Al Sedra Newsletter 34

23rd May 2019

Sing it loud

YOUR WEEKLY UPDATE ON ALL THAT’S GOING ON AT THE GULF ENGLISH SCHOOL

23rd May 2019

INFANTS The Infants Choir did a magnificent job at the recent Whole School Music Concert. Our traditional Japanese clothes in a myriad of colours looked absolutely spectacular on stage.

We started with a very active and fun rendition of ‘Funga Alafia’ hailing from Ghana. We had Johnny, Lama, Sharifa and Christopher playing traditional djembe drums, which were combined with complex rhythmic patterns made up of body percussion. We were confident on stage and had a whale of a time seeing our families and loved ones supporting us.

We then sang ‘I love it here in Japan’, and ode to Japan with glockenspiel and hand bells. It was a cheerful and uplifting song, enjoyed by all of the audience.

All of the children worked super hard and we are so very proud of their achievements. Well done!

23rd May 2019

JUNIORS Junior school students have had a short but exciting third term in music. Year Three and Four students have been learning how to write music symbols such as the treble and bass clefs, and various notes and rests. They have done their theory in bright colours, filling two workbooks.

Year Five and Six students learnt about the stave and the letter names of notes in the treble and the bass clefs.

Students have learnt to read rhythmic notation, using French time names. They applied this knowledge to playing the crocodile game- a bridge is built of rhythm cards, and all who read fluently can cross.

The one who make a mistake, gets eaten by the crocodile puppet, and then gets the chance to be the crocodile that eats the next student who makes a mistake! This caused a lot of laughter and excellent learning!

Older students played a more advanced game called ‘Swat!’ The class is divided into four teams. One student from each team sits on the corner of a square containing seven rhythm cards. The teacher claps one of the rhythms, and the student who swats the correct card first with a brightly coloured fly swat, gets the mark. This was a very competitive game- we had a lot of fun while learning to read rhythms and react quickly.

We were visited by musicians from the Qatar Music Academy. Students were introduced to brass instruments by Rachel Seay and had the opportunity to try out playing the trumpet. It was a most enjoyable visit, and our students’ behaviour was exemplary throughout the event.

The annual school concert was the highlight of the musical year. The theme was ‘The Rhythm of Life.’

Everything in life has a rhythm - walking, talking, jumping, breathing! Movement is the rhythm of life!

This was a celebration of the diverse cultures and nations of the earth and their rhythms. We meet people from so many foreign countries in Qatar, and we wanted to celebrate this diversity. Our students performed songs and music from many different countries. This is part of developing a deeper understanding of other peoples and cultures. Solo performances by various instrumentalists and singers completed the picture.

Gwen Stevens, in 5 ML, played a cheeky piano piece with great flair. Maroushka Fernandes played a catchy piece on the violin from ‘West Side Story’, and Tasneem Abu Issa, 6GC, sang ‘Castle on a Cloud’ from ‘Les Miserable’. Congratulations to you all on your excellent performances!

A choir with 67 members concluded the Junior School performance. Mr. Tim Jackson accompanied ‘Skip to my Lou’ on his harmonica. This gave a wonderful authentic sound to the American folk song.

Students sang beautifully in the lively ‘Obwisana’, a travelling song from Ghana. They ended with ‘Sing’, written in 2012 for the Queen of England’s Jubilee celebration. Four soloists sang the various solo parts: Tasneem Abu Issa in 6 GC, Omar Radi in 6 BL, Saad Al Qtaibi and Dhabia Al Sulaiti in 4 MS. It was a memorable performance.

This has been a fruitful and happy year in the Junior School Music Department.

23rd May 2019

SECONDARY Our Year 7 cohort are using spreadsheets to create working models based on set scenarios.

They are using formulas to run multiple functions so calculations can be performed in an automated manner. Many students have taken this as a challenge and welcomed this topic very positively.

Students across Year 8 have been learning about the purpose of databases and where they are used in our society. They will go on to create their own databases using professional software dedicated for this.

Year 9 students will not be doing ICT next year and have been given workbooks related to the intermediate level ICT skills they may require when doing their IGCSE subjects next year. They will be taking these home at the end of the topic and can refer to them to build on their skills in their own time at home.

23rd May 2019

CONTACT The Gulf English School PO Box 2440, Doha, Qatar Main School: Tel: +974 44578777 Main School: Fax: +974 44861256 Infant Unit: Tel: +974 44886791/90 +974 44886201/93 Infant Unit: Fax: +974 44876821

Email: info@gulfenglishschool.com

Website: www.gulfenglishschool.com