Houses

CREEKSIDE

Inclusion, excitement and engagement are the first three words that spring to mind when I think of my wonderful house, Creekside. What a year we have had! It has been a privilege to once again lead Creekside in what has been a most memorable year. The sense of identity, belonging and camaraderie have been at the forefront throughout this time, even with our transition to online learning. It has not stopped any Creeksider getting fully behind their house, working to the best of their ability and stepping up to the mark.

Every House needs a captain and a vice captain to help steer the ship and this year we have had two exceptional ladies. Nicola Parsons, year 8 put herself forward immediately once the position was announced and it was no surprise when she was voted in. Anna Sobek, year 5 was voted as vice- captain and has also portrayed every element a vice captain should have. No job was too big for either of these young ladies, thank you girls for your time, dedication and your trust.

We started the year with a Wednesday enrichment for all students from 2:15-3:15pm. The buzz in the corridors, seeing students form friendships with their House mates and supporting each other was just marvellous. Students alternated from House quizzes, to House dance routines and to sporting activities which was thoroughly enjoyed by all. The energy and enthusiasm in Creekside is just infectious, with students forming new relationships with other year groups and even with teachers. Putting our dance routine to our House anthem, ‘Eye of the Creekside’ was a highlight for me, students who perhaps would not be keen dancers but trying their very best is what any House leader wants to see. Stronger bonds and connections were so evident which all add to that sense of House belonging.

Hartland’s got Talent is for sure a favourite event of mine!! What music teacher does not love seeing students coming to them weeks before hand to discuss their instrument or their act, or what piece they are practising or for ideas?! The talent in Hartland is phenomenal and this year was no different. Between our school edition and then our transition to our Home Edition, students still portrayed that sense of participation, effort and growth in their talent. Darvyn Tan and his brother performed a beautiful duet on violin and marimba, Leonid on saxophone was very sleek and cool and David White’s creative and clever Lego animation is just a small sample of the amazing talent we have at Creekside.

Perseverance is also a word that I must include and collaborating with Climb for Rio just showed this trait in all of its glory. The story behind climb for Rio is just mind blowing and for Creekside to win this challenge just showed to me how persevering our Hartland students really are. We climbed a total of 1,702 flights stairs – awesome!! Special shout out to Adam PappBudavari in year 3 and his Dad for contributing 374 of these flights, what an achievement! Also, thank you to Layla and Ameli Balt, Louis and Gabriela McAlpine and to everyone who has helped Creekside to continue to shine.

I look forward to leading Creekside to another exciting and challenging year ahead. Thank you to everyone for all of your hard work in earning these highly sought-after House points! Please continue to keep up the amazing work and I am very much looking forward to the months ahead!

Ms E Egan

Creekside House Leader

MUSHRIF

Mushrif have had another successful year! I feel very lucky to have led such a passionate, determined and collaborative House along with the Primary and Secondary House Captains, Robin Scheunert and Cameron Fisher. The two Hartland values that I believe define Mushrif are resilience and leadership. Throughout the year, there have been ups and downs in the different House events and there have been major changes in the world that we live in; through all of this, the students in our House have been resilient and have been leaders. The students have picked themselves up quickly when an event has not gone their way, used it as a learning experience, and have showed great competitive spirit by recognising the successes of their friends in other houses. The competitive spirit in Mushrif has also continued during our time of distance learning, with an admirable amount of participation in our House events even from home.

One of the first major House events of the year was the Dubai 30x30 Fitness Challenge. Each week, each year group took part in a run, a quiz and a dance off. This gave students the chance to keep fit and learn more about the importance of health. A big well done to everyone who took part each week and helped Mushrif accumulate as many house points as possible. Carrying on with the topic of sport, Mushrif had some very successful Sports Days again this year. For Primary, Mushrif were the overall winners in the Year 3 and 4 category. Mushrif were also crowned overall winners in the Secondary Sports Day. A brilliant effort from our athletes.

In Term 2, we had some spectacular auditions for Hartland’s Got Talent, however this event was postponed as we moved to distance learning for all of our health and safety. I am sure these entries will do very well when we return to school.

For many students around the world the closure of their school gates would have signaled an end to the House activities for that academic year; however, this was not the case at Hartland. There were many exciting events such as ‘Challenge your House’ and Hartland’s Got Talent Home Edition. Hartland’s Got Talent is always one of the highlights of the school year, so I was pleased to see the competition move to an online format and have so many wonderful entries. Mushrif had a huge range of entries, from family bands, to maths magic, animation videos and of course, wonderful singing and monologue acts to name but a few.

Big congratulations to those who reached the finals: Leila Al Luhariri singing Speechless, Alex George with his Periodic Table Song, the Du Toit family band performing Centuries and the Maeroum sisters performing We Own The Night. It was extremely difficult to pick just four acts to go through to the final, as the standard was extremely high. Thank you to all of the students who cast their votes.

I would like to take the opportunity to thank Cameron Fisher who has been our Secondary Captain and Robin Scheunert who has been our Primary Captain this year. Both students have led assemblies, collected house points and have put forward ideas for house events and competitions. It has been wonderful to work with you both.

Finally, I would like to thank all of the Mushrif students for their participation and effort this year. A huge well done to all!

Mr A Sandhu

Mushrif House Leader

SAFA

Commitment, perseverance and collaboration. Three key values to describe each and every member of Safa House this year. I have been proud to lead you once again through a fantastic year of events and competitions, with so much collaboration. Every member of Safa has contributed by earning house points both in lessons and by competing in a range of house events, and you should all be very proud of yourselves, well done! The pride you all show towards your house and the excitement displayed during events and competitions is amazing and I hope the Safa house spirit shown this year, continues next year!

A clear favourite event in the School Calendar is the Hartland’s Got Talent show and this year was no different. Before Online Learning, we held our auditions for Hartland’s Got Talent and I was amazed by the number of students who auditioned to take part. From drumming to gymnastics and singing to drama monologues, the caliber of entrants was high as always.

Unfortunately, before we could select our semifinalists, we were faced with Online Learning and the news that we would not be returning to school this Academic Year. The House Leaders decided we could not miss out on the most anticipated event of the year, so we bought you ‘Hartland’s Got Talent Home Edition’. Again, the range of acts entered for Safa House was superb and it enabled some of you to display talents which wouldn’t have been possible in the school version. It was extremely tough to whittle down acts to just 4 to go through to the final.

This year the whole school were able to vote for their favourite act and there was a clear Student Choice Winner – Rei (Y4) and Rin (FS2) playing the Piano and the percussion. Rin and Rei weren’t the only winners from Safa House in Hartland’s Got Talent Home Edition! Magic Max won the Key Stage One Special mention award and Nimah Dunne took the top spot in the individual performance category. Kenji Butt also made it to the final with his jump rope skills on the trampoline. A massive well done to all our winners, finalists and everyone who took the time to enter the competition. I look forward to next years edition, hopefully back at school and on the theatre stage. During our Online Learning I really enjoyed taking up your challenges set to the House Leaders and members of our House. From climbing many flights of stairs… ow the burn, to gymnastic skills and many other exciting and tough challenges! How many did you manage to complete and take part in? This year, our Wednesday afternoon Enrichment was dedicated to House Events. Each week I watched as each and every one of you worked hard to solve problems, collaborate, compete and try your best in a range of house events. During our debating sessions, Year 3-10 spent time perfecting their points of discussion on various topics before engaging in these debates with their peers. Year 1 and 2 spent time on their team work skills during various game-based activities such as Benchball and football.

During the 30x30 fitness challenge, each year group took part in a run, a quiz and a dance off. It was fantastic to see so many students taking part in 30 minutes of exercise and there was lots of enthusiasm each week. Well done to everyone who took part each week and helped Safa accumulate as many house points as possible!

I would like to take the opportunity to thank Zalina Kubateava who has been our Primary Captain and Amy Butt who has been our Secondary Captain this Year. Leading assemblies, collecting house points and putting forward ideas for house events and competitions.

I look forward to Safa’s continued successes in the next academic year!

Ms H Pearce

Safa House Leader

ZABEEL

This year, students of Zabeel have continued to emphasise the traits of resilience, determination and leadership; three key values that are true to the foundations of our House. It is clear that students of Zabeel have a fantastic reputation around the school, they are hard-working, kind to one another and are constantly looking out for ways to earn the next House point. As we come towards the end of another academic year, this write up will celebrate the achievements and successes of our wonderful House. I’m sure as you read, you’ll reflect on the fantastic times we have shared this year. Well done Zabeel, long may it continue!

We’ll start with Wednesday afternoons, the time is 2.30pm and students eagerly prepare for their House Enrichment. This year we had everything from a whole House dance competition, the 30x30 fitness challenge, right through to a live debate competition. In particular, the highlights were when Year 1 and 2 spent time on their team work skills during various game-based activities such as bench ball and football. Year 3 to 6 spent lots of time testing their brains at the weekly quiz, and also in Secondary where Zabeel came first in the debate competition! Well done to everyone who took part each week and helped Zabeel accumulate as many house points as possible!

As we transitioned to online learning, House activities continued at great pace. But a particular highlight was the Hartland’s Got Talent, Home Edition that took place in April. Auditions were sent through via video, and from Zabeel we had over 25 fantastic entries. From drumming to gymnastics and singing to drama monologues, the caliber of entrants was as high as always. It was extremely tough to whittle down acts to just 4 to go through to the final. This year the whole school were able to vote for their favourite act as well as categories of special acts chosen by a panel of teachers.

In Zabeel, we had Alison and Lilly Hopwood performing Ho Hey for best family band, Parvathy and Gauri Nair performing a traditional Indian dance for the best family talent, and a special mention for Felizitas Brandt for Best novelty act with her fabulous performing dog. A massive well done to all our winners, finalists and everyone who took the time to enter the competition. I look forward to next year’s edition, hopefully back at school and on the theatre stage. During our Online Learning I really enjoyed taking up your challenges set to the House Leaders and members of our House. From climbing many flights of stairs… ow the burn, to gymnastic skills and many other exciting and tough challenges! How many did you manage to complete and take part in?

I would like to take the opportunity to thank Parvathy Nair who has been our Secondary Captain and Max Kirwan who has been our Primary Captain this Year. Leading assemblies, collecting house points and putting forward ideas for house events and competitions. You have both been a pleasure to work with.

Overall, it’s a huge congratulations to all students in Zabeel House, I look forward to working with you again next year, hopefully taking home that coveted House trophy!

Mr S Buse

Zabeel House Leader