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THURSDAY, 14 APRIL 2011 | Issue 103

GENERAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL NEWS SECONDARY SCHOOL NEWS DIAMUN 2011

DIAMUN 2011

DIAMUN 2011 will remained etched in our memory as a powerful reminder of how working together as a team can contribute to a hugely successful and diverse event. Looking back at the hard work, organization and research the entire team has put in, brings alive in us a sense of great accomplishment something that all of us will look at replicating in the real world. Vamika Bajaj, the Secretary General of DIAMUN 2011

The world became smaller as we all socialized with so many cultures. MUN is like a rendezvous of several different people having the same goal. Suravi Ray Good Shepherd International School, India

GENERAL
FORTHCOMING DATES
APRIL 2011
Friday, 15 - Thursday, 21 April Sunday, 17 April Monday, 18 and Tuesday, 19 April Monday, 18 April Monday, 18 April Tuesday, 19 April Wednesday, 20 April Wednesday, 20 April Wednesday, 20 April Thursday, 28 April Tuesday, 3 - Monday, 23 May Saturday, 7 May Sunday, 8 May Monday, 9 May Tuesday, 10 May Wednesday, 11 May Thursday, 12 May Thursday, 12 May Sunday, 15 May Tuesday, 17 May Monday, 23 May Monday, 23 May Wednesday, 25 May Thursday, 26 May Thursday, 26 May Thursday, 26 May Thursday, 26 May Friday, 27 May Monday, 30 - Tuesday, 31 May Wednesday, 1 June Wednesday, 1 and Thursday, 2 June Thursday, 2 June Saturday, 4 June Monday, 6 June Monday, 13 June Monday, 13 June Sunday, 19 - Wednesday, 22 June Monday, 20 June Monday, 20 June Monday, 20 June Monday, 20 June Tuesday, 21 June Tuesday, 21 June Wednesday, 22 June Wednesday, 22 - Thursday, 23 June IB Evaluation and CIS/NEASC Accreditation visit DP Art Exhibition from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm Secondary School Play at Dubai Community Theatre and Arts Centre Evening performance at 7:30 pm Zaks Uniform sale at 11:30 am - 3:30 pm Matinee at 12:30 noon and evening performance at 7:30 pm MYP Year 10 Parents' Presentation - Personal Project at 6:00 pm DP2 Farewell Assembly at 11:30 am DP2 study leave DI@TECH 2011 MAY 2011 DP2 Final Exams SAT Tests Art Exhibition Year 2 and Year 5 from 9:40 am - 2:20 pm Zaks Uniform sale at 11:30 am3:30 pm MYP Year 11 Graduation Photos End of Year Music Concert - Secondary School Professional Development Day, no school for students Year 6 to 7 transition Taster Day DIA Holiday MYP Year 6 to Year 7 Parents' Presentation from 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm DP2 Final Exams end Zaks Uniform sale at 11:30 am3:30 pm DP 2 Graduation Rehearsal Portfolio Conferences, no school for Elementary School students Part 2 - After School Activities (ASA) ends DP2 Graduation dress rehearsal DP2 Graduation (evening ceremony) from 6:30 pm - 9:00 pm DP2 Prom DP1 Visual Arts Exams and exhibition - Whole day in Rainforest Caf

JUNE 2011

(subject to change)

CAS Presentation for Year 11 Parents from 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm Elementary School Play DP1 Exams start SAT Tests Zaks Uniform sale at 11:30 am3:30 pm MYP Exams start Art Exhibition Year 3 and Year 6 from 9:40 am - 2:20 pm DP Moderation KG2 Graduation at 8:30 am Year 6 Graduation at 1:00 pm MYP, DP1 Exams finish Zaks Uniform sale at 11:30 am3:30 pm Year 11 MYP Graduation rehearsal Elementary School Reports out Secondary School Sports Award Assemblies Elementary School - Parent/Teacher Student-led conferences Dismiss at 12:00 noon.

JUNE 2011
Thursday, 23 June Sunday, 26 June Monday, 27 June Monday, 27 June Tuesday, 28 June Sunday, 3 July

(subject to change)

Year 11 MYP Graduation from 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm (tentative) Battle of the Houses - Secondary School Secondary School Awards Assemblies Last day for students (subject to change) Israa and Miraaj - Holiday (subject to change) Secondary School E-Reports

IMPORTANT UPDATES
Collegiate American School
Dear Parents, I am delighted to inform you that effective September 2011, Innoventures Education is opening our fourth International School, called Collegiate American School (CAS). CAS will be located in the North Campus of Raffles, just behind Choithram on Al Wasl Road in Umm Suqeim. CAS is fortunate to have Mr. Donavon Reinsmoen as its founding Superintendent, and will follow the American Curriculum. CAS will also be differentiated by its approach to technology, and will accept children into KG1 to Grade 5 starting today, 14 April, 2011. More details can be found on www.casdubai.com Poonam Bhojani, Director

DIA Advisory Council


The Board of Directors has instituted an Advisory Council comprising external independent members, members of the Board and representatives of the school management. Set up in 2009, this diverse group provides the Board with significant insights and specific recommendations for continuous improvement. The council advises the Board of Directors on all academic, extra-curricular, pastoral and community aspects of the schools functioning. Commercial and fiscal issues are not within their scope. It meets three to four times in an academic year.

FORTHCOMING EVENTS
CIS/NEASC Accreditation and IB Re-evaluation Visit to DIA, 1721 April 2011
From 1721 April DIA will be visited by members of the Council of International Schools and the New England Association of Schools for our accreditation as a member school. This will be jointly undertaken with members of the International Baccalaureate for a re-evaluation of all the three programmes (PYP/MYP/DP) offered at DIA. The visiting teams will make an overall judgment as to how well the school is doing in terms of its own Philosophy and Objectives and the Standards for Accreditation (CIS/NEASC) and re-evaluation (IB). Commendations which highlight the schools principal strengths and recommendations which identify any factors in need of strengthening will be shared. The team members will visit classrooms, review students work, inspect facilities, examine material and talk to students, parents, board members and staff including members responsible for sections of the Self-Study.

Comment and Feedback


If you would like to comment or give feedback on any aspect of Dubai International Academy, please do so using diafeedback@diadubai.com We look forward to hearing from you.

GENERAL

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL NEWS

SECONDARY SCHOOL NEWS

DIAMUN 2011

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL NEWS


FORTHCOMING EVENTS
After School Activities, 21 April
Please be informed that there will be no after school activities on Thursday, 21 April. Between Sunday, 17 to Thursday, 21 April, Dubai International Academy will be visited by members of the Council of International Schools and International Baccalaureate. On Thursday, 21 April, all DIA staff will be in a meeting with our visiting teams. As a result of this, the following after school activities will be cancelled: Balls games (Years 1 and 2), IT club (Years 1 and 2), Maths support (Years 1 and 2), Lego club (Years 1 and 2), Boys soccer (Years 3 and 4), Story writing (Years 3 and 4), Table tennis (Years 3 and 4), Performing arts group production (Years 4 to 6), Boys soccer (Years 5 and 6). We do try to avoid cancelling after school activities wherever possible. However, on this occasion we will not have any extra teachers to cover the above activities. We apologise for any inconvenience caused. Aileen McBurney, Elementary School After School Activities Coordinator

RECENT EVENTS
From Field to Table Year 5, 10 17 April
During the week of 10 17 April, the Year 5 classes took part in inspiring field trips to the Vegucation Farm, where they were able to take part in the processes which happen in the planting, harvesting and preparing of vegetables. They also learnt about the benefits of organic farming, and eating food grown in the immediate location, rather than foods flown in from around the world. Students were delighted to walk around the greenhouses at the farm, picking and eating tomatoes and capsicums directly off the plants, and were all expert chefs as they prepared and ate the most delicious Fatoush! Each student took home bags of fresh vegetables which they themselves had harvested. We certainly have some budding horticulturists, farmers and chefs in our midst! Lisa Engelmann, Elementary School Teacher

Year 5LE Creativity Cooking Show, 12 April


On Tuesday, 12 April, the 5LE students held a Creativity Cooking Show for their assembly presentation. The teams were challenged to use the surprise ingredients and their Creativity to create the most Creative dish! The judges were Mr. Julian, Leo from 5MO and Mrs. Anja Vinter. The winners were the Mini-Cookie-Cooking-Cookers, who scored 27 points out of a possible 30. CONGRATULATIONS for being such CREATIVE students! Lisa Engelmann, Elementary School Teacher

Year 5 field Trip, 1014 April


The Year 5 classes had the pleasure of visiting the Vegucation farm near Sweihan in Abu Dhabi this week. It is a farm in the middle of the desert that grows its vegetables in huge greenhouses. They experiment with different types of tomatoes and eggplants which are extremely delicious. The students were given a quick history of the farm and its processes and then sent off with a bucket and shears to pick their own vegetables! The students then made their own fattoush and travelled home with a big bag of vegetables for Mom! It was well worth the one and a half hour drive to the farm. Samantha Mitchell, Elementary School Teacher

The Elite Squad, 7 April


Twenty two swimmers from the swimming After School Activity were selected to partake in an Elite Swimming Squad programme which was held for 8 weeks every Thursday. The members of this team were handpicked based on their excellent swimming abilities. Last Thursday, the Elite swimmers were invited to take place in a swimming gala at Dubai British School; they swam against Uptown Mirdiff, DBS, JBS. We came in Third place. We would like to congratulate all swimmers that took part in this 8 week programme and thank them for all their hard work, effort and determination. The following Students were on the Elite Squad: Antonia Pohl, Theresa Solleder, Anais Deere, Jada Claire Chalouhi, Alessia Filocca, Roos Tollenaar, Jef Justens, Csongor Cellie, Lia Schreiber, Chloe Spinks, Sandy Shepherd, Jasmine Liew, Claudio Cellie, Kai Haggett-King, Scott Shepherd, Nils Haggett-King, Floortje Justens, Keryn Thompson, Tayla Thompson, Katja Hicyilmaz Joshua Deere and Louis Veyrassat. Gina Pino, Elementary School Teacher

Ms Jennifers ESL Groups


The ESL Scope and Sequence outlines the development of communication skills and in ESL we have been working on listening, speaking, reading and writing. The students are now composing their own stories and then reading them while being recorded. We then do self-assessments and peer assessments to help improve our oral skills. The students love hearing a recording of their own voices!

Some students have had the opportunity to practice their reading skills to the KG classes as carlos did and he now has many new fans from Ms. Anus KG2 class! Jennifer Lyster, Elementary School Teacher

GENERAL

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL NEWS

SECONDARY SCHOOL NEWS

DIAMUN 2011

SECONDARY SCHOOL NEWS


FORTHCOMING EVENTS
Art Exhibition - 14 and 17 April

DI@TECH: Dubai International Academy Technology Fair, 28 April


Technology to enable, empower and energize education We would like to invite you to our fifth technology fair on 28 April, organised by the students in the Secondary School. The programme will include the following: Interactive displays presented and managed by the students, emphasising the interdisciplinary nature of our curriculum. Special offers on IT products such as laptops, desktops, printers, USB drives and other products from leading vendors such as ACER, Intel, HP, Edutech, and Visionaire. Presentations and talks by technology leaders from Intel, HP, ACER and other companies. Inter-School Product launch competition, Web designing contest and an Animation competition for students.

Raffle prize draw for exciting items to be won like a laptop, MP4 players, mobile phones, game console, printer and other IT gizmos. Proceeds from the raffle draw tickets and computer games will be donated to a worthy charity. DI@TECH 2011 promises to be an informative, practical and exciting look into the future; therefore we rely on your participation. Hitesh Bhagat, Secondary School Teacher and Head of IT Department

RECENT EVENTS
Biology field trip to Al Ain Zoo
For everyone at Dubai International Academy, it was just another sleepy Thursday morning. Coffee in hand, everyone rushed to homeroom hoping to get there before the sounding of the bell. That is to say, it was the usual Thursday morning for everyone except the Year 12 Biology students. Others were puzzled as they watched the students in jeans stroll in smiling; anticipating the day ahead. Two buses left the schools campus and headed for Al-Ain Wildlife Park and Resort straight after homeroom. Once the students and teachers arrived at the zoo, the long bus ride was proven worth it. No one knew where to start. Whether to go right to the Big Cats Exhibit or whether to go left to the Reptile House, no one knew. There was so much to see and explore; so much to learn. Pictures were taken and scientific discussions and conclusions were made about adaptations and classifications of the wildlife at the zoo. The variety of species of wildlife that was available for the students to explore and learn more about, put them in awe. From gorillas to giraffes to flamingoes to crocodiles to vultures, the list goes on and on. However, perhaps the most anticipated exhibit was that of the white tigers, Sugar and Spice, donated by Shaikha Latifa bint Rashid bin Khalifa bin Saeed bin Maktoum. After a full day of exploration, the students reluctantly left the zoo and once again boarded the two buses. And as the two buses returned to the schools campus, the students thanked the teachers for the refreshing and much enjoyed introduction to ecology, the next unit in the Year 12 Biology students curriculum. Leena Omair, Year12 student

GENERAL

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL NEWS

SECONDARY SCHOOL NEWS

DIAMUN 2011

DIAMUN 2011
As Dubai International Academys 6th academic year begins to wind down, one can look back on the unprecedented achievements such a young school can attach to its name. Most prestigious among these achievements, and perhaps the schools pride and joy, is the Dubai International Academy Model United Nations (DIAMUN) conference. What started, like so many other great organizations, as a thought, an idea, has grown, in just 3 short years, to encompass nearly 30 schools, with over 500 students involved, from across 9 countries, including neighbours such as Kuwait and Qatar, to as far-reaching as Madagascar and Turkey. DIAMUN certainly destined for greatness. DIAMUN was a concept, conceived by a simple group of students, who had been inspired by their experiences at other Model United Nations conference the world over. Talent, dedication, and vision allowed DIAMUN to establish a close rapport with The Hague International Model United Nations, the leading Secondary School MUN conference in the world, located in The Hague, The Netherlands. Coincidentally, it is also home to the Peace Palace, the headquarters of the International Court of Justice, one of the principal organs of the actual United Nations body. After DIAMUN 2010, which took place in February of last year, DIAMUN managed to secure an affiliation with THIMUN, and has attracted attention from many organizations, including the Sony Group, which acted as the sponsor for this years conference, which took place the weekend, from 23 26 March. DIAMUN can now be considered the flagship MUN conference in the region, and has left all participants with a sense of enthusiasm, greater than what they had carried into the conference. DIAMUN 2012 is now an eagerly anticipated event, and even hours after the end of DIAMUN 2011, students and teachers alike find themselves feeling wistful.

This years DIAMUN conference revolved around the theme of Advancement in Technology, referencing the impact of ever-variable, ever-developing technologies on a variety of issues, in a number of veins, on our world today. Students, or rather, delegates, through DIAMUN, are allowed an opportunity to experience the heat of debate, the enchantment of politics, and to tackle global issues. Students approached this over-arching theme through many roads, inter-woven as it was, into several topics, such as disarmament and international security, human rights, and economics. Dubai International Academy in particular has, over the past 3 years, produced exemplary delegates, including Aahan Bhojani, Sameer Rizvi, and Anja Gullerfelt, international conference giants in their own right. The rising stars, include Vamika Bajaj, DIAMUN 2011s Secretary-General, and her Deputy, Amay Bhojani, as well as Aman Puri, the President of the General Assembly. Even newcomers seem to shine, with Year 12 students. Omar Fakih and Mohamed Jassim bestowed awards for Best Delegate in their respective committees. DIAMUN must also pay tribute to its supporters and benefactors, including specific persons such as Ms. Poonam Bhojani, Director of Dubai International Academy, His Exellency Mohammad Ali Alabbar, Chairman of Emaar Properties PJSC, and Mr. Karl Mythen, a member of the board at The Hague International Model United Nations (THIMUN), who has helped to nurture DIAMUN into what it has become today. On a grander scale, corporations such Sony Group, sponsors of this conferences, and the Bates Pan Gulf who handled public relations for the must also be acknowledged. as the years group, event,

Ultimately, however, success lies in the hands of the students, guided by Mr. Bertrand Fernandes, MUN Coordinator at Dubai International Academy, and his successor, Mr. Tanusankar Chakraborty. Most appropriate, perhaps, in defining this conference, is a short quote by His Exellency, Mr. Alabbar, when he said, At the end of the day, it is our minds, the human mind, that is the real technology. Khalid Attala, Year 12 student and Head of DIAMUN 2011 Press Team

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