Dear Parents & Guardians

This has been another exciting week at GIS.

One again, we hosted a number of universities on site this week from Canada, Australia and the UK. The presence of universities on campus is vital in assisting our older students in planning for their future. The university fairs are always well attended, and students enjoy hearing first-hand information about their career aspirations. Thank you to Ms Meena and Ms Rejina for organizing.

We held two successful parent Q&A sessions for the upcoming Week Without Walls trips where any final queries were addressed. If you were unable to attend, the video recording of the session has been emailed to all parents. I do hope that you and your children have been able to make an informed choice about the trip you would moust like to attend. WWW trips are wonderful opportunities for students to take risks, become more balanced individuals, develop as Global Citizens and make memories that will last a lifetime. Many thanks to Mr Jason Carpenter for all his work on this.

We had a great turnout for our ConnectEd session this week, focusing on English Language Learning and how we can support our multi-lingual students. Ensuring that all our students have access to our curriculum and can reach their full potential is our highest priority. Thanks to all our ELL teachers for their hard work and dedication. The presentation slides can be found within the newsletter, below.

This year’s school musical is Mathilda Jnr, the stage adaptation of Roald Dahl’s classic tale. Rehearsal have begun, and many congratulations to all who auditioned. We are delighted to announce that a workshop will be held for all cast members run by the actors and crew of the professional production of Mathilda that will be showing at the Dubai Opera House. This is a wonderful opportunity for all our young actors to work with industry professionals. 

At the very end of the week, we hosted the Grade 9 Meet & Greet, where parents and students were invited to share cultural dishes and continue making connections with one another - thank you to all who attended and contributed to the food offerings!

Have a wonderful weekend. 

Kind regards

Amanda Murphy

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

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. 

Language and Literature

Grades 6-12

We are thrilled to share the exciting activities and achievements of our students in grades 6, 7, DP1, and DP2 from the past week.

Grade 6 students have been celebrating cultural diversity through their engaging cultural speeches. Each student selected an object that holds unique significance to them and their home country. These speeches have not only allowed our young scholars to express themselves but have also fostered a deep appreciation for the rich tapestry of cultures within our school.

In addition, Grade 7 students have been immersing themselves in S. E. Hinton's timeless classic, The Outsiders. They've been reading, analyzing, and creating texts related to the novel, enhancing their critical thinking and literary skills. The exploration of themes and character development in this novel has sparked lively discussions and creativity among our seventh-graders.

DP1 students are gearing up for an upcoming summative assessment where they will delve into the powerful poetry of Wilfred Owen. These young scholars have been collaborating diligently in preparation for this task, honing their analytical abilities and literary appreciation. Their dedication to this project is evident, and we look forward to witnessing their insightful essays.

Finally, as DP2 students approach the final stretch of their academic journey, they have been immersed in research, reflection, and preparation for the Individual Oral mock assessment. This assessment is a significant milestone in their academic careers, and their hard work and determination are truly inspiring.

Overall, we are delighted to report that the Language and Literature department is abuzz with enthusiasm and a thirst for knowledge. Our students' dedication to their studies, collaborative spirit, and willingness to explore diverse subjects and cultures are a testament to their growth and development as well-rounded individuals. 

We want to extend our appreciation to our students, teachers, and parents for their unwavering support in fostering a dynamic and engaging learning environment at our secondary school. Together, we are nurturing the next generation of thinkers, creators, and leaders. We look forward to more exciting adventures in learning in the weeks ahead over the course of October!