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‘’Beware the Ides of March…”
Yesterday was 15th March. I am sure you were all finding your own special ways to commemorate the 2065th anniversary of the murder of Julius Caesar but just in case you forgot to send each other a card on this important day, I thought I would use this week’s newsletter to remind you of the importance of decision making.
In January, 49BC, Julius Caesar stood on the banks of the Rubicon river with a single legion of soldiers behind him. To cross the river and head towards Rome would mean breaking an ancient law forbidding Roman Generals to cross the Rubicon with their troops. Caesar took the momentous and illegal step of crossing the Rubicon, he headed for Rome and briefly, became the most powerful man in the known world.
Today, ‘crossing the Rubicon’ is a way of expressing the point at which there is no return. As Caesar himself reputedly said on that fateful riverbank, ‘the die is cast’. You have made your decision, you must live with the consequences…
Rarely is it true that the decisions we make cannot be reversed, in our lives it is rare for us to ‘cross the Rubicon’. Even our biggest decisions can usually be revoked in part, if they lead us onto a difficult path but even though that is true, teaching young people about decision making is a responsibility we all bear. Decisions always have consequences, good ones, bad ones, indifferent ones perhaps but thanks to the interconnectedness of all things, our decisions almost always impact upon others and form part of the web of events that joins us all together. Every action has a reaction.
Let us take the time to talk to our children about decision-making and about the process we should all go through before making one. Think, listen, reflect, consider the consequences of our decisions and actions on ourselves and on others. A moments’ pause might halt a negative chain of consequences stemming from a rash decision. When you stand on the banks of your Rubicon, take a moment and slow down – sadly for Caesar, no one gave him that advice and we know what happened to him don’t we…?
Chris Lowe
The penultimate week of term always brings a mix of energy and reflection. Lessons are still purposeful, but there is also a sense of looking back, recognising just how far our students have come.
This year, we have seen strong academic success across the school. Students have worked hard, and the outcomes reflect that effort. But just as important have been the achievements beyond the classroom in music, sport, language, technology, and the arts. Our curriculum is broad for a reason, and it has been clear this year that our students are thriving in many ways.
Celebrating Our Shared Success: A Year of Partnership and Recognition
As we approach the end of a vibrant academic year filled with events, achievements, and memorable moments, I am delighted to share some fantastic news with you all. Our school has been honoured with not one, but two prestigious awards in recognition of our commitment to parent engagement: the MENA Parent Partnership Award and the ADEK Best Parent Engagement Award.
Read on to discover how these awards celebrate our collaborative culture, highlight parent-school partnerships, and support meaningful improvements for our students.
It’s something I’ve believed for a long time — that learning isn’t predetermined by our genes. It’s about growing, persevering, and learning through the process. I was really mindful of this idea at this week’s wonderful Primary Summer Concert, after which I found myself reflecting on whether these amazing children have an innate talent, or whether they have achieved so much because of hard work and practice.
I believe it’s the latter. These children, their parents, and their teachers all seem to share the belief that by trying and working hard, they will get better at what they do. This is what we call a growth mindset.
This week at BIS Abu Dhabi, we have had the joy of celebrating both ends of the school journey and it has been a beautiful reminder of how we support our students to dream big and grow into their future selves.
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