• Pupils at The Indian High School, the UAE's largest school, return to class after the summer holidays on Monday. Pawan Singh / The National
    Pupils at The Indian High School, the UAE's largest school, return to class after the summer holidays on Monday. Pawan Singh / The National
  • Pupils and staff will be required to wear masks indoors to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Masks are not required outside. Pawan Singh / The National
    Pupils and staff will be required to wear masks indoors to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Masks are not required outside. Pawan Singh / The National
  • Most of the country's pupils returned to school on Monday, while others are expected to start later in the week. Pawan Singh / The National
    Most of the country's pupils returned to school on Monday, while others are expected to start later in the week. Pawan Singh / The National
  • A flash mob made up of high school pupils dances at one school during a welcoming ceremony. Pawan Singh / The National
    A flash mob made up of high school pupils dances at one school during a welcoming ceremony. Pawan Singh / The National
  • Pupils attend the first assembly at The Indian High School in Oud Metha, Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National
    Pupils attend the first assembly at The Indian High School in Oud Metha, Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National
  • Dubai British School pupils arrive for the first day of school after the summer holidays. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Dubai British School pupils arrive for the first day of school after the summer holidays. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Dubai British School pupils arrive for the first day of school after the summer holidays. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Dubai British School pupils arrive for the first day of school after the summer holidays. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Dubai British School pupils arrive for the first day of school after the summer holidays. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Dubai British School pupils arrive for the first day of school after the summer holidays. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Pupils from Al Mamoura Academy in Abu Dhabi on their first day of classes after the summer break. Victor Besa / The National
    Pupils from Al Mamoura Academy in Abu Dhabi on their first day of classes after the summer break. Victor Besa / The National
  • Pupils from Al Mamoura Academy in Abu Dhabi on their first day of classes after the summer break. Victor Besa / The National
    Pupils from Al Mamoura Academy in Abu Dhabi on their first day of classes after the summer break. Victor Besa / The National
  • Pupils from Al Mamoura Academy in Abu Dhabi on their first day of classes after the summer break. Victor Besa / The National
    Pupils from Al Mamoura Academy in Abu Dhabi on their first day of classes after the summer break. Victor Besa / The National
  • Pupils from Al Mamoura Academy in Abu Dhabi on their first day of classes after the summer break. Victor Besa / The National
    Pupils from Al Mamoura Academy in Abu Dhabi on their first day of classes after the summer break. Victor Besa / The National
  • Pupils from Al Mamoura Academy in Abu Dhabi on their first day of classes after the summer break. Victor Besa / The National
    Pupils from Al Mamoura Academy in Abu Dhabi on their first day of classes after the summer break. Victor Besa / The National
  • Pupils from Al Mamoura Academy in Abu Dhabi on their first day of classes after the summer break. Victor Besa / The National
    Pupils from Al Mamoura Academy in Abu Dhabi on their first day of classes after the summer break. Victor Besa / The National
  • Children arrive for the first day of school after the summer holidays at Dubai British School. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Children arrive for the first day of school after the summer holidays at Dubai British School. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Parents drop off their children at Dubai British School after the long summer break. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Parents drop off their children at Dubai British School after the long summer break. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Many pupils were up before 6am to catch the school bus. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Many pupils were up before 6am to catch the school bus. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Parents see off their children before classes begin on Monday. Victor Besa / The National
    Parents see off their children before classes begin on Monday. Victor Besa / The National
  • Pupils at Al Mamoura Academy in Abu Dhabi returned to school on Monday. Victor Besa / The National
    Pupils at Al Mamoura Academy in Abu Dhabi returned to school on Monday. Victor Besa / The National
  • A young pupil greets a member of staff on the first day of school at Al Mamoura Academy. Victor Besa / The National
    A young pupil greets a member of staff on the first day of school at Al Mamoura Academy. Victor Besa / The National
  • Head teachers expressed their excitement at having children back on campus. Victor Besa / The National
    Head teachers expressed their excitement at having children back on campus. Victor Besa / The National
  • Children in class on the first day of school at Dubai British School. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Children in class on the first day of school at Dubai British School. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • A child arrives at Dubai British School. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    A child arrives at Dubai British School. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Kephren Sherry, head of primary at Citizens School Dubai, dressed up as superman while principal Tracy Moxley wore a Batman costume and director of learning Janice Butterworth put on a Ninja Turtle costume.
    Kephren Sherry, head of primary at Citizens School Dubai, dressed up as superman while principal Tracy Moxley wore a Batman costume and director of learning Janice Butterworth put on a Ninja Turtle costume.

UAE

Education

How to handle a tough first week at school

Here are some tips on how to thrive and not just survive

Anam Rizvi
Anam Rizvi

August 31, 2022

  • English
  • Arabic

If you're finding the first week back at school a little tricky, then you're probably not alone.

Making friends in a new school isn't always that easy — for pupils or parents. And even older children returning to classes can take a while to settle back in.

Rashmi Nandkeolyar, a long-serving head teacher in Dubai, shared her advice on how to adjust.

The best schools and their teachers tend to have sessions to help everyone relax on day one.

Just remember, everyone starts off in the same place as you
Rashmi Nandkeolyar

“We have lots of icebreakers, games in class, welcome boards and class teachers' period,” said Ms Nandkeolyar, head of Delhi Private School Dubai in Jebel Ali.

“Try to integrate and get everybody to talk about their experiences … make videos, presentations, all sorts of things.”

Try to make friends, even if you're nervous

“Positive body language, a smile, a hello, goes a long way in making friends,” she said.

“Try to strike up a conversation with someone who shares your interests, be it a bus partner, the person sitting close to you or who you partner with in class activities.

“Just remember, everyone starts off in the same place as you. Try to have confidence and send affirmations to yourself, reminding yourself of your successes.”

A transient population in the Emirates mean that pupils join and leave schools more often than in other places.

And many teachers are good at looking out for new pupils and try to ease them into school life.

Don't be afraid to ask for help if you're finding things difficult.

Don't pressure yourself

Rashmi Nandkeolyar says pupils and parents should not put too much pressure on themselves, and that making trends and getting used to school life takes time. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
Rashmi Nandkeolyar says pupils and parents should not put too much pressure on themselves, and that making trends and getting used to school life takes time. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

Ms Nandkeolyar encouraged children and parents to be kind to themselves and remember they would not be able to learn everything in one day.

Joining school clubs can be a good start, allowing you to get to know people outside of formal classes.

Good manners and being courteous and helpful go a long way.

Speak to your parents about your anxieties

“Do not allow yourself to be bullied in any way,” Ms Nandkeolyar said.

She asked pupils to speak with a trusted adult at home or a school counsellor or teacher about their anxieties.

“There are processes in place to make everybody comfortable, but then there is that child who needs more help.

“So that child, we will advise them to speak to a trusted adult or their counsellors or class teachers,” she said.

Don’t be shy about sharing your talents

Be it singing, dancing, sports or games, admiration does win you friends, said the head teacher.

She encouraged pupils to get involved and be confident in their talents.

Dress to feel confident

Make an effort to be well groomed when you come to school, Ms Nandkeolyar said.

Looking good and being neat and tidy would make pupils feel more confident.

Remember, we cannot succeed all the time

“Take the occasional set back in your stride. Be resilient and try again,” she said.

“Keep the end goals in mind and persevere,” she added.

TRAP

Starring: Josh Hartnett, Saleka Shyamalan, Ariel Donaghue

Director: M Night Shyamalan

Rating: 3/5

Springtime in a Broken Mirror,
Mario Benedetti, Penguin Modern Classics

 

RESULT

Norway 1 Spain 1
Norway: King (90 4')
Spain: Niguez (47')

'Brazen'

Director: Monika Mitchell

Starring: Alyssa Milano, Sam Page, Colleen Wheeler

Rating: 3/5

UAE SQUAD

Khalid Essa, Ali Khaseif, Fahad Al Dhanhani, Adel Al Hosani, Bandar Al Ahbabi, Mohammad Barghash, Salem Rashid, Khalifa Al Hammadi, Shaheen Abdulrahman, Hassan Al Mahrami, Walid Abbas, Mahmoud Khamis, Yousef Jaber, Majed Sorour, Majed Hassan, Ali Salmeen, Abdullah Ramadan, Abdullah Al Naqbi, Khalil Al Hammadi, Fabio De Lima, Khalfan Mubarak, Tahnoon Al Zaabi, Ali Saleh, Caio Canedo, Ali Mabkhout, Sebastian Tagliabue, Zayed Al Ameri

Karwaan

Producer: Ronnie Screwvala

Director: Akarsh Khurana

Starring: Irrfan Khan, Dulquer Salmaan, Mithila Palkar

Rating: 4/5

Read more from Kareem Shaheen
Going grey? A stylist's advice

If you’re going to go grey, a great style, well-cared for hair (in a sleek, classy style, like a bob), and a young spirit and attitude go a long way, says Maria Dowling, founder of the Maria Dowling Salon in Dubai.
It’s easier to go grey from a lighter colour, so you may want to do that first. And this is the time to try a shorter style, she advises. Then a stylist can introduce highlights, start lightening up the roots, and let it fade out. Once it’s entirely grey, a purple shampoo will prevent yellowing.
“Get professional help – there’s no other way to go around it,” she says. “And don’t just let it grow out because that looks really bad. Put effort into it: properly condition, straighten, get regular trims, make sure it’s glossy.”

MATCH INFO

Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Bayern Munich v Real Madrid
When: April 25, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Allianz Arena, Munich
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 1, Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid

%20Ramez%20Gab%20Min%20El%20Akher
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECreator%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Ramez%20Galal%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Ramez%20Galal%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStreaming%20on%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EMBC%20Shahid%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
THE DETAILS

Deadpool 2

Dir: David Leitch

Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Josh Brolin, Justin Dennison, Zazie Beetz

Four stars

Checks continue

A High Court judge issued an interim order on Friday suspending a decision by Agriculture Minister Edwin Poots to direct a stop to Brexit agri-food checks at Northern Ireland ports.

Mr Justice Colton said he was making the temporary direction until a judicial review of the minister's unilateral action this week to order a halt to port checks that are required under the Northern Ireland Protocol.

Civil servants have yet to implement the instruction, pending legal clarity on their obligations, and checks are continuing.

While you're here
COMPANY PROFILE

● Company: Bidzi

● Started: 2024

● Founders: Akshay Dosaj and Asif Rashid

● Based: Dubai, UAE

● Industry: M&A

● Funding size: Bootstrapped

● No of employees: Nine

While you're here
ETFs explained

Exhchange traded funds are bought and sold like shares, but operate as index-tracking funds, passively following their chosen indices, such as the S&P 500, FTSE 100 and the FTSE All World, plus a vast range of smaller exchanges and commodities, such as gold, silver, copper sugar, coffee and oil.

ETFs have zero upfront fees and annual charges as low as 0.07 per cent a year, which means you get to keep more of your returns, as actively managed funds can charge as much as 1.5 per cent a year.

There are thousands to choose from, with the five biggest providers BlackRock’s iShares range, Vanguard, State Street Global Advisors SPDR ETFs, Deutsche Bank AWM X-trackers and Invesco PowerShares.

Zodi%20%26%20Tehu%3A%20Princes%20Of%20The%20Desert
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EEric%20Barbier%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EYoussef%20Hajdi%2C%20Nadia%20Benzakour%2C%20Yasser%20Drief%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A

Engine: 5.6-litre V8

Transmission: seven-speed automatic

Power: 400hp

Torque: 560Nm

Price: Dh234,000 - Dh329,000

On sale: now

COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dooda%20Solutions%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Lebanon%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounder%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENada%20Ghanem%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20AgriTech%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETotal%20funding%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%24300%2C000%20in%20equity-free%20funding%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2011%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
How to wear a kandura

Dos

  • Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion 
  • Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
  • Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work 
  • Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester

Don’ts 

  • Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal 
  • Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying

THE SPECS

Engine: 4.4-litre V8

Transmission: Automatic

Power: 530bhp 

Torque: 750Nm 

Price: Dh535,000

On sale: Now

Updated: August 31, 2022, 3:15 AM
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