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A good night's sleep is incredibly important for health. In fact, studies show that it is as important as eating healthily and exercising.
As we are in the throes of external examinations, it is easy for students to fall into the trap of working much longer hours than usual and ‘burning the midnight oil’ in the hope that more learning and the retention of knowledge will ensue... however, we all know (from personal experience) that this is rarely the case.
Examinations, in addition to the western environment, often interfere with natural sleep patterns. People are now sleeping less than they did in the past, and moreover, the quality of this shortened sleep has decreased.
The vital role sleep plays in general health and wellbeing are well documented, some of those pertinent to our students are highlighted below:
Sleep Can Improve Concentration and Performance
Sleep is important for brain function and regulation including cognition, concentration and performance. Sleep deprivation all negatively impact on these. Good sleep, conversely, has been shown to enhance problem solving skills and memory performance both in children and adults- important for exam success.
Sleep Improves Your Immune System
Even a small decrease in sleep has been shown to reduce immune function. One large 2-week study monitored the development of the common cold in sleep deprived volunteers who were given the cold virus. They found that those who slept less than 7 hours were almost three times more likely to develop a cold than those who slept 8 hours or more.
Good Sleepers Tend to Eat Fewer Calories
Studies show that sleep deprived individuals have a bigger appetite and tend to eat more calories. Sleep deprivation disrupts the daily fluctuations in appetite hormones including higher levels of ghrelin, the hormone that stimulates appetite, and reduced levels of leptin, the appetite suppressant.
Sleep Affects Glucose Metabolism and Type 2 Diabetes Risk
Experimental sleep restriction affects blood sugar and reduces insulin sensitivity. In a study of healthy young men, restricting sleep to 4 hours per night for 6 nights in a row caused symptoms of pre-diabetes. This was then resolved after 1 week of increased sleep duration.
The take home message is, therefore, that getting enough quality sleep, in addition to working smarter and not harder, is another factor in helping to ensure exam success and healthy living.
Goodnight!
Sources:
https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/sleep-deprivation-and-deficiency
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/10-reasons-why-good-sleep-is-important#section10
Brian Irving, Head of Secondary
As we draw this academic year to a close, I want to take a moment to reflect on what has been a truly remarkable journey for The British International School Abu Dhabi. This year has been defined by so much more than achievement, it has been a year of resilience, creativity, compassion, and bold ambition.
Read on to discover the unforgettable highlights, proud achievements, and inspiring moments that made this year at BIS Abu Dhabi truly remarkable.
The penultimate week of term always brings a mix of energy and reflection. Lessons are still purposeful, but there is also a sense of looking back, recognising just how far our students have come.
This year, we have seen strong academic success across the school. Students have worked hard, and the outcomes reflect that effort. But just as important have been the achievements beyond the classroom in music, sport, language, technology, and the arts. Our curriculum is broad for a reason, and it has been clear this year that our students are thriving in many ways.
Celebrating Our Shared Success: A Year of Partnership and Recognition
As we approach the end of a vibrant academic year filled with events, achievements, and memorable moments, I am delighted to share some fantastic news with you all. Our school has been honoured with not one, but two prestigious awards in recognition of our commitment to parent engagement: the MENA Parent Partnership Award and the ADEK Best Parent Engagement Award.
Read on to discover how these awards celebrate our collaborative culture, highlight parent-school partnerships, and support meaningful improvements for our students.
It’s something I’ve believed for a long time — that learning isn’t predetermined by our genes. It’s about growing, persevering, and learning through the process. I was really mindful of this idea at this week’s wonderful Primary Summer Concert, after which I found myself reflecting on whether these amazing children have an innate talent, or whether they have achieved so much because of hard work and practice.
I believe it’s the latter. These children, their parents, and their teachers all seem to share the belief that by trying and working hard, they will get better at what they do. This is what we call a growth mindset.
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