Dear GAA Families,

This week while the planet recognized World Kindness Day, GEMS American Academy faculty and the school Parent Association (GAAPA) extended the day into a week-long celebration in an effort to teach students about kindness.

Our school’s weeklong celebration began with participation in the Great Kindness Challenge – Dance for Kindness, where students along with groups from across the globe joined together to perform a Kindness FreezeMob/FlashMob to the same song, same dance, all happening on the same day.

Science says, “that children and adolescents do not learn about kindness by only thinking or talking about it. Kindness is best learned by feeling it so that they can reproduce it.” With a weeklong event’s schedule students were given the opportunity to be kind. Activities included;

• giving 10 classmate compliments and creating compliment message chains displayed in school,

• messages, cookies, flowers or cards shared by students with teachers or other school workers,

• a toy drive in conjunction with the Red Crescent to give back to the community,

• kindness grams fund raiser to also support the Emirates Red Crescent.

At GAA a caring culture is built into our foundational documents and our parents and teachers are committed to the priority. Teacher and Dance for Kindness organizer, Jennifer Thompson said it best, “Kindness is what we want to model at GAA. To be honest it’s the number one thing that we teach. If everyone thought of someone else the world would be a better place.”

The many physical, emotional, and mental health benefits associated with teaching kindness are proven. As students are again getting used to interacting with each other after Covid, we need to re-teach those skills of supporting each other. Thank you to our GAA Parent Association and all those that supported the Kindness Week.

On another note, by now you have received the link for the latest GEMS Parent Survey and I would like to remind just how important your feedback is. If you responded to the May 2022 Survey my staff and I will have contacted you in terms of a “You said, we did” approach to ensure we either thanked you for your praise or had taken action in response to your feedback. At GAA we continue to push on the four intervention areas of: Well-being, Preparing for the future, Personalized learning, Student Voice.

During the May 2022 Survey if you rated us as a 9 or 10 it made you a promoter of the school and I hope you still feel that we deserve the same rating during this Survey. If you rated us lower, I hope that you now feel that we have improved enough to gain a score of 9 or 10. I thank you for your commitment and look forward to receiving your feedback.

Also, please remember that over the next several weeks leading to our mid-winter break, we have many academic, artist, and community events scheduled that will celebrate the hard work and successes of all our students. After four years, we will again host the GAA Family Fall Festival, November 26th, 4:00 – 7:00 pm. Please join us and support the unity of our GAA community!

Warm regards,

Robert Rinaldo

Head of School

We kicked off GAA’s Kindness Week by participating in Dance for Kindness. Third, fourth, and fifth graders had an opportunity to participate in this event by signing up for the after school activity. Some elementary classes also decided to participate in the dance. Dance for Kindness was initiated by LifeVest Inside in 2012, so this week marked the 10th anniversary. On Sunday and Monday, groups from across the globe joined together to perform a Kindness FreezeMob/FlashMob using the same songs and the same dance in honor of World Kindness Day. Dance for Kindness has taken place in over 310 cities, spanning across 76 countries, and 6 continents. Our school has participated in this event 5 out of the last 10 years. In fact, our school is the only participant in the UAE!

This dance was a wonderful way for us to promote kindness. We hope you’ll join us next year! (​​https://www.danceforkindness.com/)

Access the dance here: https://www.facebook.com/reel/5464596520317893

Dear Parents,

It is that time of the year again when ESM Holiday Camps will be running our Winter Camp at GEMS American Academy Khalifa City from the 12^th – 30^th December 2022 for children aged 4 – 12 years old.

Your children will have a chance to kick back, learn something new and have some fun, while being active indoor and outdoor taking part in our multi activity camp. As parents you will have peace of mind that your child is well looked after and enjoying the camp experience.

Campers will take part in 5 different age-appropriate activities daily which will include the following: (some activities are venue specific depending on facilities and the number of children registered) Football, Dodgeball, Badminton, Basketball, Martial Arts, Rounders, Fun & Games, Arts & crafts, Obstacle Courses, Mini Tennis and Musical Games.

REGISTRATION

• Registration and payment for the Winter Camp is now open and MUST be done online – no walk ins will be accepted.

• We require parents to create an account with us if you haven’t done so already, click here to create an account CLICK HERE

• Places are limited, to avoid disappointment, CLICK HERE to register.

TIMINGS:

• Drop off from 8.15 – 8.45am

• Activities start from 9.00 – 1.30pm

• Pick up from 1.30 – 1.45pm

DISCOUNT

• Please do note that only online registrations and payments make you eligible for all the weekly discounted rates and offers, there are no discounts on daily bookings.

• Current Early Bird offer (fixed discount-no discount codes needed) which runs until the 21st of November 2022 (Ts & Cs do apply)

  • Register for 1 or 2 full weeks and receive 25% off weekly bookings: AED675/week after discount (discounts applicable for single transaction only)

  • Register for 3 full weeks and receive 30% off weekly bookings: AED630/week after discount (discounts applicable for single transaction only)

• GAA Student Offer which runs until the 28th of November 2022 (Ts & Cs do apply)

  • Register for 1 or 2 full weeks, use the discount code GEMSW and receive 20% off weekly bookings: AED720/week after discount (discounts applicable for single transaction only)

  • Register for 3 full weeks, use discount code GEMSW and receive 25% off weekly bookings: AED675/week after discount (discounts applicable for single transaction only)

• There will be an additional 10% siblings discount (brothers and sisters only) on weekly bookings for the second, third and fourth child (Only valid from 29^th November – 25^th December 2022)

Attached is a copy of our holiday camp booklet which will give you a better idea on how we run our camps.

If you have any questions, please do connect with us and we’ll help you as soon as possible, for more information please email us on holidaycamp@esm.ae

Looking forward to seeing all our young campers soon.

ESM Holiday Camp Team

• November 22: 1st Grade Art Festival at GAA Auditorium @1:30pm

• November 23: Powderpuff Football Game Juniors v Seniors @4:00pm Football Field

• November 25: Pizza and Popsicle Day by GAAPA and Booster Club

• November 26: Fall Family Fun by GAAPA @4-7pm

• November 28: Grade 4 Art Festival at GAA Auditorium @1:30pm

• November 29: UAE National Day Celebration at GAA