Dear GAA Families,

We have reached the Spring break and I want to congratulate all students for their hard work and effort. All members of our community have shown tremendous resilience and perseverance. Together we are building a unified campus environment full of purposeful academic and project-based challenges. Students are also showing the desire to contribute outside the classroom in competitive and healthy athletic offerings and entertaining artistic productions.

Students this week took part in a number of activities that demonstrate the quality and benefits of what a holistic education offers. Our annual IB Appreciation Dinner recognized all graduating IB Diploma students. Special recognitions were given to 2022 senior class members Eje Idemudia (Outstanding IB Student Award) and Renata Bonesana (IB Creativity, Action, and Service Award).

This week in the area of Arts Education, we launched the Senior IB Art Exhibit, premiered the Secondary Production of Annie Jr. and the Elementary Production of Schoolhouse Rock, Jr. In both the visual and performing arts activities, students demonstrated their courage by showing, through their art, who they are, what they feel, what they believe, and how they are conquering fears, and discovering themselves. Congratulations students!

In Athletics, our Girls Varsity Soccer and Boys Varsity Basketball Teams advanced to the finals of the Abu Dhabi Sports Council School Championships, and this week we celebrated Spirit Week, culminating in a fun filled Varsity Cup. The week-long activity was a true boost in spirits after a long haul with the COVID-19 pandemic.

As we enter Spring Break and approach the Holy Month of Ramadan, I wish all GAA community members a restful well-deserved pause, and a period full of prayer, peace, and happiness.

Warm Regards,

Robert Rinaldo

Head of School

School Hours

Our school hours and routines during the Holy Month of Ramadan will be as:

Grades KG – G12:

• Monday-Thursday 9:15am - 1:45pm

• Fridays 9:15am – 12:00pm

• Students can enter the school from 9:00, UAE National Anthem will play at 9:15.

• Buses depart at 2pm Monday-Thursday, at 12:15pm Fridays.

Admin:

• Monday-Thursday 9:00am - 2:00pm

• Fridays 9:00am – 12:15pm

Our educational program and instruction will remain unchanged during Ramadan. Teachers have engaging learning planned for their students. We encourage our families and students to continue attending school during Ramadan.

We encourage all GAA students and parents to be aware of the significance of this month and be appreciative and respectful of our host culture.

Lunch Arrangements

Students in the KG and Elementary will continue their snack routines as usual in the classroom. Please contact your child’s homeroom teacher if you would like your fasting child to observe their fast outside of their homeroom.

Students in Grades 6 – 12 that are not fasting will be able to buy food at School Cafeteria. All non-fasting students will eat in the cafeteria. Fasting students will be able to go out on the Green Veranda and other designated areas during the break.

GAA supports whatever your family decision is regarding fasting. Non-fasting students may bring a snack and water bottle to school. Students need to be mindful that eating and drinking in public is discouraged.

The Parent Café will be closed.

Access to Prayer

The prayer room is open for Secondary students under the Islamic teachers' supervision during their break time. If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Samah Awad, at s.awad_gaa@gemsedu.com

Appropriate Dress

It is appropriate that students arrive at school during the Holy Month of Ramadan neat and tidy in appearance and follow the dress code expectations.

Recess and Activities

During the Holy Month of Ramadan, recess periods will be shortened and PE activities will be limited and low key, keeping in mind that students do not play outdoors in May due to the heat.

Guidelines for Distance Learners During Live Classes:

• No food or drinks visible in background

• No eating or drinking during live sessions

• Clothing to be respectful and mindful of our host country’s dress code expectations.

For more details on Holy Month of Ramadan, please refer to below message of Mr. Rinaldo, emailed to all families on March 25, 2022.

Ramadan Kareem!

Our Admin offices will remain open during Spring Break March 28-April 8:

• Monday-Thursday: 8:00am - 2:00pm

• Fridays: 8:00am - 1:00pm

Entry requirements for visitors remain unchanged:

• All adults aged 16 and above must present negative PCR result not older than 96 hours and Green Pass on Al Hosn App

• All children aged 12-16 must present negative PCR result not older than 96 hours.

Congratulations to GAA Varsity Boys Basketball and Girls Football teams for amazing results in Abu Dhabi Sports Council School Championship, qualifying for finals which will take place in May!

Congratulations to GAA Varsity Boys Football team for back-to-back wins against other schools!

Dear Parents,

GEMS Education are excited to offer the ‘Positive Discipline in Everyday Parenting Program’ at GAA. This United Nations # 1 ranked Parenting Program will be ran in collaboration with the Early Childhood Authority. It is a free of cost, 8-week parenting program available for all parents.

You are invited to an information session where we will provide details on the parenting course. This will be held in person at our school on Tuesday 19th April at 8:00am please ensure you have a 96-hour PCR. If you are curious to learn more and would like to register your interest, kindly use this link to complete the short form: https://forms.gle/dXrwuptgjy32SJEf8

Please see the flyer for more details.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Alison Haswell and Melanie Moses

Student Counselors

Dear Parents,

This is a gentle reminder to express your decision about your child's return to GAA for the next school year.

How to re-enrol your child/children:

• Log into the GEMS Parent Portal using your parent username by following this link: https://oasis.gemseducation.com or log onto the GEMS Connect app on your phone.

• If you have forgotten your password, you may reset it by clicking on the Forgot Password option in the top right-hand corner of your screen. For new families this option can also be used to create a password.

• Please complete the entire re-enrolment process for each child.

• If you would like to pay at the school cashier’s office, please complete the online process before proceeding.

Important things to remember:

• Change of circumstance - If your personal circumstances change after paying the re-enrolment fee, and you cannot take your 2022-2023 place due to leaving Abu Dhabi, you can request a refund of these fees in keeping with the policy of the relevant regulatory authority (ADEK)

• More than one child - This needs to be completed for all children in your family, this is not a ‘family re-enrolment’, and each student needs to be re-enrolled individually.

• Not re-enrolling - If you are not re-enrolling for September, this process still needs to be completed, as this is what will prompt a Transfer Certificate to be generated. A Transfer Certificate may be required by your new school, and is a required process when leaving our school.

• Unregistered children, as well as, children with an outstanding tuition fee balance, will not be able to begin class next academic year.

If you require any further details regarding re-enrollment, have questions regarding the process or wish to discuss your individual circumstances with us, please do not hesitate to contact our Registrar at registrar_gaa@gemsedu.com

• March 25-26: Elementary Musical "School of Rock, Jr." Virtual Production

• March 28-April 8: Spring Break - NO SCHOOL

• April 2 - Expected start of Holy Month of Ramadan

• April 11-12: School resumes as asynchronous learning.

• April 13: School resumes face-to-face.

• April 19: Information Session about "Positive Discipline in Everyday Parenting Program" @8:00am

• April 22: Senior Walk

• April 23: TEDx Youth at GAA

• May 2-4: Eid Al Fitr (Ramadan Holiday)