l Senior School News

from Whole School Newsletter T3 AY 2021/22

by North London Collegiate School Dubai

l Message from The Principal

Senior School News

HOUSE COMPETITIONS

By Georgia Ward

It has been an exciting term of House Competitions and whilst excited about my new role as Head of House I am sad to be leaving my role as House Competition Coordinator a er such a successful and eventful year of competitions. I have thoroughly enjoyed watching students compete and try themselves out in sports, arts, and academic competitions throughout the year. I am sure that an array of wonderful competitions lies ahead next year, and students will continue to show leadership, grit, and determination through these events.

Term three began with an excellent House Netball competition in which Jais were the overall champions. Throughout lunchtime, students came to cheer on their House in the Sports Hall and watched as Houses fiercely competed in a round robin style tournament. This was closely followed by the House Art competition. Run by Mrs. Michaels and the Art Department, the theme for House Art this year was 'Letters and Words'. A fantastic range of drawing, digital art and collage were created by each House and the final exhibition of works was displayed in House spaces before an overall winner was chosen. The top five pieces of artwork from each House were critiqued and points were given by three judges. The overall winners for this competition were Hafeet for the second year running. Hafeet also played their joker card for this competition so gained double points for the win.

House Drama is a highly anticipated event in which students have been working on directing, scripting and acting their own devised piece. The results for House Basketball, House Handball, House Drama and the overall 2022 House champions are due to be announced in the final end of term assembly on the last day of term. I wish all Houses luck in these final competitions and congratulate the winning House on their e orts.

HOUSE JAVI

By Lee Garrett

Another great term, and another brilliant time for Javians. The Javi House spirit of everything is possible has once again been demonstrated by all those involved in netball, basketball, handball, drama and art. The House Handball competition within PHE lessons gave everybody an opportunity to participate and be part of the Javi Team. There were some incredible moments of leadership, courage, collaboration and teamwork. When witnessing these special acts of leadership, communication, commitment and enjoyment, the outcome of the result becomes irrelevant as character strengths are harnessed.

Term 3 also, saw the change of roles and responsibilities. The new captaincy and their assistants swi ly sprang into action and immediately started to organise and plan for the remaining house competitions or for next year.

As we head into the final few days of the academic year, I would like to thank the Javi community for all their support, hard work, and commitment. It has been a highly successful year and we have much to celebrate. The achievements have not just been confined to house events but are also included inside the classroom, extra-curricular activities, societies, school production, assemblies and personal development. Upon reflection, it is impressive what has been achieved in 1 year.

Finally, the summer vacation is a great opportunity to ‘try yourself out’ and explore. Use this time to unwind, relax and spend some quality time with family, friends and loved ones. I would like to wish the whole Javi family a safe and wonderful vacation and I look forward seeing Javians participate in new and exciting opportunities next year.

By Chris May

This year, the members of Jais House have demonstrated what it is to be a member of a House at NLCS Dubai. Across all competitions, they have thrown themselves into trying themselves out be that on the sporting field or on the PAC stage and everything in-between. My highlight, of course, is the wonderful, magical performance of our torch lit song at House Music. A performance that showed everyone is able to come together, sing in tune with dynamics and feelings which made audience members gasp! Another highlight, and a rare win for us this year, was netball. To see many non-players down in the sports hall cheering and supporting our players was an inspiration. There is a lot of work to be done moving into the sixth year of Jais being in existence. As we move to vertical tutor groups, I am confident that the house will become even more tight, and we can really get back to winning ways.

I want to also pay tribute to those students who have used the House system to advance their leadership skills be they appointed leaders who have organised and persuaded others to participate or those who have stepped up to lead during House Drama, which, for the first time, I won’t be able to see. To know that I can leave such a mammoth task to students fills me with confidence for the future and exemplifies what wonderful leaders we have within Jais House.

We are a diverse bunch of bears with many di erent skills. Winning is not everything but the skills we learn along the way are! However, I hope everyone can use their own talents next year so we can rise back to the top with a jam-packed trophy cabinet once again. Have a wonderful summer break and I look forward to working with you all for another year!

By Laura Dunn

What a fantastic year it has been for Yibir! At the time of writing, we are still at the top of the leader board for House Competitions, following a particularly successful win in House Public Speaking for which we played our joker and received double points. This was a particularly memorable evening in school, with passionate and inspiring performances from each team. Another win secured for House Basketball has kept us in first place, for now. However, it is still all to play for with House Drama this week.

A particular thanks to the student leaders (Alya Lootah, Emilia Herrera, Asa Mittal and Eva Joudrey) who have planned and delivered the House Drama rehearsals, as well as carrying out auditions and writing the script. Your leadership, patience and creativity is to be admired. It has been truly amazing to see students from di erent Grades working together and bringing the House spirit to life again.

Well done to all students in Yibir for their hard work and dedication throughout the year. I look forward to seeing what 2022-2023 will bring!

By Emma Dawson

What a year Hafeet have had. The “Strength is in our Pack” has been evident in all that we have done and the students have truly shone. I am so very proud of each and every one of them.

House Art has always been an area of strength for Hafeet, and we strategically played our “joker” on this event. With encouragement and motivation from House Captains, Hafeet had the highest number of entries from all four Houses. The plan paid o , and with Hafeet winning the competition it meant double points for the House! There were some beautiful and thought provoking pieces of art, and the level of talent blew me away. Huge congratulations to everyone who took part and submitted an entry. Particular congratulations to our finalists.

House Drama has been a fabulous team e ort. The writing of scripts, practicing lines, creating props, and managing and directing over 100 students on stage – the students have been just incredible and have had so much fun in creating something together – a superb example of House Spirit. As I write this overview, we are in the finals stages of rehearsals and looking forwards to a brilliant performance as part of Arts Festival.

Our new student leadership team is flourishing in their roles. They have been leading House competitions, supporting each other and truly rebuilding connections with each other.

As we reach the end of another academic year, I want to wish all of you a safe and relaxing summer holiday. To those of you are relocating to new countries, we wish you well and please stay in touch. Once a Hafeetian, always a Hafeetian!

By Kate Abery

We were very happy to be able to resume hosting of the annual Careers Fair. Sixty students from G9 and others across the school were fortunate to meet professionals from a wide variety of career fields: entrepreneurs, lawyers, business leaders and owners, medical professionals, financial experts, designers, a TV producer and a CNBC news anchor. It was fantastic to hear so many inspirational stories.

Drama Week

By Jennifer Durston

Drama week started with an assembly where students reflected on the power of communication. Looking at the importance of non-verbal communication such as facial expressions and body language. The prestigious House Drama Competition was launched allowing students time to think creatively. This double point competition will no doubt see NLCS students’ imagination run wild!

The Film and Drama Society delivered thought provoking assembly exploring how films can have a lasting e ect on society. Touching on topics such as freedom of speech, propaganda films and how film can a ect a person’s mental wellbeing.

Grade 5 students have had the opportunity to take part in a Drama lesson in preparation for starting the Senior School next academic year. A fun filled workshop exploring how actors focus, develop characters and utilise a variety of characterisation skills to convey di erent roles.

Grade 9 Drama students took part in an acting workshop led by Kevin Tomlinson, Creative Director of Kepow Theatre. The workshops aimed to allow students to be more creative and less critical of themselves. To be bolder and freer in front of an audience; casting director; or in life, in general. The workshop gave students more, unusual acting techniques to devise their own creative work. This acting and improvisation workshop was designed to make performers bolder and more interesting actors.

The week ended with Mrs. Durston leading a fascinating Nicholson Lecture exploring how theatres globally have reacted to the Covid 19 pandemic. Extraordinary examples of how theatre companies are including technology into performances to meet the needs of younger audience members. Including the use of avatars, virtual realities and the audience directing the action of the productions.

Bugsy Malone/ Summer Concert

By Jennifer Durston

Students performed in a double bill highlighting their musical talents in a Promenade Summer Music Concert followed by a rip-roaring performance of Bugsy Malone. It was wonderful to see so many students on stage as well as backstage to allow for a highly successful evening. The Summer Music Concert paid homage to our founding school in London with songs from the British Isles. Notably, the orchestra was led by Suemin Park in Grade 8. The performance of Bugsy Malone thrilled audiences, where they met would-be- hoodlums and showgirls in a slapstick musical comedy. A fun evening full of mayhem and splurge!

Grade 10 MYP Personal Project Exhibition

By Jennifer Durston

Grade 10 students had the opportunity to showcase their personal projects to the rest of the NLCS community. The Personal Project is a core component of the MYP Certificate. Students develop a project based on a personal interest allowing them to develop ATL skills such as research, thinking, self-management, communication and social skills. Vital skills needed as they move into the DP and beyond. Projects this year included cryptocurrency books, fashion and feminism exhibit, coaching websites, cookery books and much more.

Grade 8 MYP Community Project Exhibition

By Laura Kanyerezi

On the a ernoon of Thursday 16th June, the school atrium was echoing with the sounds of Grade 8 students excitedly explaining their Community Projects to their parents, teachers, and peers. A er two years of online exhibitions, it was wonderful to see the physical evidence of the learning that has taken place on display.

Over the course of this year-long project, Grade 8s have shown themselves to be caring members of the community who have demonstrated a personal commitment to service and acted to make a positive di erence in the lives of others and to the environment. Having completed the MYP Projects Inquiry Cycle - investigating, planning, taking action, and reflecting - it was clear to see that the students’ Approaches To Learning were strengthened in the process.

It was wonderful to hear Grade 8 giving their advice to the Grade 7s who will carry out their own learning journeys next year. “Start early” and “do something you are passionate about” are just some of the excellent pieces of wisdom shared from experience.

Huge thanks go to our parent community and teacher supervisors for their support throughout the year. Well done Grade 8 students!

GRADUATION CLASS OF 2022

By Alistair Wood

We were delighted to be able to hold our first ever ‘in-person with parents’ graduation ceremony this past weekend to celebrate the Class of 2022. Lots of smiles, memories and even some tears (of the happy kind) as we acknowledged the completion of their school education. A big thank you to their teachers and our G12 parents who have played a key role in supporting these students through a challenging couple of years. They can be very proud of what they have achieved so far and we look forward to seeing the amazing things that they will achieve in the future as they move onto some fantastic universities and beyond.

Go well Class of 2022! As Old North Londoners, you will always be welcome back to visit!

By Stephen Abery

On Friday, Grade 11 completed the Theory of Knowledge Exhibition. This assessment task requires students to display 3 objects that link to one of 35 knowledge related prompts set by the IBO, such as ‘should some knowledge not be sought on ethical grounds?’ Our Grade 11 students did a fantastic job of justifying their choices and stimulating some very thought-provoking conversations with the audience. A large part of the audience was the returning Grade 10 students, getting a taste for what awaits them next year. A key element of Theory of Knowledge is to consider claims from a variety of viewpoints and in some instances, the visitors were able to o er up some new perspectives that may help the students develop their work further, before their final submission on Tuesday.

By Kate Abery

In the most competitive year on record for University applications, we are proud that our students obtained o ers and acceptances from fantastic Colleges around the world. Members of our third graduating class will be joining alumni in studying a wide range of subjects – from Film and Art to Engineering and Psychology – in the USA, Canada, UK, Ireland, The Netherlands, Italy, the UAE and New Zealand.

The institutions who accepted our students this year include (but are not limited to) NYUAD, Bocconi, Luiss University Rome, Sciences Po, University of Amsterdam, ESCP, IE University Spain, University College Dublin (Medicine), University of Central Lancashire (Medicine), Cambridge, LSE, UCL, CalArts, University of Toronto, Boston University, Georgia Tech, Carnegie Mellon, St Andrews, King’s College London, UC San Diego, UC Davis and UCLA.