News from Head of School - Kathy Miner
Reminder: Please be sure to join us for Student-Parent-Teacher conferences
We are looking forward to your participation at Student-Parent-Teacher Conferences on November 9th and 10th. It is important to understand that during this Conference your child, and you, as parents, attend. Your child will be provided with the opportunity to share their learning with you and the class teacher. They will be responsible for reflecting upon and communicating to you work samples that have been previously selected with guidance and support from their teacher. You will also have ten minutes at the end of the conference to directly speak with your child’s teacher.
*Please note that only Kindergarten and Elementary require appointment, see below for more details.
Kindergarten and Elementary School (KG – Grade 5):
All teachers in KG and Elementary will host 30-minute student led conferences with families in the classroom. Parents are able to book conference times by selecting from the available spaces on the conference schedule. The link to the schedule was sent to parents via SeeSaw.
KG and ES Specialist teachers:
Parents can find KG specialist teachers in the KG area where students can demonstrate their learning. Your child will receive a GAA Passport and they can lead you to their specialist teachers learning space. Please feel free to spend 10 minutes with a specialist teacher to learn more about our programs that support Arts, PE, Arabic, Library, Music, Dance, Drama and Cooking.
*There is no need to book ahead for a conference time with a specialist teacher.
Secondary School Grade 6- 12):
Secondary have a walk-in conference arrangement in which all Secondary teachers are seated at desks in the Gym. You and your child will meet with each of your child’s teachers, as they are available for a brief 10-minute conference. Students are encouraged to attend with their parents.
*There is no need to book ahead for a conference time.
Please note that there will NOT be regular classes on these two days (November 9th & 10th). We recommend students attend the conferences with their parents.
Always Striving for Continued Improvement as a School
Late last spring GAA parents responded to an annual survey, results summarized below. Per our parents’ feedback, in 2016, we improved in many areas as compared to 2015. In the second data chart, we can see that our parents gave our school ratings that are comparable or slightly above parents of other American/IB curriculum schools in the GEMS Network.
As we head into 2017, we will continue to strive for even higher results. During the upcoming Student Parent Conferences, you’ll see a Suggestion Box in the lobby. Be sure and leave a comment or suggestion should you have any feedback to share.
We are looking forward to your participation at Student-Parent-Teacher Conferences on November 9th and 10th. It is important to understand that during this Conference your child, and you, as parents, attend. Your child will be provided with the opportunity to share their learning with you and the class teacher. They will be responsible for reflecting upon and communicating to you work samples that have been previously selected with guidance and support from their teacher. You will also have ten minutes at the end of the conference to directly speak with your child’s teacher.
*Please note that only Kindergarten and Elementary require appointment, see below for more details.
Kindergarten and Elementary School (KG – Grade 5):
- Wednesday November 9th, 11:30am – 7:30pm
- Thursday November 10th, 7:30am- 3:30pm
All teachers in KG and Elementary will host 30-minute student led conferences with families in the classroom. Parents are able to book conference times by selecting from the available spaces on the conference schedule. The link to the schedule was sent to parents via SeeSaw.
KG and ES Specialist teachers:
Parents can find KG specialist teachers in the KG area where students can demonstrate their learning. Your child will receive a GAA Passport and they can lead you to their specialist teachers learning space. Please feel free to spend 10 minutes with a specialist teacher to learn more about our programs that support Arts, PE, Arabic, Library, Music, Dance, Drama and Cooking.
*There is no need to book ahead for a conference time with a specialist teacher.
Secondary School Grade 6- 12):
- Wednesday November 9th, 11:30am – 7:30pm
- Thursday November 10th, 7:30am – 3:30pm
Secondary have a walk-in conference arrangement in which all Secondary teachers are seated at desks in the Gym. You and your child will meet with each of your child’s teachers, as they are available for a brief 10-minute conference. Students are encouraged to attend with their parents.
*There is no need to book ahead for a conference time.
Please note that there will NOT be regular classes on these two days (November 9th & 10th). We recommend students attend the conferences with their parents.
Always Striving for Continued Improvement as a School
Late last spring GAA parents responded to an annual survey, results summarized below. Per our parents’ feedback, in 2016, we improved in many areas as compared to 2015. In the second data chart, we can see that our parents gave our school ratings that are comparable or slightly above parents of other American/IB curriculum schools in the GEMS Network.
As we head into 2017, we will continue to strive for even higher results. During the upcoming Student Parent Conferences, you’ll see a Suggestion Box in the lobby. Be sure and leave a comment or suggestion should you have any feedback to share.
annual_survey_results.pptx | |
File Size: | 93 kb |
File Type: | pptx |
Health & Safety
The Health & Safety Committee at GAA meets frequently to review and discuss Health & Safety needs and issues across the school. In the last few months, the Committee which includes administrators, teachers and facilities staff members, have led a number of important initiatives, such as:
The Health & Safety Committee continually and actively reviews, adapts and amends all aspects of health and safety across the school.
Regards,
Kathy Miner
Head of School and CEO
The Health & Safety Committee at GAA meets frequently to review and discuss Health & Safety needs and issues across the school. In the last few months, the Committee which includes administrators, teachers and facilities staff members, have led a number of important initiatives, such as:
- Completing needed repairs to ensure student safety
- Updating our fire evacuation procedures
- Reviewing our medical procedures and policies
- Organizing storage areas to eliminate fire hazards
- Review recess safety procedures
- Constantly monitoring our adherence to our Child Protection Policy
The Health & Safety Committee continually and actively reviews, adapts and amends all aspects of health and safety across the school.
Regards,
Kathy Miner
Head of School and CEO
Important Message from Admissions:
Dear Parents,
We are constantly required by Abu Dhabi Education Council to update student and parents information on school database. Kindly bring your child(ren)’s and both parents’ Emirates IDs with you during Parent-Teacher Conferences. Please note that helpdesks will be set up in the Gym, Main Reception and KG Reception to facilitate this process.
Please disregard this request if you have submitted your child(ren)’s and both parents’ valid Emirates IDs in the past 4 weeks.
We look forward to seeing you!
Dear Parents,
We are constantly required by Abu Dhabi Education Council to update student and parents information on school database. Kindly bring your child(ren)’s and both parents’ Emirates IDs with you during Parent-Teacher Conferences. Please note that helpdesks will be set up in the Gym, Main Reception and KG Reception to facilitate this process.
Please disregard this request if you have submitted your child(ren)’s and both parents’ valid Emirates IDs in the past 4 weeks.
We look forward to seeing you!
From Our Director of Arabic Studies, Samah Awad
بسم اللّه الرّحمن الرّحيم
:أولياء الأمور الكرام
,,,تحيّة طيبة وبعد
بمناسبةِ الاحتفال باليوم الوطني لدولة الإمارات العربية المتحدة ، يوم اتّحادها العظيم
يطيبُ لنَا أنْ نرْفَعَ أسمى آياتِ التّهاني والتّبريكات لسمو رئيس الدولة الشّيخ خليفة بن زايد آل نهيَّان ونائِبِه وإخوانِه حُكّام الإمارات ووليِّ عهده الأمين.
وبصدد هذه المناسبة يسعدنا إخباركم بأنَّ المدرسة ستحتفل باليوم الوطني الخامس والأربعين يوم الثّلاثاء الموافق 29 من نوفمبر 2016 م
وفي أثناء قيامنا حاليًا بتنسيق فعاليات الحفل وتجهيزاته، فإننا نرحِّب بمشاركاتكم وأفكاركم ، كما يسرنا استقبال اقتراحاتكم على البريد [email protected]
.نرحَّب بكل منْ لديه فكرة أو إضافة تغني فعاليات حفلنا الكريم وتُثريه. فبمساهمتكم يتكامل عملنا
.أدام الله الأفراح والخير لهذا الوطن
.ولكم منّا كل الشّكر والتّقدير
مُديرة قسم اللّغة العربيّة
سماح عوض
National Flag Day
Season 2 Athletic tryouts for Varsity/JV/Middle School will begin mid-November for Basketball and Soccer. Registration information has been emailed to all students and parents.
Tryout Schedule
Little Wildcats Swim Team Grades 1-6 tryouts will start mid-November. More details will be available end of October from the Aquatics Department
Little Wildcats Track and Field Grades 4-6 will start the week of November 13th. Please use this link Little Wildcats Track to register.
Ralph Russell
Athletic and Activities Director
[email protected]
Booster Club News:
GAA Parents, this weekend we need your help in the Concession Stand. GAA is sponsoring an invitational sport tournament.
We need workers in the GAA Booster Concession Stand right in front of the gym. Help us feed your hungry athletes, officials, fellow parents, and siblings. Popping popcorn and selling it is easy to do!
As a hosting school, we like to provide a Hospitality Room that provides a complementary lunch and all day fruit, snacks, & drinks for home and guest team coaches and officials.
We would appreciate if every GAA athlete's family could:
- Volunteer ONE hour of their time in the Concession Stand.
http://www.SignUpGenius.com/go/30E0F4CADA92AA0FF2-5novsoccerfootba
5 Nov. Soccer/Football Tournament: Help Sign Up
www.signupgenius.com
Tryout Schedule
Little Wildcats Swim Team Grades 1-6 tryouts will start mid-November. More details will be available end of October from the Aquatics Department
Little Wildcats Track and Field Grades 4-6 will start the week of November 13th. Please use this link Little Wildcats Track to register.
Ralph Russell
Athletic and Activities Director
[email protected]
Booster Club News:
GAA Parents, this weekend we need your help in the Concession Stand. GAA is sponsoring an invitational sport tournament.
We need workers in the GAA Booster Concession Stand right in front of the gym. Help us feed your hungry athletes, officials, fellow parents, and siblings. Popping popcorn and selling it is easy to do!
As a hosting school, we like to provide a Hospitality Room that provides a complementary lunch and all day fruit, snacks, & drinks for home and guest team coaches and officials.
- Sport: GAA Soccer/Football
- Teams: Grade 4 Boys - 16 teams invited and GAA has 4 Boys teams participating!
- Date: Saturday, 5 November
- Hours: 9:30 am to 2:30 pm
We would appreciate if every GAA athlete's family could:
- Volunteer ONE hour of their time in the Concession Stand.
http://www.SignUpGenius.com/go/30E0F4CADA92AA0FF2-5novsoccerfootba
5 Nov. Soccer/Football Tournament: Help Sign Up
www.signupgenius.com
Dear Parents/Guardians,
This week all Drawings by Me artworks with order forms will be sent home. Parents will have until Sunday, November 6th to return their order form to the school reception.
Drawings by Me is a wonderful opportunity for your child to produce artwork which is then turned into gifts, ideal keepsakes for parents as well as family and friends back home.
Please have a look at our sample display in the reception area to give you a better understanding of the items available to order.
You can also visit http://www.drawingsbyme.com/ further details about all their exciting products.
If you DO NOT wish to purchase anything please keep the artwork at home.
Should you or your child rather have another piece for Drawings By Me, please have your child create an artwork (no pastel, chalk or glitter permitted) at home on blank A4 paper (landscape orientation) and replace it with the one made at school. To ensure on time delivery, it is important to write the following details on the back:
If you DO wish to purchase something please deposit the artwork back to school with the EXACT money (no change given) in the sealed envelope provided, by November 6th at the latest. All orders must be in the Drawings By Me Mailbox located at the Main Reception. All orders will be delivered to classrooms before Winter Break. For more information, please see your grade level Art Teacher.
Beautiful samples are on display in both the main and the KG receptions.
Kind regards,
Elementary Visual Arts Department
Kathy Milot
PYP Art Educator
This week all Drawings by Me artworks with order forms will be sent home. Parents will have until Sunday, November 6th to return their order form to the school reception.
Drawings by Me is a wonderful opportunity for your child to produce artwork which is then turned into gifts, ideal keepsakes for parents as well as family and friends back home.
Please have a look at our sample display in the reception area to give you a better understanding of the items available to order.
You can also visit http://www.drawingsbyme.com/ further details about all their exciting products.
If you DO NOT wish to purchase anything please keep the artwork at home.
Should you or your child rather have another piece for Drawings By Me, please have your child create an artwork (no pastel, chalk or glitter permitted) at home on blank A4 paper (landscape orientation) and replace it with the one made at school. To ensure on time delivery, it is important to write the following details on the back:
- First Name
- Last Name
- Age
- Grade and Section
- School Name: Gems American Academy Abu Dhabi
- Classroom Teacher’s Name
If you DO wish to purchase something please deposit the artwork back to school with the EXACT money (no change given) in the sealed envelope provided, by November 6th at the latest. All orders must be in the Drawings By Me Mailbox located at the Main Reception. All orders will be delivered to classrooms before Winter Break. For more information, please see your grade level Art Teacher.
Beautiful samples are on display in both the main and the KG receptions.
Kind regards,
Elementary Visual Arts Department
Kathy Milot
PYP Art Educator
November is here. Which means… Movember is here!
Movember is a month dedicated to greater men’s health awareness and improvement, with activities, info, and much, much more. If you have the possibility to grow a mean moustache and would like to participate, please send Dylan McShain a quick email (below) to let him know that you would like to be part of the excitement this month.
Want to be a part of the fun but not sure if you can muster up a moustache? That’s ok. Health awareness and improvement is for everyone. You too can be a part of the festivities. Send Dylan an email to join in.
An event calendar will be posted in the foyer shortly. In the meantime, take a look at the flyer below and start grooming and growing because...Best-Worst ‘Stache gets a prize!
Movember is a month dedicated to greater men’s health awareness and improvement, with activities, info, and much, much more. If you have the possibility to grow a mean moustache and would like to participate, please send Dylan McShain a quick email (below) to let him know that you would like to be part of the excitement this month.
Want to be a part of the fun but not sure if you can muster up a moustache? That’s ok. Health awareness and improvement is for everyone. You too can be a part of the festivities. Send Dylan an email to join in.
An event calendar will be posted in the foyer shortly. In the meantime, take a look at the flyer below and start grooming and growing because...Best-Worst ‘Stache gets a prize!
We are delighted to share the news of our Grade 3 student Krishna Cariappa who took part in a tennis tournament at Al Ghazal Golf Club on Saturday and won the runners up trophy. (This club has a tie-up with Clark Francis Tennis Academy) who conduct tennis classes at GAA.
Well done Krisha!
Well done Krisha!
Lost and found
Dear Parents,
We have been at school for a couple of weeks and our “Lost and Found” items are growing rapidly. We have many water bottles, lunch boxes and new school sweaters. Please help us return items to your child by naming all their belongings. If you think your student may have misplaced something please stop by the “Lost and Found” area, which is located by the entrance to the cafeteria. Clothing items not claimed by Thursday November 10 will be donated into the Red Crescent collection box at the rear of the school.
Thanks you,
We have been at school for a couple of weeks and our “Lost and Found” items are growing rapidly. We have many water bottles, lunch boxes and new school sweaters. Please help us return items to your child by naming all their belongings. If you think your student may have misplaced something please stop by the “Lost and Found” area, which is located by the entrance to the cafeteria. Clothing items not claimed by Thursday November 10 will be donated into the Red Crescent collection box at the rear of the school.
Thanks you,
November menu
Dear Parents, please click on the file below to download the Cafeteria menu for the month of November.
p_-_hot_meal_menu_-_third_month.pdf | |
File Size: | 468 kb |
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