th Thursday 21 May 2015 Issue 89 Thursday, 14 December 2017 Issue 136
GENERAL GENERAL
NURSERY
KG PRIMARY
PRIMARY SECONDARY PRIMARY
SECONDARY SECONDARY
FS Winter Concert
PARIS SCHOOL CLINIC
DATE
EVENTS DECEMBER 2017
Sunday, 17 December - Saturday, 06 January
Winter Break for students (excluding Nursery)
Sunday, 17 to Tuesday, 19 December
Staff Professional Development (No students - excluding Nursery)
Tuesday, 19 December
Nursery end of term celebration
Wednesday, 20 December -Saturday, 6 January
Winter Break for Nursery students
JANUARY 2018 Sunday, 07 January 2018 Tuesday, 09 January
Students and teachers return Mathematics revision day Year 11
Wednesday, 10 January
Mathematics revision day Year 12
Sunday, 14 January
SS IGCSE and AS Mock exams
Sunday, 14 - Wednesday, 31 January
School Photographs - Lecture Theatre
Tuesday, 16 January Saturday, 20 January
Innovents Spelling Bee, Years 4 - 11 Family Fun Day
Sunday, 21 January
Nursery Green Day
Sunday, 21 - Thursday, 25 January Tuesday, 23 January
FS2 field trip SS Career Fair
Wednesday, 24 January Thursday, 25 January Thursday, 25 January
GCSE transitions evening and checkpoint meeting Year 9 Year 1 Recycling Fashion Show Year 3 Field Trip
Sunday, 28 January Sunday, 28 January Monday, 29 - Tuesday, 30 January
Beach run Year 3 to Year 12 Innovents Change associates parenting - 08:00 am, Lecture Theatre FS2 Math Day
Monday, 29 January
Innovents Arabic Writing
Tuesday, 30 January
Nursery Sports Day practice
Wednesday, 31 January
Innovents Quran
Wednesday, 31 January
Year 1 Math Fun Day
Wednesday, 31 January
Nursery Sports Day
Thursday, 31 January
Year 11 transition evening
Message from the Principal Dear Parents, As you are aware, I will continue in my present role at RIS for the month of January to ensure a smooth start and handover in the new year. PaRIS continues to positively impact school experience of our children. The Christmas and Winter Season celebration organised by them were thoroughly enjoyed by all.
I wish all the families a happy, relaxing and safe winter vacation. Merry Christmas to families celebrating the occasion and Season’s Greetings and Happy New Year to all. I look forward to welcoming all children and families on Sunday, 07th January 2018. Zeba Khan Principal
ICT @ Raffles International School Coding experts RIS students from Years 1-9 participated in the “Hour of Code� Worldwide initiative. The Hour of Code is a global movement reaching tens of millions of students in 180+ countries. Anyone, anywhere can organize an Hour of Code event. One-hour tutorials are available in over 45 languages. This has been designed to demystify "code", to show that anybody can learn the basics, and to broaden participation in the field of computer science. Our students used various computer programming activities to find solutions to given problems. They used block coding, Scratch, Java script and Python to design their own games and solve curriculum related problems.
Seema Vinod Head of ICT
Primary and Secondary School Science in Term 1 It has been a very busy and investigative Term 1 for Science across the Primary and Secondary School. We hope you have been following some of the excellent investigations that have been taking place via social media. Some of the highlights from Term 1 include:
Year 1 - Exploring how seeds grow into flowering plants. Year 2 - Investigating how materials can be changed by squashing, bending, twisting and/or stretching. Year 3 - Designing hats with various materials for someone stranded on an island. Year 4 - Investigating the conditions of the Arctic habitat and ways animals keep warm. Year 5 - Making periscopes to show the reflection of light Year 6 - Building natural filters using resources within the UAE. Year 7 – Investigating how acidic or alkali substances are Year 8 – Understanding the effects of exercise on the heart rate and breathing rate Year 9 – Undertaking experiment to determine the reactivity of various metals. IGCSE Science – Students have been investigating the current and resistance in circuits in Physics, dissecting hearts in Biology and investigating the electrolysis of aqueous solutions in Chemistry. AS Science – In Physics students have been investigating the viscosity of different liquids. In Biology they have been determining how much Vitamin C is in an orange. In Chemistry they have been carrying out and interpreting results of specific reactions.
One of the biggest innovations this year at RIS, has been the introduction of a STEM lab in both Primary and Secondary. The students have really enjoyed their practical STEM lessons which encourage innovation, invention and creativity through hands-on learning in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. Barry Canavan Science Subject Leader Primary School
Roberta Carter Head of Science Secondary School
GENERAL
NURSERY
PRIMARY
SECONDARY
Dear Parents, Grandparents and Extended Family, It is of vital importance that the learning needs of 3-5 year old children who are learning English as an Additional Language (EAL) are not overlooked in early years settings. Although young children will pick up English naturally and very quickly, our nursery recognizes the important role we play as practitioners in the crucial years of language acquisition. Little children who begin their education in a nursery which uses English as the main medium of instruction require clear guidance in areas of social interaction as well. As Ochs states: ‘It is evident that acquisition of linguistic knowledge and acquisition of socio-cultural knowledge are interdependent… Children develop concepts of a socio-culturally structured universe through their participation in language activities’ (Ochs, Early Childhood, 1988, page 4). The importance on social interaction is laid because we understand that group interactions with peers can be a particular difficulty for little bilingual children in the early years. In our context, this is even more important because the ability to pick up English is also related to being able to interpret the cultural ground rules and expectations and on being able to happily participate in activities in the Montessori setting. Even though there are clearly different rates and ways in which our children will acquire the second language (English in this case), there is research to indicate that developmental sequence remains the same. Patton Tabors has spent many years reaching this aspect and he gives the following sequence:
There may be a period of time when children continue to use their home languages in the second-language situation.
When they discover that their home language does not work in this situation, children enter a non-verbal period as they collect information about the new language and perhaps spend some time in sound experimentation.
Children begin to go public, using individual words and phrases in the new language.
Children begin to develop productive use of the second language.
Literacy begins taking form through sensorial experiences
The teachers in our nursery employ a range of strategies to ease the process for our children and enable them to acquire English. Among the most frequently used efforts they understand and acknowledge the children’s non-verbal cues and gestures. They continue to talk even if they do not get a response from the children. Children are often paired with English speaking children for small group work or during structured play and role play. There is great stress on a variety of questions, along with repeating and praising the smallest of efforts the children make while attempting to respond in single words. Using ‘authentic language,’ the process of vocabulary addition carries out throughout the year, which is clearly differentiated in terms of children’s needs. As we move towards the end of a very busy and productive Term 1, the Nursery team joins me in wishing Happy New Year to all parents and Merry Christmas to the families celebrating the festival. Have an enjoyable and safe winter break. We look forward to welcoming you back on Sunday, 07th January 2018. Garima Kapoor Reading is fun Assistant Head Early Years KidZania® field trip Exposing our children to local Arabic food during national Day
Casa C enjoying story time
UAE National Day
Feeding the classroom fish
GENERAL
NURSERY
PRIMARY
SECONDARY
PRIMARY SCHOOL
Dear RIS Community, And so we reach the end of Term 1! I’ve written regularly about the speed at which time is passing for me as Head of Primary at RIS, and the end of the term has been no exception. No sooner was our KHDA inspection complete and we were into National Day preparations and celebrations, report writing, and the wind down (or up?!) to the end of term with all of the related seasonal events. Experiencing my first National Day at RIS was both a fun and moving experience. I loved the dances and the music, but what stood out for me most was the beautiful recitals from The Quran that opened the two Primary presentations. These held me mesmerized. The rest of the day was the school’s chance to recognize the ‘spirit of the union’, and for us to thank the UAE for welcoming us all and for providing us with inspirational opportunities. You should all have your child’s end of term report by now. I’d like to thank all of the staff involved in this quite complex process. We’ve achieved a lot in a term – changing the assessment system, and the report format to not only reflect those changes but to enhance the information that you receive. All teachers are now asked to write personalized comments for the subject(s) they teach, at the end of term 1 and 3. Of course the comments can only be the highlights of your child’s main achievements and key next steps, and you are always encouraged to check-in with your teacher for updates during the term or if you have any concerns. Whilst school inspection is not the ‘be-all and end-all’, it does provide a powerful guiding light for schools – and cognizant of how quickly time has passed this term, I recognize we’re only 2.5 terms away from our next KHDA visit! We are all very clear what we need to do to improve RIS further – we’re never short of feedback – and I am excited about the developments afoot, especially around teaching and learning quality. I’m looking forward to the vacation – not only for some rest and more family time – but so I can reflect on term 1 and have the time to develop our plans. I look forward to sharing them with you in 2018. Regardless of your own plans for the vacation period, may I wish you all a safe and happy time. For those who celebrate it, a Merry Christmas to you, and to all of you a very Happy New Year.
All the best, Edward Copper Head of Primary School
Key Stage 1 News Dear Parents, The children in FS 2 have had a wonder time when Desert Patch came to visit. They got to create art in a different way than what they are used to. Each child choose a solid 3D shape and covered it with paper mache. I am sure you will now have them hanging from your Christmas trees, if you are celebrating at this time of year.
Whilst our children in FS were exploring their creative side, the children in Year 1 were developing their ‘green fingers’ and learning all about the UAE Ghuf tree and finding out how to measure PH in water, during our school trip this week. The trip took place at Green Works which was ran by Sandy Seeds. This is the first time we have taken our children to explore their nature side with Sandy Seeds. They had great fun with a lot of learning along the way. Our Year 2 students have continued with their experiments whilst exploring the topic Materials. They have been looking at properties of certain material to see what dissolves and what doesn’t. Children have also been in touch with their creative side this week. They have taken great pride in making 3D shape decorations for the PaRIS Christmas tree that is in the atrium. It is with a great feeling of loss adding to my SumaRISe this edition that we will be saying goodbye to two of our much loved members of the KS1 team. Ms. Annette has been at Raffles for four years, offering her support and experience to our children in Year 1. She will be greatly missed by our teachers and children. It has been great seeing Annette grow in her teaching career and I wish her all the very best on her journey. Ms. Stephanie has been guiding the children in Year 2 for two years now, she has been a highly recognized member of the team, her presence and experience will be missed by all. She has enjoyed encouraging the learning in Year 2D this year. I wish her all the very best.
Please join me in thanking Annette and Stephanie for all their contributions to the children, families and the school. We wish you all the very best. Have a save and enjoyable Winter Break. Susie Mcshane Deputy Head, Primary KS1
Key Stage 2 News Dear Parents, What a busy term! I have been proud to be a part of RIS knowing how we focus on a range of social as well as academic experiences for our children. National Day was a huge success and it was a proud moment watching the children perform their songs and dances wearing the traditional colours of the UAE flag. All year groups enjoyed their banquet and there was a real sense of community allowing parents to be fully integrated into the festivities. Sports Fest on Saturday, 9th December encouraged the children to get active with a range of wonderful activities organised by our P.E department. Children were there in their sports gear ready to participate. All money raised will be going to our charity GIVE. Wednesday, 13th December children met Santa and the Elf and received a gift from PARIS, Children really enjoyed this festive time and being a part of this joyous occasion. Thursday, 14th December Children had a Winter Party. They brought food item and shared with their class. They worn their own clothes and enjoyed their last afternoon in school partying!
Please do encourage our children to continue reading over the winter holiday. I know the children will be set a booklet of winter activities to keep them busy. Please ensure they do complete this work to consolidate those topics covered in school this term. I would like to mention that Mrs. Zeba Khan will be leaving RIS at the end of January and I would like to wish her the very best for the future. I have worked with Mrs. Zeba since I started Raffles over three years ago and learned so much from her as my Head of Primary. I know that we will miss her presence around our school but know that we will still be in contact with her remaining in the Innoventures Group. I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a relaxing winter break and safe travels if you are leaving Dubai to return to your home countries. I look forward to your safe return to school on Sunday, 07th January 2018. Best wishes, Jasmit Kang Deputy Head, Primary KS2
News from Primary School English Department We have had a very successful term at Raffles international School. It has been lovey visiting the classrooms across the Primary School, to see the buzz and engagement during writing lessons. We have only been following the Talk for Writing approach for a few months but we are already seeing wonderful progress. The children love the approach- actions, drama, text maps and boxing up. It is empowering our students with language structures to enjoy creating excellent writing and helps to make difficult, abstract ideas clear.
We have just introduced an award winning online reading programme from Year 3-6, called RAZ Kids. Year 1 and 2 teachers will start using the programme in January. In guided reading lessons, the students have familiarised themselves with the log in procedure and instructions have been sent home to parents for use at home. Each child will be set weekly assignments, which involves listening, reading and answering comprehension questions on the texts. The teachers can review their activity and students receive incentive time, based on how many stars they collect on the completion of tasks. Encourage your children to log on to RAZ Kids over the holidays to access assignments, level up books and thousands more exciting books in the reading room. Have a wonderful holiday. Sarah O’ Donnell and Sarah McMahon Literacy Leaders
GENERAL
NURSERY
PRIMARY
PRIMARY SECONDARY
SECONDARY
SECONDARY SCHOOL Year 7 News Time flies and we have already reached the end of term 1. As we embark on this journey together, I hope that every Year 7 pupil had an enjoyable, successful and memorable year at the school so far. The Year 7 team are here to ensure that students are supported and challenged in every aspect of their school life. As a team we acknowledge that the road to success is not always a linear one, and we are here to provide guidance and support as required, to ensure that everyone achieves their potential. We like to teach the importance of being organised and prepared for learning. This includes coming to school with correct equipment, diaries and PE kit. Homework is an essential aspect of achievement in all subjects and we appreciate parental support with this at home to ensure work is completed on time. Life outside the curriculum is as equally important in the development of social skills, friendships and personal interests. I encourage students to take advantage of the extra -curricular activities, trips and events that take place throughout the year. As Head of Year, my role is to over-see behaviour, effort and progress in all subject areas. My monitoring of the year group will result in rewards for those students who consistently meet and exceed effort expectations, as well as triggering support systems for those who need support. As parents, please ensure that you are kept well informed of your child’s experience and progress in school. I am glad to see that year 7 students have been involved in various events and activities during the first term of school and we have a lot of reasons to celebrate. I would like to say a big “thank you” and “well done” to the students who have participated in academic competitions like Spelling Bee and Brainiac and also in sports teams mainly football and swimming. Year 7 students were among the first ones to contribute to the charity appeal “Box appeal” this year and actively participated on Pink Day, Peace Day and the International Day for Tolerance. Many thanks to the students who have volunteer to the leadership teams in order to represent the student’s body in different committees. Well done to the members of the music choir and to those who went even further and performed in the X-factor auditions. Lastly, I have to say how grateful I am for the collaboration of the students during our trip to the Kite beach for the National Day celebrations and I hope they have enjoyed the sports and team building activities, the Emirati games and food and of course the Wire World.
Looking forward for more reasons to celebrate in the next term. I would like to wish everyone a relaxing winter break and I am looking forward to see you in January. Andreas Lambrias Year 7 Team Leader
Year 8 News Year 8 have had a fantastic first term this academic year – Well Done Year 8! We have had a very successful National Day celebration on Kite Beach where all students had the opportunity to participate in various activities including Traditional Emirati games and Wire World. As you can see from the pictures, a great day was enjoyed by all.
I have been delighted to present several students in year 8 with excellence in effort awards after their first set of reports, and I look forward to presenting a lot more next term. I have been very impressed and proud when reading year 8 reports and hearing such positive things about all of year 8 from their teachers – keep up the hard work. We also have had some victories in sport, including the under 12 team, with Romane, 8A – well done ladies. Our swim team has also had huge success in recent galas – well done team. I look forward to next term where we will hopefully have a lot more successes, both academically and personally through sporting teams and other school events.
Sinead Furey Year 8 Team Leader
Year 9 News First of all, let me wish you a delightful winter’s holiday, wherever in the world you might be travelling to. I have thoroughly enjoyed my first term at RIS. The Head of Year role has enabled me to build relationships with some fantastic students.
There have been many highlights in term 1. I am proud that students are taking the lead on assemblies, with groups of students planning and delivering whole-year assemblies to their peers on a weekly basis. This has created a positive vibe every Wednesday morning. We have had CAT4 and IBT tests to complete, with students being exemplary in their approach and behaviour. We have had a large number of students representing the school in sporting activities. We also had our National Day celebrations trip to Abu Dhabi Grand Central Mosque. You can read more about this day from Chloe Snaifer. Martyn Humphries Year 9 Team Leader
A DAY TO REMEMBER To celebrate the 46th National Day of the United Arab Emirates, the Head of Year 9, Mr. Martyn Humphries, brought us on a remarkable journey of culture to the ‘The Heart of the UAE’, Abu Dhabi. The purpose of this trip was to educate students about the culture and the history of the UAE, and how it has developed over the years. The capital of the UAE, Abu Dhabi, is home to the spectacular Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, and this was to be our main destination for the day. With stunning and breathtaking domes, pillars, and minarets, it is a masterpiece of modern Islamic architecture. A fresh start began on November 29th at 8:00am, when everyone had to gather in the yellow atrium in school. After waiting for a short time, we proceeded to get on the bus, and we began our adventure. The journey was long; however, we enjoyed music on the bus, and we entertained ourselves with fun games. Finally, we arrived at the Grand Mosque while its glorious white domes and minarets welcomed us to Abu Dhabi. The Grand Mosque staff were respectful and welcomed us as guests. Before entering the mosque, all females had to put on abayas, which were provided to us, to show respect while we explored the grounds. The first thing that we discovered, as we first entered the mosque, was its huge domes decorated in fine old calligraphy writing and its minarets, tall in height, headed by the crescent. At the entrance, sparkling blue lakes reflected the elegant arch doors. Once we were inside, we noticed the white marble on the floor. This marble is so white and smooth that it resembles a mirror which reflects the great domes of the mosque. Its beauty and quality makes you realize its value and worth. We kept walking and we could not help but to be impressed by the vast amount of work achieved to create such a beautiful piece of architecture.
While walking around the structure, we saw the white columns, crowned with golden tops, carrying an amazing set of arches. These amazing arches lead you into the interior of the mosque. Once you are inside, the majestic crystal chandeliers are the first things to greet you. Three huge chandeliers cast colours across the interior of the mosque with their bright crystals which reflect the sun light, and create an almost rainbow-like affect. This Mosque is called under the name of his Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan as he was the first to be buried in the Grand Mosque. We took a minute of silence before we left to pay our respects to this great leader and to the father of the great United Arab of Emirates. Before finishing the day, we were lucky to visit the newest park in Abu Dhabi, Umm Al Emarat Park. It is full of adventure, where you can learn more about animals and their habitats, where you can experience exquisite restaurants, and where you can witness beautiful fountains and greenery. We played many games and ate lots of cultural food to end the day. The day ended too quickly, but we were fortunate to witness and to experience these great moments with one another; it was a day which was thoroughly enjoyed by all of Year 9. Chloe Snaifer Year 9C Student
Years 10 and 11 News UAE National Day was a special affair for the Year 10 and 11 this year. We spent a good day out at Dubai Parks Resorts Motiongate. Our day began with a quality discussion in a conference room at the Dubai Parks, reserved specially for our students. The Emirati students from the Year 10 class, Alan Suruchy, Maryam Naseer, Yousef Alfardhan and Maryam Haider were very kind to participate in a discussion dispelling misconceptions to do with Emiratis. They were informed before hand to think about some common misconceptions the other students had about Emiratis and have an open and well-articulated discussion. While I was weary of the sensitivity involved, it was very successful as the students shared their thoughts objectively. Following this, we were taken behind the scenes of the theme park where professionals discussed with us the physics behind these rides and the safety mechanisms. We even had students asking the qualifications required to be 'the man behind the parks'. Of course, the actual rides were the highlight of the day. The students were grateful as they thanked the accompanying teachers for organising a fun yet informative trip outdoors. Sandhia Rai Years 10 and 11 Team Leader
News from Secondary School English Department Last month the Spelling Bee competition took place and I am delighted to announce that the following pupils have qualified for the semi finals which will be held on the 19th and 20th January at Curtin University, Dubai Academic City: David Farid Nilanjana Rajesh Orion Sandeep Congratulations to the semi finalists and indeed to all the participants who took part. It was an intense competition, comprising of both written and spoken components. All participants were put under immense pressure and each one can be very proud his/her performance. We can now look forward to the semi finals where hopefully, I will have more success to report. 9th and Caroline Gaydon Head of English Secondary School
Kidzania - Brainiac Please also join us in congratulating the following students who came second overall in the Kidzania Brainiac competition earlier this month. They were narrowly beaten in the final but put up a great performance in front of a large crowd at Dubai mall. Thank you to the following students, Mr. Michael Scott and Ms. Hannelie Cranko. Constantina Digrintaki Mirza Begg Augustin Bert Mariya Venediktova Laura Greaves
News from the Secondary School Counselling Department The Counselling Department is excited to announce the upcoming launch of our Parent Support Group. Our first session, “2018 - What are Your Hopes & Aspirations”, will be on Tuesday, 16th January 2018 (08:00 am - 09:00 am). The aim of the Parent Support Group, is to offer an open forum for RIS parents to discuss non-academic issues. Some issues might be around parenting, but also about life in general. This group is led by the counselling department with the involvement of a RIS parent and an outside counsellor. We really look forward to seeing you at our first session. The “Anti-Bullying Group” led two different secondary assemblies explaining what bullying is, the types of bullying, the implications of bullying, the “Three Strikes and you are Out” method, and how to get your power back if you are getting bullied. A big thank you to the four students in the group, for all their hard work.
ATIC: Art Therapy Talk: Thank you to all the parents who attended our Art Therapy Introduction session, led by ATIC. Art Therapy has its roots in psychotherapy, it can be experienced by children of all ages, adolescents, adults, the elderly, couples, families and in a group. Art Therapy develops neuropsychological functioning by encouraging communication between different parts of the brain, using art and at times different creative modalities such as music, drama, movement and play to help an individual identify and resolve core issues.
Internet Safety Talk A massive thank you goes out to Dr. Asad Sadiq and Dr. Suhail Rafiq from The Psychiatry and Therapy Centre for coming in to speak about Internet Safety to the RIS parents. There are currently (September 2017) 2.62 billion social media users, Facebook still ranking number 1 with 2.06 billion users, followed by Whatsapp with 1.3 billion users, and Youtube with 1.05 users. Whilst we can all agree that the Internet and the KHDA Well-Being Census completed various Devices have become a beneficial as well as intricate part of our lives, there is some caution to be taken. Topics such as Cyber-Bullying, Gaming, engaging in Virtual Friendships, are just to name a few. The Saraha App, for example, is especially harmful to vulnerable individuals. Theoretically, Saraha does what it says on the tin: It allows users to submit honest comments, questions, and critiques to their peers.
How do you know they’re honest? Because the comments are submitted anonymously. You can guess where this is headed.
A lot of very beneficial tips were given by Dr. Asad and Dr. Suhail, such as keeping devices in “the common area” thus making supervision easier. Allowing only a certain amount of time for leisure device time. Modelling our expectations. This was certainly a very interesting and engaging workshop. Thank you to all the parents who shared their stories and advice. Prisca Toland Secondary School Counsellor
Secondary School Sports News Congratulations to the RIS Secondary Sports Teams. U12 Girls Football – IVEI 1st place, 1st place DASSA Division 4– First year in DASSA U12 Boys Football – IVEI 3rd place U14 Boys Football – IVEI 3rd place U16 Boys Basketball – 7th in Dubai, IVEI 2nd place U16 Girls Basketball – 12th in Dubai, IVEI 3rd – First year in DASSA And finally, Secondary swim squad: 1st place DASSA Division 6 winners – they will be going to the final DASSA championships for the first time ever in January and will be promoted to Division 5 for next academic year. These are outstanding results and truly reflect the hard work from our students and staff. There is a quote which is displayed in the secondary area; ‘There is no glory in practice and there is no glory without practice.’ It is consistent focus and dedication which achieves these results. Well done to all involved. Keep a look out on the PE notice boards for the teams for next term and encourage your child to get involved.
This week students have been involved in inter-house football competitions. It has been fantastic to watch the students work together In their teams, collaborating and challenging themselves. Congratulations to the winners.
This term has been extremely busy. Students and staff have been working at a fast pace in lots of different areas. Your continued support and involvement in this has been invaluable. Thank you. As we move forward to the new term and New Year we will continue to drive forward as a secondary team to ensure that your child gets the best education and opportunities. We wish you all well and hope that you have a relaxing and well deserved break. Andrew Clements Head of Physical Education