News from our Secondary Principal Craig Randall
Dear Parents,
A new schedule for next year, a new advisory program and scheduling courses for next year
We will be having a new schedule in the secondary school next year that we are excited to share. We believe the schedule will be more straightforward and better serve our student’s needs. As part of this change we will be switching from an eight day schedule to a five day schedule. The start and end times will remain the same and the classes will be the 80-85 minute time blocks that they are now except for on Thursdays. On Thursdays there will be eight class periods and they will be 40 minutes each. The schedule will have a Day 1, a Day 2 and a Thursday schedule. On Days 1, which will be on Sundays and Tuesdays, students will attend classes A, B, C, and D. On Days 2, which will be on Mondays and Wednesdays, students will attend classes E, F, G and H. On Thursdays students will attend all eight classes for 40 minutes. As part of these changes World Language and PE will now be full credits which aligns our program better with schools across the international school world.
As part of this change, we will also be changing our homeroom program. Instead of meeting every day for 20 minutes these advisory/pastoral care sessions will meet twice a week for 35 minutes. During these sessions, a variety of things will happen. Twice a month teachers will have individual check-ins with each of their students. These will be short one-on-one meetings where teachers will check in on students’ academic progress and social-emotional process. Twice a month students will have either a middle or high-school assembly. The other four times a month students will have advisory lessons. These lessons will be different for each grade. They will teach different things ranging, from adjusting to middle school to the IB Learner Profile, to organizational and study skills, to cyber safety, to college readiness and many more.
Lastly, next week Ms. Welch will start meeting with students to begin the process of scheduling courses for next year. Students will be bringing home a hard copy scheduling sheet that you can go over with your child to help determine their courses for next year. We ask that you go over these decisions carefully with your child. Parent signature is required on these forms in order for the students to be able to register on-line for their classes. I thank you for remembering that these course request decisions are final and will not be subject to change in the fall. It is always a fun time thinking about courses to be taken next year so enjoy the process.
Take care,
Craig Randall
Secondary Principal
Sustainabilty Week
Earlier this year, the Mubadala and Masdar companies rolled out Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week throughout the Emirate. Much of the resources and activities were aimed at schools in order to spread the message and enthusiasm through the younger generation.
Here at GAA, the Science Department in Secondary teamed up with Middle School and Grade 2 to make use of this initiative and run sustainability challenges across grades and divisions. Mr Darcy’s Grade 7s made solar powered model cars while the other classes teamed up with Primary students and teachers to build models of sustainable homes across the world.
The students were extremely thoughtful, creating sustainable energy and water solutions while using their knowledge of the different environments to create flood-proof housing in Thailand, earthquake proof housing in Japan and thermal insulation for the Finnish Tundra.
Last week, each class selected their best entries to compete with other classes in a comradely and appreciative spirit.
Winning entries have been displayed for nearly two weeks now in the foyer and have been judged by a panel of volunteers.
This Sunday, Grades 6,7,8 and 2 came together for an assembly where Dr Kathy Miner was our guest of honour. Video footage, stories and the finished products themselves were shared and celebrated before Dr Miner presented the overall winners with their certificates.
As teachers, we have been extremely pleased with the open-minded and enquiring spirit shown by children of all ages and their engagement with the concept of creating sustainable solutions for a healthier world gives us optimism for the future.
Here at GAA, the Science Department in Secondary teamed up with Middle School and Grade 2 to make use of this initiative and run sustainability challenges across grades and divisions. Mr Darcy’s Grade 7s made solar powered model cars while the other classes teamed up with Primary students and teachers to build models of sustainable homes across the world.
The students were extremely thoughtful, creating sustainable energy and water solutions while using their knowledge of the different environments to create flood-proof housing in Thailand, earthquake proof housing in Japan and thermal insulation for the Finnish Tundra.
Last week, each class selected their best entries to compete with other classes in a comradely and appreciative spirit.
Winning entries have been displayed for nearly two weeks now in the foyer and have been judged by a panel of volunteers.
This Sunday, Grades 6,7,8 and 2 came together for an assembly where Dr Kathy Miner was our guest of honour. Video footage, stories and the finished products themselves were shared and celebrated before Dr Miner presented the overall winners with their certificates.
As teachers, we have been extremely pleased with the open-minded and enquiring spirit shown by children of all ages and their engagement with the concept of creating sustainable solutions for a healthier world gives us optimism for the future.
Well done to all our students and don't forget to check out their work next time you're at GAA!
Click on the link below for more:
http://youtu.be/MmJjR7iRztQ
http://youtu.be/OHyfSj3tjq0
http://youtu.be/iYgj1bM4EN
http://youtu.be/ooYkfXm8OFM
http://youtu.be/oVs8SfDrDlU
http://youtu.be/88unvRdMhuY
http://youtu.be/YaIQvYVt9WE
http://youtu.be/7WKbDuZ8_7s
Click on the link below for more:
http://youtu.be/MmJjR7iRztQ
http://youtu.be/OHyfSj3tjq0
http://youtu.be/iYgj1bM4EN
http://youtu.be/ooYkfXm8OFM
http://youtu.be/oVs8SfDrDlU
http://youtu.be/88unvRdMhuY
http://youtu.be/YaIQvYVt9WE
http://youtu.be/7WKbDuZ8_7s
From our music department..
The GAA Big Band is in full swing. Featuring the traditional line-up of saxophones, trombones, trumpets and a full rhythm section, the band now includes students from grade 11 to the youngest member of the trumpet section in KG2.
In addition to educating young musicians in the traditional American Big Band style, students are encouraged to launch into advanced harmony and try their hand at improvisation. The results have been truly astonishing so far, and remain a testament to the musical talent bubbling away at GAA.
The students are currently working on building their repertoire which includes tunes by Thad Jones, Herbie Hancock and Glenn Miller, not to mention some rip-roaring material made famous by the Blues Brothers.
We’ve come along way in 6 months, but we do have a few chairs to fill to complete the full 17 piece line-up. Anyone interested should contact me as soon as possible at [email protected].
Watch this space for news of the GAA Big Band’s first public performance!
Dave Holland
(Secondary School Music Director
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