Dear Parents and Guardians,

On behalf of all our staff, I would like to wish you and your families a very happy and prosperous New Year!

It has been an absolute joy to welcome our students back to school. The energy and enthusiasm they brought with them were truly inspiring. They adjusted quickly to their routines, settled in seamlessly, and are already fully engaged in their learning. This term promises to be busy, exciting, and full of meaningful experiences.

A highlight of our first week was the visit of bagpiper Ross OC Jennings, a presenter and video creator known for his projects The First Piper—playing the bagpipes in every country (#116 and counting!)—and So Where’s It From?, a video series uncovering the origins of everyday things. Ross led workshops for all students from Grade 3 and up, which were interactive, fast-paced, and perfectly aligned with the IB learner profile.

The workshops encouraged our students to:Cultivate a growth mindset and curiosity and develop cultural awareness and a global perspective.

We also had the pleasure of celebrating Arabic Language and Culture Week. Families enjoyed a small reception gathering, while students participated in engaging cultural and language activities throughout the week and in their Arabic classes. I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to our Arabic teachers and teaching assistants for their preparation and dedication in helping our students connect with the local language and culture.

Last but not least, our Primary School Sports Day began with great enthusiasm. It was wonderful to see Grade 1 and 2 students actively participating and fully engaged in the activities. We know how important sport is for children’s well-being, and this event was a fantastic way to inspire them while having fun. We cannot wait to have the rest of the students participating in their Sports Day.

A heartfelt thank you to the parents who were able to attend, as well as to our teachers and staff for their support and dedication.

Friday shorter day and early dismissal 

As you may already know, the Ministry has asked schools to dismiss students earlier on Fridays. At GIS, Primary students will be dismissed at 11:15 a.m., and Secondary students at 11:30 a.m.

We have adjusted our timetables to reduce transitions and ensure that teaching time is not affected. To make the most of this shorter day, we kindly ask for your support. Since lunch will be earlier than usual, students will have their snack in the classroom rather than going to the canteen. This will save valuable time for learning and activities.

Please send your child to school on Fridays with a small, easy-to-eat snack. Suggestions include: A piece of fruit (banana, apple), a granola bar without nuts or a fruit bar.  The goal is to begin this arrangement next Friday the 16th , so your support in providing a simple snack will be greatly appreciated.

IMPORTANT CALENDAR ADJUSTEMENT: It has come to our attention that the initial school calendar listed February 5th and 6th as dates for Parent–Teacher Conferences. Please note that this was an error, and both days will be regular school days.

Instead, parents will receive their child’s report card at the end of January. We apologize for any confusion this may have caused, as these dates were included before the calendar updates required by KHDA were finalized. Thank you for your understanding and continued support.

Save the Date: Our GISPA community is organizing a special event on Saturday, January 31 – World Cultures Day from 2:00 to 6:00 pm. Many parents have volunteered to share their cultures, making this a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the richness and diversity of our community.

Save the Date for Grade 5 parents: The Secondary School would like to invite you to a transition session on February 5th at 8:30 a.m. Further details will be shared soon.

We look forward to a term filled with curiosity, learning, and meaningful experiences. Thank you for your continued support in making our school such a vibrant and welcoming community.

Warm regards,

Mirna Hafez-Farah

Primary Principal