This Sunday November 14th we will be checking new PCR test results for all students KG-Grade 12.

• For smooth entry to school, please make sure your child has a printout of the test result (SMS message or Al Hosn screenshot) to show at the Entrance Gates.

• If you missed free in-school testing of November 8th or 9th, please take your child to our designated testing center at Biogenix Lab Masdar City for free testing (school code KS-9086).

• Students aged below 12 and vaccinated students of all ages, must have PCR test result not older than 30 days.

• Unvaccinated students aged 12 and above, attending school in person, must have PCR test result not older than 7 days.

Hello GAA Families,

I hope your parent conferences yielded productive conversations. Parents, students, and teachers all want successful learning outcomes, and coming together as a community is one way to ensure students are successful. If you did not have an opportunity to meet your student’s teachers, please contact them and make arrangements. Parents are an essential part of learning, so we want parents to understand expectation for each of their student’s classes.

The progress report is the first of four whole-school reports. This makes it a natural time to reflect and to assess the year. I have two points that I would like families to keep in mind when reflecting on this year and determining next steps:

• First, just as the adjustment to distance learning caused anxiety, the adjustment back to full classrooms is causing anxiety for some students. Bear in mind that many students had limited social interaction for a year and a half. They will need time to adjust to full classrooms, which are highly stimulating. If your student is struggling with this adjustment, please communicate his/her needs to teachers and school administration. We are here to support students in their needs.

• Second, do not underestimate your student’s Approaches to Learning (AtLs). These will be found at the end of your student’s progress report. I have had many conversations with parents where they assure me of the child’s capabilities but do not understand why progress reports and report cards do not reflect what they know is true about their child. The reason can often be found in a student’s AtLs. Most problems in a school, and I would like in any organization, can be solved with improved communication, which is one of our AtLs. When you speak to teachers, include your student’s performance in AtLs as well as the content focus.

We thank you for your support at home. I have had a chance to meet with many parents this year. Please contact us with any needs. We are here to partner with you.

Sincerely,

Kain Klinkhammer

Secondary Principal

Dear Families and students of GAA MS & HS

We are thrilled to inform you about open auditions for our upcoming Secondary Production! The auditions are open to all on-campus learners in Middle and High School (Grades 6-12).

Due to ongoing copyright and licencing restrictions, we cannot name the production in this email but will have confirmation of the production by the time of auditions. What we can tell you is that it will be a musical with a theme of “Hopes & Dreams”. It will involve differing degrees of acting, singing and/or dance for different roles.

For this reason, we are asking students to focus on the theme of

“Hopes & Dreams”

for their audition

Information for students who wish to audition - students must:

1. Join the SECONDARY PRODUCTION GOOGLE CLASSROOM as soon as possible

• https://classroom.google.com/c/NDIzNTA5MjQ4MTIz?cjc=4aifmvh Code: 4aifmvh

• Once a student joins, they need to check the classroom regularly and follow all instructions.

2. Be available to audition in person in the Auditorium

• EITHER Tuesday 16 November from 3.30-5pm

• OR Wednesday 17 November from 3.30-5pm

3. Be available for rehearsals & production season from 21 November up until 3 March at latest.

• Sundays 3.30 - 5pm

• Tuesdays 3.30 - 5pm and

• Wednesdays 3.30 - 5pm

NO rehearsals during break times or on public holidays

4. SIGN UP for auditions in the google classroom

• All instructions are in the google classroom.

5. Prepare the audition pieces

• A short monologue (no longer than 60 seconds total)

AND

• an extract from a song to show their vocal range (no longer than 60 seconds total)

• We suggest students look into musicals they love and select a song and monologue from that. Family musicals like: Annie, Matilda, Into the Woods, The Little Mermaid, Mary Poppins, The Lion King are all good starting places, but students can choose from other musicals as well.

PLEASE

• Be sure that the content of the monologue and song upholds the values of our school and the UAE

6. Check the Secondary Production Google Classroom regularly.

• The students’ ability to manage self and collaborate in this way is an important consideration when we name our final cast.

• Specific information that will be posted in the classroom includes:

  • 1. Audition day sign ups, including a registration form to be completed.

    2. How the auditions will be run

    3. Any changes or updates to information

If your student requires any further information or assistance, please have them contact one or both of us via email:

l.cotman_gaa@gemsedu.com OR k.haronga_gaa@gemsedu.com

We look forward to supporting your students through their audition process.

Yours sincerely,

Mrs Lamitra Cotman and Mrs Karla Haronga

Director/Producer

The Secondary Arts Team would like to share with you the Quarter 1 Grade 6 Fine Arts Showcase.

We have some incredibly talented students and our teachers have worked collaboratively to put together a virtual presentation.

Thank you Jared, Conner and Christopher for your commitment and dedication.

Check out our website below!

6th Grade Showcase Link

We look forward to creating more memories with our Quarter 2 students.

The Portuguese Club is Back!

Ms. Luiza, Ms. Ana and Lis from Grade 12 are bringing back this Portuguese Mother Tongue ASA.

We are inviting all GAA Portuguese speaking students to join us and share our love for our beautiful language, culture and history. We are planning fun and engaging activities for our small but amazing cohort of native speakers of Portuguese.

If you are interested, please reply to the Google Form that you received or email us directly:

• a.chainho_gaa@gemsedu.com

• l.buenadornela_gaa@gemsedu.com

We can’t wait to get this started! Stay tuned!

Ms. Wafaa's Grade 7 non-native Arabic class have been polishing their speaking skills. Here is a video of Sarah, talking about her daily routine in Arabic.

الطالبة سارة في الصف السابع للناطقين بغير اللغة العربية تتحدث بالعربية عن يوم في حياتها.

Noah and John from Grade 8 Non-native Arabic class paid a tribute to UAE Flag by singing National Anthem.

Ms. Maria Stolyarova's Grade 10 students in Creative Writing class have been working on putting together interactive stories.

Grab a cup of tea and coffee, cuddle up on a comfy sofa or armchair and enjoy some of these works that combine creativity, art and astonishing imagination.

GAA High School Career Day will be held on January 27th from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM. We are looking for presenters to speak to our students about their careers.

As a speaker you would:

• Host three or four 30 minute Sessions that focus on your career journey and specific education required for your career

• Interact with 15-20 high school students at a time

• Lead informative and engaging discussion in regards to your professional career path

• Ask and answer questions

If you are interested in being a presenter, please fill out this Google Form by Thursday December 9th.

All players meet in the Gym/Field ready to participate.

A registration link will be sent to all secondary students via their student GMAIL accounts.

On Tuesday 9th of November our Middle School, Junior Varsity and Varsity Wildcats Swimmers participated in end of Season 1 Internal Swim Meet.

For most of our swimmers, this was their first swim event and we are proud of their results:

• 1ST PLACE - Team of “The Great White Sharks” with Captains, Dana AL Hammadi and Hamza Abdelhady, 249 points.

• 2ND PLACE - “The MVP’S “ with Team Captain Ahmed Al Qubaisi, 231 points.

• 3RD PLACE - the “Blue Knights” team with Captain Paige Oben, 188 points.

Congratulation to all swimmers, strong finish for our Season 1!

Here is the list with all Swimmers:

Dear Parents,

We are pleased to inform you that Stu WIlliamson photographers will at GAA on Saturday November 27 and January 15 to take school photos of our Full Distance Learner students, following COVID-19 safety rules.

This will be appointment-based to avoid crowding for the safety of our students: please click on this link to book your slot for one of the above mentioned dates: DL photoshoot booking link.

NOTE: These sessions are reserved to our Full Distance Learners. If your child, who is physically attending school, missed the school photoshoot of September and October, we will have an ABSENTEE/NEW JOINER PHOTOSHOOT on February 6 & 7. Please do not use the above link.

Stu WIlliamson will also be offering Sibling Photoshoot on another date, which will be communicated to families.

• November 14-18: Kindness Challenge Week

• November 16-17: Secondary Spring Production Auditions, 3:30-5:00pm.

• November 16-17: MS/HS Season 2 Sports Tryouts. Schedule Here

• November 24: Powderpuff - Seniors vs Juniors

• November 25: Half-Day, school dismisses at 12.

• November 27: Distance Learner School Photoshoot

• November 29: UAE National Day Celebrations (students only). Dress Down Day with UAE National Dress or UAE Flag Colors.