LIBRARY FIRST SCHOOL

The First School Library collection has continued to grow with a new collection of board-books and picture books for our very youngest children. The library has a generous collection of Easy Reads for children learning to read as well as non-fiction books for information to help with homework and general interests. We also have, of course, books related to the Units of Inquiry which help both teachers and students in general, complementing their learning in the classroom. Perhaps of particular interest is our large collection of books related to .

This collection is full of picture books, quick reads and non-fiction which all the students enjoy exploring. We are particularly pleased with the growing collection reflecting the United Arab Emirates and its culture, values and traditions.

Since February in the First School library, we have been introducing students from Pre-KG to G1 to how the library works and how to be respectful and kind in the library and especially when looking after books. When classes come to the FS library students are encouraged to choose books they would like to read. Then the librarian reads a story, often related to their current class focus.

We are looking forward to transforming the library into an ‘Enchanted Reading Garden’ to inspire and engage our youngest readers, in the very near future.

A YEAR OF “FIRSTS” AND “RETURNS”

By: Nicola Woodroffe, Director of ECAs

Trips embellished the Grade 9 cultural heritage knowledge on the new drop-down days, Whilst Basement 46 Drama is established and delivered some wonderful student scripted plays, At the Interschool Ski Championships, we are awarded the 3rd fastest giant slalom school in the UAE, With Bronze and Silver firmly taken hold, we look forward to our first gold awardees, Competing in the first Inter-Schools sailing regatta we progressed and had fun in the sun, We hosted a Senior Aquathon NLCS, hoping to qualify for the finals at Hamdan and we won! The return of the NLCS MUN conference saw students from different grades flock, Whilst debating teams went against under schools under the clock, Lunch time of societies and music ECAs, So many of you signed up, we can safely say they will be here to stay, The excitement of the return of Desert Dance and House Swimming gala caused somewhat of a splash.

Invited to a MFL Language Competition at the last minute at JESS, we took part in a dash! Service opportunities in Nepal provided memories up in Katmandu, Whilst team building and zip lines at Aventura were welcomed by Grade 2 With environmental activities on Sir Banias Island and in Showker during the first ever Bryant week, The Grade 3’s had fun at UAQ marine park with strong memories to keep, A trip to the World War 11 battlefields for Grade 8 built up subject passion no doubt.

How many opportunities were you involved with? How did you try yourself out?

This year, alongside our traditional and popular ECAs, we welcomed new a wide range of new ECAs to the programme across the school including Zoology, glass painting, scrabble, and Portuguese, lifesaving and community choir. In the Junior School, new lunch time music ECAs such as Lower School Choir and Junior Orchestra captured the hearts of many students alongside the ever-increasing menu of academic societies. It is true to say that every available slot, before school, lunch and after school activities the school was buzzing with students making the most of multiple opportunities to learn outside the classroom and contribute to school life in different ways.

So many of the activities demonstrated how well our wonderful students collaborate between grades, including during the NLCS MUN conference, Debating, the Oasis Magazine and Orchestra. The Lower School enjoyed a plethora of exciting day trips including visits to the Dubai Safari Park, the Museum of the Future, Green Planet, Butterfly Garden, Aventura, Jam Jar, Rain Room Woohoo, Adventure HQ, Sharjah Planetarium, Oli Oli, Alya light and the Al Ain Bio Farm to provide inspiration and connection to units of inquiry.

The Senior School enjoyed taking part events in the community including the Literature Festival, Dubai Schools Super Science league, MFL Languages Competition, and Singapore online MUN. Offsite, the geography field trips assessed urban inequalities and coastal Management and provided students from different grades the opportunity to collect and analyse data. Grade 11 and Grade 12 students visited the New York University in Abu Dhabi to help shape views on educational paths post NLCS.

The biggest highlight of the year for many of our students was the opportunity to make new memories and new friends, learning and leaving our mark on some usual places along the way. During the Lower School Bryant week, the Grade 5 left their legacy by planting mangroves on Sir Banias Island, Grade 4 identified fish in the Indian ocean for the government register, Grade 3 learnt how to purify water and kayak. The Grade 8 students paid homage to those who lost their lives in World War 11 by visiting the battlefields. The biggest impact left by NLCS students this year was through the service trip to Nepal. Students from Grade 9 and above immersed themselves fully with hearts and minds as they built a biogas chamber for local villagers in the South of Nepal, which will for the next forty years, help protect the natural environment, by providing clean energy production and protect wild elephants, rhinos and tigers. What a year!

“Much is expected from whom most is given”