News from our Elementary Principal, Ben Voborsky
Hello GAA Community,
What a fantastic year it has been! It is pretty amazing to think that we gathered together for the first time all the way back in August. I was flipping through the GAA Yearbook reflecting on the year and a number of things struck me. As a school, we have grown not only in size (demonstrated by the fact that KG and Elementary could not fit in the same photo this year) but as a community of learners. Authentic learning took place throughout our facility and beyond its walls on field trips and eco-ventures. GAA came together as a community for the Hajj, UAE National Day, Sports Day, and after school activities. Those community events were enhanced by our wonderful parents associations GAAPA (Big Thank You!) during movie nights, harvest festival, winter festival, and, of course my personal favourite: The International Food Festival! Our GAA community gathered together off campus to join various student, parent, and teacher run initiatives including the Terry Fox Run and The Color Run. Community, and the kind relationships, is what really summed up my positives at GAA this year.
I want to thank first and foremost our talented group of diverse student leaners. I love seeing them inquire and create! Thank you to our teacher who facilitate these fantastic learning environments and the parents who support at home. All our GAA front of house and support staff that keep the machine that is GAA running.
With so many positive memories, I will go into summer vacation with a smile! For those of you departing early,:I wish you an exciting, yet restful, summer vacation with your family. Enjoy it!
Have a great weekend,
Ben Voborsky
Elementary Principal
What a fantastic year it has been! It is pretty amazing to think that we gathered together for the first time all the way back in August. I was flipping through the GAA Yearbook reflecting on the year and a number of things struck me. As a school, we have grown not only in size (demonstrated by the fact that KG and Elementary could not fit in the same photo this year) but as a community of learners. Authentic learning took place throughout our facility and beyond its walls on field trips and eco-ventures. GAA came together as a community for the Hajj, UAE National Day, Sports Day, and after school activities. Those community events were enhanced by our wonderful parents associations GAAPA (Big Thank You!) during movie nights, harvest festival, winter festival, and, of course my personal favourite: The International Food Festival! Our GAA community gathered together off campus to join various student, parent, and teacher run initiatives including the Terry Fox Run and The Color Run. Community, and the kind relationships, is what really summed up my positives at GAA this year.
I want to thank first and foremost our talented group of diverse student leaners. I love seeing them inquire and create! Thank you to our teacher who facilitate these fantastic learning environments and the parents who support at home. All our GAA front of house and support staff that keep the machine that is GAA running.
With so many positive memories, I will go into summer vacation with a smile! For those of you departing early,:I wish you an exciting, yet restful, summer vacation with your family. Enjoy it!
Have a great weekend,
Ben Voborsky
Elementary Principal
Farewell from our Elementary Vice Principal, Josh Doubleday
Dear GAA Community,
It is the nature of an international school to see families come and go. At this time of year, we find out about many friends, students, and families who will be making a new start at a new school or in a new country. My family is no different. This year is our last at GAA.
We leave behind amazing students, supportive parents and a wonderful and positive group of colleagues. We have loved our time here. Watching GAA grow from a small community school to a thriving K-12 international school has been remarkable.
GAA has played a huge part in allowing me to follow my professional dreams, as I am taking a Head of Primary position at a school in Thailand. After six wonderful years in the UAE, our time is quickly ending. On behalf of JoAnn and I, I would like to say a huge thank you to all members of the GAA community for your kindness, friendship and support. To the students that I worked with, you have been a huge inspiration for me and it has been a great pleasure getting to know all of you. I have seen the amazing potential in you and I know your future will be bright. We will miss you all.
With great sincerity,
Josh Doubleday
Elementary Vice Principal
It is the nature of an international school to see families come and go. At this time of year, we find out about many friends, students, and families who will be making a new start at a new school or in a new country. My family is no different. This year is our last at GAA.
We leave behind amazing students, supportive parents and a wonderful and positive group of colleagues. We have loved our time here. Watching GAA grow from a small community school to a thriving K-12 international school has been remarkable.
GAA has played a huge part in allowing me to follow my professional dreams, as I am taking a Head of Primary position at a school in Thailand. After six wonderful years in the UAE, our time is quickly ending. On behalf of JoAnn and I, I would like to say a huge thank you to all members of the GAA community for your kindness, friendship and support. To the students that I worked with, you have been a huge inspiration for me and it has been a great pleasure getting to know all of you. I have seen the amazing potential in you and I know your future will be bright. We will miss you all.
With great sincerity,
Josh Doubleday
Elementary Vice Principal
Grade 5 Promotion Ceremony
Kindergarten Corner
KG1
KG1G have been reviewing their knowledge and understanding of the number system, they have been writing numbers, playing snap, counting, measuring and lots more! The children are openly sharing and taking turns showing how far they have come since their start in KG1 this year. They have also thoroughly enjoyed show and tell this term and you will see two of our girls mid share. Matilda brought in some insects all the way from Greece to share and the children have enjoyed looking at them with magnifying glasses whist discussing the differences and similarities.
KG1G have been reviewing their knowledge and understanding of the number system, they have been writing numbers, playing snap, counting, measuring and lots more! The children are openly sharing and taking turns showing how far they have come since their start in KG1 this year. They have also thoroughly enjoyed show and tell this term and you will see two of our girls mid share. Matilda brought in some insects all the way from Greece to share and the children have enjoyed looking at them with magnifying glasses whist discussing the differences and similarities.
KG1 H practicing mindfulness exercises with Ms. Fabiana on Pajama Day.
KG1 H
KG1H on stage after the final Community Share of the school year making silly faces.
KG1H on stage after the final Community Share of the school year making silly faces.
KG2
KG2-A celebrates their promotion to grade 1!
KG2-A celebrates their promotion to grade 1!
Kg Arabic
KG students have finished studying lots of things during Arabic classes. They’ve had a lot of fun. It was a challenging year to learn a new language and we don’t want our kids to forget what they have learned in Arabic classes over the summer holiday.
Here are some easy steps that you can practice with your child to help them remember all that they have learned this year and for your entire family to learn more the Arabic Language.
1. Learn the Arabic Alphabet.
The first step to learn the Arabic language is to review the Arabic alphabet. The Arabic alphabet has only 28 basic letters (and 4 forms). You can easily learn and review it within one month from the websites.
2. Learn Basic Words and Phrases
The second step to learn the Arabic language is to learn basic words and phrases. After you learn the alphabet, learn the most common words and some useful phrases. Learn how to pronounce everything correctly and of course learn how to write it all! You can find all the common words if you google them.
3. Immerse yourself
The third step to learn the Arabic language is to immerse yourself in Arabic - watch Arabic movies, listen to Arabic educational songs, listen to the Arabic radio, read Arabic websites and so on.
Follow these three easy steps to learn Arabic language and I'm sure that you'll achieve your goal. Remember that you need to practice a lot and practice often. And don't give up! You'll eventually become a fluent speaker.
KG students have finished studying lots of things during Arabic classes. They’ve had a lot of fun. It was a challenging year to learn a new language and we don’t want our kids to forget what they have learned in Arabic classes over the summer holiday.
Here are some easy steps that you can practice with your child to help them remember all that they have learned this year and for your entire family to learn more the Arabic Language.
1. Learn the Arabic Alphabet.
The first step to learn the Arabic language is to review the Arabic alphabet. The Arabic alphabet has only 28 basic letters (and 4 forms). You can easily learn and review it within one month from the websites.
2. Learn Basic Words and Phrases
The second step to learn the Arabic language is to learn basic words and phrases. After you learn the alphabet, learn the most common words and some useful phrases. Learn how to pronounce everything correctly and of course learn how to write it all! You can find all the common words if you google them.
3. Immerse yourself
The third step to learn the Arabic language is to immerse yourself in Arabic - watch Arabic movies, listen to Arabic educational songs, listen to the Arabic radio, read Arabic websites and so on.
Follow these three easy steps to learn Arabic language and I'm sure that you'll achieve your goal. Remember that you need to practice a lot and practice often. And don't give up! You'll eventually become a fluent speaker.
Reminders...
*During the Holy month of Ramadan we will not be celebrating any birthdays in the classroom. If you wish to celebrate your child’s birthday, please communicate with your classroom teacher to arrange a day before June 18th.
*For safety and security reasons children are not allowed in the classrooms after school. We appreciate parents assistance with this and thank you for your continuous help and support.