From the Preschool/Elementary School Principal

 

*This week's images were taken during the first few days of our new school year, from our welcoming bagpiper at the entrance to the classrooms across the Elementary School. 

After weeks of summer anticipation, the long-awaited moment has finally arrived! The doors are open, the hallways are buzzing, and our children are back in school, ready to embark on a fresh journey of learning, growth, and discovery at ISA. Serving as the Preschool and Elementary School Principal is a true privilege, and I am delighted to be working alongside such a vibrant community of students, parents, and educators once again.

We are particularly excited to welcome more than 35 new faces to our Preschool and Elementary divisions this year. It was wonderful to connect with many of our new families during Monday's New Family Orientation, giving our newest learners a chance to explore their classrooms, meet their teachers, and get a feel for the educational ethos that defines our school. To ensure we are all connected and moving in the same direction as the term begins, I’d like to recap a few of those foundational principles here so we can start the year on a shared footing.

First and foremost, creating safe and inclusive environments across our entire campus (from our classrooms and corridors to our outdoor play areas) is our top priority. True safety, however, extends far beyond physical protection; it encompasses the social, emotional, and psychological security of every child.

Growth inherently requires trial and error. For students to take intellectual risks, stretch their thinking, and occasionally make mistakes, they must feel secure enough to fail without fear. Deep conceptual understanding and sustained learning simply cannot take root when a child feels anxious or threatened. As educational researcher Alistair Smith succinctly put it, “The enemy of learning is stress.” Or, as another of my favourite thinkers, Yoda, puts it: "The greatest teacher failure is." That is why cultivating a foundation of holistic safety remains at the very heart of everything we do at ISA.

Secondly, we know that people learn by doing. This is what author and educator John Holt meant when he wrote:

“Not many years ago, I began to play the cello. Most people would say that what I am doing is “learning to play” the cello. But these words carry into our minds the strange idea that there exists two very different processes: (1) learning to play the cello; and (2) playing the cello. They imply that I will do the first until I have completed it, at which point I will stop the first process and begin the second. In short, I will go on “learning to play” until I have “learned to play” and then I will begin to play. Of course, this is nonsense. There are not two processes, but one. We learn to do something by doing it. There is no other way.”

For this reason, our classrooms are characterised by activity, experimentation, inquiry, conversation, play and engagement.

It is equally vital to remember that true learning is an active, resilient process. Mastering a new skill, unlocking a complex concept, or finding a creative solution requires determination and a willingness to press forward through challenges. Children are far more inclined to persevere when they genuinely believe that missteps are stepping stones for growth rather than errors to be concealed; this is a mindset that relies entirely on that sense of psychological safety.

Finally, learning is fundamentally a shared endeavor. We broaden our understanding through collaboration, drawing on the diverse ideas, insights, and perspectives of those around us. While educators play a pivotal role in guiding this journey, so too do classmates, peers across year groups, and, crucially, our families. This community-centered approach to education highlights the vital role of clear, open communication.

One of the things I treasure most about ISA is the strong spirit of partnership between our families and staff. Transparent, ongoing dialogue is essential to driving ambitious progress and keeping us all aligned in supporting your child. When we communicate early and often, we create the best possible conditions for every student to thrive. If there is ever anything you feel would help us better understand your child’s needs or experience at school, please know that our doors are always open and we welcome hearing from you.

When it comes to day-to-day communication (including, but not limited to, things like changes in pick-up routines, absences/illnesses or questions about PowerSchool), please get in touch with our dedicated and ever-helpful Elementary Assistant, Diane McBain (dmcbain@isa.aberdeen.sch.uk). 

And, finally, a few last minute notes:

• The first assembly of the year took place this afternoon! The weekly assemblies take place every Friday at 2:15pm in the Queen Elizabeth Theatre (QET). You are always welcome to attend. If you choose to attend, please check in at reception and then use the far door to the QET (the one nearest the cafeteria), which will be open from 2:10pm onwards. Please note that parents/carers and family members are welcome to attend, even if their child/ren aren’t specifically performing on that day. Children celebrating a birthday during the week of the assembly will be recognised and will take part in an activity on stage. You can expect an email from me ahead of any birthday recognition on stage. The first birthday recognition in our assemblies this year will take place next week (Friday, 21 August) and will include a number of birthdays that have already taken place in August. In addition, we take time to highlight the ISA Values (Balanced, Risk-takers, Open-minded, Caring, Knowledgeable, Communicators, Thinkers, Reflective, Inquirers, Principled) and what it looks and sounds like when we actively bring them to life. 
• After School Activities for students in the Elementary School started on Wednesday. If you have not already done so, please use the PowerSchool form for selecting after school activities. If you have any questions about this, please contact Zou Fraser (zfraser@isa.aberdeen.sch.uk).
• ENCORE! and Preschool ENCORE! are our programmes for children who will be staying with us once the After School Activities have finished at 4:00pm. Children who are signed up for Encore! and Preschool Encore! can stay until 6:00pm if this is something that families need based on their schedules. For children in Encore! (Kindergarten through Grade 8), the pick-up point is the external door in the Kindergarten playground area; for children in Preschool Encore!, the pick-up point is Preschool itself. If you are interested in finding out more, please get in touch with our Encore! Coordinator, Zou Fraser (for children in Kindergarten and above) or one of our Preschool Managers (Sophie Innes and Fiona McCracken).
• Many families like to gather informally after school hours at the playground in front of the school. This is a wonderful opportunity for parents and children to relax together - especially if the weather cooperates. I would like to ask for your help, however, to make sure the playground expectations we have during school continue to be followed by the children. This includes proper use of the slide, not climbing on the roof of the shelter and (of course) treating each other with the type of care and kindness that we would expect at our recess times.
• Lastly, I hope that you will all be able to attend the Back to School Social next week (Saturday, August 22) from 2:00pm - 5:00pm. If you are able to volunteer, I know that the PTO would be hugely appreciative.