LITERACY WEEK FESTIVAL!! YES, IT S BACK! 1 st - 8 th MARCH, 2012 Every man who knows how to read has it in his power to magnify himself, to multiply the ways in which he exists, to make his life full, significant and interesting - Aldous Huxley
Dear Parents What is Literacy Week at Al Ameen? It is a celebration! It s a celebration of authors, illustrators, books and (most importantly) it s a celebration of reading. Learning to read for a variety of purposes is essential to success in school and to learning in general. The skill of reading is a critical one for a person's success especially in today's world. Whether they are going to become a brain surgeon; an auto mechanic or a math teacher, they will have to read and read well. The literacy team also recognizes that beyond the "skill of reading" is the joy or enjoyment of reading. So, this Literacy Fest is being designed to have some fun with reading. Reading is a joy. It is a time of peace, of adventure, of exploration, of just enjoying a good story. If your children learn to love reading, then, it s not really a habit that they have to develop it s something they look forward to doing each day. Please join in; let's model the joys of reading and also see the students succeed at speaking and writing! So go on &
THE BOOK SWAP EVENT 5 TH MARCH 2012 Come and hop on the book swap bus! It will take you to all the wonderful places just by reading a book! Bring a book, swap it for another Save paper, save trees! The children will bring a book or two which they have read and swap it with their friends on 5 th March 2012. Students can put in the books that they bring in a big box and then all students get to pick a book that they like.
READATHON, Reading for pleasure can transform children s whole lives, which is why AAPS LITERACY WEEK supports Readathon, the reading event run in school throughout the literacy festival week. Students continuously reading quality material will be monitored and a tab on their reading would be kept by their literacy teachers. At the end of the literacy week 1 class which reads the most from every 2 year groups would be declared the winner. We will also be having the DEAR Time (Drop Everything and Read) which will happen in school at any time throughout the week.
UNLEASH THE INNER ARTIST 4 TH MARCH 2012 Design a Bookmark Competition Students from KS 2, 3 & 4 will design bookmarks for a bookmark contest which will happen during their Art lessons. Winning entries receive certificates! RULES FOR THE BOOKMARK CONTEST Draw a design about books or reading. Bookmarks can be of any size. Designs must be original work of artist. Bookmarks can be made of any materials. Books/Magazine Holders 5 TH MARCH 2012 Students from KS 1 & 2 turn old boxes into book holders by covering and decorating them with their own art work. Remember these book boxes have to be designed to promote reading. The students will start the designing during their Art lessons.
CREATE A PICTURE BOOK COMPETITION 6 th March 2012 Each class from years 1-6 will together create a picture story book. All we want is a brilliant story, told in words and lots of pictures in less than 20 pages. Children can use any media to make their picture book. Picture book entries can be up t0 20 pages long including front and back covers. Picture books can be shorter than this. A special prize, the Achievement Award, will be given to the class who have put the greatest effort into creating their picture book, based on the teachers' comments. CHARACTER PARADE 1 st March 2012 Bringing the books alive!! Years 1-6 Students will come to school on 1 st March, 2012 dressed as a character from their favourite book to celebrate the World Book Day. Parents and teachers will encourage them to speak about the characters and why the children chose them. A parade will be organized at 8:10-8:50 for everyone from Years 1-6 to see the costumes. Certificates will be awarded to the participants.
DESIGN A BOOK COVER 1ST MARCH 2012 Students from KS3 &4 will create and design a book cover for a prospective self written book. The students will be provided A4 size sheets where they will design a book cover that must include a title, name of the author, and image. The book cover must carry a blurb which would give an idea about the story of the book. The students must be able to give an insight to why they have chosen that particular title and cover design. Keeping up with the positive promotion of reading writing connection, we will be having a unique Big Write during the literacy week where the students would be writing on a picture provided to them. Each year group would be given a different picture for their write up. The students would be informed in advance by their literacy teachers about the date for the Big Write.
SPEAK UP 6 TH MARCH 2012 Students from KS3 &4 will express and defend their views vigorously with logical & constructive arguments where confidence will reign supreme. The best 3 speakers from each class will be awarded certificates. They can choose from the following topics. YEAR 11 Death penalty for murder should be allowed Gender equality can bring prosperity to a country. Good looks get you further in life than a good mind YEAR 9 & 10 The pen is mightier than the sword We are losing the art of communication because of technology Advertisements on television should be censored YEAR 8 Hard work is more important than talent The Internet will make books obsolete
THE POETRY WRITING COMPETITION 4 th MARCH 2012 If inside s out, and outside s in Then where to end and where to begin? On land or sea, or in the air Think of a place, we will take you there! The students from Years 4-11will let us a take a sneak peek into the world of unknown by composing fantabulous poetry. The poetry will be the story of 2 worlds, the world around them and the world inside their imagination.
MEET JACQUELINE WILSON 7 th MARCH, 2012 Keeping the tradition alive this year again we have participated in EAFL s various events and one of them is to attend an author session. 50 students will nominated to attend Jacqueline Wilson s session on March 7th at 09:45 at the Intercontinental Hotel Events Centre Festival City at 09:45. Books will be for sale and the author will sign it afterwards. Students will be accompanied by the literacy teachers. JERRY PINTO 8 th MARCH, 2012 Jerry Pinto, the award winning Indian author will grace us with his presence in the school on 8 th march at 10 am where children from Years 4-8 will be able learn more about his first book for children, A Bear for Felicia.
KEEPING THE TRADITION ALIVE 6 th -10 th MARCH, 2012 Students from Al Ameen Private School are ensuring maximum participation at EAFL s events. Here is a list of events we are part of showcasing EAFL Story Writing Competition EAFL Boeing Readers Cup A team of four students from KS3 &4 has been selected to take part in the final event on 7 th March, 2012 EAFL Art Exhibition also showcasing EAFL Author Workshop (Jacqueline Wilson).EAFL Author Visit to School (Jerry Pinto) EAFL Fringe Events Children's Theater The Tree & the Woodcutter (KS1) The Merchant of Baghdad (KS2)
SPELLINGS MATTER 6 th -8 th MARCH, 2012 www.worldeducationgames.com Do you have what it takes to be crowned the SPELL CHAMPION? Students will participate in an international online Spelling Contest from the 6th- 8th of March as part of our Literacy Fest. This is an exciting online challenge for all our students, with our top students going up against the best in the world. Each student will be assigned a unique World Education Games username and password by their classroom teacher with which they can sign in to the website and take part in this online challenge. This challenge will start on 6 th March where children will have 48 hours to complete 50 spelling challenges. Parents will have to assist the students to log on to the website and complete the challenges from home. TRAWL 8 TH MARCH 2012 The TRAWL students will present their written pieces to the audience comprising of students from KS 2
To All My Team Members, The Literacy Week is a celebration of our literary initiatives and I applaud the efforts of my entire team; who plan and deliver the curriculum with utmost passion, dedication and meticulous planning. As very wisely said by Martin Luther King, Jr.: Almost always, the creative dedicated minority has made the world better. In its third year the Literacy week has gone from strength to strength ensuring maximum recognition of talents and providing opportunities for all students participation, benefit and enjoyment. I wish the entire team continued energy and zest to take this Literacy Week to newer heights and await the 2013 Literacy Week with absolute delight. I will end with a quote by: HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of U.A.E. and Ruler of Dubai Most of people talk, we do things. They plan, we achieve. They hesitate, we move ahead. We are living proof that when human beings have the courage and commitment to transform a dream into reality, there is nothing that can stop them. Dubai is a living example of that. And I would take inspiration from this and say my team is an example of just this! The TEAM: Radiya Rashid Literacy Coordinator (Y1-Y3) Kamran Ahmed (Y6, 7& 9) Teresa Rusten (Y 8, 10 & 11) Swaleha Atif (Cover, Design & Creative This Publication) (Y4&5) Saleha Ahmed (Art Instructor) Sidra Khan (Y1) Fatema Burhanuddin (Y 1) Caroline Salvi (Y 5) Ambreen Ijaz (Reading Coach) Nabila Khawaja (Y2) Fatima Hatim (Y3) Sheena Mathew (Librarian) Wishing you continued success! Zeenat Munir Head of Curriculum & Studies
To All My Students, This Literacy week will enthuse you, challenge you and motivate you to read and explore the nuances of the English Language. Lots of treats in store including a visit to the Dar Al Adab and the Bastakiya Area for those year groups that demonstrate exceptional reading skills. Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counsellors, and the most patient of teachers. Charles W. Eliot (1834-1926) To the Parent Body, Over many meetings and reading seminars I have reiterated the benefits of reading and strategies to develop these in your children. I continue to do so today and seek your support in all our endeavours at Al Ameen. The Emirates Airline Literature Festival is an excellent opportunity in our city to introduce your children to Authors and their works of literature. Please visit this link www.eaifl.com and book your child a session. Till Next Year Happy Reading! Sincerely, Zeenat Munir Head of Curriculum & Studies