Dear Ash Mount Community,
We had such a lovely time at today’s Pirates Surf Happiness Hour. It was wonderful to see families, staff, and children spending time together so naturally, talking, laughing, playing, and beginning to build the relationships that will sit at the heart of our school community.
Events like these are an important reminder that wellbeing is not something separate from school life at Ash Mount , it is woven through everything we do. Our Wellbeing Pathway is not simply about supporting children when things are difficult; it is about creating a culture of belonging, connection, balance, and positive relationships from the very beginning.
One of the loveliest things to see during the event was how naturally children began looking after one another, helping younger children, including others in games, sharing, encouraging, and showing kindness without needing to be asked. These moments matter deeply. They reflect the kind of community we hope to build and the values that sit at the heart of international and IB education: service, compassion, responsibility, and care for others.
This month, our blogs have focused on how children grow as individuals, and this week we continue that conversation by thinking about how independence and confidence also develop through community.
Children grow not only through academic learning, but through relationships, shared experiences, and opportunities to contribute positively to others. Feeling part of something larger than themselves helps children develop empathy, resilience, and a sense of responsibility.
This week, it was also lovely to welcome the media team onto the school site. They were incredibly excited to see how much progress has been made and to experience the scale of the developments taking place across the campus. Every week the school feels more real, and seeing others react to the spaces with such excitement reminds us how special this project is becoming.
We were also very excited to deliver the first of our school readiness talks for nurseries and families with children moving into school in August. These conversations focused on helping families understand how they can support children emotionally, socially, and practically as they prepare for the transition into school life.
At the same time, it was wonderful to attend the British Mums teen event, where Brooke, Tom, Mahbouba and I had the opportunity to speak with families interested in joining Ash Mount in the secondary years. These conversations are always incredibly valuable, particularly as families begin thinking carefully about pathways, curriculum choices, wellbeing, and future opportunities for their children.
Looking ahead, we have another exciting weekend coming up with our Snow Run, where two Ash Mount staff teams will be taking part, alongside Open Day 4, where we look forward to welcoming more families into the Ash Mount community.
Next week we will also continue with our Coffee and Connect events, and after the Eid break we are very much looking forward to hosting two important sessions for secondary families:
- an introduction to assessment in the MYP
- and a session exploring university guidance and future pathways
These sessions form part of our commitment to ensuring families feel informed, supported, and involved as we build Ash Mount together.
As always, thank you for your continued encouragement and support.
We wish you and your families a wonderful weekend.
Warm wishes,
Abigail Fishbourne
Founding Principal
Ash Mount School
