Message from Fiona Cottam

MESSAGE FROM

PRINCIPAL

Principal and Chief Academic Officer The academic year of 2019-2020 is one that will most certainly go down in the pages of history as our world suddenly changed and our normality was interrupted and disrupted by the challenges of the Covid-19 global pandemic. Where we worked, how we worked and how we communicated changed overnight in March of this year and our school year came to a close with miles literally separating us.

When others might have crept under the duvet, turned off the lights and given up, our Hartland community shone through. We knew that each day still really mattered and that being together, albeit virtually, was crucial to our wellbeing and our success. We never gave up. We showed resilience, perseverance and dedication in all that we did. We developed new skills and thrived in new opportunities. We accepted that our world had changed but we didn’t let that stop us from striving to be the best that we could possibly be. We showed compassion and kindness and had to listen closely to each other as we “Zoomed” and “Teamed” into our daily routines. Most of all, throughout this all, we were definitely #inthistogether, and together, we achieved great things.

But the year did not start in March. There is still a story to tell of the six months prior when our corridors, our sports fields, our swimming pool, our theatre and our classrooms were alive with the sounds of our young people and our staff. Sounds that reflected the exuberance and inquisitiveness of our youth and the passion that they have for learning. It was six months in which we excelled and maintained our “Outstanding” outcomes in the National Assessments. We faced another KHDA inspection and we were thrilled that we moved up a judgement level to “Very Good”, firmly placing Hartland on the Dubai map as a school to be reckoned with. The list of achievements and opportunities is significant, from Shakespeare Under the Stars to DIDI accolades, residential trips to the desert and local museums and a Ski Trip that managed to get away and return before the planes were grounded.

As always, but more than ever before, I thank the extraordinary staff of Hartland, teachers, administration, medical and support teams, for all that they have done in these difficult times. They are true professionals and I feel very humbled and privileged to work with each and every one of them. Many of them worked through the whole of the summer to ensure that our doors could safely open this September and we are indebted to those staff who went above and beyond to make this possible. To our owners we also express our thanks. They made so much possible that might have otherwise been a challenge and we remain forever grateful to the Sobha Group for their vision and unwavering support.

To you the parents, a simple thank you seems not enough for all that you have done. You have stayed by our side throughout these times and you have helped your children when Distance Learning became the norm. Maybe you have even gained a little insight into the work of the class teacher along the way, but more than anything, you have strengthened the foundations of our community and our Hartland family. There are many who have left us this year, not by choice, but because of the impact of Covid-19 and you and your children will be truly missed. Always remember that once a part of the Hartland family, always a part of Hartland, so do please keep in touch and tell us of all your new adventures wherever this new world has taken you. Finally, to the children, we say a super well done. This year has not been easy, but you have been extraordinary in all that you have achieved and we could not be prouder of you. I am so grateful that I am a part of this special community.

So once again, wherever you are in the world today, sit back, relax and enjoy the reflections that you will see in the pages that follow. This “half-year book” is a collection of memories of a time before Covid and is a gift to you from us, one that I hope you will enjoy in the days and weeks ahead.

My thanks and warm regards

Go raibh míle maith agaibh go léir