Girl Guiding for Life: My Patrol Leader Training Camp Experience

By : Aishath Aini Badhury - Dhivehi Club Vise President 

Camps organized under the Girl Guides movement serve as structured platforms for developing leadership, discipline, and resilience. These programs extend learning beyond the classroom, fostering responsibility, cooperation, and initiative within a supportive yet challenging environment.

Introduction to the Camp

In line with these objectives, the Patrol Leader Training Camp 2025 was held with the primary aim of equipping Girl Guides with essential leadership skills and practical knowledge to perform their roles effectively. The camp was originally scheduled in K. Huraa; however, due to unforeseen weather conditions, it was relocated to Farukolhufushi, Hulhumalé. Conducted from 31st July to 3rd August 2025, the program gathered participants nationwide for four days of intensive training, experiential learning, and personal growth.

Leadership in every lane: Our experience as swim meet officials

Written by: Yoonus Imran Solih, School Captain / 2025

This year’s Inter House Swimming Competition was not only about testing speed and skill in the pool, but also about teamwork, responsibility, and leadership. While it was a competitive event between houses, what made it truly special was the way it was carried out in such a friendly and cheerful atmosphere. Students supported one another, cheered for all participants, and ensured that the competition remained both spirited and enjoyable.

For us, the competition was also an opportunity to take charge and prove ourselves as leaders. As swim meet officials, we were entrusted with important responsibilities that gave us a new perspective on the hard work and dedication required to run such a large event successfully.

Our duties included timing the swimmers on the track, announcing events and heats, managing the schedule, and making sure the competition ran smoothly throughout the day. From setting up equipment each morning, to solving unexpected problems on the spot, to ensuring that every race was timed and recorded properly, we had our hands full at every stage.

At times, it was challenging, whether it was postponing a race because a participant was missing, or standing for long hours on the track with a stopwatch in hand. Yet, we quickly realized that every role we played mattered greatly. Without organizers, timekeepers, announcers, and coordinators, an event of this scale simply could not succeed. Knowing this kept us motivated and pushed us to give our very best.

By the end of the competition, we had gained so much more than experience. We grew more confident in our abilities, learned to adapt under pressure, and discovered the importance of communication and teamwork. This event showed us that leadership does not always come with a title, it can be found in small but meaningful responsibilities, like keeping time accurately, making announcements clearly, or ensuring things run on schedule.

Most importantly, this experience reminded us how valuable it is when schools place trust in students and give them opportunities to lead. It helps us develop responsibility, problem solving skills, and confidence that will stay with us long after school life.

ހިތަދޫ ސްކޫލް

ސްކޫލްގެ ފެށުން

ހިތަދޫސްކޫލުގެ އަޞްލަކީ، 1972 ވަނަ އަހަރުގެ ތެރޭގައި، ސ.ހިތަދޫ ފެހިވިލާގެ އަލްފާޟިލް އަޙުމަދު ޞާލިހް އަލިދީދީ އަތޮޅުވެރިއަކަށް ހުންނެވި ދުވަސްވަރު، އޭނާގެ އިސްނެންގެވުމަކާ ގުޅިގެން، އަތޮޅުކޮމިޓީއިން ވުޖޫދަށް ގެންނެވި އިންގިލިޝްމީޑިއަމް ސެކަންޑްރީ ސްކޫލެއްކަމުގައިވާ ' އައްޑޫ އިންގިލިޝް ސްކޫލް' އެވެ. ސްކޫލުގައި ކިޔަވައިދިނުން ފެށިފައިވަނީ، 13 ނޮވެމްބަރ 1974 ގައި ކަމަށްވިއަސް، ރަސްމީގޮތުން ސްކޫލު ހުޅުވުނީ، 1974 ވަނަ އަހަރުގެ ޑިސެމްބަރުމަހު 18 ވަނަ ދުވަހުއެވެ. ހުޅުއްވައިދެއްވީ، މާލޭ. މއ.ކިނބިގަސްދޮށުގެ، އަލްއުސްތާޛް މައުމޫން ޢަބްދުލްޤައްޔޫމެވެ. ރާއްޖޭގެ ރައީސުލްޖުމްހޫރިއްޔާއަކަށް އިންތިޚާބުވެވަޑައިގަތުމުގެ ކުރީން، ސުމުއްވުލްއަމީރު އިބްރާހީމްނާޞިރު ރަންނަބަނޑޭރިކިލެގެފާނުގެ ރައީސްކަމުގެ ދުވަސްވަރު، އޭރުގެ ޕްރައިމްމިނިސްޓަރ އޮފީހުގެ ޚާއްޞަ ވަކީލެއްގެ ގޮތުގައި ހުންނަވައިގެން މިއަތޮޅަށް ކުރެއްވި ރަސްމީދަތުރުފުޅެއްގައެވެ. ޕްރިންސިޕަލުންނަށާއި، ހިންގުމުގެވައްޓަފާޅިއަށާއި، ތަނުގެ ފެންވަރަށް ގިނަގުނަ ބަދަލުތަކެއް އައިނަމަވެސް، އެނަމުގައި، އާދެ! ' އައްޑޫ އިންގިލިޝް ސްކޫލް' ގެ ނަމުގައި، 1979 ވަނަ އަހަރުގެ އެޕްރީލްމަހާ ހަމައަށް ސްކޫލު ހިންގަމުން އައެވެ.

 

ހިތަދޫސްކޫލްގެ ތާރީޚް

އެހިސާބުން 'ހިތަދޫ ޕްރައިމަރީސްކޫލު' ގެ ނަމަށް، ނަން ބަދަލުކުރެވި، އެ ނަމުގައި ހުޅުވުނެވެ. މިފަހަރުވެސް ހުޅުއްވައިދެއްވީ، މައުމޫނެވެ. އެކަމަކު، ރައީސްކަމުގެ ފުރަތަމަދައުރަށް ހުވައިކުރެއްވުމަށްފަހު، މި އަތޮޅަށް ކުރެއްވި ފުރަތަމަ ރަސްމީ ޒިޔާރަތުގައެވެ. އެހެންނަމަވެސް، އަނެއްކާވެސް އޭގެ ކުޑަދުވަސްކޮޅެއްފަހުން، އާދެ! 24 ޖޫން 1979 ގައި، ރައީސް، މި އަތޮޅަށް ކުރެއްވި ޒިޔާރަތުގައި ފެނިގެން ދިޔައީ، މި ސްކޫލްގެ ނަން، 'ހިތަދޫސްކޫލު' ގެ ނަމަށް ބަދަލުކުރައްވައި، ހުޅުއްވައިދެއްވައި، ޘާނަވީ ސްކޫލެއްގެގޮތުގައި އިޢުލާންކުރެއްވި ތަނެވެ. ފަހުން، މިނިސްޓްރީ އޮފް އެޑިއުކޭޝަންގެ މަސްއޫލުވެރިކަމުގެ ދަށަށް ބަދަލުވެގެން ސަރުކާރު ސްކޫލެއްގެ ގޮތުގައި ރެޖިސްޓްރީ ކުރެވިގެން އައިއިރު، ޕްރައިމަރީ ސްކޫލަކަށް ބަދަލުކުރައްވާފައި އޮތްކަމުގައިވިއަސް، މިއީ، އެދުވަހު ރައީސް މަޢުމޫން އެ ހުޅުވައިދެއްވި ހިތަދޫސްކޫލެވެ.

އައްޑޫއިންގިލިޝް ސްކޫލު ހުޅުވުނީއްސުރެން ފެށިގެން 1993 ގެ ދިރާސީ އަހަރު ނިމެންދެން މި ސްކޫލު ހިންގަމުން އައިސްފައިވަނީ ސ.އަތޮޅުތަޢުލީމީމަރުކަޒުގެ އުތުރުން އެ މަގުގެ އަނެއްފަރާތު ކަންމަތީގައި އެހުރި ( މަތީގައި އެވާ ފޮޓޯގައިވާ) ސ. ހިތަދޫ ކޮމަންޑޫގެ އާއި، ކޮމަންޑޫގޭގެ އިރުމަތީފަރާތުން މަގުގެ އަނެއްފަރާތުގައި އެހުރި (ހަރުގެއެއް ކަހަލަ ) އިމާރާތުގައެވެ.

މިހާރު ސްކޫލު ހިނަގަމުންމިދާ ޢިމާރާތަށް، ސްކޫލް ބަދަލުކުރެވިފައިވަނީ 1994 ވަނަ އަހަރުގެ ތެރޭގައެވެ. މިސްކޫލުގެ ނުވަތަ މި ޢިމާރާތުގެ ބިންގާ އަޅުއްވައިދެއްވީ 01 ނޮވެމްބަރ 1992 ގައި، އޭރުގެ މިނިސްޓަރ އޮފް ޖަސްޓިސް އޮނަރަބްލް ފަޟީލަތުއްޝައިޚް އަލްއުސްތާޛް މުޙައްމަދުރަޝީދު އިބްރާހީމެވެ. ސްކޫލު އިމާރާތްކުރެވުނު އިރު މިނިސްޓަރ އޮފް އެޑިއުކޭޝަނަކީ އޮނަރަބްލް އަލްއުސްތާޛް ޢަބްދުﷲ ޙަމީދު އެވެ. ނަމަވެސް، ހުޅުވަން ޖެހުނުއިރު މިނިސްޓަރަކަށް ހުންނެވީ، މއ. ކިނބި. ޑޮކްޓަރ މުޙައްމަދު ލަޠީފް އެވެ. އެހެންކަމުން، ސްކޫލު ހުޅުއްވައިދެއްވީ އެ މަނިކުފާނެވެ. 19 މާރޗް 1994 ގައި، ބޭއްވުނު ކުލަގަދަ ރަސްމީއްޔާތެއްގައެވެ. އާދެ! ގުރޭޑު 1 ން 7 އަށް ކިޔަވައިދޭ، ސަރުކާރުގެ ޕްރައިމަރީ ސްކޫލެއްގެ ގޮތުގައެވެ. މިހާރު މިސްކޫލް ވަނީ 2011 ވަނަ އަހަރު ސެކަންޑްރީ ސްކޫލަކަށް ބަދަލުވެފައެވެ.

Multiplication Maestro Champion

Multiplication Maestro Champion

I am Ainee Asim from grade 6C, and recently I won the Multiplication Maestro Champion for my class. When my name was announced as the champion of the quiz, I was taken aback. Unsure whether I had heard it right. For a brief moment, I stood bewildered, processing what happened. But, as reality sank in, a wave of excitement and pride swept over me. It was a tremendous journey. One that reflected on my dedication and hard work that I had put into it. In the weeks that lead up to the quiz, I dedicated myself to a focused routine. I was determined to strengthen my skills and boost my confidence. My parents, Math teacher, and my closest friends were a significant part of this journey. They helped me prepare for it in ways

I could never have imagined. I practiced my multiplication tables and learned for every challenge that may come. One of the biggest challenges I faced preparing for the quiz was maintaining speed without compromising accuracy. I was certain that I would rush through the questions and make silly mistakes. Or I would go too slowly to double check. To overcome this, I set up timed practice sessions every day until the day of the quiz. I started with short bursts and slowly increased the duration. I also used flashcards, and some apps to train my brain to think fast and precisely. After a few days I noticed immense improvements in my rhythms and speed.

My advice to those who want to be better at multiplication is, practice consistently. Use flashcards and apps. Test yourself with fun puzzles, time limits, but always focus on accuracy. And learn to be patient. Change doesn't happen overnight, but with steady effort, it just will. I would love to thank my Math teacher, friends, and parents. They helped me and supported me when I was unsure whether I could do it. I owe a lot to them. 

Being named the champion of the Multiplication Maestro is a moment I will always be proud of.

Spelling Bee Buzz Champion

 

Spelling Bee Buzz Champion

My name is Ahmed Afham Amir Ali, and I’m from Grade 6D. I was honored and honestly surprised to be crowned the Spelling Bee Buzz Champion. I didn’t expect to win, but the whole experience from the first round to the very last  was unforgettable. The competition was filled with excitement, challenges, and lots of learning. It began with written and oral rounds, and each stage brought a new kind of test that pushed me to do better. To prepare, I focused on more than just memorizing spellings. I also studied the meanings and parts of speech for each word. Every day, I practiced, sometimes with my parents, sometimes with my friends. I rehearsed spellings aloud to build my speed and fluency. It was a lot of work, but over time, I began to feel more confident and ready.

The final round was the most exciting part of all. It wasn’t just a buzzer round. There were riddles to solve, picture clue rounds where we had to unscramble words, synonym challenges, meaning-saying rounds, a high-speed spelling segment, and even a fun spin- the-wheel round with small prizes that left everyone smiling. Each part tested something different, and I enjoyed the variety. The riddles, especially, were tough at first. I made mistakes because I was nervous and felt rushed, but eventually I figured out how to spot clues and answer just by catching the first few words.

One of the highlights of my journey was being chosen by my teacher to lead class revision. I got to ask my classmates questions and help them prepare too. That made me feel proud and even helped me revise more effectively. Being trusted with that role gave me a real confidence boost. If you’re trying to become a good speller, my advice is to start small and build up. Don’t jump into difficult words too quickly. I still remember when I used to spell pineapple as “pinapl.” So I made sure I got words like pineapple right before moving on to longer ones like hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia. Break words into smaller parts, use them in sentences, and say them out loud. Reading often really helps without you even realizing it.

I’m really thankful to my teachers and parents for always encouraging me, and to my friends who helped me practice and supported me the whole way. Looking back now, I’m just so happy that all the hard work paid off. It still feels a bit unreal, but I’m proud and grateful  that I made it this far.

Champion of Multiplication Quiz - 2025

 Champion of Multiplication Quiz - 2025

I am studying in Grade 5A. I am the champion of Multiplication Quiz 2025 of grade 5. I was surprised, excited and I felt proud of my teachers especially my mathematics teacher, Anth Miss, my parents and I also felt proud of myself. I got ready by doing multiplication exercises on the internet. I did lots of multiplication practices every day. My mother encouraged me to keep practicing and my father helped me a lot doing exercise work of multiplication. My math's teacher Anth Miss encouraged me a lot by giving excellent comments on my class works. First three rounds were the hardest because if I did not score high marks, I would not be able to go to final round. I overcame the challenges by constant practice. My advice to others is practice makes perfect and nothing is impossible if you try and work hard to achieve. 

Champion of the Spelling Bee Buzz and Multiplication Quiz of grade 4

 

Champion of the Spelling Bee Buzz and Multiplication Quiz of grade 4

I am Ayesha Lara Mirshan Salih from grade 4. I am this year’s Champion of the Spelling Bee Buzz and Multiplication Quiz of grade 4.

When my name was announced as the winner, I felt very surprised and proud. I had worked really hard, so hearing my name made me feel jubilant. It was one of the best moments ever.

It took me hours of daily practice for the multiplication quiz. I solved an abundance of problems, did quick mental math and played online math games.

For the spelling bee, I learned the word list, researched synonyms and antonyms. Learned the meanings of the words and used them in forming sentences. I turned spelling into a fun game.

My parents helped me by assessing and preparing worksheets for me to practice. They always encourage me to do my best.

In spelling bee buzzer round, it was a bit challenging to press the buzzer button fast enough. Sometimes I knew the answer, but one of my friends pressed first. It was a little frustrating, but I stayed focused and waited for the next question. I learned that speed is very important, but staying calm matters too.

My advice to others is to never give up and keep practicing. Even if it feels hard at first, don’t give up. Always believe in yourself and work hard to achieve your goals.

I am grateful for the support from my parents, teachers and close friends throughout the journey. I am really thankful to the school for doing these activities, especially because all students in the grade could join. I learned a lot from them, and I feel my mental math and English have improved. I think it helped all the students, not just me.

These achievements taught me that success comes from a lot of hard work, not luck. I am proud to be a champion, but even more proud of the hard work I did. I am excited to keep learning and aiming higher, Insha Allah. 

 

 

 

Celebrating 60 years of independence

 

A Place for me to call home

 

Hithadhoo School has been more than just a place of learning. It has been the foundation of my growth, both academically and personally. Having spent over half of my nearly seventeen years within its walls, I now realize how deeply this school has shaped my values, character, and outlook on life.

It wasn’t until the final days of school that I began to truly appreciate the everyday moments, relief periods, interval breaks, and even extra sessions. What once felt routine suddenly became meaningful. I found myself cherishing each moment, creating memories I know will stay with me for a lifetime.

One of the most important lessons I’ve learned is the value of balancing fun and learning. This was best shown during our spontaneous grade trip to Fuvahmulah, just a week before our much anticipated mock exams. While it was stressful at times, the trip gave us unforgettable memories. That joy quickly gave way to reality when we were welcomed back with a Maths camp, reminding us how education and enjoyment often go hand in hand.

As a business student, I had always heard of Sajid Sir’s strict approach. Though overwhelming at first, I grew to respect his high standards, especially after completing my O-Level exams. I also came to appreciate Shainu Sir’s repeated advice, which became clear during my academic setbacks. With his and Daisy Miss’s constant support, I found the strength to grow.

As exam season approached, every teacher gave their all, conducting extra classes, offering guidance, and pushing us to stay focused. Their efforts shaped not only our performance but also our determination.

From morning assemblies, Veena Miss’s daily revolutions around the block, Thafseer Sir’s prayers, Razeena Miss’s neat handwriting to the ticking time bomb that was the O-Level countdown; every last moment defines Hithadhoo School for me. I will forever be grateful to the teachers and staff who helped make this school a place for me to call home.