Dear GIS Primary Families,

As we wrap up another exciting week at GIS, I want to take a moment to celebrate the incredible learning, community spirit, and important milestones that have taken place. 

Welcome to Ramadan Event

As the holy month of Ramadan begins, we extend our warmest wishes to our Muslim families. May this sacred time be filled with peace, reflection, and togetherness. May your days be blessed with joy, kindness, and spiritual fulfillment. Ramadan Kareem! 🌙💛

This morning, we had the privilege of celebrating our Welcome to Ramadan event, which brought together our community in a meaningful way to honor this special time of year. A huge thank you to our incredible Islamic Team for their dedication and efforts in organizing such a beautiful and enriching experience for our students. It was a wonderful opportunity for all of us to learn more about the values of Ramadan and the spirit of togetherness it brings. Here is a video you can share with your children that the PYP students have created.

Successful Fire Drill & Lockdown Practice
Safety is always our top priority, and I am pleased to share that our students and staff successfully participated in both a fire drill and a lockdown practice this week. These drills are an essential part of our commitment to ensuring a safe and prepared school environment, and we are proud of how calmly and efficiently our students responded.

A Full Campus Once Again!
With Week Without Walls now behind us, it has been fantastic to have all of our students back on campus. Hearing about their adventures beyond the classroom and seeing their excitement in sharing their experiences has been truly heartwarming. At the same time, students who remained on campus were engaged in incredible project-based learning, and it has been wonderful to see them share their learning. 

PYP Exhibition Launch
We are also thrilled to have officially launched the PYP Exhibition—a significant milestone in our Grade 5 students' learning journey. Over the coming weeks, they will engage in deep inquiry, collaborate with mentors, and work on projects that reflect their passions and learning. This is an exciting time for our students as they take ownership of their learning, and we look forward to celebrating their hard work and growth throughout the process.

Ramadan Begins This Weekend
As Ramadan begins this weekend, we want to remind families that our Ramadan school hours will be as follows:

• School Hours: 8:30 AM - 1:30 PM (doors open at 8:10 AM for drop-off).

• Break Times: Students will have one break per day instead of two.

• ECAs: There will be no ECAs during Ramadan.

• Fasting Students: We will provide quiet, low-movement spaces for students who are fasting during break times.

• if your child will be fasting please ensure you have completed the fasting students form so that HRTs and the Islamic team can support 

• Non-Fasting Students: Regular break arrangements will remain in place

We appreciate your support in ensuring a smooth transition to these adjusted hours.

Community Iftar – Payment Reminder: For those who have signed up for our Community Iftar on March 12, please remember that payments must be completed directly with The Westin Mina Seyahi before March 11 to confirm your participation. We look forward to sharing this special evening with many of you.

Emirati Education Day: Today is a special day on the Emirati calendar as we celebrate educators from UAE. At GIS we are fortunate to have many staff members who contribute positively to students' lives every day. We are proud to work in a diverse and inclusive school where staff go over and beyond to provide personalized experiences for all. #Education_by_everyone_for_everyone #Emirati_Day_for_Education

Thank you for your continued support and for being part of our wonderful GIS community. Wishing you all a restful weekend and a blessed start to Ramadan!

Warm regards, 

Sarah McLean