Dear Ash Mount Community,
What a lovely week it has been, I hope yours has felt the same.
It has been such a pleasure meeting families at our recent Coffee & Connect sessions, both online and in person at Town Square. Thank you to everyone who came along, asked thoughtful questions, and shared your hopes for your children. These early conversations really matter to us; they help shape the school we are building together, long before the doors open.
This week has also included visits to local nurseries, including time at Blossom and several other settings across Dubai. It has been lovely meeting so many confident, curious children and seeing the wonderful foundations already in place. We are genuinely excited to have offers out and to begin welcoming what we know will be an exceptional group of young learners to Ash Mount.
Alongside this, I’ve spent time meeting students currently in school, both in person and online. These conversations are always a highlight. Getting to know our future students as individuals, what they enjoy, what they care about, and what excites them, sits at the heart of our approach. This week I met students who love fashion and design, others who are passionate about music, and some who are already thinking creatively about how things work and how they might improve them.
I also visited the school site this week with Aamna and Tom, and it was one of those moments when the plans start to feel very real. We could see rooms being plastered, electrical wiring and plumbing going in, and begin to recognise where everyday spaces, including bathrooms and shared areas, will sit. These details might seem small, but they are what shape daily life in a school.
It was particularly lovely to see the first touches of colour appearing on the walls as we continue to refine the internal colour scheme. We’re being very thoughtful about these choices, thinking about calm, light-filled environments and how colour can support focus, wellbeing, and creativity. Our aim is to bring the outside in, using natural tones and textures that help children feel settled and ready to learn.
Wellbeing has been a strong theme this week too. Tom was invited to attend a conference focused on wellbeing, and we’re very much looking forward to building his learning into our wider wellbeing plans as the school takes shape. Creating an environment where both children and adults feel supported is something we care deeply about.
I also had the pleasure of attending a celebration at DPS, a school that has been part of the Interstar family for over 20 years and where students achieve some of the strongest CBSE results in the world. Being reminded of that legacy of consistency, care, and high standards is reassuring as we build Ash Mount. The principal and I are already thinking about how future inter-school events might enrich our students’ experiences and help them see the world through a wider lens.
At Ash Mount, we care deeply about student voice and agency. We want children to feel involved in shaping their school experience, not simply moving through it. Alongside sports, academies, and team pathways, we are planning a broad range of extracurricular opportunities, including the arts, drama, music, choir, design, and creative clubs, with room for new ideas to grow as students help shape what’s on offer.
Behind the scenes, we are also meeting exceptional teachers and leaders who are excited about joining a founding team. There is something very special about being part of a school at this stage, for staff and families alike. Together, you are helping to create the culture, values, and sense of purpose that will define Ash Mount for years to come.
Today has been really exciting as we prepare for our Cinema Under the Stars event this evening. We’re really looking forward to spending time together again, watching a film under the night sky, sharing food, and getting to know one another a little better. These simple moments of connection are at the heart of what makes a school community thrive.
This month, our focus has been on living with compassion, and evenings like this bring that idea to life. Compassion is about connection, kindness, and belonging. It’s about taking time to be present with one another and recognising that schools are built on relationships as much as they are on learning.
I’m very much looking forward to seeing many of you later today and continuing these conversations as our community grows.
Best wishes,
Abi
