News from our Secondary Principal, Katherine Banner
Parent Conferences
One of the best ways to engage with your child’s teachers about their progress is by meeting with their teachers. Research shows that students perform better when parents engage in their child’s schooling and when communication between school and home is consistent. We encourage parents to bring their child with them to be a part of the conversation.
Our second semester Parent Teacher Conferences will be held on March 15th and 16th. Secondary School teachers will be available in the gymnasium and dance studio in an ‘open house’ format. Appointments are not available, rather, teachers will meet with parents on first-come, first-served basis. Traditionally, this event is quieter early in each session…
Office staff will be on site each day to help you find your child’s teachers.
Please note that classes are not in session on these days.
Multi-Disciplinary Projects
All 8th grade students have been working on a cross-curricular energy project, which will culminate in a science-fair style competition we are referring to as an Energy Fair. Date and time of the event will be forthcoming.
In groups, students were assigned one Asian country to research, and tasked with developing a feasibility plan for energy production development geared towards meeting predicted energy needs by the year 2050. Students are applying content taught in English, Math, and Science to the Social Studies curriculum driven project. Students will compete against each other in presenting their results, developed into action plans, to judges at the Energy Fair. Rewards for best plans include 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place, while judges will also be asked to provide Honorable Mention awards.
The project’s plan, rubric, and addressed standards are found on this document.
One of the best ways to engage with your child’s teachers about their progress is by meeting with their teachers. Research shows that students perform better when parents engage in their child’s schooling and when communication between school and home is consistent. We encourage parents to bring their child with them to be a part of the conversation.
Our second semester Parent Teacher Conferences will be held on March 15th and 16th. Secondary School teachers will be available in the gymnasium and dance studio in an ‘open house’ format. Appointments are not available, rather, teachers will meet with parents on first-come, first-served basis. Traditionally, this event is quieter early in each session…
- Wednesday, March 15th: 11:30am-7:30pm
- Thursday, March 16th: 7:30am-3:30pm
Office staff will be on site each day to help you find your child’s teachers.
Please note that classes are not in session on these days.
Multi-Disciplinary Projects
All 8th grade students have been working on a cross-curricular energy project, which will culminate in a science-fair style competition we are referring to as an Energy Fair. Date and time of the event will be forthcoming.
In groups, students were assigned one Asian country to research, and tasked with developing a feasibility plan for energy production development geared towards meeting predicted energy needs by the year 2050. Students are applying content taught in English, Math, and Science to the Social Studies curriculum driven project. Students will compete against each other in presenting their results, developed into action plans, to judges at the Energy Fair. Rewards for best plans include 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place, while judges will also be asked to provide Honorable Mention awards.
The project’s plan, rubric, and addressed standards are found on this document.
International Day is Coming to GAA
Congrats Middle School Football Team
The middle school football team has achieved the third place in Gems football cup. There was about 13 participant teams from Gems schools all over the UAE. Which took place in 27th Feb in Dubai Gems wellington academy. Congratulations Wildcats!
The middle school football team has achieved the third place in Gems football cup. There was about 13 participant teams from Gems schools all over the UAE. Which took place in 27th Feb in Dubai Gems wellington academy. Congratulations Wildcats!
International Food Festival
GAA had a wildly successful International Food Festival this past weekend. Students and their families and friends enjoyed tasting foods from around the world as well as having a glimpse into other cultures. This was a fantastic event which truly speaks to international-mindedness at GAA. Thank you to our GAPPA parents for organizing this amazing day!
GAA had a wildly successful International Food Festival this past weekend. Students and their families and friends enjoyed tasting foods from around the world as well as having a glimpse into other cultures. This was a fantastic event which truly speaks to international-mindedness at GAA. Thank you to our GAPPA parents for organizing this amazing day!
Regards,
Katherine Banner
Katherine Banner
Hunter Keith Achieves International Honor Band Success
Hunter Keith (Grade 11 IB Diploma Music) has successfully auditioned to take part in the Association for Music in International Schools (AMIS) Honor Band Festival later this month. He will join the finest musicians from around the world as they meet for a four-day residential course at the International School of Luxemburg.
The long weekend will conclude with a public concert under the direction of Tim Robblee. Tim is the Director of Bands and Associate Professor of Music at Shenandoah Conservatory.
Competition is fierce and it is a huge achievement to be successful in the AMIS audition process that began back in October. Hunter is only the second of our musicians to be accepted into this ensemble following the success of trombonist Yuki Kaneko in 2016 and the only musician to be accepted from schools in Abu Dhabi.
This will be a flying visit for Hunter. He will be rushing back to the UAE in time to join the GAA Big Band for their workshop with Wynton Marsalis a few days later!
We wish Hunter all the best as he represents GAA and our commitment to excellence in the Arts as a whole.
Taking music out of the classroom and into the halls
Students from the Middle School Bands have been touring the KG classrooms this week to help ignite a passion for music amongst our younger students. Led by Ms. Taylor and Mr. Holland, the students performed short demonstrations of each instrument before giving the KG students an opportunity to feel (and in some cases) play them.
Our Middle School students have recently been engaged in a discussion entitled ‘what happens when the music stops?’. In doing so, they have been considering the profound affect that performances can have on listeners. Hopefully this will be a moment that the KG students remember for a very long time and we look forward to seeing them enter the music program in a few short years!
Dave Holland
Secondary School Music Director
Hunter Keith (Grade 11 IB Diploma Music) has successfully auditioned to take part in the Association for Music in International Schools (AMIS) Honor Band Festival later this month. He will join the finest musicians from around the world as they meet for a four-day residential course at the International School of Luxemburg.
The long weekend will conclude with a public concert under the direction of Tim Robblee. Tim is the Director of Bands and Associate Professor of Music at Shenandoah Conservatory.
Competition is fierce and it is a huge achievement to be successful in the AMIS audition process that began back in October. Hunter is only the second of our musicians to be accepted into this ensemble following the success of trombonist Yuki Kaneko in 2016 and the only musician to be accepted from schools in Abu Dhabi.
This will be a flying visit for Hunter. He will be rushing back to the UAE in time to join the GAA Big Band for their workshop with Wynton Marsalis a few days later!
We wish Hunter all the best as he represents GAA and our commitment to excellence in the Arts as a whole.
Taking music out of the classroom and into the halls
Students from the Middle School Bands have been touring the KG classrooms this week to help ignite a passion for music amongst our younger students. Led by Ms. Taylor and Mr. Holland, the students performed short demonstrations of each instrument before giving the KG students an opportunity to feel (and in some cases) play them.
Our Middle School students have recently been engaged in a discussion entitled ‘what happens when the music stops?’. In doing so, they have been considering the profound affect that performances can have on listeners. Hopefully this will be a moment that the KG students remember for a very long time and we look forward to seeing them enter the music program in a few short years!
Dave Holland
Secondary School Music Director