You have probably noticed that the GAA family is growing. This means that we ask that you offer patience as we continue to rebalance schedules. Counselors are not honoring schedule requests. That opportunity was over after the first week of school. We are opening new sections of some of our popular electives, English , Math and Science classes so as to lower classroom numbers. This may mean that a schedule changes. We try to keep students in the same or similar course offerings but they may be in different timings. Your support as we try to improve the teacher student ratio is greatly appreciated. Concerns about scheduling and wellbeing of your students should be directed to your child’s counselor.

College and University preparation for our seniors has begun! Counselors have offered an assembly about college preparation and two personal statement workshops. Further support of your child for this very important voyage in their lives can be made through their counselors and their advisory lessons. It is important that they attend advisory as our Head of Grades and the Class Advisors create intentional lessons that are specific to the needs of each grade level.

Opportunities where we seek your support are attendance, dress code and completion of formative assessments. We are seeing too many students coming to class in the morning tardy. Please help students get to school before 7:45 so that they are able to be in their classroom before the bell and ready to achieve.

Our school has a uniform policy that helps students “dress for success”. We have shared in earlier communication that students are to be in full uniform with black shoes (no extra colors or white stripes). Athletes that have opted to purchase the Varsity sweatshirt are asked to wear the blue collared uniform shirt underneath with black slacks and black shoes.

Shout out to our JV and Varsity Volleyball teams!!!! They are both off to a winning start!

IMPORTANT DATES

Monday 26th

• IB Grade 12 Welcome Back Exams

• MAP testing in English and Math Classes

• Secondary Student Photos*

Tuesday 27th

• IB Grade 12 Welcome Back Exams

• MAP testing in English and Math Classes

• Secondary Student Photos*

Wednesday 28th

• IB Grade 12 Welcome Back Exams

• MAP testing in English and Math Classes

• Secondary Student Photos*

Thursday 29th

• IB Grade 12 Welcome Back Exams

• MAP testing in English and Math Classes

• Secondary Student Photos*

Friday 30th

• IB Grade 12 Welcome Back Exams

• Dress Down Day

• Secondary Student Photos*

EXCLUSIVE INVITATION FOR GEMS EDUCATION STUDENTS

The biggest international education fair in the UAE is back again with over 100 International Universities from the UAE and across the world. Our Gems For Life partner universities will have special study abroad and scholarship opportunities just for you!

Join us in-person at the UAE Education Fair to learn more:

• Date: 17 October 2022

• Time: 4pm - 7.30pm

• Location: Sheraton Abu Dhabi Hotel & Resort

The UAE Education Fair brings international experts all under one roof, showcasing a diverse range of undergraduate, postgraduate, and covering everything from STEM to business, creative media, arts and humanities, AI and digital technologies, tourism, hospitality and management. You can also meet the GEMS For Life team at the dedicated booth during the event.

At the fairs, you can meet top-ranked and highly popular universities such as:

• The University of Sydney (Australia)

• The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

• University College Dublin (Ireland)

• Vellore Institute of Technology (India)

• Imperial College, King’s College, City and Goldsmiths from the University of London

• University of Liverpool (UK)

• University of California Riverside, Virginia Tech, and Berkeley and 35 more USA institutions (US)

• Many more from the UAE, France, Hungary, Malaysia, Thailand, New Zealand and beyond.

https://links.bmiglobaled.com/Email/2022-UAE-2/Special/GEMS.html

Gems for Life Scholarship Information

For students and parents wishing to access GEMS For Life University scholarship information, kindly search for the GEMS scholarships on Unifrog. The platform is fully updated with the latest special opportunities dedicated to GEMS students. The presentation below gives a step-by-step guide on how to search for these fantastic opportunities on Unifrog.

Mr. Jefferson Aranda Torres is thrilled to share with our community the amazing project of 2 of our students in DP2 Music Class.

The topic that they worked on was Music for Sociocultural and Political expression including topics like Protest songs, Liturgical music and National anthems, basically analyzing how the lyrics, mixed with the music, can have a strong effect on the people.

The goal of this class is to analyze diverse musical material, identify musical prompts relevant to their own work as researchers, creators, and performers, justify their musical choices and prepare music for presentation.

Here you can find two amazing examples, where our students both played the instruments and sang.

• September 22-30: IB Welcome Back Exams

• September 26-29: Secondary (Grades 6-12) School Photoshoot by Stu Williamson Photography Studio

• September 26- October 7: MAP Testing

• September 29: IB DP1 and IB DP2 Parent information Session at 6:00 pm

• October 12: PSAT test for 10th grade

• October 17-19: Half-Term Break (No School)