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In this final newsletter of the term, I find myself reflecting on the many events, changes, improvements, challenges, and next steps. This term has been incredibly eventful. The past few weeks have been busy at our school, filled with opportunities and celebrations of our children’s growth and successes.

As we approach the end of Term 1, the upcoming winter break presents a valuable opportunity for students to strike a healthy balance between preparation and relaxation. While some time over the holidays can be devoted to revision and study, it’s equally important to step away from the day-to-day routines of school life to rest and recharge.

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.

We’re thrilled to announce that Nord Anglia Education is continuing its partnership with UNICEF for another three years! Since 2017, this unique collaboration has provided incredible opportunities for our students to engage in meaningful social impact initiatives that raise awareness of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), helping foster empathy, social advocacy, and global citizenship in all our classrooms.

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.

At BIS Abu Dhabi, we believe that every student has boundless potential, and our role as educators is to empower them to reach it. This term, our students have set an inspiring example by pursuing remarkable opportunities beyond the classroom, demonstrating that their possibilities truly are limitless. By stepping into spaces of innovation, international collaboration, and cutting-edge research, BIS Abu Dhabi students are embracing their roles as change-makers of the 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.

On the way into school this morning, I had an inspiring conversation with my daughter about traditions. She shared that the Year 13 students have been eagerly discussing ways to leave their legacy in their final year, and they’ve decided on a wonderful new tradition: the Senior School Camp. This event will give them a chance to camp overnight on the school grounds, connecting as a year group with fire pits, music, food, and memories of their time at BIS Abu Dhabi. This conversation made me reflect on why traditions matter so deeply to us all.

I’ve been really looking forward to attending my first UAE Flag Day and have used it as an opportunity to learn about the flag itself.  It’s been very interesting to do so, as a ‘newbie’ and it has really helped my understanding of the pride that Emiratis have in their country and its national emblems.  I’ve discovered that the flag was designed in 1971 by Abdullah Mohammed Al Maainah, a 19-year-old at the time, as part of a nationwide design contest and it was adopted by the country on 2nd December 1971.  The choice of colours is deeply important, and their symbolic meanings make a wonderful parallel with the work of the school and the values we seek to promote across the community:

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.

We’re incredibly fortunate to collaborate with one of the world’s top universities for Science, Technology, and Engineering—MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA)- through Nord Anglia.

Our students have access to a variety of activities, challenges, and webinars, all available on the Global Campus website under the ‘Activities -> STEAM’ tab. If you’re not a student, you can still explore some of these challenges and webinars on the MIT Curiosity Correspondents YouTube Channel: MIT Curiosity Correspondents - YouTube.

Each month, Ms. Roughley, Head of Science at BIS Abu Dhabi and MIT Middle East Lead for Nord Anglia, will provide parents with updates on upcoming MIT events, helping you encourage your child to take part in these incredible opportunities listed below!

As we approach our first half-term break, I’m excited to spend quality time with family and friends from around the globe. My sister, a teacher in Finland, often shares insights about their education system, which is deeply influenced by Pasi Sahlberg’s philosophy, emphasising ‘equity, well-being, and joy in learning.’ This approach enhances student engagement and holistic development, encouraging students to take greater ownership of their learning, creating a more engaging and personalised educational experience.

As we approach half term, I want to reflect on our journey together in embracing diversity, inclusion, and belonging here at BIS Abu Dhabi. These principles are at the heart of our community and it is truly inspiring to see how our Equality, Diversity, inclusion and Beloning (EDIB) lens shapes our experiences every day. As the regional EDIB Lead for Nord Anglia in the Middle East, I feel fortunate to connect with exceptional practices across our nine schools. In this role, I actively promote EDIB initiatives, sharing best practices and supporting school champions in creating inclusive environments that empower all students and staff.

Turkan, Tia, and Renad – our student Social Impact team – returned from Houston in June. The final part of their Houston experience was to provide feedback to the school’s senior leaders about what they had learnt during the UNICEF training and to propose their ideas for change.

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.