News from our Elementary Principal, Ben Voborsky
Hello GAA Community,
It has been a great first week! Our students are getting back into the swing of things, building their classroom community, and forging new friendships. Teachers saw their hard work and preparation pay off with the smiles on their students faces. I saw plenty of smiling parents as well! I am sure that was both because of the smooth start to the school year and the end of summer vacation.
Elementary Community Handbooks went home yesterday. Thank you to those who returned the parent contract so quickly. I hope you had time to review the handbook with your students. If you did not receive one, please let us know and we will have one to you immediately and it is also available for download on tiny.cc/thelauncher.
Your child’s passport should start going home routinely and grade level websites will be available on Sunday. Please continue to check The Launcher at tiny.cc/thelauncher.com for you informational needs.
I look forward to seeing you at Back to School Night on September 14th.
Have a relaxing weekend,
Ben Voborsky
Elementary Principal
It has been a great first week! Our students are getting back into the swing of things, building their classroom community, and forging new friendships. Teachers saw their hard work and preparation pay off with the smiles on their students faces. I saw plenty of smiling parents as well! I am sure that was both because of the smooth start to the school year and the end of summer vacation.
Elementary Community Handbooks went home yesterday. Thank you to those who returned the parent contract so quickly. I hope you had time to review the handbook with your students. If you did not receive one, please let us know and we will have one to you immediately and it is also available for download on tiny.cc/thelauncher.
Your child’s passport should start going home routinely and grade level websites will be available on Sunday. Please continue to check The Launcher at tiny.cc/thelauncher.com for you informational needs.
I look forward to seeing you at Back to School Night on September 14th.
Have a relaxing weekend,
Ben Voborsky
Elementary Principal
News From our Elementary Vice Principal, Sofia Lyons
Dear PYP Families,
On behalf of our PYP team I would like to say how much we are looking forward to working with your children this school year.
Our classrooms are looking amazing and our dedicated teachers have done a wonderful job in providing a stimulating learning environment for our students. This week, our teachers are focussing on getting to know their children, building relationships and forming classroom essential agreements. Just like the adults at school, our children have collaborated, discussed and agreed ways in which they want to interact and behave in their learning environment.
As a result of me joining the leadership team, Mr Mike Hopaluk has been appointed as GAA’s PYP Coordinator and I am excited about his new role as I know he has the skills and passion to build on our Programme of Inquiry. I will be working closely with Mike and Kerryn, our Assistant PYP Coordinator to provide more insights and understandings of the Primary Years Programme for our school community across the school year.
I will also be working very closely with Louise Dunn, our other Elementary Vice-Principal. She is extremely experienced in teaching Language Arts, in particular through the Reader’s and Writer’s Workshop approach which is now seen as one of the best regarded models throughout the world. We are a community of learners and I am looking forward to learning from Louise, our teachers and from yourselves. With this in mind, please do not hesitate to approach your classroom teacher if you feel that you could contribute to the learning in the classroom. Maybe you are an expert in architecture, possibly your job involves sustainability, art, health, well-being, etc. Our units are so broad, relevant and significant that there are many authentic connections that can be made within our school community alone.
Lastly, if you have any questions regarding curriculum or instruction, please do not hesitate to contact me to arrange an appointment.
Best wishes
Sofia Lyons
Elementary Vice-Principal (Curriculum & Instruction)
Dear PYP Families,
On behalf of our PYP team I would like to say how much we are looking forward to working with your children this school year.
Our classrooms are looking amazing and our dedicated teachers have done a wonderful job in providing a stimulating learning environment for our students. This week, our teachers are focussing on getting to know their children, building relationships and forming classroom essential agreements. Just like the adults at school, our children have collaborated, discussed and agreed ways in which they want to interact and behave in their learning environment.
As a result of me joining the leadership team, Mr Mike Hopaluk has been appointed as GAA’s PYP Coordinator and I am excited about his new role as I know he has the skills and passion to build on our Programme of Inquiry. I will be working closely with Mike and Kerryn, our Assistant PYP Coordinator to provide more insights and understandings of the Primary Years Programme for our school community across the school year.
I will also be working very closely with Louise Dunn, our other Elementary Vice-Principal. She is extremely experienced in teaching Language Arts, in particular through the Reader’s and Writer’s Workshop approach which is now seen as one of the best regarded models throughout the world. We are a community of learners and I am looking forward to learning from Louise, our teachers and from yourselves. With this in mind, please do not hesitate to approach your classroom teacher if you feel that you could contribute to the learning in the classroom. Maybe you are an expert in architecture, possibly your job involves sustainability, art, health, well-being, etc. Our units are so broad, relevant and significant that there are many authentic connections that can be made within our school community alone.
Lastly, if you have any questions regarding curriculum or instruction, please do not hesitate to contact me to arrange an appointment.
Best wishes
Sofia Lyons
Elementary Vice-Principal (Curriculum & Instruction)
News From our Elementary Vice Principal, Louise Dunn
Dear GAA Community,
Learning and new knowledge acquisition is not purely a trait of the young. This summer I too was a learner and Inquirer as I attended a conference/training event at Columbia University to refresh my knowledge and understanding about the teaching of good literacy in the elementary school. What I found to be very inspiring and reaffirming was that here at GAA we are practicing the teaching of writing in a manner that fosters inquiry in our students. This inquiry is then paired with independence as our students move through the writing process.
So what is writer’s workshop?
It is the teaching of writing so that the teacher becomes a:
Writing professional and peer coach, guiding authors as they explore their craft. Instead of spending the majority of class time on spelling tests, grammar worksheets, handwriting practice, and other isolated sub-skills of writing, Writer’s Workshop is designed to emphasize the act of writing itself—students spend most of their time putting pencil to paper, not just learning about it. Over time, students learn to choose their own topics and to manage their own development as they work through a wide variety of writing projects in a sustained and self-directed way.
(Welcome to Writer's Workshop. Retreived September 2, 2015 http://www.ttms.org/PDFs/05%20Writers%20Workshop%20v001%20(Full).pdf)
As we move forward, this year I look forward to working with our young writers as they develop their writing skills.
Louise Dunn
Elementary Vice-Principal
Dear GAA Community,
Learning and new knowledge acquisition is not purely a trait of the young. This summer I too was a learner and Inquirer as I attended a conference/training event at Columbia University to refresh my knowledge and understanding about the teaching of good literacy in the elementary school. What I found to be very inspiring and reaffirming was that here at GAA we are practicing the teaching of writing in a manner that fosters inquiry in our students. This inquiry is then paired with independence as our students move through the writing process.
So what is writer’s workshop?
It is the teaching of writing so that the teacher becomes a:
Writing professional and peer coach, guiding authors as they explore their craft. Instead of spending the majority of class time on spelling tests, grammar worksheets, handwriting practice, and other isolated sub-skills of writing, Writer’s Workshop is designed to emphasize the act of writing itself—students spend most of their time putting pencil to paper, not just learning about it. Over time, students learn to choose their own topics and to manage their own development as they work through a wide variety of writing projects in a sustained and self-directed way.
(Welcome to Writer's Workshop. Retreived September 2, 2015 http://www.ttms.org/PDFs/05%20Writers%20Workshop%20v001%20(Full).pdf)
As we move forward, this year I look forward to working with our young writers as they develop their writing skills.
Louise Dunn
Elementary Vice-Principal
The Mother Tongue Program is looking forward to working with parents and students with bilingual background.
Please, respond to the questions in the following link Mother Tongue Program Survey and we will get in touch with you soon. Thank you!
Please, respond to the questions in the following link Mother Tongue Program Survey and we will get in touch with you soon. Thank you!
News from our KG Curriculum Coordinator, Kristine Zydel
Hello, I am so excited to be joining GAA this year as the KG Curriculum Coordinator. I want to extend a warm welcome to all new and returning families to the KG program. I look forward to getting to know you and your families.
Thank you, to all the parents who attended the KG program overview presentation on Sunday and Monday. If you were unable to attend please see the below slides for the information missed. If after reading the slides you have any question please do not hesitate to email me with questions or make an appointment to speak with me directly.
Thank you.
Kristine Zydel
KG Curriculum Coordinator
Hello, I am so excited to be joining GAA this year as the KG Curriculum Coordinator. I want to extend a warm welcome to all new and returning families to the KG program. I look forward to getting to know you and your families.
Thank you, to all the parents who attended the KG program overview presentation on Sunday and Monday. If you were unable to attend please see the below slides for the information missed. If after reading the slides you have any question please do not hesitate to email me with questions or make an appointment to speak with me directly.
Thank you.
Kristine Zydel
KG Curriculum Coordinator
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KG1A
The first week of school is always exciting for both students and teachers. The students in KG 1A were busy making friends and getting to know one another through many fun activities such as dramatic play, painting, water and sand play. The students went on an exploration of the school to help them get acquainted with their surroundings.
The first week of school is always exciting for both students and teachers. The students in KG 1A were busy making friends and getting to know one another through many fun activities such as dramatic play, painting, water and sand play. The students went on an exploration of the school to help them get acquainted with their surroundings.
KG1 B
Welcome to GAA KG1B, what a great year we will have!!
This week KG1B have been finding our way around the classroom and around the school, we found there are so many stairs! But, we had lots of fun looking at the different colors in the Planetarium, searching for our favorite books in the library, finding the swimming pool and so much more!
Welcome to GAA KG1B, what a great year we will have!!
This week KG1B have been finding our way around the classroom and around the school, we found there are so many stairs! But, we had lots of fun looking at the different colors in the Planetarium, searching for our favorite books in the library, finding the swimming pool and so much more!
KG2A
The children in KG2A have been having fun whilst making new friends and exploring their new classroom.
The children in KG2A have been having fun whilst making new friends and exploring their new classroom.
KG2B
KG Arabic Language
As you know Arabic is the local language here in the UAE, and it is also the language of the Quran. Therefore it is our aim to begin to introduce Arabic to students at GAA. At the Kindergarten level, GAA offers combined classes for native speakers of Arabic and for students who study Arabic as an Additional Language.
We are very excited to start teaching Arabic classes for KG students next week and we look forward to parental support of the program. KG Arabic classes will be happening twice a week and our aim is to begin to develop language and literacy skills in Arabic.
During the year students are going to be introduced to the Arabic alphabet, vocabulary, numbers from 1-20, songs and simple conversational exchanges.
How can parents help support student learning.
• Read the weekly Arabic newsletter prior to the start of weekly lessons
• Keep in contact with the Arabic teachers
• Ask for extra resources (free apps, books, websites)
• Read and speak daily to your child in Arabic (Native-Arabic Speakers)
• Encourage your child to take risks in using the language and trying to say new words or to make new sounds.
We look forward to working with you and your children this year.
As you know Arabic is the local language here in the UAE, and it is also the language of the Quran. Therefore it is our aim to begin to introduce Arabic to students at GAA. At the Kindergarten level, GAA offers combined classes for native speakers of Arabic and for students who study Arabic as an Additional Language.
We are very excited to start teaching Arabic classes for KG students next week and we look forward to parental support of the program. KG Arabic classes will be happening twice a week and our aim is to begin to develop language and literacy skills in Arabic.
During the year students are going to be introduced to the Arabic alphabet, vocabulary, numbers from 1-20, songs and simple conversational exchanges.
How can parents help support student learning.
• Read the weekly Arabic newsletter prior to the start of weekly lessons
• Keep in contact with the Arabic teachers
• Ask for extra resources (free apps, books, websites)
• Read and speak daily to your child in Arabic (Native-Arabic Speakers)
• Encourage your child to take risks in using the language and trying to say new words or to make new sounds.
We look forward to working with you and your children this year.
MESSAGE FROM THE KG KITCHEN- LAB
Dear KG Parents,
Please ensure that your child’s teacher is aware of any FOOD ALLERGIES that your child might have. It is very important that we have this information before we begin cooking the KG Kitchen-Lab. You can access the school medical information forms via the link below:
Thank you very much for helping us to make the KG Kitchen-Lab a safe environment for our mini-chefs.
Ms. Erin
PYP Educator
KG Kitchen- Lab
Dear KG Parents,
Please ensure that your child’s teacher is aware of any FOOD ALLERGIES that your child might have. It is very important that we have this information before we begin cooking the KG Kitchen-Lab. You can access the school medical information forms via the link below:
Thank you very much for helping us to make the KG Kitchen-Lab a safe environment for our mini-chefs.
Ms. Erin
PYP Educator
KG Kitchen- Lab
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