Dear Parents,
On Sunday 30th November 2014 the GEMS American Academy will celebrate UAE National Day. For those of you who haven’t seen, the school is already decorated ready for this special day. Here are some photographs of our decorations.
On Sunday 30th November 2014 the GEMS American Academy will celebrate UAE National Day. For those of you who haven’t seen, the school is already decorated ready for this special day. Here are some photographs of our decorations.
To commemorate this special occasion students in Grades 1 -12 will attend a special UAE National Day Assembly, featuring a school play on the history of the union and information and facts about the UAE and its culture and heritage. They will then have a scheduled time to enjoy a special heritage fair on the school field.
For students in KG 1 and 2, they will also attend the heritage fair but instead of attending an assembly will hold a UAE flag pageant in the gymnasium.
We would like all students and teachers to wear either the UAE traditional dress or the colors of the UAE flag.
Parents are encouraged to come to enjoy our celebrations too. Please come to watch the school assembly and attend the heritage fair at the time your children are scheduled to be taking part. Here is the day’s schedule:
KG 1 – Flag pageant and centers in the gym at 8.30am. Heritage fair on the field at 1pm
KG2 - Flag pageant and centers in the gym at 12pm. Heritage fair on the field at 10am
Grade 1 - Heritage fair on the field at 11am, Assembly inside the auditorium at 8.30am
Grade 2 - Heritage fair on the field at 11.30am, Assembly inside the auditorium at 8.30am
Grade 3 - Heritage fair on the field at 8am, Assembly inside the auditorium at 10am
Grade 4 - Heritage fair on the field at 8.30am, Assembly inside the auditorium at 10am
Grade 5 - Heritage fair on the field at 9am, Assembly inside the auditorium at 10am
Grade 6 - Heritage fair on the field at 9.30am, Assembly inside the auditorium at 11.30am
Grade 7 - Heritage fair on the field at 2pm, Assembly inside the auditorium at 11.30am
Grade 8 - Heritage fair on the field at 1.30pm, Assembly inside the auditorium at 11.30am
Grade 9 – Heritage Fair 12pm on the field, Assembly inside the auditorium at 1.40 – 2.40pm
Grade 10 – Heritage Fair 12pm on the field, Assembly inside the auditorium at 1.40 – 2.40pm
Grade 11 – Heritage Fair 12.30pm on the field, Assembly inside the auditorium at 1.40 – 2.40pm
Grade 12 - Heritage Fair 12.30pm on the field, Assembly inside the auditorium at 1.40 – 2.40pm
We will also be serving traditional coffee and dates in the main reception for parents to enjoy.
I would like to send my sincerest thanks for all those who have put in time and effort in preparation for the day’s events. I know lots of parents have kindly donated items to make the day special.
We are looking forward to seeing you on Sunday!
Warm Regards
Kathy Miner
For students in KG 1 and 2, they will also attend the heritage fair but instead of attending an assembly will hold a UAE flag pageant in the gymnasium.
We would like all students and teachers to wear either the UAE traditional dress or the colors of the UAE flag.
Parents are encouraged to come to enjoy our celebrations too. Please come to watch the school assembly and attend the heritage fair at the time your children are scheduled to be taking part. Here is the day’s schedule:
KG 1 – Flag pageant and centers in the gym at 8.30am. Heritage fair on the field at 1pm
KG2 - Flag pageant and centers in the gym at 12pm. Heritage fair on the field at 10am
Grade 1 - Heritage fair on the field at 11am, Assembly inside the auditorium at 8.30am
Grade 2 - Heritage fair on the field at 11.30am, Assembly inside the auditorium at 8.30am
Grade 3 - Heritage fair on the field at 8am, Assembly inside the auditorium at 10am
Grade 4 - Heritage fair on the field at 8.30am, Assembly inside the auditorium at 10am
Grade 5 - Heritage fair on the field at 9am, Assembly inside the auditorium at 10am
Grade 6 - Heritage fair on the field at 9.30am, Assembly inside the auditorium at 11.30am
Grade 7 - Heritage fair on the field at 2pm, Assembly inside the auditorium at 11.30am
Grade 8 - Heritage fair on the field at 1.30pm, Assembly inside the auditorium at 11.30am
Grade 9 – Heritage Fair 12pm on the field, Assembly inside the auditorium at 1.40 – 2.40pm
Grade 10 – Heritage Fair 12pm on the field, Assembly inside the auditorium at 1.40 – 2.40pm
Grade 11 – Heritage Fair 12.30pm on the field, Assembly inside the auditorium at 1.40 – 2.40pm
Grade 12 - Heritage Fair 12.30pm on the field, Assembly inside the auditorium at 1.40 – 2.40pm
We will also be serving traditional coffee and dates in the main reception for parents to enjoy.
I would like to send my sincerest thanks for all those who have put in time and effort in preparation for the day’s events. I know lots of parents have kindly donated items to make the day special.
We are looking forward to seeing you on Sunday!
Warm Regards
Kathy Miner
What's Happening at GAA Next Week?
GEMS American Academy Community News
Parent Engagement Week is coming!
GAA's annual Parent Engagement week will be held from Sunday 7th- 11th December. For those of you who do not already know, parent engagement week is all about getting mums and dads involved with their children's learning at home. International research shows that parents who are actively and consistently engaged in their children’s learning can add the equivalent of two to three years of formal education to that student over their school career. The children of engaged parents do better at school, have better social skills and behavior, and make better life choices.
This year's Parent Engagement Week at GAA has a theme - "Your Balanced Child". We will be holding parent seminars and tutorials throughout the week on the following subjects:
• Dealing with Bullying
• Characteristics of Successful learners
• Establishing Sleep Routines
• Meet the Macs (Grades 3, 4, and 5 computer technology)
• Establishing Sleep Routines
• Understanding MAP test results
• Helping English Language Learners at Home
• Digital Citizenship for KG/Elementary
• Choosing an Appropriate Book from the Library
• Reading to Your Child in Your Native Language
• Basic Arabic Phrases
• Secondary Study Skills
• Minimizing Distractions During Homework (Secondary)
• Healthy Snacks
• Students and Social Media (Secondary)
• Open afternoon (Parent visits KG and Elementary classrooms)
Look out for an email next week with a finalized schedule of seminars and times
GAA's annual Parent Engagement week will be held from Sunday 7th- 11th December. For those of you who do not already know, parent engagement week is all about getting mums and dads involved with their children's learning at home. International research shows that parents who are actively and consistently engaged in their children’s learning can add the equivalent of two to three years of formal education to that student over their school career. The children of engaged parents do better at school, have better social skills and behavior, and make better life choices.
This year's Parent Engagement Week at GAA has a theme - "Your Balanced Child". We will be holding parent seminars and tutorials throughout the week on the following subjects:
• Dealing with Bullying
• Characteristics of Successful learners
• Establishing Sleep Routines
• Meet the Macs (Grades 3, 4, and 5 computer technology)
• Establishing Sleep Routines
• Understanding MAP test results
• Helping English Language Learners at Home
• Digital Citizenship for KG/Elementary
• Choosing an Appropriate Book from the Library
• Reading to Your Child in Your Native Language
• Basic Arabic Phrases
• Secondary Study Skills
• Minimizing Distractions During Homework (Secondary)
• Healthy Snacks
• Students and Social Media (Secondary)
• Open afternoon (Parent visits KG and Elementary classrooms)
Look out for an email next week with a finalized schedule of seminars and times
Community Nights at the Planetarium this December
Greetings GAA Parents,
I will be hosting 4 community evenings in the planetarium this December. The shows will be the week following the National Day Holidays. The dates will be as follows:
Sunday, December 7 Monday, December 8 Tuesday, December 9 Wednesday, December 10.
All 4 shows will feature a short discussion about the December night sky, followed by our full-dome movie “A Rainforest Adventure - BUGS”. The shows will start at 6:00PM and I expect them to end around 7:30PM. For more information about this show, please see the poster below.
To reserve your spot, you will need to send an RSVP email to the planetarium director, Mr. James Walker. The email address is: [email protected] Please use the subject line: December Planetarium Evening. Please note which evening you would like to attend, Sunday the 7th, Monday the 8th, Tuesday the 9th, or Wednesday the 10th. Also, please tell me how many people you will be bringing to the show.
Whole families are welcome, but space is limited so reserve your spots early.
Thank you,
James Walker
Greetings GAA Parents,
I will be hosting 4 community evenings in the planetarium this December. The shows will be the week following the National Day Holidays. The dates will be as follows:
Sunday, December 7 Monday, December 8 Tuesday, December 9 Wednesday, December 10.
All 4 shows will feature a short discussion about the December night sky, followed by our full-dome movie “A Rainforest Adventure - BUGS”. The shows will start at 6:00PM and I expect them to end around 7:30PM. For more information about this show, please see the poster below.
To reserve your spot, you will need to send an RSVP email to the planetarium director, Mr. James Walker. The email address is: [email protected] Please use the subject line: December Planetarium Evening. Please note which evening you would like to attend, Sunday the 7th, Monday the 8th, Tuesday the 9th, or Wednesday the 10th. Also, please tell me how many people you will be bringing to the show.
Whole families are welcome, but space is limited so reserve your spots early.
Thank you,
James Walker
Mother Tongue Programs at GAA
GAA is reaching out to all nationalities who would be interested in setting up a mother tongue program to be run after school. For those families who speak another language at home and would like their children to keep up the language, this is an opportunity for you.
Within our GAA already we have Dutch, Swedish, Italian and Greek programs running. Click here for more details on how to join these already established clubs.
Clubs like these rely on native speaking parent volunteers, so If you are interested in setting up a club please send Chris Mott an email [email protected]
GAA is reaching out to all nationalities who would be interested in setting up a mother tongue program to be run after school. For those families who speak another language at home and would like their children to keep up the language, this is an opportunity for you.
Within our GAA already we have Dutch, Swedish, Italian and Greek programs running. Click here for more details on how to join these already established clubs.
Clubs like these rely on native speaking parent volunteers, so If you are interested in setting up a club please send Chris Mott an email [email protected]
GAAPA News
If you are still interested in purchasing a 2012/13 (50AED) or 2013/14 (100AED) GAA yearbook please contact [email protected] to organize collection
GAAPA are also looking for a Vice Chair/ Secondary School Coordinator to serve on the GAAPA board. If you would like to get involved please fill in this attached form and send back to [email protected]
If you are still interested in purchasing a 2012/13 (50AED) or 2013/14 (100AED) GAA yearbook please contact [email protected] to organize collection
GAAPA are also looking for a Vice Chair/ Secondary School Coordinator to serve on the GAAPA board. If you would like to get involved please fill in this attached form and send back to [email protected]