Delivered on

PRIZE DAY
25th November 2009

Ladies and gentlemen, distinguished guests, parents and well-wishers of the school,  it is my pleasure and privilege on behalf of Mr Sunny Varkey, the Chairman of GEMS, the Global Educational Managements Systems, and the staff and students of Our Own English High School, to welcome you to our school on the occasion of our Senior School Prize Day. 

It gives me particular pleasure to  express our collective appreciation to Sheikh Abdulla bin Hamad al Sharqui  for consenting to grace this occasion with his presence and to officiate as Chief Guest this evening.  Thank you, Sir.  We consider ourselves particularly blessed and privileged to have had our new extension building formally inaugurated by you this evening as well.  Please accept a token of our gratitude and respect.

This is perhaps the appropriate occasion to  place on record our gratitude  to the Varkey family, especially Mr Sunny Varkey, Founder and Chairman of the GEMS group of schools, for his support, leadership and vision in bringing quality education to this part of the UAE.  It is a mark of his faith and belief in our efforts here in Fujairah that has led to him sanctioning – after a wait of many years, the new extension building which has just been formally inaugurated.  This  has been a long-cherished dream and its fulfilment fills all of us with gratitude and pride not the least among whom are the teachers and children of the Primary school who have been relocated from the unsatisfactory wooden porta cabins in to a regular school building.  

It is customary on the occasion of our Annual Awards day for the Principal to deliver a report on the progress of the school during the past academic year.

I know many in the audience this evening - parents particularly -  are anxious to watch the children perform in the variety programme that follows, but may I ask you to bear with me while I fulfil this necessary commitment.

The primary focus of this evening’s proceedings is to celebrate the academic accomplishments of our young scholars of the senior school during the academic year of 2008-09 especially those who have distinguished themselves in the public examinations conducted by the CBSE of India and the IGCSE of the United Kingdom. 

I would like to congratulate all the students who will be coming  up on stage tonight to accept their academic awards.  Congratulations  also to their teachers and parents who have inspired and motivated them to excel. 

Let us also spare a moment this evening to acknowledge the efforts of other students whose sincerity and dedication to their academic work has not been less than  that of the award winners, who have displayed progress and improvement in their academic work but have failed to achieve the standards that qualify them for public recognition tonight.  I am confident that with continued effort they will one day achieve the rewards they rightfully deserve. 

The performance of our senior students in important public examinations is often the highlight of the school academic year.  Staff, students and parents strive together to achieve a level of accomplishment in these examinations that will enable students to gain access to the best possible schools and colleges to further their education.  We are pleased with the performance of our young scholars in the examinations conducted in 2009 but recognize that there is scope to raise the level of achievement even higher. 

41 students ( 24boys and 17 girls) appeared  for the All India Secondary School Examinations for class ten conducted by the Central Board of Secondary Education, New Delhi, and all were successful.  The group achieved a  class average of 78%, an improvement of 4% over the class performance of 2008.  The overall average of all GEMS Asian schools in 2009 was 75%. 14.6% of the candidates scored above 90% as compared to 9.7 % in 2008.  The class averages in Malayalam and English were the highest among GEMS Asian schools. 

MOHAMMED NABEEL  achieved the highest overall average in the school: 93.6%.  He also scored the highest marks in Hindi (84%),  French (90%), Science (96%) and Social Science (99%).    ANJAN CHERIATH NAIR  stood first among the girls,  scoring 92.4 %.  SARA SHOWKATH ALI was awarded a certificate of merit by the CBSE for being among the top 0.1 % of successful candidates in Malayalam. For having scored  the best grade-point average in the class MAAZ AHMED was awarded the K. S. Varkey scholarship which involves a waiving of school tuition fees for two years.  To be eligible for the scholarship the student must continue his or her studies in this school in class eleven and twelve. Merit scholarships of 50% of tuition fees were awarded to 8 students who scored an overall average of 90% We are pleased that a greater number of our outstanding class ten students are choosing to continue  their higher secondary education  in our school. 

44 candidates appeared for the CBSE All India  Senior School Certificate Examination (Class Twelve) in March 2009, out of which 43 students were successful, achieving a class average of 74.3% which was an improvement of 6% over the class average of 2008. 
BEULAH SARAH JAMES  topped the school and the Science stream with 93.4% and RIHAN ALI  led  the Commerce stream with 88.4%. Beulah scored the highest marks in the school in   English Core (92%), Chemistry (93%), Physics ( 96%)  and Informatics Practice (97%).  Rihan Ali scored the highest in Business Studies ( 95%) and Entrepreneurship  (96%).  Nitika Goenka scored a commendable 99% in Mathematics.  The class averages in Informatics Practice and Physics were the highest among GEMS Asian schools

33 candidates from the Senior Five grade,  that is the year-11 batch, appeared for the IGCSE examinations conducted by the CAMBRIDGE INTERNATIONAL EXAMINATIONS across   June 2008 and 2009.  70% of these candidates achieved A*-C grades in five or more subjects including English and Mathematics.

ALAA BAHA ELDIN MUSTAFA ABDEL AZIZ topped the class with    7 A*     1 A  which were achieved in one sitting in June 2009.

ALAA HAMADA ABDEL WARETH HASSAN:     also scored 7  A*   and   1  A, but in two sittings:    2008 & 2009.   SABIQUE-UL-ISLAM and   RIM MAHMOUD  AHMED MAHMOUD SALLAM   both scored 6  A* .    

While we spare no effort to make it possible for our school leaving students to give of their very best in the public examinations, aware that their performance in these all-important examinations determines the course of their lives, we also continue striving to raise the standards of teaching and learning in the school as a whole.

In this ongoing endeavour I must point out how fortunate we are to be a part of the dynamic educational organisation of GEMS. 

Under the leadership and direction of the  Director of the GEMS Asian schools, Dr Farooq Wasil,  the community of GEMS Asian Schools works together in a collaborative way,  sharing a collective commitment to raising standards of teaching and learning across   all the Asian schools that are a part of its network.  Part of this involves teachers participating in continuous professional development programmes coordinated by GEMS.

With the support of Principals and teachers in the Asian schools and spearheaded by the Centre for Advancement of Standards in Examinations,  a program has been launched over the  past few years  to share best practices and to review and upgrade curriculums in all core subjects at all levels across the GEMS network of Asian Schools.  A committee has  also been set up to prepare a program to help us align ourselves with the innovations introduced by the CBSE with respect to the mode of assessment in classes nine and ten.  Schools are actively engaged in examining and implementing the new Continuous and Comprehensive Evaluation model for classes nine and ten introduced by the CBSE this year. These plans will be shared with parents very soon. Heads of  Asian schools meet twice a month to discuss issues relevant to all our schools and it is this constant interaction and sharing that ensures that all our schools benefit from the collective wisdom and experience that is the hallmark of GEMS schools.

GEMS is also committed to the introduction of computer aided instruction in all its schools and in keeping with this goal there has been a quantum leap in the provision of IT facilities in the school.
In keeping with the GEMS  focus on the holistic education  of children we strive to uncover and nurture the development of their potential and skills in non-academic areas as well.

Students are encouraged to participate in  a wide range of activities within the school and in the wider arena of inter-school contests.  There are limited opportunities for children to compete in such avtivities in Fujairah, though we acknowedge here the efforts of the Indian Social Club to fill this void.  However, despite the challenges in time and logistics we try to send our talented youngsters out to participate in events organised by GEMS and other schools in neighbouring emirates, including Dubai.  Elocution, debating, drama, art, creative writing, music, United Nations Simulation exercises, and an assortment of sporting events are some of the contests that our students have competed in over the year with varying degrees of success.  However all participants have gained an enormous amount of experience and exposure to a high standard of competition in these events has served to enhance their confidence and self-esteem.  Some of our participants deserve recognition for their achievements in highly competitive scenarios.

Krishna Biju Nair of class one finished among the top five contestants in her group in the K.S.Varkey Inter-school elocution contest for girls organized by Our Own English High School Dubai. The children of the primary school  were impressive at  annual singing competition organised by the Kindergarten StartersSchool dubai .  At the UAE cluster badminton tournament organized by the CBSE  Ritwik Sujith Nambiar of 5b and Aftab Ahmed Ansari of 4a finished a creditable 2nd in the under 14 division.  Closer to home we swept almost all the significant prizes for the seconc consecutive year at the inter school childrens festival organized by the Indian Social Club Fujairah

I must point out that participation in these inter-school events is a great challenge in more ways than one, not the least being the amount of time and energy that is spent in traveling to Dubai and Sharjah to participate in them.  I record my appreciation to the parents of these students who support their children in these endeavours, not allowing the demands of syllabus and tests/examinations to deprive them of the opportunity to grow in skill and self-esteem.  

Thanks are also due to the teachers who sacrifice personal family time to train the students and to escort them to and from the competition venues. We are not fortunate enough to have professionally trained experts to assist our children in the honing of their co-curricular skills. So whatever is being achieved in these areas – and you will witness some of this talent in the programme that follows the award ceremony this evening – is thanks to the enthusiasm and commitment of interested teachers. 

There has been an increased consciouness in environmental issues among our students and students of our senior classes  need to be particularly appreciated for their pro-activeness in this area.   We are  institutional members of the Emirates Environmental Group and with their help we are able  to involve our students in a number of useful environmental programmes in the coming months. 

We are the only school in Fujairah to have a recycling centre, with the help of the EEG.  Teachers and staff have attended and participated in workshops and seminars on environmental issues organized by the EEG and have gained valuable knowledge in the process.  The school participates enthusiastically in various programmes organized by the EEG such as the can collection drives and clean-up  campaigns. We hope such involvement  will instill in our students a greater awareness of the larger issues that are confronting  the world today and prepare them for their role as future citizens of the world. 

GEMS recognises the importance of women on the world stage and makes a public statement of this commitment each year by awarding one outstanding girl student from each of the GEMS schools with the prestigious SHEIKHA FATIMA BINT MUBARAK AWARD FOR ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE at a special ceremony conducted in Dubai.  The award was  instituted four  years ago  and celebrates girls who have demonstrated exceptional academic achievement,  personify the values of world citizenship and demonstrate a concern for the environment.  In 2009 Priyanka    was selected by her teachers for this award and we hope it will inspire her to strive for higher standards of academic excellence as well as a greater concern for the world and the environment. 

We are fortunate that the parents of most of our children share and endorse our efforts and values and this is perhaps the appropriate place to express our appreciation to all  parents  who stand by  us in our efforts to bring out the best in the children you have entrusted to our care.  We know that in choosing to send your children to this school you are expressing your trust and confidence in us and we are committed to living up to your expectations.  We value your suggestions and advice and we seek your understanding and cooperation if we sometimes fall short of the ideal.  We look upon you as partners and collaborators in this venture of education and we are confident that with your continued support and encouragement we will, together, build a great future for your children.

I would like to take this opportunity to express my appreciation to all those who extend friendship to the school.   Our special gratitude to our sponsor, His Highness, the Deputy Ruler of Fujairah, for his patronage and blessings.  To the officials at the Ministry of Education, our special thanks for the support and guidance we receive throughout the academic year. 

I would like to  express heartfelt appreciation to the dedicated staff of this institution and this includes members of the teaching faculty, led by the Supervisors, Mr Mohandas in the senior section and Mrs P Davids who takes care of the Primary School. We have honoured in a special way tonight four teachers who have displayed exceptional loyalty and dedication in the pursuit of their responsibilities. Mr D. B. Singh, Mrs Rubina Sujayan,  Mrs Suja Abraham and Mrs Sara Mohandhas are this years recipients of the   “teacher of the year award”  which is a modest attempt to appreciate the efforts of those staff who go beyond the call of duty to express their love for and loyalty to the school. This will be an annual award.  We also recognise two members of the staff, Mrs Sara James and Mr Denzil D’Cruz who have served the school for 20 years.

We also express appreciation to members of the Administrative Staff and our hard-working support staff whose efforts behind the scenes are sometimes overlooked but deserve acknowlegement and appreciation.  Special thanks to all the staff and students who have worked tirelessly – in addition to all regular duties - to prepare this evening’s programme.

As we march ahead into the 22nd year of our existence we continue to work on a school development plan which will  incorporate the CORE GEMS VALUES of  WORLD CITIZENSHIP, UNIVERSAL VALUES, LEADERSHIP QUALITIES AND  FORWARD THINKING  and which we will try to implement in the months and years ahead.  We are confident that with dedicated teachers, motivated students, supportive parents and the blessings of the Almighty we will continue to achieve greater all-round  excellence.

Thank you for enduring this long report with patience.  May I once again, on behalf of the entire Our Own Fujairah family extend to all our friends our very best wishes on the occasion of Eid and our National Day.