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Despite not having students physically in school, this time of year still brings much anticipation of fun and celebration ahead. It is that time of year when our students across the school have the opportunity to share their passions and demonstrate their talents in BIS Got Talent. Since joining BIS Abu Dhabi, this event has taken a special place in my heart. BIS Got Talent imbues all that is good about our school. The event brings everyone together feeding our sense of community. Students, parents, and staff are united as they support and encourage students to have a go, to work together, to practice hard to perform to their very best. It allows for collaborations, individuality, and creativity. It helps students to move a little closer towards achieving their dreams. Moreover, it exposes others to excellence and shows them what they could aspire to. It really does encourage students to be ambitious.
For those brave enough to try the rewards are simple, praise for their efforts and recognition of a job well done. This intrinsic motivation – knowing I have given my best is all too easy to ignore. In today’s world we often see rewards as having to be extrinsic. A kind of ‘What do I get if I do this?’ attitude. BIS Got Talent is all about being the best version of yourself. Giving all you have to sharing something you want to be good at and knowing you gave your best. I would certainly argue that there is no monetary value on this, but that it is priceless.
This year of course will be different. It will allow for another dimension as students record their performances and submit them. I have seen it make students be fussier as they notice their efforts in their recordings and go back and tweak elements of their act. Student and parent entries are due by the 31st of January so do not forget to get them in soon. It may not enable us to all be in the same room at the same time, but there is no way we will let it stop us enjoying this special event with our sense of community. Has BIS Abu Dhabi got talent – you bet!
Alan Cocker
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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