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In recent months I have heard several conversations between teachers which have gone something like this…
"I have had a great idea"
"But it will be hard, there are lots of obstacles"
"What should we do then?"
Then there is some thinking time before eventually someone shouts out the answer.
"Why don’t we get the students to do this…?"
Students in our school are familiar with this situation. We throw possibilities at them all the time and ask them to solve the problems and ‘get it done,’ which they generally do with great aplomb, and that is no accident.
Building a culture in which it is normal for young people to collaborate and to serve others takes time and effort. In over ten years that our school has been open, that culture has grown and grown. The notion of having students leading projects, organising events and ‘making exciting things happen’ is an essential element of our status as an International Baccalaureate School, and the IB culture seeps down into every corner of this place.
I have been thrilled in recent weeks to see students leading projects such as our recent shoe box appeal, organising guest speakers in our Economics curriculum, growing our Model United Nations programme and organising an international cook book. In these cases and many more, the students involved needed only the slightest ‘prod’ from their teachers, perhaps a little guidance at difficult moments, but for the most part, these young people ‘got on and did it’ by themselves. In doing so, they learned a whole range of skills that will stay with them as they progress into the wider world and they had an experience which they will remember for a long time. Crucially, they served their community and made things a little better for the people around them.
So, you know that old saying - ‘if you want a job doing well, do it yourself…’? Well I can assure you that if you really want a job done well – get a BIS Abu Dhabi student to do it.
Chris Lowe
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.
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