Dear Ash Mount Community,
What a busy and energising week it has been, I hope yours has been a good one too.
It was so lovely to meet so many parents at this week’s Coffee Morning. Thank you for taking the time to come along, ask questions, and begin those early conversations about Ash Mount. Moments like these are a reminder that schools are built through relationships long before building is finished.
This week has also been a real joy professionally. Working closely with Tom and Mahbouba has been inspiring; we’ve had thoughtful, deep conversations about learning, curriculum, language, and the kind of school culture we are creating. There is something very special about being part of a team that is deeply curious, reflective, and excited about building something new together.
Behind the scenes, we are also busy interviewing and appointing staff who are genuinely excited by the opportunity to join a founding team. There is a shared sense of purpose in these conversations, a desire to contribute, to shape, and to grow alongside our students and families.
Mahbouba also attended professional learning last weekend led by Ali Ezzeddine, an experienced IB trainer. It was wonderful to see our team continuing to learn, reflect, and challenge their thinking, exactly the mindset we want to model for our students.
Tom and I also attended the Toddle Conference this week, which focused on communication, learning, and connection. Toddle is a platform that supports strong partnerships between schools and families, while also helping teachers and students reflect on learning in meaningful ways. It was excellent to see how thoughtfully technology can be used to strengthen relationships rather than replace them. And it was a bonus to bump into Aamna there too a reminder of how connected the education community here in Dubai really is.
This week’s focus has been Living with Compassion, and that begins with understanding that compassion is not only about how we treat others, but also how we treat ourselves.
At Ash Mount, we will support students to develop compassion by:
- learning to recognise and name emotions
- listening to different perspectives
- understanding the impact of their actions
- showing kindness, even when it feels difficult
Compassion is closely linked to wellbeing, belonging, and resilience. Children who feel understood are more able to understand others.
Families can support this at home in simple ways:
- talking openly about feelings, both yours and theirs
- modelling empathy in everyday situations
- encouraging children to consider how others might feel
- reminding them that mistakes are part of learning
Living with compassion also means allowing ourselves patience, recognising that children (and adults) grow through experience, reflection, and support.
As always, it has been a privilege to spend the week building Ash Mount alongside such thoughtful people. I’m very much looking forward to our community event next Friday, where parents, students, and the leadership team will have another opportunity to connect and begin building the relationships that will sit at the heart of our school.
Warm wishes,
Abigail Fishbourne
