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Dear Parents,
Our doors, ears and hearts are open
Open communication enables us at GEMS American Academy to engage our 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 children benefit greatly from our shared responsibility for their learning growth and development.
Please reach out to teachers to ask your questions about your child’s learning strengths and challenges as well as personal 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 find that the Elementary and Secondary School have various ways to keep you informed:
Grades 6-12: An online grading system & the Haiku system
Grades K-5: Elementary school’s class website & teacher pages
These will be accessible via http://tiny.cc/thelauncher
Stay tuned for a full menu of Parent Coffee events in the coming weeks and months to keep you informed and connected to the school:
Accessing Online Grades, Grades 6-12
PYP Program & Elementary Curriculum Presentation
BYOD Program Information Session
“In touch” with Dr. Miner, an informal share session
MAP Testing Information
Presentation of School Improvement Goals
Wishing you a lovely weekend
Warm Regards
Kathy Miner
Head of School
Our doors, ears and hearts are open
Open communication enables us at GEMS American Academy to engage our 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 children benefit greatly from our shared responsibility for their learning growth and development.
Please reach out to teachers to ask your questions about your child’s learning strengths and challenges as well as personal 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 find that the Elementary and Secondary School have various ways to keep you informed:
Grades 6-12: An online grading system & the Haiku system
Grades K-5: Elementary school’s class website & teacher pages
These will be accessible via http://tiny.cc/thelauncher
Stay tuned for a full menu of Parent Coffee events in the coming weeks and months to keep you informed and connected to the school:
Accessing Online Grades, Grades 6-12
PYP Program & Elementary Curriculum Presentation
BYOD Program Information Session
“In touch” with Dr. Miner, an informal share session
MAP Testing Information
Presentation of School Improvement Goals
Wishing you a lovely weekend
Warm Regards
Kathy Miner
Head of School
What's Happening at GAA Next Week?
Technology Integration at GAA
Today teachers in the Secondary school received training in the use of Haiku – our Learning Management System.
Eventually this will include the course information, course resources, class discussion boards and the opportunity for students to collaborate and learn in a blended environment. Haiku is used in many established and reputable schools and universities throughout the world and we are excited by the possibilities that this platform offers us.
We are tying Haiku with Google Apps for Education and with our PlusPortals grade book and scheduling suite.
As with many new installations there will be a phase of learning exactly how these systems fit together - and we have found an overlap of notification systems resulting in some unexpected messages being sent. We apologize if this causes you any undue confusion or concern. Please bear with us as we work out these minor issues.
At the moment, classes are being activated by teachers to allow students to register and get used to the system while content is being uploaded and organized. As parents, you may receive an email inviting you to join a Haiku class – you are welcome to register although we’d like you to know that the class environment you will see may not contain all of the content or even the structure that you’d expect to see in a completed course. In many respects it’s like looking into a classroom on the first day of school.
We are excited by the prospect of the blended learning that Haiku offers and look forward to sharing these first steps with you. We expect that this system will mature very quickly.
Today teachers in the Secondary school received training in the use of Haiku – our Learning Management System.
Eventually this will include the course information, course resources, class discussion boards and the opportunity for students to collaborate and learn in a blended environment. Haiku is used in many established and reputable schools and universities throughout the world and we are excited by the possibilities that this platform offers us.
We are tying Haiku with Google Apps for Education and with our PlusPortals grade book and scheduling suite.
As with many new installations there will be a phase of learning exactly how these systems fit together - and we have found an overlap of notification systems resulting in some unexpected messages being sent. We apologize if this causes you any undue confusion or concern. Please bear with us as we work out these minor issues.
At the moment, classes are being activated by teachers to allow students to register and get used to the system while content is being uploaded and organized. As parents, you may receive an email inviting you to join a Haiku class – you are welcome to register although we’d like you to know that the class environment you will see may not contain all of the content or even the structure that you’d expect to see in a completed course. In many respects it’s like looking into a classroom on the first day of school.
We are excited by the prospect of the blended learning that Haiku offers and look forward to sharing these first steps with you. We expect that this system will mature very quickly.
GEMS American Academy Community News
Please be reminded that the GEMS American Academy is a nut free school. Please do not send you child to school with nuts or nut products for the safety of our students on campus with nut allergies.
Please be reminded that the GEMS American Academy is a nut free school. Please do not send you child to school with nuts or nut products for the safety of our students on campus with nut allergies.
The Box Appeal
We would like to invite you to join us in supporting of our annual charity campaign for the Box Appeal. 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 2014 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 now until the 8th of October and is run by Radisson Blu and Park Inn Hotels in the Middle East, in conjunction with the Red Crescent.
Boxes were sent to each classroom this week and each class will be asked to fill 4 boxes per class, Teachers will have sign up sheet or organize this via email.
If you would like to fill a box as family, please come and collect one room 126. Please join us and help by filling boxes with the following items:
For any further information please visit facebook.com/theboxappeal or contact Ms. Bruce (room 126, [email protected])
It only takes a little time and effort to make a big difference.
We would like to invite you to join us in supporting of our annual charity campaign for the Box Appeal. 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 2014 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 now until the 8th of October and is run by Radisson Blu and Park Inn Hotels in the Middle East, in conjunction with the Red Crescent.
Boxes were sent to each classroom this week and each class will be asked to fill 4 boxes per class, Teachers will have sign up sheet or organize this via email.
If you would like to fill a box as family, please come and collect one room 126. 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
For any further information please visit facebook.com/theboxappeal or contact Ms. Bruce (room 126, [email protected])
It only takes a little time and effort to make a big difference.
Did you know..?
This academic year our student body represents 85 different nationalities!
This academic year our student body represents 85 different nationalities!
Ladies Soccer Tournament @ GAA Friday 26th September
Are your children soccer enthusiasts? Bring a chair and come and support the UAE National Ladies under 16's team play at the E-Sports Ladies Soccer Tournament on Friday 26th September from 10am until 2.15pm. Other teams participating in the event include the Abu Dhabi Country Club ladies team and the Yas Ladies FC.
Are your children soccer enthusiasts? Bring a chair and come and support the UAE National Ladies under 16's team play at the E-Sports Ladies Soccer Tournament on Friday 26th September from 10am until 2.15pm. Other teams participating in the event include the Abu Dhabi Country Club ladies team and the Yas Ladies FC.
Please click on the links at the top of the page to read our KG & Elementary News, Secondary News and Updates