Safety and Security at GAA

Beginning on January 2, the first day of Semester 2 at GAA, all secondary students must wear their School ID around their neck via a lanyard. 

• The ID helps us identify students as members of our community. A student's name is accessible to all faculty and staff when needed, helping to personalize conversations. 

• IDs are also used in our bus system. 

• Money can be credited to the student’s ID through the GEMS Connect app for food purchases in the cafeteria - this will speed up the line and provide more “lunch” time for our students.

Student IDs are generated at the beginning of the school year or when a new student transfers in. They are printed and handed to students. Each ID is protected via a plastic cover and hangs on a lanyard.

All Secondary students are eligible to pick-up a new and free ID until December 13 at 3:30 p.m.  

During a break, lunch, or after school, direct your student to the transportation office in the admin area of GAA to collect an ID.

After this date and time, the following costs will be charged for new IDs or replacement of ID items:

• GAA Lanyard 12 AED

• Card holder 5 AED

• Card 10 AED

• Total - 27 AED (payable by card or cash)

During a break, lunch, or after school, direct your student to the transportation office in the admin area of GAA to collect an ID or the missing part and pay there.

We thank you for your support of this initiative and for ensuring your GAA student wears the ID daily and proudly.

Garth Wyncoll

Secondary Principal

Some students shared their thoughts below…

• In assembly, we talked about the difference between being non-racist and being anti-racist and I watched many movies on topics such as slavery, which helped with my full understanding of anti-racism compared to being non-racist which I previously was. Omar Mounla, Grade 9

• We have been covering how racism impacts other people and it can affect them mentally.

• We talked about racism and how its no good. Hasan Samara, Grade 10

• Racism is something that has been taken very lightly nowadays, I have experiences of racism and I'm sure everyone has. These school assemblies help teach the importance of how Racism isn't a joke and shouldn't ever be used. There's been a lot of history behind racism and these assemblies shows that we should all be treated with kind and respect no matter our appearance. 

• We are talking about racism and it’s bad because everyone should be equal and can be friends with anyone and shouldn’t feel left out because of their race. It’s important because I think everyone should be equal. 

• Racism isn't cool man, that’s why we have to stop it. It hurts millions of people around the world, so that’s why I like that the school is taking action against this.

• In our assembly, we talked about the idea of anti-racism, which is a policy of opposing racism. We also spoke about the importance of anti-racism and why we should consider this topic. Moreover, there was a girl who wrote a poem about anti-racism and spoke out to the audience at the auditorium. I was appreciative of what that girl said out loud. In my opinion, this is the most important to me and my school community because racism should not exist in this school. We should not be racist to other people. We should not compare someone's skin color with one another. We should not compare one person with another person. Therefore, we should instead become an antiracist who fights against racism and make our school community peaceful by being an antiracist to stop racism. Siyoung Park, Grade 10

• I think it is very important to our school community that racism is not a thing, because students shouldn't feel scared to come to school, they should feel welcome and safe.

Dear Families,

We had our awards assembly this week and our amazing students were recognized for all of their hard work this month. One topic we spoke about at the assembly was student ID's. Beginning in January we are going to require all students to wear their lanyards while on school premises. Please keep an eye out for communication from Mr. Wyncoll about our next steps in requiring lanyards. 

GAAPA provided our Middle School with cupcakes on Thursday, and I must say everyone was so happy. A big thank you to our GAAPA family for acknowledging our MS students. 

Semester 1 is coming to an end. December 12 is the final deadline for summatives and teachers will input final grades December 15th. Reports will be released January 12th. 

Reminders:

• Next week is a White Week. Monday starts with block A.

• Next Friday is a dress down day for all of secondary. 

Have a great weekend. 

Ms. Williams

GAA’s Middle School students have dove deeply into the rehearsal process for production of Matilda Jr. We can’t wait to share our mainstage production with the GAA community in this fun-filled, energetic musical. The students are beyond excited to showcase their talents with you in the months to come. Hold on to your seats because this is a show you will not want to miss! Get ready for the 2024 Middle School Production on February 28th and 29th. Check out a few photos of rehearsals thus far… 

Here are Ms. Liz’s Grade 7 English honors class evaluating arguments. At the same time, they had complete the associated activity in order for a code to be revealed! They then had to input the code into their virtual escape room before they were granted access to the next activity.  Only when all 5 codes had been found, could they escape.  They must have had fun because they gave me a big thumbs up for this activity!

• November 29: UAE National Day Celebration at school

• November 30: Last day to donate for Tarahum for Ghaza campaign

• December 1: ASYNCHRONOUS LEARNING - no in-person school.

• December 4: National Day Public Holiday (NO SCHOOL)

• December 5: Parent Info Session about Standards Based Learning and MAP test results @8am

• December 6, 7, 9: Musical "Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella: Youth Edition"

• December 13: Middle School Sports Day

• December 14: High School Sports Day

• December 18-January 1: WINTER BREAK (NO SCHOOL)