With only seven more working days of school before the end of term, and as we look forward to holidays, I should remind all families travelling out of the UAE to read our Doctor’s summary of the DHA guidelines below. Travel forms must be completed, and on return to Dubai, a negative PCR test must be obtained with a validity of 48 hours before re-entering the school campus.

On the subject of forthcoming celebrations, we thank our GIS parents Ms. Alyazia, Ms. Amna and Ms. Reema, who alongside Ms. Noor, Ms. Amineh, Mr. Magid and their teams have been preparing for the UAE National Day. Children have been learning more about the history of the UAE, our context, and the meaning behind the day. Decorations have been been put up and although celebrations have had to be modified this year, we are still going to thoroughly enjoy the day! We shall have a video available by Sunday, which we will share with you all.

With UAE and GIS values at the forefront, the Student Service Committee, led by Kiana H and Jana A, has been planning a donation drive to the Dubai Foundation for Women and Children. This aligns closely to the World Children’s Day (November 20^th), and International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women (November 25^th). As you will see in the description below from Kiana, at GIS we are seeking to go beyond simply donating – it is important that students have a clear understanding of the charitable purpose, through service and action. Well done to the Student Service Committee for this – please read Kiana’s words below.

“This foundation aims to provide immediate protection for women and children that are victims of domestic violence, child abuse, and human trafficking. We, as the service committee, recognize the importance of awareness, especially on a topic such as violence against women and children. Hence, through this donation drive, we aim to not only create a sense of service and a culture of giving back in the GIS community but most importantly, raise awareness on this topic. This event will be launching on Sunday, the 29th of November, and will be ongoing until the 21st of January. Each homeroom in the secondary school will be provided with a donation box, a list of items that are required by the foundation, and a list of acts of service. The list will include a series of tasks that can be done in school, and outside of school, and through this list, we aim to promote a culture of service and giving back in GIS.”