Raptors Round-Up Term1-A

RAPTORS

ROUND-UP. TERM 1-A HIGHLIGHTS

A DYNAMIC START Term 1A has kicked off the 2025–26 school year with great energy

and

momentum

across

the

Raha

Raptors

programme. We’ve seen fantastic student engagement, with 27 programmes running across 38 different squads and 12 sports.

A total of 36 staff members have been directly involved in coaching —an incredible reflection of the depth, commitment, and enthusiasm within our community. A big thank-you to each and every one of our coaches for their ongoing support and time.

Our squads have made strong starts to their seasons, with ADISSA league fixtures against Cranleigh and Yasmina, plus extra opportunities through BSAK block fixtures, a packed Junior NBA Week, and our first-ever Taaleem Cup Football Tournament. The commitment from students and staff has been outstanding, and the “Raptors way” has been clear in every competition.

EXCELLENCE This term has been full of standout moments and achievements, both locally and internationally.

We’re incredibly proud of Max Hoehn and Dexter Button, who were both selected for the UAE National Triathlon Team. Max went on to win gold at the Arab and African U15 Championships in Egypt - a brilliant reward for his discipline and drive.

Our U14 boys football team also impressed, finishing second at our inaugural Taaleem Cup after a series of performances that showed teamwork, grit, and maturity.

In golf, Emile (G6) represented Raha with distinction at the French National Championships, demonstrating composure and skill at an elite level.

In the pool, sisters Megan and Maia Moutache represented Team Seychelles at the African Swimming Championships - Maia also secured a bronze medal, a superb achievement.

Our PYP swim squad also shone at the first ADISSA “Summer Splash,” placing third overall. Our Grade 2 swimmers showed great determination, spirit, and skill - we couldn’t be prouder of how they represented Raha for the first time.

Congratulations must go to Malek Mazen El Attar, Yahya Pinara, Rachid Lambarki El Allioui. All three were selected for the ADEK Cup select team touring Spain over midterm - a fantastic recognition of their talent and work ethic Several students were also chosen for the Junior NBA All-Star Game, with Mr Walter Clarke coaching the team – a great reflection of how our basketball programme continues to grow in quality and reputation.

ASPIRATION The Raptors programme continues to grow each year. This term alone now offering 28 internal Raptors ECP’s and 38 competitive squads across 12 different sports. This breadth and inclusivity are only possible thanks to our staff, who balance busy schedules and family commitments to support our athletes. We are incredibly grateful for their dedication.

We are also pleased to see our sport-specific ECPs for EY2 take shape, giving our youngest students structured entry points into sport. A special thank-you to Ms Mindri for driving this initiative alongside our external providers in tennis, basketball, gymnastics, fitness, and football who also offer sport to EY1 and G1.

Our fixture list has expanded considerably - from ADISSA leagues and BSAK block fixtures to Junior NBA Week and Platinum Sports tournaments - offering students more chances to compete and grow through sport. Week after week, our athletes show ambition, perseverance, and a genuine willingness to learn new skills - the qualities that define the Raha Raptors programme. We cannot wait to re-introduce Fitness Fridays – a pop up sports half and hour on the MYP pitch before school. All students and families are welcome to join and partake in the fun. Movement matters!

RELATIONSHIPS Connection remains at the heart of what we do - between students, staff, and families.

This term has again shown the strength of our community and the shared pride we have in the programme. Thank you for your continued support on the sidelines.It’s been great seeing students wearing the new Raptors uniform and supporting their teams with so much pride. If any family needs assistance with uniforms, please reach out – we will always ensure finances aren’t a barrier to participation, loaning is an option.

We’re also delighted to see more CAS students take on coaching and mentoring roles in our younger squads. Their leadership and encouragement have been excellent and helped build confidence among our junior athletes.

A special mention goes to Sama and Walter Clarke III, who were selected as NBA “Rookie Reporters.” They did a fantastic job covering NBA Week and representing both Raha and Abu Dhabi brilliantly.

NUTS AND BOLTS Thank you for your help with pick-ups for U15 teams - your support makes a big difference to how smoothly our sessions run. We also appreciate the early morning drop offs to combate spacing and heat.

Uniforms remain available through the Kukri online store.

Term 2 sports registrations and trials will open in late November, so please keep an eye on SchoolsBuddy and Toddle for updates.

LOOKING AHEAD As we move into Term 1B, we can be very proud of the strong foundation built so far. The energy and effort of students and staff have been exceptional.

The next six weeks promise to be our busiest yet - with four rounds of ADISSA fixtures, end-of-season tournaments, the Cranleigh and BSAK invitational events, ADEK Cup Sport, Platinum Sports competitions, the launch of Triathlon team events, swim galas, and Term 2 programme preparations.

It’s a busy period, but one we approach with confidence – knowing our athletes and coaches will continue to grow, compete with pride, and represent Raha with the values that define us.