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Week Seventeen - January 19th, 2024
Dear Parents & Guardians
Welcome to the end of another week.
While students had an extra chance to sleep in on Monday, staff were busy with training throughout the day. In secondary, we ran ‘Teachers training Teachers’ workshops. I would like to express my sincere thanks to Ms Sandy and Mr Harry for the overall coordination of the day. However, Ms Anrie, Ms Ellie, Ms Sinead, Ms Seerat, Ms Wafaa, Ms Terri, Ms Sam and Ms Tania all deserve special mention for the fantastic sessions that they held. Also, a shout out to Ms Alisha and Mr Lewis for their excellent Amazing Race session centred around well being and pastoral care. Congratulations to all involved.
Mr Simon and I had the pleasure to conduct interviews with the incoming StuELT team on Wednesday. It is a favourite part of my year, as I am always impressed with the confidence that our students can hold a conversation with their Principal and Head of Secondary. The thoughtful responses to our questions, the maturity and insight in the responses; and the sincerity in their desire to enhance our school, is a privilege to be a part of. Well done to our candidates! Next week we will be announcing the positions that each of the team will head in for the coming 12 months.
Ms Sandy hosted two ConnectEd’s this week related to the MYP. Thank you to all parents who took time out of their busy schedules to attend. Ms Sandy’s ability to explain aspects of the MYP with such enthusiasm and ease, allows for some easy listening. Should you have missed the sessions this week, the presentations can be located in our ConnectEd section.
Today we hosted the Grade 10 Meet and Greet Potluck. Students enjoyed having their parents on campus, introducing them to friends and teachers. Thank you for your attendance and for the delicious culinary treats.
Finally this week, I would like to thank our students for getting behind Spirit Week, we had some very comfortable PJ’s, flowery tropical shirts, a vast array of vintage outfits and very professional business attire. Great effort everyone!
Kind regards
Amanda Murphy
Secondary School Expectations, Culture and Curriculum
Secondary School Expectations, Culture and Curriculum
IMPORTANT DATES
IMPORTANT DATES
Oct 31 to Nov 24 Secondary School 30x30 Sports ChallengeNovember 2 StuELT Handover CeremonyNovember 3 Grade 11 and 12 Families Meet & Greet November 6 PTCs (8am - 8pm; online)November 7 PTCs (3:30 - 6:30pm; online)November 9 PTCs (3:30 - 6:30pm; online)November 13 School PhotosNovember 20-24 GIS Anti-bullying WeekNovember 27 UAE National Day CelebrationDecember 6 Secondary School Sports DayDecember 7 Arabic Language DayDecember 8 WinterFest | Term 1 Report published to families
Grade 11 and 12 Meet and Greet 3rd November 2023.pdf
Secondary School 30x30 Sports Challenge
Secondary School 30x30 Sports Challenge
Dubai Fitness Challenge sparks an exciting month-long celebration of fitness and wellness. It challenges individuals to complete 30 minutes of exercise each day for 30 days (30X30). The challenge aims to inspire everyone to create a fitness-focused mindset and seek healthy, active lifestyles. To celebrate this initiative, GIS will be hosting a range of sporting activities over the next 4 weeks. Alongside PHE lessons, there will be opportunities for pupils to participate in a range of fitness/sporting challenges. Also included are opportunities for staff to get involved in some fun, competitive, and fitness-related activities. Please see the attached calendar for more information.
GIS 30x30 sports 2023.pdfSecondary Parent ConnectEd Schedule
Secondary Parent ConnectEd Schedule
Progression through the MYP 2023_24.pptx.pdfProgression in the MYP.pdfEnglish Language Learners (ELL) - Connect-Ed - October 2023-2024.pptx.pdf_ SA for Parents (ConnectEd).pptx.pdfOnline Safety
Online Safety
Keeping Our Children Safe Online
Digital devices, such as smartphones and tablets, make online platforms and content easily accessible. And, while there are many benefits of seamless accessibility and connectivity, there are also many potential risks - to the health, well-being and even the safety of young people - that must be considered by young people themselves, as well as by parents and schools. Technological advances are faster than ever and new online platforms are released at a rapid rate, making it challenging to effectively monitor and control (for their own well-being) the online activity of the young people in our care. Young people will, at times, seek out and/or be inadvertently exposed to inappropriate online content. If and when this is the case, it is important that they feel comfortable and confident to disclose and discuss the matter with trusted adults. While banning smart devices may not be practical (or desirable), implementing agreements around device usage (for instance) is a healthy and productive approach to online media balance and safety. There are a number of useful tips and strategies available to support healthy and well-informed approaches to media use. Please take some time to explore the E-safety: Parent Guidance, which has been created to support GIS parents in this regard.Keeping Our Children Safe Online
Checklist: Set up kids’ tech devices with safety settings.pdfFrom the Classroom (and beyond)
From the Classroom (and beyond)
Jaguars Updates
Jaguars Updates
For information about the week's sports results and scorers, in addition to action photos, match reports, sports news and more, visit our Jaguar Sports website.
For information about the week's sports results and scorers, in addition to action photos, match reports, sports news and more, visit our Jaguar Sports website.
Drama
Grade Level: 7
The wonderfully creative grade 7s have started blocking out their actions for their performance in two weeks time. They have begun to learn and successfully implement the drama techniques and bring their Scenes from Quarantine to life! Well done Grade 7s on your ambitious efforts this week.
Mathilda the Musical
Mathilda the Musical
Grade 6-10
Our Matilda Jr cast have had a successful start to rehearsals this week learning their first song and dance. It has been exciting to see the cast bring the characters and story to life. Their creativity and effort is inspiring to witness as they work diligently to create the world of Matilda Jr the Musical, premiering in March 2024. We can’t wait for you to see what they can do!
Language and Literature
Language and Literature
Grades 8
Over the past week, the MYP Language and Literature program has witnessed significant achievements across the secondary school. Students have excelled in various areas, highlighting their linguistic prowess and literary acumen. Through engaging and thought-provoking assignments, they have not only honed their language skills but also fostered a deep appreciation for the written word.
A standout moment was the remarkable collaboration of Ms. Kelly-Lei’s grade 8 students, who undertook a creative challenge. They united their talents and imaginations to craft innovative advertisements that exemplify their mastery of persuasive strategies. These projects demonstrated the application of literary and linguistic techniques to real-world scenarios, sparking the ingenuity of the students and fostering teamwork and creativity.
While there have been challenges along the way, the commitment of students and educators has been unwavering. By embracing these hurdles, students have developed resilience and a growth mindset. Such experiences in the MYP Language and Literature course are shaping the leaders and communicators of tomorrow, emphasizing that success is not merely in the destination, but in the journey of learning and self-discovery.
Islamic Studies
Islamic Studies
Umrah Trip 2023
Summary of learning and/or celebrations from the week
The MYP/DP students went for an amazing Umrah Trip to the holy cities of Makkha and Madina in the October break. It was a wonderful and meaningful journey for all who went on their First Umrah Trip. The teachers worked hard to arrange and finalize all the details for months, with the providers.
Umrah is a minor pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, which holds significant religious importance in Islam. It's a time for spiritual reflection and devotion for Muslims.
The students were highly appreciative of the hotels, rides, bilingual guides, and city tours where they had detailed exposure to the Historical sites in Islam, in both holy cities. We wish to continue this wonderful initiative on a yearly basis, inshAllah!
Model United Nations
Model United Nations
Grade 6-12
Summary of learning and/or celebrations from the week
Last weekend, we made our debut at the Model United Nations (MUN) conference held at Dunecrest American School.
Three of our DP1 students, Hiba Hassan, Yusuf Ergashev, and Krishnna Prateesh, had the honor of co-chairing various committees and were truly impressive in guiding their delegates through the conference.
Our achievements did not stop there! We proudly brought home several awards that reflect the excellence and hard work of our MUN club members. Huge congratulations go to Zainab Zouaoui in grade 9, who was recognized as the Best Delegate in the Economic and Social Council. Additionally, Taliya Khan-grade 7, Yusuf Al Attar-DP1, and Elisavet Tsoumani-grade 9 were each honored with the distinction of the Best Position Paper in their respective committees.
Our MUN club is thriving with over sixty members currently enrolled. Members are divided into junior and senior groups. This enthusiastic group is guided by three of our DP1 students, Hiba, Yusuf, and Krishnna and they receive valuable support from Karim Badran- DP1 and Akiil Jee-s DP1.
We hold weekly meetings where our students delve into the key concepts of MUN, which are essential for effective participation in conferences. Furthermore, these meetings serve as a platform for honing their argumentative and debating skills, preparing them to excel not just in MUN but also in various aspects of their academic and personal lives. We look forward to nurturing these valuable skills and experiences that will shape our students into future leaders and global citizens.
Attendance
Attendance
The adjacent information (and more) can be found on the Parent Information Site. We encourage parents to familiarize yourselves with this site. To access, please click the button, above.
Roles and Responsibilities of Parents/Guardians
Roles and Responsibilities of Parents/Guardians
Ensure that their child(ren) receive(s) a full-time education and those children registered at GIS attend regularly and punctually
Inform the school of any absences/ leave
Discuss with the Homeroom Teacher any planned absences well in advance
Support the school by aiming for their child to have 100% attendance each year
Avoid taking their child out of school for non-urgent medical or dental appointments
Only request a leave of absence if it is for an exceptional circumstance
Student Leave and Absence
Student Leave and Absence
Parents and guardians, please use the Secondary Leave Request to submit:
1. A notification of your child's late arrival to school
2. A notification of your child's unplanned absences from school, due to sickness or injury
3. Advanced requests for planned leave from school
4. A request for early dismissal from school
5. A request for a gate pass
In case of unforeseen absence, it is the responsibility of parents/guardians to notify the school on the first day of unplanned absence. Notification should be made by 8:30 am or as soon as practically possible, by submitting a Secondary Leave Request.
Useful Links
Useful Links
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Secondary School Handbook
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Parent Portal for fee payment, updating details etc.
Email bus Services
Email IT support (password reset etc.)
Travel declaration form
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