News from our Elementary Principal, Ben Voborsky
Hello GAA Community,
Another fantastic week has passed in our KG and Elementary programs. The community share events and parent engagement sessions were again a hit. I want to thank our parent community for responding to the Elementary Communication and Homework Survey. This survey had the highest response rate of any survey this year. It reaffirmed a number of things for our elementary program including:
As a KG-5 program we will continue to reflect on and enhance the ways we communicate. Thanks again for all of your who took the time to complete this survey.
A few quick reminders:
Have a great weekend,
Ben Voborsky
Another fantastic week has passed in our KG and Elementary programs. The community share events and parent engagement sessions were again a hit. I want to thank our parent community for responding to the Elementary Communication and Homework Survey. This survey had the highest response rate of any survey this year. It reaffirmed a number of things for our elementary program including:
- http://tiny.cc/thelauncher is useful (67%) and used more than once a month (76%).
- Grade level Haiku pages are useful (90%) and used more than once a month (69%).
- 85% of those surveyed are reading this!
- Email is the easiest form of communication (79%).
- Student have enough extend learning activities/homework (69%).
As a KG-5 program we will continue to reflect on and enhance the ways we communicate. Thanks again for all of your who took the time to complete this survey.
A few quick reminders:
- Please return the measles form for SEHA/HAAD on Sunday.
- Make sure to get your tickets for SPACE PIRATES.
- MAP assessments will be the first weeks of May.
- The G5 IB PYP Exhibition kicks off May 10th!
Have a great weekend,
Ben Voborsky
From our Elementary Vice Principal, Louise Dunn
Reading to children
We have all heard the message that reading to our children from a very young age instills a love of the written word and sets them up for a life of literacy enjoyment. However what is sometimes missed in this message is that this activity of reading to children does not come to an end once they start reading independently.
Scholastic one of the largest publishers of children's books published a report in 2015 that underlined current research on the importance of reading to children well past the early years. The report shared the thinking of over 2,000 children on being read to by their parents amongst other key points about their literary lives. Check out the link below to read in more detail what students have to say about what they like to read, how often they are typically reading and the importance of parents in their reading lives.
http://www.scholastic.com/readingreport/key-findings.htm
Regards,
Louise Dunn
We have all heard the message that reading to our children from a very young age instills a love of the written word and sets them up for a life of literacy enjoyment. However what is sometimes missed in this message is that this activity of reading to children does not come to an end once they start reading independently.
Scholastic one of the largest publishers of children's books published a report in 2015 that underlined current research on the importance of reading to children well past the early years. The report shared the thinking of over 2,000 children on being read to by their parents amongst other key points about their literary lives. Check out the link below to read in more detail what students have to say about what they like to read, how often they are typically reading and the importance of parents in their reading lives.
http://www.scholastic.com/readingreport/key-findings.htm
Regards,
Louise Dunn
Grade 2
What a week! After a relaxing and enjoyable spring break, 2E has gotten full swing back into school and our inquiry into geographical and climatic features. In this unit, How We Organize Ourselves, we are learning more about how geography and climate can impact a person’s decision to live in a certain place. We are focusing on three lines of inquiry: Geographical and climatic features of Earth (form), How geographical and climatic features affect where people live (perspective), and Ways human settlement can alter geographical features (change).
To study this unit, we looked at the features of the six major biomes of the world, and have begun to look at the different landforms present in each region, natural resources, and how they might affect the way the people live there. We also have begun to look at how landforms can be represented on maps as well as the different kinds of maps that people can use, such as climate and topographical maps. Our lively class discussions have led us to develop our thinking skills and led to many great questions such as: “Is there water in every biome?” and “Why didn’t God put a biome in every planet?”.
To learn the answer these questions and more, we searched the internet, watched educational video clips, and read nonfiction books during guided reading. In the coming weeks, students will compare and contrast different biomes, learn more about basic human needs, debate which would be the best place to live, and create our own settlements and maps based on what we have learned. This is sure to be an exciting and engaging unit, we are looking forward to finding out where our ideas and questions take us!
To study this unit, we looked at the features of the six major biomes of the world, and have begun to look at the different landforms present in each region, natural resources, and how they might affect the way the people live there. We also have begun to look at how landforms can be represented on maps as well as the different kinds of maps that people can use, such as climate and topographical maps. Our lively class discussions have led us to develop our thinking skills and led to many great questions such as: “Is there water in every biome?” and “Why didn’t God put a biome in every planet?”.
To learn the answer these questions and more, we searched the internet, watched educational video clips, and read nonfiction books during guided reading. In the coming weeks, students will compare and contrast different biomes, learn more about basic human needs, debate which would be the best place to live, and create our own settlements and maps based on what we have learned. This is sure to be an exciting and engaging unit, we are looking forward to finding out where our ideas and questions take us!
Grade 4
We have just wrapped up the engaging, thought-provoking unit of inquiry, Sharing the Planet. Grade 4 students delved into topics of inequalities in their personal lives, communities, and the world. In 4E, students selected an inequality that resonated with them. They then researched their topic, focusing on our three lines of inquiry: 1. Inequality around the world (Perspective). 2. The causes of inequality (Causation) 3. The ways individuals and organizations take action on the inequality (Change). Students decided on the most appropriate way to present their ideas and findings. Students chose posters, PowerPoint presentations, videos, or visual models.
In addition to the wonderful work happening in the classrooms, 64 grade 4 students participated in an overnight camping experience at Ecoventure. On this trip, students had the opportunity to to engage in activities such as rock climbing, shelter building, survival techniques, sensory training, and sandboarding. The students demonstrated all Learner Profiles at some point during the trip, but activities greatly focused on developing their skills and abilities as risk takers, communicators, and thinkers. It was a joy to watch the students engage in personal growth and team building activities.
Grade 5 PYP Exhibition Update:
The Excitement Continues!
The Grade 5 students have continued to demonstrate commitment, cooperation and curiosity this week as their inquiries reached even greater depth during the PYP Exhibition unit. Students have been meeting with their mentors, interviewing experts, inquiring into their issues through the Arts and showing and beginning to think about how their own Action can make a difference. All of this will culminate in their presentation of their inquiries on the evening of May 10th for their parents ad mentors and during the day of May 11th and 12th for anyone else in the greater GAA community. Mark your calendars accordingly! Please enjoy some photos of the process.
Greetings GAA Community,
My name is DeVeor and I teach elementary music. At the beginning of the school year I developed a percussion ensemble, which has now evolved into a performance group known as The GAA Percussion Performance Ensemble. Since its inception, the group has performed at various community events, such as the Abu Dhabi Striders Half Marathon, 10 km Run on Yas Island, White Cube’s Metronome Concert Series at Mushrif Central Park, International Food Festival at Gems American Academy, and the Fourth Annual Tri Yas (triathlon) at Yas Marina Circuit.
The members of the GAA Percussion Ensemble are comprised of students of varying ages (Grade 2 – 6) and from various cultural backgrounds. The overall purpose of the performance group is to provide the members with an opportunity to engage in a comprehensive music program that promotes the appreciation and creation of music. Through the use of percussion instruments, students are exposed to the musical styles and genres of different cultures. They use this knowledge to collaborate on composing and arranging music that is inspired by the cultural diversity of ensemble’s members.
I would like to invite you to attend the GAA Percussion Ensemble’s next performance on Saturday, April 23rd at the Westin Abu Dhabi Golf Resort and Spa. The ensemble is part of a line-up of wonderful performing artist living in the UAE. We are scheduled to perform at 4:00pm sharp.
Please come out and support the creativity of our students. See above flyer for more information.
Thank you,
DeVeor
My name is DeVeor and I teach elementary music. At the beginning of the school year I developed a percussion ensemble, which has now evolved into a performance group known as The GAA Percussion Performance Ensemble. Since its inception, the group has performed at various community events, such as the Abu Dhabi Striders Half Marathon, 10 km Run on Yas Island, White Cube’s Metronome Concert Series at Mushrif Central Park, International Food Festival at Gems American Academy, and the Fourth Annual Tri Yas (triathlon) at Yas Marina Circuit.
The members of the GAA Percussion Ensemble are comprised of students of varying ages (Grade 2 – 6) and from various cultural backgrounds. The overall purpose of the performance group is to provide the members with an opportunity to engage in a comprehensive music program that promotes the appreciation and creation of music. Through the use of percussion instruments, students are exposed to the musical styles and genres of different cultures. They use this knowledge to collaborate on composing and arranging music that is inspired by the cultural diversity of ensemble’s members.
I would like to invite you to attend the GAA Percussion Ensemble’s next performance on Saturday, April 23rd at the Westin Abu Dhabi Golf Resort and Spa. The ensemble is part of a line-up of wonderful performing artist living in the UAE. We are scheduled to perform at 4:00pm sharp.
Please come out and support the creativity of our students. See above flyer for more information.
Thank you,
DeVeor
News from our KG Vice Principal, Sally Potts
Since spring break, our KG division has been a hive of activity. Students have been experimenting with 3-D printers in our Makerspace, learning code, discovering the differences among liquids, solids and gases and creating musical instruments in our creation lab. It is always such a pleasure to see the level of engagement exhibited by our students and teachers! Our students have learned so much this year. It is terrific to see them consolidating their skills and knowledge as we enter the last few months of the school year.
We are delighted to announce that our swimming program will continue to the end of the year. This is the first year we are able to have this happen. Swimming is such a valuable skill for our students to learn. Their level of confidence has really grown in the pool. Thank you to our parents who have been volunteering with swimming as well as in our classrooms.
Sally Potts
Vice Principal KG
We are delighted to announce that our swimming program will continue to the end of the year. This is the first year we are able to have this happen. Swimming is such a valuable skill for our students to learn. Their level of confidence has really grown in the pool. Thank you to our parents who have been volunteering with swimming as well as in our classrooms.
Sally Potts
Vice Principal KG