Admissions are now open for 2025/2026
Contact our Admissions Team today!
Name and a little bit about you:
Hi, my name is Chloe Abdollahian and I’m a Year 2 class teacher at BIS Abu Dhabi. I’m from Lancaster in the UK, which is near the beautiful Lake District – a place I definitely recommend to anyone visiting the UK.
How long have your children been at BIS Abu Dhabi?
My children have just started this year in Year 1 and Year 9.
Where is “home” for you?
For me, home is where my family are. Having lived in Abu Dhabi with my family for 4 years, this is where really feels like home. My mum moved to Dubai to be closer to us, so we would like to stay as long as possible! Otherwise, my husband and I have family all over the place – Scotland, England, Spain, Brazil, Thailand, and Australia – so there are many places we can call home!
What do you do in Abu Dhabi?
When I am not in school teaching, I enjoy being at home, making things and relaxing with my family. We all love to go to the pool and the parks – especially Umm al Emarat. In the cooler months, this is one of my very favourite places to be!
What brought your family to Abu Dhabi?
Adventure! For as long as I can remember, I wanted to be a teacher and then as a teenager I decided I wanted to teach abroad. After our youngest daughter was born, my husband and I knew we had to give it a try and we have never looked back!
Tell us something that few people know about you:
I have flown several aeroplanes.
What is your favourite thing about being a part of the BIS Abu Dhabi community?
The kindness and positive feedback I have received from everyone!
What tips or advice would you give to new families joining BIS Abu Dhabi?
Do not worry – someone is round every corner to help you out.
What do you enjoy most about living in Abu Dhabi?
It is a wonderful place to bring up my two children. They are safe and nurtured – and are never short of things to do!
Chloe Abdollahian, Head of Year 2 & Class Teacher
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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