Winners at World Scholar’s Cup!
After months of preparation, practice debates and hours of home study, the day arrived for the five teams of scholars to enter the competition on Friday 30th January 2015 at Brighton College, Abu Dhabi. Our teams ranged from Grade 5 to Grade 8 and they worked together throughout, demonstrating excellent teamwork skills. They had to debate three times against other schools and each team won two of their three debates – an excellent achievement considering it was the first time for most of them. Many of our students made new friends, learned how to become better debaters and worked with people they had never worked with before. After debates, they had a team essay to write, a scholars’ challenge and the Scholar’s Bowl (an interactive team quiz with clickers).
It was a very long day for the students who arrived at 7am and did not leave until after 10pm, but they did GAA proud by winning 48 medals, trophies and honorable mentions. The overall brilliance meant that every team qualified for the global round in Kuala Lumpur in June 2015.
Please see the list below for special awards.
After months of preparation, practice debates and hours of home study, the day arrived for the five teams of scholars to enter the competition on Friday 30th January 2015 at Brighton College, Abu Dhabi. Our teams ranged from Grade 5 to Grade 8 and they worked together throughout, demonstrating excellent teamwork skills. They had to debate three times against other schools and each team won two of their three debates – an excellent achievement considering it was the first time for most of them. Many of our students made new friends, learned how to become better debaters and worked with people they had never worked with before. After debates, they had a team essay to write, a scholars’ challenge and the Scholar’s Bowl (an interactive team quiz with clickers).
It was a very long day for the students who arrived at 7am and did not leave until after 10pm, but they did GAA proud by winning 48 medals, trophies and honorable mentions. The overall brilliance meant that every team qualified for the global round in Kuala Lumpur in June 2015.
Please see the list below for special awards.
We would like to thank all the students who took part, all the teachers who supported them, the school for allowing us to take them to Brighton and the parents for being so supportive; all of them coming along to watch the awards ceremony. We appreciate all the hard work that the students have put in and know they will continue to improve on our new journey to participate in the Global Round in Kuala Lumpur in June. Well done scholars!
Mr Broderick and Miss Heatly
Mr Broderick and Miss Heatly
News From CAS Coordinator - Sabina Mohtashim
The 1st of February saw the first ever CAS Challenge take place for our Grade 11 Students. All suited, booted and meticulously presentable they all turned up to the IB Lounge not knowing what the day’s events would be.
Treated to tea and coffee with a quick registration and group photo they were whisked in to the Planetarium for a presentation that would set the days tone as well as GAA'S first ever Skype session with another IB School.
The purpose of the Skype session was for our students to speak with other IB students that have already been through the first year diploma programme. Lots of questions were asked about the core elements of the Diploma Programme as well as advice offered about how they could overcome obstacles that most definitely will stand in their way if they don’t stay on task!
Once the Skype session came to a close students were put in to their teams and the emphasis was made on the 'Challenge'.
Working as part of a team and with a budget of 2500 Dirhams..
‘How can the IB Lounge be recreated/redesigned to accommodate and support ALL grade 11 & 12 students in their Holistic Learning and Development especially as part of their IB Journey?’
Students left the planetarium with eagerness and excitement to get underway with the challenge. The first thing they all did was select a team leader, devise a company name and allocate roles to one another within their imaginary company.
Throughout the day we saw a few CEO's, IT Director's, finance Director's as well as Graphic Designers and Operational Executives.
Seven teams made up of six team members were all hoping to succeed in their quest for the CAS Challenge trophy, which would see their idea come to life if they were able to convince the judges who were made up of Mr. Randall, Ms. Sharice, Dr.Fryer, Ms. Parker and Mr. Mott.
Once the team leaders were ready to introduce their team members, their roles and their company names, the judges offered them advice on what they would be looking for during the presentation stage later on in the day and wished them good luck.
We had some very imaginative company names, Creative Concepts, IB –inators, Creative IB Learners, AEØN Designs, 2 Minutes as well as The Miracle Workers to say the least.
Students set to task and worked extremely hard throughout the day, even working through there tea, coffee and cookie break as well as their Subway lunch break. They all made sure that they explored all possibilities and incorporated all the IB Learner Profile Traits as well as 21st Century Skills that they as IB students should possess.
Through their group presentations it was very evident for judges to see just how much Creativity, Calibration, Problem Solving, Critical Thinking Skills, Technology Skills, Leadership Skills as well as Entrepreneurship and Team Work had been thought through and applied. All seven teams’ innovative ideas were truly amazing, open-minded and truly reflected that they were all risk-takers. However, there could only be one winner and with great deliberation all judges decided that ‘Creative Concepts’ should take on the challenge as part of their CAS Project.
Stay tuned in the following months as ‘Creative Concepts’ will be presenting the new face of the IB Lounge.
Below are a few quotes made by students during their reflection process:
Lilly K
“Working with and adapting to other peoples communication skills, this type of team work, innovation and leadership was a special task for our development as a group and class, more of these activities could help us further in the future, specifically for us IB Students to work on our learner profile outcomes such as being open-minded and risk takers.”
Yasmin Z
“Being able to enhance at decision making, analyzing situations and being able to create an innovative strategy has truly been a great experience”
Tyler M
“This challenge along with the Skype session helped me to better understand what being an IB Student is all about. I will admit that I was originally worried about my ability to be an IB Student, but now I am fully confident in my abilities to take on semester 2.”
Sara A:
“I think today was very helpful in getting us started with semester 2”
Kinga K:
“Today’s CAS Challenge provided us to work collaboratively with other students. It was an opportunity to think critically, to be open-minded and to be creative with others. I think it did help me better understand the IB Programme especially when we were Skyping with other students. I think I am ready to take on semester 2 but I think we should have more CAS Challenges”
Naseem H:
“I did enjoy myself today and I do think that having more CAS Challenges would be nice. I was able to apply almost all of my knowledge of Business to today’s challenge”
Pictures from the days Challenge....
Treated to tea and coffee with a quick registration and group photo they were whisked in to the Planetarium for a presentation that would set the days tone as well as GAA'S first ever Skype session with another IB School.
The purpose of the Skype session was for our students to speak with other IB students that have already been through the first year diploma programme. Lots of questions were asked about the core elements of the Diploma Programme as well as advice offered about how they could overcome obstacles that most definitely will stand in their way if they don’t stay on task!
Once the Skype session came to a close students were put in to their teams and the emphasis was made on the 'Challenge'.
Working as part of a team and with a budget of 2500 Dirhams..
‘How can the IB Lounge be recreated/redesigned to accommodate and support ALL grade 11 & 12 students in their Holistic Learning and Development especially as part of their IB Journey?’
Students left the planetarium with eagerness and excitement to get underway with the challenge. The first thing they all did was select a team leader, devise a company name and allocate roles to one another within their imaginary company.
Throughout the day we saw a few CEO's, IT Director's, finance Director's as well as Graphic Designers and Operational Executives.
Seven teams made up of six team members were all hoping to succeed in their quest for the CAS Challenge trophy, which would see their idea come to life if they were able to convince the judges who were made up of Mr. Randall, Ms. Sharice, Dr.Fryer, Ms. Parker and Mr. Mott.
Once the team leaders were ready to introduce their team members, their roles and their company names, the judges offered them advice on what they would be looking for during the presentation stage later on in the day and wished them good luck.
We had some very imaginative company names, Creative Concepts, IB –inators, Creative IB Learners, AEØN Designs, 2 Minutes as well as The Miracle Workers to say the least.
Students set to task and worked extremely hard throughout the day, even working through there tea, coffee and cookie break as well as their Subway lunch break. They all made sure that they explored all possibilities and incorporated all the IB Learner Profile Traits as well as 21st Century Skills that they as IB students should possess.
Through their group presentations it was very evident for judges to see just how much Creativity, Calibration, Problem Solving, Critical Thinking Skills, Technology Skills, Leadership Skills as well as Entrepreneurship and Team Work had been thought through and applied. All seven teams’ innovative ideas were truly amazing, open-minded and truly reflected that they were all risk-takers. However, there could only be one winner and with great deliberation all judges decided that ‘Creative Concepts’ should take on the challenge as part of their CAS Project.
Stay tuned in the following months as ‘Creative Concepts’ will be presenting the new face of the IB Lounge.
Below are a few quotes made by students during their reflection process:
Lilly K
“Working with and adapting to other peoples communication skills, this type of team work, innovation and leadership was a special task for our development as a group and class, more of these activities could help us further in the future, specifically for us IB Students to work on our learner profile outcomes such as being open-minded and risk takers.”
Yasmin Z
“Being able to enhance at decision making, analyzing situations and being able to create an innovative strategy has truly been a great experience”
Tyler M
“This challenge along with the Skype session helped me to better understand what being an IB Student is all about. I will admit that I was originally worried about my ability to be an IB Student, but now I am fully confident in my abilities to take on semester 2.”
Sara A:
“I think today was very helpful in getting us started with semester 2”
Kinga K:
“Today’s CAS Challenge provided us to work collaboratively with other students. It was an opportunity to think critically, to be open-minded and to be creative with others. I think it did help me better understand the IB Programme especially when we were Skyping with other students. I think I am ready to take on semester 2 but I think we should have more CAS Challenges”
Naseem H:
“I did enjoy myself today and I do think that having more CAS Challenges would be nice. I was able to apply almost all of my knowledge of Business to today’s challenge”
Pictures from the days Challenge....
News From Student Council
Student Council would like to say ‘THANK YOU’ to all the donations you all made for the Compassion Campaign.
We had so many donations of clothes, blankets, scarves, gloves and boots that we had to make a few trips to Red Crescent. We have lots more exciting news coming up…On February the 27th the ‘TERRY FOX RUN’ will take place. If you wish to purchase a t-shirt for this event or even take part in the event please speak to Mr. Carlin, Ms. Sabina or a member of Student Council. Sundays will see the launch of ‘SUBWAY SUNDAY’ for students in middle and upper school. We will be selling a variety of healthy 6 inch subway sandwiches for 15 dirhams. The money raised will go to helping student council organize more exciting events and create new policies. We hope you are all being Risk-Takers as teachers will be deciding shortly who should be awarded ‘Learner Profile Student of the Month – Risk Taker! |
News from the College Counselor
True Colors Drama Production
GEMS American Academy secondary drama is inviting you to a evening of hors d’oeurves, drama, song & dance. Please join us on February 12th in supporting our middle and high school students and applauding their efforts this semester. Dinner will be served at 6 pm and show will start promptly at 7:30 pm in the auditorium. Tickets are now being sold during homeroom and lunch time. Looking forward to seeing you there !
|
Here is our Community and Secondary School Calendar - Scroll through the months to see what's planned for this year at GAA
Please make sure you check this calendar regularly for updates and new events