News from Head of School - Kathy Miner
Dear Parents
”A High Performing School Retains & Attracts Highly Qualified Teachers"
As we head into the month of February, we begin to plan for the coming school year, which means we have begun to plan for needed teaching materials and building our schedule of classes and calendar for the 2016-2017 school year. The most important thing we do in planning for the coming school year is to hire the very best teachers possible to add to our already amazing faculty.
We are pleased to announce that 83% of our teachers have indicated that they will be staying at GAA for the 2016-2017 school year. In an international school it is not unusual for teachers to depart to explore other parts of the world, return home to their families, or to follow a spouse’s work transfer.
An 83% teacher retention rate is a high rate of return for an international school and we credit this high rate to our positive and collaborative work environment, supportive parent community and, of course, our wonderful students.
Senior Leaders are actively recruiting strong and talented teachers to join our faculty for the 2016-2017 school year. We recruit highly qualified teachers by accessing international recruitment agencies online and by attending teacher recruitment fairs. We are pleased to announce that we have already hired a number of talented and experienced teachers.
Several Senior Leadership Team members, myself included, are attending recruitment fairs in the United States. I have to say that we are proud to represent GAA at these fairs as we describe our school to potential candidates.
Thank you for your support in helping to make our school an amazing place to be. Our school has become a place that attracts strong teachers who are looking for a high quality school and happy school community.
2016-2017 Calendar Dates:
Below you will find dates for the holiday breaks for the 2016-2017 school year. ADEC have released a calendar that outlines all of the major holidays for the 2016-2017 school year.
As you begin to plan for the coming year, I’m sure you’ll want to know the dates of upcoming holiday breaks to assist you in your family and vacation planning.
As always, we recommend booking flexible tickets as we have learned that holiday dates can change.
Upcoming Spring Break, 2016
If you can believe it, Spring Break is just around the corner, from Sunday, March 27 through Thursday, April 7, with a half-day on Thursday, March 24, with classes ending at noon. School resumes on Monday, April 10.
Kathy Miner
Head of School and CEO
”A High Performing School Retains & Attracts Highly Qualified Teachers"
As we head into the month of February, we begin to plan for the coming school year, which means we have begun to plan for needed teaching materials and building our schedule of classes and calendar for the 2016-2017 school year. The most important thing we do in planning for the coming school year is to hire the very best teachers possible to add to our already amazing faculty.
We are pleased to announce that 83% of our teachers have indicated that they will be staying at GAA for the 2016-2017 school year. In an international school it is not unusual for teachers to depart to explore other parts of the world, return home to their families, or to follow a spouse’s work transfer.
An 83% teacher retention rate is a high rate of return for an international school and we credit this high rate to our positive and collaborative work environment, supportive parent community and, of course, our wonderful students.
Senior Leaders are actively recruiting strong and talented teachers to join our faculty for the 2016-2017 school year. We recruit highly qualified teachers by accessing international recruitment agencies online and by attending teacher recruitment fairs. We are pleased to announce that we have already hired a number of talented and experienced teachers.
Several Senior Leadership Team members, myself included, are attending recruitment fairs in the United States. I have to say that we are proud to represent GAA at these fairs as we describe our school to potential candidates.
Thank you for your support in helping to make our school an amazing place to be. Our school has become a place that attracts strong teachers who are looking for a high quality school and happy school community.
2016-2017 Calendar Dates:
Below you will find dates for the holiday breaks for the 2016-2017 school year. ADEC have released a calendar that outlines all of the major holidays for the 2016-2017 school year.
As you begin to plan for the coming year, I’m sure you’ll want to know the dates of upcoming holiday breaks to assist you in your family and vacation planning.
As always, we recommend booking flexible tickets as we have learned that holiday dates can change.
- Sunday, August 28 – First Day of School
- Saturday, September 10 through Tuesday, September 13 – Eid Al Adha
- National Day Holiday is marked for the weekend of Friday and Saturday, December 2 & 3, with no break from schools planned. Martyr’s Day is not listed on this calendar version, so se can expect a day to be identified in which to observe Martyr’s Day.
- Sunday, December 18 through Thursday, January 5- Winter Break. School resumes on Sunday, January 8
- Sunday, March 27th through Thursday, April 7th – Spring Break. School resumes on Sunday, April 10th
- Thursday, June 23 – Last day of school – this date could change as it is close to the Eid Al Fitr Holiday.
Upcoming Spring Break, 2016
If you can believe it, Spring Break is just around the corner, from Sunday, March 27 through Thursday, April 7, with a half-day on Thursday, March 24, with classes ending at noon. School resumes on Monday, April 10.
Kathy Miner
Head of School and CEO
Dear Parents,
As the weather also changes, some of our students are coming down with colds and flu like symptoms. Please keep your child at home if they are sick and must be fever free for 24 hours before returning to school. If you are unsure, please check in with the GAA school nurse before going to your classroom in the morning. Guidance can be found below or on p. 24 in the Elementary Community Handbook. Teachers are being very diligent about our students washing their hands and coughing into their arm appropriately. Ask your child how they are keeping germ free at school.
Students with contagious infections need to stay home so they will not expose others. When they return need the medical certificate regarding the illness or clearance certificate – one copy to the teacher and to the nurse. If your child is home with a communicable illness, please contact the school nurse so the parent(s) of other classmates may be alerted of symptoms.
Your child must stay home for any of the following:
Bacterial Pink Eye/Conjunctivitis; awakens in the morning with thick or sticky eye drainage; eye lashes stuck; redness of the whites of the eyes throughout; can return to school after 24 hours of physician prescribed treatment. Injuries that happen at home or over the weekend should be taken care of prior to returning to school, along with a physician’s note with instructions and limitations if needed. If your child has an out-patient procedure or surgery, you must provide a physician’s certificate stating when they can safely return to school and with any limitations/instructions. In all cases, the school nurse is the final arbiter and, if necessary in discussion with the Vice Principal, will signal when child is “safe” to return to school.
As the weather also changes, some of our students are coming down with colds and flu like symptoms. Please keep your child at home if they are sick and must be fever free for 24 hours before returning to school. If you are unsure, please check in with the GAA school nurse before going to your classroom in the morning. Guidance can be found below or on p. 24 in the Elementary Community Handbook. Teachers are being very diligent about our students washing their hands and coughing into their arm appropriately. Ask your child how they are keeping germ free at school.
Students with contagious infections need to stay home so they will not expose others. When they return need the medical certificate regarding the illness or clearance certificate – one copy to the teacher and to the nurse. If your child is home with a communicable illness, please contact the school nurse so the parent(s) of other classmates may be alerted of symptoms.
Your child must stay home for any of the following:
- A fever > 37.7 C (100 F); must be fever-free for 24 hours without fever medication
- Vomited more than once in the past 24 hours; feeling of nausea
- Diarrhea (return to school after 48 hours or 24 hours on medication)
- A frequent cough; productive cough
- Persistent pain (ear, stomach, etc.)
- A widespread rash; contagious rash or skin spots
- Head lice (Pediculosis) please notify the school nurse to be given proper instructions
Bacterial Pink Eye/Conjunctivitis; awakens in the morning with thick or sticky eye drainage; eye lashes stuck; redness of the whites of the eyes throughout; can return to school after 24 hours of physician prescribed treatment. Injuries that happen at home or over the weekend should be taken care of prior to returning to school, along with a physician’s note with instructions and limitations if needed. If your child has an out-patient procedure or surgery, you must provide a physician’s certificate stating when they can safely return to school and with any limitations/instructions. In all cases, the school nurse is the final arbiter and, if necessary in discussion with the Vice Principal, will signal when child is “safe” to return to school.
Parents
It's time to play basketball!!
Please register your child for 4th, 5th or 6th grade basketball by clicking on the following link. http://goo.gl/forms/GK0lJaVVdB
Gr. 4-5-6 Basketball Registration
This is for the registration of the all inclusive 4th, 5th & 6th grade basketball. Practices start: March 6th for 6th grade from 3:00pm to 4:00pm March 7th for 5th grade from 3:00pm to 4:00pm March 8th for 4th grade from 3:00pm to 4:00pm The season will end with a basketball jamboree on May 28th.
If you need to register your child for the late bus you can do so by clicking this link......http://goo.gl/forms/c40WcnGnbd
If you are interested in signing up for baseball, softball, badminton & track please click on the link below:
http://goo.gl/forms/thp7LbwJa8
It's time to play basketball!!
Please register your child for 4th, 5th or 6th grade basketball by clicking on the following link. http://goo.gl/forms/GK0lJaVVdB
Gr. 4-5-6 Basketball Registration
This is for the registration of the all inclusive 4th, 5th & 6th grade basketball. Practices start: March 6th for 6th grade from 3:00pm to 4:00pm March 7th for 5th grade from 3:00pm to 4:00pm March 8th for 4th grade from 3:00pm to 4:00pm The season will end with a basketball jamboree on May 28th.
If you need to register your child for the late bus you can do so by clicking this link......http://goo.gl/forms/c40WcnGnbd
If you are interested in signing up for baseball, softball, badminton & track please click on the link below:
http://goo.gl/forms/thp7LbwJa8
Calling all GAA parents and students,
Yearbook pre-sales have begun. This is a fantastic opportunity to reserve your copy today and avoid disappointment!
The yearbook is a wonderful and tangible souvenir of your time at GAA, that commemorates the teachers, students and school events that made up the 2015-2016 academic year.
Reserve this lasting memory today for only 150AED by filling out the order form below and returning it with your payment to your homeroom teacher or advisor.