Dear Parents,
We had a wonderful and informative assembly this morning that explained the Hajj and the story of the Prophet Ibrahim. There was also A short video made by students to answer some questions and misconceptions about the Hajj and A short video about the importance of Zamzam water. We filmed the assembly and this will be available in next week’s newsletter for our parent community to watch and enjoy.
Grade 6-7 Camps: Please contact Chris Mott, Athletics and Activities Director, with any queries about the Camps.
G8&9: New deadline for submission of payment and permission forms is October 12th. Cost to parents reduced to 2095 from 2395. After processing, the school accounts department will contact and reimburse those parents who have already paid the full amount.The Grade 6 and 7 deadline was today and will not be accepting anymore forms or payments.
The fall MAP testing window is approaching and we will be sending out further details about the schedule in next weeks newsletter.
I would like to take this opportunity to wish you a restful and enjoyable Eid break. Eid Mubarak!
Warm Wishes
Dr. Tim Fryer
We had a wonderful and informative assembly this morning that explained the Hajj and the story of the Prophet Ibrahim. There was also A short video made by students to answer some questions and misconceptions about the Hajj and A short video about the importance of Zamzam water. We filmed the assembly and this will be available in next week’s newsletter for our parent community to watch and enjoy.
Grade 6-7 Camps: Please contact Chris Mott, Athletics and Activities Director, with any queries about the Camps.
G8&9: New deadline for submission of payment and permission forms is October 12th. Cost to parents reduced to 2095 from 2395. After processing, the school accounts department will contact and reimburse those parents who have already paid the full amount.The Grade 6 and 7 deadline was today and will not be accepting anymore forms or payments.
The fall MAP testing window is approaching and we will be sending out further details about the schedule in next weeks newsletter.
I would like to take this opportunity to wish you a restful and enjoyable Eid break. Eid Mubarak!
Warm Wishes
Dr. Tim Fryer
Technology Integration at GAA
Bring Your Own Device (BYOD)
We are glad to report that many of the secondary students are already complying with our required Bring Your Own laptop program. The recommendation of a laptop as the primary tech tool for students is a planned directive that supports teaching and learning. We recognise that most students have their own laptops, some have tablet devices and many have phones. That’s most, some and many - but not all.
Although phones and tablets are convenient, portable and can have their own data plan, our recommendation of a laptop as the primary device is based on the following Q&A scenario:
Q: A student is new to the school and does not have a device of any type and the parents will provide only one - what do you recommend?
A: Laptop.
Publications, file storage, multimedia creation and playback options, software and hardware compatibility with our infrastructure, the size of the screen and keyboard, the robustness and power of the device - all these factors point to the use of a laptop.
We acknowledge and accept that iPads and tablets have fantastic features - and therefore we allow a second device on our network and encourage their use at school. At this point, phones may not be connected to our network.
As students start to interact more with the blended learning environment created on our Learning Management System (Haiku) and collaborate more widely on our Docs (Google Apps for Education) we will see a more ubiquitous integration on ICTs at GAA.
As outlined in our BYO specification (check The Launcher menu) the laptop does not need to be new and it does not need to be a specific operating system. Please make sure that the laptop is in good working order and that your child has admin rights to install the certificate required to connect to the GAA network.
ParentPlus
PlusPortals provides multiple views into your child’s academic environment. It is used for secondary students only. There are two version of the portal that you will become familiar with - StudentPlus and ParentPlus.
- StudentPlus is already activated to allow students access to their schedule and class information.
- ParentPlus will be activated October 12 with a launch and parent information session on October 9.
Q: What is PlusPortals?
A: The information in the portal is a direct merge of the scheduling information and the reporting information. You will see your child’s schedule and class information as well as the results of any class assignments or assessments that count towards the final grade for the class.
Q: How is it different from the Learning Management System (Haiku)?
A: The portal provides a view of the grade in progress. The LMS (Haiku) provides a blended learning environment - like an extension of the classroom. There is the possibility of parent access to the LMS and we have scheduled this function as part of our ongoing plan of development. It should be active very soon.
Bring Your Own Device (BYOD)
We are glad to report that many of the secondary students are already complying with our required Bring Your Own laptop program. The recommendation of a laptop as the primary tech tool for students is a planned directive that supports teaching and learning. We recognise that most students have their own laptops, some have tablet devices and many have phones. That’s most, some and many - but not all.
Although phones and tablets are convenient, portable and can have their own data plan, our recommendation of a laptop as the primary device is based on the following Q&A scenario:
Q: A student is new to the school and does not have a device of any type and the parents will provide only one - what do you recommend?
A: Laptop.
Publications, file storage, multimedia creation and playback options, software and hardware compatibility with our infrastructure, the size of the screen and keyboard, the robustness and power of the device - all these factors point to the use of a laptop.
We acknowledge and accept that iPads and tablets have fantastic features - and therefore we allow a second device on our network and encourage their use at school. At this point, phones may not be connected to our network.
As students start to interact more with the blended learning environment created on our Learning Management System (Haiku) and collaborate more widely on our Docs (Google Apps for Education) we will see a more ubiquitous integration on ICTs at GAA.
As outlined in our BYO specification (check The Launcher menu) the laptop does not need to be new and it does not need to be a specific operating system. Please make sure that the laptop is in good working order and that your child has admin rights to install the certificate required to connect to the GAA network.
ParentPlus
PlusPortals provides multiple views into your child’s academic environment. It is used for secondary students only. There are two version of the portal that you will become familiar with - StudentPlus and ParentPlus.
- StudentPlus is already activated to allow students access to their schedule and class information.
- ParentPlus will be activated October 12 with a launch and parent information session on October 9.
Q: What is PlusPortals?
A: The information in the portal is a direct merge of the scheduling information and the reporting information. You will see your child’s schedule and class information as well as the results of any class assignments or assessments that count towards the final grade for the class.
Q: How is it different from the Learning Management System (Haiku)?
A: The portal provides a view of the grade in progress. The LMS (Haiku) provides a blended learning environment - like an extension of the classroom. There is the possibility of parent access to the LMS and we have scheduled this function as part of our ongoing plan of development. It should be active very soon.
Secondary parents: please join us on October 9 for a parent information session to learn more about accessing your ParentPortal and understanding the information it contains.
GAA Middle School (Grades 6-8) Training: Model United Nations (MUN)
We were invited to attend our first Model United Nations (MUN) training conference, this year, on Monday the 29th of September, 2014, at GEMS Our Own Indian School, Dubai. This training session had been organized for schools wishing to participate in United Nations Simulation Conferences. The topic to be addressed and discussed was one that is a serious global issue on the current UN agenda, which we on Earth are facing today: “Access to safe drinking water as a fundamental human right”.
This training session proved to be an excellent trip, where our MUN delegates were exposed to global discussions, had the opportunity to interact with delegates from other schools, and understand the importance of their role in the Model United Nations at GAA. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the GAA and GEMS community for their support in such valuable learning.
Here are the names of the students who took part and some of their thoughts on the experience:
Athina Bohner Grade 7
Lucca Salvati-Madden Grade 7
Abdallah Turaif Grade 7
Cassidy Pistun Grade 7
Jordyn Caroll Grade 7
Rayyan Sarmad Siddiqi Grade 8
Jiwon Jun Grade 7
Aryaan Bari Grade 6
In my opinion, the trip to Dubai for the Model United Nations (MUN) training session was helpful and a disadvantage, in different ways. It was good because it made us feel like we were a part of a real debate/conference. I could tell that people were nervous to speak in front of us, as everyone was anxious to talk in front of others and answer questions. Even the leaders of the day were hesitant at times, even though they were students from the school. So overall, we realized what to expect, as it can be a very daunting experience, if we didn’t have this opportunity. Some of the delegates were laughing and making jokes at times, which may have been a consequence of them easing us into the program. Overall, I felt like it was good exposure and that I learned a lot through this experience.
- Cassidy Pistun (Grade 7: 3rd year at GAA)
I say, the trip to Dubai for the Model United Nations (MUN) training was very good because it taught us what this program is all about and explained what to do if we had to speak up in front of everyone. So if I had not had the chance to participate, I would not know what to do and would just freeze. As a result of this opportunity, I now feel confident from what I learnt in Dubai.
- Abdallah Turaif (Grade 7: 2nd year at GAA)
We were invited to attend our first Model United Nations (MUN) training conference, this year, on Monday the 29th of September, 2014, at GEMS Our Own Indian School, Dubai. This training session had been organized for schools wishing to participate in United Nations Simulation Conferences. The topic to be addressed and discussed was one that is a serious global issue on the current UN agenda, which we on Earth are facing today: “Access to safe drinking water as a fundamental human right”.
This training session proved to be an excellent trip, where our MUN delegates were exposed to global discussions, had the opportunity to interact with delegates from other schools, and understand the importance of their role in the Model United Nations at GAA. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the GAA and GEMS community for their support in such valuable learning.
Here are the names of the students who took part and some of their thoughts on the experience:
Athina Bohner Grade 7
Lucca Salvati-Madden Grade 7
Abdallah Turaif Grade 7
Cassidy Pistun Grade 7
Jordyn Caroll Grade 7
Rayyan Sarmad Siddiqi Grade 8
Jiwon Jun Grade 7
Aryaan Bari Grade 6
In my opinion, the trip to Dubai for the Model United Nations (MUN) training session was helpful and a disadvantage, in different ways. It was good because it made us feel like we were a part of a real debate/conference. I could tell that people were nervous to speak in front of us, as everyone was anxious to talk in front of others and answer questions. Even the leaders of the day were hesitant at times, even though they were students from the school. So overall, we realized what to expect, as it can be a very daunting experience, if we didn’t have this opportunity. Some of the delegates were laughing and making jokes at times, which may have been a consequence of them easing us into the program. Overall, I felt like it was good exposure and that I learned a lot through this experience.
- Cassidy Pistun (Grade 7: 3rd year at GAA)
I say, the trip to Dubai for the Model United Nations (MUN) training was very good because it taught us what this program is all about and explained what to do if we had to speak up in front of everyone. So if I had not had the chance to participate, I would not know what to do and would just freeze. As a result of this opportunity, I now feel confident from what I learnt in Dubai.
- Abdallah Turaif (Grade 7: 2nd year at GAA)
School Counseling News
What’s the Purpose of the College Essay?
As we head into next week, with a few days off of school to celebrate Eid, many will travel to various destinations for a holiday or quite simply a break. Members of our senior class, however, will be using the “free” time to work on their college applications and more specifically, the often-dreaded college essay.
We all know that the college essay is a critical part of the application process, and we also know that they cause huge anxiety in our students. So some might ask, why do so many colleges require them?
Essays are wanted for two main reasons; the first is to assess students’ writing ability. Writing is a critical skill. No matter what a student studies and becomes in life, a doctor, actress, engineer, manager, they must have the ability to communicate effectively with the written word.
Colleges also want to know the student as a person. The essay allows the student to become more than just another name –but an individual. It allows the student to provide insight into their life and offers a chance to contribute their voice to the admission process.
The personal statement is another required writing task of applications in certain university systems. It is a slightly different assignment that carries a similar purpose as the college essay but is constructed differently. Universities want to know the intended course of study or major the student intends to pursue. They key demonstration will be how well the student shows their suitability for that course.
There are tons upon tons of resource guides on how to write a winning essay. The critical and primary tips to follow are: Be yourself! Be honest! Get feedback. Proofread and make corrections.
OCTOBER
Save-the-Dates
18th- PSAT for registered students in grades 10 and 11.
28th-30th – NAJAH Higher Education & Careers Fair
Fall College Visits
OCTOBER
1st – Abu Dhabi University, 9:45am
15th – Rose Hulman University, USA, 9:15am
16th – Johns Hopkins, USA, 8:00am
16th - University of Chicago, USA, 8:00am
16th – EU European University Business School, Europe 9:15am
19th – Trinity University, USA, 9:15am
19th - Hult International Business School, UAE, UK, USA, 9:15am
20th – US Education Group US University Fair, 11:15am
27th – Washington College, USA, 8:30am
Grade Level Info
Senior Info (grade 12): Keep the Senior Planning Timeline and Check List in mind as we move through the semester. We are already in October and time is flying by.
SENIOR COLLEGE PLANNING CHECK LIST
1. Register for SAT, Subject Tests, TOEFL or IELTS if necessary
2. Meet with Ms. Welch for a fall update and list of colleges.
3. If you haven’t done so already, consider who you will ask for teacher recommendations for your college applications. Recommendations should come from teachers you had (or will have) junior or senior year.
4. Continue to interview with college admissions representatives.
5. Create an account with Common Application and UCAS if you’ve selected to use it.
6. Organize applications and deadlines.
7. Begin completing applications especially if applying early.
8. Begin working on essays and personal statements.
9. Check your GAA Google e-mail and your Naviance account regularly for important information from College Counseling.
Junior Info (grade 11): More details for the PSAT. Please note that the testing day is a Saturday. Students should arrive at school by 8:45am. Testing will finish by 12:30pm. Students do not have to wear their uniform.
Sophomore Info (grade 10): More details for the PSAT. Please note that the testing day is a Saturday. Students should arrive at school by 8:45am. Testing will finish by 12:30pm. Students do not have to wear their uniform.
What’s the Purpose of the College Essay?
As we head into next week, with a few days off of school to celebrate Eid, many will travel to various destinations for a holiday or quite simply a break. Members of our senior class, however, will be using the “free” time to work on their college applications and more specifically, the often-dreaded college essay.
We all know that the college essay is a critical part of the application process, and we also know that they cause huge anxiety in our students. So some might ask, why do so many colleges require them?
Essays are wanted for two main reasons; the first is to assess students’ writing ability. Writing is a critical skill. No matter what a student studies and becomes in life, a doctor, actress, engineer, manager, they must have the ability to communicate effectively with the written word.
Colleges also want to know the student as a person. The essay allows the student to become more than just another name –but an individual. It allows the student to provide insight into their life and offers a chance to contribute their voice to the admission process.
The personal statement is another required writing task of applications in certain university systems. It is a slightly different assignment that carries a similar purpose as the college essay but is constructed differently. Universities want to know the intended course of study or major the student intends to pursue. They key demonstration will be how well the student shows their suitability for that course.
There are tons upon tons of resource guides on how to write a winning essay. The critical and primary tips to follow are: Be yourself! Be honest! Get feedback. Proofread and make corrections.
OCTOBER
Save-the-Dates
18th- PSAT for registered students in grades 10 and 11.
28th-30th – NAJAH Higher Education & Careers Fair
Fall College Visits
OCTOBER
1st – Abu Dhabi University, 9:45am
15th – Rose Hulman University, USA, 9:15am
16th – Johns Hopkins, USA, 8:00am
16th - University of Chicago, USA, 8:00am
16th – EU European University Business School, Europe 9:15am
19th – Trinity University, USA, 9:15am
19th - Hult International Business School, UAE, UK, USA, 9:15am
20th – US Education Group US University Fair, 11:15am
27th – Washington College, USA, 8:30am
Grade Level Info
Senior Info (grade 12): Keep the Senior Planning Timeline and Check List in mind as we move through the semester. We are already in October and time is flying by.
SENIOR COLLEGE PLANNING CHECK LIST
1. Register for SAT, Subject Tests, TOEFL or IELTS if necessary
2. Meet with Ms. Welch for a fall update and list of colleges.
3. If you haven’t done so already, consider who you will ask for teacher recommendations for your college applications. Recommendations should come from teachers you had (or will have) junior or senior year.
4. Continue to interview with college admissions representatives.
5. Create an account with Common Application and UCAS if you’ve selected to use it.
6. Organize applications and deadlines.
7. Begin completing applications especially if applying early.
8. Begin working on essays and personal statements.
9. Check your GAA Google e-mail and your Naviance account regularly for important information from College Counseling.
Junior Info (grade 11): More details for the PSAT. Please note that the testing day is a Saturday. Students should arrive at school by 8:45am. Testing will finish by 12:30pm. Students do not have to wear their uniform.
Sophomore Info (grade 10): More details for the PSAT. Please note that the testing day is a Saturday. Students should arrive at school by 8:45am. Testing will finish by 12:30pm. Students do not have to wear their uniform.
Introducing the GAA Student Council REPS for 2014/2015
After an exciting election process where students were asked to create videos to be played out to their grade levels on how they will contribute to the well-being of the school community and promote the school ethos the GAA Student Council team has been formed.
For middle school, the representatives include Sunayana Singh and Akeesha Rodrigues form 6th grade, Cassidy Putsin and Rayhaan Timm. From 7th grade, Sam Al Zoubi and Greta Rynne from 8th grade.
For high school the representatives are Ryan Joseph and Derrick Miller from 9th grade, Gabriela McGuinty and Allison Diclaudio from 10th grade, Ismaeil Abdulmajeed I Aa Al Faheem and Naseem Hajir from 11th grade, and from the graduating class of 2015 the 12th grade representatives are Kennedy Miller and Sophia Hargis.
With an exciting year ahead and lots of student council initiatives to develop, plan and host you will be kept up to date through our weekly GAAzzette and Digital platform that we will be introducing to you soon.
With the first initiative well on the way - don't forget Box Appeal. We have until the 8th of October so get your homeroom boxes filled! The more boxes you fill you may just win the Homeroom Competition!
Best Regards,
GAA Student Council
After an exciting election process where students were asked to create videos to be played out to their grade levels on how they will contribute to the well-being of the school community and promote the school ethos the GAA Student Council team has been formed.
For middle school, the representatives include Sunayana Singh and Akeesha Rodrigues form 6th grade, Cassidy Putsin and Rayhaan Timm. From 7th grade, Sam Al Zoubi and Greta Rynne from 8th grade.
For high school the representatives are Ryan Joseph and Derrick Miller from 9th grade, Gabriela McGuinty and Allison Diclaudio from 10th grade, Ismaeil Abdulmajeed I Aa Al Faheem and Naseem Hajir from 11th grade, and from the graduating class of 2015 the 12th grade representatives are Kennedy Miller and Sophia Hargis.
With an exciting year ahead and lots of student council initiatives to develop, plan and host you will be kept up to date through our weekly GAAzzette and Digital platform that we will be introducing to you soon.
With the first initiative well on the way - don't forget Box Appeal. We have until the 8th of October so get your homeroom boxes filled! The more boxes you fill you may just win the Homeroom Competition!
Best Regards,
GAA Student Council
Winter Variety Show Auditions
GAA Secondary Drama department will be holding AUDITIONS for our Winter Solstice Variety Show (December 11th)!
The production will showcase different theatrical acts including songs and dances from popular musicals, as well as scenes and monologues from various contemporary and classical plays.
Interested students can sign up for an audition time and collect a form located on the bulletin board outside of room 267!
Students must prepare a one minute performance piece (song, dance, monologue, scene) for their audition.
Students can audition as a group or solo
Students will be required to attend after school rehearsals starting from the October 19th from 3-4 every Sunday and Wednesday. We can work around student schedules and other after school commitments
GAA Secondary Drama department will be holding AUDITIONS for our Winter Solstice Variety Show (December 11th)!
The production will showcase different theatrical acts including songs and dances from popular musicals, as well as scenes and monologues from various contemporary and classical plays.
Interested students can sign up for an audition time and collect a form located on the bulletin board outside of room 267!
Students must prepare a one minute performance piece (song, dance, monologue, scene) for their audition.
Students can audition as a group or solo
Students will be required to attend after school rehearsals starting from the October 19th from 3-4 every Sunday and Wednesday. We can work around student schedules and other after school commitments
Don't Forget - Next Week!
Saturday 4th October - 6th October - Eid Al Adha
Tuesday 7th - Thursday 9th October - No After School Activity transport, see the updates section for more details
Saturday 4th October - 6th October - Eid Al Adha
Tuesday 7th - Thursday 9th October - No After School Activity transport, see the updates section for more details
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