Standing Together 31
Shujahat Munir VP and Deputy CEO, GEMS Westminster School, Sharjah
We are supporting our community with continuous check-ins with stakeholders, well-being support from corporate teams, and counsellor support sessions for students, parents, and teachers. We are using a variety of tools for communication, both formally and informally, using Email, social media, and Teams meetings. When children hear worrying news, they often look to their parents for cues on how to feel. The most helpful approach is to stay calm, listen to their questions, and answer honestly in simple, reassuring terms. Children don’t need every detail; they need to know that the adults around them are informed, thoughtful, and focused on keeping them safe. Children don’t need every detail; they need to know that the adults around them are informed, thoughtful, and focused on keeping them safe.
Children are often more resilient than we think and can handle difficult conversations when they are approached with honesty and reassurance.
Remind them that the UAE is a place where safety and stability are taken seriously, and that many people work every day to protect the community. Above all, let them feel heard, supported, and reassured. Sometimes it helps to pause and remember where we are.
Simon O’Connor Head Master, Harrow International School, Dubai
Harrow has yet to open, but we are regularly communicating with our community, providing updates and reassurance. “The UAE education system is both resilient and experienced in adapting to unusual contexts. School leaders are also experts at working together with both the authorities and each other to find common solutions. Parents should have confidence that education standards will be maintained despite the challenges currently being faced.” – Simon O’Connor Head Master, Harrow International School, Dubai
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