Proud Onlooker

For a moment I stood a little aside from the Community Iftar this week. Alone, an onlooker, I watched a scene unfold. Children ran and played. Older children organised fun and games. Adults talked and laughed, the sun turned the sky a rosy shade of pink and the smell of the imminent iftar filled the air. A voice cried out in song. New faces, familiar faces, old faces, smiling faces. Standing alone, I couldn’t help but smile – and I couldn’t stop my heart from bursting with pride – at the sight of this community being together.

Togetherness matters. A slightly smaller community within our community also came together this week when our Year 11 students and their families were invited into school to talk about their futures beyond GCSE and beyond BIS Abu Dhabi. There was a wonderful atmosphere in the Forum as students met with teachers to discuss their hopes and dreams for the future. It was a privilege to spend time with these young people who have such exciting times ahead of them – we discussed universities all over the world and future careers in medicine, diplomacy, the arts, engineering and countless other professions. Once again the community wrapped its arms around these young people – don’t worry, we are with you, we’ll help.

Also this week we welcomed back our intrepid explorers from Tanzania. Our school’s relationship with the community in Arusha stretches back many years and this trip has never lost its power to genuinely transform lives – lives in Tanzania and the lives of the BIS Abu Dhabi students who go there. Their communal experience will live with them for a very long time and as they tell those stories, our community is enriched by their excitement and passion.

The ‘Women in our Lives’ event hosted by our Early Years children was a truly wonderful occasion marking International Women’s Day and yet another occasion on which our community came together to celebrate, to laugh and listen. What do our children learn from such events, from a Community Iftar, from conversations about their futures, from trips to Tanzania, from a communal event celebrating the remarkable women in our lives? They learn about community, about collaboration, about diversity and tolerance, about how, when we come together positively there are smiles and there is laughter.

What better lesson can we teach our children than that they belong? That they are special and loved and that the adults in their lives will always wrap them up in care and do their very best for them? Our community is a very special one indeed and though I stood aside from the Community Iftar for a while this week, it was only to admire it and to remind myself of just how special this place really is, especially when we are together.

Chris Lowe

Head of Secondary

Return to the newsletter

Posts From Our People Featured

Related news

load More news

News | Posts From Our People

Celebrating World Children's Day at BIS Abu Dhabi

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.

The Fascinating World of Third Culture Kids - The Fascinating World of Third Culture Kids

Blog | Posts From Our People

The Fascinating World of Third Culture Kids (TCKs)

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.

Blog | Posts From Our People

Message from the Deputy Head of Primary

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.

Blog | Posts From Our People

Celebrating Neurodiversity and Hidden Disabilities: A Message from the EDIB Team

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.