News from Head of School - Kathy Miner
Dear GAA Parents,
Tonight we are holding our first GAA Graduation Ceremony honoring our Senior Graduating Class of 2015.
Congratulations, Senior Class!
Calendar for 2015-2016:
Teachers and Administrators collaborated to develop the 2015-2016 School Calendar, complete with events, activities, field trips, sports games and tournaments and have submitted to ADEC for approval; this collaboration helps us to avoid conflicts with events and helps us in managing our facilities.
The calendar attached contains the dates you need to plan for the start of the year and holiday breaks. Please be aware that the calendar is not yet officially approved by ADEC; we ask that you remain flexible until official approval is granted.
While we await approval, we can share important dates you need in order to make family plans as you look ahead to the coming school year. ADEC have announced that all schools in Abu Dhabi should operate 183 school days for students, and have designated starting and end dates for schools, including holiday breaks.
Tonight we are holding our first GAA Graduation Ceremony honoring our Senior Graduating Class of 2015.
Congratulations, Senior Class!
Calendar for 2015-2016:
Teachers and Administrators collaborated to develop the 2015-2016 School Calendar, complete with events, activities, field trips, sports games and tournaments and have submitted to ADEC for approval; this collaboration helps us to avoid conflicts with events and helps us in managing our facilities.
The calendar attached contains the dates you need to plan for the start of the year and holiday breaks. Please be aware that the calendar is not yet officially approved by ADEC; we ask that you remain flexible until official approval is granted.
While we await approval, we can share important dates you need in order to make family plans as you look ahead to the coming school year. ADEC have announced that all schools in Abu Dhabi should operate 183 school days for students, and have designated starting and end dates for schools, including holiday breaks.
The Holy Month of Ramadan:
ADEC will notify schools as to when the Holy Month of Ramadan will begin. Half-days will begin on either Wednesday, June 17 or Thursday, June 18.
Hours for Students: 7:45am - 12pm
Bus service will continue as usual, with a 12:15 pm departure time from school.
Teachers have engaging, project-based learning planned for their students, June 18 through July 2. Learning will continue at GAA during the Holy Month of Ramadan, we encourage our families and students to continue attending during Ramadan.
Tuition Fees for 2015-2016:
We have just received word from ADEC this week regarding our school fees. Although we have not yet received this information formally in writing, we think it is important to forward on to our families at this time. If a fee increase is approved, the amount of increase would be 1%. It is also a possible that there will be no fee increase for the 2015- 2016 school year.
Schools may only raise tuition fees once every three years. GAA has not raised tuition fees in last four years. As announced in January, we applied for a tuition fee increase to help offset increased costs for staffing, operational and facilities upkeep. Such fee increases are subject to ADEC approval.
I understand that many of our parents have been trying to make financial decisions for their families and have been awaiting this information.
ADEC will notify schools as to when the Holy Month of Ramadan will begin. Half-days will begin on either Wednesday, June 17 or Thursday, June 18.
Hours for Students: 7:45am - 12pm
Bus service will continue as usual, with a 12:15 pm departure time from school.
Teachers have engaging, project-based learning planned for their students, June 18 through July 2. Learning will continue at GAA during the Holy Month of Ramadan, we encourage our families and students to continue attending during Ramadan.
Tuition Fees for 2015-2016:
We have just received word from ADEC this week regarding our school fees. Although we have not yet received this information formally in writing, we think it is important to forward on to our families at this time. If a fee increase is approved, the amount of increase would be 1%. It is also a possible that there will be no fee increase for the 2015- 2016 school year.
Schools may only raise tuition fees once every three years. GAA has not raised tuition fees in last four years. As announced in January, we applied for a tuition fee increase to help offset increased costs for staffing, operational and facilities upkeep. Such fee increases are subject to ADEC approval.
I understand that many of our parents have been trying to make financial decisions for their families and have been awaiting this information.
Extension of NBAD Discount:
We’d like to announce an extension of the NBAD advance payment discount rate to July 25th. We hope that this extension for the discount rate will assist families with financial planning for tuition payments.
Uniform Update:
GEMS have engaged with a new supplier with effective Friday, May 1, 2015, Threads. The new GEMS American Academy uniform is similar in design and color as the previous uniform but is made of higher quality fabric made with natural fiber.
Students will still be allowed to wear the previous GAA uniform throughout 2015-2016 school year, basically until they grow out of the clothes. Because the new uniform is similar to the previous one, students shouldn’t feel that they stand out or look different than their peers.
Threads are also committed to improving the actual shopping experience for uniforms and wish to avoid at all times the potential issues of long queues, harried customers, and / or lack of stock. To ensure this quality of service, Threads uniforms can be purchased in the following convenient places:
Please find the enclosed Uniform Guide to assist you in choosing the right combination of items and sizes for your child. In recent weeks, we have added KG sun cap styles.
GEMS have engaged with a new supplier with effective Friday, May 1, 2015, Threads. The new GEMS American Academy uniform is similar in design and color as the previous uniform but is made of higher quality fabric made with natural fiber.
Students will still be allowed to wear the previous GAA uniform throughout 2015-2016 school year, basically until they grow out of the clothes. Because the new uniform is similar to the previous one, students shouldn’t feel that they stand out or look different than their peers.
Threads are also committed to improving the actual shopping experience for uniforms and wish to avoid at all times the potential issues of long queues, harried customers, and / or lack of stock. To ensure this quality of service, Threads uniforms can be purchased in the following convenient places:
- Ordering Online: Order from the comfort of your own home. Delivery will be made within one week of the order, subject to availability. Delivery is made by Aramex.
- Purchasing at GAA: Special arrangements have been made with our school to allow sales at GAA through August and September.
- Threads outlet: A Threads retail outlet will be set up in the coming months near GAA, more info to be announced.
Please find the enclosed Uniform Guide to assist you in choosing the right combination of items and sizes for your child. In recent weeks, we have added KG sun cap styles.
gaa_uniform_guide.pdf | |
File Size: | 5604 kb |
File Type: |
Lost & Found:
Lost & Found items will be on display in the GAA lobby beginning Sunday, June 14. Please come and sift through the tables to find your child’s lost items.
Regards,
Kathryn Miner
Head of School and CEO
Lost & Found items will be on display in the GAA lobby beginning Sunday, June 14. Please come and sift through the tables to find your child’s lost items.
Regards,
Kathryn Miner
Head of School and CEO
GAA Community News
Parent ID Cards
A gentle reminder to ALL parents to wear their parent ID's in and around the school. If you have uploaded your details and photographs onto the GLG and have not collected your parent ID please check with Ms Aishwariya in Room 002, Admin block before 2:30pm that it is ready for collection. If you have not uploaded your details onto GLG yet and would like to do so please contact our Parent Relations Executive, Naseera @ [email protected] for assistance.
Late Bus
There will be no late bus (16:30) running from Sunday June 14th. This is due to all after school programs finishing. All students who require bus transportation home should depart on the normal after school bus transportation.
There will be no late bus (16:30) running from Sunday June 14th. This is due to all after school programs finishing. All students who require bus transportation home should depart on the normal after school bus transportation.