Last year's graduating pupils, the class of 2019, had a very different farewell ceremony to their juniors leaving school this month. 'Leavers' Day' is the last day of school for countless batches of teenagers across the world as they enter college, take a gap year or join the adult world of employment.
In the British School Al Khubairat (BSAK) in Abu Dhabi, it is the norm on Leavers' Day that a conspiratorial group of year-13 pupils busy themselves in a series of harmless pranks that they spend weeks planning – removing clocks from classrooms and placing them in the school foyer under a banner that reads: “where has all the time gone?”, wrapping clingfilm around indulgent teachers' arms, replacing the water in water coolers with orange juice, and so on.
As the day comes to an end, the pranks subside and the proceedings take on a more meaningful note. Each graduating pupil takes a solo, ceremonial last walk down the school stairs.
At the foot of the staircase, a crowd of pupils, teachers and proud parents cheer and clap. That is how the graduating class of year-13s says goodbye.
Things this year are different. For the class of 2020, the 'coronavirus graduates', these rites have been immeasurably altered. Around the world, the coronavirus pandemic has forced schools, colleges and universities to rethink commencements, proms and graduation ceremonies.
In the US, at the University of Michigan, May 2 was to be a day of caps and gowns and rousing speeches. However, back on March 13, a decision was taken to postpone the event with no future date specified. Since then, at least 88 other US colleges have either pulled the plug, delayed or are planning virtual ceremonies.
We might ask, what is all the fuss about? The pupils will still get their certificates and graduate.
A sense of belonging and of being valued by our institutions and societies is especially crucial at a time when our psychological well-being is threatened
Ceremonies, however, are about so much more. They carry immense psychological importance. They bring people together to mark milestones.
They can reflect our cultures, traditions, speak of who we are and where we fit. They are in fact an expression of social identity and collective belonging.
I still remember my old school song. I have a strange sense of loyalty and connection to my undergraduate college, my alma mater.
The ceremonies that took place at these institutions cemented years of memories.
A graduation ceremony is a rite of passage, a transition from childhood to adulthood. It is a dramatisation of a major life event and is typically witnessed by an adoring audience.
The passage conveys us from one standing in life to another; from schoolboy to college man, from student to graduate. After this transformation, we begin to view ourselves differently. Similarly, from that point on, the way our families and society views us is radically changed.
Traditional rites of passage have included hunting, fasting, periods of solitude and the memorisation of sacred texts. All of which would be followed by celebrations, should the initiate successfully pass through. Modern societies, however, have lost many of these ceremonies.
Our school and college graduation events are among the remaining few.
In his article called Rediscovering Rites of Passage, University of Calgary’s David Lertzman, writes: “Without proper rites of passage, people can become disoriented and lose their way on life’s journey”.
During the pandemic, we must not lose sight of ceremony and celebration. These are as important for our psychological health as vitamins and minerals are for our physical health.
A sense of belonging and of being valued by our institutions and societies is especially crucial at a time when our psychological well-being is threatened.
The pandemic has caused millions of us to grieve for lost loved ones. Millions have been anxious about infections and finances. People feel the strain of restrictions on movement.
Despite these challenges, we should not forget the occasions that deserve to be commemorated as these can also help us get through tough times.
One of my daughters is in the BSAK class of 2020, a coronavirus graduate. Understandably, many of her classmates are upset that they could not bid farewell to school with their friends in the way they would have liked.
They did not get to perform pranks on Leavers' Day and they felt deprived of the final dramatic descent down the school stairs.
There is talk among them of hosting the event at a future date but many will head off to universities around the world, which makes the prospect of a future traditional farewell unlikely.
As a gesture of compensation though and to help the year-13s celebrate their accomplishments, schools have made a commendable digital effort.
In the case of my daughter's school, they created a project called the “wave” where each pupil from the class of 2020 submitted a brief video clip of themselves waving.
The school's creative team then stitched these several individual clips into one video and played it over the song In My Life by the Beatles.
It is a stand-in for celebration and ceremony but given the restrictions enforced by the coronavirus, it is an all the more beautiful gesture. The clip ends with a virtual walk down those school stairs.
Justin Thomas is a psychology professor at Zayed University
Engine: 5.6-litre V8
Transmission: seven-speed automatic
Power: 400hp
Torque: 560Nm
Price: Dh234,000 - Dh329,000
On sale: now
The Bio
Favourite place in UAE: Al Rams pearling village
What one book should everyone read: Any book written before electricity was invented. When a writer willingly worked under candlelight, you know he/she had a real passion for their craft
Your favourite type of pearl: All of them. No pearl looks the same and each carries its own unique characteristics, like humans
Best time to swim in the sea: When there is enough light to see beneath the surface
Tips for SMEs to cope
- Adapt your business model. Make changes that are future-proof to the new normal
- Make sure you have an online presence
- Open communication with suppliers, especially if they are international. Look for local suppliers to avoid delivery delays
- Open communication with customers to see how they are coping and be flexible about extending terms, etc
Courtesy: Craig Moore, founder and CEO of Beehive, which provides term finance and working capital finance to SMEs. Only SMEs that have been trading for two years are eligible for funding from Beehive.
Ultra processed foods
- Carbonated drinks, sweet or savoury packaged snacks, confectionery, mass-produced packaged breads and buns
- margarines and spreads; cookies, biscuits, pastries, cakes, and cake mixes, breakfast cereals, cereal and energy bars;
- energy drinks, milk drinks, fruit yoghurts and fruit drinks, cocoa drinks, meat and chicken extracts and instant sauces
- infant formulas and follow-on milks, health and slimming products such as powdered or fortified meal and dish substitutes,
- many ready-to-heat products including pre-prepared pies and pasta and pizza dishes, poultry and fish nuggets and sticks, sausages, burgers, hot dogs, and other reconstituted meat products, powdered and packaged instant soups, noodles and desserts.
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The specs: 2018 Chevrolet Trailblazer
Price, base / as tested Dh99,000 / Dh132,000
Engine 3.6L V6
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Power 275hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque 350Nm @ 3,700rpm
Fuel economy combined 12.2L / 100km
Director: Laxman Utekar
Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna
Rating: 1/5
Financial considerations before buying a property
Buyers should try to pay as much in cash as possible for a property, limiting the mortgage value to as little as they can afford. This means they not only pay less in interest but their monthly costs are also reduced. Ideally, the monthly mortgage payment should not exceed 20 per cent of the purchaser’s total household income, says Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching.
“If it’s a rental property, plan for the property to have periods when it does not have a tenant. Ensure you have enough cash set aside to pay the mortgage and other costs during these periods, ideally at least six months,” she says.
Also, shop around for the best mortgage interest rate. Understand the terms and conditions, especially what happens after any introductory periods, Ms Glynn adds.
Using a good mortgage broker is worth the investment to obtain the best rate available for a buyer’s needs and circumstances. A good mortgage broker will help the buyer understand the terms and conditions of the mortgage and make the purchasing process efficient and easier.
MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – FINAL RECKONING
Director: Christopher McQuarrie
Starring: Tom Cruise, Hayley Atwell, Simon Pegg
Rating: 4/5
Mountain%20Boy
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The specs: 2019 Mercedes-Benz C200 Coupe
Price, base: Dh201,153
Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Power: 204hp @ 5,800rpm
Torque: 300Nm @ 1,600rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 6.7L / 100km
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The details
Colette
Director: Wash Westmoreland
Starring: Keira Knightley, Dominic West
Our take: 3/5
Scoreline
Bournemouth 2
Wilson 70', Ibe 74'
Arsenal 1
Bellerin 52'
Ammar 808:
Maghreb United
Sofyann Ben Youssef
Glitterbeat
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Sanju
Produced: Vidhu Vinod Chopra, Rajkumar Hirani
Director: Rajkumar Hirani
Cast: Ranbir Kapoor, Vicky Kaushal, Paresh Rawal, Anushka Sharma, Manish’s Koirala, Dia Mirza, Sonam Kapoor, Jim Sarbh, Boman Irani
Rating: 3.5 stars
What are the influencer academy modules?
- Mastery of audio-visual content creation.
- Cinematography, shots and movement.
- All aspects of post-production.
- Emerging technologies and VFX with AI and CGI.
- Understanding of marketing objectives and audience engagement.
- Tourism industry knowledge.
- Professional ethics.
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Qyubic
Started: October 2023
Founder: Namrata Raina
Based: Dubai
Sector: E-commerce
Current number of staff: 10
Investment stage: Pre-seed
Initial investment: Undisclosed
UAE rugby season
FIXTURES
West Asia Premiership
Dubai Hurricanes v Dubai Knights Eagles
Dubai Tigers v Bahrain
Jebel Ali Dragons v Abu Dhabi Harlequins
UAE Division 1
Dubai Sharks v Dubai Hurricanes II
Al Ain Amblers v Dubai Knights Eagles II
Dubai Tigers II v Abu Dhabi Saracens
Jebel Ali Dragons II v Abu Dhabi Harlequins II
Sharjah Wanderers v Dubai Exiles II
LAST SEASON
West Asia Premiership
Winners – Bahrain
Runners-up – Dubai Exiles
UAE Premiership
Winners – Abu Dhabi Harlequins
Runners-up – Jebel Ali Dragons
Dubai Rugby Sevens
Winners – Dubai Hurricanes
Runners-up – Abu Dhabi Harlequins
UAE Conference
Winners – Dubai Tigers
Runners-up – Al Ain Amblers
Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
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COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
'Ashkal'
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Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
The%20Killer
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The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
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)
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