Welcome from the Principal

Dear Parents,

We are now coming to the end of the first term in which we have seen strong delivery of the curriculum, assessments and opportunities to build character and personal development. We believe the two go hand in hand; getting students’ personal development right is very important for laying the right foundations for strong learning to take place. Our welfare staff work closely with the academic staff to ensure a joined up approach for the benefit of all our students. We are constantly looking at ways to strengthen this approach further and enhance the impact on every child in our care.

Just before the half term break, the UK school had a full learning review carried out by our governors who come from the UK. Our governors have expertise in different subjects and phases, and are also Ofsted inspectors in the UK. It was pleasing to hear them report that the school takes the governor’s recommendations seriously and is determined to build on the successes already achieved.

Our Extended Board Committee (EBC) also had its first meeting this term. This committee has strong representation from parents, students and staff. We are keen to gather the views of parents regarding the implementation of the key priorities in our school improvement plan. Workshops are often set up for discussions on different school improvement priorities about their impact and what more can be done to improve current provision. We really do value the input and perspectives our parents provide in this forum.

In this newsletter, you will hear about a range of other events, activities and successes we have had this term, both academic and building students’ character, leadership and personal development. I hope you enjoy reading about them and viewing the associated pictures. As always, thank you for your ongoing support and commitment to our wonderful school.

Dr. Nasim Butt
RSI Director/Principal

Arabic and Islamic Studies News:

The Reading Train:

We are pleased to announce the relaunch of the Reading Train Competition, which originally started in 1998 and continued until 2015. It has now been revived as of Monday, October 28, 2024.
The "Reading Train" is a cultural and educational competition in which students from Years 1 to 12 compete by engaging in free reading of selected purposeful books.

The event includes various activities, such as:
Introductory and promotional presentations about the competition, which started on Monday, October 28, 2024.
Students received the Reading Train Kit on Thursday, October 31, 2024, containing a passport (a summary booklet) and a special competition T-shirt.
Students received stories and books from the school library to read.

The Book Fair was inaugurated on Thursday, October 31, 2024, and lasted for a week.
The fair was open to parents from Sunday, November 3, 2024, to Friday, November 8, 2024.

The Book Fair:

As part of the Reading Train competition events, the Book Fair was launched with participation from all students, from FS to Year 12, from October 30 to November 8, 2024, During the fair, students explored and acquired a wide selection of Arabic books. Parents joined their children in choosing books, which encouraged students to develop a love for reading.

The Eloquence Oratory Competition:

In its sixth year, the Eloquence Oratory Competition aims to hone students' skills in public speaking, presentation, and overcoming challenges. A total of 1,343 students participated in the first round, with 443 qualifying for the second round. The final round is scheduled for the beginning of the second semester. The judging panels emphasized students' mastery of correct language, eye contact, suitable body movements, and varied vocal modulation.

The Hadith Competition:

The second round of the Hadith Competition, in its second year, witnessed the participation of 979 students, with the top achievers from each stage advancing to the final rounds.

Creative Writing Pioneers:

A group of 12 students from year 3 to 12 signed books they authored during the Sharjah Book Fair, attended by their parents and teachers.

Champions League Competition:

The Arabic department held the final round of the Champions League Competition on Wednesday, October 9, 2024, with the participation of 12 teams from Year 5 to 8. Students demonstrated their extensive knowledge of Arab countries, Muslim scholars, vocabulary, syntax, linguistic expressions, and the eras of Arabic literature, grammar, and spelling. This competition instilled the value of teamwork and fostered an exchange of expertise among students with high professionalism.

Reading Ambassadors:

The first initiative of "Reading Ambassadors" was launched as students from junior school visited the primary school. A group of Year 6 girls visited the primary school as reading ambassadors. They were welcomed by Year 2 students. Each ambassador read a story with a meaningful value to a group of students and summarized it in the first passport of the Reading Train.

The Year 6 students displayed significant responsibility for their own learning and the learning of others. They excelled in presenting, reading, and sometimes acting out the stories. This positively impacted on the younger students, fostering collaboration, generosity, and the sharing of knowledge.

Primary School News​

The Primary School has been a hive of activity as usual with the relentless energy and optimism of our wonderful pupils shining through. It is wonderful to see our staff and students living out our 6 C’s through collaboration, communication, creativity, critical thinking, citizenship and of course, character. Here are a few examples:

Foody Park

Three year groups have had the privilege to experience our Foody Park this term, learning from our expert Chefs and making their own culinary masterpieces. We have also been graced with visits from Abdulrahman and Maitha (uae twin chefs) who really inspired our pupils to be creative and show the character to follow their dreams! Year 4 made Ratatouille on a bed of cous cous, Year 2 discovered the history of pizza (Do you know where the name ‘Margharita’ comes from?) while making and eating their own pizzas and finally Year 1 created their own UAE Flag cookies in honour of Flag Day.

Kindness Month

The Wellbeing Theme this November is Kindness. Our very first ‘Wednesday is Lens Day’ encouraged children to dress up in whacky spectacles to highlight that we are all different and it is important to see life through a variety of lenses in order to show understanding and empathy for others. All pupils also delighted in designing their own ‘Anti-Bullying’ tote bags and caps, spreading the message of respect, kindness and tolerance! To top it all off, the children also shared a cosy ‘Cup of Kindness’ with each other.

30x30 Dubai Fitness Challenge

Each day our pupils have been taking part in our 30x30 daily challenges in class, making sure that they are developing healthy habits. It’s not only the children who have been exercising, over 150 members of staff enjoyed a visit to Bounce in DFC to get active and fit and enjoying the SRS community! Mini-marathons took place including a ‘’father and sons run and a ‘mothers and daughters’ run around our beautiful Musalla.

Friends of SRS

This is a small group of parents who have been meeting every fortnight to brainstorm ideas and activities to enhance and benefit our pupils’ experience at SRS. They are a creative group who think critically and collaborate to work closely with the school on exciting and valuable ventures. We look forward to their first event held at the Quranic Park, Al Khawaneej on Saturday 23rd November from 9am-11am to mark the penultimate day of the 30x30 DFC. An event organised by parents for parents!

UK Secondary School News

From the outset of the second half of the Winter Term, we have engaged students in a variety of events, activities, and opportunities for educational enrichment. It was reassuring to see students celebrate UAE Flag Day, for instance, where SRS teachers taught students about the origins of the flag before encouraging them in a whole-school gathering – there was much fanfare and flag-waving throughout the central learning areas as the national anthem played, just prior to an address from Vice-Principal, Mr Aiman Jarrah, to the US and UK Schools.

Furthermore, we are proud to announce that we have awarded all students in SRS Secondary UK through a series of assemblies, supplying certificates for both the subject and PROUD category in which they have most succeeded – for instance, they might have been commended for being consistently Prepared, or for demonstrating exceptional Understanding and Acceptance. Alternatively, if they had done well in Science or Mathematics, there too they would have been recognised. Although every student in SRS Secondary was rewarded, it is worth noting that certain certificates were of a higher prestige: for instance, the Bronze, Silver, and Gold Standard certificates for exceptional behavioural conduct.
In the assemblies, three students in particular were awarded personally by Dr Nasim for exceptional positive conduct in resolving friendship issues. These were: Khaled Mohammed Alkendi (9 Blue), Abdulla Said Alameemi (9 Sapphire), and Zayed Hilal Alnehayan (9 Peach).
We are extremely proud to see the work that Mr Ahmad Alasaad (Year 9 Welfare Officer) and Mr Jermaine (Head of Year 9) are doing in the development of aspirational and self-regulatory behaviours within our student cohort.
As a supplement to the Reading Train initiative launched by the Arabic Department, the English Department participated in the SRS Book Fair overseen by Ms Hanan Adel. Instead of their weekly library visit, English teachers took students to the Art Gallery to peruse a variety of fiction and non-fiction works. They were allowed to read and explore different literary genres with the help of the organisers, and invited to purchase any books or merchandise that they found particularly engaging. This is something we seek to encourage at SRS: reading for pleasure as well as reward, and we feel that the Reading Train and Book Fair initiatives have made significant headway in this regard.

PE News

SRS PE and Sport is moving at a fast pace in Term 1. Pupils in FS have been taking part in specialist lead PE and swimming lessons for the first time, developing their Fundamental Motor Skills and water confidence. Pupils in year 1 and 2 have be exploring gymnastics and other social activities whilst Years 3-6 have experienced a broadened curriculum featuring activities such as tennis, netball and volleyball.

Secondary school pupils are entering their second unit of work in the English National Curriculum and pupils are rotating through units as the year progresses. We hope the civil works will be completed soon to allow the girls access to outdoor PE areas.

SRS Sport has had a superb start to the term, now offering 37 clubs and teams across the school. Participation levels are incredibly high and pupils are proud to represent SRS Sport. Special mentions must go to the Girls Football and Girls Netball clubs who have represented the school for the first time in these activities and to our swim team who have increased in numbers from 12 to 38.

Other special mentions must go to our Under 15 World School Games Football Team who represented the school fantastically over 6 days in Barcelona. Competing against schools from India, Brazil, Paraguay, Germany, England and Spain.

Finally, SRS Sport Kit is now available from the SRS Uniform Shop for all the pupils representing SRS Sport.

Welfare News

Robotics

Programmer 50
UAE National Robotics Competition
In this exciting competition, each team is tasked with designing and programming a robot capable of performing specific tasks within a set timeframe. The robots then compete to determine which one can accomplish the most tasks in just four minutes.

The competition is divided into two parts:
• Autonomous Mode: Where the robot operates independently.
• Remote-Controlled Mode: Allowing students to control the robot manually.

This event challenges creativity, technical skills, and teamwork, showcasing the future of robotics innovation!

Big Family:

Held throughout the year, At the School of Research Science, we strive to strengthen the relationship between our school and our families, and between students and their families. Family is a true treasure that never fades away. For this reason, every year we organize an event titled "The Big Family".

Parents join their sons and daughters, and the entire class, for breakfast in the morning and participate in enjoyable activities such as competitions, reading, drawing, and more. This elegant gathering, which has yielded fruitful results and achieved a noble purpose,eis embodied in the noble verse: "And we have made you people and tribes that you may know one another. Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you."

Volunteer Day:

Planting at SRS "Mushtal Al-Khair" is a student-led activity aimed at promoting volunteerism through gardening and improving the school environment. This initiative encourages students to engage in planting trees and plants, while contributing to the beautification of the school. "Mushtal Al-Khair" seeks to instill values of generosity and environmental responsibility in students, making the school a greener and more sustainable place.

Goals:
• Foster a spirit of volunteerism and giving: Encourage students to volunteer and work together to improve green spaces within the school.
• Enhance the school environment: Contribute to making the school more beautiful and welcoming for everyone.
• Strengthen teamwork and collaboration skills: Encourage students to work together towards a common goal, developing their communication and cooperation skills.
• Build a sense of community: Strengthen the connection between students, staff, and the school by working together on a shared project that benefits everyone.

Art & DART

This year is packed with creative and engaging lessons, as we offer exciting opportunities for our students to showcase their creativity, imagination and talent in Design Technology and Art department at SRS. Here’s what’s happening:

Competitions 2024-2025: Showcasing Student Talent The DART Department is thrilled to announce three major competitions for 2024-2025. These events are designed to inspire our students and encourage them to develop their skills across art and culinary disciplines:

SRS-BSME Art Competition 2024-2025:

Open to students in Year 5 through Year 13, this competition offers three distinct categories in drawing and painting, photography and digital art.

RSI Global Art Competition 2024-2025:

This global art competition invites students aged 9-18 providing an opportunity to aspiring young artists to connect with peers from around the world as we celebrate creativity together. The RSI Global Art Competition is a fantastic platform for young artists to gain international recognition.

SRS Young Chef Competition 2024-2025:

Back for its second year, our Young Chef Competition is open to students from Year 5 through Year 13. This cooking and baking event allows students to showcase their culinary creativity. We can’t wait to see what new flavours and ideas our young chefs bring to the table.

Classroom Spotlight: What We’re Learning in KS3 and KS4

Art Classes (KS3-KS4):
Students are diving into art history, exploring iconic artists, techniques, and styles that allows them to combine these influences into their own work. By studying and practicing different styles, students are developing the skills to create original art with a personal touch.

Design Technology (KS3-KS4):

Our DT students are busy sketching and designing innovative products. They are also gaining hands-on experience with a variety of materials, learning how to bring their designs to life with practical skills and a problem-solving mindset.

Food Science (KS3-KS4):

Students are exploring the fascinating science behind food, from mastering techniques in cutting and preparation to understanding nutrition. They’re learning how to make delicious dishes from scratch, developing skills that are essential for both culinary arts and everyday life.

Foody Park: A Hands-On Food Experience

On October 7th, SRS launched its first food lesson at the vibrant Foody Park, a beautiful space where students can immerse themselves in hands-on cooking.

Under the guidance of an internationally certified Chef, Year 4 students kicked off the experience by making ratatouille and couscous, while Year 2 students created their own version of an Italian style pizza. Nearly 500 students have already enjoyed this exciting culinary journey, and Foody Park will continue to offer lessons for students of all ages, including additional clubs and activities for our secondary students. We look forward to the amazing dishes they’ll create!
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