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To all students, parents and families, welcome back to BIS Abu Dhabi for the new term. I hope you all enjoyed a pleasant break and all the students are looking forward to the learning opportunities that lie ahead of them.
In particular, may I also extend the warmest of welcomes to our new students and families who have joined BIS Abu Dhabi for the first time this week. It isn’t the easiest start meeting new classmates online, but know that everyone in the school community will always be there to look out for you. There will be lots of exciting things ahead for you and lots of kind, helpful people to help you achieve your best along the way.
As you will all be aware, the first two weeks of term have been directed as Distance Learning for all schools. With people returning from travelling and with an increasing number of Covid cases in recent days, this is a sensible move to help keep our community safe. It is considered as a “circuit-breaker,” and can hopefully reduce the potential of further infections.
Please continue to support yourselves and each other at this time by minimising contacts until things settle down. We expect ADEK to make further announcements next week regarding next stages for reopening or testing, and we will of course let you know as soon as we hear anything.
For now, we continue with virtual learning and doing our very best with it too. I have heard great things about the participation and commitment of students already this week, although this is not really a surprise. We are now all used to the requirements for learning remotely, students continue to adapt extremely well and are making good progress with their studies. As we saw last year, distance learning did not stop BIS Abu Dhabi students obtaining amazing exam results and we can expect the same again this year – learning for all students maintained at the highest level whether at home or in school.
My sincere thanks to all parents for everything you are doing to support the teachers and support your children. If there is anything at all you wish to ask which might help your children further, please do get in touch with your child’s teachers and they will only be too happy to help.
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.
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