Dear Parents,

As we approach the end of this term, I am delighted to reflect on the incredible learning and growth happening across our school. Our focus this term has been on strengthening foundational skills in literacy and mathematical thinking, with an emphasis on fostering curiosity and deep thinking.

In classrooms, students have been engaging with reading, writing, and problem-solving in ways that challenge and inspire them. Teachers have been intentionally guiding students to use their notebooks as tools for learning—a space to record, reflect, and refine their thinking. These notebooks are becoming powerful evidence of progress and creativity, and I encourage you to explore them with your children.

Looking Ahead: A New Year for Reading

As we welcome the new year, we are excited to renew our commitment to literacy and the joy of reading. Reading is not just a critical skill but a gateway to endless learning and imagination. Our libraries are rich with resources in English and Arabic, offering opportunities for every child and family to connect with books that spark interest and wonder.

We invite you to make family visits to the library part of your routine in the coming year. Parents are encouraged to check out books with their children, fostering a shared love of reading at home. Whether your family enjoys picture books, novels, or informational texts, time spent reading together is time well spent.

In partnership with our Arabic language team, we are also proud to offer an expanding selection of Arabic books through the Kutubi platform and in our school library. Together, we can cultivate bilingual literacy skills that empower our students and honor their cultural heritage.

Thank You for Your Support

Your ongoing support and collaboration have been integral to the progress we've seen this term. As we head into a new chapter, I encourage you to set reading resolutions with your children—whether that means exploring a new genre, setting a daily reading goal, or sharing stories together as a family.

Thank you for being part of the GAA community. I wish you all a joyful and restful winter break. We are back in session January 6, 2025

Leia Kraeuter

Elementary Principal

We had a busy couple of weeks with celebrations for Eid al Etihad in between. We celebrated as a class together on the stage and the field. We also had a class party where students made UAE crafts and got their face painted. After the holiday we wrote about the fun that we had celebrating with our families. Many of our class witnessed a fireworks display over the long weekend. Everyone was excited and happy to share their experiences. 

Our 2D class had a fantastic time celebrating Pyjama Day with cozy outfits and lots of smiles! We also embraced the joy of reading during our special "Drop Everything and Read" morning, diving into our favorite books together. We're so proud that many of our classmates have signed up for the Read Marathon over the winter break, showing their love for stories and learning. What a wonderful way to end the term and keep the reading spirit alive!

Grade 5 students have been beginning work on their ‘mini’ PYP Exhibition, which will take place in the second week back after Winter Break! Students will create a company, a product, a logo, as well as a company advertisement! These are some examples of company logos that students have created!

Grade 5C students are halfway through their Opinion Writing Unit. This week, students had to write an opinion essay, stating with evidence whether they would / would not recommend different texts from our Benchmark Advanced Unit.

Grade 5C are getting to grips with the high expectations in our Math lessons. We are currently finishing Unit 6: Multiplying Decimals. We look forward to our next unit after Winter Break!

• December 16 - WINTER BREAK STARTS

• January 6 -  SCHOOL RESUMES

• January 6 - GAAPA Welcome Coffee

• January 18 - GAAPA Movie Night & Garage Sale

• January 29-30 - Middle School Musical Production of Beauty and the Beast

• February 10-12 - Half-Term Break (NO SCHOOL)