Middle School Counsellor
(grades 6-8)
High School Counsellor
(student last names A-D)
High School Counsellor
(student last names E-Z)
Greetings from the GAA Counseling Team,
In an effort to stay connected during our distance learning time, we are offering virtual counseling sessions/parent meetings from 8:00-3:00 PM Sunday to Thursday. Please email your counselor to book an appointment. The meeting platform we use is Google Hangouts. Students will need to login using their GAA email address. For parents and students who request meetings - counselors will send a Hangouts invitation to join the meeting.
We look forward to working with you!
United Kingdom
Canada
Asia
Europe
United States
Middle East
I've had a wonderful time getting to know the students and families of GAA this year. I am proud of the commitment and resilience our students have demonstrated through this long period of distance learning. Below are some resources that may be helpful to you over the summer and looking ahead for the fall semester. I wish everyone a restful, fun summer and I look forward to seeing you all in September!
Kind regards,
Yvette Cuenco - GAA Middle School Counselor
Smiling Mind - Mindfulness exercises currently in practice in our Resource classes. Helpful to all students and families.
Common Sense Media - Media and technology resource to help families support children in developing healthy media and tech habits
Louvre Abu Dhabi - The Louvre will re-open on 24-June with strict social distancing protocols in place. Check out their summer programming for fun workshops/actitivites for the whole family!
Apps that Encourage Outdoor Activities - list of apps compiled by Common Sense Media that encourage students to get outside
The class of 2020 IB Scholars will mark as part of their academic journey being part of the historic decision to not offer World Exams. This is the first time since its 1968 inception that this decision has had to be made. Although not made hastily, the IB has moved forward with developing a process by which students will still be able to earn their Diploma or Certificate. Our scholars and instructors have met the news with resilience and a commitment to excel. The IB instructors and scholars have worked with renewed purpose to make sure that the data that is submitted for scoring as a means of awarding their IB Diploma/Certificates is polished and best reflects their abilities – all while working in a virtual classroom.
I have had the opportunity to participate in some of their classes and it has been such a joy to see them exhibiting many of the IB Learner Profiles – knowledgeable, inquirers, principled, open minded and caring. Students have been advised that their work will not go in vain, the IB will score their internal assessments in a holistic manner, and have all submissions scored by IB examiners versus applying moderation from the teachers. Additional historical data from previous scoring sessions, the school’s historical data, and predicted grades will also be taken in consideration in a desire to holistically support the work that our students have completed.
Pursuing an IB curriculum was never solely about preparing for the World Exams. The pedagogical foundation for our curriculum is predicated upon real world principles as aligned in each of the disciplines plus Core of the programme. Our IB scholars continue to embrace the challenge of garnering further education to support their future university endeavors. Teachers continue to engage their scholars and make connections to real world data in their disciplines. Moving forward virtual instruction will align with further preparing scholars to study at the university level.
IB faculty and the GEMS Administration salute our IB scholars on their continued academic commitment and successes.
Monica Martin
IBDP Coordinator
email: m.martin1_gaa@gemsedu.com
Your school counselors have put together the following resources for students and parents. The wakelet will be updated regularly with useful tips and resources so please bookmark it to check back often!