Summer Activities to Keep Your Child Engaged

As the summer season approaches, parents are often faced with the challenge of keeping their children engaged and entertained during the long break from school. With so much free time on their hands, children can easily become bored or restless if they don't have a variety of activities to keep them occupied.

Fortunately, there are plenty of fun and educational summer activities that parents can plan for their elementary school-aged children. These activities not only provide entertainment but also help develop social skills, emotional intelligence, and academic knowledge.

Social Activities:

• Summer camps: Summer camps offer an excellent opportunity for kids to make new friends while learning new skills. There are many different types of summer camps available in the UAE, including sports camps, arts and crafts camps, science-based camps and more.

• Volunteering: Volunteering is a great way for kids to learn about empathy and compassion while giving back to their community. There are many organizations in UAE that welcome volunteers from all ages. 

• Outdoor adventures inside: Outdoor adventures inside like the aquarium, climbing centers, and even Ski Dubai  allow children to connect with nature which has been shown by research studies that it helps reduce stress levels among young ones .

Academic Opportunities:

• Reading programs: Reading programs encourage students' love for reading by providing incentives when they read books over the summer months. The Abu Dhabi Children’s  Library offers various reading challenges throughout July & August where students can earn rewards based on how many books they read.

• STEM workshops: STEM workshops teach Science Technology Engineering Mathematics (STEM) concepts through hands-on projects such as building robots or programming games using coding languages like Scratch . In addition most universities across UAE offer STEM-related courses suitable for younger age groups too!

Summer vacation doesn’t have to be a time of boredom and inactivity for children. As parents, we can plan a variety of social, emotional, and academic activities that will keep our kids engaged and entertained throughout the summer months. By incorporating these activities into their schedules, we can ensure they continue to learn and grow while enjoying their break from school!

On behalf of the Elementary Division at GAA we would like to thank you for a great year and look forward to another great year ahead!

Leia Kraeuter

Elementary Principal

Next week, we will gather to celebrate two significant milestones in the lives of our young learners – the promotion ceremonies for grade 5 and kindergarten students. It is a day filled with immense pride, joy, and a touch of nostalgia as we reflect on the incredible growth and achievements of our remarkable children.

For our kindergarten graduates, this ceremony represents the completion of their final year in kindergarten. We have watched them bloom from curious and wide-eyed KG 1 students into confident learners, eager to explore the world around them. We celebrate their accomplishments, from learning to read their first words to mastering the art of numbers. It is a testament to their resilience and the dedication of our amazing kindergarten teachers.

To our grade 5 students, today marks the end of an era as they prepare to embark on the next stage of their academic journey. They have spent years building a strong foundation of knowledge and skills, and now they stand ready to spread their wings and soar to new heights. They have completed their PYP exhibition, taking charge of their own learning pathways and ownership of their skills. .We celebrate their achievements, both academic and personal, applauding their growth as critical thinkers, compassionate leaders, and compassionate members of our school community.

Promotion ceremonies are not just about recognizing academic achievements; they are also about acknowledging the personal growth, development of our PYP learner attributes, and resilience demonstrated by these incredible young individuals. We have seen them face challenges head-on, embrace new experiences with courage, and support one another through thick and thin. Next week, we honor their determination, perseverance, and unwavering spirit.

Family members- we want to ‘thank you’ for your unwavering support and guidance. You have played an instrumental role in the success of our students. You have been their pillars of strength, offering encouragement and unconditional love throughout their educational journey. Next week is as much your celebration as it is theirs, as you witness the culmination of their hard work and dedication.

Happy Promotion week and PYPx week,  everyone!

Lauren Sargent

Elementary VP (KG-Grades 2)

I am pleased to inform you that all of our PreK A students have completed over 300 minutes of reading for the Read Marathon. We registered as a whole class and dedicated time every day to reading during the event. Earlier today, we were awarded medals by Ms. Jennifer, and I couldn't be prouder of my PreK A friends.

Over the past two weeks in the KG 1E class, students have been actively engaged in exploring the Unit of "How the world works." The focus of the unit was on materials and their properties. Through various hands-on activities, students had the opportunity to investigate different materials and understand their unique characteristics. They discovered how S.T.E.A.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) is intricately intertwined in our daily lives, gaining an appreciation for its relevance. Additionally, they delved into the steps of the engineering design process, where they inquired, brainstormed, designed, and crafted solutions to real-world problems. Through iterative testing and improvement, students honed their critical thinking and problem-solving skills while nurturing their creativity. Overall, it has been an engaging and enriching experience for the students as they actively participated in the exploration of how the world works.

KG 1 students are prepared to progress towards their next significant stage as they have acquired the essential skills in numeracy and literacy, equipping them for advancement to KG 2.

KG2E has been engaging in exploration of various cultures. We have participated in centers that allow us to investigate the diverse countries that comprise our classroom. Through different inquiries, the students have gained deeper insights into the customs, traditions, and characteristics of each country. We’ve had parents come read books, bring foods, and talk to us about their cultures. 

• June 13: KG2 A, B, C Promotion Ceremonies

• June 14: KG2 D, E Promotion Ceremonies

• June 13: PYP Exhibition by Grade 5 @4:30pm

• June 15: Grade 5 Promotion Ceremony @1pm

• June 26: LAST DAY OF SCHOOL