Uptowner 10 by Uptown School

Uptowner

C E L E B R AT I N G 1 0 Y E A R S O F U P TO W N - T E N T H A N N I V E R S A R Y E D I T I O N

YEARBOOK

IB WORLD

2014 - 2015

SCHOOL

INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE

ISSUE 10

CLIMB INTO 38 A BOOK!

CELEBRATE

PAG E

A GREAT YEAR OF SPORTING SUCCESS ON THE FOOTBALL FIELD, NETBALL & BASKETBALL COURTS AND IN THE SWIMMING POOL!

Discover more about our Uptown bookworms.

44 GOT PAG E

UPTOWN SPIRIT?

EXPLORE

What Works in Arabic and Mathematics at Uptown.

www.uptownschool.ae

Uptowners show their spirit during a groovy, super-sized, mismatched, wacky week!

52 NERDY BUT PAG E

YEARS of memories and

WORTH IT!

Uptowners reveal their thoughts and experiences of the World Scholar Cup 2015.

success!

#UPTOWNPRIDE

ONCE AN UPTOWNER, ALWAYS AN UPTOWNER! Students share their reflections.

74 MIND PAG E

GOGGLING! Uptowners discover the mind boggling aspects of science.

Laila Abdel Bary; Jana Abdelghafour; Hala Abdelhadi; Karim Abdelhadi ; Mohamed Abdelhadi; Faris Abdel Haq; Masa Abdelhaq; Ibrahim Abdel Qader; Dana Abdel-Salam; Rayan Abdo; Nelly Abdou; Nourallah Abdou; Mohamad Abdul Rahman; Huda Abdul Husain; Amina Abdul-Jalil; Maryam Abdulla Essa; Abdulla Buhumaid; Emaan Abdul-Salam; Omar Abdurakhmonov; Karim Abou Al Hosn; Marsia Abou Kasem; Marine Abou Kasem; Rosel Abou Kasem; Youssef Abouelella; Amirhossein Abounajmi; Akanksha Abrol Nagadoo; Yousef Abu Sido; Zaid Abu Sido; Faisal Abuinnab; Njoud Abuinnab; SalahEldeen Abuinnab; Hamza Abusido; Saddiq Abusido; Abdalla Adam; Lily Adam; Zainah Adeel; Aashna Adenwala; Zaineh Afaneh; Manaal Afsar; Taha Afsar; Aamir Aftab; Safa Aftab; Ayaan Agarwal; Budoor Ahli; Essa Ahli; Hamdan Ahli; Lubna Ahli; Mohammad Ahli; Zara Ahmad Hezril; Adam Ahmed; Aryaan Ahmed; Hamdan Ahmed; Raed Akaylani; Nausheen Akhtar; Nabeel Akhtar; Adriana Akiki; Fahad Alahmed; Mohamed Alahwani; Alia Al Akbar; Mohamed Alali; Mansoor Alahi; Maryam Al Ali; Mayed Al Ali; Ryan Alameddine; William Alameddine; Mohammad Alamkhan; Shhed Al Areefi; Abdulrahman Alashram; Mohammed Alashram; Abdulla Alawadhi; Theyab Albadi; Adnan Albairakdar Khayal; Mohamed Albairat; Nada Albairat; Abdulla Al Bannai; Ahmed Al Bannai; Abdulla Albelooshi; Mohamed Albelooshi; Mohamed Alblooshi; Sara Alblooshi; Shahd Alblooshi; Abdul Albreiki; Ali Aldhaheri; Alwalid Alech; Mohammed Alengawy; Konstantinos Alexopoulos; Maria Alexopoulou; Abdulla Al Fallah; Ali Al Falah; Hamdan Al Fallah; Mahra Al Falah; Mohammad Al Falah; Rashed Al Falah; Zayed Al Falah; Ali Al Falasi; Naema Al Falasi; Rejieli Alfereti; Rania Al Gethami; Khaled Al Ghaniem; Haamed Algheyath; Ahmad Al Haabi; Ayesha Al Haabi; Essa Al Haabi; Fatma Al Haabi; Hamda Al Haabi; Mahammad Al Harazi; Shahd Al Hassoun; Nasser Alhemeiri; Ali Al Hosani; Sofia Al Hamdani; Elyazia Al Hashemi; Khalid Al Hashemi; Khaled Al Hashemi; Marwan Al Hashemi; Omar Al Hashemi; Saif Al Hashemi; Omar Al Hassown; Haadia Ali; Hiba Ali; Huda Ali; Kais Ali; Kareem Ali; Kumail Ali; Mohammad Ali; Mohammed Ali; Omar Ali; Safia Ali; Aya Al Irhayim; Orchid Al Ismaili; Sarah Al Janahi; Abdullah Al Jarrah; Dana Al Jarrah; Rama Al Jarrah; Essa Al Jassmi; Hamdan Al Jassmi; Jad Al Jayouchi; Lana Al Jayouchi; Salma Al Junaidi; Yara Al Jundi; Khalifa Al Kaabi; Mohamed Al Kaabi; Banan Al Kalbani; Fawaz Al Kalbani; Humaid Al Kalbani; El-Hosin Allam; Karim Allam; Capri Allan; Rory Allan; Hamdan Al Madani; Yasa Al Mafraji; Laila Al Mahdy; Sara Al Mahdy; Majid Al Majid; Meera Al Majid; Sheikha Meera Al Maktoum; Osha Al Malik; Mansoor Almannaei; Shaikha Almannaei; Ghubash Al Marri; Hamda Al Marri; Maitha Almarri; Maryam Almarri; Nasser Al Marri; Ahoud Almarzouqi; Arif Almarzouqi; Humaid Almazroei; Mohammad Almazroei; Abdullah Al Mazrooei; Fatima Al Mazroei; Abdullah Almazrooei; Fatima Almazrouei; Mohammed Almazrouei; Saif Almazrooei; Salma Almazrouei; Asal Almatova; Shamsa Al Mazrouei; Humaid Almazroui; Abdulla Al Mehairi; Rashed Almehairi; Sultan Almeheiri; Athija Al Mehairi; Khalifa Al Mheiri; Sultan Al Mheiri; Kareem Al Moghrbi; Muhammad Al Moghrabi; Omar Al Moghrabi; Ahmad Al Morsy; Hamza Al Mouselli; Mohamed Al Mutawa; Shaikh Essa Al Mualla; Shaikh Al Mualla; Shaikh R. Al Mualla; Ahmad Al Muhairi; Hamad Al Muhairi; Mohammed Al Muhairi; Shaikha Al Muhairi; Saeed Al Naboodah; Shaikha H. Al Nehayan; Shaikha S. Al Nahayan; Shaikh Zayed Al Nahayan; Sh. Nahyan Al Nahyan; Shaikh Hamdan Al Nehyan; Shaikh Tahnoon Al Nahyan; Dheyab Raed Al Nuaimi; Rashed Al Nuaimi; Saud Al Nuaimi; Abdulrahman Alosaimi; Maryam Alosaimi; Joman Al Qadduomi; Omar Al Qadi; Ramah Al Qadi; Mohammed Al Qemzi; Khalid Al Quqa; Ahmed Al Rahoomi; Ali Al Robia; Hamad Al Saffar; Majed Al Saffar; Majid Al Saleh; Salem Al Saleh; Essa Al Sawaya; Yousuf Alserkal; Amira Alshaali; Mohammad Al Shaer; Hamdan Al Shaibani; Abdulla Al Shamali; Hamdan Al Shamali; Ibrahim Al Shamsi; Irhama Al Shamsi; Khalifa Al Shamsi; Mayed Al Shamsi; Rashed Al Shamsi; Saif Al Shamsi; Saif Al Shamsi; Zain Al Shanty; Khalifa Al Sharif; Mohammad Al Sharif; Rashed Al Sharif; Alia Al Sharji; Faris Al Sharji; Fares Shuwaihi; Rashid Al Shuwaihi; Walah Al Shuqaihi; Mohammad Al Surakhi; Mohammad Al Surakhi; Muhannad Al Surakhi; Sara Al Tamtami; Ahmad Altayyib; Aisha Al Thani; Aisha Al Thani; Hamda Al Thani; Humaid Al Thani; Rashed Al Thani; Rashed Al Thani; Duru Altiok; Kaylee Alves Da Silva Neves; Shana Alves Da Silva Neves; Sura Alyahya; Abdulla Al Zaabi; Aya’a Al Zariene; Zaid Al Zariene; Moh’d Al Zarieni; Abdulla Al Zarooni; Saad Al Zarooni; Samia Al Zarooni; Hasnain Amin; Rufaidah Amin; Omar Ammiche; Aliah Amran; Deniz Anadol; Lorenzo Andrade; Giorgos Angelides; Damian Arndt; Edwin Arndt; Karan Arya; Masa Asaad; Mohammad Ashour; Basil Asi; Rijja Asim; Filippo; Rayhan Athallah; Chiraag Atre; Adam Attar; Alexandre Attar; Aliya Attar; Mohammad Aweidh; Omar Aweidah; Jad Aweidah; Kruthanj Ayinippully; Jumana Azzam; Karim Azzam; Reanne Azzam; Jana Bachari; Andreas Backhausen; Camille Backhausen; Julia Bader; Aamir Badshah; Oliver Baillie; Sophia Baker; Louis Baker; Noor Balit; Anete Balkena; Katarina Balkena; Marta Balkena; Hend Bamatraf; Reem Bamatraf; Aniket Bangera; Daniel Bankes; Phoenix Bankes; Ishita Banthia; Taleen Baradi; Yasmine Baradi; Alexandria Baritsky-Shepherd; Amelia Barrett; Kian Barwise; Nusair Baseer; Elaf Bazza; Elias Bazza; Anika Bebiakova; Sophia Bebiakova; Shahmeer Behrani; Khalid Belhadj; Younous Belhadj; Zineddine Belhadj; Maryam Belhoul; Noora Belhoul; Sultan Belhoul Al Falasi; Alisha Bell; Zain Benhamza; Saanvi Bhandarkar; Suyash Bhandarkar; Arshiya Bhatia; Hritika Bhatia; Adil Bhatti; Haris Bhatti; Malaeka Bhatti; Alice Bianchi; Martina Bianchi; Saeed Biat Al Falasi; Alyazia Bin Adi; Noor Bin Hendi; Yakob Bin Hendi; Shamsa Bin Malek; Mohammad Bin Massam; Ayesha Bin Mejren; Maryam Bin Mejren; Saeed Bin Mejren; Alya Bin Shaikh Mejren; Meera Bin Shaikh Mejren; Mohammad Bin Subaih; Mohamed Bin Suloom; Ahmed Bin Suloon Alfalasi; Hamda Bin Suloom Alfalasi; Ali Bin Tamin; Sheikha Binmalek; Ali Binsuloom; Yousef Binsuloom; Savannah Blaauw; Mathys Bonvin; Charlie Bopp; Lisa Bopp; Agostino Bordignon; Sofia Bordignon; Ananya Borle; Selina Bossow; Cedric Bossow; Jessica Brits; Kenzie Brook; Rachel Bruce; Aidan Bruchet; Finn Bruchet; Liam Bruchet; Taine Budd; Joana Burgi; Lorena Burgi; Mohammad Buhaleeba; Essa Buhumaid; Shaikha Bumuhair; Barbara Burkus; Nadir Busabool; Zainab Busabool; Hamad Bushahab; Hamdan Bushahab; Gabriel Butt; Alix Cabioch; Jeanne Cabioch; Zeynep ; Kayra Calgara; Adur Calixto; Mia Callow; Alya Canaan; Lea Canlas Guarin; Charlotte Cappellini; Matteo Cappellini; Morgan Casey; Giovanna Castilho De Magalhaes Lima; Julianne Castilho De Magalhaes Lima; Lucrezia Di Castri; Jimwell Caudilla; Julianne Caudilla; Adnan Celik; Joshua Chacko; Karim Chakhachiro; Rayan Chakir; Aarav Chandavarkar; Dia Chandavarkar; Vasudha Channe; Vyom Channe; Jack Chapman; Shanelle Charlotte; Stan Charlotte; Marie-Julie Chatonnet; Paul Chatonnet; Shahzaib Chawhan; Hady Chehime; Zainab Chehime; Anzhi Chen; Farhaan Chen; Zoeya Chen; Hasan Chishty; Yaash Chopra; Kieran Chubb; Rohan Chubb; Clara Clausen; Sofia Colmenares; Asia Colnaghi; Olga Cortes; Coraline Cottron; Jasmin Couret; Samuel Cristler; Seren Cristler; Alexander Crowley; Joshua Crowley; Marcus Crowley; Aleksander Cumic; Eli D’Souza; Khloe D‘Souza; Khushi Dadlani; Nashat Daher; Tala Daher; Hao Dai; Aalia Dattu; Poppy Davidson; Amelia Dawson; Lisa De Boni; Martina De Boni; Mathieu De Schryver; Lily Delahaye; Madeline Delahaye; Christina Dennehy; Asia Desideri; Violet De Turk; Lucrezia Di Castri; Kianna Diaz; Nya Diaz; Kripa Dixit; Saumyy Dixit; Amelie Doutres; Adam Drai; Zakaria Drai; Erin D’Souza; Yixuan Duan; Marc Ducry; Sebastien Ducry; Urvi Dudwadker; Damon Duffy; Kaylin Duffy; Alexander Dugdale; Robyn Dugdale; Maeve Duncan; Rosheen Duncan; Michaela Dunlop; Oliver Eardley; Ruben Eardley; John Eardly; Rim Echaaraouy; Ashlyn Eckelberg; Jonathan Eckelberg; Justin Eckelberg; Greysen Edwards; Lily Edwards; Sabine Edwards; Abdallah Eisa; Mohamed Elbalkiny; Yara Elbalkiny; Andreas Eleftheriou; Christos Eleftheriou; Fahmy El Gergawy; Rwan El Gergawy; Layla El Gohary; Abdullah Elhasni; Ismail Elhasni; Sama Elhasni; Karim El-Herraoui; Razi El Husseini; Tameem El Husseini; Ayah El Masri; Miya El Masri; Ralph El Massih; Fares El Metwally; Mariam El Metwally; Noah Elmoselhi; Sara Elmoselhi; Ahmed El Naggar; Tamar Elorfaly; Layal El Rayes; Bissan El Sahli; Ahmed Elsays; Jomana Elsays; Faris El Shanti; Kareem El ShantiSara El Tawil; Serena El Tawil; Celine El Zaza; Mahmoud El Zaza; Tamar El Zaza; Avril Enciso; Carlos Enciso; Lauren England; Katelynn Evans; Sophia Evans; Hawra Ezzy; Filuca Faarbaek; Abdulrahman Fadah; Ali Fasah; Ahmed Fahad; Hayma Fahad; Muath Fahad; Shaikh M. Fahad; Adam Fakousa; Omar Farea; Ayesha Farhan; Fatima Farhan; Hafsa Farhan; Zaynah Fasih; Farid Fathinia; Zona Fatima; Rida Fawwad Siddiqui; Farida Fayed; Ayaan Fazwani; Shanae Fernandes; Valentina Fernandez; Joanne Finley; Viktor Flammini; Zacharias Flammini; William Foon; Rayyan Forsch; Yasmina Forsch; Aidan Foulkes; Jack Fourie; Yonden Frank; Eva Franklin; Daniel Franklin; Louis Franklin; Alice Fratesi; Ana Galve Piekarczyk; Chloe Galve Piekarczyk; Katia Galve Piekarczyk; Malak Gamal; Abdulrahman Gargoum; Mohab Gargoum; Nour Gargoum; Youmna Gargoum; Bailey Gavn; Paige Gavin; Tate Gavin; Grace Gepp; Jana Ghanem; Dana Giledi; Majd Giledi; Ammaar Gillani; Ginevra Giuseppi; Lorenzo Giuseppi; Ruhaan Gokhale; Tanish Gokhale; Ali Golmoradi Pilehrood; Aryan Gopalakrishnan; Rudraksh Goyal; Ruhaan Goyal; Charlotte Greig; Dylan Greig; Josephy Greig; Amelie Grosgojat; Kayley Gryglas; Liam Gryglas; Spencer Gryglas; Cecilia Guerin; Kimaya Guerin; Jorge Guillen Garcia; Sara Guillen Garcia; Rohaan Gulamani; Delara Guliyeva; Nurida Guliyeva; Saida Guliyeva; Aarav Gupta; Advay Gupta; Johnny Gurrera; Abdelsalam Habayeb; Rosel Hady; Sama Hady; Rania Haider; Selina Haj Ali; Tala Haj Ali; Maria Halai; Sakina Halai; Aban Hamad; Sydra Hamad; Teema Hamad; Elisa Hamalainen; Helena Hamalainen; Susanna Hamalainen; Deborah Hameau; Kimberly Hameau; Rhys Hammond; Safina Hammond; Reem Hamoudi; Meera Hamri; Di Han; Yu Han; Wahaj Haque; Faris Hares; Angelica Harper; Jack Hartwig; Lily Hartwig; Noura Hashemi; Aiya Hassan; Dia Hassan; Hady Hassan; Laila Hassan; Yara Hassan; Erin Haydon; Mia Haydon; Justin Hayward; Dana Heikal; Layla Heikal; Leena Heikal; Dominik Hertal; Manuel Hertal; Laith Hiasat; Ashton Hidalgo; Meisha Hinduja; Andrew Hobeika; Christopher Hobeika; Jan Hoesch; Imogen Holm; Maxime Holzer; Ryan Hooshmandi Taft Yazd; Harry Horton; Mackenzie Horton; Oliver Horton; Noor Hosni; Hunter Housely; Hamdah Humaid; Ali Hussein; Abdulaziz Hussain; Ayesha Hussain; Fouad Hussain; Leila Hussain; Zain Hussain; Jaime Ibrahim; Jenna Ibrahim; Joseph Ibrahim; Zara Ibrahim; Ali Imran; Sarim Imran; Zainab Imran; Poppy Instone; Andreas Ioannou; Marina Ioannou; Panagia Ioannou; Danae Ioulianou; Maria Ioulianou; Zinaida Ioulianou; Muhammad Ishaq; Maram Ismail; Mariam Ismal; Marwa Ismail; Mohamed Ismail; Tamilla Ismailova; Aladdin Isreiwi; Ali Isreiwi; Faisal Issa; Nysa Iyer; Rewa Iyer; Nishkarsh Jagdev; Nayana Jaidev; Aanya Jain; Anaya Jain; Garvita Jain; Rajvi Jakhetia; Emma Jakobsen; AlKacim Jalal; Liana Jalloul; Ryan Jalloul; Hasti Jamshidi; Adam Janbek; Tamara Janbek; Zaid Janbek; Hajar Jaouni; Hind Jaouni; Wasfi Jaouni; Sohan Jayasinghe Arachchige; Charlotte Jellum; Ulrik Jellum; Caleb Jennings; Danielle Jennings; Alefiyah Jivanjee; Mohammed Jivanjee; Naqiyah; Adrian John; Ivan John; Dia Johnson; Ciaran Joseph; Morgan Joseph; Ira Joshi; Ishan Joshi; Andre Joubert; Mark Joy Binsu; Abdul Aziz Julfar; Eissa Julfar; Halima Julfar; Lateefah Jufar; Abdullah Jumale; Ahmed Jumale; Johke Jute; Stefan Jute; Matthew Kain; Stella Kain; Quentin Kain; Abdullah Kaizer; Amml Kal; Scarlett Kalonick; Evripides Kalos; Midia Kalou; Rogina Kamali; Ahmad Kamel; Jasmine Kamran; Vanessa Kanaan; Fares Karanib; Dalia Kariem; Daniyal Karimi; Alvin Karlsson; Linnea Karlsson; Khalifa Karmostaje; Saif Karmostaje; Zoya Karpova; Lanna Kassaby; Taaliah Kassaby; Tayem Kassaby; Rabee Kassim; Heorgia Katomoniati; Christos Katomoniatis; Markos Katomoniatis; Herrisa Kaur; Damon Kay; Abdullah Kayyem; Dana Kazim; Ammar Kazim Al Bastaki; Syed Kazmi; Darwin Keck; Ben Kelly; Daniel Kelly; Luke Kelly; Matthew Kelly; Jasmin Kerschberger; Arnav Khadaria; Bardia Khajeh; Barsin Khajeh; Issa Khalil; Karam Khallouf; Yousef Khamaiseh; Rasheedah Khambalia; Kumail Khambata; Ibrahim Khan; Maryam Khan; Mishaal Khan; Raedah Khan; Saud Khan; Shayaan Khan; Yasir Khan; Yusuf Khan; Sara Kharouf; Ayaan Khawaja; Humayz Khawaja; Kiran Khowaja; Xavier Kinderman; Zoe Kinderman; Sol Kingston; Blaise Kinuthia; Isabella Kinuthia; Callum Kirk; Leah Kirk; Michael Kitambi; Natalie Kitambi; Aziz Kitana; Vaishnavi Kizhakke Valiathara; Gabriel Kochanski; Vasiliki Konti; Zoe Konti; Julius Korab Karpowicz; Natalia Kotze; Jad Kouchak; Ward Kouchak; Jovana Kovacevic; Ambrine Kpissay; Tarnue Kpissay; Sahana Kumar; Sanjana Kumar; Eric Kunz; Natalia Kusaga; Zalex Kusaga; Aliya Ladhani; Abeer Ladhani; Emilie Ladouceur; Lina Laine; Linus Laine; Madalena Laranjeira Nunes; Andrew Law; Genevieve Law; Sophia Leiva; Tatiana Leiva; Liva Lillelund; Hudson Lim; Ali Abdulqader Lootah; Alyazia Lootah; Khalifa Khalid Lootah; Hazzaa Lootah; Hind Lootah; Mahabah Lootah; Maryam A. Lootah; Maryam Lootah; Mohammed Lootah; Mayed Lootah; Nasser Lootah; Rakan Lootah; Rayan Abdulla Lootah; Saeed Lootah; Saleh Lootah; Saqer Lootah; Shama Lootah; Yousuf Lootah; Neo Lopes; Gabrielle Lotz; James Lotz; Jakub Lubaczewski; Jan Lubaczewski; Eleonora Lusi; Callum Lynch; Hootan Maat; Shahin Maat; Lily Macdonald; Chermel Machado; Mikhail Machado; Zac Mackie; Mees Magermans; Mila Magermans; Olivier Magermans; Mahmoud Mahfouz; Omar Mahfouz; Ahmad Mahmood; Lamya Mahmood; Nour Mahmood; Sama Mahmood; Zubaida Majeed; Abir Maji; Abdullah Saad Malik; Krishna Malpure; Hannah Mani; Varun Manohar; Lyna Marcucci; Ayla Msri; Karim Masri; Nicholas Matthews; Xavier Mathews; Max MaysDuncan; Scarlet Mays-Duncan; Daniel McCown; Senan McPhillips; Thomas McCarthy; Laith McDady; Nour McDady; Connor McGowan; Amira Medvedeva; Christopher Meere; Louis Meere; Redha Meferedj; Ali Mehmood; Tvisha Mehta; Ria Meier; Calum Melrose; Laurence Michel; Marleen Michel; Syed Minhaj; Revati Mirchandani; Mauli Mishra; Mehak Mishra; Vlad Mitre; Hirad Mohajer; Fatima Mohamad Jaber; Saif Mohammed; Mohammad Mohammadzedeh Khadem; Fasi Mohammed; Saeed Mohammed; Jana Mohd Issa; Tara Mohd Issa; Steffani Moore; Vaiana Moore; Nicolai Morozov; Savva Morozov; Ahmed Morra; Mariam Morra; Abeer Mosdegh; Manal Mosadegh; Wael Mourad; Yasmeena Mourad; Javier Muelledes Sanchez; Gayatri Mulay; Emilia Murray; Karim Musleh; Omar Musleh; Rakan Musleh; Zaina Naeem; Mishka Naetsawan; Tanmayi Nair; Shayan Najafabadi; Rayane Najim; Omar Namir; Milad Namvar; Anya Nanda; Kurt Napone; Pravir Narain; Puneet Narain; Demi Narinx; Talia Nasr; Ziad Nasr; Andre Nassar; Jivan Nassar; Roger Nassar; Adrian Nastase; Carina Nastase; Aya Nayal; Hana Nayal; Ivan Nekhaev; Zlata Nekhaev; Hanna Nemovi; Asher Nevrekar; Kaif Nevrekar; Zara Nevrekar; Rema Nezhad; Vehab Nezhad; Alexander Nimmo; Katherine Nimmo; Alexandru Nita; Ruayya Nomani; Adam Ali Noorali; Simone Noorali; Mevagul Notta; Abigail Nsi; Eliel Nsi; Enoque Nsi; Isaque Nsi; Jad Nuseibah; Victoria Nuzzi; Henry O’Shea; Jack O’Shea; Oliver O’Shea; Naser Obaide; Sadeen Obaide; Yousef Obaide; Eyan Oliveira Mahdi; Amna Olson; Ibrahim Olson; Filsun Omer; Fuad Omer; Hamad Omran; Daria Ostaszewska; Archie Otto Amann; Su Ozdol; Given Pabon; Will Pabon; Avnee Padua; Sathvik Pai; Vrohm Pai; Maria Palisoc; Zayaan Pallimalil; Sophia Papadopoulos; Giacomo Parrilli; Nicolo Parrilli; Julia Passtor; AbdulSamad Patel; Ines Pavlovic; Patrik Pavlovic; Emma Penhall; Hayden Penhall; William Perkins; Beatrix Philips; Johan Pieterse; Eve Pile; Robin Pile; Anthony Pimentel; Savannah Pinto; Azlan Pirani; Jan Plucena; Knaijel Plucena; Shagun Puri; Yashsvi Puri; Ahmad Qaed; Hamdan Qaed; Hashirul Quadir; Zafirul Quadir; Afra Quadri; Daniyal Quaid; Rayan Quaid; Daania Rafiq Rahim Shaban; Vibha Ragothaman; Rahmanullah Rahman; Rahmat Rahman; Viola Raimondi; Vevan Raina; Eimaan Raja; Ananiya Rajendiran; Rheanna Rajesh; Mariia Rakhbarmadani; Melika Rakhbarmadani; Saadhana Ramesh; Marco Ramirez; Samanya Ramnath; Samyuktha; Anudi Ranasinghe Hewage; Diyanah Rashed; Iliyan Rashed; Raeenah Rashed; Griffin Ray; Skyler Mika Ray; Ali Raza; Anam Raza; Rylan Recto; Wasay Rehman; Chawisa Reid; Aanya Rekhi; Alisha Rekhi; Mohsin Reza; Heidi Richards; Iris Richards; Kaden Richler; Celine Rietveld; Cindy Rietveld; Tate Roach; Hannah Roberts; Owen Roberts; Ali Robia; Kaliste Rodi Ostrogovic; Noah Romaniuk; Quentin Romaniuk; Catriona Rondario; Gemma Rose; Paige Rose; Troydon Rose; William Rose; Ahzem Rudani; Kirtika; Malak Saad; Nour Saad; Laila Sabbah; Laith Sabbah; Gian Sabbatucci; Haris Saeed; Mazen Saifan; Nidal Saifan; Ahmad Sajwani; Kristina Sakhavnekh; Laila Saleh; Souren Salehi; Salma Salem; Karla Salibi; Megan Salibi; Juan Sanchez Cortes; Jad Sannan; Adriana Santimano Sousa; Khalifa Sarhan; Andri Schnyder; Remo Schnyder; Paul Schroeter; Vivianne Schroeter; Nadir Schwer; Mehta Sedaghat; Ghizlan Seddik Ahmed; Murtaza Sehorewala; Pratyay Sengupta; Deniz Senyucel; Alfie Sephton; Issa Serhan; Seyed Karen Seyed Kamran Taraz; Fahad Shaban; Ishaal Shaban; Shanzay Shaban; Aaisha Shafi; Aaliya Shafi; Ava Shafiei; Prisha Shah; Padma Shaiju; Jude Shakhashiro; Ahmed Shanabo; Aleena Shanawaz; Yassin Sharaf; Zakiyah Shariff; Ishaan Sharma; Rian Sharma; Eden Sheardown; Imogen Sheardown; Nicholas Sheetz; Adam Sheikhali; Mohammed Shukeralla Beloushi; Mohammad Siddiqui; Nysa Silveira; Aliyah Simkins; Aditya Singh; Vasudev Sinha; Augustus Sirbu; Santosh Silva; Maria Slavkova; Bruno Soares; Anusha Solanki; Fran Soldatic; Karla Soldatic; Hana Soliman; Tarek Soliman; Alyzeh Somjee; Amruta Sonawane; Alia Soudat; Nadine Soussa; Eva Spaans; Joshua Springer; Maia Springer; Katarina Sremac; Aarnav Sriram Santhanam; Allegra Stauffer; Aurora Stauffer; Alexander Stevens; Maithai Stevens; Amelia Suleman; Diya Surana; Rahul Suresh Kumar; Riya Surve; Samira Suter; Shila Suter; Gibran Syed; Mikayeel Syed; Zaynah Syed; Ashley Szczwinski; Kinga Szczepanska; Saif Taha; Benyamin Talebi; Bagrat Tangian; Tina Tangian; Nabil Tanvir; Muhammad Tareen; Ibrahim Tariq; Taha Tariq; Hana Tawfik; Ashley Taylor; Patrick taylor; Sydney Taylor; Hanna Tepace; Amelia Thackray; Flynn Thackray; Titiksha Thakur; Alyssa Thomas; Cydnee Thomas; Nicole Thomas; Samantha Thomas; Steve Thomas; Zara Thomas; Michaela Thompson; Shriyash Tiwari; Serene Tleis; Nathan Tobin; Fares Tooski Malayeri; Sareh Tooski Malayeri; Christa Topalian; Marc Topalian; Alexander Tovar Dias; Maria Tovar Dias; Manasa Tuisawau; Lena Untermoser; Nico Untermoser; Raahima Usman; Rameen Usman; Rushan Vachani; Venika Vachani; Joshua Vadassery; Annika van den Berg; Ruan van den Berg; Raven van der Bijl; Emilian van der List; Yelena van der List; Nazish Varawalla; Beatrice Varley; Frederick Varley; Aris Varnavides; Markos Varnavides; Jaishna Varun; Maxime Vatble; Neshaanthini Veera Pandian; Andrew Venter; Keenan Venter; Eli Vestermajer; Maaya Vijayan; Rudrahdev; Alicia Villegas; Jason Villegas; Kiana Villegas; Varleen Varleen; Raad Wahdan; Samih Wahdan; Qais Wahdan; Britt Wauben; Sayuni Weerasinghe; Senan Weerasinghe; Timidu Weerawardhana; Ming Bo Wei; Lucas Whalley; Harry Williams; Dominic Woodgyer-King; Portia Woodgyer-King; Julien Wortmann; Kiarash Yadollahi; Roxana Yadollahi; Rayan Yaghi; Faris Yassin; Yousef Yassin; Hannah Yousafzai; Samir Yousfi; Abdel Zabin; Sarah Zabin; Elizeh Zahid; Isa Zaid; Syed Zaidi; Jana Zaki; Youssef Zaki; Abdullah Zkir Khan; Jana Zaky Mostafa; Habiba Zaky Mostafa; Rashed Zaman; Yasmin Zareie; Gabeena Zarifi; Hanniyah Zarifi; Maryam Zaryab; Cassiopeia Zeederberg; Huixiang Zhang; Anton Zhulkovskiy; Jenya Zhulkovskiy; Sarah Zimmermann; Yassin Zouaouni; Cover Photograph: Jana Abdelghafour, Grade 2

TENTH YEAR ANNIVERSARY EDITION

U P TO W N E R Y E A R B O O K 2014-2015

U N I T E D TO S U C C E E D A l i g n e d p u r p o s e f u l l y t o t h e I B p h i l o s o p h y, U p t o w n School provides an outstanding education in a nurturing environment, inspiring ever y student to achieve their full potential and excel.

Uptown School A Taaleem School Corner of Tripoli Street and Algeria Road

Mirdif

Dubai

United Arab Emirates

PROUD TO BE AN CELEBRATING WHAT MAKES EACH OF US UNIQUE MAKES US STRONGER AS A GROUP. EVERYONE IS DIVERSE, FROM OUR CULTURES TO OUR PASSIONS AND TALENTS. THIS IS WHAT ALLOWS US TO STAND OUT AND BE OURSELVES.

Each one of you has things that no one else has or has ever had; your finger prints, your personality, your syle. The sorts of things that make you you. So go ahead! Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be afraid to be who you truely are. Show what you care about! Be who you want to be. We all have our own identities that make us unique, so whatever you do, be involved, be noticeable, be brilliant, be competitive, be yourself and be proud to be an

UPTOWNER Uptown er

Uptowner er

UPTOWN

PRIDE

Taaleem CEO, Ros Marshall and Uptown Principal, Tim Waley reflect on the successes and the past year as the Uptown School community celebrates a decade of proud achivements.

“Whether it has been on a stage, in a sporting arena or in a competition, there has been a myriad of opportunities for everyone to shine and hone their talents outside of the classroom.” future. Much credit is due to the departing Principal, Tim Waley, who has guided the school through a critical phase of growth and development. Tim brought with him a

Ros Marshall, Taaleem CEO

wealth of experience in school leadership that the school has greatly benefited and we wish him well in his new post leading a

Uptown School was one of the four

cup wins. As I reflect on the year at UTS

original schools launched by Taaleem in

and as I write this currently at the time

2005 on a relatively small campus and

of a catastrophic earthquake in Nepal; I

Finally congratulations to the students

just for primary school children. A decade

am tremendously impressed and humbled

and parents UTS staff, on a decade of

on means that this is a point in time when

by the actions of the UTS Community

achievement and another action packed

we can reflect on the many milestones

who have immediately mobilised to help

year. I wish you all a much deserved and

reached and celebrate a 10 years of

others who are suffering greatly. The

restful vacation.

achievements with great pride.

collection of donations of blankets, water

high profile and prominent school in India.

purifiers, sanitation kits, bedding and The third phase of building is complete

other essentials to relieve the immediate

and all students are together in a brand

suffering in Nepalese communities is

new, state-of-the-art K-12 campus; an

something that the school should be very

achievement that was only a wish and

proud of.

Ros Marshall

Tim Waley, Principal

When we first embarked on the move

a dream a few short years ago. The new school facility has helped develop

The type of challenges, opportunities and

from the Primary campus, I suggested that

the prodigious and varied talents of the

experiences mentioned above truly do

the journey to our new home would be

students. Successes have been enjoyed on

mould UTS students into global citizens,

something to remember because in a very

the stage, the field, the track and in the

prepared for the challenges of 21st-

real way, each of us who relocated and

pool. I congratulate all that have danced,

century life. The school is well placed for

each one of us who joined this community,

sang, played and participated in the events

the next stage of its development and firm

could be likened to a pioneer. The

and competitions this year.

foundations have been laid for the

mention of that word probably conjures up particular images for those of us old

Whether it has been on a

enough to have used it more frequently in

stage, in a sporting arena or in

the past decades.

a competition, there has been a myriad of opportunities for

It does however extrapolate images of

everyone to shine and hone

adventure, risk, uncertainty and perhaps

their talents outside of the

even an element of fear. Yet, those of

classroom. However it would be

us who have been part of this exciting

remiss of me not congratulate

four-year journey have survived all of

the unbeaten Uptown School

the challenges with which we have been

Girls’ Under-11s football team

confronted, overcome them and won

who have created local history by

through. To what I hear you ask? To a first

completing a treble of league and

rate, well-resourced facility of brick, mortar

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and people would be my initial response. And of these, the most important one, for me, is the people factor. This is a place that really cares about the people that make up its community. Sure, from timeto-time there are differences of opinion, but by and large, people still care and that is the schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s significant trait that sets us apart from so many other environments. The staff care about each other, they care about the students in their charge and they care about the parents. I think it fair to say that the students and parents reciprocate in like measure. It is a characteristic worth continued effort, but one I would hope endures always. What have we achieved in these four years? Let me put some achievements on record, or we run the risk of forgetting matters that should reside firmly as part of the institutional memory of a school, that in my view, is already on an enticing pathway to be the school of choice in Dubai. Just over 500 students and 46 staff moved successfully and smoothly from about 1 hectare to 6 hectares and turned into 1270 students and 106 teaching staff. We have successfully established buildings, facilities and resources that are the envy of many. Uptown has successfully achieved authorization for both the MYP and Diploma Programs. We have established a solid and strengthening curriculum offering in all frameworks across the school. We have been consistently rated as a Good school with an increasing number of Outstanding features each year by the DSIB. We have successfully and significantly increased our sports, musical and ECA offerings. We have increased the number of well qualified, dedicated and caring staff who without hesitation commit to our students wholeheartedly. The list could go on, but the reoccurring word is success. Our students have had plenty of this, with many, many opportunities still ahead.

Our very best wishes to you all and thank you for having us.

Kit and I have greatly enjoyed being pioneers alongside you all and but a small part of this fabulous community in laying a very solid foundation for the future. We will watch with interest from a distance as the school continues to grow and excel and forever feel a deep sense of pride in having been a part of what is destined to indeed be the school of choice in Dubai. Tim Waley Uptown School Principal (2011- 2015)

Tim Waley

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year

inside our

book. Issue 10: 2014 - 2015

EXHIBITION JOURNEY

A series of ‘mini-exhibitions’ prepared our Grade 5 students for the challenges ahead.

PLAY ON!

Uptowners become lifelong music makers.

CURRICULUM

14 EDUCATING MINDS & HEARTS Principled, caring and reflective Uptowners

30 DIVIDE & CONQUER What Works: Mathematics

34 GETTING HANDS ON Uptowners’ artistic talents shine

50 APPRENDRE DE MANIÈRE INTERACTIVE Learning French, interactively

MIND-GOGGLING!

84 ARABIC LANGUAGE LEARNING

Uptowners discover the fundamental reasons why everything works the way it works.

Uptowners enjoy different learning opportunities

84 PULL UP A CHAIR & MAKE IT SNAPPY!

Inside the MYP Design Technology Studio

94 PERSONAL PROJECTS

Grade 10 students present their Personal Projects

EVENTS & ENRICHMENT 11 SPIRIT OF THE UNION Happy 43rd Birthday, UAE

16 WHEN MOVIES & BOOKS COLLIDE PYP students get dressed up for Book Character Day

52 TO PWAA OR NOT TO PWAA? Uptowners excel at World Scholars Cup

92 HITTING THE RIGHT NOTE

MAKING A SPLASH!

Enthusiasm, fun, spirit and determination as all Uptowners take part in sports days and swim galas.

SANAH HELWA, UAE

The Uptown community joins together to celebrate the 43rd UAE National Day.

ONE STEP AT A TIME

Dedicated preparation and hard work results in an amazing Desert Dance performance.

alented musicians perform at our ‘house’ competition

98 CULTURE OF ACTION

Uptowners work towards a strong culture of acton

SPORTS

32 FOOTBALL - THE AJAX WAY Ajax coach runs football training at Uptown

47 CREATING A SPORTING LEGACY PYP students enjoy a year of success

79 WE WANT TO PLAY YOU Staff and Students meet on netball court

82 WINNING WITH STYLE Unbelievable, Unbeatable, Uptown Girls

96 SPORTS AWARDS 2015

Celebrating achievement and success Editorial, concept, design and layout: Rob Ingham

SPIRIT AND ADVENTURE

Enriching learning and generating memorable experiences on our MYP Adventure Camps.

MYP SPORTS REVIEW

Student Simone Noorali takes a look at the many highs for our competitive sports teams.

LINKED FOR GOOD

Developing our international mindedness on International Days.

Printing: MASAR Printing and Publishing, Dubai, UAE

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Untie the RIBBONS

Each day comes bearing its gifts,

The Ruth Ann Schabaker quote above truly represents what being an Uptowner means to me. It has been an absolute privilege to find myself in a position where, as yearbook editor, I’ve been able to see so many of the wonderful things that take place at Uptown every day. My hope is that, between the covers of this yearbook, you will find smiling faces, information and images that capture the amazing number of events and learning opportunities that have happened over this academic year to; inspire, challenge, motivate, excite and unite. I am sure that all students, staff and parents will have many happy memories - or gifts - and will be proud of their individual and collective achievements. Every Uptowner has gifts, talents, dreams and aspirations and, by looking at every day as an opportunity and working together, we can support each other achieving these. Having celebrated this year, Uptown’s tenth, let’s look forward to next year and beyond, building on our successes so far and unwrapping many, many more gifts. My sincere thanks must go to all students, parents and staff who supported in the production of this yearbook and helped to create a lasting memory of happy times shared together - it’s creation wouldn’t have been possible without your valuable assistance.

SPIRIT OF THE

UNION

Rob Ingham Yearbook Editor

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As the United Arab Emirates celebrated 43 years since its formation, the Uptown community joined together to say Happy Birthday. In order to promote students’ spiritual and civic development, at Uptown School it is our aim to ensure that our curriculum content includes opportunities for our students to understand their community and to recognise the United Arab Emirates’ continued evolution. We believe it’s vital that all of our students are fully aware of, and appreciate the history of our country - this includes educating our young citizens about the culture and traditions of our region. UAE National Day celebrations at Uptown enables all members of our

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community to experience the essence, vision and spirit of the land we call ‘our home’. The occasion was an amalgamation of music, dance, and a cultural showcase of the UAE. It was indeed endearing to listen to the student community eloquently articulate their knowledge of the history and heritage of the land as the day began with songs and presentations about the UAE. Students, teachers and parents dressed in National Dress or UAE flag colours to bring our campus alive with hues of green, black, red and white.

National Day celebrations at Uptown enables all members of our community to experience the essence, vision and spirit of the land we call ‘our home’.

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WE ARE BUCKET FILLERS!

Educating MINDS

]

Have you noticed how good you feel when someone says, “good morning, please or thank you,” gives you compliments, opens the door for you, shares or offers help when needed or just gives you a big smile? Grade 1 students learned how to be “bucket fillers” rather than “bucket dippers”. We reflected on how our words and actions impact our own and others’ feelings and behaviour. As we would like our home, school and neighbourhood to be better places, we decided to fill buckets everywhere we go so everyone feels good. What about you? “Have you fill a bucket today?”

TAMING FRUSTRATION WITH ZACH! Have you ever experienced so much frustration that you feel like giving up, screaming or running away from your problems? Well, the same thing happened to Zach. Zach helped our Grade 3 students learn about the “frustration triangle” and how we can “Name it, Tame it and Reframe it”.

and HEARTS

That means identify the problem, use chill skills and then look at the problem in a different way. It is great to have frustration tolerance skills and use an appropriate strategy when dealing with anger and frustration.

GIRL POWER!

UPTOWNERS GET ALL WARM & FUZZY! Uptown School really is a beautiful, “Caring” community to be part of. Every Grade 2 class is a smaller community and each one of them understands the importance of working together as a team to create a big sense of community. We read a beautiful story about a small town where everybody was happy, as each member of that community worked hard to help and support each other. Our second graders decided to do the same and created “warm fuzzies” to share around, so everybody felt warm and fuzzy inside their hearts!

Throughout the year we met with different groups of girls, from Grade 5, for several weeks to talk about different “girl topics”. The objectives of the sessions were: promoting positive relationships, conflict resolution strategies, handling peer pressure and building strong selfconfidence and self-esteem. The girls came up with their own topics and it was great to be part of such a rich and trust-filled environment.

Uptown school is all about being a Caring, Principled, RiskTaking, Reflective and Well Balanced learning environment. That is why we care about supporting each other and all the new members of our community.

to act as ‘buddies’ and came into school (during their holiday) to receive training in order to help more than a hundred new students joining Uptown School… and they kept on doing it every time a new member arrived!

Our PYP School Councillor, Ms. MariCarmen Santamaria joined Uptown this year and has been busy supporting individuals, small groups, classes and whole grades - just take a look at some of the activities that she’s been involved with across the school, all aimed at supporting and enriching the learning experiences of our PYP Uptowners.

In Grade 4 we learned, role-played and reflected on the different types of bullying (Physical, Verbal, Friendship and Cyber-bulling). We read different bullying stories and came to the realisation that we could all work together to stop or prevent bullying from happening.

Even before the first day of school at the beginning of the year, an amazing group of Grade 2 to 5 students volunteered

Would you like to be a “Hero Bystander”? Ask a fourth grader what a “Hero Bystander” is and what you need to do to become one.

RESOLVING CONFLICT In Grade 5, we had the opportunity to work together at different stages of the school year. We met at the beginning of the year to learn about “Conflict Resolution Strategies” that we can follow when dealing with conflictive situations. We also spend some time and took part in workshops where we learnt about the physical, social and emotional changes that we will experience as we grow up. We hope for a smooth transition to MYP and trust that we have provided some tools to face future challenges.

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Don’t judge a Book by its Movie, that was the theme for this year’s PYP Book Week. PYP BOOK CHARACTER DAY 2015 It was wonderful to see the

Our Grade 3 and 4 students

children pouring over the book

discovered how the storyline of

display, showing them the

a very familiar movie, ‘Cloudy

range of books that were books

with a Chance of Meatballs’,

before they were movies.

was very different from the Judi Barrett picture book on

Over the course of the week,

which the original idea was

through lots of different

based. The highlight of the

activities in and out of the

week, as usual, was the Book

classroom, students explored

Character Parade and as you

some of the changes that

can see from the pictures there

Hollywood makes to the stories

were many familiar characters

they were based on.

as well as some new favourites.

When

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MOVIES

BOOKS

collide

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Dhabi

Hatta

Nasr

Wasl

Enthusiasm, fun, spirit and determination are just some of the words that sum up the sports events that have taken place at Uptown this year. During our sports days and swimming galas Uptowners, from Pre-Kindergarten all the way through to Grade 10, have competed and performed to the best of their sporting abilities, whilst also demonstrating positive attitudes to physical activity. At Uptown, participation is important. Taking part in sporting activities can be very rewarding and can be used to raise the self esteem of young people and give them confidence. There is a fantastic opportunity at these sporting events in a way that is designed to be fun, exciting, challenging and rewarding. We want our young people to engage in sport and an active lifestyle.

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WHAT REALLY

MATTERS IS

PARTICIPATION Uptowner er

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DESERT DANCE 2015 Taking it one step at a time

ALL

THAT

preparation

Preparations for Desert Dance 2015 began way back in early September when over 100 Uptowners, from Grade 4 through to Grade 10, gathered together for our Desert Dance auditions. It was amazing to see so many students keen to be involved, with such a range of prior dance experiences.

In addition to our talented dancers, Desert Dance also offers opportunities for Uptowners who prefer to wait in the wings, to join Ms. Kay and Mr. Cluley’s ‘Backstage Crew’, by creating props and ensuring that everything that needs to happen behind the scenes, does!

JUMP TO IT STUDENTS DEVELOP SKILLS AT DANCE WORKSHOPS In the build up to the big event, Uptown students were fortunate to attend a series of workshops at Dubai College with Fusions Arts, Diverse Choreography and other leading dance schools in the UAE. This allowed them to extend their skills levels and build stronger foundations in preparation for the show.

WE FEEL LIKE

DANCING

Co-founded by Uptown teacher, Emma Dawson, Dubai Desert Dance is now an established event that provides an opportunity for students from across the UAE to showcase their dancing tallents. The final performance took place in January after six long months of hardwork and rehearsals. The ‘phones and freaks’ girls during their technical rehearsal.

ANOTHER FABULOUS YEAR FOR TEAM UPTOWN AT DESERT DANCE. SIX MONTHS OF HARD WORK RESULTED IN YET ANOTHER AMAZING PERFORMANCE. Dedication, passion and teamwork are all synonymous with this years brilliant

The ‘boys’ showing that they’ve got all the moves during the technical rehearsal.

group! The dancers, backstage crew, lighting and technical support all made equal contributions to our final piece. The overall theme for 2015 was “Time”. UTS decided to address the issue with the amount of time that we spend on technology and the concern that life can be passing you by. We all appreciate the value that devices and technology

Grade 8 student Cassie Zeederberg and Aniket Bangera, Grade 9, at Dubai College running through the contemporary piece during the final technical rehearsal on the eve of the big show!

Brothers, Kareem and Omar Moghrabi practise their somersault flips!

has in life, but wanted to highlight the importance of looking up and living life in the now, rather than through an electronic virtual parallel.

I have never done anything like Desert Dance before and I’m pleased I decided to go to the try-outs. I didn’t think I would get in because I’ve never danced before. I’m so glad I did. It’s been hard work but also an amazing experience.

We’re already thinking about Desert

Grade 4 student, Erin Haydon highlights the strength of dancing talent of all ages at Uptown.

Dance 2016 - bring it on!!

Liam Bruchet, Grade 7

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Taking it one step at a time DESERT DANCE 2015

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THE

desert dance

PERFORMANCE

Cassie Zeederberg and Aniket Bangera performing their beautiful contemporary dance as part of Uptownâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s award winning piece at Desert Dance 2015.

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teamwork [noun]

A cooperative or combined effort of a group of persons working together as a team for a common cause.

Anyone who has worked as part of a team will have experienced the challenges related to teamwork. In order to prepare our Grade 5 students for the challenges associated with working as a member of a group during Exhibition, outdoor educators from North Star Camp visited Uptown to provide adventure-based learning tasks. Students were encouraged to recognise the need to work flexibly (in more ways than one!) with others to solve a series of challenges and small group problems. They were also encouraged to consider and reflect upon the specific skills and attitudes that enable team to be successful and function effectively.

Working in a group was really fun but also quite hard because we had to listen to each other, respect their ideas and solve the challenges by cooperating together. Shila Suter, Grade 5

To prepare our Grade 5 students for the rigours of ‘Exhibition’, they were all put through their paces with a day of team building challenges - they were given opportunities to take risks, solve problems, develop and maintain positive relationships, and have more than just a little bit of fun!

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EID

DINNER

The annual Uptown Eid Dinner was a great success and saw many members of our community join together to celebrate the Islamic ‘Feast of Sacrifice’, Eid-al-Adha.

Cilinventet voluptas volo ipsuo derovide The success of the evening was only possible with the generosity of the parents whoconsenis gave their time and cusandus si sequatem cuptas ut autate provided so much delicious food. Thank-you and si loremiy comnimustius dio. Nemporeptat.At shukran to everyone in our school community who came doluptat lore moluptate nia ratem. Et ea volo along to support and enjoy a wonderful evening.

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It is important that learners acquire mathematical understanding by constructing their own meaning, starting with exploring their own personal experiences, understandings and knowledge.

WHAT WORKS MATHEMATICS

Additionally, it is fundamental to the philosophy of the PYP that, since it is to be used in real-life situations, mathematics needs to be taught in relevant, realistic contexts, rather than by attempting to impart a fixed body of knowledge directly to students.

add, subtract, multiply...

Children learn mathematics by constructing and transferring meaning, and applying with understanding.

When learners have constructed their ideas about a mathematical concept should they attempt to transfer this understanding into symbols.

Learners construct meaning based on their previous experiences and understanding, and by reflecting upon their interactions with objects and ideas.

divide &

conquer Good Mathematical Practice

ideas. Therefore, involving learners

For success in mathematics to take

in an active learning process, where

place, it is important that learners

they are provided with possibilities

acquire mathematical understanding

to interact with manipulatives and to

by constructing their own meaning

engage in conversations with others,

through ever-increasing levels of

is paramount to this stage of learning

abstraction, starting with exploring

mathematics.

their own personal experiences, understandings and knowledge.

Maths Through Play

Additionally, it is fundamental to the

Play and exploration have a vital role

philosophy of the IB that, since it

in the learning and application of

is to be used in real-life situations,

mathematical knowledge, particularly

mathematics needs to be taught in

for younger students. In a PYP

relevant, realistic contexts, rather than

learning environment, maths skills and

by attempting to impart a fixed body of

activities need to occur in authentic

knowledge directly to students.

settings. Providing a variety of areas and resources that allow students to

Students validate the meaning they construct from their experiences with mathematical situations, by explaining their ideas, theories and results.

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Constructing Meaning

encounter situations is essential to the

Learners construct meaning based

introduction and development of these

on their previous experiences and

skills. In this environment, students

understanding, and by reflecting upon

will be actively involved in a range of

their interactions with objects and

activities that can be free or directed.

Authentic activities should include a range of practical hands-on problem-solving activities and realistic situations that provide the opportunity to demonstrate mathematical thinking. Students use patterns and relationships to analyse the problem situations upon which they are working. They make and evaluate their own and each otherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ideas, and use models, facts, properties and relationships to explain their thinking.

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TECHNIQUE

Karim Abdelhadi, (Grade 3) and our Under-8s demonstrate how comfortable they are in control of the football, passing, dribbling and turning.

INSIGHT

Under-12 star, Abdulrahman Al Ashram controls the ball during a drill aimed at developing the ability to read the game and make the correct decisions.

PERSONALITY

Coach van Schaick shares advice with boys from our Under-8 squad to measure how players respond and work together as part of a group.

SPEED

Grade 6 student Bagrat Tangian puts pressure on his Under-12 teammate Jenya Zhulkovskiy during a drill aimed at developing speed on the ground and speed of reaction THE FOOTBALLER

Hamad Omran

At Ajax, we believe in discipline and organization and it is within that framework we want to see personality and creativity.

Eddie van Schaick delivers coaching sessions at Uptown, and delivered a special invitation for Grade 6 student, Hamad Omran.

Eddie van Schaick

Playing the game the

Ajax way

Coach Eddie van Schaick puts boys from our Under-12 squad through their paces during one of his training sessions at Uptown in November.

THE COACH

Over a weekend in late-November, we welcomed football coach and Ajax Youth Academy Consultant Eddie van Schaick from to Uptown School. Coach van Schaick, who holds the UEFA A Coaching licence, held a series of practical training sessions with boys from our Under-8 to Under-12 football squads. He provided on-field coaching, and shared tactical skills and techniques.

skills to keep full pressure on opponents across the field. To do this, the club has developed a special vision and style of play that incorporates technique, speed, insight and player personality. At the youth level, Ajax Youth Football Academy has taken these elements and combined them with a high-quality coaching to create one of the leading youth academies in the world

For 115 years, Amsterdamsche Football Club (AFC) Ajax, or simply Ajax, has been one of the dominant clubs in both European and world soccer, with a team built upon a legacy that is known far and wide. Top players such as Johan Cruyff, Wesley Sneijder, Marco van Basten and Frank Rijkaard have graced the pitch for Ajax. Known for their attractive style of dominant, attacking football, Ajax use technical and tactical

After what proved to be a beneficial and highly enjoyable weekend for all of the boys involved, Grade 6 student Hamad Omran had more reason than most to be proud of his efforts. Coach van Schaick was so impressed by Hamad’s performance and character during training sessions, that he extended an invitation to him to travel to Amsterdam for the opportunity to attend training at the Ajax Academy.

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Eddie van Schaick

The coaching with Eddie helped me lots because he made me think more about movement, control and short passes in tight spaces; I really had to think about being under pressure and not having enough time on the ball. I only had a short time time coaching with Eddie so I’m looking forward to going to Ajax and the drills and activities their coaches will share with me. I hope when I get

to Ajax they they will think I’m a good, skilful player - I hope they won’t judge me at the beginning just because I’m quite short, but enjoy seeing me play and seeing what I can do on the football pitch. Maybe I’ll be a little nervous when I first arrive but when I get started I‘m sure I’ll really enjoy it. I’m really proud of myself I would love to go to Ajax and make my parents and family proud of me too.

Since 1900, Ajax has been a model of efficiency and success in training, with 70% of the First Team made up of home-grown players. More recently, led by Eddie van Schaick, Ajax has begun expanding its reach internationally. With a background in playing and coaching and experience studying on both sides of the Atlantic, Eddie van Schaick’s history has seen him in charge of youth coaching for USA’s Richmond Kickers, the Qatar Football Association, Kazakhstan’s FK Almaty and now back in the Netherlands with Ajax. His passion for the game runs deep as does his knowledge of what it takes travel the road of youth player to professional footballer.

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GETTING HANDS ON Art is an integral part of our programme as it provides Uptowners with a powerful mode of communication through which they are able to explore and construct a sense of self and develop an understanding of the world around them.

STUDENTS’ ARTISTIC ABILITIES SHINE

isual Arts at Uptown provides students with a wide range of opportunities and means

to respond to personal experiences

and passions while creating,

performing and presenting art in ways that engage and convey feelings,

Students learn about aspects of Art

experiences and ideas. It is through this

History and can share ideas and reflect

practice that students acquire new skills

upon their own and other artists’ work

and master those skills developed in prior

and processes. In doing so, students

learning. Students have opportunities to

develop the skills of critical analysis,

function as artists, as well as learners of

interpretation, evaluation, reflection and

the arts. The visual arts engage students

classroom encourages experimentation with specific skills and techniques in a variety of media.

t Uptown, in Early Years and Primary, Art is an integral part of our programme as it provides

our students with a powerful mode of

Art is mysterious, enchanting, amazing, mesmerizing, and something all children easily do. It teachers us to to explore playfully, without a preconceived plan.

in creative processes through which they explore and experiment in a continual cycle of action and reflection. Such creative processes are

communication through which they are

the driving force in learning through

able to explore and construct a sense of

inquiry. From an early age, students have

self and develop an understanding of the

the opportunity to develop genuine

world around them. Arts provide students

interests, to give careful consideration to

with a wide range of opportunities and

their work and to become self-critical and

This year, Uptowners ’wowed’ us once again

means to respond to their experiences

reflective. Reflecting on and evaluating

at our Art Exhibitions! The exhibitions are a

and engage with historical, social and

their own work and the work of others

celebration of the students’ achievements and

cultural perspectives. The students are

is vital, and empowers students to

is a great opportunity to showcase their talents.

stimulated to think and to articulate

take intellectual risks. Exposure to and

Every Uptowner develops a sense of pride

their thoughts in new ways, and through

experience with arts opens doors to

through the exhibition as their work is viewed by

a variety of media and technologies.

questions about life and learning. The

parents, teachers, visitors and their peers.

We recognise that not all learning can

process of making and appreciating arts is

be supported solely through language,

gratifying and will encourage students to

and that arts as a medium of inquiry

continue creating throughout their lives.

Art provides a way. Common ground to reach across racial stereotypes, social barriers, and prejudices.

also provide opportunities for learning, communication and expression. Learning about and through arts is fundamental to the development of the whole child, promoting creativity, critical thinking, problem-solving skills and social interactions.

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Uptowners develop their skills

and learn new cultural perspectives.

communication. Practical work in the

SHOWING OFF CREATIVE TALENTS

uring the Middle Years,

The value of Art at Uptown School cannot be under-estimated; when integrated with other areas, students can become more engaged in the learning process. It also creates direct observational skills, encouraging our students to see more closely than ‘ordinary looking’, and thinking things that otherwise might not be seen.

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Art provides an opportunity to teach children that there can be more than one solution to the same problem.

Art teaches openended thinking and creates an environment of questions rather than answers.

Uptowners develop their skills and passions while creating, performing and presenting art in ways that engage and convey feelings, experiences and ideas.

Learning about and through arts is fundamental to the development of the whole child, promoting creativity, critical thinking, problem-solving skills and social interactions.

Art stimulates both sides of the brain and creates a holistic world view. It also teaches risktaking and builds self-esteem and is empowering.

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GREAT

READ

big

Books make me happy. I love reading books and taking my imagination on adventures to lots of fantasy places. Matthew Kain, Grade 3

“Books are uniquely portable magic” - so said famous author Stephen King. There are so many reasons why we should pick up a book and read... Uptown students are always willing to share their reasons. When discussing their reasons with Grade 2 students

minutes each day that would be 3,600 minutes in 1 school

there were lots – some related to their learning - to be

year, approximately 1,800,000 words. By the end of PYP

knowledgeable, to discover interesting things, to know

that would add up to a total of 60 whole school days! Which

about places you haven’t been to, to improve word

route would take you to success?

knowledge. Other reasons were more about the quality reading adds to their lives – to entertain us, to enjoy, to be

There are lots of statistics about why you should practice

happy, to keep our brains fit.

reading every day but probably the most compelling, for me, are summed up by this quote by Dr. Seuss;

Did you know that if you read for 5 minutes each day that would be 900 minutes in 1 school year? That’s approximately 282,000 words. By the end of PYP that

“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.”

would be 12 days of reading in total. BUT if you read for 20

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KG STUDENTS BEGIN THEIR READING JOURNEY

ALEXANDER McCALL-SMITH VISITS UPTOWN

“I love reading because I have nice princess books”.

Alexander McCall Smith is the author of the international phenomenon The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series as well as many other best setting series.

Nada Albairat, K1 Orange

Children need a range of opportunities to develop as fluent, enthusiastic and critical readers. In the Kindergarten, in order to begin to develop a balanced reading experience and develop a life-long passion for reading, children should have opportunities to hear books read aloud, sharing reading, develop phonological awareness, encouragement to develop reading throughout the learning environment, and home school reading.

Our MYP students were delighted when Mr. McCall-Smith kindly took time out from his extremely busy schedule to visit Uptown and meet them. During his time at Uptown, students were captivated by what he had to say, listened intently and had many questions about what life is life for a famous author. In addition to providing a preprepared presentation about his work and achievements, should were also encouraged to ask (and answer) questions during a highly enjoyable and memorable morning.

GRADE 1 BOOK LAUNCH! What better book to read, than one you’ve actually written yourself! That was the opportunity given to our Grade 1 students who, as part of their ‘How we express ourselves’ unit of inquiry, wrote and illustrated their own picture books. Students then had a ‘book launch’ to share their creations. with parents, friends and teachers.

READERS CUP READERS CUP Once again this year, some of our Uptown bookworms took part in in the Chevron Readers’ Cup competition. The Readers Cup is one of the elements of the Emirates Airlines Festival of Literature and involves teams of students (four per team) studying four individual books written by authors who are attending the Festival. Our first qualifying round was held at

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Royal Dubai School and consisted of a written quiz on the four books, that students had read ahead of the event. The 16 teams with the highest scores in each age group from across Dubai then went head to head in the finals held during the Festival. After taking part in the (up to to age 11) the qualifying round at Royal Dubai School, despite their best efforts, unfortunately our Uptown’s were unable to secure a place in place in the finals.

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BED-TIME STORY DAY IN EARLY YEARS

BUDDY READING At Uptown, our reading buddy programme is a fun, personal and effective way to introduce the pleasures of reading to our younger readers. Throughout the year, across the Primary and Early Years, all classes and students have been grouped or paired with buddies to provide mentorship in reading.

Once upon a time, parents read to their children at night. A bedtime story used to be a wonderful way for children and parents to bond at the end of the day, however recent research suggests that unfortunately the tradition has undergone a dramatic decline. This year, as part of our celebration of reading, children (and teachers) in our Kindergarten classes all came to school in pyjamas and with their favourite bedtime story to in hand, ready to share and read. with friends. What a cosy day we all had!

We believe that ‘buddy reading’ develops responsibility and leadership qualities in our older students as well as oral reading skills. Buddy reading also fosters cross-phase friendships, enables younger readers to pose questions and hear language and literacy questions explained in words that are more closely attuned to their own vocabularies. Another substantial advantage is that the students gets to improve their speaking and vocabulary skills while they’re reading in a relaxed and calm setting. Everybody Wins!

READ-ALOUD DAY

MOTHER TONGUE READING BUDDIES At Uptown, we recognise the importance of mother-tongue maintenance and development. Maintaining and developing language and literacy skills in the mother tongue ensures continuous cognitive development, and in parallel with competence in the language of instruction, leads to additive bilingualism. To support these aims, our MT Reading Buddies ECA as run throughout the year aimed at promoting reading in our students’ Mother Tongue language. PYP students have formed small reading groups to be read to, and read with their MYP MT reading buddy mentors. Some of the languages offered have included German, Spanish, French, Arabic, Dutch, Hindi and Urdu.

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Every year World Read-Aloud Day calls global attention to the importance of reading aloud and sharing stories. Read-Aloud Day was on the March, 4th and students in Grades 1, 2 and 3 grasped the opportunity to... Read Aloud!

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PYP SPIRIT WEEK 2015

Rewind to the 1980’s

Grade 5 girls,Hana Soliman, Ananya Borle, Marwa Ismail, Annika van den Berg, Kirtika Rungta and Mariam Ismail turn back the clock.

8 - 12 March 2015

Super Size Me

SUNDAY

Students came to school ready to work for careers day.

Mismatched

MONDAY

Students wore mismatched accessories.

Twinsie TUESDAY

Hat’s what friends are for!

Students dressed like a friend or group of friends.

Grade 1 boys, Adam Janbek, Lorenzo Andrade, Nidal Saifan and Mahmoud Mahfouz hanging out on Twinsie Tuesday.

Wacky Hair

WEDNESDAY

Stand to Attention!

Hazzah Lootah and Humaid Almazroui currently in Grade 4, provide a glimpse into the future on ‘Super Size Me’ Sunday!

Students didn’t worry about having a bad hair day... the crazier the better!

SHOW your

Time Machine Hair-Raisers!

SPIRIT

Mark Topalian and Issa Serhan from Grade 4, enjoying their bad-hair day!

THURSDAY

Students stepped into the time-machine and travelled back to the 1970’s and 80’s for a groovy day of disco!

For a whole week in early March there was an extra buzz of excitement and a levels of energy were raised as PYP Spirit Week took place with the aim of recharging, re-energising and refocusing for the remaining few months of the school year. Spirit Week was planned and led by our PYP Student Council members. The ideas and plans for the week were student-led and provided an excellent opportunity for our students to develop leadership skills, plan and execute projects, consider the logistics of planning events and to learn from any obstacles and challenges they encountered along the way.

Groovy Sister!

Grade 5 twins Sophia and Tatiana Leiva turning back the clock with a groovy disco look!

A huge thank you goes to the PYP Student Council for creating such a fabulous week of fun! Pink Pair!

Disco Throwback!

Sanjana Kumar from Grade 2 is happy with her perfect throwback Thursday disco outfit.

Disco Fever!

Nicoló Parrilli, Grade 2, has disco fever as he shows his Uptown spirit!

Pink Pals!

Grade 4 girls, Giovanna Lima, Eleonora Lusi, Di Han and Ginevra Giuseppi on Twinsie Tuesday.

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Grade 1 students, Ayesha Al Habbai and Jude Shakhasiro enjoy the opportunity to become twins for the day, on Twinsie Tuesday!

D.I.S.C.O Divas

Titiksha Thakur and Ananya Borle, Grade 5 ready to stop everything and dance on Time Machine Thursday!

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t in the PYP This year, spor strength to has gone from curriculum th bo in h gt stren er-school int d an lessons etitions. mp co competitive ring even Through ente gues and more local lea g more cin du ro int events, ing our joy en d sports an mpetitions, inter-house co ers have more Uptown sitively po to le ab been hieve, ac d an e, participat orting sp of e in a wide rang activities.

CREATING A

SPORTING

LEGACY It seems unbelievable that it was ten years ago that Uptown School opened with only 160 students in what we would now consider to be a rather small facility. In our first year we established the first Uptown Football, Netball and Swim Squads. I remember our first Under-11 Boys Football game versus Dubai British School, and that we won 4-2. The same year we began our House system and the foundation House Captains decided on Dhabi, Hatta, Nasr and Wasl as the names of our four respective houses. It was at this time that we started our ‘Weekly House Point Competition’ which was and still is used to this day as a behaviour management tool, and at the end of our first year we held the inaugural Sports Day and School Swim Gala.

If PE is my favourite

Ten years on and some things have changed and some remain the same. Uptown School has now moved to a new location with truly wonderful sporting facilities. We now have approximately 1000 students from Pre-K to Grade 5 and our Sports Days and School Swim Galas are now held over a week rather than completed in a day. We now have an extremely strong and experienced PE team across the PYP and MYP who will be driving PE and Sports at Uptown forward for many years to come.

Zac Mackie, Grade 1

For many years our representative teams had to play all of their games and fixtures at other

lesson because I really like doing sport and keeping my body fit and healthy. The best part of PE is when we play Dodgeball.

It has been very encouraging to see such a positive attitude towards sport developing in our students here at Uptown. Enthusiastic participation and effort in Physical Education lessons is very high and all of our sporting ECAs fill up quickly with keen and committed members.

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PYP students enjoy a year of great sporting success. “Playing real foo ll matches gave metba the in-game feeling. Wh en we won against oth schools it gave me er a better feeling tha when we played at n break-time.” Linus Laine U10 Boys Football Squ

joyable “The most en ing in be t ou ab g in th the galas is d ua Sq im Sw u get to because yoab ur ility ine show off yo .. freestyl e swimming.ite becaus ur vo fa y m is it’s fast.” Mathys Bonvind PYP Swim Squa

“At the start of the season I was happy and nervous at the same time . From first time I saw ourthe team I thought we would be really strong and win lots of games. I am really really that I was right.” happy Zoe Konti U11 Girls Football Squad

We have also seen success on the netball court for our girls this year, with our Under-11 and Under-10 teams taking part in league fixtures for the first time. All of the girls who have taken part have clearly benefitted and learnt a great deal from every match. Our Grade 4 novices have played very well and are beginning to settle into their positions and the role they play within the team, while our older Grade 5 (Under 11) girls also made great improvements as they gained further competitive experience, earning a hardfought runners-up place at the Taaleem tournament.

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schools due to a lack of facilities. We now enjoy volunteering to host many events and with help from members of our Uptown team we have already hosted many memorable events over the past 2 years. We also have excellent facilities in which to teach our PE lessons. This year, it has been very encouraging to see such a positive attitude towards sport developing in our students here at Uptown. Enthusiastic participation and effort in Physical Education lessons is very high and all of our sporting ECAs fill up quickly with keen and committed members. The coaches of all squads have been particularly impressed by the high levels of attendance at training sessions as well as the desire to develop and improve that our young sports men and women have displayed. This has been a crucial aspect in creating a positive team spirit and an awareness of the teams’ strengths and weaknesses when they face teams from other schools across Dubai. For the first time this year, we introduced an Under-8 and Under-9 boys football squad with both competing and achieving some very respectable results in the Dubai Primary School League; the manner in which the boys played, individually and as a team, improved significantly as the season progressed and will certainly mean our boys are more prepared when they step-up to play in older age groups. All of our boys teams worked hard in training and enjoyed success on the football pitch with impressive victories for all of them at various points this year, most notably, the Under-10 finishing position (in the top eight) of their League after Grand Finals Day, and the Under-11’s

In the swimming pool, there is strong competition for places in our Swim Squad with many of our swimmers demonstrating their potential and enthusiasm during swimming lessons and in the many swim galas we have taken part in this year. Our squad includes incredibly gifted swimmers with a lot of potential, and the entire team have been focussed on improving their speed, strength, stamina and technique. The swimming gala season brought great success in the pool for our students, in league galas as well as individual events that were hosted at Uptown and in schools across Dubai.

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Our girls’ under-11s also secured a second place finish in the Taaleem Tournament, before going on a magnificent run that saw them win the Jets Cup, the GoPro Northern Division championship and then, most memorably, the Dubai Schools’ Grand Final to finish the season unbeaten and with three new trophies in the trophy cabinet!

securing themselves silver medals and a runners-up position at the Taaleem Football Tournament in January. Our girls’ under-11s also secured a second place finish in the Taaleem Tournament, before going on a magnificent run that saw them win the Jets Cup, the GoPro Northern Division championship and then, most memorably, the Dubai Schools’ Grand Final to finish the season unbeaten and with three new trophies in the trophy cabinet! Reflecting on the past year at Uptown highlights the huge amount of time and commitment given to sport at our school, from our students, parents and staff. Thanks must be given to all parents who have supported our teams, especially the ‘orange’ mums who have followed our girls’ successes on the football pitch, the parents who have braved the hot and humid conditions to cheer on our swimmers from the side of the pool, and those who have travelled to various schools across Dubai and waited for the bus to eventually get back from away fixtures! I am also extremely grateful to our fantastically dedicated teaching and coaching staff who have given up huge amounts of time to train, organise and motivate our students, and for putting Uptown firmly on the maps as a force in the local schools’ leagues. We are already preparing for, and looking forward to, P.E and Sport at Uptown School in 2015-2016 and will be hoping that the legacy that has already been created will bring even more successes. Who knows what the next 10 years may have in store? Mr. Paul Eardley, PYP Physical Education Leader

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APPRENDRE

DE MANIÈRE INTERACTIVE

LEARNING

uel est ton jour préféré? Quelle est la couleur du dimanche? Qu’est-ce que tu vois dans cette image? Quel sportif tu aimes? A quoi ça sent, le vent ? Quel bruit fait le soleil? ask the French teachers.

The students look a little

are student-centred,

norm. We learn French

bit puzzled, they listen,

organised around opened

interactively, through

think and try to answer the

questions that stimulate

games, songs, stories,

questions. They love these

the reflection, creativity,

conversations, surveys

“thunks” because they

communication and

and many more hands-on

know there is no right or

interactivity. The students

learning tasks.

wrong answer. They wait

are also encouraged to ask

And what a reward, when

for it and they don’t let you

questions to each other

the students are thanking

forget to ask!

and learn appropriate

you, sincerely, at the end of

Our French lessons

responses. It’s the

the lessons!

INTERACTIVELY

uel est ton jour préféré? Quelle est la couleur du dimanche? Qu’est-ce que tu vois dans cette image? Quel sportif tu aimes? A quoi ça sent, le vent ? Quel bruit fait le soleil? demandent les maitresses de français.

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Les élèves regardent,

centrées sur l’apprenant

autres et ils apprennent à

écoutent, réfléchissent et

et organisées toujours

répondre. C’est la routine.

essayent de répondre. Ils

autour des questions,

On apprend le français

aiment bien ces questions-

surtout des questions

de manière interactive,

pièges car ils savent qu’il

ouvertes qui stimulent

à travers des jeux, des

n’y pas de réponse correcte

la réflexion, la créativité,

chansons, des histoires,

ou fausse. Ils les attendent

la communication et

des conversations, des

et ils ne te laissent pas

l’interactivité. Les élèves

sondages, etc.

oublier !

aussi se demandent des

Et quel plaisir, le

Les leçons de français sont

questions, les uns les

remerciement sincère des

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#imsmartnow World Scholars Cup

The World Scholar’s Cup may look like a competition, but it’s much more than that. It is a celebration of learning and an opportunity for students to learn a lot more about themselves. The World Scholar’s Cup is an academic programme with a difference, in which teams of three study materials from a range of disciplines, such as Literature, History, the Arts, Science and Current Affairs. They then compete in persuasive writing, debating, a quiz and an examination. This year, Uptown were larger in number as more of our students represented the school in the first regional round, and rose to the challenge of working together, being motivated and managing the pressure that comes when you know someone else depends on you. The Scholar’s Cup also deals with serious, and in some cases quite hard-hitting global issues without taking itself too seriously. Before we can fall in love with learning, we have to find the fun in it, and while the World Scholars programme is challenging and demanding for those who participate, it also

aims to be a highly enjoyable experience. Not simply content with taking part and having fun, the ‘Uptown Alpacas’ achieved many things that they can all be extremely proud of! They all did amazingly well with a significant number of Uptowners receiving medals and commendations. Following their success many of our students have been invited, and will now travel to take part in the Global Finals in Malaysia in June, where they will pit themselves against some of the other highest performing schools in the world. Here’s hoping, as they head off to Malaysia our students enjoy even greater success, but even more importantly, that they will learn a lot more about themselves and others while forging long lasting friendships with fellow scholars from around the world.

“Y’all give me a holla fo’ y’all world scholars!”

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“Pwaaaaa, that’s what alpacas say.”

Tate Gavin says... “Out of my seven years of being at Uptown, Scholars was the best thing to ever happen.”

Agostino Bordignon

‘Uptown World Scholar’

NERDY BUT SO WORTH IT!

Asal Almatova says... “I really enjoyed scholars cup and meeting the Jerrys. It was (and always will be) the best experience of my life! Pwaa!”

Hana Nayal

Natalie Kitambi says... “I really recommend people to join the World Scholar’s Cup. It is the best life-changing experience and it’s one of those things you will cherish forever.”

“To Pwaa or not to Pwaa”

Scholars, an educational competition. Sounds a bit nerdy, and it is, but you still will have the time of your life! Whether you want to release your fury on civil rights through debating, or use your detailed knowledge of technology in the challenge, the whole experience was fantastic, amazing, outstanding!

Tameem ElHusseini

The only rule is that we should not mix up Alpacas with Llames. “Pwaaaaa”, that’s what alpacas say. It’s a great team event too! I had so much fun with Ago and Nat. We also had a supportive coach, Ms. Ronalds. Mr. Cluley was a really big help too. Uptown also had Simone Noorali placed as the top individual in the competition and many more prizes were earned this year than last . Most Uptown teams qualified to Malaysia, so our scholars will be able to create even more wonderful and unforgettable memories. I encourage everyone who can to join scholars. GO UPTOWN SCHOLARS!

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Laith Sabbah (far left) tastes his product during the preparation and creating of his ice-cream dream. Elyazia Al Hashemi (left) ready for the photoshoot after creating her ‘fake’ icecream product as part of the ‘How we express ourselves’ unit of inquiry. Marta Balkena (below left) as her peacekeeping icon, Princess Diana during our Living Waxworks mini-exhibition. Zinaida Ioulianou (below) demonstrates her chemistry experiment during the Grade 5 Science Fair.

The Journey to

Exhibition MINI-EXHIBITIONS PREPARE STUDENTS

Vivianne Schroeter (above) Prepares her food product as she works in a group to make a profit during out ‘Market Stall’.

Aleksandar Cumic (above) demonstrates his marketing ideas for his ice-cream product.

Reanne Azzam (left) as Mother Teresa during our first mini-exhibition, Living Waxworks. Camille Backhausen (right) shares her marketing packgae as he advertisess her ‘Rocket Sundae’ product during our Ice-cream Dream Mini-exhibition.

FOR THE CHALLENGES OF EXHIBITION

GRADE 5 STUDENTS ENJOY THEIR JOURNEY TOWARDS EXHIBITION WITH A SERIES OF ENGAGING MINI-EXHIBITIONS.

IT’S ALL ABOUT ACTION

In the final year of the IB Primary Years Programme, all students carry out inquiries into an area of their own choosing. These student-initiated inquiries are the culmination of their growth and learning during their time in the primary school and enable them to synthesise the essential elements of the PYP. Therefore, throughout the year and in preparation for PYP Exhibition, Grade 5 students were given the opportunity to plan, prepare and deliver presentations.

THE GRADE 5 EXHIBITION IS THE CULMINATING PROJECT FOR STUDENTS AT THE END OF THEIR PRIMARY EDUCATION.

These ‘mini-exhibitions’ formed part of their post assessments at the end of each Unit of Inquiry. In addition to being a highly enjoyable way for students to share their learning and finish each unit, it proved to be a really valuable experience as it also enabled them to further strengthen their understanding of the research process, in particular with regard to key concept questions; a skill they would need to apply during their Exhibition preparation later in the year.

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‘Exhibition’ combines all the skills and concepts that students have learnt over their years the Primary Years Programme. Guided by staff mentors from across the whole school, students form small groups and embark on a major research project. As a group, the students investigate and ‘unpack’ the central idea, before they then explore their own lines of inquiry that answer key concept questions. At Uptown, students were given the central idea; The action we take may affect human communities.

“To say that we were highly impressed with all the projects presented on exhibition night would be an understatement. The kids were encouraged to think outside the box, dig deep into a topic, explore issues they had no previous knowledge of, work in teams... and the end result was a fabulous exhibition full of excited confident students.” - Katie Johnson & Rob Bruchet, Uptown Parents

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Roxana Yadollahi (right) as the Iranian human-rights activist and Nobel Peace Prize winner, Shirin Ebadi, at our Living Waxworks mini-exhibition. Mohammed Ali and Murtaza Sehorewala (below) using their skills of persuasion and advertising techniques to encourage customers to buy their products on Market Day.

Ali Golmoradi presents his chemistry experiment at our Science Fair.

Annika van den Berg presenting her information box and delivering her monologue as the primatologist, ethologist, anthropologist, and UN Messenger of Peace, Jane Goodall.

Laila Al-Mahdy at the living waxwork of ‘Glasgow Girl’ Jennifer McCarron, the human rights activist who who highlighted the poor treatment of failed asylum seekers in the UK.

Krishna Malpure and Mariam Ismail in the process of creating their ice-cream product, ready for the marketing photo shoot, during our Ice-cream Dream mini-exhibition.

Alexandria Baritsky-Shepherd (above) demonstrates a creative way of persuading customers to buy her delicious, tasty, yummy cheesecake on Market Day.

Zoe Konti (right) demonstrates the chemical reaction that takes place as she shares her exploding volcano at the Science Fair. Robyn Dugdale and Sophia Leiva (far right) share the logo they created for the Market Day product, Kandy Kebab.

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Groups identified and explored ideas such as; plastic and air pollution, recycling; health and fitness, child obesity, diabetes, road and seat-belt safety, genetically modified food, renewable energy sources; cyber-bullying; the role of cleaning and security staff in school, and the education requirements of labourers. Over several weeks, our students conducted their research, wrote reports, created presentations, and finally prepared visual pieces to present their discoveries to parents, peers, teachers and members of the Uptown and IB community. Each group also undertook a significant ‘action’ in order to demonstrate how all citizens must take responsibility for our world and the people around us. The Exhibition calls on our students to showcase their awareness of key concepts as well as prevention the knowledge they have acquired. They are also required to demonstrate research, writing, presentation and critical thinking skills, but should also show that they consider local and global implications, that they value positive action and that they have a positive attitude towards learning.

Irhama Al Shamsi, Titiksha Thakur and Jessica Britts working together on ‘Market Day’ to sell their product and make a profit.

I really enjoyed Exhibition because it gave me a chance to share my action and knowledge with others. Annika van den Berg Grade 5

Exhibition 2015 was indeed an impressive feat that also encouraged our amazing students to take risks and demonstrate perseverance and resilience towards everything that stood in their way.

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Our annual Winter Concert took place in december and featured a packed programme of solo, small group and grade

ARABIC ART

Getting the CREATIVITY to flow... This year our Arabic teacher Mr. Hani Hosni and some of his students had the honour of being chosen to share their creatinve learning and teaching that takes place in their Arabic lessons. The KHDA conference called, ‘What Works’ focussed on ‘best practice’ with teachers from a range of schools across Dubai. Congratulations to Mr. Hani and the enthuiastic and talented students who took part in this event, celebrating Arab arts, such as mosaics, calligraphy and Islamic ornamentation.

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Sharing our musical talents at the

WHAT WORKS

winter concert

performances.

Each December, the Uptown School students and Music Department presents its Winter Concert. A large audience gathered to enjoy some seasonal pieces of music alongside a showcase of the amazing work undertaken over the previous months by our extremely talented musical scholars. This year all Primary students took part in a programme that showcased both instrumental and vocal talents and certainly added to the holiday spirit. Our PYP and MYP Choirs also performed, along with our Violin Ensemble and MYP Band. In addition to our own Winter Concert, this years also saw Uptown given the honour of welcoming other schools as we also hosted the Taaleem Winter Concert and performed with students from American Academy in Al Mizhar, Dubai British School, Greenfield Community School and Jumeira Baccalaureate School.

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There have been so many highs for our competitive teams this season; Grade 8 student Simone Noorali has represented Uptown on the stage, in the pool, on the netball and basketball courts, and out on the athletics field, so is ideally placed to reflect on, and review, an action-packed year of MYP sport. Sports teams. What are they? Yes, they are a group of people who play and compete against other groups of

people. But that’s only the tip of the javelin. There’s so

After finishing in second place in their first gala of the season, our Uptown swimmers didn’t look back as they won the

>>>>>>>>>>>>>

remaining three galas to clinch first place overall.

reasons to

cheer 1

much more to a sports team than simply playing the game. We’re a single mind and body. We keep each other grounded, and pull each other up after a particularly other on the head with a basketball if we’re getting too

without them saying anything out loud. We have power in a team, but, as many a wise person has said, ‘with great power comes great responsibility’. Being part of a sports team becomes an extension of your mind and yourself so when we play together we’re perfectly synchronised.

Strength to strength

The success of our Uptown girls, individually and in teams, has been something of a feature this year, with our

If I were given space in this yearbook to go into minute

Under-14 Netball girls just another example. Having

detail about all of our representative sports teams from

already established, formidable reputation on the

MYP, there would be very little space for everything else!

DASSA netball circuit, they went from strength to

So, on the pages I’ve been given, I would like to squeeze in

strength and deservedly emerged at the end of the season

the biggest of the biggest, the best of the best!

as undefeated league champions, again!

>>> A few tips from OUR UPTOWN CHAMPIONS...

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Building on the success of last year, hopes for this team were high. They didn’t disappoint... another undefeated year, and another league victory.

Making waves in the swimming pool

Second. First. First. First! Our fantastic swimmers enjoyed many successes on their way to winning the league.

Invincible champions on the football pitch.

After conquering all before them as Under-11 last year, our Uptown girls proved themselves more that a match, by winning every game.

>>>

you belong. We know many of our teammate’s next moves

Strength to strength on the netball court.

nasty fall. We celebrate our wins, and gently pat each complacent. The magic of a team is being in a place where

Dedication alongside stamina and skill.

Remember positive moments of life.

Your attitude is everything in winning.

Beatrice Varley has shown this year that she has a fantastic future in the sports of Biathlon and Triathlon.

Michaela Dunlop has lots to be positive about after being voted the DASSA League player of the Year.

Jenya Zhulkovskiy’s desire has seen his produce standout performances in Uptown colours this year.

Making waves!

we are only heading in one direction and that’s Up! ------ SIMONE NOORALI -----GRADE 8

Invincible champions >>>

sports

>>>

review myp

Did you know that beneath the flawless exteriors of our

Under-12 girls lies a Ronaldo that shows itself at training and during matches? These girls have worked as hard as anyone to prove their worth and have, for the past two years in a row, remained unbeaten winners. After conquering all before them to win their Under-11 league and championship titles in such an impressive manner last year, our Uptown girls remained invincible as they won every game they played and scored so many goals along the way!

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ATHLETICS

BASKETBALL

CRICKET

FOOTBALL

ROUNDERS

NETBALL

SWIM/RUN

SWIMMING

Where to start? Well, how about the be-

medals after coming out on top at the Taal-

tion to the Cricket and Swim/Run squads,

and Hannah Roberts as first base field-

of this would have been possible without

ginning with our swim squad. Looking

eem Tournament. But it’s the success of

another exciting addition to the Uptown

er made the opposition quake in the train-

the coaching, support and encouragement

back now, Swim squad seems like a millen-

our U12 girls on the football pitch that has

sports portfolio this year was the Round-

ing shoes! When Athija Al Mehairi came

of our teachers. A diamond doesn’t start

nia away, but it’s

really hit the headlines.

ers Team. The girls learnt fast and quick-

into bat, whispers of “big hitter” were ech-

out polished and shining but with enough

certainly nothing to be forgotten.

After dispatching with all opposition to

ly became a formidable force out on the

oed amongst the fielding team. There have

pressure and grind, becomes spectacu-

win last year’s U11 Dubai Championship,

rounders pitches across Dubai. The mag-

been so many highs in this year’s sports

lar. So, thank-you, Mrs. Dawson, Mr. Drew,

I still remember the buzz of just being

these trailblazers demonstrated their

ical combination of Lauren England as

season; victories, tournaments, trophies

Mr. Wright, Mrs. Morris, Mr. Ingham and

about to compete in another gala, the ex-

strengths again by making the step up to

bowler, Ashley Szczawinski as backstop

and medals but one thing is certain, none

Ms. Ronalds for making us what we are.

citement around me, the cheering in the

compete in the U12 DASSA League (a first

air as another one of us took to the diving

for Uptown); and compete they did; im-

platform. Led by our wonderful captains

pressively winning every game on their

Viktor Flammini and Karla Soldatic, for the

way to securing yet another league

first time in Uptown history, we were able

championship! Another group of girls also made histo-

the year in second place, closely behind a

ry, as the first ever U16 netball team field-

very strong Horizon InternationalSchool

ed by Uptown set the bar high. By work-

team and ahead of Deira International

this year and one example is the football

ing hard in training and working hard on

School and Kings’ Dubai. Our team then

teams. Our boys U12, U14 and U16 teams

the court, they had a brilliant season. The

went on to win the next three galas and

had a season of mixed results, that gener-

girls finished second in the league. and are

finish in first place in the league! Congratu-

ally proved successful and ensured that

already talking about scooting up by one

lations to all involved.

they will always be our legends - most no-

for next year. A special mention must go

tably, our U14 boys who were triumphant

to Barbara Burkus who was voted as the

and came away with the glory and winners

DASSA League Player of the Year. In addi-

Every Uptown team has worked very hard

Of course, for me, no school year sports review would be complete without mentioning the Netball teams. What can I say about them? After knowing each other for so long long, playing with each other and having each other’s backs, there’s nothing we can’t (or wouldn’t) do for each other. The brand-new Under-16 team, and the U12s finished in second place in their divisions, with was such a magnificent achievement considering they are both new teams! After years of training and playing together, we Under-14s emerged at the end of the season as undefeated league champions. Well, I say undefeated… we were until we played against the teachers; we will beat you one day!

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As the name suggests, a swim run is a biathlon; a two-part competition consisting of, you’ve guessed it… swimming and running! As individuals and a school we surprised and impressed many with so many keen participants - and many of them successful in their categories, especially Jad Sannan and Beatrice Varley. Another team that has done significantly well this year is the Athletics team. Over the course of running, jumping and throwing, our Uptown athletes have come out on top of many things, so we have had a host of podium finishes to celebrate. Many of our competitors have finished in the city top three, including Jenya Zhulkovskiy, our 100m sprint city champion.

Our Under-12 girls basketball team enjoyed an outstanding first season. There were strong performances in the league, only failing to win just one of their games. They played close rivals, WSO in the play-off finals and it was Uptown who were the stronger, beating WSO to take the title of league champions 2015. Congratulations to the girls who contributed to this success. Basketball teams were only just made official at Uptown this year. With Under-12 and Under-14 boys already in place, the addition or Under-12 and Under-14 girls was also made. The boys have always been legends. I mean with the likes of Zaki, Kareem and Isaac on the team, I’m surprised the opposition haven’t run away screaming yet! But, us Under-14 girls were a whole different story.. most of us were complete beginners. We had never played with each other and went into our first game after just one training session, but still came away with a win!. At the time of writing, we’ve enjoyed two victories from our first three games; well, we’re not perfect but you know what they say, practice makes perfect!

swim & run

categories. We finished our first gala of

>>>

to field teams in all U12, U14 and U16 age

Our Brilliant Biathletes For the first time this year, students from Uptown competed and enjoyed great success in the DASSA swim/run championships. The tri-series event took place at Emirates International School and comprised of varying distance swims and runs depending on age categories. Training consisted of interval and endurance training, tips on transition and pacing as well as event preparation. Our students were challenged to take themselves out of their comfort zones and do something different; the fact that, in our first year, Uptown has so many participants from different grade levels signing up to train and take part, is a reflection of the positive growth that has been seen in the UTS Sports Department. Better still, students clearly enjoyed this individually challenging (and some may say brutal) sport - so much so, many of our students

haven’t been put off coming back for more and have begun competing in other Dubai-wide events. Such was the success and growth of this squad, Uptown is very proud of the fact that two of our students finished the season as city champions. Grade 6 students, Jad Sannan and Beatrice Varley finished as the top points scorers in their age categories, beating other students from many other schools across Dubai. Following a series of outstanding performances, Beatrice completed the swim/ run season undefeated and by smashing the course record, for boys and girls, in the process. Without doubt Beatrice and Jad are two exceptional talents, who potentially have fantastic futures in the sports of Biathlon and Triathlon.

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thank you for the music The Music programme at Uptown School is committed to giving all students the opportunity to gain skills that will make them lifelong music makers. Uptowners are encouraged to reflect upon the relevance of these concepts in all of their music learning. We sing, move, play instruments, listen to and write music. While singing and aural skills are important and at the core of our curriculum, Uptowners also learn to play both pitched and non-pitched percussion instruments, violins, guitars, keyboards and recorders. Music enables students to communicate in ways that go beyond their oral language abilities. It delights and stimulates, soothes and comforts us; music allows students to communicate in a unique way. Musical experiences and learning begin with the voice. It is important to us that our students are given many opportunities to discover a broad range of music experiences including classifying and analysing sounds, composing, exploring body music, harmonising, listening, playing instruments, singing, notation, reading music, songwriting and recording. In creating, our students use their imagination and musical experiences to organise sounds - natural and technological - into various forms that communicate specific ideas or moods. In responding, they are given the opportunity to respond to different styles of music, as well as to music from different times and cultures. Individually and collaboratively, our students have the opportunity to create and respond to music ideas, and by exposing them to a wide and varied repertoire of musical styles, they begin to construct an understanding of their environment, their surroundings and structures,

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What do our

Uptowners think?

“Ms. Pringle has taught all sorts of interesting things, from happy songs, to world issues, through Music.” - Masa Abdel Haq, Grade 4

“It makes me confident being on stage in front of hundreds and hundreds of people and it improves my singing skills.” - Amelia Barrett , Grade 8

“Choir is one of the best things for me. I love singing all the songs. I wish we could have Choir every day.” - Eliel Nsi, Grade 4

“Choir this year has taught us that commitment is vital.”

Nearly everyone enjoys music, whether by listening to it, singing, or playing an instrument. At Uptown this is clearly the case; read on to learn why our Music teachers, Ms. Pringle, Mrs. Dugdale and Mr. Odling, believe music education is so important.

- Michaela Thompson, Grade 8

“I like Music because we learn all sorts of things like syncopation and different types of notes.” - Marc Topalian, Grade 4

and begin to develop personal connections with them. Music is a part of everyday life, and listening to and performing music can be a social activity. The development of listening skills, an important aspect of all learning, is constantly reinforced. Our teachers are aware that music plays an important part in the language learning process; through songs and rhymes, we encourage our students to recognise and hear patterns and develop a sense of the rhythm that applies to languages. This connects and can be especially apparent when our students are learning a new language because the meaning of the words is not necessarily understood, and so students concentrate on the rhythms and patterns they hear. Music is both an active and reflective process when making and listening to it. Our students are encouraged to draw on a wide range of sources in their music learning: music composed by

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themselves and other students; music composed by musicians; literature; paintings; dance; their own imagination; real-life experiences; feelings; values and beliefs. They are also exposed to live performances as well as recordings. Additionally, the opportunity to participate in live performances informal as well as formal - allows students to work collaboratively and gain awareness of the audience. At Uptown we have PYP and MYP choirs who have been singing their hearts out at rehearsals before school and at lunch-times on a weekly basis throughout the year. Both choirs performed at our Uptown Winter Concert, as well as the Taaleem-wide musical showcase in December. Our PYP choir also performed at the ChoirFest, Choir of the Year festivities and, for the third year in a running, were also invited to perform the ‘anthem’ at the opening ceremony of the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature in March.

Our PYP choir enjoyed the opportunity to participate in live performances at ChoirFest and the Emirates Airlines Festival of Literature, which allows our students to work collaboratively and gain awareness of the what it means to perform in front of a large audience.

1. Students learn to improve their work: Learning music promotes craftsmanship, and students learn to want to create good work. This desire can be applied to all subjects. 2. Increased coordination: Students who practice with musical instruments can improve their hand-eye coordination and can develop motor skills when playing music. 3. A sense of achievement: Learning to play pieces of music on a new instrument can be a challenging, but achievable goal. Students who master even the smallest goal in music will be able to feel proud of their achievement. 4. Emotional development: Students of music can be more emotionally developed, with empathy towards other cultures They also tend to have higher self esteem and are better at coping with anxiety. 5. Students learn pattern recognition: Children can develop their math and patternrecognition skills with the help of musical education. Playing music offers repetition in a fun format. 6. Music builds imagination and intellectual curiosity: Introducing music in the early years can help foster a positive attitude toward learning and curiosity. Artistic education develops the whole brain and develops a child’s imagination. 7. Music can be relaxing: Students can fight stress by learning to play music. Soothing music is especially helpful in helping to relax. 8. Musical instruments can teach discipline: Learning to play an instrument can teach a valuable lesson in discipline. They will have to set time aside to practice and rise to the challenge of learning with discipline to master playing their instrument. 9. Responsible risk-taking: Performing a musical piece teaches students how to take risks and deal with fear, which will help them become successful and reach their potential. 10. Better self-confidence: With encouragement, students playing a musical instrument can build pride and confidence.

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get the most from

the great outdoors Enriching learning and generating memorable experiences for all of our students is something that teachers at Uptown are always very keen to do. As part of our aim to achieve this, throughout the year, all of our MYP students were handed the opportunity to take part in residential adventure camps. The camps were an ideal opportunity for students to apply many of the life skills and aspects of the IB Learner Profile that we strive to develop in school within a supportive, practical and challenging context. The camps also provided a sense of community and belonging, encouraged respect and care for others, and a sense of achievement and self-worth. Communication and interpersonal skills as well as physical aptitude were also fostered as students were challenged to become confident, risk-taking learners whilst enjoying the great experiences that outdoor education has to offer.

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I am putting a word puzzle together. I like playing games I like reading interesting books.

Ivan Nekhaev, Grade 1, speaks Russian and English

Alexandru Nita, Grade 2, speaks Romanian, French and English

becoming WRITERS Left to right: Georgia Katomoniati (speaks Greek), Alice Bianchi and Martina Bianchi (speak Italian) and joined Grade 3 this year. They have worked hard to consolidate their spoken English and are now developing their fantastic writing skills.

This is my ‘fruitasle’. I like pretending and using my imagination. Ginevra Giuseppi, Grade 4, speaks Italian and English

We enjoyed finding out about water and how import it is for people who do not have it. We reports to explain what we found out.

becoming

I am making stories. This is the Hungry Rahmatmat.

MULTILINGUAL Connecting with people through their own culture, language, and identity is one of the greatest benefits of being part of an International school community. Nelson Mandela once said “If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head, if you talk to him in his language that goes to his heart.” Growing up with multiple languages is the easiest, fastest, and most effortless way to learn about the people around us. It’s estimated that more than half of the world’s population is multilingual, according to Psychology Today. That means about 3.5 billion people use more than one language to communicate every day. There are many advantages to learning an additional language and becoming multilingual. One being that you will have a head start in

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Rahmat Shah Rahman, Grade 1, speaks Pashto and English.

school as in most countries, learning an additional language is mandatory. Also, if you want to study more languages later in life, you will be at an advantage. The differences in sounds, word order, stress, rhythm, intonation and grammatical structures will be easier to learn. Multilingualism has also been proven to help you develop superior reading and writing skills, and multilingual children also tend to have over all better analytical, social, and academic skills than their monolingual peers. Knowing more than one language helps you feel at ease in different environments as it creates a natural flexibility and adaptability, and it increases selfesteem and self-confidence. You will develop an appreciation for other cultures and an innate acceptance of cultural differences Studies have

Our coral reef investigation was fun and interesting. Candy Di Han, Giovanna Lima and Eleonora Lusi, Grade 4, speak Chinese, Portuguese, French, Italian and English

shown that multilinguals, when given tasks regarding memory, always score higher than those who only speak one language. Career prospects are also multiplied many times over for people who know more than one language. At Uptown School, in English as an Additional Language (EAL) we support

language development by working with students according to their individual needs and cultural backgrounds. Our objective is to enable English Language Learners to engage in meaningful academic and social language using appropriate integrated skills to become independent learners and international citizens.

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Science is about understanding how the Universe works, and discovering the fundamental reasons why everything works the way it works.Â

Our Early Years and Primary students study Science within the transdisciplinary programme, which views the subject as the exploration of the biological, chemical and physical aspects of the natural world, and the relationships between them.

Our Middle Years students then learn to take inquiry to a new level where they investigate through research, observation and experimentation, not only to find the right answers but also to be able to formulate the right questions. As they investigate, students discover the links and connections between science and morality, ethics, culture, ecnomics and the environment.

MIND

GOGGLING!

All science students at Uptown act as scientists who are curious to know about the things around them and why things occur the way they do.

As scientists, they seek to answer questions by following a simple, logical, and straightforward prescription that is the scientific method. The scientific method is introduced to students in the Primary Year and become an integral part of their scientific

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studies in MYP as knowledge, skills and understanding develops. The inclusion of science within the PYP leads learners to an appreciation and awareness of the world as it is viewed from a scientific perspective. It encourages curiosity and ingenuity and enables Uptowners to develop an understanding of the world. Reflection on scientific knowledge also helps our students to develop a sense of responsibility regarding the impact of their actions on themselves, others and their world.

Throughout the school we recognise that teaching and learning science as a subject, while necessary, is not sufficient. Of equal importance is the need to learn science in context, by exploring content relevant to students, and transcending the boundaries of the traditional subject area. The transdisciplinary themes investigated and studied provide the framework for a highly defined, focused, in-depth inquiry, and as science is relevant to all the themes, all planned science learning takes place within this framework. It is worthwhile to note that spontaneous, student-initiated science inquiries also occurs that are not directly related to any planned units of inquiry. The science component of the PYP are characterised by concepts and skills rather than by content. However, our teacher also ensure that a breadth and balance of science content is covered through the units of inquiry. The knowledge component of science in the PYP is arranged into four strands: living things, Earth and space,

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This was the first year of an epic science fair. It was fun, awesome, scientific and spectacular. Everyone had their own style and did different topics. Some chose gravity, others density, a solar system and even a solar panel got displayed!

materials and matter, and forces and energy. Across the school, throughout the year, Uptowners have been engaged in scientific inquiry. Visit to our KG1 classrooms and you may have seen children inquiring into the different properties of materials and investigating how they can change by exploring materials, while in Grade 1, students could be found investigating their personal responsibility to lead a healthy and balanced lifestyle and the benefits of doing so; they were encouraged to make connections between their personal choices by reflecting on their dietary habits, exercise routines, personal hygiene and forms of relaxation. Through scientific experimentation they tested predictions, interpreted and evaluated data in order to draw conclusions.

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Grade 4 identified types and components of ecosystems and were given the opportunity to ask questions and to be curious inquirers by predictions during their investigations based on the balance within ecosystems and biomes; students measured and gathered data about producers and consumers in order to test their predictions and researched biodiversity and explored significant events that affect the balance of an ecosystem. Grade 2 students went a little further away to discover Earthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s place in the Solar System and how its movement affects life on Earth, investigating what causes day and night and why seasons change. Grade 3 students could be found conducting experiments that demonstrated the effects of gravity by making parachutes of

differing sizes, and investigating friction by making and testing their predictions and manipulating materials, while experiments in KG2 saw the children inquiring into how light works through constructing simple circuits, while in Grade 5 students focused on states of matter and inquired into physical and chemical changes. Hands-on experiences enabled them to recognise how chemistry is used in everyday life with students engaged in a range of experiments and investigations from growing salt crystals to creating bath bombs, all the while incorporating safety procedures and responsible use of chemicals. Our Grade 5 students were also engaged in a range of experiments and investigations, working through the scientific method to gain an understanding, identify variables and draw

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For their ‘Service as Action’ project Students challenged the staff. “We want to play you at netball” they said “That will be a good laugh!” In preparation for the game, Some ran and some did a stretch. Mr. Wright went back to his office, For his pink socks and headband to fetch! On court, the students looked fearless, As players they had all the tools! The staff arrived soon after After stopping to read up the rules! Mrs Dawson blew on her whistle And immediately blew it again. And again and again and again and again, Then shouted and blew it again! The quarters passed like seconds, And the heat was taking its toll. The crowd looked on in anticipation. Who would score the next goal? Bibs, arms, trainers and (Mr.) Cluley All were flying around. Students made their substitutions, Seeking glory and to be crowned. conclusions, before sharing their learning at the first of two Science Fairs held in PYP this year. In addition to the Grade 5 ‘Chemistry’ Science Fair, in May, students from Grade 3, 4 and 5 were invited to demonstrate their passion for scientific and inquiry. Reflecting, students from Grade 4D said, “This was the first year of an epic science fair. It was fun, awesome, scientific and spectacular for all students. Everyone had their own style and did different topics. Some chose gravity, others density, a solar system and even a solar panel got displayed! It was a great chance for students to practice our speaking skills and all of us improved our presentation skills as well.” Our Middle Years science framework encourages students to investigate issues through research, observation and experimentation, working independently and collaboratively. Throughout the year, in their Science lessons, Uptowners are engaged in a variety of ‘fun’ learning activities that enables them to access, use and communicate scientific knowledge correctly and confidently in oral, written and visual modes. Students become well aware that science is a way of thinking that involves more than simply learning technical terminology and recalling facts.

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The final whistle sounded Pheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep! Players looked sunbaked and toasted, It had been a fantastic game. ‘Who won?’ you’re probably thinking... Well……… it was the staff (again!)

POEM BY MR. KEVIN DREW

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Arabic Language Learning

This year our Arabic department have worked very hard to develop the confidence of students as they learn to speak, read and write in Arabic. We have made big steps towards achieving this goal through different learning opportunities that were both fun and beneficial. We are proud to see the achievement that our students have made by the end of this year.

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WinningwithStyle

and finishing ahead of Jebel Ali Primary, Wellington Academy, Al Khail and Jumeirah Primary School, Uptown clinched a place against in their final against Repton School, following a semi-final victory over Wellington International School. In a repeat of the Jets Cup final, just a week before, Uptown took an early lead before Repton battled back to equalise in the second half. A magnificent extra-time goal from Maram Ismail, her 15th of the season, was enough to see our remarkable Uptown girls lift the trophy and win the GoPro Dubai Schools’ Football Championship for the second successive year!

There is a belief in sport that retaining a title or championships is arguably harder than the initial challenge of winning it. After the magnificent achievements of our Under-11 girls last year, which saw them remain unbeaten on their quest to finishing as the best primary school team in Dubai, the size of the challenge that faced our girls this year, was clear, and maybe just a little daunting. When our girls won the league by remaining unbeaten last year, we began referring to them as our ‘Invincibles’, a year later and this diminutive group of gutsy, hard-working and talented young ladies have shown that they also deserve that ‘invincible’ title. Most of these girls watched on as eager spectators last year, with just three members of this squad contributing to last years magnificent achievement. When their turn came, they really stepped up and showed they were more than worthy of building on the formidable reputation that Uptown girls have begun to build for themselves. The girls began their season in impressive form with consecutive 5-1 victories over Wellington Primary School and DESS, a great start with some thoroughly impressive performances! Having established themselves as the early league leaders, Uptown’s girls further strengthen their position with comprehensive wins over Royal Dubai School and Jumeira Baccalaureate School, before clinching their divisional league, and a one hundred per cent winning record, with a hard-fought victory at American Academy, Al Mizhar. Our Uptown Girls were having a great season, and won the Jets Cup to increase their confidence even further going into the League Grand Finals Day. Retaining their title was always going to be tough as our Uptowners battled it out with other winners and runners-up from divisional leagues across Dubai. After finishing their qualifying group

Amina Abdul-Jalil

Our Under-11 Girls’ captain, Robyn Dugdale has reflected on another amazing season for our absolutely amazing, unbeatable Uptown girls, by sharing her thoughts about each of her team-mates - the ‘best’ girls primary school team in Dubai.

Marwa Ismail

5 Zoe Konti

Alicia Villegas

“Zoe is our vice-captain and a really important member of our team. She is a valuable midfielder who passes the football really well. She has created and scored lots of our goals. She joined the squad this year and won the Most Improved Player award.” “Our goalkeeper Marwa was the only player to play every minute of every game this season. She is a really good goalkeeper and has helped us all the way. She is always very calm and has let very few goals in. She joined the U10’s team in Grade 4 last year.”

“Alicia is a very quiet person who has become a good partner in defence with Skyler. She always tries to get the ball forward and makes sure other teams don’t score many goals. She is a great member of the football squad and I hope she continues playing.”

Skyler Ray

Laila Abdel Bary Mariam Ismail

Nour McDady

Maram Ismail Robyn Dugdale

“Skyler is an awesome defender. I’m glad she plays with us rather than against us because she is great at tackling and has a strong kick. She never lets the ball go past her and never stops running to try and get the ball back for our team when the other team has it.”

Sydra Hamad

“Laila is in Grade 4 but has been playing for the Under-11 squad since last year. She is strong as a defender or midfielder and has become a really important part of our team. She is always there to help and never stops trying to get the ball for our attackers.”

“Maram has scored many goals this year. She is a great member of our team. Not only did she win our Most Valuable player award, but she was also chosen as the best player in the league. Maram has helped us win matches all the time and has great effort.”

“Amina is our attacking midfielder and has really become a great footballer. She likes to play on the right side and creates lots of chances with her accurate passing. She has scored many goals but often passes the ball to other players so that they can score too.”

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“Mariam is an awesome midfielder and always works hard to help us keep the ball or get it back when the other team has it. She is quite tall and determined and always tried to make sure we keep the ball moving towards the opposition goal.”

“Nour joined Uptown and our football team this year. She is still in Grade 4 but has been a good midfielder who is a really good passer and always helps us keep the ball. I think Nour will continue being an important member of the football squad next year.”

“I am a defensive-midfielder and I really enjoyed this season. It was lots of fun because we got to play so many games and we won most of them. We had lots of fun and really enjoyed this season. I’m really proud of my team and teammates.”

“Sydra is an energetic midfielder because she never stops running. She always helps out by moving into spaces and is a very enthusiastic member of our team - she is always happy! Sydra is in Grade 4 and I would say she’ll be an important player next year.”

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Creative Design

THIS YEAR AT UPTOWN, DESIGN TECHNOLOGY HAS BEEN AN INTEGRATED SUBJECT WHERE A MIX OF PRACTICAL WORKSHOP ACTIVITIES IS THEN SUPPLEMENTED BY ICT SESSIONS. THE AIM BEING TO GIVE STUDENTS THE PRACTICAL SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED TO FULLY IMPLEMENT THE DESIGN CYCLE IN ANY PROJECT THEY UNDERTAKE. INTEGRATED TECHNOLOGY TEACHER, MR. DAVID CLULEY SHARES HIS HIGHLIGHTS.

and Technology

PULL UP A CHAIR!

GRADE 8

Make it Snappy! GRADE 6

ubai Crocodile Park, the first of its kind in the Gulf region, was the subject for Grade 6. They designed and made advertisements, T-Shirts and tickets for the park as well as making a snapping card crocodile as a paper-engineering exercise. The project culminated in students creating a 30 second radio advertisement to promote the park.

GRADE 7

Puppet Performers!

rade 7 students started the year making finger puppets, which they

then scaled up in our textiles module to make glove puppets. They then wrote the scripts, produced the scenery and gave a puppet show to KG2, a daunting task for the performers but they were very well received. GRADE 9

Star Wars!

rade 8 students looked at the work of designer Max Lamb and his DIY chair, they were then tasked with creating their own scale model seating. Working with such creative young minds led to a wide range of ideas and pieces that would not look out of place in Ikea! The students then used their ICT skills to create advertisements for their products.

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ith the launch of the new Star Wars film Grade 9 were tasked with making a movie

prop, then using a green screen they

Grade 6 finished the year by designing and making their own vacuum formed clocks. The choice of theme was left entirely to the individual, needless to say leading to some very individual creative solutions.

could photograph it and create their own version of a movie poster and yes we did have two hover boards! Grade 9 also created an educational product, from jigsaws to shape sorters to information about the solar system they delivered some very well made results that would not look out of place in Borders.

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SHARING THE PLANET

parents who came on board and were

LINKED FOR GOOD

really committed to making this year’s International Days something to really remember. I commend them on being risk-takers by celebrating your heritage, culture, and traditions by being role models to our children.

As an International School in a city like Dubai, our school community has a distinct advantage when it comes to developing our international mindedness. PYP Coordinator, Ms. Denise Michel shares her opinions on our role as an international school and reflects on the success of this year’s International Days.

here is no simple definition

At Uptown school we have the opportunity

of the IB term ‘International

to really get to know so much more about

Mindedness’.

That

said,

the greater world through taking the time

international

mindedness

to get to know each other – what makes

embraces the essence of

us different and what makes us the same?

the

To develop working relationships across

stated in the Making the

programme

and

culture and language; to take action

PYP happen: a curriculum

together to make a positive difference, no

framework for international

matter how small it may seem.

primary education – “the

International mindedness goes much deeper than just knowing about other countries around the world, their food, fashion and flags.

EARLY YEARS

INTERNATIONAL DAY

Our

Principal,

Tim

Waley,

also

recognises the role that our linkparents played in the success of our International Days this year. “A

kind of student we hope

I am so proud and very impressed by our

will graduate from a PYP

link parents who worked so hard to make

given so generously of their time to

school is one who will, in

this year’s International days so much more

plan and participate in this occasion,”

the struggle to establish

than just a fun, superficial celebration of

he said. “I would like to extend a big

a personal set of values,

the rich variety of nationalities we have in

thank you for all their wonderful efforts

will be laying the foundation upon which

our school community.

Having attended

in preparing a thoroughly enjoyable and

international-mindedness

develop

many international days over the years,

educationally valuable experience... our

and flourish” – At the centre of this is

most have only been about the food, flags

school could well rival Expo 2020 such

the IB Learner Profile which is central

and fashion of the various nationalities.

was the quality and variety of exhibits

to the definition of what it means to be

This year our link parents were keen to

offered.”

internationally minded. So, keeping this

ensure that the children, while having fun,

all in mind, international mindedness goes

were challenged to think and learn about

The last word, most deservedly, goes

much deeper than just knowing about

different nationalities and what this means.

to link parent Janette Baritsky who

will

other countries around the world, their food, fashion and flags.

significant number of parents have

was instrumental in the drive to Our students were engaged; collecting

ensure the theme ‘Linked for Good’,

knowledge,

was at the forefront of thinking when

insight

and

understanding

International mindedness is very much

rather than just collecting ‘loot’ and snack

about knowing one’s own culture, one’s

before moving on to the next country.

successfully demonstrated how each

own beliefs, traditions and principles and

Including this opportunity to celebrate

of 17 countries contributed to positive

recognising that although there may be

our cultures as part of the day, also gave

global change. She said, “Students

people who look and sound different to

our teachers an opportunity to create

were encouraged not only to enjoy the

one’s self and who may share different

further related learning engagements in

day but also to take action in our own

belief systems and cultures, we are all

class to ensure a meaningful and authentic

Uptown community and the greater

human and struggling together to make

experience.

world we share. The atmosphere was

the world a better place both now and for future generations.

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dedicated

group

volunteers

tremendous with everyone enjoying Personally, I would like to thank the

this hands-on learning experience.”

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This year, MYP students and staff at Uptown wanted to do something a little different to demonsytrate, share and celebrate our International Mindedness. Throughout the week in the build-up to International Day, we had a number of activities to celebrate diversity, and to showcase how internationally minded we are here at Uptown.

From the Haka from New Zealand, to traditional Indian dancing, it was a week to remember! In

our

homerooms

created

boards showcasing how we perceive international mindedness, introduced and shared the origins of traditional homemade dishes from our own home countries and finished off our week with a celebration of cultural performances in our MYP assembly. From the Haka from New Zealand, to traditional Indian dancing, it was a week to remember!

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PYP & MYP

INTERNATIONAL DAY

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hitting the RIGHT

Dhabi

Hatta

Nasr

DHABI

Wasl

Dylan Greig - Little Playmates (piano); Erin Haydon - A Secret That No One Knows (piano); Mia Haydon - Pirates of the Caribbean (piano); Rhys Hammond - Old Bones Blues (guitar).

NOTE

HATTA

Lily Macdonald - People Help the People (voice); Tala Haj Ali - Moderato (piano); Phoenix Bankes - I’m Not The Only One (guitar); Lana Al Jayoushi - Almost Lover (voice).

Ashley Szczawinski

‘MUSIC IS A LANGUAGE THE WHOLE WORLD SPEAKS,’ AND THAT IS NO DIFFERENT AT UPTOWN. OUR TALENTED MUSICIANS SHOWCASED THEIR LEARNING IN A VERY EXCITING MUSIC COMPETITION AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR.

Starting with the auditions in October, there

to see what instruments will join this already

were 52 students who tried out for a place in

very impressive list next year.

Dylan Greig

Erin Haydon

the finals. For every house four students made it into the finals and in February they performed

This year it was Hatta who won the competition.

in the PYP gym.

In second place was Nasr, followed by Dhabi in third and Wasl in fourth. The judges also

The very first Uptown Music Competition was a

chose an overall winner. Elyazia Al Hashemi’s

great success thanks to all the students who put

performance of Andante by Daniel Steibelt was

in so much work to prepare their pieces, whether

played so convincingly and beautifully that the

it was the piece for the auditions or for the

judges gave her the highest score of all the

finals. It was fantastic to see the determination

finalists. She went home with a beautiful trophy.

Mia Haydon

Simone Noorali

and dedication of those students who play an instrument or sing and see them flourish in the

We would like to congratulate all the finalists on

weeks leading up to their final performance. We

their performances. The effort they put in made

had students play piano, drums, violin and guitar

the competition a fabulous success. See you

and of course there were singers. We can’t wait

again next year! Kenzie Brook

Elyazia Al Hashemi

INDIVIDUAL WINNER: Elyazia Al Hashemi

HOUSE WINNERS: Congratulations Hatta!

Joanne Finlay

NASR

Elyazia Al Hashemi - Andante (piano); Ahoud Al Marzouqi Middle of Starting Over (voice); Kenzie Brook - When You Wish Upon a Star (voice); Ashley Szczawinski - Alvedans (piano).

Ahoud Adel Al Marzouqi

Lana Al Jayoushi

Lily Macdonald

WASL

When they announced that I was the winner I could hardly believe my ears and never thought I would be standing there holding the trophy. Elyazia Al Hashemi

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Rhys Hammond

Phoenix Bankes

Tala Haj Ali

Adriana Santimano Sousa

Alisha Rekhi

Joanne Finley - Set Fire to the Rain (voice); Simone Noorali - Prelude no. 2 (piano); Alisha Rekhi - I Will Always Love You (voice); Adriana Santimano - You Raise Me Up (voice).

PARTICIPATING STUDENTS: Adam Noorali, Adriana Santamano Sousa, Ahoud Adel Al Marzouqi, Aiden Foulkes, Alfie Sephton, Alisha Rekhi, Amelia Thackray, Ananya Borle, Aryaan Ahmed, Ashley Szczawinski, Cassey Zeederberg, Chermel Machado, Dylan Greig, Elyazia Al Hashemi, Erin Haydon, Hajar Jaouni, Hamda Al Habbai, Hana Nayal, Hanna Nemovi, Jessica Brits, Joanne Finley, Joseph Greig, Karim Azzam, Kenzie Brook, Khushi Dadlani, Knaijel Plucena, Lana Al Jayoushi, Latifa Al Julfar, Lily Macdonald, Marc Topalian, Marleen Michel, Mia Haydon, Nysa Iyer, Phoenix Bankes, Reanne Azzam, Rewa Iyer, Rhys Hammond, Rema Nezhad, Samuel Cristler, Saumyy Dixit, Seren Cristler, Simone Noorali, Sydney Taylor, Tala Haj Ali, Tanish Gokhale; Tanmayi Nair, Thomas McCarthy, Yasmin Zareie, Ynno Plucena, Yousef Khamaiseh.

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Personal Project

Grade 10

In late May, our grade 10 students displayed their Personal Projects to fellow students, teachers, parents and members of our school community. It was a huge success and we can congratulate them for stepping up to the plate and not only putting on a fine display of their work but presenting it with such confidence and clarity. The personal project is an

information, application of

independent research project that

information, citation of sources,

a student produces during Grade

and reflection on their learning

10 of the Middle Years Programme.

The Personal Projects can take

Students in Grade 9 are introduced

many forms, such as:

to it at the end of their academic year. It is a creative

An original work of art (visual,

endeavour of the student’s

dramatic, performance);

choosing that demonstrates the

Creative writing;

skills the student has learned in

An original science experiment;

Approaches to Learning.

An invention;

The personal project is an

A presentation of a developed

A diving website for Dubai and Oman;

business or organisational plan.

A fashion design portfolio; Creation of a Mauritian recipe book;

opportunity to produce a personal, original, and creative piece of work.

Assessment is based on a set of 4

The project enables each student to

specific criteria that are normalised

practice and strengthen their ATL

to a 1 to 7 scale.

skills, to consolidate prior and subject-specific learning, and to further develop an area of personal interest. It helps prepare students for the IB Diploma Programme as it is based on self directed inquiry. A successful personal project will require skills that are essential to them as lifelong learners: self-motivation, evaluation of sources of

Project ideas included: The production of a coaching video for the sport of fencing; An eco can crusher; A photography portfolio; A study into the influence and impact of rap music; An information brochure for cyclists; The design and construction of a cigar box guitar; Children’s book on Greek Mythology; A temperature controlled dog kennel; Designs for a car showroom; Nutritional drinks experiment; The design for an Uptown basketball uniform. Information about the impact of OCD.

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20 UPTOWN 15 20 UPTOWN 15 20 UPTOWN 15 SPORTS AWARDS

SPORTS AWARDS

20 UPTOWN 15 20 UPTOWN 15 20 UPTOWN 15 20 UPTOWN 15 20 UPTOWN 15 SPORTS AWARDS

SPORTS AWARDS

SPORTS AWARDS COMPETE

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ENJOY

INSPIRE

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HEALTH ACTION Enoque Nsi in Grade 8 saw the need for some organised sports matches at lunchtimes and created his very own FIFA World Cup for MYP students.

ACTION BY DENISE MICHEL

SOCIAL ACTION

PYP COORDINATOR

As part of their action for Exhibition, Hana Soliman, Sultan Al Mheiri and Hamda Al Habbai organised a walkathon for all students in PYP to raise funds to help support the Al Jalila Foundation

“The greatest challenge facing our time is that we’re raising a generation of passive bystanders.” - The Dalai Lama

Uptown school is actively working towards ensuring the statement above is not the case by developing a strong culture of ACTION.

Adam Noorali, Laila Al-Mahdy and Marie-Julie Chatonnet decided to use their Grade 5 Exhibition as an opportunity to raise the profile of the role played by the cleaning staff and security guards at Uptown School.

We work hard to ensure that the action taken by community members has elements of personal commitment and reflection. It is intended that the person taking action will grow from the experience, and that the process of taking action or not will contribute to each student establishing a personal set of values.

They decided to hold bake sales and use the money they collected to provide a special lunch, and thank-you gifts to sho their appreciation for the work that our support staff do to help keep our school environment clean and safe.

ION ACT L A ENT ONM n’ i n R I V ‘actio of EN took ing

ade 1 stand s i n Gr e r u n d e r co n ce p t n w o e H d h of . r t t k e f ea n n o i h a h l n S en he P plicatio Imogen t made Im og h a r i n g t ap S and - she ly did t le i a n e U d i ot on creative disposab , e l a h N r t t . e n s s v e a a i e c s f w h s e o c e e i h r t imp a , s h ! In s t e a d r s a n d w b a g e e r d i e e t e w di tiv rh wa teste n g fo i r t t o s e d w i c h terna a n a l d i t a n d c w ra p p i sh an t s r d e e l i plasti se an o g that he stic – sh it, tr r o u g a n l a i o s p b t c i i l c a d w h in plasti n decide r, after re esh as if d a sand his e e r T e f g v w o g s e e Im rin . How ot kept a er and s c ove u s e h e r em. C h n h t V t r y P e l u r a . fo ab sf nr prob her idea loth with ogen ca and over was r c Im e ed e v l d u o b s n r a a ag n pu at actio ndwich b rom bag f tainable sa s is su

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Action can be as simple as turning off the water when the student brushes their teeth or even better, encouraging their families to do the same, after learning about the importance of water conservation. Other action, such as the action planned and taken by our Grade 5 students as part of their Exhibition or the MYP’s personal project or community and service programme take more careful planning.

During their Exhibition, Grade 5 students Finn Bruchet and Amina Abdul-Jalil organised and planned English language lessons on Friday mornings and delivered them to a small group of labourers. They also collected reading materials and books which were gifted to them so they count continue their studies and further develop their English skills.

The action component of the Uptown programme can involve service in the widest sense of the word: service to fellow students, and to the larger community, both in and outside the school. Through such service, students are able to grow both personally and socially, developing skills such as cooperation, problem solving, conflict resolution, and creative and critical thinking. We are incredibly proud of our students and the action they take through their choice of attitude, commitment to their learning and the awareness of the impact their actions have on both their immediate and greater communities. When it comes to taking Action – Uptowners are ‘United to Succeed’!

”It is good because it helps the World stay alive!” - Imogen Sheardown, Grade 1

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101

Uptowners take Action ANIMAL LOVER Jivan Nassar, Grade 6, used his love of animals as inspiration for his Service as Action project. He volunteered at Poshpaws Sanctuary and performed a variety of tasks to help out. “Any kind of help is appreciated in the sanctuary since it’s run by a team of volunteers and animal lovers. So being able to help, it’s a benefit for both the animals and the

Grade 6 student, Raad Wahdan, was inspired by his own observations to make a difference in his local community - he decided to hand prepare packets of food and then distributed them to the labourers working in and around his own local community. “I chose this activity because I see workers sitting on the grass eating a piece of bread and I feel bad because every day I’m blessed that my mom cooks me lots of food.”

Some of the best ‘action’ can often take place as a result of a students own passions or interests. Grade 7 students, Alex Dugdale combined his love of football with his desire to enable others to enjoy and develop their skills by assisting with the Girls’ Football ECA and Squad training sessions. Alex regularly dedicated time before and after school throughout the year to share his passion for the game, He also demonstrated his management and organisational skills when he coached the Uptown U10 girls to the semi-finals of the U11 Jets Football Cup in March.

‘SUPER COACH’ ALEX

COMMUNITY MEALS

Class Pages and Individual Student photographs and messages do not appear in our online version.

“I love football and really enjoy being able to help others enjoy it too.”

BOYS OF ACTION Shk. Hamdan Al Nahyan, Grade 6, decided to volunteer his time at Senses Autism Center. He went every Saturday for six weeks, and did a variety of activities including playing games with students, and donating goods. Rhys Hammond and Harry Williams, Grade 6, decided to do run an awareness campaign, raising awareness for the plight of camels that are affected by the rubbish we throw away every day here in Dubai. They met with several people to problem solve and also carried out hours of labour and cleaning up! Rashed Almualla, Rayyan Forsch, Ahmad Qaed and Saif Al Mazrouei, applied what they learnt about microfinance in their Grade 8 Humanities lessons, and decide to make a difference by holding a fundraiser for people registered on KIVA. They organised a BBQ at Uptown Mirdif, cooked all the food, and collected a lot of money to donate.

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TENTH YEAR ANNIVERSARY EDITION

U P TO W N E R Y E A R B O O K 2014-2015

Uptown School A Taaleem School Corner of Tripoli Street and Algeria Road

Mirdif

Dubai

United Arab Emirates