Teach Middle East Magazine September 2014 Issue 1 Vol. 2 | Page 22

Featured School

in all this is that; students are well cared
for and are safe, learning is relevant to
what students need to know to live in
an international community, learning
is, enjoyable and fun and that staff
are accountable for the progress that
students make as they have very high
expectations of each other.
Naturally, the school is constantly
abuzz
with
numerous
learning
activities from as early as 6:45am when
some extracurricular activities take
place until it’s time for dismissal. Mr
Howsen is busy participating in lesson
observations, monitoring the students
at times during break, conducting
African
drumming
classes
on
Wednesday mornings and basketball
practice on Thursday afternoons.
Al Muna Primay’s extensive list of
student activities includes, sports such
as basketball, water polo, swimming,
biathlon, netball and touch rugby.
Other activities include dance, Arabic
dance, Arabic calligraphy, arts, design,
sketching, cartoon making, and ICT
among many others. These vary on a
term-by-term basis.

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September 2014

“Visitors often say that we appear very
laid back, but behind that is a backbone
of really high expectations. We all have
a common goal, to make sure that
each child feels valued, that they are
a part of the decision making process
through the school council. They know
that it is the job of every adult in this
school to make them feel safe and to
encourage them to be independent
thinkers and learners.”
Students also know that academic
excellence, good manners and lovely
behaviour hold rich rewards for them.
Each class has its own rewards
system. Year 5 and 6 students are
rewarded with credits when they do
well or excel. Once a student has
accumulated enough credits he/she
can use the credits earned to purchase
items from the school’s credit store.
Big purchases include special trips to
places such as Water World at the end
of the school year. Other purchases
include fifteen minutes in extra time
on the ipad on a Thursday afternoon
or a bit of extended playtime. Smaller
purchases are pens, pencils and so on.

Class Time

Students who behave really well during
lunchtime get invited to sit with the
principal and his deputy at the top table
on the stage. This table is beautifully
decorated with a nice tablecloth and
has proper cutlery. Students who have
a good attendance or whose punctuality
is excellent get invited to a tea party
that is held once per term as well.
One major reward is the gold card.
This is given to students who do
exceptionally well. Students who
get the gold card are lauded during
assembly and are featured in the
school’s newsletter. All this helps to
boost their confidence.
In an atmosphere that is so student
centred and rich with industry, it is not
surprising that students naturally push
themselves to excel. The leadership
is keen to point out that despite their
successes, they are always looking at
ways in which they can improve. This
is a prime example of a school staying
true to its main aim. They will continue
to do better than their last best as they
continue to ‘achieve success’!