Happy New Year and a warm welcome to our new families and a welcome back to our existing families.
School anxiety often creeps in during times of transition, either at the start of the school year or soon after the excitement from the holidays are over, and there is a sudden realisation of having to go back to school where the comfort and security of the home isn’t available and where routines are very different. Worries and fears take over and small issues cause overwhelming feelings and a general lack of control.
Whichever form it takes – fear, worry, or anxiety - they are all a very normal part of growing up; it is a sign that your child is starting to understand the world and they are trying to make sense of what it means for them. As your child develops and with time, they will figure out that what once seemed scary, isn’t scary after all.
However, these worries are very real to children and can cause a lot of distress, not just for the child but for the parents as well. It is important to remember that a worry or anxiety at certain ages and stages are completely appropriate, but some children will have more intense and intrusive thoughts.
If you feel your child is struggling with school anxiety, we highly recommend an article by Hey Sigmund, which compassionately sums up what parents need to know and can do to help their child. This can be read by clicking here.
BIS Counselling Team
Step into any vibrant Early Years classroom, and you'll likely hear the joyful hum of children deep in play - building, pretending, exploring, and negotiating their world. To the untrained eye, it may just look like fun and games. But within those moments of giggles and glue sticks lies something truly magical: deep, meaningful learning.
In this article, discover how play supports vital early development, how BIS Abu Dhabi brings the EYFS curriculum to life through play, and why protecting this joyful, purposeful approach to learning is more important than ever.
A few weeks ago, as part of our IB DP Language programme, Year 12 students in the French Ab Initio and French B classes united to celebrate Mardi Gras (Shrove Tuesday). Originally a catholic event welcoming the ritual fasting of Lent, Mardi Gras is celebrated in France with festive parades and sumptuous public celebrations.
At BIS Abu Dhabi, students came together to not only recognize the festivity but rejoice at the opportunity to share and learn about the international traditions fostered within our community. With the help of Monsieur Depose and Mademoiselle Merchadier, the French DP classes baked tasty treats, including crepes, waffles, brownies, and traditional beignets!
As a teacher at BIS Abu Dhabi, I have the privilege of watching students grow — not just academically, but as young people finding their path in a complex world. One thing I’ve learned time and again is this: success doesn’t come from rare moments of brilliance — it comes from the quiet power of habits.
Research tells us that up to 40% of what we do each day is driven by habit, not active decision-making. That means the routines our students form — the way they begin their morning, how they handle a setback, whether they choose to read or scroll — are shaping who they become.
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