News from the Secondary Principal - Secondary Parent Back To School Night
Dear Parents,
I am happy to invite you to a Secondary Parent Back to School Evening on Wednesday 10th September 2014 from 5pm until 7:40pm beginning in the auditorium.
This is an opportunity for you to meet your child’s teachers and learn a little bit about the course and how it’s run. Your child will be completing a subject schedule for you with the name of their teachers and room number during their homeroom on Sunday 7th September. You should follow this schedule during the Parent Back to School Night and you child will give you this schedule next week.
Back to school night is not designed to be a parent teacher conference to discuss your child’s individual progress. The night is an evening for parents only, students do not need to attend. At a later date we will be holding conferences in which we will share student’s learning with you.
I would also like to draw your attention to the electronic version of our new Secondary Community Handbook 2014-15 pinned to the top of the page. There are a number of new procedures for attendance and late arrivals that you will need to familiarize yourself with. A hard copy of the Handbook will be available and sent home with the students shortly.
If I have not had the pleasure of meeting you already, I look forward to meeting you on September 10th
Warm Regards
Craig Randall
Secondary School Principal
Dear Parents,
I am happy to invite you to a Secondary Parent Back to School Evening on Wednesday 10th September 2014 from 5pm until 7:40pm beginning in the auditorium.
This is an opportunity for you to meet your child’s teachers and learn a little bit about the course and how it’s run. Your child will be completing a subject schedule for you with the name of their teachers and room number during their homeroom on Sunday 7th September. You should follow this schedule during the Parent Back to School Night and you child will give you this schedule next week.
Back to school night is not designed to be a parent teacher conference to discuss your child’s individual progress. The night is an evening for parents only, students do not need to attend. At a later date we will be holding conferences in which we will share student’s learning with you.
I would also like to draw your attention to the electronic version of our new Secondary Community Handbook 2014-15 pinned to the top of the page. There are a number of new procedures for attendance and late arrivals that you will need to familiarize yourself with. A hard copy of the Handbook will be available and sent home with the students shortly.
If I have not had the pleasure of meeting you already, I look forward to meeting you on September 10th
Warm Regards
Craig Randall
Secondary School Principal
School Counseling News
Researching and applying to college(s) can be both daunting and baffling to the uninitiated. Our goal in college counseling at GAA is to educate students regarding the process and to support them in their efforts.
We will communicate with students in a number of ways:
The GAAzette weekly newsletter will highlight important college-related information, deadlines, and tips for students and parents. It is our goal that this will be a resource for all students and families even before they “officially” begin the process.
Click Here for Senior Info (grade 12): Reminders, Fall College Visits on Campus, Standardized Testing, Senior To –Do List
Click Here For Junior Info (grade 11): PSAT, Standardized Testing, College Visits on Campus
Click Here for Sophomore Info (grade 10): PSAT, Tips for the College Bound Sophomore
Click Here for Freshman Information (grade 9): Tips for the College Bound Freshman
Researching and applying to college(s) can be both daunting and baffling to the uninitiated. Our goal in college counseling at GAA is to educate students regarding the process and to support them in their efforts.
We will communicate with students in a number of ways:
- Personal one on one meetings
- Grade level group meetings during homeroom
- Naviance
- Bulletin boards
- Emails
- The GAAzette
The GAAzette weekly newsletter will highlight important college-related information, deadlines, and tips for students and parents. It is our goal that this will be a resource for all students and families even before they “officially” begin the process.
Click Here for Senior Info (grade 12): Reminders, Fall College Visits on Campus, Standardized Testing, Senior To –Do List
Click Here For Junior Info (grade 11): PSAT, Standardized Testing, College Visits on Campus
Click Here for Sophomore Info (grade 10): PSAT, Tips for the College Bound Sophomore
Click Here for Freshman Information (grade 9): Tips for the College Bound Freshman
PARENT TIPS
- Encourage your students to explore extra-curricular activities.
- Talk to your students about academic strengths and areas for improvement. Consider tutoring or other methods of enrichment to strengthen areas of improvement.
- Talk to your student about progress in school. Know when report cards come out for progress reports and semester grades.
Welcome New Secondary School Staff
Over the coming weeks we will be introducing The GAAzette readers to our new Secondary School Staff.
Cindy Beck - Middle School and High School Spanish
Cindy Beck was born in Boston, Massachusetts and has lived all over the USA: New York State; Birmingham, Alabama, Montana on the Crow Indian Reservation, Las Vegas, New Mexico and finally settling in Reno, Nevada where she fell in love with Spanish in high school due to her mentor teacher from Guatemala. Cindy attended Lewis and Clark College for her University training in Spanish and Psychology along with her teacher training. During that time she was able to study abroad for a semester in Central America (Guatemala, El Salvador and Costa Rica). After graduating Cindy decided to continue her Spanish studies by completing a Masters Program in Spanish through Middlebury College where the main program was located in Madrid, Spain.
Following her studies, she accepted her first position teaching in the Title I Migrant program in eastern Washington State. She worked with high school Mexican students needing help with their English skills. then she has taught Spanish in Kent, Wa. At Kentwood High School for 10 yrs and Bainbridge Island High School on Bainbridge Island, Wa (a ferry ride west from Seattle) for 21 yrs.
Teaching overseas has always been her dream, so being at GEMS is a very exciting opportunity for her.
Over the coming weeks we will be introducing The GAAzette readers to our new Secondary School Staff.
Cindy Beck - Middle School and High School Spanish
Cindy Beck was born in Boston, Massachusetts and has lived all over the USA: New York State; Birmingham, Alabama, Montana on the Crow Indian Reservation, Las Vegas, New Mexico and finally settling in Reno, Nevada where she fell in love with Spanish in high school due to her mentor teacher from Guatemala. Cindy attended Lewis and Clark College for her University training in Spanish and Psychology along with her teacher training. During that time she was able to study abroad for a semester in Central America (Guatemala, El Salvador and Costa Rica). After graduating Cindy decided to continue her Spanish studies by completing a Masters Program in Spanish through Middlebury College where the main program was located in Madrid, Spain.
Following her studies, she accepted her first position teaching in the Title I Migrant program in eastern Washington State. She worked with high school Mexican students needing help with their English skills. then she has taught Spanish in Kent, Wa. At Kentwood High School for 10 yrs and Bainbridge Island High School on Bainbridge Island, Wa (a ferry ride west from Seattle) for 21 yrs.
Teaching overseas has always been her dream, so being at GEMS is a very exciting opportunity for her.
Tejal Bhatt - Secondary Mathematics
Tejal Bhatt was born and brought up in the United Kingdom, and was an expatriate student herself. As a result, she was fortunate enough to be exposed to and experienced a broad spectrum of religions, cultures and lifestyles.
Graduating from the University of Westminster, London, with BSc (Hons) Biochemistry & Microbiology, Tejal worked in various roles, including pharmaceuticals. During this time Tejal became very interested in teaching, as she prepared children of family friends for the 11+ and 13+ common entrance examinations for Aske Haberdashers, Merchant Taylors and Watford Grammar schools, in the UK.
Tejal’s career in education, in both the British and IB curriculum, comprises of teaching Science, Mathematics and Theory of Knowledge. Tejal has also been Head of BTEC Science, Area of Interaction Leader (Health and Social Education) as well as the Yearbook Coordinator in previous schools. Tejal’s focus is to raise international awareness and achievement amongst our global citizens and create independent and creative future leaders. She is very excited and looks forward to fruitful relationship with the GEMS community.
Tejal Bhatt was born and brought up in the United Kingdom, and was an expatriate student herself. As a result, she was fortunate enough to be exposed to and experienced a broad spectrum of religions, cultures and lifestyles.
Graduating from the University of Westminster, London, with BSc (Hons) Biochemistry & Microbiology, Tejal worked in various roles, including pharmaceuticals. During this time Tejal became very interested in teaching, as she prepared children of family friends for the 11+ and 13+ common entrance examinations for Aske Haberdashers, Merchant Taylors and Watford Grammar schools, in the UK.
Tejal’s career in education, in both the British and IB curriculum, comprises of teaching Science, Mathematics and Theory of Knowledge. Tejal has also been Head of BTEC Science, Area of Interaction Leader (Health and Social Education) as well as the Yearbook Coordinator in previous schools. Tejal’s focus is to raise international awareness and achievement amongst our global citizens and create independent and creative future leaders. She is very excited and looks forward to fruitful relationship with the GEMS community.
Florian Ciprian Baciu - Middle School Social Studies
Florian Ciprian Baciu is a Romanian/American and has been teaching various humanities courses for the last fourteen years in Romania, USA, Jordan and Japan. He has also worked in international schools as ESL, pastoral and subject leader, IB Diploma Coordinator and Director of Studies. Ciprian is an active supporter of the International Baccalaureate and has been commissioned by the organization to
serve as a curriculum and workshop developer for their Middle Years program. Ciprian is excited to return to the middle east to teach Social Studies in the middle school at GAA, while also pursuing his terminal degree in education.
Florian Ciprian Baciu is a Romanian/American and has been teaching various humanities courses for the last fourteen years in Romania, USA, Jordan and Japan. He has also worked in international schools as ESL, pastoral and subject leader, IB Diploma Coordinator and Director of Studies. Ciprian is an active supporter of the International Baccalaureate and has been commissioned by the organization to
serve as a curriculum and workshop developer for their Middle Years program. Ciprian is excited to return to the middle east to teach Social Studies in the middle school at GAA, while also pursuing his terminal degree in education.
Bring Your Own Device Program
Do you have any questions regarding our Bring Your Own Device program? Click this link to read more
Do you have any questions regarding our Bring Your Own Device program? Click this link to read more
Opportunity for International Travel Next Spring Break
There will be a parents meeting on Tuesday, September 9th at 6:00 PM in the planetarium, where we will have more information about each trip.
International Options for the 1st Week of Spring Break 2015
1) Nepal- Grades 7-12
2)Kenya- (Grades 7-12)
3) Romania – (Grades 7-12)
International Options for the 2nd Week of Spring Break 2015
4) Switzerland-Ski Trip (Grades 10-12)
If you would like more information or have any questions please let me know at [email protected].
There will be a parents meeting on Tuesday, September 9th at 6:00 PM in the planetarium, where we will have more information about each trip.
International Options for the 1st Week of Spring Break 2015
1) Nepal- Grades 7-12
2)Kenya- (Grades 7-12)
3) Romania – (Grades 7-12)
International Options for the 2nd Week of Spring Break 2015
4) Switzerland-Ski Trip (Grades 10-12)
If you would like more information or have any questions please let me know at [email protected].