News from our Elementary Principal, Ben Voborsky
Hello GAA Community,
Welcome back for 2016! I am sure everyone enjoyed a relaxing winter break with their family. It has been great to hear so many stories of adventures in the UAE and around globe. Our students wrote all about their adventures during the break in an impromptu mid-point writing piece, which compared with their first writing sample demonstrates how much they have grown and achieved. I hope you enjoyed the look of the new report card as much as I did. If you have any questions regarding the report card, please see your child’s teacher.
I would like to invite you to an informal chat on Sunday, January 17th from 7:45-8:45. There will be coffee and snacks outside my office Room 115. I look forward to saying hi and continuing to connect parents with each other as well.
Enjoy your weekend,
Ben
Welcome back for 2016! I am sure everyone enjoyed a relaxing winter break with their family. It has been great to hear so many stories of adventures in the UAE and around globe. Our students wrote all about their adventures during the break in an impromptu mid-point writing piece, which compared with their first writing sample demonstrates how much they have grown and achieved. I hope you enjoyed the look of the new report card as much as I did. If you have any questions regarding the report card, please see your child’s teacher.
I would like to invite you to an informal chat on Sunday, January 17th from 7:45-8:45. There will be coffee and snacks outside my office Room 115. I look forward to saying hi and continuing to connect parents with each other as well.
Enjoy your weekend,
Ben
Grade 1
Our fantastic first graders have been busy inquiring into our current PYP unit ‘How We Express Ourselves’. With the central idea of our unit being “Celebrations are an opportunity to reflect and appreciate cultures and beliefs” students have had lots of fun acquiring new knowledge.
This vibrant and exciting unit of inquiry kicked off before the winter holiday when students started putting together the various elements that contribute to making a celebration happen. Our students planned activities, made decorations and hosted a small classroom party to mark the end of term. Also students from 1G and 1H shared their knowledge and experiences during our community share. They put on a wonderful performance with costumes, songs and dance. Students from all over the world described the different ways people celebrate. Everyone enjoyed it immensely and our first graders began to make connections between celebrations, cultures and beliefs.
In our first grade classroom we have been exploring, discovering and making connections between the different ways people celebrate through different activities. Students have been using books, vacation journals, videos and artifacts to enhance their learning experience. In one activity, students used their five senses to describe a celebration of their choice and then shared their work with their classmates. This presented an opportunity for all students to express themselves. It was wonderful to see our first graders being both open-minded and respectful of one another’s cultures and beliefs as they shared stories from their own experiences. It was also fantastic to see them develop their communication skills and confidence. At the moment students are busy preparing for the Arts festival happening on January 27th. Students will showcase their ability to express themselves through songs, dance and artistic displays. More information will be sent home soon. It’s sure to be a fantastic event full of celebration!
This vibrant and exciting unit of inquiry kicked off before the winter holiday when students started putting together the various elements that contribute to making a celebration happen. Our students planned activities, made decorations and hosted a small classroom party to mark the end of term. Also students from 1G and 1H shared their knowledge and experiences during our community share. They put on a wonderful performance with costumes, songs and dance. Students from all over the world described the different ways people celebrate. Everyone enjoyed it immensely and our first graders began to make connections between celebrations, cultures and beliefs.
In our first grade classroom we have been exploring, discovering and making connections between the different ways people celebrate through different activities. Students have been using books, vacation journals, videos and artifacts to enhance their learning experience. In one activity, students used their five senses to describe a celebration of their choice and then shared their work with their classmates. This presented an opportunity for all students to express themselves. It was wonderful to see our first graders being both open-minded and respectful of one another’s cultures and beliefs as they shared stories from their own experiences. It was also fantastic to see them develop their communication skills and confidence. At the moment students are busy preparing for the Arts festival happening on January 27th. Students will showcase their ability to express themselves through songs, dance and artistic displays. More information will be sent home soon. It’s sure to be a fantastic event full of celebration!
From our KG Vice Principal, Sally Potts
Welcome back! We have had a wonderful start to KG this week. Classrooms and halls have been filled with the sights and sounds of dancing, music and art and the smell of baking as our children prepare for our Arts’ Festival. Our staff and students are looking forward to sharing their learning with families on January 27th. Please make a note on your calendar to come and help us celebrate!
The weather is certainly cooler now. The children are enjoying playing outside on the playground equipment and riding their tricycles. We would appreciate families making sure that children are wearing the GAA sweatshirts that are available for purchase at the school. I wanted to thank all of our families who have supported our change in the parking routine in the morning. It is much smoother and we have had many positive comments.
Thank you as always for your support of our program. Please contact me if you have any questions.
Regards,
Sally Potts
The weather is certainly cooler now. The children are enjoying playing outside on the playground equipment and riding their tricycles. We would appreciate families making sure that children are wearing the GAA sweatshirts that are available for purchase at the school. I wanted to thank all of our families who have supported our change in the parking routine in the morning. It is much smoother and we have had many positive comments.
Thank you as always for your support of our program. Please contact me if you have any questions.
Regards,
Sally Potts
KG SPECIALISTS
This week in the KG Library students enjoyed reading Otto Grows Down by: Michael Sussman. This KG students ruly enjoyed listening to this very funny story. Students learned the importance of sharing with their siblings and being kind. Please remember to read a book with your KG child this weekend.
-Mrs. April
-Mrs. April