Message from our Head of School,
Dr. Kathryn Miner
After six wonderful years at GEMS American Academy leading an amazing journey of a young and developing school, I’m proud that GAA has become a strong and internationally recognized school while maintaining its a warm and welcoming sense of community.
Continuing on with my international education career, I will be departing at the end of the year in June 2020 to join a school in Austria. I’m very proud of our collective accomplishments as a staff and faculty on behalf of GAA students and am confident that GAA will continue to thrive and reach new heights.
I’d like to invite GAA parents to join the Cake & Coffee Welcome Reception for incoming Head of School Mr. Robert Rinaldo on Monday, January 27 at 2:15 pm in the main lobby.
Mr. Rinaldo's appointment will be official once approval is received by the Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK).
Mr. Rinaldo and his wife Patty will be visiting next week and will both attend the parent gathering. Please stop by the main lobby and greet Robert and Patty at the Welcome Reception.
Mr. Rinaldo has a busy schedule for the week ahead with various meetings across the school to help him to understand GAA, the community and needs going forward. In anticipation of his visit, Mr. Rinaldo wrote, “Patty and I are extremely excited to start our transition and joining the GAA community.”
Thank you for your warm and welcoming spirit as Mr. Robert Rinaldo prepares to join our school and community.
Please be sure to also attend the student-led TEDx Youth at GAA, starting at noon on Saturday, January 25th.
Kathryn Miner
Head of School and CEO
Model United Nations Revival!
Recently GAA students have participated to Model United Nations session in GEMS World Academy in Dubai, with a unique opportunity to represent their views and opinions in the presence of His Excellency Ban Ki-moon, the former Secretary-General of the United Nations!
Students discussed a range of issues including but not limited to corporate social responsibility, and how the nations of the world would handle the first contact with other living beings in our universe. To start an especially large thank you to Lekh Bhatia for his tireless work as both a committee chair and the lead student advisor for the club. Lekh has given immense time and care to this endeavour helping resurrect this organization within the school. His coaching and training supported the club members during the intense preparation for this event. As a result of the hard work and preparation, both Jackson Roby and Daria Botnaru were identified by their committee chairs for their outstanding efforts. Jackson was recognized as the best delegate in the Futuristic Security Council, while Daria was recognized as the second-best delegate on the commission on crime prevention and criminal justice. GAA was also proudly represented by Noora Al-Ozaibi, Ahmad Sayad, Daniel Gergis, Dhruv Nair, Siddharth Guntreddy, Preethika Kannan, Danial Hamdan, and Divyanshu Gupta. We would also like to thank Ms Susanna Kanyi for her help supporting the growth and redevelopment of this student organization. Thank you Ms Ruba Alhemsi, our Government Relations Executive, for her work with ADEK to ensure our students were able to participate in such an enriching event.
Rize Enrichment Program Overview
Abu Dhabi Department for Education and Knowledge (ADEK) is delighted to inform that due to popular demand, Rize Enrichment Programs is now officially open to private schools students.
The new initiative by ADEK, Rize Enrichment Programs are after-school learning programs that aim to help every student reach their full potential by exposing them to new ideas and new mindsets so they are ready for whatever the future holds. Rize teaches subjects that are central to academic learning such as Math and English, and those that are relevant to the 21st century and are culturally important, such as artificial intelligence (AI) and the Arabic language. Rize focuses on STEAM subjects and includes the following initiatives:
Annual Program: a yearlong program that teaches STEAM subjects that fall under three main themes: Tech, Arts and Culture and Math. The Annual Program is open for grades 1-8 in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain, and grades 1-12 in Al Dhafra.
University Preparation and Career Guidance: a program for students in grades 9-12 in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain with specialized counselors that help students define what career path they want to take, help with the university application process and coach in standardized test prep, to help students get a clear understanding of their future.
Competitions: a program that coaches and helps students prepare for select national and international competitions in Robotics, Arabic Reading and much more.
Learning journeys: a program where students get the chance to travel to national and international centres of excellence, world-renowned for being at the forefront of major innovations and technologies such as renewable energy, fintech, medicine, water conservation, coding and robotics.
Rize Games App: an educational games app where students collect points and badges by completing exciting tasks set for them by their teacher in the form of educational online games relevant to the subject they’re learning.
Registration is open for all students, Public, Charter and Private across the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. Students can register at rize.ae, directly at Rize stands in the below malls until January 24, or at Rize School locations from Sunday to Wednesday until February 8. Registration closes February 8.
- Abu Dhabi: Dalma Mall, Yas Mall
- Al Ain: Al Ain Mall, Bawadi Mall
- Al Dhafra: City Mall
(please note, updated regularly)
- January 25: TED-X @ Auditorium
- January 26: Madagascar Jr. Ticket Sales @ 3:00pm in Main Lobby
- January 26-27: Grades 1 - 5 Sports Day
- January 28: IFF Planning Meeting @8:30am in GAAPA Room
- January 29: Coffee with Secondary Counsellors @8:30-10:45am in the Planetarium
- January 29-30: KG Sports Day
- January 29-30: Elementary Musical "Madagascar Jr" @6:30pm in the Auditorium
- January 30: Half-Day, school dismisses @12:00. Also a Dress Down Day/Pizza Day
- February 1: Stu Williamson Sibling Photo Session
- February 6: Re-enrollment opens!
- February 9: Stu Williamson make up Student Photo Session
NEW AND EXCITING AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITY
BY ABU DHABI SAILING ACADEMY!
Dear GAA Parents,
Abu Dhabi Sailing Academy is proud to announce that our sailing school for children ages 8 to 17 is open. This is a longtime dream and now materializing into reality. The Academy has now a fleet of 8 Optimist(ages 8-15) and 6 Beneteau first 7.5(ages 15-17) on our base at Yas Marina.
The mission is: Sailing For All, In a Fun, Safe and Efficient Way to Learn this Amazing Sport!
NEXT STEPS:
If interested without the sea trial, contact the ADSA at adsailingacademy@gmail.com.
FOR CHILDREN
A - School programs: 10 hours (4 weeks/ 1 time per week) - PRICE: 900 Dhs
B - Weekends: 10 hours (3 weeks / 1 time per weekend) - PRICE: 1,200 Dhs
D - ADSA RACING TEAM: For kids that would like to race, price to be announced.
Check out below brochure for more information!
LOST AND FOUND
Dear GAA Community,
Please visit Main Reception for unclaimed lost items of value (such as, phones, airpods, keys, etc)
The following items are stored in Main Lobby under central stairs:
- Uniforms
- Swimming Kits
- Shoes
- Bags
- Books
- Water bottles
year book ORDER FORM 2019-20B.pdfSAVINGS ON APPLE PRODUCTS
FOR GAA FAMILIES
Our preferred Apple provider, JTRS (Just The Right Solutions), has created an e-store from which you can purchase a number of Apple products below retail costs. JTRS Education is offering discounts on MacBook Pros, MacBook Airs and iPads, as well as add-ons, cases and extended warranties.
Below, you will find a document on how to locate and sign-up for the e-store to see the discounted products and make a purchase. Once purchased, JTRS Education will be in communication with you about when they will be delivered to the school. Once they have been delivered to GAA, you may pick your devices up from the ICT office here at the school.
If you have any further questions, please contact JTRS directly at +971 4 338 0990 or info@jtrs.ae
Gems American Academy-Estore Guide - updated Sept19.pdfSAVE ON SCHOOL FEES
1. Facility to pay by credit card is made available. You can avail fee discounts by paying the whole years’ fees using your FAB GEMS Co Brand Credit Card.
2. FAB Representative Mr. Jayachandran (Mob: +971 56 687 9496) will be able assist if you wish to register for the above mentioned facility.
3. Important!: Coordinate with FAB representative to ensure FAB records GAA tuition payment transaction(s) with the "12 months 0% Easy Payment Plan and no processing fee."
USEFUL APPS AND WEBSITES
for Parents
Parent Portal Summary.pdf
