Kindergarten

Message from Ms. Niamh Callanan,

KG Vice Principal

Dear GAA families,

Ramadan Kareem.

It has been a joy to welcome back students this week. We missed them. I hope you had a safe and restful spring break.

It is an exciting term for kindergarten as we phase our full return to school, prepare for KG2 promotion to Grade One and celebrate KG1’s first year of school!

To ensure a smooth and safe transition, we will have a phased return. It is important that you note the below dates for your child. This phased return is paramount to allow our younger students to adapt to an increased class size and to re-establish routines of social distancing and sanitizing.

Starting Sunday 18th

KG2 will begin everyday attendance
KG1 will continue with A/B groups

Starting Sunday 25th

KG1 will begin everyday attendance
All KG will attend every day from then until the remainder of the school year.

Although masks are not mandatory for kindergarten students, we understand that many families have chosen to send masks with their child. We will continue to support you as you need and any extra precautions you wish to take to ensure a safe experience at school. We encourage you to continue the discussion with your child on social distancing during this time.

We look forward to a successful and engaging final school term.

Niamh Callanan

Vice Principal Kindergarten

IMPORTANT:

COVID-19 PROCEDURES

Testing Requirements for Students aged 4-11, returning from international travel

(no need for testing if your child did not leave UAE)

We have been requested to follow additional precautionary measures by ADEK and Health Authorities for students aged 4-11 (including Students of Determination) returning from international travel before physically returning to school:

Students returning from green-listed countries:

No need to quarantine.
96-hour valid negative COVID-19 test result required prior to returning to school.
Green countries list is constantly updated and can be accessed through this link: https://visitabudhabi.ae/en/plan-your-trip/covid-safe-travel/permitted-countries

Students returning from other countries:

Must show 96-hour valid negative COVID-19 test result prior to returning to school
Must submit a quarantine completion certificate from SEHA for one of the parents/guardians, which is issued upon removing their quarantine tracker/bracelet. This certificate can be obtained from the following locations:
- - - - Abu Dhabi: COVID-19 Prime Assessment Center in Zayed Port
        Al Ain: COVID-19 Prime Assessment Center in Al Ain Exhibition Center – Al Khabisi
        Al Dhafra: Any of Al Dhafra SEHA hospitals

Testing options:

Students can choose to either get a non-invasive and painless saliva PCR test or nasal swab PCR test free of cost. Here is the list of drivethru centers.

Students must have their Emirates ID or Passport (if ID is not issued). They will also need a proof of travel (passport stamp or airline ticket).

For Students of Determination: Home testing service (includes PCR and saliva tests) can be requested by calling Estijabah Hotline at 800-1717 or DOH Hotline at 02-4493333

What if my child feels unwell at school?

Non-COVID-related: If your child develops any symptoms during school hours:

The student will be flagged by the teacher and will be referred to the school clinic for triage. If child does not have fever or any other COVID-19 symptoms, Nurse will contact the parent to investigate any possible illness at home by family member. Depending on the condition of the child, parent may be asked to collect from school.
If student is sent home, parent must provide doctor's medical certificate for return to campus.

COVID-related: Your child will be considered as a suspected case of Covid-19, if displaying any signs and symptoms such as cough, fever or breathlessness and:

Child will be moved to Quarantine Room, where they will be monitored by a School Nurse.
Nurse will contact the parents immediately to retrieve the child from the school.
The school shall not administer any medicines to the child.
The school will inform the parents about the nearest hospital and COVID-19 testing center.
If the child tests positive for COVID-19, parents are mandated to inform the school so that they can take measures to secure the health of other students and staff who may have been exposed to the virus.
If child has siblings at GAA attending in-campus, they must be quarantined at home as well.
Student(s) will be able to return to school after 2 consecutive negative COVID tests and doctor's medical certificate.

COVID-19 Reporting Procedures at GAA

We remind parents of our safety protocols with regards to COVID-19:

What if my child or a household member tests positive?

Notify school immediately by calling GAA's COVID-19 Hotline at 052 1048099 to enable us to activate appropriate response. Or email: pre_gaa@gemsedu.com
Keep your child and other GAA siblings isolated at home for at least 10 days and follow the instructions of Health Authorities.
Distance Learning will be enabled for your child.
Child will be cleared to return to school once they have 2 consecutive negative test results, submitting doctor's note and results to the school nurse.

What's the Return to School protocol?

Positive case: They must show a Clearance Report from SEHA or their Health Care Provider confirming they are clear to return to school. This report shows the high-level history of the case including date confirmed positive, the 2 negative results and that the patient has completed the isolation period.

Contacts of the positive case: contacts must continue their 10 day home quarantine, even if they test negative, and are only allowed back in school after receiving 2 consecutive negative test results (approximately day 1 and day 8 testing).

We thank you for your continuous support.

News from KG Arabic Department

السّلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته:

كل عام وأنتم بخير بمناسبة قدوم شهر رمضان الكريم أعاده الله علينا باليمن والبركات

لقد تعرف الطّلاب على معنى الصوم والأعمال التي يقوم بها الصائم في شهر رمضان وقاموا في صنع فوانيس رمضان وتزيينها .

Al salamu Alykom

(Kol aam wa ntom bekhair)

On the occasion of the holy month of Ramadan may Allah return it to us with good.

Students will learn about the meaning of fasting and the actions that are required in the Holy month of Ramadan. They are going to make a Ramadan Lantern and coloring projects.