Dear GAA Families,

I hope you all continue safe and well.

As we approach the mid-winter break, it is encouraging to see the return of a full calendar of academic, athletic, and artistic activity on campus. In the past week alone, I have had the privilege to observe numerous examples of student-centered learning; from 4th grade students at the beginning stages of their independent passion projects, discussing their motivation, research skills, and how to present their findings, to the excitement of students across campus visiting our school-wide Book Fair and choosing works that meet their interests from a large selection of topics and authors. In the arts, I had the opportunity to participate in an Elementary School Choir rehearsal and witness engaged students working together and developing their creative skills in preparation for an upcoming performance, and in athletics the chance to see the effort and commitment of students as we begin our basketball and soccer season. In all cases, whether in the classroom, stage, or field, it is encouraging to see students engaged and taking ownership of their learning, while contributing to our community.

In the week ahead we will celebrate the vison and bravery of the founding of the UAE. Our National Day Celebration is full of activities, and students at each grade level will have the chance to enjoy and celebrate as a school community the country’s past success and hopeful future.

Lastly, I would like to thank all families that contributed their comments to the GEMS survey that was launched last week. The survey continues open, and your feedback is very important in our effort to continuously provide a holistic, student-centered education.

Warm Regards,

Robert Rinaldo

Golden Jubilee

National Day Celebration

at GAA

29th November 2021

We salute our beloved country as we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the union that marked the beginning of a blessed march toward progress and development.

On this day, we remember the founders of the UAE, the late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, his companion the late Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum and their brothers the rulers, who all met on 2nd December 1971, armed with their deep belief in their country and with deep interest in the people, eventually led the birth of the United Arab Emirates and the onset of the country’s renaissance.

On the 29th of November 2021, GAA will celebrate an extraordinary UAE National Day Assembly to commemorate this special occasion, and then each grade level will have an assigned time to enjoy a unique heritage fair at the school field. With the Covid restrictions and following the guidelines from ADEK and National Crisis & Emergency Management Authority (NCEMA), GAA celebrations for this year will be restricted (or exclusive) to GAA students, teachers, and staff only. Parents can not attend this event.

To commemorate this special occasion students will attend a special UAE National Day Assembly, and they will then have a scheduled time to enjoy a special heritage fair on the School field on the 29th November, 2021 from 7:50am until 3:00pm as per the below due to the covid restrictions and health and safety precautions and measures.

Activities Schedule in the Field

Timing

• 7:50 - 9:10 KG1 and KG2 students

• 9:20 –10:40 Grades 1 and 2 students

• 10:50 - 12:10 Grades 3, 4, and 5 students

• 12:20 - 1:40 Middle school (Grades 6-8) students

• 1:40 - 3:00 High school students (Grades 9-12)

Each grade level will have a specific time to enjoy the below activities that we are offering:

• Heritage exhibition

• Magic Show

• Traditional Music

• Mini Circus

• Photo Booth

• Popcorn & cotton candy

• Traditional Shops

• Falcon shows

• Traditional food truck

• Students’ performances

• Local author virtual reading activity

Dress code

Secondary Students (Grades 6-12):

Secondary students should be modestly dressed and are encouraged to celebrate UAE heritage by wearing the following:

• School uniform or UAE National Dress (abaya or kandora) - Abaya and Kandura must be worn CLOSED and in the traditional manner as recognition of respect to the UAE Cultural/Traditional Values. Students may not use this as an opportunity to wear their chosen casual clothing with traditional clothing open draped over the back.

• UAE Flag scarf

• UAE Pins

• A face mask with Emirati Flag colors

Elementary Students (KG - Grade 5):

KG and Elementary students can be dressed up in the UAE Flag colors or UAE Traditional dress to celebrate this special occasion.

Food and Gifts Distribution

• Distributing gifts, and goodies between classmates are allowed, as long as the items are individually packed and sanitized.

• Food as well needs to be pre-packed, individualized, nuts free, and not home cooked.

• You can contact your homeroom teachers directly to let them know if you are willing to send any food or gifts.

Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or inquiries at: s.awad_gaa@gemsedu.com

Happy National Day

Director of Arabic Studies KG-G12

Samah Awad

s.awad_gaa@gemsedu.com

أولياء الأمور الكرام،

تحيّة طيبة وبعد،،،

بمناسبةِ الاحتفال باليوم الوطني لدولة الإمارات العربيّة المتّحدة، يوم اتّحادها العظيم.

يطيبُ لنَا أنْ نرْفَعَ أسمى آياتِ التّهاني والتّبريكات لسمو رئيس الدولة الشّيخ خليفة بن زايد آل نهيَّان ونائِبِه وإخوانِه حُكّام الإمارات ووليِّ عهده الأمين.

وبصدد هذه المناسبة يسعدنا إخباركم بأنَّ المدرسة ستحتفل مع طلابها فقط باليوم الوطني الخمسين يوم الاثنين الموافق 29 من نوفمبر 2021 م وذلك بسبب الشروط الاحترازية المعتمدة من قبل هيئة التّعليم والمعرفة مع إدارة الأزمات والكوارث حسب التّصنيفات الجديدة للمدارس والّتي تراعي أعداد المطعمين في المدرسة. سنعمل جاهدين على تنسيق حفلاً مميزًا لطلابنا، كما سنشارككم كافة التّحضيرات والفعاليات أثناء الحفل عبر قنوات التّواصل من وسائل التّواصل الاجتماعي، مجلة المدرسة، والبرامج المعتمدة في المدرسة.

يتضمن الحفل الكثير من الفعاليات والأنشطة وورش العمل للأطفال والشباب، بالإضافة إلى عروض المسرح من قبل طلابنا، بالإضافة إلى الأنشطة المنهجية في الصفوف لتسليط الضّوء على هذا اليوم التّاريخي ربطًاا وتعزيزًا للهويّة الوطنية.

١-الأنشطة والفعاليات:

● عرض التّراث الإماراتي.

● العرض السحري

● عرض السيرك

● عروض الصقور

● دكان زمان

● ورش عمل مختلفة للأطفال

● عروض مسرحية

● عرض رقصة اليولا

● عربة الطّعام التقليدية

● القراءة من قبل كتاب إماراتيين

٢-مواصفات الزّي الرّسمي:

*طلاب المرحلة المتوسطة والثّانوية:

يطلب من طلاب المرحلة المتوسطة والثّانوية الالتزام بالزي الوطني الإماراتي فقط، وذلك تشجيعًا على مراعاة الثّقافة والتّقاليد الإماراتية في هذا اليوم العظيم. كما يسمح للطلاب بوضع شال بألوان العلم، أو قناع/ ماسك مزين بألوان العلم.

*طلاب المرحلة الابتدائية :

يسمح من طلاب المرحلة الابتدائية بارتداء الزّي الوطني أو ألوان العلم.

٣-توزيع الطّعام والهدايا في الصّف الواحد:

يسمح توزيع الهدايا، الطّعام على طلاب الصّف الواحد بشرط أن تكون مغلفة لكل تلميذ بشكل فردي. أما بالنسبة للطّعانم فيسمح إحضار وجبات محضرة مسبقًا مغلفة بطريقة فردية وغير محضرة منزليًّ وخالية من المكسرات.

يرجى التّواصل مع معلم الصّف الخاص بابنكم/ ابنتكم بشكل مباشر في حال رغبتم بإرسال أي شيء للتنسيق معه.

يرجى عدم التّردد في التّواصل معنا في حال وجود أي سؤال أو استفسار على البريد الإلكتروني التّالي:

s.awad_gaa@gemsedu.com

أرجو من اللّه في عيد الاتحاد هذا العام الكثير من الفرص النمو ولازدهار. كما أتمنى للجميع عيداً وطنياً سعيداً.

أدام الله الأفراح والخير لهذا الوطن، ولكم منّا كل الشّكر والتّقدير.

دام عزّك يا الإمارات.

وتفضلوا بقبول فائق التّقدير والاحترام

مديرة قسم اللّغة العربيّة

سماح عوض

Dear GAA Parents,

As we are approaching the end of the first term, we understand that some families may not be returning to GAA after the Winter Break. We would like to remind you with the steps to follow ONLY if you are withdrawing your child(ren) for the remainder of the school year .

Please follow the below steps if you plan to withdraw your children from GAA. Kindly ensure you give us enough time to prepare the required documents needed for your children’s transfer:

Raising a TC:

1. Log in GEMS Parent Portal

• To initiate the withdrawal please request a transfer certificate through GEMS Parent Portal system https://oasis.gemseducation.com using your GEMS username and password.

• If you do not recall your password, you are able to click “reset password” and a temporary password will be sent to the primary email that we have on record.

• If you continue to have difficulty with logging in, and require a password reset, any member of our Admissions team will be able to reset your password and provide you with new credentials.

2. Clear all Accounts

• Please ensure that all accounts are clear. This means returning all library and text books, returning the family passes, returning any IT equipment or musical instruments and ensuring outstanding fees are cleared in all departments.

• Please note, that we will not be able to issue a withdrawal package unless all accounts are cleared.

• If you have questions about what remains outstanding, please contact registrar_gaa@gemsedu.com

3. Transfer Documentation

Once you have completed the TC request and cleared all outstanding, a TC/Withdrawal Letter will be issued.

Dear GAA parents,

GREAT NEWS – ESM Holiday Camps will be partnering with GAA this winter offering only our students the opportunity to attend a multi activity camp for children aged 4 – 11 years old from the 12th – 30th December 2021.

We aren’t sure who is going to be more relieved, the children who will now be able to spend time being active with their friends again, or the parents who deserve a good break after so many months of distance learning!! Either way we are delighted to have partnered with ESM to support our families during this time and give your child(ren) the opportunity to get out of your home, be active, have fun and socialize in a safe environment – best of all we have agreed on a weekly discount rate when using code WTGAA of up to 30% for any GEMS family!

It will be the same, fun and exciting camps run in the past with the same coaches and school staff that you already know, love and trust. We have been working hard with ESM behind the scenes to ensure we will be able to exceed the strict guidelines and ensure the safety of your child through the following additional measures….

• Regular temperature checks and hand sanitization for all staff and children throughout the day

• Sanitization of all equipment between each activity sessions

• Onsite nurse at all times

• Full sanitization of the facilities each day

REGISTRATION:

• Registration and payment for the Winter Camp is now open and MUST be done online – no walk ins will be accepted.

• We have a new website so would require ALL PARENTS to create a new account with us to complete the registration.

• Please note we require a minimum of 20 children for the camp to go ahead therefore pre-registration is essential.

• Places are very limited, to avoid disappointment, CLICK HERE to first register for ALL parents, then follow the process to make the booking for the GAA venue.

FEES:

• AED180/day/child

• AED900/week/child

DISCOUNT:

• Please do note that only online registrations and payments make you eligible for the weekly discounted rate, there are no discounts on daily bookings.

• Take advantage of the current offer which runs until the 2nd December 2021.

• Register for 1, 2 or 3 full weeks, use the discount code WTGAA and receive a 20% off weekly bookings (discounts applicable for single transaction only).

• There will be an additional 10% siblings discount (brothers and sisters only) on weekly bookings for the second, third and fourth child by using the code WSIB (for maximum discount apply WTGAA WSIB if you have more than one child).

• Weekly and siblings discount is not valid for daily bookings.

TIMINGS:

• Drop off from 8.15 – 8.45am

• Activities start from 9.00 – 1.30pm

• Pick up from 1.30 – 1.45pm

For more information and queries, please feel free to contact ESM on holidaycamp@esm.ae or WhatsApp +971503611547.

We sincerely look forward to seeing you all again very soon!

Kind regards

ESM Holiday Camp Team

• November 28: High School (9-12) Dress Code Awareness Day

• November 29: UAE National Day Celebrations (students only).

• December 1-2: Commemoration Day and National Day holiday (NO SCHOOL)

• December 5: 3:45pm Elementary Choir Singing in front of GAA Main Entrance

• December 5: 4:00pm Boys Varsity Soccer and Basketball games against ACS @GAA gym and field

• December 7: Middle School Sports Day

• December 7: 2:45pm Elementary Choir Singing in front of GAA Main Entrance

• December 8: High School Sports Day

• December 8: 4:00pm Girls Varsity Soccer and Basketball games against ACS @ACS gym and field

• December 9: Half Day, school dismisses at 12:00pm

• December 9: Teachers vs Students Varsity Soccer Winter Cup, High School students only, 11:00-12:00.

• December 12-30: Winter Break (NO SCHOOL)

• January 2: Semester 2 starts