News from Head of School - Kathy Miner
We Inspire. We Educate. We Lead. We Innovate.
Dear GAA Parents,
Welcome to the 2015-2016 school year! As we begin the year, it is important for you to know how committed we are to ensuring that each child at GAA is challenged, encouraged and supported to achieve academic success and to develop a strong sense of well being. We not only want our students to attain but surpass our expectations of what they can achieve. Such success is critical if we are to achieve the Vision of GAA, “ We Inspire. We Educate. We Lead. We Innovate".
This year you will see an emphasis on consistent high quality instruction designed to meet the needs of the range of learners in the classroom, intervention strategies for students needing extra support as well as more emotional and social support throughout the school.
We are welcoming several new members to our Senior Leadership Team who have significant experience and background as educational leaders from highly regarded schools and school districts from the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. Such strong leadership will enable us to set the bar high for all of our students.
Please take a few minutes to read the messages from Elementary School Principal Ben Voborsky and Secondary School Principal Craig Randal which outline the program changes and improvements planned for the coming school year in each division of the school. You will see an emphasis on high quality inquiry-based instruction and a renewed commitment to providing the enrichment, challenge and/or support that each child needs in order to experience academic success.
We are excited to begin the new school year and a new journey in learning. We welcome you back to GEMS American Academy!
Regards,
Kathryn Miner
Head of School and CEO
Welcome to the 2015-2016 school year! As we begin the year, it is important for you to know how committed we are to ensuring that each child at GAA is challenged, encouraged and supported to achieve academic success and to develop a strong sense of well being. We not only want our students to attain but surpass our expectations of what they can achieve. Such success is critical if we are to achieve the Vision of GAA, “ We Inspire. We Educate. We Lead. We Innovate".
This year you will see an emphasis on consistent high quality instruction designed to meet the needs of the range of learners in the classroom, intervention strategies for students needing extra support as well as more emotional and social support throughout the school.
We are welcoming several new members to our Senior Leadership Team who have significant experience and background as educational leaders from highly regarded schools and school districts from the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. Such strong leadership will enable us to set the bar high for all of our students.
Please take a few minutes to read the messages from Elementary School Principal Ben Voborsky and Secondary School Principal Craig Randal which outline the program changes and improvements planned for the coming school year in each division of the school. You will see an emphasis on high quality inquiry-based instruction and a renewed commitment to providing the enrichment, challenge and/or support that each child needs in order to experience academic success.
We are excited to begin the new school year and a new journey in learning. We welcome you back to GEMS American Academy!
Regards,
Kathryn Miner
Head of School and CEO
News from our Registrar, Dina Morad
A big welcome to all our new families and returning families for the 2015-2016 academic year at GEMS American Academy.
Class Placement: Your child’s class placement will be emailed to you next week. There has been a lot of thought, consideration, and mindfulness for the best placement of your child. The approach has been a collaborative one that started in June 2015 well before the end of the school year. Teachers, counselors, principals, and administration were all involved in class placement decisions. GAA’s number one priority was to create well balanced, mixed groups of students as our classrooms benefit from the backgrounds, talents, and thinking skills of a diverse student population.
Please be aware that this is an opportunity for social growth and independence. Your child will grow and learn in this environment. Please be aware that your child will be heavily influenced by your reaction and that your child is open to new and different experiences, relationships, and learning partnerships with their peers and teachers. This transition is even smoother when parents encourage and support student in their transition; just as their teachers will. GAA will not entertain class placement changes as the amount of thought and care that was put into the development of our student grouping was based on best educational practices. Please do not assume learning environments will not be successful.
To our New Families:
As per the UAE law, We are required to register all students with the Abu Dhabi Education Council. This is why we ask parents to bring in the below documents. ADEC set a specific deadline for this Mandatory information to be collected. To complete your children's registration, please remember to forward the documents below to the Admissions office within the first 30 days of school start.
- Your child Emirates ID card
- Both parents Emirates ID cards
- A copy of the Electricity Bill
- For Emirati Families, please bring a copy of your Family Book
Additional Requirements for Grade 2 -12:
- School Transfer Certificates (attested). This is ONLY for students who are coming from schools OUTSIDE Abu Dhabi.
- Final report card from the previous school (Grade 10-12, Transcript of Records)
To the families that have already submitted documents, Thank You! If you are in doubt, please come and check with the Admissions team.
As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Admissions team:
Dina Morad- School Registrar [email protected]
Carlo Dumo- Admissions Secretary [email protected]
Fatma Chabanova- Admissions Secretary [email protected]
All the best as we start a great academic year!
Dina Morad
Registrar
Calendar for 2015-2016:
We are happy to announce that ADEC has approved our calendar for the 2015-2016 school year.
Teachers and Administrators collaborated to develop the 2015-2016 school calendar, complete with events, activities, field trips, sports games and tournaments. This collaboration helps us to avoid conflicts with the many events planned across the campus and helps us in managing our facilities.
ADEC have announced that all schools in Abu Dhabi should operate 183 school days for students, and have designated the starting and end dates for schools and holiday breaks.
Please be aware that the calendar below, although officially approved by ADEC, could change. We ask that you remain flexible with your travel dates in the event of such a change.
We are happy to announce that ADEC has approved our calendar for the 2015-2016 school year.
Teachers and Administrators collaborated to develop the 2015-2016 school calendar, complete with events, activities, field trips, sports games and tournaments. This collaboration helps us to avoid conflicts with the many events planned across the campus and helps us in managing our facilities.
ADEC have announced that all schools in Abu Dhabi should operate 183 school days for students, and have designated the starting and end dates for schools and holiday breaks.
Please be aware that the calendar below, although officially approved by ADEC, could change. We ask that you remain flexible with your travel dates in the event of such a change.
Tuition Fees for 2015-2016:
There will not be a tuition fee increase for the 2015-2016 school year.
Schools may only raise tuition fees once every three years. GAA has not raised tuition fees in last four years.
There will not be a tuition fee increase for the 2015-2016 school year.
Schools may only raise tuition fees once every three years. GAA has not raised tuition fees in last four years.
Grade Placement and Tuition Fees for 2015-2016
Uniform Update:
GEMS have engaged with a new supplier, Threads. The new GEMS American Academy uniform is similar in design and color as the previous uniform but is made of higher quality fabric made with natural fiber.
Students will still be allowed to wear the previous GAA uniform throughout 2015-2016 school year, basically until they grow out of the clothes. Because the new uniform is similar to the previous one, students shouldn’t feel that they stand out or look different than their peers.
Threads are also committed to improving the actual shopping experience for uniforms and wish to avoid at all times the potential issues of long queues, harried customers, and / or lack of stock. To ensure this quality of service, Threads uniforms can be purchased in the following convenient places:
Please find the enclosed Uniform Guide to assist you in choosing the right combination of items and sizes for your child.
GEMS have engaged with a new supplier, Threads. The new GEMS American Academy uniform is similar in design and color as the previous uniform but is made of higher quality fabric made with natural fiber.
Students will still be allowed to wear the previous GAA uniform throughout 2015-2016 school year, basically until they grow out of the clothes. Because the new uniform is similar to the previous one, students shouldn’t feel that they stand out or look different than their peers.
Threads are also committed to improving the actual shopping experience for uniforms and wish to avoid at all times the potential issues of long queues, harried customers, and / or lack of stock. To ensure this quality of service, Threads uniforms can be purchased in the following convenient places:
- Ordering Online: Order from the comfort of your own home. Delivery will be made within one week of the order, subject to availability. Delivery is made by Aramex.
- Purchasing at GAA: Special arrangements have been made with our school to allow sales at GAA through August and September.
- Threads outlet: A Threads retail outlet will be set up in the coming months near GAA, more info to be announced.
Please find the enclosed Uniform Guide to assist you in choosing the right combination of items and sizes for your child.
gaa_uniform_guide.pdf | |
File Size: | 5604 kb |
File Type: |
Traffic and Parking Lot
Please be aware that there is a significant road construction project underway just down the road from GEMS American Academy. Traffic patterns may be interrupted in the first weeks of school as the nearby round-about is barricaded. It may be a better strategy to enter and exit from the back of the school to avoid traffic delays.
Please be aware that there is a significant road construction project underway just down the road from GEMS American Academy. Traffic patterns may be interrupted in the first weeks of school as the nearby round-about is barricaded. It may be a better strategy to enter and exit from the back of the school to avoid traffic delays.
GAAPA (Gems American Academy Parent Association)
An excellent and successful school depends on the healthy partnership between teachers, parents, students, and the community. As the identified parent association, GAAPA’s mission is to work in collaboration with the school to encourage a sense of community through events and activities that enrich our children’s educational experience at GEMS American Academy. GAAPA will support, assist, and cooperate in events aligned with the school program. GAAPA also endeavors to organize a variety of its own community-building events throughout the year. GAAPA believe in fostering the tradition of kindness and caring that exists within the school. Within our vast community of learners we would like to promote the notion of unity in diversity that promotes an acceptance of different cultures and people.
Gaapa is looking for volunteers to serve on the Executive Board for the upcoming year:
- Events Coordinator
• Coordinate annual special events sponsored by GAAPA.
• Organize event logistics, advertising and procurement.
• Oversee event planning committees and maintain event budget.
- Treasurer
• Keep an accounting of GAAPA funds through the management of the receipts and disbursements.
• Give a current report of GAAPA funds at each Executive Committee and General Meetings.
• Oversee expenses and budgets for all events for the entire fiscal year.
• Responsible for organization, distribution and collection for all cash boxes at GAAPA events.
- Design & Marketing Coordinator
• Responsible for design and production of all flyers/invitations/posters/nametags and other promotional material as required by GAAPA.
For applications or questions, please contact Maha Younes: [email protected]
An excellent and successful school depends on the healthy partnership between teachers, parents, students, and the community. As the identified parent association, GAAPA’s mission is to work in collaboration with the school to encourage a sense of community through events and activities that enrich our children’s educational experience at GEMS American Academy. GAAPA will support, assist, and cooperate in events aligned with the school program. GAAPA also endeavors to organize a variety of its own community-building events throughout the year. GAAPA believe in fostering the tradition of kindness and caring that exists within the school. Within our vast community of learners we would like to promote the notion of unity in diversity that promotes an acceptance of different cultures and people.
Gaapa is looking for volunteers to serve on the Executive Board for the upcoming year:
- Events Coordinator
• Coordinate annual special events sponsored by GAAPA.
• Organize event logistics, advertising and procurement.
• Oversee event planning committees and maintain event budget.
- Treasurer
• Keep an accounting of GAAPA funds through the management of the receipts and disbursements.
• Give a current report of GAAPA funds at each Executive Committee and General Meetings.
• Oversee expenses and budgets for all events for the entire fiscal year.
• Responsible for organization, distribution and collection for all cash boxes at GAAPA events.
- Design & Marketing Coordinator
• Responsible for design and production of all flyers/invitations/posters/nametags and other promotional material as required by GAAPA.
For applications or questions, please contact Maha Younes: [email protected]