Schools mark National Day with shows

Dubai/Ras Al Khaimah: UAE culture and heritage came alive in Dubai's school campuses on Wednesday as students celebrated the UAE national day, which falls on December 2.

As the schools close for Eid holidays from Thursday, most of them had organised special programmes and activities in commemoration of the 38th National Day.

Children came to school dressed in the national costumes — dishdasha and abayas — and the campuses resonated with the singing of UAE national anthem.

The Jumeirah English Speaking School (JESS) in Arabian Ranches had organised a special assembly and students and teachers clad in national costume transformed the campus into an Arabic community.

Children from grade 5 staged a play where they showed a UAE family explaining the culture and traditions of the country to a visiting western family by taking them around to places of historic and cultural significance.

Heritage

"Students did it as a project during this term, they were learning about the local traditions and heritage of the UAE by visiting Bastakia, Islamic calligraphy exhibitions, Jumeirah mosque etc," said Ann Jones, Head of Primary at JESS.

Prakahar Dayal, a grade 5 student said he was so excited to go to school wearing a dishdasha. "It was so much fun. I also participated in the Arabic dance and I did say a couple of lines in Arabic on the stage," said Dayal.

The Greenfield community school in Greens also had both their students and teachers dressed up like UAE nationals as part of their celebrations.

"We celebrated the school spirit week and as part of that, today all of our 500 students gathered around our flag post and sang the national anthem. We also had our students performing Arabic dances," said Lesley Stagg, an official from the school.

Arabian Resources LLC, an event organising house in Dubai organised an Inter-school quiz competition for students at Al Mulla Plaza yesterday. The questions were based on UAE history and culture.

In Ras Al Khaimah, Hundreds of European, American and other expatriates from around the world attended the day-long activities at the Ras Al Khaimah English Speaking School (RAKESS-PYP) organised to mark the 38th National Day.

Guidelines for decorating cars

The Traffic and Patrols Department of Abu Dhabi Police has decided to allow motorists to express their happiness at the 38th National Day by decorating their cars with pictures and flags.

Drivers were also allowed to celebrate in a way that does not block traffic on city roads and highways, between December 1 and 4.

Colonel Hamad Adeel Al Shamesi, Director of the department, said decorating cars is allowed provided the decorations do not cover the whole car, which reduces visibility. Windshields, windows and lights should not be covered, and writing of any offensive or irreverent phrases is banned.

With inputs from WAM