Secondary Newsletter
All the latest news and updates from 9th - 23rd April
Principal’s note: Welcome to the new term
Welcome back to the new and final term for this academic year. I do hope that you all enjoyed some relaxation over the break and have returned refreshed for the term ahead.
This term will be a busy term as our first cohort of year 11 students commence their study leave ahead of taking their IGCSE exams. Exam time can be challenging, exciting and at times, stressful. Mr Ben has shared a revision timetable with all students; and I encourage all students to take advantage of the opportunity to meet with their teachers to ensure they remain focussed ahead of the taking of exams. We have a team of dedicated teachers and this is a prime example of their desire to see our students achieve success.
Year 11 study leave commences on Thursday 20 April at 1:00 PM. A celebration farewell assembly will take place at 12:15 PM. We wish all our year 11 students the very best of luck with their IGCSE exams.
We will also be focussing on attendance this term and the expectation that children are present and on time every day. Student registers are now being taken at the commencement of each lesson, to monitor punctuality to lessons. The school day remains the same: we commence at 7:50 AM and the school day finishes at 2:40 PM. Classroom instruction commences at 8:05 AM. If your child arrives after 8:05 AM they will be marked late.
I am also pleased to welcome to the secondary school year 6 students as they begin their transition from primary school into secondary. Year 6 students are becoming familiar with the change of routine for classroom learning and are getting to know their way around the school; they will shortly experience “taster days” so they can experience lessons and they have commenced joining us for the flag raising ceremony each morning.
As we move forward together and to ensure that we accomplish all our key goals, we have a great leadership team and these roles are held by:
Mr Mark Pollitt - Teaching and Learning, Boys Pastoral
Ms Sam Hamdani - Teaching and Learning, Girls Pastoral
Tayseer Al Qudah - Head of Arabic and Arabic parent engagement.
Mr Ben Barry, joint roles of Year Leader coordinator and Assessment and Progress Leader
Ms Samina Qadir: Years 10 and 11 leader
Ms Rebecca Barry: Year 9 leader
Ms Carolina Fuentes: Year 8 leader
Mr Basil Curlewis: Year 7 leader
We have a lot to be excited about this term and I look forward to an engaging, positive and happy term.
Peter Ross, Secondary School Principal.
The International Award – New season starting at AJAC in May 2017
Year 9 and 10 students can sign up now
The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award is the world’s foremost youth leadership and development programme. Globally top universities recognize that students’ achievement of this Award demonstrates drive, determination, resilience and superior communication and team-working skills.
The Award comprises four sections – Skill, Service, Physical Recreation and Adventurous Journey. Students have to complete each section to the specified standards before they can be presented with their Bronze, Silver or Gold certificate.
Gold Level participants also have to independently complete a 5-day, 4 night residential experience. They may not stay at home or with relatives/friends for this. The experience may be volunteering, or a paid for course where a skill is developed or a new skill learned – eg: a cooking, language or music course; football or basketball camp; a sailing course; a voluntary residential activity such as building a school in a developing country.
Students in year 11 are already working on completing sections of the Award and we are now offering the opportunity to participate to students in years 9 and 10. Students can sign up for the Award by returning a parent permission letter to Miss Elise.
Parents, click on the link below to learn more.
Secondary Student Council
“Have your say, make a difference”
Secondary School Student Council held their first term-three meeting this week. At Student Council Meetings, students are encouraged to express their ideas and take the lead. Accordingly, they discussed various projects such as international day, trips and leadership development opportunities.
They also brought ideas to the table, such as the inclusion of the training discipline “parkour” with the intention of providing alternative sport activities for all students.
We congratulate all students involved in Student Council (names below) and encourage other students to apply and join this wonderful opportunity to make a positive and meaningful contribution towards school life.
Girls: Afra Alghufli, Danah Aldoori, Noora Lootah, Noora Almatrooshi, Saud Saleh, Farah Albarghuthi, Moza Almadhloum and Maysam Alsamra.
Boys: Sultan Alnuaimi, Sultan Saleh, Ahmed Alnuaimi, Omar Ataya, Osama Tariq, Khaled Alhussini, Ali Almuhairi.
Ms Carolina Fuentes
Head of Student Council
Epraise TOP achieving students
The reward system “Epraise” has been used by all Ajman Academy secondary school teachers to award points to students and reward them for their positive input.
We would like to congratulate the following students, who have achieved the maximum points in their year group:
Year 7 - Maryam AlFirjani
Year 8 - WeiJie (Peter) Lin
Year 9 - AbdulBaset AbdulBaqi
Year 10 - Marwan Al-Ali
Year 11 - Maysam Alsamra
All students are encouraged to continue making positive contributions towards their learning and gain points throughout the day to receive Epraise points.
Congratulations!
Year 8 to Year 9 Options information session
We are pleased to invite you to attend our Options information session to be held on Monday 17 April at 4:00 pm in the auditorium.
Current Year 8 students are thinking ahead and preparing for early option choices towards their IGCSE qualification.
Prior to the meeting all students will receive a copy of the Options booklet. A pdf version will be available on the Communicator. This contains key information and subject details as well as an option choices form to complete. During the information session there will be an opportunity to discuss the option choices.
We look forward to seeing as many of you as possible on the day. If you are not able to attend this session and you require further clarification, please contact the Head of Year, Ms Carolina Fuentes by email: c.fuentes@ajmanacademy.com