In the recent CIS accreditation report the school was commended for the wide range of sports and other extra-curricular activities offered to our students. Indeed, growth in sport in particular and of our ECAs in general has been a key part of our school development plan for 2008 - 2011. One aspect of this work is to encourage and develop the habits of a healthy life style for our students. I have little doubt that the old Roman adage of mens sana in corpore sano - a healthy mind in a healthy body, is as relevant now as it has ever been. Indeed, recent research seems to be demonstrating the connection of effective thinking with an active lifestyle again and again.

Dubai British School – fit for life at the Dubai Marathon

Recently our community took on the additional challenge of preparing for and then running in the Dubai Marathon 3K fun run and 10K road race, as Director of Sports and Activities, Mick Wright reports:

For the third year running (literally!) students, parents and staff from Dubai British School tackled the streets of Dubai in the races associated with the Dubai Marathon, with over eighty of the school community participating in either the 3KM fun run or the 10KM road race.

To combat an increase in sedentary lifestyles worldwide, the schools' Physical Education Department has been encouraging students to get active. To emphasise this we have increased the amount of curriculum PE time and are piloting a range of health and fitness clubs at school. As part of this drive within the school to increase awareness of the importance of leading an active and healthy lifestyle, students trained hard within Physical Education lessons and during various extra curricular activities for the Dubai Marathon road runs.

Staff were also seen pounding the streets to get their times down and to work off those Dubai kilos. As they prepared, students, parents and staff at DBS challenged their own personal bests and demonstrated their team spirit, in what is always an excellent event with an exceptional atmosphere. Some staff had set very ambitious targets indeed of between 45 and 60 minutes for the 10 K run, while the students turned in some very impressive performances indeed. Debbie Botting, a DBS mum and Teacher's Assistant went one stage further and completed her first full marathon.

Mick Wright

Director of Sports and Activities

Click here for more DBS Dubai marathon pictures.