News from our Elementary Principal, Ben Voborsky
Hello GAA Community,
This week was one of the highlights of the elementary school year at GAA, The Grade 5 Exhibition. The Grade 5 Exhibition draws on all essential elements gained through our students PYP education. It really is the culmination of the PYP and, at GAA, a rite of passage to middle school. It was amazing to see the turn out for this celebration of learning. The three day event was well supported by fellow GAA students, parents, and teachers as well as students and educators from around the UAE.
Our students demonstrated their confident communication skills while sharing their inquiry and knowledge gained through the exhibition process. What really stood out to me were the students reflections. When I asked, "what was the best thing you learned through this process?” I heard the common themes of collaboration, teamwork, organisation, resilience, and being open-minded to ideas and thought of others. This group inquiry really showed what it means to be a PYP student, apply what GAA students learn, and showcase who they have become throughout their journey in the PYP.
Our Grade 5 students definitely embodied the “aim of all the IB programmes” which is to “develop internationally minded young people who, recognise their common humanity and share guardianship of the planet, help to create a better and more peaceful world”.
I also want to extend a huge thanks to the Grade 5 team and Educational Assistants who collaborated with our students over the last 8 weeks, the mentors who guided groups, and the GAA community who supported this effort.
Have a great weekend,
Ben Voborsky
This week was one of the highlights of the elementary school year at GAA, The Grade 5 Exhibition. The Grade 5 Exhibition draws on all essential elements gained through our students PYP education. It really is the culmination of the PYP and, at GAA, a rite of passage to middle school. It was amazing to see the turn out for this celebration of learning. The three day event was well supported by fellow GAA students, parents, and teachers as well as students and educators from around the UAE.
Our students demonstrated their confident communication skills while sharing their inquiry and knowledge gained through the exhibition process. What really stood out to me were the students reflections. When I asked, "what was the best thing you learned through this process?” I heard the common themes of collaboration, teamwork, organisation, resilience, and being open-minded to ideas and thought of others. This group inquiry really showed what it means to be a PYP student, apply what GAA students learn, and showcase who they have become throughout their journey in the PYP.
Our Grade 5 students definitely embodied the “aim of all the IB programmes” which is to “develop internationally minded young people who, recognise their common humanity and share guardianship of the planet, help to create a better and more peaceful world”.
I also want to extend a huge thanks to the Grade 5 team and Educational Assistants who collaborated with our students over the last 8 weeks, the mentors who guided groups, and the GAA community who supported this effort.
Have a great weekend,
Ben Voborsky
Grade 5 PYP Exhibition Update
from the PYP Coordinator Mike Hopaluk
What a week!
The culminating days of the 2nd Annual GAA PYP Grade 5 Exhibition were exciting and action packed. This week the Grade 5 students compiled all their evidence of learning and action into the physical spaces around the GAA lobby and mezzanine. If you were at the school in any capacity this week, you could not have missed it. After two days of display set up, the students shared their inquiries with their families on Tuesday evening. Students explained where their inquiries led them, the action they took, the impact these experiences had on them as well as the art they created and the absolutely wonderful whole class gamelan/shadow puppet performances that took place throughout the evening. Words cannot explain what a wonderful event this was. On Wednesday and Thursday, the students shared with the rest of the GAA community as well as a couple visiting PYP schools from Abu Dhabi. I have never seem so many smiles in my life.
So much effort and time went into this unit of inquiry and the students should be congratulated for their commitment, cooperation, creativity and confidence. Also, it is important to recognize the Grade 5 homeroom teachers, specialists teachers and education assistants for their guidance throughout. Thank you for all you do for the students at GAA! Everyone involved truly did demonstrate the truth behind this year’s Central Idea:
"Communities can be changed through our actions."
In case you missed it, or would like to relive the excitement, please browse these photo albums:
Exhibition Displays Setup
Exhibition Evening
Continued Exhibition Sharing
The culminating days of the 2nd Annual GAA PYP Grade 5 Exhibition were exciting and action packed. This week the Grade 5 students compiled all their evidence of learning and action into the physical spaces around the GAA lobby and mezzanine. If you were at the school in any capacity this week, you could not have missed it. After two days of display set up, the students shared their inquiries with their families on Tuesday evening. Students explained where their inquiries led them, the action they took, the impact these experiences had on them as well as the art they created and the absolutely wonderful whole class gamelan/shadow puppet performances that took place throughout the evening. Words cannot explain what a wonderful event this was. On Wednesday and Thursday, the students shared with the rest of the GAA community as well as a couple visiting PYP schools from Abu Dhabi. I have never seem so many smiles in my life.
So much effort and time went into this unit of inquiry and the students should be congratulated for their commitment, cooperation, creativity and confidence. Also, it is important to recognize the Grade 5 homeroom teachers, specialists teachers and education assistants for their guidance throughout. Thank you for all you do for the students at GAA! Everyone involved truly did demonstrate the truth behind this year’s Central Idea:
"Communities can be changed through our actions."
In case you missed it, or would like to relive the excitement, please browse these photo albums:
Exhibition Displays Setup
Exhibition Evening
Continued Exhibition Sharing
It’s About Time We Come Together!
In a persuasive speech given by 4A student, Ciarah, “younger students should be leaders at GAA”. In supporting this idea, both 4A and 2D came together to teach one another about time. The Grade 2s showed the Grade 4s how to use a clock and how to tell time, while the Grade 4s demonstrated and explained how our sundials are used to tell time. In sharing our learning, both grades were learners and teachers. We supported each other’s learning by asking questions, offering constructive feedback, and being respectful of each other. At the end of our session, the Grade 2 and Grade 4 buddies worked together to reflect on their learning. Thanks to 4A’s Matthew and Jayla for making a video from our pictures and video clips. Below is the link to our YouTube video. Enjoy!
https://youtu.be/vUXP_AKqO-A
In a persuasive speech given by 4A student, Ciarah, “younger students should be leaders at GAA”. In supporting this idea, both 4A and 2D came together to teach one another about time. The Grade 2s showed the Grade 4s how to use a clock and how to tell time, while the Grade 4s demonstrated and explained how our sundials are used to tell time. In sharing our learning, both grades were learners and teachers. We supported each other’s learning by asking questions, offering constructive feedback, and being respectful of each other. At the end of our session, the Grade 2 and Grade 4 buddies worked together to reflect on their learning. Thanks to 4A’s Matthew and Jayla for making a video from our pictures and video clips. Below is the link to our YouTube video. Enjoy!
https://youtu.be/vUXP_AKqO-A
Joshua Dsouza in grade 2C ( Mr. Kenneth Van Damme's class) won the 2016 Year of reading competition by Health point hospital, a Mubadala company, Abu Dhabi.
On winning the competition, he was taken to Manchester, to accompany the team at the 20th march Derby match as match-day escort for the MCFC team. Joshua and the accompanying parent were provided air tickets, hotel stay and VIP match tickets.
It was indeed a very proud moment as Joshua was one among the two kids chosen from the UAE.
On winning the competition, he was taken to Manchester, to accompany the team at the 20th march Derby match as match-day escort for the MCFC team. Joshua and the accompanying parent were provided air tickets, hotel stay and VIP match tickets.
It was indeed a very proud moment as Joshua was one among the two kids chosen from the UAE.
Dear Parents,
REMINDER:
Recess, Hats and Water Bottles
As you know, our school monitors the temperature closely so that our students are not outside when it is too hot. We really encourage students to be outside working on gross motor skills and enjoying our playground. Please remember to send in hats and water bottles. I have noticed that some of our students are forgetting to bring them to school.
Kindergarten Promotion
Our KG2 students are looking forward to their Kindergarten Promotion on May 23, 24 and 25th. This year, we will be hosting three sets of promotions in our auditorium. We have a wonderful group of parents and staff who have been planning for this since November. We are looking forward to celebrating the wonderful learning our children have done this year. Parents will be asked to contribute towards food for the event. Please watch for a sign-up sheet.
Regards,
Sally Potts
KG Vice Principal
REMINDER:
Recess, Hats and Water Bottles
As you know, our school monitors the temperature closely so that our students are not outside when it is too hot. We really encourage students to be outside working on gross motor skills and enjoying our playground. Please remember to send in hats and water bottles. I have noticed that some of our students are forgetting to bring them to school.
Kindergarten Promotion
Our KG2 students are looking forward to their Kindergarten Promotion on May 23, 24 and 25th. This year, we will be hosting three sets of promotions in our auditorium. We have a wonderful group of parents and staff who have been planning for this since November. We are looking forward to celebrating the wonderful learning our children have done this year. Parents will be asked to contribute towards food for the event. Please watch for a sign-up sheet.
Regards,
Sally Potts
KG Vice Principal
KG Corner
Hello from KG1 H!
It has been a busy few weeks in KG1H since we shared with you last. We are fully immersed in exploring our final unit of KG1 ‘How the world works’. We are learning all about light and sound and completing lots of fun experiments and activities in and out of the classroom. We visited the planetarium where we had a chance to become an astronaut flying through space while learning about planets and stars before returning to GAA!Hello from KG1 H!
It has been a busy few weeks in KG1H since we shared with you last. We are fully immersed in exploring our final unit of KG1 ‘How the world works’. We are learning all about light and sound and completing lots of fun experiments and activities in and out of the classroom. We visited the planetarium where we had a chance to become an astronaut flying through space while learning about planets and stars before returning to GAA!Hello from KG1 H!
KG2I have been having so much fun these last few weeks. Our favourite experiment was melting chocolate. Ms Laura gave us each a piece of chocolate. She told us to hold it tight in our hands while she read us a story. After the story was finished, we opened our hand and the chocolate was melted.
We ate it afterwards. It was super yummy!! :)
We ate it afterwards. It was super yummy!! :)
KG1I exploring light and sound!!!
Innovators in the KG Library!
Students in KG1 and KG2 have been exploring their PYP Units of Inquiry in the KG MakerSpace! Students have had the exciting opportunity to build, create, and experiment! Library and MakerSpace activities have been combined to increase hands on learning experiences for Kindergarten students in the library.
This week KG1 students were presented with a challenge! Students were asked how they could create light in dark places so they could read their reading books. Students then created light boxes that they could sit inside and read! They had a great time exploring the importance of light in the dark.
KG2 students began their new unit on “Where We Are in Place and Time.” KG2 students are reading stories about going on a journey and identifying ways that people travel. This week KG2 students made ballon rockets to begin their exploration of journeys! As always, we encourage all of learners to continue reading to their family at home.
Weekly Story
The Traveller By: Denys Johnson-Davies
Interactive Stories
www.speakaboos.com <http://www.speakaboos.com/>
Username: gaalibrary
Password: abc123
Students in KG1 and KG2 have been exploring their PYP Units of Inquiry in the KG MakerSpace! Students have had the exciting opportunity to build, create, and experiment! Library and MakerSpace activities have been combined to increase hands on learning experiences for Kindergarten students in the library.
This week KG1 students were presented with a challenge! Students were asked how they could create light in dark places so they could read their reading books. Students then created light boxes that they could sit inside and read! They had a great time exploring the importance of light in the dark.
KG2 students began their new unit on “Where We Are in Place and Time.” KG2 students are reading stories about going on a journey and identifying ways that people travel. This week KG2 students made ballon rockets to begin their exploration of journeys! As always, we encourage all of learners to continue reading to their family at home.
Weekly Story
The Traveller By: Denys Johnson-Davies
Interactive Stories
www.speakaboos.com <http://www.speakaboos.com/>
Username: gaalibrary
Password: abc123