Ru'ya Careers UAE 2024 will be held at the Dubai World Trade Centre, Z6-4 platform, from September 24 to 26
jobs11 hours ago
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
Ru'ya Careers UAE 2024 will be held at the Dubai World Trade Centre, Z6-4 platform, from September 24 to 26
jobs11 hours ago
Recently, the five-time Ballon d'Or winner, Ronaldo, made history and became the first men's football player to score 900 career goals
football11 hours ago
The festival will run until September 27 at five key metro stations: Dubai Mall, Mall of the Emirates, BurJuman, Union, and DMCC from 5pm to 10pm
transport12 hours ago
Verstappen leads Norris by 59 points in the championship with seven rounds remaining
f114 hours ago
A strike on Hezbollah's stronghold in Lebanon's capital Beirut on Friday killed eight people and wounded dozens of others
mena14 hours ago
He will take part in the sixth Quad Leaders' Summit in Wilmington, Delaware, which is being hosted by US President Joe Biden
asia14 hours ago
The event will be held at the Ski Dubai Hall in the Mall of the Emirates at 6am
uae15 hours ago
India are looking to extend their lead at the top of the World Test Championship rankings as they begin a fresh Test season of 10 matches
sports15 hours ago