Back to school and friends after winter break

After a three-week-long break, students in the Capital were happy to be back in school on Sunday, with private and public schools across the emirate registering good attendance on the first day.

Dr Amal Al Qubaisi asking a student about his school break.— Supplied photo 

Derek Griffin, principal of International Community School (ICS), said nearly all of their students turned up on the first school day of the new year. “Everything went smoothly and everybody is back. It’s a pretty good start for the term,” he said, adding that classes resumed as usual with no disturbance.

Noting the happy young faces during the morning assembly, Griffin said: “I think a lot of them got bored during the holiday and missed their friends. They actually look forward to see their friends and going back to the routine of getting themselves occupied.”

Gareth Jones, principal of American International School, Abu Dhabi, echoed similar views. “The students are happy to be back. After three weeks, they were happy to see their friends again.” The school registered 96 per cent attendance on Sunday.

At Philippine School (TPS) Baniyas, attendance was more than 90 per cent with only 66 absent from its 844 students. Elinor Monique Sevilla, vice-principal for student affairs at the school, said the absentees were on a planned vacation and sought permission to join by the end of the month.

Nicolle Manalo, a student of TPS, said it was a great first day. “I’m so happy to see my friends again. I felt a little bored during the holidays with lack of things to do. But now it’s back to school and I’ve already got homework to do.”

 

Public schools

Public schools in the emirate also registered good attendance on the first day. Dr Amal Al Qubaisi, Director-General of the Abu Dhabi Education Council (Adec), visited Al Ghazali School on Sunday to congratulate students on their first day back to school.

Dr Al Qubaisi spoke to students about their holiday. “I was happy to see how enthusiastic all the students seemed, and felt how positive the attitude of teachers and school staff in general was. Our youth are our top priority and seeing them excited to go back to school brings me great joy and shows that our teachers are doing something right.”

 

School activities

Excitement will definitely continue in the new year with several activities planned by the schools.

At ICS, students are gearing up for the World Future Energy Summit next week at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre where the school’s eco-club will be participating for the second year in a row.

At the stand, students will share how the school managed to reduce its energy usage and better disposal of waste.

At TPS, February and March will be dedicated for academic activities like essay writing and elocution contests in addition to classroom activities.

“We are also planning to join the Filipino Interschool Athletic Association at eight events that include basketball, volleyball, football, badminton, athletics (long jump, sprint) sepak takraw and chess,” Sevilla said.

For Private International English School, the current academic year will end in March, so the next two months will be focused on preparing students for their final examination.

However, when classes resume in April, the school plans to carry out two important activities in the school calendar: A UAE heritage and culture trip by visiting the museums at the beginning of the new academic year; and holding a walk in the Corniche for the World Environment Day in June.

Sooraj Ramachandran, director of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Middle East, which manages the school, said these activities are part of instilling a sense of social responsibility in students.

olivia@khaleejtimes.com