It has been a very special time at school with the annual opportunity to celebrate the achievements of our Senior students. Although it is a shame in some ways that our ceremonies had to be done remotely, this actually made it possible for family across the world to be present when normally they cannot. To evidence that, our IB Graduation has already been viewed online over 11,000 times!
The IB class of 2020 have now officially graduated from the British International School Abu Dhabi. We await their final results, but the forecasts suggest another record-breaking year. During the Graduation Ceremony it was wonderful to celebrate their achievements to date, but also to look forward to the amazing University courses they are all headed to in the future. I would also like to commend the fantastic student speeches during the ceremony – well done Malika and Kian. Click here to watch the IB Graduation video.
The Year 11 Celebration Ceremony recognises the achievements of all our IGCSE students. Whilst their school career is not yet over, IGCSE is an important milestone and, just like their IB counterparts, these students are also on target to achieve superb results. As well as looking back to IGCSE, students also looked forward with excitement to their forthcoming IB studies. Again, let me applaud the excellent student speakers from Year 11: Hamda, Olympe and Asher.
Now we do of course know that a lot of our students are not in Year 11 and Year 13! However... they will all get there one day, and it is important to look ahead at what can be achieved. School is a journey and the work in Year 4 or Year 8 for example also lead to the final success at Year 13. It is a great honour to celebrate the world-class results from BIS Abu Dhabi students, and equally, an honour to help younger students on their own path towards this.
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.
You might have seen the trend going around - “If I could tell my younger self one thing…” - a moment to reflect, to offer advice we wish we’d heard earlier, or to remind ourselves of what truly matters.
As students prepare to cross some of the biggest milestones in school life, it feels like the perfect time to pause and join in that conversation. But it’s not just our students who are preparing — so are we, as parents. These milestones don’t just belong to them. We’re living every part of it too: the anticipation, the pride, the nerves, and the quiet hopes. Sometimes, it’s the hardest thing in the world — to watch them take these big steps, to stay strong when they wobble, to let go just a little more. It’s a milestone for us as much as it is for them — and we’re walking it together.
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