This document summarizes activities and events at Al Yasmina School over the 2012-2013 academic year. It discusses collaboration between Year 6 and Year 9 students on a history project examining changes over the past 50 years. It also outlines other events like Enterprise Week where students developed business ideas and products to sell. The document provides an overview of the art, design and technology, and business studies departments and some of their activities over the year, including murals created around the school and a collaboration between art students and IKEA. It concludes by wishing students, parents and staff a safe summer break.

1. AL YASMINA SCHOOL STRIVES TO BE AN
OUTSTANDING INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY
SCHOOL, MAXIMISING THE LEARNING
POTENTIAL OF ALL
THE SECONDARY
PARTNERSHIP
AL YASMINA
SCHOOL
Connect
Bloom
Grow
Learn
Nurture
Play
ABU DHABI issue 8
2012/2013
ALDAR ACADEMIES

2. CONTENTS
WELCOME From the HEAD OF SCHOOL 3
FOCUS ON Art 4
Focus on Design & Technology 6
Enterprise week 8
YEAR 6 & YEAR 9 history project 10
Annual Award winners 11
Recycling EFFORTS REWARDED 12
Cameron MAKES BOOK DEBUT 14
YEAR 10 & YEAR 12 Work Experience 15
Year 11 Prom 16
STUDENT SUCCESS 18
FOY Roundup for THE year 19
Welcome to this issue of the Secondary PARTnership
for the 2012/2013 academic year. The Secondary
PARTnership is the publication for Al Yasmina's
secondary school and is published eight times a year.
Look for previous issues on the school website.
The Secondary PARTnership keeps you up-to-date with
student activities across the secondary department. It
also gives Al Yasmina School the chance to celebrate
progress and achievement and provide more in depth
information to parents on a wide variety of subjects.
We welcome your feedback.
communications@alyasmina.sch.ae
The latest PARTnership for this academic year
Topics, trends, updates, views and news from the Al Yasmina Secondary Department
WELCOME
Pictured on the cover: Students create funky camels as part of Enterprise Week
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FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL, MR GALE
Welcome to the final edition of the Secondary PARTnership for
this academic year.
I do hope you have enjoyed reading through stories
highlighting activities and achievements in the secondary
school. Much time and effort goes into preparing each
edition. I am very grateful to the staff involved in making
each publication an interesting and informative read. Special
thanks go to Ms Fitzgerald and Mrs Vorster.
It is when you look back through previous editions that you
see how much is achieved in a relatively short period of time.
Each publication offers a diverse insight into the life of the
secondary school.
We started edition 1 of 2012/2013 with the focus for the year
- PRIDE. This edition is no exception. It exemplifies my great
pride in all that is achieved inside and outside the classroom.
I enjoy talking with students about their experiences and
hearing them talk with great affection for, and pride in, their
learning, their teachers, and their school.
These publications have clearly marked our journey towards
outstanding.
Now, we pause for the long summer break and we say
farewell to members of our community, both staff and
students. I do hope that they will continue to follow Al
Yasmina’s journey and look back on their time with us with
fond memories.
Enjoy the read. Travel safely.
“If everyone is moving forward
together, then success takes
care of itself” - Henry Ford

4. ART DEPARTMENT
WORKS ITS MAGIC
The tentacles of the Art Department are steadily creeping across
the school. Not only are visitors greeted by sophisticated student
artwork in the atrium, but once-blank walls and stairwells are
now adorned with their themed murals.
The secondary school is brimming with artistic and creative
talent and Mrs Walsh, Curriculum Team Leader, Art and Design,
is keen to show off the results. The murals which have appeared
in stairwells this year involved students from Year 8 upwards but
were directly linked to the Art Movement themes studied by Year
13 BTEC Art Students.
The older students created a display “tree” and an explanation of
their chosen movement s - Cubism, Surrealism, Op Art, and Art
Nouveau - while the younger students created a mural nearby
which demonstrated the themes of that art style. The students
loved working on a large-scale and felt they were contributing to
the look of the school “in a very visual way”, Mrs Walsh says.
She is excited by the depth of talent coming through the
secondary school from younger year groups, describing the
variety of work produced in KS3 this year as “outstanding”.
Among the highlights, Year 7 created imaginative and vibrantly
decorated clay birds, Year 8 produced linoprints in the bold
style of Austrian artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser, and Year
9 created a diverse range of fabulous models as part of their
Figure and Movement project, using artists Nikki de Saint Phalle,
Alberto Giacometti, and Henry Moore for inspiration.
But such creativity isn’t just undertaken in the classroom.
This year, the after-school ECAs which offered students the
opportunity to work artistically were oversubscribed. These
included the Mural Club and Set Design for the musical
“Chicago”.
For those who want to continue with Art beyond GCSE, Al
Yasmina offers the BTEC (Business, Technology and Education
Council) course, comprising Certificate, Subsidiary, and Diploma
qualifications. “We are the only school in Abu Dhabi to offer
this course. It was chosen as it caters to the widest range of
students.”
“It is a crossover between art and design and is less
prescriptive than a Fine Arts course. It gives students
exposure to a variety of skills incorporated within art but not
limited to painting, drawing and sculpture.”
BTEC is a vocational course, meaning that it equips students
with specific skill-sets which will allow them to look beyond
school to see what career path they could take, using their
particular strengths.
“We are looking at the world of art in terms of work. This
course offers them the opportunity to choose their path earlier
than they would normally get it.”
Mrs Walsh says one of the department’s major strengths is the
variety of work produced. “We utilise technology as well, which
is quite unusual for an art department. We use computers and
the Design and Technology workshops to design something
new and different in school.”
And the art is not confined within the school boundaries.
In March, Year 13 BTEC students collaborated with IKEA
Yas Island on a flagship project which saw the classic
“Stefan” chairs given a range of quirky new looks to fulfill
the requirements of their diploma unit “Exploring Resistant
Materials and Contextual Influences in Art and Design”.
And in the final week of term, the Art Department launched
its Camel project as part of Enterprise Week. Ten fibreglass
moulded camels were bought and decorated by a group of
Year 8 and Year 10 students, following various themes. They
were displayed as part of an exhibition to raise funds for Year
10 student Cameron Oliver’s Camel Campaign and will be
displayed both inside and outside the school.
“To have a herd of brightly decorated camels outside the
school will be fantastic visually and a real coup for the Art
Department.”
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DIVERSITY OF DT A DRAWCARD FOR STUDENTS
Resistant Materials (RM)
DT Curriculum Team Leader, Mr Wood, has spent his first
year in the post focusing on modernising the products made
in Resistant Materials (RM). Until now, wood has been the
predominant material students have worked with, mainly
because it was what they, and the teachers, were most familiar
with. But that is changing, as Mr Wood encourages students to
think about working with plastics, metals, simple electronics
and composite materials such as carbon fibre.
He also aims to increase use of CAD (Computer Aided Design)
and CAM (Computer Aided Manufacture) across the secondary
school. Year 7 has already used CAD in their 10-week Critter
project, and Year 8 in the design of their iPod/MP3 amplifier.
Next year, a new unit is being introduced in Year 9 which will
rely entirely on CAD.
The acquisition of the industry-standard SolidWorks 3D
software has been a big step forward for the department. The
easy-to-use software produces drawings that are like photos
of objects. “It allows the students to design, modify and create
a virtual model before making the product.” While restricted to
Year 12 and 13 this year, the software will soon be used by all
students from Year 8 upwards.
The RM room is well resourced, with equipment which includes
a brazing hearth, a centre lathe, a milling machine (for metal),
a laser cutter, a CNC router (which automatically cuts a shape
from a computer-generated image), a woodworking lathe,
welding facilities and a full range of saws. Mr Wood is hopeful a
3D printer will be acquired next.
The subject is becoming more popular all the time. This year
there were six Year 11 GCSE students, next year there will
be 25, with a similar number expected the following year. Mr
Wood describes the subject as creative and forward-looking,
but also immensely practical. “I want students to leave here
with as broad a range of skills as possible and to be competent
designers. We are ultimately working to build a skill set which
students can confidently take to university.”
6
Design and Technology (DT) is a diverse, creative and “hands-on” subject encompassing Resistant Materials, Food Technology
and Textiles. Key Stage 3 students study one of these components each term, while Key Stage 4 students have the opportunity to
specialise.

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They put together a portfolio with themes common to all
aspects of DT – task analysis, research on existing products,
questionnaire and analysis of responses, then the design and
testing of a small number of products against their original
criteria, and finally they produce a range of products for
assessment.
Miss Merrick says the first cohort of Year 11s sat their exam last
month. “The progress they have made over the past two years is
incredible, and we now have some very competent cooks. They
know how to adapt recipes to suit the needs of consumers and
have developed a good knowledge of food manufacture using
both home skills and industrial practices.”
Textiles
The Textiles rooms on the ground floor are a colourful and
creative space full of inspiration for budding designers – and
more are taking up the opportunity.
GCSE Textiles is being offered at Al Yasmina for the first time
this year, with Year 10 students now half-way through their
course. Textiles teacher Miss Greenwood, also in her first year
at Al Yasmina, has focused her time on getting this course
established and revamping the projects undertaken in KS3 in
order to integrate more skills.
In Year 7, the students have been making soft toys this year.
In order to complete these, they learn how to use the sewing
machine and other skills including fabric painting, appliqué,
and hand embroidery. Year 8 students have been making flags,
using their country of origin as inspiration.
They have first created theme-boards considering social and
cultural themes, including images or designs that represent
their country. In Year 9, the students get to choose their project
– perhaps a cushion or a bag or a phone/iPad cover. At this
stage they are starting to hone the skills that will be required if
they continue with GCSE Textiles.
Five girls chose to take GCSE Textiles this year, comprised of 60
percent coursework and 40 percent final exam. Miss Greenwood
says the first part of the year was taken up with building the
skills required at this level, as it was a new course for the
school. She says the progress has been dramatic and the
results of the coursework to date are “amazing”.
There are certain themes the students get to choose from
for their course and four out of five of them have selected
“Sustainability”, while the fifth student chose “Child’s Play”.
They all have to study the theory of textiles and also work on a
practical project. Miss Greenwood says there are plenty of “very,
very talented” students coming through KS3 so she is optimistic
about the future of GCSE Textiles at Al Yasmina.
The students also learn a lot more about food manufacture and
consumer choice.
Food Technology
Being able to cook is a life skill which students need to acquire,
say Food Technology teachers Miss Greenwood and Miss
Merrick. In the three years Miss Merrick has taught Food
Technology at Al Yasmina, she has seen the subject develop
from strength to strength. “The enthusiasm the students show
for cooking is heartwarming, especially for those that it doesn’t
come naturally to, or those that don’t have the chance to cook at
home.”
Apart from the obvious objective of learning basic cooking
skills, Food Technology at KS3 also aims to build up skills and
knowledge of healthy eating, hygiene, food safety, and the
origins of foods. It allows students to develop their basic skills
until they become confident to start adapting recipes and show
their own creativity and flair.
Miss Greenwood has been mostly involved with Year 7, 8 and
9 this year but will take on Years 10 and 11 next year. At GCSE
level, the tasks become more complex and detail counts. “We
work on skills, presentation, timing, and using a range of
equipment.”
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CREATIVITY AND RIVALRY IN ENTERPRISE WEEK
The school was a hive of activity in the last week of term as
teams of budding entrepreneurs entered the gritty world of
business as part of Enterprise Week.
“The main aim of the event is to encourage our students to
develop their creativity, team-work, and communication, among
many other skills,” says Business Studies Curriculum Team
Leader, Mr Dube.
Students were divided into teams, given an open brief and
encouraged to “think outside the box”. Before the event even
kicked off, a healthy rivalry was brewing. Teams brainstormed
ideas and went to extreme lengths to ensure their ideas
remained secret. “Some of the covert tactics employed would
put Apple’s methods to shame!” says Mr Dube. They had to
pitch their ideas at the Dragon’s Den in order to gain project
funding. Then, money in hand, the creativity and competition
really began!
The programme will culminate in a marketplace where
students will showcase their products to parents and other
invited guests.
Teams will be judged on how well they worked as a team, their
business idea, finances, and pitch for start-up finance to the
team of ruthless Dragons.
Special consideration will be given to the effectiveness of their
social media campaign. Each team has an opportunity to win
a prize in various categories set out by a panel of esteemed
judges, and to be announced on the last day of term.
Mr Dube says Al Yasmina recognises that not all learning takes
place in the classroom. “Some of the best companies were – are
- started by young people.” He says the internet, coupled with
a breakthrough in the way people communicate and interact,
lends itself to a host of new opportunities for young people and
budding entrepreneurs.
“Al Yasmina School believes that we have a duty to nurture,
develop and inspire our young people to aim higher and open
their eyes to the world of opportunities beyond traditional
career roles.”

9. 99
ENTERPRISE WEEK

10. Changing times for Year 6 pupils have meant collaboration
with their soon-to-be secondary peers.
As the students from Ospreys prepare to make the move into
secondary school, they have spent time with Year 9 Jazeira
looking at some of the changes that have taken place in society
over the past 50 years.
“Year 9 completed the project a couple of months ago,” says
History teacher Mrs Wood. “It’s a massive topic to get to grips
with, so they have been able to help the Ospreys students
focus on key areas and also advise on good websites and areas
of research.”
Year 6 were full of ideas and had quite a clear vision of where
they wanted their project - on either sport, fashion, transport,
film or music - to go. Under the guidance of their class
teacher, Mr Howell, they had picked out some of the significant
events and big changes they wanted to look at. “We were
assigned to give them ideas, support, help them, and overall
act as group mentors,” says Grace Chuan, of Jazeira.
“Ospreys were very enthusiastic and had great ideas of their
own which they eagerly shared with the rest of the team. The
two lessons that we were given were used very efficiently; they
were focused, found relevant information and worked very well
together,” adds fellow Jazeira student Carol Al Mokatash.
Working with Year 9 also allowed the Ospreys students to
gain some expert knowledge on new ways to present their
research, a skill they will continue to develop in secondary
school.
“The Year 9s were very helpful, suggesting many creative ideas
about how to present our research, including Prezi, which we
haven’t used before!” says Alex Rashed. “We have all enjoyed
this experience as it has helped us understand how to work as
a team, and it has given us lots of ideas about presenting our
work.”
Year 6 went on to present their work to their peers to help
launch the project to the year group as a whole for Enrichment
Week.
“It has been a pleasure to watch Year 6 and Year 9 children
working collaboratively for the past few weeks, says Ospreys
teacher Mr Howell.
“The children have gained a lot in terms of how to present
their research, and how to work as a team to achieve a goal.
Working in the secondary school has also been beneficial,
as part of the transition process, in building the children’s
confidence as they prepare to start in the secondary school in
September.”
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1010
YEARS 6 AND 9 TEAM UP ON HISTORY PROJECT

11. DT Jaimie McMillan Sally Zeidan Isobel Barwick
Resistant Materials Asma Kabanni
Food Technology Mollie Byles
Textiles Maria Arredondo Alzate
Economics Ruby Hughes
English Kayan Khraisheh Shanna Chung Sim Ler Nikita Amir Ruby Hughes
French Lotte De Rooy Shanna Chung Sim Ler Ramya Iyer Derek Lee
Geography Mehek Mathur Sally Zeidan Hafsa Yousaf Chloe Lawson
History Katya Ayass Sally Zeidan Daniella Pretorius Ruby Hughes
ICT Katya Ayass Roxanne Gardiner Ryhana Rasidi Ryan Wynn
Maths Aran Quintana Shanna Chung Sim Ler Nikita Amir Thomas Wouters
Music Tegan Friedenthal Hannah Green Ramya Iyer Chloe Lawson
PE Declan Ball Jef Vanden Auweele Yazdhaan Abbas Milan Den Haese
Science Jaime Queen Shanna Chung Sim Ler Yazdhaan Abbas Rowan Smith
Spanish Erin Cassels Alina Kamel
Jamie Queen Lotte De Rooy Khamis Al Hinai Rachel Foulsham
Adnan Al Armouti Tina Kamel Ali Abu Saleh Ruby Hughes
Islamic Native Mubarak Al Nahdi Reem Abusin Adnan Al Armouti Ali Abu Saleh
Islamic Non-Native Tahira Kalsoom Anushae Akhtar Ryhana Rasidi Nur Mohamad Rasidin
Arabic Native Mera Al Fawares Laila Moharram Shamma Biny Sied Mohamed Al Mehairi
Arabic Non-native Tania Al Khatib Alexa Groh Syed Owais Khaled Al Khawaldeh
Arabic Social Studies Abdullah Al Armouti Maryam Nafie Kirollos Ziada
Art Mera Al Farawes Karen Alexan Girgis Claire McManamon- Soo Lim
Purtell
Business Studies Katharina Toma
Drama Katya Ayass Aurore Queromain Shan Coley Ruby Hughes
11
ANNUAL AWARDS
ATTAINMENT AWARD
HEAD OF SCHOOL AWARD
Year 7 Year 8
Year 9 Year 10
Year 9Year 7 Year 8 Year 10

12. REWARDS FOR
RECYCLING EFFORTS
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AL YASMINA SCHOOL
As a result of the hard work and determination of the school
council, house captains, and leaders in both secondary and
primary, along with the willingness of students and staff, it is
now safe to say we recycle at Al Yasmina!
Since March, paper and plastic used in school has been
collected under the supervision of house captains to ensure the
resources do not go to waste. Four cages were filled in May and
the target was surpassed in June, with staff having their annual
clear-outs of books and paper. All secondary students were
rewarded last week with a non-uniform day to celebrate their
success.
“So many students were involved in this project, from those
who remembered to put their plastic bottles in the blue bins,
through to those who gave up their time to collect paper from
across the whole school,” says Student Council Team Leader
Mrs Hewitt.
“Special mention should be made of Rachel Foulsham (Year
8) who designed the rotas, and Yash Bhatia (Year 11), who lead
Endeavour to be the most successful house in terms of the
amount collected, as well as Dr Patricia who has been a source
of endless support.
“Next year school council members will continue to organise
the recycling project and hopefully recycling will have become a
habit for our students. We will see the rewards of all their hard
work in a reduction of the waste going to landfill sites.”
School Council members were last week treated to a
lunch provided by the school to recognise and reward their
achievements this year.
12

13. Al Yasmina’s enthusiastic participation in the Health Authority
Abu Dhabi’s Schools for Health “Eat Right Get Active”
campaign was recognised last month, with School Nurse
Wendy Griffin collecting an award from HAAD on behalf of the
school.
HAAD AWARD FOR SCHOOL FOCUS ON HEALTH
Throughout the year, students have participated in healthy
activities in school, she says. These have included regular PE
classes, sports squads and physical activities at ECAs, and
activities outside of school (horse-riding, sailing and golf).
In addition to this, there have been classroom talks by staff
about keeping healthy, eating the right foods and keeping
active; and activities which have included preparing healthy
foods in class and covering class-room topics involving
physical exercise.
“At the awards ceremony it was encouraging to see so many
other schools in Abu Dhabi which are also committed to
providing a healthy environment for children,” Mrs Griffin says.
“Given the high obesity figures among children in Abu Dhabi it
is essential that we teach students the importance of healthy
eating and keeping active.”
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It was a tough call for the Year 9 judges Kirra
Corrigan and Bidi Misra but in the end Miss
Stephenson’s group had the highest scores.
Both teams were successfully coached by Year
9 students Samali Weerasekera, Shahzain
Khan, Ramya Iyer and Nikki Amir who were all
very supportive and offered excellent advice and
constructive feedback.
The Year 7s say the debate was a great
challenge, with Jamie Queen describing it as a
“fun way of learning”. Judge Bidi says it was “a
positive experience that I would do again”. Well
done to Miss Stephenson’s class.
CELEBRITY CRIME DEBATE “GREAT CHALLENGE”
The competition was tough between Miss Stephenson’s and Miss Magee’s AGT learners as they debated harsher punishments for
celebrities who commit crimes.
Miss Magee’s team consisted of Jamie Queen, Natasha Callow, Mehek Mathur, Will Smith and Lotte De Rooy, while Katya Ayass, Erin
Cassels, Matthew Pretorius, Aran Quintana and Miles Wright represented Miss Stephenson’s class.

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CAMERON’S CAMEL CAMPAIGN FEATURES IN
“67 INSPIRING STORIES” FOR MANDELA
14
When Year 10 student Cameron Oliver launched his now-famous
Camel Campaign in 2008, he could not have imagined that his
efforts would be recognised in a book.
And not just any book - “67 Inspiring Stories” will be a gift for his
all-time hero Nelson Mandela.
Cameron says it is a great honour to be featured as one of the “67
Inspiring Stories” to support Nelson Mandela’s “67 Community
Challenge” now being promoted by the UAE’s Nahtam Social
Responsibility.
NSR is a private volunteer organisation which promotes social
programmes involving education, environment, culture and
heritage, health and civic issues. The word "nahtam" is derived
from an Arabic word that means "We Care".
When Nelson Mandela turned 93 in 2011, he wished for people to
donate 67 minutes of their time to help their communities — 67
being the number of years Mandela had dedicated to humanitarian
work. Nahtam decided then to publish “67 Inspiring Stories” which
was launched last month, in time for Mandela’s 95th birthday on
July 18, also recognised by the UN as Mandela Day.
Cameron’s story about how he started, and continues to run,
his campaign to stop littering in desert was selected from many
worthy stories submitted from the UAE. He says being chosen
to appear in the book is one of the biggest highlights of his life.
“When the email came to say that I had been selected it was
unbelievable, because Mandela is my inspiration.”
The book cannot be bought. It has been specifically produced as a
gift for Mandela and only those who appear in it, and a select group
of recipients, will receive a copy.
Cameron continues to work on his campaign, alongside his studies
and training to fulfill his ambition to become an Olympic swimmer.
He says another big desert clean-up is planned when the weather
cools after summer.
14

15. With exams over, students in Years 10 and 12 undertook work
experience in the final weeks of the term.
Overview with Careers Co-ordinator,
Miss Ariff
This year, Year 10 and Year 12 work experience programmes
were a great success, with some of our students gaining
long-term positions at the companies they worked for. The
programme offers students opportunities to gain a valuable
understanding of the world of work through observation and
participation in workplace activities.
The nature of the students’ experience has varied vastly
this year, from football coaching to interior designing to
television broadcasting. Most students sought placements
independently, but as Careers provision grows here at Al
Yasmina, we were able to procure several placements with
outside businesses whichwere more than willing to offer our
students an internship this year. Before students went on their
work experience they took part in a debriefing session where
they learned about the Do’s and Don’ts of the workplace.
While on their placement, the students kept a detailed diary of
their experience for their own personal record. Those students
who have submitted their booklet will receive a certificate for
their work experience achievements in September.
Work Experience week was such a wonderful time for me,
working with an Interior Designer, Bridget Tyer.
I learnt how much hard work it can be in the working
environment. Each day I experienced something different,
like measuring up rooms for furniture or curtains, or having
a day in the studio emailing companies to buy ornaments and
organise shipments from places all over the world! I didn’t
really believe the teachers when they said the workplace
would change you. They were right. Everyone does carry on as
normal which is a good thing because it makes you use your
initiative and ask for work to do so you can learn more and get
more information out of your week. I loved the week and hoped
it would have lasted longer. I really appreciate everything
Bridget helped me with. She made it such an amazing week.
- Bethany Troup, Year 10 Muzeera
What the students thought…
For my work experience placement, I went to the production
company TwoFour54.
During my week there I learnt all about what it takes to
produce a television programme/film, including the planning,
filming, editing and broadcast. I worked with the post-
production team where I learnt how much time and effort
goes into picture and audio editing, before the programme is
broadcast. It was really interesting to learn more about what
actually goes on before we get to watch the programme and
my time there made me appreciate the amount of effort that
goes into the process. One day, we spent three hours editing
just a four minute clip for a programme! Overall, I had an
amazing week at work experience. I learnt so much there and
I am so grateful that I had the opportunity to go “behind the
scenes” and experience with world of work, hands on.
- Ruby Hughes, Year 10 Yasmina
What the employers thought…
Silke Griffin, Year 10 Khannour worked at Emirates Park Zoo
“Silke is working at the zoo and is doing well. She has already
attended/assisted the doctor with animal operations.She has
been involved with the study of bees and studying their decline.
Tomorrow she is going to be working with elephants.”
Raseel Abu Hassan, Year 10, Khannour worked at
Consolidated Contractors Company
“Raseel is doing really well at CCC.She is learning to read and
interpret engineering drawings for the construction industry.
The focus is mainly on the design side, not the mathematics
behind it.Next she is learning how to use their specific drawing
and construction design software.”
Mohammed Al Mehairi and Martin Lischka, Year 10 Sidra,
worked at Al Forsan Sports Resort
Mohammed and Martin are loving it at Al Forsan. Starting
at 3pm, they are teaching wakeboarding. They were on a
lifeguarding course yesterday and have been dealing with
customers and sorting equipment.
WORK EXPERIENCE
Khaled Al Khawaldeh, Year 10 Qattouf, worked at Abu Dhabi
Farmers’ Services Centre
Khaled was a joy to work with. He was well-mannered and a
close listener. Moreover, his curiosity was wide open about
media and language and how stories develop from actions
on our part (ADFSC) to interviews and finally column inches
in the newspaper. He also seemed to be interested in the
environmental aspects of what ADFSC is trying to do and some
of the moral and ethical questions that come to the fore when
addressing issues such as fresh water and the conservation of
resources.
Waie (Nur)Mohamad Rasidin, Year 10 Sidra, worked at Etihad
Waie is currently in Kuala Lumpur with her Dad, flying with
Etihad. So she has been fully exposed to his line of work! I
asked if I could come along for work experience with him too,
but I am assured that she has also been doing reports and will
bring in some sample work! – Miss Jones, Y10 Sidra learning
mentor.
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16. Year 11 celebrated the end of GCSEs and, for a few, the
end of their time at Al Yasmina, with their Prom at Yas
Links last month.
Students transformed themselves with formal dress
and celebrated in style. Some even arrived in a stretch
Hummer! Year 11 Leader Mr McGuinness says the night
was a great success. “It was fantastic to see so many
students turn up to celebrate the end of Year 11.”
Students gave out awards to each other which they
had organised and also received a number of awards
from staff, based on their time at Al Yasmina. “I was
extremely pleased with the way students conducted
themselves. They showed why Al Yasmina School has an
excellent reputation. I would like to take this opportunity
to wish all our Year 11 students the best of luck for next
year and beyond.”
YEAR 11 CELEBRATE
END OF YEAR IN STYLE
16

18. The winner from last month was Carla Pérez, who correctly
answered 4.
This month, here is a link to a strategic game to keep brains
working over the summer break:
http://www.mathsisfun.com/games/proximity.html
MR RICHARDS’
MATHEMATICAL
CHALLENGE
STUDENTS OF THE
MONTH FOR JUNE
Congratulations to the following students:
Rashed Al Jneibi (Islamic Studies - native)
Mogamad Achmat (Islamic Studies -
non-native)
Rehab Al Nuaimi (Arabic - native)
Aisling Walsh (Arabic non-native)
Maitha Al Qubaisi (UAE and Social Studies)
Milan Den Haese (Art)
Eliel Ponen (Business Studies)
Roxanne Gardiner (Drama)
Adam Pollock (Design & Technology)
Harry Byles (Economics)
Zara Woodrow (English)
Nicholas Clarke (French)
Claire McManamon Purtell (Geography)
Eve Willis (History)
Layna Tlemsani (ICT)
Sana Aftab (Mathematics)
Tina Kamel (Music)
Milan Den Haese (PE)
Jessica Vickery (Psychology)
Makyla Fahmy (Science)
Sophie Ensor & Jake Rossiter (Spanish)
issue 8
2012/2013
AL YASMINA SCHOOL
18
EXCEPTIONAL RESULTS FOR BTEC STUDENTS
The results are in and the Art Department is proud to
announce that its Year 13 BTEC Diploma Art and Design
students have achieved top results.
Haas Al Mashani: Distinction* Distinction*
Jessica Vickery: Distinction* Distinction*
Nick Bryant: Distinction* Distinction
Liam Troup: Distinction* Distinction
Mrs Walsh, Curriculum Team Leader, Art and Design,
explains that the double Distinction is the equivalent of two
As at A Level.
For the second year running, Year 12 Muslim & Arab students
have achieved a 100 percent pass rate in the Ministry of
Education exams.
Fourteen students took the exams recently – seven Native
speakers and seven Non-Native speakers. Overall results
improved this year by 20 percent in Islamic Studies and 15
percent in Arabic.
100% EXAM SUCCESS FOR ARABIC DEPT
Ahmed Aman gained the highest mark in both Islamic
Studies (Natives) and Arabic (Natives). Karim Ashraf gained
the highest mark in Islamic Studies (Non-Natives), and Leila
Mukhtar the highest mark in Arabic (Non-Natives).
“However, our students have gone one, or in some cases,
two better. The Distinction* is the equivalent to A* at A
Level. To achieve a double Distinction* is very rare indeed.”
“All of our students have worked incredibly hard and their
total dedication to the course over the past two years has
yielded these outstanding results.
As the first students to complete this course they have set
the bar very high indeed.”

19. issue 8
2012/2013
AL YASMINA SCHOOL
1919
FOY experienced another busy month, and as we wind down in
preparation for the summer break, we have had the chance to
reflect on our fundraising efforts and accomplishments of the
past year.
FOY donated 16,255AED to charity – 10,000AED to Operation
Smile and 6,255AED to World Challenge Uganda.
FOY’s other donations/purchases included:
Primary Garden Design Project 10,000AED
The Wiz production 5,000AED
International Day stalls 5,000AED
Beanbags for primary school 6,000AED
Updated canvas photos for the school walls 2,000AED
Walid’s crew—maintenance, security and cleaning staff—for
their continued excellence and support of FOY and the school
1,250AED.
We also purchased cakes/doughnuts as a thank you to
teachers and a farewell gift for a departing key staff member.
Lastly, we bought several items to help FOY better serve the
school - BBQ grill, warming trays, and bins for uniform sales.
FOY was able to do all of this because of our fundraising over
the past year. FOY members and other volunteers participated
in huge events such as the Festive Fayre, National and
International Days, and the Table Top Sale.
We assisted and sold refreshments at nearly all major sporting
events—House Sports Days, Sports Awards Night, swim galas,
and the Aldar Olympics. We also supported the WOW Factor,
Year 5 Movie Night, Year 3 Australian Sleepover, Year 2 Click
Exhibition, the Festive Concert, the D&T Art Auction, and more.
Our major sources of income were the Festive Fayre, second-
hand uniform sales, the FOYVEG program, and the Table Top
Sale. Mr Gale was also very generous to FOY and we appreciate
his constant support and encouragement. We had several key
events this term. The first was the wonderful production of
The Wiz on the nights of May 29 and 30.
FOY donated 5,000AED to the primary drama club and provided
refreshments on both nights of the performance.
The annual FOY Table Top Sale was held in the atrium on June
1 and was hugely successful.
Stallholders gave lots of positive feedback and even requested
that more sales be held during the year. There were 65 stalls
and a huge variety of goods at bargain prices. FOY will hold
another Table Top Sale in May 2014.
We may even host a bazaar in the autumn term.
The FOYVEG programme maintained its popularity with Al
Yasmina families and staff. This healthy eating programme
will kick off again in October.
The Design and Technology Art Exhibition took place on June
16 with an auction of beautiful artworks created and donated
by secondary students. The auction raised 1,925AED, which
the students generously donated to FOY. With the addition of
another 8,075AED from FOY, a total donation of 10,000AED was
made to Operation Smile UAE.
We are looking forward to the following activities in the new
term:
• A Second Hand Uniform sale will be held before the
start of school on August 28, from 1 – 3pm in the
atrium.
• Al Yasmina turns five in September , so keep an eye
out for lots of exciting activities planned to celebrate
this milestone.
• The Al Yasmina Ball is scheduled for November 15.
We would like to take this opportunity to say “thanks” to all
who assisted us in any way this year. FOY could not exist
without our volunteers who selflessly give up their time and
talents to make Al Yasmina School even better.
Please consider being a part of the FOY team. All parents and
friends are encouraged to participate. Even if you can only
spare a small amount of time, this will be appreciated by the
students in the school and by the charities we support.
All positions on the committee will be open for nomination at
the AGM on Monday, September 16 at 6.30pm.
It is time for our chairperson to step down after two years of
wonderful work. Please contact Mr Gale (PAHOS@alyasmina.
sch.ae) if interested in the position. Join us at the AGM or
come along to the monthly meetings and be part of the fun!
Written by FOY treasurer Lisa Wall
FOY END-OF YEAR ROUNDUP