SZPAG September newsletter

HONORING THE PAST EDUCATING FOR THE FUTURE

SZPAG NEWSLETTER

September, 2023 volume 8

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

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

Principal's Letter

Dear parents

The beginning of a new academic year always brings immense joy for me I love to see all the young faces coming back after their exciting summer vacations and relaxing time with family. This year we have also welcomed many new students and have waiting lists in most grades as the school goes from strength to strength.

We have many things to celebrate This is our first newsletter since we were awarded ‘Outstanding’ by ADEK for National Identity This is a significant achievement for the school and one we are very proud of

We are also exceptionally proud of our Advanced Placement (AP) results. The number of students taking AP exams and being successful in them (which means scoring a 3, 4 or 5) has increased significantly again this year

I think I might be the proudest principal in Abu Dhabi As I walk the corridors each day and visit classrooms, it is my privilege to watch your children engage in really high-quality learning There are still many things we want to do even better, but that is the nature of leadership: never being satisfied with what we have achieved and always striving for the next set of improvements.

I wish everyone a very happy and successful 2023 – 2024 I see great things in our future

Yours in education,

Carolyn Bailey

Early Childhood

We have really enjoyed welcoming our new children into school, reconnecting with our established families and meeting our new families. We are looking forward to another exciting year of learning, growth and exploration. The energy and enthusiasm the children bring to our classrooms is truly inspiring. Our new children have settled in beautifully thanks to the warm welcome they have received from both our teachers and their peers We are especially proud of our Pre-K children and those children in KG who did not attend Pre-K They have been so brave, saying goodbye to their parents and learning new routines and expectations. Many children find the transition into school particularly difficult, so we gradually build up the length of their day with us which gives them extra time with teachers and helps them adjust to life in school. Our existing students have seamlessly transitioned into their new grades. It has been heartwarming to observe how they have made new friends as they expand their friendship groups

Relationship between Home and School

The relationship between home and school is key to how your child thrives both personally and academically in school. Your involvement and encouragement play a pivotal role in your child's success. We have an open-door policy and encourage you to reach out to us with any questions, concerns or feedback Your partnership is invaluable and, together, we can ensure that your child does their very best in school We truly value your involvement and commitment to your child's education Building a collaborative and supportive learning environment is a collective effort.

Parents in Partnership (PIP)

The classrooms look amazing as staff have developed, and continue to develop, engaging activities and a nurturing environment to ensure that all children have a fantastic time in school Many of you were able to see the wonderful learning environment when you who came to our PIP ‘Back to School’ event. The children were so happy to take parents on a tour of their classrooms and explain how they use the learning centers. Children in Grade 1 were very excited to do a scavenger hunt, taking parents on a tour of the building and introducing them to key people in their school lives If you were unable to attend the event or if you have additional questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to your child's homeroom teacher or Miss Amal on reception We are always here to assist you

World Down Sy

Friday Pickup

We appreciate that Friday pickup can be a bit hectic with traffic around the school However, we kindly request that you make every effort to collect your children promptly at 12:00 p m Timely pickup is essential for young children, who may become upset and anxious when waiting for their parents after school hours If, for any reason, you anticipate being late, please reach out to Miss Amal as soon as you can. This way, we can reassure your child that you have called and will be there soon, easing any concerns they may have.

Trolley Bags and Backpack Weight

We want to ensure that your child's learning experience is comfortable and safe To that end, we kindly request that your child carries their school bag on their back. Trolley bags are not suitable for school as they can create congestion and safety hazards in our hallways and classrooms. Over the next few weeks, we will be checking the weight of bags to ensure they are not too heavy for your child If we find any bags that are not appropriate, we will inform you promptly

School Shoes

We kindly request that your child wears plain black or white shoes to school with no markings or logos. This policy ensures that our students maintain a consistent and tidy appearance, minimizing distractions and promoting a sense of unity within our school community.

Upcoming Key Dates

Friday, October 6: KG1 Teddy Bears’ Picnic

Friday, October 6: PIP Pre-K Little Prince and Princess Day (Parents welcome from 11:00 a m )

Tuesday, October 10: PIP Grades 1 – 5 Islamic Question Time (12:45 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.)

Tuesday, October 10: PIP Pre-K Learning (12:00 p.m. – 12:30 p.m.)

Friday, October 13: Pink Day - Students can wear pink

Monday, October 16: Half-term break (return to school on Monday, October 23)

Please mark these dates on your calendar. We look forward to seeing you at the various activities and celebrations planned for the upcoming weeks.

Thank you for being a part of the Early Childhood family and we look forward to a wonderful year of growth and learning

Yours in education,

Caz Jude Head of Early Childhood

World Down Sy

Elementary

I wanted to start with a huge thank you to all our families and parents for a great start to the new academic year The children are smartly dressed in the school uniform, arriving punctually before the national anthem at 7.55 a.m. and are prepared, ready and eager to learn. The whole Elementary team has worked hard to create welcoming learning spaces. The team-building activities at the beginning of term successfully nurtured the children’s settling down into their new classes We have warmly welcomed several new families to our school this year I trust that your children are happy and have made plenty of new friends and that, as new families, you have been able to join our Parents in Partnership (PIP) events.

Miss Nicola Head of Elementary

PIP ‘Meet the Teacher’ Event

On Thursday of the first week of term, parents were invited in to meet their child’s new teachers after school. Not only did the parents meet the homeroom teachers, but Arabic and specialist teachers were stationed in the Elementary rotunda and available to meet parents too There was such a friendly, welcoming buzz in the building as the teachers met parents, often for the first time, and shared information about the children’s new grade

Math Ambassadors

We are thrilled to announce our new Math Ambassadors for the Elementary school All the Grade 5 girls were given the opportunity to share their love of math by preparing a presentation to share with Miss Nicola, Miss Laura and Miss Shauni. Following the presentations, we are proud to announce that 15 girls have been selected to become our Math Ambassadors. They now have the exciting responsibility of sharing their passion for math, not only within their own classes but also across different grade levels They will help host math games during lunch times and update our Times Table RockStars display as well as playing a crucial role in supporting our PIP events to show how math education remains a collaborative effort between home and school. Our Math Ambassadors will serve as inspirational role models for our school community, showing how math can be enjoyable and rewarding as well as seeing the positive impact they will have on our students.

Elementary Science

We have some very exciting news! We have introduced a new science program in Elementary and it is creating a buzz of excitement and curiosity amongst our students. Each grade has been busy conducting experiments, analyzing and interpreting data and engaging with scientific texts ‘Elevate Science’ challenges students to not only develop their scientific knowledge and understanding but also to make links and connections to real life applications The curriculum is designed to develop reasoning skills and critical-thinking strategies which further support students when they tackle MAP testing in terms 1 and 3.

PIP Curriculum Open Classrooms Reading Event

Our first PIP curriculum event in Elementary was a great success. We extend our gratitude to all the parents who attended and actively participated The event took place on Friday, September 15 During this time, parents were invited to come and join in on a reading lesson in their child’s classroom with the teacher All classes were completing the last lesson in our ‘Close Reading’ approach, in which students read the same text three times over the course of three lessons and annotate their findings each time. This approach enables students to dive deeper into texts and understand the language and content more deeply. Students are also taught key vocabulary that will help them further understand the text.

Throughout the open classroom session, parents were encouraged to actively participate by assisting their children to translate the vocabulary they had learned that week. Collaboratively, students and parents read and annotated the text. Students also showcased how Literacy Circles are conducted within their classroom. We had a range of activities for parents and students to take part in together, including stations such as Shared Reading, Word Work, Read to Self and Work on Writing It was wonderful to see students confidently demonstrating their reading skills and to be able to share them with their loved ones We hope this event will lead to many more opportunities to share the experience of reading together!

Term 1 Extra-Curricular Activities (ECA) Program

We are delighted to announce that the launch of ECAs in Grades 1 - 5 has been a roaring success with over 230 registered students so far. Following our Elementary theme of “Past, Present and Future”, activities have included prehistoric animals, future leaders in training, creative Arabic calligraphy, dramatic scenes and even exploring building a colony on Mars! Students have improved their Arabic handwriting, explored technology that changed the world, designed Emirati future fashion, become food bloggers as well as begun their journeys to becoming Sport Leaders There are opportunities for all interests. For new registrations or queries, please email Ms. Kerry at: eca coordinator@zayedacademy.ac.ae and she will facilitate your needs.

Secondary

A Warm Welcome Back!

We are delighted to welcome our secondary students back to the building for our 2023-24 school year It has been a very positive start, with students showing excellent behavior and attitudes to learning We are sure we will have yet another excellent school year and we have lots of plans and projects to keep building on the successes of the last few years. We look forward to continuing our partnership with your families this year.

Lyndsey Bryden Head of Secondary

New Faces, New Subjects

We are happy to introduce new teachers across multiple subjects this year, bringing with them their experiences and ideas

We have introduced a wider range of new elective subjects across high school: from team sports to art therapy, from French to financial management, from journalism to future leaders! We also introduced a brand-new subject area in design and technology, and we are very excited about building our Makerspace for students studying this subject. Our students in Grades 10 – 12 will also choose an extra elective this year, widening students’ choices and broadening their horizons.

Advanced Placement (AP) Success

44 students across Grades 10 to 12 achieved official College Board passes across a wide range of AP subjects last year –congratulations! We are incredibly proud of our students who took on the challenges of AP and succeeded so well. Our results were above the average UAE results in many subjects too. Special congratulations go to our Head Girl, Shahad Alnuami, who achieved a Grade 5 (top grade) in AP Biology and to our 22-23 Head Girl, Shatha Almazrouei, who achieved a Grade 5 in AP World History and a Grade 3 in AP Seminar Our Deputy Head Girl for 22-23, Dana Deenar, achieved a Grade 4 in AP World History and a Grade 3 in AP Seminar. We are honored that so many of our student role models are leading the way with excellent results in AP classes. This year we have added AP Research, AP Art and Design and AP Pre-Calculus to our AP options, meaning our students can choose from ten AP courses across High School.

Introducing Our Head Girl Team

Our students are very lucky to have a wonderful team of Head Girls to look after them and guide them this year. Please allow us to introduce the team:

Head Girl: Shahad Ali Alnuaimi

Deputy Head Girls: Fatema Ali Albeshr

Afra Ghannam AlMazrouei

We are looking forward to seeing the initiatives they bring to school, and are excited about having such fantastic role models and representatives to lead the way in SZPAG this year

PIP Events

Thank you so much to all the parents who joined our information events about curriculum, assessment and graduation information It was great to see you and we hope you found the events helpful to better understand your daughters’ grades and the school requirements.

Arabic Language Department:

Dear Parents,

Welcome to the first issue of our school newsletter for the new academic year! We are excited about this special issue which is highlighting the most important activities and events of September

We are proud to be partners in your children’s education journey, and we always look forward to providing them with a unique learning experience. In this issue, you will find information about the various school activities that your children find interesting.

We invite you to join us in this exciting educational journey and to participate actively in your children's life at school We wish you a successful and fruitful academic year, and look forward to your participation in our educational journey this year.

Best regards,

Jacky Boulos Head of Arabic

First Day of School:

The first day of school is an important experience in the life of every child It is a day full of anticipation and focus, and it can leave unforgettable memories in their minds of how to adapt, build friendships and gain knowledge. This experience becomes fond memories that stay with them throughout their lives. We are keen to make this day special by providing many activities and events that bring children closer together and make them love the classroom environment around them

Collaborative Learning:

Collaborative learning experiences are among the most important means of promoting children's learning. This method contributes to the development of many skills such as the development of social values, the improvement of oral and written expression, and the development of critical and creative thinking skills

At the beginning of the academic year, we train our students on the foundations of collaborative learning to stimulate learning and develop critical thinking skills

Emirati Astronaut, Sultan Al Neyadi, returns to the UAE:

Visiting space has been a dream for everyone for decades, and the journey of Sultan of Neyadi to space has been an unforgettable experience to everyone as he has shared his feelings, thoughts, experiences and attempts to cope in space and within the spacecraft

As part of Sheikh Zayed Private Academy’s initiative to promote and support the achievements of the UAE, students expressed their joy at the safe return of astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi to his homeland after completing the longest space mission in Arab history; creating an eternal story of how to achieve dreams and that nothing is impossible as long as there is perseverance and effort to overcome all challenges Students were engaged in different activities, and they wrote letters of thanks and appreciation to that hero who will serve as an example and role model to them.

“Arabi” Program:

As part of the initiatives of Sheikh Zayed Private Academy to enhance students’ Arabic language skills, “Arabi” program was launched for the second consecutive year at all grade levels The school began conducting the diagnostic tests from EC to grade 12. Teachers will assess and diagnose students' previous reading, writing and conversation skills to determine their level and develop support plans to enable them to achieve the expected outcomes, taking into account that this is done through the implementation of exciting and motivating educational strategies and activities for students

The Launch of Season Eight of the Arab Reading Challenge/ 2023

The Arab Reading Challenge is the largest project launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President of the United Arab Emirates, Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai, at the Arab level to raise awareness of the importance of Arabic language and revive the habit of reading among Arab students through the commitment of each student to read 50 books during each academic year This is to develop the passion of reading among young people and instill the culture of reading in their hearts so that it becomes a daily habit.

The challenge takes the form of a competition for reading in Arabic, in which students in grades 1-12 from all over the Arab world participate It starts in September of each year and continues till April of the following year The participating students go through five stages, each of which includes reading 10 books and summarizing them in special pamphlets named "Challenge Passports". After the completion of the reading and summary, the qualifying stages begin according to the approved criteria and take place at the school and school district levels and then the country level to reach the final qualifiers held in the United Arab Emirates annually

The mechanism for applying the project at the school level: distribution of the reading challenge passports as follows:

Students who wish to participate in the Arab Reading Challenge can register through the following QR code:

Grade 7 Students’ Creativity in Short Stories:

Technology has a significant impact on the teaching of literature, especially short stories; it allows students to present stories in multiple ways, such as interactive e-books containing animations and audio, or VR experiences and augmented reality, which allows students to immerse themselves in the worlds of stories

Thus, grade 7 students turned a story into an animated one, deepening the students' experience of reading and understanding stories.

First Orientation Session on Arabic Department Curricula:

In order to enhance communication with parents and involve them in the educational process, an orientation session was held to introduce the curricula and enrichment activities offered by the Arabic department During the session, time was set for questions and inquiries on the learning and support methods used in the department.

Honoring Elementary Students:

Students who have been diligent in reading books during the summer vacation were honored with certificates of appreciation and coupons to buy a book from the book fair which is to be held in October.

Extra-curricular Activities (ECAs)

School clubs are among the most important pillars that actively contribute to the revitalization of school life The school club is a practical means of engaging in activities within the educational institution that organizes them, in which the student is the primary actor. School clubs play an essential role in strengthening the student’s sense of belonging to his institution and thus strengthening the sense of belonging to society. The Sheikh Zayed Private Academy for Girls has therefore been keen to provide school clubs that tackle multiple skills in different fields in order to develop the creative skills among students

Islamic Education Department

Celebrating the Prophet’s Birthday:

We celebrated the anniversary of the Prophet's birth on the 27th of September, 12th of Rabi al-Awwal 1445. Students gave a beautiful presentation on the life of the Prophet [PBUH] in Arabic and English in the morning assembly They also expressed their love for the prophet through beautiful cards they created in the classroom.

Secondary Islamic Education Department:

On the occasion of the Prophet's birth, grade 6-12 students of the Sheikh Zayed Private Academy for Girls prepared a school broadcast entitled "Mohamed [PBUH] is a Mercy for Humanity" and presented it to the students during homeroom. This included information about prophet Mohamed [PBUH] and a short competition where the top three would be honored.

Enhancing the Recitation and Tajweed of the Holy Quran:

The Islamic Education Department in grades 6-12 has reviewed the skills of the provisions of Tajweed at the beginning of this academic year. They then prepared diagnostic tests on the recitation of the Holy Quran to identify the levels of students and provide them with the appropriate support during the coming period. This is because the Islamic Education Department’s aim for this year is to enable students of reciting the Holy Quran while using the provisions and rules of Tajweed.

Social Studies Department

“Me and My Family” Lesson in Grade 1

Grade 1 students drew the characters representing their family members during the UAE social studies class in application of the "Me and My Family" lesson

The International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer:

The world celebrates the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer on the 16th of September of each year On this occasion, grade 3 students have undertaken an activity that highlights ways to protect the ozone layer

Grade 2 students carried out an activity on color connotations on the Earth's model during UAE Social Studies class.

The Daily Motion/Rotation of the Earth

Following the lesson on the daily motion/rotation of the Earth, grade 2 students created a practical illustrative model of the daily rotation of the Earth

The Solar System:

Students applied their understanding of the lesson on planets and celestial bodies in an innovative manner. This activity was an opportunity for them to expand their knowledge and enhance their research and presentation skills, adding value to their learning and exploration of the vast universe

Social Studies Department

The Emirati Women’s Day

On Sunday August 28th, the UAE celebrated the "Emirati Women's Day" which represents an important and distinguished national occasion to celebrate Emirati women and their valuable contributions and achievements in various fields and domains.

This year's theme was "We Collaborate for Tomorrow" based on the directives of Her Highness, Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women's Union, President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, and Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation This is to keep with the theme of the Year of Sustainability 2023, launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, entitled "Today for Tomorrow", with the aim of highlighting the local efforts and global contributions of the UAE in addressing sustainability challenges by focusing on innovating new solutions in the areas of energy and climate change. Grade 7 students participated in the celebration by choosing an Emirati female figure distinguished by her achievements in the field of sustainability in order to honor her unique achievements and emphasize them

Enhancing the Skill of Reading and Analysing Maps:

Students in grades 6 & 7 reviewed the social studies skills, such as the map skill which helps them better understand the world around them and know more about how to distribute populations and analyze the geographical phenomena and infer spatial relationships.

Inclusion

A warm welcome back to school from the SZPAG Inclusion Team This month, we shine a spotlight on the incredible benefits of being an inclusive school community

Fostering Acceptance

Inclusivity opens doors to diversity. It creates a vibrant tapestry of ideas and experiences, encouraging empathy and understanding Being a member of an inclusive school helps to create more compassionate, tolerant and patient individuals which are qualities our world needs

Empowering All Learners

An inclusive school empowers every student, recognizes their unique strengths and needs and creates a community of learners where everyone’s strengths are embraced At SZPAG, we value our whole community and see the positive contributions that everyone makes

Preparing for a Global Society

In a world that grows more interconnected every day, inclusivity equips our students with the skills to thrive in diverse workplaces and communities

Inspiring Innovation

Diverse perspectives foster creativity and innovation. Inclusive schools become hubs for groundbreaking ideas and solutions to real-world problems. SZPAG is a school that is constantly evolving to meet the diverse needs of all our students and community

Thank you for being part of SZPAG’s inclusive school community!

Digital Innovation

As we begin a new year, we want to let you know of two important updates from the SZPAG DI team.

Every grade level and department now have designated tech leads These leads will be working on trialing integrating technology to improve our pedagogy using the Substitution, Augmentation, Modification and Redefinition (SAMR) model framework This means that your children’s learning experience is enhanced and that they see how technology can support their learning in multiple beneficial ways.

As part of our commitment to ongoing professional development for our teachers, our tech leads will also be trialing an AI coach to concentrate on elements of their practice that they wish to develop You will have received a letter informing you about this and the need for some teachers to video their lessons for this purpose I want to take this opportunity to reiterate that this is perfectly secure and the video will remain in school for training purposes only.

We look forward to another successful year of digital innovation