Dear Primary Families,
What an amazing week we have had here at ABIS! Oman Week was filled with so many exciting opportunities, both on campus and off. We had an Omani potter teaching students how to build using pinch and roll techniques, and an Omani drummer working with different grade levels to learn a variety of beats and rhythms. There were camels for students to pet, and a special presentation about boat making in Oman, as well as storytelling, games and Omani snacks in our outdoor tent. Classes across all grades completed different art activities, and Arabic classes shared special traditions. Finally, some of our upper primary students presented at a school wide assembly today, with a fantastic display of traditional dancing and drumming.
Off campus, all grades were busy on field trips, and I was fortunate to be able to visit most classes at their locations around the area. There was fun at local beaches, overnight trips to Mussanah and Muscat, as well as castles, forts and museums on the itineraries. Even with the foggy weather on Wednesday, we were able to enjoy all trips that were planned and everything went very smoothly. We will reflect as classes, and with all staff involved, and make notes about successes and areas to improve upon for next year. Overall, for our first official Oman Week since the pandemic, it was exciting and successful. Thank you to all teachers and parents for organizing and supporting students in their learning this week.
Next week is also a very busy time at ABIS. The Student Council has organized a fun Spirit Week for students to participate in before the February break. Each day, students are invited to participate in different special dress days. Please note that this is not mandatory and the dress up days will not affect learning or the regular timetable. The dress up themes are:
- Monday, Feb. 20: Twin Day: dress the same as one or two of your friends.
- Tuesday, Feb. 21: Mother Language Day: dress in traditional clothes or colours from your home country
- Wednesday, Feb. 22: Career Day: dress the way a future you will look at work
- Thursday, Feb. 23: Pajama Day: wear your pajamas to school
Of course, all special dress must be appropriate and adhere to ABIS uniform standards.
On Tuesday, Feb. 21, ABIS will acknowledge International Mother Language Day. This is an opportunity for students to share their home language(s) with each other. Each classroom is organizing learning around this in a different way so please read communications from homeroom teachers for information specific to your child’s class. If you are keen to come into school next week and share a story or teach a few words or phrases in your home language, please let your child’s homeroom teacher know. We will have a short school wide assembly on Tuesday morning at 8am to kick off the day.
Finally, we will end the week with a Primary assembly hosted by Grades 1 & 2 students. Please join us in the Mazoon next Thursday, Feb. 23 at 12:30pm if you are able.
February break will run from Friday, Feb. 24 through Saturday, March 4. We will welcome students back to school on Monday, March 5.
Sunday, Feb. 19th is a national holiday. There is no school for staff or students on Sunday. Enjoy your long weekend. Maeve