Mr. James’ Weekly Reflection – 9th April

Dear Nadeen Family,

As we approach the end of Term 2, I want to take a moment to express my gratitude to everyone who makes our school such a special place. To our incredible team here at Nadeen, thank you, as always, for your dedication, passion, and unwavering commitment to supporting our learners as they continue to grow, shine, and thrive. To our wonderful parent community, your ongoing support, encouragement, and partnership are deeply appreciated. And to the Friends of Nadeen, thank you for all that you do to enrich the life of our school.

I also want to thank the heart of our community, our learners. Thank you for being your wonderfully unique selves. I absolutely love getting out into the corridors, collaborative areas, and around the school just to see you in action, it’s what school life is all about. Whether it’s a high five, a quick chat, or a surprise visit to my office, these moments are always the highlight of my day.

This week, Year 3 and 4 enjoyed incredible adventure trips to Zallaq with Arabian Adventures. From archery and sensory trails to team-building challenges and command tasks, the children embraced the outdoors with courage and enthusiasm. These experiences are not only fun but also powerful opportunities to develop collaboration, communication, resilience, and perseverance.

On Sunday and Tuesday, our Under 11 and Under 13 football teams represented Nadeen brilliantly at tournaments in Hamala, organised by 24N. The passion and commitment shown by all players were a credit to the school. I have to say though watching the football on Saturday the parents and staff certainly turned up to win that competition. Thank you to all that attended #fierce

Our badminton teams were also in action this week on Monday (Under 13) and Wednesday (Under 15). We hosted the Under 13 girls’ tournament at Nadeen, while the boys competed at ARKIS. Special congratulations to Ali Sabaa and Bingcheng, who earned silver medals for the boys, and to Laya and Joni, who did the same for the girls. What an achievement!

Saturday saw members of our community take part in the Race Against Dementia event at the Bahrain International Circuit, in collaboration with the British Embassy Bahrain. Whether you ran, walked, or scooted, your presence and support meant a lot. A huge thank you to everyone who attended, and yes, our Nadeen Wolf mascot was a big hit! But the mystery remains… who is behind the mask?

In this week’s reflection, I want to shine a light on a cause close to our hearts, animal welfare in Bahrain, particularly the incredible work of the Bahrain Animal Rescue Centre (BARC) and the BSPCA, both of which rely heavily on community support to continue their life-changing work.

Yesterday, Ms. Shanee (who really enjoyed the painting aspect) and I had the privilege of joining Ms. Rien and four of her incredible Year 10 learners, Denica, Aisha, Leia, and Diego, at BARC to paint a mural and support the dedicated team there. When I arrived, the learners were already inside playing with the cats, showing such empathy, kindness, and joy. It was one of those magical moments that truly reminded me of the compassionate spirit we nurture at Nadeen.

The visit was both inspiring and emotional. Seeing so many animals in need of a loving home tugged at all our heartstrings. That evening, I found myself speaking about the experience at an embassy event, sharing the importance of these organisations in our community. BARC was founded to help reduce the stray animal population in Bahrain and to ensure animals are no longer left to suffer due to heat, neglect, or injury. Likewise, the BSPCA continues to do vital work across the island, offering shelter, veterinary care, and rehoming services for countless animals in need. Both organisations rely on donations, volunteers, and awareness to continue making a difference.

So I wonder: can we, the Nadeen community, step in to help?

Whether it’s by volunteering your time, donating supplies or funds, or even considering rehoming one of the many animals in their care, every gesture of support matters.

BARC website: https://www.visitbarc.com/

BSPCA website: https://www.bspca.org/