As the school year draws to a close, our halls are filled with a unique blend of nostalgia and anticipation. This week ahead, we celebrate a significant milestone: high school graduation. The senior walk on May 27th, a cherished tradition, sees our soon-to-be graduates parade the school one final time, reflecting on their journey from KG to Grade 12. This moment is not just a culmination of their academic endeavors but a celebration of their growth, resilience, and potential to impact the world.

The journey from preschool to twelfth grade is profound, marked by countless lessons, both inside and outside the classroom. It’s a path where curiosity is nurtured, challenges are met head-on, and personal growth is fostered. Each stage of this journey plays a crucial role in shaping well-rounded individuals ready to contribute to society.

Early Foundations in PK and Elementary School

The earliest years, from PK through elementary school, are where the seeds of learning are planted. These formative years are crucial as children develop foundational skills in literacy, numeracy, and social interaction. More than academics, these years are about igniting a passion for learning and curiosity about the world. The joy of discovery and the thrill of learning new things create a solid bedrock for future academic and personal growth.

Teachers in these early years play a pivotal role in fostering a love for learning. They create safe and engaging environments where children feel valued and inspired to explore their interests. This nurturing approach helps students develop confidence and a positive attitude toward education that will carry them through their academic journey.

Middle school is also a time when students learn to navigate increased academic responsibilities and extracurricular activities. They begin to discover their strengths and interests, setting the stage for future academic and career choices. The support from teachers and peers during this period is crucial, helping students build resilience and independence.

The high school experience is a blend of rigorous academics and opportunities for personal growth. Whether through sports, arts, clubs, or community service, students learn to balance their interests and responsibilities, preparing them for the demands of adulthood. Teachers and counselors provide guidance, helping students navigate college applications, career planning, and life beyond school.

As we celebrate this year’s graduates, we are reminded that our role as educators extends beyond the classroom. We have the privilege of influencing young minds, fostering a love for learning, and preparing students to make meaningful contributions to society. Graduation is not the end but a milestone in a continuous journey of growth, discovery, and impact.

Congratulations to our graduates, our grade 5 PYPx students looking toward promotion soon to grade 6 and our early learners in KG2 looking forward to promotion to grade 1. 

What an excited few weeks we have ahead! Well done Little (and BIG) Wildcats!

Ms. Leia 

Elementary Principal 

KG1D had the amazing opportunity to welcome the talented author Ebtisam Al-Beiti to our school! She visited our class to share her delightful story A Dragon Called Blue, capturing the children's attention with her expressive reading and engaging storytelling. The children were fascinated by the friendly blue dragon and joined in with great enthusiasm during the session. Many were thrilled to purchase their own signed copy to take home and enjoy with their families. It was a magical experience that brought the joy of reading to life.

In the classroom, we also read the humorous and imaginative story Stuck by Oliver Jeffers. This story explored the concept of our Unit of Inquiry, How the World Works. The children followed the adventure of a boy who tries to solve a problem by throwing increasingly larger objects into a tree to retrieve his stuck kite! Through this fun and silly tale, the children explored ideas of cause and effect, problem-solving, and creativity. They even built their own trees using recycled materials and tested how many items they could “stick” without toppling the tree over! It’s been a wonderful month of storytelling, imagination, and hands-on discovery.

KG2D have been busy learning about countries around the world and their cultures. We made cultural posters and shared the special things that make up our cultures, such as foods, languages, music, and flags. We even learned some Irish language words from Ms. Sarah! We also had a special visit from author Ebtisam Al-Beiti, who read her story A Dragon Called Blue. In writing, we have been working on opinion pieces — saying what we like, what we don’t like, and why.

We’ve had an exciting week in 1A! We started off with a special author visit - students loved hearing Ebtisam Al-Beiti talk about her new book.

Later in the week, some Grade Five students visited our class to share about their upcoming PYP Exhibition projects. Our students were very engaged and asked lots of thoughtful questions.

In our own lessons, we continued developing our phonics skills in literacy and worked on data skills in math. In science, we explored which objects are transparent, translucent, or opaque as part of our Light and Sound unit.

On Monday, 26 May 2025, Grade Five will present their PYPx (Primary Years Programme Exhibition). This will be the final PYPx at GAA, as the elementary school transitions to the American Curriculum next year.

The PYPx is a celebration of the learning journey of students in a PYP school. Over the past six weeks, the students of 5B - and all of Grade Five - have been thinking, researching, reflecting, communicating, creating, and collaborating in preparation for this culminating presentation.

This process has provided a wonderful opportunity for students to step up and lead, demonstrate risk-taking, create incredible art pieces, and shine with confidence and deep knowledge in their presentations.

Last Thursday, we visited Raha International School (Gardens Campus) to learn from their PYPx experience. On Monday, students from Raha and the American International School of Abu Dhabi (AISA) will visit our PYPx during school hours.

It has been a privilege to witness the growth and enthusiasm of the students of 5B and the entire Grade Five cohort. They have truly made us proud by demonstrating how passion leads to action.

As part of their PYPx action, Grade 5 students are raising awareness on their inquiry topics in a sustainable way by engaging Grade 2 students through fun, meaningful activities. With guidance from our amazing librarian and SDG expert, Ms. Maureen, they’ve been strengthening their communication and research skills to inspire younger learners and make a lasting impact!

Grade 5 PYP Exhibition Learners Dive into Real-World Impact

Our Grade 5 PYP Exhibition students took their learning beyond the classroom with an inspiring visit to Abu Dhabi Ports. As part of their inquiry into the central idea—“Water pollution is impacting animal life by damaging ecosystems, threatening marine life, and upsetting the balance of ocean health”—these young changemakers engaged with industry experts and deepened their understanding of real-world environmental challenges.

Students interviewed Yousef Abbas, connected with Hamda Al Mansouri from the CSR team, and were honored by a special visit from Capt. Saif Al Mheiri, Chief Sustainability Officer.

A heartfelt thank you to Abu Dhabi Ports for hosting our passionate environmentalists and their families. It was a powerful and meaningful experience for our future leaders.

Mark your calendars: The Grade 5 PYP Exhibition will take place on Monday, May 26 at 4 PM. Don’t miss the chance to see these incredible projects come to life!

أبدع طلاب الصف الخامس في تأليف قصص من خيالهم ، عبّروا فيها عن أفكارهم ومشاعرهم بأسلوب مميز. وقد نُشرت هذه القصص في مكتبة المدرسة ليستعيرها بقية الطلاب ويطّلعوا على إبداعات زملائهم.

Grade 5 students wrote stories expressing their thoughts and feelings in a unique and diverse style. These stories have been published in the school library for other students to borrow and enjoy their classmates' creativity.

• May 26 - PYP Exhibition

• May 27 - Senior Walk

• June 4 - GAAPA Annual General Meeting

• June 5-6 - Eid-Al-Adha (subject to confirmation by UAE Authorities)

• June 16-17 - KG2 Promotion Ceremonies

• June 18 - Grade 5 Promotion Ceremony

• June 19 - TEDxYouth

• June 20 - GAA Got Talent!

• June 26 - Islamic New Year (subject to confirmation by UAE Authorities)

• June 27 - Last Day of School