Coronavirus: Abu Dhabi high school pupils 'in it together' on return to classroom


Haneen Dajani
  • English
  • Arabic

Senior pupils at an Abu Dhabi school took on a leadership role to support fellow learners on their first day back in the classroom for six months.

British School Al Khubairat will welcome back hundreds of secondary grade pupils this week as part of a staggered return to in-person lessons, after months at home due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Year 12 pupils filed through the corridors once more on Monday, with Year 10 back on Tuesday, Year 11 on Wednesday and Year 13 on Thursday.

Vedant Kahanna, head boy of the school, was one of a number of year 13 prefects to come back early on Monday to join teachers in guiding younger pupils around their new environment.

This is our last year at BSAK. Hopefully we can get a prom

In addition to the need for masks to be worn at all times, stickers and traffic cones have been placed all over the school to create separate paths for people walking in different directions.

The system will aid physical distancing measures and prevent overcrowding during the school day, but Vedant admitted it will take a little time to get used to.

“I ended up at a point where all the arrows were pointing on me so I got stuck and had to jump,” said the year 13 pupil from India.

“But once I spend a day around here, it shouldn’t be difficult.”

“We came here to make year 12's transition smoother and to show the new people around, and to make sure the one-way system is being followed.”

Vedant said the school felt like “a new place”, but he was happy to be back and was looking forward to meeting his classmates on Thursday.

“It is nice to see those people who you were only seeing on the screen all the time,” he said.

He said he found attending classes from home more convenient, but he missed the “human interaction”.

“The first thing I want to do on Thursday when I see my friends, we can’t meet up properly for social distancing, so I guess we will just tap feet.”

He said he had no fear or worries of returning back to school as “the excitement overrode any kind of fear”.

Tens of thousands of pupils are also heading back to school in Sharjah this week as part of nationwide efforts to ease Covid-19 restrictions.

Amelie Yazdabadi, head girl, said she was also glad to be back, “even if it meant following the one-way traffic system” in the corridors.

She reflected back on the last day at school in early March.

“It was World Book Day, and everyone had to come as a book character; I did Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,” said the 17-year-old Briton.

“It was really a fun last day. And during our last session, we played Pictionary.”

She said they did not know it was going to be their last day at school for months to come.

“At first they told us it will be two weeks [of studying from home], and we really thought it was going to be just two weeks.”

The year 13 pupil said it would be difficult to get used to the new rules but she was happy to return to school.

“This is our last year at BSAK. It is a time when you really make those friendship groups, but with social distancing and not being able to sit together in a big group and no parties it won’t be the same," she said.

“Hopefully we can get a prom.”

Mark Leppard, headmaster at the school, was on hand as the Year 12 pupils arrived for lessons.

About 87 per cent of pupils chose to come back to school, with the rest decided to continue learning from home,

“Some are feeling vulnerable and some are still nervous,” said Mr Leppard.

In secondary, 500 out of 920 are returning this week.

He said he was confident that pupils will abide by Covid-19 rules.

“The students want to be in school. We’ve sent a lot of messages to them that we’re all in this together, and we want to stay open so if we stick to the rules we can do it,” he said.

Stage 2

1. Mathieu van der Poel (NED) Alpecin-Fenix 4:18:30

2. Tadej Pogacar (SLV) UAE Team Emirates 0:00:06

3.  Primoz Roglic (SLV) Jumbo-Visma 0:00:06

4. Wilco Kelderman (NED) Bora-Hansgrohe 0:00:06

5. Julian Alaphilippe (FRA) Deceuninck-QuickStep 0:00:08

The specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo

Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm

Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm

Transmission: 9-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh117,059

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Dust and sand storms compared

Sand storm

  • Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
  • Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
  • Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
  • Travel distance: Limited 
  • Source: Open desert areas with strong winds

Dust storm

  • Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
  • Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
  • Duration: Can linger for days
  • Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
  • Source: Can be carried from distant regions
if you go

The flights

Air Astana flies direct from Dubai to Almaty from Dh2,440 per person return, and to Astana (via Almaty) from Dh2,930 return, both including taxes. 

The hotels

Rooms at the Ritz-Carlton Almaty cost from Dh1,944 per night including taxes; and in Astana the new Ritz-Carlton Astana (www.marriott) costs from Dh1,325; alternatively, the new St Regis Astana costs from Dh1,458 per night including taxes. 

When to visit

March-May and September-November

Visas

Citizens of many countries, including the UAE do not need a visa to enter Kazakhstan for up to 30 days. Contact the nearest Kazakhstan embassy or consulate.

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3. Hajj 

4. Shahada 

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Date started: July 2020

Founders: Omar and Humaid Alzaabi

Based: Abu Dhabi

Sector: HealthTech

# of staff: 10

Funding to date: Self-funded

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Stars: Suriya, Bobby Deol, Disha Patani, Yogi Babu, Redin Kingsley
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Investing success often hinges on discipline and perspective. As markets fluctuate, remember these guiding principles:
  • Stay invested: Time in the market, not timing the market, is critical to long-term gains.
  • Rational thinking: Breathe and avoid emotional decision-making; let logic and planning guide your actions.
  • Strategic patience: Understand why you’re investing and allow time for your strategies to unfold.
 
 
UAE v Gibraltar

What: International friendly

When: 7pm kick off

Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City

Admission: Free

Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page

UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)

The National's picks

4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young

Key figures in the life of the fort

Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.

Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.

Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.

Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.

Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.

Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate's increasing prominence.

Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.

Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (ruled 1966-2004) Moved the royal residence to Al Manhal palace and kept his diwan at Qasr Al Hosn.

Sources: Jayanti Maitra, www.adach.ae

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Tributes from the UAE's personal finance community

• Sebastien Aguilar, who heads SimplyFI.org, a non-profit community where people learn to invest Bogleheads’ style

“It is thanks to Jack Bogle’s work that this community exists and thanks to his work that many investors now get the full benefits of long term, buy and hold stock market investing.

Compared to the industry, investing using the common sense approach of a Boglehead saves a lot in costs and guarantees higher returns than the average actively managed fund over the long term. 

From a personal perspective, learning how to invest using Bogle’s approach was a turning point in my life. I quickly realised there was no point chasing returns and paying expensive advisers or platforms. Once money is taken care off, you can work on what truly matters, such as family, relationships or other projects. I owe Jack Bogle for that.”

• Sam Instone, director of financial advisory firm AES International

"Thought to have saved investors over a trillion dollars, Jack Bogle’s ideas truly changed the way the world invests. Shaped by his own personal experiences, his philosophy and basic rules for investors challenged the status quo of a self-interested global industry and eventually prevailed.  Loathed by many big companies and commission-driven salespeople, he has transformed the way well-informed investors and professional advisers make decisions."

• Demos Kyprianou, a board member of SimplyFI.org

"Jack Bogle for me was a rebel, a revolutionary who changed the industry and gave the little guy like me, a chance. He was also a mentor who inspired me to take the leap and take control of my own finances."

• Steve Cronin, founder of DeadSimpleSaving.com

"Obsessed with reducing fees, Jack Bogle structured Vanguard to be owned by its clients – that way the priority would be fee minimisation for clients rather than profit maximisation for the company.

His real gift to us has been the ability to invest in the stock market (buy and hold for the long term) rather than be forced to speculate (try to make profits in the shorter term) or even worse have others speculate on our behalf.

Bogle has given countless investors the ability to get on with their life while growing their wealth in the background as fast as possible. The Financial Independence movement would barely exist without this."

• Zach Holz, who blogs about financial independence at The Happiest Teacher

"Jack Bogle was one of the greatest forces for wealth democratisation the world has ever seen.  He allowed people a way to be free from the parasitical "financial advisers" whose only real concern are the fat fees they get from selling you over-complicated "products" that have caused millions of people all around the world real harm.”

• Tuan Phan, a board member of SimplyFI.org

"In an industry that’s synonymous with greed, Jack Bogle was a lone wolf, swimming against the tide. When others were incentivised to enrich themselves, he stood by the ‘fiduciary’ standard – something that is badly needed in the financial industry of the UAE."