News from Head of School - Kathy Miner
Dear Parents,
We have completed the 2015-2016 teacher recruitment fair hiring season and I can report that we have hired a number of excellent teachers who are just as thrilled to be joining the GAA school community as we are to have them.
At the recent Dubai hiring fair, there was a “buzz” of excitement in our interview sign up line from teachers in the area who had heard about our school. With 84% of teachers whose contracts are ending this July signing on again for another year, we didn’t have many teachers to replace this year. A strong retention means consistency and continuity throughout the program for the coming school year.
Please note that we are offering several informational day and evening presentations designed to keep our parents informed about the academic program in the Secondary School. For parents of students moving into Grade 6 and Grade 9, you’ll see specific sessions aimed at explaining important transition information as students make the big leap from Grade 5 to Grade 6 and the critical induction into high school as student’s transition from Grade 8 to Grade 9.
You’ll also find some information in this newsletter edition about our first senior class graduation. The class of 2015 will be graduating with style!
We are asking for your help in making the field a safer place for our community with some changes in foot traffic and play areas to help us all avoid stray baseballs and softballs.
Our Booster Club parents are excited about moving the Booster Club snack sales into an indoor space near the pool and Health Clinic. Having the ability to refrigerate products means healthier snack options.
Be sure to join me next Tuesday afternoon in our second “In Touch” feedback session. The session last November was a great success with over 100 parents joining us in table discussion sessions. The feedback was fantastic- many positive and encouraging comments as well as a number of constructive and helpful ideas for improvement. I’m looking forward to hosting a second round of discussions on Tuesday, March 10th from 1:15-2:45 pm.
When it comes to your child’s education, we know that there are many schools to choose from across Abu Dhabi. I thank you for your commitment to GEMS American Academy and your excitement about being a part of our school community.
Kind Regards,
Dr. Kathy Miner
We have completed the 2015-2016 teacher recruitment fair hiring season and I can report that we have hired a number of excellent teachers who are just as thrilled to be joining the GAA school community as we are to have them.
At the recent Dubai hiring fair, there was a “buzz” of excitement in our interview sign up line from teachers in the area who had heard about our school. With 84% of teachers whose contracts are ending this July signing on again for another year, we didn’t have many teachers to replace this year. A strong retention means consistency and continuity throughout the program for the coming school year.
Please note that we are offering several informational day and evening presentations designed to keep our parents informed about the academic program in the Secondary School. For parents of students moving into Grade 6 and Grade 9, you’ll see specific sessions aimed at explaining important transition information as students make the big leap from Grade 5 to Grade 6 and the critical induction into high school as student’s transition from Grade 8 to Grade 9.
You’ll also find some information in this newsletter edition about our first senior class graduation. The class of 2015 will be graduating with style!
We are asking for your help in making the field a safer place for our community with some changes in foot traffic and play areas to help us all avoid stray baseballs and softballs.
Our Booster Club parents are excited about moving the Booster Club snack sales into an indoor space near the pool and Health Clinic. Having the ability to refrigerate products means healthier snack options.
Be sure to join me next Tuesday afternoon in our second “In Touch” feedback session. The session last November was a great success with over 100 parents joining us in table discussion sessions. The feedback was fantastic- many positive and encouraging comments as well as a number of constructive and helpful ideas for improvement. I’m looking forward to hosting a second round of discussions on Tuesday, March 10th from 1:15-2:45 pm.
When it comes to your child’s education, we know that there are many schools to choose from across Abu Dhabi. I thank you for your commitment to GEMS American Academy and your excitement about being a part of our school community.
Kind Regards,
Dr. Kathy Miner
THE AGE REQUIREMENTS FOR STUDENTS APPLYING FOR PARTICULAR GRADES
We list below the appropriate age requirements for the effective delivery of the curriculum that the school offers. This policy is also in consonance with the entry ages in the UK/USA/India.
The school’s Admissions Policy also entails enrolment procedures and assessments to determine the readiness of children for entry into the appropriate Grade Level.
Should you have any questions or concerns, we are very pleased to be of assistance.
The school’s Admissions Policy also entails enrolment procedures and assessments to determine the readiness of children for entry into the appropriate Grade Level.
Should you have any questions or concerns, we are very pleased to be of assistance.
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
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 10th 1:15pm ' In Touch' with our leadership team, Mr craig Randall (Senior Principal), Mr Ben Vaborsky (Elementary Principal), Ms Kathryn head ( Elementary Vice Principal), Mr Biju Mathai (Manager of School Operations) Barbara McKenzie (Senior Advisor and Education Consultant) and Dr Kathryn Miner ( Head of School ).
An informal session giving our parents the opportunity Connect, listen and respond.
March 17th 1pm 'Be prepared for Grade 6' A series with our Grade 6 team on what to expect the first year of middle school.
March 23th 7pm 'Secondary School Communique' An information series 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 series with our Grade 9 team on what to expect the first year of Secondary School.
March 10th 1:15pm ' In Touch' with our leadership team, Mr craig Randall (Senior Principal), Mr Ben Vaborsky (Elementary Principal), Ms Kathryn head ( Elementary Vice Principal), Mr Biju Mathai (Manager of School Operations) Barbara McKenzie (Senior Advisor and Education Consultant) and Dr Kathryn Miner ( Head of School ).
An informal session giving our parents the opportunity Connect, listen and respond.
March 17th 1pm 'Be prepared for Grade 6' A series with our Grade 6 team on what to expect the first year of middle school.
March 23th 7pm 'Secondary School Communique' An information series 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 series with our Grade 9 team on what to expect the first year of Secondary School.
New faces at GAA
We are delighted to welcome to our GAA community some wonderful new staff who bring enthusiasm, energy and expertise.
As you may have noticed Kathryn Reynolds, our former PRE is no longer at GAA as she and her husband decided to return home to the UK. We wish Kathryn well with her future endeavours and thank her for all she has done here at GAA.
Naseera, our lovely new Parent Relations Executive, hails from South Africa and is accompanied by her two young sons and her husband who teaches in our music program. Naseera is very well qualified and ….. We hear that she is musically talented as well!
Her email address is [email protected]
Miriam Morrisroe, from Ireland has joined our administrative team as Executive Assistant; Miriam will be working with Dr Miner and Mrs. Carrillo in HR. Miriam has lived in the Middle East for 6 years and brings a fresh, smiling presence to the admin department.
Her email address is [email protected] should you need to contact Dr Miner or our HR department.
Biju Mathai, Manager of School Operations, MSO is another welcomed figure to our support staff. Biju is well experienced in school operations and knows the area very well. He was former MSO at Cambridge School in Abu Dhabi and is most familiar with school operations and GEMS.
His email address is [email protected] if you need information about our school facilities or operations.
Felicity Harding, formerly our Training Resources Coordinator, is now School Secretary in the Elementary School working with Mr. Ben Voborsky and his team. Felicity knows our school well and we are thrilled to be working with teachers and students.
Felicity’s email address is [email protected] If you need to contact the school regarding elementary matters.
GAA Booster Club
Teacher Training and Professional Development |
Would you like to train to be a teacher with the largest private K-12 education operator globally and world leading Educational Universities?
Applications are now open for September 2015! Please click this link to access further information about our International Post Graduate Teacher Training Qualification (iPGCE), to complete the application form and to register for our open day on Saturday 28th February 2015, 10:00am, at GEMS Wellington International School, Dubai (map can be found here).
For further information please contact [email protected]
Applications are now open for September 2015! Please click this link to access further information about our International Post Graduate Teacher Training Qualification (iPGCE), to complete the application form and to register for our open day on Saturday 28th February 2015, 10:00am, at GEMS Wellington International School, Dubai (map can be found here).
For further information please contact [email protected]
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.
Swim caps are still available for sale at 15dhs each. Please contact Iliana the swim coach or any GAAPA member.