Dear Parents,

I hope this message finds you and your families safe and well.

We recognise that this continues to be a deeply unsettling and challenging time for our community. The ongoing regional situation, alongside the recent severe weather disruption across the UAE, has created uncertainty and added pressure for many families. I know that for many of you, these days have not been easy, balancing professional responsibilities, family needs, and supporting your children with their learning at home, often while navigating technical challenges and the wider anxieties around us.

I want to take a moment to acknowledge this openly and sincerely. We see the effort it is taking, and we are truly grateful for your resilience, patience, and partnership.

Possibility of return to campus from 6th April 2026

You may be aware that some schools have applied to the KHDA for a phased return to campus next week for selected year groups. After careful consideration, GIS will not be returning to on-site learning before the 6th April. This decision has been made following a thorough, risk-based approach, ensuring full compliance with regulatory expectations and, most importantly, placing the safety and wellbeing of our students and staff at the centre of all planning. We believe this is the most responsible course of action at this time, and we will continue to review guidance closely.

With regard to our anticipated return to campus on 6 April, this will be approached with the utmost care and in full alignment with guidance from the Ministry of Education, KHDA and GEMS Education. As you will appreciate, this remains a fluid and evolving situation, and no final confirmation has yet been issued. In the meantime, our focus is firmly on ensuring full campus readiness, working in close partnership with GEMS to review and implement all necessary safety protocols. We will, of course, continue to keep you fully informed as further details emerge.

Online Learning

In the meantime, our focus remains on delivering the best possible online learning experience for your children.

We are aware that some families have experienced difficulties accessing lessons via Microsoft Teams, including delays in being admitted to sessions. I would like to reassure you that these technical challenges were outside of the school’s control. Measures such as controlled access to lessons are in place to ensure the safeguarding and security of all students, though I fully understand how frustrating this may have felt in practice. Thank you for your patience and understanding as we have worked through these issues.

Please also know that we recognise how hard you are working at home. It is important to say that things do not need to be perfect. What matters most is that your children feel safe, supported, and reassured, and that, as families, you are also taking care of your own wellbeing.

We are here for you. If you need support, guidance, or simply someone to speak to, please do not hesitate to reach out to us. We will always do our very best to help.

We would like to extend our sincere thanks to all families who have already re-enrolled for the upcoming academic year. Your continued trust and commitment to our community, particularly during this period of uncertainty, is truly appreciated. We look forward to understanding the intentions of all our families, as this greatly supports our planning for the year ahead. We recognise that each family’s circumstances are unique, and our Admissions and Leadership teams are available to discuss your individual situation and provide guidance. Should your circumstances change, for example due to relocation, please be assured that our team will support you and guide you through the process, including any applicable refunds.

Primary update

Students located overseas

We are pleased to confirm that additional learning sessions will be provided for students who are 2–4 hours behind Dubai time. Students who are only marginally ahead of Dubai time should be able to access the regular timetable without difficulty.

To enable this provision, we have engaged additional members of staff to support these sessions, ensuring continuity of high-quality learning while also safeguarding the wellbeing of our teachers, whose timetables are already fully committed.

• Mrs Rupali will support Pre-K, KG1 and KG2

• Mr Lawrence will support Grades 1 to 4

Our planning has been informed by the time-zone information provided by parents. Individual timetables will be shared with you shortly.

Students will continue to attend their scheduled classes with their homeroom teachers later in the day. In addition, to address any missed morning learning, they will participate in supplementary afternoon sessions focused on literacy and mathematics. These sessions will provide opportunities to revisit key concepts, clarify tasks, and respond to questions. Students are also encouraged to engage with the instructional videos shared by their teachers. We are confident that this model will provide strong and consistent support for all learners.

At present, we have not yet been able to secure staffing for students who are 7–8 hours behind Dubai time; however, we are actively exploring solutions. In the interim, these students should continue to access asynchronous learning and recorded lessons.

Student-Led Conferences are currently scheduled for Thursday 16th and Friday 17th April. Should circumstances require, these will be conducted online, following a similar format to that used in October last year. Further details, including booking arrangements, will be shared in due course.

Secondary update

In Secondary, we continue to focus on maintaining continuity of learning and supporting students during this period. For Grade 12, there are no new updates at this stage; however, the GEMS central team continues to engage closely with our exam boards on our behalf, and we will share any confirmed information as soon as it becomes available.

Student Learning Conferences, originally scheduled for Thursday 16th and Friday 17th April, will now take place online in light of the current circumstances. These will follow a similar format to those held in October, and further details on how to sign up will be shared in due course.

In relation to assessment in Secondary, our approach will be adjusted in light of the current challenges that our students, families and staff are facing. There will be a greater emphasis on smaller, ongoing formative assessments to support learning, provide regular feedback and reduce pressure during this time. From April 1st, we will also be introducing AssessPrep, a platform designed to support students through structured practice, targeted feedback and opportunities to revisit key concepts. This will be a valuable tool in helping students build confidence, track their progress and stay engaged in their learning in a manageable and supportive way.

Student wellbeing remains a priority, and we encourage all families to continue reaching out for support where needed. As part of this, all community sessions scheduled over the next two weeks will be postponed, with new dates to be arranged and communicated once we return to more stable conditions.

Thank you, once again, for your strength, your patience, and your kindness during this difficult period. We look forward to the time, very soon, when we can welcome all of our students back to campus and return to a sense of normality together.

GIS Leadership Team

WhatsApp Channels

Primary and Secondary WhatsApp Channels for our GIS community. These Channels will run on WhatsApp, meaning you will be able to manage your own notification settings and access the updates easily.

It is important to note that only our Parent Relations Executive, Helen Gornall, will be able to post messages to

these Channels and this will only be to share announcements/updates applicable. We encourage you to check

the relevant Channels regularly to remain informed about the latest developments.

For any queries on Slices, please call or WhatsApp Andrea from Slices on 050 504 5908

Kind reminder to ensure students accounts have enough credit loaded so they do not face issues purchasing food. 

GIS Community Calendar 25/6

If you would like to subscribe to the the GIS Community Calendar, please click HERE for the link.  

This calendar will be continually updated to reflect key dates and events.