Admissions are now open for 2025/2026
Contact our Admissions Team today!
We all find ourselves in an unusual situation. Work lives, home lives and school lives have altered drastically, and this places us all in unfamiliar territory. Dealing with things which are new or unfamiliar can cause tensions and stress; sometimes such tensions go away through time and patience, and sometimes actions are needed too.
Our expectations can also change along within new situations. How many of us began the lockdown period thinking, “Oh, I’ll be able to get A, B and C done”? And now, a few weeks later, have we managed to get A, B and C done…? I know I haven’t got around to them yet! When we fail to meet our expectations, this can lead to guilt and an addition to other worries.
We have gone from extremely busy lives to slightly less busy ones and, as with everything, we need to take positives and opportunities from this. I have heard people talking about doing jigsaws or playing board games again - those old activities really do stand the test of time! Others are being creative in some way with the art of music or craft. Children are discovering new activities and passions which they might not have encountered before.
It is a time to cherish being at home with family and to make the most of this. Planning some weekend time to do things together that normally you wouldn’t be able to in between all those car journeys to ballet or to rugby. We do not choose lockdown and we all hope it will end soon, however in the meantime there are plenty of opportunities for our children to learn and to grow.
We think we have lots of time, but it is so easy for time to drift. The trick is to minimise the drift and make the most of what we have.
Patrick Horne
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.
I was really touched by Áine’s newsletter piece last week, posing the question: ‘What would I tell my younger self?’
I spent some time afterwards thinking about my own parenting journey, and what it’s all been about, now that my two are adults and have ‘flown the nest’. Parenting isn’t easy for any of us, and that’s true even if you’re an experienced school leader – at home, I’m just Dad.
.jpg?h=2953&iar=0&w=4430&rev=1639baab60684355860a6031bd2f4274&hash=BFFA420FEFF4CB88D98A155541FB02EE)
.jpg?h=3723&iar=0&w=5584&rev=8eac03bc3fbb4516b0c80a2618ee5eb8&hash=CD74C9E72284B395151C53385E14FEE4)
.jpg?h=4160&iar=0&w=6240&rev=3a6f2141dddc472fb958169bb826c0d8&hash=73AB5BCB0D6782A16236413B7A9C7618)
.png?rev=1619813b30a347d9bc71977e2cfe09d2&hash=66B98CDC659BBF07EB36660B4381E1E7)
