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The Eco Edventure has been buzzing with activity! We have worked collaboratively with the Design & Technology department and Mr. O’Brien’s CCA students, who kindly built a wooden bed for our rabbits Bun Bun and Rosie. Our Duke of Edinburgh students have been diligently supporting our Foundation Stage (FS) and Key Stage 1 (KS1) students during their Eco Edventure CCA. Some have even given up their break times to ensure the rabbits are fed, watered, have had their nails clipped, and are receiving plenty of cuddles. Read on to discover how our Eco Edventure brings learning to life!

Often, as an educator, you experience immense joy in helping shape a child's future. This week has certainly brought many moments of joy! The overarching theme within the school has been celebrating the UAE, and I’ve had the privilege of working across both Primary and Secondary classes, offering me a unique window into various areas of school life.

On Wednesday, 20th November, our school community came together to celebrate and acknowledge World Children's Day, with this year’s theme on ‘The Future Changed Child’.  The day began with a powerful moment of unity, as we  gathered onto the school field to form a large "WCD" for a group photo, while our Primary School students sang *‘We Are the World’* under the direction of Miss. Keane on the piano and Mr. Quigley orchestrating away. This heartfelt performance highlighted the spirit of collaboration and hope for a brighter future for children everywhere.

In an increasingly interconnected world, Third Culture Kids (TCKs) stand out as true citizens of the globe. These remarkable individuals grow up immersed in diverse cultures, often living outside their parents’ home country, which shapes them in unique ways.  

Nord Anglia Education’s latest INSIGHTS article delves into the fascinating lives of TCKs, exploring their strengths, challenges, and the crucial role schools and parents play in supporting them. Adding a personal touch to this global discussion, our very own BIS Abu Dhabi parent, Sobia, shares her experience of raising three TCKs in Abu Dhabi. Her reflections bring a heartfelt perspective to the complexities of identity, belonging, and resilience. 

This week, BIS Abu Dhabi joined the global celebration of World Children’s Day, a day dedicated to raising awareness of children’s rights and empowering young people to share their voices. Marking the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the day serves as a reminder that children’s rights are universal, non-negotiable, and essential for building a better future.

This month, I had the privilege of delivering assemblies alongside Sajid Latif to our Secondary students on the important topic of neurodiversity and hidden disabilities. This subject is particularly close to my heart and is a key focus within our EDIB (Equality, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging) framework.

Over the past few weeks, I’ve had the privilege of witnessing the true spirit of community in action here at BIS Abu Dhabi. Despite the challenges we all face, including personal hardships that may touch many of us, it is heartening to see how our shared care for one another and our collective hope for a brighter future bring us together.

My journey finished this time last year upon the submission of my 12,000-word dissertation, however it started several years earlier with my first application into the master's in international education at King's College London programme. In 2019, my application was approved by Nord Anglia, but I was unsuccessful in the second round at the King's College London stage.  Determined not to let this setback stop me, I researched the course and the college further and applied again in 2020. This time, I was successful in both rounds and was delighted to receive a letter confirming I would start the master's programme in September 2021.

This week, our senior school students had the opportunity to think about life after BIS Abu Dhabi. On Wednesday, we welcomed the IDP University Fair, featuring over 50 leading universities from the UK, US, Canada, Australia, and Ireland in the Falcon Academy Sports Hall. It was a wonderful opportunity for our Year 11, 12, and 13 students to talk, discuss, and get excited about what lies ahead.

As we finish our fourth week of school, it’s amazing how quickly time has flown by! We are settling into new timetables, and our new staff members are finding their feet—just like many of our new students and families. The start of a new academic year is always a time of adjustment for students, teachers, and parents. However, the community spirit and teamwork demonstrated by everyone have ensured that this transition has been smooth and positive.

EDIB stands for Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging. At The British International School Abu Dhabi, we are committed to giving our students an experience that is inclusive and representative of all nationalities, genders, abilities and religions. In essence EDIB is an extension of our school’s core values: Kindness, Honesty and Respect.  

Thank you all so much for welcoming me into the BIS Abu Dhabi family. I have been utterly amazed and humbled by the number of you who have shown kindness and support towards me as someone who has so recently arrived at the school and in the UAE. Thank you!

BIS Abu Dhabi is a wonderful school – when I visited in February, I was so impressed with the students, staff, facilities, and Mr. Cocker’s vision that I could not resist applying for the position of Head of Primary. Now that I am here, I can only say that the school is even better than I had realised, and I can see where the students get their lovely characteristics from.

As we step into the new year, I am filled with excitement and optimism for what lies ahead. This term has begun with such promise, reflecting our unwavering commitment to ensuring that every student flourishes through our dedication, care, and passion for excellence. I want to extend my deepest gratitude to the team members who have worked tirelessly over the summer. Their efforts have been crucial in ensuring we continue adding value to our community. 

The end of the year is a time for reflection and celebration, as well as an opportunity to look ahead.

During the last weeks, we have celebrated students at the Sports Awards Assemblies, welcomed fathers sharing time with students in the Early Years team, enjoyed end-of-term showcases across many year groups, attended IB presentations, participated in a Science Fair hosted by the Science CCA, and watched the Dance Production, BISAD’s Got Talent Show, and the Music Open Mic event, to name but a few. 

Earlier in June, a group of our IB students jetted off to Iceland for an unforgettable adventure. Damian Toader from 12A shares his experience of this incredible trip, capturing the essence of Iceland's breathtaking landscapes and unique natural phenomena through his lens as the group's photographer.

 

Dear Parents,

As we approach the end of this term and the academic year, we take great pride in celebrating the multitude of successes our children have achieved. This period has been filled with events showcasing the diverse talents and interests of our students here at BIS Abu Dhabi. From the creativity of our dance performances, our success at sports competitions to the incredible ongoing school trips, from the talent displayed at the BISAD’s Got Talent audition and our Open Mic sessions to the World Scholars Cup and the Quran reading, our calendar has been brimming with opportunities for our students to shine.

At the recent Year 13 Graduation event, I mused on the theme of truth, inspired as I was by the very hard academic work that any Year 13 student must go through to graduate successfully and achieve a place at the university of their choice.   It seems to me that academic work is entirely about truth and our perpetual search for it, although I know many would disagree.  Students in particular generally want a different answer when they ask the question ‘why am I learning this?’.  Students want to know all about the lesson content’s practical application, whether they’ll need this ‘fact’ for an exam, or whether what they are learning will help them get a job.   When I reply ‘we are learning this, because we want to discover the truth about the world we live in….’ I suppose I’m sometimes met with understandable bemusement.  Truth is a strange concept, a tricky one.  ‘Learn this, because it will be on your end of term exam…!’ is a much simpler answer.  But it’s the wrong one.  Teachers shouldn’t be teaching so that students can pass exams, we should be teaching to encourage discovery.  And what do we want young people to discover?  Truth.

Last weekend witnessed a clash of arts events. In Abu Dhabi, Cranleigh hosted the annual BSME Dance Festival, while in Dubai, our sister school NAS Dubai hosted the first Regional Nord Anglia Performing Arts Festival. Students from BIS Abu Dhabi attended both events and gave their all.

At BIS Abu Dhabi, we believe early exposure to languages fosters essential skills, not only in foreign language acquisition but also in overall cognitive development. Aside from our provision for English and Arabic, our Modern Foreign Languages (MFL) programme offers primary students specialised MFL classrooms, promoting engagement with highly qualified teachers and encouraging pride through displays of their work. This article explores the advantages of learning languages, details our school’s language programme, and highlights its unique features.