News from Head of School - Kathy Miner
Wishing all a Blessed Eid Mubarak!
There will be No School on Wednesday and Thursday, September 23 and 24. School will resume on Sunday, September 27.
Tuesday, September 22 has been announced as a School Day allowing for 183 required school days with the new Martyrs’ Day on November 30.
There will be No School on Wednesday and Thursday, September 23 and 24. School will resume on Sunday, September 27.
Tuesday, September 22 has been announced as a School Day allowing for 183 required school days with the new Martyrs’ Day on November 30.
Thank you for your participation in Back-to-School Nights this week. We received a significant amount of positive feedback about the school year thus far and would like to thank you for your partnership.
We agree with our parents there is definitely something special here at GEMS American Academy. Our 1,944 students represent 96 nationalities and speak 39 different languages- we are definitely a vibrant and varied community!
We know that GAA provides a broad array of enriched opportunities and a fantastic facility. Our teachers are enthusiastic and caring professionals who are knowledgeable of successful practices in education. And, our supportive teaching assistants devote time and attention to each child.
The magic of our community can be found in the everyday interactions throughout the school. The warmth, the welcoming spirit and the relationships that are built and sustained throughout the year.
Visitors and families to our school immediately sense a Culture of Kindness, a signature of our school community that reflects our core values and philosophy of education.
We are all part of the something special at our school, the connections and relationships as we partner to support, care for and educate our children.
A few reminders for the week include:
Secondary Math Information Session
Date: September 28th
Time: 11:30am-12:15pm
Place: Auditorium
Senior College Night
Date: September 28th
Time: 5:30pm-7:30pm
Place: Auditorium
Campus Security Reminder
The safety of our students, and the GAA community as a whole, is our greatest priority. Please review our campus security procedures. Your cooperation and compliance with our security procedures help us to ensure a safe school environment for all.
Gate Access:
To gain access to the campus, you must have your GAA Parent ID Card. If you do not yet have a GAA Parent ID Card, you can register by handing the Security Guards a valid ID (Emirates ID, Labor card, Driver’s License, passport) and receive a Visitor Card.
During Pick up and Drop off times, all of four gates are open. From 8:00 am to 2:00 pm, all school gates will be closed/locked and you will only be able to enter the premises from:
At 5:00pm, the KG front gate will be locked for the day. The tennis gate and back gate will be locked at 7:00pm. Visitors entering the school after hours must go to the front gate and register with the guard using the same process described above.
Regards,
Kathryn Miner
Head of School
We agree with our parents there is definitely something special here at GEMS American Academy. Our 1,944 students represent 96 nationalities and speak 39 different languages- we are definitely a vibrant and varied community!
We know that GAA provides a broad array of enriched opportunities and a fantastic facility. Our teachers are enthusiastic and caring professionals who are knowledgeable of successful practices in education. And, our supportive teaching assistants devote time and attention to each child.
The magic of our community can be found in the everyday interactions throughout the school. The warmth, the welcoming spirit and the relationships that are built and sustained throughout the year.
Visitors and families to our school immediately sense a Culture of Kindness, a signature of our school community that reflects our core values and philosophy of education.
We are all part of the something special at our school, the connections and relationships as we partner to support, care for and educate our children.
A few reminders for the week include:
- We ask you to present your GAA Parent ID Card or Emirates ID Card at the Guard Gate each and every time you enter our campus.
- Students will receive their GAA Student ID cards next week, which they can use to purchase lunch in the cafeteria using our online cashier system. Details on how to charge your child’s account will be sent directly to you in the coming week.
- Be sure to mark your calendars for our upcoming Parent Presentations, such as Math Night, Senior College Night and other important topics. See below for dates.
- If you have a question or concern, please don’t hesitate to stop by or to give me a call or send me an email.
Secondary Math Information Session
Date: September 28th
Time: 11:30am-12:15pm
Place: Auditorium
Senior College Night
Date: September 28th
Time: 5:30pm-7:30pm
Place: Auditorium
Campus Security Reminder
The safety of our students, and the GAA community as a whole, is our greatest priority. Please review our campus security procedures. Your cooperation and compliance with our security procedures help us to ensure a safe school environment for all.
Gate Access:
To gain access to the campus, you must have your GAA Parent ID Card. If you do not yet have a GAA Parent ID Card, you can register by handing the Security Guards a valid ID (Emirates ID, Labor card, Driver’s License, passport) and receive a Visitor Card.
- The security guards have the right to ask all visitors and parents to present their GAA Parent ID Card or obtain a Visitor Card by presenting a valid ID. We ask that you comply with this request.
- Please wear your ID card at all times while you are in the school premises.
- For those with a Visitor Card, please exit using the same gate you entered in order to collect your ID and return the Visitor Card.
During Pick up and Drop off times, all of four gates are open. From 8:00 am to 2:00 pm, all school gates will be closed/locked and you will only be able to enter the premises from:
- The main reception front gate
- The gate behind the tennis courts at the back parking lot
At 5:00pm, the KG front gate will be locked for the day. The tennis gate and back gate will be locked at 7:00pm. Visitors entering the school after hours must go to the front gate and register with the guard using the same process described above.
Regards,
Kathryn Miner
Head of School
GAA community News
Dear GAA Community,
We are kicking off the Box Appeal campaign benefiting laborers across the UAE. We would like you to get involved by contributing goods to make life a little easier for those not as fortunate. These items will be stuffed into boxes provided to you. They can be picked up from room 135!
Please spend the next few weeks collecting new items to stuff your Box Appeal with. Kindly have the boxes stuffed by October 9th. Information is forth coming about pick up.
Below is a message from one of the sponsors. Information about the campaign and items to place in boxes is located below.
For further questions please contact me! Thank you for your time and happy collecting.
Small Box. Big Difference.
We would like to invite you to join us on the 6th edition of our annual charity campaign. This year again, we are all coming together to serve a good cause. We appreciate your participation in last year’s Box Appeal which was a huge success due to your support!
The Box Appeal 2015 is a charity campaign that is aiming to help more than 10,000 laborers across the UAE with essential every day necessities. The initiative is taking place from 15th of September to the 15th of October and is run by Radisson Blu and Park Inn Hotels in the Middle East.
This is the 8th year that The Box Appeal will run, and the sixth time that all Radisson Blu and Park Inn Hotel’s in the UAE will take part. In addition they will be joined by hotels in Oman, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Qatar and Bahrain. Overall 15 hotels will participate.
Radisson Blu and Park Inn by Radisson, Abu Dhabi Yas Island are supporting this project by distributing boxes to guests, key clients, suppliers and employees to fill and return to the hotels.
Please join us and help by filling boxes with the following items:
We are kicking off the Box Appeal campaign benefiting laborers across the UAE. We would like you to get involved by contributing goods to make life a little easier for those not as fortunate. These items will be stuffed into boxes provided to you. They can be picked up from room 135!
Please spend the next few weeks collecting new items to stuff your Box Appeal with. Kindly have the boxes stuffed by October 9th. Information is forth coming about pick up.
Below is a message from one of the sponsors. Information about the campaign and items to place in boxes is located below.
For further questions please contact me! Thank you for your time and happy collecting.
Small Box. Big Difference.
We would like to invite you to join us on the 6th edition of our annual charity campaign. This year again, we are all coming together to serve a good cause. We appreciate your participation in last year’s Box Appeal which was a huge success due to your support!
The Box Appeal 2015 is a charity campaign that is aiming to help more than 10,000 laborers across the UAE with essential every day necessities. The initiative is taking place from 15th of September to the 15th of October and is run by Radisson Blu and Park Inn Hotels in the Middle East.
This is the 8th year that The Box Appeal will run, and the sixth time that all Radisson Blu and Park Inn Hotel’s in the UAE will take part. In addition they will be joined by hotels in Oman, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Qatar and Bahrain. Overall 15 hotels will participate.
Radisson Blu and Park Inn by Radisson, Abu Dhabi Yas Island are supporting this project by distributing boxes to guests, key clients, suppliers and employees to fill and return to the hotels.
Please join us and help by filling boxes with the following items:
- T-Shirt
- Cap
- Disposable Razor
- Shaving Cream
- Deodorant
- Talcum powder
- Toothbrush
- Toothpaste
- Small Hand Towels
- Comb
- Antibacterial Soap
- Shampoo
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: |
Reminder: Morning drop off and Afternoon pickup procedures
Please be aware that there is a significant road construction project underway just down the road from GEMS American Academy. Traffic patterns may be interrupted in the first weeks of school as the nearby round-about is barricaded. It may be a better strategy to enter and exit from the back of the school to avoid traffic delays.
We would like to begin the 2015-2016 year with an organized plan for morning drop off and afternoon pick up routines to ensure everyone has a hassle free experience in the parking area.
We would also like to remind parents that we encourage carpooling and have a school bus network available to all families. If you would like your child to take the bus, or for more information on this service, please email [email protected]
Morning Drop Off
Parents may drop off students beginning at 7:15am. Each morning the cafeteria will be open at 7:15 am for supervised social time. Students in Grade 1 – 12 should not go directly to the classroom if they arrive before 7:30am.
We ask that all parents allow the front car park area to be a Kindergarten (KG) drop off site only. Please help us in maintaining a safe and effective drop off point for our youngest members of the school community, KG parents will be grateful!
As there are simply not enough parking spaces to allow each family to park and walk their child to the classroom, we are requesting that you drop off your child:
• At the front gate if your child is in Kindergarten, which includes KG with older siblings.
There will be many educational assistants waiting for KG students at the gates from 7:15am to chaperone your child to their classroom. Thanks to our staggered start plan, parents will be able to chaperone their child to the classroom in the first days of school.
We also ask that parents of older students, Grade 1 to Grade 12, drop off your children:
• At the back gate. Please use the parking lot behind the school. Students will walk across the school sports field to enter the school.
Afternoon Pick Up
The school day finishes at 2.45pm for Kindergarten students and 2.55pm for Elementary and Secondary students.
Parents of Kindergarten and Grade 1 students may receive their child from their classroom door. Older students are able to find their parents and be off campus by 3:15pm. If your child has not been collected by 3.15pm, you will be contacted by the school as GAA is concerned that your child is unsupervised.
We would like to thank all families for their cooperation in ensuring that everyone enjoys a stress free morning drop off and afternoon pick up. We will continue to work with parents to improve this system.
Please note that the Municipality owns the parking lot areas and we are not able to change the lanes or barriers which route traffic patterns.
Please keep in mind that police issue parking tickets for cars not parked within the painted parking lanes.
Please be aware that there is a significant road construction project underway just down the road from GEMS American Academy. Traffic patterns may be interrupted in the first weeks of school as the nearby round-about is barricaded. It may be a better strategy to enter and exit from the back of the school to avoid traffic delays.
We would like to begin the 2015-2016 year with an organized plan for morning drop off and afternoon pick up routines to ensure everyone has a hassle free experience in the parking area.
We would also like to remind parents that we encourage carpooling and have a school bus network available to all families. If you would like your child to take the bus, or for more information on this service, please email [email protected]
Morning Drop Off
Parents may drop off students beginning at 7:15am. Each morning the cafeteria will be open at 7:15 am for supervised social time. Students in Grade 1 – 12 should not go directly to the classroom if they arrive before 7:30am.
We ask that all parents allow the front car park area to be a Kindergarten (KG) drop off site only. Please help us in maintaining a safe and effective drop off point for our youngest members of the school community, KG parents will be grateful!
As there are simply not enough parking spaces to allow each family to park and walk their child to the classroom, we are requesting that you drop off your child:
• At the front gate if your child is in Kindergarten, which includes KG with older siblings.
There will be many educational assistants waiting for KG students at the gates from 7:15am to chaperone your child to their classroom. Thanks to our staggered start plan, parents will be able to chaperone their child to the classroom in the first days of school.
We also ask that parents of older students, Grade 1 to Grade 12, drop off your children:
• At the back gate. Please use the parking lot behind the school. Students will walk across the school sports field to enter the school.
Afternoon Pick Up
The school day finishes at 2.45pm for Kindergarten students and 2.55pm for Elementary and Secondary students.
Parents of Kindergarten and Grade 1 students may receive their child from their classroom door. Older students are able to find their parents and be off campus by 3:15pm. If your child has not been collected by 3.15pm, you will be contacted by the school as GAA is concerned that your child is unsupervised.
We would like to thank all families for their cooperation in ensuring that everyone enjoys a stress free morning drop off and afternoon pick up. We will continue to work with parents to improve this system.
Please note that the Municipality owns the parking lot areas and we are not able to change the lanes or barriers which route traffic patterns.
Please keep in mind that police issue parking tickets for cars not parked within the painted parking lanes.
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.