Statement of School Aims & Ethos

(Adaptation note: this statement has been rebuilt from Al Fajer Private School's own published wording. All content relating to the source school's corporate group — its statistics, "pillars" and marketing links — has been removed and replaced with AFS-real content; the section describing the group has been replaced by a statement of AFS's values.)

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Table of Contents

1. The School's Guiding Statements

1.0 The School's Guiding Statements

Note: the mission and vision wording below is taken from the school's website, where it is itself awaiting formal approval. [NEEDS AFS INPUT: school to confirm the official mission/vision wording — the site copy is pending approval]

1.1 Positioning Statement

1.1.1 Al Fajer Private School (AFS) is a warm, non-profit, coeducational school in Barbar, Northern Governorate, Kingdom of Bahrain. Founded in 2013 and licensed by the Bahrain Ministry of Education, AFS is dedicated to giving local and expatriate children a joyful, high-quality start to their education. We offer a bilingual American + Ministry of Education program from KG1 to Grade 6, in which children learn English and Arabic side by side, with early exposure to French.

1.1.2 We are proudly independent — not part of a chain — which lets us stay small, personal and focused on each child. Today we are home to around 350 students from many nationalities, learning together as one community. We have grown thoughtfully — extending to Grade 6 from the 2026/27 school year so that students can complete the full elementary journey with us — while keeping the close relationships and family feel that parents tell us they love. For more than a decade we have welcomed families into a community where children take their first confident steps in learning, guided with patience, warmth and high expectations. Our slogan captures our ethos: "Where learning extends beyond walls."

1.2 AFS Mission

1.2.1 To inspire and prepare every student to achieve personal development and academic excellence as an engaged global citizen — empowering them to become positive learners who respect their own culture and the cultures of others, within a challenging, innovative program delivered in a compassionate environment.

1.3 AFS Aims

1.3.1 To give every child a joyful, high-quality start to their education in a safe, happy and ambitious environment.

1.3.2 To build strong bilingual foundations — English and Arabic side by side, with early exposure to French — and confident foundations in reading, writing and numeracy.

1.3.3 To develop character as deliberately as academics: loyalty, integrity, optimism, creativity and thoughtfulness, held as dearly as any academic outcome.

1.3.4 To nurture children who respect and cherish their Bahraini heritage while becoming respectful, open-minded global citizens.

1.3.5 To work in partnership with parents so that each student feels known, safe and inspired to do their best.

1.3.6 To extend learning beyond walls through a rich mix of activities, field trips, clubs and celebrations.

1.3.7 To prepare every student to complete the full elementary journey with us, ready for a successful transition to secondary school after Grade 6.

1.4 AFS Vision

1.4.1 A vibrant community where learning is joyful, genuine and empowering — collaborative, innovative and technology-driven, grounded in respect and responsibility. A school where learning extends beyond walls.

1.5 AFS Values

1.5.1 Our values are reflected in the blue and gold of our identity, and they guide how our children learn, treat one another and grow:

1.5.1.1 Loyalty and integrity — the deep blue of our crest: honesty, kindness and trust. We ask children to be true to themselves and good to one another.

1.5.1.2 Intellect, optimism and creativity — the gold of our crest: curiosity, a sunny outlook and imagination — the spark behind every discovery in our classrooms.

1.5.2 Loyalty and integrity sit at the heart of our community, alongside intellect, optimism and creativity. Alongside academics, we nurture morals, discipline and good habits — because how children learn to treat one another matters just as much as what they know.

1.6 How AFS Will Achieve Our Mission

1.6.1 Through bilingual learning. We weave together an American curriculum and the Bahrain Ministry of Education framework so children meet international standards while staying deeply rooted in their culture. English and Arabic are taught side by side every day, with early exposure to French, and Renaissance STAR 360 assessments (Early Literacy, Reading and Math) provide three gentle checkpoints a year, with clear progress reports shared with every family.

1.6.2 Through character and values. Our social-emotional learning program, assemblies and everyday classroom life teach loyalty, integrity, optimism and creativity in action, so that students grow as kind, confident and thoughtful members of their community (see the Character, Values and Cultural Development Policy).

1.6.3 Through partnership with parents. We see parents as partners in every child's journey. We work closely with families — through curriculum meetings, progress reports and open, ongoing communication — so that each student feels known, safe and inspired to do their best.

1.6.4 Through learning that extends beyond walls. A busy program of clubs, competitions and trips — the annual Spelling Bee, reading competitions, book club, library time, field trips across Bahrain, scouting, music, art, sports and seasonal celebrations — lets children discover their talents and passions beyond the schedule of lessons.

1.6.5 Through our people and our environment. We stay small and personal on purpose. Our teachers guide children's very first steps in learning with patience, warmth and high expectations, in a safe and enriching environment where every child is known by name.