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l Senior School News

Senior School News

HOUSE COMPETITIONS

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By Georgia Ward

It has been an exciting and diverse term of House Competitions involving a variety of sports and academic events. Mrs. Monaghan led the Spelling Bee at the start of the term in which Hafeet became champions, spelling a wide variety of complex words aloud to the audience. The following competition was House Chess. The students who took part in House Chess required focus, resilience, stamina, and studiousness. Mr. Riddler ran a round robin style chess tournament, which was eventually won by Yibir. House Rounders involved some exceptional fielding, batting, and bowling. Well done to Jais who won their first competition of the year, becoming 2022 champions of House Rounders.

House Badminton was run by Mr. Bland and a fantastic opportunity was provided for students to join Ms. Powell and Lin in the Badminton ECA to train for the competition. Sports Day was worth double, being the most important competition of the term. House spirit was in full swing as students cheered on both sta and students in a range of events. It was excellent to see mentoring between students in Houses and the Sports Captains taking on responsibility and leadership on the day. What a wonderful way to end term two House events – I cannot wait to see the results in term three of our final House competitions of the year.

HOUSE JAIS

By Chris May

Spring term has been an interesting one for Jais House. We have continued to strive for success with somewhat mixed results but for those who know me well, it is not the winning that matters, it is the fun we have trying to win that makes being in Jais so great. We did win rounders this year, which being the ‘largest of all the trophies, is an added bonus. I am incredibly proud of all the students who have stepped up in competitions such as spelling bee, public speaking and of course, sports day.

As we move towards the end of term, our focus turns to leadership. It is at this time of the year that we say thank you to those who have served the last 12 months as House leaders. Isabelle as House Captain, Elias as Sports Captain, Josefina as Vice House Captain, Naba as Assistant House Captain, Allegra as Assistant Sports Captain and Jiwoo and Francesco as members of the Student Council. I am pleased to announce that we have a wonderful new team who will start the Summer term as our leaders. Josefina will be our new House Captain supported by Avdesh as Vice House Captain and Maxima as Assistant House Captain. Our new Sports Captain will be Ethan supported by Tom as Assistant Sports Captain.

Next term will see a newly created student council with representatives from all grades and houses working together to be the voice of the school and also to organise a myriad of events throughout the year. I also want to thank all those who applied.

My saying, ‘it is just as important to lead from within as it is to lead from the front’ could not be more applicable. Finally, I wish all those in Grade 10 and 12 good luck in their exams. I hope that all will walk into the exam hall with confidence and walk our with pride.

HOUSE HAFEET

By Emma Dawson

Spring Term has been a wonderful time for Hafeet students. It started with a well-deserved victory in House Spelling, with our Hafeetians bravely taking to the stage with superb spelling skills on show. House Chess saw some incredibly intense games, with significant victories in the younger grade levels.

Sports Day was a shining example of all that it is be a Hafeetian – students trying themselves out, supporting one another and hours of encouragement and positivity! Certainly a great day for all involved.

This time of year is also one of change. Whilst looking back I would like to express our thanks and gratitude to the student leadership team of Marta, Elly, Ceclia, Oliver and Mona. They have worked tirelessly throughout the year to motivate, inspire and support all members of the House. They have embodied the spirit of Hafeet and led by example in all that they do.

With almost 40 applications for positions of leadership, it has been wonderful to read students carefully cra ed, well thought out letters and the passion for greater involvement. When speaking to our students I have encouraged them to all to get fully involved and reiterated that leadership is not defined by a title. We now welcome in our new leadership team of Cecilia as House Captain, Hannah as Vice-Captain, Sannat at Assistant Captain Max as Sport Captain and Mona as Vice-Sport Captain.

HOUSE YIBIR

By Mrs Laura Dunn

Congratulations and well done to Yibir for their continued success in House Competitions this year. Following their win in House Music, Yibir is going from strength to strength, and they are currently at the top of the House Competitions leaderboard. A particular mention to the three soloists; Rheanna (beginner), Zihan (intermediate) and Zihao (advanced) who all performed in the solo round before being selected to play in the final. Another win was secured in House Chess, where the competition was fierce, well done to all those who competed. Unfortunately, House Rounders was not our strong point, but students are looking ahead with excitement to Sports Day and House Public Speaking.

A special thanks to the outgoing student leadership team and in particular our House Captain, Suha, who has led the House with calmness, inclusivity, and enthusiasm throughout her time in the post. Congratulations to the newly appointed Big 4 students, three of whom are from Yibir. Well done to Alya (Senior Student), Layla and Asa for securing these leadership positions and for being excellent role models to all students in the House and Senior School. It has been wonderful to see the students of Yibir return to some form of normality, using the newly updated Yibir House space. As we move into the final term of this academic year, it is important that all Yibirians remember to be ‘ready for anything!’

This term has simply been another brilliant reflection of all that is great in the Javi community. The spirit and dedication exhibited in the house competitions continuously fills me with pride regardless of the outcomes. In the recent House Rounders competition, the sheer fun and enjoyment in all age groups gave an upli ing aura and the Javian cohesive teamwork was solid. One of the highlights for me has to be the student presentations on International Day. To listen and learn about culture, music, cuisine, and national dress from around the world was very insightful.

I was extremely proud of our NLCS Dubai students on the EXPO trip. Their conduct, behaviour and cooperation were outstanding, so much so that even the tour guides complimented on how amazing they were. As we look ahead for Grade 10 and Grade 12 students, Term 3 becomes a critical point in their examination preparation. Their priority must now focus on adhering to their structured revision schedule, and I would like to wish them all the best for their upcoming examinations.

I would like to congratulate Ilyes (Grade 11) who has been recently appointed as a member of the Big 4, a prestigious a well-deserved appointment. Ilyes has been actively involved in the Javi student leadership and will now be the school’s ambassador for enrichment. Over the recent weeks, I have been interviewing students for the new Javi Leadership positions and I have to say, I was not expecting such a high number of applicants. Javi now has a new leadership team, and I am very much excited to see their skills develop and see what change they bring about in the Javi House.

As we enter a period of transition, I would like to thank all members who have helped shape the Javi ethos, culture, and values. A special mention must go to Alice (former House Captain) who has done a sterling job of organising and managing the Javi House and I wish her the best for her future university application. At the time of writing this, we have Sports day, Public Speaking, House Badminton and of course Founders Day to look forwards to and celebrate. The opportunities, events and competitions that have occurred daily this term, have helped enable us to steer our lives back into a more stimulating routine away from the mundane COVID related measures. Nevertheless, whilst we are still careful, Term 3 does fill me with optimism and excitement as there is plenty more to look forward to including House Drama, House Art, and Grade 12 Graduation.

Lastly, I hope you all have a safe, relaxing, and well-deserved Spring Break and I look forward to the ongoing strength of Javi House as we continue to work together successfully.

Science Week

By Jennifer Murphy

This term we celebrated Science during Science week at NLCS Dubai, the theme for this year was ‘Growth.’ During the senior school assembly on Monday morning, students reflected on what Science means to them and how Science continues to grow and advance with time. Over the course of the week students were immersed in activities planned to capture their interest and promote a love of the subject. In grades 6, 7 and 8, students enjoyed some bespoke lessons linked to the theme of the week. During lunch times students were wowed by ‘explosive chemistry’ demonstrations,’ participated in a science break out room and witnessed the finale of a bridge building competition.

In Grade 10 Ameera, Hams and Salayla have shown impressive dedication and resilience by starting their programme relatively late only to then complete their online record books ahead of the rest of their cohort. Joseph, Ethan, and Kayvan have shown strong leadership skills by supporting members of their teams and by carrying more equipment than they needed to support their teams, as well as taking the initiative.

Well done to everyone involved in either or both journeys, I remain extremely impressed by our students’ dedication, problem-solving, teamwork and leadership!

History Week

By Helena Wilson

History week at the start of March was a fantastic opportunity to celebrate Women’s History Month and International Women’ Day. The celebration is important to discuss and research women who have been o en overlooked. Ms. Wilson’s assembly identified the roots of inequality from prehistoric times and showed how through time has a ected language and made it gendered, as well as how male default is still prevalent in society. Students dressed as a historical character for the day and had a catwalk to showcase their outfits. A ‘padlet’ was created where students in form time could share their research and create videos celebrating women’s history. A historical fiction competition was launched for the Historical Association UK with the deadline in May. It is important to remember that Women’s history, including that of other less represented groups is taught through the curriculum of all subjects as well as at home.

The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award

By Felix Falkenberg

The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award equips young people for life. It is the world’s leading youth achievement award. Since the Award’s launch 60 years ago, it has inspired millions of young people to transform their lives. By creating opportunities for young people to develop skills, get physically active, give service and experience adventure, the Award can play a critical role in their development outside the classroom. It also allows their achievement to be consistently recognised worldwide, giving young people unique international accreditation of their experiences.

Taking part in their Duke of Edinburgh's International Award is a transformative experience. In their practice journey our students learned to rely on their team members and their own skills and had an in-depth opportunity to become more responsible by taking sensible risks as per the IB (International Baccalaureate) learner profile. In their qualifying journey, the students have been able to demonstrate how well they reflected on their experiences during the practice journey, and they were able to prove their care and consideration for one another while being out in the Kalba mountains solving their problems on their own as teams.

Hannah Grade 10 became the lead navigator of her team, because she improved her skills with map and compass tremendously during the journeys and because she has been able to show great leadership skills. Hamad Grade 9 and his team on the other handproduced and followed some of the best route cards seen in the Kalba mountains for a long time. Imaad, Maxima, Cindy and Ali in Grade 9 stood out for how well they organised their online record books and how responsible they acted during their Adventurous Journeys.

In Grade 10 Ameera, Hams and Salayla have shown impressive dedication and resilience by starting their programme relatively late only to then complete their online record books ahead of the rest of their cohort. Joseph, Ethan, and Kayvan have shown strong leadership skills by supporting members of their teams and by carrying more equipment than they needed to support their teams, as well as taking the initiative. Well done to everyone involved in either or both journeys, I remain extremely impressed by our students’ dedication, problem-solving, teamwork and leadership!

The New Big Four

“Being chosen to be part of the Big 4 and Senior Student is the greatest highlights of 2022! I aim to continue nurturing a community prioritising wellbeing to allow for optimum academic and personal achievements and progress.”

- Alya, Grade 11

“I feel honoured and privileged to serve as a member of the Big 4. I hope to provide students with new opportunities to extend themselves and explore their passions. I also aim to highlight the numerous cultures in our diverse community.”

- Asa, Grade 11

“It is a privilege to be a part of the Big 4 at NLCS Dubai this year. I am really excited for the upcoming months and look forward to taking part in allowing the school to grow and flourish.”

- Ilyes , Grade 11

“I feel honoured to have been selected as part of the NLCS Dubai Big 4. I am excited to contribute and give back to my school community that has helped me instil a motivation for learning and grasp onto new opportunities. Wonderful things to come!”

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