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Before the summer holidays, Leah Atkins and myself, Katherine Harvey, had the opportunity to travel to Tanzania, to meet up with colleagues from 30 Nord Anglia schools, to learn, grow, and develop as a community of EDIB champions. The overarching goal of this incomparable professional learning experience was to equip EDIB champions with the foundational skills needed to ensure EDIB could be embedded within our own unique settings.
Throughout the eight days, we attended several seminars and workshops to share good practice, opportunities, barriers, and ways to overcome them. One of our school’s key goals is to “Educate future generations for a more inclusive world.” To achieve this, we engaged in discussions about the “Why” of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging (EDIB) and strategised on the best ways to embed these principles within different settings and phases of our school community. This collaborative effort allowed us to compile a bank of ideas that can be adapted and implemented within our school, ensuring that EDIB is at the forefront of everything we do.
The future is bright for EDIB at BIS Abu Dhabi, with plans to build upon the strong foundation set in previous academic years, which saw the launch of the EDIB Inclusivity club posters, staff training, student-led assemblies and EDIB scenarios. Currently, we have a staff committee (which we are relaunching next week) and a strong, vocal student committee. In the future, we hope to start a parent/community committee as well. With such an enthusiastic team of adults and young adults, you can expect to hear more about EDIB and how you can get involved very soon.
Katherine Harvey
Whole School EDIB Champion
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.
Mental health is a vital part of our students’ overall well-being, yet it’s often overlooked or misunderstood. It's time to change that. Prioritising mental health can improve our lives in ways we might not even realise.
Why Mental Health is Important for You
Mental health affects how you think, feel, and act. It influences our relationships with friends and family, and it can impact our students’ schoolwork.
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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