News from our Elementary Principal, Ben Voborsky
Welcome Back GAA Community,
I hope everyone had a relaxing and fun filled summer vacation. I can’t wait to hear about our student’s adventures around the globe or what new books they dove into over the break. Our first week back there will be an incredible amount of sharing and writing about their fantastic experiences!
It has been an exciting few weeks for the GAA Senior Leadership Team; welcoming new members and setting the collaborative vision for the 2015-2016 school year. We also welcomed our new elementary staff members last week. The feedback I received from them regarding the orientation and on-boarding process has been nothing but positive. They feel well prepared to start the school year guided by the GAA school improvement priorities. Returning grade level coordinators and many teachers where also back on campus helping everyone get settled and sort through our enormous resource order!
Our newly appointed Vice Principals; Sofia Lyons, Louise Dunn, and Sally Potts have been working hand in hand with curriculum coordinators Mike Hopaluk and Kristine Zydel. I hope you have had an opportunity to read their biographies and I assure you that they are even better in person! GAA will continue to focus on proactive communication and our pedagogical leadership and instructional teams will be sharing learning at GAA weekly so keep up to date with the newsletter and our online resources at tiny.cc/thelauncher.
For the 2015-2016 school year, the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme will continue to drive learning and teaching at GAA with inquiry at the forefront. GAA is proud to be an IB World School whose focus is preparing our students to be active, caring, lifelong learners modeling the GEMS culture of kindness. You will be hearing more about our journey with Mindfullness, a focus on Strengths, and Resilience; which will thread throughout the curriculum and parental engagement session.
GAA’s professional learning community supports this and we have several exciting educational initiatives this year. Two of which that I would like to highlight are the move to digital portfolio’s with our youngest learners and a shift to the BYOD model in our upper elementary program. Both initiatives will continue to enhance our technology rich environment and authentically bring 21st century skills into our classrooms.
I look forward to partnering with you as we challenge our students to develop academically, socially, and emotionally as international-minded, independent, and responsible learners. We look forward to what is to come!
Have a great 2015-2016 school year,
Ben Voborsky
Elementary Principal
I hope everyone had a relaxing and fun filled summer vacation. I can’t wait to hear about our student’s adventures around the globe or what new books they dove into over the break. Our first week back there will be an incredible amount of sharing and writing about their fantastic experiences!
It has been an exciting few weeks for the GAA Senior Leadership Team; welcoming new members and setting the collaborative vision for the 2015-2016 school year. We also welcomed our new elementary staff members last week. The feedback I received from them regarding the orientation and on-boarding process has been nothing but positive. They feel well prepared to start the school year guided by the GAA school improvement priorities. Returning grade level coordinators and many teachers where also back on campus helping everyone get settled and sort through our enormous resource order!
Our newly appointed Vice Principals; Sofia Lyons, Louise Dunn, and Sally Potts have been working hand in hand with curriculum coordinators Mike Hopaluk and Kristine Zydel. I hope you have had an opportunity to read their biographies and I assure you that they are even better in person! GAA will continue to focus on proactive communication and our pedagogical leadership and instructional teams will be sharing learning at GAA weekly so keep up to date with the newsletter and our online resources at tiny.cc/thelauncher.
For the 2015-2016 school year, the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme will continue to drive learning and teaching at GAA with inquiry at the forefront. GAA is proud to be an IB World School whose focus is preparing our students to be active, caring, lifelong learners modeling the GEMS culture of kindness. You will be hearing more about our journey with Mindfullness, a focus on Strengths, and Resilience; which will thread throughout the curriculum and parental engagement session.
GAA’s professional learning community supports this and we have several exciting educational initiatives this year. Two of which that I would like to highlight are the move to digital portfolio’s with our youngest learners and a shift to the BYOD model in our upper elementary program. Both initiatives will continue to enhance our technology rich environment and authentically bring 21st century skills into our classrooms.
I look forward to partnering with you as we challenge our students to develop academically, socially, and emotionally as international-minded, independent, and responsible learners. We look forward to what is to come!
Have a great 2015-2016 school year,
Ben Voborsky
Elementary Principal
Elementary School (Grade 1 - 5)
If your son or daughter will be joining or continuing in the Elementary School, the first day of school will be Sunday 30th August. All students will begin regular school hours - 7:45am until 2:55pm, going straight to their homeroom and will follow Day 1 of the 8 day schedule.
While the students are in class, there will be an informal coffee meet and greet for parents followed by an introduction to the Elementary program in the auditorium. We will host two sessions on Sunday 30th August.
While the students are in class, there will be an informal coffee meet and greet for parents followed by an introduction to the Elementary program in the auditorium. We will host two sessions on Sunday 30th August.
KG Staggered Start
If your son or daughter is joining us for KG1 or KG2, we will be operating a staggered start in the first week of school to ensure students become accustomed to their new environment and classroom teacher.
An email will be sent to inform you whether your son or daughter is in group A or group B. We will also be sending you an email detailing which class your son or daughter will be in, their schedule and a school map with their classroom labeled. This will assist you in finding your way on the first day of school.
An email will be sent to inform you whether your son or daughter is in group A or group B. We will also be sending you an email detailing which class your son or daughter will be in, their schedule and a school map with their classroom labeled. This will assist you in finding your way on the first day of school.
*Our bus service for KG students will commence on September 6th. Please note that there will be no bus service for KG students during the first week of school.