News from Head of School - Kathy Miner
Our doors, ears and hearts are open at GEMS American Academy.
Open communication enables us to engage our parents as partners in understanding and meeting the needs of each child. We warmly invite you to connect, share and assist us in knowing how to best meet the needs of your child. Your child will benefit greatly from this shared responsibility for their learning, growth and development.
Throughout the year, we encourage you to reach out to teachers to ask your questions about your child’s learning strengths and challenges as well as about the progress they are making in their social and emotional development. Should you have any concerns about your child’s experience, please know that your child’s teacher(s) are poised and ready to work collaboratively to develop strategies to ensure success.
In this week’s newsletter, you’ll see information about the many ways that the Elementary and Secondary Schools have in place to keep you informed:
Grades 6-12: Plus Portal, an online grading system & the Haiku system
Grades K-5: Grade level websites with weekly updates
Be sure to mark your calendar with these information Parent Coffee events planned in the coming weeks designed to keep you informed and connected to the school:
GAAPA Parent Coffee Morning
Date: September 14th
Time: 8:30am
Place: GAAPA room
Secondary Curriculum Overview
Date: September 14th
Time: 11:30am-12:15pm
Place: Auditorium
Secondary Math Information Session
Date: September 28th
Time: 11:30am-12:15pm
Place: Auditorium
Booster Club Parent Coffee Morning
Date: September 17th
Time: 8:30am
Place: GAAPA Room
*Each Secondary Parent Information Session will be followed by a presentation on how to access Plus Portals and Haiku by our Director of Technology, Mr. Brian Farrell.
Back-to-School Night
Please be sure to attend our Back-to-School Night events scheduled on:
Back-to-School Night is an opportunity for parents to meet teachers and learn about classroom expectations and routines. In depth information about curriculum is difficult to cover in this meet and greet format, however, in depth information sessions are scheduled for later in the month.
Students do not participate in Back-to-School Night, this is a time for parents and teachers to meet and connect.
If you are not able to attend Back-to-School Night, all presentations will be available on The Launcher.
Regards,
Kathryn Miner
Head of School
Open communication enables us to engage our parents as partners in understanding and meeting the needs of each child. We warmly invite you to connect, share and assist us in knowing how to best meet the needs of your child. Your child will benefit greatly from this shared responsibility for their learning, growth and development.
Throughout the year, we encourage you to reach out to teachers to ask your questions about your child’s learning strengths and challenges as well as about the progress they are making in their social and emotional development. Should you have any concerns about your child’s experience, please know that your child’s teacher(s) are poised and ready to work collaboratively to develop strategies to ensure success.
In this week’s newsletter, you’ll see information about the many ways that the Elementary and Secondary Schools have in place to keep you informed:
Grades 6-12: Plus Portal, an online grading system & the Haiku system
Grades K-5: Grade level websites with weekly updates
Be sure to mark your calendar with these information Parent Coffee events planned in the coming weeks designed to keep you informed and connected to the school:
GAAPA Parent Coffee Morning
Date: September 14th
Time: 8:30am
Place: GAAPA room
Secondary Curriculum Overview
Date: September 14th
Time: 11:30am-12:15pm
Place: Auditorium
Secondary Math Information Session
Date: September 28th
Time: 11:30am-12:15pm
Place: Auditorium
Booster Club Parent Coffee Morning
Date: September 17th
Time: 8:30am
Place: GAAPA Room
*Each Secondary Parent Information Session will be followed by a presentation on how to access Plus Portals and Haiku by our Director of Technology, Mr. Brian Farrell.
Back-to-School Night
Please be sure to attend our Back-to-School Night events scheduled on:
- Elementary School, KG-G5: Monday, September 14, from 5pm-7pm
- Secondary School, G6-G12: Wednesday, September 16, from 5pm-7:40pm
Back-to-School Night is an opportunity for parents to meet teachers and learn about classroom expectations and routines. In depth information about curriculum is difficult to cover in this meet and greet format, however, in depth information sessions are scheduled for later in the month.
Students do not participate in Back-to-School Night, this is a time for parents and teachers to meet and connect.
If you are not able to attend Back-to-School Night, all presentations will be available on The Launcher.
Regards,
Kathryn Miner
Head of School
From Our Director of Arabic Studies, Samah Awad
GAA Technology
As a school community, we use several different technology systems to collaborate and share student learning. All secondary classes use a learning platform called Haiku, where individual class content is shared with students (Elementary students and parents cannot log in to Haiku classes). Individual login details and instructions for parents in how to access Haiku will be emailed to you shortly.
Secondary student grades, timetables, and reports are shared on our PlusPortals platform (elementary student grades are sent directly to you). As a secondary parent, you will have received an individual email already sharing steps to access PlusPortals, and further help in accessing this is available on The Launcher (http://tiny.cc/thelauncher) under the ‘technology’ tab. If you’d like further assistance in accessing these systems, please contact our team of secondary technology coaches, who are based in room 271.
As a school community, we use several different technology systems to collaborate and share student learning. All secondary classes use a learning platform called Haiku, where individual class content is shared with students (Elementary students and parents cannot log in to Haiku classes). Individual login details and instructions for parents in how to access Haiku will be emailed to you shortly.
Secondary student grades, timetables, and reports are shared on our PlusPortals platform (elementary student grades are sent directly to you). As a secondary parent, you will have received an individual email already sharing steps to access PlusPortals, and further help in accessing this is available on The Launcher (http://tiny.cc/thelauncher) under the ‘technology’ tab. If you’d like further assistance in accessing these systems, please contact our team of secondary technology coaches, who are based in room 271.
The Launcher:
The Launcher is a central area for links and information.
It contains information about:
It contains links to:
The Launcher helps by combining the links and information in one site. You will still need to manage your usernames and passwords and one way to do this is to keep a word document with links and login information. Here’s a start:
PlusPortals
Link: https://plusportals.com/gemsaa
Username:
Password:
GEMS Learning Gateway
Link: https://www.gemslearninggateway.com/
Username:
Password:
Haiku Login
Link: https://gaa-ad.haikulearning.com/do/account/login
Username:
Password:
The Launcher is a central area for links and information.
It contains information about:
- School programs – an overview of Kindergarten, Elementary and Secondary departments
- School Directory – an organised directory of contacts for each school division with a live link for direct emailing teachers
- Curriculum and IBO – including the Secondary School Program of Studies and the Elementary School Units of Inquiry
- Community Handbook for Elementary and Secondary – downloadable pdf documents about the guidelines and expectations of students in our school community
- Technology BYOD Specifications including an overview of system specifications and recommendations, some support documents for learning apps and the philosophy which guides our integrated use of technology tools
- An overview of Google Apps, Haiku, PlusPortals and the Microsoft Agreement
It contains links to:
- GEMS Learning Gateway – login to update your student information, pay bills and re-enrol your child
- Haiku Login – Secondary School parents can register to view the class resources shared with your child
- PlusPortals – Secondary School parents can view the grade-in-progress for their child as well as other valuable academic information such as the course overview, graded assignments and schedule details.
- School Calendar – Google calendars are updated with events related to each division. Parents may subscribe to calendars and have the information update on their phone.
- The GAAzette – our school newsletter is linked to/from The Launcher. Keep updated by checking out current events.
- The GAA Boosterclub – show your school spirit! We will link directly to the booster club as soon as it is activated!
The Launcher helps by combining the links and information in one site. You will still need to manage your usernames and passwords and one way to do this is to keep a word document with links and login information. Here’s a start:
PlusPortals
Link: https://plusportals.com/gemsaa
Username:
Password:
GEMS Learning Gateway
Link: https://www.gemslearninggateway.com/
Username:
Password:
Haiku Login
Link: https://gaa-ad.haikulearning.com/do/account/login
Username:
Password:
Parent ID's
Parent ID's are available for collection.
A gentle reminder to ALL parents to wear their parent ID's in and around the school. If you have uploaded your details and photographs onto the GEMS Learning Gateway (GLG) and have not yet received your parent ID please check with our ladies at Main Reception that it is ready for collection.
If you have not uploaded your details onto GLG please see the step by step guide below to help you to do so. You will need your login details (username and password) to access your account. Please contact our Parent Relations Executive, Naseera @ [email protected] if you have not received yours.
*Please note that you may still use your Parent ID from last year.
A gentle reminder to ALL parents to wear their parent ID's in and around the school. If you have uploaded your details and photographs onto the GEMS Learning Gateway (GLG) and have not yet received your parent ID please check with our ladies at Main Reception that it is ready for collection.
If you have not uploaded your details onto GLG please see the step by step guide below to help you to do so. You will need your login details (username and password) to access your account. Please contact our Parent Relations Executive, Naseera @ [email protected] if you have not received yours.
*Please note that you may still use your Parent ID from last year.
step_by_step_guide_for_parent_id_upload.pdf | |
File Size: | 533 kb |
File Type: |
Late arrivals and early pick up procedure
With the first few days of school under our belt we have had the opportunity to practice our morning drop off and afternoon pick up procedures.
KG and Elementary parents are kindly reminded to sign students in or out of school at the Reception if they arrive after 7:45am or depart before 2.55pm. If a student is late arriving at school, parents must accompany their child/children to the Reception to sign in no matter which door is used to enter the school. Students should receive a late pass before entering the classroom. If a student is leaving school early, parents must inform the classroom teacher in advance via email and come to the Reception before collecting their child from the class. All students arriving to class past 7.45am are considered tardy.
Secondary Students should go directly to the Secondary Office (room 231) if they arrive late. Parents must notify the Secretary, Ms Lynne Brown by phone or email if their child is going to be absent or needs to leave school early.
Students will not be accepted or collected from their classroom without a late/early pick up slip.
We appreciate your continuous support and cooperation.
With the first few days of school under our belt we have had the opportunity to practice our morning drop off and afternoon pick up procedures.
KG and Elementary parents are kindly reminded to sign students in or out of school at the Reception if they arrive after 7:45am or depart before 2.55pm. If a student is late arriving at school, parents must accompany their child/children to the Reception to sign in no matter which door is used to enter the school. Students should receive a late pass before entering the classroom. If a student is leaving school early, parents must inform the classroom teacher in advance via email and come to the Reception before collecting their child from the class. All students arriving to class past 7.45am are considered tardy.
Secondary Students should go directly to the Secondary Office (room 231) if they arrive late. Parents must notify the Secretary, Ms Lynne Brown by phone or email if their child is going to be absent or needs to leave school early.
Students will not be accepted or collected from their classroom without a late/early pick up slip.
We appreciate your continuous support and cooperation.
Uniform sale update
Uniform sales continue at GAA but are no longer available on Fridays and Saturdays. Please visit the uniform shop between the following hours:
Sunday-Thursday
8am-3:30pm
*For your convenience the uniform will also be on sale at Back to School Night, September 14th and September 16th.
Uniform sales continue at GAA but are no longer available on Fridays and Saturdays. Please visit the uniform shop between the following hours:
Sunday-Thursday
8am-3:30pm
*For your convenience the uniform will also be on sale at Back to School Night, September 14th and September 16th.
“Yas Beach is pleased to announce the launch of RISE: Recreation, Imagination, Socialization and Education. “RISE your kids at Yas Beach In September” with many activities for kids and families.
Fun is everywhere in Yas Beach, on land or water you can have unforgettable moments with your loved ones in September.
Sand Castle Competition on every Friday: If you ever ask how to build a sand castle, Yas Beach is giving you the chance to discover it! Take your kid and allow yourself to become creative! Register at the reception and show us what a great and creative team you make together. Every Friday from 3 pm – 5 pm. If you forgot your hat or the sunblock you can find them in our shop! Exciting prizes will be awarded.
Kidoos World - Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays: The magical place for your little ones to explore and engage in constructive and educational games, helping to develop their physical, social, mental and emotional skills. Inside the tent toddlers will be entertained by educational videos like “Baby Einstein” and Disney films (*Children must remain supervised at all times).
Sailing experience in the Omega or Hobie 18 at 50 % discount every Monday: Only children above age 4 can take part in sailing on the Omega or Hobie 18. *We will only accept children whose parents sign the waiver form. Children under ten years old must be accompanied by an adult.
In the windy days you can teach your child how to raise a kite (you can find them easily in our shop).
Kids rates:
Fun is everywhere in Yas Beach, on land or water you can have unforgettable moments with your loved ones in September.
Sand Castle Competition on every Friday: If you ever ask how to build a sand castle, Yas Beach is giving you the chance to discover it! Take your kid and allow yourself to become creative! Register at the reception and show us what a great and creative team you make together. Every Friday from 3 pm – 5 pm. If you forgot your hat or the sunblock you can find them in our shop! Exciting prizes will be awarded.
Kidoos World - Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays: The magical place for your little ones to explore and engage in constructive and educational games, helping to develop their physical, social, mental and emotional skills. Inside the tent toddlers will be entertained by educational videos like “Baby Einstein” and Disney films (*Children must remain supervised at all times).
Sailing experience in the Omega or Hobie 18 at 50 % discount every Monday: Only children above age 4 can take part in sailing on the Omega or Hobie 18. *We will only accept children whose parents sign the waiver form. Children under ten years old must be accompanied by an adult.
In the windy days you can teach your child how to raise a kite (you can find them easily in our shop).
Kids rates:
- Free entrance below 8 years
- 50 % discount between 8-14 years