Newsletters

Dear SIA Community, I hope this week’s letter finds you well and ready for a great weekend. It has been a delightful week here at SIA, and I would like to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude to all the parents who actively participated in various activities, contributing to the vibrant atmosphere around school. A special thank you goes out to those parents who dedicated their time to support reading, attend celebration assemblies, and joined our HPL workshop. Your presence and involvement are invaluable, and they play a crucial role in fostering a strong sense of community within SIA, which as you know is something we aim for here at SIA. The HPL philosophy, along with the Values, Attitudes, and Attributes (VAAs) and the Advanced Performance characteristics (ACPs), is integral to our educational approach. It is heartening to see the commitment of both parents, teachers and learners to this philosophy. Working collaboratively in partnership creates a synergy between home and school enhancing the overall learning experience and significantly contributes to positive outcomes. I urge the whole community to spend time to learning about HPL as we are all learning and growing in this wonderful community. I would like to thank my leadership team and our HPL lead, Ms. Heather, for organising and delivering the workshop which from the feedback I received was very informative. I would like to highlight a particularly powerful and touching meeting I had with a group of parents this week. These parents shared their observations of the impact of HPL on their children, highlighting moments where they witnessed increased empathy displayed by their children at home. Such feedback is invaluable and reinforces the positive influence that our shared commitment to HPL is having on the holistic development of our learners. One particularly heartwarming moment was hearing parents describe how their children actively talk about and demonstrate empathy in their daily lives. It is moments like these that affirm the significance of our collective efforts in shaping not just academic success but also the character and values of our learners – Empathy, learning, and leadership at the heart of what we do. Our weekly ‘I in kind’ activity added an extra layer of joy to the week. The enthusiasm and creativity displayed by our learners in sharing their thoughts and experiences was inspiring as always. Let’s take a moment to celebrate the voices of our learners, please click here to watch. Thank you once again for your ongoing support and commitment to creating a nurturing and enriching environment. Together, as a united SIA community, we are making a lasting impact on the lives of our learners – ‘Life Ready’  Wishing you all a wonderful weekend and looking forward to more collaborative moments ahead. #BeTheBestYouCanBe #HPL #WeAreScholars #LifeReady #Preppy.Principal   Take Care Mr. James Batts | Principal   Read More

Dear SIA Community, I hope this letter finds you well and looking forward to the final week before the winter break. I will start this week by saying well done to the incredible Primary learners who joined me to celebrate the ‘I in kind.’ As you know, this weekly gathering is a personal favourite of mine, providing a wonderful opportunity to witness the growth of our empathetic culture first hand and listen to how our learners support each other from day to day. Not only is this great fun but I get to see just how proud each learner is of their contributions which always brings a big smile to my face. Please click here to watch the video. This week was particularly special with the FS and Lower Primary concerts, which, I believe, were nothing short of amazing. The feedback pouring in from the SIA community echoes my sentiments, and I couldn’t be prouder of all the learners who took part. A massive thank you to our dedicated performing arts team, SLT, and teachers who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to make this event a success. Ms. Heather’s last-minute costume adjustments and the collective effort put into practicing truly embody the High-Performance Learning (HPL) attributes we aim to instill in our learners. Please click here to see concert photos. Speaking of HPL, a special mention goes out to the Secondary learners who are currently undergoing Mock Exams. I understand this is a challenging time, and their hard work has not gone unnoticed. Kudos to the learners for their dedication and to the secondary team for providing unwavering support. For our learners the winter break will I hope act as some well earned down time and provide a little space to reflect on ‘what went well’ and how they would approach their exams different next time. In HPL terms this level of being able to plan, monitor and understand next steps is part of the ‘Meta-thinking’ steps we aim to explicitly support our learners with. Please click here for weekly HPL facts. However, in the midst of our celebrations, I must raise a matter of importance concerning the health and safety of our learners. Over the past few months, we’ve observed that learners across the Primary have frequently been bringing in wheeled bags and backpacks filled with unnecessary books and materials. Carrying such heavy bags daily poses a significant risk to the physical health of our learners, and it is crucial that we address this concern promptly. I kindly request parents to consider opting for smaller bags for their children—bags that are just large enough to accommodate the essentials. This measure will not only contribute to the well-being of our learners but also align with our commitment to providing a safe and conducive learning environment. Once again, thank you to everyone for contributing to the success of our recent events and for your continued support in nurturing a positive and thriving community at SIA. #BeTheBestYouCanBe #Hardwork #Practice #IinKind #WeAreScholars Take Care Mr. James | Principal Read More

Dear SIA Community, I hope this letter finds you well and looking forward to the final week before the winter break. I will start this week by saying well done to the incredible Primary learners who joined me to celebrate the ‘I in kind.’ As you know, this weekly gathering is a personal favourite of mine, providing a wonderful opportunity to witness the growth of our empathetic culture first hand and listen to how our learners support each other from day to day. Not only is this great fun but I get to see just how proud each learner is of their contributions which always brings a big smile to my face. Please click here to watch the video. This week was particularly special with the FS and Lower Primary concerts, which, I believe, were nothing short of amazing. The feedback pouring in from the SIA community echoes my sentiments, and I couldn’t be prouder of all the learners who took part. A massive thank you to our dedicated performing arts team, SLT, and teachers who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to make this event a success. Ms. Heather’s last-minute costume adjustments and the collective effort put into practicing truly embody the High-Performance Learning (HPL) attributes we aim to instill in our learners. Please click here to see concert photos. Speaking of HPL, a special mention goes out to the Secondary learners who are currently undergoing Mock Exams. I understand this is a challenging time, and their hard work has not gone unnoticed. Kudos to the learners for their dedication and to the secondary team for providing unwavering support. For our learners the winter break will I hope act as some well earned down time and provide a little space to reflect on ‘what went well’ and how they would approach their exams different next time. In HPL terms this level of being able to plan, monitor and understand next steps is part of the ‘Meta-thinking’ steps we aim to explicitly support our learners with. Please click here for weekly HPL facts. However, in the midst of our celebrations, I must raise a matter of importance concerning the health and safety of our learners. Over the past few months, we’ve observed that learners across the Primary have frequently been bringing in wheeled bags and backpacks filled with unnecessary books and materials. Carrying such heavy bags daily poses a significant risk to the physical health of our learners, and it is crucial that we address this concern promptly. I kindly request parents to consider opting for smaller bags for their children—bags that are just large enough to accommodate the essentials. This measure will not only contribute to the well-being of our learners but also align with our commitment to providing a safe and conducive learning environment. Once again, thank you to everyone for contributing to the success of our recent events and for your continued support in nurturing a positive and thriving community at SIA. #BeTheBestYouCanBe #Hardwork #Practice #IinKind #WeAreScholars Take Care Mr. James | Principal Read More

Dear SIA Community, I hope this letter finds you well and looking forward to the final week before the winter break. I will start this week by saying well done to the incredible Primary learners who joined me to celebrate the ‘I in kind.’ As you know, this weekly gathering is a personal favourite of mine, providing a wonderful opportunity to witness the growth of our empathetic culture first hand and listen to how our learners support each other from day to day. Not only is this great fun but I get to see just how proud each learner is of their contributions which always brings a big smile to my face. Please click here to watch the video. This week was particularly special with the FS and Lower Primary concerts, which, I believe, were nothing short of amazing. The feedback pouring in from the SIA community echoes my sentiments, and I couldn’t be prouder of all the learners who took part. A massive thank you to our dedicated performing arts team, SLT, and teachers who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to make this event a success. Ms. Heather’s last-minute costume adjustments and the collective effort put into practicing truly embody the High-Performance Learning (HPL) attributes we aim to instill in our learners. Please click here to see concert photos. Speaking of HPL, a special mention goes out to the Secondary learners who are currently undergoing Mock Exams. I understand this is a challenging time, and their hard work has not gone unnoticed. Kudos to the learners for their dedication and to the secondary team for providing unwavering support. For our learners the winter break will I hope act as some well earned down time and provide a little space to reflect on ‘what went well’ and how they would approach their exams different next time. In HPL terms this level of being able to plan, monitor and understand next steps is part of the ‘Meta-thinking’ steps we aim to explicitly support our learners with. Please click here for weekly HPL facts. However, in the midst of our celebrations, I must raise a matter of importance concerning the health and safety of our learners. Over the past few months, we’ve observed that learners across the Primary have frequently been bringing in wheeled bags and backpacks filled with unnecessary books and materials. Carrying such heavy bags daily poses a significant risk to the physical health of our learners, and it is crucial that we address this concern promptly. I kindly request parents to consider opting for smaller bags for their children—bags that are just large enough to accommodate the essentials. This measure will not only contribute to the well-being of our learners but also align with our commitment to providing a safe and conducive learning environment. Once again, thank you to everyone for contributing to the success of our recent events and for your continued support in nurturing a positive and thriving community at SIA. #BeTheBestYouCanBe #Hardwork #Practice #IinKind #WeAreScholars Take Care Mr. James | Principal Read More

Dear SIA Community, I hope you are all well and that you had a wonderful weekend. Firstly, I extend my sincere apologies for the delay in this week’s newsletter. We encountered some technical issues that, unfortunately, impacted our ability to get the newsletter out before the weekend and also showcase this weeks ‘I in kind’ feature. I share in your disappointment as this segment has become one of my weekly highlights. Rest assured, I will reshoot the ‘I in Kind’ this week and send it in my letter next week. Reflecting on the past week, the overarching theme that resonated across our school community was gratitude. In our fast-paced lives, taking a moment to step back and appreciate the positive aspects is a valuable skill. Our daily celebration assemblies stand as a testament to the acknowledgment of effort and hard work. However, it’s heartening to know that gratitude is a sentiment shared not only during these assemblies but throughout the entire school among both learners and teachers. I would like to highlight the impressive Year 13 podcast created by Hana and Mariam. They eloquently discussed simple aspects of life that they are grateful for, providing valuable insights. I encourage each of you to contemplate and share what you are grateful for. Personally, I find gratitude in the dedicated team I work with, the happiness of our learners during school activities, and the interactions with parents and learners each morning. At home, the precious moments spent with my daughter, whether engaging in conversation, reading, or simply sharing a cuddle, are truly magical. Please click here to watch the video. We had great successes in our sporting events with our netball and cross-country teams demonstrating great pride in our community with their recent exploits in the EISSA competitions. We had an amazing result on Thursday with our cross-country athletes coming 3rd overall in the EISSA fixture with learners representing both secondary and primary bringing home medals! Well done to all our amazing athletic learners, we look forward to celebrating even more of your successes. Our week concluded with the Yusai’d initiative, featuring a sports afternoon and BBQ for our cleaners, facilities team, TA’s, and bus drivers. These individuals play crucial roles in our daily lives at SIA, and it was heartwarming to witness the support and appreciation they received from our learner leaders and key staff members. I am immensely proud of these moments and extend my gratitude to everyone who contributed to the success of these events. On a practical note, I kindly remind you that the school opens at 7.10 am. To ensure the safety of all, please be mindful of dropping off your children earlier, as staff members are not on site before 7 am. Please also submit your photos to the school so that your parent ID passes can be created as after the winter break you will be required to bring your passes to school in order to enter the grounds. Your cooperation in this matter is greatly appreciated and contributes to the overall well-being and safety of our school community. Thank you for your understanding and ongoing support. Wishing you all a fantastic week ahead. #Gratitude #BeTheBestYouCanBe #Preppy.principal #LearnerLeaders #WeAreScholars Take Care Mr. James | Principal Read More

Dear SIA Community, I hope you are all well and that you had a wonderful weekend. Firstly, I extend my sincere apologies for the delay in this week’s newsletter. We encountered some technical issues that, unfortunately, impacted our ability to get the newsletter out before the weekend and also showcase this weeks ‘I in kind’ feature. I share in your disappointment as this segment has become one of my weekly highlights. Rest assured, I will reshoot the ‘I in Kind’ this week and send it in my letter next week. Reflecting on the past week, the overarching theme that resonated across our school community was gratitude. In our fast-paced lives, taking a moment to step back and appreciate the positive aspects is a valuable skill. Our daily celebration assemblies stand as a testament to the acknowledgment of effort and hard work. However, it’s heartening to know that gratitude is a sentiment shared not only during these assemblies but throughout the entire school among both learners and teachers. I would like to highlight the impressive Year 13 podcast created by Hana and Mariam. They eloquently discussed simple aspects of life that they are grateful for, providing valuable insights. I encourage each of you to contemplate and share what you are grateful for. Personally, I find gratitude in the dedicated team I work with, the happiness of our learners during school activities, and the interactions with parents and learners each morning. At home, the precious moments spent with my daughter, whether engaging in conversation, reading, or simply sharing a cuddle, are truly magical. Please click here to watch the video. We had great successes in our sporting events with our netball and cross-country teams demonstrating great pride in our community with their recent exploits in the EISSA competitions. We had an amazing result on Thursday with our cross-country athletes coming 3rd overall in the EISSA fixture with learners representing both secondary and primary bringing home medals! Well done to all our amazing athletic learners, we look forward to celebrating even more of your successes. Our week concluded with the Yusai’d initiative, featuring a sports afternoon and BBQ for our cleaners, facilities team, TA’s, and bus drivers. These individuals play crucial roles in our daily lives at SIA, and it was heartwarming to witness the support and appreciation they received from our learner leaders and key staff members. I am immensely proud of these moments and extend my gratitude to everyone who contributed to the success of these events. On a practical note, I kindly remind you that the school opens at 7.10 am. To ensure the safety of all, please be mindful of dropping off your children earlier, as staff members are not on site before 7 am. Please also submit your photos to the school so that your parent ID passes can be created as after the winter break you will be required to bring your passes to school in order to enter the grounds. Your cooperation in this matter is greatly appreciated and contributes to the overall well-being and safety of our school community. Thank you for your understanding and ongoing support. Wishing you all a fantastic week ahead. #Gratitude #BeTheBestYouCanBe #Preppy.principal #LearnerLeaders #WeAreScholars Take Care Mr. James | Principal Read More

Dear SIA Community, I hope you are all well and that you had a wonderful weekend. Firstly, I extend my sincere apologies for the delay in this week’s newsletter. We encountered some technical issues that, unfortunately, impacted our ability to get the newsletter out before the weekend and also showcase this weeks ‘I in kind’ feature. I share in your disappointment as this segment has become one of my weekly highlights. Rest assured, I will reshoot the ‘I in Kind’ this week and send it in my letter next week. Reflecting on the past week, the overarching theme that resonated across our school community was gratitude. In our fast-paced lives, taking a moment to step back and appreciate the positive aspects is a valuable skill. Our daily celebration assemblies stand as a testament to the acknowledgment of effort and hard work. However, it’s heartening to know that gratitude is a sentiment shared not only during these assemblies but throughout the entire school among both learners and teachers. I would like to highlight the impressive Year 13 podcast created by Hana and Mariam. They eloquently discussed simple aspects of life that they are grateful for, providing valuable insights. I encourage each of you to contemplate and share what you are grateful for. Personally, I find gratitude in the dedicated team I work with, the happiness of our learners during school activities, and the interactions with parents and learners each morning. At home, the precious moments spent with my daughter, whether engaging in conversation, reading, or simply sharing a cuddle, are truly magical. Please click here to watch the video. We had great successes in our sporting events with our netball and cross-country teams demonstrating great pride in our community with their recent exploits in the EISSA competitions. We had an amazing result on Thursday with our cross-country athletes coming 3rd overall in the EISSA fixture with learners representing both secondary and primary bringing home medals! Well done to all our amazing athletic learners, we look forward to celebrating even more of your successes. Our week concluded with the Yusai’d initiative, featuring a sports afternoon and BBQ for our cleaners, facilities team, TA’s, and bus drivers. These individuals play crucial roles in our daily lives at SIA, and it was heartwarming to witness the support and appreciation they received from our learner leaders and key staff members. I am immensely proud of these moments and extend my gratitude to everyone who contributed to the success of these events. On a practical note, I kindly remind you that the school opens at 7.10 am. To ensure the safety of all, please be mindful of dropping off your children earlier, as staff members are not on site before 7 am. Please also submit your photos to the school so that your parent ID passes can be created as after the winter break you will be required to bring your passes to school in order to enter the grounds. Your cooperation in this matter is greatly appreciated and contributes to the overall well-being and safety of our school community. Thank you for your understanding and ongoing support. Wishing you all a fantastic week ahead. #Gratitude #BeTheBestYouCanBe #Preppy.principal #LearnerLeaders #WeAreScholars Take Care Mr. James | Principal Read More

Dear SIA Community, I hope this letter finds you well. As we reflect on the past week at SIA, I am filled with gratitude for the vibrant and engaged community that surrounds us. Our week commenced with a heartwarming assembly dedicated to honouring our learner leaders. It was a privilege to express our gratitude for the exceptional representation of our school at the HPL teacher takeover. To witness the dedication and enthusiasm displayed by our learners is always inspiring. I had the pleasure of meeting Irum, Muhammed Raza’s mother on Monday. Her kind words about SIA and the positive developments we’ve achieved were truly heartening. It is this kind of feedback that reinforces our commitment to providing the best possible educational experience for our Learners. I am delighted to share that Irum is interested in initiating a book club for parents. This is an excellent opportunity for our community to come together and engage in reading and enriching discussions. If you share this interest, please reach out to our PLO, Ms. Radhika, who will be helping with setting up and facilitating this group. The development of reading and literacy is such a big focus for us at SIA. In KS2 this week we delved into the captivating stories, about the HPL characters, that some of the Year 4-6 learners have made. I have thoroughly enjoyed reading the stories, which not only entertained me but also showed me the creative talent we have here at SIA. It was truly special to witness the enthusiasm, curiosity and creativity of these young readers as they told me the adventures of the characters like, Hardworking Hisham and Creative Carla! I also had the privilege of participating in the weekly KS1 and KS2 assemblies, celebrating the achievements of our ‘HPL Stars.’ The enthusiasm and accomplishments of our students continue to be a source of pride for the entire SIA community. I eagerly anticipate next week’s assemblies, eager to witness and applaud the ongoing successes of our learners. A thank you goes out to all the parents who actively support their children’s accomplishments by being present at SIA. Your involvement is a crucial element in fostering an environment where our learners can thrive and excel. It is this collaborative spirit that makes being an educator and the Principal of SIA so fulfilling. In Secondary, we had learners representing the school in the Business Challenge Cup in DWTC last week where they performed brilliantly and put their hard work into action by making real-world applications to their studies. We’ve had our Duke of Edinburgh learners going on adventure to the desert to challenge themselves as part of the silver award. This is something they have been preparing for over the last few weeks and it was great to see their excited faces as they set off. In closing, I want to express my gratitude for the unwavering support and commitment from each member of the SIA community. Together, we are creating an environment where every learner can reach their full potential. I look forward to the continued growth and success of our school, fuelled by the passion and dedication of our learners, parents, and staff. #WeAreScholars #BeTheBestYouCanBe #Preppy.Principal #HPL #Empathy Take Care Mr. James | Principal Read More

Dear SIA Community, I hope this letter finds you well. As we reflect on the past week at SIA, I am filled with gratitude for the vibrant and engaged community that surrounds us. Our week commenced with a heartwarming assembly dedicated to honouring our learner leaders. It was a privilege to express our gratitude for the exceptional representation of our school at the HPL teacher takeover. To witness the dedication and enthusiasm displayed by our learners is always inspiring. I had the pleasure of meeting Irum, Muhammed Raza’s mother on Monday. Her kind words about SIA and the positive developments we’ve achieved were truly heartening. It is this kind of feedback that reinforces our commitment to providing the best possible educational experience for our Learners. I am delighted to share that Irum is interested in initiating a book club for parents. This is an excellent opportunity for our community to come together and engage in reading and enriching discussions. If you share this interest, please reach out to our PLO, Ms. Radhika, who will be helping with setting up and facilitating this group. The development of reading and literacy is such a big focus for us at SIA. In KS2 this week we delved into the captivating stories, about the HPL characters, that some of the Year 4-6 learners have made. I have thoroughly enjoyed reading the stories, which not only entertained me but also showed me the creative talent we have here at SIA. It was truly special to witness the enthusiasm, curiosity and creativity of these young readers as they told me the adventures of the characters like, Hardworking Hisham and Creative Carla! I also had the privilege of participating in the weekly KS1 and KS2 assemblies, celebrating the achievements of our ‘HPL Stars.’ The enthusiasm and accomplishments of our students continue to be a source of pride for the entire SIA community. I eagerly anticipate next week’s assemblies, eager to witness and applaud the ongoing successes of our learners. A thank you goes out to all the parents who actively support their children’s accomplishments by being present at SIA. Your involvement is a crucial element in fostering an environment where our learners can thrive and excel. It is this collaborative spirit that makes being an educator and the Principal of SIA so fulfilling. In Secondary, we had learners representing the school in the Business Challenge Cup in DWTC last week where they performed brilliantly and put their hard work into action by making real-world applications to their studies. We’ve had our Duke of Edinburgh learners going on adventure to the desert to challenge themselves as part of the silver award. This is something they have been preparing for over the last few weeks and it was great to see their excited faces as they set off. In closing, I want to express my gratitude for the unwavering support and commitment from each member of the SIA community. Together, we are creating an environment where every learner can reach their full potential. I look forward to the continued growth and success of our school, fuelled by the passion and dedication of our learners, parents, and staff. #WeAreScholars #BeTheBestYouCanBe #Preppy.Principal #HPL #Empathy Take Care Mr. James | Principal Read More

Dear SIA Community, I hope this letter finds you well. As we reflect on the past week at SIA, I am filled with gratitude for the vibrant and engaged community that surrounds us. Our week commenced with a heartwarming assembly dedicated to honouring our learner leaders. It was a privilege to express our gratitude for the exceptional representation of our school at the HPL teacher takeover. To witness the dedication and enthusiasm displayed by our learners is always inspiring. I had the pleasure of meeting Irum, Muhammed Raza’s mother on Monday. Her kind words about SIA and the positive developments we’ve achieved were truly heartening. It is this kind of feedback that reinforces our commitment to providing the best possible educational experience for our Learners. I am delighted to share that Irum is interested in initiating a book club for parents. This is an excellent opportunity for our community to come together and engage in reading and enriching discussions. If you share this interest, please reach out to our PLO, Ms. Radhika, who will be helping with setting up and facilitating this group. The development of reading and literacy is such a big focus for us at SIA. In KS2 this week we delved into the captivating stories, about the HPL characters, that some of the Year 4-6 learners have made. I have thoroughly enjoyed reading the stories, which not only entertained me but also showed me the creative talent we have here at SIA. It was truly special to witness the enthusiasm, curiosity and creativity of these young readers as they told me the adventures of the characters like, Hardworking Hisham and Creative Carla! I also had the privilege of participating in the weekly KS1 and KS2 assemblies, celebrating the achievements of our ‘HPL Stars.’ The enthusiasm and accomplishments of our students continue to be a source of pride for the entire SIA community. I eagerly anticipate next week’s assemblies, eager to witness and applaud the ongoing successes of our learners. A thank you goes out to all the parents who actively support their children’s accomplishments by being present at SIA. Your involvement is a crucial element in fostering an environment where our learners can thrive and excel. It is this collaborative spirit that makes being an educator and the Principal of SIA so fulfilling. In Secondary, we had learners representing the school in the Business Challenge Cup in DWTC last week where they performed brilliantly and put their hard work into action by making real-world applications to their studies. We’ve had our Duke of Edinburgh learners going on adventure to the desert to challenge themselves as part of the silver award. This is something they have been preparing for over the last few weeks and it was great to see their excited faces as they set off. In closing, I want to express my gratitude for the unwavering support and commitment from each member of the SIA community. Together, we are creating an environment where every learner can reach their full potential. I look forward to the continued growth and success of our school, fuelled by the passion and dedication of our learners, parents, and staff. #WeAreScholars #BeTheBestYouCanBe #Preppy.Principal #HPL #Empathy Take Care Mr. James | Principal Read More