Dear GAA Community,

Welcome back!

It has been an outstanding start to the school year and a pleasure to reconnect with returning students, teachers, and parents. I want to extend a special welcome to all of our new families and look forward to partnering with you as you begin your educational journey at GAA.

Our GAA Parent Association (GAAPA) has a stated mission of encouraging a sense of community, supporting events and activities, and promoting a culture of kindness and unity. GAAPA will sponsor events throughout the year and I encourage all families to become active members in support of our students.

There is great excitement this year from the anticipation and high expectations of what we can do together. Now it is our chance to further define who we are as a school …. A whole school, one school….committed to our mission, aligned in our beliefs about teaching and learning, dedicated to encouraging wellness and inclusion, and devoted to fostering and developing the culture of trust and kindness amongst and between members of all stakeholder groups.

It is my expectation that all of us together (teachers, students, parents), will contribute to GAA, understanding that our success and well-being is directly connected to the success and well-being of our community and the support we extend to each other.

I wish you all the best for a successful 2022-23 school year.

Warm Regards,

Robert Rinaldo

Head of School

Dear Parents,

It is a fantastic start to the school year 2022-2023 and welcome back to all our students to GAA!

On behalf of the staff at Gems American Academy, I am happy to welcome you to the 2022-2023 school year! We look forward to a productive partnership with you to ensure our children can achieve their highest potential. We know a strong partnership with you will make a significant difference in your child’s education. As partners, we share the responsibility for our children’s success and want you to know that we will do our best to support them during their learning journey.

Choosing a school for our kids is one of the most important decisions we will have to make. Here at GAA, we offer a rigorous, relevant, and holistic education complemented by a broad range of extracurricular and enrichment activities. Our dedicated teaching staff puts students’ needs at the forefront of their planning and teaching to ensure your child fulfills their potential.

I am delighted to have this fantastic opportunity to work with parents, teaching and support staff, and especially students to provide a quality education that will equip our learners with everything they need to lead successful, happy lives.

I look forward to sharing this exciting learning journey in the future.

The excellent GAA staff and I feel privileged to be a part of this school family. We thank you for your support and look forward to meeting you all next week on the back-to-school nights.

Please don’t hesitate to contact me at: s.awad_gaa@gemsedu.com

Sincerely,

Samah Awad

Assistant Principal to Head of School

أولياء الأمور الكرام،

تحيّة طيبة وبعد،

ما أروع بداية هذا العام الدراسي ٢٠٢٢-٢٠٢٣ باستقبال طلابنا في حرمنا المدرسي آملين بعام دراسي مكلل بالنجاح والتّميز!

نيابة عن كافة العاملين في مدرسة جيمس الأمريكيّة نرحب بكم جميعًا، ونتطلع لشراكة مثمرة معكم لضمان تأمين أفضل بيئة تعليميّة.

نؤمن بأن شراكتنا معًا لها تأثيرٌ قويٌّ على تعلم طلابنا، كما أننا نتشارك المسؤولية من أجل نجاح طلابنا، ونؤكد لكم بأننا سنبذل قصارى جهدنا لدعمهم خلال رحلة التعلم الخاصة بهم.

إن اختيار مدرسة لأطفالنا يُعدُّ أحد أهم القرارات الّتي علينا اتخاذها من أجل ذلك اتخذنا في مدرسة جيمس الأمريكية كافة المتطلبات لتقديم تعليمٍ متنوعٍ بمواصفات عالمية، بالإضافة إلى مجموعة واسعة من الأنشطة الإثرائية اللامنهجية. يضع طاقمنا الأكاديمي احتياجات طلابنا في طليعة أولوياتهم أثناء التخطيط والتعليم للتأكد من تحقيق طلابنا أعلى إمكانياتهم.

أشعر بالامتنان والفخر لإتاحة هذه الفرصة المميزة لي بالعمل مع طلابنا و أولياء الأمور وهذا الطاقم الأكاديمي المميز لتقديم تعليم متميز يمكن طلابنا من كافة المهارات الّتي يحتاجونها لحياتهم العملية والعلمية.

أتطلع بشغف لمشاركتكم رحلة التعلم المميزة خلال هذه السنة الدراسية، كما أود مشاركتكم بأننا نعمل على زرع القيم الإسلامية في نفوس طلابنا بطريقة عملية من خلال اختيار قيمة كل شهر لتفعيلها خلال صفوف المواد الوزارية وبدأنا هذا الشهر بقيمة الالتزام، ونرجو منكم مساعدتنا في التّركيز على هذه القيمة في المنزل.

نشعر جميعًا في مدرسة أكاديمية جيمس الأمريكيّة بالفخر كوننا عائلة واحدة تعمل من أجل دعم وتطوير مهارات طلابنا. ونشكر لكم دعمكم الدائم ونتطلع للاجتماع بكم في ليلة العودة إلى المدرسة الأسبوع القادم.

يرجى عدم التردد في التواصل معي على البريد التالي: s.awad_gaa@gemsedu.com

تحيّاتي

سماح عوض

نائب مدير المدرسة

FOR STUDENTS AGED 12 AND ABOVE:

• For any students aged 12 and above, entering GAA for the first time, a 96-hour valid PCR test is required.

• GAA Designated testing center is Biogenix Lab in Masdar City (location map: https://goo.gl/maps/QiNZNC9Q9TcN7U6a6).

• Alternatively, you can take your child to test in any SEHA drivethrough

• There is no more free testing for students and teachers any more.

• Students will be required to show Emirates ID, or passport if their ID has not yet been issued.

• After 1st entry test, please maintain Green Al Hosn status for students aged 12 and above.

FOR PARENTS AND VISITORS:

• Parents and visitors can enter the school premises upon presenting the Green Pass status on Al Hosn App.

RETURN TO SCHOOL AFTER AN ILLNESS:

• A PCR test is required for those who have COVID-19 symptoms and they can return to school upon presenting the negative PCR test result and clearance of fever

ROUTINE PCR TESTING IN SCHOOL:

Routine in-school PCR testing has been cancelled. Parents are requested to monitor their students' (aged 12+) Al Hosn status and to maintain it Green.

HEALTH MONITORING:

For the safety of our School Community, we ask that you monitor your child’s health before sending to school. If your child shows any symptoms like fever, cough, runny nose, headache, body aches, nausea, please keep them home and seek the consultation of a doctor.

In case of absence due to illness (Including COVID-19) please inform below departments:

• GAA Clinic at nurse_gaa@gemsedu.com

• For PreK-Grade 5 students, Elementary Secretary at elemsecretary_gaa@gemsedu.com

• For Grade 6-12 students, Secondary Secretary at secsecretary_gaa@gemsedu.com

At GEMS American Academy, we issue parent ID cards to our parents only. No ID Cards are issued for other relatives, 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.

If you do not have parent ID yet, you may obtain your Parent photo identity card by emailing a photo (jpeg format) along with the parent’s first and last name to pre_gaa@gemsedu.com. Please also include your child/children’s full name and grade in the email as well. You will receive a notification once your Parent ID is ready for collection.

The GAA Athletic Department is delighted to partner with Elite Sports Academy and launch their Football program, available for ALL STUDENTS AGE 4 - 14.

Sessions will commence from Tuesday 20th September 2022, with the sessions thoroughly planned and designed for children aged 4 – 14 years, so your child can flourish in their chosen activity, while being coached by Elite’s team of highly qualified coaches.

Schedule can be found below: -

• Tuesday 6.00 – 7.00pm (Age 4 – 14 years) – Commences 20th September 2022

• Friday 12.00 – 1.00pm (Grades 1 – 3) – commences 23rd September 2022

• Friday 1.00 – 2.00pm (Grades 4 – 8) – commences 23rd September 2022

• All children can REGISTER FOR THEIR FREE TRIAL SESSION, which will be offered on a first come first served basis.

• To register, visit www.elitesports.ae or call 04 554 5916, and benefit from Elite’s extended annual registration options.

We’re looking forward to seeing your child out on the pitch.

Respectfully,

Mr. Rashleigh and the Elite Sports Academy Staff

Please contact Mr. Rashleigh at d.rashleigh_gaa@gemsedu.com if you have any questions.

• September 12-15: Elementary Musical Tryouts for Grades 3, 4, 5 (please refer to flyer below for details)

• September 14: Elementary (PreK-Grade 5) Back To School Night (please check out Elementary Section of the GAAzette for details)

• September 15: Secondary (Grades 6-12) Back To School Night

• September 16: International Dot Day - PreK-Grade 5 dress down theme: anything with dots (optional)

• September 19-22: Elementary (PreK-Grade 5) School Photoshoot by Stu Williamson Photography Studio

• September 22-30: IB Welcome Back Exams

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

• October 12: PSAT test for 10th grade

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

• September 26- October 7: MAP Testing

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