Best First Week of School....EVER!!

Last week the kids started school here. They had a shortened week, but we'll still count it! On Thursday night (our week is Sunday-Thursday) Kevin said that this was the best first week of school ever! Coming from someone who has had first weeks at 6 different schools, that is pretty high praise!

When you attend school in the States, there is nothing really special about the first week. You pretty much see all the same faces, know all the teachers, and really know your way around the place. When you attend a school Internationally, your week is very different. You will see many new faces and many new teachers. The turnover of the student body is typically 10-20% per year.

When we first moved abroad, the kids went to The American School of the Hague (ASH). It was a wonderful school. The week before they started school, ASH had 3 days of orientations, testing, and ice breakers for the new students. They had a wonderful Student Ambassador program that would match a new student up with a returning student. Your first day of classes, you were guaranteed to see a familiar face.

Last year we moved to the American School of Dubai (ASD). This was a very different year for ASD as they moved to a new campus. This move created many challenges for the school. First, the move enabled the school to expand its student population by 400 kids. The returning students felt like their little school had now gotten SO BIG. It was hard to get acquainted with people, spirits were down, and the entire experience just was not very positive.

There also was the challenge of the new campus itself. If this building was in the US, it would never have been opened. Not only were the walls bare, but there were areas of the school blocked off by plywood doors because of the construction and there were construction workers everywhere. It was a mess.

This year we have had a completely different experience. The construction is almost done; yes, we are still waiting on a middle school playground, more artwork, signs that identify where to go, and the completion of a new parking lot and entry gate. BUT...a man named Daniel Mendes decided to make a change. Daniel is the Middle School IT teacher. Last year he and his wife (who just happens to be the Vice Principal of the HS) joined ASD from a school in Moscow.
Daniel witnessed and experienced the frustration of the students and new faculty last year. He decided to try and organize an Orientation Program for ASD. What a difference he has made.

First, on the Sunday before school started all of the new families were invited to the school. They received a wonderful, informative Welcome Packet (put together by the Welcome Committee which I co-chair). They received a tour of the school and an opportunity to buy school supplies and uniforms. It was a great day, but just the tip of the iceberg.

On Monday the school had an all-school assembly. Everyone from our 4 year old K1's to the graduating class of 2012 were there. The assembly began with the Seniors walking the 1st graders into the Field House. Then began the flag procession. ASD has over 60 nationalities represented. The flag from each country was paraded into the building. It was really moving.

The rest of the week was filled with ice breakers and get-to-know-you activities. The grande finale of the week though was the Field Day event on Thursday. In the morning the field house was filled with the High School kids. They had grade level cheer competitions, spirit competitions, and team building (read fun) games. The afternoon was the Field Day event for the Middle School.
Just before the end of the day, but still during the Middle School Field Day, the High School kids walked into the Field House (gym). They appeared to just be wandering around, but suddenly the music changed. Some girls started dancing... then...the entire High School began their Flash Mob! It was awesome! The Middle School kids quickly gathered around them and watched and cheered. They played the music a second time and the High School kids were pulling the Middle School kids into the routine. It was fun, it was crazy, and it was 700 kids dancing and laughing. It just doesn't get any better than this!

I can honestly say that I have never witnessed such a fun event. The kids all left the field house laughing and even dancing. So thank you to ASD...thank you to Daniel Mendes. This was a wonderful way to end our week and start our year. Best first week of school...EVER!