How did this American school become one of the happiest in Dubai?
This is a school where you can be different but also be accepted, superintendent Paul Richards says
It’s another scorching day in Dubai. At the American School of Dubai, a few students are frolicking around the campus in oversized T-shirts and capri pants.
It is Pyjamas Day at the 52-year-old school shortlisted for having the happiest parents in Dubai.
The school made it to school finder site WhichSchoolAdvisor.com’s list of Dubai schools with the happiest parents in 2017. The organisation cross referenced its parent satisfaction survey results with the Knowledge and Human Development Authority inspection report – and shortlisted seven schools in the city and emirate.
Superintendent Dr Paul Richards believes efforts to engender cultural confidence played a huge part in the school being voted among Dubai’s happiest schools. Students learn to go beyond the colour of their skin and accept that they all look different.
“This is a school where you can be different but also be accepted,” he says. “Culture is something we celebrate [as a school], and a big part of it is language.” Arabic is a compulsory language in class, and a new initiative will soon be announced to help non-Arabic speakers master the language, he says.
