September 9, 2021 Issue (next issue on September 23, 2021)

Secondary

Message from Secondary School Principal,

Mr. Kain Klinkhammer

ssprincipal_gaa@Gemsedu.com

Hello GAA Families,

We are excited to start our 2021-2022 Academic Year. We have had a productive beginning to the year, and we thank everyone for their patience while we resolve logistical issues such as schedules, student testing, and drop off and pick-up routines. We prioritize meeting Department of Health regulations to ensure safety. However, we will continue to work in order to improve efficiency.

As we begin the year it is important to examine the qualities, habits, and conditions that make a successful year. As part of your approach, I suggest the following:

Building Relationships
Being involved in the life of the school
Communicating your needs
Taking care of yourself and others
Working hard

Relationships are essential for learning to take place. The beginning of the year is when our relationships are established, and if we want to have strong relationships with each other, it is important that we assume best intentions and speak and treat each other with respect. Following those guidelines helps everyone to feel valued, which in turn makes our school life more pleasurable.

After having a year where afterschool activities were not available, we are excited to have them back. Students who are more involved with extracurricular life have higher satisfaction with school. GAA has something for every student, so I encourage everyone to become involved with a sport, organization, or interest group. You will make new friends and discover and strengthen skills.

Tell us what you need. We do our best to anticipate needs, but as you know, we have a diverse population of learners, and there are times we don’t satisfy everyone. Assuming best intention, communicate your needs when you feel they are not being met.

Take care of yourself. This mean sleeping 8-9 hours a day, eating a healthy diet, and exercising. By doing so, you will feel better, and when you feel better you are more resilient and more positive. When we take care of ourself, it is easier to take care of others as well.

Work hard to accomplish your goals. We want challenges. Challenges can improve our emotional and intellectual growth. Most people avoid difficult situations not because they cannot accomplish them but because they do not possess the skills to manage them. This is why Approaches to Learning (AtLs) are so important. When we learn to organize, think, communicate, collaborate, and research, the whole world is within our reach.

Welcome back to GAA. Let’s have a successful year!

Sincerely,

Kain Klinkhammer

Secondary Principal

ssprincipal_gaa@Gemsedu.com

Season 1 Middle School Tryouts

Students Dismissal Update

In an effort to alleviate the afternoon pick-up traffic, beginning Sunday September 12, we will direct Secondary Students (Grades 6-12) to leave from back gates 4 (Bus) and 5 (Tennis Court)

Secondary students, who are car-riders, will exit through Gate 5, by the Tennis Courts (Gate 5 will remain closed during morning drop-off time)
Elementary students, who are not bus riders, will continue to be collected from the front of the school upon scanning of QR codes.
Elementary students, who have Secondary Siblings, may be collected by their Secondary Siblings from the front of the school upon scanning QR codes and allowed to leave from the back gate WITH THEIR SECONDARY SIBLING. Elementary students are not allowed to exit from back gates without an accompanying adult or secondary school sibling.
IMPORTANT: Secondary students are not allowed to collect their younger siblings directly from classrooms. Secondary students must scan QR codes outside the front of the school (see below map) for their siblings’ specific homeroom. Elementary students will be then sent to their respective pick-up areas.

We would also like to remind that back gate 4 (Bus gate) is open in the mornings during drop off. Please feel free to use it to avoid the traffic of the front gates. Gate 5 will remain closed during morning drop-off time.

Thank you for all your feedback and patience in the past two weeks while we were working on resolving drop off and pick-up routines.

Calculator Requirements

Drop Everything and Read Photos

Secondary Library

Welcome to GAA Secondary Library website! Your access to the library collection, research databases, learning resources and more!

SECONDARY LIBRARY WEBSITE

GEMS Alumni App

As the GEMS community, we understand that it is not just mere nostalgia that we associate our alma mater with, it is much beyond that. Our GEMS alumni across 80 countries are doing amazing things and we want to celebrate their successes every step of the way! Download and join the #GEMSAlumni App today by clicking on the links below:

Play Store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details…

App Store : https://apps.apple.com/us/app/gems-alumni/id1496962338