Tag Archives: king edwards school

Melancholy Mode On…

Ever since I first arrived at King Edward’s School, one of the things I always did other than find opportunities for writing, art and languages was get involved with anything to do with drama, be it Drama Club, competitions…you name it! Eventually, I found the biggest outlet for my interest in theatre – the school’s Junior Production.

For two years in a row, I was part of the Junior Production, a joint project between the King Edward’s boys’ and King Edward’s girls’ school to put on a theatre production. A lot of people have compared it to West End London, but nestled right in Birmingham! The shows are always big scale, big on quality, and a great way to explore all the aspects of drama.

In my first year at KES, I acted in ‘Around The World In 80 Days’, a play about a man who is given a bet to travel across the globe in just 80 days. I played the Parsee, an elephant owner who helps the man complete part of the journey on the back of an elephant. Oh boy, I can still remember the amount of work it took for me to master the Indian accent…but I got there in the end! I also took part in a Bollywood dance routine – one of the roles that I am most famous for. On top of that, I played the extra role of a dancing octopus too! Yes, you read that right, I gladly took on the role of an eight-legged groovy sea creature!

The second year brought the play ‘An Awfully Big Adventure’, inspired by the story of Peter Pan. I was a grumpy old Park Keeper…who magically turned into a pirate on the trips to Neverland! This time around, not only did I have to practise a Northern pirate accent (an amalgamation of Scottish and Irish), but I also grew my hair out to sport a pirate look. Apart from chasing after Peter Pan, we also got the chance to show off our ‘beautiful singing voices’ with a few sea shanties. It seems there’s an ocean theme running through all of the productions, huh?

Unfortunately, with all the obstacles and restrictions that Covid-19 has brought, it was not possible to organise a Junior Production this year. This was a huge disappointment to everyone, since we were looking forward to this year’s production. My year group was especially saddened since this would have been our last year to experience the Junior Production – next year, we’d have to take part in the Senior Production, which has a much more serious and professional atmosphere.

But we weren’t going to let the coronavirus get in the way of things, and we were determined to have a production in some form! So instead, this year, we’re putting on individual plays for each year group. That way, we can enjoy the experience of a Junior Production, but still be safe in our own bubbles! The play we’re doing is called ‘The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, Aged 13 and 3/4″. Yep, very long title. But it’s a really interesting and funny play, and people in our age group can relate to it as well.

I’m playing Nigel, the best friend of Adrian Mole, the main character. We’re still in the early stages of rehearsal, but so far it’s turning out great. Yet again, we’ll have to put it on hold since we’re in isolation for two weeks now. But hopefully, everything will be back in action next month. Stay tuned to see what the finished product is like!

Melancholy mode on,

Mukhtar O. Mukhlis

#theomarmukhtar

p/s: Have you ever taken part in a play or theatre production?

My Parents, My Motivation!

My first half of the autumn term has come to an end and the holidays have begun. Alhamdulillah, all the results for my half term assessments were excellent – beyond my expectations! I am really pleased to be blessed by the Almighty with the endless opportunities to make my parents proud. Both Mr Dad and Mrs Mom have never forced me or put expectations on me. They are always happy with whatever achievement I get.

Since I was in primary school, whenever my parents attended a parent-teacher meeting to hear about my progress, the first thing they would ask is, how are my manners towards the teachers? How are my manners towards the other students at school? Am I being kind towards other people? And they would also ask to see whether or not I was happy at school. They clearly said that they were happy with whatever results I got, as long as I was respectful and enjoyed school. They never failed to remind me that although education is important, without manners, you are nothing!

Whenever I get my results, they ask me whether or not I’m happy with them. For them, if I’m happy, then they’re more than happy! The most important thing for them is my happiness. And it’s the same for me: the most important thing for me is my parents’ happiness. I’m happy to see them proud. I’m happy to see the smiles on their faces. And I’m happy to see that sparkle in their eyes – priceless!

This is why I always tell myself to work hard – my parents are my motivation! Although they have never forced me or pressured me with their expectations, they are the ones who drive me to try my hardest and reach for the stars. Seeing their proud faces makes all that hard work pay off, and I’m glad not just because of the good grades I brought home on that piece of paper, but to have brilliant parents who are there to both support me every step of the way and celebrate my success! May the Almighty reserve both Mr Dad and Mrs Mom the highest place in Jannatul Firdaus…Aameen

Blessed,

Omar Mukhtar

The Power Of A Teacher’s Words…

Alhamdulillah, I got another credit for my English homework! We were asked to analyse the opening sentences of a few thriller novels and explain what effect they have on the reader. This was actually a very interesting piece of work – it meant we could really go into depth of how different writing styles work.

Neither the actual task nor the credit is what I want to highlight, though. This is the comment that my English teacher wrote in response to my work. It’s one of the things that I especially value about how my teachers mark the students’ work – the effort they put into writing personalised comments for each piece of homework, regardless of what task it is or how well you do. They don’t just simply put a grade and a single ‘Well done’ at the end. Like here, there is one paragraph’s worth of feedback for a single piece of work.

For me, it’s these individual comments that give me the drive to keep trying hard for each task. Those comments, as unimportant as they may seem, are proof that the teachers actually care about our work and want us to do the best that we can. A single grade just alienates the student…but taking the time to write in-depth about our strengths and weaknesses (plus congratulating us!) forms a closer bond between the teacher and student – something that all of us, not just at King Edward’s School, but anywhere, should value!

Motivated,

Omar Mukhtar

I Found A Love In Fencing!

At King Edward’s School (KES), sports is considered one of the integral parts of school life. There are 18 different sports to choose from, and throughout every year, there’ll always be a minimum of one sports lesson plus a whole afternoon dedicated to sports every week.

When I first joined KES, I started out my sports lessons with Rugby – one of the most popular sports at KES. I was never really a fan of sports, but I thought that I might give it a try. I had never done rugby before, so I thought that maybe it would click with me. But after a few weeks of having a go at it, I decided that it wasn’t the sport for me.

So the next half-term, I switched to Hockey. Like Rugby, I didn’t know what to expect – this would be my first time playing. In the first few sessions, I found that I was better at hockey than I was at rugby, so I kept at it. However, this didn’t mean that it was necessarily the right sport for me, and I still didn’t enjoy it completely.

In my second year, I opted for Mixed Sports instead – this included things like basketball, volleyball, football, cricket, and a weekly session in the School’s very own fitness suite as well. Picking this option meant that I got a wider span across a lot of sports, and to be honest, it was more enjoyable than rugby and hockey. But still, something didn’t feel right.

This year, my third year at KES, brings to me the freedom to choose a lot of things. That doesn’t just include languages and creative subjects, but sports as well! There were 5 options to choose from – Rugby, Hockey, Swimming, Mixed Sports, and Fencing. I definitely didn’t want to do rugby and hockey again, and although mixed sports was better than the two, I wasn’t sure whether it would be the right choice for me. And as for swimming, it’s already part of the curriculum which is compulsory for all of us. So this year, after thinking it over for a while, I’ve decided to take fencing!

Fencing has been on my to-do list for a long while now, and finally, I have the chance to take it. At first, I was unsure of how I’d find it. But after having my first few fencing sessions and getting to grips with it – and even having my first couple of matches – it’s clear that this sport definitely clicks with me, which is quite surprising, considering that sport has never been at the top of my list before…but maybe fencing is the one to turn that around! I’m looking forward to progressing throughout the year and continuing on my fencing journey!

En garde,

Omar Mukhtar

p/s: That’s fencing terminology for “go!” – and the very first position you learn in fencing!

Linguistics Fanatic!

When I first joined King Edward’s School (KES), I had to learn two new languages – French and Latin. These languages were compulsory for everyone. I’m a linguistics fanatic, so I’ve been enjoying learning both French and Latin for the past two years.

This academic year (my third year in KES), we have the choice to pick an additional language to learn aside from French and Latin. We had a choice between German, Spanish, and Ancient Greek. Being a lover of anything to do with languages, I was torn between which one to choose. If it was up to me, I would have taken all of them! But my French teacher told me that since I was already learning French, modern languages like Spanish and German would be a bit too easy for me, and advised that I challenged myself.

So here I am, taking Ancient Greek! As expected, only a small percentage opted for Ancient Greek, and the rest picked modern languages. Not many chose Ancient Greek because learning it means having to get to grips with a whole new alphabet, plus a difficult grammar. But I’m glad to be part of that small percentage who have the opportunity to learn such a challenging language.

We’ve had a few lessons, and we’ve been mostly focussing on how the Greek alphabet works. But, I’ve already fallen in love with the language, and these first few lessons have been enough to tell me that I’ll enjoy it!

“Hypiaine”,

Omar Mukhtar

p/s: That’s Ancient Greek for “Goodbye”!

First Online Assembly In KES History!

Yesterday was officially the start of our summer term, and normally, we’d be back in school, enjoying the sun and the flowers in bloom. But this time around, we were all sat at home, ready to start another day of learning from home. The lockdown has meant that we all witnessed the first online assembly that has ever had to take place in the school’s history! This is pretty big, and it pretty much is all the proof needed to show how big of an impact the coronavirus has on all of us. But despite the difficulties we’ve been posed with, we’ve still managed to keep calm and carry on.

For the new term, a new timetable has been given to us, with longer periods and less lessons in a day. In my opinion, I think this is much better than having 8 different lessons each day, coz working from home is quite difficult in itself. Giving more time for learning each subject in-depth means that it becomes easier for us to take in information. For example, yesterday, we only had 3 subjects – Drama, Art, and French – with two 20-minute breaks and a 50-minute lunch in between. 

So far, it’s gone well, and we’ve all adapted to our new timetable. Plus, we’re all much more prepared thanks to the practice week we had before the holidays! Hopefully, it will all go as easily as yesterday has in the future…

Stay safe,

Omar Mukhtar

Back To School!

The Summer Holidays are finally over and it’s time to go back to school! So, I’ll be sharing with you guys all the latest updates about school in my new school vlog series. This is my first vlog, and I’ll be telling you all about the new school year and what changes there have been at school. Head over to our YouTube channel: The Family UK (link below) to watch the full vlog and hear all about my new curriculum, teachers and big events that I’m looking forward to. And of course, find out what the ICING ON THE CAKE at the end of the week was for me!

Happy new school year,

Omar Mukhtar

p/s: Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe! 😉

I’m Officially 13!

“Once upon a time, in the not-so-distant past, a blessing was sent from God to a couple, and they were warm and unbelievably kind to him. Despite the many challenges they faced, they did more than just take care of him; they cherished him and nurtured his talents! 

In fact, many of this boy’s achievements were only achieved because of the hours his parents spent with him to aid him. They were with him every step of the way – they enjoyed the ups and climbed out of the downs, and every single second, they enjoyed each others’ company.

Thirteen years – and a little brother and sister – later, the trio had become a, umm…five-o? 😅 And it was only with the UNBELIEVABLE  amount of help from his parents that he was admitted into his dream school and published his very first book!”

Does that story sound familiar? Yep, that little fairy tale is about me, and each little bit is 100% true! It may sound clichéd, but my parents are probably the most loving, caring and supportive parents in the WORLD, and trust me, there’s no way you could prove that statement wrong!

Dear Mrs Mom and Mr Dad,

It may be my 13th birthday, but it’s YOU both that deserve to be celebrated! Your love is beyond words, and you are always supportive of whatever I do. I mean, how else do I explain the time when I wanted to be a fisherman…and you both were all for it?! 😂

And that’s not all: when I wanted to write my first book, you made me believe that I could achieve anything! Mr Dad, you read (and reread!) my book COUNTLESS times and gave me feedback and ideas about what to include and tweak. Mrs Mom, you sat beside me from the start to finish and helped enormously, even though you were ill!

There’s physical proof of just how much you loved me – you’ve kept every little detail from each milestone in my life: things from as early as the pregnancy test to my first haircut!

Thank you both for always supporting me and believing in me. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to repay you! You’ve always been there for me, and I know you always will be. For my 13th birthday, I pray to God that He rewards you generously for how loving you have been towards me and reserves you the highest place in heaven! (And I don’t need any presents this year, coz they definitely won’t beat you!)

Your ever-grateful son,

Omar Mukhtar

My Golden Year of Shells

When I started KES, one of the first things I was introduced to was the Liber Aureus (Golden Book). Huh? The “Liber Aureus”? The GOLDEN BOOK? That was my initial reaction. But to my surprise (and possibly disappointment), this mysterious-sounding, famous, fancy Latin-named tome of legend was not a book constructed from pure, 24-karat gold – now that I think of it, that would be quite impractical.

Apparently, this Golden Book was one of the highest achievements in the school. If you did an exceptional piece of work (like, REALLY exceptional) or gained a certain amount of credits (the school point system), your name would be written down in the Golden Book, so your achievement would be remembered even years on from now. Getting an entry in the Golden Book was the one thing everybody in school worked towards, and soon, I too joined the race. 

Since then, I probably worked harder than I ever had. Like my classmates around me, I had the Golden Book in my sights. And so that was how I worked until December 2018, when I got my first Golden Book entry – a DOUBLE ENTRY too, if that wasn’t surprising enough. I couldn’t believe it! Up until then, being able to make my mark in the Golden Book seemed so out of reach to me. And here I was, holding the pen in my hand that would write down my name in the prestigious Golden Book! Little did I know that by the end of my first academic year, I would have a total of not 1, not 2, but 4 Golden Book entries, meaning that my name was carved into school history four times! What a great way to end the school year alongside my unexpected exam results! I don’t know how I did it, but it was indeed a miracle!

Alhamdulillah, I feel so blessed to earn such a great achievement. However, I cannot claim that this is just a product of my hard work. I would not have achieved this without my teachers. Their fruitful teachings have benefited me in countless ways, not just academically! My friends have also given me their support and encouragement. It’s true to say that a friend’s motivation is like no other!

Above all, a lot of the credit goes to my family, especially my parents, Mrs Mom and Mr Dad, without whom I would have never gotten this far. They are the ones who have been sacrificing a lot for me. Their unconditional love and endless support have motivated me to keep on working harder!

And how could I forget all of you wonderful people? You are our loving supporters! I may not know all of you, but your love, prayers, and kind words touch my heart. There is no way I could thank you all enough! May God shower you and your families with the best of blessings!

And of course, all praise is due to Allah, for He is the one who has seen all my struggles, and He is the one who has showered His endless blessings upon me. For now, all I can do is thank Allah and pray that next year will be as fruitful as this one.

I also know that somewhere, somehow, my Mamajee is watching over me. I just hope that I have done enough to make him proud of his nephew as he looks on. May Allah let us all be reunited in Jannah.

Last but not least, I would like to say goodbye to the Shells year. It has shaped me into the KES boy I am today!

Blessed,

Omar Mukhtar

40 Days Without Mamajee…

#DearMamajee,

It’s been 40 days since you left us, and those 40 days have been the most difficult for our family. I’ve been struggling to put my thoughts into words since you were gone. Yes, I finally lost it. Who would have thought that I, Omar Mukhtar, would meet a day when I couldn’t write? You took half of me away with you. I miss you, Mamajee. My sadness is beyond expression, though you may not see it. There’s no denying that I’m missing you so much. Like Fatimah, I wish I could talk to you again, just so I could hear your voice once again, even just for one minute. All I can do now, though, is pray that we are all reunited again in Jannah.

Mamajee, remember this day exactly one year ago – 28th June 2018? You were here with me to witness my dream of becoming a KES boy come true. It was my admission ceremony. I can still remember that proud look on your face. I’m glad that you were there to witness one of the most important days of my life. I’m glad that you were part of that memory. But I wish that you were still here to witness my achievements. I hope you are watching from above.

Mamajee, I promise that you will never be forgotten. I promise that you will always be part of us. I promise that I will keep on reminding Fatimah and Ali of how big your love was for all of us. Know that I’ll always love you, in this world and the next…

Your first nephew,

Omar Mukhtar

28th June 2019

p/s: Please kindly keep our beloved Mamajee in your prayers.