4 minute read
Middle Years School Achievements
Yalla Shabab Innovation and Design Conference
MYS Design and IBC Design Technology students participated in the Yalla Shabab Innovation and Design Conference at the end of February, in the Mutran School. The students worked collaboratively with groups of students from other participating schools. Four of our Grade 9 students were winners of first prize for the best design solution. Two of our Grade 11 students achieved second place for their design solution. Our students participated in presenting innovative solutions of real life problems in the community, related to renewable energy and sustainable development.
Advertisement
App Inventor Competition
Design MYS Grade 8 students participated in the App Inventor Championship 2020. Our students worked collaboratively in this programming competition in a fun and engaging environment, putting their coding, design and teamwork skills to the test. ABS teams competed with teams from schools in Jordan and were qualified for the semi- finals. They presented their App to jury members virtually via Zoom at the Amman Pitch Day in April, 2020. The feedback was impressive, and the App was described as:” A unique and ambitious App”.
THE ARABIC LANGUAGE DEPARTMENT:
The Arabic Department held multiple events and activities, within the school, and with the local schools as well. These events helped students practise their knowledge and skills outside the classroom. Some of these included the following:
Activities in school:
Knowledge Competition - Students from Grades 6-8 were divided into teams based on their houses. The competition involved questions regarding many different fields of knowledge.
Speech Competition - Students from Grades 6-9 each chose and practised their own speeches, and then performed them in front of a panel of judges. According to criteria set by the Arabic Department, 3 winners are chosen. Due to the COVID - 19 situation this year, the Grade 9 event took place online.
Spelling Bee - Grades 6-7 participated in a Spelling Bee competition on stage, with varying levels of spelling. This year, Language Acquisition students also participated in the Spelling Bee, which was a challenge for them, but they were willing to be risk-takers and do it.
Arabic Language Club - An activity to practise language skills with a focus on writing skills for Grades 6-8 , in the second semester, during support time.
Activities with local schools:
Creative Writing Competition with Sendaha Orthodox School - Students participated in the Creative Writing Competition with Sendaha Orthodox School, and wrote a creative story that stayed within the guidelines of the competition.
Creative Writing Competition with Jubilee School - Students participated in the Creative Writing Competition with Jubilee School to write a creative story.
Arabic Reading Competition - Students from Grades 6-8 participated in a reading competition with other schools throughout the year.
In the Second Semester, we had to face an unprecedented challenge with the onset of the pandemic and the countrywide lockdown. Almost overnight, the MYS staff were able to switch to online teaching and learning, first through using ManageBac. After a week, we moved to all lessons being taught through Microsoft Teams. For the next 3 months, over 6400 lessons took place online, with every lesson and all resources being checked by the MYS Leadership Team, with the support of the Grade Leaders. In addition, life in the Middle School carried on, with many other events happening virtually, such as:
• Virtual meetings, for academic and wellbeing teams; • Interviews for new positions of responsibility; • Care Group met and created thank you videos for staff; • Student Council meetings; • Callido – online, pre-IB College preparation course for Grade 10; • End of year assemblies, with prize giving; • Student of the Year – GLs went to give them their trophies in person; • Personal Project sessions with parents and students; • Support sessions; • Counsellor did online sessions with individual students; • MYS Team and the GLs checked all lessons, both the materials on MB and the actual lessons +6300; • Ongoing assessment in class, including PHE and the Arts; • Planning for following year – calendar, timetable; • Wellbeing Programme continued in Mentor Lessons; • We adapted the reports to include how students were managing the online learning environment, so teachers were able to let parents know how students were doing; • Fitness challenges for all - Students were introduced to the ABS Stay Safe, Active, and Healthy Campaign during our PE lessons via Microsoft Teams. Our MYS students started participating in different exercises during the quarantine, and they were asked to document their workouts via a reflection or video, to make sure that they are being active in these unique circumstances. They took things to the next level by filling the weekly workout and nutrition journals and submitting them on ManageBac every week, and by taking videos of themselves doing the exercises to share them with us and with their friends and family, to challenge them to do the same. By doing that, we hopefully helped our students be active for at least five days a week, and that they tried their best to eat healthily. • Even though we were online, we were able to finalise all achievement levels for students, including ensuring Grade 10 were able to get the grades they needed to enter the IB College. 100% of Grade 10 students who were registered for the e-Assessments were able to get the IBMYP Certificate.
