Principal Interview

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

So for me,

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

you're coming from vice principal to principal.

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

It feels like a bit of a dream job.

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

We were just talking as we walked in about taking the best practice

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

from all your,

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

I think from being a parent,

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

but also from moving forward through your teaching career.

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

It must feel like a bit of a privilege to do this role.

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

How are you approaching it?

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S… Speaker 2 (Principal Interview)

I was really looking forward for this role for quite some time.

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

In fact,

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S… Speaker 2 (Principal Interview)

I could have taken up this role two years ago.

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S… Speaker 2 (Principal Interview)

when it was first offered to me.

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S… Speaker 2 (Principal Interview)

But I just wanted to give myself a little bit more time and the right time.

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S… Speaker 2 (Principal Interview)

Then I realized there's never a right time being in education for

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S… Speaker 2 (Principal Interview)

such a long time,

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S… Speaker 2 (Principal Interview)

being part of the Interventures education for the past 16 years.

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S… Speaker 2 (Principal Interview)

And I've actually done each and every role in the IAB that you would expect.

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S… Speaker 2 (Principal Interview)

I've been a PYP coordinator,

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S… Speaker 2 (Principal Interview)

classroom teacher,

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S… Speaker 2 (Principal Interview)

a deputy head of assessment.

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S… Speaker 2 (Principal Interview)

Then I've also been the inclusion person.

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S… Speaker 2 (Principal Interview)

So I've done all the different roles.

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S… Speaker 2 (Principal Interview)

Most recently,

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S… Speaker 2 (Principal Interview)

the head of primary and the vice principal.

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S… Speaker 2 (Principal Interview)

The vice principal role was given just as a latch between the

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S… Speaker 2 (Principal Interview)

head of primary to the next role.

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S… Speaker 2 (Principal Interview)

So really looking forward.

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S… Speaker 2 (Principal Interview)

And I think with the background knowledge,

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S… Speaker 2 (Principal Interview)

as we discussed,

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S… Speaker 2 (Principal Interview)

that there's so many things that we've done,

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S… Speaker 2 (Principal Interview)

trial and tested.

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S… Speaker 2 (Principal Interview)

And having that background information,

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S… Speaker 2 (Principal Interview)

that background knowledge and experience,

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S… Speaker 2 (Principal Interview)

and I think I was so much ready for this role.

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S… Speaker 2 (Principal Interview)

And I really enjoy it.

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S… Speaker 2 (Principal Interview)

trying to build things from the beginning you know so that is something that

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S… Speaker 2 (Principal Interview)

I'm really looking forward so I think the knowledge of the IV is one

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S… Speaker 2 (Principal Interview)

of the most important point because as this particular place is

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S… Speaker 2 (Principal Interview)

actually educating the people about what the IV program is because that's something

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S… Speaker 2 (Principal Interview)

new in this region and everybody understands the British or the American so

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

my

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S… Speaker 2 (Principal Interview)

being an IB person being an IB workshop leader myself so I think that's

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S… Speaker 2 (Principal Interview)

a great opportunity as well so that's I want to bring all my experience and start

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S… Speaker 2 (Principal Interview)

off absolutely you know full -blown as you mean to go on yes I

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S… Speaker 2 (Principal Interview)

think I'm very much ready and I'm really looking forward I've

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S… Speaker 2 (Principal Interview)

worked as even as a role role as vice principal I've quite often

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S… Speaker 2 (Principal Interview)

done quite a lot of role principal would be doing so yeah I've got that experience

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S… Speaker 2 (Principal Interview)

in the background

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S… Speaker 2 (Principal Interview)

and also the culture because being part of the UAE for such a long time understand

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S… Speaker 2 (Principal Interview)

how the emirates work and you understand the arabic culture

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S… Speaker 2 (Principal Interview)

and loads of arabic friends and loads of emirati friends i'm muslim myself you

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S… Speaker 2 (Principal Interview)

know it all helps together it brings a lot of um you know it

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S… Speaker 2 (Principal Interview)

does give parents a little bit of more assurance you understand the islamic part of

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S… Speaker 2 (Principal Interview)

it as well as the modern aspects that sometimes people misunderstand

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S… Speaker 2 (Principal Interview)

educating them about we can't separate the boys and girls,

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S… Speaker 2 (Principal Interview)

the world is not separated,

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S… Speaker 2 (Principal Interview)

we need to understand boundaries,

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S… Speaker 2 (Principal Interview)

we need to understand respect and that's our philosophy,

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S… Speaker 2 (Principal Interview)

that's our core values.

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

I think the UAE is really really good at

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

driving forward it's got amazing vision but retaining its heritage

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

and its history so it sounds very much like that's what you're doing and for me it's also

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

about respect as well we are in a country that's really respectful and

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S… Speaker 2 (Principal Interview)

you're bringing in all those elements to it's a host you have to anywhere in the world

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S… Speaker 2 (Principal Interview)

you have to respect the host country yeah you are at the end of the day a

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S… Speaker 2 (Principal Interview)

guest in the country yeah and you need to first respect that and I bring it

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

up

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S… Speaker 2 (Principal Interview)

was in different parts of the world and that's what we always did you start from the culture the local

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S… Speaker 2 (Principal Interview)

culture once you embed the local culture you bring in the external

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S… Speaker 2 (Principal Interview)

aspects as well yeah and I think this school will have a great opportunity given

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S… Speaker 2 (Principal Interview)

that we are going to be diversified and I'm really trying to make that very clear

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S… Speaker 2 (Principal Interview)

because a lot of parents are asking me what's the nationality mix of

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S… Speaker 2 (Principal Interview)

your children I said oh look it's an international IB education the whole philosophy

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S… Speaker 2 (Principal Interview)

is around international mindedness it's not about where you come from it's the mindset

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S… Speaker 2 (Principal Interview)

that needs to be changed it's the open -mindedness and open culture

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S… Speaker 2 (Principal Interview)

understanding each other's culture celebrating each other's culture you know

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S… Speaker 2 (Principal Interview)

creating the real tolerant mix of kids.

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S… Speaker 2 (Principal Interview)

We really want that.

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S… Speaker 2 (Principal Interview)

Respectful,

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S… Speaker 2 (Principal Interview)

tolerant, caring kids.

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

And just off topic,

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

but not at all,

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

when we went back to the UK recently,

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

part of my decision was,

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

are we going to move back to the UK?

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

And I decided very quickly that that wasn't the right decision for us.

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

And the biggest...

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

factor in that was that my son will get a diverse class in whichever

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

school he goes to in this country.

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

And that's really important for me.

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

We're going back to the world citizens and the future leaders.

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

So I love that that's at the forefront of your mind.

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S… Speaker 2 (Principal Interview)

This is the vision because we are growing kids for our future.

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S… Speaker 2 (Principal Interview)

And they need to be really...

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S… Speaker 2 (Principal Interview)

because the world is not blended,

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S… Speaker 2 (Principal Interview)

it's a global world.

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S… Speaker 2 (Principal Interview)

Everybody needs to understand how different countries work and different people,

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S… Speaker 2 (Principal Interview)

what are their thoughts behind it.

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S… Speaker 2 (Principal Interview)

So in a class you might have 11 to 13 different nationalities and what

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S… Speaker 2 (Principal Interview)

a great way to bring great learning experiences from different parts

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

of the world.

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S… Speaker 2 (Principal Interview)

So we will do things like open days where parents come in.

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

Share about their culture,

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

kids learn from each other,

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

celebrate different cultures and they feel good about it.

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

That's another part of well -being.

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

If you see that your culture is celebrated,

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

what a great thing to do.

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

So that's what we're going to be bringing as well.

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

I'm really looking forward because I have the right mindset of parents that we've

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

already got.

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

They're really looking forward to this.

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

This is something that's being missed.

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

We really want to see this happening and this is something that's exciting.

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

Our children will learn so much here from each other as well.

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S… Speaker 2 (Principal Interview)

And as a principal,

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S… Speaker 2 (Principal Interview)

you have everything to think about.

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S… Speaker 2 (Principal Interview)

And throughout our conversation today,

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S… Speaker 2 (Principal Interview)

we've touched on leadership,

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S… Speaker 2 (Principal Interview)

well -being,

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S… Speaker 2 (Principal Interview)

the design of the school,

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S… Speaker 2 (Principal Interview)

the IB curriculum.

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S… Speaker 2 (Principal Interview)

The list is never -ending.

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S… Speaker 2 (Principal Interview)

What are your top three priorities as the principal moving

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

forward?

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

I think I want to build a community first.

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

That's my first investment.

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

I really want parents.

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

I want buying in from the parents.

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

I really want them to belong here.

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

I want them to feel when the kids walk in that they are happy and satisfied

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

that the kids are walking through the doors of a happy environment.

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

That's going to be my number one priority.

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

Happiness is what sells the school.

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

If your child is happy and you're confident that your child is going to thrive during the day,

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

your child will be taken care for,

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

you know,

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

your child will be catered for.

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

As I said, it's a very inclusive environment.

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

I myself as an educator is very inclusive by nature.

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

I really do not say no to a child if I can cater for that child.

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

And I want that culture to be brought and I want the kids to celebrate each other

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

for their differences.

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

So I'm really going to focus on the community building first.

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

That's one thing.

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

Second thing is,

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

as I said, IB is something that's new in the region,

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

and I will be focusing on doing lots of workshops for the parents so that they

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

understand what the IB is.

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

I think unless and until you don't involve them,

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

you can never sell a program.

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

And I don't want this to be the only IB school here.

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

I want the philosophy to grow.

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

There might be more IB,

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

and I'm really looking into this because I spoke to Queenam as well,

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

our CEO.

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

I said,

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

Queenam, this is the start of your adventures in the Northern Emirates.

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

There should be more schools.

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

coming up because this school will sell the other schools yes and that's what I'm looking at so

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

that's my second priority my third priority is teacher retention and

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

teacher well -being because those are the three things I've really looked at in my priority list how

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

can I make the teachers belong here and you know they never want to leave

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

this place and they grow they have the opportunity to grow in a new school you can have

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

so much of opportunity

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

Because we're all starting new.

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

There will be positions coming up.

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

And when we talk about positions,

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

it's not only about getting the role,

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

it's also about helping each other double up and grow.

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

So it's a whole philosophy of a learning culture.

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

I want everybody,

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

all of us are learners here,

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

students, teachers.

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

And we never stop learning.

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

That's why the modeling of reading,

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

the sports,

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

it's all embedded in that.

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

So we're all learners here,

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

we're all developing and we all grow together as a community.

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S… Speaker 2 (Principal Interview)

Nice, beautiful.

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S… Speaker 2 (Principal Interview)

I had to just check I was recording because if I'd have missed those answers I would have been

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S… Speaker 2 (Principal Interview)

so sad.

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

No,

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

I'm really invested.

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S… Speaker 2 (Principal Interview)

Yeah, I can tell.

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

And I'm passionate about spreading the law for education.

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S… Speaker 2 (Principal Interview)

You have to be, you're the right person for the world.

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

If you cannot,

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

then you cannot because I've never been seen in my office.

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

And I have an open door policy.

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

I tell parents that as well.

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

That's another thing that is very neat in this part of the world.

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

Parents are usually not getting the opportunity to meet the teachers

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

or meet...

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

There's always somebody who's there to meet or online.

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

I say online meetings are fun and flexible,

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

but I want you to be...

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

Come in. Come in the school,

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

feel the school.

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

Come and see the classrooms.

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

See what your child is doing.

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

Be part of a learning journey.

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

At the end of the day,

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

this is your biggest investment.

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

What else do you need?

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

Once the kids feel that the parents are involved,

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

they do well.

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

And I've seen that for my own children.

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

So this is what I want to bring in the culture because I know parents

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

are busy.

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

I know the culture is a little restricted.

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

Lovely families.

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

They're really looking forward to this.

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S… Speaker 2 (Principal Interview)

I said, well,

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

look, the parent association is one thing,

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

but everybody is a part of the parent association and you all have to do things and bring

9:00

S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

something to the table.

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

And that's how you grow the community.

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S… Speaker 2 (Principal Interview)

And what do you think some of the biggest challenges that our learners

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S… Speaker 2 (Principal Interview)

are going to face over the next five,

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S… Speaker 2 (Principal Interview)

ten years?

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

First of all,

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

there's been a big question from our high school kids

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

like the MYP kids that my child has never been in the IB.

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

Will my child be able to pick up?

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S… Speaker 2 (Principal Interview)

Excuse me.

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

That's been one of the major questions

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

from parents.

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

My child has never been in the IB.

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

How will my child adapt?

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

So I said the IB was created for Global Trotters.

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

It was a framework that was needed for children moving around the world.

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

It's a skill -based program and skill is transferable.

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

Now,

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

what will be the biggest challenge for me is to get the kids on time

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

because I've really heard that.

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

the timing is too early yeah and i really want to build the culture that's why i brought in

9:56

S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

the morning mile where you have to run out

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

incentive for you come and be part of this morning world and when you feel you do and

10:04

S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

it's not going to be just running around it could be yoga and we put a lovely gym that is coming up

10:08

S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

as well you use the gym parent bring your kid you use the gym let the kids run around

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

bring that in so that they start learning that it's important to be on time

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

so time management will be a big thing here second thing is also

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

hear that parents feel that they can take time off whenever they feel like and

10:25

S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

you know and I said well no yeah any time off school is a learning loss

10:29

S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

time yeah that will not happen and of course if it's a medical emergency I totally

10:33

S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

understand a family emergency I understand but beyond that no we

10:37

S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

want your child to be in school yeah and there's only so much of time you

10:41

S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

have in your life you know so that will be another shifting of yeah and

10:46

S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

you know ways of doing things so but I want to

10:49

S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

make it inviting that's what i said so the challenges i think there

10:53

S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

are opportunities i would say while these might seem as challenges but

10:57

S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

i feel these are opportunities to understand

11:00

S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

the ways to do things differently.

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

And innovation is the buzzword for us.

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

It's saying we're going to do things differently here.

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

And you're going to see it done differently to your current school.

11:10

S… Speaker 2 (Principal Interview)

And let's take that a little bit further.

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S… Speaker 2 (Principal Interview)

What about global challenges that our young people...

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S… Speaker 2 (Principal Interview)

We've talked a lot about future learners and future leaders.

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S… Speaker 2 (Principal Interview)

What do you think some of the global challenges...

11:21

S… Speaker 2 (Principal Interview)

So in the UK,

11:22

S… Speaker 2 (Principal Interview)

I don't know if you saw yesterday,

11:23

S… Speaker 2 (Principal Interview)

they've announced...

11:24

S… Speaker 2 (Principal Interview)

countrywide ban on social media until the age of 16 what do you think

11:28

S… Speaker 2 (Principal Interview)

some of the global challenges some of raffles learners will face and how are

11:33

S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

you equipping them to deal with that look i think one of the challenges that everybody

11:37

S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

is feeling is social media the way social media is taken up you

11:41

S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

know

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

I think while that is a challenge,

11:44

S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

it's back to the basics.

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

We need to go back because I was just talking to a couple of parents the other day and I said,

11:49

S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

listen, if we want to model that you shouldn't be stuck to your phone

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

24 -7,

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

then you as a parent has to model that as well.

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

So if it's going to,

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

and that's the thing that I want to bring in here,

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

dinner time culture.

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

your phone remains somewhere else you're at the dinner table with your child and that's your child

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

and your time a family dinner those are the things and this is a great place to

12:11

S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

do that by the way they're very community yeah they're all on the phone by the way even in the in

12:15

S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

the cafes i see yeah i said and i want to bring that because a lot of question

12:19

S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

has come in that will my child be allowed the mobile phone in the school i said look i

12:24

S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

understand that mobile phones

12:26

S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

i don't feel that importance of mobile phone i never gave it to my children but i understand

12:30

S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

it's a it's something that i cannot stop and change straight away i

12:34

S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

said mobile phones can come to school but remain remains in your child's back switched

12:38

S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

off during the day it can only be used and if it's seen by me it's

12:42

S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

taken by me that's what it is yeah i want to really not go into the

12:47

S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

You know, the punitive part of things,

12:49

S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

I want to really make them understand why.

12:51

S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

Because children are losing attention,

12:54

S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

their attention span is near to zero.

12:56

S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

We really want to build that.

12:57

S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

That's why reading is being brought in.

12:59

S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

That's why bringing in technology later,

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

like iPads later in the primary school,

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

not from the beginning.

13:05

S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

So we're bringing in from grade four upwards.

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

so that the children still know how to read,

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

write and use their,

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

you know,

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

the fine motor skills that is very important.

13:14

S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

So it's part of educating the parents first of all.

13:18

S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

So one of the challenges will be your social media.

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

There will be a social media policy that will be unpacked with the kids.

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

And I want the kids to be a part of it so that they understand what is the pros and

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

what are the cons of social media.

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

Why should you not be on social media,

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

you know, your carbon footprints and all that.

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

It's all a learning curve,

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

you know, that when you educate people and in a brand new school,

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

that's a great opportunity.

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

Educate the parents,

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

educate the kids about it.

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

And when they understand,

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

they all talk about it,

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

it becomes a culture.

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

And that's what I'm going to do.

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

So I'm going to use all the challenges as a learning opportunity.

13:50

S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

Nice.

13:51

S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

And so that's one thing that I'm looking at.

13:53

S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

Second thing is also,

13:54

S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

I want the kids to mix because one of the things that I...

13:58

S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

From my understanding is that even in international schools,

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

your children are kind of not mixing.

14:03

S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

And the Emiratis are in a little pocket and the others are in a...

14:07

S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

I really want that blend to be blended really well.

14:11

S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

That's why we're going to do things like celebration of different cultures.

14:14

S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

And it's going to be done through not an add -on,

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

but a curriculum.

14:17

S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

So it's a part of the curriculum.

14:19

S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

Let's try and see what happens in Mexico.

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

How does Mexico tackle its global warming problems?

14:25

S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

You know, bring those kind of rich discussion in the lessons so that the children are curious

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

to know about each other.

14:30

S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

When you bring that in,

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

you know, you naturally build that comrade here.

14:34

S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

That's what I'm looking into.

14:35

S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

So, yeah,

14:36

S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

I think...

14:37

S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

Those will be my bigger two areas to look at at the very beginning,

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

educating the parents,

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

understand what the school is all about.

14:44

S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

It's not just a learning academy where you just come and learn English,

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

maths and science.

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

It's a life skill academy where you learn lessons for life.

14:51

S… Speaker 2 (Principal Interview)

My last question,

14:54

S… Speaker 2 (Principal Interview)

can you give me any secrets?

14:56

S… Speaker 2 (Principal Interview)

Can you tell me something that we don't know yet that I can tell my managers?

14:59

S… Speaker 2 (Principal Interview)

This is what raffles are doing.

15:04

S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

They're doing so much.

15:05

S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

It's difficult to say and pinpoint what we

15:09

S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

are.

15:09

S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

I think what I spoke about,

15:12

S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

quite a few new things that I'm doing,

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

early morning miles,

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

and those are some of the new things that's not in every school

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

that I know about.

15:21

S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

We're trying to make that a mandate as well,

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

like let's do that from day one,

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

and really promoting healthy eating,

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

no junk food.

15:31

S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

It's a no junk journalism in the school.

15:33

S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

I've been very clear about that.

15:35

S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

And I've already brought that to the parents.

15:37

S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

It's part of my presentation to the parents.

15:38

S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

I'm really wanting your child to be healthy and moving.

15:42

S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

That's all about it.

15:43

S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

And that's why the entire curriculum is laid around like that.

15:47

S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

We've brought in elements of health in every single aspect that we do.

15:51

S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

So I would say that you will look at that and sustainability.

15:55

S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

We're going to be driving.

15:56

S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

It's going to be a sustainable school.

15:57

S… Speaker 2 (Principal Interview)

How are you going to do that?

15:58

S… Speaker 2 (Principal Interview)

That's great,

15:59

S… Speaker 2 (Principal Interview)

by the way.

15:59

S… Speaker 2 (Principal Interview)

That's great.

16:00

S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

I'm really aware of looking at these bottles at the moment.

16:03

S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

I know.

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

And these should be hidden as soon as my parents come in.

16:05

S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

Because I've told the parents that there will be no plastics in our school.

16:09

S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

While the children will be...

16:12

S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

Of course, there'll be eco -monitors.

16:13

S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

We'll do sustainable committees as well.

16:16

S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

But I don't want them to start looking at picking up water bottles and counting them.

16:20

S… Speaker 2 (Principal Interview)

Really,

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

it goes against the philosophy.

16:24

S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

So we really want them to be sustainable in the practice.

16:27

S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

And where I live,

16:28

S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

and I've started to actually...

16:30

S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

I would say that I've started to bring that in my practice as well.

16:33

S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

Being conscious,

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

first you need to start from your own self,

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

then it becomes a second nature.

16:38

S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

So we really want to bring the sustainable aspect.

16:40

S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

So we're working with BIA.

16:41

S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

BIA is the group that looks after sustainable programs here.

16:45

S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

We want them to be invited into our school,

16:47

S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

speak about the importance of sustainability,

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S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

especially in this region.

16:51

S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

So important,

16:51

S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

you know.

16:52

S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

And I think that's one of the E33 strategy of the government

16:56

S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

as well.

16:57

S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

And when I spoke to SPIA last,

16:59

S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

they did ask me what would be a top three priority.

17:01

S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

And I did mention this.

17:02

S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

And there was a, we love you already.

17:04

S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

Because that's something that they really try to build in schools.

17:06

S… Speaker 2 (Principal Interview)

Yeah, it's hard.

17:07

S… Speaker 2 (Principal Interview)

But like you say,

17:09

S… Speaker 2 (Principal Interview)

if you are modeling that behavior,

17:10

S… Speaker 2 (Principal Interview)

then it will filter down.

17:11

S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

Like really make it a second nature.

17:13

S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

When you're out of the room,

17:14

S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

switch off the light.

17:14

S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

You have to.

17:15

S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

You know, those little things that you can do it from day one.

17:17

S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

And if you make that as a part of your...

17:20

S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

essential agreement in the classroom,

17:21

S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

it becomes like children have to do things to actually understand.

17:24

S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

And the more they do,

17:26

S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

the more it gets embedded.

17:27

S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

So I'm really looking at sustainability,

17:29

S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

well -being and inclusion,

17:31

S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

diversity,

17:32

S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

those three aspects.

17:33

S… Speaker 2 (Principal Interview)

Thank you so much.

17:35

S… Speaker 2 (Principal Interview)

Thank you. You're amazing to interview.

17:36

S… Speaker 2 (Principal Interview)

Really inspirational.

17:37

S… Speaker 2 (Principal Interview)

Thank you.

17:38

S… Speaker 2 (Principal Interview)

Thank you for your time today,

17:40

S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

all of you as well. No, thank you for coming.

17:41

S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

Your time, you know.

17:42

S… Speaker 2 (Principal Interview)

It was a nice day again,

17:43

S… Speaker 2 (Principal Interview)

so don't forget.

17:44

S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

No, well,

17:45

S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

look, our mascot is...

17:47

S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

the RWA leopards,

17:48

S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

and every time when we bring that up,

17:50

S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

I said, why did you choose the leopards?

17:52

S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

I said, because I was talking to you about the,

17:54

S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

you know, the hidden qualities of the leopard.

17:56

S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

I said, we want them to be resilient.

17:58

S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

We want them to be,

17:59

S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

and of course,

18:00

S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

do things in a very different way.

18:03

S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

Sometimes you have to show people before you do it.

18:06

S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

Leopards are innovative animals,

18:07

S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

by the way.

18:08

S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

I always say that.

18:10

S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

Rise, Wonder,

18:10

S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

Achieve, and Shine goes with our acronym,

18:12

S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

Raffles World Academy,

18:13

S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

Sharjah.

18:14

S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

So rise,

18:15

S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

wonder, achieve,

18:16

S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

and shine.

18:17

S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

And of course,

18:18

S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

RWA will be a shining example in this country.

18:21

S… Speaker 2 (Principal Interview)

Really will make Sharjah shine.

18:23

S… Speaker 1 (Principal Interview)

I think that's our headline.

Principal Interview

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