News from the Elementary Principal
Dear GAA Community,
Welcome back to GAA for the 2014-2015 School Year. I would like extend a special welcome to the newest members of our Wildcat community. It was such a successful first week of school! Our fantastic facility was brought back to life by your children. GAA is once again a flurry of organized thoughtful activity.
I would like to invite you to GAA Parent Back to School Night to learn about all this activity. Parents will have the opportunity to meet their child’s classroom teacher and learn more about their student’s experience at GAA. Teachers will share an overview presentation of their grade level and then be available for questions and answers. Opportunities to meet with the Primary Years Program/Curriculum Coordinator and all specialist teachers will be available. Information will also be shared regarding Parental Engagement and the Varkey GEMS Foundation.
Dear GAA Community,
Welcome back to GAA for the 2014-2015 School Year. I would like extend a special welcome to the newest members of our Wildcat community. It was such a successful first week of school! Our fantastic facility was brought back to life by your children. GAA is once again a flurry of organized thoughtful activity.
I would like to invite you to GAA Parent Back to School Night to learn about all this activity. Parents will have the opportunity to meet their child’s classroom teacher and learn more about their student’s experience at GAA. Teachers will share an overview presentation of their grade level and then be available for questions and answers. Opportunities to meet with the Primary Years Program/Curriculum Coordinator and all specialist teachers will be available. Information will also be shared regarding Parental Engagement and the Varkey GEMS Foundation.
Thank you for your support with dropping your students off. It is great to see the backdoor of the car opening and a student hopping out safely with a backpack in hand! Please remember for those arriving before 7:30 to go directly to the cafeteria. I also appreciate the timely afternoon pick up.
Schedules are out, supplies are in, and our classrooms are meeting the educational needs of each student. Our teachers are challenging all students inside our balanced classrooms and differentiation is meeting the needs of our learners. Our ICT Team is getting our digital learning environment rolled out with digital citizenship education at the top of their priority list.
All students are recommended to complete extended learning activities at home. “Homework” will be coming and I encourage parents to read with their child and play educational games. If you have questions regarding extended learning activities, please review the section in the Elementary Community Handbook or speak with your teacher. Thank you to those who have returned the GEMS American Academy Parent Contract at the back of the Elementary Community Handbook.
Dr. Kathy Miner has highlighted the structure in which questions and concerns are addressed at GAA in her newsletter
contribution. I know open communication with your classroom teacher answers the majority of questions and concerns. If you are in doubt about who to speak with, please contact Parent Relations Executive Kathryn Reynolds ([email protected]). For KG1 and KG2
parents who have questions regarding grade placement, you can email [email protected] or contact GAA Registrar Dina Morad ([email protected]).
I look forward to sharing, listening, and growing with the GAA community this school year.
See you at Parents Back to School
Night,
Ben Voborsky
Elementary Principal
Schedules are out, supplies are in, and our classrooms are meeting the educational needs of each student. Our teachers are challenging all students inside our balanced classrooms and differentiation is meeting the needs of our learners. Our ICT Team is getting our digital learning environment rolled out with digital citizenship education at the top of their priority list.
All students are recommended to complete extended learning activities at home. “Homework” will be coming and I encourage parents to read with their child and play educational games. If you have questions regarding extended learning activities, please review the section in the Elementary Community Handbook or speak with your teacher. Thank you to those who have returned the GEMS American Academy Parent Contract at the back of the Elementary Community Handbook.
Dr. Kathy Miner has highlighted the structure in which questions and concerns are addressed at GAA in her newsletter
contribution. I know open communication with your classroom teacher answers the majority of questions and concerns. If you are in doubt about who to speak with, please contact Parent Relations Executive Kathryn Reynolds ([email protected]). For KG1 and KG2
parents who have questions regarding grade placement, you can email [email protected] or contact GAA Registrar Dina Morad ([email protected]).
I look forward to sharing, listening, and growing with the GAA community this school year.
See you at Parents Back to School
Night,
Ben Voborsky
Elementary Principal
Parent Back To School Night - Tuesday 9th September 5.30pm-7.30pm
We are delighted to invite you to our Parent Back To School Night for KG and Elementary School Parents. This will be held on Tuesday 9th September at 5.30pm until 7.30pm. This night is your opportunity to meet the homeroom teacher, meet the specialist teachers and find out general information regarding the teaching and learning in the classrooms.
Back to school night is not designed to be a parent teacher conference to discuss your child’s individual progress. If you are unable to go visit a particular teacher or information session, please email the individual teacher who would be delighted to send you the information over email.
The night is an evening for parents, no supervision will be provided for students. Back to School Night is an opportunity for meaningful conversation between adults. In October we will be holding the three way conferences in which we will invite students to share their learning with you.
Please see below the Parent Back To School Night Schedule:
Click here for a printable version of the schedule
We are delighted to invite you to our Parent Back To School Night for KG and Elementary School Parents. This will be held on Tuesday 9th September at 5.30pm until 7.30pm. This night is your opportunity to meet the homeroom teacher, meet the specialist teachers and find out general information regarding the teaching and learning in the classrooms.
Back to school night is not designed to be a parent teacher conference to discuss your child’s individual progress. If you are unable to go visit a particular teacher or information session, please email the individual teacher who would be delighted to send you the information over email.
The night is an evening for parents, no supervision will be provided for students. Back to School Night is an opportunity for meaningful conversation between adults. In October we will be holding the three way conferences in which we will invite students to share their learning with you.
Please see below the Parent Back To School Night Schedule:
Click here for a printable version of the schedule
Dear GAA community,
I want to first welcome you all to this new school year here at GEMS American Academy. Not only are we welcoming
all of our new students and families to the GAA community, but we are also welcoming a number of new teachers. We truly have an amazing staff here at GAA.
I want to first welcome you all to this new school year here at GEMS American Academy. Not only are we welcoming
all of our new students and families to the GAA community, but we are also welcoming a number of new teachers. We truly have an amazing staff here at GAA.
We have spent many months getting ready for this year. Our supply orders began arriving in early August and the size of the order was staggering as you can see from the picture. Luckily we had an amazing team here at school who has been working tirelessly to get the supplies into the hands of the teachers. Schedules for each class have gone home this week and as you can see from looking at them, the children have an amazing well balanced experience here at GAA.
As I walk through the halls and visit different classes, I am amazed at how settled and happy our students are. This speaks to the preparation that parents have dine over the summer as well as the work our teachers have done in setting our classroom essential agreements. I sincerely hope everyone has a wonderful 2014-2015
school year.
Sincerely,
Josh Doubleday,
Elementary Vice Principal
As I walk through the halls and visit different classes, I am amazed at how settled and happy our students are. This speaks to the preparation that parents have dine over the summer as well as the work our teachers have done in setting our classroom essential agreements. I sincerely hope everyone has a wonderful 2014-2015
school year.
Sincerely,
Josh Doubleday,
Elementary Vice Principal
Kindergarten Corner - News From our KG Department
Starting school for the first time or after a long vacation is a big step for your child and your whole family. It’s a wonderful and exciting experience, but it also means a big change for you and your child.We want to help you get off to a great start by giving you and your child information that will help you prepare
Here are some important tips and simple ways to get involved and make a difference for your child and the school:
Starting school for the first time or after a long vacation is a big step for your child and your whole family. It’s a wonderful and exciting experience, but it also means a big change for you and your child.We want to help you get off to a great start by giving you and your child information that will help you prepare
Here are some important tips and simple ways to get involved and make a difference for your child and the school:
- arrive safely to school no later than 7.45 am to allow your child to be a part of the settling in process and early morning routines
- collect your child by 2.45pm
- send healthy food to school which includes a morning snack and lunch
- Please send a clean hat to school and take it home each week to wash
- Provide a change of clothes to be kept in your child’s cubby
- Talk with your child about school. Use questions such as “What did you do in morning circle?” “Were you a monitor today at school?"
We would like to thank our entire GAA KG community for a fabulous start to our
new school year. Everyone has done their part to make sure that our
youngest community members have experienced smooth transition from home to
school.
Please enjoy this close up look at our first week of school.
يطيب لي مع بداية السنة الدراسية الجديدة أن أرحب
بأطفالنا هذا العام الذين التحقوا بأكاديمية جيمس الأمريكية، وانتظموا بالدراسة
وتجاوزوا مرحلة الانتقال من البيت الى المدرسة
بنجاح.
أرجو أن تستمعوا بصورالأطفال في هذا الأسبوع
new school year. Everyone has done their part to make sure that our
youngest community members have experienced smooth transition from home to
school.
Please enjoy this close up look at our first week of school.
يطيب لي مع بداية السنة الدراسية الجديدة أن أرحب
بأطفالنا هذا العام الذين التحقوا بأكاديمية جيمس الأمريكية، وانتظموا بالدراسة
وتجاوزوا مرحلة الانتقال من البيت الى المدرسة
بنجاح.
أرجو أن تستمعوا بصورالأطفال في هذا الأسبوع
News From our IB Primary Years Program Coordinator Sofia Lyons
It is a great honor to have been appointed by GEMS American Academy in Abu Dhabi to coordinate the IBO Primary Years Program (PYP) in the Elementary School. I am really looking forward to building upon the excellent work that has happened to date and strengthening the inquiry-based teaching and learning in our classrooms.
The Primary Years Program is all about collaboration so it was a fantastic opportunity when, on the 24th and 25th August 2014, 45 Elementary School teachers were given the chance to participate in an IBO Workshop facilitated by myself and Kerryn Tucker, certified IB Workshop Leaders.
The teachers were enthusiastic, active and engaged participants. They left the workshop with an understanding of the PYP philosophy, as well as some innovative approaches to teaching and assessment, while Kerryn and I left impressed by the high caliber of colleagues we will be working with going forward.
In a nutshell, Kerryn and I are both looking forward to working closely with, teachers, students and parents here at GAA to move our Primary Years Program forward to the next level.
Hopefully you have been able to attend one of our parent information presentations this week, but if you still have any burning
questions about the IBO PYP or the curriculum, please do not hesitate to contact me or Kerryn ([email protected]).
Regards
Sofia Lyons
PYP Coordinator
[email protected]
It is a great honor to have been appointed by GEMS American Academy in Abu Dhabi to coordinate the IBO Primary Years Program (PYP) in the Elementary School. I am really looking forward to building upon the excellent work that has happened to date and strengthening the inquiry-based teaching and learning in our classrooms.
The Primary Years Program is all about collaboration so it was a fantastic opportunity when, on the 24th and 25th August 2014, 45 Elementary School teachers were given the chance to participate in an IBO Workshop facilitated by myself and Kerryn Tucker, certified IB Workshop Leaders.
The teachers were enthusiastic, active and engaged participants. They left the workshop with an understanding of the PYP philosophy, as well as some innovative approaches to teaching and assessment, while Kerryn and I left impressed by the high caliber of colleagues we will be working with going forward.
In a nutshell, Kerryn and I are both looking forward to working closely with, teachers, students and parents here at GAA to move our Primary Years Program forward to the next level.
Hopefully you have been able to attend one of our parent information presentations this week, but if you still have any burning
questions about the IBO PYP or the curriculum, please do not hesitate to contact me or Kerryn ([email protected]).
Regards
Sofia Lyons
PYP Coordinator
[email protected]
Welcome New KG and Elementary School Staff!
Over the coming weeks we will be introducing to The GAAzette readers our new KG and Elementary School Staff. This week we are focusing on some of our new specialist teachers:
Elementary Drama and Music Teacher - Erik Smith
Erik Smith is a Canadian teacher who has been working in international education for 5 years. He studied Dramatic Arts in university always with the desire to eventually go on into teaching. Erik spent two years living in London, England working in the public school sector while balancing working and acting in various theater companies around the city. After spending time in London Erik moved to Saudi Arabia to a developing city known as King Abdullah Economic City, north of Jeddah. He really enjoyed living in and experiencing Arab culture as well as working in a GEMS school and this encouraged his eventual move to Abu Dhabi and GEMS American Academy. In his spare time Erik enjoys reading, cooking, playing the ukulele, and spending time with friends. He is very excited to get involved in extra curricular activities at GAA, particularly in sport and drama. Hopefully we’ll see a lot of students participating in the drama productions during this coming year!
Over the coming weeks we will be introducing to The GAAzette readers our new KG and Elementary School Staff. This week we are focusing on some of our new specialist teachers:
Elementary Drama and Music Teacher - Erik Smith
Erik Smith is a Canadian teacher who has been working in international education for 5 years. He studied Dramatic Arts in university always with the desire to eventually go on into teaching. Erik spent two years living in London, England working in the public school sector while balancing working and acting in various theater companies around the city. After spending time in London Erik moved to Saudi Arabia to a developing city known as King Abdullah Economic City, north of Jeddah. He really enjoyed living in and experiencing Arab culture as well as working in a GEMS school and this encouraged his eventual move to Abu Dhabi and GEMS American Academy. In his spare time Erik enjoys reading, cooking, playing the ukulele, and spending time with friends. He is very excited to get involved in extra curricular activities at GAA, particularly in sport and drama. Hopefully we’ll see a lot of students participating in the drama productions during this coming year!
KG and Elementary Librarian - Kerryn Tucker
My name is Kerryn Tucker and I was born in Ballarat, Victoria in Australia. In my 20’s I relocated to Perth, Western Australia, which was my home until I began my overseas adventures. I have worked in International PYP schools in Hong Kong, China, Botswana and now Abu Dhabi. Throughout my teaching career I have taught children from the ages of 4 to 12 as a classroom teacher and Librarian. As an educator, it is my belief that we all need to be inquiring, knowledgeable and caring people who are motivated to be active global citizens and who want to help create a better, more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect.
My name is Kerryn Tucker and I was born in Ballarat, Victoria in Australia. In my 20’s I relocated to Perth, Western Australia, which was my home until I began my overseas adventures. I have worked in International PYP schools in Hong Kong, China, Botswana and now Abu Dhabi. Throughout my teaching career I have taught children from the ages of 4 to 12 as a classroom teacher and Librarian. As an educator, it is my belief that we all need to be inquiring, knowledgeable and caring people who are motivated to be active global citizens and who want to help create a better, more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect.
Elementary Art - Peter Presnail
My name is Peter Presnail. I was born in California, but raised in the state of Minnesota with five brothers, a couple of dogs, a few cats, and a handful of other creatures. Currently, home in the United States is Spokane, Washington, where my son Greg, 20, and daughter Julia, 17, both live. From an early age I was interested in art, and spent hours filling notebooks with copies of drawings from art history books. Eventually I went to college in St. Cloud, Minnesota to study visual art, and then on to the Art Institute of Chicago for my master’s degree in painting and drawing. I was fortunate to be able to show my work in galleries, and make my living from my work. About five years ago I decided to follow my dream to teach art in an international school classroom, and found myself at the Gems World Academy in King Abdullah Economic City, in Saudi Arabia, where I taught for two years before coming to the Gems American Academy, in Abu Dhabi. As an art teacher, I bring over thirty years of professional art experience to my classroom, and a passion for my subject. My goal for my students is that they feel a sense of creative opportunity, and understand that they each have a unique and expressive artistic voice, and that they feel free, empowered, and confident enough to share it in my classroom, and beyond.
My name is Peter Presnail. I was born in California, but raised in the state of Minnesota with five brothers, a couple of dogs, a few cats, and a handful of other creatures. Currently, home in the United States is Spokane, Washington, where my son Greg, 20, and daughter Julia, 17, both live. From an early age I was interested in art, and spent hours filling notebooks with copies of drawings from art history books. Eventually I went to college in St. Cloud, Minnesota to study visual art, and then on to the Art Institute of Chicago for my master’s degree in painting and drawing. I was fortunate to be able to show my work in galleries, and make my living from my work. About five years ago I decided to follow my dream to teach art in an international school classroom, and found myself at the Gems World Academy in King Abdullah Economic City, in Saudi Arabia, where I taught for two years before coming to the Gems American Academy, in Abu Dhabi. As an art teacher, I bring over thirty years of professional art experience to my classroom, and a passion for my subject. My goal for my students is that they feel a sense of creative opportunity, and understand that they each have a unique and expressive artistic voice, and that they feel free, empowered, and confident enough to share it in my classroom, and beyond.
KG PE Teacher - Claire Davies
Claire Davies was born in Harare, Zimbabwe and was raised in Gaborone, Botswana. She studied a BEd: Early Childhood Development and Foundation Phase and a BEd: Honours in Learning Support at the University of Pretoria. After completing her studies she moved back to Gaborone to take up a teaching position as a Primary School Swimming and PE teacher. After working in Botswana Claire moved to work at the GEMS Cambridge International School in Kampala, Uganda. She worked there as a Foundation Stage 1 teacher (3-4 year olds). Upon completing a year in Uganda she decided to make a move to Abu Dhabi and get back to her passion of teaching PE and will be joining the KG PE team. During her spare time Claire likes to play rugby, soccer, squash and swimming. She also loves to watch sports, especially rugby – supporting the All Blacks. When not being involved in sports Claire enjoys working with technology, watching movies, reading and travelling.
Read next week's issue of The GAAzette for more new staff introductions.
Claire Davies was born in Harare, Zimbabwe and was raised in Gaborone, Botswana. She studied a BEd: Early Childhood Development and Foundation Phase and a BEd: Honours in Learning Support at the University of Pretoria. After completing her studies she moved back to Gaborone to take up a teaching position as a Primary School Swimming and PE teacher. After working in Botswana Claire moved to work at the GEMS Cambridge International School in Kampala, Uganda. She worked there as a Foundation Stage 1 teacher (3-4 year olds). Upon completing a year in Uganda she decided to make a move to Abu Dhabi and get back to her passion of teaching PE and will be joining the KG PE team. During her spare time Claire likes to play rugby, soccer, squash and swimming. She also loves to watch sports, especially rugby – supporting the All Blacks. When not being involved in sports Claire enjoys working with technology, watching movies, reading and travelling.
Read next week's issue of The GAAzette for more new staff introductions.
Welcome Back Letters From Our KG and Elementary Specialist Departments
Click here for a letter from the Physical Education Department
Click here for a letter from the Arabic Department
Click here for a letter from our School Counselors
Click here for a letter from the Physical Education Department
Click here for a letter from the Arabic Department
Click here for a letter from our School Counselors
Don't forget!
Need more details for you diary? Email Fiona the elementary secretary [email protected]
- Sunday 7th September - Non-competitive after school activity information will be
sent home via email - Monday 8th September Online Non-Competitive After School Activity Sign Ups from 9am
- Tuesday 9th September - KG and Elementary Parent Back to School Night 5.30-7.30pm
- Thursday 11th September - E-Sports Activities Sign Up 2.30-4pm on the 1st floor
Need more details for you diary? Email Fiona the elementary secretary [email protected]