Dear Ash Mount Community,
It has been a lovely week in so many ways.
It was wonderful to spend time together on Monday evening at Carluccio’s with families and staff. There is something very special about coming together outside of formal settings, getting to know one another, sharing conversations, and continuing to build the relationships that will sit at the heart of Ash Mount.
It was also a pleasure to meet more families at this week’s digital and in person Coffee and Connect. These moments continue to be a real highlight of my week. They are a reminder that, long before a school opens its doors, a community is already forming.
Alongside this, one of my personal highlights each week continues to be visiting the school site. It is genuinely such fun to see the progress being made and to picture how the spaces will soon come to life with students. This week, it was particularly exciting to see the scaffolding coming down from the primary building, giving us a much clearer sense of the finished structure.
And, just between us, don’t tell the builders I’ve shared this, the second primary building is very close to handover, with external painting now underway. Over the next few weeks, we will also begin to see the playground and sports pitches cleared and prepared, which is another exciting step forward.
I also hope families enjoyed the slightly lighter moment last week with the video that Tom, Mahbouba and I shared. As much as we take the work seriously, it is important that we also create moments of warmth and connection along the way.
We were, of course, disappointed to have to postpone today’s Green Design Event. We had planned a range of thoughtful and engaging activities linked to different areas of inquiry, and we know many families were looking forward to it. However, we also know that it was the right decision. As a school that aims to lead with courage, we make decisions carefully, particularly when they relate to the safety of our students and wider community.
We are very grateful for the continued strong leadership across the UAE, which consistently places safety at the centre of decision-making. It allows us, as schools, to act with confidence and clarity.
The good news is that this is not a cancellation, but a postponement. We are already working to secure a suitable venue so that we can host the event in the coming weeks. As soon as this is confirmed, we will be in touch with families.
In a similar way, we have moved this week’s Open Day 3 online. Having led a school through Covid in 2020, I was reminded again this week that while plans may change, communities adapt. There are always ways to balance what we would like to do with what is right to do, and flexibility is an important part of that.
As we come to the end of April, it is a good moment to reflect on this month’s focus: how learning connects – to real life, to purpose, and to the future.
Over the past few weeks, we have explored how children learn best when they are able to ask questions, make connections, and understand how their learning relates to the world around them. We have shared how inquiry supports deeper thinking, how real-world contexts make learning meaningful, and how strong academic foundations remain at the core of everything we do.
At Ash Mount, our aim is simple but important, that children understand not only what they are learning, but why it matters.
This approach reflects the thinking found in international and IB-aligned schools, where learning is designed to be connected, purposeful, and relevant. It also aligns closely with Dubai’s vision for education, preparing students not just for exams, but for life beyond school.
As we look ahead to May, our focus will shift towards how children grow as individuals within this environment, looking more closely at confidence, independence, and student agency.
We will explore what it means for children to take ownership of their learning, how they develop a sense of responsibility, and how schools and families work together to support this journey.
Finally, I look forward to seeing many of you at the DAMAC Lagoons Earth Day event tomorrow at 4pm. It will be another lovely opportunity to come together as a community.
Thank you, as always, for your continued support and partnership.
Best wishes,
Abigail Fishbourne
Founding Principal
Ash Mount School
