Dear Secondary students and families,

Congratulations on completing the 2019-2020 school year! It has been as challenging as year that I can remember. However, I know the growth that we had this year will make our school and our learning even better in the years to come. Enjoy your break! You have earned it.

Please know that we are planning for every contingency for the 2020-20201 school year, and we will be ready to meet any obstacle. As the various government agencies make decisions, we will keep you informed. Delivering a high quality education is our top priority.

Thank you for your work this year. My heart is filled with gratitude when I reflect of the work of our students, parents and teachers. You have all shown great resilience. For now, enjoy the moment. Don’t worry about what is to come. Relax. Renew friendships. Rekindle your interests. Have a good summer!

Kain Klinkhammer

Secondary School Principal

We have put together a Year-End Awards website acknowledging the Outstanding Student and Teacher's Choice Awards in each course, special Grade Level Awards, Teacher of the Year, and the semester 2 house points standings.

Click here for the Middle School Awards Website.

Usually, we would have an awards assembly to celebrate your accomplishments. While the format is different, your teachers did not want to let this school year end without honoring you.

The High School Awards Assembly celebrates students in each class who have worked diligently throughout the school year. Our staff was asked to nominate students they thought were deserving of each award; staff then voted on the nominees to determine the winner of each award.

Please scroll down to view the Awards Presentation. Award winners will receive their digital certificates in via email.

In addition to the 29 subject awards, the following awards were also given:

• The Wildcat Victory Award is given to the student in each grade level who has made the greatest improvements in behaviour, attitude, and performance.

• The Culture of Kindness Award is given to the student who shows empathy, compassion, and respect. They are committed to making positive differences in the GAA community. Nominees should be positive, courteous, forgiving, and empathetic.

• The GAA Leadership Award is given to one student in grades 9-11. The winner of this award is someone who leads inside and outside of the classroom, participates in a wide range of activities at GAA and shows personal development outside of GAA. This student embodies what it means to be a global citizen and has the conviction to pursue their dreams and impact the world.

• The Shaikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Award is named after Shaikha Fatima Bint Mubarak, known as the Mother of the Nation. Shaikha Fatima, wife of the late founding president Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, is known for her contributions to the empowerment of women in the UAE and her support for excellence in numerous areas. The award is given for outstanding academic success, commitment to social responsibility and global citizenship.

Welcome to GAA Secondary Library website! Your access to the library collection, research databases, learning resources and more!

SECONDARY LIBRARY WEBSITE

One of the challenges that the IB DP students faced after we started distance learning, was engaging in meaningful CAS experiences. In their IBDP core classes, students were provided with examples of various activities they could do at home that would help them learn something new as well give them a break from their academics.

Almost all of our CAS students managed to engage in some meaningful experiences while staying at home and following the social distancing norms!

COVID ART by Danae Orphanide

Based on the recent global-scale events of the spread of COVID-19, I turned my attention onto the environmental benefits of this pandemic through my art work. Using some of my knowledge from DP Biology, the Ecology topic, as well as DP Visual Art knowledge, I created a series of paintings based on this recent event. I also looked at practicing more of my artistic skills, mainly watercolor, and challenging myself on those.

READING AT HOME by Yusra Saeed and Tawfeeq Ward

Young children are bound to feel more bored during the quarantine, so our goal was to ensure more sources to entertain them - we did this by creating around 6 short stories. We also spread positive messages in these stories with general life lessons, as well as a way to lift spirits up during this time. We kept everything digital as many activities across the world are being turned to digital due to the pandemic. The link to her website is here

OUTDOOR RUNNING by José Diego Salazar Carrasco

Ever since the school closed down and less people started to go outside during the day, I took advantage of it and decided to run outside everyday. Not only did this activity improve my overall fitness, but it also disconnected me from the school overload and in some way stimulated and relaxed my brain. Although you might think it is a bad idea to go outside during these times, I always have my distance apart from people and follow all the norms.

DIGITAL MEMORY BOOKS FOR LEAVING TEACHERS, by Andrea de Jesus Pilonieta

"There are many teachers leaving the school this year so we took care of the middle school teachers. We came up with making online books since due to Covid-19 we are not sure if we will see those teachers in person before they leave. We made surveys asking what the student's favourite memory was of each teacher and then put their responses into a digital book which we made using Canvas. Our main goal is to give the teachers something that will remind them of their time at GEMS and something they can keep forever."

We are proud and extremely happy with the different ways in which our students have engaged in CAS experiences. We encourage them to continue engaging in meaningful CAS experiences during their summer break while being safe and following all the precautions!

IB DP CAS Coordinator

Ms. Kasturi Bagwe

CLICK HERE TO ACCESS THE GAA EVENTS CALENDAR

(please note, updated regularly)