The children are constantly learning lots of new words in both Arabic and French at Blossom. Click here to keep up with your budding linguist and help them to practise at home!

French and Arabic Vocab Lists is a post from: The Blossom Nursery Dubai

Blossom has an International School Book Club school group order online! This means that you can order books for your little one in your Book Clubs leaflet (to be found in the Office) and many more at http://world.clubs-school.scholastic.co.uk/the-blossom and have the books delivered directly to the nursery free of charge.

Please place your order by Monday 20th February 2012.

Once the books have been delivered, they will then be handed out in class. Orders can be made directly online or you could use one of the catalogues available in the office and provide cash and order slip to the office. Please note that cash must be in USD or in DHS at an exchange rate of 1 to 3.675 DHS.

Every book you buy from ISBC helps us to earn commission to spend on much-needed books for our classrooms!

Thank you for your support.

Order your Scholastic Books…. is a post from: The Blossom Nursery Dubai

The Blossom Nursery has been awarded as WINNER of the prestigious Arabian Child Award in the category of Early Childhood Service Provider of the Year. This was given by Her Excellency Sheikha Bodour Bint Sultan Al Qasimi at an awards gala on November 16, 2011.

There were over 120 nurseries nominated and many who were shortlisted but Blossom was chosen for it’s commitment to high safety standards, a curriculum that is linked to the British Early Years Foundation Stage and a space that truly impacts learning.

Blossom continues to work on a number of initiatives to increase safety standards in nurseries in the UAE.  Some key factors are ensuring stairs are lined, slipproof, have low level rails for children and magnetic gates that do not “trap” children in spaces as well as ensuring windows are safety lined and shatterproof.  In outside areas, children should be in shaded spaces, pools must be gated and locked, floors lined (no concrete!) and equipment should be of an international safety standard.  Zahra Hamirani, Esq., founder of Blossom continues to advocate for these safety standards through her work at The University of Dubai where she is a Law professor and in the many organizations she works with, including the International Montessori Foundation and the National Association for Early Years Practitioners (www.naeyc.org).

Zahra also participated in The Future of Learning institute in 2011 at the Harvard Graduate School of Education in Boston, Massachusetts where she discussed knowledge destinies and new ways of learning in the early years.  These together with Blossom’s green focus and commitment to ensure children learn key skills through their proprietary skygarden curriculum mean that the nursery experience in Dubai is rapidly setting standards of international excellence.

Just two weeks ago, Blossom hosted a halloween festival which raised over 12,500 DHS for WWF and Poshpaws charities and events like these are planned  throughout the year to ensure that children’s first educational experiences are both exciting and engaging.  Advocating high standards and creating viable learning experiences ensures children have a safe and stimulating nursery experience and that families can rest assured that their children are getting the best early years start.

Many of the Blossom initiatives are being highlighted in a video that The Ministry of Social Affairs in Dubai (the nursery licensing body) will be releasing in the coming weeks and will be published on National Day in the UAE.  We look forward to sharing this with our families in the coming weeks.

Blossom Wins Early Childhood Service Provider of the Year! is a post from: The Blossom Nursery Dubai

Blossom is carbon neutral – we have worked hard to ensure we offset our carbon footprint and the Swiss company myclimate has now certified us.  We are the first school in the UAE to get this honour – to see more click on the story at myclimate here or locally at  greenpages - a great place to go green.  The Skygarden themes and topics we have started this week help children understand the importance of actions and reactions – and doing to help the planet means it here for all of us in the future.  What green changes can you make?  Share them with us on our facebook page where we ask: What “green” activities or lifestyle changes have you made that can be shared with other families to create a community of consciousness (and have the planet here for us in the future!)?

Blossom is carbon neutral! is a post from: The Blossom Nursery Dubai

Don’t miss out on the fun, all are welcome so tell your friends and be sure to let them know it’s green themed and dress up is compulsory, the more recycled costumes, the better!

Entrance is free and tokens (5Dhs each) can be purchased to use at all the special stands so bring plenty of change to raise money for WWF and PoshPaws

See you there for some super spooky fun!

Check out the latest flyer for our Halloween Festival coming up on the 31st October! is a post from: The Blossom Nursery Dubai

From the 9th till the 13th of October Blossom will be holding a Sports Week with a wonderful variety of activities taking place throughout the Nursery, such as Ball and Spoon racing, Hoop jumping, a Limbo competition and an environmentally friendly Obstacle course is also being created at Blossom Village especially for the occasion! This year we have also invited Marc Massad of New York Sport Service to join us for a day at each branch.  He will be putting your little ones through their paces with a selection of fun sports tailor-made for children:

The Blossom Nursery schedule will be:

• Sunday 9th – Babies Sport Day
• Monday 10th –  Dubai Drums
• Tuesday 11th – Toddlers Sport Day
• Wednesday 12th – New York Sport Service Activities
• Thursday 13th – Preschool Sports Day

And at Blossom Village it will be:

• Sunday 9th – Babies Sport Day
• Monday 10th – New York Sport Service Activities
• Tuesday 11th – Toddlers Sport Day
• Wednesday 12th – Dubai Drums
• Thursday 13th – Preschool Sports Day

On the allotted days, between 8am and 12pm, Marc Massad will be putting the children through their paces with action packed fun such as Mini Tennis, Mini Soccer, Mini Gymnastics and Mini Basketball.

Blossom Sports Week Schedules.. is a post from: The Blossom Nursery Dubai

Emma has a BSc in Zoology and a CACHE Level 3 certificate in Preschool practice. She has been teaching for 3 years and loves it as she finds it is the happiest place to work as you are guaranteed loving smiles and hugs everyday!

In Flamingos Sharne is a qualified Early Years Teacher. As well as possessing an extensive career background from dental assisting to pharmacy, psychology and mechanics, Sharne has worked with children for 8 years here in Dubai as well as in India, Thailand and Africa. Passionate about people and their behaviours, Sharne believes that we all have one life and that it should be lived to the fullest, smiling and laughing as much as possible. Her motto is: ‘Make someone’s day and your day will shine bright’.

Sharne is also passionate about saving the Rhinos in Africa and loves abstract painting, gardening, reading and any outdoor activities.

Teaching in the Red Robins, we have Noreen who has a Montessori Diploma and has taught in London, Aberdeen and Dubai. Taking time off in between her teaching career to have children she is now in her 12^th year of teaching. With a strong passion for early years teaching she strives to instill a love of learning that young children can carry with them throughout their life, encouraging them to become independent individuals whilst enjoying ne and exciting experiences along the way. When not at Blossom, Noreen loves to bake and cook for friends and to travel with her husband and boys around Dubai

Sonia has a BA in English Literature and an MA in Human Rights and International Law. She has worked with children of varying ages since she was 18 and still finds it as rewarding as the day she began as she loves the way you can come to see the world through the eyes of the children. Previously a teacher in Scarlet Finches, Sonia now fulfils the role of Teacher Support and Administration Support in Blossom Village.

Introducing more Teachers from Blossom Village.. is a post from: The Blossom Nursery Dubai

Teaching in Daisies (12-18mths) Laura holds a Hons Degree in Politics from Leicester University. This is her first experience of teaching and she is enjoying it very much! Passionate about charity work and a strong believer in giving back to others some of the blessing she has received in life, she is a keen supporter of the British charity, Shelter, which is a homeless charity for young and vulnerable adults.

In her spare time Laura is a keen cook, and very much enjoys trying out new dishes and cooking for family and friends. She also loves reading and drawing, as well as horse riding.

Mary Ann is our Teacher in Bluebells, looking after the Toddlers (22mths to 2 1/2 years). She has a BSc in Occupational Therapy.  She has been working with children for 8 years (2 years with special needs children and 6 years in nurseries here in Dubai).  With a love to cook and experiment with different condiments, she would love to travel to Africa and help the children who are suffering from malnutrition. She is a self confessed water sports fanatic and loves knee and wake boarding, banana boats, jet skiing, paragliding and water rafting.

Teaching in Violets (Preschoolers form 2 1/2 years to 3 1/4 years) Eda has high school diploma and has taught at elementary level for 2 years in Albania. She joins us from Abu Dhabi where she worked for 3 years with preschoolers. A camping enthusiast, Eda and her husband love to take advantage of the winters in Dubai and can often be found exploring the deserts and mountains of the region.

With a Bachelor of Science in Commerce and a major in Management, Rowena is our Music teacher for both Blossom Nurseries. She has had experience teaching Catechism in Grades 1 – 3 in the Philippines before joining Blossom as a teaching assistant in 2009. It soon became clear she had a great talent for music and was able to use it in a lovely way to interact with the children! In her spare time she loves sports like volleyball and bowling.

Introducing more Teachers from Blossom Nursery.. is a post from: The Blossom Nursery Dubai

Looking after the 12-18 month old babies in Daisies, Maria is qualified in high level nursing as well as Reflexology and Reike. She has been teaching for 5 years and loves to work with children. Her hobbies outside the nursery include tennis, skiing and reading.

Teaching in Tulips with the children aged 2 ½ to 3 ¼ years, Simeen has a Masters in History and English Literature. She has 8 years experience of teaching and has taught computers to children for 2 years. She also loves to do arts and crafts with the kids and loves to listen to music and cook in her free time.

Teaching the children aged 3 to 3 ¾ years old in Sunflowers, April holds a BSc in Psychology and has also completed a certificate in teaching and Early Childhood. Working as a teacher for almost 8 years now, she has taught many different age groups and has worked in many different teaching environments. She loves to sing and is a homebody at heart who loves to spend time with her family.

 
Nadege is our Language Coordinator at Blossom. With a Masters in Law she has now been teaching French for 4 years in Dubai. Learning a new language in the early years is, she says, the best time to do so and teaching provides a great opportunity to help these children to become our future businessmen and women. A keen sportswoman, Nadege loves to play tennis with her 2 children and she also loves reading and cooking.

Introducing Blossom Nursery Teachers… is a post from: The Blossom Nursery Dubai

Gladys is our teacher in Silktails where she looks after the babies from 6 months to 12 months. A graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Criminology, you can be sure your little ones are in safe hands with her! With 9 years working with children in the Philippines, Jordan, Singapore and Dubai, she loves teaching because she finds it challenging, achieving and it is her passion. Gladys loves the Arts and takes part in dance competitions in her free time as well draws as often as she can.

Joining us this year as Teacher in Ducks with the children aged 22 months to 2 years 9 months; Kate is a qualified therapeutic recreation specialist with 7 years experience teaching. She is passionate about music, reading and writing, and above all, helping a child realize their unlimited potential. In her free time, she enjoys travelling and exploring new places.

 
Based in Scarlet Finches with the children aged 2 years 9 months to 3 years and 6 months, Linda has been teaching since 2005 and holds a CELTA certificate to teach English as a second language. With a passion for fine art and anything creative, she loves every moment of working with children, to the extent where she admits she can forget about duties at home! With colours in hockey and athletics, she loves to chase around with the kids during playtime! A granny to 3 and a mum to 4 she is known fondly in the Blossom Family as “Uma Linda”!

 
Lucy joins Blossom this year as our Educational Director. Teaching has taken her all over the world, from being a Head teacher and Teacher of the Arts in Fiji at the “International school – Nadi”, to owning her own dance and performance school in Mallorca, Spain. Her aim is to introduce a different learning experience, which simultaneously encourages free expression and a healthy way of thinking and behaving in a fun environment.

Before joining Blossom, Lucy worked extensively with children with special needs and typically-developing children alike, at Child Learning and Enrichment Medical Center. As Head Teacher and Extra-Curricular Program Coordinator,  she was able to put her knowledge of the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis, and the positive effect it had on her students into practise.

Lucy will shortly be starting her masters in Child Psychology and Behavior Management.

 
Joining us this year as Teacher in Ducks with the children aged 1 year and 10months to 2 years and 9 months; Kate is a qualified therapeutic recreation specialist with 7 years experience teaching. She is passionate about music, reading and writing, and above all, helping a child realize their unlimited potential. In her free time, she enjoys travelling and exploring new places

Based in Scarlet Finches with the children aged 2 years 9 months to 3 years and 6 months, Linda has been teaching since 2005 and holds a CELTA certificate to teach English as a second language. With a passion for fine art and anything creative, she loves every moment of working with children, to the extent where she admits she can forget about duties at home! With colours in hockey and athletics, she loves to chase around with the kids during playtime! A granny to 3 and a mum to 4 she is known fondly in the Blossom Family as “Uma Linda”!

Lucy joins Blossom this year as our Educational Director and Behavioural Specialist. Teaching has taken Lucy all over the world, from being a Head teacher and Teacher of the Arts in Fiji at the “International school – Nadi”, to owning her own dance and performance school in Mallorca, Spain. Her aim is to introduce a different learning experience, which simultaneously encourages free expression and a healthy way of thinking and behaving in a fun environment.

After graduating in 2006 from Middlesex University in London, with a BA Honors degree, Lucy went on to follow her passion for teaching and the performing arts. She first started teaching in Fiji, as a head teacher working closely with children and their parents. Lucy’s skills focus on teaching young children the behavior skills they need to make their life and their parents’ a lot easier.

Since moving to Dubai, Lucy has worked extensively with children with special needs and typically-developing children alike, at Child Learning and Enrichment Medical Center. She was inspired by her knowledge of the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis, and the positive effect it had on her students. Her students accomplished the ability of working together in an integrated setting, which made her intrigued by the way children think and behave in different environments. By taking on the role of Head Teacher and Extra-Curricular Program Coordinator,  Lucy was able to put her findings into practice, which inspired her to learn more.

Lucy will shortly be starting her masters in Child Psychology and Behavior Management.

Introducing Blossom Village Teachers… is a post from: The Blossom Nursery Dubai