Dear Parents and Friends of Clarion,

As we move into the month of May, we have noticed a steady rise in temperatures. Since, the safety of our students is our top priority, we will be closely monitoring the weather conditions and may soon have to move to an indoor recess to ensure student safety.

The school year has rushed by and as of Monday, May 15 we have 31 school days remaining in this academic year.

1. Best American School Award –

We are pleased to share that Clarion School has been shortlisted for the esteemed Top Schools Award in the category of Best American School in the United Arab Emirates for the academic year 2023-2024. It is an honor to be acknowledged for our hard work and accomplishments among other reputable educational institutions.

Our heartfelt appreciation goes out to the entire Clarion community for their steadfast encouragement and support, which have been instrumental in this notable accomplishment.

2. Clarion Canteen and Multi-purpose Hall –

Our new Multi-purpose Hall and canteen have been launched and have received an overwhelmingly positive response. These spaces were thoughtfully designed to provide a welcoming atmosphere for various events and activities, and we are delighted to share that they have been a great success in their first week of operation.

While the official opening ceremony was initially planned for this week, we have decided to move it to the following week. We will inform our parents of the exact date shortly and we look forward to celebrating this occasion with everyone.

3. Clarion Coffee Morning –

We invite our parents to join us for a relaxed coffee morning on Wednesday, May 17 at 8:15 AM at Clarion School. This will provide an informal occasion for parents to engage with our Senior Leadership Team while enjoying a cup of coffee and chatting about various topics.

Please click on RSVP link to confirm your attendance - https://forms.office.com/r/ qnuFA6R6Rk

4. Clarion Recycling Center –

The Dubai Municipality has requested the relocation of our recycling center to a more accessible area near the 'Kiss and Drop' zone. We are currently collaborating with them to ensure that the center is moved to a suitable location.

We will keep our Clarion community informed about the new location of the recycling center as soon as it is confirmed.

5. MAP Testing –

We will be conducting MAP testing for our students, which will take place over two weeks, starting from Monday, May 22. In the event that a student misses the initial testing session, a make-up session will be arranged. Additionally, if a student is unable to perform to their fullest potential during the first test, they will be given the opportunity to participate in a retest.

At Clarion, we value the importance of providing every student with the opportunity to showcase their knowledge and abilities, and we are committed to ensuring their success.

6. Clarion Commons –

We sincerely would like to thank Ms. Juliana Khalil for her informative session on learning spoken Arabic through mind mapping. Her one-hour presentation captivated our Clarion community, with participants actively engaged in the exercises she provided.

We appreciate Ms. Khalil's valuable contribution to our learning community and look forward to more opportunities to collaborate with her in the future.

7. Middlesex University Student Teachers –

Our Middlesex University student teachers have successfully completed their first week at Clarion. They demonstrated enthusiasm and dedication while engaging with our PreK to Grade 2 learners, expertly managing classrooms and leading various activities such as read-alouds and real-life math exercises in small groups of students, during break times and on field trips.

One of the most impactful contributions made by our student teachers was providing support to very young children who are new to English by providing simple translations in Arabic and French. This was a highlight of their week and greatly appreciated by both the children and our teaching staff.

We are grateful to have these passionate and skilled educators as a part of our Clarion community, and we look forward to the positive impact they will continue to make throughout their time with us.

8. Student Attendance and Lates Reminders –

1. KHDA will be assessing our student attendance for Term 3 when they return for their inspection in October of next year. Please ensure your children are attending school and arriving punctually. We need to ensure our Term 3 attendance is at least 95%.

2. Term 3 is a short term with only 31 school days remaining before the last day of school on June 26. Students will be writing the final MAP assessments starting, May 22 so every school day is critical to ensure our students are best prepared.

3. Please notify Poonam at pkadam@clarionschool.com if your child is absent due to illness or a medical appointment.

4. Please obtain a late slip from the Atrium if your child arrives after 8:00 AM prior to going to class.

Attendance Facts –

Research shows that missing 10 percent of the school, or about 18 school days, negatively affects a student’s academic performance.That’s just two days a month and that’s known as chronic absence.

Student absence for the reason of holiday travel is not considered an excused absence as per KHDA guidelines.

Please note that all extended student leaves in excess of 3 days require the submission of a request form. The form is available from our Atrium area or through email: admin@clarionschool.com.

9. Student Re-registration for 2023-24 School Year –

We would like to remind our parents that the re-enrollment intent survey forms were sent out on Monday, May 1.

We urge parents who have not submitted the form, to do so without further delay, as information contained therein will assist in the smooth running of our admission process, and make more informed projections regarding staffing and room space.

You may contact Ms. Poonam at pkadam@clarionschool.com if you have not received the link to the form.

10. Clarion Sports –

Congratulations to the Under 9, Under 11, and Under 13 Swim Squad teams for their outstanding participation in the Dubai School Games held at Hamdan Sports Complex last Tuesday, May 9 and Wednesday, May 10.

We are immensely proud of their impressive progress and exceptional performance, showcasing their skills in various categories such as 50m Freestyle, Backstroke, Breaststroke, Butterfly, and relays.

Next Week –

Monday, May 15 - DASSA: Under 12-Under 13 Basketball Team is playing against King’s Nad Al Sheba.

Thursday, May 18 - DASSA: Under 8-Under 11 Swim Squad is taking part in the Hamdan Qualifier at Universal American School.

TRAININGS IN TERM 3 (with Ms. Narsisa and Mr. Antony)

Grade 2 - Grade 7 - Swim Squad: Mondays and Wednesdays 7:00 AM.

Grade 2 - Grade 4 - Boys Basketball Training: Tuesday 7:00 AM in the new Multi- purpose Hall.

Grade 2 - Grade 4 - Girls Basketball Training: Thursday 7:00 AM in the new Multi- purpose Hall.

Grade 4 - Grade 7 - Girls and Boys Badminton Training: Thursdays 3:00 PM in the new Multi-purpose Hall.

Sincerely,

Larry