SZPAB June newsletter

HONORING THE PAST EDUCATING FOR THE FUTURE

SZPAB NEWSLETTER

June, 2023 volume 8

OUR MISSION

The Sheikh Zayed Private Academy aims to honor the past and educate for the future by developing confident, responsible and caring young people of integrity who are well educated and prepared to meet the challenges in an ever-changing world.

OUR VALUES

To achieve our mission, we will work to our core values which are:

Pursue excellence in all that we do Celebrate achievement and participation of all Appreciate and foster UAE National Identity

Cherish the community and the environment

Promote Emirati culture and ethical values Promote respect, responsibility, belonging and caring

Develop leadership capacity and global citizenship

Principal's Welcome

Dear Parents,

Welcome to our final newsletter of this academic year. It has certainly been a busy and very successful year at SZPAB and it has been great to share and celebrate the many achievements of our students across the school. This month has seen us celebrate our third cohort of Grade 12 graduates in a wonderful graduation event. Our auditorium was full of students, parents, staff and guests who came together to congratulate Grade 12 and wish them every success for the future. Our SZPAB Alumni continues to grow and we very much look forward to welcoming our past students back to school in the future to inspire their younger peers.

A focus for our school over the last few weeks has been supporting our students as they prepare to transition into the next grade at the end of August. This can be both an exciting and anxious time and it is therefore, very important that students are reassured that whilst there may be some things that are different in the next grade, there are many things that will be the same We look forward to welcoming many new students to SZPAB next year alongside a small number of teachers who will be joining our team.

The end of a school year is always a time for reflection. I am incredibly proud of our school and of our very special community of students, parents and staff. Our commitment to ‘Honoring the Past. Educating for the Future’ has never been stronger. The success of our students is the result of their hard work and determination, the unwavering support of their parents and the ongoing dedication and energy of our staff. As we come to the end of this school year, I would like to thank each and every member of the SZPAB community for their strength in this partnership.

On behalf of everybody at SZPAB, I wish you and your families an enjoyable Summer break. I look forward to seeing our students return to school on Monday 28th August when the new school year begins.

Yours sincerely,

Mr Neil Matthews Principal

Early Years News

Wow, what a great first year this has been for me as Head of Early Childhood here at SZPAB. I have been so impressed with how independent, smart, funny and kind your children have been during the academic year of 2022-2023.

This all culminated on Wednesday 21st June by the very special Graduation Event that we all celebrated together and shared memories of everything your children have learnt We remembered the school trips they have been on, all the different experiences they have had, all the special visitors that have been to school and the amazing events that we have held here in school (especially those where we got to dress up!)

Thank you for all of your support this year and we look forward to working with you again next year.

On behalf of myself and my team, please do have a safe and memorable summer break - see you next year!

Ms Nicola Lavis Head of Early Childhood

Miss Gillian - Assistant Head of Early Years

As we come to a close on the 2022-2023 academic year, it is amazing to look back at how our young learners have grown and progressed throughout this year. I am especially proud of the confidence and social and emotional skills the students have developed through our weekly assemblies and our social and emotional learning program. This has enabled all students to understand the feelings they experience and how to best communicate with others in a positive way, something that all students will take with them as they move onto the next grade. I am so very proud of all of the Early Years students.

It has been an incredible inaugural year for PreK at SZPAB. The children have grown so much academically and socially. They have completed many exciting activities, projects, and studies. The children know all about recycling, balls, building, clothes, and exercise. We have also had many events such as International Day, Fairytale Day, Winter Festival, water day, and the teddy bear picnic

They have also worked together to make the class extra special. Seeing the children’s excitement in learning has been the best part of each day.

Miss Natalie - PreK

It has been an amazing school year for our KG1 students, and we are thrilled to be able to share it with you.

Some highlights of the year include celebrating our National Day in December. Our KG1 students learned about the rich history, traditions, and values that make our country unique. The students dressed in traditional attire and actively participated in traditional dances, games, storytelling, and eating delicious Emirati treats. In March, we celebrated the iconic author Dr. Seuss's birthday, a day filled with imaginative storytelling, character dress-up, and encouraging the joy of reading for years to come

One of our memorable field trips took place at the National Aquarium this month, where our little KG1 explorers immersed themselves in the wonders of marine life and gained knowledge about different aquatic animals. This hands-on experience sparked their curiosity and deepened their understanding of the natural world around us.

We, the KG1 teachers, have been honored to be a part of your child's educational journey during this current school year. As we near the end of the academic year, we have been working hard to ensure that all KG1 students are equipped with the necessary skills and confidence to transition smoothly to KG2. Over the holidays, we encourage you to speak with your children and get them excited and prepared for KG2. Thank You parents for all your support and encouragement this year. We will always value and cherish the partnership in your child’s education and are super proud of all that our KG1 students have achieved this year. We wish everybody an amazing summer vacation and all the success for KG2.

Miss Chloe - KG1 Grade Leader

Miss Anna - KG2 Grade Leader

This year has been filled with curiosity, discoveries and joy for both students and teachers We always call Term 3 the ‘light bulb’ term where we really see learning 'click' for children as they uncover their greatest potential. KG2 have become readers, writers, scientists, explorers and adventurers. Children showed they can now read through our Read, Write Inc programme, they have excelled in our mathematics skills through our Singapore Math programme and have also ventured out on field trips to Little World, Um Al Emarat Park and Bounce. Students have continued to be kind friends, learned ways to express themselves, communicate with others, share and take turns. It has been a year to remember and we cannot wait for the adventures that await us in Grade 1

Miss Laura - Grade 1 Grade Leader

This year has been an incredible learning journey for our Grade 1 students. It fills me with pride to see the progress that has been made by our students, both across the curriculum and in their journey of becoming lifelong learners. Children have excelled in reading this year through our Read Write Inc programme, becoming confident in segmenting and blending new words and reading with increased fluency. They have become established authors, writing fairy tales and opinion pieces and mastered a plethora of math skills We have enjoyed trips to Little World, Splatter Rooms and Airmania. Students have learned what it takes to be a future leader and are very excited to continue their journey at SZPAB in Grade 2.

Elementary Update

Dear Parents,

We have had a very successful and action-packed year. This year we have introduced a new mathematics program with Singapore Maths. My teachers and the students have been challenged and working hard, improving their knowledge and understanding. We are happy to say that we have seen great results. In our recent MAP assessments, we saw a big jump in the number of students meeting expectations in the Math test. While we have been improving steadily over the years this was a big increase and I am very proud of the achievements of our students

The SZPAB Elementary team thanks you for your support this year and wish all our students and families a happy and well-deserved summer break. We look forward to welcoming you back at the end of August.

Mr Rhys Flavell - Elementary Principal

Final Assembly

This month in Grade 3 we bid farewell to our amazing girls as they embark on their journey to the Girls’ School.

They will be missed immensely, and we wish them all the best on their new adventures

MAP Awards Shera to complete

They were celebrated with a poem, roses, and a little gift from the school in our final assembly.

Grade 4 City Design

Grade 4 have been using the exciting designs of Masdar City to emulate and create their own cities of the future. Students not only placed buildings and roads on their city designs, but also considered pollution and how renewable energy can reduce this and increase citizen happiness and the economy of their city.

G5 Sheikh Zayed Leaders Gold Award trip to Adrenark

Our Grade 5 students who achieved gold on the pilot of our new Sheikh Zayed Future Leaders Award were rewarded with a trip to Adrenark

It was truly an amazing fun-filled day. The children managed to go on all the different rides which ranged from climbing up huge walls, to being shot up into the sky and racing around a track.

Climbing Wall Karting

Climbing area

Secondary Focus

Dear Parents,

It’s been a fantastic year in the secondary school and it was great to be able to celebrate the successes of our G12 students at their graduation earlier this month. The graduation ceremony, that was held at the school, was attended by H.H. Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Chairman of the National Media Office, Sheikh Hazza bin Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and Khadim Abdulla Aldarei, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Sheikh Zayed Private Academy, along with a number of officials and parents. Please see some of the images from the graduation below and the graduation video using this link: G12 Graduation.

I am also extremely happy to celebrate the success of our G12 students, where 100% of students have at least one offer from a top-rated university within the UAE or internationally. Furthermore, 57% of our G12 students have been accepted into international universities.

Across the secondary school, we have had many exciting activities and events taking place since our last newsletter. We have been focused on ensuring an effective transition for our G5 into G6 students, as well as our G8 into G9 students. Part of our transition planning involved two parental and student events, the High School Information Evening, and the Grade 5 Transition Evening It was fantastic to see so many parents and students join us for these We have had many other exciting activities taking place across the secondary school, such as our student wellbeing event, the G6 dress-up event for Arthur Conan Doyle (author of Sherlock Holmes) and our end of term rewards trip to Ferrari World.

Mr Vince Maiella - Head of Secondary

Arabic Language Department Activities

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Islamic: Heritage and Culture

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Celebrating the Remarkable Achievements of our Students of Determination.

As we approach the end of the academic year, it brings me great pleasure to share with you the incredible progress and achievements our Students of Determination have made over the course of this year. It is with immense pride and gratitude that I express my heartfelt appreciation for their remarkable dedication and hard work

Our school community embraces the core belief that every child has unique talents and abilities, and it is our responsibility to nurture and empower each student to reach their full potential. The tireless efforts and extraordinary accomplishments of our Students of Determination have exemplified the power of determination, resilience, and the unwavering support they have received from both home and school.

Throughout this academic year, our Students of Determination have demonstrated exceptional growth and development across various domains. They have actively engaged in tailored educational programs and participated in a range of activities that have challenged their abilities and broadened their horizons. Allow me to share a glimpse of their incredible achievements:

Academic Excellence: Our students have exhibited tremendous progress in their academic pursuits, excelling in various subjects such as Math, Language Arts, and Science They have worked diligently to enhance their skills and knowledge, and their remarkable accomplishments have been a testament to their hard work and commitment. Students have raised their reading levels in the Read Naturally program, they have put in thousands of hours of practice in IXL Math, they have spent many hours in our in-school Quran club reciting to perfection and have completed SAT exams throughout the year. This is to list just a small portion of the amazing work that has been achieved by them this year.

SZPAB Inclusion Department in the Community

From the Inclusion Department

SZPAB Inclusion Department in the Community

Social and Emotional Growth: Our Students of Determination have thrived in creating meaningful connections with their peers and have embraced opportunities to engage in collaborative activities. Their growth in social and emotional intelligence has been truly inspiring, fostering a sense of empathy, compassion, and inclusion within our school community. Our ‘Snack and Chat’ and ‘Lunch Club’ groups have been a wonderful addition to our student’s social calendars We have seen friendships blossom in these groups, ones we know will last a lifetime. This has also been seen in the wider community with our older students engaging in social trips to local schools where they were involved in training and social skills programs. We also saw several school trips take place this year, ensuring all students proudly took their place in the local community,

Creative Expressions: Through art, music, and drama, our students have discovered a platform for self-expression, allowing their creativity to flourish. They have showcased their talents through vibrant artwork, melodic performances, and captivating assemblies, impressing both their fellow students and faculty alike.

Life Skills Mastery: Our Students of Determination have actively participated in life skills programs designed to enhance their independence and self-sufficiency. They have made significant strides in areas such as communication, problem-solving, time management, and personal care, empowering them to navigate daily challenges with confidence.

From the Inclusion Department

SZPAB Inclusion Department in the Community

Sports and Physical Achievements: Physical education and sports have played a vital role in fostering physical well-being and promoting inclusivity among our students. Our Students of Determination have embraced various athletic activities, showcasing their athleticism, teamwork, and sportsmanship through their participation in organized events and competitions. Our sports days and swim galas were a prime example of how our Students of Determination can shine in many different aspects of school life, with many of our students bringing home medals on these days. More importantly, there was a lot of fun had by all.

These accomplishments would not have been possible without the unwavering dedication of our exceptional teaching and support staff who have worked tirelessly to ensure that each student receives the individualized attention and resources they require.

I would like to extend my deepest appreciation to you, the parents and guardians, for your unending support and collaboration throughout this journey. Your involvement, encouragement, and understanding have been instrumental in enabling our Students of Determination to thrive and achieve their full potential. Without your trust and support, we would not be able to do what we do. Thank you for this, and we look forward to working closely together next year.

As we celebrate the remarkable achievements of our Students of Determination, let us also recognize that their accomplishments extend beyond the classroom They are an inspiration to us all, demonstrating the true essence of perseverance, resilience, and the extraordinary heights that can be reached when we believe in the boundless potential of every child.

Now however, it is time to rest and take stock of the amazing year you have had. Please make sure to enjoy your break and to come back refreshed and ready to take on The World all over again next year. We are so proud of all that you have achieved, and we cannot wait to see what lies ahead for you in your next grade.

Have a wonderful summer.

Ms Aine Smith - Head of Inclusion

We would like to inform parents that there will be a change to our uniform policy for the new school year. All students in all grades will be required to wear plain black shoes/trainers to school. No other color footwear will be permitted. Thank you.