Dear GAA Community,

What an exciting season it has been at GAA! A heartfelt congratulations to our incredible elementary students for their outstanding performances in The Jungle Book musical. With a full house on both nights, the talent, confidence, and joy on stage were truly inspiring. A huge shoutout to our dedicated Arts department, staff, and the many parent volunteers whose support made this production such a memorable success - thank you!

As we move into the final stretch of the academic year, a few reminders to help us maintain our safe and respectful environment:

• Lanyards and Parent IDs are essential for ensuring the safety of everyone on campus - please wear them at all times.

• Uniform expectations remain in place through the end of the term; thank you for supporting our students in presenting themselves with pride.

• Cell phone management makes a truly positive difference for our learning environment and student welfare. Help ensure no cellphone use at school.

Thank you to all who joined us for the GAA Parent Engagement Event! This was a wonderful opportunity for us to hear from our parents, a meaningful opportunity to connect, reflect, and continue growing together. We welcome suggestions always. Please contact us on hos_gaa@gemsedu.com 

Kindest regards,

Dr. Ethan Hildreth

🌟 GAAPA Annual General Meeting (AGM) and GAAPA Board Nominations for 2025–2026 Announcements 🌟

AGM Announcement:

• Date: Wednesday, June 4th

• Time: 12PM

• Location: GAAPA Room (behind trophies, near parent café)

During this meeting current GAAPA Board will be presenting:

• Financial Report 2024-2025

• Activities Report 2024-2025

• Upcoming Elections for GAAPA Board 2025-2026

We look forward to seeing you there!

GAAPA Board Nominations:

Want to be part of something meaningful, fun, and rewarding? We’re now accepting nominations for the 2025–2026 GAAPA Board, and we’d love for YOU to join our amazing team! Whether you’re a seasoned volunteer or new to GAA, we welcome your energy and ideas.

If you're ready to contribute your time and talents, please fill out this form to nominate yourself. Questions? Email us anytime at gaa.parentsteam@gmail.com. We’re happy to chat!

IMPORTANT! Deadline to submit – Sunday June 1st, 2025, 6PM.

🗳️ Open Positions & Descriptions:

Vice Chairperson

• Assists the Chairperson in executive duties and board oversight

• Steps in when the Chairperson is unavailable

• Coordinates team efforts and communication

Secretary

• Records and maintains minutes from meetings and events

• Prepares agendas and handles GAAPA correspondence

• Maintains official GAAPA records and documentation

Treasurer

• Manages all finances: budgeting, tracking, and reporting

• Oversees reimbursements and event cash handling

• Coordinates end-of-year internal audit

• Interfaces only with GAA’s finance department

Sales & Purchases Coordinator

• Manages GAAPA merchandise, bake sales, uniform and other sales

• Handles inventory, pricing, and purchasing

• Collaborates with Treasurer on all financial aspects

Social Media Coordinator

• Creates and manages content for GAAPA’s social media

• Promotes events and maintains a positive online presence

Volunteer Coordinator

• Recruits and organizes parent & student volunteers

• Maintains a volunteer database

• Supports various committees and school staff needs

Event Coordinator

• Helps planning GAAPA events (e.g., Fall Festival, International Food Festival, Movie Nights...)

• Coordinates with volunteers, vendors, and GAA staff

• Getting Adek approvals

Parent Ambassadors

(One for Elementary and one for Secondary)

• Act as a liaison between parents and GAAPA

• Welcome new families and maintain WhatsApp groups

• Organize parent-focused events 

Let’s make next year unforgettable,  together!

Warm regards,

GAAPA Team

The Spirit of Inclusion at GAA: Embracing Every Learner, Every Step of the Way

At GEMS American Academy (GAA), inclusion isn’t just a policy - it’s a deeply embedded value that shapes the culture, the classrooms, and the community. From the early years in the Primary Years Programme Exhibition (PYPx) to the high-stakes environments of the IB, AP, and AD programs, GAA continues to champion meaningful inclusion for all students.

In the PYPx, the spirit of collaboration is on full display. Students in these capstone projects are not only working to showcase their own learning journeys - they're also finding thoughtful and creative ways to ensure that every team member has a meaningful role that plays to their strengths. The result? Group projects where all voices are heard, all efforts are valued, and all students feel a sense of pride and ownership in what they’ve created. 

This commitment to inclusion continues into the Secondary School, where teachers go above and beyond to ensure that access to learning is meaningfully embedded into the academic experience. For students sitting for demanding assessments like the International Baccalaureate (IB), Advanced Placement (AP), or American Diploma (AD) exams, extended time, modified testing environments, or specialized resources, are diligently provided by our coordinators and teachers who work closely with the learning support team to make sure that every student can perform to the best of their ability, without barriers.

The Arts Department at GAA is another shining example of inclusive excellence. Students of Determination are not only welcomed - they are celebrated. From our school musicals to visual arts exhibitions, the department makes it a priority to include students with special needs and talents. The Arts arena is a wonderful venue for students to showcase their passions and talents in non-academic settings. 

Looking to the future, school leadership is ensuring that inclusion is built into the very foundation of the campus itself. As part of GAA’s upcoming remodeling plans, management has made accessibility a priority. Our school is committed to creating a learning environment that meets the needs of all students.

Inclusion at GAA isn’t just a goal. It’s a lived experience, powered by intentional actions, compassionate leadership, and a school community that believes every learner has something valuable to offer. Your support and partnership is essential. Together, we continue to grow stronger - one inclusive step at a time.

Jackie Wyncoll

Head of K-12 Inclusion

Our athletics seasons concluded with a fantastic awards ceremony on May 15, 2025 celebrating the hard work and achievements of our student-athletes. A huge congratulations to all for your dedication, teamwork, and outstanding sportsmanship - you’ve made us incredibly proud!

📸 Check out the highlights and memorable moments from the ceremony in the photo links included.

Dear Grade 1-5 Parents,

Thank you to everyone who supported Kids Muscle Fitness during our first session at GEMS American Academy! We were thrilled to have 9 amazing superstars join us, and they absolutely rocked all five sessions! Your support has been incredible, and we are excited to announce that Kids Muscle Fitness will be returning for Session 4 ASA’s. We can’t wait to welcome familiar faces and new friends!

We are also thrilled to share that we are expanding!

Starting this session, Kids Muscle Fitness will now offer an exciting new program:

🎉 Kids Muscle Zumba

Led by the energetic and talented Ms. Lamia Ghouli, a certified Zumba instructor with years of experience working with children of all ages. Your kids will love dancing, moving, and getting fit while having loads of fun!

Program Details:

• Kids Muscle Fitness: Thursdays | 3:15–4:15 PM | AED 80

• Kids Muscle Zumba: Tuesdays | 3:15–4:15 PM | AED 80

🌟 Spots are limited for each class, so we encourage you to sign up early to secure your child’s place! Sign up at https://esm.ae/login Join the Kids Muscle Fitness Family and give your child the opportunity to stay active, build confidence, and most importantly, have fun!

We look forward to seeing your kids in class and continuing to grow strong together!

Warm regards,

The Kids Muscle Fitness Team

• May 26 - PYP Exhibition

• May 27 - Senior Walk

• May 29 - Senior Graduation

• 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 - Grade 8 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