ALL ABOUT SPORT.
INTRODUCTION
At Raha, our vision for sport is aligned with the school’s mission: we grow people,andweusesportasthevehicle to do so. The Raha Raptors Sports Programme is designed not only to develop athletic ability and physical literacy, but also to strengthen the values and learner traits that underpin the IB curriculum. Through sport, we create opportunities for students to demonstrate resilience, perseverance, integrity, and communication, while fostering balance and well-being as lifelonghabits.
Our philosophy rests on three interconnectedpillars:
High Performance - Raptors:
Pathwaysforourmosttalentedathletestoexcel andrepresentRahaatthehighestlevels.
Sport 4 All:
Ensuring inclusive opportunities where every studentcanparticipate,belong,andthrive.
Curriculum:
A dynamic and purposeful PE programme that builds fundamental skills, promotes physical literacy, and directly enhances the IB learner profile.
“Whilethesepillarsoftenoverlap,everyactivitywedeliverhasaclearpurposeandcontributes totheholisticgrowthofourstudents.Whetheronthepitch,inthepool,orintheclassroom, sportatRahaisapowerfulextensionoftheIBcurriculumandanessentialpartofgrowing principled,balanced,andconfidentyoungpeople”.
STRATEGIC GOALS
OUR MISSION: WE GROW PEOPLE, THROUGH SPORT.
OURDRIVERS
Ourschool-widedrivingprincipleswereconstructedinconsultationwiththebroader communityduring2023/24 Thissuggestedthatourlanguageandcorevaluescentredaround theIBLearnerProfile,ApproachestoLearning,andtheschool’svisioncouldberedefinedand simplified.
In2023/24,inconsultationwiththebroadercommunity,weredefinedandsimplifiedourcore values.Thesevaluesguideeverythingwedothroughsport.
Weplanexplicitlyforexcellence.Sportsare prioritised,wesetKPI’sandreflect consistently.
90%ofourstakeholdersfeel informedthroughaccurate, consistentandpromptinformation.
RELATIONSHIPS
Weoffersportingopportunitiesforall studentsthroughallthreepillarsof sport.Weadapttostudentdemand andaimincreaseparticipationrates.
AtRaha,wearefortunatetohavestrongconnectionswitharangeofexternal providerswhodeliverhigh-qualitysportingopportunitiestoourstudentsfromEYright throughtoGrade12.
Ourpartnershipsspanacrossswimming,tennis,volleyball,gymnastics,football,and manymoreactivities.
Weofferawidevarietyofoptions,bothfreeofchargeandaspaidservices,ensuring thateverystudentcanfindapathwaythatsuitstheirinterestsandaspirations
SomeoftheseprogrammesalsooperateaspartofourRaptorspathway,with fixturesandcompetitionsincluded,butarerunandfacilitatedbyourexternal providersincollaborationwiththeRahateachingteam.
Forfurtherinformationaboutexternalproviders,pleasecontactMs.Gladysat ecp@ris.ae.
THERAPTORSPROGRAMME
TheRaptorsprogrammeisopentostudentsfromGrade2upwards.Ourteamscompetelocallyandacrossthe UAE Weareplanningtoaddinternationaltourstoourschedule Trainingandfixturecommitmentsvarybysport,thoughinPYPmostrunonatermlybasis AtPYPandU13level, wedonot“drop”or“cut”students allarewelcometojointheECPandcontinuetostriveforselection Squad sizes,however,mustbecappedbasedonstaffing,facilities,andhealthandsafety.
AtU15andU19level,teamsaremerit-based,andwherepossibleweaimtofieldtwosquads. Raptorsteamscompeteinawiderangeofevents,includingtheADISSALeague,ADEKCup,TaaleemCup, PlatinumSports(U9),andBSAK7’sInvitational,withmoreexcitingcompetitionstocome
Termlycalendars,sign-updatesandspecificfixtureinformationarepushedthroughourmajorcommunication pathways:SchoolsBuddy,Toddle,RahaRemindersandInstagram.
WHATWEOFFER ANDWHY?
InlinewithourcoredriverofExcellence,we plan and prepare with the intention of helping our teams excel and perform at theirbest.Whilewewouldlovetogiveequal time and energy to every sport, this is not always possible due to staffing, facilities, resourcing,andstudentinterest
To ensure balance and fairness, we are explicit and deliberate in how we allocate coachingexpertiseandfunding.Sportsare prioritised based on the resources and opportunitiesavailable,andweuseatiered system
Green Sports:
Well-resourcedprogrammeswithstrongcoachingand facilities.ThesesportshaveclearKPIs,definedperformance goals,andareassessedregularly
Orange Sports:
Seasonalordevelopingprogrammes.Whiletheremaybe limitations,weremainaspirationalandcompetetothebestof ourability.
Red Sports:
Recreational/ECP-basedSports:Programmeswithlimited fixturesorinformalstructures,oftenduetosmallernumbersor facilityconstraints.
“Wearereflectiveandcontinuallyreviewsportstoensuretheysitinthemostappropriatetier, allowingustofocusresourceswhereexcellenceismostachievablewhilestillofferingbroad opportunities.“
Green:
Swimming,TouchRugby,Football,GirlsVolleyball,Triathlon,Basketball, WaterPolo
Orange: Netball,Cricket,Rugby,Athletics,Tennis,Golf,BoysVolleyball.
Red:
Badminton,RunningClubs,Cycling,HIIT/Hyrox,Cheerleading,Chess
White:
ToBeDeterminedandunderreviewforfutureinclusionordevelopment: Futsal,PadelTennis,Jiu-Jitsu,TableTennis
FULL YEAR SQUADS:
PYPSwimSquad,PYPTriathlonTeam,CheerSquad-selectionbasedonly
TERM ONE:
U9GirlsFootball,U11GirlsNetball,U9TouchRugby,U11BoysFootball,PYPGolf Team
TERM TWO:
U9GirlsNetball,U11GirlsFootball,U9BoysFootball,U11Rugby,PYPGolfTeam, PYPAthletics,TennisFixtures,BadmintonClub*
TERM THREE:
U9/11Boys&GirlsBasketball,U11Cricket,PYPVolleyball
We’vedoneourbesttomakethisasaccurateaspossible,butpleasenotethatseasonsandentries maychangeastheyearunfolds.
We’vedoneourbesttomakethisasaccurateaspossible,butpleasenotethatseasonsandentries maychangeastheyearunfolds.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Uniforms:
StudentscanpurchaseRaptorsuniforms throughtheonlineKukristore Fromthis year,uniformswillbestockedintheUAE, withdeliveryreducedtoapproximately2–3 days.Thewebsitewillbeliveinlate September.
Communication:
SchoolsBuddyisourplatformfor: Managingattendance
Sharingfixtureandtrainingdetailswith parents
Collectingpermissionforms
Allstudentsmusthaveparentalpermission beforeparticipatinginfixtures Fixture informationwillbesharedassoonas available,withaminimumof72hours’ notice
Wewillalsousethefollowingplatformsto communicatewithourcommunity:Raha Reminders,Toddle,Instagram,student noticesthroughpowerpoint..
Pick Ups:
Studentsmustbecollectedpromptlyafter fixturesandtraining InlinewithADEK policy,allstudentsaged15andunder mustbecollectedbyanapprovedadult Thisisnon-negotiable.
Trainings:
Attendanceattrainingisrequiredfor teamselection.Tosupportfamilieswith thenewADEKpick-uppolicies,many trainingsessionswillbescheduledbefore school.
Our Coaches:
Wearefortunatetohaveoutstanding coaches.AlongsideourPEteam,many homeroomandsubjectspecialist teachersalsocontribute Rahahasthe highestnumberofnon-PEstaff supportingsportacrossTaaleemschools -somethingweareproudofanddeeply gratefulfor.