News from our Secondary Principal, Craig Randall
Dear Parents, Students and Teachers,
With one week left in the 2015-2016 school year at GAA I want to say thank you. Thank you for the last two years. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to be the secondary school principal in the most diverse community I am sure I will have the opportunity to work in ever. I am so thankful for the opportunity to work in a school with students from over 90 different nationalities, but I am even more thankful for the opportunity for my own children to attend and be a part of such an amazingly diverse community. I absolutely love it when my children have kids over to our house. I feel like we are a mini United Nations right in our living room. Different skin colors, different religions and nobody cares about the differences; they just celebrate friendship.
Thank you to my amazing faculty of dedicated teachers and counselors. Thank you for the opportunity to work with and learn from you. Thank you for the dedication to improving yourselves as teachers. Thank you for your dedication to making a difference in the lives of young people.
Thank you to Lynne, the best secretary anyone could ever have the pleasure to work under, that’s right, basically she’s my boss—she is the best. Thank you to Peter Thorpe and Derek Lea. You both have done so much to improve the school and I know you will continue to do so next year. I have learned from you and grown with you. You have both done so much to make the year fun for me. Thank you!
Thank you students and parents. You have all enriched my life. From GAAPA moms to Sheikhs and everyone in between. The experiences and stories developed over the last two years with you will resonate in my memory forever.
Thank you to the rest of the administrative staff and everyone else at school. So many of you have touched my life in one way or another and I will be forever grateful.
I wish everyone, those staying and those leaving all the best in your future endeavors in the UAE or elsewhere. Thank you again.
Sincerely,
Craig Randall
With one week left in the 2015-2016 school year at GAA I want to say thank you. Thank you for the last two years. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to be the secondary school principal in the most diverse community I am sure I will have the opportunity to work in ever. I am so thankful for the opportunity to work in a school with students from over 90 different nationalities, but I am even more thankful for the opportunity for my own children to attend and be a part of such an amazingly diverse community. I absolutely love it when my children have kids over to our house. I feel like we are a mini United Nations right in our living room. Different skin colors, different religions and nobody cares about the differences; they just celebrate friendship.
Thank you to my amazing faculty of dedicated teachers and counselors. Thank you for the opportunity to work with and learn from you. Thank you for the dedication to improving yourselves as teachers. Thank you for your dedication to making a difference in the lives of young people.
Thank you to Lynne, the best secretary anyone could ever have the pleasure to work under, that’s right, basically she’s my boss—she is the best. Thank you to Peter Thorpe and Derek Lea. You both have done so much to improve the school and I know you will continue to do so next year. I have learned from you and grown with you. You have both done so much to make the year fun for me. Thank you!
Thank you students and parents. You have all enriched my life. From GAAPA moms to Sheikhs and everyone in between. The experiences and stories developed over the last two years with you will resonate in my memory forever.
Thank you to the rest of the administrative staff and everyone else at school. So many of you have touched my life in one way or another and I will be forever grateful.
I wish everyone, those staying and those leaving all the best in your future endeavors in the UAE or elsewhere. Thank you again.
Sincerely,
Craig Randall
News from our Secondary Counselor's, Kathleen Leishear and Phil Abraham
Dear rising seniors and parents,
Ramadan Kareem!
I wanted to take a moment to touch base with you as I will be one of the counselors stepping into the college counseling role next year since Ms. Welch will be departing from GAA. I will be joined by our other counselor, Mr. Abraham. Together, we will both be responsible for the college counseling and readiness for the rising seniors. We are in the process of determining how we will split the senior class, and it's looking like Mr. Abraham will be responsible for students with first names beginning with A-K, and I will be responsible for all students with first names beginning with the letters L-Z. However, we will both be working closely together to ensure that all students are college and career ready. During these next few weeks, we will be meeting with as many students as possible to review the GAA College Handbook, which each student will receive. In this packet, you will find a variety of information that pertains to college readiness. Please read and review it thoroughly with your student before their first day as a senior! In this email I have attached a soft copy of the packet, a letter of recommendation form, and an excel spreadsheet for tracking all universities to which your student is applying. If your student has already departed for the school year, all the necessary materials that I would have discussed in person are included in this email. Students, please make sure if we didn't meet that you are printing out all of these materials and reading through them with your parent(s).
Finally, in my meetings with the current juniors I have asked them to work on the following for the rest of this school year and the summer:
1. Identify the teachers whom they would like to write them a letter of recommendation (LOR). Ask the teacher what type of LOR form they would prefer: the one included in the packet, or one of their own. Students should be filling out these LOR forms in detail over the summer in order to provide this document to the teacher in early fall. Remember, the more thought and detail the student writes about themselves, the more information the teacher has to work with when writing the letter.
2. Research colleges!!! Have a list ready for our September senior meeting. That list should include a school that is a safety school, comfort school and a reach school. If your student is not going straight to college, they should come prepared with ideas for their graduation plan.
3. Write out all application deadlines for all colleges to which the student is applying. (Use the spreadsheet attached if you like)
4. Research all of the required parts of the application for each colleges: standardized tests? IB scores? personal essays? how many LORs? TOEFL/IELTS?
5. Take a peek at the personal statement and get a start on it during summer. The essays can be an essential part of making a student a stand out candidate for university.
If you have any questions over the summer, Mr. Abraham and I can best be reached by email. However, please keep in mind that we will not be checking email daily. We will be returning to school on August 14th and would be happy to meet in person anytime before school starts as well. Lastly, as mentioned in a previous email to students and parents, please make sure you check out NYU Abu Dhabi's college counseling summer program that will be offered in August!
Have a safe and enjoyable summer.
Best Regards,
Mrs. Leishear and Mr. Abraham
Ramadan Kareem!
I wanted to take a moment to touch base with you as I will be one of the counselors stepping into the college counseling role next year since Ms. Welch will be departing from GAA. I will be joined by our other counselor, Mr. Abraham. Together, we will both be responsible for the college counseling and readiness for the rising seniors. We are in the process of determining how we will split the senior class, and it's looking like Mr. Abraham will be responsible for students with first names beginning with A-K, and I will be responsible for all students with first names beginning with the letters L-Z. However, we will both be working closely together to ensure that all students are college and career ready. During these next few weeks, we will be meeting with as many students as possible to review the GAA College Handbook, which each student will receive. In this packet, you will find a variety of information that pertains to college readiness. Please read and review it thoroughly with your student before their first day as a senior! In this email I have attached a soft copy of the packet, a letter of recommendation form, and an excel spreadsheet for tracking all universities to which your student is applying. If your student has already departed for the school year, all the necessary materials that I would have discussed in person are included in this email. Students, please make sure if we didn't meet that you are printing out all of these materials and reading through them with your parent(s).
Finally, in my meetings with the current juniors I have asked them to work on the following for the rest of this school year and the summer:
1. Identify the teachers whom they would like to write them a letter of recommendation (LOR). Ask the teacher what type of LOR form they would prefer: the one included in the packet, or one of their own. Students should be filling out these LOR forms in detail over the summer in order to provide this document to the teacher in early fall. Remember, the more thought and detail the student writes about themselves, the more information the teacher has to work with when writing the letter.
2. Research colleges!!! Have a list ready for our September senior meeting. That list should include a school that is a safety school, comfort school and a reach school. If your student is not going straight to college, they should come prepared with ideas for their graduation plan.
3. Write out all application deadlines for all colleges to which the student is applying. (Use the spreadsheet attached if you like)
4. Research all of the required parts of the application for each colleges: standardized tests? IB scores? personal essays? how many LORs? TOEFL/IELTS?
5. Take a peek at the personal statement and get a start on it during summer. The essays can be an essential part of making a student a stand out candidate for university.
If you have any questions over the summer, Mr. Abraham and I can best be reached by email. However, please keep in mind that we will not be checking email daily. We will be returning to school on August 14th and would be happy to meet in person anytime before school starts as well. Lastly, as mentioned in a previous email to students and parents, please make sure you check out NYU Abu Dhabi's college counseling summer program that will be offered in August!
Have a safe and enjoyable summer.
Best Regards,
Mrs. Leishear and Mr. Abraham
junior_meeting_check_list.docx | |
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teacher_letter_of_recommendation_data_sheet.docx | |
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college_tracking_sheet.xlsx | |
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Dear Parents,
Summer reading—it’s important! Research shows that kids who read four or more books over the summer are better prepared for the coming school year and do not go down the ‘summer slide’—the loss of reading and learning skills during the summer break. Reading over the summer months really does make a difference to your child’s learning.
The GAA English Department is providing a suggested list of novels per grade level as well as “Summer Reading at New York Public Libraries” suggested titles grouped by middle school and high school. These titles are mere suggestions. Summer reading, though not mandatory, is strongly encouraged.
Here are five easy ways you can help your child reduce summer reading loss:
Make reading important.
Be a role-model for reading. Let your child see you reading throughout the day and use daily routines as reading opportunities. Cooking, reading TV listings, looking for information on-line, reading directions, or following a map all provide authentic reading experiences.
Give your child the power of choice.
Having reading materials available is key to helping kids love to read, and the reading materials kids choose themselves are best. In fact, 92% of children and teens say they are more motivated to read and are more likely to finish a book they have picked out. Help your child find texts that appeal to his or her interests, yet are age appropriate and ‘just right’ in difficulty.
Set aside time to read every day.
We know that the more kids read, the better they become at reading and the more they will enjoy reading. During the summer, encourage your child to read for at least 20 minutes per day. Make reading ‘down-time’—an opportunity for family members to read together, either aloud or quietly to themselves. Keep track of progress by recording book titles, pages read, and minutes spent.
Talk it up.
Talking about books during and after reading helps improve comprehension. Encourage kids to share their ideas and opinions by asking open-ended questions. Talk about what you read to let them know that reading is an important part of your life. Tell them why you liked a book, what you learned from it, or how it helped you— soon they might start doing the same.
Be part of a reading challenge.
Most local libraries have summer reading programs that help engage and motivate readers. Kids set a goal, track books they read, and receive incentives for achieving goals. Summer programs also promote reading club opportunities where children can discuss and share books with others, either on-line or in person. You can even create your own family reading challenge.
Have a great summer, and happy reading!
Summer reading—it’s important! Research shows that kids who read four or more books over the summer are better prepared for the coming school year and do not go down the ‘summer slide’—the loss of reading and learning skills during the summer break. Reading over the summer months really does make a difference to your child’s learning.
The GAA English Department is providing a suggested list of novels per grade level as well as “Summer Reading at New York Public Libraries” suggested titles grouped by middle school and high school. These titles are mere suggestions. Summer reading, though not mandatory, is strongly encouraged.
Here are five easy ways you can help your child reduce summer reading loss:
Make reading important.
Be a role-model for reading. Let your child see you reading throughout the day and use daily routines as reading opportunities. Cooking, reading TV listings, looking for information on-line, reading directions, or following a map all provide authentic reading experiences.
Give your child the power of choice.
Having reading materials available is key to helping kids love to read, and the reading materials kids choose themselves are best. In fact, 92% of children and teens say they are more motivated to read and are more likely to finish a book they have picked out. Help your child find texts that appeal to his or her interests, yet are age appropriate and ‘just right’ in difficulty.
Set aside time to read every day.
We know that the more kids read, the better they become at reading and the more they will enjoy reading. During the summer, encourage your child to read for at least 20 minutes per day. Make reading ‘down-time’—an opportunity for family members to read together, either aloud or quietly to themselves. Keep track of progress by recording book titles, pages read, and minutes spent.
Talk it up.
Talking about books during and after reading helps improve comprehension. Encourage kids to share their ideas and opinions by asking open-ended questions. Talk about what you read to let them know that reading is an important part of your life. Tell them why you liked a book, what you learned from it, or how it helped you— soon they might start doing the same.
Be part of a reading challenge.
Most local libraries have summer reading programs that help engage and motivate readers. Kids set a goal, track books they read, and receive incentives for achieving goals. Summer programs also promote reading club opportunities where children can discuss and share books with others, either on-line or in person. You can even create your own family reading challenge.
Have a great summer, and happy reading!
gaa_suggested_summer_reading_2016.docx | |
File Size: | 13 kb |
File Type: | docx |
nyc_adult_summer_reading_list_2016.pdf | |
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nyc_summer_reading_list_2016.pdf | |
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News from our Math Department
Dear Students and Parents,
Please note that all High School students (Grades 9 to 12 for 2016/17) are required to own and bring an approved graphing calculator to every mathematics class. For your guidance I have attached a list of the approved and prohibited calculators. The
TI Nspire (non CAS) is highly recommended
Recommended for Middle and High School students: The Mathematics department would also suggest reviewing concepts and skills over the summer – just like sports and music, our talents and abilities are at their best with regular practice. Please follow the below link and refer to the table contained therein.
https://sites.google.com/a/grauerschool.com/grauermath/home/summer-math-packets
Note: Intro to HS Math and Business Math are not offered at GAA. While these packets are not required, they will help make next year all the more successful and easier.
If you have any further queries please do not hesitate to contact the Curriculum Coordinator at [email protected] or the Math Department Coordinator Ms. Sami at [email protected].
Regards,
Ms. Farah Sami
Secondary Math Coordinator
Please note that all High School students (Grades 9 to 12 for 2016/17) are required to own and bring an approved graphing calculator to every mathematics class. For your guidance I have attached a list of the approved and prohibited calculators. The
TI Nspire (non CAS) is highly recommended
Recommended for Middle and High School students: The Mathematics department would also suggest reviewing concepts and skills over the summer – just like sports and music, our talents and abilities are at their best with regular practice. Please follow the below link and refer to the table contained therein.
https://sites.google.com/a/grauerschool.com/grauermath/home/summer-math-packets
Note: Intro to HS Math and Business Math are not offered at GAA. While these packets are not required, they will help make next year all the more successful and easier.
If you have any further queries please do not hesitate to contact the Curriculum Coordinator at [email protected] or the Math Department Coordinator Ms. Sami at [email protected].
Regards,
Ms. Farah Sami
Secondary Math Coordinator
use_of_calculators_in_examinations_2014-282z6gp__1_.pdf | |
File Size: | 454 kb |
File Type: |
The Secondary School is proposing to run the following trips for Grades 7-12 next spring break where prices will range from 8,000 to 12,000 AED, depending on student numbers, flight costs, and location.
The trips are as followed:
Sincerely,
The Spring Break Team
The trips are as followed:
- Community service trip to Borneo
- Community service and wildlife trip to Tanzania
- Marine conservation trip to Greece
- Ski trip to Switzerland
- Music trip, location to be confirmed
- Sport, art, and culture trip to Barcelona
Sincerely,
The Spring Break Team
Arabic
Islamic
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.