News from our Secondary Vice Principal, Peter Thorpe
Caught Being a GEM! Program
In our continued effort to promote positive behaviors in the secondary school, we are excited to announce the all new “Caught Being a GEM!” program. This program empowers GAA teachers to recognize and reward positive behaviors in their classrooms, the hallways, and anywhere they interact with students by handing out “Caught Being a GEM!” cards to deserving students. Examples of positive behaviors that may earn students a card are:
All of these behaviors will help us foster the Culture of Kindness that we promote at GAA and are in direct alignment with the IB Learner Profile (Caring, Open-minded, Principled, Reflective…).
Once students have collected a few cards, they will be able to redeem them for various privileges around the school such as:
These may change over time, so watch the bulletin board on the second floor for specific rewards and their costs.
We look forward to celebrating the successes of our GAA secondary students and acknowledging the positive behaviors we see on a daily basis. Thanks for being a GEM!
Secondary Course Selections
Beginning next week (February 14), and continuing for the next three weeks, secondary students will have the opportunity to make their course selections for the 2016-2017 school year.
International Schools’ Assessment
Grade 8 students will be taking part in the International Schools’ Assessment (ISA) on Monday and Tuesday of next week. The ISA is an internationally recognized standardized assessment from the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER).
The ISA assessment program is designed specifically for students in international schools. It is based on the internationally endorsed reading, mathematical literacy and scientific literacy frameworks of the OECD's Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA). GAA will be piloting this assessment in Grade 4 and 8 this year.
For more information about the ISA, please visit their website at https://www.acer.edu.au/isa/about.
Regards,
Peter Thorpe
In our continued effort to promote positive behaviors in the secondary school, we are excited to announce the all new “Caught Being a GEM!” program. This program empowers GAA teachers to recognize and reward positive behaviors in their classrooms, the hallways, and anywhere they interact with students by handing out “Caught Being a GEM!” cards to deserving students. Examples of positive behaviors that may earn students a card are:
- Making positive comments about another student
- Demonstrating a positive attitude toward learning
- Making good use of their time and/or materials
- Consistently being prepared for class
- Showing cultural sensitivity
- Helping another classmate or teacher
- Demonstrating care and attention to school materials
- Showing initiative
- Team building or collaboration with classmates
- General good citizenship
- Respect for learning, property and others!
All of these behaviors will help us foster the Culture of Kindness that we promote at GAA and are in direct alignment with the IB Learner Profile (Caring, Open-minded, Principled, Reflective…).
Once students have collected a few cards, they will be able to redeem them for various privileges around the school such as:
- A get out of detention free card!
- An excused late pass!
- Elevator pass for a day!
- A no tie week!
- Wear the shoes of your choice for a week!
- Pass to the front of the cafeteria line!
These may change over time, so watch the bulletin board on the second floor for specific rewards and their costs.
We look forward to celebrating the successes of our GAA secondary students and acknowledging the positive behaviors we see on a daily basis. Thanks for being a GEM!
Secondary Course Selections
Beginning next week (February 14), and continuing for the next three weeks, secondary students will have the opportunity to make their course selections for the 2016-2017 school year.
International Schools’ Assessment
Grade 8 students will be taking part in the International Schools’ Assessment (ISA) on Monday and Tuesday of next week. The ISA is an internationally recognized standardized assessment from the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER).
The ISA assessment program is designed specifically for students in international schools. It is based on the internationally endorsed reading, mathematical literacy and scientific literacy frameworks of the OECD's Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA). GAA will be piloting this assessment in Grade 4 and 8 this year.
For more information about the ISA, please visit their website at https://www.acer.edu.au/isa/about.
Regards,
Peter Thorpe
The spring semester signals a turning point in the college admission office. Many university application deadlines have passed, specifically in the popular regions of North America and United Kingdom. The focus and attention on the senior class and the preparation of their admission applications now shifts to waiting for a decision. This break in the admission process allows for the counselor to begin work with other students, specifically, the junior class.
All students and parents in the junior class will have an opportunity to officially kick-off the college admission planning process with College & University Awareness Night. While we cannot require attendance, we strongly encourage all students and parents to attend.
All students and parents in the junior class will have an opportunity to officially kick-off the college admission planning process with College & University Awareness Night. While we cannot require attendance, we strongly encourage all students and parents to attend.
February 24 @ 10:40am – 11:15am – International Student Network Fair of US universities: Illinois State University, Oklahoma City University, Transylvania University, New York Institute of Technology, San Diego State University, University of South Florida, California State University at Bakersfield, Stephen F. Austin State University, Christian Brothers University
Snow College, University of San Diego, School of Law
February 29 @ 8am – Arts University Bournemouth, UK, special presentation to IBDP Arts Y1 class.
MARCH
March 2 @ 9am – 9:45am – University of Alberta, Canada
GRADE LEVEL INFO
SENIOR Info (grade 12)
JUNIOR Info (grade 11)
SOPHOMORE Info (grade 10)
Students who registered for the PSAT 10:
Key Points of PSAT 10
Who: grade 10 only
When & Where: Monday, February 22, 7:45am – 12:00pm; in the Auditorium
FRESHMAN Info (grade 9)
Academic Plans and discussions on course requests and high school diploma pathways: American diploma, International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma, American diploma with IB courses; have occurred. Counseling on course selection and course choices will take place over the next several weeks.
Snow College, University of San Diego, School of Law
February 29 @ 8am – Arts University Bournemouth, UK, special presentation to IBDP Arts Y1 class.
MARCH
March 2 @ 9am – 9:45am – University of Alberta, Canada
GRADE LEVEL INFO
SENIOR Info (grade 12)
- Follow up on university applications that were already submitted to ensure all documents have been received and processed.
- Update your Naviance accounts.
- Stay strong and focused in your studies as your final semester of high school begins.
JUNIOR Info (grade 11)
- The spring semester in college and university admission counseling is all about you.
- Save-the-Date for February 22, 2016 for an evening event, Junior College Info Night, for parents and students.
SOPHOMORE Info (grade 10)
Students who registered for the PSAT 10:
Key Points of PSAT 10
Who: grade 10 only
When & Where: Monday, February 22, 7:45am – 12:00pm; in the Auditorium
FRESHMAN Info (grade 9)
Academic Plans and discussions on course requests and high school diploma pathways: American diploma, International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma, American diploma with IB courses; have occurred. Counseling on course selection and course choices will take place over the next several weeks.
Victory for GAA scholars!
Twelve GAA pupils qualify for Global Round in Bangkok, THIRTY-FOUR medals won!
After months of training, debating, studying and preparing, twelve of GAA’s finest Grade 8 and 9 students gathered at Brighton College on Friday and Saturday the 5th and 6th February for the World Scholar’s Cup competition. They were among 300 students from other schools across Abu Dhabi, some of which had many teams competing.
Mohamed Gazal, Taylor, Julia, David, Anubhav, Arnav, Godfrey, Cassie, and Ingrid all represented the juniors and Avani, Youna and Laila faced older senior students. Each team had to partake in three team debates about topics based on the theme of ‘An Imperfect World’. In addition, they took part in collaborative writing, a scholar’s challenge, and the scholar’s bowl (a quiz with clickers like a game show).
The Saturday involved the debate showcase and the talent show as well as the awards ceremony. Our teams were exemplary in their performance, their attitude towards others and their team spirit. Each one of them represented GAA in a mature, caring, and hardworking manner and their hard work paid off in the reward ceremony.
Every student won at least one medal from the collective total of 34 medals and all four teams qualified for the Global Round, this year in Bangkok, Thailand. Mr. and Mrs. Broderick are very proud of everything the teams achieved and hope they can continue to improve the excellent performances on our way to Bangkok in June 2016.
The list of medals and honors achieved this year:
After months of training, debating, studying and preparing, twelve of GAA’s finest Grade 8 and 9 students gathered at Brighton College on Friday and Saturday the 5th and 6th February for the World Scholar’s Cup competition. They were among 300 students from other schools across Abu Dhabi, some of which had many teams competing.
Mohamed Gazal, Taylor, Julia, David, Anubhav, Arnav, Godfrey, Cassie, and Ingrid all represented the juniors and Avani, Youna and Laila faced older senior students. Each team had to partake in three team debates about topics based on the theme of ‘An Imperfect World’. In addition, they took part in collaborative writing, a scholar’s challenge, and the scholar’s bowl (a quiz with clickers like a game show).
The Saturday involved the debate showcase and the talent show as well as the awards ceremony. Our teams were exemplary in their performance, their attitude towards others and their team spirit. Each one of them represented GAA in a mature, caring, and hardworking manner and their hard work paid off in the reward ceremony.
Every student won at least one medal from the collective total of 34 medals and all four teams qualified for the Global Round, this year in Bangkok, Thailand. Mr. and Mrs. Broderick are very proud of everything the teams achieved and hope they can continue to improve the excellent performances on our way to Bangkok in June 2016.
The list of medals and honors achieved this year:
- Team Bowl, Senior Division Honor Medal, Avani Sharma, Laila Masalha, Youna Kang
- Individual Debate, Junior Medal, Taylor Quaye, 27th place
- Individual Debate, Junior Medal, Julia Little, 25th place
- Individual Writing, Junior Medal, Arnav Das, 24th place
- Individual Writing, Junior Medal, Ingrid Ciobanu, 21st place
- Individual Writing, Junior Medal, Julia Little, 8th place
- Individual Writing, Senior Medal, Laila Masalha, 26th place
- Individual Writing, Senior Medal, Avani Sharma, 18th place
- Team Debate, Junior Honor Medals, Julia Little, Taylor Quaye, Mohamad Gazal, 9th place
- Team Writing, Junior Honor Medals, Godfrey Liu, Ingrid Ciobanu, Cassie Pistun, 9th place
- Team Writing, Senior Honor Medals, Avani Sharma, Laila Masalha, Youna Kang, 8th place
- Team Challenge, Junior Honor Medals, Godfrey Liu, Ingrid Ciobanu, Cassie Pistun, 20th place
- Top GEMS Scholar, Junior Division, Taylor Quaye
- Top GEMS Scholar, Senior Division, Avani Sharma
- DaVinci Award, Junior Honor Medals, David Miller, 19th place
- DaVinci Award, Junior Honor Medals, Anubhav Mandal, 16th place
- Individual Total Score, Junior Honor Medal, Julia Little, 30th place
- Individual Total Score, Junior Honor Medal, Taylor Quaye, 28th place
- Team Honor Medalists, Junior Division, Julia Little, Taylor Quaye, Mohamad Gazal, 16th place
- Team Honor Medalists, Senior Division, Avani Sharma, Laila Masalha, Youna Kang, 18th place
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.