Dear GAA Families,

As we head toward a well-deserved mid-term break October 17-21, I want to congratulate our students for their hard work and dedication. As they settle into the school year and find their rhythm in the classroom and in afterschool programs, lets continue to encourage, support, and celebrate their individual and collective traits, characteristics, and talents.

This week World Teachers Day was observed throughout the UAE. I want to thank GAA faculty members for recognizing potential and guiding all students; those that exude passion, confidence, and a burning desire to learn, but also those students that possess hidden talents and are in need of additional support to shine. Our teachers continue to model the caring and supportive culture that we want for our school community

This coming week, with the support of the DOH and ADEK, we will be administering PCR tests on campus. As in the past rounds we ask that students bring Emirates ID or passport copy. If this is your first time testing on campus, you will also need to send a signed consent form with your child on the day of the test. Scroll down for my earlier message of October 6 for more details and consent form.

Also, this week we received information regarding the Blue Schools Initiative of Abu Dhabi authorities aiming to increase transparency, incentivize and lead to the gradual return to normalcy. Information regarding aspects of the program can be found in this edition of the GAAzette. Please scroll down to review the details of this important initiative.

As always, I encourage you reach out to the school with any comments, concerns, or feedback.

The health and safety of our students continues to be our main priority.

Warm Regards,

Robert Rinaldo

Abu Dhabi Emergency, Crisis and Disasters Committee has approved the blue schools initiative, which supports all Abu Dhabi schools to relax measures and return to normal operations based on vaccination rates.

To be implemented from term 2 of the current academic year, the blue schools initiative recognises vaccination as the key path to recovery, re-emphasises transparency, and enhances the learning and social experience of students.

Schools will be tiered based on student vaccination rates.

Higher vaccinated schools will be able to gradually relax measures, including reduced social distancing requirements, relaxed mask-wearing protocols, increased classroom and school transport capacity, and a return to extra-curricular activities, in-school events and field trips.

TIER PRIVILEGES

Free vaccines are available for children at various vaccination centres across Abu Dhabi, including the dedicated children’s vaccination centre at ADNEC. Pfizer-BioNTech is available for children aged 12 and over, and Sinopharm is available for children aged 3 and over.

Please note that vaccination is encouraged, but not mandated for the students below the age of 16 years, who are attending school physically.

If your child travels outside of UAE during school year, including upcoming October Break, please make sure to follow the Abu Dhabi Government guidelines for travelling to Abu Dhabi (source The United Arab Emirates Government Portal)

The following quarantine guidelines will be applied to UAE citizens, residents and tourists arriving at Abu Dhabi from 5 September 2021.

Vaccinated travellers

Vaccinated travellers arriving from ‘green’ countries (click here for updated list) must take an RT-PCR test on arrival and another on day 6 from arrival, if staying in the emirate. They are not required to quarantine themselves.

Vaccinated travellers arriving from other countries must take an RT-PCR test on arrival and again on day 4 and day 8, if staying in the emirate. They are not required to quarantine themselves.

Unvaccinated travellers

Unvaccinated travellers arriving from ‘green’ countries must take an RT-PCR test on arrival and again on day 6 and day 12 from arrival. They are not required to quarantine themselves.

Unvaccinated travellers arriving from other countries must take an RT-PCR test on arrival, quarantine for 10 days and take another PCR test on day 9 from arrival.

*Vaccines must be approved by World Health Organization.

Return to school requirements:

Students must have a negative PCR test not older than 96 hours to enter school after an international travel. Student travel declaration form must be also completed and submitted to school (via email: pre_gaa@gemsedu.com)

Sunday October 24 - next checking of PCR test results for students below 12 and vaccinated students aged 12 and above. Unvaccinated students aged 12 and above must continue to maintain 7-day validity throughout this semester.

If you missed free in-school testing of October 11 or 14, please take your child to the designated testing location at Biogenix Lab in Masdar City (school code KS-9086). Students without recent PCR test results will not be able to enter the school premises.

Please make sure that:

• Your child below age 12 has been tested on or after October 14.

• Your vaccinated child aged 12 and above has been tested on or after October 14

• Your unvaccinated child aged 12 and above continues to test weekly. Unvaccinated Students aged 12+ with the test results older than 7 days will not be able to enter the school premises.

Uploading PCR Results to Parent Portal

Parents are still required to upload PCR results in the GEMS Parent Portal before school gates open at 7:30 am on Sunday, October 24 for all students attending school on campus. See instructions here: UPLOADING RESULTS ON PORTAL

PCR Result Sources

Parents must upload screenshot of:

• Al Hosn green screen with new PCR results; or

• PCR report PDF in Al Hosn; or

• SMS results; or

• PCR lab report.

Print out of PCR results and Vaccination Records

To speed up the gate check of new PCR results and vaccination records, please send a print out of results to avoid using phones. It helps guards and staff quickly & easily read and check results.

Our school's designated testing center G42 Biogenix Lab in Masdar City continues to test GAA students free of charge as follows:

• Vaccinated students and students below age 12 can test monthly

• Unvaccinated students aged 12 and above can test weekly.

Please mention our school code KS-9086 to avail the free service.

Green Hall Vaccination Center at Mina is still accepting walk-in students and educators for free vaccinations - both Sinopharm and Pfizer. No booking required.

September 29 Update of Head of School Regarding PCR Testing Requirements

All students KG to Grade 12 returning to face-to-face learning, including Students of Determination, must show a negative COVID-19 test result valid for 96-hours prior to returning to school FOR THE FIRST TIME.

After the first entry to school and September 28 onwards:

• Vaccinated and Unvaccinated Students below 12: TESTING EVERY 30 DAYS

• Vaccinated Students above 12: TESTING EVERY 30 DAYS

• Unvaccinated Students (including those with approved vaccination exemption) above 12: TESTING EVERY 7 DAYS

Please upload the results on parent portal http://oasis.gemseducation.com See instructions here: UPLOADING RESULTS ON PORTAL

Regardless of the current pandemic situation, we call our families to follow the safety measures for the well-being of all our community members.

Below are some useful information.

We would like to remind you to submit the following documents. If you have already done so, please disregard this request.

Emergency Contact Forms / Photography Authorization

If you haven’t already done so, please complete THIS FORM (please download and complete in MS Word) by providing both parents' contact information (with local UAE mobile numbers) and an alternative contact. Contact information (email and mobile number) is required in order to ensure that our communication reaches you. Also, please complete the consent section of the form for photograph authorization. Where there is no respond, consent will be implied.

Parent IDs (lanyards)

We are starting to issue physical Parent IDs. If you haven’t received your physical ID yet, please submit your most recent photo by email to pre_gaa@gemsedu.com. If you have already received a digital copy of the ID, we will issue a physical one and you may collect from Main Reception.

At GEMS American Academy, we issue parent ID cards to our parents only. No ID Cards are issued for guardians, domestic helpers, drivers or relatives.

The Parent ID includes photos of the parent. The Parent ID does not expire and is valid as long as the child attends GAA. You will be asked to return Parent IDs, should you withdraw from GAA.

Health Forms (NOT ADEK mandatory forms for face-to-face attendance)

This is a friendly reminder that all families, especially our new families, need to return the following forms to our Clinic:

• HAAD Screening Consent Form

• Emergency Care Information

• Health Information (Pages 1 and 2)

• Medication Authorization

Click HERE to download the forms.

Should you have any questions, please contact our Nurses at nurse_gaa@gemsedu.com.

At GEMS Education, we see it as our duty to provide every child with the best education possible. Our parent community are our best advocates and the Ambassador Programme is our way of saying thanks for playing an active role in our success. Introduce a new family or friend to the GEMS community and earn back 4% of the referred child’s annual tuition fee in the form of GEMS Points which will be redeemable against school fees or transport fees.

Here's how it works

• Click HERE to log in to the GEMS parent portal or login to the GEMS Rewards app or to the GEMS Connect app, and submit your referral.

• Your friend will receive an email with a link to complete an application for their child.

• Receive your GEMS Points once your friend’s child has successfully enrolled and settled.

Our way of saying Thank You

For each new student that is successfully enrolled in any participating GEMS school, upon your referral, we will give you 4% of the referred child's annual tuition fees as GEMS Points. These points can be used to pay your child’s tuition fees or transport fees.

Example

Mrs. Smith has three children at Dubai American Academy (DAA). She referred her friend Sarah to GEMS World Academy Dubai (GWA) based on the positive experience that she had at DAA. Her friend Sarah successfully enrolled her two children at GWA in Grades 6 and 8. Mrs. Smith will now receive GEMS Points equivalent to AED 7,419 which can be used to pay her children's school fees or transport fees.

Terms & Conditions

1. The referred child should not currently be attending a GEMS school.

2. For each referred child successfully enrolled you will receive 4% of that child's annual tuition fees as GEMS Points, which can be used to pay your child's tuition fees or transport fees at your current school. The referred children cannot be from the same family.

3. The referrer must be a parent with a child or children already attending in a GEMS school.

4. Referrals have to be submitted online prior to registration & admission.

5. Referral rewards are paid once:

   1. 1. Per successful admission.

      2. Once 1st term tuition fees have been settled.

      3. The student has attended school for at least 2 weeks.

6. Referral rewards are not applicable for siblings of existing GEMS students.

7. Referral rewards are not applicable for students transferring school within the GEMS network.

8. Multiple referrals of the same student will be rewarded on a first referral – first reward basis.

9. Referred friends with children already attending a GEMS school do not qualify for this discount.

10. Referrals must be for families without children at any GEMS school.

11. GEMS Points cannot be transferred to others.

12. Referral admissions are subject to the school admission & assessment policies & procedures.

13. GEMS reserves the right to withdraw or change the terms of the promotion.

• October 10: Senior Night Live Q&A at 4:30pm. Zoom Link: https://gemseducation.zoom.us/j/89552086222 Submit your questions here:

• October 11: In-school free PCR testing for students in Grades 6-12

• October 12: Triple P with Elementary Counsellors (Positive Parenting Workshop). Sign up here.

• October 12: IB Night

• October 12-November 7: READMarathon with PYP Library

• October 14: In-school free PCR testing for students in KG-Grade 5

• October 14: Elementary House Spirit Day (wear your House Colors)

• October 17-21: Mid-term Break

• October 24: School resumes, PCR checking

• October 24-28: Secondary School Photoshoot by Stu Williamson

• October 28: Half-Day, school dismisses at 12. Elementary School dress down day theme: Crazy Day - get crazy with hair and mismatched clothing (in support of GAAPA with 5 AED donation)