Learning Luminaries

Service is all about making a positive difference, whether that be to a person or a worthy cause. Last year, the Learning Luminaries Service Team was created. A luminary is a person who inspires or influences others, particularly in a specific sphere they are prominent in. 

At BIS Abu Dhabi, we encourage all our students to strive for academic excellence and be the best that they can be. We also recognise that we are not all the same and that we develop skills, knowledge and understanding at a different pace, and at times may need support in some areas, whilst excelling in others. 

The academic path of learning may take a student beyond the IB Diploma, through to a Degree at University, a Postgraduate Masters qualification and even a PHD. Should they choose to follow that route, the outcome will often result in sharing their learning and knowledge to the benefit of others. Whether it be research, writing academic papers to be published in journals, books, lecturing or mentoring others.

Our Learning Luminaries embody the concept behind the principle of the butterfly effect, that one small action may have an unforeseen big impact in the future.

During the course of the first half of the academic year, subject teachers have been invited to nominate two student per class, in recognition of not only their prowess and achievement in that subject, perhaps even more significantly, for how they choose to use their knowledge, skills and confidence to the benefit of others. This may have taken the form of supporting students in class one-to-one, or by modelling key skills or processes to groups. Students may have given their time at break or lunch times or even after school to help, coach or mentor other students in that particular subject.

Last week, it was an honour to be able to award so many of our students in Secondary with Learning Luminary certificates, and a pleasure to recognise just how many of our students make a positive difference to others by giving their time to support them in their learning.

Laura Funnell
Secondary Service Coordinator