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Week one - September 3rd 2020
From the Head of Secondary
From the Head of Secondary
Welcome to the first newsletter of the year.
I hope to be able to use this newsletter to celebrate and share the work of our students each week and to keep you informed about life in the Secondary School.
This year will bring the toughest school openings for educators across the globe. I am so proud of the GIS secondary school community for the way that, once again, we have come together to support each other and work through the challenges that have been presented to us. We cannot profess to have had a perfect week, but I am delighted with the way that our students have started this school year.
Our teachers continue to astound me with the speed at which they improve and adapt to develop their practice. No matter how much training and deliberation we do in education, we cannot know for sure how anything will work until we use it with the students. The first few days challenged the agility of our teachers but they have already shown that they will get this right for all students.
We introduce the GEMS-wide Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) next week. 'Phoenix Classroom' will complement the use of ManageBac across the secondary school. GEMS have developed Phoenix Classroom to serve the needs of this unique setting and we are confident that it will further improve our delivery of remote and physical learning. Phoenix Classroom will close some of the provision gaps that have appeared this week and will provide us with a wonderful digital space to connect with learners (and their families) and to share resources, as well as publishing news and updates.
Thank you to all of our families for helping to make this unique opening school week as smooth and as happy as possible.
Making the most of learning with restrictions
Making the most of learning with restrictions
We welcomed students back to learning this week and everyone has remarked at how well the students have reacted to our 'new normal'. It's also been amazing to see the rapid development and learning that our amazing teachers have made in such a short space of time. Never before has education been stretched the way that it is at the moment.
We have watched our teachers managing learners online and in learning spaces that are not their own. They have relied on technology like never before and they are using it in ways that they never thought they would need to. Students are interacting, collaborating and creating in conditions that they should never have to consider. But, everyone is developing their proficiencies and literacies at breakneck speed.
A great classroom is one that is free and creative, and this has become so difficult due to the restrictions that are in place for everyone. However, at GIS, we are resilient, we are innovative, we are open minded, we are determined; WeRGIS 😉
Masks on, learners seated, learners online and sanitiser ready. This is what teaching looks like for us all at the moment.
TOK students collaborating at a distance. TOK is tough enough already.
The bitter-sweet of having our students back, but not allowing them to be together as they want to be.
Talented with Art and technology!
Top performing IBDP graduate - Gleb Sitikov
Top performing IBDP graduate - Gleb Sitikov
It has been a bumpy ride with DP results this year. Our DP coordinator has worked tirelessly through the summer to finalise the IBDP grades for our 2020 graduating class and we could not be prouder of the improvements in results across all aspects of the programme from our 2019 results.
Our top performer this year was Gleb Sitikov, who also become the first 40+ student from GIS. We are delighted that Gleb has reached this milestone at the school in only our second year of graduates. His outcomes are testament to his hard work, dedication and resilience. Gleb maintained an incredible standard throughout his time at GIS and we wish him the absolute best of luck as he continues his studies in Germany at Technische Universität München.
Reminders and updates
Reminders and updates
Please consider the below reminders and discuss them with your child over the weekend.
Pick up and drop off
Pick up and drop off
Thank you so much to our parents for the speed at which you settled into the pick up and drop off routines. It is essential that students are collected on time and that the protocols that have been outlined in the secondary school handbook addendum are followed as tightly as possible. Please also note the adjustments that have been mentioned in the whole school page of this newsletter
Recharge laptops
Recharge laptops
Please remember to have your child charge their laptop every evening. We have had some students arrive to school with their laptops already very low on battery.
Teachers are working to ensure that learning engagements are balanced and support students as they look to make their laptop charge last for the full day.
Food and drink
Food and drink
Once again, a huge thank you to families that have set their child up well with food and drink for the day. Teachers have adjusted their plans to maximize learning time but have also considered time to eat and drink through the day.
We have observed the maturity of secondary school students as they manage this for themselves.
Social distancing
Social distancing
Our students have been excellent with social distancing but we cannot become complacent with our actions in times like this.
Please remind your child of the importance of keeping up these good habits that they have developed at all times.
We celebrated our 'Building Quality Curriculum' feedback
We celebrated our 'Building Quality Curriculum' feedback
Service learning opportunities
Service learning opportunities
Students should keep an eye out this year fro the logo shown on the left. This logo will help to identify some of the service learning opportunities that students have through the year.
Service learning is an expectation for all IB students and is recognised in MYP as Service Learning and in DP as part of CAS. If you want to know more, speak to the MYP coordinator (Mr Rafael) or the DP coordinator (Mr Ruairi)
Smiles4Zayed makes a happy start to the year
Smiles4Zayed makes a happy start to the year
Hi!
My name is Jana Alballany, I'm in grade 10, and I am the founder and head of the Smiles4Zayed project.
Our current situation is a time when we need Kindness and a smile the most! I already see many great opportunities for Smiles4Zayed projects and events! We have a very intriguing plan for the next few months, so make sure to stay tuned to our instagram page @Smiles4Zayed to keep up with our newest projects and posts! Make sure to check out our '10 ways to be kind' poster attached to this article! I know that some of us are struggling to keep a positive mindset during these times, so we want to spread happiness and kindness as much as possible, and hope that you do the same!
I have been taking part in on campus learning for the past week in GIS. The first week of learning has been excellent. We, as students, have seen improvements in the approach and the management of classes day after day. The GIS community is such a supportive and encouraging one and this is something that is very much needed by all of us during these times. The teachers are each finding their own techniques and methods for teaching that are both comfortable for the students and their respective teachers.
Although things are very different to what we have all been used to, I am very excited to be back in school and am excited to see how we will get through this time together. I know that we will get through this time together as a community, so stay positive and stay smiling!
See episode 0 by clicking the logo above
Student TV has a revamp - introducing the new and improved 'TheLinkTV'
Student TV has a revamp - introducing the new and improved 'TheLinkTV'
Hello everyone,
My name is Nourhan Fouad and I'm the Director of TheLinkTV.
I’m glad to be back in school after so long; especially since I was finally able to launch a new initiative that I’m leading this year called ‘The LinkTV’, which is a project that aims to act as a news source for the student body – bringing them all the latest news and documenting student life at GIS. My team and I have been working on the project for quite some time now and it was gratifying to watch the students and teachers react to it. Looking forward to seeing what this year has in store for us!
You can find Epsiode 0 attached to this article (click on our logo to the left) and I encourage you to look out for our official first episode in the coming days.
The return to school has been really exciting! Despite the new social distancing regulations, getting to see my friends and teachers face-to-face rather than through a screen has been great. I’ve actually found adapting to the new regulations much easier than I initially assumed.
If you think you could contribute to TheLink (TV, digital magazine or podcast then check out the posters below and send us your email application.
'TheLink' is looking for students
'TheLink' is looking for students
'TheLink', our student voice multimedia platform is currently looking for the follow people. Students are encouraged to apply by following the guidance in the posters below
Useful Links
Useful Links
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