High School Academic Departments
Art
Felicity Prazak
Email: prazakf@eischools.ae
The Art Department aims to give students the opportunity and ability to communicate in visually. The staff is committed to provide the students with varied experiences of Art and Design practices.the students have the opportunity to develop skills in Drawing, Sculpture, Painting and Mixed Media.
At EIS-Meadows, we follow the IB Middle Years Programme in grades 7, 8 and 9, the GCSE syllabus in grades 10 and 11, and the IBDP Curriculum in Grades 12 and 13.
The GCSE/Art and Design aims are:
- Develop every student's creative and imaginative powers.
- Encourage students to adopt an independent approach to organise and execute work.
- Encourage pupils to gather resources to inspire and inform their own art creation.
- Give pupils insight into different cultures and traditions inspiring and informing their own artwork.
The IBDP/Visual Arts aims are::
- Provide students with the opportunity to make personal sociocultural and aesthetic experiences meaningful through the production understanding of Art.
- Promote visual and contextual knowledge of art from various cultural, historical and contemporary art forms.
- Encourage the pursuit of quality through experimentation and purposeful creative work in various expressive media.
- Encourage students to learn about themselves and others through individual and collaborative engagement with visual arts.
Arabic A
Taghreed Bustami
Email: bustamit@eischools.ae
The aim of teaching Arabic for native speakers is to support the Ministry of Education, IGCSE and IB programme goals by:
- Enabling students to understand and use the language they have studied in a wide context.
- Enabling students to study both the language structure and Arabic literature.
- Developing their knowledge and understanding of grammar.
- Developing their power of expression in both oral and written communication and to provide the opportunity to practicing and developing the skills involved in writing in various styles and situations.
Arabic B (For non native speakers)
Hanaan Khalaf
Email: khalafh@eischools.ae
In the Arabic B Department, East meets West with entertaining and advanced teaching techniques.
Learning the Arabic language is like opening a window onto Arabic culture and traditions - we aim to help students love and appreciate the language so they are able to communicate effectively and fluently in spoken and written Arabic.
Arabic is compulsory from KG1 to Grade 9. However, it becomes an optional subject for students from Grade 10 to 13, and they can choose between GCSE Arabic and Arabic as a new language.
English (including Drama)
Peter Banning
Email: banningp@eischools.ae
The English Department aims to improve English language skills as well as developing the ability of students to express themselves freely in the study of various literature texts.
The English Department aims at encouraging a sense of internationalism, which encourages students to respect and appreciate the practices of other cultures. Experiencing others' lives and cultures is both stimulating and rewarding for students.
English Literature and Language teaches students the art of analysing various texts - the purpose of this is to develop research skills and to encourage students to become active, independent learners. Through close analysis of all forms of literature and language, the English Department expects students to develop a deep and rich understanding of the English Language.
The Drama Department is instrumental in developing the creative and imaginative abilities of students. The course aims to encourage students to express their feelings and ideas freely. Students are expected to develop the ability to analyse various drama forms, develop an awareness of various dramatic contexts and understand drama within social, cultural and historical contexts.
Food Technology
Alan Kaid
Email: kaida@eischools.ae
Students will develop the understanding and skills necessary in the market driven food industry.
They will experiment with new product development and analyse consumer-buying behaviour.
Students will develop their practical skills through an investigation of the physical and chemical properties and the functional nature of foods and will also study the impact of hygiene and safety issues on food preparation and service.
Humanities
Mark Whitehead
Email: whiteheadm@eischools.ae
As the school has students from over 60 different countries, the emphasis in the Humanities Department is to analyse information from a global perspective.
In Geography, students are encouraged to develop an understanding of some of the issues confronting the global society, as well as developing a sense of place and awareness of the ways in which people and environments interact, and the importance of sustainable development in the 21st Century.
In Business Studies and Accounting we try to instill in the students the need for accountability and ethical responsibility in the global business environment, while also giving them an understanding of the dynamics of global business activity.
In History, students acquire knowledge and understanding of selected periods or aspects of the past, to help them analyse and evaluate how and why events and situations have been interpreted and represented.
In Economics, students are encouraged to develop a global perspective while also understanding the importance of local issues that affect them. They are taught with the view of being able to participate effectively as citizens, producers and consumers in the global community, while focusing on the important issue of scarcity and resource allocation.
The Humanities Department also fosters an environmental awareness among the students and encourages the students to be involved in various community organisations that deal with certain issues affecting the local environment, such as recycling projects.
Information Technology
Anand Kokatnur
Email: kokatnura@eischools.ae
The role of the ICT Department is to provide resources and training in Information Communications Technology for every member of the school community.
We offer a wide variety of courses to those who want to specialise in the study of computers in order to keep abreast with constant technological changes.
ICT is dynamic and therefore must depict the current changes if students are going to be e-confident.
Students are equipped with the skills to use ICT as a tool for learning, as well as how to adapt quickly and safely to new ways of learning as they emerge.
The department uses a selection of hardware and software available including a digital video camera with Pinnacle Studio video editing software, Ulead PhotoImpact graphics software, Microsoft Front Page and Macromedia MX web authoring software. The ICT department uses Visual Basic and Java for the programming courses. Pupils are encouraged to create their own web pages and multimedia presentations.
Most lessons are practical, meaning that students develop and combine practical and theoretical strands.
In addition to developing a very wide range of practical skills, students analyse, design, implement, test and evaluate ICT solutions to situations of interest to themselves and to tasks set by the examining board as part of their assessed coursework in upper school.
We develop learners' ability to use ICT effectively and safely in all areas of their learning, promote the innovative and positive use of ICT systems and applications, develop awareness of the scope of ICT applications and how best to use ICT as a tool for enquiry, and develop a sense of creativity using software and sharing new ideas.
Islamic Studies
Shaadi Tarawneh
Email: tarawnehs@eischools.ae
The Islamic Studies Department aims to help children grow into responsible mature students with Islamic values.
We hope some of the ideals, images will help students achieve appropriate manners, high morals and awareness of the various aspects of the subject.
The Department is supported by well qualified staff members trained to use modern educational tools, leading students to obtain the best knowledge and understanding of the Islam faith and to nurture their growth in the Islamic way of life.
In accordance with the directives of the Ministry of Education (MOE), Islamic Studies is compulsory for all Muslim students through to Year 12.
We also provide study opportunity for Arabic speaking students to study Islamic Studies in Arabic. The MOE syllabus starts from Grade 1 and goes up to Grade 12. Islamic Studies in English is also available for non-Native speakers from Grade1 up to Grade 9 Students in Grades 10 & 11 follow the GCSE programme. In the IB years 'History of Islam' is offered as a humanities course. Together, these courses provide a sense of achievement, knowledge, understanding and self-respect to all students.
Mathematics
Christine Ferguson
Email: fergusonc@eischools.ae
We offer the Middle Years Programme in Grades 7 to 9, followed by Edexcel IGCSE and IBDP courses that can be tailored to diverse student needs.
We believe that Mathematics plays an important role to the development of young minds. Our foremost concern is that they become independent quantitative thinkers.
Modern Languages
Fatiha Benzaza
Email: benzazaf@eischools.ae
French, German and Spanish are taught as foreign languages by a team of dedicated teachers.
Students from Grade 5 start learning French. Spanish and German are available from Grade 7. They progressively gain knowledge and skills to communicate in a variety of daily life situations. They are also made aware of the French or Spanish cultural and social environments.
Grades 10 and 11 are an important stage for our students as they embark on I/GCSE programmes.
From Grade 12 students can advance their knowledge of French or Spanish under the IBDP programme.
In addition we offer those students who wish to measure their French proficiency by taking the DELF examination which is one of the official French Examinations offered by the French Ministry of Education.
Music
Dan Pardy
Email: pardyd@eischools.ae
Physical Education
Dominic Mann
Email: mannd@eischools.ae
In the PE department we aim to develop our students' skills knowledge and understanding in a range of physical activities that allow them to perform with increasing competence and confidence in all activities.
We aim to promote physical activity in an enjoyable manner and to include all students, whatever their ability.
Students will gain an appreciation of their bodies in action and also become more able to make choices that promote a healthy lifestyle (in and out of the school environment) and also in future years.
We consider sportsmanship and honesty very important, and promote these at all times alongside team spirit and co-operation with others.
Within the school curriculum, students will get a chance to partake in Netball, Football, Swimming, Athletics, Cross Country, Health Related Fitness, Volleyball, Rounders, Basketball and Rugby, some of which are entered into the local schools league.
We also promote a wide range of extra-curricular activities alongside our regular PE programme, with clubs such as running, diving, table tennis, badminton, dance, ballet, hockey, swim/run and cricket.
The PE Department also looks further afield to broaden the students all-round education with trips to Switzerland (skiing) and Fujairah (Outdoor Education camp).
Science
Kabganian Jaleh
Email: kabganianj@eischools.ae
The High School's Science programme amalgamates scientific facts and theory with experimentation.
The integration and application of technology throughout high school science courses allows students to collect, organise, analyse and interpret real-time data; conduct research; design science experiments, and explore scientific concepts through simulation and application software.
We provide a dynamic, specialised learning environment for students with high ability, aptitude, and interest in science and technology. The curriculum is comprehensive and challenging.
In Year 10 and 11 (IGCSE) we follow the science double award (Edexcel) using the Longman Physics, Biology, and Chemistry text book series.
In year 12 we offer the IB diploma programme in Physics, Biology and Chemistry.
ESL / Learning Support
Debbie Qudsiyeh
Email: qudsiyehd@eischools.ae
As students progress into the high school, structured ESL and Learning Support lessons are offered to those who require more individualised attention. These lessons take place during either a student's Arabic or French class.
The Learning Support department assists students who have diagnosed learning or behavioural difficulties.
Students either come to specialised lessons to enhance their learning, or the support can take place in the regular classroom.
The ESL department focuses on the skills (reading, writing, listening and speaking), grammar and vocabulary of the English language. Lessons vary between these topics to ensure the student is engaged and motivated to improve their linguistic abilities.
Ongoing assessments are made on a regular basis and those students deemed to have made significant improvements and are ready to work independently in class are returned to their regular classes.
Approval for ESL and LS support originates from the student's English Language teacher and a final assessment is made by the school's Principal, with assistance from the respective ESL and Learning Support staff.