Updated March 8, 2022

Please bear in mind that with the new developments from Abu Dhabi Authorities, this link will be regularly updated to reflect the most recent information, as received from ADEK (schools governing body).

Dear GAA Families,

It is a great privilege and honour to welcome you to GEMS American Academy for the 2021-2022 academic year. This pack is designed to provide you with all the information you require to gain a solid understanding of the policies and procedures in the division in which your child is learning.

The information provided in this Welcome Pack gives you the basis of a successful start at GAA. If you have a question that is not covered here, our Parent Relations Executive (PRE), Divisional Secretaries, Reception and the Senior Leadership Team are all great next stops in helping to find answers. Monthly newsletter GAAzette is also a great source of information, but please also connect with us on our Facebook Page, Instagram Page and Twitter to stay up to date.

Message from our Head of School,

MR. ROBERT RINALDO

Please view below video for a warm welcome from our Head of School, Mr. Robert Rinaldo.

bff570cc-2f4c-4085-88f6-eed9df5a1339.MP4

MOST RECENT COMMUNICATION FROM SCHOOL

updated regularly

Jan 20 Update from HOS regarding Semester 2 Return (English)

Jan 20 Update from HOS regarding Semester 2 Return (Arabic)

Dec 9 Update from HOS regarding changes to school week

Sept 29 Update from HOS regarding PCR and Vaccination Requirements (English)

Sept 29 Update from HOS regarding PCR and Vaccination Requirements (Arabic)

School Reopening Guidelines from Abu Dhabi Department for Education and Knowledge

A Parent's Guide For Returning To School 2021-2022 (in English)

A Parent's Guide For Returning To School 2021-2022 (in Arabic)

A Private School Reopening Policies and Guidelines for Academic Year 2021/22

IMPORTANT! FORMS REQUIRED FOR FACE-TO-FACE LEARNING

Following forms MUST BE COMPLETED prior to return to face-to-face learning:

Student Physical Return Declaration Form - FOR ALL STUDENTS

Student Medical Risk Undertaking Form - FOR STUDENTS WITH HIGH RISK MEDICAL CONDITION

Student Travel Declaration Form - FOR STUDENTS WHO TRAVELLED IN 12 DAYS PRIOR TO SCHOOL START

Please email completed forms to nurse_gaa@gemsedu.com

PLEASE LEAVE ESIS NUMBER PORTION BLANK.

Students without the completed form will not be allowed on campus, as per official guidelines.

IMPORTANT! STUDENTS RETURNING FROM INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL

All students who traveled outside the UAE in the past 12 days must:

Complete Travel Declaration Form (download form here) and submit to nurse_gaa@gemsedu.com
Submit Day 1 and 6 PCR results to nurse_gaa@gemsedu.com
Physical return allowed with Day 1 PCR results.

IMPORTANT! STUDENT PCR TESTING & VACCINATION

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 January 24, 2022 onwards:

All students aged below 16 (vaccinated and unvaccinated): TESTING EVERY 28 DAYS
Vaccinated and Exempted students aged 16 and above: TESTING EVERY 14 DAYS

NOTE: Unvaccinated students aged 16 and above are required to continue with Distance Learning in line with previous directive of Abu Dhabi Authorities.

GAA's designated testing center: Biogenix Lab at Masdar City: https://goo.gl/maps/xXpmfYixm62mX59M8

School Code for free testing: KS-9086.

Please upload the results on parent portal http://oasis.gemseducation.com For instructions on how, please scroll down.

Entry for individuals with incomplete vaccination journeys

Temporary entry allowance will be granted for following categories:

All students aged 16 and above who, for any reason (travel, unable to get an appointment, being previously exempt), will have started but not completed their vaccination journey before their 1st day of physically return to school (completed dose 1, dose 2, or both doses but not the required 28 days).

Please make sure to complete your vaccination journey in a timely manner.

Vaccine Booster:

Effective 20th of August 2021, it is compulsory for all staff and students aged 16+ who have completed 6 months from the second dose of their previous vaccine to obtain a booster dose within 30 days to maintain their ALHOSN green status and allowed to be access to schools.

Individuals who have not complied with this requirement will have their ALHOSN status turned grey effective 20th September 2021 and will not be allowed access to school. It is imperative to verity ALHOSN green status as an entry requirement for all individuals who are aged 16 and above.

IMPORTANT! Uploading Vaccination and PCR Results on Parent Portal

It is important to UPLOAD VACCINATION RECORDS/EXEMPTION and PCR RESULTS through GEMS Parent Portal http://oasis.gemseducation.com.

Please see below instructions on How To Upload via Computer (Laptop) or Mobile Device:

How to Upload Student COVID-19 Vaccination on Parent Portal

How to Upload Student COVID-19 Test Results on Parent Portal

SCHOOL TIMINGS AND CALENDAR

IMPORTANT:

Please inform your department secretaries if your child is expected to arrive later than the school start date.

Elementary Secretary: elemsecretary_gaa@gemsedu.com
Secondary Secretary: secsecretary_gaa@gemsedu.com

Students arriving out of UAE must follow Abu Dhabi Authorities COVID-19 guidelines.

Please refer to Secondary Section of the Welcome Pack on guidelines for secondary students' return to campus.

Admin Offices Timings:

Monday - Thursday: 07:30AM - 04:30PM

Fridays: 07:00AM - 01:00PM

Offices will remain open during Summer, Winter and Spring Breaks (except on public holidays) from Monday to Thursday between 08:00-16:00 and Fridays 08:00-13:00.

Please refer to Procedures & Policies Section for more information if you wish to visit Admin Offices during school hours.

2021-2022 School Calendar (updated March 8, 2022)

Please click on this link for School Calendar.

Calendar Color Coding is as follows:

Pink: school holidays
Red: public holidays
Dark Blue: half days
Light Blue: school event days
Green: school start days
Yellow: Ramadan or staggered start

CLICK HERE TO ACCESS

THE GAA EVENTS CALENDAR

(please note, updated regularly)

CLICK HERE TO ACCESS

21/22 PARENT CALENDAR

DESIGNATED ENTRY POINTS

One of three designated entry points must be used by all students and parents seeking access to school. These designated entry points will be fitted with thermal imaging cameras which will record each student and staff member's temperature so it is imperative that these entry points are used. NO EXIT FOR VISITORS WILL BE ALLOWED FROM ENTRY POINTS. See below map for exit directions.

A designated and trained security officer will monitor the system throughout the day. A process is in place to manage any students identified as having a temperature greater than 37.5 degrees celsius.

Gate 1 (Front of School main entrance) - Grades 2 - 12.

Gate 3 (Front of School KG entrance) - Kindergarten and Grade 1 only. (This entrance is recommended for KG students and is designated specifically for them)

Gate 4 (Back of School) - Buses and Grades K-12.

Gate 5 (Back of School) – CLOSED FOR ENTRY! Opens at 3 pm for Grade 6-12 Students not riding a bus.

DISMISSAL EXIT PLAN

Secondary Students may exit from Gate 5 (near Tennis Courts). Bus-riders will exit from Gate 4.

Elementary students exit plan is below.

DROP-OFF AND PICK-UP TRAFFIC REGULATION

IMPORTANT UPDATE:

Parents with students BOTH in Elementary and Secondary - Please use Front Gates – Secondary students with elementary siblings may exit from front gate (coming down from Staircase 4 through Student Cafeteria) and be collected from front gate parking area. We request that parents follow this recommendation to collect both children in front gates and NOT DRIVE TO THE BACK GATE TO COLLECT SECONDARY STUDENT AFTER PICKING UP ELEMENTARY CHILD. This will only aggravate the traffic blockage.
Parents with students ONLY in Secondary - Please use Back Gates

DO'S

Be attentive and follow the guidance of our staff members! You will see them directing traffic and ensuring the safety of our students.
Instruct your drivers to follow the pickup/dropoff guidelines and instructions of our staff members.
Park in designated parking spaces.
Please continue forward in the pick-up lane if the car in front of you has picked up his/her child and is exiting. Do not stop midway – continue forward to allow cars lining behind you to enter parking.
Keep the sidewalks and crosswalks clear.

DON'TS

Do not double park.
Do not exit your car if waiting in pick up lane.
Do not park on the sidewalks (red-bricked areas near back gates) – this is in violation of UAE Traffic Rules.

PARKING ENTRY/EXIT PROCEDURE

We have assigned 2 entry points and 1 exit point in the back parking area (see attached map). NO EXIT IS ALLOWED THROUGH DESIGNATED ENTRY POINTS.
To enter the back parking area, please use one of the entry points indicated in the map. The 1st entry point is near tennis courts (in front of SmileRite), the 2nd entry point is through Bus parking. If the 1st entry is full, please continue forward on the main street towards the 2nd entry (through the Bus Parking).
Please continue forward in the pick-up lane if the car in front of you has picked up his/her child and is exiting. Do not stop midway – continue forward to allow cars lining behind you to enter parking.
Exit from center (EXIT ONLY POINT) as indicated in the map. Please use common courtesy and Culture of Kindness when exiting from parking and follow our staff members’ directions.
Students exiting from the back gates will be waiting in the designated waiting areas to be picked up. Please make sure you discuss the pick up timing with your child before school.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

If you arrive early to park in designated areas within school parking, please be mindful that you may find it difficult to exit immediately after pick up, as transiting cars may be blocking your way. We recommend to arrive during dismissal time. Alternatively, please park in designated parking areas in public roads (for example, after Beverly Cakes pastry shop, on Al Mutaabid Street, or Al Waqaa street).
Carpool when possible
Consider using school bus service
Weather permitting, consider using bikes or walk, if living near school.

NEW FAMILY CHECKLIST

new family checklist.pdf

NEW FAMILY WHATSAPP GROUPS

Our wonderful parent ambassadors have set up WhatsApp groups for families new to GAA to help connect. Please join the group specific to your family:

Elementary New Families WhatsApp Chat (KG-Grade 5)

Middle School New Families WhatsApp Chat (Grade 6-8)

High School New Families WhatsApp Chat (Grade 9-12)

If you are a returning family, you may already be part of Grade Level WhatsApp groups, created last school year 2020-2021. If you are not, please feel free to email pre_gaa@gemsedu.com