Elaine Rawlings Head of Primary
I am delighted to share this new edition of the Primary Wellbeing Magazine It really showcases a school that has wellbeing at its heart and a school that is at the forefront of innovative wellbeing practices
I am pleased to be able to introduce our new Inclusion Lead - Mrs Bibi, and I hope you take a moment to read her message. As always, please do contact us directly if you have any feedback for our Wellbeing Lead - Mrs Walter.
What I love about this magazine, is it gives us as a school and the Senior Leadership Team an opportunity to reflect on what has been achieved in the first half of Term 1. Bearing in mind our focus pastorally has been and continues to be, to embed the initiatives that have been introduced over the last few years, you will see that we are incapable of standing still. In response to feedback from children, parents and staff, we have updated our Golden Rules and Code of Conduct to create a memorable, unified, whole school, consistent message of being Ready, Safe and Kind.
We wanted to have one agreement that runs across the whole primary school using consistent language that all our children can access and understand We have had an in depth focus on each of the different areas and explained what Ready, Safe and Kind looks like for each year group Teams have delivered age appropriate assemblies with follow up activities in our extended MELS (Moral Education and Life Skills) lessons (Year 2-6).
Our assemblies are on a four week rotation, being delivered by Year Groups twice, a member of the Senior Leadership Team once and a House Assembly to celebrate all of our children’s efforts to round up the month and to embed our new RSK agreement.
To further support our new agreements we have ‘Positive Notes,’ which we share with children to thank them when we have seen them being Ready, Safe and Kind. These are notes are quietly shared with children and slipped into the shirt/dress pockets for them to bring home and celebrate with you.
Sureya Bibi Head of Inclusion
It’s wonderful to be part of this vibrant community here in Abu Dhabi. I moved to Abu Dhabi just over two years ago with my husband and three sons, initially intending to stay for only two years. Like many of you, I fell in love with this incredible city, and we have now decided to make it our home Two of my children attend BSAK and absolutely love it
My name is Sureya Bibi, and I am pleased to introduce myself as the new Head of Inclusion at BSAK.
With over 16 years of leadership and teaching experience in London schools, I have had the privilege of supporting and leading educational provisions for children with special educational needs. As a UK-qualified Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO), I possess a comprehensive understanding of how to create inclusive educational environments that empower all students to thrive.
I hold a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) and a Postgraduate Certificate in Special Educational Needs Coordination (PGCert NASENCO) from the Institute of Education, University College London. These qualifications have equipped me with the strategies and insights necessary to effectively support our diverse learners At BSAK, I look forward to continuing our excellent inclusive practices and feel truly fortunate to work alongside such amazing and highly skilled teachers and learning assistants.
Mary Frost Primary Inclusion Teacher
Hello, my name is Mary Frost and I am delighted to join the BSAK Inclusion Team. I currently support children across Years 3 and 4. My family and I have been living in Abu Dhabi for just over 4 years and we feel very fortunate to bring up our children here, Henry (in Year 6) and Ella (in Year 4)
During my 16 years of teaching experience, both in the UK and the Middle East, I have developed a passion for providing an inclusive learning environment for all children and been an advocate for children’s mental wellbeing
Alongside my teaching experience, I have completed various courses on children’s mental health and inclusion, and have recently completed a postgraduate qualification in National Award SENCO. In addition to being an Inclusion Teacher, I deliver a Mindfulness CCA at BSAK where the children experience a wide range of regulation techniques to support their emotional wellbeing.
My training and experience have undoubtedly shaped my approach in providing personalised support for each student and fostering a nurturing learning environment
Our BSAK Worry Monsters are used to help children externalise their worries and deal with their anxieties. To support them in communicating
their worries, they write it down or draw it on a piece of paper and the worry monster eats it away
Hello, I am your little worry monster, My name is Mikey I am here to eat all your worries! and keep them safe in me
Just talk to me or take some paper to draw or write how you feel Then pop it into my mouth to take away your frown and replace with a cheer
As sharing is the key I am always here As is Mrs Frost so please tell us your fears
Dave Rutland Head of Student Leadership
The student roles and responsibilities are always growing In the morning, student leaders embody this spirit of responsibility and community engagement by warmly greeting parents and students, and fostering a welcoming atmosphere at the school entrance.
Beyond pleasantries, our leaders actively contribute to the school's physical environment by assisting in organising playground equipment and ensuring a safe and enjoyable space for everyone.
During House Assemblies, their voices resonate as they play a pivotal role in representing the student body and sharing concerns, ideas, and achievements. The student leaders leave an indelible mark by contributing to the outside design of our storage shed. Their engagement with BSAK life showcases the integral role that student leaders play in enhancing both the functional and communal aspects of the school environment.
Hello, I’m Kye and I feel very honored to be Head Boy of BSAK Primary This school has been a big part of my life since I was three years old, so it means a lot to me to get the opportunity to give back. I hope I can play a role in making BSAK an even better place for everyone in ways like encouraging more team spirit within the school, as well as more sustainability and charity events.
I have made all my closest friends at my school and I really appreciate that BSAK has enabled me to participate in lots of events like BSME Games and Shrek The Musical. BSAK is an amazing school, and in my opinion, the best in the UAE!
Hello, my name is Ava, and I am Head Girl of BSAK Primary School. I play the trumpet and do football, netball and athletics. I have been in BSAK since Nursery and hope to make a positive impact on BSAK before I move to secondary school next year. The reason I applied for Head Girl was because I want to honour and represent BSAK in the best way possible.
Connor Deputy Head Boy
Our weekly Mile a Day is a proactive effort aimed at promoting children's health, wellbeing, and social development. Each Wednesday morning, before classes begin, participating students gather on the Primary pitch to engage in physical activity by running, jogging, or walking.
This event not only fosters physical fitness but also encourages camaraderie amongst peers as they strive towards a common goal of completing enough laps together to win points for each of their Houses Moreover, the initiative instills values of perseverance and teamwork as children support each other to overcome challenges and achieve their personal best
By integrating exercise into the school day and emphasising the importance of regular physical activity, our "Mile a Day" initiative contributes to the overall holistic development of students, fostering a culture of wellness and companionship within the school community.
This year, our Student Voice has asked to invite parents along. We would love to see as many of our BSAK parents joining their children on a Wednesday morning as possible, to participate in Mile a Day and help score valuable house points.
Fizah Mehmood Head of House
Our monthly house competitions have become a highlight, capturing the enthusiasm and creativity of our students.
Dressed in their respective house colors, the children radiate a sense of unity and team spirit, emphasising the importance of togetherness and teamwork. The assemblies not only recognise individual efforts but also reinforce the values of collaboration and teamwork that define our vibrant school community
Our monthly house assemblies for both Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 have become vibrant celebrations, resonating with enthusiasm and pride These gatherings serve as a platform to joyously celebrate success, acknowledging the achievements of our students and fostering a sense of collective accomplishment The assemblies feature the exciting revelation of individual top house point scorers in each year group, showcasing the dedication and excellence of our students, as well as further embedding our RSK Agreement.
We know sometimes it may be difficult as children go through phases of fussy eating. What can you do if your child experiences this?
Give your child the same food as the rest of the family (without salt).
Try sitting altogether at the table as much as possible, this will help children copy you eating healthy food. Make mealtimes enjoyable and not just about eating, sit down together and chat about your day
Try not to leave meals until your child is too hungry or too tired to eat
Avoid too many snacks between meals
Avoid using food as a reward, your child may see vegetables as nasty and sweets as nice.
Experiment and try new food in their packed lunches for school. Email the teacher to see if they can help encourage your child at snack/lunchtimes
Take your child shopping and include them in choosing a new fruit or vegetable to try.
Try cooking together and get them involved in the preparation of meals.
Along with the rest of the school, the Primary Library has been exploring what RSK means in our space and for the students when they are in it.
To be Ready, the students need their books - those to return and those to borrow They need their browser cards to make it easier to browse and check out the books and they need their book bags to keep the books safe and secure.
Speaking of Safe, our most often-used phrase in the library is “Stop running!” The students need to walk sensibly so they don’t trip and fall or run into someone else, which would end up with someone hurt. Safe choices need to be made around the big red chair and beanbags The seating areas are for sitting, even if it’s tempting to squash and squeeze and use the beanbags as landing mats
Being Kind in the library means using inside voices and talking respectfully. Being Kind is also being ready to listen to teachers and librarians, being ready to listen to stories and instructions Most importantly, being Kind means treating our books with care and respect, because the books are for everyone.
