Dear Wildcat Families,

As we enter the second month of the school year, we are happy to see such joy, enthusiasm, and commitment across our community. The start of the year has been filled with meaningful connections and purposeful learning. We are grateful for your amazing support in helping us create a strong foundation as we continue our exciting journey.

Our recent Coffee with GAA Leaders was a wonderful success, offering a valuable opportunity to connect, share updates, and listen to your feedback. We are grateful to all who attended and are already working to address the suggestions and questions raised during the session. We look forward to continuing these meaningful conversations in the months ahead.

In addition, we hosted our Back to School Nights, which provided families the opportunity to meet teachers, learn more about classroom expectations, and better understand how we are working together to support each child’s learning journey. Your presence and partnership are vital as we strive to make this year both productive and fulfilling for every student.

Finally, we extend our sincere thanks for your cooperation in following the updated arrival and dismissal procedures. Your patience and care help us maintain a safe environment for all students and families, ensuring smooth transitions each day. 

Together, we are creating a strong and promising beginning to the school year, and we look forward to building on this foundation in the months ahead. 

Thank you for your continued trust and support.

Best Regards, 

Dr. Ethan Hildreth

Teach Like a GEM: Consistency That Unlocks Learning

At GEMS American Academy, we know that learning doesn’t just happen by chance—it happens when there is clarity, purpose, and consistency in every classroom. That’s the spirit behind Teach Like a GEM, our shared approach to teaching and learning that has been introduced at GEMS American Academy and all other GEMS schools this year.

Teach Like a GEM ensures that when students walk into any classroom at GAA, they immediately recognize the familiar routines, structures, and strategies that form the backbone of excellent instruction. This consistency is not about limiting teacher creativity; rather, it is about creating a predictable learning environment where students can thrive.

The above are our Teach Like a GEM Lesson Essentials. That means, each lesson a student is in, will have this familiar and effective, research-based structure.

All lessons will begin with Do Now. This is a short activity where students are asked to retrieve information from the previous lesson as they prepare for the current lesson. This retrieval practice helps to embed information so that students will remember it easier in the future. 

Lessons will continue with identifying the Learning Outcomes, what students need To Know followed by guided practice (I Do, We Do, You Do) which allows students multiple opportunities to show their learning. This Affirmative Checking process is where teachers circulate in the classroom to ensure all students can demonstrate their understanding. This is followed by some form of Exit Ticket.  The concept of an Exit Ticket  allows teachers to know what they might need to revisit next lesson and where students have shown progress.

Why does this matter? Because a consistent approach lowers what we call cognitive load. By having a shared practice in lessons, students don’t need to waste mental energy trying to decode different classroom systems or guessing what success looks like in one room versus another. Instead, their focus stays exactly where it belongs - on the learning itself.

By reducing unnecessary distractions and streamlining how we teach, Teach Like a GEM frees up valuable cognitive space. That space is then filled with deeper questioning, critical thinking, and meaningful practice. Simply put, consistency in teaching opens the door to greater opportunities for learning.

Every teacher at GAA is part of this shared commitment. Whether it’s how we model excellence, structure lessons, or provide feedback, Teach Like a GEM ensures that students experience coherence across grade levels and subject areas. The result? Stronger progress, higher attainment, and learners who feel confident, capable, and ready for every challenge.

Warm regards, 

Mr. Josh Doubleday

Deputy Superintendent

The Importance of Routines and Expectations in Enhancing Student Learning  at GAA 

At GEMS American Academy, we believe that consistency creates success. One of the most powerful ways we can support students is by embedding clear routines and expectations into their daily school life. These routines are not about strictness for its own sake; they are about providing structure, safety, and clarity so that every child can focus fully on learning.

Why Routines Matter

Children thrive when they know what to expect. Clear routines help students:

• Feel secure and confident – when transitions, classroom expectations, and behavior standards are predictable, students feel safe and supported.

• Develop responsibility – simple habits like punctuality, wearing the correct uniform, and being on time between classes teach lifelong lessons about accountability and self-management.

• Maximize learning time – when students enter and exit classrooms efficiently, more time is available for high-quality teaching and learning.

Our School-Wide Initiative

This year, GAA is strengthening our Be a GEM initiative to align with both GEMS values and ADEK’s expectations. Each week, we focus on a specific routine that is modeled by teachers and practiced by students. Recent routines have included:

• Entering and leaving classrooms quickly, quietly, and respectfully.

• Ensuring students are in full uniform, with lanyards visible and devices put away.

• Reinforcing our shared values of kindness, excellence, and responsibility in every interaction.

Teachers lead by example - greeting students at the door, checking uniform standards, and ensuring smooth transitions - while students learn that these routines are not rules to restrict them, but pathways to independence, respect, and success.

The Role of Parents

Parents are our essential partners in this process. By supporting these routines at home, you help your child understand that expectations are consistent and non-negotiable. You can help by:

• Ensuring your child arrives on time, ready to learn.

• Checking that the uniform and lanyard are worn each day with pride.

• Talking with your child about the importance of respect, responsibility, and kindness in every setting.

Building a Culture of Excellence

Routines and expectations are not just about behavior - they are about building a culture where learning comes first, and every child is empowered to succeed. Together, as parents, teachers, and students, we are creating a community where excellence is the norm and where each student can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.

At GAA, excellence is never an accident - it is the result of clear expectations, consistent routines, and a shared commitment to helping our students become the very best version of themselves.

Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions

Warm regards,

Ms. Samah Awad 

Head of National Identity and Pastoral Care

أهمية بناء الرّوتين والتّوقعات في تعزيز تعلم الطلاب في أكاديمية جيمس الأمريكية

 نؤمن في أكاديمية جيمس الأمريكية بأن النجاح يُبنى على الاستمرارية، ومن أقوى الطرق التي ندعم بها طلابنا هي ترسيخ روتين يومي واضح وتوقعات ثابتة في حياتهم المدرسية. هذه الروتينات لا تتعلق بالصرامة بحد ذاتها، بل بتوفير هيكل وأمان ووضوح يمكّن كل طالب من التركيز بشكل كامل على التعلم.

لماذا الروتين مهم؟

الأطفال يزدهرون عندما يعرفون ما هو متوقع منهم. فوجود روتين واضح يساعد الطلاب على:

الشعور بالأمان والثقة – يشعر الطلاب بالدعم والطمأنينة عندما تكون توقعات الصف والمعايير السلوكية واضحة.

تنمية المسؤولية – عادات بسيطة مثل الالتزام بالمواعيد، ارتداء الزي المدرسي بشكل صحيح، والتنقل بهدوء بين الصفوف، تعلمهم دروسًا حياتية عن الانضباط وتحمل المسؤولية.

تقدير وقت التعلم – عند التزام الطلاب بالتوقعات والمحافظة على وقت  يساعد في تقديم تعلم عالي الجودة وفعال.

مبادرتنا المدرسية

تعزز أكاديمية جيمس الأمريكية  هذا العام مبادرة كن جوهرة – Be a GEM بما يتماشى مع قيم جيمس وتوقعات دائرة التعليم والمعرفة، وحقوق كل طالب ببناء مهاراته السلركية من خلال تعليم روتين  فعال وتوقعات واضحة، وقد بدأنا منذ بداية العام على تدريس هذه المتطلبات وتطبيقها وتقييم مدى الأثر قبل الانتقال للروتين الذي يليه، ركزنا في الآونة الأخيرة على ما ييلي:

دخول الصفوف والخروج منها بسرعة وهدوء واحترام.

التأكد من أن الطلاب يرتدون الزي المدرسي الكامل مع إبراز البطاقات التعريفية ووضع الأجهزة بعيدًا.

تعزيز قيمنا المشتركة: اللطف، التميز، والمسؤولية في كل موقف.

المعلمون يقودون بالقدوة — يستقبلون الطلاب عند باب الصف، يتأكدون من الالتزام بالزي المدرسي، ويضمنون انتقالات سلسة — بينما يتعلم الطلاب أن هذه الروتينات ليست مجرد قواعد مقيّدة، بل هي مسارات للاستقلالية والاحترام والنجاح.

دور أولياء الأمور

أولياء الأمور هم شركاؤنا الأساسيون في هذه العملية. فبدعمكم لهذه الروتينات في المنزل، تساعدون أبناءكم على فهم أن التوقعات ثابتة وغير قابلة للتفاوض. ويمكنكم المساهمة من خلال:

التأكد من وصول أبنائكم إلى المدرسة في الوقت المحدد وجاهزين للتعلم.

التحقق يوميًا من ارتداء الزي المدرسي والبطاقة التعريفية بفخر.

التحدث مع أبنائكم عن أهمية الاحترام، المسؤولية، واللطف في كل مكان.

بناء ثقافة التميز

الروتينات والتوقعات لا تتعلق فقط بالسلوك — بل هي عن بناء ثقافة يكون فيها التعلم أولوية، ويُمنح كل طفل الفرصة للنجاح. معًا — أولياء الأمور والمعلمون والطلاب — نُنشئ مجتمعًا يكون فيه التميز هو القاعدة، ويزدهر فيه كل طالب أكاديميًا واجتماعيًا وعاطفيًا.

في أكاديمية جيمس الأمريكية، التميز ليس صدفة — بل هو نتيجة للتوقعات الواضحة، والروتينات الثابتة، والالتزام المشترك بمساعدة طلابنا ليصبحوا أفضل نسخة من أنفسهم.

يرجى عدم التردد في التواصل معنا في حال وجود أي سؤال أو استفسار

تحياتي

رئيسة قسم الهوية الوطنية والإرشاد التربوي 

سماح عوض 

Booster Club Spreading the Wildcat Spirit!

The Booster Club kicked off the school year by spreading Wildcat spirit across all grade levels! Our little Wildcats had a very special surprise during their first term of sports when our mascot, Walid, stopped by to cheer them on. He brought lots of energy, gave high-fives, and handed out fresh juices to keep them going strong.

We also extended our support to the elementary cast students by visiting them after their rehearsal and sharing juices to encourage their hard work and dedication.

At the “Back to School” events for high school, middle school, and elementary, the Booster Club proudly hosted a booth to introduce our spirit items to parents and students. This gave families the opportunity to explore and purchase Wildcat gear for their kids,  helping everyone show their school pride.

We are excited for another year of cheering ,supporting, and encouraging every wildcat on their journey.

Go wildcats ! 🐾 

The Booster club team 

📧 gaa.boosterteam@gmail.com 

Happy Friday, GAA Community! 🎉

It was wonderful seeing all the happy faces of the elementary children at Back-to-School Nights, collecting their prizes from the GAAPA table after completing their bingo cards! 🥳 

GAAPA is also excited to introduce a brand-new initiative this year, the Student Raffle!

Each month, one lucky student from every grade level (PreK–Grade 12) will win a small gift from GAAPA through a random raffle draw. This month’s winners were selected during our first Coffee Morning with SLT, which was both informative and very successful.

On Thursday, September 25, GAAPA surprised our seniors with popsicles during their lunch break in the MPR. It was a sweet way to cool down and bring some joy to their day!   

We had a lovely turnout for our very first Bake Sale! 🍪 Check out the Bake Sale Reel on our Instagram! Bake sales will now take place once a month, on the second Friday of each month. We are so thankful for the contributions of delicious baked goodies, and we kindly ask parents to continue sending in items that are healthy-ish and do not include frosting or high sugar.

Today was also our first Pizza Day, and it was a big hit!🍕 Thank you to all the parent volunteers who showed up, we couldn’t have done it without you. 

We also kicked off our first Book Club Session today in the family Café. If you love books and would like to connect through monthly reads and engaging discussions, we’d love to have you join us!

Join a GAAPA Club! 🌸

GAAPA has many parent clubs designed to bring our community together. Check them out and join the groups that spark your interest:

• GAAPA Arts & Crafts Club 🎨 – A space to create, share, and inspire through fun DIY projects. 👉 Join here

• GAAPA Book Club 📚 – Connect over monthly reads and engaging book discussions. 👉 Join here

• GAAPA Crochet Club 🧶 – For beginners and pros alike, let’s stitch, relax, and chat together. 👉 Join here

• GAAPA Games Club 🎲 – A place to gather, laugh, and play different games every month. 👉 Join here

• GAAPA Mindfulness Club 🌿 – Recharge through stretching, breathing, meditation, and yoga. 👉 Join here

• GAAPA Active Together Club 🚴‍♀️🚶 – Stay active as a community through walking and cycling meetups. 👉 Join here

✨ Mark Your Calendars!

• October 3: GAAPA Meeting in the GAAPA room. Everyone is welcome, we look forward to hearing your ideas and feedback.

• October 5: World Teachers' Day! 💐 GAAPA will be selling small gifts for students to purchase and give to their teachers as a token of appreciation. Sales will run from Monday, September 29 to Friday, October 3 in the cafeteria at pick-up time. Cash only.

• October 6: Teachers Breakfast 🥐 We will be hosting a breakfast to celebrate our wonderful teachers! 💐 Please help us celebrate them by signing up to contribute an item here. All items can be dropped off at reception by 10:00 am that morning.

🎀 Pink October Awareness

GAAPA will be selling pink items throughout the month of October, with part of the proceeds going to support the Red Crescent. 

💡 We would also love to invite a parent who is an oncologist (or works in the field) to give a short awareness talk to our community. If you are interested, please reach out to us! gaa.parentsteam@gmail.com 

🎉 Save the Date!

Our first big event of the year, Fall Festival, will take place on Saturday, November 1. 🍂

This carnival-like event with a festive fall theme will feature free entry to bouncy castles, carnival games, ticketed games and activities, food trucks, pumpkin activities, competitions, and more! Stay tuned for additional details and surprises.

Wishing you all a Happy Friday ✨

The GAAPA Team 💛

IMPORTANT REMINDERS:

• Please check out Important Reminders and Procedures Page for policies, handbooks, and much more..

USEFUL LINKS:

• Frequently Asked Questions - covering key topics such as lunch routines, assessment practices, attendance expectations, curriculum support, academic competitions, communication channels, traffic flow, and student entry/exit procedures. This resource is designed to keep you informed and supported as partners in our school community.

• Welcome Pack: your go-to guide for starting the school year at GAA. It includes essential information on school timings, calendar updates, supplies, health forms, uniforms, cafeteria details, and admissions requirements. Families are encouraged to bookmark the link, as it will be regularly updated.

• GEMS Connect Parent Portal: Access student information, view attendance and assessment reports, pay tuition fees, register for bus, and much more...

• GAA Policies and Key Documents

• ADEK Policies - You can access all the authoritative ADEK policies guiding our educational system - including attendance rules, student administration, behavior standards, and more - by visiting the ADEK official policies page. This is your go-to resource for understanding the rules, regulations, and standards that drive schooling across Abu Dhabi, and that GAA aligns with.

• GAA Senior Leadership Bios - Learn more about the GAA Senior Leadership Team - their backgrounds, experience, and areas of responsibility - by visiting our Leadership Bios page. This resource introduces the Superintendent, Executive Team, and Divisional Principals who guide teaching, learning, and operations at GAA.

• Parent/Student Handbooks - The School Handbooks provide parents and students with essential information about expectations, routines, policies, and resources for each school division. They serve as a practical guide to help families navigate daily life at GAA.

• Mental Health Guides for Parents: In cooperation with Ministry of Education, ADEK and Department for Health, Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority has developed a practical guide, with tips and resources about supporting your child's mental health: ENGLISH, ARABIC

• September 29 - October 3 - MAP Testing for Grades 6-10

• October 3 - GAA Parent Association Board Meeting

• October 6-10 - MAP Testing for Grades 2-5

• October 6-10 - Book Fair

• October 13-17 - Mid-term Break (no school in session)

• October 13-17 - ESM Mid-term break camp for ages 3.5-12

• October 29-31 - Parent/Student/Teacher Conferences (no classes in session)