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THURSDAY, 14 APRIL 2011 |Issue 103

ELEMENTARYSCHOOL NEWS

GENERAL SECONDARYSCHOOL NEWS

DIAMUN 2011

DIAMUN 2011

DIAMUN 2011 will remained etched in our memory as a powerful reminder of how working to-

gether 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

accomplishmentsomething 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

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GENERAL

FORTHCOMING DATES

Monday, 23 May DP2 Final Exams end

Monday, 23 May Zaks Uniform sale at 11:30 am3:30 pmWednesday, 25 May DP 2 Graduation Rehearsal

Thursday, 26 May Portfolio Conferences, no school for Elementary School students

Thursday, 26 May Part 2 - After School Activities (ASA) ends

Thursday, 26 May DP2 Graduation dress rehearsal

Thursday, 26 May DP2 Graduation (evening ceremony) from 6:30 pm - 9:00 pm

Friday, 27 May DP2 Prom

Monday, 30 - Tuesday, 31 May DP1 Visual Arts Exams and exhibition - Whole day in Rainforest Caf

JUNE 2011 (subject to change)Wednesday, 1 June CAS Presentation for Year 11 Parents from 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Wednesday, 1 and Thursday, 2 June Elementary School Play

Thursday, 2 June DP1 Exams startSaturday, 4 June SAT Tests

Monday, 6 June Zaks Uniform sale at 11:30 am3:30 pm

Monday, 13 June MYP Exams start

Monday, 13 June Art Exhibition Year 3 and Year 6 from 9:40 am - 2:20 pm

Sunday, 19 - Wednesday, 22 June DP Moderation

Monday, 20 June KG2 Graduation at 8:30 am

Monday, 20 June Year 6 Graduation at 1:00 pm

Monday, 20 June MYP, DP1 Exams finish

Monday, 20 June Zaks Uniform sale at 11:30 am3:30 pm

Tuesday, 21 June Year 11 MYP Graduation rehearsal

Tuesday, 21 June Elementary School Reports out

APRIL 2011

Friday, 15 - Thursday, 21 April IB Evaluation and CIS/NEASC Accreditation visit

Sunday, 17 April DP Art Exhibition from 8:00 am to 5:00 pmMonday, 18 and Tuesday, 19 April Secondary School Play at Dubai Community Theatre and Arts Centre

Monday, 18 April Evening performance at 7:30 pm

Monday, 18 April Zaks Uniform sale at 11:30 am - 3:30 pm

Tuesday, 19 April Matinee at 12:30 noon and evening performance at 7:30 pm

Wednesday, 20 April MYP Year 10 Parents' Presentation - Personal Project at 6:00 pm

Wednesday, 20 April DP2 Farewell Assembly at 11:30 am

Wednesday, 20 April DP2 study leave

Thursday, 28 April DI@TECH2011MAY 2011

Tuesday, 3 - Monday, 23 May DP2 Final Exams

Saturday, 7 May SAT TestsSunday, 8 May Art Exhibition Year 2 and Year 5 from 9:40 am - 2:20 pm

Monday, 9 May Zaks Uniform sale at 11:30 am3:30 pm

Tuesday, 10 May MYP Year 11 Graduation Photos

Wednesday, 11 May End of Year Music Concert - Secondary School

Thursday, 12 May Professional Development Day, no school for students

Thursday, 12 May Year 6 to 7 transition Taster Day

Sunday, 15 May DIA Holiday

Tuesday, 17 May MYP Year 6 to Year 7 Parents' Presentation from 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm

Wednesday, 22 June Secondary School Sports Award Assemblies

Wednesday, 22 - Thursday, 23 June Elementary School - Parent/Teacher Student-led conferences

Dismiss at 12:00 noon.

mailto:DI@TECHmailto:DI@TECHmailto:DI@TECH

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IMPORTANT UPDATESCollegiate American SchoolDear 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 Amer-

ican Curriculum. CAS will also be differentiated by its approach to technology, and will accept children intoKG1 to Grade 5 starting today, 14 April, 2011.

More details can be found on www.casdubai.com

Poonam Bhojani, Director

DIA Advisory CouncilThe 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 2011From 1721 April DIA will be visited by

members of the Council of International

Schools and the New England Associa-

tion of Schools for our accreditation as a

member school. This will be jointly un-

dertaken with members of the Interna-

tional Baccalaureate for a re-evaluation

of all the three programmes (PYP/MYP/DP) offered at DIA. The visiting teams will make an overall judg-

ment 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 princi-

pal 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 FeedbackIf 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.

Monday, 27 June Secondary School Awards Assemblies

Monday, 27 June Last day for students (subject to change)

Tuesday, 28 June Israa and Miraaj - Holiday (subject to change)

Sunday, 3 July Secondary School E-Reports

JUNE 2011 (subject to change)Thursday, 23 June Year 11 MYP Graduation from 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm (tentative)

Sunday, 26 June Battle of the Houses - Secondary School

mailto:diafeedback@diadubai.commailto:diafeedback@diadubai.commailto:diafeedback@diadubai.com

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ELEMENTARYSCHOOL NEWS

GENERAL SECONDARYSCHOOL NEWS

DIAMUN 2011

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL NEWS

FORTHCOMING EVENTS

After School Activities, 21 AprilPlease be informed that there will be no after school activities on Thursday, 21 April.

Between Sunday, 17 to Thursday, 21 April, Dubai International Academywill 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 AprilDuring 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 allexpert 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 AprilOn 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

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Year 5 field Trip, 1014 AprilThe 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 toma-

toes and eggplants which are extremely delicious. The students were given aquick 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 AprilTwenty 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 werehandpicked 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 GroupsThe 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

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ELEMENTARYSCHOOL NEWS

GENERAL SECONDARYSCHOOL NEWS

DIAMUN 2011

SECONDARY SCHOOL NEWS

FORTHCOMING EVENTS

Art Exhibition - 14 and 17 April

DI@TECH: Dubai International Academy Technology Fair, 28 AprilTechnology 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.

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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 ZooFor 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, itwas 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 teachersarrived at the zoo, the

long bus ride was prov-

en 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 croc-

odiles 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 Mak-

toum.

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

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ELEMENTARYSCHOOL NEWS

GENERAL SECONDARYSCHOOL 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 schoolcan 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.

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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 My-

then, a member of the board at The Hague

International Model United Nations

(THIMUN), who has helped to nurture DI-

AMUN into what it has become today.

On a grander scale, corporations such as the

Sony Group, sponsors of this years

conferences, and the Bates Pan Gulf group,

who handled public relations for the event,

must also be acknowledged.

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