we have as a team is to refine the piece for Short+Sweet Hollywood, which we will be attending this September. With a week of performances in one of the most competitive cities in the world, it is genuinely a dream come true to have an opportunity this huge. It has all been very overwhelming with awards and radio interviews, but it has also been equally as exciting for the three of us! Beyond DC, I hope to study philosophy and theatre/film at university. I am grateful to be a member of the National Youth Theatre, who have been supporting me as a performer, writer, and director. I plan to do more ambassador work with them both in the UK and in Dubai, as their focus on encouraging young people in theatre is something that I whole-heartedly believe in. I would love to one day direct for film, particularly documentary-style films, as this is something I haven’t yet tried.
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What is the most valuable lesson you’ve learned from the process? The biggest take away from this whole experience is to trust yourself. Believe me, I know that sounds like a cliché but I don’t think I can stress this enough. It is so easy to find flaws in what you create or to take criticism to heart. I was told to do 11 or 12 rewrites in the first 2 weeks of writing the play, and though it was difficult at the time, I am beyond grateful for the character building skills I learnt during this process. If you have a goal, having the self-assurance and drive to believe in yourself and give it your all will ultimately be the only thing that can get you back on your feet when you feel like giving up. Look at the positives, figure out how to improve and credit yourself where necessary - your own fulfillment will always precede success.
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PHILANTHROPY A word from Mahira Jethwani
The philanthropic efforts in Dubai College are ever growing as we, as a community, continue to learn more about the opportunities that our school presents us with. This past year has started out with many immediate accomplishments. The FDC held a lunch for our Facilities Staff, which was an amazing gesture that brought the Dubai College community together. We also had the Peace Poster contest, a global competition with some of our Year 7 students creating posters depicting the theme “Kindness Matters.” Maha Nawaz, in 7NTH, was selected to attend the final selection as a representative of Dubai! Successes like these would not be possible without the sheer number of prospects handed to us. Similarly, I was able to have an unbelievable experience as the Charity Committee presented us, as Sixth Form, with an opportunity like no other. For the past year, I had been working on importing ‘cooling vests’ that could prevent labourers from developing heat-related illnesses. Then, with the Charity Committee’s help, I was able to donate 200 of these in our yearly hampers that we distribute, filled with the essentials. Many DC students got up early on the weekend to distribute the hampers, providing an extremely gratifying and humbling experience.
The advice from teachers and students alike has helped me understand social enterprise to a completely new level. When previously talking about my experiences, I did not imagine that it would ever lead to attending and speaking at an event filled with philanthropists and celebrities, such as Huda Kattan, Eva Longoria and Deepak Chopra, all of whom I have admired for many years. However, our school was able to help me turn my ambitions into reality. Speaking in front of dignitaries about what philanthropy truly means is, in my opinion, always extremely important and has provided me with an invaluable experience. I would like to thank Miss Shah, Mrs. Hall, Mrs. Bruce from Harmony House, and the Charity Committee for their support and encouragement throughout my journey so far. Moreover, we have maintained placing philanthropy at the forefront of our community, along with our other core values, through holding philanthropic events this term, such as Music Charity Love and numerous bake sales that have raised money for various charitable causes.
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SPOTLIGHT ON:
THE YEAR 7 LIAISON PROGRAMME are having a
For the majority of us, it has been a while since the word Liaison has even crossed our minds but for year 7s, 8s and a handful of sixth formers, the liaison programme is an important aspect of how we spend our time here in the Dubai College community. Each Year 7 and 8 class have 4 designated sixth formers who organise fun activities to fill up their tutor times and help run ageold dc events such as induction day, fun day and of course the legendary year 7 barbecue. It was only until I had the pleasure of becoming a liaison myself, that I was able to truly appreciate how special the entire experience is. During the past two years I have spent as a year 7 liaison, there has not been a single moment I have regretted it. For reasons I can’t really explain (/put into words?), I have no problem giving up my time to make someone’s experience at Dubai College better, because ultimately, it’s what my liaisons did for me, and it’s my form of giving back to DC what DC gave to me. Like anything, you get as much out of the liaison program as you take, and I encourage everyone involved to fully take advantage of every opportunity you get. So how do you become a liaison? Well, at the beginning of year 12 the teacher who is in charge of the program for the year will send out an email advertising the opportunity and encouraging you to write an application. My best advice is to just be honest about why you’d like to get involved and perhaps talk a little about a few of your best memories with your own liaisons. What’s really important is that you show you’re empathetic, friendly and not too busy to give up your free time to take on the responsibilities of the role.
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What attracted me to the liaison programme was the concept of it being a bridge between the two polar year groups of the DC Community. Age truly is just a number and I have found myself genuinely enjoying the company of my witty and funny year 7s, whether it be in form time or chatting with them around the school at lunchtime. I especially love that the dynamic is very sibling-like. As the youngest in my family, I have never had the chance to take on the role of the elder and being a liaison has filled that gap. I hope some of you older kids reading this, take the opportunity when it arises as it really is rewarding. And for you year 7s and 8s, don’t forget to fully take advantage of your liaisons and what they have to offer you, because even though some of us may just say that we are doing it "'cause it looks good on a uni application" (I guess this has something to do with street cred?), the truth is that we were once exactly in your shoes, and we really are here to support you and lend a hand.
Nitya Thawani
7BST with their Sixth Form Liaisons
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Why did you apply to be a liaison? Hamzah Hashim
Because it looked good on my personal statement
15 I looked up to my own liaisons when I was in Year 7 and I wanted to do what they did for me, for others
Ibani Hattangadi
What do you enjoy about being a Liaison? Tom Jarvis
I enjoy the way they look up to me and how they always say hi to me when they see me around school
I enjoy mentoring my class but most importantly, just being their friend
Jaahnvi Shastri
Susana Domene
TELEVISION REVIEW
ENTERTAINMENT The OA
Two years ago, the first season of The OA aired its finale, sparking feelings of anger, confusion and potentially awe. The show has returned this past March, finally giving viewers a chance to resolve their biggest doubts. Or has it? Having earned a huge variety of mixed reviews, the Netflix sci-fi supernatural drama is fully dependent on the viewer to set aside any potential judgements and embrace its lack of logic to even begin to understand it. It becomes extremely easy for the audience to be surprised at the lack of irony of certain elements of the plot, which range from a talking octopus, to an apparent cult between five teenagers and their teacher with their performanceart-like ritualistic dances.
Does this stem from a lack of awareness in the producers, or an intellectual attempt to make viewers reconsider their definition of ‘acceptable’? Some critics may even argue that its pretentious storyline is only to be deciphered by those pretentious enough to overanalyse it.
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However, it is only fair to credit the extreme confidence with which the show exhibits its message, holding it together with unapologetic amounts of abstraction and beautifully experimental cinematography. The plot not only has a ‘treasure hunt’ narrative, but the episodes themselves are also full of various artistic references to be spotted by potential art history fans. Despite its often-diluted storyline, the mind-bending and intriguing season inspires relief for most viewers, offering a unique and radical change from most existing series. Those who decide to strip themselves of their cynicism and their need for answers may find themselves absorbed in this dreamlike storyline; it is fair to say that the value of The OA is entirely up to interpretation.
Our Planet Our Planet has possibly proved itself to be one of the most ambitious nature series ever created. The multimillion-dollar, eight-part documentary series was filmed over four years by six hundred crew members in fifty countries. The stunning 4K cinematography leaves many commenting in disbelief that certain shots must have been a product of CGI, due to the impossibility of their definition and composition.
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As for our soloists, the audience applauded Hireena Hans and Maisie Harvey, and our very own Mr. Tate made the Croom go wild with Ignition, ending the concert on a very high note. In fact, the taste of DC/AC hung behind students’ palates so well, that they demanded to host a second concert to relive the excitement. The Sixth Form reunited on December 12th for a round two of holiday themed performances, greeting the players Lively acoustics, talented voices and an eager audience, last term’s with the same enthusiasm as the first time. DC/AC’s were of great success.
L E A
W A K I M
DC/AC: acoustics and applauses In the Sixth Form Centre’s Common Room, musicians from both year 12 and 13 showcased their talents before teachers and students. The first DC/AC, held on the 14th of October, featured DC’s renowned year 12 bands, Ritvik Ramnath and Kaivalya Vohra, performing Valerie, and the Broken Ninths' Aryan Oberoi, Suryansh Loya and Tom Jarvis giving us a taste of early 20th century jazz.
Our bands were back, with Ritvik, Kaivalya and Ajay playing Mistletoe to melt our hearts and Suryansh, Tom and Viraj, who, despite amusing technical difficulties, brought a smile to our faces with yet another jazz-style performance. Our soloists too, welcoming back Hireena with a mellow Santa Baby. New duos were introduced with Annabelle Style and Francesca Hall singing Hallelujah and for a little surprise to end the concert, a duet by Pranav Ponvannan and our head boy, Kristian Kolandjian. We can all agree that a tradition such as DC/AC is a favorite of all of us here in the Sixth Form. Can we hope for a part three?
Dubai College’s 9th ‘Music, Charity, Love’ began with an emotional rendition of ‘I Used To Feel Bad,’ by Ellen Jones, followed by an incredible original song by Mariam, titled, ‘The Answer.’As the only classical piece in the show, Xiaolin’s ‘Etude No. 1’ was an unorthodox addition, yet the applause that he received was nothing less than raucous. A fastpaced medley of songs by Fahtini and Kira, complete with its own rap solo, brought a brisk change of pace, but they were not to be outdone by the array of acts featuring a variety of instruments and vocal harmonies that followed. The signature Dubai College blend of individuality and confidence shown by each performer was a note that was sustained by each and every musician that soft, twinkly evening. Meanwhile, parents, friends, and teachers–many of whom were accompanied by their adorable young ones–picnicked or simply lounged on the grass, the deckchairs, or on the benches, enjoying both the music and the cool winter breeze. Busy in the background was the charity committee crew, who were working hard selling various goodies from cupcakes to cookies made by our very own students (or their parents!)
N A V I K A
A G R A W A L
Music, Charity, Love
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In addition to hot shawarmas and delicious ice-creams, raffle tickets were being sold–one lucky winner of the evening received the superb prize of one free teeth-whitening session! For the penultimate act, Pranav and James swelled spirits with an energetic cover of Queen’s ‘Don’t Stop Me Now’, which received a roaring applause filled with whoops and cheers. To round off the evening, as well as their time at DC, the Year 13s got on stage to deliver a heartfelt, if cacophonous, rendition of ‘Lucid Dreams’.
A whopping AED 17,000 were raised: as always, MCL has proved the strength of the DC family as teachers, students, parents, caretakers and performers alike came together to create what one student described as "a wonderful night of community and togetherness.” Here’s to the power of music, charity, and love
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AKSHIT GOEL
TEDX YOUTH You stand on stage as the whole world leans in to hear your apprehension. Breaths are held, eyes gaze and minds think aloud. The puppets of change are controlled by your hands, the ability to inspire is held by your voice and the ideas of tomorrow are driven by your thoughts. The TEDx stage this year not only boasts speakers from various cultures and schools, but also showcases an omnibus with diverse talks that are agents of reform. Judging over 50 auditions for this year’s event, Mr. Stormont, Ms. O Dwyer, Aakanksha and I were left spellbound with the ideas presented to us; perhaps all worth spreading. Be it black holes or big data, almost every aspect of humanity was touched in our journey towards deciding the lineup, despite the seemingly directive theme ‘Back to the Future.’ Often as soon as speakers departed, our team was immediately divided on who to select and set into debate. Our selected speakers all question what it means to be a citizen of the 21st century: to some it means having equal yet unfair rights and to others it exemplifies being at the forefront of imminent technological revolutions. To us organizers, it is having the power to empower the youth; to ensure that each idea gets a voice on a stage as reputed as TEDx.
Some ideas being spread introspect and delve deeper into the quality of human nature. Alisha Ahmad and Himakshi Shastri bring to light pertinent concerns regarding individuality and tradition by speaking about geographical identity and family relationships respectively. On the other side of the spectrum, some use learnings from the past to reflect and build as people, doing justice to our theme. Despite being heavily STEM-based, Ishaan Alidina and Arman Jasuja both advocate a more flexible approach to problems, rather than a widely accepted limiting approach. All our speakers, including those from JESS, JC, LSG and WIS are guaranteed to bring a shift in your perspective and your nature of life. Perhaps our most moving speaker is 8-yearold Adam El Rafey who’s learnt complex graduate-level quantum physics while still being in Year 4. His passion to drive change and bring seemingly restricted education to the youth embodies the spirit of the event, extracting meaningful ideas from tomorrow’s generation. If you feel thrilled at the prospect of speaking at such a stage and have an idea that you’d like to share, don’t hesitate to get in touch with our team. Even if you’d just like to volunteer at our upcoming event after the summer, feel free to talk to Inaya Nagji or Ansh Tandon who will be steering our ship this coming fall!
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HUMANS OF DC (A variati on)
"I'm Welsh" - Mr. House, 2019
"Should we pose like we're actually doing something?"
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"Can we do fortnite dances for this?" - 7BST "lads"
""If it's not a good picture I don't want it in the magazine" - Manny
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An Open Letter to Youth
Kasia Truscott
Dawn sends us its blazing rays over the electric blue. Stand high on the rocks, look towards the lightning path from the shore to the horizon. Blink towards the sun that has brought us the day we were never promised; We are the oldest we have ever been, the youngest we will ever be yet. With open arms, stand wide – Hear the present scream your name, let the past whisper it. We have come to reclaim the colours of the day – The future is all ours.
Se e yo u ne xt is
su
e!
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