DESS Newsletter - 39

DESS Newsletter 39 - Love of Learning

For all of you reading this, you are finishing another week of remote learning, whereas for me it is my first week of remote learning coming to an end – what an interesting world of work to return to after being on maternity leave! This week’s character strengths of Curiosity and Love of Learning could not be more suitable for my current situation. Not only am I focusing on my love of learning in this new virtual world, but I am also seeing how curious a little one is, where everything Clara is experiencing is new and how her innate love of learning is helping her grow and develop.

Love of learning is having passion for learning and a desire to learn just for learning’s sake. Having a strong love of learning leads to the development of a deeper knowledge base. In contrast to this, to be curious is to explore and discover, to take an interest in ongoing experiences for its own sake. Curiosity is associated with the natural desire to build knowledge. It is going on a journey towards an answer, engaging in new experiences, or learning new facts.

One thing I know the whole DESS community is curious about is; who their new teachers will be next year. Next Thursday, on “Back to the Future Day”, the children will find out this exciting news, so make sure they log into their Webex session with their current teacher where all will be revealed!

Although finding out who your new teacher is can be exciting, for some, it can also be an emotional time as it is bringing to a close their current school year. Every year at DESS, we place high importance on the transition process but this year even more so due to the strange school year we have had. As parents, your role in this transition process is key, the excitement you portray when you find out who their new class teacher is will be contagious and help your child to feel positive about the change.

Whether your child has been exploring the world around them through pattern and texture in FS1 or writing myths and legends in Y6, I hope that seeing their curious young minds at work has inspired you to be more curious. As when we are curious, our fire continues to burn bright and it helps keep our mind healthy.

Have a lovely weekend everyone!

Mrs Gibson
Assistant Headteacher

Staff Stars of the Week

Mrs Edwards	Miss Knowles	Mrs Neville

Student Advisor

Horace Mann created the concept of the ‘common school’ in response to the need for a skilled workforce during the Industrial Revolution. Children were successful at school then, if they sat quietly in factory-like lines, if they were obedient and compliant. The problems that our contemporary world presents, and as such the way our children are educated, is quite different. The 2020 UN sustainable goals – the need to reduce inequality, create climate action, act responsibly with consumption to name a few – these goals will not be met by children who sit in lines and are compliant and conform. Tomorrow’s problems will be solved by the children who champion “curiosity”.

Curiosity opens up the world to children. There is no success criteria, no attainment level, no expectation for curiosity. Curiosity is diverse. We want to change our thinking so we communicate to children that no one has difficulties in learning but rather we are all diverse in opportunity. We need to remind our children that they can embrace anything they want to because everyone can be curious, and everyone can contribute valuable learning to the world around them. Curiosity comes in different packages.

Professor Amanda Kirby leads the field in curiosity; she is a GP, experienced researcher, clinician and most importantly parent of neurodiverse children and grandchildren. This provides her with an understanding of neurodiversity and co-occurrence from differing perspectives and a drive to raise awareness and champion best practices.

Professor Kirby describes three types of curiosity we can help our children to foster.

1. Epistemic curiosity – this describes a person’s desire to acquire new knowledge e.g. facts, concepts, ideas and to bridge gaps in knowledge.
2. Social curiosity – this describes a person’s fascination on how other people think, feel and behave – which subsequently affects how they navigate the interpersonal world.
3. Perceptual curiosity – describes a person who tries to maximize the sensory information they take in and is interested in everything around them.

We all learn in different ways, and we all learn a lot when we accept and value differences. We are all lifelong students and we all have a lot more to learn from our children. Let us remain curious about our little people. Let them lead us to their interests and lets us help them to continue to be curious about the world around them; no matter how differently they see the world. Afterall, we will, eventually, leave it all to them to enjoy in their own beautiful way.

“Make the child aware of the mystery.  Help the child to be more curious, help the child to be more inquiring.  Rather than giving the answer, make the child ask more questions.  If the child’s heart becomes inquiring, that’s enough; that’s all parents can do for the child.  Then the child will seek his or her own answers in his or her own way.” ~ Osho, The Art of Living and Dying

Olivia Tom
Student Advisor

Meet the Teacher

What is your full name? 
Hazel Andrews

What do you teach? 
I am the Class Leader in FS1 Yellow.

What is your top tip to dealing with the stay at home policy? 
I try to take something positive from each day, mindset and feeling mindful is very important to me. I try to be very organised and set a steady pace in my day to help me keep focused. I also try to ensure I take little breaks in my day, catch up with my boys and make sure they are happy and have all they need for their day of home learning too.

How are you staying active?
I stay active by walking my dog, playing with my 2 boys and enjoying a power walk in the mornings.

What is your favourite food?
My favourite food, sadly, is bread and crackers, however, I also like a lot of vegetables.

How do you relax in the evenings?
In the evenings I relax by watching Netflix or playing cards and board games with Mr Andrews and my Andrews boys.

What is your full name?
Robert Frost

What do you teach?
Lots of interesting and engaging lessons to the children in 5 Blue (although I have taught in Year 4 and Year 3 as well).

What is your top tip to dealing with the stay at home policy?
Routine! At first, I found it really difficult to manage being a ‘parent’ and a ‘teacher’ at the same time (especially as my wife is unfortunately stranded in the UK). However, we are now in a much better routine and my girls have developed their independence. Finally, I’ve accepted that ‘your best’ is all you can do!

How are you staying active?
Again, I found this very difficult at the beginning as I usually play football three times a week and run outside; however, I couldn’t do these due to the restrictions. I now ensure that I exercise regularly by scheduling an allocated time each day.

What is your favourite food?
I’m not a huge ‘foodie’ although I have particular weakness for chocolate, especially Maltesers!

How do you relax in the evenings?
I spend time with my daughters either playing a board game or watching a movie and when the girls are in bed, I watch a series on Netflix. I always read for an hour every evening on my Kindle – Mr. Adams will be pleased.

Performing Arts

Music is without a doubt a core essential part of life. It’s an incredibly enjoyable and educational creative outlet for adults and children of all ages and backgrounds and something the world benefits from. That’s why we are proud to introduce to you our talented DESSC In-House Musicians.

Would you like to learn a new instrument in September? Of course you would. Maybe you’re having lessons on an instrument already and want to further enhance your craft. Sign up with our team of In-House Musicians for lessons starting in September. For more information, email [email protected]

We promise you it will be one of the most rewarding things you do this year!

Performing Arts Workshops

Here in the performing Arts Department we have been working hard with the children to produce their Matilda video. We know it is a huge disappointment to many of the children that they won’t be able to perform on stage and we very much appreciate the effort they are putting into making the video a success.

Last week we had two very special online workshops for some of the children. On Wednesday afternoon the dancers took part in an online workshop with a West End performer, Sam Lathwood. Sam is currently appearing in the West End cast of Mary Poppins and served as Assistant Dance Captain on the UK tour of Matilda. Sam rehearsed the dance from “Revolting Children” and taught them some new moves straight from the West End. The main cast took part in an online class with West End performer, Marianne Benedict. Marianne is the West End’s current Mrs Wormwood and she recently played Grizabella in Cats, Velma in Chicago and the Wicked Witch of the West in The Wizard of Oz at the London Palladium. She spoke to the children extensively about what it is like to work in theatre and what her experiences have been like. Her main message was if you really want something you keep trying until you get there.

It was a truly wonderful experience and we are so grateful for Sam and Marianne for giving up their time.

The Year 6 Matilda Project will be released on Sunday 21^st June so stay tuned for that exciting release.

Race to Mount Everest

Have a look and see which staff house is leading the walk from DESS to Mount Everest!

This week, once again, we have a new leader in our staff house challenge to walk from DESS to Mount Everest. After many weeks of steady walking the Leopards have taken the lead! Jaguars have slipped into second place but are only a few steps behind. Having been the leaders for 4 weeks the Lynx are now in third place. The Panthers have caught up and well over half way there. Cheer on your teachers and get them motivated to do a few more step. We should have at least one house reach the top of Mount Everest next week….but which house will it be?

Keep going Teachers!

• Leopards – 3,586,217
• Jaguars – 3,404,667
• Lynx – 3,313,967
• Panthers – 2,750,366

DESS Sports Awards 2020

Our annual Sports Awards Ceremony is taking place next week, it will be split into two ceremonies:

• Year 3 & 4 – Wednesday 17th June
• Year 5 & 6 – Thursday 18th June

We want to highlight the amazing year of Sport we’ve had at DESS and hope that you can join us in these online celebrations. Tune in next week at 08:00am on SeeSaw for the Sports Awards Ceremonies. Be ready to capture the moment in the comfort of your own home. 

Good luck everybody and we can’t wait to share our highlights with you.

DESS PE Team

Remote Learning at DESS

This week, our focus was on the character strengths, Curiosity and the Love of Learning. These are the most closely linked character strengths, but yet can still be distinguished from one another. Both have been strongly linked to psychological, emotional, social and health benefits. 

Curiosity 

The benefits:

• We gain knowledge about the constantly changing environment 
• It strengthens our relationships (you are viewed as warmer when you show genuine interest and curiosity with another person) 
• It boosts physiological well-being through positive emotions, feelings of success and achievement 

We encouraged the children to ask more “why” questions, to wonder about things they often over look and to try some foods they never have before. 

Love of Learning 

The benefits: 

• Shows high levels of intrinsic motivation, which helps persist and overcome difficulty and negativity 
• Helps you to embrace progress in your career with enthusiasm and confidence 
• Openness to change (which we all need right now!)

Children were encouraged to learn up to 3 new words and use them this week and find a book, website or TV show about something they have no prior knowledge about. 

Don’t forget there are many ways you can communicate with us:

Parent / Teacher Communication: Parents can communicate with the class teachers using the designated class email.

Parent / School Communication: Parents will continue to contact the school via Jacqui Thurley or Reception for general enquiries.

Social media: Please share your comments on our social media platforms. We love receiving your messages and tweets. Don’t forget to include the following hashtags: #InThisTogether #InThisTogetherDubai #WeHaveGotThis #DESStrongerThanEver #DESSremotelearning #RemoteLearning

Stars of the Week

We are proud to announce that the following children each received Star of the Week. Well done to everyone!

Thursday 11th June 2020