“The Earth does not belong to us: We belong to the Earth” – Marlee Matlin

Intent- Credence High School is committed to the well-being of the environment of this country. In the same spirit we supported the ‘Can Collection Campaign’ initiated by the EEG (Emirates Environmental Group) and all the students were encouraged to collect as many aluminum cans as they can from their homes or surroundings and deposit the same to be further recycled and take a step towards the aim of zero waste in landfills.

Experience: The students took the initiative in the true spirit and collected a large number of cans in the span of 15 days of the drive. Students along with their parents not only collected the cans from their homes but also walked an extra mile and approached the stores, cafes and restaurants in their surroundings and collected cans in big numbers.

The cans were then deposited at the EEG center on the ‘Can Collection Day’ - Thursday, 28^th February 2019 and it was heartening to see that our contribution amounted to 16 kilograms of aluminum cans.

Insight: Building aware and responsible global citizens is our prime responsibility and we have successfully achieved it. This is for all of us to learn and realize the benefits of recycling and work towards achieving the overall objective of zero waste in landfills.

“You know, you grow…so close your book and open your mind”

Intent: A quiz is a game which can also be called a mind sport, is watched and enjoyed by the children and adults alike even today. In alignment with that, on 19^th February 2019, UAE Quiz was designed to promote, a fun way to study and in the process help improve one’s general knowledge and ‘to think out of the box’.

Experience:  Grade 1 selected two kids from each class and the quiz was comprised of four rounds: identify the picture, riddle round, spell bee round and raise your hand round. Every round was a mixed bag with questions of history, language and vocabulary, sports, transport, tradition and culture of UAE and also round the World. All the students got edgy as they wanted to know the answers and all the participants were very highly active. The questions put forth to the teams were intriguing, exciting and made the audience applaud excitedly when the teams answered correctly. This quiz was a learning experience, for both the audience and the participants.

The quiz concluded having the first position bagged by Grade 1A, Second by Grade 1D and third by Grade 1 C and E. Ms. Nazneen, the judge for the quiz concluded by saying, “Such competitions are always interesting and informative, which provide excitement among the students and also make them aware of the current affairs.”

Cross Curriculum Link – Language and vocabulary

Insight: The objective of the ‘UAE Quiz’ was to encourage students to look beyond their textual knowledge. Through various interesting as well as challenging rounds, the knowledge of the participating students was put to test in this quiz. The participants as well as the audience thoroughly enjoyed the quiz that tested how proficient they were with UAE and around the World. The quiz was a great success and children enjoyed it a lot. 

“A super battle of brains”

Intent- Students of age group 13 to 16 of 25 schools of UAE experienced an enormous tide of knowledge at the   5^th Edition of Credence UAE Quiz Masters Tournament organized by Credence High School.  The inter-school quiz competition was a unique battle of brains at the sci-tech edition and was powered by Khaleej Times. It was held on Thursday, 7^th February 2019 in the school auditorium. Since the inception of the Quiz in the year 2014, the Credence UAE Quiz Masters Tournament has evolved unarguably as one of the biggest inter-school quiz competitions in the country. This year the legacy was carried forward and the competition attracted 25 teams from across Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah - Aspam Indian International School, Sharjah, Buds Public School, Dubai, Cambridge International School, Dubai, Crescent High School, Dubai, Delhi Private School, Dubai, Emirates Future International Academy, Abu Dhabi, Gems Millennium School, Sharjah, Gems Modern Academy, Dubai, Gulf Indian High School, Dubai, Indian School Al Ain, JSS International School, Dubai, MSB Private School, Dubai, New Indian Model School, Dubai, Our Own English High School, Al Ain, Our Own English High School Sharjah (Boys Wing), Our Own English High School, Sharjah (Girls Wing), Primus Private School, Dubai, Pristine Private School, Dubai, Sharjah Indian School, Sharjah (Boys Wing), Sharjah Indian School, Sharjah (Girls Wing), Sheffield Private School, Dubai, The Apple International School, Dubai, The Central School, Dubai, The Elite English School, Dubai, The Millennium School, Dubai and Credence High School, Dubai.

Experience:  The quizzing procedure provoked the quizzers to think outside the box. The sci-tech edition of The UAE Quiz Masters Championship 2019 collaboratively with the UAE agenda of the year 2019 - ‘Year of Tolerance’; with its overarching theme "Science & Technology in the Atomic Age", facilitated to subliminally reinforce the principles of tolerance and celebration of diversity by focusing on the contributions made by people of all regions and religions, gender, and ethnicity. They learnt that scientific growth and development has been made possible by the efforts of the global family, and people of all kinds have made invaluable contributions to this advancement.  The theme of ‘Science & Technology in the Atomic Age’ was “The Atomic Age, also known as the Atomic Era, and the period of history following the detonation of the first nuclear (‘atomic’) bomb, Trinity, on 16 July 1945, during World War II.” The sub themes included - Physics (theories of past, present and future), Chemistry (elements, compounds and technology), Biology (flora, fauna), Great scientists, Inventors & inventions, IT industry (computers, hardware, software), Personalities related to science & technology, Organisations, institutions and companies (e.g.: CDC, MIT, Tesla), Gadgets & devices (e.g.: wearable technology, GoPro), Space (inner, outer, satellites, launch vehicles), Transportation (sea, land and air), Games & consoles (e.g.: Wii, PS4), Artificial Intelligence, Tomorrow's technologies, Technology in popular culture (movies, comics, fandoms, music, books), Technology in sports, Technology in art, Science & technology of food.

Adittya Nath Mubayi a well-known quizmaster from India conducted this competition. He is the BBC mastermind semi-finalist, Research Head for Kaun Banega Crorepati and Mastermind India. It was an enriching experience for all. The students seized this opportunity to interact with Adittya Nath Mubayi, knowledge entrepreneur and quizmaster.

The Winning Trophy was bagged by Our Own English High School (Sharjah – Boys); while the First Runner-Up Trophy was claimed by the students of Pristine Private School (Dubai) and the Second Runner-Up Trophy was won by The Sharjah Indian School (Sharjah Boys). Winners received their trophies from our Chief Guest Ms. Disha Dadlani, Copy editor cum correspondent, Young Times - Khaleej Times, Mr. Nishant Nair – Group HR Manager Fabyland and Ms. Deepika Thapar Singh, CEO – Principal, Credence High School. They congratulated the participants for their excellent performance and also shared the belief of the school that in consonance with academic pursuit’s para- academic activities play a critical role in providing students with an intellectual platform for ventilation of views, opinions and perspectives. Students of the winning and runner-up teams were awarded individual trophies, certificates and gift cards from Fabyland.

Insight: The quiz competition was a grand success; this battle of brains was a route to learning and revelation.

“A child who reads will be an adult who thinks”

Intent- There’s no better feeling than seeing children losing themselves in the world of fictional character. Buddy reading program improves word recognition, builds vocabulary, and improves fluency and comprehension by reading to children in younger grades i.e. Kindergarten and Pre KG.

Experience:  The students of KG2 and Grade 1 were asked to read aloud the story to the tiny tots who fantasy reading books with puppets, soft toys along with voice modulation for different characters. The kids assumed the role of a teacher. They had fun learning and communicating with a different age group. Our young readers also read the story to our non-teaching staff who also added that such reading program energizes and enlivens them. It eases their burdens. It renews their sense of optimism and opens us up to new possibilities.

Cross Curriculum Link –Moral and Social Values

Insight: The Buddy reading program developed within the young readers a love of reading and a greater motivation to read. These young readers felt a sense of accomplishment when younger students admired and looked up to them while they build fluency. It also nurtured a mutual interest in reading. The reader and the listeners were completely involved in the stories they read. They imagined the characters and the adventures they have. They thought about what is happening and they shared the emotional journey of the book’s characters too.

“Spelling is important because it aids in reading. It helps cement the connection that is shared between sounds and letters.”

Intent: The Final Round of Inter-House Spell Bee Competition was organized on the 4th of February, 2019 in the school auditorium, for classes 1 to 9. This competition was one out of the numerous enjoyable competitions that gave students a platform to learn spellings in different ways. This competition helped the students to improve their spellings, increase their vocabulary, learn concepts, and develop use of correct English. As a result, children are able to read and write more effectively and score well in tests.

Experience: Children participated earnestly in the competition. Their efforts and initiative was appreciated by one and all. The final rounds of the competition were as under:

•          Elimination Round.

•          First Round: Write on.

•          Second Round: Jumbled Words.

•          Third Round: Fill in the Missing Letters.

•          Fourth Round: Rapid Fire Round.

Each participant was so well prepared that it made the competition difficult and it took a tie breaker round to decide the winner for some grades.

Insight: It was a wonderful learning experience not only for the participants but also for their peers and served to enrich the vocabulary bank of the students. A group of moderators and spellers from the teaching community as well as the students’ community facilitated the smooth organization and execution of the event. Kudos to all the participants and thanks to the Department of English for organizing the competition.