Teacher Orientation

An amazing building located on Al Reem Island -  is a vibrant
urban area under development - a private island, the largest in
the Abu Dhabi mainland. It's 6.5 million square meters and
using google calculations, it's about 2000 square miles.
What is so cool is that it is on a natural island - from it's inception
the plan is modern and state of the art business and residential. 

The sign above over the adjoining entrance in Arabic. 

The reception desk...

Just like the states....presentations of new information and
some of the obvious.....but best to cover all bases. 

The auditorium where we met in for the big meetings was
beautiful.  The architecture was of a high end theatre.
Air conditioning in the air, sides and at our feet. First
time here when I was cold, actually freezing!

Design on the walls....

The lighting makes the room feel as if you were transported
into Europe. 

Grateful for visuals as sometimes accents are difficult to understand.
My hearing needs some more adjustment as I become familiar with
all the accents I am encountering.  Teachers are here from all corners
and beyond the accent is the words used to describe everything....

Break outs for our grades.  Here Cycle 1 is KG -2, so kindergarten
to 2nd Grade. Cycle two is grades 2-4 and my group is Cycle 3,
high school. 10-12 grades.  I have been placed at a girls school
in the al banyias area, about 45 minutes from my flat (trying to
use the familiar lingo) aka apartment.  The bus is a two hour
ride, so my goal of not getting a car may not be held for long.
Al Mafraq is my school....more about that later. 

We had LT's (licensed teachers) speak to the new Expats about
teaching last year.  It was helpful, but the pat answer to every
question is "It depends on your school."  So, while the new
system is in place, some of the old is still in place and here,
your principal rules....it all rises and sets with them......

We meet back in the auditorium and like in the US we engage
by interaction and games.  Brave people going up with no
idea of what they were going to do......I was an attentive observer!

Told you....now it's not only a game, you're being timed.
The activity was to have students (teachers here) by
birthdate, no talking as english is limited.

THREE WORDS:  A good meeting!