News from Head of School - Kathy Miner
Dear GAA Parents,
A great turn out yesterday at our “In Touch” parent feedback session with Senior Leadership Team members, a thank you to all who were able to join us to share ideas and feedback and engage in productive and constructive dialog aimed at improving the school experience for our students and families.
While facilitating one of the table discussion groups and, I glanced across the IB Lounge to see the room filled of parents listening, speaking, and sharing with each other and with our school leaders. It was a proud moment, seeing our community in action. Everyone working together for the benefit of our students- open, honest, sharing ideas and developing possible solutions.
A reminder to working parents that your feedback is valued and to please send me an email or give me a call to share your feedback. [email protected].
Next week, Senior Leaders will present the feedback charts created at each of the table groups at our leadership team meeting, they will also discuss the actions they are planning to address the feedback areas. The feedback will prompt discussion and actions plans as appropriate.
Themes discussed at the five table discussion groups include but are not limited to:
Be sure and look for information in this newsletter about the upcoming Orientation for parents of G6 next year and another session for incoming Grade 9 parents. We are offering informational presentations to assist our families in understanding important transition information as students make the big leap from Grade 5 to Grade 6 and from Grade 8 to Grade 9.
You’ll also see information about our upcoming Secondary School Parent Information Night. Parents will hear information critical to understanding the Secondary School schedule, course options, college counseling services, the IB program, curriculum, student support services and technology.
*These sessions will be repeated in the fall.
A great turn out yesterday at our “In Touch” parent feedback session with Senior Leadership Team members, a thank you to all who were able to join us to share ideas and feedback and engage in productive and constructive dialog aimed at improving the school experience for our students and families.
While facilitating one of the table discussion groups and, I glanced across the IB Lounge to see the room filled of parents listening, speaking, and sharing with each other and with our school leaders. It was a proud moment, seeing our community in action. Everyone working together for the benefit of our students- open, honest, sharing ideas and developing possible solutions.
A reminder to working parents that your feedback is valued and to please send me an email or give me a call to share your feedback. [email protected].
Next week, Senior Leaders will present the feedback charts created at each of the table groups at our leadership team meeting, they will also discuss the actions they are planning to address the feedback areas. The feedback will prompt discussion and actions plans as appropriate.
Themes discussed at the five table discussion groups include but are not limited to:
- Overall, communication has improved but there is room for growth with details. More help and information needed for new families arriving mid-year.
- Many comments about appreciating our outstanding teachers and the work that they do and the support they provide for students.
- Parents appreciate the positive, inclusive culture of the school, our community assemblies and activities, developing respect and cooperation.
- More training and support needed to log onto the Launcher and online grades- many comments reflected that parents don’t know where to look for information that is posted or the information is not consistent.
- Parents had some detailed comments that can be best answered by their teachers, which tells me that more info sessions are needed with grade level teams and divisions to maintain an information flow to keep everyone informed.
Be sure and look for information in this newsletter about the upcoming Orientation for parents of G6 next year and another session for incoming Grade 9 parents. We are offering informational presentations to assist our families in understanding important transition information as students make the big leap from Grade 5 to Grade 6 and from Grade 8 to Grade 9.
You’ll also see information about our upcoming Secondary School Parent Information Night. Parents will hear information critical to understanding the Secondary School schedule, course options, college counseling services, the IB program, curriculum, student support services and technology.
*These sessions will be repeated in the fall.
Introducing the Director of Arabic Studies
I would like to take this opportunity to introduce Ms. Samah Mohammed Awad, the newly appointed K-12 Director of Arabic Studies for GEMS American Academy, beginning August 2015. Formerly the Secondary School Arabic Coordinator, Ms. Samah is a strong choice to lead the department.
GAA is the first school in the GEMS Group to designate a Head of Department for Arabic Studies. We are excited to be a leader within GEMS with regard to raising the emphasis of the Arabic Department within the school. Our Director of Arabic Studies will serve as a member of the GAA Senior Leadership Team, giving voice and representation to the Arabic Studies program.
Our School Development Plan is clear- we aim to become a leading international school in Abu Dhabi known for its high quality native and non-native Arabic language, UAE Social Studies and Islamic Studies programs.
To reach this goal, we need a teacher/ leader who will guide and facilitate growth and development of our K-12 Arabic Language program.
We have made strides in developing our program this year, but we have much work to do in reaching our goals.
The interview process was rigorous and in depth, with an Arabic exam and a panel interview. Interviews were conducted by a panel of senior GEMS leaders from the Corporate Office. The panel interview team included Arabic Education and Leadership experts.
Ms. Samah will oversee the instructional program, assessment, and curriculum across the school. She will work closely with teachers and coordinate professional development opportunities for teachers. Her emphasis on teamwork, collaborative planning and professional sharing will assist our teachers to develop and grow a strong and inter-connected team of professionals.
We will be organising several opportunities for parents to provide feedback on our program both online and in person in the coming months. Please stay tuned for more information on how you can join us in this effort to raise our students’ performance in Arabic Studies.
I am very honored to be given this opportunity to be an Arabic Director for the GAA family. I am looking forward to taking responsibilities to oversee the planning and teaching of Islamic Studies, UAE Social Studies, as well as Arabic Language for both native and non-native students.
As a department, we will make sure that the subjects are delivered in a way that provides coverage of the curriculum, progression and continuity. We will ensure that students develop excellent attitudes to the learning of Arabic and related subjects during their school careers.
My educational and working experiences allow me to ensure that the department is fully compliant with all ADEC regulations.
I am a high honor graduate of Beirut Arab University from the Arabic Language and Literature Faculty. I have been teaching Arabic for native and non-native speakers for eight years. My experiences have allowed me to work with students from a variety of backgrounds. I am positive that my interpersonal and teaching skills will bring strength and a high level of department excellence into our school.
-Ms. Samah Awad
Ms. Samah, in a recent presentation to Arabic teachers, outlined the program goals and focus for the coming year. Ms. Samah’s passion for the Arabic language, for quality instruction and for building a collaborative and collegial teaching team was evident in the presentation.
Together we are building the future of the Arabic Studies program. Please join me in congratulating Ms. Samah Mohammed Awad.
Kind Regards,
Dr. Kathy Miner
GAA is the first school in the GEMS Group to designate a Head of Department for Arabic Studies. We are excited to be a leader within GEMS with regard to raising the emphasis of the Arabic Department within the school. Our Director of Arabic Studies will serve as a member of the GAA Senior Leadership Team, giving voice and representation to the Arabic Studies program.
Our School Development Plan is clear- we aim to become a leading international school in Abu Dhabi known for its high quality native and non-native Arabic language, UAE Social Studies and Islamic Studies programs.
To reach this goal, we need a teacher/ leader who will guide and facilitate growth and development of our K-12 Arabic Language program.
We have made strides in developing our program this year, but we have much work to do in reaching our goals.
The interview process was rigorous and in depth, with an Arabic exam and a panel interview. Interviews were conducted by a panel of senior GEMS leaders from the Corporate Office. The panel interview team included Arabic Education and Leadership experts.
Ms. Samah will oversee the instructional program, assessment, and curriculum across the school. She will work closely with teachers and coordinate professional development opportunities for teachers. Her emphasis on teamwork, collaborative planning and professional sharing will assist our teachers to develop and grow a strong and inter-connected team of professionals.
We will be organising several opportunities for parents to provide feedback on our program both online and in person in the coming months. Please stay tuned for more information on how you can join us in this effort to raise our students’ performance in Arabic Studies.
I am very honored to be given this opportunity to be an Arabic Director for the GAA family. I am looking forward to taking responsibilities to oversee the planning and teaching of Islamic Studies, UAE Social Studies, as well as Arabic Language for both native and non-native students.
As a department, we will make sure that the subjects are delivered in a way that provides coverage of the curriculum, progression and continuity. We will ensure that students develop excellent attitudes to the learning of Arabic and related subjects during their school careers.
My educational and working experiences allow me to ensure that the department is fully compliant with all ADEC regulations.
I am a high honor graduate of Beirut Arab University from the Arabic Language and Literature Faculty. I have been teaching Arabic for native and non-native speakers for eight years. My experiences have allowed me to work with students from a variety of backgrounds. I am positive that my interpersonal and teaching skills will bring strength and a high level of department excellence into our school.
-Ms. Samah Awad
Ms. Samah, in a recent presentation to Arabic teachers, outlined the program goals and focus for the coming year. Ms. Samah’s passion for the Arabic language, for quality instruction and for building a collaborative and collegial teaching team was evident in the presentation.
Together we are building the future of the Arabic Studies program. Please join me in congratulating Ms. Samah Mohammed Awad.
Kind Regards,
Dr. Kathy Miner
The Launcher:
Last year GAA organised our school links to create a start page for parents and students - we called it “The Launcher” Recently, we reconstructed The Launcher to have the simple web address of tiny.cc/thelauncher
(read: tiny dot C C slash "the launcher")
The Launcher directs parents to some basic information like:
...and provides links to:
We provide The Launcher to assist parents and students to find all the links to our online resources. Visit it now: tiny.cc/thelauncher
Last year GAA organised our school links to create a start page for parents and students - we called it “The Launcher” Recently, we reconstructed The Launcher to have the simple web address of tiny.cc/thelauncher
(read: tiny dot C C slash "the launcher")
The Launcher directs parents to some basic information like:
- Teacher email contacts
- Curriculum overviews
- Secondary BYOD information
- Student/Community handbook
- All school and division calendars
- PlusPortals information
- Class sites (elementary homerooms/grade sites)
- Specialist sites
...and provides links to:
- The GAAzette newsletter
- GAA school website
- The GLG (GEMS Learning Gateway)
- Varkey Foundation
We provide The Launcher to assist parents and students to find all the links to our online resources. Visit it now: tiny.cc/thelauncher
GAA Community News
Parent coffee and information series
In order to connect with the parent community on various topics, we will be hosting a parent coffee and information series. Here are the dates and topics we'll be hosting over the next month:
March 17th 1pm 'Be prepared for Grade 6' A series with our Grade 6 team.
*Parents will enjoy the opportunity to meet members of the Grade 6 team. This will provide an insight to the first year of middle school and outline what both parents and students can expect from this important step.
March 23th 7pm-9pm 'Secondary School Communique' An information Evening about the Secondary program at GAA, open to all Secondary School parents.
March 24th 1pm 'Be prepared for Grade 9' Grade 8 parents are invited to an information Session with our Grade 9 team on what to expect the first year of High School.
March 17th 1pm 'Be prepared for Grade 6' A series with our Grade 6 team.
*Parents will enjoy the opportunity to meet members of the Grade 6 team. This will provide an insight to the first year of middle school and outline what both parents and students can expect from this important step.
March 23th 7pm-9pm 'Secondary School Communique' An information Evening about the Secondary program at GAA, open to all Secondary School parents.
March 24th 1pm 'Be prepared for Grade 9' Grade 8 parents are invited to an information Session with our Grade 9 team on what to expect the first year of High School.
Best Guess Calendar Dates for Families 2015-2016
The 2015-2016 school calendar has not yet been released by the Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC). We hope to receive the calendar information sometime in April. We realize that many of our families are anxiously awaiting information that will help in making family plans for the summer and fall. We do not yet know whether the winter break 2015 will be two or three weeks long.
In the meantime, however, we have identified some “best guess” dates as listed below. These dates are based on past experience and could change. Please, when making summer travel plans, we urge you to keep your plans and tickets flexible until we have solid dates to share with you.
Best Guess Dates for Fall, 2015:
August 23
Teacher start date
August 27
New student orientation
August 30
Start of school
September 1 & 2
Start for KG
Back to School Night
September 14 – KG/Elementary
September 16- Secondary
September 22
Mount Arafat Day
September 23 & 24
Eid Al Adha
Classes resume on September 27
October 15
Islamic New Year
The 2015-2016 school calendar has not yet been released by the Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC). We hope to receive the calendar information sometime in April. We realize that many of our families are anxiously awaiting information that will help in making family plans for the summer and fall. We do not yet know whether the winter break 2015 will be two or three weeks long.
In the meantime, however, we have identified some “best guess” dates as listed below. These dates are based on past experience and could change. Please, when making summer travel plans, we urge you to keep your plans and tickets flexible until we have solid dates to share with you.
Best Guess Dates for Fall, 2015:
August 23
Teacher start date
August 27
New student orientation
August 30
Start of school
September 1 & 2
Start for KG
Back to School Night
September 14 – KG/Elementary
September 16- Secondary
September 22
Mount Arafat Day
September 23 & 24
Eid Al Adha
Classes resume on September 27
October 15
Islamic New Year
Stu Williamson Photography
The proof cards for the homeroom and team photos have been received and issued to students. The order cut-off will be Monday 23rd March 2015. Please drop off your orders to the purple Stu Williamson post box which is located in the main reception or alternatively you can order with Stu Williamson direct at www.sw-schools.com quoting the reference number on the proof card.
The proof cards for the homeroom and team photos have been received and issued to students. The order cut-off will be Monday 23rd March 2015. Please drop off your orders to the purple Stu Williamson post box which is located in the main reception or alternatively you can order with Stu Williamson direct at www.sw-schools.com quoting the reference number on the proof card.
GAA Booster Club
News about the NBAD GEMS Credit card
The NBAD GEMS co-branded credit card has changed the discount rate from 9% to 7% with effect from 20th March 2015, when using the card to pay your school tuition fees in advance. All other benefits will remain the same. For details on the benefits call 800 2211 or visit www.gemseducation.com/gems-titanium-card.
The NBAD GEMS co-branded credit card has changed the discount rate from 9% to 7% with effect from 20th March 2015, when using the card to pay your school tuition fees in advance. All other benefits will remain the same. For details on the benefits call 800 2211 or visit www.gemseducation.com/gems-titanium-card.