ISSUE 3 DECEMBER 2015 Al Diyafah High School Issue Eye-Online 13-12-15.pdf · Diyafah’s Ethnic Day celebrated a world held together by its roots – a world that respects heritage,

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ETHNIC DAY Entire school dressed

up in their national outfits

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INNOVATION WEEK “We pledge to drive

innovation”

CGI WORKSHOPS Year 11,12,13

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ISSUE 3 DECEMBER 2015

Al Diyafah High School WWW.DIYAFAH.COM

….Highlights….2

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“Language is the dress of thought.” – Samuel Johnson

It is a river, this language,

Once in a thousand years

Breaking a new course

Changing its way to the ocean.

It is mountain effluvia

Moving to valleys

And from nation to nation

Crossing borders and mixing.

Language aids us in releasing our views, desires, and queries to the world around us. We depend on it so immensely and frequently that we often forget to acknowledge how our species would be nothing exceptional without it. Words, gestures and tone are utilised in union seamlessly in the right combinations to portray such a broad spectrum of emotion that it falls just short of magic. The distinctive and varied methods we humans can use to communicate through written and spoken language is largely what allows us to harness our innate capability of forming lasting bonds with one another; separating mankind from the rest of our animal counterparts.

To have another language is to possess a second soul and yet the importance of language is often overlooked and understated. It is pure arrogance to believe that one can leave their country and expect all of the population to understand their native tongue. In order to travel the world, whether for business or leisure, a willingness to adapt to new cultures and methods is vital. This adaptability, of course, includes the capability of connecting with new people in various dialects. Being unable to communicate in a country is akin to living with a serious impairment; it is very near impossible to bond with a new person if there is a lack of communication between one another.

We here at Diyafah understand the irrefutable significance of languages; hence, our school takes initiative to celebrate them each year during Language Week, when the utmost respect is paid to a multitude of dialects and cultures with students being encouraged to engage wholeheartedly by dressing up in ethnic wear, having discussions in classrooms, and performing in assembly skits. With a splurge of fun and activities, Diyafites conveyed and took back home the message of hope and love in a language and the true meaning behind it throughout the annual Language Week last month. Moreover, the Innovation Week and DSIB Inspections, to name a few, were the few essentials that took stand towards the end of the month; however, the Language Week undoubtedly takes the cake as the highlight of November.

With that being said, our language is the most important part of our being, one of the basic parts of our identity. If we lose our own tongue, we are losing a part of ourselves; similarly, a world without language is a world without colour. Language is a uniquely human gift. When we study language, we are uncovering in part what makes us human, getting a peek at the very nature of human nature. As we uncover how languages and their speakers differ from one another, we discover that human natures too can differ dramatically, depending on the languages we speak.

Aadhavya Sivakumaran, 11G & Sumudu Michelle, 11G1

Editors’ Note

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OnNovember8,2015,thestudentsofADHSgatheredonthefirstdayofLanguageWeektocelebratethediverseculturesofdifferentcountriesinunity.Diyafah’sEthnicDaycelebratedaworldheldtogetherbyitsroots–aworldthatrespectsheritage,artandculture.

Theexquisite,lively,vividmorningbeganwhentheDiyafitesstrodeintoschoollookingflamboyant,vibrantandgracefulastheydonnedtheirnation’straditionalclothing.TheHindiAssemblywasalsoconductedonthisveryspecialday.Eachstudentwalkedwithdignityastheytooktheircountry’snameinpride.

GiannaMathew,8G

Hands together as one, from different lands we come

DIVERSITY IN ETHNICITY

Ferris wheels of colour, laughter and brilliant assortment of traditions

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TheFrenchdepartmentputonviewthesignificanceofthenationofFrancethroughaspecialassemblyduringlanguagesweek.TheplotofthescriptrevolvedaroundastudentdreadingtolearnaboutFranceandFrenchsociety.HearrivesinFrancewherehisteamisintroducedtodifferentmonumentsandplaces.Themessagewasveryclear-‘Thecityoflights’,‘thecityofRomance’,‘theculinarycapitaloftheworld’,thatParisisknownby.Oversevenmillionpeoplevisitthisplaceeachyear.Franceisoneofthemostamazingplacesyouwillevervisit.Bytheendoftheplay,thelanguagefinallyhadmadeitsappealontheaudience,leavingthestudentsmoredelightedtolearnabouttheculturethaneverbefore.

Spokenvolumesofcultureandcolourwrappedin

dazzlingattireThattimeoftheyearhasyetagainarrived.Thetimewhereburstsofcolours filltheair;theloudnoisesenchantthe peoplearoundtocheerlouder;andwhenhappinessisimmenselypalpable.Thatoptimummomentwheremanypeoplepurchasenew,stunningclothesanddance

aroundblissfully.IfyouimaginedDiwali,thenyou’veguesseditright!AndtheDiyafitesweremorethanexcitedtoperformandexplaintheconceptofDiwali.Itwasquiteanassembly!

StudentscameinenchantingtraditionalclothesandbegantheassemblyspeakingintheirmothertongueHindi-inthemostgracefulmanner.Translationsfollowedeachsentenceandathoroughunderstandingwaspalpableamongsteveryonepresentintheaudience. Moreover,theentertainmentwasincredible!Theypresentedacaptivatingskitwhichwasexcellentinco-ordinationandsplendidinacting.Conversely,itwasfollowedbyaneye-catchingdancethatwasgracefullyperformed.theaudiencecouldn’thelpbutdisplaytheirjoy.

FathimaManal,11G1

The Festival Of Lights

A Carnival of Exquisite Flare

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“Weshouldalwaysbepractical,realistic,andoptimistic.”–SheikhMuhammadBinRashidAlMaktoum

TheUAEinnovationweek,aninitiativeunderHisHighnessSheikhMuhammadBinRashidAl

Maktoum,tookplaceacrossthenationfromthe22ndNovemberto28thNovember.

Acollaborativeworkbythegovernmentsector,privatesector,andallindividuals-theweekisthelargestcelebrationofinnovationintheworld.Theaimofthisweekistopromoteadeeprootedcultureofinnovativethinking,creativity,andingenuity;anaimthatiswellin-linewithSheikhMuhammad’svisionfortheUAEin2021.

Acrossthecountry,manyactivitiestookplace,spanningacrossamyriadofthemesandtopics.Theseincludedpracticalworkshops,engagingtalksessions,competitions,

exhibitions,andthelaunchofnewgovernmentinitiatives.

ADHSwasinvitedtoparticipateinsomeofthemostinspiringinnovationweekactivities,suchasMission:Space,UAE’sfirstpubliceventfocusingonspace;GoInnovative,aninspiringandengagingroadshowpromotinginnovativethinking;andSpaceExplorers,aninteractiveplanetariumandspacemuseum.

Inresponse,ADHSlaunchedthe‘InnovationPledge’board,whereallteachersandstudents

pledgedtheircommitmenttoinnovationbyputtingtheirhandprintontheboard,creatingamosaicoftheUAEflag.“Wepledgetodriveinnovation”putproudlyacross.Throughthis,ADHSpledgestoteach,learn,andinspirewithinnovationinmind.

SainaD,11G1

Innovation Week Bring the inspiration out, for it shall shine into a substance of

discovery

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“Everyhumanbeingistheauthorofhisownhealthordisease;knowinglyorunknowingly.”Withthatbeingsaid,onFriday,the20thofNovember2015,around180DiyafitesearnestlytookpartintheBlueWalktocreateanawarenessforthegrowingepidemic‘Diabetes’.Thepathswerefilledwithblueshirtsandpumpingenergy,emphasisingthetrueelementandthereasonwegatheredthere.ThishugelypopulareventheldannuallyatZabeelParkwasorganisedbytheLandmarkgroupofCompanies.AllproceedsfromthewalkhavebeendirectedtotheAlJalilaFoundation,anon-profitorganisationestablishedbyHisHighnessSheikhMohammedBinRashidAlMaktouminNovember2012,tosupportresearchandtreatmentofDiabetes.Onceagain,DiyafitesstoodoutasBluechampionsbycontributingAED2800towardsthisnoblecause.

AadhavyaSivakumaran,11G

Immenseassuranceisattainedwithaprickintothevein

Measlesisahighlycontagiousdiseasecausedbyavirusthatmayinfectadultsandchildren.Itisconsideredasoneofthemainleadingcausesofdeathamongyoungchildrenworldwide.Therefore,onNovember1,theMinistryofHealthlaunchedtheNationalCampaignforVaccinationagainstMeaslesforeveryoneagedbetween1and18.Startingfromthe8thofNovember,studentsatADHSweretobevaccinated.Thevaccinewasgivenforfreetoallstudentsinschoolsthroughoutthewholemonth.TheSchoolisproudthatitispartofthecampaigntargetingandhelping1.5millionchildrentofighttheever-contagiousMeasles.

DeepakDevjani,10B1

Diabetes Walk

Measles Vaccination

In A Passage of Blue, We Beat

Vaccines are the tugboats of preventive health

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Theballwasinitscourtandtheteamwasdeterminedtoachievethebesttheycan.ThebasketballmatchesattheSaint’sFestcommencedwithagrandatmospherethatpreparedandpreppedtheteamforanathleticandpowerfulperformance.ThefirstroundwasbetweenourveryowntalentedteamADHSandTheWestminsterSchool.Inthisknockoutround,theDiyafitesrosegracefullytothechallengeandbeatTheWestminsterSchool.ThisleadourschoolintothequarterfinalswheretheyrivalledagainstSt.Mary’swiththelatterwinningboththematchesplayedagainstthem.However,therewasnolackofeffortfromtheDiyafitesastheyfoughttilltheveryendastheywereencouragedbythefestivevibesofsportasVolleyballandFootballmatcheswereheldalongside.TheeventhighlightedtheteamspiritanddeterminationoftheADHSteamaswellasallparticipatingteams.Wecouldn’tbeprouderoftheteamastheyputuparealfightagainsttheotherschool;AndastheCaptainquoted,"Itwasaharddefeattotakebutthegirlsputeverythingintoit,theybroughtmorethanphysicalityintothegameandthatshowed,buttheyshowedheartandthatcamethroughsomuchtoallourspectators."

Sabeeha,11G

Themorningofthe18thNovemberwasfilledwithanxietyandenthusiasmasteamsfromallovertheUAEunitedtogetherattheSaintMary’sSportsFestival.ThesportswomenofADHSwentinwithonesimplemindset:toplayfootballtothebestoftheirability.Theirperseveranceandhardworkhelpedthesetalentedathletestoreachthefinals,defeatingtheWinchesterSchoolwiththescoreof1-0.OnthelastdayoftheSaintzsportsfest,ourteamofeliteplayersfacedtheirtoughestobstacles,standingnecktoneck;theirspiritsanddeterminationneveroncewavered,theenergyfromthecrowdandmotivationhelpedthemtocompletelyfocusontheirperformancewhichwasclearlyevidentinthegame.Thegirls’footballteamofADHScamehomewiththerunneruptrophyandtheireyesaresetonthegoldfornextyear.

NicoleCorreia,11G1

Saintz Sport Fest 2015Hoop it in!

We’re the football team your school warned you about

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ADHS activelypartookintheinauguralUAENationalSportsDay whichwasheldunderthetheme‘UAEUnitesUs’. Theovercastconditionsdidn’tdeterourspiritsasthe‘cooldads’hadafaceoffwiththeseniorboys’footballteamwhilethe‘fashionablemoms’playeditsafebychallengingtheseniorgirlsinanon-contactsport – throw ball.Inthefootballmatch, the

daddiesshowedthatageisjustanumber, andwowedtheaudiencewithahighoctaneperformancethat hadamix ofsublime individualskillsandspiritedteamwork.Therewasnotadullmomentduringthematches,astheyalwayskepttheaudienceontheirtoeswaitingtoseewhathappenednext.Boththematchesmaintainedthefriendlyspiritwiththemotherswinningthehandballmatchandthefootballmatchwasaone-alldrawagainstthefathers.

AryaNayyar,10G1

Theseniorgirls’volleyballteamofADHShadbeenpracticingrigorouslyfortheSaintzSportsFestundertheguidanceofMr.ColinD’costa.AspartoftheirTrainingtheyplayedapracticematchagainsttheladiesofoursupportstaffonWednesday,11thNovember2015.

Boththeteamswereveryenthusiasticaboutthematch.Inthefirstsettheteamstartedoffbrisklyandweregoingnecktocheckbeforethegirls’teamuppedtheanteandranawaywiththeset.

Thesupportstaffladiesregroupedandcamebackstronglyinthesecondset.Thegirls’teamlost

somemomentummidwaythroughthesecondsetandsurrenderedthesettotheladies.Thehonoursmighthavebeensharedbuttheexperiencehasdefinitelyhelpedthegirls’realisetheirstrengthsandweaknesses,andtherebyimprovetheiroverallgame.

AbhiramiShankar,11G1

ADHS takes part in the National Sports Day

Volleyball With Support Staff

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Year11wasofferedanassortmentofseminarsaddressingvariousaspectsfromchoosingsubjectstodecidingtherightcareer.

Havingtowriteanexaminationsoonthatwilldetermineone’sfutureandprospectscanbeintimidatingtosaytheleast,andmattersarenothelpedbythefactthatstudentscanhavedoubtsaboutthepapersthatmayquitepossiblynotgetresolved.Toremedythis,thestudentsofyear11hadseveralsessionson“CrackingtheIGCSEs”toclearanyandalloftheiruncertaintiesregardingMaths,Economics,Accounting,Business,English,Physics,Chemistry,ICT,ComputerScience,andEnvironmentalManagement.TheHeadsofSubjectsgavestudentsincrediblyinsightfulpresentationsdetailingtheexammodulestheywouldhavetoface,theweightageofeachone,howtotacklecertainquestions,andmore.Thestudentswereundoubtedlygratefultohavegottentheirqueriesansweredand

arenowwell-informedenoughtotakeontheIGCSE.

Thestudentsofyear11werealsoaudiencetoanenthusiasticandinformativesessionconductedbyGunjanMalekar,aneducationalcounsellorwhoworksfortheorganisation,Freud&Futon.Thestudentslearnedabouthowcrucialcareerplanningwas,andtheimportanceofchoosingcareersthatbestsuitsthem.ThesessionwasenjoyableandwellconductedasMs.Gunjaninteractedwithallthestudents.Intheend,thestudentsalltookbackinformationabouttherelevanceofextra-curricularactivities,inadditiontoacademicsandinformationonwhatUniversitieslookforinstudentapplications.

NicoleCorreia11G1&SumuduJayawerdene,11G1

Year 11 Career Guidance InterphaseChoose it right, for it shall decide your future

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DubaiMunicipalitylaunchedtheCleanUptheWorldcampaignatHeritageVillageinAl-Shindaga.

Thisisthe20thyearsincethisinitiativewasfirstintroducedbytheDubaiMunicipality.Overthelast19years,theMunicipalityhasbeenabletocreateacultureofcollectiveeffortsforthecauseofnatureandenvironment.

CleanUptheWorldcampaignisoneofthemostinspiringandeffectiveinternationalenvironmentalinitiativethatattractsover35millionparticipantsinmorethan120countrieseachyear.Thecampaignfocusespublicattentiononglobalcommunityconcernsfortheenvironmentandhow

eachindividualcanmakeapositivecontributiontoacleanerandhealthierworld.

Itaimstomakeourcreek,beaches,parksandstreetshealthyandcleanbyremovingandrecyclingrubbishthatisspoilingthem.Inadditiontotheclean-upcampaign,arangeofotheractivitiesareorganisedwhichareaimedatpromotingenvironmentalawarenesssuchascompetitions,workshopsandeducation/awarenessprograms.OurDiyafitesalsopromotedtothiscausebylaunchingasmallclean-up

campaignwhichfocusedontheclean-uparoundtheschool. DeepakDevjani,10B1

WhatbetterwaytolearnaboutIslamthantoseeitinpractice?ThiswasthereasontheIslamicdepartmentdecidedtoscheduleafieldtrip.TheideaofgoingtoaplacethatwasvisibleintheDubaiepanoramaitselfwasintriguing.Themosque,insimplewords,wasbeautifulandbreathtaking.ThethemeofthebuildingwastheOttoman,SpanishandMoroccanarchitecture.WelearnedlaterthatthemosquewasnamedafterUmarbinAlKhattab,theSecondCaliph.Allthiswasexplainedtousbyamemberofthemasjid’sstaff.HealsoelaboratedonthehistoryoftheU.A.E.Thenwewerefreetoexplore.Theinteriorofthemosquehadmanyfeatures.TheinscriptionsinthemosquewereOttomaninscriptionsinspiredbytheBlueMosqueinIstanbul.ThecarpetswerespeciallymanufacturedinGermany.Thismasjidwasmoreexoticthanonecouldimagine.ItwastrulyagreatexperienceandIhopetogobackagain.

MariamAbid,9G1

Clean Up Campaign“Stop Pollution. It is the “Best Solution”

Islamic Field TripHere in lays the certainty we preach

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EloquentHighFlyers…Thisisexactlywhathowtheinspectorsdescribedus. Initspurestform,eloquenceisaboutpassion.Itliesinsayingthingssimplybutgracefully;withenthusiasmandbelief;withtheunderlyingforceofpersuasion.Itisaboutbeingfluentnotonlyinwhatyousay,butinthewayyousayit.Thisisexactlywhatwedidwhilemeetingtheinspectors.

OnanoteofeloquencetheeditorialteamofADHStranscendedtheirvividandenthusiasticthoughtsintheresponsiveandforthcomingdiscussionsinitiatedbyarepresentativeoftheDSIB.Duringthetalkthemembersoftheteamenergeticallyandresourcefullyparticipatedinmattersbroughtforthbytherepresentative.OureditorshadachancetoexpresstheirviewandopinionsofvarioushappeningsintheUAEatthepresenttimeandalsoabouttherespectedandglorifiedculture.We,astheeditorshadachancetoshowcasehowunerringlythenewsletterisbroughttolifefromallocationofthearticlestopublishingthem.

Thisgaveusanopeningpassagetoshowthemhowartisticeditorialteamcanandwillcontinuetobeintheforeseeablefuture.Theratherdynamicandinterestingideasputforthbytheteammemberswerehighlyappreciatedbytherepresentative.Thedelightwasours,aswetheteam,wereabletoportrayinabrieftimethetruerealityofourteam’shardwork.

Shagun,10G1&Sabeeha,11G

To A Team We Belong, They AreMy Identity and I Shall Embody

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Martyrdom is not the end, It is only a beginning

Martyrs’DayrecognisesthesacrificesanddedicationofEmiratiMartyrs,whohavegiventheirlivesintheUAEandabroadinthefieldofcivil,militaryandhumanitarianservice. On30thNovember,theADHScommunity,sharedwiththeUAEfamily,theirfeelingsofimmenseprideinthesonsofthecountry.AllDiyafitesassembledonthegroundandobservedamomentofsilenceasamarkofrespect.TheUAEflagwasthenraisedagainwhileplayingthenationalanthem.

CREDITS :TEMPLATE DESIGN-SHAGUN,10G1 HEADING - SABEEHA,11 GEDITING - USHA MENON AND REEMA SANAJ PHOTOS-LAIBA AND SANA,11 G,NICOLE,11 G1